Hope,
By HuntressDiana
Response to Challenge Eleven at the Dancing Dove, 'Don't shoot the messenger'.
This takes place at the start of Realms of the Gods, just after Daine and Numair were brought into the Realms.
All of these characters belong to Tamora Pierce. However this idea and story are mine.
"What news of the Wild mage and Master Samalìn?" King Jonathan of Conté asked the messenger.
The man was one of the Queen's Riders, and he stood in front of the King, Alanna the Lioness and Onua, the horsemistress.
Alanna leant forward over the map, tracing the route to the Costal Hills.
"You said it was important that we were all here," she snapped, she was worried out of her mind about her two friends. They had been out there for a week, and Numair would always send word through one of Daine's bird friends if there were complications. But no word had reached them and Alanna was afraid of what this message was about.
A small group of the Queen's Riders had been sent to Greenhall, where the Skinners had been seen, and Daine and Numair had been heading for.
He sighed, obviously upset as well.
"Tarrus." Onua had recognised him as one of the Riders Daine had trained with a few years ago. "Tell us."
"We couldn't find them." He said abruptly. "Nowhere. The villagers have returned an' the Skinners have gone, but there was no sign of either of them."
"They must have been there." Jon mused, "Otherwise, who got rid of the Skinners?"
"But where are they now Jon?" Alanna asked, frustrated. "If they had died, then there would be bodies. But there is nothing!"
She slammed her fist down on the table. Onua knew just how she felt, Daine wasn't only her assistant, but her friend as well, and Numair was one of her closest friends as well, and it was horrible, not knowing if they were alright.
"Could they be wounded and taking shelter somewhere?" She asked, hopefully.
"We would have had a message." Jon said, staring out of the window, towards the South west.
Onua sank down into a chair, noticing Tarrus had vanished, her eyes brimmed with tears.
"Horse Lords, what will we tell them?"
"Nothing at the moment." Jon decided, his normally steady voice shaking. "They are on an elongated mission. That is what we shall say if anyone asks."
His voice cracked at the end. Daine and Numair had supported him in the recent war, Daine saving Tortall from being ensnared by Emperor Orzone and Numair repelling magical threats. Daine, who had served him unconditionally ever since she had arrived from Galla, and she had served him well. Numair had become a close friend as well, and he too had risked his life for Jon many times and advised him as well.
And Jon had sent them to their deaths. He had sent them after these new immortals, and Daine had laughed, her blue eyes sparkling, and joked with him about finding her true love.
Now she would never love another, and neither would Numair.
While Onua cried, and Jon tried to comfort her, Alanna strode to the window, her fists clenched, also fighting back tears.
I won't give up Daine, Numair. If you're out there somewhere. I'll find you. I won't give up hope…