"South of the forests?" Tarrin asked intently. "Where exactly?"

"From what I've heard so far, Daltochan owns all of northeast Sulasia," he replied. "They were trying to capture Ultern, the last my reports said. Marta's Ford, Two Forks, Arrigon, Torrian, they're all occupied by Dal forces. What makes that so bad is that the Dals seem to have entered pacts with some Goblinoid tribes," he said grimly. "There are Bruga, Waern, and Dargu running around up there wearing Dal livery, and you know how they are. I'm glad I don't live in occupied Sulasia right now."

Miranda put a hand on Tarrin's elbow, and he jumped slightly. The very thought of Dargu or Waern occupying Aldreth made him want to jump up and ride home to kick them out. They were his friends, his people, and they were probably suffering terribly under the cruel yoke of the Dal invaders and their Goblinoid allies. He had no idea he had lost his concentration, and Miranda's touch brought a throbbing ache through his body as the pain of holding the human form reasserted itself in his mind. Breathing a few times to center himself again, he forced the pain away from him, back into the depths of his consciousness, where it couldn't distract him from the situation at hand.

"Have the Sorcerers stepped in yet?" Miranda asked.

"They can't yet," he replied. "They can't intervene, or they won't, until the invaders threaten Suld. But right now there's chaos in Suld."

"Why is that?"

"King Erick Aralon is dead," he said bluntly. "He died last month of a fever. His wife, Amerine, gave birth to an heir about two days before he died, and she's declared herself regent until he's old enough to assume the throne."

"Did the Sulasian houses accept that?" Miranda asked.

"It looks like they have," he replied. "Erick was an incompetent dolt, but Amerine is sharp and very skilled. She's already made the very smart move of appointing Duke Arren of Torrian as general of her armies, and that made the Dal army grind to a halt at Ultern. Appointing Arren was the smartest thing she could have done. The noble houses realize that they need some stability right now, and Amerine can supply it, so they've thrown their lots in with her."

"Ugly," Miranda sighed. "What is the Wikuni position in the war?"

"We have none, as usual," he replied. "Damon Eram doesn't support either side."

"Typical," she said critically. "What else is going on?"

"Just the usual degeneration of the world into unbridled chaos," he grunted. "Wars have flared up all over the world, and it's all over the Firestaff. Even the most wildly insubstantiated belief that it rests in one kingdom gives all its neighbors enough motivation to invade it. Even Sharadar was invaded, believe it or not. Stygia tried to invade across the Inner Sea, but it ended as disastrously as every other Stygian attempt to invade Sharadar."

"Why is that?" Tarrin asked curiously, trying to shunt aside his fears for Sulasia.

"The Sulasian Tower doesn't work with the kingdom," Jander told him. "The Sharadite Tower is the kingdom. Sharadar is ruled by a Sorceress, Alexis Firehair. Stygia got their usual butt-stomping by the Sharadite Tower when they landed their marines on Sharadar's northern coast."

"How could they do that?" he asked.

"Tarrin, the Sulasian Tower has a thousand Sorcerers at the most," Miranda told him. "The Tower in Sharadar has tens of thousands of Sorcerers among its number, and that doesn't even count the priests and arcane mages also living in the kingdom, attracted there by the receptive nature of Sharadar to magic and learning. They have a literal army of magicians. Few armies can stand up to that for long."

"I guess not," he agreed after a moment.

"So, the world has become a keg of gunpowder with a lit fuse," Miranda summed up.

"More or less. As to local matters, I suggest you keep a low profile, and I heavily suggest you don't go out alone, Tarrin."

"Why is that, Jander?"

"There's been a rash of pet murders, Miranda," Jander said seriously. "Someone's been going around and killing cats with silver-tipped arrows."

The importance of that wasn't lost on Tarrin. Someone thought he was here, and they were trying to kill him. It wasn't much of a surprise, but it seemed a little bit of a surprise in that it was the first time in a long while he was certain that people were out to get him, people who knew exactly who and what he was, and how to best eliminate him.

"You can't find a cat anywhere in Tor, and the rat population has absolutely exploded as a result," Jander said sourly. "I even found one in my bed a few days ago. The people who own the cats that are still alive won't let them out. There's been no absolute proof, but it looks like the kii'zadun is behind it. A group of men arrived here last month and hired every cutthroat and thief they could find, with orders to kill any cat-like Wikuni they found. Needless to say, tensions among our own people are very high right now, because they're still out there. The idea of killing cats seems like a logical next step, and is probably being done by the same group."

"Maybe. Whoever ordered it certainly knows Tarrin," Miranda said thoughtfully. "Or knows about him."

"Half the world knows about you now, kid," Jander told him seriously. "Your description has been floated around for nearly four months."

"What do they say about him?"

"Only that he's the Tower's horse," Jander replied. "Since they know so much about the Firestaff, half the world wants to kill you to keep you from finding it, and the other half wants to either capture you or follow you so you can lead them to it."

Tarrin was quiet and very sober. It was nothing really new, just confirmation of what he and Dolanna had quietly feared would happen.

"The kii'zadun has gotten maniacal about killing him, though," Jander added, looking at Tarrin. "I think they hold you personally responsible for what happened in Suld. There's a ten thousand crown price on your head." He leaned back in his chair. "They've hired most of the thugs and murderers in Tor, and they're all looking for you, the Selani, and the Princess. I suggest all of you stay out of sight."

"I'll see to that, Jander," Miranda said professionally. "Is Damon Eram still chasing us?"

He nodded. "That hasn't changed. He's even ordered the private ships of the nobles to hunt for her, but they don't know where she is now. They caught the Star of Jerod and searched it, but she wasn't there. The captain told them he'd put you all off in Dayise, so they're back at the beginning. With all the ships that leave Dayise, you could be anywhere." He chuckled. "And now she's in my backyard. I'm sure you realize how much trouble I can get into if they find out I know she's here, but didn't tell anyone."

"You enjoy the danger," Miranda said with a cheeky grin. "Besides, you'll be in even more danger if you blab. I still have those scissors."

Jander chuckled and winked at the mink Wikuni.

"They didn't hurt Kern, did they?" Tarrin asked in concern.

"The captain? Of course not," he replied. "They have orders to find the Princess, not sink every ship they cross. I'm sure the King isn't too happy that this Kern transported her, but then again, he probably had no idea who he had on board until it was too late. I certainly wouldn't take on such a dangerous passenger willingly."

"That's a relief," Tarrin sighed. Kern wasn't exactly a friend, but he had been a solid man, and Tarrin respected him. He didn't want to see anything bad befall him because of the fact that he had taken them to Dayise.

"I think that's about it," Miranda said. "How is life behind a desk suiting you, Jander?" she asked curiously.

"It's not as exciting as the Service, but it has its moments," he replied. "Instead of skulking around with a dagger, now I play wordgames and diplomatic chess with Torian lackeys."