Chapter 9: Stunned Stormwings and Grumpy Gods
Anis was quickly making her way toward the Copper Isles, two dolphins in tow who carried Daine. She was desperately trying to reach the Isles before the Tortallians reached home, where they could start a search, or worse, declare war on the Isles. Daine was tied to the dolphins by their dorsal fins. She was still unconscious from a combination of Anis's magic and exhaustion. Anis thought her plan was perfect, or at least it would have been if it hadn't taken place on the midsummer solstice.
"Oh Anis, a word if I may?" A male voice called over the waves. Anis looked up, searching for the source. She was right in front of a large rock. She looked up just in time to see a blonde stormwing land on the rock.
"Good to see you well; Wyrin and Sara want a word about your cargo. It seems it has several illegal features."
"Rikash? I thought that you were dead! What does it matter if those two want a word anyway? They can't do anything about it."
"You are thick! When is the only time they can visit?"
"The solstices."
"And what day is it today?"
"You can't be serious! I planned it so that the crime was the day before so that they couldn't do. Oh Dang." Anis realized a day too late that she was supposed to have Daine drowned or at the Isles by today, but she hadn't counted on the storm holding out for so long and slowing her down. Now it would seem she had no choice but to drown her then and their before her parents show'd up.
"I've been tracking you since the ship. Seems that they heard that you had their daughter; I told them that you were a well behaved individual and that you wouldn't do something so disgustingly low. I agreed to check for good measure. I guess they were right, hmm." Rikash continued. "Don't even think about it." He said, seeing Anis edge toward Daine's wet, sleeping form.
It was then that Anis looked behind Rikash and saw a large wavy hole from which three figures were emerging. The first sported antlers on his head, the second seemed to be a common house wife, and the third was a badger. Anis grabbed Daine and untied her.
"Well well well! Who do we have here? If it isn't Anis, back from the realms of Chaos! And with Sara's daughter in tow! How interesting. I thought that you swore that you were going to stop attempting to mess with mortal and divine occurrences in return for your freedom. Apparently you didn't listen well enough to understand that that meant NO interference what so ever. Mithros wants a word and he sent us to tell you that that girl, besides being their daughter, is part of several future events that can't happen without her. I'm surprised you were willing to risk returning to Chaos to kill one girl." The badger said his voice calm with a hint of sarcasm.
"Well badger, you can tell Mithros to come here and tell me himself! I'm surprised you tolerate stormwings, I thought you had better taste. Of course, I've been trying to rid the world of them. Unfortunently they're too smart for their own good." With that, Anis disappeared into the water, Daine in tow.
"Oh No you Don't!, Wyrin roared as he dove in after her. "He caught up to her in moments and was shooting arrows in rapid succesion. The water seemed to not hinder them in the least. Anis dodged them as fast as she could without dropping Daine. Finally one found its mark, deep in Anis's arm. She dropped Daine and began to drift downward. She wasn't dead, but she was stunned, and would not wake for several days. By then Wyrin expected her to be in a divine court.
Wyrin grabbed Daine and pulled her to the surface and onto the rock. Daine coughed up a large amount of water before falling back unconcious. "I wish we could take her home where I could care for her properly, I don't like the idea of dropping her on shore and just leaving her." Sara said.
"I know, but Mithros said that we were not to let anyone know that we interfered. She'll be okay. She isn't injured, just tired. Where we're leaving her, she's sure to be discovered quickly." Wyrin rested his hand on Sara's shoulder as she stood. "Be sure you two drop her exactly where I told you." He said addressing the dolphins; they nodded as Wyrin carefully lowered Daine onto their backs. "Don't let her fall off."
To Sara the badger muttered, "I do hope Mithros didn't hear the last part about her being part of. I had to have some excuse."
With those words, they departed the way they came as the dolphins swam off toward the Tortallian shore.
***
The ship had docked in Port Legan two days after the abduction; instead of the warm colors that should have been worn when the company disembarked, everyone was in black. The crowds were silent instead of cheering. No one on shore had any idea what had happened until the message was relayed by magic what had happened. Very few had ever met Daine personally, but everyone knew that she was the most powerful wildmage in the country and that she was one of the king's advisors.
The animals were curious as to the whereabouts of Daine until they asked Zek as he passed. Zek held onto Kitten. If marmosets could cry, he would. Kitten was the same; listless. They followed Numair as he walked toward Spots and Cloud.
Where's Daine? Cloud asked, as her eyes searched the crowd.
I'll tell you on the way over. Zek said sadly.
"I'm so sorry Cloud. Daine's never coming back, so you'll have to stay with me." Numair sighed, his eyes red. He lifted Kitten and Zek onto Cloud, and then he hoisted himself onto Spots, and rode out toward his tower.
Anis was quickly making her way toward the Copper Isles, two dolphins in tow who carried Daine. She was desperately trying to reach the Isles before the Tortallians reached home, where they could start a search, or worse, declare war on the Isles. Daine was tied to the dolphins by their dorsal fins. She was still unconscious from a combination of Anis's magic and exhaustion. Anis thought her plan was perfect, or at least it would have been if it hadn't taken place on the midsummer solstice.
"Oh Anis, a word if I may?" A male voice called over the waves. Anis looked up, searching for the source. She was right in front of a large rock. She looked up just in time to see a blonde stormwing land on the rock.
"Good to see you well; Wyrin and Sara want a word about your cargo. It seems it has several illegal features."
"Rikash? I thought that you were dead! What does it matter if those two want a word anyway? They can't do anything about it."
"You are thick! When is the only time they can visit?"
"The solstices."
"And what day is it today?"
"You can't be serious! I planned it so that the crime was the day before so that they couldn't do. Oh Dang." Anis realized a day too late that she was supposed to have Daine drowned or at the Isles by today, but she hadn't counted on the storm holding out for so long and slowing her down. Now it would seem she had no choice but to drown her then and their before her parents show'd up.
"I've been tracking you since the ship. Seems that they heard that you had their daughter; I told them that you were a well behaved individual and that you wouldn't do something so disgustingly low. I agreed to check for good measure. I guess they were right, hmm." Rikash continued. "Don't even think about it." He said, seeing Anis edge toward Daine's wet, sleeping form.
It was then that Anis looked behind Rikash and saw a large wavy hole from which three figures were emerging. The first sported antlers on his head, the second seemed to be a common house wife, and the third was a badger. Anis grabbed Daine and untied her.
"Well well well! Who do we have here? If it isn't Anis, back from the realms of Chaos! And with Sara's daughter in tow! How interesting. I thought that you swore that you were going to stop attempting to mess with mortal and divine occurrences in return for your freedom. Apparently you didn't listen well enough to understand that that meant NO interference what so ever. Mithros wants a word and he sent us to tell you that that girl, besides being their daughter, is part of several future events that can't happen without her. I'm surprised you were willing to risk returning to Chaos to kill one girl." The badger said his voice calm with a hint of sarcasm.
"Well badger, you can tell Mithros to come here and tell me himself! I'm surprised you tolerate stormwings, I thought you had better taste. Of course, I've been trying to rid the world of them. Unfortunently they're too smart for their own good." With that, Anis disappeared into the water, Daine in tow.
"Oh No you Don't!, Wyrin roared as he dove in after her. "He caught up to her in moments and was shooting arrows in rapid succesion. The water seemed to not hinder them in the least. Anis dodged them as fast as she could without dropping Daine. Finally one found its mark, deep in Anis's arm. She dropped Daine and began to drift downward. She wasn't dead, but she was stunned, and would not wake for several days. By then Wyrin expected her to be in a divine court.
Wyrin grabbed Daine and pulled her to the surface and onto the rock. Daine coughed up a large amount of water before falling back unconcious. "I wish we could take her home where I could care for her properly, I don't like the idea of dropping her on shore and just leaving her." Sara said.
"I know, but Mithros said that we were not to let anyone know that we interfered. She'll be okay. She isn't injured, just tired. Where we're leaving her, she's sure to be discovered quickly." Wyrin rested his hand on Sara's shoulder as she stood. "Be sure you two drop her exactly where I told you." He said addressing the dolphins; they nodded as Wyrin carefully lowered Daine onto their backs. "Don't let her fall off."
To Sara the badger muttered, "I do hope Mithros didn't hear the last part about her being part of. I had to have some excuse."
With those words, they departed the way they came as the dolphins swam off toward the Tortallian shore.
***
The ship had docked in Port Legan two days after the abduction; instead of the warm colors that should have been worn when the company disembarked, everyone was in black. The crowds were silent instead of cheering. No one on shore had any idea what had happened until the message was relayed by magic what had happened. Very few had ever met Daine personally, but everyone knew that she was the most powerful wildmage in the country and that she was one of the king's advisors.
The animals were curious as to the whereabouts of Daine until they asked Zek as he passed. Zek held onto Kitten. If marmosets could cry, he would. Kitten was the same; listless. They followed Numair as he walked toward Spots and Cloud.
Where's Daine? Cloud asked, as her eyes searched the crowd.
I'll tell you on the way over. Zek said sadly.
"I'm so sorry Cloud. Daine's never coming back, so you'll have to stay with me." Numair sighed, his eyes red. He lifted Kitten and Zek onto Cloud, and then he hoisted himself onto Spots, and rode out toward his tower.