Chapter 7: A Fight for the Light at the End of the Tunnel

Part I

"Daine?" She heard Numair's call, but didn't turn. She pretended to be asleep, and after a minute she heard him leave.

There was a commotion as Daine woke with a start. She flew from her tent, seeing a group huddled around something. She got closer noting that it was a piece of parchment.

"'Prepare your best for dawn'." Alanna's voice read the words out loud, for all to hear. "So they have decided; dawn it is." That night was spent preparing for the action of the sun's first rays. A ditch for protection was dug, weapons were polished and sharpened, quivers were filled, and everyone prepared for the first light. As Numair's gift reserves were still a little low, he saved it for the actual fight for putting up a shield would deprive his source dangerously.

Daine forced herself to eat, although she threw it up later. While she emptied her stomach of this, behind a shrub, someone came to stand behind her, rubbing her back and holding her hair. She caught a familiar spicy scent.

"Thanks," she whispered. Numair smiled and wiped her face with a wet cloth, Daine returning the smile.

"Daine, I'm so sorry about last night." He pulled her close, sitting against a tree. "I lost my temper; the thought of someone harming you just makes my blood boil. Please forgive me." There was so much pleading in his voice that Daine had to accept. Besides, his eyes said he would die begging for forgiveness if he had to.

"I love you," she said, and rested her head against his chest. He squeezed her tightly, his wrist finding a rib, not completely healed, on Daine's side. She gasped, wincing.

"Daine? What's wrong?"

"It's just a bruise, nothing to get worked up about."

"Let me see." His voice was demanding, but she stuck out her chin stubbornly.

"No."

"Daine. Let me see." This time he pried her fingers from her rib cage and gently laid his long fingers on the spot. Daine gasped again and tried to pull away, but Numair's grip on her arm kept her caged.

"Daine, you need to get Alanna to heal this. Have you been having any trouble breathing, or any of such?"

"No," she lied, as she shook her head.

"You need to get this healed."

"Alanna probably missed it by accident. I'll go see her later."

"Here," Numair said, and handed her a spice drop. She took it, glad that she could get this nasty bile taste from her mouth. Although she had washed her mouth out with water, it was not enough. Numair got up, helping her to her feet, and scooped her up in his arms.

"You're too light. Have you been eating?" His brow furrowed into a frown.

"Not much," She admitted.

Later on that night, as she stood sentry duty, she thought about the fight before them. The thought of it was what had caused her to get sick earlier. She tried to assure herself that it was simple: just fight for Tortall. Not hard, just a little work. It didn't victor. Daine had her crossbow poised towards the bandit camp. Now the enemy's numbers were reduced to roughly ninety men; versus the thirty-two of the riders. Daine had heard that these men weren't professional fighters, though, so that was a plus for her.

A chilling breeze gave her bare arms shivers, but they ceased when a warm cloak was draped around her shoulders. Spinning, she recognized all six + feet of Numair wrap his arms around her. Gently, he took the bow from her hands and set it down. He kissed her, a kiss of lovers fearing to be eternally torn apart. Daine kissed with equal passion, running her fingers through his hair, the same as he was doing to her.

They were gasping. Their kissing had lasted a while, leaving the two breathless and weak. Sentry duty over, Daine and Numair went back to camp to prepare for the next day.