>"So, do you want to tell me some more of the story?" Lacey said 
>dispassionately, the hurt sounding in her voice "Or do you want to go see 
>how your precious marina is doing."
>
If the situation wasn't so serious, Darrkon would have found it
extremely funny.  He couldn't believe Lacey was jealous of Marina.  "My
'precious Marina' as you put it can wait.  As to why Ardomok seeks
revenge , it goes back to the altercation this past autumn.  One of the
men I fought was named Illium, he was Ardomok's older brother.  They
weren't very close, but Ardomok didn't appreciate hearing of his
brother's death.  Especially by my hand.

Darrkon found it easier talking to Lacey and things came out more
smoothly.  Although he and Naomi had become friends in the time he has
been at the warren, Darrkon still felt uneasy around her.  There are two
reasons, obvious to Darrkon, why the warrenlady uneases him.  The first
is that she is the warrenlady of Norwall.  Darrkon has lived for nine
years without any major figures of authority in his life, and she was
the first female one since his mother.  Reporting to Naomi was an
adjustment, one he was still getting used to.

The second reason Darrkon was uncomfortable around Naomi, stems from an
early "encounter" between the two.  He was relatively new to the warren
when Amethyst, Naomi's dragon, rose for a mating flight.  It was no
surprise to Darrkon when Calindeth won, he was, and still is the best
dragon in the warren.  What Darrkon didn't expect was the intense,
burning -NEED- to be with Naomi.  The resulting coupling was the most
exilarating experience in Darrkon's life.  But Darrkon wasn't warren
bred and seeing a woman on a regular basic who he had been intimate with
unsettled him.  In his bandit days it had always been, love 'em and
leave 'em.  Add on the fact that he was in the beginnings of a
relationship with the woman's sister, and it's easy to see why he wouls
be stressed.

Movement from Lacey brought him out of his thoughts, she walked from her
position at Naomi's desk and sat in the chair beside him.  "Why would he
be so upset that -you- killed his brother?"

"Illium and I used to run together.  We had to fight each other to get
into the gang we belonged to.  It was run by a guy named Cassidy.
Illium beat me pretty badly.  We were both let in, but Illium was put in
a higher position than I was.  Cassidy assigned him to train me.  Well I
took what he knew and learned from the other guys in the gang as well.
 position.  In a few months I was CAssidy's right hand man.  Illium was
pissed.  After all he showed me everything he knew, if not for him I
wouldn't be where I was, or so he thou  That's when things began to go
bad between us.

"Illium began to act wild.  Killing anyone and everyone he encountered.
That wasn't Cassidy's style though.  He always taught us, if the mark
gives up without a fight let them go.  If they fight and surrender, let
them go.  The only reason we should kill is if we have no other choice.
That way..." Darrkon smiled at the next bit, "That way, we keep the
dragonriders off of our backs.  Illium didn't listen and ended up in
trouble often.

"One night a tragedy occurred.  Cassidy was out on a scouting run, and
was set upon by an adversary of ours.  He didn't suurvive.  The guys
wanted me to take his place as leader.  Everyone but Illium.  He
challenged me, remembering how he had beaten me before.  This time I
won.  He refused to stay in defeat though and left in the night.  The
next day, the same group of bandits that had taken Cassidy from us
appeared with Illium leading them.  He announced to us all that he had
Cassidy killed.  A large battle broke out, but Illium didn't stay to
fight.  Those of us who survived swore to hunt down Illium and kill him.
We were to find the others and let them know the search was over.  I had
forgotten about that.  It seems right that I was the one to fulfill that
promise."

Lacey had sat up in the chair during his story.  She thought for a
second and asked, "Ardomok couldn't have set up the ambush could he?

"I don't see how." Darrkon answered.  "They'd have to hve known where we
were going.  Only way they could  have known is if someone had told
them.  It had to be dumb luck."

"I don't see how you can call it luck.  I mean look at you."

"What?  You don't like my new look?"  Darrkon teased.

"That's not what I meant.  You go out there healthy, and come back all
cut up.  Callindeth had to have been affected by being involved in -two-
dragon's deaths.  And your -friend- is injuured."

Darrkon shifted uncomfortaly.  More from the weapons on his back than
from Lacey's accusations.  He removed the battle-axe and replied to his
love, Calindeth and I will get better.  We always do.  I'm not sure
about Marina, but I think she's a fighter.  But we now know about the
bandits and the wild riders.  We know they have gathered and joined
forces.  We may not know their numbers, but we can still prepare.  That
why I call it luck."

if we don't know where there base is?  How does simply knowing they
exist matter?"

"It's like they say Lacey.  Knowledge is power."  Darrkon felt that
there wasnothing else to report about his experiences and decided he
b=needed to catch up with warren business.  "So anything interesting
happen while I was gone?"

(Tag Kat)


Submitted by Darrkon & Calindeth
Ismail Abdur-Rahman
NRPG:  SOrry about the huge delay folks.

Special apology to Kat.  I know you're trying to get back into the
story, and having to wait for two weeks doesn't help.