by Arsahi
Chapter Two: Conspiracy Theory
Thanks be to: veralidaine, Valencia22, Maria, Liaska, Drowning Rooster, Stuffed Dodo, Stacey, Keita, Raashna, CopperCurls (although you didn't review, I saw that you did, in fact, add me to both your favorite stories and your favorite authors, and for that I thank you), Kate, Jossie
Wow! Thank you, everyone who's reviewed! I think this is the most reviewers I've had for the first chapter of anything and it really blows me away!
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Neal dipped his hands into the basin of water in his room and ran it through his hair. He would make his unruly locks obey him or die trying, although he didn't see much honor in dying for his hair. Just as he had begun contemplaying the thought, a knock at his door startled him back to reality. "It's open," he called, figuring either Kel or one of the other male knights had come to talk to him. After all, they wouldn't care if he had his shirt on or not--the latter actually rang of truth.
As he reached for his shirt, he heard a startled "hello" he wasn't used to hearing at his door.
"Daine?!" he asked, his voice muffled as he pulled his shirt over his head. He grabbed his tunic and pulled it over his head as Daine laughed. "What, pray tell, do you find so amusing?"
He popped his arms through the sleeves as Daine approached him. She dipped her hand into the basin and calmed his hair down, a half-smile gracing her lips. "You hair made you look like a lizard. It was funny."
Neal rolled his eyes. "Gee, darling mage, I love you too."
She grinned. "Come on. I'm fair hungry since I didn't eat supper last night, so let's go eat."
"Where do you want to eat?" he asked as Daine took hold of his wrist. He hardly had the opportunity to shut his door as she dragged him down the hallway.
"At this point, I'll eat in the Riders mess hall," she informed him.
"The knights run their own rumor mill," he told her thoughtfully. "We can eat in there. Oh! And Kel knows about us. She agreed to help us out."
"She approved?" Daine sounded surprised.
"Not exactly," he admitted. "She loves me though--even if Yuki doesn't--and wants to help me out. Well, us, because she likes you too."
"Interesting."
Neal finally caught up with her and offered his arm with a flourish, well aware that a few more of the rumor mongers of the court stood a few feet away. Daine noticed it too, so she accepted his arm. Together, they entered the mess hall. Kel waved to them and motioned to a few emepty seats near her and the others they usually ate with, grinning. Neal deposited Daine in the seat next to his chosen and, with a yawn, dropped into his seat across from Kel.
"Busy night?" Kel asked.
"No, but Daine and I walked about Corus for an ungodly amount of time. Daine, how did I let you talk me into that, love?" he asked of her.
"Me? Excuse me, but if you remember correctly you did most of the shopping. And a fair amount of eating," Daine huffed.
"And I paid for your food," he retorted. "If you don't like it then I won't pay anymore."
"I didn't ask you to in the first place." She paused. "This is fair stupid. Why did we start arguing over something like that?"
"It's reflex," Kel explained. "Everyone out of Neal's mouth inspires a reprimand."
"Stop it, ladies, there's too much love in the room," Neal said dryly. "I can hardly stand it."
"Poor Neal," Daine said, just as dryly. "His ego got squashed."
"'Squashed' doesn't begin to descrive the sheer ribbon of ego I have left," Neal pouted. "I need a hug."
Daine hugged him with one arm, around his waist. "Happy?"
He made a noncommital noise, but hugged he rback with one arm as well.
"He's quite easy to please, like a puppy. You might actually get along with him, Daine," Kel told her. She grinned at Neal. "He's loveable though."
"Gee, thanks," Neal pouted some more. "That makes me feel so much better."
Kel snorted. "All right. Well, I'm off. I need to go help Owen devise a plan to get a certain lady's attention, so I bid you two farewell."
"Bye," Neal and Daine chorused.
Alone, the knight and wild mage sat in silence. Neither knew what to say; both had their minds on their recently separated significant others. "So." He finally spoke, pushing the remainders of his breakfast around on the plate.
"So," she agreed.
"Library?" he suggested, shoving his plate forward.
"Sounds good." She nodded and untangled her arm from Neal's waist, rising with his offered hand, and heading out of the knight's mess hall.
***
They didn't know what to do once they got to the library, though each grabbed a book and took a seat at one of the tables. Neal had grabbed a book on different healing techniques while Daine had snatched one up on the physical structures of Coldfangs that she herself had helped contribute to. In total, they spent forty-five minutes there before Daine finally said, "This doesn't seem to be working very well."
"No, it doesn't," he confirmed with a sigh. He heard the door open and glanced in the general direction, hearing a familiar warm laugh trickle through the room. Frowning, Daine reached over and squeezed his hand, but he didn't move, other than closing his eyes. "Yuki," he whispered. "Gods damn it all...who's she with?"
Daine peered around her companion to watch Yuki. "A fellow slightly taller than her, dark hair, dark, almond-like eyes."
"Koji. My replacement," he explained. "Gods damn it. I thought she would never come here!"
He whirled in his seat and watched Yuki and her former lover browse through the sections of books. Squaring her shoulders, Daine stood and walked over to Neal, taking the hand she had squeezed a moment ago in hers and threading her fingers through his. She nodded in Yuki and Koji's direction, effectively conveying her idea.
They walked right past Yuki, without her sparing so much as a glance in their direction.
Gritting his teeth, Neal tried to think of something to do to get Yuki's attention. It wouldn't do if he couldn't at least distract his once-fiancee from her new beau. However, Daine thought for him. "Neal," she said, loud enough for Yuki to hear but quiet enough to not draw others' attention. "I'm so glad Numair decided to break up with me. I couldn't have brought my feelings for you out in the open, then."
Neal saw Yuki's eyes slide towards them, though nothing else moved. He smiled at Daine and replied, "Me too. With Yuki in the way, I could hardly come see you anymore."
Yuki's head moved slightly towards them, giving her a slightly better view of Neal and Daine.
Bracing herself, Daine tilted her head up and captured Neal's lips with her own. This...this is fair disgusting. Ugh. Yuck. It's like kissing my brother, if I had one. If I had a brother and I kissed him, I think this is what it would feel like. Ugh. I want Numair back...
However, it worked. Yuki looked straight at them, eyes wide. "How...disgusting!"
Couldn't have said it better myself, Daine mused silently.
She said something in Yamani to Koji, arrested the Yamani man's arm, and escorted him out of the library. Neal and Daine broke away at the same time, each wiping their mouths with a somewhat pained expression on their faces. "That was gross," Neal stated.
"Like kissing my brother, if I had one," Daine agreed.
"Exactly. Yuck." He rubbed his temples. "Well, at least news will get around that we had dallied with one another while seeing our respective partners--not really something I wanted people to believe, but I guess it can work, especially if we want to skip right to the looking-like-lovers part."
"Works for me." Daine shrugged.
"I have to go warn Kel of the newest development. Would you care to join me?" he asked.
"Surely," she answered, automatically latching onto his arm.
***
Numair slammed his book on his desk. "What?" he asked incredulously of the woman standing in front of him.
"I swear, Numair," the woman said, sweeping her curly light brown hair behind her. "I saw them walking around with their arms all over each other! And then, Lady Kate of--well, I don't remember where of--saw them kissing in the library. Lady Stacia says that Lady Minerva heard from Lady Sarina that they took midday together yesterday in a restaurant in Corus."
Snorting, Numair sat on the edge of his desk. "Is that so?"
"Indeed." Her brown eyes glittered, watching Numair's reaction. He simply hung an around her waist and pulled her closer. "Numair..."
The corner of his mouth turned up a little and he kissed her cheek. "Keita, what Daine does with Neal is of no concern for me."
Liar, liar, pants on fire, his brain told his mouth. You still care, and it is of concern for you. Liar, liar...
Keita kissed Numair lightly on the lips. "I'm glad you broke up with Daine. That way you can take care of me and the little one."
Numair, old buddy, you made a king-sized mistake, his conscience continued. How could you have let something like this happen? Why didn't Daine question you that night?
However, he ignored his conscience's ramblings and focused on Keita. Her full title was Lady Keita of Rivercrest with shoulder-length curly brown hair and eyes a warm honey brown color. She fit in Numair's arms even more perfectly than Daine had, and one fateful night Numair had met her at one of the balls Daine hadn't gone to. Keita had intoxicated him with the fragrant scent she wore, the sparkling eyes she watched him with, the fluid movements she displayed around him, and the feather soft touch of her fingertips on his face coupled with the ale he had drank most of the evening...
Well, even without the ale, he still felt something for Keita.
"Thank you for the warning," he murmured to her. "But, dear, I really must get back to the work Jon asked me to do. All right?"
Keita pouted. "Really?"
"Really. I'll be in a lot of trouble if I don't," he sighed. Somewhat reluctantly, Numair removed his arm from Keita's waist and sat behind the desk. "I'll meet you for supper, if not midday, I promise."
Keita nodded. "I'll see you later, Numair." And sashayed out the door.
Have you ever known the kind of innocent girl that just seemed to attract attention, particularly the attention of males sexually oriented towards females, wherever they went? And whoever that innocent girl chose for her mate wound up being hated and envied by the men? Slap the title of "Lady" on that girl and call her Keita--there you had her.
However, once one got to know Lady Keita...they found her not entirely innocent.
***
"Oh really?" Kel asked, somewhat surprised. Then she laughed. "That's good. At least I know now, if anyone asks. Thanks. Oh and by the way--I hear there's a really nice picnic spot by the lake. I know for a fact that some of the ladies and their lords went out to the spot, but I'm sure there's room enough for one more."
Daine shrugged and looked at Neal. "What do you say, Neal? Should we?"
"We should," he agreed. "Thanks for the tip, Kel. You're so helpful I could just kiss you."
"Thanks, I think," she answered uncertainly. "Well, anyway, I'll leave you two to your own devices. See you around!"
The two watched Kel walk off, then set off to prepare a picnic basket for their midday. Once ready, they walked arm in arm out to the lake, selected a spot for their picnic rendezvous and sat. However, they didn't realize that to their right--in Daine's view--was Numair and Lady Keita, and to their left--in Neal's view--was Yuki and Koji. They had started eating by the time they noticed the other two couples.
Daine's blood boiled. "That...that...tramp!"
"Eh?" Neal asked, his eyes drifting towards Yuki and Koji. "Oh...that tramp indeed."
"Look to your left," she hissed.
So he looked to his left. "Mithros," he breathed. "He got Lady Keita?"
Gripping the blanket, Daine clenched her jaw. "He gave me up for that whore!"
"Shhh," he advised, sliding an arm around her waist. "Shhh. Don't get upset, just pretend to love me more. If you look away, he'll watch." Neal traced her jawline with his index finger, kissing her cheek. "Now, let's just have a nice lunch and move on with our lives."
"Yeah," she agreed quietly, pulling out a piece of bread from the basket. She also noticed the way Neal kept watching over her shoulder. "...No. Don't tell me Yuki and Koji are over there."
"Afraid so," he murmured. "Feed the bread to me."
"Excuse me?" Daine asked incredulously.
"Just feed the bread to me," he urged.
"I hope you know what you have planned," she muttered, tearing off a chunk of bread and feeding it to Neal. Smiling, he took a piece of the roll she still held and fed it to her. "Oh...I see now."
"Yeah." Hesistantly, he asked, "Do we have any fruit in there? Strawberries or cherries or what have you?"
Daine rummaged through the basket, pulling out a bag of blueberries. "Here."
"It will have to do," he muttered, sighing. He popped one in his mouth, making sure Yuki saw it, and leaned over the basket, kissing Daine.
WHAT IN THE NAME OF THE GODS?! Daine sputtered mentally as she felt Neal urge her mouth open with the blueberry. Once safely inside Daine's mouth, he pulled away, grinning. That was disgusting.
She fought down the urge to hit him. However, seeing the look of indignation on Yuki's face made him laugh, so she didn't think it was so bad. He did have a nice laugh, after all. And if it weren't for the fact that she was still in love with Numair, Neal might actually have been a good kisser. If he warned her beforehand, she might enjoy it--a little.
Shut up, Daine. Don't entertain those kind of thoughts, that's a fair fool thing to do.
Nonetheless, the other part of her brain raged on. Yeah, but you need to make it look real. You know? 'Cause if it doesn't, then Numair will just smirk and go around with that little whore...what's her name, Keita?
Neal nudged her gently, seeing a malicious look spread across Daine's face as her eyes fell upon the lady with Numair.
"Love, you're glaring," he murmured.
Shaking her head, she looked at Neal. "Anyway." She rifled through the picnic basket, looking for something. She stopped though when she saw Numair reach over, tuck a loose strand of hair behind Lady Keita's ear, and kiss her gently.
That's it. Pucker up, lover boy.
Daine leaned forward and kissed Neal soundly on the mouth.
Behind them, Yuki gave an indignant cry.
Take that, you whore, Neal thought, trying his hardest not to smile into the kiss.