Chapter 4 – Mind Control

The mouse scurried forward in and out of holes in the walls in search of a scent. The mouse finally caught it with its nose as it was passing through a long passage. When it came to a crossroads the mouse lifted its nose again. Trying to decide where the scent came from. The smell of cinnamon and spices that didn't contain the smell of food, hit her sharply. She wasn't so far from her target now.

The mouse, Daine, missed with the small mouse eyes when she came out of the hole. She had found and entered Numair's chambers. In safety she changed slowly and returned to her human form. In naked state Daine knelt and added more wood on the dying embers. It was cold and the temperature in the room caused her to develop goose bumps all over.

Still in tears she searched for a candle and fumbled to make it light. After a few failed attempts it finally happened. The light cast long shadows in Numair's study. She scanned the room where she was going to sleep. Never had it felt more safe then it did now. How could an absolutely fine evening end like this? And how could she had been so stupid, she should have said no to William when he had surprised her in the stables and asked her if she wanted to be his date. She would never say yes again to anyone...never.

Daine walked towards the clothes she had arrived in. When her hands found her clothes she sighed. All of it was still damped from when she walked through the inner courtyard. She couldn't wear it and Daine realized that she hadn't considered to take a nightshirt with her when leaving her room.
In search of one of Numair's robes her gaze dropped to the door to his bedchamber. In quick steps, she crossed the floor in bare toes and let herself in the door.

The light from the candle revealed what she was looking for. One of Numair's shirts were thrown on a chair. Daine sat the candle down on a table nearby and picked up the shirt. Numair's scent mixed with sweat hung in it and revealed that he had it on most of the day. Daine took in the scent and she immediately felt at ease.

When she took the shirt on a movement caught her attention. Daine's reflection looked back at her from the big mirror that was placed against the opposite wall. She took the candle with her when she went closer. Her cheek was cut open and a long wound ran down below her eye. William may have had a ring on when he had hit her, that would be the only possible cause. Daine turned and took a handkerchief lying on the nightstand beside the bed. JP were embroidered on it. It didn't belong to Numair, obviously, but Daine didn't care. She had to stop the bleeding.

With the handkerchief pressed against the wound she caught the sight of her lip. It was raised to twice the size and cracked. This also bled. With the handkerchief pressed against the wound in her cheek Daine began to search for more of Numair's handkerchiefs.

Numair stood with Julianna, a tall slim blonde woman, who was slightly dizzy from the fall to the floor. He had danced with her all night and tried to avoid throwing investigating gazes at his student and a young man.

Talking about his student where had she gone? He hadn't seen her since he had danced with her. Even when the commotion had occurred she had been nowhere to be seen. He felt panic rise. He was suppose to protect her, he was her protector. Not that she couldn't take care of herself, but...Numair only half listened after what Julianna said. He turned and began to scan the large hall. The guards had managed to calm the commotion and now everything was apparently peaceful, but Numair still had the feeling of wrongness.

"Are you listening, Numair?" Julianna asked a bit offended. She was almost desperate. She wouldn't tell him that she had seen Daine storm out of the great hall dissolved in tears and her little friend, William following her. Julianna was sure that William would do what was necessary. There was a reason she had hired him, for she knew for sure that he would be able to catch the little whore girl's attention long enough so she could put her claw in Numair.

"Hmmm," Numair turned his attention back towards the slender woman whom he had spent the previous night with. "Sorry, I trying to find my student ..." His voice was quiet as he felt soft lips being pressed against his. For a few brief seconds he stood still but answered the kiss hesitant. He felt how Julianna broke the kiss as she laughed.

"I'm sure she's here somewhere," Julianna said as she gently played with the necklace she had hanging around her neck to draw Numair's attention to her breasts.

Numair didn't feel confident. The strange feeling grew stronger and got him by chance to take a look at the corridor that led out of the great hall. A young blond man came walking out from the corridor.

In his hands he carried a pile of clothes. Numair frowned. He recognized the colors in the dress William carried. But he wasn't sure so Numair scanned the great hall once again without any result. He quickly localized Jonathan, Thayet, Alanna, George and Onua. He made eye contact first with Onua and then with Alanna, who slowly sat her crystal glass down and moved towards him. When Numair turned back William, Daine's date, had reached over to where he stood with Julianna.

"Where is Daine?" he asked worried as he let his gaze search down to the clothes in Williams arms. He saw how Alanna approached rapidly while the party continued around them.

William threw the clothes on the floor and Numair could finally confirm that it was Daine's dress with her breast band, loincloth and her little slippers. The young man looked at Julianna who slowly withdrew, so she could disappear. William spat on the clothes "As you can see Master Salmalin your little whore is gone. She left only this".

A fury erupted in him and before he knew it Numair had caught William's chin with one hand and forced the young man's eyes to meet his own.

Alanna noticed a shift in the energy in the great hall. She ran through the crowd, pushed whoever was standing in her way. When she saw Numair grab the young man who had escorted Daine to the midwinter ball she shouted over her shoulder for Jonathan, the king.

Jonathan turned at the sound of Alanna's voice and saw how the Lioness ran in a certain direction. He looked for what happened further on and saw Numair towering over a young man. The air around Numair and William sparkled of energy. Jonathan noticed the pressure and before he could warn the bystanders all crystal glasses in the great hall shattered. Young women screamed and the guards drew their swords. He started running and yelled orders to the guards, to get the guests out. Whatever had happened it had caused extreme anger from his black robe mage.

Numair took a deep breath. He had only a few times in his life resorted to mind control, but fear that this young man had caused Daine pain was now forcing him to do it again. He noticed how Alanna had reach over to him and laid her hand on his arm.

Alanna heard it sparkle before she felt it through her fingers. She took her hand away from him as quickly as she possible, but she still found a small burning wound in her hand. She healed it and looked at the young man who had begun to speak. She hadn't heard what Numair had asked.

Numair felt the blood boil in him. His brain worked rapidly. He would kill the young man if he had killed or harm Daine. In here in the great hall surrounded by an angry snowstorm, it was unlikely that he could hear the mourning animals.

William noticed how fog enveloped his brain. His hands and feet were numb and although he wanted to escape, to run, from this terrible man he faced, there were no options. He was trapped in his own body.

When Numair spoke it was with extreme cold in his voice. "Where is she?"

Looking up into hazel eyes William noticed how words formed on his lips uncontrolled and he replied, though he didn't want to. "I don't know."

Numair tightened his grip around Williams chin "Is she injured?" he asked with his cold and icy voice.

William felt again how he answered without his control "Yes".

Alanna prepared for the worst when she heard the words. She knew that Numair was overprotective and wanted to take care of Daine. But this was about to go out of hand.

"How?" Numair leaned forward. He didn't take notice to the that spectators had formed a circle around them eventhough guards with drawn swords tried in vain to get the spectators away from the scene and out the greate hall, but they all had their attention turned towards Numair and William.

"I ... I hit her so she hit the wall ..." William stammered. William began to scream and it echoed troughout the great hall, which had been quiet after the music had stopped. His blood boiled. Still with the black robe mage's hand against his chin he was slowly cooked.

Alanna didn't in that moment care if Numair stunned her to such an extent that she would get wounds, but she saw how Numair's hazel eyes changed in an instant and she responded immediately. Numair's eyes became black and his gift was being multiplied.

Suddenly Alanna struck Numair's hand away and the scream was gone. In front stood the young blond man with misty eyes. His breathing was loud and rasping. It was impossible to say what damage Numair had caused.

Within seconds she grabbed the young man and laid two fingers surrounded by violet flames against the man's forehead and forced William into a coma. She lowered him to the floor and turned furiously towards Numair, who now stood with black fire speckled with silver in his hands. Their spectators gasped and pulled back. Alanna's violet eyes locked firmly into Numair's warning him.

A battle between Tortall's black robe mage and the king's champion would put the palace in ruins.

"Enough!" Jonathan roared. He had reached through the crowd of spectators and stood between the lying William which Alanna was standing protective in front of and Numair on the other side. "Enough!" said Jonathan again commanding, his voice lower this time. The great hall was silenced.

As commanded Numair closed his hands and let the fire die. He wouldn't fight against the man who had taught him warmagic and the man who was his king. Relaxing he gathered his thoughts. He had been on the verge of committing murder before the eyes of the whole court.

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