Written by Shammi
The bird, the Stormwing Ozorne grinned at her showing sharp silver teeth. She looked down at the figure he was pulling apart. It was too dark to make out the face. The Stormwing took something from the sprawled figures left wrist, and threw it at her. Picking it up she saw it was a bracelet. It seemed so familiar. A gold bracelet, with an oval locket. She opened the locket, and screamed. Even in the dark she could make out the content in the locket. In one side there was a picture of her, on the other a lock of her hair under a gold clip. She fell of the grass sobbing. It was Numair’s bracelet. Numair’s body was still, dead to the world.
“Numair!” she screamed. Looking around Daine suddenly realized she was in her bed. Sweat pouring down her face. Kitten her dragonet sat up whistling an inquiry. Zek her marmoset screeched in surprise. Numair was nowhere to be seen. Getting up Daine went to the window just to make sure Numair wasn’t outside under the willow in the yard. Seeing no one outside she grabbed her silk robe from the bedside table. As she headed out she told Kitten and Zek to stay put. Heading down the corridor she remembered that Numair like to read in the balcony on the top of the tower. When she stuck her head outside she saw that sure enough, Numair was on a chair fast asleep. The book that he was reading was on his chest. Taking the book off his chest Daine smiled. Looking at him Daine saw he was wearing a pair of black trousers, and an unbuttoned white shirt revealed a heavily muscular chest.
Just to make sure she took his left hand and saw that the bracelet was still there. Relived she sat on his lap and looked up, studying him. Numair stirred. Waking up he saw Diane on his lap. Taking her had he made her look at him. Worry filled her eyes. “Daine? What’s wrong? Are you all right? Daine?
Daine looked down avoiding his eyes. “Numair… I had one of those dreams again. Ozorne was back. He killed you. And it… it seemed so real.”
Numair hugged her tight against he chest. Finally he let her go. “Come on inside,” he said putting an arm around her shoulder. “We better wash up, and get dressed.
In their room Daine found Kitten and Zek already asleep, with Arrow Numair’s black and white kitten. Numair went in to the dressing room murmuring something under his breath.
“Daine?” Numair called. “Where are my shirts?”
“In the second last shelf of the fourth shelf to the left of the door,” Daine replied. She smiled as she remembered when she had first come to the tower four days ago. The whole place was littered with books, scrolls, and clothes. There were ink marks on the wall, and dirty dishes from what seemed like ten years ago. It had taken three days for her to clean in all up.
Numair came out. “Where?”
Daine went in to the dressing room and got his clothes. When she came out, she saw Numair frowning as he talked to the black sparkling fire in his palm. She went up and put the clothes on the bed and looked in to the flame. Numair was talking to King Jonathan.
“–I can’t ask Daine to go, not after what happened,” Numair was saying before he saw her and stopped.
“Can’t ask me to go where?” Daine asked puzzled.
Numair looked down, but not before Daine saw the worry in his eyes. He mumbled something that Daine didn’t understand. Daine sat down beside his and took his hand. Finally Numair looked at her and said, “Snowsdale.”
“Daine,” said a voice that was not Numair’s. She turned around to see that a frame of blue fire, with Jonathan inside had appeared. “The villagers of Snowsdale need help. King Malden and his wife Queen Mira had a daughter four days ago. The child was found dead the morning after her birth. Her heart was split in two, and rotted from the inside out. The child saw no one but her family. The same thing is happening in Snowsdale, and so far only there. People are dieing of this strange sickness, and it not normal. It’s magic that’s causing this. Galla has helped us during the drought, now we must help them. Numair will have to go, but they wont trust him, the villagers. We need a guild and some one who’s lived there to go with the party of people we send.”
“No,” Numair said making Daine turn. “I can’t make her go through what happen again, and the pain of seeing her village again after they tried to kill her. No I’m sorry Jon but I can’t”
Daine looked from Jonathan to Numair then back. Looking at the king she thought, Jonathan had taken her in and gave her a place in his kingdom. He had loved her like a father when she didn't now Weiryn and even when she did. Numair who was her teacher, friend and love. The person who had love Sarra’s bastard. The person who helped her through so much. The one she ruined the emperor’s palace in Carthak. And Onua, her first real friend. Alanna the Lioness and the king’s Champion. She owed these people. Se had to go no matter what. And her dreams, she couldn’t let Numair go alone.
“I’m going,” she said firmly
Numair look as if he was about to object. Daine shook her head and turn to Jonathan.
“When do we leave sire?” she asked, with false cheerfulness.
Jonathan looked at Numair, who just shrugged. “Today, if you can. Alanna is already on her way with Kalasin, Thayet, Onua, and a group of Rider will go with you as well Other like Baron George, Buri, and some other shall join you later.”
“I’ll go pack our things then go make breakfast,” Daine said looking at Numair. “All right?”
Numair sighed and nodded. Then stared to talk with Jonathan. In the dressing room a surprised awaited Daine. The Badger was waiting for her. She ran over and hugged her mentor.
–So, you’re going then, – he said quietly.
Daine looked at him. “Badger I have to go. King Jonathan, Numair, Onua, Alanna, everyone, I owe them this much.
The Badger looked at her. Then very quietly he said, -Daine… Daine, Ozorne is back.-
“What?!” screamed Daine.
Numair who was now changing ran in, wearing only his loincloth. “What’s going on he ask, not see the Badger. “Why did you scream?”
Daine looked up at him, her gray-blue eyes wide. Pointing at the Badger she whispered, “he just told me Ozorne is back.”
“Ozorne? He can’t be back. You liked him during the war. Didn’t you?”
Daine nodded, and the Badger said, –The Black Gods Kingdom is only for mortals, and the Stormwing God doesn’t want him, because he causes trouble in his realm. He is also not a real Stormwing. The only way to get rid of his is to trap him in this stone.– He showed them a large black opal that he seemed to pull out of nowhere. –The Great Gods have given you this. Use it to trap Ozorne. Now I must leave. Be careful Daine Ozorne in dangerous. And you mage that care of my kit.– With that silver fire bloomed around him and he was gone.
Daine looked up at Numair, giving him a shaky smile. “So I guess I better start packing, and you sir mage must go and put on some clothes.
Numair looked down and saw that he only wore a loincloth and blushed, as Daine pushed him out the door. Looking back he said, “Daine we need to talk about what the Badger said.”
“Of course Numair. After you get dressed,” Daine replied grinning. Closing the door after Numair she changed her clothes and did the packing. Out side she could her Numair talking to Jonathan again. When she finished she went to the bedroom to see Numair shaving. The mirror he was using floated in the air, so he would have to bend down. Daine brushed her teeth and washed her face, as Numair dried his face. Then they went and had breakfast. By the time Daine and Numair did the dishes, the party had arrived and they set out with a lunch that Daine had packed.
Seeing the Rider group she laughed. It was the Seventh Rider Group. Her friend Evin Larse was commander and Miri was the co-commander. Numair and his gelding Spots went ahead to talk to Alanna and Daine talked to Evin and Miri. The small party reached Lonwell, a small fief near the River Olorun. They set up camp and a group of five Riders went hunting. Daine, and Zek went to the small village to buy fruits and vegetables. Kitten stayed with Numair and the adults as they talked about what was happening. While saddling Cloud, the pony pointed out that Kalasin sat alone beside the river looking bored.
Walking up to her Daine saw that the girl was crying. “What’s wrong Kally? Why are you crying?” Kally looked up and hurriedly wiped her tears. Then looked down again. “Do you want to come with me,” Daine asked softly. “We can talk on the way.”
Kally looked up and gave her a watery smile. Then very softly said, “thank you.” Then went to saddle her pony. A black pony, whom she had name she had named Thundercloud. On the way Kally pointed out a white dove on an olive tree. “Two of natures creations that symbolizes peace,” Daine said quietly. “They look beautiful together.”
Kally snorted, and said “as if.”
“What do you mean?” asked Daine turning to the girl.
Kally looked at her, “everyone thinks peace is beautiful. It’s easy for them to say that. I’m the one who can’t choose the man I must wed because of peace. Peace isn’t beautiful to the people who have to sacrifice something for peace.”
Daine suddenly understood what Kally was upset about. Ten days ago, while she and Numair were at the palace, Queen Thayet was arguing with her husband about Kally’s marriage. Queen Thayet wanted to let her daughter choose, but Jonathan wanted her to marry for the good of the country. Daine was sure she had heard a gasp and someone running away from the door, and she was right it had been Kally. “I’m so sorry sweetie,” she said quietly.
Kally looked up at her and said, “I know, but you can’t feel my pain no matter what. You’re not in me shoes. I want to help the country, but I just can’t… I’m sorry I didn’t mean to whine. You probably think I’m a baby.”
Zek who was on Daine’s shoulder, asked why’s is she crying?
Daine silently explained to him. Turning to the girl she said, “your probably right. I might never know what you’re going through, but I can tell you this, it’s up to you to decide whom you marry. And no I don’t think you’re a baby.” Smiling she patted the young girl on the shoulder. “I’ll race you to the village,” she said and urged Cloud forward. Kally laughed as followed.
At the village Zek went with Kally to the fruit stall, and Diane went to see what else she could find. At the healers stall she saw a basket of chains. Each had a charm hanging from them. They were pregnancy charms. She looked at the price. Four gold nobles. It was a lot, but remembering the last it Daine bought it. The day after the war ended she and Numair were so close to make love. But she had to stop because she had no charm to ward of pregnancy, and she wasn’t ready for children. Now she was ready. Tucking the charm under her shirt with the silver badger claw she went to find Kally. It didn’t take her long, because she could her mind calling her. Kally was in trouble. Galloping Cloud towards Zeks cries she was lead to the forest where she found a boy about her age playing with Kally’s clothes, while Kally tried to push him away. Zek was trying to bite him, with out success. Daine jumped of Cloud and pulled out her dagger. With one swift movement she had the boy on the ground with the dagger to his throat.
“Why would you be so stupid as to try to rape Princess Kalasin of Tortall,” Daine asked her voice deadly soft.
“Princess? She’s no princess only a common born bastard,” the boy said. Then let out a string of curses. Suddenly hoof beats stopped him. Numair came out of the trees on Spots.
“Kally, there you are. Why didn’t you tell Thayet before you left?” He looked at Daine and saw her with the boy and asked, “Diane what in the name of Shakith are you doing?”
The boy looked suddenly panicked. He knew the punishment for harassing a princess of the Crown was death. Kally to looked panicked, if Numair told Thayet she would never be allowed to go anywhere.
Daine smiled sweetly at Numair. “Nothings wrong this boy here’s just learning a lesson about attacking women.”
Numair frowned at the boy. Softly he said, “If I catch you touching another girl again I’ll gut you. Understand?”
The boy nodded. As soon as Daine let go of him he ran. Daine looked at Numair and he grinned. Kally had gotten everything they needed so they left. At the camp Numair took Daine aside. “He harassed Kally, didn’t he?” Daine shook her head but she knew she was caught.
“Numair, please don’t tell the Queen. Kally’s going through so much already.” Hurriedly, –seeing that Numair was about to object– she explained what Kally had said about her marriage. Finally Numair agreed not to tell, as long as the Queen didn’t ask. If she did then he would tell her everything. Daine agreed with this and they went back to camp. After a warm dinner the small party went to bed. The Riders were going to sleep outside, and every one else had a tent. After debating with herself, Daine decided to share a tent with Kalasin. As soon as she lay down a group of animals came in. Seeing them Kally laughed.
Softly she said, “I wish animals were my friends to. It gets really lonely sometimes.”
Daine silently asked some of the animals to go cuddle up beside Kally. When they did Kally laughed and tickled a bobcat cub that lay under her arm.
Turning to Daine Kally asked, “Numair knows doesn’t he?”
Daine nodded. “Don’t worry, he wont tell your mom unless she asks, which isn’t likely. How is she to know what happen?”
Kally smiled, and said, “G’night Daine.”
The two weeks were very uneventful. They rode, hunted, ate, and slept. One morning Daine woke up feeling a steady itch in her head. Something bad was coming, and it was very close. Running out of the tent she gave a loud yell to wake everyone. Onua ran out of her tent that she and Thayet shared.
“Daine! What’s wrong?” she cried.
Daine grabbed her bow and arrows and pointed to the sky. A large shape was swooping down at them. It looked pretty human. Dress in a long, flowing black robe, with a hood that covered it face. Only one thing was wrong, it had the wings of a giant bat. Hovering over it pointed a bony white hand at Daine, and suddenly she was in a field of large flower, in full bloom. The flowers came up to her neck, so that she could barely see over them. The sweet smell filled her nose. Suddenly she was falling. Over the edge, and it to nothingness. Suddenly she landed, with a sickening crack. She saw a smiling Ozorne and then blackness again. She stood up to she were she was. Suddenly a sharp pain made her double over. Clutching her stomach she screamed in agony.
There was a flash of blinding light and then nothing. The pain had stopped she was looking up at the sky. Things started to get blurry, and Daine saw a face looking down at her. The lips were moving, but she couldn’t hear anything. Then the world went black once more. When she came to again, she saw Numair and Onua fast asleep beside her. Alanna was outside pacing.
“Alanna?” she croaked. “What happen?”
Hearing her Alanna ran in. “Your awake,” she said. Then nudged Numair and Onua with her feet. The two woke up instantly.
“Is she alright?” Numair ask anxiously.
Memory flooded back. “The creature! It took me somewhere, and I saw Ozorne! It tried to kill me! Her voice was rising.
“Calm down,” Alanna ordered. “First of all tell us what happen.”
Daine swallowed. “I was in a field, with huge flowers. Then suddenly I was falling. It was like falling in to nothingness. Then I landed and hit my head.” Touching her head she saw it had a bandage on it. Gimmicking she continued, “I saw Ozorne, but when I tried to get up, there was a sharp pain in my stomach. Then there was a flash of light and the pain stopped.”
Alanna nodded, “The light was mine. What I don’t understand is the thing about Ozorne. Isn’t he dead?”
Daine looked at Numair, who nodded. She told Alanna what the badger had said. Hearing it all Alanna groaned. “Him again. When will we ever get rid of him?”
The next two days went by very uneventfully. On the third day though they meet up with a herd of unicorns. Seeing them the animals got ready to bolt.
Stop, cried Daine. We wont hurt you.
The unicorns stopped, and the king stallion came up to Daine. You called True One?
Yes, replied Daine. My friends and I would like to meet you.
The animal snorted, and Thayet came up to Daine. “Is it safe Daine?” she asked. Daine nodded as a foal came up to her. She petted his soft white fur, as a older mare came to stand by a foal.
I am Song, True One. That is my foal, Wish. My mate, Light and I rule the herd. Why are you in the land of bad magic sister?
“Land of bad magic?” asked Daine, aloud for the benefit of the others.
Yes, replied Song. The sickness here is not normal. It is magic. Powerful magic. Even we cannot break the spell.
“Are you sure it’s magic, Song,” asked Daine. “Not a plague. Or maybe a–”
No, interrupted Song. No plague comes were we of the hors and hooves live. We are known for our healing, but we heal all, but not this. It is not natural. I should know True One. We must leave now True One. Death is here, and we cannot stand death. Good-Bye True One.
“Wait,” called Daine. “Why do you call me True One?”
Because, said Light, who had come to stand by his mate. You are of hoof and horn. Of unicorn blood. Come Wish, he called the foal, who had gone to be admired by the humans. Good-Bye True One.
With that they left. Daine turned around to her friend and told them what the unicorns had said. When she finished Alanna, looked at Thayet who nodded. She turned to Daine and said, “Daine I’ll call for help. We can’t fight magic al–“
But she was stopped before she could say any more. Three spots erupted by Numair’s foot. Suddenly the air was filled with a dull buzz. Hundreds of snakes erupted from the ground. They had silver wing, and silver fangs and rattles at the end of their tails, the sign of an immortal. They flew at Numair and bit him over and over again. Each time they bit a red welt appeared. More snakes came out and attacked the rest of them. They were too quick to kill. They flew and bit you before you knew they even their. Daine was able to make a barrier around her, Alanna, Thayet, and Kalasin. The others were to far form them to save. The snakes left as soon as they came. Alanna and Kally ran over to the fallen people. All of them were dizzy. Suddenly Numair gave a yell of agony. Clutching his stomach he fell to the ground.
Alanna ran over to him. Turning to Daine she yelled, “Daine call the unicorns back. I can’t heal this. And we’re losing Numair.”
Daine tried to call them, but they were out of range. Screaming with frustration she opened herself to her magic and let it poor out. Faintly she could hear them. Song, she cried. Light we need your help. With in seconds the unicorns ran trough the trees. Seeing the humans moaning in pain, they made a circle around them. White fire, edged with the palest blue flowed out of their horns. The moans, and screams of agony stopped, and the welts disappeared. Song came up to Daine, and muzzled her, to came sure she was all right.
Were did the pfipers come from? asked Light.
“Pfipers?” asked Daine. “What are they?”
They are flying snakes. Their poison kills. There is no cure for them. Only we can heal a pfipers bite.
Daine translated this to Numair and Alanna. “Pfipers,” murmured Numair. “I’ve read out them somewhere.”
We must leave now True One. Good-bye, and with that they disappeared though the trees once again.
After a quick lunch they left. As they reached the gates of Cria Daine thought of something Numair had said on him way to Carthak, only birds can return to old nests. At the gates they stopped. Thayet went to talk to the guards. A quick exchange of words led to the huge gates being opened. Inside the city was crowed. People where everywhere. Peddlers, merchants, beggars, children running around. It was havoc. They were led to another set of gate not far from the first ones. When it was opened Daine gave a gasp of surprise. Behind the gates stood a huge courtyard. Lush grass was everywhere, and animal noise filled the air.
As soon as the gates were closed, hostler came and took their horses. More servants came and led them to the bathhouses. The womens baths were huge. Not even the baths at the palace in Tortall were that big.
“Daine,” called Thayet, as they went in to the pool. “Gallans must really love bathes. You could ride your ponies in here.”
Daine laughed and swam around in the hot, violet scented water. It was wonderful to have a bath in hot water after three weeks of bathing in streams, and rivers. After they all had enough they climbed out and dried of. The bath attendants gave them each a soft robe. Outside more servants led them to their rooms. Two people shared a room. Inside the room she and Miri would share, Daine collapsed on the bed.
“Ahhh…it fells good to lie down on a really bed doesn’t it?” asked Miri.
Daine nodded, as she watched Kitten and Zek explored the room. Sighing she got up. “I wonder how it’s go going to be. To be with people I knew from before.”
Miri got off her bed and came over to hug Daine. “Don’t worry everything’s going to be alright. Now let’s try to get a bit of sleep be for the dinner.”
Smiling Daine nodded. Lying down on her bed she almost immediately fell asleep. But even as she slept she dreamt of the horrible things that could happen over dinner. What if she met someone from her village? Eventually she would have to see them, but it couldn’t be tonight. She wasn’t ready for that yet.