he laws of magic in this realm.  And so long as this Weave remained in existence, those laws would remain in effect, denying the Demons their innate magical abilities.

	The Demon Lord knew that now it was time to flee, to save as many of his minions as possible.  Things were not completely lost, not yet.  The One was dead, removed from the field, as was the damned half-god.  Both were dead.  But this alteration of his worlds magic had complicated issues, removing the ability of an easy victory.  He could still conquer this world, but it would take much longer, and would require his Demons to slowly march across the land and capture it piece by piece.
	And it would require the destruction of this new Weave, which meant that he would have to return here when he had a plan, when he was healed of the wounds he had inflicted upon himself because of that damned half-gods cunning trickery, and kill that lone female human that seemed to be holding it all together.  He just knew that at the moment, with him wounded and with his forces denied their magical abilities, with that shadow out there biting away his army one Demon at a time and with that lone female that seemed to have complete control of this new magical matrix girding it and preparing to unleash it upon them, it was time to retreat.  With the Demon Lord wounded by his own attack, he was in no condition to turn and try to destroy that mortal whose presence within the center of this magical creation kept the whole thing together.  The power that he could feel the mortal gathering was awesome, and with the rules of magic rewritten, she now had the power to do him real harm.  His invulnerabilities were wiped away when the rules were changed, because the body he had created in this realm had been made before that change, and thus had no innate defense against this change in the order of magic.  Her magical power, her Sorcery, it could kill him.  And with him injured, he was not about to engage her in battle, because she was fully well and preparing to fight, and he was wounded and weakened.
	There would be ample opportunity to fight another day.  And that mortal had no protection against his might, even if she could command magic that could do him harm.  All he had to do was pull back, heal, and then return and destroy her at his leisure.
	The Demon Lord, Gruz, had to chuckle ruefully, however, as he used his telepathic ability to order a full retreat.  By the Demon King, ShazBaket had not been lying.  That half-god, half-mortal had been one dangerous, dangerous enemy.  He could only thank the chaos that he was now dead, and no longer remained to continue making the Demon Lords plans unravel like so much bad knitting.
	The Demons turned and began to flee, but they did not get away cleanly.  The righteous fury of Dolanna raged at them from the volcano, as she used the newborn Weave to lash out at the army.  Sizzling, cascading bolts of lightning suddenly erupted from the clouds of ash above, causing savage explosions in whatever they touched.  Rock, ruins, and Demons all detonated at the raking touches of those bolts of lightning, and they did not stop, they did not relent.  They rained down upon the fleeing Demons with ferocious consistency, killing Demon after Demon, chasing them away from the slopes of the volcano and well out into the plains beyond.
	Dolanna rained lightning down on them as long as she had the strength to do so, and then she dropped to her hands and knees beside the body of her friend, panting heavily.  Fireflash landed not far from them, his huge body blocking the light of the volcano.  His head descended down to sniff at Tarrin, and then he reared his head back and bellowed an ear-splitting keen, a howl of mourning and of loss.
	Do not leave me, Fireflash, Dolanna said weakly, in a small voice.  I do not wish to be alone.  Please, do not leave me alone.
	Doranna, his voice called, a voice filled with sadness.  Ssstay.  Prrroteeehtht.  Thharrih wannnted sssstay.  Me ssstay, arrrwayths.
	He lowered his head down to her, and she buried her face in the side of his jaw, weeping uncontrollably.  Fireflash closed his eyes and allowed her to find comfort against him.  He knew what his master would have wanted.
	He would stay with Dolanna.  He would hunt for her, bring her water, bring her anything she needed.   He would be there for her, he would keep her company, he would entertain her, he would comfort her and help her in any way he could.  He would defend her, and he would protect her for as long as she was forced to remain trapped within the prison that was the Heart, a prison without walls, without bars, without guards, and without boundaries, but a prison nonetheless.
	He would not leave her.  He would not abandon the friend of his master.  Not ever.
	It was what Tarrin would have wanted him to do.

Chapter 18

	She had cried herself out.
	Dolanna knelt on the harsh, bare rock of the plateau, kneeling within the center of the Conduit which was the Heart of this new Weave, her arms hugging herself about the ribs as she looked down on the dark stone.  The skies above were clearing of their pall of ash, and the sun was starting to rise, the dawning of a new daythe dawning of a new age.  But there was little joy in it for her.
	It seemed surreal.  Never, never in her wildest dreams, did she believe that this could happen.  Tarrin had always seemedindestructible.  He was such a towering figure, so strong, and always so powerful, so powerful, even against the most dangerous adversaries, even in the face of great odds.  He always found a way to win, even when he was overmatchedit was one of his defining qualities, a cunning resourcefulness that was even more dangerous than his formidable magical powers, more of a weapon than his divine powers had ever been.  Even when he died on Sennadar, destroying Val, that was a death by his own choice, a conscious decision.  He had always been so powerful, an almost mythical figure, a titan that could withstand almost anything.  It was almost unbelievable that he could be dead.  He had faced so many obstacles, had overcome so much, only to die here?  Only to die now, but one step away from returning home?  It seemed, well, so unfair!
	She almost didnt want to believe it.  No, Tarrin knew that this might happen, he had to have knownand when Tarrin knew, Tarrin planned.  He had saved himself after dying against Val because he knew that his death was coming, and he prepared.  He knew that there was a very good chance of dying here, so he had to have prepared for it.  But how?  What did he do?  What was she supposed to do?  That was what had her so confused.  He had never told her what to do in the event that she ended up here, and that was why she was in shock nowshe hadnt expected it.  She was here as insurance, nothing more.  It had her so confused.  He had to know that he might die, but she had been so surprised when he did.
	His body was an example.  She didnt know what to do with him.  Should she bury him?  Should she preserve his body?  After all, it was unharmed.  The power of Druidic magic drained the energy out of him, nothing more.  If that energy replaced, the soul restored inside the body
	Soul.  Tarrins soul!
	No!  He had died within the mortal plane!  That meant that his soul, released from his body, had nowhere to go!  His soul was still divine, the soul of a god, and that meant that it could not exist trapped within the confines of a mortal plane without a body to protect it!
	The soultrap!  Did it work?  Had it pulled his soul back into itself across the dimensions?  It was still on Sennadarwould it still work, even now?  Had his soul been captured and protected?  Or had it been torn apart, as a soul that existed in the higher dimensions been trapped within the confines of mortal comprehension, an environment in which it could not survive?
	She was so confused.  She didnt know what to do.
	Calm down, daughter, a voice drifted to her from an unimaginable distance.  You should know the kitten better than that.
	Mother! she gasped, looking around.  Oh, Mother!  What am I to do?  I do not know what to do!
	First things first, my child, this stretches even the bounds of my power, and I cant do this for long.  Is Tarrins body there?
	Yes, Mother!  Fireflash has gone back for our travel pack, but Tarrin she choked up.  I did not know what to do with his body.  It is here.
	Listen to me carefully, daughter.  Destroy it.
	What? she gasped.
	You heard me.  Destroy it immediately.  Its interfering with what I am trying to do.  Destroy it right now.
	Confused she might be, but she was not about to disobey a direct command from her goddess.  She touched on this new Weave, felt it respond to her call, and turned that power against the body of her oldest friend.  The Weave struck at that mortal form, infusing it with its power.  It couldnt destroy it by fire, for its immunity to fire remained even after death, so Dolanna ordered the Weave to strike the body with the power of the ages, causing it to decay into dust within the blink of an eye.  The body wavered, and then it was gone, nothing but greyish dust on the rocky ground.
	It is done, Mother, she called, trying to suppress a sob.
	Very good.  Is that creation of his still there?
	The shadow?  Mother, how did you know about it?
	I touched his mind just before he died, when he reached out to me.  I saw everything in his mind, I know what he had planned, and what we have to do now.
	Really?  Oh, Mother!  Can we get him back?
	Wewell have to see, she answered.  He placed all of his power into the sword and then broke it both to force the hand of the Demon Lord, but also as a means to try to get my mother to permit him to come home.  He was going to come home as a mortal and leave the sword behind, locked away from his power.  But when he injured the Demon Lord, he saw a chance to deliver a crippling blow to his plans, and he took it.  And, unfortunately, touching the All of that world was too much for him.
	But, but, he died in the mortal plane.  His soul
	I know, but his soul is intact.  Thats whats causing the problem.  I cant find it.  Something protected it when he died, it still exists, but I dont know what, and I dont know where.  Thats what Im trying to do right now, find his soul.  If I can find it, I can retrieve it, and we can work from there.
	So there is hope?
	Daughter, there is always hope, she answered.  He didnt die on Sennadar, the twins of Death didnt lock away his soul.  If I can find it, I can restore it into a new body, just as I did before.  When Tarrin died, he knew that I had that ability.  In a way, hes gambling that I can do it again.
	How will we recover his soul, Mother?
	Leave that to me, she said confidently.  Now, answer my question, quickly.  Is the shadow there?
	No, Mother, its gone after the Demons.
	I rather thought it would, thats what it was meant to do, she said thoughtfully.  What about his sword?  Are the pieces still there?
	She looked around, then remembered what had happened.  No, Mother, she answered.  When Tarrinwhen he created this new Weave, it created a tornado that picked everything up and cast it to the winds.  I was nearly swept away.
	Damn, she growled.  Listen carefully, daughter.  You are in control of that Weave, and for right now, I cant help you.  You must master it.  You need to find that shadow, and find the two pieces of Tarrins sword.  You must find them quickly.
	Mother, what importance do they have?
	They mean everything, daughter, she said seriously.  Tarrins power still exists.  He placed it all within the sword, and then he broke it, trapping that power within it.  When Tarrin died, his power didnt fade away, because his soul still continues on.  Remember, daughter, in some ways, he is a god, and his power will remain so long as his soul lives, even if his mortal body is  dead.  It lives on within the sword, and within that shadow.  In a way, that shadow is now Tarrin, it is everything that he represented.  The reason that Weave has not unravelled is because of the shadow.  There is no suikun there, daughter.  The shadow represents that power, and together, with you, it helps retain the Weave.  You must find the shadow, child, find it quickly, and help it in any way you can.  Do not let it be destroyed, under any circumstances.  Im sending a suikun to Pyrosia as quickly as I can manage to help take up the burden, and prevent that Weave from being destroyed if the shadow does fall.
	But, but how can I help it from here?  I cannot leave this Conduit, Mother.
	Daughter, she chided, I thought you better than that.  You are a Sorcerer, and you have a Weave.  Use it.
	Dolannas eyes widened, and she both chuckled and sniffled.  I am sorry, Mother.  I am still not thinking clearly.  I will find the shadow, and I will look for the pieces of the sword.
	Quickly, daughter.  The shadow is important, but the sword means everything.  With Tarrin dead, that means that the power within the sword no longer calls one man its master.  Anyone who finds both pieces and joins them together is going to command that power.  Anyone who gets both pieces will have all of Tarrins power at his command.  And Im positive that your Demon Lord even now has his minions searching for them, even as he runs away.  You have to find them first, daughter.  Im arranging to send people from here to help, soldiers to fight the Demons, and Sorcerers and others to recover the sword.
	I cant stress it enough, daughter.  Find the pieces of the sword.  You must find the pieces of the sword, and you must do it as quickly as you can, but dont become so engrossed in it that you allow the shadow to fall.  You are now the eyes and the ears of your world, Dolanna.  There is nothing that you cannot see, nothing that you cannot hear, if you only take the time to learn how it is done.  There is no one on that world who can do this better than you.  Make me proud, my daughter.
	I will not fail you, Mother.
	I know.  Whenever I need someone I can depend on, youre always high up on my list, Dolanna.  You are one of my very best, and Im proud of you.  That you can hold that Weave together and still be able to talk says everything that needs to be said.
	Dolanna flushed, but said nothing.
	Now bend yourself to your tasks, child, and Ill get started on mine.  Expect to feel a suikun enter Pyrosia as soon as I can kick one in the rump and get him or her to the gate.  Until one does, keep that shadow alive, no matter what it takes.  Do you understand?
	I will make sure of it, Mother, she said.
	Look for the sword as much as you can while protecting the shadow, and when a suikun gets there, your only mission is to find the pieces of the sword.  Were going to need them.  If we have any chance of recovering Tarrin and somehow restoring him, we must have that sword.
	I will start immediately, Mother.
	Do me proud, daughter, the voice of the Goddess said, and then it retreated.
	I will make you proud of me, Mother, Dolanna whispered, wiping at her cheek.  She looked around, heard nothing but the rush of the warm summer wind, and then she settled herself in a comfortable seat upon the hard, unforgiving ground.
	Her mind was a whirlwind of fear, and doubt, but she brushed all that aside.  She now had a mission, she now had something to do.  What she was doing was important, and no one else could do it.  She did not wish for this duty, did not want it, but she would carry it out to the best of her ability.
	With the ease of a master of her craft, Dolannas consciousness rose up into the Weave, joined with it, and began.  There was much she had to learn, much she had to discover, for this was an alien Weave, it was not the Weave of the Goddess, and she had to use it in ways she had never tried before.  She had to find the shadow, she had to find the two pieces of the sword, and she had to do it using nothing more than the Weave itself.
	She would not fail her Goddess.  And she would not fail Tarrin.

	Haven.  A small, verdant valley nestled between two towering mountain ranges and the Bay of Sharadar, a tiny belt of green clinging to the side of the mountains, protected from the rest of Arathorn by those mountains, and protected from ships landing by sea from the north by a dangerous reef that lurked just offshore.  Nobody would come there anyway, for it was well known throughout the entire continent that the lands of Haven were cursed, they were haunted, that no one who set foot upon them ever returned.
	This was the domain of Spyder, the Guardian, and it was the location of the only gate that opened into the world of Sennadar.  Haven had been the domain of this enigmatic Urzani for thousands of years, as she carried out her solitary task of defending the gate against incursion from beyond, defending it against Demons, against the Avatars of gods, against hapless mortals, and against planar entities that had stumbled across the location of the gateway, one of the most elusive portals in the Astral.  Not just anyone could find the gate of Sennadar.  It could not be seen, it could not be located with magic, and it could not be tracked.  Only those who had the fortuneor misfortuneof stumbling across it by random chance could find it, and only those who paid attention could find it again after being ejected by Spyder back into the Astral.  Those rare few that did not heed the warnings of the mortal guardian, by either arrogance or stupidity, did not live to return to the Astral a second time.
	She had lived in the rather modest mansion built over the gate for millenia, and until recently, she had lived alone.  But now she had company, she had guests.  Two Were-cats had taken up residence with her, and all in all, she had not been entirely displeased by their presence.  One of them was Triana, and the other  Jasana.  Jasana was here to continue her training, tutoring both under her grandmother in the arts of Druidic magic, and under Spyder in matters magical and martial.
	Truth be told, Spyder was rather amused with Jasana.  She had awesome potential, and she had tremendous intelligence.  She was a gifted Sorcerer, in both power and ability.  But, she was much like the child that she appeared to be to Spyder, but desperately tried to pretend she was not.  She had a refreshing view of the world, and her youth and sincere enthusiasm was almost infectious.  She was independent, she was stubborn, and she was almost arrogantly convinced that she was right almost all of the time, even when thousands of years of experience that represented the background of her teacher told her that she was wrong.  Jasana was the future, she was a piece of clay to be molded, even when she resented such molding, and Spyder had taken sincere pleasure in her role as Jasanas mentor.
	The time spent with Triana was equally enjoyable.  Triana was wise, and had a respect for the years that Spyder had lived.  In Triana, Spyder had a companion that understood her, someone that she could talk to about things that younger ones like Jasana could never understand.  A solid friendship had developed between the two, based on mutual respect.
	As it was spring in Suld, it was fall in Haven.  The trees around the modest home of the most powerful mortal on Sennadar had begun to change colors, but the flowers still bloomed in the garden behind her manor.  It was in this garden that Triana did most of her training with Jasana, favoring the outdoors, to bring her into closer touch with the forces of nature that, in their own way, fueled the power of the All.  As this world thrived, so did the might of Ayise, the Allmother, which made the All that much stronger.  For years, Triana had trained Jasana in the use of Druidic magic, but her ability to use Druidic magic was not very far along.  This was because of the dangerous nature of the magic, and the need to thoroughly educate the girl about it before she actually used it.  This was the one thing that drove Jasana crazy more than anything else.  Jasana was not the kind that could sit patiently and learn.  She learned by doing, she wanted to know now, wanted to do now.  Tomorrow was just a misty, intangible thing to her, and this was her greatest failing.  Jasana was a Were-cat, and her Were half greatly influenced this inability to plan for the future.  Just about the only time Jasana showed any kind of ability to plan for the future was when she was denied what she wanted, and her cunning, manipulative nature came into the forefront.
	Teaching Jasana patience was a monumental task, and a task that required both Spyder and Triana to perform it.  And it was a task in which they had not quite succeeded yet.
	They sat on a bench by Spyders prized roses, as Jasana listened only half-heartedly as Triana explained the use of the Druidic spell that allowed communication over great distances, explained the theory of it to her.  Jasana was more interested in the bee that kept buzzing lightly over the tops of the red flowers, and then flitted to another bush, where white roses climbed up a trellis that covered the path back to the manor house.
	Owww! Jasana complained, putting her paw to her head to cover the place just between her ears, where Triana had smacked her.
	Im over here, girl, Triana stated in that gruff voice.  Would you like a scar on your left to match the one on your right?
	The Were-cat put a paw to the side of her neck, where a trio of faint white lines ran along her skin.  It was a reminder that not paying attention to Triana when she demanded that attention could bepainful.  I cant believe you did that, she sulked.  Jeri will think
	Jeri should be the last thing on your mind right now, she warned with steely eyes.
	Spyder, leaning on the trellis with her black cloak shimmering and flowing despite the lack of wind, could only inwardly smile.  Triana certainly had ways of keeping ones attention, and they were frightfully direct.  She was about to leave them to their training and return to the library, but the arrival of a presence that all three of them could feel delayed her intention.  That presence arrived quickly in the garden, and manifested itself behind the hedge wall.
	The Goddess stepped out from behind that wall, and she looked as she always looked.  She wore a shimmering gown that looked spun from starlight, and her eyes glowed with a strong amber radiance.  Her hair was thick and lush and long, and it was colored in the seven colors of the rainbow, the seven colors of Sorcery.
	Mother, Spyder said with a bow.  It is good of you to visit my home.  May I make you comfortable?
	Itll have to wait, daughter, she said seriously, putting her hand on the Urzanis shoulder.  How ready is she, Triana?
	Not nearly, the matron replied honestly.  She might have been much further along, but she doesnt want to listen.
	You dont want to teach, Jasana muttered under her breath.  Owww! she sucked in her breath when Triana slapped her across the back of the head.  And she was not gentle.
	See? Triana said with a telling sigh.
	I, see, the Goddess said with a straight face.
	What troubles you, Mother? Spyder asked.
	I could never hide anything from you, my daughter, the Goddess sighed.  Im afraid I bear bad tidings, my children.  And Im here to collect this one.  I need her.
	She pointed at Jasana.
	Me?  You need me, Mother? Jasana asked with barely contained enthusiasm.  Yes!  Um, er, what do you need me to do?
	You, daughter, are going to go take the place of your father, she said directly.
	Jasanas expression turned horrified.
	Tarrin? Triana asked.
	The Goddess shook her head.  He used Druidic magic in that other world, Triana, and he did something beyond his ability.  You know what happens.
	Trianas reaction was unusual.  She simply put her elbows on her knees and leaned into her paws.  She did not cry, she did not scream.  She simply took a long, private moment.
	What do you mean?  What happened to my father? Jasana demanded.
	He is dead, girl, Spyder announced flatly.  Were you to pay more attention to your teacher, you would have known that.
	My, my father, dead?  No, she said in a weak voice, her paws beginning to tremble.
	No, girl, the Goddess said quickly, reaching out and snatching up her paws into her hands.  Dont do this to me, not now.  You cant break down.  You have to get to that other world, and you have to get there fast.  Dolannas there all by herself, and she needs your help.
	B-But, my father
	Your father would beat you senseless if you let your emotions overwhelm your duty, the Goddess said harshly, squeezing her paws.  And your father is a crafty, wily Were-cat who knows how to get himself out of bad situations.  He cheated death once before, and he can do it again, but not if you fall apart on me.  Do you understand?
	I she sniffled, then she winced when the Goddess squeezed her hands again.
	I said do you understand?
	I, yes, Mother, I understand, she said, on the verge of tears.
	Good, she stated.  Spyder.
	Yes, Mother?
	How many friends do you have among the Deva?
	Some, not many, she answered.
	Think you can wrangle a favor?
	I might, Mother. I can make no guarantees.  What do you need?
	When Tarrin died, I lost touch with his soul, she answered.  I cant find it.  Its beyond my ability to touch.  All I know is that something is protecting it, or he found some way to move his soul into the Astral.  Finding his soul is the first step to figuring out what to do.  If Tarrin found some way to shift his soul into the Astral before he died, the Deva can find it.
	I will ask about, Mother.  As I said, I can make no promises.  As you know, they answer only to Him.  If they do this, it would be of their own volition, and they would ask Him for permission beforehand.
	All I can ask is that you try, my daughter.
	It will be ask you ask, Mother.  I will see to it immediately, if you have no other tasks for me.
	Later, but not at the moment.
	Spyder bowed to the Goddess, then turned and hurried off towards the manor house.
	Now, the Goddess said, sitting down on a bench facing Triana.  Sit.
	Jasana did so, her eyes brimming with tears.
	I know youve talked to Koran Dar, and Haley.  You know what was going on there, dont you?  Jasana nodded to her.  Good.  What you must understand is that what Tarrin did has changed everything in that other world, she began.  He used his Druidic power to touch the All of that world, and he used it to build a Weave.  A complete, entire Weave.
	Jasana gaped at her.
	The only thing holding that Weave together right now is your fathers forward thinking, and Dolanna.  You have to get there quickly, daughter.  You are suikun, and your presence is needed to give that Weave continuity.  Dolanna can hold it together, but she needs your presence there to form the foundation.  If that Weave unravels, then the Demon Lord wins, and your father sacrificed himself for nothing.  Can I make it any clearer to you?
	N-No, Mother, she said shudderingly.
	Good.  Now, when you get there, you have a task, daughter.  Before Tarrin died, he placed all of his divine power into his sword, and then he broke it.
	B-Broke it?  Why did he do that?
	His reason for doing so at that particular moment was very sound, girl, trust me, she told her bluntly.  Since his soul survived his death, and his soul is that of a god, then
	Then that power still exists! Triana gasped.
	The Goddess nodded.  Its still there, trapped in the pieces of his sword.  And because your father died, it no longer has a master.  Its going to serve whoever finds those two fragments and joins them back together.  Its power without direction, and its going to obey whoever commands it.  Your job, daughter, is to find those pieces.  You have to find them quickly, and above all else, you must keep them out of the hands of the Demons.  That matters more right now than anything else, even the possibility of recovering your father.  If the Demons get hold of that power, they will use it against the mortals, and they will win.  Im not going to let my kittens sacrifice be in vain.  He died to give that world a chance to get rid of the Demons, and Ill be damned if I dont do everything in my power to honor that sacrifice.
	But, but wont that power obey fathers will?  I mean, if his soul is that of a god, and he found a way to protect his soul after he died, then doesnt that mean that hes still there?
	If he was a true god, yes, daughter, youd be right, the Goddess told her.  But hes not a god.  Not that way.  His soul is divine, but its not in an Outer Plane, and he has no icon on that world to channel his power.  In a way, that sword was his icon, the focus of his power in the mortal world.
	Well, if we put it back together, then that means hell have control of it, right? Jasana asked.
	The Goddess smiled.  So much intuition, but so little wisdom, she announced.  Yes, if we restore the sword, then Tarrin will be aware of it, but the sword and Tarrin are separate.  Hell be aware of the sword, but because hes not a true god, he wont have complete control over it.  That kind of control required him to be in contact with it, for his soul to be right there to command it.  If the sword was restored and Tarrin not there, then hed only be dimly aware that the swords power was restored, but have very little ability to direct it.  The sword itself would command that power.
	Well, father wouldnt let any Demon use it.
	Yes, but you underestimate the power of a Demon Lord, girl.  It can force obedience out of the sword.  Any Demon that finds that sword is going to take it to its master, and he will be the one to use it.  In fact, the Demon Lord could use the sword to capture Tarrins soul.
	Thats also why you want it, Triana reasoned.
	The Goddess nodded. I can use the sword to make direct contact with your fathers soul, and then well work from there.
	You mean youll bring him back? she asked.
	I mean Ill find out what he wants us to do, she said firmly.  I wont force anything upon my kitten, girl, never again.  I forced him to become Were, and the pain I feel over that decision still haunts me.  When he made this sacrifice, he did it willingly.  He chose to die, and I will not n