Disclaimer: I don't own any of this. If I did, I would be considerably richer. (This applies to all chapters that will follow this one.)

Author's note: I intend for this to become a drabble series. Random characters and pairings.

Drabble 1: Momentary Temptations

Warning: Spoilers for Trickster's Queen, proceed at own risk.

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Momentary temptation. It was little more than that. Over the evening meal their eyes met multiple times. Both were quick to look away, however. One, for the sake of duty, the other for fear of disloyalty.

Alianne Cooper, known to most as Aly, and soon to be Alianne Crow mentally scolded herself and looked down into her lap. Upon smoothing her sarong her fingers lingered over the slight bulge. Four months, she told herself, I'm four months pregnant. And I love Nawat. Not him. Nawat's left hand, littered with light scars, lay possessively upon her thigh, a constant reminder.

She looked back up across the table into those dancing eyes and fought to keep her gaze steady. He smiled; it was quick and gone in an instant. A smile of regret. Of what could have been. Had their paths crossed earlier perhaps, had she not been madly in love with the Crow-Man. Perhaps then they could have been something more. Without a doubt they had become friends over the past months, out of respect he had even reined in his flirtations, he certainly did not want Aly's husband-to-be to get the wrong impression.

But is it more than friendship? Captain Taybur Sibigat had asked himself. Multiple times in fact. He could not deny that he liked the woman who sat opposite, sipping her soup delicately. He also accepted that he had lusted after Aly. For months, before he knew who she was those brief, snappy encounters had helped to keep his senses sharp, to keep his head on his shoulders.

Had that desire remained after the rebellion? Taybur had tried to lie, tried to push it to the back of his mind. He had a duty to his Queen. His thoughts should not wander. And if they did it should be brief. He did not understand why he was unable to form relationships like the old meaningless ones. Nights spent between the covers, no sentiments. Then, in the morning that followed – the bed was his own again, none of the others had lingered in his mind longer than that. That was the kind of relationship that was expected of him. Or a noble marriage, but that was as improbable as Aly ever returning his affections.

Taybur sighed and gave Aly a final smile across the table. It had to stop. He could not allow himself to ruin their marriage for the sake of satisfying his own whims. Standing abruptly, he excused himself from the meal and left the dining hall.

"What was that all about, love?" murmured Nawat, his hand creeping further up her thigh.

Aly flashed him a grin. "Nothing," she said deftly and closed her eyes as Nawat's hand began to trail up her body, feather light. For a moment, she was struck with a memory.

Hands, larger than Nawat's certainly, were clasped gently around the darking. Taybur had tried to contain his pleasure in finding the creatures and Aly had tried to stay in character. She was Aly Homewood, a maid. She knew nothing of Spot and his escapades in Dunevon's chambers. As she tried to tremble and act suitably afraid Taybur had deposited the creature into her palm. His hand lingered for a moment and then trailed lightly up her forearm returning to rest upon her wrist. Seconds later, Aly could have sworn she imagined it, but another part of her could not deny the shivers that had just run up and down her spine at his slight touch.

Aly grinned and opened her mouth to remind Taybur of that day, perhaps he could clarify her memory. Her heart skipped a beat and she was jolted back to the present. Taybur had left the room and she was sitting on Nawat's lap, purring like a kitten.

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Hopefully, the first of many drabbles to come. I don't know if this one will be continued but I would love to hear your opinion of it. I have always held the view that Aly and Taybur are a better match than Aly and Nawat and I have wanted to write something similar to this for a long time. More to come soon.