[Authors Note: Here we are, Chapter 9. I think the next chapter will be the last of the And Now? Series. I may go on with it after along absence, but I'm not sure. Could be fun! As always, let me know your opinions of the story in a review! Thank you to all those who have encouraged me thus far. Yall are fabulous!

**Disclaimer - Numair, Daine, Alanna, King Jon, and all the other characters EXCEPT my cutie patootie Ioka and the tigers, are Tamora Pierces. Also the wonderful land of Tortall and surrounding world. I have no claim to them! Just like borrowin 'em, ^_~

Email: Mstryhrs02@aol.com
Website: http://frontpage.tripod.com/mysteryhorsesregion *NEW WEBSITE!*
Archives: If you'd like to add my ongoing story, please just ask and you shall receive!]

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And Soon?

Daine woke up painfully, early that morning. Day one of tiger hunting had left her very, very sunburnt.


"Mithros, Mynnos, and Shakith...." the young brown haired woman whispered tightly. She didn't want to wake Numair, who was breathing contentedly on the far side of the bed, but as she touched her hot face gingerly she was beginning to rethink that decision. Misery loves company, she thought dryly. She rose up on an elbow and scrutinized her former teacher's face. Despite her recent thoughts, she was happy to see his swarthy skin had done much to protect the man from the sun's rays.


Daine inched out of bed and went to the door. There, she asked a slave girl quietly for an extremely cold basin of water and a pile of clean towels. By the time Daine had a light white shirt and a thin blue skirt donned the door was tapped on gently. She pulled it back to reveal Ioka nodding at her in a silent greeting.


"Ioka! I didn't expect you, I hope I'm not keeping you from the Emperor..."


"No, Lady Daine. The Emperor slumbers yet. I intercepted the slave girl and with minimal questioning found you were suffering from shemshi chomo."


Daine frowned in puzzlement. "Shem-whatsits? You can be as bad as Numair sometimes."


Ioka licked his lips, something Daine had discovered to be a covering for a forming smile. "My apologies, Lady. Shemshi chomo, sunburn. I am known to be a good hand with cures for burns. I thought you might appreciate experience."


The woman nodded with a grimace. She had taken to fanning her face with a bit of parchment to assuage the heat. She certainly wouldn't mind experience!


"Please," Ioka gestured toward a padded bench and after a moments hesitation she took a seat. Ioka stepped in front of her and began pulling various vials and small bowls from a sack that had been hidden from her view behind his back. He placed them on the small table near the door.


"Msubili, or aloe, as you would call it." he held a long, thin green piece of plant up to her eyes. A leaf? It was curious looking, she had seen nothing like it in Tortall. On one end, where it was broken off from the main plant, a light greenish-white sap oozed. "This is my main ingredient, it is very effective." Ioka fell silent as he pulled out various other plants and began crushing or squeezing them before mixing them together. Daine watched, silently intrigued. She saw his lips move several times. Did Carthakians worship plants? She hadn't thought so. It was more than just mutterings, as Numair often did when studying spells.


Finally he had poured each small bowl into one and stooped in front of her. "May I? I believe, if I keep a sufficient amount of the mixture between your skin and mine, that we will not have another strange...occurrence." He was holding up two very generously slathered fingers. Daine nodded, ceased her parchment fanning and braced for pain and/or a curious feeling. Truth was, she wasn't entirely unwilling for another such encounter as he spoke of. The pain of not hearing her dearest friends was worse than the strangeness of the connection with Ioka.


Happily, the expected pain from her burns never began. In fact, all of the pain on her face stopped completely within a few seconds after the mixture touched her skin. All she felt was a blessed coolness. "Horse Lords, that is amazing. Where ever did you learn such a cure?"


Ioka continued slathering her face and moved on to her outstretched arms. "It is something I discovered years ago, when I was a boy."


Daine watched his face, noticing a reluctance to share more. "You know, you could make a fortune off of this in Tortall." she told him with a grin. The fair skinned Scanrans would nearly sell their children for it also, she knew. And of course native Carthakians were not immune to the occasional burn.


"I could never do such a thing, I am but a slave." Daine frowned at that but said nothing. "Even if I had the desire and ability to do so, I have found when others attempt to make my chomo cure...it does not have the desired effect."


Daine was sure she didn't want to know what the undesired effect was. "Well whatever it is, I certainly am grateful to you for it, Ioka. Thank you."


"It was a pleasure to be of assistance, Lady Daine." Ioka finished with her arms and asked where else she had been burnt. She directed him to the back of her neck and after he moved behind her and began to apply the medicine, the wildmage heard sheets rustle. Moment's later Numair's tousled head popped up and he squinted at the scene before him. "Daine?" was the sleepy question.


"Morning, sweet. I got a bit too much sun yesterday. Ioka has this wonderful medicine. It's almost as good as my ma's."


"Really?" he said, sounding intrigued. She knew now he would want to know all about it.


Ioka bowed to Numair, who was now sitting upright in bed. "I will be done in just a moment, Master Salmalin. Forgive me for the intrusion."


"Not at all, Ioka. I am grateful for your help. As I am sure Daine is. I had worried even last night that her ruddy complexion would waken her in a less than favorable condition. And mood." he winked at her.


Ioka, true to his word, swiftly finished his ministrations and left quietly, leaving the mixture with her and instructions for two more layers that night and again the next morning.


"Magelet," Numair said after dressing. "Do you smell magic in the room?"


The young woman looked up from making the bed and frowned, concentrating. "No, though you always have a faint smell on you. Maybe I've grown immune to small amounts. Why? What are you thinking?"


"I don't know..." he wandered about the room and ended up near the door.


"Interesting. It's originating from Ioka's concoction" he picked up the bowl and ran a hand over it. Black fire mixed with white flecks, Numair's Gift, covered the top and mixed through the blend.


He looked up with a grin. "Wild magic. I'm certain of it."


"Numair, Ioka said that whenever anyone else tried to make his mixture, it didn't work. I also saw him muttering over the plants as he mixed them. Are you thinking what I'm thinking?"


"Somewhere along those lines. Wild magic can be elemental as well as many other things." He rubbed the side of his nose and sat on Daine's earlier vacated seat. The young woman smiled at him and told him she was going for a walk before the Emperor summoned them for another day of tiger searching. She was sure she would be of no use to him while he was doing magic with his Gift. He waved a hand at her distractedly and told her to be careful. To be careful, Daine smiled. Old habits die hard.


As she strode along the path, a soft desert wind stirring her skirt, Daine reminisced. Things were changing, and she hoped for the best. The brick wall they had hit seemed to be weakening. The first cracks had begun to appear, and Daine's heart leapt.


Daine's physical self leapt seconds later when she heard the sound of a voice off to the side. "Good morning, Daine! I came over to see how you were faring; maybe we should take a break from the search today. Sunburns do not usually take kindly to more sun so soon."


Daine turned to face Emperor Kaddar and returned his morning greeting before answering his suggestion. "Actually, I feel just fine, Imperial Majesty. Does my face still look red? It isn't near as hot. Ioka has an amazing talent."


Kaddar looked at her face closely and a slow smile spread over his lips. "Your face is as beautiful as it has always been." The wildmage blushed slightly at that.
He laughed at her embarrassment and then said quietly, "Master Salmalin is a very lucky man."


Daine looked into his eyes sharply and then away again, biting her lip. I guess that was easy enough, if not totally painless.


"Thank you," she said quietly. Before she could stop herself she said more than she had planned, "Others, sometimes don't seem to see it that way. I was afraid, maybe-"


"Walk with me, Daine." He offered her his elbow and she accepted his invitation. "I do not want to seem presumptuous, but I see a great deal of underlying emotion in these few words you've spoken. Yet, I do know that I have seen great love in both of your eyes for each other. If I had to guess, I'd say you are both teetering on the edge of run or fall. Run from each others arms, or fall into them."


Daine listened closely, and found truth and wisdom in Kaddar's words. He was still speaking. "-I could never condemn you're love. You are both smart adults. I think you both knew what you were getting into years ago. I hope it doesn't take tragedy to make things as they should be."


"As for me not approving?" Kaddar smirked. "Do you remember, the first time you came to Carthak, a certain dinner? As well as a certain very tall, intimidating man whom came to our dinner table. Do you recall what he warned me of?"


Daine struggled to keep from giggling. She had been mortified at the time, but now it seemed funny. "Quite clearly, yes, Your Majesty. I believe, he was afraid for my virtue with such a dashing young man."


"Ah, yes, it was just so. I was also at you're reunion that night my father was transformed into a Stormwing." She saw emotion flicker through his eyes briefly and squeezed his arm. "He loved you even then, Daine. And it saddened me to an extent. You were one of the first to treat me as a person, not as the heir of Carthak, or an unwanted human being."


"And so, I was somewhat prepared for the pair I saw at dinner nights ago. Though not certain." He paused briefly. "I don't know what I'm trying to say exactly, but I hope I am making some kind of sense. I treasure both of you, Daine, and want to see your joy fulfilled."


Daine blinked back watery eyes. "Thank you, Kaddar, you are a true friend."


As if on cue a voice filled the air about them. "Magelet! Come quickly, I think I've found something you might want to hear about."


Kaddar was looking about wildly and Daine couldn't help but laugh at him. "Don't worry Your Majesty, he's not going to pop out of thin air. He certainly is quite proud of this new speaking spell he can accomplish with the unGifted."


The Emperor looked amazed. "As I would be! I will certainly have to speak to him about this. Incredible." The pair headed quickly back to Numair's room. Before they entered Daine stopped Kaddar. "Thank you again. You did help." Kaddar smiled and bowed slightly. "I'm glad to have been of assistance, Lady Daine."


Numair didn't look up as they entered, quite absorbed in whatever he was doing with the bowl in front of him. He quickly came to himself as he noticed gold gilded sandals and bowed low to the Emperor.


"Forgive me Your Majesty, I hadn't known Daine had a walking companion." Numair said, looking curious for short moment before he began explaining what had excited him so. "Daine, what did Ioka call this ointment?"


"I don't remember the first word, but the second was chomo."
The Emperor nodded. "Ah, yes, shemshi chomo." He smiled fondly. "One of Ioka's specialties." Daine wondered at the smile. Ioka must be a very good friend of the Emperors, she thought as she watched Numair direct Kaddar in examining the concoction with his Gift. But why doesn't he show that by freeing him! Kitten was now awake, sitting on the bench and humming to herself as she watched the men do their magic.


"Hmm, I think I know what you are feeling, Master Numair." The Emperor murmured moments later. "Lindhall, he had taught me briefly how to recognize wild magic before he departedbut I had no idea it could be directed to plants."


"I knew, but have never seen it," Numair replied quietly. He waved Daine over to him and held her to him with his large free hand about her waist. She smiled slightly at his possessiveness and reached inside herself for the ball of copper fire. She threw a bit of it over the bowl. The wildmage was immediately astounded at the quiet power that was woven into the mixture. Ioka had a great gift, and did not even realize it! It was possible, that in some aspects he could become greater than a healer with the Gift. He took power from plants and not only the Gift as healers did. Although, wild magic also took from ones body, which could as easily be depleted.


"Emperor, had you any idea of Ioka's wild magic?" Numair asked, picking up Kitten from the bench and placing her on the table before he sat so Daine could settle beside him.


Kaddar looked mystified. "None at all. I knew he had great ability to make head-ache powders and of course burn medicine-but no idea he used wild magic to accomplish it!"


"This is incredible," Daine breathed. "He could become a great healer!"


"Magelet, he is a slave, remember." Numair cautioned gently.


Daine bit a lip and Kit whistled encouragingly to her. "Yes, I know. But with skills that could help so many people, how could he be restrained to a slave's status? This is amazing! No one has ever been found to have botanic wild magic. We can't just let it go to waste. A Dominion Jewel would almost be needless if people of Ioka's magic were available. And while that can be as bad as it is good, it's still remarkable. He needs training, and-and-"


"Daine," her love warned.


"No, no, she is right." Kaddar sighed, rubbing his face with a hand. "I have never forgotten your plea to release the slaves of Carthak, Daine, I want you to know. I told you how hard it would be, and almost immediately dismissed it from my mind for years. But not entirely"

Daine looked at him closely. One step would do, just one.


"I will talk with Ioka. It may be he has no idea of his powers, which is very probable. He may also not even wish to be freed." Daine almost missed the hidden hope in the last bit. "Anyway, I think I had better get back to my rooms and speak with all those clamoring for my attention already this morning. I will meet you all two hours hence for more tiger hunting?"


Numair and Daine both stood and bowed to the Emperor and then sank back on their seat as he shut the door behind him.


Daine felt a large hand take and envelope hers. "We're almost there, magelet, almost there."

*
***
*

Numair covered Daine's ears (and nearly all of her face) with his hands; cloth already wedged into his own ears, making him look quite comical. Daine had to stop herself from laughing every time he looked at her and shouted, "What?" because he couldn't hear her.


The reason for the ear protection roared and paced directly in front of them. This tiger hunter had caught a particularly noisy pair for them to look at that morning. They were forty-five minutes out from the palace, in a different location than any of the day before. Each looked similar, with their large tents and metal cages, presumably carried there by desert oxen kept tied behind the tent. After dealing with this tiger hunter briefly Daine thought him to be much more amiable. He was kind and soft-spoken with the loud tigers as well as with the people.


However, one thing bothered Daine. The tigers were barely cubs (which made their cries especially piercing). They didn't look more than a year and a half old. Besides that fact, if there were two cubs, they were most likely siblings. They couldn't bring home siblings as a mating pair!


"Daine, this pair is very young." Numair said in an attempt to be quiet into an uncovered ear. Daine nodded and turned to him. On tiptoe and with him stooping slightly, she pulled the cloth out of one of his ears and spoke loudly, "I want to listen to them, all the same, Numair." He grimaced, but assented. He replaced his earplug and they walked to Ioka's side. Beside the fact that the man's place was always at the Emperors side, he had been brought for just this purpose.


"If it's okay, I'd like to listen to them now." The dark man seemed surprised to hear her actually request it of him, but bowed quickly. She noticed he saw no need for earplugs. He offered her the back of his hand and she covered it with her own as Numair came behind her and took hold of her shoulders.


The strange pull seized her and in darkness Daine immediately heard loud voices crying out to each other.


"Haha! Riaj, look at the two-leggers! They cover and stuff their ears as if we are the loudest things in all the desert!"


"I am not blind." Came a softer voice, though full of the same excitement. "Do I ever fail in my plans?"


"Wellwhat about that time you thought it would be funny to douse you're Aunts tail in the river while she slept? I still have scars from that. I still don't think it was funny. And I was not even part of your family! Wicked tigress."


Daine almost felt the powerful cuff Raia gave the other tiger.


"Ow! It's true! You ill tempered tiger!"


"I don't talk about your aunt, as you shouldn't mine. Besides, I didn't even hit you that hard."


"Did so"


"Did not.


"You did too!


"Sorry"


"It's okay. I guess I deserved it."


"No, you didn't, it's just I would like to get out of this cage and even our own roars are starting to bother me. Not to mention this confounded heat! Don't they know what a tiger needs?"


Daine was suddenly pulled back to her body and took several deep breaths, aided by a gust of fresh wind. The pair didn't sound as if they much minded their captivity. She had expected to hear raging insults and frantic thoughts of escape. But she was amused by their relationship, and the phrase about different families was encouraging. Perhaps they really weren't of the same family group.


"Well, how goes it, magelet? Do you feel okay?" Daine stood up in Numair's grasp and nodded. The tigers had ceased such loud roaring, to all of their relief, and she could talk without being inches from his ear. "Well, I think. The conversation was enlightening, and entertaining, to say the least." She related the words to him and Kaddar. Kaddar laughed and Numair nodded thoughtfully.


"Do you think we have some winners, Daine?" the Emperor asked hopefully.


"I think, that the cubs would be able to adjust more quickly than full grown adults, yes. And they do seem to be of a more amiable temperamentbut I need to speak to the tiger hunter before I make a decision."


Kaddar waved the muscular man over, who had been hovering about the entrance of his tent. He bowed low to each, and even lower to the Emperor as was fitting.
"Nobility's. I am Unak, your humble servant." he said politely.


Daine cringed at the word 'nobility' but asked quickly, "Unak, where is it you found this pair. I am afraid they may be siblings. That is, related to one another. In Tortall, we have a mating pair in each menagerie region. Inbreeding wouldn't be allowed."


"I understand, Nobility." he replied in his thick Carthaki accent with surprisingly good Common. "And this is why we took these from two separate family groups. I assure you, they are not related close enough for alarm." Daine looked to Numair and Kaddar. Numair shrugged slightly, he didn't know if the man was certain. Yet Kaddar nodded with a slight smile. He was certain.


Daine sighed in relief. "We'll take them."

*
***
*

"Yes, Your Majesty. I believe we are ready to come home. There is something Daine and I must look into first, but it won't take more than a few days."


"Wonderful, Numair. Thank the gods you found a pair without having to traipse all over the desert."


"I agree, Jon. This heat is getting to the both of us. Daine had quite the sunburn this morning."


"Well I will leave you both to it. I'm expecting a contact from Alanna soon."


"Things are going well for her in the South?"


"Well enough. Nothing the Lioness cannot take care of. Be well, and give my regards to your Daine."


Numair closed his hand and the black ball inside it disappeared. Daine entered at that moment, hair still wet from the baths. "How are things at home?" she asked as she put her things down and began to oil Kitten's rough scales. "God's but I miss it. Did you ask of Cloud?"


"Things are going fine. Jon assures me that all are in good health. He's pleased we're coming home. I think the mage that took over my magic lessons will be triply happy." He smiled at that. "I didn't have time to ask of Cloud, Jonathan was expecting to hear from the Lioness."


Daine looked up at that. "And?"


"She's fine, though still down south. I wonder what is down there that is causing such trouble." He mussed, getting up from the bed and going to the privy room to ready for bed.


After they had both done so they fell gratefully into bed. Daine snuggled close and put her arm over Numair's chest, promptly falling asleep.


"The joys of youthful exuberance. A sure nights sleep." Numair said in amusement. His mind was still working too fast from his conversation with Jon. There were things the kind hadn't said, and his mage didn't like that one bit. He couldn't figure out if it had to do with Alanna or things at the castle


He sighed. Turning his head to Daine he kissed her forehead lightly and closed his eyes. Whatever happened, at least he had his magelet.


The next morning dawned cloudy, to the delight of two Northerners. Any respite was welcomed. The Emperor had told them that Ioka would meet them sometime that morning.


Daine was nervous. What if there was nothing to be done? What if Ioka wouldn't cooperate? What if she would never be able to use her wild magic properly again?
After her fifth turn about the room Numair called to her from where he was reading on the bed, "Daine, you're not helping speed Ioka up by wearing a hole in the rugs."


"I know, but it's better than sitting down and doing nothing, you-" she was interrupted by a soft knock. Giving a relieved sigh she opened the door quickly. "Good morning, Ioka."


"Good morning, Lady Daine." The man was putting on an admirably calm front. Daine was grateful. She was nervous enough for the three of them combined.


"Master Numair." The mage stood to greet the man and motioned him toward a chair near the table, which still held the burn lotion. "Did the Emperor tell you of your wild magic?"


"Yes, Master. What is to be done?"


Numair paced a little, hands in his breeches pockets. "Well, this may sound terribly strange, but I think you may be able to come up with something that can restore Daine's wild magic to what it once was."


Ioka's eyes widened considerably.


"As you now know," Numair continued. "You have botanic wild magic. Have you ever felt as if you havelets say a connection, with the plants you are mixing?"


Ioka's forehead creased in thought. "Yes, Master, there is something there that almost guides me when I combine plants for medicine."


Numair's face lit up and he rocked back on his heels. "Wonderful. Now, I am thinking, that all you will have to do is think of Daine's problem. Her ailment. As you would for any other patient. She gets headaches when trying to speak to animals, and cannot properly hear them." He squinted at the slave and Daine held her breath from her seat on the bed. "Though you are in no way being forced or ordered to do this, Ioka. You have a choice."


Ioka looked away, frowning. "I would do anything to help, Lady Daine. Anything But I fear for her. Sometimes, when I do spells, things do not come out like they should."


Numair nodded. "We have both considered this and are willing to take the risk." He motioned for Daine to take his hand and she joined him, thankful for his love and encouragement.


"How much time will you need to be ready, Ioka? The Emperor has authorized your leave, of course."


"I do not know, Master Numair, but I will be as quick as safely possible. I know you are both anxious to return to you're homeland."


"Yes, we are, thank you." Numair replied with a squeeze to Daine's hand. He had missed the slight pass of sadness across the slave's face, but the Wildmage hadn't.


"I will be on my way, good day to you both." He left quickly and quietly. Daine watched after him unhappily. She prayed there would be an extra person with them when they reentered Tortall's gates.