Torn From Hope
Chapter Six: The Duke of the Yamanis
by starzsong magick

A/N: Kinda boring... also, check back to chapter four when you get to the author's note in the middle of this (only if don't remember).

Reviews are great.

And, chapter seven will be up pretty quick because I already wrote it about two weeks ago. It's definately the best chapter in this story, although I started crying when I wrote it. Then, there's chapter eight, which I have the name for along with the plot, and that's the end of the story.

To finish the next chapter of my other story, A Worn Novelty, I NEED to know what Alanna's children are named! Please, please, PLEASE let me know! Thank you so much.

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters below, except for the weather-mage boy Peseli. All is copyright of Tamora Pierce! Plot is mine though; don't you dare steal it! :)

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Later that day, Daine found a large, looming banana tree. It seemed to be overflowing with fruit. After testing it with her magic for danger, she greedily took nine bananas, and ate them all. She was famished.

When she was finished eating, the girl dragged herself to the shore, where she drank from the ocean. She prayed to the gods that it was not contaminated, and moved back to sit in the sand.

Daine sat there for awhile, thinking. When the sun began to set, she looked down, and realized she'd made a small sand castle, like a child. She grinned. With nothing else to do, she could make all the sand castles she wanted, until she had enough energy to fly back to Tortall. And Numair... maybe...

Glancing out into the ocean, she realized that there was a large lump out there, like a gigantic rock, except gigantic rocks don't have sails. Sails! she realized, and leaped to her feet, shaking with excitement. She wouldn't have to fly home after all.

Impulsively she shape-shifted for the second time that day, this time into a seagull, which would fly well over the water. There was nothing on the island that she needed, so she zipped off into the sunset, speeding toward the ship, not thinking that it could, perhaps, be the ship of an enemy.

It wasn't. Daine recognized the sails of a Yamani merchent ship, with a purple stripe beneath their insignia, meaning royalty was onboard. Sailors pointed up in awe as she speeded down onto the deck, to light on the railing.

"That's not a bird..." someone muttered.

She shifted back to her ratty-clothed human form, and smiled at the small crowd. "No, it's not." They seemed momentarily taken aback.

One of the sailors finally came forward, a short, dark-haired Yamani. "You are Daine the Wildmage, are you not?"

Daine nodded. "Yes."

He looked excited, muttered something about a duke, and ran down the deck. Daine watched him leave, then studied the faces of the people before her. They were all male, with ages ranging from about ten to thirty or fourty. Most of them seemed to be slightly below average in wealth, with their unclean faces and ratty outfits.

Moments later the sailor returned back, leading a harrassed-looking noble, wearing the most expensive clothes she could ever imagine. She realized that she wouldn't be surprised if she learned the thread in his tunic was spun from solid gold. The sailors had began to bow; Daine, unsure of what to do, curtsied.

The noble nodded speedily to the sailors, who all rushed back to cleaning deck floors, or ran off to work down in the galley. His hair was perfect in every single detail. Black as night, it had not a piece out of place. His hair was obviously as royal as his clothes were.

"Good day," he greeted her. Daine nodded, and let him continue. "One of my men has informed me that you are Daine Sarrasri, of the ship who sank whilst bringing us help?"

"Yessir."

"That is wonderful!" The man smiled. "We have been looking for survivors for quite some time."

Daine swallowed. Oh gods, please say yes... "You... haven't managed to find any others, have you?"

"Actually, yes."

She could have leaped, but it wouldn't be proper in the presence of a noble.

"And... introductions must be made." the man paused briefly. "No doubt you are wondering who I am. I am the Royal Duke of the Yamani Islands, Rasazne Dulong."

Daine curtsied again. "I am pleased to meet you, my grace."

Footsteps sounded down the deck, toward Daine and the duke. She turned and saw the face of the oncoming man...

...And collasped onto the floor, the railing behind her. She could not believe it... Goddess...

"Daine," the person said, smiling worriedly down at her.

Dulong bowed, and retreated. He looked back, once, and Daine jumped slightly. A slight shadow had crossed his face; a look of evil. Then she knew. It was the same look Ozorne had given her many times before his death. The look of hatred, of destruction. Of menace and threat.

As quick as it appeared, it was gone, and Dulong was down underneath the deck. It was just her, and this oddly thin man.

She stood, and found herself in a deep hug. It was a hug she remembered well. "Numair?" she whispered.

"Yes, darling."

Daine pulled away and studied him. He seemed a lot thinner than usual, his black mage's robe billowing loosely around him in the breeze(A/N: Hint hint... go back to chapter 4 if you don't remember.).

"Haven't you eaten?" asked Daine. He seemed... starved.

"Yes, but," Numair looked stricken by sadness. "Not a lot. We had a funeral for you. Everyone thought you were dead."

"That's fair... amazing," was all she could say, before being swept into a passionate kiss. She could not think. She could not move.

When they were done at last, she was breathless. Numair brushed her hair out of her face. "I... overheard the duke talking to several of his men."

"Oh?" she asked.

The next part was obviously difficult for him to say. "He says that he plans to have you killed when we arrive at the Yamanis."

"Why? What did I ever do to him?" Daine thought for a minute, then remembered what Ozorne's ghost had said. 'You are but a pawn in a quest of a friend of mine...' "He doesn't happen to have known Ozorne, does he?"

"I am not positive, but I believe so." Numair spoke slowly, thinking out his words carefully.

Daine pondered the past few weeks. Bandit raids on the Yamanis... weakened armies... help from Tortall... a barrier-like storm which sank their ship... Ozorne's warning, if you could call it that... her being conveniently being picked up by the duke's ship. It all fit together: He wanted to take over his home islands, and keep powerful enemies from stopping him... like the Wildmage, Alanna, Numair, and Tortall's finest foot soldiers.

Daine briefly told Numair of Ozorne's visit earlier that day. When she finished, he nodded thoughtfully. "Perhaps we should attempt to convince him to surrender."

She looked off in the direction in which Dulong had disappeared. "Yes," she said softly, "Maybe we should."

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A/N: Remember, to finish the next chapter of my other story, A Worn Novelty, I NEED to know what Alanna's children are named! Please, please, PLEASE let me know! Thank you so much.