Disclaimer: I don't own what has come out of Tamora Pierce's head

Chapter 22 Fighting

Daine was nervous and showed it by pacing the length of the room. It was her wedding day. Not the happy occasion she had always imagined it would be if she ever found someone that would love her enough to marry her. No, it was the exact opposite of that. She was to marry someone she hated with every fiber of her being. That is, if everything didn't go as planned. She hoped that everything went as it should and she didn't have to marry the emperor.

Messa watched as her friend fretted about what may or may not happen. "Would you quit worrying? Everything will work out just fine. You'll see."

"How can I not worry? What if nobody got those letters? What if we lose? What if Ozorne found out what we were planning and stopped it?" Daine asked, happy to finally be able to speak whats been on her mind. As if on cue, both their necklaces started to glow, letting them know that someone was listening in. Daine sighed, "They hate me. They are out there, waiting for me to marry a man I hate, all the while hating me. They don't know that I am doing this for their own good." Daine spoke with as much sadness as she could muster and then pretended to cry.

Messa continued the charade, "Poor thing," she stated, sounding comforting and at the same time, merely a slave.

"I just wish that I could let them know what was really happening. I mean, even Kaddar Lindhall seem to hate me. I don't know why. They know everything."

"The emperor probably did something to them. Here have some tea, it'll calm your nerves." As Messa said this, the glow died out.

"See, that is why I am worried. He has listened so many times this morning. I think he knows something is up."

"Don't worry, Daine, I'm sure he doesn't know anything for sure. Now come on, I did really give you that tea for your nerves. It's almost time and we need you at your best."

Daine took the tea and it did calm her nerves a good bit. All too soon in her opinion, the music telling her it was time started. She sighed as she and Messa made their way to the door. With one look of assurance from Messa, Daine opened the door. She gasped as she saw how many people were there to see her marry the man. She started walking up the aisle with Messa behind her holding the train of the dress she was wearing.

Daine stopped halfway to the alter, just as was planned. She waited for the music to die down. Once the music was stopped, she spoke up, "Emperor Ozorne, I regret to tell you that there will be no wedding today."

"Really," he answered, obviously angered by the stunt she was pulling. "Why's that?"

"The gods have ordained that today is the day you shall be punished for your crimes against them and everyone else your evil has touched."

"And just how do they expect to punish me?" He smirked.

Daine let out the whistle that was to let everyone know that they were to stand up. At first, her heart almost stopped when only the Tortallans rose. However, after a second, over half the guests present and some of the men on guard showed that they, too, supported her. There were even many slaves that rose up as well. They had long since gotten over their fear of her. She smiled at them all and replied, "Through us."

At her saying that, the fight broke out. The guards and mages that were still loyal to the Emperor Mage fighting against those loyal to Daine. Daine took the second to tear her dress where it would allow her to fight before joining in, Messa never leaving her side. The two slowly mad their way to where Ozorne stood, along with the Tortallans.

They all arrived at the platform Ozorne was standing on alone, the priest having run off, at the same time. There was a moment of silence between all of them as the battle raged around them. Then King Jonathon spoke up, "Emperor Ozorne, you have done my country a great harm. You have taken someone that is very dear to all of us. This is a violation of our treaty and an act of war. I hereby declare war against you."

Ozorne just smirked at this announcement. "I think that you have forgotten a very important fact."

"Really, and what may that be?" Numair asked.

"Why, Arram, I expected you to be the last person to forget what is on your dear students arm." With that said, he made a movement and suddenly Daine couldn't breathe. Of course, the Acyle bracelet. How could they all forget that he could kill her through that at any moment that he wished? They all rushed to her in an attempt to help her as he slipped out of the room. He suddenly felt his life in danger since it looked like they were wining, and had come to remember a certain feather that was given to him by Rikash.

The minute he left the room, he was in such a hurry that he forgot to keep the control that he had over Daine. She took a minute to recover her breath, surrounded by all her friends. When she got up, all of her friends started to protest. "We have to follow him; we can't let him get away," Daine said to silence them before leading the way.

They found him in his room, holding the feather over his arm, a maniacal smile on his face. "Ah, I see, you've found me. Well, it's too late, I will be saved," he told them, raising his hand with the feather in it. "You know, she'd quit fighting before you came back. I had her spirit, dignity, and everything almost gone when you showed up. Actually, having her fight back again made it even more enjoyable the last time I had her. Oh, Arram, what makes you angrier, the fact that I got her first, or the fact that I'll get away with it." That said, he went to plunge the tip into his arm before anyone could stop him. However, right as it was about to pierce his skin, a lightning bolt knocked it out of his hand. He looked up, and in front of him stood three very upset gods, the Graveyard Hag, the Badger, and the Green Lady.

"Not so fast, sonny," the Graveyard Hag crackled, "That punishment was for before you really upset the Mother Goddess."

"Now your punishment is to be much worse," the badger stated.

"Really, what have I done to warrant a worse punishment."

"You raped my daughter," answered the Green Lady. "And the Mother Goddess doesn't like any woman to be raped, especially not one that is a demigod."

"Yeah, you see, we're very protective of our own," the Graveyard Hag continued.

"So, what are you going to do to me?" Ozorne asked, almost sounding fearful.

"We're not going to do anything to you, Mortal," the badger answered. When Ozorne heard this he smirked to the others. The Badger continued, "The Mother Goddess is." As soon as the badger said that, Ozorne disappeared. The three gods turned to the group of people watching. Daine was the only one not in shock.

"Ma!" she yelled, rushing up to hug her. "What are you doing here?"

"You looked like you could use some help sweet."

Daine let go of her mother and hugged the Badger, "But what happened to Ozorne?"

"He has been sent to the court of the Mother Goddess," the Badger answered. "You don't ever have to worry about him again, Kit."

"Hey, what about me?" the Graveyard Hag asked, "Don't I get a hug?"

"No, if you had just done your job, none of this would have happened."

"I like you, girlie, you have spirit. You would make a good Empress."

"What do you mean?" Numair asked, coming out of his 'Diane's mother is a goddess' stupor along with the rest. Daine didn't understand why they were so shocked, she'd already told them that.

Her mother turned toward her, "Sweet, you have a choice that you must make. It's part of the gods way of making up the fact that you even had to go through this."

"Why does this sound bad?" Daine asked looking at her friends. She looked at her mother, "Can this wait, I would like to see what happened with everyone else?"

"No, I'm afraid we have to talk about this now. You may want to sit down. You may all want to sit down." Daine's mother told them. They all did as they were told, feeling that Daine was right, this did sound bad.

A/N: I would like to thank the following for their reviews:

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