[Riding to Gerard's castle]

  Carlynee couldn't help but think this plan of Ce'lot's and B'lin's 
was a big mistake.  She kept her mouth shut about it, because they 
seemed so determined and even she wanted to see Bella, especially 
after last night's attack.

  The thin artisan moved about a little uncomfortably in her saddle 
as she tried to soothe the ache in her side as they waited for Ce'lot 
to spin his tale to the guard.  Her mind was sent back to how she got 
the monstrously large purple and blue bruise to her ribs.

~  Aggie had just finished cleaning the wound in her hand, when 
Carlynee was certain she had seen and heard something in the woods.  
Unfortunately she was right, there was a skirmish made by Gerard's 
men and she could see figures in the woods racing towards the inner 
circle of the refugee camp.  She opened her mouth to yell a warning, 
but the screams and shouts of rage and warning had already started.

  Carlynee slowly stood up as two men emerged from the dark shadowy 
forest about 10 feet in front of her and Aggie and watched them with 
horrified fascination.  Aggie's startled shriek caused the thin 
artisan's head to whip around and she saw Aggie sink to the ground 
with one hand clutching her left arm, blood streaming between her 
fingers and the protruding shaft.

  Her head swivelled back to the two men, who were just stepping into 
the stream, having taken advantage of her confusion to get a little 
closer.  One pulled out a short sword and the other stepped a little 
to the her right side and both were bantering to each other about the 
prize they had found.

  Her mind raced as she tried to remember the lessons about swordplay 
that her brothers had taught her before they became so close mouthed 
about the whole deal and when the one man with the sword waved it at 
her threateningly, she knew what to do.

  The surprise on the man's face as Carlynee seemingly stepped into 
his sword would have been comical if not for the seriousness of the 
circumstance.  She hadn't actually impaled herself, just caught the 
sword between her side and her arm and she took advantage of his 
surprise.  As her brothers told her, he tried to get his weapon back 
by pulling on it, his concentration was on his sword and not on the 
fact that she was dangerously close to him.  Before he could change 
his mind, Carlynee shot her arm out and smashed in his nose with the 
heel of her palm.

  She had barely time to congratulate herself as she heard the 
snapping noise of his nose breaking and him dropping into the stream 
as he clutched the bloody appendage before she was hit by a heavy 
weight from the right side, causing the sword to go flying as she 
descended into the stream.  The second fighter had not been so lax as 
to let her get a shot at him and he sat on the girl's chest, pining 
her arms and pushing her head under the water.

  Carlynee's lost her breath as she slammed sideways onto a rather 
large rock and she lay in the freezing cold stream while she 
attempted *not* to breath in, despite that her lungs were screaming 
for air.  She couldn't get free, and the weight she felt just rode 
her as if riding a bucking bronco as she thrashed her legs around in 
desperation; she felt as if her lungs would burst.  

  Her reflex reactions took over and she inhaled a large amount of 
water into her lungs.  She was going to die and her voice wailed 
miserably in her mind as she felt a darkness seep through to her very 
being.  Suddenly the weight was gone and she could feel herself being 
pulled to the surface, where she proceeded to vomit up water.

  Aggie was pulling her to the side of the stream, while fighting men 
and women surged around them; she even caught a glimpse of Ce'lot's 
form in the melee.  Carlynee could barely help the woman as she tried 
to get her shaking legs to follow her mental commands.

  She stayed crouched over the side of the bank, puking and retching 
for long moments.  The pain in her lungs was echoed by a pain in her 
side and she could not stop herself from shivering violently. 

  A cry went up over Aggie being hurt and several people came to the 
woman's help, grabbing Carlynee and dragging her over to the nearest 
fire while Aggie objected strenuously about being fussed over when so 
many others were hurt.~

  Shaking her head, Carlynee brought herself back to the present.  
The violence of that night only served to remind her why she was 
going along with B'lin and Ce'lot's suggestion.  She needed to make 
certain that Bella was safe, because Carlynee certainly didn't feel 
it.

  The clatter of their horses' hooves was the only sound heard in the 
ghost-like town and Carlynee niggling sense of danger grew 
exponentially as she saw the damage and smelled the noxious fumes of 
burning garbage and other unidentifiable odors.

  Wanting nothing more than to turn her horse back and race the heck 
out of there, Carlynee was stopped as she heard B'lin call out to a 
noble woman.  Her surprise was little less than the dragonriders, 
Bella looked wonderful and even Ce'lot seemed to know it.

>"We're here to rescue you and take you home! None to soon, I can see!"
>B'Lin said.
>
>"Are you all right?" Ce'lot asked, ignoring B'Lin.
>
>She looked at him and nodded. He smiled holding out his hand to her, 
"We
>were worried."
>
>B'Lin growled slightly and pushed the wingleader's hand away, grabbing
>Bella's hand, "~I~ was worried. Now let's go."
>
>"B'Lin, I can't leave now. I'm with the Duchess." Belarade said, 
looking at
>her brother.
>
>"Is there a problem here?" A deep voice called out. They all turned to 
see
>the dark man coming out, followed by the guard and another well dressed 
lady.

  Carlynee groaned inwardly.  She was about to suggest that they 
leave as fast as possible now that they had seen that Bella was 
alright, but it was too late now.  She could have just spit as the 
dragonriders blithely announced exactly who they were and what their 
status was.  She had done some thinking as they had come near the 
town and Gerard would certainly see the fact of extra dragonriders in 
his place as a show of backing.  The fact that he had dragons showing 
up above his forests probably helped that assumption along.

>This is Carlynee and Halyn, they are not riders."

  And probably never would be if this kept up, Carlynee thought wryly 
to herself.
 
>"I am hungry," Carlynee spoke up.

  What the heck, if they were here, they might as well get the most 
they could out of the deal.

>A short while later, and after some protest from B'Lin they were all
>settled in a back room with tea and fresh fruit. "Rest here as long as 
you
>want." Darril told them, "No one will disturb you. In the meantime, 
Lady
>Wylla and I have some things to do. So if you'll excuse us."
>
>Ce'lot nodded, "Of course, you've been more then generous."
>
>Darril moved out of the room, followed by Lady Wylla, closing the door
>behind them.

  Carlynee grabbed a fruit, threw an apple to Halyn and looked on in 
exasperation to B'lin and Ce'lot's proprietary natures when it came 
to Bella.

  "Look guys, the best thing to do is to leave Bella here and get our 
butts out of this place."  Carlynee waved off the protests and 
continued on with her schpiel, "We found out that she's alright and 
Gerard is trying to get the backing of the Warren and he won't get 
that if he hurts her right?  Besides, from what information I gleaned 
out of you guys on our little adventure, the Warren Lady is not going 
to be a happy camper if she hears that you two are here.  We had best 
get moving before Gerard decides to use the fact that an extra two 
dragonriders are here to his own gain."

  "No offense Bel, I think you look wonderful and I was worried about 
you too." Carlynee smiled at the red head and gave her a swift hug, 
wincing a little as Bel's arm hit her sore ribs.

                        [tag everyone]

colorful regards, 
Cheryl/ Carlynee
Xylian Warren

{NRPG: Been too long eh?  Well, she finally opened her mouth and 
said her peace...surprised she could keep silent that long. *grin*}







"This is going to take cracker jack timing Wang."

  Jack Burton, 'Big Trouble in Little China'


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