~~~~~~~~~~
Numair gritted his teeth. Clenching his fists tighter around the handles of the ship's rail, he reread the letter in his mind again. "Kaddar?" he hissed.
Onua rolled her eyes. "What is your problem?" she exclaimed. "Why did you insist on this? And why am I here?"
The mage scowled, a black cloud wisping at his fingertips. "None of your business."
"It is when my carcass is carted away from my horses and shipped to Carthak- without warning."
He growled. "We switched letters, by accident."
"So? I got yours and you got mine."
Hesitating, Numair bit his lip. "Well...Daine, you know how Kaddar had this crush on her while we were there...anyway...Now, he has made a move and..."
Onua stamped her foot impatiently. "You came to interfere?"
"Yeah," he growled.
She began to laugh. "Oh, no. Not this."
"What?"
"You love her!" The woman pointed a Magic-laced finger at the mage, while covering her chuckling mouth with her other hand. "And you don't want Kaddar to interfere! The teacher and the student?" Onua instantly regretted her words as Numair's eyes went down to his shoetops. "I'm sorry. Shouldn't have said that."
"No, it's true. And I have no idea what to do."
~~~~~~~~~~~
Daine averted her eyes as Kaddar approached her later that week. "Daine?"
"Hey."
The Emperor peered into her face and sighed. "I can tell by your expression that...that...well, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have..."
Daine sighed also, stroking the sleeping Zek on her shoulder. "That's all right, Kaddar. I really didn't mind, I just was confused. I shouldn't have ran away, either."
"Friends?"
"Friends," she told him firmly. Standing, she stretched. "It's a bit late, I should get to bed if I'm going to be a functioning person tomorrow."
"Daine?"
"Yes?"
He hesitated, for once looking like the seventeen year old rather than the Imperial Majesty. "Could I still ask you to dance? And things?"
The magelet smiled. "Of course, Kaddar. It's fine."
"Goodnight."
" 'Nite."
~~~~~~~~~~
The ship sailed into port, and released the three onto the slippery docks. "Well, good luck," Onua told Numair, a slight crease between her eyebrows. "I shan't discuss it with you anymore, now that we're here."
"Thanks," the man replied, his voice hollow. "I wonder what I'll tell her..."
"About what? Why you're here, or how you feel?"
"Both!"
~~~~~~~~~~~
okay people vote now! Numair or Kaddar?