CHAPTER FIVE A Dangerous Question
Daine and Numair returned to their room late that night, exhausted from questions and dancing.
They entered their room to find a still sulky-gray Kitten curled up asleep on scratched up blankets on the floor of the small room. Kitten had been very upset when Daine informed her that she could not leave the room or go to the ball.
She had obviously taken out her feelings toward this new restriction on the blankets, but Daine and Numair were too tired to scold.
They slept late the next morning, past the first bell and awoke with a start, feeling refreshed.
Immediately they began to ready themselves and rushed to the outdoor practice courts of pages and squires, worried that they may be late and deciding that it was better to be on time and miss breakfast than be full and late.
They arrived to find that practicing pages and squires were being ushered off the courts and that six cages and a post had been brought in.
Daine could sense the distress of the animals within the cages and went directly to them, forgetting where she was and that people were watching.
"Poor things!" she whispered as she peered inside each of the cages and greeted the occupants.
In the first cage there were four frightened hawks, most likely from the palace mews.
The next cage held an injured wolf, lying on its side whimpering.
The third cage in the line up had a grizzly bear cub, crying for its mother.
Three shivering hedgehogs were to be found in the fourth and smallest cage.
The fifth cage housed five marmosets, cringing with fear and huddled in the corner of their enclosure.
And in the sixth cage there was a lioness, the only calm animal, lazily licking her chops, and grumpily observing her surroundings.
Next to the cages, tied onto the post that was brought in was an extremely cantankerous horse.
Daine, not realizing that the second bell had rung and that she now had a large crowd filled with important nobles and scholars, as well as mages and others just plain curious, began to bathe the animals in reassurance.
They calmed immediately and all was quiet, every eye (human and animal) was focused and Daine as she settled herself in front of the cages, preparing to compensate for the injustices and mistreatments they had faced.
On the outside Daine appeared calm and merely like she was just helping animals because she could. But on the inside Daine was furious at the horrible treatment of these animals.
She had expected better from this king, but she comforted herself with the thought that an ignorant fool may have caged these animals without the king's knowledge.
She fully intended to express her indignation to Numair once she was done.
Numair had realized early on the value in Daine not seeing the crowd, understanding that, albeit she may get embarrassed afterwards, while she was doing this first demonstration she would not be nervous.
So when people arrived her instructed them to sit in the chairs provided, be quiet, and watch. Questions would be answered later.
The crowd consisted of many people, but the main ones of interest were the King and Queen, Myles, Jon, Gary, Raoul, Douglass, Sacherell, "Alan", Roger, Alex, Delia (here not to watch the demonstration, but to flirt with Jon), and a hooded figure towards the back.
A hooded figure with hazel eyes, a well-muscled chest, and brown hair that knew Alanna well and was up from the city (A/N: okay I gave enough hints, EVERYBODY who has read the Alanna books should well know who that certain hooded figure is!) to watch the mysterious new comers and make his own judgments for Alanna's sake.
All eyes, as was said before, were on Daine as she settled herself in front of the cages. After introducing herself to the animals she took an inventory on who needed her the most at this moment.
Swiftly deciding that it was the wolf she moved over to the second cage and opened it up. She slowly lifted the wolf out, so involved she was with what she was doing she failed to hear the gasp of surprise and the occasional whisper of 'I was sure that wolf would take her head off.' Only Jon, Gary, Raoul, and "Alan" remained unsurprised after having met Kitten and getting a preview demonstration.
Daine placed the wolf's head onto her lap and stroked it gently as she took a "look" at what she was dealing with. The wolf had a broken paw, but it was a clean break.
As she worked she told the wolf what she was going to do and asked how this paw had become in such a state.
The wolf simply replied that he had been separated from his pack and got caught in a trap. A hunter came and put him in a cage, but now he was glad that such things had befallen him for now he had met Daine.
Daine smiled at this, but then remembered how the wolf had been injured in the first place.
Daine's anger grew.
After healing the wolf Daine went onto the hawks, two of which had head trauma and all were very shaken up. As she worked the wolf walked or sat beside her, to the crowd's amazement.
After the hawks were healed and told their story (while being put into the cage they had fought and were smacked on the head to keep them from biting and scratching, again Daine's anger grew) Daine went on to the horse, the wolf and hawks sat beside her watching.
The horse had been trained for a bit by a young, hot-tempered fellow and now had sores all along his mouth, making him extremely irritable. Daine fixed him up in a snap and untethered him. He too did not run away, but instead stood beside Daine with the others.
After the horse it came time to help the grizzly cub. She had been badly shaken up and wanted her mother. Daine calmed the cub, told her where she was, and promised to return her to her mother as soon as possible.
The cub soon joined the others, very much contented. The four shivering hedgehogs and five cringing marmosets came next, all at once and, being uninjured only badly frightened, were soon calmed and happily sitting with the other animals.
The lioness came last and it is a wonder that Daine did not hear the crowd at this moment for they set up a low pitched murmur and many gasps were to be heard, but so involved in her work Daine never heard a thing.
Although the reason also could have been that her anger had become so immense that it was now a buzz in her ears so she failed to hear the crowd.
The lioness came from the menagerie and was perfectly fine; spare a couple of bruises from a not-so-graceful transport to the area she was now in. Daine still healed the bruises and comforted the large cat until the lioness rub up against her affectionately and insisted she was fine.
Now after this display of affection Daine was satisfied and her anger became the foremost thing on her mind.
Turning to tell her woes to Numair she began saying in no kindly terms that whoever did this was to pay for their stupid, ignorant, foolish, doltish, and all around cruel way of treating animals. It was after stating this and fully turning around did Daine finally notice the crowd.
Turning red from head to toe Daine gulped and laughed shakily, then she glared at Numair relating to him in no uncertain terms he would pay for not alerting her of her audience sooner.
Although her opinion of Numair quickly changed as he saved her from more embarrassment and explained the true significance of her rash words. Now Numair was her savior…of a sort.
"As you can see Daine's wild magic allows her to communicate with and heal animals. She can make animals listen to her through the will of her mind, but she rarely needs to, animals naturally listen to her. Besides healing and communicating she can shape shift. But like any power wild magic has its drawbacks. Daine can also feel the pain of any animal and is connected to them deeply, making her have an extreme dislike of cages and poor treatment of animals."
The crowd seemed appeased after Numair's carefully chosen words and charming way of putting them together.
Questions began to be asked and just as Daine and Numair were beginning to feel a bit overwhelmed the King interrupted.
"I believe before questions we would like to see more demonstrations of Lady Veralidaine's power. Shape shifting for example." The King sat in his seat and the crowd became silent.
Daine turned to the crowd of animals behind her and told them that they were to stay put. Then she shifted into the first animal that came to mind: an eagle.
Numair moved the pile of clothes away to reveal a Bald eagle and the crowd again gasped in wonder.
Daine the Eagle flew off and around, screeching once in awhile and finally landing on Numair's tunic-covered arm.
"Daine also has the ability to combine different types of animals to make herself shape into one animal with many animals features." Numair announced to the crowd as Daine the Eagle jumped to the ground and shifted into and animal with the body of a lion, the head of a cheetah, the tail of a Kud Kud, and the legs/feet of an ocelot.
The differences were apparent to even the most thickheaded of the crowd.
"Daine has also gained the ability to shape her own head and vocal chords onto whatever animal she may be."
At this time Daine shaped completely into a hawk, then she shifted the Hawk head into her own human one. She found that since she first learned to shape her own head onto a bird one it was the easiest to do, although she could do it as any animal, she preferred a bird.
The gasps form the crowd had quickly changed form gasps of wonder to mingled gasps of wonder, chock, awe, and disgust.
Daine jumped back to her clothes and shaped into a mouse then crawled in, slowly changing back to herself and back into her clothes.
The crowd was silent.
Forgotten was the earlier feel of irritation at this girl who had the nerve to yell at their king, a common born girl who felt she could make them in awe.
It was now replaced by disbelief and questions that popped into the audiences' heads were soon voiced.
Daine took over for Numair at this point. She had become slightly more comfortable with the audience after she awed them into silence and she could best answer their questions.
"Have you always had your magic?" one man yelled.
"Yes," Daine replied.
"When did you learn how to use it?" A particularly shrill-voiced woman was heard to ask.
"When I was thirteen I started learning, but my training has not ended yet. I'm still learning new things." Daine answered.
"How is Master Salmalin connected to you?" One voice form the back asked and Daine had a suspicious feeling it was one of the ladies from the tailor's.
At this moment Daine hesitated for a moment then glanced at Numair. Numair looked her straight in the eye and related to her the information Daine wanted to know. "I met Master Numair when I thirteen and he became my teacher. Since then he has also become one of my closest...friends."
"How do you shape shift into animals?"
"I just think about that animal, its habitat, and sometimes its thoughts. When I want to change back I think about myself."
"Can you shape into [I any /I] animal?"
"Any and every animal, except Immortals."
"What do you mean by 'Immortals'?"
"Griffins, Dragons, and such."
And the questions continued until all were satisfied and the King and Queen were forced to leave. A majority of the audience left, but some stayed and talked to Daine and Numair.
One such group that talked to Daine was Roger, Alex, and Delia, although Delia didn't do any talking and was not at all interested in the conversation.
The topics ranged as the three conversed and Delia stood looking bored. Daine was extremely nervous throughout all the conversation. She was nervous about the Duke and Alex, but mainly the Duke.
She hated him for some reason, but did not know why and she was afraid he would casually pry something out of her.
Meanwhile the hooded stranger was conversing with "Alan" about something private, for they both talked quietly and in a corner where they could survey all of their surroundings.
The crowd around Numair began to dissipate, and he started towards Daine, not liking leaving her alone with three people he did NOT trust.
Suddenly Daine's fear became a reality as the Duke quietly asked a simple question.
"Maybe you wouldn't mind telling me where you are [I really /I] from Lady Veralidaine of...Tyra."
ooo, a semi-cliff hanger! The next Chapter should come out soon, i already have it all planned and half written!
I would now like to take this time to thank everyone who has reviewed my story so far!
Martini-I continued and I hope to continue more often as well!
Cherry-Alanna-I intend to add more A/J, probably in the next two chapters as well as a bit of an A/G A/J conflict in a future chappie
Nazqulette- Thank you! I'm glad that you feel that way!
Ahcool- I hope to finish this story soon, and thanks!
Lia- Thank you, it's encouraging to hear such compliments on one's works!
Alanna Black-You wrote plenty for me! Thanks!
Eve of Mirkwood- definitely more, you said please after all! ;)
Dragon Girl of Revlis- As always? Thank you! That's nice to hear! P.S. I already have something like that planned;) oh yes and glad to be a life saver
Keita- I tried to make that clear, but it was hard. Yes they know he is evil and they do want to do something about it, but they are unsure of their place in this past. I will try to update more often! Thank you! Oh and "for the love of toast and everything on toast" I will try to come up with a better title! Suggestions are welcome:)
Chopstix- I will keep going, thanks for the encouragement
Ally- glad you think its cute and you like it so far!
Scarlet Mage- Albeit that would be very interesting and probably quite humorous, it won't work with the ending I have planned, but maybe an alternate ending or a sequel should be in order?
Lady Marianna- Thanks!
Pen Pen- Why thank you, I enjoyed reading about the specific points you made about plots, characters, writing etc. That is always so helpful!
Ali275-Expect more soon
Kati-Thank you and I'm glad you liked it, don't worry there is more A/G coming in the nest chapter!
Barannilwen- I'm glad that my story isn't just empty words, but intriguing! Thanks for the encouragement and for being the first reviewer (not like I don't appreciate everyone else's reviews, because I do immensely, but come on…it was my first review! ;))
Daine and Numair returned to their room late that night, exhausted from questions and dancing.
They entered their room to find a still sulky-gray Kitten curled up asleep on scratched up blankets on the floor of the small room. Kitten had been very upset when Daine informed her that she could not leave the room or go to the ball.
She had obviously taken out her feelings toward this new restriction on the blankets, but Daine and Numair were too tired to scold.
They slept late the next morning, past the first bell and awoke with a start, feeling refreshed.
Immediately they began to ready themselves and rushed to the outdoor practice courts of pages and squires, worried that they may be late and deciding that it was better to be on time and miss breakfast than be full and late.
They arrived to find that practicing pages and squires were being ushered off the courts and that six cages and a post had been brought in.
Daine could sense the distress of the animals within the cages and went directly to them, forgetting where she was and that people were watching.
"Poor things!" she whispered as she peered inside each of the cages and greeted the occupants.
In the first cage there were four frightened hawks, most likely from the palace mews.
The next cage held an injured wolf, lying on its side whimpering.
The third cage in the line up had a grizzly bear cub, crying for its mother.
Three shivering hedgehogs were to be found in the fourth and smallest cage.
The fifth cage housed five marmosets, cringing with fear and huddled in the corner of their enclosure.
And in the sixth cage there was a lioness, the only calm animal, lazily licking her chops, and grumpily observing her surroundings.
Next to the cages, tied onto the post that was brought in was an extremely cantankerous horse.
Daine, not realizing that the second bell had rung and that she now had a large crowd filled with important nobles and scholars, as well as mages and others just plain curious, began to bathe the animals in reassurance.
They calmed immediately and all was quiet, every eye (human and animal) was focused and Daine as she settled herself in front of the cages, preparing to compensate for the injustices and mistreatments they had faced.
On the outside Daine appeared calm and merely like she was just helping animals because she could. But on the inside Daine was furious at the horrible treatment of these animals.
She had expected better from this king, but she comforted herself with the thought that an ignorant fool may have caged these animals without the king's knowledge.
She fully intended to express her indignation to Numair once she was done.
Numair had realized early on the value in Daine not seeing the crowd, understanding that, albeit she may get embarrassed afterwards, while she was doing this first demonstration she would not be nervous.
So when people arrived her instructed them to sit in the chairs provided, be quiet, and watch. Questions would be answered later.
The crowd consisted of many people, but the main ones of interest were the King and Queen, Myles, Jon, Gary, Raoul, Douglass, Sacherell, "Alan", Roger, Alex, Delia (here not to watch the demonstration, but to flirt with Jon), and a hooded figure towards the back.
A hooded figure with hazel eyes, a well-muscled chest, and brown hair that knew Alanna well and was up from the city (A/N: okay I gave enough hints, EVERYBODY who has read the Alanna books should well know who that certain hooded figure is!) to watch the mysterious new comers and make his own judgments for Alanna's sake.
All eyes, as was said before, were on Daine as she settled herself in front of the cages. After introducing herself to the animals she took an inventory on who needed her the most at this moment.
Swiftly deciding that it was the wolf she moved over to the second cage and opened it up. She slowly lifted the wolf out, so involved she was with what she was doing she failed to hear the gasp of surprise and the occasional whisper of 'I was sure that wolf would take her head off.' Only Jon, Gary, Raoul, and "Alan" remained unsurprised after having met Kitten and getting a preview demonstration.
Daine placed the wolf's head onto her lap and stroked it gently as she took a "look" at what she was dealing with. The wolf had a broken paw, but it was a clean break.
As she worked she told the wolf what she was going to do and asked how this paw had become in such a state.
The wolf simply replied that he had been separated from his pack and got caught in a trap. A hunter came and put him in a cage, but now he was glad that such things had befallen him for now he had met Daine.
Daine smiled at this, but then remembered how the wolf had been injured in the first place.
Daine's anger grew.
After healing the wolf Daine went onto the hawks, two of which had head trauma and all were very shaken up. As she worked the wolf walked or sat beside her, to the crowd's amazement.
After the hawks were healed and told their story (while being put into the cage they had fought and were smacked on the head to keep them from biting and scratching, again Daine's anger grew) Daine went on to the horse, the wolf and hawks sat beside her watching.
The horse had been trained for a bit by a young, hot-tempered fellow and now had sores all along his mouth, making him extremely irritable. Daine fixed him up in a snap and untethered him. He too did not run away, but instead stood beside Daine with the others.
After the horse it came time to help the grizzly cub. She had been badly shaken up and wanted her mother. Daine calmed the cub, told her where she was, and promised to return her to her mother as soon as possible.
The cub soon joined the others, very much contented. The four shivering hedgehogs and five cringing marmosets came next, all at once and, being uninjured only badly frightened, were soon calmed and happily sitting with the other animals.
The lioness came last and it is a wonder that Daine did not hear the crowd at this moment for they set up a low pitched murmur and many gasps were to be heard, but so involved in her work Daine never heard a thing.
Although the reason also could have been that her anger had become so immense that it was now a buzz in her ears so she failed to hear the crowd.
The lioness came from the menagerie and was perfectly fine; spare a couple of bruises from a not-so-graceful transport to the area she was now in. Daine still healed the bruises and comforted the large cat until the lioness rub up against her affectionately and insisted she was fine.
Now after this display of affection Daine was satisfied and her anger became the foremost thing on her mind.
Turning to tell her woes to Numair she began saying in no kindly terms that whoever did this was to pay for their stupid, ignorant, foolish, doltish, and all around cruel way of treating animals. It was after stating this and fully turning around did Daine finally notice the crowd.
Turning red from head to toe Daine gulped and laughed shakily, then she glared at Numair relating to him in no uncertain terms he would pay for not alerting her of her audience sooner.
Although her opinion of Numair quickly changed as he saved her from more embarrassment and explained the true significance of her rash words. Now Numair was her savior…of a sort.
"As you can see Daine's wild magic allows her to communicate with and heal animals. She can make animals listen to her through the will of her mind, but she rarely needs to, animals naturally listen to her. Besides healing and communicating she can shape shift. But like any power wild magic has its drawbacks. Daine can also feel the pain of any animal and is connected to them deeply, making her have an extreme dislike of cages and poor treatment of animals."
The crowd seemed appeased after Numair's carefully chosen words and charming way of putting them together.
Questions began to be asked and just as Daine and Numair were beginning to feel a bit overwhelmed the King interrupted.
"I believe before questions we would like to see more demonstrations of Lady Veralidaine's power. Shape shifting for example." The King sat in his seat and the crowd became silent.
Daine turned to the crowd of animals behind her and told them that they were to stay put. Then she shifted into the first animal that came to mind: an eagle.
Numair moved the pile of clothes away to reveal a Bald eagle and the crowd again gasped in wonder.
Daine the Eagle flew off and around, screeching once in awhile and finally landing on Numair's tunic-covered arm.
"Daine also has the ability to combine different types of animals to make herself shape into one animal with many animals features." Numair announced to the crowd as Daine the Eagle jumped to the ground and shifted into and animal with the body of a lion, the head of a cheetah, the tail of a Kud Kud, and the legs/feet of an ocelot.
The differences were apparent to even the most thickheaded of the crowd.
"Daine has also gained the ability to shape her own head and vocal chords onto whatever animal she may be."
At this time Daine shaped completely into a hawk, then she shifted the Hawk head into her own human one. She found that since she first learned to shape her own head onto a bird one it was the easiest to do, although she could do it as any animal, she preferred a bird.
The gasps form the crowd had quickly changed form gasps of wonder to mingled gasps of wonder, chock, awe, and disgust.
Daine jumped back to her clothes and shaped into a mouse then crawled in, slowly changing back to herself and back into her clothes.
The crowd was silent.
Forgotten was the earlier feel of irritation at this girl who had the nerve to yell at their king, a common born girl who felt she could make them in awe.
It was now replaced by disbelief and questions that popped into the audiences' heads were soon voiced.
Daine took over for Numair at this point. She had become slightly more comfortable with the audience after she awed them into silence and she could best answer their questions.
"Have you always had your magic?" one man yelled.
"Yes," Daine replied.
"When did you learn how to use it?" A particularly shrill-voiced woman was heard to ask.
"When I was thirteen I started learning, but my training has not ended yet. I'm still learning new things." Daine answered.
"How is Master Salmalin connected to you?" One voice form the back asked and Daine had a suspicious feeling it was one of the ladies from the tailor's.
At this moment Daine hesitated for a moment then glanced at Numair. Numair looked her straight in the eye and related to her the information Daine wanted to know. "I met Master Numair when I thirteen and he became my teacher. Since then he has also become one of my closest...friends."
"How do you shape shift into animals?"
"I just think about that animal, its habitat, and sometimes its thoughts. When I want to change back I think about myself."
"Can you shape into [I any /I] animal?"
"Any and every animal, except Immortals."
"What do you mean by 'Immortals'?"
"Griffins, Dragons, and such."
And the questions continued until all were satisfied and the King and Queen were forced to leave. A majority of the audience left, but some stayed and talked to Daine and Numair.
One such group that talked to Daine was Roger, Alex, and Delia, although Delia didn't do any talking and was not at all interested in the conversation.
The topics ranged as the three conversed and Delia stood looking bored. Daine was extremely nervous throughout all the conversation. She was nervous about the Duke and Alex, but mainly the Duke.
She hated him for some reason, but did not know why and she was afraid he would casually pry something out of her.
Meanwhile the hooded stranger was conversing with "Alan" about something private, for they both talked quietly and in a corner where they could survey all of their surroundings.
The crowd around Numair began to dissipate, and he started towards Daine, not liking leaving her alone with three people he did NOT trust.
Suddenly Daine's fear became a reality as the Duke quietly asked a simple question.
"Maybe you wouldn't mind telling me where you are [I really /I] from Lady Veralidaine of...Tyra."
ooo, a semi-cliff hanger! The next Chapter should come out soon, i already have it all planned and half written!
I would now like to take this time to thank everyone who has reviewed my story so far!
Martini-I continued and I hope to continue more often as well!
Cherry-Alanna-I intend to add more A/J, probably in the next two chapters as well as a bit of an A/G A/J conflict in a future chappie
Nazqulette- Thank you! I'm glad that you feel that way!
Ahcool- I hope to finish this story soon, and thanks!
Lia- Thank you, it's encouraging to hear such compliments on one's works!
Alanna Black-You wrote plenty for me! Thanks!
Eve of Mirkwood- definitely more, you said please after all! ;)
Dragon Girl of Revlis- As always? Thank you! That's nice to hear! P.S. I already have something like that planned;) oh yes and glad to be a life saver
Keita- I tried to make that clear, but it was hard. Yes they know he is evil and they do want to do something about it, but they are unsure of their place in this past. I will try to update more often! Thank you! Oh and "for the love of toast and everything on toast" I will try to come up with a better title! Suggestions are welcome:)
Chopstix- I will keep going, thanks for the encouragement
Ally- glad you think its cute and you like it so far!
Scarlet Mage- Albeit that would be very interesting and probably quite humorous, it won't work with the ending I have planned, but maybe an alternate ending or a sequel should be in order?
Lady Marianna- Thanks!
Pen Pen- Why thank you, I enjoyed reading about the specific points you made about plots, characters, writing etc. That is always so helpful!
Ali275-Expect more soon
Kati-Thank you and I'm glad you liked it, don't worry there is more A/G coming in the nest chapter!
Barannilwen- I'm glad that my story isn't just empty words, but intriguing! Thanks for the encouragement and for being the first reviewer (not like I don't appreciate everyone else's reviews, because I do immensely, but come on…it was my first review! ;))