Honor and Blood

"By the time you're done with that, I should have the eggs ready," she informed him as he started with an apple.

After a very large meal, nearly more than Tarrin could eat, he settled down near the fire, laying on his back, staring up into the cloudless sky and soaking up the heat of the desert sun. Sarraya gave him a little kiss on the cheek, almost like a mother, then retreated into her tent to escape from the heat, and probably to take a much needed nap. He felt a little tired yet, but that was just an aftereffect of sleeping so long. His mind rolled over the amazing things that had happened the day before, trying to make sense of them. Je

A warning that he felt hadn't come from him. The Goddess had a habit of injecting herself into his words now and again. It had happened before, and he had little doubt that it was what she had done this time. The warning to move Je

Two-no, three -Weavespi

A rather distasteful analagy, but essentially correct, the Goddess sang in his mind, her voice amused. Are you well, kitten?

"I'm fine, Mother," he said in a quiet tone. Sarraya was napping, and he didn't want to disturb her. "Still a little tired yet, but I'll be just fine. How is Je

She's still sleeping, the Goddess told him. But she'll be just fine.

"Do you, talk to her too?"

Tarrin, what a silly question, the Goddess laughed. She's one of my Children now. Of course I talk to her, but not directly as I do with you. She's a lovely little girl. I'm very glad to have her. I get unconditional, boundless love from her, unlike the guarded posturing I get from you, and the rather leathery regard I get from the Sha'Kar.

"You're going to make me jealous, Mother," he said in a light tone.

I'm just teasing, my kitten, she said impishly. All of you are my beloved Children, and I love you all equally.

"I know that, Mother." He paused. "How does it work, Mother? How-"

I can't answer that, Tarrin, she warned before he began. That's a secret that you'll have to discover on your own. But seeing Je

That was truth. "Somehow we make the magic stronger," he answered. "I don't understand how, but where Sorcerers simply draw up the power from the Heart, the Weavespi

Correct. A very complete answer. Sometimes your intellect amazes me, kitten. You don't often act or think in such analytical ways.

"Thank the other side of me for that, Mother," he grunted. "It's dragging me down the path before the rest of me can stop and think about what it's doing."

That can be a very endearing trait, she said lightly. But on to matters. You're going to need to be able to talk with Je

"I know."

So, you need to find a way to talk to her without anyone listening. You already know how and where, you've been there before. Just think about it, and it'll come to you.

He closed his eyes. Someplace utterly private. Well, the only way he could talk to Je

Then he remembered seeing Je

Of course! The Heart! Only Weavespi

Very good, kitten, the Goddess said to him proudly. That is the very place. The only ones who will hear you there are Weavespi

Something clicked in his mind. "That's the real test, isn't it, Mother?" he asked. "Not gaining control of the power when it threatened to Consume, but the ability to find the Heart!"

You are getting too clever, kitten, the Goddess laughed. You're right, and also wrong. Finding the Heart is the main reason for the test, but at that time you have to be filled with magical power, as much as you can possibly hold, and that only really happens when you're in danger of being Consumed. That instant between achieving your absolute maximum potential and the Wildstrike that would destroy you. It does you no good to reach the Heart when not filled with energy, because it dramatically reduces the power you could have gained, and the power that is sent back into the Weave.

"So, being filled with power when reaching the Heart is why Weavespi

Very perceptive, but not exactly right, she replied. It's something I don't think I'd be able to explain to you, kitten, because it touches on things you haven't learned about yet. Let's just say that the more you bring when you arrive, the more you take when you leave, and the more that gets released into the Weave after you've succeeded. Both of those effects are extremely important, so it's imperative that Weavespi

"Mother, you've called me a Weavespi

Kitten, there are Weavespi