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."