"Sounds like the Ungardt have honor," Allia said approvingly.

"Something like that, but not as refined as you, Allia," Tarrin told her. "Kerri beat it into me that the most critical thing I can do is have you find out what the weather's like in Draconia and the Petal Lakes. That's where the ki'zadun is massing their army, and they can't start marching until the snow melts."

"That will be easy," Dolanna told him. "The Citadel of the Hill is on the Tykarthian border. They can find that out for us."

"They should be warned of what's coming," Dar said.

"Not yet," Allia told him. "This is best kept a secret for now. Let us not tip our hand just yet."

"That's a good idea," Tarrin agreed, "but you're going to have to go to the Keeper and tell her about this. But only the Keeper. That spy is still loose in the Tower, so you can't have it get out that you know they're coming."

"We have had no luck finding her," Dolanna sighed. "She has buried herself so deeply that there is not even a hint of her anymore. Those few who knew of her are dead, and nobody has seen any assassins moving about."

"They're not supposed to, Dolanna."

"Tarrin, this place is like a prison," Dar told him. "There are guards everywhere, and Sorcerers watching each other. A mouse can't run across a countertop without three reports of it landing on the Keeper's desk inside ten minutes."

Tarrin chuckled. "Sounds like you're quite serious about it."

"The problem is that some suspect that our spy is adept at either Mind weaves or Illusion, or perhaps both, and is hiding her tracks," Dolanna told him.

"Jula can find her," Tarrin told them. "Set her to finding the spy. Jula's nose and her magic will ferret her out."

"That, is not a bad idea," Dolanna said after a moment of thought. "Since she is Non-human, our spy cannot use Mind weaves to turn her mind aside from its task, and Jula's senses will penetrate any Illusory disguise."

"Were-cats are born hunters, Dolanna. Have Triana point her in the right direction and set her loose. Jula will find the spy."

"It is a good suggestion, Tarrin. I will have a talk with Triana about it."

"Do that. We can't make any serious preparations until that spy is found and removed. Until then, you're going to have to move carefully."

"I should talk with the Lord General, and ask him to return with the Knights," Allia proposed. "The Knights on the Tower grounds should calm things greatly. The danger to Suld itself should convince him that it is time to stop the self-imposed exile."

"He deserves to know what's going on anyway," Tarrin told them. "He's a brilliant military man, sister. He can give you a great deal of help, and his status and rank will make sure things get done."

"True," Dolanna agreed.

"I'm starting to get tired, so I have to go very soon. Just do what you can as quietly as you can until Jula finds that spy. I can't be doing this every day, so the person who's more or less in charge of this little operation is Keritanima. She's in the middle of it, and most of it depends on her and her ships anyway. So if you have questions about anything, she's the one you need to take them to."

"Alright," Dolanna said. "Keritanima would be the best choice."

"Just remember that using the amulets isn't totally secure, so be very careful what you say."

"That is going to cause problems," Dolanna told him. "Some things must be said."

"I know, but since none of you can do what I'm doing now, there's no other way."

"What are you doing, Tarrin?" Dolanna asked curiously. "I can feel your weave, but not you."

"That's because I'm a couple thousand leagues east, Dolanna," he replied. "My body is in the desert."

"How can you weave all the way over here then?" Dar asked curiously.

"It gets very complicated, Dar," Tarrin told him. "Let's just say it's a trick that I picked up. I'll explain everything when I get to the Tower."

"I will hold you to that, dear one," Dolanna promised.

"I have to go now. Sarraya is tugging at my ear for some reason. Just let Jula loose, then step back and let her find your spy. I'll do this again if it's something important." He looked at them, his friends and his sister, and he felt the same thing as he did when looking at Keritanima. Not homesickness or an ache to be with them, but a calm, serene knowledge that all of them-any one of them-was always within his reach. He could see them and talk to them any time he wanted, and that considerably softened the impact of being so far away from them. Until he could hold Allia in his arms and have her scent wash over him, looking at her and knowing she was well and good was enough for now. "Be careful and watch out for each other."

"Farewell, Tarrin," Dar called.

"May the Goddess watch over you, dear one," Dolanna smiled.

"May the Holy Mother put the wind at your back and sweet water in your path," Allia said with luminous eyes.

"Be well," he nodded, and then let the Illusion unravel. He pulled his awareness back to his body, to where Sarraya was yanking on his ear urgently, and opened his eyes. "What?" he demanded in a surly tone.

"Tarrin, you won't believe this!" Sarraya said with a laugh.

"What?"

"Guess who I saw in the city?"

"Well? Out with it!"

"Var and Denai!" she laughed. "They must have followed us!"

"They didn't!" Tarrin said hotly, standing up.

"Of course they did," Sarraya grinned. "This is outside their clan territory. They're trying to catch up with us."

"I warned them!" Tarrin seethed. "When I get my paws on them-"

"Oh, hush," Sarraya said in a curt tone. "Since Jegojah here isn't a threat anymore, what harm is it to let them come with us? I miss them. They're much better travelling companions than you two sourpusses."

Tarrin glared at her, then he broke out laughing, for some mysterious reason. She was right, of course. Even he missed them, and they could still be useful in guiding him to the mountain pass quickly. Time was now an issue, and he had none of it to spare. Var and Denai would save him many days of floundering around.

"Alright, alright," he chuckled. "Go get them, Sarraya. But make sure they know that I'm very unhappy that they followed us."

"Ooh, I get to tell them about all sorts of nasty plans you have for them," she said, rubbing her hands together. "This is going to be so much fun!" Then she darted off into the city.

"Not much, it takes, to please her, yes," Jegojah chuckled in that cackling tone.

"Not much," he agreed, standing up.

"Did the talk go well?"

"Well enough. I've warned everyone. Now it's up to Kerri to bring it all together and hammer out a plan. Knowing her, she'll have something by tonight."

"This Wikuni, she must be something special, yes?"

"You have no idea," he said with a nod. "There's nobody in the world like Kerri."

"So what now?"

"Now, we wait," he replied. "After I talk to the Aeradalla, we'll start out."

"Then Jegojah, he will wait as well. Until ye be on the way, Were-cat, Jegojah, he will stay with ye, yes. Two days, it is not a great matter, no. Time, plenty remains, yes. A boon of ye?"

"What is it?"

"More maps, Jegojah needs, yes," he said. "An understanding Jegojah, he needs, of the terrain. A better idea of the ki'zadun's movements, Jegojah seeks, yes."

"No problem," he told him, forming the image of detailed maps of the kingdoms involved in the plan, then touching his Druidic power and willing them into existence. They appeared in his paw, four maps rolled up together, one of each of the three kingdoms, and a map of the Petal lakes. He handed them over to the undead warrior.

"Jegojah thanks ye, yes. Time, he is moving, and Jegojah has much to learn."

Tarrin ambled off towards the firepit. He was hungry, and a meal of bread and berries wasn't enough this time. He was going to conjure up some beef, and wait for Var and Denai.