[dl]

	When it became apparent that Sky and Mukale were following, Shard had 
Chaldecony began to pick up, speed, thrusting through the low-lying clouds, 
plunging forward in search of prey.
	<Shard, are you all right?>
	<Perfect, Chal.  Why?>
	<It bothers you that Neire wrote to you here, didn't it?>
	<Of course it does!  What do I have to do, tell her that I want 
to cut her out of my life?  She screwed up her chances to have me for a 
son.>
	<What about the hatchlings, C'vrinn and Slessa?>
	Shard paused thoughtfully.  The clouds blew past, sending chilly 
fingers through his long, black hair, stinging his healing burns.  
<They'll do fine not knowing me.>
	<That reminds me of something I've heard from the others, while I 
was visiting and picking up the letter, earlier ... Do you know the rider 
who transferred from Telnor named Tr'etram?>
	<No I don't.  Should I?>
	<That depends, I suppose.  He forced his daughter to mate with 
him.  All of the other dragons told me that this was an act of great 
disdain among humans.>
	Shard was momentarily shocked.  <Disdain is far too mild a word, 
my friend.  It's called 'incest' and 'rape,' and it is a terrible crime.>
	
	Chaldecony said nothing.
	
	So Shard thought it.  Very slowly.
	

	<Like poisoning dragons.>

	
	Another pause.
	
	<What is likely to happen to him?>
	<Among the landbound he would've likely been killed some time 
ago.  I'd expect now that he may be banished, or something similar; these 
Warrenfolk seem very gentle.>
	<True.>
	The two flew on in silence for some time, swooping low under the 
clouds periodically, scanning for signs of Wraith activity.  The chances 
that they would find anything in particular were low, but Shard was glad 
for the exercise, and the possibility of revenge, and Chaldecony always 
enjoyed enjoyed a chance to exhibit his flying skills.
	
	Once, Shard developed a strange feeling.  He turned about in the 
saddle, to see Sky was eyeing him with a strange expression on her young 
face, which she quickly averted, embarassed perhaps.  He red hair pulsed 
behind her, as she rode on Sarathain, her unusual match, the large, male 
dragon.
	<Chal, send to Mukale that I heard about his use of -- what are 
they called?  Flame-tossers?  Something like that.  In the battle.  Tell 
him I'm interested in hearing about it.>  
	<Tarranx sends back that he doesn't mind telling us sometime, and 
something about this being a silly mission -- you know, they might have 
sent for T'rend and Grall.>
	<What?  Damn!  They didn't _have_ to come ... fine.  But next 
time, we go alone.>
	<Agreed, Dragonrider!>  And with a few, powerful wingstrokes, 
Shard put on a burst of speed, gazing this way and that, enjoying the fresh
mid-afternoon air.
	<You know, Chal, thinking back to that text that I gave to Kyven, 
I think that we could use the alkalides that the soapmakers use to create 
bombs; they could be dropped on the Wraiths -->
	<--Shard, I don't mean to interrupt you, but I'm seeing something 
down below.>
	Shard squinted, peered down, but could find nothing.  <Swoop in 
closer, Chal!  I can't see ..>  The clouds and the early evening gloom 
conspired together to keep Shard's view hazed.  The two swooped in together.
	
	As Chal swooped in, Shard saw what his dragon had been referring 
to.  Below, in a small clearing, was a large wooden post.  A trail led to 
a landbound village, and to the post was chained a man, slumped against 
the post as if from exhaustion.  <Sar's bloody blades!  They left that 
man chained up to be attacked by Wraiths!  Is that how the Marrid 
Landbound treat their criminals?  Chal!  What's the nearest village 
around here?>
	<_I_ don't know.  I'm just a dragon.  I do know that we have 
travelled pretty far from the Warren, perhaps 100 miles.>
	Chaldecony circled, came in lower; Tarranx and Sarathain drew 
closer and began circling as well.
	<Tarranx and Sarathain have seen the man below as well, now, 
Shard.  I don't think that the Warren leaders would approve of us 
interfering with Landbound affairs.>
	<That man may even deserve to die, but I refuse to let anyone die 
because of Wraiths!>
	<But if we loose him, he may return to the village and harm those 
who trapped him here.>
	<What?!  Whose side are you on, Chaldecony?>
	And afternoon began waxing late, and the Wraiths began to stir ...

[nrpg]
	Here's an interesting moral dilemna for our youg heroes to 
solve!  (evil <g>)
	Mike, Glory, pop quiz ... And remember the third possibility: 
this could be a trap set by the Landbound for Wraiths, and I doubt that 
the Wraiths themselves will be long at showing up to _this_ party, 
especially if this kind of execution has gone on for long.
	See you ....
	
	Josh 'Khan' Kubli

	'There has not been any great genius without an element of madness.'
		--Seneca
	'To have power is to experience chaos, the core of human existence...'
		--The Principles of Chaos