I finally finished the outline for this second story…wow…! It took a while to put together. I am fair confident in saying that in all likelihood, this will end up as a quartet. There is simply too much plot shooting from my head. I hope that makes everyone happy. Also, just to let everyone know, this whole epic (4 stories) is going to shift dramatically in this second story. The majority of the first half focuses on Numair, Daine and Jade. However, during the second half- and for the next two stories, the emphasis will be on Jade. I have this entire amazing idea in my head that feels absolutely amazing. I really think you all will love how this is going to turn out. I have decided on the titles for all four stories. 1st-Complications; 2nd-The Uncontrollable; 3rd-Whisperings; and 4th-Strength of Jade. (Note: these are subject to change)
OK~ on with the show!
*****
The Uncontrollable
'The Friendly Spider'
*****
"Open the gates!" called a soldier from the catwalk lining the stone castle walls. "His Majesty returns!" A soldier on the ground opened the metal gates that that cut off the castle from the rest of Corrus. A group of 20 or so men mounted on sturdy horses trotted in, including one King.
Jon turned his stallion around to face his Prime Minister. "What do you think, Gary?"
"I think the damage isn't as extensive as we originally thought it would be. The damaged areas seem to have recovered nicely in the 5 months since the mudslide." Gary threw one leg over his own horse to dismount. "I certainly thought it would have been worse. But I'm glad to have been proven wrong." He landed gracefully from his tall stead. Taking the reigns, he led the chestnut horse along side the others.
Jon sighed, refused help from one of his guards to dismount with a stern look and said, "the day I'm too lazy to dismount my horse is the day I should be dethroned." The men chuckled.
"You are getting rather old, Jon. Perhaps you should accept help," jested Gary.
Jon snorted. "You're older than me, dear Cousin. If anyone is getting old, it's you!" Jon unhooked his robes and threw them over his saddled horse with a cleansing rush of breath. "Gods, but is that thing heavy!" Looking towards Gary, he asked, "Tell me again why being king isn't an all consuming task." Gary snickered.
"Aww, his Highness chaffs under such hard work as wearing his royal robes witch cost ten gold nobles each." Jon laughed at the playful banter.
A high-pitched scream pierced the air. Jon smiled knowingly and looked around for the small bundle of packed pure energy. From across the courtyard came a happy Jade. "Magty, magty…!"
The men parted for the three-year old who ignored them as she ran as fast as she could towards the King. Jon bent down and scooped up the happy girl with a laugh. "And how are you, my great mage?"
Jade frowned. "Awsum…Awsum mage, Magty." The men broke out in laughter.
Jon looked surprised. "Oh, forgive me. How are you my awesome and powerful mage?" Jade looked pleased.
"Good. I was in the stables practicing magic on the cats!" She said with excitement.
"Really?" said an overenthusiastic King with a smile. Jade nodded rigorously "And how is your practice going?"
Jade's face contorted in frustration. "Not good. No magic yet." Gary was smiling at the small girl with mirthful eyes. Jade had instantly liked the king. She always filled him in on important matters of the state, including the progression on her as of yet, non-existing magic. Jon, who loved children, always encouraged her.
"Oh, well, don't fret. I'm sure that your magic will soon grow strong enough for you to use and then you will be one of my greatest Mages." Jade smiled brilliantly, her eyes sparkling. "But wait, my amazing and Awesome mage, where are you parents? I do recall you being punished not to long ago for wandering off," he said with the hint of a warning.
Jade made a face. "Papa came back from Port Legann today. He's been gone for two whole weeks! Papa gave mama a growed up kiss and then Mama said I should go to the courtyard and tell Onua to watch me 'cause Papa and her need growed up time." To the little three-year-old's surprise, the entire grouping of men who were gathered around the chatting King and girl burst out into roars of hysterical laughter. Even the king, who seemed a bit more controlled, was red in the face with surprised laughter. Sir Gareth of Naxen was bent over clutching his stomach in woops of laughter.
Jon finally composed himself. "And where is Onua?"
"She's over in the stables. She said I could come and see you." Jon looked up to see Onua moving around in the stables.
"Did you tell Onua what you just told me?" Jon questioned with a grin.
"Yup!" answered Jade. Sniggering and the beginnings of laughter again began in the gathering of men.
"And what did she say?" he asked, his cheeks hurting from restrained laughter.
"She just turned really red…" Jade placed her hands on her face and used her voice for emphasis. "And said, Oh." Again, roaring male laughter bust out. Jade looked around curiously. "What's so funny?" she asked.
Jon chuckled, "Nothing really, they're laughing at grown-ups and how silly they can be. Anything else you wish to inform me of today, my great mage?"
"Nope!"
"Well then, you should get back to practicing."
"Alright." Jade wiggled to the ground, took a few running steps before stopping turning around, bowing regally and then taking off again." The men laughed as she left.
Gary patted Jon on the back. "To much information on the relations between two important mages of yours, I believe."
"Much," Agreed Jon with a laugh.
"Majesty?" A soldiers voice broke them from their talk.
"Yes?"
"A letter from Carthak arrived today. It is from the Empress, Kalisin. Her Majesty, the Queen, asked that you come to the Royal quarters to read it."
Jon smiled. "A letter from my daughter? Thayet must be pleased. She asked Kalisin to write with news about the progress of her newborn daughter at least once a month."
Gary smiled. "A grandfather three times over now, Jon. Two from Kalisin and one from Roald. Thayet must be ecstatic."
"Yes, she is. She was especially happy that she was able to visit Kalisin in Carthak for the birth." Jon smiled weakly.
"You miss her." Gary said compassionately.
"Kalisin? Yes, very much. I haven't seen her in almost 3 years," Jon confided sadly. "I miss my daughter."
Gary patted his back comfortingly. "Go on…go see what the Empress of Carthak has to say."
*****
Jon entered the Queen's rooms to find a grouping of the Queen's Ladies gathered around Thayet, all of whom were giggling and laughing. "Look here, it says she's finally holding her head up on her own now," said one of the ladies. The women awed and sighed with delight.
"And the Emperor has arranged for his son, Prince Otadan, to be presented to the Cartheki court for the first time," informed Thayet as she read. "Well, the boy is nearly two, it's about time." The woman squealed and agreed happily.
Jon cleared his throat, catching the attention of the entire room. The ladies stood and bowed respectively before breaking into laughs of delight. "Your Majesty, can you believe it? The Empress says Miliani is holding her own head up now," called yet another woman.
Thayet stood and smiled. "Ladies, would you please excuse us. My husband has not yet read his letter from our daughter." The ladies bowed and left, whispering as they walked down the hall. Thayet's smiled widened as she rushed towards Jon. She kissed him and quickly said, "Otadan is to be presented as official heir in two weeks. Kalisin says he's getting taller and taller by the day. And Miliani is a perfect Goddess at night. Never wakes up as Otadan did. She says…"
Jon laughed and covered Thayet's mouth softly with his own. "I think I'll be able to get all that from the letter, sweet."
Thayet grinned and handed over official envelope marked with the Royal Cartheki Seal. He opened a smaller envelope addressed to, His Royal Majesty of Tortall, King Jonathan of Conte. He broke the seal, sat down in a chair and read.
Dear Father,
I am overjoyed to say that Miliani is doing marvelously. She grows by the minute. Otadan as well is growing at a rate I thought impossible of children. I wrote, in detail, all their short life's stories in the letter enclosed for Mother, in hopes of sparing you of the menial tid-bits that Mother finds so interesting. Kaddar is very busy lately with affairs of state. He try not to worry me, but I believe something is amiss that he will not burden me with. He has sent a letter to you as well that with luck, you will be able to respond. He looks to you with great respect and admiration. I, myself, am doing very well. Otadan and Miliani keep me very busy. I have refused to accept the offers made to me to keep them both with Royal Nurses. I want to be there for as much of their lives as you and Mother were for Roald and mine. I will always be grateful for the love and time you gave to each of us.
I am currently working to restore some of the schools here in the Royal city. They were neglected along with the Temples under the Reign of Emperor Ozorne. I hope that within a few years, they will be ready for use. Soon after, I hope to integrate girls into the school system.
I miss you very much father, and wish more than anything that I could see you again soon. Tell Mother I miss her terribly as well. Inform Roald that I am still waiting for the 5 gold nobles I won from him when he came to visit me last summer.
Love always,
Your Daughter,
Kalisin
*****
Jon smiled warmly. He looked up to see Thayet already rigorously working away at an answering letter. He pulled out a letter much more formally addressed.
*****
His Royal Majesty, King Jonathan of Conte;
I am to understand that the Empress writes to you and her Mother with information of our family. We all are very well. I have arranged for my son, Prince Otadan to be presented to court in two weeks. Miliani is also doing very well. I am glad that Kalisin was able to bear me a son that will inherit my thrown. I am also pleased that she has born me a daughter. As Emperor of Carthak, and upholding the various traditions, most of my time and efforts must go to teaching my son all that is required of him. Kalisin has been a perfect Empress to her people, by fulfilling her first duty in providing me with an heir and with all the care that she has already given to our Kingdom. All our people love her. With all that has been given to my country by the arrival of Kalisin, I would not begrudge her a daughter of her own to raise.
Our Kingdom fairs well, Cousin. We have had bountiful crops this spring and summer and are looking forward to a mild winter. I do however wish to ask for your advice on a matter that has been plaguing my country for 2 years now. I humbly accept any advice you may give, for you have reigned in your Kingdom longer than I have in mine. We are plagued by militant band of Rebels lead by a man named Onam. Apparently, he is a Cartheki mage from my Uncle's Court begrudged by the lose of his slaves and rights. We do not however, have reference to any mage by the name of 'Onam' in our record books. He has gathered a rather strong group of pro-slave supporters against us. He rains terror on unsuspecting villages in the southern reaches of our Kingdom. He is ever illusive and refuses to be known. I would ask your advice in dealing with not only this one man, but with the rather large resistance movement that has been born from his beliefs.
With great respect,
Emperor Kaddar of Carthak
*****
Jonathan set the letter aside to think more about later. This rebel mage sounded very familiar. If he remembered correctly, and he knew he did, this mage had attacked his subjects here in Tortall. Jon had a moment of foreshadowing. This mage would bring great pain to this realm, he was sure of that.
*****
"Papa?" whispered a shaking Jade into the dark room. "Papa, are you awake?" Daine had always been a deep sleeper. It took the wailing sounds of a newborn or a meteor hitting the earth to wake her up. Therefore, what developed was a very close bond between father and daughter. When Jade had trouble sleeping, she would go to Numair. He loved it. He wanted Jade to trust him with all her fears and worries. It also gave Daine time to rest, since most of her day was spent with the crazy girl anyways.
"Hmm?" Numair woke from his slumber. He turned his head towards the door. "What's the matter, sweetling?"
He heard the little sounds of Jade's feet as she walked closer to him. "Papa, I had a bad dream…," whimpered Jade quietly.
Numair untangled his arms from around Daine's body and shifted to face his daughter. "What about?"
Jade sniffed pitifully. "I dreamed a bad man came to get me. He took Mamma away forever and then came after me."
Numair sat up slightly and picked her up. Jade wrapped her arms around his neck and her tiny legs around his chest. "There now, sweetling. There is no bad man. He can't hurt you or Mamma," he cooed to her shaking form. He rubbed her back comfortingly. He felt his heart twist when he felt her tiny body shaking with fear. She'd never had a dream bad enough to make her shake. After a few minutes of her quiet sniffles and his hushed words, she stopped shaking. She still clung to him with a grip that would surprise most people. He tried to think of a way to cheer her up. "Hey now, I know of someone that could cheer you up. What do you say to waking up your spider?" Jade lifted her head from his shoulder and sniffed while looking at him. She nodded. "Why don't you call his name, quietly, so he'll wake up?"
"Spiiider?" she whispered. "Spiiiiiider?"
Numair used his hand to form a little pretend spider that crawled around on fingers. He crawled his hand up onto Jade's leg with movements like a tiny spider.
"There he is, Papa!" Jade whispered.
"So it is. Oh, friendly spider…" Numair spoke to his hand, "Jade here has had a bad dream. I was wondering if you could possibly cheer her up a bit." His hand did a little pretend jump of spider height and rapidly climbed up Jade's arm. She smiled at her friendly spider. The pretend spider than crawled up to Jade's cheek and placed a little pretend spider kiss on it. Jade smiled warmly. The pretend spider that proceeded to tickle her neck. Jade laughed.
"Do you feel better?" Jade nodded happily. The little spider made a big pretend yawn. "I think your friendly spider is tired, Jade. Why don't you say good night to him?"
Jade smiled, placed a small kiss on Numair's hand and whispered, "Good night, friendly spider." Numair's hand gave her another pretend spider kiss and crawled off. "Papa?"
"Yes, sweetling?"
"Can I sleep with you and Mamma?"
Numair smiled warmly. "Of coarse you can, sweetling." He picked her up and placed her in between his and Daine's body, placing a kiss on her forehead. She shifted and finally rested on her back, her mouth open and breathing heavily in slumber. Numair watched for close to an hour as his wife and daughter slept peacefully.
*****
A/N: I got the spider idea from when I was a little girl. My father would always use the pretend spider to cheer me up or when we were at restaurants and I got board. This whole bad dream scene is like, directly out of my life. I love my father very much…I am a daddy's girl, even at the age of 20. I loved my friendly spider when I was a little girl. Sometimes I'd squash my pretend spider, but he always came back to life…I dedicate this chapter to all the wonderful fathers out there. And to those wonderful men that aren't real fathers, but sure as hell are anyways.