[dl-m]
	The four dragons, and their riders, suddenly came to exist in the 
air beside the lake at Marrid Warren.  They touched down on the 
green immediately, and the younger riders looked guiltily at each other, 
expecting some sort of punishment.
	Shard wasn't sure what to make of the situation.  It had been his 
decision to try the Wraith-search early ... and probably Sky and Mukale 
had decided to 'keep an eye' on him.  He resented that, but couldn't 
fault their intentions.  And he realized that T'rend was only acting on 
the orders of the Lady Waylene to keep the riders safe.
	Most peculiar of all, he didn't dismiss them all angirly, or even 
shout at them.  He simply looked disappointed, and stated "I think we 
could work well together, however, if I cannot count on you to follow 
directions, we are in some hot water.  Shard, you could have gotten 
yourself and Chaldecony killed.  This is a team venture.  I need to know 
if you are willing to be a part of this team or not."
	Shard's face burned.  He had gotten himself and the other riders 
in trouble with his own damned selfishness.  It wouldn't happen again.  
He hoped.  He was just too used to being on his own, accoutable only to 
himself ... He hadn't been trusted as a member of the combat wing at 
Norwall, and he didn't desire that sort of censure here at Marrid.
	T'rend concluded his remarks, and sent them on their way, to 
clean up and to see what could be discovered from their new guest.
	
	<Chal, I want you to send my apologies to Mukale and Sky.  And to 
Tarranx and Sarathain, too.  I wasn't thinking.>
	<Shard, don't be too hard on yourself. I'm as much to blame as 
you are; it's just it's easier to scold a rider than a dragon.  And they 
say that it's all right, they were just worried about us.  You see? 
Everything's OK.>
	Shard nodded, and the two flew on to the medical center.

	When they arrived, they saw first the face of madness.  The man 
they'd rescued, though at first relatively dormant and weak, was now 
waving about, ranting and screaming.  Several physicians were trying to 
restrain him, with little succcess.  Shard overheard someone muttering 
about dehydration and torture.
	He sidled up to the nearest bystander he found, a middle-aged man 
with longer, reddish hair.  He seemed a bit preoccupied.  'W-what's 
g-going on?'
	"I don't know.  It seems they have an uncooperative patient.  Do 
you know who he is?"
	'Y-yes.  We just r-rescued him.'  The man looked a bit 
surprised.  'I'm Sh-Shard.  Th-this is Mukale and S-Sky.  We s-sort of 
... went Wraith-hunting, b-before it was season.'  He smiled a bit 
ironically.  'W-we found him, surrounded by Wr-raiths, ch-chained to a 
p-post.  We managed to fr-free him ...' He let the last part fade off.
	The man nodded.  "I'm ... just on my way to see a friend.  Please 
excuse me ..."  And he left.  Shard looked after him curiously, then 
shrugged.  A medic saw the three and moved in closer.
	"Are you the young people who brought this man in?  Is there 
anything that you can tell us about him?"  Shard shook his head, then 
stopped.  'W-wait ... I'm not sure.' The medic shook his head.  "This man 
is suffering 
from some serious mental problems, as well as his wounds, a few of 
which are old enough to be developing serious infections.  Most don't look too 
deep, but I'm afraid he may injure himself seriously, soon ..."
	Shard moved to help the struggling healers.  He grabbed an arm, 
relieving one, and was almost thrown immediately. He struggled to hold 
the man's powerful arms down; he was likely a peasant, from a background 
of hard labor.  He saw Mukale move to relieve another medic on the other 
side, while Sky looked on with mingled sympathy and fear.
	Shard leaned over the man.  He composed himself, and spoke slowly, 
trying for clarity.  'Th-- ... This is Vardas.  Have you h-had enough 
yet?'  The man's arms actually relaxed a bit, though still rigid.  He 
chuckled softly, but the sound of it was terrible to hear.  "Of course, 
not, you stupid fool ..." His voice was hoarse from his carrying on 
before; he whispered now.  "You think we are beaten, but many will side 
with us ... You rely on the Warrens to protect you, but I know that the Gods 
will not devour me ... the pale gods who come by night, they eat only the 
unfaithful.  Your gods, Sar, Riidaas, all the others, your churches and 
shrines will do you no good ..."  The man tensed suddenly.  "Our scions are in all the lands!  You 
cannot destroy us!  Our Wraiths will have you all ..."
	Shard stared in horror at the black, black eyes of the man who he 
pinned beneath him, hearing his superstitious rantings ...
	And the man collapsed.  The medics rushed over, and quickyl 
confirmed that he was still alive, though how long he might remain so, 
only the next few hours would determine.	
	Was this something Malk Bromitz had started?  Or was he an 
adherent of this belief?  Or was this just a lone madman?  A few of 
those standing nearby, their faces registered the shock that he felt.  
Shard's mind swirled with questions ... 

[nrpg]
Lyn: I figured Trey wouldn't be in the mood at this point to advertise his 
presence ...