Proof read by Danaye

Chapter 41

They had reached the deserted street where a massive blackness filled half of the street. When they had left the insane man behind, they had also left behind half of the men from the King's Own. They were instructed to take charge over the hysterical crowd before the man's preaching spread throughout the main city, providing more fuel for a possible uprising.

As they took a step into the street, the autumn wind that was causing the men's uniforms to ripple slightly, disappeared. Alanna gazed down the street, finding no trace of anything living other than a wall as black as the darkest night. "This is going to be difficult," she muttered to herself, taking another step towards Numair's ward.

Whatever had transpired here had required him to protect the surroundings from any magical outbursts. Two strong mages in the same location, one with the reputation of a murderer and the other with a reputation being unwilling to kill, could quickly lead to disaster.

Alanna stepped further, coming closer to the potential fight, only to stop and turn around. She found that Raoul's men still lingered just inside the street where no wind dared to enter.

Suddenly, Alanna felt an odd sensation. Speaking through gritted teeth, she backed away from the ward where she knew Numair was located, "Raoul?"

"Yes," Raoul pushed through his men to look at her.

"Get your men to move back!"

Raoul came to stand inside the odd atmosphere. "Why?"

She glanced back to the black wall, watching it expand. "Because Numair is preparing for something and if we don't get away from — " Alanna paused as the black substance twisted and turned, changing its structure, "from whatever he is doing, we will all feel the impact of that magic. We won't be able to help."

They had been delayed by the rambling man. To others, he would have seemed utterly insane, but for her it was completely different matter.

She knew exactly what was going on, and Liam was the last thing she wanted to deal with. He was being irritating, extremely impatient and anything but silent. Standing behind her, he repeatedly demanded to know why she had whispered Kyprioth's name.

She had other concerns on her mind — or rather in front of her. Once more, her attention was directed to where she knew her friend and her nephew's wife were located along with the assassin.

Alanna stared at the massive black wall so long that she began to hope that her angry gaze would cause it to disappear. She was so furious about Numair's need to expand the ward that she didn't notice that the men from the King's Own, who were standing behind her, were beginning to back away. She suddenly realized, with horror, that someone was directing their powers at the wall and beyond.

"I demand to know why you spoke his name!" Liam's voice sounded slightly to her left, bringing her out of her thoughts. "And stop staring at the wall. Dissolve it, tear it down...get me my wife back!"

"Oh hush, Liam," Alanna growled, turning her gaze back to the ward. It wasn't that she was worried about Numair — he could take care of himself, which he had done on many occasions. No, she was worried about the pained emotions that floated through the ward. They were bombarding her, making her slightly dizzy. Someone was meddling with the people inside.

"Curse it, Alanna. You know very well that if the Trickster God has anything to do with this, I'll — ," Liam paused briefly before continuing, "Alanna, please, why are you ignoring me? You know she means everything to me and..." Liam's voice sounded slightly closer than before.

"Liam, for the love of the gods…keep quiet! I'm trying to concentrate!" Alanna spoke the last sentence with more force than she intended, prompting Raoul to take a step forward with a concerned look in his eyes. She was trying to locate where the unexpected person's powers were coming from. If she could locate him or her, then she could stop the pain that was radiating through the ward.

"Alanna, I think that Liam is more concerned about the people trapped inside the house than some god's presence," Raoul said as he turned to the Rogue. Liam was staring angrily at the Lioness, but Raoul was trying to remind him that there were other important issues. "Isn't that right, Liam?"

Alanna only half listened to her nephew's reply. It irritated her to no end that everything, or at least almost every circumstance in her life, always received divine attention. Someone, she couldn't locate but could feel, was increasing the pain.

She turned in a circle, searching for the source of the magic. She now had to add a mischievous god to the equation that already included a girl with a secret, an assassin with a hidden agenda, a crazy general and her best friend's wife who could change forms.

"Yes," Liam muttered quietly in the background, sounding ashamed. "Alanna, I hope you can forgive me…I just don't want Mira to be hurt and if the Trickster God..."

Alanna sighed, almost in resignation. Suddenly, a hand touched her shoulder. Her mind was so filled with information, that she didn't calculate her actions until it was too late. Only when the body of a man flew over her hip, did her mind comprehend. The touch on her shoulder had gotten her to spin around in reflex, and she had grabbed Liam's raised arm.

The body of the notorious Rogue landed hard in the dirt, only to roll onto all fours. He stood up a mere half a moment later. When he glanced down, he stared at his aunt, with a perplexed expression.

"Mithros, Alanna!" Raoul said, coming to a stand near Liam and allowing a hand to rest on the man's shoulder, "I wouldn't want be the Black God when he has to come claim you. You'll only throw him all the way to the Copper Isles."

Alanna snorted, glancing up at her friend, "The Black God would know not to touch my shoulder while I'm deep in thought. By the way, this isn't the time to jest or involve a second God in this mess I created."

"That's true, but I do remember that a certain newly wed man has some responsibility too," Raoul snickered, turning Liam towards him, "And you should know that she hates being approached from behind — she's like a horse in that way."

"I am not, and stop making jokes about me, Raoul!" Alanna pulled a face as she turned back to study the massive black wall, "I'm trying to concentrate here!"

"You are too," Raoul retorted quietly as he turned away, "and it wasn't a joke, it was simply an observation."

"An observation I'd prefer not to hear," Alanna replied, allowing her magic to float out once again, seeking the source of the unknown magic.

"I would want to hear that observation another time, but at the moment…would someone please GET MY WIFE OUT OF THERE!" Liam roared.

Alanna sighed again and cursed. Her magic had managed to touch the source of the unknown power, but Liam's voice had caused the small link she had created to slip through her grasp. Everything was lost again.

"Curse it, can't everyone just be silent?" Alanna snapped. She reached out to touch the wall, something suddenly compelling her to do so.

Raoul laughed, clapping Liam on the shoulder reassuringly and pulling the Rogue away from his aunt, "Maybe it's time for us to see to the horses..." His voice trailed off as the black wall in front of them began to twist when Alanna's fingers touched it. She couldn't feel the foreign magic anymore.

"Are you sure that touching it is a good idea?" Raoul asked skeptically, eyeing the ward.

Taking a step back, he barked an order to his men, "Move away and secure the horses."

A few men rushed back to where the animals were tied. Others backed away, watching as the King's Champion moved closer to the wall.

"Are you mad?!" Liam hissed quietly. He tried to grab a hold of Alanna's arm, wanting to hold her back.

A crazy idea hit her as Liam touched the fabric of her tunic. She had the faint feeling that Numair was allowing her to enter now that the other magic was gone.

Alanna pulled her arm away from Liam, ignoring him. She began to walk directly towards the wall. Right before she was consumed by the blackness, she heard Liam's voice ring out in exasperation.

"Oh yes. My aunt, the great Lioness, is utterly insane."

Daine stared at him, almost dumbfounded. Did he not only mean, but actually believe what he had just uttered? Did he actually think that one could gain immortality just like that, and be equal to the gods. He must be completely mad, she concluded, but kept her thoughts to herself.

Lord Grayer was still smiling and almost seemed to be waiting for her to question him about what he had said, but she wasn't going to give him that satisfaction. When she didn't seem to give him what he wanted, he hissed low and turned his attention to the Scanran still holding her.

"It won't be long before they come," Lord Grayer stated, dipping his hand into a pouch hanging at his belt. Daine followed his every movement with caution, suspicious of what he intended to do. He wasn't reaching for any weapons. Only when he revealed his clenched hand, did she realize that it was some kind of powder that sprinkled from the space between his fingers.

Daine eyed the yellow powder as Lord Grayer moved forth. "What is that?" she asked with fear in her voice.

Lifting his fist, Lord Grayer opened his hand slowly so she could clearly see that the powder contained dried leaves. "This is Henbane, also known as nightshade," he said, the evil smile on his lips causing Daine to shrink back. She knew of this plant and of its qualities. Its seeds were extremely deadly, but the rest of the plant had other uses.

If the amount was right, the person inhaling it would experience drowsiness, hallucinations and confusion. If the amount was not correct, then it would lead to dilated pupils, restless heartbeat, unconsciousness, coma and then death. "You wouldn't..." she began to say, but halted. Of course he would. He was her enemy and the King's enemy, so why wouldn't he?

She didn't say this, for she didn't have time to say anything before Lord Grayer lifted up his hand and lowered his head slightly. Blowing down, the powder was lifted up. It floated directly through the air — heading for her and the man standing behind her, who was holding her firmly.

Daine tried her best to avoid the powder-filled air, but the man behind her pushed her forward, preventing himself from being affected.

The powder hit her hard and Daine sneezed, once, twice — she suddenly got sleepy and then everything went black, leaving her oblivious to what Lord Grayer and the Scanran would do to her now.

The noise in the dining hall had reached a new level. She couldn't quite understand how they could manage such a loud spectacle when dining and not when they were away on missions.

Sure, there was something relaxing about being back at the palace, but that didn't mean that their talk should ever reach such a high pitch.

Onua lowered her cup, intending to give the order of silence, when her eyes caught a hand. There was a bloody hand holding the door open. She found herself rising from the chair she had been sitting in, and when it collided with the ground she achieved the silence she had wanted.

The Riders had gone silent and were staring at the person that held the door open.

Large and horrified hazel eyes searched the room in front of her, only to meet Onua's own eyes. She knew the girl as Keladry of Mindelan. She also knew that whatever had happened was something extremely bad.

The girl was standing in some kind of a trance and only when a hand touched her shoulder did the life return to her eyes. She breathed hard, "His Highness, Roald, is injured and I don't know what to do...Lord Grayer and Nealan told me to get help..."

The reaction from the Riders was immediate. They were faster then Onua, but it was Sarge's bellow that stopped them from overturning the benches they had been sitting on.

"Every one stay seated!" Sarge's bellow was like thunder through the room and the Riders, who were already on their way to the door, stopped in their tracks. "No need to panic," Sarge continued, "all of you are trained for this. Each of you know your position in a crisis like this."

Sarge turned to the one man who had gotten the closest to the door, "Larse, notify the King."

Evin Larse saluted before he sprinted from the dining room, leaving Onua to wade through the crowd that stood frozen to the ground.

She grabbed hold of a sleeve and pulled at Miri's elbow, turning her around to look her in the eyes, "We need to notify Duke Baird, Neal's father."

Miri nodded and left through the back door without saying another word to Onua. Onua didn't care if she had nothing to say, it didn't matter — the palace would be on high alert from now on.

She walked over to where Sarge had pushed Keladry down on a bench. Sarge was in the middle of interrogating the young page, when he stopped and looked down at Onua, concern entering his dark eyes. "You better contact Numair immediately."

Onua lifted up her chin to see him clearly, only to glance down at where Keladry sat, twisting her blood stained hands. Onua nodded, forcing away the chills that crept over her skin.

The lack of Daine's presence and the knowledge that the young woman was last person seen with the crown prince concerned her greatly. She tried to push every possible image away as she turned to the grate fireplace placed within dinning hall.

Crunching down on the ash-covered stones, Onua grabbed the small purse hanging at her belt. Opening it, she silently formed the words that would contact Numair and potentially crush his heart. It was dreadful news that she was going to give him.

As she blew at the powder in her hands and it lifted from her palms, the ground underneath her shook violently.