Tara
(Outside Karban Village, afternoon, day 17)

/snip from Barb's post/
Tara took a good long look at him and then nodded her head once. "So what do
we do now?"

"We go back and bury your father and then we get the hell out of here and
you go back to you life in the Warren, and I go back to... back to what I do
best."

"This isn't over Uncle," she warned even as they started to remount the
Queen. "there's more that I know you're not telling me and for now I'll let
it go... But I won't always be so kind. You will tell me. And I won't keep
this from Ansel either. I think he has the right to know he does have some
family that's not....."

"Crazy?" Wisp supplied as he mounted behind her. "Yes he will have to know.
But I'd rather we both tell him after this mess is over."

"Just so *we* do," she warned. "Or I might just do it myself."

He didn't doubt that for a moment.
/end snip/

     They talked there awhile longer, then returned to Karban village.  Ansel 
had noted their absence, and that of the queen, and was waiting for them when 
they returned.  "Where were you?" he demanded.  "I asked Varaenna, but she 
just kept putting me off.  I thought I'd have to go through all of this 
myself...!"

     "We wouldn't do that to you," Tara assured him.  "Wisp and I just had 
some...things...to sort out."

     Ansel's eyes widened, and Tara knew what he was thinking.  "Not *those* 
sort of things," she told him.

     "Lad, you and I will talk sometime soon," Wisp told him.  "Not here, not 
today, but another time...back at Jasra."

     Ansel looked ready to press him further, but a stern look from Tara cut 
him short.  
"Okay," he said, none too satisfied but knowing that for now he'd simply have 
to be.

* * * * * * * *
(Evening, Karban Village)

     The funeral was mercifully short.  The body of Mardan was laid on a bier 
of oil-soaked logs, while the ceremonial torch guttered on a stand nearby.  
The mourners were divided into two distinct groups...one group composed of 
Mardan's mate Keanna and son Orlan, as well as the members of the village and 
representatives from the surrounding villages.  The other and much smaller 
group was made up of the dragonriders from Jasra, who stood off to the side 
watching silently as Wisp strode up before the bier.  

    "As You all know, I left this village because I did not believe in the 
same things you all have been taught from the first you could walk. *I* 
believed that a man or woman should choose their own path in life and take it 
where the road leads." he told them in a voice that managed to be clear at 
the same time as it was both low and somber.  "I choose to walk the path 
where life led me, and have never regretted it for a day.  My brother choose 
differently. Mardan was a man of strong and loyal character, a man who spent 
his life nurturing and defending his beliefs.  He knew that he might, in 
time, have to die for his dedication, and so he did in the end. Though little 
good will come of his death. May the gods receive him and take him into their 
care."

     The image of Wisp, her father, and the torches that ringed the area 
began to blur for Tara as tears filled her eyes.  "Father," she whispered to 
herself, "I'm sorry...I'm so sorry..."

    She felt strong arms supporting her on either side, and was only dimly 
aware that they belonged to Saul and Mc'key.  She turned her head slightly to 
each side, making eye contact with each of them to show her gratitude.  She 
saw dimly that Saul's other arm was around Ansel's shoulders.

     Trying to blink away the tears, she looked around her and saw Keanna 
standing at the head of the group of villagers, Orlan just behind her. 

     "My people" Wisp continued, "it is my belief that the gods *will* 
receive Mardan, for he was a good and honest man...but he was also a zealot, 
who allowed himself to be blinded by the letter of our ancient laws to the 
exclusion of all else."

     "Heretic!" someone hissed from the back of the crowd of villagers.  Tara 
couldn't see who it was, but from the looks on their faces, it could have 
been any one of a number of them.

     "So I am," Wisp agreed, nodding gravely.  "I know the laws as well as 
any of you,  in fact better than most...and by the strict letter of those 
laws, I am indeed a heretic.  
My brother was not...in giving his life for his faith he is a martyr and 
saint.  He was also a murderer, in intent if not in result...and I must now 
call upon each of you to examine yourselves, and balance the requirements of 
your faith with the voice of your conscience."

     He stepped down from the raised dais, his eyes meeting those of Tara's 
mother.  "You, Keanna...much as you may honor your husband, my brother...can 
you truly say you are happy with what has happened?  Will your faith give you 
comfort greater than you could have found in his arms if you were the wife of 
a living man rather than the widow of a saint?"

     Keanna faced Wisp squarely, her chin jutting out in defiance.  "And how 
could my husband have called himself a man if he had not done what he knew to 
be right?"

     Wisp nodded his head once. "What he *believed* to be right," he said 
softly.  "What about you, Keanna.  Do *you* believe it was right to abandon 
your daughter at Ismene...your daughter whose only sin was to be standing in 
the wrong...in your view...place at the wrong time?"

     "We had no choice," Keanna said, faltering.  "She was dead...her soul 
gone, devoured by the demon...only her body remained..."

    "And you let that body come back, time and time again," he countered.  
"Mardan disapproved of that, didn't he?  It was you who begged him to allow 
this, wasn't it?"

     Keanna dropped her gaze and said nothing.  "You let a soulless body come 
here, brought by a 'demon,' and allowed her into your home," Wisp continued, 
pressing his point.  Why would you do that, Keanna, if you were certain that 
your daughter was truly dead?"

     "Not dead...possessed," Keanna stammered.

     Tara felt an overwhelming urge to dash over and comfort her mother, 
shield her from Wisp's probing questions.  This wasn't right, this was a 
funeral, not an inquisition!  She started to take a step, but felt Saul's 
grip on her shoulder tighten.

     [Fayloth says his rider believes you should stay where you are.  This is 
necessary, however much it may hurt,] Varaenna said quietly in her mind.

     Tara bit her lip in anguish, but knew that Saul was right.  She stayed 
put and listened.

     "Or was it that you weren't *certain* that your husband was right...and 
you wanted to see for yourself?" Wisp demanded.  "And what did you see, 
Keanna?  Did you see a demon all those times...or was it your daughter Tara?" 

     "I...don't know..." Keanna weakly.

     "Our laws, our teachings...date back centuries, to a time before the 
warrens existed," Tara said, stepping forward.  She knew that she could no 
longer hold back and let Wisp try to sway them alone. "Back then, what they 
said was true...dragons *were* terrible things, to be shunned and avoided by 
humans.  But things have changed since then.  I loved my father, but...I know 
that he was mistaken in what he believed.  I only wish I could prove it to 
you."

     Wisp nodded slowly.  "I have said what needed to be said," he told the 
mourners.  "If even one of you listens to what I...or Tara...have said, then 
my brother will not have died for nothing.  For perhaps only by dying could 
he demonstrate that old beliefs sometimes need to change.  His own...and 
yours."

     He motioned for Keanna to come forward, picking up the torch as he did 
so.  It was customary for the closest relatives of the deceased to take turns 
lighting the tinder that would consign the body to the flames.  As was his 
right as the village's Elder, Wisp touched the tip of the torch to the 
tinder.  He handed it to Keanna, who did likewise.  Tara's eyes again filled 
with tears, and she could hear Ansel's ragged breathing from where he stood 
nearby.

     Her vision blurred by tears, Tara was lost in her own thoughts until she 
felt Saul nudge her.  "Go on," the searcher whispered.  "He's waiting."  

     She looked up and saw Wisp holding the torch in her direction, beckoning 
her to come forward.  Swallowing hard, she stepped up to the bier in as 
dignified a manner as she could, and accepted the torch from Wisp.

     "Goodbye, father," she whispered,her voice breaking as she added her own 
contribution to the growing flame.  She held up the torch in Orlan's 
direction.  As next oldest, it was his place to come next.  Orlan hesitantly 
came forward and took the torch, touching it to the fire. 

    He then did something unexpected.  He drew out a folded piece of silk 
from under his robe, and laid it onto the blaze.  Tara recognized it as 
ceremonial sash of the Silk and Silvers her father had given him.  By 
accepting it, Orlan had sworn either Tara's life or his own must be 
forfeited.  She drew in a breath, momentarily fearful that he might try to 
follow his father into the flames to satisfy his pledge.  And for just a 
moment, she could tell, he was actually considering it.

     But he didn't.  Instead he backed away from the blaze, and held out the 
torch to Ansel.  Then he turned and walked away.  Tara breathed a sigh of 
relief. 

 She backed away from the growing blaze as its heat grew unbearable.  She 
turned her head and saw Wisp still standing his ground, his face lit by the 
fierce glow of the flames.  He stared fixedly upward at the column of smoke 
rising into the sky above Karban.  Then he nodded slowly to himself, with a 
look of something like satisfaction on his face.  Then he turned and walked 
away, and was lost to view in the darkness beyond the firelight.

     It was over.  Tara wanted nothing more than to get back to the warren, 
but felt she should go and say something...anything...to her mother.  But she 
saw a weeping Keeana being led away by a group of friends and relatives, 
including Orlan.  "Not now," Mc'key whispered to her.  "There'll be another 
time."

     Tara slowly shook her head.  "No," she said sadly.  "I don't think there 
will be."  She silently called Varaenna, directing the queen to meet her in a 
nearby clearing. By the time the riders arrived, Varaenna was already 
waiting, flanked by Fayloth and Vasleth.  

     "More dragons won't fit here at a time, so we'll go in relays, three at 
a time," Mc'key explained.  

     Tara looked around her.  "Wisp...where's Wisp?" she asked.  She couldn't 
leave without her uncle.

     "He's probably taking care of last minute details," Saul remarked, as he 
helped Ansel climb up onto Varaenna's saddle.  "I'm sure he'll catch a rider 
with one of the others.  It'll be a good half an hour before all of the 
dragons have cleared out.

     Tara nodded, too tired to argue.  She let Mc'key help her up onto 
Varaenna's saddle while the queen crouched extra-low to make it easier for 
her to mount.  *Gods, I feel old,* she told the queen.

     [No, you feel worn out,] the queen told her solicitously.  [You will 
feel much better when we get home!]

     Tara sighed, looking back toward Karban, for what she knew would 
probably be the last time.  "I'd hoped that mother would have 
said...something..."

     Saul, strapping himself into Fayloth's saddle, nodded.  "Yes...but what 
your brother Orlan did surprised me.  Maybe there's some hope there."


     "Maybe so," Tara agreed, hoping that Orlan might indeed find it in his 
heart to change his views.  But that was for the future...for now, she just 
wanted to go home.  Varaenna sprang aloft, with Fayloth and Vasleth taking 
flight immediately afterward.  As soon as they were airborne, the next group 
of dragons entered the clearing to pick up their riders.

* * * * * * * *
Tara/Ansel
Jasra Warren
(evening)

     Tara breathed a sigh of relief as Varaenna angled downward for a landing 
on the green.  After the extreme tension of her visit to Karban, these 
familiar surroundings were a balm to her jangled nerves.  

     *Varaenna, is Sabbith here?* Tara asked, thinking of the comfort she 
could find in Kay's arms.

     [No, drat it!] Varaenna said, distinctly miffed at the crimson dragon's 
absence.  

     *Now, they're off helping someone who needs it,* Tara told her.  *We 
wouldn't care so much about them if they weren't the sorts to do that, now 
would we?*

     [I suppose not,] Varaenna grumbled, and then Tara could suddenly sense 
the queen's mood lifting.  

     *What is it?* Tara asked.

     [Oh...nothing,] the queen said too quickly, and Tara knew that something 
was being kept from her.  She knew, though, that she'd probably find out 
quickly enough...and that Varaenna's mood indicated that she was in for a 
pleasant surprise of some sort.

     Once they'd landed, Ansel leaped to the ground and gave his sister a 
hand down.  A happy bugle announced that someone else had seen their 
approach, and Khamorray came bounding out of the darkness to nuzzle against 
his rider.  

     *Hi, buddy!* Ansel cried, hugging the seadragon's muzzle.  *I missed 
you!!*

     [I missed you too!!] Khamorray told him, almost quivering with delight 
at being reunited with his rider.  [And you won't believe who's back!!  
It's...]

        "Danis??" Tara cried, and Ansel turned to see the young queenrider 
hurrying across the green.

     [Well, I was going to tell you that Thalia was back,] Khamorray sniffed, 
disappointed at not being able to surprise his rider.

     Ansel wanted to rush over to Danis, but knew that it was his sister's 
place to greet her first.  Tara and Danis embraced, and then the Warrenlady 
held the junior queenrider out at arms length to take a good look at her.  
"Welcome back!" she said warmly.  "Ismene seems to have agreed with you!"

     "It's good to be back!" Danis told her.  "Dragonlady Vignette sends her 
greetings as well!"

     Ansel stood there nervously, uncertain of what to say.  He and Danis had 
gotten close while she was here before, but he wondered how she felt about 
him now, if she'd found someone else during the intervening time.  

     "Um...hi," he said uncertainly, putting his hands behind his back.  "I'm 
um, glad to see you too!" he blurted.  "Um, *really* glad!"

(Tag Louise - how does Danis feel about seeing Ansel again?)

(NRPG: Well, Tara is back at the warren.  I still have some tags to pick up, 
and others to leave, so I've got yet another post in the works which I hope 
to have out within the next few days.)

Also, thanks to Barb for helping out with Wisp!

Submitted by:

John

Warrenlady Tara & Varaenna
Ansel & Khamorray

Jasra Warren


     

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