Ok…I would like to thank everyone for their awesome reviews…I really like getting them, because I want to know what you all like. After all, if someone writes words, but nobody's there to read it, is it really a story? Ok, philosophy is definitely not my thing…
Anywho…I would like to give special thanks to Starryfantasy. You gave the best and most detailed reviews I've gotten in a long time. Thank you so much!
IMPORTANT – IMPORTANT – IMPORTANT – READ BEFORE YOU START THIS CHAPTER!!!!
Just so you know…lol…my spell wasn't supposed to be completely in Spanish…though anyone with a basic understanding of Castilian can see the Latin undertones. But – just so everyone knows, I am from Spain myself…in fact, it's my first language, English is my second. I used Castilian Spanish as the base for my spell in "Complications", and threw in a dash of Italian and a splash of Latin just to give it a unique taste. (I'm not cooking, I promise).
In addition, with the help of my reviewers, I've noticed that I've somewhat lacked in Daine character strength lately. I will definitely try to remedy that as well.
As for Jade, I know she seems to smart for her age, but that's kind of a good part of the story. So when you notice her becoming receptive to the human condition, just kinda figure that's another quirk of her magic…because, often, she seems like a normal five-year-old, (like her crying fit in chapter 11), yet other times she seems almost surreally in tune with her surroundings…just bare with me, ok.
I know this story seems to be moving at a slower pace than my first story, and yes, that's partly because I'm updating a lot less recently, but it also has to do with storyline. A lot of this is REALLY important material. And later on, in this story and even the third and forth stories, it becomes vitally important. It's all interconnected, and if I skip it now, it won't be as good later on…because, what I REALLY want from my audience is to for them to get to certain parts of the story and just go "OH MY GOD! THAT'S WHY!!!" OK enough with the chit-chat…ON WITH THE SHOW!!
The Secret Magic : 2 : The Uncontrollable
Hello's and Goodbye's
***
Jade stepped into the room as quietly as possible, keeping close to the door, halfway hidden from view. Peeking her head out momentarily, she saw her new tutor rummaging through a large chest, mumbling to herself.
"Why don't you come on in here, Jade? I won't bite, I promise."
A startled squeak and small jump was all the women could see from the corner of her eye as Jade quickly hid her entire body behind the door archway. A small grin of amusement came across the woman's face. She stood straight with a sigh and turned to the doorway, waiting patiently.
Jade poked her head out from behind the doorframe again, this time, with a slightly more curious nature. She looked at the women for a few seconds, evaluating, carefully weighing every detail with curious yet cautious eyes. The only reaction the woman gave was to smile welcomingly. Jade narrowed her eyes in suspicion. Finally, throwing caution to the wind, Jade timidly stepped out from behind the doorframe, her one hand rubbing at the still slightly sore fingers of the other. "Do tutors bite so that you would have to let me know that you don't?" she asked carefully. She nearly jumped back two feet when a strong burst of laughter tore out of the beautiful woman.
"You have very strong Comprehension skills, Jade. That's very unusual for a child your age."
Jade's nose crinkled and her eyebrows came together in thought. "Compre-what?"
The woman smiled kindly. "Comprehension. It means you understand, or grasp, words and how they fit together. It means you use your head."
"Oh."
The women smiled and then turned back to her chest, pulling out a long skirt and folding it. Jade's nose crinkled again in thought, her hand coming up briefly to scratch at the scab that ran down her cheek. She watched the woman place the folded skirt in a dresser and then pick up a pretty petty coat from the chest, folding it neatly. Looking around the spare bedroom in her family's suite, Jade couldn't help but notice how different it looked with so many things laying around everywhere. Chest and leather bags were strewn about the floor, and she had noticed one of the servant boys coming in and out several times with more bags. In fact,….she scooted back quickly as the boy cleared his throat behind her. He walked up to the woman with the leather bag. "Pardon me, miss. Where should I put this 'un?"
"Oh, just right there on the bed is fine, thank you." She smiled at him. "Is that the last one?"
"Yes'miss."
"Oh, good. Well, thank you. You've been very helpful. Here." She reached into her pocket purse and pulled out a small copper, handing it to the boy, who smiled from ear to ear before thanking her profusely and skipping out. Jade, still standing at the door to the room, followed the much taller boy with her eyes and head as he darted past her and out the front door; she blinked.
The woman looked at Jade once again. She smiled quickly and returned to her bags. "You're offal quiet. From what you parents told me in their inquiry letter a few months ago, you are a very articulate young lady."
"Ar..Ar..Artiplote?"
"Articulate." She provided helpfully and with a smile in her voice. "Expressing oneself readily, clearly and effectively."
"Oh," was all Jade said, a blank look upon her face.
The woman continued with her unpacking. Jade's eyes shifted away from her and back to the chest, with the same thoughtful look. Again, she looked around the room. Then, sighed. She supposed it was inevitable, really. Her parents had made their decision. Maybe if she yelled and screamed enough – they'd change their mind. But, that seemed like a lot of effort to go through. She didn't feel like putting much effort into anything anymore. It was just…confusing. Because it just wasn't normal. "Why are you here?"
The woman stood straight and smiled brightly at Jade. "She speaks!"
Jade looked at her blankly, waiting for an answer.
She seemed
amused by Jade's expression. She smiled
again and then said, "I'm here to tutor you, Jade. But I thought we had already covered that." She reached down in the chest and brought out
some slippers.
Jade sighed. That hadn't been
what she meant. "No. Why are you here, moving
into our suite?"
"Well," came the simple reply. "Because I have to live somewhere, right? Why not here?" She placed the slippers in the closet.
Jade's eyebrows shot up at that, as if she couldn't really fathom such an odd answer. Her head followed the woman back and forth across the room. "But, why don't you live with your family? Why do you have to live here?"
The woman smiled, and for the first time, Jade thought she noticed it become less bright, less brilliant. "Because I don't have any family, not here. I'm from Scanra." She sneezed when she fluffed a cross-stitched pillow out from the chest and patted it, bringing up some dust.
"Why did you leave Scanra?"
"Because," and now she seemed almost sad, running her fingers over the stitching. "I wasn't allowed to stay there anymore."
"Why?"
And at that, the woman smiled. Returning her eyes to the small girl. "Curious one, aren't you?" She sighed again. "Because the King of Scanra doesn't want me there anymore."
"Why?"
An unlady-like snort. "Ah, the question of the day. "Why?"" She sat down on the edge of the bed, folding some stockings, and Jade found herself taking a step forward in curiosity. "Because my Father is Scanran and My mother Serainian, and the King does not believe that Scanran noble families should…breed…with anyone who is not also a Scanran noble. It's a fairly new idea. One brought it by some Cartheki's from the south. It's becoming more common among some of the kingdoms. And so, I, being half and half, am no longer welcome there."
It wasn't an answer jade could really understand, mostly. And Jade found herself contemplating that, but it felt important to know. Taking another step forward, she asked. "Do you miss them?"
"My family?" A nod. "Yes, very much so."
"Are you ever going to be allowed to go back?" Another little step.
Deep sigh. "I don't think so."
"Does that make you sad?"
"Yes."
"Do they miss you?" Yet another scoot.
"I think so. I write to them as much as I can."
At that, Jade stopped moving forward, looking down at her hands with pursed lips. She looked up from lowered lashes and quietly whispered. "Papa has to go away in a few days. He's gonna be gone for a long time."
The woman smiled sadly. "Yes, I hear. That is very sad news. I'm sure you will miss him terribly."
Jade nodded, taking the final step up to the sitting woman. Deciding she didn't want to talk about Papa leaving anymore, she ventured a new topic. "What…What do I call you? Mistress Masson?"
The Blonde smiled. "You may call me Atune, if you like. I've never been one for formalities." Jade nodded. "Well then," she stood and quickly patted her hands on her house apron and turned back to her chest. "Lots to unpack still."
Jade watched as the woman once again began sifting through her things. Clearing her throat, she stammered. "Would you…Would you like me to help you?"
"Oh, would you? I would really appreciate it. Could you take this and place it in that shelf. The one right over there. She pointed and Jade obediently walked over to the closet and placed the blouse on it; Atune, wearing a small, self-satisfied grin on her face, continued with her work.
***
The next few days passed without much incident. Jade began lessons the next day with Atune; Reading and Writing. Atune had been pleasantly surprised that Jade had already a firm grasp on reading – but was slightly confused that her writing skills weren't as advanced, since usually, you learned to read and you learned to write. So, during the day, Atune had Jade working on, was her words. Spelling mostly, fitting them together to form the words she already knew. Vocabulary, Atune informed her, was the very crux of language. How was she to know how to speak correctly, if she didn't have the words to do it?
During the evenings, Papa and Mama would work with her on her magic. She had a suspicion they were going about this blindly. They seemed to be asking more questions than she was. Every so often, Alanna would stop by to help. Onua came one night when they were trying to see if any Wild Magic techniques would work. Mama and Onua both left that night with fierce headaches. They wanted her to try and make the plant grow – she'd spent a good hour trying that, with no avail. How about just making it move? She only got the plant to move by blowing on it. Nothing she did made her magic work. So she just kept trying…kept trying to make her magic work.
It was, of course, a complete change of lifestyle for the five-year-old. She had spent her entire life span, all five years of it, playing. And now, she sat with Atune for hours at a time during the day and then with a gifted person during the evenings. Mama told her to be happy that Atune often held lessons outside in the nice fresh air. 'Some students,' Mama had said, 'have to have lessons in a tiny, stuffy room at a tiny desk and hard chair. Be happy. So, she was happy, mostly.
It was less than week since Atune had come, and she had seemed to adjust nicely to living with them. She helped Papa out by organizing his study, which, according to Mama, was something she had given up on long ago. He was also fascinated with Atune's Gift. She had an unusual knack for water magic. She could turn water to ice with a snap of her fingers, or bring it to a boiling point with a flick of her wrist. Papa had literally plunged into his study and taken extensive notes; and Mama had warned Atune not to let Numair interrogate her to much, because he might wear her out.
One night, she couldn't help but notice Mama seemed sad. And she was fairly sure it was because Papa was leaving in the morning with Uncle George. She sat in the main room that night, on top of one of Papa's chests, trying not to be to sad, because she didn't want to make Mama any sadder. Mama and Atune were down at the stables, helping get the horses ready for the long journey that would start the next morning. Papa walked in then, and smiled at her. She lifted her eyes from the floor to look at him and tried to smile, tried to be brave. He walked up to the chest she sat on and kneeled down, staring at her. Jade swallowed, 'I won't cry, I won't cry'. And she didn't. But it didn't make her feel any better- in fact, it almost felt worse.
"I really need you to be good for your mother while I'm gone," he said softly. She nodded. "I want you to listen to Atune. Learn everything she's teaching you…I'm going to test you when I get back…I want to see how much you've learned." He smiled, joking. She forced a smile on her face and nodded. "And Alanna is going to be living at the castle to help his Highness, so you can go to her if you need to." Another nod. "And you know the Cassidy's are very nice. If you need anything, they'll be there." Tiny nod this time. "And you know Eleni and Miles, right?" Jade thought for a moment. Yes…yes, she remembered them. She didn't see them to often…they were always so busy with squire training…plus, they were much older. 16 or 17 by now. But it wasn't to hard to miss them. They both had fairly blonde hair with splashes of reds from their mother. And even if there were girls in Knight training now, there were still less than half as many as the boys, so Eleni wouldn't be hard to spot; she remembered Thom was already a Knight. She nodded; she remembered Alanna's twins. "Good. I asked them to look out for you. I know a lot of the other children don't…understand…what's going on with you magic, and they can be mean. So, if you need anything…Miles and Eleni said they'd help you out. Plus, you have Amena." Nod. "Six months, Jade. Six months, and I'll be back. All right?" She nodded again, still feeling as miserable.
She swallowed hard and decided to speak, even if it did come out broken and sad. "I don't want you to go, Papa." Her shoulders shook. And she scolded herself fiercely for it… 'No crying!'
"I know," he said softly. "I don't want to leave Mama and you by yourselves. But sometimes we have to do things we don't want to do, because it's the right thing."
She nodded. "Six months," it was more of an affirmation than a question.
"Six months," he smiled at her.
"All right." She bit at her lower lip and scratched her scab. "Six months." She thought for a moment. "You'll be back for my birthday?"
"Yes sweetling, a whole month before – just to make sure."
She smiled at that and launched herself into his arms. He held her tight and stroked her hair softly. "I'm gonna miss you, Papa."
"I'm going miss you too, sweetling."
***
She sat on the windowsill, staring out into the night, fighting the tears that were fighting to get out. "Atune said she'd keep an eye on Jade tonight," came Numair's voice from their room door.
Daine turned to him and smiled through wet eyes. "I like her…she's…different."
Numair smiled. "Different is one world for her….though I like Jade's description better… 'Weird', I think was the term she used."
"I think she'll be good for Jade." Daine sighed. "She's been so quiet lately. Like she's afraid to speak up. Atune makes her curious, gets her to ask questions. I don't want Jade to build a wall around herself."
Numair nodded, looking at her intensely.
Daine smiled a secret smile and smirked. "Did I hear you say Atune would watch Jade tonight?" He nodded…a smile breaking onto his face. Daine smiled, a twinkle in her eyes. "I knew I'd like that girl, she's very perceptive."
"Yes. Knew exactly what would be on our minds tonight. Unusual, for a lady, that is."
Daine snorted at that. "I still can't believe we have an actual noble woman from Scanra working for us. Its almost impossible to picture."
Numair walked up to her, placed his hands on either side of her hips on the sill, effectively pinning her there. "I don't want to talk about Atune anymore."
Daine's breath grew shallow. And she barely managed to get her voice to work. "Me either."
He leaned in then, and took her mouth. It was sweet and hot and passionate and it hurt. Gods, it hurt…because it would be one of the last kisses she'd have from him in a long time, and that pierced her soul. He seemed to sense her thoughts somehow and pulled away, cupping her cheek and looking into her eyes, which were now filling with tears. "What's wrong?"
She closed her eyes and tears spilled over. "I don't think I can do this," she whispered brokenly.
Numair sighed and clenched his eyes, pressing his forehead to hers. "I know. It's killing me, too."
She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him to her so he stood between her knees, as close to her as possible. "I only get tonight," she said. "It's not fair."
He kissed her cheek and nose then, and moved down to her lips again as he gripped the sides of her face with his hands. She responded, kissing him for all she was worth. He moved his hands into her hair, tangling them in her brown curls, loving their silky texture. Then he wrapped them around her torso, bringing her flush against his chest. One moved down to her leg, gently running down her thigh, down to the bend of her knee. He pulled her knee up then, up around his waist…and she instinctively wrapped both of them around him. He picked her up, turned and walked to the bed. He felt the edge with his knees as he walked up to it and gently lowered her onto it, never taking his mouth from hers.
***
"This better turn out right," gritted George as he placed his last bag onto the horse. I'll be missing my Miles' and Eleni's knighthood ceremony for this."
"I know. I'm sorry about that, George."
"Na. It's alright, lad. I just wanna get this man, find out who he is. He's been causin more and more trouble in Carthak. The little rats been getting his claws into other kingdom's as well. Scanra and Serain for sure…next thing ya know, the Copper Isles are gonna start reporting rebellions from the man as well.
Numair sighed. The situation had gotten worse and worse…It wasn't just a favor to the Emperor of Carthak anymore. This assignment had become official Tortall business. Which meant, it had become more serious to the safety of the kingdom.
"We're ready to go." Stated George.
Numair nodded and turned to his wife and daughter. George walking up to his own family. Numair stood there for a moment looking at them, filling his eyes with the sight of them. Daine stood, tears in her eyes with Jade at her side, hand in hand. Atune of to the side, making herself busy. She smiled and nodded her good bye to him and he in turn smiled. He looked down at Jade. She seemed…distant…as if she were trying to ignore what was going on. "Do I get a hug good-bye?" he asked. Jade's head snapped up at that, and for a few seconds he thought she looked ready to cry – but then she sprung at him, wrapping her arms around his legs. He reached down and picked her up, giving her a tight hug and kiss after kiss. "I love you, sweetling. Don't forget that. Six months, remember. Six months." She nodded and gave him one final fierce hug before Atune came up and took her from his arms. He turned to Daine and felt his heart split. She looked up at him and with tears running down her face, sprung at him, kissing him for all she was worth.
He kissed her back, desperately trying to engrave every sweet taste of her mouth into his memory. He hugged her as hard as he dared, scared to let her go.
"I love you," she whispered. "If you get yourself killed, I'll never forgive you." He couldn't help it. He let out a hoarse laugh at that.
"I'll do my best, Magelet." She pulled away then and he turned back to George, who had just finished kissing his wife thoroughly and saying goodbye to his three children: one tall strong redheaded boy and two younger, yet, just has strong twins…one boy, one girl.
Numair mounted his horse as they began to ride off. He turned back at the palace walls to looking one more time, to see Daine pick up Jade from the ground into a tight hug, Atune standing a few feet away. He swallowed hard, trying to control the stinging in his eyes and throat.