A/N: I'm back! Thanks for waiting for me!
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"I wonder what happened to Numair and Daine."
Jonathan of Conte glanced up from his breakfast, startled at Onua's unexpected comment. It had been completely out of the blue, and had broken the silence that had hung around the table, as each of the occupants was busy with his or her own thoughts. Now that he thought about it, it was strange that they hadn't heard from the duo in so long. Numair had left in a hurry, bent on rescuing his student from whatever danger she was in, and so far they hadn't heard a thing.
"I don't know," Alanna said, from where she sat very close to George, who had just returned from a trip. "We can either assume that everything went well, or," her voice took on a worried tone, "that something bad happened."
Thayet smiled optimistically. "Oh, you know, with those two, it always works out." Only Jon caught the worried look her eyes took on. He wrapped a comforting arm around her shoulder.
"Don't worry," he said, "I'm sure they're perfectly fine, meeting new people and doing new things. Plumb forgotten us, I'll bet."
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Kitten frolicked joyfully with the other youngsters in her grandfather's land, but she wasn't entirely happy. She missed Daine, but it would be a while before she could go back-the arrangements were for her to stay a month. She loved where she was, but she also wanted to be back in Tortall. Still, the young dragon was usually able to dismiss those thoughts from her mind. They mostly came back to haunt her at night, when the dark made her feel small and lonesome.
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Kaddar flung himself down in a low armchair and sprawled very un- Imperially. He was fuming. Why did his advisors and generals all insist that he attack the rebel force with the Imperial troops? If he did that, his people could never trust him again. He would be like Ozorne, a tireless and merciless dictator who suppressed his people with force. It would be easier and better to talk it out with the leader, find out their concern, and then solve it. Kaddar hated bloodshed, and anything he could do to stop it was opted for immediately. And so he stalled until the leader would accept his petition for peace-talks, making up reasons to stay away sometimes and, on different occasions, just plain refusing. This worried him too, because now he was afraid of a possible uprising within the higher- ranking population. Kaddar growled slightly to himself. Why did everything have to be so damn complicated?
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Zek felt forgotten. The last few days, Daine had had no time for him, and now she was so busy she hardly ever talked or cuddled him. He could sense the fear and tension that she felt, but he couldn't do anything to help her. She seemed not to want any distraction, either, so he had reluctantly given up his perch on her shoulder and followed her around, clinging determinedly onto anything within her reach. Loneliness weighed heavily on the little marmoset as he settled demurely on yet another handy perch.
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There was no delaying it any longer. They had gone over the details, practiced Damae's magical sight one last time, and made sure that Numair was energized. It was time to leave. Daine hugged Numair tightly, both wanting support and trying to give it to him. He squeezed her just as tightly back, and for a moment she forgot her worries. They all came rushing back, however, when Numair whispered in her ear.
"Be careful, love."
"I could say the same for you," she answered, trying to be lighthearted, but it didn't sound convincing. She pulled out of his embrace and turned quickly away, trying to hide the tears that were forming for his sake. Daine walked up to Cloud, who lipped her shoulder reassuringly. Daine stroked her faithful pony, comforted by the presence of her stoic animal friend. Next, she walked over to where she had seen Zek sitting earlier. She scooped him up lovingly in her hands and cuddled him, mentally apologizing for neglecting him for so long. She deposited him on Clouds back, warning the pony to watch out for him. Lastly, Daine exchanged a few heartening sentences with Damae and Medaio, and then stepped back. Her friends turned around, and she walked a little distance away, slipped out of her clothes, and changed.
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Numair felt a heavy weight on his shoulder, and turned his head. He was staring into the intelligent eyes of a large, dappled bird of prey, of a species that he had never seen before. Its wings were long and well shaped, its talons and beak fierce but comparatively small, and its tail split down the middle like a swallow's. Obviously, it was made for speed and agility. Knowing who it was, he lifted his hand up to its head. The bird that was his love rubbed up against it for a minute, and then, strong talons digging into his shoulders slightly, launched itself into the air. It was gone from sight before Numair had ever thought it possible. He settled himself down for a long and anxious wait.
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It took Daine, flying at full speed, only a few hours to reach the amassed force. They had settled down for a break from the hot sun in an area that contained many crags of rock and a few trees, offering a little shade to those lucky enough to get it. Again, she was disheartened at the sight of the huge amount of men. Casting around from where she wheeled in the air, a particularly large hunk of rock caught her eye. It was tall and pocketed, looming like a great monument to the force of the gods that produced such spectacles. It sat too far away from the force to have any men underneath it, for the sun was still fairly high, with the shadow of the rock cast in the wrong direction. Still, it would give a good lookout point, and anyone on the other side would be well concealed. It would do. Daine winged slowly down to it and perched near the middle, out of sight of anything on the other side. She prayed to the gods for Numair's safety, gathered her magic, and cast her mind.
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Seemingly from far off, Cloud heard Daine call. She neighed, straining to hear the faint directions. What was she saying? Ear, or hear? Cloud listened harder. came the faint voice. The pony had understood. She had been told of the signal, and now she put force and sound into it, lifting her front feet off the ground and pawing the air while she let out an ear-splitting neigh, as Zek chattered, frightened, and clutched her mane tightly.
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Numair sat bolt upright from his outwardly relaxed position. There was no mistaking it. The mare's tenseness, and then sudden upheaval, could only mean that Daine had reached a safe point. He breathed a sigh of relief for her. Looking around at Damae, who stood, white as death, next to Medaio, he nodded, and fished inside his pocket. Numair's fingers brushed the lock of Daine's hair that he had cut the night they had been reunited, and he pulled it out, closing his eyes, and cast about in his mind for her once more. There! The speck of light gleamed faintly in the far distance. Numair gathered his knowledge and located it exactly in the huge void of space around him. Keeping his grasp on the light, energy rapidly draining, he opened one eye and beckoned to Damae.
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Damae nerved herself for the coming sensation, of which she knew only that it would happen. Numair had been unable to describe it. She felt herself shake all over, and instinctively reached out for Medaio, unthinking. If she had been herself she wouldn't have done so, not knowing whether he would dislike it or not, but she was as a child, trembling in the face of its number one fear, and reaching out to anyone for comfort. In this unnatural state of mind, she stretched out her hand to the side, still watching Numair. She felt Medaio's warm, rough fingers enclose her own with a thrill of pleasure running up her spine, before she was pulled, all of a sudden, into the awkward embrace of the two arms that she loved most.
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Medaio couldn't help himself. Damae's fear, and her simple, trusting gesture had overpowered him, and he hadn't been able to keep himself from trying to comfort her in the only way he could at the moment. His world seemed to stand still as he hugged Damae, lost in love for this most perfect of all people. He clasped her tightly to him, oblivious to all but his feelings and the concern he felt for his love. Focused as he was, he missed Numair's knowing and pleased smile entirely. He felt Damae's shaking subside, and regretfully loosened his arms. She stepped back and looked up into his eyes with such an expression of gratitude and reassurance that it made his heart throb. Struck to the core by the strange but exceedingly pleasant last few minutes, he watched, stricken, as she walked over to stand trustingly next to Numair.
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After Medaio's embrace, which had lifted her onto cushions of air and made her want to sing, Damae felt very calm. Ready for anything, she grasped Daine's cloak tightly, closed her eyes, and waited for what was to come.
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Numair concentrated hard on the tiny speck of light that he saw, and then reached into his magic, drawing it out and then casting it around Damae in his mind. Pulling it tight, he connected it to where Daine was, drawing it through him, and gave a mighty pull with all his Gift.
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Medaio saw Damae disappear, and, not a moment later, Numair keeled over, ashen gray. The healer rushed to his side, half glad to have something to distract him from worrying over his love.
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Damae's insides lurched. She had the sensation of being pulled from the ground by a mighty hand. She tingled all over, but it was not pleasant-the sort of pinpricks that a person gets after their feet fall asleep. And then, like a shock, there was a dizzying sensation of nothingness-as if she, Damae, no more than an idea, was floating in a black world that was void of anything she could recognize. She couldn't feel any of her body parts. Then there was a rushing sweep of something like wind that wasn't real and yet had the strange substantial quality of words, and a hard, painful shock to her feet that jarred her entire body.
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A/N: So, here we go, Damae and Medaio are getting with the program. Thanks for reviewing!
Amethyst: So they can talk about what they see, of course. Damae wouldn't feel comfortable talking to a bird, would she?
CrAzYhOrSeGiRl88: I hope I don't catch it! Hope your block gets better!
Cassa-Andra: I hope this chapter answers all you desires?
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"I wonder what happened to Numair and Daine."
Jonathan of Conte glanced up from his breakfast, startled at Onua's unexpected comment. It had been completely out of the blue, and had broken the silence that had hung around the table, as each of the occupants was busy with his or her own thoughts. Now that he thought about it, it was strange that they hadn't heard from the duo in so long. Numair had left in a hurry, bent on rescuing his student from whatever danger she was in, and so far they hadn't heard a thing.
"I don't know," Alanna said, from where she sat very close to George, who had just returned from a trip. "We can either assume that everything went well, or," her voice took on a worried tone, "that something bad happened."
Thayet smiled optimistically. "Oh, you know, with those two, it always works out." Only Jon caught the worried look her eyes took on. He wrapped a comforting arm around her shoulder.
"Don't worry," he said, "I'm sure they're perfectly fine, meeting new people and doing new things. Plumb forgotten us, I'll bet."
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Kitten frolicked joyfully with the other youngsters in her grandfather's land, but she wasn't entirely happy. She missed Daine, but it would be a while before she could go back-the arrangements were for her to stay a month. She loved where she was, but she also wanted to be back in Tortall. Still, the young dragon was usually able to dismiss those thoughts from her mind. They mostly came back to haunt her at night, when the dark made her feel small and lonesome.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Kaddar flung himself down in a low armchair and sprawled very un- Imperially. He was fuming. Why did his advisors and generals all insist that he attack the rebel force with the Imperial troops? If he did that, his people could never trust him again. He would be like Ozorne, a tireless and merciless dictator who suppressed his people with force. It would be easier and better to talk it out with the leader, find out their concern, and then solve it. Kaddar hated bloodshed, and anything he could do to stop it was opted for immediately. And so he stalled until the leader would accept his petition for peace-talks, making up reasons to stay away sometimes and, on different occasions, just plain refusing. This worried him too, because now he was afraid of a possible uprising within the higher- ranking population. Kaddar growled slightly to himself. Why did everything have to be so damn complicated?
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Zek felt forgotten. The last few days, Daine had had no time for him, and now she was so busy she hardly ever talked or cuddled him. He could sense the fear and tension that she felt, but he couldn't do anything to help her. She seemed not to want any distraction, either, so he had reluctantly given up his perch on her shoulder and followed her around, clinging determinedly onto anything within her reach. Loneliness weighed heavily on the little marmoset as he settled demurely on yet another handy perch.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
There was no delaying it any longer. They had gone over the details, practiced Damae's magical sight one last time, and made sure that Numair was energized. It was time to leave. Daine hugged Numair tightly, both wanting support and trying to give it to him. He squeezed her just as tightly back, and for a moment she forgot her worries. They all came rushing back, however, when Numair whispered in her ear.
"Be careful, love."
"I could say the same for you," she answered, trying to be lighthearted, but it didn't sound convincing. She pulled out of his embrace and turned quickly away, trying to hide the tears that were forming for his sake. Daine walked up to Cloud, who lipped her shoulder reassuringly. Daine stroked her faithful pony, comforted by the presence of her stoic animal friend. Next, she walked over to where she had seen Zek sitting earlier. She scooped him up lovingly in her hands and cuddled him, mentally apologizing for neglecting him for so long. She deposited him on Clouds back, warning the pony to watch out for him. Lastly, Daine exchanged a few heartening sentences with Damae and Medaio, and then stepped back. Her friends turned around, and she walked a little distance away, slipped out of her clothes, and changed.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Numair felt a heavy weight on his shoulder, and turned his head. He was staring into the intelligent eyes of a large, dappled bird of prey, of a species that he had never seen before. Its wings were long and well shaped, its talons and beak fierce but comparatively small, and its tail split down the middle like a swallow's. Obviously, it was made for speed and agility. Knowing who it was, he lifted his hand up to its head. The bird that was his love rubbed up against it for a minute, and then, strong talons digging into his shoulders slightly, launched itself into the air. It was gone from sight before Numair had ever thought it possible. He settled himself down for a long and anxious wait.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
It took Daine, flying at full speed, only a few hours to reach the amassed force. They had settled down for a break from the hot sun in an area that contained many crags of rock and a few trees, offering a little shade to those lucky enough to get it. Again, she was disheartened at the sight of the huge amount of men. Casting around from where she wheeled in the air, a particularly large hunk of rock caught her eye. It was tall and pocketed, looming like a great monument to the force of the gods that produced such spectacles. It sat too far away from the force to have any men underneath it, for the sun was still fairly high, with the shadow of the rock cast in the wrong direction. Still, it would give a good lookout point, and anyone on the other side would be well concealed. It would do. Daine winged slowly down to it and perched near the middle, out of sight of anything on the other side. She prayed to the gods for Numair's safety, gathered her magic, and cast her mind.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Seemingly from far off, Cloud heard Daine call. She neighed, straining to hear the faint directions. What was she saying? Ear, or hear? Cloud listened harder. came the faint voice. The pony had understood. She had been told of the signal, and now she put force and sound into it, lifting her front feet off the ground and pawing the air while she let out an ear-splitting neigh, as Zek chattered, frightened, and clutched her mane tightly.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Numair sat bolt upright from his outwardly relaxed position. There was no mistaking it. The mare's tenseness, and then sudden upheaval, could only mean that Daine had reached a safe point. He breathed a sigh of relief for her. Looking around at Damae, who stood, white as death, next to Medaio, he nodded, and fished inside his pocket. Numair's fingers brushed the lock of Daine's hair that he had cut the night they had been reunited, and he pulled it out, closing his eyes, and cast about in his mind for her once more. There! The speck of light gleamed faintly in the far distance. Numair gathered his knowledge and located it exactly in the huge void of space around him. Keeping his grasp on the light, energy rapidly draining, he opened one eye and beckoned to Damae.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Damae nerved herself for the coming sensation, of which she knew only that it would happen. Numair had been unable to describe it. She felt herself shake all over, and instinctively reached out for Medaio, unthinking. If she had been herself she wouldn't have done so, not knowing whether he would dislike it or not, but she was as a child, trembling in the face of its number one fear, and reaching out to anyone for comfort. In this unnatural state of mind, she stretched out her hand to the side, still watching Numair. She felt Medaio's warm, rough fingers enclose her own with a thrill of pleasure running up her spine, before she was pulled, all of a sudden, into the awkward embrace of the two arms that she loved most.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Medaio couldn't help himself. Damae's fear, and her simple, trusting gesture had overpowered him, and he hadn't been able to keep himself from trying to comfort her in the only way he could at the moment. His world seemed to stand still as he hugged Damae, lost in love for this most perfect of all people. He clasped her tightly to him, oblivious to all but his feelings and the concern he felt for his love. Focused as he was, he missed Numair's knowing and pleased smile entirely. He felt Damae's shaking subside, and regretfully loosened his arms. She stepped back and looked up into his eyes with such an expression of gratitude and reassurance that it made his heart throb. Struck to the core by the strange but exceedingly pleasant last few minutes, he watched, stricken, as she walked over to stand trustingly next to Numair.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
After Medaio's embrace, which had lifted her onto cushions of air and made her want to sing, Damae felt very calm. Ready for anything, she grasped Daine's cloak tightly, closed her eyes, and waited for what was to come.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Numair concentrated hard on the tiny speck of light that he saw, and then reached into his magic, drawing it out and then casting it around Damae in his mind. Pulling it tight, he connected it to where Daine was, drawing it through him, and gave a mighty pull with all his Gift.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Medaio saw Damae disappear, and, not a moment later, Numair keeled over, ashen gray. The healer rushed to his side, half glad to have something to distract him from worrying over his love.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Damae's insides lurched. She had the sensation of being pulled from the ground by a mighty hand. She tingled all over, but it was not pleasant-the sort of pinpricks that a person gets after their feet fall asleep. And then, like a shock, there was a dizzying sensation of nothingness-as if she, Damae, no more than an idea, was floating in a black world that was void of anything she could recognize. She couldn't feel any of her body parts. Then there was a rushing sweep of something like wind that wasn't real and yet had the strange substantial quality of words, and a hard, painful shock to her feet that jarred her entire body.
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A/N: So, here we go, Damae and Medaio are getting with the program. Thanks for reviewing!
Amethyst: So they can talk about what they see, of course. Damae wouldn't feel comfortable talking to a bird, would she?
CrAzYhOrSeGiRl88: I hope I don't catch it! Hope your block gets better!
Cassa-Andra: I hope this chapter answers all you desires?