Evelle sat in her office, worried, frustrated and distressed.  
So much had happened and not only at Keldarra, but throughout 
the realm.  There was little she could take an active part in.  With 
Christalla injured, it had fallen to Evelle to manage the affairs of 
Keldarra.  The thousand details that needed daily attention so that 
the warren could function still needed that attention.  The young 
WarrenLady prayed that the DragonLady would soon be up and 
around again, continuing a healthy pregnancy.  Although she 
would be adamant about making sure that Christalla's workload 
was limited, Evelle did not want to shoulder the burdens of being 
DragonLady any longer than was necessary.  She was not 
Christalla.

	Her personal courier, D'glis sat across from her.  He had 
brought back troubling news from the cities.  The nobles were 
aghast with the news from the attack on Ralengarde and 
understandably worried that their own cities might be next.  The 
had also heard that King Jaldor was near death.  If the monarch 
did not survive that meant his son, Prince Reolden would be 
crowned... and Reolden was now a dragonrider!  The uneasy ties 
between cities and warrens that Evelle was attempting to cement 
had become shakier than ever.

	"They insist we must help them if rogue dragons attack their 
cities," D'glis informed her.  "Several of them were extremely... 
vocal... in their demands.

	As she nodded her understand of what he meant, Evelle 
bent her head and rested it in her right hand.  The middle finger 
began to rub a spot just above her nose.  It felt good, but didn't 
really ease the headache that was snaking its way into the corners 
of her brain.

	"Yes, and I'll bet that Duke Leonov and Duke Caelus were 
the most vocal," Evelle answered, a note of irony in her voice.  
The nobles she referred to had been among those who had 
refused to go against the King and send the tithe.

	"You'd win that bet.  Hands down.  Those two were 
demanding an immediate answer."

	"Well, they're not going to get one.  I cannot commit our 
dragonriders to fight joined dragons without the DragonLady's 
approval."

	Evelle sighed.  The throbbing between her temples was 
getting worse.

	"Do you want me to just keep silent, Evelle?  Wait a few 
days before I contact them again?"

	"No, let's try to keep them a little complacent.  Tell them... 
let's see... tell them that we are working out how we can best help 
them.  Let them know we've suffered severe injuries and do not 
want to send anything less than our best.  And make sure they 
understand that without the full tithe, we won't have the resources 
to protect them."

	"I understand.  You want to put pressure on them to tithe, 
but it shouldn't seem as if we're threatening to ignore their peril 
unless then do as we want.  A gentle hint, so to speak, that hungry 
dragons and riders won't be much help."

	It gave her cause to smile that she had chosen well when 
she'd given D'glis his job.  The growing fondness that Evelle felt 
for the charming young bard showed in her smile.

	"I knew you'd understand.  Go have yourself something to 
eat and get some rest before you travel again.  As always, send 
my compliments to the nobles and assure them that Keldarra 
Warren desires good will with the cities."

	D'glis said he would stop at the dining hall and then be on 
his way.

	"I don't need rest, milady.  A little of Sheltie's good food will 
fix me up fine."

	"You -do- need rest, and I'm ordering you to take some.  
Make sure Jubalth eats, too.  And when you go, be careful, D'glis.  
We don't know where trouble will strike next.  If you sense the 
least bit of danger, teleport back here.  I mean it, D'glis."

	He nodded and left, stopping to greet the two members of 
the Guild of Swords that stood outside  Evelle's office door.  Ames 
Blademaster had sent them to make sure she didn't become the 
next victim of an assassin's attack.

	Picking up a fine-pointed pen, Evelle began to make notes 
for Christalla.  She would need to know what word D'glis had 
brought back from the nobles.  Then in mid-sentence, Alicynth 
called to her.

	*Evelle!  Malekith is hurt.  His wings were pierced by arrows 
and he cannot fly!  There is so much danger!*

	*And Wynn?*

	Evelle's heart skipped a beat.  Wynn had never left a 
corner of her mind from the moment he'd left Keldarra.  Fear for 
her love gripped her and tightened into a vise that clamped down 
and magnified the throbbing in her head.

	*He has been injured, but is all right.  But there is danger 
for Malekith's rider, too.  I want to go help Malekith, Evelle.*

	*Yes, yes!  We can't lose them, Ali.  I can't be without 
Wynn's love.  We will go.*

	Evelle rose from her chair and moved towards the door.  
Then she stopped.  Her heart was screaming its need to go to her 
love, but her head was telling her what she knew too well.  She 
could not risk herself and her queen.  If she did, she'd be 
committing the same offense she'd so strongly berated Carie for.  
The question she'd asked Christalla when Ali had first joined with 
her leapt unbidden to Evelle's mind.

	"The riders of the non-fertile females," she had said, "they 
go to battle with their mates and families.  Hard and terrible, but 
they ride together.  We must stay here and do nothing but wait 
and worry.  How do we stand it?"

	Christalla's answer hadn't helped much, but it had been the 
best she could give.

	"We, who ride the queens, receive many privileges, Evelle, 
but with them come many burdens, as you are learning.  The one 
you ask about is probably the heaviest and most bitter one we 
carry.  There's nothing we can do but bear it.  Kaeryth helps me as 
Alicynth will help you.  And now, we can help each other."

	But, they couldn't.  Christalla was in the medical center and 
Ali was suffering as much as Evelle was.  Every nerve ending in 
her body was willing her to run to Ali and find Wynn and Malekith, 
but the reins of responsibility held her in check.

	*We can't, Ali.  You know we can't.*  There was a sob even 
in her thoughts.  *Send word to Thoseth and Iganeth.  Maybe 
Lisell and S'brogh can help them.  And keep Malekith in your 
thoughts, Ali.  Please.*

	*As if I could do anything else*

	There was a note of reproach in Alicynth's thought.

	*I'm sorry, Ali.  Of course you couldn't.  I'm just so scared, 
and I can't let anyone know that but you, sweet girl.*

	*It will be all right, Evelle.  It has to be.*

	Yes, it had to be, Evelle told herself.  "Oh Wynn, please 
come home to me, my love.  I love you and I need you so."

	She had to go and see about Roland, she knew.  There 
were many other things she must do.  But just now, Evelle gave in 
to her feelings.  Arms crossed on her desk, she lowered her 
throbbing head until it rested on them and sobbed.

Evelle
Queenrider of Alicynth
WarrenLady of Keldarra