["Day 1", After meeting with the Hanan tribe]

Brisse followed Cynthia into her office and sat in the chair before
Cynthia's desk.  She felt drained after the meeting with the Hanan.
Feeling the feelings of despair in the tribe has exhausted her.

"Why don't you tell me about the offer you made to the Hanan tribe,"
Cynthia said.

Brisse composed her thoughts into some relevant order and explained.  "I
offered to let the warren teach them how to farm the lands near the river,
under our protection, and raise their herds there.  Even possibly loan
them some animals in expectation of a better return than our herdsmen
could get here in the warren.

"In exchange, they understand they would have to pay back the loan of
herds, pay a tithe of their herds and crops, and allow us to Search among
them.  I made certain he understood what Searching was-- that it wasn't
slavery."  She paused, thinking.  "I also asked for their help in learning
the food and medicinal plants of the area, and in learning the lay of the
land about us."

She shifted uncomfortably at what she had to tell Cynthia now.  "As a show
of our good faith, he asked for a couple of favours.  One was that we
locate two kids-- a twin boy and girl, fourteen years old-- who came into
the warren three days ago and haven't been seen since."

"What?  What do they think happened to them?"

"They think they've been taken as... sex slaves, for lack of a better
term, by some warrenfolk."

"That's ridiculous," Cynthia protested, "no one here would do that."

"According to Qedhar," Brisse said quietly, "the Hanan have had sixteen
women commit suicide after being used by warren men.  They don't
understand that they can refuse.  They're afraid they're going to get
flamed."

Cynthia was silent for a long moment, her face grim.  "If they're here,
we'll find them.  And any man who is abusing the misunderstanding between
warren and Nomad will be severely punished."

Brisse nodded.  "I promised Jinam I would personally see to the
investigation, and I will."

Cynthia seemed a little surprised by this.  Was this the same shy Brisse?
But then, the girl had had the temerity to go to the Hanan on her own and,
for the most part, negotiate a Contract with them.  "Very well, see to it.
Please, keep me informed."

"I will."  Then Brisse got to the difficult issue.  "He also requested
that the Nomads in the Med Center be returned to the tribe to die.  I told
him that I'd have to talk to you about it."

Cynthia steepled her hands in front of her face, "In many ways, they are
dead already.  Their bodies are being kept alive, but their minds and
souls," Cynthia finished the sentance with a shrug.

"I'll speak to S'lomon this evening.  You and I will go to Jinam with
Qedhar and Ani tomorrow morning and escort him and anyone he wants to
bring to collect the Nomads from the Med Center.  Those people deserve to
die with their tribe around them."

"Won't S'lomon protest?" Brisse asked, relieved to hear that Cynthia
agreed with her on the issue, and somewhat surprised that the woman was
even aware of the comatose Nomads existence, considering how few other
warrenfolk seemed to know of them.

"I don't intend to give him any choice.  If the sacrifice of a few who are
already dead will convince Jinam of our sincerity and save the rest of the
tribe, then it will be worth it." 

"I agree," Brisse said, nodding.

"Good.  Arrange a time to meet Qedhar and Ani and go to the Hanan tribe. 
The earlier in the day, the better." 

Brisse nodded.  "I will, as soon as I get this search under way."

She stood and exitted the office and strode out onto the green a ways
before pausing to consider how to go about her next step.  <Tymor, dear,
can you ask Shinner's rider to meet me in the hatching cave.  I want to
talk to him, but I also want to spend some time with you.>

<Oh, good!  I've missed you, my rider, while you've been so busy.>

Brisse smiled and strode toward the hatching cave.

It wasn't long before Dan'yar stepped into the hatching cave and swept her
into his arms.  He stepped back and studied her old clothes critically.
"Did you run out of clean clothes, love?" he asked, smiling.

"I ran out of ones that fit, except my old hand-me-downs."

"We'll have to go to the tailors and see about new ones, then.  Are you
doing anything?  We could go now."

"Actually, I have something I need you to do."

"What's that, love?"

She took a deep breath and braced herself for his reaction, knowing he
would not likely be happy with her visit to the Hanan encampment today. 
But, she felt justified in what she had done.  It was necessary, and no
one else in the warren seemed to have her level of empathy.  For the first
time, Brisse felt like she had truly found her place here, and she was not
going to back down from what she knew to be right.  "I went to see the
Hanan today."

"You did what?!  Brisse--"

"Someone had to before they all killed themselves," she cut him off.  "I
figured they might listen to me since they know me."  He started to say
something, but she kept going.  "But that's not as important right now as
what I found out and I need you to listen and not yell.  I'm requesting
your assistance from my position as queenrider."

He shut his mouth and stared at her dumbfounded.

Having gained his silence, she continued on.  "There have been several
Hanan women who have been, well, hit upon by men in this warren, and,
after it was all over committed suicide.  They didn't know they could
refuse and they were afraid to.  But now, there are two kids, twin boy and
girl, age fourteen, who came to the warren three days ago and haven't been
seen since.  We have to find them, Dan'yar.  We have to help them. 
They're here among people who don't speak their language and gods know
what they've been put through.  We have to find them as soon as possible."

******

[Following morning]

They made their way out to the encampment.  Brisse couldn't help feeling
discouraged.  While she and Dan'yar had organised a sizeable search team,
the two missing Hanan had yet to be found.  She had wanted to be able to
return them to their tribe this morning.

She did notice a difference in the attitude of the tribe.  She hoped this
meant that Jinam had talked to them and they had accepted the warren's
offer.

After a few minutes Jinam emerged from his tent and walked through the
still long shadows to the group of riders.

Qedhar leaned close to Cynthia and whispered, "Allow Jinam to speak his
greeting first."

"What if he tells me to get away from his camp?"

"Speak your greeting anyway."

Jinam stopped a few feet from the riders and spoke in the tongue of his
people, then he bowed low.

Qedhar was about to translate when Cynthia put a hand on his arm.  Then
she spoke slowly in the Nomad's tongue.  Brisse knew the translation of
what Cynthia was saying.  Then Cynthia bowed as low as Jinam had.

Jinam smiled slightly and gestured for them to follow.  He led them to
the fire, and they noticed that cushions had been placed on the ground
for them to sit upon.  Jinam was joined by two of the tribe's other men.

As soon as they were seated several women brought pots over and put them
on the fire.  Once they walked away Jinam began to speak and Qedhar
translated, "We have considered your offer but have not yet reached
decision.  Today we will test your sincerity."

"You will find that our offer was made in the best of faith," Cynthia
replied.

"I want to believe that," Jinam replied.  "What of two youngster lost in
your encampment?  Is he found yet?"

Brisse cleared her throat.  "We've organised a search, and are still
searching.  They have yet to be found."

"Perhaps he has died and his body hidden away," Jinam theorised.

"I hope not," Brisse said quietly.

"And other matter of Hanan in tent of Nereem?"

"Tent of..."

"Medical Center," Qedhar explained.

Cynthia spoke now.  "Members of your tribe are welcome to come to... our
tent of Nareem and bring your people home.  You will not be stopped or
molested."

After Qedhar had translated, Jinam nodded.  "Several Hanan will come later
in day.  Hanan will talk tonight and come to decision."

A small girl ran out of the tent where they'd met with Jinam the day
before and ran to him.  He smiled as she plopped herself into his lap.  A
woman stepped out of the tent and scolded the girl, but Jinam waved her
away.  Brisse was surprised.  She had not, for some reason, pictured Jinam
as a father and husband.

"Benna Sitra," Jinam said, which Qedhar translated as, "My daughter,
Sitra."

"And is she your wife?" Brisse asked, nodding toward the tent.

"Chunor," Jinam answered.

"Oh."

They ate breakfast quietly, with the warrenfolk being careful to observe a
lot of unfamiliar customs.  The food was spicy, though the Nomads used
sour cream to cut the heat to some extent.  They used a lot of meat in
their cooking.  Brisse could see that a change to their lifestyle was
going to affect their diet as well.

******

The morning was spent with more searching, and in watching the quiet group
of Nomads collect their dying.

Brisse spent a very depressed lunch, picking at her food.  She still had
no appetite, though S'lomon had assured her this phase would soon end.

She and Dan'yar had just emerged from the Dining Hall when they heard
someone scream.  They followed the sound to a gathering crowd, and saw two
people hanging on the side of the cliffs where the dragonrider apartments
were.

Brisse grabbed Dan'yar's arm.  "It's them!  Can we get to them?  Quickly?"

Respectfully submitted,
 Lynette R. F. Cowper
  Brisse and Dan'yar

NRPG: Over to you, Barb.

 # Lynette R. F. Cowper        o       INWO Line Editor & Goddess      #
 # lcowper@indy.net             <><     Circle of Janus Secretary      #
 # lcowper@io.com                  o       Captain, USS CALYPSO        #
 # http://www.io.com/~lcowper/  ><>     Warrenlady, Telnor Warren      #