"Daine?"
She knew Numair was watching her very closely. She was sat at the fifth banquet dinner she had attended since returning to Corus from Carthak. And yes, she was counting. The only problem with Numair's actions was that she simply couldn't return his gaze. It still felt like only yesterday when she heard that Arram Draper, her Numair, had been killed. The rush of feeling at the moment she discovered his very-much-alive form was just too much for her, her thoughts were too muddled and her only action was to bury herself in him – desperate never to lose him again.
Daine was fairly certain those last few days at Carthak would stay with her forever, however much she might wish to forget them. It was the thoughts tumbling through her mind as she stormed the castle that made her really think about what Numair really meant to her. She had felt the pain of losing her Ma and while that still troubled her under the surface, it was nothing to the idea constantly with her now, what if Numair had died?
"Yes, Numair?"
They were sat together, and the conversation between them was nothing louder than a murmur.
"What's wrong?" Numair half whispered
"Nothing, just tired, I guess," the girl replied
He didn't reply though she knew she wasn't fooling him. She also knew she had to understand her own feelings before confessing anything to her teacher and friend. She couldn't stand the idea of him being with Varice, that much she was certain. The Banquet was coming to a close, and she could slip away now without being much noticed, but she had to ask one question.
"Do you miss her? Varice, I mean"
Numair's eyes searched her own, trying to understand hidden meaning behind the question.
"Varice was, well, a good companion… but that was a long time ago. We discovered how much we had both changed when we were reunited, I have a new life now"
Daine half smiled, hoping he was sincere, hoping he wouldn't be wanting to bed any more plump blondes in the near future.
"How about you, Magelet, do you miss Kaddar?"
Now that question she definitely wasn't expecting, but she tried to explain.
"Kaddar, though being far better at his job than his Uncle, was never any more than a friend. Me n him are very different, you know."
A memory struck her.
"I can't believe you said all that about suitors at the Carthaki Banquet!" she grinned up at him, feeling better for the discussion. She shook her head, smiling to herself.
"Well, I can't have my Magelet being taken advantage of, can I? Even by Carthaki Princes!" Numair replied, his eyes twinkling.
"At this rate, you'll never let me have any suitors at all!" Daine retorted, as she made her move to quit the table. "Not that I wanted him, anyway."
She was so busy negotiating the chairs around her, she didn't hear Numair's whispered "Oh yes, I will, Magelet."
Numair turned back to his food.