Silverlake: Thank you. I like writing about Alanna and George. Neals Chick: Thank you. Celuna Cirrus: I was laughing went I wrote that bit, I thought it needed something comic in there to help lighten it slightly. Irish Dancer 63: Here's more and it will start to get fluffier now! Lady Tonks: Thank you. Lela-of-Bast: Thank you – I really would never have hurt George too badly. Dolphindreamer: Thank you for the energy, my interview's in three and a half hours so I'm absorbing as much energy as possible! Aravilui: Thank you! Moonlight's Shadow: Let me know what you of the rest of it. Daine's Daughter: Here's the next one! Goldeneyedwildmage: It's 22 chapters long. I finished writing it a couple of days ago, so you've got 2 more chapters after this one. Sonnet Lacewing: I'm not sure if I would want TP to write in depth about Sarralyn, as it would mean Daine and Numair were getting older, and I don't think I like that idea. I'm looking forward to this Numair's Early Years, although it won't be out for ages. Bitterosemary: Thank you. I was trying to tie bits from an early chapter in there when Daine had the strange dream asking her what she would become. I'm glad it worked.

A/N: Only two more chapters after this one. I am hoping to get the first chapter of the Festivals Sequence upat the weekend. There will be eight short stories of 2/3 chapters each, focusing on one of the eight pagan festivals in Daine and Numair's first year together. Let me know if you think this sounds okay – I promise lots of fluff and maybe a few cliffies, and lots of appearances form other characters – including Kel and other PotS people, as it will run parallel with First Test.

Diclaimer: You know it by now. It ain't mine.

Chapter 20 – Karrum and Ceja

Jonathan of Conte sighed with relief as he woke up the morning after the gaol fire and the siege on the Dancing Dove.He turned over lazily and moved closer to his wife who was still sleeping peacefully beside him.She stirred, moving gradually into consciousness as he put an arm around her and let his warm breath tickle her neck.Her eyes opened and she wriggled round so she could see her husband.

"You realise that that's the first time since the morning after the war ended that you have moved that close to me," she muttered sleepily, pushing her body closer to his.Jonathan tenderly moved her hair out of her face, her eyes shut again as she grabbed a few extra seconds of sleep.He knew that the day would be a busy one; Makheen would have to be formerly interviewed, various other captives needed to be questioned again.Yolane would also need to be moved to a different gaol, the identity of it kept a secret to prevent any further contact between her and Makheen – Mokhlos, there would be many things to organise and arrange.But he felt an inner peace that he hadn't had for many months.Hopefully, Tortall would be left in peace now and be able to recover without being interrupted by power hungry madman.His thoughts evaporated as he felt Thayet's lips touch his neck, and the passion inside him exploded as he was able to give his attention solely to his wife for the first time in what seemed like an age.

Numair left Daine's room in the infirmary to check on Harailt.Duke Baird had told him the previous night in a happy whisper that it looked as if Harailt was gradually resuming consciousness.Numair had been consumed with Daine at the time, but now she was making great strides in recovering and had Kitten and Tkaa to keep her occupied, he had decided to see Harailt.

Harailt was propped up in the bed, white, fluffy pillows supporting his back.Lindhall Reed was sat on the chair beside him and the two were in deep conversation about something that Numair couldn't hear.

"Aha, here's the man!"Lindhall called, spotting Numair approaching.Numair grinned at both of the mages, happy to see Harailt awake and in good spirits.

"We've heard that you used one of the incantations from the Cantamen Argiletum that we discovered in the library," Harailt said quietly.Numair noticed the large gash at the side of his head that had resulted from the attack by the healer.

Numair nodded."I used the incantation that we translated as being a call to the seer-goddess," he explained.

Harailt nodded back weakly."Tell me what happened.I wish I had been able to see it.We were never sure if it would work and what it would actually do, as the translation we did didn't seem accurate."

Numair's face was serious as he began to explain."I uttered the incantation and the Three Haruspex just appeared to emerge from the ground.They surrounded Mokhlos and seemed to sap away his strength.He did manage to send a Conticesco Curse which ended in hitting Daine.The Three had left just as Thayet and Alanna rushed in, I've no idea why they knew that it was safe to enter…"

"Thayet has said that the whole building had begun to glow with something like a white heat.That was what made them think that they ought to intervene.The king was not impressed with Thayet when she rushed in, unarmed," Lindhall interrupted.

Numair and Harailt both laughed."Jonathan needs to realize that Thayet will not necessarily listen to an order that he gives," Numair grinned, knowing full well that Daine would follow her own mind just like the queen.

"How has Daine managed to withstand a Conticesco Curse?"Harailt asked, his eyes showing his puzzlement."Even with a shield as strong as yours, that would be virtually impossible to deflect, or absorb in such a manner that no harm would be done."

"I understand it to be part of the protection of the Three.They were called to stop Mokhlos from doing more harm.That would also include doing harm to Daine,"Numair answered, not wishing to divulge the information that he remembered from his conversation with Shakith the previous night.

"Also," Lindhall began, "Daine is god-born.I would imagine that she would have a certain amount of protection from most gods, given who her father is."Lindhall smiled at Numair.

Numair nodded in response.The autumn equinox was not that far off, and he knew that it was highly likely that Daine's parents would pay a visit.He decided to change the subject and ask a few questions of his own.

"Harailt, what happened when you went into the store room?"He inquired, knowing that Harailt was a matter-of-fact person and would not be distressed at dragging up the subject.

"To be honest, Numair, there's only so much I can remember.I went to get the acetic acid, realised that there was someone in the cupboard, and the next thing I knew Cheriz Leyersen was throwing magic at me.It was a powerful blast; I had never thought that she would have had it in her.She always had appeared to be a rather meek and mild type of girl," Harailt explained.

"Actually, I had thought recently that she had had a bit of a soft spot for you," Lindhall smiled."She had asked a lot of questions about you and your split from Lady Jayette."

Harailt sighed, a slight smile turning his lips."Jayette was here when I came to earlier."

Numair rolled his eyes at Lindhall.Harailt had been devastated when he and Lady Jayette had separated.Everyone had been shocked, both had seemed totally besotted with each other.Now it looked like there may be a possibility of them becoming a couple once more, much to Harailt's obvious pleasure.

The mages continued to talk, ignoring Harailt's wistful look when he had mentioned the Lady's name.Their conversation focused on the book of incantations, the Cantamen Argiletum, and the possible uses it could hold.They theorized about the strength of Mokhlos, and the strength of the Three.The afternoon passed easily, and Numair felt his mind begin to settle in the knowledge the Harailt, George and Daine were all well and safe.He just had to think of a way to find an opening for a certain question he wanted to ask his pretty lover.

Thayet's brain worked on many different levels; she knew how to handle herself in a crisis and was well aware of her strong capabilities in a war, as she had proven several times.She had set up the Rider groups and still had a hand in running them, her talents as a strategist had taken the Riders from strength to strength.She knew that she was a good queen, whatever the more conservative of the population of Tortall may think.She had her roles as wife and mother, and also as a friend.Thayet also enjoyed the more simple things in life, such as gossip.Her demeanour and sometimes stately appearance often led people to believe that Thayet was somewhat too serious, and would never consider gossiping to be an art form. They misjudged her.

Thayet had wandered to the stables, considering going for a short ride in a window of spare time that had magically appeared.Jonathan was busy organizing various people, the children were occupied and for once, everything seemed calm enough for her to have an hour or so of time where she could simply mount her horse and let the summer breeze blow out the cobwebs and clear her head after several horrific days.The horses that had been affected by Makheen's poisonous spell had now fully recovered, and Thayet was looking forward to taking one of them out across the palace grounds.She approached the stables, her sharp ears catching various strange noises coming from the wooden building.She looked around, puzzled, almost certain that she could detect Onua's voice saying some very un-Onua like things.Then it dawned on her and a wicked smile grew across her face.Thayet had remembered a sweetly knowing look that had crossed Onua's face when they had been talking about new beaus.So now it was confirmed, Onua had a lover.Thayet just needed to find out who.

She creaked open the door, hoping that Onua and whoever she was with would be too involved to notice that someone was about to spy on them.Peering round, she spotted horse mistress, her legs wrapped around a tall, muscular man that Thayet recognised as Musenda Ogunsanwo, otherwise known as Sarge.

Thayet gasped.

Onua and Sarge looked up, disturbed from their conversation that had turned into a rather heated kiss.Luckily, they still had most of their clothes on.

Onua began to laugh at the shocked expression on Thayet's face."Had Daine not told you?"She asked the queen, who had also began to chuckle.

Thayet shook her head."She has not!How long has this been going on for?

"Since Beltane," Onua replied as Sarge began to lace up his shirt.

"How have I not known?"Thayet wondered, her eyes filed with curiosity."When were you going to tell everybody?"She asked."Or were you just going to let people catch you rolling in the hay?"

Sarge laughed, his eyes twinkling with mirth."And you and the king have never had a little fun in here now, have you?"He smiled, guessing her reaction.

"Hmmm, someone has been telling stories," Thayet looked towards Daine's horse who was watching the proceedings with large, innocent eyes.

Onua laughed again."We heard about Jon losing his breeches."

Thayet rolled her eyes, "A bit of liberation like that from time to time doesn't do him any harm.So," Thayet decided to do a bit of digging to satisfy her curiosity.Things made sense now.Onua would certainly be drawn to Sarge in some ways.Both had had a violent, uncomfortable history and found it difficult to trust others.He liked horses, was a kind and decent man, and certainly attractive with his dark skin and well-muscled body.They had the easy atmosphere that usually only came to most couples after a few months together, obviously comfortable and calm in each other's presence."What is the status if your relationship, and why haven't I been informed already?"

Onua looked at Sarge and smiled."We needed it to just be us, for awhile.Neither of us expected it to turn into this."

Thayet nodded and laughed embarrassedly as she realised the full extent of the situation she had interrupted.Jonathan had often warned her that she needed to think before she acted sometimes.

"Is this to become public knowledge?"She asked, wanting to know if she had their consent to pass this news on.

"It is," Sarge answered, his arm protectively wrapped around Onua's shoulders.

Thayet smiled again, "I'll make sure that certain people know the good news," she regarded them carefully."I very happy for you," her tone became serious now."You be good to our Onua," she warned Sarge."Not that I doubt that you will be."And with that she left them, wondering who would be available to let know the latest news, all thought of riding completely out of her mind.

Jonathan had gone down into a small room just off the corridor from where the cells were.He was about to go in and interview Karrum Makheen, formerly known as Alamid Mokhlos about the fire and the gaol and the holding of captives at the Dancing Dove.He would also mention the part he had played in creating the bloodrain back in Dunlath some time ago.Both Raoul and Gary were accompanying him, and neither man was looking forward to dealing with the mage who by now seemed totally insane.

"I don't understand how he has managed to attract so many followers and co-ordinate attacks like he has done," Gary said quietly so they wouldn't be overheard.

Raoul nodded."I think his mental state had rapidly declined since he knew that Yolane had not managed to escape from the gaol.She was his real goal, although she has been maintaining that she had nothing to do with any of it.Once he realised that she wouldn't be with him as he'd hoped, he gave a last ditched attempt by holding people captive."

The other two men uttered their agreement at Raoul's words.Obsession often drove people to do the craziest things, and from Numair's account, Makheen hadn't been that sane to start with.

"What are we going to do with him?" Gary asked, looking first at Jonathan and then at Raoul.

"His gift appears to have been completely drained – Lindhall examined him before and seems to think that the Three Haruspex absorbed his gift completely.According to Numair, the Three are capable of doing that if an individual with the gift is about to stop something that they have seen with their Sight," Jonathan explained."Magically, he no longer poses a problem.But he needs to have a suitable punishment and kept away from anything that he could use to manipulate people.We have to remember that when he is lucid he is a charismatic individual who can captivate many people – without the use of magic."

"Have you considered the death sentence?" Gary asked."He has murdered many people, it wouldn't be unjust."

Jonathan shook his head."He still has too much support.It would cause an outcry.I could do with him being exiled and imprisoned in Carthak or Tyra, well out of the reach of any of his followers or people who might wish to visit him.We need to limit his influence as much as possible."

"What about his followers who are still active now.I know you had a meeting this morning with the chief of the judiciary, what was the outcome of that?"Raoul asked, concerned.

"Anyone trying to cause disruption in the name of Karrum Makheen will be arrested.Four or five people already have and they will be dealt with severely to hopefully deter any one else," Jonathan answered, his voice firm and controlled.

"I would think that people who are supportive of Karrum Makheen will gradually forget about him, once some new fad comes along," Gary offered."I can also see about negotiations to appease them, and give them proof of the way we treat our prisoners.It will take some time though for calm to be restored."

Jonathan sighed once more."We should be going in to interview him, although I don't know how much sense we will get."

Raoul stood up along side the king."The sooner we start, the sooner we'll have it over and done with."The three of them exited the small room to begin the interrogation.

Daine had eventually managed to crawl out of the infirmary bed that afternoon, having amazed Duke Baird with her rapid recovery.No lasting damage, or even any damage, had seemingly been done by the spell that had cut into her.Indeed, it had appeared that the only reason she had been knocked unconscious for so long had been because the magic that had been sent to protect her by the Three had tired her, as the Graveyard Hag's magic had done so nearly a year ago in Carthak.

She had gone with Kitten to the stables, still a little shaky on her feet, wanting to check on Cloud and the other mounts.Onua had briefly mention when she had come to see Daine, that several of them had ear mites that needed treating, and one or two of them had developed an infection because of the problem.

Daine had received a message shortly before sundown asking her to go to the king's conference room once she was ready.She took the "was ready" comment to mean that she needed to change into something rather more formal than the scuffed shirt and breeches she was currently wearing while she had been tending to the mounts in the fields, grooming and treating the odd case of ear mites on some of the more difficult horses, including one or two new ones that desperately needed training.

She went back to her own room for the first time in what seemed like an age and found a pair of dark blue silk breeches and a cream linen fitted shirt that looked smart enough to wear.She imagined that the meeting would be a debriefing, and a way to let several people know what would be happening now that Makheen had been captured and his gift drained permanently.Cursing, she realised that some of the items she needed were in Numair's rooms.It was starting to become difficult, living out of two different rooms.She picked up Kitten and trailed to the other side of the palace.His door was locked, which meant that the mage was currently elsewhere, but that was no longer a problem, since he had spelled it to let her or Kitten in whenever they needed.

She entered, looking around for her hairbrush and the cream she used to stop her skin becoming dried by the sun and the wind.Something on Numair's desk caught her eye, it was a pencil portrait of a young girl, not much older than Daine was now, but with long blonde hair and a figure that caused Daine some envy.She picked up the picture and the letter that was attached with it and quickly scanned the words, feeling terribly guilty for doing such a thing.But, she reasoned, Numair knew that she would be coming in here without him, and if he had desperately not wanted her to see it than he would not have left it out.

The letter was an old one, dated over thirteen years ago when Numair was still at the university in Carthak.It was from a girl named Ceja.Daine had never heard Numair mention her name before, but clearly they had had a relationship, as the letter was full of declarations of love and intentions to marry; Ceja even quoted some of the words that Arram, as he had been then, had said to her.Daine felt an almighty rush of jealously and annoyance, even a sense of betrayal crept into her.Why had Numair never mentioned this girl to her before?Why had he left the letter out – was it to taunt her or purposely upset her?And why had he been looking at it in the first place?

Forgetting that she needed to brush her hair or apply the cream to her skin, she picked up the dragonet who was now making concerned noises that were causing some of the stones that Numair kept in his rooms to glow, and stomped off to the conference room, determined to let Numair know exactly how she felt by simply ignoring and not responding to anything he did or said.

She sat as far as she could away from him, causing raised eyebrow from the other people who were present and looks of concern and hurt from the mage himself.Alanna merely rolled her eyes as she noticed the tension that was radiating from Daine; she had seen this type of look before, in most cases directed from Thayet to Jonathan, who was usually oblivious to fact that he had hurt or upset his wife.On a few occasions she had given George short shift, although with her infamous temper, she was more likely to let rip rather than sit there and glare.

The meeting was kept short.Jonathan merely briefly recapping on everything that had happened in the past two days and then explaining what was going to happen from now on with regards to Karrum Makheen and other prisoners who had been involved in the uprising.Daine barely heard any of it; she was far too consumed by the level of negative emotion she was feeling at Numair.As soon as the meeting had ended she found herself tearing off outside towards the stables, leaving Kitten with Price Roald who had been allowed to sit in on the meeting after much persuasion.She could faintly hear Numair calling after her, distress echoing in his voice.

She stopped near the gate to the fields, intending to take Cloud and ride for as long as she could, trying to blow the thoughts out of her mind, but Numair's persistent shouting halted her.

"Daine!What have I done?Will you please tell me what in the name of Mithros is wrong!"She heard him call, the worry and sadness resonating through his voice.

Daine ceased her quick walk and turned around to face him, tears pricking at the back of her eyes.The moonlight was lighting the area up some, and she could see the expression on Numair's face.She felt the love she had for him fill her chest and the tears left her eyes and began to run rivers down her face.

Numair reached her, automatically putting out his hand to touch her.She flinched and edged away, the action making Numair feel as if a knife had been stabbed into his heart."What have I done?"He asked slowly.

"The letter on your desk, from Ceja," the tears had began to flow rapidly now.

"That?"Numair squawked."Why should that upset you?She was a girlfriend I had years ago, my first girlfriend.Why had that made you unhappy?"

Daine spoke through sobs."Why haven't you told me about her?Why have you been looking at her picture and reading those things that she has written…"

Numair took her into his arms.As much as Daine was cross with him, the one place she wanted to be was close to her lover.He could make everything better with just one touch.

"Daine, I was clearing out a draw in my desk, I did it in a rush, it was an impulse I had.It was a drawer that I hadn't used for a long time, and I was thinking that you could keep some of your things in there.The letter was at the bottom of it and I left it out to show you, although obviously I haven't had time since," he explained."What did you think?"

Daine tears had subsided with Numair's soothing tone."I thought you may be wishing that you were with her and not me."

Numair laughed incredulously."Magelet, I was with Ceja for maybe two or three weeks before I met Varice.Ceja was a wonderful girl, but she wasn't at the university so she wrote to me, in one week she wrote to me nearly every day.We met when she accompanied her father to the university to see where her youngest brother was going to go to be educated.We managed to meet up once or twice afterwards, but then Varice got her claws in!I think I always kept her picture as a way to annoy Varice, but I don't want it to annoy you!I was going to show it to you and then get rid of it!"

Daine laughed slightly, feeling ridiculous.Numair grinned and kissed the top of her head gently.

"I should have been more sensitive, Daine and not left it out where that would be all that you'd see.It's easier for me, I don't have any of your old loves to worry about, but what you have got to know, is that I love you, like I have never loved anyone else," he felt slightly choked as he said the words, his own eyes becoming teary.

"I'm sorry for overreacting," Daine said into his shirt, the cloth muffling her words."I should have just asked you about it."

Numair shrugged."Thayet once ignored Jonathan for two weeks when she found a shirt of his that smelt of a scent she didn't know.Jonathan had no idea why she was ignoring him, and she wouldn't let him ask, completely blanking him all the time.It turned out that Kalasin had pinched a bottle of cheap scent from one of the maids and duly tipped it over herself.Jonathan had found her and bathed her to get the stench off her, but some of the smell had transferred onto him, but Thayet had refused to listen to the reason behind it, even accusing Jon of getting Kally to tell lies to cover for him."

"How did it all get sorted out?"Daine asked, her tears had now stopped, although her voice was still slightly shaky with the aftermath of her sobbing.

"The maid whose perfume it had been asked Thayet for a replacement bottle.Thayet knew the maid well; she was old and had served in the palace for a long time.Thayet realised that Jonathan's attempts at an explanation had been true so thy managed to sort it out, although not before Jonathan had gotten his revenge by being sulky for a day or so himself," Numair responded, smiling wryly at the memory.

"I'm sorry," Daine pulled away slightly so she could look up at him, her chest expanding once more with the volume of emotion that she held for him as she looked into his big brown eyes.

He bent down to kiss her, a kiss that was quickly becoming a need for something more and he began to lead her to the nearby stables, knowing that this time all the horses were out in the field for the night.

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