Hi all! I hope you liked it so far. What? What was that? Oh yeah, I can't hear you through the computer screen… you'll have to write a REVIEW… Thanks for reading! I'd like some suggestions, although I DO have some kind of idea as to where I want the story to go. Thanks Czarina of the Pink Squirrels… I like your name
Yesh and… All character names and personalities belong strictly to Tamora Pierce – that goes for shtuff like country names too. So sorry I dint include the disclaimer in ch. 1, you see I just had the urge to write and had to act on that urge so don't sue me please. I'm a good girl I am!
Once the company had unpacked and cleaned themselves up, they dined with the king, queen, riders, squires and pages. Daine liked dining with everyone, it made her feel part of a very large family. After the meal was done, Daine followed Numair to his rooms to go to sleep. It was a quiet, uneventful night. Everyone but the night watchmen were asleep by midnight.
Dawn came early in the morning, but Daine awoke with the sun simply from habit. To keep from disturbing Numair, she dressed quickly and quietly and crept out of the room, shutting the door gently behind her. She walked briskly down the hallways, out of the building, through the practice courts, and to the stables. She wanted to go visit the Rider's ponies before they had to go to work. She greeted them all one by one, by name. She asked them how they were being treated, how well their handlers groomed and fed them. The horses had none but good to say of their handlers which pleased her; she taught the Riders how to care for their mounts and was glad they remembered her lessons. She heard footsteps above her and backed up to see who was there. It was Stefan, the hostler.
"Hey down there!" he said, when he saw it was Daine he smiled. "Hullo Daine." he said as he smoothed his hair back and jumped down to the floor.
"Hey Stefan, the horses seem happy enough." said Daine.
"Sure are, they've missed you though." said Stefan. Daine blushed.
"They haven't even noticed I was gone…" said Daine, bashfully telling a white lie. She stepped back and bumped into something tall and alive; looking up, she saw it was Numair. He smiled down at her and moved out of her way.
"Morning magelet. Breakfast is on the table – I thought you'd be here." said Numair, his speech still slurred and his hair dissheveled from a long night's sleep. She smiled up at him and bid Stefan goodbye. She would be back later, but right now she was hungry.
Breakfast was sausages, hotcakes, plenty of maple syrup, and biscuits with gravy. Daine couldn't eat all this of course – she let kitten share with her. The new rider recruits were fascinated with Kitten. Many asked if they could pet her, if she'd bite, where she came from, how Daine got her - the usual questions. By now Daine was so used to answering these questions she had an automatic response for all of them.
"Daine, the company is arriving at noon. Have you given any thought as to what you will wear?" Daine looked up from her food to the Lioness.
"Hello Alanna. No, not really. Why? Do you think I should?" asked Daine.
"Well, Jon is putting a lot of importance on these talks although he hasn't told me exactly what's going on…" Alanna trailed off, clearly unhappy with the lack of communication on the king's part. "He mentioned something about you being 'a vital instrument in the success of the mission' or something. I think you shoud be dressed for the occasion. Will you come with me after your breakfast? We'll find something nice." said Alanna, with a smile. She liked helping Daine pick out clothes on account of their tastes being so similar.
"Sure thing, I'll be done in a minute." said Daine.
"Great, I'll be at the tailor's." said Alanna cheerily. Alanna waved to Daine as she walked out the door and towards the tailor's shop.
"A vital instrument, eh?" Daine recognized Numair's voice instantly.
"That's what she said. I'm as confused as ever." said Daine.
"And rightly so. Jon hasn't even told me what he's up to." said Numair as he patted her on the back. "You'd best finish up, it's not a wise thing to keep the Lioness waiting long." he said, and smiled. Daine smiled back and motioned for one of the pages to take her plate to the kitchen. She gave Numair a parting kiss before rushing off after Alanna.
~*~
Alanna was busy looking through a pattern book laid out for her when Daine arrived at the tailor's shop. Alanna motioned for Daine to sit by pushing a chair towards her.
"What do you think of this one?" said Alanna jokingly; it was wedding gown. Daine giggled and playfully pushed the knight. "What?" Alanna asked innocently. "Now seriously, I found some good patterns, really very flattering." said Alanna.
"Oh really now?" said Daine, skeptical.
"Yes, look here." said Alanna, as she pointed to the patterns she chose before Daine arrived. She was right, they were flattering. Most were pantsuits, but that was to be expected if the Lioness was shopping for you. Daine liked the pantsuits anyhow and picked up two colored drawings, one in lilac silk and one in silver.
"These are wonderful." breathed Daine, putting the drawings back.
"I thought you'd like them." Alanna commented, knowing Daine would like the patterns she chose as her favorites. "Personally, I think you'd do better in the lilac." said Alanna, looking the girl over. Daine blushed and hastily thanked the lady knight, taking the pattern to the seamstress. Alanna walked over to stand beside Daine. "Mistress Veralidaine will have the lilac pantsuit if you please." Alanna handed the seamstress a purse of gold nobles. "There's more where that came from if it is completed by three bells after midday." said Alanna as she steered a sputtering Daine out of the shop.
"Alanna! You didn't have to do that! I could've paid for it! That was gods blessed expensive!" protested Daine.
"Nonsense, I owed you for that service you performed on my son's cat." said Alanna, clapping Daine on the back. Daine sighed, she remembered Thom's cat, Freckles, who had a broken tail a week ago.
"I told you I don't need payment…" muttered Daine, but the Lioness, known for her stubborness, would have none of it. Just then, they were interrupted by an out of breath messenger.
"I just came a runnin'… from the king… says you're to be there immediately… in great hall… company from Galla…" the messenger needn't say more. Alanna tipped the messenger generously and walked off with Daine.