A little faster, yay for breaks from school. Sorry it's dragging along so much, it does have a plot and it will all tie together, eventually. I just have to get there. And this is another chapter where it's cut off kind of strangely, since otherwise it'd be wayyyy too long. But that also means I have the first half of the next chapter written, so hopefully I won't make you guys wait too long for that. Oh, and haven't proofed this much, but I promise I will.

.111 - Nooo, don't worry, Adémar's not involved with Daine or anything at all, they just had to work together. I can't imagine Daine with anyone other than Numair, anyway. It just doesn't compute.

Starling Rising, purple smurfs r real, Evil Bunny of Death, and Fyliwion - thank you! Numair's so fun to torment. -evil grin-

Cygnet Shearwater - thank you! Me too, I've always thought Onua deserved more background than she was given in the books, and if I ever start a series of TP ficlets, I know I'll include her. And there's a little mention of the convo in here, cause it's finally from Daine's POV again, but not the whole conversation. One, the story is dragging enough, so I don't want to backtrack on something that's already been covered, and two, I'd probably screw it up terribly.

Jess - thank you so much! Don't worry about it, late reviews can be nice, cause you don't get any reviews for a few days and then it's really nice to see one. I'm going to go read your story, I finally have free time because I'm off from school!

EDITED

Daine stretched carefully so as not to disturb the other little guests in her room before picking up her longbow, figuring she was probably due for duty. She'd overslept. Just as she was about to head out, Kitten let a great snore, starling the sparrows that had decided to visit during the night. Zek, however, curled into a tight ball by Daine's pillow, was so used to the dragonet that he didn't even twitch. The sparrowed twittered nervously, flying in circles around the wildmage. Daine smiled, soothing the sparrows and walking over to Kitten.

"Wake up, Kit, you're irritating my friends," she said sternly. "Tkaa will need you sometime today, right? You'll want to be able to eat breakfast before you have to go off working and all."

Kit yawned and stumbled to her paws, fluttering the tiny wings protruding from her back. The sparrows chirped, annoyed, and the young dragon whistled at them.

"Be nice," admonished Daine. Turning to the sparrows, she continued in mind-speak. She's grumpy in the morning. I apologize, wing-sisters.

The sparrows settled on her shoulders instead, gently pecking through her hair. With Kitten at her heels and Zek still sleeping peacefully, Daine left the room and said goodbye to the sparrows as they left too, heading for the safety of their nests. Looking around, Daine saw the castle already a bustle of activity. She frowned, speaking her thoughts aloud to Kitten. "I wonder what's going on?"

Kitten trilled questioningly, and Daine reached down to pick her up. "We'll get food in a minute, let's find out if anything is happening."

Kit nodded, and Daine proceeded out into the courtyard, realizing she probably looked very strange with a dragon in one hand and a bow in the other. Catching sight of Numair by the north wall, Daine started towards him, suddenly anxious to be around him again. She hadn't seen him since he had sat on the tower with her, where she supposed she had fallen asleep. She was grateful that he'd been there and didn't know if she'd had the chance to tell him that.

"Morning, Numair," she said as she approached, letting Kit jump from her arms to curl around Numair's feet. Numair turned around, his face breaking into a strained smile as he glanced from Daine to the dragonet at his feet.

"Good morning to you, too," he replied, bending over to tug Kitten off his boots. "I'll get you something special from the kitchen if you'll let me walk," he bribed, when Kitten refused to move.

Kitten paused, considering, then disentangled herself from Numair's legs, trilling. Daine laughed, while Numair threw her a sheepish glance and a shrug. Free of the obstruction of a dragon on his feet, he walked over to Daine and placed both hands on her shoulders, leaning down to look at her face. "Are you all right, magelet?"

"I'm fine," she said firmly, closing the subject. Motioning around at the bustling castle, she asked, "Is something happening? Can I help?"

Numair considered her for a moment, something unusual gleaming in his eyes. He crossed his arms lightly and looked out across the courtyard. "It's more of what's not happening that has us worried at the moment."

Daine frowned, confused, and he proceeded to explain. "The immortals have vanished. No one can see them, not even those with the Sight." He titled his head, his expression thoughtful. "Daine, can you sense them? The immortals. See if you can sense them nearby."

Troubled, Daine tapped in to her copper well and started unweaving the threads she'd used to block her sense of immortals. She closed her eyes, letting awareness flood back into her body. She could sense a universal presence of something that was not two-legger or People – so therefore immortal - but not specific presences like she usually could. It was far easier on her mind than when hundreds of immortals had surrounded the castle, but at the same time, this unspecific feeling was oddly disconcerting. "Sort of," Daine said carefully, then told Numair what she could feel. "It's never done anything like that before."

"Concentrate - are you sure there's no approaching immortals?"

"I'm sure," she said, opening her eyes. "I think we should tell the commanders that there's no need to panic, but don't drop defenses. I don't think they all organized together; immortals don't work like that. But that means they've been ordered by something more powerful to either leave completely, or leave temporarily so that the thing that's more powerful can organize them to fight."

Numair didn't respond at first, but just looked at her admiringly, a smile curling the corner of his lips. Daine blinked. "What?"

"Very insightful," he commented, placing a hand on her shoulder and starting to walk towards the king and queen, who were talking to Lord Imrah.

Daine beamed at him. "I learned from the best, after all," she said teasingly, poking his arm. Numair squeezed her shoulder, smiling broadly.

"Of course you did. Thus, I should get all the credit for your idea. We either aren't going to be attacked again, or we're going to be attacked by an even stronger force."

"Not necessarily stronger," clarified Daine, ignoring his first comment. She let Numair steer her across the courtyard, with Kitten trotting at their heels. "With a strong leader, which means they'd be an organized army, instead of attacking us sproradically all the time."

"Sporadically," Numair corrected her, tweaking her nose. "Close. And you're right. An organized army is far more dangerous than even a large group of disjointed, disconnected immortals attacking whenever they get the urge to."

Daine nodded, understanding, and Kitten trilled indignantly, obviously realizing they weren't heading towards the kitchen for her promised treat. But before either mage could answer her annoyed request, Daine froze, a prickling on the edge of her senses. "Stop," she said suddenly, trying to concentrate. Having spent so much time purposefully blocking out immortals, it took her a moment to recognize the approaching enemies.

"Stormwings," she told Numair. "Up in the northwest. Not very many, but some. I'll take care of it." She turned to head towards the northeast tower, but Numair caught her arm.

"Wait a minute, Daine," he said, ever watchful. "Are you sure there's not too many? I'll come with you."

"No," Daine replied, reluctantly. As much as she would've liked him to be there, she knew she could handle the immortals on her own. "It makes more sense for you to tell the king and queen, and I'll go make sure the Stormwings don't get through. There's a few other archers up there now, and I'm pretty sure at least one has the Gift." Numair still looked a little skeptical, but he released her arm, and Daine smiled at him. "I'll be fine."

"I'll meet you up there in moment," Numair assured her, as she turned away. "Be careful."

"I know," Daine said. "Kit, you can come with me or stay with Numair, you'll get your treat eventually either way."

Kit opted to stay with Numair, obviously wanting to ensure she would get her prize. Numair was much far more pliable than Daine when it came to Kitten's food-related desires. Daine glanced just once over her shoulder as she headed towards the tower, the prickling in her mind getting stronger.

In a few short moments, she was looking at the now familiar sight of the grounds surrounding Legann. Without warning, she was struck by a sudden, fierce longing to get out of the castle. Wind blew through her hair, bringing scents of the forest; freshness stung her skin and she yearned for more of it. They hadn't been anywhere else in Tortall since they arrived, and she was aching to see Cloud and simply be somewhere other than inside the fortified walls of Legann. Anywhere else. The part of her with the strongest connection to her wild magic wanted to shift into a powerful falcon or hawk and fly along the wind currents in sky until she was far, far away from the confining castle.

"Lady Daine?" someone behind her asked, startling her slightly.

Daine turned, pushing back her wild magic, to see a young, nervous-looking archer watching her expectantly. "Yes," Daine said hurriedly, the sense of approaching Stormwings getting stronger, little by little. "Stormwings coming, get ready to fire." She pointed to the visible speck in distance, and the archers and mages all along the walls notched their bows or called their Gifts to their fingertips. It was done remarkably efficiently – even with the recent lack in attacks, no one was letting their guard down.

Just as the Stormwings were getting into firing range, and every soldier was preparing to fire, Daine paused, squinting. There was something familiar about the strong sense in her mind, and shifting her eyes to those of a cat's, she suddenly recognized a blond-haired face that she never could forget. Blond, with bones dangling in his hair, a sly smirk plastered across his features.

"Stop!" Daine shouted urgently, noticing the archers pulling back their bowstrings. "Hold – hold fire!"

The young archer beside her turned to look at her oddly, along with many of the other nearby soldiers. Daine ignored them, rushing to the edge of the parapet and leaning over slightly, unsure of what she was really seeing. But sure enough, as the group drew closer, Daine knew without a doubt that it was Rikash, followed by Queen Barhza and Hebakh, and about a dozen other Stormwings from the Stone Tree nation. Rikash gripped a white scrap of cloth in one vicious talon, and as he swooped onto the edge of the ramparts, he grinned at Daine in his usual mischievous manner. Despite the rancid smell he brought with him, Daine found herself smiling in return.

"What a kind welcome," the Stormwing said pleasantly, glancing at the two dozen bows and blasting-spells trained on him from both sides. "I knew this flag wouldn't help. We're lucky you were here, I suppose, Daine?"

"Rikash," Daine said, smiling widely and shrugging. "Me or Numair would've let you past.

"Longshanks," commented Rikash lazily, tilting his head and rustling his metal feathers with a distinctive clinking of metal. He glanced around. "Where is our tall mage? He's never far from you, is he?"

"He's in the castle," said Daine. Barzha and Hebakh landed smoothly on Rikash's left, the female Stormwing eyeing Daine appraisingly while Hebakh glared suspiciously at all the soldiers. The young archer behind Daine gave a small cough, having backed away to the far side of the tower and put her hand under her nose.

"There's no danger," Daine told the girl, ignoring the odor. "These are allies."

"Relatively speaking," interrupted Rikash. "Stone Tree nation is in debt to the Emperor Kaddar for freeing our Queen. Our way to repay him would've been to kill the former emperor Ozorne, but considering that's been taken care of, we must repay our debt another way. It has been suggested that we do it by aiding you and your mage, Daine."

The terrified archer stared, utterly bewildered, while Daine turned back to Rikash. "How did you know Ozorne was dead? And who told you to aid us?"

"We have our ways," Barzha said airily, throwing a clawed wing into the air. Behind her, the group of Stormwings settled as one into nearby trees, and the Queen glared intently at Daine. "It does not matter to you why we are here. You will need our help, and I suggest that you take it."

Daine frowned, still confused. "Why are you - ?"

"Stop asking questions, and go run and tell your king and queen and your mage that we're here," interrupted Rikash, looking over Daine's head. "I think they've noticed, though."

Sure enough, everyone below on the grounds and courtyard was staring up at their tower, obviously confused. Rikashed grinned wickedly and raised his wing in a sarcastic wave. "We make quite an impression, don't we?"

"My friends are fair odd, I know," muttered Daine out of the corner of her mouth. The archer behind her nodded vehemently and managed a small smile.

"It's a side effect of possessing that uncanny ability of yours," said Rikash. "Oh, and something else. I have a letter for you, Daine. From the Lady Maura of Dunlath." From nowhere, it seemed, the Stormwing produced a sealed envelope, handing it to Daine with his razor-sharp claws. "And a personal message that I came up with while traveling. Prepare yourselves. You'll be up against something that you are going to have a fantastic amount of trouble dealing with. No doubt about that."

Daine took the letter. "What - do you know what's going on?"

But Rikash just winked and laughed, taking off and joining his nation in the trees. Barzha and Hebakh were right behind him without a word of goodbye. Daine let out a frustrated breath. "He's so irritating," she muttered, before looking at the letter from Maura. She was about to open it, then decided against it – she knew everyone else needed an explanation of why a colony of Stormwings visited and didn't get shot. Daine turned to head back down the stairs, smiling at the young archer who'd stayed dutifully at her station throughout it all. When Daine reached the grounds, she found herself face to face with two bewildered monarchs, who immediately began their questioning.

"Daine - were you just having a conversation with a Stormwing?"

"They're not enemies - that's Rikash Moonsword, of Stone Tree nation, along with their queen, Queen Barzha, and her consort, Hebakh," Daine explained patiently. "We have somewhat of an alliance with them. They won't harm us."

"We do?" asked the queen, clearly skeptical. "And when did that alliance begin, may I ask?"

"I can answer that," came a voice from behind the two monarchs. Daine stood on her toes to catch sight of Numair, who had Kit sitting on his shoulder with some sort of pastry all over her nose. Bits of it had made their way in Numair's hair, and Daine couldn't suppress a snort of laughter.

"Do I look that bad?" muttered Numair dryly as he approached, brushing the bits of pastry away as Kit leapt off his shoulder, sneezing crumbs off her face. "Sorry. Kit wouldn't wait any longer for her food." With a sigh, Numair seemed to notice that the king and queen were still glaring at him questioningly, and he began to explain the rather odd relationship Daine and Numair had with the Stone Tree Nation. He told them about meeting the Stormwings in Dunlath, the aid they provided in Carthak, and the almost-friendship it seemed to have become.

"I'll take your word for it," said Thayet wearily, with a little sigh. "We have another ally. That cannot be a bad thing, surely. Is there still no word on what happened to the majority of the immortals?"

"Rikash told me to be prepared," offered Daine, remembering. "He wouldn't tell me any more, though. Maybe he couldn't."

"What's that?" asked Numair suddenly, pointing to the letter in Daine's hand.

Daine glanced down at it; she'd almost forgotten it was there. "Oh. It's a letter from Maura. Rikash must have visited her before he came here."

"You may go to your room to read it," said Jon, "if everything is under control here?"

"Far as I can tell, it is," said Daine.

Numair and Kitten followed her as she walked towards her rooms. "Do you mind if I come?" the mage asked, ever so polite. "I'd like to know how Dunlath is doing as well."

"Sure," replied Daine, smiling up at him. "They're probably really grateful to you, after all. You gave them the biggest apple tree I'd ever seen. They're probably making pies all the time."

"Daine," growled Numair. She laughed. Once in her room, she flopped down on her bed and opened the letter. Numair hesitated, but after a moment sat beside her; Kitten jumped up between them. For a split second, Daine was suddenly very aware of his body, barely brushing against hers – but just as quickly as it came, the rush faded, and Daine blinked, turning back to the letter. Internally wincing, she unfolded the parchment and leaned over a little so that Numair could read it, too.