Alright. To avoid confusion, you guys should know that four years have gone by since the last two chapters. Trust me on this one, you don't want the next twenty chapters to be Daine vegetating in her tower. The only things that really happen to her are the badger visiting to give her lessons and Oliver becoming closer to her. You also get to see a certain black robe mage for the first time, up to his usual antics. Unfortunately, he doesn't meet Daine for another chapter or two, but it's coming, I promise.
If you have any questions, feel free to review and ask, I'll get to you with an answer. If you don't have a question...review anyway, as they make me happy.
"What? You're leaving! Oliver, what am I going to do?" Daine asked. Over the last four years, Oliver had become her best friend. Of course, there wasn't much competition, but he was sweet and he kept her fed and clothed. He was also the only human she had talked to since she had been captured.
"Daine, I'm sorry. I've spoken to Father and told him how much you've improved since you came here." He tired to reassure her. "He knows of your powers and what a great use you could be to Galla. He promised to take good care of you and not let you waste away." The thing that Oliver didn't know was that her improvement over the years was due to the badger coming and telling her how to use her wild magic, not to Oliver's care alone. He didn't know the full extent of her magic, either, because if he knew she could shift, he might tell his father, and she didn't even want to consider what would happen if Ilar were to find out about that.
"When are you leaving?" she asked.
"Two days from now. In the morning," He replied. "Daine, please don't be mad at me. This is a chance I can't pass up. To be able to get to the university in Tortall, to be able to learn with all of those famous mages… Maybe I can find someone who knows how to help you. I hear the person who wrote the book I found in the market in Cria that day lives in Tortall. I'll tell him all about you and I'm sure he'll help."
Diane shook her head. The person who wrote that book wouldn't bother to come help her. From what she had heard, he was a very famous and powerful mage. Oliver was just trying to justify going to study in another country while she stayed here. She wasn't mad at him. She would escape if she could. She probably wouldn't even tell him she was going to go.
It was maddening though, not that Oliver was leaving but how easy it would be for her. She could just shift into a bird and fly out the window. She also knew that once she got out the window she would most likely go mad, just as she had four years ago. The only thing keeping her safe was the tower she was imprisoned in.
"I'm not angry, Oliver. If I had a chance to get out of here I would."
"I'll come back and visit, you know," he said, his voice lowered. He was trying to comfort her. "The university has holidays, I'll come then."
"Will you come back before you leave to say goodbye?" she asked.
"How could I not?" he said, and hugged her.
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Two days later, Oliver left. He made good on his promise to see her before he left, but it didn't do much good for the feeling of helplessness that washed over Daine. Even with her powers, Lord Ilar still hated her. She was sure that his promise to Oliver had been empty.
Sure enough, she didn't receive dinner. She hadn't been expecting it, so she wasn't too disappointed. She got lunch the next day, and dinner the next, but the day after that she got no food at all.
Fortunately, that was the day the badger came. Daine hadn't seen him in a while. He looked haggard, tired, and dirtier than usual.
-So, the little human left?- he asked.
Yes, she replied. Badger had insisted she talk to him with her mind when he visited, for practice.
-Be careful then, you need to keep up your strength.-
How am I supposed to do that when I am lucky to get a meal a day?
He snorted.-Figure it out. You're a resourceful kit.-
Badger, what am I going to do? I'm stuck in this tower with no safe way to get out. I have nobody around to help me, and I don't have enough food to keep a mouse happy.
-Things will look up soon, just keep your eyes open and stay alive.-
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Numair Salmalin turned and looked over his shoulder. He knew he shouldn't be where he was, but if his experiment was a success, it would help Tortall immensely.
Once he was sure he wasn't being watched, Numair turned back to the small round glass in front of him. It was supposed to be a new spying weapon, taking in all of its surroundings and then disintegrating when it was no longer needed. He was here today to test the disintegration. It would not do if the king found out he was working on this, since he was supposed to be in reserve in case an enemy came along that archers, knights, cavalry, or the other mages couldn't handle. It hardly ever got to that point, so Numair was left to sit in the castle like a pampered duchess while everyone else got to do something interesting.
Numair set the orb on the ground, stepping back a few feet. He took a deep breath, and said the word in Old Thak that would activate his spell. Nothing happened.
Numair cursed, pacing closer to the sphere. Why wasn't it working? Maybe the spell hadn't activated, or he hadn't said the word loud enough. Yes, that was it. He picked up the ball, holding it in his palm, and pronounced the phrase. He felt the globe heat up, and dropped it, but before it could even hit the ground, it exploded.
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Numair woke up to the sound of angry muttering. He turned over; trying to ignore the sound, but instead alerted the mutterer he was awake.
"Numair! I can't believe you did this!" said the voice. Numair now recognized the sound of his king, and groaned. "I cannot believe you would try something so incredibly stupid, especially when you are supposed to be in reserve," Jonathan said. "What do I have to do, Numair? Lock you in your rooms? Shut you out of the workroom? Take your books away?" A smile nearly spread across his face at the look of horror that was on the mage's face.
"You could give me something to do," Numair answered. "I don't even care what it is, I just want to get out of the castle and feel like I'm helping. Face it, Jon, there isn't much that the archers, cavalry, footmen, mages, or the dominion jewel can't handle. If it does come to that, we are all probably doomed anyway. You know me! I can't just sit here!" Jon looked at him, considering. Numair was hitting below the belt. He knew that the king hated staying in Corus, directing the attack, while the men that served him died.
"Alright. I have a mission in Galla that needs looking into. Once you are better, you can go up there and look around. Do not interfere. No one is to know of your presence. Report to me or George if you find anything."
Numair thought he might just kiss his king, but thought better of it; Thayet could keep that honor to herself. He resolved to heal as quickly as possible.
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Numair banked and spread his wings, using the air to slow himself down enough to land. He alighted on a branch, folding his wings, and let out a small cry. He had been flying all day and had finally crossed the Gallan border an hour ago. Now all he had to do was find the clothes and other supplies that had been planted around here somewhere.
He scanned the ground, looking for a certain spell… there it was! He swooped down and landed beside the pack, changing back into his original form. Numair hurriedly rooted around until he found some clothes, and pulled them on. He then inspected the contents of the rest of the sack for his money, curious as to how much he had. He discovered that the king must have been feeling generous; or maybe he was trying to bribe Numair into staying out of trouble. Whatever it was Numair found himself grateful once again.
The mage turned and headed toward the road, figuring that was the quickest way to a hot meal. Presently, he came upon a small town with a bustling inn. He walked inside and waved over the barmaid, asking for a lemonade. It wouldn't do to get drunk on a mission for the crown. Besides, the ale from such a backwater inn was not usually something Numair regretted missing. After supper and a warm bath, the mage curled up under the covers of the bed he had been allotted, wishing it could have been just a few inches longer.
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Numair dreamed he was in a small room. Upon looking around, he saw a bed, a desk, a chaise, and a screen. He was tired, and decided to lie down, but when he pulled back the covers of the bed he found a girl. She seemed to be no older than fourteen or fifteen, with long, curly brown hair and long lashes. Numair wondered who she was, but then decided not to wake her, for she had dark circles under her eyes and was much too skinny for her own good.
Numair sat down on the chair to the desk, knowing he wasn't going to wake up any time soon, and waited for something to happen. After a minute or two, the girl stirred, and turned over, making a small grunting noise. Numair found himself wondering what she was doing, and looked at her.
He was surprised to see the book on the bedside table. It was a book of stories that was one in a favorite series of his. He decided to go look at the book to see if it was one he didn't own. Surprisingly enough, it was one he hadn't seen before. He bent over the girl to reach it, and accidentally brushed her shoulder. She immediately turned around and looked him straight in the eye, her face the essence of fear.
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Numair sat up with a cry, wondering at his dream. It had seemed more real than any other dream he had ever had, and the girl had looked so frightened. Maybe the dream king was trying to tell him something.