Disclaimer: Dude! It's Tamora Pierces'. Okay? Thaaaanks

A/N:

1reallyblue1: Hmmm, not a simulacrum. He's definitely real. But you're on the right track with bewitched. I'm glad you liked Kit. I didn't do her justice in the last story. She just didn't really fit so I moved her out.

Twilight Shades: She didn't run away. She just needed some space. However, Numair is going to get a surprise if she's still mad when he arrives.

Purple Eyed Cat: Don't you love it when Alanna proves she's human?

Chapter 4 – Free Will

Jon had gone over it and over it in his mind. There was just no way for him to reconcile that Raoul would turn traitor. Raoul was one of his most trusted men. They had gone through knight training together. Through each of the changes Jon had made in the kingdom, Raoul had offered unwavering support, despite the fact that many of Raoul's family members had not agreed with the changes.

Thayet put her hands on his shoulders and started to massage. Jon groaned in pleasure and closed his eyes. "My love, you always know just what I need." The pressure of her hands was booth hard and soothing.

"I wish I were as clairvoyant as you suggest. However, you should probably know that there is tension written all over your face."

"I cannot help but be tense. There is no way Raoul would betray us. It's like suggesting that Alanna would betray us. It could not happen."

"If he wouldn't turn traitor of his own free will, then it is not his own doing. It seems simple enough to me. Lord Sinthya was a mage. Could he control a man like this?"

"According to Numair, that isn't an option. Sinthya had Gift, yes, but it was weak. If this were Sinthya's doing, Numair doubts he could hide it from Duke Baird. However, it is possible that Sinthya found a way to boost his strength. There are gems that can do that – black opals for one. To a certain degree, power grows with practice. And of course, Numair told us how Ozorne had added to his own power." Jon shivered involuntarily. "The idea of sucking the power from an untrained mage until they die makes my skin crawl."

"One would have to use a child almost certainly," Thayet's voice sounded hollow.

Jon turned his enough to kiss the edge of her hand. "Try not to think of it, my love."

"Who could do something like this?" Thayet asked. She walked around in front of Jon and looked deeply into his eyes. "Who and how?"

"Well, no doubt it is something Roger could have accomplished. Thom would then have been able to. Obviously, if Thom could, then Alanna has the power. Numair has the power. Harailt has the power. Ozorne could definitely have accomplished it. It would take a strong master, but that encompasses many. Numair and Alanna agreed that there are several ways in which it could be done. But it isn't the kind of thing that could be planned quickly. That's the part I just can't figure out. None of the witnesses remember any mages around Raoul in the last few weeks other than Numair. And again, Numair would never betray us. Whoever did this planned it well. They have us looking to our own people for turn-coats."

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Elyra felt like she had been swept into another world. Her father had been dead for a few short hours and already the memorial was planned and coronation preparations were underway. She had only begun to grieve her loss and yet she was expected to show no emotion. It was an aspect she was raised with but it seemed cruel at this particular moment. Perhaps the time in the Copper Isles had changed her more than she realized.

The 26 year old redhead found herself in the way at every turn. She had settled in a temple to pray for her father's warm acceptance by the Black God. But she had been ushered out only a few minutes later so that the temple priests could prepare for the memorial. She tried to walk back to her rooms only to be impeded by the rearrangement of furniture in the grand hall by way of the corridors. She tried to take a walk outside and found herself inundated by loyal servants who had been unceremoniously dismissed. Finally she found her way to the garden. She decided that if the other Yamanis thought her weak for her tears, it was a label she would just have to live with. She let herself go and a rush of despair overtook her. She sat on a bench and sobbed.

She never heard the short, stocky man enter the garden. She only became aware of him when he handed her his handkerchief solemnly. For a long time he stood there, pretending not to notice her sorrow. Finally she motioned for him to take a seat beside her. She sniffed one last time and pulled her emotions into check. "Thank you, Baron Piers. You are most kind. I shall have your handkerchief cleaned and returned to you."

He nodded politely. "I am sorry for your loss, Princess Elyra."

"Please, it is just Elyra. I left behind the title of princess many years ago and soon enough I will be the awkward duchess."

He smiled slightly and then returned to the mask that was common for those who lived in Yaman for any length of time. She noticed a far away look in his hazel eyes. "This will undo our treaty won't it?" she asked finally.

"I am afraid so," he answered stiffly. "It was a difficult treaty to build until you contacted your father, and now I am afraid the acting Emperor will not want to continue."

"But it is considered distasteful to abolish a treaty made by an honored sovereign, is it not?"

"If only I could say that to him."

In spite of her grief, she smiled and half chuckled. "Your composure fits so much better with the Yaman ways than does mine and yet… Do you find it as irritating as I do?"

He didn't have to answer. The twinkle in his eyes told her everything she needed to know. "Tell me Baron, what can I do to help you put this back together in honor of two leaders we both respect?"

He looked both surprised and pleased.

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Daine flew for a quarter of an hour only. She had to unload some anger and it seemed easier to let it go from the air. She also used the time to scout their path. She knew the rendezvous point was coming up soon. Alanna should meet up with The Own even sooner. As she scouted she found no other signs of immortals ahead. She said a quick prayer of thanks to the Goddess and turned around.

She realized she was talking to the Goddess more often lately. She couldn't help but have a soft spot in her heart for the deity that had returned Numair. Even if she was angry with him right now, she was glad he was back and she must not forget.

Daine knew, too, that her anger was probably unjustified. If there was real concern for the barrier that allowed her to touch her magic without surrendering to madness, then Numair was just looking out for her. But she felt a little violated. When Numair put that barrier in place, he did so with her permission. Daine could hardly believe that he would ask Alanna to enter her mind and not even tell her. She wanted to scream at him and he wasn't anywhere around. Maybe she would tell him off in a letter.

As she came within visual range of the clearing, she could see that camp was being packed up hurriedly. –It's about time-, Cloud said in mindspeak. –Something bad has happened. The Lioness spoke into the fire with Blackbeard and Storkman.- Daine had to giggle at the Cloud's insisted nicknames for the king and Numair. The Lioness was a nickname that Alanna liked and it had been given to her by her brother. Daine doubted very much if Jon would like being called Blackbeard. She knew Numair detested the nickname "Storkman".

Let Onua know I'm almost back, Daine mindspoke to Cloud. She saw Cloud nudge Onua with her nose and look to the sky.

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