So they set out, on foot, with Thayet's Dogs at their backs. They tried to remain discreet, so no Stormwings would see them and know what they were up to. They tried to keep from any battles, because their strength had to be saved. Indeed, they found none. Numair used a little of his magic to make them invisible. Since there weren't many of them, he didn't use too much of his strength, and overnight each day it was restored anyway. On the fifth day, Numair wanted to take the first nightly watch when Daine said,
"Numair! You've been overworking yourself too much! Let me take the first watch! I haven't taken any so far!"
Numair sighed and turned away from blowing out the fire with magical water (since no springs were nearby). "Daine, you can't. You're pregnant! I couldn't risk that! I'm already overworking you!"
"Will you at least summon another watcher? Come on, Numair…" she trailed off purposely.
"Oh, all right!" the mage exclaimed. "Aynna? Can you do first watch?" Seeing Numair and Daine, the Rider understood. "Yessir." Daine felt she had won this battle. But that wasn't so.
The next morning she woke up to screeches of "Veralidaine Sarrasri!" and "What did you think you were doing!" "Do you think we're on vacation!" "You're not the only one that needs Numair!"
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the mage shamefully looking down. She knew what had happened.
"You messed the whole watch up! We had to wake Numair in the end!"
"I knew that we shouldn't have gone with a married couple!"
That last remark really made Daine upset. She went behind a cluster of bushes to pull herself together. Then Numair walked up to her.
"I'm sorry-" she began, but Numair silenced her.
"No, I'm sorry," he muttered. "I should have known…."
Daine tried to say it wasn't his fault, but he silenced her.
"I know it's hard, Daine. I really am sorry." With that he walked away, not letting her say anything.
After she came out from behind the bushes, she was greeted not with accusations, but with "sorries". She smiled a tiny smile and went to start breakfast. She didn't want to argue with the Riders. Thayet's Dogs were also known for their stubbornness.
On that day they reached Mindelan. Stormwings were everywhere. They set up camp in one of the forests that surrounded Mindelan.
"Should we make the Mindelan people aware of what is going to happen?" asked Daine.
"Yes, that would be a good idea. Aynna, you take five Riders and I'll go with you. Does that sound good?" said Numair. Daine sighed. She wouldn't be able to do anything! He's right! Her mind voice said. You're pregnant! You should be happy that you're even here!
"Yes," she replied. "I'll warn the animals, and tell the mice what to do." She started to turn away.
"Daine!" Numair caught her elbow. She turned around and looked straight into his dark eyes. His gaze fell. "I'm sorry. I know you want to do something. No, Daine!" he exclaimed as she started to turn away. "I really am."
"No, I'm sorry, Numair…I didn't think. You're right. Go ahead. I think I'll see enough fighting over here."
Numair grinned a grin filled with sadness, reluctantly let go of her elbow, and rode off with the Riders. Daine turned to do what she did best: talk to animals, and tell them what to do.
