Disclaimer: Tamora Pierce wrote these great stories about a place called Tortall. Her characters visit me in my head. Take a glimpse.

A/N: Now here's the kicker – in RotG, Numair convinces Hedensra that if they fight near the others, he might get a spear in the back. Hehehe, the last chapter explained where the story might have come from.

Narms Briton 44: Thank you so much. I loved writing the last chapter. It's hard to top. And I promise I won't ever write about Marxist alien marshmallows, although they might actually make a nice cameo for your story "Over-exaggerated". I'm jealous of your ability to write that kind of humor.

Nativewildmage: I planned that Onua would kill him from the beginning. I'm glad everybody liked it.

Jules-Gemma: Thanks! I think so too.

Tammy P RoCKs: No this won't go to RotG. This will end soon at midwinter. The next story planned is called "Maelstrom" and it will be followed by RotG from Numair's POV and is yet unnamed.

Sunfish Sailor: Most everybody didn't figure out why Daine bit his arm off. You got it though. I'm an insane updater aren't I?

Purple Eyed Cat: I'm glad it feels like a book to you. I must be doing something right.

Twighlight Shades: The answer to the 30 unicorns is below.

Ethalas Tuath'an: Cearl was using Onua, controlling Alanna, Daine, Raoul, Gary, and Daniel, pretending to be in peril when he wasn't and a whole lot of other nasty, treacherous things. The thing Daine gave to Alanna is partially explained below. But you have to wait until the next chapter to totally understand it.

Kit49: I felt like that was my best ever chapter. There was a lot of action going on. Could I have done anything different to not lose you? I know it was a little different to the way it usually goes between them. I'm building their relationship and ability to fight together alone. By the time we get to RotG, everyone will be able to see why Jon would dispatch the two alone.

1reallyblue1: Thank you so much. Your praise really made my day.

Chapter 19 – Unicorns

Chickadees, sparrows, and starlings seemed appear from every tree on three sides of them. The cloud of birds headed south. Alanna looked nervously to Daine, who was standing protectively over Numair's prone body. "I can slow them down I think," the girl said. "The birds don't dare fight, but can confuse them. And they will give me a count as best they can."

The thunderous sound of hooves dropped almost instantly. The air still felt thick and Alanna's ember necklace was glowing ominously.

Alanna watched Tahoi drag a pack from Numair's tent and stick his nose in, rummaging. One after another, the dog gently picked out five small cloth packages. Three falcons appeared from somewhere, lifting the packages in their talons to line the road between the trees where the unicorns would soon appear. "Are those Numair's powder packs?" Alanna asked.

"Yes," Daine said, focusing. "Is that going to be the best location, or do you want them farther out?"

"That's perfect," she answered as two falcons returned to retrieve the last two packs. Alanna knew she was smiling. She didn't know how big the force they would be facing was, but as long as it wasn't more than forty, they probably had a chance.

"What are Numair's powder packs?" Daniel asked nervously.

"They explode rather well when lit with fire. We can do it magically. I've still got enough magic left. I'm sure Harailt does too." The university mage nodded, mouth in a pale, thin line. "Lindhall, what have you got left?"

"I'm low, but I can fight a little. Unfortunately, it won't be long until I'm out of fire power. I gave a lot to Numair."

"There's about thirty flesh eating unicorns. They are very focused as if someone sent them, but the birds have slowed them down," Daine said loudly. "There's a – it feels like a griffin, fairly close behind them and – and a man on horseback – the description sounds like George."

Alanna felt herself pale. "Why is George here?"

"Numair asked for him to come," a hoarse voice answered. It was Onua. She too wielded a bow now. "Where do you want me?"

Alanna tried not to think about why Numair would ask George to come here when the trip was so potentially dangerous. She positioned her friends, placing Lindhall in the back of the line. She charged him with lighting the powder packs.

She saw Daine leave Numair long enough to remove the pans from the fire where they had been boiling over. The girl set them on the rocks around the fire ring and returned to her post. Alanna watched her with a little awe. When had this young girl turned into such a strong and stable woman? Daine reported, "We'll see them in a few minutes. I had to send a few of the birds to the back to cloud George from their view."

Another very hoarse voice entered the conversation now. "Daine, have Lindhall spell your arrows."

Alanna realized that Numair had come to, but he was very weak. His skin was grey and even his eyes appeared pale and translucent. He tried to lift his head to speak louder. "Spell the arrows," he said again. "You're a crack shot. If each arrow can kill a unicorn, you are capable of taking out almost a dozen by yourself."

A huge smile spread across Alanna's face. "I'll take care of it, Numair." Purple fire surrounded Daine's quiver. "It would be better if you had individual spells on each, but this should do the job."

This was the part Alanna hated the most – waiting. It was harder to hear the unicorn's approach now that the birds had slowed them, but it was almost as if anticipation made it possible to hear their breath.

When the first two moved into view she raised a hand, ready to signal Lindhall. But the griffin came out of no where, attacking one of them viciously. If they wanted to save the griffin the powder packs would have to wait, unless… The griffin's eyes grew wide and it rose to the air, racing behind Alanna and her friends. It had to have been Daine. "Now, Lindhall!

When the first powder pack exploded, the concussive explosion took out three of the beasts. Alanna heard Daniel scream his enthusiasm with a loud, "Yeah!"

More unicorns broke through the smoke only to be felled by another explosion and then another. Two successfully broke through the line and were taken down by two fast arrows from Daine and Onua. The final two blasts knocked the number down to thirteen and again the griffin attacked one.

Alanna used her crossbow now at close quarters, while Harailt attacked with mage fire. More arrows whizzed by from Daine's bow. Between the bows, swords and sorcerers, it was over before they really realized they'd triumphed. Two unicorns lay dead far back from where the others attacked and Alanna saw her husband reach to pull his daggers from their targets.

When he stood up, their eyes locked and they raced to one another, throwing weapons aside as they went. It didn't matter that the whole camp was watching or that they had to leap over carcasses of dead immortals. She flew to the one man in all the world that could make everything feel all right again, and she wrapped her arms around his neck. His mouth claimed hers and they stayed there for what seemed a long time, kissing and murmuring until a vicious roar brought them back to themselves.

The griffin had found Cearl. If the mage was not quite dead yet, it was clear nothing would bring him round again. The griffin ripped him to pieces, splattering blood and entrails as he did so. Daniel had run for cover and Harailt looked to Alanna for direction.

"This piece of scum killed his lil' one," George explained. "They can always tell."

Daine approached the griffin cautiously, looking the beast directly in the eye. She bowed slightly. The griffin preened a couple of feathers from its wings and held them out to her in its beak. She reached out and took them. Then the griffin picked up Cearl's severed head and flew away toward the southern horizon.

Daine carried the feathers to George. "He says he wants you to have these as a token of his promise. He says you have earned his respect and that he will guard your shoreline."

George took the feathers with an almost shaking hand, an amazed look on his face.

Daine smiled brightly at him. "I need to look after Numair. The soup was done. It might be a little too hot and a little scorched at the bottom. We also have eggs, though we may want to toss them." Her eyes twinkled slightly.

"What has happened here?" George asked. He still had one arm around Alanna, holding her tight.

"I will tell you everything, laddybuck," Alanna said to him. "But I needed to use the privy before all this happened and it's high time I attend to it." She winked at her husband and he laughed.

As she walked toward the privy, she saw Daine holding a water skin to Numair's mouth. His head was cradled on her lap and she was watching him with the most loving expression. Alanna shook her head. If the whole camp didn't figure this out today, they were definitely blind.

-----

Daine sat down and pulled Numair's head into her lap. He stirred slightly. He looked so tired and weak. "I brought you some water and a little soup," she said. "The soup is quite hot, so let's start with the water." She held the water skin to his mouth and he drank gratefully. She stroked his cheek while he drank and watched him, thinking about how willingly he had fought to save their world.

Alanna walked by, smiling at them. Daine waived and gave Numair a little more water. He seemed to come around a bit then. "Are you all right?" he asked in a whisper. "You bit Cearl and…."

"I spit out the blood and purged everything," she said matter-of-factly. "But I knew I had to get the bracelet."

"What?" he asked hoarsely. He tried to sit up and George walked over and tutted at him.

"When a pretty girl is willin' ta let ye' lay in her lap, I say go with it." His hazel eyes twinkled mischievously and Daine couldn't help but laugh.

"When we were talking to Cearl earlier, I saw a gemmed bracelet. Kit trilled at it and it glowed. It made my head ache. It took me a while to put it together. I realized it was the same feeling before I blacked out and attacked you. So I went after it. I wasn't sure if it would be everything, but I wasn't gonna' let him keep it if there was a chance."

Numair smiled at her. "Very smart. I'd really like to examine it. Where is it now?"

"I have it." Alanna answered. She had returned from the privy and she held out the bracelet so Numair could see. He tried to raise a hand to take it, but clearly didn't have the energy.

Daine smoothed his hair again. "Let's get some soup into you. You can analyze it when you've rested. You held the world together today. You deserve a nap." She saw Alanna and George smile at each other. She lifted a spoon full of soup and blew on it before feeding it to him.

He started to look a little a stronger and worked at sitting up again. "Hard-headed, I'd say," George remarked. "Like I said, if that beauty wanted to pet and molly-coddle me, I'd let her." Alanna socked his arm.

Numair pulled himself to a sitting position and swayed. "I think I might too under different circumstances. But I think Onua might need Daine even more than I do. Thank you though, Magelet. So you know, I may have held the world together, but it was only because you were holding me up. Don't forget that." Daine looked into his eyes and saw something there that held her fascinated. She felt herself pulled toward him inexplicably, but he swayed again and the moment was lost.

Daine sighed heavily. "Can you lift a spoon yet?" she asked almost teasingly.

"I'll manage. Take care of our friend. She's hurting." His brown eyes closed repeatedly, as if he was fighting sleep. He lifted the bowl of soup to his mouth and sipped it.

Daine was hesitant to leave him, but knew Alanna and George would watch over him. She slid out from under him and walked over to Onua's tent and poked her head in. Her K'miri friend was sitting cross-legged, with Tahoi stretched across her lap. Kit was purring at her softly. "May I join you?" Daine asked softly.

When Onua looked up, her face was streaked with tears. She never answered, but she looked so broken that Daine rushed to put her arms around her. Onua sobbed for the longest time and they didn't speak. Daine could only hug her and wait. When the sobs finally lessened, she heard Onua croak, "Why didn't I see it?"

Daine's heart ached for her friend. "I didn't either, Onua. I thought he was charming. Until I caught him lying, I believed he was a good guy."

"Was he right though? Did you suspect him and push it aside for me?"

Daine looked to Kit, who was still in the room and knew she dare not lie. "Onua, I thought it was strange that he didn't fight more. But I never saw him as a threat. I would have said something if I did. I never exactly trusted him, but I was never looking for him to be the cause of our troubles. And honestly, after I was taken over, I wanted someone to blame."

Onua looked her in the eye. Her face was blotchy and swollen. Her eyes were terribly bloodshot and seemed almost emerald green, instead of their usual greenish color. She only nodded in answer.

"Onua, Numair told me once about how mages can fool people with a kind of mind control. Usually, they need to use something shiny -- a coin or trinket." Onua nodded again as if she too had learned this. "But Numair doesn't need a shiny object. Maybe Cearl didn't either. You said you don't really know why you and he got together. Is it possible that it wasn't your idea?"

Onua looked thoughtful for a moment. "Horse lords, I want that to be true. It just isn't. I was lonely."

Daine understood completely. There were moments that she was lonely and wanted to take solace in someone. She could picture how easily a man might draw her into a relationship. Onua had been alone a long time. Still, men watched her. Perhaps Onua was too shy to recognize it. The only men she had actually seen her K'Miri friend flirt with were George and Numair and she didn't want either one of them. That was all just for fun.

"How is Numair?" Onua asked finally, patting Daine on the shoulder."

"Weak but curious about the bracelet. If he can think about studies, that probably means he will be all right." Both women giggled at that.

They sat in silence for a long time, both trying to figure out what to say.

"What I need is to keep busy," Onua said, pulling herself out of her tent. Daine followed. "I'm going to bury some unicorns and take care of horses and clean up camp. When we're ready to hit the road again, I'll be glad to get shot of this place."

Daine smiled understandingly. She was tired of camping herself. She was tired of monsters, and tired of battles, and tired of seeing her friends in pain. She wanted to get back to Corus and have a real, long bath and think about everything that had happened from the point of a distant memory, not a fresh ache.

She heard Alanna giggle and looked up to see George struggling to help Numair move awkwardly into his tent. He seemed all legs right now. He was so exhausted. She ran over to help and she looked at Alanna realizing that her violet eyes had regained their light for the first time in days. Numair had known Alanna needed George to recover and he had arranged it. George could ease Alanna's aching heart, just as Numair was always able to ease Daine's. She wished there was someone to send for to help Onua, but there wasn't. The best she could do was help to keep her busy and to get them back to Corus as soon as possible.

-

-

-

Don't worry, I'm not done yet. Please review.