They slowed down and worked the streets parallel to the fence until they crossed a street that Tarrin knew, and then Allia followed him silently as Tarrin backtracked the path he took to get from his little mother to the Tower. It hadn't been all that long ago, but his point of view was different in his base form, so it took some adjustment that slowed them down a bit. The streets were occupied, but as he thought, he didn't attract a great deal of attention. They simply took him for a Wikuni, albeit an unusual one, and that was the end of that. Allia would attract attention, were she not hiding herself in the deep folds of the long cloak and hood she was wearing.
It took him almost an hour, but he finally found the stately house behind its iron fence. In his humanoid form, he could appreciate how large and grand his little mother's house was. Tomas was a very successful merchant. "Is this it?" Allia whispered as Tarrin looked to see if anyone else was on the street.
"This is it," he confirmed, jumping up onto the top of the ornate iron fence, then reaching down and helping Allia up and over it. They worked through the almost dead garden, a garden prepared for the winter's cold, until they were at the front door. Allia knocked on it boldly as Tarrin stood off to the side, out of sight of the door. Janette was the only one that knew how he looked out of cat form, and he didn't want to startle or surprise whoever opened the door.
It was the matronly, gray-bunned maid, Nanna. "Yes, may I help you?" she asked politely as she took in the dark, mysterious stranger standing on the doorstep, hidden in the shadows of a cloak and deep cowl.
"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 Nanna's attention, and the matronly woman looked down. Her eyes widened when she saw him, and then she gave out a gasp that turned into a smile. "Oh, he sent you," she said. "Yes, yes, please come in."
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, Dolanna, and Jesmind shared. He would kill for Janette, just as quickly as he would give his life to protect her. "Allia, tell her I'm going to change, so she doesn't get frightened."
"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 Nanna gave him an appraising look that almost made him feel uncomfortable. "I must say, you're very, large," she said with a charming smile. "I don't see how you fit yourself into such a little body."
"Magic," Tarrin said with a shrug. "I've missed you, Nanna. How have you been?"
"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," Nanna said with a wink. "But now she has two little girls to turn into little ladies, and she gets along rather well with your mother. Tomas and your father act like they've been drinking buddies for fifty years."
"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," Nanna told him. "Tomas and Janine wouldn't turn them away, though Janine would complain about it a while. They're very good people." Nanna suddenly blushed. "And all that time, I thought you were a cat. I do hope that you'll be discreet?"
Nanna had a habit of talking to herself, and the things she said when she thought she was alone were very private. He fully understood why she blushed. "And what would I have to be discreet about, Nanna?" he asked in a direct voice.
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 Nanna."
"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 Nanna took it.
"Such a lovely young woman," Nanna said with a smile. "I've heard quite a bit about you, Allia. Tarrin's mother thinks of you as sent by the gods."
"No, I am not quite as important as that," Allia said with a rueful smile.
"Nanna, who's at the door?" Tomas' voice called, and he appeared beyond the entrance foyer. He looked just fine, much to Tarrin's relief, and he gave out a laugh and a broad smile when he recognized the visitors for what they were. "Well, look who drug in the cat," he said with a broad smile. "It's strange to see you that way, Shadow."
"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."