Disclaimer: I do not own any pre-established Tamora Pierce characters, animals/creatures, places, etc.
Enjoy.
--Prologue--
"Your daughter has a gift, Kel." Numair Salmalin stated, pointing at the sleeping child in the lady knight's arms, "It's not the gift, but a gift none the less. You know what happens when magic goes untamed."
Kel looked down at her daughter sleeping peacefully, hands resting around her mother's neck. Kel had been on her way to tuck Juliaine in for bedtime when Numair had unexpectedly graced her with his presence. He had been in town making his rounds throughout the kingdom, helping out where he could and passing on messages from the king to his chief military advisors who weren't in Corus. Numair had only been in New Hope, having grown into a prominent city in Tortall, for three days before he began to pack his things.
"Numair, you don't even know what it is that she's gifted with." Kel argued, shifting the weight of the sleeping child in her arms—her left one was starting to go numb.
"I didn't exactly know what Daine had and we managed to work that one out.
Kel merely gave him a look in response.
Numair didn't even flinch.
"In a month Gery will go to Corus to start his knight's training. In two, you and Dom will leave to start your patrol. You're not sending her to the convent and she isn't interested in becoming a knight. Would you really leave her alone here?"
Kel sighed, knowing that he was right and too tired to argue any more, "What exactly are you proposing?"
"Let me take her back to Corus. I'll take her under my wing and help her learn how to develop her magic and give her the proper academic schooling she needs." He leaned in closer, looking around him before he continued, "Kel…if Juliaine learns how to properly use her gift, think of how she could help Jon help the kingdom."
Kel stood there, thinking everything over.
"We'll talk to Dom in the morning and if he agrees to it…we'll ask her if she wants to go. If she doesn't want to go…"
Numair held up his hands, "It's entirely up to her."
Kel nodded, the conversation over, moving past the mage and headed up the nearby stairs to the twins' adjoining rooms, and looking down at the sleeping child in her arms. She sighed thoughtfully.
"You have no idea what's in store for you sweetling. No idea."
After tucking her in, Kel backed out of the room slowly, carefully shutting the door before heading towards her own room thinking of the day that was to come.
