Less then a hundred yards from there house, Mentokka collapsed to the ground.

"Sis!" Tosh screamed as she fell from his grasp. "What's wrong?" He knelt down to touch her forehead. She was burning with fever.

"T-tosh," Mentokka said in a near whisper. "I.... feel so hot....so hot. I'm....b-burning up."

Without thinking, he scooped her up in his arms and carried her the rest of the way to there home. After shutting down the barrier spell that protected there home. He took he straight to her room and gently placed her onto her bed. He removed all of her traveling clothes, which were just about drenched in her sweat. By the time he got the last article of clothing off her, Tosh's hands were shaking.

"Tosh," Mntokka whispered. "Calm yourself. Your.... out of focus."

"Just like Mentokka." Tosh thought, irritated to himself. "Possibly on her death bed and She's telling Me to be calm."

But there was truth in her words. He rose from her bedside. He closed his eyes and call forth the magic within him. He entered it and became one with it. His hammering heart, calmed. His shaking hands, became rigid and firm with confidence. As soon as his breathing calmed, he knew what to do. He left his sister's room and got a large picture of water from the well, and mentally got in contact with Uncle Rand.

As soon as Rand heard his nephew's voice he knew something was wrong. He told him that Mentokka was sick in bed with a very high fever. As soon as he heard that he knew what was wrong.

"Tosh?" Rand told him firmly. "Your sister is in the last stage of becoming one with her magic." Tosh said nothing. "There is nothing you can really do at the moment but keep her comfortable. If she is conscious, make sure she drink water. If she sweats? Wipe her body down with a cool towel. She'll be unconscious most of the time. Yet they'll be times when she wakes. Listen to what she have to say. Most of it may be gibberish, but listen all the same."

"When will you get here, Uncle Rand?" Tosh asked.

"You don't need me there, my boy." Rand said to him. "All you have to do is let it takes it's course. It should last about eight to ten hours at the most."

Tosh wanted to complain about Rand not coming to her in this important time in her life. But Rand, as always, had the words to calm him.

"Tosh? Have faith in your sister. Mentokka is strong. Compared to the Magical Trial. This is nothing. That's a Tor family trait. Strength! Have faith in yourself. You don't need me there with you. I've already scanned her though you. If something happens that you need me there, my boy. I'll be there in an instant. Now, Tosh. Recite the Tor Family Code." Tosh paused for a moment the spoke the words softly.

"There is no Emotion, when there is Peace.
There is no Ignorance, when there is Knowledge.
There is no Passion, when there is Serenity.
There is no Chaos, when there is Harmony.
This is the path to True Magic."

As soon as he finished reciting the words, Tosh felt a feeling of calm though out his body. It was as if Uncle Rand knew what would happen when he spoke the words. Maybe there was a spell of calm inside those words, but who knew. "Thank you, Uncle Rand." Tosh whispered, even though he knew the connection between the two of them was already broken.

Rand knew he should of been there for his little girl. But he also knew that there would come a time, that he would need to step back from the day ins and day outs of there lives.

"As much as I love being the center of there lives. I can't be and do everything for them. This is the one time I want Tosh to be in control. Even though all he has to do is be there for Mentokka."

"Master Rand?" it was Merc. "Is everything alright?"

"Yes, little lady. I was in contact with Tosh. He was telling me that Mentokka came down with a high fever."

"Is she alright?" Rand nodded.

"It's the final phase of her magical trial. Tosh went though the same thing, even though he doesn't seem to remember anything about it. But don't worry, she'll be fine."
Even though there was a part of him that was truly concerned for Mentokka.

After several days of hard training. Merc thought it would be a good idea to make a great dinner for the two of them. She would of done it sooner, but she though it would better, after Gunner left.

"Gunner is a good friend and all, but there times I want him out of my hair. I want this to be special for Master Rand.....and myself." Merc thought to herself.

"I take it we should drink a red?"

"A full-bodied red, preferably a Cabernet."

"I have just the thing,"Merc said, going to the cellar and bringing back a bottle "I picked this out in anticipation of your request."

He peered at the label. "Alpha Phelps Insignia. 'twenty-seven; good year, this should do nicely."

"Can I help you with anything?" Rand asked.

"You can best help by keeping my glass full and other wise staying out of my way."

Rand filled there glasses and sat down at the table. "Proceed," he said, retrieving a decanter for the wine.

And she did.


Forty minutes later, they finished dining on something she called chicken in port with sliced apples, wild rice.

"By the Gods! That was great!" Rand said, leaning back in his chair. "I can't remember when anyone cooked for me, and I can't remember ever eating anything as wonderful as this." Merc blushed.

"Thank you, Master....." Rand raised a hand.

"Merc? For now on, just call me Rand. You earned that right, little lady." Rand raised his glass. "A toast to you Merc. My best student ever." His words shocked her. She looked at him, blushing.

"You say all the right things," she replied. "You keep doing that."

"I intend to." he said smiling. "You want me to help you with the dishes?"

"I have someone to do that in the morning," she said putting the last bite into her mouth and taking a sip of the wine. "I use her on special occasions." Rand raised an eyebrow.

"This is special, little lady?"

"I think so,.....Rand." The two smiled.

"Does she serve breakfast in bed? Rand asked.

She does on request."

Rand smiled at her. "Good," he said "But first we have to find the bed."

Merc showed him where it was. But she knew the hammering of her heart, betrayed her confident thinking. "Am I doing the right thing?"


Several hours pasted, Tosh stayed by his sister's bedside. At the moment she seem to be sleeping comfortably, even though she was sweating to much for his liking. Gently he wiped her forehead and worked his way down her face to her neck. He moved her long hair out of the way, that he unbraided when he did it. As soon as he removed the cloth from her, she opened her eyes.

Tosh smiled as he looked into his sister's strong, yet tired eyes. "Mentokka? Your awake." he said cheerily. "You sleep well?" He instantly thought what a stupid thing to say.

"That wasn't sleep, it was a coma." she replied. "And don't sound so chirpy. You sound too much like me."

"Ooh geeze, it going to be one of those nights." Tosh muttered, forgetting how cranky his kid sister was when she was sick.
Another Tor Family Trait.

She looked under the sweat-covered sheet that she was lying and examined herself.
"Two questions: One, am I hurt? Two, why am I naked? Have you had your way with me?"

"That's three questions. From what Uncle Rand told me. Your are going though the joining of your magic. Which I'm sure your aware of. And I don't know if it's over yet. Your are naked because you've been sweating like a pig, and your clothes stink. And I haven't had my way with you--not yet, anyway."

"Well that's disappointing.......what a minute. Did you call me a pig?"

"No, I said you was sweating like one." he corrected her. "And eat like a horse.....Never gains a pound." he muttered under his breath.

"I heard that!" the two laughed.

"Sis? When you passed out like you did, it scared the hell out of me."

"That's it, make it about you. And I'm lying here, on my deathbed."

Tosh groaned, rubbing his temples. "You know sis? It be easier just to kill you, you know." Mentokka's eyes went wide in mock surprise.

"Now we both know we don't want that happening." she said, grinning.

"Yeah, the way my luck is going, you'd just come back and haunt me for the rest of my days."

"Face it, big brother. One way of the other, your stuck with me."

"Yeah, I'm doomed." The two laughed.

Mentokka told him that she was thirsty. He helped her sit up and brought the cup to her lips.
After drinking her fill she looked at him and smiled weakly. "You added the goat's milk. Just how I like it. You remembered."

"How could I forget, sis." he replied.

"Only because you spat it into my face the last two times I forgot.........You spoil Brat."He thought to himself.

Tosh asked her to drain the cup, because he was worried she was sweating so much, and he wanted to get fluids back into her body. After she finished it she laid back down on the bed on her own, that took some effort.

"Brother?" Mentokka called out.

"What is it?"

"It not over, Tosh. The joining of my magic. I can feel it."

"Are you sure?" Tosh asked, moving closer to her bedside. Mentokka nodded.

"What would Uncle Rand call it? The calm before the storm."

"Is there anything I can do to help you get though this?" Mentokka shook her sweat covered head.

"Just be here for me, Tosh. Your being here, with your love and strength is enough for me. I have to do this on my own." She reached out and took Tosh's hand. "Be my strength, Big Brother. Please be here for me. I'm scared."

"I'll be your strength, I'll be your shield to protect you. I'll give my life if you comes to it, sis." Mentokka saw the look in her brother's eyes. She knew right there that he meant every word he said.

"I'm sure it won't come to that, Tosh." She said. "I think it's time, Brother. I......" She fell unconscious before she got all her words out.

"Be strong, Sis." Tosh whispered, as a tear fell lazily down his cheek. "Big brother is here."

Tosh and Mentokka's trek started as it usual do, move though the night, quickly and quietly. There wasn't no real reason why the didn't speak to each other at the beginning of a long trip. It was always done like that. Uncle Rand did it that way, so they did it also.Tosh thoughts were about his sister.

Sometimes, he couldn't understand why Mentokka was in his thoughts so much. Yes, she was his sister and he loved her with all his heart. But there were times there was an unhealthily dose of her sister in his thoughts. It almost felt obscene.

But most of the time there wasn't anything sexual about his thoughts. There were times when she talk about what she'd be doing when she got older. Some of them were going off to start a family of her own. Tosh felt pangs of regret when he heard them. The thought of Mentokka going off to 'find the meaning of her life', sometimes gave Tosh mental pain that bordered on physical. Like his Uncle, he wished Mentokka never left them. But that was selfish thinking.

He clearly heard Uncle Rand saying that they were the center of his life, and Mentokka was clearly his favorite. Nothing wrong with that. She was his favorite also. He remembered Mentokka just reaching her thirteenth year of age. She asked hundreds of question to him and Uncle Rand, when they visited new cities and towns, she would stare opened mouth at the sights and sounds of everything. Those were the days he treasured. He felt more like a mentor then a brother to her. He remembered the times he would stare opened mouth, just like Mentokka at amazing sights and sounds, even if he seen it before. It was because he was seeing it with the eyes of a child that is learning something new for the first time. Mentokka's charm always rubbed off on him back then.

It was this time when he got married. Patti was a childhood friend, before they joined Uncle Rand to the Grasslands. She wasn't as pretty as Mentokka..............{Few were}
But she had a spirit and a will that wouldn't take a back seat to anyone. And that was one thing Patti was superior to Mentokka. She knew a 'strong women made a stronger man'. Even though she said yes to his proposal, she thought it was odd that Tosh asked for her hand all of the sudden. It was a small ceremony with the two families attending.

And when Little Tosh was born Uncle Rand and Mentokka was there. There wasn't a time where Tosh felt prouder. Uncle Rand to him that his child was strong in the magic. "Like father, like son." Tosh took it as a mixed blessing. For he remembered what he went though during his magical trial. But he was sure that his son would be fine during his own trial many years in the future. During the next five years, many things happened. The war was nearing it's end, and it finally reached the border of the city. Most of the civilians moved within the Castle wall for protection.

It was this time, when Tosh got word that Uncle Rand got in contact with him saying that they needed his help. Tosh thought nothing of it. He had Patti and Little Tosh ready to go into the castle, and it wouldn't be away no longer then a day. It was during that time away, where enemy soldiers entered the city and poisoned the well water during the night. Tosh returned the next day with Uncle Rand, expecting to see his family in the Castle. When he got word that she never entered the castle, Tosh didn't think much. He was sure she was home or with a neighbor that didn't want to leave. But as soon as the two of them walked out of the castle, they could hear screams and cries, all though the city. The two rushed though out the city offering what ever help he could. It was then that Rand realized that the people was poisoned. They saved as many as he could, but when Tosh reached there home, he found the two of them. Patti on the floor, and Little Tosh, laying in bed, dead.

Tosh went into a blind rage. The scream that came from him didn't sound human. Even though most of the enemy soldiers left the area, leaving only a tiny garrison to keep watch on the city, Tosh raced though the city gates and struck the heart of the encampment casting spells of fire and lighting, with such savagery and fury, Rand dared not allowed anyone to follow, for they would most likely get killed in Tosh's murderous frenzy.

The few enemy soldiers that survived his magical attack, was more or less beaten and ripped apart, by Tosh's bare hands. When Rand reached his nephew, he found him standing drenched in blood and magical energy seeping out of him.Quickly, Rand casted a sleeping spell on him and had several of his neighbors carrying him back to the city. Rand casted a spell on the other people so they wouldn't see how powerful Tosh's magic was. He didn't wish his friends to see him in a different light.

Tosh spent many days in shock. Not like anyone could blame him. But many feared the worse, so, Rand immediately got in contact with Mentokka. If there was one person who could possibly help Tosh get over this, it would be his kid sister. They followed there custom and had there bodies burned in the center of the city with the other victims of the enemy attack. Rand used his magic to take away the appearance of the purple lips and fingertips on the victims. They looked as if there were sleeping. Tosh openly cried as the bodies burned. Mentokka held his hand, offering what ever strength she could offer to him.

How he blessed the gods for Mentokka at that time. He remember wanting to die at that moment.To throw himself into the flames to join them in death. But it was her child like nature, her overall charm, that finally reached his heart. The two of them would go out for long walks, Mentokka asking countless questions. Many of them, he was sure she knew. But it kept his mind off Patti and Little Tosh. But there were times he would wake up in the middle of the night screaming out there names. And there would be Mentokka, holding him in her arms telling him everything was going to be all right. It didn't matter what time it was, she was always there for him. Slowly, she healed his wounded heart and mind......... It was all about Head and Heart.

Tosh decided to move to the Grasslands with Rand and Mentokka..........{Mentokka wasn't going to take no for an answer}
To this day, Tosh was glad he did move. As much as he wouldn't admit to it openly. He was the kind of person that needs the strength of family. He was the kind of person that fed off the love and companionship of a close knit family. He wasn't the kind of person that could live alone. Not like Uncle Rand.
Even though it was close to two years ago. The death of his wife and child, still bring tears to is eyes. He was glad that there was a slight wind blowing in there faces. He could say that he wind was blowing sand into his face if Mentokka asked about the tears in his eyes.

After awhile, the two of them started talking about Uncle Rand and Merc being alone with each other. Tosh was thinking the worse, only to have Mentokka telling him not to think such things about there uncle. Even though the thought crossed her mind every now and then.

"It's no big deal, sis." Tosh said. "Uncle Rand is a man. Maybe, Gunner is right, he's lonely".

"Not with Merc!" she just about shouted. "She's his student. Don't that count for anything?"

"If she was a child. Then that would account for something. But the last time I looked.....Merc is a women." What could Mentokka say.

"But....."

"No buts, sis. Your acting as if Merc is your sister other then your friend. But we are talking about Uncle Rand, here. Yes, I know he talks like a Dirty Old Man sometimes."

"Tosh!" Mentokka spoke up." He is a Dirt Old Man sometimes." Tosh had to stop and grin and agree.

"What he did in that bath house in Stonyia....... By the Gods!" The two of them laughed.

It was one of the hottest day of the season. Rand was in Stonyia meeting an old friend. A busy city to the north west of Fatoria. Trade was the backbone of the city's wealth. With the city being few miles from the sea. The roads was always busy with goods coming and going to and from the city.

After buying several rare and hard to find supplies. They though it would be a good idea to relax in the city's famed bath house. For over a hundred years, the hot water was piped in from the hot springs in the near by mountains, it served the royalty and the upper class of the city. Several years ago they opened it up to the rest of the people of the city.........{Only one day in the week}

They both knew that his was the day that anyone could enter. But as soon as they were about to, they were turned away, but a group of armed soldiers escorting, several high class men and women into the bath house. They seem to ooze wealth and arrogance. When one of the people complained about it, a group of soldiers attacked the man, beating him bloody. Several of the people heading into the bath house, laughed at the man that was getting beaten, with one saying 'That with teach him to watch his mouth and stay in his place'.

"Gods!" Rand shouted as he rushed over to treat the beaten man. "There just as bad as there guards."

"Rand! Don't do nothing rash!" his friend said when he saw he look in his eyes.

"Who?......me?" Rand asked innocently.

"Yes, you! The last time you messed with the Upper class and Royalty, we was chased for two days!" Rand chuckled.

"Relax, old friend. I won't do nothing rash."

"You said that the last time also."

"Just watch and enjoy." Rand said. "We deserve a good laugh in this heat." his friend sighed and hope the prison food wasn't too bad when they got thrown in jail.

Rand noticed that the soldiers were guarding the entrance to the bath house. He smiled. Without one noticing he casted a sleep spell on the soldiers. And to all that was standing around. The soldiers was fast asleep, while standing on there feet. Rand walked over towards them. He waved his hand and snapped his fingers hear them. None of them stirred.

"Now we wait a few minutes." Rand said walking back to where his friend was standing.

"What for?" his friend asked.

"Let the people inside get 'nice and comfortable'."

After waiting several minutes.

"Time for the fireworks." Rand said quietly.

With few watching him, he cast the sleep spell to be removed, and instantly casted a second spell on the soldiers. Suddenly they all woke from there sleep. Most was blinking there eyes. None spoke. Maybe there were embarrassed that they was sleeping on the job.

"This is terrible!" Rand said hurrying to where the soldiers were standing.

"What's wrong?" one soldier asked.

"What's wrong?" Rand said frantically. "While you fools were sleeping on the job, a group of unruly commoners sneaked in, saying here were going to 'play' with the Royalty."

"What?!!" one of the soldiers shouted. The soldiers were hearing cries and shouts coming from inside.......{But no one else}

"Protect the Royalty and Drag all those bastards out into the street. We'll slaughter them in front of everyone!" The lead Soldier shouted as they rushed inside. Suddenly the sounds of shouts and cries filled the bath house.

"Rand? I think you may of gone a bit overboard with this," his friend said as the two of hem walked away from the entrance, to where the other people watched.

"Just watch, my friend. Rand said, grinning.

As if on cue, the soldiers began dragging out the naked and partly clothed Royalty out into the street, and throwing onto the ground. Most were in stunned silence at what they saw.
As soon as all of them were out of bath house. The enraged soldiers were about to draw there weapons.

"Rand!" his friend shouted.

"And now." Rand whispered, snapping his fingers two times.

The soldiers shook there heads as if they was waking up from a dream. But what they saw was nothing less then a nightmare for them. All of the Royalty on the ground, naked for all to see. What happened next was total chaos.

The soldiers frantically tried to help some to there feet, while other tried to explain that the thought they were commoners that sneak inside. And several Royalty ran back inside, covering there bodies as best as they could. Suddenly a roar of laughter exploded from all that watched.

"Now we take our leave, my friend." Rand said, gently talking his laughing friend by the arm and disappearing into the laughing crowd.

"What you think will happen to the soldiers, Rand?" his friend asked, later on that day.

"In the stables......Cleaning horse shit.........Forever!" Rand said, putting up a finger to each statement he said. "And I'm sure our dear Royalty got knocked down a few pegs in the arrogance level.

Tosh and Mentokka smiled and laughed, as they continued walking.

"Dirty Old Man, Indeed." Tosh said.

Several days later as the two were almost home.

Mentokka told Tosh that she wasn't feeling well. Tosh didn't give it much thought, only because they were so close to home. And this wasn't the first tme Mentokka got sick during a long journey. He told her not to worry, for they would be home soon and she could take all the time she needed to rest.

But Tosh was a little worried, how much his sister was sweating in such cool weather.

"If she get any worse, I'll get in touch with Uncle Rand." Tosh thught to himself, as he offered her to lean against him for support.

Little did he know what was in store for her........And himself.

Five days passed since Rand and Merc fought near and in the stream. And to the surprise of Mentokka, Tosh and Gunner. She moved and acted like a totally different person. In training, she matched Mentokka's speed, which ended up beating her with several blows to Mentokka's face that she never saw. She nearly matched Tosh in a test of strength. Tosh won, but he knew it was nothing to brag about, for it easily could be him on the losing side the next time. And Gunner?....... She took him down with one shot.....{as usual}

Seeing that Merc was more or less doing much better. Mentokka decided it was alright for her and Tosh to finally head back home and re-stock there supplies. As the three watch Rand correcting Merc's stance sitting several yards away, Gunner and Mentokka was in discussion about they were seeing. And Tosh was in lost in thought.

"You know something, Mentokka," Gunner said. "Is it me or does it look like Merc enjoying the hard training that Master Rand is putting her though?" Mentokka nodded in agreement. For she clearly remembered passing out the first time she went though Rand's advanced training.

It was during the time that Mentokka asked him to train her in secret. The strain he put her under, with the long amount of time in the proper stances and striking a target with everything she had was just too much for her at that time. Yet Merc seemed to be phased very little by Rand's training.

"I wonder if it's her natural strength that's helps her?" The two nodded, for the both were on receiving end of that strength.

"What do you think, Tosh?" Mentokka asked. But she noticed that Tosh seem to be miles away in deep thought. She nudged Gunner and moved close to her brother. When she no more then a few inches from her brother's face, she whispered his name. "Oh, Tooossshhh!"

"Huh?" Tosh said, turning his head to see his sister right in his face. Before he could say anything or react, she gave him a little kiss on the nose. "Hey!" he shouted. But as soon as he tried to rise to his feet, he stumble over himself and fell over onto the ground.

"Phased again." Mentokka said sweetly. "I've lost count, dear brother..... Fifty?.....A Hundred?....A Thousand?" With that her and Gunner broke out laughing.

Tosh stared at the two of them. Anger clearly etched on his face. But soon he joined in the laughter.

"Can one of you tell me what was that all about?" Gunner asked, still chuckling.

Mentokka told him that Tosh made a bet with her saying if he was ever lost in thought, she would do something like that and he wouldn't be phased in any way. "And as you can clearly see.......He gets Phased ever time." Mentokka said.

"I bet you can't phase me, Mentokka." Gunner said. His eyes wide with excitement. "Try it on......"

"I wouldn't do that if I was you." Tosh said. cutting his words off. "The last person that asked her to do that other then me, got his lights seriously punched out."

Gunner looked over at Mentokka. She gave him a pretty smile, then promptly cracked her knuckles on both hands. Gunner said nothing at first. No doubt letting the thought run around in his head.

"It's worth it..........Pucker up, beautiful!"

"Gunner, my friend." Tosh said, turning to face him. "You're a glutton for punishment." The three shared a laugh again.

"What were you thinking about, Tosh?" Gunner asked. Tosh thought about it for a second.

"I was just thinking, why does Uncle Rand want us to walk back home?"

"He wants us to gather more supplies." Mentokka said.

"No, sis, I know that much." Tosh said. "I mean, why do we have to walk there?" Her eyes went wide for a moment, but she said nothing.

"I mean, Uncle Rand could port us back home, and we'd be back with in an hour."

Still, Mentokka said nothing. Tosh could only think that she did not put much thought into what Uncle Rand asked them to do.

"That's funny," Gunner said. "Master Rand wants me to head up north to a fishing town and meet up with a trader for him in a couple of days."

"What is going on?" Mentokka asked. "If I didn't know better, Uncle Rand want us somewhere eles for him to be alone?"

"Alone? With who? Merc?" Gunner asked.

"Maybe he's sending her somewhere also. Maybe he does want to be alone." Gunner said. "But you know, Master Rand is standing very close to Merc. And he seem to be touching her all over her body, correcting her stances." The three looked at Rand more closely.

"Guys! Let's not jump to conclusions." Mentokka said. "He did that to me when he trained me."

"Guys?" Gunner spoke up. "Answer me this......Do you think Master Rand is.....you know, lonely?"

"What are you talking about? He has us." Tosh said.

"I mean, when is the last time Master Rand been alone with a women?"

Tosh looked at each other and the two of them smiled. "The last time he was 'with' a women.......He 'Was' a women." The two of them broke out in laughter. Gunner looked totally puzzled at the two of them laughing.

"Oh, I'm sorry, Gunner." Mentokka said to him. "It's a inside joke. I promise to tell you about it sometime."

"Don't you three got places to go?" Rand called out to them. "Let me know when your ready to go."

"Is Merc going any where, Uncle Rand?" Tosh said, rising to his feet.

"No. I want to teach her a new technique. I do not wish to be disturbed when I'm training her. It's best done alone." The three shot quick glances at each other.

"Alone with Merc." Gunner muttered, getting to his feet.

Several hours later, Rand, Merc and Gunner went to see Tosh and Mentokka off at the city's front gate. Gunner would leave in the morning, and be back in a couple of days. But Tosh and Mentokka would be gone a little more then a week.

You two be careful." Rand said hugging the two of them. "If there's a problem. You know how to get in touch with me." They both nodded.

"You know.....It seems that You two are going to be alone..... Don't do nothing I wouldn't do." Gunner said, practically grinning from ear to ear. Tosh and Mentokka looked at him with crooked grins.

"Yeah, like we can possible grasp what you won't do." Mentokka said. "But now that I think about it, Gunner. Your going to be 'All alone'.....Don't do nothing I wouldn't do, pretty boy."

Gunner hated when Mentokka turned the tables on him. But it only lasted for a few seconds. Mentokka-Tor was a tough nut to crack. But he knew his charm will win out and she would be his............Someday...........He hoped.

"Concentrate, Little Lady!" Rand Shouted as Merc tried to connect a slashing kick to Mentokka's head. Rand shook his head, as he saw the two trained with each other.

"What was wrong with her?" Rand thought to himself. "Merc knows that a side thrust kick was the proper move to attempt."

She seem to be faltering, as if she was out of breath or lack of interest. And to make matters worse. He could see that Mentokka notice that Merc was not up to her game, so she wasn't giving it her all either. Rand sighed and called out for the two to stop fighting.

Rand said nothing as he walked over to where the girls were standing. "Tosh?" he called out to his nephew. "Continue with Mentokka. Merc walk with me, please." Mentokka was about to say something, but Rand was already walking along the stream that he trained them. She followed quietly behind him.

They walked for about a minute. Rand wanted them to be out of eye and ear shot of the others. Rand knew that this was going to happen. The impasse in there relationship. He knew he had to get what ever she was feeling out in the open, or she would never reach her true potential. Not under his training, that is. And Rand wasn't going to let that happen.

"Alright, little lady," Rand said stopping, and not turning to face his student. "What's wrong?"

"I don't understand, what you mean Master." Merc said in a small voice, as if she didn't have the right to speak to him.

"You were fighting like you was sleepwalking." he said turning to face her. "I never seen you so out of focus or uninterested before. So I ask again, What is wrong?" Still Merc said nothing. She wouldn't even look him in his eyes. Rand sighed inwardly. He tried the fatherly path, and it seem only to make Merc less confident of herself. Merc looked and acted like a whipped puppy. It was time for 'Master Rand' to come out.

This would NOT do. It was time for drastic measures. Even though the thought made him slightly sick to his stomach. Rand walked up to her and slapped her across her face......Hard!

The blow made her see lights before her eyes. She looked at him with wide eyes. She was about to ask why he did that, when Rand slapped her once again. "It's about time for you to wake up, Little Lady, Defend Yourself!"

The first time they fought, Rand stayed on the defense, but now, Rand was on the attack. He was about to get her out of her funk, even if he had to punch and kick it out of her.

Merc was back on her heels as Rand threw punches and kick at her. She barely had time to block and avoid his countless blows, much less think about what Rand was doing. Suddenly Rand stopped his attack, and looked at his student and grin that damnable grin that Merc hated so much.

"Well! You still know how to defend yourself, I'm impressed." Rand said, removing his fighting robe to reveal his bare chest. "It's been a while since I cut loose on a student. Ended up nearly beating Mentokka with in an inch of her life til she learned something. Time for you to show me what your made of....The Way of the Fist!" With that, Rand charged!

Merc instantly knew what he meant by that. 'The Way of the Fist' was the saying Master Kasumi always said, when she trained her. Trained her hard. Even now she could see the seriousness in those brown eyes of his. Merc lead with a straight right to Rand's face. But Rand side stepped the attack and grabbed her fist by the wrist. He jerked her arm forward and drove his knee into her midsection, that drove the air out of her. She slumped to her knees.

"Your making this all too easy." Rand said, looking down at fallen Merc. "I've had a peasant girl give me more of a effort in the hay then what your doing." Merc tried to get to her feet, but Rand kicked her back to the ground.

"I'd call you 'Giant Women'.... But your not worthy of the title. Maybe I should call you......Little Girl?" Rand said, kneeling next to her. Suddenly Merc snapped her head up to see fire in the red head's eyes. The one thing that she hate being called.....Or in this case not being called. "But Mentokka wouldn't like that."

The two rose at the same time. But Rand grabbed her by her blouse and flipped her into the flowing stream. Rand was on top of her as soon as her head came out of the water. He grabbed her by her hair and plunged her face under the water. Merc struggle for several seconds as Rand pulled her face back out of the water.

"Head and Heart, Merc!" Rand shouted into her face. "It's all about Head and Heart!" He shoved her under once again. then pulled her back up once again. "Must I Drown you for you to understand this? Your to damn good to be acting this way." He pushed her under the water again. He held her longer this time. This time she really struggled to free herself, but Rand held tight.

Merc felt her consciousness begin to slip away, as his words echoed inside of her. Then suddenly something beyond her fear of drowning. Something clicked in her. {Head and Heart} It was these two things that controlled her. It was this that would take control the two battling styles in her. The Ninja and the Fighter fought each other to be the superior style insider her. But in truth, it was Merc who was the superior one of the two. And instantly she forced the two styles to obey her. Even though she was drowning, Merc suddenly had several means of escaping Rand's grasp. She ended up do the most difficult one.

Suddenly Rand saw and felt Merc's fist come up out of the water and caught his on the side of the head. The blow sent him off of her and land further into the stream.

Rand quickly got to his feet and looked to see Merc already on her feet, popping her shoulder back into place.

"The Art of Dislocation." Rand thought to himself. That was the only way she could connect. She's Finally learning.

But it was the look on her face that told him all he needed to know. A hard, calmness of determination, Rand knew if he was anyone else at this moment, he'd give the idea of running some serious thought. But this is what he wanted to bring out in her. He just hoped she didn't end up killing him in the process.

Merc couldn't believe that she connected. "I hit him!" she thought to herself. "I finally hit him." She was filled with moves and counter-moves that Rand would most likely use on her.
"It can't be this easy!"

Keeping an eye on Merc, Rand slowly walked out of the water. "Don't like playing the 'Water Nymph' any longer." Merc smile and followed him. The two walked several feet from the water's edge. He spread his feet slightly and dropped into a fighting crouch. Merc smiled and went into her own fighting stance.

Right there Rand noticed something different about her. It was her confidence. She was bubbling with it. She leaped at him. She was incredibly fast. He stepped to his right and kicked at her as she flew past. He caught her on her hip and knocked her sideways, but not off her feet. Merc circled, looking for an opening. Suddenly, she took a long, sliding step and punched.

Rand back peddled, but her fist hit him in the belly hard. She followed up with an elbow but he dived away, rolled and turned, came up with his hands lifted, as she darted after him.

He lost contact with his magic. That gut shot must of broke his concentration. She slapped him next to his ear and he went down. Rand thought, if he didn't do something fast, she might end up killing him.

"Uncle Rand, use your magic!" It was Mentokka. He sensed her near but she was out of view. He wanted to only use his fighting skills. But he was at the point of getting hurt by her. Right now, anything goes.

He rose to one knee and cast, Mentokka's 'Flash and Bang' spell. Even though he taught Mentokka this spell. He is the one that mastered it. The spell lasted for a few seconds. Not long enough to make lose her equilibrium. But long enough to slightly lose her balance, to give him the time to get to his feet and shake off the effects of Merc ear slap.

The two of them stopped for several seconds, and looked at each other.

"You see how easy it is, Little Lady." Rand said. A grin breaking across his face. "Head and Heart. A whole new world has just opened up to you."

Merc couldn't say anything. Her eyes looked upon Rand, with love and respect. "This is what he wanted me to learn....... But I was so stupid to have feelings of doubt. Because he's a man? These were not my feelings........they were my Mothers feelings. It was her hatred of men that I carried inside me all this time.... I feel Reborn!"

Rand and Merc went at each other in a frenzy. Throwing countless punches and kicks where the two also countered just about every shot the two of them threw. There speed nearly cheated the eye. This lasted for several minutes until Mentokka cast the 'Flash and Bang' spell on the two of them. But they were so into a fighting fever, they hardly noticed it only to pause for several seconds. That was all they needed.

"Now, Tosh! Now!" Mentokka shouted, as she and Tosh tackled the two of them. Tosh grabbing Rand and Mentokka hitting Merc.. The four of them landing into the stream. The four of them rose there heads out of the water and looked at eact other.

"I told you it would work, Tosh." Mentokka said wringing her hair of the excess water. Most of it onto Tosh's face. "When two big dogs are fighting, you need someone with a bucket of water to stop them.......Better then your idea." Tosh looked at her sister with a dead pan expression.

" A bucket of water on 'Them' sis! I still think we should of let them kill each other." Tosh said, wiping the water off his face and flicked into Mentokka's face. Rand and Merc looked at Tosh with a shocked look.

Suddenly, the four of them started laughing. Rand walked though the water and took Merc in his arms. Tosh and Mentokka knew right away something special happened between the two of them. they looked at each other and smiled.

Rand whispered how proud he was of her. And Merc thanking his Master for opening up a whole new world for her.

And what a world it would be her......... and all of them.

Chapter 46 {’Girl’ Talk}
Current mood: calm
Category: Writing and Poetry

"Merc! Wake up!" Mentokka shouted as she shook Merc awake. "Come on, Wake up!" Merc eyes shot opened, as she grabbed Mentokka by her arms.

"M-Mentokka?" she said in shock. "What are you doing?"

"What am I doing?" she replied wide eyed. "Your were just about screaming in your sleep. What's wrong, sis?"

Mentokka called Merc 'sis' when they were alone. The strong sisterly-like bond the girls were feeling towards each other. But for the third night, Mentokka was worried about Merc. She was drenched in sweat. Her nightgown was sticking to her body. Beads of sweat covered her face. "I think it was a bad dream."

"A bad dream got you screaming like that?" Mentokka asked, clearly not believing her. "Do you want me to call Uncle Rand?" Mentokka was about to get out of the bed, when Merc stopped her.

"No, please, " she said, gently grabbing her arm. "Master Rand is my teacher, not my father." Mentokka was taken back by her statement.

"What do you mean by that?" Merc took a couple of breaths before she spoke again.

"I'm sure Master Rand knows what is wrong, if not, figure it out. But there are times I don't feel comfortable talking to him."

"Why is that?" Mentokka asked, but had a feeling she knew what Merc was talking about. But she decided to wait and see if Merc will tell her. But one look into her face. The way she wouldn't look her in the eyes told her that she wouldn't tell her. "Is it because, he's a man?
Merc's eyes went wide for a moment, then she turned her face away from her. That's all Mentokka needed to see. "It is that, isn't it." Merc said nothing.

"Mentokka......" Merc finally said looking at her. "You have to understand. I never knew my father. When I had a problem. My mother was always there for me, and she always told me to keep men a distance from me when I was growing up. {Men are no good. You can't trust them for anything}"

"Sis?.... Do you think this way about Uncle Rand, and the others?" she asked, clearly not believing what she just heard.

"Yes..... I mean, no.....I mean......I-I don't know what to think." she said covering her face in her hands.

Clearly this was bubbling under the surface for Merc for a while. Mentokka knew that she knew Tosh, Uber and Gunner sometime in her past. But from what she knew of it. there was nothing out of the ordinary when she dealt with them. She guessed it had to be about Uncle Rand. So she decided to focus on him.

"Sis? Do you have a problem with Uncle Rand?" Merc quickly raised her head from her face.

"Of course not," she replied, too quickly. "I have the world of respect for Master Rand."

"Yet, there is something about him that's bothering you. You can tell me."

"Your his niece. I don't want to offend you."

"You don't have to worry about that, sis. This is between us. There will be no hard feelings between us. Remember.....were 'sisters'." The two shared a laugh. Merc nodded.

"It happened when I first met Master Rand."

"The fight here when that gang attacked you?"

"You know about it?"

"Only what, Uncle Rand told me when I asked him about it. Remember. I got there at the end of it." Merc agreed.

"I remembered being held down and one of them was hitting me in the face, over and over again. Right there, Master Rand and Tosh came to my aid. They gave me the chance to recover. But when I was ready to continue the fight. It was just about over. Only one of the gang was left standing, holding a sword on Master Rand. I was so angry, I picked up my frying pan and let him have it. One blow was enough to finish him off. The fight was over, but I was still yearning for a fight. When Tosh came over towards me to see if I was alright. Something in me snapped. I didn't see a friend. I saw a man that took my opportunity to get back at men that hurt me. So I hit him also, knocked him out cold. The only one left standing was Master Rand. And at that moment, I hated him more then anyone alive. Something inside me screamed at me to attack. And I did."

"And?" Mentokka said, eagerly waiting to heard what happened next.

Merc took a painful deep breath and continued. "I attacked him with everything I knew, and several things I made up. But, I couldn't lay a finger on him. He avoided every attack and made me look stupid in the process. He kept calling me 'Giant Women'. Never in my life, that I felt such hatred towards anyone. Master Rand humiliated me with his talking and that damnable grin. And to prove my point, he bent my prized weapon, my Sai that Master Kasumi gave me."

"But.....but didn't Uncle Rand go to Master Kasumi to apologize to her personally about that?" Merc looked shocked that she knew about that. But she nodded. "What did Master Kasumi say when she found out that you've became Uncle Rand's new student?"

"She said that she was happy that I was going to train under such a great teacher."

"Then what is the problem?" Mentokka asked, not understanding where this was going.

"Mentokka?" she said quietly "When I knelled down before Master Rand, and asked him to train me. I really did not wish to do that."

"You didn't?" Merc shook her head.

"I didn't want to train under him.......My anger was such, that I wanted to Destroy him!"

Nothing was said for several moments. There was tension in the air between the two of them. Mentokka spoke.

"Was you feeling that way when we fought each other during your training. I was dressed in the same fighting robe as Uncle Rand."

"I'm kind of embarrassed to say this, now that I think about it." she said softly. "But it felt good hitting you........because I didn't see your face. I saw Master Rand. Stupid grin and all. Yet......yet I lost to you all the same." The sadness on her face was hard to look at.

"Sis? You were cursed" Mentokka said taking her hands in hers. I'm sure that was the only reason that you lost to the both of us."

Merc looked at Mentokka and smiled. She understood what Master Rand and Uber went though to free her of it. It nearly killed them.

"So this is what Merc is going though." Mentokka thought to herself. "This is the juggling act she was dealing with. Balls of hatred and respect were in the air at the same time. How does she do it and not lose it. I know I wouldn't."

After a while, the tension was more or less gone between the two of them. The talked about nothing in particular for a while. "Can I ask you a question about Master Rand?"

"If I can.......sure."

"How old is Master Rand?"

Mentokka was about to say a number, but paused. For several moments Mentokka-Tor was in deep thought. As she thought about it. She........ wasn't sure.

"You might find this hard to believe, but I.......I'm not really sure."

"What do you mean, your not really sure?"

"Just what I said. When I think about it. Uncle Rand has always looked the same. As far as I can remember. He looked the same for over fifteen years. But other then that, he's sixty-two" Merc didn't reply to what she said. This was something she would have to talk to Master Rand about sometime in the near future. But she did have another question that she was sure that Mentokka could answer.

"This look that Master Rand is now, is it someone from his past, or is it him at a younger age?"

Mentokka told him that this was a new guise for Uncle Rand. She had never seen him look like that before. "Sis? Uncle Rand, has looked like a teenager of fifteen, He become an army officer of thirty-six, He's posed as an Ancient Wizard that was well over a hundred, And......." Mentokka stopped suddenly, and turned her face away from Merc slightly embarrassed.

"And what?"

"I......rather not say, Sis" she said, a small grin breaking across her face.

"Oh No You Don't, Girlfriend!" Merc just about shouted."Out with it!"

Mentokka held out for several more seconds, until she finally gave in.

"OK, OK, I'll tell you. But you must promise me you'll NEVER let Uncle Rand find out I told you this." She said. Merc nodded. "Promise me!"

"OK!" Merc said raising her left hand and placing her right hand over her heart. "I swear on the honor on Master Rand and Master Kasumi."

"Both Masters? I'm impressed." Mentokka said smiling broadly. Looked around the room before talking. This made Merc even more willing to hear what she was going to say. "It was about ten years ago. Uncle Rand just learned how to change his appearance using his magic. A King's Man from Fatoria hired Uncle Rand to help him track down a spy that was planning to escape with plans that numbered there Army's locations in the surrounding areas. After several day of searching, they trapped he spy in a large tavern in Fatoria. Rand and the King's Man couldn't enter the tavern though the front, without being spotted by the spy. When they tried entering though the back, they were stopped by guards saying it was only for the female dancers. After several minutes of thinking, Rand asked the King's Man to wait near the front entrance.

When asked what was he planning. Rand told him to trust him. After he left him, Rand concentrated hard and changed himself into a beautiful, young women of 20. She had strawberry-blond hair, a pair of large, firm breasts, a flat belly, firm and powerful legs of a dancer. She wore a near see though pink outfit. When one of the guard asked her who was she. Rand told them that she was new act that just got into town. She called herself the ' Water Nymph of Paradise'. The guards just about feel over themselves to let her in.

When Rand was alone in his room, he decided to chance back to himself. But there was a problem, he couldn't change back. The counter spell wasn't working. For nearly a half hour, Rand tried to change back, with no luck. Suddenly things went from Bad to Worse for him.

It was his turn on stage. His first impulse was to get out of there, but he decided against it. He closed his eyes, calmed his mind, using his magic, He remember a act he saw several years back when he was in the army. And when he added his magic to it, he...or should I say, she was going to give them a performance they'll Never forget. Besides, the spy was in the audience, and it was his job to catch him.

When her named was called all the lights went dim. Suddenly a soft, gentle rain started coming down on the stage. But instead of flowing down off the stage. It stayed in it's place. The sound of a harp and a lute filled the room. Suddenly the water seem to move and dance with the rhythm. When Rand came on stage. She stood with her arms extended as the rain came down harder to drench her. At this point everyone in there were totally enthralled with her performance. Her arms and hips swayed to the music. Her hands started glowing, and the water rose and fell to her movements. She slowly started spinning around and the water seem to spin around her in the opposite direction. She increased the speed of her turns, the water moved to increase it's speed. At the end of the performance, Rand stopped spinning, and feel to the floor, and the water disappeared, leaving the stage dry and her soaked.

The roar and cheering was loud and long. They wouldn't let her leave the stage, until she gave them another performance. Half way thought the second act, some drunk fool came up on the stage and took Rand by her arm. Without thinking Rand punched the man in the face that sent him crashing though a table in the front row. Even though Rand looked like a small girl, She was still Master Rand. Suddenly a fight broke out in the crowd. At that moment Rand saw the spy trying to leave his seat. Rand leaped off the stage and delivered a well placed kick to his lower back. As the brawl spread though out the tavern, Rand dragged the now unconscious spy towards the window near the entrance, and promptly pitched him out the window near the King's Man. Where he instantly shackled him.

When Rand tried to climb out the window, an arm grabbed her around the waist and pulled her back inside. So for the next half hour, Rand fought her way though the entire tavern, laying out at least ten men and several others that was more interested in pawing and grabbing at her body.

When she finally made it outside. She was breathing hard and her outfit was just about hanging off her body. The King's Man being a man of chivalry, placed his cloak over Rand's near naked body. Rand was about to tell him that she was Rand, but he was sure he's never believe her. She told him that she was Rand's assistant, And Rand was still inside fighting. Realizing that his friend was in trouble, he ran into the tavern to 'rescue' his friend. Suddenly several guards rushed towards the tavern and entered it. It was then, that Rand took her leave of this place and headed to a nearby Inn to take a well deserved bath, and to figure out Why the Hell he couldn't turn herself back into a man?"

Merc and Mentokka was laughing so hard, the two of them were in tears and Mentokka feel off the bed. After getting back onto the bed, Merc asked her what happened after all that happened. Mentokka told her that Rand learned that he spoke the last phrase of the counter spell wrong. When she asked how long it took for him to remember it. Mentokka said it took him two whole days. Which go the two laughing once again.

Mentokka said, Rand went to receive the King's phrase for all he done. But he has to go as Rand's assistant and a young Tosh as his page. When asked where was Rand-Tor. She said He apologized for not being there, but there was death in the family and he went home sometime last evening. The King believed it and offered his deep condolences of the lost of his family member. And for those two days, Rand received countless looks and hungry glares at her. Even the King's Man made a pass at her. With that, Rand couldn't get out of Fatoria fast enough.

After another round of laughter, Merc said she wouldn't tell a soul. After several minutes of talking, Merc decided to call it a night. With that Mentokka raised her hand and muttered something under her breath, and Merc not being the wiser, fell into a deep sleep. Mentokka suddenly glowed a soft light around her and changed into Rand.

Mentokka was worried about Merc and her nightmares, so she told Rand about it. He asked her if she has another nightmare, her told her to come and get him. So that night when Merc started screaming in here sleep, Mentokka went to get Rand to see if he could help. Rand told himself that he was going to keep an eye on his student. But he was sure that she would see him in a different light after hearing the story when he turned into a girl and couldn't change back.

"I want you to see, that I'm not perfect, Little Lady." He said walking out of Merc's room. "And I hope, it will get rid of some of the feelings of hate you have for me. For I truly believe you will be my best student ever."

There he saw Mentokka sleeping soundly at one of the tables. Smiling, he cast another sleep spell on his Little Girl. This time a deep sleep spell like the one he put on Merc. and carried her into the bedroom and placed her onto the other bed next to Merc.

"You two, rest easy." He said drawing the blankets on them and leaving there room. "I'll do my best to guild and protect you both."

With that Rand made a small pray to the gods for there wisdom and Blessings, then headed to the Inn to call it a night.