HI! New Chapter! I really hope you enjoy. I personally am quite pleased with it's outcome and that's saying something. I don't mean to sound arrogant or anything but oh well.

Time for Replies!

EquestrianBabe: Yes. Jon deserved to be dragged. Hehe.

Goddess of the Moon: Exciting? Well this might be counted as exciting but if you don't think so then chapter eight for sure.

Jamie lynn; yep. I was tempted to come to blows but luckily I restrained my self. (To tell you the truth, I almost slipped. Just something about to people yelling at each other with their faces really close together makes me want to make them kiss or something.)

Beckythorn13: I'm glad you like it. I love Numair.

DominionJewel : sorry for the wait. Hope you enjoy!

Jennyvre Moss: John Cleese is the best on that show. Have you seen it? Monty Python's Flying Circus? Or watched the movie? The Holy Grail? Love both of those.

Fell4adeadguy: Of course there will be more of Numy's thoughts! So enjoy!

Tortall's Resident Wildchild: Yikes. A little violent aren't you? Lol. Next chapter! No hugs! Lol.

THIS WHOLE FIC IS DEDICATED TO NARM'S BRITON 44 (SORRY ABOUT YOUR 44 ISSUE.) SHE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MAKING SURE THERE WAS NO OOC! WITHOUT HER…..WELL….YOU DON'T WANT TO KNOW. THANKS!

Disclaimer: not mine.


When things came back into focus I realized that I was in Alanna's rooms. Daine, Alanna, and George were seated around a table. Daine looked exhausted and was close to tears. I was hurting her.

"Jon still doesn't want to admit that something is wrong.' Alanna remarked, a frown darkening her features.

"Why should there be something wrong?" Began George, "Numair is an experienced mage. Very powerful. I agree that something is up. But that can be hard to admit, especially since it would be a big blow to Tortall." Daine spoke up finally.

"But where could he be? It's been nearly a week!" I could tell she was trying to hold back tears. Poor Magelet.

"You don't think he's run off do you?" George asked.

"Well, what am I supposed to think?" she whispered. I could tell abduction was on her mind but she didn't dare say it.

"Possibly a kidnapping scheme." Now Daine did begin to cry.

"Don't worry Daine: I'm sure we'll find him." I'm sure you won't. "Daine, I don't mean to worry you but I am nearly positive that something has happened to Numair.' George told her gently, "We know he wouldn't stay away this long without a word to anyone unless someone was stopping him."

'Who'd want to abduct Numair?" Alanna asked. Let me give you a hint. It starts with an O and is followed by z-o-r-n-e. Hopefully that will narrow it down a bit.

"A lot of people. Or say a lot of countries. His gift is an important asset to Tortall…"

"Yeah, but we have alliances with most of the surrounding countries."

"Not Carthak," Daine spoke up.

"Hmm?"

"I said not Carthak. And from what I've heard Ozorne wants Numair back." Yes! Yes! Yes! Daine you're a genius! I could kiss you! I would kiss you if I could! The others were silent for a long moment.

"Ozorne eh?" Yes, George. That would be what the gorgeous woman to your left said.

"I suppose that is a possibility," Damn right it is. Now start investigating please!

"I don't know…" Alanna trailed off. Shut up! Listen to the other two! You are not helping matters!

"What do you mean?" Daine snapped.

"Well…I agree with you that Ozorne is bent on getting Numair but…Would it really be him?" Yes, "I mean, he just sent the king that letter threatening war. Would he really attempt abduction before Midsummer even?" Yes he would. George sighed,

"Well, Lass, you have a dreadfully good point." No she doesn't! "We're jumping to conclusions without any information here," Yes, but you're jumping to the right conclusions. Doesn't that count for something! Anything!

Guess not.

You're not helping either!

Look, I'm your pessimistic side. I'm not exactly supposed to help.

Then I was seeing double. No! Triple! No I wasn't! Mithros, Mynoss, and Shakith! What was this? One part of my vision was Daine, Alanna and George. They were still carrying on their conversation but I couldn't decipher a word that came from their mouths. To the right of that was another scene. They seemed like one since the edges bled into one another, but they were different as night and day. Literally, in fact. The new scene was during the night, I think. I squinted at the new picture. After a moment I gave a start. There was a figure in the second scene and it was none other then me. Still and unmoving. I began to panic. Was I dead? Was I looking at a corpse? My corpse?

No. Thank the Gods no. I saw the chest rise and fall. It-I was asleep. Only asleep. But I was sleeping pretty deeply. Where was I though? I couldn't figure out what was going on, but even that was fuzzy and blurry like the part with my friends. What was clear was the third view and that was totally black. That was where I seemed to be. The other two were merely pictures pushed off to the side that I was gazing at.

So now the question is: Where am I? What was this place and whose voices were I hearing? Because there were voices. Couldn't see any one (or anything for that matter) but I could hear them.

I strained my ears to decipher the words. As I did so the vision of the Tortallans and of myself faded a little. The one of my sleeping self was blurrier than the other.

I didn't understand. How could this blackness be relevant? I tried to blink but then realized that my eyes were already closed.

Stupid.

That would probably explain the darkness. But why are my eyes closed?

As I thought all this the pictures of my friends and myself faded from sight even more and I saw the vision of me twitch a little.

I tried to open my eyes but it wasn't working. I couldn't. I thrashed around a bit, or tried to, at least, but my limbs were heavy and it felt like I was moving through water. I could make out something now.

"Ey…vin…Coming...ound." It was…Gailon? Yes I think so. Why was I hearing him now?

Then I understood. I was waking up. I was on the border line of sleep and awake. So I was dreaming of my home, watching myself sleep, and yet I was me asleep anyways. Whoa. That was a little much. But now I was waking up. That was why the pictures, which were my dreams, were fading.

Hello! They're fading! You're waking up! Meaning we have arrived at our destination!

No! I tried to sit bolt up right. I was still asleep, I guess, but my dreams shrank until they were pinpricks against the black of my closed eyelids. No! Don't wake up. I tried to go back to sleep but the more I tried the more awake I became. But I couldn't just wake up. No! It was maddening.

I began to relax a bit and the dreams became a little larger. About the size of coins, but then they started talking again and I couldn't help but listen. Stupid curiosity.

"Give him more Dreamrose," said Delvin.

"Well I would but the genius over there forgot to bring more," that was Malon. I wonder who the "genius" is.

"It's not my fault," came Ziln, "You're the mage. Don't you usually carry that kind of thing around?" Usually, if you're smart. I have some in my pocket actually. No, wait, sorry. I forgot. I lost that a long time ago.

"I usually do but I already used it on him the first time!" I suppose they all turned to Gailon because his voice came next.

"No, I don't have any."

"You're always unprepared," Malon told him scornfully.

'Shut up."

"You know what? You always think you're the smarter one just because you happen to be a year older than me. I'm surprised you even know what day it is." This is getting good. Maybe I should wake up and listen.

"Stupid," I murmured and I felt someone put their hands over my temples and soothing warmth fell over me and the dreams got bigger. I sank into the one with my friends with a sigh. Let's go back to where we left off.

It wasn't where we left off. I guess the dream continued on since I never really woke up. Can nothing in my life ever be simple?

Oh. Here again? I was back at the scene of the crime and George was present too. Mithros thank you! George is here and he'll figure it out! I'll be tracked down and brought back and everything will be alright!

George was walking about in slow circles. I realized he was talking to himself. As he examined the trunk of a tree, (I think it was the one Ziln had slammed me up against.) he said,

"Well, well. Scuffed a bit aren't you? May mean nothing, may mean everything." Yes my friend it means everything.

He left the tree and walked about again. I realize that to all appearances the scuffle that had occurred here had all but disappeared. Whether by my kidnappers or by the fact that the trail was over a week old I wasn't sure. Probably both. I had complete faith in George though. Really, I had no choice.

The spymaster crouched down in the leaves and dug around a bit, all the while singing softly to himself. It was a morbid song. About cutting off ears or something. Finally he paused.

"Ahh…' he held up a cork.

'What's this? Poison? Not quite I don't think." I recognized it as the stopper to the Glaidium Vile. George sniffed it.

"Hmm…What would you be for then?" He felt around a bit more.

"Come now, beauties. No hiding from the Whisper Man," I wonder if he always talked to himself as he worked. Gods know I have often enough

George stopped again and allowed himself a small smile.

"Numair, what mess have you gotten into now?" A really big one. I saw that he was examining a rock that had a few drops of something that appeared to be dried blood. For once I was glad for that beating.

George stood up again still fingering the cork.

"Well then. I believe you'll be visiting the mages." He said to the cork. He looked up suddenly at a bird flying by over head.

"And perhaps some of Daine's mates will have seen something?' he chuckled a bit more before his face darkened.

"Oh, Numair. I'll find you don't worry. I always loved a good hunt."

Then he strolled away whistling to himself. I recognized it as the ear removal song.


Alright! Posted. Hope you guys liked it! Chapter eight will be on it's way shortly. Hopefully.

Read and Review! Perhaps I shall write the lyrics for George's ear removal song. That might be fun.

See ya!

alex