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Chapter 8

Daine took one long and quenching gulp from the spring. The sun was beginning to set, but the heat was still unbearable for a girl who grew up in the chilly North. The vegetation around the spring whispered with wild life; the chirping of grass crickets blended harmoniously with the buzzing bees, and the frequent croaks from the water toads served as an orchestra in a musical sonata.

Taking a deep breath, Daine dipped her head back into the cool water once more. Small, delicate claws belonging to her dragonet, Kitten, groped around the girl's smoky curls, saving them from getting wet.

'Much better,' Daine sighed and wiped her mouth with her sleeve. 'Your turn now, Kit. Don't you fall in though.'

The dragon gave an indignant chirp that sounded uncannily like 'as if I would' and dipped her slender neck towards the water surface gracefully.

Daine smiled at her immortal companion, glad for her presence. The rest of her Tortallen friends were back at the palace with the Emperor, and Daine, whose memory was still fresh from the ordeal with the Carthaki host only yesterday, did not see the inclination to face him again in a hurry. With the permission of Duke Gareth, Daine had spent the day exploring the foreign city, enjoying her rare freedom.

With a sigh, the wildmage flopped on to her back, face gazing at the heaven. Here, the sky was not stained with the dyes of clear blue as it did in Tortall, but a cloudy and stormy grey, rather like the shade of her eyes.

Daine closed her eyes – Kitten settled herself near her companion's neck – and allowed her thoughts to drift. Immediately her mind replayed the scene in the Emperor's room: his strong, persistent touch, the cruel, scheming smile and the determined, almost manic look in his eyes.

Daine shuddered, feeling her heart race up even now. Her skin still remembered the Emperor's touch, making her cold and numb.

'Why do I always have a knack for attracting trouble?' Daine asked the clouds bitterly, 'I mean, its not like I asked for Ozorne's interests. Of all the elegant ladies at court, he picks me, a skinny little girl with wildmagic.' – who happens to be the student of his greatest enemy Daine added silently.

Thinking of Numair, Daine grimaced – he had acted the impossible last night. If Daine previously thought she had seen the mage in his strongest attack of protectiveness, she was sadly mistaken. After the brief, but intense talk with Duke Gareth the night before, Numair had practically taken on the role as Daine's shadow, refusing to let her out of his sight. Towards midnight, he had refused to leave Daine's room, insisting that he should remain with her in case Ozorne decided to pay another visit. It was only after some very loud exclamations with Duke Gareth, several powerful guarding spells and a vigorous push did Numair finally allow himself to be dragged – quite literally – by the King's Champion away from a very sleepy Daine's room.

The wildmage did not know what to think about her teacher's behaviour, and about Ozorne's she knew even less. The Palace atmosphere was like a battlefield. Tension cracked to the maxim whenever Numair and the Emperor happened to be in the same room. Daine was quite relieved that she was not back at the palace – she was sure her body would have suffocated under the invisible pressure of the two men's attentions.

'Grown ups are fair strange,' Daine murmured softly to Kitten, who chirped in agreement. 'They never talk straight, and always have to make things so complicated.' The girl yawned, scratching her dragon's neck idly. 'Now animals are much easier to understand. At least they would act according to their feelings.'

A sudden ear-splitting shriek pierced the air, and it took Daine several seconds to realise the source was her dragon friend.

'Kit, what is it? – Hush, you're hurting my ears!'

The agile dragon was screeching wildly, scales turning into a brilliant shade of magenta.

It was then that Daine saw what was wrong.

An eerie light had spread over the spring, growing stronger by the seconds. Within the next moment, the light grew to an immense intensity, blinding Daine's vision.

'What in the Goddess's name is that?' Daine said, shielding her eyes. Trying to stand up, she struggled into a poised stance, ready in case of an attack.

The light began to gather itself as one, and as it grew denser, the light intensity also lessened, so that is was dim enough for Daine to see properly. As her eyes gradually recovered from the blaze, she saw a figure that of a man, standing – or really, floating inches above the water.

'Mithros, who is that?' Daine whispered loudly.

A faint, amused smile appeared on the man's face. 'Tell me,' he inquired, his voice commanding yet strangely musical, 'do mortals always use my name in so light a manner?'

Daine struggled with herself, not sure of what he was implying. ' – Mithros?' she squeaked, staring openly at the man with awe.

'Yes, it does seem quite unbelievable doesn't it,' the man commented, voice mingled with a trace of Godly arrogance, 'a Divinity of my status stepping in the Mortal's Realm.'

Daine looked at him shrewdly. 'Actually, I was going to say you look nothing like the almighty Mithros I had in mind.'

The bemused smiled turned into that of a questioning one. 'You have a pert manner, Veralidaine. If it was not for the warning I came to tell you, rest assured that I would have given you a generous taste of my wrath.'

Daine looked at him sharply. 'What warning?' she asked, her voice thick with suspicion. As much as she loved her badger friend who happened to be a God, she did not want any more Patrons, big or small, to meddle with her already disarrayed life.

'I have come here to warn you against an upcoming event. The scheming mortal whom you identify as the Emperor, has tired my patience. He will be offering you a choice, in which you must decide between two things.'

'Hang on, how do you know – '

'That is not important. Listen to me child; it is crucial for you to decline the man's offer. Do you understand me? You must refuse his proposal, whatever the price.'

'Now wait a second,' Daine cut in with a laugh, 'why would I, in my right mind, want to accept any of Ozorne's offers in the first place?'

'Do not heed my caution so lightly,' Mithros commanded, 'you must listen to my warning. Otherwise, you can be sure the Gods will have more than just Ozorne to see to.'

Without warning, the residues of light surrounding the Immortal vanished, as did the God himself.

Daine stared at the spot intensely for a moment. Finally, baffled, she shook her head and picked up Kitten, who had remained unusually quiet during the conversation.

'Meddlesome busybodies,' Daine muttered under her breath, 'don't they have better things to do than to pry with people's lives?'

It was dark when Daine returned to the palace. The dining hall was unusually quiet, giving the atmosphere an eerie presence.

Thinking that she had missed dinner, Daine cursed under her breath – using a word she heard Numair utter in numerous occasions – and made her way towards her room. Stifling a yawn, girl and dragon walked along the torch-lit corridor, their footsteps echoing along the hard marble floor. Seconds later, a third and rather hurried footstep joined the procession.

'Daine – Daine, wait! There you are.'

Daine turned at the sound of her name to see the King's Champion running towards her. Her face was flushed, and her eyes had a wild tinge within the purple depth.

'Something's the matter?' Daine asked, studying her friend's face carefully.

'Daine, where have you been? Goddess – where were you?'

'What are you talking about?' the girl asked with a puzzled frown, 'you know where I was. Duke Gareth gave me the day off, remember?'

Alanna groaned irritably, switching from one foot to the other –a sure sign of agitation – one hand absentmindedly running through her flame of red hair. 'Yes but were you with Ozorne? Did he take you any where?'

Now Daine was completely baffled, unable to understand her friend's words. 'No, I – I was on my own the whole time – '

'You are sure you did not venture off with Ozorne?' Alanna inquired, her eyes boring seriously into the younger girl's face. 'You didn't…you didn't follow him to his chamber again?'

'What? No!' Daine cried indignantly, 'as if I would do that again! No, I just came back.'

There was a silence – and then the Lioness suddenly swore, one foot stamping against the hard floor. 'Damn it! Then it was a trap!'

Hairs began to rise on the back of Daine's neck. She gazed worriedly into her friend's face. Something was not right. It took a lot to make the King's Champion worried – and the expression on Alanna's face right now was beyond anxiety.

'What's wrong?' Daine asked slowly, the dull, daunting feeling beginning to settle in the pit of her stomach.

Alanna fixed her violet eyes on the girl. 'I'm sorry Daine,' she said with a sigh, 'Numair – he has been arrested.'