*** Day 4, morning ***

S'an and David walked along one of the plateu's above the warren, both men
stripped of their shirts and breathing hard.  S'an had asked David to
work some hand to hand with him, to improve his skills.  Now he was almost
regretting it.  The young man definitly had skill in those areas.  In
fact, it might benefit the warren for the riders to all have a little
extra training in defence, espessially due to the recent attack on the
warren.

Neither man uttered a word now, both enjoying the scenery below
them, and both worrying about their dragons, though the healers said that
Joell and Kaylin would be fine.

"I feel totally useless." S'an eventually said, stopping to look down into
the warren bowl.  
Dragons took off and landed, people scurrying from one area to the other.
"I can understand why we go insane when our dragons die.  Sometimes I take
Joell for granted, but it's times like these when I really notice how much
I depend on him."

David just nodded, listening.

"Do you even wonder if our souls are bonded when we join, or just our
minds?" S'an finished.

David gave S'an an odd look and shrugged.
"I d'not know.  I don't think we ever will, either. But I feel te'same way
ye do.  Without Kaylin..." He shuddered.  "When I see Z'lec, that look in
his eyes, it scares me.  Because I know if I lost Kay, I would have that
very look en mine, too." 

"I guess that's why a lot of us don't have mates.  It's almost too
hazerdous.  Look at what happened with Z'lec and Waylene." S'an mentioned,
and then remembered that David had a mate.  "No offence meant..."

"None be taken."  Streaching, David took a deep breath, and sighed.
"I love Minty t'death... but sometimes I wonder how far that love goes.
D'I love Kaylin more, or es it entirely different.  If Minty were t'die,
God forbid that ever happening, I think I could go on.  In fact, I think
she would want me to.  But if Kaylin were t'die..."

S'an nodded in agreement.

They stood there for a few moments longer, then David gave a wry smile.
"So, how are things with ye and Yasmine?"

S'an blushed, and grinned.  "We're fine.  Why?"

David shrugged.  "Oh, no reason.  I got the impression that ye didn't want
a mate..."

"A mate!" S'an said, his voice accidentilly echoing in the canyon.
Lowering his voice, he glared at David.  "Who said we were mates?"

"No one!" David said, and backed off grinning.  "It's just that ye two do
be spending a lot o'time together, and some o'te'riders were gettin
curious is all."

S'an harrumphed, and began putting his shirt back on.  "If there *s
an***ing * do*t *eed.... ah.... right now, it is a mate."

David just laughed, and donned his shirt as well.  "Suit yer self.  Minty
and I are very happy as we are.  Ready?"

"Yes.  I need to run a few errands today.  Might as well take advantage of
Joell being out of action."

"Ok." David finished, and the two headed for the path would take them down
into the bowl.

*****************************
Day 4, evening
*****************************

>"Heard you went searching today. How'd it go?" S'an asked Yasmine when he
saw her after she had returned.
 
>"Not good," she shook her head.

S'an bit his lip, and looked at the young girl.  He now noticed that she
seemed distressed about something.  Perhaps it was just not searching
anyone her first time out.
>"Ah, there will be other times," S'an consoled, "This was only your
>first time."
 
>Yasmine whimpered, tears falling onto her plate as the facade she'd 
>been struggling to maintain crumbled to dust.
 
>'Ok, maybe it wasn't that.' S'an thought.

*I could have told you that, sir.* Joell said.  *I talked with Starlin...*

'You could have told me!'

*And miss all the fun, sir?*

Cursing draconic humor under hios breath, S'an put an arm around Yasmine.

>"Yasi, what is it?" S'an asked.
 
>Yasmine then told him of the unexpected meeting with Utha in the bar,
>"... He was so drunk! And so mean!" She shook her head. "He hates me,
>S'an, he said I ruined him!"

Thinking for a moment, S'an nodded.  "Well, I guess you will just have to
set him straight on the matter.  You know you didn't ruin him..."

Yasmine just shrugged.

Shaking his haead, S'an looked her in the eyes.  "You didn't ruin him.
Really.  Maybe you should try patching things up?"

"With Lord Utha? It would be impossible!"

"Yasmine, with you, nothing is impossible." S'an said, and hugged her
lightly.  "I know you'll think of something."

*********************
Day 5, afternoon
*********************

S'an's morning was taken up by long lectures on how to care for Joell's
wing, proper dressings and the like, from the healers.  But finally the
dragon was cleared to go home.  He was put on light duty, however,  and no
more than short flights until the membrane had completely healed.

Thanking the healers with a wide smile, he was quick to leave the medical
center.

'Way too much time spent in there for my own taste.' S'an thought to
Joell.

*I totally agree, sir.* the dragon replied.

'Oh, can you ask Starlin where Yasmine is right now?' S'an asked.  A few
moments later the reply came.

*She isn't here sir.  In fact, nobody knows where she is.*

'Hmmmm.... that's odd.' S'an thought, and decided to make a stop in Koda's
office.

**********

Waiting inside the healers office, S'an jumped to his feet when he heard
Lakoda come into the room.  He didn't want to be caught dozing.

>"I was hoping you might know where Yasmine is Healer Lakoda," the man
>asked and then explained that his dragon had told him the girl wasn't in
>the Warren.

>"No. She was still sleeping when I left this morning," she told him. "I'm
>almost finished here so if you'd like to wait we can go back to our
>apartment and wait for her to show up."

>"If you don't mind."  S'an grinned.  Perhaps he could pick up some food
there as well....

A little while later, S'an and Koda stood in her apartment, listening to
the emptiness that greeted them.

>"Why don't you make yourself at home, while I get dinner started," she
>smiled at S'an and headed into the kitchen.

"No problem." He said, "Do you need any help?"

"I, I've got it!" Koda said from the kitchen.

>"Healer... I'm a bit worried about Yasmine," he frowned slightly as he
>took a seat at the table. "I mean it's not like her to just go off on her
>own this way without telling anyone."

>"Well I'm sure she had a good reason," Koda found herself saying, even as
>she agreed with him. "I'm afraid we'll just have to wait until she gets
>home and tells us what it was. In the mean time, are you hungry? I
>thought I'd make a big pot of stew for dinner."

S'an grinned widely, he stomache grumbling at the mere thought of
food.  He realised that he hadn't eaten since the morning meal.
>"Why sure Healer.  If you don't mind. Yasi was right about you being a
>good cook and all."

Just then, they both heard a dragon land on the ledge outside, and S'an
turned just as Yasmine walked in through the front door.  She looked....
brighter, more free, than he had ever seen her before.  

>"Where've you been?" Koda asked her.

>"Taking care of some business."

>"Where at? We were worried about you,"

>"Tressa," Yasmine said off-handedly.

>"Tressa???" Koda began

S'an was wondering what all this was about.

>"You look like you need to talk, why don't we go to the dining hall for
>some tea," S'an offered, putting an arm around her. He hoped Koda would
>forgive him for missing the meal she was making.

>"Actually, I'd prefer a long walk, if you don't mind," Yasmine smiled. 

>"Whatever's your pleasure, M'lady" S'an bowed.

>"Please, I've had enough M'lady's today!" Yasmine giggled, then colored
>as she saw the look she got from Lakoda. She grabbed S'an's hand, "Come
>on, let's go!"

S'an let himself be dragged along, and waved goodbye to Koda on the way
out.

"I'll take a rain check on that dinner!" He called out, and almost plowed
over Ailill.  "Whoops!  Sorry!" He said, and was quickly pulled away
before she could reply.

*******
Down by the lake
*******

>"Will you tell me what this is all about?" S'an asked when they were a
>good distance from the apartment.
His curiosity was peaking, and he wasn't sure how long he could just sit
by and wonder.

>"I had an errand to run, so I did it myself. Aren't you proud of me?"
>Yasmine giggled coyly, still on a high from having pulled off her little
>mission.

S'an laughed with her, and decided to find out more.
>"What kind of errand?"

>"I had a letter to deliver, to Zaphron."

>"Didn't you say he was..." S'an began, but was interrupted.

>Yasmine nodded, "Utha's right hand man, yes."

>S'an frowned, "Is it safe to be going to the Utha estate, I mean after
>yesterday?"
He was suddenly worried about the young womans safety.  Perhaps she should
train with David for a while too, until she could defend herself...

>"I didn't go myself. I had a friend deliver it and get a reply." Yasmine
>sat down. "I haven't read it yet." She pulled out the scroll case. "I'm
>glad you are here. I haven't read it yet. I could use some moral
>support."

As she read the letter, S'an could tell by the look on her face that it
was not good.
>"Well, what is it?" S'an asked.

>"It's bad. Utha, he's gotten much worse since I joined with Starlin.
>Every day he goes to the pubs and gets plastered, he isn't tending to
>his responsibilities, and he's even more abusive to the staff than
>before," Yasmine shook her head sadly, "It's all my fault."

"Now you know that isn't true.... didn't I say that yesterday?" S'an said,
and sat beside her.  "Every man has only himself to answer to for his own
doings, unless he is mentally ill or something like that.  And from what
you've told me, Lord Utha may not be the best person, but he isn't crazy.
He let himself get like this.  You can't blame yourself!"

"But it says it all right here in the letter."

"He did it to himself.  You didn't go down there every day and force ale
down his throat and show him how to more efficiently beat the help."

Sighing, the young woman put her head on S'an's shoulder.  "What am I
going to do?"

S'an thought for a moment, and shrugged.  "It really is all up to you,
Yasmine.  Perhaps you should talk to Waylene about it all..."

****************
Day 5, evening
****************

David paced around the dining hall, looking at the small group of men
gathered infront of him.  He had heard about Carrie, and offered himself
to help any way he could.  Now he had to get a force and go in to save
her.  He was still waiting on Trey though....

"Now, I'm sure ye all know how t'handle a sword, eh?" He asked, and the
men nodded.  "Good.  Now, these be trained soldiers, so don't be actin'
like a hero or anything that will get ye killed or worse.  All we have
t'do es get in, retrieve Carrie, and make sure she es all right.  Then
we'll deal with te'soldiers."

Giving the group another look around, David sighed.  This was not going to
be easy... then he noticed a young man, even younger than he was, behind
some of the adults.

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

> "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.  David suddenly felt sorry for the
boy.  He really wanted to help, and David remembered his own eagerness
just a few years back, if not at his present age now.

> "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?"

Trey explained about his plan with Lakoda.  

> 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.

David looked at her for a second.  He had the strangest idea that she
wasn't going to listen to him, or anybody, in the least bit.  Oh well,
he'd just have to hope that she did as she was told. 

> "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."

Following the marks, David and Trey led the small party into the caves.
The light was dim to begin with, but for some reason david could see
perfectly.  

'That's odd.' David thought.

*What is that?* Kaylin asked.

'When I was in these caves earlier, I remember having trouble seeing.
Now it is almost as bright as day.'

*I don't understand.* Kaylin thought back, confused.

'Neither do I, my friend.  But for now, I dont care, just as long as we
get Carrie out of there without her dying on us.'

A little while later they met up with T'rend.

*Koroth says that they have been talking about having their way with
Carrie.* Kaylin thought.  Due to the need for silence, they had been
communicating with their dragons since they entered the caves.

'We're going to have to get in there quickly.' He replied.

Looking into the cave, David watched as the soldier began molesting the
queenrider.  His blood began to heat as his anger built up inside.  David
made up his mind that the soldier would die this night.  Looking over to
Trey, he saw the same reaction in the man's eyes.  Putting a hand on his
shoulder, David shook his head when he turned around.

'Kayin, tell Koroth to tell Trey to keep calm until they are distracted.'

*Well do.*

As the molestation continued, David kept his fists clentched but his mind
clear.  He would need to think.  David tightened his grip on Trey's
shoulder slightly, and whispered softly.

"Calm."

Suddenly the soldier cried out in pain, and David knew this was their
chance.

"NOW!" He yelled, and ran into the cavern, his twin swords drawn.  The
other men followed.

A group of soldiers stodd between him and Carrie.  Two had crossbows....
loaded.  As they raised and fired, David turned sideways and executed The
Cutting Fan.  Both bolts were cleaved in the air and David rushed in,
running his blades through the bowmen.  Then he was locked in hand to
hand...

*****

Dispatching the last man around him with a sharp blow to the throat, David
rushed over to Carrie.  She had blood all over her.  "Medic!" He cried
out, hoping Koda didn't listen to him before.  Reaching down to help, a
voice cried out.

>"Don't move her!" Lakoda ordered. 

The healer kneeled down next to Carie, and David watched her do her work.
He had some medical training, but nothing this advanced.  She cursed
slightly, and looked around.

>"We've got to get her out of here and back to my surgery," she told
>David, then looked around the cavern they were in.

David caught sight of Trey being looked at by another healer.  He was glad
the man had survived.  Not that there was any doubt before, but battles
had the strangest way of twisting luck...

>"What do you think the chances would be for Ribbon to teleport inside
>here?" Lakoda asked David.

David examined the cavern, and estimated the size of a dragon.
>"Aye, Ribbon could get in here, healer, but there's naught room for her
>tae get air born tae teleport out. She'd be stuck here. We'll have to
>move her by stretcher through the kitchens..."

>"Well it was just a thought," she frowned. "Well we don't have time to
>wait for anyone to get here with a stretcher, so I need you to look
>around and find something we could use to keep her steady on the trip
>back."

David nodded, and went off in search of a stretcher, or something akin to
it.  Moving though the various rooms, he saw that a few prisoners had been
taken by the men.  "Good, now keep em there.  Don't take yer eyes off of
em, either, or else they'll try and pull something tricky."

Then men nodded, and David gave the prisoners the 'eye' before taking
search again.

Walking into another passage, David found a bunch of debris, as well as a
plank that would suit as a stretcher.  Picking it up, he hurried back to
where Lakoda was waiting.

With some help, they were able to secure Carrie to the board, and move her
safely.

>"Make sure her legs are slightly elevated," Lakoda told the man at the
>end, who placed his riding jacket beneath the girls legs to give her legs
>some support. "Now on three we'll lift her slowly and carefully take her
>back through the kitchen and then to Ribbon who's waiting outside."

"One..... two...... three!" David said, and they all lifted the stretcher.

>"Okay.. let's hurry as fast as we can and still be careful with her,"
>Koda told them and began to lead the way out of the cavern.

**********
Late night
**********

A while later David paced outside of the Warrenlady's office, waiting for
healer Lakoda to finish her report.  He yawned loudly, wondering if Minty
was waiting up for him.  He hoped that she had gone to bed.  He had sent
word with Kaylin to Kirimith to tell her what had been going on.

Finally, the healer left the office.  David smiled at her on her way out.
"Good night healer." He said, and she nodded.

Walking into the office, David bowed to Waylene and Trak.

"I trust Lakoda said that Carrie es doing well?" He asked.

They both nodded, and David nodded back.  "Good, I was worried about her.
I have some news."

"And what would that be?" Waylene asked.

David sniffed, and looked at his report.  "We were able t'take a few
prisoners during te'battle.  I suggest we interrogate them t'learn what
they have been up te, t'account for all te'things that have been deemed
missing, the childs death, and everything else.  They are in holding as we
speak..."

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

Justin

NRPG:  WHEW!!!!  I thought I would never finish that.  *sigh*  I'm sorry
if it really isn't that good, but I'm still trying to break that writers
block.... but I really did want a piece of the action! *lol*

I'm going to be gone for a week *well, until friday*, I'm going on a trip
to California with my church.  So, hang-ten everybody!  I'll see ya then.
I hope that wraith buisness is still around when I return.  It sounds
really cool!!!