-- POV of main-character-whose-name-you-don't-know-yet --

Sometimes, Da drives me crazy. Like when he says, "Guess what? You've got a half-sister!" thirteen years after she was born. Then, he says I can't meet her!

Now, though, it's my turn to say, "Guess what?

Guess what, Da? You're stuck in the Divine Realms for 91 more years! And I'm not!

Sucks to be him. [laughs evilly]

Crap, did Mithros hear that?

-- Neutral POV --

Alysapet stood nervously outside the palace stables, not wanting to go in right away, though she would have to eventually. The horse next to her sensed her apprehension, and Alysapet laid a gentling hand on it neck.

She was fond of horses Ð all animals really. She liked horses quite a lot; nearly as much as she liked mice. They were adorable, and really rather nice, but most people looked down on them. Not her.

A stray breeze blew a strand of her curly red hair into her face. She shook her head, attempting to dislodge it, then made a face. She removed the hair manually.

"Are you all right?" asked a voice near her elbow. Alysapet jumped, startled, and glanced in the direction of the voice.

Standing there was a woman with brown hair, curling and thick like Alysapet's own. "I hate my hair, but other than that, yeah," she said, smiling.

The woman grinned. "I hate my hair too," she replied. "Do you need anything?

"Um, my horse Ð there's something wrong with her, and I don't know what," Alysapet answered, not very truthfully. She knew exactly what was wrong with the horse.

"I can take care of that," said the woman, and extended her hand. "I'm Daine. Nice to meet you.

Alysapet jumped, once again. When Daine looked at her curiously, she mumbled, "I've waited a long time to meet the Wildmage," then shook her hand. "I'm Alysapet.

"Glad to meet you.

"You've said nice to meet you already, isn't that enough?

Daine twisted her mouth in a wry smile. "Probably. You're rather observant, aren't you?

"Yep. You said you could take care of Yora?

Daine nodded, and led the way into the stable. Alysapet smiled, the smile of a girl who had gotten her way.

A/N: Did you like it? Reviewing is the only way I'll know

FoolishlyBraveShadowedStar: Thank you for reviewing in the first five seconds or so I posted it. Your penname is VERY long, by the way. And I lied, you haven't found out the main character's name yet.