Chapter 4.3

a/n: this has been edited so it is now more correct to the books. I changed George so that he was, in fact, a baron again, and that he had the Sight, not the Gift. Thank you Da One Me to Pwn You All for pointing out my mistakes.

Daine woke up early the next day, as always. She crawled out of bed and changed into an earth-toned dress that went down to cover her worn boots. She hated dresses, but she had accepted a long time ago that she wasn't in Tortall anymore, and she had to wear them. She headed to the Inn to start making breakfasts for the people willing to pay. It was just before dawn, and if she walked quickly enough she could eat some pancake batter.

The young woman walked through the woods, avoiding thinking of her experience of last night in the woods. She instead spoke with the People around her. The Fall Equinox was in three days, her wedding dress was ready in the tailor's shop, and her Ma was going to help her with her make up and hair. Daine really didn't want to marry Jorrain, but he was only man that would ever consider marrying some one whom had "lost" her memory. At least that's what she chose to believe.

Jorrain had sustained a concussion as a boy and didn't remember anything from when he was younger than ten, so he believed that he understood what had happened to her. She sighed and walked into the back yard of the Inn and watched George practicing hand to hand. He was amazing, his Sight helped him sense those around him and move quickly, but he didn't need it. His speed was amazing, as was his endurance. It seemed like he could fight for hours to Daine, but she didn't know if he'd just come out and was just finishing warming up or if he had been out here for an hour already. She watched as he kicked a branch a couple inches higher up than her head. He was fighting three trees at about fifteen feet in distance each.

She saw him stumble, but keep going. He was getting older, and she could see it. Then again, who wasn't? She'd heard that Tortall was going through a shortage of game. That was probably why they were here. George had sent spies out to find her so they could all convince her to go back to Tortall. When she lived in Tortall, the animals were drawn to her presence and there had been no shortage.

"Behind you George," Daine said unnecessarily as she walked behind him. She'd given him the warning so he wouldn't hit her on accident. He stopped and turned to her.

"Where did ya come from lass?" he asked.

"My house," she said with a shrug. "It's over that way," she said while nodding in the direction of her house. It was her house; she owned it. Jorrain just slept there with her. He didn't help pay the rent at all.

"Really? Well, I have ta talk to you at some point Daine. It's about why we're all here."

Daine closed her eyes and opened the back door. "Come on, you can talk while I work, people won't be awake for another half-hour abouts." She led him into the kitchen where Blitzy and her own husband were working. "Did I miss the batter?" she asked immediately upon entering the small crowded kitchen.

"Nope," David said with a smile and handed her the bowl with creamy white batter on the side. Daine stuck her finger in it and licked the slightly bitter paste. "Who's your friend Daine?" he asked while nodding to George.

"Friend?" she asked in surprise, then turned to George. "Some nobleman from Tortall. He's wantin' to talk to me, said he could do so here." George rolled his eyes.

"I'm as noble as a dressed up pig is, Daine. I came from the city, and I learned from the streets."

"Thief?" Blitzy asked with a raised eyebrow. Upon that word her husband's gaze drew sharply to him and refused to leave. Blitzy sighed at his protectiveness and pushed her flour covered blond hair out of her pale face.

"Former," he said reassured quickly. "Nah, now I'm some high to do Baron of some Swoop for the King. That's what I get for helping royalty out I guess."

"So, what's you want ta talk to me for Yer Grace?" Daine asked, bringing his memory back to him.

"Are they trustworthy?" the Baron asked, always mindful about who could hear what was being said.

Daine let out a small giggle at his caution and gave him a reassuring smile. "Goddess, yes George. They know all about me. They actually know more about me than Jorrain. That scum don't even know that I can shape-shift."

"Doesn't even know," George said with a twinkle in his eyes.

Daine smiled brightly. "Now don't you go turnin' into that Master Salmalin, George. I don't need ta know how to say things correctly no more'n you did. I work for a livin'," she teased, a playful light filling her eyes.

"Hold on a minute, scum? Daine, you're marryin' him in two days girl. Watcha doin' callin' him scum?"

Daine shrugged at Blitzy's question. "Dunna love him I guess."

David raised an eyebrow at her. "You'd better tell him now then, 'less you want ta be wed to him forever. Ya know the Lord don't give divorce papers."

Daine sighed and washed the bowl. "If I don't marry him, who'd marry me?"

Both the men laughed at that. "Veralidaine Sarrasri," David admonished, using her favored last name. She might know her Da, but she had been Sarrasri all her life and hadn't wanted to change it. "Do you know how wanted you were when you started workin' here. Gods, if I hadn't been married I would've joined the throng of men. Jorrain was just the bravest, or dumbest, to approach you. Haven't yeh noticed how many more tips you get when you wear your blue dress with no apron?"

"So, Master Cooper, what business do you have with our Daine?" Blitzy asked, returning to the subject for him.

"Old business that hasn't been put to rest yet," he said simply.

"Get down to it then," Daine ordered.

"Are you sure you want them listening?" he whispered.

"They'll find out one way or another," she said matter-of-factly.

George sighed and looked at the two young adults as they started making breakfast. "You have to come back Daine," he said tiredly.

"The truth is, is that we need you. Tortall is falling apart without you."

"I was barely there for three years George. They can't need me that badly!"

"Well we do!" he said sincerely. "With your absence the whole animal population has depleted! All the game has left the area and the carnivores went with them. The only meat we have is the cows, chickens, sheep, and pigs, and there aren't enough of them to go around. The fish are even hard to catch nowadays."

Daine sighed and sank into rickety a nearby chair. "I have a life here George. I'm to be wed in two days time, and I can visit my ma ever equinox while I live here." George knelt down and hugged her easily, feeling the unspoken words of regret in her sentence. She leaned into the embrace and sobbed quietly into his shoulder. "I want to go back so badly, but if I do I know I'll be hurt again."

"Numair misses you," George whispered. He felt the woman stiffen, but he didn't let her go. "As soon as you left his range of magic he tried to scribe for you, but you were blocked. He stormed around the castles he stayed at in fits. His tower is now only a pile of rubble, and Varice is only with him because she pushes herself on him."

"But he's engaged to her," Daine pointed out.

"Not by his choice. She found your ring and put it on, and got it into every one's head that they were engaged, so now he has to go along with it. Jon thinks he's recovered from you, but only because he's too worried about Tortall to notice anyone else." Pulling away from Daine, he looked into her blue-gray eyes. "Daine, I come here on behalf of Tortall, and your friends. We all feel the loss of your absence. It's like a gaping hole that gets bigger with every passing year. Onua isn't the same K'miri woman, neither is Buri, and Sarge's booming voice, while still loud, doesn't have as much enthusiasm, not that the new trainees know that."

Daine shook her head at his light jokes. "I can't forgive him, not yet at least," she said. "I'll talk to the People, and have them move back to Tortall, but I can't come back yet."

"Daine, the guests are waking up. Want to go take orders for them now?" Blitzy asked from the stove where she was flipping a pancake. Daine nodded and walked out to the front of the Inn. George sighed and looked down at the ground. Blitzy walked over and put a hand on his wide shoulder in a comforting gesture. "She'll go back with you," she said with a smile.

George looked up at her with twinkling green eyes. "I know, but the wait will be forever." Sighing again, he stood up and stretched. "Thank you for allowing me the use of your kitchen," he said with a smile before walking out.

Blitzy looked after him with a smirk and distant eyes. "I don't like him," David said over her shoulder. "He's too flirty."

Blitzy scoffed and hit her husband's broad chest with the towel. "You think any man that'd talk to me is too flirty. That's why you're in front while I'm back here slavin' over the stove with a bun in the oven," she said with a good-natured scowl.

"Cursed right," he answered back.

Disclaimer: I don't own anyone recognized in this story. Tortall characters belong to Tamora Pierce.