Obviously everyone you recognise here are Tamora's creations and not mine. Thanks to ReadingRobyn for my first review, it definitely inspired me to keep going! Any other reviews would be very welcome.

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Kaddar Ghazanoi Iliniat, Emperor of Carthak, fought hard to suppress a distinctly un-regal like urge to run up the gangplank to greet his guests. Well, he corrected himself, one guest in particular at least. It had been two years since he'd seen Veralidaine Sarrasri, and despite the abundance of female attention he'd received on becoming Emperor, in his eyes she remained unique: her tenacity, strength and intelligence had impressed him as much as her soft beauty and grace. Almost as much, he thought wryly, as memories of those wide eyes played out vividly in his mind.

The Tortallan delegation, whose ranks were swelled by ten members of the King's Own, a number of clerks, minor officials and dignitaries as well as the more legendary members of the party, slowly made their way off the boat. Alanna, Raoul and Numair as the most senior members of the party presented themselves first, closely followed by Daine. "Greetings your highness," Alanna said, bowing low.

"Welcome back to Carthak Lionness," Kaddar smiled. "And you must be Sir Raoul, your reputation precedes you my Lord. We are honoured with such a distinguished guest." Raoul bowed deeply. "Master Salmalin, I'm glad you've returned to our shores and I hope this visit is much more pleasant than your last." Numair inclined his head to the Emperor whose eyes narrowed slightly at his nonchalance. "Daine!" All formality was lost when he turned to the young wildmage.

"Kaddar! You're looking well, Emperor status suits you," she grinned, bowing swiftly. Daine was pleased to note that the young leader's formal attire was much less ostentatious than his uncle Ozorne's had been, his large, ornate staff of office the only gaudy item Kaddar wore.

"You look truly lovely as always Daine," he said sincerely. "I hope you'll let me show you our new zoo, we're quite pleased with it so far." Daine nodded enthusiastically and Kaddar smiled before turning away to greet the rest of the delegation.

The Tortallans arrived at the newly constructed Imperial Palace late in the afternoon. Daine gaped at her surroundings: like Kaddar's clothes the new Imperial Palace was an altogether different one than its predecessor. Where once the various structures and towers that made up the palace had been designed to demonstrate the Emperor's wealth and splendour, they were now built to last: practical and sturdy whilst still retaining a certain impressiveness and strength that complemented the new Emperor's personality perfectly. The garish and extravagant statues of the now deceased Emperor Ozorne were gone, replaced by beautiful fountains and ornaments, with the only sculptures and monuments on display those commemorating Carthak's patron Goddess the Graveyard Hag.

"I think your temper tantrum did them a favour Daine," Raoul murmured. Daine laughed and blushed, shaking her head so that her curls covered her face.

Kaddar grinned at her. "I take it the new palace is more to your liking? We still have much to do but I think it's shaping up quite well."

"It's lovely…very you Kaddar…I mean, your Imperial Majesty," Daine replied.

"Please, keep calling me Kaddar. I could never let you of all people bow to me Daine," he said softly, wide brown eyes holding her gaze. She blushed under his intense stare before glancing at Numair who was frowning angrily.

"So your Highness, what's the programme for our visit?" Alanna asked quickly, sensing the mage's growing ire. As Kaddar outlined the activities planned for the Tortallans, Daine pulled Numair aside.

"This trip is going to pass awfully slowly if you keep having a kitten every time Kaddar says one word to me," she said, smiling slightly.

Numair, however, was not in the mood to be teased. "The sooner you tell him about us the better. I don't know how long I can keep the friendly teacher act up for." Daine rolled her eyes and was about to reply when Raoul called for them to hurry up from the entrance to the palace. Once with their party, servants, and not slaves Daine was pleased to note, escorted them to their rooms where they were informed that the banquet held in their honour was almost ready.

Inside her room Daine unpacked swiftly and got changed, stopping for a moment to examine her room: large, airy and comfortable it looked out over a beautiful landscaped garden. Numair knocked at her door a little while later and she answered it with a smile, standing on tip toe to kiss him. "Are you not coming in?"

"Better not magelet ," he said regretfully. "Are you ready?"

Daine sighed and nodded. "How do I look?" She swished the skirts of her royal blue dress shyly.

"Truly lovely," Numair said, slightly sulkily. Daine frowned at him and was about to tell him not to be so silly when Alanna and Raoul arrived ready to head for the Great Hall. Daine took the large knight's arm and set off, leaving a puzzled Alanna and a scowling Numair in her wake.

"You, laddybuck, are going to have to pull yourself together," Alanna reprimanded him. "Kaddar's always had a soft spot for our Daine but its you she's mad for and you know it. Stop giving her a hard time, it's not as if she encourages him."

Numair nodded. "You're right…I'll apologise later. I guess I'm just used to life at court where everyone knows about us. And I don't have to fend off the attentions of a love sick adolescent Emperor."

"You're not being fair on Kaddar. Once he knows about you two he'll back off," Alanna reassured him as they headed for the banquet. The Tortallans were escorted to their places, with Daine seated at the head of the table next to Kaddar and Numair slightly further down. He sighed and turned away from the Emperor, who was plying Daine with some sort of fancy Carthaki delicacy, to his right hand side.

"I was wondering when you'd finally notice me," said the lady sat next to him, a smile adding a warmth to her pretty face.

"Varice!" Numair exclaimed, smiling back despite himself and kissing her hand. "I was wondering what happened to you after Ozorne's…departure."

"Well Kaddar asked me to stay on and help him with the rebuilding and who am I to refuse an Imperial request?" she replied, arching one delicate eyebrow. "How have you been anyway Numair?"

"Busy," he replied dryly, subconsciously glancing towards Daine who was laughing at something Kaddar had just said.

Varice, who before Daine had been the only woman to ever have a true impact on Numair's heart, smiled again: for all his arcane knowledge and tremendous power, the great mage was in many ways completely transparent. His feelings for Daine, and his jealousy of the Emperor, were clear in his every movement, from the frequent glances in her direction to the narrowing of his eyes when Kaddar made her laugh. Varice realised with satisfaction that this situation could easily work to her advantage: a word or two in Numair's ear and some calculated flattery would surely yield results. She resolutely ignored the part of her that yearned for Numair's love rather than his casual lust and moved slightly closer to him, smiling again from under lowered eyelashes. "So, Numair, tell me about life in Tortall…"

Further up the table Daine was thoroughly enjoying herself. Although she didn't like to admit it, she'd found herself missing Kaddar over the past two years his stories of Carthaki life were fascinating and she enjoyed his quick wit and humour. "Daine, how is Numair? He seemed…odd earlier," Kaddar enquired.

Daine paused. "He's fine, he just doesn't like long journeys." She glanced down the table towards him and frowned when she saw Varice gazing up at her love in obvious rapture. "I didn't know Varice still lived here."

Kaddar nodded. "She's been a great help with the new palace design, I don't know what I would have done without her to be honest."

"Shouldn't she be away married by now?" Daine said grumpily. Kaddar laughed and shook his head. A kick on her ankle from the Lionness sat opposite her reminded her not to be so rude.

"What Daine means, your Highness, is that it seems a shame that such an attractive woman like Varice is still alone," Raoul said smoothly.

"Varice is happy enough…she gets quite a few offers. Although rumour has it the only man she'd ever want to be with is your very own Numair Salmalin and that's not likely to happen is it? What with him being so far away," Kaddar said, watching Daine's reaction closely.

"But that was years ago! She should just forget about him," she exclaimed crossly. Alanna rolled her eyes and Raoul patted her knee under the table.

Whilst the Lionness talked with the Emperor, the big knight leaned towards her. "Daine do you want Kaddar to decide you're actually a silly, lovestruck child instead of a strong, independent young lady?" he murmured. Daine opened her mouth to protest but thought better of it and shook her head. "Well then stop raising your hackles whenever Varice is mentioned. Literally. I don't want you shifting into some sort of savage beast and leaping over the table to get at her."

Daine grinned. "I think I can control myself."

"Good. You're much prettier than her anyway," Raoul said, squeezing her knee again before turning to talk to the Carthaki general on his left.

The banquet lasted well into the night, with the Tortallans virtually falling asleep on their seats by the time the last course had been eaten. With a short speech from Kaddar welcoming his guests and wishing them a pleasant stay, the visitors retired to their temporary accommodation in the palace.

The moment Numair fell into bed, however, he instantly became wide awake. As a result the small brown mouse that squeezed under his doorframe and climbed up his bed covers didn't surprise him. With a rueful smile he fetched one of his shirts and gently placed it on top of the little creature. A moment later Daine appeared, sat cross legged in front of him. "You shouldn't be here magelet."

"No one will know Numair," she said. "Besides you know I can't sleep without you or Kitten or one of my friends."

"Aah so that's why we're together…I'm a prop to help you sleep?" he teased, stroking her arm gently.

"Exactly," she said solemnly. "Numair don't be cross at me. I've not done anything."

He smiled slightly at her swift change in focus. "Magelet I'm not cross. I just don't like it when other men fawn over you."

"Kaddar wasn't fawning and besides, Varice was all over you like a mare in season," Daine scowled. Numair laughed at her strikingly apt comparison. "I'm serious. I trust you so you have to trust me."
He pulled her into his arms and held her tightly, stroking her soft curls. "I do trust you Daine. And I love you very very much, which is why I get so jealous; at times like this I still can't believe you feel the same after I spent so long trying to convince myself you'd never see me as more than your teacher. "

It was rare that Numair divulged so much of his feelings to her and this fact alone made Daine realise he was genuinely worried. "Numair, I love you more than anything and I always will. There is no one I'd rather be with in the world, you hear me?" She propped herself up on her elbow to look at him better, and found herself getting lost in his deep brown eyes.

He nodded. "And as for Varice, you have nothing to worry about. I used to like women such as her but now I prefer mine small, dark haired and good with a crossbow." She giggled and kissed him gently, allowing him to rest her down on the bed, his hands tracing the familiar but always enchanting patterns on her body as they kissed with a passion that six months of togetherness had only increased.