A/N- Kyrette has returned!

Kyrette-:I have returned for my loyal fans and faithful readers.:

Cat- Yuril has begun rubbing off on everyone….

Kyrette- :Indeed. So to begin this chapter, I add our disclaimer: Cat and I own nothing; Misty Lackey owns it all. So when we left 'Flame, the help from k'Varis had arrived and just been introduced to you readers…. Now here we go!:

Cat-My muses have been infected with Yuril's politeness! Anyways… On with the Fic!

Chapter 24- Into the Pelagirs

'Flame rode under another tree and sighed. Tonight, she would send out Ayren to find the scout. They were close enough to be near the furthest scouts. She worried about stumbling across one accidentally. But she was making enough noise that they would see her well before she saw them.

Still, it came as a shock to her, when the ball of gray fur came hurtling out of the bushes at her side. As it snatched her out of the saddle, she grabbed one of the knives from her belt, trying to twist so as to cushion her fall. She managed to untangle herself from the creature. He was still too close for her to draw her sword. A second knife joined the first in her other hand. She hid her surprise as she got her first real look at her opponent. The kyree just snarled and charged her again. Only her lightning fast reflexes saved her.

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The mage was almost as startled as Smoke, when she was swept out of the saddle by an animal, moving too fast for him to be sure what it was. His bodyguard had drawn a bow, ready to take a shot if he got one. "No," the mage said, making up his mind quickly. "Let's see what she can do." It was more to the point of "Let's see if she can survive this."

The bodyguard didn't look happy as he lowered his bow. He kept it strung and at the ready in case the beast charged them. His first job was, after all, to protect the mage.

The two opponents tangled well within view of them for a few moments. Smoke was holding her own, with only two small cuts on one arm. She darted in on her target, knives flashing. A yowl and the creature crashed off into the underbrush, Smoke hot on its heels.

"Smoke! Let it go. We don't have time for this." For a moment, he wasn't sure she would obey his command. Her breath was coming fast and hard. Her eyes were crazed and blank. She showed no recognition of his authority for a moment.

With a shake, she came back to herself and looked at him with her cold eyes. He repressed the shudder that always ran through him when she looked at him. He saw her limp slightly to her horse and remount. She had held her own well.

She would do. She would do.

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'Flame was sore and bruised as she sat in her saddle. The attack had caught her completely off guard. Still it had told her what she had needed to know. Her help was near by and waiting for her.

The kyree had not held back and she was feeling every muscle. When they stopped for the night, she was going to be very sore. Her arm was beginning to sting. It was with relief that she heard the mage's command to stop for the night. She quickly dismounted and did her camp chores. Then with a hiss, she used a bit of wine to clean out the cuts on her arm.

The bodyguard came over to help, without looking at her face. They had exchanged very few words, since this little trip had begun. She sucked in a breath as the alcohol hit the cuts. He glanced at her worriedly, but didn't stop cleaning the wounds.

Soon he had tied off a rough bandage and moved away. 'Flame grunted her thanks. She had other scrapes but they were easily tended to. So, she did it herself. The bodyguard left her to herself. He tended dinner.

While he was busy, she studied the mage. Her shielding was strong and had held up so far. She was still worried about being exposed for what she was. Could it have been her Change? Could it have shielded her in a way no mage could detect?

He looked to be setting the traps for the night. Still, there were things in the Pelagirs that could get past the traps. She wondered just how much he actually knew about the area. Not as much as she did, she'd bet that.

Standing, she stretched stiffening muscles, feeling them ripple into place. The mage was still engrossed with his tasks. 'Flame took the opportunity to see to Darkfire, to make sure he'd taken no damage in the attack.

Her stallion was standing placidly, munching some oats and grazing lightly. He greeted her with a twitch of his ears, but nothing more. She scratched his shoulder, gently, running a hand down his side, checking for any minor injuries, she might have missed before. His hide twitched a bit as she touched a ticklish spot.

He was completely uninjured. The kyree had aimed well. Only she had taken any injury. :I just wish he had held back a bit.: She Spoke to Darkfire, checking his hooves.

:Sore?: He asked sympathetically. His nose nuzzled her shoulder gently, careful of any injury she might have taken. :Now that they know we're here, what's the plan?:

:You mean I'm supposed to have a plan?: She asked sardonically. He snorted in surprise. She scratched his ear, as she stood. :I don't have one yet. I'm still working on it.:

:Working fast would probably be a good idea.: Darkfire returned, uneasily. Up until now, he'd thought she had a plan. He assumed she'd had everything worked out, all possibilities covered.

:No need to worry, Darkfire, my friend. Something will come to me.: She patted his shoulder again, as she walked away.

:And if nothing does?: He asked the large eagle just above him, hidden among the branches of the tree. :I knew she was always a bit rash, but to rush into this, with no plan, is suicidal!: He stomped his hoof for emphasis.

Above him. Ayren shook himself, fluffing out his feathers. The tree branch rattled a bit, sending some leaves cascading down. :Trust in her. She's never led either of us wrong yet.: He clacked his own beak for emphasis and squeezed the branch he was sitting on, causing the wood to crack in protest.

The black stallion shook a leaf that had fallen off of his head. :I trust her. I just worry for her.: So saying he went back to his oats.

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Wanderstone smeared the salve onto the shallow cut that Rrussin sported across his ribs, from one of 'Flame's knives. She hadn't injured him too badly, just enough to need a bit of attention, and to make the fight look real. :She is a superb fighter, to be able to hold herself so in check, yet give such a convincing performance.: The kyree commented, watching Wanderstone work. :I'm actually honored to be injured by her.:

Wanderstone snorted in disgust. :Honored? Granted its just a scrape but honored?: He finally finished the work to his satisfaction and capped the salve.

He used some leaves to clean his hands. He hoped they would hear from her tonight. Rrussin seemed to think they would.

:Bond-mate. Another bird comes.: His own falcon said, shifting his weight from foot to foot.

Wanderstone hoped it was the one they were waiting for. He looked up from his pack, where he had been stowing his things. There, sitting on a branch, was a large bird, which could only be a bond-eagle. The golden eagle sat the branch with ease. Its large frame easily dwarfed his own falcon. It tightened its claws around the branch, and he could hear the wood cracking under the great strength.

:I bring a message to you. 'Flame asks you to chose a spot where you are concealed yet can be gotten to quickly. After she 'captures' you, she will explain more.: The eagle cocked his head. :I hope you will trust us.: He seemed to add as an after thought. His piercing eyes studied Wanderstone almost thoughtfully. :You are a Master-level mage?: Wanderstone only nodded in silence, letting the bird take his measure. :You'll do.: Ayren fluffed his feathers, causing the branch to creak under his weight.

Wanderstone wondered what the bird meant by that. He looked at Rrussin, who just looked at him skeptically. He shrugged to himself. He would worry about it later. Right now, he finished putting his supplies away and prepared to move. He knew a good spot, that might work for what she needed.

The two birds watched him prepare. Once he shouldered his pack and grabbed his climbing stick, it was up into the trees and onward for all of them. Rrussin followed on the ground. He was a ghostly shadow beneath the tree. Above him, neither bird could be seen. Wanderstone ghosted through the trees, following his own falcon, Jaarthe.

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It didn't take them long to reach the edge of the small clearing, Wanderstone thought would work for 'Flame's purposes. :Will this do?: Wanderstone asked the eagle.

:Yes that works very well.: A new MindVoice said. :Be ready for me. I'll be there in two days.: Though he hadn't felt her arrive, Wanderstone did feel her withdraw.

He snorted in amazement. Whatever she had in mind, he hoped he could be ready.

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'Flame shut her mind again, after seeing the clearing. It would work very well. If she could convince the mage, then things would work out much better.

She looked over at the mage. He was quiet studying the map he always had with him. She had tried to get a look at it, but hadn't wanted to seem too interested in it. He folded the map and put it away carefully, almost reverently. If she could get a good look at it….

The mage then waved her over. 'Flame moved slowly, purposefully, making the most of each movement. He watched her move with appreciation. She was a graceful, beautiful woman. When she stopped before him, he waved her to sit. She did, her cold, dead eyes never changing expression.

With a stick, he quickly mapped out what he basically knew. "This is where I believe that 'Vales' are. If we get into this area here," he continued, circling an area on the crude map he had drawn. "We should be close enough to get one of their scouts. You will get me that scout. Everything depends on it." The last was said almost to himself, as an afterthought. He must have realized she was still there because he waved her away.

He wiped out the crude map at his feet. His plan was coming together nicely. His teacher's master would have been very proud. Patience was definitely a virtue.

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A/N- Hmmm.. Mage is a bit odd huh? Just why does he want a Tayledras? Think I'm gonna tell you?? NOPE! WRONG AGAIN!

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Cat