Red.

Hot.

Anger.

Emotional overload. 

Hate. 

Revenge. 

Pay back.

Oh yes... Dalton felt all those feelings and more as he paced around inside 
of his apartment. 

And yes... they would both pay for what they had done to him. The woman
especially. But the man ... Oh he would pay too. 

No one sucker punches him and gets away with it. No one!.

<My rider... You are being requested to go to the Warrenlady's office to see
her... she did not sound to happy.> his dragon told him a few minutes later. 

<<Well I'm not in much of a mood to see her right now...Tell her I'm sleeping.>>

<I did that the first three times she asked for you to come,> the dragon's
tone was a bit sarcastic. <I don't think it'll work this time.>

He knew he couldn't put it off. 

Damage control. 

That's what he needed right now. 

Some way to turn this around so that he came out looking like the injured
party. After all what good was having a straight laced reputation if one
couldn't put it to use sometime. 

Dalton had always been careful to keep his dark sided nature outside of the
Warren. There he had always been known to be a good rider and friend. Why
even the little ones loved him.

She stated in on him as soon as he was seated, and if his face started
turning redder and redder it wasn't because of embarrassment like she might
have though, but in anger.

Each word she spoke. Each thing she accused him off was just one more thing
he would add to the list of punishments he had planned for that other bitch
of a Queenrider. 

When she was finally through she turned to him and asked him if he had
anything to say for himself. 

Oh yes he had plenty of things to say. Some of which she might be shocked to
hear him say. But those he kept to himself. Those he would say when he had
that bitch Merissa naked and at his mercy.

But to Trinale he started with....

"I can't see where it matters one bit what I have to say," he told her
letting the hurt seep into his voice. "I mean you've just shown me that you
have already decided that I'm guilty of doing what *they* said I did even
before you sent for me. So I don't see where my saying anything is going to
change your mind."

"Dalton.. I had it on the word of two Queenriders as to what happened..."

"That's what I mean," his voice barely rose as he cut across her words. "You
had *their* word on it... So it must be true right? Wrong! I guess it
doesn't matter that I've never been in any of that kind of trouble around
here before?" he spit out bitterly. 

"Or that I've always been one of the first riders to jump in and help when
we've been needed. Nor I guess does it matter that my reputations has never
been questioned by any of the other females riders living in this Warren. Or
anywhere else!"

In truth he had made damn sure to never show his dark side anywhere in the
vicinity of the Warren. 

He shook his head from side to side, his eyes dark with emotion. "But you
believe these two just because they happen to rider Queens."

"Dalton, Merissa would never lie this way..."

"That's right. *Merissa* the Queenrider would never lie," he slurred her
name slightly when he spoke it. "The woman who snuck away from this Warren
.. unescorted I might add... and later was caught screwing the balls off of
a man who wasn't her mate... is a real pagan of the community. But she is a
Queenrider so it's okay! Just as it's okay for that big ape she was with to
attack me with a weapon that could have killed me... stripped me naked and
left me tired to my dragon when I told them I wouldn't promise to keep their
sleazy little tale quiet if I was asked about it. None of what they said
happened was true, ask my dragon if you don't believe."

He snorted again when he saw her expression change. "But you won't and even
if you did ask him you wouldn't believe anything he has to say because their
*queens* already gave you their riders side of it and you already formed
your opinion."

"That's not true Dalton, if you would just tell me..."

Good. He had her on edge. But instead of letting things cool down he kept up
the heat. His next words calculated to throw her even deeper into doubts.

"Right," he sneered. "Tell yourself that if it'll make it any easier on you,
but don't expect me to believe it. I want out of here. Out of this Warren.
Suddenly I don't think I can stay in a place that doesn't feel like home any
longer. A place where a mans reputation can be so easily destroyed all on
the word of two people who were caught doing what they shouldn't have been
doing and lied to try to throw the blame on someone who just happen to find
out."

He paused for a moment, letting the anger drain from his tone to be replaced
by sadness. 

"You know... when you took over here and others were saying how young you
were. How this place was going to fall apart because of being in the hands
of someone so young... I stuck up for you. I told them that you wouldn't let
us down, and after a while I even grew to respect you and the things you did
around here. You really showed that you cared about what happened here and
didn't Lord over us like some younger people might have. You really seemed
to care what happened and that we were all happy. I would have done anything
for you because I trusted you."

Now his voice was thick with contempt. 

"I trusted you, and you let me down," he accused her. "I was out there
looking for them just like every other rider in this Warren because they
were missing and we wanted to make sure the *Queen* and her *rider* were
safe. But she wasn't lost. No instead the two of them were out there rutting
in the dirt where no one would see them. But you know the person I really
feel sorry for is Th'rin."

He looked at her as if expecting her to ask why, but went on before she
could form the words. 

"It's no wonder he turned to..." Dalton started to say but left off. Leaving
her to ponder what he might have said. He could see the question forming in
her eyes, but said nothing more. It wouldn't matter anyway.

"The point is, is that I can't stay in this Warren any longer. My reputation
has been ripped to threads just because I happened to be the unlucky fool
who found the two of them out there carrying on with their little sordid
affair. I was unjustly attacked. Humiliated. Had false accusations brought
against me and my word doubted by the one person in this place that I
trusted. I can't stay here any longer and live with this , so I'm now
demanding a transfer to another Warren just as soon as I can get my bags
packed."

"Dalton look," Trinale was up around to his side of the desk before he could
open the door leading out of her office. She reached out and place her hand
on his arm to stay him. "Requesting a transfer is going a little to far
don't you think. And I asked you here to listen to your side of the story...
Look I'll talk to Merissa and..."

"Why?" he asked softly, letting her hear his mistrust. "So the two of them
can come up with more lies about me..? No I'm sorry that's not fair. She's
the one who has been lying. I don't really blame you for that Trinale, but
Merissa.. She used to be a Bard didn't she?"

"So?"

"Think about it," he said. "Bard's have always been known to tell stories.
So forget it. You can go talk to her if you want, but I've already been
screwed by her... no pun intended... enough for one day. I just want out of
here, and if you don't grant me this request then I might just take my
complaint to the Dragonlady in Keldarra."

He could see the girl wasn't at all happy with his threat. Not that he would
ever carry it out. But she didn't know that.

"Fine.  If that is what you want..."

"It's what I want. I can no longer stay in the place where I've been
convicted on the word of two people who were out sneaking around *hiding*
what they were doing and then came back here and accused me of crimes I
didn't commit just to cover it up."

"They didn't try to cover it up," she told him. "Both of them came to me and
told me what happened."

"Oh sure they did," he sneered. "But only after they thought about what
would happen when I came to and they knew I would say something."

He shook her hand off and reached for the door. Opened it and took one step
before turning back to her. 

"You know what really hurts is that that bastard can get away with brutally
killing a man because of what he did to that healer girl... and gets no more
then a slap on the hand for it... then to have his word believed when he
accused someone like me who has ever been in any trouble and his word is
believed over mine. All because he riders a Queen. That doesn't say much for
the chain of command around here."

He shook his head from side to side. "I don't think I could ever forgive or
trust you again so it would be better for all of us if I just left. Maybe I
won't be so foolish to trust the next time."

.........  

It was later after leaving the Warrenlady's office that he heard about what
had taken place between Saul and Gwyna. Heard about the bearded riders
return and about what had taken place at the wedding they had gone too. 

Panic nearly did him in when he thought about what Gwyna might do to try and
get out of it. She was the one thing that could hurt him, if she ever
decided to tell them where she had gotten the drugs that she had used to try
and control Saul. 

A link that he needed to get rid off before anyone could make the
connection. With her out of the way no one would ever suspect that he had
had any part of it.

But he'd have to be careful. He'd have to plan her demise to look as if
someone was paying her back. To bad Saul and Shawnee had left Whiteriver or
he could have made it look like Saul had killed her for payback.

But there was a way. He knew it and set to work to make sure he had all the
props he would need. Then he had to lure her to someplace where he could get
to her, disarm her into thinking he would take her with him, and then....

Damage control.

[[ Time The night AFTER Saul and Shawnee leave for good This will give you
time to deal with Trinale talking to her if you need to Kat. ]]

It was dark out. Perfect for his plans. 

The bait had been set and now all he needed to do was get her to come to him.

<<My friend please contact her dragon and ask them to meet us here. Tell her
that we're her only chance if she wants to get away and start over somewhere
else. Remind her that even if the word goes out that other Warrens won't be
looking for a dragonrider pair.. So she...>>

<I will tell her, but I still don't like what you have planned for her dragon.>

<<Don't you worry about that. It's not as if you ever liked the beast
anyway. But if it'll set your mind at ease just think of it this way, she
won't have to suffer any longer being joined to a worthless bitch of a human.>>

<They come... >

<<Good.. remember not to eat any of the herd beast in the clearing... Make
her think you're being *kind* to her by allowing her for choice.>>

It wasn't long before he saw them, rider and beast pop into the skies above
them.

"What do you want?" she demanded as soon as she was off her dragon and
standing before him. "Thanks to you I'm already in enough trouble and will
end up losing my home!"

"Thanks to me?" he asked his tone sounding somewhat amused, making his hate
and anger. 

<<Take her dragon down to the beast and let me know when she has eaten.>>
Dalton sent the thought to his dragon. <<I need to make sure she's unable to
help her rider before the fun begins.>>

"If I remember correctly Gwyna dear, I did tell you several times not to
give Saul to much of the drug... or use it to much. So *I* can hardly be
blamed for his bad reaction to it now can I? Humm?"

"I had to keep giving it to him," her voice rose as she turned to look up at
him. "Don't you see she just wouldn't leave him alone. She kept coming
around even after he left her. If anyone is to blame then it's that bitch
Shawnee. If she'd have left well enough alone then he would be mine right now."

Dalton let out a loud laugh. "By the Gods not even you can be *That* stupid
Gwyna. Everyone in that damn Warren could see that Saul had eyes for no one
else but Shawnee. He actually *loved* her and those brats of theirs. You
were the only one blind enough not to see that."

""That's not true!!" She shouted. "He would have loved *ME* if that bitch
had never shown up in Whiteriver. The only reason he stayed with her is
because he felt it owed it to her because she tricked him by having a baby.
He never wanted them.

<It is done my human. Her dragon has supped and it shouldn't be long now.>
His dragon told him. In a few minutes there would be no one to help her and
in the end she would end up as just one more lose end he had cleaned up.

"Oh no Gwyna dear. Saul never would have been yours. Not even if Shawnee had
never been born," Dalton took great delight in telling her. 

"Oh he may have consented to spend a night or two between those legs you
can't seem to keep closed," he leered down at her as his right hand slipped
around her waist and down to settle on her left buttocks. His left hand
moved so quickly that she didn't even have a chance to react as it snaked up
into her tresses and used his hold to yank her head back, forcing her body
to bend into his for support.

"You see my dear Sweet Gwyna," he chuckled while doing a very good imitation
of Saul's endearment. "You will always be second best to Shawnee. In fact
you could never even hope to be half the woman she is. It's no wonder Saul
couldn't wait to go back to her. I know I would if I had someone so pure and
sweet waiting for me at home each night instead of an over worked, used up
whore. Like you."

She tried to struggle out of the hold he had on her. Suddenly realizing that
Dalton was crazy. But is hold was to strong to break away from. 

Something in his eyes, when they met told her of the danger she was in. She
called for her dragon to help her, but got no reply. 

Again and again she tried calling, but each time the silence seemed to grow
louder in her head as she realized there would be no help. Something was
wrong. The link between rider and beast was growing dimmer by the second. 

"You bastard!! What did you do to her!?!" Gwyna screamed at him as she
struggle all the more. "WHAT DID YOU DO TO HER!!!"

She managed to free one hand and with her nails raked deep gouges down the
left side of his face. A fist slammed hard against her cheek, making starts
appear was her reward. Then she felt herself falling backwards as he pushed
her away. 

"That was not a smart thing to do Sweet Gwyna," he pursed his lips and
looked at her shaking his head sadly while the blood ran down his cheek.

She scooted away from him as he stepped closer. The crazy look in his eyes
was the only thing she saw as his hand came down to hall her to her feet. 

"I was going to try and make this as painless as possible since you had been
*So much* help to me. I wanted to be kind to you and do it quick since I
knew I couldn't let you live. Not with you knowing what you do about what I
tried to do. You know you really have only yourself to blame my dear for not
following the plan. Cause now you see you are the only thing that can link
me to the drugs and what I had planned for Shawnee.. and we both know I
can't let you live to tell anyone. So you see my problem? No? Well I can see
now where I made my mistake."

"NO!!" she screamed as he ripped away the front of her shirt. "Gods no...
Please No I won't tell anyone!!!

"Oh I know you won't my dear sweet whore. Because you see they are going to
find you here... Given time...After someone realizes you're gone, a victim
of the Blindfolded Lady's band of dragon hater's."

"You'll never get away with it," she spat out and felt the sharp edge of his
fist just under her right eye.

Dalton laughed. "Won't I? I think I will."

"They'll know it's you when you don't go back to the Warren," she tried to
reason with him. 

"But then you hadn't heard, I won't be going back my dear," he took great
delight in telling her just what he had planed for her. Starting with the
poisoning of her dragon which made her struggle for a few seconds until his
next punch broke her nose. 

"You see," he went on as if nothing had happened. "I requested and was
granted a transfer yesterday. That's right Trinale signed it herself and
right after that I *left* the Whiteriver to go off and seek a new life. So
my dear... my name will never be thought of when they find your worthless
hide left here to rot for the scavengers."

........

Dalton stood up, rearranged his clothing and took one last look at the naked
dead woman laying on the ground below him. Even in the throes of death she
had been something. Then he went to his saddle pack and pulled out the small
bag of coins he kept there. He extracted five or six before putting the rest
of them back, then placed the bag back in the saddle bag and turned back and
dropped them on top of her body. 

When found the only clue that anyone would find as to who had taken the life
of the dragonrider whore, was the five or six little copper coins. 

All with a picture of a face of a Blindfolded Woman.

Then he turned and went back to his beast, mounted and gave the order to
lift. They had places to go and a new life to begin. Minutes later still Man
and beast were hundreds of miles away.

Damage controlled. 

------------------  

Bye Bye Gwyna... poor dear... (NOT)

*****Submitted by: ******

Dalton (the red faced rider)
Whiteriver Warren

aka
Barbara