Love lies Bleeding. 49

It was late in the night when four tracker beast and their rider rode into the great camp of Memu. For miles Memu's men had been watching them as the riders approached, their lord eager for the meeting. In the lead of the small band was Lesu's hunter Loc, younger brother to the lord Memu. He was still on his hunt for Lesu's armauk sons. So far he had had no success but he was pretty sure where it was he could find them. He had tracked them into the land of Fedrul but had lost them after a massive attack by the humans who were now in complete control of Fedrul. Loc had never seen so many humans in one place that were not in cages. He wondered if the lords in the surrounding lands had any idea they were there. Such a enormous amount of humans would be a threat to any lord. Even Lesu or Daru.

As they rode in Loc counted the warriors under Memu's banner. The number here was great. But not enough to march on Fedrul alone. Memu would need help. Loc smiled as he wondered just what reward his brother would give him for this information. Information that could make him one of the leading lords and give him a huge slave force to trade with.
Memu's camp was constructed in four circles. The outer circle was the protection. All his warriors were housed there. An enemy would have to break though his small army to get to him. In that circle he also had his weapons wagons which he kept heavily guarded. The next circle was the slave wagons and all his household servants. Kitchens and cook fires were also the this circle. The third circle was for his wives, children and his lieutenants. The last and most important was the center. That was for Memu and his pleasure. In here he had his own quarter's and the tent he used to meet and administrate to his house, his private weapons, dining area and his pleasure tents. Memu's house consist of close to five hundred in all, like a small town that was always on the move on his own lands.
Once pass the warrior ring, Loc dismounted and gave his reins to one of his warriors. He gave orders for them to have a meal and to wait for him at Memu's main warrior rest tents. With his head held high he made his way deeper into Memu's encampment to the entrance to Memu's own private tent. With A nodded he passed the warriors at the gate that moved aside as he passed and went on in to find the lord of the lands.
There was a lot less activity going on in Memu's private circle. Slaves quietly went on with there duties and the guards patrolled and escorted anyone around who had busy with Memu. Outside the audience tent Loc met Mah, Memu's chief lieutenant. He was giving strict orders to the two warriors at the tents opening when he looked up and saw Loc approach.
"Nazun Loc." He saluted him with his fist to his chest. "What brings you here today?"
"I came to see Memu on important business."
"Lesu?" Mah asked.
"Among other things," Loc nodded. "I have something he should know. Is he busy?"
"Memu just returned from Darul. Another on of it's lords commands to attend." Mah looked disgusted at the idea and waved him in. "The Mind lord is beginning to become a nuisance to my lord."
"Careful Mah." Loc said in passing. "Daru has ways to hear even this far away from his lair. He is not called the Mind lord for nothing. And you of all know you should never disrespect a Savonti lord."
Loc left him standing at the entrance with a look of fear in his eyes. Gathered in the tent there where a number of Savonti waiting in line to see Memu who sat at a table dressed in blue robes looking bored as he listening to one of his upper level lieutenants complaint.
"My lord." The warrior bowed his muscles rippling. " I am Kol. In the last cycle. My warriors and I have captured over 150 and put them in the cages of Memul. Yet the tally kept by the slave master has us at under seventy and his son who sits with his band and follows us bringing in the few we leave is over 200. How is this possible?"
"You can prove this?" Memu looked up and saw and saw his brother enter. He nodded to acknowledge him. "This is a very serious accusation you have made against Hak and his son."
"I can my lord." He nodded. "There are others bands that hunt near us and have seen our catch each turn. They will swear to my account."
"I would hear your proof." He ordered. "Bring them to me at mid turn. And bring Hak to defend himself. I warn you Kol. If this proves to be untrue, you will lose all rank in my house and become as a slave in Memul."
"I understand Lord Memul" He bowed and left the tent.
"That is all for today." Memu stood and stepped out from behind the table. With a grim look he moves out to greet Loc.
"Nazun Brother." Memu calls out as a slave served him treats from a try. He took one then wave the boy away. "I trust the hunt goes well for you. Have you found your quarry?"
"Lesu's sons are as elusive as their father and his dark stare, but I think I know when they are."
Memu looked at his younger brother with doubt and mistrust. His decision to join the house of Lesu never sat right with him. Loc was one of the best Savonti hunters there was and he could use his talents. Instead he had joined that bazter Lesu his enemy. Well he would have to live with that decision.
"Why are you here Loc?" Memu looked at his brother with a questioning stare. "You have made your loyalty known. What do you want?
"I want my own house." He said boldly. "I want the house of Lesu to be mine."
"Ha ha ha ha ha!!!" Memu laughed. "And by what power will you claim Lesu's house? You have no power. You never did!"
"I have power and the strongest network of spies on Pentanthin." Loc boosted. "I know what goes on in each and every Savonti house. No one make's a move without my knowledge. Not even Daru. That is my power. Knowledge."
"What can your knowledge do brother, and what power do you speck of?" Memu walked back to his table and picked up a jug and poured himself a cup of Rhin wine, a favorite of Memu's. "Has it found your quarry?"
"I know where Mar and Xan are." Loc took Memu's cup and drank from it. "And I also know how to make you and I the two strongest lords on Pentanthin. Are you interested?"
"You have my attention." Memu smiled. He sat back at his desk and folded his hands on his chest. "Tell me. What are you thinking?"
"Conquest of all Pentanthin." Loc smiled and handed his brother back his wine.

All was quiet in the halls of the Andrake Academy. All cadets were sleeping. Guards were posted all around the compound being supervised by Capt Testa and the faculty were preparing for a new day. Gabor Gekko and his brother Bella walked proudly through the hall on their way to a meeting they had called for in Insa's office. When they arrived everyone was there waiting for them. Shayn sat with Ono standing next to him with Azeal and Tanis and the dragons Blink and Cutter stood by a window staring into the darkness. Councilors Den, Gaunt and Terryn sat With Kalin Ka at a table in a quiet conversation which stopped when the two brothers entered. Everyone was eager to know why Gabor had called the meeting.
"Thank you all for coming." Gabor said as he stepped up to the desk. "I have something important I want to talk with you all about."
"What can we help you with." Cutter asked. "Is everything well in your new home?"
"Gekkol is fine." he nodded. "We have posted guards all around our lands and for now we think we're safe."
"But?" Ono interrupted. "There's a but in there somewhere right?"
"Yes my friend there is." Gabor sat down in a high back chair that faced everyone. "I've decided to step down as leader of this rebellion."
"What?" Tanis jumped in surprise. "You can't. You have to lead your people in this or all of Pentanthin is lost. We all need you, Pentanthin needs you!"
"I'll always lead my People Tanis." Gabor held up his hand to calm his friend. "But I am not the one to lead here. I can organize raids and lead battles but I have not been schooled in strategy's or warfare like some in this room.
Gabor turned to Shayn and Ono who looked at him bewildered then looked at each other.
"From the link you made when you taught me about your world, I learned all about some of you here. There are four princes in this room and all of you have been taught to rule from an early age. You all had tactics drilled into you and you've all seen battle in real wars. Me? My father was a great leader, but he was far to busy keeping us alive to teach. Besides, the White and Grey have to lead us to freedom. It's your destiny. Without you, we can't win. So I'm asking you now. Will you lead us?"
[He has a point.] Cutter sent the two mates. [We're all here to follow you. It is your destiny.]
[Are you ready?] Azeal asked. [Pentanthin needs you.]
Ono turned and looked at Shayn as the group became quiet. A minute passed as everyone thought somehow they were in some kind of private discussion. From the look in Shayn's eyes, Gabor had the feeling he wasn't going to agree and he would insist Gabor stay in charge. That scared Gabor. The future of all of the people of Pentanthin in his hands was responsibility. He wasn't sure if he could handle it.
Standing up Ono reached and took Shayn's hand. Azeal envied how close they were. He so wanted that same closeness with Tanis. He looked to Tanis next to him who smiled, melting his vampire heart.
"Back home before we were sent here." Shayn started. "We met a very wise special woman. With a touch of our hands, she told us we would have a very special destiny away from our families and friends."
"Not long after that we found ourselves here on Pentanthin." Ono continued where Shayn left off. "And we faced a horror neither of us could imagine. After meeting some of you we heard the same prediction, word for word that she had made. We've come to believe this is the destiny she spoke of."
"We accept Gabor." Shayn smiled as relief spread across Gabor's face. "But we will need everyone's help and advice here. We believe together we all can beat the Savonti. Not even the White and Grey can stand alone in this fight."
"Agreed." Gabor stood and gripped both there arms in agreement. "Now that that's taken care of. I think I should tell you all of the special missions I have people out on. You need to know all about Erlik and Bandit and Mar and Ozmun."
"Bandit?" Cutter cut in. "You have one of our cadets out on a mission?"
"I suggested Bandit." Azeal admitted. "He's one of our best fighters and perfect protection for Erlik.."
"What's their mission?" Shayn asked.
"I sent them one as emissary's to contact clans no more then a days travel away." Gabor explained standing up. "We're going to need the help. As much as we can get. They're to be back here in two more days. The problem is that I have no way to contact clans further out then that. If we are to end the Savonti reign, we have to take this fight to all Savonti. Not just the ten or fifteen clans we know of."
"He is right." Came a voice from the door. Everyone turned to see Xan at the door with Cac at his side.
"Xan, Cac." Ono greeted them. "Come in and join us."
Xan strode into the room with Cac following him. He took a seat and Cac stood right behind him.
"Thank you for joining us in council." Shayn reach over and gripped his arm. "Gabor was just telling us of the need to reach out to distant clans. What do you think?"
"I think he's right." Xan continued. "There are many lords out there spread across Pentanthin we know nothing about. If we defeat Daru and the others we know of, more will just come in to try and take over."
"So are we to fight all the Savonti on the planet?" Sadon Terryn asked anxiously. "That seems like an impossible task for so few and a group of children."
"It won't be easy." Kalin said. "But not impossible. The dragons did it at home. We just need an avenging force here on Pentanthin."
"The only dragons here are Me Cutter and Blink." Shayn cut in. "We can't police the planet. We'll have to find a now way."
Arguing and shouting erupted all around the room. The councilors just wanted to get the Academy back to Keanna safely and Gabor and Xan argued that they stay and help fight. The only quiet ones in the room were Ono and the three dragons. They knew where their course lay.
"QUIET ALL OF YOU!!" Ono stood and pounded the table. All fighting stopped. "We're here and we can't leave until we're done, so there's no point in this argument. Even if we could leave, do you want to leave these people like this? Is that what Insa taught in this Academy? With out our help, humans have no chance except as food to be rounded up and butchered. Could you live with that on your conscious?"
"No." Councilor Gaunt shook his head looking at his two fellow professors. "We have to help even if we don't make it home again. It's the right thing to do."
"Then let's all sit down and try to come up with some kind of plan." Shayn suggested. "Now what do we need first?"
Suddenly pain and dark flashes streaked through the minds of Shayn, Ono, and Blink. Azeal jumped to his feet and hurried to his friends side. Tanis felt it to. A strange buzzing in his mind like bees swarming all around him. He didn't understand it, but he knew something bad had just happened somewhere in the Academy.
"What goes on?" Gabor asked the others.
"Something dark." Elora Den patted his shoulder.
Just then there was a banging at the door. Shayn got up and answered it. It was Jovan and he had a pale horrid look on his face.
"Something terrible has happened. You have to come quickly!"

As the first sun of Pentanthin began its rise over the eastern mountains, Zarin Testa rose from his bedroll and looked at his sleeping friends. Trip and Rese were sleeping close under a nearby tree with huge purple fond like leaves. Craven lay near the stream off to the side with Zark sitting cross legged with his sword in his lap protecting him. The Orc never moved to far from sworn blood friend. Dack slept just next to Zarin and Thalia still in her bird from was perched off in the branches in the forest. Sleeping closely huddled together the Serban children held on to each other in restless nightmares. Zarin could hear Nysa's moans as she twisted and turned in her brothers arms. the only two awake were Eheren and Reno who guard them all as they slept.
Yesterday had been a hard day on them all. The rescue of Luke and Tored and their sisters, the old cave they had tried to hide in. Zarin remember the strange feelings he had felt from the cave. Like some strange there was something in there. Something old and very angry. Then the realization that one of them was missing. Little Mera was no where to be found in the caves. She had wandered off to be captured by their worst nightmare, the Savonti. Then their mad escape from the Savonti attack at the cave. Now here they were, early morning and worried about the lost one. Where was she? What lord held Mera? How were they to get her back? From what Luke and Tored had told him, Savonti lairs were like a fortress. It would take much more then the ten of them, well eleven if you count Nysa to force their way in and bring her out safely. It would take an army, and that he didn't have.
"Strange place we have found ourselves, isn't it?"
Zarin turned and saw Eheren walking towards him. He stopped and passed him a leaf with some sliced meat and vegetables on it. Zarin took it. It smelled delicious and he was hungry after barely having time to eat yesterday.
"Thank you." He began to eat slowly.
"So what are your plans?"
"My plans?" Zarin asked him. "I'm 16. How is it I'm in charge here? Why not you?"
"They follow you Zarin." Eheren sat down next to him. "These are you friends and they trust you to take care of them. Your their leader, they followed you here not me?"
"But your a dragon. Your older and smarter them I am. I could get one of them hurt. Mera's already missing because I wasn't watching."
"No." Zarin and Eheren turned their heads. Tored was standing there. "I wasn't watching her. It's my fault not yours. And I'm going to get her back, but I need your help. Luke and I need all your help. We can't do it alone. Will you help us?"
"Of course we will." Eheren smiled at the to young men. This is just what Zarin needed to get his confidence up. Something to fight for. Insa had told him Zarin was a fighter and a protector. Just like the dragons. Now he was his chance. "First we have to find out which lord took her."
"The warriors wore blue." Tored told them. "That's the colors of Lord Memu. My grandfather taught us all he could about the Savonti and how to hide and recognize them."
"Do you know where to find this Lord Memu?"
"I think so." Tored sat down with them. Eheren passed him cup and pour him a hot drink. "We're not far from Memul, but how are we going to raid a Savonti lair?"
"First we find it." Zarin smiled. "Then we figure out how to get Mera out. The question is, will she be safe there?"
"Grandfather told us that the Savonti make slave first." He explained. "They have no trouble killing children on the hunt, but once caught they want to get as much use out of them as possible. What scares me is what use a small girl like Mera can be."
"What do you mean?" Eheren's brow raised in curiosity.
"Your all new to Pentanthin." Tored looked at them. Sweat ran down his face. Eheren knew that look. He had seen many times before. It was fear. "You've never seen the inside of a Savonti lord lair. What his slaves are forced to do. Working in the mines for years until they're so tired or sick they welcome death. The beatings household slaves get for the slightest mistake. Then there's the pleasure rooms."
Zarin and Eheren drew back in horror at the thought. Pleasure room, that could mean only one thing. The thought of anyone enduring such horrors was unbearable, Mera being used in that way was something they couldn't allow to happen.
"Now you understand why we hide in caves and in the forest." Tored's eyes teared up. "Why we can't build homes and live together in villages. We live in clans and learn to fight at an early ages to protect each other. We have no choice. It's the only way we know to survive!"
"So this is why we found it so hard to find people here." Zarin stood and looked on all his sleeping friends. He couldn't let this happen to any of them. He had to get them back home. "Tored, we're going to help you get Mera free. But I need your help with something. We have friends here somewhere. We have to find them to get back home. Do you think you can help us?"
"Luke and I will do all we can."
"Reno!" He called out. "Wake everyone up. We're getting out of here."

Dark dreams of White and Grey haunted Daru's dreams. He had warriors and lords everywhere looking for them with no success. Daru had probed his lands and all the lands within a two turns rides and he hadn't found them. What he did find was that for some reason, he couldn't probe into Fedrul. There seemed to be some kind of strange energy that stopped his probe at the border. Curious he sent two groups of warriors into Fedrul to investigate. One returned and told him the land seemed abandoned. None of Fedrul's warriors or household were there anymore. Daru wondered where they had all gone. None of them had come to Darul and as far as he knew, none of the other lords had mentioned Fedru's queens or his warriors in their lands. This was strange. The second group he sent, never came back. He tried searching for their minds since they were familiar but he found nothing. This had never happened before. Once Daru had touched a mind he could always get back into it anytime he wanted. The only thing he could think of was that they were dead. But he would have felt there death if they had been killed. It was like they went into Fedrul and simply vanished.
How is that possible?
[My lord.] A familiar mental call broke into Daru's thoughts. It was his queen Trela.
[Why have you disturbed me Trela?]
[You seek answers to your trouble.] He could feel she wanted something from him again.
[You have answers? Then you have been wandering in my mind have you?]
[I only seek to please you my lord.]
[Then have a care and never again even try to enter my mind.] He scolded her. [What answers do you have?]
[I to have been probing for our enemy.] she sent to him. [You think they are in Fedrul. You are right but there are enemies even closer. Someone or something is here in Darul watching us. I can feel its presence.]
[One of our allies?] He asked. Darul had been feeling something strange here in Darul lately. He thought it was just the closeness of so many of his allies warriors but it could be something else.
[No my lord. I know the feel of all their minds. This is something different, and it watches us and waits.]
[Find it Trela.] He ordered. [Bring whoever it is to face me.]
[Yes my lord, I will do as you wish.]
With that Daru felt their connection broken. Once this was over he would have to do something about his over ambitious queen. She was getting from to powerful for her own good. But until then, he had better be more careful and watch closer for her spying on his thoughts and it was time to take a closer look into Fedrul. If the white and grey were there, it was time he found them.
[Magu1 There's something I want you and your warriors to do. Gather them and meet me out beyond my mines.]
Once Magu sent his acknowledgement, Daru stood and put on his robe. He had plans to organize and it was time he made his next move.
In the shadows of Daru's private sands something moved in the shadows. Sacar stepped out and shook the sand out from under his wings. From his hiding place he had been listening to Daru and Trela and all he plans. He had hidden in the shadows because to invade Daru's thoughts without him knowing, he had to stay visible. But know he knew Daru's plans to invade Fedrul. That had to be where the White and Grey were hiding. He had to warn them. He would have to get out of the lair where he could call out to Madri to have him find Thalia to warn the promised ones.
Concentrated on his cloaking field Sacar slipped back into invisibility and stepped out from his hiding place. Daru's private apartment was on the lowest lever of his lair so carefully Sacar started out into the halls of the house of Daru. The foul smell of death and the screams of the innocent humans tore at his soul as he made his way out. One level, two levels three lever he moved ignoring all he saw. Slaves being beaten, Humans dragged through the halls. This place was a horror Sacar thought. One lever from the top he stopped. There was someone in his path. Not a warrior but a queen of the Savonti. She looked all around with a strange look in her eyes. Sacar tried to step around her and she turned in his direction. He stopped. Could it be she knew he was there? That wasn't possible he thought.
"Whoever you are." She called out. "I know your here. I can feel you in my mind."
Total shock poured through Sacar. This queen could somehow sense him. Sacar took a step back away from her.
"I know your here human." She reached behind her and pulled out a staff. "There's no way pass me. You are about to be dragged before my lord. It's your choice. Will it be alive or dead?"
[I have no fear of you.] Sacar sent out to her. [I stopped being scared long ago. We will put an end to your reign on Pentanthin.]
"No human." Trela aimed her staff at him though she couldn't see him. "You won't"
Then she pulled the trigger and sent a series of rapid fire bolts at him. Sacar spread his wings and leaped high to the ceiling of the cavern. He knew just one mighty strike down would kill the queen and nothing would have pleased him more. But he had to get out. The sound of warriors heading in there direction echoed through the halls. They may not see him now, but if there were enough of them here searching, he had no doubt they would find him. Then they would know the Nevac still lived and that he couldn't allow. Crawling quickly Sacar passed over Trela's head as she kept firing. Smoke was begining to fill the corridor as the warriors entered and Sacar left. She stopped and listened then reached out with her senses and found somehow whoever had been there was gone.
"I WILL FIND YOU!!!" Her words echoed out through all the halls of the lair. "AND WHEN WE DO. YOU WILL BE SERVED TO ME FOR MY DINNER. THIS I PROMISE YOU!!"
Sacar thanked his ancestors for granting him the luck and speed to get away from the Savonti queen. He wondered how it was that she could sense him so closely. Her first blast had missed by a hair. Not that it would have hurt him. He could still feel the warmth of the near miss on his back as he crawled out of the main exit to Daru's lair. The alarm had been sent out. They were now searching for a human intruder. From the top of the ridge Scar watched as the lair went into lock down to find him. Relieved to be out he hurried off into the forest where he could rest for a second and collect himself. Then he was off to find Madri and learn where Thalia and her friends where and what else had happened in his absence.

The dormitory halls of the Academy were crowded as cadets rushed in and out trying to find out just what had happened. As Shayn and the others entered the hall they met Macan coming down the hall with his bag in his hand.
"What's going on?" Shayn asked. "Who's hurt?"
"I don't know." Macan answered. "All I was told was that someone was hurt."
"It's over here." Jovan pointed to a crowd. He pushing his way to the front, Ono hurried down the hall with the others behind him. A large crowd stood around looking to see was had happened. Ono carefully pushed his way through until they made it to a circle of cadets that moved out of the way once they saw them approach. Shock took all their breath away when the saw who lay i9n a bloody pool on the floor.
"Lisette!!" Shayn ran to her and knelt down and took her in his arms. "WHAT HAPPENED HERE?"
"We don't know Sir." A boy answered. "She just appeared here like this."
"Is she alright?" Ono asked. "There's a lot of blood."
Shayn could tell the moment he touched her there wasn't anything he could do. She was dead. Shayn looked up to Ono with tears in his eyes.
[She's gone.] He stood and picked her up. On her face there was a horrible look of pain. Shayn looked over all the cadets gathered around. Innocent eyes stared back at him.
"I want every cadet in the Assembly hall in ten minutes." Cutter shouted. "All of you, move out not!!"
Cadets ran for their rooms in all directions leaving them there with the body.
"Jovan." Ono called. "Bring Lowell to the Infirmary."
"What do I Tell him?"
"Nothing." Cutter said. "Just tell him we need to see him and that it's important."
Jovan looked at Azeal. He wanted to tell them about the mysterious cadet that had let him and the raiding party in the Academy during the attack. But he hadn't seen him since that day, but he knew he had to be the one that did this.
"Azeal?"
"I'll tell them." Azeal told him. "You go get Lowell."
Carrying Lisette in his arms Shayn headed for the transport stone that would take them down to the administration offices.
"I'm leaving finding out who did this in your hands Cutter." Shayn stopped and turned to face him before stepping on the stone. "Question every cadets and staff. We have a traitor here with us and whoever it is, they have to be found. Ono and I will be in the Infirmary waiting for Lowell."
Cutter nodded as the two stepped on the stone and disappeared.
"I can't believe a cadet did this." Blink said. He paced with a angry shadow almost covering his face. His eyes blazed a yellow glow. "I know we have students of the dark persuasion but to murder someone here in the academy?
"There's something you all need to know." Azeal said. "We should talk before we see the cadets. Your office Cutter."
Tanis looked at the large pool of blood on the floor and his stomach turned for the first time at the sight of blood. Macan stepped in front of him to block the sight.
"Go all of you." He said. "I have a spell that may help identify who did this. Kalin can stay and help. We'll have it cleaned up as well."
"We don't have time for another meeting and I'm little to upset for that right now." Cutters looked at Azeal with anger. "There's something you want to tell us, out with it."
"Very well." Azeal nodded. "We do have an intruder. It's one of Tayor Larin's people. Whoever it is they've been here since before the move. I think it's one of our cadets."
"Is that even possible?" Blink asked. He looked to the two professors for an answer. "Could he have slipped someone in here?"
"Yes." Councilor Humbridge told them. "Tayor Larin has many allies and some of them have children here. Anyone of them could be the one your looking for. You forget, Tabor his son attended this school."
"Tabor?" Councilor Gaunt's eyes lit up. "Of course! He has the power to do this and like his father he's totally ruthless. He would do anything he has to to thwart us in any way."
"But wouldn't we recognize his if he was here?" Tanis asked. "You all know him. Has any of you seen him or any of his allies children here since the move?"
"No." Councilor Den said as she joined them. "I sent all Darkshade and any one else I thought might side with Lord Larin out of the school before moved. But there is another possibility."
"A magical disguise." Cutter suggested.
"Yes." Councilor Den agreed with him. "Tabor was a lazy mean spirited bully, but he was also very talented. He could be here."
"Tabor or whoever it is." Azeal cut in. "We have to find him. There has to be some way to find out who it is."
"I have a suggestion." Gabor spoke up for the first time since the discovery of the murder. "Lilia Kordova. We could have her probe all the cadets to see what she finds."
"How's that going to help?" Blink asked confused. "Whoever it is will probably have a way to shield his mind. He won't be dumb enough to gave himself away."
"Perhaps that's just what we should be looking for." Cutter smiled. "Gabor, bring her to the assembly hall right away. Tanis, Azeal. I want a count of all cadets here. I want to know if anyone's missing. Professors, gather your cadets. We have a murderer to find."

"Damn them all!" Paolo Navare fumed as he paced back and forth through his room. His plans had come to a serious snag. He had spelled two of his enemies fathers into his service, but Zarin Testa's mother had not taken the spell well. Somehow she had resisted and fought off the magic and come awake as he was giving her his orders. It didn't take much for her from there to figure out who he was and what he planned. She screamed his name and tried to get to the door to warn the dragons and the staff. Tabor couldn't have that. Not now when he was so close to finding the Ring of Endrin. He grabbed her to silence her and pull her back to restrain her but she fought. Lisette Testa was no weak helpless woman. With her husband being a captain in the city guards of Winterhaven, she had been taught many ways to defend herself. Like a wild animal she fought him. Delivering blow upon blow. Tabor was at his wits end until he managed to get his hands on a sharp dagger he kept at his desk and stabbed her right through her heart.
Once Rush had come back to the room just then with his captive the boy called Juelz. Quickly Tabor spelled the boy to sleep to keep him quiet.
"Is she dead?" Rush asked staring at the dead body on the floor.
"Of course she is you fool." Tabor grabbed a towel and wiped the blood from his hands. "We have to get it out of here. They can't find it here. I'm not done with them yet."
"How?" Rush asked. "And what about all the blood?"
"I can keep everyone from seeing you carry her out of here." Tabor looked sternly at Rush.
"Me? Why me?"
"Because it takes a lot of concentration to keep you hidden." His eyes blazed with anger. "I can't do that and carry her you idiot! All you have to do is take her out of here and down the hall. You'll have three minutes once I cast the spell so you better hurry."
Rush gulped. His eye showed his fear and disgust. But Tabors spell held him in control.
"Pick her up and get ready to move."
Shaking Rush went to the body. He grabbed her arms and pulled her into a sitting position then bent over and left her over his shoulder. Blood smeared his tunic as he stepped up to the door.
"Ready?"
Rush nodded as his knees quaked in fear.

SIGHT AND SOUND AND OUT OF MIND.
THINGS WE FIND AND LEFT BEHIND.
LET NO ONE HEAR OR SEE HIM MOVE.
THREE MINUTES TIME. THIS I APPROVE.

Dark magic appeared and began to swirl around Rush. He held out his hand and watched as it went from solid to transparent then completely invisible.
"Paolo?" He stammered.
"Go now." Paolo reached for the door. "You have three minutes. Drop her in the hall away from our door then hurry back. She will become visible the second she hits the floor. Don't mess this up."
Opening the door he looked out and saw there were only a few cadets in the hall. He stepped aside.
"Hurry." he whispered.
With a groan Rush stepped our into the hall. He looked around afraid they could see him. When he realized no one could see him standing there with Lisette's body on his back, he began walking out away from the room. As he walked he almost bumped into a boy coming down the hall. He stopped for a second and let out his breath. In his mind he could hear Paolo telling him the didn't have much time and to hurry. Three more steps was all he needed to take. Carefully he moved. All around him cadets chatted about class and the strangeness of the crimson forest. With a heave of strength he dumped the body from his shoulder and stepped away. Gasps of surprise sounded as the cadets saw Lisette hit the floor. A young girl screamed. that brought Rush back to his senses and he turned and hurried back to his room. Paolo held the door and shut it as he quickly dived in. From behind the door they could hear the cadets cries of shock and panic. Now visible Rush wiped the sweat from his face and turn to look into Paolo's smiling face.
"It's done." He said. "Now we get out of here."
Rush shivered to shake himself back to his senses. Then he reached out and took Paolo's hand.
"Where are we going?"
"The enemy of my enemy just may be my friend."
With a spine chilling laugh the two disappeared as invisible flames engulf the room cleaning away all the evidence of the grisly murder.

As the full moon rose over Pentanthin, two blackbirds flew high over the camp of Memu. It had taken them hours in search to find it flying all over then land. From the air Trip and Thalia watched as warriors massed. Something was going on down there. Memu looked like he was heading out on some kind of raid or something. Finding a tall tree, the two avian s came down and perched. There was someone here they had to find. Someone special.
[What now?] Trip sent. [You have any idea how to find Mera?]
[Tored says she would be in the slave ring of Memu's camp.] Thalia scanned the four circles of the camp carefully looking for signs of captivity. There in the second circle, caged wagons. That must be it.
[Look there.] She squawked. [Cages. Follow me.]
Opening her wings Thalia launched herself out of the tree heading for a smaller red tree in the second circle. Landing in the tree they could hear the cries of the captives. Men, women and children locked away in dirty caged wagons. There were rows upon rows of them. Trip wonder how he and Thalia were to find one little girl among all these people.
[We free them all.] He heard Zarin say in his mind.
[What?]
[We can't leave them here to die.] Thalia added. [How can we free one and leave the others? We have to get them all out of here.]
[That means defeating all these warrior.] Trip shook his head in disbelief. [Zarin you better have some great plan for this.]
[You find Mera.] He sent back. [I'll think of something.]
Trip gazed down it all the cages. He saw people in rags huddled in fear in the corners of the cages. Men covering there wives and children. Some still had a few of there possessions and some were completely naked. How was he to find one person in all this chaos? There had to be over a hundred slaves do there. Some in cages and some chained or working at some grueling task for their master. And what masters. Carnivorous bastards they were. But that wasn't important right now. Finding Mera was. He could use his magic to find her, but there was a problem with that.
[What are you thinking?] Thalia asked.
[I'm trying to figure a way to find her.] He answered. [It would be different if I had something of hers, then I could use it to lead me to her.]
[Something like that doll she always carried?]
[That would be perfect.] He flapping his wings his nerves on end. [That doll has a great personal connection to her. A simple spell and it takes us right to her. But Nysa has it. I should have thought of that before we left.]
[I did.] Thalia squawked. [I have it in my robes.]
[Good.] He sent. [Now all we have to do is get past all the warriors and everyone else in the camp, and find Mera.]
[One thing at a time.] Thalia spread her wings. [Come on. I'll give you the doll then you get to the slave ring, if you see the chance go find Mera.]
[By myself?] He asked. [Where are you going?]
[I want to see why Memu has all these warriors armed and ready to fight. I think he's up to something.]
[Of course he is.] They took off into the night.[From what Tored told me, the Savonti are always up to something. And it's never good for humans.]

On a hill in Memul, three figures sat on the edge of the dense forest and watched. Below them sat Memu's camp where his warriors massed just beyond the first ring of his camp. Trackers were made ready as weapons were passed out among them. Armor was being hammered in forges and many many caged wagons were being prepared. Erlik Marcos looked at his two companions then pointed to the army on the field below.
"Now do you see?"
Drake looked on thinking about the war waging back home. He had just left Keanna in a state almost like this. What had he walked into.
"What do they want?" He asked.
"Everything!!" Erlik said in frustration. "They want to put us all in pens to raise and fatten up for food. They want us to slave in there mines and to be used as entertainment and to violate. They mean to put an end to our freedom. That's what they want!"
"Cutter and the other professors warned us about these Savonti." Bandit looked on astonished. "But none of us thought it could be this bad."
"This is just one lord." Erlik pointed out. "There are many of them spread across Pentanthin and all of them with the same goal."
"And this is way my son is here?" Anger rose up in the king of the Werewolves. "This is what he is here to fight?"
"Yes." Erlik nodded. "Hopeless as it seems, he and the one in white are our only hope. It was foretold agens ago."
"What is this prophesy you speak of?" Drake asked. "If it concerns my son Ono, I want to know."
"It's taught to every child on Pentanthin at they're fathers knee." Erlik explained. "It's been passed a long from clan to clan and family to family. Listen and I will pass it on to you. Beware the white and grey. For they will cause the end of agens of tyranny and enslavement. Their power and courage will doom the high ones and bring freedom to all that suffer and fight with them. The mark of the wolf and dragon will be the sign. Beware the white and grey."
"The wolf and the dragon." Drake smiled thinking of how proud and scared he was for Ono and Shayn. They're both so young. If only it were Jandar and Rage. He would feel so much better. But it wasn't his older son here fighting. It was his cub and be damned if he wouldn't do all he could to help him.
"If these Savonti want a fight." Drake stood up. "We'll give them one that will change everything on Pentanthin. This I swear."
With that, Drake took a deep breath and howled. "AWROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!"

As the cool breeze of night blew across his face Reno Andropolos crouched in the forest near the rear of Memu's camp. He was there along with Tored and Rese to bring Mera out. Now, neither of them had a clue but this was something that had to be done. When the arrived they had seen all the warriors preparing out front. Reno wonder what was going on. Zarin had sent Trip and Thalia into the camp ahead to find the girl. Thalia had told them of the army out and how to avoid being seen by them. There was an avenue straight to the rear of the camp if they came in from the back by the river. In human form then slipped into the river and waded up stream through the fast moving waters. Reno held onto both Rese and Tored to keep them from being swept down stream. Once on the dark backs outside of the camp, Reno quietly climbed on land leaving the two boys waiting. Using his werewolf sense of smell he reached the area for sentries. Their mission was an important one so they couldn't afford to be found before they were ready. Reno found none of the Savonti patrolling so he waved the others out of the water. From the rear they looked at the mass of warriors gathered out on the field in front of the camp.
"I've never seen so many Savonti in one place." Tored said wide eyed. "Not even when they are on the hunt."
"What could they be doing?" Rese asked. As they watched more warriors entered the clearing.
"They're gathering for a battle." Reno told them. "There's no other reason for so many warriors to be here armed."
"Who are they attacking?" Tored looked up at Reno. "Memu's closes neighbor was Lord Resu. But his lands been taken by Daru so I don't know. Memu's no match for the Mind Lord."
"This is not why we're here. We're here for Mera and that's it." Rese moved back out of sight to keep from being seen.
"Yes." Tored said. "But this could be important. We should find out what he's up to."
"We will. but right now." Reno moved them back to a place where there was an opening he could see through. "We wait for Thalia and Trip. They may have found her and a way in."
Just then a familiar sound rang out from the hills above the camp. Reno turn his ears alert. That couldn't possibly be what he thought it was. Could it?

On the border of the land once called Fedrul, Zarin and Dack spotted something that could come in handy to them. A herd of wild Tracker beast. From the edge of the forest they watched as the others caught up with them.
"Shhhhhhhhh!! Dack quieted their approach and pointed of onto the field where the beast were gathered.
"Trackers?" Luke said curious. "What do we need them for?"
"To move fast." Zarin said quietly. "Lord Fedrul will have warriors out and if we run into them, We're going to have to run or fight. Since Tempest isn't here, we'll need another way to travel."
"I'm here." Eheren stepped out. "I can carry most of you.
"I know that Eheren." Zarin assured him. "But I think we'll still need the Trackers. They could be the means of a quick escape in an emergency."
"How do we catch them?" Craven asked.
"Let me try." Nysa stood and walked out onto the field before anyone could stop her. Luke jumped up to run after her when Zarin grabbed him to stop him.
"Let her try." He said. "If they're anything like horses back home this just might work. Everyone keep watch. There could be Savonti here watching. Be ready to move."
Slowly and very quiet, Nysa walked out toward the herd. She had her hand stretched out towards the beat for them to catch the scent. Not that it mattered, they had smelled the humans coming long before the humans had seen them. Heads of Trackers rose up out of the herd to look at her. A beast stepped out of the crowd and moved toward her. Luke jumped nervous but stayed there in the forest.
"You all know that Trackers are carnivores, right?"
A look of shock suddenly appeared on Zarin's face, had he known that he never would have allowed Nysa to go near them. But it was to late now.
Snorting and stomping his front claw, the lead Tracker started at Nysa as she came closer. suddenly she stopped and began to sing softly. The Trackers ears perked up and it made a hissing sound. It picked up speed and moved faster toward her. Everyone's heart stopped as they waited to see what would happen. As the Tracker reached Nysa it stopped and stared down at her. With her hand out, boldly she reached up and stroked its scaly snout. It's tongue lashed out and licked her hand. Zarin thought it had just had a taste and formed a spell to blast it when it's head came down and nuzzled the young girl and she hugged it. Everyone let out there breath in relief. She had managed to somehow tamed the wild thing. Now it was their turn.
"Come out slowly." She waved to them. "Show them you won't hurt them. I used what Grampa taught me to calm them. It should be fine once they get use to you."
Zarin stood before a grey snorting Tracker. He raised his hand and let the animal get his scent as Nysa projected calmness to all the Tracker. Each of them took one and used some rope from Cravens bag to make reins. Once on there backs, Craven noticed Zark standing at his side.
"Zark, what bothers you?"
"I have no need of such a beast." He told his sworn friend. "I can keep up. I'll be at your side."
"Luke. You lead."
"Follow me!" Luke smiled and urged his Tracker into a run. And off they all went into Gekkol to find the White and Grey.

Tears streaked Mera's face as she sat in her caged wagon alone. She was scared and missed her brothers and sister. Why had she left them in the cave? She had been so wrong to go out on her own after they had all warned her not to. Now her she was. Caught and a prisoner of the Savonti. Those monsters scared her so much with their fangs and claws. She hated the way they looked at her, like she was some kind of tasty treat.
Outside of her cage Savonti rushed by busy with some kind of preparations. To her it looked like they were packing. Tents were being taken down and stored, furniture was packed away. But where were they going. As she watched. A young female Savonti came quickly to her cage. She was carrying bread and vegetables. She opened Mera's cage and threw the food in, then slammed the door. Mera shrank back afraid as the young girl laughed and poked at her through the bars. Just then someone called out for the girl and she ran off. The bread rolled along until it stopped at Mera's feet. But that's not what caught Mera's attention. the door was. In her hurry the girls hadn't checked and the lock on the door didn't catch. Mera hurried to the door and held the bars. She didn't want anyone to notice it was open. Suddenly a horn blew. Everyone turned and ran towards the way they had dragged her in. Soon there were no Savonti around. Mera threw open the door and jumped down out of the cage. She had to find a place to hide before they came back. Someplace no one would look. Like under that wagon. She could crawl up into the bottom and hide. No one would know she was there. Then Tored and Luke could come get her. Quickly she made her way to the wagon and crawled under it. She reached up and pulled herself up into the undercarriage and tucked herself in. Now she was safe. They would never find her there.

Out on the field Memu and Loc watched as his warriors prepared to move. His weapons and armor had by stored in wagons and extra pentantium was packed away with forge equipment. His personal tents and anything he might need had been packed for the trip. Food and slaves were caged at the end of the column. Just as a precaution, Memu had ordered his whole camp moved to a different location. Even though he had made a pact with Daru, he didn't trust him. This could all be a rouge for an attack. Nothing the Mind Lord did surprised him. It wouldn't be the first time Daru turned on an ally.
Next to him Loc stood with a grim look on his face. All his plans were coming together. Soon he would have Lesu's renegade son's and if things went right, lands to lord over of his own. Soon he would take the name lordly u onto his name and no one, not Lesu or Daru would be his better ever again. Not if he could get to the White and Grey first and take their power as his own.
As the watched, a warrior ran up to them and bowed.
"My Lord." He said with his eyes down. "All is ready. We move on your word."
"Have Loc and my Tracker brought out to us." He order. "And get the warriors moving. I wish to be in Fedrul within two turns."
With a salute the warrior was off to carry out his masters wishes.
"I will send my hunters ahead to scout." Loc told his brother. "They can watch for Magu's sky warriors and anything Daru has in Fedrul."
"Very well." Memu nodded his agreement as the Trackers arrived and they mounted up. "MOVE OUT!!"

Sitting in a tree over there heads, Thalia listened. She had no idea what this Fedrul was but it might be something Zarin needed to know. With a leap into the air, she was off to report back and find Trip. This was the best chance they would have to find Mera with all the warriors off on some wild raid on an enemy.
Landing back in the tree she had left Trip in, she called out to him.
[Trip!]
[Here in the slave circle,] He answered.
In a short hop of a flight Thalia found him in human form behind a series of caged wagons. With a flourish of her wings she shifted back to her raven haired human form.
"Find her?"
"No." He said. "I haven't had much of a chance. They're packing the whole camp to move."
"Well we should get moving. There's not much time." Thalia went to step out from behind the wagons to search
"Wait!" he grabbed her shoulder. "You can't just walk out into a Savonti camp. They eat people here!"
"I know." She smiled. "But they also have human slaves. Can you disguise us to look like them?"
"I guess so." trip thought about a spell that would work. "How's this?"

RIPPED AND TORN DIRTY AND RAGGED.
COLLARED AND CUFFED BEATEN AND TATTERED.
AS SLAVES WE LOOK TO ALL WHO SEE.
TO SEARCH AND FIND TO GET MERA FREE.

In a blink there appearance changed and instead the two young strong adventurer's, in the place was two hungry looking dirty slaves in iron collars with chains attached to bonds on their wrists. Thalia looked at the chains and panic set in. Vampires could bare to be chained. Especially in iron.
"Relax." Trip smiled through broken teeth. "It's not real. And iron can't hurt you anyway. Fairy's hate iron. Vampires are suppose to hate silver, though it's not true."
"How do we find her?"
"With this." Trip held up the doll. "It should take us right to her."
Trip put it down on the ground and stepped back. "Watch and learn."

Trip closed his eyes and concentrated for a second. Then he opened them and his eyes glowed with power. He pointed at the doll and drew a circle around it which blazed with mystical fire. The doll stood on it's feet and faced Trip. He whispered one word.
"MERA."
Off the doll the went on it's search for it's true owner with Trip and Thalia right behind it watching carefully for any Savonti.From wagon to wagon they moved very carefully to keep out of sight. The few that did see them thought they were just out on some task for there master. In front the little doll was hidden in darkness, but to Trip it glowed with the power of his magic.
They moved from the outer ring into the slave ring which was being packed to be moved. As Trip and Thalia watched, the doll moved to a row of wagon cages. Trip quickly snatched it up and stuffed it in his tunic. outside the wagon, two Savonti were staring into a cage talking. They moved closer to listen.
"Your sure this is where you put the little beast?" A fat Savonti questioned a younger one. "It hasn't been taken for the cook fire?"
"No." the young Savonti answered. "Lord Memu wanted this one kept separate because of the beast that the warriors saw where it was caught. He said this one was important and someone might be looking for it."
"Then where is it" The fat one was angry. "Someone should have been watching it. How could it have gotten free?"
"I don't know. Maybe it's clan came and got it out."
"Without anyone seeing them?" He shouted. "Impossible!! Search the camp. I want it found before we pull out of here. Get as many to help as you need. Lord Memu thought it important. Find it or both our heads with be on a pole when he returns."
"Yes Cor!" The young Savonti saluted and ran of to follow orders. The fat one stared into the cage then cursed in Savonti and walked off yelling orders to all those around.
"We were the beast they were talking about." Thalia looked at Trip a little scared. "This was Mera's cage. She got away. We have to find her fast before they do."
"The doll can find her." Trip promised her. "All we have to do is follow it. But what about Memu's warriors? We have to tell Zarin and the others."
"You follow the doll. I'll go find Reno and see what he thinks. Stay hidden and be careful."
Suddenly a noise from the hills caught their attention. Howling. trip looked at Thalia surprised.
"Why would Reno be in the hills howling?" He asked. "He's suppose to be waiting by the river."
"I'd know Reno's howl anywhere." She answered. "That's definitely a Werewolf howling. But it's not Reno. You find Mera, I'll go see what's going on."
Thalia lifted her arms and turned then shifted to her raven from and took to the air. Trip watched as she flew off. Now he was alone on the heart of a deadly Savonti camp full of enemies. Well, he Thalia and Reno had been in dangerous situations before back home and they always made it out. he reached into his tunic and took out the doll.
"Well Mif, lets go find Mera."

In the rear of the camp Reno watched as the last of Memu's wagons rolled off into the forest. he had heard the howl a second time and knew what he heard was a Werewolf. He wanted to go out and find out who it was but he couldn't leave Rese and Tored here alone. Hair on his neck rose as he paced.
"Relax Reno." Rese told him. "We'll be out of here soon."
"I can't wait anymore." He looked at the to boys. He took off his jacket and his sword. He put down the water bottle. "Tored I want you to keep the two of you hidden while I'm gone. Rese It's up to you if there's an attack. Tempest can defend you or get you to safety. Thalia will be coming for you. If she gets here before I return, tell her what I'll be back as soon as I can. There's something I have to do."
"Did you recognize the call?" Rese asked.
"I think so. " He said. "And I have to answer it. Stay safe Brothers."
Reno turned and ran out onto the plain and shifted as he ran. Rese and Tored watch as his magnificent brown wolf form sped out and into the forest. They knew he would be back, or at least they hoped so.

Lord Maru. 48

It was late and the twin suns of Pentanthin had slipped down over the horizon by the time Gabor and his raiding party returned to the Academy. It had been a long strange trip. A mysterious one but somehow successful. Seru was dead with her head in a bag on Gabor's Tracker. None of them still had any idea just what had happened. How had she died? What strange force had put them in a deep sleep and did their work for them? None of them, not even the wise far seeing blind Lady Kordova had any answers.

As the Academy gates came into view, Ono steered his Tracker closer to Gabor's. He could see a worried concerned look on the young leaders face.
"I see trouble all over your face Gabor." Ono said as Shayn rode up on the other side. "Whats bothering you?"
"Isn't it obvious?" Gabor looked from one to the other. "Something took out Seru's entire lair while we lay there sleeping. Whoever it was, they could be a danger to us."
"They could also be a friend." Shayn reminded him. "We just don't know."
"That's right, we don't know. And I don't trust the unknown." Gabor looked in at the darkness surrounding the walls of the Academy. "It looks dead in there. Could something have happened while we were away."
"No." Shayn smiled. "I can hear them all in my mind. All's well. It's just Blinks shadows hiding everyone."
"Wait!" Tanis put up his hand looking around in the darkness. "Somethings wrong here. We're not alone."
"Everyone spread out and search." Gabor whispered. "And stay in the darkness. There could be more then one out there."
Guiding Lilia and the Trackers into deep shadows, Gabor tied them to a tree and quietly whispered to her.
"What do you see Lady?"
"There are three out there." Tuning her senses into a fine net, she scanned the forest. "They're Savonti hunters. We've been found!"
"Warn Tanis and Azeal." Gabor ordered. "Have everyone else meet us here. From what Tanis has told me of vampires, they have the best chance to catch them."
Lilia nodded and sent out Gabor's message.
As everyone gathered in the dark with Gabor and Lilia, A heavy fog began to roll in obscuring everything. No one could see more then inches in front of them.
"A vampire fog." Ono whispered to Gabor. "The Savonti will be lost in it's thickness."
"Good." Gabor nodded and turned back to Lilia. "Can you still follow them and guide them?"
"Of course." She answer. "But I don't think they need guidance. They know exactly where the Savonti are."
In the thick fog, Azeal reached to his side and slid Justice free of it's scabbard. A soft blue glow surrounded the blade for a second until Azeal willed it away. Tanis next to him pointed north. There were two Savonti warriors heading in there way lost in the cold chilly fog. Azeal nodded and slipped off to come in behind them. The last warrior had stumbled toward the east. Tanis wrapped himself in fog and moved in that direction.
"I can't see anything in this thick mess." One of the two said quietly.
"I can't either." Came his companions answer. "Stay close."
Like thieves invading a treasure trove the two tried to stay quiet as they stumbled around. They knew someone was out there. But they had lost sight of them when the strange fog moved in. Clutching blades with there free hand stretched out to avoid running into anything, they moved on. The sounds of the forest put them both on edge. Every noise around them caused them to jump and turn in that direction. Suddenly one stumbled and fell and disappeared into the fog.
"Hes, Get up!"
Then the sound of blows landing and a harsh intake of air rang out. Cac, the second warrior called out to Hes.
"Hes? Where are you?" Cac probed the area where Hes had vanished. There was nothing there. No body, nothing. A howl in the night caused Cac to jump clutching his blade. He spun around from side to side looking for Hes or anyone else in the fog. Still he saw nothing in his limited range of view. As Cac again began to move and back out the way he had came, fear took hold in the Savonti warrior. All around him the sound of howling came out of the night. The blade in his hand began to tremble in fear.
Suddenly a great dark figure dressed in black reared up out of the fog and floated toward him. Yellow glowing orbs marked the place where the eyes should be and a glowing blue blade flashed in its hand. Cac attacked slashing out in a frenzy with his blade which was easily parred. Again and again he attacked, slashing and stabbing at the frightening figure advancing on him until with a quick swing, his blade was knocked from his hand. Strange laughing echoed through the night as Cac turned and tried to run away. He made it a few feet before another dark thing appeared in front of him. Cac tried to power his way pass and knock it out of his way, but it was like running into a wall and he fell back into the fog.
Looking up Cac saw the two dark figures cloaked and standing over him. They looked human but unlike any human he had ever seen before. Their eyes were like two glowing stars in the night sky. They both hissed showing long fangs in their mouths that looked needle sharp. One was all in black with jet black hair and scars on his face. The other wore brown without scars but was just as frightening.
"Move a muscle and you die here and now." The scarred one hissed. Trembling in fear, Cac obeyed and didn't move. The two things looked up at each other and spoke a strange language then looked off into the fog.
"He comes." The scarred one said.

"What happened?" Gabor asked Shayn anxiously.
"One still lives." He answered. "Azeal wants us to come meet them. He's also called Cutter and Mar out to join us."
"You can find him in this fog?"
"Yes." Ono smiled. "But don't worry. Azeal's fog will be gone in a few minutes."
As they waited the night air warmed and the fog began to clear. Ono turned to Gabor and smiled.
"See. We can go now."
"That's a pretty handy trick." Gabor untied Lilia's Tracker and led it off following Shayn and Ono.
"I think our friends have a lot of tricks that could be useful in this war." Lilia said from her seat on the Tracker.
"Indeed."
It took them only a few units before they arrived to find Azeal and Tanis standing over a scared out of his mind Savonti warrior dressed in silver Savonti armor. Tanis waved them to a place where they could talk in private while Azeal kept watch. Gabor looked around for the other two.
"Where are the others?" He asked.
"They didn't make it." Tanis shrugged. "Does it matter?"
"It could." Gabor took a closer look. "Not all Savonti are the same. See the short fin on his head? He's not from this area. I'm guessing he's from the south. And his house colors are strange to me. I never saw anything like that before."
[I have.] A voice broke into their thoughts. Looking up into the night sky two winged beast came down through the trees. One had a Savonti on it's back. As they touched down they both shifted forms. It was Cutter, Mar and the changeling Ozmun.
"Welcome home." Cutter walked up and gripped each one of them by the arm then hugged Shayn and Ono. "I guess Seru is no more?"
"Her head is in a bag on my saddle and all her slaves are free." Gabor told them. "But it didn't go quite the way we planned."
"What's that mean?" Ozmun and Cutter looked at them unsure.
"We'll explain later. You know these colors from somewhere?"
"This is the colors of Lord Redu." Mar told them. "A mysterious and very dangerous lord. My father has tried to dealing with him in the past."
"What's his men doing here?" Shayn asked.
"Lets find out." Cutter smiled and turned and walked to where Azeal watched the warrior.
"Nazun warrior." Mar slapped his fist to his chest in salute. "What beings you so far from the house of Redu?"
The warrior looked up at Mar. The fear was gone from his eyes. He sat up a spit at Mar with a look of disgust.
"You are one of the armauk sons of Lesu." Hate radiated out at Mar. "You stand here with these men like you respect them. Tell me, Why would the son of so powerful a lord do such a thing?"
What is your name warrior?"
I am Cac of Redul." He answered.
"I know for agens we the Savonti have been the masters of Pentanthin and consider these humans as nothing more then beast." Mar sat down facing Cac to try and explain. "But tell me. What makes us better then they are? Our power? They have power to. Some more, powerful then us. Is it simply that we are stronger and faster or are we smarter? I don't believe we are. You may not understand or agree with me but they have just as much right to live and prosper as we do. They are intelligent just as we are with all the same emotions that we have. They protect each other and they learn. They don't deserve to be hunted and used like beast. If the Savonti wish to survive on Pentanthin, things have to change. We have to learn to live with the humans or one day the prophesy will come true and we will all be doomed."
"You speak wise words and there is truth in what you say." Cac looked at the humans gathered around him. "You are not the only one that thinks in this fashion. There are many in Redul that agree with you. But we hide. If Lord Redu knew, we would all be cast as armauk and made into slaves or worst."
"And you Cac?"
"Humans are no enemy to me." He admitted he looking around at the strange humans that stood behind Mar. "But I follow my lords orders. If you were a lord, I would follow you. So would many others."
"Rise Cac." Mar ordered and helped him to his feet. "I have something to tell you. The white and Grey are here and the time of the prophesy is at hand. We have to change our people or die with them. Will you help me to make these changes in the Savonti? It will be a hard battle ahead of us?"
"I will follow you Lord Maru." He bowed to Mar and saluted him fist to his chest. Mar reached out in the human fashion and gripped his arm.
"This is how humans swear an oath." Mar shook his hand. "You are the second warrior in the house of Maru. Nazun Cac!"
"Nazun my lord." He shook vigorously. "What are your orders?"
"We need to know all about Redu." Mar told him. "Everything you can tell us. Gather your trackers and join us. I will introduce you to your new allies."
"Yes my lord." Cac turned and headed into the forest to find where they had tied their trackers. Mar returned to his friend who had been watching and listening.
"You trust him?" Cutter asked.
"With my life." Mar nodded affirmative. "Do you feel any deception in him?"
"No I don't." They watched as Cac gathered the two larger Tracker beast and started toward them. "I think I have an idea. Tell me something. Have you ever tested the limits of your changeling abilities?"
"I'm not sure what you mean." Ozmun answered. "But I've become large and small animals. Size and shape doesn't matter."
"But what if you tried to look like, him." Cutter pointed to the warrior. "Could you do it?"
They all turned to look at the warrior who had just joined them. Ozmun smiled.
"I don't see why not. What are you thinking?"
"I have an idea for you and Mar." Cutter told them. "Let's get inside and I'll explain."
"What about him?" Tanis asked indicating the warrior."
"He's one of us now. He has knowledge we may need."
"I will tell you what I know." He looked at the humans there around him. "Redu is a very powerful Savonti with powers that can crush you with a thought. His house is hidden deep in Redul and no stranger is allow to have the knowledge of how to get there. If somehow you learn where it is, he will kill you then move to a new location."
"Then I just might have an idea" Ozmun look crossed Mar and smiled. "Let's get inside where we can talk more. I think you might like my idea. I know Resu won’t."

It was night time in the former land of Resul and danger ruled the land. Since the night Daru had paid Resu a visit and taken him captive no one was safe. Not human nor Savonti. Daru had annexed the land and made it part his own. In the air Magu's warriors flew while warriors of many other lords hunted humans and the family and warriors the former lord. Day were no different. During its heat there was no where to hide. The mass of warriors had spread out and scared everything into a run for its life. These were dark days in Resul. But today things would be different.
It had been a long journey for Erlik Marcos and the one called Bandit. Gabor Gekko had taken Erlik aside after his meeting with the Gekko clan and offered him a mission. He was to leave the clan and contact as many clans and there leaders to gather support for Gabor's plan of war against the Savonti. Gabor needed men and weaponry. He needed spies to keep track of the various lords and their movements. He needed to learn of their different weaknesses and where and what each lords lairs defenses are. Along with Erlik traveled an academy student Councilor Den had suggested and thought highly of. Bandit the young man from one of Keanna's far eastern mountain ranges. Bandit was of a very old and beast like tribe of mountain people with very powerful magic. A close relative to the Werewolves, Bandit could shift to a bipedal ape like form with amazing strength and speed. He was the perfect companion to travel along and protect Erlik on this mission.
They went from Gekkol into Gukul then Povul the hot dessert lands. From there they moved into Katul and then Pulul the highlands. In each place they met and talked with different clan leaders. Some agreed and some were scared preferring to stay in hiding and on the run from the Savonti. Some were angry at Gabor feeling that his war would just stir up unnecessary trouble for the rest of them. Erlik pleaded and begged them to reconsider. Arguing that there were no unnecessary risk. These monster were using them all as food and a slave work force which was unacceptable. For them it couldn't get worse and it was time they put a stop to it. Some agreed and promised to lend there forces and some. Well some were so use to this life, they couldn't image it any other way. But Erlik knew that would change once they saw the fight Gabor and his allies could bring against the Savonti. And once the fight began, others would join. They would have to or die at the hands of their Savonti enemy.
Sweat ran down Bandits face as he pulled Erlik through the dense forest on a run. Behind them a group of Savonti warriors were right on their heels. Bandit had tried every trick he knew to throw them off the trail but nothing worked. Their Trackers had found their scent and there wasn't much they could do to get rid of them. He knew there was only one thing left for him to do. He had to fight to give Erlik a chance to get away. It wasn't what he wanted, but it may be there only chance.
"Erlik listen." Bandit pulled him closer as they kept running. "We have less then a two units lead on the warriors. Soon as we get to the clearing up ahead I want you to stay in the brush and head east toward Gekkol. I'll keep them here and give you time to get away. Don't stop or wait for me, you have to get the messages back to Gabor as soon as you can."
"No Bandit." Erlik pleaded. "We're in this together. I fight with you."
"If we get caught this whole trip was a waste." They stopped under a tree with the sound of the warriors crashing toward them. "We don't have time for this. Go now, get back home. Hurry!!"
With a howl Bandit began his shift and sprinted into the clearing to wait for his pursuers. As he ran he grew three feet in height and hair all over his body. No longer was he the brown haired academy cadet that protected Erlik. Now he was the savage looking long haired Wendigo of the far east mountains with claws and fangs ready to fight. Erlik looked back and saw the warriors enter the clearing as Bandit howled out his challenge. Determined to follow Bandits wishes, Erlik ran on. Home and help was only a day away. He hoped Bandit could hold up until then.

The sounds of the night and the smells of a strange unfamiliar forest roused Drake Tyr back to conscientiousness. He sat up and looked around confused as to what had happened and where he was. The last thing he remembered was sitting in the garden of the Manor. He had just woke his son Jandar from his long sleep and saw him and Jax off. Now here he was, but where was he? He looked around at his surrounding. The trees and foliage were all of a strange shade of purple like nothing he had ever seen before.
"What strange land is this?"
Drakes stood up and brushed the dirt from his long black coat and pants. As he looked out, he could sense the animal life all around him. It felt wrong. Like all his people Drake had a sense of the life around him. He could feel the vibe of the animal life and it was all completely wrong. Like he wasn't even on Keanna anymore.
With no idea where he was or where to go he shifted to wolf from and ran off into the forest. In the trees and on the ground he saw all kinds of strange animals like he had never seen before. Four winged birds and many horned purple deer like animals. He saw things swinging from the trees that he couldn't even guess at what they were.
After a drink at a lake he heard a loud howl echo through the trees. Drake's ears quickly perked to identify the direction it had come from. He knew the voices of his people and it was nothing like that, but it was a battle cry. That he knew. The howl reminded him of home and he wanted to know what it was. It came from the west so Drake turned west and took off in a run.
Through the crimson and purple forest Drake ran as the howling grew more severe. He could hear yelps and the sound of men yelling. there was a battle going on and whatever was howling, it didn't sound like it was winning.
After diving through a bank of growth Drake crashed into someone. There on the ground lay a young man dressed in some reddish colored hides. He looked at Drake with surprise and something else. It wasn't fear, Drake could smell that from a mile away. It was like he recognized him somehow. But that's impossible.
"Your a wolf?"
That word got his attention. How could he know what a wolf is? Unless....
[You have seen my kind before?] Drake asked inching closer.
"Your a Werewolf!!" The boy jumped to his feet after he received Drakes message. "I need your help and if your anything like the one I met before, You'll help me."
[The one you met before?] Drake sent. [What do you mean?]
"I don't have time to explain. Bandit needs your help right now. He's been attacked by Savonti warrior. Please you have to help him!"
[Where?]
"Through the trees there, there's a clearing." He pointed. "Hurry!!"
Putting his nose to the wind Drake caught the smell of blood. He could follow that smell anywhere.
[Stay here.]
Like a bolt of dark fury Drake shot through the forest to the east. The sound of battle grew louder and the howling began to sound more pained. At the edge of the clear Drake burst through the brush to find five tall green scaly monster men beating at what looked like a young brown furred werewolf. On the ground near them he saw two dead. Anger flared in Drake as he looked on. Like a demon he shifted to a black and silver furred man wolf and attacked. Claws slashed as Drake ripped into the reptilian men. In surprise they tried to fight back but they had no chance against the king of the Keanna Werewolves. The battle was over fast and seven Savonti warriors lay dead next to a young man dressed only in a pair of blue shorts. Drake looked down at him and knew immediately that this was no werewolf. But the symbol on his shorts he did recognize. It was the symbol of the Andrake Academy, the missing school from Winterhaven. As he bent to examine the boy, Erlik came running into the clearing. He rushed to Bandits side to check and make sure he was alright.
"Bandit?" Erlik splashed water from his water skin in his face. "Wake up"
Bandits eyes fluttered then opened. He looked up at Erlik and smiled then around at the dead warriors.
"I do that?" Erlik laughed and put the water skin to his mouth for him to drink. Bandit took a long drink then noticed there was someone else there with them. "You found help?"
"I found a Werewolf." Erlik and Bandit both looked up to Drake who had shifted to his normal form. Bandit sat up and looked closer. He looked familiar somehow.
"I'm Drake Tyr, you are?"
"I'm Bandit. This is Erlik. Your from Keanna." He painfully climbed to his feet with Erlik's help. "Back home? How did you get here?"
"Magic." Drake gripped his wrist in greeting. "Move slowly. You took a very bad beating from those things."
"They're called the Savonti." Erlik kicked out at a body laying in front of him. "Enemy to all the people here on Pentanthin. There hunting us."
"What are you doing out here alone?"
"Looking for help to fight them." Erlik looked back at the dead things on the ground. "The time of the White and Grey has finally arrived. My people are organizing to finally put an end to all the century's of being hunted and used as food for them. We were sent out to contact all the others to get them to join us. But they caught us. Thank the old ones you came along to help."
"Then we need to get somewhere safe. Can you walk?"
"I think so." Bandit flexed and stretched. Suddenly they heard the sounds of Trackers in the distance. The Savonti were still out there hunting. "We better get moving or more will find us. Come on and we'll tell you where you are and what you've stepped into. Where we're heading is not to far away and there's someone there we have to talk to."

"This has got to be the maddest most insane idea I have ever heard." Mar said from his tracker beside Ozmun. "There is no way on Pentanthin this will work."
"I think it's brilliant." Ozmun shrugged. "I can't imagine anyone but the Mind lord Daru would suspect anything like this."
"But he could." Mar countered, "Daru could be on to the whole plan."
"I don't think so. We do have protection from his mind probes." Ozmun tapped his shoulder where Shayn had placed the Salvation stone. "This will protect us."
"And how do we know this?" Mar asked.
"Because Daru hasn't found any of us." He was assured. "You know as well as I do that he has hundreds of warriors searching for us. The Academy is not far from his lands yet he hasn't found it. Kordova, Cutter and Blink can sense everything that comes within a few mile of the school and other then patrols that have missed us, nothing."
"Don't you find that odd?" Mar asked him curious. Ozmun knew what he meant. Daru was no fool and he was very powerful. It was strange that so far he hadn't even come close to finding any of them. But that could just be the great magic of the Academy. Blink's dark shroud that covered the Academy and it's surrounding area was great cover. And Cutter's fear barrier could keep everyone and anything away, but for how long? The Savonti had power to. Power just as great as his friends from Keanna. He just hoped there was nothing that could alert Daru to their plans.
"So what is the plan?" Mar asked as he looked around the dark forest of Redul. It had been a long time since his last visit to the mysterious land of Redul. His father had sent him there to negotiate with the reclusive Redu. A failed mission. He was ordered to spy and learn all he could about the recluse. The strength of his warriors and what abilities he had. Where exactly his lair was and what were his defenses. But Redu was the crafty one. He had revealed very little on that trip. All Mar learned was his house colors and that his ability had something to do with shadows. But what, he wasn't sure. With Lilia's senses and Blink's ability to search through all the dark corners of Redul, finding Redu's hidden lair had not taken long. Hidden deep in the dark dense forest amidst the wild things of Pentanthin lay the home of mighty Redu and his shadows.
"Your not going to like what I have planned." Ozmun smiled. "I don't really like it, but I think it will get us into Redu's lair without much of a fight. This is what I have in mind....."

Walking slowly with his head down, a lone Savonti warrior walked with his hands chained behind him. Around his neck he wore an intricate collar fashioned to suppress his abilities. It was connected to a chain held by his captor, a Savonti hunter who sat high riding a Tracker behind him. The warriors clothes were ripped and very dirty from his long run and the battles he had been fighting. His face was bruised and caked with mad. The once proud Mar had been caught and now he was on his way to be delivered to the lord Redu where he would be kept until his father Lesu could come and bring him back to his hone in Lesul.
As they moved through the quiet forest they both could feel eyes watching them from all around them. It was like the forest was alive almost and ready to grab at them. Things leaped in the growth watching at they moved.
Tripping on a rock, Mar stumbled and fell. The hunter yanked at the leash around Mar's neck and barked an order at him.
"Get up and move nagut!" The hunter hissed. "Or I'll beat you and drag you the rest of the way."
"Careful fool. You kill me and my father won't pay anything."
"Ha Ha!!" The hunter laughed. "Your fathers hate is great for you. I could deliver your head and still get paid well. So get up and walk or that is what I will do."
Mar got back to his feet and started walking on through the forest. Suddenly warriors leaped from out of the forest and surrounded them. Mar fell to his knees exhausted, he no longer cared what happened to him.
"Halt stranger." A warrior dressed in silver armor holding a staff stepped out to confront them. "What are you doing here in Redul?"
"Nazun." The hunter pounded his chest with his fist in salute. "I have been hired by Lord Lesu to hunt down this one and bring him home."
"Lesu does not rule here." The warrior said. "You have not answered why you are here hunter."
"I caught him on your lands." The hunter continued. "I seek an audience with your lord for rest and provisions to get back to Lesul."
"And what makes you think my lord Redu will oblige you? He is no friend to Lesu."
"Respect." The hunter leaned down to stare into the warriors face. "And information I have that lord Redu might find useful."
"What could a lowly hunter like you possibly know that might interest the Shadow lord." The asked his eyes narrowing as he looked up at the hunter. He aimed his staff at him. "Tell me."
"Kill me and your lord will never know." He smiled. "I've been through many lands on my hunt. I've heard and seen many things that might interest Redu. But my information is only for Redu, not for a lieutenants ears. Decide what you want to do now Warrior."
Behind to the left, something dark came out of the forest and slithered to the warrior. He was completely opaque. No light shined on him or from him. It was like he was made of shadow. He slipped quietly without a sound to the lieutenants side and whispered in his ear then slipped back into the dark forest.
"My lord will see you." He stepped back and turned to one of his comrades. "Bind their eyes then take the reins and lead them."
"There's no need for such precautions." The hunter called out. "I care not about the location of Redu's lair."
"Good." He heard as the hunters eyes were covered and his reins were taken. "Because if you did learn where our home is, it would mean your death. Now move out.

The courtyard of the Academy was filled with children playing. Children from the age of 12 to 16 ran and played with balls and any other game they could think of. Xan and Drella sat on the side under a strange green leafed tree with round orange fruit growing from it. They watched as Juelz played with a couple older children. Juelz marveled as he watched them do magic. They conjured strange visions of animals called dogs and cats. Juelz saw something they called horses and centaurs and longed for a ride on there backs.
"Isn't it wonderful here?" Drella smiled in Xan's arms as they watched the scenes the Cadets were making to show Juelz. "There home must be a beautiful place."
"Yes." Xan kissed her forehead. "A different place that's for sure."
"It looks so peaceful. No hunting and hiding or fear of being someones dinner. Can we go there someday?"
"We'll see." Xan smiled. "Drella I know its different but somethings there might be the same. People fear the unknown and I'll be different there. I may scare them."
"These children aren't afraid of you." She took his hand in hers. "They accept you. So does Juelz and me. What else matters?"
"Nothing else matters love." Xan hugged her close. "Your all I need. But Juelz needs a home and a real family. He's not safe with us."
Drella looked out at the small boy running with the cadets. She loved him and knew Xan and Mar only wanted what was best for him. It may be hard but with Lesu hunting them, It might be best for him.
"What are you thinking?" She asked.
"Maybe a home with one of the families of Gabor's clan." He suggested. "Or maybe here in the Academy, then he could get off Pentanthin and go with them back to there world."
"And what of us?"
"We belong here my love." Xan reached up and put his hand to her face lovingly. "Mar and I have responsibilities here. Something has to be done about the Savonti."
Drella smiled at her Savonti mate. She knew he was right.
As they lay there and watched, Lisette Testa stepped out of the Academy's front door. She looked exhausted. She took a deep breath then walked out and joined Xan and Drella under the orange tree. From the look in her eyes Drella could tell something was bothering her new friend. She wondered what it was.
"Aiya." Lisette smiled as she sat down.
"Nazun." Drella answered. "What troubles you, Lisette."
"Huh?"
"There's something bothering you." Drella put a hand to Lisette's shoulder. "What is it?"
"Its nothing." She shook her head as if to clear her thoughts. "Lately I've had a hard time concentrating on anything."
"Are you feeling well?" Xan asked.
"I feel fine." She smiled at them. "Just a bit worried about my son. Zarin and his friends are alone somewhere at home with a war going and his father and I are here on Pentanthin a long way from him."
"I see why your worried." Drella took her hand. "What kind of boy is he."
Lisette smiled when she thought of her son and her eyes lit up with pride. "Zarin. He was a student here. One of the top. All of his teachers sent home glowing reports on his progress. Professor Insa the head master had even taken a hand in his studies. He's very strong minded and a natural leader praised even by the kings of the Dragon clan Rage and Jandar."
"You sound so proud of him when you talk." Xan cut in. "He sounds very able to take care of himself. What makes you so worried?"
"The war." Fear crept back into her voice and on her face. "Back home our city was ruled by a peaceful council of mastermages. For hundreds of years the dark and the light magic lived side by side with neither one having control over everything. It kept things fair and equal and always at peace. But a council member, an evil master of the dark arts was able to grasp control and name himself as king of Winterhaven. Many died in the battle for control and when we came here with the Academy, Lord Larin was in control and all the neighboring lands were under threat."
"That's horrible." Drella cried with tear filled eyes. "I thought your home was such a land of wonder and magnificent people. You make it sound so scary."
"It is wonderful and magnificent with great minds and all different kinds of people. But there is evil too, just like here. There is no heavenly place if that's what you expect. But we are all fighting to keep our rights and freedom. And like everyone here on Pentanthin, that's all we want, right?"
"Peace and equality on Penthanthin." Xan stood and paced in front of the two woman. "Savonti will fight with their last breath to stop that from happening. They consider Penthanthin to be there's."
"All of them?" Lisette asked.
"All that I know of."
"Then maybe it's time to do something about that." Lowell Testa stepped out from behind the orange tree and greeted them. He took his wife in his arms for a kiss. "There's something you should know Xan. Walk with me."
Xan looked at the two women they moved away as he and Lowell walked off.
Unknown to them, a lone cadet watched from the side of the Academy wall. As he watched he chanted a spell. One of two spells he planned to use today. This spell was aimed at one of the two women. The target of the spell was Lisette Testa, mother of his worst enemy. The target of the second spell he planned to use was to be a much younger victim. The youngest new member at the Academy.
But right now he had to get back to his room. There should be people waiting there to see him if Rush had done what he had been told.

Through twists and turns the warriors led Mar and the Hunter until neither could tell north from south or east from west. With there eyes covered they were traveling in absolute darkness which confused the Hunters excellent sense of direction. The Hunter had tried counting turns and times between turns but there were to many for him to keep out with and eventually he was lost. They traveled long into the night until finally they stopped and the was ordered down off his Tracker.
"You can remove your blindfold. We have arrived."
Mar's eyes were uncovered as the Hunter reached up and took off his blinds. Blinking to clear his vision, the Hunter looked around to try and see where they where. Before him was a great mountain of rock covered in shadows. But that was all the Hunter saw. Nothing he could use to identify where they were.
"What is this?" He said. "Have you led us here to die?
"Perhaps." The warrior said standing at the base of the great cliff. "And perhaps not."
Turning away towards the rock wall the warrior reached into his belt and took something out. He rubbed it and it began to glow in his hand. He held it up and placed it against the stone wall and stepped back. Suddenly the walls began to shake and vibrate. As Mar and the Hunter watched the wall began to open up. Slowly it slid apart to reveal a entrance right into the mountain lined with torches.
"My lord awaits." The warrior signaled them to enter. "Leave your Tracker, they will be cared for."
The Hunter nodded and walked to Mar and pushed him in ahead of him. Mar turned and hissed at him in defiance but did as he was told and went in. As they went in the walls closed behind. Mar looked at the Hunter his brow raised than went on following the warriors that were leading them.
Though the entrance was something new to both of them, the lair was nothing different then any other lords. They passed through many halls and corridors that showed the many different sections of a lords lair. Quarters for warriors, kitchens, dinning rooms, great halls and all. They saw many slaves of both human and Savonti working here doing many tasks and something different. Something strange. Dark shadows that slipped all around them. The Hunter wonder what is was that Redu had here in his lair.
They even passed pleasure rooms where they could both hear the screams of the pleasure slave. Mar cringed at the sound of the screaming. He wanted to be free of his bonds and attack to free those suffering here.
[Calm yourself Mar. Not like this.]
He looked back at the Hunter and nodded then turned and trudged on.
"So this is the great house of Redu." The Hunter looked around. "Impressive. As is the lord I would expect."
"Lord Redu Is the greatest of all the lords." The warrior pointed out. "He is the envy of them all as you will soon see."
"Indeed." Smiled slyly at the warriors back. "Tell me warrior. What are you called?"
"I am Blu." He answered. "Chief of Redu's warriors. I will be my responsibility for you while you are here which I assume won't be long."
"Never assume." The hunter muttered under his breath.
"What are you called Hunter?"
"You can call me Ozm." He told him. "When do I meet your lord?"
"When he is ready to see you." Blu turned and entered a sparsely furnished room. It was dark and warm as all Savonti lairs were. The only furnishing in the room was a cot and one chair made for a Savonti and a table.
"You will wait here." Blu said. "The is a empty room where you can lock your prisoner while you wait. Food will be sent here for you I will arrange for what you will need. I warn you. Stay here until lord Redu calls for you. Understand?"
"I do." Ozm pushed Mar in to land on his back on the floor then pointed to the spare room. "Get in there."
Mar got up to his feet and limped into the room. Ozm slammed the barred door shut then turned back to Blu. "Lord Lesu will not forget what you have done for him."
Blu huffed then closed the barred door and left. Ozmun stepped up and watched him moved down the hall and off into the lair.
"He's gone." Ozmun opened the door and let Mar out of his cell. "I'll get you out of the chains."
"No need." Mar held out his arms and shook them. The chain cuffs fell to the ground. Ozmun looked at them amazed. Those cuffs had been locked tight in case Blu had checked them.
"That is a useful skill." Ozmun smiled.
"It won't get us out of here." Mar walked and looked out the bars down the hall. All was quiet. "You know the doors locked."
"I expect it is." Ozmun pulled out the chair and sat down leaning back comfortably. "It doesn't matter. They'll let us out to talk with Redu when he's ready."
"You better pray this works Ozmun." Mar's tail twitched nervously as he went back to relax and meditate in his cell. "Cause if it doesn't, we're both be on his dinner table very soon."

"I don't understand this." Rue Tasco said as he walked through the halls with Delan Rainer and Rush Delion. "How is it possible your roommate has news of our sons back home?
"Paolo was pretty close to them when they were here at school." Rush explained. "He's found a way to contact them from here. Don't ask me how. I think it's a miracle."
"Then let us get our wives." Delan pleaded. "They'll want to talk to them to. They've been so worried."
"Why don't we wait and make sure Paolo can make the connection first. I'd hate to get they're hopes up and it doesn't work."
"Yes that's a good idea." Rue shook his head. "Lorea would be crushed and cry for a week if it fails. I don't want that to happen again."
"Then let's not put them through it right now." Rush stopped at a door to a dorm room. "Here we are."
He opened the door and waved them in. At the desk sat a handsome brown haired boy in the uniform of a cadet. He turned and smiled flashing icy blue eyes and stood.
"You must be Craven and Dack's fathers." He stepped closer and reached out to grasp their arms to greet them. "Aiya. I'm pleased to meet you."
"Is it true?" Rue asked. "Can you really contact our sons back on Keanna?"
"I can show them to you right now if you want." Paolo smiled a wicked grin at them.
"Show us." Rue and Delan stepped closer to Paolo. "Please."
"As you wish." Paolo held out his hand and showed them the gleaming ring on his finger. "Gaze into my ring and open your minds to me. Let me show you your greatest wish."
Rue Tasco and Delan Rainer stood transfixed as they stared down into the flashing magic beaming out from the ring. There eyes glazed over as the magic to hold and Tabor took control of there wills.
"That's right." He smiled. "Your both now under my control and will do anything I ask. Your will is mine."
"What is your wish?" They stammered in unison. The spell had a strong hold on them.
"Bring me Lisette Testa. Wait until she's alone then tell her I found a way to show you where your sons are and can show her to. Get her quietly back to this room alone. Now go."
Both men looked up at him.
"Yes sir." They turned and left on their mission.
Paolo smiled. He loved the idea of his enemies working for him. It was to bad it wasn't Zarin and the others. He would love it if they were here so he could make them pay for all they had done to him. But he could work with what had. He didn't have much choice.

The screams and the crying of slaves kept Ozmun awake all night. He could barely concentrate to stay in his Savonti form. He had been holding it all day and knew he had to drop it to rest. He stood up and walked back to Mar's cell where he could hide and rest when a sound from out in the hall stopped him. Foot steps. They were moving toward him. Quickly he rushed back to his cot and sat down just as Blu appeared at his door. Ozm stood and stepped to the barred door.
"The master will see you now." He fit a key into the door and opened. Ozm stepped out and looked back at Mar's cell door.
"My prisoner should come with me."
"He is safe here." Blu held the door open waiting.
"You don't understand who he is." Ozm needed Mar with him for this confrontation with Redu. "This is Mar first son of Lord Lesu. He is not one to be ignore and he must be watched by me at all times. Lesu will not be responsible for what happens if he escapes and brings down this lair."
A shadow slipped in and in a blink and whispered to Blu, they was gone. Ozmun barely saw it it moved so fast.
"Very well." Blu told him. "Bring him."
Ozm returned to his room and opened the cell door. Mar stepped out still wearing the collar of obedience.
"Walk in front of me."
Mar nodded and followed behind Blu and two more of Redu's warriors. They moved through the lair moving higher to the top levels. No words were passed between them as they walked. Ozmun was very tired from holding his Savonti form. He hoped this would be done quickly but wasn't sure if he had the strength for a battle.
Finally Blu stopped at a great door. this had to be the entrance to Redu's private audience hall.
"Redu waits inside." Ozm nodded and Blu signaled the two warriors to pull open the two massive doors. With Mar in the front, Ozm followed him in.
Finally Blu stopped at a great door. This had to be the entrance to Redu's private audience hall."Redu waits inside." Ozm nodded and Blu signaled the two warriors to pull open the two massive doors. With Mar in the front, Ozm followed him in.
As they walked down the hall the sound of cheering crowds echoed in to assail their ears. Mar looked over to Ozm with a puzzled looked. Something was wrong. This was not going to be a private audience.
"I think we're in trouble."
From behind, Redu's warriors pushed them on to keep walking. A few feet down the hall ended and they walked into a vast underground stadium. The stadium was set in a high domed chamber carved from the granite rock of the walls. With three tiers full of Redu's warriors there to see the scheduled gladiatorial like games.
As they waited at the entrance, four warriors battled in the center of the stadium. Two with staffs and two with blades. All around then there was blood and body parts from the previous battles. From the stands warriors stood cheering. The sounds and smells of battle was overwhelming for the Savonti around them. Many of the warriors wanted to leap down and join in fighting but Redu had forbid any interference.
Crossing staffs with grim looks on their faces, they battled. One swung his blade end around making his opponent leap back as he thrust the blunt end in at his opponents midsection. With a quick block, the warrior leaped high and stabbed down slicing into opponents chest. Blood flowed as the warrior fell. Landing at his side not giving his opponent time to get up. The warrior used the blunt end and crushed his opponents skull ending there fight. He stepped aside to watch as the other fight went on.
Back and forth the two fought. You could see their wounds where both of them had been cut many times during their battle. With a loud battle cry, the taller of the two charged in to force his opponent into a block, but instead he stood his ground and waited for the attack. Ducking down,he thrust out with both swords as his opponent passed and sliced a long gash across the chest and one across his leg cutting right through the muscles bringing him crashing to the ground. As the warrior turned to finish him off the grounded warrior tried without success to get back up on his feet. Feeling his superiority, the standing warrior raised his arms in triumph as the crowd cheered him on. That was where he made his mistake. Just because the warrior was down, it didn't mean he was out of the fight. Never turn your back on an opponent in a life and death battle.
Grabbing his blade the warrior waited until his opponent turned back to face him the sent it flying through the air to sink hilt deep in the warriors throat. Surprised, he staggered back trying to pull the sword free, but it didn't help. As blood gushed from his throat the warrior fell gasping for air where he died. The crowd went wild cheering as the warrior pulled a staff to him and got to his feet to stand before his lord.
"Lacidi my warriors" Redu stood raising his wine in salute to the winners. "You are victorious my warriors and now you shall be rewarded. Come forward to me and accept your reward."
Reaching out to help his fellow warrior, Rel put his are around Fet and helped him to make his way to stand in front of Lord Redu.
Redu put down his cup and stepped down to the rail of his balcony suite in the stands. A hush came over the crowd as they all wanted to hear Redu's pronouncement.
"From now on you Rel shall be one of my private guards." Redu took from a table at his side a silver arm guard that all the Warriors in his guard wore. He held it out and a shadow moved out from a corner and took it from his hand. As they watched it leaped from the balcony and landed at Rel's feet and dropped it. "Put this on and it will bind you to me. My shadows will always be with you from then on."
"I am honored my Lord." Rel bowed and stepped back.
"You battled well Fet." Redu leaned forward to address the wounded warrior. "But I know you to well. I know all about your weakness for humans and the mercy you have shown in battle to enemies. You think me blind? Nothing happens in Redu without me knowing about it. Your wound makes you weak. You are not worthy to be in my house now. I will make your death honorable."
Fet stood tall leaning on the staff. His wound no longer bleed and would heal well in the days to come. Death was not the prize he thought he deserved for his win. As for his compassion in battle, It was not a sign of weakness, It was his way to honor his enemy. He had come to realize long ago that humans were more then cattle. Much more then food and deserved honor just as the Savonti did.
"You have no idea what honor is." Fet shouted up at him. "All you and many other lords want is blind obedience from those that serve you. You do nothing for us. Your people fight for scraps to feed on. You do not deserve to be a lord. If only there was someone powerful enough to challenge you and worthy enough to rule. There are many here that would support them."
Redu stared down at Fet as his shadows began to seep out of every dark corner and gather around him. His warriors all stepped back in fear of his rage and power.
"I am not afraid of you or your shadows Redu." Fet reached down and picked up the staff. "I'll challenge you if no one else will."
Redu laughed at him.
"You? Wounded as you are will fight me? You would not stand a chance."
"We will challenge you!"
All heads turned and watched as Mar and Ozm were escorted to stand in front of Redu. No one made a sound as they confronted the Lord of Redul.
"Who would dare come here to my lair to threaten me? Daru the Mind Lord? Lesu and his evil stare? Who?"
"The same ones the took the house of Fedru and killed it's lord." Ozm answered. "You are about to be threatened by the Grey and the White."
"Daru's human enemy?" Redu laughed a deep chest erupting laugh. "I fear no human!! I fear no army of humans!! I am the mightiest of Savonti lords. My shadows fear nothing!!"
"Nothing?" Ozm stepped out to stand before Redu's balcony. "There are things that no shadow can stand against."
"What is that little hunter?" Redu smiled at them. "Your lord? Can he threaten me?"
"No." Mar said as he held up his chained arms. In a flash of light the chains snapped and fell open, Mar tossed them to the floor at the foot of the throne. Then he reached up and tore off the collar. "Lesu won't be a threat to you. But freedom will!"
"You dare to threaten me?" Redu stood and laughed at them. He walked down from his place in the stands confront them.  "I may not be close to your father but I've heard of his powerless armauk son Mar. And you, hunter. What threat can you be to the Lord Redu?"
"We are here at the orders of the Grey and White." Ozmun shouted out. dropping his Savonti form. "I am no hunter Redu. I am human. And I have power to!!"
Ozmun spread his arms and began to shift. His arms grew long and scaled with long claws. A tail and wings grew and he took the form of a dragon Shayn had taught him to perfect. Redu grabbed his scepter and jumped down from his throne.
"I have power too human!" Out of the darkness around them something moved. Many somethings and they began to streak all around the chamber. Like ghost they would streak in and lash out to strike Mar. With lightning like reflexes he dodged most of the blows and struck back. Once his eyes were use to the dark he could see them. They were shadow clones of Redul, fast and very strong. Like shadows they were almost impossible to hit. But when they were trying to hit him, they were solid enough. With an enemy to fight, Mar began to rip into them. Like dark versions of Redu they attacked, one by one and in force. His probability abilities fought on with him like a tark causing the shadows to trip and stumble and fall into his punches and kicks. They slipped on bloody spots on the floor to fall into his hands where they were tore apart.
In the center of the stadium, Redu faced Ozmun in a man sized dragon form. With his wings spread Ozmun rose into the air. Redu clutched his scepter and fired bolt after bolt at him.
"Surly you can't think you will win against me." Redu shouted at Ozmun. "Look at your friend there, he tires from battling my shadows. He has destroyed many, but as long as it's dark I can keep creating as many as I need. Soon they will bring him down. Then they'll just be you staz. Then what will you do?"
Ozmun knew he was right. Mar was being overwhelmed by all of Redu's shadows and he had put almost everything into taken this dragon form. He couldn't hold it for to much longer and then the shadows would have them. He needed a way to end this fight fast. But how? In this darkness Redu would always have shadows to fight. But what if he could take away the darkness? What if he could provide his own light. What was it Shayn had taught him of this dragon form? It breathed fire. It was time to give it a try.
From high up, Ozmun narrowed his wings and dived at Redu. Redu sent his stun bolts at him and they burned with pain. He took a deep breath and felt something burning in his chest. Below he saw Redu's face take on a confident look of success. He raised the scepter for a point blank blast and Ozmun let go of everything he had. Flames erupted from his maw engulfing Redu and lighting up the whole chamber. Spreading his wings to stop his dive, he began to beat them quicker to hold his place in the air as his flames burned down on the Savonti lord. Redu screamed in pain and burned in the intense heat of the dragon fire.
All around Mar the shadow clones disappeared as Redu burned. He stumbled a few steps and screamed once more then fell in a burning hump to the floor. Completely spent, Ozmun shifted and fell to the floor exhausted. Mar rushed to his side and lifted him into a sitting position.
"By my fathers death stare you did it!!" Mar smiled down at him. Ozmun looked at the burning body of Redu next to the throne. He had done it. But they weren't done. With everyone watching they knew they could be attacked at any second.
"What say you warriors of Redu." Mar stepped out to address then all. "Your lord has been defeated by a human. A human with power greater then his. You have a choice now, You can stand with us and become a land that can help lead the Savonti into the future or you can all burn as the prophesy foretold the fall of the Savonti. The choice is yours to make."
"What do you think?" Ozmun asked. "Will they accept?"
"Some will, some won't." Mar shrugged. "We'll just have to be very careful"
"I accept." Fet limped over to join them. "I have heard of you Mar son of Lesu. Your father looks to bring you home for execution. If you will lead us. I will accept."
"As will I." Rel threw down Redu's silver arm guard. "The time has come for change in the Savonti."
"There will be many changes." Mar told them. "The humans will all be freed and accepted as equals. I will forbid anyone from using them from here on as food. We will live with them in peace. Do you still accept?"
"We accept." Fet held out his hand to Ozmun. They shook as a cheer went up through the stadium.
"Then let it be known that Redu is dead!" Rel held up Mar's hand. "Redul is dead. From here on this land will be called Marul. Long live Lord Maru!"