Description: Numair attempts to convince Daine to remain in the Divine Realm with her parents until the badger has a chat with him. The mages share an unusual meal while they try to find a way to return home.
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters. Everything belongs to Tamora Pierce.
Author's Note: I quite like the Sarra I have created. We don't get a huge amount of her in the books, so I know she's a mother but not much more. I quite like the idea of her teasing Numair about his feelings, almost like a young boy having a crush, and Sarra thinking it rather sweet. They had their minor falling out in the previous chapter, but she likes him really.
Chapter 6
Numair collected the razor and mirror looking around to find a suitable place to try and shave. The windowsill was the tallest place in the room, but even that didn't come close to a comfortable height for the mage.
"I certainly would enjoy being able to adjust my surroundings to suit myself. It would make things much easier," he muttered to himself. "I don't suppose if I asked nicely, you would rise a little higher?" he asked the windowsill not expecting a response. "I didn't think so."
Finding a bottle of scented cream, Numair slathered it over his face. Leaning over to look in the mirror, he wet the razor and carefully scraped it over his cheek, repeating the process several times.
"Need help?"
Straightening, he smiled warmly seeing Daine standing in his doorway. She was wearing a red cotton dress which was very unlike his friend who usually preferred a shirt and breeches. Numair felt his mouth go dry as his eyes travelled over her body. He loved red on a woman and Daine was proving to be no exception. Her face, however, showed signs of exhaustion and her eyes were red-rimmed which meant she had been crying.
"It's good to see you on your feet," he said simply.
"It's good to be on them." She walked forward and collected the mirror holding it up for him. It was those small gifts of kindness every day that made him love her more. "Have you talked to Da or Ma about sending us home?"
The mage smiled, wetting the razor again to scrape off more bristles. Her Gallan accent was thicker from being around her mother. "Let us say rather that I have attempted to do so. They are amazingly elusive on the subject. The best I've gotten so far is that we will discuss it once you have recovered."
"I've recovered." Numair didn't believe that for a second.
"Daine." He paused feeling a lump form in his throat. "Perhaps – perhaps you should stay here when I return. This is your home. You'd be safe here."
Stormy blue-grey eyes lit with fury as she put the mirror on the side. "How can you say that? Tortall is my home!"
"You'd be with Sarra – I know you've missed her. You'd get to know your father." It was difficult to ask, but for the sake of her parents and for her own safety, he needed Daine to understand. Picking up the mirror, Numair placed it back on the windowsill to continue shaving. "Look at it from my perspective. I was powerless against the Skinners." That wasn't entirely a lie, which helped, as his friend saw through any lie he tried to tell these days. "There are too many foes in this war, and too many are strange. I would like to know that you, at least, had a chance to survive."
"I'll make my own chances, if you please," the young woman retorted.
The mage rinsed and towelled off his face trying to think of a way to convince his friend to stay. "Will you at least consider it?"
"No," she said crossly.
"Daine…" Numair picked up the mirror to examine his face, but instead of his own features, he saw Raoul and Buri stood with a mixture of the King's Own and Queen's Riders in a temple square fighting against Carthaki rebels. "What do you see?" he asked as he held out the mirror.
They watched as some sort of bat-winged apes flew overhead holding long-handled axes and swooped down to attack their soldiers. The image vanished and his fingers shook with the effort not to hurl the mirror against the wall in frustration. He couldn't stay here in comfort while his friends were fighting for their lives.
"When I went walking earlier, I saw an image in a sunbird display. The queen and Onua fighting against Stormwings on the palace grounds," Daine said quietly.
"In the Divine Realms, we observe mortal affairs," said the strangest creature the mage had ever seen; it had a duck's beak, an otter's body and a beaver's tail. "Liquid is the most reliable, but flame and mirrors work. Mortals who visit tell us that in their sleeping, just before they wake, they hear what is said as well."
"Is it possible to observe specific people and events?" Numair asked curiously.
"Yes. It is how Sarra could observe you, Daine," the animal god said.
While most people tended to ask their gods to watch over them, it was uncomfortable knowing Daine's parents might have been specifically watching everything they had been doing for the last few years.
"With practice, you could master it in a week or so, and hear as well as see what goes on in the mortal realms," the creature explained.
Numair retrieved the mirror and sat on the bed beside Daine interested to see if he could manage it.
The young woman stood and scowled at him. "We'll finish our chat later. I'm not done with you!"
The mage stared wearily into the mirror pretending to focus on making it work. Out of the corner of his eye, he watched Daine and the strange animal god leave the room. Setting the mirror aside, the mage sighed and scrubbed a hand through his hair, thoughts and feelings in turmoil. The more he turned the idea over in his head the more Numair wanted Daine to remain here with her parents, safe and happy. Weiryn and Sarra were right, he had done a poor job of protecting her so far, and he could never live with himself if she didn't survive this war.
Getting off the bed, the mage walked into the main room and out of the door leading to the forest path. Numair had no intention of walking anywhere, but he wanted to be outside in the fresh air. He sat on the ground in the middle of the path pulling his knees up to his chin and watched the sky as it changed colour. Touching the gold locket hidden on his wrist, smoothing his thumb over the surface of the metal, Numair's mind returned to the woman whose picture it held.
"You have a heavy heart, mage," a gruff voice said as the badger waddled up and sat beside the man. "Beware it doesn't drag you down too far."
"'In the absence of burden, a man would fly free, without care for worldly affairs. It is better for a man to be weighted down and tied to earthly concerns.'" The mage quoted.
"I wasn't talking philosophy," Badger grumbled.
Numair sighed and looked at the animal god. "I asked Daine to remain here where it's safe, but she refused."
"Would you stay here willingly while those you care for are dying?"
"That's different," the mage argued. "I don't belong here. Daine's family are here."
"Her family live in the Mortal Realms too," the badger god reasoned.
"Kitten can always visit when she's old enough to make the transition." He'd read in The Draconian Codex that dragons had the ability to travel the realms. Cloud would be another matter though.
"Don't be obstinate," the animal god snarled. "Daine is a good mate for you. You do well together."
Numair blushed. "She's not – We're not –"
"And whose fault is that?" Badger snorted and shook his head. "You have never tried to force a decision on my kit before so don't start now. She wants to return home and it's where she belongs. A smart man would accept that."
"Yes sir," the mage said meekly.
"I have been asking around to see if anyone can help send you home. Weiryn and Sarra should not have pulled you through."
"You would have left us to the Skinners?" he asked surprised.
"Were you not planning to use one of those mage words on them?" Numair gaped realising the badger god meant a word of power. "It would have had dramatic repercussions as you know, but you were hardly helpless. Weiryn and Sarra interrupted the natural order of things."
"Would it have worked?" the mage asked hesitantly. "If I had used a word of power on the Skinners?"
Badger paused and looked deep into his eyes. "Yes – but you would not have liked the results – or the consequences. Enough! It is done." The animal god shook his fur. "You are here now and need to be returned to your own realm. Start focussing that mind of yours on the task at hand instead of feeling sorry for yourself. It does no good and I have little patience for such things."
"Yes sir." Numair looked down feeling thoroughly chastised yet still managing to smile.
"You are a good man. You do well for my kit." The badger god pressed his nose against the mage's shoulder and vanished.
Numair sat staring at the empty air blinking in confusion. Was that an animal god and Daine's mother who both approved of him? It didn't matter! Even if everyone he knew somehow approved of his feelings for his young friend, it didn't change the fact that she still had to return his affections. Until he saw some sign that she felt anything more than friendship he would keep his feelings hidden.
Numair returned to his room picking up the mirror to practice calling an image intentionally. He lay on the bed for an hour trying to form an image of Kitten but eventually gave up deciding instead to meditate.
The smell of stew brought him out of his meditation, and he went to investigate dinner. Sarra stood over the hearth stirring a large pot but smiled when she saw him emerge.
"Perfect timing. The stew is almost ready. Can you take the bread out to the table please?" she asked.
Numair nodded and collected the plate, walking outside to the kitchen garden. The table had an unusual collection of guests with Weiryn, Badger, the orange and white cat and the creature the mage still couldn't name. The most surprising guest was The Great God, Gainel, Master of Dreams. The Great God stood as Numair approached the table and the mage bowed deeply before him.
"My Lord Gainel, I am honoured to meet you," he said reverently.
The Master of Dreams smiled and took the mage's hand in his cold one, shaking it gently. The god had a pale complexion, a mane of tousled dark hair and eyes that seemed to stretch to infinity. Numair knew from his studies not to stare into the Great God's eyes, or he could lose his mind.
"The other's you don't know," Weiryn said when Gainel released the mage and took his seat. "Queenclaw, goddess of house cats" the hunt god indicated the orange and white cat "and Broad Foot, god of the duckmoles" he said pointing to the strange creature.
Numair bowed to each animal god in turn. "It is a great pleasure to meet you."
"Of course, it is." Queenclaw purred.
The mage smiled and placed the bread on the table taking a seat beside Weiryn and near the duckmole.
"Excuse me," he whispered to Broad Foot. "I don't believe I have ever seen a member of your species before. Are you a semi-aquatic mammal, if it's not rude of me to ask?"
"Not at all. My people hunt in the water, but we live in underground burrows." Broad Foot answered in an unfamiliar accent.
"And do the females of your species suckle their young?" he asked wanting to confirm his mammalian theory.
"Yeah, once the young have hatched, they drink their mother's milk for four months," the duckmole confirmed.
"Wait – did you say hatched? Your females lay eggs?" Numair gaped.
"As fascinating as this is," Weiryn drawled interrupting the pair. "My mate is bringing the dinner."
The mage stood automatically, as did the other two males who were not animal gods. Weiryn took the stew pot from Sarra as the mage enquired politely if she required any assistance.
"Would you get the plates and cutlery while I bring the bowls to the table." Sarra smiled. "If Daine doesn't wake soon, she'll miss the evening meal."
"Would you like me to wake her?" Numair asked as they entered the house.
The woman gave him a sly smile "Leave her sleep. We'll save her some in case she arrives late."
They returned to the table and the mage took his place at Weiryn's left as Sarra filled bowls with stew and handed them around.
"Master Numair, would you be able to provide some illumination please?" the woman asked. "It's getting dark and soon we won't be able to see."
"Of course." The mage snapped his fingers several times creating orbs of magelight which glowed softly providing enough light to see by.
They were about to start eating when Daine appeared from the house and was introduced to Gainel by her father. The young woman moved to take a seat beside Numair but stumbled as she tried to climb the bench. His arms encircled her waist as she fell onto his chest heavily while her hands gripped his shoulders. She looked up and for a breathless moment their eyes met on the same level. Numair felt heat surge through his veins as Daine grinned sheepishly muttering an apology. He was sure his cheeks must be crimson as he held her arm and helped the young woman into her seat.
Plates and cutlery were passed around while Numair tried to get his breathing under control and prayed he wasn't as red-faced as he felt. The mage accepted some bread and cheese for his plate but refused the hare, the same as Daine, when it was offered. He was sure he was insulting the hunt god at his own table, but hoped as his daughter had refused as well, he would be forgiven. The gods seemed to be talking in mind-speech, so the mage concentrated on eating his meal and pouring himself some wine when the pitcher was passed to him.
An idea occurred to him while he ate. Keeping his voice low he addressed Daine's father. "Lord Weiryn, do you know if one of the Great Gods might be able to send us home?"
"Petition the Great Gods, for all the good it will do you." The god replied loudly, drawing the attention of the whole table. "They are too busy fighting Uusoae to ferry mortals back home. They won't even reply to mind calls from us lesser gods."
"Forgive me, but our friends are hard pressed." Numair addressed Gainel. "Might you send us home? You are one of the Great Gods, and you don't look as if you are locked in combat with the Queen of Chaos."
The Master of Dream smiled and shook his head.
"He says you forget your myths." Sarra translated. "Of the Great Gods, the Dream King alone cannot enter the mortal realms. He can only send his creatures to do his work there."
"Forgive me, I had forgotten," he said feeling like a fool.
Numair picked up his cup of wine to hide his embarrassment until he caught a whiff of the liquor. If the food was difficult to swallow what would a sip of wine do to him? Deciding it was better not to chance it, he replaced the cup on the table without drinking.
Facing the hunt god again he risked another question. "If the Great Gods won't speak with the lesser gods, would a human mage stand a chance at being heard if I did request an audience?"
"I don't see why you fuss about it so," Weiryn snapped. "Come the fall equinox, you at least will be dragged back to your wars, and I wish you joy of them!"
"They don't give me joy, and I didn't ask for them," the mage could feel his own temper rising. "Would you prefer we let Ozorne and his allies roll over us?"
"By the way, I think one of you servants might have escaped somehow and wondered here." Sarra said to Gainel while the two men exchanged dark looks. "It called itself a darking." The woman searched through her apron. "Look at this," she huffed finding a hole in the pocket. "It got away."
The Dream King bent close to the woman and covered her pocket with his hand as a white light shimmered in the air creating an image of a dark blob.
The god shook his head. "He's never seen its like." Weiryn translated for the humans.
"I told them you are strict with your subjects." Queenclaw said snootily while licking her tail.
The Master of Dream stood abruptly and vanished without a gesture of farewell.
"He's terrible at good-byes." Broad Foot sighed. "Worse than a cat that way."
"I prefer to think he's as good as a cat." Queenclaw replied.
Numair hid a smile behind his hand enjoying the banter between the animal gods. It was almost like being back home at the banquet table among his friends.
"Well, no amount of chatter will see the dishes are done." Sarra stood and began to stack the bowls and plates. "Let's get started, Daine."
The young woman looked startled but obediently followed her mother, carrying a stack of plates in her arms. Numair watched her walk up the rise to the house admiring his friend's figure in that red dress. It would probably be better if he subtly tried to suggest red wasn't her colour. She looked far too tempting, and he'd prefer to remove that as swiftly as possible.
"You'll take your eyes off my daughter if you want to keep them in your head." Weiryn snarled.
The mage snapped his head round and stared at the table feeling his cheeks burn.
"Leave him be, Weiryn," the badger god grunted. "My kit won't like you tormenting him."
"She is my daughter. I know what is best for her," the hunt god snapped.
"The mortal has been by her side for four years. You have known her for less than a day," Badger said pleasantly. "Out of the two of you, I know who I would ask as to what's best for my kit."
Numair blushed and nodded gratefully to Badger as Weiryn scowled and stalked away. The mage started to engage Broad Foot in a discussion about his species when Sarra returned to the table.
"Daine has gone to bed. She overdid it today," the woman shook her head in exasperation. "I think you should be off to bed as well, Master Mage. You might not have gone hiking, but you are still adjusting to the crossing."
Understanding that a healer was giving him an order, Numair rose from the table and bid the animal gods goodnight. Sarra followed him into the house and gave him another posset to drink before he retired to his room.