Description: After a brief stop at Buzzard Rocks, Daine makes a treaty before the mages travel to Pirate's Swoop to speak with the kraken.

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters. Everything belongs to Tamora Pierce.

Author's Note: This chapter covers some of the symptoms of PTSD. Considering the sort of person Arram/Numair is, it would be unthinkable for him not to go through something like this. I haven't personally experienced it, but I hope I do a good enough job of describing the damaging effects it can have on a person.

My argument for Daine not having already made this treaty with the griffins is that she hadn't trained in her magic until this point. She would have heard them when the Riders encountered the creatures the first time, but not had the control needed to communicate.

Chapter 21

The next morning, three extremely rambunctious children surrounded Daine during breakfast, bombarding her with questions. Could she really heal animals? Would she persuade the local deer to visit? What did geese talk about all day? There were several questions about him, but Numair pretended not to notice having already identified the children as belonging to the Lioness. The red hair was a dead giveaway. Kitten had made herself comfortable on the older boy's lap and was eating a good deal of his breakfast and his sister's.

Ordinarily, Numair liked children, but it had been a long time since any had been brave enough to get so close and their excited chatter and happy giggles were nice to listen to. Without warning a surge of memory hit him: he was stood on the sand, strong winds whipping around his bare skin. The smell of smoke and charred flesh filled his nostrils as his eyes fell upon the dead bodies littering the streets. There had been laughter and idle chatter when he'd first arrived. How quickly that had turned to screaming… His Gift thundered ominously overhead in the dark sky as more screams could be heard ahead. When would it stop? Why did it never stop…

"Numair?"

He opened his eyes to see Daine stood beside him, clutching his arm and wincing. "Is it the focus?"

"No, it's nothing." Numair released his white knuckled grip on the table and attempted a smile, withdrawing his crackling Gift back inside himself. "Really, I'm fine."

She scowled, clearly not convinced. "Didn't look like nothing!"

He patted her hand. "I promise I'm all right. I'm sorry I disturbed your conversation."

The mage stood quickly and carried his tray back to the servers, meal half-finished. He felt sick. He'd failed all those children. Their mothers and fathers… He hadn't killed Ozorne and now there was a chance of events repeating themselves if the emperor were to take control of him again. Sweat beaded on his forehead, as his hands began to tremble uncontrollably. Dashing out the doors, Numair tucked himself behind a stone wall, placing his head on his knees and took deep breaths.

It was several minutes before he heard footsteps approach and a soft chirp. Raising his head, Numair saw Daine crouched beside him, concern written all over her beautiful face, as Kitten rose on her haunches to get a better look at him.

"What happened? Tell me!" she demanded when he was about to offer empty reassurances.

"Just a memory. They take me back there sometimes," Numair muttered, resting his head against the wall, and closing his eyes.

"To Carthak?" Daine cocked her head to the side.

"Siraj," he amended, refusing to look at her. "I'll be fine again in a few minutes. The fresh air helps."

"Talking helps too," she murmured, and his stomach lurched at the idea. "Onua listened when I told her what happened with the bandits and my family. It don't make the pain any less but the nightmares stopped."

Taking a deep breath Numair opened his eyes to meet hers. "I doubt there's a soul alive who would wish to hear my nightmares."

"Not even Master Lindhall?" Daine asked, placing her small hands over his.

"I couldn't bear to see the shame and disappointment in his eyes. He already knows too much. If he knew…" His breath hitched.

Squeezing his eyes shut, feeling the tears threaten to fall, Numair wasn't expecting it when she wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him tight. Giving into a selfish impulse he clung to her, feeling the steady pound of her heartbeat and the warmth of her body. He hadn't realised until that moment just how much he needed to hold someone who was alive.

His cheeks were damp when they separated as Numair gave her a weak smile. "Thank you."

"Anytime," she smiled.

"What's wrong with your ears?" he frowned.

Daine stopped rubbing them and blushed. "I keep hearing this – hum."

The mage sat up, his mind latching onto the distraction. "Are you certain it's a physical manifestation and not a magical phenomenon? Think before answering."

"I would if I understood the question," she grumbled as Kitten whistled her own question.

"Do you hear the hum with your ears or your mind?" he clarified.

"Oh! With my mind, sorry," Daine ducked her head.

"That'll be the griffins then." Baron George Cooper appeared from around the corner. How long had he been there and how much of their previous conversation had he been listening to? "We'll sound the alarm and get everyone inside." The man whistled sharply to a soldier and pointed to the sky. "They do this every morning," he informed the pair. "I think they like to remind us they're still here no matter how often we try to drive them away."

Numair looked at his student with interest. "You can sense these creatures through your magic?"

She nodded slowly. "I can sense all Immortals. Some of them feel wrong like the Spidrens, Stormwings and hurroks, but these feel – wonderous. Sorry, I'm not explaining well enough."

"That's all right." The mage smiled, getting to his feet. "I think I'd like to see this for myself, if I may?"

"You're the mage." George Cooper shrugged, following the pair out into the open.

Daine ordered Kitten inside to shelter with the other children when a screaming roar sounded as a flock – pride? – of griffins flew low over the village. There were seven creatures in total and it was impossible to tell whether they were male or female. His Wildmage would undoubtably know. The magnificent Immortals had the head and beak of an eagle and the body of a giant feathered cat with a seven-foot wingspan. Their silver claws were the length of short-swords and could easily shred a man to pieces. The men in the watchtowers began to bang loudly on metal plates with wooden sticks trying to drive the griffins away. All around horses and farm animals clamoured when the Immortals let out another screaming roar.

"You don't try to shoot them down?" Numair asked out of curiosity.

"No point," George replied. Eyes intent of the Immortals overhead. "Just a waste of arrows. Those beasties are too good at avoiding being shot at."

Numair glanced down at his student to see her doubled over, clutching her ears. "Daine? What is it?" He wrapped an arm around her seeing her faced etched with pain.

"It's too loud!" Tears were leaking from corners of her eyes. "I can't hear what they're saying."

The mage slid his hand up to place it at the nape of her neck, weaving a protection shield around her mind. "Is that any easier?"

Daine nodded and straightened, gazing up at the sky in confusion. "They think we stole one of their little ones," she whispered. "You've got it all wrong!" the young woman yelled when the griffins flew by again.

Three of the creatures broke away from the group to land on the ground directly in front of the humans. They were easily as tall as Numair but so regal in stature. The mage readied a defensive shield but held off, waiting for the warning cry or command from Daine. Daggers appeared in the baron's hands that hadn't been there a second ago and archers all around now had their bows trained on the Immortals.

"Don't shoot!" Daine yelled angrily. "What? No, it's an image of a lioness not a griffin." She was speaking to the griffins now. Numair thought he'd broken her of that habit. "They think Alanna stole one of their young and captured it in her shield," she explained to George before tuning to him. "Did people really do that? That's horrid!"

"I think I read that in a book somewhere," he muttered. His griffin lore was a tad rusty. Probably best to study up on all Immortal kind when they returned to Corus if it was still intact. There was no telling what else they may encounter on the road.

"Is that why they've been attacking us on a daily basis?" George asked.

Daine cried out and Numair tightened his grip, pouring more of his Gift into the shield around her mind.

"He says you are the ones who attack them. They are merely warning you to stay away from their nests and not to steal any more of their little ones," she translated.

"They understand human speech?" The mage gasped in awe, despite the severity of the situation. The Imperial University hadn't studied these creatures properly, only caring how their various parts could be used as ingredients for potions and poisons or used as weapons. Griffin blood made a surprisingly potent truth serum.

"They do a little, but our voices hurt them," Daine explained.

"We've no quarrel with griffins if they leave our farm animals alone," George put in.

"He says they eat fish not grass-eaters," she smiled. "Dolphins if they can get them, seals and sealions."

"Come to think of it, they've never taken any of our sheep or cattle in the past two years. We thought we'd just got lucky." George lowered his blades, regarding the Immortals with a newfound understanding.

"If we promise to leave their nest sites alone, they won't return," Daine spoke in a solemn tone. "They dislike associating with two-leggers."

"You've got a deal, friend." George nodded and just as suddenly the blades vanished although Numair knew the man didn't possess the Gift.

"Ow! He says not to insult him by calling him friend." Daine tilted her head before grinning broadly. "You're welcome."

The lead griffin preened a wing removing a few loose feathers and dropped them at the Wildmage's feet before taking to the air. One by one the Immortals approached, each offering a few feathers before the entire group flew off towards the rock spires in the distance.

George crouched down and picked up one of the feathers to admire it. "We could make you a pretty headdress with all these," he winked at the young woman.

She shook her head, bending down to gather up the rest. "They're more useful to us as arrows. Griffin fletched arrows are mage killers."

George froze, hazel eyes bright with interest. "Is this true?"

"You're not to go raiding the griffins' nests for feathers after I told them we'd keep our distance!" Daine scowled at him darkly.

"I wouldn't dream of breaking that contract, lass." George held up his hands as if to ward off an attack. With the way the young woman was glaring at him, it was quite possible she might. "But it wouldn't hurt to keep an eye out for feathers along the coast," he winked mischievously.

"We should get moving if the horses have calmed down," Numair suggested to Daine. "You wanted to speak with the kraken this morning."

She nodded, handing a fistful of feathers to George.

"I'll have these fletched for you by the time you return," the baron promised.

The mages were saddled and ready to go in very little time as they set off down the coastal road. Numair was disappointed when it curved away from the magnificent view of the ocean to cut through a forest. To distract himself from the discomfort of riding, the mage assailed his student with questions about her conversation with the griffins. According to Daine, the creatures communicated in symbols and ideas rather than with words which was truly fascinating!

It was shortly before midday when the crumbling remains of a castle came into view at the bottom of the hill. Numair could see from this distance the evidence of catapult damage and the use of liquid fire which had melted some of the stonework. He guessed without checking with his student that they had reached Pirate's Swoop.

Daine left the horses at the top of the hill, explaining that she didn't want them too close to the kraken in the bay. In her own words, she described him as 'rather nasty' and detailed how quickly he'd dealt with what was left of the Carthaki ships after Kitten's mother had been killed. The dragonet in question refused to be left with the horses and trotted merrily at their feet as they made their way down the hill.

"Can you sense him?" Numair asked when they reached the beach, seeing nothing but ocean.

"He's in there all right." Her eyes were fixed on the sea.

An enormous black tentacle shot out of the water when they got halfway across the beach and Numair got a shield up just in time. Kitten screeched in terror and clung to Daine's breeches, scales almost fuchsia. The mage had never seen her that colour before and made a mental note to ask his student about it at a more suitable time. The tentacle retreated back into the water, almost sulking.

"I was waist-deep in water last time I spoke to him." Daine shivered before bending to remove her boots.

"You must have contacted him at a great distance then," Numair remarked. At her confused frown he elaborated. "Reductions in body temperature and salt water amplify a mage's power. You will be able to speak to him easily enough from here without putting yourself in danger."

There wasn't even the slightest chance he was going to allow her to wade into the water without him and he had no desire to get any closer. Daine stood looking nervously at the water until, with a scowl, she lifted her stubborn chin and took a deep breath.

Numair placed a hand on her shoulder, forestalling. "Would you mind – that is – I wonder if I could be a part of this conversation?" He really shouldn't ask but he'd missed out on an incredible experience with the griffins, and it would be criminal to let another opportunity pass him by.

"Oh! Yes, I think I'd prefer that actually." She smiled up at him.

The mage shook his head, smiling in wonder at how easily Daine would accept him into her mind. Her trust in him was the most precious thing he'd ever received. Numair carefully positioned himself at her back and placed his fingers on her temples, linking their minds. After several deep breaths, the pair fell into a rhythm until they breathed as one and he felt his student reach out with her magic.

– Hello again, little fish. – A deep amused voice spoke. – You brought a longer fish with you this time. –

Numair shuddered at the enormity of the creature. The sheer existence of something so vast hidden just below the surface was awe-inspiring.

– The pickings have been slim lately. I hope you are here to offer me a decent meal. –

We are, Daine replied. There's a fleet of ships, just up the coast near the mouth of the river. It's more'n before.

The kraken's cruel laughter reverberated through the pair. – That is good because I am hungry. Don't worry, little fish. I will deal with this fleet for you. –

The mage felt the flow of information pass from Daine to the creature as she gave him the location and the size of the fleets. The connection broke abruptly just before she spun and clung to him, trembling. The water rippled as a shadow moved underneath, racing away while Numair wrapped his arms around her slender frame.

"Horse Lords, he scares me," she mumbled into his shirt.

He focussed on rubbing her arms and back, marvelling that she would turn to him of all people for comfort. Daine stayed within the circle of his arms for several minutes before regrettably stepping back with an embarrassed smile.

"It won't take him long to reach Port Caynn. He's fast!" The Wildmage turned to face in the direction the ripple had taken.

"Should I contact someone to let them know the kraken's coming?" he asked, concerned.

"Would the enemy be able to listen in?" Daine glanced back, frowning.

"Speech-spells aren't the best form of communication if secrecy is what you desire," Numair admitted. "A warded mirror would have been better. If I'd thought, I could have spelled one before we left." Actually, he would have needed to spell two mirrors: one to give to the Tortallans and the other to keep for themselves.

"I think our allies will get the idea when Himself arrives and gets to work." She grinned before starting back up the beach.

Numair was about to follow when something glittered at the corner of his eye. Looking upwards, the mage adjusted his sight to see a huge tear in the sky between the realms. It would have been easy to miss except for the sparkling gold along the edges. Kitten chirped at his feet, appearing to stare at the same spot in the sky.

"You see it too?" he asked softly.

The dragonet nodded her muzzle unable to take her eyes away from it. Could she sense other Immortals in there?

"What are you both staring at?" Daine returned when she noticed neither man nor dragon were following her.

"There's a rather large hole in the sky above the bay." Numair pointed to it.

"I can't see anything." She squinted.

Grabbing her arm, the mage pulled his student forward so she stood in front of him before placing his fingers on her temples and channelling his Gift through her.

"That's where the Carthaki raiders pulled the flock of Stormwings and Kit's Ma through during the attack," Daine informed him.

"It seems irresponsible to leave such a gaping tear open like that. Anything could get through." Numair removed his fingers as he sent out his Gift, testing the structure and volatility of the fracture.

"You can fix it?" Daine asked.

The mage flashed her an easy smile. "It should be simple enough. I know the spells. The problem is it may take me some time."

"I don't think we're in any rush now." She stepped back to give him some room to work.

Drawing deeply on his Gift, Numair sent out his magic to carefully knit the edges of the tear back together while he muttered the sealing spell. It was a bit like pinching a wound together while stitching it back up, only it required a lot of power and finesse.