C'aranth was knocked back by the little dragon, the term little being relative to Vega not C'aranth.  The dragon was already about his weight and from head to tip of tail.  The dragon pinned C'aranth to the ground and nipped at his face in a loving way.  He said nothing to C'aranth, but he could feel the relief and upset mingling together in the dragon.

    Allot of fear as well, fear about what would have happened, and what was happening inside the dragon.  C'aranth felt a bad, in the few days the dragon has been alive, all it has know was surprise.  The little guy needed some time to center himself and start to learn to be a dragon and rider.  He looked up at Renata.  "I am going to take the rest of the day off, if none of you mind."

    Cynthia smiled at his request.  He stood and walked to the nearest cave, his dragon at his heels.  "I suspect you are wondering why you felt the way you did."

    <I do.>  The little voice chirped back in his head.

    "We have a bond." C'aranth started, he tried to explain as much as he could to the dragon.  Of what they were to do.  Killing the wraiths, working as a team with the other riders.  He talked to the dragon as they walked to his room.  For every answer the dragon would ask two more questions.

    <Why do the wraiths eat things?>, <Why do the dragon's bond to humans?> , <Why...>, <why?>, and so on.  C'aranth answered some with the responses he could best phrase so the little dragon would understand.  His parents had answered all of his questions in detail, so much so that at times he was sorry he had asked the question.

    Jeratko walked to the large window that looked down into what was once the green and now was a river.  <Why was I not born in the warren then?>

    "Because your a wilder.  You were born to a wild dragon." He slipped out of his wet clothing.

    <Like Zelandreth then?>  C'aranth stopped dead in his changing, his shirt half over his head.

    "Who?"  He slowly tried to slip out of the wet shirt, attempting to look unfazed.

    <Zelandreth, the one who killed your first dragon.>  The dragon spoke as if this was not common knowledge.  

    "Who told you about this?" C'aranth wondered what Vega had told his dragon.

    The dragon looked at him a bit concerned.  <Berainna.>  The dragon said in an "as-if-you-didn't-know" manner.

    When did she tell you this?" He stepped forward and touched Jeratko's head as the dragon let out a long yawn.

    <When you sleep.  She tell me all about you and her, about Epion, and such.>  The dragon looked out to the water torn warren.  <Do you think the water will go away?>  

    C'aranth had not been listening.  What he was hearing shocked him to the core, his mind was going as numb as his body felt.  Was she still there, someplace in his mind.  A dead dragon floating in his head, talking to his newly joined dragon.  Berainna was still with him, she had not left.

    He was pulled out of his thoughts by a hand on his shoulder.  he turned to see Renata,  She was still in her wet clothing as well, it had dried some but she still looked like a drowned rat.  A bottle was in her other hand and a fire was started in the fire place, his clothing he had removed laid out in front of it.  "Are you ok?"

    He nodded and stood.  "I think I will be."  He pulled her close, the water making a squishing noise as they drew close, and kissed her deeply.

    Renata lifted the bottle to his view as they pulled back.  "I thought we may get a chance to celebrate your joining."  She kissed him again.  "But first we should get out of these wet clothes."

    "And into a hot bath?"  He started to push her to the bathroom with his arms still around her.  His boots making squelching noises and he could feel the water sloshing around in them.  

    "Then you can tell me why you sat looking at nothing for the whole time I was here and made a fire.  Started the food, and spent a long time talking about the day just to realize you were not listening."  She set the bottle down on the table as they passed it.  "What is wrong?"

    "Noth..."

    "Don't tell me nothing.  You are not a hard man to read C'aranth.  What is wrong?"  She stopped him dead in his tracks at the bathroom door.

    "Jeratko hears Berainna when I sleep, she talks to him."  He sighed.

   (Tag-John)
**************************************



    The dawn was only about an hour away.  She was asleep in his arms, her cheeks flushed and her body unclothed.  She had bled some, but he had anticipated that and the red towel lay at his feet.  She had experienced joy at least twice from what he could tell.  She was sleeping soundly, and he slipped out from under her.  The wine was still cool and his mouth was dry and a glass of wine sounded perfect.  
 
    He poured a glass and sipped it looking at her.  Her body was splayed out on the pillows, the heat of them kept the morning chill at bay.  She was a delight to behold, young and subtle, peach white skin, all firm.  Her father would curse to know what happened tonight, but he will curse more when his letter get to him.  She was the bargaining piece he needed and it would be a pleasure to use her.
 
    He pulled a robe on himself and started to clean his own body of the stink and blood he had received from her.  Wiping his face first, then the rest of him with a damp cloth.  This will be both profitable and fun.
 
    The tent flap opened and Vobis turned to see who was interrupting him.  Davyd stood in the doorway, the rising sun like a halo behind his head, Vorbis had to shield his eyes.  "Davyd?"
 
    "I should have guessed"  He walked in shutting the tent behind him.  "I am not gone a day and you turn to this scandalous behavior."  His cane lifted in a flash and knocked the wine glass from Vorbis's hand.  Vorbis stepped back holding the hand that was struck.
 
    "What do you think you are doing."  He stepped forward but Davyd's cane stopped him with a sharp poke to the chest.
 
    "I will tell you what.  They found Amberylle's body, it had washed down stream.  It seems she was poisoned."  He pushed Vorbis back a bit more, running him into the table that was once set with food, but now only contained remains.  "I wonder who would want her dead."  The words were more of a challenge then a statement.
 
    "I do not know what you mean."  Vorbis put a hand behind him to support against the probing cane.  His hand landed on the handle of a knife, the one they used to carve the rabbit.
 
    "You know you cannot lie to me Vorbis.  Others may fall for your tricks and lying ways, but I have raised you since you could stand, you cannot lie to me.  She was the only redeeming thing you had going for you, and you killed her."  He poked with each end of the sentance, as if to try and drive the point into his dark heart.
 
    "What do you want me to do.  I cannot undo what is done."  He wrapped his hand on the knife.  He would not let anyone stand in his way.
 
    "You will resign command and give it over to the rightful commander.  Then you will turn yourself over for justice."  He poked one last time, and Vorbis grabbed the cane pulling him to him.
 
    It happened fast, the knife came out, the old figure fell forward.  The the floor was covered in blood, like crimson water, glimmering in the morning sun.  Davyd choked, the knife not having killed him strait away, he hung over Vorbis's arm like a limp doll.  The blood covering Vorbis's arms and hands and front.
 
    "I am sorry..."  He twisted the knife, moving the blade deep inside the old man.  "But not even you will stop me from receiving what is mine.  And these lands are mine, soon the warren will know it, as will the savages."  He let go and the old man fell to the floor.  Vorbis looked up to see Serina looking at him, eyes wide with fear.
 
    "Serina, my love."

    Vorbis had Serina bound by two of his soldiers.  Keeping her quiet would be the task at hand now.  She should not have woken up, but this was her problem.  He could not kill her, not just yet.  Kerannan slipped into the tent quietly.  "We are ready to take the body out of the camp sir.  Do you want my men to kill the witness?"
 
    "No, I need her alive."  He looked at her and smiled.  "Serina dearest, I will make you a deal.  I will release you, and you will be silent.  If not, I will just give you to Kerannan her to entertain his men.  What do you say, will you be quiet?"  He walked over and slipped a finger under the gag that was over her mouth.  She nodded, her eyes puffy from crying.  "Untie her, and see she get something to eat."  He turned on Karannan.  "Send three men to kill Tarkan in his sleep, take his horse and Davyd's horse out and kill them as well, with arrows.  We will let the morning patrol find the bodies.  Those damned savages kill the innocent Davyd and his escort from the warren.  This should be enough to get my brother to send down the rest of the men loyal to me."
(Tag-Kat, you know he will not let her go, not now, and how much did she see and hear)
**********************************
 
    Andorra woke slowly.  She was worn out.  The night of singing and just being with him was enough to wear any woman out.  She looked over, he was gone , off to his duties.  She could not be more proud of a man, he was hard at work, a great warrior, and a caring lover.  She felt a sharp pain at the fact that she could not touch him with her healing.
    
    She would have to deal with his sore body in the normal way, oils and a hard rubbing.  Not that she would mind this way, but the touching was always more close, it brought her a sense of knowing that person.  It was upsetting to know the gods had denied her this.
 
    She sat up, knowing she could sit in the bed all day just thinking of him.  She had a house to run, Nikol's house.  And it was her duty as a wife, no, wife to be, to set it right.  She giggled at herself for the mistake, but the tough more than pleased her.  She pulled her knees to her chest, she would have to learn more about the dragonrider ways of doing things.  She would want to be the best wife in the warren, she would need to know all the etiquette for someone in this station.  She would not want to embarrass her husband in any way.
 
    She moved from the bed and dressed.  Breakfast was short order and then off the the wounded.  She was worried about the riders who had almost drowned, she would have to check on them.  She had understood they were a couple.  The whole relationship thing in the warren confused her, the flight of the dragons and Andahar's behavior confused her more.  It was explained... but she was still confused.
 
    She walked down the hall with a load of blankets and a basket of bread when she was joined by Isara.  She nodded to the JuniorQueen rider, then thought this would be a good time to ask questions about the dragonriders.  "Can I ask a question?"  They were not far from each other as they passed out the supplies.
 
    "Yes."  She turned to look at Andorra.
 
    "If a dragonrider is to get married to a nomad, will they have to have it in a dragonrider fashion, or follow the nomad fashion?"  She stopped to watch her reaction.
 
    Isara thought for a moment.  "Who is it?"
 
    "Nikol and I."
 
    "I guess since he is the male, it would be in his tribes fashion.  So the tradition would be to have it in Dragonrider ways."  She nodded and smiled.  "Do you know when it is?"
 
    Andorra shook her head.  "I think Ahandar and he are still discussing it."  She moved closer to Isara.  "What does the bride wear at a dragonrider wedding?"

    Isara stopped.  "I do not know, but I know who would.  Madyllin, she would know all those things."  She took Andorra by the hand and lead her down the hall to in search of this Madyllin person.

    They stopped when they found the other queenrider.  She was an impressive woman who was walking with a stack of papers and spoke with Isara in the dragonrider tongue.  They spoke and pointed to her.  Madyllin seemed happy and started to speak fast, she heard Nikol mentioned a couple of times and soon she was being pulled by the two of them.

    "Where are we going?"  Andorra asked.

    "To see Cynthia.  Madyllin thinks she should know about this."  

   (Tag-Open, what were they talking about?)
***************************************
 Later- in Ahandar's apartment.

    Andorra waited, she had cleaned up his room a little, it needed it, he was after all a man.  The door opened and Ahandar walked in.  Before he was in she rounded on him.  She had been thinking of what to say to him all day and night since her meeting with Saleh, and the fury had built in her.  "Ahandar of Avanasha, stop right there."

    He stood only half way in the door, a look of pure shock on his face.  "What is it my cousin?"  He smiled slightly looking around the room.

    "How dare you."  She stepped forward.  "You have Reian and you have to fill your bed with the likes of Saleh."  He stepped back, his knuckles went white on the door handle, but she was not going to back down.  

    "What about her?"  He spoke the words fast and hard, like spitting out the fat from his meal.

    "She is with child.  Your child.  And if this is so, then some arrangement must be made."  She stepped forward, and that is when she saw Reian standing behind him.  her face was washed of color and she held onto his shirt.  Andorra flushed, in the heat of her fury she had forgot to see what she was attacking.  It was to late to stop now though.  "I think her father will want a marriage.  I do not like her, or her father.  So be truthful, is it your child?"  She knew this would hurt her friend Reian, but it had to be known.

(Tag-Arlene)
 


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