This is terrible. I must have caught some awful, writer's disease, or some ill fate has decided to come crashing down. I don't know what's the matter with me – I can't seem to concentrate on writing these days.

I read this chapter several times, each time feeling something completely different. Once I liked it, then I hated it, and then liked it again. Rather than see what my next reaction would be, I'm just going to post this.

Please, please, please CC and tell me anything I could do to improve.

Edited due to my shocking memory of Lioness Rampant.

Chapter 3

Despite the early dawn, the market was in full swing. Merchants, slaves, priests and nobles alike bustled around the square in streams of colours: from the tattered grey rags of beggars to the rich velvets and silks of the high ranks.

Amid the varieties of class, both Daine and Numair dressed casually. Thin, cotton shirts and loose breeches made them less conspicuous in the crowd, as well as providing them with some comfort from the warm air.

Daine stayed close to Numair, not wanting to get lost. It only occurred to her then how little she comes to the market area, and how few acquaintances she had outside the palace.

Children ran barefooted in amongst the people, their skilful hands sneaking into pockets at every opportunity. More than once they passed inns where women in tight dresses leaned against doors, their painted faces eyeing up men suggestively.

Daine could only stare. Whilst she was more than adept with animal behaviours, human individuals continued to baffle her at the best of times.

'It should be around here somewhere,' Numair murmured to her, his eyes scanning the area. Although Daine couldn't see directly, she sensed he was probing everything with his Gift.

A man carrying an oversized barrel of mead blundered past her, and she had to jump out of the way in case of been knocked away. Numair steadied her with firm hands.

'Its like in Pirate's Swoop,' he said, narrowing his eyes against he sun. 'There's nothing out of the ordinary here. All I can sense are spells made by the average of Gifted ones: spells for luck, safety, spells against lies, and small charms put into stones.'

'Maybe its not any kind of major magical working?' Daine asked.

'Maybe.' Squinting, Numair made to search with his magic once again.

Daine let him work, her eyes wandering along stall after stalls of goods. Fruits and bread displayed from various stands and jewelleries of every kind: stone and opal charms, crystal pendants and gold lockets winked appealingly under the glittering sun.

A large basket of fish shoved itself under Daine's nose. She started, then back away against the smell. Shaking her head apologetically at the determined seller, she turned and trotted after Numair.

Something on the edge of her magical field twitched. She stopped in her track, straining to sense what it was. A thing, cold and metallic, brushed against the tip of her mind like a very cold hand. It felt like a Stormwing.

Turning abruptly, someone yelled as she collided into a large man. He had the look of a foreigner, his pale blond hair swept back in a thin plait.

'Girl – watch where you're going!' He spoke with an odd, sharp accent. There was something strange about him that Daine couldn't quite figure out. Moving out of his way, she watched him as he disappeared amongst the crowds.

At that moment, Numair came by her side. 'Something wrong?' he asked, seeing her thoughtful look. Daine shook her head, not wanting to waste his time with what just happened. 'Did you find out anything?'

'No.' He sighed. 'I'm beginning to think there's nothing at all. What with Beltane in two days time, it might just be the work of a minor God. Mithros, I certainly hope so.'

'Me too.' Daine smiled brightly and gave his hand a little tug. 'Now can we look around a little? And maybe find somewhere to eat. I'm fair hungry.'

Numair smiled, allowing Daine to lead him by the hand. Truth be told, it was a relief to be out of the Palace. Here in the hectic streets, they were anybody and everybody. No one gave them a second glance and, he secretly mused, it did him profound good to diminish his self-control and do whatever he liked around Daine.

Presently they stopped before a bright stand. Seeing the girl's intent look on the objects hanging from the rail, he followed her gaze and blushed.

Clear stones and golden symbols on thin cords dangled from the top of the stand, and more glittered from the displays. There were at least fifty different pendants to ward off pregnancy here, all of which looked appealing in a stylish, if not practical way.

The seller, a balding man in brown robe, caught Daine's gaze and beckoned her over, yelling prices loudly.

'One gold noble for a charm. The best you'll find in this market! A gold noble is all I ask…'

Numair glanced at Daine fleetingly.

'Daine – '

'Maybe I should buy one?' She asked quietly. She looked up towards him and saw his face colour a little.

'Daine – we're not…I mean, we shouldn't be…thinking of…'

Seeing the mage's jitteriness, Daine couldn't help but bristle a little. He always grew agitated and nervous every time they embarked on such matters! Back in the Palace, they would be kissing one moment and the next he would be pulling away, saying they shouldn't get too carried away.

Ignoring Numair's hesitancy, Daine marched to the front of the stall. The seller greeted her, showing her an array of pendants. His face lit up with curiosity when Numair closed in behind the girl.

'You are wanting a pregnancy charm, yes?' His eyes wandered from Daine to Numair, contemplating the possible association between the pair, before he busied himself giving various designs to Daine. Numair, still a little uncomfortable at her sudden indication, picked up a small, gold symbol.

His mind buzzed jumpily. He knew Daine was more than once irritated and hurt when he broke away in some of their more intimate times. She had often scowled; saying that she was old enough, that she was ready.

But is she?

It wasn't as if Numair liked having to stop those heat-flaring moments. No, each time he was alone with her, each time he held her in his arms, he had to exercise serious self-control over his actions. And each time he kissed her, he felt himself always going a little further than he intended.

He sighed inwardly. Had Daine been more reluctant, he would have found things much, much easier. But as matters stand, and, as downright complicated his life has thus far turned out, everything Daine did these days seemed to encourage his other, more irrational side.

He knew it annoyed Daine greatly to hear him say she was still too young. She seemed to take it as a personal insult, mistaking his well intentions for reluctance to bed her.

But she is too young, he told himself, firmly, and there are certain things she definitely is not ready for.

He was so deep into his own thoughts that he failed to register what was wrong. It took a moment before he saw that something was amiss with the charm he was holding.

Daine, who had been oblivious to Numair's inner conflictions, was trying hard at choosing a charm. The next time she glanced up at him, he was busy looking at one pendant after the other, examining each one with great attention.

Good. He's making an effort, she thought, satisfied.

She was greatly startled when Numair suddenly threw the necklace he was holding back into the display with a look of utter disgust.

'These stones are empty,' he accused, his eyes flashing at the seller, who gave a start.

'Watch what you say, here,' he began, wagging a finger in the mage's direction. 'I'm a mage and I know about things, and I assure you that these charms are – '

' – Not even half filled with the protection magic it needs.' Numair's voice lowered threateningly. 'The magic will only work once, leaving the charm useless after that.'

A woman, standing near Daine, gave Numair an alarmed look and dropped what she was holding hastily. She glared at the seller and hurried away.

The stallholder, seeing the loss of his customer, rounded angrily on Numair.

'Now look here,' he said, 'you've no right to come here and scare away my customers. I'll charge you for that – '

Black fire flared from Numair's body. It happened for only one, short second, but the seller shrank away in fear. He glared at the mage with contempt.

'I suggest you take these away, trader,' Numair said with authority. His plain clothes did little help now in disguising him as a commoner. Daine winced to herself. She did not like to be in the seller's shoes right now.

'Take your charms home and refill them, properly, before setting foot in this market.' Numair eyed him with disgust. 'Lives could be ruined from your own greed. Heed what I said, or you'll be answering to me, not to mention my Lord Provost.'

Daine saw the seller open and close his mouth silently like a stunned fish. His eyes bulged, as if not believing what he just heard.

Strong hands gripped her shoulder and she felt herself lead firmly away.

'Let go find somewhere to eat, Magelet,' Numair whispered in her ear. 'And if you really want one of those… Ican make you one.'

For what seemed like the hundredth time, Alanna the Lioness, Champion to His Majesty the King, yawned and fought the urge to sleep. It was just as well that she was riding, or she would have had a serious problem in remaining upright.

She had fallen off her horse once, and in front of Liam Ironarm, the great Shang Dragon, and the experience was too humiliating to be considered a second chance at realising.

'Gods strike these court functions,' she muttered under her breath as she neared the outskirts of Corus.

The June sun was stifling, and Alanna did not like to be rooted from her home, away from her children and George, just to attend the Beltane festival, which, according to her, was a pointless thing indeed.

'I suppose watching Jon leap over fires is a sight to remember…' she murmured to herself, smiling as she remembered last year's ceremony, which ended with a close encounter between Jon's robe and the flame.

Things got better as she entered the city's market. The loud shouts of people alerted her senses, and she felt the dull, surges of sleep wash away. Pulling her horse to a stop at the Dancing Dove, she dismounted and went inside.

'A glass of water please,' she asked the barman and leaned against the counter with a contented sigh. She looked around the bar. The light was dim, but sunlight lit up the window table where she saw somebody wave. Squinting, the Lioness grinned as she recognised the outlines of Daine and Numair. Producing a coin for the water, Alanna hurried towards the window seat where her friends waited.

'This is a surprise,' she said, taking up a free seat. 'Master Salmalín out of his palace room, and into a bar such as this.' She grinned and looked at Daine. 'Celebrating Beltane already?'

Daine smiled up at her redheaded friend and offered her some bread.

'Raoul reported another sighting of those 'lights',' Numair explained as he watched Alanna butter a roll. She frowned at this, her startling purple eyes locked into his dark ones.

'And?'

'And nothing.' Numair shook his head, and then made a face. 'I'm out of my depth here, I've never encountered something like this before.'

Daine grinned. 'You just say that when you don't want to admit that you're completely clueless,' she teased, giving him a nudge with her leg.

Numair shook his head and turned to look at her, his face far too pleasant. Daine eyed him mistrustfully, and then squealed in shock as she felt sly fingers poking energetically at her waist. She twisted, half gasping with indignation, half laughing.

'I didn't even see you do that!' she cried, battering his arm in annoyance at been caught out.

'Not your fault, Magelet,' Numair assured her calmly, but his lips twitched.

Neither of them noticed Alanna's violet eyes, as she regarded them, nor the thoughtful expression on her face. Indeed, she was about to make some sort of remark when two, large yawns seized her in a tight grip.

'Arhhhhh-argh, for Mithros' sake!' she cried angrily, 'these blessed yawns! I never used to so much as blink when I missed a night's sleep!'

'Maybe you're coming down with something?' Daine offered. 'You do look a little tired.'

'I'm getting old,' Alanna complained grimly. 'I should retire as the King's Champion and return to a life of knitting and tea.'

The three of them laughed. Settling herself more comfortably in her seat, Alanna ordered more bread to be brought out. She began telling them about the happenings in Pirate's Swoop.

Between talks, a small, hovering wasp ventured near Daine's smoky curls, and settled itself on top of her head. The girl was too engrossed in Alanna's talk to notice, but Numair saw with a little frown.

Lazily, he reached out a hand to brush the insect away, and cursed loudly as he felt a sharp pain bite into his finger. A small swell of blood formed at his fingertip.

'Are you all right?' Daine's eyes peered anxiously into his hand. She produced a handkerchief and dabbed it at his finger.

'Fine,' he replied, ignoring Alanna's amused smile. 'Just a abysmal bug deciding to drawl out my blood.'

Daine smiled sympathetically and patted his knee under the table, her hand lingering longer and more daring than usual. Numair flashed her a look and caught her dancing eyes. For a moment, getting distracted as he always did by her ways, he failed to notice the odd, numbing sensation that flowed slowly through his arm.

Acknowledgements

Squirrel Maiden of Green: Yes, I did feel very sorry for Numair too.

Narm's Briton 44: Glad you are still liking it so far!

Wild Magelet: I very nearly forgot about Leeta. It was only after a reviewer said she hoped to see more of her that I smacked

my forehead, very hard, and said, 'oh drat.'

Megstar: I'm not sure about barging in whilst Numair and Daine are kissing, but I do have a very thoughtful Alanna

Goddess of the Moon: I'm glad you do! And thanks for reviewing.

Fyliwion: Well, all I can say is that I'm glad your computer is back to normal now. And, yes, I do need to work on updating regularly. I will say this; the 'actions' will start very soon.

No name: Like I said above, D/N actions are on its way. I just need to plan a wee bit more

Whisper: Teehee. Rumours are flying around indeed. I couldn't resist with the court gossip part.

Simi: Here's your update. I hope you like it

Queen's Own: Thank you. I loved writing VO too. I am hoping that this will be better, though

Ilumiel: You'll find out about the sins soon, well, for Numair anyway. Soon.

Kit49: I hope you liked that one shot about Daine and Numair. (Girlish Nonsense) I don't know how but it just floated to my head whilst I was working on this.

Dragon and the Wild Mage: Aqui tiene usted la…err, update. (shocking Spanish, I know. And to think I took it for GCSE…)

Don't have 1: I'll try and hurry my updates. Erm…not quite so sure on Numair attacking Daine part, but he does become rather strange – so far, as far as I have planned, anyway.

Daughter-of-faeries: Thank you. Yes, this story does take place instead of RotG. I hope you like this chapter!

Roherwen: I'm sorry I took so long with this chapter. Thanks for the review

Protectress of the Small: Thanks for pointing that out. I'll go see what I can change