Onua, the horse mistress, found her assistant sitting at her desk in her room that she shared with Numair. All over the room there were books everywhere: on the bed, floor, desk…
"What are you doing, Daine?" she asked the girl.
The girl jumped, tipping over her ink. She spun around. "Onua! What are you doing here? I thought you were…"
"Yes that's why I'm here," Onua said softly.
Daine closed her eyes and sighed, "I'm sorry, Onua. I've been so… strange lately…"
Onua smiled and hugged the girl around the shoulders. "It's all right really, Daine. I understand why…"
"Well, I don't! Explain it to me! Why am I being such a mope? It's sickening!"
Onua said not a word and so Daine rose. "I have a job to do – a responsibility – but I've done nothing these past three days. I've tried to do things to forget about him – put him out of my mind and get on with my life but I can't!! I don't know why! I've tried to read even meditating and nothing – I mean nothing works! Gods! I can't even do anything proper – properly," she said as she walked around the room picking up books and putting them back down again. After a few seconds more of pacing around the room the younger woman plopped down onto the big bed. Staring up at the ceiling she said, "I've even been having dreams of him. It makes me wish he were here all the more. So I try not to sleep and then each day I'm dead on my feet because I'm so tired."
Onua was sitting in the chair at the desk. "You love him Daine, a lot. Ever since meeting him you've never been away from him as long as this and it's only right if you miss him. Don't be so hard on yourself. You are…"
A loud knocking on the door interrupted the older woman. The two women looked at each other.
"Who is it?" Daine called out pushing herself off the bed and going to the door. She swung it open and there stood a boy leaning against the frame of the door, out of breath.
"I'm sorry to disturb you but…" he puffed.
"Hold on. Take a breath," she said as she got him some water. Onua came over to help him to the chair.
"No… this is of great urgency. The King, the Queen and the Lioness require your immediate assistance," he said still out of breath, as he held his arm out to stop Onua.
"No, wait a minute. You stay here and catch your breath. Where are they?"
Daine grabbed her bow and ran all the way to the room where the young man had said, Onua left her to get her weapon. As Daine reached the door she heard yells. Flinging the door open she gasped at the scene before. The table that occupied the room was against the far wall toppled over and the whole room was a mess. There were black scorch marks on the wall and on the floor. Jonathon, Thayet and Alanna were all in a sort of semi circle against a corner of the room. In the semi circle someone was trapped there, his back against the window and wall.
"What…?" began a bewildered Daine.
Thayet glanced over, hearing Daine. "Daine, you're here."
Daine waited a moment, hoping the Queen would continue but when she didn't, the younger woman gave an exasperated sigh. "Isn't anyone at all going to inform me of what in Mithros's name is going on here?!"
The young man trapped in the circle gave her a big grin. Before turning he gave her a wink and climbed quickly out of the window behind him. The Tortallans rushed to the window looking down. The young man stood up from the pile of leaves he had landed on, and gave a cheerful wave to them and ran off.
Alanna swore. Her eyes were furious as she rushed out of the room obviously in an attempt to chase after him.
Daine stood there staring after the knight and her mouth opened. She was fair annoyed! They called her up to this room for what? To watch them surround a man with swords… Daine took deep breaths. Lately she had been overreacting to a lot of things and getting mad but she had full rein on her anger now. It wasn't that everyone was out to get her and she was out to get mad at everyone but more that she had to release her anger in some way and that anger should have been aimed at Numair whom had left with not a word.
"Come and help me with this," Thayet beckoned Daine.
"Do you know him, Daine?" Jon asked her as he up righted a chair and sat on it.
"Why would I know him?" Daine answered with a question as she lifted the table.
"Well, he seemed to recognize you what with that grin and wink directed to you," Thayet replied.
"No, he doesn't seem really familiar…"
Daine was interrupted when Alanna and Onua entered the room.
"We chased after the rat but he got away," the Lioness said angrily.
"Who is he?" Daine asked.
"We don't know. He came into here, I think for stealing food or something but he can't be a commoner thief because they never come here. And he has the gift too," Alanna replied.
Everyone's eyes wondered over to the scorch marks.
"Hm, well we'll have to investigate this further," Jonathon said as he rose.
"Your Majesty?" Daine asked.
Jon turned around from the door. "What is it, my dear?" The King's face was tired.
"Oh, I just wanted to ask if there was any news of Numair…" she asked softly her face hopeful of a note or something from him to her.
"I'm afraid not." He was sympathetic. "But when I do I will inform you immediately, be assured of that."
Daine gave him a small smile and thanked him. Alanna and Thayet followed him out of the room.
