Chapter 20

Home. The prospect of just going home was enticing to Eliena. She wanted nothing more than to return to Tortall and pretend nothing had happened in Carthak. Go on acting the way she always had, flitting about, flirting… But deep down she knew that she had been through too much to just go back to the way she had been. She was fifteen, but felt much older from her experiences.

"Are you sure?" Neal asked, holding her hands and eyes.

"Yes. I'm sure," she replied.

"Are you positive we can't stay?" Leo asked.

Eliena laughed. "Yes! Listen, we'll be fine. I promise." She kissed both their cheeks. "I'll see you when I get home… hopefully not engaged." She grinned. "Then, if the Goddess smiles on you, maybe the two of you would have a fraction of a chance!"

"Eli." Leo shook his head. "She'll never change."

"Do we want her to?" Neal asked, watching Eliena walk off.

"No," Leo replied, watching her, "I don't think we do."

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"I don't think Numair is dead," Eliena confided to Daine that night.

Daine looked at Eliena like she was crazy. "Are you nuts? They watched him die, Eliena. He's dead." Eliena bit her lip thoughtfully.

"But remember how he made those simulacrum things? Well, couldn't he make one to die for him? He could be hiding, you know," Eliena remarked.

"I think you're crazy," Daine replied. "The desert air is getting to you. Have you been drinking enough?"

"No, Daine, I'm serious. Numair is good at that, remember. Don't you remember that he's spectacular at sleight of hand?"

"This is more than sleight of hand, Eli. You're talking making everyone think you're dead when you actually used a simulacrum and you're in hiding."

"Well, if you say it that way…"

"Eliena, just stop. You're going to make me cry," Daine said. Eliena sighed.

"I still think he's alive."

"Well, optimism is always good."

"This is more than optimism- you know I'm pessimistic." Eliena looked off into the distance. "I don't know how to explain it, Daine. Its like… its like I can feel him."

"Feel him? What do you mean?"

"Like, I can feel the strength of his magic or something. I don't know. What I do know is that there's something that tells me he isn't gone."

"You're mad."

"Daine."

Daine sighed. "Explain."

"OK. Whenever Numair or Thom or mother or father is close, there's this… presence, I guess. I can feel their magic in me. Its very strange sounding, I know, but its how I know when to stop doing something, because I feel one of them coming. The same thing happens with you… sometimes, and Neal, Uncle George, Aunt Rose, and Leo too."

Daine shuddered. "That sounds scary."

"It was, at first. Then I learned what it was and I learned to use it to my advantage." Eliena smiled evilly. "I always know when to stop misbehaving because someone is coming."

"You're horrible."

"Thanks, I know." Eliena tossed her hair.

"Is it too risky to try to contact someone?" Daine wondered aloud.

"Daine, the palace is crawling with mages. No. We should see that Lindhall guy. He was Numair's go-to man, and I'm sure he'll know something!"

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Daine and Eliena stood outside Lindhall's office, with Kaddar behind them.

"You sure you want to do this?" Kaddar asked.

Eliena nodded. Then she turned her ear to the door. "Wait a second. Are those voices?" The three listened closely. They were voices. The words were unintelligible, but they knew that there were definitely voices. "I'm going to open the door." Eliena turned the knob and swung open the door.

Daine and Eliena gasped in shock. "Numair!"

Author's Note- can you say DRAMA? OK, my email is being funky. Like, REALLY funky. So, I dunno whether or not I'll get your reviews on my email or not. For some reason, I'm not receiving emails from people. I'm "over quota" or something, but I deleted all my messages. Strange. Anyway. I saw TARZAN on Broadway. All I can say is that Tarzan is HOTT. Check out my profile for a look. REVIEW. (Though I may not get it!)