Chapter One

The forest was alive with chatter and scurrying movements from small creatures. Daine lay on her back alongside a small babbling brook, sleepily watching the summer light that filtered down through the green leaves of a large, ancient weeping willow that surrounded her. The golden rays danced and shifted with the soft swaying branches caressed by the summer breeze. She closed her eyes and listened to the gentle buzz of a honey bee nearby and little further beyond, a soft conversation between two squirrels busy gathering small seeds.

Dozing lightly, Daine felt a velvety muzzle brush her cheek and rustle her mouse brown curls. Without opening her eyes she murmured "Leave me be Cloud, I just want to relax."

You're avoiding him. Cloud, stated bluntly. I thought you learned a long time ago that you can't run away from your problems.

"I'm not… what?" Daines' blue-grey eyes opened as she abruptly sat up, glaring at the small shaggy mare, "MY problem? The only problem is coming from that egotistical, stubborn, hard headed MAN."

Frustration and anger boiled inside her and to her dismay tears stung her eyes. Refusing to let her emotions overcome her, she took a deep calming breath and slowly got to her feet. Leaning down, she dipped her hands in the creek and she ran her fingers through her long curls, dislodging grass and smoothing it down so she could tie it back in a horse tail.

Cloud turned and started moving her way back into the forest, never doubting that her two legger would follow. Resting a hand on Clouds rump while they walked, Daine thought back to the conversation between her and Numair that lit the flame of hurt and discontent in her heart.

One week ago…

"Daine! Center yourself!" Numair Salmalin's voiced barked out the order with uncharacteristic harshness.

Sweat dotted her brow as she tried to concentrate and strengthen the depth and control of her wild magic. A growl of frustration escaped her as she threw up her hands in disgust.

"Numair, I'm done. I've got a headache fit for the Gods, I'm hungry and I just can't concentrate when your acting like riled up wolverine." She looked up into his dark handsome face, noticing the lines of discontent forming around his frowning mouth. Reaching up, she placed a hand on his cheek, "What's bothering you Numair? It had been two weeks and you haven't so much as held my hand and every day your getting surlier with me."

Numair closed his dark eyes and placed his own hand over hers, briefly letting it rest there, pressing against his cheek. Sighing, he pulled away from her and turned his back while he paced to the edge of their camp.

Daine felt her heart sink slightly in her chest, knowing something was amiss between them.

"Magelet…I'm sorry, I just can't do this. Its bad enough that you're my pupil, but the age difference… its too much." He turned, his face anguished, his hands reached out pleading for her to understand, " I can't do this to you! You've got years to find out what you truly want. I won't be the old man that makes his young wife live with a lifetime of regrets and what-ifs."

"Numair, we've been through this before, it's not like that between us," Daine tried to inject a note of confidence into her voice even though she felt her heart breaking. She wasn't going to show him how much his words hurt her, knowing that he wasn't going to drop the subject. Grabbing her sweater, she strode toward the friendly fires of the soldiers traveling with them. "But you've made your point time and again. When your finished being noble for a cause only you can understand, I'll be waiting."