A/N: Thank you so much to everyone who reviewed. I really appreciate it. :)
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The ship gave a sudden jerk, and reared to the left. Unsuccessfully trying to stifle a groan, Daine gripped the edge of the table with both hands. Reaching out, Numair wrapped a supportive arm around her waist.
"Alright, magelet?" he murmured, close to her ear.
Daine shivered slightly as his warm breath stirred her hair, and gave him a tight smile.
"It's brave of you to sit so close," she muttered, not entirely jesting, "I think my belly's lurching more than the ship."
Numair blinked, before chuckling softly. "I'll take my chances."
However, Daine didn't miss the slightly wary sideways glance he gave her. It almost cheered her up. Her lips tilted in a tiny smirk.
Seated across the table from them, Thayet sent a sympathetic look Daine's way.
"Sea malady is awful, isn't it? I know exactly how you feel," she said, sprightly.
Daine looked at the beautiful queen, and sighed inwardly. Thayet's complexion was creamy and her eyes sparkling, as usual, and the royal looked nothing but healthy. Life wasn't fair.
"Here," the exasperatingly perfect creature said, pushing a bowl of bread towards the green-tinged Wild Mage, "Have something to eat. It'll make you feel better, I promise."
Daine dubiously extracted what she thought was a wheat roll, and eyed it suspiciously. Food rations were beginning to run a little low, and no one really questioned what was on their plates anymore. They figured it was better not to know. The cider barrels had been drained within two days of their departure, as well, and Daine strongly suspected that the cook's stumbling walk was due to more than the rough passage. It was at times like these that she really missed her ma's cooking. She experimentally tapped the bread against the surface in front of her, and just about chipped the wood. Better that than her teeth, she figured, and hid the roll under the table when Thayet wasn't looking.
Raising her head, she saw that Numair was watching her in amusement. She was unable to stop the slightly guilty flush that rose to her cheeks, and he laughed quietly, dropping a light kiss on her lips.
Alanna, the currently sickly green Lioness, cleared her throat noisily, but couldn't hold back a grin.
"Alright, you two. We have business to attend here. Maybe one of you should sit on this side of the table, so you can actually concentrate."
She knew it was a hopeless suggestion before the words had left her mouth.
Daine and Numair's only response was to shift impossibly closer together.
Alanna theatrically rolled her eyes. "Oh, forget it."
"I would," Onua agreed, looking affectionately at the couple. As soon as Onua had heard about the apparently extensive stables and horse-breeding regime in the Sailan Isles, she had volunteered to join the excursion, much to Daine's delight.
For someone who had once prided herself on needing no one, she felt bereft without her friends around her now. She missed Cloud's sarcastic presence already; and it felt strange to be without Kitten, who had taken one look at the rocking ship and refused to come. To everyone's amusement, care of the young dragon had fallen to George Cooper, and Daine had left the bewildered former rogue blinking bemusedly at a gleeful Kit. Alanna had crowed with laughter when she'd heard about her husband's temporary charge. Finally restraining her mirth, she'd reassured her friend that Kitten would fine, and Daine hadn't liked to tell her that she was more concerned about George.
Zek had come with her, and was currently curled up on Daine's chair, apparently having decided that sleeping through the storm was the cleverest idea. Daine wished she could hibernate through the uncomfortable journey too, but more often than not, the ship's movements threw her from her bed.
"Anyway," Alanna was saying now, "I just wanted to make sure that everyone is on their guard when we finally arrive in the Isles. I know we have no reason to believe that the Sailan people are hostile towards Tortall," she rushed on before Thayet could speak up diplomatically, "But we should be careful anyway."
"I've been informed that the Sailan Isles are a peaceful kingdom by large, and that they will defend themselves if attacked, but are not antagonistic. However, Alanna's right," Thayet conceded. "They are an unknown entity, and we should be sensible. Be polite, be respectful, but be watchful."
"Respectful," Numair nodded. He looked at Daine. "In other words, magelet, try not to destroy the palace."
Alanna hid her smile behind a cough. Carthak had learned what could happen when the young mage lost her temper, and she suspected that the Sailan Isles wouldn't care to make the same discovery.
Daine poked him hard in the ribs. "Dolt! Don't play dead again, and I won't have to."
"Ow," Numair protested, lips twitching, rubbing his middle.
Daine sniffed. "Then don't tease and I'll keep my hands to myself."
"I sincerely hope not," Numair whispered wickedly in her ear, his smile widening as he saw her immediate, and furious, blush.
Daine tried not to look at her friends' knowing smirks, and scrambled for a distraction.
"Uh, I'm tired," she lied unconvincingly, "I think I'll go and take a quick nap."
"Good idea," Numair agreed quickly, "I could do with some rest myself."
"What a coincidence," Alanna said innocently.
"Sea air and all that."
"We're inside."
"The porthole's open."
"No, it isn't."
"Goodbye, Alanna."
Numair nodded at their friends, and hurried Daine off.
Alanna, Onua and Thayet shared speaking glances.
"Hopeless," they agreed at once.
Later, the Lioness went looking for Numair, to ask his opinion on a healing charm she'd brought back from her last visit to Carthak. Anything to distract her from the incessant rocking of the ship.
She wasn't at all surprised to find his cabin empty.
Knocking loudly on Daine's door, she waited a moment, before peeking warily inside the room.
The pair were fast asleep on Daine's bed, limbs entwined and bodies pressed together in a tight embrace. They looked completely content, their noses and lips almost touching.
Alanna backed out quietly, and closed the door. There were some things in life just meant to be, and Daine and Numair together was one of them. The healing charm could wait.
Suddenly, she missed George even more.
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Fourteen days later, because the wind had changed direction and blown them a little off course – which Daine hoped wasn't an ominous divine warning – the Sailan Isles appeared on the horizon.
The waters had calmed, to Daine's profound relief, and the sky above her was cloudless. She stood on the deck of the ship, grateful to be outside, and breathed in the clean air.
Hearing footsteps behind her, she started to turn, but relaxed when Numair's arms slid around her. He bent and kissed her neck and then, unable to resist the warmth and scent of her fragrant skin, his mouth trailed along her jaw and cheek. Daine twisted her head to plant her lips on his, and kiss him enthusiastically back.
Finally, Numair pulled back to take a ragged breath.
"Gods, magelet," he muttered, his face slightly flushed.
Daine grinned at him mischievously.
"A little out of breath there, Master Salmalin?" she teased, ignoring the fact that her own chest was rising and falling rapidly.
In answer, Numair swiftly captured her lips again, and kissed her until she was unable to speak.
Lifting his head with a smug smile, he rested his cheek against hers, turning her into his embrace and absently stroking her back. Apparently he was unaware of what he was doing to her. Daine wondered if she'd ever be able to catch a proper breath again.
Numair peered out at the ever-approaching land.
"So that's Raillenden," he murmured, excitement creeping into his voice.
"Uh huh," Daine said faintly, her attention more focused on Numair than the central Sailan Isle.
The captain of the previous fleet to disembark on Sailan soil had reported that the Isles were made up of three separate islands: Raillenden – the central, most highly populated settlement and home of the royal family – was flanked by Zlarimorr and Aronyll. The three isles were governed together by King Benjamin and Queen Lijana, whom, Daine supposed, they would soon be meeting.
Abandoning all thoughts of that pending intimidating meeting, Daine turned and reached up to similarly distract her love, but was interrupted by a blast from the ship's horn.
They had reached Port Ballyntyne.