to rebuild it.  Tarrin had destroyed Torrian, and now hed devastated a sizable chunk of Suld.  Next thing he knew, hes be obliterating all of eastern Sulasia.
	Destruction.  Fire was a destructive force, but in a way, it also brought life by renewing the land, enriching the soil.  Phoenixes were said to rise from their own ashes when they died, renewed and reborn, recreated even in their own destruction.  Sometimes he felt that way.  Hed destroyed so much in his life.  Lives, buildings, city blocks, local geographical areasand yet things always seemed to come back.  Hed burned Torrian to the ground, but it had been rebuilt, larger and better than before, and now they were building city walls of stone instead of wood.  Maybe that was why he was aligned with fire.  He was a destructive force, but a force that renewed in its wake.
	Holding out his paw, palm up, he watched without much interest when a small lick of flame, like a candles flame, appeared over the pad of his palm.  It was created by the power within him, a very simple and easy trick, something that he found he could do without even thinking about it.  Mother said that he would find joy in his wings, in this newfound powerbut he could not imagine why yet.  Until he could separate this power with the dark manner in which it was thrust upon him, he didnt think it was going to happen.  The wings were manacles, an eternal reminder of the fickle cruelty of the Elder Gods.  Aside from Niami, his beloved Mother, he couldnt give a whit about them now.  And hed be damned if he worked for them.  Hed help Spyder if she asked him, but because it was Spyder asking him.  He respected her and he felt obliged to her, and he would help her whenever she asked it of him.
	Thinking of the Elder gods caused that small flame to suddenly erupt, become a bright fire that inundated his entire paw.  He felt the fire licking at his fur, ghosting across his pads, flit between his fingers.  He felt its heat, and found the feel of it pleasing, after a fashion.  He watched the fire for long moments, watched the orange-yellow flames undulate around his paw, his green eyes distant, his expression unreadable.
	Then, with great slowness, he closed his paw into a fist, and the fire died away.
	He wondered if that little display worried the seventeen--no, eighteen now--gods who were watching him.  Could they sense his thoughts?  Could they feel his anger?  Could they detect his towering resentment and hurt at how he had been treated at their hands?  He didnt know.  He did know that Mother knew how he felt, and it probably stung her quite deeply.  She was one of the Elder Gods, and he had some righteous anger in him at her at the moment.  But the difference between her and the others was that he loved her, and that love would smooth over everything else.  She he would forgive.  She he would accept.
	Strange that he thought so about gods, but in a way, he had no reason to fear them anymore.  They couldnt destroy him like they could just about anyone else.  Niami once told him that she could kill any mortal on Sennadar with but a thought, and he remembered his talk with the Elementals, when they told him that the hand that created could destroy that creation.  That was what set him apart.  He was no longer a creation of the gods, but a creation of the Firestaff.  That meant that they couldnt simply wipe him out with a thought.  No, they would have to come down to Sennadar and fight him, do actual battle, put their precious little selves at risk.  That, he knew, they wouldnt do unless they were so desperate that they could overcome their fear, their cowardice.
	And if they did do that, they would send Niami after him.  They would send her, because he loved her and would have tremendous difficulty fighting back, but he knew she would have just as much trouble attacking him.
	Triana.  He could sense her looking for him.  She was out of that extra-dimensional place, and probably knew what was going on, or had at least talked to someone who did.  He could feel the All searching for him at Trianas behest.
	She is not the only seeker of you, Tarrin Kael, a feminine, choral voice called, and the speed with which it had appeared, and the sense of divinity that accompanied it, told him that it was an Elder God.
	Tarrin whirled, his eyes igniting from within with the greenish aura that marked his sudden anger, but that was not the only thing that happened.  His wings snapped out, flared open, and the light from them suddenly brightened, and the air around him became noticeably hot.  Were it Niami, his Mother, he would not have reacted so, but this was an unknown voice.
	The speaker was someone he had never seen before.  This was a dusky-skinned woman, her skin a strange cross between brownish and gray, like ash, and her hair was long, billowing, and a brilliant shade of red.  Her eyes glowed like his own, but hers were red where his were green, and she was garbed in a slinky gown that looked like it was made of solid firejust like his wings.  It showed off her generous cleavage quite appealingly.  Tarrin could sense that this was not an Avatar.  Whoever this god was, she had brought her icon--this was the animated icon he was facing, not a spirit-form.  So, either she was there to do battle, or she was there, bringing her icon, in an act of trust.
	Down, boy, she said with a slight smile, crossing her arms beneath those generous breasts, taking a non-threatening posture.
	Who are you? he demanded, bringing forth his black-bladed sword from the elsewhere, then pointing it at her.  Leave.
	Who am I?  Dont be stupid, she told him dismissively.
	That was a rather stupid question.  A dress made of solid fire?  And an Elder Goddess?  This was Ahiriya.
	He does have a brain, she stated with a sly smile.
	Why are you here? he asked in a dangerous tone, the paw holding his sword starting to show licks of flame around it, threatening to explode into fire at any moment.
	Why not? she asked in a maddeningly calm tone, turning her back to her.  Lovely sunset.  Shirazi certainly outdid herself today.  She glanced at him over her shoulder.  Shes one of mine, you know.  And so are you.
	Yours? he said in a dangerous manner, lowering the sword.
	Shirazi is the Younger Goddess of the sun, and all that it encompasses, which is light and fire.  You are a god of fire and duty and protection, and a little bit of revenge to boot, but your aspect of fire makes you one of mine.  One of my subject gods, she told him, glancing at him again.  Simply put, Tarrin, Niami may be your mother and your patroness as a Sorcerer, but when it comes to all things divine, Im your boss, not her.
	You?  Command me? he snorted, sending the sword back into the elsewhere.  She obvious wasnt here to fight.
	Certainly, she answered.  If you want to fit in on Sennadar, prove yourself as no threat to the Balance, and be left in peace, youd better learn the first rule.  That rule is, sweetness, Elder Gods make the rules.  Youre not an Elder God.  Youre not a Younger either, but youre not an Elder.  That means that youre a subject god.  The Elder God with the most in common with you becomes your patron.  Thats me, sweetness.  Youre my problem now.
	Tarrin regarded her with narrow eyes, and then the illumination faded out of them.  He drew himself up and folded his wings, crossing his arms before him.  .
	Rather than risk an all-out war and level a continent or two, the Elders have decided to give you a chance.  Youd better thank Niami for that the next time you talk to her, she told him levelly.  She personally vouched for you.  She put her butt on the line for you, so youd better not mess up.  Niami is my favorite sister, and if she gets in trouble because of you, Ill spank you.
	Try, he said in a low, dangerous tone.
	Dont tempt me, sweetness, she told him with a quirky kind of smile.  Niami told me all about you, Tarrin.  I know how your mind works.  You may not like me, but you know my power.  I am a god.  You may think were all cowards, she said with a sly smile, but you still cant deny my power.  Power is everything to a Were-cat, you know, and guess what?  Im stronger than you, sweetness, and we both know it.  I can make you do what I want, but Im not going to force you.  I dont have to, you know.  Look me in the eye and deny Im stronger than you.  Come on.  Do it.  She boldly stepped up to him and looked up at him, her glowing red eyes challenging him.
	Tarrin stared down at her with narrow, dangerous eyes, his mind racing and trying to overcome a little confusion.  This Ahiriya wasnt anything he was prepared to deal with, as far as a god was concerned.  She seemed utterly fearless, willing to bring her icon right to him, daring to step within reach of him while challenging him in a way that would usually provoke a violent reaction out of him.  But it was her offhanded, almost casual manner of treating him, a kind of intimate manner he wasnt used to dealing with from strangers, that was confusing him, keeping his mind off balance.  She had no fear of him at all; indeed, she seemed to have a keen understanding of how his mind works, no doubt supplied to her by Mother.
	Its not how much power you have, its how much you can use against me, he answered her calmly.  You may know my mind, but I know your secret.  You cant bring all your power to bear here in the real world, and what you can bring makes us almost equal.
	Almost, she said winsomely, reaching up and tracing her finger under his chin.  Wed level a few mountain ranges, create a few new seas, and wipe out several kingdoms, but Id eventually win.
	We may find out someday if youre right, he warned.
	I doubt that, she replied dismissively, waving a hand towards him as she stepped away and looked at the approaching sandstorm.  You dont want that to happen any more than we do.  Admit it.
	Im not a fool, he agreed.
	Well, sweetness, now that weve established a mutual preference to avoid fighting, maybe you can stop posturing and start listening.
	I have no reason to listen, he said bluntly.  Im not a god.  I dont have any power.
	And these are a figment of my imagination? she asked crossly, pointing at his wings.
	I dont do anything, he told her in a little aggravation.  Like this, these wings are the only thing I have.  Why even bother?
	Because you have the power to do something, she told him with a sudden intensity.  It may only be a fraction of the power of any other god, but it is there, and that means you have certain responsibilities.  For the rest of us, it deals with how we use that power.  For you, it means how you dont use it.  She glanced back at him.  Because, as you said, the way you are now, you really dont have any power.  Not compared to one of us, you dont.  Its when you do have that power that it becomes important.
	You dont understand how it works, he told her.  I dont choose when that happens.  The sword does, and I already get the feeling that it wont change me unless it has a good reason to do it.  Look at what happened with Bane.  It didnt bring itself to the battlefield until it was the only option I had left.
	Thats irrelevant, she told him.  It happened once before, so logic dictates that its going to happen again.
	Logic?  From a female god? he said scathingly.
	Niami said you had a tongue, she said with a laugh.  Good!  I like a little defiance out of my subjects.  Fire is a force of strength and power and is hard to control.  Id think less of you if you were a tame little campfire, sweetness.  I like those under me to have all the strength and wildness of an inferno.  Its a matter of style.  It shows the other gods that you treat us with respect and care, else they get burned.
	Tarrin looked at her, then snorted.  I thought semantics were confined to the mortals.
	Phaw, she said with a sly smile.  Sweetness, you have not even begun to see semantics.  Gods are a childish lot, as Im sure your Mothers told you.  We work hard to establish reputations and impress each other with our power and our stables of faithful mortals.  The Elder Gods act with a little more decorum, but behind the scenes, were even worse than the Youngers.
	Children leading children, he sighed.
	When youre a god, who can tell you no? she asked with a wink.
	Mother told me that once, he said with a rueful chuckle.
	So long as we keep the Balance, we indulge ourselves, she admitted.  But when work time comes, as youve seen, were all business.  She turned and looked at the sandstorm again.  Im here on business, you know, she told him.  My only real command for you is to try not to let the sword change you if you can help it.  As long as you stay like this, the Elders arent that afraid of you.  Weve already figured out that if we threaten you, the sword is going to respond and turn you into something that can fight back, just like it did with Vals shadow.
	I still cant figure out why it waited so long, he admitted aloud.
	Because it represents everything you represented as a god, she answered.  Fire is only one of your aspects.  Remember that.  You also were a god of duty and protection, and to a lesser extent, revenge.
	I dont understand.
	When Vals shadow took the Firestaff and tried to destroy you, the sword didnt change you right off because of the risk to the civilians, she told him.  Its duty was to try to save them, duty to your king to try to protect his subjects, so it held off until the last possible instant, until the need to protect you overrode its duty to king and kingdom.  You are Sulasian, sweetness, and deep inside, you have fealty to your king.  The sword respected that fealty by trying to do as little damage as possible.  But when it became necessary to save your life, it changed you, so you could protect yourself, and protect Suld from that monstrosity.  It was also your duty to destroy it.  You were ascended specifically to destroy Val.  When you were faced with a remnant of your enemy, it became your duty to destroy it, to finish what you started.  Its also why you never once thought of anything except destroying Vals shadow, even when you had the option and the ability to run away.  So you see, sweetness, everything that happened makes perfect sense when you look at the big picture.
	Tarrin put a finger and thumb to his chin, considering her words.  It did all make sense.  After all, the sword could have simply appeared and changed him immediately, the instant Vals shadow abandoned its mortal shell, but it did not.  It waited, waited until the need for him to protect himself overrode its duty to try to prevent destruction in Suld.
	Jesmind is about to have a conniption and Triana is getting angry that she traveled all the way to Wikuna only to find youre in the desert, so youd better go back, she told him.  And I have things to do myself.  I only came to introduce myself anyway, and lay down a couple of ground rules.  She turned around and actually blew a kiss at him.  Well see each other again.
	And then she simply vanished.
	Tarrin looked towards the sandstorm in the waning light, lost in thought.  Ahiriya had been quite a surprise, and had forced him to reevaluate some of his thoughts about the Elder Gods.  He was still angry with them, but hed found that not all of them were as cowardly as he first believed.
	But that was a problem to ponder some other time.  He had to talk to Triana and his mate, and there were several other matters to ponder and work out.  And there was also the matter of Keritanimas coming baby.  That was what was most important right now.

	Once again, Tarrin found him explaining everything, but this time it was to a different group of people.  This time it was Triana and Sapphire.
	The pair of them had arrived almost at the same time, and Trianas anxiety had infected Sapphire, making both of them very hard for the others to deal with.  A thousand year old Were-cat matriarch and an ancient blue dragon were extremely forceful personalities, brimming with power, and it left those around them hard pressed to calm them down, or even manage to function around them.  Triana and Sapphire both issued peremptory commands to everyone around them, and were waspish and extremely short tempered.  By the time he got back, he thought they all were going to drop onto their knees and kiss his feet.
	Trianas relief at seeing him was one of those few overt, public displays of emotion that always set tongues to wagging, and demonstrated to the world the very powerful bond that existed between him and his bond-mother.  Tarrin was the son Triana had always wanted, had always hoped for, and she was fiercely protective of him, probably more so than with any of her other children.  Tarrin had a sneaking suspicion that it wasnt favoratism that made her like that, it was the fact that she had nursed him back to health from the brink of death.  He had the feeling that that event still lingered in her mind, caused her to be quite protective of him, and pay him a little more attention than her other children.  He knew that she didnt visit her other children half as often as she visited him.  In fact, Thean told him the last time they talked that she hadnt seen Laren since the day he and Shayle had come to Shorans Fork to meet him, when he was still healing from the near-fatal Wikuni attack.
	He took both of them back to his apartment and explained what happenedagain.  But this time, he went into a great deal more depth than he had for the others, explaining in greater detail what had happened, and more importantly, what it meant.  He did this because Triana and Sapphire were vastly more educated than the others, and had a keen understanding of magic and the gods, much more keen than even Phandebrass.  He told them things he didnt tell the others partly because they could understand it better, and because he had a measure of trust with Triana and Sapphire that wasnt quite matched by any other beings, not even his mates, sisters, and his birth parents.  Both of them took him showing them the wings rather well, but both of them seemed to see to the heart of the matter almost immediately.
	Have the gods approached you yet, little friend? Sapphire asked.
	Triana nodded.  They have to have gotten over the shock of it by now.  Youd have either received either the peace offering or the declaration of war by now.
	Tarrin chuckled without humor.  I just got back from that, mother, he answered, telling them what happened between him and Ahiriya.
	Im surprised you accepted her so easily, given how angry you are at the Elder Gods, Triana grunted.
	She talked to the Goddess before approaching me, he told her.  If theres anyone who knows how to approach me, its my Goddess.  She told Ahiriya what to do and say to get past my instincts and distrust.  Ahiriya wasnt afraid of me, and shes got a quirky kind of personality.  Shes strangely funny.  Weird, but funny.  I almost like her.
	So she tells you to learn how to use the power you have, but not to allow the sword to change you, Sapphire surmised, reaching out and touching one of his wings, which he had revealed to show to them but had yet to retract back into their hidden form.  Do you have an idea of it?
	He nodded.  It seems to be very limited in scope, and its also weak, he admitted.  I have more power as a Sorcerer and a Druid than I do with this divine power.  At least like this.
	But this power is inexhaustible, Sapphire told him.  Divine power is endless.  That is its advantage.
	Tarrin blew out his breath.  You have no idea how strange it is for me to talk about myself like that, he admitted to them.  Divine power.  Its almost ludicrous.
	No, cub, its far from it, Triana told him.  Since that goddess of yours pulled your soul out of that Soultrap and brought you back, Ive been able to sense it in you.  Ive never told you about it because I wasnt sure if it was dormant or latent.
	I noticed the same thing, Sapphire told him.  Me and your mother had quite a few long talks about what we should tell you, if anything at all.  I even consulted other dragons on the matter, to see if their experience could bring wisdom to the situation.
	He looked at them in surprise.  Why didnt you tell me? he demanded.
	Because it may have been nothing, Triana replied.  If the power was dormant, it would never have shown itself unless in a moment of extreme duress.  If it was latent, it was only a matter of time until you touched on it.  We decided that it was best not to tinker with such a delicate matter, cub.  If the power was truly dormant, then we didnt want to do anything to cause you to express it.  We knew how the gods might react.
	He couldnt fault her there.  Triana was very wise to understand that a mortal running around with a touch of divine ability would make the gods very worried.
	I see now it was a latent power.  That may be water under the bridge now, but I think we did the right thing.
	I say we most certainly did, Triana, Sapphire agreed.
	Well, the Elder Gods arent as wise as you two are, Tarrin told them.  They had to push it, and this is what happened, he said in a growl, spreading his wings about halfway.
	Dont sass the gods, cub, Triana said flintily.  They had their reasons.  We just dont understand them because were not gods.  For all we know, what they did was very important, and its not our place to decide if it was smart or dumb.
	Yes, mother, he said with immediate submission.  But it did little to assuade his anger.
	Well, little friend, I wouldnt fret too much, Sapphire told him.  I think the wings are an improvement.  I do have to admit that Im a bit jaded, seeing as how I have wings.
	Triana gave her a sidelong look, then chuckled.  They do give him a bit of a presence, and at least you can hide them whenever you want.  Thats the best of both worlds.
	Are you going to help me learn how this works? he asked.
	They both shook their heads.  It is your power, cub, Triana told him.  Nobody can really help you.  In this respect, youre on your own.  But dont think it changes things, she warned.  You still owe me a spell by spring.  Im holding you to that.
	You expect me to--
	Of course we do, Sapphire interrupted him.  How best to come to terms with this change and return to a life of normalcy than by returning to your studies?
	And I expect a good spell, Triana warned.  No stopgap, made up at the last minute creations.  At least five layers.
	Five! he said in surprise.  You didnt say anything about any conditions!
	I am now, she declared.  Five layers.  Keep backtalking me, cub, and itll go up to twelve.
	Tarrin made a few strangled noises, then managed to clamp his jaws shut, but the look he leveled at Triana was positivly murderous.  It was going to take him months to devise a five layer spell.  That took a tremendous amount of research, experimentation, and planning.
	I see the new power hasnt gone to his head, Sapphire told Triana with a slight, amused smile.  I think between learning how his new power works and his task, hes going to be quite busy for the rest of the winter.
	Quite, Triana agreed with a nod.
	Tarrin didnt trust himself to talk, or else hed be trying to create a thirty layer spell.  His tail slashed savagely back and forth, and his wings veritably bristled in his outrage and irritation.
	You were about to say something, cub? Triana asked in an ominous tone.
	He glared at her.  Youd better be damn happy I love you, he blurted in a growl before he could stop himself.
	Triana looked at him, then both of them burst into laughter.

	Despite his irritation with his bond-mother and Sapphire, the task theyd put on him was largely forgotten as soon as he tracked down Jesmind and took her somewhere alone.  They needed to talk, and that was going to happen before Keritanima took everyones attention.
	It was a long and very involved conversation, and much to his surprise, it didnt really have much to do with the wings.  Jesminds overriding concern had been for him, not for the wings, and she just wanted to talk to him, to come to know how he felt about what happened, come to understand the changes that had happened.  He explained everything as best as he could, and even explained how the gods felt about it and how it made him feelwhich was what she had been after in the first place.  She showed surprising intelligence and understanding about the situation, about the delicate situation between him and the gods, but it was her understanding of how alone it made him feel that surprised him.  She understood that he was a unique being now, alone on Sennadar, but she also told him--quite sedately--that his status as something other than mortal did nothing to change the fact that he was Tarrin, and always would be.  Just as Sarraya had pointed out, she told him that the wings and the power and his status meant nothing so long as he didnt allow them to change him, or change what he wanted.  He could still live in his house and have his mate and Kimmie and have his children around him, and what he had become meant nothing.  Things could quite easily continue on just as they had, and they would so long as Jesmind had anything to say about it.  Jesmind loved him, and she had within herself a powerful capacity to deal with her instincts and overcome any kind of obstacle that might interfere with her love for him.  Shed displayed that many times in the past, and this was no different.  She would accept the wings as a part of him without question, because they were indeed a part of him, and she could not have him without accepting them as well.
	She did have one minor issue with the wings, though, and that was how it was going to affect the house, their home life, and she admitted quite unashamedly, how they would handle the bed situation.  Tarrin had felt them to be quite silly worries, especially how the wings might impact their ability to make love, but Jesmind took those kinds of things quite seriously, and hed nearly gotten himself swatted when he laughed at her when she broached the subject.
	Tarrin felt a great deal better after the talk with Jesmind, for he knew beyond doubt that he would be truly accepted despite his change.  His mate wouldnt turn her back on him, Kimmie wouldnt turn her back on him.  His children still loved him, his sisters and family still loved him, and his friends still loved him. To them, he wasnt a mighty demigodhe was just Tarrin.
	Just Tarrin.  He liked the sound of that.
	All worries about him evaporated from everyones mind when Keritanima went into labor.  They all gathered in her private apartment, in the common room, with her in the private bedroom beyond it, and there they all waited.  The only ones allowed inside were Rallix, the High Priest of Kikkalli, and two midwives.  Binter and Sisska were also inside, standing at the door to ensure that nobody assaulted the Queen while she was delivering.  Darvon, Kang, and the sashka came, went, came, went, came and went again, constantly checking to see if Keritanima had given birth yet.  Tarrin had no idea why they were doing this, but they obviously had a good reason.  The Queens labor didnt sound like it was going very well, given how much she screamed and howled and shouted short, rude commands and comments at everyone in the room, insulting everyone within eyesight--except Binter and Sisska--and threatening to castrate Rallix for putting the kid inside her, just before threatening to use Sorcery to make him pregnant the next time so hed be the one to have to endure what she was going through.  It was hard to keep a straight face as they listened to Keritanima carry on, and some of them didnt even try.  Sarraya found the whole thing to be a riot, and laughed even harder with each vituperous, scathing comment that came through the door and reached their ears, then she fell off Tarrins shoulder and lay helpless on the floor when Keritanima abandoned insulting the people in the room and began cursing.  It was surprising for some in the room to hear the usually urbane Wikuni curse like an unrepentant sailor, but Tarrin and Allia knew her well enough to not be too surprised.  Keritanima had an astoundingly vast vocabulary, since she could speak so many languages that Tarrin had lost count--fourteen, he thought, but he wasnt sure--and that gave her an impressive array of swear words upon which she could draw.  They heard her swear in Wikuni, Sulasian, Selani, Sharadi, and ShaKar, but they didnt appreciate the even viler curses in Ungardt and Arakite and Shacan and Draconian with which she used to peel the paint off the walls of her bedchamber.  Ungardt was the language of choice for the connoissour of curses, as it held an impressive variety of them, and many were very offensive.  Most of them didnt get the full effect of it the way Tarrin did, for he spoke most of the languages Keritanima was using to unleash her endless string of hair-curling expletives.
	Tarrin had to give his sister one thing.  That woman could swear.
	The full effect of labor seemed to finally hit her, and Tarrin could tell that the birthing had begun.  That announcement came when a savage string of swearwords suddenly stopped, and was replaced by an ear-splitting scream that almost made it sound like someone was in there impaling her with a red-hot poker.  The pains of the contractions were mild compared to the pain of the birth, and when that hit her, she no longer had the rational mind to do anything but scream.  While they were listening to her scream, the wolf-Wikuni maid Amber, who was now a part of Keritanimas staff and served as Tarrins personal page when he was in Wikuna, quietly explained to him that Wikuni had more pain and difficulty in giving birth, because of their unique racial trait of resembling animals.  The babys muzzle--if it had one--was increasing the girth that had to pass through the birth canal, which made it much more painful for than if she was human or ShaKar, and required the presence of midwives to help adjust the position of the baby to clear the muzzle from the birth canal without doing either the baby or the mother any harm.  She went on to tell him that if the baby had its nose into the 