The nerve that Alanna mentions is real, and is actually pretty easy to find if you know what you're doing. The recurrent laryngeal nerves come back from a much bigger nerve, and the two small branches (one on each side) are the only nerves that make speech possible.

Next chapter: Semantics

The Emperor's Mage
Chapter Nine: Strings

It was no use talking to Lindhall until he found time to settle. Daine knew that, and even if she had been in the mood to talk to him she wouldn't have gone up to him at a state dinner. She would never have gone to start a fight with the emperor looking on, but maybe folk would just have to assume she had that many manners. When Daine sat down for yet another of the formal dinners, Lindhall wasn't there.

Arram was also missing, but he wasn't a diplomat representing all of Tortall, and nobody was fooled when Lord Martin made a quiet announcement about Lindhall having a sick headache. Everybody understood when Ozorne mentioned that Arram was in the library, and several of the Carthaki nobles present smiled a little.

It helped that Varice was a professional hostess. She mentioned that Arram might not be seen for the next few days if he found something really good in the library, and that was the only thing remotely personal in their conversation. Daine was in the mood to be offended about something, but Varice wasn't obliging at all. It was for the best, really, because she didn't really want to make Varice pay because Daine was upset with somebody else. She was tired of Lindhall acting like she was a silly child that needed minding all the time. If he had waited for just two minutes, Daine might have calmed him down when he realized that Arram did know the most of anyone about wild magic.

Varice didn't even look annoyed when the conversation dwindled to nothing. Somehow, that irritated Daine more than anything else, and she kept her expression calm only with great effort when she went to visit Alanna after the interminable dinner was over.

Daine hated Carthak, she had decided in the long walk down the halls to Alanna's room. Maybe she didn't hate the country itself so much as what it did to people, but she'd much rather be home. Carthak could send people up to them, and Lindhall could have been a little better if Arram had been in Corus to start lessons. Lindhall himself said that he didn't know another thing about wild magic to teach her. He definitely hadn't said new things about her magic for months.

Alanna was waiting for her in one of the chairs by the window. Daine took the other.

A little songbird chirped a cautious greeting. Daine hadn't made herself calm down for appearances for for basic politeness, but there was no use worrying the birds. It wasn't their fault that two-legger people were pulling her every which way.

You don't actually need to speak out loud for the animals to hear and understand you, Arram had said.

It's alright, Daine reassured the bird, holding out her hand. My nest-father forgot that I already can fly is all.

The bird was happy to land on one of her outstretched fingers. The People usually liked any excuse to get close, and the birds in this area had already heard that she carried treats with her. Her new friend very happily ate a few seeds out of her hand before getting down to business.

Your nest-father is the bird-man with the thin head-feathers? the bird asked.

You know him? Daine brought her hand a little closer, the better to see the bird's markings.

His first nest-room had many little bowls of seeds on the wall-holes. Now there is only one, but the sparkle-man still keeps seeds there.

Daine could only think of one person that would fit that description. She'd have to ask another of the birds later. Thank you, wing-friend.

The bird chirped again before flying back out the window. Daine blushed when she realized that Alanna had been staring at her.

"New trick, Daine?" Alanna asked dryly.

"I went with Arram this afternoon to see the archery range, and to see one of the emperor's horses that's a bit lame. He said that I don't need to say anything out loud for the People to understand me, and that I have more wild magic than he's ever seen before."

Alanna tapped her fingers against the arm of her chair. "That would be what had Lindhall in such a tizzy, then. He's terrified that Arram or Ozorne will find a way to keep you here, and he can't defend against your choices. We all are keeping a watch for any charges they might lay against you. Ozorne likes collecting talent, and you indisputably qualify."

"That was Arram's word- indisputably. He thinks that he can teach me, and with as much power as I have, he thinks I could heal."

Alanna didn't say anything for what could have been two minutes. Before she spoke, she twisted her hand in the way that meant no one else would hear them for a while. "I trust your judgment, Daine, but I'm not entirely sure that I trust him. He can be charming with his friends, as you will notice in all of his interactions with the Kingsford woman, but he makes a very dangerous enemy. He also is Ozorne's man, sometimes above all else.

"He's an odd study, and he drives my husband up the wall. You've missed George's rants on that subject, as we're not entirely sure that I should hear all of his stories, but Arram's all about contradictions. The palace slaves used to have their tongues removed. Now, the most important slaves are still mute, but Arram started some program or other where they take a voice away with two tiny cuts." Alanna delicately touched two fingers to her throat. "It's easy enough, if you understand anatomy. There is a nerve on each side, the only nerve that makes the voice box move. If they're cut, you lose nothing but speech."

"Alanna, why-"

"He also oversees all research carried on in Carthak," Alanna continued, just as if Daine hadn't interrupted. "He's done experiments with the Banjiku, a tribal people known for their wild magic, and has led to better treatment for those he works with. Then he'll turn around and we learn that he is Ozorne's first choice in executioner. It's sometimes hard to execute mages with the usual methods, but killing them with a stronger mage is quite doable.

"I think that it could be wonderful that the man has taken an interest in you. He understands wild magic like nobody else on record, and you have nothing else to learn from Onua and Stefan. He's already taught you something that no one in Tortall would have understood, and that was with no effort on his part. He might be able to teach you how to heal, and even to find if those old stories about wildmages taking the forms of animals have some truth. He could also decide at some point, or Ozorne could decide for him, that you are far too precious to slip back to Tortall."

Daine couldn't look at Alanna right then. Her friend was too understanding, too kind about it all. It was easy to put Lindhall's fussing aside when he'd barely say anything about his old student, but Alanna was going to let Daine make the decision even with all that.

It took a few seconds, the way it was getting dark, but Daine found the little bird that hadn't introduced herself—the bird that had liked Arram and Lindhall both. "You still have the spells that keep my magic out from the rest of me." She'd never known the People to be wrong, even in cases where all the rest of the world thought somebody had no kindness left in them. "I know that folk with more charm than use can go in and make a girl see stars, but I don't think that's what he's about."

Daine felt confident for the first time in days, and maybe she didn't have to worry so much about Arram Draper. None of that changed when she met Alanna's eyes. "He understands the magic. It'd be worth knowing him even if I did think that he was out for something, or if the People were leery, but everybody else has been making guesses for years. I don't want to stay, Alanna, but Lindhall can't teach me anything else, and even Stefan and Onua just have tiny bits of magic."

Alanna nodded slowly. "Alright, youngling, I'll work on Lindhall. I can't guarantee results, but I'll tell him that you know what you're doing. All of this is too personal for him, and with the way it all worked out... he barely escaped Carthak with his life, Daine, and Ozorne had already said that Arram would have been the executioner. There are reasons that Lindhall is worried sick about you."

"Arram would have..."

Alanna caught one of Daine's hands. "Ozorne had said so. Nobody knows what Arram would have done, now, but we know what Ozorne is like—he uses people against each other. What we're doing now is the best defense against any of that. I want you to know that you can come to us with your problems. Even Lord Martin, if need be. We're not leaving anybody behind."

Daine barely paid attention in the hug that followed, or the walk back to her rooms. It was her choice, now. She passed several of the slaves that had never said a word to her, and once she swore that she could see the twin scars just where Alanna's fingers had rested. She passed both Lindhall's rooms and the library on her way back.

Arram had said he would be busy the next day, at least, but that only left her with two nights to choose. Even with so many threats of danger, however, she couldn't help but feel like the choice had been made for her. Lindhall had run out of full lessons a year before, and Arram said that she could heal.

She was sure before her head hit the pillow that night, and all through the next day when she and Lindhall talked about everything but Arram. The day after that, Daine excused herself from breakfast and went to see if Arram was already in the aviary.