For RodS because he gently nudges me every now and again to finish the Delphinium Order chapter. Sorry, had to break this in two. Best it full size. Millicent's and Ingrid's quick dispatch of the once mighty Shaw had re-energized Anna's broken spirit. Shaw now lay dead on the cold morning ground, his once handsome face an unrecognizable mess of blood and gore; his neck broken and his chest torn open. Anna's familiar's had considerably evened the odds. Safe for the moment, she could now turn her attention to Onna who held her beloved little George in a protective energy shield. Anna could hear George screeching in terror as Onna struggled to hold the squirming reptile between her feet while she attempted to maintain her energy shield. Anna let herself crack a small smile. Although he did not know it, George was going to be helpful in his escape. Onna could not give her undivided attention to Anna if George was biting and clawing at her! Anna recognized Onna's energy shield for what it was. Though she was not yet a powerful enough magician to cast such a strong shield spell she well knew its strengths and limitations. She gave Onna a measure of due respect- this was one powerful bitch witch. Her shield was no small doing. It would take a mighty force to crack it open. Now she knew why Onna had brought along Shaw. For while her shield was virtually impenetrable Onna could not move, or at most move no more than at a snail's pace, as long as she held the shield. She had needed Shaw to dispatch of Anna and probably Millicent too so that she could escape with George. Now she was trapped and they all knew it. She had seen what happened to Shaw and knew that if she dropped her shield the cursed cat would be on her in a flash. And she also knew that Anna, being a graduate of the Delphinium order, would have considerable power even for one so young. Being unprotected during attack by Anna and her cat familiar it would be virtually impossible to maintain control of the struggling dragon pup. Onna was in trouble and she knew it. Anna and Millicent carefully approached the now glowing witch while Ingrid circled above, waiting for any crack to appear in Onna's shield. None showed. Anna pointed to George and gave a sharp hiss. Millicent now knew her role in the upcoming fight - if Onna's shield went down, grab George and run - leave Onna to Anna. Anna and Millicent circled Onna in opposite directions sizing her up and meeting again where they had started. Millicent looked at Anna and Anna at her; this was going to be tough. Anna then whirled around and threw a blue bolt that hit Onna's shield square in the face. The witch just smiled as the charge fizzled against her shield. Anna hit her again, harder this time and again and again. It went on for hours. Onna just stood there, grimly smiling; Anna never giving up. Finally Anna summoned all the strength she had, called on the Elven Elders and with a mighty yell threw a wicked blue flame that would have vaporized a full grown delphinium dragon! It punched deep into the witches shield. This time Onna was tested. She tasted cordite and ozone. She knew then that Anna just might get through if she could throw another hit or two like that. So Onna gambled and with a shrieking laugh did something that no witch was supposed to be able to do. She threw her own bolt - right out of her energy shield! Or at least she tried to, for Anna instantly countered with another blast, deflecting Onna's energy back to her. Onna chocked and Anna gasped for breath.