.:The Hunt Begins:.

That night I fell asleep in dank, smelly cave, amongst glittering jewels, skeletons, a dragon, and a Dark Knight. I woke up the next morning to the thudding of gigantic clawed feet, but I could not see Rhianna for the closeness of Myron's face. He smiled as I stirred and stretched, stroking my cheek absently with his tough fingers. I sighed at the touch, hesitated, then looked up at held his gaze.

"Myron, I'm confused," I admitted, then paused, unsure of how he would respond to my words. He nodded for me to continue. "One minute, you're all sweetness and nice, the next you're treating my worse than vermin, and then you're acting as though I'm your one true sweetheart! You can't keep playing me for a fool like this, Myron! I can't take it!"

"Hush!" Myron pleaded, then kissed my forehead gently as I fought back tears. "Eloryn, please, I--"

"You've hit me more than once, Myron!" I said angrily, pushing him away. "You drugged me! In front of all those others you treated me like... Gods, why did you overreact like that?"

He was silent for a moment, eyes heavy with regret. "You were going to say something," he said, finally. "I didn't rightly know what or when, I confess, but women always say something. If my brother – the man that carried you out of the cellar – if he had even suspected for a second that you and I...how I feel about you, Eloryn, he wouldn't have waited for Rhianna to kill you. At least I can reason with the dragon; no one can reason with Elan."

"You wouldn't have let them kill me?"

"Not while I still had breath in my body!" Myron sighed suddenly, face pale as he sat up. "Elan is evil, Eloryn, and he leads the Dark Knights."

But he cares for his brother, Rhianna cut in dryly, her eyes settling on us. And he cares that the Dark Kittens don't fall into the murky depths of history unsung. That is very important to him.

"Women have never really interested him, not unless they can give him money or power," Myron told me gently, then shook his head, shame in his eyes. "I...I felt the same, once. He was my brother – I'd been relying on him since our mother's death! If Elan said the red berries were poisonous, they were! If he said women were nothing but shortcuts into their father's purses, they were! But now I've met you, Eloryn, I know differently!"

My eyes narrowed, back stiffening as I pushed myself up into a sitting position. "I'm the daughter and niece of kings – they have the biggest purses of all."

Myron snorted in response. "We wanted laws changed, lands returned, alliances pulled off. Money never came into the agreement."

"And I can trust you how?"

"By remembering I saved you from Rhianna." The look in Myron's blue eyes told me he was not lying to me, and I bit my lip, hesitant. "Can you put aside your foolish pride and stubbornness? I'm not out to trick you – I want to save you."

"Your brother said you'd bewitched women, and even the dragon said you'd lain with other women," I pointed out. "Is that right?"

Myron dropped his gaze again. "If you're not born into nobility, it's every man for himself. And it's hard to court women when they know you're a Dark Knights, as well you know!"

I laughed besides myself, then reached out and placed my hand on Myron's cheek. "And do they put up as good a fight as I?"

Myron grinned, pulling me into his arms in one swift movement. "By this stage, I've usually resorted to magic. I don't like stubborn women."

"Wouldn't you rather have something more genuine? Real love?" I asked, pulling my mouth back away from Myron's lips. "Surly something taken is not so good as something rightly earned?" I wrapped my arms around Myron's neck, pulling his head closer to mine, kissing him hard, then pulled back and looked at him. "Like that?"

Before I realised what was happening, our lips were dancing together gently, my heart fluttering madly as I heard the tender sound our kisses made. Myron closed his eyes, sighing against my mouth. I suddenly flinched as Myron's tongue entered my mouth, and I gasped outright as his tongue rubbed against mine. Myron pulled his head back to look at me, looking stunned. Then he lowered his mouth to my neck, his breath hot against my skin as he kissed his way down my throat towards the neck of my dress. My heart rate quickened suddenly, holding my breath as Myron suddenly bore down towards the hard floor of the cave with me, his hands pulling at the bodice of my dress, trying to free me, but his fingers were clumsy and tangled themselves in the dirty gold thread. My body was tingling all over, excitement and passion turning my blood to fire within my veins. I tried to raise my hands to undo the buttons of his flannel shirt, but my hands were trembling so much that I could hardly grasp them for more than a second before they slipped between my fingers.

A loud growl shattered our brief buzz of passion. I looked up at Myron, saw his eyes mirrored mine for horror, before he suddenly cried out with alarm, lifted high up into the air by the dragon's powerful jaws. His weight was gone from me, no longer smothering me, but I was still trembling. I forced myself to sit once more, just in time to see the dragon set Myron down on the ground at the other side of her. My eyes wondered over Myron, then I started, surprised, seeing what the pending excitement had caused on his body. Despite the dragon's ominous presence and Myron obvious embarrassment, I started to laugh. Myron turned scarlet.

"Eloryn, that's rather inappropriate!"

The girl's in shock, lad! Rhianna growled, as I fought to control my whoops of mirth. What you've put her poor emotions through, just be glad she isn't sitting there, crying! Now, go cool yourself off – you know where the waterfall is. Myron sighed, glanced at me once, then stalked off towards the dark mouth of a tunnel behind Rhianna. And you, my pretty, can stop that teasing! It isn't easy for him, you know – Myron's a sensitive little Dark Kitten!

"I'm sorry!" I gasped, as Rhianna bent her gaping jaws down and pulled my to my feet by the back of my dress. I finally stopped my fit of giggles, shaking my head and feeling horrible. "I didn't mean to laugh at him. Rhianna? Why do you call the Dark Knights 'Dark Kittens'?"

The dragon shrugged her gigantic shoulders, green scales glistening. I am a dragon, Princess, and I do not like knights. They slaughter my kind for the fun and glory of it, but there is no fun in death! I call the Dark Knights 'Kittens', because the other word leave a bad taste in my mouth. Her red eyes observed me coolly. I have a chest over there by my treasures that's filled with female clothes. They won't be as fine as what you're used to, Princess, but they will do you. You can wait until Myron returns, then you may go use the waterfall to wash in before you change – not before! I shan't have my guests stinking my lair out!

My eyes glinted mischievously. "Are you sure that's the only reason?"

Rhianna raised her head indignantly. I don't know what you mean.

"I thought you said I should have let Myron bed me when I had the chance? I believe that was it!"

And you claimed you didn't want him as a mate, the dragon retorted. Besides, this is my home. Just because I think you two should mate, doesn't mean I want to watch!

She turned, heading towards the cave entrance. There, heaped in a pile, were five deer carcasses, freshly caught and glittering with blood. Hoping they weren't our food, I hurried to the chest Rhianna had told me of, and found the promised dresses laid within. It was true that they weren't as fine as the dress I wore, dirty and smelly as it was, but at least they were clean; simply made, nothing fancy. It would be perfect for someone hiding out, as I was. I wondered if my uncle or father had gotten wind of my "death" - not that Papa would care! Uncle Rychard would be mortified, I knew, but I was sure there was a way I could contact him and reassure him that I was still alive and well. I hesitated: would he care that the man who had saved me had been the one to kidnap me to begin with? Or would he be baying for Myron's blood?

"That's pretty," Myron commented, seating himself on the floor next to me, and shaking me out of my thoughts. He nodded to the plain red dress in my hands, then pointed towards the tunnel. "Follow that until you get to the waterfall. You can burn that stinking old gown if you don't want it, but Rhianna won't want it, and you won't get any use out of it – it's ruined beyond repair."

I glanced him over once and smiled. He wore his trousers as before, his "excitement" calmed, but now his shirt lay draped over one shoulder, revealing a torso that had not quite dried to perfection after a hasty shower. The hair of his head was bedraggled, but he looked...fantastic, despite have the appearance of one having been half drowned. His muscles were taugh, strong, like those of any man who fought to keep his life.

"You'd best hurry, before the wind changes and you're stuck staring at me for the rest of your life," he teased, throwing his shirt in my face.

"Oh, I don't think it would be that bad a sentence," I played, but I heard Rhianna approaching us with one of the dead deer in her jaws, and decided I would rather get clean that watch whatever the dragon intended to do with the beast. Giving Myron another brief smile, I got to my feet and headed for the tunnel and the waterfall beyond.

We hid in Rhianna's cave for three days and nights, keeping our feelings at bay. Myron and Rhianna took it in turns to leave the cave to hunt local animals, and I gradually learnt how to start fires by both hand and magic, both under Myron's irritatingly critical eye. It was as I slept on that third night, lost in a dreamless abyss, that Myron's urgent shaking of my shoulder woke me rudely from my sleep, only to find the cave a darker abyss than my sleep. I immediately felt Myron pres a finger to my mouth and drag me up to my feet, then he started pulling me towards the furthest corner of the cave, where a cave-in many years before had littered the ground with large, visually-obstructive boulders.

"Stay there!" Myron hissed at me, pushing me behind one such boulder. "Whatever happens, stay there and don't move!"

Then he vanished into thin air, just as I heard Rhianna let out a low growl of greeting from the darkness beyond. Ah, Elan! What a pleasant surprise, my Kitten!

I heard footsteps on the stone underfoot, and my stomach knotted with terror as a dry, stern voice said: "I am looking for my brother, Rhianna. I've seen him hunting round these parts for the last two days; I know you're hiding him. I must speak with him, and quickly!"

The dragon nearly purred. I shall call him forth, Elan. MYRON! I clamped my hands over my ears to try and protect my hearing from Rhianna's fearsome roar. I believe he is washing at the fall.

My heart leapt as I heard Myron's familiar voice echoing out of the tunnel, his tone unusually unemotional. "Elan? Brother, why are you here? Has something happened? Is there anything I can do?"

I heard Myron's brother grunt in response. "Calm yourself, brother, nothing is wrong – yet. The kings were informed of Princess Eloryn's death and, yesterday evening, King Rychard of Igorance declared war on us, the Dark Knights. He says he will not rest until our hearts lay burning at his feet."

Myron let out a shallow laugh. "The man is a fool, thinking he could defeat us!" I felt myself bristled with anger at his unkind words. "I thought we laid out the terms of the exchange quite clearly – it is the old man's own fault that Eloryn is dead, because he did not follow our commands!"

"He says that he would rather put himself to sword than make an alliance with the witch queen, Heldrida. He also says that we are fools for thinking King Oren of Tirrius would ever ease the pressure of his cruel thumb over us sorcerers." Myron's brother sounded less than thrilled as he muttered, "But we have got ourselves into a fight, nonetheless."

My fingers clenched into fists out of fear. My uncle was a kind man, but kings often had to be ruthless to maintain their rule. Rychard was like a hunting dog: he would hunt a man to the ends of the world in order to bring him to justice, and now he had picked up the Dark Knights' scent, including Myron's. I doubted the man would sleepa wink until they were no longer prowling the earth. Yet still my should-be lover's voice was cocky as he tried to reassure his no-good, brutal wretch of a brother. "We have fought kings before Rychard, Elan! You fear too much, and trust us too little. Your men shall not let you down now, brother."

"The King of Carsona has raised his voice of war as well," Elan muttered. "As has Prince Harte. They are thirsty for revenge – we have thrown ourselves into a deadly lion's den."

"A basket full of kittens, more like!" Myron scoffed, and I heard Elan laugh. "Brother, these kittens get too big for their paws: Prince Harte doesn't have a magic bone in his body – an arrow would kill him just as easily as a spell! Pull the rug out from under their feet, and they'll tumbled to the ground! You'll see, Elan: we'll show them who is the fool!"

The leader of the Dark Knights was very quiet for a moment, then he chuckled grimly and clapped Myron on the back. "I am never truly disappointed in my little brother; you don't let me down like the others do. I thought I should tell you, for when I need to call you to my side to face the royals in combat. Now, give your brother a hug before I depart, and I shall contact you soon enough."

"Elan, you're growing sentimental in your old years!" Myron laughed, but he was suddenly cut off as Elan let out a small hiss of surprise, as though Myron had somehow shocked him with some great energy surge. "What is it?"

Rhianna began to growl dangerously, stirring with uncomfortably anger. Elan's voice, when he spoke, was so low and deadly my heart stopped beating within my breast. "I smell woman on you, Myron. Woman! What in the name of all Dark Magic have you been playing at?"

"Locals?" Myron sounded confused. "Elan, you trouble yourself, and you grow paranoid – I can see it in your eyes. Get back to your base and get some sleep --"

"SHE ISN'T DEAD!" Elan suddenly roared, and Myron cried out as his brother punched him viciously across the face, knocking him to the ground. "YOU LYING, UNGRATEFUL, UNWORTHY FILTH! YOU TOLD ME SHE WAS DEAD!"

"Who?" Myron demanded, fighting back a groan of pain. I heard a grating of blade on sheath as Elan armed himself, and Myron suddenly let out a small choke of alarm. I didn't have to see the scene that lay just beyond my hiding place to know Elan had his blade angled at Myron's throat. "Elan, think rationally, man! If you're talking about Princess Eloryn, you're greatly mistak--"

"I CAN SMELL THE LITTLE WHORE ON YOU!"

Stop this nonsense! Rhianna snarled, and there was the clang of the Dark Knight's sword falling to the ground as the dragon rounded on the man, forcing him to drop his blade. Elan, you know I will not let you harm your brother while you are both in my lair! Myron is under my protection here!

I winced as Elan spat at Myron, his voice a furious scream. "RHIANNA, HE CAN'T BE TRUSTED! THOSE DARK KNIGHTS WHO CAN NO LONGER BE TRUSTED MUST DIE!"

"I'VE DONE NOTHING WRONG!" Myron bellowed back, scrambling to his feet. He ducked another vicious blow. "Elan! Stop, please! Eloryn isn't a threat to us! You can see for yourself from her family's reaction to our demands that she was never going to assist us as much as we wanted – Oren hates the girl as it is! Why would he try to save her life?"

Elan, leave! Rhianna growled, moving forwards. I tire of your argument! Be gone!

"And you give your blessing?" the man demanded.

No. I tolerate – even I can see you Dark Kittens didn't think this plan through. Myron is still loyal to your causes, but he---

"Can start praying that I don't find him once he leaves the protection of your cave," Elan snarled, sounding more like a beast than Rhianna. "I swear, Myron, I'll rip your heart out with my bear hands! You think by getting on the right side of the Princess, you get on the right side of the law? The Kings will never let you live! Rapists suffer the same fate as kidnappers!"

"I've not---"

"It's your word over theirs! They won't believe the words of a Dark Knights, Myron, and they'll say Eloryn was bewitched! She'll kill you, if the Dark Knights don't find you first! Congratulations, brother – you're an outlawed outlaw!"

There was silence. I remained where I crouched, shaking with terror for Myron, wishing there was something I could do except hide! Elan must have left soon after his cruel words, for Myron suddenly appeared behind me, a globe of light materialising out of the air behind his head. His face was pale yet determined, but the shock in his eyes made my stomach turn. I hugged him hard, begging him for forgiveness, but he pushed me away gently.

"This isn't your fault, Eloryn. Look, I need to get you away now! Elan's gone, but I know my brother: he'll summon the other Knights and have them surround the cave with magic. They'll let Rhianna alone, but they'll try and starve us into surrender – I've seen it before. I've even played my hand at such a task, and it's not something I want us to suffer through."

"How can we leave without them noticing?" I whispered, unable to keep the fear out of my voice, refusing to let go of Myron.

"I'll spell you back to your home, then send myself somewhere else. Anywhere else! I have allies in other countries who won't let Elan get me – powerful people. They'd crush Elan as soon as look at him after this."

I wasn't so sure – Elan seemed the type of person who could brainwash people into giving him what they wanted. "Myron, just...just don't let them get you. Promise?"

He nodded gravely, then kiss me briefly, but breaking our contact before our emotions grew too painful. "Keep safe." Then he laid a hand on my forehead, whispered one word, and suddenly I stood in the middle of the middle of a long, bright room, blinded by the countless reed lights, deafened by the great clamour of voices. I closed my eyes, shielding my face as I fought back tears, feeling as though someone had pulled my heart out. Someone was shouting my name, people calling for guards, and suddenly I was being pulled to my feet.

"Eloryn?" It was Harte, his face the picture of terror. He looked like he'd seen a ghost, but he suddenly hugged me tightly to him, broken to tears. "I thought you were dead!"

Blinking in the harsh light, I glanced round, finding myself in the war room of Igorance. Any man who had any influence in the ways of war and battle was present, each of the staring at me as though they could not quite believe what they had seen – I'd obviously just appeared out of thin air, safe and very much alive, as they were discussing how to avenge my death. Rychard was there as well, and so was King Bacall. My uncle rested a hand on my head, eyes dancing with tears. "Gods bless!"

"Are you hurt?" Harte demanded suddenly, releasing me so that he could look me in the face. "Did they hurt you, Eloryn? You can tell me, and I kill the filth that did---"

"Don't!" I begged, sickened. I shook my head, trembling. "Harte, you can't go after them! They'll kill you! And one of them...he helped me! He went against orders, saved my life, and now his fellows are trying to kill him! Please, you have to find him and protect him before you go after the others! Please!"

There was a horrified silence, disbelief and uncertainty flashing over the faces of the men. King Bacall snorted, sighing almost sadly. "The child's been brainwashed."

"No!"

"And she's hysterical," the man continued calmly. "Gods only know what they put her through, poor child! She needs to sleep, restore her mind, or else we'll never get a sensible word out of her again!"

"No! Harte, you have to believe me, one of the Knights saved my life!"

But Bacall was already muttering a spell, his eyes deadly calm yet flashing with something I couldn't place. It was only as my body gave way to a healing sleep that I realised what it was, though I could scarcely believe it: Bacall was jealous!

Pirate - Another confusing chapter!

martini the brave – Glad you enjoyed! Cyotes 4 eva!

windcriesjimi – Ooops! Thanks for spell check! Sorry about that!

Inferno – Thanks for the review! Hope you liked!

Jon – KK, thanks! I'm scowling at you from a distance: )

Mrs. Gallagher - Yay! Thank you! for the support!

Lurid Amaranthine - Thanks for making me laugh!! Squirrles of Doom, that's the type of pet I need!

Everyone else, hope you enjoyed too! Llamas, Ginger-Bizkit!