A/N: Sorry that I haven't updated, but I had Creative Writing this semester and it took up a lot of my time. School is out though and I promise to update regularly.

Disclaimer: I do not own the places or people created in Tamora Pierce's great mind

Chapter 10 The Next Year

Messa was able to figure out a way for Daine, Kaddar, and Lindhall to meet without the emperor knowing. With the emperor's nephew's help, she was able to set up a network of messengers to tell the whens and wheres. The two are willing to risk their lives so that Daine will have a friend. It may or may not be thanks to a certain green goddess and a certain beaver god that they haven't been caught yet, something for which everyone is infinitely grateful. When they met they had such a wonderful time discussing everything and anything. Most of the time, Ozorne was a topic avoided like the plague. They would, however, discuss academics. The to men imparting their knowledge to the two girls. Although, there were times when even Messa was able to show them a thing or two.

The only other good thing in Daine's life was the menagerie. She loved to spend her days there when she could. She did spend at least once a week there. She had become very good at her job. Unfortunately, because of that, she was supposed to start learning how to act as a good empress should. That just equaled more fights between her and Ozorne since she was stubborn and did not want him to have what he wanted.

Another cause for fights among the married couple is the fact that Daine has yet to become with child. He was furious about that. He started demanding she get pregnant everyday, to give him a worthy heir. That is why she was there after all. He started coming to her almost everyday after he started to get desperate. Daine still fought him with all the will she had, but that will was shrinking more and more each day; she knew it, he knew it, and all her friends knew.

Like the good friend she was, Messa would patch her up after every fight. All the animals would be there to lending their support and arguing with her to let them take action. She really wished she could, but every time they mentioned fighting, she reminded them of the most likely consequences. She didn't want to lose any of her friends. Though, she did let them take little revenges. His treasured birds would poop on Ozorne constantly, but not often enough that he could blame Daine. The wolves would scare the hell out of the guards, causing them to quit and Ozorne headaches as a result. Cloud even got in a good back kick without Daine getting in trouble for it.

Despite all their precautions involving the meetings, they had been found out as Messa was enlightened to one cloudy day. She had gone to get food for Daine during their latest stay at the castle when she came across a semi closed door. She heard Ozorne's voice coming from within. She got closer so that she could hear what the truly evil man was up to.

"…Meeting with my fiancee when explicitly told not to on pain of death. The insubordination cannot be allowed to continue. They are to be brought to me immediately tomorrow to learn that I keep good on my threats."

Messa gasped. That could mean only one thing. He was going to have Kaddar and Lindhall executed. She rushed back to the room that was Daine's to tell her the news. It took Daine almost ten minutes to figure out what the girl was trying to tell her. When she did, she sat down hard on her bed with tears in her eyes.

"I have to warn them…"

"But how? You're expressly forbidden to go into the town today. If you go, you'll die." Daine didn't reply but got up and went to her desk. She started writing something before sealing it and handing it to Messa.

"Take Cloud and get this to the University, to Lindhall. He'll know a way out of here by dawn. And tell Cloud that it's of the utmost importance, not to fight you," Daine told her, "I may not be able to warn them, but you can."

Messa did as she was told, practically flying down the halls to the stables. She saddled Cloud up with barely any trouble, probably noticing that it was important. Cloud took the girl to the University as fast as she could. Upon arrival, Messa jumped off Cloud and again basically flew to the door that was Lindhall's. She knocked twice, breathing hard from her run.

"Good lord, child, come in. Take a seat." Lindhall said, opening the door.

"No…time. You…must read,"Messa answered, handing him the letter. Lindhall took the letter and read it silently, closing his eyes as if in pain when he was through.

"Tell her that we will be gone by dawn. She has nothing to fear," Messa turned to go but was stopped when he said something more, "Tell her we'll let everyone know what is happening."

Messa just nodded and took off again, knowing that her friend was worried out of her mind by then. She had Cloud taken care of and was back in Daine's private rooms. She informed Daine of what Lindhall had said before sitting down with her to wait. Luckily, Ozorne didn't come to visit that night. So the girls stayed up all night waiting and praying. They didn't relax until they saw the guards come back empty-handed.

A/N: Sorry it took so long to get this short one out. I promise that over the summer I'll update more regularly. Anyway, I'd like to thank the following for their reviews:

laurashrub

Ethuiliel

Lady Prongs of Rohan

Kit49

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beckythorn14

SpiritsFlame

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