Shamed, he walked with C'aranth to Warren-Lady-Cynthia's office.  How could
Andorra act this way towards him??  But she had been right!  And Bohoc's
fear and anger also stayed with him -- clinging to his mind as a reminder of
his own pride and stupidity.  What had gotten into him?  And  Reaine  -- how
could he ever look at the woman again, after the way she had shamed him,
stripped him of his honor right there in front of the whole warren!

Cynthia stood as Andorra and the two men entered her office.  She took the
swords from her and watched as Andorra quickly left.

She looked from one man to the other, "Anyone care to explain this?"  Of
course Syren had told her all about it, though she still didn't fully
understand how the two had come to blows.

C'aranth folded his arms across his chest and glared at the young nomad,
"Ask *him*!"

Andahar stood before Warren-Lady-Cynthia, no explanation coming to his mind,
"I have no defense," he murmured, "what ever punishment you see fit, I will
take."

"I should have the two of you confined to quarters," Cynthia looked from one
to the other, "but perhaps I'll have you scrub some pans in the dining hall
to make up for the mess you made there!"  Her stern tone was only betrayed
by the hidden laughter in her eyes, which C'aranth noticed at once.
Andahar, however, was still looking at her boots.

"As Warren-Lady-Cynthia says, I will do."  Andahar responded formally.

She suddenly laughed, and Andahar looked up at her surprised.  "Look, I have
more important things to deal with here -- you two just... behave
yourselves!  Now get out of here!"  She made no move to return the swords,
and neither man dared to ask for them to be returned.

Andahar blinked in surprise at his good fortune, glanced at C'aranth, and
saw the other man bow slightly to Cynthia, and turn to leave the office.
Andahar bowed to the Warren Lady and also quickly left, feeling a great deal
of relief.

C'aranth was waiting outside the office, leaning casually against the wall.
The two glared at each other for a moment.

"You were lucky today, Nomad."  C'aranth said.  "You were lucky your women
were there to protect you."

Andahar's face burned.  He swallowed, and his hands went to his now empty
scabbards.

C'aranth laughed suddenly, "but you surprised me!  You fought well...
dragonrider."  His eyes glinted with begrudged admiration.  "Show me some of
those moves sometime."

Andahar smiled, self-consciously.  "You fought well, too, ... warrior."

The two walked out together across the green.  Perhaps not friends, but no
longer enemies.  Andahar stopped suddenly.

C'aranth recognized the glazed look that came across Andahar's face.  He
stiffened slightly, remembering the mind-touch of his lost dragon.

"There is rider come from .... Geode?..... wraith attack there." Andahar
frowned, struggling for the words.  "Inside-of-man-wraith?... Attack is bad.
Calling for meeting of riders. I must go."  He turned and looked long and
hard at the man beside him.  "We will ... talk... when I return?"

*****
NRPG: Tag Alton and Darren... If you want to add anything?

******
Bohoc's relief as Andahar and C'aranth stopped fighting was almost as great
as the joy he felt while splashing in the pond with Triss.  Bohoc slid
expertly out from under the younger female.  Ducking his head, he splashed
her full in the face, and she roared in mock indignation.

The two rolled and splashed, enjoying the cooling water, and had just
resolved to go warm up on the rock ledge above the Nomad village -- when the
summons came for all dragons who wished to volunteer to fight Hellspawn in
Geode to come to the green.

Triss winged away immediately to get her saddle, and Bohoc flew over to the
green where he knew his rider was waiting.

*****
Andahar slid onto the bare, *wet* back of his dragon, saluted to C'aranth
and winged over to their apartment's ledge.  Changing quickly, and adding
two knives to his belt, Andahar then attached to Bohoc's back the leather
thongs that the Nomad preferred over the Warren-type saddles, and they flew
down to the green.  Andahar followed the assembling forces into the large
hall to hear the rider from Geode.

>>"So we're here asking for any help you might be able to give us in
defeating the Wraiths and saving our Warren," the rider from Geode
finished by saying and then stepped back away from the podium to give
the Cleft riders a chance to discuss it among themselves.<<

Andahar immediately volunteered.  He would prove himself in battle!  He was
a warrior, and would not be shamed out of fighting!  He would regain his
lost swords!!!

As the dragons assembled on the green, and loaded up on coal, Andahar was
aware of Reain mounting her beautiful sky-blue dragon.  He found himself
admiring her -- attributes -- but then the anger and shame of a few hours
ago hit him full force.  He would watch her... he would see how he could
regain his honor!

Near him were Meena and Farr'in, and they waited anxiously for Dan'yar's
signal.

Bohoc was eager for battle!  He loved flaming wraiths and thought of it as a
game.  The signal finally came and he launched gracefully into the air.

<Bohoc, be careful!> Trissana called.

Bohoc grinned and called back, <I will, and I will hunt for you when I
return and we will feast!>

They vanished into the gray and appeared over Geode warren -- or what was
left of it!

*****
NRPG:  Well, I'm at Geode.... now I have to figure out what is going on at
the battle!

Respectfully submitted:
Arlene Jacobs
AKA  Andahar rider of Bohoc of Cleft Warren


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