>"Stop this madness boy!" Cholet shouted back, and fell to the ground.
 
>S'an gripped the sword with two hands and faced Serraphine's father.
>"Leave my home alone." He growled, and steel flashed through the air.

Larguad easily parried S'an blow, shifted his weight, and knocked S'an to
the ground.  "You think you can kill me?"  Raising his sword, he struck
out.

S'an rolled backwards, the breeze from Larguad's blade brushing by his
face, and got to his feet.  Looking around, he saw that the soldiers were
gathering in a circle, and S'an felt his chances dwindle.  There was no
way out now.

'But I have no idea how to use a sword!' S'an thought, staying out of the
lord's reach.

*But you know how to use a staff, sir.* Joell sent.

Dodging yet another blow, S'an scowled.  'But that doesn't help me now?!'

*Hold on.*

S'an nodded to himself, parrying a barrage let on by the Lord, knowing it
was not only his life he was defending, but the whole warren's as well.

Suddenly, there was a yell from the ranks of soldiers, and a group of
polemen fell down, their weapons rolling into the human circle.  S'an
could see Joell's tail slink back, and grinned micheviously.

'Thank you my friend.' He sent.

Fire seemed to leap out if his shoulder, and S'an dropped the sword.
Letting out a yell, he felt another burst of fire along his side, and he
fell to the ground.  He grabbed his side, and looked down.  Blood was
beginning to soak through his fingers, and S'an realised this was where
his knife wound was previously.

"Give my reguards to oblivion." Larguad growled, bringing his sword down.

S'an felt a burst of anger inside him, against everything that had
happened.  His home, destroied.  His friends, dead.  Yasmine....
Using that anger, S'an leaped up, grabbing the Lord's arms in mid-swing.
For a second, he saw fear in Larguad's eyes.

"You know, I just patched myself up." He said softly, and pushed the lord
away.  Diving towards one of the fallen pole-arms, his hands closed on
its shaft.  Getting up, he faced Larguad, and broke off the heavy-bladed
end of the weapon, making it a staff with a broken, jagged edge.

"Now, let's play." S'an said, and advanced, the wooden pole humming
through the air as it spun.  Larguad backed up, looking for an opening
with which to end this upstart.

S'an began to attack, his strikes whipping in and out, never letting up.
His side and arm ached, and he could feel his strength seeping from his
body through the two wounds.  His clothes felt sticky with blood, but he
couldn't stop.  He had to finish this now.

Larguad continued to back up, his sword parrying quickly.  There was no
time for attack, but maybe there was a way.  Shifting back, Larguad dug
his foot into the dirt, kicked it up towards S'an, and screamed a battle
cry....

*******

Everything was quiet... no voices, no swords clashing.  S'an opened his
eyes and winced.  His body felt like it had gone toe to toe with a
dragon, and a grumpy one at that.  For some reason, his right arm didn't
want to work, but that didn't matter.

"Yasmine?" He said, and he realised that his voice sounded faint and
scratchy.  "Serraphine?"

"We're here S'an." Serraphine said.

S'an looked at her.  "I guess I lost eh?  And this is heaven?"

"We've won." Yasmine said, clasping his hand.

"You hit my father hard enough to split a rock, though his skull seems to
be harder." Serraphine mentioned.

"But I felt him hit me?" S'an said, and tried to move.  Bad mistake, as
his body revolted against him.

"Your arm..." Serraphine started, but Yasmine put a hand on her shoulder.

"Will be all right." Yasmine finished.

"What kept the soldiers from killing me?" S'an said, as two healers picked
him up and put him on a streacher.

"I did." A voice said, and S'an looked around.  A young man walked up and
saluted.  His armor was that of a lords, and his manner said that he was a
noble.  "When you knocked Lord Larguad unconscious, the soldiers began to
rush you, but I stopped them.  You see, I have command of the army now.
With my father dead and Larguad defeated, I am in charge." His voice
seemed to sadden when he mentioned his father, but like a soldier, he kept
his emotions in check.

"I came to get Lady Serraphine back," he said, bowing to the baronet.
"But if she would rather stay here, it is her choice.  I will have no more
bloodshed this day."

S'an smiled, and took Yasmine's hand.  "I'm glad you are safe.  I was
worried I wouldn't..... get...." He then passed out.

"We need to get him inside." One of the healers said, and carried him
away.

"Tristan." Serraphine said, and the Lord turned towards her.

"Yes, m'lady."

"Thank you."

Tristan smiled, and nodded.  "You are welcome."  He looked around at the
soldiers marching out of the warren.  "I have to return to Northelm, to
take my fathers place."  He then turned and left, shouting orders to some
soldiers.

Serraphine watched him go.

"Serraphine, you don't have to marry him." Yasmine said, and the Baronet
nodded.

"I know, and he knows that too.  We never loved eachother, but our
fathers wanted us to." She said, and turned around, tears in her eyes.
"I'm sorry..."

"It's not your fault."

"I feel like it is." Serraphine said, "Besides, I have to leave now."

"But your father is in a coma... and the healers say that he probably
won't ever wake up."

"It's not because of him.  My mother will need me, and so will my
people... at least for a little while.  You said I have the affinity..."

Yasmine nodded.

"Well, at the next hatching, will you come and get me?" Serraphine asked.

Yasmine nodded again, and gave the baronet a hug.

"Of coarse I will.  Take care." Yasmine said, Serraphine returning the
embrace.

"You too.  Make sure S'an is all right, and...." She started, and looked
at the ground.  "Tell him I care about him a lot."

"I will." Yasmine replied.

She nodded, and began walking towards her escort.  Once she was on her
horse, she turned around and waved.  Yasmine waved back, and then the
barnonet rode off.

"She'll be back." A voice said from behind.  Yasmine turned around to see
David standing there.  He was looking up into the sky.

"I know." She said.  "Are you all right?"

"Aye." David said with a smile, and the remaining wing began to land and
teleport back.  "You wouldn't think soldiers could run away that fast."

Yasmine laughed lightly.  David put his hand on her shoulder.  "Ye should
probably see S'an en te'med center."

*****

David saw Kirimith land on the green, a very digruntled Minty trying to
climb off the dragon.  David ran up to help her.

"I was worried that ye'd be hurt." He said once she got to the ground.
"Ye and e'baby."

"We're ok, though I'd like a hot bath." She said with a smile, and hugged
her mate.  "I heard about Kaylin.  Is he all right?"

"Aye, he's fine." David said, "Te'medical staff are taking care o'him." He
smiled, and kissed her forehead.  "Let's get ye home..."

***** SUBMITTED BY *****

Justin