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! The strings I would pull.

A/N: Daine w/ animal, Animal w/ Daine (conversations or just the animal talking)

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Chapter Nine

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.

Daine's life was like a dress, underneath the decorations, was something far more complex. You couldn't see every stitch and drop of sweat that was put into the making, but they made the dress what it was. Those things were hidden, purposely hidden. Yes, Daine's life was very much like a dress.

Daine steadied her breathing and looked the rest of the envoy over, there among the soldiers were two more familiar faces. They were loyal, kind men, they were loyal to him. A man who she had put from her dreams, a man who could haunt the most innocent. His eyes were like the depths of hell, blacker than the night. His brown hair falling to his shoulders, and his pale white skin shone in the light. He was blessing and a curse. A face that plagued the young mage's dreams for years, that face, which not even her love, Numair, knew of or was able to banish.

Daine felt her eyes wander to him; she forced herself to look away, focusing instead on 'cataloguing' the envoy. 12 soldiers, three knights, three nobles, eight servants, and him. She was trying so hard not to pay attention to him, that she nearly jumped when Cloud's voice invaded her mind.

Do you think he has peppermints? Last time he fed me peppermints. What is wrong with you?!

Cloud, what are you talking about? And there is certainly nothing 'wrong' with me!

Oh really Cloud snorted Then why are you not staring at that two legger so hard? Finally gotten over stork-man have you?

Daine glared at the unruly horse, "I certainly have not, now that is enough out of you."

Alanna glanced over her shoulder and quirked an eyebrow as if to ask if Daine was hearing voices. Daine resisted the urge to stick her tongue out and instead gestured at the horse next to her, rolling her eyes as she did. The knight grinned and winked at her before turning to face the slowly assembling group of Gallans.

Apparently, they weren't going to do formal introductions, well, it was not as if Daine was going to complain, perhaps she could hide for a little longer. Duke Gareth, the elder, and Gary however, were talking to the four representatives, which included him. The rest were taking a few moments to relax before they headed onward to the capital. Alanna introduced herself to the knights and made with the laughter, she extricated herself and walked over to Daine, "At least there are only four towns between us and the capital, in the early stages of planning, his mightiness wanted to make it eight towns," the red head shuddered, "Thankfully, I was able to…persuade him to cut it down. I don't want to waste time, staying each night at one of the towns instead of camping, I miss the old days."

Daine laughed, smiling at her friend's antics to get her to cheer up, "Alanna, now that I think of it, Jon didn't see us off, he was okay when we left, right?"

Alanna blushed ever so slightly, and she coughed before she muttered something, "Give or take a few bruises."

"Alanna!"

Gary came over to see them, "Has she confessed then to rushing this trip? Jon was a little afraid to meet her eyes during the last meeting. Do I have permission to take her away in chains?"

The glitter in Gary's big eyes and the hint of glee and laughter in his voice made both females break down in laughter, causing Raoul to come and see what the matter was.

"Am I always the last to now the funny secrets, as I recall, I was the last of our foursome in training to know the truth about Alan here. Mayhap the times have changed, but I fear you are hiding something. Out with it, or I will dunk the three of you in the Drell."

Alanna and Daine glanced at each other and pointed in unison to Gary, as Raoul turned on the shorter knight, the two accusers slipped away. Once a safe distance, they let out their laughter, "Oh, Daine, you are good for me. I wouldn't have thought I'd have laughed on this trip, unless I was faking it…hehe."

That drew fresh peals of laughter from the younger woman, "Alanna! Oh Goddess, I wonder what Raoul will do to him?"

Alanna was the one this time to clutch her stomach as she chuckled, "When we were boys…never realized how odd that was to say…anyway, Ralon tried to force me into the water, Gary, Jon, and Raoul basically sat on him in the water till he ran out of air. I think they enjoyed that a bit much, Gary can protect himself, if not, I'm sure he has some blackmail material, he is mostly a desk knight these days anyway."

A thought occurred to the wildmage, "Perhaps he'll recommend that Thayet seat him next to certain mothers during dinner and feasts."

The pair linked arms and started to make their way over to Numair, "Why Daine, I think that is positively diabolical, if Gary doesn't do that, can I anyway?"

Numair looked up from Kitten to smile warmly at his friend and Magelet, "And what pray tell are you two plotting on such a fine day?"

Alanna cocked her head to the side in mock confusion, "Plotting, Daine, do you have any notion as to what he is insinuating?"

Daine nodded in agreement, "Really sir, how could you accuse two innocent ladies of anything!"

Alanna leaned over to whisper in the girl's ear, "You know, if I didn't believe in using my gift for good, I would unravel the thread in his breeches."

"Well, it would be good, it would teach him a lesson, 'Don't accuse us of anything'," Daine's growing grin was something akin to a wolf's.

Numair looked, for a second, like he was going to say something, but refrained, "Alanna, have you met your Gallan counterpart?"

Alanna rolled her eyes, "Sir Hugh of Corvine, a champion of the people, I say he enjoys being important far too much." The wildmage stiffened at the name and forced herself not to change her breathing pattern, she put all her focus into the conversation.

Daine giggled when Numair winked at her, "Then I daresay you didn't think much of Duke Avery of Blaine and Lord Abram of Elan Valley."

Alanna narrowed her eyes at him, "Well if you're just going to mock me! Daine, I don't know how you can stand him." The Lady Knight walked away in a slight huff, leaving former teacher and student grinning at her cost.

"Numair, did you really have to do that?"

The mage sniffed, "She was monopolizing your time, now, I'd like you to meet Lord Morphin of Hertfordshire. He is a very talented mage, I've met him a several times before," As he began to walk away he called back to her, "Glad to see you defrosted."

Daine scowled at him and Cloud who he had come level with butted him with her head none too gently. Daine stifled her laughter as the tall mage glared at the pony and then started walking again, with whatever dignity he could muster.

Daine quickly caught up with him and they walked the few more feet in comfortable silence, the thin man with blonde hair and roguish features saw them coming, "Numair!"

"Finn, how go your studies?" The taller mage asked.

Lord Morphin grinned and clasped forearms with Numair, "Excellent, excellent. Who is this young beauty?"

"This, is my former student, The Wildmage, Daine," Numair grinned proudly.

The lord bowed to her, "My Lord."

He scrunched his nose up at the title, "Please, please, call me Finn, I can't stand for the stuffiness of formality. So you are Numair's success, the student he brags about to the entire community, but I confess, since few know little of Wildmagic, his bragging carries little influence. Of course, Wildmagic was, after all, thought to be legend, myth. I hope you'll be able to talk to me about your magic, it is quite exciting and an honor to meet someone so talented."

The young girl looked a little surprised, "Thank you, Finn, I've heard good things about you from Numair. I'd love to talk to you, I'm sure you'd love to meet Kit as well. May I, um, may Ilookatyourhorse?"

Finn saw her blush and he could hardly deny something that would bring her pleasure, "Be my guest, I named him cinnamon. Everyone tells me it is not serious enough for such a horse, but I rather think he likes it."
Numair clapped the man on the back, "If Cinnamon is in good health, and likes you, Daine will be a friend for life. She always says horses are the best judge of character."

Hello, hoof friend, my name is Daine. You smell like people. Are you people? No, I am two legger, usually, sometimes I become people. Tell stork-man friend, my two legger, I like sugar and apples. May I call you Cinnamon? Do you like that name? How does your two legger treat you? Cinnamon good, my dame smelled like cinnamon. I like him, he smell good, like meadow. He takes me for long runs in the country, and has good hay. Always brushes me. Thank you Cinnamon.

Daine pulled back and quickly let her magic run over the horse, finding everything satisfactory, she straightened and grinned at the pair of mages, "Finn, he really loves you, says his dame smelled like Cinnamon, and likes the reminder. He's in very good health, and likes sugar and apples, I think the last part was a subtle hint."

Finn's face lit up, "You can really talk to animals, splendid, I am completely astounded. Once we get to the capitol, might I take the pair of you to my home, it's a half days journey, I'd love to show you some of my animals. I have some new books for him to look at as well."

Numair nodded his head, "I think that can be arranged. So long as my Magelet isn't out of my sight for too long. Last time we went as a delegation, somebody had to get upset and tear down the palace."

Daine crossed her arms over her chest and pouted, "It wasn't my fault! I got mad, I thought you were dead, and I had help!"

Finn smiled as the young woman turned to walk away, "Why Numair, what did you do to her to get such a reaction, I think you're in the dog house."

Daine stalked off, but not before she called back, "By the way, Cloud mush be a little miffed at you, she seems to be spreading something around, Stork-man."

Numair's mouth hung open, he cast a withering glare at Cloud, who only shook her head and snorted. Finn clapped him on the back and tried to suppress the growing grin, "Well, she could have had the animals attack you-"

Finn stopped when he saw Cinnamon clamp onto his friends elbow, the victim let out a sigh and looked at him, "You had to say something."

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Okay, sorry for the wait, I was forced to go on vacation…to Ohio, and after a seven hour car ride there and back, all I wanted to do was sleep for about three days. This also took time because I had to figure out names and stuff. Any questions? Please review and tell me what you think. I must admit, I do love cloud infecting other animals minds…well, did you think it would never happen?! Okay, that is it for now folks. Enjoy!

Daughter of the Black