Here is part two, I haven't looked at the reviews so I have decided that whether or not anybody likes this, and whether or not it is worth reading, I am going to write more. Oh, and one more thing: It'll say for the second chapter of Themma's Escapades that I want five reviews before I did the next chapter, but I got tired of waiting. I'm putting everything up as soon as I can get online, and if you don't like it SO THERE!!! PS, Daine is going to be pretty OOC, I'm not very good at writing on quotes.
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TT part 2: Daine
Chapter 2: Escape
Veralidaine Sarrasri, or her Imperial Majesty, flowed down the stairs in her new dress. She hated it. It was pink, a frilly affair with massive amounts of lace. She felt as if the bodice would cut off her air, it was that tight. Upon reaching the bottom, she gave orders to the servants to get out of the way. She was in a bad mood.
"And I've had enough of this "yes, nobility" and "no, nobility." It's enough to drive a person mad! Will you just shut up already?!?"
Daine irritably sat down in her throne, recently made beside Kaddar's. Ozorne was murdered just a few months ago, and Carthak had finally gotten out of mourning. Personally, Daine had preferred black to such horrible pink! It didn't help that she was pregnant, despite her protestations to sleeping with the Emperor. Kaddar was okay, but…
Then the reason for her annoyance entered the room.
"Hello, my lovely wifeness," he said, and plopped down on the larger and more expensive throne beside her. "Enjoying life?"
Daine scowled. "No, no thanks to you."
Her husband sighed. "Do you think I wanted this? Come on, me, marrying some commoner from Galla? It's enough to make all my councilmen go pale."
"I'll have you know, dearest, that my parents are no more commoners than hedgehogs are fleas. And drat that buffle-brained scheme of your father's! Whatever possessed him to do something idiotic like that?" Daine got up and started pacing. "I can't even set my pinky finger in Tortall, for fear of me stirring up a rebellion, and Tortallans can only come for extremely formal, boring visits! I hate my life!"
He patted her hand. "The feeling is mutual, Daine."
She yanked her hand away. "And then Numair disappeared, probably hiding somewhere in the Carthaki slums. And by the last wish of your blasted father, which we have to honor, he is now wanted and has a place on hangman's hill!"
"Ah, the ups and downs of life," Kaddar said philosophically.
"Seems more like downs and downs," Daine muttered.
***
It was the middle of the night. Daine, dressed in breeches, silently crept through the halls of the Imperial Palace, cursing as she banged her toe against a rock.
"I'll get out of this bloody palace and empresship if it kills me!" and with that, she climbed out of the slave's tunnel and into the garden. Daine had with her a pack of supplies snuck from the kitchens, as well as other useful things. She climbed the wall and crept through the Temple District, looking around for anybody who might be looking for a runaway empress. After a few hours, she was deep in the city of Carthak. Daine went into an inn, open late because of some party in the bar. Pulling her hood down farther, she went up to the counter and paid for a room. She lugged her bag up the stairs, and then went back down to join the party.
***
"Oooh," Daine moaned. She shooed an equally hung over man from her bed, wondering what she had done last night. It was best not to remember, so she got up, supporting herself on the edge of the bed before going over to the washstand and splashing water on her face. "I'd better not drink any more, I get awful hangovers and it probably isn't very good for the baby." She made a face, and wished for the thousandth time that she could have bribed some mage to give her an anti-pregnancy spell. Damn!
Then Daine went to check her belongings. Her food, a special magic book, a fortune's worth of black opals and one hundred and fifty silver Thaks were all there. Daine's plan was simple, but difficult. To pull it off she would have to steal a lot of magic from various mages, and she would also have to find Numair. Fortunately the latter would not be difficult. She had a focus from Numair; some of his clipped off nail that she had found in his rooms before he had disappeared. Unfortunately, she would have to steal some magic from some mages, as she had only Wild herself. But she had already figured out that part. Taking three of her opals, Daine stuck them in a lump of clay. Then she made a funnel of her magic, (any kind would do for this part) and placed it on top of the rocks. She traced the six symbols of an elementary Gate of Idramm on the clay, and placed it where all could see. People would be lured by the opals, then would have their magic sucked in by the funnel and into the opals. The Gate of Idramm markings would take effect when the opals had enough magic, and it would cause people to be attracted to it and give their magic to it.
A few days later, Daine went back and picked up her minigate. It didn't effect Wild Magic, and the magic was hers, so she merely carried it up to her rooms to work with. Manipulating the magic was easy, and she summoned Numair with a spell from her book. Numair's guards were strong, and it took quite some force to bring him to her. Finally a worn, haggard Numair appeared, panting as if he had been running hard.
"Hello, Numair," she said.
"Daine?" he croaked. Suddenly he closed the gap between them, and swept her up in a fierce, passionate kiss. Daine, surprised tried to push him away, and then felt that she enjoyed it.
When they finally separated, Numair said, "You're pregnant."
Daine laughed. "Only a blind and deaf man would not have heard the heralds who have been running through town for the past two months. And you shouldn't kiss me, Numair, I'm a married woman."
"Then what are you doing here?" Numair asked.
"I need you for something, Numair," she said. "But first…"
Daine jumped on him and threw him down on the bed, wondering why the hell she wanted to sleep with Numair.
***
Daine's life continued as such, stealing magic from mages and petty sorcerers. Numair also donated magic though he didn't know what it was for. But there was one last thing that she needed…
"Good morning, Daine," said Numair as he gave he a kiss.
"Good morning, Numair," her expression turned solemn. "I'm sorry to do this." And with that she withdrew a dagger from the small of her back, and stabbed Numair viciously in the chest.
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What?!? Has Daine gone mad?!? Find out in the next episode of TT: part 2, Daine.
