>"Who are you, Nefiri?" Jer'lin asked.  "Who are you
really?"

	She felt cold suddenly, her stomach flipping.  She glanced at
Bren where he lay, and began to think that maybe he'd cried out
something in his fever that revealed his affiliation, something that
might make even a seasoned dragonrider nervous.

	>"I'm a former cook's helper turned dragonrider, Jer'lin," she
told him.  "You can ask your daughter the Warrenlady if you don't
believe me.  She's had the story right from Waylene of Marrid,
where I joined with Danavin."

	>"And your brother?  How did he get injured?"

	>"I have no idea, Sir.  The last time I saw him was just
before I came to Daere."

	>"Why, surely you have to know something about what he's
been doing since you last saw him?!"

	"What I _know_, Jer'lin, is that my brother is lying in that
bed with injuries that might kill him, and until I'm assured otherwise
by the healer tending him," she looked pointedly at Noni in
emphasis, "I am going to not concern myself with how he got into
this predicament and focus on his survival!"

	She glanced at Ar'Aman, who was quietly catching Ja'ks up
on the gossip, then returned Jer'lin's gaze.

	"Not meaning to be disrespectful, Jer'lin, but my brother isn't
your responsibility, he's mine.  He isn't obligated to live by your
leave, and I choose not to, so unless you care to explain to me how
my family applies to you, I feel that your effort would be better
directed tending toward your own."  Her hand reached up to point a
delicate finger in the direction of Jaidan's room, the implication not
lost on the older man.  He looked as if he were about to tell her a
thing or two when the door to Jaidan's room opened.

	T'rell and Fae-Rhee emerged from the room, and the
concern for his grandson was so evident in his features that, for a
moment, Nefiri regretted what she'd said.

	"How is he?" Jer'lin asked, moving away from her.  Grateful
for the reprieve, Nefiri separated herself from Kayla and went inside
Bren's room, closing the door behind her.  She could still hear them
in the hall, but didn't pay much heed, instead going to Bren's bedside
and sitting down, grasping his hand in hers.

	As if her touch were his only cure, he opened his eyes and
smiled.

	"Hey there, Little Red," he said faintly by way of greeting. 
She beamed at him, traded her chair for the edge of his bed.

	"Finally!" she said, brushing her hand through his hair.  "I
was beginning to wonder if you'd ever come 'round!"

	<As was I,> Danavin chimed in.  Bren winced as if hearing
something a little too loudly.

	"It still amazes me," he explained.  "It's good to hear from
you again, Danavin," he said aloud.

	<And you.  Though I had been hoping that my rider would
eventually spend more time away from the Med Center than in it.  I
suppose that isn't going to happen now!>

	"What does she....oh!"  He noticed the gauze rolled in her
right ear.  "Blew one again, eh?"

	"No thanks to you!"  Her gaze sharpened.  "And I'd like to
know why, if you don't mind."

	"I was wondering how long it would take you to get to the
point!" he trying to laugh, but it turned into a weak cough.

	"Enough of that, now.  But Bren, some things have
happened since Danavin brought you in last night.  I need to know
how you ended up like this..."

	"What has happened?" he asked his sister, but she merely
arched an eyebrow at him, a determined look about her.

	**I don't suppose you'd like to tell me?** he asked the
dragon, who chuckled.

	<And interfere with Nefiri?  Not likely!>  Bren grinned,
focusing on his sibling.

	"Well, I'll have to give you a bit of background so you
understand how I ended up there.  I don't know how well you keep
up with what goes on in the Landbound nation, but..."

*********************************
(day 4)

	Nefiri settled herself at the writing table in her apartment,
pulled a pen and paper to her.

	Bren had told her what had happened, quickly exhausting
himself.  But she felt better knowing, and a bit prideful in his sense
of duty.  She had not told him about the encounter with Jer'lin, or
asked why the healer Noni would have been so cold to her
regarding her brother.  But she could figure it out well enough.

	Noni had never come back by, but Kizera had been in
sometime during the early morning hours to check on her and Bren,
and had released Nefiri from the med center.

	Assured by Kizera that Bren would be sleeping for a good
while, she returned to her apartment to bath and change.

	**Dee, who does the Warrenlady use as her courier?**

	She was greeted with silence, then: <Callyanth and her rider
Vesta.>

	**Would you ask Callyanth to bring her rider here, please?  I
have a business proposition for her.**

	She quickly began writing her message, using the language
code as Bren had once taught her.

	"Bren has been brought to Daere badly injured, identity
possibly compromised.  Require immediate assistance."

	She double-checked her coding, cringed as her lack of
eloquence.  **Oh, well,** she thought, folding the letter simply. 
She opened the table's only drawer and withdrew the wax and her
family's seal, securing the letter's edge.

	<They're here,>  Danavin warned, the flutter of a second
dragon landing on the ledge.

	"Hello?" a voice called.

	"In here," she replied, standing to readjust her rope,
tightening the belt.

	"I am Vesta," the woman said, her eyes narrow and curious. 
"You wanted to see me?"

	"Yes, thank you for coming.  I'm Nefiri, and I'm with the
understanding that you are Jayleigh's courier?"

	"Jayleigh's, yes," she emphasised.

	"I have a proposition for you, Vesta.  I need a message
delivered to an innkeeper in Trylar, but I'm flight restricted right
now because of an inner ear injury.  This can't wait."

	She paused for a response, but the woman was silent.

	"I know that you are not obligated to me, and we've no
favors between us.  I am willing to pay you for you service."  Nefiri
turned back to the table and opened a small, wooden container filled
with coins.  She picked out six gold and closed the lid, extending
her hand palm up for Vesta to see what she offered.

	"I'll pay you six gold pieces to see this note safely delivered
to an innkeeper named Gennerin.  There will be no response for you
to wait on, and Danavin can provide Callyanth with the imagery you
need.  What do you say?"

(tag: ok Barb, will Vesta run the note?)
**************************
(Later)

	She had dressed warmly against the chill, needing to visit the
crafthall to purchase some clothing for Bren.  Hunger redirected her
to the dining hall beforehand.

	She spotted Realee sitting at a table with an unfamiliar face,
and decided it would be a good idea to get a feel from the older
woman about her mate.  Nefiri found some fruit, and went over to
where the two sat.

	"Nefiri!"  Realee said, somewhat surprised.  "They let you
out so soon?"

	"They have sicker people to tend to," she replied.

	"So I've heard," Realee said, her eyes sharp.  She looked at
the girl sitting with her.

	"Nefiri, meet Marialla.  Jayleigh brought her in to stand on
the sands at the next hatching."

(tag: Dianne - welcome!)
*******************************
nrpg

That'll catch me up! <g>

as always,
Nicole



*******************************************
To be happy with a man you must understand him a lot and love him a
little.  To be happy with a woman you must love her a lot and not 
try to understand her at all.