I am back! I'm really sorry about the long wait. I will try and speed up the next chapter.
To certain people who have been badgering for some flufflies, I hope this beginning of romance will satisfy you.
As always, please review. Constructive Criticism appreciated.
Chapter 4
Carthak at nighttime was warm and slightly stuffy. The air was still, not one single leaf swayed in the breezeless air. The moon hung high above the Carthaki sky, showering the surroundings with gleaming silver dusts.
In the Royal Garden, a soft patter of footsteps sounded down the lane, and from behind a clump of rosebushes, a slender shadow belonging to the wildmage appeared.
Daine fanned herself with her hand. Restless and uncomfortably hot, she made her way towards the hill where she hoped the higher ground would provide some wind. As she climbed, fine sweat trickled down her hot forehead, and she hastily wiped them away.
The girl sighed. It was times like this that made Daine long to be back in Tortall. She was not used to this hot, humid country where everything: the plants, sounds, smells, people and even the moon seemed alien.
Its just too hot here, she thought to herself, I would just about give anything for an icy blast of Tortallen breeze.
Despite the semi-darkness, Daine roamed the grounds as nimble as a mountain goat. Her catlike sharp eyes darted from place to place, searching for any possible movements that were caused by the wanted wind.
As Daine climbed the gentle hill, her senses prickled. Looking ahead she thought she could make out the outline of a figure, sitting at the foot of a tall tree.
A smile lit the wildmage's face as she recognised that familiar and distinctively tall form.
Eyes closed and deep in meditation, Numair sat motionlessly, unaware of his student's approach. A pale yellow aura surrounded the mage's body, illuminating him like a holy shrine.
Suppressing a smile, Daine crept towards her teacher, and silently crouched down to peer into his face.
Something about his countenance – or perhaps been so close to him – made Daine catch her breath. Tonight, Numair's moonlit features seemed to stand out to Daine more than ever before. His good looks, which Daine had always acknowledged seemed to spring fully afresh in Daine's mind, as if seeing him for the first time.
Heart suddenly beating faster than usual, Daine – very self-consciously – tried to memorise this image of Numair in her head. As she did so, she saw a fly hovering around the mage's long nose, drawn by the glowing pool of light.
A giggle sounding dangerously like a snort escaped from the wildmage's throat.
A very large and very amused face of Daine filled Numair's vision as he opened his eyes. With a yelp of surprise, Numair lost grip on his meditation and the glow vanished around him instantly.
'Mithros, Daine!' he choked out, eyes very large, 'what in the Gods name are you doing, sneaking up on me in the middle of the night!'
Daine laughed, glad of the darkness that hid her blush. 'I thought meditation was meant to be about deep focus and concentration?' she asked teasingly.
Numair shook his head, bewildered. 'Not if someone was peering this close into their face!'
Despite the darkness, Daine thought she could see – or rather feel Numair's expression change slightly. Something flashed within his eyes, but was gone in a split second.
'What are you doing out here so late?' he asked somewhat hastily. He shifted towards his left, making a space for Daine to join him.
'I couldn't sleep,' Daine replied, slouching down on the earth next to Numair. 'I was too hot.'
Numair smiled. 'That makes the two of us then,' he said lightly, 'you would think that having lived here for most of my earlier life, I would be used to the heat by now.'
Wriggling to get comfortable, Daine leaned against Numair's side. 'How long have you been here?'
'Quite a while,' was the reply, 'I did not feel at ease under Ozorne's roof. I'd much rather sleep out here.'
'You think Ozorne is planning something?' Daine asked sharply. She turned towards her teacher and saw him smile dryly.
'He is always planning something, Magelet. Especially now, what with the new delegations and alliances – I fear he has something uninviting up his sleeves. Mithros, I've seen number of times he studies me…and you, actually.'
There was a strange catch in his voice and Daine suspected that he was still brooding over the dance. In the darkness, the wildmage found Numair's hand and gave it a squeeze.
'I will be fine,' she said reassuringly, 'if that's what you're worried about. Surely the Emperor can't do anything to harm me whilst the delegations are still here?'
'You'd be surprised,' Numair warned, and then he abruptly turned to Daine.
The wildmage blinked. Even in the semi-darkness, she could tell that her teacher's face was that of utter seriousness.
'Promise me, Daine,' Numair said, 'that you will not go wandering off by yourself. Carthak is very big, and there are many rules you can easily break without realising.'
Daine smiled to herself. It was typical of Numair to remind her of this again, especially after having told her of it numerous times before.
'I promise Numair,' Daine said, trying hard not to smile.
'I'm not finished,' Numair cut in, his voice dead solemn, 'I also want you to promise me that you will decline any offers that Ozorne may give you. Do you understand? Just politely reject all suggestions he might make to you, especially the 'well-intentioned' ones and just generally stay clear of his path.'
Daine wondered at the sudden sternness in the mage's usually easy-going voice.
'What if he takes offence?' she asked quietly.
Numair was silent for a second, and Daine suddenly felt the hand around hers tighten.
'When faced with the matter of your welfare, Magelet, I cannot afford to worry about the state of His Imperial Highness's pride.' There was an odd, tense edge to his voice that Daine couldn't quite understand.
She looked up into the sky. The moon was high up in the sky, its silver light cloaking the surroundings.
'I miss Tortall,' she whispered.
'So do I,' Numair replied softly.
'Everything is so different here,' the wildmage confessed, 'I keep waking up in the middle of the night half expecting to hear someone pounding on my door to say I got to go to the King's meeting!'
Numair laughed. 'Yes, that does seem to become a habit. I'm still getting used to the idea that I actually have the time to sleep.'
A nearby cricket chirped. Lazily, Daine fanned herself with her free hand. She was starting to get hot again.
'Here,' the mage said, and with one graceful movement of his arm, a faint breeze wrapped themselves around the two people.
Daine smiled as she felt the gentle wind rustle through her brown curls. Leaning against the tree in comfort, Daine rested her head on to her teacher's shoulder. Numair's automatic reaction was to lift his arm and wrapping it around the girl's slender form.
There the teacher and student sat, both fully aware of how inappropriate they looked, but neither offering to put a stop to it.
Perhaps it was because of the half darkness that covered the world that made Daine and Numair feel totally at ease, as if nothing they would do might possibly be inapt.
Eyes closed, Daine smiled and snuggled closer to the mage. This near to him, she could hear the thud of his heart beating rapidly.
Under normal circumstances, Numair would never have dreamed – or indeed even dared – to do what he did next.
As if enchanted by the tranquil darkness, or intoxicated by the brilliant moonlight, Numair gently lifted Daine's chin and gazed into her soft eyes. Slowly, he leaned forward and put his lips to her forehead.