Briar finally ducked away from all of the nobles and escaped to his rooms. It was almost dawn. With a yawn, the ex-thief fell onto his bed. He was just dozing off when several people burst in to his room.
"There you are!" Sandry exclaimed. He mumbled something into his pillow and turned his back to them. In no time at all, Briar felt himself being lifted by strong arms and placed onto the floor.
"Don't be so anxious to say goodbye," Tris chided. Daja said nothing.
Briar finally came to his senses. "Sorry, girls. I don't know what--" he yawned "-- what came over me. I was going to say goodbye. Truly I was."
Sandry sighed and rummaged in her pocket. She produced the ring of thread with four knots in it that the four had made so long ago.
"We thought you should have this," the noble girl said firmly. "Until you return, so you don't forget your friends."
Daja and Tris nodded solemnly. Briar was aghast.
"I…well, thanks, Sandry, Tris, Daj'. I'll take care of it." He took the item and pocketed it. "Now," he signaled to his bed, "if you would excuse me. I need some sleep. I promise I'll say goodbye when I'm leaving."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Daine sorted through her wardrobe and chose several working- and fighting-tunics. More breeches. Boots. Socks, loincloths, breast bands. She was set. In one easy, practiced movement she slung her bag over her shoulder and reached for the door handle. She stopped and looked around her room. For some reason, she already felt a pang of homesickness. The Wildmage surveyed her bedroom, and the slightly ajar door that connected to Numair's. Daine shook her head to clear it and opened the door.
Briar caught up with her at the mess hall, toting a surprisingly small bag. Daine scrutinized him, thinking that he must have a very interesting past. She decided to question him later, when silence might become unbearable on their journey.
They sat at a table with Numair, Jon, Alanna, Thayet, Raoul, Gary, Reubin, and Omar. The meal was passed mostly in silence. Finally it was time to leave. Raoul grunted as he stretched, and reached underneath his chair.
"Here, Daine." The Knight Commander offered her several rolled-up maps that she took from him with a smile. Alanna gave her a sack of jars containing healing liquids and herbs. Jon handed her a fat coin pouch. Gary smiled at her.
"I've not such pretty things to give you, Daine," he confessed, and revealed a rolled scroll adorned with wax seals and ribbons. "It's the pass that will get you from place-to-place, describing your mission."
She thanked them all, as did Briar. Numair reached into his pocket. Daine and her partner waited expectantly for a gift or aide from the powerful mage. Numair stopped and realized that everyone was watching him. H shrugged and withdrew his hand. In it was a flask of water.
"I was thirsty," he explained. Daine exhaled in disappointment. Numair chuckled dryly.
"Just joking, magelet," he said, and opened his fist. In it was a delicate silver locket encrusted with rubies, on a silver chain. Everyone there gasped with wonder.
"Wear it, and remember me," Numair whispered. Daine opened it with trembling fingers.
A small, precise portrait of Daine and Numair together adorned one side. On the other was an engraved message.
'Magelet,
Do not forget that I love you.
Numair'