Honor and Blood

Je

" That, Je

The figure reached up and pulled down the hood, and the haunting features of Spyder were revealed. She looked as he remembered, vaguely similar to Allia with the high cheeks and sharp chin, the scar on her left cheek, those eyes that reflected eternity within them. She stepped forward, then to his surprise, she reached out and took Je

"Uh, hello," Je

"Such acts, they are not necessary," she smiled. "I called you here to meet you, Je

"What are you talking about?" Tarrin asked curiously.

She looked at him, slightly disapproving. "You of all, you should understand the great responsibility that comes with the power you possess. Mother has sent me here to train both of you, so what happened at Torrian does not happen again."

"T-Train us?" Tarrin asked, completely overwhelmed.

"You have no finesse, no touch," she complained, looking at him. "You are a hammer used to break an eggshell. I thought you would learn much more by now, given how easily you hear the whispers of the Weave." Tarrin flushed guiltily and lowered his eyes. "My arts are unknown to the katzh-dashi," she said in a tone that made it clear that she considered them to be little more than swaddling babes. "They ca

"You're not exactly your normal person," Tarrin accused.

"Are you?" she asked pointedly. "Face it, younglings. People such as we ca

"That's all you wanted to say to us?"

"Is it not important?" she asked.

"Well, yes, but it could have waited," he accused. "I just got back. I haven't even seen some of my family yet."

"That is the other reason we are here," she said. She motioned towards the dome. "This place is holy, as you know. This is where you will use the Book of Ages. Out of respect for our mother, you should not reveal this place."

"I didn't plan on it," he replied. "The only ones I was going to have come here to help were Kerri, Allia, Miranda, and Dar. They've all been here already, and they've kept it a secret."

"You choose well," Spyder nodded. "But for now, they ca

"That seems a bit harsh," he complained.

"Think about it. If the Wikuni knew, she would intrude herself upon your training. Unable to comprehend what I teach, it would make her cause harm to herself. You understand her. She ca

Tarrin couldn't argue with that. He nodded in agreement. "They would do those things," he admitted. "Alright, we'll keep it secret. I don't like it, but we'll do it. I feel like I'm betraying my sisters' trust."

"Part of the reason I called you here now is because you have not seen your sisters yet. You will be very hard to separate from them after you reunite, and being called away would have arisen suspicion in them. But do not fear. Hiding this from them must only last until we are done. When I am finished teaching you, you are free to tell them about it."

"That's something, at least," Tarrin grunted. "When do you want to meet for the first lesson? I'm sure you didn't intend to start now."

"I will call you," she smiled. "As I called you here. But our lessons will not take place here. I suspect that this courtyard will become crowded very soon."

"How do you do that?" he demanded.

"It is but one of the many things I will teach you," she assured him. "When I am through with you, you will be proper Sorcerers. I would not be embarassed to admit that you belong to my order."

"I can't believe this is happening," Je

"It is impolite to remark about a lady's age," Spyder told her with a faint smile.

Je

"Calmly, child," Spyder actually laughed. "I understand that that is how the modern katzh-dashi refers to those of my time." She put a hand on Je

" Me? You mean it's my job to teach the others about Weavespi

"You," she smiled. "Tarrin's tasks will not allow him to be the teacher that our less enlightened brethren require. It will be you, my sister, who will be the new guiding light to return our order to what it once was. It will be a difficult task, one that will consume much of your life. But it is a task suited for you. Will you accept it?"

Je

"Then that is all you ever need to do," Spyder said with a gentle smile, patting her shoulder fondly. "When I have taught you what you need to know, I will leave, and it will fall upon you to teach our poorer brothers and sisters about the glory of the Goddess and the true power of the Weave."

"Why not you?" Tarrin asked curiously.

"I have my own tasks, as do you," she said dismissively. "It is not my burden. It would not be a burden I would be suited to accept. Too old, I am, to suffer the trials of training the inept. Our sister here has much more patience and a more gentle demeanor than either of us, Tarrin. For the task ahead, she is the most suited." She smiled at Je

Je

"And too long have I kept you from family and friends, Tarrin," she a

She took a step back, lifted the cowl of her cloak over her head, and then she simply disappeared.

Tarrin blinked as the traces of her scent evaporated like smoke. Where did she go? He'd felt nothing, no weaving, no power, absolutely nothing that would explain her obviously magical, dramatic exit. How in the furies did she do that?

Je