After the War
Disclaimer: Master Salmalín is mine; I can kill you with my brain. Just a warning, but unfortunately, I have to borrow Numair from Tamora Pierce. So sad, well, must go play with him. I have special powers…like mind control…just read and learn…Mwahhahhahahaha!!!!!!!!!! I also am working on the contract about selling my soul to own them…uhh…yeah…hehe!
A/N: Daine w/ animal, Animal w/ Daine (conversations or just the animal talking)
A/N2: There is a Sneak Peek of Chapter Nine at the bottom. Read and Review about that too!
Chapter Eight
Daine was close to tears, and then his voice interrupted her silent sorrow, "Daine, are you okay? How are you feeling?"
The subject of his anxious attention whipped her head towards him and snarled ferociously, "I'd be fine if someone would just leave me alone!"
Numair nudged Spots closer to the aggressive pony, "Who's bothering you, I'll turn them into a tree!"
Daine snorted and then winced, "That would be fair difficult, wouldn't it be, Spots?"
The gelding shook his mane and pranced sideways, Numair clung desperately to the reins. At last he gained some control and moved back to his position next to his Magelet, "Maybe you should take a nap."
"Mayhap you're right," Daine yawned.
Grinning all too happily, Numair turned on her, "Shapeshift into a kitten, then you don't have to ride Cloud, then you can be held."
Daine smiled, just a smidge of evil filtering into it, Numair didn't see it. The girl turned to find that Raoul was just to her left; Daine shrunk her form to a baby short haired kitten. Her soft gray fur blended with her gray eyes and lighter gray markings around them. Her rounded face and triangle ears were perky, and she glanced back at her teacher, quickly flicking her tongue out. Daine then turned and leapt onto a rather startled Raoul's lap, the large man laughed heartily and then turned to look into a livid mage's eyes. Not hesitating, the knight urged his horse into a faster trot, putting distance between himself and the man who in all likelihood would do him some serious bodily harm.
Daine nuzzled the large, gloved, hand that cradled her body against the soft but firm abdomen. Raoul chuckled at his new companion's antics, but couldn't resist the soft purring that escaped the kitten as he stroked Daine gently. Slowly Daine slipped somewhat reluctantly into sleep, but her body couldn't resist the human who was promoting such a powerful calm over her. Slipping into sleep, Daine felt a tingle of magic touch her; it was strange, lulling her into a sense of calm. She wanted to get up and find its source, not because she, like Numair felt the need to discover everything about it, she just felt pulled by it. Like a kitten to catnip.
If it weren't for the pressing need to sleep, she would have raced along the distinctive magical traces, it sparkled a forest green with red a black sparks. She saw a rabbit do exactly what she wanted to. Her eyes widened as said rabbit slammed into a bubble, and once inside slowly die. Daine jumped to alertness, the pain of the rabbit screaming in her head. Raoul had to hold her with both hands to keep her from leaping down and away. Alanna fell back to where Raoul was struggling. Daine focused on becoming a fully clothed Daine while the man cradled her. His look of surprise as she became human made Numair frown and ride closer.
Daine stared at the ground…nothing…how could that be. She could have sworn there was a magical trail, but now she couldn't see anything of the sort.
Raoul smiled down at her, "Well hello Daine."
Alanna narrowed her eyes at the wildmage, "Do you think it is wise to be doing that so soon. Besides it being bad for your health, it is just as bad for the hen."
Raoul quirked an eyebrow and Alanna leaned over to his ear and whispered a name, the knight broke out in full blown laughter, "I agree with Alanna, we wouldn't want the hen to hurt himself worrying over you."
Daine gave into a small bout of laughter, but sobered quickly, "It's just, I swear I saw or felt some kind of magical rope. Now, I can't see it, when I was kitten, I wanted to find the source of it. I think whatever it is, it's dangerous. Alanna, could you see if you can notice anything, it's just over there," Daine pleaded and pointed to the patch of bushes where the rabbit carcass was now.
Alanna wheeled Darkmoon around and moved back towards the patch the young girl had pointed out. She clutched the red orange gem that hung about her neck and looked around. She didn't see even a trace of magic, she saw her own purple glow under her skin, and glancing back, Numair's black fire, Daine's copper well, and a few other magical gifts, but nothing other than that. She sighed and turned away, feeling something push her towards disregarding the claim. That was enough to raise her suspicion.
Riding back to the group, Daine who was still riding with Raoul gave her a hopeful look. The Lady Knight shook her head, and when she was in range spoke, "I may not be able to see the magic, but something is there, it could be immortal magic shielding whatever you saw. When I tried to look for it, I just wanted to stop, and do something else. We'll figure it out, don't worry." Alanna moved forward to think by herself. Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice shame on me.
8888888888888
They stopped at the border, a river running along it. They watered the horses, and Daine meditated, trying to ask the animals about the pull they felt. The consensus was it had begun 15 moons ago, and it had been constant. The smaller animals like mice had been flooding towards the source. Snakes, and birds seemed unaware of the pull, they ignored the talk of it. Daine asked them to look out for anything suspicious though.
Numair snuck up behind her and sat beside her, disrupting her talk with the forest creatures. Turning on him, Daine growled, her voice box having been changed into a wolf's. Numair chuckled softly and pulled her closer to him, making his Magelet lean on him. He rubbed a long finger on the nape of her neck, making the hair rise, and a shudder to make its way down her spine. The bushes rustled, and the pair pulled away rather comically, and by the time the person, or dragonet entered the small clearing the pair were in, they were both doing something. Daine was petting a small rabbit that had been in a nearby bush, and Numair was inspecting some footprints. Each mage studiously ignoring the other, Kit whistled her amusement apparent.
Numair relaxed when he saw who had interrupted them, "Kit, did you really have to come just now? Of course you did, we'll be there in a moment."
He walked towards Daine as Kitten left them alone, "Magelet, I love you, you know. You just scared me to death; I don't particularly want to lose you…again! So if you could just manage to stay out of death's clutches for a day, I'd be thankful."
Daine stuck her tongue out at him, "Numair, it's not as if I try to get myself dead. Just happens."
He was about to kiss Daine when Gary came tromping through the bushes, "Come on you two, my father says that the Gallan party will be here in a few minutes. The time you two spend together one would think you were lovers." He threw the last statement over his shoulder flippantly. Daine and Numair exchanged a surprised and nervous glance before Daine caught up to Gary.
"Gary, that is silly, how much have you had to drink this morning?" Daine asked as she skipped next to him, pure innocence on her face. Numair could barely contain his laughter at his Magelet's comment. Realizing he should hurry up, he followed the laughter of Daine and Gary.
Everyone was waiting for the Gallan party to arrive. The horses were picketed, and Daine shifted to a hawk's form. She rose into the air, sailing over the border between Tortall, and her home country, Galla. Her vision much better, she saw the flag not a quarter mile off, the trees still eclipsed the view from the ground, but from this height, she could see a dozen guards, and at least 15 other people.
Dropping to rest on Numair's shoulder, she changed her mouth to human, "About a quarter mile more."
Numair reached a hand up to stroke the, now fully, hawk. He muttered something about dunking her in the river if she tried to take off for home. Daine squeezed her claws into the flesh, she felt the large man wince, but he didn't say anything. Taking his threat for true, Daine glided to the ground and shifted back to human. Moving to stand next to her teacher, the smoky blue-gray eyes flashed with pain as she saw the envoy break through the trees, and her heart sped up to match the tromp of horse and men across the wooden bridge.
Her breath caught in her throat as she spotted a familiar face.
8888888888888888888
Yay, we finally got somewhere! I thought this would be a good place to stop. I hope you all enjoyed this. This chapter and the last have big clues as to who saw Daine and Numair, and knows. Please guess, it will make me happy. This Chapter has a hint of the plot starting to be developed, hopefully you like it. Please tell me if it sucks, I can change it. All reviews are welcome, I am always looking to improve. Any questions or ideas please tell me. I am always willing to listen to my fans, as they are the ones who this is written for. And, just for you, I will give you a little sneak peek.
888888888888888
For my loyal fans: Chapter Nine Sneak Peek!
There, seated on a black mare, the man gave off an air of power, she had seen him only once, and she had never wanted to see him after that. It had been only days before she had met Onua, she had been 'traveling' with a raiding party. This man had led a dozen knights, and he had freed her. He was cold, distant, but kind. She had been afraid, and now, the fear of her past, the one she had never revealed was coming undone.
888888888888888
Okay, that was totally spur of the moment, even I had no idea that was going to happen, so it was as much of a sneak peek to you all as it was to me. Hope you enjoyed it. That will be the first paragraph. Ooh, more ploty goodness. Where could this go. Honestly? I have no idea, well I have some ideas. Any thoughts on this Sneak Peek? Where it could go? Maybe your idea will be adopted, and you will get credit. Think of it as a Co-Written chapter.
8888888888888888888
Daughter of the Black