A/N: I'm so sorry it's been so long since my last update. I swear I'm not giving up on this story. It's my baby. Thanks to KrisEleven for all the work you do on this story. You're supermega awesome and I love you dearly. I hope everyone enjoys this chapter!
Chapter Five
After breakfast, Dreahnn took Naira through the palace, thoroughly confusing the new page. Naira was used to the palace in Rajmuat, she couldn't seem to remember which corridor led to the page's wing and which went underground to the catacombs. Dreahnn also went with Naira to the palace storerooms, where Naira received three sets of practice clothes, three sets of page uniforms, shoes that went with her formal clothes, and cloaks and coats for when the weather was cooler.
It was midday when Naira was finished putting all of her new things in her clothespress, and she was glad for a break. As they sat at the table with a few other pages, Dreahnn said, "I'm meeting my father after lunch, so you'll be free to do what you please, as long as you meet me for supper."
Naira nodded and didn't answer. When the pages had finished, Dreahnn left the group with a wave and trotted from the mess hall. Naira stuffed her hands in her pockets and started back toward her room. One of the other probationary pages fell in step with her. A quick glance was enough for Naira to be sure of who her companion was: Niko of Goldenlake.
"My father knows your mother," he said quietly.
"Yes, I know." Naira had grown up hearing tales from her ma about Raoul of Goldenlake and Malorie's Peak, the Giantkiller. She shot a look at Niko and saw him nod. Neither of them was very inclined to break their silence, but Naira eventually said, "My ma misses him. You should tell him that she says hello."
Niko's eyes widened a little, like he hadn't expected her to say anything. "I will."
They were entering the page's hall when a young woman stopped them. "Good morning, Niko," she said, smiling.
"Good morning, Daine," Niko said, and bowed slightly. He looked at Naira. "Naira, this is Veralidaine Salmalín. Daine."
"We know each other," Daine said, grinning at Naira. "Not very well, though."
Daine was another one of the people that Aly had told her daughter about, and the Wildmage had visited the Kyprish Isles a couple of times. She looked much the same as Naira remembered; her clothes were slightly rumpled, and her smoky brown hair was falling out of pins.
"How are you?" Naira asked.
"Well, thank you." She turned to Niko as he excused himself with a couple of words, and then looked back at Naira. "I've spoken with Alanna and the king, as well as the training master. They all said that today would be the best. My rooms will suit, I think." She started walking down the corridor without waiting to see if Naira followed.
Naira blinked. "The best for what?"
Daine looked over her shoulder. "They didn't tell you." It was more statement than question. Seeing Naira's confusion, she sighed. "Your grandma and the king asked for me this morning. They want me to have a look at you."
"Why?" Naira hurried to catch up with the Wildmage.
"Just to be sure you have a good handle on your magic," Daine said, leading Naira through the palace to the wing where the teachers had their rooms.
"I've had it my whole life," Naira said.
Daine smiled. "I had wild magic for thirteen years before I found out." She stopped at the one that read Numair Salmalín, Veralidaine Salmalín, Sarralyn Salmalín, Rikash Salmalín. She opened it and Naira heard faint whistles and clicks coming from the inside. "That's Kitten," she said. Naira examined the dragonet, and her blue eyes examined the page from about two feet off the ground.
Daine waved her to a seat and then sat down across from her only to jump up a second later. "Tea?"
"No, thank you."
Daine sat back down. "I just have a couple of questions first, and then we'll meditate for a while, all right?" Naira nodded solemnly. "Can you shapeshift?"
"Yes, but only into a crow. I can also talk to the People."
"In their language, or through their minds?"
"Their language. It's harder for me than for Da, though."
As she was only half-crow, that made sense, Daine thought. "I see." She watched as Kitten went over to Naira, who obligingly petted the dragonet. "How are you liking Tortall?"
"It's different," Naira murmured.
Daine nodded. "I know. When I came to Tortall, all I had heard were the stories. But your mother grew up here."
Naira nodded. "I know. It's strange to be seeing things she's seen and yet not be with her. But I feel like I'm supposed to be here, so here I am."
"It's smart to follow your instincts," Daine murmured. "But didn't you like it in the Kyprish Isles?"
"Not really." Naira shrugged and concentrated on petting Kitten.
"Why not?"
"I never felt like I belonged. I always felt in the way, or like I was supposed to follow in my mother's footsteps."
"And you didn't like that?"
"No! It's too constricting trying to live with the Duani. It's hard enough living with her when she's just my mother, but when she's on duty, just trying to get her to talk about anything else, even for just a second, is like pulling your hair out strand by strand." Kitten made a small trilling sound to Naira, who took in a long breath and began petting the immortal again.
"Constricting?"
"She watches everything I do, and if I've displeased her in some way, she gets frustrated and has my da speak with me. As if he could really control me. As if either of them could!" Naira seethed for a few minutes, and Daine just waited. "I love them both, don't get me wrong," she finally said in a softer voice.
"They're your parents," Daine replied. "It's difficult not to love the ones who gave you life, but it's also difficult to like them all the time."
Naira glanced up at the older woman. Daine looked like she understood. And maybe she did; Naira didn't know. "I lived in the Kyprish Isles for the first ten years of my life, and I never once felt accepted there. I felt like everyone was too busy with other things to make sure I was happy and to encourage my dreams. Instead, I was told what to do and when to do it."
"Surely that gave you some good skills, though," Daine said.
"Hand to hand combat. I'm good at that. Very good, actually," she said thoughtfully. She turned, startled, when two children close to her age walked into the room.
"Hello, Ma," the girl said, giving her mother a kiss on the cheek. The boy didn't even acknowledge his mother; he just stared at Naira like she was another species.
"You have wild magic," he said, coming close to her, eyes narrowed.
"What are you looking at?" she asked.
"Your skin. It's all...feathery."
Naira tilted her head to the side and opened her mouth to retort, but Daine spoke before she could. "Rikash, mind your manners," Daine told him lightly. "Naira, these are my children, Sarralyn and Rikash. Sarra's twelve and Rikash is ten. Your age. He turns eleven in a couple of months."
"It's nice to meet you, Naira," Sarra said. Her curly black hair was pulled back in a horsetail, and her blue eyes were twinkling at Naira.
"Naira's a page. Lady Alanna's granddaughter, in fact."
"So what's she doing here?" Rikash asked.
"Oh, calm down, mage boy," Naira said dismissively. "I won't be here much longer."
"Naira," Daine scolded, not shocked by the behavior. Rikash had a tendency of getting under people's skin.
"He started it," Naira replied, cocking her head at Rikash.
"I'm finishing it," Daine said, raising an eyebrow. She turned to her children. "We were just going to meditate. It would be a good idea for you to do the same."
Sarra sat eagerly on the floor and tugged on Rikash's breeches. "Come on." With a scowl, the boy sank to the ground and crossed his arms over his chest.
Daine and Naira slid to the floor and arranged themselves comfortably. The four of them breathed in and out at the same pace, emptying their minds. Through her magic, Daine looked outward, seeing the thick copper threads of wild magic that wove themselves around the core of Naira's being. The wild magic in her was stronger than Daine thought it would be, especially looking at it like this; Naira was close to the People.
She studied the girl for a few more moments and then turned her gaze to her children. The pearly sheen over their faces signaled the Gift. It was fainter in Rikash than in Sarra, just as the threads of Sarra's wild magic were thinner than Rikash's. She turned inward for a moment, just listening to everything going on around her.
After a while, the four of them stretched stiff limbs and stood up. "Ma, may I go to the menagerie?" Rikash asked quietly.
"Of course. Just be back for dinner. Sarra?" Daine looked at her daughter, who smiled.
"I'll go with him. It was nice to meet you, Naira."
"You, too," Naira said. She and Rikash ignored each other as he and Sarra left the room. She turned to Daine. "What now?"
Daine smiled. "You can go back to the pages' wing now, if you like. But I hope if you have any questions you'll come to me."
"I will, thank you."
"I'll see you, Naira." Daine let Naira out of her rooms, and closed the door behind the girl.
Naira tried to find her way to the pages' wing, thinking it wasn't far. She took a couple of wrong turns, but managed to get to her room without mishap. She sat on her bed, not knowing what to do next.
Her grandma told her that she wasn't supposed to shapeshift while at the palace, unless it was with express permission. She didn't have any friends, either. Not here, at least.
She wondered briefly when the last time she'd written to Sarugani was, and went to her desk. There were a few pieces of parchment there, and a quill and ink, all of which her grandma and grandda had given to her.
Dear Sarugani, she wrote.
I am enjoying Tortall thus far. It's much different than the palace at Rajmuat. I think in Rajmuat, things are more colorful. Not the people, but the clothes. Everyone here wears such muted clothing, and many people look like they've never smiled in their lives.
I start lessons tomorrow. I'm a little worried that I won't know as much as the other probationers. I know I'm good at hand-to-hand combat, and with daggers, but other than that, I don't know anything.
I'm not sure how many friends I will make here. I have a page sponsor, a girl named Dreahnn of Queenscove. She and I are the only female pages right now. Her father is a healer and a duke. Ma told me a little about him, but they knew each other years ago.
Write back if you've time.
Your friend,
Naira.
A/N: Leave questions in a review or PM. I love to hear from all of you. XD