Hi! My name is Alyssa and I am the wonderfully misguided author of Empress Mage. I am going to begin editing it from the bottom up, meaning this chapter you are reading is edited. I will be putting this note at the top of every chapter I edit. However, I will be leaving my original Author Notes up, because myself three years ago is quite an amusing site. Enjoy! And I apologize if you are starting this and see my writing style now, followed by examples of it five years ago. I am editing as well as updating, so bare with me. I offer my sincere apologies.
A/N: Hey you guys! I no there iz a billion things i should be doing besides starting a new fic...
But hey even really smart people winks need a break! Okay here is your first installment of Empress Mage! Hope ya adore it!
Plot speaks: Okay, what if Daine supposedly fell in love with Ozorne and chose to stay with him in Carthak?
"He dies, my dear. The gods demand a blood sacrifice, and so do I."
Daine's body fell off the chair, hitting the floor with a satisfying thud. Ozorne smiled and glanced at the crystalline glass that had sat in front of her. The pale liquid had been of his own concoction, containing a large dosage of dreamrose. He had drunk his juice quickly because he knew how most northerners couldn't handle the sickly, sweetened taste of the pomegranate juice.
Snapping his fingers he called five of his slaves. "Take this girl to the cell behind my rooms" he said to two of his mutes. With emotionless faces they picked her up and walked out.
To the other three slaves he spoke with much more power behind his words ordering, "Come with me to the Lady's rooms. We need to remove her things."
The slaves bowed, "Yes your majesty. This unworthy one shall do as you command" their raspy voices emitted before they scurried off. Ozorne sighed and followed.
"Not a single hairpin may remain!" Ozorne shouted angrily to the slaves. "It must be like she was never even here"
Immediately the the slaves checked under the bed and in the bathroom throwing all of Veralidaine's possessions in a big basket. A single dolls arm hung over the side. Curious Orzone pulled it out. It was a horse puppet with a small note attached to it.
"To Daine. Turning six is a wonderful thing. Here is your stubborn horse. Me and your mother love you very much. Happy Birthday Sweetling. Grandda"
Ozorne muttered the inscription aloud. Suddenly his eyes widened. "When you are finished here take Veralidaine's possessions to my room along with herself." Ozorne turned around and walked out of the room.
He could hardly contain his excitement. He knew how to get Arram back. Ever since he had decided to capture Arram's student he was unsatisfied with only killing his old friend. He wanted to hurt him. And make him live with that hurt. Now he knew how.
Ozorne stopped in the hallway to study the horse. Yes, it would make a perfect focus.
"Wake up, Veralidaine" The voice shook the last bits of confusion from her head. She jerked up. The room in which she lay was a emerald green. She lay on a bed of similar colors, Ozorne sitting nestled beside her.
"Where am I?" She knew not what else to ask. By the smile on the Emperor's face Daine's stomach plummeted with the knowledge that she wasn't going to like the answer. "
My chambers. But, my dear, perhaps a better question would be, 'what happened?'"
Daine blinked slowly at him and for the first time noticed she was in a Carhaki style robe. The light blue silk clung to her small frame in a very appeasing way.
"Okay..." Daine said, deciding to play Ozorne's game. "What happened? What did you do? Where are my friends?" she was unable to stop herself from following his guided question with a string of her own.
The emperor smiled chillingly. "I" He emphasized, "did nothing Veralidaine. Now, what YOU did. Now that's a different story."
Daine struggled to her feet and stood in front of Ozorne, her eyes flashing. He voice shook with rage as she spoke, asking "What are you talking about! I did nothing! I have been asleep, you drugged me! Where's Numair? If you did anything to him, goddess hear me, I will..."
Shaking his head Orzone silenced her by raising his hand. "I have not touched Arram. And if you asked any other person in my palace they would not agree with the assertion that you did nothing.
"And don't bother looking for him, or any of your other friends. They returned to Tortall." Ozorne entered his last piece in that sentence I response to Daine walking purposely away from the bed, as if she intended to leave.
Daine's hand froze on the door handle. "They wouldn't leave without me" she said icily "even if they believed I ran away"
Ozorne's smile was cold and cruel as he purred, "I didn't tell that old story. Why don't you run along and find someone. I am sure you then will know how extensive your betrayal was."
The door slammed behind Daine as she ran. Ozorne lay back out on the bed and waited for her return.
Daine searched the whole palace. She had asked several nobles. Strangely they had looked disgusted with her, snarling "They left, as if you didn't know." Daine had immediately ran from their remarks, from their answers which been short and to the point.
Obviously they didn't want to talk to her. Feeling she would never find anyone she walked into the garden. There she saw them.
"Prince Kaddar! Master Lindhall!" she called speeding her pace up.
Their faces became closed when they saw it was her. She chose to ignore this. "Where is he? Please, no one will tell me! Where?" she put in all of her desperation into her voice.
"Empress. My uncle is in his chambers. I believe you know where they are?" Kaddar's voice was cold and polite, his formerly warm eyes were empty. Lindhall's however were filled with emotion. Anger.
"Yes, yes. I know where his chambers are. I just came from there. But where is Numair? And Alanna? Duke Gareth? Did he really send them back to Tortall?" She was almost hopping up and down from agitation.
She had directed her questions at Kaddar, but it was Lindhall who answered her. "You should know wench," he hissed angrily, ignoring Kaddar's restraining arm. "He almost was executed because of you. You have no right to speak of him!"
Never had the girl seen Lindhall so cold and angry. He reminded her of Numair.
Silver light gathered beside Daine and the Graveyard Hag appeared. "Master Reed! You don't understand." the hag's voice held resignation. "She doesn't know what she did."
Now Kaddar face was consumed with anger as well. "Doesn't know?!" he hissed.
"Precisely. Haven't you heard of Focuses?" The two men's faces froze at the hag's words, and then slowly turned toward Daine.
"What about focuses? Tell me what happened!" she bellowed. "Ozorne wouldn't tell me either! He kept on playing games. 'They'll never forgive you' and such. Please, tell me what happened!"
"Of course… it all- Ten days ago, Daine, My uncle ordered that everyone must be present at that days talks. But when we got there he hadn't showed up. It took him half an hour to show up. When he did, you were on his arm. Oh, Daine. You looked so happy. And... normal. He announced you had decided to marry him," Kaddar whispered.
Lindhall's voice was cracked when he continued the story, "All your friends jumped up and accused Ozorne of tampering with your mind. He called off the talks. Then...Arram... Walked up. He looked into your eyes and started talking to you real fast. But you just smiled a incredibly cruel smile.
"You turned and listed off for Ozorne all the times he had broken the rules of his pardon. By then everyone had sat down. They knew you were serious. You..." He dropped off face wet with tears.
"Daine, you told Ozorne they all should be executed" The Hag finished. "The things you said! They surprised even me! The horrible things you said. You made it so there wasn't the slightest chance the talks could resume. It was the Lioness who asked why. Your answer was simple. You said that he had gold, and he wasn't weak."
Daine stared at the three of them in astonishment. A focus did that?
"Then you kissed him. Ozorne. It was like the seal on the deal" Kaddar's voice cracked. Daine looked down at her finger where a big emerald sat and began to cry. Both men hugged her.
"I'll go and tell them the truth" Daine whispered eyes full.
The Hag coughed and cleared her throat. "I am afraid not." She said, flinching under the gazes of three pairs of red eyes.
"My brothers, sisters and I have decided that you are to stay here. Stay as you have. Act as though you weren't under a spell. The Emperor can't marry you for four years because of tradition. By then he should trust you. We still need you as a vessel to teach Emperor Mage a lesson."
Daine opened her mouth to protest but the Hag had already vanished. Before she could control herself, big tears began to pour down her face.
A/N: Do you like? I like it! Lol, hehehehahahahohohoh Dedicated to Nic and Zel! Luv ya's! O yeah if you see the name Abram in there it's arram! My PC is very old and sucks! Bye bye losers!
Future A/N: Favorite part of that whole section? "You Wench!" When Lindhall said that, my jaw dropped open and I gasped. I am such a fruitcake.