Author's note: Sorry it took so long, but here is the long anticipated eighth chapter. It'll get better in the next couple of chapters, more action sort of stuff in the Divine and mortal realms. Chapter nine is already in progress, so hopefully I'll have it up soon!



Disclaimer: I still don't own any of the characters or places, just the plot, and even then I have to give some credit to Sirena and Moxie for helping me out there. Thanks guys!



Secrets

Chapter Eight: The Equinox



*Meanwhile...*

The man that both Daine and Numair were searching for sat in the shadows of a granite cave, surrounded by the sounds of sleeping bats and crawling insects. He smelled strongly of apple, and his skin had a brownish-green tallow. His blonde hair was streaked with green, giving the impression that he hadn't bathed in weeks. The odd thing about this was that he had bathed; everyday, in fact.

"Why can't I rid myself of this infernal smell?!" he muttered angrily to himself. "The scent alone could give me away at thirty yards. Damn you, Arram! Damn you!" He scrubbed at his arm with a piece of torn shirt, scratching with his nails until his flesh was raw and bleeding(A/N: this is a line from a Weird Al Yankovic song, just to give credit where credit is deserved). Sighing, he set aside the scrap of cloth and turned to the full-length mirror he had leaned against a large boulder. He admired himself for a while, then changed the reflection to picture Daine instead.

"Such a pretty thing," he murmured almost guiltily. "It's really too bad she got involved with him. Now she'll have to suffer along side her man." He waved a hand across the smooth surface of the glass and the image changed again. Numair's face was soaked in sweat as he bent over a glowing object. His mouth moved with unheard words, and his eyes were set in a blank, formidable stare.

The Lone man chuckled. "Arram, Arram. Stop wearing yourself out. You'll need all your strength for what's next to come." He walked over to a ledge in the rocked and pulled a small musical pipe out from in between the many bottles and jars that were stored there. Placing it in one of his pockets, he selected a bottle, filled a deep, rich wine. Pouring himself a glass, he raised it in a toast. "To...me! May my revenge on Arram be a thousand times more painful than his on me. Also, to Chaos. Truly the greatest of all the gods. Thank for freeing me of my wooden prison." He tilted the glass back and swallowed its contents quickly. Setting the empty cup down, he pulled out the pipe and began to play.



***



Daine felt Cloud's rhythmic running underneath her, the pounding of her hooves on the dirt ringing in her ears. How she longed to join her in her mind, to feel the wind rushing through her mane and the solid thump of the earth under her...

Zek's voice in ear shook her awake. The small marmoset whispered directions, so she gracefully guided Cloud through the rugged trails and wooded knolls. The silence of the forest scared her, chilling her deep inside. She heard nothing, not a bird, or a squirrel, not even the field mice, who were usually out and about at this time of year, spring

Spring? Was it really that time? The equinox... what day was it? Daine let Cloud be the guide and drifted deep into thought. When's the equinox? I haven't seen Ma in ages. I wonder if she already knows... She could, she'd the Green Lady, after all. I just hope she'll be there when my time comes...

Daine didn't notice the shadows following her, creeping along on their thin, sharply jointed limbs. She didn't see them licking their lips, grinding their silver teeth. They kept hidden in the trees, high above the ground, watching her hungrily, advancing slowly.

She felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end. Immortals. She pressed her heels into Cloud's sides and whispered, "Faster."

The horse, sensing the fear in her voice, went into a dead sprint. Daine felt the hairs go down and soon she regained her composure.

The spidrens saw her speed up, but this was to be expected. The Master had told the girl knew when they were about. The Master knew everything. He was Chaos' faithful servant, her right hand.

So they followed...



***



Daine kept alert, sweeping the trail with her eyes. She knew they were there somewhere, just not close enough to see. She stared at the ground, hoping to lose herself in thought. But, before she could lose herself in anything, she violently pulled back on Cloud's reins, bringing her to an abrupt stop. She leapt off the horse and began running her fingers over the dirt.

What in Chaos' Realm do you think you are doing?! Cloud shouted as she bucked her hind hooves against a tree. Mithros, Daine! That was my mouth!

Daine looked up from the sand she sifted through her fingers. "Hmm? Oh, sorry, Cloud. It's just-" She stopped and traced a hoof-print in the ground. It was too big to be from Cloud, but just right for Spots and ...

"Numair."

Yes...Numair. Well, I'm sure he's around here somewhere, Cloud said disdainfully. She stamped impatiently and went about munching on some grass a few feet away.

-He's around here, isn't he?- Zek whispered from her shoulder.

Daine nodded. "He's definitely close." She closed her eyes and reached out with her mind, asking the first creature she came across, a large tawny owl.

Yes? The bird ruffled his feathers sleepily.

She spoke politely, fearing that this owl might be her last hope in finding Numair, since just the small task of holding his mind made her feel ill.

He was here, the owl replied, yawning. Rather noisy chap. Disturbed my mate and our hatchlings from a nap. Took off towards the mountains not two hours ago.

Daine thanked him profusely, while pulled Cloud away from a patch of green that she was nibbling

Hey! She cried as she craned her neck to grab one last bite. I just found the good stuff!

She ignored her horse and mounted, using the reins to direct her head towards the peaks that towered above them. "That way."



***





It took several hours of hard riding for Daine and her party to catch up to Numair. He sat alone in a thicket, Spots no where to be seen, His hair was a mess and his black robes covered in brambles. She saw his mouth moving, but couldn't hear what he was saying. Silently, she crept forward and let his voice echo in her ears.

"Mithros, I've messed up. How could this happen? First, I knock up my girlfriend, then my best friend is eaten, then I un-knock up my girlfriend, and now I'm lost. This is peachy, just peachy. A week from hell, that's what I've had. The seventh circle of hell... no, wait. It's Carthak! This week is worse than being in Carthak! Gods Bless, the way things are going, I'll probably be dead before the day is out."

Figuring this was a good time to reveal herself, Daine stepped forward and said, "Well, I should hope not." She was immediately thrown back when Numair, who was surprised by her sudden entrance, cast a ball of black fire at her. She landed in the bushes, which thankfully cushioned her fall. Her shirt and breeches were charred, and the ends of her smoky brown hair were smouldering slightly, but other than that she was fine.

Realizing his mistake, Numair rushed to help her to her feet. "Gods, Daine! I could've killed you! What were you thinking, sneaking up on me like that? And why are you here, anyway? I told you to stay back at the palace!"

She brushed herself off and looked at him sternly. "Well, don't you start to think I'm going to bow to your every whim. I'm not one of the court ladies, Numair. And, it's a good thing I didn't stay in the stuffy old palace. Look at you! You'd be out here forever, without Zek to help you out, and since you can't understand Zek, you most certainly need me."

He shook his head. "I should have known you'd be out the door before you even finished reading the letter. And I am a bit lost, aren't I? Well, I guess you've come to remedy that." He leaned over and kissed her lips lightly, teasingly. "Maybe we should try again, when we get married. I can't wait to try again."

Daine took his hand in hers. "Maybe you'll get that sooner than you think."

Numair raised his eyebrows in question. "Why, Miss Sarrasri, are you suggesting that you want to ... er ... canoodle?" He was smiling at her mischeiviously.

"Numair, are you out of your gourd?!" she cried, releasing his hand. "Whatever happened to staying as it was? I guess we lost that when I found out I was pregnant. I still am, you know. I'm still carrying you child. That's what I meant, not canoodling."

Numair was quiet. "How?" he whispered after a while. "How? We tried everything. There was no pulse, no movement, nothing! Every person with even a trace of a Gift tried to help. Everyone! But - but... I don't know anymore, Daine. I just don't know."

Daine held him close and let him cry on her shoulder. "I don't know, either. I asked myself the same thing." She felt odd, holding him as he sobbed. She knew how he must feel, each time she cried in his arms. It was a strange, different feeling, yet she never wanted to let him go.

Look, I hate to break up the happy moment, but we really must be going. We have a job to do, remember? Cloud called out to them from the edge of the thicket, Spots suddenly beside her.

The girl nodded and patted Numair's back. "Lets go. We'll talk more on the road." He gave her a quick squeeze and mounted Spots clumsily. Daine did the same, but faltered in mid-jump as she felt her hackle go up. "Not again..."

She stumbled slightly as she landed back on the ground, Turning, she saw at least half a dozen hurroks hurtling at them. Daine only remembered a large black ball before she was sucked into oblivion.