Hi again! i realise this is incredibly and shamefully late and i apologise profusely. ::Hangs head in shame:: neway, thank-you for the lovely reviews they were encouraging.

Im not incredibly happy with the writing quality of this especially the beginning but i thought id update instead of spending ages changing it. (not sure how anyway...)

i cant find mi story on the net i 4got to bookmark it so i cant answer any reviewers as i dont know what the reviews were! neway here goes

Chapter Nine

The next few days, Aranias and Liam commenced teaching Asa how to horse-ride. Luckily, the mistress had permitted an Everton dress to be worn at the upcoming ball. Asa dreaded just thinking about it. It was after the first few lessons – Asa was thrown by one horse, couldn't get another to take one step and hadn't passed the stage of walking without someone holding the reigns yet – that the Princes decided she needed a horse of her own.

It had been Liam's idea. The two were becoming slightly closer and Asa almost felt as comfortable being with him as with her brother. It was a nice feeling, she reflected as she wandered away down to the end of murky line of stalls. Aranias and Liam were talking to Stefan and admiring a proud sleek horse, and Asa had gotten bored.

It gradually became darker as she made her way down the row, the horse's heads turning as she passed. She stopped. One stall had no horse in it. Or so it seemed. As she leaned closer, she could see a small horse, almost a pony, at the very back of the stall. He gradually came forward she saw the slightly orangey coat and black mane. She wondered why he was there. It seemed unreal that no-one would have bought a horse so fine. Asa stepped closer and saw the reason with a quiet gasp.

Scars criss-crossed the horse's flanks, leaving a pattern of harsh white and purple lines. Can't the Wildmage do anything about it? she wondered indignantly, carefully undoing the bolt on the stable door. The horse started towards her angrily and she caught a trace of wildness in his deep brown eyes. She blinked. For a moment they had almost seemed transparent. She shook her head a little, advancing with small calm steps. His eyes seemed to hold hers, capturing her with that strange quality.

Stepping up to him, she cautiously raised a hand to rub the coal black mark between his eyes, wondering what his name was. This is my horse, she decided. What else is he useful for? She could remember the horses come back from accidents and war in Everton. The shots rang through her head even now.

Finally giving into temptation and confident in a sort of wary trust established, she reached down to run fingertips along the rough scars. The blow hit her in a sudden rush of pain and she collapsed on the straw, sweating with pain and silently cursing. Her sides felt on fire, her nose filled with the stench of death, head pounding.

The horse stamped and whinnied, lipping her with a soft muzzle. Liam leaned over the swinging stable door with Stefan and Aranias at his shoulders, having finished their discussion. Asa got up with a grimace, determined not to show any pain. Great. I embarrass myself as usual. "I guess I fell," she mumbled, stumbling a little.

"Thas a mean horse that'un," Stefan remarked, in his calm way. "Bin up in Scanra n back n no-one really knows where. Found 'im wanderin through the forest up in the North all chewed up like. Thas two year ago now, bit afta the Scanra war." So that explains the scars.

"What'll happen to him?" Aranias asked curious. "Not well enough for tha plough so he'll probably go where they all go in t'end." Stefan replied. The end of his sentence was left hanging in the air, no-one wanting to voice the unspoken fate.

"What's his name?" Asa asked. "Fire Child," he answered. "I choose him then," she insisted, ignoring the pain threading through her side. All protests were brushed away. She'd decided and that was that. Liam admired her insistence, though he wondered exactly what she found quite so special about a mean old horse. Female pity, he decided. Not a bad thing I suppose, just inconvenient at times. It was something Raoul sometimes said.

That reminded him. They were late to jousting lessons. Aranias had obviously realised as well and the two made their excuses, escorting Asa out. With one last glance at the strange horse she followed them keeping her back straight, determined not to show any weakness. Only once outside and alone did she open the laces at the side of her dress. Across her stomach were ugly bruises and cuts. Before her eyes they changed colour, faded and slowly began to disappear. She shook her head briefly trying to clear her head. As they faded the gashes looked suspiciously like the scars that marred the horse's flank.

Xxx

Liam was bored once again but for an entirely different reason. The ballroom was filled with noblemen, frilled ladies and sweaty pages. It seemed frills were fashionable although he had no idea why. It made people look like wrapped midwinter gifts in his opinion. Asa was sitting calmly on his right and he wondered if she was bored. His brother's wife had been bored by this and the two would have hardly spoken had it not been for Keladry's intervention.

But Asa and himself had spoken. Quite a lot in fact. After her choosing the awful horse, they had taught her the following mornings. Surprisingly the Fire Child, or what ever it was called, hadn't thrown her and Liam had been surprised by his own relief at this. But conversations were reserved. Little was said in them and mainly on his part.

He sneaked a glance at his betrothed. She was sitting demurely, no trace of emotion on her face. He knew she wasn't like his Knightmistress though. Negative emotions such as boredom or fear could be hidden – at other times, away from rooms such as this, emotions would flit, unbidden, across her face like wildfire. He had dreaded the walk down the stairway, yet she had seemed quite calm. Although, he remembered, her gripped on his arm had been suspiciously tight.

Lachran appeared at his elbow, having returned recently for the ball. "Having fun?" he whispered with an almost infectious grin. Almost. Liam scowled, "Take a guess." Well I have some news I'm sure you'll welcome then," Lachran replied, the glint in his eyes suggesting otherwise. Liam studied him suspiciously. "What?" he asked finally. "You two have to dance!"

Asa's head snapped round, horror covering her features for a second before painfully smoothing over. Remembering she shouldn't be listening to their conversation she flushed slightly. Thankfully, Liam didn't notice although he didn't miss the earlier expression and was glad someone agreed with him. He turned to his friend with a quiet groan. "Why? No-one ever mentioned that!"

Too right they didn't, Asa grumbled silently. No matter that they don't know how painfully awful my dancing is!

Unknown to her Liam was thinking somewhere along the same lines. "Who asked?" "Your parents," Lachran answered with a grimace. "People were wondering why you two won't talk. Had an argument or something?"

Realising he was addressing her Asa frowned. "What would we argue about?" And how is it possible to argue if we never talk? she added silently. Taking that as a no, Lachran simply looked expectantly at the two as the orchestra began a waltz. Thank the mother. The only dance I know, Asa thought relieved. Although knowing isn't quite the same as being able to dance it. Oh help.

Liam glanced at her again. Her Everton dress – no frills whatsoever of which he was glad – fell almost vertically to the floor as she stood up, her face less hidden than usual by the thin veil like head piece the edge of which attached to her little finger. She was pretty, he realised. Less conventionally pretty than the other ladies, a near absence of face-paints seemed more natural. He wondered at that refusal, before catching her crystalline eyes.

They moved slowly onto the dance floor without a word spoken, both too nervous for anything other than concentrating on the steps. Asa was desperately trying not to lose the rhythm which was faster than the stately almost walking pace Everton dances. Her hand clasped loosely in his was sweaty and she wished it was over.

Liam was thinking similar thoughts and neither noticed the eyes of Raoul, Kel and Neal on them. "This is worse than Shinko and Roald." Kel muttered. "They seemed almost relaxed out at training," Raoul remarked. "And I know he's teaching her to ride." Kel let a look of contemplation onto her face. "Perhaps that's the answer. The same scheme we used for Shinko may work, but I doubt it. Get her to come along to training each day. She seemed interested. Both of them are far to reserved just to start talking straight away."

Neal grinned suddenly. "Who's talking about reserved? You and Dom didn't get your act together for years!" Kel refrained from rolling her eyes. "That's not the topic under discussion. And besides we weren't betrothed." Raoul quickly broke up the quarrel. "There's one problem with that. We leave to tour the Northern areas in less than a month." "Bring her with you!" Neal exclaimed triumphantly.

They both turned to look at him and spoke in unison. "What?" "What's what?" Dom asked joining them. "He says bring the Princess on the Northern tour." Raoul replied disbelievingly.

Dom turned to look at the dancing couple. "Good idea," he said.

Xxx

The next week, the days were pretty similar for Asa. Not that she minded. It seemed Neal's idea had been passed through the monarchs and had been announced as fine with some precautions. It was also not called 'Neal's idea to match-make the Prince and Princess'. Instead it was more tactfully announced as 'showing the Princess her new country'. Neither Liam nor Asa caught on to its motives.

Her days took a pattern. Horse-riding, joining the Own for training and being taught the glaive by Kel who she was still thoroughly in awe of. Some time with the Mistress followed that and then joining Liam and Aranias in their evening lessons, during which she tended to try and practice grammar instead of working out mathematical problems – something she detested and found utterly impossible. These days were punctuated by the Dream which came almost every other day, a few random visions and prophecies which seemed to have increased since arriving in Tortall, and a meeting with Numair.

Asa had always been mistrustful of mages. They tended to examine her for a time, ask awkward questions and then finally, pronounce her as mad. It was not a pleasant experience. Her brother and perhaps Liam were the only exceptions. However, she had never met one quite like Numair.

To start with he towered over her small, petite form. Then, he was neat to the point of perfection – but his workroom and desk were like a dumping ground. She stepped gingerly over piles of parchment to reach the chair politely pulled out for her, letting no sign of trepidation grace her features.

There was an awkward silence, before she was offered water which she accepted. While he poured two glasses she took the chance to look around and surreptitiously sneak glances at him. He looked similar to what she could vaguely remember about him from that night, but a bit neater. The Wild-mage had been with him then. Distractedly she wondered exactly what was going on with those two. He finally passed her a glass and sat down opposite her, long legs folded.

"I don't want to cause any discomfort but would it be possible to ask you a few questions about your visions and dreams? It all seems very interesting." His eyes were sparkling, almost like a child who found something fascinating. Wow, for a mage he's polite! Asa thought amazedly. Oops I have to answer… "That's fine I'll try to answer as well as I can." Well if he can be polite so can I.

"Right. You dream like that often?"

"Often enough. It's got worse and more frequent since I was little and after Aranias left." Numair nodded. "You lived quite solitarily after that?" "I'm sorry, solitarily?" What on earth is he on about? Damn mages and their fancy words.

"Oh, alone." At her nod, he continued. "You have no gift?" She shook her head. "None at all? No sight?" "No, but I have been tested many times. My siblings all have the gift." He frowned reflectively. "How strange. Most seers have the sight. I wonder…" He trailed off lost in contemplation.

Great, he finds me fascinating. How nice. However, she couldn't help but like the strange mage. At least he's not as bad as some. Maybe this won't go so bad.

"Tell me about the dream we walked in on." Oh well. Spoke too soon. "I can't really remember much of it." At his expectant face she sighed quietly and continued. "It involves some lots of emotions and sounds – people I think. And it all crowds in or something and there's horrible pain. I think. But then I guess I loose my mind of something because I can't think or understand anything. And it stays when I wake up."

Oh no. Loosing your mind is the same as going mad. Numair, however, didn't seem to notice this. "And you have no idea where this comes from?" At her shrug, he nodded. "I think you are a seer of the old magic, not the sight. It is quite usual for these gifts to increase when alone or perhaps…" he trailed off, before continuing after a moment. "Are your visions centred in a place? More clear when showing a place or more often?"

Asa frowned. Tortall is often clearer. But they seldom make sense… However, she wasn't about to say anything. "Not really, that I have noticed."

Numair nodded, before standing. "I will do a little research, but old magic is highly unpredictable. You must simply try to decipher anything you see. Perhaps note it down. It may be useful." After stating that she could come to him for any help – Asa almost couldn't stop and incredulous snort at this – the mage held open the door and she walked out.

Well at least he didn't pronounce me as mad. It's a start… She smiled suddenly, contemplating the journey to the North ahead. No chance of boredom there. She wandered off to find Liam, having no idea of exactly why.

xxx

ok, so there it is. A little hint at romance, but its going slow. hopefully the trip in the next chap, someone suggested it and it was in mi plotline so well done 4 readin mi mind!

hope u enjoyed it please tell me what you think. ill try to be a bit more puntual with the next update, but i may be starting a lily/james fic (harry potter) so it may take a while. (although i intend to start lots of things and they never get posted so...)

have a gd xmas!