A/N: Someone asked when the story will be finished and I can tell you that I have planned an entire story and have a long storyline, and is estimating that the story are going to be around 80 chapters long or so ;-)

Chapter 43 – Divine and Royal Orders

Tortall's king was comfortable in his bed with a light sleeping woman at his side. The weak light hit the white creamy skin and made his wife's hair more black than it was before. Although the king had acquaintance who also had this kind of hair, he still couldn't help but smile at the memory of how he had stood staring at the unknown woman, in the company of Alanna when they was young, and had seen Thayet standing in the doorway with slightly disheveled hair wearing a morning robe. He had since the episode not taken his eyes off what he thought was the most beautiful woman in Tortall and her big brown eyes caught his attention still. Jonathan smiled softly and bending toward the woman at his side when a wooden stick knocked down on his head. "Ouuccchhh" he exclaimed surprised.

"Enough of this, your majesty!" It came from a raucous old woman standing beside his bed.

Jonathan was quick and without waking the sleeping beauty at his side, he had left the bed and pulled the sword that was always in his presence. "Who are you?" he hissed and let the tip pointing towards the old woman's neck.

"Ahhh! Another braggart who thinks he is big and strong," the old woman waved her hand lightly and the sword in front of her disappeared, returning to its holster. "Even if you are King in this country, it is not polite to greet a Goddess this way. Someone like you should bend".

He was astonished by the old woman's choice of words, but he quickly recovered in recognition "As far I know, Your Divinity, you find yourself on the wrong side of The Great Inland Sea" he bowed his head slightly in acknowledgment.

The Graveyard Hag laughed. "Looking at that. A king who know his Gods!"

"Not my God" Jonathan corrected softly "his enemy God". He glanced down at Thayet to insure that she still slept, which she did.

"Don't worry about her. She hears nothing," the old crone leaned forward "at this point I am not the Goddess for him, but for the country and its people. And I want a new on the throne he possesses, which is precisely what you must help me to achieve. "

Jonathan folded his arms in front of his bare chest. He was fully aware that he was half naked. "I will not help a Goddess who can not benefit Tortall" he replied sober.

"Benefit?" The Graveyard Hag made small clicks with her tongue. "It's exactly what I can, my dear, but only if you send your best weapon back to where he came from."

Jonathan was abruptly silent for a moment. "No," he replied and rocked back on his heels.

"No?" The Graveyard Hag snorted. "Do you even know who I am referring to?" she asked.

"Of course, dear Goddess. I may be only mortal, but I'm not stupid and I will not send Numair back to the country who wants him dead."

The Graveyard Hag turned her one eye towards the ceiling for a short while, and then stare at Jonathan yet again. "My country doesn't wants him dead, but the little brat to Ozorne do. I have lost my patience with him".

Jonathan smiled broadly. "I didn't know that Your Divinity was so dissatisfied with him? Why not remove the man from the throne yourself? You're a Goddess."

"Goddess with limitations" the old crone hissed. "We can't affect real time directly, only through helpers and by indirect measures. Your former lover is proof of that as is yourself."

Rage boiled in Jonathan. He hated when someone tried to use his prehistoric intimate relationship with Tortall's Champion to achieve something. "Don't threaten me, you old crow" he growled. "Goddess or not, if you want to remove Ozorne from the throne you have to do it yourself."

She hit him on the head again with her wooden stick. "Don't be impertinent, your Highness.

"Stop hitting me!" Jonathan almost yelled, but didn't in the last moment.

"The attitude is no good to me. You will send him to Carthak to protect the future ruler and by the way your future son in law ". She added.

The sentence was like a slap in the face for Jonathan. "What?" he asked, surprised.

"There comes a time where the new emperor will visit this kingdom and your daughter will look at this man, and ..." The Graveyard Hag smiled triumphantly. "I think I've said too much." She leaned back and raised the wooden stick again threatening towards Jonathan, who had dropped his jaw. "Send Numair back. Ask him to use the ring from Lindhall which he has hanging around his neck. And if you don't do it, I'll make sure to pick him up and put him somewhere" she paused thinking "... maybe the desert in Carthak will be appropriate? Don't you think?"

With a loud crack the old crone disappeared and Jonathan stood still rooted to the spot for several minutes. His gaze rested on the door, where his children were asleep and his brain work quickly to eliminate the possibilities of which one of his daughters The Graveyard Hag had meant. The speculation gave him a severe headache and he lifted the blankets to climb down to his sleeping wife again.

Halfway into the bed an invisible wooden stick hit his head again and for his inner ear he heard The Graveyard Hag's hoarse voice. 'I forgot to say that it should be now. A boat awaits him in Port Caynn departing this afternoon'. There was silence for a minute.

Jonathan didn't move, he reached out to caress Thayet's cheek as another blow hit him. "Will you stop beating me in the head!" the King hissed annoyed and climbed once again out of bed. Jonathan pulled a loose shirt over his head.

There was a snort in his inner ear. 'Incidentally, Master Salmalin is not in his chambers yet but he's on his way, just so you know and one more thing. His student is needed here! You can call that a divine order as well - if you like'.

King growled deeply. "Obstinate, impossible, annoying ..." he pulled the loose trousers of he always slept in "... self-centered Goddess!"

'I heard that!'

He took a more formal pair of trousers and pulled them on while he glanced at the ceiling "Is there nothing you don't hear?" he asked half-jokingly.

Silence.

'I hear everything and sees everything, dear king'. The crone's voice sounded in his left ear. 'Your woman is lucky to have such an equipped man'.

Jonathan blushed deeply in allusion to his masculinity. He cursed low and walked over to the other door in the room.

The night was not over and most of the palace slept, with the exception of a trusted servant who was in his study. This jumped to his feet when he saw the king come walking towards him. "Your Highness". The servant bowed deeply. "Is there anything I can do for you?"

Jonathan walked over to his desk and rested a minute. He absently rubbed his tired face and his bearded cheeks. "You can see if Master Salmalin is in his chambers. If he's not there, wait till you see the door open without you see anyone coming near, then report back to me. Understood?".

"Of course, your Highness" The servant bowed deeply again and disappeared out the door. Slightly puzzled by the order. He advised the two guards outside that the King was awake and sent a speech bubble to the kitchen with instructions to bring fruit, biscuits and drinks to the King's study.


The fire in the four fires died slowly and the gods disappeared. Their task was done. There was nothing they could do now, but wait. The shadows that had attacked the dome sank disappointed into the ground, swallowed by the darkness that called them home towards the lonely mountain range.
He found that she was still at his side, lying with her cheek against his bare shoulder. Slowly, almost gently, he pulled away from her and stood up in the clearing.

Numair Salmalin pulled carefully his clothes on as he watched the woman who got a cream-colored face in the scant light generated by his luminous floating balls. Her cheeks were ruddy light of a completed activity and the stormy brown curls covering her perfect upper body. He was not sure if he should try wake her, so he gathered her robe up and wrapped it around her. The dress he lay on her stomach and bent down. He lifted her slowly and carefully up.

It wasn't long before Numair finally stood in front of the door to his chambers and with a weak energy discharge the door opened willingly. He had used an agate to hide himself and the young woman in his arms. Numair wasn't sure what the reactions would be if he came walking out from the royal forest with his naked student in his arms, only covered by her robe.

Inside security the door closed again and Numair went to his bedroom. Here he laid Daine down and pulled thick winter blankets over her. He was about to reach out and push a lock of her hair away from her cheek when he heard the faint knock on his door inside his study. It was late, very late and with wrinkled brows he closed the door to his bedroom behind him.

Numair was not in the mood for have to reject one of the many women who always this evening sought his company and like last year, he would reject those determined with the excuse of such a night was only for the real lovers. He opened the door, therefore, prepared to see an optimistic smiling feminine face that would turn into easily concealed disappointment and therefor his surprise was great as a black-haired man appeared. "Jonathan?" Numair exclaimed surprised and opened the door for his friend who walked camely over the threshold. "Come in. What are you doing here in this godforsaken hour?".

"Bad news" Jonathan said bitterly.

Numair closed the door again "Okay" he replied and turned to the king. "I have only just come back ..." he began and became silent at the sight of Jonathan's expression.

"I know" Jonathan sat himself down in the chair Numair used to sit in when he was reading. "I got my servant to fetch me as soon as you came back." He folded his hands in front of him "Where have you been?"

He leaned against his desk, careful not to disturb the energy-rich rocks. "In the forest" he replied quietly. Silent and motionless, he sent a barrier against the door to the bedroom. With Jonathan this close, he off cause discovered the magic and looked in detail at the door.

"Someone I know?" Jonathan asked curiously. Had his black robe mage finally found his special someone?

Numair shrugged and ignored his question "Bad news, you say?".

Jonathan sighed. He didn't want to do this, but his hands was bound. "Extremely bad news. I need your skills and," he pointed toward Numair's collarbone "need you to use the ring you hide there."

He managed to lift his hand up towards the chain containing a invisible ring and a visible black opal, before stopping his movement "How do you know?" he hissed half.

"I got a visit from a much rather annoying old woman, who ended up beating me over the head with her wooden stick several times during our talk" Jonathan explained and scratched the bulge that was hidden by the black hair.

Numair smiled wryly, as if he were amused "You mean The Graveyard Hag?"

Jonathan nodded affirmatively "Exactly. She told me that you and her were old acquaintances."

"Of course she did!" Numair said annoyed and folded his arms in front of his chest. "She is the reason that Daine doesn't have her wild magic anymore and I had the feeling that she was and are going to interfere in our deadly life". He leaned a bit forward "What is it you want from med, Jonathan?"

The king sighed loudly. The room was full of silence when he hesitated for a long time. "I need you as a bodyguard in Carthak". Jonathan bit his lip nervously at the sight of Numair's now extreme pale face.

"Carthak?" He stammered. His body shook slightly. "This must be a joke. Jonathan, you really can't say that you will send me back?" His words were almost begging.

Jonathan looked up at Numair with regret in his eyes "It's necessary Numair".

He shook vigorously his head "No, Jonathan, there is no need! Please send another, send someone who isn't me."

"I can't," the king answered quietly. "You are the only one who has the powers to protect him."

"Who?" His body shook vigorously. "Who is so important that you want to send a traitor back to the country he fled?".

Jonathan looked sympathetic at his friend. He knew that Numair wore invisible and visible wounds on this body from his time in Carthak. "I know that you swore that you never would return, but it's necessary that you protect Kaddar, the future emperor".

"Kaddar?" Numair spat the words out shocked. He lowered his voice quickly "Am I going to protect a kid?"

"Yes. Numair if I could I would send one of George's spies, but The Graveyard Hag was evident in her words. Either I sent you off voluntarily or she will pick you up whether you like it or not. She threaten me that she would drop you off in the desert."

"So I have no choice?" Numair concluded quickly.

The king shook regrettable his head "No".

Numair paused while his body and mind slowly began to calm down "What about Daine?" he asked hesitantly. "She's still my ..." He stopped abruptly. She was no longer his student. No more.

"Daine must be here. Yet another order from The Graveyard Hag" said Jonathan. He had seen the light hidden response in Numair and once again his gaze searched toward the door.

Numair, who was deeply concerned with his thoughts. "May she know where I am?" he asked absent.

"No." The answer came that from Jonathan had sadness in his voice. He continued. "You must not tell her or nor write a letter. No details, Numair".

He sighed deeply. He had been back in the palace only three days and now he was forced to take off again without any possibility to talk to her about what happened... a thought struck him, "When do I leave?".

"Before dawn. I have arranged your departure with Stefan. You have three hours, then I expect that you ride towards Port Caynn where a ship is waiting for you. You ought to be there at noon, a half day's ride."

Numair moved to the chair behind his desk and sat down heavily "It wasn't long," he muttered, staring at the door to his bedroom where his new lover slept unaware.

Jonathan who followed Numair's gaze replied "I know, but you should know that I will be happy to go against her orders" and alluded to The Graveyard Hag "than to have to send you away, but she was clear in her words and with divine intervention, you never know where you end up if she pick you up and drop you back somewhere. I take no risk when it comes to you".

He nodded, accepting. He knew perfectly well how bad things would go if the gods mingled further. Numair rose "I have to get packed." He touched lightly the stones on the table.

The king followed Numair's example, "I'm sorry Numair, if there is anything I can do ..." Jonathan's words trailed off as rainbow colored lights illuminated the room.

"There is". Hazel Brown eyes met emerald blue "I know that you are in possession of another black opal and I would like to borrow it."

Jonathan's hand searched down to the bag he had stuck in his belt "Why? You already have one, why do you need another one?"

"Because the one I have I need to protect myself and because it is filled to the brim with my magic. I want my loved one protected from danger, but she will burn up if I lay my opal around her neck. the one you have is empty and I will be able to apply the protective spells that is necessary ".

The king raised his eyebrows. Had he heard correctly? Had Numair finally chosen a woman he would stick to? "It is a very valuable loan Numair, the woman you have chosen, she must be very special?"

"She is" Numair told his king with a dismissive voice.

Jonathan knew that he walking into dangerously area, but curiosity took the upper hand "Is she noble?"

Numair growled slightly "You should not attempt to question me about who it is Jonathan, it's not your business."

"Okay, okay Numair" The king raised his hands in an apologetic gesture "I just want to be sure that the person who carries this opal" he took a black stones out of the bag and handed it to Numair "that she can't do damage with it. "

He took the stone "She can't. It's my magic, and unlike some others, my magic is impenetrable and indestructible. Not even you, Jonathan, would be able to change it."

"Calm down Numair, I'm sure you have chosen the right woman. Whoever she is."

Numair nodded "She is the right for me" He hesitated a bit. "She has always been, I just haven't known it before now."

"I am sure we all will accept your choice" Jonathan answered and threw another glance towards the door to Numair's bedroom. He was still curious to know who the woman wa. Numair's student would be heartbroken if she knew that he had finally chosen a woman. Could it perhaps be the new healer, Elena? A bit worried about Daine, Jonathan asked quite neutral "What reactions should I expect from her? What should I be aware of?".

He knew that Jonathan was referring to Daine "You should expect the worst. You ask me to leave her without any explanation. When she discovers that I am gone, it is only the gods who can stop her from splitting the whole palace. Don't say I didn't warn you and you should be happy that she is deprived from her wild magic, for you will be unable to make war or protect the country properly ". Numair sighed loudly before he continued. "She will never forgive me leaving her without a word and you can be sure that she will never forgive you, Jonathan. One can only hope that you don't create a new lioness". He said referring to Alanna and her open minded opinions.

Jonathan sighed "Then I must take my precautions." He walked toward the door "See if you can get some sleep Numair and take good care of yourself. You know what the ring can do and you will be safe as long you're wearing it, but nevertheless watch yourself."

He nodded, "Of course. Be careful with her Jonathan, she is still a vulnerable young woman and she attracts trouble wherever she goes". He hesitated when Jonathan reached the door and opened it "I will never forgive you Jonathan, if she gets hurt."

Blue eyes looked directly into Numair's. "I know." With these words Jonathan walked out and closed the door behind him.