(this first part is a back post that can be fit in anywhere it fits)

Jayleigh was slightly nervous. Never having gone through anything like this
before in her life, she didnāt know what to expect when the woman had asked
her here to talk.

The healer was friendly, her smile warm and inviting when Jayleigh entered
the room.

"Why donāt you have a seat and make yourself comfortable," Shaidin told her
as if sensing her nervousness. I know youāre busy with the running of this
place, so Iāll try to keep it short."

Jayleigh nodded in agreement. She did have a lot to do, but she would take
what ever time the woman needed from her if it would help bring Tairān back
to her. He was what was important to her at the moment.

"Today Iād just like to ask you a few questions about Tairān. Itās just so I
can get a general picture of him in my mind. Things like Who he is, things
he likes to do. Friends, lovers· anything you think might help."

"Iāll answer any question you ask," the Warrenlady told her. "Anything that
will help him get well."

"You love him very much. Donāt you?" Shaidin asked, seeing the look on her face.

"With all my heart."

"Then why donāt we start there.," the womanās smile was warm, inviting her
to share her darkest secrets. "How long have the two of you been mates?"

The question caused her to blush. Something Jayleigh didnāt do very often.
"Well I guess some would call us that." She told the healer. "Even though
thereās been no formal declaration to the effect."

It was common knowledge around the Warren of her attachment to both Tairān
and Gerald. Also of Tairānās involvement with Rāven. She wondered what the
healer would think about that.

Did it really matter? No· not if her knowing would be able to help the man
she loved and wanted back.

"There are two men I love. Tairān and Gerald," she told the woman. 

"And how does Tairān feel about sharing you with this other man?"

She felt her cheeks grow hotter. "He doesnāt have any problem with it. In
fact he seems to like the idea, since heās also involved with someone else."

"Rāven?" Shaidin nodded her head as if she already knew of this fact.

"And how did the two of you get together?"

"Only after years of misunderstandings and feelings kept in check," Jayleigh
grimmest. Then went on to tell the woman about Tairān coming close to dying
during an assignment and her realizing what her felling really were towards
him. Then told her about the letter she had found in a book, addressed to
her from the old Warrenlady Velara and what the woman had written there. 

Told her about going to see Tairān in the med center and of his finding the
letter in her hand and reading it, then told her what had happened between
them after that when they had finally admitted their feelings for eachother. 

"I donāt think he believed me at first."

"Well I see things did finally work out between the two of you."

"Yes, they did," Jayleigh agreed. "So now you see why Iāll do anything to
help see him well again. I love the man with all my heart and want him back.
I want him back for more than just to be my lover. This Warren needs him
back leading Alpha Wing."

The woman sitting in the chair across from her was quiet for just a moment
as she wrote something on the pad a paper she had with her. Then looked back
up at the Warrenlady and asked.

"Iāve heard it said that Tairān might be using your relationship to keep his
position as the leader of Alpha Wing."

The question didnāt surprise her. Sheād heard the rumors herself, but she
knew differently. 

"I know whatās being said," Jayleigh frowned. "But itās not true. Tairān and
I have talked about this before. It was me who fought hard to get him into
the Alpha leader role when the old Wingleader retired. Because I knew he was
the best man for the job. He is an able fighter and he had the respect of
the riders who flew with him. Though I didnāt now at the time that Velara
agreed with me. You see she fought against me to have him appointed. At the
time I thought she was being unfair to him, not giving him the promotion he
deserved so that he could be there whenever she wanted him. It was only
later I found out that she did agree that he was the best person to fill in,
but didnāt want people to say he got it only because he was sleeping with
her!! She was crafty that way."

Jayleigh let herself laugh, them her lips curved up into a smile as she
remembered the seen in the Warren office that day. Yes the old bat had been
in rare form that day.

"So you see·Tairān would have remained in his roll as the Alpha Wing leader
weather we were sleeping together or not. I still think he was and is the
best person to lead the wing. And Tairān knows that so there was no reason
for him to come to my bed unless he wanted to."

Duty called just then so Shaidin thanked her for her time and said they
could finish their talk maybe at a later time.

********

(With the two Lord Gossimorās in her office)

"Iāve explained to you Lord Gossimor what we know of the situation dealing
with the dragonrider known as Daāntry and the kidnapping of the girls from
the Landbound Cities," Jayleigh was fast coming close to losing what
patience she had remaining. The pompus man sitting across from her just
didnāt know when to stop.

For Gods sakes, they were in the middle of a wraith attack and she felt the
man should have been more concerned with that then the kidnappings!

Only the presence of the manās son, Matory who was trying to run
interference, allowed her so far to keep some kind of control. She had to,
for to lose her temper now could do serious harm between the two lands. It
would also give the Lords ammunition to use against the Warrens during
contract renewal and she couldnāt afford for him to have that to use.

<The Wings have met the enemy just outside the city,> Troy told her, keeping
up a running monologue from the reports sent back by the dragons of the
different Wing and Flight leaders returning to the Warren briefly to restock
up on supplies of the fire burning coal. <So far they have been able to keep
the wraiths away from the main parts of the cite and are fighting well.>

"Father I think the good Warrenlady has answered all of your questions,"
Matoryās voice brought her back to the talk at hand. "I think it might be
better if we left her and retired to the guest accommodations to let her get
on with her duties in this time of peril."

"Nonsense!!" Lord Gossimor, the elder scoffed in annoyance at his sonās
suggestion. "She only a Queenrider. Itās not like they would let her out of
this place to go fight, so what else does she have to do?"

"There are plenty of things I should be doing Lord Gossimor," Jayleigh was
about to go on and tell him in glory detail what those things were when two
things happened at once.

The door to her office was thrown open and she looked up to see Rāven enter
at the same time her queenās frantic message reached her.

<Randomās rider has been injured!!> Troyās tone was unsettling, but then
Random was her favorite cuddle partner. <Heās very worried. He canāt hear
his riderās thoughts.>

The blood drained from her face as she heard the news. NO!!! Not Gerald!!
Dear Gods·not Gerald!!

Her eyes met those of the dark-headed rider whoād just entered the room, and
she realized that he already knew.

"Rāven!?!"

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

Barbara (a.k.a. 

Jayleigh, Warrenlady of Daere and her Queen, Viktroy
Daere Warren