It was at that time when their second guest arrived,and he didn't walk through the door but merely appeared out of thin air in between Cable and Rachel. His stunted little body spun around several feet above the ground before it came to a stop and he let himself flop to the hut floor.

"It's been a long time," Blaquesmith said, "Mother Askani."

Cable and Aliya meanwhile acted instinctively and in tandem, both reaching out with their teke to provide a buffer below Tyler should Rachel's concentration fail her.