A/N: My penname used to be or
je. .suis. .finis for those of you wondering.

I realized I forgot to put in the last chapter that Daine isn't riding Cloud or one of the palace horses because (a) Cloud wants to rest and (b) Daine feels she's getting too used to animals that regularly speak with her and she should expand her field of

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How's Daine doing?

The voice, though quiet, nonetheless caught Alysapet unawares. She had been expecting Sarra to burst out yelling, or scolding, or something. When she had heard the creaking, she knew it was Sarra, not her father – Weiryn would never had stepped there – and though she knew Sarra wasn't as adamant as her father about her visiting her sister, she had never been certain, exactly, of her stance on the issue. Now, from the curiousity and warmth in the Green Lady's voice, it appeared that she was not quite against it.

How'd you know I was here? she asked her foster-mother.

Sarra uncovered a lit candle. I saw you coming up the path. Your father was asleep, and there was no need to waken him. You're very quiet, Alysa, dear.

Alysa. Her mother had never called her anything but Alysapet, and it meant a lot to her that Sarra would call her Alysa – not even her father did – and in fact, as far as she knew, the only people who had called her Alysa had been her friends, when she was a small child, no older than ten.

I'll take that as a compliment, she commented dryly. I guess it comes from living with a hunt god for as long as I have.

Sarra smiled, then repeated her earlier question: How is Daine?

She's as well. Wait, I take that back, she's confused.

I believe anyone who has spent much time in your presence would be a bit confused, dear. Why?

Well, it's more of a bit confused, not a lot. Her husband wants her in Port Caynn, and she's not sure why. And I think it's confusing her. It's confusing me, quite truthfully, for I'll be needed in Port Caynn tomorrow, too.

Frowning slightly, Sarra said,

They stood in silence for a while, neither bothering to sit down, though there were plenty of places to in the room – or rather, if either of them had wanted to, they could have scooted beyond Alysapet's door and into her room, then sat down. Instead, they stood in the doorway.

Eventually, Sarra, still frowning, looked up. You should probably be getting to bed.

Alysapet nodded, then swept into her room. She still had many things to think about, and she pondered them as she shut the door and climbed into her cot.

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The next morning, Alysapet crept quietly out of her room and down to the kitchen. She made a simple breakfast. After eating it quickly, she went back outside.

She felt almost at home amongst the trees and the chattering god-animals, a home that she had had all her life, even when she and her mother had had to move around, when their home had burned in a tragic accident. While it had been her father who had given her this gift, this wildmagic, he was a hunter. She was a mercy goddess. There was a difference – he killed the things that she so loved.

That was one reason for their arguments. It was also the reason she had been so happy when she found out that she had a sister (even though Daine was technically a half-sister): there was someone else who loved her (as she tended to think) creatures as much as she did.

Taking in one more breath of the clean air of the Divine Realms, Alysapet went to the Human Realms.

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Dawn was breaking over the city of Corus as Alysapet stepped into the open space by the stables, where she and Daine had arranged to meet. After a few minutes of waiting, the Wildmage arrived, and the two went inside the stables.

As before, the stableboy at the front was rather grumpy, so they hurried to get their horses and leave.

Once outside again, Alysapet took a few minutes to simply enjoy being there. The Divine Realms were pleasant, but the had been born and raised here, in the Human ones. There was a vibrant aliveness to the plants here, a sense of temporariness, of needing to grow, that could not be found in the Divine Realms.

You know, Daine said pensively, it seems like I've known for longer than just a day or two.

Alysapet nodded. Same here.

Of course, Daine didn't know about their father. Blood calls to blood, Alysapet though ruefully. Why didn't I think of that, before? It's no small wonder that I always felt a bit more--- something--- when I was in Corus near the palace, recently, or before, when I would work in Galla.

They chatted for a while, then subsided into a comfortable silence. Alysapet listened to the people calling out for her help, sometimes murmuring, it's all going to come out right, just keep believing, for I am the Mercy Goddess, and I am here. They generally took comfort from that. There were some where Alysapet would normally have gone herself, but today nothing too terrible was happening, no torture or whatnot.

At about noon, they reached Port Caynn. Daine threaded easily through the crowd, Alysapet following after. They found a stable for Shadow and Sugar.

Daine turned to her half-sister. Let's go find Numair.

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A/N: Sorry this took so long, but I'm having a hard time with the plot. I had the idea of Carthak launching nuclear missiles into Tortall, but Kally's married to Kaddar. . .
Also, I am offering TWO cameo roles: one as one of Numair's fellow mages, and one as Numair's assistant. You can only have one role, and the first to ask for each will get it!

Jade Limill: STOP FREAKING ME OUT. Well, you can, technically, it's just a little disturbing. . .
CTHKSI: I don't really watch too much TV, and then only Sci-Fi, so no, I've never seen it. . . But great minds think alike, right?
FoolishlyBraveDarkStar: And I've updated again! I'm glad you think she's cool.
Stix89: Danke! Merci! Gracias! Grazie! (See, I can say thank-you' in 5 different languages!) I like that you like it.

I'm not updating again till I get at least 16 reviews! So review, people!