CHAPTER 1
Daine paced back and forth inside her room at the palace, with Zek on her shoulder. Where was Numair? It was almost a week ago now that he had left without saying anything to anyone, including Daine. She wasn't worried about him, he was probably just unexpectedly asked for help in another part of the country, and had left in a hurry. Though he had been gone longer than usual. No, the thing Daine thought about was, why didn't he tell me where he was going? Doesn't he trust me? Is this something that needs to be kept a secret? Is he seeing someone else? Or has he just finally woken up and seen a child-and needed to get away from me? The thoughts pained Daine. She loved Numair with deeply, and tears pricked at the back of her eyes to think that he had finally become unfaithful. Though it was only natural that he leave her. Somehow that thought didn't make her feel any better.
What's wrong? Zek asked.
Oh, nothing. I miss Numair, that's all.
Don't worry. The storkman will come back. I can tell, he has chosen you for his mate.
Daine was comforted by Zek's compassion and reassurance. Sighing, she stroked his beautiful fur with her finger and pushed the matter out of her head. She thought instead about Kitten. She was visiting with her grandfather in the immortal realms. Daine missed her cheery and inquisitive presence, and wondered what mischief Kit was up to in her other home.
Daine returned from dinner exhausted, and, as always, thinking about Numair. She collapsed, fully clothed, onto her bed, while Zek leaped for a safer perch.
Where is he, she thought. He was always on her mind, and with it those nagging doubts. But then she would dismiss them, remembering with sweet detail all the times he had hugged her, kissed her. She could still taste the ghost of his kiss. She stretched luxuriously. It was too bad that none of their friends knew of their love-at least then she could have confided her fears to Onua or Thayet.
Suddenly Zek woke from his doze and started shifting anxiously. Daine, feeling suddenly drowsy, watched Zek's alarm increase without moving her suddenly heavy body to hold him. Then, through her own sagging lids, she became aware of the marmoset leaping to join her on the bed. The last thing Daine saw was the vague, dark-hooded shapes that formed above her head, murmuring softly. Then she passed out.
The next day, Daine wasn't at breakfast, and couldn't be found anywhere around the castle. Onua, worried in spite of herself, finally brought herself to knock on Daine's door. No answer. She knocked again, louder this time. Not a sound from within. Frowning, the Horsemistress opened the door on an empty room. It looked just like normal, except for a few missing items on her desk and chest of drawers. On her neatly made bed lay a hastily scribbled note:
'Don't worry about me. I found out where Numair is and am joining him. I'll be safe. Daine'
That was all very well, Onua thought, but was that really all the information she could offer them? But it was true-Daine would be perfectly safe. There wasn't a single non-human, non-rat creature alive that wouldn't protect her to the death. Sighing at Daine's straightforward nature and beginning to suspect that something more was going on between Numair and Daine then they let on (though she would keep it to herself), Onua went to report to the King.
2 days later, a weary and travel-worn Numair was shown into the throne room, where Onua, Thayet, Jon, Buri, Sarge, Alanna, and a few others were gathered.
"Hello, Jon and company," he said, wondering a little why Daine wasn't here to greet him. Still, he smiled to himself to think that he would soon see his love again.
"Numair, are you going to let us in on the mystery or will you keep us asking?" Sarge boomed.
"Mystery?" Numair asked, baffled.
"Oh yes, my dear friend, or weren't you aware that you left without informing anyone of where you were going or how long you would stay?" Jon's warm baritone stopped Sarge from finishing the word that had half come out of the tall man's mouth.
"I had no idea. I didn't tell anyone?" At their headshakes, he shrugged and said, "Well, I was helping a village up on the border of Tortall with a few of their problems-raging wildfires and bandits to name a few. The news came on horseback, and it was very urgent."
"Well," Thayet's lovely voice interrupted. "I guess that solves that little bit of confusion. I'm guessing that Daine wanted to rest from the journey?"
"Daine?" Numair asked, getting worried at the slight alarm that showed in their eyes.
Onua spoke up, "Didn't she join you a few days ago?"
"No.." Numair said slowly, a little alarmed now. "Oh, Goddess" Onua said, "She left here two days ago saying that she had found out where you were and was joining you. Now what?"
Numair blanched. Daine!
Daine paced back and forth inside her room at the palace, with Zek on her shoulder. Where was Numair? It was almost a week ago now that he had left without saying anything to anyone, including Daine. She wasn't worried about him, he was probably just unexpectedly asked for help in another part of the country, and had left in a hurry. Though he had been gone longer than usual. No, the thing Daine thought about was, why didn't he tell me where he was going? Doesn't he trust me? Is this something that needs to be kept a secret? Is he seeing someone else? Or has he just finally woken up and seen a child-and needed to get away from me? The thoughts pained Daine. She loved Numair with deeply, and tears pricked at the back of her eyes to think that he had finally become unfaithful. Though it was only natural that he leave her. Somehow that thought didn't make her feel any better.
What's wrong? Zek asked.
Oh, nothing. I miss Numair, that's all.
Don't worry. The storkman will come back. I can tell, he has chosen you for his mate.
Daine was comforted by Zek's compassion and reassurance. Sighing, she stroked his beautiful fur with her finger and pushed the matter out of her head. She thought instead about Kitten. She was visiting with her grandfather in the immortal realms. Daine missed her cheery and inquisitive presence, and wondered what mischief Kit was up to in her other home.
Daine returned from dinner exhausted, and, as always, thinking about Numair. She collapsed, fully clothed, onto her bed, while Zek leaped for a safer perch.
Where is he, she thought. He was always on her mind, and with it those nagging doubts. But then she would dismiss them, remembering with sweet detail all the times he had hugged her, kissed her. She could still taste the ghost of his kiss. She stretched luxuriously. It was too bad that none of their friends knew of their love-at least then she could have confided her fears to Onua or Thayet.
Suddenly Zek woke from his doze and started shifting anxiously. Daine, feeling suddenly drowsy, watched Zek's alarm increase without moving her suddenly heavy body to hold him. Then, through her own sagging lids, she became aware of the marmoset leaping to join her on the bed. The last thing Daine saw was the vague, dark-hooded shapes that formed above her head, murmuring softly. Then she passed out.
The next day, Daine wasn't at breakfast, and couldn't be found anywhere around the castle. Onua, worried in spite of herself, finally brought herself to knock on Daine's door. No answer. She knocked again, louder this time. Not a sound from within. Frowning, the Horsemistress opened the door on an empty room. It looked just like normal, except for a few missing items on her desk and chest of drawers. On her neatly made bed lay a hastily scribbled note:
'Don't worry about me. I found out where Numair is and am joining him. I'll be safe. Daine'
That was all very well, Onua thought, but was that really all the information she could offer them? But it was true-Daine would be perfectly safe. There wasn't a single non-human, non-rat creature alive that wouldn't protect her to the death. Sighing at Daine's straightforward nature and beginning to suspect that something more was going on between Numair and Daine then they let on (though she would keep it to herself), Onua went to report to the King.
2 days later, a weary and travel-worn Numair was shown into the throne room, where Onua, Thayet, Jon, Buri, Sarge, Alanna, and a few others were gathered.
"Hello, Jon and company," he said, wondering a little why Daine wasn't here to greet him. Still, he smiled to himself to think that he would soon see his love again.
"Numair, are you going to let us in on the mystery or will you keep us asking?" Sarge boomed.
"Mystery?" Numair asked, baffled.
"Oh yes, my dear friend, or weren't you aware that you left without informing anyone of where you were going or how long you would stay?" Jon's warm baritone stopped Sarge from finishing the word that had half come out of the tall man's mouth.
"I had no idea. I didn't tell anyone?" At their headshakes, he shrugged and said, "Well, I was helping a village up on the border of Tortall with a few of their problems-raging wildfires and bandits to name a few. The news came on horseback, and it was very urgent."
"Well," Thayet's lovely voice interrupted. "I guess that solves that little bit of confusion. I'm guessing that Daine wanted to rest from the journey?"
"Daine?" Numair asked, getting worried at the slight alarm that showed in their eyes.
Onua spoke up, "Didn't she join you a few days ago?"
"No.." Numair said slowly, a little alarmed now. "Oh, Goddess" Onua said, "She left here two days ago saying that she had found out where you were and was joining you. Now what?"
Numair blanched. Daine!