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'Numair! You're back.'
For a moment, the look of anxiety that plagued the King's face as he paced across his expensive, but never the less, worn fur rug, disappeared as he greeted the mage. He waved an arm to indicate the empty chair next to his study desk.
'I wasn't expecting you until tomorrow afternoon.'
Numair smiled. 'Mother always taught me to be prompt.' Peering closely at the King, he added, 'is everything all right, Your Majesty? You didn't exactly look very blissful when I arrived.'
'I –,' he waved an arm vaguely in the air. 'Well, you tell me. How was Pirate's Swoop? Was the reported sighting magic-related?'
'It didn't do any damage, if that's what you mean. As for its magical properties, it's impossible to tell. The guard who spotted the – lights – he called them, could tell me no more than they were bronze coloured and moved around very quickly. In all honesty, that could have been anything. Unfortunately the whole thing happened very quickly, and given his initial state of shock, he either was unable to tell me more, or couldn't remember the details.'
Jon's look was sharp. 'What do you mean his 'state of shock'?'
Numair tugged at his long nose. 'Alanna and George wouldn't call me just for some flickering lights, Jon. The guard was in enough of a state to raise an alarm. Alanna said he had to be calmed down before he could talk properly. Whatever he saw, it left him pretty shaken.'
'And the other guards?'
'They were fine. No one else I questioned saw the lights. I checked the perimeter around Pirate's Swoop too, and nothing was damaged or affected. I tried scrying and everything else I could think of but sensed nothing, at least, nothing that Alanna couldn't detect already.'
Jon sighed and rubbed his temples tiredly. He looked worn out; his usually bright sapphire eyes shadowed by stress, his mouth no longer smiling.
'So we have no knowledge about these 'lights' at all?'
Numair stirred, seemingly frustrated at himself. 'There were no concrete evidences,' he said agitatedly. 'No traces or marks that suggested they were there at all. All I have to work with is the guard's words, and 'flickering lights' isn't much of a giveaway.'
'No – I'm not blaming you, Numair.' Jon gave him a quick smile. 'Its just that – a while before you arrived – Raoul came to inform me of another sighting similar to this one, this time, in the city's mercantile areas. One of the Own was riding through the market when he saw it, and he went to Raoul straight away.'
'And what did he say?'
'He said no more than what you have just told me.'
Jon got up and began to pace. A writing quill griped in his hand, his thumb ran across the feather swiftly, if not a little roughly. He stopped and turned towards the mage. 'Numair could you – '
'Of course, Your Majesty. I'll take a look at it.'
'I'm sorry. I know you just came back but – '
'You have a siege and raiders to deal with, Jon, not to mention untold immortal attacks. Mithros knows how you manage with everything on top of recent events. Leave this to me.'
If Jon had been concealing some of his anxieties, he now let them surface a little. With it also came a wave of relief and gratitude at the mage's words.
'I appreciate your help, Numair. What with the Islanders' attacks and endless raids, I need to know if this sighting is magic-related – an enemy's new method of spying perhaps– or just a unusual but natural occurrence.'
Numair too got up, stretching his muscles as he made to leave.
'I understand, Your Majesty. I'll check on it first thing tomorrow.'
On his way from the King's study, he came across Leeta, a former slave at the palace of Carthak whom Daine had rescued and accompanied back to Tortall. He found her struggling with three broomsticks and a heavy bucket of water, which slurped around the rim dangerously.
After the initial shock of Numair's offer to carry the bucket, she visibly relaxed under his friendly manner.
'How are you settling?' He asked as they walked to the Crystal room where she was to clean. 'Is everything well?'
'Oh yes,' Leeta replied, her eyes shining earnestly. 'Everyone is very kind to me, and my work isn't too hard.' A timid smile crept to her lips. 'Well, not during the seasonal festivals, anyway. Now we are busy preparing the court for Beltane.'
Numair had nearly forgotten. It was the annual fire festival in three days time, and having remembered that, he now noticed evidences of the servants' work. Flower garlands, draperies and wall decorations have been put up along the walls, and additional chairs set up in important rooms.
'Daine also comes to visit me often,' Leeta said, smiling. 'She's a wonderful friend.'
'Yes she is,' he agreed, though his thoughts were far beyond the lines of friendship. Dancing, blue-grey eyes came to his mind, unbidden, and an intense surge of desire seized him as he remembered the warmth of her body over his.
Catching Leeta's sideway glance, he forced himself back to the present. Shortly they reached the Crystal room. A group of servants, not much older than Daine perhaps, were busy at work. They chatted cheerfully as they arranged paintings, curtains and various pieces of furniture. An errand boy with a shock of orange hair lurked behind a sofa, looking reluctant to leave.
'Where shall I put this?' Numair voice drifted through the room, making the servants look up in their chatter.
Shyly, aware of their gaping stares, Leeta pointed to one corner towards the glass windows.
Numair noted the sudden quietness in the room with a tinge of irritation. He also felt the sly looks that followed his back as he strode towards the windows. Behind him came soft whispers, and he thought he caught the occasional words of 'teacher' and 'mage girl'. Someone giggled.
Feeling harassed, and more uncomfortable than he would like to admit, he placed the bucket down and turned. The servants were busy dusting the wall, their eyes intent on their work. Only the errand boy stared openly with unblinking eyes.
Numair eyed him, nettled. 'Something for you?'
Slowly, even brazenly, he shook his tiny head and continued to stare. It occurred to Numair then that his fingers itched for a spell, and the boy was just the right size for it.
Leeta broke his thoughts as she hurried forwards, thanking the mage furiously as he left the room.
Outside, he ran a hand through his mane of hair. 'Gods save me from… gigglingfemales,' he muttered in defeat. He could give a fair guess as to what the servants were whispering about, and silently cursed their sordid views on his association with Daine.
True, their gossips had – to a certain extent – an element of accuracy, but it still goaded him to see it firsthand.
And to think, he thought dryly. Few years ago I would have played up to their attentions.
Gladiel: I hope you'll find this chapter interesting too.
Wolfite: Sure. I've got a couple of chapters planned ahead, so hopefully I won't get stuck for some time.
Whisper: What were Numair going to say…? (Evil grin) Who knows?
Simi: Thank you very much! I can't really take the credit for my 'creativeness' though. I got the idea from watching too much TV.
Rosie eisoR: Thanks for the comment. It means a great deal, coming from you. I've made the spelling changes.
Dragon and the Wild Mage: The Numair/hawk was my favourite part too. I wrote that when it was near midnight. My parents heard a very spooky chuckle from the living room…
Wild Magelet: Master at fluff? I think not. More like master at 'cheesiness' I've made myself gag many times whilst writing. Thank you for reviewing!
Squirrel Maiden of Green: This chapter is mostly about Numair. Hope that'll do!
Kit49: Your enthusiasm is very catching! I'm glad you are liking this story so far. I'm writing another D/N stand-alone at the moment, so you'll see that one in the near future.
Queen's Own: Thanks for reviewing. Its good to know that Daine and Numair are both in character.