Hi you peoples, I'm back. Huzzah! I'm sooooooooo sorry for being sooooooo slooooooow! Two massive assignments coupled with three exams and a week of 7:00-1:00pm days make for un-writing.
Disclaimer: its STILL not mine, darn it!
Review-nesses:
Numair's lover: I did another check this time, so hopefully the spelling is better thanks for the CC!
Heather-Marie: I dunno, it'll be a surprise! Thx for the compliments!
DOMLUVR4EVER: thanks! I pride myself on my names complete nonsensicalness.
SD: thx for the CC. I re-read my writing this time, so I hope it will get better, I'm in the process of getting a beta, so someone who can actually spell will read them first.
Salormoonie: (x2) glad you like it. If your irritated by my slowness, please blame my teachers, but exams are almost done, so I'll be faster.
Tammy P RoCKs: I forgive you, I guess thank you very much for both reviews, you RoCK!
After another full day of rest, the king summoned Daine and Numair. Both knew the probable reason for the summons.
As they strode through the palace garden, its exotic flowers and shrubs filling the air with a heavy perfume, their eyes met. As blue-gray met deep brown, a single thought was conveyed between them.
We're going againNumair groaned, after checking their surroundings for curious gardeners, placed his arm around her shoulders and drew her close.
Daine sighed, leaning her head on his shoulder. "I wish – I wish that…"
"I know, sweet, I know." he murmured into her hair, resting his chin on her head. "I wish the war was done with too."
"Love you, Numair," she whispered as he stroked her hair gently. As they exited the garden, Numair darted into a niche between a tall tree and the palace wall, dragging her after him. He pulled her tight against him, and kissed her passionately, making her sag against him.
"It'll be alright, magelet." He whispered as they proceeded to the meeting room, "it'll be Ok."
The queen was not present when the two entered, which was probably why they had been summoned during the lunch hour.
"Daine, Numair, are you recovered fully yet?"
"Not completely as of yet, your majesty," Numair replied "maybe a few more days of rest would…" he trailed off, realizing his hope was in vain.
"I'm sorry, Numair." The king said, a little wistfully, "I need you both on this, and it can't wait." Numair looked at Daine, her smoky curls bouncing as she nodded numbly.
She's so young, this is too much to ask her Numair thought sadly, knowing what they were asked to do was necessary to prevent bloodshed. "What are we to do?"
"We have received reports that a group of Stormwings are causing trouble up in fief Kennan and seeing as you're our stormwing expert, I'm sending you to mediate. If things turn bad, just get under cover, a company of the own is departing in a few days, as soon as they can be ready, to back you up, but I'm sure you'll be fine. Mithros knows you've been through worse."
"You will also be passing through fief Dunlath on the way, Numair. Lady Maura's guardian has asked for your help concerning your activities two years ago." The king stood, "let me get a map" he walked into his study and began rummaging in a desk drawer, his back to them.
Numair reached out and took Daine's hand in his, stroking them absently, "I'm sorry, magelet" he murmured. Daine pulled herself over to him and rested her head on his shoulder; Numair had a strange sensation as a single tear made its way down her cheek and onto his shoulder. He looked down at her and their eyes met, deep brown and blue-gray radiating understanding. Numair put his arm around her shoulders and kissed her nose lightly, "I love you" he whispered quietly beside her ear.
"Here it is!" the king called from the study, Daine and Numair jumped apart and the magic was lost as the king returned. "Here is the situation" the king began to place coloured stones on the map as Daine and Numair resigned themselves to a long briefing.
As the king finished, the last bell of the afternoon rang, bringing the rooms three occupants back to the real world. The door burst open, admitting queen Thayet of Tortall, looking regal in a light blue silk gown, trimmed with silver. "Jonathan, why weren't you at lun – …!" she caught sight of Daine and Numair sitting dazedly, both reeling from the information they had just received. The queen's voice changed from a cheerful reprimand to an icy calm, but her masses of brown curls shook with anger. "Jonathan, may I speak to you alone!"
The king got up "of course my dear" he said worriedly "you two are dismissed, you leave tomorrow morning."
Daine and Numair walked down the hallway, the door swinging shut behind them. Just before it closed they heard a resounding slap and the king's yell, cut off as the door closed. Daine burst out laughing and fell against a very confused Numair, giggling helplessly. Numair cocked an eyebrow, "what was that about?"
"It was yesterday." Daine stifled a giggle, "Thayet swore to slap Jon if he sent is off without proper rest."
It took a long time for the two to stop laughing. There was little they had to laugh about.
That night Daine numbly packed her bags and got into her bed at the rider barracks, alone with her thoughts. Stormwings? Why now? I thought all the bad ones were taken back to the realms of the gods. She thought back to her conversation with the gods, and asking them to allow queen Barzha's flock to stay in the mortal realms. This line of thought led her to Rikash, and his death at the battle of Legann only months ago. He was the one who had taught her that not all Stormwings were evil, and the memory of his death still hurt.
Daine was restless, where was Kitten? The dragonet had been out late many times before, but Daine missed her attentiveness and soothing chirps. When she finally did sleep, it was restless and fraught with nightmares, probably because of a strange shortage of animal companions. She had a very strange dream.
A female stormwing, crowned in black glass, perched on a pine tree, a tree striped of bark and needles, bedecked with bone garlands. The stormwing had black hair and gray eyes with almost no colour in them. She was streaked all over with filth, and had a vat of bubbling green liquid before her. Another stormwing landed in front of her.
"The message was delivered, queen Bitterclaws," he said respectfully.
"Good! The pig who slew my sister will soon be brought to me, and I will have my revenge on the little wench!" her voice sent chills down Daine's spine, it was so familiar.
Suddenly the stormwing looked up, straight at Daine. "Yes, you will pay mortal, you will pay!"
The vision and the stormwing's cruel laughter faded, and Daine dreamed normal dreams.
When she awoke, she remembered nothing.
DUN DUN DUM!
Very ominous, and very fluffy. See, the plot is actually starting! Have no fear though; there will be lots and lots of FLUFF!
Please review, and I will get the next chapter up before I leave for vacation, and I should have lots when I get back. Bye-bye!