David sat, watching an iron hammer come down repeatedly onto a peice of 
steel, working it into a curved shape.  Hot air filled the partially 
finished cavern, the smell of energy and sweat heavy.  It was good to 
experience those sensations again.  He had spend too much time away from 
home, and missed his training considerably.  Continueing to examine the 
smithy's work, Kaylin called out to him franticly...

*David, Minty needs to talk with you.  Please, right away....*

David sat up, his face turning blank.  'What's wrong?  Tell me.'  The 
blood had drained from his face.  

*I can't.  Please, just go to her.* Kaylin had a frantic tone to his 
thoughts, yet did not tell. 

Frowning, David began ran to the exit to see his familiar black dragon 
just landing outside, a worried expression on his face.  'Es she all 
right?!' David said sternly as he mounted his dragon.  

*She will be fine.  She's not hurt... too bad.* Kaylin said, wanting to 
say more, but unable to.  He had made a promise to his mate.

David shook his head and urged Kaylin to teleport.  'Get me t'where she 
es quickly.  Please...' If anything had happened to her, he did not know 
what he would do...

Appearing outside the dining hall, David jumped off of Kaylin's back and 
ran into the building, looking around for Minty.  She had to be in here 
somewhere.  Seeing her in the back, sitting with Darlea, David walked 
over quickly.  He sat down next to his love, and put a hand on her 
shoulder, looking into her eyes.
"Kay said ye needed me fer something?"  he questioned as he took a seat
beside her  "He said it was urgent....."

Minty looked at him, slowly.  She had been crying, her face streaked with 
tears.  He also noticed bruises on one of her wrists.  "What happened?" 
He said, wiping away the tears on her face.  She looked away, trying to 
find the strength to say whatever it was she needed to say.  Kissing her 
lightly on the cheek, David smiled warmly.

Minty then took a deep breath and recounted the story of what had 
happened between her and V'rdeen.  David just sat and listened, the words 
not actually sinking in until Minty was crying on his shoulder, shaking 
her head.  "I didn't porvoke him, I swear.  I love you... please believe 
me." She said, over and over again.  David ran a hand through her hair, 
and rocked her back and forth.  

"I believe ye, love.  No matter when ye would have told me, I would have 
believed ye." David whispered in her ear.  Soon her sobs became less 
frequent, and she lifted her head from his shoulder.  "You aren't upset 
at me?" She said, the fear shaking her voice.  David shook his head and 
smiled, "No, I'm not upset at ye.  I just wish ye would have told me 
sooner."  He said, squeezeing her hand.  "It will all be over soon..." 

Getting out of his chair, David looked over to Darlea.  "Watch over her, 
please.  I have to go..." With the words not even out of his mouth, David 
started for the door.  Darlea look at him, puzzled, and back to Minty, 
who was just stareing at the door that David had just left through.  

"Where's he going?" Darlea asked, scratching her head.  Minty looked over 
to her friend, confused.  

"He said, 'it will all be over soon'." Minty repeated.  Then the words 
hit home.  At the same time, the women said the same word...

"V'rdeen!"

As soon as the door closed behind him, David ran over to Kaylin and 
mounted, urgeing him to take off.  *Your thoughts disturb me, David.  
What are you doing?*

'Settlin a score...' Was all he thought, and with that the two took off.  
Flying around, David looked down upon the waren, trying to spot Quezarth, 
or V'rdeen.  Kaylin was still trying to talk to him.  

*I hope you're not going to do what I think you're going to do.* The 
dragon said, hovering slowly in the air.  

'I'm doin what has t'be done.  This time that bastard has gone t'far.' 
David thought, calm anger like ice lacing the emotions projected.  Kaylin 
shook his head, and continued to try and talk his rider into submission.  
They flew for about ten more minutes until David spotted V'rdeen on a 
green with a sort of gym set up, ropes and mats everywhere.  He was 
talking with one of the newly joined girls, Briana he thought her name 
was.  No matter, at least he had found him.

Kaylin landed on the green, the new hatchling's head swiveling to see 
the dragon beofre the others were aware he was there.  Dismounting 
slowly, David kept his eyes on V'rdeen the whole time.  His green eyes 
seemed to be trying to burn a hole straight through his chest, and his 
hand fingered his sword hilt gently.  Still walking towards him, David 
started talking.  "Et es time t'pay yer dues, V'rdeen.  Let's see if ye 
find me so easy t'deal with as Minty..."

V'rdeen just looked at him, and seemed to be surprised that he was even 
there.  Briana stood up, and looked at David strangely, keeping herself 
infront of the cowering figure.  She knew who he was.  "David, what are 
you talking about?" She asked, as David stopped a few paces from her.  
David smiled, the humor reaching only as far as his lips.  

"Ask that coward behind ye.  He know's exactly why I be here." David 
responded, loosening his tunic.  "This es between me and him, not ye.  
Step aside..." David started to walk forward again, but Briana stood her 
ground.  David looked down at her, his face growing cold.  "I don't want 
t'hurt ye, Briana.  But if I have t', I will go through ye."

"Then that is what you will have to do." The young woman said, as she 
seemed to take some sort of fighting stance.  "I will not let you touch 
V'rdeen, not when he won't even put up a fight."

David just frowned, and took his own stance.  "Just like Araminta, or any 
o'te'other women he has tried t'molest?  I have heard o'what he has done.  
Everybody has, and I'm sure they wouldn't mind my layin a hand on him."  David
inched forward, his relexes toned and mind smooth.  "Now let me pass..."

He saw the kick, a light one, as soon as the girl's weight shifted.  His 
hand coming up in a block, David grabbed hold of the ankle, and pushed 
Briana off balance.  She rolled lightly to her feet, but confused that 
David had caught her attack.  

"I know that was just meant to daze me, I appreciate the thought, but I 
will get through.  I just don't wish t'fight ye." David said, prepareing 
for another attack.  Just then he heard the sound of dragon wings 
behind him, yet it still didn't distract him from V'rdeen and Briana.  
Only a fool would be distracted from an assailent.  A voice entered his 
head, *David, stop!!!!!*

********** SUBMITTED BY *************

	     Justin

NRPG:  
	Kat:  Sorry, but David is just too pissed to really hear any 
              words of reform from V'rdeen.  I like that you're defending 
              him, though.  Keeps David from trying to kill him.  <eg> 

	Anyone:  Feel free to answer to that last part.  I'm sure that 
                 someone will talk some sense to David.  If not, things 
                 could get bloody...  ;>

      /\     /^---_---^\     /\       "I think, therefore I am.  Yet        
     /  \    > |_\ /_| <    /  \       when my characters think, are they 
    /    \   |         |   /    \      also?"  
   /      \   \  o o  /   /      \    "Dragons exist my friend, for the sheer
  /        \  |\_____/|  /        \    fact that in all cultures they are
 |          \ | \/ \/ | /          |   present, weather separated by land
     ----------       ----------       sea or air."----  Justin Almeida