Chapter 23

There was silence in the audience hall as Dave waited for the Tortallans to start. The Tortallans were trying to get a grip on their anger. They weren't angry at Dove, but she made a fine target.

"How bad is it then?" Alanna finally asked.

"Bad," Dove answered. Nawat shifted impatiently nearby. "Nawat will take you to her, if you're amenable."

"That won't be necessary." A girl in servants' garb held the door of the servants' entrance open so that Aly Crow could walk into the audience hall. She took in the entire room silently.

Nawat ran to her and wrapped his arms around her. He kissed the top of her head. Aly put her hands on her husband's chest.

"Nawat," she said, "I don't remember my way around the castle."

Dove came down off her throne and followed Alanna, Numair, and Daine to Aly and Nawat. Taybur came out from behind the throne. He stood on the steps to the dais, unsure as to what he should be doing.

Aly involuntarily tensed when her family gathered round her. She pushed against Nawat until he was forced to take a step back.

"Aly, honey," Alanna asked, "are you alright?"

Aly shook her head no, but answered, "I will be."

Daine reached out to lay a hand on Aly's shoulder, but thought better of it and stopped mid-reach. She drew her hand back and Aly gave her a weak smile.

"Let me see what the damage is," Numair said. Black gift appeared around his hands. Aly let out a strangled noise and backed away. She tore herself from Nawat's hold and moved back, her eyes wide and terrified.

"Aly?" Nawat asked softly. She was scaring him. Aly doesn't back away like that.

Numair's hands lost their black glow.

Nawat's voice startled Aly so much that she tripped over her own feet and fell to the ground. She pulled her knees to her chest and put her face in her hands. Her shoulders started to shake.

For a moment, no one moved. Nawat slowly moved forward, once again silently proving that he was indeed a crow. The grace with which he moved reminded everyone of someone about to do something that might get him smacked.

"Aly?" he said softly, calmly, "Aly, what's wrong?"

"Please…" Aly said softly – so softly that it was almost inaudible even to Nawat, "Please stop…"

Rage coursed through Nawat. They had hurt my Aly so much that… there wasn't even a word! Nawat reached out and touched Aly gently on the shoulder. Aly jerked up and Nawat snatched his hand back.

Tears still shone on Aly's cheeks, but she wasn't crying anymore. She said, "Nawat! Where's Trick? I left him in the cell! Nawat," Aly grabbed Nawat's shoulders, "We have to find Trick!"

Nawat didn't say anything. He couldn't. What could he say? Aly had gone from terrified to frantic in a split second. What could he say?

Aly didn't notice. She looked away from Nawat and whistled very loudly. Nawat's darking rolled over to Aly and said, "Trick is with Bastard. He knows who hid Aly."

There was a crack of thunder and the Trickster appeared in front of Aly and the darking. Nawat jerked back and Alanna kneeled. George pulled her back up, saying, "You don't have to bow to the Trickster." Numair and Daine stood quietly by.

"Who hid Aly, darking? Who?" the Trickster demanded.

If anyone notices any mistakes, please point them out. And I don't have my books for reference, did I spell Carthaki right?? Thanks!

--Piroko Hatake