Chapter 4

You Want me to What?

"Please, just keep him sedated as long as you can…"

"You know we're going to have to pull him up soon. He's been under for almost four days without the reprieve of consciousness. He was already magically drawn too, which was a terrible time to keep him sedated," Briana said firmly.

"You don't think I'm aware of that?" Alanna snapped, "This has all been done for his and everyone else's safety. Do you think I'm some kind of monster? I know the risks, but the other consequences out-weighed them! Just please keep him sedated until he gets home to the castle." Brianna looked slightly ashamed.

"I'm sorry. I know you wouldn't have done this if you didn't think it was the best course of action. I'm sure one more day wouldn't be too damaging. I'm just afraid…"

"I know. It worries me too, but you don't know him as I do. He is most likely not long for this world anymore."

"Right. Well, I'll give him the potion in a few hours and then I'll ride with him on the way back at dawn tomorrow."

"Thank you Briana. Knowing that he will be in your direct care will put me greatly at ease over him. I…"

"Alanna," she was cut off by Jonathan's surprising appearance in the healer's tent. Briana curtseyed quickly to the king and to keep up appearances Alanna gave a brief bow to him also. Jonathan nodded his head to both of them.

"I'm sorry Healer Brianna, to barge in unannounced like this, but I must talk to Alanna right away." Briana waved her hand at his apology and bowed to him as she moved to the tent exit.

"Let me know if something changes Alanna. Your majesty," she said quietly as she exited the tent.

"She's a good healer. Remind me to give her a raise when we get…"

"Jon, you're stalling." Alanna glared at him. She was not happy about being sent home. She wanted to be with Numair in order to comfort and protect him from himself. Part of her was ecstatic about seeing her family though. Jon looked into her eyes. He saw all of the emotions he'd been feeling swirling through their violet depths: guilt, regret, anger, sadness, frustration, and exhaustion. He exhaled deeply.

"Alanna I've come to ask you a favor. I want you to take Numair with you." Alanna looked at him sharply.

"What?"

"I think he should go with you so that you can keep an eye on him. Besides Daine, you were the only one he ever really listened to. Well, perhaps you and Onua. I'll probably send her to you once we get back to the castle."

"You can't ask her to move as pregnant as she is," Alanna muttered. She looked at Numair's long body. Even in his sleep he looked drawn and broken. A deep sigh sailed from her body.

"Do you want me to take him to his home or my home?"

"That will be up to you." Alanna nodded.

"Thanks Jon."

"Thayet and I will see to the funeral arrangements," he sighed again. "I'll get his body into a spare cart or something…"

"No. Tie him to a spare horse. I don't want a damn cart if we are attacked or need to go into hiding."

"Of course. I'll get him ready. Are you still leaving at the same time?"

"Yes, as soon as darkness falls we will be gone. He will stay with me until he is ready to go home." She added.

"I expected nothing less. Good luck. We'll be in contact soon." Alanna nodded and hugged her king.

"Good luck to you too. We don't need anymore deaths to be mourned." Jon embraced her in return and they bowed to one another be fore she turned to Numair and he exited the small, dark tent.

"Just hold on Numair. We'll get through this one way or the other." She squeezed his shoulder and left the tent to finish packing her things for her two and a half week journey home.

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"Did you get everything set up?"

"Of course I've got everything set up! It's been ready for ages; we're just waiting for her to wake up!"

"Don't get cross with me you twit! I was double checking because you are the reason that everyone associates blond with dumb!"

"What! You ridiculous little…"

"Be still before you wake her up!"

"I'm awake," grumbled groggily through the room.

"Now look what you've done!"

"Me? You're the one who questioned me in a loud, accusatory tone!"

"Well if you had you for a brother you would question many things too."

"I have you for a sister, how many more questions need to be asked?"

"Why you," a loud cough interrupted the quarreling siblings. Instantly, Daine's head and chest were elevated gently and some cool water was eased down her dry throat.

"Thank you," she whispered as she was lowered back onto the pillows.

"How do you feel?" Joplyn asked as he felt her forehead. Daine blinked to clear her eyes of the haze that had filled them. She felt much better than she had the last time she'd awoken. Her body did not ache and her headache had lessened greatly. Rest seemed to have solved many of her problems.

"I feel…better," she replied steadily.

"Excellent! Are you hungry?" Daine's stomach answered for her. Immediately a silver platter of bread, cheese, eggs, and fruit appeared in Martica's hands. Joplyn propped her up with pillows until she was sitting up entirely. Once the room stopped spinning for Daine she reached out a hand for a large steaming mug that she assumed to be tea. Her hand gripped and regripped the cup several times before she realized that her body was too weak to lift the cup. Sensing her dismay, Martica's hand brushed over Daine's weak ones.

"Don't worry. Just give yourself a minute." Joplyn picked up the mug of tea and spooned a bit to Daine's lips. She blew on it gently before consuming the liquid. It was oddly thick and bittersweet.

"This tea will help you regain your strength," he said happily as he continues to feed the tea to Daine. Martica placed the tray on a table that had appeared over Daine's lap. After a few more swallows of tea, Daine reached for a slice of bread. She felt triumphant and silly as she bit into its firm crust.

"Thank you," she murmured as she grabbed a piece of cheese to go on her bread. Martica smiled.

"Of course. Now for business, oh keep eating please!" she said as Daine attempted to put the food down to pay more attention

"Yes food is important." Joplyn smiled as he grabbed a few grapes from the tray. "First we'll talk about your contact with the Mortal realms. You have chosen the black mage Numair Salmalín correct?"

"Yes," Daine answered through swallows of the tea.

"Good. Tonight, you will make contact with him. You may only communicate with your contact through the dream channels, meaning you can only talk to him when he is asleep. During these sessions you may tell him what you want but you will be advised on what you should and should not tell him later. The sessions can last for about an hour or so, but they must be limited to one a day. More than that provides strain on them, you, and us because we have to go through an entire process to set these links. Let's see… any questions?" Joplyn turned to face Daine's satiated eyes. The tray was looking much barer than it had when it had first appeared.

"Will he be able to talk to me?" She asked.

"Yes, Numair can speak to you through this connection. You two can converse as if you were both awake and living." Daine nodded.

"He's not going to take this well."

"Well after the meeting tonight, he will have no choice but to accept what is going on. You will find a way to keep him happy," Martica smiled gently. She cleared the tray and table away from Daine and reseated herself on Daine's right side.

"Now, this evening there will be a meeting explaining the reason you've been brought here and what they want you to do."

"Who are they?" Daine asked quickly. She was not too keen on getting involved in the complicated matters of the gods as she'd accidentally done in the past.

"Well the gods are involved, but mostly you will be dealing with the animal gods."

"That's fair dinkum!" She responded happily. Perhaps this odd change of events wouldn't become too complicated. The animal gods, like their mortal children, were loath to get involved in the twists and turns of the humans and their gods. Martica grinned at Daine's phrasing.

"Yes my dear. We know how you enjoy working with the animal gods. Anyway, there will be a meeting tonight with the animal gods and the Goddess. Truthfully, I think there is a good chance that this whole mess can be cleared up in possibly a week or so in your time. Then we can send you back, good as new!"

"I…I can go back?" Daine breathed. She wouldn't dare to hope.

"Of course! We just need you for this and then we can send you back to your body and your Numair." And suddenly the storm that was building inside Daine's head broke.

Well I found this sitting around and thought I'd throw it out there. Maybe I'll reread the series and remember where I was going with this. I hate to leave a story un-ended!