Sitting in the dining hall with his mate, Mc'Key was feeling more content 
than he had in a long time. Many people regarded this small raven-haired 
woman and the tall blond man with amusement. Perhaps they were an unusual 
pair. They probably thought Key to be a craddle-snatcher. Ghost really did 
look *young*.

He saw two people look over at them, obviously seeking them out. One was the 
WingLeader Shawnee. He had not met the other guy before. Shawnee introduced 
him as Ed'wen, her WingSecond.

8< SNIP >8 ***

"Good evening," she greeted them when they had come to stand by their table.
After making the proper introductions she said, "I hope you don't mind but
we really need to talk to you both."

"How can we be of help Wingleader?" Mc'key asked, taking his mates hand in
his as he face the two of them.

"You can start by telling us everything you know about a Queenrider named
Inagua and her Queen Myacura?" Shawnee asked and didn't miss the look of
pure dislike that came over the girl's face.

"Pure trouble!" Ghost said quickly.

"Ghost....." Mc'key started but his mate turned angrily to face him.

"Don't you *now Ghost* me Key!" she sputtered. "You know darn well that
drunken bitch is nothing but trouble. Always has been and always will be!"

Shawnee looked on in amazement, but thought she was getting the true sense
of the girl's feelings.

"She tried to kill Phaedra if you remember correctly, and would have if...!"

"Stop it Ghost!" Mc'key's tone was as firm as the grasp he used to squeeze
her hand.

Surprisingly enough she stopped.

When he was sure she would keep quiet he turned back to Shawnee and Ed'wen.

"I guess you could say we know her and that my mate here doesn't think very
highly about her."

"That's putting it mildly," Ghost muttered, but a quelling look from Key
stopped her again. She sat there blistering in anger but kept quiet.

"So what can you tell us about her?" Ed'wen asked the man already figuring
out the woman's feelings.

"Can I ask first why you both want to know?" Key asked, already suspecting
the worst and hoping against all odds that his suspicions wouldn't pan out.

"The Queenrider is being transferred to Jasra and there was a slight mishaps
in her getting here," Shawnee quipped and couldn't help but notice the
girl's groan.

"Damn... and I was just beginning to like it here..." Ghost muttered.

Key patted his mate's hand. "It'll be okay Ghost... You'll see."

"How can it be Key... With *her* here....."

"Why don't you tell us who don't know what you're talking about and then we
can all be in on it," Ed'wen asked frowning.

"Yes... I'd like to know what you meant by she tried to -kill- Phaedra?"
Shawnee asked, knowing the woman had been the Warrenlady of Geode Warren
until just recently.

Then the two of them, herself and Ed'wen sat back to listen to the two
lately of Geode inform them of what they were in for.

*** 8< SNIP >8 ***


Mc'Key was in a difficult position. He automatically held the Queen riders 
in high regard. Inagua, however, was definitely in trouble. One thing that 
had always strangely puzzled him was her breath. She always smelled of 
alcohol, but there was always a strange smell he couldn't quite discern. He 
had made a mental note to talk to someone in the Medical Centre about 
that... When the Battle of Geode began, though, Inagua was the last thing on 
his mind.

"What Ghost has said is true, at least in part." He saw his mate scowl at 
him, but she kept quiet for the moment. "Inagua is someone in desperate need 
of help and yet no one could wish help less. She is, unfortunately, a heavy 
drinker as you have no doubt seen. I have suspicions, however, that there is 
more to it than that."

"What about her attempt on Phaedra's life?" Ed'wen asked.

"It is true that she did injure the WarrenLady. It is also true that she did 
intend to kill her. But that brings me back to what I was saying..."

"And this is the woman they want to allow to enter this Warren!" Ed'wen shouted.

"Ed'wen!" Mc'Key said firmly. Despite the fact that he had no authority 
here, this man, accustomed to directing others, was hard to ignore. Ed'wen 
allowed him to speak, but the glare on his face spoke volumes. Key hoped it
didn't ruin their chances of a friendship. 

"Many strange events were happening in Geode around that time. There were 
some who suspected infiltrators. I was asked to get close to Inagua by the 
WarrenLady."

"Do you believe that Inagua was one of these people?" Shawnee asked.

"No. But I do believe that she was under someone's influence." He paused to 
look at Ghost. She was staring at him intently. Key had never aired his 
suspicions to anyone. He did not like 'gossip' and he had never been sure, 
but now was the time to bring it into the open.

"I can prove nothing, Ma'am," his head inclining towards Shawnee, "but 
suspect that Inagua was selected for a purpose. She was unhappy, perhaps 
desperately so. She had no real ties at the Warren. I believe someone was 
using something on her, perhaps a drug of some kind, to render her useful to 
them and useless to the Warren she was supposed to serve."

"You are making serious statements here, Mc'Key."

Ghost looked up at him. "Why didn't you say any of this before?"

"I like gossip almost as much as I like wraiths," he smiled at her, "you 
know that. I wasn't sure. The troubles drove the issue out of mind for a 
time."

He looked to Shawnee.

"I will go with you to meet the Queen rider, if you wish. If I could make a 
suggestion?"

"Of course," Shawnee replied. Ed'wen didn't look so amenable.

"Tell her that all new riders must report for a full physical examination, 
including the drawing of blood. If you would allow me to brief your healer, 
perhaps we might find the answer. The WarrenLady will have to be informed 
too. Shall we speak to her now?"

Mc'Key was about to stride forward when he checked himself and fell in 
behind Shawnee and Ed'wen. He would have to remember that he was just 
another rider here. Ghost didn't really want to come along and his actions 
would probably spare her that chore. She wouldn't be of help anyway. She 
might even blurt something out.

"We have one more stop before we can go," Shawnee told Key as she and Ed'wen
reached the door. "I'd forgotten about it before now, but I'll have Doshy
contact you when we're ready, or Ed'wen will let you know."

"That's fine," Mc'key commented and sat back down to enjoy  or maybe not.. a
few more minutes with his mate. He just prayed whatever it was Shawnee had
to do didn't last to long.

But when the call came and he could leave, Ghost whispered in his ear,
"Remember to check her special vintage, my love."

And he whispered back to her, "We'll check out a special vintage of our own
tonight. I can't wait to get back to you. I've got something in store for
you..."

And so, with his lover blushing red as a tomato, Key left for Tara's office.

*** Tara's Office ***

With Shawnee out of the action due to her dragon rising to mate, Ed'wen had
suggested Key tell the Warrenlady what he had just told Shawnee and himself,
so he'd asked him to meet with them in the Warrenlady's office.

Mc'Key was uncomfortable as he retold Inagua's story, or at least what he 
knew of it, to the WarrenLady. She looked gravely concerned.

"So, this woman *is* guilty of attempted murder of a WarrenLady?" she asked.

"She is guilty of setting out to do so. I think, however, given the 
opportunity she had, if she had really intended to do it, Phaedra would be 
dead by now. She could have killed her easily, but she didn't."

"Perhaps she was simply too drunk," Ed'wen said.

"No. Inagua may be a," he blushed slightly, "heavy drinker, but if she truly 
intended to kill Phaedra, she would be dead."

"The question is," Tara began, "What can we do with her once we bring her 
here?"

<TAG! y'all. I think Key should be assigned a duty that Ghost won't like one 
little bit! <EVIL GRIN>>

**Just after sunset in Jasra****

They were just about to mount up to go after the Queenrider when they saw
several dragons popp into the air above them. Key recognized the Queen right
away and began to head towards her after they had landed. 

Her fingers worked mechanically and she nearly fell off the saddle at the
sudden loss of support.  A painful moment later, she managed to swing one
leg over and slide down.  Her legs remembered they had bones in enough time
to keep her from falling on her face, but not much before.  The heat seemed
to press her against her dragon's side.  But she managed to push herself
away and take a few steps out into the open. 

He bowed low in front of her. "My lady Inagua, it is good to see you. I 
trust you are well?"

<TAG! What will Iggie's reaction be to Key's presence here?>

NRPG:

Key is a man of decision. It is easy to see why this man, while still so 
young, had risen to become an Alpha WingLeader. Hopefully, he won't put too 
many noses out of joint!
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