Author's Note:

I am just about to vomit blood over the lost of my formatting when I upload my fics onto Previously, I didn't really understand what reviewers meant, but after looking through my fic, I realise that all words in between certain symbols, which I use to indicate speaking to animals, thoughts, speaking to people, my notes, are ALL GONE! ARGH!! And ALL symbols I used are gone! Including those I use to separate scenes!

Does anyone know how to cure this aliment?! Anyway, for a more complete version of my fic you can check out my homepage. I don't have time to change my fic into the version to be seen in Yup, I'm thinking of my continuation of chapter 3, for all those who are wondering!

Thank you so very much for your patience at my poor formatting!

I'll try to get around this, when it's daine talking to animals, I'm going to underline the speech.

nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
Lisa's hut

"I can't believe that I punched him," Daine reiterated, brushing Cloud's already shiny coat.

You are being silly about this. Cloud replied. When a foal needs disciplining, we nip and bite to teach him not to be disobedient.

"Well, Numair is not exactly a foal and the punch didn't constitute as a nip," Daine explained, wondering at her sudden turmoil of emotions.

"It certainly didn't," Miri said, coming up silently behind them. Miri had found them in front of Lisa's hut. After Daine stormed back, she quickly attended to the injured hawk before giving Cloud a vigorous grooming.

"Hello," Daine started in surprise and then, shooting a dark look at Cloud. Why didn't you tell me that she was coming up?

Cloud snorted. I am not a silly dog, yapping every time a stranger comes up. She means you no harm.

Miri noticed the quick, silent exchange between the pair and tucked the information away in her brain for future reference. "Hello, I am Miri. By the way, Numair received a black eye," Miri said.

Daine blushed, not knowing how Miri's response would be like. "Well, he deserved it," Daine replied. "Him, starting a fight like that, like some common hooligan." Daine felt herself getting worked up all over again. "Just because he is some, oh so glorious black robe mage doesn't mean someone stupid can't kill him."

Miri hid a smile. "He's all right, if you are asking," Miri responded. "Perfectly fine except for a black eye."

Daine quickly collected herself and remembered that Miri was a stranger. "I didn't mean to hurt him. I just, I just got, well, carried away-"

"That's alright," Miri interrupted, raising her hand. "We always get easily worked up over the safety of the people we care for."

Daine dropped her brush. "I don't care for Numair. I don't. Truly."

And who are you trying to convince? Cloud commented.

Miri couldn't help her smile this time at Daine's response. "Well, I just came here to check if you were all right."

"Yes, yes, I am fine," Daine answered, feeling a bit disconcerted by Cloud's remark. "Thank you for asking."

Cloud snorted. Miri smiled and gave Cloud a piece of apple from her pockets, which the latter regally accepted.

"So, I hear you have wild magic," Miri remarked.

Daine bent down and picked up the brush. "Yes, you heard right," Daine responded.

"What can you do with it?" Miri inquired, leaning against the hut.

"I can speak with animals," Daine replied. "I can heal them, kind of. I can sense them."

"Sense them?" Miri questioned. "Like you can smell them?"

"No, no," Daine answered, laughing. "It is rather in my mind," she tapped her head. "I sense them in colours druther. I once sensed a rabid bear, it felt brown, but with red and black lights. Very sick."

"A rabid bear!" Miri exclaimed. "How many of those do you see nowadays!"

"Not many," Daine returned weakly. "But one is enough. It killed the Blacksmith's son. Immortals feel kind of silver."

"Immortals?" Miri perked up. "You can sense immortals?"

"Yes," Daine answered simply.

"That must be a useful thing," Miri remarked. "Was that how you sent the horses and dogs to our aid last night?"

Daine tensed and answered carefully, "Yes, I, I was here and I sensed trouble coming. I thought you needed help."

Miri inclined her head, "Indeed we did. Most of the villagers were caught empty-handed. Thanks to you, the casualties were not as much as expected."

"It is the least I could do," Daine responded and in a quiet, sad voice, "I couldn't let another disaster happen again."

Miri sensed pain in her words and knew that Daine did not mean for her to hear them. "How is having Wild Magic like?" Miri asked.

"Well," Daine said, blinking and thought for a while. "It really changed my life. Some bad, some good." She pushed away the dark memories that threatened to creep up on her. "My perspective on things. Animals see things differently from two-leggers."

"You're lucky," Miri remarked. "You would always have friends no matter where you are in the world."

Daine looked at Miri, shaken out of her dark mood. "Why yes, I guess when you put it that way, I guess I am lucky."

nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn

Village Inn

"The rumours are true," Numair mused. Miri had returned to the village and found Evin and Numair holed up in Mama Em's Inn. Numair sat on the bed beside Evin and Miri leaned against the wall near them.

"She would be a valuable asset," Evin remarked.

"Yes," Numair responded. "That is part of the reason why King Jonathon sent me here."

Evin looked sharply at Numair, "I thought you were supposedly on a break."

"I am," Numair answered. "I have a keen interest in Wild Magic and am one of the few mages who believes in its existence."

"What exactly is your mission?" Miri asked.

"I am to find Daine, train her, and sharpen her to be a weapon for Tortall," Numair replied. "With the reappearance of immortals, we badly need people like her."

'That sounds so cold', Miri thought.

"Does Daine know?" Evin inquired.

Numair sighed. "As you can see, she is a tough nut to crack. I am presently trying to befriend her, but it is more difficult than I thought. It is like she puts up a wall around herself."

"To prevent herself from being hurt," Miri commented softly, the men turned to look at her and she looked at her feet. "With her disfiguration, she has to face a lot of that, rejection from people. She probably thinks you are just playing with her-" Miri looked up and into Numair's face. "-But you are not, you are using her, you know."

Numair felt a pang, but replied, "It is in the best of her welfare. She gets to control her growing powers. I do not think that she has accepted a teacher before. It is in the best of Tortall's interests."

"Are you going to tell her?" Evin questioned. "After all, most would be happy to help their country. Or at least, the adventure of it all or the monetary reward."

Numair shook his head. "I do not think that she will be swayed by money or otherwise. She seems to be a person of great integrity from what I gather. She doesn't accept charity greatly. She is from Galla originally and we do not know where her true alliance lies. Once I take her under my wing, I will train her as well as open her eyes to the drastic events unfolding around us. Daine seems to be compassionate and I think once she discovers the impending and inevitable catastrophe that will hit Tortall and its people, she would be more than willingly to help."

"Why don't you just tell her everything and ask for her help?" Miri asked. "If she finds out, she won't take to it kindly that you are using her. There is a lot of people on that list, especially that sorry excuse for a human, Alex."

Numair ignored the slap of guilt he felt and retorted defensively, "I am not Alex."

"I thunk not sur," Evin mimicked Alex's slur.

"Maybe not," Miri commented. "But not in motives."

Numair got up from the bed and started pacing, "We just don't have the time to convince her, then train her. She seems to be the stubborn sort. Ozorne is on the move. From reports, he is amassing an army for an attack on Tortall. Tortall needs all the help and time she can get. If I were to tell Daine now that I was befriending her solely because Jon had ordered me so, she would get very offended and hurt. We can't afford bad blood between both of us, not if I am to become an effective teacher to her. I do not have much time to soothe her ruffled feathers and make her do her lessons. She would learn much more quickly and easily, if she was willing and if she wanted to take up lessons on her own free will."

"With a little manipulation, you mean," Miri remarked.

Evin looked at Miri sharply, "You have a problem with that?"

"No," Miri responded, holding up her hands. "I am just covering all bases. I was thinking what would happen if she found out later. The plan might backfire."

"Even then," Evin said, "I do not think that she can bear to stop helping Tortall. Who wouldn't want to help defend his home? We all knew the risks, yet we continue, because we know that if we don't, no one will."

"Even so," Miri muttered. "The price to pay will be dear. No, not in coin or tangible items, but in emotional terms."

Numair hoped that the words wouldn't come true.