A/N: Wow. It's been a LOOOOONG time since we've updated this fic. Do any of you even remember us? Probably not. We're about to leave for college so we're determined to finish this fic very soon! Hope you guys enjoy the upcoming final installments. Please read and review!
By the way, this fic was written to be after lady knight but we wrote it BEFORE Lady Knight was written. So, some of it might seem a little incorrect, but just go with it, ok:-)
Daine and Kaddar walked through the forest, leading their horses behind them. The sky was beginning to darken, casting shadows across their path. The animals around them were strangely quiet due to Daine's presence. Kaddar turned to Daine. "Maybe we should stop and set up camp for the night." Daine surveyed the area around them.
"Let's stop at that clearing ahead."
They continued on, stopping as they reached a small clearing, with a clear stream running through it. They set down their packs and led their horses to the water to drink. Daine thought for a moment. "Perhaps one of us should stay up and keep watch."
"I could put up a simple ward over our camp," Kaddar informed her. He walked to the edge of the clearing and summoned his Gift. His Gift wasn't strong, but he had been well trained at the academy in Carthak. He began setting up a protection spell as Daine looked on. I miss Kitten, Daine mused. It's only when she's gone that I realize how helpful she is to me. Daine opened her water bottle, only to realize that it was empty. She went over to the stream to refill it, just as Kaddar was finishing up the ward over camp in that corner of the clearing.
Kaddar was so focused on putting up the spell, he didn't notice Daine's approach. He turned abruptly, hearing her next to him, and suddenly they were face to face. Daine's eyes seemed even bigger in the dark, reflecting the light of the stars. Kaddar reached his hand towards her face but was interrupted by a flashing metallic gleam. He and Daine both turned to see a Stormwing, rather handsome for an immortal.
"I hope I'm not interrupting anything," the stormwing said, raising an eyebrow. Daine quickly reached for her bow, glaring at the metal-winged creature. Kaddar silently cursed himself for putting up such a weak spell.
"What do you want?" Daine asked, scathingly, aiming her arrow at the immortal.
"The question really is, what do you want?" Daine looked at the creature more closely and saw that it had a pouch tied around its neck. Daine turned to Kaddar and whispered urgently, "Vergor Thunderstar!"
"Well, about that...might I ask you two a favor?"
Alanna scowled. "Spit it out, Nealan. Where is the Emperor? Where's Daine?"
Kel's face appeared next to Neal's. "We had a skirmish with a few bandits, and in the confusion, the two of them disappeared. I think Daine might've shape-shifted and led Kaddar away from the battle."
"You lost them!" Numair shouted. He grabbed the mirror from Alanna. "What do you think–"
"Sir, we are currently tracking them. They seem to have headed into the forest. I promise you that we will find them soon."
Yet another face appeared in the mirror. "Sir, you can trust Kel. She knows what she's doing." Kel looked at Dom, smiling appreciatively.
"Domitan, I'm sure you and Keladry are perfectly capable of tracking Daine and Kaddar," Alanna said thoughtfully. She gave Numair a meaningful look, and then turned her attention back to the mirror. "But, I do believe that we may have a more...efficient way of locating them."
Daine loosed an arrow at the Stormwing, who batted it away effortlessly. "Such anger," he taunted. "You miss your trinket that badly?"
"That trinket is more valuable than your life," Daine spat, readying another arrow. "Kaddar, stay back," she commanded, turning towards him. Taking advantage of her momentary distraction, Vergor Thunderstar swooped at Daine, wings spread.
"Daine, look out!" Kaddar exclaimed, jumping in front of the Wildmage. The blow intended for Daine knocked the Emperor to the ground, where he lay still.
Daine ducked as the Stormwing flew over her head, and gazed, horrified, at Kaddar's unconscious form. "All your arrows and your valiant protectors will not be enough against the power of the gods," Thunderstar jeered, from his perch in a nearby tree.
"You may be Immortal," Daine said, scathingly, "but you are no god."
"That may be true, but I am their chosen servant. It gives me such pleasure to see the disarray that I've caused."
"Your arrogance is going to be your downfall. Your desire to come taunt me with the Jewel has delivered it right to me. Do the gods know you're such a poor minion?" Angered, the Stormwing lifted his wings, preparing to strike again, but was distracted by the appearance of a very tall, dark-haired man, and a short fire-haired woman.