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Desha kept hold of his hand and rubbed his other hand soothing along the outside of his thigh when he had to stop, knowing what had likely sparked his rage after what he'd heard so far, "I understand, Michael, I really do. But you have to continue. You've already given us alot to go with. Try for scent next, get everything you can from him," he said soothingly, hating that he had to put him through this but also knowing that they really had no choice.

"You've already given me enough information to know he's not on this island. Likely one of the smaller outlying islands, one with a cave large enough to hold others. I already guessed it was the slavers, so they will touch him from time to time. He can handle that and we will get to him as soon as we can, I promise you that. But we need more information. The slightest thing will help me to figure out where he is. So go on to smell, what is he smelling right now? His senses are sharper than normal because he's a shifter so he'll be able to catch the scents right around himself as well as those further out. You could feel a breeze against his skin so use that. It will carry scents from outside of the cave to him. Is it fresh and salty like the ocean? Or salty and balmy like the sea? Can you smell plants, flowers, animals from outside the cave? The scents will likely tell you how big the cave is. Does it smell dank and musty like a smaller newer cave? Or drier and more like old stone like a larger and older cave? Can you smell any fresh water, as if the place has a lake outside the cave or a spring inside the cave?" he gave him hints on what to look for and tried to lead him through his son's sense of smell, knowing it would help him focus better.

He ignored Valick even though he knew he was listening intently. He was grateful for that since he'd be able to help him explain to the others what kind of place they were looking for when they arrived for the search. He only hoped they'd allow Cedric to help instead of being idiots about it since they would need the help desperately.

Cedric's ability to shift into a dragon would allow them to search alot more area at a faster pace and he'd be able to transport at least one other person with him when he did so. Right now he had more reason to be thankful for Sebastet's constant reports to him of the people who came here just in case he'd have to heal them, it came in so handy at times like this...

"Try to concentrate Michael. Focus only on Dancer's sense of smell and ignore the rest for now," he continued, knowing his calm and soothing voice would help the vampire regain his calm once more.

Desha finally moved up and gave him a tight hug briefly before pulling back to cup his cheek tenderly in one hand while meeting his eyes, "They will pay for it, Michael, and we will get him back. I promise you that. You just helped tell me exactly where he is. Lavender only grows on one of those smaller islands and I know it has a cave large enough to contain the slavers operation. They will have had to get there by boat. It's got a small lagoon on one side of the island ringed by coral but is kept fresh by a small opening in the coral that allows the ocean to move freely into it. The coral is why the island hasn't been settled yet, ships can't get past the coral without crashing. But small boats can get in. I know about the lavender because Sebastet and I explored all of the outlying islands shortly after I arrived here and I've gone back periodically to harvest the lavender there. Well, I did until the Nudsen's came here, since then I've been getting my lavender from them," he had to stop and take in a slow deep breath since he was starting to babble a bit.

When he knew he could speak without babbling, he noticed the ring in Michael's hand and placed his hand over it, giving Michael a tender smile, "You can give that to him when we find him. And Michael... I am proud to call you not only my brother, but my son-in-law as well. Thank you for bringing happiness to my son again. I can promise you now that we will bring him back so you can continue to bring that light into his eyes from the love you two share," he told him in an even softer voice, somehow knowing that he needed to hear it.

His only problem now was that the fact that his son had been taken was starting to crash through him and it tore at his heart, drawing his eyes to Andy where he was speaking to Valick. He didn't want to interrupt them but he also knew he needed someone else's strength or he'd wind up breaking down when he knew he had to remain strong right now...

Desha almost gave into tears when Michael put his arm around him and said those words but managed to hold them back. Until Andy came over to hold him. Then he let a few tears escape into Andy's shoulder before he could stop himself again. He pulled back and drew in a shaking but deep breath to regain his composure so he could think clearly again.

"There's a map in the library. Cain keeps it updated. It's of the island and the surrounding islands. The dragon's islands are on there as well as the smaller outlying ones that are too small for true habitation. The map is laid out on a table just inside the main door. If one of you would get it for me, I can point out the island on it. It would be easier than trying to give directions. We'll have to put it back later or Cain will get upset. That vampire is particular about his library but very good at what he does," he suggested softly as he wiped at his face a bit.

He didn't move away from Andy, actually leaned in against him as he took strength from the three men around him. He knew they were all strong and very good fighters so he held full confidence that they would succeed in getting Dancer back. But he, more than the others, knew what Michael was going through. He just hated that Michael would know it, actually feel it, whenever something else happened to Dancer.

He'd done his best to prepare the vampire for the possibility of it but there would be no telling what his reaction would be. He knew full well that most newly-acquired slaves were usually 'tested' before being offered for sale as well as examined in detail by whoever was in charge so they could judge what the best price for the slave would be. He only hoped Michael would be able to remain sane enough to help when that happened to Dancer...

Desha shook his head as he unrolled the map Valick handed him, "Be honest with us Michael. I can assure you that I am not 'fine' right now over this and I know for a fact that you aren't either," he said softly, his voice breaking just a bit as he spoke. He noticed his hands shaking as he held the map and closed his eyes to take in a deep steadying breath before shaking his head again as he looked over the map, "I'm sorry, Michael... I shouldn't have said that..." he said softly, knowing he was wrong to have spoken that way but the vampire's words had just struck something inside of him and his own words had simply fallen out before he could stop it.

He finally found the island he was looking for and pointed it out, "Here it is. This is where Dancer is, on the opposite side of the island from the dragon's home," he told them then moved his finger to the enhanced drawing of that particular island along the side of the main map, "Here's the lagoon I spoke of. There's a small trail from the beach there that leads to a large underground cavern, here," he pointed out where the cave was that held the slavers, "It won't be hard to miss. Lavender grows in only that spot on the island, right outside the entrance to the cavern. It's basically just one large room with a smaller 'L' shaped entryway to it. Inside there are smaller alcoves along the sides of the main chamber, all easily caged in. The alcoves are likely where they're keeping those they take. All of the potential slaves will be chained and stripped. Some of them will have been-" he paused to lick his lips and take in another steadying breath before continuing, knowing it had to be said out loud by one of them at some point, "... 'used'... to test them for a sale price," he had to pause there when his hands started shaking again.

He was having more trouble with this than he thought he would. Just the thought of what would happen to Dancer before they could get to him... It was beginning to overwhelm him and he knew that wasn't good right now.

He took in another breath that shook hard into him this time but continued anyway, "There's a spot in the back of the cavern likely being used to house the slavers as a place to sleep. I have no idea what the central area of the main cavern will be like, possibly being used as an eating area or something like that. They'll have another area for bathing the slaves. They'll want to keep them all in good condition," he knew he had to stop there, that he couldn't say any more.

He simply let Valick have the map back and turned into Andy's shoulder as his tears finally started to fall, unable to hold them back any longer. He'd helped Mao deliver Dancer, had been the first one to hold him, heard his first cry, watched him take his first steps, had seen him through his entire life until now. To know what was going to happen to him now, his son, his little boy... It broke his heart...

Desha got himself under enough control to turn in time to see Valick look back towards the castle and knew what he was considering, knew what he had to say even as he continued to shake in Andy's arms, "She won't be able to go, Valick. Not to the outlying islands. She can go to the dragon's islands, the demon realm, or even the elven realm, but not out there. Ash told me about Lucifer before he left, so someone else would know about it just in case something happened. If she goes to help, Lucifer will be able to take her since she won't be under the protections on the island," he said in a soft voice that shook as badly as his body did right now.

He wiped at his face and tried again to regain his composure but knew that it was a wasted effort this time, he wouldn't be able to calm down fully until Dancer was home and safe again, "I won't be able to go either. If he's hurt in any way... I won't be able to think clearly enough to help him," he admitted to them all even though it burned him deep inside to have to say it. But he knew he'd be useless to them if he went and a distraction they didn't need.

This was killing him inside. He'd been able to go before because he'd known Kula wouldn't do anything to Dancer since it wasn't worth anything to her to do so and he'd had Blade and her twins to concentrate on. But this time... This time he knew he wouldn't be able to help and it killed him to have to admit it.

"I'll send what supplies you'll need if he's hurt and tell you how to use them. But that's the best I'll be able to do. I'm so sorry but I just can't-" his voice stopped there and he struggled not to break into tears again.

Desha understood the sentiment Michael was trying to impart and was grateful for it but knew he had to finish what he knew he had to do before the others arrived. He reached down and picked up the bag Andy had brought him and somehow managed to open it with shaking hands before taking in another slow deep breath to steady them enough to get through this.

"What I carry and use isn't normally taught by anyone else. I'll still have to explain it all to you," he said as he pulled out a smaller pouch to pack down what he was giving them so it would be easier to carry then started to lay things out along the bench next to him, explaining as he went, "Bandages, you know, as well as the threaded needles. They're all sterile already. The ointment with the red lid is for bleeding, use that if you have to but only in small amounts since it's concentrated. The... the clear lid is for bleeding in more intimate areas if it's needed. The red capsules are a muscle relaxant, only use two of them at the most if you have to. The green ones are for sleeping, one will put him out for about eight hours. The green pouch contains the herbs for a poultice, just soak them for a few minutes in water then apply the poultice and bandage it. The brown pouch has herbs for a tea that will simply make him drowsy, use that if he's in pain since it will make bringing him back easier on him," he explained it all as he laid each item out for them to look at.

He hesitated over one last item but knew they might need it. He pulled out three bundles of herbs tightly held together with black cord and offered those to Andy, "These... If you light one and simply get it smoking, the smoke will put anyone who smells it to sleep. In a cave that size, all three will knock everyone in there out for about four hours," he explained that one then set his main bag down and started packing down the smaller pouch with the items he'd laid out, having to pause every few moments to steady his shaking hands.

He silently wished that either Rebecca would show up with Cedric so they could leave already or that Dancer would be able to contact Michael. Something, anything. As long as it gave him some small bit of hope...

Desha went weak in the knees when he heard those words, "Oh dear gods! Thank you!" he said softly as he dropped to his knees in front of the bench, his legs unable to hold him up. Through Andy, he could feel how terrified Dancer was and wished he could just wrap his arms around him and keep him safe.

But he knew he couldn't so he didn't say anything of the kind. He just looked over at Michael, knowing he was their only hope of keeping Dancer as calm as possible, "You'll have to tell him- ... You'll have to tell him what to expect before you get there... Tell him to cooperate as much as he can so they don't hurt him," it killed him to have to say that but knew it would have to happen in order to keep Dancer alive.

He knew very well what happened to uncooperative slaves. He'd seen alot of that damage first hand over his many centuries. Everything from brutal injuries to horrible deaths...