Chapter 7: June 5th
It was midnight at the palace, and the two supposed-to-be-married-mages' friends were having a meeting. Daine hadn't come back, and there was no sign of Numair.
"Aarrgghhhhhh!" Alanna the Lioness roared, slamming her fist down on the table. "How could he go and DESERT the poor girl like that?!"
"Alanna, calm down. Maybe he was kidnapped, or-"
"The most powerful mage in the realm? Kidnapped?" the Lioness barked. "Or maybe he's busy bedding another woman!"
Lindhall Reed stood up. "That's not fair, Alanna," he broke in angrily. "You know Numair would never do that to Daine! I have a feeling that he-" The formerly-Carthaki mage was cut off by a knock on the heavy wooden door. Onua got up from her chair to open it. The figure who entered was the one being discussed.
"Good evening, everyone," greeted Numair, trying to hold onto and arm full of books. He sauntered over to the table to rest them on it, then used a hand to sweep back the hair that had escaped his horsetail. "I just wanted to talk to Jonathan, Lindhall, and-" The mage finally noticed that everyone was staring at him. "What?" he asked, clearly confused.
It was Alanna who finally spoke up. Everyone else was busy staring at Numair with mouths wide open. "You dolt!" she whispered. "Did you by any chance forget to do something today?"
Numair gave her a confused look, then glanced around the room. "No, I don't think so," he said carefully after a moment. "Or-is today someone's birthday?"
The Champion let out a snort and Onua glared at him. "No," she growled, "but you WERE supposed to get married today!" The others nodded fervently.
Numair gasped, turning deathly pale. "But-but today's only the fifth of June!" he cried. "We're getting married tomorrow!"
King Jonathan sadly shook his head. "No, I'm afraid that you got the wrong date, my friend. The wedding was today." The women all glared at him, but the men looked sympathetic.
Numair's head swam, and his knees collapsed. Alanna and Thayet helped him to his feet as he kept repeating, "No! No! Today's the fifth!"
Onua and George exchanged looks. Numair was now hysterical. Alanna decided to knock some sense into him. Literally!
But the lanky mage was too upset to care. "How could I? How could I miss my own wedding? Mithros, Mynoss, and Shakith!" George and Lindhall forced him to sit, but he was still upset. "Where's Daine?" he demanded, jumping up suddenly.
Maura of Dunlath sighed. "She ran away," she said softly. "We were coming back to the palace because of rain, and she jumped out of the carriage and rode away on Freedom."
Numair's head swam. Had she left him forever? The tall mag efell to the ground again, then leapt up. "I've got to go after her!" he cried, heading for the door.
"Numair, she's upset. I think that you ought to give her some time alone," Queen Thayet suggested gently, patting his arm.
Suddenly, the door swung open again. And the figure who entered was the last person anyone expected to see.....
So-who is it at the door? Please review!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
*Lady of the Wolves