[Lunchtime on the day Jadain is kidnapped]

Maeve had taken a leisurely walk to a nearby lake for a swim, and was
heading back to the dining hall for lunchtime.

As she entered the hall, she barely had enough time to grab lunch when she
was interrupted by a tall, young man with dark hair and grey eyes.


"Excuse me ma'am, my name is Zert and I was wondering if you are one of the
junior warrenladies?" he asked.

"Yes, I'm Maeve.  How may I help you?"

"I'm looking for an appartment for me, my mate, and her dragon.  Could you
help me?" Zert questioned.

Maeve agreed, and led Zert out of the hall and started to show hime several
apartments.

"You can continue to look if you want, but I have to run some errands.  I'll
see you at dinner, Okay?" she asked.

"Thank you," he replied.  "I'll tell you what we decide."

*   *   *

Dinner came almost too soon, and Maeve headed into the hall just as two
items of new started echoing through the grape-vine.  T'van had been killed
searching for Da'ntray, and Jadain was missing.

It was absolute chaos as she entered the hall.

>"WHERE'S MY SON!?!" the warrenlady screamed.
>
>As soon as the words were out of her mouth, Ja'ks has Sprarroe send 
>out the word for Beta Wing to assemble on the green. He came around 
>the table to take his sister in his arms wanting more than anything 
>to comfort her.
>
>"Jays' we'll find him," he told her trying hard to believe his own 
>words. "Where ever he is we'll find him and bring him back to you."
>
>Another voice sought her attention, she turned to see T'van standing  
>then. "We'll look for him, Jayleigh.  Does Viktroy have any sense of
>direction to where he is?"
>
>She shook her head, terror in her eyes. If Tory couldn't hear him, something
>was definitely wrong. The bond between her son and the 
>Queen was almost as strong as most rider/dragon pairings.
>
>Without another word she watched as T'van turn to followed Ja'ks 
>out of the hall. Members of the other Fight Wings followed. 
>
>When she would have followed, someone grabbed her by the arm and 
>held her back. Jayleigh turned to find her father standing there, 
>in his elderly face she could see the pain he was feeling matched 
>her own. 
>
>"You can't go daughter," he reminded her.
>
>"He's my son father!!"
>
>"And my grandson! But you are the Warrenlady and are to important 
>to this Warren to be put at risk by going off searching who only 
>knows where," he said angrily. "You can't go off half cocked like 
>this. Let the Wings do their jobs."
>
>She wasn't convinced. "He needs me."
>
>"The WARREN needs you too!!!"
>
>"He's right Jayleigh," Someone touched her arm and she turned to 
>find Maeve standing there. Next to her was the new school teacher, 
>Zert. Both wore worried expressions on their faces. "You can't go 
>out there on your own. Neither Rezsia or myself are ready to step 
>in and take over the running of this place."
>
>"But he's MY SON!!!" 
>
>"And being as such don't you think you owe it to him to keep 
>yourself safe and alive for him to return to!?!" Maeve countered, 
>trying a new line of reasoning. 
>
>Jayleigh knew she was right. Damn it anyway. She should be out there looking
>for him not shut up here in the Dining hall like a hatchling 
>yet to try their wings. She wanted to be out there searching, but 
>knew the others were right. 
>
>She let her body sag down onto the bench behind her, for once cursing
>Viktroy for being a Queen. The dragon took no offense as she knew personally
>the state of her riders mind.
>
>Maeve sat down next to her and took ahold of her hand. "What can I 
>do to help you right now?" the Jr. Queenrider asked. "Anything you 
>need Jayleigh. Anything at all."
>
>The Warrenlady tried to give the girl a smile, but failed. 
>
>"You'll need to be in my office in case anyone reports there," she 
>said through her tears. "and deal with anything that might come up 
>for a while. Until Jadain's found and returned to me, I don't think 
>I'll be up to handling Warren business."
>
>"All right," Maeve agreed. "I'll go there now."
>
>The younger girl got up to go but, Jayleigh caught her arm before 
>she could take a step. "Thank you Maeve."
>
>"Anytime. Just don't give up hope," she returned. "They'll find 
>him."
>
"Well, Zert.  It appears that you'll have to tell me everything you know
when we get to the office."

They walked across the dark green, and into the warrenlady's office.  They
entered together, and Zert started his speech as Maeve tidied up.

"It's like this, junior warrenlady, I found a wonderful apartment, and
Fae'Rhee agreed.  It's the one next to -"

He stopped as a low whistling sound was heard.  The next thing Maeve knew, a
dart was sticking out of her chest.  She ripped it out and saw another hit
Zert, and then several dark figures entered the room, talking in whispers.

>"Why take him?" the watcher whispered. 
>
>"Because if they come looking for her and find him sprawled out on 
>her floor they'll know something's wrong," the leader of the three whispered
>back. "We need as much time as we can to get her back to 
>the dragons before the alarm is sounded."

Those were the last words she heard as she was carried out of the office.

[Take it away, everyone!]

********************************

Respectfully submitted by
        Bugly

a.k.a.
        Maeve and Krith