Calindeth appeared above the area chosen for the picnic with Darrkon and
Marina aboard.  The place was just inside of the wastes, an old hideout
from his theiving days.

"What a beautiful spot!"  Marina exclaimed, "What made you choose it?
Is there something special about it?"

"No, it's safe is all."  Darrkon was already uncomfortable with the idea
of picnicking with her.  He didn't really trust her not to look at him
while they were eating, not the way he trusted Lacey.  He was beginning
to wish he had never agreed to this picnic.

"What do you mean safe?"  Marina protested, "I'd think we'd be safer
close to the warren.."

Darrkon communicated a place for Calindeth to land and the great beast
began descending.  "Hold on."  He called to the raven haired woman
before him.  As Calindeth's spiral picked up speed, Marina caught her
breath, leaned back into Darrkon, and dug her nails into his thighs.  He
found her reaction amusing which helped him relax a bit.  The
dragonrider had forgoten the exhilaration one felt the first time on
dragonback.  "I'd advise you to breath.  Otherwise you'll miss out on a
great lunch."

Marina let out a breathand, luckily, continued breathing.  As much as
Darrkon didn't want to be hear, he dreaded facing Lacey and trying to
explain himself all the more.  Especially while she was still upset.
Best to give her some time to calm down.

<..>

Marina had chosen a spot by a small pond that Darrkon used to use for
bathing and hiding the spoils of plunder.  There was a slight chill in
the air so Darrkon was able to talk Marina into wrapping herself in the
blanket she had brought for them to sit on.  After much protesting he
had finally been able to convince her that sitting on the cold ground
reminded him of his past which was invigorating.  To his surprise, he
wasn't lying.  They spent time catching up, discussing events in their
past.  All in all they were having a good time, until Marina treaded on
ground best left undisturbed.

"Darrhon,"  she paused, "You know I still can't get used to calling you
that.  But anyway, since I learned who you are I've been wondering, why
do you wear that mask?"  Darrkon had been stocking the fire he had
built.  The question caught him so off guard he poked too hard and
collapsed hte pile.  One thing Marina never learned was tact.  "Oh I'm
sorry.  Did I say something wrong?"

"No.  It's just not something I want to get into right now."  He replied
as he began stacking more wood over the quickly dying fire.

"OK.  The answer isn't important anyway.  It's just that I overheard you
and Lacey talking one day, about redigningit.  So you could ea in
oublic, and I guess do other things as well."  she teased,"Well I think
I have an idea!"  Crack, clunk!  The logs fell again.  Marina looked at
him playfully.  I think the fire might last longer in you quit knocking
the pile over...of course we could always get under this blanket adshare
body heat."  Even with the mask on, the look Darrkon gave Marina was
clear.  "Well, as I was saying, I have an idea on how to redisign your
mask."

"That's a project for Lacey and I.  Something -we- are doing together."

"Oh.  Well I thought you might want some input, since you two have been
working on it for so long."

"Forget it."  He answered.  Clearly becoming annoyed at her
interference.

"Forgotten."  Marina responded.  Her satisfaction in pushing his buttons
was obvious.

After getting the fire started again Darrkon turned away from Marina,
removed his mask and continued eating.  "You know you should put a rush
on that girlfriend of yours.  It's weird talking to your back."

"I said foorget about it!"

"I'm just trying to be..."  There was aa crunch in the bushes nearby.

"Shhh...I heard something."

"I've heard lots of somethings since we've been here."  Marina fumed,
"You hear one and it's shhh?!"

"This something managed to sneak up on us without getting my atention
until the last minute.  We're not alone."  The rider called to his
dragon <Calindeth, where are you?>

<Feeding, and I would prefer to continue.  The human female you are with
is as good as the other one.  Find -something- to do with her.>  Darrkon
heard his dragon chuckling to himself.  The beast was becoming more
brutish every second he spent with his own kind.

<Get your lazy hide here now.  Someone else is here, and you kknow these
woods.>  Just as he finished the thought he heard yelling coming from
the brush.  Ten men came charging at him and Marina.

"I thought you said this place was safe!"  his guest shouted.

"I meant it was safe for me, no chance of me running into Lacey."  He
answered as he drew his swords.  One , a trusted old friend.  The othre,
a yet to be tested sword he borrowed from the armory, after he broke his
ither sword in the fight with Illium.  "Don't worry though.  Calindeth
will be here soon."  He didn't utter his final words, "I hope."


***TO BE CONTINUED***