A/N: Ok, my editor came back into town just in time to whack me over the head with a heavy object and thus knock the writer's block out of me. Then Numair popped up with his bottle of wakeflower and he woke me up....no wait, that was a dream... Anywaz, this chapter is like chapter 2 (don't all groan at once) It is kind of boring, but important plot wise. So read it anyway, cuz its good for you! : ) like last chapter it switches from Numy to Daine pov. on with the show!
Disclaimer: blah blah blah (I don't own this stuff) blah blah blah
Chapter 5 Wounds
Weeks later, Numair awoke to someone knocking on his door. The source of the noise was a messenger from the King. Jonathan had scribbled a quick note asking Numair and Daine to meet with him in his office as soon as they could. Numair made his way down the hall to Daine's room. His knock was answered by Kitten, who chirped happily at him, before letting him in.
"Hello, Numair!" Daine sat on a stool in front of a mirror. In one hand was a hairbrush, and in the other a ribbon. She was attempting to capture her unruly curls.
"Good morning, Magelet." Numair replied and, seeing her dilemma, went to help. His large hands swept the hair back, and he used a bit of his magic to enforce the ribbon's grip.
"Thank you." Daine beamed at him. Numair tried to ignore the way his heart jumped as he tried to smile calmly back at her.
"We have been summoned to his Majesty's study."
"Oh, then we best not keep Jon waiting." With that the pair departed. Zek ran up Numair's leg and onto his shoulder as he left. Daine seemed to be restraining a giggle.
"What?" Numair asked indignantly.
"Zek says that you remind him of the trees at home." Daine tried to keep her grin under control.
"Very funny." Numair told the marmoset.
I wonder what this is all about? Numair thought as he and Daine entered Jon's study. The king looked up from a stack of letters in front of him. Poor Jon, Conflicts with the Immortals, and restless neighboring countries. Numair admired Jon's ability to deal with the pressure. Numair saw lines in Jonathan's face that had not been there before, and he thought a streak of silver ran through his ebon hair.
"Ah, Daine and Numair you're here, good."
"We got your summon." Numair replied.
Jon fished around for a letter that Gary supplied to him over his shoulder. The King muttered thanks to him. "Actually, this more concerns Daine." His sapphire eyes met Daine's.
"Me?" she asked. Daine? Numair wondered.
"Yes, Alanna wrote me," Jon held up the letter "apparently a village near Goldenlake is being invaded by a herd of killer unicorns. She has refugees from the village with her, but we can't spare any soldiers to take care of the unicorns. This seemed like your area of expertise Daine. And Numair, I knew you wouldn't stand for her going alone."
"You know me well, Jon." Numair smiled.
"I'd also feel better if she didn't take this on alone. Alanna didn't say how many of those creatures were out there. You need to depart in the morning." Daine and Numair nodded. They both bowed to Jon before stepping out into the hallway.
"Are you sure you're up to this?" Numair asked Daine. He worried that she was not ready to take on such a large task so soon after what had happened at Carthak.
"Of course I am Numair. You are going to get grey hair from worrying about me. I can handle myself."
Numair looked into her blue eyes. He wanted to believe that she needed him. And part of him, albeit a small part, knew that she did. "My getting grey hair over you is inevitable, Magelet." He smiled at her. "If you are sure then we best get to packing our things." She nodded and then headed to her room. Numair turned and headed to his own room to collect his things.
Later that evening someone rapped on his door. Numair opened it to see Daine standing before him. "Hi," she began. "I was wondering if you wanted me to pack your things in Spot's saddle bags?" She held up a bag of her own things. "I'm going that way anyway."
"Oh, thank you Magelet." He went to get his things.
Daine's eyes settled on the mat in his room where they had laid the night of her astronomy lesson. Some kind of emotion came over her. Was it longing? Did she remember that time and wish that he would put his arms around her again?
"Daine?" Numair was looking at her with curiosity in his eyes.
Daine looked to be trying hard to hide a blush. I wonder what that is all about.?
"I was wondering if I could borrow your book on Immortals? I want to read up on these unicorns before we face them."
Numair collected the book for her and then watcher her head toward the stables. Closing his door he collapsed at his desk. Somehow he knew that tomorrow would come all too soon.
The next morning Numair woke at dawn as he and Daine had agreed. Groggily Numair got out of bed, thankful for Daine taking care of his stuff for him. At least he didn't have to worry about forgetting something.
"Morning, Numair!" Daine called cheerfully from Clouds stall. Curse her for being so awake. Numair though viciously.
Numair walked into Spot's stall to find him already saddled. Onua stood at his shoulder holding a bridle. She forced it into his hand and nudged his shoulders. "Don't let anything happen to my assistant, Okay?"
He grinned at her. "I'll keep that in mind."
Numair walked a fully tacked Spots out in front of the barn area. Daine was already astride Cloud. Numair turned to face Spots. Suddenly the piebald's back looked about 14 feet high. This is ridiculous. He thought fiercely. You are the most powerful mage is Totall. You can get on a horse! Timidly he put his foot in the stirrup and pulled himself up. He tried to ignore the expression on Daine's face.
"Lead the way." She said. Successfully masking the amusement from her face, but Numair could see it in her eyes.
He set off towards the woods. They needed to make the three days ride in two days if they were to help this village, and they had orders to check into Alanna's camp first. Numair hesitantly nudged Spots into a faster gate. They wanted to do the harder riding while it was still cool.
Hours later dark fell. They had eaten lunch on their horses to save time. Daine cared for the horse while Numair set up camp. They fell into their usual routine, each taking their own unspoken tasks.
Daine picked up her bow. "I'm going to try to find us something to eat." She told him. He nodded to her. He was lost in thought about what Alanna had said about the unicorns.
Daine set off into the tall grasslands around them. She closed off her mind from the People. After walking a ways she heard voices. These were definitely not People voices. She crouched low the tall grass, changing her eyes to those of a bird of prey. There were four men, armed with mean looking crossbows. Their voices had Gallan accents. Daine was painfully reminded of the bandits that killed her ma. These men were rough looking, and certainly not friendly. To her horror she watched the hunters head strait towards her hiding spot, one of them pointed to the grass. Right at where she sat.
Panic grabbed Daine. She had to do something. Hide! Her mind screamed. But how? Suddenly it struck her like a frightened dear. And so she shifted, into the body of a dear. There she stood a young doe in front of a group of hunters. Daine reacted the way any deer would. She ran. An arrow flew by and grazed her side. Daine continued her flight, hoping against hope that she could get out of range.
At the camp Numair sat up suddenly. Something was wrong with Daine. He did not even bother to ponder how he knew that. For once, something was too important to him to pause for thought.
"Cloud" He called, looking at the mare. She turned to regard him with her usual superior gaze. "Can you lead me to Daine? Something is wrong." The mare responded by trotting off into the grass lands where Daine had departed a few hours ago. Numair's long legs quickly caught up with her. Some time later Cloud stopped. Numair saw a flat area in the tall grass. He ran over to the spot. Lying in the grass was Daine. She was curled up with her knees to her chest, wearing only the silver claw that the badger had given her. A long scratch across her side was bleeding steadily.
"Magelet!" Numair cried, trying to keep panic out of his voice. He took Cloud's saddle blanket and put it around the girl. "Daine" he whispered. Her eyes fluttered open.
"Thank Mithros!" Numair told her, holding her against him for a moment, before looking into her eyes. She smiled at him.
"Numair." She murmured. "I'm alright. Really I am."
"Ok, then lets get you back to camp. What happened?"
"A group of hunters found me. I panicked and...and I turned into a deer."
He chuckled. "Magelet.... What have I told you about thinking before you shape shift." He teased.
She smiled at him. "I'll remember that next time." Daine and Numair headed back up to camp Cloud at their heals." Daine seemed to be mind speaking with cloud. Most likely that mare will scold her better than I ever could. He looked at Daine and knew she was his weakness. He could only get so mad at her.
The next day's ride was as long as the first.
"Daine?" Numair asked "Could you shift and fly up ahead? I'd like to know how close we are getting to those unicorns, and to Alanna's camp."
Daine nodded and then made the change. She shifted into a kestrel and then took flight. Numair watched her soar above him, absentmindedly he ran his black opal pendant along its chain. He placed her clothes under a tree nearby. After a moment Daine came back down.
"Your things are over there." He said, nodding his head in the direction of the tree. Daine landed softly beneath the tree. A minute later she stepped out from under the tree and over to Cloud.
"They're close." She answered his questioning look. "Very close, they will be in my range soon."
Numair nodded. "Then we better get moving."
After awhile Numair spotted Alanna's camp. It was hidden to those who did not possess a Gift of his strength, but to Numair it was as clear as day. The Lioness met them as they entered.
"Numair, Daine, I'm glad you made it. I suppose your trip was uneventful."
The two exchanged a silent agreement to keep the hunters to themselves. It was not worth Alanna making a fuss. "I have a feeling that all of that is about to change soon." Numair told her.
Alanna brought them into her quarters to discuss what she already knew about the unicorns. "You might want to leave your things and horses here." She advised. Numair and Daine agreed. With their things at camp, Numair and Daine made their way towards the unicorns.
Daine shifted uncomfortably. She could hear distant voices, angry voices, ahead. We need to leave you horses here. Daine explained to Cloud. I'll call if I need you.
I think you are being a silly foal. I am perfectly able to take care of myself.
Daine shook her head at the mare as she and Spots walked to some nearby trees. Numair and Daine set off on foot. Daine with her crossbow in hand, and Numair armed with his magic. Ahead they spoted a clearing that reeked the foul scent of blood.
Nothing could have prepared Daine for what was in the clearing. About five creatures stood in it. Four were mares, with one herd stallion. Daine had read about killer unicorns, but seeing them was different. The creatures lacked the pearly white coat of their relatives. Instead their coats were the grey color of decay. Their tarnished silver horns were sinister looking with spiked tips that leaked their poison. The creatures had Immortal silver hooves, and... to Daine's horror, fangs.
Daine had read that these creatures were carnivorous, and that they followed the same herd structure as domesticated horses. This herd was attacking the dead body of deer. The lead mare spotted them first. Her cruel eyes bored into Daine's mind.
Suddenly Daine cried out from pain. The mare, like Griffins, was creating intolerable pain in her head. Look. The mare hissed to her herd. We are fortunate to have more fresh meat. Daine raised her bow. Oh look, another mare mocked. She means to shoot us. Daine drew an arrow and aimed for the mare.
I'll show you. Daine thought viciously. She loosed. The arrow flew strait to its target and struck the mare's throat. At that moment the rest of the herd charged at Daine and Numair. Numair threw out a sheet of his magic. It caught the stallion and one of the mares, leaving a trail of their ashes in its wake. The lead mare was still ahead. Numair watched her lower her menacing horn, and aim it at Daine. Numair waited for Daine to react, for her to do something, anything but stare at the charging horse.
Daine however was entranced by the mare's fierce eyes. Some kind of spell was holding her mind. It felt like a Coldfang's grip. No matter how she struggled she could not look away.
The last of the mare's herd made to attack Numair. Tearing his eyes from Daine he shot black and while fire at her. The mare met the same fate as her kin. A woman's scream made Numair whip around, just in time to see Danie's foe drive her horn into Daine, just above her heart.
"Daine!"
A/N: so there you have chapter 5. Sorry about the cliffie, but the voices in my head made me do it! I took so long to update that I am not going to do individual review comments, but next chappie though. To all my old reviewers: thanks for sticking with me, and helping me along. To my new reviewers: Glad to have you with us! I look forward to counting you among the old reviewers! Thank you all for replying to my review request! I got so many for last chapter I was shocked!
ATTENTION READERS! Ok, many of you might know this, but you are going to get enlightened anyways so sit still. TP is writing a book on Numair's early days in Carthak. When I read that on her sight I set out this squeak that scared my dog...but that is not important. What is important is that it is not scheduled to come out until 2008!!! I don't know about you guys but that is way too long. So, I am petitioning you all to e-mail TP and tell her how much you want this book. There is a link to her address on her webpage (the address is on my page) I have e-mailed her about this, and she is very nice. I would read the rules for e-mailing her first though. That's all, you can go about your normal lives now.