Title: Varice's Revenge
Rating: PG (just to be safe)
Disclaimer: Tamora Pierce's characters, not mine. However, the plot is.
Summary: Ever wonder what happened to Varice Kingsford after "Emperor Mage"? Well, here's my theory. She seemed really attached to Arram/Numair and I doubt she would have let him go so easily to some girl a lot younger then her. In this FanFic, Varice is seeking revenge on Daine.
Wow you guys! I'm so flattered you like my writing! :)

Chapter 3: DAINE!


Numair woke up at dawn. He groaned, then rolled over in bed. Blindly, he reached for Daine only to find the side of her bed was cold.

'Some animal must have needed help' he thought to himself, then sighed.
Getting up, he began getting ready for the day slowly, hoping that Daine would show up soon. Unfortunatly, she did not. Gathering his books, he went downstairs to the mess hall to eat breakfast. The new Queen's Rider Trainees had beaten him there by a few minutes, he judged. Seeing Onua sleepily waving him over to a table he walked to sit over by her.

"Have you seen Daine this morning?" he asked her quietly.

Onua raised an eyebrow over her tea. "I would think you would've seen her before me."

The mage sighed. "I woke up this morning and she was gone. I hoped you would know her whereabouts. Perhaps she came went to the stables before dawn to see a horse about something urgent?"

The K'mir shook her head. "She would only come so early if it were an emergency. We have no wounded, sick, or pregnant horses. You might want to visit Cloud, though. Maybe she knows where she is."

"My thanks," Numair smiled at her, gathering his food.

With directions from the Chief Holster, Stefan, he found Cloud in a field. She was not, however, grazing. She seemed to be quite worked up about something.

"Cloud, what's wrong?" he asked, concerned. He wished he could understand her. The pony's eyes were rolled back and she was rearing up in the air. Grabbing her head, Numair forced all four hooves back to the ground. "STOP THAT! Is something wrong with Daine?!"

Nervously reguarding him, the gray-silver pony nodded in a very human-type way.

He cursed, then made a motion with his left hand. A locket on a chain appeared on his wrist. Letting it slide into his right hand he sat down in a tailor- position and bit his lip. Calling upon all his magic, he concentrated on the focus of Daine...

***

Cloud watched the stork-man with concern after he hadn't moved for a few minutes. She whinied nervously as she saw the pearly glow of magic embrase the mage. The pony knew he must be trying to find Daine, and for that she was relieved. She had woken up this morning to find that Daine was no where within contacting distance, as if she were dead. Cloud fought the urge to rear again in panic. There had never been a time where she did not know where her friend was. She might not be in contact distance, but she always know where the WildMage was. Miserably, Cloud could only wait until the stork-man found where her beloved Daine was.

***

The tall mage shook himself, seemling waking up. His face was gray and strained in panic.

"Mithros, Mynoss, and Shakith! How did she get in Carthak?!"