oh, and this is not an ending yet...its a chapter....
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The next day's banquet found Daine and Maura tucked in a comfortable niche, eating bits of fruit and toasted nuts with Zek.
"I like this better than the last one," the noble whispered. "I don't have to move at all!" Petting Zek, she gave him another nut and he chittered his thanks.
Smoothing her dark blue silk skirts, embroidered with silver thread, Daine rested her head against the couch before sitting straight up. "Oh, glory!"
The pale girl stared at her friend. "Daine, what?"
Striding through the crowd purposefully, Numair emerged in his flapping black cloak, face like a stormy cloud. Staring around him, he appeared to search for...someone.
"Hold on, Maura," Daine told the younger girl. "I'll be back in just a second! Will you be all right for a second?"
"Never fear, Daine!" Gareth the Younger appeared out of nowhere. "Lady," he said, indicating Maura, "would you care to dance?" The girl's eyes widened, but she nodded and Daine escaped to her teacher's side.
"Numair? What are you doing here?"
"Daine!" His voice was filled with relief, though his black eyes were snapping with anger and another unreadable emotion. Glancing to the dance floor, he spotted Kaddar twirling a Southern princess to the music. "I found you!"
"Why did you come?" his student asked, wonderingly.
"Oh. Well, Onua's here too, and we came just for no reason. I mean," he flustered, "for fun?"
Daine scowled. "Did you think I couldn't take care of myself?"
The mage scowled right back at her. "You haven't been doing the best job, you know! In your letter- Oh Gods."
"You read her letter?" Daine muffled her shriek. "It was for Onua!"
"C'mon, to the balcony!" Numair grumbled. "You can yell at me there."
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Kaddar saw the mage emerge from the crowd. "Damn him, where did he come from?" he muttered.
The brunette he danced with looked up inquiringly. "Your Imperial Majesty," she murmured delicately, "Is something the matter?" Batting her eyelashes prettily, she repulsed rather attracted him.
"Excuse me, Farlia," Kaddar rushed, "You must...excuse me. So, excuse me!" he gasped, before running away to catch the departing duo.
"Daine!" he called out as he ran past the balcony doors. They both turned, in deep yet angry discussion.
"Kaddar?" she asked. "What's wrong?"
Numair gave him a black look, and the Emperor wondered what was the matter until...he saw the look in the mage's eyes. Could it be possible that they both loved the same woman?
Maintaining eye contact with Numair, Kaddar grasped Daine's hand. "Let's go, Daine," he said, still watching the man.
However, Numair had the same idea, and Daine was strung out between the two, her hands caught in both. "What is going on!" she demanded.
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