Chapter X

(the next day, after Serena's' trial)

Daine sniffled and rubbed her wrists. The iron chains that were locked against her chapped had chapped them. But they were a mere annoyance compared to Serena's sentence.
Daine had been taken in front of a magistrate and his juries, and after many painful hours, had been sentenced
a lifetime in jail. I'm going to spend my entire life rotting in here! Daine looked around wildly. I'm never going to see the sky again. No more trees or grass or flowersno more animals, no more Cloud. No more Numair.
She emitted a sob at the thought of her old friend and her fiancé before walking in circles, trying to think. After a while, she sorted everything that had happened in the past.
Okay, so Serena came here in Midsummerwhich was about three or four weeks ago. She came to find Arram, wanting to pick up their relationship and continue. Daine made a face, and then continued.
At the Midsummer ball, which theme was divine beings, she found not Arram, but Numair. She thought he still wanted her, so tried to persuade him to her bed. Then they started to yell, and Jon came to stop them. Serena took Numair to a secluded place. I followed, and listened. I learned that Serena and Numair had an intense relationship before Numair had to escape Carthak. Now Serena wants to start a family with Numair. I broke in, yelled with Serena, who then slammed me against the wall. I had a concussion. Then I woke up, Numair explained everything. A few weeks passSerena sent me a note saying weird things. I came across her in the fields, where something happened
Daine stopped, trying to remember what happened in the field. A piece of important knowledge just flew out of her graspDaine concentrated, trying to figure it out. Something told her it was vital that she knew what Serena knew
Oh gods, she's my sister! she suddenly cried. She pounded the walls of her cell with her fists, shouting,
Badger, why didn't you tell me? Why? Da! I thoughtI never knew! she slid to the floor. And look what's happened. Serena's in my body, about to get married with my fiancé!
There was a sudden flash of silver light. Daine covered her eyes, then asked quietly,

-No.-
She stood and looked at the creature. A jackal god? I don't know you!
-Serena, it's me, Teb!-
Daine asked in confusion. And I'm not Serena.
The god cocked his head. -You're not?-
Daine shook her head. Serena's mind, spirit, etcare in my body. My mind, spirit, etcare in Serena's body.
-And you are?-
Daine the Wildmage.
Teb swore violently.
Daine said. Please, are you Serena's mentor god, commissioned by Weiryn, my da?
-Yes, I am Teb, the god of all jackals, and the mentor of Serena. ShitI told her not to harm you! Weiryn will not forgive her this time!-
You mean Serena gets into scrapes constantly
-Yes, unfortunately. Whenever he sees me, Badger gloats over the fact that he got to care for you. It's not nice- Teb shook his head. -So, what did she do this time?-
Daine sighed. Give me a concussion, switch bodies with me, and steal my fiancé.
Teb cursed again. -Like I said, Weiryn isn't going to let her off this one.-
That's right, Daine frowned. He's her da, too. She shook her head violently. But that's not the issue right now.
-Then what is?-
Serena's in my body! Daine hit her chest for punctuation. My body, you hear? Not only that, she has my fiancé, my wildmagic, my life!
-Calm down, youngling,- said a new, gravely voice.
Daine ran and hugged the newcomer, who stepped back and gave her a speculating glare.
-What's happened?- Badger asked.
-My thrice-cursed charge has messed up Daine's life. They've switched bodies,- Teb replied quietly. If animals could blush, the jackal would be a bright red.
Everyone – Numair, the king, everyone! – thinks I am Serena, but I'm not! No one can tell us apartbecause she has my looks, my magTeb, how much wildmagic does Serena have?
-She can only communicate with jackals,- Teb replied.
But now she's in my body-
-She has your wildmagic!- Badger sounded horrified. -She doesn't know how to shapeshift, heal, or how to enter an animal's mind, like you!-
-Imagine the havoc she'll cause when she tries to do something.- Teb muttered.
Daine groaned. Let's not get started. Another thought hit her. She doesn't have my memories she doesn't know that I went mad in Snowsdale or that Cloud kept me alive.
-I don't think she even knows who Cloud is,- Badger said dryly. Daine glared at him.
She doesn't know that if the barrier Numair gave me gets destroyed she'll go mad with the unusual amount of magic which she doesn't know how to use! Numair will certainly see that something isn't right!
-What are you saying?- Teb asked quietly.
-That we have to destroy the barrier?- Badger asked.
Daine sighed, happy that they had caught on. The only problem is how to destroy it. She sat on the cold stone floor, deep in thought. She didn't notice that the Badger and Teb were in a heated discussion.
-No! Absolutely not! No, no, no, no, no, no, and no!- Badger practically yelled. Daine jumped, startled.
'No' what? she asked. Badger didn't answer, and with a mental sigh, Teb replied,
-We had a plan to get Serena's – I mean your – barrier broken. Unfortunately, old Badger doesn't want to go along with it.-
Badger glared at the other god. -You think you're so smart. Well, your intelligence has just ruined my kit's life! Wow, who educated you? Uusoae?-
Teb's hackles rose and he growled menacingly. Daine ran between them.
she snapped in anger. You are acting the way Neal acts when he sees Numair with me! Stop it immediately!
Teb and Badger relaxed, the latter looking rather uncomfortable, the former embarrassed.
Daine breathed. Tell me your plan.
-Get to the real Serena,- Teb started. -Lure her to a place with lots of wolves; that will trigger her – yours really – body to remember the madness. The wolves and her will have a discussion and – somehow – they'll slowly persuade her to join their pack. By then, Storkman should have found his way, so we'll have to do something about that. Serena then will have totally yielded to the unaccustomed magic she'll be using to shapeshift and something will snap.-
The barrier, Daine said thoughtfully. Okay, there are a few flaws to the plan.
-See, told you!- Badger cried in triumph.
-Shut up, you rodent.-
-I am no rodent.-
moaned Daine.
-What are the flaws, please?- Teb asked politely.
First of all, how am I going to lure her to a place with lots of wolves? I can't communicate with them, because they're not jackals, and, secondly I'm locked up inside a stone cell, chained hand and foot, under the palace. More over, there are soldiers who know what I look like.
Teb replied, -I'll spell the soldiers into not remembering Serena's true appearance until her mind returns into her body. I'll break your chains and magically transport you to the wolves – -
-Who I'll persuade to help. Once they know what we're doing, they'll agree, because even though they don't know you without your magic and even though you can't communicate with them at the moment, they know the name Daine the Wildmage and they'll be eager to help.- Badger soundedsmug and Daine hid a smile.
More flaws are: how will I lure Serena? She'll be on guard and Numair is especially careful of her – me – since she attacked me...or I attacked her...gods, now I'm all confused!
-I'll just send herinstant messaging.-
(A/N sorryI couldn't think of anything else!)
Daine raised an eyebrow at Teb. What's that?
-I mean that I'll make my mind voice sound likeyours and I'll talk to her like her conscience talks to her.-
I don't think she has one, giggled Daine. Other than that, everything's fine. Oh, waitafter the barrier snaps, what happens?
Badger replied, -Numair will see something is wrong and- He trailed off and Teb said lamely,
-The other details aretoo gruesome and we don't want you toworry.-
-Yeah, that's right,- Badger agreed.
Shaking her head, Daine said, Okay, we've got a plan. When do we do this?
-Two days from now,- Teb replied calmly.

.H7ž

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