Merchants selling their goods were bustling about Serena as she wandered listlessly around the market, ignoring the loud people.
She didn’t even stop by the stall that sold make up – that’s how depressed she was.
I’ve lost him. My Numair…the best lover I’ve ever had. The mage who taught me the fundamentals of magic…and I’ve lost him forever. He’s getting married in a week!
Forgetting where she was, she threw back her head and howled like a wild animal. The busy people hardly noticed and kept to their business.
“You in pain, miss?”
The soothing voice cut through Serena’s anguish. She met the brown eyes of a middle-aged man. His mop of light brown hair brushed flopped continuously in his face and over his amber eyes. Although he was in his forties, he was well muscled and didn’t look old.
“Yes,” Serena said softly. “I guess you could call it pain.”
The man nodded. Taking her arm, he led her inside a building.
Serena looked around and guessed that they were inside his home. She turned to him, smiling brightly. “I’m Serena,” she said, not volunteering any more info. The man bowed.
“I am Zachary, second-in-command in the Merchant’s Guild.”
Serena bit her lip.
“I noticed that you looked rather pale and angry. Would you mind telling me…I am taking a course in the University as a mind-emotion-healer (A/N a therapist, people!)
Serena nodded. “Then it is obvious why you picked me out of all the people outside.” She waved her hand towards the door. Doing so, she flashed the ring with Teb’s tooth on it, catching Zachary’s attention.
“May I?” he asked, catching her hand. At Serena’s nod, he slid the ring off her slender finger and examined it closely.
“A gift from one of the gods!” he breathed after a moment. Serena nodded.
“Teb, God of Jackals,” she said. Zachary returned it to her.
“You must forgive me if I do such things,” he told her solemnly. “I am very much interested in arcane things.”
Serena’s face crumbled. Just like Numair… Zachary took her hands in his.
“Lady, are you all right? You don’t look well.”
Serena shook her head, but when Zachary shot her a look, she sighed and told him all about the Numair/Daine/Arram situation. When she finished, Zachary sighed.
“I’ve heard that Master Salmalin is quite the women’s man. He likes blondes and his engagement to the Wildmage was a surprise to all.”
He was interrupted when a young boy ran inside, holding a small package. Without a word, the boy gave Zachary the parcel and left. Silently, Zachary ripped off the thick paper that protected whatever was inside and grinned when a silver ring fell on the floor.
Serena bent down and picked it up, looking at it carefully. “It’s just a ring,” she said, handing it back to the foolishly smiling Zachary. He shook his head.
“This,” he breathed, “is a Changer.”
Serena gasped, remembering the ancient legends about the powerful tools made by an extinct race from the east. “A Changer,” she whispered, and then looked up at Zachary in suspicion. “A Changer as in – if you put it on one of your fingers and then hold your hand on another person’s head, whispering ‘trinka-mine trinka-mine’ several times, you shall switch bodies. Your mind will be in the other person’s body, and vice-versa?”
Zachary nodded. Suddenly, Serena blanched as a plan flooded her brain.
“How much?” she asked breathlessly. Zachary raised an eyebrow.
“Twenty-five gold nobles?” he proposed. Serena frowned.
“Twenty,” she said.
“Twenty-three,” Zachary counter-attacked.
“Twenty-one and that’s my final offer!”
Zachary laughed. “Done!” He gave her the Changer and counted the coins Serena handed to him.
>>>J<<<
Daine fidgeted, managing to get some kinks out of her back. Unfortunately, she managed to get pins to replace the kinks and she yelped, earning a glare from the seamstress.
“This dress isn’t going to be finished if you don’t stop moving,” the seamstress warned as she fixed the hem of the simple, sky blue dress.
Daine rolled her eyes, ignoring the wickedly grinning Alanna. “Why did I ever listen to you?” she asked.
“Because,” Alanna replied, “if you hadn’t, you’d be getting married in breeches and a shirt and that is hardly dignified.”
Daine decided not to answer. Instead, she turned her attention to the seamstress.
“Mistress Tyler, how long will this take?”
The wiry woman raised an eyebrow, taking measurements with her pale green eyes. “Two hours if you keep on moving.”
Daine groaned.
“Fifteen minutes – I think – if you stay absolutely still.”
Immediately, Daine froze, only the corners of her mouth turning down as Alanna laughed.
Fifteen minutes later…
“Thank you,” Daine said airily as she removed the dress and put on her usual rough clothes. “I’m going down to the city – wanna come, Alanna?”
The knight nodded. “I need to pick up something for George at the Dancing Dove, so is it all right if we go there?”
Daine shrugged. “Why not? It’s a good place to get a drink without Numair freaking.”
Laughing, the two friends hurried down to the city. They were talking about the food being served at the wedding when Daine felt something was wrong.
“What’s up?” Alanna asked, stopping. Daine shook her head.
“I’m not sure…” she paused, listening with her magic. “I think…head to the Dancing Dove, I’ll meet you there, okay?”
“But –“ Alanna frowned.
“It’ll be alright… just go. I’ll join you there as soon as possible.”
Nodding, Alanna left. Daine concentrated harder, then turned and started walking down an old, wet ally. She could hear the rats scuttling between the walls of the houses but she ignored the noise, searching for disturbance.
After a few minutes, after finding nothing, she shrugged and turned to leave the street when she bumped into a hooded figure.
“Oh, I’m - Serena!”
The figure removed the hood, revealing Daine’s half-sister. Her blue eyes sparkled with malice and her lips curved up into a nasty smile.
“Wh – what do you want?” Daine asked quietly, noticing that Serena had blocked her only route of escape.
“Just wanted to talk to you…” Serena trailed off, her right hand fidgeting under her cloak. “So…you’re getting married next week, am I correct?”
Daine gulped. “Why? So you can come and rampage the ceremony?”
Serena shook her head. “No…I’m trying to decide what to get you…”
“A present? From you? Hah!” Daine’s eyes narrowed in suspicion.
“Yes, I saw this wonderful…er…hat and I…er…. wanted to get it for you.”
“A hat?” Daine snorted, then stepped back in shock when Serena pulled her left hand from under her cloak and held it over Daine’s head.
“What are you doing?” Daine whispered, trying to step back. But Serena’s right arm had crawled around Daine’s waist and held her still.
“Just measuring…” Serena trailed off, muttering something that sounded like ‘trinka…mine’ over and over.
Daine doubled up in pain, gasping for air. Serena’s voice grew louder and it hammered inside Daine’s ears, making her vision swim. Suddenly, there was a gentle relief from the pain as she felt a whoosing sensation.
But before she could relax, she felt something rake her and she screamed before everything turned dark.
>>>J<<<
Numair was in the fencing courts, watching the young pages work out. Alanna slipped up behind him silently.
“So,” she said; Numair jumped a mile.
“Alanna! Don’t do that! Why are you here…I thought you were in the city with Daine.”
Alanna pushed away the question of how did he know? and replied, “Oh, Daine and I had a quick drink. We’re back now.”
Numair nodded. “Yes, I can see that.” He turned his attention back to the pages.
“Have you ever fenced before?” Alanna asked.
“Yes.”
“Yes? Really? I’ve never even seen you pick up a sword,” Alanna said. Numair turned to her, smiling crookedly.
“It was a course all the university students had to take,” he replied evenly.
“Let’s go!” Alanna pushed him to an empty court and watched him with a critical eye as he selected a sword.
“Are you sure?” he asked. “I haven’t done this in a while.”
Taking her position, Alanna grinned. “I want to see if you have any other talents…guard!”
Instantly, Numair swung his sword to meet Alanna’s and then pulled back. He countered all of the knight’s attacks without yielding, so after a while, Alanna felt her muscles start to ache.
“Is that all you can do?” she gasped. “Defend?”
“I wouldn’t dare attack you,” Numair replied.
He isn’t gasping for air…Alanna thought in wonder.
This continued for about half an hour, before Alanna made a winning stroke, her sword creeping up to the mage’s neck.
“Yes, yes, you win,” Numair complied.
“You are so yielding!” complained Alanna, throwing a bucket of water over her head.
“Yes,” he agreed. “That’s why I made it to the Masters.”
Alanna made a face. “If that’s what it takes, I’m glad Thom made it through with his sanity.” (A/N *cough* Sanity? Haha, there’s a good one. Thom was, how should I put it…Insane.)
Numair’s face matched Alanna’s. “And you know what I had to do to get my black robe?”
“I don’t want to know.” Shaking her head, Alanna left. Numair, covered in a fine sheen of sweat, went back to his suite of rooms, hoping that Daine would be there.
His prayers were answered. Daine was sitting in front of a mirror, a hairbrush in her hand and an ugly frown on her face. Silently – cloaking himself in invisibility – Numair crept behind her and gave her a firm kiss.
Surprisingly, Daine didn’t scare. She just let him kiss her, not knowing who it was and not caring. Numair threw of the spell, frowning.
“How did you know it was me?” he asked quietly. Daine fluttered her eyelashes.
“Does it matter?” Her voice was strangely heavy.
“Yes,” Numair said, walking to his closet and finding clean clothes. “What if it was some…some…some freak who came here to hurt – or worse, rape – you. Would you still let me – him – kiss you like that?”
Daine laughed softly and got up. Her eyes intense as Numair slipped off his sweat soaked shirt, she stepped in front of him and placed one hand on his chest. Bracing herself for massive resistance, she pushed him towards the bed and was surprised when he sat on the bed meekly.
“I know when my fiancé is kissing me,” Daine whispered, kissing him gently.
Numair laughed – there was a nervous ring to it. “What’s gotten in to you, Daine? I’ve never seen you act like this!”
Daine smiled, her eyelids heavy. “There’s a first time for everything.” She deepened her kisses and pushed Numair down so he was lying on the bed.
“This time next week, you’ll be a married woman,” the mage said quietly. In response, Daine straddled him tightly and yanked the unworn shirt from his hands.
“Then let’s use the time wisely,” she whispered, beginning to trail her kisses down Numair’s torso. When she got to his breeches, she straightened. With a strangely cruel smile, she started to unbuckle Numair’s belt.
“I’ll say,” Numair groaned.
>>>J<<<
Daine woke up, feeling out of place. Her arms and legs were too long, her clothing was too heavy, and her chest felt extremely heavy.
“Uck…what did I put on this morning?” she muttered to herself, getting up slowly. Straightening, she noticed her surroundings, and quickly left, heading towards the Dancing Dove.
“I’ve got to tell Alanna about Serena,” she whispered. “That woman is crazy…”
She entered the Dancing Dove, disconcerted by the admiring looks the men gave her.
Odds Bobs, I’m not that pretty! She ordered a drink, and then proceeded to look for Alanna.
She’s not here. Strange…well, maybe she left already. Might as well go home. I don’t remember what I came here to do!
Daine quickly made her way back to the palace, unnerved by how…quiet…the animals were. Shaking her head, she ran to the room she and Numair shared and was just about to open the door when a female cry reached her ears.
What the…? Daine pressed her ears to the door and heard the unmistakable sound of people making love. It sounds like me and…what the hell is Numair doing, screwing another woman! We’re getting married next week!
Anger fitting Daine like a second skin, she turned around, ready to break down the door when she caught sight of herself in the mirror that hung on the wall.
“What?”
She approached it slowly. Expecting to see a woman with stormy blue eyes, lightly tanned skin, full lips and a stubborn chin, all framed by smokey brown hair, a tall woman stared back. Her eyes were a vivid shade of blue- almost indigo-her lips were, although thinner than most women’s, red and soft. Her skin was tawny color and her hair…her hair was long and fine and a smokey brown…and straight!
Daine rubbed her eyes. The figure in the mirror rubbed her eyes. Daine fingered her hair. The figure in the mirror fingered her hair.
“Oh no,” Daine groaned softly. She pinched herself to make sure she wasn’t dreaming. When nothing but pain happened, Daine concluded the worst.
“I’ve turned into Serena!”
She took one last look in the mirror before emitting a bloodcurdling shriek and bringing her fist into the offending glass, smashing it.
The noise in the room stopped abruptly. Cursing her commotion, Daine removed all the glass splinters that were stuck in her fist and bound it up.
Suddenly, the door was thrown open, revealing a miffed looking Numair. His eyes flew over the mess and landed on Daine.
“Serena?”
Daine restrained the urge she had to look over her shoulder and replied stiffly, “Yes?”
Numair took a step forward, staying clear of the glass. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”
Daine looked around. “Having a fit, that’s what.” Her eyes widened when she appeared at Numair’s side, looking confused.
“Sss…Daine,” Daine greeted. (A/N Okay, this could get confusing. So, from now on, the real Daine is D and the real Serena is S. Okay? Good.)
S nodded, her lips curving into a knowing smile. “Serena.”
“I ask again, what are you doing?” Numair asked D.
“I answered you, Numair,” she replied coldly. “I was having a fit. Because that’s what Serena does – go insane and break mirrors. When she’s not bedding every eligible male, that is.”
S gave her a hard stare, then left.
D jumped, remembering how she wasn’t able to hear animals. That means I must have Serena’s magic! D gestured and a ball of pink light appeared in her hand. She made a throwing movement – the flame flew from her hand only to be interrupted by Numair, who threw it back.
D caught it. Barely. While she was mastering the flame with some difficulty, Numair snapped his fingers and magical chains formed around D. She glared at him and snarled,
“You don’t know what you’re doing, Numair.”
“On the contrary. I have never been more positive in my life,” replied Numair coolly. He put a massive hand around her neck and marched her away – probably to the king.
D threw a desperate glance back, only to see S waving her hand at her, a giant silver ring on her finger.
>>>J<<<
Serena (the one in Daine’s body) brushed her damp hair. She loved baths, and this one had been particularly refreshing. Especially as she had a new, younger body. Serena had taken the advantage of being alone to get used to her body.
She had even stood in front of a mirror, naked, to look at herself, and her conclusion was very good. She was in possession of a wonderful body.
I doubt Queen Thayet has such a body, Serena thought. Oh, she may have the face, but not the body. Never the body. Amused by that, she threw her head back and laughed, delighting in the feeling of her damp hair brushing across her bare back. I’ll never forget the face Daine gave me when her Numair, her fiancé, chained her. Oh, I’d pay big money to see it again!
A slight breeze from the open window made her shiver. She walked to Daine’s closet and picked out an overlarge, thin white shirt and put it on. Then she flopped into bed, her eyes glued on the mirror.
Suddenly, what appeared to be a huge greenish-blue lizard jumped on the bed. Serena jumped back with a scream.
The lizard tilted her head and whistled, turning a light pink. Serena inched away from her.
“Go away,” she whispered. “I don’t like…big lizards.”
The creature turned a strange murky brown color and uttered a low thrill, still coming closer to the terrified woman. Serena jumped off the bed and ran to the door. Yanking it open, she stepped out and collided into Numair, who steadied her.
“Whoa. What’s wrong?”
The creature whistled and walked to Numair, now black. Numair frowned. “Kit, what’s wrong? I’ve never seen you look like this before!”
The creature, Kit, whistled again, pointing to Serena and shaking her head.
“There…there was a big bug and it…it scared me,” Serena said lamely, wincing at the strange glance Numair gave her.
“Humph,” was all he said before he flopped down on the bed with a sigh.
“So, what did you do with Da-Serena?” Serena asked, joining him.
“I took her to the king. I explained what she did to you and to the mirror, and then Jon told me that they had received a message from the King of the Copper Isles. Apparently, Serena had ordered a wench to poison – or stab, I forget – her husband, making it look like a death caused by anyone or anything but her. So Jon locked her up. Her trial is tomorrow.”
Serena laid back. “That’s good. Dearest,” she said huskily, crawling on top of Numair. “Dearest, I know you’re upset…”
“I am…I never thought-“
“Hush,” Serena murmured, her hand slipping under Numair’s shirt. “Let me make you feel better.”
Numair yielded entirely.
>>>J<<<
The next day, after ‘Serena’s’ trial…
Daine sniffled and rubbed her wrists. The iron chains that were locked against her chapped had chapped them. But they were a mere annoyance compared to Serena’s sentence.
Daine had been taken in front of a magistrate and his juries, and after many painful hours, had been sentence…
…A lifetime in jail. I’m going to spend my entire life rotting in here! Daine looked around wildly. I’m never going to see the sky again. No more trees or grass or flowers…no more animals, no more Cloud. No more Numair.
She emitted a sob at the thought of her old friend and her fiancé before walking in circles, trying to think. After a while, she sorted everything that had happened in the past.
“Okay, so Serena came here in Midsummer…which was about three or four weeks ago. She came to find Arram, wanting to pick up their relationship and continue.” Daine made a face, and then continued.
“At the Midsummer ball, which theme was divine beings, she found not Arram, but Numair. She thought he still wanted her, so tried to persuade him to her bed. Then they started to yell, and Jon came to stop them. Serena took Numair to a secluded place. I followed, and listened. I learned that Serena and Numair had an intense relationship before Numair had to escape Carthak. Now Serena wants to start a family with Numair. I broke in, yelled with Serena, who then slammed me against the wall. I had a concussion. Then I woke up, Numair explained everything. A few weeks pass…Serena sent me a note saying weird things. I came across her in the fields, where something happened…”
Daine stopped, trying to remember what happened in the field. A piece of important knowledge just flew out of her grasp…Daine concentrated, trying to figure it out. Something told her it was vital that she knew what Serena knew…
“Oh my god, she’s my sister!” Daine cried. She pounded the walls of her cell with her fists, shouting,
“Badger, why didn’t you tell me? Why? Da! I thought…I never knew!” she slid to the floor. “And look what’s happened. Serena’s in my body, about to get married with my fiancé!”
There was a sudden flash of silver light. Daine covered her eyes, then asked quietly,
“Badger?”
No.
She stood and looked at the creature. “A jackal god? I don’t know you!
Serena, it’s me, Teb!
“Who’s Teb?” Daine asked in confusion. “And I’m not Serena.”
The god cocked his head. You’re not?
Daine shook her head. “Serena’s mind, spirit, etc…are in my body. My mind, spirit, etc…are in Serena’s body.”
And you are?
“Daine the Wildmage.”
Teb swore violently.
“Please,” Daine said. “Please, are you Serena’s mentor god, commissioned by Weiryn, my da?”
Yes, I am Teb, the god of all jackals, and the mentor of Serena. Shit…I told her not to harm you! Weiryn will not forgive her this time!
“You mean Serena gets into scrapes constantly”
Yes, unfortunately. Whenever he sees me, Badger gloats over the fact that he got to care for you. It’s not nice… Teb shook his head. So, what did she do this time?
Daine sighed. “Give me a concussion, switch bodies with me, and steal my fiancé.”
Teb cursed again. Like I said, Weiryn isn’t going to let her off this one.
“That’s right,” Daine frowned. “He’s her da, too.” She shook her head violently. “But that’s not the issue right now.”
Then what is?
“Serena’s in my body!” Daine hit her chest for punctuation. “My body, you hear? Not only that, she has my fiancé, my wildmagic, my life!”
Calm down youngling, said a new, gravely voice.
“Badger!” Daine ran and hugged the newcomer, who stepped back and gave her a speculating glare.
What’s happened? Badger asked.
My thrice-cursed charge has messed up Daine’s life. They’ve switched bodies, Teb replied quietly. If animals could blush, the jackal would be a bright red.
“Everyone – Numair, the king, everyone! – thinks I am Serena, but I’m not! No one can tell us apart…because she has my looks, my mag…Teb, how much wildmagic does Serena have?”
She can only communicate with jackals, Teb replied.
“But now she’s in my body-“
She has your wildmagic! Badger sounded horrified. She doesn’t know how to shapeshift, heal, or enter an animal’s mind, like you!
Imagine the havoc she’ll cause when she tries to do something.
Daine groaned. “Let’s not get started.” Another thought hit her. “She doesn’t have my memories… she doesn’t know that I went mad in Snowsdale or that Cloud kept me alive.”
I don’t think she even knows who Cloud is, Badger said dryly. Daine glared at him.
“She doesn’t know that if the barrier Numair gave me gets destroyed… she’ll go nuts with the unusual amount of magic which she doesn’t know how to use! Numair will certainly see that something isn’t right!”
What are you saying? Teb asked quietly.
That we have to destroy the barrier? Badger asked.
“Exactly!” Daine sighed, happy that they had caught on. “The only problem is how to destroy it.” She sat on the cold stone floor, deep in thought. She didn’t notice that the Badger and Teb were in a heated discussion.
No! Absolutely not! No, no, no, no, no, no, no! Badger practically yelled. Daine jumped, startled.
“No what?” she asked. Badger didn’t answer and with a mental sigh, Teb replied,
We had a plan to get Serena’s – I mean your – barrier broken. Unfortunately, old Badger doesn’t want to go along with it.
Badger glared at the other god. You think you’re so smart. Well, your intelligence has just ruined my kit’s life! Wow, where did you go to school?
Teb’s hackles rose and he growled menacingly. Daine ran between them.
“Enough!” she snapped in anger. “You are acting the way Neal acts when he sees Numair with me! Stop it immediately!”
Teb and Badger relaxed, the latter looking rather uncomfortable, the former embarrassed.
“Now,” Daine breathed. “Tell me your plan.”