Disclaimer: I don't own anything except for the characters that I made up.
CHAPTER 4
The badger came to her in Daine's dream. My kit, he said, I cannot help you where you are. The Graveyard Hag doesn't want us to interfere. He growled softly. You must let someone know where you are-it is important, kit. We need you to succeed, but you will need help. Remember your promise to me, about the claw? Well, I give you leave to break it. Kit, don't let your suspicions and grief keep you from doing the right thing, and don't let your worry keep you from taking risks. Mithros, bless, kit! He faded and Daine woke.
What was that all about? she wondered. He said that I don't have to keep the claw with me at all times anymore. And something about the Graveyard Hag.. The badger had said that she would need help, that she was to send for someone. But how could she do that? And what did the Graveyard Hag have to do with it? Daine puzzled over the meaning of the badger's cryptic message, but if there was one thing she understood, it was the urgency in his voice.
It was false dawn. All around her, Daine now saw, men were sprawled. With shock, she realized that there were a close to a hundred men, all heavily armed, and a scattering of mages. How could she ever escape them? A few guards were stationed all around camp, and Daine noticed that there were none where she was standing-they seemed confident of themselves. And why wouldn't they be? she thought dismally. They were camped out on in a clearing, she now saw. A couple hundred yards way from Daine, there were forests on each side, except to the southeast, where sheer cliffs rose up to meet the sky. She craned her head back and saw the top, hundreds of feet up. Well, at least the scenery was nice.
Meanwhile, the sun had begun to rise. The men rose, as if on cue, as soon as the sun peaked over the forests. They began making breakfast, which, to the starving Daine, smelled heavenly. The cloaked man from the night before (who was evidently their leader) brought her a bowl of porridge, which Daine devoured without thinking. Then, the man unwound a rope from his belt, and advanced towards her. Daine backed up and bumped against the invisible barrier. She struggled but had to give in when an unseen enemy threatened to choke her from behind. She gagged and watched helplessly as the man tied her wrists in front of her, leaving a long rope to trail after him.
"By the way," he said before he left, "my name is Barone. You'd do best not to cross me." With that, he stalked off, men saluting him on all sides.
An hour later, the men were all ready to go. They gathered behind Daine in well-organised ranks, mages in front. Barone picked up the rope with which Daine's hands were tied. He gave a tug. Daine didn't move. He pulled harder, and Daine strained back, oblivious to the pain in her wrists. Did they think that she would just give in, without a fight? When she kept resisting, Barone smiled lightly and signaled to a man behind Daine. Suddenly, everything became eerily quite. The soldiers (if you could call them that) stopped murmuring and fidgeting, and Daine felt shivers of dread run up her spine. Then a man stepped into her line of vision. He was dressed like a Carthaki, as were they all, but he seemed too barbarian for his clothes. The man was huge, taller by a head than Numair, muscles bulging in every possible place. His beard was long and wild, and his small eyes glinted of evil and malice. Fear gripped Daine in its icy claws as she saw what the man held in his right hand-he held a long whip as if it belonged there. Slowly, he advanced upon Daine, who fought to keep her terror from showing. Then Barone spoke, 3 slow words. "Get to it."
Suddenly, the whip lashed out with the speed of a wildcat and cracked across Daine's back. She bit her lip in order to stop from screaming-it was as if her whole back was on fire. She felt blood ooze out of the long, burning cut that crossed her shoulders. Again, the whip lashed out, and Daine's pain increased, but still, she made not a sound, only cringed. She looked at Barone in defiance, and saw a brief glimpse of something like admiration in his eyes. The whip was used again, and this time, it brought Daine to her knees, her head bowed and her back bleeding heavily, 3 ugly lines drawing their way across it. Twice more the whip lashed at her, then the beast-man rolled it up with a grunt of content and returned to his place in line. Daine knelt, oblivious to all except the searing pain on her back that was like nothing she had ever felt before. This time, when Barone pulled at her wrists a few minutes later, she stumbled up and followed, each step sending a wave of pain up her spine. The company followed in silence.
(A/N: I know that my story isn't exactly being nice to Daine, but don't worry. Everything will work out. Sorry, Daine!)
It was mid-afternoon before Daine was able to interpret the badger's message from the morning, which seemed ages ago. They had been marching under a searing sun all day, Daine forced to keep up with the fast pace of the soldiers. She smelled of blood, Zek had informed her, and the whip- marks still throbbed and burned. Dismayed, she had seen how they had advanced right up to the cliffs, but a small crack had shown a way through. They had spent the rest of the morning and a good part of the afternoon climbing up and up; over boulders and through narrow passages in single file, struggling to maintain their footing. When finally they had burst through into the sunlight, a vast plateau had greeted their eyes. To the north, all that could be seen was forests, tall trees blocking all sight of anything else. They had, to Daine's infinite relief, lay down to rest, and most of the men had promptly fallen asleep. The few guards stationed around camp were quiet, and Daine suspected that many of them dozed too. Barone had come to give her a beaker of water, which she drained in a single gulp, then handed back to him without a word. For a moment, he had stared at her, as if measuring her up. But when she had met his gaze levelly, he had retreated and gone to sleep himself.
Daine flopped down on her stomach, staring out over the plateau and thinking of Numair. What would he say if he were here? She heard the badger's voice again. 'You must let someone know where you are.. Daine looked up, propping her head up on her hands. Above her, a dark form seemed to hover in the bright blue sky. It had long wings and a long tail-a rare Carthaki hawk. Their kind was famous for their speed, intelligence, and endurance. They nested in groups, with the strongest as leader. The hawks were all a bland, dark brown with a white spot on their forehead.
Suddenly, everything about the badger's warning fit together in Daine's mind. These hawks lived only in the south of Carthak-and the Graveyard Hag was patroness of Carthak! That was why the badger had to listen to her. The claw, sending for someone. even the pebble she had thrown that first night, all made sense now. Daine knew what she had to do.
Hello, wing-brother, Daine called, fearing that the barrier would reject her magic as well. It didn't.
The hawk dipped a wing in the wheeling circle of respect unique to his kind. Greetings wing-leader.
I am Daine. What are you called?
Karracatach.
I need your help. These people have captured me. The hawk let out a harsh hunting cry. NO! Don't! There is nothing you can do! They will kill you!
The hawk grudgingly agreed. Then what can I do?
I need you to bring my friends, the two-leggers, a message. I will drop or throw a silver claw on a string somewhere near here when no one is looking.
God-child, the hawk said appreciatively. I have heard about you.
Yes, Daine agreed shyly. Then she went on, I need you to bring it to my friends in Tortall. There is a two-legger there who will come looking for me if you can find him. With loving detail, she envisioned Numair and sent the hawk the picture.
How can I find him?
Go north, the way I have come. Across a great body of water, you will find a country of cold lakes and forests. Look for this dwelling. She sent him a picture of the palace from the sky. Look there. No one will harm you if you carry the claw. Stay with the two-legger and then guide him back to me. Can you do this?
I can.
Then hurry, wing-brother! Glancing around briefly to see if anyone was watching, Daine lifted the silver claw of her neck without another moment's hesitation and threw it as far as she could away from camp.
A little ways of, Barone saw a hawk dive and then soar upwards again, something shiny glinting in its claws. A fish, the leader thought, and returned to his nap.
A/N: This is my longest chapter yet! I'm so happy! :-D
CHAPTER 4
The badger came to her in Daine's dream. My kit, he said, I cannot help you where you are. The Graveyard Hag doesn't want us to interfere. He growled softly. You must let someone know where you are-it is important, kit. We need you to succeed, but you will need help. Remember your promise to me, about the claw? Well, I give you leave to break it. Kit, don't let your suspicions and grief keep you from doing the right thing, and don't let your worry keep you from taking risks. Mithros, bless, kit! He faded and Daine woke.
What was that all about? she wondered. He said that I don't have to keep the claw with me at all times anymore. And something about the Graveyard Hag.. The badger had said that she would need help, that she was to send for someone. But how could she do that? And what did the Graveyard Hag have to do with it? Daine puzzled over the meaning of the badger's cryptic message, but if there was one thing she understood, it was the urgency in his voice.
It was false dawn. All around her, Daine now saw, men were sprawled. With shock, she realized that there were a close to a hundred men, all heavily armed, and a scattering of mages. How could she ever escape them? A few guards were stationed all around camp, and Daine noticed that there were none where she was standing-they seemed confident of themselves. And why wouldn't they be? she thought dismally. They were camped out on in a clearing, she now saw. A couple hundred yards way from Daine, there were forests on each side, except to the southeast, where sheer cliffs rose up to meet the sky. She craned her head back and saw the top, hundreds of feet up. Well, at least the scenery was nice.
Meanwhile, the sun had begun to rise. The men rose, as if on cue, as soon as the sun peaked over the forests. They began making breakfast, which, to the starving Daine, smelled heavenly. The cloaked man from the night before (who was evidently their leader) brought her a bowl of porridge, which Daine devoured without thinking. Then, the man unwound a rope from his belt, and advanced towards her. Daine backed up and bumped against the invisible barrier. She struggled but had to give in when an unseen enemy threatened to choke her from behind. She gagged and watched helplessly as the man tied her wrists in front of her, leaving a long rope to trail after him.
"By the way," he said before he left, "my name is Barone. You'd do best not to cross me." With that, he stalked off, men saluting him on all sides.
An hour later, the men were all ready to go. They gathered behind Daine in well-organised ranks, mages in front. Barone picked up the rope with which Daine's hands were tied. He gave a tug. Daine didn't move. He pulled harder, and Daine strained back, oblivious to the pain in her wrists. Did they think that she would just give in, without a fight? When she kept resisting, Barone smiled lightly and signaled to a man behind Daine. Suddenly, everything became eerily quite. The soldiers (if you could call them that) stopped murmuring and fidgeting, and Daine felt shivers of dread run up her spine. Then a man stepped into her line of vision. He was dressed like a Carthaki, as were they all, but he seemed too barbarian for his clothes. The man was huge, taller by a head than Numair, muscles bulging in every possible place. His beard was long and wild, and his small eyes glinted of evil and malice. Fear gripped Daine in its icy claws as she saw what the man held in his right hand-he held a long whip as if it belonged there. Slowly, he advanced upon Daine, who fought to keep her terror from showing. Then Barone spoke, 3 slow words. "Get to it."
Suddenly, the whip lashed out with the speed of a wildcat and cracked across Daine's back. She bit her lip in order to stop from screaming-it was as if her whole back was on fire. She felt blood ooze out of the long, burning cut that crossed her shoulders. Again, the whip lashed out, and Daine's pain increased, but still, she made not a sound, only cringed. She looked at Barone in defiance, and saw a brief glimpse of something like admiration in his eyes. The whip was used again, and this time, it brought Daine to her knees, her head bowed and her back bleeding heavily, 3 ugly lines drawing their way across it. Twice more the whip lashed at her, then the beast-man rolled it up with a grunt of content and returned to his place in line. Daine knelt, oblivious to all except the searing pain on her back that was like nothing she had ever felt before. This time, when Barone pulled at her wrists a few minutes later, she stumbled up and followed, each step sending a wave of pain up her spine. The company followed in silence.
(A/N: I know that my story isn't exactly being nice to Daine, but don't worry. Everything will work out. Sorry, Daine!)
It was mid-afternoon before Daine was able to interpret the badger's message from the morning, which seemed ages ago. They had been marching under a searing sun all day, Daine forced to keep up with the fast pace of the soldiers. She smelled of blood, Zek had informed her, and the whip- marks still throbbed and burned. Dismayed, she had seen how they had advanced right up to the cliffs, but a small crack had shown a way through. They had spent the rest of the morning and a good part of the afternoon climbing up and up; over boulders and through narrow passages in single file, struggling to maintain their footing. When finally they had burst through into the sunlight, a vast plateau had greeted their eyes. To the north, all that could be seen was forests, tall trees blocking all sight of anything else. They had, to Daine's infinite relief, lay down to rest, and most of the men had promptly fallen asleep. The few guards stationed around camp were quiet, and Daine suspected that many of them dozed too. Barone had come to give her a beaker of water, which she drained in a single gulp, then handed back to him without a word. For a moment, he had stared at her, as if measuring her up. But when she had met his gaze levelly, he had retreated and gone to sleep himself.
Daine flopped down on her stomach, staring out over the plateau and thinking of Numair. What would he say if he were here? She heard the badger's voice again. 'You must let someone know where you are.. Daine looked up, propping her head up on her hands. Above her, a dark form seemed to hover in the bright blue sky. It had long wings and a long tail-a rare Carthaki hawk. Their kind was famous for their speed, intelligence, and endurance. They nested in groups, with the strongest as leader. The hawks were all a bland, dark brown with a white spot on their forehead.
Suddenly, everything about the badger's warning fit together in Daine's mind. These hawks lived only in the south of Carthak-and the Graveyard Hag was patroness of Carthak! That was why the badger had to listen to her. The claw, sending for someone. even the pebble she had thrown that first night, all made sense now. Daine knew what she had to do.
Hello, wing-brother, Daine called, fearing that the barrier would reject her magic as well. It didn't.
The hawk dipped a wing in the wheeling circle of respect unique to his kind. Greetings wing-leader.
I am Daine. What are you called?
Karracatach.
I need your help. These people have captured me. The hawk let out a harsh hunting cry. NO! Don't! There is nothing you can do! They will kill you!
The hawk grudgingly agreed. Then what can I do?
I need you to bring my friends, the two-leggers, a message. I will drop or throw a silver claw on a string somewhere near here when no one is looking.
God-child, the hawk said appreciatively. I have heard about you.
Yes, Daine agreed shyly. Then she went on, I need you to bring it to my friends in Tortall. There is a two-legger there who will come looking for me if you can find him. With loving detail, she envisioned Numair and sent the hawk the picture.
How can I find him?
Go north, the way I have come. Across a great body of water, you will find a country of cold lakes and forests. Look for this dwelling. She sent him a picture of the palace from the sky. Look there. No one will harm you if you carry the claw. Stay with the two-legger and then guide him back to me. Can you do this?
I can.
Then hurry, wing-brother! Glancing around briefly to see if anyone was watching, Daine lifted the silver claw of her neck without another moment's hesitation and threw it as far as she could away from camp.
A little ways of, Barone saw a hawk dive and then soar upwards again, something shiny glinting in its claws. A fish, the leader thought, and returned to his nap.
A/N: This is my longest chapter yet! I'm so happy! :-D