[Judge Simon]

"Shade, come quickly!"

Shade rolled his eyes and looked up at the orcs
"As soon as this one regains herself, let me know"
"Sir, should we just leave her like this?"
"What? You mean on the rack? Of course." Shade finished as he slowly made his way up the stone steps. The dungeons were ungodly cold and Shade was glad when he reached Sauraman's throne room. He limped in and noticed the glittering letters on the wall. Shade looked at them but he could not read the writting.
"thats nice, what did you want? I was about to have some fun with that miserable little halfling."
"Shade, where is that elf?"
"Who...Aranel? Well she's down in the dungeons as well, but you can't talk to her at the moment."
"Why?"
"She passed out right now. Give her about an hour."
"The moment she wakes up I want to be informed"

Shade nodded and walked out of the room. Before he re-entered the dungeons he drew about himself a heavy black cloak to keep himself warm. With one hand leaning on the stone wall, Shade went to where Collette was being held. As he got closer, the snaps of a whip grew louder and the groaning of Collette more evident. He approached the door and looked through the small barred window. An orc stood towering over Collette and Collette, back horribly bloodied lay on the floor barely moving. Shade slipped the iron key into the lock and pushed open the door. Shade limped in and over to the orc. The orc had the whip raised ready to let it fall onto Collette's back, but Shade put his hand to the orc's arm and took the whip from him. The orc snarled for a minute and then left to stand right outside the door. Shade bent down painfully onto one knee to look Collette in the face.
"So, little hobbit, have you gotten a chance to get comfortable with your new home?"
"Shade, if I had the strength, I'd choke you with that whip" She said, venomously and then turned her head away from him.
"Of course you would, oh Collette if only your friends had listened to you...none of you would be in this mess. You were right about me all the time. I've just come from Aranel's cell, she passed out from the pain of her torture and I don't even want to tell you the condition of Faye and Radae. But you, you seem to be doing the best of all of them..well thats something to think about...I'll be back later Collette for another one of our little chats." Shade slowly stood up and turned. He limped back out of Collette's cell and locked the door.
"Leave her be for awhile." He said to the orc, standing guard. He didn't give the orc back the whip and Shade trudged on to where Radae and Faye were being kept. Much of the floor was gritty with stones and made it difficult for Shade to walk. He stumbled only once, right onto his wounded knee. He gritted his teeth and slowly stood back up using the wall and an orc for support.
"Sir, are you alright?"The orc asked in a low growl.
"Fine,"
"Sir, the she-elf, she has regained consciouness, you wanted to be told."
"Yes, I did, thanks" Shade looked down the hall at Radae and Faye's cell. He'd have to deal with them later. Walking as steadily as he could, with whip firmily in hand, Shade went to Aranel's cell. He pushed the door open and looked down. He saw Aranel lift her head weakly in his direction and then left it fall back down.
"Get her on her feet, Sauraman wishes to see her." Shade ordered. The two orcs undid her bonds and forced her to her feet. Half dragging her up the steps and into Sauraman's throneroom with Shade leading the way...

[ November 11, 2002: Message edited by: Judge Simon ]