Trevor
(afternoon, Day 8)

     Returning from the search, Triss teleported into the sky above Cleft,
alongside Andahar and Bohoc.  Dan'yar had, in the name of expediency, broken
up some of the patrol teams to facilitate the search for Lenna and the mission
to Telnor.  Meena, left in charge after the acting wingleader's departure, had
paired Trevor with Andahar since the Nomad rider's own partner, Far'rin, had
accompanied his brother to Telnor and Trevor, due to his somewhat murky status
in relation to the wing, had never been assigned a partner.  The riders had
searched high and low, but without success...and Trissana's locating talent
was useless for such a job.  She *had* demonstrated that she could trace human
telepaths such as Meena's son Demee - but Lenna was no telepath.

     Below him, he saw that a large tent had been set up on the green; Triss
informed him that Blanchie was inside, being treated for her strange sickness.
He saw Cynthia standing beside the tent, waiting for him and told Triss to
land nearby.  The pearl dragon flared her wings, and she and Bohoc touched
down almost side by side...she was getting much better at this!

     "How is she?" Trevor asked, dismounting and running quickly over to
Cynthia.

     The Warrenlady cast a quick look back at the large tent.  "I talked to
Abby a little while ago and she expects Blanchie to recover," she said.  "The
problem is that as the drug is being neutralized she is a bit more coherent
and realizes that Lenna is in danger."

     Trevor nodded slowly.  "We saw signs of a struggle, and suspect that
Lenna was carried away by someone, but we don't know where he went.  We lost
the trail in a small underground stream."

     "Have all the caves been searched?" Cynthia asked.

     "Almost," he replied.  "Meena's been doing a good job in keeping it
organized."

     Cynthia sighed, as though she'd expected this.  "Then the obvious
conclusion is that Lenna isn't there anymore.  If I had to guess, I'd say that
she was at Jhezrael."

      Trevor had been thinking that too, but hearing Cynthia say it made a
shiver go up his spine.  Ankara, too, had been at Jhezrael...and he couldn't
forget the condition she'd been when she'd been returned.  "And we don't know
where that is," he said, frustrated.  He was sure he could locate the place,
given time...but it might be time that Lenna and Blanchie didn't have.

     "Perhaps," said Cynthia.  "But is Trissana up to another flight this
evening? That yellow dragon is probably at Jhezrael now."

     Despite the seriousness of the situation, Trevor couldn't repress a small
smile.  Sometimes it seemed as though Cynthia could read his mind.  He quickly
sent a thought to his dragon.  *We need to try another search,* he told her.
*For that yellow dragon this time...do you think you can handle another flight
this evening?*

     <Yes, my rider!> Triss replied, obviously tired but still enthusiastic.
Blanchie was one of her closest friends at Cleft, and Trevor knew that the
pearl dragon would do virtually anything to help her.  He turned back to
Cynthia.

     "She is," he told her.  "But we'll need an escort again, in case we *do*
manage to pop in over Jhezrael this time."

     "Good," she replied.  "I'll have Syren contact Verdanth and
Dotarth...P'ker and M'yer can round up some riders to go along."

     "How soon can they be ready?" he asked.  "I know Triss needs a drink and
a few minutes to rest, but I think we should go as quickly as possible!"
Seeing Cynthia's eyes widen a bit, he quickly added, "...so that I can get
back as early as possible.  I wouldn't want you to be lonely tonight!"

     Cynthia smiled and shook her head, taking his arm and leading him away
from the dragons.  "You'll never change, will you?"

     "What do you mean?" he asked.

     "What I mean is that you'd rather die than admit that *you're* as worried
about Lenna as anyone here," she said wryly.

     Trevor cleared his throat, but said nothing.  Cynthia was, he'd long
since decided, the hardest person to fool that he'd ever met.  

     "But in any case, the answer is no," she told him.  "I want Lenna back
too, but not at the risk of sending you out on a famished and exhausted
dragon.  Triss needs time to rest...and to tell the truth, if it weren't for
the fact that she's the only dragon that can possibly do the job, I wouldn't
let you go out again at all tonight.  Have Trissana eat something, and tell
her to rest...and then I'm going to make sure that you do the same!"

     Trevor acquiesced gracefully...when dealith with Cynthia, he'd found,
that was always the best course.

* * * * * * * *
Trissana

     As soon as her rider and Syren's rider were out of sight, Triss let out a
long sigh and slowly lowered herself to the ground.  She'd been feeling quite
dizzy since their return, and it was a relief to get the weight off her
shaking legs.  She hoped that a short rest would get her into shape for her
trip this evening.

     Bohoc leaned down and nuzzled the side of her neck.  <You do not look
well,> he told her, concern in his voice.  <Why do you not tell your rider
that you are too tired to fly again?>

     <I am needed,> she said.  <We must find that yellow dragon, and help
Blanchie...and I am the only one who can.  I will be all right in a while.  I
have not flown or teleported more than the other dragons.>

     <The others are all older than you are, and have been doing this longer,>
Bohoc reminded her.  <That makes a real difference.  You are not up to this,
and should tell your rider so!>

     <I cannot,> she said, knowing that Bohoc was right...and yet knowing that
she *had* to go!

     The green dragon sighed, seeing that he was not going to dent her
determination.  <Then rest here for awhile,> he said.  <At least let me hunt
for you...you cannot fly again without eating!>

     <Thank you, Bohoc,> Triss said, raising her head to touch her muzzle
against his.

(Arlene - feel free to add here if you'd like)

* * * * * * * *
Khazeen
(Jhezrael, Southern Nomadlands, same afternoon)

     As he made his way to the hatching cavern that nestled deep inside the
rocky bowels of Jhezrael, Khazeen thought of revenge.  Tonight would mark
another milestone in his vast design which - if successful - might see him on
the road to realizing his dream of ruling not only the Nomadlands, but the
DragonLands themselves.  If his plans succeeded, all the Nomad tribes would
worship him as a god...and would fight to the death for him.  And if things
worked out as he hoped, he would have another weapon in his hands that no one
else could match - a weapon that would topple the Dragonbitch herself and see
Khazeen rule from Keldarra in her stead.

     And once he could openly return to the lands where he had once fled as a
fugitive, perhaps he could even find *her* again, the chief architect of his
humiliation all those years ago.  But he cautioned himself not to be too
hopeful...surely, by now, she must be dead.  Because of the heavy attrition
rate that attended their profession, dragonriders seldom lived to be the age
she'd have to be now.  But he hoped she still lived...what Vascone had done to
that Nomad woman Renata had captured would seem like nothing compared to what
he'd do to her!

     But first things first...to make any of this possible, his plans tonight
would have to succeed...as would those of Vascone.

     As soon as he walked through the door of the hatching cavern, it's huge
occupant raised her head and hissed warningly at him.   Zelandreth might have
reluctantly agreed to this alliance - under which she allowed him to borrow
her clutchmates and the other wilders who'd attached themselves to her, in
return for this safe haven in which to hatch her eggs - but she still had a
deep hatred for humans.  As soon as the fifteen eggs she protected here had
hatched, and her young were able to fly, she'd leave here with them never to
return.

     Or so she thought.  Khazeen had other plans, which he'd shared with no
one except Shamir.  *Good day to you, Zelandreth,* he said.  *How fare your
young?*

     <My young are none of your concern, human!> she replied acidly.  <Your
concern is to bring me the head of the human who slew my clutchbrother Dhasan!
I see you have not yet done so!>

     *Vega and her rider are even now seeing to that task,* he assured her.
*You must be patient.*

     From the corner of his eye, Khazeen saw Isara rise from where she had
been lying, near the great bulk of the queen.  The girl looked nervous, as she
always did in Zelandreth's presence...for reasons only the two of them, and
the queen herself, knew.  Isara hurried forward and knelt on one knee before
him.  Khazeen was struck yet again by her remarkable beauty...perhaps, once
this was over, she truly *would* make a fitting consort for him!

     "My Lord Khazeen," she said quietly.  "How may I serve you?"

     "You may rise," he said, then gestured for Isara to follow him out of the
hatching cavern.  She did so obediantly, as always, for no Nomad would ever
defy the will of the gods...or those whom they believed to be gods.  When they
were a short distance down the hallway, he turned to her.  "How is Zelandreth
behaving herself?" he asked.

     Isara rubbed her hands together nervously.  "She becomes more and more
difficult to manage," she replied.  "As the eggs come nearer to hatching, her
temper grows ever shorter.  My Lord, I know I have no right to question you,
but...will you tell me how long this must continue?"

     "Not long," he assured her, putting a hand on her shoulder.  "All will be
well, you have my promise on this." This one was too valuable to sacrifice, he
decided...perhaps, after tonight, he would need to have Shamir remain near the
entrance to the hatching cavern to ensure Isara's safety.  For he was the one
thing that even the terrible Zelandreth feared.

     "Thank you, my Lord," Isara said, bowing.

     "But for tonight, I have a job for you," he went on, reaching into a
pocket and handing Isara a glass vial.  "We will be bringing Zelandreth
a...gift, of sorts...tonight.  One that she may be reluctant to accept.  I
need her to be in a more receptive mood by the time Vascone and I return.
When her clutchmates bring in her evening meal, you must ensure that this has
been poured onto it.  It has no taste, and she will not detect it...but she
must *not* see you do it!  For Shamir and I will be elsewhere, and cannot
protect you if she does!"

(Tag Kate - the stuff in the vial isn't what was used on Lenna or
Blanchie...just a sedative to make her a bit more agreeable when she's asked
later to take on some additional eggs...even warren queens are reluctant to do
this, and Zelandreth will no doubt be even harder to presuade! :)

     After leaving Isara, Khazeen had one more task to perform before leaving
Jhezrael.  He had to ensure that Vascone carried out his part of their plan -
and to do that, he'd need insurance that his unreliable partner wouldn't
decide to doublecross him.  Fortunately, Vascone himself had given Khazeen
just the leverage he needed.  He collected several of his Nomad followers on
the way, and went to confront the man.

     Vascone was just where Khazeen knew he'd be, with his new "playtoy" that
he'd brought in yesterday. She was still unconscious...that drug Vascone had
somehow gotten hold of was nasty stuff...so much so that he'd confiscated the
man's supply of it it early on, and only parceled it out to his partner as
needed.  For tonight, though, he'd agreed to Vascone's requisitioning a goodly
supply.

     Vascone, whose attention had been on the blonde dragonrider he'd brought
here as his prisoner, looked up sharply at the sight of Khazeen and his guards
standing in the doorway.  "What are you doing here?" he demanded.

     "I have come to collect my due," he replied.  "I am sure that Oppek told
you I would be coming."

     "She's mine, and you'll not take her from me!" Vascone declared angrily.

     "I have spoken," Khazeen replied coldly.  "You know my terms.  The girl
will be returned to you for your sick pleasures when you have delivered what
you have promised me.  Until then, she will be my guest when she finally
awakens."

     "You can't do that!" Vascone all but screamed.  So, Khazeen thought, this
one was something special to him.  All the better.

     "I am in charge here, lest you forget that," Khazeen reminded him.  "I
can always have Shamir give you a brief reminder of that, if you wish...he
*does* think you quite alluring, for a human!"

     "That...won't be necessary," Vascone said, backing down from Khazeen's
threat even though he was clearly upset about the whole thing.  He knew that
Vascone wasn't up to starting a fight right now that might interfere with his
own plans for tonight.

     "Good...then the girl is to be brought to me when she wakes.   And, need
I also remind you that I do not want her harmed until such time as you deliver
the eggs to me and this warren?"

     "Damn crazy sonofabitch," Vascone grumbled, picking up a pitcher and
hurling it against the stone wall in frustration as Khazeen turned on his heel
and left, followed by two of his guards.  The other two remained behind to
ensure that his orders were followed. 

     He hadn't gone far, though, when Oppek bespoke him.  <The human is
awake,> the dragon said.  <My rider said to tell you that she will be
delivererd to you, as he agreed.  Where do you want her?>

* * * * * * * *

     The guards brought the blonde woman to the room which Khazeen had
specified.  "Who are you?" she demanded, as the guards dragged her over to the
bed in response to Khazeen's gesture.  She was absolutely glaring at him...oh,
this was a feisty one, all right!  He began to regret that he'd promised to
return her to Vascone...these days, Jhezrael seemed to be getting all sorts of
new arrivals that Khazeen found himself attracted to....Isara, the Nomad boy
Feysal, and now this one!  Up to now, he'd forced himself to ignore his
inclinations in that direction - a difficult task when one was joined to an
oversexed monster like his dragon!  But soon, perhaps he could begin indulging
himself again...and maybe, if there was anything worthwhile left of this one
when the time came to dispose of Vascone, maybe he'd take her as his chunor!!

     "Your...host...for the next few days," he told her, breaking out of his
reverie.  "You'll be well treated while you're here...unless you cause me any
problems or try to escape."

     The woman looked down at the ropes that bound her.  "Am I to be left tied
up like this the whole time I'm here?" she asked.

     "Not at all, my dear rider," he told her, letting a slow smile drift
across his face as he motioned for one of the guards to cut her bindings.  He
walked over and knelt beside her, and  before she saw what he was doing he had
taken the chain that was attached to the headboard of the bed and snapped it
around her wrist.  Once she was secured, he decided it was time to take his
leave.  He would, however, make sure the room continued to be guarded.

     "Who are you?" she demanded just as he was leaving.

     "The one who decides whether you live or die," he told her as he was
closing the door.   He'd have liked to spend some time interrogating this one,
but right now just didn't have the time.

     *It is time,* he told his dragon as he took the steeply inclined
passageway that led to the outside.  *Is everything ready?*

     <All iss ready,> Shamir replied.  <Zelandreth'ss clutchmatess are here
with me, ass are the humanss you have picked.  They have brought the ssackss
you wanted, ass well!>

     *Excellent,* said the Lord of the Nomadlands.  *Have the dragons ready to
fly when I get there!*

     Everything was falling into place, it seemed, and there was only one
question that still nagged at him: Where were Renata and Vega?

* * * * * * * *
Trevor
Cleft Warren, early evening)

     Trevor climbed up onto Trissana's saddle, and had to hold on as the pearl
dragon stood up.  She was still wearing the beautiful blue saddle given her by
Kellie and Turner, and Trevor almost hated to use it on a trip like this...it
was really a dress-saddle, for special occasions, not for day-to-day wear.
And Triss loved it so, she was reluctant to take it off...he'd hate to see how
she'd react, though, if it got scuffed up!  But the regular saddle he'd
ordered wasn't finished yet, and none of the ones at the training barracks
really fit all that well.

     Cynthia walked up the line of dragons assembled on the green, to where
Trevor waited just ahead of P'ker and M'yer, and their dragons.  She'd
insisted that he have a short rest, and had virtually stood guard over him to
make sure he did!  "Are you ready?" she asked.

     "I think so," he replied.  He knew that Triss was more tired than she was
willing to let on...he was beginning to suspect that her use of that finding
talent of hers was a drain on her, not to mention the frequent teleports.  But
that she was willing to press on like this made him more proud of her than
ever.  

     "Be careful," she said, "and don't get yourself in a situation you can't
handle.  Your goal is to find Jhezrael, not conquer it!"

     *Have Syren tell her she's no fun, and to ask her if we can't conquer
just a little bit of it before we come home," he told Triss, then saw the
warrenlady smile as the message was relayed.  He was trying to sound flippant
to keep Cynthia from worrying about him...but both of them knew the
seriousness of this business.  Not only was Lenna missing now, but neither
C'aranth nor Nikol the blaster had been seen for some time.  He wished he
didn't have to leave Cynthia here...her job, the endless waiting, would be
more difficult than anything he was likely to encounter.

     "If you need reinforcements, call for them," Cynthia went on.  "If you
need to retreat and return with more riders, then do that!  Understood?"

     "Yes, mother!" he said, grinning down at her.  He considered having Triss
crouch down again so that he could lean over and kiss her, but decided that
she might find that just a bit embarrassing.  Instead, he signaled his
readiness to take off.

     "Now stop dallying and get going!" she told him, grinning back at him as
she stepped back.

     Triss spread her wings and launched herself into the air; Dotarth
followed her, then Verdanth, then one by one the others of their group.  After
his experience this afternoon, he'd asked M'yer and P'ker to ensure that the
other dragons followed behind his own in single file so that she wouldn't
collide with any of them should she make an unexpected turn while tracking the
other dragon.

     *All right, let's do it!* he told Trissana.  *Find the yellow dragon!*

     <Yes, my rider!> Triss replied enthusiastically.  <One yellow dragon
coming up!>

     She went momentarily into that trancelike state of hers, and Trevor held
his breath.  If the other dragon was too far away, this probably wouldn't
work.   But when he heard the soft >ping< in his head and felt her turn
abruptly to the east, he knew she'd succeeded!  As soon as he'd brought her
back to awareness and had her pass on an image to the others, he gave the
order to teleport.

NRPG: Well, I have quite a bit of catching up to do here...the downside of
going off on vacation...and I decided that none of you wanted to read a post
that was long enough to be published as a novel, so I'm breaking this into
segments.  The only thing I don't know yet is whether there'll be one or two
more...but however many there are, I'll keep plugging away until they're done
so as not to hold everyone up!

Submitted by:

John

Trevor & Trissana, Cleft Warren
Khazeen & Shamir, Jhezrael