A/N: Sorry about the long delays. When I write I turn on my Windows Media Center and I also open up Word and then I get lost listening to Jamie Cullum, Jack's Mannequin, or Matt Costa… Sorry! Also, if you re-read chapter five you'll notice I changed a few things. An annonymous reviewer confirmed to me what I thought was some shoddy writing but I had just pushed that thought aside thinking that I was just being rusty. So, thank you Chapter 5 Annonymous Reviewer!

Daine finished saddling her horse and attached her saddle bags. She sighed and headed back into Numair's house. Teresa came running down the stairs and jumped onto her mother. Daine caught her and spun her around. Teresa laughed and then asked, "Mommy, can I ride with Numy?"

"'May I', Teresa. It's 'May I'," Daine correct her daughter. Teresa nodded and Daine could tell that the girl was concentrating hard on remembering the correct form of her common mistake. "May I ride with Numy, Mommy?" Teresa asked again her eyes pleading with her mother to give her permission.

Daine grinned. "Is that your new nickname for him?" Teresa nodded. Daine put her daughter down and replied, "If Numair says that it is alright, you may." Teresa grinned and wrapped her arms around her mother's legs. "Merci beaucoup!" Teresa said and ran off to find Numair.

Daine sighed and went into the living room and sat down on one of the ugly, squashy, velvet couches. She toyed with her badger's claw necklace and thought back to the last time that she had talked to her furry, immortal companion.

Daine stared at the badger that had appeared so suddenly on her bed at the inn that she had been staying at since she had left Numair two days ago. The room was bare except for her cloak that was discarded on the floor and a pile of new clothes that she had bought at the market, seeing as how she had left all her possessions at the quarters that she shared with Numair at the palace and also at his tower.

Daine had been crying for those two days, sorrow engulfing her as she realized that the life that she had wanted and had dreamed about was never going to exist. And she had lost her best friend, her husband, her companion, her lover, the only man who had ever loved her. She cried even harder because she knew that without Numair she was lost. She had invested so much time and feelings in her relationship with him and with that, had built her life and soul around that man. And now that he wasn't a part of her life any more…

"You know I don't like having to inform you of this, but your suffering is for a reason. You are the prefect mortal to help with the god's plans in Galla. Go there and help the citizen; all with play out for the best in the end. I won't be able to visit you for a while," the badger told her.

"But why does it always have to be me? I'm tired of being the god's pawn. I never have a say in anything and I always end up getting hurt! Because of the god's plan I have lost the man that I love!" Daine protested.

The badger rubbed it head against her side. "I know kit but it's best to just budge up and do as the god's say. It's going to be as messy as the last time. And seeing as how you worked out perfectly the last time, you are more suited to help out this time." Badger looked around and finished, "Once this is all over, you will be even happier. It will all work out in the end. I promise."

The badger slid off of the bed and waddled over to the door. Half-way there he paused and turned around. "I think that it's best that you know that you're with child."

Daine gasped and her hand flew to her neck to feel her pregnancy charm and show it to the badger to prove that there was no possibility that she could be pregnant. But she couldn't find her pregnancy charm. She stared with horror at her neck and saw that it wasn't there. Daine's eyes flooded with tears again.

"I won't be allowed to visit you for a while kit. It's what the god's want. They want you to figure this out on your own. The end will be worth it all. I promise. Don't be afraid to humble yourself and ask for help."

"I'll make sure that you keep your promise badger," muttered Daine. "I knew you would kit," the badger replied and vanished as her walked to the door.

Numair sank down into the couch next to Daine and startled her out of her reverie. "What are you thinking about?" he asked. "Nothing," Daine replied forcing herself to smile.

"We're all ready to leave when you are," Numair told her. Daine nodded at stood up and started to walk outside when Numair called her name. "Mmmh?" Daine replied.

"I have something for you before we leave," Numair said and started to walk up the stairs; Daine followed puzzled at what it might be that Numair would give her. They stopped at the first landing and walked into Numair's room. It was full of lace and silk bed sheets and blankets and the bed had a lace canopy. Daine smirked at the bad taste of Varice Kingsford.

Numair pressed his hands against one of the stones that composed the wall and said something in Old Thak. The brick glowed with his black Gift and suddenly an archway appeared. Daine was very interested now in what he had to give her because this secret room wasn't there when she had lived with him.

The room was lined with books and there was a desk at the far end of the room. There were papers, quills, and bottles of ink strewn across the desk. The room was dark but Numair flicked his hand and glass globes were filled with a little bit of his Gift that glowed black but provided light for her to see better.

"This is my private study that I built after you had left. This is one of the many ways to access it. This is for my experiments that I don't want disturbed because Varice had a –what shall I call it now? – Ah, a habit, to put it lightly, of interfering with my experiments. And I also come here for some private time to reflect on things.

You left in a hurry and left some things behind. I put them in here so that Varice wouldn't throw them away," Numair smiled to himself and looked at Daine. "Truth be told, I don't know why I kept them. I just didn't want them thrown away."

Numair walked over to the far side of the study and ran his finger along the spine of one of the books on the shelf. His Gift shimmered along the line that he had traced and then expanded the entire length of the cabinet and the width of six inches. Suddenly the books disappeared and in their place was a secret hiding compartment. Daine gasped as Numair brought the contents of the compartment to her and placed it in her hands.

It was the longbow that she had taken with her during her exodus from her native country. Daine had never expected to see this bow again after she had left Numair. Daine ran her fingers along the work of art and felt the surface, re-learning every dimple and curve of that bow. It became familiar to her again and Daine could not wait to get out to the practice courts and start the arduous task of mastering the bow again.

Numair walked over to the desk and opened the first drawer; he slipped his fist into his pocket which contained whatever he had pulled out of his desk and walked back to Daine. "I have something else of yours but I'm uncertain as to whether or not you'll want it back. But it is yours by right so I feel that I must return it to its proper owner."

Numair withdrew his hand from his pocket and opened his hand. Daine gasped again as she looked down. Resting in his palm was the wedding ring that he had given Daine: a seven-carat heart shaped purple diamond ring with seven channel-set light purple diamonds on each side. It was a truly one-of-a-kind ring that even Thayet had been jealous of. Numair knew that Daine would only wear this ring for special occasions or formal courts appearances but it made sense for him because Daine could wear her commitment ring for everyday purposes.

Daine picked up the ring and held it up to the light-globes. The ring scintillated and winked at her as if it didn't remember all the pain that it symbolized. Daine looked up at Numair at a loss for words. Then she smirked and said, "Well, if I ever get into a spot of trouble again for money, I can always sell this and I'll be set for life!"

Numair frowned and sadness rang in his eyes. "I really hope that this ring means more to you than that. It really means a lot to me." Daine gaped at him realizing that she had just hit a sore spot with him. "Numair, our relationship meant everything to me. But I think that you've got it backwards: maybe our relationship should have meant more to you."

With that Daine picked up her bow and put the ring her pocket. She stalked out of the room and stomped down the stairs leaving Numair in her wake of sudden, albeit, justified anger. Numair heaved a deep sigh and wiped a tear away that had begun to leak out of the corner of his chocolate brown eyes. He walked out of his private study and sealed it up with a wave of his hand.

He trotted down the stairs and went outside to discover that everyone was waiting on him: Daine had mounted her horse, Varice was riding side-saddle on her mount, and Teresa was standing next to Numair's horse waiting for him to arrive. Numair put on a smile for Teresa and lifted her up onto the animal.

I guess I'm supposed to be leading this caravan, Numair thought and laughed to himself. What an odd clan we are. I have my wife, my ex-wife and my secret child by my ex-wife.

Numair urged his horse on and they set off for Corus.