The Dining Hall at Jasra, the day of arrival

>       Spotting D'glis, Evelle was surprised to see him with three others.
She beckoned him over to the long table at which they sat, eager to meet his
guests.  The older man looked to be of an age with Master Kershod. 

        Piper looked around the banquet nervously.  It was amazing that the
time of day had suddenly changed as they teleported from Norwall to Jasra
Warren.  She wasn't even sure where she was, or what she was going to do
here.  But at least she would be far from Devon.  Perhaps he could get on
with his life, and she with hers, now.

        Evelle was gracious and pleased to meet the new arrivals.  Piper had
never met her before, but she had learned about the queen rider, and had
listened with interest as her Uncle sang songs of Keldarra Warren.  Now she
was meeting the legend that her Uncle had taught her.

        Soon, Piper, Aleipha and Jenero were seated at a side table and
began to fill the corners of their hunger.  Piper felt silly, eating her
evening meal when she hadn't had breakfast or a noonday meal.  It would take
a while for her to adjust.  

        She picked at the food on her plate, eating enough to get her by,
but not finding her appetite.  She almost felt relieved when Jenero stood,
picking up the guittara from the wall where he had set it, and moved to the
center of the room, where the other Bards had gathered.  

        As he sat down, he looked at Piper sternly, and motioned for her to
come forward.  Piper felt a shower of nervousness flutter over her, but she
pulled the small case from the pack that she had carried in with her and
moved to stand near her Uncle.  

        After a few short words to the musicians, Jenero spoke to the
gathering.  "Welcome, and well met.  A day ago, I would have laughed if you
had told me that I would be singing in this hall by the sea tonight, but I
have no talent as a soothsayer.  And so, here am I, and we will sing you a
song of Jasra and your new Warrenlady."

        Jenero nodded to Piper, who placed her lips delicately against her
instrument, the clear, high notes weaving their way gently around the room
like a sea gull at sunset weaves over the ocean waves one last time before
sleep.


                Haven by the Sea

                Sunlight sparkling on the waves,
                Brushing softly as the day's
                First born greeting gifts us sweet,
                With it's beauty, swift and fleet.

                Water far out to the sea,
                Not a place for us to flee,
                But with gentle nursing sound
                With its safety us surround.
                
                Bright Evelle who from afar
                Once Keldarra's brightening star,
                Now will glow in love and grace
                Shining here in Jasra place.

                Here in quiet candlelight,
                Or in sparkling ocean light
                Holding to each other's hand
                Bright shining stars in Dragon Land.


                (c) Copyright Louise E. Koester 6/30/1997


        The final strains of music died away and the crowd, at first quiet,
suddenly burst into applause, not only for the musician's performance, but
also in recognition of Evelle, as their new Warren Lady.

        The music did not stop, but as the group of musicians brought their
instruments to bear in a happy dance tune, Piper made her way back to where
Aleipha sat.

        "That was great!"  Pentho's rider said, "How do you do it?  You
couldn't have practiced it..."

        Piper shrugged,  "Well, for all that, I've played that tune until I
hate to hear it, but it's an old one, not used much anymore.  I must admit
that Uncle's words were wonderful and appropriate, but the always are.  I
did little tho, but play along."

        "More than I could do,"  Aleipha said, quietly,  "Anyway, they will
play a circle dance soon, would you like to join me?"  

        Piper shrugged,  "I'm not in the mood to dance, but I suppose I will
just because you will make me crazy if I don't."

        Aleipha scowled,  "I've never forced you to dance..."

        Piper pushed her friend's arm gently,  "Oh, don't be silly.  You
aren't forcing me now, either.  I just..."

        "I know... you just miss Devon,"  Aleipha said, in disgust,  "But
it's for the best, and just forget him!"

        "I know it's for the best, and forgetting him isn't as easy as I
would like, but come, they are starting the circle dance... then I want to
find a place to sleep."  Piper jumped up and hurried to where the young men
and women of the warren gathered for a dance, that would send them around in
a circle, to each dance with another, until they returned to their original
partner.

        Piper and Aleipha paired up, as they often did, but quickly, two
young men from Jasra Warren came up to the pair.  "You can't dance together
like that, there aren't enough girls as it is!"

        Piper laughed,  "Well, we must be asked, you know, but if you are
asking, then we will dance with you."

        Aleipha scowled at Piper, but moved to stand in front of the young
man and smiled at him slightly as the music started, and the dance began.

        All too soon, it seemed the dance was over and Piper and Aleipha
begged off the next dance and headed off to find a place to stay for the
night which seemed to be coming along too fast.  Tomorrow they would find
permanent quarters, but any port in a storm, and beggers can't be choosers,
came to Piper's mind as they were settled together in the quiet training
barracks for the night.

The next day...

>       Wynn walked back to Malekith.  "We will begin with basic 
maneuvers.  There are a number of new dragons here, so we need to start 
from scratch to get used to each other."
 
>       There were grumbles from the group, but all the riders went to 
their dragons.  Wynn patted Malekith's nose.  "It's a long climb up, 
isn't it?"

        Aleipha grumbled at the mention of 'basic maneuvers', but soon it
becameclear that they had plenty of work to do to coordinate with the Jasra
riders and Wynn, who was now the wing leader.  

        Piper went through the manuevers, without grumbling.  The lack of
complaint was less content and more thankfullness that she didn't need to
think about things very hard.  She seemed to think of nothing but the dark
haired man she had left behind at Norwall.  The harder she attempted to
forget him, the more she seemed to think about him, until, by the end of the
day, she could barely concentrate on anything else.

        As practice ended, she slid wearily from her dragon and walked
toward the dining hall.

        As the pair walked toward the table, laden with the evening's fare,
suddenly Wynn, the wingleader, stumbled into the young woman.  Gaining his
senses, he staggered to one side to keep from bowling her over.  "My
apologies!"  He said, regaining his balance.
 
>       The girl looked up at him with dark brown eyes.  "It's all 
right, no harm done, Wing Leader."
 
>       "You're one of the newer riders, aren't you?  That came here 
with D'glis?"
 
>       The girl nodded.  "I'm Piper, and this is my friend Aleipha."
 
>       "Well met."  Wynn smiled.  "This is Master Kershod.  Would you 
care to join us for dinner?  I'm expecting my mate to be here soon, and 
I know she would love to meet with you two."

        Piper felt as if she would rather just hurry off to bed, but this
would perhaps give her something new to think about, so she replied,
"Certainly, thank  you, Wingleader."

        The pair filled their plates and went to join Wynn and Kershod.
Soon, Jenero walked in the door and spotted the group.  He hurried over with
his plate and sat across from Kershod.  Soon those two were deep in
conversation.

        Aleipha ate near-ravenously, it seemed, leaving the talking to
Piper, who seemed to push the food around on her plate more than eat it, and
answered Wynn's questions quietly.

        "You came from Norwall?"  Wynn asked her,  "How is Naomi and Lacy?" 

        Piper shrugged,  "They are fine.  The warren is prospering well.  It
is wonderful there.  They will have a hatching soon."

        Wynn nodded,  "I had heard that.  I'm glad to hear that things are
going well there.  What made you decide to leave there?  It is a long way
from Jasra to Norwall."

        Piper shrugged,  "The farther the better" she mumbled.  "I just
needed a change of scenery, and Aleipha wanted to come along, we've become
friends since we joined with our dragons.  I don't know why Uncle came
along, except he is always looking for new songs to write."  Piper sighed.
"I'm sure he will find many here, it is beautiful."

        "That it is,"  Wynn agreed.  The wingleader got the impression that
there was more than a 'change of scenery' that promoted Piper's move, but he
was distracted from asking by the arrival of Evelle.  She looked tired, yet
pleased.  "Welcome, love,"  Wynn said.  "Sit down and I'll get you something
to eat while you visit with Piper and Aleipha."  He stood and graciously sat
her in the chair next to his.  "It would appear that Kershod and Jenero have
forgotten that we exist."

        Jenero laughed, his baratone voice sounding merry,  "No, but there
are much for old men to catch up on, but if you wish to join our
conversation, we will be glad to have you!"

        Evelle smiled,  "I'm sure there will be many conversations, Jenero.
Enjoy yourself."  She turned to Piper and Aleipha with a smile and said,
"Now I can welcome you more properly to Jasra.  I hope you will be happy
here."

        "I'm sure I will,"  Piper said, a slightly haunted look in her eyes,
"It will just take a little time..."

        Evelle nodded, smiling as Wynn placed a filled plate in front of
her.  "Well, let's eat, and then we can talk."


Respectfully submitted,
Piper and Bishvilea (who must be gathering gossip big time ;)

nrpg:  here we go... at least I'm caught up to all, I think ;)  and it is a
post.... but I'm brain dead and getting ready for the Con.... see where you
can go from here... Piper won't talk about Devon if she can get out of it...
:) just so you know :)  more later...

Louise #8->

        

sanya42@mwci.net

Reality is a crutch for people who can't handle... 
   http://users.mwci.net/~buce042/louise.htm
----------------------------------------------------
OK! Who stopped payment on my reality check!