Sprightly Mordred: That was very interesting and a little worrying!
Pots: Don't worry too much!
Alex Rose: Many thanks! I'll go typo spotting when I've done the whole thing. I'll probably make other revisions then as well.
Silverlake: I daren't kill off Cloud, I'd get hate mail!
Narm's Briton 44: Re the monsoons. Even if they didn't get them, they would arguably know what they were. It was always going to 20+ chapters, possibly more, depending on how much fluff I put at the end.
Daine's daughter: Thank you!
Aikia Riyen: Indeed. Tickling can lead to many strange places…
Celuna Cirrus: Thank you. I'll be nice to Cloud!
Dolphin Dreamer: I did get quite a lot of pressies this year and quite a few reviews too!
Goldeneyedwildmage: The song was lovely, thank you! Don't worry about Cloud, really…
Imakeladrygirl: I'm sure he will, in so many ways!
Esmeralda 01: I did consider that, but it just seemed to work out that he would be a man.
Jessica: I have to do that to stop me from getting bored! I like to switch characters, it makes it more interesting.
Sonnet Lacewing: Some characters I do want to do more with, but simply can't fit them back in. Varsgen may come back into it, I'll have to see where the plot takes me. Too tired to think at the moment! Thank you for proofing it, btw!
Disclaimer: What you recognise belongs to Tamora Pierce
Chapter 15 – All the Fun
Alanna stood watch over Harailt while Duke Baird tested Harailt's reactions to light and other such examinations. The mage remained in the same condition. It had become apparent that one of the infirmary's more powerful healers was absent, and hadn't been seen since around the time Harailt had left to go to the store room for the vinegar. She had also been one of the healers who had attended to the sick at Worvield after the attack on their water supply.
Alanna sat beside Harailt's bed, fearing the worse. Head injuries were almost impossible to heal. It was partly up to the strength of the person whether they would pull through. She sent a silent prayer to the Goddess, asking her to give strength to the man, and to help them bring the perpetrators of these crimes to justice.
Alanna stayed with him for another half an hour, watching for the slightest change in is appearance; but still he remained in the same catatonic state. She decided to seek out Numair and George and catch up on any news that has occurred while she had been in the infirmary. Jonathan was still absent, and likely to be so for longer, so there would be no call for them to meet. She had heard already that Daine's mount Cloud had been taken with the illness that had plagued the horses. Her own horse had been treated and she had been told by Onua that it seemed that they had gotten the complaint under control. Five horses had died, a significant and upsetting number. All but Cloud had now responded to the treatment, and Daine was apparently distraught.
The sun was beginning to set in the summer sky, white clouds that were drifting along aimlessly being tinted by the red haze from the sun. The beautiful scene did nothing to cheer Alanna as she made her way to the stables, even the evening heat failing to warm her; such was the chill of the dread that had set into her bones and under her skin. She went into the stables, seeing Daine curled up against the now sleeping Cloud. Numair was sat up on a large bale of hay, watching his lover as she continually tried to heal the horse. George was there as well, biting his lip as he stood watching the scene before him. Alanna went to her husband, her hand searching for his.
"What is there to do?" She asked him. This was like no war she had fought before. She was unsure of how to conquer this anonymous enemy. He had no real army, no seemingly obvious motive or plan of attack. She could raise her sword and attempt to strike him down. His followers were all civilians, she could hardly dig them out and make they fight. She glanced at Numair. Ultimately, she knew, it would come back to him. He had already battled one great mage this summer, now it looked as if he would almost certainly have to fight another.
George looked at her. "There isn't much for some to do at the moment, lass. I've sent spies everywhere, but we need to keep our heads down. We're all targets," he said softly.
Numair looked over at them, removing his eyes from Daine. "I feel as if I'm paralysed. We're being attacked and we can't defend ourselves because we have no idea how we can. The palace mages are working on putting a protective barrier around the palace as there are major concerns about attempts on Roald and Kally. That's letting him know we're scared, and that he has us in his grip. Things are too sneaky for us to take control of this situation as we have so little knowledge of him, and that's not to criticize you, George," he added, noticing the look of George's face.
"The morning may bring news," George said, quietly. "The man you saw this morning has gone to find out what he can from the areas we know Makheen roams in."
Numair nodded. "Hopefully we will be able to find out more information from Varsgen once he has recovered, and did I hear that the healer who struck Harailt has been found?"
Alanna nodded. "She will not be able to tell us anything though. She was found murdered just outside Thorsvield about an hour ago."
Numair smiled grimly. "Makheen will be aware that I have broken his hold on Varsgen and that I would be able to do it again on someone else. He would rather have her dead than passing on information. We need to check other staff for any signs that they have been brought under his control. I imagine there will be a few who have unknowingly had contact with him when they were in Worvield."
"You think he was there when our healers went to help?" Alanna asked.
"Almost certainly. I doubt he is controlling many people, I don't think he will need to. I am guessing that he is highly charismatic and influential and knows what to say to impress them. He may not have had a focus for… what was her name?"
"Cheriz Leyersen," Alanna informed.
"It may be that she was simply so captivated by him that she did as she was bidden," Numair concluded.
George nodded. "I would imagine, knowing a little about mages, that to have several people under such powerful control would be draining."
A cry from Daine interrupted their conversations. Numair rushed to her, Alanna stuck her head out if the stable door and yelled for Onua, who was tending the horses outside.
"Her heartbeat's dropping," Daine said anxiously. Alanna rushed next to her, applying hands to Cloud. Numair saw a jolt of purple fire leave the Lioness, knowing that she had just restarted the mare's heart. He noticed Daine's face, crippled with pain and felt it himself. Cloud had been her family after the bandits had took almost everything from her. She saved her from what Daine termed her "madness" on a few occasions and Numair knew that if anything were to happen to the horse then Daine would be heartbroken. Instinctively, he put one hand on the horse, sensing the poison that was ravaging through her veins. Not quite sure what he was doing, he muttered a few words that were meant to remove poisons and placed his fingers on the black opal round his neck. Numair felt a massive force grind through him, causing him to fall back from Cloud and freeze with the magnitude of the power shooting round his own veins and into the absorbing gem.
Alanna watched, frozen herself as she had realised what Numair was doing. She saw the mage pass out and went over too him, checking his heart. The black opal gleamed and vibrated manically. Alanna tore it from his neck and threw it onto the floor. She noticed Daine crouching by his side, leaving Onua to tend to Cloud. Numair's pulse was strong and steady. She saw Daine and at George, both looking at her in concern.
"He's drained himself. He'll be fine. How's Cloud?" Alanna directed the question to Onua.
"She's recovering. He's obviously drawn all the poison out of her system," Onua called over. Daine looked towards the horse mistress, unsure of where she should be.
Are you okay? She called to the horse with her mind.
She heard Cloud moving and harrumphing. The stork man took the bad stuff out. I just feel tired, like you do after you've not taken care of yourself.
Daine smiled slightly, Cloud had obviously passed the worst.
George's visitor had left the palace on horseback to pay an innocent visit to Worvield. He had worked for the assistant spymaster for two years, having a public role as a trader, moving from village to village selling materials. It had been just past midday when he had arrived there, first going to the smaller of the two inns in the village. He was a skilful enquirer, and soon found people who were willing to talk about the problem they had had with the water and their theories behind it.
At sundown he found himself in Low Wood, the village at the bottom of a small hill that was covered in forestry. From what George had told him, this was where Karrum Makheen was staying with some distant relatives. Again, he went to the smallest inn in the town, knowing that this would be where he would find out the information he required as only the locals, and the older locals at that, and they would be more inclined to talk. He was in luck; the very man he wished to find out about joined him at the bar. Lennik smiled. This was going to be an interesting night.
Daine stayed with Numair in the stables while he came to, George and Alanna had left her to it, Alanna satisfied that Numair was merely drained and would recover quickly. Onua had left to wash and change, she had hinted at having to go some where that night, causing both Daine and Alanna to wonder if she might be keeping a secret. Cloud had settled and Daine was happy with the recovery she was making, feeling happier than she had done all day. The vast majority of the horses that had been troubled were recovering, some slower than others, but the acetic acid appeared to have neutralised the effect of the water hemlock and disaster kept away.
She looked at Numair as he began to stir, feeling awash with emotion. He had just shown that he would knock himself out to make her happy. He smiled at her as he came round, his hand rising to touch her face, gently smoothing away a curl.
"How is Cloud?" he asked, propping himself up with his elbows.
"As biting as ever," Daine smiled at him, lowering her body so that she was stretching over him, held up by her arms.
"She made it then?" He double checked.
"Yes, and I'm sure she'll thank you for it when she next sees you," she smiled as Numair pulled his face.
"She'll probably find a way to make her thanks painful," Numair muttered, recalling previous affection nips from the mare.
Tell the stork man that I am offended by his words, Daine heard Cloud from her stable, obviously awake and aware. She repeated her words to the mage.
Numair smiled. "Obviously the water hemlock didn't have any lasting effects," he said.
"No, thanks to you," Daine lent down to kiss him, wanting to show her appreciation in as pleasurable a way as possible. He began to return the kiss with vigour, finding his strength return rather miraculously. Daine had straddled him on the floor of the stable and had started to undo his shirt, hurriedly undoing the buttons. Numair lay back and let her continue, enjoying the attention she was lavishing on him, his hands wandering lazily across her body, enticing her to remove her own clothes. He forgot about the goings on around them, and lost himself with her, not caring if anyone walked in and found them, straw caught up in their hair, clothes strewn everywhere. Numair smiled as he moved her under him. A month ago this was what he wished for, to be able to hold her, make love to her, protect her; and now he could, some god had obviously smiled upon him. He saw her wince, a look of pain crossing her face.
"What's the matter?" he asked, concerned.
"I think I've got something digging in my back," she mumbled, twisting her body and feeling for the offending article. "Okay," she told him, a sharp stone removed from beneath her. He continued his caressing, his lips trailing down her body, her responses encouraging him to continue. She writhed against him, her hands clasping the back of his head, urging him not to stop. And then she froze.
He looked up, tearing himself away from her. "Daine?" he questioned, noticing that her attention was directed elsewhere.
"Cloud's watching us," she said, a note of distress in her voice. Numair sat up next to her, noticing the same thing. Three of the horses, including Cloud, had popped their head over their doors to watch Daine and Numair. Feeling self-conscious, Numair pulled a handful of hay to cover him, his loincloth too far out of reach.
Daine began to laugh. Her laugh bellowed through the stables, such was its volume, and tears began to stream down her cheeks. Numair smiled at her fondly, moving an arm around her and pulling her in to rest on his chest.
"Shall we go back to my room?" he murmured, knowing that the six staring eyes had ruptured any passionate mood there had been.
Daine nodded, looking up at the mage. "I'm sorry," she said, laughter still haunting her voice. "It's like being on show. And Cloud's too much like family to have her watch…."
"What we were about to do," Numair finished, pulling his shirt over his head.
Daine laughed again, Cloud had obviously said something to amuse her. He raised his eyebrows enquiringly.
"She said it's not like she's never seen it before," Daine told him.
"What does she mean by that?" Numair asked. "She's not seen me before like that…"
"No, she's seen other people. I think this spot's been made use of before," Daine began to pull her own clothes back on, ceasing Numair's visual feast. She paused for a moment, causing Numair to wish that he could be part of this conversation between woman and horse. Daine laughed, looking at Numair. "Jonathan and Thayet have been here a few times and once Darkmoon managed to get hold of Jon's breeches and move them into his stable, so Jon had to run like he was on fire back into the palace."
Numair chuckled loudlyat the thought.
They made their way back into the palace, Numair holding Daine close to him. They went to the infirmary, to check on Harailt before heading to Numair's abode. No change had been detected in Harailt's condition, although they couldn't tell how badly he had been injured by the impact of the collision, Duke Baird was beginning to show signs of hope that the dean of the university would be much the same as ever.
Numair began to think as they walked back to his rooms. Kitten was with Tkaa for the evening, the basilisk having returned with Onua that day, so they would have total privacy. His chest hurt when he looked at the woman next to him, her fingers entwined with his. Numair knew he wasn't conventional, there had been no other woman he had ever considered taking for a wife, but this one. He wanted everyone to know that they were together, that she loved him and had chosen him. He wanted her to be absolutely sure of his love for her. He felt nerves take over his stomach. He had mentioned marriage to her before, she hadn't said no, but neither had she given him too much encouragement since. He sat down next to her on his bed and felt her take hold of his face gently, and pull his mouth towards her, starting to kiss him as she had done in the stables. He found himself returning the kiss with force, his body trying to explain how he felt. Dragging up will power from somewhere, he moved his mouth away, feeling his hands go clammy and his cheeks burn.
"Daine," he began, not quite sure how to phrase his question without seeming trite. "Will you marry me?" he kissed her quickly, stopping her from answering, not quite sure that he wanted to know her answer.
She backed away, her eyes looking seriously at him. "Numair…" she started. "I love you, every part of me loves you and I know that I want to be with you. And you know that, Numair, you know that I chose to be here with you, I couldn't bear the thought of not having you with me." He knew her answer.
"Why won't you marry me then?" He asked softly, unable to conceal the pain in his eyes.
She shook her head and looked away. "Why do we need to? We know how we feel, that is what's important, Numair. I feel that if we marry, we'll end up like some of the men and women in Snowsdale did, resenting each other and feeling trapped. At least this way we're together because we choose to be, not because we have to be. I'm yours, Numair, you know that," she drew her eyes to look into his, her hands going to his hair and undoing the tie that kept his mane away from his face. He kissed her, his lips tender and gentle.
"What about children?" he asked, "Would you marry me if we have children?"
Daine laughed lightly, moving so she straddled his lap. "When we decide to have them I'll marry you then." She kissed him again; he held her back slightly, trying to maintain some sort of control.
"You do want children?" he asked.
Daine nodded, smiling. "I had dream a few nights ago, when we were still in Legann, that a little girl was with me on a beach. I wondered if in the dream I might've been her mother."
Numair recalled his own dream which sounded similar to Daine's, the little girl who he had taught. He had thought it had been a young Daine, but the child had reminded him that he had never known Daine as a little girl. He wondered if Shakith had been playing tricks on them, and had offered him a glimpse into a future that may one day happen. He pulled Daine to him, holding her close, his disappointment subsiding.
"Then when we decide to have that little girl, we'll get married then?" He summarised, accepting, understanding and almost agreeing with her choice. He would always know now, that she was with him because she chose to be, not because she was bound to him by a ring.
"I promise you, Numair," she said, smiling as he kissed her and began to resurrect the sensations that their stable audience had halted.
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