Disclaimer: Everyone you recognize came from the enviable brain and talent of Ms. Tamora Pierce. Everyone new is my own pitiful creation.
...and now
Chapter 4 – The Nature of Attraction
Alanna stood in the corridor outside the banquet hall, straightening her lavender silk gown. She did not often wear dresses. Secretly she liked dressing up, right up until she wanted to move quickly, that is. Amethysts sparkled on her ear lobes and in a pendant at her neck line. She was thinking wistfully of the last time she had worn this dress for George. George had an amazing gift for making her feel beautiful. Of all the men she had known in her life, only he accepted and loved every part of her. It was why she had chosen to marry him and have children with him. But they saw far too little of one another.
She heard footsteps behind her and saw Jon and Thayet approaching. Their arms were intertwined in a proper escort position. Both of them were dressed for the occasion in navy colored silk. Thayet was as stunning as always in a dress that accentuated every curve. Her black hair was wound in an elegant knot at the nape of her neck. Diamonds adorned her ears, throat, wrists and marriage band. Alanna knew Thayet would look good in burlap, but she was amazing tonight. Jonathan was as handsome as Thayet was beautiful in his banquet finery. His silk jacket and breeches set off the white shirt that peeked out from beneath, making his hair and beard seem even more blue-black than usual. His blue eyes twinkled at Alanna. "I've heard from my men that George is sneaking up a couple of days early."
Alanna felt herself smile broadly. "That's the best news I've had all week."
Thayet beamed. She pulled her hand free and walked over to stand by the window with Alanna. In a low voice she asked, "What were you trying to tell me during the meeting today?"
"It's just that Numair is feeling a little touchy about his bachelorhood lately," Alanna lied.
"All the more reason to introduce him to beautiful and eligible women."
"It's funny. Numair seemed to be the only man who didn't notice her."
Jon was standing close enough to have heard everything. He apparently decided to quit pretending to be deaf because he spoke now, also in a low voice. "You know, I noticed that too. It is very unlike him. He's usually quite charming to women of the court."
"Elyra Kelton is an unknown to us. I would rather introduce him to someone I know won't stab him in his sleep," Alanna said sharply.
Jon stroked his beard and looked thoughtful. "You must admit though, if peace is going to work with the Copper Islanders, it wouldn't hurt to have a connection to work from."
"Except you seem to be forgetting that Numair usually is not the connection type. He is good at romancing, but not so good at sticking around. Only love will settle that man down."
"But love has to start somewhere," Thayet reminded her. "You knew somehow that Jon and I would fit when you brought me here."
Alanna hated talking herself into a corner. Silently she kicked herself. She couldn't tell them her suspicions. She frankly wasn't sure how they would receive it. Some people belonged together and some people didn't. She thought that Numair needed someone very practical to balance him out and as weird as it seemed, Daine fit that bill. However, she didn't yet have confirmation from either that love was in the air. It just felt that way. So she looked Thayet in the face and said, "Tell me something. When a woman that beautiful is practically throwing herself at a man and he fails to notice, what do you think the problem could be?"
Jon looked thoughtful and Thayet's eyes opened wide, "Who?"
Alanna just shrugged. "He's been that way since we were in Carthak." She hoped it didn't come back to haunt her. In any case, they might assume he was mooning over Varice Kingsford.
"You two lost me," Jon said.
"That's because you're a man," Alanna said poking him in the chest. Thayet giggled.
"Are you bashing men right now, because I could go away," a soft voice said. Alanna jumped.
Numair stood there looking puzzled, while Alanna, Thayet and Jon all blushed and looked guilty.
"You could make some noise, you know," Alanna chided.
"After all of Buri's lessons on stealth? She'd kill me." Thayet and Jon both laughed at that. "Why do all three of you look like I've caught you with your hands in the cookie jar?"
Thayet stepped forward and said, "I was just telling Alanna that you didn't seem like yourself lately."
"Oh, so you were talking about me and I snuck up on you. That would explain the expressions. Except, I can't imagine how that would lead you to tell Jon 'that's because you're a man.' Perhaps it is better if I don't ask?"
"Probably," Alanna answered. "You look very dashing, by the way." Numair wore his black silk mage's robe over a white shirt and black breeches. His hair was tidy in its usual horse tail. He seemed to be sticking to his new minimalism in jewelry, but she could not be sure because his hands were behind his back. "Are you hiding something."
He smiled broadly. "Ahh yes.This is where I get to make you feel very guilty for discussing me when I'm not present to defend myself." Bringing his hands forward, Alanna could see a small cluster of long stemmed roses in several colors. He handed her a lavender one and gave a white one to the queen. Both said, "Thank you" in small voices.
Numair said, "I was thinking about our talk, you see. I thought I would make up for my earlier state of distraction. So I'm here, bedecked in my best, ready to charm the seven prettiest women in the kingdom. And I brought each of you a rose to hopefully match your gowns." Now he looked at them shyly, "And suddenly I'm feeling very wrong-footed." His brow furrowed.
Jon chuckled. "Frankly, I think it serves them right. You've done nothing wrong, Numair -- well, except provide a glaring example of my own lack of forsight. I didn'tgive roses to my own wife. I think I'll go remedy that." He walked back down the corridor with purpose.
"So if you were planning to charm the seven prettiest women in the Kingdom, who are the other five?" Thayet asked pointedly. "And why are you holding six roses?"
"They are Onua, Buri, Kalasin, Lady Cassandra, and Daine. The fact that most of you also happen to be the most dangerous women in the Kingdom has nothing to do with it, I swear,"he added with a smirk. "Besides, it can't hurt to stay on your good side, right?" Numair winked. "The sixth rose is for our guest who I apparently barely noticed although she was apparently 'flirting shamelessly'." He looked at Alanna as he repeated her words from earlier. " I thought I would apologize and try to be more welcoming. Since I don't know what she's wearing and can't guess, her's is white also." Numair sighed heavily and looked momentarily like he wanted to be anywhere but here.
"Lady Cassandra, I had not even thought about her," Thayet said looking directly at Alanna. "You two were cozy before you left for Carthak."
"Hmm, cozy," Numair said, looking distant. "She's a little empty-headed for cozy. Although sometimes empty-headed is a good thing."
Alanna laughed outright at Thayet's offended look.
Numair looked apologetic. "I'm going to guess that a comment like that is what initiated the man-bashing. And now that I have thoroughly endeared myself to my queen," he added sarcastically, "I think I will go find the other lovely rose recipients. But if you both aren't too angry with me, save me a dance?"
"Sure," Alanna said.
Once he was gone, Thayet turned to Alanna, "So it isn't Lady Cassandra."
"I think he gave us a nice clue though. When it comes to someone to be cozy with, he's looking for someone he can talk to. And as tacky as it was to say out loud, Cassandra is empty-headed." Both women laughed.
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Daine felt awkward. Layne was a handsome young man. He was about six feet tall, blond, blue-eyed and had a bright smile. He was dressed nicely in a crisp rider's dress uniform. He had a fist full of daisies tied with a blue ribbon for Daine. He looked at her like she was a prize he had just won when she greeted him at the door.
The three of them (Onua tagged along about three feet behind them) made their way to the castle. Daine tried to make polite conversation but she wasn't very good at it. She and Layne were far too nervous to speak properly to one another.
Just inside the door, Onua intended to leave them. "I'll see you both later," she said as she waved. But Onua turned right into Numair and barely escaped impact.
"So sorry, Onua. I was looking for you but I didn't mean to try to run you down," Numair said with a smile. He handed her a yellow rose. Onua's favorite color was yellow and she always wore yellow gowns when she dressed up. She smiled at him. And now Daine…" His face fell. He had obviously just realized Daine had an escort.
"Hello, Numair. Have you met Layne Smithson?" Daine asked politely. Turning back to her escort, she said, "This is my teacher, Master Numair Salmalin." The two men shook hands. Layne seemed to shrink a bit at the scrutiny Numair placed on him. Oh, great, Daine thought, now he's going to be upset that I didn't let him hand pick my date.
To her surprise, Numair smiled shyly. "Please excuse me. I didn't realize Daine had an escort this evening. Would it be alright if I gave her this?" He held out a flame rose. These were beautiful roses that the royal florist grew. No two ever looked alike. The mixture of yellow and orange flowed together in a random, swirling pattern that made it resemble fire. Daine loved these roses. Layne looked at the bouquet of daisies he had given Daine, which next to the rose looked rather ragged. "It should blend okay," Numair said, handing the rose to Daine. He practically fled.
Daine watched him hurry away with a strange pang. His robe billowed behind him.
"He's a strange fellow isn't he," Layne remarked. "Most of the riders are intimidated by him."
"He's wonderful when you get to know him," Daine remarked. She looked at Layne a little crossly. You only wish you were half as wonderful, she thought.
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Numair sat down at his place at the table. The name on the place setting next to his said "Elyra Kelton". He laid the white rose across her plate and sat and fumed. Daine has a date and she never said a word. He wondered if he was so hard to confide in now. Another part of him said, She's with someone close to her own age, like she should be. He realized that he was behaving like someone who was jealous. That was not something he had any right to be.
Taking a deep breath he looked around for the delegates. He decided he should try to focus on the peace negotiations.. He would be welcoming. He would be charming. This lady delegate would not know what hit her.