Author's Note: I do not own any this, except for what you do not recognize. I think this will be a fun story to write. It is DN for all of you wondering. However, I don't really believe in completeing a story unless it gets to that point where you need to. My head is swirling with ideas, so Daine might be seperated from Numair for a big portion in the beginning. As always, review. I live for them, but be nice. Here it is. Enjoy!

Chapter 2 - Traveling With the Wolfards

Progress south was slower than it was with just me and Cloud. We had to stop at every town to sell Jarvinia's goods and healing services. Most of the small villages had only one mildly gifted healer, if that. I discovered that Jarvi was actually very powerful, and she had a passion for mending people. Ma was a midwife and she desperately wanted me to take after her. She had the gift and tested me for it. Sadly, I lacked the magic, but not the ability. Ma drilled me with everything she knew, so I was actually quite fit for the job.

We skipped the last town, and the next village is in sight. Jarvi was getting anxious to finally settle down with the noble family that offered to hire her, but she still wanted to help people. Blaine pushed his exhausted horse into a gallop. He clearly wanted to see civilization again. I felt bad for his sweet mare, Nell. Cayden gave her sugar cubes for being so good when Blaine did something really inconsiderate. She told me that was the only reason she did not throw him.

Cayden slipped off of his horse onto the packed dirt road. I did the same. We walked our mounts and the pony carrying the packs, Seymour, up to the inn that Nell was tied outside of. Nell's ears perked up at the sight of Cayden and she whickered. He came over and she rubbed her snout in his hand. It seemed like an act of affection, but Nell was savoring a sweet treat.

Jarvi was unpacking her products, while Cayden took care of the weary horses. I already finished with Cloud and Blaine was useless for anything at this point. Jarvi gave us a sharp look when we stayed idle for so long. She had a system and I was not about to go messing it up. I would get a lot more than a dirty look. Jarvi ushered me over and handed me a list. "Make yourself useful, girl. Go to the market and fetch those things for me. Take Blaine, there, with ya. You might need him to carry something, or if some scoundrel gets some ideas about a pretty girl wondering strange roads alone. Now, git!"

Blaine strutted down the street as we wondered around. Noise could be heard in the distance and I followed my ears. Blaine was to busy trying to look at a passing girl. He is such a pig, but I have to realize that he has to find a wife. I doubt he'll find one that way.

We rounded a corner and life filled what I thought to be a ghost town. Everyone was cheery and bright. Older folk tried to sell their wares, while children ran their parents' errands. Young men and women flirted and socialized as if it was a party. Clearly, this was the place to be. Blaine walked over to the group of young people, while I was looking at the list. I take my eyes off of him for two seconds, and he is already off doing something he shouldn't.

I rushed to get him before he did something he would regret, but he was already in a conversation. I would get it if I interrupted him now. I had to stick by his side or Jarvinia would be mad that I put myself in danger.

A petite girl looked up into Blaine's grey eyes and asked, "Where are you headed for?"

She fluttered her eyelashes at him, resulting in a blonde youth to pull her closer with the arm he had snaked around her waist. Blaine grimaced at losing his chances with the girl but responded, "The capital of Tyra. There are jobs waiting with a noble family fir me and my family."

At the thought of a well paying noble, one girl slinked closer. She seemed to belong to the leader of the group, a tall young man. He was tall and muscular with raven hair and pale, icy blue eyes. He did not appear to mind that the girl's attention had strayed, because his did too. I nudged Blaine from behind. He gave me a dirty look and returned his attention to the group.

Blaine's plan to ignore me back-fired. Everyone turned to stare at me. I was not that different in age than these people. I just had my birthday and turned fourteen. (I forget when Daine's birthday is and I don't have the time to look it up. I know it was not this early, but please humor me.) Common girls got married off at fifteen, and by looking at my developing body, I could be mistaken for just a year older than I actually was. The guys twisted to get a better look at me, because I was a new potential love interest for them. I blushed at the attention, and Blaine gave me a once over. Obviously, he thought of me as a baby, but seeing the reactions of the other men, his perception of me changed.

I looked at the ground trying to hide my rosy cheeks. I gathered the nerve to look up and was caught looking into pale blue eyes. He grinned and asked, "Are you his sister or his girl? By the way he is talking to Selene I doubt it's the second one."

I shuddered at the thought of being involved with the arrogant Blaine. He overheard our conversation and confirmed my opinion of him by sticking his nose in the air, but he still looked at me out of the corner of his eye. I told him that I was neither and he crept a little bit closer.

I inched away and looked up at his face. Mithros he is tall. I stop him from trying to get closer again I asked him his name. He said that he was called Graham. I told him my full name, but told him to call me Daine. One of the girls smirked when she heard my last name. I blushed even deeper, but the smile was wiped off her face when Graham moved closer again.

It was uncomfortable with the giant so near to me. I glanced down at my list and gave Blaine a pleading look. He was no help. He was having to good of a time. Graham saw the look and pushed me into the bustling street. I had to walk or I would have been knocked over. Graham towered over me from behind. A few crooked gazes from the shadows lingered on me until they saw my escort. I quickly gathered everything Jarvi needed so I could get back to her. On our way back I was carrying a basket with everything I had bought.

Suddenly, Graham shoved me in an abandoned alley. The pit of my stomach fell. What was he doing? He rammed me farther down the side street. He violently pushed me up against a wall. He bent down and kissed me. I protested angrily. I was so mad at myself. I did not bring weapons with me at all. I thought it would be a quiet trip and I had Blaine there to intimidate any trouble maker.

Graham's hand slipped under my shirt and rested on my stomach. He grinned and kissed me again. "Stop fighting. You were flirting with me that whole time. Now, just let me steal some kisses from you."

I stared at him wide eyed. Where in the world did he get the idea that I wanted to kiss him in the least bit? He disgusted me. I hit him in the chest to see if it would make him back off. Visibly, he was poor when it came to reading signs. He just chuckled and pressed his lips on mine again.

I was infuriated. Graham was not getting a clue anytime soon, so I will have to stop being nice. I am not one of those defenseless ladies. I can take care of myself. Graham was nice and all but this had to stop.

I kneed him hard. He doubled over. I brought my elbow down on his head with all of my weight. Before he could recover, I kicked him in the back of the knees. His legs collapsed out from underneath him.

Blaine rounded the corner enraged. His face was red with anger and his nostrils flared. He saw Graham piled on the ground. He kicked him and grabbed my arm. He led me away from the dirt bag.

Blaine's grip on my arm was tight, but I did not protest. He led me out of the market and towards the inn. On a deserted road, he turned to me. The red hue was still highlighting his chiseled face.

Why was he mad at me? He was the one who let that creep whisk me off to parts unknown. He was the one who held us up. He seemed to read my mind and released me. He continued to stalk off to the inn.

Cayden was with the horses still and looked worriedly to Blaine. His eyes landed on me as I followed. My tousled hair and rubbing the arm Blaine had gripped caused Cayden to run over to me.

"Blaine got a little… distracted and I got taken away by a jerk. I'll be fine. It's nothing, really," I answered his unasked question.

Jarvi raced out of the inn. Her gift filled my cool body looking for any damage that might have been done. Quietly, she whispered, "Did he do anything to ya girl?"

I shook my head and grumbled, "He only thought too much of himself. He got a few kisses and landed him in a heap back in an alley."

Jarvi sniggered as my devilish smirk. The next day, we left the town. We only stopped at placed directly along the way and without healers. Jarvinia was too upset about Graham. We were moving faster for Tyra. I would be glad to settle down again.

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What do you think? Graham is actually a decent guy. He just read some signals that weren't there because he is completely conceited. Please, Please, Please REVIEW! REVIEW! REVIEW! I have no idea what you are thinking if you do not review. I live for reviews, but be nice. It is my first DN fic. There will be a lot of Daine by herself though because of the twists I have planned out. Some nobles are coming soon, followed by magic, spying, fighting, and slavery. Keep reading to let me develop the story. I know you probably don't have a lot of patience, but stick with me. Oh my gosh. It just turned to 2006! I'm just bummed because I'm sick and at home. It's just my luck. Thank you!

Starlit Emerald-Eyed Empress