Z'lec
***

>With his grip loosened. Z'lec broke free from his arm hold and spun
>around, swinging harder than he did before. This time, Kendal simply
>awaited for the punch to strike, hoping that it would end his misery like
>a bolt of lightning.

But that was not meant to be as a couple of riders finally moved in to try
and tear the two apart. At first they thought there was going to be a great
fight to watch. But Kendal had simply submitted .. as though he didn't care.

The first moved in, "Com'on Z'lec, ease up on the guy .."

"Yeah, have you seen the other woman .." the second said. Rumors about the
new rider who wasn't quiet right in the head had been circulating ..
particularly the way she threw herself at men! There were already
discussions on who had gotten her first, though as far as anyone knew all
the young woman had done was destroy Kendal and Ailill's relationship.

There were several dragonriders who had decided they wouldn't mind giving
the young woman ago. She was quite a looker! And if her flirting was an
indication of anything .. any rendezvous with her would be worth it!

The dragonvine was a very efficient means of communication. Nearly all the
dragons loved to gossip about silly human affairs .. and affairs of the
seemingly fragile human heart were of most interest.

Z'lec didn't pay any attention as he laid another solid punch on Kendal's
face. "You weak bastard! Go on just lay there! I should've seen it  .. I
should've known why you came back!"

The two dragonriders moved in, seeing that Z'lec wasn't going to listen to
them. "That's enough!"

"He ain't fighting .." they grabbed the former wingleaders arms and pulled
him back firmly.

But Z'lec shrugged them off, "He deserves to die for what he did!"

"Oh no .." they grunted fighting to control the out-of-control man. "Com'on
man. This isn't gonna do any good."

"Yeah," the second rider groaned using his full strength to hold the man
away from Kendal. "We'd better get Traknor .." he spoke to his partner.

Suddenly Z'lec stopped fighting, "Trak?"

The two relieved that he'd stopped fighting nodded, "Yeah we'll get Trak .."

Z'lec nodded. Much better to pound on Trak then on Kendal .. Trak was much
worse a slimy, two-faced worm then Kendal was! "Yes .. Trak. I wanna talk
to Trak."

Waylene
***

>"STOP RIGHT THERE!!"

Waylene heard Trak's angry cry and moved to see what was going on. She was
surprised to see two children run out and stop dead in their tracks as they
looked up at her. She immediately recognized them as Chalin's younger
siblings. What were they doing here? Oh gods .. please not stealing again ..

>"Just wait until I get my hands on that little..." the man was swearing as
>he hobbled out of the bedroom.

>The kids saw the woman turn to look his way. "I don't think you'll have
>far to look Trak," Waylene said then turned back to the kids. "I thought
>we had an agreement?"

>"We didn't come here to steal from you," Lemek frowned.

>"Chalin made us promise to come here if he didn't come back or we ever got
>scared," Marika said in a sweet little voice. Her body was starting to
>shake and tears were welling up in her big blue eyes.

>"Why should we believe you two," Trak asked coming to stand beside Lemek
>in case he tried to run now after being caught red handed.

>"Why the child is scared to death," Waylene suddenly cried and moved to
>pick up the little girl in her arms. "There, there sweetie. It's all right
>now."

>Neither of the children saw the look that passed between the Warrenlady
>and Trak.

>"I think we need to talk," she said finally to the kids. "I need to know
>what's going on here and what happened to Chalin."

"We don't know." The little girl cried. "He never came back."

"See ma'am, we agreed never to steal anymore." The boy said, "We promised.
But .. well it wasn't that easy. Chalin had to tell the man .."

"What man?"

The boy shook his head, "We never met him. Only Chalin. He gave Chalin
money for the things we'd taken .."

"And Chalin went to see this man?"

They nodded.

She looked over at Trak who was moving toward the ledge where Mayhem was
waiting for him. "Trak?" She asked.

"Z'lec .. he wants to see me." He said incredulously.

A look of hope glimmered through Waylene's eyes. Was he coming around?  Oh
gods .. please! She prayed silently. That was a major hurdle that if they
could over come .. "Trak .." her voice pleaded with him to keep his head.

He smiled, promising her with his ice blue eyes.

Then she turned back to the kids, the hardest part yet to come. "We .. we
found Chalin."

The girl looked up, "Where is he?"

Waylene hesitated not sure how to tell them. She looked at them both, then
averted her eyes frowning as she fought to find the right words. The older
of the two .. the boy .. began to shake his head.

"He's dead .." His voice shook, then with better control, "Isn't he?"

Waylene looked at him and nodded, "I'm sorry."

"Chalin .." the girl whimpered, looking to her brother, who held out his
arms and hugged her tightly.

Waylene could feel her own tears welling up as she watched the little girl
begin to sob into her brothers chest.

"Look," She said softly, "I'm so sorry about your brother, and .. I feel
awful about everything. And I want you to say here .. with me. I'll watch
over you. Make sure you're safe. And so will Trak. And he'll find whoever
.. killed Chalin. I promise."

"You want us to stay .. here?" the boy asked.

Waylene nodded, "Yes, I do Lemek. I want you and Marika to live with us.
You don't have to answer right away .. take your time. Think about it .."

Suddenly there was a jubilant roaring. <My eggs! My egg!> Waylene heard
from Aura.

She smiled, <I'm coming, love.>

"The eggs are being laid. Would you like to see?"

The kids nodded and she lead them  down the stairs and around to the
hatching cave.

Z'lec
***

Z'lec had plotted and planned from the time they told him Trak was on his
way until the moment the tall blond opened the door. Waiting here in this
med center room, where he'd spent most of his time since Raynod's death. If
he knew his friend, he would come hoping for a reconciliation .. and that
was just what Z'lec needed to strike back his final revenge.

When the door opened, he was ready and he greeted Trak with a half-smile.
"I .. I'm glad you came."

"I'm glad you wanted to see me."

Z'lec studied his friends face. He could see Trak was a little more on
guard then he'd anticipated. Damn! He could feel the rage in the center of
his being, but he fought it. He had to hold it together, a little while
longer .. then .. revenge!

"I .. I know I haven't been myself lately."

Trak nodded.

"And I want to apologize to both you and Waylene."

"She'll be glad to hear that."

*I bet you weasel!* an inner voice screamed. But Z'lec didn't permit the
words to come out his mouth.

"I wanted to show you how sorry I was for everything. I have a present .. a
gift, begging for forgiveness."

Trak shook his head, "Not necessary .."

"Yes it is!" Z'lec roared, then backed off, "I .. I'm sorry. I'm just
really on edge .."

Trak nodded, "Look Z'lec. You've always been my friend.. and you always
will be. You don't have to prove that."

"I want to. Look."

He motioned behind the blonde man to a box. Trak turned slightly, then
looked back at Z'lec, "You really don't have to .."

"Please .. for me .."

Trak shrugged and turned moving toward the box. Z'lec silently pulled a
kitchen knife out from under the mattress of the hospital bed. And moved
toward the man's back.

Z'lec knew how to use the knife. He knew the perfect place to stab and
enemy to prevent both screaming and struggling .. and to cause nearly
instantaneous death. And that's exactly where the knife was aimed and
exactly where the knife would have embedded into Trak's body .. had not at
that moment Aura's jubilant roar echoed through the warren. Trak turned
just enough to catch the approaching knife out of the corner of his eye.

Z'lec, caught off guard by both the dragon roar and Traknor's body
movement, moved a little to fast. He hadn't wanted to let the moment go.
Trak had to die! He had to pay for all of Z'lec's pain!

The knife sliced into Trak's shoulder blade. He howled in pain and Z'lec
pulled the knife quickly back to go for a second stab. Trak caught his hand
trying to hold back the knife, even as it quivered closer ..

Gods! Anger and rage and hate had made Z'lec strong .. All his energy
poured into one task. Seeing Traknor's lifes-blood spilled on the stone
floor!

Waylene
***

Waylene and the children watched along with a small crowd of on lookers as
Aura carefully laid and arranged her eggs. Waylene tried to help the
children guess what colors the eggs would be as they hardened. The colors
were softer, more muted when first laid, and often didn't dictate their
final color. Nor did they always dictate the color of the hatchling growing
inside.

"They're so big!" the girl gasped.

Waylene nodded, "Much larger then those of chickens!"

"Waylene!" an insistent voice called to her from the entrance to the
hatching cave. She looked up to see D'nar heading toward her, "Waylene, we
have a problem in the med center."

"What?" she asked almost afraid to hear.

"I think .. I think it'd be best if you heard it from Lakoda."

"Oh gods, D'nar .." She looked down at the kids, then back up at the tall
blonde man. "Can you make sure these two get back up to my apartment
safely. Maybe you could help them clean out the bedroom to the left of
mine. It .. it's a bit dusty .."

"Sure, do you want me to take you to the med center first?"

"No, stay with the kids. Keep them safe. I'll catch a ride with someone else."

He nodded, and Waylene introduced him to the children. Then hurried off to
catch a ride to the med center.

***

Koda was waiting for her when she arrived. "What happened? What is it?"

"It's Z'lec .. and Trak."

"Oh gods.. "

"Z'lec .. he tried to kill Trak. With a kitchen knife."

"What?" Waylene's face paled. "Trak?"

"He's all right. A couple stab wounds, but no major arteries or organs hit."

"And Z'lec?"

"We've got him restrained. He's completely enraged, Waylene."

Waylene's voice caught in her throat, "Oh .. gods .. what have we done?"

Lakoda sighed, "Look I'm no expert on relationships. Gods know my track
record isn't so hot. But I know Z'lec loves you." She shrugged, "I'm sure
Trak does too .. in his own demented way .."

Waylene frowned, "Lakoda, Trak's a good man."

"So is Z'lec .. he .. he's just confused. And he needs you!"

"He doesn't want me! Don't you think I've tried!"

"Why do you think he wants to kill Trak? It's because he thinks Trak has
stolen you away from him."

"He's not the same. He's changed. Losing Raynod .. it's changed him."

Koda nodded. "There's something more serious we need to discuss."

"What?"

Koda took a deep breath. "Z'lec tried to kill Trak with a kitchen knife.
That's exactly what was used to kill Chalin."

"What are you saying! Anyone would have access to a kitchen knife."

Lakoda nodded, "Yes, I agree. But Z'lec knows those tunnels behind the med
center as well as you do. He's been hanging out there a lot, according to
several of my staff who have seen him come and go from there recently. And
he's tried to kill two other people."

"Two?"

"Kendal .. he beat Kendal nearly senseless."

"Why?"

"I think it's because of Ailill." One of the riders who brought Kendal into
the med center said Z'lec had been ranting about mate stealing and Ailill."

"Oh gods .." Waylene put her hand to her head, "Everything is so messed up .."

D'nar
***

D'nar led the two kids back to Waylene's apartment after Aura had finished
laying her eggs. Thirteen in total. Nothing spectacular .. but considering
the stress the queen had been under since the mating flight, it wasn't too
bad. Between the attack by the landbound and the wraiths it was no wonder
it was a small clutch.

"This is the room," D'nar said moving to a closed door just down the hall
from Waylene's master bedroom. He pushed the door open and  peered in.

Waylene had been right. It was dusty. A disassembled crib was stuck behind
a dusty dresser and there were several half full boxes of various baby
things. Some cloths, blankets .. diapers .. Thing that Waylene had
obviously not bothered to look at in a very long time.

"This looks like a baby's room." The boy said.

D'nar nodded, "It was most likely meant to be .. once."

The girl wrinkled her nose. "It's dirty."

D'nar nodded again, "But don't worry, we'll get it cleaned up and get a
couple of big beds up here for you."

Marika looked at her brother. "Are we gonna stay?"

Waylene
***

"Kendal?" she whispered a while later when she walked into room to check on
him. "Are you awake?"

He looked up at her, "Unfortunately."

"Oh Kendal, I'm so sorry about this .. about Z'lec. It's all my fault .."

Regards,
Waylene and Aura
***
NRPG: Norman, wanna chat with Waylene, they seem to have a lot in common
right now :)

Kate, Waylene will not be going to see Z'lec. She can't handle it, but
Ailill can if she wants <g> How does the girl feel about him .. um sorta ..
defending her honor :)

Mike, I'm sure she'll be around to see Trak tho <G>

Barb, Waylene will tell Lakoda about the kids ..BTW :)

All, eggs are laid .. we have a murderer, a suspect and lots of things to
be uncovered so have fun! I can't wait to see what's hiding in the interior
of Marrid!

Kristen
------------------------------------
Kristen & Scott Gant
http://homepage.interaccess.com/~sgant/gant.htm