Alanna grinned as she watched two people move through the steady line of people awaiting their food. These two were talking rapidly, neither one really aware of their surroundings. The female of the pair was more listening then talking. Her taller, male companion was waving his free hand to emphasize his words. They continued to talk to each other as they took their food and searched for seats.

Alanna shook her head. She'd been watching this friendship grow for some time, and she already knew the outcome. It was like seeing a seed being planted, and knowing what would grow. All you had to do was wait to see it.

The pair wound up sitting at a deserted table in the back of the room. Figures, Alanna thought with a shake of her head.

"You know, s' not nice to watch ather people." The lioness turned to see her husband standing behind her, arms folded over his chest.

"So says the former thief, now spymaster." She teased.

George grinned and took the seat next to his wife. He knew who she'd been watching again. Thought he had to admit, it was a very intresting thing to watch. The two people they had been watching so long were the best of friends, nearly inseparable. They were in love with each other. The only problem was that neither one knew that the other loved them back.

"They were out at the beach last night," the redhead told her husband.

"I know. Seems like the only ones who don't know 'bout that romance are the ones in it."

Alanna chuckled. That much was true. "Sooner or late, they'll figure it out."

"It'll be later with the way they're acting."

Alanna shook her head. "Neither one of them can hold it off forever. It's so strange how they can look at each other just when the other stops looking at them. If I didn't know better, I'd say this was planned."

"Speakin' of which, Jon just sent us some new orders. Terraville next."

"Tarraville? Isn't that where Daine went for medical help a little while back.

"The very same."

"You know, I bet they'll need as many supplies as we can take. Do you know how many are among the casualties?"

"No, but Jon said he'd send more details in a few hours. I'd say at least two hundred injured, fifty dead in the area at last count."

"In a week or day?"

"A week, luckily." George's eyes burned with a deep hate. "I'd like to see them that did this hang."

"You probably will," Alanna murmured gently. George nodded.

Meanwhile, Daine and Numair were talking about less grim things.

OVOVOVO
"You always manage to blow up something, don't you?" Daine asked with a laugh. Numair grinned as he set down his tray.

"It's not my fault. They should make candles less easy to explode."

"And plates, and food, and tables," Daine interjected, smiling, "And books

and -"

"Alright, alright! I get the point!"

Daine nodded triumphantly.

"By the way, I only exploded a table once."

"Right. Too bad it was at a feast." The girl remarked, smirking.

"You don't have to rub it in," her friend muttered.

"Sorry. I didn't mean to be rude."

"Suuuure you didn't." Numair commented. He was about to return to his food when he remembered something. "Daine, did you get another dream from Darius last night?"

The young wildmage shook her head, brown curls escaping the tie she'd held them down in. She rolled her eyes and went to work getting them to behave again.

"Well, when you do, be sure to let me know. I think I've figured out what's going on."

"Really?" Daine eyes burned with the desire to be free of Darius's haunting. "Whats going on? How do I reverse it?"

"Calm down. I said I think I know, not I do know."

"Oh." Daine looked deeply dismayed.

"But I'm almost positive," the mage added quickly, "I should know for sure by tomarrow."

"Thanks." Daine whispered, gripping her friends hand tightly. He sqeezed back, as tightly as he could.