The library still smelled of her, chamomile tea and roses.  His finger
caressed the rough paper that stacked on her desk.  The dark ebony was
carpeted in the while rice paper.  Unfinished notes, and cold tea,
everything as if she were just out in the garden and had left her room in
her standard disarray she would have sworn was a system she had worked out.

The sound of men moving about the house caught his ear.  Everything had been
taken care of by his father, every detail seen to long before they would
have thought they would die.  But that was his father^ñs way.

Even the shop out back was in perfect order.  Every tool had a hook and
every thing had a place.  His father had always been a man of utter
perfection, and it was seen in the weapons he made.

They were so different, but some how they managed, and loved.  He thought of
Renata.

^îC^ñaranth.^ï The dulcet tone of Els^ñbeth^ñs voice brought him back.  ^îAre you
sure?^ï  She stepped forward, almost placing a hand on him.  It would not be
right, not here and not without a mating flight.  He had forgotten how
formal Epion was.

Caranth shook his head.  ^îI have sworn an oath to the Queenrider Cynthia of
Cleft.  I am her rider now.^ï  He waited; would she blow up, throw something
at him, or what.  These past four days had proved that he no longer knew her
as his wing mate anymore.  She was different.

She nodded and half smiled.  ^îHonor and duty above all else?^ï  She looked at
the paper on the desk, avoiding his eyes.  ^îIt is not for her then?^ï  She
looked up, he did not answer.  ^îI am to take you back to your warren.  But
the Queenrider Gwyneth of Epion wishes to see you first.^ï  She turned on one
heel and strode out of the room.

{Jeratko, where are you?  It is time to go.}  C^ñaranth stepped out of the
sliding door to the front garden.  The Dragon trotted in from the back, a
large sack of plums tied to him.  {What is that?}

{They are plums, what did you think they were?}  Jeratko laughed, or at
least it seemed in C^ñaranth^ñs head.  {You are taking your gifts, I thought I
should take mine.  They are from your mother^ñs tree.}

{I know where they are from.  But who are they for?}  C^ñaranth helped his
dragon climb into the sling that was given to them for the dragon to be
carried in while they were here.  Jeratko had not flown yet, and C^ñaranth
was upset with his not training the dragon while he was here, but there had
been things to do, instructions left by his father on everything.

{Vega, and the others.  I think they will like them.}  C^ñaranth climbed up
behind Els as the dragon lifted off.  His house grew smaller and smaller. 
{Will we come back?}  Jeratko asked.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

It wasn^ñt much, but it was the only building that did not have a canvas
roof.  Four rooms, two were occupied by the recovering wounded and ill from
the scrap with the Nomads, another was a makeshift meeting room, and the
last was her office.  A wood shingled roof, with promise of thatch coming,
as soon as the Thatcher was done collecting the reed.

Amberylle looked out the glassless window at the opposite hill, the sun was
rising and the wall of the mountains across the river glowed like embers in
a fire.  She loved the mornings here, crisp and cool, with the hint of sage
on the morning air.  And it was the time she had to herself, just herself.

A small patch of tents not far from her made up the market place.  Twenty or
thirty tents in neat little rows, the brighter colored ones were the nomads^ñ
who had come to trade.  Coins soon proved useless here, she had them all
given to the jewel smiths to make into jewelry.  They seemed to like the
jewelry they made, the tools they used for their jewels were not as fine and
they liked the novelty of the thin chains and roped rings.

The door behind her opened and her assistant Poedine entered and set down
some papers.  ^îYour ladyship, they are gathering for the daily meeting.^ï 
Amber had set a ritual of having all the heads the village meet to talk and
coordinate efforts in the construction.  She had also set up a few women to
sit on the counsel; she hedged up any resistance by pointing the wives of
the counsel members.  Resistance was minimal at best.  And they soon found
out having the ladies coordination made their work a lot easier.  They still
grumbled about it in public, but a few expressed their thanks in private.


She stepped out of the room following Poedine.  They sat all together
watching her.
She sat down and looked over the reports Poedine organized for her.  ^îHow
are things going as far as the construction of a store house?^ï

The master builder set down the mug he was sipping from and coughed clearing
his throat.  ^îWe are on schedule, but our main concern is that there will be
something to fill it.^ï

Master Tilly gruffed, he was in charge of the fields and live stock. ^îJust
you finish that store house, then we will fill it.^ï  The two stopped when
Amber shuffled her papers.  Most of the meetings were like this, the
different groups and guild blaming others for their shortcomings or just to
point out a flaw.  The women in the meeting however did not seem to do that.
But Amber had not divided them like the men were.  The four of them had to
talk care of many duties including food, sewing, and all the things the men
thought did themselves.

She had noticed that the bickering had fallen to less then a quarter of
their meetings.  She suspected that the four wives had something to do with
this.  It is amazing what a man will concede to do for a wife that he would
not bend his neck for when asked by a king. This meeting was much the same,
everything seemed to be on schedule though and this pleased her.

As the meeting concluded the counsel picked up their things and started to
leave.  All except Master Tilly and Master Jiles.  They walked over to her,
both beaming like little children.  Master Tilly spoke first, ^îYour
Ladyship, can we talk to you?^ï

She ushered them into her office and then sat behind the desk that had been
provided for her.  The two smiled brighter at her as she looked at them
curious.  ^îWhat is it Master Tilly?^ï


^îYour Ladyship, you will not believe this, why when I saw it my eyes just
about popped out as well.  This is just the best news we have received since
we arrived.^ï  He looked over at Master Jiles who picked up the line of
thought.


^îMaster Tilly brought some to me to smelt and see if it was what he thought
it was.
I have not smelted anything purer.^ï  He set down three small bricks, the
light glitter off the gold sheen on the metal.  Amber^ñs jaw just about hit
the floor.


The door to Amber^ñs office burst open.  ^îPoe, get me a meeting with the
warren!  Now.^ï
She turned to the two men and looked at them.  ^îYou follow what I have told
you, and don^ñt go blabbing this around, the last thing I need is everything
to come to a grinding halt.^ï  She let them out of her office.  She had not
blow up like that in a long time.

But the fool men had already let the whole counsel know, and not a word said
to her.
It was probably halfway though the village now, and by noon she was sure to
get a line of people wondering when they would be digging it up.

And that is not to mention if the Nomads see them trotting around with
buckets of gold what their reaction would be.  They may well be kicked off
this land.  She knows they do not value gold as much as horses, but they
still value it.

She needed the advice of the warren on this.  The peace they had was
unsteady and she was not going to let all of her hard work be dashed by some
shiny rock.

(Tag-open to who ever would like to be the envoy)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The room was sparsely decorated, a watercolor painting over a small flower
arrangement, a small fountain that filled the room with a lulling ripple. 
Three mats sit on the floor along with a tea set, the pot steaming lightly. 
Els and C^ñaranth knelt on the mats and waited.  Gwyneth entered, she was
dressed in a metallic sea blue robe that billowed when she walked.  She
knelt down across from them.

Carefully she poured the tea and served it, first to Els^ñbeth, than to
C^ñaranth as she out ranked him.  The two drank in the same manner, bowing
after the cup is drained.  Then the Queen spoke.  ^îC^ñaranth, it is a sad
manner that brought you back to us, but it gladdens my heart that you are
here.^ï

^îI also makes my heart glad to see my homeland.  I have missed it greatly.^ï 
He bowed again to show his respect to her.

^îThen can I implore you to stay, and you can return to your place having all
of your honor and title back?^ï  She smiled as she said this.

^îI cannot accept.  I have sworn to another, and she has my honor and title. 
Jeratko and I fly in another Warren.^ï  She knew what he was going to say,
but not to offer would have been rude, and ruder still would be have
accepted.

^îThan accept this gift on your departure.^ï  She lifted a hand and two riders
entered and left a saddle crafted he was sure while he was here.  The seat
was something worthy of a great dragon like Jeratko would be.  Black leather
mixed with ebony laquered wood to form a high backed fan.  Various loops and
belts fitted on the saddle to hold weapons of any make as well as a rider.

^îYou honor my with this gift.  And as I leave I would also like to leave
with a gift.^ï  C^ñaranth reached into the bag that he had brought in with
him, a small tea set was layed out.  ^îIt was my mother^ñs, she drank from it
when she thought on all of the books that your library now holds.^ï

^îThank you, you honor me by presenting me with a gift so treasured.^ï  She
nodded slightly to show her thanks.  ^îI also have a gift for your
warrenlady.^ï  She worked her way around the word.  It was one not used here
often, if ever.  She raised her hand again and a rider stepped into the room
from behind her and laid down a long lance.  The handle was crafted in the
teardrop shape to fit the hand better, and the three-foot blade at the end
curved up slightly.  Gold dragons inlayed in the wood danced up the handle.

^îI will deliver it to her.^ï  He bowed again to show respect.

The queen looked at Els^ñbeth and she stood and stepped out.  The two sat
alone in the room.  ^îC^ñaranth, I again ask you to stay.^ï

C^ñaranth looked at her perplexed.  ^îI do not understand?^ï

^îEls^ñbeth is my chief rider.  Her dragon has risen to mate many times, but
she herself has never found happiness in her heart.  A woman needs love like
the dragon needs to fly.  She has not said it, but I know her, and she loves
you.^ï  She slid a little closer to C^ñaranth.  ^îShe does not know that I
speak of this to you.^ï

^îNow that I have a dragon again.^ï

^îNo, I have know her for a long time, and she will pause when your name is
spoken.  And she was the first to step forward to bring you back.  She has
loved you for a long time.^ï  She sighed.  ^îEls^ñbeth is my friend, so I ask
you to stay to make her happy.^ï

^îI have another who loves me at Cleft.^ï

^îWill she not share you?^ï

^îI do not know.^ï  C^ñaranth had never thought of that.

^îI will send Renata back to your warren in two weeks.  Ask this lover of
yours, if so, I will give you leave to take her from this warren.  If not,
send her back with a letter.  She will not know the reason of her trip.^ï 
The Queen stood and walked out of the room.  ^îTake care rider.^ï

------------------------------------------------------------

The air was suddenly hot.  Cleft was quite a climate change from the cool
mountains and misty air of Epion.  The warren could be seen in the distance.
The morning sun just crossed the green.  Another strange difference, they
had left Epion at the dark of morning, and here morning was well into bloom.

They circled once then slowly set down in the green.

(Tag- well I am back, did you miss me?)