Chapter 3
Romeo & Juliet
Lisa's Hut...
Daine hummed to herself as she made her way back to the cottage after her daily absolutions.
Cloud who was obediently following her, commented, <You seem to be in a very good mood today. Something must have happened between you and Stork man last night.>
Daine blushed. Was it that obvious? She tried to avoid the topic and asked casually <Hmm... what gave you that idea?>
Cloud snorted, <You were hanging his cloak out to dry on the laundry line last night. Don't try to deny it. The cloak is too big for you and too good a quality to come from anyone else around these parts. Besides, I can smell his scent on it.> Cloud tilted her head, <It's good that you have finally found a mate.>
Daine wrinkled her nose and said <He is not my mate->
<Not that you wouldn't want him to be.> Cloud interrupted slyly.
Daine blushed at this, but persevered <Nothing happened between us last night. Honestly. He just, well, told me that we were sort of having a romance. I was so shocked, just staring at him. Blurted out an excuse and rushed back here.>
<Typical.> Cloud snorted.
"What?" Daine yelped, startled into speaking out loud. She stopped and looked at Cloud, "What do you mean by typical?"
Cloud eyed her loftily and said <You are always running away from things concerning Stork Man, you know.>
Daine stalked on, determined not to be affected by Cloud's words. She opened the door to the hut, and stepped into the main hall, cutting off Cloud's arguments, "I do not run away from things!" Daine yelled and ignored Cloud's muttered comment of <Stubborn two-legger>.
"I'm afraid I have to disagree with your self hypothesis," a deep voice demurred on her right.
She yelped and spun to face the voice. Numair was leaning against the doorway of the kitchen that was connected to the main hall.
"What are you doing here?" Daine demanded.
Numair raised an eyebrow, "Unfinished business, I'm afraid."
Lisa bustled out of the kitchen, "Now, now youngling, don't get your hackles up."
"Lisa!" Daine groaned. "Don't tell me..."
Lisa raised a hand to interrupt Daine, "Come now Daine, I've always wanted the best for you. I have heard this nice man out, which is more than I can say of you."
Daine obligingly blushed.
Lisa continued, " He is one of the world's leading experts in Wild Magic. His credentials are backed by Duke Kelvin himself. The duke introduced Numair to me after the town's folk meeting yesterday." Lisa took Daine's hands. "I think he can help you develop your powers further. I know you have much better control of your powers since you came." Daine's eyes widened and Lisa's patted Daine's hands, "Now don't you worry, I did not tell him anything about you. It is up to you to divulge what you want and to whom you want about yourself. But, I've been worried. All these strange dreams you have been having."
Daine took a breath, she did not want anyone else to discover about the dreams she had been having. It was too much like confirming people's suspicions that she was not quite right in the head. She trembled she did not ever want her episode at Snowsdale to happen again...
"Daine?" Lisa inquired gently.
"I'm fine. I just don't think it's such a big deal," Daine said.
"I would love to agree, but," Lisa responded. "It's been getting worse. Talking in your sleep. Now you are walking. Speaking of things you have never seen and languages you have never spoken."
"I, I..." Daine stammered.
Lisa sighed, "The ultimate decision is up to you. I would support you in whichever path you take, but, I do hope that you will give this man a chance. I really believe that he can bring good to your life. I'm not the only one who thinks so."
Daine blinked and was suddenly reminded of the Badger's mysterious appearance.
Lisa went to the door, "I am going off to the village square to get more raw meat for your injured hawk. Now mind your manners and listen what the man has to say."
"Wait..." Daine protested weakly as she followed Lisa to the back door.
Numair flicked his fingers which sent the back door slamming shut. Daine scowled at the back door, "No fair using your gift!"
"Hmm..." Numair said, sounding very amused. "As fair as you pushing me into the pond?"
Daine blushed and said, "What do you want?"
She heard him come up behind her and grasp her shoulders gently with his big hands. He slowly turned her around to face him and she stared at the floor. Her heart began to beat fast.
"I want to help you develop your wild magic. Right now, your magic is going all over the place, tangled up and running all over." Numair said.
"You can see my magic?" Daine muttered nervously, panicked that he might recognise her magical aura or something from his previous meetings with her "other" self.
"Yes," Numair answered. "But, it was a conscious effort. Seeing Wild Magic is a tricky thing because it is part of nature, in fact, it is all around us."
Numair gently cupped her face [*do you notice he always likes to do that in Emperor Mage?], "Daine," and in a more firmer voice, "Daine, look at me."
Daine didn't know why, but she looked up at him, as if her eyes were pulled up to meet his inexorably. Numair said, "Daine, I want to help you. He stepped back and raise his palms up and said, "Look, as the Players often say when they are trying to foist off goods on unsuspecting civilians. Just give it a try, no harm, or you'll get back your money back." Then he shrugged and said exaggeratedly, "But by then they'll often be off to the next town to trick more unsuspecting folk." Daine stifled a giggle and he continued, "But," he chucked her chin, "I'll still be here for you to push me in the pond if I am really a terrible teacher."
Numair said in a serious tone, "If I let you go like this, at best, you'll be stupid, at worst, you'll go mad."
Daine flinched, and unwanted memories washed over her - bad two leggers hunting her, she was running, running...
Numair took a step forward, and asked worriedly, breaking her out of her reverie, "Daine, are you all right?"
"I'm fine! Just leave me alone," Daine snapped, irritated at herself and him, she swung around and opened the back door. She stalked out into the sunshine, and still felt cold.
Numair followed her and stopped dead in his footsteps. "How did you get that cloak?"
Daine mentally berated herself when she realised that the backdoor led to the washing line which had his cloak he had given to her yesterday.
Numair stepped in front of her and grabbed her shoulders, he asked her earnestly, "Tell me, please! I must know!"
****11-12-2003******