Description: Numair betrays the Tortallans while Daine speaks in his defence.

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

Author's Note: While I haven't written it, I feel like Onua and Alanna end up having a discussion about their shared woes of talking to Daine about Numair.

Chapter 38

It was like something from one of his nightmares with Numair's body acting without his consent. His Gift rippled through him, unleashing itself at the fort to blast a hole through the outer wall. Another blast, of fire this time, incinerated the thick wooden doors. Queen Thayet dashed out into the courtyard to see what the commotion was only for him to aim at her, sending a blast of fire in her direction. Buri jumped in front of the queen at the last second, knocking Her Majesty to the ground and receiving a nasty burn before the Lioness raised an amethyst shield to protect them. Black sparkling magic surrounded Numair as archers fired three waves of arrows at him, all of which he wished would find their mark, but none did. His mouth moved, muttering a spell to call forked lightning down from the sky striking all the archers, their bodies falling black and smoking to the ground.

Through all the commotion, Daine was struggling to get to him while Cloud held her mistress back. It tore his soul to shreds for her to see him like this. A blonde Rider he barely recognised raced out to help drag her away, kicking and screaming. Numair prayed to any god to strike him dead as he pointed a finger at his lover while Ozorne's manic laughter echoed in his mind.

Before he could fire the deadly spell, something large slammed into him from behind sending him sprawling to the ground. Raising his head, Numair saw Spots charging towards Daine with Kitten in the saddlebag to herd her inside. He smiled gratefully at his gelding, cheeks damp, while his body got back to its feet. Stretching a hand above his head, the mage shouted a phrase calling fireballs to rain down and strike the fort until the queen's mages rallied, creating a braided shield. His Gift could break through it but that didn't appear to be Ozorne's plan.

Two hurroks materialised overhead and swooped down, one carrying the Emperor Mage while the other grabbed Numair's arms in its claws, lifting him into the air. It would be a blessing if the hurrok were to drop him from this height to fall to his death, but he wasn't that lucky. How had Ozorne found him?

Numair was carried over the Vassa River to where the combined Carthaki army and Scanran raiders were camped on the other side before being dumped unceremoniously to the floor. He pushed himself up onto his hands and knees, praying for a swift death when emerald lighting struck him. Pain was like a forgotten friend welcoming him back into its embrace while he screamed. The emperor stopped his spell just before Numair's heart failed as he collapsed to the ground spasming and twitching.

"How dare you betray me!" Ozorne snarled.

"You make it so easy," Numair rasped once he managed to find his voice.

The emperor lashed out with his foot, kicking him hard in the ribs. "I shall have you whipped for your insolence."

"Why not just kill me?" Numair growled, glaring in hatred at his once best friend.

A slow wicked smile spread over Ozorne's face. "All in good time, my pet. But first I require you to kill all those who took you in and kept you hidden from me. Especially the girl, Veralidaine Sarrasri. I shall enjoy watching you torture her to death."

Numair paled in horror. He should have taken his own life when King Jonathan refused to do it.

The emperor narrowed his eyes, grabbing his chin roughly and tilting it to the side. "So, that's how you've been resisting me."

Taking the opal earring in his fingers, Ozorne ripped it out of Numair's ear, tearing the earlobe. He cried out in pain, his hand automatically coming up to cover the area feeling the hot, sticky blood under his fingers. Soldiers set upon him, dragging Numair to his knees while he fought against them in vain with fists and feet. His defiance shattered the moment he felt cold metal touch his skin and heard the familiar click of the slave collar attach around his neck. The soldiers hauled and tied an unresisting Numair to a wooden post as a knife sliced through his clothing exposing his bare back while the rest was ripped away leaving him naked.

"Fifty lashes," the emperor commanded in a harsh voice. "I want to hear his screams!" With that Ozorne entered his tent, the flaps closing behind him.

Numair wept brokenly, uncaring who saw him. His only hope now was that Ozorne would forget to command him to eat or drink and he could starve himself to death.

Buri was immediately rushed to the healers who were scrambling to set up tents to care for the sudden influx of wounded. In less than ten minutes the fort had gone from a thriving stronghold to a ruin. Men and women dashed around pulling people from the rubble while mages used their Gifts to put out the fires. Shouts of alarm had everyone clearing the courtyard as the southwest corner crashed down, filling the area with stone.

Numair's power had done this. It might not be what he would have done with it, but it was what his Gift was capable of. Daine thought she was meant to feel afraid but instead she just felt angry. Anger for a man who had wanted to look for ways to end the violence without more bloodshed. Anger for her friend who could talk for hours on any given subject, juggled apples, and couldn't mount a horse no matter how many times she'd tried to explain. And anger for her lover with his warm embraces and tender kisses. That was not a man who killed easily.

Numair was worried he would be captured again, Zek chirped sadly at her shoulder.

So was I, she responded, feeling a dark chasm open within her filled with rage and an eerie sort of clarity.

They never should have come so far north. Daine had gotten too used to saying yes to every request for help, she hadn't stop to think what they even were. They'd been called here to deal with Immortals not to fight against soldiers. Why had no one warned them the Carthakis were so close?

Numair attacked you, Spots approached to lip at her hands.

It wasn't his doing. Ozorne made him do it, the Wildmage growled, fishing out a treat from her pocket for the gelding.

He asked us to hurt him if it happened. I didn't want to... Spots admitted miserably.

You did right, she soothed, stroking the gelding while trying to alleviate his guilt.

I hope you aren't considering flying off after him, Cloud butted her head into her mistress' arm. Numair wouldn't like it if you charged off into danger.

He's not got much of a say in what I do now, Daine replied coldly. I'm going to find him and free him!

Teeth clamped around her wrist in a painful grip. You'll do no such thing!

Spots gently placed his mouth over her other wrist. We don't want to lose you too.

Let us help, Zek insisted, grooming her curls in an attempt to soothe her rage.

Kitten chirped and chattered in her saddlebag adding her own opinion to the others. Tears threatened to spill from her eyes as Daine nodded, feeling a lump form in her throat.

"Daine? The queen wishes to speak with you," Evin called from a few paces away, eyeing her cautiously.

Cloud released her grip on her mistress and Daine quickly scrubbed a sleeve over her eyes. "Coming."

Zek leaped from her shoulder to land on the pony's neck as Cloud and Spots began to walk away, to all appearances having a private discussion. While she knew the People talked with one another thanks to her influence, it was odd not to be able to hear any of what they were saying. Daine shook her head and followed Evin feeling very strange.

She was taken to a room in the least damaged section of the fort where the fires had already been extinguished. Alanna, Onua and Evin stood grim-faced while the queen paced furiously. Her long hair was falling out of its braid and her skin looked pale, but Thayet's hazel eyes were hard and sharp like honed steel.

"What happened?" When no one responded immediately, the queen turned and yelled. "What happened out there?!"

"It was Numair. He turned on us." Alanna frowned. The Lioness was showing the strain of the last few months, with lines on her forehead and around the eyes as well as a few white strands in her bright copper hair.

"He betrayed us?" Onua stared at Daine, open-mouthed.

"No." The Wildmage shook her head.

"I know you care about him, Daine, but what do we really know about the emperor's pet mage," Thayet snaped.

The contempt in the queen's voice snapped the last thread holding Daine's temper in check. "How dare you say that! You didn't see his face!" she yelled, trembling with fury.

Alanna put a protective arm around her shoulders. "She's right, Majesty. Numair shouted a warning before he threw that first spell. I think it was all he could do, and he looked devasted just before he threw the second spell. If you're looking for someone to blame, then I suggest you look to Ozorne. Numair warned us what would happen if he got within range of that focus."

"You're right. We'd grown too complacent. I'm just worried about Buri." Thayet rung her hands and continued to pace.

"We all are." The Lioness sagged wearily.

Daine shrugged off Alanna's arm and tilted her chin stubbornly. "We've got to rescue Numair. We can't leave him in the hands of that emperor."

"We don't have much of a choice..." Alanna winced in sympathy.

"I'm not leaving him to be tortured and used again!" Daine snarled, glaring daggers at everyone in the room.

"I saw a hurrok carry him off," Evin stated. He'd been promoted to Group Commander, taking orders directly from Buri and Thayet. Was he now second-in-command of the Queen's Riders if Buri was out of action? "They'll have him in their camp by now. The best chance we have of capturing your teacher is when he next attacks us."

"I know it's not what you want to hear, but we need to come up with a plan of attack and to warn our forces he's no longer an ally," Onua said, touching Daine's shoulder when she opened her mouth to argue.

"Would you rather he had an opportunity to do this inside our walls a second time?" The Lioness scowled. "Somehow I doubt he's in love with the idea either."

Daine clenched her fists and ground her teeth in frustration. No, Numair would not be happy if anyone allowed him to do that again. Was he already blaming himself for what happened?

"Numair Salmalín has to be our top priority if Ozorne has him under his control again," Evin agreed. "This heavily tips the war in the enemy's favour."

"You're not killing him!" Daine snarled, advancing on Evin while Onua grabbed her arms to hold her back.

"No one's suggesting that," Alanna stated firmly, placing herself between the two young people.

"We don't abandon one of our own," Thayet's voice cut through the hostility, and everyone turned to look at the queen who stood very still, an unspoken apology in her eyes. "Numair came to us seeking sanctuary and we granted it to him. I know it's the best decision for the war effort to separate him from Ozorne, but we also owe it to him."

For the first time since Numair had been taken, Daine felt the corners of her mouth twitch in a smile. "I can shapeshift and search the camp for him."

"No." Alanna shook her head, voice resolute. "I know you're worried about him, but we need to come up with a reasonable plan, not rush in and end up with you captured or worse!"

"Why not speak with the animals instead?" Onua squeezed the Wildmage's shoulder. "You said you can merge with them and see through their eyes. That's far safer than going yourself."

"Did George have any luck gathering information about the focus?" Thayet asked, looking between Evin and Alanna.

While everyone knew of Evin's success in the Queen's Riders, only a select few knew of his position as Chief Falcon in the Shadow Service. George himself had recommended, the young lad to join the Rider's which allowed Evin to travel to places and spy without suspicion. Even fewer knew that Onua was a member of the Shadow Service but that was how Daine herself had been recruited.

"The emperor has it on his person, but it's not the only one he carries," Evin explained. "He's got focusses for centaurs, merfolk, ogres, giants… None of our spies can get close enough to see where he's hiding them. We believe they're magically concealed."

"So, either we focus our efforts on killing Ozorne." Alanna grimaced, knowing what an enormous taskforce that would take. "Or we need to take out Numair in a way that doesn't kill him –" She spared Daine a warning glance, "or gives the emperor cause to kill him."

"We'll put our heads together and see if we can come up with something." Thayet nodded. "Daine, why don't you get something to eat and then join us again after you've contacted the animals."

The Wildmage was suspicious she was being removed from the room so they could discuss ways in which to kill Numair if things went bad, but she bowed her head and exited, followed closely by Onua.

"Are you all right?" The K'miri pulled her into a hug once they were outside.

"No." Daine scowled. "Why did the king send us here if he knew Ozorne was close?"

Onua released her but held the young woman at arm's length. "We're outnumbered by the Immortals and only just holding our own. I suspect the king was thinking more about adding to our magical advantage, especially with how the two of you have been handling the Immortal problems throughout the kingdom," she admitted. "Ozorne hasn't been involved in the fighting so no one would have guessed he'd get this close."

Daine scowled while she considered this. "Back in Carthak the emperor used simu-things to move about unseen. What if he's been doing that here?"

"I'll mention it, but I'm sure our mages would have sensed him if he was snooping around." Doubt, however, had the K'miri frowning with concern.

Daine wasn't so sure. "I'll ask Kit if she can keep an eye out for invisibility spells." She glanced back at the closed door. "They're in there plotting ways to kill Numair, aren't they?"

"No," Onua said firmly. "Thayet said we wouldn't do anything of the sort."

"Then why'd she ask me to leave the room?" The anguish in her chest was threatening to burst as she buried it under a layer of rage and fury.

"Because you look exhausted and like you've skipped far too many meals." The K'miri slung an arm around her friend's shoulders and led her away. "I think Thayet is just worried about you like the rest of us."

"They should save their worry for Numair… What if –" Daine stopped short going deathly pale. "What if Ozorne's already killed him? He tried to kill the emperor in Carthak. What if Ozorne doesn't use him, just executes him?" She pulled away from Onua to dash down the corridor. "I need to fly out. I need to check on him!"

The K'miri swore, running headlong after the young woman. "Daine, I know you care about him but –"

The Wildmage shook her head feeling tears well up in her eyes as she reached the door. "It's more'n that."

Onua caught up with her, putting a restraining hand on her shoulder. "You developed feelings for him," she sighed. "I was worried this might happen."

"Don't get overprotective on me!" Daine shoved her away to wrench open the door and storm outside. "I'm not in the mood for a lecture about the evils of men."

"Have you slept with him?" The K'miri demanded. She stalked around to stand in front of her young charge, giving her a hard look while Daine went very still, feeling herself blush. "Does he have feelings for you?"

That wasn't a question Daine had expected her to ask as she nodded in response. "He asked me to consider marrying him in ten years if I haven't received any better prospects," she muttered softly. It still sounded too ridiculous for words for anyone to want to marry her.

"Well, at least he's willing to do the honourable thing after ruining your reputation." The K'miri scowled, folding her arms. "Though that's no reason to accept."

"What reputation?" Daine cried in outrage. "I'm a bastard! D'you have any idea how many boys approach me thinking I'm free with my body?"

"No, but you're going to tell me. Names and rank," Onua replied, face darkening.

Daine rolled her eyes. "Numair can't ruin an already sullied reputation and it's my life. I've a right to choose who I take to my bed. Alanna's encouraged me often enough," she added under her breath.

"Alanna and I have tangled over that subject many times where you're concerned," the K'miri grouched. "I don't appreciate her bad influence on you."

Daine's temper flared. "You're not my ma! You've no right to tell me who I can and can't canoodle with."

Onua took the outburst like a physical blow, the hurt evident in her grey-green eyes. "I'm only trying to look out for you…"

"Well, stop!" Daine yelled, not caring who heard. "You told me you don't need me anymore and I was to follow my own path. You can't object now that I'm doing just that!"

"I meant with your magic and training! Not to throw yourself at the first man you go off alone with," the K'miri shouted back.

The accusation hurt more than Daine wanted to admit. "I'm going to search for Numair. I'll try not canoodle with every man I pass on the way to the mess!"

Her eyes burned with anger while she stalked across the courtyard. Grabbing a ration bar and a few pieces of fruit, she tucked herself against a wall away from everyone. Eating mechanically, the Wildmage settled herself into tailor position and sent out her magic locating a golden eagle who agreed to fly over the enemy camp.

The cold did not agree with the Carthakis it would seem as Daine watched through eagle eyes while a few squabbles broke out between them and the Scanrans. They could use that, she thought. The army was still terrifyingly large with many more mages than the Tortallans had, and that did not include the army of Immortals.

Stormwings hung in the air along the border with one even taking a dive at her golden eagle as they passed. Hurroks and winged apes were held in cages or chained to posts at the edges of camp while giants sat around campfires and herds of centaurs gathered together eyeing the two-leggers with hatred.

Can you get closer to the cages? Daine asked.

I will hover a little lower, but I would prefer to adjust my sight than get too close, Sunbeam replied.

The golden eagle narrowed her focus allowing the Wildmage to see the slave collars around the necks of the hurroks and winged apes. Just like in Dunlath, she thought. Perhaps if they were freed the Immortals might flee the battle or cause more chaos for their side. It was something to mention to the others.

Flying towards the largest tent, Daine finally spotted Numair on open ground, tied to a post and covered in bloody gashes. While she was relieved to find her lover alive, his condition made her want to scream – an emotion which Sunbeam shared by screeching loudly. Her mate had been slashed by a Stormwing. Behind Numair, a soldier raised his whip as Daine lost her connection with the golden eagle when the leather stuck his back again. She buried her face into her knees, feeling the tears slide down her cheeks while she shook with rage.

After a few minutes, the Wildmage wiped her eyes and stood, letting her anger fuel her legs. If the others didn't come up with a good enough plan, she would call on every animal in the north just like she'd done at Dunlath – whatever it took to set Numair free. The Carthakis would pay dearly for taking him from her!