Chapter 5: Mysterious Beginnings
"What do you mean it wasn't you running across the deck after Kitten? Everyone saw you Alanna. And it's not like none of us have tried to punish her before." Daine exclaimed.
"I told you Daine. For the entire trip I was down below deck blowing chunks, as Numair so charmingly put it. Kitten was staring at me but I only chased her as far as the deck, no farther."
"Than who or what chased her? Numair didn't sense anything usual and Kitten would have made another mage's presence known without qualms." Duke Gareth asked.
Daine, Alanna, Duke Gareth, Onua, Daine, Thayet, Kitten, and Zek were sitting in Jonathon's large study discussing the accident. Numair wasn't present because he was still bedridden and would be for another day or two.
"There are several explanations: one, Numair was to busy swooning over Daine to pay attention to anything and Kitten was too busy staring at Alanna to think about it; two, There's a very powerful mage who knows the art of simucra and magical cover up, this would stop Numair, but Kitten..." Jonathon listed. The fact that Kitten rarely missed a magical presence if ever was left unspoken.
"One thing is obvious. Whoever it was intended to hurt Daine and Numair if not kill them. The fact they almost succeeded is most troubling. They intended to rid Tortall of its most powerful mages in one fell swoop." Alanna stated frankly.
"How were they trying to hurt Numair? I assumed that Numair was an accident and that Daine was their main target." Duke Gareth had a puzzled look on his face.
"They may not have intended to bodily hurt Numair, but they almost certainly intended to hurt them both. If they had succeeded in killing Daine, it would have definitely driven Numair into maddening grief and vice versa." Thayet explained. "Luckily they did not succeed in killing either of them. I shudder to think what would have happened if Daine hadn't pulled Numair out."
"The question still left unanswered is who and why. I've spoken to Kaddar and he swore under oath and truth spell. He didn't do it. Kaddar's gift is limited and he would hardly be able to foil one of my truth spells." Alanna stated matter-of-factly.
"I also tested him. There is no one in the world that can foil a K'mir truth spell that I've ever heard of." Onua added.
"We have to get to the bottom of this. There's too much at stake if we don't." Thayet added as an afterthought.
"George said he's got some contacts that might be able to help. He's contacting them right now. If they can we have a leg up. If they can't we're no worse off than we were." Alanna said.
"I guess we're done here then. Alanna, do you think you can get Numair's leg healed?" Thayet asked, "We need him to inspect the ship."
"No, actually I'm afraid not. That particular break is too sensitive to heal with magic. If I tried he could end up with his leg facing the wrong way. Like I said: He'll be able to walk with support tomorrow if the leg is wrapped properly." Alanna explained apologetically.
"Very well," Jonathon said.
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"Numair, you're sure that you didn't sense anything?" Alanna questioned.
"I told you Alanna. Yes all ready! Okay?"
"Whatever." Alanna replied and stalked out of the room.
"You shouldn't make her mad like that. You aren't exactly in the best condition to fight a magical duel." Daine said concern in her blue-grey eyes.
"Nonsense, I'm fine."
"No, no it's not nonsense." Hurt now replaced the concern, "Alanna doesn't play duel and you know it. I almost lost you once. I never want that again."
"Daine, I'm sorry. I didn't mean..."
"Forget it."
Numair hated it when his temper got the better of him. He always ended up hurting someone. For some reason that someone was always Daine; He cursed silently under his breath as he watched her leave with one last look around and a sigh. Every thing would be okay if he could go after her. He would run after her and sweep her up in his arms and she'd forget everything. But now he couldn't. He sat their miserable and in pain as he mentally kicked himself. She'd done nothing wrong; she was concerned for him. Instead of being comforted he snapped at her. He fell back into the pillows and into a nightmare filled sleep.
"What do you mean it wasn't you running across the deck after Kitten? Everyone saw you Alanna. And it's not like none of us have tried to punish her before." Daine exclaimed.
"I told you Daine. For the entire trip I was down below deck blowing chunks, as Numair so charmingly put it. Kitten was staring at me but I only chased her as far as the deck, no farther."
"Than who or what chased her? Numair didn't sense anything usual and Kitten would have made another mage's presence known without qualms." Duke Gareth asked.
Daine, Alanna, Duke Gareth, Onua, Daine, Thayet, Kitten, and Zek were sitting in Jonathon's large study discussing the accident. Numair wasn't present because he was still bedridden and would be for another day or two.
"There are several explanations: one, Numair was to busy swooning over Daine to pay attention to anything and Kitten was too busy staring at Alanna to think about it; two, There's a very powerful mage who knows the art of simucra and magical cover up, this would stop Numair, but Kitten..." Jonathon listed. The fact that Kitten rarely missed a magical presence if ever was left unspoken.
"One thing is obvious. Whoever it was intended to hurt Daine and Numair if not kill them. The fact they almost succeeded is most troubling. They intended to rid Tortall of its most powerful mages in one fell swoop." Alanna stated frankly.
"How were they trying to hurt Numair? I assumed that Numair was an accident and that Daine was their main target." Duke Gareth had a puzzled look on his face.
"They may not have intended to bodily hurt Numair, but they almost certainly intended to hurt them both. If they had succeeded in killing Daine, it would have definitely driven Numair into maddening grief and vice versa." Thayet explained. "Luckily they did not succeed in killing either of them. I shudder to think what would have happened if Daine hadn't pulled Numair out."
"The question still left unanswered is who and why. I've spoken to Kaddar and he swore under oath and truth spell. He didn't do it. Kaddar's gift is limited and he would hardly be able to foil one of my truth spells." Alanna stated matter-of-factly.
"I also tested him. There is no one in the world that can foil a K'mir truth spell that I've ever heard of." Onua added.
"We have to get to the bottom of this. There's too much at stake if we don't." Thayet added as an afterthought.
"George said he's got some contacts that might be able to help. He's contacting them right now. If they can we have a leg up. If they can't we're no worse off than we were." Alanna said.
"I guess we're done here then. Alanna, do you think you can get Numair's leg healed?" Thayet asked, "We need him to inspect the ship."
"No, actually I'm afraid not. That particular break is too sensitive to heal with magic. If I tried he could end up with his leg facing the wrong way. Like I said: He'll be able to walk with support tomorrow if the leg is wrapped properly." Alanna explained apologetically.
"Very well," Jonathon said.
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"Numair, you're sure that you didn't sense anything?" Alanna questioned.
"I told you Alanna. Yes all ready! Okay?"
"Whatever." Alanna replied and stalked out of the room.
"You shouldn't make her mad like that. You aren't exactly in the best condition to fight a magical duel." Daine said concern in her blue-grey eyes.
"Nonsense, I'm fine."
"No, no it's not nonsense." Hurt now replaced the concern, "Alanna doesn't play duel and you know it. I almost lost you once. I never want that again."
"Daine, I'm sorry. I didn't mean..."
"Forget it."
Numair hated it when his temper got the better of him. He always ended up hurting someone. For some reason that someone was always Daine; He cursed silently under his breath as he watched her leave with one last look around and a sigh. Every thing would be okay if he could go after her. He would run after her and sweep her up in his arms and she'd forget everything. But now he couldn't. He sat their miserable and in pain as he mentally kicked himself. She'd done nothing wrong; she was concerned for him. Instead of being comforted he snapped at her. He fell back into the pillows and into a nightmare filled sleep.