[Day 16, Late Morning]
[Drezak/N'lin]

He couldn't help but notice the workmen preparing to have their fun with
Raine.  Nor could he miss the rapt attention Pheran was giving the scene.
But inside, the only thing he felt was the wisps of Raine's emotions
flitting through the edges of his mind.  With a feeling of detatched pity he
didn't dare express, he shut her out. It was scary how easy it was.

"Has she made enough to buy breakfast yet?" Drezak asked casually, glancing
breifly at the bowl beside the bed.

"Perhaps.  I don't think she's had a chance to count her earnings yet."
Pheran smiled cruelly.  "But as there's quite a line, it'll be a while
before she can.  I hope you slept well?"

"Like a baby," he lied easily.  Nightmares did not make for good sleep, but
undoubtedly Raine would have killed to switch places with him.

"Oh?" asked Keltian, walking in dressed in his morning robe.  "You woke up
hungry every couple of hours?"

Drezak laughed, shaking his head.  "No, I slept well, I assure you."

"Good.  As soon as Raine is finished servicing her customers, we've a trip
to take.  There are some people I think you should meet, Drezak."

"Oh?"  Was the end of this deadly little game finally in sight?

"Mmmmm.  Yes..."

There was a slight knock on the door and Pheran looked up.  Keltian rolled
his eyes.  "Come."

"My lords, Lord Jason, son of Lord Fowler, is here and requests an
audience."

Fowler? N'lin mused.  It sounded so familiar...

"We know who Jason is," Kel said rather indulgently.  "He's a good kid --
you'll like him, Drezak.  Why don't you send him in?"

When the man strode through the door a moment later, he remembered.  J'red's
brother, a suspect.. well not a suspect anymore.  But J'red might like to
know that his brother was here.  He certainly would if he were in J'red's
shoes.

<Foil, tell Firefly that his rider's brother is here,>  he told his dragon
while introduction were being made.

<No problem,> Foil said immediately.

<Ah, one more thing, I've been invited to a meeting, either this evening or
tomorrow.  Make sure everything is ready.  And be prepared to relay a lot of
messages, Foil.>

<All right, but if I miss the laying of my eggs 'cause of this...>

It was all he could do not to show his exasperation as he was introduced to
Jason Fowler.

[Day 16, Evening, before Trinale's suicide]

Idle chatter, mostly about how much money Raine had managed to make and the
general depravities of dragonriders, almost covered Clyde's quiet sounds of
enjoyment and Raine's choking sobs as her mouth worked to please the young
lord.  It vaguely terrified Drezak that he could watch the scene, in the
confines of the carriage it was very hard not to, without a flicker of
emotion and carry on a coherent conversation.

The only thing he felt anymore at all was a constant, distant terror of what
would happen if things went wrong.  If they found out who and what he was.
The presence of his dragon following the carriages did not increase his
peace of mind in the least.  He just hoped that the Gods would see it end
tonight.  He wasn't sure how much more of this he could take.

In short order, they pulled up to a large house.. no hunting lodge, Drezak
corrected himself as he got a better look at it in the failing light.

<Do you have a good enough picture?>

<Yes,> Foil replied confidently.  <It is a good spot.. won't disturb the
town.>

<Point.  Keep an eye out for guards and such,> he warned his dragon as he
stepped inside.

<Of course.  Good luck.>

<Thanks.>  He had a feeling he was going to need it.

Servants came out to get the horses and coach as they walked inside, Keltian
taking charge of a staggering Raine.  He was vaguely impressed that she
could even move at all, considering how her day had been spent.

They walked into the brightly light building and Drezak was rather surprised
at how few people, no young men, were there.  He also noticed uncomfortably,
that most of them were armed.

"This is all?" he asked curiously.

"Our meetings are usually between the leaders of our respective cells of
people.  Just in case we have a traitor for an underling." Pheran explained.

"Of course.  Quite prudent of you," Drezak acknowledge.

"Yes, but we'll wait until everyone arrives before making introductions.
Saves time and my repeating myself."

Grunting agreement, he followed his host to the table full of wine and small
snacks.
Sipping the excellent vintage, Pheran quietly pointed out some of the more
notable people while the late comers trickled in.

"Well," Keltian announced after arranging Raine's use as a party favor, so
to speak.  "I do believe everyone is here.  Shall we make introductions?"

"Certainly," Drezak replied gamely, following the pair to roughly the center
of the room.  He stood there sipping his wine while they stared at him, but
hardly heard a word of Pheran's undoubtably flattering introduction.  He was
too busy giving his dragon instructions.

<Foil, do you see any other late comers?>

<No, no horses or carriages.  They all there?>

<I think so.  You'd better tell Levka's rider to hurry up and do this.  I
don't think they'll get a better chance.>

<Ok I'll te->

Drezak gasped audibly into the fairly quiet room as his dragon's grief hit
him like a sucker punch in the gut.

<Who?!> he demanded, trying desperately to regain his composure, his
distance.

<Dan-... Dandy and Cricket> Foil said sadly.

<Cricket?  Dear gods...>

He blinked, paying attention to the room again, and promptly wished he
hadn't.  His breathing rang harsh in his ears, but the rest of the room was
silent and he didn't know why.  And that was very dangerous indeed.
********************
Tag Arlene!

Submitted by,
Bridget Olson
N'lin and Trefoil