Description: The speeches are given to open negotiations between Carthak and Tortall. Daine brings disturbing news about having had another visit from the badger and Numair needs to speak to his student when a suggestion about the girl's mysterious parentage comes to light.

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters. Everything belongs to Tamora Pierce.

Author's Note: I am amused that for some reason I am keeping a mental score between Daine and Varice. It wasn't intentional but I am enjoying dividing Numair's attention between the two women and utterly confusing him.

Chapter 5

After the banquet the delegation were led into the spacious room where the talks would be held. The windows were open to allow a fresh breeze in from the gardens and the tables had been arranged in a square with gold name plates for the Tortallan ambassadors, foreign ambassadors and the Carthaki ministers. Jugs of water, juice and herbal teas were laid out on all the tables while the clerks sat off to one side prepared to take the minutes. Numair took his seat behind the Tortallan delegates. It had been decided he would not participate in the talks but sit in an advisory role only. Alanna took her seat beside him giving the mage a sour look.

The emperor rose to his feet to address the room clothed in a white robe and green shoulder wrap, adorned in the same amount of jewels as yesterday with gold beads in his braids.

"We bid you welcome, representatives of our eminent cousin, King Jonathan of Tortall, and of his queen, Thayet the Peerless, and of our fellow monarchs and neighbours. This day has been too long in coming. At last we are met in a spirit of mutual aid and support for our lands, so long at odds. Villains conspired to bring us to the brink of war, but wisdom and vigilance have kept us from stepping over. All our hearts desire only peace.

Without our knowledge and consent, evil men contrived four years ago to steal arcane learning secretly held for centuries…"

Numair stopped listening as Ozorne started to make excuses and denied unleashing a plague of Immortals on the realm. The mage had been involved in two plots to overthrow the kingdom and one siege at Pirate's Swoop. Last year he had seen the order written in Ozorne's own hand for his and Kitten's capture. As much as Numair wanted the peace talks to succeed between Tortall and Carthak, he couldn't help believing there was an ulterior motive at work here.

The emperor sat as Duke Gareth stood and read the letter from the king and his desire for peace. Slowly each of the ministers and foreign ambassadors stood to give their own speeches.

"What I wouldn't give to be young again so I could be excused." Alanna muttered rebelliously.

He frowned at the knight as she nodded her head in the direction of the door. Numair looked up to see Daine quietly slipping away followed closely by Lindhall. He doubted his old teacher had been excused from the talks but was grateful to the man for watching over his student.

The introductory speeches went on for hours with Numair having to nudge Alanna awake on two occasions. He had managed to identify the Carthaki ministers that would give them the most trouble and one Gallan ambassador that might be sympathetic to their cause. Everyone was stiff when the talks concluded for the day. The mage stretched his long limbs as he stood and was surprised when he felt claws on his leg and a low whistle. He looked down to see Kitten who chirped at him indicating she'd like to be picked up before someone trod on her.

"Hello sweetheart," he bent down and lifted the dragonet into his arms. "I didn't realise you'd stayed. I thought you would have escaped with Daine hours ago."

Kitten trilled a series of whistles and chirps at him.

"The negotiations don't officially start until tomorrow. Today was about bringing to the table the issues we're going to be discussing over the following days. Tomorrow we will begin to negotiate the terms of peace, and everyone will put forward their own personal interests. That's when it will start to get interesting."

"How do you understand her?" Alanna asked fascinated.

Numair chuckled. "I don't exactly, but I understand what interests her and she has certain sounds for questions. Tkaa helped me understand some of her language on his last visit, but I am merely a novice. It could take me a lifetime to learn the original language of the dragons."

The knight rolled her eyes at him as they filed out of the room. "You mean half a lifetime in your case."

He grinned. "I can only hope to pick it up that quickly. You'll help me though, won't you sweetheart?" the mage tickled the dragon's chin.

Kitten chuckled and let out another series of chirps.

"We're going back to our rooms now to prepare for the evening banquet," the mage replied. "We can find Daine and ask her what she and Lindhall found to entertain themselves today."

"Or you can go to your room and get dressed, so you aren't late." Alanna raised her eyebrow at him. "We haven't got long, and I doubt you can talk with Daine and be ready on time."

Numair stuck his tongue out at his friend in a childish display as they walked along the maze of paths back to their rooms. Duke Gareth and Lord Martin were in deep discussion about the direction they wanted to take the talks tomorrow as Numair made a mental note to speak with the Gallan ambassador he'd observed earlier.

Daine still hadn't appeared when the mage left to join the others in the reception room that evening. He was beginning to suspect Alanna may be correct, and his magelet had picked up on one of his bad habits. Numair had never known the girl to be too concerned with her appearance before, but then he'd never seen Daine dressed in such elegant clothing. Had they been at home, he could have asked a maid to attend her, but in Carthak it would be slaves and Numair doubted his young friend would be comfortable with that.

The mage found the Gallan ambassador and engaged him in small talk while he attempted to draw out his opinions on certain subjects concerning the Immortals and Galla's interests in the negotiations. The ambassador bowed and excused himself as he spotted a Maren ambassador he wished to speak to.

Numair turned to find a very beautiful young woman waiting to speak with him. His eyes drifted over her slender curves appreciatively which were hugged tightly in a lilac muslin dress. A delicate, gold silk sleeveless surcoat worn over the dress showed the wearer had an elegant sense of fashion. His eyes drifted to the examine the face and was appalled when he found a pair of familiar blue-grey eyes frowning at him.

"Daine?" he reached out a hand to brush his fingers over a loose curl before he recognised how wildly inappropriate that was. "If I'm not careful, you'll be grown and married to a deserving fellow before I realise."

She scowled up at him. "When can we talk? You've got to find a way, somehow. It may be fair important."

"It may be?" he asked amused by her use of language.

The mage felt utterly transfixed by the young woman in front of him. He had an unreasonable desire to run his fingers through her curls again and Numair had the sickening realisation that if it wasn't for the fact this was Daine, she was just the sort of woman he would court at home. She didn't look like her mere fifteen years of age in that dress. When had she started to develop curves? They weren't voluptuous like Varice's but his student was definitely acquiring a woman's body.

"I don't know. I'm not sure," she paused her eyebrows knitting together. "I spoke to the badger yesterday."

That snapped the mage back to attention. "Where?"

"Aboard ship. In my cabin. He was – not himself."

"Not –" Numair cursed silently. What message did the animal god bring this time? The last time he had met the badger was when Daine learned how to enter an animal's mind and shapeshift. This was not an appropriate time or place for her to be experimenting with her wild magic. "Very well –" The doors to the banquet hall opened and the mage lowered his voice. "I'll try to develop some opportunity. They've scheduled these meetings so tightly we barely have time to scratch, let alone talk."

They entered the banquet hall to see the emperor standing beside a large open window. He was covered in silver from head to toe for tonight's meal, but Numair's attention was drawn to the two Stormwings perched on a gold railing beside Ozorne. The emperor was in deep discussion with the older of the pair who wore a black iron crown on top of his dark hair. The Immortal's face was pinkish grey with tight lips and small brown eyes. His companion seemed familiar with green eyes and bones braided through his blond hair.

"Daine, isn't that – from Dunlath?"

"None other. How nice for us all. We can have a reunion," she said sarcastically.

"Honoured guests," Ozorne called the delegates forward. "We present King Jokhun Foulreek, our ally from the Stone Tree nation of Stormwings, and his vassal, Lord Rikash Moonsword. They will join us."

The emperor presented his guests individually by name to the pair of Immortals. King Jokhun said nothing as each guest bowed before him until he noticed Kitten and whispered something to his companion. Numair felt the urge to pick the dragonet up in his arms, but she wandered away having no interest in the Stormwings

"His face will freeze like that if he isn't careful." Daine muttered and the mage wondered which Stormwing she was referring to.

"Numair Salmalín," Ozorne sounded like he had a foul taste in his mouth. "And his student Veralidaine Sarrasri."

King Jokhun barely spared them a glance, but the younger Immortal smiled nastily. "We've met"

"Moonsword? That's very pretty." Daine taunted.

"My ancestors were a sentimental lot," the Stormwing said. "I know you, too, mage. I remember the onion bomb you threw at me." Numair bared his teeth in response.

Ozorne smiled coldly. "Lord Rikash, did you not say the wild animals of Dunlath behaved oddly?"

"I certainly did."

"You have Daine to thank," the emperor said mildly. "She is bonded to animals through wild magic."

A chill went down the mage's spine as he realised Ozorne truly believed the words. For years Numair had argued the existence of wild magic and for the first time he regretted having someone from Carthak believe his claims.

A mixture of emotions played over Rikash's face as Jokhun turned to stare at Daine. "Some day we must meet less formally – when you are not protected by your host. We will discuss a number of Stormwing deaths that are laid to your account."

"Anytime," his friend replied sweetly.

Numair decided this was a good time to leave and bowed giving Daine a nudge to do the same. She had far more courage than he did.

"This visit gets better all the time, doesn't it?" the mage murmured as he drew her away.

Daine nodded but her attention was still on the Immortals. Numair found his eyes wondering over his young friend admiring the way the lilac dress seemed to make her float across the floor. That ridiculous urge to brush his fingers through her hair hit him again and he clenched his fist to stop himself.

"There you are." Varice's voice broke through his thoughts.

He turned and almost groped for a chair in support as his eyes raked over his ex-lover. She was dressed in a red satin gown that fit her body like a second skin. It was the sort of dress that used to get his blood pumping and from the woman's smile she knew the effect it was having on him.

She linked her arm though his making sure to trail her fingers along his arm causing him to shiver. He allowed himself to be led to his seat at the end of a long table and it wasn't until she was walking away, with a subtle sway of her hips, Numair realised he'd been separated again. Varice went to retrieve Daine and escorted her to the opposite end of the table to sit next to Prince Kaddar. The mage felt reassured that he could still see his friend even if he couldn't talk with her.

Varice returned smiling seductively. "There. Now I have you all to myself."

She slid into her seat making sure her knee brushed against his. Numair fought against the blush he was certain was colouring his cheeks. Ozorne clapped as servers began to bring the food out. It wasn't until one stood beside him that he noticed it was a female slave wearing a loincloth and nothing else. That did have him blushing furiously as Varice laughed and selected food from the dish for their plates.

"I wish he wouldn't use female servers," the mage muttered once the slave had left them.

"Silly. You have to give the slaves some sort of purpose. What would you have them do otherwise?"

"Be free to serve themselves," he said with a little more heat than he'd intended.

Varice avoided his eyes and looked at her plate. "Why don't you try the snails. They're dipped in garlic butter. I seem to remember they were a favourite of yours."

Numair looked down at his plate wondering what she had filled it with and saw a similar selection to last night. The mage tried not to grimace and picked up a garlic snail. He swallowed it bravely hoping it would stay down. Varice was right, he had enjoyed these once upon a time, but it was a little too rich for his stomach at the moment. Numair didn't suffer with sea sickness as badly as Alanna, but he preferred much plainer foods after he'd travelled.

He looked at the eel, crocodile and turtle shell on his plate and quickly called over another server. Carefully keeping his eyes on the dish and not the slave, he selected pieces of smoked salmon and herring and some sort of cheese tart for his plate. He spotted another slave carrying a variety of vegetable dishes and filled his plate.

Varice frowned at his dish. "I know I gave you a better palate than that growing up. At least try the crocodile steak. It's seasoned with lemon and black pepper."

Numair swallowed a mouthful of green spiced beans. "No, thank you. My diet has changed considerably since I lived here."

The blonde scowled at him. "I worked very hard on these dishes. I have been planning the menus for weeks."

"I am sorry, my dear. I'm sure the other members of the delegation and the ministers appreciate your hard work. I know food is your passion, but I mostly eat fish and a little meat these days. My stomach has become – somewhat delicate."

The hostess looked extremely unhappy but accepted his explanation. They ate in silence for a few minutes and the mage risked a glance at Daine down the end of the table. She was speaking with the prince who was making her blush. Numair glared daggers at the young man hoping he wasn't flirting with his friend.

"Prince Kaddar will take good care of your student." Varice said noticing the focus of his attention. "You needn't worry so."

"That's what I'm afraid of," he muttered darkly.

"The girl should feel flattered to receive such attentions from His Majesty. I doubt she normally has such close contact with royalty."

"Daine is friends with Prince Roald and Princess Kalasin as well as their Majesties, I doubt it's his station that is causing her to blush like that," Numair scowled.

"You are awfully protective for a teacher. She's a young girl and should be allowed some freedom to flirt with the opposite sex. Honestly, you were no better when you were her age," Varice rolled her eyes at him.

"I would prefer my student to behave better than I did," he mumbled rebelliously.

"What happened to my bashful and distracted Arram? I feel like I hardly know anymore."

"I did some growing up after I escaped."

At the mention of his past the pair fell silent and focussed on their food instead. Numair was aware he was being rude to Varice and he couldn't explain it, but she wasn't the same woman he used to know either. The mage didn't remember her having such a callus attitude towards slaves and captivity before, but he really should behave better.

"I'm sorry, my dear. It's this place. It brings back bad memories and is making my conduct very poor. You deserve better company."

Varice placed her hand on his and squeezed it gently. "No, it's my fault. I shouldn't have expected you to forget the past so easily and act as if nothing happened."

Numair looked into her sympathetic blue eyes and rested his hand on top of hers. "I haven't changed that much. I'm still accused of being absent-minded most days."

She smiled delicately. "I hope you'll allow me to distract you from your thoughts during your stay."

"You always managed that fairly well when we were young," he stroked his thumb gently over her silky skin.

The food was cleared away as acrobats and musicians took to the floor to provide entertainment. Numair kept hold of Varice's hand as he watched the performers bend and contort their bodies to the music. Everyone clapped politely as they left to be replaced by Banjiku tribesmen and women and their animal companions. The mage had been introduced to the unusually short black people as a student when he had first noticed the wild magic they possessed.

He smiled as the animals instantly flocked towards the Wildmage as she stood and walked to the front of the table. A cheetah rose on its hind legs and placed its paws on her shoulders as an array of monkey's and dogs surrounded the young woman.

"Excuse me." Numair said standing as he saw Ozorne approach his student.

"–they are saying they think you are a god," the emperor translated as the mage stood protectively close to his friend.

"Please excuse me, but I'm no such thing," Daine responded blushing furiously.

"You are a god. I am Tano, the cat-man. The cats come to me, also to my wife. We have cat-children. Chalombi is dog-man. Twins are monkey-girls. See? We all one-kind beast. If you are not god, then you god-child. Yes? Which god?"

The young woman buried her face in the cheetah's fur and spoke quietly. "I don't know who my da is. My ma died before she could tell me."

Numair felt sorry for his young friend. This wasn't a subject she liked to discuss and certainly not something she'd want to mention in front of the entire delegation.

The mage listened to the Banjiku as they talked among themselves briefly before turning to translate for Daine. "They think it's too bad you don't know your father. They wish they knew his name. They would sacrifice to him and ask him to visit their daughters as he did your mother."

The young woman opened her mouth to dispute it again but closed it quickly and looked confused. Numair watched his student as a vague memory floated to the surface of when they had first met; an aura of coppery light surrounded her face making her look like a goddess. His eyes widened as the Banjiku's words began to sink in. How had he not figured this out for himself? Daine's mother had been visited by an unknown man on Beltane and the resulting daughter was the most powerful Wildmage in the known world.

The emperor watched the exchange between teacher and student with interest, unnoticed by the pair. "The Banjiku skill with animals is legendary. It was through their legends that your teacher came to believe in the existence of wild magic. It seems he was right – in this case, at least." Numair looked up at Ozorne and carefully blanked his face. "And now, if they would be so kind as to do the work for which they have been summoned?"

The mage looked back at his young friend as the Banjiku tribesman turned and bowed to her. He longed to comfort his magelet but the ring of animals at her feet made that impossible. The animals slowly returned to their handlers as Daine went back to her seat in a daze. Only when his young friend started to move did Numair turn and bow to the emperor before returning to his seat.

He barely acknowledged Varice as he sat deep in thought watching the Banjiku perform. The mage didn't know as much about the Gallan lesser gods as he probably should. His fingers itched to go to his books and see if he could figure out who Daine's father might be.