"I see you found it," Tarrin said to his mother as she embraced him.

"Your directions were lousy," she accused, going over to hug Allia. "How are you, Allia?"

"I am very well, kaisha," she said, which was a Selani term for mother. That Allia would call Elke "mother" was a clear indication of how she felt about Tarrin's parents.

Tarrin crushed his father in a fierce hug, and Eron winced a bit. "Still tender, father?" he asked, holding Eron at arm's length.

"A bit, but at least the Sorcerers fixed my knee," he said. "I don't limp anymore."

"Well, at least they're good for something," Tarrin said with a smile. He pushed his father aside gently and knelt as Janette approached him, almost warily. Tarrin held his paw out to her tentatively, emotion rising up in him. "Little mother," he said in a voice of the most profound respect and love.

She threw herself into his arms, and it was all Tarrin could do to keep from crying. The little girl meant as much to him as his own parents or sister or Allia. He enfolded her, surrounding her in his arms the same way she would enfold him in her protective embrace, and the same feeling of peace and security swept over him at her touch as it used to do when he was her pet.

She looked up at him with teary eyes, and he was amazed at how easily she accepted him as more than just her cat. She truly was a wondrous little girl.

"They gave me a new cat, but it's just not the same," she told him in a serious voice.

"I'll have a talk with it, little mother," he promised with a gentle smile.

Nanna brought out a plate of sweetmeats, and that gave them all a focal point. Tarrin folded Janine up in a warm hug as she came over, and she just smiled at him and swatted him on the shoulder. "I almost didn't believe her, until your parents showed up," she told him in an accusing voice. "That was a mean trick to play."

"It wasn't a trick, Janine," he told her. "I needed the time here."

"Your parents explained that to us," she told him.

"I hope I'm still welcome."

"Tarrin, you may have started as the family pet, but now you're family," she assured him in an uncharacteristically gentle voice. "You're just as welcome as my own mother."

"I've heard things about your mother," Tarrin winked. "That doesn't sound very encouraging."

Janine laughed. "Well, you're as welcome as my mother to me," she corrected. "How Tomas feels about it is another matter." She looked at Allia, who was busily trying to answer a million questions thrown at her by Elke. "This is Allia?"

"Yes, she's like a sister to me, and she's been completely adopted by my family," Tarrin smiled. "My mother adores her so much she hogs time away from my father and Jenna."

"Well, I'm sure she'll fit in here just fine," she said with a smile.

After the initial disturbance was over, everyone sat back down. Tomas and Janine sat in their favorite chairs, and Eron and Elke sat on chairs to the side. Jenna and Nanna sat down on the sofa on the other side, forming a box with the fireplace. Tarrin sat cross-legged on the floor with his back to the fire, and Janette was seated firmly in his lap. His arms were around her, almost protectively, and she was playing with the tip of his tail. Allia sat in a similar position beside him. Tarrin got serious, beginning to explain to his parents and his friends what was going on in the Tower. He left out a few things, like Keritanima's ideas about what happened to him, but he did make mention of the fact that the fight with the Doomwalker had altered his powers in Sorcery.

"It was you," Tomas said suddenly. "You scared off the bandit."

Tarrin nodded. "I used Sorcery, totally by reflex, because I'd been in cat form so long that I couldn't remember quickly how to change back," he told him. "That's why the knife was hot. I burned him with fire, and he ran back out the door." He looked down at Janette. "That was when I realized that I couldn't stay here anymore," he added. "Because I was afraid that I'd accidentally hurt you, or my little mother. That's something that I'd never forgive myself for, if it happened."

"While he was gone, I understood what he had been going through," Allia continued. "They paid me so much attention that I felt very uncomfortable. Members of the Council would ask about my progress, and they began to watch me at all times. I do not see how Tarrin endured it. They were about to drive me mad."

"Well, at least now you're pretty sure that they want something from you," Eron said.

"I've known that for a while, father," Tarrin told him. "But now it's getting serious. After the fight, and the accident-" he winced and closed his eyes. The memory of that pain was still fresh in his mind, and he couldn't think about it without shuddering. "Now that I may not be any use to them, they may decide that I'm not worth the effort."

"They wouldn't do that!" Janine said in shock. "This is the Tower we're talking about! The katzh-dashi! They've never lifted a hand against anyone!"

"The Sorcerers aren't what everyone thinks they are, Janine," Tarrin told her. "They're just as ruthless as any other organization with power, and they'll use that power. If I'm no use to them, they'll get rid of me. If only to keep me out of the hands of their enemies. I'm too dangerous to be allowed to run loose."

"I think you're jumping the bow, son," Elke said. "This is all just the Wikuni's conjecture."

"Yes, but if there's one thing I know about Kerri, it's that her conjecture usually ends up being true. That's one very smart little Wikuni." He shoved the tip of his tail into Janette's face, which made her giggle and try to keep the attacking appendage away. "We're going to be trying to find out what's going on, but it may not be easy."

"The Wikuni is setting up spies and information gathering," Allia said. "She seems very adept at it."

"It's how she survived," Tarrin told her.

"Hopefully, the actions will pan out for us," Allia continued. "Without us knowing what is going on, it puts us at a serious disadvantage."

"Have you heard any rumor about the light?" Tarrin asked Tomas.

"Some, but it's been mostly just rehashing of how it looked. I only heard one rumor that it was a bad omen, but there wasn't any real support for it, and they didn't go into detail."

"Well, something's going on. It's obvious now," Tarrin said. "We're doing our best to find out what it is, without letting them know that we know."

"What can I do to help, Tarrin?" Tomas asked.

Tarrin felt tremendous warmth and trust in the willowy man now. "At the moment, nothing," he said. "But it wouldn't hurt if you always kept a copy of your shipping schedule around. Just in case."

Tomas nodded. "I have six ships now, Tarrin. They're coming in and out all the time. I'm sure that any of them could handle a bit of extra passage."

Tomas understood perfectly. That was a tremendous load off his mind. Tomas would get them out of Suld, if it came to having to run. "You have no idea how comforting that is to me," Tarrin told him.

"It's always good to keep friends comfortable," Tomas said with a smile.

"How did you manage to get time to come here, Tarrin?" Eron asked.

Allia gave Tarrin a smile, and Tarrin laughed. "They didn't," he replied. "I gave myself the time off."

"They'll throw a fit if they find out," Eron laughed.

"Let them. Right now, they need me more than I need them. That lets me really push things."

"No doubt," Janine agreed. "Well, if you're playing hookey to be here, let's not waste your time with serious conversation that depresses you. Why don't we play some King's Castle? Your mother says you're very good at it, and I'm tired of Tomas losing all our games."

"I do not!" Tomas challenged.

"Then you be partners with Elke," she replied in a sweet voice.