[NRPG: This doesn't do much to forward the current plots.  This is the
first half of a post that I was writing to do that, but Chris C. has
handled it quite nicely.  Now it just answers Chris A's tag and sets him
up to join the fun.]

	She held the young man's shuddering form in her arms, rocking back
and forth without thinking like a madonna and child.  She could feel the
heat of his tears soaking the shoulder of her dress, hear the choking of
his sobs in her ears.  Her heart seemed to swell until her lungs were
crushed against it. 

	She could see Evelle's laughing eyes in her mind as if only
yesterday the young woman had been right here in this room.  How many late
nights had Christalla sat in this office, crowded by a thousand lonely
responsibilities, comforted only by the thought that Evelle was happy
someplace in her Warren by the sea?  <Evelle... Did you know you were my
courage, even far away?  Do you know how much you held me up when I
couldn't even hear your voice?>

	In all the time she'd been struggling with the DragonLady's chair
and trying to keep the Warren running in spite of the Warrenlord, it had
never once occurred to her that anything but peace and joy could be
reaching Evelle and Wynn.  It was if everything she knew was beautiful in
the world had become black and charred.  These two people, of all the
people in the world, should never have seen pain. 

	"Wynn... oh, Wynn..." she whispered.  "It wasn't supposed to be
like this."

	Wynn took a deep breath and forced himself to stop shaking. 
Christalla held him closer, like both a mother and a lover.  Her fingers
could still remember the curves of his body from that mating flight long
ago.  "It came without warning," he said flatly.  His voice was almost
unrecognizable.  "I don't even know why or who. She was the most perfect
woman in the world... the *only* woman for me.  There's nothing left for
me at Jasra."

	The broken, bitter sound struck a note of fear deep in
Christalla's heart.  She remembered the determined, happy young leader as
Wynn, not the resentful boy he had been before joining to Malekith.  She
couldn't see him lose all his love of life.  She couldn't lose both of
them together.

	"You'll stay here," she said firmly, her voice stronger than her
heart.  "We love you here.  We always have." 

	"There's nothing I can do here," he rasped.  "No more good I can
be to anyone.  She was all my purpose.  She was my whole world." 

	She stroked his dark hair away from his fevered face and drew his
eyes to meet her.  "We need you here," she said softly.  "*I* need you.
Keldarra is starving for a leader like you.  Help me... and let me help
you."

	Wynn shuddered, as if he would break again into tears.  Then he
nodded silently, more out of resignation than hope.

	They looked into each other's eyes for a moment.  The memories
they shared of Evelle seemed to pour between them without words.  It
fortified both of them just enough to get through what was to come. 
Christalla drew away and glanced back to her desk, where the long-stemmed
peach rose D'glis had given her reflected the light with oddly ominous
beauty.  Celeste and The Assassin's Guild she represented still had to be
dealt with.  Evelle's former courier had warned them away from distaster,
but could they avoid disaster even with the possibility he had offered
them? 

	She stood up, dusting off her dress.  She walked over to her desk
and picked up the rose, twirling it thoughtfully between her fingers.  She
she looked at Wynn again, it as the composed face of the DragonLady, not
Christalla's red-rimmed eyes.  "I'm calling a Warrenwide meeting today to
discuss what to do with an assassin who has been captured on Warren
grounds.  She has apparently been wreaking havoc for some time.  I have
recent reports of death threats with TAG signatures."

	Wynn tensed.  Something in what she said seemed to touch an open
wound.  He met her eyes determinedly.

	"There is also corruption... There has been a hate conspiracy
working beneath our noses here for a long time.  Now that we are
uncovering it, the extent of the corruption is... terrifying.  We have
reason to believe M'ressan's Wingsecond R'mar has been a part of the
actions of the conspiracy."  That drew out a gasp of surprised.  R'mar had
always been a bit dunderheaded, but no one would have ever thought to
question his loyalty.

	She looked at the lovely petals of the rose.  How had D'glis known
her favorite rose was peach?  Sometimes the knowledge base of the Bards
gave her chills.  "You see why I need you, Wynn.  I need people here I can
trust without reservation.  I won't push you toward anything you don't
feel ready for, but whatever responsibility you feel capable of taking on
is yours.  There is a lot of rebuilding yet to come."

	Wynn nodded, still processing what she'd told him.  "I
understand." 

	She sighed.  "There's more.  According to some measurements I've
been monitoring from Cleft Warren, I may not be DragonLady much longer.
Kaeryth could be outgrown in a matter of months by a young Junior Queen at
Cleft called Tymor.  I sent out a summons to Keldarra for Tymor and her
rider Brisse just yesterday, before all this happened.  This isn't exactly
the best time I'd want to be welcoming my successor, but there's no help
for it." 

	"But Christalla...!"

	Christalla shook her head.  "I'm *tired* Wynn.  If it's time for
me to step aside and become an advisor to fresh young blood, I'm ready.
But it's all the more reason I need you."  She walked over and took his
arm.  "Let's try to get a  bit to eat before the meeting.  It's going to
be a long day."

	<My Human??> Kaeryth queried, her mind-voice tremulous.  <Aedra is
declaring a message from her Human.  She has stated that she will defend
herself against all attacks, even from Dragons' Humans, even to the death. 
She does not consider the bond a reason not to fight.>

	The rose became a blur in the air, smashing against the wall of
Christalla's office.  Peach petals fluttered, trembling, to the floor.

	"Tell Aedra," she cried aloud, "tell the entire Warren that if
anyone takes up arms against another dragonrider-- if anyone takes up arms
against another Warrenfolk-- I will have the Warren and the Guild of
Swords against her!  I will have her on my courtroom floor to make case
for banishment!  I will NOT let Keldarra dissolve into warlording!"

	She took a breath and turned back to Wynn.  Her body held rigid
composure.  "We have a meeting to attend."  She took his arm and walked
out of her office.

Respectfully Submitted,

Susan Rati
Creator, DragonLands

Jill: True, Elswyth didn't threaten anyone in particular, and she was only
talking self-defense, but Christalla is used to a pacifist Warren style,
and she is NOT happy.  Of course, she's largely NPC now, so do with it
what you will.

Chris A: This sets you up to enter the action.  Feel free to ask for
storyline clarification if you like ;).

Lyn: I sort of implied that Brisse would be arriving today.  Feel free to
have her show up during the Warrenwide meeting or somesuch.  Christalla's
at your disposal.

  Susan Rati (echo@indy.net) http://www.indy.net/~echo | And this only
   Creator, DragonLands ** http://www.indy.net/~dlands | covers the
   George, InConJunction ** http://www.indy.net/~incon | stuff I can
 MIB #0110 (Secret Rep SJGames) http://www.sjgames.com | print here ;]