"I didn't think it would take this long for the message to get to you, sister," he apologized, looking down into her blue, blue eyes, letting her spicy, coppery scent fill his nose. The bonds between them defied rational explanation; Tarrin loved Allia just as intensely and deeply as he loved any other person, even Jesmind or his parents, but it was a different kind of love. Joined by those deep bonds, they would always have a special place in one another's heart for the other, a place not even mates or husbands or children or parents could join. Tarrin could see in one glance at his sister everything about her mood, everything about her. She was a little tired from the fighting-and it seemed to him that that annoyed her, by the set of her shoulders-but she was ecstatic that he had returned. Her scent betrayed her annoyance that he hadn't come to find her, but he could also tell from her eyes that she accepted his brief explanation. He put his paws on her shoulders gently and looked down at her. She seemed so much smaller now, even more delicate, but her exquisite beauty, a beauty unattainable by humans or Were-cat alike because of the non-human cast of her features, had not changed in her. He stroked her silver-white hair from her face, remarking again how similar she and Spyder looked.

"It's going to take me some time to get used to looking up at you like this, deshida," she laughed, speaking in Selani. "Seeing the image of you is one thing. Standing beside you is another."

"It took some getting used to for me as well," he chuckled in Common. "Allia, I want you to meet someone." He turned her and pointed her in the direction of Jasana, who was just starting to wake up after being disturbed by Allia's entrance. "Allia, that is my daughter, Jasana. Jasana, wake up, cub."

"Mmph," she grunted, sliding back up to a seated position and rubbing her eyes. "I'm up, papa."

"Cub, this is my sister, Allia. Say hello to her."

Jasana looked up at Allia as the Selani left him and knelt by the couch. She reached out and took Jasana's paw gently, giving her a warm smile. "So, this is my little kaisha," she said, using a Selani term for niece. "I have waited a long time to meet you, little flower."

"You have the same marks on your shoulders as papa," Jasana noted, looking at her.

"That is right, kaisha. Those are the Selani brands of adulthood."

"What are brands?"

"They are marks left behind after fire-hot iron is pressed against the flesh," she said evenly. "It is a rite of passage among my people."

"Will I have to have that done to me?" she asked fearfully.

"No, little one, you will not," Allia smiled gently.

"Shew," Jasana sighed in relief. "You're very pretty."

"Thank you, kaisha. I think you are very pretty too."

"What does that mean?"

" Kaisha? It is a word in my language that means niece. That is what you are to me, after all. You are the daughter of my brother."

Jasana looked to her mother. "She smells alot nicer than a human does, mama," she noted. "Why can't humans smell like her?"

Jesmind laughed. "I can't answer that one, cub," she admitted.

"Where's Kerri?" Tarrin asked.

"As far as I know, she is still interrogating Amelyn," she replied, sitting down beside Jasana, then pulling the girl into her lap. Jasana amused herself by playing with Allia's hair. "You are looking very well, Jesmind," she greeted the Were-cat female.

"Are you still going to kill me?" Jesmind asked evenly as Tarrin and Jesmind sat down on the same couch, Tarrin beside his sister.

"You are now the wife of my brother, Jesmind," Allia said calmly. "It is unseemly to spill the blood of relatives."

"Well, that's good," Jesmind chuckled. "But I'm not his wife. I'm his mate."

"It is close enough for me. Tarrin would be angry with me if I killed you, so I will not."

"I really wish that Kerri would come," Tarrin growled. "It's getting late, and I'm tired. I know she's going to wake me up once the news that I'm here reaches her. I'd rather her come when I'm ready for her."

"Then call to her, brother," Allia said simply.

"I thought about doing it, but I don't think it would be a good idea," he answered. "She's probably got all her attention on what she's doing. They'd be very unhappy with me if I disturbed them."

"They should kill Amelyn," Allia grunted, deftly grabbing Jasana's paw and applying firm yet gentle pressure to keep her from pulling her hair out by the roots. "Easy, kaisha, I am not as robust as your parents. I injure easily compared to them."

"Sorry," Jasana apologized, letting go of her hair.

"How is everyone else?" Tarrin asked.

"Dar had some trouble when he first arrived, for they sought to put him in the Initiate. But the training Dolanna gave him showed the katzh-dashi that that was not the place for him, as he is very nearly as accomplished as many in the order. They relented when he demonstrated his ability in Sorcery, and raised him into the order. He has been training with the katzh-dashi that taught Keritanima. Lula, I believe her name was. I watch over him for you, as I promised, deshida . He is well. Phandebrass has been missing for some days now, probably lost track of time while in one of the libraries in the city. Camara Tal continues her quest to get her husband, Koran Dar, to return to Amazar, but she has little luck. Koran Dar seems to fancy her, but he will not leave the Tower. They are a continual source of arguments and fighting," Allia said with a slight smile. "They cannot talk without fighting, and twice it has come to blows. Azakar remains by Keritanima's side as her bodyguard, along with that other Vendari that has come to replace Binter and Sisska. Azakar promised them that he would defend Kerri, and he is honoring his word," she said with an assenting nod. Honor was serious business among the Selani. "Dolanna has become a part of Kerri's inner circle, attending the meetings of the Council and advising our sister on many things. Kerri belives in Dolanna's wisdom, and affords her great respect."

"That's only smart. There's few in the Tower as smart or wise as Dolanna."

"Truly," Allia agreed. "Miranda remains at Kerri's side, as is always for her. Your parents and Triana have been getting to know one another, as I am sure you know. That is about it, my brother."

"Well, it's good to know," he said. Since he already knew what had been going on around the Tower while he was gone, he felt no need to ask about it.

Allia looked at them, then smiled and bounced Jasana slightly on her lap. "Now then, my brother, I deserve to hear all about what you have done without me," she demanded. "All of it. Not just the half-truths you tell the others."

"Not without me you're not!" a voice called from the hallway. Tarrin's heart surged as he recognized Keritanima's voice. She burst into the room's still-open doorway at a dead run, and Tarrin barely had enough time to stand up to accept her as she jumped into his arms. Tarrin hugged his other sister tightly, taking in the musky scent of her fur, smelling the anxiety and the effort of the night's events all over her. He set her down and glanced at the door, where Miranda and Azakar stood, leaning against each side of the doorframe, the slight mink Wikuni in front of the massive human. Behind them stood the absolutely monstrous Vendari bodyguard, Szath. Tarrin set Keritanima down gently as she reached up and patted his shoulders, laughing. "I didn't go through you this time!" she declared.

"Kerri, you're looking great!" he told her, taking her slender little hand into his paw. "I can smell that you're a little worried, though."

"Well, interrogating people is hard on the interrogators, too," she grinned that toothy grin. "I nearly took off the head of the messenger who told us you were here. Why didn't you contact me!"