[Day after the Hatching (which I'm designating Day 1) - Morning]

> They stopped outside the warrenlady's office and knocked.  Andahar
> spoke
> as she gave the weapons to the warrenlady, she left quickly, and before
> those two did anything.

"You know what happened?" Andahar asked as Andorra laid their weapons on
Cynthia's desk.

"I certainly do," Cynthia said slowly without looking up at the two men
standing rigidly before her desk.

Andorra retreated quickly toward the door and closed it behind her.  It
clicked softly shut, and Cynthia let silence settle over the room for a
moment before sliding her chair back and standing up.

Cynthia walked around her desk and stood facing the two men, "Which one
of you would care to tell me what this childish display of man hood was
all about," she demanded.

"It was a matter of honor," C'aranth responded flatly.

"Honor demanded you break dishes and over turn tables?  Honor demanded
you turn the dining hall into an arena?" Cynthia turned on C'aranth,
"Does destruction follow in your wake?"

"I don't believe it does," C'aranth replied.

"And you," Cynthia said with an edge in her voice to Andahar, "Does it
speak well for a chieftain to put his personal honor above the safety of
the women and children of the tribe?"

"It does not," Andahar replied without moving his eyes from a spot on
the wall.

"If you two had gone to the practice hall and pummled each other with
wooden swords, I would not be at all upset.  Even if you two had cut
each other to ribbons, I'd mourn and move on with my life," Cynthia
seethed, "But to engage in such foolishness in the dining hall of my
warren."

Cynthia shook her head and continued, "I have half a mind to gut you
both myself and leave you for the vultures."

The silence that followed her statement was broken by a knock at the
door.

"What," Cynthia lashed out at the unfortunate on the other side.

The door opened slowly and T'by peered in at the two men standing
rigidly under Cynthia's gaze.

"I'm sorry to disturb you, Ma'am," T'by said timidly, "but there's a
matter of some urgency that you should know about."

"And that is," Cynthia snapped.

"There's a rider here from Geode with an urgent message from Warrenlady
Phadera."

Cynthia walked out of her office door and slammed it behind her.

[Darren and Arlene: Anything you'd like to add while the teacher's back
is turned?]

"This is Ghost, courier from Geode Warren," T'by introduced Cynthia to
the unfamiliar woman he was with.

"I'm sorry to disturb you," Ghost said, "but this is an urgent matter." 
She handed Cynthia a note.

Cynthia took the paper and unfolded it.  As she read, Ghost summarized
for her, "Geode was attacked by a wraith horde earlier today.  The
wraiths appeared to be organized, as opposed to their normal mindless
behavoir.  We now believe that a hellspawn is infecting Ash'chenon of
Telnor warren, and he is leading them."

"Ash?" Cynthia breathed.

"You know of him?" Ghost asked.

"I joined at Telnor and lived there before moving here to found Cleft. 
I know Ash.  He's not a good enemy to have."

"He seems to be a military genious," Ghost continued, "and we need all
the help we can get to survive this onslaught."

"You will," Cynthia said, "Cleft will send whatever aid we can."

<Syren,> Cynthia thought to her queen, <inform Shinner that his rider
should form all availible riders from the wing up on the green as soon
as possible.  I need to see his rider and the flight leaders in my
office.>

*They are already beginning to gather.  Should I call in the dragons out
on patrol?*

<No, we need to keep some dragons here in case we need them.>

She turned to Ghost, "Forgive me, but I have much to do before we send
our dragons to you."

"I understand," the young woman replied, "I must return to Geode.  Thank
you for your help."

Cynthia turned and walked into her office, leaving the door open.  "You
have been saved from my immediate wrath by events beyond your control. 
Andahar, from up with the wing, you're going to Geode Warren.  Try not
to get killed."

Andahar nodded curtly and left the office.

Cynthia turned to C'aranth, "Go to the Med Center and help in whatever
way S'lomon directs you.  If you step out of line, I'll have Syren eat
you."

"If there is a battle to be fought, I'd rather go to Geode," C'aranth
protested.

"The battle at Geode is with wraiths.  All your skill with a sword won't
help you.  Now go, I've got more important things to do."
***

A few minutes later Cynthia was in the dining hall briefing the three
flights of riders going to Geode about the situation there.  She then
dismissed them to go begin making preparations for departure from Cleft.

>      The rider nodded silently to herself.  She knew what she had to do...but
> not whether it would be allowed.  She waited until the meeting had ended, and
> then approached Warrenlady Cynthia.
> 
>      "Cynthia, I would like to...volunteer...to go to Geode with Cleft's
> wing."
> 
>      The Warrenlady's face registered her surprise.  "But you're still
> injured," she pointed out, indicating the crutch that Renata still needed to
> get around.  "You can barely walk."
> 
>      "I know," Renata admitted.  "But I'd be fighting on Vega's back, of
> course.  I wouldn't be doing any walking anyway."
> 
>      Cynthia looked doubtful.  "Renata, this is an unusual situation.  There's
> still your banishment to consider.  There may be some doubt about whether it's
> valid here, since Epion is part of an entirely different political system than
> Cleft...but at Geode, there'd be no doubt at all."
> 
>      "Yes, I know," Renata answered.  "Warrenlady Phaedra may send me packing,
> or even have me locked up for setting foot inside her warren.  But I *have* to
> try...you understand that, don't you?"
> 
>      Cynthia sighed.  "You think that by volunteering for this, the Dragonlady
> of Iseme might overturn your banishment?  That's doubtful, to say the least."
> 
>      Renata nodded.  "Cynthia, I have no remorse for my actions that resulted
> in my being banished.  I would do it again.  But...I cannot go on like this.
> Neither can Vega.  For a banished rider, the only choices are to live in the
> wilds, like animals, or to take up with other rogues...like M'del.  I won't do
> that again, but...Vega and I can't go back to that other life, either.  I
> cannot realistically expect Vignette to overturn my banishment, I know
> that...but its a chance.  And even if Vega and I both die, at least we could
> do so with some semblance of honor."
> 
>      "I'm still researching your case," Cynthia pointed out.  "It may be that,
> if it turns out that your banishment doesn't extend here, that you could stay.
> You did help us at Jhezrael."
> 
>      Renata shook her head.  "Cynthia, I appreciate your efforts, but...have
> you thought of the consequences if you do that?  Banished riders from Epion,
> from Iseme, from Xylian or Jasra...most of them true rogues...would all come
> flocking to your warrens here, asking to be admitted.  And the reverse would
> be true...I would hate to think that someone like M'del could go to Epion or
> to Geode, and be given a chance to repeat the crimes that caused them to be
> banished in the first place.  No...I cannot stay here or at any warren as long
> as my banishment holds.  Cynthia, will you allow me this chance?"

Cynthia sighed, "I will.  I will because you want to go.  I will because
I agree with your desire to make up for your past deeds, and I will
because Geode will need all the able riders we can supply."

"Thank you," Renata replied.

"Take care of yourself," Cynthia said placing her hand lightly on
Renata's arm.

Renata nodded, smiled and hobbled off toward the green and the waiting
Vega.

***
[Somewhere north of Cleft]

>         Amberylle looked up at Kat, who was wide eyed.  Kat was just realizing
> they had assigned her two passengers, and you could see the realization
> dawning on her.  "Oh no, it could be dangerous.  We can't take you; you're
> not even dressed for the flight.  And we could be attacked." She motioned
> back to the dragons.  "These are dragons, not the local ferry.  We don't
> shuttle passengers around.  We don't have room."
> 
>         A young girl brought Amberylle a bag and a cloak, and Davyd had a few
> things in a bag as well.  "They don't have much, and I have room on my
> saddle."  Kat instantly shot P'ker a look and Amberylle tried to stifle a
> laugh.  "Well, it would be another two days, and two more people·" He
> shrugged as she just stared at him.
> 
>         "Ok, just the two."  She turned and gave P'ker a look that said 'you will
> take the heat for this one', and let it sting to the core.

M'yer helped Amberylle up into the saddle behind P'ker and secured the
riding straps around her.  "It's going to be cold and windy once we get
off the ground, but we'll be back at the warren soon enough.  The straps
will hold you in place, so don't worry about falling off."

Amberylle nodded, and thanked him.

M'yer leaned close to P'ker and whispered, "Try not to enjoy this too
much."

Then M'yer and Katrina helped Davyd into the saddle behind M'yer.

"It's been a very long time since I last rode a dragon.  It was to a
hatching, I believe.  I had a promising young pupil before Vorbis, and
he joined to a dragon.  It was a glorious event that changed his life
forever," Davyd rambled on while Katrina adjusted the riding straps.

"You should be fine," Kat said, "It's a short flight."

Katrina mounted Azure and looked back at the men with her.  They
appeared to be waiting for her.  Vorbis clearly thought she was in
charge and they were letting her take the lead.  She raised her fist in
the air, and when she brought it down, the three dragons lept into the
air.

Verdanth launched himself skyward with more force than necessary, and
Lady Amberylle gasped and threw her arms around P'ker for support.  The
dark skinned rider grinned and rolled Verdanth into a tight turn toward
Cleft Warren.

By the time they arrived at the warren, the wing was already assembling
on the green.  Azure, Dotarth and Verdanth landed near Blanchie in a
small clearing that opened for them as the dragons approached.

They helped their passengers dismount and stopped a passing nomad girl. 
M'yer instructed her in the nomad tongue to settle them into guest
quarters before preparing himself and Dotarth for the trip to Geode.

***
[Med Center]

J'errid watched the wing assemble from his room window.  "Don't even
think about asking me for permission to join them," S'lomon said from
the doorway.

"I wasn't thinking about asking permission," J'errid said.

"Good, because I wouldn't give it."

I'm just going to go without asking permission, J'errid thought.

***
[The Green - A while later]
It took far longer than Cynthia liked to get the wing ready for battle. 
Part of the problem was organization.  Cleft's wing was larger than most
and had lost some organization with J'errid in the Med Center.  Cynthia
vowed to improve their organization in the future.

She watched as the last group of dragons took to the sky and teleported
away from Cleft.  Then she looked around and saw another lone figure on
the green watching a dragon fly toward Syren's ledge and land.  She
walked over.

>      "Trevor?"
> 
>      He turned and saw Cynthia standing just behind him.  He smiled to let her
> know that everything was all right.
> 
>      "She wanted to go, didn't she?" Cynthia asked.
> 
>      Trevor nodded.  "And I couldn't make her understand why we couldn't.  Now
> she thinks everyone has lost faith in her.  She wants so badly to feel needed,
> and right now I think she feels that she isn't."
> 
>      Cynthia stepped up just behind him and put her arms around him.  "Perhaps
> I could have Syren talk to her," she said.  
> 
>      Trevor nodded.  He hated to leave Triss feeling the way she did, but knew
> that his talking to her wouldn't help...she clearly thought that he was just
> telling her things to make her feel good.  Perhaps after Syren had spoken to
> her, she'd listen to him.
> 
>       "In a way, I wish we *could* have gone," he admitted.  "Now I'm going to
> have to wait here and worry about all of them...Dan'yar, Lenna, Meena,
> Farr'in, Andahar, and all the rest.  That's harder than fighting, isn't it?"
> 
>      "Yes, it is," Cynthia agreed.  "Queenriders learn that early on, I'm
> afraid.  But at least I don't have to worry about *you* not coming back from
> there.  I went through that the night before last, and I'm not anxious to do
> it again for awhile!"
> 
>      He smiled sadly.  "And I don't have to worry about coming back and
> finding that something's happened to you while I was gone...that's something
> I'm not anxious to repeat either."
> 
>      He slipped an arm around her waist as they began to walk back toward the
> apartment.  "I have a full desk that I could use to keep me occupied," she
> observed, "but it would be more fun to start making plans."
> 
>      "Plans?"
> 
>      "For a certain *ceremony* that will be taking place shortly?" she
> reminded him.
> 
>      "Ah...yes," he said.  "Well, we could let Triss handle the invitations,
> like she did for our fish fry.  That way we'd be sure that everyone in the
> warren would be invited."
> 
>      "Have you told your mother yet?" she asked.
> 
>      "No, but I suppose I should," he said.  "She didn't go with the wing
> either, so I can do that today I suppose."
> 
>      "What do you think she'll have to say about it?" Cynthia wondered.
> 
>      Trevor chuckled.  "She'll be thrilled, you know that!  The only reason
> I'm hesitating to tell her is that I know she'll go dashing through the
> warren, telling everyone she can find.  Hmm, maybe now would be a good time at
> that, since there aren't that many people around."
> 
>      Just then, they heard someone calling to them from behind, and saw Demee,
> Arly, and Leyean come running up.  When the three had skidded to a stop, Demee
> drew himself up straight and gravely handed Cynthia a note.  "We have a guest
> at the warren, Warrenlady Cynthia," he said.  "She asked me to give you this."
> He handed Cynthia a neatly-folded note."
> 
>      Trevor looked on curiously as Cynthia opened the note and read it.  "What
> does it say?" he asked.
> 
>      Cynthia read the note aloud.  "It says, 'Dear Cynthia,     I would like you
> to enjoy a cup of tea, and get to know you better.  We have much to speak on.'
> And it's signed, 'Amberylle'."
> 
>      "Amberylle," Trevor mused.  "Never heard that name before.  But since
> she's offering tea...."

"I don't seem to have any excuses for turning her down, do I?" Cynthia
asked.

"You don't," Trevor replied.

She looked at Demee, "Would you like to join us also?"

"I was only suppose' to give you the note," he said.

"Well, since I don't know where Amberylle is, you have to take me
there.  Since you're coming anyway, why don't you and Arly and Leyean
join us?"

"Ok," Demee said with a grin, "She's this way."

Demee started off toward the warren with the rest of them following
behind.  Every few feet, he'd look back over his shoulder to make sure
they were still following behind.  He stopped in front of one of the
doors to the searchling barracks and announced, "She was in there."

Cynthia walked up to the door and knocked.  After a moment the door was
opened by a tall woman with jet black hair wearing a well made blue
dress.  "You must be Cynthia," she said with a smile.

"And you must be Amberylle," Cynthia replied, "I hope you don't mine
that I invited a few extra people for tea," she gestured toward Demee
and the twins.

"Of course not.  Please come in."

Cynthia gestured for Demee and the girls to go in ahead of her, and
Trevor stepped up, "This is Trevor, rider of Trissanna, and map maker."

"Map maker," Amberylle said, "My husband will be anxious to meet you."

"Your husband?" Trevor asked.

"Lord Vorbis.  We will need to choose a suitable site for our
settlement."

NRPG:
Remember me?  I'm the admin around here.  It feels like forever since
I've posted.  I think it has been.

First, I'd like to publically thank Kate for agreeing to help out with
some of the administrative duties.  We'll figure out what parts of the
workload she'll be taking and let youse guys know.

Next, around the warren are the newly joined, C'aranth, Kellie, trevor
and Cynthia.  I think everyone else is at the battle.  I've got to get
one of those posts out soon.

J'errid is at the battle, and I don't think he's coming back.  I want to
re-arrange the wings and it will be easier without him (poor guy).

Darren and John: What's the Lady got to say?

I think that's it for now.

Respectfully submitted,
Warrenlady Cynthia - Cleft Warren
Alton Reich
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