Chapter 8

A/N: I thank you all you wonderful, great people for reviewing!! It's been an age since I updated. I'm so, so, sorry about that and I feel so bad for it. I've been so bogged down with schoolwork I've barely had time to read! And if you knew me you'd know that there's something wrong when I've barely read for so long! When I've had those rare times called spare time I was content to just lie there staring at the ceiling… that and also coz I've been sort of stuck on what to happen next in this fic. Anyway it's Easter holidays at the moment (for two weeks starting today) and I still have homework but I'll try my best to have at least two chapters up for this before I go back to school. I'm starting to get a little stuck now but I'll keep working on it. Oh yeah, another thing before I begin – I am a fully pledged D/N fan, I have no intention of breaking them up so you all got to bear with me. I promise that Numair will return! Hopefully I'll get reviews? I love and adore reviews; they encourage me and if I don't get some I feel I'm writing for no one and no one wants me to continue so if you could, please? No flames and actual reviews please.

Disclaimer: I own the plot and anything else that's unfamiliar. Everything else is owned solely by the brilliant story weaver, Tamora Pierce!

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Daine was happy to be back at Pirate's Swoop. It had been a while since she had been here. The errands she and Numair had to run for the King got them traveling all over the country. They barely spent more than a few weeks in their rooms at the palace as it was. She breathed in the sea air when they left the stables. She loved the sea with the beautiful blue waters and the white waves. She could hardly wait to go to the beach and just soak it all up and maybe even talk to the sea creatures.

The young boy that had greeted them before led the three to the observation deck on top of the third, largest tower where the wall rose out of the stone cliffs. The boy left them there to fetch his mistress and master.

Daine gazed down at the rocks, the bit of beach she saw and the crashing waves. She greedily took in the beautiful sight of the bright orange sun lowered itself into the ocean. She sighed as the cool breeze blew in her face and hair. Pirate's Swoop was one of her most favourite places. She felt relaxed and at peace for once in many, many weeks.

Suddenly loud shrieks broke Daine's peaceful daze. They turned towards their heads to where the sounds had erupted from but didn't see anything. A someone flew to Daine and another someone flew to Onua.

"Onua! Daine!" the two cried burying their blonde with a touch of red heads into the two women's stomach – it was the Lioness's and the Baron's twins: Kiara and Micah (A/N: does anyone know their real names at all? Sorry I just made them up). Daine and Onua smiled at one another before bending down and giving the 9 year olds a hug.

"How are you two?" the K'miri asked as she ruffled little Micah's hair.

The hazel green eyes he had inherited from his father glittered as he exclaimed, "I'm going to be a page soon!"

Kiara sighed and turned to Daine saying, "He's been going on and on about that for so long!"

"What? And you're telling me you're not excited too?" he shot back.

Regal as a queen she pursed her lips and lifted her chin, pretending not have heard him and turned to the laughing Daine. "It's been so long since you came here, Daine! We didn't know you were coming with Onua."

"Well, I decided that it's time to visit both of you before you begin your training as pages," the Wildmage replied.

"I see these barn animals have already greeted you," a lilting voice said. They all looked up to see the tall brown haired man of Baron George of Pirate's Swoop. His hazel green eyes twinkled mischievously as he grinned. "It's been quite a while since you've come here, youngster."

Daine smiled back at him. "Much too long."

"And who's this?" he inquired, glancing behind Daine.

She turned in confusion – she had forgotten completely about the mystery man. "Oh this is Deiniol. Deiniol, this is the master of this wonderful place - Baron George." It was all Daine could say. She didn't know exactly why Deiniol was here for – to see the Queen yes but for what reason, she had no idea so she didn't say why.

The two men shook hands. "Welcome to Pirate's Swoop, Master Deiniol."

"It's a pleasure to be here. You have a wonderful home, my lord" Deiniol replied. George looked almost expectantly at him, thinking that Deiniol would tell him why he was there but the younger man choose to ignore the look.

An uncomfortable silence come over them. George finally broke it: "What are we doing just standing here? I'm sure you're all tired from your ride. Come, have some food and drink."

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After dining with the trainees Daine went to where she would sleep. Like the first time Daine came to Pirate's Swoop and a other rare few times she slept in the stable loft. She felt most comfortable there accompanied with the castle's many cats and dogs.

So far Daine and Onua had not been asked directly to who exactly Deiniol was and what he was there for. Thayet and Alanna had been eating when they had arrived in the dining hall. Daine wasn't sure if they had noticed him. How she and Onua were going to deal with the questions she didn't know. But she wanted some answers too and she was determined to get something out from him so the next day she went in search for him. She took him down to the beach. It was a fine day – the sun was out and the sky a beautiful cloudless pale blue. The calming sounds of the waves crashing upon the beach relaxed Daine as she stared out towards the ocean.

"This place really is beautiful," Deiniol commented as he stood beside her. He glanced at her and continued, "Did you want to say something to me?"

She didn't reply but continued to gaze out at the ocean. She heard him sigh and when he appeared in front of her she blinked in surprise. She looked into his eyes and she felt suddenly giddy. What was wrong with her? Could she fall in and out of love so easily? Did she never truly love Numair? Her heart was fluttering and she realised that taking him out to the beach was wrong. The romantic setting was making her silly. She couldn't really be in love with Deiniol, could she? She barely knew him. She began to move away from him because she felt that he was too close for comfort but also because she was beginning to find it hard to not touch his long black hair. However he stopped her by gripping her arms, forcing her to look at him.

His touch sent shocks up her arms. She shook her head furiously at her reaction and said in a harsher tone than she had intended, "Who are you?"

"I thought we'd been through this—"

"Onua and I cannot and will not allow you to see the Queen until you tell us who you are. For all we could know you could be an assassin come to kill their Majesties, to kill us all!"

He pulled her closer to him so she could see his eyes, to show her that he wasn't lying as he said, "I could never hurt you."

Daine's eyes widened as she realised what he had just said. For one intense moment they just stared at each other, the crashing of the waves was the only sound heard. He closed the distance between them and kissed her. Daine didn't - couldn't think about anything else but the lips that were pressed against hers. She was completely giddy and her heart was beating rapidly. Heat surged throughout her whole body as her hands rested against his chest. She felt so safe and comfortable in Numair's arms… her eyes snapped open as the realisation struck her: this was not Numair. She wretched herself away from him. She stood a meter away from him breathing heavily, her blue-grey eyes clouded in confusion. What was wrong with her? She had basically kissed a complete stranger. But the way he had held her, kissed her… it was so familiar and so good…

"Daine…" he began taking a step towards her but she ran away from her. He sighed as he plopped onto the ground. He didn't understand what was going on, but for some reason he had felt drawn to the young woman. Something he'd never felt with any of the other women he had courted back at home. And he didn't want to let her go, he realised. His kissing her – he had felt compelled to do it and he didn't understand it.

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Daine sat on her loft-bed her mind swirling with thoughts. She didn't understand what she was feeling. She lay down on her bed and curled up into a ball, wrapping her arms around her knees as she closed her eyes. What was wrong with her? Had she really fallen for someone she barely knew? Numair had only been gone for a month. She began to doubt her love for him. Did she ever really truly love him? The circumstances had shown her that she didn't. She didn't understand her feelings, her thoughts, herself anymore.

"Mistress Daine?"

Daine sighed and climbed down from her loft. "Yes?"

"Milady and my lord request your presence," the servant said.

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The master of Pirate's Swoop was in his study. The Queen, Buri, Sarge and Onua were also there sitting in comfortable chairs – the Lioness at the window. Hearing her come in they all turned all except Alanna.

"Come, close the door and sit," Thayet beckoned and Daine obeyed taking a seat on a chair close to Onua. In a way she was nervous but for what reason she didn't know.

There was a silence as Daine looked everywhere but at the people in the room. Alanna turned around and finally said, "Daine, what is the meaning of this? Who is that boy and why is he here?"

This was not what Daine needed at that particular moment. She could feel a headache approaching. She reached up and began massaging her temples, eyes closed. "I don't know who he is. He followed Onua and I and we saw him at Lake Viage. He wants to see the King and Queen about something urgent."

"Don't blame, Daine," Onua said coming up behind Daine's chair and placing her hands on the younger woman's shoulders. "He is quite strange and he won't say a thing about where he's from. He doesn't know a thing about the Immortal Wars or about you, Alanna. There's just something not right about him."

"You have no idea at all where he's from?" Thayet asked.

"I think it's safe to say Carthak. When I asked him if he was from there he got all strange—"

There was a knock on the door. The people in the room turned to each other and wondered who it was as they had firmly told the servants that no was to disturb them.

"Who is it?" growled George as he stood up and swung open the door. His face when he moved away was of puzzlement. It was…

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A/N: oooo who's at the door? If you review I'll write the next chapter and you'll find out!!