Tarrin knew that it was more than just the situation that had changed Jenna's outward personality. The information that Spyder had given her had had a dramatic effect on his little sister. He suspected that that knowledge had been what made Jenna seem more mature. Wisdom, either earned or imparted, couldn't help but have an effect on the recipient.

"Was there anything else?" Tarrin asked impatiently.

"My, I never realized he was so cranky in the morning," Keritanima said to Allia with a roguish grin.

"Only when he is awakened from sleep he needs," Allia replied easily. "Usually, he sleeps for sleeping's sake."

"I noticed that we don't really need much sleep," Jula told him. "Not half as much as I needed as a human."

"Cats like to sleep," he told her.

"I noticed that too," she chuckled. "Any time I feel bored or indecisive, I want to take a nap."

"I still have not gotten used to these," Allia told him, picking up his arm and grabbing a handful of fetlock. "But at least the manacles are gone."

"Looks like he traded one decoration for another," Keritanima chuckled.

"I think they make him look distinguished," Jula said appreciatively.

"If he stands up, he'll be distinguishable enough," Keritanima laughed.

"If you're done making fun of my appearance, you can let me go back to sleep," he told them. "Unless you have something important to tell me?" he said in a challenging tone.

"Well, not really, no," Keritanima said. "We kind of summed everything up already. But if I think of something, I'll just run on down here and be sure to tell you, even if I need to wake you up again," she teased.

"Wake me up again for no reason, and you'll find out how cranky I can get, sister," Tarrin threatened her, pulling his legs back into bed and laying down. "Be sure to lock the door on your way out," he told them, pulling the covers back up and snuggling in.

"I think we've been dismissed," Keritanima laughed.

"That's alright. I want to go find Kimmie," Jula announced, her voice changing, telling him that she turned away from him.

"No respect, I tell you," Keritanima sniggered after Allia kissed him goodnight, and they left him. "It's like I don't have a crown at all, I tell you, sister. Nobody around here treats me with the respect I deserve."

"Act like a queen, and we may treat you like one," Allia said as she closed the door to his room.

"And miss out on all the fun? Never!" Keritanima announced in reply, but he dropped off into sleep before hearing anything else.

He slept peacefully for some indeterminate amount of time before being shocked awake by something hitting him on the face, something that got to him so quickly that it had no scent. He sat upright so quickly the covers flew, his heart racing and adrenalin surging through him to prepare to fight off this surprise attacker. But then the scent reached him, at the same time as a high-pitched, tinny little voice that squealed in delight.

"Tarrin!"

It was Sarraya. She had gripped him firmly about the neck, hugging him in her own fashion, and it took him a moment to make out where she was and what she was doing. His adrenalin eased at that realization, and it was replaced by a kind of relieved happiness, so relieved that he didn't even get mad at her for waking him up. He pulled her off his neck and held her in his paw, smiling down at her. "It's about time, bug," he told her gently. "What took you so long?"

"What took me so long? Have you ever tried to herd a pack of Selani through hostile territory? It was a nightmare!" she told him, sitting down on his palm. "They kept wanting to wander off and kill things!"

Tarrin chuckled, warm memories of the time they spent together fleeing Dala Yar Arak returning to him. "They're not that bad."

"Oh yes they are. The entire clan wanted to chase down every Dal scout! They even wanted to kill all the mosquitos that fed off Dal blood! I spent half my time showing them which way to go, and the other half rounding them all up so we could keep moving in the right direction!"

"Well, you got them here, and in plenty of time," he told her, scooting back so he could lean against the headboard. "Anything exciting happen?"

"Not really," she said, a bit of disappointment in her voice. "I'll give them one thing, they can fight. It was never even close to a real battle, even when they were outnumbered two to one. I think they killed twenty men for every one they lost. Out of some five thousand Selani, I think they only lost about a hundred, total. I've never seen such a tough breed outside Fae-da'Nar. They're almost unkillable."

"The desert breeds them tough, Sarraya," he chuckled, feeling the brands on his shoulders twinge in agreement. "Besides, most humans can't fight a Selani. They're just too fast."

"I noticed that," Sarraya agreed. "The Dals looked like they were standing still."

"Did they pick up the Sulasian army?"

"Yeah, but they're about a day behind us," Sarraya replied. "The Seleni didn't want to slow down and wait for them. How much time do we have?"

"Eight, maybe ten days, depending on the weather," he replied. "The ki'zadun just sacked Darsa."

"Did they put up a fight?"

"They evacuated the city before they got there."

"Oh, well, that was the humane thing to do, but if they'd have had a city full of civilians to play with, it may have slowed them down a few more days."

"That's cruel, Sarraya."

"Sometimes you have to be cruel, Tarrin," she sighed. "Given the penalty if we fail, when it comes down to it, in this case the end definitely justifies the means."

Hard choices. He remembered feeling that way when he heard about the Ungardt attacking the enemy army in Tykarthia, how they would be slaughtered, but it would buy them precious time. He hated having to think in those terms, but she was right. In this game, there was absolutely no rules. They had to do whatever it took, anything, in order to win. The stakes were just too high. They may have to face a decision of sacrificing some to save the rest.

"Maybe, but I don't like it."

"I don't like it either," she assured him. Then she laughed. "Such a change from the old Tarrin I knew," she smiled. "That Tarrin wouldn't have batted an eye at the thought of civilians."

"Yes, well maybe," he said with an uncomfortable shrug.

"You're a rare case, my friend," she smiled. "I've never seen a Were-cat get so feral, and then come back so far from it."

"I'm still feral, Sarraya," he sighed. "But not as much as I used to be. I'm just in familiar surroundings, where I generally control everything, and I'm surrounded by friends and family."

"I know," she nodded. "As soon as we leave here again, we'll see the old Tarrin start to peek out again."

"Just wait til I come within spitting distance of the Keeper," he chuckled. "She brings that out in me so fast even I don't realize it."

"So, the Tower wasn't what you expected it to be?"

"Not at all," he agreed. "I was expecting a hostile atmosphere. But the people I don't like stay away from me, and I have lots of friends and family around to keep me happy. So, so far, it's been pretty good."

"I heard you made up with Jesmind, and you met your daughter."

"You knew about her?" he asked dangerously.

"Not until after Triana told me a few days ago," she said quickly. "It bowled me over."

"It did me too," he chuckled. "I'll have to introduce you to Jasana," he told her. "She looks like Jesmind but acts like Kerri."

"Triana told me that she was a dangerous little girl," Sarraya laughed. "Almost good enough to be a Faerie."

"There's no way she could ever be that bad," Tarrin teased.

"Yes, few can live up to our towering standards," Sarraya said with a mocking sigh, tossing her hair. "It's so hard to be the best, you know."