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Forest

Chapter 6: Copper and Snow

(Part A)

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A/N: This is only the first half of chapter 6- I've almost finished the second half but I won't get a chance to upload it until Saturday, and I'd rather update than let you think I'd given up. :P

Anyway, I have a good excuse for not writing this week- MY BROTHER IS ENGAGED! He proposed on Tuesday and she said yes! dances So, I was kinda too excited to write. :)

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As the sky darkened, snow began to fall. Softly, it covered the port in a white blanket, covering the ice from the day before. Alarmed at the sudden blizzard, the starlings left before nightfall. Daine wished them goodbye cheerfully, promising to see them again in the spring- and warning the chicks about humans at the old Starling's request.

That evening, Daine and Numair dined with Alanna for the last time. Rather than stay in the dusty, crowded stately house, they had wandered around the snowy town looking for pubs or inns that still had food to serve. As they walked, they caught up on news, falling quickly back into the easy comradeship they had gained on the boat. At first the conversation was about the snow- Alanna complaining about it, mainly- but eventually the conversation led to some of the things Jon had said that afternoon.

Alanna was surprised that Numair had found out about her visit to Pirate's Swoop, but was pleased to have the excuse to tell Daine about her home and family. As she warmed to her subject (but not to the weather), she realized to her surprise that Daine had no idea of her past- a subject for which she was infamous amongst most Tortallans. When she was in Galla it was unusual for news to reach the mountains- and when she was in Carthak her political education had been extremely biased.

Daine's eyes grew as wide as saucers as she listened to Alanna's stories of thieves and conspiracies, evil sorcerers and warriors. Numair teased the knight shamelessly, coaxing more stories from her. The tales lasted them right through their meal, until the lamps in the dim bar were burned down to pale orange flames. All three sat back with a pitcher of cider, feeling very full of food and facts.

"This is nice." Daine smiled. "It almost makes up for the weather." She gestured at the window, where fat snowflakes were dancing by. The streets were unusually quiet- people were hurrying home to get away from the cold

"I'm not looking forward to going tomorrow," Alanna admitted languidly, "I've always hated the cold. When this war is over I'm going straight back to the desert for a long holiday." She shut her eyes, as if she could see the Bazhir on the inside of her eyelids. "It's nice and warm in this inn, though. It's a shame we chose one so far from the house- now we have to walk back."

"Everyone hates the cold. Stop feeling sorry for yourself." Numair yawned. Alanna opened one eye to glare at him.

"I have to get back on that goddess-cursed boat to get around the stormwing flocks. I can feel sorry for myself if I choose! They've taken over the middle-lands, you know?"

Numair nodded. Daine frowned.

"How did they do that? Surely they would start from near the boundary openings and work their way in?"

Alanna smiled bitterly, remembering the horror of the stormwing attacks when they had been anticipating just that thing.

"See- stormwings are actually pretty smart- curse them." She spat on the floor, and continued, "While we were busy shifting our troops into the lands near the boundary, expecting something like you said, a good five hundred of the damn things flew up into the cloud layer, and attacked right from the middle of Tortall. It completely decimated our armies."

"And they can fly over the mountains, so they can attack when we're afraid of snow or mudslides." Numair added.

Alanna smiled wistfully. "Imagine if we had some on our side- we could find some way for them to carry us across the sea, or the mountains, in hours."

"It takes more time than that-days- even to fly. You have to find the right thermals, and places to rest." Daine said absently. She poured herself another glass of cider, and then noticed the two mages staring at her. "What?"

"You've flown across the sea?" Alanna demanded, her violet eyes sharpening. Daine nodded and shrugged in the same gesture.

"Only once- to the far end of the Copper Isles. It was difficult."

"But…why? Were you trying to escape?" The knight asked, seeing how uneasy the girl looked at the question. Daine blinked and shook her head.

"No… Ozorne had us curse one of the foreigners who got away- K-Kat wrote the curse into a letter, and I had to carry it to his ship. She didn't know any other ways of sending a curse then, and Ozorne was very angry with the Ambassador. He told us exactly what kind of curse to create. There was a storm while I was following them, and I got lost- the sea looks the same whichever way you're facing. They were nearly in port by the time I got there."

"And then what happened?" The lady knight leaned her head on her hand, looking absorbed. Daine looked uncomfortable, running a finger along the edge of the collar under the scarf.

"Please, Daine- it's important." Numair said. Rather dubious, the girl continued uneasily:

"The ship… sank; they all drowned. I flew back. What else is there to say?"

"So… you flew from Carthak to the Northern Copper Isles and back?"

"Yes! After I got back, I couldn't move my arms for a week, but I did it. But I did it to kill someone! It's nothing to be proud of! Why are you asking all these questions?"

"Just one more question: Could you do it again?"