Erik was in a rage. After his battle to get to Shiloh and taking his anger and fright out on the Lizonians he was left with a rage that was consuming him. Especially after what the lizard Change said to him. Erik would see that snake disemboweled, his hands cut off and his eyes painfully removed from his sockets, all before Erik left him to die. Oh yes, Change was going to be in for justice, Erik Jordan style. The last thing he needed right now was Jardony telling him anything about Shiloh being disfigured and he let the commanding officer know in no uncertain terms.

”We haven’t got time to stand here and exchange stories. Right now we need to go after them before the trail goes cold. What ever it is you think you need to reveal to us you can do so as we track these murdering bastards and gut every single one of them. Along with that bitch Serena and that bitch of a traitor Roxy.”

Kryton was a mess and Erik clearly saw the man was in shock. Walking over to his commander, he drew him up to his feet and grabbed a hold of his forearm, jerking the man towards him. Keeping his voice low, Erik’s tone was nothing short of authoritative when he spoke.

”Snap out of it, Kryton. We’ll find them and bring them back safely. I know you’re reeling but right now you need to be the commander I know you are.”

With a curt nod, Erik took a step back and let his eyes settle on Kryton’s. The man snapped out of his shock and nodded in return. Turning, he reclaimed his status with his own men and quickly gathered with Braum, Jadony and Erik to go after the lizards that had Miranda and Shiloh and Chandra.

Kryton snapped out of his daze when Erik took hold of him, realizing that now everyone around him knew that Shiloh was his daughter. He mentally berated himself as he pulled himself together, facing his men.

"YOU WILL ALL FOLLOW LORD KANTON'S ORDERS AS IF THEY WERE MY OWN!!! AND FOR THE RECORD, NO ONE IS TO SPEAK OF WHAT YOU KNOW ABOUT AIDE SHILOH, ESPECIALLY TO HER OR YOU WILL SEE MY ANGER AS YOU HAVE NEVER SEEN BEFORE!!!! IS THAT UNDERSTOOD!!!!??"

There was a loud 'YES SIR!!!' and everyone knew to say nothing for noone wanted to face Kryton at his worst. He gathered his weapons once more and followed Erik, Braum, and Lord Jardony into the forest, his face as if it were stone, his eyes the only thing showing any emotion.....rage. He'd heard as Erik had what Chang had in store for Shiloh as well as what Gnash had planned for Miranda. He was familiar with Gnash and knew that the bastard would do as he said and cut out Miranda's tongue if she wasn't quiet, which he couldn't imagine the red-head doing that. They made good time, but with the spell the bitch Serena had cast, the Lizonians were able to move faster than usual.



Roxy had been transported to the caverns near the coastline, the crashing surf sounding like thunder inside the caves. Roxy was amazed at what she saw. The caves were actually caverns of various sizes all inter-connected by various paths. Where Serena had transported them to, looked to be some kind of sitting room/magicks room. There were sparkling, dark colored geodes and crystals hanging from the low ceiling, giving off an eerie glow. With a wave of her hand, Serena lit the wall torches and Roxy was able to see the rest of the room. The walls were a sparkling black stone, and even she could feel the energy radiating from them. There were two plush chairs along one wall as well as a chaise. An altar sat in the middle of the room and had various stones, crystals, sea salts, and candles standing in the middle. There were ancient engravings in the top of the altar and along the sides. Along another wall were tables and shelves with bottles of different colored liquids and powders. Some of the larger jars held various sized eyeballs, claws, what looked like skin, etc. Roxy was fascinated by it all and it showed on her face.


Serena was pleased with seeing the eager look on her new pupil. She would enjoy teaching her and punishing her if needed. But, there was work to do for she had only 3 days to prepare for the ritual that would painfully strip Miranda of her untapped abilities and Gnash would only be patient for so long before he would begin to demand his right at vengeance on her niece. She smiled at the thought of what Gnash had in store for Miranda and chuckled. Her niece thought she was so tough, but she would soon be broken as would that little bitch Shiloh for little did Chang know, but she was going to let Roxy have her first, for turning traitor to her own people. But, that was not for now. Right now, the cells needed to be made ready for their visitors and grabbing Roxy by the hand, she led her down the various corridors, taking her to where it was damp, cold, and the air smelled of decay. Here were the cells, 6x6 foot cells with no blankets and only a corner as a bathroom. Along the far wall of all 4 cells were spikes imbedded the wall for chains.

"Roxy, over there in that open room are chains with shackles attached to the ends. Grab 3 of them and bring them to me."

Roxy went to do Serena's bidding and upon grabbing the chains, looked at the shackles and saw that there were small 1/4 inch spikes on the inside of the shackles. She smiled thinking about the pain this would cause to Shiloh. Careful not to get herself poked, she brought Serena the chains who took them, one at a time and hooked them to the stakes into the wall. She realized then that her lizonians had also been able to capture Chandra, Lord Jardony's daughter and her face split into a bigger smile. Three captives to torture for the price of one.

Once she had the shackles in place, she then readied the other instruments, most of which would be more mental to begin with. She would tear them down and find out where the Varden stronghold was and then pass that information on to the dark wizards. It would be grand, and she could see it now. She would be given the status of head witch within their sect and she would no longer have to live in caves and caverns. But first, she had to find out where the Varden stronghold was.


Gnash was the first to arrive with Miranda who was beginning to regain consciousness. As he carried her down the corridors, she began to fight, beating on his back, screaming obcentities at him until he reached the cells and his mistress. He tossed her into the cell, grinning as she landed with a thud. The deep gashes on her chest were bleeding again, but she still found the strength to raise off the cold floor and rush him, just when he slammed the barred door closed, laughing at her.

"You sssshhhhould be grateful you are in her firsssst, Miranda. The torturesssss planned for you in here are nothing compared to what I have planned for you."

Laughing, he turned away helping his mistress finish getting the other two cells ready.


Chang was almoste to the caverns when the paralyzing agent began to wear off of Shiloh. The pain was excruciating for her as the paralyzing venom begain to leave her system through the pores of her skin, her body dripping a yellow liquid for the next 20 yards. As the last of it dripped from her body, she let out an agonizing scream. Chang tossed her to the ground, his back and front wet from the substance that had leaked from Shiloh's body. Shiloh lay there, shuddering from the pain of it.

"Hurtsssss, doesssn't it, SSSSShhhhhiloh? Good. I hope Erik heard your scream and suffers for it."

Taking his water bladder, Chang cleaned himself off, not allowing Shiloh to do the same. When he approached her again, she had strength enough to lift herself up to a sitting position and with a clenched fist, she swung, hitting Chang square in the jaw, snapping his head back. As she attempted to get to her feet, her hair was grabbed from behind and she heard a snarl in her ear.

"That wassssss not ssssssmart, girl!"

Chang whipped her around, slapping her, his claws opening the mark on her cheek. Shiloh snarled at him, fighting for all she was worth, but she was no match for him, not just after regaining her ability to move again. Laughing evilly at her, Chang tied her hands together with a strip of rawhide and threw her back over his shoulder. Within the hour, he reached the caves and entered them.


Tsar entered not long after Chang with Chandra being drug behind him by the rope that was tied about her wrists. Once all 3 women were in their prospective cells, Serena smiled at them, as did Roxy.

"Enjoy your peace for the short time you have it. Shortly, it will be no more as your screams will fill these caves until I have what I want from you."

Turning in a flourish, Serena, Roxy, and the lizonians exit the damp, cold area and went to the sitting room to eat.

Serena and the others sat down at the black table, a green female lizonian serving them their meal and warmed mead and cider. She and Roxy ate a succulent seafood dish with seasoned kelp on the side while Gnash, Tsar, and Chang at what looked like some sort of rodent like creatures, freshly killed. They swallowed them whole, making Roxy grimace as their forked tongues darted in and out for a few moments.

"You will get used to the way they eat and what they eat, child. Now, finish your meal so that we may go play with our new pets."

An hour later, having finished their meal, the five of them rose, leaving the mess for the serving lizonian and headed back down to the level that held the cells. Once there, in a sing-song voice, Serena announced their presence, only to be met with Miranda's acid tongue. Walking up to her cell, she smiled sweetly at her niece.

"Tsk...Tsk. Now Miranda, where are your manners? Didn't my sister teach you any better? I have given you a place to sleep, albeit it's not what you are used to, but it is at my own generosity that you have the cell to sleep in. And, if you or Chandra tell me what it is I want to know, then your pain will be short-lived. Well, at least until Gnash gets a hold of you. Gnash...Tsar...Chang, the chains and shackles have been laid out by Roxy. Please string up the prisoners so that I can proceed to get the information I want."

As the three red-headed lizonians picked up the chains and shackles, they rattled them, causing the women to become anxious at what was about to occur. First, Gnash entered Miranda's cell and upon seeing Miranda crouched down in a fighting position, he laughed.

"Tisssss no usssse, Miranda. You will be chained to the wall for our entertainment. Don't fight, Miranda........the sssssooner it isssss done, the sssssssooner you will be mine and you will be releassssed from thissss cccccell."

Miranda said nothing as she glared at the lizard man, ready to pounce on him when she got the chance. As he came closer, she leapt at him, her sharp fingernails gouging for his eyes, leaving a long, bloody furrow down one side of his face, very close to his vulnerable eye. She kicked at him, bruising her toes on his shins.

Grabbing her around the waist, Gnash growled obcentities at the she-cat, throwing her against the wall. The wind was knocked out of her, and before she could recover, he had the shackles snapped around her wrists and the chain hooked on the stakes protruding from the wall. Inside the shackles were 4 little spikes, each about a quarter inch long and thin. Once the shackles were snapped shut, the little spikes dug into Miranda's wrists, causing thin streams of blood to slowly seep down her arms. The spikes were high enough that she had to stand on her tiptoes to keep her weight off of her wrists. Once done, Gnash left the cell to check on Tsar and Chang.

Tsar and Chang had fared no better than Gnash, both sporting deep scratches from Shiloh an Chandra, but they had managed to get them shackled and chained, their shackles equipped with the same small spikes as Miranda's and both having to stand on their tiptoes to keep their weight off of their wrists.

Serena had laid out various instruments.....small daggers, various sizes of what resembled knitting needles, a bull whip and various pokers to be heated for branding. Above the wall torches were rings where Serena showed Roxy how to hang the branding instruments so that the brands were heating up in the flames. Next, she took one of the small daggers and opening a small vial, she dipped the tip of the dagger into the liquid inside of it. This was something she'd made from the saliva of the lizonians whose saliva was acidic. It was somewhat diluted so that it wouldn't eat through the dagger or stone bowl, but it would burn for hours on the skin, especially if there were a cut involved. Handing one of the other 3 daggers to Roxy and Tsar, she instructed them to do the same and handed hers to Gnash. She entered Shiloh's cell with Roxy to instruct her in the art of torture.

Shiloh, her gray eyes stormy with anger and hatred, glared at the two women, kicking out with her feet...fighting to the best of her ability. But, standing on her toes so that the little spikes in the shackles didn't cut her wrists any worse made kicking out difficult to say the least and her efforts were clumsy at best. Roxy walked up to Shiloh, a finger tracing the acidic burn on her cheek. She leaned in close to Shiloh's ear, whispering.

"How many scars can I give you, Shiloh, before Erik will no longer want to look upon you? Hmmmm? Don't worry....I'm not going to start with your face, I will save that for last."

Shiloh's armor had already been removed as had the other women's and their tunics had been cut from them so that only their chests were covered. Their leggings had been left on, but their boots had been removed. Roxy walked in front of Shiloh, trailing the dagger's blade along her ribcage. Shiloh hissed in her breath as the diluted acid left a thin burn line in it's wake. Pressing harder as she came around to the front of her stomach, Roxy drew blood, allowing the diluted acid to penetrate and the burning sensation increased. Shiloh gritted her teeth, refusing to utter a sound.

The same was happening in Chandra's cell, only Tsar was cutting deep, forcing the acidic like substance into her muscles. Before long, Chandra could no longer hold in her cries of pain. In between them, she yelled at Miranda to not say anything, no matter what.

Gnash was grinning at Miranda, the dagger in his claws as he approached her. He said nothing, but his insane joy at what he was about to do showed in his reptilian eyes. Laying the blade on the wounds in the top of her chest, Gnash pressed the blade into one deep, red gash, forcing the acidic substance into the wound. Miranda's green eyes blazed into his red ones as she gritted her teeth against the pain, not giving him the satisfation of her screams. The same could not be said any longer in Shiloh's cell as her ribcage as now riddled with red stripes, the acidic substance making her feel as if her insides were burning and not just her skin.

This went on for a little over an hour and by the time they were done, Serena had learned nothing. She wasn't all that surprised, for it was too soon and the fun had just begun. She glanced in at her niece and was pleased to see that even she didn't utter a sound, her face was pale, her eyes glazed from the pain. Her chest was once more seeping blood as were the new wounds streaking her ribcage and stomach. Chandra and Shiloh were the same, only their screams had turned to whimpers, but both were still glaring at their captors. Giving a dramatic sigh, Serena bade they put away the daggers and grab the now red hot pokers. Before they entered the cells, Serena looked at her niece.

"Do you wish to tell me where the Varden stronghold is, Miranda?"

"Go to hell, you old cow!!"

Serena clicked her tongue in disappointment and walked to Chandra's cell, asking her the same question with the same response. Shaking her head, she handed one of the pokers to Roxy.

"Stay away from the face, Roxy. Concentrate on her legs and back....Chang can pull her away from the wall when you are ready to do her back."

Entering Miranda's cell again, she laughs.

"Maybe what you and Chandra need is a little incentive. Let's see how you do when nothing is being done to you, but just to your friend. How long can you stand to hear her scream I wonder?"

Shiloh's breathing was fast as she watched Roxy advance on her with the glowing poker.

"DON'T YOU TELL THEM A THING, MIRANDA!! NOR YOU, CHANDRA!!! NOT ONE WORD, NO MATTER WHAT!!!!"

The next thing Miranda and Chandra heard were Shiloh's screams as the smell of branding flesh filtered throughout the chamber. Fifteen minutes later all was quiet, Shiloh having passed out. Miranda and Chandra both had tears streaming down their cheeks, but they had said nothing.

"Lay the poker in the corner, Roxy. Come, we should get some rest and begin in the morning. Gnash, you three release them from the shackles and lock them in for the night."

Having done as their mistress requested, the left the three women in their cells as they locked them in, laughing at what would be done in the morning.

Miranda was the first to say something once they were alone.

"Shiloh....Shiloh....come on, girl, answer me. Chandra, can you hear anything coming from Shiloh's cell?"

Chandra listened, and finally heard a moan coming from Shiloh's cell. Breathing a sigh of relief, both women encouraged her to speak to them, staying awake for them.

"I don't know if I can listen to that again, Miranda. Shiloh doesn't know where the Varden stronghold is.....and her screams were almost more than I could bear."

A weak voice was heard from Shiloh's cell and both women could barely hear Shiloh's words.

"No....you will endure it as I have to. You cannot give in and tell them where the stronghold is. Swear it to me, Chandra. You too, Miranda. They will use me to get you to tell them and you cannot."

Both women swore to Shiloh that they would suffer along with her and not say a word. Shiloh lay there on the cold, damp floor, her body nothing but pain and thought of Erik, keeping his love foremost in her mind and heart lest she give up. She could see his face...feel his gentle touch as he made her a true woman.....hear his cries of release. She imagined he was right there next to her, holding her....making the pain stop. When she finally slept, she dreamt of him, hoping that she would still be alive when he found them....and she knew that he would find her for their love was too strong for him not to.

Miranda and Chandra were thinking along the same lines, only they were worried that Shiloh would not be alive by the time they were found for they knew that Serena would use Shiloh to weaken them to tell her where the stronghold was. Closing her eyes, Miranda concentrated, sending out a mental call to anyone who could hear it. She had no idea what is was she was doing and did so on pure instinct....more of her abilities opening up.

Would there be anyone who would hear her cries for aid? Would Braum and the others be close enough to hear? Or, would someone new intercept the call for help?

Miranda didn't know how much more they could take. After only a few hours...Serena, Roxy, Gnash, Chang, and Tsar returned. Chandra and Miranda put up a good fight when Gnash and Tsar tried to put them back into the shackles, and were pleased to see both red headed lizonians sporting deep scratches and bloody mouths, but they too suffered bruising on their faces and split lips and still found themselves back in the shackles. Shiloh was unable to put up much of a fight and Roxy took advantage of that and viciously kicked Shiloh in the mid-section, cracking ribs and laughing gleefully at Shiloh's plight.

"Not so smug without Erik, are you Shiloh? You have noone to protect you here."

Still laughing, Roxy watched as Chang placed her wrists back into the barbed shackles, both chuckling at Shiloh's moans. She was barely noticeable in this state. Her face was bruised, her lips split and swollen. One gray eye was swollen shut and her body was riddled with deep and shallow gashes and acidic burns. The scar that decorated her left cheek was an angry red now.

Once Miranda was strung back up, Serena came in to her cell, holding the bull whip herself. Miranda's green eyes glared at her aunt, all but shooting daggers at her.


"Now....now, Miranda. All you or Chandra have to do is tell me where the Varden stronghold is and this all stops. I'll even treat Shiloh's wounds so that she may live. What do you say, niece? Tell Auntie where your playmates are hiding and Auntie will let you go play with your new friend, Gnash."

The last was said as she seductively stroked Miranda's cheek with the handle of the whip. Miranda, still glaring at her, spit in her face, causing Serena to leap back, screeching in anger.

"I would sooner you suck my blood and gut me while I live before I tell you where the Varden stronghold is, you pathetic bitch!! None of us will talk!!"

"AAAAAARRRRRRRGGGGGGGG!!!!!"

Serena ordered Gnash to turn her niece so that her face was against the wall. Chandra and Shiloh both heard the whistling of the whip and then the strike when it flayed open Miranda's back, shredding the rest of her tunic. The heard nothing from Miranda except a grunt of pain. Again and again the whip flew....Serena's rage knowing no boundaries. By the 15th stroke, Miranda screamed, the pain becoming unbearable. Finally, after 20 strokes, Serena stopped, sweat dotting her brow, her chest heaving from her heavy breathing. She walked up to Miranda and grabbing a handfull of thick red hair, she yanked her head back, hissing in her ear.

"TELL ME WHERE THE STRONGHOLD IS!!!! WHERE...IS...IT?!!!! TELL ME, MIRANDA OR I START ON CHANDRA NEXT!!!"

Miranda, her eyes glazed with pain refused to speak. Serena let go of her hair, ordering Gnash to turn her back around and leave her shackled. Angry beyond belief, she stormed out of the cell, Gnash following her. Slamming the cell door shut, she glared at her niece.

"I will leave you for now, but think on this you little slut. If you or Chandra do not tell me where the stronghold is by the time I return in the morning then I will hand Shiloh over to Chang only she won't be leaving her cell. The two of you can hear every little thing he does to her unless you tell me what it is I want to know."

Leaving the three women strung up, the five of them left for the night. Miranda had never felt so much pain before and dug down deep within herself to a place where the pain could not reach her. Once there, she allowed herself some respite while thinking on what they were going to do. They couldn't tell them where the stronghold was and they couldn't let Chang get his filthy claws into Shiloh. The girl was a fighter and a trooper, but how much she could take, Miranda didn't know. She didn't want to have to tell Erik that she couldn't save his woman.

She didn't how long she hung there, trying to figure out what to do when she heard what sounded like rocks crumbling and falling. A green lizonian entered the chambers to check on them and make sure that they were still breathing when the wall gave way and he was skewered on the end of a sword. As the lizonian was tossed aside as if he were nothing, her green eyes narrowed as she looked to see who had done this. As the dust cleared, allowing the light from the torches to become brighter, she saw a large man standing before her. That was when she caught the scent of burnt lizard flesh and wondered how he had accomplished that let alone tearing a hole in the wall. Then she saw dragon's claws reach out and rip the cell door off of it's hinges. She couldn't see the head as it was too narrow in the cavern's and she knew that the large creature must be uncomfortable, but she was grateful he was there with this strange man. She also noticed that by the color of his talons, he was bronze dragon.....a rare breed. She looked back up at the man who was staring at her....surprise on his face at seeing her. She quickly snapped out of her stupor and thought of Shiloh.

"Please...the girl in the cell next to me...her name is Shiloh and she is in worse shape than I am. You must get her out of here....you and your dragon must get her out of here. Please!! Get her out of here!!! Then set me and Chandra free. She is in the last cell. We can fight our way out of here, but Shiloh will not make it if you don't get her out of here!!!"

Miranda knew she was being bossy and bitchy, but she also knew that time was wasting for when Serena heard the ruckus or one of her lizonians reported to her that they were under attack she would come for them and the Gods only knew what she would do then. Her and Chandra had a chance, but Shiloh was bad and somehow, Miranda could feel it. She didn't know how she could feel the severity of Shiloh's wounds, but she could, just like she could almost feel the girl's heartbeat getting slower. She looked back at the man again, her green eyes spitting at him.

"SHILOH!!!! GET...HER...OUT...OF...HERE!!!!! NOW!!!!"

When he walked to her and undid her shackles, she couldn't stop the whimper of pain at being let down from the chains, fresh blood now streaming from the small wounds around her wrists. The man caught her before her legs gave out and she allowed him to hold her up for a few minutes while she once again swallowed the pain and gathered her will power before pushing away from him.

"Thank you, sir, but I must get the other two, especially Shiloh."

She stumbled away from him, seeing the keys hanging on the far wall near the entrance to the hallway Serena and the others had taken. Grabbing them, she quickly unlocked Chandra's cell and then unlocked her shackles, easing her to the ground to the best of her ability. Next was Shiloh's cell. Unlocking the cell door, she noticed that the man was behind her, waiting for her to unlock the cell door. Once she had it open, she rushed in and gasped at seeing Shiloh's state. How the girl was still alive she didn't know, but she credited to her's and Erik's love for each other. She turned looking at the man, telling him that he would have to catch her when she unlocked the shackles and was relieved when he moved to stand next to Shiloh. He gently caught her as Miranda unlocked the shackles and she was amazed that he was so gently for his size.

"You must get her out of here, sir. Her name is Shiloh DragonStarr and she is a chosen aide to one of our greatest riders. I am Miranda and the other girl is Chandra. Please...I beg of you...get Shiloh to safety. Chandra and I will find a way out of here...somehow."




Serena and the others were relaxing before they turned in for the night when they heard the commotion. Gnash sent Chang and Tsar to see what was going on and when they didn't return right away, Gnash himself went to see what was happening. When he came close to the cells, sniffed the air then let out a hiss...turning he ran back to his mistress. He had smelled death, dust from rocks crumbling, lizonian blood......and a bronze dragon. And where there was a bronze dragon there was almost always a chosen one and they would be a formidable foe. And one he was not foolish enough to confront alone. Knowing the bronze dragons empathy for the humans, he knew that the dragon and it's rider...if it had one...would be on their way to the cells if not already there. The only thing in their favor was that the dragon would be extremely cramped in the passageways. Sending a green lizonian to find Tsar and Chang and have them sent back to Serena, he quickly made his way back to his mistress.

He reached Serena and hollered at her before he even got to her side.


"A BRONZE DRAGON IS HERE MISTRESS!!! HURRY, IT WILL BE TRYING TO RESCUE THE WOMEN IF IT HASN'T ALREADY!!! YOU MUST GET TO SAFETY AND I AND THE OTHERS WILL TAKE CARE OF THIS!! I WILL COME FOR YOU ONCE THIS THREAT HAS BEEN DEALT WITH AND THE WOMEN ARE ONCE MORE SECURE IN THEIR CELLS!!!"

Gnash ordered Tsar, after he and Chang arrived, to get Serena and Roxy to safety so that they would not become targets of the dragon. Serena argured with Gnash, angered that once again her plan was being ripped apart, but she knew that Gnash was right and a bronze dragon woud rip her to shreds if it realized that she was responsible for the torture of the women. Following Tsar, her and Roxy went deeper into the caverns to where no dragon could go as Gnash and Chang gathered what was left of their lizonian army.....now only about 55 strong since the Varden attacked the rest as the emerged from their caves...and headed for the chamber that held the cells.

Miranda didn't know what to think about this man and his dragon who had appeared out of nowhere. She didn't even know that a dragon could fit inside of the caverns. He must have seen the look on her face because he gave her a short explanation.

"Bannor is cramped in this part of the caverns, but he can crawl through them. I think there is a larger area up where we need to go to get out of here. Unfortunately, I will have to leave you and the other girl here to get this one out of here. I would imagine that the entrance to these caverns are definately too small for a dragon to enter by. But, sometimes, you can find vents big enough to allow a dragon to come through with it's wings folded close to it's body. It is not a comfortable thing for the dragon, but can be done."

Miranda nodded her head to the large man, looking over her shoulder at the bronze dragon.

"Just get Shiloh out of here. Chandra and I will get ourselves out.....somehow."

Miranda knew little about the bronze dragons, but what she did know that they were empathetic to humans and would give them aide when needed. She also knew that they lived close to water, usually large rivers, lakes, or seas.

As she watched him climb onto the dragon's back and her and Chandra stepped back as the dragon's tail obliterated the walls, making the chamber bigger. She hollered at him to stop before he caused a cave in and was amazed when the dragon did indeed stop swinging it's tail. That was when about 10 green lizonians rushed her and Chandra. She had a sword from the fallen lizonian and quickly cut the first one down, grabbing the sword as he sank to the cavern floor and tossing it to Chandra.

"HERE!! PULL ON YOUR STRENGTH, CHANDRA!! WE MUST GET OUT OF HERE BEFORE MY AUNT REALIZES WE ARE GONE!!"

Both women fought hard, cutting down green lizonians around them and taking nicks and cuts themselves, wounds they could not afford to have. They made it to where the man and the dragon were and that was when he handed her a dark crystal and quickly explained how it would work, but only for her. He told her what direction to take to find him and Shiloh and then they were gone, the dragon climbing it's way up the vent and then taking to the sky.

"C'mon, Chandra. We have to get out of here and find the others then go find Shiloh."

Turning around, she saw Gnash and Chang advancing on them, about 30 green lizonians following behind them. She quickly looked around, trying desperately to find a way out. Her and Chandra were in no shape to face those two along with that many green lizonians. That was when Chandra tapped her on the shoulder and pointed to a dark passage entrance just to the right of them. Nodding her head, the two slipped into the passageway, feeling their way.

Jardony, Kryton, Eric and Braum searched for Shiloh and Miranda for hours and they were still no closer to getting them back than they were when they started out. The lizards left trails for them to follow, unfortunately the trails went in all different directions and it was difficult to tell which one was the right one. The only thing they could count on was the fact Gnash and Chang’s trail left deeper imprinted foot prints for the group to follow. If it hadn’t been for that, there was no telling where they would be.

Eric was frustrated, pissed off and frightened and as the dawn’s early light began to change the sky from blackest black to something less ominous, he was certain he was beginning to see things. No doubt his eyes were playing tricks on him from the fatigue and exhaustion he was feeling. But he dare not give up. Shi was out there with those scaly bastards and he wasn’t going to let them use her like some common whore.

Where were the lizards taking them? The more Eric and the others searched for them, the less hope they were beginning to have. What if they couldn’t find the women? What then? Would they just abandon the whole lot of them? No! Eric wouldn’t let that happen. He couldn’t do that to Shiloh.

Still, as they kept pressing forward, he felt the light of hope slowly lessen until it was barely a flicker. But then, they stopped where they were for they heard the rumbling of the earth soon followed by the sound of crumbling rock and dirt. That’s when they heard the unmistakable sound of dragons wings and they flapped to lift the massive body up off the ground and into the sky.

Eric and the others strained to see what dragon it was, but the sky was still too dark for them to discern. The flickering light of hope quickly turned into a flame once more and the men moved in the direction they heard the crumbling earth come from. This HAD to be a sign of good will. Surely the Gods were aiding the men by giving them this strange beacon to follow.

When they reached the massive hole caused by the dragon as it forced its way above ground, all four of them approached cautiously in case there were more. When they reached the edge, Kryton knelt down and called into the cavern below.

”SHILOH! MIRANDA! CHANDRA! ARE YOU DOWN THERE?!”

Miranda and Chandra could go no further, the tunnel had become too narrow to continue. The good thing was that the Lizonians wouldn't be able to follow if they'd seen where they'd gone...the bad thing....they couldn't see, only hear and they had no idea how many of the lizonians were out there. That was when they both heard Commander Kryton.

"Miranda....they're here!! You and I are both good fighters and with them up above at the entrance to the hole the bronze dragon made bigger, we have a chance!"

Chandra's voice was a mere whisper, but Miranda heard every word, wondering what to do. The bad thing was, Chang and Gnash would have heard Kryton as well. Making the decision to fight rather than be stuck in a narrow tunnel, she nodded her head, then realized that Chandra couldn't see her in the darkness of the passageway.

"I'd rather die and take as many of those bastards with us then be stuck in here."

"You stay here, Randy. You are the only who can lead them to Shiloh. I will head out to fight and let them know that we're here. You....stay...here."

Miranda hated that she would stay behind, but Chandra had a very valid point. She said a prayer to the Gods when Chandra shimmied out of the tunnel with a war cry. The next thing Miranda heard was sword slicing through flesh and Chandra yelling at the four men.

"WHERE HERE!!!!........'grunt'......HURRY!!!! MIRANDA IS.....'oomph'....HIDDEN, WE ARE INJURED AND SHILOH IS......!"k

That was all she got out when she was attacked from behind, Chang running his blade through shoulder, rendering her unable to swing her blade.

"Come down and play with usssss, Kryton. Erik mussssst be with you assss well. Your woman, Ssssssshhhhhiloh sssssscreamed for me, Erik."

Chang was laughing when he got done speaking, wondering how well Erik was taking the news about his woman.

As Braum led Jardony, Kryton and Eric made their way down the dark passageway he said "Be alert, keep some distance between us, this could be a trap." Just as he rounded a dark corner, there was a clash of steel. Braums sword pairied a spear thrust from a lurking lizonian. The creature countered, feighnted to the right and thrust left. Braums sword swung and severed the creatures head. As Baum turned to warn the others, a burning senstaion filled his back and chest. looing down the blade of a sword protruded from his chest and he sank to his knees, as the sword was withdrawn. Standing behind him was a lone red lizinian holding the sword. The creature lifted it's head and gave a triumphant roar.

On the surface Temeraire fell to her knees and he neck stretched out, head rising and gave out a mournful roar.

Braum had no sooner got the words out of his mouth when Erik saw the flash of something out of the corner of his eye. Hearing Braum engaging with the Lizonian, Erik rushed forward with his own blade drawn when he saw the blade protruding from Braum’s chest only to see it slide back through. His eyes widened with disbelief as he saw the elder rider fall to his knees. When he heard the Lizonian roar triumphantly, Erik saw red.

In one swift motion, Erik lunged for the creature and swung his sword at the same time. The blade came down in a chopping like motion onto the creatures shoulder where the neck and shoulder met. Erik’s blade penetrated half way through the creatures torso by the time it stopped cutting off the roar prematurely.

As the Lizonian fell dead, Erik withdrew his bloodied sword and kicked the body out of the way then rushed to Braum’s side. The elder rider was cradled in Kryton’s arms and when Erik reached him, Braum was wheezing and gurgling with every breath he took while Jardony stood guard and looked on with a pained expression on his face. Erik’s ice blue eyes could still not believe what they were seeing and he felt tears stinging them as he tried to blink them away.

”Braum….Braum can you hear me? I’m so sorry….I should have been up there with you…..can you please forgive me?”

Braum reached out and took Erik’s hand in his, clutching it desperately. Erik held onto the mans hand with a death like grip willing him to live even though Erik knew it was impossible with a gaping hole in the middle of his chest.

Chandra yelled out when she saw Braum go down, still battling two lizonians while a third tried to get to Miranda down the narrow passage. She heard the lizonian give a very undignified screech, then saw the same lizonian come backing out of the passage way, blood streaming from where one eye used to be. Then she saw Miranda shimmy her way out as well and join her in their battle, making short work of the two lizonians who were battling Chandra.

Miranda had stuffed the dark crystal into her side pouch that she carried with her to keep it safe when she heard Chandra yell out to Braum. Knowing that the man must have been injured, she heard the lizonian advancing on her as she drew her short dagger and waited, hoping that her aim would be true. It was and looking over, she saw that her blade had pierced his eye. After helping Chandra, she then rushed over to Braum and Erik as Chandra ran into her father's arms, Jardony wrapping her in a protective embrace. Both women were bloodied and bruised, the torture they endured evident on their bodies and in their eyes.

Miranda knelt down beside Braum, her look grim upon seeing his wound. She looked into Erik's stricken face and laid a comforting hand on his shoulder. It was then that she saw him looking around, knowing that he was looking for Shiloh.

"Shiloh isn't here, Erik. She was badly tortured, worse than us. Serena and Roxy used her to get us to tell them where the Varden stronghold is. We didn't...and Shiloh paid for it."

Chandra then took over as Miranda continued to study Braum's wound.

"A man appeared along with his bronze dragon.....a rare bronze dragon. Miranda begged him to get Shiloh out of here if she was going to have a chance to live. He gave Miranda a dark crystal and told her to head south to find them."

Miranda looked back up at Erik, unsure as to how to tell him about Shiloh's condition and what was done to her. She also wasn't sure as to what to do about Braum's mortal injury. She chose to keep an eye on Braum and tell Erik what had happened, but first they needed to get out of here before more lizonians showed up. That was Gnash and Chang stepped out of the shadows where they had been hiding waiting for the men to make their way down to them, along with another 10 lizonians. Chang grinned at Erik, his forked tongue flicking in and out.

"Ssssssso, Erik.....you made it. Too bad your woman is not here.....she may not even be alive. Roxy and I had the mosssst fun with your woman. Sssssssshhhhhhe sssssscreamed for me......ssssshhhe hassss the mossst wonderful ssssscream. Too bad that basssstard with the bronze dragon sssshhhowed up. We weren't done playing yet, Roxy, Sssshhhiloh, and I."

Miranda saw the rage enter Erik's eyes at Chang's words and hoped that Erik would destroy the bastard for she'd seen Shiloh when her and the man had released her and she'd been in bad shape. Gnash was standing next to Chang, glaring at Miranda. They would have to get rid of these two in order to get out of here and begin their search for Shiloh and take care of Braum. She wasn't even sure if their was any hope for Braum.

Erik kept his gaze on Miranda as she tried to explain to him what happened to Shiloh. The grip Braum had on his hand wasn’t letting up but Erik could see the life ebbing away in Braum’s gaze. The man didn’t have many moments left in this life. And I appeared as though he wanted to say something.

Just as Erilk was getting ready to lean down to hear what Braum had to say, the Lizonians showed up and the one began taunting Erik. If Erik thought he was seeing red before, here was nothing to explain what he was seeing now. Shiloh wasn’t here. She’d been tortured by these bastards along with that traitorous bitch Roxy and there was no telling if she was dead or alive. And now Braum had fallen at the hands of these hideous, unnatural creatures.

He could take no more.

Erik looked into Braum’s eyes with a distant, far off look in his icy gaze. In the next moment, the young rider was up and lunging at Change and Gnash with a war cry. It didn’t matter if there were 10 Lizonians or 100. Erik was moving like a madman possessed. His blade sliced through the air striking one Lizonian after another. His eyes had a murderous look to them as he fought the group single handedly. What did he have to lose at this point? Everything else he cared about was gone.

And he was going to make these lizards wish they’d never seen him let alone were foolish enough to taunt him.

Miranda stayed next to Braum when Erik went Beserk. She looked to Chandra, her green eyes filled with worry. Damn that Chang!! She hoped that Erik shut his mouth once and for all, for Shiloh could very well be alive.

"Stay with Braum, Chandra. Lord Jardony...Commander Kryton...get rid of those bastards."

Miranda took control of the situation and while Lord Jardony didn't bat an eye, knowing what Miranda was capable of, Kryton was just as livid and scared as Erik was and was already joining in the fray as Miranda spoke. Chandra knelt down next to Braum as Kryton and Jardony joined in with Erik, keeping the foul creatures away from their fallen comrade and Chandra. Miranda attempted to get to Erik as he was slicing his way to Chang who was standing not far away, a look of utter fear in his reptilian eyes. Gnash was grinning as he focused on Jardony.

Miranda was slicing her way through the few lizonians that were left, knowing that there were probably more coming along with Serena and Roxy. She yelled at Erik, trying to get through the rage he was feeling as she fought, tiring more quickly from her wounds, her body wanting to lay down now that the calvary had arrived.

"ERIK!!!!....ERIK!!!!!......I HAVE A WAY TO FIND SHILOH!!!! THERE IS A VERY GOOD CHANCE THAT SHE LIVES, BUT NOT IF SOMETHING HAPPENS TO YOU!!! FINISH THIS SO WE CAN FIND HER!!!!"

Braum drew a ragged breath, rose on his elbows and called out "Eric...... MY SON ...... come to your father!" .... he then fell back and reached for out and clutched his sword, bringing it to his bleeding chest. "Eric come I have something ...... " then his words were choked by the rattle of his bloody cough.