Sorry bout the romance, but I fear it is going to be part of this, but I'll make sure there's action too!

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Chapter 13--Delaying Tatics

Drizzt, Shandra and Tarion rode hard towards where Kylia was being held. They knew they had to try to get there before dark. At noon they didn't pause, instead they ate in the saddle. They felt they were close. Suddenly a group of seven heavily armed warriors on large horses charged towards them.

Drizzt leaped from his horse's back. It was no war mount like Shandra's and Tarion's mounts and would be more of a liability then help.

Shandra and Tarion charged straight on into the host, shouting war cries. Shandra got first blood, plunging a sword through one man's defenses and piercing his heart. Another engaged her before the first hit the ground. Tarion blocked blows with his shield and attacked fiercely while his mount kicked out with iron-shod heels at anyone who tried to come from behind.

Drizzt moved in more stealthily. He moved close behind a horse then sprang up onto its back and stabbed the rider from behind. He screamed and fell off his mount.

The three of them easily dispatched the attackers. They were no match for all of them. They looked at the carnage then Shandra shook her head. "That was easy," she said.

"Too easy, this was no serious attack; it was a diversion. He doesn't want us to reach our destination before dark," Drizzt said.

"I have to agree with you on that. We foiled the attack effortlessly and that shouldn't happen," Tarion said.

"Unfortunately so do I," Shandra sighed, "we'll have to be on guard constantly."

Drizzt removed the horses tack and let them go then caught his horse and remounted then they continued.

An hour passed then Shandra stopped her horse suddenly. "Whew! Something stinks,' she said.

It hit Drizzt and Tarion all at once, a smell of carrion and blood. Suddenly the enemy rushed from the rocks.

Drizzt jumped clear as sharp teeth sank into his mount's flesh snapping the poor beast's neck. He rolled to his feet as the huge lizard charged at him.

Shandra rode forward and struck then her horse let out a horrible scream as its tail connected with the poor beast's front legs. The horse pitched to the ground and flung Shandra off. She rolled to her feet as agilely as Drizzt had and lunged at the beast.

The lizard was much faster then any lizard any of them had ever seen and it snapped at her, even as it charged at Drizzt.

Shandra dodged, barely avoiding the thing's sharp teeth then struck at its head. She was shocked when the blade bounced of the tough scales on the thing's head.

Tarion leaped off his mount and struck at its back, only to see his blade rebound as well.

The horse sized lizard ignored the attack and snapped at Drizzt who jumped back out of reach.

It was then the lizard revealed another attack. It spat a yellowish liquid from its jaws, hitting Drizzt in the face.

It burned! It stung! Drizzt was blinded by the venom and staggered back, hoping he had gotten out of the thing's reach.

Shandra screamed a warning as the lizard lunged at the blinded Drow again, jaws gaping open….

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Ugh, nasty beast! R/R please!