W-o-w. I know, I know. It's been so long that you could probably kill me, and I wouldn't blame you. But, my life has been kind of hectic lately, and by hectic I mean that my legal guardian has changed from my parents to my brother. Muse hasn't been very high, for one, and two... between all the court trials and the hospital visits and school, I haven't much spare time NOR have I been in the mood to write. But now, it's summer, and I'm beginning to feel like everything is behind me. I have a lot more time now that I'm living with my brother, and he's gone most of the time so THAT means I get a lot of time on my laptop. I hope you all can forgive me for taking so long between updates, and I sincerely hope that I'll be able to update more and more often now. I felt the need to explain myself, but now I think I owe it to you to let you read the fifth chapter. Don't kill me, it's a bit of a cliffhanger!

Chapter 5: Theories and Friends

"And you're sure these… these spidrens are after you?"

It had been three days since Daine and Numair had faced Marmion and the spidrens in Whelan. They were back in Corus now, and had reported everything about their mission to the king. Technically speaking, the mission itself had been successful - they had managed to get the spidrens to leave the small town alone. But as they soon discovered, the king found their news of Marmion to be rather disturbing.

"That's what our entire conversation with Marmion implied, sir," Daine answered, staying close to Numair's side. Ever since leaving Whelan, Numair had been exceedingly protective over his young love. Not that he had ever been protective before, but it was even more so now that they knew someone was after them.

"And somebody has hired them to do this?"

"Marmion said it himself, Jon," Numair told the king, his arm wrapped tightly around Daine's shoulders. "He kept mentioning his employer, but he didn't tell us who it is."

The king ran his hands over his weary face. "Do you have any theories?" he asked.

"None, your Majesty. I know I have enemies, but…" Numair shook his head. "None of them consort with spidrens. I never even knew they could be reasoned with until three days ago. And most of my enemies are in Carthak, and spidrens don't dwell down in the desert. They can't stand the heat."

Jonathan of Tortall gazed at his most powerful mage thoughtfully, scratching his chin as he did so absentmindedly. "Can you think of anywhere else that may have access to…"

"No." Numair shook his head again. "But whoever hired Marmion knew about Daine and I. He… or she, I suppose… knew that Daine was my weak spot."

A door opening to the king's private study told them that they had a visitor. "N'mair, lad, I think the whole kingdom knows ye've got a soft spot for the lovely Wildmage. It ain't too hard to figure out since ye've been practically everywhere together." The gruff voice could only belong to one man only, who also happened to be the only man who would have the nerve to interrupt a private meeting between the king and his mages.

"George Cooper, what on earth are you doing eavesdropping on kingdom business?" Jonathan stood from his seat. Although his voice was stern, there was a smile on his face. Everyone knew that the Baron of Pirate's Swoop was one of the king's closest friends.

"I just wanted to tell ye something I thought was important." The Baron shrugged, though he was smiling too. "Me lass is comin' in from the coast and she says she's got some news to tell ye. Apparently she ran into a flock of them Stormwing fellers, and…"

Numair, Daine, and King Jonathan all looked at each other with wide eyes.

"Not her too," Daine whispered, hating the idea of any of her friends in danger.

"Well, I was gonna say she dealt with them soundly, but it seems ye had a different idea," George commented. As he looked between the three, confused, Jonathan decided to fill him in.

"Daine and Numair here seem to be on the wanted list for a group of spidrens and an employer who remains unknown."

George laughed. The king, Daine, and Numair all looked at him as if he had gone mad. "Of course they did, Jon," George snickered. "I can't think of a time when them two weren't in danger to save me life! Of course there's someone after them."

The king only shook his head, though there was a good-natured smile on his face. He looked back at Daine and Numair, and his expression immediately went back to the somber state it had been in before. "Could there possibly be any other leads we could go on?"

Numair shook his head, bewildered, while George looked deep in thought. "Well," he began to say, "We're not exactly on good terms with many of the countries…"

"No foreign government would try to take us on, George," Numair protested.

George looked at Numair skeptically. "But would they take you on if they already knew Daine was your weakness?"

Numair pulled Daine closer to him in response. "They would also know that I never leave her side," he pointed out.

"Very true, lad, very true," George mused, running his hands through his sandy hair. He looked back at the king. "Well, my lass will be arriving here in an hour or two, if you want to distract yourselves from all of this danger nonsense."

"That sounds perfect," the King responded, getting to his feet. He smiled at Daine and Numair. "Well, you both know that you are both perfectly safe inside Corus walls, and even if you are not, we would all fight to keep you here. Head down to your rooms, and I'll meet you in the main courtyard in an hour. Perhaps Alanna might have an opinion on this whole subject. It couldn't hurt to ask her. I'll see you all very soon."

He, George, Daine, and Numair all left the room then, heading off to their separate destinations.

When Daine tried to turn to head off towards the stables, Numair gently grabbed her arm and looked at her worriedly. "Magelet, just where do you think you're going?" he asked of her.

Daine only smiled and rolled her eyes. "I'm going to my rooms. Spidrens won't attack me there, Numair, I'm sure of it. I also need some time to do some girl things, if you don't mind, and I wouldn't want to do them in your rooms. I'll come to you when I'm finished."

Numair looked at his young love for only a moment before sighing in defeat and nodding. "Be careful, magelet. Remember what Marmion said."

"I'm not likely to forget," was the dark reply.

Mother Wildmage will be safe, Runner exclaimed once Daine had reached her rooms. While she had been gone, Kitten had taken the two fox cubs to Daine's rooms, their new home. Runner had already found the strength in his legs to jump up onto her bed. Spirit was playing with a ball of string in the far corner, oblivious to the conversation her brother was having with her new mother at the moment. Kitten was playing with her, and together they batted and rolled the ball of string back and forth to each other. Runner will protect Mother Wildmage.

"I'm sure nobody will get to me with you around," Daine answered, humoring the little fox cub as he got into a pouncing position and wriggled his hindquarters.

Runner will attack anyone attacking Mother Wildmage, he proclaimed, letting out a little growl almost as if he were proving it. Runner good fighter. Spider-humans stay away from Mother Wildmage because Runner is here.

Daine allowed herself a small chuckle as she began to unpack her small travel bag. "They will indeed."

Spirit help too! exclaimed the littler of the two fox cubs as she scrambled onto the bed to tackle her brother. Kitten squealed her amusement as they pair of them began rolling around, mock fighting as they nipped at each other and barked their enjoyment. Spirit good fighter too!

Not good as Runner, Runner replied as he wrestled with his sister.

Spirit show she is good as Runner! Spirit proclaimed.

Daine intervened just as Sprit was about to be sent flying off the edge of the bed by her brother. She picked up the feisty fox cub and set her on the floor next to Kitten. "You'll be doing no such thing. You'll hurt yourselves if you go on like this. Stay still and behave!"

Mother say that all the time, Runner said quietly as he crouched on the bed, ears pinned to his head in shame for having disobeyed his adopted mother. Before spider-humans destroy den.

Daine looked over her shoulder at the small male fox. The spidren attack on their den must have been harder on the two cubs than the Wildmage had originally thought. She realized that these two cubs had just lost their mother, very much in the same manner that Daine had lost hers. They were handling it was best they could, but one quick deep glance into their minds told Daine that they still had much healing to do before they could fully get over it.

Daine sat on the bed next to Runner and picked him up, placing him ever so gently on her lap. She began stroking his small furry head, humming a soft lullaby to the cub. "My mother and my home were destroyed once too," she decided to confide in the little creatures.

Mother Wildmage know grief? Spirit had jumped up onto the bed now, laying her small head on the edge of Daine's knee, looking up at her with wide brown eyes.

"I know a lot about grief," Daine said softly, petting Spirit's head as well, scratching a bit behind her black-tipped ears. "My Mum was killed by bandits, and our home was burned down by the same folk. I lost my entire family, except for Cloud, of course."

What happen to Mother Wildmage? She come to Tortall?

"Not right away," came the quiet reply. Gently, Daine began telling the two cubs the story of how she had come to Tortall. How she had met Onua, Numair, Alanna, and all of her friends that she had today. The cubs were excellent listeners, providing the appropriate reactions for the appropriate times. Their ears were always pricked forward, practically drinking in every last word Daine had to say. Daine decided that they would make fine foxes someday, able to spy and listen very much like the adults of their kind were useful for when Daine presented the opportunity.

Mother Wildmage good at stories, Spirit supplied once Daine had finished, her voice soft with awe. Tell more stories?

"Later, perhaps," Daine answered, picking up the two cubs and placing them near her pillow. Kitten scrambled up to join the two cubs, curling up in between them for an afternoon nap. "For now, I must go meet Numair and see Alanna. You two stay here. Kit, would you like to come?"

The dragon mewled back her contentment. No, the little dragonet would stay with the two cubs and get some sleep. Daine envied her.

Daine was just leaving her rooms when she bumped into someone who was just a bit taller than she was. Daine looked up and a grin instantly lit up her face as she threw her arms around her oldest Tortallan friend.

"Onua!" she shouted.

The horse mistress laughed and gave her younger friend a tight hug in return. "Daine, it's good to see you," she said sincerely. "I just saw Jon a few moments ago, and he told me about the spidrens. Are you sure you're alright? It'd be just like you to downplay danger when you're involved."

"But I wouldn't be so quick to make the danger smaller if it effected Numair too, though, would I?" was Daine's retort.

Onua laughed good-naturedly. "I'm sure you have a point there," she answered. "Even though I heard it from Jon, I think I would like to hear the entire story from you."

Daine nodded, but then looked guilty. "Actually, I told Numair I would meet him in his rooms before we headed down to the courtyard. If King Jonathan told you about the spidrens, then you should know Numair is in his most protective state right now. If I delay more than five minutes he'll think something horrible has happened to me," she told Onua. She hated that she hardly spent any time with her old friends anymore, but Numair had become such a huge part of her life that she could barely afford time away from him without going miserable.

Onua, the wonderful friend that she was, completely understood. She smiled and nodded, patting Daine on the shoulder reassuringly to display that she knew exactly what was going on. "I'll see you later then. See if you can wrestle yourself away from your lover long enough to come visit me in the stables. If not, I'll give him a good whack in the head." She winked as Daine laughed.

"I will, Onua, I promise. Cloud probably wouldn't be too taken with me either if I stayed away for too long," Daine reminded her.

Onua laughed. "I'll never understand that pony of yours, Daine," she mused. "But I will see you soon, won't I?"

"Of course."

And with that, the two friends parted ways and Daine headed to the western part of the castle, where Numair's rooms were. He answered his door before she even knocked, and swept her into his arms.

"Magelet, I missed you."

Daine laughed. "It's only been fifteen minutes, 'Mair. The cubs needed to be taken care of and I needed to change."

Numair smiled and pulled her into his room, shutting the door behind her. "It feels so much longer. I was very lonely without you." Despite his joking tone, Daine could sense the tenseness behind his words. The worry he felt for her was beginning to show, and in light of the situation, she understood and returned some of that same anxiety.

"Numair, you know we won't be able to stay with each other every second of the day," Daine whispered, deciding to address that worry.

The smile melted off Numair's face, and he sank into a nearby chair. He rubbed his large hands over his face and let out a quiet groan. Neither of them liked the fix they'd found themselves in, and they both knew it. Marmion would come after them, and they both knew that too. It was only a question of when, how, and if anyone would die trying to defend them. "I know, magelet," he murmured, "But… but Marmion… you know he won't stop until he has both of us."

"I know."

"And you… you aren't bothered by that?"

Daine rolled her eyes. "Well, I might be a tad bothered by the fact that a spidren wants me alive to hand over to someone else who obviously wants me dead," she quipped. "I just know that he won't stop. Numair, we may not be able to fend him off."

"We have an entire army at our disposal if Jon wishes it."

"An entire army of mortal, Ungifted men, Numair," Daine pointed out. "Would you really want to risk countless lives for us?"

Numair sighed, getting her point. "I'm just worried, magelet," he murmured. "The thought of anyone hurting you…"

"I know, Numair, I know," Daine murmured, approaching him. She knelt down to be in front of him, looking up into his dark eyes as she took one of his hands in her own. "I feel the same way, believe me. But trust me when I say we can't allow this to dictate our lives. Tortall still needs us - the King still needs us, and we can't ignore that all because our lives could be in danger. Our lives are endangered every day"

"While I have to agree with you, I also have to say that this is much more serious," Numair argued. "A true threat, from a spidren, no less, is not something that we can simply ignore."

"And we won't," Daine replied forcefully. "We'll just have to be more careful, is all."

"You're so hopeful, Daine, so full of optimism," Numair mused, tucking a stray strand of her smoky brown hair away from her face. "I hope it doesn't go to waste, magelet. Now." His grim expression turned into a grin and he slapped his knees as he stood. "Enough of this moping. Our dear knightly friend has come home, and I don't think being so down when she arrives will provide for a proper reception."

Daine smiled too, but an insistent scratching at the door caused them both to turn and frown.

"One of your furry friends, I take it?" Numair asked.

"I assume so, but…"

Mother Wildmage! came Spirit's little voice.

Daine smiled again, and patted Numair's arm. "It's only Spirit and Runner. Though how they managed to get out of my rooms, I haven't the faintest idea."

"If they're anything like you, I'm not sure why you doubt them," Numair grumbled as he turned away. Then he continued muttering something that sounded suspiciously like, 'Though how they found my rooms…'

Daine opened the door and two fuzzy red balls of fur flew into the rooms. Spirit and Runner dashed right into Numair's things, sniffing excitedly as puppies might a new home. Daine laughed and picked up the two little ones before they could cause too much trouble, and she could see that Numair was watching them with wary, untrusting eyes.

"What possessed you two to come after me?" Daine giggled as she set the two cubs on the chair that Numair had just occupied.

Kitten open door for Spirit and Runner. We come find you because we like smelling. Follow Mother Wildmage's scent to spicy rooms, Spirit exclaimed as she and her brother began wrestling.

Daine had to laugh at the name they gave Numair's rooms. The mage in question looked at her questioningly, and Daine relayed what Spirit had said to him. At that, a smile even spread across his features. He ruffled the fur on Spirit's head when the two cubs came to a stand still, and said, "Maybe someday I'll let you into my clothes drawer, little one. I'm sure you'll enjoy that."

Spirit's ears perked. Stork-man clothes spicy-smelling?

Daine translated.

Numair frowned, and didn't answer the question. "Daine, might I just point out that all of your animal friends seem to enjoy calling me 'stork-man'. Please tell me they didn't get it from you."

It was Daine's turn to laugh. "They get it from Cloud. Spirit and Runner were in her saddle-bags all this morning… you were a frequent topic of conversation."

But Spirit and Runner also come because someone looking for Mother Wildmage. Small boy. Came to door and announced arrival of important lady knight friend. Friend of Mother Wildmage friend of Runner too, Runner announced.

Spirit friends too! Spirit amended.

"Alanna is here already?" Daine asked, her eyebrows raising. She looked to Numair, who shrugged. "I suppose we should head down then. Would you two like to come with us, or are you content causing trouble elsewhere?"

Spirit and Runner not trouble causers! Spirit protested.

Runner come with Mother Wildmage. Spirit come too, said Runner.

Daine bent down and picked up the pair of them, cradling the two small fox cubs in her arms and she looked at Numair. "Let's see if Alanna knows anything."

Numair nodded and together the pair of them went down to greet their redheaded knight friend.

"Who are these little rascals?" Alanna asked as Spirit and Runner dashed to her feet, chasing each other around the small gathering of people. "Are they new friends of yours, Daine?"

Daine and Numair had come down to the courtyard to find Alanna dismounting Darkmoon, her great stallion, and George, her husband, sweeping her into a hug and trying to kiss her senseless. Only a throat clearing from the King, who was also there with Thayet the queen, caused the two to part. While Alanna turned a flush red, George just grinned and kept an arm around his wife's waist. That had been when Spirit and Runner had come running, and Alanna noticed the two cubs with an affectionate smile.

"I've more or less become their new mother," Daine admitted as Spirit and Runner ran underneath Darkmoon. The stallion whickered nervously, not liking the two miniature predators running rampant so close to his hooves. "Spidrens destroyed their den and killed their mother in the process. They found me."

"The poor dears," the queen said sympathetically, bending down and scooping a panting Spirit up into her arms. She tickled the young fox's belly, and Spirit squeaked her surprise and sniffled the queen's chin.

"How did Whelan go?" Alanna asked. "Get rid of the spidrens?"

Numair and Daine looked at each other as King Jonathan said, "It's more of a story than anything else."

"What happened? If you two started another war, so help me, I'll…"

"It's nothing like that, we don't think," Daine hastily reassured, as she picked up Runner. She cradled him close and kissed his fuzzy head - Runner licked her cheek in response. "Numair and I were going to take on one of the spidrens, when he actually stopped to speak with us."

"Threaten us, really," Numair added dryly, his eyes darkening to a near black as he wrapped a protective arm around Daine.

"Yes, well, to sum it all up, someone wants Numair and I. They sent the spidrens after us, and we have no idea when they'll strike again, or who they might work for."

Alanna scowled. "I swear, the two of you are like magnets for anything bad within a hundred miles," she grumbled, scratching her bright red hair. "Who could they be working for? Is it someone in Tortall?"

"We don't know." King Jon sounded tired.

"Hmph. Sounds to me like someone who has access to spidrens. Spidren colonies move from place to place, granted, but they only stay within a certain region, don't they?" When nobody answered her, Alanna continued. "I mean, they aren't down south, which rules out Carthak. Not that Kaddar would try to do this anyway… Have we ruled out a foreign government? Or is it someone from Tortall?"

Numair decided to express his opinion. "I honestly don't think it was someone outside of Tortall. Who would want to kidnap Daine and I especially?"

"To weaken the kingdom, perhaps? Everyone knows you're one of Jon's most valuable assets, the pair of you," Alanna observed.

"But why waste time and energy trying to capture us when you can just try to assassinate the king? Not that I want to worry you, Jon," Numair replied, looking to their monarch who only raised his hand in acknowledgement.

"Whatever the case," King Jonathan said, "Daine and Numair are in danger. I don't want the pair of you leaving the palace grounds alone. If you must leave, or I need you for a mission, I'll send either Alanna, George, or someone trusted with you along with a company of the Own. You two are my most important mages, and whoever is doing may or may not know that. The only thing I can ask of everyone is to be careful, and we can try to figure this out some other day. For now, let's just try and have one day without something going disastrously wrong."

"We mean it, you two," Thayet said seriously as she set Spirit back on the ground. "You need to be careful."

"Aye, I think they get the message," George said. "Now, if ye kind ladies and gents will excuse me, I need to give a proper welcome to me Lioness in me private quarters." With that, he whisked Alanna way, who winked over her shoulder as she passed them all.

"I think I could have gone an entire lifetime without that image in my mind," Numair groaned, rubbing his forehead.

Everyone laughed - even Spirit and Runner seemed to get the joke as they barked and chortled along with the humans. As the laughter died down, Jonathan and Thayet nodded to Numair and Daine before leaving themselves, and the way they walked seemed to insinuate that the royal couple was off to do something quite similar to Alanna and George. Which left a blushing Daine and a flustered Numair as they decided what to do with the rest of their day.

"Will you come back with me to my rooms?" Daine asked.

"For… for what?"

"Oh, honestly, Numair, all because the other females that were in this courtyard seemed to have their minds in a palace gutter doesn't mean that I do. I need to pick up some riding supplies - I want to visit Onua and Cloud before supper."

Onua? Onua another friend of Mother Wildmage? Runner questioned.

Daine nodded down at the two cubs. "Onua was my very first friend in Tortall. Remember, I told you about her. She was the one who…"

Who took Mother Wildmage to Tortall with lots of four-hoofed ones, amended Spirit, who looked proud that she had been paying close attention.

"Exactly."

Numair sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. "Then we'd best be hurrying along, sweetling, because supper will be starting in less than an hour, by the looks of it."

"Then we'd best get moving then, shouldn't we?"

Numair wrapped an arm around Daine's waist, glad that he could be so close to her all the time now, and together they headed back to her private suite. While they walked, he couldn't help but wonder about Alanna and George, and Jon and Thayet. Would there be a day when he welcomed Daine home in that way? Would there be a day when they could just retire to their rooms after a long and tiring routine and make love all night? He glanced down at the young woman at his side. Thinking of doing such things with his beautiful love made something tighten down in his stomach, and Numair banished the thoughts instantly.

They wouldn't be able to until both of them consented to do such a thing, and while Numair was more than willing, he was still hesitant about taking the one thing Daine could not take back. He had taken many women's virtues before, but he knew that Daine was more than special, and that he didn't want to take it unless she was absolutely sure this was what she wanted.

"You have that look that says you're thinking about something," Daine commented from his side. Her blue-gray eyes were appraising his face. "Enlighten me?"

"Just the musings of a thirty-four year old man that's in love," Numair said, kissing her hair.

Daine laughed softly, and hugged him gently with the arm she had around his torso. "In love with whom, might I ask?" she asked teasingly.

Numair stopped and turned to her, grinning. "The most beautiful" (he kissed her forehead gently) "passionate" (her temple) "selfless" (her other temple) "unique" (her nose) "stubborn woman on the face of this earth." With this, he kissed her right on the lips, and Daine smiled against them and responded very quickly. Her hands and arms wove around his neck, and her fingers entangled themselves in his raven mane of hair. He put his hands on her hips and pulled her closer…

Is Mother Wildmage mating with stork-man here in courtyard? Spirit asked as she and her brother suddenly seemed to appear by Daine's feet.

Daine pulled away, her face going bright red as she looked down at her two charges. Numair sighed and kissed her cheek, and then whispered into her ear,

"And you're sure that taking these two in was a good idea?"

"Numair," she chuckled, slapping him lightly on the chest. "They're right, this isn't the proper place to…"

No, no, not trying to say that, Mother Wildmage. If Mother Wildmage and stork-man wish to mate here, Spirit and Runner go to Mother Wildmage's rooms by selves, Runner contradicted, flattening his ears to his head in embarrassment.

Daine's blush went even redder. "Erm…"

"Let's go, magelet," Numair chuckled, wrapping his arm around her shoulders again and they made their way back to her rooms. Spirit and Runner followed, constantly making their presence known with yips and nipping at each other's ankles as they ran.

When they reached Daine's suite, they both stopped and frowned when they saw that her door had been left open just a crack.

"Odds bobs. Kitten must have left the door open when Spirit and Runner wanted to get out," Daine mused.

"Magelet, I don't think Kitten would have done such a thing…" Numair warned her, but Daine ignored him as she opened up the door to her room.

He dashed forward the instant she started screaming.

Numair dragged Daine from the room, his eyes searching wildly for what had been the cause of her distress. It took him less than a second to find it.

There, on Daine's bed, was a slaughtered animal - a grown fox to be exact. Spirit and Runner stood frozen at the mage's feet, their tails and fur fluffed out in something that could only be identified as fear. There was so much blood and gore that, at first, Numair couldn't even see what kind of creature lay there dead on his love's sheets. It looked like somebody had slit the poor thing's throat, and then further mutilated the body just to terrify Daine. But that wasn't what terrified him the most. It was the writing on Daine's headboard that frightened him worst of all.

The cubs are next. Then we will come for you.

The writing had been done in the fox's blood. Numair clutched Daine to him as she sobbed into his shirt, and then they both began shaking. Marmion had been here. Or, at least, one of his minions had been. Either way, this situation was worse than either of them could have imagined.


EOC: Yes, if any of you have read Vampire Academy, this is indeed very similar to what happens to the main character's best friend. And it was a little gruesome. I just felt that this was a good way to terrify Daine, and besides, you all know what this means, don't you? Well, if you don't, I'll leave it until the next chapter for you all to find out. Hopefully it won't be as long as this time until my next update. I hope you all enjoyed it, and let me know if my Numair and Daine have gone too OOC for your taste! I haven't reread the books in a while, so I hope everything is alright! Until next time! - Viv