A/N: Okay this is a separate story from, but has references to, my other Numair/Daine story. It's called Everyone Else Can See It and I recommend and ask that you read it first - if only so that I may have more readers for my other story XD. But don't feel you have to. If you could review this story, that'd be nice too.
"Daine what?" Alanna the Lioness's voice was laced with disbelief and confusion. The speaking spell in her hand, purple for her Gift, chuckled.
"I know," the voice that followed, like the chuckle, was Numair's, "hard to believe, isn't it? If I hadn't looked right at it, side by side with Kaddar, I wouldn't have believed it myself. I had a fair amount of trouble as it is," he chuckled again, "Daine destroyed Emperor Ozorne's palace and the man in question turned himself into a Stormwing."
Duke Gareth, to Alanna's left, grunted in confusion, obviously still unconvinced. "And we're allowed to come back into port now? Because our Wildmage destroyed the palace?"
Alanna gave a short laugh. "So it would seem...I think I'm going to have to see this for myself."
She looked around at the others in the cabin with her. She was met with the disbelieving faces of Gareth the Younger, Haralit, Duke Gareth the Elder and several other nobles from the delegation. When she met Gary's eyes, he chuckled and shook his head.
"Yes, as shall I," he remarked, "this is just too good Alanna." His chuckle quickly grew to a hearty laugh. Daine's voice came from the speaking spell then.
"Um...sorry everyone," she said quietly, "I just kind of...lost my temper."
Gary and Alanna laughed hard at this. When Gary had gained enough control to speak, he said, "Oh no, Daine. Alanna challenging a man who offends her to a duel is losing temper. This? This is a whole new level of angry!"
"Well I never..." Duke Gareth trailed off. He was standing at the front gates of the palace, looking at the destruction from the bottom of the hill, accompanied by the entire Tortallan delegation. There were mumblings all around but the clearest voice the Duke could hear was that of his son's, standing next to him.
"Wow," Gary agreed, "Alanna, I don't think even your temper could accomplish this..."
Alanna, on Gary's other side, nodded. She had previously disliked his jibing at her temper in comparison to Daine's but now, looking at the ruins of what had just yesterday been Emperor Ozorne's magnificent palace, she had to agree. Even she couldn't have done such damage on anger alone. She turned to Daine, who was standing with Numair, Kaddar and Lindhall, facing the delegation.
"What amazes me most, is that you did that," she gestured to the palace, "and we now have peace with Carthak."
All within earshot chuckled at this; Numair, Kaddar and Lindhall included. All except Daine, who wrinkled her nose.
"Alanna, dear, you're overstating the matter," she said dryly, "and within the same sentence are teasing me. Which is it to be? Am I to be excessively praised or mockingly laughed at?" The sarcastic tone in her voice brought on more chuckles. Numair put an arm around her shoulders and squeezed her gently to his side.
"I'm sure, with the Lioness is involved, it'll be both," he murmured, pressing a kiss to her hair as Alanna came towards them. Daine rolled her eyes.
"I'm neither mocking nor overstating. But don't worry youngster," Alanna said, patting Daine's free shoulder, "I'll try not to find it too funny."
"For you, that'll be a very great effort," Daine replied, the dry tone not leaving her voice.
"Well you have to admit," Alanna defended, struggling to contain laughter, "now that the danger has passed, it is pretty funny."
Daine looked at Numair and made a face. "Trying so hard already," she said, turning to send a pointed glare at Alanna. The king's champion only laughed harder. Daine felt Numair moving beside her and when she turned to look, she saw that he too was laughing. Feeling betrayed, Daine huffed and shrugged off Numair's arm. She stormed off, pretending to be a lot angrier than she was, in search of some less teasing animal friends. When Numair and Alanna called after her with laughter still in their voices, she waved them off with an absent hand. I'm never going to live this down, she thought grimly.
