Disclaimer: All names, characters, or titles belong solely to Tamora Pierce.
Secrets
Chapter One
As Daine Sarrasri sat with the dying starling in her lap, she wept for the tiny bird who had risked its life to help her. She hadn't heard the stormwing fly up behind her, but he wild magic she possessed allowed her to sense its presence. She hadn't turned around until it was too late. The male stormwing's silver talons raked her scalp, tearing her flesh down to the bone. Bright flashes of light filled her vision as she screamed and fainted.
When she awoke, she found the stormwing impaled upon a jagged rock at the side of the trail. The immortal's eyes had been pecked away, and the brave starling who had come to her rescue lay in the middle of the road. Deep in shock from loss of blood and extreme pain, the bird shook tremendously.
Daine gingerly picked up the creature, determined to help it. Focusing her energy, she calmed the frightened animal and tended to the worst of its wounds. First she regenerated its blood and fused the bones in the broken wing back together. The muscles, nerves and tendons took more concentration and soon her breeches and shirt were soaked in sweat.
Opening her eyes, she found a long, hair covered snout staring down at her through large brown eyes. Her horse Cloud nuzzled her as she attempted to stand. Finding it quite impossible, she sat back down and leaned against the cliff-face.
You almost dipped into your life-force to heal that bird, Cloud said tartly. The horse spoke through her mind, which most two-leggers found annoying since they could only hear half of the conversation.
"I had to do something, Cloud. That starling saved my life," Daine looked about, but the bird was no where to be found.
It left a little while ago, the horse said impatiently. You had fallen asleep and I thought it best not to wake you. Perhaps we should go now. There could be more winged patrols around and Stork-man is probably worried. You said you'd be back by midday. Its almost dusk.
The girl stared at the sky and realized her horse friend was right. The sun dipped low over the horizon and a range of color surrounded the forest.
"Numair is probably out of his mind," she agreed. She and Numair Salmalin had been lovers for going on a year and a half, ever since he had saved her from the spidrens in the Divine Realms. She had thought about his proposal of marriage often since then, but never had the courage to accept, fearing he would want to be with a woman rather then a child. At eighteen, Daine was hardly a child, but Numair was thirty-two and the gap between them was hard to over come.
Struggling to her feet, she suddenly felt sick. Turning away from Cloud, Daine threw up in the bushes. Wiping her mouth, she leaned against her horse's warm body.
"I've never been sick like that after I've healed someone," she murmured aloud. Shrugging, she climbed onto Cloud, who led the way back to the camp she and Numair had pitched that morning.
***
It was dark by the time Daine and Cloud made it back to camp. Numair had a fire blazing as they trotted into the clearing. He jumped, surprised by Cloud's sudden entrance, and dropped the small mirror he had been holding.
Daine nearly fell off her horse, but she managed to stumble gracefully into Numair's strong arms. He buried his face in her smokey brown hair, kissing the top of her head as he muttered something about scrying.
"Don't ever do that to me again, Magelet," he said, his tone more relieved than stern. "I almost had Kitten and Tkaa go out looking for you."
At the sound of her name, Kitten looked up from the mirror Numair had dropped and chirped angrily. Barely five years old, the dragon was two feet long from head to foot, with another twelve inches of tail. The tiny wings that would one day carry her in flight lay uselessly on her back. Her scales, which changed color with her moods, were bright red in rage.
Tkaa, a basilisk with many of the traits a lizard might possess, walked over to the couple on its hind legs, carrying its long tail off the ground. The immortal's pebbled hide was a dark grey hue, shining like a pearl, with a lighter grey tone on his stomach. He stopped a few feet away from them, acknowledging their need for a private moment. "I must agree with my young cousin," the basilisk said shrewdly. "You were gone quite a long time. Although I'm sure you can take care of yourself in familiar territory, we are not in a land that seems welcoming to outsiders."
Daine nodded a quick apology, giving a quiet yelp as Numair kissed one of the deep cuts on her head. Taken aback, he inspected her scalp delicately and gasped when he saw her injury.
"Daine, why didn't you tell me you were hurt? Come on, we'll fix you up." Numair took her arm and began to lead her towards the bedroll they shared.
"Numair, I'm fine. Really I am." Not a moment later, her knees buckled and she landed with a thud on the soft packed dirt of the forest floor.
"Falling over does not constitute 'fine', Magelet," he replied, picking her up to carry her the rest of the way back to the fire. He laid her down on the down feather comforter and used a healing ointment to mend her wounds. She began to explain what happened as he worked, but soon she grew tired and fell asleep in his arms.
***
Numair had already cleaned up the campsite by the time Daine woke up the next morning. Cloud was packed with her saddle bags filled, and Numair's gelding Spots was standing ready to go. Numair and Kitten feasted silently on a breakfast of porridge, while Tkaa crunched noisily on the rocks from the river bed near by.
Nausea overtook the girl as she rushed off to relieve her churning stomach. Numair, who had seen her wake up, followed in concern. He found her doubled over by the trail.
"We need to get back to Tortall," he whispered as he helped her to her feet. "You need a healer. I can't tell what's wrong with you."
"Numair, I'm fine. I just ate something that disagreed with me, that's all," Daine slipped her body into the crook of his arm and leaned her head against his chest. She heard his heart beating fast, which, even in her current state of misery, made her smile.
"I don't see what you're laughing about," he muttered as they walked back to camp. "You could be ill with unicorn fever again. Perhaps we should take the road back home, and save the back trails for when you are feeling better."
Daine sighed, amazed at the extent of his concern. He loved her, after all, and he showed it every day they were together. She looked up at him as he sat her down on a log by the fire. Afraid that arguing with him would only hurt his feelings, she nodded and allowed Numair to finish picking up camp.
Kitten bounded over on all fours, trilling in concern. She planted her fore paws on Daine's knee and stared at her with slit-pupiled eyes.
"My stomach's a mess, Kit," the girl said as the tiny dragon nuzzled her belly. "Maybe Numair is right. Maybe we should take the long road home."
Kitten chirped and whistled, then walked over to sit with Tkaa.
Numair put the last of their supplies on their packhorse, Mangle, and helped her climb onto Cloud. He took out a piece of parchment and pen, scribbled a quick note and leaned close to Daine's ear. "Would you call a hawk, a fast one preferably, to be a messenger to Tortall? An important letter to the king must be delivered"
She nodded and closed her eyes, searching the forest with her mind. A deep voice boomed inside her head. -You called, child of the People?-
She spoke silently to the hawk, telling him of the mission to the king. Intrigued, the hawk accepted. Numair tied the scroll to its leg when it set down on Daine's shoulder. A quick beat of its wings and it was gone.
"Come, Magelet. It's a few days ride back and you'll need some rest in between. Let's go while we still have light." Numair kissed her hand and placed Kitten in her special saddle bag at Cloud's side. He climbed upon Spots and led the way to the main road.
Author's note: Alright this is my first fan fic, so keep the flames to a minimum. I'd really like to know what everyone thinks. R/R please.