I'm Related

Chapter 12

To Save and to Be Saved

Daine fell to the floor with the sheer force of the rose petal color of Mona's gift. Livid with rage, Numair slammed her back with a power stroke of raw magic. Mona rose again and at that Numair became so furious that he screeched a word in Old Thak, and Mona of Milleu was turned into a warthog. It was then that Numair began to moan and sob over Daine's body, he put up a protective shield that no one could enter, small but effective it kept even the King out. And Numair refused to listen to anyone's requests or orders to take down the shield. No one could blame Numair's behavior, one could say he was taking the loss rather well. But that one was wise not to say it aloud.

Shaye had to admit that she felt stupid and useless, it was Ganiel's dream exactly. It was more of a premonition then an omen, and he had told her that! But she had merely cast his stupid warnings aside!

But here she stood, Daine was dead and Numair was kneeling next to her, holding her lifeless body to his own. He was moaning "Magelet" over and over again. Numair wouldn't let anyone near him, not even his friends. He refused to even look at anyone. Shaye felt the pain thumping in her own chest, tears rolling down her eyes as she clung to Neal who held her tightly. Shaye hadn't even tried to approach Numair, she felt that it was her fault that this whole thing happened. She knew that Numair's grief wouldn't go away and she knew that Numair might never be the same.

Shaye felt a gentle tap on the shoulder and turned to meet hazel eyes. The eyes of George, Baron of Pirates Swoop. Shaye had been introduced to him by way of Numair a few nights before, Shaye liked his wit and calm nature, he was a good man with what Shaye thought was a mysterious past. But that didn't matter now, George spoke a soft greeting to Shaye and said, "Mona needs to be turned back now, we all want to get this straightened away." Shaye saw George's pain at the loss of Daine and nodded to George, knowing exactly what he wanted her to do, and she resolved that she would try to face Numair. George left her side with a reassuring touch on her shoulder. Shaye kissed Neal's cheek and took a step toward Numair. Shaye worked her way through the crowd, as she did she relived the scene in her head a thousand more times.

Shaye finally reached the shield and lightly tested it with her own magic, hers she knew was nothing compared to Numair's, but she hoped he might recognize the probing of her gift and let her in.

"Numair please let me in," Shaye said, after a moment of trying to reach him. "I need to speak to you."

"And what do you have to say Shaye?" Numair asked, not angrily, but with the air of a person who knew that nothing could make him feel better.

"You know that nothing I can say will bring her back, Numair," Shaye said, but a twitch in the back of her mind echoed indistinctly. "You must not carry on like this! Let us move her at the very least!" another twitch echoed. Have the courage to save her, Shaye heard it clearly in her mind, but what did it mean.

"Leave me be, Shaye," Numair said dejectedly. Shaye's heart broke completely in half at the sound his voice. Fresh tears sprung from her already moistened eyes. Neal's hand reached her shoulder once more and she collapsed into his arms. Neal guided her away from Numair and Daine.

"Neal this is wrong," Shaye murmured into his tunic. "And I did it, I did it."

"It is not your fault Shaye," Neal said seriously, he kissed the top of her head. "You had no idea this would happen, you saved the whole room of courtiers, you know that. Do not blame yourself. Blame Mona."

Shaye took a deep breath. A failing attempt to calm herself. The knot in her stomach gave a lurch and a thump, she wanted to do was go huddle up in her room and cry forever, but her mind told her to get a grip. She had to tell the King what she knew about Mona's magic and her part in it.

"I need to see the King," she whispered. Neal put his arm around her and lead her to a conference room.

The King sat at a long table, head in his hands, with the Queen by his side, tears were running down her cheeks, but Shaye didn't have the time or energy to be envious of her beauty even in such a state of despair.

"Your Majesties?" Shaye said to them, The monarchs looked up at her and Neal. Shaye clutched Neal's hand for support.

"Shaye, Page Nealan," the King said in acknowledgement. "I'm glad you've come Shaye, I am very confused about the events from tonight."

"Well, I'll get right to it then, Numair," she paused and swallowed at his name. "and I meet Mona years ago in Carthak, back then, even thought we didn't know it, she was using an old magic from the ancient text of the Old Ones. The magic had to do with things in the body that create lust. Mona used this curse combined with her own gift for... her own devices. When she came here I could tell she was up to no good. The affect she had on Numair, not to mention all men was alarming."

"And you didn't tell anyone?" the King asked with a frown.

"I told Numair and Daine, Sire," Shaye said, looking at the floor. "They didn't seem to think it cause for worry." She felt Neal squeeze her hand reassuringly.

"And how did you know how to break the spell, Shaye?" the King asked.

Shaye looked up at his tired, blue orbs, she knew from his expression he wasn't angry at her so she carefully said to him, "When I was a little younger I formed an affinity for forbidden texts. I stumbled across that one very randomly and when I read the counter spell, it called to me, I suppose. I memorized it."

The King nodded, an acceptance of all her answers. "My Kingdom owes you a great debt of gratitude, I owe you my love. If there is anything I can offer you, now or ever, it is yours." The Queen nodded in agreement to her husband.

"Thank you your Majesties," Shaye said. "Where is Mona being kept? I assume she is still a warthog?"

The King gave a half hearted smile, "I have guards chasing her around the courtyard. Despite her new looks she is still using her gift to get away, I don't know how she managed that."

"Perhaps I'll go speak to Numair about changing her back for a few moments at least?" Shaye offered. The King nodded and bid her good luck as she and Neal left the room.

"She can't be dead Neal," Shaye said after a moment. Neal kissed her cheek in response, unable to think up any words of comfort.

Have the courage to save her, her mind said again with urgency this time. Have the courage. Save her. Shaye could hear her own response 'Save who? Mona?' But that was a stupid thought! Why would she save Mona when she had just murdered Daine? But her mind shouted back at her, you disregarded Ganiel before and look at how that worked out! Shaye felt her heart thump painfully at the sight of the ballroom door. Whether out of cowardice or intuition not even Shaye knew, but she felt her feet stop dead in their tracks.

"Neal? We need to find the courtyard where Mona is," Shaye said desperately. Neal's face twitched in surprise.

"Why?" he asked as he lead her to the courtyards.

"It sounds odd I know, but trust me," she said in response, and hearing a commotion followed the sounds.

"Always," Neal said, walking faster to keep up with her. "But I have no idea why."