Tory wasn't sure she liked the sound of this. Certainly she was happy for those who would be liberated from their mortal bodies, but what of the others?

'I shall be very discreet,' he assured before she objected. 'How does two days from now sound?'

'Fine, I guess,' she grumbled. Why did he have to be so damn secretive all the time? She was tired of trusting in the universe, as it certainly didn't seem to be doing her any favours of late.

'It's all in the way you look at it really,' Taliesin advised her. 'Why do you have so much trouble believing that every adversity can be turned to one's advantage? The trouble with you is, you have lost your blind faith. You spend too much time trying to figure out the details of your problems and not enough time focusing on a positive outcome.'

'I know what I want, High Merlin, make no mistake about that.'

Taliesin gave a slight nod to grant that this might be true. 'But you can't make wishes for someone else Tory, only for you.'

'Then the universe obviously isn't going to be of much help in this instance, is it?' she concluded dryly, and having no desire to be lectured further she willed herself home.

Brian wasn't making any headway with their father, either; Myrddin seemed to think everything was going according to plan.

News that the Middle East and a large portion of Alaska had been destroyed failed to raise little more than a blank look from the Merlin. Brian ran by him the news of Cadfan's assassination and pending Son of God status, at which time Myrddin nodded as if it were expected and stood poised to learn what had Brian so riled.

'What about Rhiannon's kidnapping?' Brian made a desperate attempt to get some sign of emotion out of his father, to ensure he hadn't turned into a zombie. 'Surely you're concerned about that. She is your grand-daughter, after all!'

'Why concerned?' he queried. 'All is going splendidly.'

'Splendidly!' Brian barked 'If this is what you call splendid, I'd sure hate to see your idea of shithouse.

Tory is out of her mind with worry. Can't you do anything to help her get Rhiannon back?'

'I'm no authority on the NERGUZ-I-NUEN, Brian,'

Myrddin advised. 'Tory has Ray Murdock looking at the module, and he is far more qualified than I. She is also seeking Taliesin's aid -'

'Taliesin?' Brian frowned. Tory hadn't mentioned the High Merlin's return to the present.

'Teo, then,' Myrddin clarified. 'You know what I mean?'

'No, Dad, I don't.' Brian folded his arms.

'Oops.' Myrddin shrank back, realising that Tory obviously hadn't told her brother of Teo's passing.

'Tell me about "oops",' Brian hounded his father, as he began to walk away.

'I'd love to Brian, but I have to fly.'

'Is there a connection between Teo and Taliesin?'

His question tapered off as his father disappeared into the wall of the cave and Brian found himself addressing a rock face. 'Damn it, Dad!' He thumped the solid obstruction that prevented him from pursuing his father.

Upon her return to Watarrka, Tory found the camp in an uproar.

A huge falcon, the size of a man, had flown into their base through an opening in the roof of the cavern of pools. It had perched itself high up in the cavern of abodes and was observing everything from there.

Some of the Aboriginals were of a mind to kill the huge bird for a feast, but Tory rushed down the stairs to the cavern floor to prevent it.

'No don't!' She threw herself at the man who was about to launch a spear at the creature, tackling him to the ground. 'He's a friend,' she explained, setting her startled victim free and getting to her feet. 'Thais?' She looked to the huge winged beast. 'It is I, Lamamu.'

The falcon let loose an almighty screech as it took flight.

Rhun was making his way into the cavern of abodes when he spied the enormous bird, circling its way down to land before his mother. 'What the devil?' He ran against the general flow of people who were fleeing the cavern. But as he got closer to Tory the beast confronting her began to transform. At first Rhun thought it was reconstituting into a human being, and thus he suspected a Shaman in their midst. By the time Rhun reached his mother's side, however, it was rather apparent that this was no ordinary shape-shifting individual. For although it had the head, arms and torso of a strong, healthy human male, it had the hindquarters and four legs of a fine black stallion.

'Mother, is this what I think it is?' Rhun asked, watching the animal prance about as it got the feel of its new form.

'Thais is a centaur, if that's what you mean.' Tory smiled, delighted to see her old friend again. 'Don't look so worried. We go way back.'

'Pleased to hear it,' Rhun muttered, as the beast came to a stand still before them, towering over both.

'Lamamu, Shar Xavier.' Thais bowed, graciously.

'What a pleasure it is to see you both.'

'The pleasure is all ours,' Tory assured him, before motioning to Rhun to correct her friend's misconception. 'This is my son, Rhun.'

'Of course,' Thais realised his error. 'Prince of Gwynedd some sixty years. I'm so pleased to make your acquaintance.'

The centaur gave him a firm handshake. Rhun could only stand there in amazed silence.

'So what drags you from your island home in the Azores, Thais?' Tory began to walk with the creature, ignoring the staring masses who were keeping their distance. 'Or should I call you Thomas?' This was the name Thais went by when in human form, Thomas Mateus.

'Whatever you prefer, Nin. To me, it matters not.'

His smile transformed into a frown. 'I am a close friend of Walter Cadfan. I teach classes for him from time to time. You know what has happened I presume.'

'I do, and I have an electronics whiz, Ray, working on a way to get around the NERGUZ-I-NUEN module that Doc is using to control Cadfan ... and others.'

'You are well informed.' Thais considered this unusual for an immortal of so few years and experience.

Thais had lost track of how many thousands of years he'd seen, and still this young amateur was one step ahead of him.

'Actually, you may be able to help Ray with a few problems he's having.'

'I'd be more than happy to assist.' Thais jumped at the opportunity. 'I was secretly hoping you'd have a plan.'

'Excellent. But, ah ... you might want to consider a human form. Ray is rather easily spooked,' she explained.

Thais raised both eyebrows, flashing a cheeky grin.

'You might want to consider finding me some clothes then.'

Tory was pleased to have Thais on the team. He had many talents her kin had yet to master, and a greater knowledge of history than every university, college and institute put together.

As she waited outside the little abode where Thais was changing, Tory thought back to the last time they had met, and quite frankly, the memory made her cringe. 'I'm sorry I was so rude to you that day on Pico.

You were right about everything, Thais. I should have listened.'

'I notice you still made it all work out in the end, nevertheless.'

'Ah, I had lots of help.' She waved it off, declining all credit.

Thais emerged from the abode dressed in a pair of jeans and a shirt that had once belonged to her husband. In human form, Thais stood well over six foot tall. Miles was the only male Tory knew who was close to Thais' size and height. Apart from the bronze colour of his skin, Thais had the same colouring and build as her son: dark eyes, dark hair; slender and fighting fit.

'Tell me something, how did you find us?' It was not that Tory was suspicious of Thais. She wasn't. She was more concerned that her psychic shield might be failing her.

'No need for alarm, Nin. I was with Cadfan the day of your husband's funeral, I heard him tell you where you'd be safest. So I came to the heart of your homeland and took in a few of the sights, before I spotted the hole in the cavern roof and flew in here.'

'Tory!' Brian called to her, as he ran down the cavern stairs. 'We have to talk.'

'Look who's here.' Tory motioned to Thais, who waved.

'If it isn't the birdman himself.' Brian strode towards them. 'How's it going, Tom?' Brian inquired, pulling Tory aside. 'I've just been to see Dad. We need to talk.'

'Okay. Just let me take Thais down to Ray and -'

'No, right now.' He grabbed hold of Tory's arm and began to walk off with her.

'Brian!' Tory wrenched herself away from him.

'What's come over you?'

'Mum, it's cool,' Rhun called, having noticed her dilemma in passing. 'I'm heading that way myself. I can take Thais through.' He gestured for their newest arrival to follow him.

Once Brian had dragged his sister into the abode Thais had just exited, he activated the door and locked it.

'Tell me about Teo's accident.' His intense blue eyes turned her way.

'I don't understand,' she frowned. 'Why do you -'

'There's something you're not telling me, Tory. You know I can always tell.'

Tears began to fill her eyes, and she experienced pangs of guilt for withholding the secret. 'I can't tell you, Brian. I'm afraid you'll do something rash.'

'I'll do something rash if you don't,' he vowed, taking her in hand. 'What's the connection between Teo and Taliesin?'

Tory gasped at how much Brian knew already.

'What did Dad say to you?'

'Never mind what he said, just answer the question?'

Brian attempted to shake a response out of her. Tory gripped hold of his hand, and within seconds the ethers enfolded them both.

At the graveside of their dear friend, Tory told her brother about the events that had led to Teo's death and Taliesin's return. She advised of the High Merlin's mission and that he would be visiting Watarrka very soon.

'So Naomi may be an immortal too!' Brian's spirits lifted.

'No, Brian, that's impossible I'm afraid.' Though Tory was sorry to crush his hopes, she was over deciding what others should or shouldn't know. 'Naomi's perfect incarnation is with Maelgwn, and will return here when he does, at the time of the Gathering. Still, Daniel, as your son, is sure to be one of us.'

Though Brian smiled at that consolation, his heart was breaking as he stared at the tombstone that bore Teo's name. 'How did you cope with this alone, along with everything else that's gone down?'

'Severe shock has a dampening effect,' Tory shrugged. 'I had a premonition before we left. I tried to convince him to stay behind, but you know what Teo's like once he has made up his mind.'

'I'm glad he went out in a blaze of glory.' Brian's voice went hoarse with regret and he hung his head to suppress his tears. 'This world won't be the same without you, Teo. A truer friend I'll never know.'

'He's still here, Brian.' Tory placed a hand on her brother's shoulder. 'He's just smarter now, and much more infuriating.'

Brian had met Taliesin once, but couldn't recall the Merlin bearing any notable resemblance to his dear, departed friend. He knew appearances could be altered, so just because he'd seen Taliesin as Teo at Neraida's base didn't necessarily mean Taliesin was indeed his old friend. Only after some careful scrutiny, would he truly believe Teo lived.

As arranged, Taliesin arrived two days later.

To most of those staying at Watarrka he appeared as Teo and thus avoided drawing attention to himself.

Only Tory, Rhun and Brian saw him in his Merlin's guise - and Thais, who remembered Taliesin from Atlantis and so insisted on calling him En Razu.

Everyone was already used to Thais getting names wrong so none were any the wiser.

With Brian trailing behind them everywhere they went, Tory finished Taliesin's guided tour of Watarrka in the genetics lab. Here she introduced him to Dr Leigh Sukemi - their head geneticist.

When advised that Taliesin needed a work space and access to equipment for some research he was doing, the doctor said he could arrange a small but private lab that he hoped would be suitable.

'That's most kind.' Taliesin bowed in the Japanese fashion. 'I'll be happy anywhere you see fit to put me.'

'I'll leave you to it then.' Tory backed up. 'Catch you at dinner.' She thought Brian might leave with her, but as it turned out he was far too fascinated with Taliesin.

'So, do you intend to be of some assistance, or are you just going to stare at me all day?' Tory heard the Merlin say on her way out the door, and she paused to catch Brian's response.

'You don't speak much like Teo, or act like him for that matter.'

'I see.'

Tory peeked around the door to see Taliesin scratch his brow.

'Brian, you can't hold my death against me. All through the ages I've been dying, and more often than not, it really isn't my fault.' Taliesin began to follow the doctor who was already halfway up the path of the huge greenhouse. 'So I appear different, and have acquired a few manners and pearls of wisdom in my travels. But my essence is still the same. I forget nothing.'

'Alright, throw a few names and dates at me then.'

Tory watched Brian pursue the Merlin, who started reciting important historical events and figures, just to annoy him. 'Yeah,' she grinned. 'Teo's in there alright.'

20.