Scene: 100 Miles North of Marrid Warren

     Tarranx had been flying behind and above Chaldecony for a
couple of hours as Shard searched the mountains to the north of
Marrid Warren for Wraith sign.  The low clouds had lifted
somewhat, to the point that Mukale wasn't much worried about
flying into a cloud hidden cliff. But they still couldn't see far
enough to identify their quarry at any useful range.

     ^Chaldecony has seen something.^ announced Tarranx.  Mukale
saw the amber dragon dive closer to the ground. ^There is a man
chained to a post.^

     ^Get a little closer, Scales.  Do Sky and Sarathain know?^
Mukale squinted against the wind as Tarranx circled.  There!

     ^Yes.^ agreed the grey dragon. ^And Grall has arrived as
well...  Chaldecony and his rider are going to loose the man.
Wraiths are coming.^

     Mukale swore.  He promised himself that he would start
packing a small back of coal in his saddle to ensure that there
would always be some to help out his dragon's fire at times like
this. ^How's your flame?^

     ^Enough.^ promised Tarranx, as he veered toward the Wraiths.
^We are not to fight a battle.  Grall asks that Sarathain and we
provide cover while Chaldecony and his rider save the man.^

     The young Dragonrider noticed Sky and her big dragon off to
his left.  He spared her a glance, and a raised fist of
encouragement, and then turned his attention back to the Wraiths,
which were fast approaching.

     These foul creatures showed none of the intelligence of
their ilk back at the cavern where they had rescued Diana.  The
Wraiths -- Mukale counted fourteen of the fiends -- were heading
toward where the man was tied to the post, but were scattered,
and were following the terrain closely.  Most of them hadn't even
noticed the rapidly approaching dragons above them.

     Tarranx flamed one of the first Wraiths that had veered
toward them, and jinked to the right to avoid a second.  Mukale
was glad that he had his saddle this day, as the force of the
swerve threw him hard to one side. ^Got him, Scales.  Can you
burn the one that missed you?^

     The dragon headed toward the ground, aiming at the largest
concentration of Wraiths. ^No need.  Sarathain has dispatched it.
He is very agile for such a large dragon.^ With a conservative
puff of flame, he sent another of the formless terrors to meet
its ancestors... if such things had ancestors.  Then, by slightly
altering the pitch of his wide, scaled wings, Tarranx suddenly
gained a dozen yards of altitude at some slight loss of speed,
avoiding the attack of two more Wraiths.

     Mukale laughed with delight. ^You're not so bad yourself,
Scales.  Has Shard freed that man yet?^

     ^No.  His sword does not cut the chains.^ Unexpectedly,
Tarranx pulled up and to the left.  A gout of flame, followed by
a huge amber form flew through the space the small grey dragon
had occupied. ^Thanks, Chaldecony.  I did not see those Wraiths.^

     Mukale spotted a tight cluster of grey forms pursuing the
big orange dragon. ^Tarranx!  Up!  Sarathain can get away from
them.^

     ^I go.^ A pair of quick turns, and Tarranx lined up with the
cluster.  With a gout of flame, Tarranx incinerated two of the
Wraiths, and scattered the others.

     ^Chaldecony has broken off the post, and is taking the man
to the warren.  His rider remains on the ground.^ narrated
Tarranx.

     The young man scanned the sky for more Wraiths. ^On the
ground, Scales.  There... to the right.  Wraiths.  They are
sneaking up on Shard.^

     ^I see.^ acknowledge Tarranx.  With another rapid swerve, he
arrowed toward the hapless pair of wraiths that were drifting
toward Shard.  The small dragon backwinged at the last moment,
allowing him time to torch both of the loathsome beasts.  Mukale
caught a glimps of Shard's face as they beat skyward.  The other
Dragonrider appeared astonished that Wraiths had gotten so close.

     ^Grall says that there are no other Wraiths in the immediate
vicinity.^ reported Tarranx as they climbed away from the ground.
^Chaldecony is returning.  As soon as he picks up his human, we
are all to return to the warren immediately.^ Tarranx was silent
for a moment, as he listened to the other dragons. ^I think that
Chaldecony and his rider are going to be in trouble when we get
back.^ he said confidentially to Mukale.

     His young rider was forced to agree.

Submitted with relief,

Mukale and Tarranx

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