A/N: Wow, two chapters in one day! Don't expect itevery time there's an update, but I was on a roll. We get to see the Trickster in this chapter, so enjoy!

Disclaimer: The character's you don't recognize belong to me. The rest are Tamora's.

Flickering Flames: Chapter 2

"Dani?"

Danika of Wolf's Peak froze, breaking off conversation with one of her many friends in the Court of the Rogue. She recognized that voice, even though she hadn't heard it since she had left the fief of Wolf's Peak over three years ago. She hadn't seen her parents in that long either, though Shyam had. Being a Shang Wolf, he could go where he wanted, when he wanted, but as a Queen's Rider, Dani had to stay behind at court.

Turning slowly, she found her mother standing there, blue-green eyes grave, raven-black hair down around her shoulders and trailing down her back. Kayla was wearing brown breeches and a blue shirt, and around her neck rested the ever-present cat pendant, so like her own. Behind her stood Shyam, looking worried.

"What's wrong?" Dani asked, getting to her feet. Next to her, she felt Rhia rise to her feet.

Kayla smiled at her daughter, but her blue-green eyes were still grave. "I need to talk to you," she informed her daughter. She raised her voice above the din. "Mite!" she called, "I need to talk to you!"

Dani watched as her uncle, King of the Rogue, appeared out of nowhere, accompanied by his sister, Dani's Aunt Tahlia. With his brown hair and brown eyes, her uncle looked like a copy of their father. "Kayla," he snapped at his sister-in-law, "how many times do I have to ask you not to call me that? It was a childhood nickname, nothing more."

"Remind me later," Kayla shot back, irritated. The King of Thieves looked surprised at the anger in her voice, and opened his mouth to retort, but his sister laid her hand on his arm.

"Daniel," she murmured, gray-green eyes inquisitive, "listen to what she has to say." A wry smile curled her lips as she added, "You can yell at her later."

Daniel sighed, and nodded to Kayla. "What do you need, Kay?" He asked, willing to listen now.

"I need to talk to my children in private," Kayla told him, "I have important news."

Daniel looked up, alarmed at the seriousness of her tone. "It's not Dagger, is it?" He asked hurriedly, and Tahlia gripped his arm tightly, her now-bloodless face betraying her unspoken fears.

Kayla shook her head, a small smile touching her lips as she thought of her husband. "No, he's fine." She reassured them, "this is a different matter."

Daniel nodded, reassured, and Tahlia released his arm. "Go right upstairs," he told them. "You can use my rooms."

Beside her, Dani felt Rhia fidget. She glanced at her friend and bit her lip. She didn't know in her mother would let her friend come with them. Kayla seemed to have read her mind, because she turned to Rhia, an apologetic expression on her face.

"I'm sorry, Rhia," she apologized, "but this is news for my children and my children alone."

Dani could feel Rhia's disappointment, but she hid it well, nodding her head. "Yes, Lady Kayla," she murmured, and then glanced around at her surroundings. Dani felt bad and looked at her twin. Shyam seemed to pick up on what she was thinking and crossed to Rhia's side, Mingan at his heels.

"Mingan will keep you company while we're gone and keep you safe," Shyam told the girl. He held her emerald gaze for a moment, and something passed between them, as Dani looked on with amusement.

Kneeling down to be on eye level with the wolf-dog, Shyam tangled his hands in the canine's thick ruff. "Stay," he whispered, and Mingan whined, licking Shyam's face. Resting his forehead against the wolf-dog's, Shyam murmured to him, something Dani couldn't hear. She smiled, remembering the day Mingan had come into their lives.

A young boy, no older than eight, clattered down the stairs that led from his room, a ball of gray and tawny fur in his arms. His face was lit with delight and awe, and he scrambled down the hall, towards the library where he was sure his parents would be.

"Mama! Da!" The boy called, bursting into the room. His parents turned from where they were in front of a roaring fire, going over the reports for the fief. At their son's cry, they got up to see what had made him so excited.

"What's wrong, Shyam?" Kayla asked, eyeing the ball of fur in his arms.

"Mama! Look what I got!" Shyam exclaimed excitedly, cradling the ball of fur reverently. Kayla reached out to stroke the ball of fur, and with a quiet yip, the ball unrolled itself to reveal the golden-brown eyes of a wolf pup.

"Where did you find it Shyam?" Kayla asked, stroking the affectionate puppy. "It looks like a wolf."

"Not really a wolf," Derek commented. "Half wolf, maybe. Those tawny patches in his coat point to a half dog, half wolf heritage."

Shyam shook his head. "I didn't find him Mama," he said confidently, "somebody gave him to me in a dream."

"A dream?" Kayla asked, curious. "What kind of dream?"

Shyam frowned, thinking hard. "I was in this big white space," he said slowly, "and suddenly this man appeared."

"What did this man look like?" Kayla asked, deciding to humor her son.

The boy looked up at her. "He was tall," he said, "taller than Da. He had brown hair with gray in it, and he was wearing black pants and a gray shirt. Oh, and he had hazel eyes."

Kayla gasped, her face white. Derek wrapped his arm around her waist, steadying her. "Shyam…" she whispered, tears beginning to fall.

The boy looked up. "Mama, what's wrong?" He asked, frightened by his mother's tears.

Kayla shook her head, wiping away the tears. Derek hugged her to him, comforting her. "Go on, Shyam," she told her son, "what happened next?"

"Well," Shyam continued, reassured now that his mother was okay, "he told me that I was named after him, and that I was going to be a Shang Wolf someday." The boy's eyes shone, and he continued happily, "and then he gave me this puppy and told me that it was a present for me."

Kayla shook her head, incredulous. "I don't believe it," she whispered, smiling down at her son. Her blue-green eyes were soft with old memories as she asked, "Is there anything else?"

Shyam nodded. "There was a white light with the man, but it didn't say anything. It just watched me." The little boy beamed up at his parents. "It was friendly, I could tell," he said confidently.

"The man told me that the Trickster was watching out for me, and Dani too," the little boy said proudly, then looked up at his mother, confused. "Mama, what does that mean?"

Kayla's face had once again gone white, and realization dawned on her face. "Kyprioth," she whispered, shocked. Derek looked at her inquisitorially, but Kayla just shook her head, giving her husband a look that promised she would tell him everything later.

She reached out and stroked the puppy again. "What are you going to name him?" she asked her son.

Shyam shook his head. "I don't have to name him," he told them happily, "he came with a name. The man told me," he continued, "that the puppy's name is Mingan."

The memory faded, and Dani was brought back to the crowded, noisy Dancing Dove. Shyam was now standing, and Mingan stared up at him with loyal eyes. Taking Rhia's hand, Shyam let Mingan sniff it, then put Rhia's hand in the wolf-dog's ruff, entangling her fingers in it. Dani watched as her brother pointed from Mingan to Rhia.

"Guard," her twin commanded, "guard her." The wolf-dog stiffened, now watching the tavern and its occupants with sharper eyes. Shyam turned to her, and Dani gave him a swift smile of thanks.

She turned to her mother, who nodded and led the way up the stairs. Letting her children proceed into the room before her, Kayla followed them in and locked the door. Dani looked around the sparse room, containing just some essential furniture and a bed. Her ice-blue gaze locked on her mother's blue-green one, and she asked, "What's going on?"

Her mother looked at her, obviously worried. "I have a message from the Trickster."

Dani gasped. "Kyprioth gave you another message?" She asked, thinking hard. The Trickster god hadn't given her a message since her birthday five years ago, when he advised her to be a Queen's Rider if she wasn't going to be a thief. He had told her that the skills she learned from them would come in handy someday.

That was not their only run-in with the Trickster god. Over the years, he had popped in and out of their lives, mostly in dreams. Now, there was another message, something else that he wanted them to know.

"What's the message?" Dani asked, curious. Her mother's eyes grew shadowed, and Dani swallowed hard. This didn't look good, if her mother wasn't happy about it.

"He wants you to go to the Copper Isles and seek out the Crows, and to help them win their next fight." Kayla said the words slowly, as if they hurt. She stared at her children, helpless to do anything against the gods' will.

Dani listened to the message, her mind whirling. Only one thing penetrated: They would have to leave Tortall.

"Copper Isles?" She exclaimed, just as Shyam burst out, "Crows? How are we supposed to help a bunch of birds?"

Kayla's lips twitched in the smallest of smiles, but she kept a straight face as she answered. "Yes," she murmured, turning to Dani, "the Copper Isles." Turning to her son, she corrected him, "No, not the birds—the Crow family. Do you remember Alianne of the Copper Isles? The spymaster for Queen Dovasary?"

It was silent for a moment, and Dani's mind was reeling with all she had just heard. Finally she whispered, "The Lioness' daughter?"

"Yes."

"But we don't know the first thing about living in the Copper Isles!" Shyam exclaimed, looking nervous.

This time, Dani's mother really did smile. "Do I need to remind you that your grandfather used to live in the Copper Isles before coming to Tortall?"

"But he doesn't have the Gift!" Shyam protested.

"Grandmother does," Dani told her brother, "and she could get him to tell her about it. We could learn."

"Perhaps I could be of service?" The clear voice rang out, making them all freeze. Kayla was the first one to move.

"Kyprioth," she growled, and light shimmered all around them. When it faded, the Trickster god stood before them.

Dressed in Tortallan garb, he looked much as Dani had seen him before in her dreams: Salt-and-pepper hair and beard, short, broad nose, and mischievous brown eyes.

"Kyprioth," Kayla eyed the god coldly, "this better not be one of your tricks."

"My dear," the god said innocently, "I'm merely here to help."

Kayla derisive and unladylike snort made Dani wonder if her mother even trusted the god.

Kyprioth turned to Dani. "My dear," he addressed her in his crisp voice, "I can create disguises for you and your brother easily, so you will go unnoticed in the Copper Isles." He grinned, "I'll just need your assistance in return."

"No," Kayla intervened. "No disguises. No one there has heard of them, they will be safe and well-armed. They know how to protect themselves." She glared at the god. "Do we have a deal?"

Kyprioth studied her for a moment, then smiled. "Of course, my dear," he said, and turning to Dani, instructed, "your ship for the Copper Isles leaves at dawn in two days' time. Be sure you're on it. I will meet you there and instruct you about what to do next."

Turning to Dani's mother, he added, "I'll be sure to keep them safe, my dear, don't worry."

"You better," Kayla growled, then flashed a small smile at the god. "It was good to see you again. I'll tell Swift you visited."

Kyprioth looked at her, brown eyes lit with mischief. "The old fellow's still around, then?" he chuckled, "I must pay him a visit sometime." With that, light filled the air around them, and the next moment, he was gone.

The second the air cleared, Kayla growled, "Insufferable little--" Dani grinned at her mother.

"He seemed happy to see you," she teased, and Shyam grinned.

"Come on," Kayla murmured, striding for the door, "I need to talk to your uncle before I leave for home."

Late that night, Dani tossed and turned, her mind reliving the god's visit over and over again. Leave Tortall for the Copper Isles? She didn't know if she could do it.

After one more toss, she lay there, eyes wide open. Giving up on sleep, she got off her bunk in barracks of the Queen's Riders and snuck outside, Tahlia at her side, green eyes sleepy as she padded after her mistress.

Reveling in the cool night air, Dani jumped when she heard a voice.

"Dani?" It was Rhia. Her friend moved closer, green eyes worried. "What are you doing out here?"

Dani sighed, then decided to tell her friend the truth. "I have to go to the Copper Isles in two days' time."

"What?" Rhia's green eyes were wide with shock. "Why?"

Dani dropped her head. Rhia knew about her relationship with the Trickster god, so she murmured, "Kyprioth wants me to."

"Oh," Rhia murmured, slipping her hand into her friend's and squeezing it sympathetically.

The two girls were silent for a moment, then Rhia murmured, "I'm coming with you."

"What?" Now it was Dani's turn to be shocked. "No, you can't!"

Rhia's green eyes were determined and she said stubbornly, "Yes, I am."

"No," Dani protested, "the Riders need you, and this is my task."

Suddenly, a wind leapt up, whipping her black hair into a tangle, and a crisp voice that Dani recognized whispered, "Let her come, my dear. You may find you need her help."

Dani sighed, but obeyed the god. "You can come," she said reluctantly, and Rhia's face lit up with delight. "Come on," Dani added, suddenly worn out, "let's go back to bed. We have to be up early."

Hand in hand, the girls walked towards the barracks, and Dani could have sworn she heard the Trickster's voice in her ear whisper, "Excellent."

A/N: So, what do you think? Good, bad, interesting? Tell me what you think by reviewing!