 
                  --===Dragonseekers 12: The Maze===--
 
Chapter 12
 
 
 
    Don woke up slowly, his mind trying to figure out where he
was.  The warm, soft bed beneath him almost made him think he was
home.  That impression ended when he rolled over, and ran into the
soft, sleeping form of his sister.
 
    *Zemlia Nov.  You're in Zemlia Nov.  God how I wish I was
home.*  *Then again,* he thought, running his hand over Katie's side,
and getting a sleepy mewl for his trouble, *this place does have its
benefits.*
 
    He continued to rub his sister's skin until she woke up. 
She, also, woke slowly, and by the time she was fully awake, there was
a smile on her face.  She turned over, and faced her brother.
 
    "Morning, Donny," she said sleepily.  She leaned into him,
and they kissed tenderly.  Neither of them was in the mood for anything
more intense this morning.  Don was still a little worn out from his
trial the day before, and Katie was recovering from the shock of almost
losing her brother.  They clung to each other for a while, but then
they both began to feel the need to eat.  With a final kiss, they got
up and readied themselves for the day.
 
 
 
-----
 
 
 
    Don ran into Julie and Annie on his way to breakfast.  Kate
was still making herself presentable, and had told him to go on ahead. 
He smiled at the other girls, letting his eyes roam Julie's form, but
taking a more evaluative glance at Annie.
 
    "Good morning, guys," he said quietly.  "How did you sleep?"
 
    "Okay," Julie said.  She sidled up to him and gave him a
quick kiss.  "Not as good as some nights," she whispered with a wink. 
She headed off to breakfast, leaving the two of them alone.
 
    Annie didn't say anything at first, and Don wondered if she
was mad at him.  "How are you feeling?" he asked, figuring this was a
safe question.
 
    "Okay, I guess.  Tired, still."
 
    "We'll take it easy today."
 
    "Good," she said, yawning.  "Sorry."
 
    "Annie, is something wrong?"
 
    "Yes," she said, suddenly forceful.  "Don't you ever do
something that damned foolish again!"
 
    Don stepped back, befuddled by her suddenly irate tone. 
"What did *I* do?" he cried plaintively.
 
    "You nearly got yourself killed!" she said.  "I'm not
*worth* that!  The team needs you, and you nearly threw away everyone's
chances to get home, over..."  Her voice broke, and she started
crying.  Immediately, he went to her, pulling her into his arms.  She
came willingly, readily seeking the support he offered.
 
    "I could no more leave you to die than I could Katie. 
You're my responsibility.  I got you into this mess."
 
    "Starting the game was my idea," she sniffled.
 
    "Taking this path, you coming with us, those were my
ideas.  Whatever happens to you is my fault, so I've got to take the
risks to see you get home safe."
 
    "But don't you get it?  Without you, *none* of us will make
it!"
 
    "I have a hard time believing that.  You're stronger than
you think you are."
 
    She kept her peace at that.  There was no point in this
argument before breakfast.
 
    "Promise me you won't risk your life like that over me
again."
 
    Don shook his head.  "I can't make that promise.  I *won't*
make that promise, because it would be meaningless.  I would do what I
did again in a heartbeat."
 
    "Damn you," she said, turning away from him.  He let her
go, standing and watching her walk away.  Just then, Katie came up
behind him.
 
    "What's the matter?"
 
    "I'm... not sure," Don said.  "She's upset because I helped
her.  I don't get girls."
 
    "She's afraid, Donny."
 
    "Who isn't?"
 
    Katie hugged her brother, and kissed him on the cheek.  She
couldn't tell him that she'd never really seen him scared.  It wasn't
the time.  "C'mon," she said.  "I'm hungry."
 
 
 
-----
 
 
 
    "How come they get milk, and I don't?" the boy whined.  He
looked to be about twelve or so.
 
    "Because they paid for their milk, and you haven't done
your chores all week, now *hush*!" the woman said.  "I'm sorry," she
said to the group.  "Things haven't been going well here, and he
sometimes gets a little upset."
 
    "What's the trouble?" Susan asked.  Don was surprised that
she would be interested in someone else's problems.  *Has this place
changed her?*
 
    "The witch, Denonia.  She has wreaked her havoc on our
land.  Also the dragon, Dan-Gelmer.  He seeks revenge on someone, and
he must think they are here."
 
    Don and Gill shared a look; now would probably not be the
best time to talk about that.
 
    "What is Denonia doing?" Katie asked, her concern evident.
 
    "She poisons our crops.  Two of the children died last
week, because they didn't listen, and ate things they shouldn't have. 
She sends ugly creatures to scare the children and kill the hens.  She
hurts us in any way she can."
 
    "Why?" Katie asked plaintively.
 
    "Denonia has never needed a reason," the woman's husband
said, coming in just then.  "She has tortured us for years.  She has
increased her wrath in recent weeks, but why that is, no one can say."
 
    "And then there are the others," the woman said.
 
    "Lenielle..." the man said to his wife.
 
    "Others?" Don asked.
 
    "We shouldn't burden you with our troubles," said the man.
 
    "Please," Don said.  "We're travelers, and it is better if
we're aware of the things we might run into, rather than stumbling upon
them unaware."
 
    The man looked at Don for a long moment.  "I guess that's
right.  Over the past week, there have been some... incidents. 
Hauntings, goblins.  Things moving about on their own.  One of the
women was nearly killed when a flying scythe frightened the horse she
was working with.  It was very odd behavior."
 
    Don and Gill looked at each other.  "Sounds like a
psionic," Gill said nastily.
 
    Don shook his head.  "No proof."
 
    "Tell them about the sightings," Lenielle ordered.
 
    The man nodded.  "Some of the children say they have seen
an evil couple in the forest, doing... things."
 
    "Things?" Don asked with a raised eyebrow.
 
    "Things best left to the bedroom, and not where children
can be frightened by them!" the woman snarled.  She was obviously upset.
 
    Don and Gill shared another look, and then Don looked at
Julie.
 
    "Has anyone," Don asked the man, "gotten a good look at
them?"
 
    "A fair-haired woman and a tall man with black hair. 
Dresses all in black, both of them do."
 
    Don was still staring at Julie.  She was trying to keep her
face under tight control.
 
    "We don't know it's him, Jules."
 
    "It's him," she said shortly.  "He'd do something like
that.  I can't believe I loved him!"
 
    "What is the young lady on about?" the man wanted to know.
 
    "We may know the stranger who is upsetting your children. 
He is a former member of our traveling group."  Don had emphasized
*former*, in an attempt to keep any anger at Paul from leaking over
onto them.
 
    "Well, what the devil is he doing in our forest?" the woman
demanded.
 
    "I don't know.  It's possible he's trying to find us, but I
wouldn't have thought he'd have that much trouble doing that."
 
    "And why would he want to find you, if he is a *former*
member of your party?" the man asked.
 
    "He doesn't like me much," replied Gill.  "We had a fight. 
Don had to come to my aid," Gill said.  "So if he is looking for us,
it's not going to be a happy reunion."
 
    "You've brought this down on us, by being here!" the woman
screamed.
 
    "Lenielle!" the man said.
 
    "No, Solen!  I'll not be quiet.  If he is looking for them,
I say let him have them!  It will save our children!"
 
    "A life for a life, Lenielle?  What evil do you speak?"
 
    "We'll be leaving today, anyway.  We're heading toward the
Siratis Gates."
 
    The man paled.  "That is deep within Denonia's territory. 
You should steer as far clear of there as you can."
 
    "Unfortunately, we can't.  We're looking for Vernior," Don
said.
 
    The woman stepped back, away from them.  "You deal with
witches and dragons!  The devil is what you are!"
 
    "Vernior is the only one who can get us home," Don
explained.  "We're not from Zemlia Nov.  We were brought here through
magic.  We're only trying to find our way home."
 
    "And the best thing for us if you do!" the woman said with
finality.  "I'll pack you two days' food, and I'll replace that broken
bridle, if you promise to be out of the village by noon!"
 
    Don and Gill turned to each other, a question in each
other's eyes.  Gill nodded.
 
    "Very well," Don said to her.  "But we will pay for our
provisions.  We've caused enough trouble already.  We don't want to add
to your hardship."
 
    "I'll not take money from the likes of you.  You just keep
your promise, and be gone."
 
    The rest of breakfast was very quiet.
 
 
 
-----
 
 
 
    After breakfast, the group went back to their horses, where
Don and Gill began the argument that they both knew was coming.
 
    "No," Gill started with, just to lay down his position.
 
    "He's one of us," Don countered, getting to the heart of
the matter.
 
    "He *was* one of us."
 
    "He's here *because* of us.  He's causing these people
grief because of us.  It's our fault."
 
    "No, it's *his* fault.  I'm not taking responsibility for a
choice *he* made."
 
    "And if he goes on tormenting these people?"
 
    "Then eventually someone will come along and kill the
bastard."
 
    "Two psionics?  At once?  How do you expect someone to do
that?"
 
    "How do you expect *us* to deal with him!" Gill demanded.
 
    "We have a better chance than anyone else," Don shot back.
 
    "No.  We've already taken enough goddamned detours.  Going
after them gets us nowhere.  It won't get us home, and it very well
could get one or more of us *dead*."
 
    "But..." Don said, and was interrupted by Julie.  He found
this very disconcerting; the girls almost never interrupted
conversations between the boys these days.
 
    "Don," she said softly, stepping next to him and hugging
his arm to herself.
 
    He stopped, and turned to look at her.  The pain in her
eyes was manifest.
 
    "Let him go," she said, a tear running down her cheek. 
"He's lost to us now.  I don't want to lose... anyone else," she said,
squeezing Don's arm very hard.  It was clear who she was worried about
losing.  Don turned and fully embraced her, and she came to him
readily.  He took a deep breath, and surrendered.
 
    "Okay.  But don't ask me to like it."
 
    "I don't give a shit if you like it," Gill said.  "So long
as we get *home*."  Don shot him a dirty look, and he backed off.  Don
and Julie stood there, embracing, for a long moment without anyone
imposing on them at all.
 
 
 
-----
 
 
 
    The group rode for the entire afternoon, putting some
distance between themselves and the small village.  Luckily, their
progress was unimpeded.  This only made Don more wary of what was
around each bend.  Katie was acting as their scout, as she was the most
mobile of them.  She traveled around each corner well before everyone
else.  Don hated this technique; it put his sister in grave danger.  As
he was being told more and more often, however, there was nothing he
could do about it.
 
    By the time they stopped for dinner, Don was in a truly
foul mood.  He didn't know if there was something about this place that
was affecting him, or if it was just the feeling generated by the
things happening to him.  He ate his dinner in silence, not even
talking to Katie, who sat beside him anyway.  When the meal was over,
he walked away from the fire, finally settling onto the stump of a tree.
 
    "What's the matter with him?" Julie asked Katie quietly.
 
    Katie shook her head.  "I think things are starting to
bother him."
 
    "I just don't think he really wants to *get* home," Gill
muttered.
 
    "Don't start, Gill, or so help me..." Katie warned.  Gill
held up his hands in surrender.  Everyone seemed to be on a short
fuse.  Don was merely the only one acknowledging it to himself.  He
sat, staring out at the grasslands they were skirting on their
journey.  He looked up at the stars, but found no comfort in them.  He
soon felt a presence next to him, but didn't look to see who it was.
 
    "Don?  I'll stand watch with you, if you like."  It was
Julie's voice.  Don turned to her, and he realized that she was as
upset about not going after Paul as he was.  She had more reason to be
upset, as well.  He was being selfish, and that stung him very badly. 
He opened his arms to her, and she came to him.  He pulled her close,
and the two of them tried to gain comfort in each other.  What happened
next surprised them both.
 
    They cried.
 
    Their frustrations poured out of each of them, being
released by necessity, and the closeness of a like mind.  Julie felt
the strength and support of her partner, and Don felt Julie's
compassion and sensitivity.  He had always seen her as little more than
a slut, but at this moment, she was his perfect companion.  Each
silently poured out their anguish, releasing it to the other.  It was a
very long time before they needed to say anything at all.
 
 
 
...---=== http://netwolf.wolfpub.org ===---...
 
 
 
    The morning came unwanted to everyone in the party.  It had
not been a good night, and the morning sun glowered at them beneath
low, ugly clouds.  The sky was red, blazing its warning of bad weather
across the heavens.
 
    Don looked at it, frowned, and then stared back down at his
breakfast.  Lenielle had provided them with decent food, and he should
be enjoying his meal.  He was not, however.  He was alone, by his own
request, though both Katie and Julie had asked to eat with him.  Of
significant note to Don was the fact that Annie had not made any such
request or offer.  He looked over at her, watching her talk quietly
with Susan.  Neither of them noticed his attention, and he watched for
a while.
 
    "Couldn't be helped, man," Gill said, coming up behind
Don.  Don wanted to lash out at him, but he knew that Gill was trying
to do the sensible thing: get them home.  "Look, when we get out of
here..." he said.
 
    "I don't even want to think about that," Don said sourly. 
He threw his food to the ground, only half-eaten.  His thoughts about
*after* were very dark and ugly, and he didn't want to consider it all
just now.  "Get everyone ready to move.  It's going to rain today.  If
we want to make any progress, we need to be on the horses before it
starts."
 
    "Right," Gill said.  He walked a few paces, then turned. 
"Don?"
 
    "Yeah?" Don said, glancing up at him.
 
    "Sorry."
 
    Don nodded, and Gill walked off.  Truth was, Don wasn't mad
at Gill; he was mad at the world.  *Why does all of this shit have to
happen?  Why is Paul being such a prick?  If, in fact, it *is* Paul,
which it probably is...  What do I do if he finds us?  Should we go
looking for him?  Should *I* go looking for him?*  Don knew that would
be a bad move.  It would split the group, and he wasn't sure just who
would go which way.  For the first time since entering Zemlia Nov, he
wasn't sure everyone trusted him.
 
    *Get moving.  More work, less thought.*  He got up and went
to his horse, preparing to move out.  *I'm never buying another
computer program.  Ever.*
 
 
 
-----
 
 
 
    The group rode all morning, though they got only two miles
before the rain started coming down.  It was a long, slow, soaking
rain.  They each made adjustments.  Katie rode with Don so that she
could use her wings to shield herself against the rain.  In truth, she
was able to shield both of them by riding behind him.  She didn't enjoy
this as much, since he couldn't hold her as she liked him to, but she
didn't think he would have been terribly affectionate, anyway.
 
    As they rounded a corner, a bolt of lightning flashed in
front of them.  Don's horse was spooked, and it reared up, throwing him
to the ground, he rolled, expecting to have landed on Katie... but he
couldn't find Katie.
 
    "Katie?" he hollered.  When he didn't get an answer, his
voice rose noticeably.  "KATIE!"
 
    An answering call met his, but it wasn't what he wanted to
hear.  "Annie?  Where's Annie!"  It was Julie's voice.  She had not
been thrown from her horse, but Annie was also nowhere to be found. 
Don got up, looking now very anxiously for his sister.
 
    The forest was soon filled with an ominous feminine
cackle.  "Follow the bouncing ball, boys and girls," the voice called
out mockingly.  Suddenly, a glowing blue orb appeared in front of
them.  It was, in fact, bouncing up and down on the ground.  Don jumped
back on his horse, which had settled after its initial fright.  The
team rode furiously to follow the quick-moving orb.
 
    Coming around another corner, Don had to yank hard to pull
his horse up short.  There, in the road, was a woman.  She had long,
jet-black hair flowing down past her buttocks.  It flowed in the wind,
as did her crimson robe, marked with magic symbols and signs.
 
    *Denonia*, Don knew instantly.  He jumped down off his
horse and moved toward her.
 
    "What have you done with my sister, bitch?" he snarled.
 
    "Please, that's *witch*.  Such mispronunciation could get
you killed," she said, her tone slipping into the more dangerous
versions of sarcasm.
 
    "Where is Katie?" Don demanded.
 
    By this time, the rest of the group had also dismounted. 
Denonia waved her hands upward, and the mists which had enshrouded the
area behind her began to lift.  This didn't really help much, since
they were now confronted with a green, living wall instead of a white,
featureless one.  The area before them stretched on for some distance
in either direction.  An opening directly in front of them showed only
more green.  Don thought it looked remarkably like a hedge maze.
 
    "This is the Maze of Choice," Denonia pronounced.  "Your
two girlfriends have been placed within!  Only you may enter, magician."
 
    "What the fuck is this?" Gill snapped.
 
    "The two beauties are trapped, imprisoned within the maze. 
The first one you find and touch within will live.  The other girl will
die.  *You must choose*."
 
    Don paled at the thought.  "What about Susan and Julie? 
What happens to them?"
 
    Denonia looked at him with a disgusted snarl.  "The maze
has no power outside its walls!  Only those within the maze will be
touched!  You have until the sun sets, or both girls will die.  Good
luck, you pitiful excuse for a mage."  Denonia cast a sign, and
transformed herself into a bird, flying off into the distance.  Her
voice echoed throughout the clearing.
 
    "Until sunset, you fool!"  Then she was gone.
 
    Don stared for just a moment at the entrance to the maze,
and then nodded to himself.  As he stepped forward, Gill grabbed his
arm.
 
    "What the fuck are you doing?"
 
    Don whirled on him.  "I am going in there to rescue them."
 
    "You *know* it's a trap!  They're lost already!  You go in
there, and we're down three instead of two!  We should move on-" Don's
fist connected soundly with Gill's jaw, interrupting his sentence as he
went flying to the ground.  Don stood over him, a look of pure rage on
his face.
 
    "I wouldn't leave *you* in there, either!  I *will rescue
my friends*.  Or I will die trying.  Either way, I'm going in there. 
I'm not sure if you just have no sympathy, or if you're really a
*coward*.  Don't get in my way again."
 
    Gill would have retorted, but he realized that he was now
glaring determinedly at Don's back as he marched toward the maze.  He
struggled to his feet, and found his sister next to him.
 
    "What do we do?" she asked, concerned.
 
    "We sit down and wait for him.  What else?" Gill snapped.
 
 
 
-----
 
 
 
    Don was just about to enter the maze when Julie yelled to
get his attention.  She came running up to him, something in her
hands.  She tried to hand it to him; it was Annie's sword.
 
    "You might need it," she said, concern filling her gaze. 
Don touched the sword, but didn't take it.  It didn't feel right.
 
    "I wouldn't know what to do with it, anyway," Don told her
softly.  He kissed her on the cheek, and then he turned to go in.
 
    As Don stepped into the maze, he felt a wave of deep
emotion wash over him.  It was almost subliminal, and he couldn't tell
just what he felt, only that he now knew he was under the influence of
the maze.
 
    "All right, bucko, you've been in these things before. 
Yeah, right, in a computer game... this is *real*.  But I can't
actually act that way, can I?  What's that they say about military
training?  'Drills are bloodless combat, and combat is bloody drill.' 
I have to *pretend* this is the same... do the same things.  But shit,
in a computer game, if something jumps out and eats you, you're not
*dead*.  Dammit... okay, okay, step one is what?"
 
    Don stood and looked at the choices before him for quite a
while.  "Step one," he said to himself, "is to leave a trail, so I know
where I've been.  Step two is to hope like fuck that something doesn't
come along behind me and erase my trail.  Still, I can only do so much."
 
    Hoping that a magic trail would be the least likely to be
wiped out, Don left a small glowing symbol at each corner as he
turned.  The symbols would only last a few hours; he'd have to be quick
about this if he wanted to succeed.
 
    The next thing he did was to take out a scratchpad.  He
then realized he had no pencil with him.  Another conjuring spell
managed to turn a piece of charcoal he was carrying into a usable
pencil.  He tried to mark his paces as he walked.
 
    Suddenly, an eerie feeling crept up the back of Don's neck
and took root in the top of his skull.  He couldn't put his finger on
what was bothering him, but he put his pencil and paper away for the
moment.  He looked all around him, but he heard nothing.
 
    *That's odd... I was hearing the animals outside before...*
 
    It came from the left.
 
    Detaching itself from the wall of the maze, a green,
lizard-like creature leapt at him.  Don dodged to the front, and the
creature missed him, crashing into the maze wall, and disappearing. 
Don watched intently, but the little bastard never reappeared.
 
    As Don turned, something hit him hard on the back, throwing
him to the ground.  He rolled, and felt something trying to cling to
him.  His weight crushed it, however, and it squealed in pain, letting
go of him.  As he got to his feet, he turned and looked, seeing the
lizard-thing writhing on the ground.  It had moved through the maze
walls *silently*.  He moved over and brought his foot down soundly onto
the creature's neck, making sure it was dead.  He would have to be more
careful.
 
    As he rounded the next corner, he realized that he wasn't
being careful enough.  He was hit in the arm with a sharp, barbed spike
by a strange dragon-like beast that, upon further reflection, looked
similar in shape and color to the dead lizard he'd just left.
 
    *Related?  Was that a baby?  Is this its mother?*  He
yanked the barb out of his arm, screaming as it tore more flesh coming
away than it had going in.  He chanted a healing spell to himself over
and over, waiting for the wound to heal.  It took much longer than
usual.  *Magic wounds.  Crap.  I'm going to have to get around this
thing.*
 
    Don poked his head around the corner, and nearly got a
spike in the eye for his trouble.  He yanked his head back, and
plastered himself against the wall of the maze.  *This isn't good.  And
standing like this is bad, too.  There could be more of those
lizard-things in these walls... I can't hear them coming.*
 
    As Don contemplated his next move, he could hear the
creature shifting around behind him.  *Is that some kind of clearing in
the maze, like a plaza or something?  How can it have so much room?* 
This thought made Don wonder if he was actually seeing what he was
seeing.  He pulled out a small medallion he'd bartered for because he
liked the design.  He was saving it as a going-home present for Katie. 
The back was shiny enough to work as a mirror.  He held it out so that
it just cleared the corner, and he could see the reflection.
 
    *It sure looks big enough.*  Don then formed a ball of
energy.  He didn't hurl it, but let it float around the corner.  He
moved it slowly, so it would not appear to be a threat.  The
dragon-beast-thing looked at it curiously, and then snarled, lunging at
it.  The beast grabbed the ball....
 
    ...or tried to.  It went right through it.
 
    *Ah-ha!  It's not really there!  Or it's much smaller than
the image it gives off!*  That seemed more likely, since he had a very
real pain in his arm.
 
    Knowing now that the creature was faking, Don felt more
confident.  He put away the medallion, and he cast a shield spell.  His
shields were still a little shaky, but he hoped it would hold.  He
turned quickly around the corner, and immediately, spikes were bouncing
off his shield.
 
    Don turned his head slightly, because the image before him
seemed to shimmer.  Looking out of the corner of his eye, he looked
toward the ground.  He could suddenly see a small, furious little
creature, slightly larger than the lizard he had killed.  This one was
jumping and shaking.  It's tail emitted spikes, growing new ones as it
threw the old.  Now that Don could see it, the illusion faded into
almost-transparency.  A well-placed energy blast vaporized the vicious
little creature, and Don let down his energy shield.
 
    "I hope there aren't any more of those things," he said to
no one in particular.
 
    "You never know, do you?" Denonia's voice answered back
with an evil laugh.  Don shuddered.  He hadn't realized she was
watching him.  He moved on, hoping to make it through this ordeal in
one piece.
 
 
 
-----
 
 
 
    Don encountered three more rather nasty creatures before
finding a clear spot.  He felt now that he was deep within the maze. 
He hoped he would find one of the girls soon; the afternoon was wearing
on.
 
    Coming around a corner, he was suddenly staring at Annie,
her arms pulled up and fastened to a metal grate with a very
sturdy-looking vine.  Don gaped for a moment, and then turned his head
away in embarrassment; Annie was completely nude, and fully exposed for
him to see.
 
    She looked at him, her mind still churning over all that
had happened.  "Am I that ugly to look at?" she asked, a little hurt by
the quick aversion of his gaze.
 
    "No," he said, keeping his head to one side.  "It's just
that... I mean, I'm not... shit.  Dammit, I'm not supposed to stare at
naked girls who don't have a choice in why they're naked, okay?"
 
    "Oh," Annie said, a little sheepishly.  She was punishing
him for her own fears.  She knew it, she knew it was wrong, and she did
it anyway.  Suddenly, her fear was quite real.  "Look out!"
 
    Don immediately rolled.  He had no idea what was coming,
but figured his best chance was simply to move in the direction he was
already looking, since he knew there was nothing in that direction. 
Once back on his feet, he turned to see.
 
    *Aw, shit, not another one of these things!*  In front of
him was another of the nasty little mini-wyverns that had nearly killed
Annie in the first place.
 
    "Oh, no you don't, you son of a bitch!" Don snarled.  A
blazing-hot flash of white light erupted from his hand, enveloping and
vaporizing the snarling dragon-like beast.  Don watched it fade with
some satisfaction.
 
    "Seen many of those?" Don asked, still not looking at her.
 
    "First one," she said.  "I think they're following you, not
hunting me.  Could you let me down, now?"
 
    "I can't."
 
    "*What?*" she said incredulously.
 
    "Katie's trapped in here, too.  If I touch you, Katie
dies.  If I touch Katie, you're dead.  I have to find a way to get both
of you out of here."
 
    "Just go rescue your sister," Annie said.  "Don't worry
about me."
 
    Don's head snapped around, and he glared at her, completely
ignoring, for the moment, her nudity.  "Let me figure this out, would
you?  I'm not giving up on *either* of you, dammit!"
 
    Annie was taken aback by his forcefulness, and she kept her
peace.  Her mind churned over everything she had seen.
 
    "I'll be back for you," he said.  "I have to go find Katie
now."
 
    "Okay," she said.  Before she could say any more, he was
gone.
 
 
 
-----
 
 
 
    Don moved carefully, back the way he had come.  He had the
sneaking suspicion that, if Annie was at one end of the maze, Katie
would be at the other.  He also had the horrifying thought that she was
right around the corner, and he did spend a good amount of time
looking.  When he realized he wasn't being bothered, he knew he was on
the wrong track.
 
    *An interesting thought,* he told himself.  He'd learned to
keep his thoughts quiet, since Denonia was listening in.  *If she has
set the maze to encourage me to go the wrong way, then the more grief I
run into, the more likely I am to be on the right path.  But is she
really that dumb?  Well, everyone has blind spots.  Even me, I'm sure.*
 
    Don made his way back to the start of the maze, and began
to move in the other direction.  The first thing he noticed was the
light level changing.  *How close am I to sunset?*  He pressed on, but
then he realized the light level was changing much too quickly to be
real.  *Another obstacle.*  Chanting into existence a small orb of
bright light, he kept moving.  He continued to leave his marks behind,
and he still tracked himself on the map he was drawing.  He had very
carefully laid out the route back to Annie.
 
    *So long as Denonia doesn't move her while I'm finding
Katie.*
 
    Don was now walking down a long, straight section of the
maze.  This worried him.  *No place to dodge to the side.  What's
coming?*
 
    Suddenly, Don felt an odd sensation of danger.  He
immediately recognized it, and he jumped back just in time.  The ground
beneath where he had been suddenly liquefied.  He had to backpedal
rapidly to clear the area before the maze got him.
 
    *If my hunch is correct, I *have* to make it past this
corridor.  So, how am I going to do it?*
 
    Don stared at the ground for a long time, and looked at the
maze walls, and then finally at the sky.  Nothing came to him
immediately.  He leaned against the maze wall, and was shocked at just
how solid it was.
 
    *I wonder if this could hold my weight.*  Don grasped the
wall of growth up high, and pulled himself up.  It held for a bit, but
then let out a loud *snap!* And broke, tumbling him to the ground. 
*About ten seconds, at most.  I'm not sure if that's enough.*  Don
looked back down the corridor, which was about four feet wide.
 
    *Don't even think it.  You're not goddamned Spiderman. 
*Still, the idea intrigued him.  *The corridor is about fifty feet
long.  To do it would mean moving sideways for fifty feet, supporting
my own weight the whole way.  I can't do it.*
 
    Don sat down to consider what to do.  He tossed some rocks
down the corridor, watching them get caught and disappear into the
mud.  Suddenly, he started throwing them faster and harder.  He found
that the far edge of this pit was only twenty feet from him, and he was
a good five feet from the edge nearest him.
 
    *Fifteen feet.  Can I do it for fifteen feet?  Figure I can
move about one foot with each... uh... 'step'.  That means fifteen
'steps.'  How long for each step?  Maybe... twenty seconds?  So, five
minutes.  Hold myself up tightly for five minutes.  Can I do that?*
 
    *If I don't, Katie and Annie are both history.*
 
*    But I also have to get *back*.  Shit.  That means a total
of ten minutes.  There has to be another way.*
 
    Just then, Don considered something.  He pulled out one of
his spell books, and looked up a particular section.  After a few
minutes, he put the book back, and raised his arms, chanting.  He
continued to chant for three minutes before anything happened, and it
took another two for it to complete.  When he put his arms down, sweat
pouring off him, he saw a series of branches; limbs grown from one side
of the maze corridor to the other.  They were paired off and twisted,
so they were strong.  They were about two feet off the ground, and
about two feet apart.
 
    *Stay near the edge, and no fancy tricks.*  Don hopped up
onto the first one, which was well ahead of the dangerous edge of the
trap.  He could feel the trap's energy as he entered its area of
influence, and he saw the ground below begin to churn.
 
    *If I fall, I'm toast.*  He continued to move carefully
from limb to limb until he had crossed the entire trap, and was safe
again on the ground.  *I hope my little bridge doesn't evaporate.  That
spell is tiring.*
 
    Turning, Don headed on down the corridor until he reached
the corner, with three paths leading off from it.  He chose the center
path.
 
 
 
-----
 
 
 
    It was clear, twenty minutes later, that the central path
was probably the correct one.  He'd already had to ward off a large cat
and two more lizards.  He was now faced with a choice of two paths. 
One turned and would lead him back toward the other side of the maze,
and the other led deeper into this side.  He took the one that led
further away from Annie.
 
    Immediately, Don was plunged into total darkness.  He
strengthened his light orb, and carried on.  He walked gingerly, trying
to listen for any sounds approaching.
 
    He never heard the vines as they stretched their way across
his path.  He also couldn't see them in the shadowy light of the orb. 
When he tripped, he screamed as the vine instantly wrapped itself
around his leg.  He could feel the blood being forced out as the evil
ivy squeezed tighter and tighter.
 
    "All right, you sonofabitch," Don grunted through clenched
teeth.  He knew he didn't have time for anything fancy.  He raised his
hand and uttered a sharp bark of a spell.  Instantly, flame leapt from
his hand and burned away all of the foliage within ten feet of him. 
The vine around his leg evaporated, and he only had some singe marks on
his robe.  He got up and brushed himself off.
 
    "Little bastard.  I'm in a hurry."
 
    Don turned and made his way down this stretch of darkening
maze.
 
 
 
-----
 
 
 
    Two turns later, and Don suddenly was confronted with his
sister, attached spread-eagle to a large tree.  Don took in her body,
checking for marks and injuries.  He saw Katie blush at his
examination.  He was surprised how much more comfortable he felt ogling
his sister than he had just glancing at Annie.
 
    *I wish I knew what that meant... but I don't have time
right now.*  Unthinking, Don moved toward his sister, ostensibly to let
her down.
 
    "Watch yourself, Big Brother," she cautioned.  Immediately,
he remembered.  *Shit!  I nearly killed someone!*  Then a thought hit
him.
 
    "You *know* about the rules?"
 
    "The bitch told us."
 
    "But... Annie acted..."
 
    "She was in shock.  Hell, *I'm* in shock!  Get me out of
here!"
 
    "One thing at a time.  Now I know where both of you are.  I
have to figure a way to get you each out of here without killing
someone."
 
    Don looked at the sky.  He couldn't see the sun, but the
light that was now fairly easily penetrating the maze seemed to
indicate mid-afternoon.  *Has it only been a couple hours?  It seems
like I've been here all day!*
 
    "I'll be back for you, Sis.  Has anything been... uh,
bothering you?"
 
    "My arm itches.  I'd ask you to scratch it, but..."
 
    Don smiled at her.  He knew she was joking.  "Seriously. 
Has anything been around to... do anything?  Guard you, attack you,
just bug you..."
 
    "Nope."
 
    "Okay.  Then I'll have to come up with an answer.  Keep
good thoughts, Katie.  I'll be back."
 
    "'kay.  I love you, Donny."
 
    He looked up at her and gave her a soft smile.  "I love
you, too."
 
 
 
-----
 
 
 
    Don didn't get more than a hundred feet before he turned
around and went back to Katie.
 
    "What's the matter?" she asked fearfully.
 
    "Just *exactly* what did Denonia tell you about this maze?"
 
    "She said that we would be stuck here until you found us. 
She said that the one of us who could seduce you into touching us first
would live, and the other would die."
 
    "Anything else?"
 
    "No, not really... just that our clothes would be returned
to us when we were outside the maze's power... if we were alive,
anyway."
 
    That phrase triggered something in Don.  *Outside the
maze's power... why does that sound famil- ah-ha!  Is that the key? 
Okay, but how do I use it?  What do I know about magic that can...
okay, I know how to teleport things, but I have to be able to see them,
or have some kind of serious connection...*
 
*    Annie.*
 
*    Annie's a telepath.*
 
*    I can get her out of the maze *without* touching her.*
 
    Don looked over to his sister.  "I think I have an idea.  I
don't know if it's going to work or not.  If it doesn't... shit... this
could get you *both* killed."
 
    "I have faith in you, Donny," his sister said
supportively.  He smiled at her in thanks.
 
    "If I think of anything else before I get back to Annie,
I'll try it, but... if not... well, we'll know when I see you again. 
*If* I see you again..."  He longed to reach out to embrace his sister,
but that would solve the problem in a very final way for Annie.  Don
turned resolutely, and headed back out of the plaza.
 
 
 
-----
 
 
 
    Don had run most of the way back to Annie.  His bridge had
still been intact, and once over it, he knew he needed to hurry.  He
didn't know how much time he had, but sunset wasn't getting any further
away.  When he finally rounded the corner, he stopped abruptly again,
faced with the naked woman.
 
    Don quickly averted his gaze, staring at the wall of the
hedge.  He wondered just how far he really was from the outside wall. 
Perhaps he could burn through... but no, that would probably take way
too much time, as his fire spell was pretty limited.
 
    "It's okay, Don... I know you don't want to stare at me,
but could you at least look at me when we talk?"  Her voice was
pleading.  After the past day or so, he was totally confused about
Annie's feelings toward him, and this only made things worse.
 
    Don didn't look her way when he said, "I *think* I have a
plan, but it won't work without your help."
 
    "Sorry, I'm a little tied up at the moment," she said
playfully.  Don shot her an angry glare.  "Sorry.  What do I have to
do?"
 
    "I need you to use your psionic powers.  I need you to make
a connection with me, and keep it solid.  It'll take me about twenty
minutes to get back to the maze entrance."
 
    "What good will that do?" she asked.
 
    Don looked up and around, indicating without words that he
was worried about being heard.  "You'll see.  Can you do it?"
 
    "I think so."
 
    "Annie, this is *important*.  If it doesn't work, you or
Katie will die.  *Can you do it*?"
 
    She stared at him, and he was now looking her dead in the
eye, oblivious to her nudity.  She swallowed hard; she could see the
concern in his eyes, could see his worry.  She wanted to alleviate it,
but didn't know how.  She nodded.
 
    "I'll do my best," she said.  Don nodded.
 
    "You should make the connection now," he said.
 
    Annie closed her eyes, and she reached out with her mind. 
It was one of the easiest of psionic activities, and yet it caused her
a fair amount of difficulty.  After a few seconds, though, she felt she
had hold of his essence.
 
    "Okay," she said.  Don moved ten feet to the side.  She
felt him slipping away, but she managed to keep a tenuous grip on him,
and latched on firmly.
 
    "Still got me?" he said.  He could feel her in his mind,
but he needed her to have a solid lock.  She nodded, not saying
anything.  "Okay.  I'm going to go a little slower than usual, but I'll
try to get there as fast as I can, so you don't tire out.  When I get
there... well... you'll know."  Again, she nodded, and then he turned
to leave, heading out of the plaza.
 
    *<Good luck, Don,>* she said in his head.  He grinned to no
one in particular.
 
    Moving carefully, Don made it to the entrance in just over
twenty minutes.  He was surprised that he wasn't being accosted by more
nasty surprises, but he would take whatever blessings he could get.
 
    *If her clothes don't reappear on her, she's going to be
awfully embarrassed.*  Don called out to the people outside the maze. 
"Julie!"
 
    Julie came running over, but didn't come near the
entrance.  "What is it?" she said fretfully.
 
    "I need you to have a blanket or something ready.  If it's
needed, you'll understand why.  Just... stand over there."  Don
remembered about where he had felt the first beginnings of the maze's
power, and he was going to teleport her twenty feet beyond that.  So
long as he could see the spot, he could do it.
 
    Closing his eyes, he tried to focus on the feeling of Annie
in his mind.
 
    *Can you hear me, Annie?*
 
*    <Yes.>*
 
*    I need you to concentrate as hard as you can, to make this
connection rock solid.  I need to be able to see you, here in my head.*
 
*    <Okay.  Give me a minute.>*
 
*    Take your time.  Let me know when you're ready.*
 
    After a long pause, he heard.* <Okay, I'm ready, Donny.>*
 
    That last bit actually shook him, but he tried to shrug it
off.  He focused his mind on the connection with Annie, and followed it
back, back, back... to where she was tied in place.  He envisioned her
in his mind, and in here, he looked at her every curve.
 
    *<Why didn't you look like this when you had the real me?>*
she asked with a mischievous chuckle.
 
    *Stop that!* he snarled.  He focused on her body, her mind,
her soul... he felt he had as solid a grip on her as he had ever had on
anything.  Raising his hands, he gestured, and began the incantation. 
In his mind, he nearly panicked as he felt Annie's presence slip...
then realized that it was slipping because she was fading out of
position.  He continued the spell, and turned to face the direction
where she would - hopefully - appear.  He was beginning to tire, but he
kept his arms raised, and continued to concentrate.  At this very
moment, the only place Annie existed was in his mind.  Then, slowly,
ever so slowly, she faded into existence at the far side of the
clearing, near the trees.  Luckily, she was wearing the clothing she
had been wearing that morning.  He felt far more comfortable seeing her
clothed.
 
    Annie waved to him from across the way, and he nodded. 
Swiftly, he turned, and made his way at a dead run back to where Katie
was, he hoped, waiting.  He ran into one lizard beast, but he was
moving so fast, the creature panicked and scampered away from him,
rather than attacking.
 
    When he rounded the final corner, Don let out a loud sigh
of relief to see his sister still in one piece, waiting where she had
been.  He stopped for just a moment, and raised his hand.
 
    *Annie, are you still here?*  He had a feeling she might be.
 
    *<Yes.  Do you want me to leave?>*
 
*    No.  I'm about to touch Katie... I... need you to keep
talking to me, so I know you're all right.*
 
*    <Okay.>*
 
*    *As Don reached for Katie, Annie started talking.  *<I'm
sorry I snapped at you the other day,>* she said.  Don's hands touched
the rope holding Katie in place, but he hadn't touched Katie yet.  *<I
didn't mean to blame you for what had happened.  This place scares me
so much...>* The other rope parted under his touch, and Katie was
nearly freed.  *<I... we... there's something I need to do when you get
back.  Please remind me.*> Just as she said this last bit, Katie
wrapped her arms around her brother and hugged him tightly.  She was
weeping with joy.
 
    *Annie?* Don asked somewhat panicked.
 
*    <I could use one of those myself,>* she said, referring to
the hug.  *<Please hurry out.  The sun will be setting soon.>*
 
*    We're on our way.*
 
 
 
-----
 
 
 
    The brother and sister walked happily out of the maze
together.  Katie had wrapped her wings around herself to cover her
nudity, but only as they rounded the last corner, where she might be
seen.  She had walked happily next to her brother, completely naked. 
As they cleared the maze, her clothes reappeared on her body, and she
was able to fold her wings back up.  She hugged her brother tightly,
and they walked to meet the others.
 
    When they got there, Don let go of Katie, and he looked at
Annie.  Wordlessly, he opened his arms, and she immediately came to
him, melting into his embrace.  She hugged him hard, relishing the
strong embrace.
 
    After a full minute, she leaned back and looked him in the
eye.  There was a slight smile playing on her lips.
 
    "What was it you needed to do?" he asked.
 
    "This," she said, and plastered her lips to his.  He kissed
back, trying to keep up with her, but her tongue was already forcing
its way into his mouth.  He let his hands run over her back, and the
two kissed passionately for some time.
 
    "How very touching," a sarcastic female voice said.  They
broke their kiss suddenly, to see Denonia glaring at them from across
the way.  "So, you figured a way around my little test.  I don't like
losing, magician!"
 
    "Then maybe you should leave us the hell alone!" Julie
countered.
 
    "Mind your manners, you untalented little whore, or I'll
turn you into a *real* bitch!" Denonia snarled.  She whirled on Don. 
"You haven't seen or heard the last of me, Magician!  No one toys with
Denonia and lives!"  She was engulfed in a bright cloud of mist, and
when the mist was gone, so was she.
 
    "Fuck," Gill said, to sum it up for everyone.
 
    "Let's get the hell out of here," Don said.  Everyone
agreed, and they were quickly back on their horses, heading for the
Siratis Gates.
 
 
 
...---=== http://netwolf.wolfpub.org ===---...
 
 
 
    The group traveled for only a couple more hours before they
stopped for the night.  They had wanted to get as far away from the
maze as possible, more for the sanity of the girls than anything.  They
were at least ten miles beyond the edge of the maze - a huge structure
- when they stopped.
 
    Katie still shivered at the thought of it.  "Being tied up
like that..." she shuddered.
 
    "Okay," Don said lightly, "so bondage is out of the
question?"  She smacked him playfully, but strongly, on the arm.
 
    "Cool solution, by the way," Gill said, nodding.
 
    Don shrugged.  "Only thing I could think of.  The key was
when Denonia told us that the maze couldn't hurt anything outside
itself.  I still wasn't sure it would work..."
 
    Gill shrugged.  "All's well that ends well."
 
    "I suppose.  Still, we've got another... day's travel,
according to the map, to get to the Siratis Gates."
 
    "What the hell are they?" Gill asked.
 
    Don shrugged.  "Beats me.  The map doesn't come with
pictures."  Gill snorted.  "Anyway, I'm sure we'll find them.  I just
hope we find Vernior when we get there."
 
    "What do we do if we don't?" Susan asked quietly.  Don and
Gill shared a worried look.
 
    "We'll cross that bridge when we come to it," he said
determinedly.
 
    "Let's just hope the bridge ain't *burning* when we come to
it," Gill muttered.  No one had a response to that.
 
 
 
...---=== http://netwolf.wolfpub.org ===---...
 
 
 
    Don awoke the next morning to someone shaking his
shoulder.  He rolled over and looked up, to see Annie staring down at
him.  She didn't look worried, so he didn't panic, but he did sit up
more quickly than usual.
 
    "Something the matter?" he asked.
 
    "Can we talk?  Alone?"
 
    "Sure.  Just give me a minute."  She walked off to let him
take care of his morning necessities.  He found her a few minutes later
staring down the path they would take in about an hour.  He put his arm
around her, and she snuggled quite readily.
 
    "What's up?" he asked.
 
    "I really needed to apologize for the other day.  I was so
bitchy to you... I'm just... this is all so scary, and I..."
 
    He squeezed her more tightly.  "It's okay.  None of us is
having fun.  You're entitled to one really good bad mood per
adventure.  Dungeon Master's Rules."  Don smiled at her, and she
giggled.
 
    "Seriously.  I'm sorry.  It wasn't fair to blame you, you
were doing what you thought was right... I just... I wouldn't want to
lose you like that..."
 
    He turned to face her, putting both hands on her arms. 
"You think, when we get out of here..."  He couldn't finish the
question.
 
    "You'll be hearing from me," she said.  "But I'm not sure I
want to compete with the others in the *real* world."  She smiled at
him.
 
    Don blushed.  He leaned in, and kissed her.  She kissed him
back, strongly.  When they broke the kiss, Don noticed a funny look on
her face.
 
    "What?" he asked.
 
    "That's the first time you haven't said *if* we get out of
here."
 
    Don shrugged.  "I'm trying to be optimistic.  Hopefully, by
the end of the day, we'll know if we're on the right track, anyway..."
 
    "I hope we are.  I like being with you... and your
friends... but right now I just want to go home."
 
    "I know," he said.  He kissed her again, and then held onto
her for a while.  "What say we get breakfast before we go home,
though?" he said with a smile.  She nodded in agreement, and they
headed for the fire, where Julie was making pancakes.
 
 
 
-----
 
 
 
    The team rode through the woods for two hours, and then
they came out onto a clearing.  Spread before them was a wide expanse
of grassland.  Off in the distance rose three immense spires of rock,
taller than they had any right to be, and looking remarkably like pins
stuck into the ground.  Don knew immediately that he had seen his
destination.
 
    "The Siratis Gates," he said to the others.  Katie smiled
at him, and Julie nodded with a grin.
 
    Gill, however, had his gaze slightly lower down.  "We have
company," he said.
 
    Don shifted his gaze.  Standing about a hundred yards away
were two people Don recognized instantly.
 
    Paul and Carysta stood defiantly before the team, their
looks intense and hostile.
 
    "What do you want to do?" Gill asked.
 
    Don looked intently at Paul, whose gaze was almost manic,
but showed extreme hatred.  *What the hell did I ever do to him?*  He
looked, hoping to see some sign of willingness to compromise.  He noted
that Carysta was, in fact, less hostile than their friend.  Don made up
his mind just then.
 
    Looking past Gill to Julie, he saw tears in her eyes.  He
turned back to Gill, and his voice was harsh.
 
    "If they won't let us go past them, then we go *through*
them.  Understood?"
 
    Gill drew his sword, but kept it down at his side.  "*That*
I can do."
 
 
 
...---=== http://netwolf.wolfpub.org ===---...
 
...---=== http://netwolf.wolfpub.org ===---...
 
