I thought since I love DN pair, I'll give this story a shot. Enjoy this chapter!

Chapter 3

It was dusk; Daine was running out of patience. 'Why, oh why did daylight felt so short now?' She had hastily packed some of her most valuable possessions and left the palace on Cloud. Somehow, she felt if she didn't want any soldiers report her sneak out of the palace, she had to do some major preparation.

With some flirtation glances and some flattering with her long lashes, she was able to get pass the guards at the gates. With luck, she would get away without people's notice for as long as a day.

And it was almost a day, Daine arrived at a village on Cloud, she wanted to continue farther, but her level headedness stopped her in time. Entering a bar, Daine flipped a coin to the stable boy and asked him to feed Cloud, then she ordered dinner, finally, a room for tonight. As she was finishing her dinner, some rough looking men entered the bar; one of them eyed Daine and smiled. Daine was not in the mood to be flirtatious; she just simply went on with her dinner.

The men took a seat near her table. Soon, they were all pointing and sneaking glances at her. Finally, tired of their pointing and mocking, she left abruptly to go upstairs. As she closed the door, she sighed. However, she didn't know how close she was to be robbed.

As she drifted to sleep, her mind kept on going back to the image of Numair, she always longed for his gentle touch, or his sense of smell. As always, Daine went to sleep uneasily.

A knock on the door woke her up. From the look outside her window, she had only slept an hour or so. Moaning, she got up and answered the door.

She careless thrust in open a crack, her sleepy mind was curious, but not alert. Besides, she had been in the palace too long, she had got use to the protectiveness. Suddenly, a rough hand seized her and a foot was thrust in, keeping her from slamming the door. The lad who smiled at her when he entered that evening was holding onto her arm. Daine only got a glimpse of him before he forced her arms back. Carefully, he whispered; "If you scream, you dies."

Keeping her voice calm, Daine said, "Let go of me, I'm not scared of your threats."

The man let go after he closed her door. "You are not scared of threats? Oh, that's interesting. I don't suppose a young girl of your age traveling alone only for entertainment?"

"No, I don't travel for entertainment, and I'm not doing it now. I'll tell you, it you hurt me or touch me of any kind; I'll use my magic on you. I'm a mage." Daine warned.

"You are not a mage at all!" The man sneered. "I can see that you have no trace of magic in you."

"And that's where most of people are wrong." Daine shut her month before she can blab all her secrets out.

"Oh? What is you magic then." The man asked.

"I wish not to speak of it." Daine refused to answer, instead, she changed the subject, "Say, you are not common born, because you don't speak like a common."

"I speak like a common if I wanted to, girl." He said. "And you haven't answered my question yet!"

"I do not want to speak of this matter anymore." Daine said stubbornly.

The man sighed, "Ok, then, as you wish. My name is Yusky, a seeing mage." The man held out a hand. Daine shook it lightly before brought her hand back.

"I'm D…Daisy." Daine lied about her name, knowing fully well that her reputation traveled.

"Ok, my inner version, or magic told me that you are seeking someone I know, or saw before." Yusky said, watching her carefully.

"Um… yes, you are quite right." Daine was not so comfortable with this topic or the fact that he was a seeing mage. Who knew what he had sensed in Daine, her deepest secret? The thought made her shiver.

"It's a male." Yusky continued. Closing his eyes, he reached out toward her. Daine backed up.

"Umm…it's my boyfriend." Daine was very unsettled. Yusky nodded in approval. "If you expect me to tell you anything else, you are wrong." Daine said bravely.

"Then, I'll tell you something about him." He said. "He is tall, with greasy, black hair. He has a lot of power, and he is moving north." He opened his eyes. "Am I right?" Without waiting for a reply, he said, "If my magic did not deceive me, you are chasing after Arram."

Daine nodded again, totally dumb folded.

Yusky chuckled. "I can give you some info. He is traveling north; you already knew that. But, he is not as far away as you think. Rather, he is just ahead of you. However, if you want to find him, he is not easily recognized because he will use his magic to change his appearance." Yusky paused. "I think that should discourage you. If I were you, I will head back to wherever I come from and to wait for him there."

"No." Daine said firmly, but in her mind, she was having other thoughts. "I'm not going back. Now, would you please excuse me, I want my rest. It will be a long day for me tomorrow."

Yusky shook his head.

Suddenly angry, Daine hissed, "Get out NOW!"

Startled, he obeyed her command. He left slowly, but his last words hang in the air; 'If I were you, I will head back to wherever I come from and to wait for him there.'

Exhausted from her encounter, she locked her door and collapse onto the bed. Sometime during the night, a shadow slipped in and put a thing in Daine's traveling bag. True to Daine's words, it was going to be a long day for her tomorrow.

Weeellllll, what do you think? I'm planning on some surprises in the next chapter before she actually found Numair, then the fluffs will start there…R&R plz!

Thanks,

Sorceress Shadow Rain