Description: Daine and Numair negotiate with some unlikely allies.
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters. Everything belongs to Tamora Pierce.
Author's Note: There are two minor character deaths mentioned in this chapter. Don't hate me for them too much. It unfortunately made sense to me given the situation at the time.
Chapter 22
Daine listened to her teacher mutter for about ten minutes before she got bored and left him to it. There wasn't anything she could do to help and now that the young woman was no longer in contact with him, she couldn't see what Numair was doing either. Kitten sat by the mage's feet transfixed by whatever he was doing to the sparkly hole in the sky while Daine entertained herself by speaking with the local wildlife, the ones who had been small enough to escape the kraken's notice.
After roughly an hour, Numair lowered his hands and sagged wearily. She wasn't sure what his definition of 'simple' was exactly, not when the mage was now drenched with sweat as he ambled over to join her, Kitten trotting alongside him.
"All finished?" Daine asked from where she was crouched down by a rockpool.
He nodded and knelt beside her. "Making a new friend?" Numair peered into the pool for a closer inspection. "You found a green shore crab. It's a crustation –"
"He –" she corrected.
"Meaning he's a type of animal that lives in water and has a chitinous exoskeleton – a hard outer shell – and many legs," the mage continued without skipping a beat. "The varieties include your friend here, lobsters, shrimp, wood lice, water fleas, and barnacles. They feed on a variety of molluscs, worms, and other small crustaceans…"
Daine smiled fondly while her teacher continued to talk. He must be in withdrawal, she thought. She hadn't had any lessons in the past few days with Numair too tired from the travel to even insist on meditation. Daine listened intently, holding Kitten back, who looked like she might want to eat the crab, when she felt a sense of wrongness above her. Standing quickly, the young woman already had her bow strung before she saw the flash of steel. Notching an arrow to the string, Daine raised her bow only for Numair to place a restraining hand on her arm.
"Try to keep an open mind," he murmured.
"Are you mad? Stormwings attack humans!" she hissed.
"Not to my knowledge," the mage stated as a foul stench reached their noses and a familiar face landed on the beach upwind of the pair with a black iron crown atop his blonde hair threaded with bones. "Good to see you again, my lord," Numair bowed his head politely.
"It's king now, thanks to you!" Rikash spat. "You were supposed to free Barzha so I wouldn't have to put up with any of this nonsense. Do you know how much trouble it is being king?"
"My heart bleeds buttermilk," Daine retorted while Kitten made a rude noise as she clung to Numair's breeches, not quite hiding.
Both Stormwing and mage turned to stare at the young woman, eyes wide, before bursting out laughing. She'd feel insulted except Daine had never heard Numair laugh like that before: deep and full-throated. It was a wonderful laugh.
"I always knew there was a reason why I liked this one." Rikash grinned. "You chose a good friend, Arram."
The smile her friend gave her was so heartfelt, Daine would give almost anything for him to look at her that way again. "It's Numair now, Your Majesty."
"I thought you were s'posed to be keeping that a secret?" she hissed between gritted teeth.
"King Rikash is no friend of Ozorne. He won't reveal my new identity," Numair gave the Stormwing a meaningful look.
"I won't, but you'd best keep it quiet," Rikash lowered his voice and gestured to the sky where the rest of the flock hung in the air, sunlight glinting off their wings. "There is still some dissent among the others. I lost over half my followers after the fight with Jokhun who believed we should ally with the Emperor Mage."
"How many remain?" Numair asked softly.
"Sixty-three in total," Rikash snarled, shifting on his claws before piercing the mage with his emerald gaze. "I thought we'd lost you when news reached us of Ozorne's escape. What happened? Why didn't you kill him?"
Numair lowered his eyes. "I failed."
Daine eyed her teacher warily not wanting him to slip into a quiet depression. "Weren't you meant to be helping Kaddar take the throne?" she challenged the Immortal. It'd be just like Stormwings to go back on their word!
"The prince wanted fighters for his army." Rikash ruffled his feathers which made a horrible screeching, grinding sound. "We stayed for a time, but I will not allow my people to be corrupted by human promises and go against our true natures."
"I don't understand," Daine frowned. True nature?
Both Numair and Rikash spoke over each other in an effort to explain until the mage bowed apologetically and fell silent leaving the Stormwing to take over. "Long ago, a traveller in the mortal realms went from place to place finding only the leavings of war – the abandoned, the dead. It was the result of armies fighting over the same piece of land. So sick of the waste and death, the traveller wished for a creature so repulsive, living on the aftermath of war, that even humans would think twice before engaging in battle. She dreamed of the first Stormwing so soldiers couldn't lie about how glorious death was. That is our purpose."
"Then why have Stormwings been killing?" Daine demanded.
"Ozorne promised to reward us greatly with the spoils of his wars. What he neglected to mention was that we would be the ones doing the fighting and killing." Rikash rocked on his claws in irritation. "Jokhun was no better than a motherless worm allowing our people to die in the Emperor Mage's conquests. He had no regard for Stormwing law."
Stormwings with honour, now there was a strange concept. "Why come here?" she asked. Back in Carthak, Rikash had stated he wanted to give Tortall a wide berth.
"War comes to these shores, and we are driven to seek it out." The Stormwing bared his teeth in a chilling smile.
"I don't know how much will be left up the coast. The kraken'll most likely clean up his own mess.8" Daine shrugged.
"It is not your coasts you should worry about," Rikash lowered his voice. "We will be heading further north."
"What do you know?" Numair tensed, dark eyes alert.
"Ozorne always planned to ally with the Copper Isles and attack Port Caynn. A fool's bargain if you ask me," the Stormwing sneered.
"The Copper Islanders are known for their duplicity, but Ozorne only intended to use them before betraying them himself," the mage mused.
It sounded like they deserved each other as far as Daine was concerned.
"Were you also aware he was heavily involved with Scanra and the Council of Ten?" Rikash baited as Numair shook his head.
"What's the Council of Ten?" Daine looked up at her teacher.
"The Council of Ten is made up of the most powerful shaman-mages in Scanra. They do not answer to anyone but themselves and certainly not to whomever the king of the week may be," Numair explained before addressing the Stormwing again. "Slaves were forbidden to access the council chambers when war meetings were held. Prince Kaddar passed on as much knowledge as he could, but even he was not involved in most of the planning sessions."
"Ozorne suspected his nephew would betray him. He planned to have him executed before sailing to make war with Tortall. You got the prince out just in time," Rikash informed the mage. "I am surprised to find Ozorne attacking Port Caynn now. I thought he'd wait until the spring thaw so Scanra could attack the northern border while the Islanders and Carthaki fleets kept the Tortallan ports busy."
"You mean an all-out attack on our borders?" Daine went instantly cold. She needed to warn the king!
"How did you hear all this?" Numair frowned.
"Jokhun tried to persuade me to spare him by revealing Ozorne's plans," Rikash cackled nastily.
"If you are headed north, would you and your flock be willing to offer us advanced warning before the Scanrans attack?" the mage requested.
The Stormwing considered this. "You want to use us as spies?"
"If you plan to spend the winter roosting in or near Scanra, you would know the moment their forces mobilised. Your people are very good at overhearing gossip. The Tortallans would be grateful for any information you would be willing to provide them," Numair requested.
"How grateful?" Rikash narrowed his emerald eyes.
"They spared my life and granted me my freedom when they had every reason to have me executed," the mage admitted softly.
"You are mortal. Other mortals are quick to forgive their own. It does not mean they will treat my kind with anything less than an arrow through the eye," the Stormwing argued.
"Come back with us to Buzzard Rocks," Daine cut in abruptly before she'd fully thought about what she was saying. "There's a man you should speak to: George Cooper."
"Why should I speak with this man?" Rikash baited.
"He can offer better guarantees than we can." Daine levelled her earnest blue-grey eyes on the Stormwing. She wasn't about to tell them that George was the king's secret spymaster.
The Stormwing flock hovered overhead while the humans returned to their horses. Cloud was interested to hear why Daine was on speaking terms with Stormwings when she hated them with a vengeance. That was difficult to explain when she didn't understand it herself. King Rikash had agreed to barter with George Cooper on the terms of their involvement with the Tortallans. It was weird to even consider entering into a partnership with Stormwings, but Numair seemed to trust their leader and even Maura had considered him a friend. Daine wasn't sure she'd ever trust them, but she'd let George decide what to do with the Stormwings. If anyone knew about bringing spies into the fold it was him.
"Why is the emperor attacking us now and not waiting for the Scanrans?" she asked her teacher.
"Over-confidence and greed most likely," he sighed. "Ozorne is quite often blinded by his own power. With the Copper Isles fleet, I suspect he believes an attack on your ports will not fail. If Ozorne can take Tortall without the Scanrans, then there is less he must share from the spoils of war."
Daine grimaced while she loaded Kitten into her travel sack, pausing just as she was about to mount Cloud. "Can we spare a minute? There's someone I should talk to first."
Numair gave her a quizzical look but agreed easily. He followed her to a makeshift graveyard where the bodies of the Pirate's Swoop attack had been buried. It was an open hill normally covered in wildflowers with a spectacular view of the ocean. With Winter on the way, the hill was almost barren but after a brief hunt, Daine managed to find a clump of violas she dug out with her bare hands and carried to a wooden marker. Kneeling, the young woman carefully made a hole with her knife and planted the flowers on her friend's grave.
"Sorry I haven't been to visit much, Miri," Daine spoke softly. "Life's been crazy, though that's no excuse." She swallowed a lump in her throat but continued. "Evin's doing well. He's second-in-command of his Rider group now. I know you'd say 'I told you so', but it turns out I do have magic." She ducked her head imagining the look Miri would give her. "More'n just wavespeaking or being horse-hearted. It's called wild magic. That's my teacher over there." Daine pointed to where the mage was walking slowly amongst the graves. "You'd like him. He's nice, if a bit timid. Numair's his name. I've been trying to bring him out of his shell and get him to talk to people. I know, me!" She barked out a sharp laugh. "He's teaching me how to heal and about every animal in the entire realm!" The young woman fell silent as she saw several Stormwings swooping down for a closer inspection, probably wondering why they'd stopped. "Anyways, we've got to be off. Kingdom to save and all that. I'll try to visit when I can."
Daine stood and dusted off her knees before turning to look for Numair. She spotted him, not far off, knelt on the ground looking grief stricken. Forgetting her own sorrow, she made her way quickly to his side, taking note of the name on the wooden marker.
"You knew Sarge?"
Numair nodded mutely. "I knew him as Musenda Ogunsanwo. He was one of the slaves I helped to free. What happened to him?"
"He died during the battle. We was – were – surrounded and outnumbered on all sides," Daine explained. "The Carthaki mages used some sort of magic which blocked our own –"
"Dampening spells," the mage interjected with a scowl.
"None of the healers or fighters could use their Gifts. We lost more'n we bargained for 'cause of that." Including many of the trainee's she'd helped along with their mounts. "Sarge died defending the Swoop from the raiders who were trying to scale the walls. He bled out cause the healers couldn't save him."
"What of his sister? His nieces and nephews? Are they safe?" Tearful brown eyes looked up at her plaintively.
"Sarge never spoke to me about a family." Daine bit her lip wishing she could tell him more. "You'd have to ask Onua or Buri. They knew him better'n I did."
"I freed him so he could escape from all the death and suffering, not to send him straight back into it," Numair whispered bitterly. "I wanted him to be happy."
He touched the wooden marker, black sparkling magic streaming from his fingertips. At first nothing happened, then the wooden stake began to grow branches and leaves before the young woman's eyes. When the mage removed his hand, a small sapling stood in its place still with the words Musenda 'Sarge' Ogunsanwo carved into the bark.
Daine placed a comforting hand on her friend's shoulder. "Sarge was happy from what I saw. He enjoyed teaching the trainees: waking them up in the mornings with a bellow you wouldn't believe and showing them how to fight and survive."
Numair smiled up at her softly. "I'll tell you my stories if you'll tell me yours?"
"Deal." She held out a hand to help him up.
Daine enjoyed hearing the story of how a young Arram Draper first met the ex-gladiator and had been saved from falling into the arena by an elephant while they journeyed back to Buzzard Rocks. George was delighted at the prospect of having new spies to join their ranks and immediately engaged in a long discussion with King Rikash. Word reached them later that day, via a raven, to say that the invading fleets had been defeated and Port Caynn was saved.
"Not bad for a day's work, lass." George grinned, slinging an arm around the young woman's shoulders while the pair watched the Stormwings depart. "Making a treaty with griffins, convincing a kraken to defeat our enemies, and gathering us more spies."
"Numair was the one to think of using the Stormwings as spies, not me. And you did all the convincing," Daine pointed out.
The spymaster laughed. "We'll have roosts built for them near the northern border. Your mage has already contacted our friends and told them not to shoot at our new allies."
"Were many killed afore the kraken showed up?" she asked quietly, afraid to hear the answer.
"Not a one." George squeezed her shoulder. "We held 'em off until that beastie arrived. I'm sorry to tell you lass that he didn't get 'em all before they got him. Ozorne escaped with a quarter of his ships, including Deniau's flagship."
Daine looked up sharply. "Does Numair know?"
"I've not told him, but he'll find out soon enough. Unless you want to be the one to tell him?" The spymaster raised an eyebrow.
Daine looked down at the mage who was watching Kitten play with Thom and the twins. "I prob'ly should." He looked so happy, but it wouldn't be fair to keep something like this from him… "Maybe tomorrow."
"Don't leave it too long," George warned, keeping his voice low. "It's not nice to give a person false hope then rip it away."
She nodded sadly. "I know you didn't like him living in the bay, but I never meant to send the kraken to his death…"
"Oh, he's still living – minus a few tentacles," the spymaster chuckled. "The beastie fled after the Carthaki mages threw several barrels of liquid fire over him. We're not sure where it is now. Hopefully hiding far away in the deep ocean licking its wounds. By the way, I have a gift for you." George offered her a quiver of fourteen arrows fletched with brightly coloured feathers. "The fletcher finished this afternoon."
"Let's hope they won't be needed but I'll feel better having them. Thank you." Daine accepted the bag and slung it over her shoulder, smiling grimly. One of them would have Ozorne's name on it, and this time she would see him killed!
"I should be the one thanking you." The baron smiled earnestly. "We'll be sending a scouting party down to the bay tomorrow morning now that beastie's gone. I can finally reclaim my bay and start rebuilding my home. You have my gratitude, lass. Now and forever."
The next morning, George loaded the mages up with fresh supplies and sent them on their way. Numair was in high spirits talking about anything and everything during their ride while Daine listened with only half an ear, concentrating more on how carefree he sounded and how much she didn't want to tell him that Ozorne was still alive. They made good progress thanks to the bright sunshine and surprising warmth for a late autumn day. Numair didn't complain once when they dismounted to stop for lunch, even offering to make the tea while Daine fed the horses.
What's eating you? Cloud nudged her mistress when the young woman offered her a carrot.
I have to tell Numair something I know will upset him, Daine admitted miserably.
Then why haven't you told him instead of moping about it all morning? The mare asked with her usual candid attitude.
'Cause I don't want to hurt him, the Wildmage rested her forehead against the pony's mane.
Is it something bad that you have done? Cloud crunched on her carrot.
No, Daine sighed. That emperor who enslaved him is still alive. The kraken never did his job of destroying Ozorne's ship. If the emperor's still alive, he could take control of Numair again.
Is that the same as how my owners controlled me? Spots approached to accept his own carrot.
I guess. Numair's owner used to hurt him to make him do what he wanted, Daine explained.
The gelding regarded his new master quietly while he chewed on his carrot.
Stop worrying over it and tell him, Cloud gave her mistress a shove.
The young woman shot her mare a dark look before going over to join Numair at the fire. He offered her a plate of ham and cheese with a crusty roll coated with a thick layer of butter. Kitten had already polished off her helping of ham and cheese and was sniffing around for seconds.
"Daine, have you found that animals you spend a lot of time with are, well, smarter than others?" the mage enquired.
"A friend of Ma's said as much when I nursed their falcons. The local herdsman liked me to train their dogs 'cause it made them cleverer. Is it bad?" She chewed on a fingernail until Numair swatted at the hand.
"No, how could it be? It doesn't make your animals less able to survive in the wild: quite the opposite." He smiled; brown eyes filled with warmth. "I noticed Zek was smart even for a primate, but the bond you share with your pony… I've never encountered such an intelligent horse before. She is quite remarkable."
The mare walked over and began to lip at the mage's shirt making him jump out of his skin.
Daine giggled. "It's her way of showing she likes you. Cloud's not friendly with many two-leggers so count yourself lucky."
"I will and the compliment was sincerely meant." He looked up at the mountain pony nervously, raising a hand to pet the mare before thinking better of it.
Tell the stork-man he is quite smart for a two-legger, Cloud remarked.
The young woman laughed and repeated what her pony said, making him laugh in turn.
A warm snort of air ruffled Daine's curls as Spots lowered his head and nudged her gently. Stop dithering and tell him about his bad owner.
Lowering her head, she braced herself. "Numair…?"
"Are you going to tell me what's been bothering you since we left Buzzard Rocks?"
Daine winced and raised her head to meet his steady gaze, not realising she'd been quite so obvious in her worry.
"You aren't particularly adept at concealing your state of mind – which is another compliment, I assure you." He smiled softly.
"It's Ozorne – his ship got away," she mumbled in a small voice.
Numair nodded and poured two cups of tea. "It was too much to hope that it would be over so easily."
"I'm sorry," Daine whispered.
The shadow had returned to his dark eyes even as her friend tried to offer her a reassuring smile. "Don't worry over much."
Tell him I won't let his owner hurt him again, Spots stated over her shoulder.
Daine stroked the gelding affectionately as she repeated what he'd said to the mage.
Numair blinked watery eyes before looking away quickly, swallowing hard. "Thank you," he murmured before clearing his throat. "Now, my Wildmage, I have been remiss in your lessons of late. Tell me, who you can sense nearby and their exact numbers please?"
Taking a cautious sip of her hot tea, Daine sent out her magic into the forest before listing off every animal within her range. They spent the rest of the day discussing hibernation: the details of the process and which animals did it. Neither mage mentioned Ozorne again and Daine decided to leave it at that.