Arie awoke to a soft muzzle rubbing her face. She opened her eyes to see the horse's head sticking in a window. Late afternoon sun shone behind the horse making him look like he had a halo. Smiling, Arie reached up and patted her friend's neck,

*It was time you woke up little one.*

Arie giggled. "I didn't think they would let a horse in the palace."

"They don't." The voice was male and certainly not SandStorm. Arie sat up already reaching for one of her knives at her wrist, only to find it wasn't there. None of them were. She was also surprised to find she was missing her shirt and cloak. Only her breast binding covered her as the blankets fell back. The man's eyes glittered in amusement as he turned away. Arie got the feeling he was laughing at her reaction not her lack of clothes, or small assets. She snatched the blankets back and wrapped them around her body. Fear nearly choked her until the man handed a clean tunic back to her without looking. She flushed red swiping it from him and her fear was gone, replaced with her instincts to survive.

"Who are you, where am I, and where are my weapons," she growled pulling the tunic over herself faster than she should have. Her back protested, but not as loudly as it should have. What happened to the arrow, she wondered.

"This is one of my work rooms. Your horse caused such a ruckus, he probably woke all of Tortall." He turned around and eyed the horse. "I missed some beauty sleep myself." He then pointed to the dark circles under his eyes. "This was the only place we could work on you and have him keep an eye on you." The strange man chuckled, "Timmons had cow when he saw us leading a horse through the palace."

Arie glanced at SandStorm

*He is a strong mage and his mate is like you. Of The People.*

Arie snorted, she had met many people who were of 'The People'. Most didn't have a clue, but not the woman she had met last night. Her cousin, well cousin was a bit of a stretch. She could feel the other girl had been a god's child, but not a major one. Arie shuddered thinking of her own father. She turned her attention back to the man. He was tall, and reminded her of a stork, though he moved with more grace. He had coal black hair that was tied back to keep it out his face. His muscles weren't anything to sneeze at either; not bulky, wirier, like a big cat.

"Where are my weapons," she asked again. Her eyes never left his. He held her eyes for a minute then let them eyes slide to the ground. A deliberate gesture of submission that most humans wouldn't have even considered. Despite trying to keep her guard up, gesture did put her at ease. He got up slowly so as not to startle her and went to a large bag behind him. Opening it, he showed all her weapons were neatly stored then he set the bag back where it had been; out of her reach. Before she could ask why they were there he answered her question.

"Your fever got out of hand. I think you felt threatened and you drew a weapon on one of the healers that was changing your bandages. For their safety and yours, we removed them with your friend's permission." he nodded at SandStorm. Arie was horrified. Attacking out of defense was one thing, but she wasn't a wild animal to attack a healer. Her woman would have cracked a wooden over her knuckles for that had she lived to see it.

"Are they alright? I didn't-?"

The mage chuckled, "He's fine. A small scratch that has already healed and a wounded pride that will teach him respect when faced with a woman who is injured."

Arie sighed and slumped back into the cot. Her relief was tangible. SandStorm blew in her face.

*Maybe you'll learn to be more cautious from this experience.*

Arie turned to her horse and scrunched her nose at him. *You're mean.*

*And you are alive because I have horse sense to be mean.* He lipped her ear. *Next time don't worry me.*

Arie hugged her horse around the neck and whispered, "I'm sorry," Her friend allowed her to hug him for a little bit before he pulled away and blew in her face again. It was then that she realized the man wasn't staring at her like most people did when she talked to SandStorm. "You don't find this strange?"

His smile was reassuring. "The number of times I see my wife converse with her horse, Cloud, it certainly doesn't surprise me at all. I was however surprised to see someone with as much Wild Magic as she has. Dare I ask if you know which parent it is a result from?" The man blushed and held up a hand to stop her from replying. "Wait, that was rude. Let me start over again." he took a deep breath and started again. "My name is Numair Salmalin, I am a mage who was born and studied in Carthak. I'm basically the only living person who studied Wild Magic. My wife is Daine Sarrasri, a wild mage like yourself."

Arie blinked. What a strange place, she thought.

"I know who both my parents are, but I will not name my father. My mother was Anna, a healer for anyone who needed. My friend," She reached up and patted SandStorm's neck, "This is SandStorm a swift runner and not fooled by any. I am Arie Annasri, also healer and -." Her eyes widened when she realized what she was about to say and snapped her mouth shut. It was one thing to admit your father was a god, it was another to tell them about what magic she specialized in. Numair caught it, but he didn't pry.

"That bad," he asked and his eyes softened like he was remembering something that had hurt and angered him. Arie felt the pieces click together perfectly. His wife. She blinked, he actually understood. He knew she was hunted for what she was. If her guess was right, his wife would have experienced much the same thing. Before Arie could answer there was a gentle knock on the door.

"Come in," Numair invited to the person.

The door creaked open and a woman stood there. She was short, dressed in a loose shirt, breeches, and she had shoes that were soft leather. Her hair was short cropped cropper colored with a few strands of gray mixed in. The woman's eyes blazed a brilliant purple as she took in Arie. Like Numair, she had muscles cording through her limbs, but unlike him, her hands were severely callused. Everything about this woman spoke of a warrior, and one who spent most of their life being a warrior. She smiled at Arie and she couldn't help but return it.

"Daine said you were awake, I hope it is not too much to ask, but we have a meeting assembled and Joh-, I mean his Majesty would like you to share what you showed him."

Numair looked like he was going to say something and the woman held up her hand to stop him.

"Not in the same way. We understand you are not strong enough for that, and I don't think most of the people would be willing to share that kind of experience with someone they don't know."

Numair looked like he was going to refuse for her.

"I will go." Arie interrupted before Numair could speak for her. The smaller woman appraised her and whatever she found she liked because she smiled again.