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.