Sprightly Modred: Thank you, more is on its way! Lady Tonks: Thank you Lela-of-Bast: You could always PM me and let me know what you think! I'd be most interested to know your theories. Thank you for all your reviews! Alex Rose: Thank you! Horsehearted 15: That's a very good point about Kit. She was with Tkaa, but thank you for reminding me! Esmerelda 01: So now I know who to PM when I have horse questions! I have never even been on a horse, am consider having lessons though! Daine's Daughter: Thank you! Goldeneyedwildmage: The Onua/Sarge relationship was mentioned by Sonnet in Enemies. They are both godparent type people to Sarralyn in TC. I reread that part after Sonnet brought them together as a couple, and I agreed with her interpretation. I always felt sad that Onua didn't have a fella. I'm glad we're sorted, I was really worried that you wouldn't accept my apology and I do love your sense of humour and your reviews! Neal's Chick: More fluff coming up! Silverlake: Thank you! I never thought it would be this complex and I'm not quite sure how I managed it! Aikia Riyen: How did you get involved in fencing? If I had a sword handy I'm sure my other half would be prodded slightly from time to time – although he has just vacuumed the house! Celuna Cirrus: Thank you. I think I might elaborate on Jon and Thayet's hay experience at some point! Dolphin Dreamer: I had a nightmare with updating when I posted that chapter! Thank you for your reviews! Sonnet Lacewing: Thank you for all your checking and being my sounding board! And thank you fort George's speech!Ttyl!

A/N: I am posting some poems on if any one cares to read 'em. I'll be using sarramaks as my penname. Your comments would be appreciated. They should be up early next week.

Disclaimer: The characters all belong to Tamora Pierce.

Chapter 17 – The River on the Roof

Daine immediately turned around and flew back towards Corus, hoping that Numair had the sense to go straight to Jonathan and not attempt to follow. In the form of a peregrine falcon she covered the ground in little time at all, the scene becoming clear in meaning as she approached the city, although her vision became impaired with the volume of smoke rising up into the air, clouding her sight and muting her senses. She used mind speak to ask the animals on the ground what had happened, figuring from her knowledge of the geography of Corus that the city gaol was at the epicentre of the smoke and flames. Yolane had been in the gaol since her arrest in Dunlath, as had many other prisoners of heinous crimes. The gaol had been a building that had been built around four hundred years ago, and was one of the most impressive buildings in the capital. It had been added on to half a century ago, when either the criminal population of Corus had grown or the policing of it had improved. The newer half was plain in comparison and not as sturdy or well-built. There had been several break-outs from it in recent months, causing low confidence in some of the citizens of Corus. This explosion and the subsequent escape of possibly some of the most well-known criminals in Tortall would add to the unrest, with people demanding to know how it had happened and ultimately blaming the authorities for letting it.

The gaol had partially collapsed on one side, flames licking upwards to the roof. The older half of the building that had been built many years previously was still standing. Daine could just make out the figures of people standing on its flat roof as she swooped in closer, they were waving to attract attention and she realised that they were stuck, some of the exits inside the building must have collapsed, and meaning people couldn't get out. In some ways that would be a good thing, she thought. Fewer prisoners would be able to escape. But if the fire continued to spread then there would be an even greater loss of life. Flying even lower towards the ground she saw a mad rush of people as they scrambled away from the fire and smoke, some trying to get as far away as possible, mingling into busy streets or disappearing in dark alleyways. Some of those people were inevitably prisoners who had managed to break free in the chaos that had ensued after the explosion. Others had formed a circle around the gaol, watching as the fire continued to eat away at the building, listening as loud bangs and crashed sounded from what was left of the structure.

The mice and cats that had been nearby when the big noise had occurred had filled Daine's head with details and information. From what she could piece together, the humans inside the building had been quiet after their noise making over the past few days. A visitor had been to see them, who Daine assumed was the mage; one of the mice telling her that he had given a package to a fair headed man who the guards called Aklim. The guards hadn't noticed the package, or, as the mice assure Daine, they would have confiscated it from Aklim. The man had left, shortly before the big noise had come, bringing fire, and then lots of people had started running.

Daine began to feel drops of water touching her feathers; flying higher, she saw that a group of mages had created a cloud of water to dim the flames before they could spread to other buildings. The smoke had grown denser, making any more spying impossible. She knew that she needed to return to the palace and pass on what she had seen and found out from the animals. Their bank of information was growing; Daine hoped that Jonathan would now decide that enough had happened to seek out Karrum Makheen and arrest him, although she knew that the mage had made that extremely hard work after causing what could be several dozen prisoners to be set free. The work of the guards and mages would be set to recapture them as quickly as possible, before Makheen's army could increase with the most undesirable of numbers.

She saw Numair and Myles by the door that led into the corridor to their rooms. Squawking at Numair, she flew in through the entrance toward his set of rooms, hoping that he was following to be able to open his door as she had noticed that his window was closed, blocking one of her entrances. He had done so, arriving there slightly after Daine, opening the door while she hovered impatiently, wanting to be able to slip back into human form and tell him what she had seen.

She threw on a pair of breeches and an old shirt of Numair's, hastening as she knew that they were highly likely to be joined by other people who had seen her arrival. Numair handed her a drink of water and waited for her to gulp it before giving her a questioning look.

"It was a prisoner named Aklim who received a package from - well I think it was from - Karrum Makheen earlier. It must have been some spell programmed to cause an explosion. The new half of the gaol is completely destroyed and up in flames. The older half is still alright, although I think some of the ceiling and walls must have collapsed inside as there were people on the roof who couldn't get out.," she said most of this in one breath, drinking the rest of the water hurriedly.

Numair nodded. "George and Alanna have headed straight to Corus, along with Raoul and some of the other men from the King's Own. Buri, Sarge and Onua have also left. You and I shall follow on. We may well be needed."

Daine nodded, expecting this. "Why wasn't there more security on the gaol? I suppose Aklim is Makheen's cousin? Why wasn't he being watched more?"

"He was supposedly. But we don't know how far Alamid's influence had spread. The package could have been spelled to be invisible, or the guards enchanted, or they may have simply turned a blind eye to what was going on," Numair pulled her to him, making the most of a few snatched moments. "George has had word that the spy who reported on Makheen's identity has been murdered. He's all fired up now, wanting to know who's responsible."

"Isn't it going to be Makheen?" Daine asked in puzzlement?

"Probably not. He doubts Makheen would have guessed he was spying purely from a conversation in an inn. George seems to think that it will be someone else who gave him up. He was going to make his way to the Quiet Woman and see if anything was known," Numair moved her away gently, standing up and preparing to leave. "We should head off ourselves."

Daine nodded and stood up, her eyes searching the room for one of her own shirts and a clean breastband. She pulled the items on hurriedly when she found them, wishing that she kept a few more items in Numair's room so she would have more choices when she needed to change quickly. Numair caught the look on her face and questioned it.

"I could do with a drawer or some space to keep a few bits in, if you wouldn't mind," she told him as they left the room.

"There may be a better way to solve that," Numair answered without looking at her.

"What's that?" she asked, the answer being stopped before it had started by a young whirlwind coming towards them in the shape of Thayet.

"Are you heading into Corus?" The queen asked, a note of annoyance in her voice. Numair nodded in response. "I'll join you," she stated firmly.

"I thought Jonathan had ordered you to stay here?" Numair said.

"He did, but I should be involved in this. We're being criticised enough for letting people die unnecessarily in the fights against Scanra and not doing our own bit," Thayet picked up the pace.

"But you know that's not true!" Daine defended.

"I know, as do a lot of people. But we need to show to some of our subjects that we do take pride in this country and want what's best for it, and right now, that means being in the thick of things!" Daine knew that there was no point in trying to persuade Thayet to remain at the palace when she would be safe from any attacks on her by Karrum Makheen, not while she was in this mood. They headed for the stables, Daine ushering them to the horses that hadn't been affected by the poison. She left Cloud be, knowing that she was nowhere near fit yet for a fast ride like the one they were about to undertake. Instead she took a mount named Springside, knowing him to be speedy and good-tempered.

They were in Corus in a matter of minutes, the heavy blanket of smoke and fumes enveloping them immediately as they approached. They left the horses just outside the city, so they would not be tortured by the noxious air and Numair spelled them so they would not be left to any horse thieves or anyone who happened to take a passing fancy to them. They headed towards the gaol, almost running through the crowds of people who had congregated to watch the fires as they were doused by the fire-mages, hopefully stopping any more devastation. Alanna found them, her eyes blazing with anger and energy, almost feasting off the situation.

"We've already found a dozen of the escapees," she informed them, "But there's no knowledge of what George has been up to. I would like someone to go and keep an eye on him."

Numair nodded, "That may be as well. He seemed on edge before he left."

"He wasn't happy. He suspects another of his workers may have had something to do with his death. How in the name of the Goddess they'll have sussed it out is beyond me, but George seems to have some bizarre theory," She paused briefly, regarding the queen. "Thayet, you really shouldn't be out here. You're an easy target for Makheen or any of his minions."

Thayet sighed angrily. "I can defend myself, Alanna. And I have Numair and Daine here. We'll go to George and check on him. He's meant to be in the Quiet Woman, isn't he?"

"He is. All the same, Thayet, you do need to be careful," Alanna warned, but didn't argue with the queen, knowing that that would only make her more determined to get on the front row of the battle. "Right, I need to find Raoul and find out where we're up to. We've managed to get hold of Aklim, and someone's currently pumping him for information, although he's very reluctant to say anything, and there's no spell working. We need to locate Makheen and look at taking him in, if possible." Alanna looked at Numair. "Don't do anything stupid," she warned. "I know you have reason to want to turn him into one of your tree collection, but be aware of any consequences."

Numair grinned foppishly at the Lioness. "I'm always careful, Alanna," he grinned. Alanna rolled her eyes.

The three paced quickly over to the Quiet Woman inn, the smoke itching the backs of their throats and causing Numair to gag slightly. From the outside it looked as if the inn was empty; there were no signs of life inside, the strange quietness causing Numair to be uneasy. He took the lead in entering the inn, bracing himself for any need there might be for him to use his magic. It was empty in the lounge room, where the drinks were served. He whispered to Daine to see if she could hear any voices from further back in the building. Her ears changed to that of a bat's, although he barely noticed how unusual it was to have someone who looked all human except for their ears, so accustomed he was to it by now. She nodded and pointed towards the back mouthing George's name silently. They moved to the far back room. Numair began to use his gift to sense if there was another mage present. There appeared not to be, so he made his way more confidently, knocking on the door to the back room.

He entered, seeing George stood over a small, wiry man with rather rat-like features and assumed that this was the spy that George was holding responsible for the death of Lennik. George looked up at them, his face awash with annoyance and anger, like Numair had never seen before.

"It seems I had a back-stabber in my team," he said to Numair as they entered, not batting an eyelid at the fact that Thayet was also with them. "This man took it upon 'imself to make it known that Lennik 'ad squealed on Karrum Makheen's real name an' now I've lost one of my best men, an' likely caused there ta' be a bit o' smoke 'round. I'm sure that yer' friend Mr. Mokhlos wouldna' attempted his brave plan so soon 'nless he knew that he needed ta' do somethin' quick-like." Daine noticed that the man was bound to the chair that he was sat on, the ropes tied so tightly that they almost bore into his skin.

George stepped away from him. "He's told me that the explosion in the gaol was done in a rush. He didna' want his identity to be foxed out so soon. As Karrum Makheen he had no past or background fer' people to measure him by. People would recognise the name Alamid Mokhlos and tag him ta' Ozorne, which would be somethin' he would not want."

"So why the explosion at the prison?" Thayet asked.

"A distraction and a way to win over more supporters. He'd hope we would now be concentrating on catching the prisoners an' not him, now that we have real grounds to arrest him on, given his part in Dunlath. He would've also wanted ta' free Yolane. Kaiven here tells me they began a relationship by letter shortly after she got caged," George explained, hurriedly. "Thayet, I'm goin' ta' leave this man to yer' tender mercies. I have some chores that needs attendin' ta' elsewhere."

George left the building, obviously having other things to see to and knowing that the ex-spy would be well looked-after by the remaining three. Numair sent out a speech spell to Raoul, asking him to send someone to take their captive. Several minutes later Alanna turned up, accompanied by two of the King's Own who untied Kaiven and led him away. Alanna looked up at Numair and then glanced to Thayet and Daine, worry reflecting in her eyes.

"George has stormed off again," she told them. "He's generally not as overtly involved as this, particularly as very few people know what he actually does. I think he's either heard or worked out who was responsible for Kayam Norahi's death as is off to right some wrongs."

"I thought he already knew who had killed Kayam?" Daine added.

Alanna nodded. "They actually did the killing. I think George is concerned with who actually involved Kayam with Karrum Makheen in the first place. Daine, could you fly over the city and see what's going on, we could do with knowing a bigger picture, if there's any riots building elsewhere or if anything suspicious is going on that we haven't heard about?"

Daine nodded. The smoke had begun to clear, although it wouldn't be back to normal for a few days. She took falcon form again and began to fly up over Corus, her sharp eyes catching sight of any movement and swiftly deciphering whether the movements she saw were necessary to be noted or not. She could see members of the King's Own and a Rider group detaining escaped convicts on the edge of the city, some people had banded round a group of what appeared to be Makheen's supporters, as Daine could hear them chanting derogatory comments about Jonathan and his family. She spotted Onua and Sarge helping to control a small bunch of people who were trying to enter the wreck of the prison, obviously hoping to find some form of loot. Flying above to where the Dancing Dove was located she picked up on the voice of Alanna, almost screaming. Swooping down lower, away from the smoke Daine caught sight of the Lioness, her body taut in fear. One word penetrated the thick air, the scene straight out of Daine's nightmares.

"Geor-r-r-r-g-g-g-ge!" The Lioness called, her scream piercing through the wretched scene below.

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Also, I have a story called From Embers to a Flame about Sarra and Weiryn that I would appreciate comments on. It's a oneshot. Many thanks.