Daine sighed from her seat on the couch. It seemed like what had happened a few nights ago was all one big dream.
Nightmare, she corrected herself.
Against her will, Daines eyes wandered to the platform, for what seemed the thousandth time, to study the Emperor. He was reclined gracefully onto his throne which was draped with luxurious silks as he delicately nibbling a pear. His golden skin glowed in the soft light, and he boasting an entirely silver outfit which dazzled her eyes. He had not so much as glanced in her direction. Ever since the night-time feast had begun and he had appeared, decked out like an idol, he had been pretending she didn't exist.
Daine bit her lip, and that's just fine with me, she thought fiercely. If I ever talk to him again it will be too soon.
The Emperor hadn't sought her out again; when he was forced to speak to her he was coolly polite. The rest of the time he ignored her completely.
Daine glanced up to see Alanna deep in conversation with Gareth. She sought out Numair in the thick crowd but couldn't see him for all the richly clothed backs. Kitten had scuttled off a few minutes ago at the prospect of fresh admiration from some nobles.
Daine frowned and sank deeper into her seat. She wanted to talk to someone about the progress of the peace-talks. Alanna was busy and the only other person she would be happy to ask had disappeared somewhere.
How much longer did they have to stay here?
Smoothing a hand over her transparent light blue dress Daine admired the way her gold under-gown could be seen shining through.
If I'm not careful, I'll end up like one of these grand Carthaki ladies, she thought in amusement, concerned with nothing but how I look.
Zek stuck his cold nose in her ear and she flinched, petting him gently.
He had gorged himself on fruit and his tiny stomach was as bloated as a grapefruit.
I feel sick, he informed her queasily.
She snorted; I'm not at all surprised. Next time perhaps you'll think before you eat so much.
He nodded solemnly and the girl tickled him playfully.
She felt a sudden new presence tickle her mind as it entered the room. She let out a gentle probe and felt the fierce reply. She had been inside the mind of a lion before; they were proud, but she liked them.
Standing, she weaved her way through the crowd until she saw what she had been looking for.
A lion, one of the largest she had ever seen, was standing agitatedly, a muzzle on its jaw to keep its mouth clamped uncomfortably shut.
Everyone except the savage-looking man who held the lions lead was giving the fierce animal a wide birth.
Daine was appalled to see that in his spare hand the lion's keeper held a fierce whip, designed to hurt, not just scare. She stepped resolutely out of the crowd and walked up to the striking, golden animal.
Kneeling before it- the keeper spluttered angrily into his moustache and told her to stand back from this wild beast; she ignored him- she gently took his velvet-soft face between her hands and stared into his large, confident eyes.
He stared back at her a moment and then asked deliberately, Why do you consort amongst these creatures sister?
An insatiable anger simmered close underneath his skin. His hatred for humans was so strong she could almost feel it in her own bones.
What had happened to him to make him hate them so much? She wasn't sure she wanted to know.
I am one of them, she told him, feeling ashamed. I'm only people on the inside.
He looked at her, I see. His tone was unreadable. Then you will also laugh to see me fight this buffoon. If they did not put these restraints on me he would not stand a chance.
She frowned as she saw the new and old marks of a whip on his back. She reached out a careful hand and he snarled in pain as she laid it gently on his tender hurts.
Its ok, she told him softly, I can help you.
Help? He bared his teeth at her in scorn. I do not need your help.
You could have fooled me.
Daine took a deep breath and concentrated on the lions cuts. The new ones first, burn out the infection, and then make the skin grow until it covers the flesh underneath.
Daine examined the older wounds with her magic. These were trickier. There was no infection, and no skin to be re-knitted. All she could do was try to dull the ache this ill-used creature must feel constantly. She growled softly in her throat; being powerless to put an end to when a living thing was suffering… she could think of nothing worse.
Finished, she wiped her brow with the back of her hand and asked him, puzzled, What did you mean when you said I would laugh to see you fight?
He twitched his tail uncertainly. That's what humans do. They laugh.
Daine frowned at him. I don't understand. Why are you here?
A voice- Numairs- gently spoke into her ear. "Daine you have to come with me right now."
Twisted her neck to face him, Daine asked defiantly, "Why? Numair what's this lion doing here? He said something about fighting…"
She trailed off as she saw the agitation in her teachers face. "What is it?" She asked, mystified.
"I can't explain now. Just trust me. We need to leave right now." His face was dark with anger and he was looking from her to the lion in unease.
"If you say so." Daine allowed herself to be pulled to her feet and she spoke to the lion.
What's your name?
He growled in amusement. Leo. The tall man is right. You should go now before it starts.
Ignoring Numairs insistent tugs on her arm; she scowled down at him, hands on hips, Before what starts?
Leo gently butted her; his head came almost to her ribs. Never mind. Go now, I shall speak to you more later. No doubt I will want your magic again.
Daine was still staring back at him as Numair led her swiftly across the floor, his body and expression tense. Where Daine passed people inched away, staring at her and whispering. She blushed and walked closer to Numair. She was used to people talking about her, but it still bothered her when people acted as though she were some sort of… freak.
Just before they had reached the door leading into the outside gardens Daine saw, through the wall of bodies, the lion keeper raise his whip and bring it onto Leo's back with a cruel crack.
Daine let out a small scream of horror just as the crowd applauded. She tried to run towards them, to stop it all, but two strong arms were holding her back.
"Let me go, "she cried; watching through her tears as the evil man struck Leo again and again blood coursing down the glorious animals back.
"Numair!" She screamed, "Let me go!" Leo was fighting back, but there was not much for him to fight with. The monsters had clipped his claws and his teeth were useless in their muzzle.
She watched in numb revulsion as the finely dressed men and women laughed in amusement as Leo was forced onto his back and was continued to be thrashed mercilessly on his soft underbelly.
Numair was whispering quickly, softly to her, "You can't do anything sweet, there's nothing you can do."
She didn't even hear him, or understand his words.
She understood that he was trying to draw her out the door again; she yelled angrily and tried to wrench herself from his grip.
She reached out to Leo with her magic, and drew back with a cry of pain as she brushed his mind.
It hurt. She hadn't even entered his mind properly, but now she could feel the pain of the blows radiating from him from the other side of the room.
Dazed, she leaned back into Numairs grasp and he held her upright.
"Daine," he said urgently, "Daine?"
Feeling bile rise in her throat she swayed; the room was muddled. Mocking laughter rang in her ears as did Leo's stifled roars of pain.
She let out a choked sob and tried once again to reach him. Numair held her tight, comforting and restraining at the same time.
"Come away dear one. I tried to get you out, I'm sorry. There was nothing you or I could do."
Daine watched as Leo moaned in a final defeat, and fell. His body struck the ground, causing it to tremble. Leo's chest remained still. The keeper had gone too far.
Daine jerked her body from Numairs hold. Meeting his distressed eyes with her own gaze which shouted fury and betrayal, she ran.
Stumbling down the steps she was outside but didn't stop. Running into the gardens Daine sobbed her pain. She ran on and on, through the trees which whipped her face with their branches. She tasted blood but she had to keep going.
Reaching a marble bench in the middle of the thickest, unkempt part of the gardens she gasped and stopped dead. Emperor Ozorne looked up, startled.
Daine felt a fury building inside of her unequal to anything she had felt since her Ma was killed.
"Did you enjoy that?" She hissed at this cold, dead-hearted man. "Were you there laughing along with all the other nobility?" Her tone was scathing and the Emperor flinched.
"No," his voice sounded tired, sad. "I hope you believe me when I say I hadn't anything to do with that."
Daine shook with anger, "Why should I believe anything you say to me?"
He observed her unhappily, "You have no reason too I suppose." He sighed. "But you must know how I value my animals. I would never misuse one lightly."
"You should never misuse one at all!" Daine was fed up with this smooth-talking man. She just wanted to speak honestly to someone and have them speak honestly back.
He stood and walked over to her. "I quite agree. Neither my ministers nor my party guests agree with us. They believe animals are here for our… entertainment."
Daine shuddered. How could anyone find a powerless animal being tortured entertainment? Her lips trembled at the memory and she bit them fiercely.
"I'm sorry," Ozorne said softly to her, "I should have had the fore-sight to warn you earlier so you could leave, as I did." He gestured to the bench helplessly, "This is where I take refuge when such a thing is taking place."
Daine looked at him, he seemed to be sincere. She took a step forward and faltered as weariness and anguish gripped her. The Emperor reached out a manicured hand to steady her and led her to the bench, sitting her down, then doing so himself.
"My ministers tell me someone broke into your room," He spoke hesitantly, "And that you were considering it to be me." Daine, tears still staining her cheeks, looked at him in dull disbelief. What was he talking about that for?
"I just thought to avoid you, but now that we're here I have to say that it wasn't. Me I mean. I swear to you that whoever assaulted you will most definitely be found and brought to justice, but it was not me. Do you believe me?"
He studied her face intently, one of his hands playing with a bracelet around his wrist.
"I…" Daine couldn't concentrate. His gilded bracelet was catching the moonlight and throwing it in her tired, teary eyes.
"You do believe me, don't you?" His voice was soft, compelling. "You know how much I have valued your help, and company. I wouldn't do a thing like that."
Without thinking, she gave a small nod, still unable to tear her eyes from his shining jewellery. "Of course your Imperial Majesty. You would never do that." She heard her own voice through a fog and frowned. It sounded dreamy, even to her own ears.
Alarm bells sounded at the back of her head and she tried to think of what they could be warning her of. It was so hard to… think. Her eyes filled with gold; shimmering dancing gold. She was happy, blissfully happy.
A beautiful voice caressed her ear and she smiled happily, "That's it. Good girl." She existed to be praised by this voice. Nothing else mattered.
Hands, hands which belonged to the voice, reached for her and she gave herself up willingly. They ran up her bare, cool arms causing her to shiver delightfully. When they reached her sleeves they stopped and moved to her face. "You've been crying, my dear." They smoothly stroked her cheeks and she felt dampness there. Crying? Why would she cry? Her face was tilted by long fingers and she met the voices eyes. Beautiful eyes. They were looking right at her, like no one else mattered. Like the gold, they were smooth and shining.
The golden eyes moved closer to her as the soft hands slid behind her back to rest on her exposed skin. The voice drew her closer and she moved obediently, gladly, into his body. She was held tight and she could have cried now, from delight. "You belong to me now, no one else." Good. That was good, to belong to this voice. No one else. "Your power is my power. My enemies are your enemies."
Her teacher, her master pulled back to look at her once again. She gazed up at him, loving him, and he laughed suddenly. She had made him happy. She smiled, pleased with herself.
"Isn't that right?" His arms tightened around her body and he held her painfully tight now. She gasped at the unexpected sharpness as his fingers bit into her flesh.
His face, still beautiful, kissed her mouth and she sighed, leaning into him. His hands relaxed on her back and she murmured gratefully into his lips.
His face moved away and his golden eyes stared victoriously behind her. She didn't look away from him, not even when she heard a noise. It wasn't important.
A hand, not her masters' hand, reached down and clamped on her shoulder. Spinning her around, a large dark man cupped her cheek and forced her face to look into his. She struggled and then met his dark eyes crossly. His dark eyes… they were… familiar- but.
Daine started violently and gripped Numairs arm in fear. What in the name of the Great Goddess had just happened? She had been powerless, held captive in herself. She spun to face Ozorne, to hurt Ozorne but Numair lifted her to her feet and forced her behind him.
Emperor Ozorne stood, regal and amused. "Ah, Master Salmalin. It appears you caught us at a rather awkward time." He gestured toward Daine, who was peeking around Numairs arm.
"Indeed." Daine held her breath. Numair sounded… pleasant almost. Not a good sign.
His hand, still clasped on her arm, was painfully tight. His whole body was rigid with anger. Daines fingers worked on his, trying to get him to loosen his grip.
He did so, not looking at her, but intent on Ozorne. The loathing in his face left Daine breathless.
She leaned her forehead tiredly onto his back. Pulling back quickly she rubbed her head. His magic was angry. He was hard to look at now, his body hazy with black magic that spilled out of him.
"Numair," Daine whispered urgently, "Numair! Don't be a fool. You promised! You promised not to make trouble, Nuamri were still having peace-talks," She almost groaned with anxiety.
Her teacher ignored her, eyes not leaving Ozorne, or Ozorne's leaving him. "You know that this is one thing you will not get away with," Numair spoke so quietly Daine had to strain her exhausted ears to hear him. "This I will not ignore, or let slide. For this you will loose your Empire, your throne, perhaps even your life." His voice went beyond any anger than Daine had ever known. But it wasn't just that. He sounded… sad.
She grasped his hand and tried to pull him away, sure he was angry, she was too, but this was not the way to go about it. To her utter amazement, he gripped her hand gently and walked, half carrying her in her shaken state, away from Ozorne.
"Where are we going?" Daine looked at him suspiciously. "You're not going to get a weapon or anything are you?"
Numair looked at her, his face sad and his eyes loving. "No sweet. What did I tell you about leaving my sight?" He sighed, his eyes troubled. "I'm sure I warned you of a fitting punishment. What was it?"
Looking tentatively into his worried face, Daine felt her insides quiver with unease. "Knowing you, it prob'ly involved a deep glacier, or some such." She paused. "Numair? What do we do now?"
"Now?" He tried to smile at her, and failed. "Now we go to war. This is certainly evidence enough to affect the peace records. With the other nations behind us, we have a chance to win as well."
Daine looked at him in dismay. She felt close to tears, this was all too much.
Numair stopped and squeezed her shoulders carefully, "It's alright Daine. It was bound to happen anyway."
Seeing her shaking Numair looked her over more carefully, "Are you alright? Are you… Did he hurt you?"
Daine shook her head stiffly, she felt frozen. War? War with Carthak? She looked into Numairs face, "He used his bracelet to spell me. You taught me ages ago to recognise when that was happening." Angry tears stung her eyes; how could she have not noticed? How could she have been so stupid?
Numairs hands had gone tight on her shoulders. His face was forbidding and in the dark night his presence was frightening. He sighed and continued to walk with Daine, steering her not towards the hall where the banquet was held but a back path which led to their rooms. "You were distraught already, and when a person is feeling an intense emotion it always leaves them more vulnerable to the spell. Ozorne always was skilled at recognising when people were at their weakest," He spoke bitterly.
Daine allowed herself to be towed alongside her large friend. His cloak billowed out behind him and his strides were getting longer and faster. "Numair? Aren't we in danger here now that we've pretty much declared war?" Her breath was coming in short, trying to keep up with his long gait in her weakened condition.
Without slowing his pace, Numair looped an arm around Daines torso to bear most of her weight and she leaned gratefully into him. "That is why we must contact the others as hurriedly as we can. When we are all together we can depart."
"Why aren't you speak-spelling them, then?" Daine craned her neck, trying to see into his face. They had reached the castle wall and he led her speedily up the large stone steps.
"I do not wish to risk being overheard by others at the gathering. It would just be putting our delegation in danger." His dark eyebrows were drawn together in a grim frown.
Daine started to feel panicky. "How will we contact them?" She asked anxiously. They had reached the hall leading to his bedroom. Daine noticed gratefully the rise in temperature from outside; her goose bumps vanished.
Numair reached his room and flung the door open, hauling her inside. Closing the door firmly behind them, he spelled the room to privacy. "We will simply have to wait until they return to their rooms. I will alert the clerks then who can carry along the message."
"That's fair crazy!" Daine looked at him with wide-eyes. "Ozorne will go and tell his guards and they'll get Alanna and everyone before we have a chance to warn them."
Walking over to her, Numair placed a calming hand on her arm, "I don't think so, magelet." He sat down and after a minute she followed suit. Glaring at him seated next to her, she demanded, "Why don't you think so? What's to stop him now?"
Numair ran a tired hand through his mane, "That would be freely admitting that he caused the peace-talks to fail. He'll be waiting to see what we do. Trust me Daine; he won't make the first move."
Shaking her head, Daine thought furiously. Numair had practically told Emperor Ozorne what they were going to do. He wasn't stupid, for all his madness. He would try and hurt Tortall, starting here. And what better way to do it? Some of the countries best warriors and mages were right under his nose.
Jumping to her feet Daine looked at Numair in alarm, "Let me out! Kit, I've left her there!"
Numair stood and frowned at her furiously, "I will do no such thing. You're not yet recovered. Kitten will be fine with Alanna until she comes back to her room."
Daine scowled angrily at him and walking to the magic covered door grasped the handle. His magic stung.
"Daine!" She heard the angry voice behind her and ignored it.
Disregarding the smarting throb she felt, she gripped the handle tighter and turned. Her arm had gone numb. The magic vanished and she triumphantly swung the door open.
A hand gripped her arm, slowing her progress, "Don't you ever do that again," Numair told her fiercely. "You could have been hurt."
Daine stopped walking and glared up at him, "So could Kitten. I am not leaving her out there."
"Fine," the mage snapped, "fine. Get us killed."
They briskly walked down the halls, footsteps echoing. Slaves bowed to them as they passed and this only fuelled Daines anger.
"I'm not asking you to come," Daine told Numair crossly. "You stay here if you want."
He ignored her and continued to walk, wrath simmering on his face.
Daine felt a cool breeze on the back of her neck and spun, arms raised in protection.
There was nothing there.
Frowning, Daine reached her fingers out and groped uncertainly at the empty air. She was sure she had felt something there.
Numair was watching her, a frown on his large face. "What's wrong?" He asked softly.
She turned to face him, puzzlement on her delicate features when unseen hands grabbed her, twining around her body.
"Numair!" Daine screamed and fought her invisible captures. She heard a grunt close to her ear as one of her flailing legs kicked something solid.
She felt a sharp pain as rough fingers coiled into her thick hair and wrenched her head back. Something clamped around her mouth and nose. It felt coarse and damp against her smooth skin. A rag.
An unfamiliar, overpowering odour assaulted Daine nostrils and she tossed her head trying to get away. The fingers tightened their grip on her curls and she groaned in pain.
The world started to spin, the richly coloured walls whirring into a cyclone.
Daine did her best not to breathe in the fumes which had already begun their work on her mind. Through a daze she saw Numair fighting to reach her. She giggled deliriously; fighting nothing it looked like.
Their eyes met a moment which seemed to last years, his gaze was haunted. Daine reached out a hand desperately to him and felt her knees collapse. Invisible hands held her up as her eyes rolled back into her head. Numair, she though frantically, sinking into blackness. What will they do with… She gave a final gasp as darkness enveloped her.