Chapter Seven
Numair sat silently as Beau's 18th birthday passed, the tragedies of the Chamber and then Neal and Kel's Ordeal in the Chamber. He saw the Dream that had started to appear again in Beau's life. She hadn't told him about that. Each time it flashed before his eyes, another detail became clearer. Once he saw there was a book laying on the nightstand. Another time, there was a flash of someone's Gift. He tried to catch the color but couldn't in the dark. The short snippets of memory soon cleared as the memories were pulled behind a wall.
Numair blinked as he was pushed back from Beau's brain as she stirred slightly. He grabbed a hold of his students hand as she turned away from him. He could now see that Serkan was sitting on Beau's other side.
The dark haired girl opened her eyes slightly as they focused on the serving boy. She smiled softly as she saw him and the boy smiled back, raising the hand he had in his to his lips and kissing her hand lightly. Beau sighed softly as she turned to see Numair. The mage smiled at her as she gave a small smile back.
"How are you feeling, magelet?" he asked softly before a confused look passed Beau's eyes. Her hand moved from his to rest on her stomach. Numair raised his eyebrows, "Your stomach, little one?" he asked.
Serkan reached over and rested his hand on Beau's as her eyes darted to his. She smiled softly as she took a deep breath. She seemed to be falling back into her in coma again.
"Beau, Ishabeau, wait. Tell me what's going on." Numair begged. The girl blinked slowly, her eyes darting to him for a moment before she settled back into the pillow again. Serkan watched her silently as she fell back into her coma.
Numair growled slightly as he stood up quickly, ignoring his protesting muscles. He paced back and forth for a moment before pointing at Serkan. "You know what is going on. I must know. I cannot help her any other way."
Serkan sighed softly. "Sir, I would tell you if I could." He said, "But I cannot. I love her too much to do that. I swear I would do anything for her, but this I cannot tell you."
Numair paused. It was the first time the boy had voiced his feelings for his student. Both he and Daine had figured there was something between the two. But it had always been hard to tell where people stood with Beau and where she stood with them. Serkan must have sensed this and spoke up again.
"I promise, sir, if I could tell you, then I would. But I am stuck. To choose between the woman I love and pleasing her guardians, I would choose her every time."
The mage sighed, falling back into his seat again. "Is what is wrong with her to do with her stomach?" he asked, "Can you at least tell me that? Is there something wrong with that part of her?"
Serkan shook his head. "No, there is nothing wrong with her stomach." He promised.
The mage nodded as the servant stood. "Perhaps you should go rest, sir." He suggested. "I will sit with her for a while. You will not figure this out if you are this tired."
Numair paused for a moment before nodding and standing. "Keep a close eye on her. If anything happens, tell Neal or the Duke, and then send for myself and Daine."
Serkan nodded. "I promise all will be fine." The mage nodded as he slipped the opal back into his pocket. He leaned over to kiss the sleeping girl's forehead before starting for the doors of the infirmary. He paused before exiting, looking back. Serkan was leaning close to Beau, stroking her hair back in a way he knew used to calm her. Behind the servant boy stood two shimmering figures, gods, the God of Death and the God of Dreams, keeping watch over their charge as she slept on.
