Disclaimer:  Although the saying is true and a girl *can* dream, I don't own any of Tamora Pierce's stuff and anyone who thinks I'm even saying I do is delusional.  But I do own my characters and I will track down anyone who steals them and e-mail myself to them to I can beat them to a bloody pulp.

[A/N:  It's getting really hard for me to sit down and write this.  I want to be outside, and my laptop is a vamp.  Can't deal with any sunshine other than me, you know?  Plus a serious case of spring fever doesn't help.  My Mom says that Girl Scouts are born, not made.  That's certainly true.  Ever since that first warm day, I've been totally hyperactive and un-scholarly. I'm dreaming about camp this summer.

O well.  I blame it on the Bloody Blasted Dang-Goned Pollen.  Anyways, on with the fic!]

*Just inside the palace gates*

                Naimura's mother looked up at her daughter, not wanting to say goodbye.  Her only child...her last link to her beloved Numair...her dearest love, it seemed.  Ever since the girl had been born, she was all that had mattered.

                Inwardly, Daine laughed as she remembered an incident from when Nai was almost two years old.

                She had just come out of a trance as she healed an injured wolf from her 'pack,' when she noticed something was wrong.  Nai had been in the corner of the den, giggling as she played with the newest pups.  Where was the giggling?  Daine ran about, calling the pack members to look for her missing pup.  Finally, she found her infant daughter trundling through the woods.

                "Nai-nai!  Where are you going?"  She scooped her precious baby up in her arms, and the girl laughed, playing with the Badger God's claw.

                "Momma, I was just going off for an adventure.  I woulda been back by supper, I promise."

                Now, eight years later, Daine faced the same situation.  Her baby girl was going off for an adventure.  But this time, she wouldn't be home by supper, and she couldn't be stopped.

                Nai leaned down from her saddle to hug her mother goodbye one last time.  She questioned why she was going away, but remembered something a fortune-telling woman from Tortall's Northern border had said:" You will have to let go if you are to grab hold."

                "Momma, I promise I'll write when I can.  Arcela says I can still stay in touch."

                "Oh, I know you will, sweetheart, it's just... well, you're all I have."  Daine's eyes were shining.  "It's very hard to let you go."

                "Momma, don't cry!  We both know I'll be back, and maybe even soon.                  Arcela said that part of Ninjengri training is traveling abroad.  I'll get off the Islands once in a while."

                Daine sniffed and smiled bitter-sweetly.  "Oh, I know what Arcela says, I heard every word of it.  I'm just your mother, that's all.  Now, have you got your practice glaive and sword?"

                "Yes, momma."

                "Spare tunic?  Breeches?"

                "Yes and yes, momma?"

                "Purse?  Handkerchief?"

                "That too, momma."

                "Your corset?"

                "Momma!"  The two laughed over that little joke.  Arcela looked on fondly, with a twinge of guilt in her heart.  Indeed, she thought they are a pair.  It shows that all they have is each other.  It's a shame they must part so soon.  Mother and daughter said their final farewells, and sensei and student left the gate, pushing their horses to a smooth trot.

                Daine waved at her child's retreating back, wiped away a tear, and left the gate.  She had work to do... yes, it wouldn't do to take forever being upset that her baby was growing up...  So she returned to the halls of the palace, out of sight from the gate, to see what she might do in the 6 long years that Nai would be gone.

                As she went on her way, Nai made up her mind not to look back.  She didn't want to cry in front of Arcela.  Now that her mother would be so far away, Nai felt that gaining the woman's respect was everything.  But then she felt a prickling sensation on the back of her neck.  She knew someone was watching her, and from the acuteness of the sensation, they were watching very closely.  Against her better judgment, she turned to look, expecting to see her mother, still waving.  Instead, in the same place, stood the Crown Prince.  He waved, and flared blue for a moment as he did something with his Gift.  A moment later, she found out what it was.

                "Until we meet again, Naimura."   Said a whispery shadow of his voice.  It sent chills up and down her spine.  And then, a distinct sensation planted itself on her neck.  A kiss.  Nai turned a deep shade of crimson and turned forward again in her saddle, wishing desperately that she had a Gift so that she could slap the Prince from where she was.  Instead, she urged her mount into a gallop and raced Arcela to the docks.

[A/N Ok, save your screams for later, I have a little explaining to do

#1:  Daine's 'pack' is the one from Wolf Speaker.  That's a duh unless you haven't read the books in a while.

#2:  The fortune-telling woman from Tortall's Northern border is the creepy little psychic girl from Kel's last book.  I don't know why I decided to put any mention of her in this, but I did, and for all of you who she freaks out entirely (like me) don't worry, we shall speak of it no more.

#3:  When Daine asks Nai if she has her purse, I don't mean Limited Too Stupid Frilly No-Sense Please-Shoot-Me handbag.  I mean a little leather pouch with spending money in it.  You know, the kind Kel and Cleon talk about winning so they can get married in Squire.

#4:  I just decided to have the C.P (Crown Prince) do that thing he did.  Mainly because his character is a real jerk, most of the time.  And for those of you who are P.Oed that Jon's grandson and/or Roald's son has managed to turn out to be Crown Prince Not-So-Charming, sorry.  I just needed a mysterious antagonist, and I haven't thought of a new King of Thieves yet.  (Marek would be like 40, maybe even 50.  That's a bit old for a cat burglar.) Besides, there are still more chappies to come out of this fic, I guarantee you that.  I'm going at the backbreaking speed of 1 every night (harder than it sounds) so leave me alone. 

px2dmx, sunny X

And the issue of Kel's hubby is still up for reveiwage.]