Ok…first I would like to let everyone in on my story timeline. Some of you have noticed, correctly, that in my last chapter I named Alanna's twins something different from what is in Tamora Pierce's later stories. I did this on purpose! I might be flamed for this, but…seriously; I do not like any of the POTS books. In my opinion, they are completely out of character for Tamora Pierce. I do not know why she did, in my opinion, such a poor job on them. Anyway, weather you like them or not, I am completely ignoring everything after 'the immortals' quartet. Therefore, I can name anyone what ever I want. So there! Heheheee. Besides, I want all three of Alanna's kids to be knights….it has a specific role in my story. (Sticking my tongue out at anyone who does not like.)
Ok. Here we go.
The Secret Magic: 2 : Uncontrollable
Shhhh
*****
The door swung open, hitting the opposite wall of the small inn room with a loud "BAM!" George leaped to his feet, two daggers appearing in his hands poised for the attack.
"Put those away George," came a tired yet angry voice from the rickety doorway. Numair shoved the cloak off his head and undid the button on his neck, letting the light material meant for searing heat to fall from his shoulders.
George heaved a great sigh. "Numair, lad. Ya shouldn't come bargin' into a room like that, specially when ya know the person in there has daggers, the skill to aim, and is hangin' on the edge of his last nerve.
Numair sagged into a spiny chair and let his head fall back. "Now I remember why I left Carthak in the first place. The heat never stops. Mithros! There's probably still a foot of snow in Corrus right now."
George smirked. For a moment his face looked light, almost carefree; but a cloud seemed to come over his eyes, as he turned serious. "Haven't seen you in over a month. Thought something had happened, a few more days and I would have had the Emperors army storm the place."
A large hand came up to pinch the arch of his nose in thought. Then with a slight flick of his wrist, black magic flew to the corners of the tiny room. "Their planning something. I'm not sure what. They're being careful, not letting anyone they aren't positive is loyal too close. I haven't even been allowed into the camp meetings yet. They keep close eyes on us newbie's. I couldn't get away from the blasted camp for close to three weeks."
George fingered his wedding band in thought. "Wonder what they're plannin'. Couldn't be anything to big, right? Don't have the numbers."
"I wouldn't be so sure of that. They know what they're doing, have connections. I heard a group of them talking about the new guard post the Emperor has set up. They know a lot they shouldn't. I'm fare sure they have plenty of people on the inside." He took a deep breath before continuing. "They even have connections in Tortall." George's eyes snapped up at his words. "I was sent to go get a basin of water for the camp leaders. When I brought it in, they had a map of the palace laid out.
George took that in with a hard swallow. "Why would they try anything on the palace? They can't possibly have the numbers for that. They'd have to get across the borders, then make the two week trip to Corrus…there can't be any possible way.
Numair stood up, his tall frame nearly touching the small wooden ceiling. He paced to the small bed in the corner of the room and picked up a pile of parchment papers. "Any news?"
"Jon writes to say that Scanra's getting feisty. King Henry wants some of the refugees sent back for trial."
Numair's eyes turned hard. "He wants the refugees back? What for? To hang them for trying to stay alive. He kicked them out. What's he want them back for now?"
"Easy Lad. You know Jon wouldn't send that many woman and children back there. It's just gettin' a bit rough is all. With Serain's Warlord holdin' a grudge against us for havin' Thayet as our queen...and The Copper Isle's getting their pants into a twist over raiding ships they vow are ours….things are just…not goin' to well. It's a good thing at least that the Tortallan princess is on the Cartheki throne. We can at least count on that border bein' secure."
"Hmm." Numair rubbed his nose again, his eyebrows knitting together. "I just don't get what he's trying to pull." He laughed bitterly. "Justice was right you know? All those years ago. She said that she had never met a more paranoid creature. He stays so well hidden, not even his camp leaders know where he is."
George leaned back, trying to think through his exhaustion. "Everything else seems to running smoothly at the palace. My Lioness has been in and out towards the north with Raoul, dealing with the mass numbers of refugees from Scanra." He rubbed his neck tiredly. "Daine's had to go up with her twice."
Numair's head snapped up his head. "Why did he send Daine?"
"Scanra's closed their borders. They've locked up tight. They need a shape shifter to be able to get through the borders at will." George eyed the nervous man. "She's got the best chance lad. She can hide in the wilderness better than anyone else can and she can rely on her magic. And much like you, she looks like she could fit in."
Numair laughed hoarsely. "She's Gallan, George; not Scanran."
Leaning forward, George emphasized, "She still looks more like a Scanran than any Tortallan could. And…" he said with explanation, "…if all else fails, she can kick in her ol' accent and pass as a Gallan. We need to know the numbers over there, Numair. We can't risk turning our backs on them."
Numair heaved out a deep sigh. "Anything else?"
George raised his eyebrows as he leaned back in a less serious mood. "The City of the Gods has just released the names of three new wild-mages." Numair's eyes perked up in interest. "That makes the total number 7, including Daine." He scratched his dirty head of hair with irritation. "Apparently the new ones have been paired off with three of the older ones…spreading them out along the northern borders. The fourth….ummm, what was tha' girls name…" George scrunched his nose in thought. "Right….Candice or Cathy or something, she went with Daine. She's not a shape-shifter though. So she's mostly intercepting messages for Daine while they're up there."
Numair nodded, his elbows resting on his knees and his chin resting in his hands. His serious eyes looked tired and worn. He heaved up on his legs again and stretched. "Well, if that's all the information we've gotten…"
"It is…sorry there, Lad. Wish I could give you some more…personal information…about Daine and Jade and all. But the only information getting through right now is important affairs of state."
A tight smile was all the answer Numair gave. He patted George on the back and reached for his cloak, securing it around his neck. "That's alright. I wasn't expecting any information of that sort to be coming." He cleared his throat. "Well, I should be getting back, don't want them to miss me, now do I," said with a mocking tone.
George walked over to the door to let him out. Before Numair could pull back his magic, George asked in an urgent voice, "They aren't suspecting you or anything are they, lad?"
Numair let out a bark of laughter. "At the camp I'm at? There's one man there with the gift, only strong enough to cast sparks for fire's. Frankly I'm worried they have something better than magic that they would ignore it blatantly. Don't worry, George. Everything's fine."
George nodded. "Right then. I'll send your information up as soon as possible. Unless we luck out, we won't have time to go deeper. But we have a lot of useful information as is. Two weeks Numair. You get your Cartheki hind out of there in two weeks so I can get out of this death trap of an inn go home and you can get back to your lasses."
Numair smiled tightly. "Two weeks. See you around George" The door slammed just as loudly as the tall hooded figure disappeared.
*****
The man crept into the dark room, stale from lack of moving air. "Everything is ready sir."
A pair of beautiful brown eyes, marred by a set up what looked like nail scrapes, looked up in glee. "The men are planted?"
"Y…Yes sir," stuttered the man. "Only thing left to do is wait for the Emper…" he stopped at the man's hard glare. "I mean….for Kaddar to go to Tortall for treaty talks."
The beautiful eyes moved from the shaking man to a figure seated next to him. A middle-aged woman with confused veiled eyes. "You look troubled, Clara."
"I do not understand. Why would you have to wait for Kaddar to leave Carthak, would it not be better for him to be in the country with the Tortallan Princess? He'd be a much easier target here."
The wide soft lips smiled in amusement. "I'll be killing two birds with one stone, my deer." His hands played with a sheathed dagger at his side.
"Kill two…?" Her eyes grew wide. "Alexander! Are you mad?" she stood to her feet, voice shaking. "You forget I am from Tortall...I was there when the King was crowned. I told you before, we have not the numbers."
He stood up, anger sparking in his eyes. "Silence, WOMAN! I will not be told what to do by my bed whore!"
Her eyes wide and head shaking; the woman took a few steps away from him, one hand up and shaking a finger wildly. "No, no, no, no, no…." She laughed unbelievingly. In a loud voice, she exclaimed. "I have SEEN what happens to those who take on the throne! It's not a pretty sight, Xander. And they've much more numbers than you. AND much more skill!"
His voice was flat and edgy as he ground out in a toneless voice, "I am warning you, Clara…do not continue this unfeminine ranting and I will not punish you."
The woman was shaking now, utterly terrified. She tried for begging. "Xander! Please! I am telling you this will not work! We will all be killed! I do not want a part in this. Kaddar is one thing…we can not risk angering them by killing Kal..Uugg…" The woman fell over, a dagger impaled into her throat, blood seeping out rapidly.
The little man that had stood in the corner watching the conversation with wide eyes squeaked in surprise.
The anger and madness seemed to seep from the deep chocolate eyes as he turned and wiped some splattered blood off his hand. He looked back at the body for a moment and then back at the man with scrunched up eyes. "You know? I've never killed anyone before. I mean…I have given the order for someone to BE killed, and even tried it once or twice myself without success. But, never personally." His eyes rose with indifferent realization. "I don't see what the big deal is," he said, striding out of the room; the little shaking man backing up against the wall as he passed. "I really don't."
*****
A/N: Hmmm wonder wants goin' on. Stay tuned for the next chapter. Bwaaahahahahaaaa! Hehe…bye now!