"Typical mother sympathy," he sighed. "She sees Jasana suffering and wants to stop it, but she can't because she's the one causing it. So it makes her short-tempered."

"I think that's about right," she nodded.

"I guess I'm part of that too," he grunted. "She knows I'm angry with her. She hasn't even tried to talk to me through the amulets yet. I think that's just piling things onto what's going on with Jasana."

"Probably."

"How is Kimmie?"

"She's doing fine," she answered, then she laughed. "She's getting bigger every time I see her. Jesmind said that's normal, but it's almost eerie. She's eating enough for four people, and she's been an absolute sweetheart. Triana told me that pregnancy signficantly mellows out a Were-cat, and it's really showing on her. Kimmie's always been friendly, but now she's like a grandmother."

"Maybe Jesmind should get pregnant, then," Tarrin mused.

"That's your department, not mine," Jenna winked.

Tarrin let that pass. "Are things calm, other than that?"

"More or less," she nodded. "There was a mass exodus after Kerri left with the fake you. Every inn and boarding house was overflowing before, but now the merchants actually have somewhere to stay. It's just as well. With what happened with the king and Regent, it's best right now to get all the extra bodies out of Suld."

"Good point," he agreed. "How did Grandfather take it?"

Jenna laughed. "Actually, he didn't have any complaints at all. He was happy to help out, and he really liked the idea of the possibility of a little warfare. I had to convince him not to allow them to invade Ungardt."

"You shouldn't have bothered," Tarrin chuckled. "I feel sorry for any ship off Ungardt's coast. You know they'll be attacking anything afloat that's not Wikuni."

"I didn't think of that. This may be a bad time to be a merchantman," she giggled.

"Eh, it'll keep them on their toes. A little exercise now and then is good for you. Kerri's mad at you, you know. Well, at me actually."

"About what I did to Fox?" she asked, and he nodded. "I told her I'd teach her that."

"Have you talked to mother and father lately?"

"Yesterday," she nodded. "I told them that it may be a good idea to disappear for a while, so they agreed to pack up and go visit a few old army friends in Torrian."

"Torrian? They rebuilt it?"

"They're in the process," she said delicately.

"I guess they would. It's been, what, three months? Four?"

"About four," she affirmed.

"How far along are they?"

"They're doing rather well," she answered. "The army's been sent there to help out, and between them and the citizens, things are going up pretty quickly. They're taking this chance to rearrange things a little bit. You know, give the city a little better layout. And Arren wants to put up a stone wall this time."

"Oh, that reminds me. How much can you influence the nobles about a king?"

"Who did you have in mind?"

"Arren."

"Ooh, that's a good choice," she said with an enthusiastic nod. "They're not going to like it, but I might be able to ram him down their throats. They're all thinking they have the best chance. That's what's making this all so messy," she growled. "No house wants to support a potential from any other house. And without that, there's no way any one man can get enough support to get the throne."

"You may have to take steps," Tarrin warned.

"I think you're right," she said thoughtfully. "If I don't step in and do something, I'm going get stuck with it, and I hate it. I'll be regent over a kingdom torn apart while the nobles all fight with one another."

"You may have to step on a few people."

"Then I'll wear some iron-shod boots," she grinned. "I've learned how to step on people, brother. The first thing I learned was that they're going to hate me no matter what I do, so I may as well do things my way."

"Kerri taught you that, didn't she?"

"She didn't have to," she told him. "I learned that the first time I butted heads with the Council, and they hinted that my power extended as far as they'd allow it to go. I wasn't about to let that happen, so I let them have it. I think that shocked them, to see this little girl come in there and bite their heads off. I think that was when they realized that I didn't think that the appointment was for show. It took me a while, but I finally got them under my heel. I can do the same thing to the nobles. After I make a few ugly threats, then threaten to keep the crown for myself, they'll probably be amenable to my choice for the throne."

"Think you can get away with that?"

"Probably. I'm pretty popular in the city right now, so they'll all probably think I have a chance of winning the people over. If you can win the people of Suld, you have a good chance of keeping the throne, no matter what the nobles think. They know that any monarch that sits on that throne does it because the people of Suld are content with him."

` "Kerri said much the same thing," he nodded.

"I'll need to get a good running start at it," she mused. "Have some people drop a few stories and rumors here and there."

"What for?"

"To get the people of Suld thinking about Arren," she answered. "It won't matter how much I want him on the throne if the people won't accept him. I have to make sure they've heard about how kind he is and how devoted and caring he is for his people, and how good a job he's doing overseeing the rebuilding of the city. Did Kerri suggest Arren?"

"She did mention him, and I happen to agree," Tarrin affirmed. "You know, you picked up on this pretty fast, Jenna. Making all these clever plans and being political and all. You sound like Kerri."

"I should. She had to teach me alot about politics," she laughed. "Her and Alexis. I still make way too many mistakes, but at least I can keep things from becoming a total disaster."

"That's all we can really ask for, Jenna," he said thoughtfully, looking out over the plain, which was now colored red from the setting sun behind them. The stones out in the scrub caught the light better than the plants, making the plain look like there were small pools of blood around the plants, like the plants were bleeding. "It's all so different now, isn't it?"

"Yes, but I'm not sad things turned out this way," she said sincerely. "I may not like some of my duties as Keeper, but in a strange way, it feels like I belong here."

"I do too, about being a Were-cat. Almost like I was born into the wrong family."

"Well, then, I'm very glad someone messed things up then," Jenna grinned. Then she sighed. "It's almost over, isn't it?"

He knew exactly what she meant. "Not quite yet, so don't let your guard down. I'm not going to relax until afterwards. I think I'll sleep a few months-at least as soon as the Goddess tells me what to do with the Firestaff-and then do absolutely nothing for at least ten years. Well, the doing nothing will come after I get my house built."

"Where?"

"Out in the Frontier, in a nice meadow with a little stream running through it," he answered. "I used to go there alot when I wandered the forest. That's going to be my new home, and I have no intention of leaving it for about ten years."

"Then all the excitement will be gone," she sighed. "I'll have my boring duties, and you'll be lounging around out there in the Frontier avoiding all this work."

"I think I've done my part. Now it's your turn," he said shamelessly.

She laughed. "I guess so. Well, I'd better get back. Goddess only knows what kind of mischief they're getting into without me there to babysit them. You have anything you need passed along?"

"Not really. Just tell Jesmind, Kimmie, and Mist that I'm alright, and I'm thinking about them. Tell my children I love them, and try to keep them out of trouble."