Description: The mages tell everyone about their time in the Divine Realms. The clean-up of the war progresses as everyone slowly returns to Corus.
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters. Everything belongs to Tamora Pierce.
Author's Note: This story is set directly after The Realms of the Gods and details the first year of Daine and Numair's relationship during First Test. PLEASE BE AWARE OF THE RATING before you read. I am going to be making my first foray into writing mature content in this story.
I swear I am not intentionally making my stories longer each time. This went a lot longer than I predicted from my chapter map…
Vika9: Thank you for another lovely review. I had a lot of self-doubt writing this story, but your kind words encouraged me to keep going.
ArtificiallyIntelligent: I'm SO sorry the website didn't notify you when I posted book 4. It seemed to go down the day I uploaded it which was very irritating. I am really pleased you enjoyed my take on the story. I literally gushed over all the lovely compliments.
Chapter 1
The Immortals War, as it was becoming known, had been officially over for nine days. The King's Own and Queen's Riders were busy rounding up the prisoners while the rest of the clean-up progressed slowly. Stormwings were a permanent fixture in the sky as the people of Port Legann began the gruelling task of burying the dead. Daine Sarrasri, Tortall's Wildmage, was in high demand to heal all the animals who had taken part in the fighting and was dividing her time between the People and visiting her friend and love Numair Salmalín in the recovery room.
The mage had finally been released from his bedrest that morning but was under strict orders not to overexert himself. After a hot bath and a hearty meal Numair found himself summoned to a meeting with the king and his advisors. He retrieved the Wildmage from outside the castle walls where she had just finished healing one of the Rider's ponies who had a nasty gash on its side from a recent scuffle with a group of bandits.
"I wish His Majesty could have allowed me one day on my feet before he called this meeting," the mage complained as he walked down the hallway towards the king's temporary study.
"He probably wants a full report. I never said much about our time in the Divine Realms," Daine replied candidly by his side.
"What did you tell him?" he enquired softly.
"I told him my parents pulled us away after the fight with the skinners. That Badger took care of them and then we had to travel to the Dragonlands to request a ride home," she stated.
"Very succinct. No wonder the king is so eager to speak with us," Numair chuckled. "Did you happen to mention who your father was?"
"No. I thought we could discuss it at another time," the young woman scowled.
"That time being now I would surmise," the mage squeezed her shoulder supportively.
Numair opened the door to the study, allowing Daine to enter first, only to discover they were the last to arrive. Every face in the room turned to the two mages as they began to clap and cheer. They both blushed at the onslaught of praise as they were greeted by friends who shook their hands, patted their backs and embraced them. For the mage, who wasn't comfortable with so much physical intimacy, it was quite humbling. When the pair finally reached the king, Jon shook Daine's hand smiling warmly at her before turning to Numair. Things had been difficult between the king and his Chief Mage since his return from Carthak. Jon stepped forward, his eyes overbright, as he embraced the tall mage warmly.
"It's good to see you on your feet again, my friend," the king said clapping Numair on the shoulder.
The months of animosity between the pair evaporated in an instant as if nothing had happened. "Thank you, Your Majesty," the mage blushed. "I'll be glad to be of use again."
Jon scowled at his friend. "I believe you are under healer's orders to take it easy. I'm sure we can find some light tasks to keep you occupied, if you desire it." The king addressed the others gathered in the room, "Now that we're all here let's take our seats."
Daine and Numair sat next to each other listening as Raoul of Goldenlake informed everyone that the King's Own were still rounding up pockets of resistance from the Copper Isles and Scanran raiders. Buriram Tourakom added that the Queen's Riders had noticed an increase in bandit groups wanting to take advantage of the war clean-up to loot the bodies. Harailt of Aili and the rest of the mages were keeping the surviving enemy mages imprisoned, ensuring they didn't cause any more trouble. The king and queen would be returning to the capital in a few days with the prisoners to begin the trials and reassure the people the war was over. Duke Baird reported that the wounded were mostly in recovery and the death toll was not as severe as first predicted. The Wildmage blushed when the king and queen asked for an assessment on how the animals were recovering but made her report to the council, gaining in confidence as she spoke.
"If that is all the reports finished with, then we can move on to what we've all waited to hear," the king turned to the two mages. "Daine, Numair what did happen after your fight with the Skinners? And how did you end up convincing a flock of Stormwings and two dragons to fight alongside us?"
"I know a little of your time in the Divine Realms," Thayet smiled. "But I think it's high time we heard the details."
Numair began by giving everyone a brief account of their encounter with the Skinners, but let Daine take over when the subject of her parents arose. He watched every face in the room with fascination as it slowly dawned on them that the young woman who they had known for four years was, in fact, a demi-goddess. There were a lot of questions about Daine's mother and especially about her father. She spoke very little about their journey to the Dragonlands, for which the mage was extremely grateful. Once their tale was finished everyone sat in various stages of awe as they absorbed what had happened to them.
"Daine, what happened to you after you went after Ozorne?" the king asked. "Was he the one conspiring with The Queen of Chaos?"
"Yes. It was him," she looked grave. "I used all my magic to fight my way to Ozorne, but once I finally got my claws into him, he hit me with his magic, and I fell from the sky." Numair grasped her hand, unseen beneath the table, and squeezed it. Daine smiled up at him and continued, "I used my last shape-change to attack him, but Ozorne threw his magic to stop me. Neither of us had any magic left and he was coming closer intending to slit my throat with his wing – so I stabbed him with this." The Wildmage drew the badger claw out from under her shirt. "He had a stone necklace around his neck which felt wrong somehow. When I threw it against a tree, it shattered and Uusoae appeared and tried to kill me."
She paused and the mage squeezed her hand again, terrified at how close he'd come to losing her.
"There was an eerie sound and then half the Immortals on the battlefield suddenly disappeared," Jonathan stroked his beard. "We guessed someone must have found the pawn."
"You were dressed in very pretty clothing when you returned to us, Daine," Thayet said gently, her eyes fixed on the young woman. "I don't think you found those on the battlefield. Can you tell us what happened next?"
The Wildmage swallowed not meeting anyone's eyes. "I was brought before the Great Gods to bear witness. Uusoae won't be troubling us for a while. Father Universe and Mother Flame imprisoned her until the next star is born."
There were several gasps around the table at the mention of the First Powers, mother and father to the Great Gods. Daine tried to take her hand back, but the mage gripped it tighter not willing to lose his connection to her. She looked into his eyes; the fear of rejection written all over her face as Numair smiled gently, wishing he could wrap his arms around her and hold her tight.
"Broad Foot told me the Sorrows have been locked away again," the young woman continued speaking only to him. "The Dream King put his cloak over me and healed my wounds. Ma gave me the clothes," she looked down again not meeting his eyes. "The Great Gods then debated and decided that the Immortals could remain in the Mortal Realms."
"And here I thought we had been granted a boon and they would not return to plague us anymore," Jonathan shook his head in resignation.
"The Immortals once lived in our realm alongside mortals. We must learn to live with them again, Your Majesty." The mage looked away from Daine to admonish the king.
"Diamondflame, Wingstar and Kit came to bring me back home," the Wildmage finished quietly not meeting anyone's eyes.
Numair had the distinct feeling she wasn't telling them everything, but this wasn't the time to push her. Perhaps she might tell him the rest later once they were alone.
"That sounds like quite the ordeal, Daine," Thayet smiled kindly. "On behalf of everyone alive today, thank you for saving us."
The young woman looked up in horror and blushed as every member of the table, including Numair, intoned, "So mote it be."
"I think we've embarrassed our Wildmage enough," Jonathan looked at her with great sympathy. "What about you, Numair? What happened in your battle against Inar Hadensra? You were half dead when you returned to us."
The mage glanced at Daine desperately wanting to spirit her away from everyone. "I won't bore you with the details," he addressed the table. "Needless to say, it was a hard fight, but I won in the end." There were a lot of dissatisfied faces, but he refused to say anymore.
"Well, if that's all," the king rose holding out a hand for his queen as everyone stood to leave. "I think we should get back to it."
Daine snatched her hand from the mage's grasp and ran out of the room. The mage bowed politely to the monarchs and strode out the door in search of his friend. Numair found her in the stables with her head buried in Cloud's mane. The mountain pony looked ready to bite anyone that came close, including Onua who was hovering nearby.
The mage approached cautiously, "Daine?"
"I don't want to talk about it anymore!" she shouted, clinging tightly to the mare.
He exchanged a worried look with the K'miri and approached the young woman slowly, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder. "I'll be here whenever you're ready to talk."
Daine nodded her head but refused to look at him. Numair hesitated not wanting to leave her but not sure what more he could do. Onua caught his attention and made a shooing motion. It hurt to walk away from his friend and love but maybe he wasn't who she needed right now.
The mage spent the rest of the day refreshing wards around the port and worrying about Daine. He noted with some irritation that he was constantly being monitored by a mage or a healer. When Numair complained about it, he was told in no uncertain terms, that the king had ordered that he wasn't to use too much magic and not to skip meals. While Jonathan's heart may have been in the right place, it did feel a little condescending, even if the mage did have a bad habit of forgetting to eat when he was focussed on a project.
By dinnertime, Numair hadn't seen Daine all day and was getting increasingly concerned about her when she didn't appear for the evening meal. A servant showed the mage to a room that had recently been cleared for him. It was small and contained a pallet that would never fit his tall frame, but everyone had to make do with what was available. His pack, the one he'd left before they'd been taken into the Divine Realms, had been placed on his bed. Numair knew he would never sleep until he'd seen his young friend, so he headed for the door. Opening it, he found the young woman in question standing on the other side about to knock. Her eyes were tired and full of shadows as she shifted nervously.
"Can I come in?" the Wildmage asked shyly.
"Daine," he smiled in relief. "Of course."
The mage stood aside allowing her to enter. Closing the door behind the young woman, he turned as she flung herself into his arms and began to cry. Numair wrapped his arms around his love tightly, stroking her back while he murmured words of comfort. He wasn't sure what had upset her so much: whether it was revealing her divine parentage, reliving her fight with Ozorne or whatever it was she was concealing from him. It didn't matter, all that really mattered was that she was here with him, and he could hold her and tell her how much he loved her. The tears didn't last long as Numair handed the young woman a handkerchief to wipe her eyes and blow her nose.
Daine looked up starting to say something but stopped and glanced towards the bed, "Can we lie down together?"
"That's not really appropriate, sweet," he stroked away a stray curl.
"Please?" she pleaded. "I just want you to hold me for a bit."
Numair wanted to refuse but he didn't want Daine to mistake it for rejection. The mage had a feeling that any misstep he made now would hurt her deeply.
"Alright," he said gently.
Numair lay on the pallet that barely fit his own body, let alone another person. That didn't seem to bother Daine as she climbed in beside him and snuggled in close, burying her nose into his chest. He closed his eyes, willing his body not to react, and wrapped his arms around her, one hand gently stroking her back.
"I didn't see you at dinner. Did you have anything to eat today?" Numair asked.
Daine nodded against his chest. "Onua had food brought to the stables."
Relieved she'd eaten something; the mage held her quietly pressing his lips against her hair. It was ever so peaceful holding her like this. They lay there together until Numair felt his eyes starting to close.
"Daine," he murmured. "You should probably return to your room."
"Hmm?" came the sleepy reply as she rubbed her nose against him.
He swallowed as the sensation sent a shiver through his body. "Sweetling, you can't sleep here."
"Why not?" the young woman grumbled.
Numair smiled, "Because you have your own bed which you should be sleeping in."
Daine raised her head and frowned up at him. He placed a gentle kiss on her brow and nose before he captured her lips in a sensual, lingering kiss.
"I'll escort you back to your room if you like."
"Can't I just stay here with you?" she whispered.
"As much as I'd like that, you know why that wouldn't be a good idea," the mage replied, regretting his words even though it was the honourable thing to do.
"I s'pose," Daine grumbled and shuffled out of the bed.
Numair escorted the young woman to the stables and bid her goodnight wishing he could kiss her again, but Onua was there. The Wildmage smiled at him before climbing the ladder into the hayloft where a bed had been set up for her.
The K'miri approached him casually. "I told Daine that those who care about her won't turn away from her."
"What did she tell you?" he enquired softly.
"Not much," Onua replied, voice equally as soft. "She told me about meeting her parents. I think Daine's scared we're all going to start treating her differently."
"I've known for quite some time," Numair raised his eyes to the hayloft. "Daine told me about her father when she first discovered her parentage in Carthak."
The K'miri glanced up at his swarthy face. "I did tell her nothing she ever did would stop you caring about her."
"She was worried about that?" he frowned down at his friend.
"I didn't really understand it myself," her brow creased in confusion. "She was sobbing on me at the time. I only caught something about making a choice and what if no one understood. Did she say anything to you?"
"No. Daine cried on me too. It's very unlike her." The Wildmage usually faced the world with a stubborn defiance and only something momentous caused her to break down into tears.
"She'll come around." Onua patted his arm. "We just have to give her time and be patient. Whatever it is that's bothering her, she'll tell us eventually."
The mage nodded absently his gaze returning to where Daine slept.
"I'll keep an eye on her," the K'miri tried to reassure him. "Why don't you get some rest? You still look like you could use it."
He smiled down at his friend and squeezed her shoulder. How long would he have to endure everyone's constant fussing over him? The healers had released him, and he felt just fine. Cloud stuck her head out of her stall as the mage passed on his way out. He stopped to stroke and pat her, murmuring his gratitude for looking after Daine.
"Horse Lords! When did the two of you become friends?" Onua exclaimed.
"I think we just reached an understanding," the mage smiled as the mountain pony shook her mane.
A few days later the king and queen returned to Corus with an entourage of Knights Own, Queen's Riders, mages and prisoners. Daine and Numair remained at Port Legann for another week before they received their summons to return to the capital. Despite wanting to explore their feelings for each other, they had barely spent any time together. There had been a few stolen kisses in Numair's room, but the pair had been kept busy with the Wildmage continuing to heal the People and the mage helping to rebuild the fort. Diamondflame and Wingstar returned to the Dragonlands the day before the mages left for the capital, leaving a very upset and grey Kitten sulking in the stables.
Numair was disappointed when he learned they would be travelling with a contingent of King's Own and Queen's Riders. He had hoped to spend some time alone with his little family before they returned to the capital. Their journey along the North Road was uneventful until they reached the Conté Road where a group of Queen's Riders separated to patrol the coastal road. It was difficult for the mage to travel so close to his tower and yet not be allowed to visit, but the king's orders were firm, and he wanted the small council to return. Daine, Numair, Onua, Tkaa and Kitten had formed a small travel group, chatting amongst themselves and pitching their tents close together.
One evening as their group was laying out their bedrolls the mage noticed Daine slip away into the forest. Excusing himself quietly he went in search of the errant Wildmage finding her speaking with a woodchuck.
Numair waited patiently until she finished before disturbing her. "Daine, you shouldn't wander off alone," he scolded lightly. "It's not safe out here."
She dusted off her knees and smiled at him. "She just wanted to say hello." The young woman walked up to him, a glimmer of mischief in her eyes. "And I wanted to get you alone."
"You – what?"
Daine grabbed his shirt and pulled him down for a kiss. "You haven't kissed me in days," she whispered when they parted.
"Then I should rectify that immediately," the mage replied seductively, wrapping his arms around her waist and kissing her deeply.
Her hands buried themselves in his hair, releasing it from the tie, while his hands stroked her back and sides. They kissed passionately breaking for air several times but always returning for more. Numair knew this was a foolish risk, but his mind couldn't seem to care with Daine pressed up against him. It was difficult to believe this was happening now a sense of normalcy had returned to their lives. The mage was ashamed to admit that the Wildmage had instigated every moment between them over the last two weeks. She had been the one holding his hand under the dinner table, and she had been the one coming to his room seeking a private moment with him.
Daine broke the kiss suddenly, her eyes wide. "The woodchuck – Spidrens!"
Time seemed to slow down as the Wildmage tried to pull away from him to reach her bow and quiver she'd left on the ground. In front of the pair, five spidrens emerged from the trees, the three forwardmost creatures rearing to reveal their spinnerets. Numair didn't even think as he pulled the young woman against him, holding out his left hand as his voice thundered. His Gift exploded out of him, incinerating the five Immortals and the surrounding forest. It took the mage a few moments to realise what he'd done as his eyes widened in horror. He looked at Daine who clung to him with fear in her eyes. The forest was gone, completely turned to ash and not a living thing stood in front of them for half a mile. Numair heard shouts behind them and released his hold on the Wildmage, standing there numb with shock as knights and Riders appeared around them. He could distantly hear Daine tell them about the spidrens as he thought he heard someone calling his name.
"Master Salmalín!" The mage turned to look at the Knight Commander. "Numair, we should return to camp."
"Yes, of course," he muttered.
The knights and Riders gave the mage nervous looks, giving him space as Raoul led him back to camp. Numair didn't speak to anyone as he sat in front of the fire watching the flames. He still hadn't moved by the time morning came and ignored the worried looks his friends kept giving him as they prepared to move out.
The mage still hadn't spoken a single word when Daine touched his arm and offered him a bowl of soup when they stopped for the midday meal. He accepted it, holding the bowl impassively as she sat beside him. Onua took a seat on his other side while Tkaa and Kitten sat close by. The women sat eating in silence watching their tall friend who merely held his bowl.
"I'm sorry I frightened you," he whispered.
"I wasn't afraid," the Wildmage looked up at him sharply.
"I saw your eyes, Daine," Numair said despairingly. "I scared you." It had to happen sooner or later, but the mage hated himself for putting that look in her eyes just as they'd been about to begin a relationship.
"I was scared for you not of you, dolt," she grabbed his arm, pinning him with a hard stare. "You don't use your magic like that unless you're rushed. You're usually more precise, more controlled."
He searched her eyes looking for any sign of fear as the young woman met his gaze stubbornly, daring him to question her. Numair hadn't understood until this moment just how much he needed Daine's complete and utter trust in him. She was the only one who truly accepted him for who and what he was, and he could not have born it had he destroyed that between them.
"How many did I kill?" the mage asked tentatively.
"What do you mean?" she frowned in confusion.
Numair swallowed the lump in his throat. "How many of the People did I kill?"
"None."
"Daine, don't lie to me!" he snapped.
"You never killed anyone!" the Wildmage shouted back. "There was no one around for miles 'cause of those spidrens. If I hadn't of been so distracted, I might've realised the woodchuck was the only animal around."
"What distracted you?" Onua asked watching the exchange.
"It was – We were –" Daine stuttered looking panicked.
"It was an experiment," Numair answered blandly.
The K'miri pursed her lips. "Why do you think you lost control of your magic like that?"
"I was remembering the last time we encountered spidrens: Daine and I had been separated and I thought they had killed her. I saw the image of her lifeless body falling to the floor and I reacted without thinking," he replied.
The young woman's eyes lit in understanding as she shifted closer to him and put her arm around his waist. "I'm alright. I'm not hurt or dead. You saw to that – both times."
The mage saw her reassuring smile and felt something ease inside his chest as he wrapped an arm around her, holding her close for a few seconds feeling some of the pain and fear release before removing his arm, wishing selfishly that they didn't have company.
"Eat your soup before it gets cold," the K'miri said pointing her spoon at his bowl. She was watching him warily like a jittery colt that might bolt.
Numair offered his friends a small smile and began to eat his meal which seemed to reassure them all.
.
