Briana woke, enjoying the feeling of being held in someones arms. She
looked at the large man laying beside her, his arms around her, and
wondered about what he has said last night. He loved her. He didn't know
her, how could he love her?

She shifted slightly and immediately his eyes came open. He looked at her,
wondering if she was going to bolt, but she just lay there looking at him
with those large blue eyes, her short red hair tousled and tangled.

"Thank you" she said softly. "Thank you for being there for me."

"Always" he said.

"I need to go now, I have some thinking to do." Briana said, hoping he
would understand she wasn't puching him away, she just needed time to
herself, to deal with everything.

He nodded understandingly. She got up and stood by the side of the bed,
her hand running nervously through her curls. "Look, if I need you, can I
have Star call for you?"

He got up and moved towards her until he was in front of her. "Of course."

She reached towards him and found herself enveloped in his arms again.

(Iganeth and his rider are leaving now) Star informed her at that moment.

Briana stiffened in R'mar's arms. "What is it?" he asked quickly.

"S'brogh is leaving now. He never said goodbye." her voice choked on her
last words.

R'mar almost shook with the anger he felt towards the man and how he had
treated Briana. "He's not worth it."

Briana just stood there in his arms until she felt herself more under
control. "I need to go now."

He released her and watched her climb onto Starleanna. They took off as he
watched, soaring through the skies.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

The warren beneath them was quiet and Star and Briana flew, the wind
whipped through her short curls as she tried to shove the ghosts behind
her. Several hours later, they landed on the edge of the green. Star was
tired, besides, she wanted to get a look at the dragon who had hatched
from "her" egg. Briana was too tired to argue. She was lost in thought as
M'ressan approached her. She was still awkward around the man, but she
knew he had just done what was best for her and Star. She thanked him.
Then he surprised her.

"Are you ready to testify this afternoon?" he asked.

"Testify? Testify about what?" Briana was genuinely puzzled.

"Why at Lori's trial" M'ressan was surprised. "You do know her best."

"Lori's trial? What do you mean?" Briana was now on her feet looking up at
M'ressan. "Whats going on?" She was beginning to sound a little panicky.
What had happened to her friend?

M'ressan cursed at that moment. Noone had told her! How could they have
not told her? He reached out for her as he tried to reassure her but
Briana shook him off. "Whats going on? Whats the matter with Lori?"
M'ressan heard the panic in her voice.

"Calm down, Briana. Lori will be alright." Briana could hear the
bitterness in his voice as he said that. But, no matter how he felt about
Lori, he did care about Briana, and with everything else, this was going
to be hard on her.

"Lori was the one who killed Al'dairan." M'ressan said to her.

"No!" Briana didn't believe him. "There has to be some mistake. She
couldn't have done it!"

"She did, Briana" M'ressan reached for her again but Briana backed away. 

"Where is she?" Briana demanded of him.

"Shes in the med center under guard" M'ressan said.

Briana didn't listen any further as she raced for the med center. This
couldn't be true! What kind of trouble was her friend in?

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
NRPG: I am starting a Lori next, and will get us to the trial if noone
else does.

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                             /,`.-'`'   ._  \;;..;)
                            |,q-  ) )_   .;.(  ''
                           '---''(_/._)-'(_\_)
          
                      Kat Robertson: catwoman@indy.net

                       http://www.indy.net/~catwoman