Description: Daine performs her first full shapeshift and both mages learn the quirk to shapeshifting with wild magic.
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters. Everything belongs to Tamora Pierce.
Author's Note: I read somewhere that Tamora Pierce thought Daine's three favourite animals (if she had to pick) to transform into would be wolf, horse and bird. She did wolf so I picked horse for a bit of fun and frolicking.
You have probably noticed I'm making up a load of village names. There is an unnamed river in Carthak near Siraj that I made up a name for. If anyone knows the real name, please could you let me know?
Random note, I'm not a fan of songfics but I happened to be listening to Lewis Capaldi's "Pointless" when I wrote the scene with the king and thought some of the words were apt for this version of Numair, especially two lines: "She brings me inner peace" & "She takes the sadness out of me".
Chapter 30
After almost a week back in Corus, Numair had managed to fall back into a routine of balancing his research and teaching. It helped that he'd succeeded in sparking Daine's interest in his studies, and she was happy to assist him of an evening. Lindhall, of course, had been fascinated and had joined them for three days that week when he wasn't marking papers or assigned to private tutoring. His old mentor had taken well to his life in Corus and Numair was pleased for him. Lindhall was very keen to show Daine and him the improvements they'd already made to the royal menagerie, but she was reluctant and neither mage wanted to go without her.
It was long past the midday meal when Numair realised his student hadn't made an appearance and decided to go to the training yard to seek her out. Usually, she was the one digging him out of his rooms, but he understood Daine was torn between her duty to Onua and the trainees and to her magic. From memory, Numair knew the trainees were about to do combat and archery practice at the barracks having spent the morning learning cartography, but there was no sign of his Wildmage in the stables or the field as he strolled around looking for any sign or note of where she could have gone. It was possible an animal had required healing, or she'd sensed one in danger and gone to help.
Heading towards the barracks he found Onua and Buri running the trainees through a series of hand-to-hand combat exercises in the practice yard.
"Pardon me, have either of you seen Daine?" Numair enquired, keeping his distance, not wanting to intrude.
"I thought she was with you," Onua frowned, arms folded.
"She was out in the field with the ponies before lunch," Buri offered before turning to shout at one of the trainees for sloppy their footwork.
Numair almost felt sorry for the trainees, but they had applied of their own free will for this form of punishment. He thanked the women and made his way back to the field but there was no sign of his errant student when the mage got the distinct feeling he was being watched. Sending out his Gift, Numair let his magical senses expand until he located the source: a chestnut pony who stood watching him with dark eyes and blazed with a copper aura.
"Daine?" he whispered in awe.
The mare whickered and nodded, trotting forward to butt her head against his chest.
"You did it!" Numair grinned, swinging his legs over the fence to get a better look at her.
The Daine-pony pranced and frolicked as he tried to walk around her.
"Stay still. I'm trying to admire you." Numair placed a hand on her neck. "I'm no expert on horses, of course, but your transformation is superb." He circled, careful to keep his hands to himself, however tempting it was to touch and check whether she had the bone structure and musculature correct, but from an outward appearance, it was perfect. "Congratulations. Have you been able to change back?"
She snorted, fixing him with a withering stare.
"Why do I feel like you just told me that I'm no fun?" he frowned.
The Daine-pony whickered and pranced around him, shoving him playfully with her side.
"Fun comes after we've run through various experiments to test your control in this form, most importantly whether you know how to return to yourself. Please tell me you've at least done that much?" Numair gave his student a hard stare.
The chestnut mare threw her head in a carefree way, racing away from him at an incredible speed.
"Well, there's nothing wrong with her legs," he muttered, shaking his head.
The mage leant against the fence watching his student while she galloped around the meadow, convincing half the herd to run beside her with the Wildmage at the head. She really did suit horse-shape with the graceful body and strong muscles, her mane and tail streaming out behind her. The Daine-pony made two circuits around the field performing several small leaps before charging straight at him. While Numair might be nervous of horses, he wasn't afraid of his friend even though he knew she was trying to scare him. Numair stood his ground as the Daine-pony skidded to a halt, centimetres from colliding with him.
"You have confirmed you have good agility and freedom of movement," he stated in his best 'teacher' voice.
The chestnut mare whickered in what Numair was beginning to suspect was the horse version of a laugh. Prancing around him again the Daine-pony presented her back to him and nodded her head.
"I am not riding you!" he stated firmly, blushing when he realised how sordid that sounded.
She snorted, shoving him again causing Numair to stumble.
"For a number of reasons," he countered, having a feeling they were somehow arguing about this. The mage was already compiling a list of arguments from the lack of saddle to his height, but the top of that list was that under no circumstances was he mounting the back his very young friend and student. The talk would be damnable if anyone saw not to mention the moral implications! "Well, the behaviour is certainly apt. You're acting just like an adolescent filly," Numair muttered under his breath.
"Hey! What are you doing to my ponies?" Onua shouted, baring down on the mage, Tahoi hard on her heels.
Numair waited until the K'miri was close enough to have a polite conversation rather than shouting back. "You may notice that you have acquired an additional pony," he remarked.
"That's not one of mine." Onua frowned.
"No, it isn't," the mage agreed, curious as to how long it would take before the horsemistress clicked. She had wild magic of her own no matter how faint, but would it tell her when a horse wasn't really a horse?
Onua looked between him and the horse before gasping. "Daine? You did it? You can really shapeshift?"
The chestnut mare nodded her head and danced in circles looking immensely pleased with herself, if such a thing could be said of a horse. Onua jumped the fence coming for a closer inspection as she ran her hands over the arch of Daine's neck, down her back before checking the feet and legs. That sort of examination probably wasn't considered intrusive when it was another female doing it.
"Amazing!" Onua breathed. "Can you change back?"
"That is what I am still trying to ascertain," Numair walked up beside her, folding his arms over his chest to glower at his student.
The Daine-pony regarded both humans before snorting and shaking her mane. Slowly the body began to change; fur becoming skin, hooves turning into hands and feet. It took roughly about a minute for the Wildmage to regain her human shape before she stood in front of the pair.
"Happy now?" she asked tartly, folding her arms.
Numair turned an impressive shade of scarlet, swiftly turning his back to her while Onua burst out laughing.
"Odds bobs!" Daine yelped when she discovered she wore nothing but the badger's claw around her neck.
"Where are your clothes?" he asked weakly. That brief glimpse of her naked body was going to haunt his dreams for months, if not years.
"Prob'ly by the tree where I was meditating," Daine huffed, heading to tree surrounded by three ponies who were making an attempt at modesty. "Found them!"
Numair let out a shaky breath while Onua continued to chuckle. "I take it that doesn't usually happen?"
"Shapeshifting with the Gift allows the mage to keep the clothing on their body," he explained.
"That's going to make things awkward," Onua commented, giving him a measured stare.
"Tell me about it," Numair groaned, running his hands over his face. Why did she have to be so young and beautiful? So much for trying to escape damning gossip! "Please inform me when she's fully clothed."
"I can't find my earrings!" Daine cried out in distress.
"I can," he called back. "Once you're decent," he added under his breath.
"You're safe." Onua patted his arm, reassessing her opinion of the man beside her.
Numair turned around, gratified to see his Wildmage dressed in breeches and a shirt, carrying her boots and stockings in one hand while she searched frantically in the grass. He joined her with Onua following as he sent out his Gift, easily locating the corresponding echo of his magic within the silver. Numair bent to retrieve the studs when something gold sparkled out of the corner of his eye.
"I thought you were going to start checking my teeth and ears," Daine teased the horsemistress.
"You were a perfect specimen. I could get a good price for you at market." Onua elbowed her, grinning.
"These were perhaps an ill-thought-out present considering the circumstances. Clean them before putting them back in your ears." Numair held out the studs to his friend in the palm of his hand. "I found this as well." He blushed, opening his other hand to reveal a gold pregnancy charm.
Daine took both looking grim. "That's going to be a pain."
"But the badger claw stayed with you," Onua pointed out, frowning.
"Magical gifts from godly benefactors are far superior to what us mere mortals can create it would appear," Numair grumbled, his mind already focussed on the problem. Could he spell her clothes and jewellery to remain with her? They would have to test that sooner rather than later. "Any ill effects?"
"You mean aside from having no clothes when I changed back?" Daine snapped before looking away cringing. "My bones hurt…"
Ah, that explained the sudden outburst. He was getting better at deciphering some of her moods whether they were physical or emotional. Numair prided himself on knowing when her monthlies caused her to suffer as Daine never said a word to him about it, but he often caught the rough side of her tongue. He'd been sneakily adding angelica leaves to her tea to help with the discomfort and passing the flavour off as 'experimenting'.
"That will be your body adjusting to the change. Imagine going from bird-shape with hollow bones back to human." Numair smiled in understanding.
"Your bones hurt too?" Daine tilted her head quizzically.
"The first few times, yes." He squeezed her shoulder, beginning to steer her back to the stables. "You need to rest. And I mean rest, not like your idea of resting after your first healing." The mage eyed his student stubbornly, willing to fight her on this if necessary.
The three of them headed inside with Numair following Daine to her room while Onua hung back, watching the pair with interest.
"How long?" Daine huffed.
"A few days at least. I can make you a tea to help with the pain," he offered, taking her boots and placing them beside the bed.
"Days?"
"Yes." Numair leant on the doorframe, watching her.
Daine scowled at him while she washed her studs in a basin of water before reattaching them.
"At least the holes didn't close up when you changed back." He smiled softly, while his mind puzzled over whether that was her body reverting to its previous state or due to her mental image of herself. Her horse-shape hadn't had any holes in its ears... "Lie down and get some rest while I make you that tea. We can forgo lessons for a few days if needed."
"You mean you won't read to me? I've just got to lie here bored?"
Numair tried not to laugh at the plaintive whine in her voice. "I will return to go through the next chapter if you lie down and if the mental stimulation doesn't tire you."
Daine flopped onto the bed giving her best pleading expression which was, unfortunately, very effective. Numair smiled, shaking his head as he left the room.
Onua intercepted him before he could leave the stables. "You really do care about her, don't you?"
Numair blinked in confusion, surprised she'd even ask that. "Of course I do." Although that fell very short of where his true feelings lay.
She nodded, a wistful expression on her face. "Daine's special. We all get a bit protective of her. Me especially."
"Believe me, I understand that sentiment all too well." Taking a risk, he reached out and squeezed her shoulder. Numair had often been quite tactile with the people he counted among his friends, but Onua had resisted most of his affectionate gestures. "I'd give my life for hers if necessary."
"You know, I believe that." She smiled up at him "Do you need anything before I return to the trainees? I don't want to keep you from your lessons."
Numair shook his head before reconsidering. "Have you got a teapot and a cup I can borrow? It'll be easier if I can brew the tea here."
"I'll get some water boiling ready for when you come back." Onua patted his hand, moving away.
The mage smiled and waved as he trotted back to his rooms to retrieve the dried herbs and a few books. If Daine wasn't up to lessons, then maybe she wouldn't mind him reading up on the kudarung. Supposedly the miniature winged horses had been spotted in growing numbers in the Copper Isles. He'd dearly love to see those one day with her, if the fates allowed, and learn if their behaviour was a closer match to hurroks or the illusive winged horses seen in the Eastern Lands.
After a few days of rest, Daine recovered from her aches and pains, although it meant she was now reluctant to try shapeshifting again. Numair tried to reassure her that the change got easier the more she practiced, but she refused to try horse-shape again after several attempts at persuasion. He didn't want to push her too hard, but the mage couldn't help his own enthusiasm at learning how many shapes she could take.
Daine had admitted that the shift into horse-shape had been instantaneous but turning back to human had felt almost unnatural. It was a worrying discovery but a fascinating one. Numair had never really considered how close his friend's connection to animals was. When they first met, he'd needed to separate to her wild magic from her core, but she'd lived with that feeling for almost sixteen years. Did that make Daine closer to an animal despite being born human?
Numair was reviewing material on shapeshifting with the Gift while writing up his own memories of his first experience, in case any of it could be useful to Daine, when a knock sounded at his door. A first-year page stood on the other side to inform him that the king requested his presence in his study right away. Despite the message being worded politer than he was used to, Numair still understood a command when he heard one.
Knocking on the study door, the mage was delighted to discover Daine sat with His Majesty sharing a plate of sweet cakes. King Jonathan looked exhausted, as if he'd spent far too many nights sat at his desk buried by reports instead of asleep in bed. Ozorne had never looked like the plight of his citizens affected him even during the famine riots. If Numair had ever needed reassurance that the two men were very different rulers, he could see it now in the king's bloodshot eyes and rumpled clothing.
"Numair, please take a seat." Jonathan of Conté smiled, indicating the free chair.
It took two beats before the mage crossed the room without bowing to His Majesty while the other two pretended not to notice his hesitation. Numair took the seat beside Daine giving her a small smile.
"How are your lessons progressing, Daine?" the king asked, taking another cake.
"Good, Your Majesty. I managed to change into a horse a few days ago." She beamed.
"That's partly what I wanted to speak with you about," Jonathan addressed the young woman directly. "It's clear to me now your skills would be better utilised as a special mage employed by the crown instead of the assistant horsemistress. Since the barrier fell, we've been inundated with Immortals." He patted the thick stack of reports beside him. "I'm afraid I need to send you out again," this His Majesty said to both mages. "Our forces are spread thin, patrolling the border and also dealing with these new threats. Can I count on you both?"
"We can handle those Immortals for you, Majesty," Daine agreed with a determined smile.
"Numair?" The king turned his sapphire gaze on the mage. "I'm aware of your history and what Emperor Ozorne forced you to do. I won't order you to do this – but I'm asking for your help on behalf of Tortall."
Numair looked away from that penetrating stare, swallowing hard. It was undeniable that he owed these people his life, his freedom and the chance at a new home. He'd been shown more unimagined kindness over the past several months and the mage wanted a way to repay that kindness, but did it have to be with fighting?
Sparing a brief glance at Daine's concerned face, Numair knew his mind was set in truth. In a very short space of time his Wildmage had become the second most important person in his life with Kitten an equal third. Their happiness and wellbeing were of paramount importance to his existence and Numair would gladly spend the remainder of his days ensuring they had a future.
Being a part of their lives these past months, marvelling at their magic, had brought him more joy than he'd ever thought possible. Numair would fight to ensure they continued to have new experiences and learn all about their magic. Daine deserved a future with a loving husband and a family whilst Kitten deserved to grow into an adult and to be reunited with her own kind. There was little else he could give them, and the mage had never wanted to use his magic for death or killing ever again, but he could fight to protect their home.
Meeting the king's eyes, Numair nodded. "When do you need us to leave, Your Majesty?"
"As soon as you're packed." Jonathan returned the nod with a grateful, relieved smile. "We received a report this morning from Lord Vikison that hurroks have been harassing his family estates. He requests immediate assistance. I'll send word to the kitchens to have two bags of supplies readied for you."
Numair stood when Daine did but didn't turn to follow.
"Something on your mind?" The king watched him with a steady gaze.
"Over the winter months we sent you reports via one of Daine's winged friends," the mage ventured, cautiously. "Will you be contacting us via speech spell, or should we return to Corus for new assignments?"
"You have a better idea?" Jonathan asked, blue eyes sparkling.
Numair took a breath before speaking. "Spelled mirrors. They would mask our communications in case you needed to send us somewhere without being overheard by an enemy."
"You think I'll use your abilities to scout enemy strongholds?" the king challenged, voice grave.
"The possibility did occur to me, but I also thought you might want to keep me away from anywhere you suspect Ozorne to be." Numair licked his lips nervously.
"I had forgotten, thank you for reminding me." Jonathan sat back, letting out a sigh. "I'll send word to the college and –"
"If I may?" Numair interrupted. "I spelled a pair of mirrors when we returned. None of Ozorne's mages would be able to listen in." He'd placed strong enough protection spells over them that only another black robe mage would be able to break them.
The king straightened, keen with interest. "How long would it take for you to spell more mirrors like this?"
"Not long," the mage admitted shyly. "I would only need the mirrors."
"I'll have them sent to your rooms," Jonathan said by way of dismissal.
Numair paused again, gaining in confidence that he could speak his mind in front of this man – within reason. "Has there been any word on Prince Kaddar's revolt?"
The king looked up, grim-faced. "Only bad news. Carthak is currently embroiled in a civil war. Kaddar's rebels have been engaged in guerilla warfare all winter but since the weather started to warm, Ozorne's supporters have kept them barricaded in the Zemhoukhe Mountains. Were you thinking of returning to Carthak to support the prince?"
"No," Numair responded quickly. "No – I just wish I'd done more to help."
"There is nothing we can do to support Prince Kaddar until we've dealt with our own problems," Jonathan emphasised, a note of apology in his tone.
"Food," Numair whispered. "It's not military aid he requires. If you could spare any food, water, medical supplies?"
The king sat back, linking his fingers together while he thought. "I will speak with my advisors and see if we have any to spare," he said after a long minute of silence. "But I don't know how we'd get it to the rebels even if we can provide them with humanitarian aid."
"Send any relief you can up the River Abkarah to the base of the Zemhoukhe Mountains," Numair pleaded on behalf of Prince Kaddar and the escaped slaves fighting with him.
"And how do you expect us to make contact with Prince Kaddar or the rebel insurgents?" Jonathan asked practically.
"I have a means of contacting him." Numair planned on begging Daine to send a pigeon after this meeting.
"I can place an image of Prince Kaddar in the mind of a carrier pigeon." The Wildmage appeared at his side. He thought she'd already left. "They could take a message across the ocean if they cross at the narrowest point."
Numair could have kissed her – he very nearly did – overwhelmed by her willingness to help a people she owed nothing to.
"Very well. Leave it with me." The king sighed heavily.
The mage bowed without thinking. "Thank you, Your Majesty."
Jonathan nodded although Numair could see he had just added to the king's problems. "Could you send Page Vinson in on your way out?"
The mages left King Jonathan to his work with Daine passing on the message to the boy stood outside the study. The moment the door closed Numair grabbed her, sweeping her into his arms for a bone-crushing hug. She squeaked in surprise but wrapped her arms around his neck returning the embrace. He pulled away to kiss her soundly on the cheek before returning her to the floor.
"What was that for?" Daine asked, a little dazed.
"Because I – adore you." Numair smiled. "I'll meet you by the stables in an hour?"
He cupped her cheek affectionately before striding back to his rooms to pack, leaving the young woman stood watching him retreat, considering.