Chapter 9

A/N: Firstly before I begin I have to apologize to all you wonderful reviewers!! I've gotten so many reviews for the last chapter and taken so long to upload - well to write this chapter that I feel so bad!! I AM SO SORRY!!! But I have a good excuse, two actually. One is that school has been very consuming, and now exams are fast approaching and I find I am not prepared. Secondly, I have been stuck on what to have happen next. So recently I started a new fic called 'Feelings' and it's a D/N one so go read it now! That was supposed to help get an idea to whack me in the face and get me writing this fic again. And with the aid of my beta I have written this next chapter!! Thanks heaps Nicole! I don't think any of you could guess who's at the door. and you may be a little disappointed to find it is not who you think it is but the person at the door helped me to continue with this fic so be grateful to them! Anyway I promise I won't take as long to write the next chapter and I'll tell you all when I will be away doing exams so you know that I have just disappeared! Please read and review!

Disclaimer: The plot's all mine so don't steal it! The rest is from Tamora Pierce's books and she owns them - I'm only borrowing them coz I love them sooooooo much!!

It was Varice Kingsford!

Daine felt a twinge of shock mixed with a feeling of jealousy (and a touch of unreasonable hatred) upon seeing the voluptuous beautiful blue-eyed blonde. This woman was Numair's former lover and Daine recalled distinctly when they were in Carthak how the older woman had practically thrown herself at Numair in an attempt to win him back.

"Well, aren't you going to invite me in?" she asked George. "I am dreadfully tired after my journey here, you realize." She fluttered her long bright red painted nails in what was feigned tiredness.

Her pretty face did not look as though she was tired. On the contrary she looked quite fresh. Her face was skillfully painted in the makeup she liked so much in many shades of blues that matched her eyes. She wore a northern-style sky blue gown that drew attention to her narrow waist and her richly curved figure. On top of that she wore an open mage's robe of cream-colored silk.

Kitten screeched in distaste at seeing the woman and Daine turned away to crouch down beside dragon and stroked her snout. She could understand the dragon's feelings. She'd been there for less than thirty seconds and she was already flirting - and with a married man! It was so obvious, she was so pathetic!

"And who would you be?" George questioned.

But Varice did not answer and she pushed pass him and to hug Daine. "It's been forever, Daine!"

The brunette looked over the other woman's shoulder to meet Alanna's violet eyes, with a look of pleading in her eyes. Alanna took the hint and pulled the woman away from the Wild Mage.

"Varice, what in Mithros' name are you doing here? We didn't know you were coming otherwise we'd."

"Oh never mind that, Lioness. I'm here now! Isn't that all that matters?" She dropped down onto Daine's chair and raised her delicate hand to her forehead and sighed dramatically. "The journey here was so long and tiring!"

Daine had an urge to roll her eyes and make a comment but restrained herself with a skill she had perfected - the one where she hid her true feelings after Numair's departure. Instead she smiled sweetly and said, "Oh, Varice, you haven't met our Queen Thayet of Tortall yet have you?"

The look on the older woman's face transformed so quickly and the next minute she was up and curtseying repeatedly that Daine could hardly hold back her laughter.

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"Gods! I can't believe that woman," laughed Daine after Varice had been shown her chambers that had been hurriedly prepared.

Alanna was laughing so hard she was hugging her stomach. "She arrives here all superior and all and with all that luggage! Goddess, there must've been at least five trunks and she says there's more!"

"What I would like t'know is how she knew we'd be here. Actually what I would like to know more is why she is here!" George said as he returned from having to escort his unexpected guest to her room. It seemed Varice had had the opposite affect on the ex-thief.

"Why George," Onua smiled, "I would've thought you would've been quite taken by our Lady Varice." Although she hadn't been in the party that went to Carthak she had heard stories from Daine.

"No, George detests fakery," Thayet said, shaking her head as she put her arms around Daine's shoulders. The younger woman smiled up at the Queen. Daine was glad that it was unnecessary to have to tell her friends who Varice was and how she was connected to Numair. That would proved to have been hard to do.

"Nay, she's a pretty thing no doubt." Quickly he turned back to his wife and took her into his arms, gazing down as she pretended to be hurt. "But I prefer something more real. Like my lass here."

"Oh you two are sickening!" Onua scowled before breaking out into laughter with Daine and Thayet.

The matter in relation to the mystery man was forgotten by the arrival of Varice and the group of friends talked late into the night, just catching up. As Daine prepared for bed in the very early hours of the morning she was almost grateful for the lady's arrival - almost.

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The next morning the friends and Deiniol all waited in the dining room for Varice to arrive to breakfast. When she finally emerged she was looking as perfect as she ever could and Daine really wondered if the woman ever looked remotely terrible. Then remembering Carthak she realized there were those rare times. how she wished there were more of those times. For now she saw Deiniol's gaze almost fixated on the pretty blonde and as she chirped good morning merrily to everyone. A feeling of.

Of what? Daine asked herself. You're not jealous because you don't have feelings for Deiniol.

Liar, said the other part of her mind. Quickly before that side of her mind could add to that she turned her attention to what was happening before her.

Varice had glided over to Thayet and was curtseying. And then turned and was led to her seat - the feeling came over Daine again - next to Deiniol. She watched as the blonde fluttered her eyelashes at the young man and smiled flirtatiously at him.

The servants began to arrive with the food and everyone's attention was turned to the semi warm food - they had had to wait almost half and hour for their guest to get dress.

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"What are you doing here, Varice?" Deiniol whispered urgently. "Did he send you after me?"

They were in a dark corner behind one of the statures in the hallway.

Varice grinned and splayed her hands on his broad chest and pushed him against the stonewall. A pout played on her red painted lips as she gazed up at him. "Don't you want me here?"

He shook his head and smiled reassuringly at her. "No, that's not it, Varice. It's just."

"Just what? You left me alone there and you expected me to stay there?"

"I thought you wouldn't have wanted to come with me because-"

"Well, you thought wrong." She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him down towards her and kissed him. At first he was shocked but soon he relaxed and put his arms around her waist and pulled her closer to him and returned the kiss.

When Varice finally withdrew she saw he was breathless and she touched his jaw line lovingly.

"I thought you would be glad to see me."

A strangled noise emerged from behind Varice and she turned to see Daine. The younger woman's eyes were widened as she stared at the couple.

"Oh Gods. I'm so sorry, I didn't mean." she stuttered, and then turned running away down the hallway away from them.

Deiniol broke away from Varice's hold and made to run after Daine as he called, "Daine! Wait, I can explain." But Varice stopped him.

¤º~*~º¤

Daine didn't know how many people saw her run. She could think of nothing else but to just get away from the Deiniol and Varice but there was no escape. It was as though the image of them pressed against each other, lips locked was engraved into her memory.

When she ran pass Alanna however, she was stopped as the knight caught the young woman around the waist preventing her from continuing her frantic run. "Daine! Daine, stop! What's wrong? What happened?" The Lioness's amethyst eyes were worried. "What are you running from?"

The brunette shook her head. She was unaware that tears streamed down her cheeks but the older woman noticed. "Please, Alanna. I can't. let me go. Please." This time when she attempted to pull out of the woman's hold she was able to break free and continued her run leaving her friend watching, her face etched with concern.

Finally reaching her loft Daine flopped down and buried her head in her blankets. She gave a small cry as she clutched her head. She wanted the image out. She didn't understand what was happening to her. When she looked down at the blanket she saw the dark patches that were her tears and felt the wetness upon her cheeks, she realized she was crying. But Daine could not stop. Sobs racked her body, tears continuously flowed from her eyes. She lay there her arms wrapped around her head as she cried. She barely registered animals coming to her. When she fell into an exhausted slumber, the birds were there to lift a blanket and put it on their friend and the animals' kept her warm and let her know she was not alone as they lay around her on the bed.

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A/N: it's been so long now, you should all know what happens now! Review! Press that button and tell me what you thought! Please!!! I need to know if it's worth continuing! ( I'm addicted to those exclamation marks, aren't I? No flames please, constructive criticism works well though.