Lori lay in bed staring at the ceiling. The warren was quiet now that dawn
had come and gone. Her mind was busy working on her plans. Surely, even if
they banished her they would let her gather some things in order to
survive. Hopefully she would have time to get her knives and some of her
other hidden things. If not, she had gold stashed away in order to buy
new.

Lori's hand traced her slightly swollen belly, a smile on her face. She
would raise this child with love, not abandoned as she had been as a child
to whatever the fates held for her. This child may not have a father, but
it would have a mother who would give her anything she could provide.

Lori hugged herself and drifted off to sleep.

------------------------------------------------------------

Briana burst into the room, closely followed by the guard who had stood
outside.

"You didn't do it, did you?" Briana looked at Lori frantically, trying not
to believe such a thing about her friend.

Lori looked contemptuously at her "friend". "Of course I did." Lori didn't
care what Briana thought about her, after all, she hadn't been to see her
at all, or to enquire about the baby. "Besides, why do you care? You still
have your wonderful life here!"

Briana laughed and a choked sob came from her mouth also. This was more
than she could stand. Her face scarred, S'brogh gone, removed from the
wing...and Lori thought her life was wonderful? "You don't know anything!"
She stood looking at her friend. "Just tell me one thing....why? Why did
you do it?"

Lori stood looking at her friend "Money, what else?"

Briana looked at her contemptuously. "You have no idea what you have just
given up. I feel sorry for you."

Lori glared at her. "I don't want your pity! Now get out and leave me
alone."

Briana started to say something, then appeared to have changed her mind.
"Good luck, Lori."

She then turned and walked away.

Lori flopped down on the bed angrily, the tears she had been holding back,
flowing freely now.Briana had been her best friend, now she was gone. 

Lori felt her arm being shaken as she came up from a groggy sleep. She
must have fallen asleep while crying. The guard pulled her to her feet.
"Come on, its time for the trial?"

Lori laughed bitterly. "Why do they even bother? I am already tried and
convicted."

As they approached the dining hall where the trial was to be held, Lori
pondered what was going to happen.

Whatver transpired, she would survive

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

NRPG: I know its not a lot but I wanted to move on.


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                      Kat Robertson: catwoman@indy.net

                       http://www.indy.net/~catwoman