Day 15 - Late Afternoon
The green
K'tarr

<snip>

"Breezy, Jeneve, do you have anything else to add?" K'tarr asked the two ladies.

Breezy slightly shook her head. "I think you've pretty much covered everything K'tarr." Looking at the taller woman next to her she said, "Jeneve?"   Breezy had already counselled Jeneve before they had even come out. The older woman explained that because this was K'tarr's first address as Wingleader she as Warrenlady  needed to say a few words to show her support of his new position.  The young woman looked slightly terrified as all eyes turned on her taking a deep breath the tall blonde she stepped forward and began to speak.

<end snip>
 
"I think I speak for all of us when I offer my wholehearted support for K'tarr in organizing the defence of our warren," said Jeneve.
 
Many of the assembled dragonriders nodded and smiled approvingly, and Jeneve gave a shy smile in return. 
 
"Several of us are not here with us today, and we are working towards their safe return. But it is vital that those of us here pull together wholeheartedly to defend our homes," Jeneve's voice was growing louder, and stronger.
 
"When we are divided we are at our weakest. We cannot help the fact that some of our riders are missing. But we *can* help ourselves by ensuring that those of us remaining think of Norwall first, and put any petty squabbles and disagreements out of our mind. 
 
"Yes, Norwall has enemies, but by putting up a united front, we shall defeat them!" she almost shouted. 

The crowd shuffled happily. They seemed definitely appreciative that the warrenlady was now beginning to fill her role as leader. She blushed slightly at the crowd's approval and continued. "I am also very pleased to announce to all of you that we have promoted K'tarr to the rank of Alpha wingleader and that plans for the formation of Beta flight are underway. For now, we will remain a single wing under K'tarr's leadership."

The young leader looked over at the painted hunter and smiled. "It is a rank that we can all agree, he has earned." 

The crowd shouted it's agreement and weapons beat on shields or against armour in approval. K'Tarr smiled and held his hands up. "Thank you, friends. I promise you, I will not betray your trust."

He removed a scroll from his shoulder bag. "Here are the temporary flight assignments. I will read this aloud, then post it for you to double check your assignments. Group 2, remember this is solely a reconnaissance mission. If you encounter anything out there, contact the other flights and the warren. Do not, I repeat do not, engage the hostile targets."

K'tarr cleared his throat. "Here are the wing assignments for Group 1: Alexandra, Rei, Cat; Group 2: Talli, Kaymann, Dargis, Cyrus, K'lvin, R'tem, Jahn, Werenth, S'ran, L'kor, W'liam, Group 3: Breezy, Mentorn, Hilda, Amy. Again, make sure you double check you're assignments. Group 1, meet with Galen for debriefing. Group 2, I will be posting a schedule for your search flight shifts. Group 3, Assemble with Breezy first thing tomorrow to have your dragons fitted with armour and begin close-quarters battle training."

"If I have not mentioned your name, I am afraid that Galen and I have decided it's best that you stay out of combat, for now. If you are directly threatened defend yourselves, by all means, but do not start an engagement. I'm afraid that until further notice only members of the active flight will be allowed to leave the warren. All others are grounded until further notice."

K'Tarr motioned to the home guard, who had assembled along the side of the warren's dragonriders. "Trell and the Home Guard will be monitoring all of the traders and visitors to ensure that no spies or dissidents invade."

K'tarr stood tall and folded his arms proudly across his chest. "You have your assignments, my friends. Ride with honour. For Norwall!"

The riders echoed his cry and the assembly broke, each man, woman and dragon eager to do their part.


Day 15 - Dusk
Over the forests of Norwall
Ka'Laren

Nostragus flapped his black leathery wings furiously to pull himself up off the ground. The small force of commandos that Ka'Laren had assembled rose from amidst the treetops below, quickly gaining air on the mighty black.

The wind pulled Ka'Laren's top knot back on the wind, clicking the silver rings bound about it. The wind tore at his eyes and robbed his lungs of air for a searing moment. Finally, Nostragus levelled out and the air pressure became breathable again.

Ka'Laren gasped for a moment, then his breathing became even and he glanced back at the Dark Riders behind him. Amlan nodded, the massive axe strapped across his back bobbing in time with his head. It almost looked like another rider was seated behind him.

Soon the battle would be underway... and soon his plans would be fulfilled. He smiled his most insane smile, the one that inspired his men and put fear in the hearts of his enemies.

<<Nostragus!>>

<Yes-s-s-s?> The black dragon hissed in answer.

<<Send the message to Axma, tell Silk and her men that the time to strike has come.>>

***

[snip]

The redhead was halfway out the door when Jeneve called after her,
"Breezy, do be careful!"

Breezy grinned and walked out.

[end snip]

Antwin placed his hands on her shoulders and gently turned her around.

"Jeneve, listen to me. We need to get away from your quarters." He said softly.

"What?" The young woman was startled.

"In this kind of instance, it's probably not safe to stay where our enemies expect you to be." Antwin asserted.

"An excellent point, Dove." 

The bard and the Queenrider spun about to face the unexpected eavesdropper. The woman stood before them defiantly, her red painted lips held in a wide, toothy smile. "It's been a long time, love."

"Au-Au-Audrianna?" Antwin stepped around Jeneve to face the woman clearly.

"It's been a while since I used that name, I am called Silk now." She purred, pushing the lock of hair out of her eyes and adjusting the tight cap she wore.

"I don't understand." Antwin said slowly, his voice scratching delicately at the edges.

"I'm sorry Dove," She said finally, her smile perfectly unchanged. "It was all an act to get beneath all the levels of defence you had surrounding you. The only way to kill you was to get close to you... I wanted you dead, but I guess the wound wasn't deep enough."

"It was much deeper than you think." Antwin said, his voice a razor.

Silk only laughed in return. Jeneve struggled to comprehend what was happening, she looked back and forth from Silk to Antwin. Why was she calling him Dove? It was too much.

"Poor, gullible Dove. You really fell in love with me didn't you?"

Antwin couldn't handle the taunting anymore. He swung his fist at the woman, she stepped back and blocked the punch. Antwin followed with a low kick, trying to knock her feet out from under her. She raised her foot and blocked the attack expertly.

Antwin stepped back, squinted at her and quickly measured her up. He suddenly launched into a furious attack of rapid punches and kicks. Silk easily blocked each attack and finally landed a blow of her own across Antwin's jaw.

He took a few unsteady steps backwards, a trickle of blood appeared at the corner of the blond man's mouth. With a shout he took an unsteady lunge at the woman, but suddenly from the shadows another figure appeared, blind siding him and driving him into the passage wall.

Antwin crumpled to the ground in a heap. The incredibly broad young woman who side struck the bard stood above him, gloating and panting. "Idiot. She's gay. Can't believe you fell for it. Stupid."

"Lace, darling... that isn't polite." Silk caressed the woman's muscular arm. "You weren't even properly introduced! Such poor etiquette." Silk spied the trembling Jeneve.

"Allow me to do the introductions, lady Jeneve. I am Silk, master thief. This is my lover, Lace. We'll be your kidnappers this evening."

Jeneve opened her mouth to scream but Lace threw a green powder in her face. Jeneve sneezed once, and quickly inhaled, drawing the green dust into her lungs. She suddenly began to feel a little warm, and happy, and relaxed. For a moment all of her dreams came true and she didn't have to run the warren anymore. The nice people she was with said that all she had to do was wear the magic robes and hood and follow them to the happy, happy land.

So she'd follow, sure. But it's too bad Malani couldn't come...

But that's okay...

She was happy...

And warm...

[Tag Carina - Jeneve is on some nice warm and happy drugs and she'll be pretty easy to smuggle out of the warren now that she's wearing that hood and robe!]

Submitted by

Wil & Carina

for 

K'Tarr
Jeneve
Ka'Laren

special thanks to Tree, for technical consulting


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]


 

Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/