Disclaimer: You know the scoop – Tamora Pierce made most of these characters, countries and critters. I just borrowed them.


Chapter 16 – Negotiations Break Down

Alanna had to really hurry not to be late to the first negotiation session with the Islanders. She had not wanted to test Simu-Numair's crystal controller in this way. Now, she didn't have a choice; she would have to trust that it would work the way Numair had explained. She clutched the crystal and non-verbally ordered Simu-Numair to walk to the Conferencing Room.

He was standing at the door with his hand on the knob when she arrived. He pushed it open and then looked up at her and smiled. She knew he wasn't real, so the sight gave her an eerie feeling. She told him, "Good morning, Numair." He responded, "Good morning, Alanna." She knew that he had done that because she still clutched the crystal and she expected that response. But she hadn't actually thought specifically that he should say that. She was shocked at how seamlessly he responded.

"Good morning, Alanna, Numair," Jon said. Please join us. Most everyone had already gathered.

More "good mornings" were exchanged. Alanna took a seat by Jon and leaned over to whisper, "Daine had a pony to heal. She will be up later." It was the lie that Onua and she had worked out to cover. She half wished they could just send Simu-Numair back to bed and say he had a terrible headache or was sick or something. The crystal was still in her hand as she thought this and Simu-Numair grabbed his head, winced and said, "Gods! I've got a headache." Alanna almost choked and dropped the crystal into her pocket. She would have to be very careful.

Jon looked concerned and whispered something to Duke Baird who also looked at Numair with concern. Alanna scrambled for the crystal and directed Simu-Numair to waive Duke Baird off and say, "I'll be alright. I think I was up a little too late last night." Four of the Islanders smiled to each other.

Negotiations were opened with usual pomp and circumstance. It wasn't long until Alanna was bored beyond belief. These cerebral battles usually drew rapt attention from Numair and he almost always offered information throughout, but Alanna didn't have the legal knowledge or interest to maintain that farce. She hoped the headache excuse would fool Jon.

She would not have been so bored if George had joined in. However, Jon wanted to keep George out of negotiations for now so that George could do any necessary snooping. If they could have brought Jon in on the secret, even that wouldn't be necessary, but they needed to do everything they could to avoid a war, even if it included keeping Jon in the dark.

She was feeling nearly catatonic when she noticed a pearly blue glow out of the corner of her eye. Master Tyrus may have thought he was brilliant, but he couldn't manage the smallest bit of stealth. He grinned wickedly and watched Simu-Numair. Alanna directed Simu-Numair to take a sip from his water glass and stretch out a bit. She watched with satisfaction as Master Tyrus looked confused.

A few minutes later Tyrus was trying his spell again. Alanna noted with satisfaction that his smug expression was gone though. Simu-Numair just sat there, apparently listening intently to the mind-numbing discussion over spice exports. She gripped the crystal and Simu-Numair glared at Tyrus. It was all she could do not to laugh outright.

After their midday break, Masters Tyrus and Phelan appeared to be trying the spell together. She could see the pearly blue Gift fused with chartreuse. Again they seemed confused that Numair did not respond. Daine, who had joined the group after midday, leaned over and whispered to Alanna, "Zek told me they were going to make Numair kiss Jon on the mouth and then blow him up." Both women tried not to laugh.

In truth, Alanna was worried. She knew that Numair was hoping for at least two days to get to the Copper Isles and to look for the little boy. She was not sure if he could have that much time though. She didn't know what these men would do to Elyra now that they knew the plan had not worked. They might possibly blame her. If they tried to hurt her in any way, Alanna would have to interfere, Jon would have to be told and Numair would have to find that child before the Islanders' associates figured out that he was no longer of value.

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Elyra had managed to avoid her countrymen most of the day. She was extremely grateful that Meesha was still in the nursery. It gave her excuses to be absent during breaks and to sit elsewhere during dinner. The Islanders had been happy that Meesha was there the day before, but now she wondered if they would get suspicious. She told them that the Tortallans were feeling guilty for Shay's death and so were helping by providing child care.

But once it was time to retire to her room, she was afraid. Zek stayed snuggled tightly under her hair and it gave her a little courage. She started to cross into the common area the delegates shared but Sir Myren stopped her cold. "Why didn't it work?"

"Why didn't what work?" she asked, trying not to give anything away. She struggled to keep her face impassive. At least she had a lot of practice in that area as a child. Where she grew up, too much emotion was not a welcome sight.

"Why didn't the focus work?" He growled.

She tried to look startled. "I thought you hadn't yet tried it. I wondered why you never made him kiss the king."

"What game are you playing, witch?" Several of the other men now stood behind him. Only Duke Naason seemed to be unaware of what was happening. She had wondered about his loyalties. She didn't trust any of them, but she thought now that he might be an ally.

"I don't understand," she responded. "You told me what to get and I got it. I have a little Gift, but I don't know how these things work in the same way that you do. Should I maybe have brought a personal item instead of the lock of hair? I can go back."

"You don't get much more personal than hair or a chunk of flesh," Master Tyrus barked.

"Do you want me to – to try for a chunk of fl – flesh?" she stuttered. The fear was real.

Without any warning, a large arm swung out and she felt the fist impact her cheek bone. There was a sickening crack and she was thrown half-way across the room. Zek screamed and ran, scampering to her room and out the window. The men saw him but did not immediately put together what it meant.

She picked herself up off the floor, dazed, but never saw the second blow coming until it was too late. There was a sickening electrical crackle and she was slammed through the center by pearly blue fire. Every nerve in her body felt ablaze. She thought of her babies and the lives she had wanted for them. Some part of her knew these things were what passed through the mind of the dying. And about the time the comprehension truly set in, the bear arrived taking out the door with powerful claws the size of short-swords.

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Daine, Onua, Alanna, and George had stationed themselves in the spare room next to where the delegates were staying. Alanna had explained her fears and the others readily agreed. They had weapons in case there was a fight. But they had barely gotten settled in when Daine felt Zek cry with fear.

"Elyra's in trouble," Daine shouted and stood. Then suddenly she turned pale as she heard Zek explain what he was seeing. They might kill Elyra before anyone could do anything. With barely a thought to what she was doing, she changed to an enormous brown bear with razor sharp claws and ran on all fours toward the door.

Behind her Alanna shouted, but there was no time to think. She plowed through the door like it was made of paper and stood on her hind feet, roaring. The men screamed. Master Tyrus was holding Elyra pinned with magic while Duke Naason grabbed for a crossbow. The others seemed frozen in place by the monster bear.

Daine barely realized the crossbow was being trained on her when she felt a bolt zoom past her ear from behind. The man fell where he had stood. The crossbow was still clutched in his dead hands. Daine tilted her over-sized head in thanks to Onua.

Tyrus tried to attack the bear that was Daine with his magic. It was blocked by Alanna. So Daine moved deeper into the room, positioning her large body between the unconscious Elyra and the men. The mage battle being waged between Tyrus and Alanna was short-lived. Alanna was more than a match for Tyrus and he seemed to realize it. Switching tactics, he blasted a whole in the wall and ran.

Shouts filled the corridor as an all-out battle erupted. Daine would never know where Sarge came from so quickly, but he was in the middle of things before she realized what had happened.

At one point, Phelan turned mage fire at Daine the bear and George cut him down with two well-aimed daggers that flew from across the room to hit him in the neck and chest. There was not time for him to really cry out.

Daine found the two champions were locked in a sword fight, when she turned the corner into the outer corridor. Alanna moved so quickly that Sir Thomas could hardly keep up. Daine saw Alanna's blade mark a nearly parallel path to his long scar. Then the fool tried to take Alanna with a crescent upper-cut and she evaded and swung out and up. Sir Thomas turned right into her sword and when Alanna pulled it back it was clear that the man had been completely run through. He fell in a pool of blood without so much as a whimper.

It took Daine no time to run down Tyrus at the staircase. Bear endurance is unmatched and Tyrus was hardly an athlete, but he seemed to think he could fight. He attacked with magic that merely stung, and Daine swatted him back with a powerful paw. He lost his footing and fell down the staircase and rolled over the side, dropping to the stone floor on the ground level. He lay in an awkward position, eyes open and fixed.

Then Jon appeared from somewhere. He carried a short sword and looked severely confused. Daine ran past him and he cried out startled, not realizing that the bear was Daine. He went after her with his short sword and might have cut her if his swing had not been blocked by Alanna. "No! That's Daine!" she heard Alanna shout.

Jon looked horrified and dropped his sword to his side. "What in the name of Father Universe is going on here tonight?" he roared.

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When the dust settled, Alanna was uncertain how to proceed. Jon was demanding an explanation for the seven bodies that littered the castle. All of those belonged to delegates and assistants from the Copper Isles.

Baron Demetrus was in custody and Sir Myren seemed to have escaped. Luckily, she knew Myren didn't have magic. But he might still find a way to get quick contact back to his associates in the Copper Isles.

With only five minutes before they were supposed to meet in the King's study, Alanna slipped into an empty room nearby. She knew there wouldn't be much time to contact Numair. A bubble grew in her open palm around the opal Numair had given her. She was surprised to see Numair's face inside the sphere. He looked tired. "Numair, chaos has erupted. You've got to find that boy as quickly as possible."

"What has happened?"

Alanna explained the events of the evening. "Have you enough power to go after him now?"

"It will have to be enough, won't it? Don't worry. I'll find him."

"I trust you will. Goddess be with you."

"Tell Jon I'm sorry we had to do it this way. And tell Daine the escort was unnecessary." With that he was gone.

Alanna stood and headed for the King's study. If they had known that Tyrus and his cronies were going to react like this, they could have brought the King in on it in the first place. Jon was going to be furious and there was not a thing she could do about it now.

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