A/N Hope you enjoy this chappie. And remember, I don't own anything that can be found in Tamora Pierce's books.

Great Merciful Goddess- I have a few chapters written out in advance. I'm hoping the story will be long to. Thanks for reviewing.

Yamani- Thanks again for your reviews.

Chapter Five:

Dagger jumped onto the bed and stretched out in the sunlight. Novellee reached up and stroked his furry stomach. He stretched again, raising his paws to tickle her arm with his claws. When he purred in elation, she smiled before dragging him up to her chest and stroked his head and back.

Cameron watched his woman stroke her cat. She looked so beautiful, her hair mussed from sleep, her face still flushed from the rest. He didn't want to disturb her quiet yet.

He looked around the room, already noting of the changes he would make when he moved in with her. The bed would stay, as it was perfect. It was huge, just the way he liked them. But the blankets would have to go, as they weren't right for his skin.

And the bed would have to be moved to the other side of the room. He didn't like waking up to the sun in his eyes.

The painting over the bed would have to go to. It was hideous, obviously done by someone who did not know what he or she was doing. It was a view into the castle courtyard. But the idiot who drew it had butchered it so bad, he couldn't tell which one it was in the castle.

He would see to getting rid of it soon. And they would definitely have to paint the walls. He didn't like just bare wood. It was too primitive for him, and it didn't suit her at all.

But enough of that, he thought as he came back to reality, time to make her aware that I'm here. He was expecting her to jump up and grab him into a hug. He'd only been away for three months.

"Do I get as happy a greeting as that cat?" Cameron asked as he sat on the edge of Novellee's bed. She opened her eyes and gave him a blank stare. "Should I take that as a no?"

She growled and he laughed, silently thinking that the cat would go too. "What do you want, Cameron?" she asked. She gave him a long look. He hadn't changed in the months he had been out on travel. His skin was perfectly golden, his hair perfectly yellow. He had perfect green eyes, and a perfect smile with the perfect teeth. His body was built by the God's and was, to her disgust, perfect. He could dance like a dream, knew how to seduce the ladies into his bed, and he could kill like a demon.

She absolutely hated him.

Whenever they were around each other, he acted like he was her saving grace, that she couldn't breath without him by her side. When they were alone he tried his best to get her to come to him, and acted like her guardian, bossing her around, claiming it was for her, that he was only thinking of what was in her best interest.

She had been taking care of herself since she was nine, and she was an assassin. She didn't need to be taken care of. She hadn't tolerated it when Polly had tried, she wouldn't tolerate it from some over perfect assassin who was in love with her, much to her despise.

He claimed they were the perfect couple, and that they were made for each other. She responded that her knife would be made for his gut if he didn't stop with the nonsense. But he would just laugh, like she was playing hard to get.

It was irritating, and at times, frightening the way he was so sure they would end up together. She found it easiest to ignore him. Which was her choice of evasion today.

She stood, taking Dagger and draping him around her shoulders. He flicked his tail as he shot an evil look at Cameron. Novellee walked into her dressing room. She left the door open more out of habit then to allow the conversation to continue.

Cameron yammered on as she dressed in sleek tan breeches, a black tunic and vest. She brushed out her hair and tied it back. It was long and fell over her shoulder in a curly mess.

When she came back out, Cameron was standing close to the door. He looked at her and she looked into his eyes. What she saw made her shudder. Desire smoldered in his eyes. It made her want to hurl.

Then he was moving, sweeping her into his arms, using his mouth to seduce her as his arms crept around to feel up her bottom. It was his best seduction and all it did was drive her farther away from him.

Her hands came up to his ears, curving around them. She dug her fingernails in as she began to slowly pull his ears. She pulled harder and harder until he yelped and broke away.

She looked at her hands, disappointed that his ears weren't there. They were still attached, but there was always next time, she thought darkly.

"Do that again," she said in a voice that was too soft, too calm, "And I'll keep those ears as a souvenir. And when they find your body, they'll think of you as the man who had no ears. Got that?"

She started to walk away, but he grabbed her arm, pulled her tight against him. "I've waited for you to come around to the idea of being with me. Soon, I'm just going to take without asking."

She lurched away, giving a growl of disgust. "I'm not an animal or food for you to take as you wish. And this is one lady who you can't have."

Spinning on her heel, she left the room to go done to breakfast, Dagger swishing his tail behind her right ear.

Cameron watched her, thinking, this was our first fight. He'd let it go this time, because he knew that secretly, she loved his kisses. She just didn't want to admit it. He liked a woman who didn't easily deal with his kisses.

He left the room, intending to go down to the common room to have some breakfast with his woman.

Novellee safely made it to the kitchen with out any mishaps. She intended to have a bite of apple, maybe some tea, and then head out to arrange for the mare to be returned to Stefan. After that, she had to leave instructions with the maid until the temporary cook and innkeeper showed up.

She had to head up to her country estate. It was almost breeding season for her horses and she wanted to supervise. The timing was wonderful. She needed to lay low for a couple of weeks, let the search die down a little before she got back into the action.

One look at Polly and she knew her plans were delayed if not shot completely. Polly would want to know everything, but the kitchen in her inn was not a good place for this.

"Come along Polly, we have things to discuss," she commanded in her best in- charge voice. Polly curtsied before following her out into the courtyard that led to the stables. Novellee dropped Dagger to the ground, allowing him to scrounge around for mice or birds.

"We're going for a ride. I have to return the mare I borrowed yesterday," she explained as she hurried over to the stables. Peeking in, she found the horse in a stall. She had been properly rubbed down and given the finest hay.

"Hello, miss," the stable hand, Bennie called out. She gave him a sweet smile that was as rare as it was beautiful.

"Hello Bennie. Did you eat this morning?" she asked in a scolding tone. She had brought Bennie to her inn off of the streets. His mother had died in childbirth, much like her own. But Bennie's father had left him on his own after he turned five, leaving him to fend for himself on the streets.

He had tried to steal her money. She had taken one look at his cherub face and given him a job in her stables. That was seven years ago and now he was seventeen, and a young man.

"Yes, miss, I ate. Did you?" she laughed and brushed the question aside. She made a mental note to ask for a temporary stable hand too. She was taking Bennie with her to her estate.

"We're going for a ride this morning, Bennie, would you care to join?" the command was in the form of a question, but a command no less. But she smiled at him, and he couldn't refuse.

He saddled three horses under her direction, three of the best and the one she had brought in last night. She would ride the other third horse after she had given back her mare. They climbed into the saddle, heading out a few minutes later.

"Where are we going?" Bennie asked as the winded through the streets of Corus, the capital. They kept a sharp eye out for thieves. Novellee was well known among them, but that didn't stop them from stealing.

"We're going to the Dancing Dove. I have some business to discuss with Jaymie. After that, we're breaking into the castle," she gave a devilish smile, laughing when Bennie paled.

"Come on Bennie, where's your sense of adventure?" she laughed again. She turned to Polly, and saw that she was not amused either. She sobered before turning her attention to navigating through the streets.

When they reached the Dancing Dove, she left Bennie and Polly with the horses out front. She knew that Polly would not feel comfortable in there, but she couldn't leave the horses with her alone. So she left Bennie behind to, although she knew that he desperately wanted to go in.

Walking in, she nodded to the bar keep. Edward was his name. He had taken over for his father a few years ago. "Jaymie upstairs?" she asked. He nodded to her, going back to his work, a solemn expression on his face.

She scanned the crowd that had meandered in. They were the usual ruffians that gathered in the crowd, but she didn't pass them off easily. She searched each and every face.

Her eyes honed in on a table in the back corner. It was partially shadowed, but she saw who was there, and her blood ran cold. The woman, Alanna, from the night before was sitting at the table, a man's arm around her shoulders.

He was a tall, with brown hair and green eyes. Those eyes looked at her after a few minutes of study. She looked to the other man quickly, nearly gasping with shock.

The king was sitting at a table in the Dancing Dove, sipping ale and talking to his companions as if he did it everyday. She had to get out of here before they noticed her. But she had to talk to Jaymie.

The man with green eyes called their attention to her. She turned away, making her way as fast as possible to the back where the stairs were located. She heard a shout, and knew that they had recognized her.

Great, she thought. She hated fighting on an empty stomach. But it hadn't come to that yet. She could still relay her message to Jaymie and get out before they caught her.

She took the stairs two at a time, making a clatter that could wake the dead. When she got to the top of the stairs, she saw Jaymie stick his head out of his door. She barreled down the hall, shoving him aside and slamming into his room. Using her Gift she shielded it from intruders.

It cost her a great deal to shield the room, but she had to do it. This was important to her. She wanted to make an effort to keep the virtuous people alive. She heard the din from her trailers as they clattered up the stairs.

"Novellee," Jaymie said, his voice full of surprise, "What are you doing here? I hadn't expected you for a three more weeks. It is three more weeks till our meeting?"

"Yes," she said in a breathy voice. "But I have something I have to tell you."

"It couldn't have waited?" he asked. When she shook her head, he paled.

Novellee and he had been friends for a long time. But she detested the tavern. She hated coming to this place he knew. So if she showed up with something to say, it was dire. "Maybe we should sit."

"That's a good idea. You should sit," she heard the noise stop outside the door. They knew she was in here.

"Who's that?" he asked. He got up to look out the door, but she grabbed his arm and shook her head. He gave her a look, before sitting back down. A knock sounded on the wooden door.

"Who is it?" he demanded. He never would have been so lineate with his protection, but Novellee was with him, and she was the most loyal person he had ever meet.

"It's George. I'm here for our meeting," the man behind the door said. He was also early for his meeting.

"Just a minute. I'm in a business discussion with an associate," he called. He turned to Novellee giving her assent to continue talking. Just outside the door, Alanna made a break in the shield around the room, just big enough for any conversation to come through. They had decided to listen to what she had to say before making a grab for her.

Normally, Alanna never would have been able to break through the shield. She knew because Numair had told of her great Gift. But the assassin had had little sleep and little time to restore her strength it seemed. Alanna thanked the Gods as they got a chance to listen in on the conversation.

"Jaymie, I got an offer for a contract," she said heavily. He laughed, his deep, rich laugh. It was so full of life, and so big, it made her smile, forgetting for a minute the flavor of her news.

"If that's all, Novellee, then you've wasted your time. I'm sure this wasn't the first contract you've ever been offered," he laughed again, but stopped when he saw her face. "What kind of contract?"

She hesitated. She knew it was cowardly, but she wanted to postpone the moment before she broke the news.

"It was for you. Some one wants to hire me to kill you," she said, her voice as near a wail as she would ever let it get. She hated her job at this moment, hated it more then anything. She knew the day would come when she would be hired to kill a friend. She knew that it would come. But not now, not Jaymie. She didn't want to kill Jaymie.

"Did you accept it?" he asked in a quiet voice. She looked into his eyes and saw that he'd expected her to accept it.

"How can you think that of me!" she demanded as she got to her feet and paced. She ran a hand through her hair, forgetting that it was tied back. She growled in frustration when her fingers got tangled.

"I told him I'd have to think about it. I didn't want to say no and have him offer it to someone else. Then I'd have no way of warning you or knowing what's going on. But I had to ask you what you want me to do about it."

She sighed, moving to the window to look out. "I always knew this would happen, but I never wanted it to be you," she whispered, to soft for anyone to hear.

Jaymie sat on the bed, his face a blank mask. Novellee returned to the chair she had taken a seat in and looked at him.

His black hair was graying and his once smooth face was taking in wrinkles. Age was seeping away his youth. She felt rage well up in her, but she squashed it down. Age happened to everybody, but she just couldn't stand it on him. He was too pure a person. She couldn't allow him to die.

"Hire me," she said all of a sudden, startling him out of his thoughts. It was perfect. He could hire her to kill the man who wanted to kill him. She could find out any information on the man and give Jaymie a heads up to what was going on.

"What?" he roared. Novellee winced; maybe it wasn't such a good idea. "Are you crazy? I can't hire you. You're an assassin and I'm a thief. We don't work together!"

The rage welled up again, and because she was with him and she trusted him, she let it escape.

"We've been working together since I started out. You're the one who trained me. Everything I know more or less came from you!" she raged, her breathing harsh.

"Yes, but at the time I was training you, I thought you wanted to be a thief, not a low life assassin." He said it to wound her and she knew it. But it still hurt. Jaymie had thought she was going to be a thief. And it had always hurt her that she couldn't be what he wanted.

He reminded her so much of her brother, and she had wanted so badly to please him, but this was something she couldn't do. She couldn't be a thief, so she couldn't be what he wanted. Her eyes dropped to the floor, she wouldn't look at him with tears swimming in her eyes.

"I can't be a thief," she said, her voice no longer filled with rage, but was suspiciously close to hurt. "You know that I can't. But I can help you. If you don't hire me, I'll do it myself. I'll kill him with or without your permission."

She looked at him, the tears dried up. "He's a threat to you Jaymie, and it's my duty to help protect you. If you can't accept my help, I'll act on my own."

"I can't hire you, Novellee," Jaymie pleaded. "A man can't hire some one he thinks of as his daughter. Besides, it'd make me look bad."

Novellee laughed, her voice like a child's, "Alright. I understand. We'll just keep this between us and no one will have to know that I did this for you."

She gave him a hug, putting all her love for him into it. Jaymie took it and kept it in his heart. Novellee hardly ever showed affection to any one, and he felt blessed to have hers.

When she headed to the window he called, "What's wrong with the door?"

She gave him a funny look. "You have company that doesn't particularly like me," she laughed as she climbed out the window, and up onto the roof.

She ran along it, until she got the front of the tavern. Dropping over the edge, she caught herself by her fingertips on the roof. She looked down to aim, before she let go and dropped down onto her horse's back.

"Let's go!" she called. Polly and Bennie jumped, spinning around to look at her. Bennie looked up at the roof, then at her, then at the roof again. He gave a whoop of laughter as he climbed onto his horse. Polly just glared.

"Novellee," Bennie clamored with glee, "You are amazing!"

As they headed out, Novellee looked back to see Alanna, the man named George, and King Jonathan standing on the roof, looking at her as she road away. She gave a sassy wave and blew them a kiss before she kicked the mare into a gallop, Polly and Bennie following close behind her, looking at her like she was a queen.

A/N Hope you liked it. I know it was kinda long. But it was too short to split into two chapters. Can anyone tell me if George was able to see the Gift? I can't remember if he could. Thanks! Review!

Nubia