Side note --- Slightly shorter than the last few, forgive me! _
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 7
Inflammation
"So how am I supposed to keep you from going mad?" George asked once the fires dimmed and Thom was dousing the fireplace. "What if we land in this glorious city that you keep warnin' us about?"
Thom gave him a disturbed look. "Can we deal with that if we get to it? Please? I would rather not speak of them unless necessary. Even the mention of their names might give them power."
If George didn't know any better, he sensed that the demi-god was frightened of whatever forces they might be dealing with. The baron knew Thom's avoidance of the subject was the same as his sister's, and if he was this secretive, it only led to unfortunate events. At least Thom wasn't trying to use enough magic to throw off the heavens.
The sorcerer is wise to keep silent, Faithful replied, mewing near George's leg. Even gods and immortals have sources of fear.
"I suppose that's a healthy thing to be experiencin'," the former Rogue said softly. "Fear."
"We should probably start moving again," Thom changed the subject. "Alanna and Numair were both outside of Pirate's Swoop when we spoke to them. I suppose we should head their direction."
George smirked. "This has stopped bein' Pirate's Swoop a long time ago, Thom."
"I suppose you're right."
"That happens from time to time, too."
---
Alanna's nose itched terribly, and her eyes watered once they entered the forest clearing. It had been hours since they'd last entered a portal, and while the humidity was a welcome break from the tundra that they'd just exited from, the lady knight was beginning to mutter. "This is a wild goose chase."
Numair was inclined to agree at this point. So far there had been no obstacles, no creatures or other Chosen mortals wandering around. More than once the sorcerer doubted Princess Alexa's judgment calls. Yet they followed without question. When Alanna had asked the girl if there was any end result to the portal-travelling, she merely smiled and pointed out that there seemed to be no other way to go. Since there was no other logical explanation at the time, the Lioness grudgingly agreed. "I suppose, at least, George would be happy to have you alive."
"I would rather a dozen armored knights come running down this forest," Alanna replied bitterly, "At least then we'd be getting some action. I do not like wasting my time."
Numair laughed. "No, I suppose you don't. Do you ever just take a break?"
Tortall's Champion glared. "I had the free time to spend it with my husband. And look where it got us. Now he's traipsing with my brother, and I'm stuck with you and those two."
"Besides," Alanna added thoughtfully, "I don't know where Jonathan is. For all we know, he's been knocked unconscious and barely alive."
"Jon will be fine, Alanna," Numair told her coolly, "I am, however, concerned about Thom's warning regarding ruined cities. What do you suppose that meant?"
Alanna instinctively grasped at her pendant. "If it had something to do with those pictures we saw in that marble room, nothing good. I hate the feeling of old magic. The sorcerers I know who've used it never mean well by it."
There was a sharp ringing in her ears, and before she knew it, Zephyrus had hurtled himself towards the Lioness and pushed her to the ground. Alanna, stunned, reacted on reflex and used her feet to try to push the large man away. The two struggled on the ground, Zephyrus yelling warning signs to stay down.
"Alanna, it's the princess!" Numair yelled out, now also on the ground, ducking from danger.
When the lady knight finally calmed down enough, Ozorne's brother let her go. She sat up and realized why everyone was so bent on slamming themselves to the ground. Ahead of her, Tusaine's princess glowed an unnatural crimson color. Alanna's hairs stood on end. She saw that flames were dancing around Alexa, some shooting sparks in every direction. A smaller bolt of flame struck the area where Alanna and Zephyrus had been, singeing the large man's cheek. "What's happening to her?"
"I don't know!" Zephyrus cried out, the fire's crackling now increasing its power. He shivered uncontrollably after hearing the crown princess' shrill screams of pain. "One minute she was telling me the next portal was close, and the next she began to glow!"
Numair was muttering under his breath, eyes closed. Quickly after, his hand shot out and grabbed Alanna's arm. He was pale, as though something had pained him. "We have to pull her away from that portal. Something is eating away at her consciousness, Alanna!"
The Lioness glanced at Zephyrus, who had now stopped shaking. The large man nodded, biting his lip. "All this sorcery is going to be the end of me here, by the gods! Just give me the sign." With that, he slowly made his way towards the burning princess.
Alanna grasped Numair's hand, already summoning up the shield spell. "You better know what you're about to do," she whispered to her friend.
The sorcerer's face was full of concentration, his black Gift mingling with Alanna's bright purple. Numair pointed his free hand towards the princess, still shrieking with maddening fury. Like a wave, the energy Numair summed up within himself smashed towards the flames, breaking Alexa away from the flame for that split second.
Zephyrus needed no signal. He reached into the area doused by Numair and Alanna's magic and grabbed the princess. He pulled her out and began to run back to where Numair and Alanna were standing. When he finally reached their location, the princess's unnatural glow began to subside. Zephyrus let her go, still unnerved by the uncanny silver eyes, which were tinged with dark red. Alexa's eyelids shuttered close and she collapsed with a shudder, Numair catching her before she crashed to the ground.
"She's ice cold," Numair said, his one hand steadying the princess and his other pulling his cloak to cover her with. "Alanna, start a fire?"
"Oh, I think we've had enough fires for the day," Alanna replied grimly, stumbling a bit from the quick break that Numair made to their connecting Gifts. She placed her hand on Alexa's forehead and purple light danced around her fingertips. When the lady knight took her hand away, the princess's face regained its original complexion. "She should come to soon, we managed to get her out in time."
Numair stood, lifting the princess up. "I'm thinking whatever was pulling her towards that portal, it was the very thing that Thom was warning us about."
"Old magic," Alanna whispered, exhausted from overusing her Gift. She looked at the direction where Alexa had stood, screaming. Her eyes blurred for a moment, remembering her very first visions. "They're hungry."