"I think I'll have the Admiralty increase the patrols in the Sea of Silks," Keritanima mused to herself. "I think we'd better keep an eye on those damned Shou. Next thing I know, there'll be Imperial dragonships showing up on the shores of Tlaztexcolta, or maybe even Sha'Kari."

"Tlaztexcolta?" Tarrin asked.

"A small continent due south of Wikuna," she replied. "An interesting people live there. They worship strange gods, they don't have any iron, and the place is literally overflowing with gold."

"Uh oh," Tarrin chuckled.

"We trade for their gold," she said defensively. "We have quite a market down there for steel tools and such, and they trade us gold, spices, some stunningly beautiful native crafts, and other things. Some of their native birds are starting to become all the rage in the noble houses. It's now a status symbol to own a parrot, because they can be taught to say words."

"They can talk?" Allia asked.

"Not like we can, but you can teach them to mimic words," she answered.

"I wonder how they do things without iron," Tarrin mused.

"They're very resourceful, brother," Keritanima said in a very complementary manner. "You'd be surprised at some of the things they've learned to do with stone and obsidian. They have cities as big as Suld, and they built it with stone blocks that are larger than a woodshed. They're geniuses at engineering and construction, and it's even more impressive when you consider the fact that they don't have iron tools and they don't extensively used wheeled transportation, because there aren't any domesticated animals like horses native to their lands. The biggest domesticated animal I know of that they have are goats, and goats aren't very good at pulling wagons. We could learn a few things from them. They're quite advanced, all things considered. Western society would consider them barbaric because of their religion and their customs, but they're actually quite civilized and very intelligent."

Tarrin mused at that for a while, trying to imagine what it would be like to live in a place with no iron, no horses, and with a culture advanced enough to build things out of blocks that weighed more than a hundred men. How did they move them without horses? He couldn't even imagine how they did it, and he became very impressed with them, despite the fact that he'd never heard of them before. They certainly sounded quite impressive.

He didn't have too long to muse about it, though, for Dolanna, Dar, Camara Tal, and surprisingly enough, Koran Tal, pushed through the choked opening and into the courtyard. Koran Tal's eyes almost immediately affixed on the statue of the Goddess, and Camara Tal had to push him from behind to get him out of the way. Almost immediately behind them were Jula and Kimmie, and a very hot-eyed Triana. Now Tarrin understood why they were trying to get out of the way, with Triana breathing down their necks. "Mother," he greeted standing up. "I didn't think you were coming."

"I'm not quite done dealing with your daughter, cub," she said in a grim tone. "Jesmind is putting her paw in right now. As soon as I'm done here, I'll go back and finish what what needs to be done."

Tarrin almost felt sorry for his daughter; in a way, he did, but he knew that it had to be done, so there was no use in having remorse over it. Triana looked at Camara Tal, and her eyebrow raised slightly. "You shouldn't be here," she announced flatly.

"I have more right to be here than you," Camara Tal replied cooly. They were old friends, and that was probably the only reason Triana didn't thrash her for her tone.

"You spend ten years trying to get pregnant, and you're going to put it all at risk now?" Triana said with a slight smile.

Camara Tal's eyes widened, and her hand went to her knotted, washboard stomach. "You mean-"

"It's only a few days along," she told her. "In nine months, you'll be gracing us all. Want to know if it's a boy or a girl?"

" No!" she said in a strangled tone. "Leave that much a surprise, at least!" she proclaimed, then she laughed helplessly. Then she threw her arms around Koran Tal and kissed him passionately.

"I say, congratulations, Camara!" Phandebrass said happily, and suddenly the Amazons were surrounded by well-wishers, congratulating her and her husband. Tarrin smiled warmly, happy for a little good news this day. Camara Tal had been adamant about having Koran Tal be the father of her children, and she had waited ten very long years before finally getting her wish. He was happy for her, but in a way, he was a little irritated with her timing. He may need Camara Tal in the time to come, and her pregnancy was going to complicate things.

"Well, it doesn't change anything," Camara Tal finally said after Kimmie gave her a warm hug. "Amazon women don't run and hide in their bedchambers when they're pregnant. I'll be with you until I'm too ungainly to be any use to you."

"Are you sure, Camara?" Tarrin asked.

"Just try and stop me," she declared.

"I hope you don't mind me joining you, then," Koran Tal said. "I won't leave her when she's pregnant. I know how crazy she is. Someone has to be around to remind her that she's got two lives to worry about."

"She'll have any number of people to hold her back," Keritanima chuckled.

"I don't need a man holding my hand!" Camara Tal snapped at her husband.

"You need someone, and if you don't forget, that's my child too," he said in a frosty tone. "And I thought we agreed that there were going to be a few changes," he reminded her in a dangerous tone, rising up and looking over at her defiantly.

"Careful, Camara," Keritanima said with a toothy grin. "You're on dangerous ground."

"Stay out of it, fuzzybutt!" Camara Tal told her hotly. That made Keritanima collapse in helpless laughter, and Camara Tal looked a little sheepish afterwards. "We'll discuss this later, husband. In private," she said to him, glancing at the laughing Wikuni Queen.

"I'm sure it's going to be a lively discussion," he said icily, glaring at her a bit.

Jenna arrived a moment later with Ianelle, Darvon, and each of them had a youngster in tow. Darvon was escorted by Ulger, and Ianelle had Auli with her. Auli gave Tarrin a regretful look, but smiled and kissed him on the cheek when he greeted them. Darvon clapped him on the shoulder in his gruff manner, about as close to a show of emotion one would get from the Lord General, and Ulger shook his paw with a smile. "We hear that was you shaking up the Tower earlier today," Ulger said with a grin.

"I was a bit peeved," he said in a short manner.

"Leave it, Ulger," Darvon warned in his powerful voice. "I see you decided to return to the Were-cats," he said. "It wouldn't have been my choice, but if it's what makes you happy, then I'm glad for you." He gave Tarrin a slight smile. "I was hoping you would stay human and come over to the Knights, where you belong."

"I'm afraid they've managed to put the hooks into me a little too deeply for that to happen, my Lord General," Tarrin replied with a smile.

"One can always hope," Darvon said.

"I hope you don't mind me being here," Kimmie told him hesitantly.

"I'd feel strange if you weren't," he answered gently. He could see that he'd been right. Jesmind was trying to push Kimmie out of the way, it was all over her face. He was going to have a very long talk with her about that. "How is Mist?"

"Up and moving," she answered. "She'll be whole in about an hour or so."

"How are you?" he asked, taking her paws. Telling her that even though Jesmind didn't like it, she was still very much a part of his life.

She gave him a glorious, worshipful smile. "I'm just fine, my dear friend," she told him truthfully. "I'm just very glad to see you whole again."

"I'll step on Jesmind's neck for you."

"I can manage it, Tarrin," she smiled. "If you interfere, it's only going to make things more difficult. She'll think you're showing me favoritism. This is a female matter, love. Let us females handle it."