The days were passing quickly as Keldarra Warren, busily and 
happily for Evelle.  She was grateful that the wraith attack on the traders 
had been easily dealt with.  So worried had she been when Wynn rode 
off, worried as she always was when he went to combat, yet proud and 
confident in him.  She had been clutching the leather gloves to her chest 
as he flew off.  When he winked out in teleport, she slipped them on as if 
they would keep the giver close to the receiver.  Soft as butter they were, 
and fit her small hands perfectly.  When he returned they were still on her 
hands.  Later that night she thanked him and they celebrated the 
discovery of the ice that would stoke Malekith's flame in the manner they 
both loved best.

	Evelle had been in the Medical Center when the injured boy was 
brought in.  Almiron was well now and so she was setting up a training 
schedule for herself with Aleta.  She found it hard to think of Aleta as a 
friend, their natures were so different.  But Evelle's respect for her as 
Wingleader and Healer bridged any gap between Evelle's open 
friendliness and Aleta's natural brusque manner.  The schedule was a 
good one.  It allowed Evelle several hours training in the Medical Center 
while still giving her time in her office to attend to warren matters.  She 
also had time to spend at her lagoon investigation the healing properties 
of the flora and the water itself.

	After her lesson with Aleta, Evelle stopped to inquire about the 
injured boy, and breathed a sign of relief when told he would recover.

	"May I see him?" she asked 

	"Yes, but only for a few minutes, and just let him rest," the nurse 
told her, knowing that the WarrenLady was studying healing.  She led the 
way to where the boy lay sleeping.  Evelle looked down at him.  He looked 
so young, a slight young man, not yet full grown.  The color of his eyes 
should couldn't tell through his closed lids, but his dark-blonde hair was 
set off by the deeply tanned skin of one who spent most of his days out in 
the sun.  She spent a few minutes just standing there watching him.

	"Oh my!"  Evelle thanked the nurse and said she'd look in on the 
boy again.  Then she hurried off to the DragonLady's office and knocked 
at her door.

	"Come in."

	Evelle did, to find Christalla pacing about her office.  The younger 
woman chose her words carefully.

	"Christalla, you really do need to relax.  I know you're not easy in 
your mind about this pregnancy, but it'll be a lot easier on you if you just 
accept that you are going to have a baby.  It's really a happy thing, you 
know."

	"Oh?  And what would -you- know about it?"

	"Nothing, first-hand, that's true," Evelle laughed.  "Not yet, anyway.  
Just remember, I'm your right hand, here to help, however I can.  Even if 
you just need someone to bitch at," she said with a grin, and was 
rewarded with a small smile from Christalla.

	"That's not what I'm here about though.  I just came from the 
Medical Center and I saw that boy they brought in from the caravan.  His 
name is Mukale, I'm told.  Christalla, I think, I really think I saw the aura 
around him, but it's so new for me, I can't be sure."

	"I'll interview him when he's up and about, Evelle.  How is your 
training coming?"

	They had talked for a little while longer, the Evelle left Christalla 
alone noting that the DragonLady looked like she needed a nap.

	The next several days were relatively peaceful; the combat riders 
had their daily training but were not called to battle.  Evelle spent a good 
deal of her time with Alicynth, who was taking to impending motherhood a 
lot better than the DragonLady.  Her eggs were hardening, their colors 
developing.  Each day she breathed fire to warm the sands where the 
dragonets were encased in their shells.  Malekith dutifully flew Evelle and 
Wynn to their apartment each night, but didn't often sleep there himself.  
He stayed with Alicynth, in the hatching grounds when she allowed it, just 
outside when she felt the need to be alone with her developing children.

	The relative calm of the next few days allowed Evelle the chance to 
spend some time with her friends, old and new.  She had looked for Sky 
several times since the initial interview, but it seemed to turn out that they 
were never in the same place at the same time.  She wanted to talk to the 
girl. It was necessary to prepare both Sky and Briana for the chance that 
their dragons would not be in this hatching.  She sighed.  Neither would 
probably accept the idea.  Evelle remembered how she had believed 
implicitly at every she attended that this would be the one where she'd 
find her dragon.  She knew well the terrible disappointment when it didn't 
happen.

	She had tried with Briana a little bit, but the girl was such an 
optimist, she looked at each new day as an adventure.  Evelle was glad 
she was getting to know Briana better.  She'd adapted well to warren life, 
had begun to teach her class, was working with Almiron on learning to 
read their language, and was rapidly making friends.  Evelle was very 
pleased at the growing closeness between her brother, S'brogh, and 
Briana.  Aside from the fact that she thought they were good together, it 
gave her some wonderful opportunities to tease her brother.... without 
mercy.  She spotted him taking a break from combat practice with Wynn.

	"I hear Iganeth has taken to giving girls rides on his back," she said 
in greeting, a wicked smile playing on her lips."

	"Oh?  And where might you have been hearing that, nosy little 
Queenrider?"  But he had the grace to blush.

	"Haven't you learned by now that I always know what you're up to, 
big brother?  Didn't I always find you two when you were trying so hard to 
dodge the annoying little pest of a kid sister?"

	This time it was Wynn who had the grace to blush.  The Wynn-to-
Malekith-to-Alicynth-Evelle pipeline was open and running.  She hugged 
him and reached up to kiss his cheek."

	"Seriously, S'brogh, I'm delighted.  She's a lovely girl and I know 
you'll be good to her.  You've got a kind heart, brother mine, if you did 
torment my early childhood."

	"Only doing a big brother's job."  He reached out to tickle her and 
she bolted.  Only S'brogh knew just how ticklish Evelle really was.  Well, 
she supposed that Wynn knew, but to date, he'd never tried to take 
advantage of it, except very lightly when he'd chose that method as his 
wake-up call of the morning.

	Now, several days later she sat in her office.  The relationship 
between Briana and S'brogh seemed to have moved up a level.  She was 
glad.  But there was something she was not glad about; something that 
had been building over the days since the attack on Almiron's rooms and 
since Briana's confidence about her encounter with V'rdeen.

	Evelle had quietly been interviewing the young women of Keldarra.  
A pattern was emerging, one she didn't like at all.  She wasn't worried 
about Briana.  The girl was wise in the ways of the world, easily 
adaptable, and able to take care of herself.  Evelle's brother would be 
keeping his own watchful eye.  But several girls, both joined and unjoined, 
had reported unpleasant encounters with him.

	She'd called Darlea in.  Her young childhood friend was fully at 
ease with the effects of her Makayla's mating flight just as Evelle had 
expected.  Her mother, Sheltie, still had difficulty with it, but then, some 
mothers had a hard time letting go.  Evelle was blessed that Kalera had 
taken pleasure in her own growth into womanhood.  Darlea was pleased 
that it had been Almiron, too.  What did make her uncomfortable was 
Evelle's questions about V'rdeen.

	"Oh, he was a little unpleasant, Evelle... more than a little really, 
but he's thought it over and he's sorry.  He's told me so a few times.  We 
should really give him another chance.  He's really sorry."

	She was so young and trusting, Evelle thought.  Darlea's heart had 
always gone out to others ever since she was a little girl.  She hated to 
think ill of anyone, especially anyone of Keldarra, and it worried Evelle.

	"Please be careful, Darlea.  I hope you're right, but please, please 
be careful."

	Darlea had skipped out promising that she would but stating again 
that she was sure V'rdeen had turned over a new leaf.

	Araminta was next.  Evelle liked Minty almost as much as Wynn 
did.  The girl had proven to be one of the best they had.  She was happily 
in love with David though Evelle had heard her father had been giving the 
pair trouble.  Still, Minty was standing her ground, unwilling to see her 
father hurt, but even more unwilling to let him tear her apart from her love.  
Minty came into her office looking a little bit nervous.

	"Is anything wrong, Evelle?"

	"I hope not, Minty, but I'm afraid there might be.  I want to talk to 
you about V'rdeen.  Has he made any unwelcome advances to you?"

	Minty's face froze in fear.  "Oh no, no no no.  He hasn't.  He really 
hasn't, Evelle."

	That was enough to tell Evelle that indeed he had.

	"Minty, please.  If he has, you're not the only one.  I have to do 
something about it, but I must have all the facts.  Please tell me."

	"I... I can't," the girl whispered.  "David....  No, Evelle.  Nothing 
happened."  Evelle just waited.  "Please, Evelle.  David cant' find out.  I'm 
afraid of what he'll do.  It must have been my fault.  I must have 
encouraged him somehow.  I didn't mean to though, really I didn't."

	"Oh, Minty."  Evelle came around her desk and put her arm around 
the unhappy girl's shoulder.  "You've come so far, so far.  You've proven 
yourself in combat as both a fighter and a leader.  You fought for what 
you wanted with David.  We all love you, Minty.  You've _got_ to stop 
blaming yourself for things that aren't your fault.  I'm absolutely certain 
you did nothing to encourage whatever happened with V'rdeen.  No one 
will believe that you did.  But you must tell me.  You don't want it 
happening to someone else, do you?"

	Minty broke down then and whispered her story to Evelle.  It fit the 
developing pattern perfectly.  "You mustn't tell David, Evelle.  Promise 
you won't."

	"I won't tell David.  That's your job.  I just advise you to have faith in 
him.  It's not good for mates to keep these kinds of secrets, Minty.  Trust 
David.  And now, just sit here for a while until you feel better."

	It was some time later when Minty left and Evelle sat chewing her 
lip, worrying about what she should do next.  Christalla should be told 
what Evelle had found out, but the DragonLady was off, finally taking the 
break she needed.  She wanted to talk this over with someone before she 
went any further.

	*Alicynth, would you tell Malekith to tell Wynn that I need to see 
him when he's free?*

	*Malekith says Wynn is about to dismiss his wing and will be there 
in a few minutes*

	*Thank you, sweet girl.  How do you feel?*

	*I am fine, but impatient to see my little ones hatch.*

	*It will be soon, Ali.  I can't wait either*

	Good as his word, Wynn appeared in her office a short time later.  
He kissed her thoroughly and his hands began to explore her body 
producing soft sounds of pleasure, when she moved away.  Wynn was 
immediately concerned.  Evelle never said no to their lovemaking.

	"Something wrong, Evelle?"

	"I'm afraid so, love.  Please look at this.  It's about V'rdeen."

	Evelle handed Wynn the pad on which she'd been taking notes 
and correlating the information she received.  She saw his face harden 
into a grim line.  "You too, Evelle?"

	"Yes, but mine was nothing.  He only made threats.  But I'm afraid 
he might try something at Alicynth's next mating flight... drugging 
Malekith, or something."

	Wynn's face darkened further.

	"Do you see the pattern?"

	He nodded.  "The women he's been molesting are all either close 
to or intimate with someone born landbound.  Me, Almiron, David....."

	"Yes," she agreed, "except for Briana, but she's landbound herself 
and thereby up for grabs, I'm afraid.  It also seems to be further evidence 
that he was behind the trashing of Almiron's room.  The question is, what 
do we do now.  His behavior is NOT acceptable.  Do we tell Christalla?  
Do I have a talk with him?  Do you?  All three?  I want to be careful, love.  
I don't want him squirming out of this by saying we have no proof against 
him.  Mostly, I want your advice."

Evelle
Queenrider of Alicynth
WarrenLady of Keldarra

NRPG:  I figure this moves us along about a week.  We can move on to the 
hatching upon Susan's okay.

Judi