A/N: Does anyone have any suggestions for another scene that I could do? It doesn't have to be in EM. If not I'm thinking this will be the last chapter. I really am just in a "whatever" mood right now. Anyway, enough waiting.

Disclaimer: I'm trying to think of a creative way to tell you that I don't own it.

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Goddess of the Moon: Thank you, was it too much like the book?

Xavier: Thank you very much, I'm trying to keep going.

Narm's Briton 44: Wow, thank you! You're just full of compliments! That's awesome. Numair is a tricky fellow to understand don't you think? By the way, you make me laugh! Love your stories!

Maiden-of-dark-life: Nice name! I love EM as well. Thanks for the half compliment at least, is there a way that I can earn the other half? Any suggestions?

Roherwen: I would love to read something you wrote about Numair's POV! Thank you.

Insomniac-Reader: Thank you, here's more.

Crazy.kitty: I've always wondered as well. What I wrote was very one sided, opinionated. I'm sure he was thinking nothing along those lines, but it was fun to write.

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As the Tortallans waited to board the large boat for the nights banquet, Numair stole a glance at his lovely student. She truly was something to behold. With her stunning grey eyes reflecting the light, and her thick brown curls cascading rebelliously across her face in the light breeze, it was no wonder that she had caught his eye. But as Numair looked up, he noticed another who was eyeing Daine, and with something more than the platonic glance Numair had given her.

For a brief moment, Kaddar's eyes held an unusual presence of unmistakable longing while eyeing Daine. Numair knew this expression all too well. It was the expression he himself had worn as a youth when he felt his manly ego build up and desire a woman. He did not like that the prince of Carthak had such affection for Daine, and brooded on the subject further while he was led to his seat between Alanna and, much to his discomfiture, Varice Kingsford.

Numair stayed silent while those around him exchanged quick words, inquiring as to how the evening would commence.

Once everyone had settled, the Emperor signaled that the four mages in the bow and stern could proceed with the events. In unison, the four clapped their hands and bowed their heads. The boat trembled ever so slightly, and then began to move north.

Numair felt childhood memories come back with Ozorne's smug expression. "Show off," Numair muttered under his breath.

"I'm sorry dear, what did you say?" Varice batted her eyelashes prettily at him.

He flashed her a false grin. "Did I say something?"

Varice laughed and brushed her hand over his well-muscled arm before turning to her meal.

-She thinks I'm flirting – he realized. He shook his head and began to eat as well. To look was to flirt with Varice.

From his seat, Numair had a clear view of Daine sitting with the prince. He saw Daine's eyes light up as Kaddar made a comment. Although Numair would never admit it to anyone, he felt a twinge of jealousy at seeing the young man receive so much attention from Daine.

Numair had gotten almost no time on this cursed trip to spend with his magelet, and found it rather upsetting. Daine had a way of calming him down when he was upset or stressed, two things he had felt a lot lately. She also, he thought with a slight grin, had a way of angering him as no one else could. Numair knew this was mutual however, as he did the same things to her.

Daine's laugh sent him out of his reverie. Gods how he missed that laugh, he had heard far too little of it in Carthak and was glad to see her happy, although usually when they were at home Numair was the reason for her giggles. But here he saw that another had taken his place, a young man who was the heir to the most dangerous and demented man in the mortal realms.

Turning to Alanna he said, "It seems that Daine and the prince are getting on quite nicely, doesn't it?"

Alanna looked up from her food. "Yes. Thank the Gods too. She's found someone her own age to entertain her whilst we sit in the grand presence of the Emperor and talk about fishing rights. Speaking of which, what was........."

Numair lost the rest of Alanna's sentence in his jumble of thoughts. –Someone her own age to entertain her- Numair blatantly stared at the prince and his subtle gestures towards Daine. The prince knew what he was doing; he was experienced in this sort of thing. Daine, however, was not. Kaddar, whom Numair could never forget was Ozorne's heir and closest family, enjoyed Daine's company a little too much.

Numair stood, stopping Alanna mid sentence. "Excuse me Alanna, Varice." And with no more of an explanation walked over to where Kaddar sat with Numair's student.

"May I join you?" He asked, and without an answer sat down. He got himself comfortable then turned his unrelenting gaze towards the prince. He forced a smile on his face. "We haven't really had a chance to chat. I understand you're studying with my friends Lindhall Reed."

The prince merely nodded.

"What course of studies, may I ask?" Numair was surprised at his own ability to remain composed and almost friendly, when in reality he wanted to ingrain into this young man's mind with his magical fire that Daine was off limits to him and his 'male ego'.

"The relation of men, animals, and plants to one another, with a matching course in law. Next spring, if things permit, I hope to go south with Master Lindhall and a group from the university to look into the causes of the drought. We're hoping – well, the masters are; I'll just be there to carry things – we hope to find some way to end it. Five years is a long time."

However interested his scholarly side of him was in this, the over-protective side of Numair took over. "I see. Commendable. With regard to our position as his heir, has your uncle arranged a marriage for you?"

From the corner of his eye, Numair saw Daine look up at him sharply from peeling an orange. He knew Daine would be upset by this, but still continued.

"He is negotiating with he king of Galla for the hand of one of his daughters. There is also a princess in the Copper Isles who my uncle feels is a possibility."

"I see. But you are involved with girls, are you not?" Numair's voice was matter-of-fact, "Students at the university, young noblewomen. Are they aware you are not permitted to marry to please yourself?" He had hit a sore point, and so had Daine as she kicked his shin under the table.

Kaddar's once kindly countenance now stiffened in defense at Numair's inquiry. "No gentleman deceives a woman in that manner, sir."

Daine's kicks became incessant. "Indeed not. Stop kicking me Daine. You understand, she-" he nodded towards his mortified student, "-is very important to a number of powerful nobles and mages in Tortall." Through all of this Numair managed to keep his voice calm and friendly, and even though his slight smile was still there from the beginning of their conversation, his eyes were two black daggers piercing into the prince. Numair would get his point across. "Their majesties. Lady Alanna and her husband, the baron of Pirate's Swoop. Me. All of us would take it amiss if we thought for one moment she was being trifled with, particularly by a young man who wasn't free to do the right thing by her."

"Numair," Daine seemed ready to bite his head off. "Can I speak to you privately for a moment?"

"No. Stepping on my foot won't work, either." He was surprised at how good it felt to be telling off this youth, warning him that Daine was not his to toy with. "Do I make myself clear, Prince Kaddar?"

The brave young man nodded slightly in understanding, eyes never leaving the black robe mage's. "I understand you well, Master Salmalin."

Numair was pleased with the impression he had made. "Good." He stood slowly, reiterating his powerful presence to further warn Kaddar. When he was fully up, he said, "Lindhall tells me you also have an excellent memory. I hope so." And walked away.

Through the whole discussion, he had not once looked at Daine. He had embarrassed her greatly, he knew. Yet he could never forgive himself if something happened to her on Kaddar's account and he had not said anything to stop it.

If he was being a tad bit possessive, Numair ignored it. –Daine is my student, therefore my responsibility- He tried to reason with himself.

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A/N: Ok ok, so one of my not so good chapters. I'm sorry, I'm all out of creativeness. Yeah, unless someone has another scene for me to do, this is the last chapter. It just seems to me that I'm rewriting the dialogue, doing nothing for my own. Reviews are nice, but not life sustaining.