Yay, new chappie, I can't believe I got it done so quick... again, this is longer than usual, so hope y'all enjoy. I really liked the scene at the end, am thinking of maybe writing a lemon chapter to stand alone from the story at some point, as it wouldn't work with the current rating. Lemme know if you have any suggestions ... location? Otherwise, hope you like!

WC

Arram, the letter began,

Perhaps you remember me. I was the class above you at the Imperial Academy, and even though I graduated highest honors, everybody made a fuss of you because you were so young when you graduated. After the Academy, I was quickly recruited to train under the Imperial Spymaster. A few years later, when I took his place, you were still getting noticed, but this time as a threat to the empire. It wasn't until after you disappeared from public life that I gained notice from the emperor himself, and became his closest friend and confidante.

They said that before you destroyed his trust and threw his patronage in his face, you were like a brother to Ozorne. If that is true, then surely I was like another half of him, so close to his very self that we were always together, and never quarreled or disagreed for the simple fact that our minds were one. Those years with him were the best of my life. But all good comes to an end, and he was forced to send me away when our pure relationship became cause for talk. I was to take five years away from the imperial court, traveling and exploring new lands for the glory of my emperor liege while the scandal died down. An underling would fill my place as spymaster.

At the end of this journey, I fully expected to return to a Carthak, and more importantly an emperor, unchanged but for a little age. This could not be so. In the fourth year of my travels, rumor came to me of a revolution in my country. Unwilling to believe that my beloved empire could fall at the hands of an upstart girl, I continued on my voyage, but with my ears open for any news. Later word came to me that this girl had been accompanied by none other than you, a turncoat and rival from my academy days. Still I delayed my return, though my heart ached for news of my emperor and our fair city.

Then one day news came to me in the form of gossip, whispered by fishwives all along the coasts of the Emerald Ocean. My lord of Carthak was dead, at the hands of your student and lover.

Arram, you cannot know how I hoped that these tales were false, a cruel lie concocted by evil men. I hastened home at once, only to find on the throne of Carthak a young parvenu backed by none other than the Tortallan King. I learned that in Tortall, you and your perverse student paraded in the streets, lauded for bringing an end to the Immortals War, while your hands dripped red with the blood of the greatest Emperor to ever rule Carthak.

Thus it is with a heavy heart that I inform you, Arram, that I cannot go on living while you still draw breath. I will stop at nothing to see you humiliated and beaten down and repaid in full for what you have cost not only me, but my country and countrymen. Arram, I write only that you may know of the full effects of your actions, that when your world begins to crumble just as mine has, you will know it is because of what you did to His Majesty Ozorne Muhassin Tasikhe.

May the Gods help us all,

Thaqib Ladhami

The Black Robe Mage once called Arram reread the letter, then re-crumpled it and slammed his fists down on the desk which was far too small for him. It shivered under the pressure, then promptly collapsed across his knees. Numair leapt to his feet, uttering what was for him a rare cuss word, and fished in the mess which had been his writing desk only a moment before. Eventually, he pulled out an entire drawer, in the bottom of which he found a sealed packet with about a dozen hard bumps inside. He had spent months working on these, and he only hoped they would protect the ones he loved. The ones who Thaqib would target.

Alanna was startled when Numair burst into Daine's room not long after he had stormed away from them in the stables. She had sent for healers to bring Daine inside, while she had hurried to her own room to pick up some healing supplies. Now she rubbed ointment on the girl's back, where the wound pulsed red and angry. Specially designed by Alanna herself to negate the effects of Gift-wounds, the salve stung nevertheless, and Daine bit her lip against the pain.

Numair came into the room loudly, contrary to his usual graceful movement, and Alanna almost laughed aloud at the look on his face as he came to a sudden stop. She followed his eyes to the bed, where Daine lay on her stomach, her tunic draped across the headboard and her naked back exposed. Numair blushed furiously, then looked up to meet Alanna's half-amused, half-disapproving gaze.

"Daine," he began hesitantly. Alanna left the pot of salve on the bedside table, then stood and excused herself quietly. Numair opened the door for her with a nod of gratitude. "Daine, I... just tell me if I'm overstepping, but I've been working on something that might protect you and other people... close to me from the man who tried to hurt you. But I'm going to need to touch your back. I have to tie a sample of this man's Gift to the amulets. Hopefully, your wound will contain enough threads to bind to the protective spells I've-" he was interrupted by a sigh from the girl on the bed. "Go ahead Numair. Just do what you have to do, then let me sleep."

He nodded, but realizing she couldn't see him said "yes, or course." Awkwardly, he pulled up the chair Alanna had recently vacated, and tore open the packet. Daine turned her head to watch ten or more tiny silver medallions spill out into his hand. Each was flawless, inscribed with magical runes on either side, polished to a deep sheen. Taking one, he returned the rest to their paper envelope, and withdrew into his Gift. Daine was surprised to feel herself flinch at his touch, but he did not seem to notice, and so she put her head back onto the pillow and tried to relax.

Over an hour later, Numair had repeated the same Gift-ritual with each charm, and Daine could tell he was tired. To her surprise, though, he pulled a leather chord from his pocket and threaded it through a hole she had not noticed before in one silver disk. "I've been working on these since I came back. They should protect you and other people Thaqib might target from many forms of attack. Both magical and otherwise. May I put it on you?" Daine nodded, and he clasped it around her naked neck. She did not expect to feel a shiver run up her spine when his hands brushed her skin. Without thinking she caught his hand with hers "Numair, Alanna didn't finish. Would you mind putting the rest of that salve on my back?"

Numair was surprised, but he acquiesced. He uncapped the pot of ointment, and began to apply it to her wound with steady hands. Almost finished, his hand slipped and Daine cried out softly. "Oh, Daine, I..." suddenly, Numair's lips were on the base of her neck. His breath was warm, and her heart began to speed up. He buried face in the hair at her neck, then took her bare shoulders in his hands. "I'm so sorry," he whispered. "So sorry for everything," he brushed the hair away with a hand which was no longer so steady, and began to kiss his way up her neck. Daine could not move, was painfully conscious of her nakedness, her breasts pressed into the warm cotton bedding. His hands moved down from her shoulders to her sides, her hips, then back again. His lips froze in the hollow of her neck, amazed at what he was doing, dismayed, taking in her scent. He still believed it was wrong, that he had proven not long ago how impossible their relationship was, but Gods, he wanted her.

She reached back with an arm to twine her fingers in his long dark hair, and he felt his breath catch. Again, she acted instinctually, and began to roll onto her back. But Numair's mind won out, and he stopped her with a hand before he should go so far that he would not be able to pull back. His voice, when his spoke, was low and husky. "I'm going to go now. Just wear that medallion, eh, magelet?" He stood abruptly and made to leave, but her soft murmur stopped him. She was sitting up in bed, the sheet clutched to her chest in such a way that he could still make out the outline of her breasts and her - he forced himself to stop, instead finding her face. Her sweet face, framed in soft brown curls. That stubborn chin, the soft, full, red lips... "Yes, Daine?"

"Numair, how can you do that to me, then just walk away? I won't let you shut me out again," her bottom lip quivered a little, and he wanted so badly to take her in his arms again, to feel her soft warm skin under his hands. "If you ever want me to trust you, you have to confide in me. Tell me what happened while you were in Carthak. Tell me who's after me, and why. Tell me why you did what you did, Numair, because I need so badly for you to be honest with me. I need you so badly."The words made his heart soar, and he crossed back to the bed and kissed her gently on the forehead. Then he dropped to his knees to look her in the eye.

"I'm going to leave while you put on clothes, and get someone to deliver these charms to Jon and Thayet and everyone else. And when I come back, I'm going to tell you everything that happened since I left for Carthak. All right? I'm not going to let you slip away ever again." He slid his hand behind her neck, and brought her lips to his in the first real kiss they'd shared since he left all those months ago. "Love you, magelet."