D'Ren walked into the dining hall which was slowly emptying as 
many finished lunch and were returning to their jobs.  He looked around 
the hall, and it didn't take him long to find Isolinde as the people 
that she was sitting with were singing and a familiar song on the harp 
was being played.  It was a pleasant melody - it made D'Ren thank the 
makers that the girl that had stumbled into the warren's only 
construction accident was ok.  As he approached the gathering of dragon 
riders, he thought how much work needed to be done and how much the 
dragons would help, and then sorrowfully he cursed his own dragonless 
life.  A few of the gathering noticed his approach and looked at him 
expectantly.

	"Well I'm glad that you're alright, Isolinde.", he said 

	The young girl felt surprised by D'Ren's concern then suddenly 
felt uncomfortable wondering if R'Bert would get the wrong idea. All 
through this, she managed only to utter a timid thanks.  Her companion 
stood and extended his hand in greeting.

	"I want to thank you, miner, for rescuing my friend.", R'Bert 
smiled as he clenched D'Ren's hand.  

	The stonecutter took up the challenge crushing with even greater 
force and responding, "It was my pleasure, dragon rider."  It didn't 
take long for R'Bert to release his grip, though D'Ren had to admit that 
R'Bert was strong.  
	
	He smiled thinking that he almost liked the guy, then he turned 
to the table and said, "Good afternoon riders.  I've been given 
permission by the Warren Lady to ask some of the junior riders to aid me 
in building a gate for south entrance, and I would like your help."

NRP:  Tag EVERYONE

*******

RP:
	Later that evening, the sunlight was finally dimming over the 
west ridge of the warren, and Brisse was taking Tymor to the feeding 
pens.  Despite being told about her dragon's rapid growth, she never 
believed that he young dragon would grow THIS fast.  As they reached the 
gate,  she heard a voice call to her, and she and Tymor turned to see 
D'Ren walking up to them.  His brown over tunic and wool pants were 
covered in dust apparently from work, and his tanned skin was glistening 
with sweat.

	"M'Lady Brisse," he said as he approached, "I'm sorry if I'm 
bothering you."

	"What can I do for you D'Ren?", she asked as she was very 
curious why he would come rushing up to her.  She almost felt afraid but 
pushed the idea aside as silliness.

	"M'Lady", he said again trying to regain his breath, and Brisse 
realized just how much she didn't like being called "M'Lady".  It made 
her feel so old or worse yet overly important.
	
	D'Ren then continued, "I'm sorry for my haggard appearance, but 
I felt it may be taken wrong by the others if I would have told you at 
lunch, but I just wanted to let you know that I and the other workers 
have pledged that no one else is going to be abducted from the warren.  
We are being trained by the weapon masters and are forming a guard.  
Some of us have even pledged, like myself, to be armed at all times."  
And he knelt on one knee in front of the junior Warren Lady and looked 
deeply into her eyes.

	Brisse was unsure how to respond to this, but before she could, 
the stoneworker pledged,  "We are all sorry about what happened to you, 
Brisse, and I make an oath to you and your dragon and to the gods that 
no harm shall befall you ever again as long as there is breath in my 
lungs and strength in my heart."


Tom Oesterman
D'Ren Stonecutter