Waylene
***

With Ailill taking a hand in Kendal's care now, Waylene turned to Z'lec.
"Thank you .. for not leaving us back there."

"No problem .." he turned, "I'll be going now."

"Z'lec," she called, "Where are you going to go. This is your home."

He shook his head, but didn't turn back, "Not anymore."

"Z'lec!" she said in exasperation. "You can't just leave me .."

Still the man walked, disappearing out of the med center. Waylene felt
tears fill her eyes .. tears of frustration .. and sadness. It wasn't fair!
He couldn't just walk out now. Not when she needed him.

"M'lady!" she heard a voice behind her. "Larguad has been vanquished.
Tristan, Lord of Northelm has taken command of the forces and they are
pulling out."

Waylene quickly wiped her eyes and turned, "Take me to him."

The staffer led her to a door and pointed to where the tall, blonde Traknor
was standing with the young man. "That's him."

Waylene nodded and moved across the green, <Aura love, tell Mayhem that I
need to speak with his rider and the young lord.>

It didn't take long for Aura to respond, <Mayhem's rider is waiting for you.>

<Thank you, love. He is doing a marvelous job!>

<Trak?>

<No silly, Mayhem. Now that the archers have withdrawn, the wing is
attacking the wraiths.>

<Wraiths!>

<Oh yes .. didn't I mention them? They are under control ..>

Waylene rolled her eyes, as she continued her trek to where the two men
were standing. She saw Traknor turn in her direction, drawing the young
lord's attention to her. The young man moved out and bowed to her as she
drew near.

"M' lady Waylene, It is an honor to meet you."

<<NRPG: Justin, I couldn't find anything about Northelm in the stuff you
sent me before. But I'm assuming Waylene knew Larguad was a conqueror :)
Please fill in any detail here you think is necessary.>>

***

As the young Lord walked away, Waylene became aware of Trak's eyes on her.
She turned and saw a familiar glint in them, even before he spoke
reprovingly. "I understand that you were nearly caught by Larguad's
soldiers."

She shrugged, "I was fine."

"You could have turned the tide of this whole battle if you'd fallen under
his power. We wouldn't have been able to do anything .."

"Oh Gods! You sound just like Z'lec!"

"He's awake."

She nodded unhappily, "Yes."

"How is he?"

"He seem healthy .. but .. He's not himself."

"Did you expect any different?"

She shook her head, "I suppose not .. But I .. I was glad to  see him awake
.. and .. Gods Trak," her voice cracked, "He doesn't want to see me .."

"Maybe he'll see me." Trak turned and headed toward the med center.

"He's not there .." she said calling him back.

"Where, then?" His blue eyes turned to look at her.

"I don't know .."

***
<<Evening>>

She didn't see him again until late that evening, when he approached her in
the dining hall. "M'lady .."

"Please don't call me that, Trak," she said, defeat in her voice.

He looked at her curiously, "What's wrong. We won."

"Did we?" She asked motioning around the dining hall that was filled with
injured "There's no room for the injured ..  though at least their alive."

"That is something I wanted to talk to you about."

She looked up at him, her eyes full of concern. "Did you find Z'lec."

"No .. but I'm sure he's around. Sina says he's still weak and it's
unlikely he could go very far."

Waylene nodded, "So what was it you wanted to talk about?"

"I left Lakoda and the Telnor rider with the injured from the morning's
wraith battle. I don't think we're prepared to bring them back yet tonight.
But I've got people working to clear space and set up the canopy for the
injured dragons."

"So you want to leave Koda out there .."

He grinned, "Well that's one way to put it."

She chuckled, "I understand."

He started to reach out a hand to her, then thought twice about it and
pulled back. "Why don't you go home and get some sleep."

She shook her head, "I'm not tired."

He raised and eyebrow, "I doubt that."

"I'm sick of that apartment, Trak .." she sighed. "I don't want to go
there. Z'lec .. well, the old Z'lec still seems to be there. And .. I know
he's never coming back."

He nodded, "I understand. Why don't you use my apartment tonight. I'm gonna
be up most of the night trying to get an accounting of what's going on."

"I think that's my job."

He nodded, "Yes, but you can't do it on your own.  And you can't do it when
you're to tired to stand. I've got Dorien to help. You go rest."

Kay
***

Kay was relieved when Talitha returned from Marrid to let them know that
the battle was over.  She'd even hunted down Kattibrie and made sure she
was alright before returning to the temporary camp.

"Traknor asks that we stay here tonight though. I agree. The warren is a
mess. It's going to take a long time to clean it up. And they really can't
handle anymore injured right now." Talitha told them.

Lakoda nodded, "All right, then lets make sure everyone's comfortable and
then bed down for the night. I can take the first watch .. and we'll switch
every four hours."

Talitha and Kay nodded.

Cook
***
<<Next morning>>

"What do you mean it's not there!" The woman's voice roared angrily at the
young woman in front of her.

"I .. I'm sorry .. but I looked. It's not there." Treena's dark eyes looked
as confused as Cook's. "I don't know why .. It was just there several hours
ago when  Norvall cut it up for cooking."

Cook gasped exasperated. "I'll find it."

Treena shrugged as the woman turned and left. She could try .. but she knew
the cook wouldn't find anything. She'd searched.. it was gone!

***

Hannah grumbled in frustration. In all her years as head cook at Marrid,
they'd never had such a thing as this happen. Stealing over 50 pounds of
cured beef! Who would do such a thing? It was as if they couldn't have
whatever they asked for.

So much for that Victory dinner. She searched out Norvall to cut up another
one. She'd have to find Waylene later and report this.

Kay
***

Upon his return to Marrid Warren, Kay had Sabbith fly him directly to
Kattibrie, who according to dragon gossip was in the med center with the
young girl, Yasmine. Apparently the girl hadn't taken the carnage well.

*Kitty,* he signed when he saw her.

She smiled and ran into his arms, "I was so worried about you."

*I'm fine .. but I've got to talk to you.* he signed, pulling back from her
warm embrace, *Something amazing has happened.* His signs became almost
frantic as he began to tell her what he'd learned from Lakoda the night
before.

*Slow down!* she said grabbing his hands, *I don't understand. What about
your mother?*

*She may be alive!*

*How?* Kattibrie asked.

Kay slowed down and repeated his tale, watching as Kitty's eyes widened.
*It fits, Kitty. It fits!*

*Kay, that would be wonderful .. but how could it be? How could she have
gotten to Falagand? That's the other side of the Lands from Telnor.*

He shook his head, *I don't know. But I have to find out.*

She nodded, *I agree.*

*So let's go ..* he signed grabbing her hand and pulling.

But she hesitated. He turned to look at her questioningly.

*I want to be sure Yasmine's all right before we go. Can we wait a few hours?*

Kay frowned. He was eager to get going. But seeing the pleading in her
eyes, he relented, *I can wait.*

She hugged him and kissed him firmly on the lips. *Thank you, Kay. I
promise it won't be long.*

He nodded and tried to be patient.

Regards,
Waylene & Aura
Kalewyn & Sabbith
***
NRPG: For those interested, I think we may have some 'moles' hold up in the
caves of Marrid :)

Also for those at Telnor.. as you can see I'm not done with Kay yet.. I'll
finish it tonight :)

Kris

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       \oo/     Kristen Gant
        ~~      (AKA: Darlea & Makayla, Keldarra Warren, Courier
                      Waylene & Aura, Marrid Warren, Warrenlady
                      Meena & Vonn, Norwall Warren, Wingleader
                      Kalewyn & Sabbith, Telnor Warren, Dragonrider
                      Saul & Fayloth, Whiteriver Warren, Searcher
                      Merybelle Barmen, City of Ralengarde, Innkeeper
                      Ce'lot & Britche, Xylain Warren, Wingleader
                http://homepage.interaccess.com/~sgant/Kris/kris.htm
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