Disclaimer: I do not own Tamora pierce physically or mentally (unlike the
people in her stories I have no magical gift to do such things!)
Authors note: this is the first chapter in my expansion of "The Immortals" series by Tamora Pierce. I hope you like it but I couldn't care less if you don't so review it for me whether you like it or not!
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The girl looked at the mage seated across the table from her with love in her blue-grey eyes, she silently called two of the palace dogs to the man so that he might rid himself of the foreign food that threatened to make him sick. Once again Varice Kingsford had piled his plate high with delicacies when he would really rather not eat anything at all.
Daine was in the recently built palace of Carthak, attending a celebration dinner that was being held for the opening of the new palace. The man across the table from her was the most powerful mage in the entire realm of Tortall. He was her teacher, lover and friend, Numair Salmalin. At that particular moment Daine was glaring intently at Varice, a lovely young woman about Numair's age who was once his lover. The older woman, appearing not to notice Daine's furious gaze, was deep in conversation with her one time lover. She was flirting with Numair as if she were a teenager, just waiting to be asked out on a date by the boy of her dreams. Daine and Numair had not had the chance to enlighten many people of their love, least of all this woman, who Daine saw as a threat to her future happiness. Of the few people who did know Alanna, "the Lioness" of Pirates Swoop and Olau and the emperor of Carthak, Kaddar, were also in attendance at the feast.
Daine was not the only one unhappy with Varice's behaviour. The dragon Skysong, sitting under the table, was muttering under her breath and occasionally making shrill whistles and other such noises at Varice, when a comment was made about the relationship she had once shared with Numair. Daine made absolutely no attempt to quieten her charge. She agreed with her dragon 100%.
Although Daine was refusing to enjoy herself she had to admit (if only to herself) that it was a splendid party. The other people who had travelled from Tortall including Alanna, Duke Gareth of Naxen, Sir Gareth the younger, Sir Raoul of Goldenlake and some of the other nobles who simply wanted to escape the Tortallan palace for a while, clearly seemed to be agreeing.
Daine was about to go and talk to the Lioness who was huddled on a cushion in the corner pretending to be invisible. Daine would much rather be a part of a conversation with Alanna rather than listen to an old woman try to steal her future husband away! But Varice got up out of her seat to check that her party was going according to plan and that her guests were having a good time. Kitten was delighted by this change in events and slowly began to change from the deep ruby red that marked her as vexed to the sky blue colour she usually was. Daine agreed with enthusiasm. Once Varice was out of earshot Numair and Daine started talking.
Numair sighed deeply, relief flooding his face and gratitude flashing in his eyes like diamonds in sunlight. "Thank-you, sweet," he told Daine " that's the second time that you have saved me from Varice and her ghastly delicacies" Daine smiled lovingly into his beautiful eyes and replied, " You are most welcome" with a mischievous glint in her eyes she added "you were looking a fair bit green and I wouldn't have wanted you to be sick on Varices lovely dress!" Numair looked up from feeding the dogs at his feet "Was that a hint of sarcasm I just heard?" he said in a mock-stern voice. Daine grinned impishly at him "Maybe." she said still smiling.
Numair was about to launch into a long spiel about manners but decided better of it when Emperor Kaddar sat in the vacated seat next to Daine. The emperor was dressed entirely in gold. He wore so much that Daine was sure that, should she see him in the morning his skin would have a gold tinge to it.
"Lovely night, is it not?" Kaddar asked and without even waiting for an answer he went right into what sounded like a well-prepared speech. "Master Numair do you plan to marry? Is there anyone you have in mind?" Daine, realising that Kaddar planned to give Numair the same talk he had received last time Daine had seen them talking, started to glare at her "friend", step on his toes and kick him in the shins. At that point in time she had completely forgotten that he was an emperor. Numair had given Kaddar this speech the night when all of Carthak was informed that the gods were angry with Kaddar's uncle Ozorne. "I may have chosen a bride, yes" was the calm but clipped answer supplied by Numair. He was not one to think kindly of someone who made other peoples business their own. "But you are involved with ladies of the Tortallan court, are you not?" Kaddar was smiling all too sweetly and Numair had not yet caught on to what was happening. Daine was still trying to make the emperor shut up. Numair looked as if he was getting fair vexed by the conversation and would give anything to change the subject of discussion. "I would never deceive a woman in the way that you are implying, your Majesty " Numair would have sounded even more vexed than he looked were that possible. "Indeed not, stop kicking me, Veralidaine Sarrasri, it didn't work for you last time you heard this speech and it certainly will not work this time!" He turned his laughing eyes back to Numair and continued. "You understand she is important to a number of powerful nobles and mages in and around Tortall." Kaddar appeared to be fighting laughter. "Their Majesties. Lady Alanna and her husband the Barron of Pirate's Swoop. Me. All of us would take it amiss if we thought for one moment she was being trifled with, particularly by a young man who wasn't free to do the right thing by her." "Kaddar" Daine growled "can I speak to you privately for a moment?" "No. Do I make myself clear master Salmalin?" Numair suddenly realising what was going on smiled briefly and replied with the same answer Kaddar had given him when asked the same question. Trying to look as angry as before Numair said "I understand you well Kaddar." To Daine's surprise both men started to laugh hysterically, drawing precautious glances from the entire room. After Daine managed to get them to quieten she wished she hadn't, they started a long and very dull conversation about politics.
***** Soon after midnight, when Daine was safe in her room, Alanna came in smiling broadly. The Lioness skipped over to Daines' bed whistling one of the bawdy songs taught to her by the men of Fort Drell and dropped herself next to Daine. "Well that was an eventful party" Alanna said thoroughly cheerful; a rare occurrence after an occasion of the social kind. "I suppose so" Daine mumbled, still, annoyed at being part of a conversation that she couldn't contribute to. Alanna look at her and said in her big-sisterly voice. " Were you not so upset I would joke at you" Daine looked quizzically at her and the Lioness explained. "Well, you had to sit and converse with the two most immature men in that entire room whilst I got to hide in a corner all night without anyone the wiser!"
When Alanna saw the faintest of smiles light Daine eyes she asked. "So, what happened that made you so grumpy?" Daine gave in and told the knight what happened. Her embarrassment only tripled when Alanna looked at her, laughed and danced out of the room while singing a chorus of "Kaddar gave Numair a big brother talk, Kaddar gave Numair a big brother talk!" Daine had to smile. And not for the first time that night she wondered how much the Lioness had had to drink!
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The next morning Daine awoke thoroughly miserable. When she tried to get out of bed she felt an arm snake around her waist and pull her back into bed. When she rolled over she wasn't in the least bit surprised to find Numair pretending to be asleep. This was a trick he played on her often when she was angry at him. It usually made her smile but this morning Daine was too tired and way too vexed to let it work. Instead of smiling and returning to bed she got up and dressed while Numair was determinedly trying to see what she was doing at the same time as masquerading an innocent man who was asleep. It wasn't quite working so when Daine left the room he went back to sleep for real.
Daine returned half an hour later armed with a pitcher full of ice. She was on the warpath. Carefully she closed the door and crept over to the bed making sure not to cause any noise. She lifted the blanket and poured the ice beside Numair's back and all over his head and.... Numair rolled over to the other side of the bed and went back to sleep! Completely and utterly annoyed by his lack of reaction Daine jumped onto the bed with such force that Numair bounced several times before landing with a loud smack on the floor. That woke him. "Mithros, Daine what was that for?" he asked sleepily. "If you can't work it out, I'm not going to tell you" Daine replied smiling a bit. "If that was pay back for last night, you should have done it to Kaddar, not me!" Numair stared at her as if he never in his wildest dreams did he think that Daine would do such a thing! "Well, for your information, Mister blame everything on royalty, that was for last night and Kaddar has received a punishment very similar." Daine smiled impishly at him as they both heard a scream from the direction of Kaddar's rooms.
*****
At lunch that same day, Kaddar stomped into the banquet hall searching ferociously for Daine, who was hiding in a corner (she had expected just this reaction and had prepared for it). The young emperor, finally spotting the smoky-brown curls which gave him the position of the back of her head, walked briskly over to her. "Why, Veralidaine Sarrasri, did you feel the need to get back at me for looking out for you?" he demanded when he reached her. "Why, Kaddar, did you feel the need to embarrass me in the way you did?" she retorted calmly. "Because ...... it's been no fun being emperor and I needed to laugh." Kaddar replied hesitantly, he had no intention of waking up in a rose bush tomorrow as he had done today! "Oh you poor diddums, shall I wave my magic wand and make you some poor city person so that you can have some fun?" Daine asked, her voice full of sarcasm, poking out her bottom lip. "Do you always have to be so ....ummmm.... aggravating?" Kaddar appeared to be lightening up. "I happen to like playing tricks, thankyou" Daine said fighting hysterical laughter. "Now if you don't mind I'm going to visit the royal menagerie" "Then I'll come with you," Kaddar said firmly "we don't want you to destroy this palace too!"
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Authors note: this is the first chapter in my expansion of "The Immortals" series by Tamora Pierce. I hope you like it but I couldn't care less if you don't so review it for me whether you like it or not!
**********
The girl looked at the mage seated across the table from her with love in her blue-grey eyes, she silently called two of the palace dogs to the man so that he might rid himself of the foreign food that threatened to make him sick. Once again Varice Kingsford had piled his plate high with delicacies when he would really rather not eat anything at all.
Daine was in the recently built palace of Carthak, attending a celebration dinner that was being held for the opening of the new palace. The man across the table from her was the most powerful mage in the entire realm of Tortall. He was her teacher, lover and friend, Numair Salmalin. At that particular moment Daine was glaring intently at Varice, a lovely young woman about Numair's age who was once his lover. The older woman, appearing not to notice Daine's furious gaze, was deep in conversation with her one time lover. She was flirting with Numair as if she were a teenager, just waiting to be asked out on a date by the boy of her dreams. Daine and Numair had not had the chance to enlighten many people of their love, least of all this woman, who Daine saw as a threat to her future happiness. Of the few people who did know Alanna, "the Lioness" of Pirates Swoop and Olau and the emperor of Carthak, Kaddar, were also in attendance at the feast.
Daine was not the only one unhappy with Varice's behaviour. The dragon Skysong, sitting under the table, was muttering under her breath and occasionally making shrill whistles and other such noises at Varice, when a comment was made about the relationship she had once shared with Numair. Daine made absolutely no attempt to quieten her charge. She agreed with her dragon 100%.
Although Daine was refusing to enjoy herself she had to admit (if only to herself) that it was a splendid party. The other people who had travelled from Tortall including Alanna, Duke Gareth of Naxen, Sir Gareth the younger, Sir Raoul of Goldenlake and some of the other nobles who simply wanted to escape the Tortallan palace for a while, clearly seemed to be agreeing.
Daine was about to go and talk to the Lioness who was huddled on a cushion in the corner pretending to be invisible. Daine would much rather be a part of a conversation with Alanna rather than listen to an old woman try to steal her future husband away! But Varice got up out of her seat to check that her party was going according to plan and that her guests were having a good time. Kitten was delighted by this change in events and slowly began to change from the deep ruby red that marked her as vexed to the sky blue colour she usually was. Daine agreed with enthusiasm. Once Varice was out of earshot Numair and Daine started talking.
Numair sighed deeply, relief flooding his face and gratitude flashing in his eyes like diamonds in sunlight. "Thank-you, sweet," he told Daine " that's the second time that you have saved me from Varice and her ghastly delicacies" Daine smiled lovingly into his beautiful eyes and replied, " You are most welcome" with a mischievous glint in her eyes she added "you were looking a fair bit green and I wouldn't have wanted you to be sick on Varices lovely dress!" Numair looked up from feeding the dogs at his feet "Was that a hint of sarcasm I just heard?" he said in a mock-stern voice. Daine grinned impishly at him "Maybe." she said still smiling.
Numair was about to launch into a long spiel about manners but decided better of it when Emperor Kaddar sat in the vacated seat next to Daine. The emperor was dressed entirely in gold. He wore so much that Daine was sure that, should she see him in the morning his skin would have a gold tinge to it.
"Lovely night, is it not?" Kaddar asked and without even waiting for an answer he went right into what sounded like a well-prepared speech. "Master Numair do you plan to marry? Is there anyone you have in mind?" Daine, realising that Kaddar planned to give Numair the same talk he had received last time Daine had seen them talking, started to glare at her "friend", step on his toes and kick him in the shins. At that point in time she had completely forgotten that he was an emperor. Numair had given Kaddar this speech the night when all of Carthak was informed that the gods were angry with Kaddar's uncle Ozorne. "I may have chosen a bride, yes" was the calm but clipped answer supplied by Numair. He was not one to think kindly of someone who made other peoples business their own. "But you are involved with ladies of the Tortallan court, are you not?" Kaddar was smiling all too sweetly and Numair had not yet caught on to what was happening. Daine was still trying to make the emperor shut up. Numair looked as if he was getting fair vexed by the conversation and would give anything to change the subject of discussion. "I would never deceive a woman in the way that you are implying, your Majesty " Numair would have sounded even more vexed than he looked were that possible. "Indeed not, stop kicking me, Veralidaine Sarrasri, it didn't work for you last time you heard this speech and it certainly will not work this time!" He turned his laughing eyes back to Numair and continued. "You understand she is important to a number of powerful nobles and mages in and around Tortall." Kaddar appeared to be fighting laughter. "Their Majesties. Lady Alanna and her husband the Barron of Pirate's Swoop. Me. All of us would take it amiss if we thought for one moment she was being trifled with, particularly by a young man who wasn't free to do the right thing by her." "Kaddar" Daine growled "can I speak to you privately for a moment?" "No. Do I make myself clear master Salmalin?" Numair suddenly realising what was going on smiled briefly and replied with the same answer Kaddar had given him when asked the same question. Trying to look as angry as before Numair said "I understand you well Kaddar." To Daine's surprise both men started to laugh hysterically, drawing precautious glances from the entire room. After Daine managed to get them to quieten she wished she hadn't, they started a long and very dull conversation about politics.
***** Soon after midnight, when Daine was safe in her room, Alanna came in smiling broadly. The Lioness skipped over to Daines' bed whistling one of the bawdy songs taught to her by the men of Fort Drell and dropped herself next to Daine. "Well that was an eventful party" Alanna said thoroughly cheerful; a rare occurrence after an occasion of the social kind. "I suppose so" Daine mumbled, still, annoyed at being part of a conversation that she couldn't contribute to. Alanna look at her and said in her big-sisterly voice. " Were you not so upset I would joke at you" Daine looked quizzically at her and the Lioness explained. "Well, you had to sit and converse with the two most immature men in that entire room whilst I got to hide in a corner all night without anyone the wiser!"
When Alanna saw the faintest of smiles light Daine eyes she asked. "So, what happened that made you so grumpy?" Daine gave in and told the knight what happened. Her embarrassment only tripled when Alanna looked at her, laughed and danced out of the room while singing a chorus of "Kaddar gave Numair a big brother talk, Kaddar gave Numair a big brother talk!" Daine had to smile. And not for the first time that night she wondered how much the Lioness had had to drink!
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The next morning Daine awoke thoroughly miserable. When she tried to get out of bed she felt an arm snake around her waist and pull her back into bed. When she rolled over she wasn't in the least bit surprised to find Numair pretending to be asleep. This was a trick he played on her often when she was angry at him. It usually made her smile but this morning Daine was too tired and way too vexed to let it work. Instead of smiling and returning to bed she got up and dressed while Numair was determinedly trying to see what she was doing at the same time as masquerading an innocent man who was asleep. It wasn't quite working so when Daine left the room he went back to sleep for real.
Daine returned half an hour later armed with a pitcher full of ice. She was on the warpath. Carefully she closed the door and crept over to the bed making sure not to cause any noise. She lifted the blanket and poured the ice beside Numair's back and all over his head and.... Numair rolled over to the other side of the bed and went back to sleep! Completely and utterly annoyed by his lack of reaction Daine jumped onto the bed with such force that Numair bounced several times before landing with a loud smack on the floor. That woke him. "Mithros, Daine what was that for?" he asked sleepily. "If you can't work it out, I'm not going to tell you" Daine replied smiling a bit. "If that was pay back for last night, you should have done it to Kaddar, not me!" Numair stared at her as if he never in his wildest dreams did he think that Daine would do such a thing! "Well, for your information, Mister blame everything on royalty, that was for last night and Kaddar has received a punishment very similar." Daine smiled impishly at him as they both heard a scream from the direction of Kaddar's rooms.
*****
At lunch that same day, Kaddar stomped into the banquet hall searching ferociously for Daine, who was hiding in a corner (she had expected just this reaction and had prepared for it). The young emperor, finally spotting the smoky-brown curls which gave him the position of the back of her head, walked briskly over to her. "Why, Veralidaine Sarrasri, did you feel the need to get back at me for looking out for you?" he demanded when he reached her. "Why, Kaddar, did you feel the need to embarrass me in the way you did?" she retorted calmly. "Because ...... it's been no fun being emperor and I needed to laugh." Kaddar replied hesitantly, he had no intention of waking up in a rose bush tomorrow as he had done today! "Oh you poor diddums, shall I wave my magic wand and make you some poor city person so that you can have some fun?" Daine asked, her voice full of sarcasm, poking out her bottom lip. "Do you always have to be so ....ummmm.... aggravating?" Kaddar appeared to be lightening up. "I happen to like playing tricks, thankyou" Daine said fighting hysterical laughter. "Now if you don't mind I'm going to visit the royal menagerie" "Then I'll come with you," Kaddar said firmly "we don't want you to destroy this palace too!"
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