D'Ren and Dan'yar watched the column of smoke curling into the 
evening sky, and as a small crowd gathered, Dan'yar said, "I'm calling some 
riders, and we'll go check it out."

	"Be careful, sir.", D'Ren replied, and then looking at the meager 
start of the south gate, he called to several of his friends to arm 
themselves and rejoin him here.

	The guard quickly gathered, mostly unjoined workers that had felt as 
D'Ren did when their junior Queen was taken the first time.  Lanterns and 
watch fires were prepared for the night.  All the while, he supervised the 
building of the defenses, like some construction job that he was part of.  
He knew everything had to be ready in case of an attack.
	
	"Those damn nomads won't be able to understand that we're here to 
help them.  And now we're going to have to kill them instead," he thought 
with some sympathy that even surprised him.  While looking out into the 
darkening night he wondered,"I hope Dan'yar and the others fared fine - they 
should be back already." 

	His thoughts continued to wandered between his duty and what 
Brisse's dragon Tymor had done...He knew dragons, especially female dragons, 
wanted their riders to be happy and even played matchmaker, or so he had 
heard.  But he didn't make that oath to impress Brisse.  He really meant 
it...ok maybe kneeling in front of her and that part about 'breath in my 
lungs...' was a bit much, but he liked the sound of it as if he were some 
noble landborn protecting the good Queen of the Dragonriders...

	Just then a voice he didn't recognize brought D'Ren back to his 
senses.  He quickly turned around to see the dragon rider nomad Qedhar 
standing there.  "Even the damn nomads join with dragons before me.", D'Ren 
angrily thought as Qedhar said, "Your guard strong.  Enemy not come 
tonight."

	"And what makes you so sure, nom...ah...sir.", D'Ren questioned 
having to remind himself that even though this man was a nomad, he is also a 
dragonrider and is to be given the proper respect.

	"After bad fight, much to do. Then think, then attack."  Qedhar said 
the word 'attack' with a little to much zeal for D'Ren, but he also knew 
that this man was a former leader of these people, and that he should ask 
him for help.  Besides the weaponmasters during the last training session 
told him that it would be good to know the enemy.

	"Qedhar. Could you help us, with our defense against the nomads?"


NRP:  Ok, everyone saddle up and move out, ye ha!  Let's find out what the 
heck's left of the nomad settlement and maybe find us some clues as to who 
these rogue dragonriders are...