--Serina---

Vorbis' Camp.
(Eve of Davyd's murder)

 Serina looked at the scene before her wide eyed with fear and shock.
Only moments ago, raised voices and the crash of a glass had awakened her.
She had pulled a blanket over her head and peered out from underneath it
as she saw Vorbis arguing with Davyd near the tent's exit. From the
first sound of the glass to the horrible scene now before her, Serina
had seen and heard all that had transpired. As she continued to stare at
the scene before her, she stuck a fist in her mouth to prevent a scream
as she watched Vorbis twist and remove a bloody knife from Dayvd's now
lifeless body.

 >"I am sorry..."  Vorbis twisted the knife, moving the blade deep inside
>the old man. "But not even you will stop me from receiving what is mine.
>And these lands are mine, soon the warren will know it, as will the savages."
>He let go and the old man fell to the floor. Vorbis looked up to see
>Serina >looking at him, eyes wide with fear.

>"Serina, my love."

 As Serina looked at Vorbis, she tried to remain calm, she tried to
surpress her fear, but waves of emotions started to overwhelm her. She
couldn't believe Vorbis, her kind, exciting, and wonderful Vorbis could
do what he did. He had killed Davyd in cold blood, as well as attempted
to kill his wife. Part of Serina wanted to believe Vorbis killed Davyd
in self-defense, or that his wife deserved what she got for treating him
bad, but Serina couldn't bring herself to believe such things. She knew
to believe in such things would be believing in lies.

 Serina's sister and brother had been right about Vorbis, but she had
stupidly refused to believe them. She had believed Vorbis was a perfect
match for her. She had went with him freely. She had let him... Tears
threatened to come forth as she thought of Vorbis laying with her earlier.
Serina wished it all would end. That this was a dream, or that Kat would
take her away from here with that beastie of hers. No, Azure wasn't beastly,
that dragon was not as much of a beast as the human who now stood before her.

 Serina was certain Vorbis knew she had witnessed his deadly deed. And
now, seeing him for what he was, Serina was just as certain that her
life was now forfeit. No matter his friendly looks, or kind words, Vorbis
would use her and do away with her when he deemed the time was right.
Briefly Serina considered trying to escape, or fighting to get away,
but she decide what would be the point. It would make an already bad
situation worse. Besides, Serina hoped, just maybe, somewhere there
was an iridescent blue dragon and a dark haired rider coming to her
aid. But even if there wasn't, Serina decided she would at least try
to remain steadfast until her fate came to pass.

>Vorbis had Serina bound by two of his soldiers. Keeping her quiet would
>be the task at hand now. She should not have woken up, but this was her
>problem. He could not kill her, not just yet. Kerannan slipped into the
>tent quietly. "We are ready to take the body out of the camp sir. Do you
>want my men to kill the witness?"

>"No, I need her alive." He looked at her and smiled. "Serina dearest,
>I will make you a deal. I will release you, and you will be silent.
>If not, I will just give you to Kerannan her to entertain his men. What
>do you say, will you be quiet?" He walked over and slipped a finger
>under the gag that was over her mouth.

 Part of Serina wanted to say, 'Go ahead, throw me to your dogs like
a bone. They can do no worse then what you did to me,' but she couldn't.
She tried to remain steadfast like she resolved she would, but it was
difficult as a realm of emotions continued to swirl within her. She
tried to keep them from visually manifesting themselves, but she found
herself crying anyway. As Vorbis asked his question, she knew what her
prospects would be if she said otherwise, so Serina ended up nodding
yes with puffy eyes.

>"Untie her, and see she get something to eat." Vorbis turned  on
>Karannan. "Send three men to kill Tarkan in his sleep, take his horse
>and Davyd's horse out and kill them as well, with arrows. We will let
>the morning patrol find the bodies. Those damned savages kill the
>innocent Davyd and his escort from the warren. This should be enough
>to get my brother to send down the rest of the men loyal to me."

 As Vorbis' men left to do his bidding Serina thought,*More killing. I
wonder how my end will come to pass when I've outlived my usefullness. I
can't see what good I am to Vorbis. I am just a stupid, disillusioned
fourteen year old.*  Now filled with anger and self-loathing, Serina
took the food offered her with little enthusiasim and turned to the
tent's entrance wondering not only about how her end might come to
pass, but how her family was doing.

************
---Katrina---
Cleft (Next day. I believe day 4)

 Katrina was on the green with Azure getting ready to leave for Vorbis'
camp. She was grateful to have Farr'in going with her. Although, Kat
wouldn't have minded if she had a few more riders with her. But maybe
that would seem like too much of a threat to Vorbis and he might strike
back. And Kat didn't want any harm coming to any other riders, or even
anyone else in the warren if it could be avoided, just because of her
families unfourtunate involvement with Vorbis.

 As Kat straightened her belt of daggers she looked in the direction
of the training grounds where the newly joined were doing some ground
formation drills before they would help some more with the warren
clean-up. Seth was somewhere on those training grounds, and an unhappy
Seth at that. Just after breakfast, Seth had sought Kat out. He had with
him a short bow and a quiver of arrows slung awkwardly over his thin
shoulder, and he was quite set on coming along to rescue Serina. It had
taken Kat quite a bit of persuasion, and a nice chunk of time to sway
Seth to remain at Cleft. Seth had stormed off to training complaining
that noone let him do anything eventhough he was a dragonrider now.

 Kat had shook her head when the twelve year old marched away. When
Farr'in saw Kat's concerned look, he had come over to give some encouraging
words, and then returned to his dragon. Kat knew she had made the right
decision. Something terrible might have already happened to Serina, and
Kat didn't want any ill to befall her young brother. Kat knew Seth had to
have a chance to prove himself some day. She knew he shouldn't be over
coddled. Perhaps if circumstances had been different, if Vorbis hadn't
been at the heart of things now, Kat would have decided otherwise. After
a last check of Azure, a look around the warren, and a look over at
Farr'in, Kat mounted up.

************************
A short time later

 Kat and Farr'in appeared a few miles from Vorbis' camp. As they headed
in the direction of camp, Kat noticed Azure cock and turn her blue
iridescent head. For a moment, Kat thought Azure was comunicating with
Tergath. But when she asked Azure what was up, Kat shivered at the replied.

 *I picked up a scent of death, not far off to our right.*

 <It could be a mass grave created by Vorbis to bury the dead from
the earlier battle.>

 *I thought that might be the reason at first. But no, this is a
fresher scent.*

 Kat involuntarly shivered again at her dragon's keen perception.
After Farr'in confirmed he was told of the scent by Tergath, the two
riders went to investigate. They found two bodies along with their horses,
with an array of arrows imbeded in them near some bushes. The dragonriders
were not the only ones to have discovered the bodies. Carrion eaters had
found the bodies and had had a bit of a snack. Kat tried hard to keep
herself from being ill but it was a trying task. Regardless of the damage
by the carrion eaters, the riders were able to identify Davyd and Tarkan.

 As Kat looked over the grisly sight, she couldn't help but think there
was something wrong with the whole thing. Maybe it was the position of
bodies, the expressions on the faces, or maybe something else, but it
didn't seem right. Kat went over a couple possibility for suspects. She
thought of rogues and wilders, but Azure confirmed there was no scent of
other dragons. She considered the Nomads, but thought they might favor
swords, not arrows. And why would they attack? There was also the horses.
Kat thought horses were important to the Nomads. Why kill these?  Kat had
to admit she was sketchy on Nomad ways, perhaps her thoughts on them were
wrong. Whether she was wrong on that or not, Kat still found it hard to
believe the Nomads did this. Kat knew there was a good deal to gather here,
but she couldn't help but be distracted about how Serina faired.

 After a short look around, the two covered up the bodies with brush
to help keep the carrion eaters away. The riders would send a message
to the Warren, and then either others would come to investigate some
more, or Kat and Farr'in would bring the bodies to the Warren for
examination when the were done at the camp. The two also decided that
maybe it would be a good idea to keep their discovery from Vorbis, unless
circumstances call for them to do otherwise. Niether rider doubted that
Vorbis could have done such a thing to his own men if they got in his way.
Baring that in mind, the two would keep an ear and eye out for anything
in camp which might hint at Vorbis' involvement in the victims fate. As
Kat mounted and took to the air, she hoped such a horrible fate had not,
or would not, befall her younger sister.

**************
Vorbis' camp(not much later)

 When Kat and Farr'in arrived, they sent someone to get Vorbis. The two
riders waited inside the camp entrance. Such a location seemed like a
good place for a meeting in case the two had to beat a hasty retreat. And
it helped to keep the dragons at their backs for aid if the need arouse.
Kat looked around at Vorbis' men. They were going about their business,
but Kat was certain they also kept a wary eye on the two riders.

 As Katrina waited, it took her a good deal of control to keep herself
from charging into camp, locating Vorbis herself, and throttling him
as she asked about Serina. Kat took a breath and told herself that she
would be calm, but with an air of menace, and determination when she asked
about Serina. As a matter a fact, Kat was certain the first words out of
her mouth were not going to be niceties but, 'Where the hell is my sister!'
Kat took another breath, and hoped her sister was alright.

(tag Darren)

**********
NRPG:
All: I've been working on and off of this for about a week. Been doing
more reading then writing lately. I got Kat and Farr'in to the camp. I
thought having them find the bodies seemed befitting considering where
they were heading. I didn't dwell much on that discovery since Kat would
be itching to get going. I didn't do much at the camp here, since I don't
know how much Darren wants to reveal about Vorbis' involvement in the deaths,
what he wants to tell Kat about Serina, or what he might have planned.
 Also, in regards to Serina, Samuel will be arriving at Cleft later this
day to see what is up in my next post.

Barb: If you wish to add anything to the body discovery go ahead. If
you want to work on anything together happening at the camp(or after)
with Kat, just tell me. I also sent a copy of this to your addie, since
you had trouble receiving Darren's last post last time from the list.
I hope you receive it alright.

Darren: Same as what I said to Barb. If you have anything in mind you
think I should know, tell me. I guess I want your's, Barb's and any of
mine(or anyone elses) to fit together here. So will Vorbis grace Kat
and Farr'in with his presence. If he doesn't now, Kat will surley hang
around until she does get to see him.
 When you write Vorbis meeting Kat, keep Kat in a mode of determination
on Serina's whereabouts and how she fairs. Vorbis can't really deny Serina
is there, or was there, since Kat has his note(unless he denys the writing).
Kat will be determined about Serina, but will not react too irrational(or
violent), because of Vorbis' men being about.

Arlene, Gabrielle, Katherine(or other Nomad writers): I think input
from any Nomads could help in regards to the deaths of Tarkan, Davyd,
and the horses. Since Darren had Vorbis wanting the scene to look as
if Nomads played a part in it. They could help pin the deed on Vorbis.

 I am sure there is more I probably wanted to say, but I can't think of
anything off-hand.

Respectfully,
Kris B
Katrina/Azure
Seth/Alizarine
Also: Serina, Tess, and Samuel.

Cleft Warren



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