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.