"Why on earth is he planning this raid on Norwall?"  Jonas murmured to
his companion as he tightened the ropes holding their supplies to the
raft bobbing in the gentle current of the river.  "There'd be better
pickings at Fairlight and it's less likely to be well guarded."


Lyle cast a quick look round to make sure no one was in earshot before
answering.  


"I heard it's a personal thing with him." he whispered  "Something to
do with an old grudge against the highups and being cheated out of his
rightful position....."


A high-pitched scream of agony interrupted Lyle's words.  


"It's Norwall we're attacking because I'm the leader and I said so." 
the man said with quiet menace as he pulled his sword from the limp
body at his feet.  "Now does anyone else want to challenge my
leadership... "  He kicked viciously at the bloody corpse and waited.  


Silence greeted his words and everyone avoided his eyes as he glared at
each of them in turn.   "I thought not.  Fucking cowards the lot of
you"  he sneered contemptuously  "Well what are you waiting for.....
get back to work.  We're leaving just after sundown and I want
everything ready in good time.  Mark, Quinn ... get that out of my
sight...." Once more he kicked at the corpse at his feet, then he
turned on his heel and strode away.


The two men called on scurried forward to pick up the body of their
dead comrade and carried it into the trees.


<Later>


"He's lost it ..." Jonas said as he looked toward their
red-faced leader.


The man's hands were clenched  into tight fists, his eyes bulged with
temper and spittle flew from his mouth as he screamed his anger into
the shocked and frightened face of the cowering youngster who had
provoked his wrath.


Jonas twirled his finger next to his temple in a graphic demonstration
of his meaning.  "Gaga. Loopy.  Two slices short of a loaf..."


"Shhhh!"  His companion, Lyle,  shot a frightened glance at their
leader.   "He'll hear you.  You *know* he's got eyes in the back of his
head.  Do you want to end up like Kieran?"  His eyes slid furtively
towards the untidy heap lying just within the treeline, and he
shuddered before he quickly looked away again.  


"He's mad."  Jonas said flatly  "And I'm not going to let myself get
killed just because a crazy man has a death wish."  He picked up his
boots and began picking the mud and stones from the deeply creviced
sole.  "Once we stop and the camp's settled down for the night I'm out
of here.   And if you know what's good for you....."


Jonas froze as a huge black shadow fell across the two.  


Shivering with fear he looked up.... way up.... into the whirling red
tinged eyes of their leader's monster companion.   


The creature lowered it's head until it was level with the two men. 
It's stare was hypnotically hostile, it's lip curled up into a sneering
grin.   Gulping with terror, Jonas scrambled backwards, frantically
trying to put as much distance as possible between himself and the
almost palpable evil that emanated from the brick red dragon.  It's
eyes glittered with draconic delight at Jonas' fear and one eyelid
lowered in a contemptuous wink as he scrambled frantically away.... too
late to avoid the casual, careless huff of hot fetid, breath that sent
him rolling, arms and legs a tangle,  partway towards the fire.


Lyle hurried to help him as the creature stumped away, the ground
shaking beneath it's heavy tread. 


"It'll tell him ..... "  Lyle nodded towards the far side of the fire.


D'gerrit suddenly stopped his ranting at the youngster who'd been the
object of his rage and cocked his head to one side as if listening. 
Then he slowly turned his head towards Jonas and Lyle, a malicious
smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.











-- 
Mint,  the voice and soul of

Timi Caplain  FO  USS Javelin      Caliban, Lute's human  Dragon Lands  
Lillith the Mage    Broken Lands    Minty, Kirimith's rider    Dragon Lands                  
Naomi, QueenRider to Amethyst, Norwall's WarrenLady,  Dragon Lands

ICQ #5814808
http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/5902
http://www.dragonfire.net/~Mint/

PGP Public key: http://www.dragonfire.net/~Mint/Mint.asc