Description: Numair is shocked by Daine's appearance yet again and starts to wonder what is wrong with him. The delegation is presented to Ozorne and Numair fears his old friend's interests in his student and Kitten, as an old lover threatens to distract the mage from everything going on around him.
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters. Everything belongs to Tamora Pierce.
Author's Note: For all the Varice hater's out there, I'm very sorry but I'm not going to make her evil. She will be a product of what it takes to survive in Carthak with a mad emperor at its head. It's important for Numair to deal with all his feelings for his old lover because he'll never be able to move on if he doesn't.
Chapter 3
The Tortall delegation were shown to their rooms in a separate area of the palace designated specifically for them. The men and women went to separate guest baths to wash and freshen up ready to meet the emperor. Numair borrowed Kitten quickly to fix his dress robe before releasing her back to Daine's rooms. The mage could do the spells himself, but Kitten enjoyed doing them and she did a better job.
Nuamir took his time to tame his mane of thick black hair with his scented oils and tie it back into a tight horsetail. He changed into a white silk shirt and black linen trousers over which he pulled on his black silk dress robe. The mage tugged unhappily at the high collar knowing he would never get it comfortable. Numair finished the outfit with black leather boots and paused to admire his reflection. He looked every inch the black robe mage from the Imperial university.
When the mage exited his quarters, he was surprised to find he wasn't the last to emerge. Lord Martin and Daine were still in their rooms getting ready. Alanna nodded to him from her place beside Gareth the Younger, dressed in gold and crimson as her colours as the Lioness. Numair wondered if he should check on Daine but Carthaki custom wouldn't allow him to enter her quarters. Just as he was about to ask Alanna if she could check on the girl she appeared from the hallway and all thoughts fled his brain.
Daine was dressed in a twilight-blue silk gown with silver embroidery which whispered around her ankles as she moved. Her brown curls were artfully pinned up revealing the sapphire drops in her ears. Numair realised his mouth was hanging open and closed it quickly hoping no one had noticed. He barely recognised his magelet, only used to seeing her in a blue woollen dress she wore at midwinter and a pink linen dress she wore for midsummer. Daine smiled when she spotted him, and the mage found himself utterly enchanted as she walked towards him.
"Sorry I took so long. My dratted hair gave me so much trouble. Am I late?"
Numair cleared his throat and attempted to find his voice. "No, we're still waiting for Lord Martin. Magelet, you look –" Words utterly failed him. For all his extensive vocabulary, he couldn't find one word to accurately describe how she looked. "– lovely," he finished pathetically.
"Thanks," she blushed. "You look good too."
The mage blushed in return and swallowed trying to get himself under control wondering what was wrong with him. Had it been anyone else, he'd believe himself attracted to the young woman, but this was Daine!
"Is your new friend settled in your rooms?" he asked trying to change the subject.
At the mention of the marmoset, the little monkey peeked out from behind Daine's neck and whistled at him. Numair smiled as the young woman in front of him transformed back into his student.
"He didn't want to leave me. It won't be a problem, will it?" she asked nervously.
"No. So long as he stays hidden in your hair, all will be well." The mage smiled softly into her blue-grey eyes as Daine smiled back making his stomach do a somersault. "Does he have a name?"
"Zek. He let me name him because I couldn't pronounce his real one."
"Hello Zek." Numair said to the marmoset as he reached out a finger to stroke through his fur gently.
The mage was saved from trying to make any further small talk as their escort arrived to take them to the antechamber.
Numair watched his student as she turned in small circles awed by their surroundings in the antechamber. The mage found he couldn't take his eyes off the young woman as she twirled around in her gorgeous gown. He'd expected to be terrified at the prospect of seeing Ozorne again, and while the fear was crawling in the pit of his stomach, his friend was providing a welcome, if confusing, distraction.
"How do the lamps keep burning?" Daine asked curiously.
"Magic." Harailt answered. "Numair why didn't you tell us about this light spell? To have steady strong illumination –"
The mage managed to tear his eyes away from his friend and glance at the lights. "They didn't have it when I was here. They did something with glass balls, but they faded after a short time. These aren't glass."
"The globes are filled with crystals." Lindhall joined the group coming to stand beside Numair. "Remind me and I'll have one of the craft mages explain it for you."
The door to the audience chamber started to open and the mage's stomach lurched. The terror he'd kept at bay for a short while hit him with full force. It was amazing he wasn't trembling.
"You'll be all right, Arra – I'm sorry – Numair?" Lindhall asked him gently.
The younger mage gave his old teacher a shaky smile "I have to be, don't I?"
A page entered the antechamber and beckoned to the delegation to go through the doors. Numair wondered if his legs would hold him as far as the throne.
Lindhall's face was full of concern for him, so he tried to make a joke. "Here we go, into the presence of the one and only Emperor Mage. Huzza."
The throne room was exactly as he remembered, extravagant and ostentatious. Ozorne was impossible to miss sat on his tall throne on a dais flanked by his ministers. Numair was used to seeing his once best friend bedecked in finery and this was no exception. The emperor had chosen gold for the occasion: his hair which hung in thin braids was frosted gold with gold beads matching his gold brows and gold eyelashes. Gold rings curved up both his ears accented by a diamond hanging from his left earlobe. Ozorne's neck was ringed with six rows of black opals and Numair found himself touching the opal around his neck reverently. The jewellery continued with a ring on every finger, gold bracelets on his wrists and ankles, and rings on his toes. Even the emperor's lips were painted gold. The heavy gold brocade short-sleeved, calf-length Cathaki robe finished the look with a crimson drape over one shoulder attached to a gold bracelet. He looked God-like and intimidating which would be exactly the impression he would want to give the Tortallan's.
Duke Gareth stepped forward and bowed giving his welcome speech. Numair barely concentrated having helped His Grace write the speech on the trip here. His feet felt frozen to the floor in fear as he looked upon the man who had been his best friend and betrayer. Duke Gareth announced each member of the delegation by name as they stepped up and bowed before the emperor. Numair didn't register his own name being called and only moved when someone shoved him lightly from behind. The mage's eyes never left Ozorne as he stepped onto the first step of the dais and bowed low. To his great relief, the emperor didn't even glance at him as he quickly retreated to the rest of the delegation. Alanna appeared at his side and squeezed the mage's arm supportively. To his embarrassment, he found he was now trembling and took a few deep breaths to calm himself.
Nuamair had finally stopped shaking when Daine's name was called out, and he froze watching as she stepped onto the dais and curtsied beautifully. Kitten, he decided, wanted to give him a heart attack as she climbed the entire dais until she stopped at the emperor's feet. The mage had spent quite a bit of time schooling his student on proper etiquette, and he realised, to his horror, he had neglected to do the same for the dragonet.
"Greetings, dragon child. This is a pleasure." The emperor reached down to Kitten and allowed her to sniff his hand while Numair fought the urge to yell for her to run. Not recognising the danger she was in, the dragonet sniffed the proffered hand and sneezed probably due to Ozorne's perfumes. Curious as always, she began to examine the gems on the rings. "And are you her keeper? The one who is also the healer of animals?" Ozorne looked at Daine curiously.
His friend nodded before a cough reminded the young woman she needed to answer. "I take care of her, Your Imperial Majesty. And I have wild magic with animals of all kinds."
"How was she taken, your dragon? A trap, or a pit? A net?" How like Ozorne to think that way.
"I don't think you understand our relationship, Your Imperial Majesty. I'm not a keeper; I didn't take her. Kit's – Kitten's – ma died to protect my friends and me. She left Kitten to my care."
Numair winced as Daine spoke a little too close to the truth of how she acquired the dragonet. He dreaded to think how nervous she must me standing alone in front of the Emperor Mage.
"Indeed? It is true then. You are able to commune with the immortals." A shiver went down the mage's spine at the look in Ozorne's amber eyes. He was regarding his student in a way someone would a new purchase.
"The one's like animals, sire. The griffins, and winged horses. Dragons. The ones that are part human, no. They can communicate without my help."
Kitten, who was obviously upset at not being admired, whistle-croaked at the gems making them blaze with light.
"Amazing! Has she always been able to do that?"
"No, sir. She learned a year ago, from a basilisk. She learns things fast."
Daine was forgetting most of her lesson's now on how to correctly address the emperor, but thankfully Ozorne didn't seem too annoyed by it. Kitten was providing too good a distraction.
"Then she is blessed, as we are blessed to look upon her." The emperor nodded in dismissal to the pair as Daine and the dragonet stepped back to join the others.
Numair let out a breath he hadn't known he'd been holding. Once the introductions had finished the emperor raised his voice to address the audience chamber.
"To you, representatives of our royal cousins Jonathan and Thayet, we say, welcome to Carthak. We pray that peace will reign between our lands and know that with such a distinguished company to smooth the way, peace is all but assured. And now, there is food outside, and drink, music, and good company. In your time among us, we have arranged for entertainment that we hope will arouse wonder and interest in our empire. If you desire anything, only voice it to our servants. Within reason it shall be granted you."
The mage was relieved to bow with the rest of the delegation and return to the antechamber. His heart was pounding so loudly in his chest, he was surprised he hadn't fainted. A gong rang making him jump as the walls of the antechamber began to sink into the floor so that the emperor commanded a view of both rooms. Everyone bowed or curtsied until, with a wave of his hand, the Emperor Mage signalled festivities to start.
Daine had found a niche to hide in and was sat with Zek in her lap as Numair slid into the place beside her. Duke Gareth took the place at the young woman's other side.
The mage cupped his friend's cheek gently to look into her eyes. "Are you all right? I had forgotten how intimidating he can be when he has all his imperialness on."
"I noticed. Are you all right? Did he say anything to you?"
Numair removed his hand and smiled feeling better just talking with her. "No. If I'm lucky, he'll ignore me for the rest of our stay." The mage knew he wasn't that lucky a man, but he could always hope. "That's how he always managed such things when we were boys, anyway. If someone bested him at anything, he just pretended that person didn't exist. He got to be very good at it."
"It went quite well. You did us credit, Daine" Duke Gareth commented making the girl blush.
"Thank you, Your Grace," she said quietly.
The other Tortallan's joined them while Harailt and Gareth the younger convinced a servant to bring refreshments.
"Fruit juices." Harailt said as everyone reached for a glass.
Out of habit, Numair used his Gift to check for poisons. He very much doubted there would be any, but he refused to take any chances during his stay here.
Lindhall approached the delegation his eyes on the younger mage. "So far so good. Numair, did he speak to you?"
"He didn't even look at me. He spoke the most with Daine." Mostly concerning Kitten and not hiding his desire for the dragonet.
"But what about his birds?" the Wildmage asked. "I came all this way to see them, and he didn't mention them at all."
"Rulers don't act as other men." Duke Gareth explained. "All requirements of protocol must be met before personal considerations may intrude. You must be patient until he sends for you."
"But more of them might get sick then" the girl complained
Numair put a finger to his lips trying not to smile. He understood her concern and sympathised with her desire to help the birds. She wouldn't care about how long the trip was or how tired she might be when there were sick and injured animals that needed her. Her endless compassion was something he loved about his student.
"Arram?"
The familiar feminine voice broke through his thoughts as he turned to see Varice Kingsford standing before him looking almost as he remembered her. She wore a northern style dress of rose pink that accented every curve of her body, over which she wore an open mage's robe of cream silk. Her blonde hair fell around her shoulders framing a face that was artfully painted. The bright blue eyes held a twinkle of mischief and Numair had to double check his mouth wasn't hanging open.
"Varice?" the mage slowly got to his feet unable to take his eyes off his ex-lover.
"The same old Varice Kingsford. I'm surprised you remember me."
The blonde held out a hand which he eagerly took and pressed a kiss to the silky skin. Unable to resist, he took her other hand and kissed that as well holding both hands in his as he gazed into her beautiful face.
"How could I forget you, my dear? You're lovelier than I remember. You must tell me everything I've missed. What changes are in the palace, and at the university? Are you married; may I kill your husband –" he flirted feeling ten years younger.
"Silly man." She laughed prettily and lead him away to a private niche. "I wasn't sure if you would accept the invitation to return."
Varice sat close to him pressing her leg suggestively against his. Numair still hadn't released her hand and retook the other to hold in his lap. He almost couldn't believe the woman in front of him was real and he wanted to touch some part of her to be sure.
"I almost didn't. Had I realised I would have the opportunity to see you again, I wouldn't have thought twice." The mage wasn't sure if that was true or not.
Varice smiled showing off cute dimples in her cheeks and Numair found himself smiling in return. "How have you been? I hear you are the Tortallan king's chief mage now."
He blushed. "Yes, I've lived in Tortall for eight years. The rulers of Tortall are – unique. Certainly not like any of the rulers of Carthak."
"What sort of duties do you have as chief mage?" she asked curiously.
"I mostly help to protect the kingdom. With all the Immortal outbreaks we've had over the last few years, I've been kept very busy protecting the people as well as studying the creatures. We are learning new things about the Immortals every day. Not everything I read in books and scrolls as a young man is accurate, so we've been cross referencing what we have learned recently and begun compiling – what?" he asked noticing Varice smiling at him.
"Same old Arram. Still the hard-working scholar, I see."
"I don't have as much time for scholarly pursuits as I would like these days. I have a backlog of information in numerous notebooks that one day I'd love to publish." He shook his head realising he was talking too much. "What about you? Did Ozorne keep his promise to you about becoming his personal hostess?"
"Oh yes. I am the official hostess. I planned this entire visit to perfection. Just wait until you see the delicacies I prepared for tomorrow's banquet."
Numair smiled happily as Varice talked about all the food she had prepared and the magic she used to create it. It was like the years had never separated them. The pair talked for hours sharing stories about the path their lives had taken. They tactfully avoided mentioning the manner of his leaving Carthak or what happened to him in the few years that followed. The talk was light and easy, filled with smiles as Varice's hands fluttered every time she got excited.
"– the king and queen don't actually that many banquets," the mage admitted as they discussed Tortallan fashion and court functions. "They mostly dine with all the members of the court from the nobility to the servants. It is a much more informal court than any I have encountered before."
"Are the rumours true? Is Queen Thayet really 'peerless'?"
"Descriptions of Her Majesty would not do her justice. She is an exemplar of female beauty."
"More beautiful than me?" Varice teased fluttering her lashes at him.
Numair smiled seductively. "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, my dear. The queen is indeed beautiful, but no one ever captivated me like you do."
"You tease. You're just flattering me to make me blush."
"No," he whispered huskily. "No one else ever made me feel the way you did."
"You speak in the past tense. Don't I make you feel something now?" Varice placed her hand delicately on his knee and slowly slid it up to his thigh. She squeezed gently making the blood rush downwards as he swallowed, his mouth suddenly dry.
Numair's eyes were dark with desire as he gazed into her sparkling blue eyes. The palm of her hand seemed to burn as it rested on his leg, her fingers idly stroking the fabric of his trousers.
"Arra – Numair?" Lindhall's voice broke the tension as the younger mage looked up. "Forgive me for interrupting. I just wanted to let you know that Daine and I have been to visit His Majesty's birds and she has retired for the night."
Numair looked at the niche where Daine had been sitting and felt a sharp stab of guilt that he hadn't even noticed her leave. "Did she discover what was wrong with the birds?"
"It wasn't any kind of disease that she was familiar with. She has some theories but nothing solid. I stayed with her while she healed the birds," Lindhall said reassuringly.
"Did Daine heal them all?"
Lindhall nodded in delight. "I have never seen such devotion. The birds flew to her hands for healing before she climbed through the menagerie to heal all those that couldn't fly to her."
Numair winced. "She ruined that beautiful gown, didn't she?"
The older chuckled. "I'm afraid so. There is no hope of saving the garment. I will be interested to see how the birds fair after their healing. Daine asked that they be left to sleep for half the day. She really knows a remarkable amount about their care for one –"
"I'm glad the birds are well, Master Lindhall," Varice interrupted. "But Arram and I –"
"Varice." Numair hushed her and turned back to his old friend missing the annoyed scowl she directed at him. "Was it just the two of you in the aviary?"
Lindhall cleared his throat. "His Imperial Majesty requested my presence, actually. He escorted Daine to the aviary himself. I understand he was speaking with her privately beforehand."
A chill ran down the mage's spine as his eyes darted to the man sat on the throne. When had he left? Numair hadn't been paying attention to his surroundings and had allowed Ozorne to get close to his student right under his nose. "Is she alright?"
"After Daine healed the birds, I escorted her back to her rooms through the gardens. When I left, she planned to wash and retire for the night."
Numair swallowed and nodded. "Thank you."
Lindhall smiled to the young couple and left the pair alone again. The mage sat staring at nothing while his mind raced. He was very grateful to his old teacher for being in the aviary while Daine performed the healing. Had Ozorne stayed and witnessed her magic it would have been harder to dismiss its existence, even though he wouldn't have seen Daine's wild magic. To witness the birds flying willingly to her and recovering to full health before his eyes would have been enough for him to want his young friend to remain in Carthak.
"Arram?" Varice slid her hand against his cheek and forced him to look at her.
"I'm sorry, my dear." Numair attempted a warm smile. "Where were we?"
The woman gave him a disgruntled look. "We were discussing whether you still felt anything for me."
The mage smiled gently. "I never loved another woman after you. I was surprised to discover you never married."
"Oh, marriage." The blonde scoffed and waved her hand in dismissal. "Who has time for that? I have far more important things to do."
He took hold of her hand in his and spoke softly. "I missed you. I never stopped thinking about you after I –"
"Who was the girl that I saw you snuggled up with earlier?"
Numair blinked caught off-guard by the sudden change in conversation. "That would be Daine – Veralidaine Sarrasri – my student."
"You were awfully affectionate with your student." Varice accused.
He blushed and glanced down at their hands. "I've known Daine for two and a half years. We're friends as well as teacher and student. I was worried about her after she presented herself to Ozorne. She's not used to someone – like him."
"What was she doing with His Majesty's birds? I heard there was a girl visiting that might heal them but there was no mention of how she would achieve this," the woman said hotly.
"Daine healed the birds with wild magic."
"You finally proved its existence then?" Varice sniffed. "The masters at the university are still not convinced of its authenticity. They still believe it's old wives' tales."
"They haven't seen what Daine can do." Numair muttered. Not that he intended to give them the opportunity. He would not hand his student over to the masters for study and dissection.
Their talk moved on to the university and the changes that had been made. Numair learned that very few of the master's he had once known remained. The pair talked long into the night before the mage offered to escort his old lover back to her rooms.
Varice turned from her door to flutter her lashes at him. "You could come in, you know."
"I'm not sure that's such a good idea," he swallowed.
"Are you sure?" The blonde purred as she pressed her ample bosom into his chest and wound her hands around his neck.
Numair felt her pull him down into a kiss and didn't resist as his lips found hers. The kiss was passionate and hungry as he lifted her off the floor wrapping his arms around her waist. The taste of her sent lightning through his veins. Desire began to build as she moaned into the kiss and Numair realised this was going too far. Some form of common-sense managed to kick back in as he broke apart from her and gently placed the woman on her feet.
"I really should be going." His voice was rough with lust.
Varice smiled seductively and slid a hand up under his robe to toy with the chest hair peeking out from his shirt. "Think about it."
The mage nodded numbly and carefully removed her hand before kissing it. "Goodnight, Lady Varice."
The woman smiled, a little disappointed, and swept into her rooms with a sensual sway of her hips. Numair couldn't stop touching his lips as he headed back to his rooms in the Tortallan section. He'd forgotten how good a kisser Varice was. It was not a good idea to restart his relationship with his ex-lover, however much he wanted to at that moment. He couldn't stay here and follow where those kisses had begun. Times had changed and Numair had duties to attend, but still, he had always found it difficult to resist Varice Kingsford.