It was the matronly, gray-bunned maid, Nanna. "Yes, may I help you?" she asked politely as she took in the dark, mysterious stranger standing on the doorstep, hidden in the shadows of a cloak and deep cowl.

"I am looking for the Kaels," Allia said in her accented voice. "I was told that they would be here."

"I'm sorry, but I'm afraid you have the wrong house," she said. "This is the residence of the Kellers."

Tarrin quickly changed form, and then boldly walked out onto the porch in front of Allia. He meowed to get Nanna's attention, and the matronly woman looked down. Her eyes widened when she saw him, and then she gave out a gasp that turned into a smile. "Oh, he sent you," she said. "Yes, yes, please come in."

Allia entered in with Tarrin as he padded in through the open door. All the scents he remembered from the house were there, as well as scents of his parents and sister, and it washed a wave of nostalgia and misty memory over him. In many ways, the house and the people in it were family to him. His real parents, and the adopted family that had taken a nearly insane Tarrin and, with love and attention and giving him a quiet place to work through his problems, returned him to a balance with himself. Janette was only a little girl, but she held a place in his heart that only his mother, Dolanna, and Jesmind shared. He would kill for Janette, just as quickly as he would give his life to protect her. "Allia, tell her I'm going to change, so she doesn't get frightened."

"Madam, he's going to change. He doesn't want you to be frightened."

"Let me close the door," she said, shutting the door and throwing two heavy bolts. "He won't frighten me, my dear. I've already been told about him."

Tarrin returned to his humanoid form easily, and Nanna gave him an appraising look that almost made him feel uncomfortable. "I must say, you're very, large," she said with a charming smile. "I don't see how you fit yourself into such a little body."

"Magic," Tarrin said with a shrug. "I've missed you, Nanna. How have you been?"

"Things have been slow," she sighed. "Janette moped around for a while, at least until Janine got her another cat. I'm afraid that Socks isn't half as obedient as you were."

Tarrin laughed. "I'll have a talk with him," he promised. "Was there any trouble with my family?"

"Janine was a bit put out, but you know how she is," Nanna said with a wink. "But now she has two little girls to turn into little ladies, and she gets along rather well with your mother. Tomas and your father act like they've been drinking buddies for fifty years."

"I knew that they'd take a liking to my family," Tarrin said, with a relief in his voice that belied his words. "I'm just sorry I had to send them here, but I couldn't think of anywhere else safe."

"It's alright, Tarrin," Nanna told him. "Tomas and Janine wouldn't turn them away, though Janine would complain about it a while. They're very good people." Nanna suddenly blushed. "And all that time, I thought you were a cat. I do hope that you'll be discreet?"

Nanna had a habit of talking to herself, and the things she said when she thought she was alone were very private. He fully understood why she blushed. "And what would I have to be discreet about, Nanna?" he asked in a direct voice.

She chuckled. "You're such a good boy," she said, reaching up and patting his cheek. "And this is Allia?"

"I see my parents talk," Tarrin said ruefully. "Allia, this is Nanna."

"A pleasure," she said, removing her hood, then unbuckling the brass buckle that held the cloak on her shoulders. She reached out her slender four-fingered hand confidently, and Nanna took it.

"Such a lovely young woman," Nanna said with a smile. "I've heard quite a bit about you, Allia. Tarrin's mother thinks of you as sent by the gods."

"No, I am not quite as important as that," Allia said with a rueful smile.

"Nanna, who's at the door?" Tomas' voice called, and he appeared beyond the entrance foyer. He looked just fine, much to Tarrin's relief, and he gave out a laugh and a broad smile when he recognized the visitors for what they were. "Well, look who drug in the cat," he said with a broad smile. "It's strange to see you that way, Shadow."

"Tarrin," he corrected with a grin, going over and taking Tomas' hand fondly. "I hope you don't mind that I sent my family here, Tomas. But I didn't know of anywhere else safe."

"They had to explain a bit as to how they knew who we were, but once we found out all the details, we were happy to accept them," Tomas assured him. "I've already made a few business deals with your father," he said slyly. "Do you know how much his apple brandy fetches in Suld? Not to mention his arrows."

Tarrin laughed. "You are a merchant to the core, Tomas," he said.

"Thank you," he winked. "And this must be Allia," he said, looking at the beautiful Selani.

Tarrin nodded. "Allia, this is Tomas, Janette's father," Tarrin introduced. "Tomas, this is Allia, my sister."

"I'll assume that the relationship isn't natural," Tomas said with a smile as he accepted Allia's hand.

"We were not born siblings, but we are in every other sense of the word," Allia said calmly. "Tarrin is like blood to me."

"Then you'll be like blood to us," Tomas said simply. "We've all but adopted Tarrin's family, and there's always room for one more at our table."

"You are most generous, Tomas," Allia said.

"What's the use of having money if you can't use it?" Tomas smiled. "Come, I know quite a few people who will be overjoyed to see you. They're in the parlor. Nanna, why don't you forget taking care of the dishes and come join us?"

"I'm almost finished, Tomas," Nanna replied. Though she was a servant, the servants in Tomas' house were very well treated, and almost like family themselves. Nanna never used titles for them when they were alone. When they had company was another matter. "I'll be along in just a bit. You know how messy Deris is when he cooks, and how much I hate dirt."

Tomas laughed. "Don't take too long, Nanna. And make Deris help you clean up his mess."

"I always do," she said with a smile. Deris and Nanna were married, and it helped make the house seem more like a family affair. Only the butler, Dernan, had no kin or family in the house. But he was such a sweet old man that everyone treated him with respect, courtesy, and a great deal of friendship. Janette called him Grandfather. Thinking of Dernan made Tarrin realize that it wasn't him that opened the door. "Where is Dernan?" Tarrin asked suddenly.

"He's gone to Three Forks to see his family," he replied. "His sister has taken ill, and they asked him to come."

"That's quite a journey. When did he leave?"

"Five days ago. He should be two days out of Ultern by now." Three Forks was a city south of Torrian, and they could have gone that way to reach Suld. But the river at Marta's Ford was much faster. There was a road that linked Three Forks to Ultern, but that was a fifteen day journey through unclaimed forest. There wasn't so much as an inn between Ultern and Three Forks, and it was a dangerous road. Tarrin hoped that Dernan was wise enough to travel with an armed caravan.

They entered the parlor, with its large fireplace where Tarrin had spent so many nights, the plush furniture and the tasteful portraits and art decorating the walls, but it was the people inside that Tarrin fixed his attention upon. Sitting in her favorite chair was Janine, a book in her lap, and in another chair near her was his mother, Elke, who was actually doing needlepoint. Eron Kael was sitting in a large chair by the fire, and Jenna and Janette were sitting on the bare floor off the rug, playing a game with metal jacks and a ball made out of a strange springy substance that made it bounce very high.

Jenna saw him first. She gasped and jumped up, startling Janette, and charged towards him. "Tarrin!" she cried, and he knelt down and let her fling herself into his arms. Jenna was a tall girl, but she still only came up to the base of his ribcage. Tarrin picked up his sister and twirled her around, then set her down as Janette managed to stand up. Elke was already halfway to him, and Janine had put her book aside as Eron struggled to his feet.