He hadn't been gone from the warrenlady's office half an hour before Roth
told him he needed to go back because there was "an emergency."  His
stomach tightened at the phrase.  "Emergency" was Ph'let coming breech
birth with the umbilical cord around his neck, Laria burning up with
fever, B'larin badly wraithburned...  It was a word that invoked fear in
him quickly.

<Let's go, then, Roth,> he said as he laid aside the cloth he had been
cutting for a new shirt for himself.  Diana had cleaned up and left, so he
had busied himself with replacing the bright clothing he felt
uncomfortable wearing with some more somber selections.

He mounted his dragon and the two glided down to the entrance they had 
left such a short while ago.

He passed Z'lec, who cast him a warning glance but said nothing, and went 
into the warren, soon arriving at Waylene's office.  "It's Tr'etram," he 
called as he knocked.

He stepped in at her invitation.  Waylene was looking somewhat pale and 
just a bit nervous.  "Sit down," she ordered.

He sat.  "What's wrong?  It's nothing to do with Ophelia or the kids, is
it?"

She shook her head.  "No, it's you, Tr'etram... or, more specifically,
your past."

"What about it?" he asked, suddenly wary.

She sighed.  "Word has gotten out to the dragons about it.  I just had a
young lady in here warning me that you had raped your daughter."  She saw
the flinch and knew it was true.  "When something like this starts
circulating among the dragons, it's not too long before the whole warren,
dragon and human, knows."

"Worse than old biddies," Trey half joked.

<Hey!> Koroth protested, <I've kept your secret for a long time now.>

<I know, Roth, and I appreciate the effort.>

"The question now becomes what do we do about it?  I'm looking for your 
input on this since it's your reputation on the line here.  I'd also like 
to know if there are any other surprises awaiting us about you."

Trey ran his hands through his hair.  "That was the last secret... and 
the worst."

She nodded.

"Look, I won't sugar-coat the rape.  Gods know I wish I could.  I held a
knife to her throat... to Laria's throat."  He closed his eyes, wishing he
could blot out the memory, but it remained like a stain upon his soul.

She nodded, though her face was white.

"That's what I couldn't live with.  That's why I tried to kill myself. 
Many's the day since then where Roth has been the only thing keeping me
from trying again.  I guess it's the coward's way out and I can't take it
now."  He shrugged.  "As for what to do now, I don't know.  I knew I'd
have to face it someday, but it's so soon.  Goddamnit, everything's
happening too fast."

He buried his face in his hands and sat that way for a long time.

"Trey?" she asked quietly, wondering if he was crying.

He sighed and spoke through his hands.  "I expect at this point, our best 
choice is honesty.  The whole story, unadulterated, not watered down, not 
abridged in any way.  Probably at a public meeting.  And I think I ought 
to pack, just in case..."

Waylene looked at the man with his face in his hands, and considered his 
words.

Respectfully submitted,
 Lynette R. F. Cowper
  Tr'etram and Koroth

NRPG: Yeah, yeah, I know, 3 posts in less than 24 hours.  Kris, take it 
from here.  He's essentially given Waylene permission to spill the whole 
crock of beans too the warren.

 **********************************************************************
 * Lynette R. F. Cowper       *     Official INWO NetRep & Goddess    *
 * lcowper@io.com             *        Circle of Janus Secretary      *
 * lcowper@indy.net           *   VP of P.U.R.P.L.E. (People United   *
 * http://www.io.com/~lcowper/*   Respecting Purple Legal Equality)   *
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 *     The INWO rulings I make are official.  All other opinions,     *
 *  discussions, deck ideas, card ideas, political beliefs, etc. are  *
 *  my own and not those of Steve Jackson Games, the Circle of Janus, *
 *                        or P.U.R.P.L.E.  Fnord.                     *
 **********************************************************************