Story (c) 2000 by Hikaru Katayamma/Keith Dickinson. All rights reserved. The character Sheila Vixen (c) Eric W Schwartz. Throckmorton P Ruddygore, Poqua, Lakash (c) Jack L Chalker. All other characters are (c) Hikaru Katayamma.  This story contains adult situations and language. By reading it the viewer agrees not to hold this or any other person responsible for any content they may find objectionable. If you don't like it, don't read it.

Cam shivered, not so much from the early morning cold that chilled his bare feet, but from fear of his master. His master had consumed too much alcohol last night and would normally have preferred to sleep in. Unfortunately, it was Cam's duty to wake him. Steeling himself, he rapped sternly on the door. From beyond, he could make out the incoherent voice of his master. When he didn't hear a proper answer, the slave rapped again, this time much louder.

"By the gods," the slurred voice shouted from behind the door. After a moment the voice spoke again, only much lower. "What fool invites a slow death?"

"It's Cam, Master," the boy replied speaking clearly but not yelling. He had been through this before. "You ordered that I awaken you when the Wyrm Lords had arrived. They await your presence in the court, Master."

The slave flinched as the steel bound door shook in response to something hitting it. "Not so damn loud," the voice responded. "Take them to the main hall, feed them and tell them I'll be there presently."

Cam hurried off, glad to be away, while secretly hoping certain other slaves might have the dubious pleasure of encountering his master before the hangover spell took effect.

Teyah quietly moved around the room, packing the occasional item into the bag she carried. Older of the two girls, she was convinced that by using what magic she knew, she'd be able to reach her mentor in town, and with his help, return to free her family from these monsters. She carelessly snatched her herb kit from the table by her bed, knocking over a couple of bottles. The noise woke her sister.

"Teyah?" the younger girl asked as she sat up. "What are you doing?"

Teyah gestured towards her sister. "Go to sleep, Wendy," she said quietly while weaving a cantrip that put her sister back to sleep immediately. Her things gathered, Teyah made her way out of the house, avoiding the squeaky boards and clutter in the main room. Silently she slipped out the front door, latching it noiselessly behind her.

Outside, it was pitch dark. This was the time of the new moon. She would have nothing but starlight to work with. For anyone without magic, it would be a slow and dangerous trip to town, but for her a utilitarian spell helped illuminate the night. It was a simple spell that would let her see things by their warmth. It wasn't as good as true fairy sight, but it would be more than enough to get her to town while avoiding anything nasty in the forest.

Before crossing the wide-open field, she peeked around the corner of the house at the barn to ensure that it was still closed. She couldn't hear any sounds coming from the large building, but with the doors closed she would have to assume that they were inside, asleep.

She made her way northeast, towards town, while trying to keep the house between her and the barn. It would be a long run over the wide fields that her father would soon be plowing before she got to the safety of the woods on the other side. Fortunately, the low, rolling hills would help to hide her part of the way.

About half way down the first hill she tripped over something and fell, landing face first in the tall, dry grass. She muttered a few unlady-like words under her breath as she got back up and brushed the grass and dirt off her dress. Climbing back up the hill a short way, she looked to see what had tripped her up. It was hard to tell, but as she got close, it appeared to be a long log or a small tree that had somehow gotten out into the field. It wasn't until she was almost on top of it that she realized that it wasn't a log. Following the outline with her eyes, she spun a quick one hundred and eighty degrees, freezing at the sight of two huge glowing red and yellow eyes floating in the middle of the dragon's head silhouette.

Ahhh, the voice in her mind rumbled. I see my snack has arrived.

During the planning of her escape, Teyah had come up with several scenarios for what she would do if she had encountered the dragon. Unfortunately none of them would ever see the light of day. She passed out before ever she ever had the chance to act on them.

The Wyrm Lords gave the impression of being something straight out of a Thousand and One Tails. Dressed in white silks and turbans, you would have a hard time mistaking them for anything else. Except for one, minor thing. They were all Dwarves. The tallest of them standing only four and a half feet tall and weighing more than a man five times his size, the dwarves were an unlikely compliment to the flight of dragons that were resting outside the castle walls. The seven men and one woman were currently stuffing them selves with various cold meats, breads and wine while waiting for their host to arrive.

They had demolished a goodly portion of a platter that had been intended originally to feed more than twenty men when the doors opened and their host arrived. The short man had a slightly harried look to him as he made his way to his seat and dropped into it. None of the dwarves had bothered to stop their gluttony at his entrance and he appeared not to take any offense at it, though he did snarl at a serving wench who was slow in bringing him a goblet of wine.

"So," the head dwarf muttered in the middle of a mouth full of bread, "what's so damn important you had us fly down here right away?" He chewed once and washed the contents of his mouth down with the remainder of the now empty goblet, which he slammed down in front of a servant who promptly refilled it.

'I need you to track down two females and bring them back to me, alive," the sorcerer replied, taking a large gulp of wine and wincing slightly.

The dwarf spit out the chunk of meat he was chewing. "What do we look like, baby sitters?" he demanded angrily. "Send your lackeys after them."

"I did," the sorcerer answered, watching the reflections as he swirled his wine. "They're both dead and neither can be reached in the afterlife for some reason."

Taking another large bite out of the mutton leg, the dwarf chewed the mass over into his left cheek before responding, "It still doesn't sound like a challenge to me."

"They have a wyrm with them," responded the sorcerer, still watching the reflections.

That set off a round of laughs with the dwarves beating the table with their mugs, slopping wine everywhere. "Only one? Come now, you can do better than that!"

"Yah," the female chipped in. "If you want our interest, then make it a challenge!"

A small smile quirked the corners of the mages mouth as he answered. "The wyrm is Sha'kull"

Half the dwarves spit out what they were eating or drinking in surprise as the other half choked on their food. "Sha'Kull?" the leader shouted as he stood up, loosing height in the process. "Are you crazy? That beast would have killed anyone and anything that awakened it!"

"Nevertheless," the sorcerer said, draining his drink, then placing the empty goblet on the table, "the fact exists that forces from High Pothique were tipped that someone might try to wake the dragon. They sent an expeditionary force which saw the dragon escape with both females riding on its back."

"By the GODS!" the dwarf shouted, slamming his fist on the table before climbing back up into his chair. "If we were to hunt down the legendary Sha'Kull, why…."

"You would be heroes to your clan," the sorcerer completed for the dwarf, stroking the dwarf's ego. "Word of your great deed would spread around the world. They would speak your name for hundreds of generations. The Wyrm Lords of Kardak, who hunted down and killed that most terrible of wyrms, Sha'Kull."

A quick glance at his compatriots confirmed that they, too, wanted to take this hunt. "You want the females alive, eh?" he asked, considering what might be required.

"Yes." A gesture summoned up the images of Sheila and Hecate. "You know the demoness, but the other one is my prime concern. I'd like both of them if possible."

Excitement coursed through the room as the dwarves proceeded to pump their host for information about their targets, their history and where he thought they might be going. An hour later, eight well fed and quite ecstatic Wyrm Lords left to begin the pursuit of their prey. Back in the castle, the sorcerer picked up his goblet and smiled again as he watched the reflections in the swirling wine.

Arden lay in the field with his head at the top of a hill, looking up at the stars. Between his eyes, lying on the bridge of his snout was Teyah with her sack of items behind her head. "What about that one there?" she said, circling a star in the sky with a small, glowing band of magic that vanished after a few seconds.

I'm not sure about that one, the dragon answered shifting slightly to get a better view. I think that's Cygnus, but I'm not sure. I'm not used to seeing so many stars.

Teyah shifted slightly, getting comfortable on the ridged surface. "How can you not be used to seeing so many stars?"

Where I come from, there are great cities that never sleep, the dragon explained, thinking back to his home. They are always well lit, putting out enough light to make the horizon glow. There is so much light that even miles away from town, it is still enough to keep you from seeing all the stars.

"Wow," Teyah said, half in awe and half in sympathy. "I'm sure glad nothing around here gives off that much light."

The two of them lay there for the longest time. Arden had almost drifted off to sleep when Teyah spoke again. "Hey, Arden?"

Uh huh? the groggy dragon responded.

Teyah rolled over to look the dragon in the left eye. "Why were you out here instead of in the barn?"

Waking up a little, Arden took a deep breath before responding. Have you ever been blind? Teyah shook her head. Imagine being in a place where you were absolutely blind. Not only that, but there was no sound, touch, taste or smell. He paused to let it sink in. Not even the feeling of your heart beating. Nothing at all to keep you sane.

Teyah shivered though there was no breeze. "That sounds absolutely horrible."

It was, Arden replied, looking back up at the stars. That's why I was out here. Being cooped up in the barn without any light to speak of reminded me of that time. Again, Arden closed his eyes and started to drift off to sleep, only to be pulled back from the abyss.

"Hey, Arden?" Teyah said again.

Yes? he answered, sounding slightly anoyed and not bothering to open his eyes.

"I'm glad you decided not to eat me," she said with a smile as she rolled over onto her back.

So am I, the dragon responded. but if you don't let me go to sleep, I might change my mind.

Teyah froze at the annoyed sound to the dragons voice until she eventually realized that he was quietly laughing. "A dragon with a sense of humor," she thought in amazement. "Who'd of thought?"

"Myron Jacobs?"

"Yah?" Specks turned out of reflex at the mention of his name to see a man in his mid thirties, dressed in an off the rack suit, a mediocre haircut and a five o'clock shadow.

"Detective Peterson," he said by way of introduction, flipping open a small leather wallet with a badge and a picture ID. "Can I have a few minutes of your time?"

Specks looked around the parking lot, noting that there wasn't anyone near. "Sure. What can I do for you?"

The cop flipped open a notepad and asked, "Where were you on Friday night around midnight or so?"

"I, uh, I was at home, watching the Creature Feature on TV." Specks replied, nervously.

"Uh huh," the cop grunted, looking over the tops of his glasses before making a note. "So you weren't anywhere near Indian Mesa out east of town that night?"

"The Mesa? Um, no.," Specks replied, trying to stay calm. "I mean, I've been up there and all, but not on Friday."

"Uh huh," the cop grunted, again while looking over the top of his glasses and then making a note. "So you wouldn't know anything about what happened to one, Jose Jaeger aka 'The Tank' and one Antonio Caducei aka 'The Stallion' then, right?"

Specks arched his eyebrows in mock surprise. "Tank and The Stallion? No. Why? Did something happen?" He prayed to the gods above that the cop was buying his act.

"Uh, yah," the cop replied, peering over his glasses again. "So, do you have any witnesses that can say you were at home that night?"

"No," Specks said, shaking his head. "I was all alone. Why?"

"Ooooh kay," the copy replied, drawing out the word flipping shut the notepad and tucking it into his pocket. "I think we probably should go back down to the station and discuss this further."

"Um, am I under arrest?" the boy asked before checking his watch. "I'm supposed to be at work in ten minutes and the manager gets really pissed off if I don't show up on time."

The cop reached out and grabbed Specks by the arm and held on with a firm if not almost painful grip. "I said I think you should come with me. We'll make sure and square it with your manager."

Specks felt a surge of something coursing through his body. It felt like the fight-or-flight reflex one has with adrenalin, only different. "Let go of me," he commanded in a low, rumbling voice that echoed inside the cop's head. He was surprised when the slack jawed cop let go of his arm and stood there, staring at him with a strange, blank look.

"My god, what's happening," Specks thought in amazement. "Did I just do that?" He concentrated on the feeling again and spoke to the cop in the same voice. "We don't need to go back to the station. I'm not your man. It must have been someone else. I'm not a suspect any more."

For a minute, the cop just stood there, before Specks snapped his fingers in front of the cop, breaking the trance. The man winced and rubbed his nose before looking back over at the boy. "What was I saying?"

"Something about making a mistake?" Specks prompted, hoping he wasn't digging a hole here.

"Oh, right," the cop said, shaking his head to clear it. "Yah, I'm sorry to have bothered you, but you know how it is. We have to follow all the leads."

Specks nodded solemnly, trying with all his will power not to smile. "I understand completely. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to be late for work."

The cop waved him on. "Don't worry about it. Thanks for your time."

"Good luck catching the guy who did it." Specks said, trying not to laugh as he jogged towards the mall.

The cop took one last, long look at the boy before shaking his head, returning to his car and driving away. Unseen to both of them, a small, oriental-looking gentleman leaned against a light post not too far away, writing on a small note pad of his own. He smiled as he finished his notes. The boy was progressing faster than expected. Hecate may have finally found "The One".