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Chapter 8 – Protecting Daine
Evening had come and with it, another banquet. Numair had dressed in crisp black linen breeches and a burgundy silk tunic with a regal collar. His black mage's robe again was open and loose. This evening he had limited his jewelry to his black opal pendant, amber drop ear-cuff and a ruby ring that protected the wearer from most poisons. He owned two of these, but he had taken the second one from its setting. He wanted to find a moment to give it to Daine. He thought that if he could turn it into a pendant, she could add it to the chain which held her badger claw. It was, however, something that would have to wait until later.
The banquet on this particular evening was being held on a large boat. Tables were set elegantly at the stern so the guests could look out over the water. Ozorne sat in lonely state on a raised deck above them. Numair looked up at the man. He wore a regal expression which could mean only one thing -- this was another simulacrum. Numair used his magical vision to try to find where the emperor might be. But if he was nearby under an invisibility spell, it was not within Numair's range of vision. Numair pulled a small rose quartz stone from his belt pack. A rune drawn in the air and a word in Old thak imbued it with a brilliant glow. He tucked it back into his pocket feeling smug. If Ozorne came within 20 yards of him while invisible, the whole ship wouldn't think Kitten's shrieks were whispers. There was one draw back -- it left him looking faintly shadowy around the edges. He hoped no one would notice.
Just then light sparkled at the corner of his eye – a speaking spell. Lindhall's voice whispered, "Everything is set for Kaddar to come to the university tomorrow. He has information for you. He will ask Daine if she's interested in a tour and she will hopefully agree. He would like you to get him word of a time when you can meet. I wouldn't advise doing a speaking spell from where you are sitting however. There are lip readers in amongst the servants present. You might be able to use one of your slight of hand tricks to slip him a note. I told him that if you do he should hang on until he's alone to read it. Tell him I said he 'has an excellent memory'. He will know." With the lightest 'pop' the spell was gone.
At that moment a wavering melody from a pipe whistle blew. Numair looked to the four mages stationed in the bow and stern. All wore the scarlet master-of-sorcery robes from the imperial university. There was one woman in the group and she wore a veil. Naturally, Numair thought. They couldn't possibly fully recognize her accomplishments for what they are. He silently thanked the Gods that Daine had not found her way down here two years ago. Since they didn't recognize wild magic down here and treated women as lower life forms, she likely would have been put to death without a second thought.
Daine. There I go again, he thought. He wondered idly if he were to count how often his mind wandered to her if he would be forced by the king to the opposite side of the country. So I cannot pretend any longer. I'm attracted. And it is wrong. Rules – I should set rules and stick to them. I can and should keep her from harm. I can and should teach her as long as she wants to remain my student. I can and should treat her with the respect she deserves and give her the compliments she won't receive here. I cannot and should not allow my mind to see her unclothed ever again. I need aversion therapy.
He had been so wrapped up in his thoughts that he had not noticed that the ship was moving. It was a magical exhibition, of course. No sails or oarsmen could have provided this velocity. What a waste of magic, he thought.
Once again, Varice had set the places so that Numair and Daine were seated far apart. He noticed as he looked around that Kaddar was with Daine. They seemed to be having a very heavy discussion. Numair thought back to the negotiations. Surely he realizes he is not free and that marriage will be arranged for him. He tried to imagine Daine's reaction to the idea of Kalasin being betrothed to Kaddar. The princess and Daine were friends and had been since they had met. He watched the two talking and saw a smile dance on Daine's lips. The prince leaned closer as if the two were sharing something secret. He saw Daine's eyes search the room. It was a guilty expression as if she were looking for eavesdroppers. Were the two planning a rendezvous somewhere?
"…out here tonight. Arram, are you even listening? You seem a million miles away." Varice had reached for his hand and it pulled him from his ponderings.
She followed his vision and said, "They look good together, don't they? Do you think the emperor might consider allowing them –"
"No!" Numair said, a little more sharply than he had intended to. He softened and smiled hollowly, "I doubt very much whether Ozorne would want that match for his nephew when he was demanding the princess of Conte as recently as today."
A servant was placing the main course in front of them – stuffed duck. For some unknown reason, Numair found he wanted to throw it.
"Oh, I didn't realize there was a marriage in the negotiations." Varice looked confused. "I guess I didn't realize that the Tortallan Royals had a daughter of marriageable age."
"They don't. She's ten." He tried to quell the venom that had fallen into his voice. "Maybe Ozorne misunderstood." He saw Kaddar prop his hand under his chin. He seemed to be staring at Daine with admiration. Numair took two meditating breaths to calm himself and reviewed his rules. An internal argument ensued. He will break her heart. But everyone gets their heart broken. She doesn't know that he's not free. If he is as honorable as Lindhall says, he will tell her. At his age, I don't know if I would have told her – maybe after I bedded her… That cinched the decision. With a little magic, he drew a message with the time to meet on a piece of parchment from his pocket. He folded it into his palm. Turning to Varice he said, "Please excuse me. I should go properly introduce myself to the prince."
As he closed the distance between them, he could not remember ever having been so nervous. I'll pass the note. I'll discuss honor. Gods! She's going to hate me. But I promised to protect her. When she falls in love, the man she loves needs to be free to share her affections – free to adore her the way she deserves to be adored. He took more steadying, meditative breaths. Please don't hate me, Daine.
"May I join you?" Numair asked once he reached their table. He leaned forward and smiled his most polite smile at the Prince. He couldn't look at Daine. "We haven't really had a chance to chat. I understand you're studying with my friend, Lindhall Reed."
The prince nodded. Daine seemed to be paying more attention to Zek and Kitten than the conversation. Numair was grateful for this. "What course of studies, may I ask?"
"The relation of men, animals, and plants to one another, with a matching course in law. Next spring, if things permit, I hope to go south with Master Lindhall and a group from the university to look into the causes of the drought. We're hoping – well, the masters are; I'll just be there to carry things – we hope to find some way to end it. Five years is a long time."
"I see. Commendable." Numair was impressed. The prince seemed intelligent, thoughtful, and self-assured. Two more meditative breaths and then he asked the question. "With regard to your position as heir, has your uncle arranged a marriage for you?"
Daine look sharply at Numair, but he tried to avoid her eyes.
He watched Kaddar pass some duck bones to kitten. "He is negotiating with the king of Galla for the hand of one of his daughters. There is also a princess in the Copper Isles who my uncle feels is a possibility."
He doesn't know about Kalasin, Numair thought regretfully. But he forged ahead. "I see. But you are involved with girls, are you not? Students at the university, young noblewomen. Are they aware you are not permitted to marry to please yourself?"
From the corner of his eye, Numair saw Daine blush crimson. She kicked him under the table – hard.
Kaddar had stiffened at sat up straighter. "No gentleman deceives a woman in that manner, sir."
"Indeed not." Numair responded. He felt more kicks. His shins were starting to ache. "Stop kicking me, Daine." He turned back to the prince trying to ignore the part of his mind that was saying, Oh, she hates you now. "You understand, she is very important to a number of powerful nobles and mages in Tortall." His voice softened but he focused on Kaddar to impress the point. "Their majesties. Lady Alanna and her husband, the baron 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."
"Numair," Daine growled. "Can I speak to you privately for a moment?"
"No. Stepping on my foot won't work either. Do I make myself clear, Prince Kaddar?"
The younger man was now sitting rail straight, eyes glinting, "I understand you well, Master Salmalin."
"Good." Numair stood slowly. As he did so, he slipped the note into Kaddar's hand. The younger man didn't seem to immediately register it was there. "Lindhall tells me you also have an excellent memory. I hope so."
Kaddar suddenly registered the code that Lindhall had mentioned. He looked at his hand, but kept it closed. Daine had covered her face with her hands and missed the exchange. As Numair walked away, he distinctly heard her say, "I'm going to kill him." A depression settled on him as he returned to his seat by Varice.