*Evelle*

	Her eyes opened as the voice of her dragon touched her mind.  
They had moved with the others from the hatching grounds to the 
barracks that would be their home until the dragons were able to fly a 
few days hence.  Then they'd each choose an apartment high in the 
mountainface.  Evelle knew that as a queenrider she would have her 
choice.   Already the other newly joined riders and dragons had given 
her and Alicynth space in the barracks.  

	*Alicynth.  You are hungry, little one*

	Evelle got up to bring her dragon some meat and realized that 
the hunger pangs she felt were not only Alicynth's, but her own.  She 
brought back food for both of them; her dragonet began to feed 
eagerly.

	Looking around, Evelle saw her young friend, Darlea, still 
asleep with her green dragon.  Near her was another young girl whom 
Evelle did not know.  A little distance away was another that she didn't 
know, a man a little older than the rest of them who had been at the 
banquet with Aleta.  He was with a beautiful dragon, all green, gold, 
and brown.

	*His name is Paranth, and his rider is Michel.  His life will 
change now more than most*

	*I'll have to meet him.  Newcomers to the Warren need to feel 
welcome*

	Further away, Evelle spotted the older man she'd seen with 
David Swordson feeding a black and grey dragon.  Surely one his age 
could not have joined.

	*That is the father, Evelle.  He cares for Kaylin while his rider 
recovers.*

	*Is David ill, Alicynth?*  Her dragon felt the concern of her 
riders.

	*He will be fine.  Kaylin tells me that his rider is one who can 
hear the thoughts of all of us.  It was a shock to him.*

	*What of the one who left the grounds?  Did he go wild?*

	Evelle was already beginning to act as a queenrider, concerned 
for the well-being of all the warrenfolk and dragons.  It wasn't 
something new for her, but it was growing steadily stronger.

	*No, he did not go wild.  His name is Malekith and he left the 
grounds in his search for his rider.  Malekith is different; so is his rider.  
Look, Evelle.  Over there*

	Evelle knew instantly where 'over there' was.  She turned her 
head to see a coal black dragon in a far off corner, alone with the rider 
he had struggled so to find.  Her heart leapt to see that it was Wynn 
and she got up and went over to him.

	"Your Malekith is beautiful, Wynn.  I knew you should not lose 
hope.  Your dragon had just not yet beet hatched."

	Wynn looked up at the sound of her voice.  No matter how hard 
to tried to keep himself apart and alone, she always approached him, 
offering her friendship.  Today he found he didn't mind quite so much.

	"He had to come looking for me," he said, the tone of his voice 
still a little morose.  "He shouldn't have.  I should have been there to 
find him."

	"If that's the way it went, Wynn, then that's how it was supposed 
to be.  You look right together and I'm glad for you."

	"Since you're here, you must have found your own dragon."

	*She rides the new queen, Alicynth, Wynn*

	"The queen, Evelle."  He nodded.  "Yes, you were destined to 
be a queenrider.  I'm..... I'm happy for you, too."

	"Thank you.  I'll leave you alone with Malekith now.  Maybe we'll 
talk again later."

	He had already turned away and retreated into his customary 
silence, but Evelle sensed that his desire to separate himself had 
waned just a little.  She made her way back to Alicynth's side and 
began to think about how her life had changed overnight.  As a 
queenrider, she would have new responsibilities, and she wasn't quite 
sure what they were.  She would need to talk with Christalla.

	*The DragonLady wants to see you, too, Evelle.  Kaeryth has 
told me.  You should go to her*

	*Yes, I should.  Will you be all right, little one?*

	*I will be all right.  I will wait for you.  When you come back, we 
can play*

	*Yes, we can play*  

	Evelle laughed happily and left the barracks to find the 
DragonLady.  Her thoughts were still with Alicynth, so she was 
surprised when she was lifted into the air by a pair of strong arms.  

	"My little sister, the queenrider!  Congratulations, Evelle."

	"S'brogh, put me down," she said with a laugh, hugging her 
brother when he did.  "Have you seen her?  Isn't she beautiful?"

	"She is, just as you are.  Iganeth is very proud that his rider's 
sister is joined with a queen.  So are we all, Sis.  Mom and Dad are 
still celebrating."

	"Oh, I'll have to see them soon," she cried.  "I'm looking for the 
DrgaonLady now.  Walk with me, S'brogh, and tell me how you fared 
in the battle.  I'm so grateful that you weren't hurt."

	Her brother told her of his part in the wraith fight as they made 
their way toward Christalla's office.  He didn't make much of his own 
part in it, but from what he did say, Evelle knew he had fought well and 
bravely in his first battle.

Evelle,
Queenrider of Alicynth