[S'lomon]

"What happened?" S'lomon asked kneeling next to Brisse's unconcious 
form.

"We merely told her the good news," P'ker said, worry creeping into 
his voice.

"What good news would that be?"

"Thar Tymor is bigger than Beryth, and, since she's so young, might 
get bigger than Kaeryth," M'yer replied.

"Well," S'lomon said reaching into his bag for a container of stron 
smelling salts, "I'm not surprised she fainted.  Brisse has had a lot 
of good news lately, and this may have been more than she could 
take."

S'lomon waved the container near Brisse's nose and waited.  He didn't
have to wait long before Brisse awoke with a start and pushed his hand
away.

"Will you help me get her to the Med Center?" S'lomon asked M'yer and
P'ker, "I'd like to make sure she's all right."

***
[Cynthia]

Her heart was still pounding when she reached the precisely cut stone 
steps at the back of the cavern.  The steps were still crisply 
defined despite the years that had passed since the craftsmen 
responsible for them had lived and died.  Cynthia gazed up the steps. 
 They were visible in the soft green glow of the phosphorescent fungi 
growing on the walls.

Cynthia began to climb the steps.  Her foot falls echoed through the 
narrow space between the rock walls.  She climbed 100 steps and
collapsed in the middle of the stairway.

***
[Dreamscape]

The tears streamed from Cynthia's eyes, "I watched him kill My'kel.  
With my staff and with my body.  I couldn't do anything to stop him. 
 I might as well be dead," she sobbed.

Vanessa held her tighter, "The fight isn't over yet, my dear."

"It might as well be.  I couldn't stop him from killing My'kel, and I 
can't stop him from doing whatever he wants with me."

"That isn't true and you know it," Vanessa insisted.

"Really?" Cynthia said shoving her away, "you're the only one here 
optimistic about my chances of getting out of this alive.  How do I 
know that you aren't some manifestation of whoever's taken over my 
body.  Maybe you're just trying to weaken me so you can kill me!"

"I'm a creation of your mind, not his," Vanessa insisted.

"I'm not so sure of that," Cynthia said stepping away and bringing 
her staff up.

"Please, dear, listen to me.  I'm here to help."

"No, I think you're him, and I intend to find out."

Cynthia lashed out with her staff, and Vanessa backed away.  Cynthia
steadily drove her away from the fire and into the darkness surrounding
them.  Vanessa dissapeared into the misty blackness.

The wind began to howl across the barren plain, and the fire began to
flicker.  Cynthia retreated toward the relative safety of the fire,
frightned of what might come from the darkness.

Footsteps echoed toward her, and in a moment he stepped into the light. 
He was a head taller than she, and dressed in gleaming bronze armor.

"I should have finished you when I first took your body," he said.

"You weren't strong enough then and you aren't now," Cynthia said.

"So you believe Vanessa?"

"No, but it must be the thruth or we wouldn't be here now," Cynthia said
striking out with her staff.

***
[Sarina]

Sarina stepped out of the kitchen and wiped her hands on her apron.  
She looked around at the stragglers in the dining hall.  Usually it 
was fairly empty at this time of the day, but three people caught her 
eye.

She caught the attention of one of the other cooks, "Any idea who 
they are?"

He shook his head, "No.  I don't remember seeing them before."

"Neither do I,"  she removed her apron and walked over.

The two young men and the girl were sitting at a table near the 
windows.  The strong mid-day sun was streaming in.

Sarina smiled and stopped by their table, "Good afternoon.  I'm 
Sarina, the head cook and unofficial welcoming committee."

The larger of the two men looked a bit startled, "Oh, good 
afternoon."

"Please excuse my brother.  I'm Sirak and he's Lorak.  This is our 
sister Loreanna.  We appreciate you welcoming us to Cleft Warren."

"It's my pleasure.  If I can do anything for you, please let me 
know."

"Well, there is one thing," Sirak said.

"What?"

"We're wondering if it is always this hot here."

"Only during the day," Sarina said wryly.

"Then which apartments would be the coolest during the day?" Lorak
asked.

"I'm not sure, but I'd recommend some apple pie to go with a discussion
of the topic.  Let me go get a few pieces."

***
[J'errid]

He hated splitting his already small group up, but they had to find
Lenna soon.  He and R'bert were having little sucess.  The only people
they'd found were B'rand on the other side of the underground lake.

<I have good news,> Shiathos said.

*And that is?*

<Katrina has found Lenna.>

"Thank the gods," J'errid said.

"What?" R'bert asked.

"Katrina found Lenna."

"Good, now we can get out of here."

"You don't like the tunnels, R'bert?"

"No.  I prefer flying through an open sky to being underground."

"Me too."

It took some direction from Katrian and Azure, but J'errid and R'bert
finally found their way to Katrina, L'cas and Lenna.

"It took you long enough to get here," Lenna quipped.

"Sorry," J'errid replied, "If you'd like we can tie you back up and try
again."

"No thank you.  I'd prefer to get out of here if you don't mind."

As they followed Katrina to the exit she'd found J'errid asked Lenna,
"So, how much trouble is B'rand in for not finding you?"

"A lot," she replied.

NRPG:

Kris: Someone had to find Lenna.  Katrina was a good choice.

Harris and Michael:  I hope Sarina is all right as the welcoming
committee for now.  Everyone else is fainting or posessed.

Arlene:  I hope you like what you see.

BTW: Someone want to find Cynthia?

Holly: I have some ideas to bounce off of you.  I'll do that seperate.

Respectfully submitted,
Warrenlady Cynthia - Cleft Warren
Alton Reich
-- 
			Alton & Elizabeth Reich
			  alton.reich@snet.net
"Ani l'dodi, v'dodi li - I am my beloved's and my beloved is mine"
--The Song of Songs