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Chapter 7 - Healing

After what seemed several hours of questioning by both Jonathan, Gareth and the man who Alanna had threatened, Daine was close to falling asleep at any moment. She had answered all sorts of questions, but she wouldn't tell the real reason to why William had beaten her. When she felt that she began to repeat herself Numair cut off the flow of questions with a deep tired voice.

"If Daine has answered all the questions you could think of, I hope you will excuse us," he said tired as he made eye contact with Alanna. The Lioness nodded and took over where he left off.

"Numair is right. Daine needs healing and," she paused before she continued "we all need sleep sooner or later ... at least I do. So I hope you gentleman will be kind enough to leave us, as I am sure that this case can be continued tomorrow". Alanna left her place next to the fireplace and walked threatening towards the group of men. All four men, including Jonathan, walked slowly backwards and finally ended with being escorted out of Numair's room.
When Alanna returned she closed the door and turned around. She scratched the fiery red hair and wondered what healing she should apply to Daine so the young woman didn't get scars.

She decided the slowest method she knew. Alanna met Numair's eyes. He hadn't moved and had clear intentions to be seated with Daine on his lap. "Numair, I think it's best that she comes with me." she said slowly.

Numair shook his head vaguely. The weak and stable breath from the lips against the skin of his neck told him that Daine was fast asleep. "No Alanna. She stays here with me".

Alanna opened her mouth to protest, but the moment she decided to send the air out between her vocal cords she saw how Daine's hands searched around Numair's neck. The young woman snuggled deeper into the man who sat and held her tenderly. Alanna sighed and asked gently "Are you sure Numair? There would be gossiped about the whole affair in the palace the next few days and it doesn't improve matters that Daine sleeps here without chaperone".

Numair looked tenderly down at the sleeping figure before he looked at Alanna. "They already gossip ... or haven't you heard it?" He whispered.

Alanna knew that she wouldn't win this discussion. Not right now. "Then let me heal her," was all she had to say. She wouldn't press Numair more than he already had this evening.

He sent Alanna a small smile. "Thank you" was all he said.

Alanna nodded as she gently laid her hand on Daine's forehead. Faint violet flames surrounded her fingers only to disappear into Daine. Slowly the healing burned the emerging infection away in the cheek then it turned its attention to Daine's swollen lip. As a little extra things she added a slow healing so the cheek would be without any scars. Then she took her hand of Daine and stood. Numair held out his hand and graped Alanna's wrist. "Thank you," he whispared to her and she smiled down at the black robe mage.

"Take care of yourself Alanna," Numair said as he tried to stifle a yawn.

Alanna pulled her hand away and waved Numair's concerns away, "I'm okay ... just tired." She let her hand go back to Daine's cheek and caressed it gently. "Take care of her, Numair, she is very vulnerable at the moment".

"I know" he replied quietly. "But I'm the only one she has. I know that she sees you, Jonathan, Onua and Thayet as a family, but she and I are connected," Numair tightened his grip around Daine's body and heard how she mumbled in her sleep "I can't explain it to you Alanna, I only hope that you can understand".

"I do understand Numair," Alanna whispered carefully before she continued "But she is a young woman ... and I don't want to see her more hurt than now"

Numair frowned and stared up at Alanna. She was one of his best friends and confidential, but what she indicated hurt him. "I thought you knew me better than that Alanna!" he said slowly, knowing that his feelings inside himself betrayed him. He had in recent months sought diversion precisely because he had fallen for his student and that was why he had seduced Julianna. He watched how the Lioness walked towards the door.

Alanna turned abruptly before she replied, "I do Numair, but Daine's young, she must make her own decisions. I hope you know that?".

"Of course," Numair replied. "She is my student," he paused a moment "though I dread the day when she no longer will be".

"I have a feeling that she will always be in our presence Numair" Alanna explained as she grabbed the stone that hung in a chain around her neck. "I haven't told you this before, not anyone, but the first time I met Daine and we were attacked in the woods, this," Alanna held the stone towards Numair "glowed. It can only mean one thing" Alanna looked thoroughly at Daine "Daine isn't ordinary ... I have her suspected of being something of the divine or related. Otherwise, this one would have been dark." Alanna let the stone fall back against her neck. She saw for the first time a sincere smile from Numair.

"I have suspected that too" he admitted. "But we may never get an answer. Until then it's my supreme task to protect her as best I can and it may require some sacrifices." Sacrifices he was willing to give to be in her life, although she was married to another man.

Alanna returned the smile. Numair had understood her warning. Now there was nothing left to do but wait. "Goodnight Numair. I come by tomorrow and check Daine's progress". It was the last thing she said before she walked out the door. Behind her, she heard the hissing sound and she turned. Black fire speckled with silver spread in the door and sealed the room.

After Alanna had left the room he couldn't get himself to move. The weight and heat from Daine eased the tension inside him. He enjoyed secretly the way she almost demanding pressed her body against his. When he moved a little bit, her fingers grabbed his collar and all he could do was to rest his chin on her forehead. After sitting for a long time he decided that it was time to get out of the nice clothes he had been wearing all night. Carefully he rearranged his arms, so one went in Daine's knees and the other was laid around her back. He lifted her up and laid her gently down on the blankets. The soft curls lay around her face when he at last sank her head down to the floor. For one moment he looked down on her and wished that he could kiss those pale lips, but his his conscience held him back.

Numair turned slightly. Looking over her body he found that the seam had crept up and revealed most of her abdomen. Numair sighed. Why did the gods test him he thought while he tenderly and slowly reached down to the hem of the shirt. With careful fingers he pulled down the fabric. Quickly Numair covered her with a blanket and got up.

He opened the door to his bedroom and a bad cold hit him. The room that had been cut off from the heat, had within a few hours gone icy cold. Numair quickly went in, undressed and took worn loose trousers and a loose shirt. Normally he slept naked, but since he had no intention of sleeping within the cold room and alone, he took some extra blankets with him.
As Numair closed the door to the bedroom he let his hand rest on the handle for a few seconds extra. Black fire spread from his fingertips, creating a barrier against the cold behind the door. When he had assured himself that the barrier held he walked slowly toward the sleeping figure, which lay between blankets on the floor. A few mice had sought refuge from the cold and Numair expected that these mice would be multiplied over the next hour. The blizzard outside was going to be the worst in Tortall's history he thought.

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