A/N: This is my new Numair/Daine love story, only this one is very AU

A/N: This is my new Numair/Daine love story, only this one is very AU. In this George Cooper is the official spymaster, and the best mage in Tortall is the Whisper Man. Numair and his best agents, including Mira Kareem because I love her character, must ferret out threats to Tortall and keep it safe. But what happens when Numair Salmalin goes head to head with the Gallan spy Daine Sarrasri? Well, that's why I wrote this story! –WaterBird22

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Prologue: The spy's game introductions

Numair Salmalin was a very powerful man and anyone who told you otherwise was stupid, mistaken, or deluded. He was a duke in the realm of Tortall, the most powerful mage in said realm, and the real spymaster for the realm as well. He had women falling at his feet, and enemies falling at his sword point. He controlled everything in some, small or large, way. He was loved by most and feared –at least a little- by all. Whatever else there is to say about Numair though, he is a fair man. Justice is what he cares about.

Now Numair had an assistant as well. Mira Kareem, beautiful as she was cold. No one could doubt her power and influence in the realm; a Duchess for her service, the second-in-command of Tortall's spies, a mage, and a calculating mind. She was Numair's pride, his best operative hands down. A warrior bent on liberty, justice, and a good life for any station she was loved by the people. Men tried to court her, but everyone with a brain could tell that Numair was the only man in her life. Not in the way most would think, she was just committed to duty. Tortall's Snake Queen was as horse hearted as she was serpentine.

Of course neither of these great and powerful spies had ever met Veralidaine Sarrasri, Wildmage of Galla. She was the spy of a rival realm, powerful and beautiful. In fact, she looked a lot like Tortall's Snake Queen Mira, something that would cause trouble for both spies. Proud and quick-witted Daine was not one to be underestimated, no matter her young age. The People's young girl was truly a wonder.

Animals played a powerful role for the spies of Tortall and Galla, more so than people would imagine. Mira could communicate with snakes, and in a way she could do so with her horses as well. Daine was, of course, a Wildmage. Naturally, she could talk to, control, and even turn into animals. So the animals played a big part with them.

Aside from the serpents that earned her the nickname Snake Queen, Mira had a special bond with two horses. Alan was the stallion of a herd her father had owned. He was the first horse Mira had ever developed a bond with. Midori was Alan's lady, his mate. She came a few years later than her mate, but she is a solid and smart horse…if a little naive.

Daine had three animals she kept with her at all times: Cloud, Bangle, and Spotty. Cloud was her pony; grey, brave, and wise. Bangle was a supernatural cat, half Immortal, with great instincts. Spotty was a messenger bird of confusing origins, but no bird was ever harder to catch.

The clash between these minds was a story worth knowing, as it often determined who would live and who would die. It kept a great many folks afraid when it started out, and during the first years of it. No one dared breathe when a new spy notice was pinned up. No one knew who was safe, who was next, or who to trust.