Description: Daine asks to visit the menagerie again in search of her black hawk.
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters. Everything belongs to Tamora Pierce.
Author's Note: I have a theory that it was possibly love at first sight between Daine and Numair in Wild Magic, but neither of them would consider that at the time due to Daine being thirteen and the obvious age gap. Of course, you are more than welcome to disagree. I'm not usually a believer in love at first sight as I believe love takes time, but I suppose that doesn't mean you can't feel drawn to someone inexplicably.
**Elements of this chapter may change with the release of Exile's Gift**
Chapter 4
At noon, Arram found himself knelt at the back of the dining hall watching everyone feast on the extravagant banquet Varice Kingsford had prepared. The beautiful noblewoman was in her element flitting between the ministers and ambassadors filling their plates with canapés. She had once been Arram's lover if such a thing could be believed but that felt like a lifetime ago.
It was disgusting to watch these people fill their faces with delicacies and exotic foods that the mage could barely keep his emotions concealed. Carthak declined every day while the rich dined in the palace oblivious to it all. When their reckoning came, Arram would be there to make sure they remembered the price of their gluttony.
Eventually, the emperor, his ministers and the delegates filed out of the room to begin the negotiations leaving the mage blessedly alone for the rest of the day. Thankfully he was not required or even permitted to kneel at the emperor's side while the talks were being held. Arram retreated outside away from the surplus food that was starting to turn his stomach. It was another hot autumn day while the sun baked down on his exposed skin, but he preferred the fresh air to being stuck inside. Behind him slaves began to clear away the dishes and take them back to the kitchens. It hurt to think that anything that hadn't been eaten would be thrown out rather than given to those far more deserving. Some of the slaves would undoubtedly sneak the odd mouthful but they would lose their fingers or even a hand if they were discovered.
"Hullo again."
A female voice startled Arram out of his introspection and he turned to see Daine smiling up at him hesitantly.
"I am honoured to see you again." The mage bowed low at the waist and managed to stop himself from saying 'Nobility'. "Your dragon isn't with you?"
The young woman shook her head. "Kit's her own person and goes where she wants. She's actually interested in politics, unlike me."
"You should keep her close, Daine," the mage lowered his voice. "The emperor wants her for his collection and makes no secret of it."
She shuddered and closed her eyes. "They showed it to us today."
Arram would truly hate to see such an intelligent and curious creature caged in that place. Whatever happened he would somehow ensure the dragonet escaped that fate.
"You said last night, I might be able to heal if I had training," Daine's voice interrupted his thoughts. "What sort of training?"
The mage focussed on the young woman and pursed his lips. "Do you know how to meditate?"
She made a face. "The Queen's Riders have to do it every evening after lessons."
"It's a good place to start," he suggested trying not to chuckle at her disgruntled expression.
"I'm not any good at meditation," Daine sighed, avoiding his gaze.
"It only takes practice and diligence," the mage said kindly. "We could meditate together if there is nowhere you need to be this afternoon?"
She bit her lip and looked up at him, studying his face carefully. "The others said I'm to stay away from you…"
Arram turned his face away not wanting her to see the pain her words caused. "They are right to warn you."
"Would you hurt me?"
The mage swallowed knowing that wasn't a promise he could make. "Not of my own volition."
"Arram?" He looked up to see Lady Varice standing on the balcony holding out a plate to him filled with delicacies. "I know it can't have been enjoyable for you to sit there watching the rest of us eat. I saved you a plate."
The mage stared at the food then at his former lover before turning his head away, saying nothing.
"You must be hungry," Varice took a step closer, her clear blue eyes pleading with him while Arram continued to stay nothing. "I'll leave it here for you, in case you want it." She placed the dish beside him on the balcony before retreating back inside in a rustle of fabric.
Daine watched the lady leave before peering up to study the mage's stony expression. "I thought slaves had to be polite to everyone?"
"We have a history," he responded coldly. "Lady Varice is the reason I'm still alive."
"And you hate her for it?" the young woman stared at him in confusion.
"Miss Kingsford condemned me to a life of servitude when she pleaded with His Imperial Majesty for my life," the mage muttered darkly. "Because of her I am a slave, bound to the will and petty whims of an evil, selfish man whose only goal is to acquire more power." Why was he telling her this? He shouldn't be expressing his opinions to a total stranger.
"The emperor wanted to kill you?" Daine's brows knit together.
"Ozorne asked me to serve in his court and to help eliminate his enemies. I refused thinking he meant it as an offer not an order, too caught up in my own selfish desires to travel the world, discover new magics and learn. Ozorne accused me of treason and locked me up in his dungeons until I changed my mind, but I had no intention of being stuck as a palace mage, forced to perform magic for nobles and foreign dignitaries." Arram shuddered at the memories. "My escape attempt failed miserably, and I was brought before Ozorne who is not known for his forgiving nature. That was when Varice intervened and then this!" The mage shook his manacles, squeezing his eyes shut, fighting against the bitterness. It took several deep breaths before he was calm enough to open his eyes to find Daine watching him. "My apologies, you didn't ask to hear my life story. What will you do with the rest of your day?"
She blinked several times at the abrupt change of subject before shrugging her shoulders. "I'm not sure. I'm at a bit of a loose end until the talks are done for the day."
"There are many wonders Carthak has to offer depending on your interests," Arram said, curious as to what this young woman enjoyed doing in her spare time.
"D'you think I'd be allowed back into the menagerie?" she glanced up at him from underneath her lashes with a look that could easily devastate a man.
The mage swallowed convulsively until he found his voice. "I thought you were given the tour this morning?"
"I didn't get to see everything as much as I'd've liked," Daine scuffed her foot on the floor.
Arram considered his options before deciding he really didn't care what anyone thought. "If it's acceptable to you, I could escort you and accompany you while you look around – unless you'd prefer me to fetch someone else?"
The young woman smiled up at him, a challenge in her eyes. "D'you know much about animals?"
The mage grinned. "I was a student of Master Lindhall. Animal Studies was one of my favourite subjects."
Daine interrogated him all the way to the menagerie about what Animal Studies covered before they discussed animals in general. The young woman seemed to know precisely where she wanted to go once they passed through the wrought iron gates. She took the lead, heading down a curving path, past tapir and mongoose until they reached a glass covered pit where Daine proceeded to turn in several circles looking distressed.
"Was there something specific you were looking for?" Arram asked.
"No," her face fell, and the mage didn't believe her for a second. "What's down there?"
Daine approached the pit which wasn't as well kept as the other enclosures. Shattered bones lay on the ground and most of the water in the pond had evaporated.
"Spotted hyenas," Arram joined her at the edge.
She glanced at him before leaning against the rail. "Hullo? Please come out."
The mage watched as her copper-coloured magic spilled out instinctively into the pit. He doubted the young woman was even aware of it or how she was able to call to the animals to her. From out of the shadows three hyenas emerged to stand at the base of the wall with the larger of the three taking the lead.
"Oh, you're beautiful," Daine breathed.
That wasn't the typical reaction to these creatures and the mage smiled. "They come from the grass plains of Ekallatum, far to the south. They're mostly night hunters – see the eyes? They have the strongest bite of any mortal predator able to crush the skulls of water buffalo. Hyenas have one of the most efficient digestive systems, capable of digesting skin and bone. Their olfactory sense – or nasal recognition – helps them to identify individual members of the pack. Hyena packs are matriarchal –"
"Matri-what?"
"Their society is ruled by females," he explained kindly. "Each pack is led by sisters. Studies suggest spotted hyenas possess an almost primate intelligence, capable of exhibiting deceptive behaviour and the ability to plan night hunts ahead of time. They also happen to be sacred –"
A phantom fist closed around his throat cutting him off. Don't let that tongue of yours run away with itself.
The fist tightened a little more before the mage was released, setting off a coughing fit while he struggled to catch his breath.
"Are you all right?" Daine patted his back gently until the fit subsided.
"Dust," he lied taking a few minutes to get his breathing under control before continuing. "You know, hyenas aren't well thought of by most people. They consider them cowards and monsters."
"That's just 'cause people don't understand 'em. Animals have reasons behind what they do," she stated pragmatically.
"Very true," Arram met her blue-grey eyes and smiled warmly before turning to stare at the skulls lying on the floor. "Hyenas are a very good representation of this country. Hyena mothers devour their young much like Carthak has devoured all its children: Ekallatum, Amar, Apal, Zallara, Shusin, Yamut – Siraj..." the mage trailed off failing to suppress a shudder.
Daine tilted her head as if listening to something. "Teeu says they do it to stop rival females from taking over the pack –" She jerked away from him, covering her mouth with a hand, staring wide-eyed in fear.
"That makes sense. Which one is Teeu?" he spoke softly, being careful not to look at her. She looked ready to bolt almost like a startled deer.
With one shaky finger the young woman pointed at the largest of the hyenas without taking her eyes off him. "Aranh and Iry are her boys."
The mage straightened slowly and nodded. "Is there anyone else you'd like to see?"
"You're not going to say I'm mad or try to dissect me?" Daine asked in a small, frightened voice.
Arram's face darkened, not liking the implications of that assessment. "You are most certainly not mad. I can see your magic touching the hyenas or the numerous animals you have spoken with, which I assume is how you are able to communicate with them so clearly. And I will certainly not hand you over to anyone for dissection."
The young woman bit her quivering lower lip, tears beginning to form in her eyes as the mage took an automatic step forward before freezing. She wouldn't appreciate being embraced or comforted by someone like him.
"Daine, your magic is real," Arram stated firmly. "There might not be a test you can take for wild magic, but you had to have known you possessed something special."
The young woman sniffed and scrubbed a sleeve over her eyes. "Ma wanted me to be a healer like her. She was so disappointed when I didn't have the Gift."
"You still could be – you would just be a healer of animals instead of humans." She sniffed again making Arram wish he had a handkerchief to offer her. "Would you like to visit anyone else?"
"Are there any birds kept away from being seen by the public?"
"Not that I'm aware of but we can visit the aviaries in case there are any you missed," he offered wondering why she was so concerned with seeing animals the emperor wanted hidden.
The pair wandered around the enclosures discussing the various species of bird and their habitats. As Daine grew more confident during their conversations, she gradually began to relay what the birds were saying to her, giving the mage a fascinating amount of information he wouldn't normally be privy to. And he'd believed himself to be well versed in animal behaviour!
"I wish I could greet them properly," the young woman sighed as they made their way back to the centre of the menagerie, touching a glass barrier wistfully.
Arram stopped to consider her request for a moment before he excused himself to speak with the keeper returning with the keys. "Who did you wish to meet?"
"You'd let me go inside?" The mage smiled indulgently and waited for her answer. "The lions," Daine said quickly before he changed his mind.
Arram unlocked the door, following her down the stairs to the pit where he unbolted the gate and held it open for her. The lions, who had been basking in the sunshine until the door opened, sat up instantly to attention. Zek screeched when Daine entered and clung to her curls shaking violently.
"Why don't I take Zek while you introduce yourself," the mage held out his hand.
The pygmy marmoset didn't hesitate as he leapt from Daine's hair and raced up his arm to his shoulder. The mage stroked him gently with one finger while the young woman smiled up in gratitude. The lions circled her sniffing curiously and nuzzling at her hands while she spoke in soothing tones.
"They miss the open plains," the young woman translated sadly as one of the lioness' separated, heading towards Arram. "She won't hurt you," Daine assured him.
The mage stood very still while the lioness investigated him with her nose and whiskers. Zek clutched his ear, chittering and squeaking a whole host of sounds. "You're safe on my shoulder. I won't let anyone eat you," he whispered to the marmoset.
Daine spent several minutes talking to the lions before asking to visit the macaques. Zek squeaked on his shoulder when Arram locked the lions' cage and crawled back down his arm.
"They're called keys. They unlock things," Daine spoke to the marmoset before tilting her head and looking sad. "Zek wanted to know if he'd had keys, could he have freed his family," she clarified for the curious mage. "He'd like to see the keys if you'll allow it."
"Of course," Arram smiled, handing Zek the keys as the marmoset sat on his hand and examined them carefully one by one.
When they reached the macaques door, the mage held Zek up to the lock and showed the marmoset how the key fit into it, explaining the mechanics in a gentle voice before turning the key. While primates were considered to have human-like intelligence there was something different about the way Zek listened to Arram and practiced using the key. It was an untested theory, but the mage wondered if exposure to Daine's magic had somehow made the marmoset more intelligent.
It was a rare and wonderful afternoon for Arram who was included in many of the introductions while the young woman spoke to the occupants of the menagerie. The brilliant smiles she gave him when he didn't flee or scream but merely held out a hand for the animals to sniff were doing funny things to his insides.
It was getting late when Daine turned to him sadly. "I should prob'ly be getting back now."
Arram held out a hand to her. "Would you come with me first? There are some people I'd like you to meet."
She studied his hand for several seconds with an unreadable expression before slipping hers into it. The mage led her into the warren of tunnels beneath the palace until they reached a round underground chamber. Runes decorated the walls protecting the slaves who lived here from their mage owners.
"Daine, may I introduce you to the Banjiku tribesmen of Zallara," Arram swept an arm around to indicate the short, Black tribespeople. "They have wild magic like you but nowhere near as powerful."
Every head in the room, human and animal, turned to look at the newcomers as their leader, Tano, hurried over to them anxiously.
(Why have you brought this one here?) Tano asked in Zallaran.
(Just watch.) The mage beamed as the dogs, monkeys and two cheetahs all flocked to Daine, surrounding her. One of the cheetahs rose on its hindpaws to place its forepaws on the young woman's shoulders, touching its nose to hers.
(She is a god!) Tano gasped.
Arram's smile died as he looked sharply at the tribesman. (You're certain?)
As well as possessing wild magic the Banjiku had also been blessed with the ability to recognise gods in all the forms, believing their tribe had been birthed by the goddess Lushagui. Was that why the Graveyard Hag had taken such an interest yesterday when the Tortallan delegation arrived? Was Daine a goddess?
"What're they saying?" the young woman asked shyly.
Arram swallowed hard and gazed into her blue-grey eyes. "Tano believes you are a goddess."
"I'm no such thing!" Daine protested blushing furiously.
(If she is not a god then she is the daughter of a god.) Tano commented at the mage's side having a rudimentary understanding of the common tongue. (Ask the lady which god so that we may sacrifice to them that they may visit our tribe and bless us with divine children who speak to all Beast-People.)
"Tano says that if you are not a god then you are the daughter of one," Arram watched her reaction carefully for any sign of falsehood wishing he had some eyebright powder. Not that it would help if she really was a goddess. "Is your father or mother a god or goddess?"
The young woman looked deeply pained and buried her face into the cheetah's fur.
"Nobility?" The mage cursed silently and moved closer. "Daine?"
She looked up at him with wide, sorrowful eyes "I don't know who my Da is. Ma met him on Beltane but she – she died afore she could tell me anything about him."
Arram felt a sharp stab of guilt for making her recall such a painful memory. "I'm very sorry."
He turned to Tano and translated what the young woman had said refusing to ask any more about her unknown father when it was clearly a difficult subject. After introducing each tribe member to Daine, the mage returned her to the guest-wing via the slave tunnels, stopping at the entrance that would lead to the gardens outside her room.
"Thank you for today," she whispered.
"You are very welcome," the mage replied. "I'm sorry I upset you. I thought you would enjoy meeting with a people who shared your power."
"I liked their animals," the young woman managed a wan smile.
Arram bowed, apologising for making her late to dinner before he left, his mind alive with possibilities as to which god could have possibly sired her. He knew so little about Daine or where she was born. The only information they had been given was that she was common-born, penniless and without any family.