nrpg: Shana...the meeting of Inagua and Violet with Phaedra takes place 
the late afternoon/evening of B'rin's return to Telnor and the three 
riders from Geode visiting there...Blake's dragon hatched in the morning,
and Kirin had just woken up, so I assume Blake reaches Geode in the morning
and that's when Kirin meets her. Therefore, they won't see Inagua and 
Violet in Phaedra's office, that took place the night before. 
It's true that Inagua woke up too, but I'm assuming she was badgered awake
by her dragon the same day in response to Melith's demands.

********************

Phaedra leaned on her crystaltree cane, staring at the dwindling specks that
represented the party headed to Telnor. It was almost beyond belief, the 
thought that all this time there were other warrens...it was incredible. 

There was another distraction as well; she could still feel her lips tingle
where she had kissed H'nin before they departed. Now why in the First Brood
had she done that? It was such a loss of control, such an impulsive
gesture...perhaps her injury had affected her far worse than she had realized.

<<Or else you liked it.>>

<* Oh, shut up. I don't need this right now. See what happens when I go with 
my feelings? We went for a joyride and nearly got killed. *>

<<As if the rogues would not have been there otherwise. You can't blame us for
that, and I'm definitely not taking the blame.>>

<<You're changing the subject, my rider. I wouldn't mind Retick landing on 
our ledge on a regular basis.>>

<* You wouldn't mind any dragon landing on our ledge on a regular basis. I'll
deal with that later, right now I have to get to work. Now, where the hell is
Inagua? *>

<<She has been called, she will meet you at your office.>>

<* Good. *> Phaedra reached her office, and limped in, heedless of the splendor
of the glistening quartz around her. The desk had been cleared, but wait...
it seemed that most of the papers had been taken out, shuffled, and put back
in random order. Why the hells had they done that? It would take hours to 
fix...Phaedra started organizing, cursing under her breath, when a knock 
sounded at the door. "Come in."

Inagua poked her head in, half-shielded by a large wide-brimmed hat. "You 
wanted to see me, Warrenlady?"

"Yes, I did." Phaedra was still simmering. "Did you do this to my desk?"

"Well, yes...you see we had to see the last tithing figures and-"

"No, no...stop. What the hell happened? Why did you get drunk? And why are
you hiding behind the door?"

Inagua gave a guilty start at that. "Oh! I was kind of waiting for the 
opportunity to introduce someone. Warrenlady Phaedra, this is Violet, 
from Dominara." The girl, a youngster with thick blonde hair, bowed.

"I've never heard of a Dominara."

"That's because it's not around here. It's beyond a dimensional rift-"

"What?!" Phaedra rubbed her temples; she could actually feel the headache 
start. First a new warren, and now this...

"It's true! I leaped beyond to this place, and ended up on a cliff. I fell,
and Bazie caught me."

"Bazie? Who's Bazie?"

"You remember her," Inagua said. "She's the dragon that showed up after 
the other wilder, Sazarnth."

"Oh, yes," Phaedra replied. "You mean you felt some kind of link with this
dragon? Why did it save you?"

"She didn't say."

"You...can talk to it?"

"I'm telepathic, I can talk to them."

<* Well then, that's good. It would be helpful to have another person to 
communicate with all the dragons in case I'm otherwise occupied. *>

**Ah, you're telepathic, too! That's great!**

"So, why did you come here? And how do you get back? Can you bring others?"

Violet's face fell. "No, I can't," she moaned. "I tried several times, I 
can't seem to open the gateway again. None of my magic seems to work."

Phaedra felt sorry for her, she looked so sad. "Don't worry, if you got 
here, there must be a way to get back. In the meantime, you are welcome to
stay with us at Geode." Phaedra looked over at Inagua. "No, I haven't 
forgotten you. I need to know what you said to Lord Uboe, and what kind of 
deal you made. I have no desire to be eating rocks by the end of the 
tithing period."

Inagua seemed to be holding her head, too. "Whatever did you drink, child?"

"I don't know, but Cygnus gave it to me. I worked just fine, before."

"That will teach you to drink something Cygnus had. Well, come on, what did 
you agree on?"

Inagua named a few figures. Phaedra relaxed from her involuntary cringe.
"That's not so bad. Not bad at all. How did you arrive at that?"

"I looked over last year's tithe, then multiplied it. Uboe went the other 
way, of course."

"Of course."

"Eventually we came to that."

"Phaedra looked at the junior queenrider, bemused. "You have more stuff in you
than I expected. Well done for a first attempt. Not as much as we could have 
done, but very passable. I'll teach you a few more tricks that will help if
something like that happens again. Speaking of which, where was Kirin?"

"Kirin was tied up. Plus, she...well, I thought that maybe she would want me
to handle it."

"I don't know if she would share your opinion, but I'll let it slide. Kirin
doesn't always like the administrative side of things here." Phaedra looked
at the two. "Inagua, why don't you help Violet around and see she gets 
fed and sheltered. I need to clean up here."

"Of course, Phaedra. I'll see you later." They walked out, noticeably 
happier that when they came in. Phaedra began to shuffle papers again...

She woke with an awful crick in her back and her leg was throbbing in 
anguish. Apparently she had fallen asleep at her desk. Again. She rubbed her
back as she got her bearings...

The morning sun was bright against the oiled paper blinds, and the lantern
had long since burnt itself out. As she moved to the windows to open 
the blinds, there was a knock on the door.

"Come in."
     
Kirin entered, leading a young girl with black hair.  "This is Blake 
Greystone.  She joined to a wild hatchling, Jennipher, and I need to know what 
to do." The latter came out a bit sheepishly.  She didn't kow much about things 
like this. Hastily, she added "Jennipher is in the barracks with the rest of
the 
newly hatched dragonets."

"Gods..." Phaedra passed her hands over her eyes. "Are there any other new
people you want to bring to me today?"

Kirin's face clouded. "What do you mean? I just now brought Blake!"

"No...you don't understand. Inagua brought in a newcomer just last night.
This is chaotic."

The girl looked upset. "I'm sorry to bother you...I just want to know, can't
you just take this dragon? I hate to give her up, but if this is her 
rightful place..."

It was too much. Phaedra began to giggle, then chuckle, then laugh 
uproarously. Tears streamed out of her eyes. She had to hold her arm against
her side, it hurt from the laughter.

"Phaedra! Your papers!" Kirin rushed to dump a cup of water on a small pile 
of papers that had begun to burn brightly.

Phaedra finally mastered herself, still chuckling. "Oh, dear, you don't know,
do you? Can you hear the dragon's voice in your head? Can you feel the emotions
between you? If you concentrate, can you feel what she is feeling right now?"

"Yes, I can."

"I thought so. You're right, the dragon's place is here. So is yours."

"But my family..."

"You will always have your family, but things have changed forever for you,
child. You have Joined with a dragon. Your life will be intertwined with 
hers forevermore...but V'dar can explain this much better than I. As for 
your family, let them know, I hereby Search you. Your affinity is proven,
of course. You need to devote your time to taking care of one who needs you,
and later you both will fight the enemy of us all...wraiths. Like I said,
V'dar will be back soon, I hope, and he can take care of you very well. 
In the meantime, Kirin, can you help out our new rider?"

"Of course."

"Then please, get settled, and I will look in on all the newly Joined shortly."
She watched as they left. <* What else can go wrong today, Melith? *>

<<Well, you could help figure out what to do about finding Kikeane's rider.>>

<* Ghost? What's wrong with her? *>

<<While you were injured, she was found to be missing. Bonsai told me 
she was taken.>>

<* What?!? Where is Ghost?? *>

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

Tag for Bridget and Lavinia and Shana and Glory and Barb!

Phaedra and Melith  
 
Allen Veazey
wolf@dbtech.net
	
	"I'm not really bad, I'm just drawn that way."
			--Jessica Rabbit