AN: I'm sorry it took so long to update. The servor crashed for over a week. Now I have to check about a weeks worth of email. (Shudders) Anyway, enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don't own Tortall or any of the Tamora Pierce characters. If I did, my servor wouldn't have crashed.

Chapter 4

Thievery

As they flew over the cliffs, Daine could see a mob of people. Fallonor lurched to the side suddenly as an arrow flew by a few inched to their right. She heard Numair muttering under his breath, and suddenly a shield appeared between them and the people below.

What is the mage doing? Fallonor asked her suspiciously.

He's making sure we don't get any more unwanted attacks.

Sure enough, as if to prove her point, a group of arrows flew at them, shattering when they hit the shield.

As they landed, Daine saw another griffin under the trees, guarding a path that led up the cliff.

Daine looked back at the group of men in time to see them charging, bringing the horses to a full gallop.

Stop! she commanded the horses, using her will to make them stop quickly. She hated forcing animals, but she just didn't have time to ask.

They stopped suddenly, sending their riders onto their necks. The men attempted to make them move forward again, but when they didn't budge they gave up, shocked that their obedient horses were misbehaving.

I'm sorry, but I had to get you to stop.

It's okay, said one of the horses, a powerful black stallion. Just, could you take us back with you?

I wish I could, but I can't unless they have been mistreating you. They're your owners.

No, they're not. We were stolen on our way to be delivered to King Jonathon of Tortall.

Can we get back to why you are here Fallonor demanded.

You'll go back with us, she told the horses. She dismounted Fallonor, Numair behind her.

One of the men separated from the group, awe and anger visible on his face.

"Hey girl, what do you think you're doing? Us men are busy," he snarled as he reached them. He paused, looking her over. "Of course, work can always be halted for a pretty lady." He reached out and grabbed her arm, pulling her against his chest.

"I strongly advise you to let her go," Numair said icily, danger lacing his voice.

"And if I don't want to?"

Suddenly he was thrown back from Daine, landing in front of the black stallion Daine had been talking to. He stepped forward, putting his hoof on the man's shirt, preventing him from getting up.

"Get off of me you useless piece of horseflesh!" he screamed at the horse. A couple of the other men started forward to help him, but they were abruptly stopped by the rest of the horses.

Unable to escape, he turned his attention back to Daine. "Let me go, girl," he commanded, acting like he thought he was a king instead of merely a leader of a criminal mob.

Daine walked over to him, looking at him in disgust. His hair color was undistinguishable since it was covered in mud. His eyes were coal black, tiny pinpricks surrounded by a field of white.

"And why would I listen to you?"

"Because you are a girl!" he answered, looking up at her as if she were crazy.

"And who are you to command me?" she asked, forcing sweetness into her voice.

"I'm a man," he said smugly, a smirk on his face.

Numair groaned. This man was such an idiot.

"So you think that just because you are a male you can bend me to your will?"

"Women are weaker."

"So you are stronger than the Wild Mage of Tortall?" she smiled sweetly at the look of shock that appeared on his face. "I don't think so. And even if you could beat me, do you also believe are stronger than Master Numair Salmalin, Tortall's Black Robe Mage?"

She looked at the black horse. "Watch him. He's going back with us."

"But, Daine, we can't do that. He hasn't technically done anything wrong."

"Oh, yes he has. Those horses are stolen, Numair. They belong to Jon."

He smiled. "In that case…" Suddenly a black shield sprang up around the mob, including the leader and horses. He turned back to Daine. "The horses can still get out."

She relayed this information to them. They left, going off the path to stand under the trees. Numair, remembering the arrows shot at them earlier, sent the mob's weapons flying against a group of trees well out of their reach. Finally remembering the griffins, Daine turned around. Fallonor and his mate approached her.

Thanks, Mortal.

What did they want?

Like they stole those horses, they wanted to steal out nestling.

Why?

Shields, he answered, before flying up to where his mate now waited for him. Together they flew up towards the cliff, apparently to where their nest was. He paused before they went out of sight. Do you need a ride back?

No, we have the horses.

Satisfied, he flew on, quite suddenly disappearing from her sight.

She turned around, spotting Numair sitting on a rock, his face a little pale from keeping up the spell. Calling the horses to surround the shield, she went over to Numair, sitting on the rock next to him.

"You can let down the shield now. The horse will keep them from escaping."

"But Magelet-"

"No buts. You are still worn out form battling Inar."

Giving her a grateful look, he dropped the shield. The mob, seeing the shield drop, ran on what they thought was the path to freedom. Instead, the horses headed them off, shoving them back into a circle. Each horse watched a certain person since there were only seven of them. They were all men, and she wondered if they lived in a village somewhere nearby or were just outlaws.

She smiled when Numair pulled her against him, kissing her seductively on the neck. She turned her head up towards him, and her caught her lips with his own. He deepened the kiss, running his tongue along her lower lip, asking for entrance. She let him in willingly, feeling his tongue exploring the inside of the mouth. They broke the kiss, both of them in need of air.

He sighed. "Magelet, I'm afraid we'll have to continue this at a later date," he said pulling her up with him as he stood.

"Is that a promise?" she asked.

He leaned down, kissing her again. "Of course it is." She smiled and together they walked over to the group of men and horses. The black stallion walked over to them. Rubbing his head against her he asked, Are you ready to leave?

Yeah.

Good. You and the mage will be riding me. The others will guard the men.

I can get home myself- she began.

Nonsense, he interrupted. Your magic is weak.

No, it's not. When he pushed his head against her chest, she amended her statement. Maybe just a little.

A little?

Okay, a lot. I'm still recovering from a magical draining.

You'll be fine in a couple of days. Walking over to a stump, he continued. Get on.

Following him, she realized that he was huge. He wasn't too big for her, but almost. Using the stump, she sprung up onto his back. Looking down at Numair, she asked, "Are you going to get on?"

"Both of us?"

"Yes."

"Bareback?" he inquired skeptically.

"Numair it's not that hard. Besides, I'll make sure you don't fall off."

"If you're sure," he said, clumsily mounting up behind Daine, causing Daine to wince.

"I can't believe you won't take riding lessons."

"I don't need them."

"Yes, you do."

"I don't believe I do. I can get around on a horse just fine."

"What if I gave you lessons?"

"Hmm." Wrapping his arms around her, he continued. "Maybe."

Which way? the stallion asked her.

That way, she answered, pointing at the way they had come.

They started forward, the other horses behind them with the prisoners. Remembering something, she asked the stallion his name.

Black Lightning, but I'm known as Black.

I like that name. I'm Daine.

I know.

Looking back over her shoulder, she studied the other horses. Like Black, they were of the finest quality.

She watched a small, petite golden mare run to head off one of the men who was attempting to escape. Her white mane and tail billowed out as she raced to cut him off. As she came back, Daine noticed the white star that grazed her face.

Her attention turned to a young white stallion. He was a little heavyset, but he had plenty of speed. He took every chance he could to show off when one of the men tried to break free.

She laughed at two fillies that were circling the group.

Numair looked at her, trying to figure out what she was laughing at. Following her gaze, he saw the two fillies. One was considerably larger than the other but their coloring was almost identical. Both were black with a white sock on their right hind foot. The little filly bore a white blaze while the bigger one had a star.

Seeing Daine and Numair watching her, the bigger filly trotted up to them.

Hello Daine. I'm Star.

Hello.

Would you like for me to carry the mage?

I don't know. I'll ask him.

"She wants to know if you want to ride her," Daine said, relaying Star's request to Numair.

"I don't think that's a good idea. We need to have as many horses as possible watching them. Besides, I'm comfortable where I'm at," he said, kissing her lightly on the neck.

Suddenly one of the men attempted to escape, sending Star wheeling to head him off. Daine smiled as she returned, a triumphant look on her face.

Leaning into Numair's embrace, she watched the scenery, talking to the animals that greeted her. The serenity didn't last long though. The men started complaining about how tired they were and finally Daine asked the horses to stop so they could rest.

"It's about time!" one of the men grumbled as Numair dismounted.

The man became silent as he noticed Numair walking in his direction, hands cloaked in magic.

Would you like to go for a run? Black asked her, prancing with pent-up energy.

"Sure," she answered before calling out to Numair. "We're going to go for a quick run. Will you be okay with our little horse thieves?"

"Of course. Don't be long. We need to get moving."

With that Black took off, a flame colored stallion on his heels. Racing through the forest, the stallion attempted to past them, managing to get nose to nose before lagging behind. Knowing he was beat, he turned back around, heading back to help guard the men.

A dun-colored stallion leaped over a log, challenging Black to a race of his own. His black mane, streaked out along his back, became one with the black stripe that resided there. Tiring, the dun gave way, he too heading back the way they had come.

She laughed when a large bay attempted to beat Black as well. It seemed that all the horses wanted to beat Black, to be victorious over the black stallion.

When the bay gave up, Black slowed, turning around to he return to the group.

That was fun, he commented as they returned to the others.

I agree. Are you tired?

A little. Nor much.

Maybe we should ride one of the others?

No, I can carry you.

Dismounting, she walked over to where Numair was sitting on a log. Sitting beside him, she watched the horses teasing their prisoners.

"They're having fun," Numair commented, watching Star catch one man's shirt between her teeth.

"Yea, they are. But we have to get going. We're almost at Port Legann. They'll be wondering where we are." Watching Black, she continued. "Maybe you should ride Star the rest of the way."

Looking at Star, who was happily racing Black, he asked dubiously. "Are you sure that's a good idea?"

"She'll be calm with someone riding her," she reassured him. "Besides, Black needs to work off some more of his energy."

He groaned. "Fine. Let's go."

When Daine called Black and Star over, Numair told Star severely, "You had better not dump me." Daine smiled as Star rubbed her head against Numair's chest. The young mare really liked the mage. Heading over to a stump, they mounted the horses, setting out once again for Port Legann.

This time Black helped guard the men, Star leading the way. Daine was a little surprised at how gentle the frisky mare was with a rider on her back.

She spent the next couple hours it took to reach Port Legann heading off any man who attempted to escape. Black had what appeared to be an unlimited supply of energy, never tiring as he retrieved a prisoner.

When they entered the gates of the castle, guards, after having a quick talk with Numair, took the prisoners off to put in cells. When hostlers came to take the horses, the horses paused, undecided on what to do.

Go ahead. I'll be down to see you later.

The horses were led off to the stables as Daine and Numair headed up the steps to talk with Jon.

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