**************************************
Kharnia put the book down and ran over to her fallen lover. She removed a necklace from around her neck and held it above his ravaged body. She began to chant in old Thakk. The necklace had a round ivory charm at the end of it. A gold emblem was engraved into the surface pointing down towards Leiano. The round charm began to glow as Kharnia removed her hold on it and left it levitating in mid air. The ball began to spin and light flew out from it like a pin wheel. Kharnia began her requiem once more as Leiano's body began to glow. Suddenly Leiano's body got sucked into the charm leaving no trace of him on the ground. The peculiar round charm lost it's spell and began to fall, but Kharnia caught it in time and placed it back around her neck. She placed her hand over the charm and closed her eyes.
"Soon my love, soon." She said and began to pack her belongings immediately.
**************************************
"Emperor Kaddar!" A tall young messenger yelled from across the enormous throne room. Kaddar looked up at the young man surprised. He was wearing a emerald green tunic that flowed out around him as he ran to the emperor. The throne room was lavishly decorated. The floor was made of ocean blue marble that had glittering emerald swirls in them. The walls were made of reflective white stone. The pillars supporting the high ceiling were solid silver fashioned with various gems. The ceiling was made of plain stone, but it was completely covered in a giant mural of Orzorne's defeat.
"What is it?" He asked as the young man got to his feet and bowed.
"You have a visitor?' The messenger said.
"All this racket for a vistitor? Who ever might this be?" The young emperor queried.
"Your Aunt, Lady Kharnia." The messenger said breathlessly.
"She is dead!" Kaddar said annoyed.
"No your highness! This is her! She's alive! Won't you see for yourself?" The messenger begged. Kaddar sighed.
"All right, but if this is some fool joke you will pay sorely." He warned as he waved the guards at the doors to bring her in. To Kaddar's amazement a woman walked into the throne room in the same graceful catlike nature he remembered his Aunt using. She was wearing a plain dress of common folk, but seemed to have gone through a rough life. The woman's long curly hair of varying browns and her tall delicate frame also held striking resemblance to his late Aunt.
"Kaddar?" The woman asked in the same sweet tone his Aunt used to use when telling him stories. "It can't be! It just can't be!" Kaddar exclaimed as he ran up to meet her. He looked into her deep brown eyes and new it was Kharnia. "After all these years! But how? We buried your dead body!" Khaddar exclaimed with sudden skepticism.
"It wasn't me!" Kharnia exclaimed in a tortured voice. "I was abducted that night! Master Leiano captured me! He made a simulacra of me and that's what you buried! He's held me captive all these long years! Yesterday he was killed by a stormwing and I was able to run to freedom! All I've thought about all these long years is getting back to my love, Arram. Please tell me where he is!" Kharnia pleaded in a innocent helpless voice. Kaddar looked at her amazed.
"Leiano died five years before the burial." He said with disbelieve.
"No! He faked his death as he did mine! He wanted me as a sex slave! Please believe me! I just want to see my love!" She pleaded once again with tear filled brown eyes that burned Kaddar's heart. He was now convinced she was his Aunt Kharnia. "Where is Arram! I wish more than anything to go to him. It's been fifteen years since love's eyes last looked upon me! Please take me to him!" She begged.
"A lot can happen in fifteen years." Kaddar said sadly. Kharnia looked up at him in shock.
"Tell me! He mustn't be dead! Oh goddesses, he mustn't be dead!" She cried as tears ran down her tanned face. Kaddar shook his head no. Kharnia grabbed his shoulders in glee. "Then take me to him! I need to see him once again!" She exclaimed in excitement as a smile leapt onto her worn features. To her dismay Kaddar didn't seem to lighten up.
"Arram changed his name after he fled from Ozorne. He is now known as Numair Salmalián the black robed mage of Tortall. He is the King Jonathan's right hand mage now." Kaddar explained, but was interrupted by Kharnia.
"I'll just go there then!" She exclaimed, but Kaddar hushed her.
"He is getting married to the wild mage of Tortall next month." He told her with a mix a sadness for Kharnia and happiness for his friends. "Before you got here I was about to order my packing to begin since I am invited. I was going to leave right away since it takes three weeks to get there by ship, but I see I may be needed here now that you are alive." Kaddar said and Kharnia took a step back.
"Married? He's getting married? Who is she? Is she even good enough for him? Can she ever love him as much as I?" Kharnia bellowed in heart ache. Kaddar put a hand on her shoulder. "The great Wildmage, Veralidaine Sarrasri. She was the one who helped the grave yard hag turn Orzorne in to a stormwing and killed him in a battle that ensued a year later. And believe me she loves him more than anything!" Kaddar exclaimed in defense of Daine. Kharnia hung her head in dismay and fell to her knees weeping.
"After all this time! All I've thought about was him!" She wailed. Kaddar bent down and put a hand on her shoulder.
"I understand and I'll call off my plans to attend their marriage." Kaddar said and was surprised when Kharnia shook her head no.
"I want to go too. I want to at least see him once more in my life. I just want to talk to him then I'll come back here and spend the rest of my days in misery." She said softly as tears ran down her cheeks. Kaddar nodded understanding her request. Then he motioned to the guards.
"Take her to our best guest quarters! And get her some clothes suitable of her rank! Get her anything she wants! Anything!" Kaddar ordered the guards who obliged instantly.
*********************************
Kharnia paced in her room and looked over to her bed where the round charm lay.
"This changes everything!" She exclaimed in disgust. "It'll be at least three more weeks before I can bring you back now!" She yelled with rage and threw the glass of wine that was in her hand against the wall. She took pleasure in watching the pieces fly and the red wine running down the wall like blood. Her sullen body seemed ready to burst at the seems. "He's a black robe now so I'll have to be crafty about it..." She said stammering to herself. "Yes that's it! I know what I have to do." She said with venom as she picked up her charm and flung herself onto the royal bed.
**********************************
Daine's eyes fluttered open and for a moment she didn't realize where she was. She started to feel a radiating warmth from beneath her and realization dawned on her. She popped her head up to look at Numair's sleeping face. She smoothed her hand over his white silk shirt and brought her hand to the V of the neck and played with the exposed hairs there. His breath caught and she smiled evilly as he opened his eyes and stilled her hand with his.
"I can't think when you do that." He said softly as he looked up at her and brought his other hand up to cup her face. She giggled and bent her head down to capture his lips. When they pulled apart for air Numair took her hand and kissed the glittering diamond on her ring finger. She giggled some more and Numair smiled from ear to ear. "I do believe, Magelet, that I am the happiest man alive." He whispered in her ear and Daine sighed as she moved her face to kiss him once more. Heat rushed through her body and she fought to control her increasingly wild thoughts. Their kissing intensified and Daine rolled so she was completely on top of him staring down into his stormy brown eyes. She kissed his neck and he groaned. "Daine! Please, not yet. Want you to wait till we are married..." Numair pleaded as his control started slip as he felt every inch of Daine's body press against every inch of his.
"I want this..." Daine groaned as she pulled her lips away from his skin. Numair took her face in his hands.
"So do I." He stuttered as she ground her body into his.
"Then what is wrong?" She asked as she tried to silence him with a kiss.
"I don't want you to lose your virginity till you're married... I just don't want to take that from you until then..." Numair muttered as he felt her breath mingle with his own. His control was slipping fast. Daine's body slid to the side and Numair sighed with relief.
"You better make this up on our wedding night then." She said teasingly as she kissed the side of his face. Numair smiled.
"Is that a challenge?" He asked huskily.
"Yes." She stated in a daring tone then hopped off his bed and headed out the door. Numair was momentarily confused by her sudden change of direction, but hopped off the bed to go after her, but not before untucking his shirt for his own decency. 'The things she puts me through.' He thought to himself as he hurried up to discover what she was up to.
He found her in the gardens of the palace sitting on a bench looking exquisite in the silver moon light. Her face was turned up to the stars as he approached her.
"They're beautiful aren't they?" Daine asked not looking at him. Numair sat on the bench beside her and encircled his arms around her.
"Not nearly as beautiful as you love." He whispered in her ear and she turned her face to capture his lips.
"Ahem... I hope I'm not interrupting anything." A familiar voice said from behind them. Numair and Daine turned annoyed faces to none other than Alanna.
"What is it now?" Numair asked sarcastically. Alanna smiled mischievously.
"Jon sent me to tell you that Kaddar has confirmed his invitation." Alanna said and Numair and Daine smiled.
"That's wonderful!" Daine exclaimed. "I've been looking forward to seeing him again." She said and Numair nodded his agreement.
"And one other thing that Jon told me to tell you. In Kaddar's letter he said a lady Kharnia is comming with him... Wonder if she's his girlfriend or something..." Alanna said trailing off. Numair's face drained of color at the name.
"Can I see the letter?" Numair said with sudden urgency. "Jon has it." Alanna said confused. Numair nodded then took off for the King's study.
Kharnia put the book down and ran over to her fallen lover. She removed a necklace from around her neck and held it above his ravaged body. She began to chant in old Thakk. The necklace had a round ivory charm at the end of it. A gold emblem was engraved into the surface pointing down towards Leiano. The round charm began to glow as Kharnia removed her hold on it and left it levitating in mid air. The ball began to spin and light flew out from it like a pin wheel. Kharnia began her requiem once more as Leiano's body began to glow. Suddenly Leiano's body got sucked into the charm leaving no trace of him on the ground. The peculiar round charm lost it's spell and began to fall, but Kharnia caught it in time and placed it back around her neck. She placed her hand over the charm and closed her eyes.
"Soon my love, soon." She said and began to pack her belongings immediately.
**************************************
"Emperor Kaddar!" A tall young messenger yelled from across the enormous throne room. Kaddar looked up at the young man surprised. He was wearing a emerald green tunic that flowed out around him as he ran to the emperor. The throne room was lavishly decorated. The floor was made of ocean blue marble that had glittering emerald swirls in them. The walls were made of reflective white stone. The pillars supporting the high ceiling were solid silver fashioned with various gems. The ceiling was made of plain stone, but it was completely covered in a giant mural of Orzorne's defeat.
"What is it?" He asked as the young man got to his feet and bowed.
"You have a visitor?' The messenger said.
"All this racket for a vistitor? Who ever might this be?" The young emperor queried.
"Your Aunt, Lady Kharnia." The messenger said breathlessly.
"She is dead!" Kaddar said annoyed.
"No your highness! This is her! She's alive! Won't you see for yourself?" The messenger begged. Kaddar sighed.
"All right, but if this is some fool joke you will pay sorely." He warned as he waved the guards at the doors to bring her in. To Kaddar's amazement a woman walked into the throne room in the same graceful catlike nature he remembered his Aunt using. She was wearing a plain dress of common folk, but seemed to have gone through a rough life. The woman's long curly hair of varying browns and her tall delicate frame also held striking resemblance to his late Aunt.
"Kaddar?" The woman asked in the same sweet tone his Aunt used to use when telling him stories. "It can't be! It just can't be!" Kaddar exclaimed as he ran up to meet her. He looked into her deep brown eyes and new it was Kharnia. "After all these years! But how? We buried your dead body!" Khaddar exclaimed with sudden skepticism.
"It wasn't me!" Kharnia exclaimed in a tortured voice. "I was abducted that night! Master Leiano captured me! He made a simulacra of me and that's what you buried! He's held me captive all these long years! Yesterday he was killed by a stormwing and I was able to run to freedom! All I've thought about all these long years is getting back to my love, Arram. Please tell me where he is!" Kharnia pleaded in a innocent helpless voice. Kaddar looked at her amazed.
"Leiano died five years before the burial." He said with disbelieve.
"No! He faked his death as he did mine! He wanted me as a sex slave! Please believe me! I just want to see my love!" She pleaded once again with tear filled brown eyes that burned Kaddar's heart. He was now convinced she was his Aunt Kharnia. "Where is Arram! I wish more than anything to go to him. It's been fifteen years since love's eyes last looked upon me! Please take me to him!" She begged.
"A lot can happen in fifteen years." Kaddar said sadly. Kharnia looked up at him in shock.
"Tell me! He mustn't be dead! Oh goddesses, he mustn't be dead!" She cried as tears ran down her tanned face. Kaddar shook his head no. Kharnia grabbed his shoulders in glee. "Then take me to him! I need to see him once again!" She exclaimed in excitement as a smile leapt onto her worn features. To her dismay Kaddar didn't seem to lighten up.
"Arram changed his name after he fled from Ozorne. He is now known as Numair Salmalián the black robed mage of Tortall. He is the King Jonathan's right hand mage now." Kaddar explained, but was interrupted by Kharnia.
"I'll just go there then!" She exclaimed, but Kaddar hushed her.
"He is getting married to the wild mage of Tortall next month." He told her with a mix a sadness for Kharnia and happiness for his friends. "Before you got here I was about to order my packing to begin since I am invited. I was going to leave right away since it takes three weeks to get there by ship, but I see I may be needed here now that you are alive." Kaddar said and Kharnia took a step back.
"Married? He's getting married? Who is she? Is she even good enough for him? Can she ever love him as much as I?" Kharnia bellowed in heart ache. Kaddar put a hand on her shoulder. "The great Wildmage, Veralidaine Sarrasri. She was the one who helped the grave yard hag turn Orzorne in to a stormwing and killed him in a battle that ensued a year later. And believe me she loves him more than anything!" Kaddar exclaimed in defense of Daine. Kharnia hung her head in dismay and fell to her knees weeping.
"After all this time! All I've thought about was him!" She wailed. Kaddar bent down and put a hand on her shoulder.
"I understand and I'll call off my plans to attend their marriage." Kaddar said and was surprised when Kharnia shook her head no.
"I want to go too. I want to at least see him once more in my life. I just want to talk to him then I'll come back here and spend the rest of my days in misery." She said softly as tears ran down her cheeks. Kaddar nodded understanding her request. Then he motioned to the guards.
"Take her to our best guest quarters! And get her some clothes suitable of her rank! Get her anything she wants! Anything!" Kaddar ordered the guards who obliged instantly.
*********************************
Kharnia paced in her room and looked over to her bed where the round charm lay.
"This changes everything!" She exclaimed in disgust. "It'll be at least three more weeks before I can bring you back now!" She yelled with rage and threw the glass of wine that was in her hand against the wall. She took pleasure in watching the pieces fly and the red wine running down the wall like blood. Her sullen body seemed ready to burst at the seems. "He's a black robe now so I'll have to be crafty about it..." She said stammering to herself. "Yes that's it! I know what I have to do." She said with venom as she picked up her charm and flung herself onto the royal bed.
**********************************
Daine's eyes fluttered open and for a moment she didn't realize where she was. She started to feel a radiating warmth from beneath her and realization dawned on her. She popped her head up to look at Numair's sleeping face. She smoothed her hand over his white silk shirt and brought her hand to the V of the neck and played with the exposed hairs there. His breath caught and she smiled evilly as he opened his eyes and stilled her hand with his.
"I can't think when you do that." He said softly as he looked up at her and brought his other hand up to cup her face. She giggled and bent her head down to capture his lips. When they pulled apart for air Numair took her hand and kissed the glittering diamond on her ring finger. She giggled some more and Numair smiled from ear to ear. "I do believe, Magelet, that I am the happiest man alive." He whispered in her ear and Daine sighed as she moved her face to kiss him once more. Heat rushed through her body and she fought to control her increasingly wild thoughts. Their kissing intensified and Daine rolled so she was completely on top of him staring down into his stormy brown eyes. She kissed his neck and he groaned. "Daine! Please, not yet. Want you to wait till we are married..." Numair pleaded as his control started slip as he felt every inch of Daine's body press against every inch of his.
"I want this..." Daine groaned as she pulled her lips away from his skin. Numair took her face in his hands.
"So do I." He stuttered as she ground her body into his.
"Then what is wrong?" She asked as she tried to silence him with a kiss.
"I don't want you to lose your virginity till you're married... I just don't want to take that from you until then..." Numair muttered as he felt her breath mingle with his own. His control was slipping fast. Daine's body slid to the side and Numair sighed with relief.
"You better make this up on our wedding night then." She said teasingly as she kissed the side of his face. Numair smiled.
"Is that a challenge?" He asked huskily.
"Yes." She stated in a daring tone then hopped off his bed and headed out the door. Numair was momentarily confused by her sudden change of direction, but hopped off the bed to go after her, but not before untucking his shirt for his own decency. 'The things she puts me through.' He thought to himself as he hurried up to discover what she was up to.
He found her in the gardens of the palace sitting on a bench looking exquisite in the silver moon light. Her face was turned up to the stars as he approached her.
"They're beautiful aren't they?" Daine asked not looking at him. Numair sat on the bench beside her and encircled his arms around her.
"Not nearly as beautiful as you love." He whispered in her ear and she turned her face to capture his lips.
"Ahem... I hope I'm not interrupting anything." A familiar voice said from behind them. Numair and Daine turned annoyed faces to none other than Alanna.
"What is it now?" Numair asked sarcastically. Alanna smiled mischievously.
"Jon sent me to tell you that Kaddar has confirmed his invitation." Alanna said and Numair and Daine smiled.
"That's wonderful!" Daine exclaimed. "I've been looking forward to seeing him again." She said and Numair nodded his agreement.
"And one other thing that Jon told me to tell you. In Kaddar's letter he said a lady Kharnia is comming with him... Wonder if she's his girlfriend or something..." Alanna said trailing off. Numair's face drained of color at the name.
"Can I see the letter?" Numair said with sudden urgency. "Jon has it." Alanna said confused. Numair nodded then took off for the King's study.