(NRPG: Some backposting below first. I was confused on when the big meeting,
and rescue would commence. I thought all would take place the eve on the day
Kat saw Vorbis. But it seems 2 Cleft meetings evolved and the rescue was
the following evening. And I wanted to have something with Samuel after he
met
with Vorbis(Which was the day Kat saw him) in a post. So if I have it right,
the Samuel bit would be the eve before the eve of the rescue-I think? Ahg!)

*************
Cleft: Lower Green.
---Samuel---

 Samuel got down off the dragon which had brought him back from Vorbis'
camp. He was still iritated that his horse had come up lame as he rode
off to the camp. So he had to take the offer of a ride from dragonriders
to get to the camp before it was too late in the evening. Samuel's tenure
a-dragonback had not lessened his dislike for the beasts or their riders.
True the riders had been friendly enough, but still he couldn't shake off
his knowledge of their way off life, or the base nature which came to mind
when Samuel thought of the dragons.

 The night had not been without merit. Samuel's trip gave him a better
outlook on Vorbis' nature, and it wasn't a positive one. Samuel had had
doubts about a wicked side to Vorbis. And even when he saw the note from
Serina that Kat had, he had thought there was nothing to be concerned
about.  But when Samuel saw Serina at camp, he figured something was amiss
when he
noticed that she seemed to overexaggerated her admiration of Lord Vorbis.

 What cinched Samuel's opinion though, was Vorbis' request that Samuel do
serious damage to Cleft's supplies. And in exchange he would marry Serina
and increase Samuel's status in life. At the time Vorbis had also made it
clear that things would not be pleasent for Serina if Samuel declined.
Samuel had had the sense not to object outright and cross Vorbis. But even
as Samuel voiced his understanding, of what was expected of him to Vorbis,
he knew he couldn't do what was asked. The whole thing had unsettled
Samuel, but he had not let that on to Vorbis.

 Now as Samuel headed to the families quarters, he saw an irony in the
situation. In order for Serina to have any chance at safety, and in a
short duration of time, Samuel would need to relay on that which he
loathed so much-the dragonriders.

**********
The meeting (Which I believe is the day after the above one)

Dining hall(afternoon)

 Katrina was not doing well. She knew it was important to work things out,
to have a plan of action. She was grateful that C'aranth had things figured
out, but the whole meeting seemed like torture for Kat. Time was ticking by.
And her father's report about Vorbis' offer to him, and it's bearings on
Serina hadn't helped. Kat had of course mentioned this to the warren, but
things were not proceeding as quickly as Kat wished they would. Kat's
attention returned to the meeting as Cynthia spoke.

>"What is the worst case?"  Cynthia looked at the four who would be
>going, Renata, Kat, C'aranth, and Andahar. 

>"Worst case is we are all caught and killed."  C'aranth shrugged. 
>"But that won't happen." 

 At those words Kat wanted to say, 'Killed! Well I would gladly accept
such a fate if it would save Serina!'  But instead she bit her lip, and
took a deep breath to keep herself from calling out.

>Cynthia shook her head. "You know you cannot get caught. I have a feeling
>he would not kill you." She turned from the map.

>"Cynthia, I would like to ask for one more member to join us on
>this mission." 

>Cynthia half turned to look at him, the look letting him know
>he was pushing his limits as it was. "What is it?"  The curt words
>cut the silent hall.

>"I want Trevor to go with us.  He knows the place well, and if we get
>swept too far down river, we could use some maps and someone who is expert
>at reading them.""

>No, he is needed here."  She turned to face him, the fire in her eyes was
>very evident. 

>"But Warrenlady.."

 As Cynthia and C'aranth went back and forth about Trevor, Kat thought
of not only Trevor, but about her family. Kat was aware of what Trevor
had been through with his mother's condition, but she couldn't be sure
if that was Cynthia's reasoning. Kat did know about her family though.
Kat's mom had taken things really hard and had become very withdrawn.
Her father was nervous and paranoid that Vorbis would finding out about
him not carrying out his plans, and Seth had started to become intolerable.
Through it all, Kat tried to counsel her mom, avoid her father, and placate
Seth. It was Seth that seemed to wear on her. The thought of her brother
caused Kat to recall an event earlier today involving Seth.

 ---Flashback---

 As Kat was going about her business in the warren, she knew he was
shadowing her. Kat knew he was doing it, because he wasn't doing it
very good. At first she had ignored her brother, but with all the
tension derived from the current events, she eventually found it
hard to tolerate him.

 Kat turned in Seth'a direction and sternly said,"Seth! What are you doing?"

 After a second the boy appeared with a grin and said,"I'm covertly
tailing you! And I think I'm doing pretty good. You just noticed me huh?"

 "Well...,"

 But before Kat could tell him anthing else he said,"I've really been
practicing covert moves, so I can go with you to get Serina tonight."

 Kat put her head down as she thought to herself,*No not again. This
happened the first time I went to see Vorbis'.*  Before Kat could speak
though, Seth hurriedly said;

 "I've been working with my bow. I'm a small size, so I can move quickly.
And I can get into small spots. I could ride along with you and when we
get there. You and the others can work on the guards, or keep watch. And
I could crawl under the tent where Serina is, and get her."

 Kat tried to think of an easy way to get through this. She started
with, "So you have been working with a bow? You have been working on
your agility? And you have been working on being covert?"

 But just as Seth was about to reply, Kat added,"What about Alizarine?"

 Seth looked at Kat as he automatically said,"He's not big enough to go."

 Kat gave Seth a serious look. It took but a second for Seth to gather
what Kat was getting at and he replied,"Oh no, you're not going to pull
that, 'you're not big enough', on me. I can help Kat. Serina's my sister
to, and I should be able help."   And then things went downhill from there.

 Moments seemed like ages as the two siblings went back and forth in
disagreement. Words were intense, and many arguements arouse. In the end,
Seth had deferred to his eldest sister's idea that he stay, but with
reluctance. Kat had helped smooth the impact of the decision by telling
Seth how his presence here could help Tess through things. She also told
him how proud she was that he had escorted Lady Madyllin by himself the
other day, and she complimented him on the skills he was trying to learn
and improve.

  The sound of Cynthia's final words brought Kat out of her flashback.

>"My reasons for keeping him have nothing to do with my personal feelings. I
>do what is best for the warren, understood.  And it is in the warren's
>best >interest that Trevor stays."  The two locked eyes, then  C'aranth
>nodded. 
>"Good, is that all then?"  C'aranth nodded  again. "You should all get
>some >rest then, you have a long night ahead of you."

************
That evening. Vorbis' camp.

 There had been some tense moments as Kat, C'aranth, Andahar, and Renata
moved in on the camp. Now that they had covertly made their way inside,
Kat insisted that she was to get Serina. C'aranth had suggested going
in pairs, and Andahar was paired with Kat. Kat being familiar with the
layout of the camp from her earlier visit, knew where to find the tent
which held her sister. So she and Andahar had moved off.

 Kat had found it difficult to move carefully through camp. For her
strongest desire had been to go racing through the camp flailing anything
in her way to get to her sister, but she knew she couldn't do that. Then
after numerous belly crawls, and the usage of a few well placed obstacles
for hiding, and a couple close calls with guards, they made it to the back
of the tent holding Serina. Kat suggested that it would best that she go
in since Serina was familiar with her.

 Then Foregoing a throwing dagger for her ornate dragon one, Kat made
a slit at the back of the tent. She could have used any dagger, but
considering the special nature of this rescue, she thought the dragon
decorated one seemed fitting. The slit Kat made was big enough so she
could squeeze through, but not enough to be noticible. Once inside, she
found herself in the sleeping area of the tent. There was enough light
filtering in from a partitioned-off room adjacent to the sleeping area
so that Kat could see Serina asleep on her side amongst some pllows.

 As Kat crept low and quiet to avoid any unwanted attention, she hoped
her light sleeping sister would not wake up and scream at Kat's sudden
appearence. Once she reached Serina, she lightly shook her, but there
was no response. Surprised, Kat shook her sister again harder, but
nothing happened. A sinking feeling arouse inside Kat and she thought,
*No it can't be too late!  It just can't be!*

 As Kat tried to quell the fear that threatened to overcome come her,
she quickly flipped Serina on her back and looked for any wounds. There
was some light bruising but nothing serious. After Kat quickly checked
Serina's pulse she dropped down on the pillows and let out a..... sigh.
Serina was alive, but Kat was certain she had been sedated some how. As
Kat wondered how they were going to get the immobile form of her sister
out without notice, Andahar put his head in through the slit in the tent.

 Katrina said with concern,"She has been deeply sedated Andahar. I am
open to any ideas on how to get her out of here without notice, and back
to the others."

(Tag Arlene)

********
NRPG:

All: Got this out a lot later then I wanted to. But with the holidays
quickly approaching I just couldn't get to this as much as I wanted to.
 I put the unconscious Serina bit in, just to complicate the escape plans.
And who did it, or why?  Could it have some connection to the death of
Vorbis?  And like Alton wrote- Who did him in? I think Kat will be bummed
when she finds out about Vorbis without her having got a chance at him. <VBG>

Arlene: At first when I wrote the last section I had Kat go it alone.
Then rereading Darren's last post, I realized he had C'aranth split the
group into pairs. And since he had Renata with C'aranth, Andahar must have
been sent with Kat. So I had to do some rewriting. Go ahead and add anything
that happens to the two before they reach the tent. As well as how they
make it out with an unconscious Serina.  And on the way either in or out,
Kat would have no trouble going after any guards. She is pretty agile, and
quite accurate and good at throwing or wielding her daggers.

Darren: So who killed Vorbis? I can't wait to see the outcome of that.

Respectfully,
Kris B
Katrina/Azure
Seth/Alizarine

Also: Tess, Samuel, and Serina.
Cleft Warren






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