[Derry]

Derry smiled at Lord Fowler, accepting the congratulations for joining with
grace.  They had a light lunch, keeping the flow of polite conversation
before making their excuses.  Derry shook his head slightly as they left,
worried about Katla, but knowing that even if he was with her she'd take
chances that would leave him pale and sweating.  The girl had no sense of
self-preservation, particularly when it came to helping others.

The spent the rest of the day spreading the news of the reward before
heading back to the Warren.

<~ Lev, is Katla back yet? ~>

<* No, she and Satinka are still in Marketa. *>

Derry frowned.  Why would they still be in Marketa?  What could possibly be
taking so long.  He headed toward Trinale's office, to report the raise in
the reward to Trinale and to tell her who they'd reached and where they'd
spread the news.  He knocked on the door lightly.

"Come in."

He opened the door and smiled at Trinale.  "Hello...  have a good day?"

Trinale's eyes lit up.  "Derry!  Yes... Lord Daltem has offered to put more
money in the reward!"

Derry smiled and went around her desk, taking her hands and kissing her
knuckles lightly.  "So did Lord Fowler...  J'red had to twist his arm a
bit, but it worked.  Chance went into Marketa to talk to some people she
knows, but apparently she hasn't gotten back yet."

Trinale frowned slightly.  "Is she safe?"

Derry shrugged.  "N'lin is with her, though I pity him if she gets the bit
between her teeth -- some of the people she's going to be speaking to are
more than a bit unsavory, though I doubt they'd hurt her."

"Hmmm."  His love's blue eyes grew thoughtful, but she didn't say anything
for a moment.

"Now...  What do you think about getting something to eat?  A picnic by the
lake, where we can watch the sunset?  Some time not worrying about Cill and
Ojean?"  He turned her hands over, placing gentle kisses in her palms as he
pulled her to her feet.

[Tag, Kat]

-------

[Katla]

< N'lin says to tell you that "Telven needs a word with her at the usual
place and to make it real quick like.  Tell her time just ran out and she
has to act now." >  'Tinka sounded proud of herself for repeating the
message verbatim.

<< Tell N'lin I'll meet him outside the city gates.  Then he's going to
have to wait. >>  Katla shivered.  << I can't take anyone in with me. >>

< You must take someone, my rider! >

<< I'll be safe enough, beloved.  They won't bit the hand that feeds
them... too hard, anyway.  After all, if I'm dead, I can't give them 
money. >>  The disgust in her voice was thick enough to cut and serve 
with crackers.

"Katla?"

Chance smiled slightly.  "Hey, N'lin.  I...  It's a place fairly close to
the city gates, but I can't take you in with me."

"Katla..."

She shrugged.  "Standing rules, if Telven needs to see me immediately. 
It's well known that he occasionally speaks to me at that tavern, but where
the information drop is... well, he can't afford to let the other
sleazy..."  She took a deep breath.  "Telven isn't all bad...  Despite the
dent in his profits, he usually brings the information about... children...
to my attention.  He doesn't believe in using them... only 'consenting'
adults...  What he does to gain their consent is a different matter and..."
 Katla shuddered, "...I can only fight on one front at a time.  We do what
we can for the older ones as well... But the people he works with...  They
can't know where information drop-offs are, or I'd be killed...  or Telven
would."

"I wouldn't tell them."

"I know you wouldn't, but...  You'd be noticed.  When I go in there, I'll
look much like anyone else.  I can take you as far as where I'll... change
clothes, but you'll have to wait until I get back...  And promise me you
won't tell Derry!"

"What?"

"He'll try to stop me.  Can't have that."

They re-entered Marketa and she led him to a nondescript place just inside
the gates.  No one seemed to take any mind of them as she went upstairs to
change clothes.  When she came back down, N'lin stared at her...

She looked just like any of the beggars that they'd passed in the street. 
Chance waved to him but said nothing as she went out, concentrating on
looking like anyone else as she made her way toward the "usual place."  Her
legs hurt, her hips burning with a terrible fire as the street stretched
into infinity.  She ignored the pain.  Ojee and Cill were more than worth
the sleepless night she was going to have after abusing herself this way.

"Games of chance?  Only a copper..."

The whining voice came from her right.  A small boy with dark, despairing
eyes looked up at her and Katla ached inside.  Perhaps Telven would let her
take this unfortunate away.  She couldn't save them all...  but she could
try.

"For that, anyone might play."  She dropped a copper into the bowl and
moved awkwardly around him, entering the shadowed room with trepidation. 
No matter what she had said to N'lin and 'Tinka, it terrified her to come
here.

"Took you long enough."  Telven's slick voice oozed around her.

"Quit whining.  What news?"

"There's going to be an auction tomorrow night.  Hedranic's farm.  Two
children... a boy and a girl.  It's being touted that both are virgins and
good looking so they'll bring a high price..."

"Names?"

"None given yet.  I can't say for certain that they're the ones you're
after."

Katla nodded.  "Money for information is standard.  It will be at the usual
drop-off point.  I want those kids, I don't *care* if they're the ones I'm
after.  If they are...  I want the money to go to whoever gave you the
information Telven.  I want your word on that."

Telven frowned, hesitating.  If there was one thing that Chance knew that
she could count on, it was his word.  Whoremaster and thief he might be,
but he would never break his word.

"I swear that I'll pay you a 10% commission... but whoever brought you
this...  They probably need the money more than you do."  Katla stared up
into his eyes.  "Please, Telven."

"I so swear."  He looked at her.  "It'll go down at sundown.  I've told
my... bidder, to bid whatever he needs to.  I'm sure he'll do that."

"Thank you.  We'll be there.  I can't swear that it will be without
violence or that..."

Telven shook his head.  "I'm not asking it.  Anyway, if you kill the man
doing this, I can take over most of his business."

Katla frowned.  "Somehow, I'm not surprised...  The child outside..."

He smiled.  "Hands off.  He's well taken care of."

Sighing, she nodded and turned to walk out.

"Lady..."

Chance turned.

"...thank you for asking.  It... he's my son.  I know that you and yours
would care for him well."

She smiled slightly and left.

On the way back, her mind raced, taking her attention from the powerful
ache in her legs.  What would be the best way to handle this?  It wasn't
uncommon for these transactions to take place on small farms outside of the
city.  It shouldn't be too hard, if the thing was to happen at night they
could easily take their dragons to the location.

The next question was what to tell Shawnee...

She went into the small house.

"Well?" asked N'lin.

"I'll tell you when we get back.  Looks good though, I think.  I've got to
get out of this outfit, though."

She went back upstairs and changed into her regular clothes.  She and N'lin
were both quiet as the went back to their dragons.

"See you at the Warren," was all that Katla would say before 'Tinka
launched into the air and winked out.  They landed and Chance slid down off
of 'Tinka's back, her knees crumpling slightly.

"Are you okay?"  N'lin's concern was clear.

"Yes...  Just over stressed my legs a bit."

<< 'Tinka, is Derry back yet? >>

< Yes, he and Lev came back a while ago.  He's with Cricket's rider. >

Katla nodded.  << Tell him that N'lin and I will meet him in the dining
hall...  He should probably bring Trinale, as well if she will come. >>

"Care to go get some food?  I've asked Derry to meet us there."

"Yeah.  It's been a long time since lunch."

Katla laughed.  "It has at that."

They went into the dining hall, chatting.  They'd just barely gotten their
food and sat down in a fairly empty section of the dining hall when Trinale
and Derry arrived.

"'Lo."  Katla swallowed and gestured for the two of them to sit.  "Hope you
all had a good day."

"If you call being mooned over by Lord Fowler the start to a good day."

Katla laughed.  "Why do you think I peeled off?  Lord Fowler is nice, but
occasionally...."

"Overwhelming?" put in Trinale.  Katla nodded, smiling cheerfully.

"Yes.  Our trip has brought some news," said Chance.  N'lin nodded, mouth
tightening slightly.  Katla looked at him and sighed slightly.  "Why don't
we tell you about our day and you can ask any questions you like..."

[Tag, Kat, Bridget]

<...>

"So, you don't know if the children are Cill and Ojee?"

Katla shook her head.  "No descriptions, other than young and virginal. 
I'm going to see to it they're rescued anyway, but... they may be our lost
little ones.  Thing is... Shawnee is under so much pressure, I don't want
to tell her about it and have her disappointed.  The stress can't be good
for her, or her baby."

Trinale nodded, thoughtful.

"Then why not just tell Saul?" said N'lin.  "I mean...  The kids know him
and..."

"That's not a bad idea."  Derry frowned a bit in concentration.  "We don't
really want to take too many people in... Technically, if we go in there
and break it up, we're stepping on Lord Fowler's prerogatives, though I
doubt that he'd have much of a problem with us breaking up a child-auction.
 Politically, the fallout might be nasty...  but Saul is Shawnee's..."  He
blanked for a moment.  "What do you call marriage around here, anyway?"

Katla flushed, biting back a laugh as Trinale's eyes widened.

"Riders don't get married, they become mates."

Derry looked at Trinale, eyes curiously thoughtful.  "I see."

Trinale unaccountably flushed and a giggle escaped Chance before she could
stifle it.  Derry glared at her and she brought her countenance under
control.

"So, Saul is Shawnee's mate, so he has the excuse of being 'next of kin'
sort of... which justifies a small group." said Trinale and Chance nodded.

"I don't really see how Lord Fowler could object to that, even if the kids
aren't Cill and Ojee... he knows they're missing...  It's completely
reasonable if we were to crash the party."

They all looked at each other.

"I'll tell Saul," volunteered Derry.  He looked at his sister and wagged a
finger at her.  "You go take your pain killers and get some sleep.  We'll
have to be up early tomorrow to plan.  N'lin, do you want to come along?"

"Wouldn't miss it."

Chance grinned and stood.  "See you in the morning."

N'lin excused himself as well and Derry looked at Trinale.  "So..."

"She took a lot of chances today."

"Yes.  There's a reason we named her Chance."

Trinale nodded.

"Want a lift to your apartment before I go talk to Saul?" Derry asked as he
stood.

"Please..."  She wrapped her arms around his waist and he held her for a
moment.

"We'll find them and they'll be safe again."  He pressed a kiss into her
hair.  "K'leev had to be banished.  None of the rest of this has anything
to do with that."

"How'd you know I was thinking about that?"

He hugged her tight.  "Magic."

<...>

<~ Levka, will you bespeak Fayloth and ask him if Saul will come down to
the lake to talk to me? ~>

<* Of course, my rider...  Fayloth says that Saul will be here soon. *>

<~ Thank you, love. ~>

Derry waited, gazing up at the stars.

"I hope you have a good reason for getting me up at this time of night."

"Oh, I think you'll find this a good enough reason.  Katla thinks that she
may have located Cill and Ojean... or at least, where they're going to be
tomorrow night..."

[Tag Kris]

----
NRPG -- Sorry about the length.  I think I've hit all the tags and managed
to keep track of when stuff is happening.

Kris -- we'll probably want to set up a morning meeting to figure out what
exactly we're going to do.

Respectfully Submitted,
Jill E. Flansburg
Katla and Satinka

  Assistant Director, X-Files            Rhiannon, WarrenLady  *Xylian*
  Sterling A. Kincaid, TL, ECHO, X-Files Elswyth and Aedra   *Keldarra*
  Damien Cunningham, UD DELTA, X-Files   Katla and Satinka *Whiteriver*
  Xan X. Xavier, T1, X-Files             Zera and Mazel       *Norwall*

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			      Vasaris, the Fuzzy Dragon
       Jill E. Flansburg	    |		            vasaris@az.com
       CS HMC 1994	          |		jflansbu@muddcs.cs.hmc.edu
       History, WWU 199?          |		vasaris@divcom.umop-ap.com
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