Thank you, everyone who reviewed, (13!!!) it really made me happy. It really helped me with the whole self-confidence issue. Sorry I had that moment of self-doubt, it was just that I…didn't have as many reviewers as I thought I had…long story, but that's okay, it really doesn't matter.  I will not do that again, this story will last a while, and my plot is thickening, though not all chapters will be long. I will try to update at least once a week, not every two days, unless I am in a really good mood. This chapter is strange, but deal with it, and the next one will hopefully be less so…this one has too much angst. Read the note at the end, and here are my comments to my reviewers:

Treanz-alyse: Don't worry, I will. Glad to see you like the plot, it does have a twist, that's what I like about it the best.

Moonlight Moonbeam: You're right, and I will write more, sorry. Please keep reading, now that the wacked doubt thing is gone. (And will hopefully not happen again that is, if I still get reviews.) I was just being strange.

Elessah Raindancer: Thanks. I will write more, and I didn't realize that's why you did not review, I'm sorry. I'll try not to do that again.

Pen Mage: I have decided to keep writing. That is the best part of the story, the destiny part, and it will come up later, a lot, just wait and see. Especially in TSAU, but once again, that's another story.

            Wildmage101: It's not you're fault…at least not all your fault; yes the movie was bad…but so funny! No, I did this on Saturday, and I will continue, I just had a moment, and now it is gone. You're right, of course, people do review, and I know that now. See you tom, and sorry if this is sort of short, but as you know, it is two scenes per chapter… usually.

            Silvertyger: Yes, continue to reply…it is kind of strange at parts, but it is getting better (trust me) and the "fluffiness"(eek, eviiiiiiiiiiiiiiiillllllllllllllllll word, has other meaning that you won't get) will get less strange. What story did you write??? You should post it, it can't be that bad. Read and review again! And again! And again!

Leeread: Wow…lots of reviews, thanks! My name is not Amanda, don't worry, I don't like Numair…Though I do like DN, but in a different context. I am crazy, but it's so much fun, why act normal? That chapter was short, but it was for effect. What would be fun??? And cool??? Read this chapter and review more!

            Once again, if I forgot anyone, just tell me, sorry. Read the note at the end, and I'm sorry this chapter is only 1200 words or something like that, the next one will probably be longer. Well, here it is:

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The Carthaki Mage

Several weeks later, when they were once again settled into their home, Amanda awoke to the absence of the usually loud snoring below her. She tiptoed down the steps to find Numair's room deserted. It was a cold and windy night, and things had been blown off the bureau, the bed covers were in disarray. Trying not to panic, Amanda caught a wisp of wind with her mind; it bought her the noise of a series of large bangs outside on the grassy cliff.

            She hurried outside, to find Numair and a man she had never seen before, pacing twenty feet apart from, throwing glittering fire at each other. The strange man was wearing blood red robes, with an eye of ruby. Amanda supposed this must be the Carthaki mage, Inar Hadensra.

            Stunned, Amanda simply stood there. The mage turned and saw her, and, a malicious grin on his face threw a ball of blazing red fire directly at her. Numair spoke word and a shield of black fire surrounded her. Inar turned and held up a hand shouted something in a language Amanda had never heard before. Red smoke obscured her vision, and Amanda coughed uncontrollably. When it cleared, the mage was gone.

So was Numair.

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            Amanda searched for Numair for almost a week, along the cliff, and into the forest bordering their tower. He was nowhere to be found, and Amanda had begun to loose hope that she would ever find him.

            On the sixth day of searching, Amanda peered through the forest, and saw a tall figure stumbling through the forest, as if drunken, and slowly sink to the earthy floor. Before Amanda could hurry over, three figures ran after the man that had collapsed, stopping short of his fallen figure.

            " We have him now," said a male voice, a hint of cruel amusement in his tone. " I was astonished that he escaped in the first place."

            " Doubt he will even make it back to Inar," said a second voice. " He'll probably be dead by the time we get there. I'm surprised he got this far, and we didn't get anything from him."

            Amanda had heard enough, stealing herself, she gathered a few bolts of lightning in her hand, and strode forward. The men turned in alarm to see her, and she raised her hands, clasped around a single strand of lightning, which made her palms tingle.

            " Leave him alone," she said quietly, her voice shaking, but her hand remained steady. "Or I will fry you burnt, and don't test if I can."

            The man hesitated, then turned and ran in the opposite direction. Wasting no time, Amanda hurried to the man they had been standing around, to find Numair, sprawled across the forest floor.

            His clothes had been torn, and there were scrapes and bruises across his deathly white skin. Amanda gasped, and put a hand on his arm, Numair flinched away, and Amanda gently pulled his sleeve away from his burning hot skin.

" Oh, Numair," Amanda whispered at the sight she saw.

There was a deep, ragged wound in his arm, still bleeding sluggishly. Amanda laid a hand on his forehead. It was drenched with sweat, but Numair did not stir, and seemed barely to breathe.  Trying in vain not to panic, Amanda searched her mind for what to do. If she went for help, he would surely be dead by the time she got back. She had to find some way to stop his arm from bleeding. Amanda shredded her cloak with shaking hands, and wrapped the strips around his cut.  Numair shivered convulsively in the chilly winds of mid November, and Amanda, finishing her makeshift bandage hauled him onto the horse, climbing up behind him.

            When they reached the tower, Amanda found clean linen to make bandages, hot water, and alcohol. Although she had no knowledge of medicine whatsoever, Amanda had some idea of what to do. First she washed his cut in hot water, Numair wincing in pain as she touched his bruised skin. Then she soaked the linen in alcohol, and stripped off the bloody and tattered bandage she had made, wrapping the linen in its place. Amanda wrapped Numair thickly in blankets, and pulled up a chair by his bed. She then waited, watching the helpless face of the only man she had ever loved.


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            Well, did you like it? Suggestions, comments, complaints, questions…sorry, I got carried away a bit. In general, I would love critique, like as to the plot, or the chapter length, or anything else, feel free to tell me, just try not to bee too mean… It was strange and sappy, but the next one will be less so, I promise you. Please review, and I will update within the week. (Before next Monday) sooner for the more reviews I get, and if I get none, perhaps it will take longer, like a month. (J.K) To review this chapter if you already reviewed the other "chapter eight", and the website refuses to let you do it again, just review chapter seven or one, and mention that you are referring to chapter eight and I will know what you mean. Thank you again for everyone who helped get rid of the self-doubt, and keep reviewing and I doubt it will come back. See you next week,

            -Queen of Connaught