Narm's Bones 44: Good to know you like it!
Kawaiigemini: What job is it that makes you so happy in the mornings?
Silverlake: Thank you.
Sonnet Lacewing: I love writing dream sequences.I did my first one when I was 14 and they've captivated me ever since. I like to place as many possible interpretations in one as possible to make the reader think. I've just written one for A Stepping State which I'm actually really pleased with. But you'll have to wait for that one!
Lela-of-Bast: Thank you, as always.
A/N: Consider it disclaimed.
Chapter 18 – Healing Hurricanes
Daine wandered passed the King's study in search of Thayet to pass on some information from Buri. A familiar voice greeted her ears. Numair! She realised and then it clicked what he was in the king's office for. Jonathan had said very little to anyone since the wyvern attack. He had looked sick with grief when he had first seen Numair carried into the infirmary, and Daine had figured that he also felt guilty. He was the king and he would believe that every casualty of war was somehow the fault of him; people followed his orders. But Daine knew that Numair would have gone after the red mage even if Jonathan had strictly forbidden it.
For a second she paused near the door, waiting to hear the king's first word to Numair. She needn't have stood so near to the study; Jonathan's bellow almost reached down to the kitchens it was so enormous in its volume. Daine felt herself freeze. She wasn't given to eavesdropping, considering it dishonest and unkind, but something willed her to listen. Footsteps from behind her signified that she wasn't the only one who wished to hear what Jonathan had to say. Daine turned round and found Thayet standing there, concern covering her face.
"He's been brooding over this for three days. If he says something truly ridiculous then I'm going to be a bad wife and encroach on his business. Numair is my friend too and I won't have him destroying a valuable friendship," Thayet murmured, putting a comforting hand on Daine's shoulder.
Jonathan's bellows roars remained on the subject of Numair's idiocy at attacking the wyverns, following the lines of what Alanna had previously said to the mage. Numair had obviously decided to remain silent and let Jon rave on uninterrupted. Finally, much to Thayet's relief, Jonathan quietened.
"Is there anything you'd like to say?" They heard his ask Numair.
"No, my lord. I admit I acted thoughtlessly and hastily. My actions were rather rash. I had not realised how close Daine and Alanna were and that they were near enough to handle the wyverns without me becoming involved. I appreciate that you keep me in reserve for such events that require a more specialised approach. I will refrain from trying to play the hero in future," Thayet smiled at Daine as Numair finished.
"Everyone needs a hero, Numair," Jonathan's voice had mellowed. "Particularly in a war. I need you and Daine to keep safe so you are there for me to call upon should the need arise. Please, rest for the remainder of today. There are more firegills reportedly attacking the growing crops just north of here – an hour or so ride. We need you there tomorrow. The locals are holding them off with water but they won't be able to do it for much longer." Jonathan sighed so loudly that Thayet and Daine both heard it outside.
Thayet edged towards the door, beckoning Daine. "Time to show ourselves!" She whispered, knocking on the thick, oak door. They entered to find Jonathan sat at the ancient desk, Numair stood with his back to the facing wall, looking quite sheepish and awkward. He smiled slightly at Daine as he saw her and she immediately went over to him, resisting the temptation to take hold of his hand to show her support.
"How are you, Daine?" Jonathan asked quite formally.
"I am quite well, your Majesty," she answered prettily.
"How is Kitten? Is she quite recovered from her ordeal?" He continued to question.
"She appears to be, although I think it will be as well if she is not separated from me for a bit. She's with Tkaa now, but it took some persuasion for her to let me out of her sight," Daine explained.
"That's understandable. Kalasin would have been just the same," the king agreed.
He then sighed, looking at both Daine and Numair. "I suggest you spend some time today regaining your strength. We need you north of here tomorrow. And after that I afraid there will be some other foe to face. Numair will explain the details to you, Daine." Daine smiled, Thayet catching her eye. They both knew the details already.
Daine and Numair left the king and queen of Tortall to themselves, exiting the room after Jon had given Numair a friendly handshake, the expression in his eyes letting his friend know that all was now well between them. They walked in comfortable silence to the nearest door to outside, Daine gently placing her hand in his when she was sure that they wouldn't be seen. They walked out into the same fields as they had been prior to the Beltane fires. Once they were out of sight Numair enveloped her in a consuming hug, squeezing the very breath out of her. She looked up at him and smiled, glad that he was well again.
"I'm glad everything's sorted out between you and Jon," she said.
"So am I, Magelet. I can understand why he was mad, though," Numair confessed. He let out a deep sigh. "I was arrogant and stupid with regards to Osric. I should have expected someone of Inar Hadensra's capabilities then I would have been fully prepared."
"Is he powerful?" Daine enquired.
"Extremely. He gave up an eye in order to receive more power. Instead of his eye he now has a ruby in the socket."
"Have you had much to do with him?" she asked.
"Not really. He went to the university in the City of the Gods, so I've only met him once or twice. It's unfortunate that he's on Scanra's side," Numair sat thoughtfully down next to a tree.
Daine left him to his thoughts for a while, studying his face and noticing the sign of lines around his mouth and eyes. There were also a few grey hairs scattered in his raven mane. He obviously hadn't yet noticed them else she imagined he would have dyed them. She debated telling him and decided not too. It would be more interesting seeing how long it would take him to realise.
She heard a lapwing calling to her with some news about his chicks and laughed out loud, wakening Numair from his thoughts and causing him to look at her curiously.
She smiled questioningly at him, wondering what he was thinking. He diverted his eyes and looked at the lush, green grass.
"I should go and get Kitten," she said, standing up from her rather comfortable position. "Do you want to come? I'm sure it won't tire you too much."
"Of course," Numair joined her standing up, feeling the warm sun caress his body. He liked the heat; it improved his levels of melatonin and helped to make the world seem right again. Although looking at Daine would often produce that effect too.
They walked back together in the peaceful silence that he had never really found with anyone else before. Daine was busy noticing all the animal activity around her, causing him to see it also. Sometimes it was like looking through a new pair of eyes.
She led the way to Tkaa's room, where Kitten would probably be, tapping softly on the door. Numair heard a sharp whistle and the door clicked open, seeing Kitten and Tkaa sat in front of a collection of stones. He noticed various agates, including dendritic, and heliotrope – the bloodstone. He raised his eyebrows at Tkaa to inquire what they were experimenting on.
"Kitten is able to change the appearance of certain stones by producing different pitches of trills," Tkaa answered his eyebrows. Numair looked at the young dragon, sitting there proudly. He went up to her and patted her gently, cooing words of praise.
"Thank you for looking after her, Tkaa, I'm sorry I was longer than I said," Daine said.
"I didn't notice. I enjoy spending time with my young cousin, and I think it's done her good to have you leave her for a short while and then see you return for her. It will rebuild her confidence," Tkaa responded in his wise way. Daine picked up the dragon and sat her on her knee. For a second Numair had a flash of what the future could hold. He let it drift quickly and continue to press Tkaa for more information on Kitten's latest trick.
Later that evening, after preparing for their trip tomorrow, Daine, Numair and Kitten wandered to the tops of one of the palace's towers to make the most of the clear skies that were over the capital. Daine sat down with kitten next to her. Numair lay on his back, gazing up at the stars, pointing out constellations that Daine would be sure he'd made up if he hadn't made her read a text book on it. They watched as a comet blasted into the earth atmosphere, a trail of light emitting from it.
"You should make a wish," he told her.
Daine laughed, the sound breaking the still silence of the night. "I wish that this was would soon be over and everyone would be well."
"You're not meant to wish out loud!" The mage complained. "It's meant to be a secret."
"You don't really believe in that, do you?" Daine giggled. "I've wished enough times on lots of things to know who my da is and I've never found out."
Numair shrugged, an odd sight to behold when the shrugger is lay on his back. "I've never had proof so I suppose I'm unconvinced…" He was interrupted by Kitten diving on his stomach, winding him and sending Daine into peels of laughter.
"Nice of you to find that so hilarious!" He stuttered, getting his breath back.
"I think she was trying to tell you that she wanted some attention," Daine said, laughter still tingeing her voice.
Numair smiled, flattered that Kitten wanted his attention as well as Daine's.
They were quiet for a moment, watching another comet enter the sky. Daine sighed. The vast expanse of sky and the knowledge that other planets existed made Daine fell small but not insignificant. She looked at the long mage next to her, caught his eye and smiled.
"Don't be getting into trouble again, now, Master Salmalin. I'd still like you to be here when all these immortals have gone," she said playfully.
Numair sat up, his finger pushing up her chin so she looked squarely at him.
"I've every intention of remaining here for a very long time yet, Mistress Sarrasri," he replied in a low voice that sent shivers up her spine. "But we would be helping ourselves if we retired to our chambers as we have need to be up early tomorrow."
Daine smiled, watching him stand up, holding Kitten to him. She had made a silent wish with the second comet, but that wish she was keeping to herself.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------For the penultimate time, please review!