Description: The mages pause in their task to celebrate the Midwinter festivities in a small village.
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters. Everything belongs to Tamora Pierce.
Author's Note: Please be warned, this chapter contains scenes of attempted rape.
Chapter 25
Over the next several weeks the mages located and sealed up more holes in the barrier with Immortals making a bid for freedom every time. They had fought Spidrens, Stormwings and hurroks but occasionally peaceful Immortals would break through, taking one look at the humans and fleeing.
Winter had most definitely arrived in Tortall with temperatures below freezing every night and occasional flurries of snow. Numair was reluctant to travel too far from the villages or fief's they passed while searching for open portals. He was draining his Gift on a regular basis sealing the rifts and fighting Immortals that the mage wanted a warm bed to sleep in and a hot meal whenever possible.
Daine's new lesson hadn't been going so well after trying with Cloud and several predators they encountered on their travels until the mage sat his student down one evening and asked her to describe exactly what she was doing.
"At first, I tried using the fire of my magic to merge my mind with the People, but they all complained it hurt," she explained. "I've tried without the fire too but it's not working,"
"Zek, would you mind joining us please?" Numair asked. The marmoset chirped and poked his head out from inside a bag where he now travelled in the warm blankets. "Zek is a primate and close enough to a two-legger," the mage explained. "Now, close your eyes and meditate. You don't hurt the People when you enter them to perform a healing. The badger said to think like the animal not to think like Daine." She smiled at that. "Listen for Zek. Listen to the rhythm of his breathing. Feel the shape of his body. Think about the things Zek likes to do, to eat."
Numair fell silent watching his student's face fall into a serene expression. Zek chirped and tilted his head in a familiar gesture before turning to look at the mage. The pygmy marmoset chattered and whistled before rummaging in another bag and pulling out a few dried dates.
Daine opened her eyes, mouth breaking into a huge grin. "I did it!"
"Well done. However, I wouldn't measure your success on just one experience. See if Cloud or Spots would be willing to let you try again," he suggested.
"Cloud, can I try again?"
"Cloud, may I try again," Numair corrected automatically.
Daine shot him a disgruntled look at having her grammar corrected for the umpteenth time. He really didn't mean to keep doing it, but it had become habit. His teachers had constantly been on at him to speak properly and somehow, he was now putting his student through the same treatment.
In the days that followed, Daine practiced becoming a magical symbiote with every passerby, excitedly describing for her teacher what it felt like to climb trees with squirrels, soar through the sky with hawks or run with deer. She had never looked more beautiful with her bright eyes shining with enthusiasm accompanied by the most radiant smile.
"D'you think I could try with Kit?" she asked one afternoon after the group had finished closing another portal.
The dragonet perked up at the sound of her name and whistled a question.
"I'd prefer you didn't try," Numair rose from where he'd been sat, hidden inside his protection circle.
"Why not?" Daine frowned with Kitten adding her own disappointed chirp.
"When I was first learning to shape-shift, I was heavily discouraged from trying Immortal shape," the mage recounted. "As you can probably imagine it held a great appeal to me. However, taking an Immortal's shape means that you can never change back. If you start to think like a dragon, I worry you may not remember how to think like Daine again. If you merge with Kitten's mind, what if neither of you can separate again? The badger did specify you were to do this with mortal creatures not Immortal ones."
"Fair enough." She shrugged, accepting his explanation without complaint for once.
Numair had been waiting for Daine to consider asking Kitten. The idea had been plaguing him for weeks whether to allow her to try or not. What she was doing with her wild magic was untested, but he didn't want his friend to risk herself needlessly. If the badger god reappeared, then Numair planned to ask him specifically about trying this with Immortals, but until then he would advise his student to be cautious.
The group crossed the River Olorun a few days before the Midwinter celebrations were due to begin and headed north for the small village of Rivernook not far from Lake Naxen. Thankfully the inn had two rooms available although Numair had to pay out more coin than he would have liked due to the time of year.
He'd made the decision that they would rest and enjoy the holiday with everyone else before continuing with their task. Ordering hot baths to be drawn for both himself and his student, the mage enjoyed a very long soak before dressing in clean clothes and joining Daine in the common room for the midday meal. Kitten was sulking in the Wildmage's room having been told she couldn't accompany them after she'd already caused one commotion upon arrival. Apparently, people weren't comfortable being around a baby dragon which meant Zek was now hiding in Daine's curls, not wanting to be mistaken for a mouse or a rat while she surreptitiously snuck him pieces of fruit and nuts.
The village looked beautiful with decorations hung on every door and candles standing in every window while the mages strolled down the main fairway.
"This is a bit like the celebrations back home," Daine smiled wistfully. "Snowsdale, my village in Galla, not Corus I mean."
"I don't remember what the celebrations were like in Tyra," Numair admitted with a pang. He'd been six when his family had sent him away. "In Carthak I attended lavish parties and feasts with my friends while I was a student."
"Ma used to cook us a goose and Grandda and me – and I –" She glared up at him daring him to say something "– would hang decorations around the house. The entire village gathered together on Midwinter's Day to share food and exchange gifts."
"I believe I heard mention of a gathering from the Innkeeper," Numair said. "Do you miss your home village?"
"No." Daine scowled, looking away.
There was more to her story, the mage was sure, but he didn't want to press her. If Daine wished to reveal her past then he would listen, but he also understood the need to keep some secrets. "What will your friends in Corus be doing?"
"Decorating. Lots of decorating," Daine giggled. "The king and queen'll be planning for the ball, the kitchen staff will most likely be preparing for the feast, and everyone else'll be rushing to market to buy last minute gifts –"
The Wildmage cut off, tilting her head in a familiar gesture before sprinting off down the road without warning. Cursing, Numair ran after her, his long legs eating up the distance between them until she skidded to a halt near a hunter's dwelling. The sound of pained whimpering met their ears from a wolfhound who lay muzzled on the floor with the hunter leaning over it, an axe in his hand.
"Stop! Don't hurt her!" Daine cried.
The hunter turned to scowl at the young woman. "Mind yer own business."
"She's hurt! She needs a healer," Daine argued. "Her leg's broken."
"I know. That's why I must remove it afore the rot sets in." He raised the axe when the Wildmage grabbed his arm. "There be no healer in this village!" The hunter glared.
"Let me try. I can heal Faolan," Daine gentled her voice, eyes pleading with the hunter who looked up at Numair for confirmation.
"My friend is a Wildmage. She can heal your dog if you'll allow it," he clarified.
Lowering his axe, the hunter nodded his consent, allowing Daine to examine his dog. Numair watched on, filled with enormous amounts of pride while his student carefully knit bone together and burned away the infection. Her skill and speed with healing had improved so much since her first time curing the birds in the aviary. Once she was finished, Daine removed the muzzle only for the wolfhound to tackle her and slather the young woman in wet kisses before giving her master the same treatment.
"I dunno how to thank ye, miss." The hunter looked at her in complete bewilderment, arms wrapped around his dog.
"Just see that she's fed." Daine grinned, using a sleeve to wipe her face. "Faolan's fair hungry and then she'll want a good sleep. I'd set her tracking for a few days druther than hunting. Give the leg time to regain its strength," she advised before turning to the wolfhound. "No chasing rabbits over frozen lakes next time! You could've lost that leg had I not been passing by."
The mages said their farewells and continued with their walk but by dinnertime, news of what the Wildmage had done had spread throughout the village. Daine was inundated with requests to examine the villagers' animals which she, of course, agreed to every single one. The innkeeper didn't charge them for dinner so long as the Wildmage promised to look over his cows and chickens in the morning.
Numair spent the first few days of the Midwinter celebrations in his room with Kitten and Zek while Daine was kept busy. The dragonet was upset at being stuck inside all the time, so he put her through a rigorous testing to see what magic Kitten had learned so far. This lifted the dragonet's spirits while Zek was just happy to be staying in the warm and dry. Kitten knew many novice-level spells which she performed using various sounds, but she'd clearly been studying some of the college mages or perhaps the king and his champion, and had picked up a few complex spells. Her control needed a significant amount of work which Numair promised to help with but overall, he was very impressed with the dragonet's abilities and the speed in which she could memorise a spell.
On Midwinter's Eve, he snuck Kitten out of the inn under his cloak so she could enjoy the festivities. Candles, lamps and torches had been lit to welcome Mithros' return and several of the villagers stood to one side playing instruments while everyone clapped or danced.
"I can't believe I'm sorry to miss this year's ball," Daine laughed, shaking her head.
"Was there someone you were hoping to dance with?" It hadn't escaped his notice how popular she was with the young men around the palace.
"Not especially." She ducked her head to hide the blush. "Last year the Rider boys, several of the clerks and a few of the pages asked me for a dance. My feet hurt by the end of the night! Don't tell Thayet, but I think I'll actually miss getting dressed up and dancing this year."
"On my honour, she won't hear it from me," he chuckled.
"She'd shove more silk and dresses my way elsewise." Daine made a face.
"Your wardrobe was particularly lovely in Carthak as I recall." Numair smiled, remembering the silk dresses and tunics she'd worn, especially the lilac muslin dress with the gold surcoat and the twilight blue dress that had sparkled like the night sky.
"The queen arranged it so I'd fit in with the rest of the delegation," she shrugged. "I normally hate wearing a dress seeing as I had to wear them all my life afore coming to Corus, but those weren't so bad."
He was quite sorry to have missed the opportunity of seeing his companion dressed in silk again. The mage understood that the clothing was entirely inappropriate for her line of work, but she had looked breathtaking.
"I s'pose you've never danced at Midwinter on account of being a slave?" Daine asked hesitantly.
"I learned several court dances while I was still a student. I think I still remember a few…" Numair placed Kitten on a wooden stool and held out his hand, bowing gallantly. "Would the lady care for a dance? I would hate to deprive you of the pleasure considering I'm the reason you've been dragged away from the festivities."
Placed Zek beside Kitten, Daine accepted his hand, her cheeks turning pink. Neither mage was particularly dressed for dancing in their travel-worn shirts and breeches, but Numair decided to make the best of it. He hadn't celebrated Midwinter for the last eight years and he refused to let this one pass by without at least one dance with his charming friend.
The pair stood off to the side, not joining in with the merry making as Numair bowed formally and Daine curtsied. Holding up opposite hands, they circled each other, changing direction and swapping hands each time until they'd gathered quite an audience, gliding around each other in perfect sync and oblivious to anyone else. Numair was pleased to finish without messing up a single step and tried to ignore the raucous applause while he bowed to his companion. The pair were immediately set upon by the villagers: the boys whisking Daine away to join in their dancing while several women requested that Numair teach them the court dance. By the end of the night both mages had sore feet while they sat drinking hot cider, Kitten cuddled between them and Zek inside Numair's shirt trying to stay warm.
Smiling softly at his friend, he produced her present the pocket of his cloak. "Midwinter's blessing, Daine."
Unfolding the linen to reveal a pair of soft brown leather wrist guards, she blushed prettily. "Thank you," Daine whispered, running her fingers over the leather. She deserved better and far more but Numair didn't have the coin to buy her anything fancy.
"I noticed yours were getting quite worn," he explained sheepishly.
"Wait here? I left your gift back in my room. I was going to give it to you tomorrow." Daine stood, waiting for his confirmation before running back to the inn.
Numair smiled, watching her go before producing a bag of candied sweets that Kitten had been eyeing in the last village and set them before the dragonet. "Midwinter's blessing, Kitten. Try not to eat them all in one go," he advised, chuckling.
The dragonet half-shrieked in delight, nuzzling him happily before tearing into the bag and stuffing her face while Numair shook his head in despair.
"Zek, I have a bag of dried mixed prunes and dates if you want to come out?" The pygmy marmoset chirped and stuck his head out of the mage's shirt. Numair offered him one which Zek merely took and disappeared back into his shirt. He'd also bought a bag of apples for Spots and Cloud to share which he would give to them tomorrow.
Daine reappeared minutes later and handed Numair a velvet bag which rattled slightly before taking a seat beside him. Opening the bag curiously, he poured the contents onto his hand to see it contained a set of five crystals of all different types. Kitten paused her gorging to whistle-croak delightedly making the crystals shine with an inner light.
"I asked Harailt for some advice. He said those are the essential stones for any mage. I hope I chose right?" She looked up with a nervous smile.
Numair swallowed around the lump in his throat and smiled in gratitude. They must have cost three times the amount what he'd been able to afford for her. "Thank you. They're perfect."
Daine grinned happily until she noticed Kitten covered in sugar and laughed. "Your gift is back at the palace. I got you a bigger basket with velvet lining."
The dragonet chirped and chattered happily, her own version of saying thank you.
"Zek?" The marmoset poked his head out of Numair's shirt and whistled, a half-eaten date in his hand. "I got you your own travel bag like Kit's. It's lined with wool so you should be warm enough." She held it out to him.
The tiny monkey stuffed the rest of the date in his mouth before emerging from the mage's shirt to sniff and examine the small bag. It had a strap so it could be worn over the shoulder without hindering the wearer. Chirping happily, Zek crawled into the pouch and snuggled up into a ball. The mages exchanged a grin before deciding to call it a night. Hiding Kitten under his cloak once again, they returned to the inn where Numair tucked the dragonet into Daine's room before bidding the young woman a goodnight.
Without thinking he bent down and kissed her cheek tenderly. "Thank you for my present. It was very thoughtful."
"You're welcome." Daine blushed crimson, her hand reaching up to touch the place where he'd kissed her. "G'night Numair."
He exited her room hoping she would interpret that kiss as nothing more than a friendly gesture. Numair didn't want to accidentally manipulate his young friend, especially when he already felt more for Daine than was appropriate for a man of his years and position.
January arrived bringing heavy snow and icy cold winds. It was not the weather to be caught outside so the mages and their animal companions made note of all the villages, farms and caves around the area, with help from the People, and refused to stray far from shelter while they continued to close up the portals.
They were travelling close to the Tusaine Mountains, north of the Great Road East, where Kitten and Numair had sensed a particularly large portal, when the mage called a halt. The party had fallen into an almost routine with Numair concealing himself within a protection circle while Daine, Kitten and the horses spread out to cover the area. Zek preferred to stay with Numair, informing the Wildmage that it felt like the safest place to be. She couldn't really argue with him on that.
At first everything seemed to be going well, although it was taking longer than usual. Daine stood ready with her bow in a gloved hand only half expecting trouble when three huge wyverns flew through the portal knocking everyone to the ground. The reptilian Immortals looked very much like dragons with enormous leathery wings, but these had no legs. They circled the sky, screeching as they dived towards Numair's hiding place as if his wards did nothing to conceal him. Opening their mouths wide, the wyverns breathed out a strange yellow fog.
"Don't breathe it in!" the mage yelled.
Daine gulped a lungful of clean air, before shooting her first arrow at the creatures. It struck one of the wyverns in the chest who screamed in pain and dived towards the young woman who already had her next arrow loaded on the string. Galloping across the ground, Kitten stood before her adopted mother and screeched loudly. The wyvern appeared to writhe in pain, flapping its large wings and blowing the fog away from the group before veering off sharply. Daine lowered her bow a fraction, watching it go and frowning in confusion.
The Wildmage raised her bow as the other two Immortals made a dive in their direction only for the dragonet to screech again, sending them swerving away. How was Kit doing that? Daine was so distracted trying to figure out how the dragonet was driving the wyverns away, she missed the seven-foot Immortal with the body of a man and the head of a bull charge out of the portal towards her.
A muscular arm grabbed the young woman around the waist, yanking Daine off her feet causing her to drop her bow. She screamed, kicking and beating at her captor while it bellowed in triumph carrying her off into the forest.
The Immortal was fast, charging headlong through bushes and trees, ignoring the many branches that scraped at its skin. Daine thrashed in his arm but no matter what she did, she couldn't get free. Without warning the Immortal came to a stop, flinging her against a tree trunk. Dazed and winded, the young woman scrabbled around for anything she could use as a weapon, finding only sticks and stones much to her vexation.
The large, very naked male advanced menacingly, ignoring the stones she hurled at his face and chest. The Immortal had tiny forward-facing eyes, a flat human nose, teeth that were too big for its jaw, and from the top of its head grew two short, thick horns. The broad shoulders and heavily muscled human body were at odds with the hairy legs, splayed hooves and ox tail. Daine had never seen anything like it as she tried to make a run for it, but the creature grabbed her roughly by the arm, pinning her to the ground and pressing her face into the frozen earth.
Panic filled her senses as she found herself almost paralyzed by fear. Realising the creature meant to rape her, Daine screamed and kicked hoping to get a lucky hit between its legs, but the male's grip only tightened until she thought he would snap her bones. The Immortal bellowed once again, loud and triumphant until the cry became a wail.
Daine twisted free the moment he relinquished his grip in time to see the creature explode in a spray of silver blood to reveal Numair stood behind them with a murderous glare in his dark eyes. Spotting her alive and well, he rushed to her side and swept Daine into his arms heedless of the gory mess covering her. Burying her face into his shirt, she burst into tears and clung to him as Zek crawled out to comfort her while the mage cradled her gently in his lap murmuring words of comfort until the tears subsided.
"Are you hurt?" he asked, smoothing the curls away from her face.
Daine shook her head and sniffed. "Just a few scratches and bruises."
Numair produced a handkerchief so she could wipe her eyes and blow her nose while she continued to cling to him, refusing to be parted from his warmth.
The mage didn't seem to mind as he gathered her into his arm and got to his feet. "Let's return to the others."
Daine just buried her nose into his shirt, breathing in his unique spicy scent. "The wyverns?"
"Gone I'm afraid. We'll have to deal with them another day," he apologised.
She nodded, snuggling deeper into his chest. "The portal?"
Numair swallowed and readjusted her in his arms before continuing. "I confess, I didn't seal the tear. When I saw the tauros carry you away all other considerations seemed secondary."
"Tauros?"
"A creature born of a woman's fear of rape," he explained, voice soft and gentle. "They are said to have a limited intelligence and exist only for the purpose of raping and killing human females. Tauros are only male, you see. There are no female tauros. They don't possess any kind of magic that we are aware of, but many scholars have postulated the theory that they give off a pheromone that renders a woman powerless against it." His grip tightened fractionally. "I can't say it's a theory care to test."
"I couldn't get away," Daine admitted quietly. It occurred to her, now that she was safe, she hadn't even thought to ask any of the People for help – not that the Wildmage liked the idea of putting her friends in danger for her sake.
Numair placed a tender kiss into her hair. "You're safe now. First thing tomorrow I'll seal the portal so nothing else like that can get though."
Daine nodded, closing her eyes while she listened to the gentle cadence of his voice, enjoying the feel of his arms wrapped around her making her feel safe and warm. Nothing would be able to get her so long as he was around.