Description: Daine is too exhausted to heal the emperor's birds when she is called on. After a pleasant day she finally learns what happens when you defy an emperor.

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

Author's Note: I've never really played with Alanna's famous temper before. No idea if I got her accurately as I've only read Song of the Lioness once.

Chapter 7

Daine wouldn't wake the next morning when Alanna tried to rouse the girl for breakfast nor when Master Lindhall came to escort the young woman to the aviary so she could examine the emperor's birds. The Tortallans were concerned about the offence this might cause or how it might affect the talks while Duke Gareth apologised, saying that Carthak's humidity and harsh sun must have got to her, promising that Daine would tend to His Majesty's birds when she felt better.

It was just after lunch when the girl finally emerged from her rooms in search of food. Zek had refused to leave Daine's side, but Kitten had exited the room periodically, joining the rest of the delegation for both breakfast and lunch. The dragonet, still sniffing around the table, chirped happily when she spotted her adoptive mother who promptly tucked into a pitta bread with gusto.

"Well, your appetite certainly hasn't been affected. What happened?" Alanna asked having already examined the girl with her Gift.

Zek was busily stuffing his face with grapes as fast as he could shovel them while Daine went for seconds of herbed pitta bread dipped in tomato sauce.

"I just took a funny turn is all…" the young woman said, avoiding looking at the Lioness or His Grace, who had remained at the table.

"Don't lie to me young lady!" Alanna snapped. "I saw that mage coming out of your rooms –"

"Which mage?" Duke Gareth interrupted sharply.

"The emperor's pet," the knight snarled viciously.

"Daine, how many times must you be told to stay away from him?" Duke Gareth gave the girl a hard stare.

Funny how those had almost been the mage's exact words. "He's not dangerous," she argued.

"Arram Draper is one of the most powerful mages in this realm and is controlled by a man who would happily see us all killed," Duke Gareth explained, his voice and eyes grave.

"He'd never hurt me," Daine tried to put all the conviction she could muster into her voice.

The young woman didn't know why she was so sure of the mage, but Daine knew in her heart she could trust Arram. Having him in her mind had only reinforced that opinion. All she'd felt from him was an infinite curiosity and kind nature.

"You don't know that –" Alanna objected trying to make the girl see some form of reason.

"He showed me how to heal last night," Daine met the Lioness' violet gaze.

"How?" the knight narrowed her eyes dangerously.

"You'll just yell at me if I tell you," the young woman muttered, stuffing another bite of pitta bread in her mouth as a good excuse not to say anymore.

"With good reason. Tell us anyway," Alanna folded her muscular arms.

Daine sighed. "He looked inside of me and found what the problem was. You were right, it wasn't madness. Arram said my magic was bleeding into my core." Whatever that meant.

"You let that man inside your mind!" The Lioness roared, purple with rage. "Where is he? I'm going to tear him limb from limb –" The knight stood abruptly and began to pace clenching her hands into fists.

"He fixed me!" Daine shouted. "Arram fixed what was wrong and showed me how to heal. I healed three birds!"

Kitten chattered in agreement from her own chair while Alanna and the duke exchanged a look before regarding the girl with matching sympathetic expressions.

"It sounds to me like he tricked you in an attempt to lure you away, my dear," Duke Gareth said gently.

"No!" Daine slammed her fists on the table, frightening Zek.

"You don't have the Gift, Daine," Alanna said gently. "I'm sorry, but this mage manipulated you into thinking you were able to do this. You've wanted to heal for so long it probably wouldn't have taken much to obtain that information and fool you into thinking you could do it. I just wish I knew why he was targeting you specifically…"

It hurt more than Daine wanted to admit that her friend wouldn't believe that she had magic. She'd known for years that the girl was different without putting a name to it. Why was it so hard for her to believe that she might have an unknown magic just because some Carthaki mage said so?

"Did Draper ask you anything about the talks?" Duke Gareth leaned forward clasping his hands together.

"No," Daine shook her head in denial. She didn't want to believe that it could all have been a lie. The young woman had felt herself draw upon her magic and heal those birds, that was why she'd been so exhausted. But weren't powerful wizard types supposed to be able to draw out your lifeforce…?

"What about strategic matters? Did he ask anything about our borders, our strengths, and weaknesses?" Duke Gareth probed further.

"No!" Daine stood trembling in fury.

"Excuse me, is this a bad time?" Prince Kaddar appeared just as the gong rang calling the delegates to the talks.

"No, Your Highness, now's a fine time," the young woman shot a nasty look towards Alanna who was glaring in return.

"I wanted to ask how you were?" the prince glanced at the stern faces around the table before focussing on Daine. "We were due to go for a walk this afternoon, but I heard –"

"A walk is just what I need, thank you," she interrupted, marching around the table, and taking the young man's elbow.

It probably wasn't considered diplomatic or polite behaviour, but Daine had to get out of that room and away from those people before she screamed. Zek raced across the table and leaped onto the young woman's arm before scrabbling up to her shoulder.

"Kit, coming or staying?" Daine asked.

The dragonet looked between the humans before whistling sadly and climbed off her chair to join the young people.

Daine marched off towards the gardens forcing Kaddar to keep pace with her which was quite an achievement considering his legs were so much longer than hers. The young woman wasn't sure where she was headed exactly just that she had to move.

"I heard you were suffering from heat sickness this morning. You don't seem unwell," the prince ventured after ten minutes of uncomfortable silence.

"I just took a funny turn, is all. I'm fine now," Daine replied curtly.

"I can see that," Kaddar said before pulling lightly on her arm. "Daine, slow down for a moment. If the heat made you sick, marching off isn't going to make you feel any better."

"Can we go someplace?" the young woman pleaded hoping the prince didn't mistake it as an advance. "Away from people if possible?"

"Have you seen the Hall of Bones?" Kaddar asked. At Daine's head shake he grinned and took the lead. "It's inside the palace and relatively cool."

The young woman followed quietly still seething until they reached a pair of double doors with a bronze nameplate. The prince glanced at her before speaking a word and opening the doors. Daine jumped in fright, clutching Kaddar's arm as Zek screeched. An enormous skull stared at them with three large horns and a beak for a mouth. The prince was laughing at her reaction which only served to irritate the young woman even further. She released his arm quickly and went to get a closer look at the skull.

"Aren't you a beauty," Daine whispered, reaching out a hand.

"These creatures are for display only. You can't touch!" Kaddar snapped.

The young woman snatched her hand back quickly to scowl at him. "What is it?"

"It's called a fossil. Creatures from beyond human memory," the prince explained proudly.

"If no one can remember them, how d'you know the pieces are in the correct order?" Daine countered, both to annoy him but also out of genuine curiosity.

"Do you know anything about occult magic?" Kaddar asked. She shook her head. "It's probably too complicated to explain then."

The young woman stiffened at his imperious tone, angry with him for believing she was just a stupid commoner. Daine might not be a wealthy, educated prince but neither was she an idiot. It seemed he was no different to any other mage she'd met, too busy and important to explain things.

"This was one of the horn-faced lizards," Kaddar continued. "This one in particular was called a great three-horn. Leaf eaters from a time when dinosaurs roamed the earth." The prince grinned at her, "I bet Tortall doesn't have anything this impressive."

Daine bristled at his smugness though she had to concede privately that they didn't as the pair wandered around the exhibits. King Jonathan was trying to build a university similar to this, but it would take years to make.

Kaddar pointed out different types of three-horn, one-horn, plated lizards with their armoured backs and tails, fast mountain-runners, and the tall snake-necks whose necks stretched taller than a giraffe. She quickly forgave the prince for intentionally scaring her earlier as he told her about plant and animal fossils. In another room Kaddar showed her huge shaggy elephants, called mammoths, who had lived in a time when the land froze over. While the young woman loved to hear about all these wonders, she had a feeling the prince was doing this as a chance to show off his superior knowledge rather than for her own benefit.

While the young people enjoyed themselves, the negotiations hadn't started on a good foot that day. Arram had only heard snippets from the ministers while he stood waiting for the emperor to arrive for the evening banquet, but it seemed Tortall would not buy silks, dye, and glass exclusively from them, which was hardly surprising. Dinner tonight was being held outside on the terraces beside an ornamental lake in the rich and opulent gardens.

"There you are!"

The mage barely turned in time as a fist connected with his stomach taking the wind out of him. He doubled over in pain when a hand constricted around his neck. Arram raised his head to see the furious face of the Lioness and her clenched fist ready to punch him in the face.

"I warned you not to trifle with Daine and now I find out you've been messing with her head!" she snarled, tightening her grip around his throat. "You're lucky I don't gut you with a table knife."

"I meant what I said, Nobility," the mage wheezed.

"I don't care what lies you spew from that silver tongue of yours," Alanna brought her face closer to his. "Stay away from Daine!"

"Is my pet causing you some sort of grievance, Lady Alanna?" Ozorne's mild voice interrupted the pair.

"We're just reaching an understanding," the knight released Arram, shoving him to the floor, before bowing to the emperor and storming off to take a seat at her table. The cold glare she shot the mage almost turned his insides to water.

Arram swallowed painfully and went to his knees to bow properly before his master.

"What did you do to incur the wrath of Tortall's Lioness?" the emperor's voice sounded thoughtful.

"The lady is very protective of those under her care, Nobility," the mage intoned impassively.

"We heard you'd escorted their girl-child to the menagerie for a private tour. What possible interest could she hold for you, my pet?"

Arram kept his head down to hide his wince. "This one merely did as the lady requested."

"The girl did not visit our birds today as she promised. She will not be granted any further freedoms until she does," Ozorne murmured darkly. "We heard you were seen near the aviary last night carrying the girl. If I find she has been interfering with my darlings –"

"She performed a healing last night," the mage admitted quickly. "It tired the lady significantly which was why she could not attend them today – Nobility." He wasn't about to allow Daine to be punished because she didn't keep to the emperor's schedule.

"How did the girl gain access to our birds?" Ozorne's voice took on a dangerous edge.

"This unworthy one brought her," the mage flinched in anticipation of pain.

"You took her?"

"Forgive this unworthy one. The lady didn't want to wait and this one thought Your Majesty would want your birds treated expediently." There was at least an element of truth to that sentence which Arram hoped made him sound genuine.

"You thought? I don't remember giving you permission to think," Ozorne grated as the mage felt emerald magic constrict around him, raising his head so he was forced to look into malevolent amber eyes. "You've taken quite a shine to this girl. You don't believe she has anything to do with your fanciful theories on wild magic that you were forever going on about?"

"Of course not," Arram swallowed. "His Majesty made it clear that such a thing could not exist."

"Indeed. How did Veralidaine heal my birds?"

Emerald fire sparked through mage warning him of the pain that would be inflicted should he be caught in a lie.

"This unworthy one doesn't know. This one merely waited outside until the lady was finished," Arram was not used to deceiving his master outright, but he wasn't willing to put Daine at risk. The mage was far better at twisting the truth and hoped he hadn't lost the ability to lie convincingly. "She healed three birds in total before fainting when this unworthy one returned the lady to her rooms."

The emperor released the mage from his magic and smiled viciously. "Keep a close eye on her. I want to know how she healed my birds, and you will find out for me."

"Yes, Nobility," Arram bowed his head respectfully.

He would rather endure all the pain Ozorne could inflict than allow the emperor to get his claws into that incredible young woman. The idea of her power under his control didn't bear thinking about! The mage needed to devise a very plausible excuse as to how Daine could heal those birds if she insisted on using her magic again. Remembering those wide, determined eyes from the previous night, Arram knew the young woman would never let this go until she had healed them all – even if it killed her.

Following the emperor to his table, the mage took his obligatory place behind His Majesty's chair, the very symbol of a pet. Varice had supplied their guests with yet more decadent food to delight and amaze their tastebuds. Arram knew he shouldn't be so bitter about his former lover using her Gift in a way that she loved, but there was so much she could be doing to help others instead of being a hostess. The blonde looked enchanting tonight in a silvery-blue silk dress which clung to her body like a second skin and highlighted the colour of her eyes beautifully.

The mage could feel eyes on him as he raised his head slightly to survey the tables. It came as no surprise when he found the Lioness giving him a purple-eyed death glare. Arram required no further incentive to keep his distance from Daine. The mage knew he shouldn't have been spending so much time with her, however alluring she was. He needed to put the young woman and her magic, and those eyes, out of his mind and focus on what was important. She'd spent the afternoon with Prince Kaddar despite her body likely deserving more rest, but who would pass up a chance to spend time with His Highness? Kaddar was a fine young man: intelligent, compassionate, and by all accounts an honourable young man with the women he courted. There was no use fantasising about Daine wanting to spend time with a slave when she had far better offers.

With the starters and main course finished, servers came to clear away the plates and make room for what was to be Varice's triumph. Arram had overheard some of the kitchen staff discussing the beautiful cake she'd made, and how clever Miss Kingsford was.

The emperor rose from his chair and raised his hands to quiet the chatter while a herald banged his staff until everyone gave their undivided attention to His Majesty. "We require some entertainment while the last course is being brought out. Come here my pet," Ozorne commanded, not looking at the mage.

Arram climbed to his feet and, keeping his head lowered, moved to kneel on one knee before his master. The emperor smiled exultantly while he drew runes in emerald fire over the mage's head. The cuffs on his wrists began to glow green in answer as Arram felt his Gift returned to him in a rush. It was only about half his full strength, but it had been such a long time since he'd been allowed any more than a trickle. The mage closed his eyes and breathed a deep sigh of relief.

"Amuse us," Ozorne commanded.

Arram held back from making a snide comment about juggling for his guests. "What do you desire, Nobility?"

"Something impressive," the emperor mused, loud enough for everyone to hear. "A mage of your talents learned a great deal when you went for your black robe." Coming to a decision, he smiled maliciously. "A word of power. Yes, demonstrate that for our guests."

The mage's head shot up, stricken. "No, Ozorne, you know words of power cannot be used like that. The resulting reaction elsewhere in the world would be –"

White-hot agony laced his veins as the emperor lashed out with his emerald Gift. Arram threw back his head and screamed.