A bit of a belated update. This was the one I aimed to post in the new year. As you can see, that simply didn't happen, in my defence I have had this ready for a little while but for some reason wasn't able to upload it. But it's up now, so I hope you enjoy…
Chapter Seven
It was as soon as the next morning that the orders that Onua had feared arrived at her lodgings. A company of the Own and two of the Queen's Riders needed to ride towards Port Legann, to relieve some of the men there, but also, Onua thought, reading between the neat lines of script, to replace those who had been lost. Jonathan asked her to choose the most suitable Rider group and that he would also like to see her that afternoon when his Queen returned. With a sigh and a forced smile, Onua dismissed the page who had brought her the message, swinging her legs out of bed and, shivering slightly in the dawn air, swiftly dressed. She'd send the Second and Fourth groups to Legann, they had been on rest for a week now and they had lost fewest Riders. Hurrying down the stairs in Rider Barracks, Onua nearly bumped into Sarge who was just going to raise the new trainees. The massive man took one look at her grim face and the message in her hand before stopping her.
"Who and where?" He asked. Onua rubbed a hand over her face wearily.
"Legann. I thought to send the Second and Fourth."
Sarge thought for a moment before saying,
"I'd send the Fifth instead of the Second. They're still demoralised from Velian's death." He named one of the few noble Riders, and the commander of the Second group. He'd been killed in a skirmish with Hurroks only the week before.
Onua considered that for a moment and then agreed with Sarge before the two parted ways.
Knocking on the doors of the commanders of the two squads, Onua briskly gave them their orders and left them to collect the rest of the riders while she headed to the Quartermaster and stables to organise mounts and provisions.
They were ready in less than two bells and assembled in the yard, waiting for the commanders to arrive. Buri and Raoul always came to see their companies off when they were in residence at the palace. What no one was expecting however was for the pair of them to arrive in full armour and weapons. Onua rushed towards the pair before they could greet the Riders and members of the Own who were due to ride out.
"Buri!" She hissed at her fellow K'mir, "What's going on?"
The Co-commander of the Queen's Riders looked down, and sighed briefly, realising that the Horsemistress deserved an answer, before slipping off her horse's back.
"Thayet's on her way back. Jon wanted Raoul and I to lead the troops at least until we meet her."
"We're putting on a show." The Knight Commander interjected wryly, his expression showing his evident distaste. "Just to let everyone see that there is nothing wrong." He gentled his tone as he saw pain flash across Onua's face before she regained control of her emotions.
Buri, who had been looking on, spoke again
"Harailt of Aili is with Thayet. He's found traces of God magic where we knew they were last."
"Is that good or bad?" Onua asked, fearing the answer.
"Well, knowing what happened when Daine last got mixed up with the Gods, it could be very good." Raoul laughed, remembering the events which had revolutionised Carthak. He tactfully neglected to remind them of the fact that the Gods' meddling had nearly caused Numair's execution and Daine's kidnapping.
In the awkward silence that followed, Buri swung back on to her horse.
"We'll be back within the week, hopefully with good news."
The summons to a meeting in Jonathan's study came in the late afternoon, as Onua was training one of the newest ponies. With a grateful smile she handed over the lunge rein to Miri, who was serving as her assistant and headed to her rooms to change out of her work clothes.
It was Thayet who opened the door to the King's study, to Onua's surprise. However the genuine, albeit tired smile that was on the Queen's face, cheered Onua somewhat.
"We have news." The older K'mir said, pulling the other woman into the room.
"Good and bad, from the looks of things." Onua remarked, seeing that Buri and Raoul were seated in chairs near the window, Buri just putting a cloth back into suspiciously pink water.
"Yes." Raoul answered shortly. "We were ambushed in Caynn, after we had met with Thayet and Harailt." The burly man nodded towards the mage, who was staring out the window. Onua smiled briefly, noting how worn the normally impeccably presented man looked.
"They knew we were coming." Thayet said thoughtfully, although anger coloured her tone. "And yet I only knew I would be returning myself when Harailt came, two days ago. I told no one, and still the enemy know our every move before we make it."
"In other words, we have a spy in our midst." Buri summarised. "And a clever one at that."
Jon sighed, he hated to think that any of his subjects would betray their country, but not so naïve that he couldn't believe that some would. "So it would appear. I've sent a messenger to George- he's good at this sort of thing."
"And so he should be." Raoul chuckled. "He's had more than enough practice."
"Back to the reason I called you here though…" Jon trailed off as he stood from his chair, moving to stand next to his wife. "Harailt has some news to tell us about our missing friends I believe."
Everyone turned expectantly towards the mage who nodded and cleared his throat before beginning,
"I found traces of God magic at the site where we last knew them to be. The odd thing is however, the magic is only in that one spot and the tracker mage I took to Greenhall with me said that, apart from the Lioness, and a few members of the Riders or Own, no trained mage has come near that spot. Especially none with a power like Numair's."
"So, what do you think happened to them?" Onua asked. There were a few options she could imagine, but none that she wanted to entertain.
"I believe they are in the Realms of the Gods." Harailt answered flatly. "I don't know where, or what condition they were in, but that is the one conclusion I can draw."
Onua was forced to sit down at that point.
"The Realms of the Gods? So they could be still alive?" She demanded. Harailt met her eyes frankly.
"I will not lie to you. I do not know. But yes, I hope so."
The horsemistress' gaze flickered around the room. The added hope that Daine and Numair could still be alive had motivated them all. Jon's eyes had brightened as he held Thayet to his side, relieving some of the guilt he felt. Thayet wore a serene smile on her face as Raoul beamed broadly. Onua didn't need a looking glass to know a very similar smiles was fastened to her face as the one which adorned Buri's expression.
"The Realms of the Gods?" Raoul shook his head in wonderment. "Even Alanna's never been there, and she's the Great Mother Goddess' chosen one. What scrapes Daine does get into."
"In her defence," Thayet added, laughter sparkling in her eyes. "Numair gets into quite a few all by himself."
"They've always got themselves out of their scrapes before." Jon said, recalling many such incidents. "Let's hope they can do the same with this one."
Well, this is beginning to wrap up now, not too many more chapters to go.
In other news, some may already know that I run awards for the best Tamora Pierce fanfiction, previously called the Tortallan Heroes and Emelan Circle Awards. I am beginning the administrative stuff for the next round, entitled the Circle of Heroes awards. So if you think you would like to judge, please do go to the website (the address is on my profile page) and follow the instructions there. If you have any questions, please do feel free to get in touch, either through the tagboard or the email address on the site.
Last year went incredibly well, and I'm hoping that this year will be even better.
I hope to hear from many people soon,
HuntressDiana