Am back from my much-needed holiday, and am knees deep in school exams. I am, therefore, sorry that this chapter is going to be rather short…

Chapter 13

Darkness swirled with a mixture of red, blue and gold. Illegible shapes that shifted glowed ominously, dancing, soaring and interweaving. Then, quite suddenly, the darkness dissolved and was replaced by a blinding whiteness.

And then the sound began.

Voices.

A woman was shouting, angry and shrill. 'How dare he punish her like this!'

'He said her decision displeased him.' Another voice, a male this time, answered.

'But he has no right! Her life is already meddled enough as it is.' There was a pause and a sound very much like a sob. 'Why did he do it?'

'I don't know sweet. He wouldn't tell me.'

The whiteness shifted and everything revolved dangerously. A distant buzzing sounded and remained a dull hum in the background.

More voices were heard. This time a male voice, sounding anguished. He was shouting.

'She's not breathing! She's…somebody call a healer, quick!'

There was much yelling and screaming; words that made neither sense nor meaning. The buzzing grew to an infinite roar making the very air vibrate.

Then followed utter silence.

There was a pain. A piercing throb in the back of the head that screamed for nursing and attention. Coming back to consciousness, Daine opened her eyes – and quickly shut them again. The bright light was too painful.

She breathed slowly, wondering where she was. She felt she was on some sort of bed, but had no memory of why or how she got there. There was an odd numbness in her brain, and a strangely pleasant feeling of…of nothing.

Something beside her moved, making a muffled sigh as material brushed along wood.

'The healer said she sleeps peacefully. There is no immediate danger.' A man, his voice sounding somewhat familiar, said from her right. 'Her breathing is regular and she is completely safe here. Yet still you insist to remain.'

'I would prefer to be here when she awakens,' answered another. The voice was another male, and was frighteningly familiar yet she could not pinpoint a face to the bearer.

'I tell you she is perfectly safe here. There really is no need for you to – '

'You may have forced her in this marriage, Ozorne,' the second voice hissed, 'but I am still her guardian, and I will not let her fall into any more danger.'

'The earthquake was inevitable, Arram. No one could have prevented it. Are you really suggesting that I was the cause to it? Believe me, I have no intentions of getting Veralidaine killed – or my harbour demolished.'

'Can't you see what you are doing? The Gods are not pleased with your ways. The marriage will not happen, Ozorne. This earthquake was a sign – '

'Arram – Arram, I am hardly the one to take notice of such superstitious folly. Can it be that the true reason for your objection to my marriage is my choice of the bride?'

'I am warning you, Ozorne. If you lay one finger on her – '

Daine groaned aloud, finding her head reeling with pain. She had tried to follow the conversation but the mere attempt to make sense of it was too exhausting. She opened her eyes slowly, braving the bright light.

'Daine! Thank Mithros, you're awake.'

Someone – a tall, concerned looking man in black rushed over to her side. 'How do you feel?'

Daine squinted lethargically. Her eyes refused to focus on the man's face properly, giving his features an odd, blurry appearance.

'Veralidaine, I am glad you are awake. You gave me quite a fright back there.' Another man clad in eye-blinding white walked towards her other side. As if by some cue, both man sat down promptly on either side of her bed and stared at her, scrutinizing.

Daine shrank back under her blanket and glanced from one man to another. The intensity in their eyes and the odd look of fierce protectiveness made her head swim. A tense silence followed. When she finally spoke, her voice came out in a hoarse whisper.

'W-who are you?'

There was a sharp intake of breath.

'Daine?' The man in black breathed in bewilderment.

'Who are you?' the girl asked again, louder this time. Her eyes widened in fear as he reached for her face.

'W-where's Ma?' She cried out, looking utterly lost. 'Where's my Ma? And…and where am I?'

There was a stunned silence in which both Numair and Ozorne, united together in that rare second of time by sheer confusion, stared speechless at the terrified girl.

'Daine – Don't you – don't you recognize me?' Numair asked, looking scandalised. His dark eyes wandered fleetingly across her face, as if searching for a clue, or an explanation to his student's sudden memory loss. 'Daine, do you remember the fall? The earthquake?'

She shook her head slowly, eyes wide and frightened. She glanced nervously to the other man. For some reason, his presence made her feel uneasy.

Catching her eye, Ozorne smiled kindly. 'Veralidaine – that's your name, what is the last thing you remember?'

The girl frowned. 'I was with Cloud. We were on our way back from helping a friend with his animals and – ' Daine suddenly looked out of the window, - 'wait – this isn't Snowdale! Where am I?'

Ozorne breathed out slowly. He glanced at Numair, then back at Daine. 'It seems that the fall has somehow fractured her memory. She has no idea who we are…yet she still has knowledge of Snowdale and her family.'

Numair's face looked pained. 'Daine,' he said softly, 'what do you remember of your mother?'

'She's waiting for me at home. I…I've got to go back to her!'

Something passed over his face and he looked away. 'Goddess, she doesn't know yet,' he murmured under his breath.

'Doesn't know what?' Daine asked sharply. She stared suspiciously at him, and then at Ozorne.

Confliction played across Numair's face as he struggled with himself. Then, very gently, he took hold of Daine's cold hand.

'Your mother…' he said softly, eyes saddened with sympathy. 'She's…she's dead. She died three years ago when bandits raided your home. You are in Carthak now, as a part of the Tortallen delegates. I'm your… teacher.'

There followed a long, torturing silence. Daine's face changed from fear to open horror at Numair's words.

'Its not true,' she whispered, face deathly white. 'My Ma…she's not dead!'

Numair gave Daine a desperate look. 'It is true, Daine. I'm sorry.'

For a moment, Daine looked on the verge of passing out, and then uttered a loud sob as she buried her face into the blankets.

A hand patted gently on her back. Ozorne coughed awkwardly. 'I…I am truly sorry for your loss, Veralidaine.'

'Leave me alone…please?' the girl mumbled between chokes of tears. 'Just…give me some time…alone.'

She heard both men get up promptly. Numair gave Daine one last anguished look and turned towards the door. Stopping briefly, he turned to Ozorne. 'A word, if you please.'

For a second, the two men's eyes locked in contact, and in that split moment, it seemed that they were looking at each other in a time when they were not enemies. Ozorne's mouth curled up in a slight smile, this time seemingly free from spite.

'After you,' he said gesturing towards the door. In silence, the two mages left, closing the door softly after them.