Darrkon sat impatiently while M'lent and Naomi talked in the outer
hall.  His ego didn't allow him to believe they were discussing
him.  He knew both Naomi and M'lent had more pressing matters than
"interviewing" a wild rider.  After a few minutes the Warrenlady
walked back into the room, M'lent was not with her.  She studied
Darrkon for a moment before she spoke...

She spoke one short sentence, "Norwall has much to offer its 
riders...what do you offer in return?"

He decided it would be best to address her by her title, 
"Warrenlady, the simplest way for me to prove my woth to you is
tp tell you of the life I've lived."  He paused for a monent, when
no objection came from Naomi he comtinued, "When I was a young lad
I lived in a village who's main resource was livestock, the name
isn't important.  One day we were attacked by a band of raiders.
They murdered many of our men, raped the women and beat children.
They killed our pets and burned our homes.  When they were done
with their destruction they took what cattlethey could manage and
destroyed the rest.  Everything I had known was destroyed.  When
the dragonriders finally arrived the villagers blamed them for 
the devastation.  Everyone was shouting 'Where were you' and we
needed you.  They explained it took time for them to get word of
the attack.  But from that time on the villagers despised dragon-
folk especially my father.  The attack created a fire inside me
so it made sense I should join with a creature whose existence was
a fiery on as well.  I wanted to become a dragonrider.  But my
father interfered with every attemptof mine to join.  This created
a rift between us and at 12 years of age I left to become a
dragonrider."

Darrkon was nervous telling events of his early childhood, now
things came more easily, "Once again obstacles blocked my path and
I fell in with a group of bandits.  Rather ironic isn't it.  I
became the very thing which promted be to join with a dragon.  I
stayed with this group of men for three years.  At 15 I had made a
reputation for myself and decided to move on.  I lived in the wild
alone for a year, then at 16 I came across a clutch of wild eggs and
impressed Calindeth.  He was just a few months old when we came 
across some members of a wing who had just fought a wraith.  I told
them of my interest in joining and presented Calindeth to them.  They
dismissed me like I was a dog.  Yet again my hopes of joining the
dragonriders were dashed.  For the next six years We lived in the
wastelands.  I taught him flying patterns, he taught me how to survive in the wild.  But we both knew I would need human contact."

Darrkon found his arguement coming together he ws feeling very
confident now, "So I went to the Travelers Rest and luckily came
across M'lent.  And now I'm here talking to you answering your
question.  So besides the facts that I am an excellent fighter with
a healthy dragon, I also believe the events of my life have been
leading me to this point.  You can give me my humanity back.  I can
give you an insight to the minds of both bandits and wild riders.  So
now the decision is yours Warrenlady.  Am I worthy of joining your 
rank?"

He waited for an answer from Naomi, when she spoke it was with the calm
logical voice of a leader, "You have reprsented yourself and your dragon
well Darrkon.  But this is not a decision I can make in haste.  Go back
to your quarters and I'll send someone when I have made my decision.  
Feel free to..."

There was a knock at the door, "Come in."  Naomi called.  A young girl entered the room.

"I'm sorry." she said, "I didn't know any one was here."  She continued
over and sat on the warrenladies desk.  Darrkon was taken aback by the
girls forwardness.  He missed most of what she said next but caught her
name...Lacey.

"Lacey this is Darrkon."  Naomi spoke up to His relief, he had no idea
how to deal with children.

"Hello Lacey."  He didn't know what to say next, so he made something up.
"Warrenlady if you will excuse me Calindeth needs me."

"Of course.  As I was aying feel free to explore the warren."  She walked
over to him and took him by the arm and escorted him to the door.  At her
touch feeling arose in him he had thought long buried, it had been long
since he was with a woman.

"I can find my way out."  Was all he was able to stammer.