This may be the last chapter for awhile. I have a county fair coming up that I am competing in with my dog so I will be gone for awhile. Hopefully I can get out the next chapter before I leave. The whoe story is planned out in my head, I just have to write it!!! I hope you enjoy this chapter, it's a long one!!
CHAPTER THREE
After only a few mishaps, Daine and Numair arrived at the pages and squires lunchroom, unscathed. No one was there yet, and Daine was just about to suggest coming back another time when a servant came up behind them.
"You dears, look a might bit hungry. We could serve you now if you like; before the lads all arrive and noise up the place." Daine and Numair turned around to see black, curly hair, friendly, green eyes, and the uniform of a servant/cook.
"If it wouldn't be too much trouble we would greatly appreciate it." Numair said, inclining his head in the bow one gives a servant he/she is thanking. Daine did the same: she always followed Numair's lead, trusting he would know the appropriate behaviors.
The serving/cook lady led them to a long window and indicated that they should pick up trays and get served. The servants piled the food onto their trays until Daine and Numair had to ask them to stop. They then walked over to a corner table, sat across from each other, and began to eat, discussing quietly what had happened so far.
When Daine and Numair were only half way through their meal they heard a noise like a herd of elephants and looked up just in time to see pages and squires pour into the lunchroom. Soon the place was crowded, so Daine and Numair were amazed when Jon, Raoul, Gary, and "Alan" came up to them.
"You made it here?" Jon asked, frowning slightly. "If you were hungry we could have shown you here."
Daine shook her head and Numair replied, "We got hungry after you left and a servant showed us the way." This seemed to satisfy Jon and they left to get food.
"I thought only squires and pages ate here, not knights." Daine inquired softly as Numair looked around.
"Before Wyldon came, and before they had to rebuild most of the castle, it was custom for young knights to eat with their squires. I am not exactly sure why it was stopped, but it was." Numair finished just as the table became crammed with young boys. Jon and Gary sat next to Daine, Raoul and "Alan" sat next to Numair. The topics ranged all over as the food on all of their plates began to vanish. Soon they were all full.
"But if a dragon were here it would just be able to breathe fire all over the place and burn a griffin!" Gary protested. Somehow the conversation had gotten on to immortals (and in a fight which immortal would win) and now Gary, Jon, Raoul, and "Alan" argued over it.
"Griffins are ferocious, they would put up a huge fight, one even a dragon might have trouble in." Raoul shot back.
"But don't dragons have magic?" Asked "Alan" to Raoul, "he" sided with Gary, that a dragon would be able to beat a griffin; Jon sided with Raoul.
"I'm not sure, but griffins have a form of magic, don't they?" Raoul answered.
"I think dragons only have invisibility, you can't lie around a griffin, and so a griffin would be able to see a dragon." Jon argued.
Meanwhile Daine and Numair sat, shaking with silent laughter. They both knew that a lot of what the four were saying was wrong, but didn't mention anything for fear of laughing.
"What to you two think? Griffin or a dragon?" Gary questioned the two.
"I'm not sure, I think it might be the dragon." Numair stated blandly, barely keeping a straight face. he mused silently, just then there was a flash of silver light and Kitten appeared on the floor, next to Daine. Daine paled as the rest of the table fell silent. thought Numair,
"What was that?" asked Raoul. Luckily the rest of the boys didn't seem to notice the baby dragon, they were too busy eating.
"What was that?" repeated Gary, trying to get a glimpse at the creature. Meanwhile Kitten was growing impatient and cheeped at Daine, pulling on her pants.
'This," Daine told the others, taking a deep breath and picking up Kitten, "is a dragon."
"It can't be. Dragons were locked in the Divine Realms, four hundred years ago." Jon told Daine, an unbelieving look on his face.
"Well, Kitten is an exception." Daine retorted.
Numair absently scratched Kitten's head as she trilled softly in pleasure. "Dragons were imprisoned, but Kitten and her mother escaped and Kitten, Skysong's, mother was killed." He said, keeping his voice low.
"I never heard of that." Gary whispered, he had a look of wonder on his face.
"It was kept very hushed, so we would appreciate it if you didn't mention this to anyone!" Daine advised them emphasizing the word anyone. The group seemed to except what they said and swore on their honor they would not tell a soul.
"So how did she just appear here?" Raoul asked after a bit of silence they had all used to let this information sink in.
"Well, ummm, Alan was right. They do have magic, but they have a lot of different magic. They can sense human magic, make themselves invisible even to the most powerful of mages, whistle locks off doors, and go wherever they please among other things. We…uh…left her at home and she must have gotten angry and found us." Daine explained. The four looked even more in awe.
Kitten seemed to remember the reason she was there in the first place and began to scold Daine, turning slightly red in the process and trilling loudly. The other boys had left to classes and knight masters, leaving them virtually alone. Even the servants had finished cleaning and left to do other tasks.
"What is she doing?" asked "Alan," curious. The black cat that was always on "his" shoulder glanced around his master's neck to get a better look at the dragon that was trilling more complexly by the moment.
"She's angry and she is telling me that. Kitten, stop that this instant! You need to behave!" Daine scolded, shaking her finger at the baby dragon.
"You just scold her…just like that?" Raoul questioned, looking as if he expected Kitten to bite Daine's finger off.
"I'm a ma to Kit…sort of…I think she expects me to do this. And I can't go on letting her misbehave, can I?" Daine responded fiddling with one of Kitten's claws.
"Can I touch her?" Jon said, looking a little anxious. His hand was already half way across the table.
"Kit?" Daine queried the dragon, "Can they admire you?" Kitten chirped and hopped onto the floor over to the Prince. She reached a paw up and patted Jon, almost in reassurance. Jon reached slowly down and touched Kit's scaled hide; then drew back quickly. His hand came right back and caressed Kitten again.
"She's so soft," he commented, "I thought her scales would be more like a snake, but they're smoother." Soon the other three were touching Kitten and telling her how wonderful she was. Kitten loved it; she crooned and trilled softly, arching her back like a cat would.
Just then the lunchroom door burst open. Everyone at the table stood up and Daine concealed Kitten behind her legs. A dark-skinned man that moved with cat-like grace walked toward Jon.
"You know the His Majesty and His Grace have been waiting for you two." He indicated Jon and Gary.
Jon smacked his head. "Sorry Alex, we forgot. We had better go Gary." Jon told this to Gary and Alex, but was looking at Daine and Numair. "Alex we were just talking to two Tyran guests, Numair Salmalin and Veralidaine Sarrasri. I'm sorry you two, we have to leave." Daine and Numair nodded, understanding. Alex bowed hurriedly to the two not even looking at them. He was obviously in a rush.
"And I need to go find my squire." Raoul commented, frowning a little.
"And what do I do, Jon?" asked "Alan."
"You have time off until this meeting is over." Jon called back. He, Alex, and Gary were already almost to the door.
"I had better go. Alan, don't interrogate our guests too much!" He smiled knowing how cautious Alan was around strangers. Then he walked out different doors then Gary, Alex, and Jon; leaving Daine, Numair, and "Alan" alone.
"Er…I could tour you around the palace or…umm…" "Alan" commented stuttering a little. What "he" wanted to do was talk to George!
Numair took the hint. "No I think we are both a little tired from our trip. You go and enjoy your day off. I know how little days off squires get."
"Alan" smiled in relief and nodded. "Do you need an escort back to your rooms…?"
"No I think we can make it good, but thank you for the offer."
"Alan" bowed and then trotted off.
"Numair what are we going to do for the rest of the afternoon?"
"Well most likely there will be a ball/formal introduction for the Tyrans tonight. We had better get rest while we can." Numair smiled. "You're forgetting that I stayed up late working on that spell, I'm getting exhausted."
Daine smiled up at him. "I'm fair tired myself."
Twenty minutes later Daine and Numair were snoozing away in a cozy bedroom, with a locked door.
*** Briefly this story is going to follow Alanna because the story is partly about her and I need a little intermission right here. I also need a spot for some A/G romance, A/J fans no need to worry that's coming up in the next two chapters!***
Alanna rushed into the lower city to the Dancing Dove. She needed to talk to George. She was worried about this Numair fellow. He was a very powerful mage and could he guess her secret? The guests were strange. Daine was a woman and wore breeches, plus she had a dragon (although she wasn't going to mention this to George, she had swore on her honor). And Faithful was very intrigued by her, but wouldn't say why. Alanna NEEDED George's reassurance.
As she walked into he inn she noticed most was quiet. Faithful commented from his perch on Alanna's shoulder. Alanna even forgot her new strangeness around him caused by his love for her. She just really needed to talk to him.
She banged on the bar to get Solom's attention. When she had it she asked, "Solom is George around? It's important."
Solom looked at her for a moment then said simply, "He be up in his rooms, lad."
Alanna walked up the stairs, thinking all the way. When she arrived at George's room she knocked and called, "It's me, Alan." to be sure she wasn't interrupting him.
The door opened to reveal George smiling face. "Well, lass what brings you here?" he inquired when he shut the door behind her, "You look a little anxious."
"George it's these guests visiting from Tyra. They're…different." She began
"Ah, the ones that not everyone believes are from Tyra? The ones that showed up this morning?" George asked
"How in the world did you get that information so fast George?" Alanna asked incredulously.
"You know as well as anyone that I have my ways. So what's bothering you about them?"
"I'm not sure. They're just different. One is a very powerful mage, more powerful than Duke Roger I think and I'm afraid he might know my secret."
"Are you afraid of him like you are the Duke?"
Alanna glared at George, she hated that she feared Duke Roger. "No. He seems really nice and polite and I have no fear for him, like I do for Duke Roger. I'm just afraid he'll guess my secret."
"Then you shouldn't have any fear for him. You're magic shields you from other mages and if you don't fear him and don't feel him poking around in your head I think you should be fine around him."
"I guess you're right. But the girl that came with him has strange…animal magic…she also wears breeches." Alanna made a face.
"Do I believe my ears? Is there something wrong with a woman wearin' breeches, from a lass posing as a lad?"
Alanna scowled. "Of course I don't have a problem with her wearing breeches. It's just that none of the other Tyran ladies wear breeches."
"What if she isn't from Tyra?"
"Where would she be from then?"
"Maybe that's a question you should be asking her." Alanna had no answer to this and made no effort to come up with one. George continued. "If I were you I would act natural around your guests and keep an eye on them. Maybe there's a link between them and the Duke, maybe they're just weirdoes. Meanwhile I keep my eyes and ears out as well."
"You really think there might be a connection between them and the Duke?"
"No, but I'm not ruling out any possibilities. If they meet the Duke see how they act around them. Ask Faithful." George pointed to the cat dozing on a chair.
"Faithful won't tell me anything about them, but he knows something." Alanna sighed. George made her realize what she needed to do, something she would have realized herself, just not as quickly.
"Thanks George. Sorry I dumped all my problems on you."
"Anytime lass, anytime." George smiled his smile that he reserved just for her. The love in his eyes still made Alanna gasp, but it also warmed her. George bent down and kissed Alanna lightly, then straightened, still smiling.
"Go lass, you should be getting back to the palace." George told Alanna. Alanna nodded and picked up Faithful. She walked briskly back to the palace, thinking all the way.
*** end of interlude ***
CHAPTER THREE
After only a few mishaps, Daine and Numair arrived at the pages and squires lunchroom, unscathed. No one was there yet, and Daine was just about to suggest coming back another time when a servant came up behind them.
"You dears, look a might bit hungry. We could serve you now if you like; before the lads all arrive and noise up the place." Daine and Numair turned around to see black, curly hair, friendly, green eyes, and the uniform of a servant/cook.
"If it wouldn't be too much trouble we would greatly appreciate it." Numair said, inclining his head in the bow one gives a servant he/she is thanking. Daine did the same: she always followed Numair's lead, trusting he would know the appropriate behaviors.
The serving/cook lady led them to a long window and indicated that they should pick up trays and get served. The servants piled the food onto their trays until Daine and Numair had to ask them to stop. They then walked over to a corner table, sat across from each other, and began to eat, discussing quietly what had happened so far.
When Daine and Numair were only half way through their meal they heard a noise like a herd of elephants and looked up just in time to see pages and squires pour into the lunchroom. Soon the place was crowded, so Daine and Numair were amazed when Jon, Raoul, Gary, and "Alan" came up to them.
"You made it here?" Jon asked, frowning slightly. "If you were hungry we could have shown you here."
Daine shook her head and Numair replied, "We got hungry after you left and a servant showed us the way." This seemed to satisfy Jon and they left to get food.
"I thought only squires and pages ate here, not knights." Daine inquired softly as Numair looked around.
"Before Wyldon came, and before they had to rebuild most of the castle, it was custom for young knights to eat with their squires. I am not exactly sure why it was stopped, but it was." Numair finished just as the table became crammed with young boys. Jon and Gary sat next to Daine, Raoul and "Alan" sat next to Numair. The topics ranged all over as the food on all of their plates began to vanish. Soon they were all full.
"But if a dragon were here it would just be able to breathe fire all over the place and burn a griffin!" Gary protested. Somehow the conversation had gotten on to immortals (and in a fight which immortal would win) and now Gary, Jon, Raoul, and "Alan" argued over it.
"Griffins are ferocious, they would put up a huge fight, one even a dragon might have trouble in." Raoul shot back.
"But don't dragons have magic?" Asked "Alan" to Raoul, "he" sided with Gary, that a dragon would be able to beat a griffin; Jon sided with Raoul.
"I'm not sure, but griffins have a form of magic, don't they?" Raoul answered.
"I think dragons only have invisibility, you can't lie around a griffin, and so a griffin would be able to see a dragon." Jon argued.
Meanwhile Daine and Numair sat, shaking with silent laughter. They both knew that a lot of what the four were saying was wrong, but didn't mention anything for fear of laughing.
"What to you two think? Griffin or a dragon?" Gary questioned the two.
"I'm not sure, I think it might be the dragon." Numair stated blandly, barely keeping a straight face. he mused silently, just then there was a flash of silver light and Kitten appeared on the floor, next to Daine. Daine paled as the rest of the table fell silent. thought Numair,
"What was that?" asked Raoul. Luckily the rest of the boys didn't seem to notice the baby dragon, they were too busy eating.
"What was that?" repeated Gary, trying to get a glimpse at the creature. Meanwhile Kitten was growing impatient and cheeped at Daine, pulling on her pants.
'This," Daine told the others, taking a deep breath and picking up Kitten, "is a dragon."
"It can't be. Dragons were locked in the Divine Realms, four hundred years ago." Jon told Daine, an unbelieving look on his face.
"Well, Kitten is an exception." Daine retorted.
Numair absently scratched Kitten's head as she trilled softly in pleasure. "Dragons were imprisoned, but Kitten and her mother escaped and Kitten, Skysong's, mother was killed." He said, keeping his voice low.
"I never heard of that." Gary whispered, he had a look of wonder on his face.
"It was kept very hushed, so we would appreciate it if you didn't mention this to anyone!" Daine advised them emphasizing the word anyone. The group seemed to except what they said and swore on their honor they would not tell a soul.
"So how did she just appear here?" Raoul asked after a bit of silence they had all used to let this information sink in.
"Well, ummm, Alan was right. They do have magic, but they have a lot of different magic. They can sense human magic, make themselves invisible even to the most powerful of mages, whistle locks off doors, and go wherever they please among other things. We…uh…left her at home and she must have gotten angry and found us." Daine explained. The four looked even more in awe.
Kitten seemed to remember the reason she was there in the first place and began to scold Daine, turning slightly red in the process and trilling loudly. The other boys had left to classes and knight masters, leaving them virtually alone. Even the servants had finished cleaning and left to do other tasks.
"What is she doing?" asked "Alan," curious. The black cat that was always on "his" shoulder glanced around his master's neck to get a better look at the dragon that was trilling more complexly by the moment.
"She's angry and she is telling me that. Kitten, stop that this instant! You need to behave!" Daine scolded, shaking her finger at the baby dragon.
"You just scold her…just like that?" Raoul questioned, looking as if he expected Kitten to bite Daine's finger off.
"I'm a ma to Kit…sort of…I think she expects me to do this. And I can't go on letting her misbehave, can I?" Daine responded fiddling with one of Kitten's claws.
"Can I touch her?" Jon said, looking a little anxious. His hand was already half way across the table.
"Kit?" Daine queried the dragon, "Can they admire you?" Kitten chirped and hopped onto the floor over to the Prince. She reached a paw up and patted Jon, almost in reassurance. Jon reached slowly down and touched Kit's scaled hide; then drew back quickly. His hand came right back and caressed Kitten again.
"She's so soft," he commented, "I thought her scales would be more like a snake, but they're smoother." Soon the other three were touching Kitten and telling her how wonderful she was. Kitten loved it; she crooned and trilled softly, arching her back like a cat would.
Just then the lunchroom door burst open. Everyone at the table stood up and Daine concealed Kitten behind her legs. A dark-skinned man that moved with cat-like grace walked toward Jon.
"You know the His Majesty and His Grace have been waiting for you two." He indicated Jon and Gary.
Jon smacked his head. "Sorry Alex, we forgot. We had better go Gary." Jon told this to Gary and Alex, but was looking at Daine and Numair. "Alex we were just talking to two Tyran guests, Numair Salmalin and Veralidaine Sarrasri. I'm sorry you two, we have to leave." Daine and Numair nodded, understanding. Alex bowed hurriedly to the two not even looking at them. He was obviously in a rush.
"And I need to go find my squire." Raoul commented, frowning a little.
"And what do I do, Jon?" asked "Alan."
"You have time off until this meeting is over." Jon called back. He, Alex, and Gary were already almost to the door.
"I had better go. Alan, don't interrogate our guests too much!" He smiled knowing how cautious Alan was around strangers. Then he walked out different doors then Gary, Alex, and Jon; leaving Daine, Numair, and "Alan" alone.
"Er…I could tour you around the palace or…umm…" "Alan" commented stuttering a little. What "he" wanted to do was talk to George!
Numair took the hint. "No I think we are both a little tired from our trip. You go and enjoy your day off. I know how little days off squires get."
"Alan" smiled in relief and nodded. "Do you need an escort back to your rooms…?"
"No I think we can make it good, but thank you for the offer."
"Alan" bowed and then trotted off.
"Numair what are we going to do for the rest of the afternoon?"
"Well most likely there will be a ball/formal introduction for the Tyrans tonight. We had better get rest while we can." Numair smiled. "You're forgetting that I stayed up late working on that spell, I'm getting exhausted."
Daine smiled up at him. "I'm fair tired myself."
Twenty minutes later Daine and Numair were snoozing away in a cozy bedroom, with a locked door.
*** Briefly this story is going to follow Alanna because the story is partly about her and I need a little intermission right here. I also need a spot for some A/G romance, A/J fans no need to worry that's coming up in the next two chapters!***
Alanna rushed into the lower city to the Dancing Dove. She needed to talk to George. She was worried about this Numair fellow. He was a very powerful mage and could he guess her secret? The guests were strange. Daine was a woman and wore breeches, plus she had a dragon (although she wasn't going to mention this to George, she had swore on her honor). And Faithful was very intrigued by her, but wouldn't say why. Alanna NEEDED George's reassurance.
As she walked into he inn she noticed most was quiet. Faithful commented from his perch on Alanna's shoulder. Alanna even forgot her new strangeness around him caused by his love for her. She just really needed to talk to him.
She banged on the bar to get Solom's attention. When she had it she asked, "Solom is George around? It's important."
Solom looked at her for a moment then said simply, "He be up in his rooms, lad."
Alanna walked up the stairs, thinking all the way. When she arrived at George's room she knocked and called, "It's me, Alan." to be sure she wasn't interrupting him.
The door opened to reveal George smiling face. "Well, lass what brings you here?" he inquired when he shut the door behind her, "You look a little anxious."
"George it's these guests visiting from Tyra. They're…different." She began
"Ah, the ones that not everyone believes are from Tyra? The ones that showed up this morning?" George asked
"How in the world did you get that information so fast George?" Alanna asked incredulously.
"You know as well as anyone that I have my ways. So what's bothering you about them?"
"I'm not sure. They're just different. One is a very powerful mage, more powerful than Duke Roger I think and I'm afraid he might know my secret."
"Are you afraid of him like you are the Duke?"
Alanna glared at George, she hated that she feared Duke Roger. "No. He seems really nice and polite and I have no fear for him, like I do for Duke Roger. I'm just afraid he'll guess my secret."
"Then you shouldn't have any fear for him. You're magic shields you from other mages and if you don't fear him and don't feel him poking around in your head I think you should be fine around him."
"I guess you're right. But the girl that came with him has strange…animal magic…she also wears breeches." Alanna made a face.
"Do I believe my ears? Is there something wrong with a woman wearin' breeches, from a lass posing as a lad?"
Alanna scowled. "Of course I don't have a problem with her wearing breeches. It's just that none of the other Tyran ladies wear breeches."
"What if she isn't from Tyra?"
"Where would she be from then?"
"Maybe that's a question you should be asking her." Alanna had no answer to this and made no effort to come up with one. George continued. "If I were you I would act natural around your guests and keep an eye on them. Maybe there's a link between them and the Duke, maybe they're just weirdoes. Meanwhile I keep my eyes and ears out as well."
"You really think there might be a connection between them and the Duke?"
"No, but I'm not ruling out any possibilities. If they meet the Duke see how they act around them. Ask Faithful." George pointed to the cat dozing on a chair.
"Faithful won't tell me anything about them, but he knows something." Alanna sighed. George made her realize what she needed to do, something she would have realized herself, just not as quickly.
"Thanks George. Sorry I dumped all my problems on you."
"Anytime lass, anytime." George smiled his smile that he reserved just for her. The love in his eyes still made Alanna gasp, but it also warmed her. George bent down and kissed Alanna lightly, then straightened, still smiling.
"Go lass, you should be getting back to the palace." George told Alanna. Alanna nodded and picked up Faithful. She walked briskly back to the palace, thinking all the way.
*** end of interlude ***