Daine slipped quietly through the wooden door, and shut it tightly behind her – another person might not be as understanding as Alanna. Numair's rooms were silent, if she didn't know better; she would think he wasn't there. Shaking her head, she walked through to his study. Typical, she thought, seeing him immersed in a book.

"I'm up!" she announced from the doorway, and laughed as he jumped in his chair.

"Magelet, don't do that," he complained, clamping a hand to his chest. "I'm not as young as I used to be."

"Nobody is," she retorted. "But I love you all the same." Coming over to sit on his lap, she added "Alanna said you wanted to see me?"

"Oh, yes, I'd forgotten about that. She said she'd take some breakfast up to you, have you eaten? She brought me this book too, wasn't that nice?" he asked absentmindedly, obviously still thinking about the book as he placed it aside. Daine struggled to hide the blush creeping onto her face as she glanced at the title of the book – 'War mages of the Imperial University of Carthak'.

"So, why did you want to see me?" she prompted.

"I just wanted to admire your most glorious beauty," the mage replied, as he placed a kiss on top of her head. "And check that you're all right after last night of course," he added, as he brushed his lips against the back of her neck. Suddenly he stood up, placing her carefully in the chair where he had just been sitting. "Actually sweet, there was something I had to ask you."

She waited patiently as he paced the room, searching his mind for the right words.

"The king's called a meeting this afternoon, and he's invited all the officials. You and I both need to be there. But…I think he's going to send a group of people, me included, somewhere…"

"Spit it out, Numair."

"Well, I asked him, and he said it was all right…"

"Numair."

"Will you come with me?"

"That's it? I thought you were going to ask me something important." Seeing the look on his face, she added "Of course I'll come with you, you dolt. I'm your student, aren't I?" His face lit up, and he swept her up from the seat, engulfing her in his large arms. "And I'd miss you too much if you went away without me," she whispered. She felt rather than saw his smile, and before she knew it their lips met, her arms slung around his neck as he held her off the ground with his strong hands.

Daine followed Numair into the king's meeting room, and sat down beside him. She saw many familiar faces around her: Jon and Thayet obviously, Gary, Raoul, Buri, Onua, Duke Baird, the elderly Duke Gareth of Naxen, Harailt (the dean of the royal university), and many of the stuffy conservatives, including Lord Martin. George and Alanna Cooper came through the doorway last, George with his arm around his wife's waist. Oblivious to the raised eyebrows at this show of affection from the fiery-tempered woman, George sat himself down next to Daine, while Alanna sat on his other side.

The king cleared his throat. "Now that we are all here," he looked pointedly at the Coopers, "we can begin. I don't like having to send away so many of my important officers so soon after the war, but there are very important peace negotiations that I want to send an impressive party to represent Tortall."

"Jonathan, you're avoiding something," remarked his Champion. "Where is it?"

"I was getting to that. It's in Scanra."

"Scanra?! Are you insane? We just fought a war with them! I would know, I've been at the Scanran border fighting for months!" She frowned, adding "And it's cold."

"I know we just fought a war, that's why we now have peace negotiations. Diplomats are coming from as far away as Maren and Carthak. Alanna, as my Champion, you will be head of the party. The other members of the party will be Raoul, Buri, Harailt, Lord Martin, Numair and Daine."

"And me," interrupted George. "You're not sending my lass away again so soon without me."

Jonathan laughed. "And George then."

"George, you're forgetting something," interrupted Alanna. "Where are the children going to stay if you come with us?"

"Well there's nothing wrong with them staying at the Swoop."

"By themselves?"

"They're hardly going to be alone, darlin', there's plenty of people, Maude-"

"They need someone to care for them George. They can't stay at the Swoop, and don't even think about suggesting the palace."

Jon opened his mouth, looking affronted.

"You stay out of this," she snapped.

"Darlin', I'm starting to think you don't even want me to come. You said yourself that it's cold in Scanra. Most people would be glad of a husband to keep them nice and warm. Besides, I'm thinking that perhaps ma and Myles are a bit overdue for some grandparent duty."

George looked over at the king. "Jon, I assume you're sending us by boat?"

Jonathan looked apologetically at Alanna. "I'm afraid it's the quickest way."

Alanna paled and a scowl spread over her face.

"Don't you want your husband there on the boat with you?" prompted George.

"Well, yes," relented the Lioness. "But what about your work?"

"Most of it can wait until I get back, and Myles can take care of the most important things, especially if he has Aly there to help."

"Aly?" asked the king, confused.

"Aly?" asked Alanna, her voice dangerously quiet.

George couldn't look his wife in the eye, and turned to the king instead. "She has a natural talent for this type of work, Jon. She helps me a lot. You know the report on the northern fiefs I gave you last week? A lot of that was done by her, I just wrote it out all neat and proper." He chuckled nervously, and was promptly interrupted by Alanna.

"George, how many times have we discussed this?"

"I know darlin', but she enjoys-"

"George, she's only EIGHT!"

"Lass, she's good at it."

Jon winced as she rose and slammed her fists on his best mahogany table.

"I will NOT have my daughter-"

"Our daughter," interrupted George smoothly.

"You weren't the one throwing up every morning for nine months," she snapped. "I will not have MY daughter-"

Raoul leaned across to Gary. "When she's like this, it makes you wonder how he managed to get her pregnant in the first place."

George heard him and grinned. "Chains and a gag," he muttered. Seeing the look on Daine's face, he whispered "I'm joking, youngster. You can't tell now, but most of the time she loves me very much." Standing up and wincing at his wife's bellowing, he added "I think this has gone on long enough, please excuse us."

He stepped from behind his chair, and in one swift movement, scooped his wife into his arms.

"George Cooper, you put me down RIGHT NOW! Don't you dare go thinking you can distract-"

George pressed his lips to hers, stopping the angry tirade. She struggled momentarily, pushing against his chest, but he held her tightly. She gradually stopped fighting and relaxed in his arms, causing everyone in the room to exhale in relief. He kissed her tenderly at first, and then his kisses slowly grew more passionate, as he lightly caressed her leg and waist with his fingertips where he held her.

After a couple of minutes, he broke away and stepped back to his seat, settling his wife on his lap as he sat down again. Alanna looked about, surprised to find a room full of people staring at her.

"Um - anything else you want to say?" ventured the slightly fearful king eventually.

Alanna's dreamy smile was replaced with a look of confusion. "Oh, sorry... was I saying something?"

Daine's mouth fell open. George winked at her as he settled his arms around Alanna's waist. "Works every time," he murmured.