>The bandit looked up at him pleadingly, "So is that good enough?"
>
>Darrkon looked down at the pitiful man, "Yep, you're free to go."  He
>answered, and began walking off.
>
>"Wait!" The man cried, "You said you'd free me!"
>
>"I said we'd go our separate ways.  If you can get out of there you can
>go any way you like."  The rider walked around the foolish thief and
>climbed atop his dragon <Come on pal.  We've got some planning to do.>
>

<..>

Day of the searching

Darrkon checked his swoeds <This will just have to do for now.  Remind
me to prepare the battleaxe for the ceremony when we return to the
cove.>

<I still do not uderstand this ceremony Darrkon.  How does it help in
battle?>

Darrkon placed the last of the canisters he was carrying <Look at what
happened to my srowd in the fight with Illium.  It broke and left me
defenseless.  I could have been killed because of a weak weapon.  I
can't let that happen again.>

<But what does it do?>  The dragon insisted on understanding his rider's
strange beliefs.

<I explained all of this before.  Now be quiet, I need to concentrate.>
Darrkon put a small device by the opening in the canister.  He thought
of the man who taught him how to make it, "Vetron this better work."

No sooner had he finished the thought, he heard an explosion in the
distance.  "Yes!" he thought, "You were a genius Vetron.  Sorry about
the way things ended."  The warrior moved toward the explosion.  As he
reached the sight a second, third, fourth, and fifth explosion sounded
off.  They were supposed to go off at the same time, but were close
enough to each other that Darrkon's plan was still in tact.  

The rider saw most of the men run from the hole created to the other
fires started.  He also witnessed a group of soldiers walk through the
hole into the forest.  Silently he creeped through the opening and into
the capgrounds.

The inner "fortress" was in turmoil.  And Darrkon could see why.
Sleeping huts were build haphazardly, the smell of feces ran rampant
throughout the compound.  There was no sign of organization until he
cleared the exterior of the stronghold and spotted the main hall.

Darrkon had wondered how Ardomok could have beenn foolish enough to
build his fortress of straw huts and wooden gates when the wraiths were
on the loose.  Now he saw that Ardomok was no fool at all.  The building
before him was an intricately carved palace of stone, with Ardomok's
family crest hanging above the door.

At first glance Darrkon saw no sign of living material.  He also saw no
way in.  But his captive had assured him there was one.  Darrkon quickly
ran around the back of the palace, making sure to stay in the uorganized
rabble of the hired hands, and out of sight of those within.

When Darrkon reached the rear of the true stronghold, he was glad to
find his prisoner had not lied to him.  On many different level was
Ardomok's family crest etched into the stone.  So etched were they that
a man skilled in climbing could use them to your advantage.  Darrkon was
just that man.  He swiftly closed in on the palace wall, and began
climbing.  Withing minutes he was inside the stronghold and ready to
coontinue with his plan.  Only one thing stopped him.  He was far too
recognizable.  When he heard footsteps coming down the hall, the
dragonrider knew now was the time.  Taking a deep breath, and thinking
about Lacey...Darrkon removed his mask.

<..>

Moving through the castle wasn't as hard as Darrkon expected it to be.
He had recieved few odd looks.  Some men questioned him openly about the
scars as if the men were his old buddies.  He was stopped a few time,
but simply answered, "Ardomok wants me to check on the girl."
Apparently calling Ardomok by his name gave him a great deal of clout.
It was also very apparent that Ardomok's men weren't as intelligent as
he had thought.

When Darrkon reached Marina's cell he dispatched of the guard quickly.
He placed his mask on again so he wouldn't scare her.  He  entered the
cell and rushed over to Marina when he heard her sobbing, "Marina, what
is it?  It's Darrkon.  Have these bastards hurt you?  Tell me who and
they won't live through the night!"

Marina turned toward Darrkon and began pulling his clothing.  He pulled
her close and began to stand her up.  "NO!"  She yelled.

"Why not?"  Darrkon asked, "What is wrong?  I'm here to help you."

Marina looked up at him, eyes full of fear, "My legs. They don't work,
and I can't feel them.  They won't move, I can't stand.  Just leave me."

A rage grew in Darrkon that he had only felt twice before, The day his
mother died and the day his face was slashed.  Although he had no great
feeling for Marina, no woman deserves thatt treatment.  "I will not
leave you Marina.  We leave together or we die trying."

Darrkon lifted Marina easily to his shoulder and proceeded out of the
cell.  A few of Ardomok's soldier ran into his sword on the way out,
this was easier than it should have been.  Soon Darrkon learned why.
Upon reaching the main hll, Darrkon ran into about 25 of Ardomok's
finest waiting.  He held up his sword in defiance and prepared to fight
his last fight...

...When a deep grey tail burst through the wall to his right.  An orange
flame soon followed, engulfing his assailants.

<Calindeth!?>

<Who else?>  his dragon answered amused.

<You were not part of the plan.  You should have stayed back to clear
our escape.>

<The plan had to change Darrkon.  The bandits run with wild riders, and
they're on their way.

As Darrkon climbed atop his dragon and placed the still weeping Marina
in front of him he cursed his luck <<But this ruins everything.  How ca
we bring them to us?>

<There must be a way.>  Calindeth answered launching himself from the
ground.

<There is!>  Darrkon answered <Get ready to teleport to our
mountainside, but send the image to the other dragons.>

<But that will...>

<Let them know where we are.  They'll know we did it on purpose and
expect trap.  So they'll take their time.  Which gives us time to
prepare.>  Calindeth flew toward his enemies and sent them the image of
the mountainside before winking out in front of them.  Upon reaching the
mountainside, the dragon blinked out again, this time appearing above
the cove.  He landed and let his rider dismount with the woman they had
rescued.  Now all they could do was get ready and wait...


Submitted by

Darrkon and Calindeth

NRPG:  OK.  Does the mating flight take place on the day of the
searching or after, so I know when to bring Darrkon back?  This will
conclude in my next two posts.