Chapter 12; Varice learns something.
"Daine's dead. I'm sorry, Numair, but Daine has passed away. Daine is no more. Daine killed herself. Daine drowned in the sea; no one could find her body." A growl of frustration allowed the seething Varice to vent her feelings, if only a little bit. "So simple. So many ways to say it. So many different ideas. So why couldn't I have chosen one of them?" The fuming blonde sat on a chair, drumming her fingers on the table. "It's not like I haven't invented ways of her dying in my head. Why couldn't I pick one of those choices?"
"Varice?" The subdued tone belonged to her solemn emperor. She watched his grave face as he sat opposite her. She folded her hands in her lap, and waited for him to speak. "What did you tell Numair?"
Her face was as innocent as her voice. "What should I have told him?" He gave her a stern look, and she cringed under it.
"I know Numair would have gone to you for conformation of Daine's words. What did you tell him?"
"I thought about telling him that Daine was dead."
He shook his head from side to side, his eyes closed in what could have been pleasure, but, knowing him as she did, was most likely pain. "Varice, you didn't."
Stung by the fact that he thought she could have done it, she stood, knocking the chair over. He must have seen the flash of pride in her blue eyes; he put a hand out to stop her leaving. Obedient, Varice stayed.
"I tried to tell him, but I couldn't. I just...couldn't do that to him." Kaddar put a comforting hand on her arm. Both were standing now. "I wanted him to be happy. I don't know why; I don't even like that scrawny baby he wants to marry."
"You love him." She recoiled at the idea, making Kaddar laugh at the unpleasant expression on her face.
"Love? Love is when someone feels so strongly for another, they'll go to any lengths to make that person happy." Realising what she had said, she tried to backtrack. "I'll go to any lengths to make myself happy," she pointed out. Kaddar nodded, but it seemed to be with sympathy and understanding rather than agreement. Suddenly, tiredness filled the Carthaki blonde. She was tired of going over this point, tired of loving someone who loved another, tired of life.
Without being conscious of it, Kaddar felt a twinge in his heart. The woman looked exhausted. She had put up such a good show, for so long. It was time the show came to an end. Tears were falling down her cheeks; she couldn't even brush them away. Heartache covered her whole body; distress filled her mind. Now she knew why Numair had needed to follow Daine. Varice knew she'd follow Numair anywhere. But how far would he go for her?
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Oh dear. Numair leaves broken hearts everywhere. Bad mage! Please review. I'm sorry about this chapter; now you know that Numair's gone after Daine, at least! I just wanted Varice to be depressed!