It seems that the previous chapter was a bit too boring, because no one has written any reviews. Hope that you will find this a little more exciting and do not worry, I plan to get a lot of Daine and Numair in the next chapters that follows. Do not hesitate with your reviews. They are nice to get.
Chapter 5 – Problems
Daine ran back still in wolf form, to her room next to the barn. She had felt strangely most of the day, but had waved it off with an explanation that it must be due to the long time as wolf. She had been a wolf for several hours without having to switch back to her own form. She had been about to fall over her own paws repeatedly during the day and as evening began its progress she had made the decision to return to the palace. She could clearly see the light in the windows from his rooms, and thought briefly of Numair. Was he perhaps angry and disappointed with her. She shook the thought off, it had to wait. She was not very well now and her vision was becoming blurry. She pushed the door open with her nose and went inside. Everything was normal, aside from the flowers in a vase on the table. They are freshly picked, she began to think, before her feet and legs collapsed under her and she hit the stone floor with a bang with her naked body.
Numair sat in his study with several books scattered around the table around him. It had been found that the books from Tyra contained both interesting and uninteresting content. He had sorted those, so those was written on Tyra lay in a pile for himself, and those that were written in common. He had found a book that described in some detail a new incantation. He knew that there were 10 of those mighty words, but that he now had to sit and read about the 11, had come as a total shock to him. He had sent word to the king about this discovery, together with his excuse to not attend the dinner in the evening.
He had been sitting at the table since negotiation with the delegation had been interrupted in the afternoon.
The day was coming to an end, when he finally put the book down. He stretched and let his gaze slip down over the piece of paper that was filled with his notes. He let his hand slid absent through his loose hair. When he had chosen to take the rope that held it together, he couldn't remember. He noticed that his stomach growled with hunger.
He stretched again and got up with the intention to find some food.
He got no further than the front door before the sound around he went from being quiet to screaming of animal voices. Dogs, cats, mice ... everything that lived in the animal world around the palace sat in a large howl at the same time. He flinched. Daine! He tore open the door and ran as fast as he could through the next empty corridors. All the servants were like frozen to the spot where they had been walking and did not move.
"Move!" Roared Numair.
At that command the way was cleared for him, and he ran as fast as he could. In the race he took his right hand and fingers found the locked medal. He sent waves of energy into it and it became alive between his fingers. The medaljon pulled him in the direction of his former student. He reached the yard and had to cover his hands over his ears. Out here every bird was screaming and a flock of starlings, which had their nests in the trees around the garden, went on the wings.
Numair Salmalin ran as fast as he could.
Before he reached it, he saw that the door to Daine's room was open. He ran faster now. He reached the door. In the middle of the floor lay his former student on the floor. The room was filled with concerned animals, he could hardly get to her.
"Get out!" He was really worried. His heart was beating hard in his chest and he was out of breath.
The animals quickly left the room and Numair finally got space. Only one animal appeared not to leave her, and stayed where it was. A black cat. It lay against her stomach and her naked body.
He knelt down and let his hand seek her pulse on the neck. The panic that had been in him disappeared. She was alive. Numair removed the hair that hid her face. She had hit the floor hard. A wound was bleeding from her forehead.
A sound made him flinch again. He had completely forgotten the cat. It hissed and growled at him, but it got his attention and when Numair looked more closely at it he saw blood in its coat.
His heart froze to ice. Had someone taken advantage of her? She had been away for one and a half day in the woods, he knew, but this ... He pushed gently to the cat and it pulled long cuts down his hand when it struck at him with its long claws. He pulled his hand away and saw how his own blood began to emerge. There was no time for politeness now. Despite the fact that the cat showed that it had all intentions to stay with Daine, Numair lost patience. He pushed it hard away. There was blood everywhere.
Alanna sat and turned her glass in her hand. She had not the slightest desire for the wine that the servant had just poured up to her. She looked at her surroundings. Duke Mather and Count Harlan sat and were engrossed in conversation. Felicia was equally up in conversation with the Queen, which Alanna think was fine. She had not forgotten the hungry eyes she had seen Felicia had thrown in Numair's direction. She had seen the damned and the disappointment expressed by Felicia when the waiter came to the king before dinner and had brought a note and a verbal apology from Numair, that he would not participate that evening.
Typical mages, when they get rare books in their hands, they all disappears, she thought.
She turned half and looked in the direction of her husband. His was also in deep conversation. It was only her who did not have someone to talk to. A movement caught her eye, and she let her gaze look to the great open door towards the terrace.
In it the man from Carthak was standing. She could recognize him from the description of the scar that cut down his face. He stood tall and hesitant, and seemed to scan the room. He searched for someone and found this in conversation with the Queen. An alarming expression in his eyes, got Alanna to rise slowly. Her hands searched down at her sword, which hung at her side. The man's gaze hung for a moment at Felicia's face, but searched further across the room. A few seconds later he meet Alanna's gaze. He was not intimidated by her, she thought as she took a step to the side and came free of the chair. She captured his eyes for what seemed forever. First his gaze was investigating, questioning, in the next moment the hate came. An intense, fearful and terrifying hate. Alanna gasped for breath. She set in motion. The man turned away from her and disappeared into the darkness. In long strides, she was at the door.
She looked out, but could not see anything in the beginning darkness. Should she go after him or not. It just was not the right time, but there was something unsettling about this man. She looked around. The others in the room had not discovered the situation, they were all in deep conversations or sat and ate. She could afford to take a walk. However, she would not leave the room without ensuring that there were more guards present. She withdrew and went back to the table, took her glass and cleared her throat.
"If I may disturb Your Highnesses?" Alanna knew how she would choose to produce her words, so that the king and her husband understood the allusion.
"Yes, of course Knight" King Jon looked puzzled at her. "Is there something specific you wanted?"
"I just wanted to ask you to excuse my intention to leave you. This evening and heating requires that any man or woman should take care to stay inside and drink some of the wonderful wines from Tusaine ". Alanna fervently hoped that the king understood the allusion and while she quickly glanced at her husband, he also did it. Her partner, friend, lover, and confidential for many years nodded. At least George understood that there danger was present.
"Of course it's okay that you leave us in a short while" The King nodded also to assure her that he had caught the message. "We just hope that you will return to us soon and together we enjoy this beautiful wine, the delegation has brought to us."
Alanna saw the hidden questions about who she had seen.
"Of course I will. Nothing can keep me from enjoying the good wine that You "She bowed Duke Mather and Count Harlan" have brought with you. "Alanna turn appointed a moment and then how King Jon nodded again.
She bowed to them all now, and left the room through the door to the corridor. When she turned she saw how her husband, George, discreetly waved one of his most trusted spies, disguised as a servant to him. He would make sure to get the number of men in place around the palace. It is better to be on the safe side, she thought.
Alanna stopped abruptly. She heard how all the animals in and around the palace howl and then stopped again. Her meaning was to slip out of the nearest door, but before she could go further her back hair raised itself. This was always a sure sign that Tortall's mightiest mage had started to create magical contact with her. Alanna stopped and opened the now clutching hand up. It was level with her face, and the violet flame spread and shaped into a ball.
She saw how sweat pulled wet lines down on Numair Salmalin's face. In that moment she forgot all about the man she wanted to hunt down.
"Numair, what are you doing? I thought you was reading ... "Her voice was a whisper. She could see that he was not sitting in his study, his own rum, but somewhere else and he was in motion.
"What?" Began Alanna.
"Alanna ... stop talking. It is Daine, she's in trouble ... she is injured "Numair's voice shook. "I'm on my way to my room with her , she ... she bleeding".
"How ... what ... I'll be right there!" Alanna started running.
She came to his room after him. He had arrived a few minutes before her. She went through his door, into his study. Alanna found Numair in his private room, where she saw how he had started to lay the unconscious Daine gently on his bed.
"Numair, what happened?". Alanna stopped suddenly. The young woman on Numair's bed was naked.
"I did not know what to do Alanna ... she bleeding. I found her in her room, she lay on the floor. I ... if anyone has ... I ... kill them! "Numair carefully stroked a brown curl away from Daine's face while he tried to control the rage that was building up.
"Numair, I do not think you should be here any longer. I got this "Alanna walked over to him and pushed him toward the door.
"But ... Alanna ... do you think ... I could not protect her ... you know my feelings ... if any ... I tear the palace in pieces" Alanna listened to Numair.
"I know... now sit down!" She pushed him into the chair by pushing against his chest as she was too low to touch his shoulders. She took the water pitcher from the table and poured it into the cup. "Here, drink ... and let me work in peace."
She took the rest of the water with her and pulled a blanket in pieces. She didn't have everything she needed, but she had to settle for was she had. Numair had very wisely and unwisely chose his room. This should be kept secret, while the delegation was visiting. So no one could come up with false accusations. Alanna returned to the bed with the unconscious young woman. Daine had indeed gotten a bad blow to the forehead and there was blood on her belly and between her legs. Alanna dipped the cloths in the water and began work.
Time passed. Felicia went through the empty corridors to her assigned room. She had not seen Numair tonight. She had been in the palace in one and a half day and it had been impossible to approach him. She fervently hoped that tomorrow, when they had to visit the university that things would seem different. She had already prepared well and had a lot of questions ready so she could show how interested she still was in him.
She ran her hand over the rough surface of the wall as she went. Boring, boring, boring. The conversation with the Queen had been so boring that she with much difficulty had hidden her yawns. The only exciting thing had happened when the famous lioness had declared her farewell to the company. It had been just as hard to keep up with the conversions that had passed, as it had been to keep up with the Queen's chatter.
Felicia reached the door to her room and went inside. It was dark. Not a light was turned on. Where were her maids.
"Julia? Kate? Where are you? "There was no answer. Felicia stepped into the dark room. She had enough Gift to produce a small ball of light. It was the one of the few things she had learned. It alighted the room slightly. She closed the door behind her. Damn girls, she thought angrily. To disappear gave them nothing but trouble.
"You, of all, should have a little more control of your maids. They have obviously left you " a man said behind her.
Felicia jumped in fright. She recognized the voice. She turned around.
"What the hell are you doing here!" She snarled. Felicia was moving forward and the light from her small ball illuminated the face of a dark man.
"Oops ... here is someone who is not happy to see me. I thought you were already well on the way to bed with a tall and dark man?"
"I've tried" Felicia was furious.
"So try harder. I am not a man of much patience Felicia, you know this "the man got up from his chair.
"I ... I ..." Felicia heard the hidden threat "We have been invited on a tour of the university tomorrow, I have a plan ..." Felicia turned, she must at all costs not show that she was afraid for this man.
"It is too slow Felicia ... I had thought you, with your talent and reputation, could do it in a short time ... and time is running out" She noticed how he now stood only inches from her.
"I'll do it!" Felicia was desperate. She hated this man. "I just need two days, and what I saw when we arrived, you were right ... he loves her. I just need time... "She was forced backwards a bit and stood up against the rough wall. She gasped when she felt fingers caressing down her cheek.
"Felicia, my dear Felicia ... you're not afraid of me, are you?"
Felicia tried to turn her head away, she could smell a strong odor of alcohol from the man's breath.
"No ... I'm not. Please, tell me that my maids are okay! "She fought desperately not to throw up.
"Of course they are, my dear ... I've just given them a little wine, a little dream rose. They wake up tomorrow and they would not remember anything ... "
Felicia gasped. She noticed how the man in front of her, pushed her hard against the wall now.
"And remember, you're only here to seduce Numair and catch his attention long enough for me to take from him what he loves most. As he took from me ..." The dark man pressed Felicia harder against the wall, while the one hand pressed against her neck made it difficult for her to breathe.
"You know what I can do ..."
The threat caused her to gasp out loud. Felicia noticed how tears began to roll down her cheeks.
"No, please no ...don't...please" She was crying now while she felt strong hands lifted her skirts and searched toward her stomach.
"Shhhh ... Felicia, you can not say no to me." The man whispered into her ear.
Felicia bit her lip not to scream as she felt how he penetrated her. No one could help her against this man.