Welcome to Gaia! ::

**oooo that's sound ominous... are we doing a plot change here?**

Outside the bedroom, sitting on the window sill looking in is a strange shadowy young man, in his arms he holds a tiny gray cat.

"Well, Puss... time for me to go. He doesn't need me here. You go keep him warm now, you hear. Sorry for being such a rude house guest." whispers the man to the cat easing it into the room and carefully closing the window behind him. He walks over to the tree and swings down into it, slipping from sight even as he moves.

"Good bye, dulcha..." he says a voice so soft it could have been the wind talking and nothing more... and then he is gone.

The cat snuggles down in between them with a sleepy mew, curling up under Tam's chin, wrapping his own tail snugly about his neck. Odd, it's purr as it sleeps doesn't sound anywhere near as loud as it used to. But it is sure attached to Tam.

By the time he gets back, Tam has breakfast ready. Nothing big, just eggs and ham, but everyone else has already eaten, so Kero's is the only plate keeping warm on the back of the stove.

Salunia is standing at the sink, perched on a stool, next to the bard, learning how to wash dishes with paws and claws. It's kind of comical really. Tam hovering over his precious dishes while tiny claws make nerve wracking loud clicks. They finish the last one just as Kero recovers his breakfast and sits at the table.

Tam looks at him and asks what is wrong. When Kero answers he smiles.

"Can you ascertain the purity of the salt. In that cave we werein, it is rather high... the higher the purity the better it is. People around here actually use it straight up if it's over 90%. And rock salt can reach 99%. No iodine though. Ye get that with sea salt or have to put it in." he replies drying off his hands. "Why the worry, dulcha... it never bothered you to sell it as is before?"

Tam pats him on the back and nods. Well, ours has always had a good quality. Most of the cooks in the village, including Marda at the temple, swear by it. And it has no harmful impurities or Shar would have had our heads on a platter by now. Now, of course, if something has happened in the mine, if some of the rooms have been tainted by seepage then I understand your worry. If not, I wouldn't worry about it too much... and you really should get a move on... lesson time..." he says with a wink ushering Sallunia out of the kitchen and into the front room. "And... as I have to see to this little mite's musical tutoring, you need to seek out Corby and test him... plus do you not have lessons of your own starting today?"

Tam does a head smack, then shakes his head. "Good try..." he remarks wagging a finger at him. "Lessons don't count, never have. Therefore, I expect no detours.... no shopping... and no chatting up the neighbors as you go from point A to point B. I'm placing you on your honor, Kero... and I fully expect you to obey me. But before you leave, you need to figure out a way to test Corby's skills."

Very good." says Tam nodding firmly. "Now I'm not sending you up to the temple to stay today. I want you to speak with Mica and Shar about your lessons. Have them outline a study guide for you. What you tell them about why you need it will be up to you. I advise you not to openly lie though. Both of them know you far too well for that. Then speak to Corby, invite him down. If you like, I will merely tell him I have too much on my plate myself. If I do it while you are practicing your own music. I'm sure he will recognize that the level of your skill now exceeds him by a considerable amount. I will leave it to you to handle it how you will. Once you've worked up a study with Mica and gotten your lessons from Shar you are to come back home, pronto. Understood?"

Tam shows him to the door. "Off with ye now... and hurry back." he says with a smile. "Ye got a long day ahead of ye... don't want to miss one miserable minute of it now... do ye?"

He waits until Kero leaves and turns to face Salunia. "Well, there goes one very sulky lion.... Okay, princess... reading time... then we will practice your piping."