[NRPG: Not much of a title-just couldn't think of another one. This is
somewhat backposted. I used the timeline in Alton's last post as a bases.
I only have the end of day three here though. I don't have much in mind for
day four at the moment, and nothing has happend yet with day five-waiting to
see what Darren has in mind, so days four and five will be together in a
later post. Mainly wanted to get something out with how Serina is fairing
and
the family's reaction to it all.]


************************
 Vorbis' apartment
 (Evening: Day 3)

--Serina---

>Davyd knocked on the door and entered a moment later when he was bidden
>to. Vorbis was sitting at a small desk near the window while a young
>girl dusted the furniture.  Davyd looked at the girl and then at Vorbis
>with his eyebrow raised slightly.

>Vorbis motioned him over and said, "That is Serina.  She will be
>helping us during our stay here."

>Davyd turned toward her and said,  "I am Davyd, Lord Vorbis' advisor.
>It is a pleasure to meet you."

>Serina, looking a bit unsure courtised and returned to her work.  Davyd
>turned back toward Vorbis and began to unroll a map in front of him on the
>>desk."I have been looking at possible sites for us to settle. I did a bit
>of research on irrigation, which will be necessary for sucessful farming."

 As the two men talk about farming Serina continues her dusting. She
pays little heed to what they discuss having other things on her mind,
and not just her work. It was true she wanted to do a good job, she
didn't want to think of what may befall her if she didn't do a good
job. For all the things that interested her about Vorbis, she knews by
some inner instict, that Vorbis was not one to cross. As she thinks,
//Well at least Kat is around. I know she is wary, and will keep an eye
on Vorbis and more then likely on me too//, the apartment door opens.

>The door opened and Lady Amberylle entered.  She saw Serina and then
>turned to glare at her husband.  She crossed to the bedroom, entered
>and slammed the door behind her.

 Serina finds herself staring at the new arrival's receding back. There
is little doubt who this woman is in the young girl's mind. //Oh great!
By gods Vorbis has a wife! Why didn't dad say so?// Other thoughts about
this revelation swirl through the fouteen year old's head and she finds
herself feeling uneasy. She doesn't wish the others in the room to see
this in her though, so she puts on a look of indifferance and continues
working. She continues as such until she hears Vorbis speak.

>"Serina, would you join me for a night walk?  It seems my wife has decided
>to retire for the evening."  Vorbid stood and walked to her offering his
>hand in the proper form of a gentleman.  "I do hate walking alone." Vorbis
>studied her with his intense eyes, knowing what her answer would be.

 Before Serina replies she thinks with relief, //Well at least
he doesn't hide the fact that the Lady is his wife.//

 "I would be honored."  She curstied as he made a short bow.

>He did not miss the glare Davyd shot him.

 Serina's brief moment of relief evaporates as Davyd's glares at Vorbis.
Serina bites her lip as she feels not only uneasy, but self-conscious as
well. As she heads to the door with Vorbis she glimpses the Lady's door
out of the corner of her eye, and thinks,//Maybe I should try and talk to
her sometime. I don't want her to hate me. I didn't know, and I don't want
to be trouble. Dad what have you gotten me into?//

 As the two walk in silence through hallways and tunnels Serina frowns
to herself. She think of another reason, beside dragons, to add to her
great dislike of warrens. The tunnels are unpleasent to look at and give
her a feeling of oppression. She can't imagine how her older sister can
stand such a place. And poor Seth, Serina felt sorry for him now that he
had to live in this place. When Vorbis and Serina finally make it outside
to the upper warren, Serina takes a deep breath of the night air. Then feeling
a need to break the silence which followed the two up here, Serina speaks.

 "You have a lovely wife."

>"She is, but she does not love me."  He walked to the wall and looked down.
>Below him sat tents illuminated by small campfires.  "It has been a long
>time since we have shared a bed together."  He hung his head.  "But I am
>sure you do not want to hear about this.  And I have greater problems at
>hand than a wife who would kill me if she got the chance."

 Serina finding Vorbis' words difficult to believe, but pained by
such an admittance nontheless replies,"It must be hard to deal with
all of this stress. I know my father would not be as far as he is
without my mother helping him."  She walks to the wall where he was.

>"Then he is a very lucky man.  What I would not give for that kind
>of relationship.  No matter how I tried to appease her, she never was
>satisfied."  He looked at Serina as he ran a finger down the side of
>her cheek. "To be your age again and have it to do all over."

 Serina tenses at Vorbis' touch, but finds it pleasent nonetheless.
Vorbis' action as well as his words make Serina wonder if perhaps he
has a soft side. As she thinks of Vorbis personality she can hear her
father's words in her head speak of not being swift to judge someone.
Not wanting thoughts of her dad ruining things at the moment though,
she blanks his words.

>Vorbis just sat looking at her in the moonlight as the silence wrapped
>around them like a thick cloth.

 The silence, and Vorbis looking at her, makes Serina feel uneasy
again and she thinks of something else to say.

>Serina spoke softly, but it seemed to be echoed with the night air. "Why
>did you marry her?"

>"I loved her.  But she just saw a nobleman, and when I got nothing for my
>inheritance, she found she was bored of me.  And nothing I could do would
>make her happy."  He looked down at the tents.  "Are those the nomads?"

 Vorbis' first words makes Serina think,//What? Did I hear that right?
No inheritance. That can't be completely right. He must have something?//
Serina puts such questioning aside though and replies to Vorbis' nomad
question.

>"I would think so."  She looked at him, his golden hair was like a halo
>in the moonlight.  "There has been talk of them camping outside the warren."

>"I think our walk is through and I should get on that note to Tarkan." He
>stood up. "A leaders work is never done."  He took her arm and led her
>back to the apartment.

 As they head to the apartments, Serina dwells on the abrubt end of their
walk and their conversation. She had been surprised by such action. She
noted it was after she mentioned the nomads that things turned. As she
thinks about that she feels self-conscious for a moment thinking it was
because of her answer that Vorbis ended things. But yet, another part of
her reminds her that Vorbis is a Lord and has important matters to deal
with. She decides the latter is probably the main reason, and thinks no
more about it.

*******************
Visitor apartments a short time later

---Seth, Katrina, and Serina---

 When Vorbis left Serina, one of the warrenfolk who cared for the
apartments lead Serina to her own apartment. Serina was surprised at
this, since she thought she would stay with her family who were housed
a couple floors below. But the woman had told her that since Serina needed
to be close by to help Vorbis when needs be, it had been arranged for her
to have a place not far off from where he and his Lady were.

 The room itself was not far from the end of the corrider in which her
employer was staying. Serina had no idea who was paying for the room, or
even if anyone was paying for it, but suddenly she didn't care. She had
a place to stay without her mom and dad close by, and that in itself was
something Serina decided was worthwhile. And it wasn't like her family
was far away. If she wanted to see them she need only to go downstairs
and do so. Serina gladly took her key, and thanked the woman for showing
her the way.

 Upon entering her apartment Serina takes note of a few things; first,
the room wasn't large but it was nice, second, the place was lit and her
bags were near the door, and third, her older sister and younger brother
were standing near her bed with looks of concern and determination etched
on their faces.

 "What are you.. No, how about, how did you get in," says Serina
looking at the key in her hand."

 "Easy," says Seth with a wave of his hand and a smile at Katrina. "While
Alizarine distract a cleaning girl, I snatch her key, tossed it to Kat
unseen, and she opened the door. I got the key back, gave it to Alizarine
and let the girl see him with the key. After I told her Liz's tends to sneek
away with things, and said I was sorry for the hatchlings behavior, all
turned out fine."

 "I don't know why you had to go to such trouble. Someone probably would
have let you in if you had just," asked says Serina with irritation.

 "Ah, that would have been too easy," replies Seth with a smile.

 Serina shake her head at her sibling's antics as she says,"Now, let us
go back to why you are here. I bet it's Vorbis isn't it? I just know you
are going to give me some long speech."

 "Amazingly enough, we aren't giving you a long speech," says Katrina.

 Seth pipes up,"No, only a short one."

 As Serina put her head in a hand she murmers, "Oh pplleeaassee", and
then looking up adds,"Alright go ahead, get it over with. I have
to work tomorrow, and I need some sleep."

 Seth says mockingly in a girly voice,"Ah yes, you need your
beauty sleep." Serina glares at her brother then faces Kat.

 "Mom told us the deal dad made with Vorbis. I don't agree with it,
and Seth agrees with me, but what we think doesn't matter to dad. Mom
has gone along with things since she will be around for a bit longer.
So she will be able to see that all remains well with you. She also knows
the arrangement is suppose to be only temporary. But as I said, I don't
like things one bit. Vorbis is a scum sucking, manipulative, and dishonest
jerk." Kat had wanted to use another word besides jerk, but decided not to
do so in front of her younger siblings. She inwardly smiles at that thought
since it was more then likely her younger sibs have heard worse.

 Serina replies with confidence,"I don't believe all you say Kat. I talked
to Vorbis. And eventhough he probably could be what you say, he has a tender
side too. He told me about having little of an inheritance, how his wife
doesn't love him, and how he wishes he was younger so he could do.."

 Seth interupts as he mimicks Serina's earlier words,"Oh pplleeaasse. He is
playing on your emotions, lulying you into a false sense of security so he
can win your trust, and then he'll use you, or go against you some how."

 As Serina glares at Seth, Kat raise an eyebrow at her twelve year old
brother's words, and smiles at his perceptiveness. Serina looks from one
to the other and putting hands on her hips says with sarcasam, "I'll just
have to wait and see about that now wont I? I can manage well by myself
thank you very much! Now I wish you two would go so I can get some sleep."

 Seth starts to say something else, but Kat stops him. She sees a big
catfight coming if either of them continue trying to talk sense into
Serina now. Katrina knows her younger sister eventually could be brought
around. Kat only hopes it wont be too long of a wait. She will continue
to talk to Serina whenever she can. And she will continue to watch Vorbis
as well, especially if she spots him with Serina.

 As Kat starts to head out the door she adds,"Think about what we said
sis. You know I care, we all care, and we wouldn't want anything serious
to happen to you. And eventhough dad is leaving soon, Seth, myself,
and mom are still around if Vorbis gives you trouble."

 Serina rolls her eyes but says,"I'll keep it in mind, and I'll be careful. "

******************
Kat's apartment after the mating party.

 Katrina had only stayed at the party for a short time. She was happy for
Trevor and Cynthia, as well as Turner and Kellie. But Kat's happiness was
fleeting. She continued to be troubled about Serina, worried about Seth,
and still sad about Lenna. The thought of Lenna made Kat think of her talk
with Lonnie at the party.

 Lenna's twin's behavior had made Kat think of her emotional nosedive days
ago. Lonnie's reaction to her words had caused another emotional element to
surface for Kat. What if he was right, and Lenna was still alive. Such a
thought brought up a feeling of guilt in Kat. Perhaps she gave up on Lenna
too soon? What if her former friend and partner were alive? Kat shook her
head as she sat on her bed to banish those thoughts. She didn't want to
develope another emotional overload.

 Azure's mindvoice interupts Kat's ponderings, <Since you are troubled.
Maybe we should get away for a little while. Perhaps a trip to Lake Azure.
It could be just the two of us for a day, or part of a day. We can spend
some time alone. It might help you clear your mind. What do you think?>

 Kat sighs and sends,<Yes that might be good. I could think, and I know
I haven't spent much time with you after all that has happened lately. We
can go tomorrow. Perhaps early afternoon after dad leaves the warren.>

 <Why wait until then? I thought your sire's presence bothered you?>

 <True, but being there when he leave seems like the daughterly thing to do.>

 After Azure agrees with Katrina on when they will leave, the dark
haired rider puts out the lights and trys to get some sleep after such
an eventful day.

*********************
NRPG:
All: That concludes day 3. Days 4 & 5 when I do the next post. It will have
Samuel leaving, Kat's little trip with Azure, maybe something with Seth,
and anything that developes with the Vorbis attack/defense.

Alton: You mentioned in your nrpg post about Cynthia not meddling with
landbourn matters if Vorbis attacks. An interesting conflict might arise
if something comes up in the attack where Serina gets caught up in it, or
if she is threatened. Kat is going to want to get involved-not to mention
Seth or Tess. If such a case does arise we could discuss ideas, soulutions,
etc. between you, Darren and myself, or anyone else who gets involved as
well. Anyways, whether Serina does get mixed-up in things or if she doesn't,
I am open to either option.

Darren: Same as what I mentioned to Alton regarding Serina, and Kat/company.

Barb: Thanks for having a bit with Kat and Lonnie at the party. I was
wondering how he was doing. Oh, and didn't we talk of another one of your
characters partnering with Kat on patrol now? I honestly can't think of
who it was right now. It must be because it is getting late.

Respectfully,
Kris B
Katrina/Azure
Seth/Alizarine

 Also; Tess, Samuel, and Serina

Cleft Warren



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