Diana answered him, informing him that David was hurt adn that Malk had a
broken leg.  He helpd Diana out, surprised to discover that this was the
woman he had argued with earlier.  She seemed about to say something, but
didn't.

They helped M'cos out next.  But no, this wasn't M'cos, this was someone
else inhabitting his body, someone horrible, monstrous and inhuman.  Trey
wondered if that was how his family had seen him, perhaps still saw him. 
It saddened and frightened him though he had never been particularly close
to M'cos.  Malk's leg was broken, the bone sticking out.

David was next.  He had cloth wrapped around one arm, already soaked 
through with blood.

"Let's get out of here," Tr'etram said.  David drew a black sword that
Trey was surprised to see he recognised.  It had belonged to Labrona,
passed to her by her father, and to him from his father and so on.  Trey
would have to see about securing the sword to return to her family at
Telnor.  But right now, he only wanted to get out of this cave.

They set out for the exit, hauling Malk between them, and soon had gotten
to the ledge, mounted their dragons and were off.  They appeared over
Marrid and landed near the medical center.  Diana dismounted and
approached the rogue dragonrider and his dragon. Trey watched her closely,
ready to spring to Malk's defense, but she only pulled Malk down from his
dragon, albeit none to gently, and shoved him ahead of her into the
medical center.  He dismounted and followed.

"Even scum like you get to live sometimes," she spat.  "If it hadn't been
for your dragon, I would have easily killed you.  Because of you, my
Darrin is dead.  But because of your dragon, I didn't kill the one part of
him that still remains in my soul."

<Roth?> Trey asked.

<Darrin was Diana's mate.  He died in the last wraith attack.>

Trey nodded.  He had assumed as much, but wanted the confirmation.  So,
she had lost her family, as he had lost his.  But where his grief had
nowhere to hide, hers had turned to bitterness.  She had a target for her
grief, but he had only himself to blame for his loss.  And before his mate
and children, he had lost his mother and father.  He understood her pain
all too well.

She shoved Malk at the healers, saying, "Here take him, before I change my
mind," and then turned as if to run out, colliding with Trey instead.

Her head was down, hiding her eyes.  Gently, without really thinking, he
took her chin and lifted her tear-stained face till he could look in her
eyes.  Green eyes, like his father had had.  "You did right," he said
quietly.

Diana went to pull away and he released her, but instead she collapsed
onto the floor of the medical center, sobbing.  He started to kneel down 
to comfort her when Z'lec walked in.  The Wingleader quickly moved to 
Diana, helping her up and comforting her.  He cast an accusatory glance 
Trey's direction and asked, "What happened?"

Trey felt himself flush with anger.  How could he be expected to start
over here when Z'lec was so suspicious?  He fought the urge to answer the
silent accusation.  Not here.  There were people here who didn't know his
past and Trey planned to keep it that way.  So, instead, he reported on
what had happened in the cave, including praise for Mukale's flamethrowers
and mention of the odd woman-shaped wraith who had set the other wraiths
to screaming at her death and the odd, listless behaviour of the wraiths
afterward.  Z'lec seemed interested, though he was also obviously
controlling himself to keep from being too harsh to Diana.

Diana, who had composed herself while Trey talked, gave her report.  Z'lec
seemed even angrier as she talked, but again controlled himself.

"All right," Z'lec said after their reports, "you both can go now."

Diana nodded and started to head off as Z'lec turned to go further into 
the center.  Trey was momentarily torn and then said, "Z'lec, I'd like a 
few words with you, privately."

Z'lec nodded and stepped into one of the healer's offices.  Trey followed 
him and Z'lec shut the door.  "What did you wish to discuss?"

"I'd like to ask you not jump to conclusions."

"What do you mean?"

"That look you gave me when you came upon Diana and I together.  I know
you know my past and I can damn well gather that you're not real happy I'm
here.  Frankly, I'm not real happy I'm here, either, but I'm trying to
make the best of it.  I'd like to make a few friends here, but if you keep
acting like I'm some kind of monster, everyone's going to get leery of me. 
You've just gone through some horrible times here and there are people
grieving.  That means every once in a while, you might come across me with
someone who's crying, because I would like to help.  But I don't want to
live in fear of you getting the wrong idea.  Okay?"

Z'lec nodded.  "You understand my misgivings, though, surely."

"I understand them, certainly.  But you need to keep them to yourself and 
give me some elbow room.  And, for your information, Koroth has been 
told, repeatedly, that if I start doing something crazy that he's to 
report me... and I think he will.  This," Trey said, showing Z'lec his 
wrists, "scared him pretty badly.  Now, if you'll excuse me, I've got 
some settling in to do."

He turned to the door and began to open it when Z'lec interruptted him.  
"Tr'etram, who told Koroth to report you?"

He turned, unmatched eyes meeting Z'lec's.  "I did."  He walked out, 
feeling the eyes of the wingleader on his back.

Diana was waiting for him outside the medical center.  "I... I wanted to 
apologise for this morning... and thank you for rescuing me."

Trey nodded.  "Apology accepted and you're welcome, though you didn't 
need to offer either-- I understand a little better now.  I... um... 
wanted to apologise for almost hitting you this morning.  You don't know 
how close I came."

"But you didn't."

"Only because 'Roth stopped me-- talked me down.  Look, can we go
somewhere and talk?  I've got some herbal teas and such in my apartment
and, frankly, I'm getting a bit hungry.  I could fix us lunch."

She looked a little hesitant, looking at him askance.

"Nothing like that," he assured her.  "I'm too fresh out of a relationship
to even think about pursuing anyone else... and I think you are, too. 
Just talk, I swear."

She considered for a moment before answering.

Respectfully submitted,
 Lynette R. F. Cowper
  Tr'etram and Koroth

NRPG: Well, Kat?

Kris: Hope I played Z'lec okay.  He can always look up Trey after talking 
to David if he has any more to discuss.

 **********************************************************************
 * Lynette R. F. Cowper       *     Official INWO NetRep & Goddess    *
 * lcowper@io.com             *        Circle of Janus Secretary      *
 * lcowper@indy.net           *   VP of P.U.R.P.L.E. (People United   *
 * http://www.io.com/~lcowper/*   Respecting Purple Legal Equality)   *
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 *     The INWO rulings I make are official.  All other opinions,     *
 *  discussions, deck ideas, card ideas, political beliefs, etc. are  *
 *  my own and not those of Steve Jackson Games, the Circle of Janus, *
 *                        or P.U.R.P.L.E.  Fnord.                     *
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