Chapter Five

Chapter Five

"What do you mean the book is gone, Nuamir? Big heavy papery BOOKS don't just disappear! What happened?" The King stood up, it was obvious to everyone in the room that he was not pleased.

"I went up to my room and found the it had been ransacked which was slightly pointless since the book in question was sitting in plain view on my desk. I believe it was ransacked so that it would not be obvious what was taken, but I did a quick check, that book is all that's missing." He sighed, shifting from foot to foot. "I don't think there's anything we can do magesty. Obviously the book ahs been spirited away to the Balen Inn never to be seen again except by the eyes of those who we most hoped would not ever see it again."

Alanna looked up suddenly, "there is always Daine." She smiled at the King. "Daine can shape shift right? And Inn's are never spotless right? So why doesn't she take the shape of a rat or a bug or something, go in, find who the dark squire is, where the book is and how long we have till they act on whatever stupid plan they've worked up." Throwing her firey mane over one shoulder, violet eyes flashing Alanna smiled, she was in her element.

"That might work, but think of all the risks it would involve especially for Daine who we're asking to go onto enemy territory and simply say here Dark Squire, come hack me to bits! I don't see how we could ask her to do it." George sighed and looked into the embers of the once burning fire.

"You don't have to ask, I'll do it." Daine stood in the doorway, quiet but firm as always. "I've been standing here listening while you make up a perfectly good plan and then throw it into the flames because you're worried that I won't deliver." She looked at the King who met her gaze almost as fiercely, then he softened.

"It's not that we think you won't deliver, just that asking you to do it would be like saying here Dark Squire, here you go, here's one perfectly good mage for you to kill or torture. I don't want to do that."

"And I forbid you to do that." Numair rose from his chair. "Daine, the powers this Dark Squire has are ones with not to be messed, they are worse then any we have dealt with before, I forbid you to do this." He huffed and stood a little taller, as if sizing the Wild Mage up.

"Numair, that is very sweet, but we're not married yet, you have as much power over me as Alanna does."

"Hey, watch it!" Alanna looked up from the blade she was shining.

"Why don't you let her do it?" Thayet said, calm as always with no need to stand, she already had the rest of the room in silence. "Are you scared she can't hold her own? She's raising a dragon for goodness sake! She has done countless numbers of things for us especially when the Immortal's attacked and I had to drag you just to tell her what was going on. Did you think she would run shouting the news to high heaven? Because she didn't, and now, now that she really wants to putin a foot and help us all out you're not letting her because she's not ready? Horse dung! Daine has as much right to do it as any of you, and she's got the advantage of being able to do it well!" Thayet sat back in her chair, surprised at herself, she wasn't usually the one for preaching.

"Well, if you feel so strongly about it, my lady, after all, I'm sure she can handle herself." Jon seemed to be convincing himself. "Alright, Daine tomorrow you go, in whatever unobtrusive form you choose and find out what we need to know, all we can do is hope that they're not onto us yet." Jon smiled, as if the subject were closed, Numair rose from his chair and enfolded Daine in a hug, only Thayet who was closest to them could here him apologizing.

"Well I have kept you all from sleeping and relaxing and I apologize, go now and get some rest, I have some flustered Yamani's to attend to." The King smiled at his friends and prepared to leave the room.

"No you don't Jon," Thayet said softly, "The Mindelan's are looking after it as we speak, you've got to rest for tonight, otherwise we might not have a king in the morning."

***

"When did Daine leave Thayet?" Jon looked up from his meeting with Miles. They had been talking for close to two hours and the Queen had come to check they were both still alive.

"Daine left in the form a sparrow about an hour ago, she said to expect her back in about three hours. What conclusion have you come too then?" She smiled warmly at Alanna's father who looked up to reply.

"None I'm afraid my Queen. Except that the dark squire could be anyone from Alex of Tirragen to our good friend Claw. Both were killed at Jon's coronation and both could just as easily have been broughten back with any strong mage's power accompanied with his love for dark magic. The only thing is, to our knowledge Numair and a few young children studying with the high priests there is no one else with the power to bring back another person." He sighed and looked back at his now cold cup of tea.

"What if it was another powerful person brought back?" Thayet put in lightly, who was that mage from the islands, the mortal enemy of Numair?" She looked at the two men and smiled, "what if he did something before he died, an enchantment of something that insured that if after he left the earth if anyone every I don't know, opened a certain book or something he would be brought back, could that happen?"

"Yes, yes it could," the King smiled, "Inar Hadenfra was a powerful mage with a love of dark magic, what you said could very well have happened!" The King eyes lit up again with the thought of a new lead.

"I'll ask Numair now, if there are any possible ways of ensuring prolonged life after death." With that Miles sped out of the room.

"I don't like the sounds of that," Thayet shuddered. "Once a person has been sent to the Dark God they should stay, it's wrong, toying with the God's bringing people back and forth, promise me Jon that when I go you won't try and bring me back or prolong my life?" Ice Blue eyes met sparkling green ones and a mutual agreement was reached.

***

By sundown a small group of people had gathered by a small window in a north east tower of the castle, where Daine said she would reappear.

"Jon," came Miles soft voice as the King and Queen were approached by the teacher and Numair; looking distraught.

"Have you any news Miles?" the queen as just as quietly, not wanting to draw attention to there little circle of interest.

"When he approached me I must say I was pessimistic, the thought of anyone being able produce that much amgic is the work of a genius no doubt, but I'm not ashamed to admit that that is was Inar was, a genius." He sighed, when Miles and myself began to go over the possibilities, it became apparent that this suggestion of the queen's," he nodded at Thayet. " Was most likely what happened, exactly how it happened is probably something we will never know, but it doesn't matter what matter's now is that Daine appears again and tells us all that she knows." He looked at the darkening air outside and shivered, Thayet could tell he was very nervous.

A few minutes later the crowd made up of Alanna, George, Miles, Thayet, Numair and Daine backed away from the opening as a small starling landed in the tower and slowly regained the form of the Wild Mage. She looked at the group and then collapsed onto the floor.

Once the Daine had recovered from her temporary shock she last with a cup of amber liquid and a blanket around her shoulders staring at the fire, at last she spoke.

"The Inn is heavily guarded by the likes of many men and women, though they are the minority. The Dark Mage is constantly referred to, though never actually seen. The most important figure besides the Dark Squire is most certainly the shape shifter, Jenslaw of Stone Mountain." Daine took a sip of her brandy and waited for the news to soak in.

"They have a shape shifter?" Was the kings first reaction.

"Jenslaw of Stone Mountain?" Alanna asked curiously.

"Would he not then be the brother of young joren of Stone Mountain?" The Queen asked, sitting down beside Daine.

"Joren has no known relatives, except for his Aunt who lives on there land, it is his parents money that gives him the chance to carry the title of Knight." Miles looked up confused, "though it is possible that Jenslaw was disgarded or abandoned."

Everyone was quiet absorbing this information. Again the brown haired mage raised her eyes from the fire.

"There is more. As unlikely as it seems I managed to get to the chambers of the Dark Mage, that is where the book is being kept, the dark mage though, was not to be as expected. The Dark Mage, used to go by the name of Delia of Eldorne."