[Elswyth]

Over all, it hadn't been what Elswyth would have called a good day,
despite the apparent heed that D'neor had given the report that she
and Blink -- well, she and Aesir, really, had prepared.  V'rdeen was
dead, Darlea and Almiron had vanished, and the whole situation had
obviously gained a momentum that Elswyth found dangerous.

More than that, she had seen K'wen returning to the Warren and his
expression had held something different from she'd seen before.

He hadn't looked quite so smugly superior.  There had even been, it
seemed, the slightest touch of fear.

Normally, Elswyth would have found some amusement in the fact that
someone had taken the arrogant clod down a peg or two, but given the
deaths and threats involved, she feared what it meant in terms of the
little conspiracy.

If there was anything she had been certain of, it had been that K'wen
had felt firmly in command.  If he no longer felt secure in that
knowledge, it was a dangerous new variable that she didn't like at
all.

Aedra nuzzled her back and Elswyth turned to hug her grieving dragon.
Although she had barely even known Quezarth, Aedra's pain at the other
dragon's was profound, and even now, several hours later, the
silvery-white form grieved for his loss.

< You are worried. >  Aedra said softly in her mind, and Elswyth
nodded slowly.

<< Yes.  >>  Her hands clenched.  << It is clear that there is no
safety here, not for us, nor for those who willingly became embroiled
in this mess.  I do not think that this will be the end. >>

< But, *why*?  Why would anyone want to kill Quezarth? >

<< Beloved, I doubt that V'rdeen's killer even considered Quezarth, in
much the same way that Lori did not worry about the fact that if she
killed Christalla -- >> Elswyth trailed off, thinking.  << They don't
care if dragons die.  And if they don't, then neither do I. >>

< Elswyth? >

<< This has gone too far.  I will not be held by ridiculous
restrictions if I am attacked again, or if anyone I care about is in
danger. >>

< If you kill a rider then you will kill their dragon! >  Aedra
protested.

<< If they don't want to die, then they'd better be sure their riders
don't attack me, then. >> Elswyth replied brutally.  << I will not
stand by and let them kill us because they don't care about your life
ending with mine.  Nor will I allow Arden and Aesir, or Shae and
Kaaren to be placed in such danger, not if I am present. >>

< You're not armed. >

Elswyth's lips curved in something that was distinctly not a smile, it
held too much determination and anger.  << I am in possession of the
most dangerous weapon known to any warrior in the world, Aedra.  I
have a mind and the will to use it.  But look here... >>

She pulled out a worn piece of leather, revealing a number throwing
daggers that gleamed brightly in the dim light of the apartment, and
these she secreted around her body, from using them for hairpins to
loading them into arm sheaths that she had carefully crafted.

< I do not want you to do this... > Aedra said unhappily, undoubtedly
feeling the edges of Elswyth's frustration and rage.  Images rolled
through her mind from a lifetime of battle, and the name of the Lady
of Mercy was on her lips.

<< I can't just do nothing.  And I *won't* be limited, beloved. >>
With that, she revealed a sword, crafted for her by the Guild of
Swords, though she knew that they had not been happy when she had made
her request.  But with the absence of her guard, no one had been able
to think of any reason why she should be denied such protection.
Elswyth hadn't worn it, mindful of her vow to D'neor.  Things had gone
too far, and she was willing to take the stain of breaking an
untenable vow.  Khiribeth was Mercy, and She would understand.

Elswyth hoped.

With the donning of the sword, she also put on light leather armor
that she had fashioned slowly in her spare time.  The stiff leather
felt odd, it had been so long since she had worn anything like it, but
she moved easily and immediately felt better for wearing it.

For the first time since her sword had been broken, she almost felt
right.  *This* was what she was, what she had been born to.  Peace
without the feel of steel and leather meant cowering in fear and
shame.  For the first time in months, Elswyth felt shed of the
creature Sefer had made her into.  She felt almost whole, and strong.

<< Tell them, Aedra.  Tell them all that I will use lethal force in my
own defense, and in the defense of others.  If there are dragons who
know that their humans might be inclined toward such attacks, tell
them that they should take active measures to prevent them.  It is not
in their best interests to test the strength of my resolve. >>

-----
NRPG --
Sorry it took so long, but I've been arguing with myself over how E
would react to the whole day.

I imagine that there are at least a *few* people who will find such a
declaration disturbing...  feel free to try and talk to her about it.

(and, no, she doesn't look much like Xena, white hair and green eyes
aside, though the armor design would be somewhat similar.)

*hugs*

Jill
             X-FILES                         DRAGONLANDS
 Director, X-Files Division           Rhiannon, WarrenLady  *Xylian*
 Sterling Kincaid, TL, ECHO           Elswyth and Aedra   *Keldarra*
 Damien Cunningham, Forensics         Katla and Satinka *Whiteriver*
 Xan X. Xavier, Trainer               Zera and Mazel       *Norwall*

                        Visit the XFRPG Web Site:
                http://www.steele.ml.org/~wiggly/xfiles/

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                         Vasaris, the Fuzzy Dragon
   Jill E. Flansburg                |              vasaris@az.com
   CS HMC 1994                      |  jflansbu@muddcs.cs.hmc.edu
   History, WWU 199?                |  vasaris@divcom.umop-ap.com
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