Chapter 6

As the sun rose over the Emerald Ocean, the fog rolled over Pirate's Swoop. Eliena, Numair, and the others with a strong enough Gift were weakened instantly. Eliena shivered constantly and had to layer winter clothes to keep warm. She decided to stay inside. There was no need to announce her presence. They hadn't flown the royal flag for that same reason.

"Eli," Leo said, poking his head in. "They know you're here and want to talk to you." Grumbling curses, she followed him.

"What?" she demanded of the Stormwing. "Because of your gods-cursed fog, I'm frozen! Make it fast, before I shove my sword in your face."

"Testy, are we, your highness?" the Stormwing asked. Eliena swore and drew her sword. In a moment, the tip of the blade was inches from the Stormwing. He simply stared at it, awed.

"Say what you must, Stormwing, or you'll be dead in seconds." Her voice was cold and commanding, and she stood tall. The Stormwing gulped.

"We will drop our siege if the princess surrenders herself to us," he managed to squeak.

Eliena was silent and drew her sword back. She smiled icily as she said, "When pigs fly." And, blindingly fast, she plunged her sword into his heart.

"Great Mithros!" Thayet breathed as the Stormwing fell.

"Its Alanna all over again!" George exclaimed in a breathy whisper.

Just as the Stormwing hit the ground, a trumpet sounded and the Third Company of the King's Own, led by the giant Sir Raoul of Goldenlake, appeared. The foreign army, still recovering from Eliena's swift move, stood stupefied.

"You're worm food!" Eliena yelled. Raoul took that as his cue and ordered the Own to "Charge!" in his large, bellowing way. The Own attacked with little resistance.

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"So, are you going to stay with us, Daine?" Eliena asked after dinner that night as se, Daine, Raoul, Thayet, George, Rose, Onua, Numair, and Leo were seated around the fire.

"I don't know…" Daine replied.

"You can live here," George offered. "Seeing as you like the sea so much."

"Or stay my assistant," Onua chimed in.

"She's my student," Numair pointed out.

"Well I think she should live in the palace," Eliena announced. As always, all eyes fell on her. "Around the palace, she'd have me, and Leo, Thayet, Raoul, the Riders, Numair, and countless others."

Daine laughed, and laughed, and laughed, and laughed. Eliena threw her arms around her friend and hugged. "Welcome to Tortall, Daine."

Author's Note- OK, so I took the easy way out. So sue me. And thus ends the linkage with Wild Magic. If you haven't guessed, Eliena's story will line up with the Immortals books, because that's easier. But, they will be manipulated to make it different a bit. And I'll do stuff after ROTG, too. REVIEW.