Disclaimer: The characters belong to Tamora Pierce. To all: This story is written for all of you who need a sequel to what happened after the gods' realm. Bear with me and the language as it was originally written in Danish and then translated. You are velkommne to comment on it and especially if it is grammatical or spelling errors. Enjoy :-)

The past

Numair Salmalin whirled around with a red-haired woman in his arms, a young woman, slightly younger than him. This was one of the many dances, King Jon held in conjunction with the annual Ambassador visits from Tusaine. The woman, Numair danced with was one of the many guests who are now celebrating the agreements between them. King Jon and the ambassador had signed the final agreements, which now had to apply for one year and until the next visit. It had been some tough negotiations, but had succeeded in the end.

Numair laughed at something the redhead said, and continued to dance around in a waltz. It was long since he had amused himself and this woman in his arms, he had danced with her nearly every night. Despite the tough negotiations, Jonathan had insisted that there was to be held banquets, balls and large dinner parties. Others danced as fast around Numair and the woman in his arms, and when the music stopped, all turned toward the ridge and clapped. Musicians stood up and bowed in appreciation. Numair led the woman toward one of the tables where the rest of her delegation sat and talked. He bowed deeply to her, took her hand and kissed it goodnight. Inside his hand was a note, an invitation to a late visit to his chambers. She took it and hid it away. He smiled and bade the others around the table goodbye.

Chapter 1 - Delegation from Tusaine

He sighed. Numair Salmalin felt hot. He stood outside in the courtyard with the others and waited. The black robe with silver threads draped along the edges felt warm, heavy and extremely uncomfortable at this time of year, but is necessary for this kind of welcome. Jonathan waited with his queen, with his arm around her waist, and stood a while in front of him. He sighed again and pulled out a little in the collar at the neck, it eased a little but not much. When he let his eyes slide over the congregation, he saw Alanna. Her sword hung at her side and she was dressed in brown pants, white blouse embroidered with purple threads. She stood by Onua and they seemed to be engrossed in serious conversation. Onua's dog Tahoi, sat by Onua's feet and seemed soon to fall half asleep. Numair could understand it. There was no more boring things than having to wait for a delegation. The whole palace had been buzzing like bees for several weeks and he was getting very tired of it. He longed for the quiet of his tower, but had to wait until everything was over.

All this splendour to welcome the delegation from Tusaine. He looked toward the gigantic gates and back toward the audience. Something touched his leg, a whistle escaped the creature, a dragon, whose scales were weak gold. The blinding him momentarily, but he let his hand fall and stroked Kitten on the head. Now there was missing only one. His student, his friend and his love. He looked around again and saw her.

She came walking out from the nearby forest, her clothes in disarray and her boots in one hand. Her long curly hair hung loose from the blue ribbon in her hair and he could see that it was loose, her clothes needed a good game of washing. He smiled and waved to her. She stopped abruptly and waved back, her hand shading the sun. He guessed that she had changed her vision into of an eagle. She had forgotten it was today, that there were visits from the Tusaine. Suddenly she ran across the grass and disappeared in through a door in the building next to the barn. Numair sighed again, after they had returned from the realm of the gods, they had had their moments of disagreement. Daine had insisted she would stay in her room until she turned 18 and he had argued that they could tell the world about their incipient love for each other. Daine had shaken her head at him that day and scolded him for not being patient enough. She was stubborn and it had led to a kind of break in their relationship once again. This time, the dispute lasted almost a month. He missed her terribly.

His attention turned abruptly back to the congregation around him. He heard the sound of hooves coming closer. Something touched his hand, he had not heard her come up beside him and it was the first time in an entire month, he had been so near her. Daine smiled up at him and knew they had to put their differences away, while the delegation from Tusaine were in the capital. Numair took her hand and gave it a gently squeeze, he smiled back with light in his eyes. He bent down and stroked a lock of hair away from her face while he placed a small kiss on her cheek. It was nice to be able to touch her.

"You look like a water goddess in this dress, magelet" he said.

"I know," she replied, blushing.

The dress had been a gift from him when they came home from the realm of the gods. It sat tightly around her almost 18 year old body and clearly showed that she was a woman now. Along the edge of the dress was draped pictures of her friends of the people. Small cats, dogs, birds, squirrels and finally horses. She had let her hands slide down over the delicate fabric, when she had opened his gift and had been lost for words. This had been almost too much for her and she had not known what to say in gratitude. Numair had laughed and pinched her nose. A habit he had acquired from when she was his new student. Now she had taken it on for the first time since, they had been trapped in the realm of the gods. She had chosen to take the blue sapphire earrings on a winter solstice gift from Numair. They fit perfectly with the dress and it was so rare an opportunity to use them.

Now she stood beside him and felt just as beautiful as he looked. Although he had been her teacher and friend for several years and now her love, she felt intimidated by the massive energy that flowed from him. Why was he so tense, she thought. It is only the usual delegation from Tusaine. She glanced up at him and saw that his eyes had caught something in the distance.

Daine was standing on toes and changed her eyes to one of an eagle. Still, she could not see what had caught Numair's attention. She still could not see what it was and as soon as she got her own eyes again, Kitten grabbed hold of her dress with claws and pulled. Daine, who still stood on the toes, lost balance and almost fell over. She grabbed Numair's robe to stop the fall. Numair, whose attention had been occupied by a flash of red hair, was suddenly aware that there was something that pulled down his robe. He saw something out of his eye. Daine had started to fall over. He grabbed her quickly and supported her until she had found balance.

"Are you okay?" Numair asked as he looked inquiringly at Daine. He supported her by holding on to her shoulders. He paused and lifted her face. The meeting with her eyes sent heat flowing through his body.

Daine shook her head. "Kitten grabbed me." Daine looked down beside him and saw how the dragon had withdrawn long holes through the delicate fabric. Her claws were like the sharpest steel.

"Oh no" exclaimed Daine. She took careful hold of the damaged fabric and looked up at Numair. He stood right in front of her and did not see the delegation from the Tusaine come into the yard.

In came a company riding on 20 horses. 10 of them were guards on great warhorses.

He had his back to the gates and heard only faintly the king bid his guests welcome. Numair stood down to examine the dress and looked at the dragon with a disapproving glance. "It was not just today, you had to destroy some of Daine's clothes" he said softly. "Can you fix it again?". Kitten nodded. A roll of soft and loud whistles filled the air, along with small clicks.

Kitten nodded. A roll of soft and loud whistles filled the air, among the small clicks. The sound of whistles and clicks attracted attention. Attention, Daine would have done without. The holes in the fabric of the dress melted very gently back together and Kitten gave the last high whistle to get the latest threads to obey. "Thank you Kitten" Numair said. He put his hand against the dragon's snout and caressed it. He stood up in its full length, which was infinitely long. He looked at Daine and reached for her. His hand was near her cheek, when a voice interrupted.

"Master Salmalin, please say hello to the Ambassador of Tusaine and his delegation." Jonathan had come over to them and stood with a stern expression in his eyes. He was dressed in a dark blue blouse and black pants with brown leather boots. His looks and attitude, screamed majesty, and anyone who was nearby was not a moment in doubt that it was the king of the country.

"May I introduce you to the Ambassador of Tusaine, Count Harlan, son of Hilam of Keir." Jonathan said. Numair bowed deeply, but not so deep as if it had been Jonathan Jon. Jonathan continued. "Numair Salmalin, our magician with the black robe. We are fortunate that he will contribute his knowledge to the throne of Tortal".

Count Harlan, son of Hilam of Keir, nodded in response. He was half a head lower than Numair. His ruddy beard was closely cropped, just as King Jon. He eyes were a mix between green and blue,

he seemed to be a bit chubby, but it could not be shown completely because of his riding clothes.

Daine looked at the count and decided immediately that she did not like this man. She curtsied gracefully, when Jonathan presented the Count Harlan for her. "This is Veralidaine Sarrasri, our own mage with wild magic." Daine grimaced by the use of her full name. She was soon forced to do something about it. The king continued, pointing to Kitten. "This is Daine's foster child." The dragon took a few steps forward and stood up. It whistled, which was a half greeting and a half song.

At the last note all jewelery plated with magic began to shine. Count Harlan had rings with stones on each finger. These glowed strongly and became weaker. Numair's jewelery hanging from his ear glowed as well. Of all who had jewelry that was covered with magic, glowed. Count Harlan was not very pleased with his magical jewels had been revealed. From him there was a short "Hmmmff".

Daine hid a smile behind her hand.

Numair was the first who spoke. "Sorry Count Harlan. Kitten is accustomed to test her quantities without warning, you should have seen when she opened ..." Daine was about to kick him over the leg, but did not. He stopped mid-sentence at the sight of a woman.

The woman had stood behind Count Harlan, but had now arrived when the delegation was carried forward by King John to be presented. She was tall, slim and with a bright reddish hair that was braided into a delicate hairstyle. Daine noted that Numair was standing perfectly still without breathing. Who was this woman, she thought, and gave attention to every little detail. Compared to her, she was just a girl next to this creature that now faced Numair and had taken all his attention. She noticed how his hand with a set let go of hers.

The woman took a step toward Numair, with hands outstretched toward him. Her nails were stained red noticed Daine. The yellow dress was even more tightly around the woman's figure, too close for Daine's taste, showed a shapely cleavage. Daine sighed, despite the fact that she the last six months had developed a lot, she could not keep up with this woman. The woman, now stood with Numair's hands in hers and smiled with perfect white teeth, surrounded by the reddest lips, she never in her life had seen before. She is a goddess, Daine thought disappointed. Each time the woman blinked Daine could tell she had a weak layer of green make-up on the eyelids.

"Numair, you become more handsome with age! How long ago is it we saw each other last?" The woman's voice was very light. Numair was quiet, almost petrified, but by the sound of his voice he responded. "Felicia ... is it you?". "Yes, and you have obviously not changed at all. You still have trouble remembering faces and their name, I guess?" Felicia shook her head and smiled sweetly.

Daine almost growled at the woman in front of her. The woman stood and flirted with her teacher, her friend and her love. The only thing that prevented her from saying something was an invisible hand that was put over her mouth. Had she had the opportunity she had turned on the spot and into an angry wolf. The hand over her mouth pressed harder and she gave up. She had to growl a place other than this. Alanna were beside her now, she grabbed Daine's elbow and they had magical contact. She heard clearly Alanna's voice to her inner ear.

"Relax or I'll do something you regret."

Daine relaxed, although it was difficult. She had been about to lose control of her magic, so furious was she. But she must realize that even Numair had a past. A past that she repeatedly had both heard off and witnessed too. Alanna released her after a while. It was only then she discovered that Felicia looked searchingly at her. Felicia had asked for something and Numair also looked searchingly at her.

"And you are?" Asked Felicia again.

"Oh ... this is ... Ahm ... this is Daine ... my mag ... my student" Numair replied hastily. "Daine, this is Felicia ... Ahm .. she and I have known each other since ..." he lost the words.

Felicia smiled sweetly and turned front against Daine. "We've known each other since you were 25 Numair and I was 23 so I think it's 7 years ago." She gave him a sweet and seductive gaze.

Daine felt again Alanna's firm hand on her elbow, holding it firmly, she gave it a gentle squeeze so Daine would not forget her manners. She was, after all, and above all, still only Numair's student.

"Nice to meet you," Daine said as she curtsied slightly and almost lost the balance again.

Felicia was laughing. Her eyes sparkled as she turned her full attention to Numair again. "What a dear student, you have" she said as she pulled away with Numair over to the rest of the delegation. "You simply have to show me the palace, it is after all a few years since I was last here, remember. Are your rooms still the same place?" she asked as she let her arm slip under Numair's.

Now he was forced to follow, whether he wanted it or not, thought Daine. And as if he would not protest, was the next thought. She felt empty, abandoned and furious at the same time.

Daine sighed at the same time as Alanna, and noticed how she gotten her elbow again. She looked around and saw that Kitten had gone with Numair and that Felicia had started to stroke its head. She turned her gaze back and met Alanna warning eyes. "Okay, I understand it," exclaimed Daine heatedly. "I'll be nice." They had purposely not told everything that happened in the realm of the gods. They had a lot of discussion around the topic, but it was always ended up they went separate ways and had not spoken to each other for several days. So Alanna knew nothing about the reason for her rage.

Alanna shook her head and wiped her forehead with a handkerchief. "I know," she replied. Although she was half a head lower than Daine, she patted her anyway on top of her hair and walked away. Daine felt again as a girl and not a woman's way to the age of 18. She kicked the nice shoes off and strutted across the yard in bare toes. She had no plans whatsoever to attend the evening banquet, even if King Jon sent his army after her and dragged her back.

When she reached her room, she threw the nice shoes on the bed and took care of the fine dress. She folded it gently together and looked around for her everyday clothes, a pair of pants and a shirt. She decided that it did not help anything to wear other clothes on now.

Numair stood with Felicia's arm in his, but his attention was turned toward the stables. He had seen Daine leave the courtyard and go through the door to her room. The next moment he saw a wolf running out the door and towards the woods.

In wolf form she was free and this rage she had felt in the yard she let escape, like a long howl that seemed to last an eternity. Her pack replied and sat in a howl too.

Up in the courtyard, people turned their attention towards the woods. Some shuddered, others made the sign against evil, while those who were accustomed to this accepted it. Felicia was not one of them, she shuddered and glanced toward the woods. She gasped loudly as she between the trees caught a glimpse of a wolf with glowing eyes and growling showing its teeth.