NRPG: This is from Nathan, but he sent it to me to get the exact 
judgement that would be passed down from the Council (thus, I wrote 
those parts, if it doesn't sound quite like Nathan's style <G>).  Here 
goes.  

This STILL does not quite catch the Council thread up with the rest of 
the timeline, but we're closer now :).


RPG:

 Roland sat, listening to the rest of the debates.  He knew which way it 
was going, however.  He supposed he had known from the moment that damned 
WOMAN, Hedda, had gotten him angry enough to let it all slip.  His entire 
world was falling apart.  He would have to do something.

 Rhina, meanwhile, sat, silently contemplating her postion.  With all 
this coming to light, she would probably lose the only thing she had 
known.  She knew she could not live as an outcast from a Warren.  But she 
could not live without Roland, either.  And he would definately be 
banished.  "What should I do?"  she whispered quietly to herself.

 "You should just sit there and be quiet."  Roland harshly whispered 
back.  

 At last, Christalla stood.  "Roland and Rhina, I am going to call a vote 
from the Council to determine your fate.  You are required to leave the 
room at this time.  You will be accompanied by--" she hesitated for a 
moment, deciding.  "Wynn and Z'lec to insure your...safety."

 Rolanda stood, maintaining his dignity while the Keldarra and Marrid 
Warren Council seconds escorted them out of the room.  Rhina cringed.

 After a few minutes, Wynn and Z'lec received calls from their dragons 
and escorted them back in again.  The entire Council was standing, and 
Rhina could feel in the pit of her stomach what the outcome would be.

 Christalla turned to them, eyes cold.  "Roland and Rhina of Falagand 
Warren, you have been found guilty on all the charges made against you.  
These charges are, for the record, severe gender prejudice and forcing a 
dragonrider to become Warrenless.  Roland, you are furthar charged with 
abuse and manipulation of a WarrenLady.  Rhina stands under a lesser 
charge of incomptence.

 "Theses are serious charges, and the judgement of this Council has been 
severe.  Roland, you are outcast from Falagand Warren.  From what I have 
heard in this chamber, I doubt that any of the other Warrens will accept 
you.  You are sentenced to what you drove others to -- to be Warrenless.  

 Roland stood in shocked silence.  He couldn't believe it!  How could 
these, these women who pretended to rule a man's world do this to him.  
He would definately have to do something about this.

 "Rhina, your role in this has been mainly one of passivity.  We see no 
need to punish you more than you have undergone already.  However, we do 
not believe you to be capable of standing as WarrenLady.  You may remain 
at Falagand unhindered, but you are hereby stripped of all powers as 
Senior Queenrider.  The position of WarrenLady falls to your Junior 
Queenrider.

 "That is the judgement of the Council of Warrens.  As neither of you is 
now qualified to stand in authority for Falagand, I ask that you leave 
the Great Hall of Keldarra and never return."

 Rhina stood for a moment also.  Roland was gone.  The Great Hall was 
gone.  All that was left was her.  That was how she felt.  Then, it all 
came back suddenly, and she realized that she was no longer a Warrenlady, 
and no longer with Roland.  Her life was gone.  Then, it all became clear 
to her.

 She acted faster than anyone had seen her act in a long time.  Not since 
her joining had she moved this quickly.  She snatched the large knife 
from Roland's belt and plunged it into her chest.  She doubled over, then 
collapsed on the floor of the Great Hall.

***********

 Outside the Great Hall, everyone saw the small silver Queen dragon from 
Falagand Warren take off, screaming, and teleport into nothingness.  For 
the second time in a day, the dragons around Keldarra started keening.  
One of the Queens was lost.

***********

 Inside the Great Hall, Roland realized something was happening when he 
felt a hand take the knife from his belt, but moved too slow to stop 
anything from happening.  

 He saw Rhina drop, and went down with her.  He held all emotion in 
check, saying "Damn you, woman.  Why?  Why did you do that?"  

 Roland closed Rhina's unseeing eyes, then took his knife.  He stuck it 
back in his belt, straightened his clothes reflexively, and said, coldly, 
"Dragonlady Christalla, I will leave the Warren grounds immediately.  But 
mark my words.  You have not seen the last of me."

 With that, he turned, walked out of the Great Hall to where the dragons 
were.  He got on his dragon, who launched into the air, asking <Where too?>

 *South.  There's something down there I wish to check out.*

 With that, dragon and rider disappeared.  

Respectfully submitted,
Roland,
Ex-mate of the ex-Warrenlady of Falagand Warren

Nathan Terhune

NRPG:  Ok, ok, so Hedda wasn't in it.  <G>