That night Briar contemplated his situation. He had realized that his powers were completely gone, and not returning anytime soon. Next to him Daine slept peacefully, a smile of contentment adorning her soft features. The boy smiled bitterly, tossing a rock over the fire and into the pond. Suddenly he shook Daine awake. Her eyes fluttered open and she sat up.
"Daine," he said calmly, "I'm going away. To Windhaven." He named a prosperous city in Maren. "Come with me, my love?"
The Wildmage blinked in confusion. "But why, Briar? I may have lost my memory, but I'm not daft. You're acting very strange. Who do you have to run from?"
"Run from?" Briar fought to hide his shock. "I'm not running. I just want to go away."
"You're running," Daine accused firmly. "And you're keeping something from me. That doesn't seem very fair." She stood, bracing her fists on her hips, and fixed Briar with a patronizing glare.
"I'm not hiding anything, darling," he mumbled. Slowly he turned the knotted circle if string over in his fingers. "And I don't want to run."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
The black robe mages grunted as he heaved himself into the Spot's saddle. Behind him stood the Cob, Mangle, who was laden with many packs and supplies.
"You should reconsider," Gary said tersely. "This is folly."
"What are you doing, Numair?" Alanna asked her friend.
Numair turned in the saddle to see the group of 8 people watching him closely.
"I'm going to find Daine," he announced. "From what I have concluded scrying, the two have magically disappeared from the Eastern Lands, and we all know that that isn't possible. So they must have had their powers stolen. If you don't find it suspicious, think about this. Powerless and up against a possibly dangerous immortal, not to mention any sort of trouble raiders send their way, why wouldn't they return back here?" There were mutterings of assent amongst the crowd. "No, my friends, I sense foul play. Goodbye."
No one had time to register that his speech was over before Numair had galloped away in a cloud of dust. Mangle followed obediently in his tracks.
(A/n: yes, all my chapters lately are short. But I have very bad writers block, so it's short, or no chapters at all!)