Okay this is the second attempt at this as the first one..... ALL DANG 15
PAGES of it disappeared from my computer. I really liked the stuff I'd
already done but this won't be as long or as good..... but it will get me
sort of caught up in Daere.......

Barb (who hates that the damn auto save wasn't checked like it should have
been!!)

====================  

The truth Wills Out Or Does it?

Jayleigh
********* 

(Day two)

Leigh hesitated very briefly as she stared at Martyn knowing he might be
Tair'n's only hope.

"Do whatever you have to do to find out the truth," she finally told him. 

"Even if it doesn't come out the way you want it to and I find evidence that
might suggest Tair'n really did do it?" the man asked.

"All I want is the truth," she responded, but knew in her heart that the
father of her baby and father of Cal'an could never have done to the boy
what had been done. Tair'n  loved his son to much to hurt him in the way
he'd been hurt. No matter how angry or drunk he was suppose to have been. 

No she'd never believe that.

"Even if it does point to Tair'n ," she said but couldn't look at R'ven.
"Who ever did this to Cal'an has to pay for it. No matter who they turn out
to be."

Martyn nodded his head and left her apartment leaving her along with her mentor.

"He didn't do it Ven. I know he didn't!" she cried breaking the silence that
had come over the room after Martyn's leaving. "I don't care what others
think about the way Tai left and flew away. I KNOW he could never hurt
Cal'an any more then he'd hurt his daughter!"

"We just have to keep on believing that Leigh. And pray Martyn comes up with
something that'll clear him in everyone's mind," he told her as he took her
arm and led her to sit on the couch. Then he wrapped his arm around her and
she didn't resist when he drew her into his embrace. 

"We just have to keep believing," Leigh muttered as her body relaxed and she
allowed the tall raven headed man to comfort her. "Somehow the truth will
come out."

Troy
***** 

<Flerrion!! Are you awake!> Daere's Queen called out knowing that night was
falling and the crimson dragon might very well be since he'd worked so hard
with the new hatchlings today. But this was important. She'd heard some news
and wanted someone to talk it over with. Not that Flerrion would give her
good advice. 

But he was better then anyone else to talk to and he always listen TO her
when she spoke. Maybe this time he would come up with some idea she could go
with. 

"FLERRION!!!! ARE YOU AWAKE!!> She called out a second time. Louder since he
hadn't responded quick enough to her last query. 

"<* I am now, *> Came the sleepy voice of Flerrion. 

"<Well come here. I need someone to talk to about a problem.> The Queen
ordered even though she knew he'd just woken. She knew he'd come anyway.

"<* Can't it wait until morning? *>

<No it can't! By then it might be too late!!> 

<* Okay hold on I'm coming. *>

She held on. Figuratively speaking that is, until he settled beside her on
her ledge. When he moved to twin necks with her she didn't resist. His
presence gave her a strange kind of comfort. 

<* Okay I'm all ears. Now what is it Troy that's so important? *>

<I just found out from the other dragons that two of ours have returned and
I don't know if I should tell my rider or not.>

<* Why wouldn't you tell her? *>

<Well it's because of who they are,> the Queen sighed and went on. <I mean
Rooks rider has hurt my rider. I know that she tries to hide it... But I can
still read her thoughts sometimes when she's sad. And then there's Liupeth's
rider..... I can't tell you how crazy that one makes my rider.>

<* I still don't see what the problem is. > Flerrion shook his head. <* Or
is it one of those human things my rider keeps trying to explain to me? *>

Troy moved her neck back to twin with his. <Human's do, do some of the
silliest things. But what are we dragons to do. We got to love them. To tell
her or not to tell her. That is the question. Weather it is nobler to go
ahead and tell her and break her heart even more or to  just pretend I knew
nothing about it and act surprised later when she finds out herself?>

<* I can see that you do have a problem Troy. > Flerrion sighed
dramatically. <* I think it would be better not to say anything about it
tonight and just let her find out in the morning after she's had a good
nights sleep. *>

<Maybe you're right. Why do today what can be put off until tomorrow. After
all... Tomorrow is another day.>

<* You're right. It is, *> Flerrion perked up a bit now that he'd been able
to help Troy out.

<I just hope I live to see it if she finds out first.....>

<* Well we can only hope she doesn't. *>

Troy's wish wasn't to granted, for her rider was on her way back to her
office after dropping her daughter off at her new nurses. The same one who
had watched Jadain during the times Realee had been to busy in the kitchens. 

She noticed Vesta wasn't in her usual spot behind her desk and wondered
about it until she saw the note saying the girl had gone to go some shopping. 

Well there wasn't much going on for the girl right now so Leigh didn't mind.
What she did mind was the man she found relaxing with a glass of her good
port in his hand
In the chair in front of her desk. 

"Still helping yourself I see?" she quipped as she moved around the desk to
take her own seat behind it. On the desk in front of his she spied the open
file dealing with the tithes negotiations with the clan Naiad. Half the
pages were turned over so she assumed he'd been here for sometime. 

"To ward of the chill in the air," he commented and raised the glass as if
in a toast. "I knew you wouldn't deny me."

"Yes... as if I could," she smiled sweetly. Jayleigh at her worst. "And did
you find your apartment to your liking when you returned?" she asked upset
that he hadn't the decency to let her know he had in fact come back.

"Vesta is seeing to it now," he drawled lazily. "Such a kind girl to offer
to make sure my cabinets were stocked and sheets were clean."

Leigh made a note to talk to the girl about this man. She didn't want to see
the girl hurt. But now there were others things that needed to be attended too.

"Well I see you've familiarized yourself with the talks at hand. Good. Then
if you up for it we have a meeting with Lord Naiad tomorrow morning after
breakfast and I want to be sure he understands exactly what is expected from
his family lands as tithes to this Warren."

Ja'ks
****** 

It was late by the time he started making tracks for home but a commotion
out of the corner of his eyes caught his attention as he was about to mount
Sprarroe for the lift home. 

<A strange dragon comes,> the brown told his rider as they finally caught
sight of the new arrival just as he was about to land. 

Ja'ks changed his path, deciding that he'd better investigate and see who
the new man was. He arrived just in time to hear one of his riders asking a
question.

"I do not recognize you. Where have you come from?"

"I have been travelling for a long time to find you," D'Altar replied. "I
wish to speak to the Warrenlady."

Something about the man made Ja'ks feel like he'd been through this all
before. He wasn't sure if the darkness was playing tricks with his sight or
not, but there was something familiar about this man and he meant to find
out why the very sight of his had the hairs on his neck standing strait
upwards. 

"You have not told me where you are from?" Ja'ks spoke up and the others
recognizing the Beta Wingleader stepped back a pace to allow him into the
circle. Who better they thought to question the man but one of Daere's own
Wingleaders and the brother of the Warrenlady himself.

"I am not from another Warren and my story is a long one. I would rather
tell it once. Will you not bring me before the Lady?"

Three others stepped forward from the crowd to back Ja'ks up in case the man
proved to be trouble. 

"We shall take you to the Warrenlady, stranger. I warn you, though, that she
does not like sudden appearances. Especially after everything that's been
happening around here as of late."

"Understandable," the man replied. 

"This way," Ja'ks motioned with his hand before him and then fell into step
beside the man until they made it to the Warren offices where Troy had told
Sprarroe her rider could be found. 

He rapped quickly three times on the wooden door before pushing it open and
then waited to see if Leigh would notice the same feelings he had himself
upon meeting the stranger. 

He could see by the look in her violet-blue eyes that she did. "M'lady this
is the man who has requested an audience with you."

Instead of leaving the room as he might of in the past, Ja'ks moved to close
the door and then took up a position near by as the other man advanced into
the room to stand before the Warrenlady's desk.

Jayleigh
*********
She could have killed her brother for not warning her and her eyes caught
sight of the man walking into her office behind Ja'ks. For a moment she felt
dizzy. Out of sorts because she knew damn well she couldn't be seeing the
man she thought she saw. 

Then she heard Ja'ks introduction and saw him move to take a stand beside
her door giving her time to pull herself together. 

"Apparently, you have sneaked into the Warren and demanded to speak to me."

"Yes, my Lady, I wished to see you"

"Though I'm not *your* Lady. I'd like to know who are you, and what business
have you here?" She too looked suspicious of him.

"My name is D'Altar. The dragon I ride with is Raven. Had he been a lighter
color, we would not have sneaked in. No one saw him until we landed."

Jayleigh looked less than impressed.

"I am from a small holding far away. I had never heard of Daere until I came
out of the wilds..."

"The wilds?!" Ja'ks asked.

"Yes. I have traveled there for many years. That is where I joined with Raven"

Jayleigh eyed him with suspicion, but also, perhaps, a little wonder. Troy
told her that his dragon looked to be in fine shape. And bigger then most
wilder dragons, and the man himself didn't look to out of shape. Not at all
like some of the wilder pairs that had requested a home in the past.

No this man. She decided had come from a good home even before his exile out
into the wilds and it made her wonder just where he was really from.

"You certainly look well traveled, but no one can survive for long in the
wilds," she said. She used these words to take a better look at him. Not
that she hadn't been looking all along. It was just uncanny how much he
resembled..... 

"Not many perhaps, and not for long. But I have. Joining with Raven,
however, has given me a sense of, well, being responsible. For him, I mean.
I don't want him to live out the solitary existence I had chosen. I have
been seeking a Warren for a long time. Will you deny me?"

"The Warren would never turn out an honest man and deny him even the simple
request of a safe place for the night. It's' just that I don't know what to
do with you," she sighed. "People can't just wander in and join a Warren."

"Is that not what happens in a searching?" he smiled.

"No. People are *invited* here because they have an affinity... At that some
of them don't find their dragon for sometime. Some not even at all."

"Do I not have this affinity?" he asked. And as he spoke, almost he seemed
to grow taller, more proud. Being a searcher, Jayleigh could see the
affinity in him. It was no wonder even a wild dragon would join with this 
man.

"Yes you do. We probably know as much of your history as we do of many
others who are brought here. But the dragon is another matter."

"Because he is wild?" 

She nodded. "Partly. Some are not taken to the Wilder parings as other might
be. You might find yourself in for a bit of a it until they get to know you."

"Raven is not a timid beast and he can anger as well as anyone. But he is
quicker to laugh than to fight and loves the harp playing of his rider. We
are bound together and he is a loyal friend."

"Whatever is decided will not be decided tonight. You must have a lodging
for tonight at least..."

"Do not trouble yourself, Warrenlady. We have lodged in places far worse
than the ground of Daere. We shall sleep in the open and be a burden to no
one. If you decide to allow us to stay, perhaps we can discuss lodgings 
then."

D'Altar bowed low until kneeling on one knee, with his right hand clenched
over his heart. He raised his head.

"All I will say tonight is that if you allow it, I will pledge myself to
Daere Warren and all who live here and all she protects. I will pledge
myself to you, Warrenlady."

He held her gaze for what seemed like forever. Then he stood up.

"With your leave, I will rejoin Raven and await the morning."

Jayleigh sent one of the three who brought D'Altar in to escort him back to
his dragon.

"Well?" Jayleigh began. "What are we to make of this man?"

"You noticed it too didn't you?" Ja'ks asked after moving to settle himself
in the chair across from her desk. He didn't have to put it into words. 

"Yes... I wonder how she'll take it when she sees him," Leigh sighed. "She's
finally coming to terms with his death and moving on with her life. I wonder
if seeing this man will set her back... or worse."

"I know it'll be hard on her, but you can't deny the man a place to live
just to spare her feelings."

Leigh took a hard look at her brother. "When have you ever known me to allow
my personal feelings interfere with what's good for this Warren?"

"You haven't Sis," Ja'ks said quietly knowing how much she had lost and
given up to prove she could do the job fairly. "And there have been times
when you would have been allowed the option but didn't take it."

"Yes well," Leigh blew off his words as she stood up from behind her desk.
"My daughter is waiting for me at home and I for one think I've been away
from her far to long today so I'm going home."

"Where's Jadee?" 

"At mothers. He's staying there so Cal'an will feel more comfortable," Leigh
told him and couldn't hide the sadness in her tone. 

"So Cal'an's going to stay with them?" 

Yes he knows them and it was thought he'd feel safer being around people he
knows and trusts. Jadain feels he has to make up for what happen even though
there was nothing he could have done to stop it. He insisted on it in fact
and mother agreed that it might be for the best right now. So it's just me
and Vena at home tonight."

"Tonia watching her?" her brother asked knowing from his mother that she was
going to ask Jadain's old nurse to watch over the latest baby from their
family. 

"Yes she is," she told him smugly. "And don't you know Rochela is upset
because she's wanted Tonia to watch over her newest son but she'd had to
turn her down. 

"Well to bad for her." Ja'ks laughed. "You'd just better hope she doesn't
decide to suggest that if Tonia is already watching one baby who's to say
two wouldn't be that much more trouble."

"Won't happen," Leigh told him and he knew she'd set her mind to it already.
"Jadain says he can hear his sister thinking..... Mind you it's just baby
mutterings for now. But he says she has a strong mental thought process.
Remind me to talk to T'rell about that sometime would you?"

"Now about this mew man. I'm going to give him to you to worry about for
now." She told him. "Think you can make sure he's set up and finds every
thing he needs."

"Sure Sis. No problem. I'll find him and tell him to meet with me in the
morning to find them a new home."

He gave her a hug then because she insisted that she was a big girl and
didn't need him to see her home then they parted and she watched as Ja'ks
moved off into the night to find his dragon. Then she resumed her own walk
home only to hear music of a harp floating across the evenings winds.

A tear fell from her eye as she continued on. 

======== 

Okay I hope I got all that I should have but after two months away I'm bound
to have forgotten something.....Let me know and I'll try to get to it soon.

***Submitted by: ****

Warrenlady Jayleigh & Viktroy
Ja'ks & Sprarroe
Realee: Daere's head cook