The Council of Warrens was in recess now.  Christalla was 
meeting in her office with the dragonriders from Keldarra that were 
volunteering to transfer to Marrid.  Evelle had offered to help, but 
Christalla had told her it wasn't necessary; they'd go over the list 
together after the Council had concluded.  The other WarrenLadies 
had each send her personal courier back to their home warren with 
instructions to return with lists of what each warren could afford to 
donate in terms of material goods and personnel.

	Wynn was busy talking with the riders from his own wing.  It 
was a small wing so far, being the newest, and so it would be really 
hard on him to lose any.  He knew as well as any, though, that if 
Marrid was to survive, they'd all have to sacrifice.  He had great hopes 
for some of the new hatchlings and their riders, particularly that black.  

	It was a lovely day and Evelle decided it was a good time to get 
some fresh air.  She had no destination in mind, but just wandered 
about aimlessly enjoying the mild, sunny day.  She spotted her brother 
walking briskly, determined to get himself back in top condition as 
quickly as possible.

	"S'brogh!  You're looking better and better, big brother.  Feeling 
that way, too?"

	His answer was to lift her up off the ground and twirl her 
around.

	"Put me down this instant," she said with a laugh, happy to see 
him becoming her laughing, loving brother again.  "No chances on a 
re-injury, S'brogh.  You're still a couple of days away from full 
strength."

	"All right, all right, worry wart.  I'll be good, but really Evelle, that 
lagoon of yours seems to do wonders.  I could almost feel my legs 
getting stronger as they soaked."

	"Just don't get to feeling so good that you forget to go there.  I'd 
like you to go every day for a week.  How's everything else, S'brogh.  
Wynn said that you and he are okay again, yes?"

	Her eyes were anxious as she asked the question.  The bond 
between her beloved and her brother was as important to Evelle as it 
was to the two of them.

	"Yes," he answered, tilting her chin up so their eyes met.  "He 
understands, I think.  We both know we lost too many years with 
distance between us to let anything do it to us again.  I told him that if 
I'd been able to let anyone see me, it would have been Wynn.  He's 
really trying to understand and I appreciate that.  He suggested that I 
try to do the same with Briana."

	"Did you?"

	S'brogh nodded, but sighed at the same time.  "Yes.  I really 
wasn't ready yet, but Wynn asked.  There's little he could ask I 
wouldn't try to do."

	"What happened?"

	"I'm not sure, but I don't think she really understands why I was 
so angry.  Maybe she never will.  She's a lovely girl, Evelle, and I liked 
where things were going between us, but I just don't know."

	"Want me to talk to her?"

	He tousled her coppery hair that was the exact shade of his 
own fondly.  "Up to you, little sister.  We'll just have to see what 
happens.  Now let a guy get back to his exercise.  After all, I'm not 
lucky enough to be getting Wynn's nightly workout."  He grinned at 
her.

	"Oooh, you'll pay for that one.  You're just lucky that with the 
other WarrenLadies here, I have to conduct myself with some 
decorum."

	She hugged him and moved off in the direction of Briana's 
practice ground.  That was usually the place where the girl could be 
found when she wasn't training.  Briana was just finishing a set of 
stretching exercises when Evelle approached and said hello.

	"Hi, Evelle.  I thought you were at the Council meeting."

	"We're in recess, Briana.  We'll resume again soon.  How are 
you?  Have you decided to stay at Keldarra?"

	"Yes, I think so.  I really do like it here.  It's nice having a home 
and friends."

	"Yes, it is.  Briana, I'm not going to dance around this.  I came 
to talk to you about my brother."

	"We talked a little, Evelle, but I just don't understand how he 
could do what he did."

	"Briana, you may or may not understand.  I don't know.  S'brogh 
is the most loving and wonderful of men, but he can't stand to have 
anyone see him when he feels helpless.  Not even me.  He's been that 
way since he was a little boy.  Next to Wynn and Alicynth, I love him 
more than anyone in the world.  No one wanted to see him and help 
him more than I did, but I would never subject him to how it would have 
made him feel.  I put my own feelings aside."

	"But how could he feel so bad about just two broken legs when 
so many riders and dragons had died?"

	Evelle was getting a little impatient and working very hard not to 
show it.  She very much liked Briana as a friend, and as WarrenLady 
she had to be particularly tactful, so she chose her words carefully.

	"His feelings about himself didn't mean he wasn't grieving for 
the others, Briana.  He was and still is.  He just wanted to be left alone 
until he felt himself a whole man again.  What made him angry was 
that you refused to respect his wishes.  If you had listened to him and 
then come and asked me about it, I'd have explained it to you."

	"But supposed I'd been his mate?  Wouldn't you want to care 
for Wynn if he got hurt?"

	"Wynn is not S'brogh.  All I can tell you is this.  Mates must trust 
each other completely.  To win my brothers trust, a woman will have to 
show him she can respect what's vitally important to him.  When that 
trust develops, he may feel able to let her see him when he feels 
weak.   That's something I can't answer for him, and I'm not sure he 
knows, himself.  But it's a first step.  Only you can decide if it's one you 
want to take."

	"Well, I think maybe we can at least be friends.  I'm trying to 
understand, really, and I appreciate your coming to explain it, Evelle.  I 
hope you and I can still be friends."

	"Of course we can.  I don't want my brother hurt, but what 
happens between the two of you *is* between the two of you.  I'm not 
apologizing for him, but I did want to try to explain it."

	"I'll think about what you said, Evelle.  I'm really glad things are 
at least a little better."

	"Okay, maybe we'll see you at dinner later.  I'd better be 
heading back to the Great Hall.  I'll want to be there when the 
DragonLady reconvenes the Council."

	Evelle waved and watched as Briana began another set of 
acrobatic maneuvers.  Not only was she skilled, but she had a way of 
presenting herself that would enthrall an audience.  She must have 
been very much in demand as a performer.

	Outside the Great Hall, the courier dragons were beginning to 
return to Keldarra.  It wouldn't be long before they could get back to 
the day's business.  Waylene was standing just outside.  While she 
waited for Wynn, Evelle went up to the WarrenLady of Marrid.

	"We should be starting again soon, Waylene.  I hope it won't be 
long before you can take some good news back to Marrid."

Evelle
Queenrider of Alicynth
WarrenLady of Keldarra