Hi, this is my first fic, so please read and review. I know the beginning's
a little slow, but it'll get better!!! This is a story set after
Trickster's Choice, so if you haven't read it, this story might be a little
confusing.
Disclaimer - I don't own any of the characters in the story, they belong to Tamora Pierce. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"Right, why don't we get started here," King Jonathan of Tortall sighed. George and Myles had called this meeting together, and that meant that there was trouble. As the realms spy masters, Myles and George had never failed him once. In fact, it was their agents who had not just a day before stopped an assassination attempt on his life.
Jon looked around at those who had been called to his private chambers. These were the men and women whom Jon trusted the most. There was Raoul, the commander of the King's Own, Milord Provost, Gary, his Prime Minister, Numair Salmalin, his realm's most powerful mage, Veralidaine Sarrasi the Wild Mage, George and Myles, and his Champion, Alanna. His lioness looked paler than her normal complexion seemed to allow. Her red hair seemed almost too bright for her sickly looking skin. Jon knew that this was just one effect of his friend's worry for her daughter, Alianne. Aly had been captured by pirates and was currently a slave in the Copper Isles. She was acting as a spy of sorts there, hopefully gathering useful information to be brought home. Jon shook his head. He hated keeping Alanna here, keeping her busy and away from the rest of her children, but he needed her. Alanna was his sword arm, and without her and her sharp wit, Jon thought he might go crazy.
"Of course your majesty," George, Baron of Pirates Swoop grinned. "I don't have real good new Jon," he continued, "I know we just finished with our problem with Scanra, but a new spot of trouble has arisen. My agents in the Copper Isles are noticing the nobles a lot more shaky than normal. Something's gonna happen."
"After the death of King Oron and his heir King Hazarin, things have been very unsteady. The nobles trust the new rule of the young King Dunevon and his regents less than that of crazy Oron. To regain their trust and to refill the national treasury, we think the Isles are planning to make war. Against us, namely, since we're the closest target." Myles said bluntly.
Jon had expected as much. "George, do you have anyone close to the new regents or can we get anyone there to gather more information?"
George ran his hands through his hair. "Not a soul. The only contact I have left is Aly. The rest have been killed. I got this latest information from one of my best ladies. She had just escaped from the Isles and after she told me the little she knew, some magical hand choked her to death."
"So we need to get an agent close to the regents and king," the Provost said.
"No," said Myles, "Anyone we put in is dead."
"Will Aly be alright, will she be discovered?" Alanna asked quietly. Everyone was silent for a moment.
"She should be fine Alanna, she's no where near the King." George replied putting a hand over his wife's.
"We can't go into this war blind, we need some information." Gary said, thinking out loud.
"Perhaps a listening spell can be set up," said Numair, "I might be able to create one from here, but I'll be drained for days."
"No Numair, if they attack soon, we'll need you at full strength." Jonathan said.
Daine, who had been quiet for most of the meeting, was feeding a pair of mice some cheese she had stashed in her pocket. She looked at them intently and nodded. "You're right," she said eagerly.
The girl grinned sheepishly as everyone turned to look at her.
"Um, the mice said that they could be of help. Well, not these mice, exactly, but the ones in the Isles' palace. What I mean to say is, I could ask the People in the Isles to spy for us."
Raoul nodded and grinned, the wheels turning in his head, "It could work."
Numair on the other hand looked grim, knowing what she really meant. "Daine, your wild magic is strong, but it can't reach leagues and leagues across the sea."
"I could." Daine began.
"No." Numair replied, knowing her thought path, "Sarra is still so young. She needs you!" Bringing their daughter into the conversation made Daine wince. The others watched on as the couple began to debate.
"Numair, I'm not in a rush to go anywhere, but this just isn't about me. It's about the entire realm. Sarra won't get into any trouble without me that you or Ma and Da can't handle while I'd be gone. They're Gods, they can handle anything!"
"Daine, you parents can't watch over her all the time and it's not just about you leaving Sarra. It's dangerous in the Isles. I know you wouldn't be in the palace itself, but if anyone notices animals acting strangely, well, everyone has heard of you. If you were discovered." He let his voice trail off. Everyone in the room knew what happened when spies were discovered.
" I won't be." Daine said quietly. "Numair, if I didn't go, and we lose a lot of people in war, I could never forgive myself."
The pair stared at each other for a moment, and Numair looked away first.
Daine turned to the king. "I'll go."
Jon nodded, "You don't know how important this is, Daine, thank you."
The council then turned their conversation on how to get Daine to the Isles.
So, what do you think? Please review; I'm open to any critisms. I'll try to update soon.
Disclaimer - I don't own any of the characters in the story, they belong to Tamora Pierce. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"Right, why don't we get started here," King Jonathan of Tortall sighed. George and Myles had called this meeting together, and that meant that there was trouble. As the realms spy masters, Myles and George had never failed him once. In fact, it was their agents who had not just a day before stopped an assassination attempt on his life.
Jon looked around at those who had been called to his private chambers. These were the men and women whom Jon trusted the most. There was Raoul, the commander of the King's Own, Milord Provost, Gary, his Prime Minister, Numair Salmalin, his realm's most powerful mage, Veralidaine Sarrasi the Wild Mage, George and Myles, and his Champion, Alanna. His lioness looked paler than her normal complexion seemed to allow. Her red hair seemed almost too bright for her sickly looking skin. Jon knew that this was just one effect of his friend's worry for her daughter, Alianne. Aly had been captured by pirates and was currently a slave in the Copper Isles. She was acting as a spy of sorts there, hopefully gathering useful information to be brought home. Jon shook his head. He hated keeping Alanna here, keeping her busy and away from the rest of her children, but he needed her. Alanna was his sword arm, and without her and her sharp wit, Jon thought he might go crazy.
"Of course your majesty," George, Baron of Pirates Swoop grinned. "I don't have real good new Jon," he continued, "I know we just finished with our problem with Scanra, but a new spot of trouble has arisen. My agents in the Copper Isles are noticing the nobles a lot more shaky than normal. Something's gonna happen."
"After the death of King Oron and his heir King Hazarin, things have been very unsteady. The nobles trust the new rule of the young King Dunevon and his regents less than that of crazy Oron. To regain their trust and to refill the national treasury, we think the Isles are planning to make war. Against us, namely, since we're the closest target." Myles said bluntly.
Jon had expected as much. "George, do you have anyone close to the new regents or can we get anyone there to gather more information?"
George ran his hands through his hair. "Not a soul. The only contact I have left is Aly. The rest have been killed. I got this latest information from one of my best ladies. She had just escaped from the Isles and after she told me the little she knew, some magical hand choked her to death."
"So we need to get an agent close to the regents and king," the Provost said.
"No," said Myles, "Anyone we put in is dead."
"Will Aly be alright, will she be discovered?" Alanna asked quietly. Everyone was silent for a moment.
"She should be fine Alanna, she's no where near the King." George replied putting a hand over his wife's.
"We can't go into this war blind, we need some information." Gary said, thinking out loud.
"Perhaps a listening spell can be set up," said Numair, "I might be able to create one from here, but I'll be drained for days."
"No Numair, if they attack soon, we'll need you at full strength." Jonathan said.
Daine, who had been quiet for most of the meeting, was feeding a pair of mice some cheese she had stashed in her pocket. She looked at them intently and nodded. "You're right," she said eagerly.
The girl grinned sheepishly as everyone turned to look at her.
"Um, the mice said that they could be of help. Well, not these mice, exactly, but the ones in the Isles' palace. What I mean to say is, I could ask the People in the Isles to spy for us."
Raoul nodded and grinned, the wheels turning in his head, "It could work."
Numair on the other hand looked grim, knowing what she really meant. "Daine, your wild magic is strong, but it can't reach leagues and leagues across the sea."
"I could." Daine began.
"No." Numair replied, knowing her thought path, "Sarra is still so young. She needs you!" Bringing their daughter into the conversation made Daine wince. The others watched on as the couple began to debate.
"Numair, I'm not in a rush to go anywhere, but this just isn't about me. It's about the entire realm. Sarra won't get into any trouble without me that you or Ma and Da can't handle while I'd be gone. They're Gods, they can handle anything!"
"Daine, you parents can't watch over her all the time and it's not just about you leaving Sarra. It's dangerous in the Isles. I know you wouldn't be in the palace itself, but if anyone notices animals acting strangely, well, everyone has heard of you. If you were discovered." He let his voice trail off. Everyone in the room knew what happened when spies were discovered.
" I won't be." Daine said quietly. "Numair, if I didn't go, and we lose a lot of people in war, I could never forgive myself."
The pair stared at each other for a moment, and Numair looked away first.
Daine turned to the king. "I'll go."
Jon nodded, "You don't know how important this is, Daine, thank you."
The council then turned their conversation on how to get Daine to the Isles.
So, what do you think? Please review; I'm open to any critisms. I'll try to update soon.