"Schutzen ela feste sena mauer regan herunter." Just for reference this means "Protector of the fort, let your walls rain down" in Germen. Well most is German. Some is just babble. Okay, well enjoy!

Disclaimer: I own nothing

Chapter 16: The Final Fight

The young blond turned around startled but soon a smile covered his face.

"Daine, I'm happy you're here. None of my recruits gave you trouble, did they?"

"Of course not."

Daine walked towards the window and looked out. She flinched as a crow took the blow of a flying monkey's ax to save a solider. She gulped down sadness and looked at Perin.

"But my friends . . . must they really fight? Is it necessary?"

Perin sighed and leaned against his desk, arms crossed. "Oh it is. I wouldn't really expect you to understand. I need power and if it means bloodshed, then bloodshed shall come."

Daine thrust her hands in her pockets and balled them tight. "But it could just be you and me. We could stop this and stay here," she lied through clenched teeth.

Perin flashed a wolfish smile and sneered, "What's with the change of heart? Did that idiot mage get you mad?"

"Numair has nothing to do with this," she growled. As Perin's eyebrows rose, Daine made herself calm down. "I just think it would be easier if we called this off."

A crooked smile tugged at his mouth as he straightened. "Ah my sweet, young girl. Why don't we leave the thinking to me, shall we? For now, let me show you around."

Just as Perin wrapped an arm around her shoulders, the door burst open and hit the wall with a bang. Numair stood at the doorway, hair and clothes a mess, blood flowing sluggishly down various cuts.

"Don't you dare touch her!" he bellowed.

The young blond chuckled as he saw Daine's 'shocked' expression. "I was beginning to wonder when you would come."

"Stop playing games, Perin, and let her go!"

"Oh but I'm not the one playing games. You are." He smiled evilly and snapped his fingers. A few moments passed when banging was heard behind the side wall.

Suddenly, a piece of the wall, for feet wide and reached the ceiling, swung open. Lieutenant Lucian walked in with Numair as his captive. The black robe mage struggled against the hand over his mouth and ribs but to no avail. Lucian was heavily muscled and his grip wasn't loosening.

A faint black and white glow hovered over Numair's hands but it was barely visible. As soon as he came in the room, the Numair by the door vanished. Thinking the mage had gone weak, Perin dismissed it from his mind.

Daine stepped forward, a hand reaching toward her love. "Numair!" she shrieked with shock covering her face.

"You have to be careful who you trust, sweet, and where you tell you information."

She turned to Perin horrified. "Don't hurt him!" she begged.

"Why not?" came the cold reply. "He's been nothing but trouble since we courted in Corus. And wasn't it you who said we should live together and forget him?"

"Yes but – the past is the past! Let him go free and we live peacefully. He won't intrude if I tell him."

Perin smiled and cupped her face in his hand. "But why take the chance?"

He removed his hand and rubbed the god opal that hung around his neck. He turned to the captured Numair, eyes intent. Sweet soon started trickling down his forehead as Numair cringed in pain. His knees buckled and his eyes shot open as pain like fire coursed through his veins.

Daine, frozen in shock the whole time, was about to slam into Perin when a familiar figure entered the room.

"PERIN!"

Startled, Perin jumped half out of his skin and whirled his head toward the entrance. In the doorway stood Numair, sweet soaked and shaking.

Numair's eyes flashed dramatically with triumph, amusement to Perin's open mouthed stare, and anger.

"But – but you can't be you! You should be there!" he whipped his hand to Lucian and his 'captive.' "Alanna told him the plans! You only made one sim – sim – simuthing!"

Numair laughed in grim satisfaction and lifted his hand toward the two men. The illusion on the floor shimmered and vanished as the double spy backed away in surprise.

"You should also think where you tell your information, Lucian, especially with Daine and her friends."

Perin's stare soon turned into a glare of hate. His head whipped to Lucian and the man fell to the floor, dead.

"You smart-alic, lying, conniving, little," Perin muttered as he stalked closer to the mage. He stopped in front of his desk as red-green fire burned around the opal.

"I've had enough of you. You die today."

His hand shot to the gem as Daine took the gray stone off her bow and arrows. In a swift movement, Daine loaded and pointed her weapon to the young man's back.

"Hey Perin!"

He turned around and his eyes widened in horror as Daine aimed. "Did you really believe what I said? Ha, you are thick headed."

"NOO!!!" Perin screamed as Daine shot her arrow. When the gem collided with the steel tip, the green stone shattered. Then everything seemed to slow.

A light so bright, Daine knew could only come from a thing from the Divine Realms, bursted through Perin's body. It grew and sent everything it touched soaring. The last thing Daine remembered was flying off her feet and gliding through the air as wood and other things came in and out of her vision.

And then . . . nothingness.

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Alright there it is! One more chapter and than the epilogue! SO PLEASE REVIEW, REVIEW, AND REVIEW! I need to know what you think of it.