*Evelle, Christalla is awake.  She wants to see you.*

	The WarrenLady of Keldarra raised her head from the hard 
wood of the desk it lay upon.  In the privacy of her office, she'd 
given into her feelings, but now it was time to pull herself together.  
The good news that the DragonLady was awake helped.

	*Thank you, Ali.  I'll be right out.  Will you fly me to the 
Medical Center?*

	*Of course.  I will be waiting.*

	Just climbing on to Alicynth gave both Evelle and her 
dragon a badly needed lift.  She took a moment before Ali 
launched them into the air to put her arms around the coppery neck 
of her other half and hug the huge dragon.

	Ali had been as lonely as her rider without Malekith to play 
and cuddle with.  The empty bed had offered no rest to Evelle.  
She had paced the floor of her apartment, seeing images of Wynn 
where he should be... in his favorite chair, in their bed, at his desk 
planning drills for Gamma Wing.  Sleep came only when she lay in 
the anteroom with the feel of Alicynth's protective wing blanketing 
her.  Without her coppery other half, there would have been no 
enduring this.  Without her human other half, she would stand still 
and welcome an assassin's knife.

	Inside the Medical Center, Evelle went directly to Christalla's 
room.  Mila stopped her in the corridor.

	"It's good you came so quickly.  She's been asking for you 
every five minutes."

	"Is she all right, Mila?"

	"Yes, she'll be fine.  She should take things easy for a while 
until she regains her strength, but she should recover fully and 
fairly quickly if she behaves."

	"I'll see that she does.  The baby?"

	Some of Evelle's anxiety showed through with that question.  
It had taken so long for Christalla to accept impending motherhood, 
but she had.  It would be dreadful if it should be taken from her 
now.  Relief flooded her when the healer assured her the baby was 
doing fine.

	Delaying no longer, Evelle knocked and entered Christalla's 
room.  Even though she had heard from many sources of the 
severity of Aleta's condition, seeing the pale motionless form in the 
bed next to Christalla's jolted Evelle.  The Alpha wingleader was 
difficult, but seeing her on the brink of death only heightened 
Evelle's distress.  It was a distress she attempted to hide from 
Christalla.  The DragonLady, though a little pale, didn't look bad at 
all.  Evelle hoped that wouldn't change when she was finished 
talking.

	"I'm happy to see you looking so well, Christalla, and not a 
little relieved.  I don't want to be DragonLady," she finished with a 
rueful smile.

	"Don't worry, I'm not ready to give it up just yet.  Report 
please, Evelle.  I want to know everything."

	Wishing she could spare her weakened friend some of the 
horror, Evelle knew that attempting to hide any of it wouldn't work.  
Not for long.  Perhaps if she were completely open with most of it, 
there would be one bit of news she could conceal for a while.  
Keeping her own voice as neutral as she could, Evelle began to 
relate everything that had happened since the knife attack that had 
felled the DragonLady.  She watched carefully for any signs of 
change in Christalla's condition, but the older woman was holding 
up well even as she recoiled from the horror of it.  Christalla had 
known it was bad, but the degree of devastation she hadn't 
expected.

	"Anything else, Evelle?"

	Nodding, the WarrenLady continued.  "I've chosen D'glis as 
my personal courier and...."

	"A wonderful choice," Christalla interrupted.  "I approve."

	"Thank you.  He's more than lived up to expectations so far.  
At any rate, I had him visit the cities.  It's bad, Christalla.  Panic is 
spreading.  Word has reached most of them of the destruction of 
Ralengarde.  They don't know if the capital will be rebuilt, and they 
don't know if the King will survive.  Each thinks his city will be next 
to suffer the wrath of Feldrik.  They've heard about Roland and his 
dragons and they're demanding our immediate help."

	"Have you given them an answer?"  Christalla reached over 
to the table beside her bed for a glass of water.

	"I'll get that," Evelle said and hurried to fill the glass.  "Are 
you hungry?  I can go get you something."

	"Thank you."  The cool water was as nectar to her parched 
lips.  "No, nothing else right now .  The water will do just fine.  I'll 
eat later."

	"All right, then.  No, I haven't given them an answer.  I sent 
D'glis back to say that we were considering how best to help them.  
Naturally, Caelus of Qinar and Leonov of Mabillon were the most 
insistent."

	"Naturally," Christalla agreed dryly.  "The ones who refused 
the tithe."

	"Yes, I suspect they are remembering that and are the most 
nervous."  There was a hint of wickedness in Evelle's smile.  "D'glis 
will gently suggest how difficult it is for hungry dragons and riders 
to fight as well as they would like.  "He'll tell them we will send 
further word as soon as we can," Evelle continued as Christalla 
nodded approval.  "I've been hoping," she murmured, "that you 
would be well enough to make that decision."

	"As well I am."  The DragonLady responded by pulling 
herself to a sitting position.  "I'd best be getting out of here and 
back to work."

	"What you'd *best* be doing is staying put and resting until 
Mila says you're well enough to leave."  Evelle's tone was firm.

	"Evelle, you just said you needed my help," she protested.

	"Which I do, but I don't need to be sitting there worrying 
about you."

	For the first time since she entered the sickroom, Evelle's 
composure broke.

	"Don't you have any idea how frantic I am about Wynn and 
Malekith?  How I want to do nothing but go out and find them and 
bring him back?"  Her voice was rising with her panic.  "Be fair, 
Christalla.  If I have to worry about you collapsing or the baby 
being hurt on top of that, I won't be able to function at all."

	Biting her lip and breathing deeply, Evelle forced herself to 
calm down.  It would do neither of them any good for her to give in 
to her fears.

	"Forgive me, Christalla.  I'm just so worried about him.  I do 
want you back in charge as soon as the doctors say its okay, but 
I'm going to make you go slow and share the work with me.  Even if 
you yell at me for it."

	"Which I probably will, Evelle," Christalla admitted.  
Reaching out, she took Evelle's small hand.  "I know you're scared 
and lonely.  We always are."

	The entrance of Mila into the room accompanied by a most 
unusual looking young woman forced Evelle to call upon her 
strength once more.  It was a little disturbing that the guards were 
watching the newcomer so closely, too.  Evelle looked at Christalla 
as the young woman introduced herself as Ceth.  She began 
chattering immediately, her words adding to the air of oddity that 
surrounded her.

	"Hello!"  I'm a Ceth, and you are an Evelle and a Christalla.  
Mila says you are wonderful people, and I know Mila and I are both 
wonderful people, and the orderly who fished me out of the lake 
must be a wonderful person.  So, who ISN'T a wonderful person?"

	One of the guards at the door growled, "damn assassins."  
Christalla put a stop to that immediately and asked the girl to tell 
them what she was.

	"Oh, I'm a half-elf...half dark elf, actually.  "Dark elves are 
evil elves, they make great assassins.  "Aren't assassins 
interesting?"

	"That would be one way of describing them," Evelle 
murmured.  She had wondered if this elven being would ever need 
to stop and take a breath.  Apparently she needed more than a 
breath.  Before Evelle had finished her brief sentence, Ceth had 
dropped unconscious to the floor.

	"Please have her come to our offices tomorrow, Mila, if she's 
up and about," Evelle asked as the odd young woman was taken 
away for examination and treatment.  I'd like to talk to her some 
more and we'll need to find her a place to stay."

	"I think she could be a candidate, Christalla remarked 
thoughtfully.  "Her aura is a bit strange, though."

	"I saw it too," Evelle agreed.  "Is there anything about her 
that isn't strange, though.  And what's an elf doing in the realm?  
I'm not sure I even know what an elf is.  I though they were the stuff 
of myth and legend."

	"Apparently not, since we seem to have one big as life in our 
midst.  Well, Mila will see that she's cared for, so tomorrow is soon 
enough to worry about our elf."

	It was not soon enough, however, to worry that her own 
mate wasn't there.   Knowing she wasn't going to like the answer, 
Christalla asked the question Evelle had hoped to avoid.

	"Where is M'ressan?"

	"I haven't seen him," Evelle answered through lowered 
eyelids, avoiding her friend's searching look.

	"You're being evasive.  Tell me."  The DragonLady's voice 
was flat.  It was bad.  If it weren't, Evelle wouldn't be trying to keep 
it from her.  "It will be worse for me not to know."

	But, would it?  Evelle wished she could be sure..  Still, she 
would have to tell what little she did know.  If it were Wynn, she 
would want to be told, need to know.

	"I really don't know where he is," she answered.  "I don't 
think he's here in Keldarra any more.  "I'm sorry, Christalla, but the 
few who have seen him say that he isn't himself.  D'glis told me that 
Master Kershod told him that M'ressan had come to his shop and 
asked for a sword.  Kershod was uneasy about how M'ressan was 
acting, but he did give him one.  Then, when he went to fetch a 
sheath, M'ressan disappeared.  Since that time, no one has seen 
him.  I'm sorry, Christalla," she repeated, ready to call Mila in 
immediately if the shock was too much for the DragonLady.  Years 
of rigid discipline kept her together though.  Christalla knew that 
falling apart, as she was aching to do, would do nothing for 
M'ressan, for Keldarra, or for the realm.  The spark of 
determination to set things right again had already been lit.

	Then Evelle was distracted, and what a wondrous 
distraction it was.

	*Evelle, Evelle!  He's back!  Malekith is home!  He is hurt, 
but he will be fine*

	*Ali!  Really?*  The joy of Alicynth's thoughts shot through 
Evelle like a bolt of electricity.  In her mind she could hear her 
dragon's wings flapping in happy excitement.  *Wynn?*

	*He is here and on his way to you.  They are safe, my 
wonderful human*

	<Safe> thought Evelle.  <What a wonderful, beautiful word>

	Then the door opened and he was there and she was in his 
arms.  For a few minutes, there was nothing in the world except the 
lips of her love pressed tightly against her own, his strong arms 
clasping her trembling body."

	"Oh, Wynn," she breathed when she'd forced herself to let a 
few inches of air in between them.  Again and again she repeated 
his name while her hands touched his face, shoulders, arms, as if 
they wanted reassurance that he was really here.

	"I've missed you, love.  I was so frightened.  And Ali too, for 
Malekith."

	"Wynn smiled broadly, a hand running through her coppery-
red locks.  "And I you, my love.  Malekith was injured, but he'll be 
fine in a couple of days.  I'm just glad to be back."

	"I'm so glad to see that you are back, Wynn."  Christalla 
smiled from her bed.

	"DragonLady, I am so relieved to see that you are well.  I 
couldn't believe my ears when I had heard what happened," Wynn 
replied, arms still about Evelle's waist.

	"Perhaps we should continue later, Evelle."  Christalla 
smiled, though somewhat painfully.  She missed M'ressan and 
worried as to where he had gone, particularly after what she had 
just pulled out of a reluctant Evelle.

	"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to intrude," Wynn apologized.  "I just 
had to see you, Evelle. If you need to, continue please.  I need to 
change and get cleaned up at any rate.  And a good meal would go 
down nicely as well."  Wynn smiled broadly.  It was good to be 
home.

	It was just then that the door opened once more.  Briana 
came in relating her story.  Her Starleana had picked something up 
from the big red Alanth.  Apparently they were headed for 
Ralengarde and Alanth was distressed.

	"What can I do to help, DragonLady?"  Wynn was, as 
always, ready to do what needed to be done.

	"No, Wynn.  You need food and rest.  You just said so," 
Evelle protested.  She looked to Christalla for support, which she 
got.

	"Evelle's right.  Besides, Malekith is recovering, so you can't 
really do anything, Wynn.  Go on with what you planned.  You too, 
Evelle.  I'll be in my office in the morning and we'll pick things up 
from there.  Briana, thank you for bringing this to me.  It isn't good 
news, but at least it's SOME news, and more than we had before.  I 
want to think about this, and I am feeling a little tired."  She rubbed 
her belly.  "This little one here needs some rest."

	"Call me if you need me, Christalla," Evelle said as the three 
of them left together.  Then, looking at Wynn, "But only if you 
REALLY need me."

	The DragonLady's eyes were already closed by the time the 
door closed behind them.  Whether she had drifted off to sleep or 
was thinking about her troubled mate, only Christalla knew.

	"I've got some things to do," Briana said as they emerged 
from the Medical Center.  "See you later."  She swung herself 
easily onto Star and was off.

	"Bareback?" Evelle questioned, an eyebrow raised.

	"I've talked to her about that, but she says she feels more 
secure that way.  It seems to work for her," he admitted.

	"I'm not really surprised.  She's an acrobat, has wonderful 
balance, and I'd say she knows what she's doing in that respect.  
I'd say leave her alone with it unless you spot trouble."

	"Just what I'd planned to do, my love."

	"Are S'brogh and Lisell all right?" Evelle asked.  Her brother 
had been on her mind almost as much as Wynn."

	"Right as rain, Sis," said a voice behind her as two powerful 
arms went around her.

	"Oh, S'brogh!  Thank you!"  She turned in his arms and 
hugged him.  There was no need to explain what she was thanking 
him for.

	"Would I take a chance on losing this brother that I just now 
found again?   Or risking your wrath if I did?  How is Malekith?" he 
asked turning to Wynn.

	"Getting treatment.  He'll be fine in a couple of days."

	They flew back to Keldarra's main court, Wynn hitching a 
ride on Alicynth.  Each of them had things they wanted to do and 
they parted soon after the dragons landed.

	"Come home early, darling," she coaxed, a pretty pout on 
her lips at separating from him again.

	"As if anything would keep me away," he promised and 
kissed her hungrily again.

	After making sure that Roland was still secure, Evelle spent 
the rest of the afternoon getting ready for the night.  Stopping at 
the Dining Hall, she filled a large sack with food begged from 
Melnora.  Then Alicynth flew them both back to the apartment.  
Evelle was thrilled to feel how happy her dragon was again.

	*I will fly back to be near Malekith again, Evelle.  But I will 
come if you need me*

	*Please fly Wynn home when he's ready, then go, little one,  
and be as happy as we will be.*

	She watched as the sun glinted off Alicynth's coppery hide, 
only to be hidden for moments among feathery clouds, then burst 
through into the light once more.  Then she began to cook dinner.  
Wynn would have a feast when he came home, a feast followed by 
a nightlong dessert.

	While the food cooked, Evelle set the table.  A heavy linen 
cloth that Kalera had given her covered it.  She had stopped at the 
silversmiths and bartered for fine flatware, and a pair of 
candlesticks.  One held a black candle, the other a candle that 
matched her hair.  She would light them when she heard the 
flapping of Ali's wings bringing her love home.  All that was left to 
do was to change into a soft, sheer, golden night dress and wait to 
welcome her love.

Evelle
Queenrider of Alicynth
WarrenLady of Keldarra

NRPG:  This one sure grew beyond my intentions.  Better save 
dinner and dessert for the next.  Please feel free to start it, Chris.  
Evelle's definitely suffering from deprivation.  <G>

Hope to do a something with Roland shortly.  I have a feeling he 
might escape.