Miranda had listened intently to Lord Mhoram's story and was intrigued by it as well as a little confused. But, she decided to save her questions for a later time, when her head wasn't so fuzzy from wine. She was finding that she liked Mhoram more and more and this didn't sit well with her at all. She was a warrior and had little time for a man. When he commented on her eyes and then her 'mate' her eyes narrowed. She was a warrior and had very little experience with men. She had no mate and no need for one for she never knew when her life would be cut short and she had no desire to leave a mate alone and grieving for her. She also just flat out didn't know how to deal with men, period. They tended to make her nervous when they started complimenting her.

Once he was done, she stood up, startling him. She'd had three goblets of wine and was feeling rather light-headed as well as the pain in her side was becoming numb.

"I have no mate to speak of, m'lord nor do I have need of one. I thank you for the compliment and your story, but I should leave now."

Turning, Miranda headed out of the chapel, stumbling, falling into a couple of the pews by the time she reached the door.

(Hiding his emotions...he laffed)
Laffing as she said...I have no need for a mate either. Lord Mhoram laffed even louder. I'm sorry...did you think I was implying that I was looking for a mate, Miranda. Charmimg...You are charming and spunky...I like the way you handle yourself around my men. But I am not looking for a mate either...where in my life would I have time to mate and fight my enemies. I have but one purpose and that is to defeat the evil dwellers inside that mountain and its sub terrain levels. (He felt hurt when she said that she didnt need a man in her life and he laffed to hide his emotions, for a Master of his home..shouldnt shred no tears, but the loneliness of running this castle took its toll on him and if it wasnt for the dragon, Bannor, he would have left this new world and sailed away).

PAUSING he looks at her side and notices the blood.

The wound in your side, will need to be stitched and I can thread a needle better then most of servants and men..do you trust me enough to stitch your wound. If you do nothing with it, it will get infected and you will get very sick. But that is up to you. Opening the huge door, Mhoram allows the lady warrior out. You know its funny, too have met you in the mountain, who were you fighting and why? Why are you important enough for them to want to kill you and your friend?

Miranda stopped at the door of the chapel at Mhoram's words of not needing a mate. She turned to face him, her green eyes blazing at him.

"You are an arrogant one, aren't you? Who said I thought that you needed a mate? Certaninly not me. As for my side, you have had too much to drink to be able to stitch me up so I believe I will seek stitching elsewhere."

She stood there, swaying slightly as she glared at him, then realized that he'd also complimented her on her fighting skills and what he'd asked her. She was still a bit light-headed from the wine and so everything now came out in a rush.

"Thank you, m'lord, for the compliment on my skill, as for why Shiloh and I were taken, I do not know but Selena, the witch, is my aunt and she is as evil as they come. She wants me and I do not know why."

Miranda then, her legs unable to hold her from the wound and the wine, sank into a pew, a foolish smile on her face.

"I should not drink wine. It does not sit well with me or I do not sit well with it......'tis one or the other.....we do not sit well with each other, I think. I do have more questions, but I would rather ask them when my head is not so fuzzy."

She looked up at him, a goofy smile on her face. Miranda was not one to drink wine like this, and definately not this much at one sitting. She was very tipsy and wondered how she was going to make it back to the keep and her room.

His thoughts reflect how he feels for Miranda in the short time he has met her...

My dear Miranda...tis a shame you feel that way you feel about mates and being afraid of the unknown. I know in my heart...that when the blossom awakens in you...I hope you only see me in your dreams. I will not speak or mention this to you but only hope that our friendship grows..

Lord Mhoram looks into her eyes and smiles, "Yes you are a little bit tipsy are'nt thee...I will carry thee to the edge of the woods and that way you can get your bearings. This mead does not make me wary, I can still weld a sword in battle if I need to. It does relax me in when I tell the story and speak about the gods. I will see to it that my surgeon stops by your room and stitches that wound tonight before dinner."

Miranda closes her eyes and sleep takes over...perhaps it was alittle too much wine for her, but as Lord Mhoram Lfts Miranda up in his arms, she tries to take his head off with her swinging arm..."easy my lady Miranda tis a short carry to through the woods to my castle."

He carries her down the long hall of the old chapel and out into the tree covered pathway to the castle's inner gates. She is very light and is singing a song, one that Lord Mhoram never heard of before. Smiling, he laffs with her at her silly song about red robins, butterflys,lightning bugs and blue jays in the corn fields near her home. "We're almost there Miranda". Lord Mhoram walks through the castle s inner gates and the sentry guards come to attention. Lord Mhoram carries Mirnada to his private surgeons room. She 's quiet now...sleeping from the wine and the surgeon begins to stitch her open wound.

I sit back, watch the surgeon and laff...shes right.. I do not have a steady hand after drinking this much mead. She should sleep until morning breakfast, the doctor said over his shoulder..but Im not sure how you are going to keep her still. If she moves to quickly and swings her sword in a fight, she will tear the stitches and open that wound again.

Miranda awoke the following morning to someone humming in her room. She quickly reached for her blade that she always kept beneath her pillow to find that it wasn't there. She leapt out of bed, landing in a crouch, grimacing at the pain in her side as she pulled stitches tight with her movements. The maid, Bess, turned with a startled scream then quickly smiled. She'd been warned that this girl was a warrior and to expect her to be rather wary.

"Good morn, m'lady, I be Bess. Sorry if I woke ye wit' me humming, but I've always liked the mornin's light. Shall I help ye dress fer breakfast?"

Miranda stood then, giving the maid a small smile looking around for her clothes and blades. Namely her sword and dagger.

"I can dress myself, Bess, but thank you. Have you seen my sword...or my dagger?"

"Oh, Lord Mhoram had his weapon's master sharpen them and clean them for ye. He probably put them in his study with his own favorite sword and dagger."

This had Miranda's green eyes blazing for she did not like her weapons being far from her, especially in a place she did not know well.

"If you would gather me clothes, Bess I will get dressed and go collect my weapons before breakfast."

Bess hurried to hand her clothes, the shirt being a knew one as the previous one had been stained with blood. Once Miranda had dressed, she helped her brush out her long, copper tresses till they glimmered as if on fire, then stepped back as a very determined young woman left the bed chamber. Smiling to herself, Bess thought, ~This will be interesting to watch.~

Bess knew her lord well enough to know that he was a fair man, but everyone had noticed that the past few years had seen him become lonely. He was used to women whom dressed in dresses, cooked, cleaned.......not fight and carry swords. But, they'd also seen the look in his eyes sometimes, when he looked at the Lady Miranda and knew that he was becoming fond of her. This would be interesting indeed.

Miranda made it downstairs, searching for the study when she ran into Lord Mhoram in the main hall.

"I would like my weapons, m'lord. I appreciate you having them sharpened and cleaned, but I do not like being without them, so if you please, I would like them returned to me."

She stood there like a defiant vallkyhrie, not showing any signs of having drank too much the night before or the pain from being stitched up again, although her side did pain her.

Startled by her appearance so early in the morning. Lord Mhoram turned to greet her when she demanded her sword and dagger. Smiling...he find her impatience tolerable.

"And good morning to you, Lady Miranda. Did you sleep well?" Turning toward the breakfast room, he hoped she would walk with him. He stepped forward and she responded by walking with him...He listened as she spoke about sleeping well and no nightmares luring in the darkness.

"Lady Miranda, I wonder what urgent matter seeks thee in needing your sword and dagger while eatting breakfast?"

I have had your sword and dagger sharpen, cleaned and will gladly return them to you after a fine breakfast. Your friends await for us there. Come, do you smell the fresh eggs and bacon being cooked?"

Miranda did smell the eggs and bacon and her stomach rumbled, as if reminding her that it was empty, but she stopped anyway and laid a hand on Mhoram's arm, causing him to stop. Her gaze was unwavering as her green eyes looked into his, if anything they were almost glittering with what looked like diamond dust, the sign of untapped powers coming to life and she felt it, but didn't understand what it was she was feeling, only that she felt as if energy were welling up inside of her.

"M'lord, the weapons are mine and I wish to have them have with me at all times. As a warrior, I'm sure you understand this. In this time of uncertaintity I prefer to be prepared rather than caught with my guard down. I have my aunt to worry about as well as the Lizonians who follow her. I would prefer to have them before I sit down to break my fast."

She stood her ground, clearly unwilling to go any farther until she had her weapons back. She was feeling unsettled and this made her uneasy. Miranda had no idea that her mother had been a witch like Serena, only her mother had practiced for the good of man and dragon where Serena had turned dark, her heart know as black as a mage's eyes.

Clicking his fingers, he looks at his First Mark and points to Miranda, "You are as stubborn as a mule, but pretty as a stallion with firey green eyes and lush red hair. My First Mark will deliver your armory to you at the breaskfast table. So does this meet your approval m' Lady Miranda?"

Lord Mhoram lifts hiis arm and waits for her to grasp his wrist and enter the dining room together. "And by the way, Lizardions and your aunt do not know where you are and they will never get past the perimeter without us kowing of their advancement. The villages patrol the borders 24 hours a day. I would also extend my training grounds to you and your friends...perhaps a match between you and I after breakfast? In that way, we can determine if you are well enough to carry your sword and dagger? If you win, then I will be in your debt, but if I win then you must at least hand your sword to my First Mark until you are well enough to challenge me again. I will allow you to keep your dagger and will give you mine as well to keep under the mattress as well as under your pillow...smiling Lord Mhoram waits for her answer."

Miranda bristled when he said that he'd allow her to have her dagger, but then she thought about it and deemed that what he proposed would be fair.

"I agree, m'lord. But, I would prefer that if you win, I will hand my sword over to your First Mark, but I want to know where it is at all times. But, you won't win, so I am not truly worried about it."

She turned away from him then and headed into the dining hall, smiling as she saw the Commander Kryton had returned.

"Commander? What are you doing back here?"

Kryton stood and gave Miranda a small smile, waiting for her to sit before sitting back down himself as well as giving Lord Morham a respectful nod.

"I returned via Lord Morham's invitation. We are going to discuss joining forces to ferret out your aunt and her minions."

Turning to look and Morham, Miranda narrowed her green eyes.

"Wounded or not, I will be a party to this. You will not leave me out of this....at least I hope you wouldn't make that mistake, m'lord."

" M'Lady...nothing will be done without you being part of this"

Please have a seat and may I toast to my honored guests, we do not seldom celebrate with guests at this long table for tis been awhile since we have had any guests arrive and stay here. Lifting his cup, Commander and Miranda...to a lifetime of friendship between your comrades and mine. May we fight our enemies together and defeat them as well.

Sipping his cool sweet wine, Mhoram proceeds to entetain his guests. He claps his his hands and from two sides, servants bring in baskets of breads fresh and warm from the stone ovens and fresh fruit picked just this morning. In another basket fresh cooked eggs. His guests were served first, and as they ate Mhoram answered their questions. Then the question came up on how much Mhoram knew about the dragon queen as who she was known for in this kingdom.

Smiling...Mhoram flagged his sentry. Entering from another side of the room, a soldier dressed in uniform entered, carrying rolls of script under his arm.

Opening his arms, Lord Mhoram rose from his seat... "Lieutenant Paran, this is Commander Kryton, and the pretty Lady Miranda...Mhoram winks at her and notices how reacts...must be nerves she 's fidgeting...mhoram smiles and turns his attention to his Lt Paran.

Lieutenant...show Commander Kryton and Lady Miranda the map we captured during our last sneak attack inside the mountain. Moving baskets out of the way, the Lt unravels the scripted map and lays it down on the table..

You see this, that is a new entrance on the same side that until now we had no reason to understand why the queen wanted to open up a secret passage and entrance to the north side of the mountain. No sense until we met you. Commander Kryton where in relation is this to the entrance to your compound? Miranda...you see this...Mhoram traces his finger along this line. That line splits and goes in several different directions. One undegound tunel goes to the swamp and another to the township and this one leads deep into the mountain.

It had been over a week since Serena and her minions had fled the caverns. They were all settled comfortably in the keep to the north but were becoming anxious to finish things. She was sitting in the dining hall of the large manor and looked around her at, watching her Lizonians wrestle each other while others ate. She'd depleted her strength in the first few days of being there, casting spells onto 15 more of the Lizonians, making them like Chang and Gnash. Now, those few could move better at night and in the chill air, rather than becoming lethargic like the other cold-blooded lizard men. She smiled thinking about what they could do with their new ability, especially if she could find what she needed to cast more of the spell onto the others. Right now, they needed to come up with a plan to get her niece Miranda before her magickal abilities opened up to her. And, Chang still wanted Shiloh for himself and being a gracious leader, Serena had promised that he could have her.

"Gnash, we have to find her and we have limited time to do so. We also need to find this new compound and find Shiloh as well. Have your scouts found anything yet?"



Gnash hissed under his breath, knowing that his mistress would not like the answer he was about to give.

"No, m'lady. They have found nothing. It issss assss if ssshhhe dissssappeared into thin air. Her and Sssshhhhiloh both."

Gnash knew better than to duck when her hand conneced with the side of his face, the blow splitting his lip. But, he also knew that they just might be able to call on someone to aide them, but it would come at a price.

"I know of someone....a winged demon, who may help us...for a price."

He stood up to leave when his mistress nodded her head to him.

The scouts of the Lizonians followed the trail to the abondoned village...something had already been there. The strong smell of rotten flesh stained the forest floor...the scout moved on from hut to hut. In each one, the round chamber were the same, made of tree branches and a branch woven bed, roof and shelf. But the walls were splattered with blood and a figure lay in the middle of the floor of the last hut. The figure was not human. Its outlines were generally manlike, though the torso was inordinately long, and the limbs were short, matched in length. The creature was hairless and two pointed ears perched near the top of the skull, the mouth was thin as if a mere slit in the flesh and there were no eyes. Driven through the center of the creatures chest and pinning it to the ground was a long iron spike. The lizonian scouts backed out of the hut cautiously and the one lizard never saw it coming...but before it could turn away...the vile demon looked upon the lizard and turned the suffocating lizard into stone.


Gnash stood back astonished , he did not move and did not directly look into the demons eyes.

WAIT WAIT WAIT...with urgency Gnash says it...WAIT...PRINCE RASHIN...I come with urgent need...my Mistress is willing to pay whatever your cost to locate a specific girl human named Miranda.


The vile prince jumped on the now stone lizard scout in front of the tall Lizard named Gnash...he listened while the lizard rambled on, turning his head sideways to hear all that was being said...< WAT...WAT DA You say..A human? Why this particular human...I can git your mistress a dozen humans is a matter of minutes Why this one? >

Miranda and Morham had sparred later that very day and it had come to a very close draw, but truth be known, Miranda was still weak from her severe injuries and had still lost. Barely, but she'd still lost nonetheless. It was now a week later and she had to admit that she was still impressed by Morham's moves in the practice arena. The man could move and she'd thought he was nothing more than a rich lord with men to protect him....no him be able to protect himself. He had blocked her thrusts and jabs and she'd barely blocked and parried his as she'd jumped and turned, her body graceful regardless of the injuries she'd suffered. But, the deep gashes upon her chest and side did break open some and began to seep as they sparred, forcing her to admit defeat within an hour of them beginning. Lord Morham had made it clear that had she'd been in true form, it would indeed have been a true draw if not her winning.......but blast the man! he'd still demanded that she hand over her sword to be kept by his first mark until at which time she was healed enough to carry it once more. Reluctantly, she'd handed over the blade and reminded him of his agreement to hand over his dagger to her, which he did so without complaint.

She was sitting at the breakfast table in the great hall that morning, still thinking about their match and how well he moved when Kryton had walked in and bid her a good morning. He'd been here every other day to discuss plans with Morham and she was beginning to become agitated as they had been meeting when she was otherwise occupied. Kryton had assured her that she would be informed once they themselves knew what they were doing, but that still didn't sit well with the red-head. She had more of a right than either one of them to be a part of figuring things out! So, when the commander bid her a good morning all she did was glare at him, her green eyes glittering with controlled anger and she simply nodded her head.

When Lord Morham then walked in, he too smiled at her and bid her a good morning which all he got in return was a glare and a barely audible, 'whatever'. She was healing quickly, thanks to Morham's healers as well as her own magicks awakening within her and was becoming ansy about regaining her sword as well as going after Selena. She hadn't donned a dress since that first time and had made it clear that she would not do so again, even though the maids tried to get her to at least once a day.

Finishing her breakfast, she rose from the table and again glared at the two men. "If you will excuse me, gentlemen, I have practicing to do. So, I will leave you to discuss whatever it is you've been discussing when I'm not about."

Miranda was getting better and better every day and what the two men did not realize was that she was planning on leaving this place and heading back to the compound to speak with Erik and Shiloh on going after Selena themselves. She would not be kept in the dark on such matters and was incensed that Morham had assured her that she would be a part of the planmaking. Whether he was keeping her in the dark for a good reason or not did not matter to her, all she knew was that she was being kept there and she didn't like it....not one bit.

She headed out to the practicing arena where she grabbed one of the many practice swords and challenged 3 of the men to a sparring match.


Meanwhile, Erik and Shiloh had been released from the Varden stronghold and taken back to their own compound where Shiloh could finish healing. She too, like Miranda, was anxious to finish this and find Selena and Roxy. Erik had been very attentive to her while at the Varden stronghold and she found herself smiling every time she thought about him. But, she still had yet to share her body with him again and was ashamed to do so. The scars she carried from her torture haunted her and in her mind her body was now ugly and she didn't want Erik looking at it.....she didn't want to see the disgust in his eyes for that would break her heart into a million pieces, so she found excuses every time on why she needed to where the light-weight cotton night-shirt or why she didn't want any light on when she came to bed.

Erik had begun patrols again, but Shiloh was still confined to the compound until completely healed. She spent the time Erik was away with RainStorm and Sampson or practicing. A few times she'd caught Kryton watching her intently but said nothing until that fateful day when she heard a couple of riders talking in the stables, not knowing that she was there in RainStorm's stall.

"Max, I'm telling you, Kryton called Shiloh his daughter when that damned lizonian took her. I know what I heard."

"Awww, c'mon Teague. Shiloh is the daughter of one of the most reverred aides known to the dragon riders and her father was the chief of the village that worked with all dragon riders in our fight against the dark ones and the Lizonians."

"Maybe so, but have you noticed how Kryton watches her, especially since the attack. It's like he's obsessed with her and her safety. And, I was there when her father died in her arms. He was trying to tell Kryton something and it sounded like he'd always known. Always known what? That Kryton is her father. I mean, look at them. They have the same nose and chins."

When the two had left, Shiloh remembered that day as well, when Chang had taken her and she'd heard what Kryton had yelled. She sat down in the straw in RainStorm's stall and stared into nothing, trying to process what she'd already suspected. She wondered if Erik knew and if he did, why he hadn't said anything to her.

That evening, when Erik and Mina returned from the patrol, Shiloh had supper waiting for him but was strangely quiet. After dinner, she and Erik sat down in front of the fireplace of their little cabin and she looked over at him clearly wanting to speak to him.

"Erik......I overheard a couple of riders today in the stables while I was visiting RainStorm and they said something that bothers me." She paused, trying to find the right words and finally deciding to just blurt it out. "They said that Kryton is my father. Do you know anything about that? I mean, I remember hearing him yell something when Chang took me and now I know that I heard correctly. Is he my father, Erik?"

Erik didn’t want to push Shiloh to do anything she wasn’t ready for but the fact she was keeping herself from him in the privacy of their cabin was starting to wear on him. He knew she was self conscious. It was all a part of the healing process. But like he had learned, if you can’t accept the scars yourself, how can you let someone else know if they can accept them? It was frustrating to say the least. And each time he tried to talk to her about it, she shut him out and refused to even acknowledge the topic of conversation. To say the least his patience was wearing thin and that wasn’t good. Still. He tried to do what was best for Shiloh even though he saw her pulling away from him more and more to his dismay.

The patrol he had with Mina was a rather tiring one. The dragon had talked to him at great length and she had set his mind at ease as far as Shiloh was concerned but he admitted to the dragon he missed the intimacy he shared with Shiloh and was worried he would never have it again. Mina assured him it would return when Shiloh was ready for it. Not when he wanted it to. Time, she told him, would heal all wounds…and scars.

When he finally got to the cabin and saw she had dinner prepared, he was pleasantly surprised and praised her culinary expertise and enjoyed the meal she’d prepared. As they ate he could tell she was deep in thought but when she asked him the question she asked, he stared at her for a long moment, not sure how to answer her. Finally he looked over at the small fire that glowed softly in the fireplace then looked back to her.

”That question is one you should be asking Kryton, Shi. It’s not my place to say one way or the other. But…..I can say he was very upset and concerned after you were taken. So much so he was as close to distraught as I’ve ever seen him.”

He could see she was disappointed at his answer and he lowered his head and sighed heavily. Lifting his head again he looked her in the eyes and brushed some hair back from her brow letting the back of his fingers brush her soft cheek.

”I think you and Kryton need to sit down and have a long talk. I know it’s not what you want to hear but it’s the only answer I can give you right now, Shi. There are things you need to ask him and he will give you the answers. I know he will. His code and honor will require him to do it. But I also think he needs to in order to clear his heart and mind. And I think it will do you good to hear what he has to say as well.”

As Eric had suspected, Shiloh did not like his answer. It said everything and yet said nothing all at the same time and it was very infuriating to her. The healer had also come by that day and had told her that she was able to ride now and be Eric's aide. As much as she was looking forward to a healer telling her that, she now knew that she was terrified to go back out, but she didn't let Eric know that when she told him that tomorrow she would be able to accompany him on his patrol.

Finishing her dinner, she sighed and decided that as soon as Kryton got back she would speak with him. When Eric's fingers brushed her cheek, she smiled, leaning into the touch. How she wanted to be with him like before, but she was afraid of his reaction when he saw what she saw every day in the mirror. The scars on her back were criss-cross lines some of them deep but the ones on her sides and thighs were the worst as they were caused by the Chang's blade which had been coated in some kind of acidic gel. She still had night terrors, but at least now didn't wake up screaming.

"Okay, Eric. When Kryton returns I will speak with him.....probably best if I do so alone. At least tomorrow I can go with you and Mina on patrol and not be stuck in here again. Sampson too has become ansy."

As if on cue, the great dog whimpered, nudging Eric's hand. Shiloh giggled as she began to clean up the supper dishes. Once everything had been cleaned and put away, she saw that Eric was now sitting before the small fireplace and she walked over to him, sitting down on his lap, laying her head on his shoulder. She was deep in thought again, wondering what she would do if Kryton was her father. And, what would she do if she found out that Erik had known all this time. A part of her understood why he wouldn't have told her, but another part of her felt betrayed if he did indeed know. She sighed again and snuggled in closer to Erik, relishing the warmth coming from him.

"Erik, my scars........I want to be with you again......but I don't want you to be sickened by what you see."

She stayed still, waiting for his reply, scared of what he was going to say and what he may not say.