Chapter 14

In the orange, sun-streaked room where glorious rays of light spilt into space, both man stood facing each other, their shadows stretched thin beside them. They regarded one and other solemnly, wary and watchful.

'This unforeseen amnesia is most regrettable,' Ozorne said at length. 'Somehow during the course of her fall, her head must have struck something – a fallen boulder most likely. I will ask the healers at the Palace to place a health check on her.'

'That will not be necessary,' Numair said sharply, 'the Lioness can tend to Daine's case instead. She is a adept healer, and has known Daine for some time – her face might trigger some recognition in Daine.'

Ozorne's mouth curled as he regarded his former friend, now standing so rigidly before him. 'Still don't trust me, Arram?' His voice was silky. 'Perhaps you suspect I might send in healers as…spies or any such ominous figures?' He gave a crude laugh. 'Keeping regards to our immense differences, I beg you, please, just take my word that my much-respected healers will perform no more tasks other than healing. Truly, I do not wish Veralidaine any ill.'

Numair's eyes flickered. 'That is easy enough to believe. However I must insist upon Alanna being her healer. She is, after all, Daine's friend, and I'm sure Daine would feel more at ease in her presence.'

'It will not sooth Veralidaine when she cannot remember her!' Ozorne exclaimed with mock exasperation.

'It will sooth me in any case,' Numair snapped. His eyebrows drew together in a brooding frown. 'Gods bless it! None of this would have happened if…' He made an agitated noise.

'Arram, you know as well as I do that this accident was no one's fault,' Ozorne said with the calmness of a teacher, and then shook his head. 'Why would I want to have Veralidaine's memory erased? What do I have to gain out of that?'

Numair's eyes flashed as he rounded on the Emperor like a hawk. 'Her vulnerability! Do not think me a fool, Ozorne. You know she would never in her proper mind agree to accept your affections – if that is even the right word for it, let alone to return your feelings. Without her memory, you plan to strike and plant some wild stories in her mind, any story to win her trust!' He broke off, breathing heavily.

A strange glint crept within Ozorne's eyes. He studied Numair for a second before walking towards the great windows. Sunlight danced around his snow-white robe, dazzling with brightness. Looking through the glass, he said in a voice that was low and seemingly fused with pain.

'Is it so impossible for you to believe that for once, I am truly sincere in my feelings for Veralidaine? Is my wish for her to be safe so unbelievable to you? You have known me before, Arram. You know I never toy with such things.'

'I also know you are possessive with what you hunger, and your greed to get it at any cost.' Grim faced, Numair crossed the room to stand beside the Emperor. Ozorne turned slowly.

'You and I both know 'love' is not the reason behind this marriage. You want revenge against me. Ever since I left for Tortall, you have been wanting to get even.'

'You were plotting treason,' Ozorne replied wryly.

'You know that is not true!' Numair snapped, eyes flashing. He took a moment to compose himself before letting his eyes fix on Ozorne. The Emperor stared back indifferently.

'Let her go,' Numair said, allowing a drop of plea into his voice. 'This grudge is nothing to do with her. Don't drag her down into our dispute.'

For a moment Ozorne said nothing. Then his lip twitched and his eyes glinted with cold amusement. 'You are still the simple-minded bookworm that I remember, Arram. Do you really think my resentment towards you is naught but a grudge? Nine years I have spent, dimmed by your shadow, always quashing what could have being my glory! The masters never could see the strengths you lacked – the strengths I was capable of! Nor did they see your weakness – your disgusting sentiments about morality, the great potential of your powers wasted on useless researches.'

Ozorne's eyes glowered with loathing as he glared at his former friend. The mad, ferocity in his expression was disturbing. Numair however, was undaunted.

'I understand your hatred, Ozorne,' he said softly, 'but do not let your jealousy bind the life of an innocent girl to yours.'

The Emperor's eyes flared in anger at these words. Deep lines creased his smooth forehead and something within him seemed to loose control. 'Jealousy?' he spat, hissing with umbrage. 'You think jealousy goaded me to promote this marriage? No, you are just as self-centred as I remember, Arram. Always thinking events happened due to you.'

'Ozorne, you are too – '

'But you see, while you buried your nose under worthless parchments and scrolls, I became the Emperor, and now I have your precious student under my wings.'

Numair stirred. 'It's me you want to settle scores with, not her! I will not let you – '

'I don't need to settle any score, Arram.' Ozorne suddenly smiled, his old taunting manner back. 'Watching you suffer from Veralidaine's absence is much too amusing. It is so entertaining to see you writhe in torture at the thought that I might harm her. What do you suppose I could do, Arram? Visit her bedside in the middle of the night?'

Black fire edged with silver flashed in Numair's upcoming hand, heat licking through his fingers. Ozorne reacted instantly, casting a protective shield around him just as the fire smashed on to the surface, crackling as it made contact.

'I will kill you,' Numair hissed through clenched teeth, liquid fire soaring in his eyes. 'In the name of Mithros, I will kill you now – '

'And you think you have the capability to accomplish that?' Ozorne bared his teeth in a vicious smile. 'No, I think I have had enough listening to your prattle. You will go back to Tortall this afternoon, with the rest of your delegates.'

'I am not leaving Daine in your treacherous hands! I am still her mentor, and I will stay in Carthak until her memory returns.'

Ozorne's eyes narrowed. 'You will go, if I command you to. Carthak is my land and whilst you are upon my soil, you will obey my commands!'

Numair cursed, black fires springing from his palm once again. This time Ozorne too, called upon his own gift. The two mages stood poised, eyes locked and hands outstretched.

'Do you think its wise, to challenge me in a duel?'

'I would ask you the same.' Numair answered, and then dodged back as Ozorne suddenly lashed out with his hand. Side stepping, he closed the space with a quick movement and threw a stream of black fire at his opponent. Ozorne swerved, missing the lethal hit by a fraction, and then re-established his ground. Eyes never faltering, the two men circled each other like two wolves over a carcass.

A loud scream from the next room broke the tension-filled silence. With a jolt, Numair dropped his magical defence and rushed out of the room, calling his student's name as he ran.

He found Daine sitting amidst a tangle of bed blankets, eyes wide open as she stared thunderstruck at something in front of her. Coming closer, Numair saw a small moving bundle of feathers; flecks of gold and brown pattern that marked it as Carthak's native inhabitant, the desert sparrow.

It was a small, agile thing, hopping lively across the bed and onto the bewildered girl's shoulders. There was a faint click as Emperor Ozorne entered.

'Daine?' Numair sat down on the edge of the bed. His hand reached for the girl's shoulder, but stopped in midair as he thought the better of it. 'Are you all right? I heard you scream…'

Daine's eyes shone with unnatural brightness. She reached out to stroke the sparrow with one tender finger.

'She spoke to me,' she whispered, her voice quivering with excitement. She turned her face to Numair, her early fears of him apparently forgotten. Numair started slightly at the happiness that shone from her face.

'The bird…I – I can talk to her!' Daine giggled as the sparrow preened her smoky curls. 'She said her name is Twig. Isn't that odd? Birds having names.'

Beside Daine, Numair visibly paled. From the corner of his eyes, he saw Ozorne study the girl with a glint he did not like. Numair eyed him coldly before returning his attention to Daine.

'What do you remember of Wildmagic?' he asked urgently.

Confusion played across the girl's eyes as she shook her head slowly. Numair pressed on.

'The ability to commune with animals – talk to them in your mind. Do you remember that? What about changing into them?'

'Goddess! Is that even possible?' Daine exclaimed, her eyes rounding. She turned to stare at Twig with a look of wonder, a dreamy expression played across her face. 'I never knew I could talk with animals. I mean I always had a knack handling them but…' Daine's voice faded as she brushed her cheek against the sparrow's small body.

Numair watched her for a moment before letting out a cautious, long-held breath. Heaving himself off the bed, he moved across the room towards Ozorne. 'That settles it then.' His voice had every tone of a man who was used to authority. 'Daine has no knowledge of her powers. This means she is as good as an untrained apprentice, and has no notion of the extent of her own magic. Whilst she cannot control it, she is endangering herself as well as those around her.'

Ozorne frowned. 'There are plenty of lecturers at the university – '

'Your university masters do not believe Wildmagic exists' Numair cut across loudly. 'I am the only one who expertise in this field of magic. That is why I must, and will stay in Carthak to teach her.'

For a moment Ozorne's face tightened with inward rage. His eyes slide sideways until they rested on Daine. Something unreadable passed across his face. Then, he smiled slowly.

'Very well, Arram.' He bared his teeth, his smirk a little too explicit. 'I shall ask a servant to prepare your room.'