"Then let's surprise them," Tarrin grinned at him. "So, what we need to do is assemble an army capable of dealing with theirs. They'll have Wizards and undead and Demons and Fae-da'kii. Well, we'll have Sorcerers, Priests, alot of war veterans in Suld, maybe some Were-kin if I can lure them out to fight, whatever mercenaries we can get our hands on-" his eyes brightened-"and gunpowder."

"Gunpowder? Jegojah, he does not know of this."

"The Wikuni make it. It's an explosive mixture of ingredients. They use it to propel big steel balls at high speeds. They call them cannons, and they're fifty times more destructive than a catapult."

"Ah. Jegojah sees the use of it, then," the undead warrior agreed. "But your assets, they will not be enough, no. The force marching against you is vast, Were-cat, yes. Almost uncountable. Kravon, he has taken years to assemble this army, and hidden them in Daltochan and the moutains surrounding the Petal Lakes. Every unscrupulous mercenary from Suld to Saranam is enrolled in his force, and that is just the humans in it, yes."

That term must have been old, if even Jegojah knew of it. From Suld to Saranam was a phrase meaning all over or everywhere.

"Then we just need to match his numbers," Tarrin said grimly.

"Where will we find such troops?"

"I know of a few places," Tarrin said, standing up. "We'll start with Kerri."

"Kerri? Who is this?"

"Keritanima-chan Eram. The Queen of Wikuna."

Jegojah looked at him, then cackled brightly. "The Wikuni with you? She is the Queen?" Tarrin nodded. " Vai avignon! Happy news!"

"If I asked, Kerri would ferry over her entire army," he explained. "I don't think the ki'zadun would be expecting to face the Wikuni, and their Vendari allies."

"True, but the Wikuni, they are far away. And their ships, they can only carry so many. Kravon will be attacking Suld about a month after the passes melt their snow, yes. We may not have time to move all the troops we need, no."

"I know, so we'll have to find some other troops somewhere." He reached into the little belt pouch at his waist, and pulled out the black medallion device. Shiika had given it to him, through Anayi, and told him that if he ever needed her, he could use it to talk to her. He certainly needed her now. Even Shiika would understand the chaos that would ensue if the ki'zadun managed to banish the Goddess. Maybe she would help. He stared at it a moment, pondering what twists of fate had brought him to this juncture.

"What is that?"

"Salvation," Tarrin said, gripping it in his paw. "And maybe damnation."

There was no help for it. "Shiika," he called in a strong voice.

The answer was immediate. "It's been a long time, Tarrin," she said with an amused tone. " What do you need?"

The sound of her voice conjured up the nasty spat they had had, but that had been a long time ago. "I need you," Tarrin said. "I need you and your Legions, and I need them now."

"My Legions? What on earth for?"

"Right now, a massive force is marching on Suld, and if they take it, the damage they could cause would be catastrophic. The Sorcerers would cease to be, and the people chasing me will get the Firestaff, because I'll be ceasing along with the rest of the Sorcerers. We can't let that happen."

"Hmm. My spies have been reporting some very unusual activity in Sulasia, and in the entire West for that matter. Is it really that serious?"

"I've heard it from someone who heard it all, Shiika," he answered, glossing over what Jegojah told him. The undead warrior waited patiently for Tarrin to talk, correcting him on a few minor points.

"Well, hellfire," Shiika said curtly. "It makes sense. If they can knock out the Sorcerers, the path to the Firestaff will be much less cluttered. And I'm not about to let that happen," she said hotly. "I was granted leave to stay here so long as I helped protect the Firestaff. Well, I'm not about to back out of my side of the bargain. You contact that Wikuni hothead of a sister of yours, Tarrin, and you arrange her to bring as many ships as she can to Dala Yar Arak. I'll load them from keel to pennant with Arakite troops and send them to Suld. My Legions are crack soldiers, Tarrin, and I'll send by best generals to lead them. And expect a few other contributions. I'll send the Cambisi ahead of the Legions, and they'll set up to face whatever hellspawn the other side is employing."

He was shocked she agreed so quickly. "Why are you doing this?" he asked quickly.

"Because this is more of a home to me than the Abyss ever was," she replied. "I don't want my comfortable life upset, and this will definitely upset my life. Besides, there's a certain agreement between me and the Gods. They tolerate my presence here so long as I helped them with certain things from time to time. Well, this sounds like one of those things they'd have me help with."

"You were right, Were-cat, yes," Jegojah chuckled. "She is not a normal Demon, is she?"

"Who is that?"

"You wouldn't believe me if I told you," Tarrin grunted. "Shiika, I need you to go find a Sorcerer's Amulet, a real one. You can get one?"

"I already have a few hundred of them. Any specific one I need?"

"No, just carry one with you," he replied. He wasn't sure he wanted to know where or how Shiika came across so many amulets. "I can use the amulet to speak to you."

"Ah, so you've crossed over, have you?" she said brightly. "That was an old Weavespinner trick."

"Yes and no," he answered. "Just be careful, talking through the amulets isn't completley secure, so we have to be careful. You know Sha'Kar?"

"I'm a Demon, Tarrin. I understand all languages."

"I didn't know that. How does it work?"

"It's too hard to explain, so leave it until later. The spell is about to end, Tarrin. Talk to that Wikuni of yours and get those ships here. I'll send some troops out on our own ships, but the Wikuni will probably pass them on the way. I'll send my daughters to Suld, and if you want, I'll have Anayi stop and pick you up."

You can't do that, Tarrin, the Goddess warned.

"I'll be moving on foot, Shiika. I can probably go just as fast on foot as it would take Anayi to get here and fly me there."

"Fair enough. Just warn the people in Suld that my daughters are coming. It wouldn't be very nice for them to be attacked when they arrive."

"I'll see to it."

"Good. I'll be coming personally with my troops, so I'll see you when we arrive."

He wasn't sure if he wanted that or not, but it wasn't like he had much choice. "Alright. See you then."

"Good luck, Tarrin," she said, and then the little black amulet in his paw crumbled to dust.

Jegojah cackled. "Ye know many strange people, Were-cat," he said with a smile.

"It's about to get worse," Tarrin said, taking hold of his amulet. "Ariana."

Now he understood why the Goddess wanted her to have an amulet.

"Tarrin? Where are you? I can hear you, but I can't see you."

"It's hard to explain, but I don't have time. You once said that you couldn't repay me enough for what I did for you. I'm about to test that."

"It sounds serious."

"It is. Can you talk to your king and arrange for him to meet me? I'm at the city ruins some distance northwest of the Cloud Spire."

"I know where that is," she said. "I told him you were the one that saved him, so I'm pretty sure that he'll agree. It'll take us a couple of days to fly out there, though."

"I'll wait for you. It's important, Ariana. Very important."

"Alright. I'll go talk to him right now. Are you well, Tarrin? Did everything go as you hoped?"

"More or less," he replied. "Just go. I'm going to contact you again in about an hour."

"Alright. I'll talk to you in an hour, then."

"Good luck."

"I don't need luck," she said in a coquettish voice, then he broke the connection.