A/N: The long-awaited chapter - Enjoy!

Chapter 35 – The new apprentice

Elena turned and blew out the candle. With luck Daine would sleep peacefully during the first hours of the night, which would give her time to make sure the other male, who had shut himself up in one of her rooms would receive her when she came with dinner. She stopped in the doorway and turned one last time to look at the slightly pale face with the powerful curly hair. It was a strange company she now found herself in. Elene closed the door close behind her and walked further down the corridor where her second patient was. The young blonde man's injuries had healed perfectly and was asleep again. She smiled satisfied and close the door.
Humming, she went into the kitchen and took a kitchen tray. Here she put a big bowl of stewed meat with vegetables and a basket with bread, beside she laid a spoon and a napkin. She had already been at the door and placed a large pot with water that was flavored with citrus-like herbs and two glasses.

With food steaming in front of her she carried the kitchen tray through the corridor and stood waiting in front of the door that flashed with black fire. Elena shuddered at the thought that behind it were Tortall's most powerful mage.
She straightened up and walked towards the fire, which slowly disappeared. Finally she stood so close to the door that kitchen tray touched the processed wood. Elena didn't need to think about how she would make her presence known to the man behind the door when it slowly opened.

Elena stepped cautiously over the threshold and found a figure standing in front of the fireplace with his back to her. She didn't move further into the room because she could sense that Numair was doing some kind of spell. She also felt afraid that it was a mistake that she now stood inside the room, when his young traveling companion had tried to do so all day. Numair turned and met her eyes. She smiled cautiously "She's asleep, I'd given her some mixture that I'm hoping is going to help her " she told him.

He nodded "God...By the way you mustn't be afraid of me," he raised his hand and closed it again. The power of energy that had filled the room before was now gone "I am quite mortal like you."

Elena walked forward amazed. He had read her facial expressions correctly. "I'm sorry" she replied and sat kitchen tray from her.

Numair smiled broadly "Don't be ... I'm used to it." He walked towards her and leaned against the bowl with the food "It smells good ... I assume that it is for me?" he asked before he gently took the bowl up. He carried it over to the bed and sat cross-legged and blew the steam away.

"I don't understand" she exclaimed before she stopped herself.

Numair raised his head wondering "What is it you don't understand?" he asked calmly. He looked at the young woman with the slightly wavy hair. Numair lifted the spoon and pointed toward the chair "Please ... sit down, this is your home".

She obeyed slowly and sat with her hands in her lap. She didn't know where she was to start for the presence of the man she had known for less than one day was scary. She threw a cautious glance at the silent tanned man who appeared to be slightly older than her, but still ... the light crooked nose and combed back black hair, gathered in a ponytail was making him younger.

"You are stirring" Numair commented and raised his eyes. The woman sitting in the chair not far from him reminded him so much ...

"I ..." she tried to form the words "I ... just can't believe it"

"You will soon have to make a longer sentences" Numair pointed out calmly "I could off cause try to guess what is it that you can't believe, but I'm afraid that I'm to tired to do it and it will take all night". He was accustomed that his presence and appearance sometimes caused a bit of fuss.

Elena smiled broadly "It's just ... I never thought that there would be a slightly possibility that Tortall's single most dangerous mage would be sitting ind my home, cross-legged sitting and eating casually on a bed...I was always told that the legendary Master Salmalin were to snobby, vain and selfish to...". She saw how Numair smiled broadly and cursed herself for her loose tongue.

"If you knew how many times I have heard someone point out what they have heard about me was absolutely wrong...I'm like everyone, but with a twist because of my gift ..." He paused before he continued "I think the only one who has heard something like that for longer time than me is The Lioness herself".

Elena gaped. She leaned forward in the chair "You've seen the Lioness?" she asked with deep interest "Is it true that she's high as a mountain and has a temper like a volcano?" She sat back in her chair startled when she heard how Numair laughed. "What?" she asked, a bit irritated.

"Yes," he nodded "I know the Lioness, but high as a mountain is an overstatement...as for her temper that is true ... she's the reason I'm sitting here today, alive" he replied and took a mouthful of his food. Numair waited for Elena to break the silence. When she didn't say anything he spoke "What's the matter?"

She looked abruptly "What do you mean?" she asked slowly.

Numair stood up and put the empty bowl down on the kitchen tray. He reached for her hands still laying in her lap and pulled her up to stand. He noted how she shivered slightly under his touch. "Elena ... tell me what's wrong?".

She looked up into hazel brown eyes "She is quite unique ... isn't she?" she asked quietly. Elena felt insecure.

"Who?" asked Numair wondering. He let go of the young woman slowly and looked searchingly at kitchen tray "You don't have any water?" he asked.

Elena responded immediately "How silly of me ... it is on the floor next to the door," she said and took a step forward, but was stopped by Numair.

"No, sit down ... you slaved all day" he said and went to the door, "besides, you are using too much of your power when you heal" he explained and took the tray from the floor. He turned and walked back to the obviously shocked woman who stood in front of him and looked down at her "maybe you can hide your exhaustion from any other, but for me ..." Numair put the tray on the table next to the other "you can't hide anything. I can see your aura and it is unstable ..."

Elena stared at Numair. "Is that why you couldn't transfer power to me yesterday ... you said that it would take you weeks to prepare me for something like that?"

Numair smiled "How old were you when the old healer began to teach you?" He sat in the other vacant chair and reached for the jug, but Elena came in advance.

"I was pretty old ... about 21" she explained and poured water into the glass.

Numair took a big sip before he spoke "And how old are you now?" He had estimated her to be about one to two years younger than him.

She looked skeptically at him as she sat down in the other chair. She smoothed her dress "I'm ... 26 now".

"Then I understand better ...you are one year younger than me" muttered Numair.

"Understand what?" said Elena doubtfully.

He put out his hand and laid it gently on her hand, which was resting on the armrest "You are not trained enough to hold and survive the amount of gift you have" he explained. "There are lots of people around us who start exercising their gift at a young age. You, one the other hand, have started 5 years ago and it is incredible that you are still alive ... I wonder" Numair pinched nose, only divine intervention could be the reason she was still alive "who led you go to the old healer? "

"I ... an old woman found me wounded and the next thing I remember is that Jes, the old healer, took care of me ..." Elena looked down at the tanned hand "I dont remember anything before that night" she explained quietly.

Numair nodded slowly accepting her explanation "Amnesia" he said more to himself then to her "and you have lived here since?" he asked.

She nodded.

"You said before ... 'She is quite unique' what did you mean by that?" He asked and took his hand away again.

Elena took a deep breath. She didn't answer for a long time and when she finally did "Your traveling companion, the young woman who I found in the barn yesterday ... she must mean a lot to you."

"She does...she is my student and therefore my responsibility" he replied a bit cold ... colder than it was intended "why do you ask?"

She heard clearly the dismissive sound in Numair's voice and continued more cautious than before. She hadn't realized that the young woman was his student, but she had sensed that she could be more than that "Because I was told yesterday that I must protect her" she whispered almost silently.

"What?" exclaimed Numair, he was on his feet immediately and started walking back and forth in front of Elena. He stopped and looked down at the woman, who flinched. Numair realized his mistake immediately and sat down again. "I'm sorry ... please, tell me the rest."

Elena shook her head "Don't apologize ... I talked to her mother."

Now it was Numair who was too shocked to say anything. He cleared his throat "What did you say?" he whispered hoarsely.

Elena repeated what she had just said "I talked to her mother, when I fainted ... or rather, when she 'borrowed my soul' were her exact words."

Numair's interest was caught "Are you sure that it was Daine's mother?" he asked. He saw that she nodded slowly "Describe her to me."

"She had long blond hair that reached her here," Elena showed with her hands a place just below her breasts "and she had bright blue eyes. One could clearly see that she was from Galla " she explained as she watched how Numair nodded. The description matched the description Daine had given when she finally told of her insanity when her mother was killed. "But ... Your young student has brown hair and gray eyes..." Elena looked at Numair and saw how he relaxed.

"Veralidaine Sarrasri, also called Daine ..." he hesitated "is from Galla" he admitted "she doesn't look like her mother or others from the town she grew up in because she was conceived during Baltane's night. She doesn't know who her father is and her mother and grandfather were killed by robbers .. . did she said more to you? "

Elena told him everything or almost everything ... she failed to tell the details of that she had removed the spell from Daine's pregnancy charm. She had already figured out what the gods needed the young woman to do. Daine was destined to bear and bring a child into the world, a child who would either make sure the world they knew or damage it, but why was still a mystery to her.

Numair sat for a long time and was silent. His mind tried to make sense of the words, Elena had told him, but instead of conclusions his thoughts produced only more questions. Finally he asked, "You know why she's sick, don't you?".

"Yes," she replied.

"Can you tell me what's wrong with her without telling me why?" was his next question.

Elena smiled. In front of her sat a very clever man, who besides being incredibly attractive also was extremely dangerous in his existence. "Unicorn fever" she replied.

"Unicorn fever" repeated Numair "Never heard of the disease before."

Elena shook her head vigorously "It's because it's not a disease ... but a condition. Only when she has done what she has to do it will stop ... not before"

"And you know what she must do, right?" he asked, folding his hands.

She smiled affirmative "But I mustn't tell ... the only thing I can tell you is that when you leave tomorrow, I'll go with you" It hadn't been a difficult decision, the only thing she was worried about was the village that had been her home in five years. She wrung her hands nervously, half afraid to ask for a such a thing as getting another healer sent to her village. She hadn't been very good at hiding her nervousness because a tanned hand came into her field of vision. She looked up without smiling.

"Why don't you ask for what you want?" Numair asked gently and caressed her hand. Elena felt comfort. She found the man in front of her even more attractive now that he touched her.

"I don't want to leave the village without any protection or so the sick can't be healed," she admitted. Why did her heart pound faster?

Numair looked down at his hand that held hers by the wrist and how his thumb caressed her skin. He clearly felt her pulse increase. What was he doing. .. Numair took slow his hand away again and took a deep breath. He felt as if he was unfaithful to Daine, the young woman he might never get despite that they so far had spent two intimate nights together and he had kissed her and she had accepted his forbidden caresses. Without further thoughts he opened his hand and in it shaped of a large glowing ball. "Duke Baird" he called and waited. He had no idea whatsoever what time it was.

"Numair?" said a sleepy voice "I hope in name of the gods that it is serious since you wake me in the middle of the night" Duke Baird, a soon-aged man with closely cropped white beard sat up in bed next to his wife.

Elena had pushed herself back in her chair when she saw Numair shape the large luminous ball, just like Onua had done. Before her was powers she didn't knew and it scared her a bit.

"I'm sorry" muttered Numair, he cast a quick glance towards the window and discovered that it was indeed dark outside. "I didn't realize it was so late ... go to sleep again, I'll contact you in the morning", he spoke down to the ball and was one his way to close it again, but was stopped by Duke Baird's voice.

"Numair ... you know that once I'm awake it takes several hours before I go to sleep again, you might as well tell me what you want?" Duke Baird scratched himself in the short graying hair that had once been several shades lighter than Alanna's fiery red hair then he laid his one hand on his wife who turned restlessly.

Numair opened hastily his hand again "I have two wishes, which I sincerely hope you will meet" he replied quietly and not too high in fear of arousing Wilina of Queenscove, which was a green eye brunette with a very calm temperament. "First, I wish to make use of any available page you can muster to search all books, scrolls, documents you can think of and see if they can find anything about 'Unicorn fever' ..." Numair was interrupted by Duke Baird, who rose from the bed and walked over to his large desk in the adjoining room. A female voice sounded in the background and Duke Baird, answered back "I'll be a little in soon Wilina ... duty calls."

Elena hid a smile behind her hand.

"Documents about Unicorn fever ..." they heard the sound of scratching on paper, as Duke Baird wrote down what Numair wanted "what more do you need Numair?" he asked.

"When you find something please contact me ... and if you can convey a message to Jonathan for me?"

Elena frowned impressed. Was he referring to Tortall's king?

Duke Baird nodded "And that is?"

"The town Fallmont's only healer have to travel with us because of Daine ..." Numair was interrupted by Duke Baird.

"Daine! ... What...is she sick?" Numair knew that he couldn't fool the Duke when it came to diseases.

"Yes and no," he replied calmly "Therefore I need everything about Unicorn Fever" he explained "But to continue ... the town needs a new healer, will you make sure that Jonathan will be informed?"

Duke Baird nodded "Of course Numair, I'll tell him ... anything else?"

Numair nodded. He had one last thing that he needed "Baird ... will you prepare to receive a new apprentice when we come back, I would like that you personally take over the further education of Elena, the town's current healer ..." He stopped and looked at the woman in front of him who sat with total astonishment "You know more about healing then I do" he added to Duke Baird.

"Of course Numair ... how old is she?" Duke Baird asked and pulled the chair out from the table so he could sit down. He took a new paper and dipped the quill in the ink.

Numair told briefly what he knew before he heard Duke Baird mumble satisfied. "That should be it," he said into the glowing ball.

Duke Baird laid the pen on the table and nodded, satisfied. "I'll tell His Highness and I will contact you within a few days when I have information for you. Greet Onua and Daine ... May the Goddess bless your journey."

Elena stared with wide eyes at the glowing orb that slowly dwindled and disappeared. Had she heard correctly? Was she to be the new apprentice to Tortall's most competent healer? Was she going to learn advanced healing? She looked at Numair who sat with a broad smile, revealing white groomed teeth. She cleared her throat "what does all this mean?" she asked, almost silently.

Numair got up and walked behind her chair. "This means that you start your first lesson tonight" he explained quietly, stroking her hair away from her temples "If you aren't to tired?" He laid his finger tips against her skin. "Do you know what color your magic is?" he asked.

She had to stifle the gasp that was about to escape her mouth. Elena pinched her lips tightly. "Blue" she whispered hoarsely and almost inaudibly.

"Very good" Numair's deep voice said "Now ... close your eyes and breathe"

Elena closed her eyes and began to breathe as she had learned from the old and now deceased healer. Within a second she was no longer alone inside her self. The feeling of a foreign presence got her back hair to stand. She heard absently Numair asking a question about what she could do with her gift and she replied, "Heale, produce a fire, create protective boundaries and get people to fall asleep."

"Great ... but it's not enough" Numair led her deeper into herself. Elena followed obediently after and found herself 'standing' for the first time in her life in front of a strong and wild icy blue flame that cast long uncontrollable tentacles in different directions. She reached with caution her hand out and a long tentacle spun around on her hand and she felt how her skin burned. It hurt her. Elena was about to scream in pain when she heard Numair's calm and authoritative voice guide her "Don't fight against it, that's why it hurts" he explained "Accept it."

She took a deep breath once more and became more relaxed. The blue tentacle crawled up her arm and first the touch felt unbearable, but slowly as it twisted around her ghostly body the feeling transformed into something else, something different and something nice.

A scream broke her concentration and Numair's finger disappeared from her temples. Elena turned and saw how he forced the door open. The screams grew louder with the door open. She got up slowly and felt extremely tired and followed Numair. He was fast approaching the door where she had left his sleeping student. She saw how Numair disappeared through the door ...

This dream was like no other. The air around her was still stifling hot and her body felt heavy still, the only thing that was different was that she stood at the foot of what looked like a platform. Her white dress waved around her in the hot dry wind. It wasn't night. The sun was high in the sky. Daine walked over to the platform and noticed with every step that she got splinters up in her toes. She looked down as her toes hit something obnoxious and somewhat lukewarm ... Daine screamed at the sight. She stood in a pile of blood which soaked the hem of her white dress.

Numair stopped abruptly inside the door where Daine had been sleeping. He found his student standing on the floor screaming with eyes wide open. It seemed that she was staring at something invisible at her feet. She lifted respectively first one foot and then the other, while she with both hands, pulled up her nightgown to her knees. Numair went quietly forward and ended up in front of her. He could see that Daine was in another world, it was as if she saw right through him. He saw how Elena stood in the doorway and looked. Even Onua had arrived and stood beside Elena. Numair was standing opposite Daine, curious to hear if she would tell what was happening to her in this dream state.

Daine turned to the right, as if she had caught sight of something that stood high up ... she started screaming again.

Numair walked slowly over to the door and looked at the two women, "I'll take it from here" he told them with a voice at the same time told them that they should not contradict him. Elena took a step forward but Numair stopped her. "No, Elena...your tired and exhausted. He saw how Onua nodded slowly and how she pushed slowly Elena down the hall. The poor woman couldn't walk by herself. It was only when he saw Onua disapper that he closed the door and turned to Daine, who was still staring at something invisible.

Elena didn't resist, she was about to collapse from fatigue. She walked slowly towards her own room supported by Onua and sank down on the bed with a deep yawn. 'I am going to be Tortall's most talented healer' she thought while she laid her head on the pillow. She fell asleep immediately.