** Lord Utha **

>Utha's eyes narrowed. "He raped her? That would be just like Wilek. Out to
>ruin any change that girl has of a good marriage. Now listen to me,
>Waylene, I do not want this news out. If I work things right, I can have
>her married before anyone finds out."

That girl was such an inconvenience. Why couldn't she just be obedient like
a female should be, then this never would have happened to her. He had to
do something to make this situation right, after all his reputation was at
stake.

>Waylene frowned, "That will have to wait for a bit, Utha. You see Yasmine
>has asked to remain here, in the Warren."
>
>"What?" he roared.

He couldn't believe Yasmine's forwardness. Lord Utha swore to himself that
he would have to teach Yasmine her place.

>"I've already said yes. Besides she has the affinity, Utha. She could make
>a good dragonrider. And we will have new eggs on the hatching grounds soon."

Well, that changed things somewhat. Perhaps the girl would be of some use
after all, if she could become a dragonrider. That would indeed be a
feather in his cap. Perhaps.

>He nodded slowly. "I'd heard the blue queen had flown again. Guess rumors
>of the Falagand queen being barren were true." He snorted, "Leave it to
>Falagand to send us useless mouths to feed."
>
>Waylene ignored the man's jabs at A'Rillia and Daetyn, "Perhaps even a
>queen egg."
>
>Utha's eyes shot up. "You think my Yasmine could join to a queen?"

Oh, that would be a coup indeed! This might work out even better than he
thought. Surely the daughter of a lord would be the one to join with a
queen egg. Perhaps one day Yasmine would take over Marrid, and then he
could get her to lower the tithes. His mind reeled greedily at the
possibility.

>"Anything is possible," Waylene said. She certainly wasn't lying ..
>anything was possible, though a queen egg was unlikely, considering Marrid
>did have three fertile queens already. Nature seemed to keep the warrens
>balanced pretty nicely. And though Daetyn had not yet flown, Waylene had
>not doubt that she was not barren. It was only a matter of time before the
>small purple queen felt her rider ready to handle it.

"Well, all right then, she can stay until the hatching," he said
grudgingly, trying not to seem too eager, "But if she doesn't join, she
will have to get married as soon as she returns home."

*******

** Yasmine **

Yasmine, curled up tightly in a defensive ball, was crying hysterically
after her father's visit, terrified of anyone coming close to her. She was
like a cornered animal. Even A'rillia was perceived as a threat and
couldn't approach the girl to do anything to help without her becoming
combative. 

A'rillia talked to her from a distance and calmed her to the point that the
girl was approachable and then gave her a sleeping draught. The drug began
to take effect in a few minutes, and Yasmine ceased shaking and sobbing.

Yasmine looked up at A'rillia, her voilet eyes devoid of emotion, and
stated matter of factly, "My father hates me."

A'rillia stroked the girls hair, "Close your eyes now, let yourself sleep."

"Just please, don't send me back. Please," Yasmine pleaded, her eyes heavy.

"Waylene is talking to him now," A'rillia said reassuringly.

"Hope I don't have to go home," Yasmine spoke slowly, her speech slurred,
"He'll hurt me... It's safer here..." her eyes fell closed as she drifted
off into a dreamless sleep.


                \=/,         _-===-_-====-_-===-_-==========-_-====-_
                |  @___oo   (                                         )
      /\  /\   / (___,,,}_--=    Submitted by:                        )
     ) /^\) ^\/ _)        =__                                          )
     )   /^\/   _)          (_   Jacqueline "Morgan" Routier           )
     )   _ /  / _)            (      FaeRhee/Alustriel of Daere       )
 /\  )/\/ ||  | )_)            (_    Aradia/Futhark of Whiteriver     )
<  >      |(,,) )__)             (   Kattibrie/Calishandra of Telnor )
 ||      /    \)___)\             (_ Yasmine/Starlin of Marrid       )
 | \____(      )___) )___           -==-_____-=====-_____-=====-___==
  \______(_______;;; __;;;