I finished my dissertation today so I thought I'd celebrate by writing a mini chapter (don't worry, I'm celebrating in the regular person way tomorrow night!) I've been very rude and not thanked any of my reviewers yet, so to ReadingRobyn, steelsong, Star Holder Commander, fictitious character, loveshopelost, CompassGold, Tortall Tribe Freak, Treewriter, missmab449, phebird, kiley109, fnt, Cygnet Shearwater, weeblz-kat, Daughter of Nature and last but not least (your 4 reviews made my day!!) Da Lady Vitch, thank you all so much, you've kept this fic going! To those of you who asked about who I think Raoul was in love with, the answer is below. I've always thought this made sense and explained the years and years before he got with Buri. Unrequited love is the worst! I've just realised this in super short, I'll post another a.s.a.p. Anyway, I've rambled enough, its disclaimer time: none of it is mine. Except creepy old Massan.

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"I swear on the Goddess herself I'm getting mighty sick of balls," Alanna grumbled, holding a dark blue dress against herself before angrily tossing it away.

Daine giggled and retrieved the gown, hanging it back up in the cupboard. "You and Raoul are like two peas in a pod, he's been moaning since we stepped off the boat…You've known him since you were a page haven't you?"

"I have indeed, he was even a giant back then, but a better friend you'll never have," Alanna said, selecting an emerald gown for her scrutiny.

"So when did he find out you were…"

"A girl?" the Lioness grinned. "After I got my shield. I hated lying to him."

"And did George always know? When did you and him fall in love?"

"You're in an inquisitive mood today youngling," Alanna said, regarding Daine quizzically for a moment before answering her. "George knew years before I got my shield…but I didn't let myself acknowledge how I felt about him until much later. Lucky for me he's a patient rogue."

"And Raoul…he's never been in love?" Daine pressed.

"Its not something we ever talk about really…I don't think he's ever stopped seeing me as 'Alan' in a way, so we don't share our deepest feelings. I like it though, I don't feel like I ever have to prove myself with him. Does this interrogation have a point?" she softened her words with a smile.

The significance of Alanna's words made Daine realise, in a flash of comprehension, who Raoul's unrequited love was for and she immediately felt a profound sorrow for her friend. The thought of seeing Numair with another woman made her feel physically ill; she couldn't begin to imagine how heartbreaking it must have been for Raoul to see Alanna with George…and Jonathan. Suddenly his years of bachelorhood made perfect sense to the Widlmage.

"No reason, I'm just curious I suppose. I think you should go with the green," she said, swiftly changing the subject. "And now we've decided on your outfit, help me choose mine."

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Daine struggled to stifle a yawn as one Carthaki dignitary's speech blended into another. She hadn't been sleeping well since her dream; the heat and the less than enthralling speakers were making her fatigue worse.

"Are you feeling alright Magelet?" Numair whispered in her ear, his proximity doing funny things to her concentration.

She nodded. "Just tired. And incredibly bored."

Numair stifled a laugh and took her hand underneath the table, tracing patterns over her palm with his fingers. His touch stirred her, putting her senses on high alert. Casting her glance around the table she met Kaddar's eyes and the Emperor pulled a very un-regal like face of boredom at her, making her smile. Her amusement faded, however, as she noticed the mage Massan staring at her and Numair from across the room. She narrowed her eyes and he looked away, leaving her with a cold feeling in her stomach.

After the speeches, and the banquet, the dancing began. Numair was called away by a mage from the university which left Daine free to slip out onto the terrace for some air. She cast out her wildmagic into the peaceful gardens: a pair of frogs splashed in the pool, a brilliantly plumed bird of paradise settled down to roost. Her feeling of foreboding brought on by the sinister mage eased in the face of such serenity. A few moments later she discovered her new feline friend Pearl was hunting, and she called her over.

-You should be honoured, I don't normally waste good hunting time like this.- The cat rubbed her head against Daine's leg and the girl smiled.

- I won't keep you long Pearl, I was just wondering…what do you know of this man?­- She showed Pearl an image of Massan and she felt the cat recoil slightly.

- He has rooms at the bottom of the castle…there's nothing there, not even one measly mouse. I don't go down there, it makes me worried. –

Daine frowned, taking the cat's unease as a confirmation that something about that mage was very wrong. She talked with Pearl for a while longer before the cat disappeared into the night to resume her hunting.

Back in the ballroom Daine scanned the floor for Numair but couldn't make out his familiar frame amongst the throngs of people. She frowned when she realised Varice was also conspicuous by her absence. The girl circled the room, biting her lip when she realised both were nowhere to be seen. Alanna was busy talking to a group of nobles; she couldn't ask her. Forcefully trying to dismiss her feeling of dread, she caught the attention of a passing servant.

"Excuse me have you seen Miss Kingsford?" she asked.

"Lady Varice left a few minutes ago with someone from your party," the woman replied.

Daine's stomach churned. "Do you know who?"

"I don't know his name. He was very tall…dark hair. If that's all miss," the woman replied before curtsying and leaving.

Daine's whole body swayed: she felt like Sarra's bastard again, the scared girl from the mountains that she was when she'd first came to Tortall, her worst fears playing out vividly in her minds eye. After a few moments of panic she calmed down, reassuring herself that Numair would never do anything to hurt her, that he loved her. She set off for Varice's chambers, praying to every God she could name that they'd be empty. As she walked she veered both between despair so acute she longed to be back in the forest with her wolf friends, an animal with no concept of betrayal or pain as deep as this, and faith in the human she loved above all else.

Outside Varice's door she stopped and took a deep breath, forcing down her tumultuous emotions. Without knocking she pushed open the door and was greeted by an extremely unexpected sight.

"Raoul?"