Chapter 9 — Revelations
Written by Silent Serenade
Apologies for the lateness. Currently being bombarded by exams, which is fun because it's not officially school. It's wonderful inspiration for finishing my papers quickly, so that I may write this in the remaining time of being tested. Many thanks to my reviewers, and I shall try my best to send you a personal note of appreciation if I haven't already when my computer functions.
Special thanks to SG who commented on the alliteration. I thought no one would ever notice it.
He couldn't make it. Even if he had scoured the world for instructions on this terrible power, he was a man. He had too much testosterone in his blood, and not enough of the female hormones. He simply could not do it.
For the first time in his life, Numair hated the fact he was a man. Since puberty, he was always glad he never had to go through what the women did — monthlies, mood changes and eventually, the excruciating pain of childbirth. Being a man, he fell in love with Daine, and had been upon the beginning of a beautiful relationship to last a lifetime. But this was to be cut short, as he was a man, and wasn't able to save the woman he loved.
He could feel Gabriel's eyes on him, analysing his reaction, perhaps even reading his mind. He wouldn't be surprised if she had such power, being one of the few alive in the Mortal Realms who possessed the knowledge of the poison. Numair tilted his head slightly, and was captured in Gabriel's gaze, tugging at his inner barriers, coaxing him to let her into his mind.
I feel so heavy, he thought, giving away to her demands and admitting defeat as he allowed the doors to open in his psyche. So drowsy. But I don't want to sleep... Please don't let me sleep.
She'll be alright, for now. I'll take care of her.
Gabriel's tone was both icy and warm, energising yet luring Numair to rest in blessed oblivion.
The poison...
He had to protest. He could not give so easily. But she was prepared. Numair realised now, had just experienced the endless knowledge and wisdom within the woman, in the unreachable ends of her mind.
It won't go anywhere for awhile. I've placed a magical barrier of great power unbeknownst to many, for the Witchfire to absorb before infiltrating more of Daine's bloodstream. Relax and allow me to use some of your magic to add to the defences. Sleep.
Already feeling Gabriel channelling power away from his reserves, Numair sagged in his chair and slept.
Daine sat huddled in the strange, empty place doing nothing but wait. It was so strange... The moment she gave up struggling against the pain, stopped clinging onto the grasp of reality, a peaceful wash of calm flowed over her. Immediately a sensation of bliss and light-headedness evaded her senses, and her muscles relaxed, causing her no choice but to sit on the floor which wasn't quite the ground.
Not knowing how or why, she felt a comforting presence which was exotic yet so familiar, a force controlling the tidal waves of the vast oceans, igniting the fuel of scorching flames, and at the same time, a beauty which resided in the stars and moon.
Daine knew she should not allow this to nonchalantly bypass her senses, but she didn't have the energy or will to study all these oddities. She should be wary yet longed for the healing touch of a spirit which freely roamed the stars. And despite the mixed feelings and colours the strange presence emitted, it was the only warmth within the area of complete darkness.
As she sat contemplating but not quite thinking, a wave of Numair's essence flooded her senses, leaving Daine smiling and encouraged as she waited.
Numair awoke to a silent cabin, feeling for the first time at ease since he reached the shore of foreign territory. His bones and muscles ached at the uncomfortable position in which he had taken his quick nap, and he gingerly stood up, stretching his lanky body as much as possible.
Looking around, he realised it must be quite late, considering the tiny flame on the candle and the base of wax around it. He noted a source of light outside, and peered out the window, awed by the sight of the beautiful full moon.
Full moon? The last time he saw the moon it wasn't nearly as bright or round as the stunning globe currently in the sky. That meant...
"Finally awake, Master Salamin?"
He groaned inwardly at the slightly teasing tone as his questions were answered.
"How long have I slept? Three days and nights?"
His own unused voice sounded harsh to his ears, and he scowled at the look of amusement on Gabriel's face.
"Four."
"So much for a quick nap," he muttered under his breath. Suddenly aware of how precious time was, his eyes darted around the small room until they found the sleeping figure of Daine, seemingly unharmed.
"She needs the antidote, and soon. Our barriers cannot hold for much longer."
Numair was surprised at this sudden change of quality. He looked and saw her once twinkling eyes now radiating a serious, steady flow of power. He frowned when thinking upon the events of the last few days. Someone who knew so substantially about Witchfire? Even the black robed mages of Tortall didn't possess half as much knowledge on this power as Numair did, and he certainly wasn't aware of temporary cures to halt the poison from spreading. Who was this woman?
"We must leave this place whilst the moon is full."
"To where can we find the antidote?" Nowhere, his insides screamed. You can't make it. No one has for thousands of years. There is no antidote.
"And I thought you should know, before we progress any further. The Witchfire your companion has been tainted with contains the blood of a goddess."
He couldn't believe it. Now she tells him! It is almost impossible to find the antidote anywhere in the face of the realms, but one powerful enough to counter the works of a goddess, might and magic heightened by millions? Only a dragon or another goddess could possibly do such a thing, but Kitten was young, way too young.
"This is futile! Stop feeding me false hope. There is no way, and you know it. Don't waste my time here and just tell me she's going to die so I may speak to Jon and warn him of what is expected. TELL ME!"
Serene as the undisturbed river, Gabriel spoke.
"Tell yourself what you wish, contact your King if you wish, but under no circumstances would I feed you a lie to cover a truth. Either bring the Wildmage and the dragonet before the moon sets and my power is faded or stand here inconsequentially bickering with one beyond your comprehension and allow the world be fouled by Chaos."
She turned from Numair and walked to the door, leaving him stunned. Gabriel couldn't possibly mean...
"Uusoae? She's trying to kill Daine?"
Halfway out the cabin, Gabriel halted and faced the frantic mage.
"Who did you expect it would be, the Green Lady? Uusoae would want nothing better than to overwhelm the world with Chaos, and what better way than to start from the inside?" Gabriel was running out of patience. If they had wanted to cure Daine, they had to move fast.
"But isn't she... Imprisoned?"
Gabriel sighed, knowing they would not go anywhere until Numair's questions have all been answered.
"She's a goddess. She has a tiny supply of Witchfire created throughout the existence of her ageless life, fed by her unceasing hate and hunger for power. I'm sure Uusoae wasn't too happy to be punished due to Daine, and in her desire for revenge has sent that lovely archer to attack you as soon as you were outside Tortall, where no one would be suspicious or aware.
"Unfortunately, he missed embedding the arrow in you and caught your friend – no, lover – instead. I'm sure the assassin fled as soon as he realised his mistake for the fear of suffering under Chaos' wrath."
Still trying to absorb all this information, Numair felt a pain as he realised that the poison was meant for him.
"Me? Why?" Numair's lips curled in a frightening snarl, and he felt an urge to laugh cynically at his stupid question. "Of course. So Daine would suffer more. Revenge and world domination in one go. How thoughtful of her."
Gabriel watched as Numair strode to where Daine laid, a sleep-like expression on her face. But she knew better; the Wildmage was not asleep, but trapped in an unperceivable dimension. He gently peeled the blanket off Daine and slid arms under her back and behind her knees, lifting her off the tiny bed. He whistled a prolonged note at the immature dragon, whose eyes flickered intelligently at the sound, and followed the mage attentively at his heels.
Numair walked next to Gabriel as Kitten studied the blonde enigma with her catlike eyes.
"The moon still radiates. Where must we go?"
She gently placed a slender hand on Cloud, hoping the horses would understand being left behind. The moonlight washed her senses, filling her bones with revitalising energy, entwining joyfully with not just her magic, but Gabriel's whole being.
"To three drops of Witchfire in my hometown Snowsdale, Galla."
In the empty nothingness, Daine felt the diminishing presence of Numair. But there was nothing to do but softly close her crimson eyes and wait.
I like Gabriel. She's powerful. I don't want to kill Daine anymore. Kill Gabriel and face a lovely challenge.