Day 18
Early Morning
Office of the Wingleader
K'Tarr

K'Tarr finished writing up the duty roster. He placed his black quill down 
beside the piece of paper and carefully read over his handiwork.

The list was broken into three. The first section of the list was comprised 
of all the riders who were wounded or incapacitated. He had hesitated for a 
long while over whether or not he should include Landon on this list. The 
archer was fit for duty, although exhausted by his constant vigil at 
Jasmine's side. He toyed with the idea of forcing Landon to rest, chaining 
him to a bed and having Lilliana shoot him full of sleeping drugs.

Although the warren was safe for now, history told that it soon wouldn't 
be. And K'Tarr couldn't sacrifice the safety of so many for the sake of one 
or two riders.

But in the end, the little spark of humanity that burned in the depths of 
his blackened soul prevented him from putting his wingmates name down.

He did not put Amy's there, though.

Amy's name found itself on the second list. Homeguard. These dragons and 
riders would be responsible for short patrols around the perimeter of the 
warren. Low altitude, low speed, high visibility. K'Tarr wanted whoever may 
be lurking in the underbrush to know that he had riders at the ready, 
watching and waiting for who might attack next.

Several other names appeared on this list; Cat, Cyrus, if he was not busy 
with his courier duties, Alexandra. Basically, the newer riders and the 
dragons who proved an asset in close quarters fighting.

The other list, had all of the Homeguard and any other remaining riders 
names on it. They would be patrolling on the hour. A series of controlled 
teleports to areas which would give the greatest range of visibility. It 
took them to the ruins of Brona's camp, to the old hideout where they first 
met Kaymann, to Lake Soulsease and to the outskirts of every town nearby. 
These patrols checked out every thing of interest for miles around.

The schedule wasn't too demanding. Rigorous, perhaps.  There would be 
complaints, but that was too bad. Norwall had to toughen up some. It had to 
or it would never survive.

Satisfied with the division of ranks, K'Tarr walked from behind his desk 
and posted the timetable on the bulletin board outside of his office. He 
locked the door and called to his dragon.

<Qualis, are you ready to ride?> He said quietly.

<<Yes, brother.>>  Qualis was as sullen as his brother. When K'Tarr had 
teetered on the edge of sanity, and his bloodlust swelled and nearly 
consumed him, he took the brilliant red and blue dragon with him. As much 
as the hunter's psyche had been scarred, the dragon's had also been forever 
changed.

The black clad hunter strode down the quiet hallways. A few riders had 
already begun to show themselves and the notice on the board quickly drew 
their attention.

K'Tarr had signed himself up for three shifts in a row, for what would have 
been Kalena and Landon's flights, although he told noone that. He also 
assigned himself a night flight. He didn't mind. He looked down the hall 
from atop of Qualis' shoulders. The riders were now busily chatting amongst 
themselves. A few were griping about bad assignments, but it was good 
natured. Each knew that K'Tarr had been more than fair and many were 
questioning the amount of flight time he had assigned himself.

Qualis lifted off silently, swirling the dust and debris nearby into the air.

[Tag Anyone - All the riders are affected by this timetable and I guess 
that mean's most of us will have to spend some time outside of the warren. 
Time to try out some new story arcs!]

***

Day 18
Late Morning
Norwall Market Square
Antwin

The bard sat at a table under the tent of a rare coffee bean trader. He 
sipped at the special roast the man behind the counter had prepared. No one 
realized that it had been Antwin who had secretly manipulated and financed 
the little operation. It was one of the first things he did whenever he set 
up in a new town.

His secret influence as the Dove allowed him to still move currency from 
one hand to another. Somehow, wherever the bard ended up, there was a 
coffee trader waiting with his special brew, piping hot and waiting for 
Antwin in the late morning, each day.

Today was no different, and the bard cradled the still hot cup in his hand. 
The heat bled through the porcelain cup and into the skin of his hand. It 
comforted him little.

The streets were as busy as any other day in Norwall. Warreners and traders 
were selling and buying goods like normal, although today clean-up crews 
hustled about the cobbled roads, heaving away chunks of stone or the 
corpses of fallen men.

And Antwin watched for the man named Marssell. Today, would be the end of 
the old man's intricate web of power, deceit and information.

Antwin smiled behind his mug as the old man finally appeared.

He drained his mug and left the pavilion.

***

Day 18
Noon
The Dining Hall
Kaymann

"So, I've heard rumblings of a party to celebrate our victory." Kaymann 
cooed over his third tankard of ale.

He was enjoying this hero status. People around the warren had heard of his 
daring do and a few had even seen it themselves. He smiled at Cat broadly.

It was nice to not have them whispering about him being a rogue, especially.

"Yeah well, don't let it get to your head." She purred. "And don't get too 
drunk, you have patrol in a half hour."

Kaymann glowered at the remainder of his ale. "I was drinking because I was 
going on patrol."

"Come on, Kaymann. Don't be like that." Cat pouted. "You have 
responsibilities as a dragon rider here at Norwall."

"Yeah, yeah, responsibilities. Whatever." He scratched at the table top 
with the scabbard of his sword. "I just think that K'Tarr's being a prick. 
He's got us flying around on patrols most of the day. I mean, we beat off 
the Dark Riders pretty well, and K'Tarr totally finished off the Brona's 
gang, I mean, who's left?"

"There's always someone, Kaymann." Cat sighed. "You weren't here for the 
whole Hellspawn incident. That was pretty creepy."

"Hellspawn?" Kaymann cocked an eyebrow.

"I'll tell you some other time, right now, you've got to get your lazy 
dragon ready for flight." Cat stood up and stretched, "And I have things to 
attend to."

"Oh really?" Kaymann shuffled their plates together and stood as well. He 
came around behind Cat as they walked out of the Dining Hall and put his 
arm around her waist. "Like what?" He whispered in her ear.

"A girl has to have some secrets." She kissed him on the cheek. "See you 
later, lover."

[Tag Cat]

Kaymann blushed slightly despite himself. Whenever she let her voice go a 
little husky like that, he got a little aroused. He took a deep breath and 
went to saddle up Nightmare.

The big purple lounged in the sun at the launch point. His saddle lay on 
the ground nearby.

"Nightmare," He said to the dragon. "Time to get up."

Kaymann nudged the dragon's nose with the toe of his boot. The big purple 
sighed softly, but continued to doze.

"Hey. Wake up." Kaymann said out loud, nudging the dragon's nose a little 
harder. The dragon merely rolled over in response. "Damn lizard."

The wiry young man took a deep breath and mentally screamed. <WAKE UP!>

<<Quit it. I'm not getting up yet.>> Nightmare yawned back.

<Come on, we've got to go on patrol. At least lie on your belly so I can 
start to put the riggings on you.>

<<Bugger off. I'm having a nice dream and you're ruining it.>> The big 
purple absently scratched his belly with one claw as he lay on his side. He 
then rolled over again, turning his back to the rider.

"Oh isn't that nice, 'Bugger Off!' is it then. Well - " Kaymann looked 
around flustered. Then he spied the large barrel below the rainspout. He 
walked over to it. Full.

The rider smiled and called over a couple of men who were working nearby.

Visions of slow sexy females drifting lazily across orange and pink skies 
filled the young dragons mind and he didn't even see the sudden shower 
coming. Kaymann and his recruits unceremoniously dumped the barrel of 
rainwater onto the sleeping dragons head.

Nightmare roared in anger and confusion and the pranksters ran for cover 
laughing heartily. As Nightmare calmed down and realized what had happened, 
he shook the loose beads of water from his metal-like scales. <<I don't 
think it was very funny.>>

***

Day 18
Noon
The Market Square
Marssell

As soon as the fighting started, Marssell was out of Norwall. He quickly 
disappeared down one of the many tunnels he had discovered over the years 
and hid out in one of his many secret hideaways until he was sure the 
fighting was over. Now, he was like a groundhog, sniffing at the spring 
air, carefully checking for the subtlest signs of danger, and totally wary 
of everything, including his own shadow.

Marssell tapped the wooden staff he held in his wrinkly old hand as he 
walked along. Something was amiss though. A few of his regular informants 
were nowhere to be found. It was as if they had been chased away. Their 
belongings had been quickly gathered, bundled and hustled away. It was 
understandable that they too would run for cover during the battle, but it 
was a little odd that Marssell wasn't informed.

He made a mental note to investigate further, as he ducked into the carpet 
sellers tent. He stopped halfway through the door and cast an eye over his 
shoulder. It seemed as if someone had been following.

***

Day 18
Noon
The Office of the Homeguard
Selena

Up to her armpits in reports, Selena let out a frustrated sigh and poured 
herself another steaming cup of tea. She massaged her stiff neck and let 
her eyes unfocus and her lids slip half shut. She preferred the definition 
of the heat of battle. The black and white finality that could be 
discovered with the quick slash of a sword.

Paperwork, however, was so full of subtle varieties of gray that she felt 
as if she was losing herself in it. She stood up and sipped at the green 
liquid in her cup. She let the steam drift up and fill her nostrils. She 
was still stiff from the previous days fighting, but soaking in a hot tub 
of water over night made up for a lot of the discomfort.

She glanced back at the paperwork. For months now, Galen, S'ron, K'Tarr, 
and whoever else in charge had been compiling reports of increased criminal 
activity within Norwall. There were increased sighting of known assassins 
such as Sabian, Silk and Lace and a number of lower level cut throats and 
hired mercenaries as well. Security had been tightened, but still certain 
criminals seemed to be able to move freely about.

Marssell for one.

She'd heard of him before. Of course, anyone who'd ever had a shady 
dealing, knew of Marssell. He was legendary. A ghost who walked among men. 
It was said that if there was a secret, Marssell knew it. And he would sell 
it, for the right price.

All of the reports agreed that the majority of the activity was directed 
through or at least by the wily old man. He'd be a tough nut to crack. 
Selena tapped her finger on her chin.

She placed her tea cup down and decided to seek out Trell.

[Tag Ben - She's going to want to pick Trell's brain for any ideas on what 
to do about Marssell. Perhaps a pet project is just what the old boy needs 
to get out of his stupor?]

Day 18
Noon
Outside Voldora
K'Tarr

Qualis was high in the air. The wind whistled through the ears of dragon 
and rider alike, blocking out all sounds, leaving them both to their dark 
thoughts.

K'Tarr looked along the road way. There was a caravan far below him. The 
big red sensed his rider's thoughts and began to gradually descend.

<It's a royal convoy.> K'Tarr said to the dragon. <I'm not sure where from. 
I'm not familiar with the coat of arms.>

<<All of your human markings look the same to me, unless they have dragons 
in them.>> Qualis hummed.

There were many soldiers amongst the group, decorated in their finest. 
Amidst the foot men and the mounted knights were several covered coaches. 
The royals were out of their carriages, seated on blankets along the grass. 
A few of them had risen and were pointing at the dragon as it slowly 
circled downwards.

Qualis landed with a heavy thump and K'Tarr slowly undid the clasps that 
held him in place.

<<Be careful brother, the last humans I met who dressed like this were 
possessed by Hellspawn. I'm always in the mood for a fight, but the numbers 
aren't in our favour here.>> Qualis looked at K'Tarr directly as the man 
slid down from the saddle.

K'Tarr straightened out his coat and walked over to the phalanx of armed men.

The noble pushed his way through the armed men.

"Who are you?"

K'Tarr said planted his feet shoulder length apart and tossed his braids 
back defiantly. "I am K'Tarr, Wingleader of Norwall Warren's Alpha Flight. 
I am on patrol, these lands are under the protection of Norwall and I bid 
you welcome."

[Tag Tree/Ben - I know you had been discussing some return of nobles so I 
thought I'd force the issue! ;} Sorry, I stink! ]

Submitted
by your
faithful servant

Mr. WiL

for

K'Tarr - Alpha Flight Wingleader, a hunter
Qualis - A Big Red Dragon, with blue marks

Kaymann - Hero of the Battle, stylish rogue
Nightmare - Lazy Purple Dragon

Marssell - Dealer of Secrets, Information Broker

Antwin Rockefeller - A Bard, A Thief, A Pirate

Selena Messel - Captain of the Homeguard


 

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