Chapter 4:
A Peculiar Visit
Daine awoke with the sun's first rays playing on her face. She sat up and rubbed her tired eyes, forcing them to open. As she emerged from the bedroll, she was careful not to disturb Numair or the nest of animals, and she dressed as quickly as her pounding head and sore leg muscles would allow. Limping slightly, she made her way over to the campfire's remains and stirred life back into it. Daine set a pot on a stand high above the fiery tongues, and watched bubbles form as the water within it boiled.
Memories of the previous night poured into her reeling head. What did she believe she would accomplish by fleeing into the woods? Thinking Numair in love with a genie…she knew him better than that! She scowled at her actions. The day can show a different perspective of anything thought sensible in the dark of night. She hoped desperately that he didn't think any less of her. And what did Anya think of her and her behavior?
Approaching hoof beats drew her out of her musings. She looked up and grunted when Cloud thrust her velvety nose in Daine's face.
"Don't scold me, Cloud. I know I was being ridiculous," the girl said before her pony could speak.
I know you do. I just came over to make sure everything is okay between you and the stork-man.
Daine added a few things to the pot, and stirred the contents gently. "Everything is better than ever. At least, I'm pretty sure it is. And I know better now than to throw any more jealous tantrums."
"I'm glad to here it." She turned, and found that Numair had risen as well. She smiled as he blinked the sleep from his eyes and attempted to tame his hair.
"Numair," she teased, forgetting her worries for the moment. "You are so vain! Who care what your hair looks like this early in the morning?"
He scowled at her. "I don't appreciate the references to narcissism, Daine."
She giggled. "Oh, so sorry, sleepyhead! I forgot that you're not a morning person." He glared and stalked off to dress.
That was cruel, Cloud remarked.
"Oh, he knows I'm just kidding. Don't you, Numair?" she called. The mage muttered something indistinct. "He spends too much time worrying about his looks, anyway."
True, the pony agreed. She paused, and her ears perked up. Listen.
"To what?"
To the forest, Cloud said.
Daine listened. All she heard was ordinary forest sounds: birds chirping, animals calling to each other, the wind whispering through the trees. "I don't hear anything, besides what I'd normally hear. Animals and such."
Exactly, Cloud told her. Last night, it was strangely quiet. The animals made no noise at all.
"Now that you've mentioned it, I don't remember seeing or hearing any animals last night…" Daine couldn't imagine what this silence meant. Animals were always about and causing noise, especially when Daine was around.
Cloud correctly interpreted the confused expression on her mistress's face. They were quiet because you blocked off all your wild magic, and were in such a bad mood.
Once again, her pony was right. She gave her a big hug around the neck. "What would I do without you, Cloud?" she asked, smiling.
Probably end up lost somewhere, wondering who you are. With one final swish of her dark tail, Cloud trotted off to graze with Spots.
Her pony gone, Daine was able to sink back into her thoughts. She stared after Numair. She at least hoped that everything was better. All at once, several small bodies launched themselves into her, knocking her off the rock she was sitting on to the ground. She squealed happily and petted Kitten, Zek and Gold-Streak each in turn. "Good morning to you too!"
"Why did you run away?" Gold-Streak questioned.
The girl sighed. She didn't want to think about the reason anymore, much less explain it over and over again. She ran her finger down the darking's smooth form. "It's a little complicated. Basically, I was running from my problems."
"And acting quite inane."
She looked up, and Numair towered over her. He appeared upside-down to her, because she was still sprawled on the forest floor.
"Do you have to do that?" Daine demanded.
"Do what?" he asked, the picture of innocence.
"Listen into my conversations and add your own little comments? And always sneaking up behind me?" She removed the animals from her lap and held her hands up to Numair.
He grabbed them and pulled her to her feet. "Why yes, of course I must! It teaches you to always watch your back, because you never know who's listening." As Daine snorted with laughter, he grinned. "I love your laugh. It makes me want to laugh as well."
Daine nearly went weak with relief. Things were back to normal. As normal as things were in Tortall, at any rate. She hugged him tightly around the waist, burrowing her face into his chest. As she breathed his scent in, she felt relief wash over her.
Numair laughed. "Now, what's all this about?" he said, tilting her head upward. She gazed up into his dark eyes, and felt happier than she had in a long while. "Nothing," Daine whispered as she kissed him and sank into his arms.
"Master Salmalín, just what are you doing with my daughter?" teased a well-known feminine voice. Daine pulled out of Numair's grip, and glanced frantically around.
"Ma?" Her eyes fell on two familiar figures. "Ma! Da!" Sarra stood in the clearing with her hands on her hips, a look of mock-sternness on her face. Weiryn was next to her. His expression was less amused. Their daughter ran over to them and hugged them both fiercely. Numair bowed low to the gods. "I can't believe you're here!" Suddenly, Daine pulled away from her parents. "Wait: I'm not in trouble, am I?"
Sarra laughed. "No, sweet, you're not."
Weiryn glared at Numair. "Not yet, anyway," the god growled. Numair gulped and tried vainly to look unperturbed.
Daine ignored her father's over-protective attitude. "Well, then what brings you to Tortall? I thought you couldn't leave the Divine Realms !"
"It's the summer solstice, dear. The great gods granted us permission to come visit you, since you're banned from our home." The goddess's eyes danced merrily. "Although now I'm fair certain you would have wanted us to come later."
"Hmph," grunted Weiryn, folding his arms across his dark chest.
Daine clasped her hand to her forehead. "I forgot about Midsummer again!" she moaned. "I really need to get myself a calendar… No matter." The full meaning of her mother's comment suddenly hit her, and she turned crimson. "Ma, we weren't doing anything!"
"I know. I'm just having a bit of motherly fun. I don't get to do much of that, you know." Sarra's blue eyes glistened with unshed tears, and her voice grew wistful. "And now you've grown into a woman, engaged and all."
Daine choked back tears of her own, as memories of burying her mother when she was only a twelve-year-old child flooded her head. She rushed into her mother's arms.
Sarra clutched her child tightly, and let the tears spill out of her eyes. Weiryn and Numair both approached the women, concerned. Sarra shook her head at them, and they backed away. She caressed Daine's hair. Then she laughed, a clear, pleasing sound, and looked down at her weeping daughter. "Come now, this is no way to act in front of the men-folk! Cheer up, sweet!" Daine wiped her face and tried to smile. "That's better," her mother said soothingly, looking her up and down. "You get more beautiful every day."
"Yes, she does," agreed Numair, taking Daine's hand in his. He squeezed it gently.
Weiryn put his arm around Sarra's waist. The goddess smiled up at her lover. Then suddenly, her tone became quite business-like. "Give me your hand, dear," she said, motioning for Daine's right hand.
The girl placed her free hand in her mother's, palm down. Sarra inspected the ornament adorning her daughter's finger. "Oh my, it's lovely, Master Numair," she breathed. She laid her own slender forefinger atop the diamond. It sparked, and sent a jolt throughout Daine, causing her to yelp. "Ma, what did you do that for?" she said, yanking her hand away and rubbing it.
"I felt the energy too," said Numair in awe. "What was the reason for spell?"
Weiryn was looking at Sarra with surprised anger. "You know better than to do that, Sarra! We are not allowed to tamper with mortal possessions!"
"'Tamper'?" echoed Daine. "Is my ring ruined?" She looked at the ring worriedly.
"Of course not," the goddess said airily. "I was just checking it's, well, quality, I guess you could say." She shifted from foot to foot, looking nervous.
"Checking the quality indeed!" snorted Weiryn. "What your mother did was very foolish. She—," Sarra clamped her hand over his mouth.
"Your ring is perfectly fine. Better, even. Just ignore your father. Well dears, we must be on our way. It was so nice to see you again." She awkwardly kissed them both on the cheek, still keeping her hold on Weiryn's mouth. "Good-bye!" The god struggled against her as she waved. They disappeared.
"Happy Midsummer !" Daine called after them.
"Thank you for reminding me, Daine," Sarra said as she materialized again, alone this time, into the clearing. "These are for you." Numair and Daine each received a package. "Happy Midsummer!" One final hug, and she was gone.
They stood in silence for a while. It was Numair who finally broke the spell. "Well, it was nice seeing your parents again, wasn't it?" He eyed the object in his hand warily. "Should we open them?"
"It couldn't hurt, I s'pose." Daine tugged half-heartedly at a corner of the brown wrapping on her package, then completely lost interest. "Why were my folks acting so strangely? I wonder what Ma did to my ring… Da certainly didn't like it." She looked at her ring in doubt. "I don't trust my mother's Gift much, godly or not. She's up to something."
"We don't know what that is, so we might as well just forget it. Besides, I'm curious to know what your parents gave me. I've found that gifts from divine beings are exceptionally advantageous." Numair eagerly tore the wrappings off his parcel. The paper fell away to expose a jar of Sarra's healing ointment and another article, wrapped in a carefully in a piece of soft cloth. Setting down the jar, he removed the cloth. A dark, oval gem was revealed.
Daine peered at it with interest. "Is that…?"
"Yes," Numair said softly. "It's a black opal. And the finest I've ever seen, I might add." The opal shimmered in the sun as he turned it over in his large hands.
"But don't you already have one?" She tugged at the gold chain around his neck and pulled out his opal pendant.
"With two, I can do more advanced sorcery. This is just the item I require for an experiment I've been desiring to do." He held the gem up to the light and wandered off, muttering excitedly
Daine shook her head. "Mages—can't live with them, can't live without them. What am I going to do with that man?" She picked up the healing salve. A piece of paper fell from the bottom of the jar and fluttered to the ground. It was a note, written in her mother's fine script. It read:
Master Numair,
I hope you will enjoy the gifts. The ointment should come in handy, as you and my daughter seem to get many injuries. But I know it is the opal you will make the most use of. You mages and your toys. (Here Daine smiled.) Just try not to blow anything up with it. Be good to my Veralidaine. She loves you very much. Take care!
Sarra
Grinning, Daine carried the note, jar, and her own unopened gift back to the campsite. Then she remembered: "Breakfast! I left it on the fire!" She raced to the fire, and found Anya stirring the food. The girl breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank you, Anya. I completely forgot about it when my parents came."
"It was no trouble, my lady. I was only too happy to do it." Anya watched Daine carefully over her veil. "How are you feeling this morning?"
"Just fine," Daine assured her. She paused. Then, "Anya, I owe you an apology. I haven't been fair. I'm sorry for the way I acted yesterday. I wasn't thinking. Can we be friends?" She held out her hand for the genie to shake.
Anya took it. "Of course, my lady. Being friends sounds wonderful."
"Good. Now, did you see which way Numair went?" Daine searched the immediate area with her eyes quickly. "He got a new 'toy', and he strayed off somewhere to play with it. He could be gone for hours if we don't find him and get back on the road. We've had a lot of delays so far, and we need to get to Burmshire soon!"
The genie pointed north. "I believe he drifted that way. Would you like me to retrieve him for you?"
"Uh, sure. Why don't you use your magic?" When Anya looked at her strangely, she added, "What's the point of friend having who has magic, if she isn't allowed to show off every once in a while? Let's see some genie witchcraft."
"As you wish." Anya clapped her hands twice. Numair appeared in front of them, looking slightly dazed and very intrigued. A few tendrils of a pale gold mist streamed away from him.
"That was truly astounding," he exclaimed. "May we try it again? I should like to see if I could perhaps stop the transporting spell from—"
"Some other time, Numair," Daine interrupted, just in time. "We have to pack and get going."
He sighed. "Oh, all right. If we must. Oh, good morning, Anya," he said, noticing the genie. "I trust you slept well?"
"Very well, Master Numair, thank you. You must eat before we continue with the journey. Here," Anya handed a bowl of porridge each to Daine and Numair, and set two bowls on the ground for the animals. Then she conjured some honey and cream.
Daine took the cream and began to eat. "Why aren't you eating?" she asked when she noticed the genie hadn't given herself a bowl.
"I really do not need to eat," Anya answered. "It is not in an immortal's nature to do so."
"Oh. Please pass the honey, Numair." The man handed her the pitcher, and she resumed eating.
At length, they all finished their meals. Numair surveyed the camp. "We should commence packing."
"I can have the camp ready for our departure within minutes, Lady Daine," Anya offered. "It would not require any exertion of anyone."
"That sounds great." Daine stood up and dusted off her bottom from sitting on the ground. "Do you need us to do anything?"
"Just stand back, if you please." Anya closed her eyes and began chanting under her breath. Daine retreated to the shelter of the trees, then came to retrieve Numair, who was watching Anya with obvious fascination.
"C'mon," she said, pulling him to the trees, "we can watch from back here, where it's safe." Kitten and the other animals scurried over as well.
Anya continued chanting. Daine changed her ears to those of a bat and listened hard. The genie spoke in a language that Daine had never heard before. But it was pleasant to listen to. "It almost sounds like a song," she muttered to Numair. He nodded in agreement.
The same mist that had coated Numair now swirled playfully around Anya. Just then, the fire was extinguished. It went out with a loud hiss. The ashes were scattered by an unfelt wind, and their unused timber floated back into the woods. Objects moved of their own accord into their respective packs. When the packs were filled, they piled themselves in a heap near Anya. Bedrolls and blankets folded themselves up. Everything in the clearing was shrouded in the mist, including the travelers. It made Zek sneeze.
At last Anya opened her eyes. "So mote it be," she whispered, and the colored haze dissipated.
Numair applauded. "That was amazing, Anya. I'd like to make a study of genie magic. I have never seen any books on the subject, and I think that people would be most interested in reading about—"
"Numair," Daine said warningly.
Anya blushed. "I do not think that mortals would like to read much about genie magic. They would rather just be granted wishes. But I thank you all the same, Master Numair." The horses emerged from the woods, neatly saddled and ready to go. Anya unrolled her magic carpet and climbed on it. "I can take some of the baggage on my carpet," she said. "The horses shouldn't have to carry everything."
Good idea, Cloud said. I like this girl. Daine translated for the others, and then they arranged the extra packs behind Anya.
Once everything was ready, the travelers set off. "We'll arrive in Burmshire soon," Numair assured them.
"I doubt that. Something else is going to come up and hamper us. I can just feel it. Our trips are never easy."
"Magelet, you are too pessimistic. We'll get there in no time."
A/N: I'm not very proud of this chapter. I am having serious writer's block, and the fact that computers in my house are messed up isn't helping. Technology is great and all, but it sucks when things don't work. Anyway, I'll be sure to get the next chapters written soon, and they'll be much better. I was just having a horrible time with this one.
Disclaimer: You know the drill- Anya and Burmshire are mine, everything else is TP's.
A Peculiar Visit
Daine awoke with the sun's first rays playing on her face. She sat up and rubbed her tired eyes, forcing them to open. As she emerged from the bedroll, she was careful not to disturb Numair or the nest of animals, and she dressed as quickly as her pounding head and sore leg muscles would allow. Limping slightly, she made her way over to the campfire's remains and stirred life back into it. Daine set a pot on a stand high above the fiery tongues, and watched bubbles form as the water within it boiled.
Memories of the previous night poured into her reeling head. What did she believe she would accomplish by fleeing into the woods? Thinking Numair in love with a genie…she knew him better than that! She scowled at her actions. The day can show a different perspective of anything thought sensible in the dark of night. She hoped desperately that he didn't think any less of her. And what did Anya think of her and her behavior?
Approaching hoof beats drew her out of her musings. She looked up and grunted when Cloud thrust her velvety nose in Daine's face.
"Don't scold me, Cloud. I know I was being ridiculous," the girl said before her pony could speak.
I know you do. I just came over to make sure everything is okay between you and the stork-man.
Daine added a few things to the pot, and stirred the contents gently. "Everything is better than ever. At least, I'm pretty sure it is. And I know better now than to throw any more jealous tantrums."
"I'm glad to here it." She turned, and found that Numair had risen as well. She smiled as he blinked the sleep from his eyes and attempted to tame his hair.
"Numair," she teased, forgetting her worries for the moment. "You are so vain! Who care what your hair looks like this early in the morning?"
He scowled at her. "I don't appreciate the references to narcissism, Daine."
She giggled. "Oh, so sorry, sleepyhead! I forgot that you're not a morning person." He glared and stalked off to dress.
That was cruel, Cloud remarked.
"Oh, he knows I'm just kidding. Don't you, Numair?" she called. The mage muttered something indistinct. "He spends too much time worrying about his looks, anyway."
True, the pony agreed. She paused, and her ears perked up. Listen.
"To what?"
To the forest, Cloud said.
Daine listened. All she heard was ordinary forest sounds: birds chirping, animals calling to each other, the wind whispering through the trees. "I don't hear anything, besides what I'd normally hear. Animals and such."
Exactly, Cloud told her. Last night, it was strangely quiet. The animals made no noise at all.
"Now that you've mentioned it, I don't remember seeing or hearing any animals last night…" Daine couldn't imagine what this silence meant. Animals were always about and causing noise, especially when Daine was around.
Cloud correctly interpreted the confused expression on her mistress's face. They were quiet because you blocked off all your wild magic, and were in such a bad mood.
Once again, her pony was right. She gave her a big hug around the neck. "What would I do without you, Cloud?" she asked, smiling.
Probably end up lost somewhere, wondering who you are. With one final swish of her dark tail, Cloud trotted off to graze with Spots.
Her pony gone, Daine was able to sink back into her thoughts. She stared after Numair. She at least hoped that everything was better. All at once, several small bodies launched themselves into her, knocking her off the rock she was sitting on to the ground. She squealed happily and petted Kitten, Zek and Gold-Streak each in turn. "Good morning to you too!"
"Why did you run away?" Gold-Streak questioned.
The girl sighed. She didn't want to think about the reason anymore, much less explain it over and over again. She ran her finger down the darking's smooth form. "It's a little complicated. Basically, I was running from my problems."
"And acting quite inane."
She looked up, and Numair towered over her. He appeared upside-down to her, because she was still sprawled on the forest floor.
"Do you have to do that?" Daine demanded.
"Do what?" he asked, the picture of innocence.
"Listen into my conversations and add your own little comments? And always sneaking up behind me?" She removed the animals from her lap and held her hands up to Numair.
He grabbed them and pulled her to her feet. "Why yes, of course I must! It teaches you to always watch your back, because you never know who's listening." As Daine snorted with laughter, he grinned. "I love your laugh. It makes me want to laugh as well."
Daine nearly went weak with relief. Things were back to normal. As normal as things were in Tortall, at any rate. She hugged him tightly around the waist, burrowing her face into his chest. As she breathed his scent in, she felt relief wash over her.
Numair laughed. "Now, what's all this about?" he said, tilting her head upward. She gazed up into his dark eyes, and felt happier than she had in a long while. "Nothing," Daine whispered as she kissed him and sank into his arms.
"Master Salmalín, just what are you doing with my daughter?" teased a well-known feminine voice. Daine pulled out of Numair's grip, and glanced frantically around.
"Ma?" Her eyes fell on two familiar figures. "Ma! Da!" Sarra stood in the clearing with her hands on her hips, a look of mock-sternness on her face. Weiryn was next to her. His expression was less amused. Their daughter ran over to them and hugged them both fiercely. Numair bowed low to the gods. "I can't believe you're here!" Suddenly, Daine pulled away from her parents. "Wait: I'm not in trouble, am I?"
Sarra laughed. "No, sweet, you're not."
Weiryn glared at Numair. "Not yet, anyway," the god growled. Numair gulped and tried vainly to look unperturbed.
Daine ignored her father's over-protective attitude. "Well, then what brings you to Tortall? I thought you couldn't leave the Divine Realms !"
"It's the summer solstice, dear. The great gods granted us permission to come visit you, since you're banned from our home." The goddess's eyes danced merrily. "Although now I'm fair certain you would have wanted us to come later."
"Hmph," grunted Weiryn, folding his arms across his dark chest.
Daine clasped her hand to her forehead. "I forgot about Midsummer again!" she moaned. "I really need to get myself a calendar… No matter." The full meaning of her mother's comment suddenly hit her, and she turned crimson. "Ma, we weren't doing anything!"
"I know. I'm just having a bit of motherly fun. I don't get to do much of that, you know." Sarra's blue eyes glistened with unshed tears, and her voice grew wistful. "And now you've grown into a woman, engaged and all."
Daine choked back tears of her own, as memories of burying her mother when she was only a twelve-year-old child flooded her head. She rushed into her mother's arms.
Sarra clutched her child tightly, and let the tears spill out of her eyes. Weiryn and Numair both approached the women, concerned. Sarra shook her head at them, and they backed away. She caressed Daine's hair. Then she laughed, a clear, pleasing sound, and looked down at her weeping daughter. "Come now, this is no way to act in front of the men-folk! Cheer up, sweet!" Daine wiped her face and tried to smile. "That's better," her mother said soothingly, looking her up and down. "You get more beautiful every day."
"Yes, she does," agreed Numair, taking Daine's hand in his. He squeezed it gently.
Weiryn put his arm around Sarra's waist. The goddess smiled up at her lover. Then suddenly, her tone became quite business-like. "Give me your hand, dear," she said, motioning for Daine's right hand.
The girl placed her free hand in her mother's, palm down. Sarra inspected the ornament adorning her daughter's finger. "Oh my, it's lovely, Master Numair," she breathed. She laid her own slender forefinger atop the diamond. It sparked, and sent a jolt throughout Daine, causing her to yelp. "Ma, what did you do that for?" she said, yanking her hand away and rubbing it.
"I felt the energy too," said Numair in awe. "What was the reason for spell?"
Weiryn was looking at Sarra with surprised anger. "You know better than to do that, Sarra! We are not allowed to tamper with mortal possessions!"
"'Tamper'?" echoed Daine. "Is my ring ruined?" She looked at the ring worriedly.
"Of course not," the goddess said airily. "I was just checking it's, well, quality, I guess you could say." She shifted from foot to foot, looking nervous.
"Checking the quality indeed!" snorted Weiryn. "What your mother did was very foolish. She—," Sarra clamped her hand over his mouth.
"Your ring is perfectly fine. Better, even. Just ignore your father. Well dears, we must be on our way. It was so nice to see you again." She awkwardly kissed them both on the cheek, still keeping her hold on Weiryn's mouth. "Good-bye!" The god struggled against her as she waved. They disappeared.
"Happy Midsummer !" Daine called after them.
"Thank you for reminding me, Daine," Sarra said as she materialized again, alone this time, into the clearing. "These are for you." Numair and Daine each received a package. "Happy Midsummer!" One final hug, and she was gone.
They stood in silence for a while. It was Numair who finally broke the spell. "Well, it was nice seeing your parents again, wasn't it?" He eyed the object in his hand warily. "Should we open them?"
"It couldn't hurt, I s'pose." Daine tugged half-heartedly at a corner of the brown wrapping on her package, then completely lost interest. "Why were my folks acting so strangely? I wonder what Ma did to my ring… Da certainly didn't like it." She looked at her ring in doubt. "I don't trust my mother's Gift much, godly or not. She's up to something."
"We don't know what that is, so we might as well just forget it. Besides, I'm curious to know what your parents gave me. I've found that gifts from divine beings are exceptionally advantageous." Numair eagerly tore the wrappings off his parcel. The paper fell away to expose a jar of Sarra's healing ointment and another article, wrapped in a carefully in a piece of soft cloth. Setting down the jar, he removed the cloth. A dark, oval gem was revealed.
Daine peered at it with interest. "Is that…?"
"Yes," Numair said softly. "It's a black opal. And the finest I've ever seen, I might add." The opal shimmered in the sun as he turned it over in his large hands.
"But don't you already have one?" She tugged at the gold chain around his neck and pulled out his opal pendant.
"With two, I can do more advanced sorcery. This is just the item I require for an experiment I've been desiring to do." He held the gem up to the light and wandered off, muttering excitedly
Daine shook her head. "Mages—can't live with them, can't live without them. What am I going to do with that man?" She picked up the healing salve. A piece of paper fell from the bottom of the jar and fluttered to the ground. It was a note, written in her mother's fine script. It read:
Master Numair,
I hope you will enjoy the gifts. The ointment should come in handy, as you and my daughter seem to get many injuries. But I know it is the opal you will make the most use of. You mages and your toys. (Here Daine smiled.) Just try not to blow anything up with it. Be good to my Veralidaine. She loves you very much. Take care!
Sarra
Grinning, Daine carried the note, jar, and her own unopened gift back to the campsite. Then she remembered: "Breakfast! I left it on the fire!" She raced to the fire, and found Anya stirring the food. The girl breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank you, Anya. I completely forgot about it when my parents came."
"It was no trouble, my lady. I was only too happy to do it." Anya watched Daine carefully over her veil. "How are you feeling this morning?"
"Just fine," Daine assured her. She paused. Then, "Anya, I owe you an apology. I haven't been fair. I'm sorry for the way I acted yesterday. I wasn't thinking. Can we be friends?" She held out her hand for the genie to shake.
Anya took it. "Of course, my lady. Being friends sounds wonderful."
"Good. Now, did you see which way Numair went?" Daine searched the immediate area with her eyes quickly. "He got a new 'toy', and he strayed off somewhere to play with it. He could be gone for hours if we don't find him and get back on the road. We've had a lot of delays so far, and we need to get to Burmshire soon!"
The genie pointed north. "I believe he drifted that way. Would you like me to retrieve him for you?"
"Uh, sure. Why don't you use your magic?" When Anya looked at her strangely, she added, "What's the point of friend having who has magic, if she isn't allowed to show off every once in a while? Let's see some genie witchcraft."
"As you wish." Anya clapped her hands twice. Numair appeared in front of them, looking slightly dazed and very intrigued. A few tendrils of a pale gold mist streamed away from him.
"That was truly astounding," he exclaimed. "May we try it again? I should like to see if I could perhaps stop the transporting spell from—"
"Some other time, Numair," Daine interrupted, just in time. "We have to pack and get going."
He sighed. "Oh, all right. If we must. Oh, good morning, Anya," he said, noticing the genie. "I trust you slept well?"
"Very well, Master Numair, thank you. You must eat before we continue with the journey. Here," Anya handed a bowl of porridge each to Daine and Numair, and set two bowls on the ground for the animals. Then she conjured some honey and cream.
Daine took the cream and began to eat. "Why aren't you eating?" she asked when she noticed the genie hadn't given herself a bowl.
"I really do not need to eat," Anya answered. "It is not in an immortal's nature to do so."
"Oh. Please pass the honey, Numair." The man handed her the pitcher, and she resumed eating.
At length, they all finished their meals. Numair surveyed the camp. "We should commence packing."
"I can have the camp ready for our departure within minutes, Lady Daine," Anya offered. "It would not require any exertion of anyone."
"That sounds great." Daine stood up and dusted off her bottom from sitting on the ground. "Do you need us to do anything?"
"Just stand back, if you please." Anya closed her eyes and began chanting under her breath. Daine retreated to the shelter of the trees, then came to retrieve Numair, who was watching Anya with obvious fascination.
"C'mon," she said, pulling him to the trees, "we can watch from back here, where it's safe." Kitten and the other animals scurried over as well.
Anya continued chanting. Daine changed her ears to those of a bat and listened hard. The genie spoke in a language that Daine had never heard before. But it was pleasant to listen to. "It almost sounds like a song," she muttered to Numair. He nodded in agreement.
The same mist that had coated Numair now swirled playfully around Anya. Just then, the fire was extinguished. It went out with a loud hiss. The ashes were scattered by an unfelt wind, and their unused timber floated back into the woods. Objects moved of their own accord into their respective packs. When the packs were filled, they piled themselves in a heap near Anya. Bedrolls and blankets folded themselves up. Everything in the clearing was shrouded in the mist, including the travelers. It made Zek sneeze.
At last Anya opened her eyes. "So mote it be," she whispered, and the colored haze dissipated.
Numair applauded. "That was amazing, Anya. I'd like to make a study of genie magic. I have never seen any books on the subject, and I think that people would be most interested in reading about—"
"Numair," Daine said warningly.
Anya blushed. "I do not think that mortals would like to read much about genie magic. They would rather just be granted wishes. But I thank you all the same, Master Numair." The horses emerged from the woods, neatly saddled and ready to go. Anya unrolled her magic carpet and climbed on it. "I can take some of the baggage on my carpet," she said. "The horses shouldn't have to carry everything."
Good idea, Cloud said. I like this girl. Daine translated for the others, and then they arranged the extra packs behind Anya.
Once everything was ready, the travelers set off. "We'll arrive in Burmshire soon," Numair assured them.
"I doubt that. Something else is going to come up and hamper us. I can just feel it. Our trips are never easy."
"Magelet, you are too pessimistic. We'll get there in no time."
A/N: I'm not very proud of this chapter. I am having serious writer's block, and the fact that computers in my house are messed up isn't helping. Technology is great and all, but it sucks when things don't work. Anyway, I'll be sure to get the next chapters written soon, and they'll be much better. I was just having a horrible time with this one.
Disclaimer: You know the drill- Anya and Burmshire are mine, everything else is TP's.