A cloaked figure walked with familiarity through the street, 
bootheels clicking against the cobblestone to mingle with the night's
sounds.  The street was asleep, but a few people were out in the early hours
of morning darkness, though they had long since grown accustomed 
to shadowy figures in this section of town at odd hours, and didn't 
pay this one much attention as they went about their business.

<I do not like this!  I am too far away to help you should something happen!>
	
**Nothing is going to happen.**
	
<Oh, I forgot, your ears make you infallible!>
	
**They would if you'd be quiet so I could listen for what's around me!**
	
<Humph!>  Danavin withheld the sharp retort that her rider new from
experience was there, falling silent.  Nefiri was not a stranger to 
this journey, and neither was the dragon waiting in the obscurity of 
the forest at the edge of the city, but Danavin had been unusually disturbed
of late. They had learned of the kidnapping of the Daere Warrenlady's son,
and since then Danavin  had become obsessed with 
the idea that somebody might take Nefiri from her.  Her riders calm
assurances that nobody could kidnap a rider without their dragon 
knowing had not done much to reassure the pale one.

**I'm here.**  Nefiri grasped the handle with both hands, and threw 
her weight against the heavy wooden door to get it open.  She slipped inside
the inn and pushed the door shut, turning to make a quick 
survey of the room.  

A man slept quietly head-down at a corner table, apparently having 
been overcome by his intake of liquor the night before; there were 
a pair of travelers at a nearby table eating breakfast.  The dining 
area was dimly lit, and it still bore the look of the previous nights
business; benches were overturned, tables out of line, and scraps 
of food littered the area. 

The innkeeper had apparently found the time to feed his two guests, 
but not to clean.  She turned and began to make her way to the door 
to the kitchen, stopping as she heard somebody behind it.  Her timing 
was good; another step forward and Gennerin would have hit her with 
the door as he opened it.  He stopped, startled, looking down at her, 
a food dish in his hand.

"My Lady,"  He greeted.  He scowled at the pair seated with their 
meal, then looked at her again.

"Go on back."  He brushed past her, still scowling, and she went 
into the kitchen.  It was well lit, and she made her way to the small 
room in the back that served as an office, pushed the hood away from 
her face.  She heard Gennerin reenter the kitchen, put some plates 
in the sink, and come into the office behind her.  She turned and 
smiled, extending her hand and a small silver cylinder.

"How are you doing, Gennerin?"  He took the cylinder without 
acknowledging it, put it in the inner pocket of his vest.

"Well.  Business is good.  Have you heard the news out of Daere?"  
She nodded, sitting in a chair and pulling the cloak around her to 
shut out the chill.

"Aye.  We're on our way there now.  I don't suppose you know anything 
that would be helpful?"

"About the Warrenlady's missing son?  No, I've not heard."  He sat 
behind the desk, stroking his chin with his hand while he thought.  
"A couple of Da'ntray's men were here a few weeks ago, inquiring about
buying supplies and the like.  You know..." he turned to point at 
the map on the wall, "you might mention to the WarrenLady when you 
get there about searching the Stands, if they haven't already.  
It's really the only place in the area they could hide man and 
dragon."

"I'll do that.  Have you heard anything about..."

<NEFIRI!>  The rider jumped in her seat, caught off guard.  She 
pointed a finger upward to indicate to Gennerin that it was Danavin 
who had startled her.

**What happened?**

<Krivth's rider has been taken from Daere!  Krivth does not know 
where she is!>  Nefiri paled, met Gennerin's eyes.

"Any ideas why they'd take a queenrider but not her dragon?"

"Impossible!"  his face reflected his disbelief.

<I am coming to get you _now_!>  Nefiri rose suddenly.

"I have to go."  Gennerin followed her into the kitchen, and they 
both stopped the door, Nefiri pulling the hood back in place to hide 
her features.

"You and Danavin need to be careful."  She placed a hand on his
shoulder in thanks.
	
"We will.  Take care of that message for me!"
	
"Count on it!"  She left him, striding through the dining area and 
out into the street.  She could hear Danavin's wings in the air 
above her, and turned to run to the intersection that the dragon 
was headed.  Nefiri reached her moments later, physical contact 
reassuring both of them.  She moved in front of her winged friend 
to check the wooden trunk that had been strapped at her chest by a 
fitted harness buckled on her back at the base of her neck.

**I know you're in a hurry, love, but please be careful!  I don't 
want you straining yourself with this bulk, or damaging it's 
contents!** 

<I was only careless in my hurry to get to you.  I will be more 
careful now that you are with me.  There is nothing we can do about Krivth's
rider being taken.>

Nefiri pulled herself into the saddle and secured the safety straps.

**I'm ready, my love!**  Danavin launched herself, gaining height and
turning towards Daere Warren, and could not resist teasing her rider.

<You realize, of course, that this proves me right.>


------------------
Niki.....
*****************************

What do the "Pigs in Space" do for fun?  Do they all share Miss Piggy?