Chapter Two

Numair was pulled from the memory suddenly as Diane was shaking him awake. He looked up just in time to see some of the healers heading their way. He quickly tucked the stone away and stood, trying to wipe away the grogginess and stiffness in his body from kneeling so long. Duke Baird came towards them with a solemn nod.

"I thought I would find you here," he said as he stopped next to Ishabeau's bed, "Trust me Numair, we are doing all we can to figure out what is wrong." Diane nodded and smiled as Numair regained his complete mind.

"Thank you Baird, truly, it is a relief to know that you are trying to bring her back to us." she said.

Baird nodded, "I know how hard it can be to loose a student that you have begun to look upon as family." He said glancing over at his own son as he helped with some of the over load of healings they had to perform. "And do not forget, Beau is as much as my student as she is yours. Neal and Kel have been telling me everything they can since they encountered her, but there is not much that is helping. If only we could get the servant to tell, they are obviously very close." He said thoughtfully.

Numair nodded as Diane put her hand gently on Baird's arm, "We'll see if we can get him to tell us anything." She said, "Surly he would want her well soon too." She said, trying to be optimistic.

Biard nodded in agreement, "Well, I must be back to work, you know that you are always welcome here if it will help." He said before giving a small nodded and moving off to help with another healing. Numair looked over at Diane, his hand reaching back into his pocket.

"You go see if Serkan will speak to you, I'm going to sit here a while longer." He said. Diane nodded and moved over, kissing him on his cheek.

"I'll be back as soon as I can, don't get lost. If worst comes to worst, you know that we can always contact my parents and they could help us." she said.

Numair nodded and kissed her forehead. "Go magelet, I'll be fine." Diane gave him a disbelieving look before nodding and turning to go. Numair watched her leave before taking his place again, moving so it looked like he was sitting in a silent vigil that shouldn't be disturbed before placing the opal back and falling into another memory.

Ishabeau stood at tensely as one of the tailors took her measurements. It was the first time that Ishabeau had been fitted for her clothes. Alanna had found some clothes already made and then handed them to the young girl when the tailors were done.

"Come on girl," Alanna said, beckoning to Ishabeau. She followed obediently into the hall and down the winding corridors. She tried to keep track of where she was going, but the corridors went by too quickly. Eventually, they reached the bathes and Alanna led her in. She pushed Ishabeau behind a dressing screen and told her to undress.

After bathing, Alanna gave Ishabeau the light blue gown that she had first tried on and a pair of short, soft light brown boots. Ishabeau blushed and stepped out from behind the dressing screen in her new finery.

"Now let's get a look at you," Alanna said, "Look up at me." Ishabeau looked up slowly and watched Alanna's eyes scrutinizing every inch of her.

Alanna looked over the girl; she was like a different person in the new clothes. The girl was just a little bit taller than Alanna and was very petite. Her legs and arms were long and slightly muscled with her hands callused. Her hair was long thick straight and the color of the night sky and contrasted against her sun kissed skin. She had thick dark eyebrows and eyelashes. Her nose had a small bump in it that was clear that she had had a broken nose that was healed very well. Her lips were full and chapped. Alanna noddd and smiled.

"Good, this will do." Ishabeau's eyes made contact with Alanna's, the startling color made Alanna back up a bit. After she regained her thought, Alanna motioned for Ishabeau to follow her, although she still looked slightly puzzled.

Ishabeau sat quietly as the king, queen and mage discussed many things about Ishabeau's future. They discussed where she would be staying, where she would get her clothes and meals and what she would do while there. Ishabeau had just thought that they had forgotten she was there when Master Numair stood up and came towards her.

"Stand up," he said calmly and Ishabeau rushed to stand as expected when she was a slave. Numair walked around her, examining her. "I want you to answer some questions for me." Numair paced back and forth in front of her. Ishabeau nodded and watched him with only her eyes moving.

"Have you ever had anything happen that would be related to the Gift in anyway?" Ishabeau nodded, keeping her eyes down cast. "And?"

"Oh, please forgive me master," she spoke softly, "I didn't realize you wanted examples." She took a deep breath to calm herself, and started to speak again when Numair nodded to her. "My mother taught me some healing, but I was very young and didn't learn much. There have also been some very odd things that have happened when I was around that nobody can explain."

Ishabeau squirmed under the scrutinizing dark eyes that looked over every inch of her, as if searching for something. The eyes frightened her slightly as he watched her like a hawk. Numair sat down in the chair across from Ishabeau and kept gazing at her.

"I want you to try something for me now," He spoke clearly and gently, "Close your eyes and look deeply into yourself. I want you to see if you can find a well of power inside of you and concentrate to bring it together." Ishabeau followed his directions and found a well of dark indigo fire inside of her. After a few minutes Numair tapped her on her shoulder and brought her out of the trace she had fallen into.

"Good very good," Numair's voice drifted off as if he was thinking of something. After a few minutes of uncomfortable silence, Jon cleared his throat and Numair looked up at him stunned. "Oh, I'm sorry, I was just…" He trailed off again.

"I have never seen anything like this," He stood and walked over to the seat he had been sitting in first.

"You mean, she doesn't have any of the Gift?" said Jon looking at Ishabeau.

"No, she has the Gift and plenty of it. It's just," He sighed and rested his head on his hand for a minute, "this is the oddest thing I have ever seen. Her Gift is very subtle; if she wouldn't have put it all together I don't think I would have been able to know that she had the Gift for sure."

Jon and Thayet both nodded but Ishabeau just sat there, shocked that she actually had the Gift. Yes, she was the daughter of a healer and a great mage, but she never thought she had that much of the Gift. Numair sat back down in the chair he was first in.

"I shall have to spend time with Miss Ishabeau to figure out exactly how her powers work and where the strong points are." Numair looked over at Ishabeau and smiled. "That is if she will be my student."

Jon, Thayet and Numair all looked at Ishabeau. She scrunched down a little under their eyes. She felt uncomfortable under all the attention and tried to will herself to be invisible like she had been for most of her life.

"Well, what do you say?" Numair spoke again.

"M-master," She stuttered slightly, "you do remember that I am just a lowly slave. I am not a mage or healer or can even pretend to have these powers; it is above my station and improper. I'm sorry to disappoint you, but I am not allowed to be a student."

She looked up and saw the shock on everyone else's faces. Jon shook his head before coming back to the conversation.

"You were a slave?" Thayet asked. Ishabeau nodded, keeping her eyes down cast. Thayet moved down to kneel before Ishabeau and looked her straight in the eye.

"My dear, you are not a slave here. In Tortal we do not have slaves. Here you are free to do what you would like. Now you have a choice to make. You can become Master Numair's student or if you don't want to then we will find you a job, either in the palace or for one of our friends. It is your choice to make."

Ishabeau stayed silent for a moment before answering. "But, I have been a slave since my mother died. Can I really be anything else?"

"Of course, you can be anything you wish to be, just let us know what you would like." Ishabeau nodded.

"If I am allowed to be, I would like to learn to be a mage or healer." Ishabeau spoke carefully, "If there is someone who will teach me."