Hey y'all! I'm on Christmas break (funny, that, considering the time of
year) and have been for over a week, so I'm sorry that I didn't update
sooner than this, but decided that I would finish my schoolwork before
Christmas so I didn't have to worry about it afterwards. I hate school
sometimes. The headmaster spent basically a whole assembly telling us that
we should all continue with work over the holiday (get the word HOLIDAY?!)
even though I don't have modules until summer! Anyway, enough ranting about
that and on with the show. First up, gratuities to all you beautiful people
who reviewed:
Arizona Bay: Thank you! But I warn you, it's going to get much sadder . . .
Social-schitzophrenic: Wow, well thanks!
,1: Done. : )
QueenofConnaught: Will try and review your stories - not much time at the mo. But thank you for your comments!
Meggsie: Cool, I will finish it definitely if you like it that much!
Sir Lady Alanna Cooper: Et voila!
Makamai: You will find out how everything turns out in the end - not long now . . .
Shieldmaiden: *hugs Shieldmaiden back* Indeedy I am back! I ought to update more often than I do - sorry about making you wait like this, I just don't know where the time goes. The fluff was really hard to write in this chapter, since I've never been in the situation myself . . . still, glad you enjoyed it! ; P
Dracos Myth: Cheers!
Snakefeather: Thanks! I reckon that there's probably going to be about another 5-6 chapters, I'm not entirely sure.
JoAnn: I'm so sorry I didn't update sooner. D/N fanfic is my favourite- how about you?
Maya: That was a really hard chapter for me to write, but thank you so much for your praise (I've gone all red, well, purple). An award would be nice I think. : )
CrAzYhOrSeGiRl88: Thanks!
Bojanglebiscuit: I hoped it would be better if I did other people's perspectives as well.
I promise that there is going to be some action kicking in now. . .
Decline
Drowsy - eyed, Daine struggled to wake, and giving up, snuggled up close again to her lover. She nestled into the curve of his arm, wishing that she could wake up like this every morning to come. If only I could, she thought sleepily. At the moment, however, sleep seemed a much more pleasant prospect than dwelling on this matter, and so she slept.
Some time later she awoke again and stretched languidly, feeling a sense of satisfaction as her limbs uncoiled and her spine clicked slightly. Opening her eyes, she was attacked by an awful bright light streaming in through the open window and filling the entire room; it caused bolts of pain to shoot through her head and down her back, startling a yelp out of her.
"O Mother Goddess! What in the world . . .?"
Clutching her temples in an attempt to appease the pain, she was vaguely aware of a disgruntled snort from a now very awake and moving Numair Salmalin. He took one look at her and slipped a strong arm around her waist and tugged her gently against his chest. Smoothing errant curls away from her forehead he buried his face in her warm neck, making a muffled enquiry as to what was bothering her.
"That cursed light," she groaned. "It's so bright." Daine chanced a glance up at Numair but as she did so she realised that most of the light was emanating from him. It was the white light of human magic, almost unbearably strong where it touched him, an indication of his strength. Daine gasped as the pain doubled and her head throbbed in agony.
"Magelet?" the mage asked, concerned. "Magelet, what's wrong? Please look at me." His request was met by a furious shake of Daine's head, which only caused more pain for her. Moaning slightly, she burrowed under the blankets and her reply drifted through the mound of covers.
"I can't look at you. It's your magical aura - it's too strong and it's giving me a fair fearsome headache. Please do something - draw it back into you, or . . . or . . . well, I don't know, just something."
Numair was struck into confusion by her plea; he knew she wasn't lying, she wouldn't do that, but yet he also knew that she couldn't see magical auras apart from wild magic, unless she was connected to him through a spell. Reaching under the covers, he looped an arm around her and she settled into the comforting gesture.
"Daine . . ." he started, unsure of how to go on. The lump under his arm shifted slightly, urging him to continue. "What's going on? You can't usually see magical auras, we both know that and even if you could, my aura, although strong, wouldn't cause you this much pain as you seem to be experiencing at the moment." When she didn't answer him, he came to a sudden, unwanted conclusion and realising that she knew much more than she was letting on, felt hurt that she hadn't trusted him enough to tell him about it. "It's this business about your blood, isn't it?" he whispered. Her silent acquiescence confirmed his fears. "Why didn't you tell me? I've been so scared for so long, and all you would say was that you didn't want to talk about it. Do you think I didn't know you were dying? But recently you claimed that it was getting better, getting under control and that you didn't need a Healer! How can you expect me to believe that when something like this happens?"
During this tirade his voice had risen from a whisper to an agonised half- shout and his grip on her had tightened painfully. Daine looked up at him, having managed to close her magical vision by forcing it to bend under her will, and was shocked to see a single tear streaking down one side of his face. A pang struck her chest as she realised how betrayed he felt, but she knew that she would have to betray him further in order to be kind - she didn't want her last days to be endless stretches for the both of them. Crawling out of the covers, she shook her dishevelled curls out of her face and seated herself in his lap. She kissed his tear away and twined the fingers of her right hand with his own.
"Don't be silly, Numair. I know that I am fine now - no Healer would be able to define anything for sure, because as skilled as they are, they don't really understand immortal magic, not even Duke Baird. I do, however, since it is part of me and I can tell you that everything is going to be alright. I won't leave you" She saw the doubt that was still present in his dark eyes and sighed. This was going to be harder than she thought. "This is just a side effect of what happened to me, I promise. There was another type of side-effect that I felt, well saw before, where I saw three possible outcomes for the battle with the spidrens. I didn't suffer from that now, did I?"
Daine saw that Numair wanted to believe her. She squeezed his fingers softly. He gazed at her gently, a worried smile hovering about his lips. "I guess not, sweetling. Though you won't object if I keep a close eye on you, will you?"
A coy smile appeared on her face and she shook her head. "Keep it as close as you want," she murmured and kissed him fiercely. Laughing quietly he pulled back and looked her in the eye.
"What was this about the battle against the spidrens?"
Daine sighed impatiently and told him about the visions as quickly as she could. When he started theorising about certain causes however, she lost all patience with him and jumping forward she knocked him onto his back, whereupon she continued with her earlier intentions.
*****
A tall figure appeared behind Daine as she was grooming Cloud; when she lifted the curry comb from the mare's back a hand shot forward and plucked a bread roll from behind Daine's ear. A bubble of laughter escaped her lips, and smiling she turned to face the culprit. Raising an eyebrow, she fought to look unimpressed. "Evin, that trick is getting old. For a Player, you don't seem to have very many tricks."
"Ah, but after three years you still have no idea as to how I do it." An impish grin graced the man's face. He ducked when she aimed a light-hearted punch in his general direction. "Easy, little cat!" He picked up a steel comb and started gently teasing the knots out of Cloud's dirty tail. That done, he moved onto her equally matted mane, simply laughing when Cloud turned her head and her teeth came a little too close to Evin's bare elbow.
I Commented Cloud thoughtfully.
"Cloud!" Daine exclaimed, unsure as to whether she should be annoyed or amused. "Numair doesn't treat you or any of the other horses badly, he just doesn't understand you and he can't ride very well, that's all!" A cynical snort could be heard from the pony. Aware of Evin listening to her half of her conversation with intense curiosity, she added silently in her head
The mare just looked at Daine oddly. I
Daine laughed lightly and continued brushing the mud out of Cloud's coat. After about a minute she noticed that Evin was staring at her, his hand still poised above the pony's neck. "What?" she questioned. He shook his head and smiling secretly returned to his work. Daine put the brush to one side and bent to pick the dirt out of Cloud's hooves, feeling strangely exposed under Evin's surreptitious glances. She had the feeling hat he knew something about her and Numair's liaison, yet still he said nothing and it was worrying her. Suddenly an overwhelming sense of nausea overtook her and bolting outside the stable she dropped to her knees behind a nearby tree. Her stomach heaved unpleasantly and although she squeezed her eyes shut, the world still danced mockingly in circles around her in her vision. A foul smell told her that she hadn't been able to keep her breakfast down as successfully as she had hoped and groaning she slumped against the trunk of the tree. A cool hand pressed a glass of water against her lips and its fingers forced her to look into the worried blue eyes of her companion.
"Is that better?"
"A little," she replied weakly, trying to smile. She heard a piercing whistle in the distance and she spun her head around, trying to see the baby dragon that she knew was somewhere nearby. Standing, she clutched Evin's arm to prevent herself from falling, as the world was still spinning; the next second however she was pushed to the ground as an overexcited dragon launched herself at Daine's chest. Daine stroked her charge's soft head, noticing with concern the pink tinge of the scales. Kit raised her muzzle and pawed Daine's shirt distractedly and voicing timid peeps of enquiry.
"She's worried about you," commented Evin quietly. "As am I. Daine?"
The girl lifted her head, cocking it to the side questioningly. Evin reached forward and grasped her hand in a gentle clasp. He bit his lower lip nervously and his eyes darted from side to side as if he were scared to say what was on his mind. Sighing, he met her steady gaze at last and squeezed her hand.
"I'm probably completely wrong about this, but I know, well I think that you and Numair are . . . lovers, I guess." he hesitated for a second, no longer looking at her, staring instead at the curious Kitten she was cradling. "I don't know much about how it affects . . . women, but are you, I mean did you, have you been using a pregnancy charm?" Daine just stared at him wordlessly. "Gods, Daine, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to pry, I just -"
Daine cut him off with a laugh. He looked up in surprise at her. "No, Evin, it's okay, really. Yes, you are right, me an' Numair are together like that," her grammar faltered slightly in her nervousness, " . . . but I'm definitely not pregnant. We've been real careful about that. This is just an effect of an illness I had a while back, that's all."
Evin looked at her searchingly. "From what I heard, that illness was supposed to be incurable. I didn't want to bring it up before, but with this, are you sure that you're alright now?"
"I'm fine, as I explained to Numair, it's all over. It was to do with immortal magic, but it's gone now. Only, please don't tell Numair about this, he will worry even though there's nothing wrong, and he's got enough to do at the moment as it is."
Her friend smiled warmly at her, conveying silently his assurances that he wouldn't say a word. At her suddenly pensive look, he hastened to reassure her that he had told no-on what he knew about her and Numair, what he had seen between them in that empty room. Then Kitten interrupted the tension with a shrill demand to be petted, and laughing the two friends obeyed.
*****
Sarra gazed at her daughter's image in the clear pool. She saw the girl suffer that morning because of the strength of her magical vision and heard the lies she fed her lover; the goddess knew that Master Salmalìn didn't wholly believe what Daine was telling him, but he was aware that there was nothing he could do to disprove what she said. She saw also the physical extent of Daine's illness as the wildmage groomed her pony, and heard again the same lies being told to a friend.
Distraught, she watched her daughter suffer in silence and felt her own heart break alongside Master Numair's. Reaching forward, she touched the Daine's image with a slender forefinger; the image faded bit by bit, overwhelmed by the ripples.
"Not long now, sweetling," whispered Sarra. "Not long."
*****
"Thought I'd find you here, Daine," Onua commented from the paddock fence. Her grey-green eyes were gently prying as she vaulted the bars easily and strode towards the girl. Daine looked up from the ponies, her face alight with welcome. She rose and leaned against a tree as Onua picked her way across the field. As the older woman approached, Daine tossed her one of the clippers that lay nearby.
"Onua," she greeted, "Help me. Some of the ponies were rolling too much and have gotten their manes in such a tangle that they have to be trimmed, not combed out." She herself continued to attend to the nearest pony, a dappled grey whose coat was closer to dun with all the mud encrusted on it. They worked in silence for a while, until the job was done, whereupon they both laid aside the clippers. Daine broke the silence, knowing that there was something that Onua wanted to say to her.
"Well, are you going to tell me or not, Onua?"
"Tell you what?" asked the Horsemistress, feigning confusion. Daine rolled her eyes.
"Fine," she called lightly and began strolling towards the gate.
"Wait!" With a grin the wildmage turned around, her hands settled on her hips in an appraising manner. She lifted a slender eyebrow questioningly. Onua scowled at her.
"You look just like Numair when you do that." Daine laughed almost in what seemed to be delight. "I'm meant to tell you something anyway. The King is having a ball two weeks tomorrow. I know that the war ended only a few months ago, but Jon is determined to return the spirit of the country, so he says."
"Ah," replied the girl, fiddling with the mane of one of the ponies who had trotted up beside her. "And why are you telling me this? It doesn't concern me."
A mischievous grin lit up the older woman's face. "Well, actually it does concern you. You're expected to attend since you are Numair's . . . student, and the heroine of the last war."
"Pah," the girl scoffed. Silently, however she was curious. Did she just imagine the brief pause before Onua said 'student' or did her friend suspect something? If she did she certainly didn't see to mind, she wasn't angry or upset. How many people suspected? How many knew for sure? Daine shook her head to clear herself of these thoughts. There was no point dwelling on them. Instead she concentrated on the matter at hand. "A ball? But other than breeches and shirts, I have no clothes to wear!"
Onua laughed and pulled Daine towards the gate. "I'm sure we can find you something." As she was climbing over the fence, the world tilted dangerously and Daine fought to keep her balance. A strong and on her arm kept her from falling and she looked down into a face creased with concern.
"Are you alright, Daine?"
She nodded. What else could she do? "Fine. Just a tad tired, thas'all." The sky darkened momentarily and pregnant rain clouds shifted uneasily along the grim horizon.
*****
Just a few more chapters, I think. Just a few . . .
Arizona Bay: Thank you! But I warn you, it's going to get much sadder . . .
Social-schitzophrenic: Wow, well thanks!
,1: Done. : )
QueenofConnaught: Will try and review your stories - not much time at the mo. But thank you for your comments!
Meggsie: Cool, I will finish it definitely if you like it that much!
Sir Lady Alanna Cooper: Et voila!
Makamai: You will find out how everything turns out in the end - not long now . . .
Shieldmaiden: *hugs Shieldmaiden back* Indeedy I am back! I ought to update more often than I do - sorry about making you wait like this, I just don't know where the time goes. The fluff was really hard to write in this chapter, since I've never been in the situation myself . . . still, glad you enjoyed it! ; P
Dracos Myth: Cheers!
Snakefeather: Thanks! I reckon that there's probably going to be about another 5-6 chapters, I'm not entirely sure.
JoAnn: I'm so sorry I didn't update sooner. D/N fanfic is my favourite- how about you?
Maya: That was a really hard chapter for me to write, but thank you so much for your praise (I've gone all red, well, purple). An award would be nice I think. : )
CrAzYhOrSeGiRl88: Thanks!
Bojanglebiscuit: I hoped it would be better if I did other people's perspectives as well.
I promise that there is going to be some action kicking in now. . .
Decline
Drowsy - eyed, Daine struggled to wake, and giving up, snuggled up close again to her lover. She nestled into the curve of his arm, wishing that she could wake up like this every morning to come. If only I could, she thought sleepily. At the moment, however, sleep seemed a much more pleasant prospect than dwelling on this matter, and so she slept.
Some time later she awoke again and stretched languidly, feeling a sense of satisfaction as her limbs uncoiled and her spine clicked slightly. Opening her eyes, she was attacked by an awful bright light streaming in through the open window and filling the entire room; it caused bolts of pain to shoot through her head and down her back, startling a yelp out of her.
"O Mother Goddess! What in the world . . .?"
Clutching her temples in an attempt to appease the pain, she was vaguely aware of a disgruntled snort from a now very awake and moving Numair Salmalin. He took one look at her and slipped a strong arm around her waist and tugged her gently against his chest. Smoothing errant curls away from her forehead he buried his face in her warm neck, making a muffled enquiry as to what was bothering her.
"That cursed light," she groaned. "It's so bright." Daine chanced a glance up at Numair but as she did so she realised that most of the light was emanating from him. It was the white light of human magic, almost unbearably strong where it touched him, an indication of his strength. Daine gasped as the pain doubled and her head throbbed in agony.
"Magelet?" the mage asked, concerned. "Magelet, what's wrong? Please look at me." His request was met by a furious shake of Daine's head, which only caused more pain for her. Moaning slightly, she burrowed under the blankets and her reply drifted through the mound of covers.
"I can't look at you. It's your magical aura - it's too strong and it's giving me a fair fearsome headache. Please do something - draw it back into you, or . . . or . . . well, I don't know, just something."
Numair was struck into confusion by her plea; he knew she wasn't lying, she wouldn't do that, but yet he also knew that she couldn't see magical auras apart from wild magic, unless she was connected to him through a spell. Reaching under the covers, he looped an arm around her and she settled into the comforting gesture.
"Daine . . ." he started, unsure of how to go on. The lump under his arm shifted slightly, urging him to continue. "What's going on? You can't usually see magical auras, we both know that and even if you could, my aura, although strong, wouldn't cause you this much pain as you seem to be experiencing at the moment." When she didn't answer him, he came to a sudden, unwanted conclusion and realising that she knew much more than she was letting on, felt hurt that she hadn't trusted him enough to tell him about it. "It's this business about your blood, isn't it?" he whispered. Her silent acquiescence confirmed his fears. "Why didn't you tell me? I've been so scared for so long, and all you would say was that you didn't want to talk about it. Do you think I didn't know you were dying? But recently you claimed that it was getting better, getting under control and that you didn't need a Healer! How can you expect me to believe that when something like this happens?"
During this tirade his voice had risen from a whisper to an agonised half- shout and his grip on her had tightened painfully. Daine looked up at him, having managed to close her magical vision by forcing it to bend under her will, and was shocked to see a single tear streaking down one side of his face. A pang struck her chest as she realised how betrayed he felt, but she knew that she would have to betray him further in order to be kind - she didn't want her last days to be endless stretches for the both of them. Crawling out of the covers, she shook her dishevelled curls out of her face and seated herself in his lap. She kissed his tear away and twined the fingers of her right hand with his own.
"Don't be silly, Numair. I know that I am fine now - no Healer would be able to define anything for sure, because as skilled as they are, they don't really understand immortal magic, not even Duke Baird. I do, however, since it is part of me and I can tell you that everything is going to be alright. I won't leave you" She saw the doubt that was still present in his dark eyes and sighed. This was going to be harder than she thought. "This is just a side effect of what happened to me, I promise. There was another type of side-effect that I felt, well saw before, where I saw three possible outcomes for the battle with the spidrens. I didn't suffer from that now, did I?"
Daine saw that Numair wanted to believe her. She squeezed his fingers softly. He gazed at her gently, a worried smile hovering about his lips. "I guess not, sweetling. Though you won't object if I keep a close eye on you, will you?"
A coy smile appeared on her face and she shook her head. "Keep it as close as you want," she murmured and kissed him fiercely. Laughing quietly he pulled back and looked her in the eye.
"What was this about the battle against the spidrens?"
Daine sighed impatiently and told him about the visions as quickly as she could. When he started theorising about certain causes however, she lost all patience with him and jumping forward she knocked him onto his back, whereupon she continued with her earlier intentions.
*****
A tall figure appeared behind Daine as she was grooming Cloud; when she lifted the curry comb from the mare's back a hand shot forward and plucked a bread roll from behind Daine's ear. A bubble of laughter escaped her lips, and smiling she turned to face the culprit. Raising an eyebrow, she fought to look unimpressed. "Evin, that trick is getting old. For a Player, you don't seem to have very many tricks."
"Ah, but after three years you still have no idea as to how I do it." An impish grin graced the man's face. He ducked when she aimed a light-hearted punch in his general direction. "Easy, little cat!" He picked up a steel comb and started gently teasing the knots out of Cloud's dirty tail. That done, he moved onto her equally matted mane, simply laughing when Cloud turned her head and her teeth came a little too close to Evin's bare elbow.
I Commented Cloud thoughtfully.
"Cloud!" Daine exclaimed, unsure as to whether she should be annoyed or amused. "Numair doesn't treat you or any of the other horses badly, he just doesn't understand you and he can't ride very well, that's all!" A cynical snort could be heard from the pony. Aware of Evin listening to her half of her conversation with intense curiosity, she added silently in her head
The mare just looked at Daine oddly. I
Daine laughed lightly and continued brushing the mud out of Cloud's coat. After about a minute she noticed that Evin was staring at her, his hand still poised above the pony's neck. "What?" she questioned. He shook his head and smiling secretly returned to his work. Daine put the brush to one side and bent to pick the dirt out of Cloud's hooves, feeling strangely exposed under Evin's surreptitious glances. She had the feeling hat he knew something about her and Numair's liaison, yet still he said nothing and it was worrying her. Suddenly an overwhelming sense of nausea overtook her and bolting outside the stable she dropped to her knees behind a nearby tree. Her stomach heaved unpleasantly and although she squeezed her eyes shut, the world still danced mockingly in circles around her in her vision. A foul smell told her that she hadn't been able to keep her breakfast down as successfully as she had hoped and groaning she slumped against the trunk of the tree. A cool hand pressed a glass of water against her lips and its fingers forced her to look into the worried blue eyes of her companion.
"Is that better?"
"A little," she replied weakly, trying to smile. She heard a piercing whistle in the distance and she spun her head around, trying to see the baby dragon that she knew was somewhere nearby. Standing, she clutched Evin's arm to prevent herself from falling, as the world was still spinning; the next second however she was pushed to the ground as an overexcited dragon launched herself at Daine's chest. Daine stroked her charge's soft head, noticing with concern the pink tinge of the scales. Kit raised her muzzle and pawed Daine's shirt distractedly and voicing timid peeps of enquiry.
"She's worried about you," commented Evin quietly. "As am I. Daine?"
The girl lifted her head, cocking it to the side questioningly. Evin reached forward and grasped her hand in a gentle clasp. He bit his lower lip nervously and his eyes darted from side to side as if he were scared to say what was on his mind. Sighing, he met her steady gaze at last and squeezed her hand.
"I'm probably completely wrong about this, but I know, well I think that you and Numair are . . . lovers, I guess." he hesitated for a second, no longer looking at her, staring instead at the curious Kitten she was cradling. "I don't know much about how it affects . . . women, but are you, I mean did you, have you been using a pregnancy charm?" Daine just stared at him wordlessly. "Gods, Daine, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to pry, I just -"
Daine cut him off with a laugh. He looked up in surprise at her. "No, Evin, it's okay, really. Yes, you are right, me an' Numair are together like that," her grammar faltered slightly in her nervousness, " . . . but I'm definitely not pregnant. We've been real careful about that. This is just an effect of an illness I had a while back, that's all."
Evin looked at her searchingly. "From what I heard, that illness was supposed to be incurable. I didn't want to bring it up before, but with this, are you sure that you're alright now?"
"I'm fine, as I explained to Numair, it's all over. It was to do with immortal magic, but it's gone now. Only, please don't tell Numair about this, he will worry even though there's nothing wrong, and he's got enough to do at the moment as it is."
Her friend smiled warmly at her, conveying silently his assurances that he wouldn't say a word. At her suddenly pensive look, he hastened to reassure her that he had told no-on what he knew about her and Numair, what he had seen between them in that empty room. Then Kitten interrupted the tension with a shrill demand to be petted, and laughing the two friends obeyed.
*****
Sarra gazed at her daughter's image in the clear pool. She saw the girl suffer that morning because of the strength of her magical vision and heard the lies she fed her lover; the goddess knew that Master Salmalìn didn't wholly believe what Daine was telling him, but he was aware that there was nothing he could do to disprove what she said. She saw also the physical extent of Daine's illness as the wildmage groomed her pony, and heard again the same lies being told to a friend.
Distraught, she watched her daughter suffer in silence and felt her own heart break alongside Master Numair's. Reaching forward, she touched the Daine's image with a slender forefinger; the image faded bit by bit, overwhelmed by the ripples.
"Not long now, sweetling," whispered Sarra. "Not long."
*****
"Thought I'd find you here, Daine," Onua commented from the paddock fence. Her grey-green eyes were gently prying as she vaulted the bars easily and strode towards the girl. Daine looked up from the ponies, her face alight with welcome. She rose and leaned against a tree as Onua picked her way across the field. As the older woman approached, Daine tossed her one of the clippers that lay nearby.
"Onua," she greeted, "Help me. Some of the ponies were rolling too much and have gotten their manes in such a tangle that they have to be trimmed, not combed out." She herself continued to attend to the nearest pony, a dappled grey whose coat was closer to dun with all the mud encrusted on it. They worked in silence for a while, until the job was done, whereupon they both laid aside the clippers. Daine broke the silence, knowing that there was something that Onua wanted to say to her.
"Well, are you going to tell me or not, Onua?"
"Tell you what?" asked the Horsemistress, feigning confusion. Daine rolled her eyes.
"Fine," she called lightly and began strolling towards the gate.
"Wait!" With a grin the wildmage turned around, her hands settled on her hips in an appraising manner. She lifted a slender eyebrow questioningly. Onua scowled at her.
"You look just like Numair when you do that." Daine laughed almost in what seemed to be delight. "I'm meant to tell you something anyway. The King is having a ball two weeks tomorrow. I know that the war ended only a few months ago, but Jon is determined to return the spirit of the country, so he says."
"Ah," replied the girl, fiddling with the mane of one of the ponies who had trotted up beside her. "And why are you telling me this? It doesn't concern me."
A mischievous grin lit up the older woman's face. "Well, actually it does concern you. You're expected to attend since you are Numair's . . . student, and the heroine of the last war."
"Pah," the girl scoffed. Silently, however she was curious. Did she just imagine the brief pause before Onua said 'student' or did her friend suspect something? If she did she certainly didn't see to mind, she wasn't angry or upset. How many people suspected? How many knew for sure? Daine shook her head to clear herself of these thoughts. There was no point dwelling on them. Instead she concentrated on the matter at hand. "A ball? But other than breeches and shirts, I have no clothes to wear!"
Onua laughed and pulled Daine towards the gate. "I'm sure we can find you something." As she was climbing over the fence, the world tilted dangerously and Daine fought to keep her balance. A strong and on her arm kept her from falling and she looked down into a face creased with concern.
"Are you alright, Daine?"
She nodded. What else could she do? "Fine. Just a tad tired, thas'all." The sky darkened momentarily and pregnant rain clouds shifted uneasily along the grim horizon.
*****
Just a few more chapters, I think. Just a few . . .