[NRPG: Since there was some concern that Barb's post left Carie unrescued
till late night after Koda had gone to bed, Barb and I discussed it and
figured this out.]

[Day 5]

Trey wiped the sweat from his face once again.  It was obvious he and
T'rend had taken a wrong turn somewhere.  They'd been in these caves for
hours, having come in the way Carie did and not seen a thing.

"I hate to say it," T'rend whispered quietly, "but I think we need to
retrace our steps and take a break.

Trey nodded.  "Lead the way."

They followed the marks they had made until they emerged into the
kitchens.  Cook quickly set them up with a hot meal and drinks.

"Any luck?" she asked.

T'rend shrugged.  "Not from us.  Maybe one of the other teams that went
that way.  There are so many branches off that point of entry.  I've heard
Tina and Talitha may have found it, but they've been in there for hours
and didn't mark their path, so there's no reasonable way to follow them.
Two against many.  Not a likely option.  They're going very slowly to try 
and stealth the rescue."

Trey nodded.  "Well, from Fiera's reports, they haven't done anything to
Carie yet, but we've got to get people in there.  These aren't warrenfolk. 
They won't have any objection to killing a dragonrider." 

Cook nodded.

<Roth, is Aura's rider busy?>

There was a pause before his dragon replied, <She is in her apartment.>

<And Ribbon's rider?>

<Is in her apartment, too.  Ribbon tells me that she told her about you
knowing.>

<Then it sounds like I need to go and talk to her now.> He downed the rest
of the coffee he'd been provided, then stood. "I've got to go talk to a
couple of people, then I'll rejoin the search." 

T'rend nodded.  "I'll see if I can't get another partner.  Let's see...
X's this time, right?"

Trey nodded.  "If I can't find someone, I'll look for the green X's."

He met Koroth outside the Dining Hall and flew to Waylene's apartment.

"Hello, Trey. I was just making dinner, would you like to join us?"

"Us?"

"It's a long story .. but I've got some children staying with me."

Oh, that's right, he'd heard her mention that in the Medical Center. 
Right before...  He nodded, "Actually I can't stay. I have... another
matter I need to see to." 

"Carie? Has there been any news?"

He considered telling her about overhearing their conversation, perhaps
asking for her advice, but thought better of it.  Waylene had enough going
on.  "No not so far. Though I understand Talitha and Tina may have a lead.
They're going very slowly though so as not to endanger her." 

Waylene nodded. "I should be in there helping .. I know those tunnels."

"No you shouldn't. And no one would let you, either. But that isn't what
I'm here to talk to you about."

"Oh?"

"Last night, Yasmine and I ran into Lord Utha... at a pub..."

He told her the story quickly.  He could see the concern in her eyes.  "I
hated to pull a sword on him, but I was afraid for Yasmine."

She nodded.  "We'll deal with any repercussions about that."

"As for Utha, I'm not sure what we can do, but it's obvious the loss of
Yasmine has affected him.  And Yasmine may need some support, too.
Regardless of biology, he's still the man that raised her."

She nodded again.  "Thank you, Tr'etram.  I'll have to give this matter
some thought."

He left and headed for Lakoda's apartment.

<Should I tell Ribbon we are coming?>

<No.  I think it would be best if it was a surprise.>

He watched the blood drain from her face when she opened the door and saw
him.  "Trey..." she stammered.

"Lakoda," he said, very formally, trying to keep his emotions in check, "May
I come in and speak to you for a moment?"

She backed away from the door and gave him room to get past her.  "Would
you care for a drink?" she asked.  "I myself feel the need...  but I think
we both know I can't have anything."

Ah, so she was going to be straightforward with him.

He turned to her, nodding.  "Yes, I'd heard."  Gods, what an
understatement!  "Just water for me." He didn't want to lose his head to
alcohol at a time like this. 

She nodded her head, and told him to have a seat while she got it. A few
minutes later she returned and took a seat across from him. "I... don't... 
I don't know what to say... I've never had to do this before. I'm sorry
Trey." 

"Sorry for what?" he asked. "Sorry you're pregnant? Or just sorry it's mine?"

"I'm not sorry I'm pregnant," she said softly, her eyes focusing on her
hands in her lap. "I want this baby more then you could ever imagine. I'm
just sorry it happened the way it did...  The... mating flight...  I mean
you and I, we didn't... I know you'd rather it wasn't yours. Not by me." 

He flinched, remembering his betrayal of Diana.  "You're right. I'd rather
it be Diana's... but she's dead and that's never to be." 

She paled at that.  "Don't you think that I would rather this child to be
anyone else's? Someone who didn't hate me the way you do. Hell.. I've sat
here at night wishing a thousand times that *anyone* else but Koroth had
won Ribbon's mating flight... then maybe I wouldn't be hating myself for
betraying my best friend." 

He sprang angrily forward.  "Hate you?  You're the one who wouldn't even
trust me with Yasmine *in public*!  And now I find out you've been trying
to hide the fact that I've got another child from me.  When did you plan
to tell me, Koda?  Or were you never going to tell me.  That way I
wouldn't endanger it with my predatory ways?" 

She looked up at him in confusion.  "I don't know what you mean. I wasn't
worried about you being with Yasi, so much as I was worried about how
she'd react being around any male. The girl had been brutally raped... and
was hanging on by a thin thread."  He shuddered at the word, remembering
Laria.  "Then there was the problems she had with her father... I care a
lot for her... as a friend as well as a patient. So why shouldn't I have
been concerned for her?"

"What?"  He looked at her puzzled.  What was she saying?  "Yeah, right. 
After seeing my medical files you couldn't summon up any more tact than
you had when you told me that." 

"I didn't know about your past then, Trey. You have to believe that," she
told him, her eyes pleading. "I never saw your file because D'ssarian was
in charge of your case and never let me see it." 

He froze, studying her face, trying to see signs that she was lying to
him.  But her face was open and honest.  "Then why?  Why didn't you want
me to know you were pregnant?" 

"I didn't tell you about the baby... because I just found out about it
myself recently," she looked away from him again. "And because I didn't
know *how* to tell you. I know how much you hate me, and knew you would
hate the fact of me being the mother of your child." 

He saw the fatigue in her eyes.  He sat down next to her and turned her to
look at him.  "I don't hate you.  I avoided you because I thought you
hated me. Do you know how hard it is to go on after what I've done, Koda?
I had to distance myself from your disapproval. It hurt like hell,
especially knowing how close you and Diana are... were. Gods! Were." 

"But I never disapproved of you," she looked up into his eyes and saw his
hurt. It matched her own. "We were close is right... until I betrayed her
trust and hurt both of you in the worst way I could. I'll never forgive
myself for that. I thought you hated me for being so weak.

"But no, Trey, I never disapproved of you. How could I when it was with
your help and understanding that Yasi was able to put some of her own pain
behind her? I saw how you were with her. Caring and gentle. You helped her
more then I ever could." 

"I'm sorry," he said quietly.  "I was so sure you hated me." He took her
hands in his. "Look, what happened between us after the mating flight. It
hurt us both. All the misunderstanding has been horrible. But, can we put
it behind us. I want to be there for this child if you'll let me." 

"I'd like that. But you have to know, it was myself I was hating. Not you.
I hated myself giving into my weaknesses and hurting Dianne. That's why I
avoided you." she felt the warmth from his hands seeping into hers as
misunderstanding were being clear up. "I'd like for you to be able to have
some part in raising this child Trey. I want you to know that I would have
told you sooner or later... I wouldn't have kept it from you. But are you
sure... I mean you don't have to..." 

"Oh, I'm not asking to be your mate. But, even though this child comes as a
surprise, it's still mine."

Koda chuckled at his words. "I didn't figure you were asking me that," she
smiled up at him. "I mean heck... we just had our first civil discussion
without ending up yelling at each other. But I would never have kept you
away from this child. Not if you wanted to see him or her."

"This'll be my child too, Koda. I won't turn my back on it," he assured
her. 

"All right. I think I'd like that," she told him.  "Just as long as you
don't hover over me like a first time father and think you can boss me
around into eating right and getting enough sleep like C'tain has been
doing." 

"He's been that bad, huh?" He man chuckled when he saw her nod her head. 
Then his expression changed. "Speaking of C'tain, what do you think he'll
have to say about my involvement?" he asked and saw her flinch. "I assume
you told him I'm the father?" 

"That's something you have no need to worry about. There was never anything
between us except as colleagues. And besides... he's leaving Marrid soon to
go work somewhere else."

She got up and began pacing again.

"Did I say something wrong, Lakoda?"

"No... it's just that.. well C'tain... I guess I'm just not what he wants in
a woman. He's just not interested in me except as a healer."

"And you care a good deal for him, am I right?" he asked.

She looked back at him and nodded her head. "Yes I do... but that's not
going to change anything," she said sadly. "He and Sina are leaving Marrid
as soon as he can travel. So it doesn't matter how I feel." 

"The man's a fool," Trey stated.  He had seen the look in C'tain's eyes
when Lakoda was around.  Why would a man leave a woman he so obviously
cared about?  Granted, he was taking a stand that Trey, frankly, agreed
with.  Lakoda had been treated very badly by Traknor and Waylene.

"Well I think so," she chuckled bitterly. "It's nice to know I'm not the
only one... I had hopes at one point... that maybe he might care... even
if just a little. But he's been so distant since then, that I realized I
was mistaken. So maybe it's better that he does go. Maybe I'm the reason
he's leaving. To get away from me." 

Trey looked at her funny. Wondering if she really believed that. After all
the man was giving up his life here *for* her, because of the way he felt
she'd been treated. Didn't she know that? 

"Lakoda..."

"Ummm look, Trey," she turned back to face him. "I'm really glad we had
this talk tonight and settled what was between us. You don't know relieved
I am, but right now I think I'm a little tired and think I'll head on to
bed. I've got to be in early tomorrow for Ailill's training."

"Koda..." he said, realising it was the first time he'd called her that.

"I'm fine, Trey, really," she assured him. "I'm just a little tired. You
know with everything that's been happening with Trak and Z'lec.. and
Chalin... and now Carrie is missing..." 

"I understand. Would it be too much to ask you to keep me advised on how
the... two... of you are doing?" he asked motioning towards her middle.

"Well, being that you've been though this a time or two, you might just
regret offering... I mean I may take that to mean that I can come to you
for advice or overburden you with my excitement with each something new
happens." 

"I won't regret my offer, Koda. I'll be here if you need me, for
anything." 

She walked him to the door, and slowly shut it behind him as he walked away.

<Trey!  T'rend and David have found the cavern where Carie is.  The men
have been talking about her.  They are calling for the help of anyone who
can handle a sword.>

Trey nodded, his hand going to the sword he carried into the Landbound
settlements and had been carrying today as he had searched the caves. He
almost stalked off, then realised that a healer close-by would be needed.
He turned and pounded on Koda's door.

She opened it a couple of minutes later, blinking tiredly.  "Trey?"

"Get your clothes back on.  They've found Carie and are preparing a
rescue.  We may need a healer.  Meet me in the kitchens."

She nodded and headed back inside.  He turned and dashed across the green
to the Dining Hall.  A few people were assembled there.  Very few. 
Warrenfolk did not often learn the art of the sword.  David was standing
there, studying the men as they arrived. 

"Ye, there, lad.  We won't be needing ye."

"But I can fight!" the boy protested.

David nodded.  "I'm sure ye can do well enough here at the warren, but
these be trained soldiers.  Please, I don't want to be worrying about ye."

The boy hung his head and nodded.

"Actually, I've got a plan for him and any others we don't think are good
enough for the main attack," Trey said.

David turned and looked at him quizzically.  "And what be that?"

Koda walked in just then. Trey grabbed her and steered her into the
circle.  He explained.  "I think it would be good to have a healer ready,
behind us.  But I want her guarded and guarded well.  We can't have
another healer injured, with C'tain down."  Not to mention that he wasn't
going to endanger the life of the child growing within her.

David nodded and turned to the boy and some others.  "That's a good plan. 
Ye all stay with Healer Lakoda.  It's a good twenty minutes to the cavern
where Carie be, so she'll need to be close.  'Twould be easy for someone
tae sneak up upon ye, so be alert.  Healer Lakoda, wait behind until
Kaylin tells Ribbon it's safe.  D'ye understand?" 

She nodded.

"Is this all of us?" Trey asked.

David nodded.  "And Tina and Talitha are on t'other side of the cavern,
ready to join the fray."

They all entered the caverns and followed the marks T'rend and David had
left till they arrived at an opening to a huge cavern where T'rend was
standing watch.  They could see that Carie had been brought out into the
open.

<T'rend says that they have been talking of mating with her,> Koroth
stated in his mind.  In order to stay silent, they were using their
dragons for communications.

"All right Girl, time to earn your life," a soldier said, unbuckling his
pants as he stopped in front of Carie. 

Carie scooted back, pushing herself up the wall.

The soldier bent down and kissed Carie.  Trey fought the urge to dash into
the room and run the man through.  He felt a hand clamp onto his arm.

<Kaylin's rider says to keep calm, my rider.  We must wait till they are
fully distracted.  Fiera's rider has loosed her bonds.  We must wait for
her.>

The soldiers arms came up to her shoulders, pushing her down.  From his
angle, Trey couldn't tell exactly what was happening, but it was easy to
guess.  The soldier moaned and began rocking back and forth.

Trey had to fight to breathe as his anger flared brighter and brighter.
David's hand on his arm tightened its grip.  "Calm," David whispered.

Suddenly, the soldier screamed.

"Now!" David ordered.

Trey could hear Carie's scream as he moved and saw the arrows blossoming
from her body.  Damn them!  Damn them all!

Trey charged in, drawing his sword.  One of the men turned, his face
blanching at the sight of him.  "Gransol?" 

But Trey's swing had already silenced the man before he registered his
words.  Gransol?  What?  Why?  But there was no time to consider.  He had
to get to Carie. 

Another man blocked his path.  Trey swung and the man blocked.  The man
swung going low.  Trey was late in blocking and felt the blade bite into
his hip.  Ignoring the pain, he thrust, feeling the tip hit bone. He drove
the sword forward and watched the man slide from his blade, death in his
eyes. 

He glanced around, but the rest had been dispatched.  David was already
kneeling by Carie.

"Don't move her!" Lakoda's voice ordered.

Trey stepped out of the way to let her through.

He looked down at his sword and saw the blood there.  He turned and looked
at the two men who had blocked his way.  The first hadn't even had a
weapon drawn.  Trey had nearly decapitated him.  The second was equally
dead.

"Trey.  Trey!"

His eyes focused on Talitha's concerned face.  He realised the woman had
been saying something to him.  "What?"

"You need to lie down so we can get the bleeding stopped."

"Bleeding?" he asked, confused.

She pointed to his hip where the navy blue of his leather pants was
turning crimson.

"Oh.  Right."

He stumbled and she grabbed him.  "Come on.  Nice and easy now.  There we
go."

He laid on the floor of the cavern, staring up are the ceiling, where he
could see some stars through a small hole.  He could hear David's voice.
"Aye, Ribbon could get in here, healer, but there's naught room for her
tae get airborn tae teleport out.  She'd be stuck here.  We'll have to
move her by stretcher through the kitchens..."

"I killed two men," Trey said, feeling Talitha's hands at the waist of his
pants.

"Did you?" she asked, not paying much attention.  "I'm sorry, Trey. I'm
going to have to get these pants off you to get to the wound."

He nodded.  "Cut them off, then.  But save my boots.  Diana gave them to
me."

"I'll be sure and do that.  Now lie still."

And he did, feeling his mind go a little hazy as he waited for word on
Carie.

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

NRPG: There ya go.  One rescue.

---

 Lynette R. F. Cowper <lcowper@indy.net>, INWO Line Editor