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The Emperor's Mage
Chapter Thirty-two: Strange

Daine might have tried talking to someone else in the Tortallan delegation, but Alanna stayed asleep for most of the trip and Lindhall refused to come out of his room no matter how often she asked. Daine hardly wanted to talk to her teacher through the door, especially when the topic was so important. Harailt of Ali was very nice, but she didn't know him well at all, and he wasn't nearly as Gifted as Jon or Alanna. Gary was almost as hard to find as Alanna, the way that he was constantly arguing with Jon or an entire team of advisors through a spelled mirror if he wasn't reading through the books and papers that littered his entire cabin.

Daine didn't say anything to George when Gary passed her the mirror, but thought that he might understand. "Ragi" had been on her shoulder, and was finally starting to feel stronger.

Arram had been very, very lucky in Carthak. He hadn't thought that he would need to pass Ozorne's scrutiny, but he had been so drained of magic by the end of the execution that not even Alanna had realized that there was a reason that the plover wasn't quite right. Now, though, it seemed like the best possible outcome. She had received the emperor's personal permission to take Arram out of Carthak, even if it would take at least another hour to get someone to help him change back.

Arram Draper had come dangerously close to tapping into all of the energy that powered his very life, when his Gift was gone, and a few weeks at sea hadn't regained enough strength for him to hope to shape-change without someone helping him. Alanna was going to be groggy for nearly a full day after the trip, and George wasn't likely to approve of any kind of strain, so Daine would just have to let Jon know first.

Lindhall refused to leave his rooms to see her even when their ship was tied to a dock at Corus. Daine packed up her things, checked on Alanna, and said goodbye to the sailors. She would see all of the courtiers again, but she would miss the ship's cheerful crew. They hadn't minded all when she asked them to cook the fish they caught for her "pet birdie," and had always spoken as if they knew Arram understood every single word.

One of the pages was waiting for her at the dock, with a summons to meet with King Jonathon at her earliest opportunity. Daine handed her things off to one of the palace servants without a second thought and followed the boy. She didn't know all of the pages yet, but this one was rather cute. The redheaded boy had very large hands and feet, and looked poised to begin a growth spurt at any second. Cleon blushed when she apologized for not having any coins on her for a tip, and the bashful boy practically fled when she offered to look in on his horse in the next week or so.

Daine knocked on the half-open door to Jon's office. He waved her in without looking up from a document, and she shut the door behind her before falling into the comfiest of the chairs across from the desk. Arram perched on the back of the chair, since that was much easier for a plover's feet than her shoulder.

She had to wait for him to finish the latest project, of course, but she didn't mind. It wasn't bad at all when he pushed the paper away just ten breaths later and immediately reached out for her hand. "Daine, are you well?" he asked. Alanna had all but adopted her, perhaps, but Daine had spent enough time with Thayet that she had gotten over almost all of her crush on the king. Somewhere in the process of that, Jon had started seeing her as one of his honorary nieces, and she rather liked that designation.

"I'm very well, sir, and I think everybody would be a little happier if they'd listened to me. I had wanted to tell Alanna or Lindhall first, as they were taking it hardest, but Arram Draper isn't dead."

Jon's gaze sharpened for a moment, as if he suspected that she was in denial, but Arram chose that moment to chirp. Jon looked at the plover disbelievingly, then at Daine. "Well," he said finally. "That changes things. I imagine that he wouldn't prefer to remain as a bird for much longer, and I can see that recovery even after changing back will take at least two weeks. He'll be welcome at the palace, even if we're going to have some kind of a time convincing people that he isn't the second coming of my uncle."

"Thank you, sir, he'd like that very much," Daine translated, not at all surprised that Arram had agreed. She had told him that he'd probably need to talk to the king or Alanna, unless he wanted to wait even longer. "Arram would also like to talk to you, when he can."

"Very well. Master Draper, you aren't agreeing to anything by accepting my help, and if you wish to remain in Tortall we can have final discussions in a day or so. I can give you at least an hour today, but I really need to get Gary in here before supper," Jon said briskly. "Daine, dear, please step out for a minute and find a servant. We'll need a set of clothing for your friend."

Daine had been ready to protest, but her mouth clicked shut when she realized just why Jon wanted her to step out. She blushed deeply and stood. Hardly anyone in Tortall was capable of moving their shape as Arram did, but in the few stories she had heard, those mages always came back to their human forms without a stitch of clothing on. Arram had already said that he would be fine left on his own, so there wasn't any need for her to lurk around hallways. "I'll just go and ask a servant, then, and if you need me I'll be out with the Riders."

Daine fled very quickly after that, and very easily found a servant that would walk a few sets of clothing fitted for a tall man over to the king's office. She realized only when she got to the Rider's barracks themselves that she wasn't necessarily going to find an easy situation. Onua and Sarge and all the two-leggers would be happy to see her, and most of the ponies would be just fine, but she'd have to work her way into Cloud's good graces and repeat all that over again with Kitten when she found George.

It was odd being in Tortall again, when she'd been used to Carthak's almost silent hallways and quiet gardens, but she preferred the constant chatter that barely faded on the walk between the palace to the Rider's herds. All of the ponies were clamoring to greet her, but even in their excitement they were careful not to step into the space that Cloud had claimed for herself.

Hello, Cloud, she said, making sure that the words were for her pony alone.

Cloud looked her over very carefully, nudging roughly at her arms and torso before deciding that Daine was still in one piece. Tell the fire-head and bird-man they did well looking after you.

Daine smiled. I will. They'll be glad to hear it.

Now tell the rest of the herd that they will need to wait. The large man needs to speak with you right away, and you are to ride me to the stables.

If Cloud had actually agreed to help, without even a minute of pretending to be too angry to allow Daine to ride her, then it was very serious indeed. Daine called out an apology and a promise to visit later to all of the herd as she clambered up onto Cloud's back, and when she was settled Cloud sped around the herd to race for the stables and whatever Sarge had to say.