Side note --- I'm getting through with writing this story. I apologize for the sporadic posting intervals. That's the story of my life these days XD

Disclaimer --- While I do wish that I had a hand in writing up the Tortallan universe, we all know that the ever-fabulous Tamora Pierce was its sole creator. So yeah, I don't own these characters. At all.

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Chapter 6

Communication

Alanna had absolutely no idea how they found their way outside, but sure enough, she stood just next to the door (which Alexa insisted was a "portal" to the divine realms) and stared at the meadow in front of her. Numair, Zephyrus, and Alexa were already walking ahead of her, so she cleared her head and followed, though rather warily. The Lioness hadn't seen this part of the Divine Realms. In fact, the last time her consciousness made its way to the realm of the gods, it was a large, scorching desert...

She shivered at the thought of undergoing the ordeal again. Alanna noticed Numair watching her when she walked up beside him. She forced a smile. "Anything the matter?"

"You look so pensive, it seems as though you're preparing for the worst in there," he tapped his finger on her temple. "Want to share your theories, at least?"

"It's nothing," Alanna lied. "A lot of this supernatural stuff always makes me nervous."

Numair chuckled. "For a sorceress, I'd thought you'd be used to this by now."

Alanna shook her head. "I'm always still learning about magic. I've never been as good as my brother when it comes to the Gift."

"Well, if you were, you'd run me out of my job," Numair responded logically.

The meadow eventually gave way to a rocky, dome-like structure hovering over them. Zephyrus released Alexa's hand and approached the opening. For a moment it looked like he had been swallowed up into the darkness, but he came back out just as quickly. He nodded to his companions. "Looks like a cave. Perhaps we can rest there for now? It seems like we've walked most of the day away."

The rest agreed and began to set up camp. Alanna hoped to be able to start a fire. If time existed in the Divine Realms, then a day would have passed since she and her friends have arrived there, and she wanted to see if they were alright. A dainty hand was tugging at her sleeve, and Alanna turned to see the crown princess at her side. "We can start a fire there, Sir Alanna. I can feel a chilly mist approaching tonight."

Alanna agreed and began to gather twigs and leaves. When she found her pile satisfactory, she clicked her fingers, purple fire springing up at her command. The Lioness watched her Gift dance around her fingers, her face concentrating on the pile below her. Once the fire started, she sat down next to it, bringing her hands in front to begin another incantation. Numair saw the lady knight's Gift cast a cool glow around the cave and made his way next to her and Alexa.

"The fire has already started," Alexa said, "Why is she using up more magic to sustain it?"

Numair watched the purple flames flicker some more until it brightened, then he turned his eyes away. "She's trying to See into the fire, princess. Although, she shouldn't be having this much trouble."

"Ahh," Alexa understood. "Perhaps I can help?" The princess pointed her finger at the fire and it flared a deep, forest green. Alanna and Alexa's Gifts combined, and just above the rising fire was a smoky silver screen.

Alanna's glazed eyes broke its contact from the fire and looked eagerly at the screen. Before she could see anything, though, she could hear voices. "Hold on, I feel like we're bein' watched..."

"It might be because we are being watched," another male voice replied. "Look, here's a fireplace. Maybe if I just..."

There were scuffled footsteps and what sounded like muttering. Suddenly, the screen flared up and Alanna could make out two faces, one with purple eyes like her own. "Thom! George! Thank the Goddess, I hadn't heard from you."

"Alanna!" George smiled, his handsome features clear amidst the screen. His eyes went to Numair, and then he whistled. "You seem to have added to your party. I trust Numair is behavin'? If my eyes aren't lyin', is that the crown princess of Tusaine?"

Numair glared and opened his mouth for a retort, but Thom waved his hand impatiently. "Sister, I don't suppose anyone's attacked you lot yet? George and I somehow managed to get into a scuffle a few hours ago—"

"Scuffle?" Alanna frowned. "Neither of you are hurt, are you?"

George chuckled. "Barely scratched, I promise you, lass."

The Lioness breathed a sigh of relief. "Goddess bless, that's one less thing to worry about for now..."

Numair guided Alexa out of earshot and bade her to sit away from the animated lady knight. "She probably would like a few minutes alone with her husband. I wouldn't blame her."

"Has Sir Alanna been married long?" the girl asked, her eyes staring straight towards the rocky walls.

"It's been a year now."

Alexa smiled. "The lady knight loves. It is very poetic. And you, Lord Salmalin, have you found your own Lioness?"

The sorcerer was surprised at her sudden interest in him and replied, "It's just Numair, if you please, princess. I'm not a noble like my lady companion."

"But that doesn't answer my question."

Numair chuckled. "I've just recently moved to Tortall, milady. Women are the least of my worries."

The crown princess nodded. "It must be a relief not worrying over finding a husband or a wife. Before I was whisked away to this unknown place, I was preparing for another meeting with a lord who has gained my father's favor. He seems to be the favorite for my hand in marriage."

"It's a shame," Numair pitied the woman, "Does he shower you with abundant affection at least?"

"I suppose," Alexa replied. "Though one cannot really tell when one is blind." She turned towards the sorcerer and tilted her head. "May I?"

Alexa of Danne held her hand up and placed it on Numair's cheek, her silver eyes shining with power. The sorcerer sat in silent scrutiny, wondering what she must be seeing in her mind, but he said nothing for as long as she was occupied. The princess finally let her hand fall and she sighed. "You are a good man, Numair, though there are many troubled visions of your past. And many more obstacles await you in your future."

Numair frowned. "You could see my future?"

"Vividly," the girl replied, "Though it is not my place to tell you what you are about to encounter."

"No," Numair said. "I wouldn't want to know. Can you see your own future?"

Alexa smiled mysteriously. "Only the possibilities. No future is certain. We can only dabble in destiny, but whether we follow that path is a different matter. The Lioness has followed one of her destinies, but I assure you, she did not do it in the most conventional way."

Numair laughed. "I would be surprised if she did."

"Are you two talking about me?" Alanna's voice interrupted their conversation. She was looking down at the two, her hands on her hips. "Thom and George are still at the fire, they've got a few things to discuss with you."

The sorcerer got up and bade goodbye to the princess. Still in earshot, he could hear Alanna apologize for interrupting an otherwise cozy conversation. Numair grimaced. He hoped the Lioness wouldn't be so blunt. He nodded at Alanna's brother and husband in front of him. "I trust you have your matters in order?"

George smiled. "We've assured Alanna that we shall be fine from here on out. We've got a few divine figures helpin' us. Unfortunately, Alanna and Thom can't reach Jonathan. His very bein' is still present, but—"

"He might be blocking his mind from penetration," Thom suggested. "I think he's encountered a few people he isn't trusting."

Numair sighed. "So we have to find him as soon as possible. This is getting to be most troublesome. Do you know where we should be heading? I hate to say this, but we're really just aimlessly wandering from one place to another. Even the crown princess can only tell us as much as where the next portal will open."

"Just watch your back," George said, his hazel eyes concerned. "Mayhap you might encounter those who aren't afraid to take your lives. Keep Alanna out of danger, will you?"

"Don't worry, baron. We've got a bit of muscle here ourselves. Besides Alexa, Ozorne's brother Zephyrus is here. And Alanna is the King's Champion. We should be fine, provided the gods don't attack us themselves."

"You never know," Thom muttered. "The Cat says this mess goes beyond just a petty divine squabble, and I'm not liking this one bit."

"The Cat? You can't mean—"

He heard a meowing coming from the screen. "Right, well then. That doesn't answer the question of what we should be doing though."

Thom rubbed his temples. "Listen. The princess. Her Gift is beyond my powers of Sight. However, even she is limited by her knowledge of the future. She will keep finding key portals to lead you, but she will not know where not to tread. If you somehow make your way to a ruined city, move out of there as quickly as you can."

"Why?" Numair frowned.

"Don't dwell there," Thom insisted. "Just find the next portal and leave. Do you hear me?"

Numair hesitated and nodded. Could this possibly link to the images that he and Alanna saw at the marble room? "Alright, we will leave ruined cities alone. I wish you'd let me know what the danger is, Thom."

"Ruined cities contain old magic. Both dark and dangerous," Alanna's brother argued solemnly. "People have gone mad before, and those with the Gift can acutely feel the magic flowing around the place. With the magic you and Alanna carry, you can either lose your very essence or go mad with power."

George looked at Thom with alarm. "You neglected to tell me that, Thom."

"Nevermind us," Thom countered. "You can stop one mad sorcerer. Three is a different story altogether."

"Good point."

The raven-haired sorcerer shook his head. "First the gods want us fighting amongst ourselves. Now we have to watch out for things that can muddle our minds and bring inner turmoil. There is just no end to battles, is there?"

"Unfortunately not. Take care, Numair," Thom said.

The screen melded back into the fire, and all Numair saw after that was the gentle blazing of purple.