Tamora Pierce - Wild Magic

‘Not killed.’ Hakim’s voice was steady, but his face glowed with sweat. ‘They were imprisoned in the Divine Realms four hundred years ago, by the greatest of shamans.’

‘You mean they’re gods ?’

‘Immortals and gods aren’t the same. They just live in the same place.’ Alanna dusted her hands. ‘Like the Stormwings, Daine. They were shut into the Divine Realms at the same time, along with a great many other creatures. Griffins, dragons, and so on.’

Daine swallowed: there were more of these? What if they were loose too, escaped from the prison where they’d been locked for so long?

‘Horse Lords.’ Onua had found them. ‘Lioness, what—’

‘They’re called spidrens.’ The knight’s voice was almost matter-of-fact. ‘Goddess knows how many of us they would have killed and dragged off to munch on if your Daine hadn’t been alert.’

‘You killed one too,’ Daine reminded her. She went to the clearing’s edge and listened to the woods beyond, just in case. All around she heard creatures stirring, large and small, as they resumed their night’s business. I don’t know if I’d ever come out of my burrow again, she thought.

Remembering an obligation, she glanced behind her. Hakim and Onua were going over the spidren, using sticks. Most of the camp had come to watch, and to marvel. One of the soldiers was vomiting at the edge of the clearing, which made her feel better. At least she hadn’t thrown up.

She faced the trees where the bat had fled after warning them. ‘Thanks, wing-friend,’ she whispered. ‘Thank you for both of us.’ In the darkness ahead, a bat squeaked in reply. Daine smiled and went back to the humans.

‘It’s over,’ she told Alanna. ‘The animals are coming out.’ She felt suddenly exhausted; the burn on her hand throbbed.

Onua put an arm around her. ‘We’ve both had enough excitement. Come on.’ She steered her to their fire. ‘Are you all right?’ She hissed in sympathy when Daine showed her the burn, and got her medicines. Daine barely remembered having the burn cleansed and bandaged, she was so tired. The pain gone, she got into bed.

‘You’re certain you’re all right?’ The woman was plainly concerned.

Daine smiled at her. ‘I think so.’ The hedgehogs snuggled in around her once more. ‘I’ll have nightmares, for sure.’

‘Me too,’ Onua sighed. ‘At least we’re alive to have them.’ She eased into her own bed.

‘What of him? The hawk – the man?’ Daine pointed at the patient’s tent.

Onua smiled. ‘Master Salmalín slept through the whole thing. He’ll be mad as fire when he hears too. Spidrens are more his line than ours.’

Daine said shyly, ‘Why didn’t you tell me the truth? About the hawk?’

A sigh came from the other bedroll. ‘His shape-shifting – it’s a secret. Only a few people know, and we’re not supposed to tell. It isn’t that I don’t trust you – I do.’

‘He’s a spy?’

‘Only sometimes, when the king’s spymaster can’t send anyone else.’

‘He was just supposed to get well and fly off, and I’d never know.’

‘That was the plan.’ There was a rueful note in Onua’s voice.

‘I know now.’

‘Yes. You planning to tell somebody?’

Daine thought about that. ‘You just said it’s a secret, didn’t you? I won’t tell.’

‘Good. Now go to sleep.’

No one left the camp by the river the next day. The men of the King’s Own burned the dead monsters and searched the woods for more. The Lioness and Onua sat with their patient all morning. In the afternoon they summoned Hakim and another soldier who carried a writing desk.

Daine kept out of the way of the men. She wasn’t used to being noticed and greeted by so many people. Her caution did not extend to their mounts, of course. Once she’d cared for her ponies, she looked at the big horses. Her favourite was Alanna’s mount, the young stallion who had greeted her so happily the day before. She examined every inch of him, crooning praises into his ear.

‘I think the feeling’s mutual.’

Daine jumped – once again the Lioness had come up unheard. She grinned at the knight. ‘He’s a beauty.’

‘His name is Darkmoon.’ The stallion lipped Alanna’s breeches pockets. ‘He’s spoiled rotten.’ Fishing a lump of sugar out, she fed it to him. ‘His grandam was my first horse – a fine mare, true to the bone.’ Giving Darkmoon another sugar lump, she added, ‘You saved my life last night.’

Daine blushed. ‘You saved mine.’ Purple eyes are very unnerving when they look at you, she thought. Or is it that she’s got so much Gift it leaks over to all she does?

‘Where did you learn to shoot like that?’

‘My grandda taught me. Carved me that bow too.’

‘You’d think, your size, you’d only be able to manage a smaller one.’

Daine shrugged. ‘I’ve always been a fair shot.’

The woman snorted, but her eyes never left Daine’s face. She toyed with the gem around her neck. ‘Three times you shot overhead and hit a mark that moved, in the dark. That’s more than “fair” shooting.’

Daine shrugged again. ‘I practise a lot.’

Alanna grinned. ‘I’ll stop. I didn’t mean to interrogate you. I’ve been so busy getting Arram’s story out of him that I forgot I just wanted to say thanks. You saved my life, and the life of one of my best friends. Arram wouldn’t be here if you hadn’t nursed him. I’ll remember it.’

Daine swallowed. ‘It was no trouble—’

Alanna took her hand. ‘If you need anything, come to me. A place to stay, money, work – I don’t care. If I’m not around, go to my husband.’ Startled, Daine looked at Alanna’s ring finger and saw a wide silver band. ‘He’s the baron of Pirate’s Swoop. He’ll do anything for you I would.’

Daine gulped. A King’s Champion in debt to her ? An offer with no limits, and she to apply to the lady or her baron husband? People like her had no business bothering the great and wealthy! And if Alanna knew the truth about her, about what she’d done once, she’d hate Daine. She’d have to.

The knight must have seen refusal in her face. ‘Promise me.’

Daine wondered if there was any way to get out of it. Alanna had the look of someone who wouldn’t let this go, however. ‘I promise, Lioness.’

‘Alanna,’ Onua called from the tent. ‘We need you for a minute.’

‘Coming,’ the knight replied. ‘By the way – can you wield a sword?’

‘ Me? Gods, no!’ she said, shocked. A sword was a weapon for nobles!

The Lioness grinned. ‘I shouldn’t be glad, but I am.’ Seeing Daine’s puzzlement, she explained. ‘If you were as good with the sword as you are with a bow, I couldn’t take the competition.’ She clapped Daine on the shoulder and returned to her patient.

The next day everyone rose at first light, Onua and Daine from habit, the others from necessity. ‘You’re staying here?’ Alanna wanted to know.

Onua spooned porridge into a bowl and gave it to her. ‘Just for today – give Arram a little more time before we go west. How about you?’

‘I’ll see the local magistrate, now I have Arram’s information,’ Alanna explained, drizzling honey into her bowl. ‘Once I get a writ of arrest from him, Sinthya’s mine.’

‘So that’s why you were so near when I called for help,’ said Onua. ‘Springtime you’re usually at Pirate’s Swoop. You were waiting for Arram?’

Alanna nodded. ‘He has proof now that Sinthya is dealing with Carthak.’

Onua smiled grimly. ‘I knew it!’

The knight frowned. ‘I’m sending word to the king, to tell him about our visitors last night, and the Stormwings.’ She shook her head. ‘I can’t understand why these immortals are reappearing now . We’ve had reports from all over Tortall, and from our neighbours as well. Also, I don’t like it that they were on hand to chase our friend when he escaped.’