HHHHHHHEEEEEEEYYYYY YOU ALL! I have missed you guys, and I hope you have missed us too. It woudn't surprise me, of course. I mean, everyone loves us. D Just havin fun with yaz.
Well, I know you wanna know what's been goin on with the "weekly" updates. Well, put it this way. Fourth quarter is the most evil quarter alive! I SWEAR! Our teachers are like piling work, I have this HUGE project and not including all these stupid state tests and several finals. I AM READY TO SCCREEEAAAMMM!
Okay….venting is over. So I'll be nice and return the favor of you guys reviewing:
Narwhalgirl – well..what if I don't WANT to save Numair? What I if I want him to stay DEAD? MUAHAHAHAHA. Just kidding, actually, we're still figuring out the details. LMAO
Lady Knight 1512 – I luved your review..it was nice and long. You just got to love long reviews. Well…in the first place. Yes, it is a brilliant, D idea of connecting revenge with the other schtuff. And then, well, the last line is koolio too. Compliment Alex on that one. And SO SORRY bout the LATE update! LUV YOU
Narm's Boreas – yyyessss update blood roses. I absolutely 3 that fic so much! But yes, I am very busy too. And to your suggestion of putting in like a line, I actually do, but when I upload it disappears! How mean! So I'll find a way. I'm so sorry, that has been buggin me too. Thanks again for your comments! TTUL
LexiLoLo200 – LOL! I luv your SAVE NUMAIR! You should go on a campaign! With like signs and stuff and march up to Washington D.C. or Phoenix in our case, and be like SAVE NUMAIR! SAVE NUMAIR! Lol..sorry. just rambling…..
Numair's Lover – well…super excited that we updated. Uuhh…like four weeks later? After the other one? Teeheehe. Actually, if we can't come up with an idea of how to get him back…er, he's gonna have to stay dead! But don't worry, well, at least try not to. We're trying to work out the chinks.
Heather-marie – OMG DO YOU LOVE LOTR ALSO! I absolutely do also! It is THE best…..lmao. ((sigh)) . moving on…so original idea? Well…yes. Especially if Numair STAYS dead. Well…we dunno what we're gonna do. ((another sigh))
Protectress of the Small – I'M SORRY I GOT FANFIC BLOCKED AT SKOOL! Really, it prob WAS me. and the shortness of the last chapter was all alex's fault. Not saying this one is long either. But at least some is better than none, MISSIE!
EquestrianBabe – Yes indeed, poor Daine. Can you imagine? And we'll see about him coming back..yes. we'll seeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
Amaruk Wolfheart – I luv your gestures..your cough wink and nudges. Ow! That "nudge" hurt. More like an ELBOW! Just kiddin.. We'll see how this challenge goes for daine and numy.
Yollandak – writing more…writing writing writing. JUST FOR YOU! ((hug))
Wild black fire – more maura and Lasku? There's some HINTS in this chapter. Just some..not major. Aren't they soooo cute?
Thanks soooooooooooooooooo much to those who reviewied! They really are sO much appreciated ! now..ONTO THE MUCH DELAYED CHAPTER! SORRY ONCE AGAIN!
Daine stared at the scroll of parchment in her hand, the only remnant left of the visit from her parents. She continued to gaze at it emotionlessly, and the others around her were still silent as well, most likely recovering from the shock of visit from gods.
"Well, shall we open it?" asked Jon, his voice slightly above a whisper being loath to disturb the silence.
The wild mage didn't reply, yet opened the seal gently with her finger. The seal of the gods, she realized with a shock, as the wax unpeeled willingly. All of the people in the room gasped in unison when a bright light flashed when she opened the scroll.
Daine perused the message, hanging onto every word and storing it into her memory. For these were her directions, her first step into saving Numair in this vortex of chaos (( lol)) and mystery. Here is what was written:
To our ever faithful servant, Veralidaine Sarrasri,
We are mournful over the recent event that has occurred in your lives, in other words the death of Numair Salmalin, another servant we much appreciate. Be it known to you that his death was not timely; he was cheated of his life. Therefore, a multitude, but not all, of the Great and lesser gods have conferred and decided that you shall be given one chance to resurrect Master Numair.
There are conditions, of which are listed:
1. You must kill, or eliminate in any way, the mage, Tristan Staghorn who is responsible for the death and for conjuring a demon.
2. He must be killed by the next full moon, in other words, a fortnight.
3. You must gather information as to where he performed the rites of killing Master Numair and perform yours as well. Further details of this are written about in the later parts of the letter.
4. You must sign this in blood and give it to the priests of the Temple of Mithros, and if you fail, you also must die.
As for the rites that you must carry out, this is the most we can say to you. In your extensive library, there is another similar scroll, one that contains a spell in Old Thak that you must learn. This spell will transport you magically to the land of Death, where you must talk to the Black God. We have done our best to persuade him to willingly surrender Master Numair to you, but as to how he will react to you, it is yet unknown.
Good luck and may you be blessed eternally.
At the bottom, signed with a flourish were the signatures of the gods and goddesses that were present at the meeting where all of this was decided.
Daine sank down on a nearby cushion and massaged her forehead. Did that letter seriously ask her to hunt down Tristan and kill him?
They didn't have to ask her, she was already burning with a passion for avenging Numair, but she was so tired. Mentally, physically, and emotionally.
But she shrugged the burden off her shoulders and stood up again, immediately. The others looked questioningly at her, as if they weren't sure what to do. But the look on Daine's face was utterly determined and set, and it was evident in her voice when she asked if anyone had a small knife.
Raoul handed her his and comfortingly placed his huge hand over hers to offer her strength. She smiled at his kind gesture and proceeded to cut her finger to draw blood.
"Are you sure you want to be doing this, Daine? There is a chance that you will, er, die also," said Jon.
"Yes, this is now what I live for. How can I ignore this?" Daine flashed another forced grin. "Let us say that I will look to this as an adventure, worth my life."
She quickly signed the paper, wincing slightly at the sharp pain, and sighed as Alanna proceeded to bandage the small wound. "Now, I shall deliver this to the temple and set off early tomorrow. You all read the letter; I have until the next full moon. I mean to get as much of a head start as possible. And no, this is a journey for myself," stated Daine quickly when she saw the looks of protest starting to reveal on the faces of her dearest friends.
"Do you want me to go with you, Daine?" asked Maura sheepishly. The Lady of Dunlath felt even more unwanted and smaller as she looked at all the prestigious nobles of Tortall, yet Daine's eyes lit up with warmth and love and said that she would love to have her come to the temple, and only the temple with her. Tillie also tagged along, not wanting to be left behind, especially when her bonds with both the other women were so strong.
Lasku watched Maura's actions with a curious eye and was relieved that she would be accompanying Daine. He knew that she loved the wild mage very much and the death was a blow to her sensitive heart as well.
He pondered on his feelings for her as he watched her girlish figure walk sedately away with Daine, arms hooked for support and wondered vaguely what it would be like to hold her small hand in his own. To be able to hold her close and intoxicate himself in the scent of her. To even just have her hand on his arm, all these thoughts were running through his head when Maura accidentally jostled him and he was instantly embarrassed.
"This seems to happen too often, you running into me," he whispered lowly.
"Yes, well it's not as if I want to!" retorted Maura.
Lasku looked deeply into her eyes and saw that she was concerned for Daine's journey and answered it with a look of his own. It was an eye game now, and they could comprehend each other's thoughts through the body language. She nodded quickly and he motioned toward the outer wall after her nod.
"Ah yes, we have been expecting you, miss."
Daine was quite startled. "Expecting me?"
"Of course, after all. We are the priests of the Temple of Mithros. The scroll please?" asked the short and fat man. Daine, Maura, and Tillie also happened to notice that he was quite bald and seemed pompous. Yet they knew he was loyal to the most high god and that helped to stifle their laughter.
"And are you sure that you understand everything, my dear? We wouldn't want you to fault in such an important matter."
"Yes, good sir. I have read the instructions, or conditions and am quite shaken, actually, to realize that my life is also in jeopardy. However, this is nothing new to me, Numair and I do missions like these quite frequently for King Jon. But this will be the first time that I actually feel alone," lamented Daine.
"I am sorry, indeed, for your loss. Yet I am confident in you, in this race against death, that you shall be triumphant and prevail over Tristan Staghorn. Always remember all the conditions and rules. Most importantly is the fact that you must kill Tristan and do it in a fortnight, at least," lectured the priest. "And now, would you like to witness me offering this to Mithros and the gods?"
The three bobbed their heads enthusiastically, and the priest grinned in response.
He knelt down on his knees in front of the statue carved in the likeness of Mithros and said a quick prayer first. Then, he laid the scroll, blank side up, on the open hands of the statue and backed away slowly.
Suddenly, a bright flash bounded through the ceiling and a voice boomed from all quarters of the hallway.
"Veralidaine, I shall keep this close to me as a reminder of your journey. Make sure that you do not fail!" roared Mithros.
Daine, Maura, and Tillie returned to a banquet set in honor of the famous wild mage and ate and talked about their experience to others. The looks on their faces were priceless.
However, after about an hour or two, Daine slipped quietly away, desiring the calm and the cool of her bedroom. Yet she hesitated before the door, frightened to know what surprises it held this time. She held her breath and counted silently to three, and the door was squeaked open.
Nothing, just darkness.
She breathed a sigh of relief and threw herself on the bed, thoroughly exhausted and cried herself to sleep.
The next morning, Daine packed lightly, said her goodbyes, and set off on her mission to save Numair.
Little did she know that two silent shadows trailed behind her.
OOOOOOOOOOO CLIFFIE! Whoa, who are those people that are following her? Well..i'll only tell if you REVIEW! MUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. C'mon…lets get to. 125 or 130? I like 130 better..it's higher. HEHEHEHEHEE.
Again, so sorry about late update! I hope you all enjoyed the chapter.
Look forward to hearing from ya!
A.K.A. RRRREVVVIEEWWW. Please.