Disclaimer: I don't own anything that came from Tamora Pierce's brain.

Chapter 14

It had been two year since that dreadful day, the day they lost a great friend. All were saddened with the anniversary coming up. Even Kaddar and Lindhall who had, to knowledge, only known her for a short time were feeling pain from her loss. However, none were as saddened as Numair by the upcoming date. He had just been coming out of his shell when some jerk had to go and mention her. Now he was back into his moody shell that he had so recently shed.

Numair was currently off in his own little world as he sat with Alanna, George, Onua, Lindhall, Kaddar, and their majesties while they discussed politics. He didn't even notice the messenger come in. Nor did he hear Jonathan sigh when he had read the letter given to him. Nor did he notice the king eye him warily, as if trying to decide if he was going to be killed for what he was about to say. He did however hear his name when it was called.

'Yes, my lord?" He answered, looking up.

""Numair, everyone, there is no easy way to say this so…it seems that everyone in this room will be going to Carthak." Jonathan announced. He received some shocked looks, disbelieving looks , and one outraged look.

"WHAT! There is NO way I would EVER return to the PLACE, my lord, NO WAY!" Numair roared.

"You have no choice in the matter Numair. The Emperor has specifically requested all of us to go, to be at his wedding. Politics demands we go."

"Politics? I don't care about politics. Besides, this is probably just some ruse to get Kaddar, Lindhall, and myself back there so he can execute us. That would be a wonderful wedding gift in his mind," Numair ended, sarcastically.

"He has granted all three of you full immunity for the duration of your stay. He feels it is the least he can do seeing as it was in Carthak that Daine was taken away from us."

And you believed him?" Numair asked, incredulously. "There is no way he would do something like that. It isn't his style. He never gives up a chance to take revenge. He must be up to something."

"BE that as it may, diplomacy dictates that we must be there. We'll just have to be prepared in case anything should happen. Now, you have a month to get ready. I mean it Numair, as your King I demand that you be at the dock with the rest of us." Jonathan only received a fine and a slammed door as Numair stormed out. He sighed, "Well, that went well."

A few hours later found Numair holed up in his room. There was knock on his door. He didn't say anything or even look up, he just continued to stare out the window. There came another knock. He still didn't look up. Next thing he knew, his door was opened and closed, and Onua was standing in front of him.

She opened her arms and he leaned in. He cried on her shoulder silently for ten minutes before the tears slowed. When he was able to talk he said, "I don't think I can do it. I don't think I'm strong enough to return to that place, the place where she died."

"I know you don't, but you can. I know you can." She replied soothingly before adding, "You have to let go of the pain Numair, or its going to kill you."

"I know. I just don't think I can."

"You need to. It's eating you away on the inside, killing you slowly. That is what she would want, Numair. She would want you to live. She would want the man who loved her to go on with his life."

Numair jumped when he heard this. "How…?"

"Anybody who saw you two together could tell. It was obvious how much you really loved her, from the moment you turned back into a human, really."

'Then you know why I can't let it go."

"I also know that you should let the pain go, hold on only you those good moments the two of you shared. And going there might help you, too. You can visit her memorial sight in the very least. It would do you some good to properly say good bye."

"I guess you're right."

"Of course I am. We'll all be there for you, you have nothing to worry about."

"Funny, I said the exact same thing to her on the ship when she was nervous."

Onua hugged her friend and got up to leave, feeling he was better. Before she exited she called back to him, "Just remember, she'd want you to be happy so live, for her. That's what I always tell myself."

Numair sat there thinking on what she had said. He didn't know why he was so surprised, really. She had been Daine's friend, too. He guessed that he had been so caught up in his own misery that he failed to notice the pain of those around him. He also realized that what she had said was very true. As he continued staring out his window he thought back on his love, and let out a whisper, "I will live on. I'll live on for you, Daine. And you, you will live on through me."

Unknown to the black mage, he was being watched. There was a sinister smile on the face of the man watching. He had seen everything from the time his invitation reached the king to his former friend's whisper. He let out a soft, evil laugh. "Oh, this will be fun."

A/N: Sorry that it is so short. The original version was better and longer, but my computer messed up and it was lost. Anyway, thanks to the following for their Reviews:

Keeran Amytha

WildMage426

George Bassy

Laurashrub

Tortalls Resident Wildchild

Pesche