use divine power, like an Avatar, but he only gave it just enough of his own energy to give a chance to get some other power before Val was destroyed.
	How could it have done that? Kimmie asked.  There was just you and Val.
	Tarrin shook his head.  He didnt have to put it right there with us, he told her.  Odds are, he dropped it in the middle of the Goblinoids, or among his own Wizards, where it could immediately kill a few of them and take their power and souls to make itself self-sufficient.  Once it took enough power to survive, it didnt need Vals power to continue to exist.  Val created it, but after the last of his power faded from it, it had managed to get just enough energy to survive.  After what happened at Gora Umadar, it drained power from magicians and fed on souls to survive.  It had to find the power to survive from other places.  Thats also why it needed the Firestaff.  It was the only thing on Sennadar that could give it enough power to use the godly abilities Val gave it.  Everything its done since Gora Umadar has been part of a plan to force me to produce the Firestaff, so it could try to take it from me.  And it succeeded, he admitted with a pained, guilty flush.
	Phandebrass was quiet a moment.  I say, that was damned clever.
	Val was many things, but he was not stupid, Tarrin said in grudging respect.
	With a sigh, Tarrin then described his flight from it, then his anger and his brief attempt to battle the shadow.  He was brutally honest about how stupid that act was.  Then he described how the shadow had him cornered, and how the sword had reached into his power and used it to Summon itself to the battlefield.
	And then, with a quavering voice, he explained what the sword did, specifically emphasizing that the sword had a kind of sentience about it, and that the decision to change him came from the sword, not from him.  It turned me into something very close to a god, he told them with a shiver.  I could feel the power inside of me, the power of a god, but it didnt change my mind.  I had no idea how to use that power.  It scared the life out of me, to be totally honest, he admitted.  But to let me use that power, it had to change me into what I was when I fought Val the first time.
	Oh, with the wings and the burning fur and hair and being all huge! Jasana said in excitement, recalling his appearance from when he used the Firestaff.
	Everything but the being big, he agreed with a nod.  Like I said, it didnt completely change me.  If it had, Id have had the mind of a god, able to use the power.  He continued with the tale, describing how he had fallen back on fighting with his sword because he had no idea what else to do, how Val had realized that though Tarrin had the power of a god at his command, he either didnt know how to use it or wasnt capable of it, and then Vals taunt that made him realize that the Firestaff was at the center of the entire battle.  I realized all I had to do was take the Firestaff away from him, he said with a self-deprecating grunt.  If Id have been thinking, I would have done that before I tried to take it on with Sorcery.
	You Summoned it, didnt you? Sarraya asked.
	He nodded.  After I got it, the shadow lost its endless power, it only had what it had stored up.  It panicked and tried to blast me with that power, and when I felt it do that, I copied what it did and blasted it right back.  Thats what knocked down so many buildings, he said guiltily.  We got into a battle of power.  But it couldnt replenish its power, and I could.  So, I just made it burn up all its stored energy, and then once it was defenseless, I killed it.
	Then what? Dolanna asked intently.
	The sword must have realized that there wasnt any more need for it, so it closed the door between me and my power, and I changed back.  Except for these, he said, jerking a thumb over his shoulder.  For some reason, these stayed.  After it was over, I was exhausted and passed out.  When I came to, the Goddess came and talked to me.  His expression turned dark.  It turns out that the Elder Gods let that abomination run around free just so it would fight me.  They wanted to test me, she said, see if I was strong enough to be another guardian like Spyder is, and they wanted to see if I really did have any kind of abilities stemming from my condition.  But it got out of hand, he growled.  When the shadow took the Firestaff from me and took on that shadow form, they knew I couldnt fight it, but they still wouldnt help.  Mother told me that they were all arguing about who was going to go down there and destroy the shadow.  Not help me, destroy the shadow.  When Mother told them she would go, they wouldnt let her, because they didnt want to put her at risk.  They set all that up, let Vals shadow live, then let it fight with me, and when it got too powerful for me to destroy, they hung me out on the clothesline by my tail and left me to die, he said with a savage hiss.  They didnt care about me, they didnt even think twice about it.  They abandoned me.  And after the sword changed me, they got frightened of me.  I could feel it when they were looking at me, he said in a grim tone.  They think Im as much an abomination as Vals shadow was.  Im not supposed to exist, and Im certainly not supposed to have this power.  Me just being here makes them nervous.
	They were all silent for a very long moment, until Jesmind put her paw on his shoulder.  Tarrin, what about these? she asked, pointing to the wings.
	Theyre a part of me now, Jesmind, he said grimly.  Just as much as my arms and legs.
	They wont disappear? she asked in surprise.
	No, they wont, he said, bowing his head.  Theyll always be there to remind me of what the sword did to me, and remind me of the cruel game the Elder Gods played with my life.
	My dear one, this is the same attitude which cost you so dearly before, Dolanna said gently.  Do not think of the wings as merely a new set of manacles, else that is what they will become.  These are a gift, my dear one, a wondrous gift given to you by the sword.  Not by the Elder Gods, not by fate, not by evil design, but by your sword.  It had no part in the unfeeling actions of the gods, and to taint its gift to you with your anger towards them is not proper.  Do not dishonor them so.
	Tarrin bowed his head, stung by Dolannas remark.  She was right, of course.  But knowing she was right and being able to do what she said he should do were two very different things.
	If you think about it a moment, dear one, perhaps you would understand why it gave them to you, she continued with a slight smile gracing her handsome face.
	He looked at her.  What?  Why?
	Because, dear one, you love to fly.  We all know how much you enjoy it, and yet you do not indulge in it, because it would be a frivolous use of your power.  I know your mind, dear one.  You have never been one to exercise your power without good reason, and self-interest is not one of those.  You also cannot justify using your power for your own pleasure when you forbid Jasana from doing the same.  The sword simply gave you the ability to do what you so love to do with no excuses to not do it.
	I say, she has a point, Phandebrass agreed.  You do love to fly, lad, you do.  Perhaps the sword, I say, maybe it simply gave you the wings to make you happy.
	Niamis words instantly came back to him.  They are much more than what you think of them now.  In time, youll understand that.  In time, youll be amazed you ever hated the idea of having them.  It was possible, he reasoned.  Maybe the sword, being linked to him in the way it was, knew he loved to fly, and decided to give him the ability to do it, to reward him in some manner.
	In any event, Dolanna was right.  He shouldnt hate the wings because of what happened.  They were an effect of events, not a symbol of them.  To fixate his blame on them would be counterproductive, and could also inhibit his ability to understand them and the power that they represented.
	He should keep all his anger squarely on the heads of the Elder Gods.
	Well, the big question is now what? Jenna proposed.
	We go to Wikuna, Tarrin said quietly.  Mother ordered me to go.  I wont disobey her, no matter how much I just want to go home.
	I say, my boy, you and me should have a very long talk, Phandebrass said immediately.
	He nodded.  Im going to need your help trying to understand what happened to me, Phandebrass.  Yours too, Camara, he said, looking at her.
	Why mine?
	Because youre a Priest, he answered.  Divine magic is most closely related to Priest magic, since youre doing nothing but using divine magic in the first place.  Your experience in the subject is going to matter.  He wavered his paw before him.  If Neme allows you to help, that is.
	Neme loves all of you, she announced flatly.  Shed skin me if I didnt help you.
	Well, thats five, Tarrin grunted sourly.
	Five what? Elke asked.
	Five gods that dont want to destroy me, he answered.  Mother told me that FaraNae, Karas, and Dallstad support me, argued on my behalf.  I guess if Camaras right, Neme does too.
	Fireflash finished eating from a plate that Sarraya had Conjured for the drakes to keep them out of trouble, and bounded over to Tarrin fearlessly.  He jumped up and used his wings to vault up onto his shoulder, then nuzzled his neck.  Tarrin chuckled and patted the little drake on the top of his head.  Im glad youre not scared of me, little friend, he said with sincere relief.
	Posh, Sarraya sniffed.  Do you think those wings makes you something other than Tarrin?  Does a man that loses an arm become something other than himself?  I say the wings are an improvement, but they dont change who you are.  Tarrin gave Sarraya a quick look of surprise.  That was quite a bit of wisdom coming out of his flightly, impulsive friends mouth.  Sometimes it was easy to forget that beneath her erratic behavior, Sarraya was actually quite smart.
	I think your opinion is jaded, Dolanna told her with a smile.
	Of course it is, she said with a wink at Dolanna, fanning her chitinous, dragonfly-like wings ostensibly.
	Well, if were going to Wikuna, well have to wait until Ianelle finds those objects, she announced.  Im not going anywhere until Im sure theyre in the Tower.  I dont think Kerris ready for us anyway.  Do you want to lay down a while, Tarrin? she asked in in concern.  Ill have an apartment made up for you.
	No, Ill be alright, he assured her.  Its nothing my regeneration cant fix.  I just need some time, thats all.
	I say, I cant wait to get started! Phandebrass said eagerly.  Do you want to start now, or rest a while?
	As long as we just talk, I dont mind, he answered.  That wont tire me out.  But no experiments! he warned in a stern voice.
	I say, how can I experiment if I have no background information? he replied.  Let me go get an empty journal.  We must write this down, we must, to save it for posterity!  He jumped up and raced towards the door, his gray robe flapping behind him and nearly losing his ridiculous pointed hat.
	You might want to take the cubs somewhere, Jesmind, Kimmie told her after Phadnebrass managed to finally get out the door, after three attempts to open it in his exuberant haste to retrieve his journal.  This might get boring for them.
	Jesmind and Elke looked worriedly to Camara Tal, who put up a free hand.  Ill keep it from getting out of control, she promised.
	Im staying, Jasana announced adamantly.  Im not leaving you, father.
	Rina hopped down from Julas lap and ambled over, then climbed up into Tarrins.  I wont get bored, I promise, she told him with an adorable smile.
	I think theyll be alright, Jesmind said.  You should eat something, my mate.  Itll help you recover faster.
	Im not hungry, he told her.
	That doesnt matter, she told him imperiously.  Youre eating.  Ill be right back.  She set Jasana on the floor and got up, then stalked out of the room in a manner that told Tarrin she was preparing to do battle with him when she returned.
	I think youd better just shut up and eat, Tarrin, Kimmie said with a wink.
	It looks that way, Tarrin said with light amusement.  He almost flinched when Jasana boldly reached out and put her paws on his wing.
	Its warm, she reported.  But not hot.  And its solid.  Its real soft, she said, putting her face against his wing and nuzzling it.  She flinched when Tarrin pushed back, then giggled and tried to envelop the large wing in an embrace.
	Oooh, let me! Rina said, squirming down from his lap and joining Jasana in this new game.  Tara joined them, and Tarrin leaned his elbows against the table and allowed them to explore this new, mysterious alteration to their father.  Their utter fear of his wings, and all they represented, gave Tarrin a strange lift of spirit.  They seemed to accept this change in him, and looking around the table, at his parents, at Kimmie, at Dar and Dolanna and Jenna and Tiella and Camara and Koran Tal and Jula.
	That was the first of the major hurdles to him.  None of them seemed repulsed or put off because of this change in him, and that made him much more secure.  They all watched the three children explore his wings, touching them, feeling them, smelling them, even tasting them--something that made Tiella cough when she saw Jasana put her tongue on his wing--until Tara jumped up and climbed up onto the joint of his right one.  Her weight wasnt enough to so much as even register to the magical appendage, and though her claws could find purchase against the living fire, they could not puncture it, nor did the feel of those claws in the texture of his wing bring any pain.  Now Im as tall as Papa! she proclaimed when she threw her arms over the edge and pulled herself up, looking down at them.
	Phandebrass came barreling back into the room with two heavy books under one arm and an inkpot in the other hand.  Im back!  I say, Tara, thats rather clever, it is.  Does that hurt, Tarrin?  Let me see!  Did her claws injure you?  Does her weight strain your wing?  I really must get a piece of one of them, I must.  Would it hurt if I snipped off a bit at the tip?
	No experimenting! just about all of them shouted at him in unison, which made Phandebrass start, and then laugh.
	Jesmind returned with a platter of ham, one of his favorites, and put it in front of him without a word.  Then she sat down and stared at him with a commanding gaze until he began to eat the ham.  They then passed most of the morning as Phandebrass examined his wings through both physical study and asking him questions, questions Tarrin did his best to answer.  The Wizards questions were wide-ranging and quite insightful, asking him about how they worked--at least what he understood--how they moved, if he had sensation in them, if they were material objects and not just magical, and other questions which were the same ones just rephrased.  Then he produce a measuring cord, with knots in it to denote units of measure, and measured both wings exhaustively, from every conceivable angle, as Kimmie drew a detailed illustration of them in one of the two journals he brought with him.  Fireflash had not liked this, for the addled Wizard had shooed him off Tarrins shoulder to perform the measurements.  His attempt to measure wingspan was amusing, given that Tarrins wingspan was more than four times longer than his measuring cord.
	I say, they dont look that big when theyre folded up, he said with a fret, standing behind the seated Were-cat.  Tarrin turned his head and saw the mage scrutinizing his wing carefully.  I say, theres no joint.
	I know theres not, he answered.
	If theres no joint, then why do they move the way they do? he mused, mainly to himself.
	Theyre not made out flesh, ninny, Camara Tal told him acidly.  But since they shaped like wings, isnt it logical that they move like them?
	Magic is not a logical force, my dear, he said, quite seriously.  Theyre warm now, safe to the touch.  Can you make them hot, lad?  I say, can you control the heat of them?
	I, I think I can, he said after a moment.  Off, cub, he ordered of Tara, who slid down the slope of the back of the wing.  All three cubs cleared away as Tarrin stood up and took a step back, away from the table, then thoughtfully brought the chair around him with his tail and pushed it in.  He opened his mind to the wings, feeling them, sensing the strange magic that constituted them, a magic that caused them to be solid objects and an integral part of his body.  He concentrated on the fire, the solid fire that made them up, and tried to will it to become hotter, tried to get in touch with them with, tried to actively control the magic that caused them to be.
	What he touched made his eyes snap open in shock, as he came into communion with a powerful energy that lurked just beneath the surface of his soul, the source of the power that caused the wings to be, and felt it react to his attempt to touch it by granting him power.  He staggered back and raised both of his paws as he felt the power concentrate around them, and to his shock, fire erupted into being around both of them!
	Tarrin! Jesmind said in a strangled tone as Dolanna quickly jumped up and set her will against the Weave, weaving a spell of Fire and Divine, a ward that blocked heat and fire, and surrounded Tarrins body with it, setting it so it would move with him, always staying one span away from him at all times.  The fire intensified around his paws, flattening out against the Ward, and his wings blazed with bright light, as the fire which made them burned brighter, burned hotter, radiating out an intense heat that would have set fire to the wall behind him, had Dolannas Ward not entrapped the heat around him.
	It was the shock of it that caused it to get out of control.  Quickly, effortlessly, Tarrin searched through this lurking power and understood that it wanted to obey him.  It was unlike any magical force he had ever worked with before, for the magic of every order of magic on Sennadar resisted the magician in some way.  But not this power.  It sensed his surprise and his desire to stop the fire, and the fire simply stopped.  The blazing light emanating from his wings returned to the glow they had before, and they stopped radiating that killing heat.  That touch told him much about this force.  It was a part of him, but more than that, it was a willing part of him, obedient, waiting only to be touched and used.  And it was subservient to him, only seeking to do that which it sensed would please him, only that which he wanted it to do.  His surprise had caused the power to react erratically, to be unsure of what Tarrin wanted it to do.  But it was so zealous to serve, it had manifested itself in the way that it had, as if it felt that that was what Tarrin wanted of it.
	It had to be the most unusual, and somewhat pleasant, surprise of all of this.  This strange hidden power, a power dealing with fire and heat, a power he sensed had been there all along, utterly obeyed him.  It did not fight, it did not twist his intent, it did not seek to subvert his will.  It only served.  In that touch on his power he came to understand this, but he also came to understand that though the power would obey him, it would not teach him how it was used.  He would have to learn what it could do, learn how it worked, and unlock its secrets on his own.  Through practice and trial and error if nothing else.
	Tarrin, are you alright? Camara Tal asked quickly, half-rising from her seat with Shaul still in her arms.
	Stop! Tarrin barked harshly as he raised his arm and presented the palm of his paw at Jesmind, who was about two steps from the Ward.  He had stopped the fire, but the heat was trapped inside of it with him, and it was deadly.  Jesmind froze in her tracks, which caused her to look down, where she saw the stone beneath and around his feet blackening as she watched.  Dolanna--
	I will bleed off the heat, she answered quickly, and he felt her weave a spell to do just that, which extinguished fires and sucked all the heat out of an area.  It was a spell Sorcerers used to kill fires and freeze water into ice.  The temperature around his body quickly dropped to the same as the rooms air, and Dolanna lowered the Ward.
	That was fast thinking there, Dolanna, Sarraya said, wiping her brow in relief.
	I was prepared for just such an emergency, she told those in the room.
	Im glad one of us was, Jenna said ruefully.  I never thought to be ready for that.
	I say, that was exciting, Phandebrass said in an unflappable manner.  I see that you can indeed control the fire, you can.  I must make a note of that, he said, writing quickly in his journal.
	It also just told us theres more involved here than the wings, Kimmie said clinically, staring at him.  That fire that came up around your paws wasnt your wings, was it, Tarrin? she asked.
	He shook his head.  It was caused by the same power that created the wings, he answered, putting a paw to his stomach.  Something inside of me.  I think its the ability the Goddess said I might have when she brought me back, because I get the feeling that its not the same power the sword gave to me when it changed me.  I think this was always here.  I dont think the sword had anything to do with it, its just that when the sword changed me, it made this manifest itself.
	The same yet separate? Camara Tal asked.  Is that possible?
	Phandebrass nodded.  Different aspects of the same power, he answered her.  I say, Sorcerers display similar characteristics.  There are Sorcerers, then there are Weavespinners, there are, he said, holding out each hand.  Both are different abilities, but they draw from the same source of magic, they do.  Different ways of using the same power.  He clasped his hands together to illustrate his point.  I think this is a manifestation of Tarrins ability to tap into his divine soul in a mortal form, he surmised.  But when the sword changed him, it gave him a new way to use the same power, and a much more effective way at that, I might add.
	That does make a weird kind of sense, Jula agreed.
	Sorcerers arent the only ones, they arent, he added absently.  Wizards have splinter groups, like the Necromancers.  Karas gives magic to the Priests, but it was said that during the Age of Power, the Knights of Karas also had magical abilities granted them by their god.  I say, they werent the only ones.  Every god had Knights of their order, holy warriors imbued with magic granted by the god they served.  But the Knights of Karas are the only organized order left I know of, they are.
	Jenna was about to say something, but she stopped when Tarrin sensed Ianelles voice drift to her on the Weave.  Ianelle has the objects, she reported to them.  They had to shoo off some adventurous children before they accidentally got themselves killed.  She says theyre all there, so dont worry about Summoning the armor and gauntlets, brother.
	Good timing, Dar chuckled.
	Shell be along as soon as she delivers them to the Lorefinders.  Im going to let them study them for a while.  I guess when she gets here, we can go.
	Shes going? Elke asked.
	Jenna shook her head.  She just wants to see me off, mother, she answered.  This place would go to chaos if me or Ianelle werent here to keep things together.
	Is Haley coming this time? Sarraya asked curiously.
	He didnt ask to, Jenna answered.  Hes been busy with his festhall.
	Too bad.  I like him.  Hes a lot more fun than some of you other stuffed shirts, she said with a grin at Tarrin.
	Well, why dont you go down to his festhall then, bug? Camara Tal asked caustically.  We certainly wont miss you.
	Im just crushed, Camara, Sarraya said with an outrageous smile.
	At least Aulis still in Sharadar, Dar said with relief.  Not that I dont love her like a sister, but she always causes so much trouble.  I think Kerri would kill her.
	If she didnt, one of the Vendari certainly would, Tarrin said bluntly.  There is no way were taking Auli to Wikuna.  With so many Vendari around, one of them would definitely kill her before we came home.  There was also the unspoken reason which everyone understood, and that was the need to keep Auli and Sarraya safely separated.
	Well, it would be one way to solve the Auli problem, Kimmie said with a light chuckle.
	You get to clean up the mess, Tarrin told her, which made her laugh and put up her paws to decline his offer.
	Well, I guess we should pack things up and get ready to go, Phandebrass announced, closing the cover of his journal.  I say, Tarrin, well explore this power inside you when we take up again, we will.  I certainly must see you create that fire again, and we must explore the limits of that ability, we must.
	Not without me there to keep you from getting cooked, Phandebrass, Jula told him.
	Amen, Camara Tal said fervently.
	Tarrin folded up the wings, and Jenna told them all that they may as well simply leave from where they were.  She excused herself to go track down Ianelle, but Tarrin didnt sit back down.  He was lost in thought, pondering the way it had felt when he had touched that power within him.  It was odd to think that it was the power of a god, it was his power, which had been hidden from him all this time.  It was nothing more than a pale shadow of what he must have wielded as a god, but that pale shadow was formidable when compared to the power of mortal magic.  When the sword changed him, it allowed him to reach directly into that power, a power greater than the might of any mortal, yet still not quite as powerful as the power the gods possessed.
	But the key of it was that though he was much weaker than, say, a Younger God, all of his power was focused in the mortal world, where gods could only bring a portion of their power into the mortal world when they used Avatars.  Though weaker than them, that significant difference would conceivably give him the might to challenge them in the material world, even destroy their icons.  That was what the gods were afraid of.  They were afraid that he would destroy their icons, rob the mortal world of their power, and create chaos in his wake.  He realized grimly that he could do it.  He was nowhere near as powerful as an Elder God, but they could only focus so much power in the mortal world, which made him the equal of an Elder Gods icon-manifested Avatar, the most powerful form of Avatar any god could employ.  That was the Avatar that the Goddess used whenever she visited him, for some reason, despite the fact that he knew full well she could visit him using other methods.  She simply seemed to prefer it.  She could easily use the spirit-form he had seen her use after he had destroyed Vals shadow.  That was a form of Avatar.
	It was a stupid fear.  He obeyed Niami utterly, and besides, he was a Were-cat and a Druid.  Preserving nature was not only a trained habit, but an instinctual need.  He was a creature of nature, and he both revered it and loved it, and when the need arose, he would protect it.  That was his responsibility as a Druid.
	What worried him more was Jesmind.  He glanced at her, saw the look of utter concern on her face, and he realized that she was not taking this as well as she was letting on.  He wasnt quite sure what she was thinking yet, or how she was going to act once they got alone, but either way he knew he needed to talk to her privately, and as quickly as possible.  It wouldnt make much sense to do it now, though.  After they got to Wikuna and he managed to disengage himself from Keritanima, he and her would have a long talk.  A very long talk.  He needed to get her to get all her worries out in the open, and then he needed to assure her that, aside from alterations in the way he did some things, the wings werent going to be that much of a problem.
	He noticed Dar looking at him strangely.  What? he asked.
	I was just noticing something, thats all, he answered.
	What? he repeated.
	Those wings make you look quite majestic, he answered.
	He recalled that Kimmie said the same thing, and obviously so did she, for she was laughing and gesturing towards Dar.  I thought the same thing, she told him.
	Hmph, he snorted, crossing his arms.
	There is one thing missing here, Jula noted, finger tapping her cheek.  Triana.
	I say, youre right, Phandebrass agreed.  She always seems to know whats going on.  Why isnt she here?
	She might be traveling, Tarrin told them.  When shes traveling the way she does, she cant sense anything going on.  Shell certainly notice it when she arrives at her destination, he chuckled humorlessly.
	That or shes on the way here, Sarraya added.  Sometimes she doesnt announce shes coming.  She just comes, like its too much a waste of her time to let us know shes on the way.
	Try being her daughter, Jesmind growled.  Then lets talk about her unannounced visits.
	Jenna returned alone, closing the door behind her.  Ianelle has the objects put away safely, she announced.  She wanted to come see you, but I didnt think you were ready to explain things again, she finished with a sly smile.
	No, he agreed.  Ill have to go through all this again with Kerri and Zak.  Id rather not have to do it twice more.
	Well, I do think you should clean up before we go, dear one, Dolanna urged.  Your clothes are a disaster, and you have dirt and blood all over you.
	Tarrin looked down, and he realized that he was indeed that dirty.  But with all the chaos that had happened after he woke up and the enormity of the the situation, with the wings on his back, had utterly consumed all his attention.  That of all his friends as well, for not one of them had mentioned his rather bedraggled condition.
	I do look a little unkempt, he agreed mildly.
	You look like you were drug behind a horse, Camara Tal told him bluntly.
	Tarrin twisted around, looking at himself.  His breeches and vest were shredded here and there, and he was smeared with dirt and blood.  I, uh, he began, reaching behind him.  I cant take off the vest, he realized with a rueful, dry chuckle.  The wing