Hey y'all! It's summer now, so I have time to write again! My goal is to FINISH this story by the end of summer. I've already written and outlined most of the chapters yet to come so it won't take me that long to update. I'm excited to finish this!!! Anywho, happy reading!

Ch. 18

"You came against orders Philip. You can't just walk in and think it's okay! If we allow you to do this, word will spread and before we know it children will come to fight and not just them, but wome..." the mage stopped in mid-sentence suddenly aware of his mistake.

"Women Numair? Is that what you were about to say? Women?" Philip retorted, sparing no mercy.

"You know what I meant by that. Daine is, well, she's special."

"But she's still a woman, unless of course you haven't noticed, but by the way you're averting your face I think you have!"

Numair clenched his fists trying to retain his growing fury.

"Then by all means Master SalmalĂ­n, throw me out if you must. However, I am neither child nor woman and would only benefit Tortall. But that's not what this is about is it? It's about you're feelings for Dai-"

"How DARE you accuse me of something so pr-"

"Stop denying it! I see the way you look at her with that nauseating, love- sick-"

"I can't believe we're even having this discussion!" Numair angrily threw his hands down on the table and stood up. The suddenness of his action caused his flimsy chair to fly backwards.

"Well you're the one who-" Phillip was abruptly cut off by a blo od- curdling scream that seemed to shake his bones. "What in the name of Mithros..."

-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-

She buried her face in the soft, cushioned fur, sobbing. Tears were streaming down her dirtied cheeks as she stifled her whimpers of pain. Her eyes were squeezed shut, trying to block the sight in front of her. She did it involuntarily. She merely called for help, not realizing how she called. The rough texture of his tongue licked at her clenched hands, comforting her.

-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-

Philip watched as Numair rushed forward, pushing through the crowd, getting farther in front of him and out of sight. The mass of people enveloped around the scene blocking Philip's view of what happened. People were talking though. They always did. He knew that fact too well. The buzz of whispers swept past him, allowing him to catch little tidbits of information.

"The man, he's dead."

"She won't respond to anyone. Friends with the wolf she is."

"Poor lass is scared outta her wit."

Daine. This had something to do with Daine. He began to push harder, he had to get to her. He needed to find out what happened.

The crowd parted slightly and he took the brief opportunity. Philip gave one final push and then he saw. A body of a filthy, middle-aged man lay on the ground dead. There were fang marks on his neck and dried blo od smeared everywhere. The stench was nauseating. His eyes traveled eastward. The wolf was gone, probably scared away. And then, there she was, his Daine, crying into the shoulder of another man. He felt jealousy and anger rise to his chest because he knew, at that moment; all he could do was watch.

-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-

It felt so good to have her in his arms again. He clutched her shaking form closer to his chest and continued to stroke her curly locks. Bruises on her arms were beginning to form and her split lip was only beginning to stop bleeding. Numair had known immediately what had happened. One look at her torn clothes, messed up hair, and the strong scent of alcohol coming from the man beside them painted a thousand pictures for Numair. It made him furious.

"Nu...Numair," the young lass hiccupped.

"What is it Daine?" he answered gently.

"Is h-he gone?"

"He won't be hurting you anymore. You don't have to worry."

"Is he...dead?" she whispered with an urgency in her voice that wrenched at Numair's heart.

"Yes."

He heard her take in a shaky breath as more tears began to fall. "He wasn't supposed to kill him. He was only supposed to-"

"Who Daine?" he interrupted.

"Brokefang. Brokefang, the...the wolf."

"Did you mind call him?"

"I did it by accident. But if he hadn't of come, the man woulda...he woulda..." she couldn't go on.

"I know Daine, I know." he said, placing his chin on her head, resting it there.

The sun began to set causing brilliant rays of light and color to illuminate. The wind started to pick up and a pack of wolves howling was heard in the distance. The man tightened his strong embrace around the women comforting her, whispering soothing words to calm her down. Any person witnessing the scene in front of them would have assumed they were a couple. All that is, except one.

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A/N: There ya go! The ending to the cliffie! FINALLY! : P Only 5 more reviews till I make 200! I'm excited! So Please Review!

Till next time,

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