Darrkon hurried back to his apartment after the hatching.  He had just
thrown a few things on to attend it and wasn't properly dressed for the
party afterwards.  He really didn't care about attending but he knew his
presents was necessary, if only to make the new cadets feel welcome.
One thing he was not looking forward to was interacting with the nobles.
Ugh!  Even the word made him sick.  If things were run his way, the
dragonriders would amke the laws and the nobles would only have as much
power as the craftholders, if that much.

<That's not very wise thinking Darrkon.>  Calindeth interrupted his
thoughts.  <If dragonriders were busy making the laws you wouldn't be as
able to fight when needed.  You would become as bad as the nobles.>

<I don't see that that is possible.>  Darrkon replied  <Dragonriders are
a breed apart.  And I'm not just bragging.  Look around, all of these
riders are respectable.>

<You don't truely know every rider here Darrkon.  Actually you don't
really know any rider here, not even Lacey.>  His dragon answered <And
don't forget about rogue riders.  They are in no way respectable.  How
many comfrontations have we had with them?  And one almost ended in my
taking another dragons life.  Not to mention the few who have
disappeared in transport after their rider met your blade.>

<I know Lacey well enough.  And as for the rogue riders, they aren't
-real- dragonriders.  They don't have the training and respect for life
that is taught in a warren.>

<Not all of those riders were wild Darrkon.  And not all of the stories
your father told you about dragonriders were lies.>

<I told you not to bring him up!> Darrkon spat at Calindeth.

<Sorry, but you were thinking about him.>  His dragon answered, barely a
whisper in his mind.

<No, it's my fault.  I'm just on edge about the nobles.  It's from
something before you and I met.  One of few things I haven't opened up
to you about.  I'll tell you after the party.>

Darrkon finished dressing and Calindeth took him to the party in
silence.  He walked his fellow dragonriders and dragonfolk, as well as
the other guests.  He noticed the nobles steered clear of him, thanks to
his mask.  He saw Lacey and she spotted him.  She headed toward him with
a relieved smile.

>Lacey hurried off to Darrkon. "Where in the world have you been? I have 
>missed you."
>
"I had a hard time finding the appropriate thign for the occasion."  He
lied, "This is my first hatching remember."

"Well it's about time you got here.  We've got a new bunch of cadets and
you haven't met one of them.  Now what kind of impression will that
make?  Anyway, I'm sure the many Lords here would love to meet you."

"Well the Lords have been getting along fine without me.  Besides, I
don't think we're cut from the same cloth.  Plus I thought -you- wanted
me here for yourself."  He said pulling her toward him.

"Hmmm...maybe a little."  She answered laughing and pulled away from
him.  They made their rounds and talked to many people, including
nobles.  But they weren't seperated again until the party was finally
over.

Submitted by

Darrkon and Calindeth

NRPG:  Better late than never huh?