Waylene
***
<<Bright and early in the morning>>

>Half a heartbeat later the door opened, Waylene stopped in the door way.
>She hadn't expected to find Ailill standing by her fallen mate's bed.
>Ailill could see the obvious signs of stress, and anxiety lining the weary
>Warrenlady's face. She moved closer to the warren lady, and spoke in a
>harsh whisper. She would have to beg for Lakoda's forgiveness later, right
>now she needed her voice.

>"Lady Waylene, I know this is going to sound odd, but I would like to ask
>you a favor..."

"Ailill .." Waylene scolded, "You're supposed to be in bed."

"I know, but this is important."

"And .." Waylene interrupted her again, "You aren't supposed to talk."

Ailill opened her mouth but Waylene frowned, " ..uh ..uh .. no talking.
Relay it to Aura through Storm."

Ailill sighed but did as she was asked.

Soon Aura's sweet voice filled her mind, <My hatchling's rider would like
to sit by the lost one's bed.>

<Z'lec's bed?> Aura hadn't been nearly as fond of Z'lec as she had been of
his dragon, however she recognized his loss was much deeper then her own.

She felt a confirmation nod from Aura and focused on Ailill again. "As long
as Lakoda doesn't mind .. I don't want you taxing yourself."

"The way you are?"

Waylene frowned, but she couldn't deny the girl's accusation.

"Let me help .."

"All right." The warrenlady nodded, "You may help. As long as you promise
not to say another word."

The girl smiled and nodded.

"And .." Waylene continued, "You take a break whenever you are fatigued."

Ailill nodded again. Waylene moved to Z'lec's side and ran a hand over his
face "Good morning, Z'lec. How are you feeling today?"

There was no response .. something the Warrenlady was getting used to. But
something that weighed heavily on her heart. She turned back to Ailill, "If
you're all right for a while, I do have some things to take care of. You'll
sit with him for a while?"

Ailill nodded and Waylene turned back to her mate. "I'm going to leave
Ailill here with you. I'll be back later."

No response ..

Taking a deep breath, she gave Ailill a weak smile and left the room.

***

She spotted Koda pulling on her leather riding jacket, "Lakoda."

The healer turned to face the Warrenlady, her face showing her unhappiness.

Waylene signed, she wasn't about to debate her decision to turn Lakoda over
to Trak now. So she kept her mind on her reason for calling the healer.
"How is Kendal?"

"He's getting dressed now. I've released him."

"He can go back to flying .."

"Yes, If Traknor can find the time to assign him."

Waylene shrugged, "I'll take care of it myself."

She turned toward Kendal's room and left Lakoda to face the wingsecond and
his training.

***

She knocked and only pushed the door open when she heard Kendal's, 'come in'.

"Good morning."

"Good morning, m'lady."

"Lakoda says you've been released back to duty."

He nodded and she continued, "I'd like you to meet me in my office after
breakfast. I have a special assignment for you."

"I'll be there. I want to see Ailill first."

Waylene nodded, "She's in Z'lec's room. Keeping him company."

***
<<After breakfast>>

A knock on her office door brought Waylene's attention from the window and
her thoughts to the assignment at hand. "Come in."

The young blonde man at the door bowed slightly, "Ye wanted to see me, m'lady."

"Yes, David, thank you for coming. I'm waiting for one more person. He will
be your partner in this."

"In what, if I may ask."

"S'an brought in a young woman, who was being attacked by bandits.
Unfortunately they are getting bolder in their attacks."

"Ye want us to investigate their activity?"

"No, " she sighed, "There's a bigger problem."

Just then another knock on the door told of the other member arriving.
"Come in."

Kendal walked through the door and bowed lightly. He nodded at David, "You
wanted to see me."

"Kendal, I'd like you to meet David. David was our wingsecond for a while
.. he's .. been away. David, this is Kendal a newcomer to Marrid. Since
neither of you are assigned to the wing right now, this makes a perfect
pairing."

She turned to Kendal, "I was just telling David that a young woman was
brought to the warren, after having been saved from an attack by bandits.
She is the daughter of the Lord of a minor holding just outside the warren.

"I sent my courier with a message to let him know his daughter was here and
safe. He was sent back after the Lord refused to see him." Waylene rounded
her desk, "Now relations with Larguad have never been what could be
considered 'good'. But I thought we'd come to an understanding.
Unfortunately this doesn't appear to be the case.

"I want the two of you to focus your patrol around that area, and
investigate anything out of the ordinary."

Regards,
Waylene & Aura
***
NRPG: Justin, I hope David is up to this .. if he's not .. maybe the more
fun you'll both have. Norman this is Justin's story idea, so the two of you
can work it out and have fun :) The rest of the Warren will be ready to
back you up as needed I'm sure!

Kate, feel free to have fun with  Z'lec. I don't want him to wake yet, but
I don't see why Ailill can't get some sort of response from him.. Waylene
might not be, but that doesn't mean someone else won't :)

Kris


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       \oo/     Kristen Gant
        ~~      (AKA: Darlea & Makayla, Keldarra Warren, Courier
                      Waylene & Aura, Marrid Warren, Warrenlady
                      Meena & Vonn, Norwall Warren, Wingleader
                      Kalewyn & Sabbith, Telnor Warren, Dragonrider
                      Saul & Fayloth, Whiteriver Warren, Searcher
                      Merybelle Barmen, City of Ralengarde, Innkeeper
                      Ce'lot & Britche, Xylain Warren, Wingleader
                http://homepage.interaccess.com/~sgant/Kris/kris.htm
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