(A/n: thanks to all the wonderful reviewers! Just to clarify, I said it was during Squire, but then last chapter I changed it to right before First Test. Hehe and now…. The question is: will it be D/N or D/B?!?!?!?! I wonder….)
That night, Daine couldn't sleep. Thoughts bombarded her mind: what she and Briar could accomplish using each other's powers, if he fancied her, and most of all, why the Emelan delegation was visiting. She was sure that there was something being kept from her, and possibly from many others.
Restlessly she crept out of bed and got dressed. Not knowing where to go, Daine snuck up to the King's meeting room and heard voices. Crouching by the door, she transformed her ears to bat's ears. She could only pick up parts of the conversation.
"Powerful…no one knows what…" Jon's voice sounded troubled.
"When did….show? …War…." Alanna was hesitant to ask, and sounded suspicious.
Frustrated, Daine crept around the corner, hoping to find a vent in the wall. She nearly crashed into the form of a sitting boy. The boy's eyelids jerked up and he gasped. Seeing her, he smiled. She recognized the short, dark curls and gray-green eyes of Briar.
"Hello, Briar," she hissed. "What…?"
He chuckled. "I have the powers to meditate, and bring my mind somewhere else."
She frowned indignantly. "So can I!"
He shook his head vigorously. "I didn't mean offense, Ma'am. It's just, I can bring my body into the room, even though I'm sitting out here." He closed his eyes again. Within moments, Daine heard the chairs inside scrape as their occupants stood. She grabbed Briar and dashed around the corner. At that moment, Jon, Raoul, Alanna, Gary, Numair, Omar, and Reubin walked out of the chamber. Once they were a safe distance away, Daine faced Briar.
"It was so considerate of them to invite us to that discussion," she said bitterly. He shrugged.
"I don't know that you would want to hear it," the plant-mage explained. She looked at him questioningly. He continued patiently. "There's this new immortal in the realm, up north-east a ways. They don't have a name for it, and don't know its powers, but they think it's dangerous." His eyes shone in the darkness. "They think that together, you and I can use our powers to track it down. I guess that's why I'm here."
Daine's jaw dropped. A blank buzzing filled her ears. She hated surprises like these. Furiously, she grabbed Briar's wrist and towed him behind her.
Her march led her to the King's chambers, outside his study. Daine stopped short. Again, she heard voices. Motioning for Briar to be quiet, she changed into mouse shape and crept around the corner.
Raoul, Jon, and Numair stood outside Jon's door. Numair was backed against the wall. Jon and Raoul were reasoning with him.
"Numair, it's the only way," Jon argued.
Numair's hands shook. "You can't just send her away!" he shouted. "With him!"
Raoul crossed his arms. "It needs to be done, Numair. This is important. Together, Briar and Daine will be fine. Their powers together can handle anything that anyone throws at them."
Daine sighed inwardly and silently walked back to where Briar was waiting. Without and order he turned around and closed his eyes. Daine quickly changed back and put on her clothes. Finally she confronted the three men. They were shocked.
"Daine--" Jon began. She cut him off.
"As mad as I am that you were going to spring this on me, I'll do it," she said shortly. There was a long, awkward silence.
"Okay, thanks," Raoul said with a shrug. "It shouldn't be too hard, for you. I'll go get the maps." He hurried off.
Jon looked between Numair and Daine. Briar emerged from the shadows. "Briar and I will go tell the council that you're leaving," the King declared, and pulled Briar away with him. Daine covered a smile; Briar was getting pulled-around a lot that night.
Now it was only Daine and Numair. The tall mage looked at the ceiling, keeping his distance. Daine itched to run to him, but knew that the next move on the board was his.
They stood like that--apart, unmoving, no sound--for some time. Finally, Daine turned to leave.
"I'm going to pack," She muttered, so quiet that he might not have heard.
"Wait," he rasped. "Wait." He took three giant strides and turned her towards him. She looked him in the eyes. Silence threatened to engulf them once more.
"Tell me," Numair begged.
Tell him what? Daine thought. He squeezed her shoulders gently, a question in his eyes. She took a deep breath.
"Nothing will happen," she whispered.
(A/n: meh…this chapter didn't really go anywhere. Sorry about that. I'm just trying to get the story going, even though I planned to cover some of the Daja/Tris/Sandry scenes. Oh well. This story isn't about them. Now…review! Please?)