Scene: Marrid Great Hall

     "We've glossed over what I did.   Rape' is a relative term. 
Some of you have listened to these speeches and looked at me up
here and thought,  He doesn't look so evil.  It must not have
been that bad.'"  Mukale listened to Trey's words from his seat
near the back of the great hall with wide eyes.  He had nothing
but admiration for the older Dragonrider.  R'chein had said that
a... sickness had been responsible for Trey's actions at the
other warren.  And the sickness was gone, wasn't it?

     "You're wrong." declared Tr'etram, as if in answer to
Mukale's fleeting thoughts. "It was horrible and violent and
utterly inhuman.  I haven't forgiven myself, I don't trust
myself, and I probably never will again.  I have... no reason to
think that my former mate, my former warren, or my daughter will,
either.  I have no reason to expect or demand that any of you
will.  Make your judgements based on that."

     Trey gazed at the floor with desolation written upon his
face.  Mukale felt sorry for the rider, and sympathized with how
he felt about what he had done.  "I love my daughter and it hurts
like hell to know I've ruined any chance of being a part of her
life.  But I still hope, sometime, somehow, she'll find it in her
heart to forgive me, even though I can never forgive myself."  As
Tr'etram strode through the audience toward the back door, Mukale
almost reached out to reassure the man.  Something made him stop
before he had even started the motion.

     His feelings about the matter were mixed.  What Trey had
done was horrible, and fit only to be despised.  But as had been
pointed out, the growth had caused him to act as he had, and his
actions since coming to Marrid had been beyond reproach.  The
point of the trial was to determine if Trey should be banished. 
If he were a continuing danger to the warren, he -should- be
banished.  In his present condition, he was not a danger.  He
could not return to his previous condition, that is, the growth
could not regrow, causing Trey to act erratically, without his
dragon telling people about it.  At which time, he could be
treated, or otherwise restrained from jeopardizing others. 
Therefore, if Trey and Koroth were banished from the warren now,
it would not be for the safety of the warren, it would be based
on fear and on a need for vengeance.  Diana was right.

     This chain of logic flashed through Mukale's head as Trey
stalked past his seat and opened the back door.  As the ex-caravan lad stood to follow him out to explain this newfound
wisdom, the older Dragonrider stopped in the doorway.  Mukale saw
him rub his eyes, as if weary, and then stand, staring at someone
outside the exit.

     "Laria."  Trey spoke the single word as if it were a prayer.

     "Papa?"  Mukale couldn't see who it was, but the voice
sounded like a young woman.  He was able to see that the
Dragonrider was trembling.

     "Laria, oh, Laria, I'm sorry."  Trey collapsed in the still
open doorway, weeping at the feet of a pretty girl not much
younger than Mukale.  His heart-rending sobs penetrated the
subdued murmur that had filled the great hall at Trey's speech.

     The girl -- Laria, Mukale remembered her name was -- reached
out and touched the Dragonrider's head.  Then she knelt beside
him, and gathered him in her arms.  "It's okay, papa.  It's
okay." she knelt there rocking the man in her arms as he cried.

     Mukale turned slowly away from this scene to face the front
of the great hall.  Everybody... EVERYBODY had fallen silent and
turned to watch this minor drama play itself out.  Mukale caught
the WarrenLady's eye, and she nodded back at him.  He cleared his
throat, and spoke it his most penetrating caravaner's voice.

     "It should be evident that Tr'etram is not presently a
danger to the warren.  If he becomes a danger, we will have
warning through Koroth.  Are we going to punish him for what he
did, when his -own- daughter forgives him?"

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Scene: Courtyard Outside Medical Center

     After leaving the great hall, Mukale wandered in the
direction of the green.  As he was passing the medical center, he
heard his name called.  Turning, he saw it was Z'lec.  "Yes sir?"

     "Mukale, I have seen the man that Shard and you rescued from
up near Tressa."

     Mukale winced slightly at the mention of the early morning
expedition.  He'd expected it, but now that the axe was about to
fall...

     "The healers tell me that the man is quite mad." continued
Z'lec.  Mukale relaxed slightly.  Maybe this wasn't entirely
about the unauthorized trip.  "Someone needs to go up to Tressa,
and speak with Lord Uthna.  Something strange is going on, and we
need to find out as much as we can before things get out of hand. 
I was wondering if you would like to go?"

     "Me?" Mukale was surprised.  This wasn't what he had
expected.  "Who will be I going with?"

     Z'lec nodded.  "That's for you to decide.  It would be a
good idea for you to not go alone..." Mukale flinched at this
subtle reminder of the trip. "... but I am aware of the fact that
you are a very responsible young man.  There is only one
thing..." explained the Wingleader.

     "Yes sir?" asked Mukale in a small voice.

     "Before you go to Tressa, could you please go to stores and
get outfitted with some new clothes?"  With a chuckle, Z'lec
turned and walked away.  Mukale followed him with his gaze until
he disappeared.  And then he was laughing too.

     Turning toward the main storerooms, Mukale called his
dragon. ^Hey, Scales?  You awake?^

     ^I am now.^ replied Tarranx.

     ^Could you contact Sarathain, and ask if Sky wants to take a
trip up to Tressa?^

Submitted,

Mukale and Tarranx

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::=::=::      http://www.cs.uoregon.edu/~meckardt/       ::=::=::
::=::=::         [madmike@gladstone.uoregon.edu]         ::=::=::
::=::=::            [meckardt@cs.uoregon.edu]            ::=::=::
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                Mike Eckardt
                 (He's mad.  Mad!  MAD I say!!!)