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  The enemy entity appeared suddenly to roar all about itself as it assessed what had been done, and its anger and agitation pleased the Jovvi entity enough that she withdrew from the area. Then it was Jovvi alone again, to see Tamma's amusement.

  "Did you all get how angry they were?" Tamma asked as she glanced around. "We didn't do anything totally harmful, and that seemed to be the enemy's main complaint. They can't just shrug and continue on, they have to rescue their people and then repair the road. But it's too bad we couldn't do something really harmful, and specifically to them."

  "That would mean not facin' them, and we already agreed that we can't just wipe them out when they're not lookin'," Vallant pointed out as he stretched. "If we don't actually win over them, everybody will know it and they'll start livin' in terror waitin' for the next group to show up. And if next time there's more than one Blendin', people won't even try to fight."

  "So we have to finish it the right way here and now," Rion agreed, getting to his feet. "But at this particular moment, breakfast is in order. I believe I'll try to see if my lessons in cooking have done any good."

  There was a bit of stirring as Rion walked to the door leading to the house's pantry, but Jovvi noticed that no one spoke in spite of almost unanimous nervousness. They all knew that Rion had been taking cooking lessons, but none of them had ever tasted any of his efforts. Then Tamma left her sleeping pad and came over to crouch close.

  "Lorand, you'd better let the rest of us eat first," Tamma murmured only loud enough for Jovvi and Lorand to hear. "If we end up poisoned, we'll need you to heal us. Talk about frustrated anticipation and distress. It took all of us to make the enemy feel like that, but Rion's managed to do it to us on his own."

  "It looks like our individuals are more talented than the enemy's individuals," Jovvi murmured back as Lorand fought to hide his amusement. "I could feel the enemy entity trying to use Spirit magic to calm itself, but it hadn't gotten very far by the time we left."

  "I'm surprised that they even have Spirit magic," Tamma said with a chuckle. "Spirit magic is supposed to be the talent that supplies a conscience, but that's one attribute they seem to lack."

  "But they have to have Spirit magic," Lorand said with a wave of his hand. "Without a Spirit magic user, how would they Blend?"

  "Well, how did the fourfold Blendings in our own empire Blend before they had Spirit magic users?" Tamma countered, and then she suddenly froze. "Wait a minute. Does that question sound as important to anyone else as it does to me?"

  "Well, it's certainly interesting," Lorand granted after exchanging a glance with Jovvi. "But as far as important goes, I'm afraid I don't - "

  "What's going on over here?" Naran suddenly interrupted to ask, Vallant right behind her. "A lot of layers of probability just disappeared, most of them concerning our failure. We're a large step closer to winning the way we have to, so what have you been talking about?"

  "Tamma asked a question that she feels is important in some way," Jovvi explained while Lorand and Tamma stared at Naran. "Lorand and I can't see the importance, but maybe the rest of you can. Tamma, why don't you tell us all what you consider so important?"

  "It's more a feeling than a certainty," Tamma began, her expression disturbed and partially distracted. "We were talking about Spirit magic and the way the invaders don't seem to have a conscience, and it occurred to me to wonder how the fourfold Blendings Blended without a Spirit magic user. With us, it's the Spirit magic user who always initiates the Blending."

  "We do it that way for the simple reason that that's what we were taught," Rion said from behind Vallant and Naran, obviously having come over to see what the discussion was about. "Considering the fact that we were taught by people who didn't themselves know what they were doing, is it any wonder that the question was never covered?"

  "I'm suddenly feelin' that it's a question we need to have answered," Vallant put in, his words slow and his tone thoughtful. "The invaders do have a Spirit magic member in their Blendin', but feelin' what their victims feel hasn't slowed down their maraudin'. We don't always act sweet and proper either, but as ruthless as our entity seems to us at times, it does have a point beyond which it won't go."

  "And that's probably due to Jovvi's influence," Tamma said, nodding in agreement with Vallant's comment. "But if the Spirit magic member has so much influence, why wasn't that last noble Blending mellowed a bit? They destroyed everyone in their way almost without a second thought."

  "That could be because their Spirit magic member was under the control of someone ruthless," Jovvi said, also putting forward her thoughts slowly. "That poor man didn't feel much about what he did because his grandmother wasn't letting him feel anything she considered unnecessary. So where does that leave us?"

  "It leaves us on the trail back to my original question," Tamma said. "If the original fourfold Blendings didn't have Spirit magic to balance them and initiate the Blending, how did they Blend? And why would the nobles make us all believe that only a Spirit magic user can initiate a Blending? It doesn't make any sense."

  "It does if you think about the aims the nobility considered most important," Rion said as he glanced around. He stood with his arms full of provisions and a pan, but he seemed to have forgotten his original intention. "The most important aim the nobility had was to stay in control, of everything and everyone including the Seated Blending. If they stressed the requirement that a Blending can only be initiated by a Spirit magic member, that requirement must have given them more control than any other arrangement."

  "And there has to be other arrangements, or the fourfold Blendin' couldn't have Blended," Vallant said in agreement, an undertone of excitement now to be heard in his voice. "All we have to do is figure out what those other arrangements can be."

  "I think I've just gotten a very strong hint about what at least one arrangement is," Tamma said, also glancing around. "Do all of you remember how you helped me accept the fact that Fire magic is considered the most important talent in a Blending? We were told that that was because Fire magic is both the guardian and strength of the Blending, but what if that's not the only reason? What if you get another kind of entity if the Blending is initiated by the Fire magic talent?"

  "An entity that the nobles would not want their pet Seated Blending to know about!" Lorand exclaimed, clearly getting the same idea that Jovvi had just gotten. "An entity formed by an aggressive talent would probably be more aggressive, and that's the last thing the nobility would have wanted."

  "So an entity initiated by a Spirit magic user would of necessity be less aggressive," Jovvi added, just to get the matter straight in her own mind. "We've all noticed that Naran, Lorand, and I are the mild ones in our group, so that could very well carry over when we Blend. And it could be the reason why we haven't found it possible to fight back against the enemy. We have the wrong talent coloring our Blending."

  "The probabilities have just changed again," Naran said with a wide smile. "It still isn't absolutely certain that we'll win, but our chances just got a lot better."

  "Let's try the new arrangement first thing after we eat," Rion said, apparently just remembering what he'd been about. "I'm simply going to throw some eggs and cheese and ham into a pan, so it won't take long before it's ready."

  And with that he turned and headed for the hearth, obviously noticing nothing of the heavy silence and fearful stares that he left behind him. A moment earlier the entire group had been animated, but now Jovvi noticed how still they'd all grown.

  "I think I made a bad mistake in not joining him in learning to cook," Tamma murmured to the group at large. "If I had, at least I'd be able to defend myself to a certain extent. Naran, can you check the probabilities to see how likely we are to die from eating what he gives us?"

  "I'm sure he isn't that bad at cooking, really I am," Naran answered earnestly while Vallant choked and Lorand tried not to. "He's been watching and learning almost since we first began this trip, so I'm sure we'll all
be fine."

  "Which means you haven't yet tasted any of his cooking either," Tamma came back with a sigh. "But you can forget about checking the probabilities for our survival. That won't tell us if we'll need Lorand's help to continue living. Isn't there something we can talk about until it's time to face our destiny? I feel a very strong need to be distracted."

  "I can oblige you there," Vallant said, swallowing his amusement. "If we're goin' to try Blendin' through you, we can't do it without lettin' the others watch what happens. If the enemy entity faces us and we win, we'll want everyone to know how we did it. If they have nothin' but our word that we won fairly, there will always be doubt about whether or not we told the truth."

  "And then we'd have to come back if the enemy sends another Blending or two to replace this first one," Tamma said sourly with a nod. "I don't think I'd enjoy having to drop everything to run back here, so let's do it right the first time. And I just had another idea. Let's make Rion take the first taste of what he produces. Knowing how finicky he is about food, if it doesn't kill him then it ought to be safe for the rest of us."

  That produced general chuckling along with unanimous agreement, although Jovvi couldn't seem to get into the spirit of the thing, so to speak. She felt very down, but she wasn't left to the peace of brooding. Tamma's hand was suddenly on her arm, and when she looked up she saw Tamma wearing an odd expression.

  "I'm not used to being the one to do this, but I guess I'll have to get used to it at least for this time," Tamma said ruefully. "Jovvi, I can tell that you're feeling dreadfully upset, and probably because you think you've been holding us back in some way. How am I doing using your ability?"

  "You're doing a bit too well," Jovvi answered, feeling more than a little discomfited. "And I don't just think I've been holding us back, I know it for a fact. We've had a lot of trouble at various times that we might not have had, if I hadn't decided that I was the only one who could initiate the Blending."

  "And that's supposed to be your fault?" Tamma countered, now sounding more angry than rueful. "We were taught only a single way to Blend, so what makes it your fault that we followed that way?"

  "I knew better than most that Spirit magic was the last talent added to the Blending," Jovvi said, refusing to be comforted by an excuse. "I had that fact pointed out to me more than once while I was growing up, but I never even stopped to think about it. I also knew that nothing the nobles said or did could be trusted, but not once did I think to question the very important place they gave me."

  "Neither did the rest of us, so what makes you so much better than we are?" Lorand put in, also sounding angry. "I love you very much, Jovvi, but you're blaming only yourself for something that all of us are guilty of. Don't you think we're good enough to be guilty right along with you?"

  "Now doesn't that beat all," Tamma said before Jovvi could tell Lorand that he didn't understand. "She believes she's the only one of us who can think, so all our failures are her fault. Does anyone else feel as insulted as I do?"

  "Yes, me," Vallant said at once, joining Tamma in staring directly at Jovvi. "What about you, Naran?"

  "Yes, definitely, I feel very insulted," Naran agreed as she also joined in the staring. "How do you see it, Lorand?"

  "The same way you others do," Lorand said, but his stare wasn't quite as baleful. "Rion, have you been able to hear what's going on?"

  "Yes, I have, and I certainly agree," Rion answered from the hearth. "Now the question is, what do we do about it?"

  "That's easy," Tamma said, closing the circle she'd opened. "I say that Jovvi ought to be demoted from her previous place to one where she just calms and balances the rest of us. That is, if she can stop pitying herself long enough to do the job."

  The last of Tamma's words were very pointed, and for a moment Jovvi felt a bit of outrage over the suggestion that she was too deeply into self-pity to conduct herself properly. Then Jovvi's practical side forced her to see the truth, and she smiled ruefully.

  "Going from the most popular courtesan in my city to the central link in a Blending wasn't very difficult," Jovvi admitted with a shrug. "My ego didn't have to take any kind of a beating, so my sense of importance was untouched. Now, though… All right, missing the fact that I didn't have to initiate the Blending wasn't just my fault, but insisting it was gave me back the missing importance. I apologize to all of you, and I'll try to keep my ego under control from now on."

  "See that you do, child," Tamma said in a deep and portentous voice, and then she grinned. "My goodness, but that felt marvelous! I never thought I'd get to chide Jovvi over being juvenile, so I didn't know how much I'd enjoy it. You can act childish again any time you like, Jovvi. I enjoy being more mature than you for a change."

  "More mature, right," Vallant murmured with a teasing look of pain twisting his face, and the chuckling everyone had been doing turned to outright laughter. Tamma tried to be incensed over Vallant's comment, but she couldn't keep an accusing and angry expression on her face. After only a moment she was forced to join in the laughter, and Jovvi realized how incredibly lucky she was to be part of these people. She had been acting like an idiot, but instead of becoming seriously insulted they'd worked together to pull her out of the mood. She made a silent vow never to let them down again, even if she had to give up having an ego entirely…

  "All right, our breakfast is ready," Rion called from the hearth. "Vallant, if you'll add moisture to this bread from yesterday before Tamrissa warms it a bit, the meal should prove adequate."

  "I'll be glad to warm the bread, Rion," Tamma called back without turning, to keep him from seeing the pretended panic on her face. "But since you did the work in preparing the meal, we insist that you be the first one to taste it. It's only fair for you to eat first."

  By then they'd all gotten to their feet and approached the hearth, which let them see Rion's immediate amusement.

  "Meaning that if I fall dead from eating the food, that will save the rest of you," Rion said, and Jovvi could tell that his amusement was real. "'Clarion' might have believed that your only interest was in fairness, Tamrissa, but I haven't been that innocent in quite some time. I'm able to understand your reservations, however, so I'll be glad to taste my efforts first."

  Tamma tried to look shame-faced as Rion separated his omelet into six bowls, but she didn't make a very good job of it. It was now possible to smell the omelet, and the aroma seemed to be incredibly enticing. Jovvi thought about offering to join Rion in the test, but she looked up to see that her brother had already taken one of the bowls and a wooden spoon.

  "Hmmm, yes, the consistency is right, but the seasoning is only just adequate," Rion pronounced after chewing and swallowing a bite. "My only excuse is that this house offered very little in the way of seasoning, so I was forced to make do. Would one of you others care to give your opinion?"

  That invitation caused all the rest of them to reach for a bowl, and when Jovvi took the first taste she thought she was back in civilized surroundings and in a dining parlor. The omelet was cooked just right, and it had the kind of delicate flavor she hadn't tasted in a very long time. Jovvi closed her eyes in delight, hearing the same delight murmur through the rest of the group.

  "Rion, you have my most sincere apologies," Tamma said after a long moment. "This could well be the best omelet I've ever tasted, so please feel free to cook for us at any time. Even if we do happen to fall over and die, at least we'll die happy."

  Jovvi almost choked when she began to laugh, and she wasn't the only one. Leave it to Tamma to negate even the most sincere apology.

  They all settled down to eat then, with Vallant and Tamma quickly seeing to the bread. Adding moisture and then warming the bread did make it seem fresh, and Rion hadn't forgotten to put up water for tea. Naran finished eating first and went to prepare the tea, and once Jovvi and the others finished eating they got cups and helped themselves. Jovvi felt very satisfied when she sat again with her cup of tea, and once he was settled
Vallant looked around at them.

  "I've been thinkin' while I ate, and I don't believe we ought to try Blendin' through Tamrissa just yet," he said. "We ought to tell the others what we're doin' first, and then have one of the other Blendin's keep an eye on the enemy. We'll have to give the enemy's Blendin' members a chance to rest before we challenge them, so we'll have lots of opportunity to practice before that time."

  "It really annoys me that we have to be so fair about this," Tamma said, the annoyance she'd mentioned clear in her expression. "I understand why we have to be fair and I agree with the necessity, but I still don't like it. If the new way of Blending works the way we hope it will, there might not be much left of that enemy Blending."

  "You won't find me weeping over the loss," Rion said from where he lounged with his own cup of tea. "I believe I've mentioned before how I feel about those who take delight in stealing the minds and lives of others."

  "If possible, we ought to save at least one member of that Blendin'," Vallant said, obviously feeling nothing of the faint distress Jovvi did at the thought of destroying the enemy completely. "The slaves know little or nothin', but a Blendin' member ought to be able to answer most of our questions."

  "You know, it should be possible to keep them all alive if we're able to destroy their talent," Lorand pointed out as he looked around. "They would no longer be a threat then, and each one of them may know something the others don't."

  "And what do you expect we'd do with them after they answered our questions?" Tamma put, but rather gently. "They aren't slaves themselves, or their Blending entity would hardly be as arrogant as it is. They're responsible for the deaths of hundreds if not thousands of people, Lorand, and they're ready and willing to kill even more. Do you really think people like that won't find a way to kill without talent if they're left alive?"