The 8th page is now pwned by KaZ.

Page claim lock.

You lose, Kaz.

Cheap-arse double poster!! Lies!

Lies and trickery! Shock and outrage! Monkey and threefivesix!

No, seriously, Kaz. You lose.

Page re-claim, just in case.

But didn't you just spam your way to the 8th page?

No, I posted my way to the eighth page.

Face-face.

Stop chewing on that sock and go over there before I get angry and step on your feet.

*pokes 4I with an Apple Jacks box*

*narsh narsh*

Ha! I am immune to your silly Dr. Seuss (sp?) words!

Your whole head is fake.

Fake like a moose!

I don't know about you, but MY moose isn't fake.

Great chapter! Wooooo!

Children, you're outspamming the second highest poster. Stop this at once.

Hahah, that made my day, Rad. Hilarious.

You're not the boss of me! *spams outrageously, just to annoy Radifoo*

You guys live on here or something?

As a matter of fact, that's my dinner you're standing in. If you want somewhere to stay, I have guest beds in the other threads.

Originally Posted by Coppertop

You guys live on here or something?

Eight hours a day, seven days a week.

I KNOW you do, I was talking about Defalcon, 4I and KaZ.

Psst, 4I, check yer PMs!

Originally Posted by Radium

I had a 9th grade reading level in 2nd grade... haven't tested it since.

University level in Gr. 5, here. That was five or six years ago, tho.

Irinn turned as Justiar came in. The dark lizard was unusually animated, eyes glowing happily.
"Well?"
"Troops are up and running a day before schedule, Irinn," Justiar reported. "The Cambion can drop them off in a matter of hours."
Jheran stalked in, followed closely (as ever) by Tephro. Chaos Hydra lurked in the corners, out of the way.
"Your attack on the Castle failed," Jheran commented. "If those are the tactics you are going to use, I begin to doubt the success of this venture after all."
"It did not fail," Irinn announced. "Or rather, it was meant to fail. THe attack was a diversion for my main target."
"Which was ... ?"
"The Carrotan princess, Eva Earlong."
"You're serious."
"Very serious, my friend."
"What do you hope to gain by capturing Earlong?"
"Jackrabbit's surrender."
Jheran almost choked. Chaos Hydra caught his gaze, and shook his head slightly.
He doesn't have a clue. Keep it that way.
"Jazz won't surrender," Tephro said softly, his customary malicious grin still in place. He shook his head slowly. "Eva has been caught before, by your predecessor Shell. Jazz did not cave. He went after her. You cannot expect any less from him now."
Clever Tephro.
"Nevertheless, it is leverage, and should serve to take Jazz's attention off of the invasion I am planning," Irinn countered, undaunted. Jheran nodded thoughtfully.
"True," he admitted. "More than you know."

The slightly cliched sound of dripping water was not present, but it felt as though it should have been. The small, dark-walled cell that Eva was in was closer to the surface than much of Irinn's base, proven by the old, corroded bars in the ceiling. The walls were dark stone, the floor damp and uneven. Miscellaneous mosses and lichen grew in the crazed, cracked walls and ceiling. The only way out was through the stout, rusted metal door in one end of the cell. Eva had thoroughly established this.
She sat in the corner of the cell, knees drawn up to chest, wondering what Irinn would do with her.
It was obvious that he was not aware that Jazz was missing, and Eva was not inclined to tell him. His goal was not the Riveth but Carrotus itself. Irinn was as intelligent and resourceful as Devan Shell, and had more troops.
Devan had almost taken Carrotus. Irinn would.
Footsteps, soft and furtive, reached her ears. She found a small stone that had lain in the corner of her cell for years uncounted, and rose quietly to her feet.
"Princess Eva?" The face of a lizard showed through the bars on her door. She briefly considered throwing the rock at him, but it was her only weapon.
"Princess?" the lizard said again. "Princess ..."
"What?" she said coldly, and he blinked. A small lizard, colored red-gold.
"There you are. My name is Justiar."
"What does Irinn want now, reptile?"
"Actually, he doesn't. No one does."
"What are you doing here, then?" Eva was getting curious, in spite of herself.
"Eva, I know you won't believe me, but I'm not actually part of Irinn's troops. I'm a Carrotan spy, working undercover. Carrotus doesn't know about Irinn, I was assigned to Devan, but I haven't gotten orders in several years now. I kind of attached myself to Irinn, hoping they'd reestablish contact - but they haven't."
"No one knows you exist, if that's true," she said. "You could be lying."
"I swear I'm not. I'm trying to get you out of here, but I can't. Irinn doesn't entirely trust me. All I can do is disable the cloak Irinn has placed on you, and hope."
"Cloak?"
"So no one can find you via scanners. Princess, I have to ask - will Jazz surrender?"
"Jazz can't," she said, finally convinced. After all, what did she have to lose? "He's been kidnapped."
"By whom?" Justiar was genuinely shocked - and a bit frightened.
"I don't know. An Order Mage."
"Order. Irinn's ally is -" he froze. "I have to go. I'm sorry I can't do more."
Justiar slid away, leaving Eva with more hope - and questions - than before.

Irinn contacted the Cambion. The ship's captain appeared on the screen. Irinn remained expressionless as he gave his orders.
"Begin the invasion."

Sasha leaned forward behind Wizard of Odds. A small, blinking, blue dot flashed on the screen of the small computer.
Sasha straightened exultantly.
"She's groundside - Eva's on Carrotus!"

Dusk was falling - Eva could tell that much through the barred skylight. She wondered idly what time it was, determinedly not panicking. If there was one thing Jazz had taught her, it was to keep her head in a crisis.
Justiar had not returned. Eva devoutly hoped that the little spy had not been found out.
She waited, and slept.

Whoo, lots of typing there Enjoy.

Originally Posted by Coppertop

University level in Gr. 5, here. That was five or six years ago, tho.

I'm not sure how to define "9th grade level", but I know I'm in classes with 12th graders who have to sound out words like "avoid". I have to take one of those reading tests again... If I still read at a 9th grade level, that would make me... perfectly normal *gasp*!

Oh, and great chappie. Good suspense.

Rad, you are not normal... and these tests just have really low standards.

Originally Posted by Coppertop

Psst, 4I, check yer PMs!

I went hysterical when I saw that I had a new PM. Thankee, CT. ^^

*reads the chapter*



*doubles over*
I'm still in slack-jawed envy of your literary pwnageship, CT. I think a meeting of the minds is in order.

*does the math after CT mentions grades and such*







o_O!

Hmm... why is Copper only a few months older than me and two grades ahead of me?

REading comprehension doesn't matter IMO...

Great chappies, CT!

...4I, what did she send you that made you so hysterical?

A PM.

It's been so long since I've gotten one, it was a nice change of events to have someone referring me to my mailbox MY TOES ARE TWITCHING ><;

>_>... it's sounds like so much more than a PM on this end.

;_;

It was just a PM, guys. Nothing special.

@Rad, I skipped grade 6. Then I did it in the summer. Still, that should only put me in grade 10, and I'm in grade 11 ... *ponders*

Sasha found the ruined structure easily, with Wizard's directions. The setting Carrotan sun threw long, streaming shadows into the east, and the crumbling stone building was clearly illuminated. Circling, he noted that there was a dark spot to the left of the abandoned building, but nothing to cast such a shadow. Going lower, he caught the hesitant flash of corroded metal. Sasha didn't have to get a good look to know that they were bars.
He drew his blade, plummeting down to pull up just above the hole. He landed beside it, inspecting the bars critically. They were completely rusted at the ends, from where rain runoff had corroded them.
Sasha grimaced. He hoped his blade could cut the bars. If not - well, Eva would have to wait for a while.
He sprang into the air, glancing around for any enemies, and landed on the bars themselves, catching himself as they gave slightly. Then, raising his blade, he cut down.
It sheared through the pitted iron easily, the rust flaking off and falling like crimson snow. Sasha grinned and leapt back as the bar swung dangerously. Another swipe and it fell from the hole, clanging noisily on the damp stone floor below. He hoped it had missed Eva.
A few more swipes and the remaining bars fell free. Sasha dropped down, turning to see Eva staring at him, bewildered.
"Sorry about the wait," he said dryly. "Locating you and all ... well, I figured I lost you, so I might as well find you."
"Thanks," Eva said. Sasha raised his wings, testing to see if he could fly out. There was barely enough room - his wingtips brushed the walls. He sheathed his blade.
"Well. Now to get you out ..."
Luckily Eva was not as big as her mother, and Sasha was able to lift her out of the cell easily. With her clinging to his back, they left the pass, flying slowly but steadily.
Three saw them go - Jheran, watching silently from the threshold of the ruins, Tephro beside him; and Justiar, breathing an equally silent sigh of relief.

I will support your bid for power, Jheran, when you make it.
I will support your bid for power ...
When I make it, Jheran thought, musing over Chaos Hydra's statement. My bid for power ...
Why not?
Irinn would take Carrotus easily with Jazz out of the way. Jheran would rule with Irinn out of the way (not that the idea really appealed to him). It would be easy enough - a knife in the back, and blame it on that lizard Justiar.
Tephro came in, his customary grin missing. Instead, he had a thoughtful look.
"Jher," he said, interrupting his thoughts. Jheran turned.
"What?"
"Why did you let Eva go?"
"That's been bugging you, has it?"
"Yeah ... I mean, you could have stopped them. All it would have taken was a blaster shot ..."
"I could have," Jhran said. "But I'll tell you something, Teph, that doesn't go any further than this."
"Does it ever?" Tephro smirked. He was well known for keeping his mouth closed.
"I don't intend to let Irinn take Carrotus. I mean, he could conquer it, but he won't rule it. Not ever."
"Take him down," Tephro said thoughtfully. Jheran nodded.
"I do have some pride left, Teph, which won't allow a lizard to rule us. Plus, I've been thinking about what Chaos Hydra said ..."
"You'll do it," Tephro said, and it was not a question.

"Jheran is plotting against you," Chaos Hydra said, turning abruptly to face Irinn. "He will take your work and make it his."
Irinn paced the length of the room. Finally he turned to face the white-haired mage.
"Jheran will never get that far. I have a present planned for him, a very special gift, that will make certain that Rambarath will never get farther than his plans."

Defalcon snorted. "Seriously, I 'killed' him the same time he scored on me. Man, he's wicked with that blade."
Elexei grinned. "I could tell he's used to it - he forgot he was holding it ..."
"I've done that before," Defalcon admitted. "You just get so accustomed to it."
"Never had that problem," Kira (or Tira) said.
"Yeah, but you girls don't use blades," the black rabbit beside them pointed out. The other twin grimaced.
"True enough."
"You ever done that, Shinyso?" Elexei asked. Shinyso shrugged.
"Sure. Gone for days, blade in hand, not even noticing ... 'specially on the more dangerous planets, like Hellantra or Raxizil."
"Yeah, I forgot you hung around Coppertop for how long," the first twin said. "What was the worst place?"
"Well, lessee," Shinyso mused. "It's hard to say. Shador was pretty bad, so was Keenrei ... but we weren't in either place for very long. Shilarloh or Kilanphor, both very dangerous ... Firen was bad at times too ... so I can't really say."
"What was the worst enemy," Elexei said, "Kroys, Beren, or the Kiyrenin?"
"What is this, an interrogation?"
"Curiousity."
"Arath, definitely. Beren after that. Kroys was hardly a problem compared to them ..." Shinyso looked up sharply as they rounded a corner.
Radium stood there, a large jewel in his hands. It was iridicent (sp?), blue-purple, shifting somehow. Radium had a look of utter seriousness on his green and black face, and as he transferred his gaze to them, Defalcon was frozen in place. Apparently the others were too, as no one moved.
What are you doing? Shinyso demanded. Defalcon had almost forgotten that the black rabbit was a telepath.
Saving us all, Radium replied. I'm not Carrotan, but I will not let this fall into the hands of the Order Mage. You'll get it back, trust me, he added. Then, even as they watched, his form shifted fluidly into the reptilian shape of a red eyed, green and black dragon. The jewel still gleamed in his claws. Tell Coppertop, he added. She'll understand.
Then he slid sinuously out the large window behind him, taking to the air and vanishing from sight.
Defalcon could move again. He stared after the departing dragon-Chaos Mage, feeling an odd disbelief.
"Sword of Arendyne," Shinsyo cursed softly beside him. "He's stolen the Riveth."


Had to have the dragon in there Couldn't resist.

A bit confused, .. should stop waking up early.

Another great chappie, Copper.

Thankee.

Nice chappie! I think it's iridescent.

Radium's being SERIOUS?!?

Originally Posted by acid

Radium's being SERIOUS?!?

I'm always serious. Sometimes it's just harder to believe.

Acid is right; spelling is iridescent.

My head hurts. I'll re-read this chapter when I deem myself fit to stop popping Tylenol every thirty seconds.

*passes out*

Yeah, I checked the spelling AFTER I posted it. Gah.

*snickers* Silly Copper.

*hugs*

*decides not to mention the few other times where a spellcheck before posting would have been beneficial...*

*smacks self*

Yes. Silly Copper.

*hugs back*

*rice*

^_^