Weavespinner

"That's probably for the best," Je

"She's arrogant and overbearing, and for her kind, that's perfectly normal," Triana told her bluntly.

"I think this waiting for me to get better put her on edge," Tarrin explained. "Her temper's gotten worse over the rides. She's usually alot nicer than this."

"Well, we can all hope she calms down," Je

Tarrin realized that things were actually falling into place rather nicely. If Sapphire was alone, then him going to see her to say goodbye wouldn't be strange. He could arrange things to appear very clean and smooth while he actually made his getaway. He needed to see either Je

"She's going to cause quite a row flying over the city," Je

"She's going to use some kind of magic to send herself home," Tarrin told her. "I don't think she'd enjoy flying all the way, especially when she has her own ways of travelling."

Je

"I doubt it," he answered. "She was just waiting on me to get better, then she was lingering because of what happened to me. Now that I'm better and all that's been settled, there's really nothing holding her here. It's not like her to be sentimental enough to go see me off."

"No, I guess it's not," Je

"I need to go tell her goodbye," he said absently. "Before everything starts getting crazy."

"I'll go with you, brother," Allia said after Je

The look that passed between them was understanding. Tarrin was going to leave, using seeing Sapphire as the excuse he'd need to disappear for a few moments. Dar said goodbye with his eyes, and Jula put a paw on his upper arm in a warm touch of farewell. Tarrin bridged up into the Weave, and Whispered in such a faint and tightly focused ma

"They're already waiting," Je

"Did mother get the human ready?"

"He's a little stiff, but he's ready," Jula answered. "Triana stretched him like taffy with Druidic magic. He's as tall as you now, and he's a very clever and fast-thinking human. He'll do fine pretending to be you."

Tarrin nodded to Jula, then looked at Allia. "Well, we'd better get moving," he told her. "Where is Sapphire?"

"The small formal dining room," Je

Tarrin nodded again, then reached within, through the Cat, and made a co

I'm on the way, came her immediate response, like her own thoughts filtering into his mind through the All. Triana had been right, the Cat did not reject that strange communion. Because it was a communion with the All, not with the mind sending the messages from the other side of it.

"I forgot, I need to tell Darvon we're going to be leaving soon, or the Knights are going to slow us down as they try to get organized," Je

Je

"I know, they're all just big bullies," Je

Her pack on her shoulder, Allia stepped up with Tarrin as he separated himself from Triana and Jula. "I'll be back in a little bit," he said, but they all knew that he was actually saying goodbye.

"See you in a while," Je

The silent look that passed between Allia and Allyn was intense, and Allia's hand flicked in the Selani hand-code. Tarrin was a bit surprised that she'd been teaching it to Allyn already, but then again, it was something he'd have to know to fit in with the Selani. She spoke brokenly in hand language, probably only using the gestures she'd taught to him, but it was enough to get her message across. -Leaving. Be careful. Love to you.-

His response was a bit unsteadily formed, but legible to Tarrin's eyes. -Will do. Love to you. Return soon.-

Tarrin suppressed a sigh. He knew that leaving Allyn was not what Allia wanted, but the circumstances left little choice. Allyn's disappearance would be too hard to explain, and he'd only be a hindrance to them in the desert. This was not the time to take Allyn into the desert for the first time. Even with Allia, Tarrin, and Sarraya looking after him, he didn't know enough to not be an extreme danger to himself.

They parted from the others and walked silently down the hall. Tarrin could tell that Allia was suppressing the urge to turn and look back over her shoulder.

Sapphire was right where Je