**Phaedra**

Her hair felt limp and stringy under her touch. Small wonder, she thought,
as she hadn't had the time or even the inclination to wash it the last few
days. To be honest, there was little inclination to do anything, once Vignette
and her retinue had left with Inagua. Myacura and Inagua's silings had 
decided to go as well, and small wonder. Phaedra hadn't bothered to
wave goodbye.

[[ Damn it, Melith! Do you have any idea how distracting that is?! ]] Melith
was laying eggs in the Hatching chamber, and the transmitted mental anguish
was slowly driving her out of her mind.

<<You try laying eggs sometime,>> the golden queen thought back petuantly.
<<I can't help how you feel. Try understanding how *I* feel.>>

[[ I wouldn't dare. ]] Melith was in the immense amethyst Geode, and would
not let anyone even close. Every time, she just got worse and worse, Phaedra
mused. Each time more on edge. When would she cross the line and flame
someone?

<<I caught that.>>

[[ Good. ]]

<<Didn't it occur to you that this is what's causing *your* moodiness? I think
you should find some excuse to get away for a while.>>

[[ You remember what happened the last time we went for a joyride. ]]

<<I remmember. You'll be by yourself, though.>>

[[ I can't leave the warren because I'm not safe, and I can't stay here because 
I'm not safe. Where could I go? ]]

<<That's not fair. Myacura's rider was caught almost immediately. No one 
wants to kill you.>>

[[ How do you know that? Do I really find such disfavor here? ]]

<<Everyone respects you.>>

[[ But do they *like* me, that's the question. ]]

<<Ahh, no. That does not matter. You are the warrenlady. I am the queen. 
You are fit to be in charge here. You are respected and even loved by some.>>

[[ Not enough, my dragon. Not enough. ]]

<<That is your fault. You are too cold to others. Easily remedied.>>

[[ Is it? What's the point? Nothing matters. ]]

Melith would have argued, but she was busy yet again. Phaedra shut her
mind off from the distraction.

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

**Kryptel**

The ice-bitch dead? Ohh, it was so close. He had waited to hear about her
demise, but Inagua had apparently missed her mark. Too much booze, if
he  heard right. Too bad. It would have been perfect to see the haughty 
warrenlady meet her doom, thinking she was safe in her pampered little
cave. It said a lot, though, that Inagua had not been turned into charcoal, and
even more that she had gotten off practically free. 

Phaedra didn't have the support she needed in her own warren. No one cared
about her. Only Melith's size and egg-laying kept the woman in power.

<It is true, Kryptel. Phaedra hangs onto the reigns of power, but only just.
It would be a shame to see Melith fall and a Warrenlord in Phaedra's place.>

*You dream too much, my dragon. Sure, I would love to see all the priviledges
she enjoys abolished...I have always felt that she did not deserve to hold
power here. But Melith *is* a queen. That's the whole idea. She's biggest,
strongest, and she keeps the warren going. She can't be replaced.*

<Of course she can! You...and of course, I...could hold sway here, my rider. 
We merely need to have a queen who has been, ah, trained properly, that's all.>

* "Trained"?*

<Not brought up with the constant thought that they are the best merely
because they lay the eggs. I received a proposition recently, I wanted 
to broach the subject with you.>

*What kind of proposition?*

<There are riders outside of the warren who feel as you do. The interesting
part is that they feel I am one to be followed. Not merely because of my
appearance, of course, but because of my obvious intelligence. *And* yours.
I think we could go far with them.>

*Outside of the warren? You mean rogues?!*

<Outcasts, my rider. Those who were thrown out because of their convictions.
As we will, someday. Why not take the initiative, lead these children to
the true path? Show them what a warren is supposed to be like?>

*I don't know, Yothick...*

<It would not hurt to talk to them. Once you see how I am treated, you 
will see that we will get the respect we deserve. I am like a god to them, 
these dragons. They tell me my coming was foredained.>

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

More to follow! 



Allen Veazey
wolf@dbtech.net
	
	"A little nonsense now and then / is cherished by the 
	 wisest men."
			--Willy Wonka