T'rell Arrives In Daere With No Coffee

Nrpg: My thanks to John for helping with this post ;)
----------------------------------------------     

(Morning Day three)

It was quiet around the green. To quiet. As if everyone was waiting to 
see what was going to happen later today.

Word had already gone out about the Marrid Warrenlady showing up the 
day before to act as the healing judge for Tair'n's hearing. Many were
wondering what she would do after hearing his story. It was being said 
they were all finally going to learn what really happened on that day 
so long ago, and they could be excepting a crowd in the hall.

Bets were being taken on both sides. Those who's trust in the man had 
never failed, and the other's who wanted him banished. So far the bets 
were running even, but there was still some time before the hearing 
would start.

Jayleigh had finally made it in to her office after going by the Med 
center to see how Cal'an was doing. After the scare they'd had 
yesterday with his condition worsening, she was more scared then ever. 
Both for the boy and for his father.

Cal'an just had to be okay. Tair'n's sanity depended on it. He couldn't 
lose the boy now. Not when he had finally excepted him. He just had to 
be all right.

When she had heard about the way Tair'n had left the med center and 
gone by the stores to find things for him, she had wanted to go to him,
 but her mother told her this was something he needed to do for himself 
so she had waited and prayed Realee was right. 

Sometime later a loud angry roar had filled the air and Troy told her
Kalindeth's rider had been hurt, she had left her office and went to 
find out what happened. Anger Such as she had never felt before filled 
her as she watched the healers treating the injured Queenrider before
placing her on a stretcher and loading her on the special harness on
Chreetich's saddle. Her rider, Leycho came over to Jayleigh while the 
others made sure the stretcher was placed securely.

"I talked to several people who saw what happened and you have to do
something about it Warrenlady," the young woman's voice was filled 
with an anger that rivaled her own. "This can't go on. First Cal'an, 
now Queenrider Danika!! It's gone beyond the point of simple resentment. 
Why this was criminal!!!"

"Yes it was," Jayleigh agreed. Her voice cold enough to freeze those 
closest to her. "And the rider's or other's responsible will be dealt 
with." She promised.

She stood there and watched as they took off with Danika, and then 
turned and started asking questions. If she found out T'or had had 
any part in this!!! After the talk they had just had....

But T'or had proved to be innocent this time. He's been shaken by 
what had happen to the Queenrider, and she believed him. While she 
knew he hated and was afraid of Tair'n, even she didn't believe he 
would have any part in hurting a Queenrider. 

Danika was resting this morning when she stopped by to see her. 
Herin assured her the girl would be all right and up and around soon. 
R'ven had been in his daughters room when she went in. His dark eyes 
looking dull as if he'd been there all night.

She wondered how much the older man could take. First with Tair'n and 
now with his daughter. 

She went to him and wrapped her arms around him. "Oh Ven...you look 
like crap."

She heard him chuckle, as his arms tighten around her. "Then we must 
be a pair my dear. Because you don't look all that hot this morning 
either."

"Does it ever get any easier?" she asked cuddling closer to his warmth 
for the comfort it gave her.

"Nope..."

"She's going to be fine. Herin told me so himself."

"I know," he sighed and released her to moved back beside his sleeping
daughter and looked down at her. "But this worrying... it's all new to 
me. How do you do it?"

"It's not new to you my friend," she grinned. "You've been worrying 
and looking after all of us for so long that we can't tell you 
anything you don't already know. Who do you think I learned it from?"

"Go on with you Kitten," his head tilted to the side as he grinned 
at her. "Go run your Warren and quit trying to flatter me."

"I only speak the truth my friend. You've taught me so much and I 
still have much more learn from you. By the way... " she paused 
slightly. "Tair'n's hearing will be this afternoon. Right after 
lunch."

She saw him nod his head as he looked back at the young girl on 
the bed. "I'll be there. I wouldn't miss it for anything."

Her next stop had been the dining hall where she sat with her 
parents and Warrenlady Waylene to discussed the coming day. Jadain 
had seemed a little quiet, but her mother assured her he would be 
fine. 

Realee had done herself proud with the morning's fair. She had seen 
the look of enjoyment on Waylene's face as she tasted her offerings. 

Though she wanted to go to Tair'n and be with him. She knew her 
presence at this time would do no good. And would only cause more 
rumors. So she stayed away. After the trial and he was found not 
responsible for what happened... then she would go to him. Until 
then all she could do was pray. And she did.

Now she was in her office waiting for the next tragedy to happen. 

----------   

Viktroy
*********  

**A dragon and his rider have arrived from Falgand and wish to meet 
with your rider.** Dayglow, the watchdragon informed the senior Queen 
as the new dragon appeared in the skies above. 

<Tell him he may land near the big stone building where my rider is.> 
Troy told him. <I will meet him there.>

<My rider there is a rider from Falgand who wishes to talk to you,> 
Tory told Jayleigh. <I have told him you will see him now.>

The bluish-green Queen was waiting as the pair landed, then after 
waiting for the rider to dismount and head inside the stone building, 
she moved closer to the Crimson dragon and sniffed before moving 
closer and laying down. 

<And who are you?> she asked him. 

{{ I'm Flerrion formally of Falgand and my rider is T'rell. We are to
transfer here to live now.}}

<Oooh, you're from Falgand?  We get so *little* gossip out of 
there...> The queen moved to snuggle up to the new dragon hoping to 
hear more that she could pass on to her rider. <So Flerrion... tell 
me... what's happening in Falgand now? And what brings you and your 
rider here?>

"So why did you chose to come here to Daere?" Jayleigh asked the man 
to had taken the offered seat across the desk from her. 

"T'rell. Flerrion's rider formerly of Falgand and now I hope of 
Daere," he grinned as he handed over the transfer orders B'nair had 
been tricked into signing. "I believe you might have had some 
correspondence from B'nair about this?"

She had but didn't say what had been discussed. B'nair was well known 
for fostering off riders who didn't please her. Her comments about 
this man hadn't been very kind. Maybe that's why she decided to give 
him a chance here in Daere. But now she wanted to hear what he had 
to say.

"What do you think you could offer us here?"

"Warrenlady, I was a dragonrider there for the last ten years. For 
the last few years, I've trained new riders for Beta Wing.  If you 
need someone in that capacity, I'm your man!

Jayleigh thought for a moment of her father, Jer'lin. For the last 
20 years he'd been the one here in Daere training the newly joined, 
but here lately he'd been hinting about turning the duties over to a 
younger man. Maybe if he approved and liked this T'rell....but it all
depended on the out come of this talk.

"I'll have to think about that," she told him. "But I do have someone 
I want you to meet. If you can pass his tests... then maybe you have 
found yourself a new job here in Daere."

T'rell cocked an eyebrow.  "Tests?" he asked.

"Well Jer'lin will want to know if you're up to the job," she grinned 
slyly. "You won't just expect him to hand over to you a job he's been 
doing for more years that either of us have been riders... would you? 
I can send you to him, but he'll have the final say."

T'rell wondered what sort of tests the Warrenlady was talking about.  
Well, they certainly couldn't be any worse than the things B'nair had 
put him through!

T'rell nodded.  "Of course," he said.  "Frankly, I didn't come to 
Daere to put anybody out of a job!  If you wanted, I could be his...assistant?"

"Well maybe to start for just a little while," she nodded her head 
liking this young man more and more. "But the trainer here is getting 
on in years and has made it known he'd like to step down... just needs 
to find someone he's willing to turn the job over too. Do you think 
you could be that person?"

T'rell squared his shoulders.  "My lady, I've managed to train every 
new rider who's come through Beta Wing since I became junior 
Wingsecond. Beta's the best wing at Falgand.  And, mind you, it 
wasn't easy.  B'nair had her own...er, training program for...selected 
male riders, if you get my drift.  Didn't make my job any easier."

"While I was there, I came up with some new training techniques that, 
as far as I know, aren't being used at any other warren."

Jayleigh let out a much needed deep laugh. "Oh so what I heard is the
truth... ? I can well imagine that your idea's and hers on training 
didn't always work out well together?" she asked with a big grin on 
her face. 

"No, Warrenlady, they didn't! I always demanded strict obedience from 
the younger riders, especially the newly-joined.  Tougher on them at 
first, but it saves lives later on.  B'nair had her own priorities, 
though."

"So I've heard," the grin was gone from her face, replaced by a frown 
as she remembered several of the things she had heard about the Falgand
Warrenlady from her old mentor, Velara. The older Warrenlady's words 
had not been all that complementary at the time. Not for the first or 
second time she wondered why nothing was gone 
about the woman.

"If your trainer here would allow it, I'd like to use some of the same
training methods here.  I've got a very good one, for example, to teach 
new riders and dragons about fighting wraiths.

"Well you will find things are a bit different around here. I tend to 
let my Wingleaders and trainers do the work they joined up to do. All 
I ask is that they keep me informed of the progress. 

T'rell regarded the Warrenlady with a feeling of relief.  "If you give 
me a free hand, you'll see results!  That I can promise!"

"I don't think I foresee any problems from Jer'lin on talking over new
ideas. You should hear about some of the ones he's come up with... But 
as I have said. Jer'lin will have the final say over weather or not you 
take over for him. So you'll need to convince him. Then it will be 
brought to the attention of the other Wingleaders for a vote."

The thought of other Wingleaders made her think about Tair'n. By the 
Gods he just had to be cleared of all charges this afternoon. She just
couldn't bare it if the Marrid Warrenlady voted to banish him.

What would happen to Cal'an? What would Tair'n do? What would she do 
with out them in her life??

T'rell nodded.  "I'm certainly willing to try, Warrenlady!" he  said.
"Oh...I should also probably mention that I'm...well, sort of a
jack-of-all-trades.  There are probably other ways in which I can make 
myself useful here.   Particularly at times when you don't have any
immediate needs for my training skills."

"You may be sorry you asked," she laughed a little as she said the 
words. An idea was forming in her mind. One that had merit, but she 
needed to wait to find out what her father thought of T'rell before 
doing anything about it. 

"Well I've had My Queen pass on a message to Banta, Jer'lin's dragon 
and he'll be waiting to meet with you in the dining hall. Do you need
directions on how to get there?"

T'rell shrugged.  "I mean what I say, and say what I mean, Warrenlady.  
If I'm to be a Daere rider now, I'll do whatever's in my power to 
benefit the warren."

Just then, Jayleigh heard a squeal of draconic laughter echo through 
her mind. "Seems your dragon had told my Queen something that has 
amused her? I wonder young T'rell what this could be?"

T'rell felt his face reddening.  In answer to Jayleigh's   question, 
he said, "I'd say your dragon just heard about B'nair and my coffee!  
Would you like to hear the story?"

<Oh yes....say yes my lovely human,> Jayleigh could swear she heard 
laughter in the Queen's tones.

Jayleigh's eyes opened wide as her queen told her to say yes. "Okay... 
maybe you had better tell me. Or will there be any searchers coming 
looking for you here?"

T'rell cleared his throat.  "Well, no...at least, I hope not. Well, 
now that you mention it, there *were* several riders, um, looking for 
me when I made my exit from Falgand.  Don't think they'd follow me 
here, though.  Well, at least I hope not...I don't think B'nair likes
 hot coffee very much, did you know that?"

Other riders coming here looking for him? Now he really had her 
curious.

<<Tory? Any sign of other's following?>> 

< Well if there are... I think we send them away,> Troy told her. 
<<I like this one. He has a nice sounding voice.>>

<< You can *hear* him love?>> The expression on her face didn't 
change as she regarded the bearded man on the other side of her desk.

<Oh yes... didn't he tell you?>

<<No I think He forgot to mention that.>>

T'rell, unaware of the exchange between the Warrenlady and her Queen,
laughed.  *And I think you have a lovely voice as well, Viktroy!*

<Why thank you Flerrion's rider, but I think you forgot to tell my 
rider you were taking to me. She's wondering why you kept your talent 
from her.>

He looked back at Jayleigh.  "Oh, yes...I guess I did forget something,
didn't I?"

"Yes I think you did," she chuckled. "So you are a telepath?"

T'rell smiled self-consciously.  "I guess I've just come to take the
telepathy for granted.  Everyone at Falgand knew I could talk to 
dragons, so it never came up much in conversation."

"Well it might put you in good shape around here. We have one young 
lady who can hear all dragon's. She's one of the Warren searchers. 
There is also and unjoined teacher, And then there is my son Jadain 
who to is a telepath, but an untrained one. Maybe you might see your 
way clear to having a talk with him sometime about it?"

T'rell nodded, remembering the trouble he'd had in his early years, 
learning to control his talent.  "Is he joined?" he asked.

"No," she shook her head. "He's only 10 right now but has always been 
able to hear the dragon's. Troy has always said he will join the first 
time I allow him to stand on the sands."

"I'm not a professional trainer when it comes to telepathy," T'rell
admitted.  "Most of what I learned, I learned the hard way.  Still, 
I think I could help him...once he'd trust me to do that, of course."

"Well any help you could give him....I just don't want to see him 
start to abuse his talents. Not that I think he ever would mind you. 
But I believe in forewarning. It can be a wonderful gift," T'rell 
agreed.  "But it can be a dangerous thing if not used properly.  I 
was always glad B'nair wasn't a telepath..."

"I'm sure there are others who feel the same way. A fellow rider of 
yours I believe ended his stay in Falgand when he dumped a bowl of 
hot cereal over the top of her head after an argument. What ever 
happen to him?"

T'rell burst out laughing.  "You mean B`rand?  Yeah, I remember him 
well!  He's at Cleft now.  A lot happier too, I can tell you!"  He 
shook his head, remembering that incident.  "I was there when he did t
hat!  Just about fell over laughing!"

T'rell cleared his throat, remembering he was talking to another 
Warrenlady.  "Well, not that I would have done that...well, come to 
think of it, though, I suppose I would have at that!"

"B'nair didn't see you laughing did she?" Jayleigh's face broke out 
in a wide grin at his quick words... "Well I'll just have to see that 
I never do anything to cause you to change your mind."

T'rell made a face.  "She did, actually.  I could say that's one of 
the things that soured our relations, but to tell the truth...well, 
they were always pretty sour.  I tend to be a bit...well, *outspoken,* 
at times. It's hard not to be when dealing with her...I didn't like 
the way she ran Falgand, and I didn't make any secret of it.  That's 
the way I am.  She didn't take too well to criticism, though."

"Well here I approve of people telling me if they think I'm wrong. 
But they had better have the facts to back it up. You will find that 
I am a whole lot easier to deal with as long as you do the job you 
take on."

T'rell cocked his head.  "I never met you before today, Warrenlady, 
but if I read you right...I don't think that'll be a problem.  If you 
don't mind my saying so, you don't seem too much like B'nair. Or, if 
I may say so, much like old Velara either."

"Thank the Gods for that!!" she muttered, thinking of the Falgand Warrenlady.

Jayleigh thought he didn't know her all that well. Her thoughts 
turned for a moment to Tair'n and Gerald. The two men she had loved 
and been loved by. Maybe in some ways she was like Velara... but only
 ... no... she couldn't think about that night again. The memories
 though wonderful, still hurt now when she thought about Gerald 
being gone. Gods but she missed him. Would the hurt ever go away?'

"She was a good woman, mind you, but she had her quirks if the 
stories about her are true."

She turned her thoughts back to the man sitting across from her. 
"Well I welcome you to Daere and hope you find living here easier 
that from where you came. After  you see Jer'lin and get things 
worked out, go by and see Nicate, he's the quartermaster here and 
can give you a list of empty apartments....but before you go.... 
how did you serve B'nair her coffee?"

T'rell chuckled.  "Well, it's a long story, but if you've got a  
minute.  Have you ever heard of the 'old shell game?'  Something 
I picked up at a gather awhile back..."

"Go on,"

"Well, B'nair wanted me gone, but wanted to have me take her niece 
Dreela as my mate and bring her to Daere...you've never met her, I suppose..."

"No... and can't say I've missed out on much from what I have hear."

"Anyway, I decided to make a little wager with B'nair. If I won, I 
left Falgand and didn't have to take anybody along but Flerrion.  If 
I lost, well...I'd still be there, mated to Dreela, and gods know what 
else.  So, I did the same thing I saw that swindler at the gather do.  
While B'nair wasn't looking, I slipped an extra ball under one of the 
cups. And while I don't hold with cheating, mind you, but...well, if 
anybody ever had it 
coming..."

"You didn't?" her blue-violet eyes opened wide in shock.

T'rell chuckled again, stroking his sandy beard.  "I did," he admitted. 
"She picked the right cup, mind you - had her queen watching with her 
to make sure she got it right.  But I picked up a different cup, and 
there was the ball. Just not the same one she saw me put under that 
other cup!"

"Then, while she was gawking at those cups trying to figure out what 
I'd done, I slipped the transfer order out of her hand and said 
goodbye! I was a out halfway down the hall when I heard this godawful howl..."

Jayleigh couldn't help herself, she began to chuck and wagged her 
finger at T'rell. "I can see I'm gonna have to keep my eyes open 
around you. I'm surprised she didn't send awayone after you." 

<Trissana> "Um, sort of.  It took her that long to think to look 
under that other cup.  Anyway, you've probably heard what kind of a 
temper she has. She must have knocked everything off her desk and 
onto the floor.  But, you see, I sort of...well, left a cup of very 
hot coffee sitting on her desk.  Forgot to grab it when I left..."

"And, well, according to her dragon, it sort of would up in...her lap!"

Jayleigh let out a giggle and then covered her mouth. This kind of 
thing just wouldn't do. She was the Warrenlady and shouldn't be 
acting like a giggly school girl. But hearing about B'nair's 
troubles, seem to bring it out in her.

"She sent some riders out after me...probably figured on chaining 
me to the highest peak at Falgand for the next hundred years or so, 
but I'd figured I might have to make a quick getaway.  I had Flerrion
waiting outside, and we left. In a big hurry, I might tell you."

By the Gods how she wished she could have been here and seen the 
coffee spilling. "Oh go on with you T'rell," she waved him off. "I'm 
sure Jer'lin is wondering where you are.... coffee all over the 
place... and on her too I'll bet."

"I sort of think that B'nair might be walking sort of funny for the 
next few days" was his final comment as he got up and begged her 
leave.

Jer'lin
********

Jer'lin was waiting at the families table when he looked up to see a 
young rider come through the doors. This then must be the man Troy 
told Banta about. He was about to stand up and call the boy over when 
he saw him turn to speak to another rider. Then saw his head turn in 
his direction and saw a strange look come over the man's face.

<He just found out you are Troy's rider's sire,> Banta informed him.

<<Ah, And that surprises him?>>He sat there and waited for T'rell to 
walk over to his table.

"Sir I've been told you are the man I was told to come talk to about
assisting in the dragon's training?" T'rell said as he came over to 
stand before him. I'm T'rell.  I just transferred here to Daere from Falgand."

"I am. Banta told me Troy said you would be coming to see me," the 
older man said. "Why don't you get ourselves something to eat and we 
can discuss it."

T'rell nodded, and went over to the serving line.  He returned a few 
minutes later with his tray, then sat down across from Jer'lin. 

"The Warrenlady said that I might be able to assist you in your 
duties," he said.

"And how might you do that son?" Jer'lin asked.

<Troy likes this human,> Banta told his rider.

"At Falgand, I was in charge of training all new riders and dragons 
for Beta Wing," T'rell answered.  "I understand you handle that
responsibility for this entire warren?" 

"And have for sometime. So you thinking about taking over my job?" 
he asked, but his weathered face was lit by a wide grin. "Well tell 
me a little about yourself. Like why did you decide to leave Falgand 
and come here?"

T'rell cleared his throat.  "Let's just say that...I had a small 
falling out with the Warrenlady there, and had to make a rather...
fast departure."

"Oh this should be good," Jer'lin chuckled. "Well go on boy... tell 
me what happened. I'm dying to hear if B'nair got hers."

Somewhat embarrassed, T'rell began once again to tell the story of 
what had happened that morning.  He saw Jer'lin grin broadly when he
heard how T'rell had put one over on the Falgand Warrenlady. By the 
time T'rell had come to the end of his story, Jer'lin couldn't hold 
back his laughter any longer. Just the though of someone getting the 
upper hand over that.. bitch.. yes he'd say the word. Was well worth the
time he'd spent listening. 

"Okay... not tell me what happened to finally get you to leave 
there," he asked. "The real reason."

"I don't much hold with cheating, mind you," said T'rell. "But I 
hold with blackmailing even less.  And that's what she would have 
done to me." T'rell sighed. "Did you hear about that big battle Beta 
wing got into about two weeks ago just north of Falgand?"

Jer'lin nodded his head. "Blackmail?"

T'rell shrugged. "I'd call trying to force me to take her unwanted 
niece as my mate as the price of a transfer as blackmail, wouldn't 
you? But that was only at the end of my story. It begins with the 
battle."

"I heard several riders where killed and more than a few hurt," he 
replied. "But I also heard from several others that the Wingleader 
was the only reason so many survived.

T'rell nodded.  "But what you didn't hear was that the real Wingleader 
got injured right off.  I grabbed control of the wing because the s
enior Wingsecond - one of B'nair's 'favorites,' of course - went to 
pieces and left the wing without a leader."

"I heard that too," the older mad nodded his head. "So it was you who 
saved the others? Why don't we start there and you can tell me what 
happened that day."

(Tag John ;)

Kayla
******

Kayla was up well before Ar'Aman, and as she arranged their purchases 
from yesterday's trip to the stores around his apartment, her mind was 
going back over the favor R'ven had asked her.

He had left the decision up to her, knowing what might happen if she 
did what he asked. But even knowing the consequences ... how could 
she in all rights tell him no?

She owed him everything. How could she deny him now?

Even if it meant leaving Daere and the man sleeping in the other room, 
she knew she would do what R'ven had asked of her.

He'd been true to his word and had kept her secret. If she could do 
this and repay him in some small way... then that's what she would do.

"Hungry love?" She heard Ar'Aman's voice behind her, and turned into 
his arms when he reached for her, burying her face against his chest.

"Hey now.." he pulled back and forced her to look at him. "What's 
wrong?"

Gods she loved him. She would remember that if she had to leave here.

"I have to do something this afternoon," she told him, her eyes 
skimming over his face as if placing it in her memory. "But I want 
you to remember that I will always love you. No matter what. Remember 
that."

"Tell me what it is?" he asked. "Maybe I can help."

"I wish that you could my love," she said softly, lowering her eyes 
to look at the paulse beating wildly at the base of his neck. "But 
this is something I *have* to do for myself. Please understand."

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

Barbara (a.k.a.

Warrenlady Jayleigh of Daere 
  & her Queen, Viktroy
Jer'lin & Banta
Kayla
Daere Warren