<Naomi>


>As Naomi explained the situation to Lacey, Lacey started to grin at Daimon.
>"My sister an old dried up prune?" Lacey started to giggle.
>
>The man was trying to recover but with the joke so obviously on him it 
>was difficult. He then turned to Naomi "Well, what do you say? Can we 
>stay and entertain you awhile?"


Naomi tilted her head up slightly, a small smile touching the corners of her
mouth.


"Well.... I don't know about that!"  she pretended to consider  "Fun and
frolics hm?  Might not be good for people to enjoy themselves too much...."


"Stop teasing the man and say yes, Naomi!"  M'lent advised her  "I saw them
when they were at Traveller's Rest a while ago, and they're good.  Some fun
for everyone is a nice idea.... and you should relax more after the way
Amethyst has behaved recently."


" You're right M'lent I was only teasing...."  she turned back to Daimon,
laughing quietly "But it serves you right!  Maybe next time you won't be so
quick to jump to conclusions. You can stay for as long as you don't
interfere with the running of the Warren. So....welcome to Norwall!  Do you
need places for your performers to stay?"


"Thank you... you won't regret your choice!"  he lifted her hand  to his
lips, lingering over the kiss he bestowed on her palm.  "We've  plenty of
tents and wagons, we just need somewhere to set them up."


"The best place is probably the southern end of the Green.  What do you
think M'lent?"  she considered carefully  "It's away from the main working
areas....."


"I'll make sure to tell my people they're not to interfere in the everyday
business of the Warren."  Daimon told her  "We usually perform in the
evenings when people have more leisure time anyway."


"That's settled then!"  M'lent said, satisfied 


"I have to tell the caravan where to set up. "  Daimon said, smiling warmly
at Naomi  "But maybe we can find time to get to know each other?  Say later
this evening.....?"


"Perhaps!"  Naomi couldn't help smiling back at the man.  He was so self
assured, even after his mistake!  "I know where to find you anyway."


With a half bow he turned and left.


"Well!  He certainly gets what he wants from people!"  Naomi exclaimed as
she watched him swagger away.  "It'll be fun having him around for a
while.... but after that...."


"I don't think he's one to stay any place for very long."  M'lent's tone
held a warning  


"Thank you M'lent."  she laid her hand on his arm, trying to reassure him
"I'll remember!  Now then... do you care to sit with me whilst I eat or must
you go rushing off somewhere too?  I'm too restless to go back to work now,
and there's nothing urgent to deal with."


"Why I'd be delighted to sit with you m'lady."  he made a production of
bowing and offering his arm, and she giggled delightedly  "It's good to see
you haven't lost your sense of humour lass!"


<..>



(WRAITHS!)


Lacey's terrified mind-scream rocked Naomi, and set her heart thumping in
fright.  Her face drained of all colour as she tried to send a reassuring
thought to her sister, but wasn't sure how to successful she'd been.


All around the dining hall riders hurriedly pushed back chairs and ran
towards the exit doors, many with the blank faced expression that said they
were conversing with their dragons.  From outside came the warblings and
trumpeting of gathering dragons, as they prepared themselves for battle with
their ancient enemy.


"I've got to go Naomi!"  M'lent said as he too hurriedly pushed himself to
his feet.  "They're very near the Warren......"


Naomi waved him away, still trying desperately to reach her sister's mind
without success.


<*Garnet... is Lacey alright?*  Naomi tried her sister's dragon  *I can't
reach her!*>


<*Lacey is fine.  I'm protecting her, but my flame won't last forever.  We
need help.*>


Reassured slightly, and not wanting to distract Garnet from her task, Naomi
cut the link and went to help with the new dragonets.


<NRPG  Arwin/Piper/Aleipha .... Naomi will be at the barracks to help calm
your new friends down a bit!  *g*>


************

<T'grat>


T'grat watched the wagons unloading.  There was a lot of noise and bustle,
but the performers were so well organised it was almost like watching a well
rehearsed dance.  Each person seemed to know exactly where everyone else
was, and no one got in anothers way.


*Now that's the kind of co-operation I'd like to drill into the wing!*
T'grat said, looking upwards into Malachite's amused eyes.  *It would make
things much easier.*


*Hm!  Maybe.... but if you put a Wraith among these they would soon scatter,
whereas we would hold together and fight.*  Malachite gave the equivalent of
a shrug  *We are well drilled when it counts!*


*I know Mal....  *  T'grat continued to watch as the leader gave orders for
something to be done, and then turn away confident that he would be obeyed.
He would be an interesting man to talk with......


<..>


*Wraiths!  Garnet is being attacked by Wraiths.....*   Mal's alarmed bugling
was echoed by other dragons around the Green.


*Where is she Mal?* T'grat asked as he sprinted towards the Wing's assembly
point *How many are there?  Is Lacey with her?*


*She's to the east, out near Lancers Tor. Her rider is running, and Garnet
is flaming.....*  Mal was agitated that the Warren's secondary Queen was
under attack *There are many Wraiths and we need to hurry.....*


*Calm my friend.  We'll get there.....*  


T'grat passed the dining hall just as the doors opened and the other dragon
riders began to pour out.  Frowning slightly at the organised chaos, T'grat
began shouting orders...


"M'lent... you and Soliel ride out first.  Garnet won't be able to last out
until all the rest of us can get there.... so I'll need you to hold the
Wraiths off until the rest of us arrive."  


M'lent nodded quickly, and gave Soliel the signal to fly, and the pair
disappeared


"The rest of you in your assigned places.  Your dragons can take their image
from Malachite....  A'shair you're with me."  he climbed into his own
saddle, pumping his fist in the signal for takeoff   "Let's flame us some
Wraiths!........"  


Submitted by

Naomi & Amethyst
T'grat & Malachite


NRPG

Everybody... Tag!  And have fun.  :) :) :)

-- 
Les,  the voice and soul of

Timi Caplain  CMO    USS Javelin        T'beth  Counsellor     USS Magellan 
Lillith the Mage         Broken Lands      Minty, Kirimith's rider  Dragon Lands
                          Caliban, Lute's human,  Dragon Lands
Naomi, QueenRider to Amethyst, Norwall's WarrenLady,  Dragon Lands

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