I owe one of the ideas for this chapter to missmab449 – I had an inspiration after something she wrote in a review. Therefore this chapter is dedicated to missmab449 )

Also, thanks to everyone who has reviewed so far – it always makes my day!

The crisp night air was quiet and still as Daine stood on the deck, listening to the lap of the waves against the hull of the boat.

"None of your waterlogged friends about?," asked Numair as he came up behind her, causing Daine to grin. He had found out the hard way just how much water a walrus's fur could hold. He put his arm gently around her waist after checking that nobody was around to see. She appreciated the warmth, but Daine was sure it was to stop her from jumping over the rail to ride on another whale's back. He hadn't much appreciated jumping after her and ruining a shirt only to find that she'd done it on purpose.

"It's so beautiful out here," she breathed, looking out over the moonlit water and up to the stars. Numair followed her gaze upwards. "I could swear that something looked different about these stars tonight. Almost like some of them are…missing."

She laughed and snuggled into his body. "I thought you would have learnt your lesson now about swearing things all the time." George had been right – Numair's severely wounded pride had needed a lot of soothing after what was widely becoming known as 'the dress incident', and she didn't blame him either – even the servants had been unable to contain their laughter. "It's probably just because we're seeing them on a different angle to usual," she added, although Numair didn't seem convinced.

She sighed. "I should go and check on Alanna."

"If she threatens to kill you one more time…"

"Numair, be nice – she doesn't mean it! She's been seasick for two weeks now – she's too weak to kill anyone even if she wanted to."

"And meanwhile I'm stuck with George moping around in my room," the mage complained. "And he teases me."

"Everybody does," she pointed out. "Now be good." She reached up to kiss him lightly, and disappeared into the darkness.

"Have you two got nothing better to do than watch me sleep?" grumbled the red-headed knight.

"Well, if you'd just let George in-" started Buri.

"NO – how many times have I got to tell you I don't want him in here?" Alanna snapped. She seemed to get grumpier every time Daine saw her.

Buri was unfazed by the Lioness's temper. "Why not? You let us in here."

Alanna glared. "George knows when he's unwanted. Unlike some, he's too polite to force his way in."

"Calm down, I fixed the door," retorted Buri.

Daine pressed a warm cloth to Alanna's forehead. "You'd have to be insane to think you could spend four weeks seasick and alone in here."

The Lioness huffed. "So what if I am? It runs in my family." She pushed Daine's arm away. "And stop treating me like I'm on my deathbed, I'm fine."

"Why don't you let George in," suggested Daine as gently as she could. "He could cheer you up."

Alanna scowled. "No he can't, I've got my monthlies."

Daine blushed and burst out laughing. "I didn't mean it like that. Although I must admit, having your monthlies explains a lot more than it doesn't."

"Disgusting," muttered Buri. "Your mind is in the gutter - I'm glad I never married, if that's what it does to you." She began to make a cup of herbal tea for Alanna as Daine heated a small bag of wheat.

"Put this on your belly," she instructed Alanna. "Ma always said it eased the cramps." Settling another blanket over the woman, she asked "Why won't you let George in? You don't look any worse than you did the other time I saw you seasick."

The scowl on Alanna's face deepened. "You're a terrible liar – this is the worst I've ever been." She turned away to face the wall. "I've never travelled by sea with George before. I don't want him to see me all weak like this," she whispered.

"Is that all?" cried an exasperated Buri. "Why couldn't you just tell us that two weeks ago?"

Luckily neither woman could see Daine bite back a laugh. Typical. The first time in two weeks that Alanna said something without snapping, and Buri couldn't be any more tactless if she tried.

"Thanks for telling us Alanna," she said quietly, perching on the edge of the bed. "I know how much it means to you."

"This is ridiculous," started Buri, pointedly ignoring Daine, who was frantically signaling to her to stay quiet. "George was there when you gave birth – you looked far worse then than you do now."

"He didn't see anything – he was unconscious," retorted Alanna.

Buri saw the confusion on Daine's face. "He fainted when she screamed," she explained. Daine shuddered. She knew how much pain it would take to make the lady knight scream.

"I did not scream."

"I'll admit it was only a small scream – nothing like Thayet was screaming. At least Thayet wasn't cursing enough to make a sailor's ears shrivel in shock."

Alanna sniffed haughtily. "I most certainly did not scream."

Buri snorted. "Just like you most certainly didn't faint when we pierced your ears."

Daine rolled her eyes – neither Alanna nor Buri were really angry, but they were both so stubborn that they could argue for hours over a trivial matter just because they felt like it.

"It wasn't a scream, it was-"

Alanna's words were interrupted by a flash of silver light.

"Badger!" cried Daine, glad for the interruption. She quickly introduced him to Alanna and Buri, then drew him aside to talk. "Badger, I'm not sure if this is the best time. Every time you tell me something, something goes horribly wrong, and Tortall really needs peace right now."

Hush, kit, and listen. Tortall is in danger. You and your friends are in great danger – be careful who you speak to, watch what you say and where you speak. Trust only those who are closest to you. The Greater Gods will not allow me to stay here to protect you, but the Goddess's Chosen – he nodded in the direction of Alanna, who had gone back to arguing with Buri – is also affected by danger, and the Goddess wants to know what is happening. She will send an… escort of sorts to accompany you and report back to her.

"Badger, can't you tell me anything more? What kind of danger are we in?"

Don't question your elders. Sometimes even the gods don't know what will happen. Be careful, kit.

There was a bright flash of light and he was gone. In his place was a small black cat with violet eyes.

"I've seen you before," exclaimed Daine."In the Divine Realms." She remembered her manners. "Forgive me for not introducing myself – my name is Daine."

I go by many names, replied the cat. Daine wriggled her ears and frowned. Normally she heard animals in her mind, but she could hear this car as normally as when she spoke to her two-legger friends. The cat indicated to Alanna. She knew me as-

"Faithful?" gasped Buri.

Alanna sat bolt upright. "Buri, how could you? That was just cruel, you know it's not funny…" her voice trailed off as she caught sight of the cat. "F-F-Faithful?" she whispered, and burst into tears.

Daine moved over to put her arms around the older woman, allowing her to turn and cry into her shoulder. Faithful jumped onto the bed and began to clean himself. I can see you haven't forgotten me, he meowed.

"Still the same arrogant, prissy animal," muttered Alanna into Daine's tear-soaked shirt.

Let me talk to her alone, said Faithful. Daine was uncertain, and tightened her arms around Alanna. She had been worried and slightly frightened by the display of emotion that this cat had caused in her – while the Lioness was famous for her temper, she never cried like this if she was upset.

"I'm fine," said Alanna, straightening and wiping her eyes. "I just got a bit of a fright, is all. Let me talk to him."

Buri drew Daine outside the cabin, leaving the door slightly ajar in case Alanna wanted them.

"Buri, what's going on?" asked Daine. "Who is that cat, and why did he upset her so much?"

"Faithful was Alanna's cat, back when she was a squire. Have you heard about what happened at Jon's coronation?"

Daine nodded. "Numair's taught me a little about it."

"She didn't lose just Faithful that day, her twin brother Thom and Liam Ironarm died that day as well."

"Who was Liam Ironarm?"

"The Shang Dragon. They were…good friends."

"Buri, if you're going to talk about me, do it where I can't hear you, and I'd appreciate it if you told her the truth," came Alanna's voice from the cabin.

Buri rolled her eyes and shut the door tightly with a loud click. Drawing Daine further away, she continued: "Okay, Liam and Alanna were lovers. But don't go spreading it around, she gets gossiped about enough as it is."

Daine grinned. "As do we all – just last month I heard that Evin Larse seduced you to get made a Rider Group Commander."

Buri pulled a face. "I hadn't heard that one yet. There wouldn't be enough hours in the night if I slept with everyone the gossips said I did."

Daine laughed. "We'd all be busy, that's for sure."

"Anyway, Alanna and Liam had broken up right after she got the Dominion Jewel at the Roof of the World, but they stayed friends. Liam took an arrow in the battle that was meant for Jon, and Thom was killed by Roger – whom he'd raised from the dead to prove his power."

"Faithful was like family to her," added George from behind them.

Buri jumped and clamped a hand to her heart. "Do you always have to sneak up like that?" she grumbled.

George ignored her. "Faithful already came to see me – told me she'd let me in in a half hour. I always knew there was something odd about that cat…" he trailed off, lost in thought until Buri cleared her throat. "He was probably the closest family she had… her father ignored her and her brother – he blamed them for their mother's death. That's the only reason she could get away with what she did. And that brother of hers… they were close when they were younger, but he began to bury himself in his books, became obsessed with his power. And Faithful's saved her life more times than I could count."

He glanced at Daine's soaked shoulder. "That's why she was so upset, and I'm glad for it. She got over Liam's death, she finally accepted there was nothing she could have done, but she never let herself grieve properly for Thom and Faithful. She just buried herself in everything that needed doing and refused to face it – I think she blamed herself for their deaths."

She'll let you in now.

All three of them jumped – Daine was sure she hadn't seen him come out of the room.

George grinned. "We always did make a good team," he told the cat.

Two hours later Daine knocked quietly on the door.

"Come in," called George softly.

Daine opened the door, smiling at the sight. A contented George sat on the bed, his wife in his arms with her sleeping head resting on his chest. Although she looked peaceful in her sleep, Daine could see that her eyes were red and puffy.

"Is she alright?" Daine whispered.

"She's had a big shock," answered George. "But she'll be fine after she's rested."

"I brought her this," Daine held up the mug she was holding, before placing it on the bedside table. "She has her monthlies – it should ease the pain."

George paled slightly at the talk of the dreaded monthlies. "Thanks lass, I'll give it to her as soon as she wakes. Now don't you have a certain mage you want to go back to teasing?"

"That I do." Daine grinned mischievously. "That I do."