I sincerely apologize for the delay in getting this chapter out.

Disclaimer: I do not own Tortall or anything in it. That's why it's called fanfiction.

Enjoy!

Chapter 7

Never A Peaceful Moment

"Master Salmalin! Lady Daine!" a young voice called out. Numair and Daine turned to see a young page running up to them.

"His Majesty wishes to see you in his private study immediately," the youth said, gasping for breath.

Numair thanked him, sending the boy on his way. They changed directions, heading for Jon's study. "I wonder what's happened now?" he muttered.

They found Jon pacing in front of the window of his study. "Good, you're here," he said, relief on his face. Motioning toward the seats in front of his desk, he continued. "I hate to ask you two to leave so soon, but I know you can easily handle this situation."

"Just tell us Jon!" Numair snapped impatiently.

"There's a small settlement close to our borderline with Galla called Benton," Jon explained, after sending a death glare at Numair. "Villagers keep disappearing, returning a few days later. The messenger they sent here says that they're changed. They never talk, unless they are asked a direct question, and then it's with the smallest amount of words possible. They don't recognize anybody or anything. They don't remember anything about where they had been when they were missing. Like I said, I hate to send you two out again so soon, but this has to be taken care of."

"It's okay Jon," Daine assured him. "This does need to be taken care of as soon as possible."

"How do we get there?" Numair asked.

"The messenger is still here. He'll show you the way."

"When do we leave?" Daine asked.

"As soon as you're ready. The messenger is ready to when you are."

"I'm ready to leave now. I never had a chance to unpack," Daine said, a slight smile on her face.

"Neither of us did."

"Before you leave, go out to the kitchens and eat. I'll have someone take your bags down to the stables and have your horses saddled."

"Okay Jon." They turned to leave, but Jon called out to them.

"Be careful. Don't get into something you can't handle. Contact Alanna or myself for back up if you need it. Am I clear on this? I don't want you two to go out and kill yourself by doing something foolish."

"Don't worry Jon. We won't," Daine answered with a grin.

"Good luck!" Jon called as they left.

"Bye Jon."

Numair groaned once they were out of Jon's range of hearing. "More traveling."

"I know, but it does sound urgent."

They entered the dining hall, realizing that it was lunchtime. They grabbed plates, filling them with food, then went and sat down at one of the tables.

"And here I thought we were going to be here awhile," Numair muttered.

She laughed. "You'll live Numair. Besides, it is important."

"I wonder what it is?"

"Some of Ozorne's followers?"

"Maybe, Magelet. If that's so-"

He was interrupted by a blonde haired youth around Daine's age. He was tall, around five foot eight, and had piercing blue eyes that searched his surroundings, leaving nothing unnoticed. He sat down at their table, studying the two.

"I'm Alex," he said, introducing himself. "I'm the messenger from Benton. You are Master Numair Salmalin and Veralidaine Sarrasri, I presume?"

"Yes, but call me Daine," she said, smiling. He was quite handsome, his shoulder length blonde hair accenting his features quite nicely.

"Of course, Daine," he said, correcting himself. Addressing both of them, he continued. "I'm ready to leave when you are. Your bags have been taken down to the stables and your horses have been saddled."

"We'll be ready soon, Alex," Numair assured him. "Until then, why don't you get something to eat? We have a long ride ahead of us."

"I ate already. I had plenty of time."

Numair nodded, turning back to his meal. Remembering something, he turned his attention to Daine. "What about Kit?"

"What about her?"

"Are you bringing her with us?"

"Of course. I've been gone from her for too long as it is. I don't want to make her stay here."

"Who's Kit?" Alex asked quickly. "I was under the impression it was just you two."

Daine laughed. "Don't worry. You'll see Kit soon enough." Finishing her meal, she turned to Numair. "Ready?"

"Yes, Magelet."

They left the dining hall, Alex following silently. Magelet? he wondered. He hoped that Numair and Daine didn't have an intimate relationship going on. Daine was around his age, and she was very beautiful. He had a hard time believing that she was the Wild Mage of Tortall, the one he had heard so many amazing stories about.

Alex was surprised to find five horses waiting for them in the stable courtyard. He turned to Daine, his confusion clearly showing on his face. "Why are there five horses?"

"Well, they bay is yours," she said, pointing to the pretty bay mare next to Spots. He bristled at this, for his eyes were set on the large black stallion that was rearing in the air, pulling the reins away from the young hostler who attempted to hold him.

"Are you sure she's not for you? I was thinking of riding that black stallion."

"I don't think so. That's my horse, a gift from His Majesty." She turned her attention to the hostler who was exhausting himself in a futile attempt to catch Black. "It's all right," she called out. "Leave him be. He'll come when I need him."

He looked at her gratefully, before turning and going back inside the stables.

"The King gave you a horse like that?" Alex asked, appalled. "That's not a lady's horse!"

"Your point?"

"He's too strong for you-"

"You underestimate me, Alex. I'm not one of the helpless females of your village. The quicker you get rid of this stupid prejudice against women, the better we'll get along on this journey. Now, back to your original question. The bay is yours, Black is mine, the black filly is Numair's, the gray pony is mine, and the gelding is Numair's. Let's go introduce you to this mare of yours."

She approached the mare, Alex behind her. What's your name, hoof-sister?

Rain.

Nice to meet you, Rain. I'm Daine.

The Wild Mage, I know. She pushed her head against Daine's chest, nuzzling her arm.

Rain, this is Alex. He'll be your rider on our expedition, she said, motioning to Alex. "Alex, this is Rain."

She left him with the mare, going over to where Numair was standing next to Star. "Do you know where Kit is?" she asked him. "She was with Alanna when we first arrived."

"I believe she's with Tkaa. He's bringing her in a moment."

Alex walked up to them. "Are we ready to leave?" he asked.

"No, not-Cloud, no!" The pony had come up behind Alex, and had almost succeeded in taking a bite out of his arm.

Alex paled as he saw how close the pony had come. Daine led the pony away, scolding her the whole time.

"Don't worry about Cloud," Numair said, chuckling.

"Don't worry about her? She nearly bit off my arm!"

"Oh, she won't hurt you as long as you don't hurt Daine. And as long as you don't bother her. Cloud's a one person pony."

"Thanks for the warning. What about the stallion?"

"Black? You don't have to worry about him. He has a much nicer temperament."

"When do we leave?"

"When Kit gets here."

Daine returned, leaning on the fence next to Numair. "Here they come," she said, pointing to Tkaa and Kit.

Alex turned in the direction she was pointing. He was surprised to see a basilisk approaching them. "Is that Kit?" he asked in amazement.

"No, that's Tkaa. Kit is behind him."

Then Alex noticed the small blue dragon walking behind Tkaa. "A dragon."

"Yes," Numair answered.

"Black, come here," Daine called to her horse, picking up Kit. The stallion trotted up to her, and she put Kit into her pouch before turning back to Tkaa. "Would you like to come with us?" she asked him politely.

"I can't," he answered, causing Alex to jump. He had never seen a basilisk before, much less met one, so he didn't know they had the ability to speak. Tkaa looked at him in amusement before continuing. "Jon needs me here."

Daine nodded, mounting Black. Numair and Alex followed her example, mounting their own horses. Saying goodbye to Tkaa, they left the palace.

"Aren't you going to get those two?" Alex inquired, looking back at Cloud and Spots.

Daine followed his gaze. "Cloud and Spots? No, they're fine." With that, she pulled Black up beside Numair.

-----

"Is that your bow?" Alex asked, pulling Rain up alongside Black, interrupting Daine's conversation with Numair. Kit glared at him, but he ignored the dragonet.

"Yea. Do you shoot too?"

"Yep," he replied, motioning to his own bow behind him. "Can I see yours?"

"Sure." She handed it over, watching his amazement as he examined it. "It's beautifully made," he complimented.

"Thanks. My Da made it for me. He made Numair's staff too."

"Do you think I could get him to make me one?"

Numair and Daine laughed, causing Alex to look at them in confusion. "What?"

"My Da is Weiryn, god of the hunt," she explained.

Alex looked at her in shock. "You're a half-goddess?"

"Yea."

Trying to distract himself, he attempted to pull the bow back, expecting it to be easy. It wasn't. He could barely get it back a couple inches. "You can't pull this back," he stated with conviction.

She took her bow from him, dropping Black's reins. She pulled it back with ease, the bow requiring little effort. Releasing the string, she hooked the bow back into its resting spot behind her saddle.

Alex was silent as she turned her attention back to Numair and Kit. Daine, a half-goddess? And he couldn't believe that bow! He couldn't draw it, and he was the best archer in Benton!

He was quiet for the rest of the trip until Rain stopped. Looking around, he saw that Daine and Numair had stopped as well. It was almost dark, and he hadn't even noticed! He cursed himself for not paying attention.

"Daine, can you find a good clearing for us to make camp?"

She nodded. "Black, Cloud, behave," she told her horses. Alex watched in astonishment as her clothes fell, no longer supported by her body. An eagle now set in the saddle, spreading her wings and taking off.

"Was that Daine?" Alex asked in wonder as Numair picked up her clothes.

"Yea."

"That's remarkable!"

"It is. She has more wild magic than I ever imagined possible in a human."

They waited in silence for Daine to return. Suddenly an eagle flew down from the treetops. Numair raised his arm, allowing Daine to perch there. "Did you find anything?"

"Yea, there's a nice little clearing up ahead." Alex jumped as he heard Daine's voice coming from the eagle's body.

They started forward again, Daine giving directions from her perch on Numair shoulder. Soon they arrived in a small clearing. There was more than enough room for their camp, as well as plenty of grazing available for the horses. A small river came out of the woods, crossing across one corner of the field before disappearing into the trees once more.

"Stay here," Numair told Alex, dismounting Star. Taking Daine's clothes, he disappeared into the woods with the eagle.

Alex was unsaddling Rain when they returned, Daine back in her human form. He sat his bags and saddle on the ground before taking the mare over and tying her to a tree.

Daine looked up from where she was unsaddling Black. "What are you doing?"

"Tying my horse."

"Leave him untied. She won't go anywhere." She took the bridle off Black, and the stallion went over to the river.

Deciding to follow her example, he released Rain, and then went over to his bags. He got out his bedroll, his back facing his companions. When he looked back, he realized they had disappeared.

Daine and Numair left the clearing, gathering enough firewood to last them through the night. When they returned to their camp, they found Alex searching the woods around the clearing.

"What are you doing?" Numair called out to the youth.

Alex jumped, turning to face the two. "Looking for you two. Where were you, anyway?"

Daine groaned. "We went to get firewood. I'm sorry we didn't tell you. We're just used to traveling by ourselves."

He nodded. "It's okay, I understand."

"Can you get the fire ready, Alex?"

"Sure." As he did that, she got out her and Numair's bedrolls, along with some of their provisions to make into a stew. As they worked, Numair started walking around the clearing, muttering under his breath.

"What's he doing?" Alex asked in annoyance. "Isn't he going to help us set up camp?

She just looked at him. "He's setting up the wards, Alex."

"Oh. Right." Now he really felt dumb. Daine must think he was a fool.

Numair returned just as Alex finished making the fire. He watched as Numair quickly started the fire, not showing any signs of using magic. But he had to have used magic, Alex thought. He didn't use any of the traditional ways to start a fire.

Daine started fixing their meal, Kit sitting next to her. Once Numair sat down, Kit climbed into his lap, making herself comfortable. Alex suppressed the urge to laugh.

Soon their meal was ready, and they ate in companionable silence.

"Hey Alex," Daine began as they cleaned up after their meal. "Do you want to practice archery with me before we leave in the morning?"

"I'd love to," he replied with a grin in her direction.

He watched as she sat down beside Numair, leaning against him as he wrapped an arm around her. A sinking feeling settled in his stomach, but he still let himself believe that Daine and Numair were just friends. He went over to his bedroll, laying down, turning until he got into a comfortable position. "Good night," he called out to his two companions.

"Night, Alex," Daine replied, sleepily.

"Goodnight Alex."

He watched the flames, feeling them luring him to sleep. He observed Daine get up, kiss Numair gently on the lips, and then stretch out on her bedroll, which he now noticed was combined wit Numair's. Maybe I don't have a chance with her after all, he thought as Kit curled up beside Daine.

AN 1: I'd like to know your opinion about Alex. Please let me know what you think, I value your opinions!

AN 2: I don't remember how to spell Weiryn's name, so it's probably wrong. If it is, please correct me!

Read & Review, Please! I'm dying here! People are putting this story on their alert and favorites list and not reviewing! Constructive criticism is welcome, but no flames please!