"Daughter go on home," Jer'lin said quietly. "There's nothing more we can do
here tonight.  There are new rider's out looking for Jadain even now, but
it's not going to do him a bit of good if you wear yourself out worrying."

"Da I can't," she sniffed back a sob. It was all beginning to get to her.
Why couldn't they find her son. Surely there should have been some word by
now either from the Warren riders on search or from Da'ntray with some demand.

"I have to be here when they find him."

"Go home daughter," he repeated. "Get some rest and if anything comes in,
I'll have Banta contact Troy right away."

--------

She didn't want to be here. The apartment was just to empty. No sounds were
coming from her son's room as she stood there hoping it was all a bad dream.

Their was a knock at her door and she turned to see Gerald, suddenly she
didn't feel so all alone anymore. Their eyes met and held. 

"I didn't find him. I sent out another flight to do the night searches. 
Random mutinied and brought me back here."

"It's all right," Jayleigh said and took the steps that separated them when
Gerald held open his arms. "It's not your fault. You've done-and are
doing-the best that you can."

He hugged her again. "Gods, I'm sorry, Jayleigh. They can't hide forever,
though. Sooner or later they'll be found."

"And then what?" the Warrenlady murmured. "You have to do something. They
won't just give up. They will have to be taken 
care of."

She stepped back then and raised her eyes to meet his. She didn't try to
hide the anger she was feeling at the moment. And anger that had been with
her every since she found out Jadain was missing. One way or another she
meant to see Da'ntray paid for this. For steeling 
away her child.

"Dragon against dragon? You're not serious, I hope." Something in 
her eyes made him shiver. "I don't even want to imagine that...its
too horrible to think of. Rogues, wild dragons, you don't have much
of a choice, but dragons that came from this warren? People we know?
I hope not... you never know how strong a hold Da'ntray has on these
people. Maybe they can be reasoned with."

"And maybe not," Jayleigh continued. "It would be a good idea to be
prepared for them."

"Just the thought of it makes me sick. I hope it never comes to that."

"I never thought I would either, but the man has to be stopped," she turned
away from him then unable to stand looking at the accusation in his eyes.
"But what would you have me do? The man took my son. If that wasn't bad
enough, think of the young girl he raped. She still hasn't gotten over that
ordeal. Every day she goes through life looking over her shoulder wondering
if he will come back for her. Hurt her again."

"He'll pay Jayleigh. I promise you that," Gerald told her as he forced her
back around to face him. "But not by sending dragon against dragon. Not even
for this do you have the right. It would destroy everything you have worked
towards since Velara died. The respect you've earned after taking over the
running of the Warren. Everything we stand for. No my love, not even to
avenge yourself, do you have the right."

She wanted to tell him he was wrong. That she had every right to seek her
revenge against Da'ntray the way she saw fit. But she knew everything he
said was right. If she did what she wanted to do... It would ruin the Warren. 

Tears formed in her eyes. Her body seemed to sag in on itself and she would
have fallen if Gerald hadn't reached out and caught her to him. Picking her
up he carried her into her bedroom and laid her down on the bed.

"You need to rest Jay's," his voice was warm, full of concern. "Try to get
some sleep and I'll be back in the morning."

"Don't go!" she caught at his hand as he made to stand up. "Please Gerald,
stay with me. I don't want to be alone."

"You're sure?"

She nodded her head, looking almost as young as her son in that moment.
There were tears in her deep blue-violet eyes "Please don't leave me now." 

He laid down on the bed next to her and pulled her into the circle of his
powerful arms. She went willing and clung to him, as his hand moved to stoke
her hair. Softly he began to sing to her calming her even further until at
last she drifted off to sleep.

(The next morning)
****************

<Jayleigh!>

She was dreaming of Jadain when the insistent voice of the Queen finally
penetrated the deepest regions of her mind.

<<I'm awake Troy, what is it?>> she asked.

<Krith is very worried. Her rider is not in the Warren and she is very
worried someone has taken her away. Kidnapped her like our hatchling.>

Jayleigh sat upright, the pleasent dream she was having moments before a
memory. <<Is Krith sure? Couldn't her rider just be sleeping?>>

<A dragon knows these things, my human.> The queen's answered. 
<Just as I would know if you were missing. So is the new school teacher you
hold in high regard. I have tried to find him for he can hear us dragons,
and I can not.>>

<<Zert? He's a telepath?>>

<Yes.>

<<Why didn't you tell me?>>

<That's not important right now,> Viktroy told her. <Finding Krith's rider,
the teacher and our hatchling is!!!!>

Jadain!! And now Maeve, a Queenrider. By the Gods when was this going to end. 

"You heard?" she asked the man beside her. Her voice filling with the anger
and frustration she was feeling.

"Random told me."

"Reason with them, you said," she spat. "There's no reasoning
with them. They're animals, and they're out to get us."

Gerald didn't say anything as he walked out of the room.

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

The dining hall was already busy when she arrived. For a moment after she
walked in and was spotted the place grew quiet. Then one by one as she met
their eyes and gave a brief nod of her head. The riders and support people
alike turned back to their duties and the mood in the hall seemed to lift a
bit. 

She spotted R'ven across the hall waving as if trying to get her attention,
so she made her way towards him. 

"You look like hell," she told him when he stood before her.

"You don't look so great yourself," he returned with a sad smile as they
took a seat. "How are you holding up?"

"By the skin of my teeth," she gave a bitter laugh. "But as Gerald reminded
me last night. I'm the Warrenlady here. I have a job to do and people who
depend on me. He was right." She'd have to remember to apologize to him
later for the way she'd blown up at him. He had only been trying to make her
see reason and didn't deserve her temper. If anything he deserved a metal
for putting up with her in the mood she had been in.

"Good girl," R'ven smiled and gave her a hug. "Look I know this is hard on
you, but I think work would be the best thing for you."

"Perhaps. Maybe with Maeve missing I should call Rezsia and have her come
down and help me."

Jayleigh saw a frown cross his face and wondered about it. 

"I shouldn't call Rezsia to help?" she asked puzzled by his reaction.

"Well we had a few words last night after you'd gone home," he told her.
"I'm afraid she's not real happy with me right now... You know though...I've
been wondering since Zenith first told me the news that Maeve was missing,
why her? I mean why did Da'ntray have his men kidnap her when it was you I
thought he wanted?"

"Why indeed?" her eyes opened wide in astonishment. "That doesn't make any
sense."

"No. It doesn't," he agreed. "Better yet. Why did they take the school
teacher with them?"

<Jayleigh?>

R'ven was about to say something when she held her hand up.

<<Yes love.>>

<Talafal just relied a message from his rider saying that they are heading
off to search the area around the Stand. They wanted you to know and ask if
you remember the caves there?>

The Stands... it would be the perfect place for them to hide. Why hadn't she
thought of that?

<Perhaps because your mind was on other things.>

"Troy just told me Alex and Talafal are heading over towards the Stands to
look," she returned her attentions back to the man sitting next to her. "I'm
going to have Troy spread the word. I feel that there's a good chance they
could be right about the location. It's a perfect place for dragons to hide.
There's a ton of caves large enough."

They talked about it for a moment and then were quiet as Realee showed up
and set a plate down in front of her daughter. And then filled two cups of
coffee, before bending to kiss the top of Jayleighs head. 

Without a word the woman turned and left them alone again.

"I was hoping to see Tair'n and Cal'an here this morning," she said as she
picked up a fork and began to eat. "I don't see them anywhere, were they
still sleeping when you .. left this morning?"

(Tag: Lea :)

Leaving word that she was heading over to the medical center, after what
R'ven had just told her. Jayleigh hurried. Poor Tair'n must be going crazy.
It wasn't as if he didn't have a practice dealing with small children. He'd
always done just fine with Jadain....But to suddenly become a parent of a
small boy over night! 


And then there was Cal'an. The poor boy. What was he going though right now
after losing the man he'd always known as his Da? He must be devastated.

What had happened that had caused Tair'n to take the boy to the medical
center during the night? 

"Tair'n?" she called softly when she found him sitting in a chair in the
hall. "Love what's wrong?"

(Tag Lyn.....any more bombs?)

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

Sarah: expected Jayleigh to be a little upset when she finally hears about
your leaving the Warren... Right now though her mind isn't shooting on all
six cylinders. 

****Submitted by: ******

Barbara (a.k.a. 

Warrenlady Jayleigh of Daere Warren 
& her Queen, Viktroy.