Tara
(evening, day 16)

/snip from Bridget's post)
Seeing her discomfort, Tyler pushed himself up and came towards her, it was
only then that he realized that they were no longer alone.  A short distance
away he saw Jerram and Ieyasu striving to hold off a half dozen armed men --
who were dressed in the Grouty livery.  Anger flooded over Tyler, and he
abandoned Aitzan to launch himself at the attackers, his blade swinging, and
thankful that his father had been so thorough in his education.  He knew
there would be more around, and wondered why all of them where not there --
as by shear numbers they would have overwhelmed them.  It was then that he
hear the dragons  -- a wing had come to their rescue!
/end snip/

    Tara opened her eyes, her hand immediately flying to her throat as the 
memory of what happened hit her.  She gasped when she saw a blurred face 
looming over her, and momentarily panicked until she recognized Aitzan's 
tattoos.

     "What..happened...?" she gasped out. "My father..."

     "Ran away," the girl said, and despite her brusque mannerisms Tara 
thought she detected a twinge of pride as she held up her sling.  "Couldn't 
choke person with broken wrist."

     Tara nodded, then remembered what Shawnee and Varaenna had been telling 
her prior to the arrival of Mardan and his people.  "They said you were 
missing," she said.  "You and Tyler Grouty.  What happened?"

     Aitzan haltingly began to explain about their encounter with the 
disguised mercenaries, pointing over to where Tyler had just helped Jerram 
and Gus put a group of enemy horsemen to flight.  Overhead she saw group 
after group of the warren's dragons streak by, flaming upward in a dazzling 
show that effectively put the mounted mercenaries into disarray by spooking 
their horses.  Some were fighting on foot, but most seemed to have little 
stomach for further fighting.

     Just then, a huge white-silver form burst into view.  [Tara! Tara!] 
Varaenna cried.  She didn't bother asking whether Tara was all right, because 
she didn't need to.  But Tara could feel the queen's deep distress that she 
hadn't come in time to help her rider.  Varaenna skidded to a stop nearby, 
her green eyes searching intently for any other threat to her rider's welfare.

     "You have my thanks," Tara told Aitzan.  "Both of you.  Are your dragons 
all right?"

     "Dragons are," Aitzan confirmed.  "So is warren, looks like!"

     Tara stood up and looked around, and saw that as Aitzan had said, the 
battle seemed to be going their way.  The arrival of Mc'key's portion of the 
wing had effectively routed the mercenaries, who were now being rounded up by 
groups of the warren's landbound contingent as well as dismounted riders.  
Aitzan looked ready to return to the melee, but Tara laid a hand on her arm.  
"No, stay here.  You've done enough, now you need to think about keeping 
yourself and your dragon alive."

     For that matter, the same could be said for Gus, Jerram, and Tyler, who 
were still holding off a gaggle of mercenaries and villagers who had become 
separated from the main group and thus hadn't yet been rounded up.  
*Varaenna, see if you can help them out!* she said.  The queen, still upset 
at having arrived after her rider no longer needed rescuing, was glad to 
help.  With a roar, she charged in the direction of the fight - but if she 
intended to get into it, she was disappointed.  The sight of the immense 
queen was all it took to make the enemy throw down their weapons and 
surrender.

     Jerram hurried over to where the Warrenlady stood, the others following. 
 "Are you all right?" the swordmaster asked anxiously, putting his hands on 
her shoulders while his eyes scanned her for evidence of wounds.  

     "I'm fine," she assured him.  "Thank you, all of you, for what you've 
done."

     "What do you want us to do now?" Tyler asked.

     "Help the guards escort these...characters...to someplace we can 
actually keep them locked up until tomorrow," she decided, then directed a 
thought at the queen.  *See if either Makayla or Teewith is up to a flight 
into Cabral tonight.  I want Lord Grouty to know about this, and would like 
to see him get a company of  men on the roads by daylight to pick these 
people up and take them back with them.*

     As Jerram left with the rest of the group, Ieyasu came forward.  
"Warrenlady, forgive me for not noticing your danger," he said simply.  "I 
should have been more attentive."

     She shook her head.  "No one can be everywhere at once," she reassured 
him.  "And from what I could see, you were quite busy.  I would be very 
appreciative if you could pass along some of your techniques to some of our 
warrenfolk."

    Yasu bowed to her.  "As you wish, Warrenlady."

     "Meanwhile, have you seen my brother Orlan?" she asked.

     "We had a small encounter," Yasu said.  "He is unharmed, but has been 
given some things to think about in his reflective moments."

     "Good," she said.  "Would you be so kind as to retrieve him, so he can 
be placed under guard?  He's taken an oath to kill me, and until I'm sure 
he's past this madness my father's put on him, he cannot be allowed to run 
around loose.  But be careful, his oath requires him to let nothing stand in 
the way of fulfilling his mission.  He would think nothing of killing you if 
he could."

    "I am reluctant to leave you alone and unprotected, Warrenlady," Yasu 
pointed out.  "Your own words underscore this."

     Tara nodded, but then saw a group of riders making their way toward 
them.  She recognized Saul, Shawnee, and Mc'key.  "I'll be all right now," 
she assured him.  "Now you can retrieve my brother...and tomorrow, see Jerram 
for anything you need to get started on the training."

(Tag Chris)

/snip from Barb's post/
And then it hit her that she had killed a man. Not just any man, but the
father of her Warrenlady. It didn't enter her thoughts who the man was so
much as he was about to kill her lover when she had sent her blade sailing.

"WHO!" Tara cried out, and looked around at the people standing near by for
the culprit. 

The someone as bending over the man to check to see if they could fine any
sign of life... and then Saul's eyes caught sight of the knife hilt and knew
at once who's blade it was. 

"It that your knife Ghost?" he asked, and she nodded her head.

"He was going to... kill Key..." she stammered in shock as her eyes looked
upon the man laying in the dirt. The knife he had been about to use was
still clenched in his lifeless hand. "I had to do something... I didn't mean
to... but Key didn't see him... and I couldn't let him... "

Then her eyes shifted to look around at the others standing there. And then
finally she met the eyes of the Warrenlady, and wished the ground would open
up and take her when she saw the pain and sadness looking back at her in the
woman's eyes. 

"I'm sorry Tara... Gods I'm sorry... I didn't mean to kill him... " Ghost
cried as her mind became numb with the realization of what she had just
done. "But he was going to kill Key... and I couldn't let him do that..."
/end snip/

     Tara didn't even hear Ghost's words. She bent down over the still body 
of her father, tears filling her eyes.  "I'm sorry..." she said softly, 
reaching out to touch Mardan's cheek.  "I should have listened to you...I 
should have...."

     "Father!" came a new voice, and Ansel rushed into the clearing.  Seeing 
his father lying unmoving on the ground, could only stare dumbly for a moment 
before finding his voice.  "What...what happened?" he asked in a shaky voice. 
 

     "I'm sorry," Ghost said, tears filling her eyes.  "I'm sorry...!"

     "Nonsense," Saul said softly, putting a hand on Ghost shoulder and using 
the other to support the shaken Ansel.  "Had you not done as you did, it 
might be Tara lying there right now.  And Mardan would likely have been 
executed for murder."

      Weeping, Ghost pulled away from him and rushed away into the gathering 
twilight.  

     "Mc'key, go with her," Tara whispered, standing up.  "Tell her 
this...wasn't her fault."  Mc'key looked reluctant, at Shawnee's nod went off 
to try and comfort the stricken Ghost.  

    Tara and Ansel stood quietly over Mardan for a moment, hugging each other 
as they shared their grief.  Neither noticed that Jerram had returned.  "I 
always hated him for the way he treated Tara," the swordmaster said to Saul 
and Shawnee.  "But now..."  He could only shake his head.

     Separating herself from Ansel, Tara approached them.  "Please see that 
my father's body is taken back to the warren.  Put it..put him...in the empty 
queenrider's quarters, if you would.  Ansel and I will...stay with him.  In 
the morning, we will take him back...back home."  Tears streamed from her 
eyes, and all she could think of was how much she wished she had someone to 
hold her right now.  If only Kay hadn't left...

     "Back to...to Karban?" Jerram asked, amazed.  "But what about these 
others?"

     "I don't care about them," the Warrenlady said.  "They can be tried 
after I return...you may as well prepare to have them executed."

     "Seydor and I will go with you," Jerram asserted.

     "No," Tara said, shaking her head as she turned away.  "Ansel, Orlan, 
and I will go on Varaenna...alone."

(Tag Barb - will Shawnee have something to say about this?)

* * * * * * * *
Ansel

     As he watched his sister return to the warren, he knew he should go with 
her...under the rules of their religion, all the family members should spend 
the night alone with the deceased.  But he just couldn't.  He didn't believe 
in religion anymore...what did he believe in, then?

    He felt a large, damp nose push softly against his back, and turned to 
see Khamorray standing behind him.  The seadragon had grown tremendously, and 
Ansel absently realized that he was almost ready to try his first flight.  
[You can believe in me, my rider,] Khamorray said softly, lying down and 
inviting Ansel to lean against his warm, damp hide.  Ansel did so, burying 
his head in his hands and wondering what to do.

     "Ansel, I'm sorry," said a voice.  He looked up to see Corwin standing 
over him.  The Wingleader knelt down and looked closely at the boy.  "Is 
there anything I can do to help?"

    Ansel shook his head slowly.  "I don't know what to do, or even what to 
think," he stammered.  "Khamorray told Sy to bring you, didn't he?"

     Corwin gave a rueful smile.  "Well...that's part of a dragon's job, you 
know.  Lad, I know how terrible this is for you..."

     Ansel grimaced.  "I should be with Tara and...him...in the hatching 
cavern.  A...duty, sort of."

     "Religious duty?" Corwin asked.

     Ansel nodded.  "As if I cared.  It was their stupid religion that caused 
Tara to be banished, and me to almost be stoned to death.  Now it's caused 
this.  I don't want anything to do with *religion,* ever again!"

     "What about your sister?" Corwin asked.  "If you're not there, she'll be 
alone."

     "She doesn't have to be there," Ansel said bitterly, tears streaming 
down his face.  "Neither do I." No matter how humiliating he might have 
thought it to break down sobbing in front of his Wingleader, at the moment he 
couldn't help doing just that.  

(Tag Arlene - is Corwin up to some counseling?)
     


Elvynia
(next morning, Day 17)

     It wasn't only the excitement of yesterday evening and last night that 
had Elly exhausted.  Even after the battle had ended, she'd found herself 
having to deal with a balky and short-tempered dragon.  Even given Iris 
normal bluntness, her behavior had been unusual.  Now, when she'd tried to 
get her dragon to come and pick her up in front of the dining hall, she'd 
gotten a cryptic answer that Iris was "busy."  This was odd enough in itself, 
but it was even more odd when she found that her dragon was inside the 
hatching cavern.  Perplexed, Elly started to walk in that direction.  

     It was just then that she saw a familiar figure walking towards her. Her 
heart leapt when she saw who it was, and hurried over to him.  "Corwin!" she 
cried, relieved.  "I'm so glad to see you!" she told him.  "I'm worried about 
Iris. She's acting...strange." 
  
     Corwin looked down at the tiny woman before him.  "Iris is acting 
strangely, too?" 
 
     Elly nodded.  "Yes, she's been so snappish she won't even hardly talk to 
*me!* It's almost like she's ready to start another mating flight."  She 
stopped and looked at him.  "What do you mean, 'too?' Someone else is acting 
strange too?" 

     "Inagua... I just left her at the medical center... she's in bad shape," 
Corwin told her.  "But, I'm sorry.. you were saying that Iris is being 
snappish?  Maybe Sy could have a talk with her...?" 
  
     Elly sighed.  "Maybe," she said uncertainly.  "Could you ask him?  I 
don't know what else to do.  I've never seen her this way except around 
Selene..and even Selene won't go near her now, the way she's been acting the 
last day or so!" 
  
     Corwin followed Elly inside the hatching cavern.  They saw Iris standing 
at the center, looking around at the painted walls and ceiling.  Syngnath, 
somewhat Elly's surprise, was there ahead of them.  But rather than cuddling 
with Iris as he might usually have done, he was standing back from her with a 
very curious look on his draconic face.

     "Elly... Sy says that he's going to be a...sire...a father...?"  Corwin 
stared at the two dragons in disbelief. 

     Elly shook her head.  "Corwin, what's he talking about?  Who'd he fly to 
become a father?"  It was too soon for Varaenna to have flown again, and 
Thalia was too young.  Had Myacura flown, or a wilder queen? 

      Corwin gave a one word answer:  "Iris."  And then grinned. 
  
     Elly grimaced.  "Corwin," she said, figuring that the ex-sailor must 
know more about ships than dragons, "Iris can't lay eggs.  Only queens can do 
that, and she isn't a queen."  She turned to her dragon. *Quit filling 
Syngnath's head with all this nonsense!* she admonished to Iris. 

     Iris rumbled loudly.  <Show's what you know!> she told Elly. 

     Suddenly Iris stiffened, and let out a loud moan.  Elly rushed to her 
dragon, reaching out to cradle her head.  "Corwin, get help!" she cried.  
"There's something wrong with her!" 
 
     Corwin strode up to Elly and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder, 
"It's not something wrong, Elly... she's laying."

     Syngnath moved in quickly and blew a blast of steam onto the sands 
behind Iris, moistening and heating them at the same time.  
  
      Elly stared dumbfounded as Corwin stood behind her and gave his quiet 
but firm support.  The next thing she knew, Iris was moving out of the 
way...and a single, gleaming egg rested on the sand behind her. 

     "I think I'm going to faint," Elly said, and had it not been for Corwin 
holding her up, she was sure she would have.   

     "Corwin," she said, as soon as she'd composed herself a bit.  "How...how 
could this happen?  Does Sy know anything?"  

     Corwin looked over at the proud father, <*What happened?  How could Iris 
lay an egg?*>
 
     Syngnath nuzzled it gently with his snout, <We were out in sea-magic 
during the mating... maybe it was stronger than the land magic here?  Maybe 
Myacura knows... Mya?>  Syngnath called to the queen whose rider he had just 
rescued. 
  
     <What is it?> Mya asked miserably from her spot just outside the med 
center. 

     <Sorry to bother you, but Iris just laid an egg... could you come take a 
look at it?>  Sy replied 
  
     <An egg?>  Myacura rose.  <Yes, of course I'll come.  Where are you?> 

     <In the hatching cavern, of course,> Sy answered, as he nuzzled the 
orange egg once more. 

(Tag Bridget)

* * * * * * * *
Derek
(morning, between Jasra and Aquiva)

     *Anything?* Derek asked his dragon, squinting to see ahead of them in 
the bright morning sunshine.

     [Nothing that I can see,] Katori replied.  The large green dragon swung 
his neck back and forth to scan the horizon.  They'd been sent out this 
morning to check out any traffic along the road from Aquiva, just as other 
riders were monitoring the other roads leading to Jasra - just in any more 
nasty surprises were coming their way.

     *Another few miles and we'll call it a morning,* Derek decided.  
Anything this far out would take the better part of a whole day to reach the 
warren by horse, much longer on foot.  When he was satisfied that they'd gone 
far enough, he turned the dragon around and headed back toward the warren.

    [Wait...something there!] Katori said, directing his rider's attention to 
a tiny speck down below them on the road, when they were just coming within 
sight of the warren.  

     *Now how did THAT get past us?* Derek wondered, and then remembered that 
the road had a fork in it some distance back toward Aquiva.  He and Katori 
had followed one fork, so this wagon must have come down the other.  There 
was supposed to be another dragon-rider pair patrolling in that direction, 
but considering the current state of confusion, he supposed it wasn't too 
surprising that something like this would happen.

 *A horse-drawn wagon,* he said, when they were close enough to see it 
clearly.  There was, apparently, only the one, and as such it didn't seem 
much of a threat.  Still, they'd come out here to look.

     *Take us down,* he said.

     Katori circled once around the wagon, then came in for a landing on the 
road a distance ahead.  The tall, dark-haired rider dismounted and walked up 
to the wagon.  "Greetings, friends," he said.  "Where are you headed."

     "Jasra Warren," said the driver, who seemed disinclined to offer any 
further information.

    "What's going on?" asked another voice from the back of the wagon, and 
then Derek saw a tall, white-haired man climb down.  "You are from the 
warren?"

     The rider bowed.  "Derek of Jasra Warren," he said.  "And this is my 
dragon Katori."  

     The other man nodded thoughtfully.  "And have you a stable at Jasra 
Warren, perchance?"

     "Well...yes," Derek said.  "Not a large one, but yes, we do.  It's on 
the landward side of the warren.  You can just about see the building from 
here if you look closely.  It's situated so it's not too close to where the 
dragons are.  As you can see from the way your own horses are acting, they're 
not too fond of dragons."  He now steered the conversation back to its 
original subject.  "And what is your business at the warren?"

(Tag Han.  Derek will transport Raven to Jasra if asked)

NRPG: Just to let everyone know, I've taken on Elly and Iris as NPCs since 
Dana will no longer be writing them.  

Submitted by:

John

Warrenlady Tara & Varaenna
Jerram & Seydor
Ansel & Khamorray
Elvynia & Iris

Jasra Warren