iests until he repairs his icons.  They will provide the terror and the power and the communication to keep the army and the populace in check.
	We figured something close to the same thing.  Its good to have some confirmation, he said, watching Anayi as she carefully poured diamond dust onto the ground, making a circle.
	How goes your healing, kitten?
	Its going, he replied.  Slower now that Im in this form, but it goes.  I should be mended in about fifteen days or so.
	Is everyone well?  How is Kimmie?  Does Phandebrass have the spell we need with him?
	Im fine, Mother, Kimmie answered.
	I say, I have the spell, Madam Goddess, Phandebrass answered respectfully.  Ill need five perfectly cut diamonds and two hairs from an Efreeti to cast it, but I dont think that will be much of an issue, it wont.  I have the hairs already, and theyre the hard ones to get, they are.  I only need the diamonds, I do.
	Ill have them sent in with the ones coming to help you, she said immediately.  I can whip those up on the spot.
	I say, capital! Phandebrass said with a smile.
	Anayi, theyre going through now.  Begin casting the spell.  By the time youre done, they should be there waiting for your gate to open.
	As you command, Mistress, Anayi called from where she was.  She backed up a few steps then began her spell, chanting the same incantation over and over again, while articulating the same six gestures at precise intervals, intervals which changed in how they were made in relation to the words she spoke.  Tarrin listened to her chant and found that he could probably repeat the incantation, but his inability to make the gestures in his current form would preclude him from casting the spell himself.  He could only use about half of the Wizard spells he had memorized, where he could adapt the somatics of the spell to his paws, where the missing finger didnt matter.
	Ive warned them about the form youre in at the moment, kitten, the Goddess informed him.  So they shouldnt panic.
	Thats good, Mother, he replied.
	Now, Im afraid I must go.  The spell Sapphire put on this is powered by her, and shes looking about ready to pass out.  So I have to end this now.  Give Sapphire a few days to recover, then contact me again, kitten.  Ill be waiting to hear from you.
	We will mother.  Send my family my love.
	I will kitten.  Fare well, and good luck.
	Anayi completed the spell just as the bells glow dimmed, and a swirling vortex of magical energy rotated into existence in front of her, within the circle of diamond dust shed poured onto the ground, which had vanished when the gate opened.  The first figured appeared in silhouette on the other side of that gate, then came through.  It was none other than General Kang, riding a black warhorse with heavy barding.
	I think you just lost your job, Ulger, Haley noted.
	He can have it, Ulger replied seriously.
	The next figure appearing in the gate was just as big as Kang and his horse, but it was on foot.  It was a Vendari.  When it stepped through the gate, Tarrin gave a start of surprise.  It was Binter!  And behind him appeared another familiar Vendari, Sisska!
	Holy Karas, what are they doing here? Azakar said in surprise.  They wouldnt leave Kerri and Faalken alone!
	What are those things! Neh asked in shock.
	Those, my dear, are Vendari, Phandebrass answered her.  Among the most powerful and respected warriors on Sennadar.  And those two are among the best of their kind.  Our chances of reaching the Dura just went up exponentially, they have.
	Ill say, Ulger chuckled.  I wonder how they managed to let themselves get talked into coming here.  I thought they wouldnt leave Kerri, Rallix, and Faalken.
	We will have to ask them, Dolanna mused.
	Four more Vendari ambled through the gate behind Binter and Sisska, who were already being called over.  None of them looked surprised at Tarrins appearance, but then again, theyd been warned.  Behind the last of the Vendari appeared a much smaller form, stepping out of the gate.  It was a Selani.  Two more appeared behind him, and Tarrin gasped when he saw them, and Sarraya burst out into delighted laughter.  Oh, trees, its going to be fun now! she cried out.  Var and Denai!
	That is Var and Denai? Dolanna asked in surprise.  I thought they had a son to raise.
	Now its getting interesting! Sarraya laughed.  Whos coming out next?  I just gotta see!
	Three more Selani came out behind his friends, who immediately started moving swiftly towards his massive form.   The next form was winged, obviously Aeradalla, and when it came through, he saw that it was none other than Ariana.  Six Knights trotted through behind her, and all six were known to him, since he knew virtually all the Knights.  Two Amazons appeared in the gate behind them, stepping through.
	Tarrin almost fell over in shock.
	It was Camara Tal and Koran Tal.
	Camara! Kimmie squealed in delight, jumping up and running towards her.
	Youre right, Sarraya, now it gets interesting, Miranda laughed.
	Tarrin watched in interest as the large form of Ember bounded out of the gate after her master and mistress, two fierce-looking Ungardt came out behind the Hellhound, then another form appeared.
	It was the last person Tarrin ever expected to see come out of that gate.  He wouldnt have been surprised to see Triana, or Jesmind, or one of his children, or Sapphire, or maybe even Spyder, but of all the people he thought might come that he knew, this warrior, in his strange wicker armor and gruesome masked helmet, was the last one he had thought to answer such a call.
	It was Tsukatta.
	The mysterious interdimensional traveler, a warrior without equal who went from dimension to dimension in search of the mightiest opponents against which to challenge himself, was someone that Tarrin had not seen in years.  And yet here he was, his two katanas nested in the sash around his waist, carrying his strange single-edged blade affixed to the top of a staff, looking something like that Lochabre that Anayi was now sporting.
	Tsukatta, Tarrin said in surprise, bowing his head eloquently to the warrior, causing everyone to look at him.  Im surprised to see you!
	Tarrin-san, he said with a respectful bow in reply.  It is good to see you once more, even if you wear that fearsome shape.  Have you improved your fighting art?
	Ive tried, but Im afraid I still am no match for you, old friend, he admitted with a draconic, toothy grin.
	Well, when you leave that form, we shall test ourselves against one another and improve each other.  Ive missed our spars.  I am overjoyed to challenge Spyder-san, but your matches were thrilling and always surprising.
	Look at you, deshida! Denai said in Selani with a laugh, coming up beside the samurai.  Allia told us you had many tricks, but by the Holy Mothers guiding hand, thats an impressive one!
	Denai, he said fondly.  How is Chakan?
	He grows faster and fleeter each day, she said.  The Holy Mother favors him, I think.
	Its good to see you again, deshida, Var said as he reached them.
	And you too, Var, he answered.  Im surprised youd leave your son to come here.
	The Holy Mother bid us come, and we are faithful to her will, he answered with a simple nod.  My sister cares for Chakan while we came to help.  Hes in the hands of family, so hes just fine.  He wanted to come.
	I would have loved to have seen him, Tarrin smiled.  Var, Denai, this is Tsukatta, a friend of mine.  Tsukatta, may I present Var and Denai, very old friends.
	Ah, the Selani of which you spoke, Tarrin-san, he said, turning and bowing to them.  Ive had the honor of sparring against other Selani in the host.  They are amazing, and I love the challenge of it.
	They line up to fight him, Camara Tal grunted as she reached them, with her arm around Kimmie.  They cant beat him, and it drives them nuts.
	Sarraya whistled.  You must be good, human, she said with an impressed glance up and down his form.
	I am but a student of the fighting art, he replied simply.  As are we all.
	Thats a cute one, Tarrin.  Sapphires going to be mad you didnt go blue, Camara told him.
	I could if I wanted, but that would require another change, and Im not putting myself through that again any time soon, he chuckled in reply.  Im surprised youre here, old friend.  What about Shaul?
	Sulina is watching her, Koran Tal answered.  Shell be just fine.
	Amazons dont coddle their children with endless attention, Camara snorted.  Shes weaned, so shes just fine getting to know the rest of the family.  They dont need me for that, but Neme said you do need me, so here I am.  Mother will take her out to meet her aunts, uncles, and cousins.  She needs to be introduced.
	Tarrin, good to see you, soneven though youre like that, Kang said as he walked over. Perhaps youd be kind enough to explain our situation.
	Tarrin chuckled.  Always on business, eh Kang?
	We can chat later, right now I want to know where we stand.
	Well, where we stand is youre in charge, Tarrin told him.  Ulger had been, since hes the senior Knight.
	Oh dear, Kang said fretfully.  I have my work cut out for me.
	Sarraya exploded into laughter, and Ulger gave Kangs back a vicious glare.
	You have what you brought, about fourteen soldiers, three Were-kin, and seven spellcasters to work with.  What were doing is trying to get to a stronghold over mountains to the north, and we will have to go through resistance.  Thats why Im like this.  Theres an enemy force of over one hundred to the north of us, and it has Demons in with it.  We were about to go attack it before Anayi found us.
	You should have asked for more troops, he said immediatley.
	He shook his head.  I wouldnt allow any more to come than Miranda can get home by herself.  This is the limit.
	Ah.  That makes sense, I suppose.  Id rather not attack a superior force, no matter how good my troops are. Numbers are numbers.  Any hope of reinforcements from these others I see here?  The natives?
	He nodded.  If we can find bands of them, we can absorb them into the host.
	Then thats our primary objective, he stated.  We must strengthen our forces before driving through the defenses ahead.  Ariana! he boomed.  Excuse me, Tarrin, Ill leave you to catch up with the others.  He started shouting again.  I want to talk to someone from the native forces!  I need information!  Ariana!
	Does he ever take a break? Ulger asked as Kang rushed off towards the Aeradalla, who was talking to Neh, just before she got pulled aside by Kang.
	No.  Thats what makes him so good, Camara Tal replied.
	Binter and Sisska approached, and Tarrin bowed his head to them.  You two have no idea how happy I am to see you, he said.  How did you manage coming and leaving Kerri home?
	Szath watches over them, Binter replied.  We know you do not like Szath, so Sashka ordered him to watch our children and sent us instead.  Besides, one of our children is also here, so we had more reason to come than just to aid you, he said, looking at Miranda.
	Ive grown up a bit since then, Binter, she grinned in reply.
	You will always be my child, Miranda, Sisska told her bluntly.  Now that I am here, Azakar wont be so overburdened watching over both you and Dolanna.
	Back to the apron strings, Miranda sighed, which made Tarrin chuckle.

	It was a joyous reunion.  Tarrin got to see people he hadnt seen for a long time, and got caught up on what was going on at home.  He heard about the new reforms that Keritanima was pushing, how Faalken was being taught more and more to make him a good king, the way Shaul and Chakan were growing, how Tara and Rina were growing bigger and bigger, and how Tara was getting stronger and more skilled with her Sorcery.  He heard how Jasana was being trained in the fighting arts by several people, including his mother Elke, his other mother Triana, the Knights, and Allia, even as she continued her education in Druidic magic under Trianas tutelage.  He watched Ember and Forge renew their friendship.  He also saw that Fireflash was overjoyed to have his Demonic playmate back, quickly abandoning Zyri to romp around with Forge, and now also with Ember.
	But it wasnt what they didnt talk about that concerned Tarrin, and concerned him deeply.  After everyone got settled in and they camped for the nightKang wasnt about to order an assault on the forces ahead until he had a measure of what he was working withTarrin laid near their encampment, the charm affixed to his amulet before he shapeshifted still operating, which kept him awake.  It gave him time to think, and he needed that right now.
	Niamiwhat was she thinking?  Shed jumped off the ship this time, there just was no other explanation.  Sure, he was happy she was willing to fight for him, but she was now getting into a direct confrontation with the other Elder Gods, over him.  She shouldnt be doing that.  She was making them all very angry, and what was more, she was really infurating the Younger Gods by denying magic to the world, magic they needed to help maintain the faith of their followers.
	This was not a fight she should be fighting.  Not now.  Not when his return wasnt imminent.  She was just grinding their noses in it, and the longer she kept it up, the more hatred she was going to generated.
	Besides, he knew what this was going to cost her.  The kinship of her brothers and sisters, the trust of her mother and father, and the respect of the Younger Gods.  She was ostracizing herself, and doing it over just one mortal.  It shouldnt be happening.  She shouldnt be doing this.
	He knew she was doing it because she cared for him, because she felt that they had given him an exceptionally raw deal.  He saves the world, saves all of them, and they repay him by exiling him to this other world, passing him off to a new set of gods to let them deal with him.  It was cold, it was cruel, it was inconsiderate, and it was downright rude.  Granted, they were trying to stop him from doing what he did in Pyros, stop him from doing what he was going to do to the One.  They were getting him off of Sennadar before he caused some major destruction, foisting him off into this world, where he could rampage and destroy all he liked because he wasnt their problem anymore.  But stillnot even to give him a chance, thats what really hurt.  Before he came here, the only destruction he had wrought had been at Suld, and that was because of the shadow of Valwhich they had arranged for him to battle.
	It was completely unfair, but Niamiwhat she was doing, she shouldnt be doing it.  He couldnt let her destroy her position among the gods over him.  Couldnt she see that?  Couldnt she see that if she did force them to let him come home, it wasnt going to stop?  They would come after him, they would come after his family, they would come after his friends, they would do anything to get rid of him, even resorting to the very same tactics that Val and the One had stooped to.  He knew they would go after his children to make him leave.  He knew in a moment of awful clarity that they would endlessly
	He sighed, bowing his head and closing his eyes.  Of course.  It would never stop.  He would never have peace.  They would watch him, they would shadow him, and whenever they thought they could manage it, they would try to get rid of him.  That wouldnt be a direct fight, they wouldnt risk that, but theyd push him, try to trick him, harass him, endlessly aggravate him, try to force him out.  And if they did think they could manage it, theyd try to kill him.  Niami was fighting a single battle, but she wasnt looking at the horizon.  He was, he could see the dark clouds massed there.
	The Elder Gods would not let him come home.  And if he did manage it, they would never rest until he was gone.  He was Entropy, just like Val was, an aleax, chaos incarnate.  A destroyer.  An abomination.  He was everything that they feared, and they would nevereverleave him be.  When they looked at him, they saw Val.  When they looked at him, they simply saw Val with a new face.  That he destroyed Val to save them didnt matter.  When he took up the Firestaff and used it to become a god, he became everything that Val was in their eyes.  He was the new god of destruction, the new aleax, the new manifestation of Entropy that threatened to unmake everything that Ayise had labored to create.
	Sometimes he wondered why they ever let Niami restore him.  Certainly they must have realized that he would be the way he was.  But then again, he remembered what happened after he fought the shadow of Val, how Niami had said they had wanted him to be like Spyder, someone to call in when it was big.  But he was too powerful, too much of the power he had once had was still inside him, and now they were afraid of him.  They meant to get rid of him the way a blacksmith might discard a broken smithy hammer.  Useful for a while, but then no longer worth keeping.  No, he was more like a hunting dogfavored when he was obedient, but as soon as he started getting too big for them, they were afraid and wanted to get rid of them.
	Gods forbid that their pet be strong enough to make them afraid.
	Not that they didnt have a good reason.  He proved in Pyros that he could be everything that they were afraid of, and even more.  He had destroyed an entire city just to give Mist a chance to get at the Oneand that had turned out to be not entirely successful.  So, he had killed countless people just to buy himself more time, and then he would go right back after the One, destroy more, kill more, shatter this world if that was what it took in order to exact his furious retribution on the One for daring to kidnap Kimmie and do her harm.  He would do it, no matter how much he knew he should not.  His hatred and anger were so great that they overwhelmed his common sense, overwhelmed everything.  Even now, knowing what would happen when he went back after the One, what it would do to this world, the people that it could possibly kill, he was going to do it.  As soon as he was healthy enough, he was going to destroy the Oneno matter what it took.
	And that was why the Elder Gods were so afraid.  He was proving them right, proving that they had reason to want him gone.  Would it have been any different if, say, Dragor had earned the same kind of wrath that the One had in his eyes?  Would he stop if this was happening at home, where people he knew and loved were involved, where those he loved were at risk because of his actions?
	He knew himself enough to know the answer to that question.  His was an endless, mighty power controlled by the mind of a mortal, with all of its flaws and shortcomings.  He was a child with a burning torch playing in the hay barnit was just a matter of time before he burned the building to the ground.
	So, he was left with a decision.  It was a cold, stark decision to face, affecting his entire life.  More than just his lifeit would affect the lives of everyone around him, everyone who knew him, everyone who loved him.
	He had to decide what meant more to him.
	It was a choice he did not want to have to make.  But it was a choice that he must make, and must make now.
	In the end, it was a choice that really was no choice at all.  And that hurt him more than anything else.
	You must be able to make the choices that must be made.
	How many times those words had haunted him, had cursed him, had caused him to curse them.  But they had never ringed truer in his mind than they did right at that moment.
	He had to put a stop to it.  He had to stop Niami from destroying herself.  He had to protect herand there was only way way he could do that.  She was risking everything for him, risking eternal hatred and excommunication from her own family to fight for him.  He just couldnt let her do that.
	And he had to protect his own children.  Those four beautiful children.
	He had once told Niami that he would destroy the world rather than lose his daughter.  But what would he do when faced with the grim reality that he was her greatest danger?
	It was so unfairbut then again, life never really was about being fair.  Not to his experience, anyway.
	He looked down on the camp.  Well, there was still much to do.  He had friends to catch up with, a fortress to reach, souls to free, Dwarves to meet, a god to kill, and there were any number of little things he wanted tied up before the day he had to live with that decision came.  That day would come, and it would come soonhe just had to enjoy the days that were left like each one was his last, for he knew that the memories he made in the coming rides would be among the last he would have that would be happy ones.
	He had to make the most of it.
	And he would.

Chapter 12

	A single beat of monstrous, sail-sized wings was all that it took to keep the mighty dragon at a comfortable altitude, soaring to the southwest in a cloudless summer sky, the light of the sun glittering off shimmering golden scales.  The air rushed over those scales like the caress of a lover, giving Tarrin a feeling of freedom and exhileration that he only felt when he feet were not on the ground.  It was a sensation he denied himself much too often because he had always feared the meaning of it, the power underneath that gave him that ability.  He did not want to fly because he loved to fly, and flying might make him want to fly more, to come to take pleasure in a power that he had never wanted nor did he want to come to like.
	Not that any of that really mattered anymore.
	Tarrin soared high in the sky on a lovely summer afternoon, the air delightfully cool at that altitude as he conducted what Kang had deemed a presence flight.  Both Tarrin and Ariana were flying far out from the main host to keep track of the movements of the soldiers of the One, and also to be seen by anyone else on the ground.  Ariana was under orders to report those troop locations to Kang immediately upon her return.  Tarrin was tasked to land and destroy those columns of church soldiers whenever he came across them, to prevent them from joining larger units and becoming a threat.
	For four days now, Tarrin had been doing this.  Kang had quickly taken complete control of the group, and had pulled them back to the south to get distance from the large column of enemy soldiers to the north.  Lorak had had a conniption when Kang issued that command, but one savage look from Mist cowed him immediately.  Tarrin put Kang in charge, so as far as Mist was concerned, anyone who said anything against Kang was directly challenging her mates decisions.  Mist did not tolerate challenges to Tarrins authority.  Lorak didnt complain very long, though, after he sat in on one of Kangs planning sessions.  Lorak was impressed by the dark-skinned General, with his intelligence and his ability to plan.  Kang didnt intend to sit on his hands out in an open grassland for long, only long enough to locate and absorb more rag-tag groups of Shadows.  His target number was fifty extra soldiers, he said hed feel confident with that number, given the strength of some of those in the host and the heavy reinforcement the soldiers would get from magic-users.
	Chief Kur of the orcs had actually helped them, for he had found one group of Shadows and sent them close enough for Ariana to spot them two days ago.  She landed and, after explaining what was going on, led them back to the host, increasing their number by sixteen soldiers.
	The group to the north hadnt just been sitting idle.  Whoever commanded it had sent out scouts, which the Selani promptly slaughtered.  He then sent two vrock to fly out to the south to find out why his scouts hadnt come back, which were promptly slaughtered by Ariana, who was just coming back from a scouting mission.  They never knew what hit them.  When the Demons didnt return, he sent a skirmish force of thirty soldiers on horseback to find out what was going on to the south, but they never got within sight of the host.  The Selani spotted them and signalled back, Kang sent Tarrin, and Tarrin destroyed them.
	The bodies were left out purposefully.  Kang wanted evidence of someone laying waste to the Ones forces out where everyone could see it, as a psychological weapon against the enemy and an uplifting sight for those allied with them.  Tarrin had left quite a few of those ugly battlefields all over the southern plains the way they came, as he located and destroyed any unit of the Ones forces he could find, and he left them laying out for the vultures as a warning to the Ones forces and a message to the Shadows:  youre not alone.  He was sure his huge footprints were causing all kinds of confusion and speculation, but that in itself was part of Kangs scheme.  He wanted everyone to know about Tarrin, everyone to know about the titanic beast that was fighting against the One, a huge symbol of rebellion that might bolster more and more to join them against the One.
	Tarrin could understand that, understand why keeping Tarrin a secret wasnt as good.  These people had lived in terror for a very long time, terror of the One, terror of his brutal system, so they needed soemthing tangible, something visible, something that they could see that looked like it was a challenge to the One, something mighty and heartening.  Rebelling against the One would take more than just hope or faith, it was going to take action, and visibility.  There were nothing but little villages this far north, so close to the lands of the Dura, and none around them because of the Fangwood, but hed seen some tiny hamlets here and there, and he was certain that theyd seen him.  Those would join with stories of the decimated Church forces and also the stories of when he assaulted a couple of cities in dragon form, to make them understand that this massive behemoth was out here destroying the Ones forcesand under his large wings, rebels would find safety and security.
	Good old Kang, never one for looking at the short term.  Kang was already devising plans for assaulting the Ones citiesjust in case.  When Tarrin explained what was going on, he immediately declared that the defeat of the One was the ultimate objective, and that was what he was working towards.  Getting them to the Dura was only an intermediate objective.
	Tarrin wasnt alone on todays flight.  Dolanna rode on top of his head, between his horns, with ropes tied to both of the backswept horns and around her slender waist to keep her from falling off.  It wasnt safe for a rider to be anywhere but right where she was; though there was plenty of space on his neck and back, between his spines, he moved his neck and back quite a bit because they were how he controlled his direction.  Where a bird used its tail for control, Tarrin had to use his wings, head, and tail, and that required a bit of motion.  Anyone riding between the spines on his neck or back or tail was in danger of getting crushed between them if he made a sharp turn.  Though it was conceivably safe on his back to the side of his his spines, just over his wingjoint, he wouldnt be able to talk to anyone when they were back there, and it would take a lot of rope to secure them.  Because Tarrin was shapeshifted, it meant that the sword was shifted with himso if she wanted to gather more power to fuel her Sorcery, she had to be very close to him.
	There were other reasons for him bringing her along, though.  Dolanna was one of those loose ends he needed to see to.
	I see something east of us, dear one, she called loudly, over the wind, in Sharadi.  When they were alone, she always reverted to her native tongue.  Its too bad I wont waste the power to weave a spell to let me see better, she lamented.
	Tarrin turned his head enough to look, but not enough to make him start drifting in that direction.  His eyes, the eyes of an airborne predator, were very sharp.  Its a group of villagers, from that little village over there to the left of them, he answered.  Lets go pay them a visit, he said with a mischevious tilt to his voice.
	Be nice, dear one, she laughed.
	Im not gonna swoop down on them, he explained as he banked east.  But if they have a Priest in that village, I want to do something about it.
	When he got closer, he saw the villages chapel, the only stone building among the twenty or so thatch huts.  The village was roughly oval in shape with only one gate in or out, the wall made of blackened logs that looked quite old.  The chapel had the Ones symbol on the door, but itself was only the size of a small cottage.  The villagers were already starting to scramble when he descended, and it was a full rout when he landed, streaming out of the little village and the surrounding farmland.  He ignored them, ambling up to the wall of the village as they screamed and ran in terror, then craned his neck over the open front gate and right up to the front door of the chapel.  By gently brushing his nose forward, he managed to knock on the door.
	Dear one! Dolanna said, then she laughed as he withdrew his head enough to see the door without straining his eyes.
	To Tarrins surprise, the door opened.  He figured the people inside didnt give screaming peasants much notice.  The figure that opened the door was a thin middle-aged human with graying and balding hair, wearing a black cassock with the symbol of the One sewn onto the chest.  Tarrin looked at him, and there was an aura about this human that marked him as a true fanatical follower of the One, as well as a dark sense of maliciousness.  This was a man who enjoyed hurting people.
	The human wasnt entirely surprised to see him.  No doubt that was because of the Quasit standing beside him, only coming up to his knee.  You! he spat.  The One will hang your horns in the main cathedral, Damned one!
	No running?  No screaming and begging? Tarrin asked conversationally.
	I will not dishonor my god by demeaning his might, he sneered.  I will fight you to my last breath, Damned one!  If I die here, I die in his service! he screamed, taking up the mace that was hanging from his belt.  He pointed at Tarrin.  Attack! he ordered his Quasit.
	The Quasit wasnt that fanatical, but it didnt really matter.  Tarrin turned his head sidewa