Chapter Five

Author's note; I'm taking a couple of liberties from here on about the timeline of events in Tortall while Daine and Numair are in the Realms of the Gods. Most of the action comes from dreams/visions that the pair receive in the Realms, and are in the correct order, although a little later/earlier than they should be. Part of Thayet and Harailt's conversation is taken from 'Realms of the Gods'.

Also I have no idea where Fiefs Seabeth and Seajen are, so forgive any mistakes please!

I hope you like the (much delayed) chapter!

And thanks to PsychoLioness, whose question helped me realise that Thayet couldn't be in Port Legann.

HuntressDiana

Queen Thayet sighed, dropping her head into her hands as she stared at the message that had just come from her husband. It was short and abrupt, containing only two words, but it was one of the most crushing reports she had received since this war began.

'No luck.' That was all it said, 'No luck'. Suitably cryptic if the letter was intercepted by the enemy, but at the thought that it could be the last thing written about Daine and Numair… shoving the letter aside, into the fire, she shuddered. That thought was too horrible to contemplate. Jon had kept her updated on what was going on in the capital, while she was, for the moment at least, in Port Caynn, through spelled mirrors, but for the moment they were relying more on the old fashioned messengers, fearing that the magic which bound their mirrors was somehow corrupted, and the enemy was listening to their plans.

A knock sounded on the door and even before she could begin standing to open it, Harailt of Aili, burst in.

"Your Majesty…" He dipped into a quick bow before carrying on. "I've just come from the City of the Gods, on the way to Corus, on the King's orders…"

"I know why." Thayet cut in, "But what in Mithros' name has you in such a state?" She had to suppress a small smile at the state of the mage. He was normally a very tidy man, but now his face was flushed, his hair mussed by the speed of his run and his clothes were rumpled.

"I have news from fiefs Seabeth and Seajen. A Yamani fleet's been sighted to the west. The bad news is, somehow the Scanrans knew they were coming. They fled overnight."

"Father Storm's curses!" This time Thayet did stand up, with such force that her chair rocked dangerously backwards. Slamming an impatient hand down on the arm to steady it, she continued. "How does the enemy get his information? I'd swear on my children's lives that there is no way for a spy to report our plans- and yet the enemy continues to stay one step ahead!"

Harailt sighed. "I'll ask the mages to start using truthspells and the Sight and see if we can identify an enemy agent."

Thayet gave him an appraising look. Since Daine and Numair's disappearance, he had been trying to do Numair's job, and quell most of the immortals in his area, while still keeping order at the Royal University of Mages. And now he was going to attempt to scry for the missing pair, a task which both Alanna the Lioness and her husband Jonathan had failed at. She knew he was taking on too much, and his power was burning low. But he was one of the strongest mages they had, and although she hated to lay another burden on his shoulders she nodded.

"Please do. And when we find him –or her- I hope that person is good with his gods."

"Your Majesty." He bowed once more, preparing to leave.

"Harailt!" She called after him, after a few moments thought. "You are to stay here tonight. Give your orders to the mages then retire, we need you at full power."

"My Queen, I was summoned to Corus urgently." He reminded her haltingly.

"I know." She fingered her nose, a habit she'd taken to when she was forced to say or do something that she didn't like, although she knew it to be the right thing to do. "But Daine and Numair have been missing for a week now. If they've survived this long, I'm sure they can survive another night. And you are no use to us with your powers drained."

"Is it that obvious?" he asked resignedly. At her nod, he let out a soft bark of laughter and then took his leave to follow her orders.

She however had no time for rest, even if she was bone tired. She'd send a note with the mage to Jonathan, although she had no idea what it would say… Something about the spies. Who could the spy be though? Thayet racked her mind. The way the enemy managed to keep one step ahead of them all the time was uncanny. So many of their attacks had been foiled by immortals, or human warriors, in so many different places.

It was times like these, she thought, that she needed her children, to bolster her spirits. They always had confidence in her. Her thoughts drifted back to Daine and Numair, who also had supported her, and Jonathan, through many difficulties. She would trust either one of them with her children's lives, as they had both helped save the Princes and Princess when they were attacked at Pirates Swoop.

With a sigh she took her seat again, reading through reports from all corners of the Realm. The tidings were all the same; immortals, death, mayhem. Dropping her head into her hands once more, she exhaled gently, trying to clam herself, before making a sudden decision.

She would return to the capital with Harailt tomorrow. She was doing nothing here that she couldn't do in Corus, and now more than ever she needed her family.