IN THE MEANTIME<br/>"Father, Amora has been captured, as you requested.  Must we do it this way?"<br/><br/>"We must; its the only way."<br/><br/>"But why, Father?  They trekked all this way ..."<br/><br/>"People travel far distances for all sorts of reasons.  Now that Drinian Manor is razed", but he could not continue.  The monastery guards knocked on the door.  "Ah yes; you both have your assignments.  See that no romantic harm come to the servant; but allow Lotor to do what else he likes." Friar Benson quipped.<br/><br/>The first guard nodded and then added, "Father Ben, I promise should he try to compromise her ... sexually, I shall kill him immediately.  He knows the agreement."<br/><br/>And the second Jesuit guard also nodded:  "And Drinian knows me as Br. Ben who carried him on the boat here.  I shall help him whilst continuing to pretend I am keeping a vow of silence."<br/><br/>Friar Benson nodded in agreement.  "Should they pass this test, they will be amazed at the treasure I procured for both of them.  Let's hope their understanding anyway."<br/><br/>"Father; if Drinian does find her and he must ... duel to the death for her?"<br/><br/>"We cannot be in charge of such matters; we have already danced with the devil long enough.  If it gets to that point ... it gets to that point.  At such time, you may abort the mission; who are we to interfere with true love?"  With that, Friar Benson took out an unsheathed sword.  "Do not give this sword to either of them; it is only to be used to kill Lotor if he doesn't keep up his end of the bargain."<br/><br/>********************************************<br/>Drinian smelled the air after breaking down the door to Amora's room; they had agreed to a walk in the morning around the monastery together.  Actually, per Drinian's instructions - Amora ordered it.<br/><br/>The air did not smell right; the window had been left open as if to air the place out ... or to escape.  Bending to his knees, he looked around carefully.  By the bed, a single torn, blue piece of nightgown.  Looking further, a few feet away, an empty small glass container.  Taking a wiff of the contents determined it was an ether substance with the potency to know out any victim that so much as tasted it.<br/><br/>Drinian panicked when he felt someone tap his shoulders.  Turning around, it was Brother Ken, the one with the silent vow.  "Brother Ken, where is she?  Something has hapened to her."  Brother Ken walked over to the window.  Taking out what appeared to be a locket, he opened it gently, and pulled a piece of string?  Maybe a piece of hair?  Yes!  Amora's hair!  He took the strand, put it in the locket, and gave it to Drinian.<br/><br/>"Thank you for the sentimental piece, but we need to find her..."  But Br. Ken quickly, yet silently, placed his lips over his mouth.  He motioned to Drinian to follow him; and follow him he did.  He seemed to rush past the chapel, past the superior's quarters, to a downstair room that had an exit out of the building.  Taking Drinian to a large size map that was hanging over a chalkboard, Br. Ken began showing him all the places of the island.  There were only three major geographical locations besides the water surrounding the place.  A mountain leading to a volcano; the Monastery; and a forest.<br/><br/>Having studied the map a moment, Br. Ken motioned to have the locket returned to him.  Motioning again for Drinian to follow him, they exited the room where a large, black dog seemed to be waiting.  It came up to Br. Ken, whereupon he handed the dog a treat.  While Br. Ken could not talk due to his vow, the dog obeyed every sign language given to it including to sit.  Pulling out the locket, he opened it and gave it to the dog to sniff.  After a few moments, the dog acted as if he no longer needed to smell the piece of hair.  Closing the locket again, he handed it back to Lord Drinian whereupon Br. Ken petted the black dog, and then pointed to Lord Drinian to start walking in a certain direction.  Br. Ken bowed himself as if he were in the orient, and returned inside the monk quarters to leave the two to their excrusion.  The dog started barking wildly before starting off on a direction it thought fit.