A/N~ Kyrette?

Kyrette~ :It seems I have finally reached 100 reviews! Although Yuril has more than I do. Nine chapters and he has over 100! What's the justice in that?!:

Cat~ Kyrette, love, you're whining again.

Kyrette~ :Sorry, Cat, I didn't mean to. So the disclaimer, Lackey owns we do not. I have foal watch, excuse me.:

Cat~ Poor thing. He's feeling down that no one likes him as much as my two humans or the Fairie. Anyways, here's the new chapter.

Chapter 28~ Meetings

Smoke didn't look up as the bodyguard approached her. She kept her eyes on the dagger she was sharpening. He sat down near her. "I wanted to thank you. For patching up my leg." Smoke didn't look up from her task. "Well, thank you." He stood and moved away, uncomfortable in her presence for long.

Smoke never looked up from her task. Satisfied that her dagger was finely honed, she put it away. Next out came her sword. Out of habit she checked the sword. Her brother's face was not in the metal. He'd apparently thought that she had everything under control :Heh doesn't know you very well does he?: Darkfire asked.

She ducked her head to hide her grin. :Nope.: She replied impudently. :That's alright. I'd rather he believed that than tried to 'help'.: She put away her sword and stretched a bit. Her leg was on fire. She left the camp for a moment. Removing her pants, she checked her bandage again. She'd grabbed her pack. She pulled out her medical supplies and redressed her wound. It was healing, although slowly. Then again anything short of a true Healing she would consider too slow.

Another week and the stitches could probably come out. She got her pants back on and then made sure that the mage wasn't around. :He's busy with something.: Darkfire told her.

She just sent him gratitude, then opened herself up a bit. :Wanderstone?: She queried lightly. He immediately responded.

:Bright the day, Shadowflame. I bear a message for you.: She just sent him a wordless query, wondering who and how they would do it. :Straight from Haven, little one. Firesong sends greetings and says: 'You're taking too long. Kill the bastard and come back.':

'Flame grunted. That was not what she had expected. She had expected something along the lines of: "Find a good man, oh wait you have that nice scout there with you don't you?" That she was prepared for. The bloodthirstiness of the message she'd gotten however, surprised her. :Anything else?: She asked, finally having digested the message.

:That's it. Gotten bloodthirsty hasn't he?: Wanderstone asked. :Tomorrow evening.: He said, sounding a bit excited.

:Tomorrow evening,: she agreed wearily. :Just wish to hells I knew what I was going to do.:

Wanderstone was quiet, contemplative for a moment. :Well after you capture me what do you expect the mage to do?:

'Flame shuddered, still hating to think of what they'd done to her. :Starvation, no water. But they did that to me and there were thirteen of the bastards. With only the one, I don't know what he'll do. At least I'm better prepared this time.:

:And not alone.: Wanderstone added softly.

:No not alone.: She broke the link, hiding her embarrassment. She hadn't really expected to feel the odd warmth she'd Felt from Wanderstone. That was why she'd broken the link. She didn't have time for a personal entanglement. Not now. She had to deal with the mage first. Then maybe…. NO! It didn't bear thinking about. She'd never even met the man for Gods' sake!

She went to Darkfire, her emotions in turmoil. Picking up a brush she began grooming him, though he didn't need it. :What's wrong?: He asked. She didn't answer just kept up with the steady brushing, hoping to calm her own nerves. :Humans! If you want to trade flowers with him, go ahead.: 'Flame almost dropped the brush in her shock. :You make it into more than you need to, my dear.: He turned his attention back to his grazing, letting her think.

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Dawn came softly, painting the horizon pink and yellow, with the promise of another beautiful day. 'Flame woke, as was her habit, all at once. There was no in-between time of sleep and wakefulness. Around her, birds were just waking, flowers were just beginning to send out their fragrances of the day.

The small stream they'd camped by provided another breakfast of fish. The bodyguard had the horses saddled and ready to move out before the mage. Smoke had cleaned the campsite, ready to leave.

They all mounted up and headed out. The mage smiled, seeing the two of them so complacent.

Soon he would be able to make his spell active and they would follow his commands. He looked at Smoke still trying to decide whether to keep her around or not. She could be very useful. On the other hand, she might be hard to control even under magic compulsion.

He sighed, deciding to wait until he'd created his node. Once he had that power, he could tie the spell into the node, giving it a never ending power source. So, if he did that, she would not be able to break the magic compulsion. Then he would have her around, for whatever he chose. Also once he had the node, he would be hard to remove from the area. He'd chosen the Pelagirs on purpose, just for that. He planned on gathering nodes and ley lines once he had the first under his power. Then, if he could extend his power enough, he would be able to hold off the Hawkbrothers, and anyone else who tried to come after him.

He knew all the stories, telling of their fanatical protection of the Pelagirs. Which was why he'd only been using low level magic except for the Change-wolf attack. Then he figured they wouldn't notice. At least they hadn't anyways. They rode on for a time, the mage checking his map.

The sun was sinking into the west when they came upon the clearing. He looked around. Invoking Mage-Sight, he Saw what he needed. There was a node here, albeit a small one. It had great potential. He could See the power flowing, diverted here and there, feeding something else. Could it be a Heartstone? He shook the thought off. He'd waited this long, this patiently. Time was not his enemy.

He looked over to where the bodyguard and Smoke awaited his decision. "This will do nicely," He said, dismounting. The other two followed his example, quickly beginning to set up the camp. "Smoke." He said drawing her attention to him. She walked over to stand before him, perfectly controlled movement apparent in her every move.

"I want you to start looking at dawn. I want a 'Hawkbrother' as quickly as possible. Bring me one." Smoke only nodded, her face and eyes, even after all this time, still unreadable. He waved her away, prepared to begin his own preparations.

Dawn came and Smoke was already gone when he woke. "She already left to go.. Hunting." The bodyguard said uneasily. He handed the mage his breakfast and left to set a few snares for their food.

The mage smirked. His bodyguard had been fine with this plan in the abstract. Now that they were here, however, he seemed to be having an attack of conscience. 'Oh well,' the mage thought to himself. He turned his attentions to the one book he'd brought with him. Inside, it held texts about the reclusive Hawkbrothers that not many people knew.

He opened up to where he had left off:

It is possible to control and even sunder a Heartstone. It has been done in evidence of k'Sheyna Vale. When done, it is possible to control that Heartstone and by extension the Adepts attached to it.

The adepts eventually will break away. By that time, he who rules the Heartstone will have enough power and control to hold them off. Unless physically attacked the one in control will be able to hold that power, probably indefinitely. It has never been truly accomplished.

The Hawkbrothers, or Tayledras, are very secretive and protective of their territories and Power.

He sat back satisfied. He wasn't going to attempt to take a Heartstone yet. No instead he was going to form his own node and then attack one of the Heartstones, draining it bit by bit. By the time any of Adepts of the vale noticed what happened, he would have drained it down quite a bit, feeding the Power into his own Stone.

By then he hoped to be able to have his own apprentices. With them to draw on and the node, he could create his own nice little kingdom out here. Eventually, when he'd sired a Talented son on some female (and of course killed her) he'd begin training that child to take over where he'd left off. Sometime down the road, either his son or grandson, just as ruthless as he, would have a place to rule. As was proper.

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'Flame drifted through the woods, almost as ethereal as her alias. She was following the feel of Ayren in her mind. :Hello, lovely.: She said, finally climbing a tree.

Ayren fluttered to a branch next to her. He nipped at her braid. :It is good to see you bond-mate.: He nibbled on her braid while she gladly scratched his crest. They had been apart too long and it had bothered her more than she cared to admit. She kept scratching him.

A falcon, looking oddly dwarfed next to Ayren, winged to a spot over them. :Ah, the scout comes,: Ayren said. 'Flame didn't bother to look around. A Tayledras scout would not be seen until they chose to. She was not startled when he swung from another tree and dropped to sit on the branch opposite her.

"Bright the day," he said in greeting. He had a deep voice, made deeper by his low tone.

"Wind to thy wings," she returned. She studied the scout. His hair, showing a bit of the white that all Tayledras had, was dyed in patterns of fall leaves. He was well built scout, obviously used to being out and about on scouting forays. "I am not taking you back tonight. Day after tomorrow. I don't want him to think it was easy." Wanderstone just nodded. "Any ideas?"

He thought for a moment. A rustling down below, showed Rrussin coming to them. 'Flame smiled in greeting and Wanderstone didn't even seem to notice him. "A mark or two on both of us would not go amiss. Fuzzball there says you're controlled enough to do it with causing permanent damage. So we should at least put up a small fight to make it seem real."

'Flame nodded, her mind working, absently stroking Ayren. If they fought a bit, her bringing in a still struggling Wanderstone, she'd have fulfilled her duty. Perhaps then the mage would let her leave, where she could work from a distance.

"'Flame?" Wanderstone asked, bringing her back. She shook herself and came back to reality. "Are you going to be alright?" He looked a bit worried about her.

'Flame smiled sadly. "I'll be fine. Just not sure what to do." Wanderstone nodded but didn't look convinced. She sighed and scratched Ayren again. "If I dared, I would almost leave this bastard to Adepts better trained in mage fights. I just feel he's my problem and my responsibility." She closed her eyes, leaning back up against the tree trunk. "I guess I've grown soft, staying in Haven for so long."

Wanderstone reached over and touched her hand. "No, you don't want death. Yet death is the only way to handle this mage. No one can think less of you for wanting peace."

'Flame opened her eyes looking into his crystal blue ones. She wanted to look away but couldn't. :Give him a flower and get it over with!: A terse MindVoice snorted in the back of her head. 'Flame started and reached up to scratch Ayren again to hide her confusion.

"I'd better get back," she said, noticing that they had been there for several hours. She didn't worry about them missing her. She worried more that they might accidentally stumble across someone in their normal scouting pattern. "Are there any more scouts around?" She asked suddenly. If there were, she wanted to be prepared for their possible interference.

Wanderstone smiled. "No, all scouts were taken off this area, until you give the all clear."

'Flame nodded relieved. She only registered what he said, not the words themselves. She scratched Ayren again then climbed down. She paused to say hello to Rrussin then melted into the trees.

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A/N~ So reviewer thanking… and a huge thanks to someone too…

Etcetera-cat~ Where would I be without you niggling at me for details? Don't hide behind a bush! Come out and play!

Shahanna~ Oh he finds out.. Rather violently too…. *grin*

Wizard116~ well I cant stretch the story farther than it goes.. don't worry there are still several chapters to go.

Our biggest thanks go to HAWK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *everyone applauds*

Why?? Because Hawk tendered review #100!!!! So she is our biggest thanks this time!! YEAH HAWK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!