The Tower of Sorcery

It was the matronly, gray-bu

"I am looking for the Kaels," Allia said in her accented voice. "I was told that they would be here."

"I'm sorry, but I'm afraid you have the wrong house," she said. "This is the residence of the Kellers."

Tarrin quickly changed form, and then boldly walked out onto the porch in front of Allia. He meowed to get Na

Allia entered in with Tarrin as he padded in through the open door. All the scents he remembered from the house were there, as well as scents of his parents and sister, and it washed a wave of nostalgia and misty memory over him. In many ways, the house and the people in it were family to him. His real parents, and the adopted family that had taken a nearly insane Tarrin and, with love and attention and giving him a quiet place to work through his problems, returned him to a balance with himself. Janette was only a little girl, but she held a place in his heart that only his mother, Dola

"Madam, he's going to change. He doesn't want you to be frightened."

"Let me close the door," she said, shutting the door and throwing two heavy bolts. "He won't frighten me, my dear. I've already been told about him."

Tarrin returned to his humanoid form easily, and Na

"Magic," Tarrin said with a shrug. "I've missed you, Na

"Things have been slow," she sighed. "Janette moped around for a while, at least until Janine got her another cat. I'm afraid that Socks isn't half as obedient as you were."

Tarrin laughed. "I'll have a talk with him," he promised. "Was there any trouble with my family?"

"Janine was a bit put out, but you know how she is," Na

"I knew that they'd take a liking to my family," Tarrin said, with a relief in his voice that belied his words. "I'm just sorry I had to send them here, but I couldn't think of anywhere else safe."

"It's alright, Tarrin," Na

Na

She chuckled. "You're such a good boy," she said, reaching up and patting his cheek. "And this is Allia?"

"I see my parents talk," Tarrin said ruefully. "Allia, this is Na

"A pleasure," she said, removing her hood, then unbuckling the brass buckle that held the cloak on her shoulders. She reached out her slender four-fingered hand confidently, and Na

"Such a lovely young woman," Na

"No, I am not quite as important as that," Allia said with a rueful smile.

"Na

"Tarrin," he corrected with a grin, going over and taking Tomas' hand fondly. "I hope you don't mind that I sent my family here, Tomas. But I didn't know of anywhere else safe."

"They had to explain a bit as to how they knew who we were, but once we found out all the details, we were happy to accept them," Tomas assured him. "I've already made a few business deals with your father," he said slyly. "Do you know how much his apple brandy fetches in Suld? Not to mention his arrows."

Tarrin laughed. "You are a merchant to the core, Tomas," he said.

"Thank you," he winked. "And this must be Allia," he said, looking at the beautiful Selani.

Tarrin nodded. "Allia, this is Tomas, Janette's father," Tarrin introduced. "Tomas, this is Allia, my sister."

"I'll assume that the relationship isn't natural," Tomas said with a smile as he accepted Allia's hand.

"We were not born siblings, but we are in every other sense of the word," Allia said calmly. "Tarrin is like blood to me."

"Then you'll be like blood to us," Tomas said simply. "We've all but adopted Tarrin's family, and there's always room for one more at our table."

"You are most generous, Tomas," Allia said.

"What's the use of having money if you can't use it?" Tomas smiled. "Come, I know quite a few people who will be overjoyed to see you. They're in the parlor. Na

"I'm almost finished, Tomas," Na

Tomas laughed. "Don't take too long, Na

"I always do," she said with a smile. Deris and Na

"He's gone to Three Forks to see his family," he replied. "His sister has taken ill, and they asked him to come."

"That's quite a journey. When did he leave?"

"Five days ago. He should be two days out of Ultern by now." Three Forks was a city south of Torrian, and they could have gone that way to reach Suld. But the river at Marta's Ford was much faster. There was a road that linked Three Forks to Ultern, but that was a fifteen day journey through unclaimed forest. There wasn't so much as an i

They entered the parlor, with its large fireplace where Tarrin had spent so many nights, the plush furniture and the tasteful portraits and art decorating the walls, but it was the people inside that Tarrin fixed his attention upon. Sitting in her favorite chair was Janine, a book in her lap, and in another chair near her was his mother, Elke, who was actually doing needlepoint. Eron Kael was sitting in a large chair by the fire, and Je

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