I know precious little about horse anatomy, and all of my knowledge on bowed tendons came from a few reliable-looking websites maintained by horse associations. All mistakes in those areas are mine.

The ending still feels a little clumsy, but it's been four days and I wanted to post the chapter. My last final is tomorrow, and then I might be able to knock out a good chunk of this over my winter break.

Next chapter: Brood

The Emperor's Mage
Chapter Seventeen: Quarrel

Alanna waited several minutes before opening the door. She didn't want to intrude on Daine's privacy, but the silence was a very new development. Previously, Daine had been all to happy to yell out that she didn't want company. At home, she'd be quite clear about why she didn't want company. In the enemy's castle, Daine had settled for repeating herself very loudly. The girl was far too clever to yell that she was godborn, but Daine had a few choice things to say about keeping secrets about family.

They were in Carthak, Daine was a demigoddess, and Ozorne collected powerful mages like some people collected particularly interesting rocks. Alanna opened the door when Daine wouldn't answer her, but the small suite was vacant. She did find a curt note stating that Daine would be at the royal stables, where there were several large testy animals that had already taken to her, so she would be perfectly safe. Daine's bow and quiver were also missing, another sign of good sense.

She made her way out toward the stables quite casually. George would have been proud of her. Alanna started at the training courts, as if she were going to try some newcomer in a friendly bout with swords, and was only too happy to move toward the silent crowd in the barn. Hostlers were hard to spook, as a general rule, but she could see a dozen standing in absolute stillness, with a few military types throughout the group for good measure.

A very pretty chestnut mare was standing quietly with her back right leg cradled against Daine's leg. Lindhall's wayward student was sitting on the ground, looking very intently at the joint just inches from her nose, and Alanna could almost feel the currents of magic that moved all around them.

Alanna kept track of the sun. Daine was in no danger, and her work with the horse was producing no visible effects. Half of an hour later, the crowd shifted, and Daine blinked several times. The mare waited politely for Daine to stand before carefully resting weight on all four legs. Daine broke into a grin, the horse whickered softly, and an entire stable filled with quiet murmurs as the men watched the mare rear up.

Daine turned, not seeming at all bothered with the attention. "It weren't a bad sprain." Her voice sounded perfectly even, but her words gave her away. When nervous, Daine spoke like one fresh out of the mountains. "The tendon got bowed out, is all, but I've fixed that so it's not like to go back."

The mare nudged one of the nearest hostlers. Daine chuckled. "She'd like to go for a run. She promises to behave herself if you let her stay out until sundown, and she'll let you groom her out in the pasture."

Alanna cleared her throat when the amazed men would have stood there for the rest of the day. Every one of them was promising agreement, but none of them were moving to take action. "Wonderful, Daine. If I might have a word?"

Daine scooped up her longbow and quiver from the corner of the stall before leaving. She looked at peace in a way that Alanna hadn't seen before, if a little worn around the edges. "That's fair tiring, and it weren't even a bad hurt to start with. I can't imagine how you go healing folk all the day long."

"It takes a lot of practice. I was out for two days after my first real go at it." Alanna drew a small cake wrapped in a broad leaf from her beltpurse. "Here. It's nearly all honey with some granola in it to keep it together. They're a godsend when you have big sorcery to do." Someday before she died, she was going to control her tongue. Alanna looked over her shoulder, hand at her throat to keep in contact with the ember-stone as she looked about. She cast three of her strongest spells against detection before speaking. "I am sorry that I never told you, Daine. George and I both. It just never seemed like it was our news to give you."

"Badger never told me, either, and he knew for sure," Daine said. "I reckon that you wouldn't do it for games, and I know that the king's never heard."

"We've never told a soul." Alanna nudged the girl in the shoulder. "You start on that cake, now, or you'll be dead asleep before it's time for dinner, and Lindhall will fuss all over again. He didn't know a thing about you being godborn. I only saw it in time when I really took a fast look, and George prefers keeping his mouth shut until he's sure of something. Both of us are god-touched, and there are all sorts of rules most people never think about."

Daine took a long few moments to chew. "Do you know who my da is?"

"George managed to come up with a guess that seems plausible."

Daine looked much older than sixteen, just as she did so often, but the moment passed with no more protest from the girl than a soft sigh. "Arram said that it's Weiryn. I think he's right."

"It never seemed our place to tell you, youngling. Gods don't like it when mortals don't do things according to plan, and they're usually quite good about telling you when godly things are your business."

Daine wiped her fingers clean on a handkerchief as she thought. "I imagine we should talk about it more when we're back home. I'm not angry anymore. It's just been a big shock, is all."

"Lindhall wasn't involved in keeping this from you."

"I'm not upset at all anymore. Hanan—that's the mare—talked it through with me, and I'd just as well be angry with the badger for not saying a thing. He said himself that there are rules, and I guess it doesn't matter that my da never came to visit. He asked somebody to look out for me, so he might know I have busybodies looking after me."

If Daine was willing to make jokes, then Alanna and George were forgiven. It was far too much for a child to comprehend, anyway, and maybe it was better to hear from someone that was near a stranger. "Interesting busybodies at that. I talked to your mage last night, before he went into the garden, and I must say he's not what I expected."

"Lots of powerful mages are tall, Alanna."

"'Tall' is putting it mildly. Jon's uncle wasn't nearly that big, and until recently he was the only match in power for my brother. You've made yourself a very powerful friend." Alanna canceled her spells reluctantly before they walked through the web of protective magic embedded in the stones in the palace. "It's no small feat to manage a healing on your first try, Daine. I'm sure your mother would be extremely proud of you."

Daine blushed, but she looked pleased. "Thanks. It was hard, but I'd already told Hanan that I could help her. Ma said that you to keep promises to animals." She paused as they would have passed one of the universities. "The birds are gossiping about Lindhall again. I'll go talk to him so he's not unhappy when it comes time for dinner."

Alanna watched as Daine knocked on one of the open doorways, and moved on when it was obvious that teacher and student had reconciled. Daine had never been one to hold a grudge, but Alanna was more careful. Someone should tell Lord Martin that the emperor just might become interested in keeping Daine in Carthak permanently, and Alanna had two free hours to warn him and start with contingency plans.