Small puffy clouds scudded across an otherwise clear sky, and a gentle breeze played over Daine's face. She and Numair walked side-by-side down the sprawling royal grounds towards the barracks for the Queen's Riders.

"It's too nice out to sit through any more council meetings today," Daine grumbled, then sighed. "I hoped we would be back on the road before the leaves began to turn."

It had been two months since the end of the war that summer, and the clean up effort was ongoing. After returning from another short assignment to smooth over the delicate balance between human residents and newly-come peaceful immortals, Daine and Numair had been pulled back into the frenzy of planning for further arrangements to keep order in the realm. Their morning had been full of meetings to attend and councils to advise. Daine was certainly glad to be back in Corus, but she was most looking forward to stealing away with Numair to their tower for a week of well-deserved rest before returning to Court for the season. There was still plenty to do in the post-war period, and they both needed to prepare a few lessons to give on all they had learned about immortals and their magic. In the meantime, they were heading down to the Rider's barracks to gather up the last of Daine's possessions to be moved to her now-shared chambers with Numair in the palace.

"Don't worry, Magelet. We will be on our way soon enough," Numair consoled. He then flashed her a quick smile. "Besides, you might find you grow bored of me nowadays when there aren't more tedious duties by which to compare."

Daine raised an eyebrow and gave Numair a playful elbow to the ribs. "Now that you mention it, Master Salmalín, you may be right. Instead of going to our Tower, I could just stay here in the city and continue to listen to reports until my ears fall off," she teased. "Maybe find another humble mage such as yourself to make my acquaintance. But, wherever would I find one?"

It was Numair's turn to raise an eyebrow, impressed by the graceful banter of her mock formality. He then chuckled and slung an arm around her shoulders to squeeze gently. Daine smiled and responded by sliding her arm under his and around his waist as they continued towards the barracks, and he bent his head to kiss the top of hers. She felt a trickling of warmth that had nothing to do with the weather down from where his lips met her hair.

They were still linked as they approached and saw Sarge and Onua sharing a midday meal at a table to the side of the building. Tahoi bounded to greet Daine. She released Numair and reached down to scratch behind the large dog's ears as they resumed walking.

"Don't fancy a hot meal in the Rider's mess today?" Numair asked the pair.

"Not today," Sarge replied. "There are so many companies back in the city right now that it's packed wall-to-wall in there."

"And you know how rowdy they get whenever they've the chance to be in the same place at the same time," Onua added. As if on cue, a loud whoop followed by a chorus of shouting floated out from an open window. "Care to join us?"

"Absolutely," Daine said with a smile. The large bulk of man that was Sarge turned to draw up two more chairs to the weathered table, while the much smaller horsemistress shifted her chair over to make room.

"What brings you down to our corner of the grounds this fine afternoon?" Sarge inquired, clapping Numair on the shoulder in welcome as he took his seat. "Seems like His Majesty has kept you hopping between assignments, councils, and celebratory feasts ever since you returned from Port Legann."

"That and they've had eyes for naught but each other in between it all," Onua quipped with a grin and a wink.

Daine felt her cheeks redden slightly at the insinuation, and Sarge barked a booming laugh. "About time, though," he said seriously.

Daine shrugged, lips turned up in a small apologetic smile, and reached to take Numair's hand. The tall mage beamed down at her.

"We're actually stopping by to collect the rest of Daine's things from her old quarters," Numair explained.

Daine elaborated, "I planned to come by after last week's griffin nest negotiation, but I'd fair forgotten how exhausting it is to decipher griffin speech. My ears were ringing the rest of the day, even with Numair's dampening spell softening their words." She winced at the memory.

A chorus of small giggles caused the group to look over their shoulders out towards the nearby paddock. The mistresses running the palace nursery had brought their charges outside to enjoy a picnic on the sunny lawn. Daine could hear the ponies playfully showing off for their small audience, enjoying the children's laughter. Two of the older girls, perhaps seven or eight years of age, spotted Daine and her friends. They began to whisper back and forth, casting over shy glances all the while. Eventually they seemed to come to a decision, and the shorter of the two ran lightly over to stand in front of Numair. She looked at the ground, softly scuffing her boot into the dirt.

"Master Numair?"

His dark eyes crinkled. "Yes, little one?"

"Would you come and toss objects in the air for us? Like you did a few years ago? Only if you aren't busy..."

"It would be my pleasure," he replied kindly.

The girl looked up at him swiftly, a broad smile spread on her face. She danced on the spot, waiting for Numair to rise. He gave Daine's hand a final squeeze and pushed the chair back to stand. Sarge was hiding a smile quite unsuccessfully under one large hand. Daine and Onua exchanged grins openly.

Numair bent in half to offer the little girl his arm solemnly. "Shall we?"

She responded with a very wobbly curtsy and a giggle, and reached up to grab the mage's arm. To her delight and a peal of laughter, he pulled her around to hang off of his back. With a nod to his friends and a wink to Daine, Numair set off towards the group of children.

As Daine watched Numair's retreating figure, she recalled him juggling for some of Alanna's and Thayet's children three summers ago at the Swoop. She recounted this memory to Sarge and Onua as they watched Numair begin to expertly toss a circle of apples into the air. He had tried to teach Daine to juggle on a few occasions, but she never quite got the knack of it. It was amazing, really, that a man who barely had the coordination to stay seated on his horse could show that level of dexterity. She smiled inwardly at the thought of her mage trying to ride any other mount than the ever-patient Spots.

Daine and her companions decided to pick up what food they could carry and make their way over to watch the performance. They settled themselves in the back of the small crowd on one of the many blankets that had been laid out.

"I remember Arram—Numair—juggling for children at the Riverfront hospital back in Carthak," Sarge began, deep voice seemingly lost in thought. Now the children began to throw in more apples for Numair to add to his growing circle. Daine turned to look at Sarge.

He continued. "My sister-in-law took sick from the typhoid plague that year. I volunteered with the other slaves from the arena to help out at the hospital so as to visit her and my niece and nephews. I ran into Numair here and there before that, but didn't really get to know him until a few years later. He was brought to the hospital as a student to strengthen healing herbs for the master healer, Ramasu, I believe his name was, and worked day and night for at least a week straight. Every day during the period that he should have been resting, he spent time juggling to cheer up children who may or may not ever see their parents again. He was still a lad yet, but I knew then that he would grow to be not only a great mage, but a great man."

"I never heard about that experience from his days at the Imperial University," Daine commented. "Did your sister-in-law make a full recovery?"

"Thank the gods, yes," Sarge replied. "With no small thanks to Numair's herbs and that incredible teacher of his, as well. She and the children came to Tortall many years before I did. Legally, though, of course." He gestured with his palms up and smiled. Then he continued. "I don't believe Numair had much experience dealing with the sick and dying back then. Poor fellow spent his first afternoon at the back of the infirmary bringing up any morsel of food he managed to get down in the first place. It isn't right, that a gentle soul such as his would be most often required as a war mage now, but there is no one I would trust more with that kind of power all the same."

Daine and Onua agreed silently, nodding their heads. Numair was one of the kindest people Daine had ever met, and for whatever was said about him, he truly was humble despite arguably being the most powerful mage in the realm. Even before realizing she was in love with him, she knew he was an honorable man and trusted him completely.

By the end of the performance, Numair was juggling various children's toys in a tall circle with his left hand, and eating scraps of food the children were tossing to his right. Suddenly the black sparkling fire of his gift appeared to Daine's sight and surrounded the objects as he gave each one a final toss high into the air, floating it gracefully to its owner. The children applauded and rushed to thank him, before the nursery maids called to them to pack up their belongings. The mage dusted his hands across his breeches and picked his way through the blankets towards Daine and their friends.

"He really is sweet," remarked Onua. "When you can get his nose out of his books, of course."

"Oh, I don't think that's a problem for our Daine," Sarge said with a grin.

Numair smiled, having caught the end of their conversation. "Certainly not," he chimed in, coming to stand beside Daine while retying his dark hair back. "That was quite fun. Did you all enjoy yourselves?"

Daine handed him a full water flask and he drank deeply. "Definitely," she responded. "Especially the part where Sarge told an old story of the two of you during a typhoid epidemic in Carthak."

"I remember that all too well," Numair grimaced and gently tugged the end of his long nose, thinking of one of his earliest encounters with death on such a large scale. "Thankfully I had the easy job of preparing herbs. Poor Sarge here had to do all the heavy lifting." Sarge and Numair shared a knowing smile while Onua chuckled.

Daine went on. "You always make it seem like you were too wrapped up in your academics to learn anything commonly useful back then, but sounds to me like you should give yourself more credit." She smiled sweetly up at him and gave him a peck on the cheek. Numair felt pride swell within him at earning her praise.

"Enough embarrassment for me today, I think," said Numair. "We probably ought to get going, Daine. I'm sure Jon, Alanna, and the others will be missing us soon. You know how they hate having to be miserable without including us." A wry smile played on his lips.

"That's the truth," Daine sighed. "Onua, I will see you tomorrow at least. I've got the morning off and I owe Cloud a good, long visit. Thank you both for lunch, and thank you Sarge for the story!"

"I've got plenty more where that came from, youngling." Sarge's eyes danced with laughter. "Remind me to tell you of the time Numair and I met. It involves myself in my gladiator days, Numair falling over the rail and almost hitting the arena floor before I caught him, and an elephant named Ua."

Daine's eyes widened. "Now that sounds fair wondrous."

Numair let out a hearty laugh. "It's a tale, to be sure. And I'm certain Sarge won't embellish it in the slightest." Sarge rolled his eyes dramatically and shared a smile with Onua.

Daine and Numair waved farewell to their friends and moved quickly to collect the last of her things from her old room. As they traipsed up the lawn back to the palace, Numair reached out and playfully tweaked Daine's nose.

"You know, Sweet, I wouldn't mind incurring a little of Jon's wrath for our tardiness if you want to take a few detours on the way back." Numair's eyes danced mischievously. Daine felt a familiar fluttering in her midsection.

"I don't see the harm in being a few minutes late," she replied coyly, looking up at him from beneath long lashes. She heard Numair's breath catch and he reached out to cup her cheek with his free hand. Her own heart rate increased at the tenderness in his face.

"I must have greatly pleased the gods to earn such happiness with you," Numair said seriously.

"I can think of one god who isn't so pleased," Daine said thinking of her da, while she and Numair burst out laughing.

"You have me there, Magelet."

"Let's hurry back and steal a few more minutes alone," Daine said when she caught her breath. "Race you there!"

Without waiting for an answer, Daine shoved the box she was carrying into Numair's other hand and smoothly shifted into a falcon. She took flight and aimed for the open window of their rooms. Knowing she would most certainly beat him there, Numair chuckled to himself and waited an extra moment to give her time to change. He then called his gift to send her belongings through the window after her and shifted quickly into a hawk himself to follow, thinking he had never felt so content in his life.