Disclaimer: Almost all the characters belong to Tamora Pierce, some are invented based on the books about Alanna.
Chapter 2 – The hall
Later that day, half of the delegation stood in a semi-large room in the palace. It was now evening and they were all gathered to partially welcome the visitors and partly unwind with some good food. Numair stood by Alanna, who conversed politely with another member of the delegation; Duke Mather, son of Mikal of Danne. It was still stifling hot as it was mid summer, but Numair was happy to finally be inside. The sun hanging low in the sky. He stood and turned a glass of ice cold wine in his hands, and regarded the duke. The man, who seemed a bit uncomfortable, was on level with King John and had semi-long shaggy blond hair. Numair was amused by the man's beard that could have been sitting on an old goat. His eyes were icy blue, like a cold frost hit lake in the middle of winter. The man quickly moved his eyes away from Alanna to Numair, who calmly and a bit chilly met his gaze. Alanna, who was wearing a dust green light dress of raw material, stopped her flow of speech and looked at Duke Mather to Numair, wonderingly.
"Will you excuse me, I can hear the King calls" lied Numair. He had not the slightest desire to be near this man with the icy eyes. He left the hall and went down to Daine's room. Maybe she got back from her little excursion, but when he came nearer, there was no light from the window and the door was ajar. He lifted his hand and in it he formed a ball, first black with silver flashes, but eventually it became a full moon, shining. He let his hand drop and the ball floated in front of him. It was now twilight. He put his hands against the door and pushed it open. He went in and discovered to his disappointment that the room was empty. She had left the nice shoes on the bed with her dress and earrings. He noticed her dress and took it up to the face. Her smell still hung in the fabric. How he missed her.
He put the dress away disappointed and thought that he had to return to the hall before dinner was served. He walked toward the door and closed it so that it was ajar. Daine would come back when she was ready for it. He had not expected that she would accept that a woman from his past came into his life again. But he had not prepared her for that Felicia would be part of the delegation this time. He had not quite been prepared for it himself. An hour before the delegation arrived, a scout had managed to locate the group to investigate who was with it and had returned to the palace with the descriptions of each person. It was only because of this information that Numair had come to the realization that he again had to be accountable in regard to his escapades as a young man.
He shook his head as he walked across the grass and up towards the castle. A tuft of hair slipped loose from the string he had used. His hands went up against the hair, and suddenly he was back at the spot where he had seen Daine lie on her stomach in a serious conversation with a squirrel. He had then only been in her presence one day back then, but even there he felt something stir inside him. A sense of urgency to protect her, no matter the price. He gathered his hair and tied the string tight again.
He stopped in the corridor until he reached the doors of the hall. A thought had nagged him for long. He had seen Daine leave the palace grounds in wolf form, without any supplies, clothes or bow. She could obviously handle herself, but he would like to be on the safe side. He waved a servant over to him. This boy was one of those who had an eye for Daine. Numair was well aware of this, but there had been no other nearby. The boy approached and bowed deeply. Numair, noticed a frightened glance from him, but he did not bother to take care of that now. This were to go a little fast. "Find Miri, from the Queen's riders and tell her that she must pack supplies, blankets, clothes, bow with arrows on Miss Daine's horse Cloud. She will then set it free near the forest to the west. It knows where to go" Numair said to the boy. "And do it now" was the next comment from him. He wiped the sweat off his brow with a handkerchief, which appeared out of thin air to disappear afterwards. "And please tell master Duncan that the wolves are to be left alone. They must have peace until he is told otherwise".
The boy bowed again and disappeared fast without a word. The mage was creepy, he always came with strange requests, but his words were his livelihood.
When he came in through the door to the hall, he realized at he was late. The delegation and members of the crown had already gone to dinner, and King Jon was doing his welcome speech, but stopped abruptly. Everyone turned to see what had made the king suspend his speech. Numair went out in the middle of the floor, knowing that he looked intimidating in his black cloak. For every step he seemed to grow in size. King John raised his eyebrows questioningly, and gave a little nod as a sign that Numair was welcome to continue.
"Excuse the delay, your majesties. Miss Daine's sends her apologies that she unfortunately can not attend the evenings dinner" Numair bowed deeply, and he straightened up to his full height again.
Felicia, who was located next to the queen, had noticed how this man out on the floor could melt any woman's heart. True, the king was handsome, charming and good-looking, but with Numair, it was something else entirely. His black hair was gathered in the neck, marked the lines of the jaw, nose and eyes. The eyes were the most attractive about him was her opinion. Flashing, severity, wonder and mystery. She remarked sweetly.
Kong Jon nodded again and gave Numair permission to settle. Numair walked toward Alanna and Duke Mather, two seats were empty and he sat down in one of them.
The second place belonged to this Miss Daine, Felicia thought, and was a little bit jealous. She was placed as far away from Numair as humanly possible, and it annoyed her a little. But she would take revenge later.
Alanna, as she sat with Numair, on the right hand, and Duke Mather, on the other hand, noted a concern expression in Numair. His gaze was fixed on the empty seat opposite him. What was wrong with the man she thought, not for the first time over the past year. She had noticed that at times, that there had been an abnormal distance between him and his student, but had waved it off. Daine was about to be a grown woman, and had many admires among the palace men. She had even had the idea that Daine had taken a lover, someone who Numair did not like, but after the scene she had seen today, she was wrong. It was not that Daine had fallen in love headlong into a young man from the court, she had attracted her teacher's attention. She had been surprised by Daine's response in the yard when Felicia had been presented. And the woman had flirted with Numair like it was yesterday they had seen each other and not 7 years ago. She remembered all too well the woman who now sat beside Queen Thayet. She had not cared about Felicia then and she did not like the hungry gaze the woman was sending Numair even when she looked at him now.
Alanna was interrupted and the thoughts she had just had about Daine and Numair, vanished into her consciousness and then disappeared. The king had finished his speech and people were beginning to supply themselves with food from the dishes on the table.
Daine stretched. She was quite happy in her wolf's body, and to be in company with four-legged. She had spent the rest of the afternoon in their company, and was now planning to spend the rest of the night with her belly against the heated soil. She could spend several days here if she wanted it and so she did. She was still furious with Numair. Had he simply told what she could expect when the delegation arrived, she had probably not reacted like that. But again, it had not been an easy year after they came home. She felt that they were together as lovers, yet he had denied her access to his room and bed. A flea jumped from the Black Hale, who was close beside her, and landed on the back of Daine. She felt dull, how it took hold down the skin and she turned her nose with the teeth bared, and scratched.
When she put her head down towards the ground again, she could not avoid having escaped a sigh. She saw that Red's ears turned toward her, but when she did not subsided more, it found her no longer interesting. An episode sprang to life in Daines memory, and heat exploded inside her. She had been summoned to assist Alanna to drive the residents and animals of a village together, to move them safe from an attack against a large group of lawless men. The men had raged for several weeks and had managed to burn several small towns to the ground. Now it should be enough, Alanna had decided and had planned an ambush. A rumour that a wealthy noble woman had settled in the town's inn, bringing most of her jewels, had lured the men from the forest's dark.
The baits had stayed at the inn a few days, one of Alannas best horsemen and warriors, and as spies around the city had caught sight of the first men, it had been an easy matter to get them trapped and led them away, to let justice be done. Daine had returned to her room in eagles-form, and had barely managed to get a pair of loose trousers and a shirt over her head before the door of her room had been slammed hard up and opened. In the doorway stood a dark muscular and swarthy man, who was out of breath. She had been standing by her closet to find clean breast band, pants and blouse. She was sweaty and had been looking forward to getting a bath.
She had been thoroughly frightened, but the sight of him had caused her to stop breathing. The next thing that happened got her wolf-body to remember. He was over at her during the two steps, pressing sending her up the wall, his lips against hers in deep demanding kisses. She had lost her clean clothes on the floor, however, was the only thing she could think of was the heat from his body that flowed against hers. With each kiss, his tongue played with hers, tasting and caressing. His hands had wandered under her blouse and searched her breasts. He had escaped her lips, to move them down her throat. Her own hands were suddenly awakened to life again, and held against the upper part of his shirt. They had been preoccupied with each other to such an extent that it was only when Numair discovered that she had started to loosen the belt of his trousers that he had pulled back and left her alone standing against the wall, unable to concentrate.
It had been the only time he had lost control over himself. The following day, he had avoided her, to her great disappointment. Why could he not just decide, would he be with her or not? She woke up as Black Tail squeaked at her side. She had apparently fallen asleep and had growled in her sleep.
"Sorry," she said.
"Evil dreams?" Black Tail asked while scratching his ear.
"No, not really, more dreams about an indecisive man" It was not the first time Daine had sought the flock. After the episode, she had the need to think and had left the palace for a week. She had been forced to explain why to Black Tail, as he had been sceptical of letting her get into the flock. He had listened with more patience than Daine had anticipated, and was also only the second who knew her thoughts and feelings about her mentor.
"A wise wolf always wait to make important decisions until he knows whether it is reciprocated. A wound in the soul can mean loneliness," said Black Tail and stood up with long legs and stretched.
"It's time to hunt," he said, while the rest of the flock began to move impatiently. "Are you coming with us?" he asked.
Daine was about to say no, but remembered that she had not brought any stores at this time. She had been too angry to remember the most important of all. She began to regret that she had not taken the time to schedule this visit. She stood up and turned around with her nose against the palace. "No thanks, I have to go home and fetch supplies," she began to respond.
Something started poking into her consciousness, a four-legged animals were coming. Specifically, a grazer. Through the bushes came Cloud trotting. Over its back hung two saddlebags along with two blankets, clothes, bow and arrows.
"What are you doing here Cloud?" gasped Daine surprised.
"Oh, stop it. You scare your meat-eating friends" snorted Cloud. Daine changed shape and went toward the horse. It was actually nice to see her faithful companion.
"How did you come into possession of all this?" she asked, and began to remove things. She opened one of the bags and found a handwritten note from Miri.
"Your great protector sent a servant with a message to me to pack different things,hope to see you soon and take care of yourself-Miri."
Daine shook his head. He was still over-protective, and yet it was nice to know that he knew what she had needed. She buried her face in Cloud's mane, and sighed. Maybe she should return. No, she decided. She was a young woman with her own free will. Maybe she was not ready to Numairs love, and maybe he knew it and that was why he held back. She put the last things under a tree nearby and transformed herself again. The moon had risen and begun its journey across the sky. She lay with her head resting on paws and fell into a deep restless sleep.
The evening was getting to an end. The delegation had eaten together with Tortall's royal couple and closest advisers. Alanna, the lioness and her husband, Baron George, Hakim, Baron Martin of Meron and Gareth, the older and younger. Onua Chamtong, had chosen this rare time to participate, otherwise she preferred to eat with the queen's riders. She had been sitting not far from Felicia, and had therefore had the chance to get a closer look at the woman. She had to admit that she possessed a beauty that was both fascinating and somewhat frightening. The party was finally finished with dessert, and people were breaking up. For the sake of the delegation's journey, the king had chosen this night to be less formal. Delegation looked tired and Onua had the feeling that every moment one of them would burst into a major yawn.
She had not exactly expecting it to be her table lord, Duke Gareth of Naxen. He was an elderly master who had not been less gray-haired in the past months.
"Dad, do you not think it's a good idea to go to bed?" asked his son, Gareth the Younger. He looked like his father much, but with one difference, his eyes were his mother's Duchess Roanna of Naxen.
"Nonsense, then I will miss the most exciting thing if I give my bed permission to attack me. And do not tell your honourable mother" it came grunting from Gareth, the elderly.
The son shook his head and held his hands up innocently. "Never in life, and the risk having a longer reprimand from her." His eyes smiled. Onua found herself comfortable in this assembly, with familiar friends around her. Talking about friends, where was her helper? The girl with wild magic. She had not seen her in the evening, although the majority of King Jon's trusted had been asked extensively about showing up. She let her gaze once again explore the hall without result. She soon found Numair, the swarthy man with a sensitive face, sitting besides Alanna and let the things go disappear in his hands. The objects later appeared further down the table without anyone noticing. She smiled, Numair was known to get bored with simple societies, there was not entertainment enough for him, she thought. A motion interrupted her thoughts.
"Well Dad, if you are not going to bed, I will. With this damned heat I hope I will have some sleep – goodnight Onua. Dad." Duke Gareth, the younger, got up, bowed slightly and walked over to the royal couple.
She smiled. The heat had been unbearable all day and she even wanted to return to her own cool rum. But first, she was forced to investigate what had become of her assistant and Numair's student. She had seen how he was entered the hall late, and had awaited that Daine had come in after him. But none came, and the servants had closed the doors behind him. "Duke Gareth, hope you find the evening interesting, I'll have to consult with Numair before I need some sleep too," she said and stood up as well.
"Obviously, Onua, young people need all the sleep they can get. Us old'll sleep when we are fetched by the black god" he smiled cheerfully, and turned his attention towards the part of the delegation, which had started a lively conversation about fish.
She walked along the table and sat down at the empty chair opposite Numair. He seemed far away in his own thoughts, and very aware of the filled salt shaker he had between his hands. The salt disappeared, due to the course of an invisible opening at the bottom.
"You do not like salt, Numair?" asked Ouna. "Or are you about to make sure that Duke Gareth, the elderly does not stay awake all night because of the coffee?". She glanced in the direction she had left, and saw that the duke had mingled in the conversation and started a long lecture.
"Is there a need for it?" Numair replied hesitantly. His voice was pleasant to listen to, deep and manly. He looked at her and followed her gaze direction.
"Maybe, he's certainly to cheerful for this hour" Ouna noted, while Duke Garteth, the elderly, raised his coffee cup to his mouth. The next moment he spluttered coffee against the woman sitting opposite him. He laughed and coughed heavily. "Excuse me my lady, I think the servants in the kitchen has switched the salt and sugar jars by accident" he said, and pushed the cup of coffee away from him.
"Numair!" exclaimed Onua shocked.
"What?" Numair had an innocent face on. He put the empty salt shaker on the table and took the pepper instead.
"Are you never tired of coming up with new jokes?" Onua clucked over the scene she saw. The woman who had had coffee over herself had suffered a mental breakdown and the Duke tried to soothe and mitigate the situation. It did not succeed, and servants rushed the woman to help.
"No, not when my moods need to be entertained," he laughed. Flashes in his eyes only lasted a few seconds and disappeared again. He was once again serious.
"What's wrong, Numair?" Onua watched peppery slowly disappeared the same way as with the salt. She wondered where it went this time. She did not wait in vain. Further down the table Alanna sat next to a now sneezing and snot-making man from Tusaine. Once again the servants provided help.
She reached for the empty shaker, took it from his hands, and put it on the table. Hopefully, no one suspects him, she thought.
He sighed deeply. "There is nothing wrong."
"Me, you simply can not fool Numair. Where is Daine tonight? I have not seen her since afternoon in the yard when the delegation arrived." Onua filled water in his glass and pushed it over to him.
He took it and drank, thirsty after being given too much sweet wine. "She's in the woods right now with her wolf friends" he replied and filled the glass again with water.
"Well, I understand better. I wondered why you were late, and why Daine was not by your side" Onua looked at him inquiringly. Was not there something else wrong she wondered.
"Last I saw her she ran away in wolf form from her room to the woods. She looked like she was in a hurry, and later I checked her room perhaps she had put a quick note about what the rush was caused by, but there was nothing. I sent Miri off to saddle Cloud with enough supplies for a whole week. Gods only know when she returns "he explained, and let the fork between his fingers disappear into thin air.
Somewhere in the hall came a startled exclamation of one of the servants, who jumped around and tried to reach the icy object against his back underneath his shirt. Other servants came to help and fished out a fork from the now breathless man. King John, who had come also to investigate the unrest, turned immediately to face Numair with a raised finger. Numair sighed, no more fun for this night. He had better find George and get those spy reports that had been collected from Tusaine the last six months.
Onua sat and turned the glass in her hand. "I suppose that I can not expect her help before a week's time?" she asked Numair.
"I think not, unless you call her back from the woods and of course can find her," he replied seriously. He played with the jewelry he had hanging by his wrists. With this he could find her no matter what, but it was not something he wanted to consecrate Onua in. She would take it as a lovers token, which it really was.
"Do you need her the next couple of days?" he asked while he in his memory was trying to think of something important he needed from Daine. His thoughts kept returning to the episode where he had lost control over himself. He had been close to succumbing to the intense feeling Daine's proximity evoked in him. Her warm skin against his fingertips, the softness of her bare breasts in his hands and her lips against his.
"Numair, are you listening?" Onua asked.
"What?" Numair's head jerked up with a set. He had been sitting deep in his own thoughts. He shook the memory of. He looked around and found that they were almost alone in the hall. Only the king, queen, Alanna and Felicia were among the last. Kitten, the dragon, sat next to the queen and played with her necklace. It sent little whistling off into space, as small ripples in the water and all the affected flared up in the rainbow colours. Numair noticed that Felicia sat and was absorbed over the colours that appeared in the stones in the necklace. He could not help noticing how good she looked, her purple dress was close to her body. It suited her well, was his thought. He turned his attention to the woman who sat opposite him.
Onua had followed his gaze and sat with the most suspicious and cautionary look in the eyes.
"Be careful now Numair!" was the last thing she said before she got up and walked toward the door. She had to figure out a way to send a message to Daine, because she needed her help when master Stefan came with the 30 new horses in three days.
A plan took shape in her mind as she walked through corridors When she reached the stables she slipped inside and found at the wall a desk, then she took a leash, a slip of paper and a pen. She quickly scrawled a short note down and set off to find one of the barns cats.
Above her head in the black night the sky twinkled with millions opals.
Snowiewolf - Thank you! It's really nice to get good reviews because it is the first time I write a story. Enjoy chapter 2 and you are welcome to report back :-)
Guest - Thank you! No one knows yet that they are together, although there is one who has a suspicion, but I hoped you found out who it was further down in Chapter 2. Enjoy the chapter.