>	"With due respect for your offer," Christalla replied, smiling, "I
>think it may be unnecessary.  By rights, the position should go to the one
>person who had the most hand in the Warren's conception.  I submit the
>Queenrider who proposed the idea, secured its vote, and indeed wrote the
>entire proposal-- with ammendments. 
>
>	"Cynthia of Telnor, do you reject this nomination?"
>
>	Telnor's second suddenly flushed, standing up a bit too quickly.  
>"No, DragonLady," she rasped.
>
>	"Does anyone in this Council room vote 'nay' to my nomination?"
>
>	The Council room was silent.
>
>	Christalla grinned.  "Then I think we should all go home.  I 
>would appreciate seeing Warrenlady Cynthia of Cleft Warren sometime in 
>the near future to solidify plans for the formation of her Warren.
>
>	"You are all dimissed."


There were sighs of relief from various parts of the table, and muted
conversation broke out between some of the WarrenLadies as they stood up to
leave the room. It was good to finally get the meeting finished with...


"Well that's done with."  Lacey sighed thankfully  "I was beginning to
think that we'd be here all night.  I don't see how Falagand's Lady had the
nerve to say the things she did, especially when we'd already talked most
of it out before."


"We all have a right to put our point across sis.  But there's more going
on there than we know about."  Naomi said thoughtfully  


"She was really malicious to Waylene."  Lacey said as they followed the
others from the room  "I thought at one point Waylene might hit her!"


"Waylene has more self control than B'nair."  Naomi chuckled quietly  "Just
be grateful we haven't had to have dealings with Falagand's Lady before
this!  I wonder how Cynthia's feeling at the moment... knowing she'll have
B'nair breathing down her neck."


Lacey shuddered slightly  "Rather her than me!  I don't think I'd be quite
so diplomatic in my dealings with her if I was WarrenLady in Cynthia's place."


"Then she'd have achieved her objective wouldn't she?"  Naomi caught
Lacey's puzzled look, and continued  "Her behaviour is designed to make
people feel angry, make them act without thinking first ...  A bit like
when one of the Warren children stirs up an ant heap, and then sits and
watches the reaction of the ants.  Except in this case we'd be the ants and
the delightful B'nair would be watching us comically scurry around trying
to repair the damage she'd done....."


"Well I'm glad it's not me in Cynthia's place.  I really hope she makes a
success of it."  Lacey said as they emerged from the building into the
twilight of a dying day  "She'll need luck as well as hard work I think."


"I think she'll manage perfectly well.... despite what B'nair may try to
say to the contrary.  She had the plans for the new Warren all thought out
ahead of time.  I don't think we need worry about her too much.  Now come
on... let's get home!  I feel as if I've been away forever."


She linked arms with Lacey as they walked to where the Queen's were still
gathered together.  


<..>


A tall figure stood waiting slightly apart from the dragons waiting
patiently to transport their riders home.  As the two Norwall riders
approached, he nodded and picked up the bag that lay at his feet, slinging
it across the neck of his mount before climbing into his saddle and waiting
for a signal from Naomi.


"Who's that?"  Lacey whispered  "He seemed to be waiting for us ...."


"He was! "  Naomi cast a quick look at the silently waiting H'tor  "He's
called H'tor and he's transferring to Norwall.  He comes highly recommended
as a combat rider."


"But?  I hear a 'but' in your voice Naomi.  What did he do that he has to
transfer?"  Lacey demanded quietly  


"He didn't *do* anything.... He keeps himself to himself from what M'lent
told me. He has a reputation for being jinxed is all."


"A jinx?"  Lacey repeated  "Why?"


"It's just talk Lacey....  Some of the riders here think he attracts
trouble, but M'lent said he has an instinct knowing when to be in the right
place. I think he'll fit in well at Norwall.  Come on sis.... Home!  We can
talk about this another time."  


Naomi climbed into her saddle, and patted Amethyst's neck.


*Time to go.*  she said tiredly to her dragon  *I'll be glad to get back to
Norwall.  Give Haroc an image to 'port to, love, and let's get home.*


*I have passed the image on.*  Amethyst said as she launched into the air,
rapidly followed by Garnet and Haroc  *I have had an interesting day.......*



The darkness and silence that always accompanied teleportation lasted a
fraction of a second, and then they were spiralling down to Norwall's Green
with the two Queens loudly announcing their return.....


*********
<T'grat>


Scene:  Norwall Warren


The trumpeting of Amethyst and Garnet brought him to his senses, and he
pushed Greta away gently.  Her face was flushed, lips moist and trembling
from the passionate kiss they'd shared.


"I have to go greet Naomi and Lacey."  he told her gently, reluctant to let
her go  "They'll expect a report on what's been going on while they've been
away, and I'll need to tell them that you and the children are here."


"I'll get the children fed and into bed while you're gone."  Greta sighed
"You are coming back aren't you?"


"Of course I'm coming back!"  he tilted her chin and placed a gentle kiss
on the tip of her nose  "Just try to stop me! I promise I won't be very
long....."


He disentangled himself from her arms, and blew her a quick kiss as he
hurried from the ground level apartment they'd chosen for her and the
children.  He would have liked for them to stay with him, but they both
knew that the less gossip there was about the two the better.  Harkon's
nature was unforgiving, and Greta had had more than enough trouble with the
man already.....


<..>


He was waiting to help Lacey from her saddle when the Queens landed bare
minutes later.  As he went to speak to Naomi about the wedding in
Whitbarrow, he glanced curiously at the companion they'd brought back with
them.  


"Who's the newcomer?"  he asked "I'm pretty sure I know him from
somewhere...."


"H'tor. And his dragon's Haroc.  He's from Keldarra, and comes highly
recommended."  Naomi told him  "Anything else will have to wait until
morning.  If you could just get him settled into temporary lodgings for
tonight he can pick his own skyside apartment tomorrow when the light's
better."


"Sure Naomi, I'll make sure he has a place to sleep, and I'll show him
where the dining hall is etc. There's not that much to tell you about.  I
had the youngsters up for their first flight today, although M'lent tells
me that Ebony told him some of them couldn't wait...."


"I know!"  Naomi's eyes sparkled with mischief  "Amethyst kept a close
watch on them and they were fine."


"I'll have to keep a closer eye on the next bunch it seems!"  he sighed in
exasperation  "Why didn't you tell me about this? I would have put a stop
to it...."


"That's why I didn't tell you!"  she returned  "They were safe enough under
Amethyst's eye... and it was a bit of excitement for the riders thinking
they'd outwitted us all.  Now is there anything else I should know about
before I go get something to eat?"


"Just that Greta and the children are here for a while."


"Is everything alright there T'grat?"  she asked quickly, knowing that
there must have been some reason for him to risk Harkon's wrath to bring
them here.


"It is now"  he said quietly, but she caught the undertone of fear in his
voice  "We were afraid that Lars might come to some harm from Harkon's
young bride.  She made some very veiled threats....."


"But why would she threaten Lars?  Greta I might understand.... but Lars?
He's only a little boy."


"She's pregnant."  T'grat said,  "and Greta thinks that she might try to
persuade Harkon to change his heir."


"Hm!  In that case Lars might well be in danger from her.  I suppose this
only brings the issue od what to do about Lars nearer..."  she stopped,
suddenly remembering that she hadn't yet told T'grat about the dilemma
Lacey had raised with her assertion that the boy and his mother had the
affinity


"I already know about it"  he said when he realised why she was looking so
stricken  "Meena told me today about them.  Though I don't see why you
couldn't have trusted me with it.  I'm wasn't likely to go running off to
Whitbarrow demanding that Harkon handed them back....."


"I know"  she said contritely, placing her hand gently on his  "We just
thought it would wait a while.... at least until the next hatching anyway.
Looks like we were wrong..."


"I suppose there wasn't any harm done." he said  "Just so long as you all
realise that I'm not letting her go back to that house."


"Something else to discuss tomorrow."  Naomi said firmly  "Right now I need
to eat..."


"Me too!"  Lacey said, as she came to stand beside them  "I was so nervous
at Keldarra that I didn't eat much of that delicious lunch they provided.
I hope Jeryn's been baking today... I'd love some of those wonderful
pastries he makes."


"OK... business is over for now.  Lacey and I will be in the dining hall if
we're needed."  Naomi said, staring across the Green towards the building
in question


"I'll see to H'tor."  T'grat called after her.  


Then he turned back to where the man was still waiting, and offered a greeting


"I'm T'grat, Wingleader of Alpha wing.  If you'll come with me we'll get
you settled for the night."


With a nod, H'tor picked up his bag and silently followed T'grat's
retreating back....


*****
<Naomi>


Scene: Dining Hall



Lacey and Naomi piled their plates with food from the table....


"Oh Jeryn must have known!"  Lacey exclaimed as she pointed to a heaped
platter of Jeryn's pastries  "Sometimes I'm sure he's a telepath!"


"And speaking of telepaths...." Naomi said smoothly  "I've been meaning to
speak to you about Darrkon."  


The two took their plates to a nearby table, and sat quietly eating for a
while.  


"Well?"  Naomi pressed her sister  "I know he heard your mental scream the
other night.  Just how much can he hear and why didn't he let anyone know?
That kind of talent shouldn't be hidden Lacey, surely you know that!?"


"I don't know much about it."  Lacey said defensively  "He hasn't told me
much although I *did* suspect something the first time I met him.  Why
don't you ask him yourself?"  She nodded to the doorway, and waved at the
tall figure standing there  "I'm sure he can answer you...."


<NRPG  Tag Ismail.   Anyone else wants to interact with Naomi she'll be in
the dining hall for a while!>


********

Scene:  Morning.  Day after the council meeting.



The knock that announced Lilliana's presence was so quiet that Naomi almost
missed it so deeply was she engrossed in the paperwork that was the bane of
her life.  Sighing with relief at the interruption, she called 'come in'
and rose to greet Lilliana as she entered the room.  Offering her a chair
and some tea, she asked;


"So what can I do for you, Lilliana?  It must be fairly important to bring
you away from the Med centre."


"Ack!  I do come out of that place now and then!"  Lilliana told her
"You're as bad as Janna sometimes. She keeps on at me to take a short
vacation...."


"Is that what you wanted to see me about?"  Naomi asked  "You know you can
take time away whenever you want. I'm sure Janna is perfectly capable of
covering for you...."


Lilliana shook her head impatiently.  "If you'll let me get a word in
edgewise I'll tell you why I'm here."  her voice was testy  "D'gerrit's gone!"


"Oh!  When did he die?"  Although he hadn't been her most favourite person,
Naomi still felt some sorrow for a life cut short.


"I said 'gone' not dead."  Lilliana said, exasperated  "You'd have heard
the dragon's wailing if he'd died!  Nash went in to check on him a while
ago and he wasn't there. Window was open wide, so we're assuming he climbed
out during the night....."


Naomi stood quickly, and started for the door.  "He can't have gone far.
I'll get a search party out looking for him."


*Amethyst?  Can you get a sense of where Orobos and D'gerrit are?* she
asked as she strode along  


*I'm sorry Naomi.  Orobos is too far for me to even sense his direction.*
Amethyst told her  


*Check with the others and see if any of them saw Orobos and D'gerrit
leave.*  Naomi said  *And tell everyone I want to meet them on the Green in
15 minutes.  We'll have to organise a search for him....*


"He's still very weak Naomi."  Lilliana told her  "So we need to find him
quickly.  And I'm not sure what all these months of coma will have done to
his mental state.  He could be totally confused, or have lost any memory of
who or where he is....."


"Don't worry Lilliana.  We'll find him.  Um.... you did search the Med
centre didn't you?"


"Of course!"  Lilliana said crossly 


"I'm sorry!"  Naomi soothed, pausing at the door of the Med centre to allow
C'rrin's exit "Look you get back to your patients and leave this to me.  As
soon as we find him we'll bring him straight back to your care."


"Er.... Naomi I was going to see my father today."  C'rrin interrupted
"That's if it's alright with you."


Naomi nodded distractedly, not really hearing the boy's words. "I'll talk
to you later."  she told him vaguely  "I've an emergency to deal with at
the moment.  Talk with M'lent...."  


She waved him away, already thinking of places that the search party could
look... There was the camp that Shard had used after his father had died,
and maybe even Rixx's camp.  She only had a vague idea of where that was
though....


Seeing T'grat making his way towards her she quickened her pace, and they
walked to the Green together while she explained what was wrong.....


Submitted by

Naomi & Amethyst
T'grat & Malachite


NRPG  Just finishing up Norwall's viewpoint of the Council meeting and
getting home.


OK everyone... let's get this Warren posting again.  We won't find
D'gerrit.... but let's have some fun looking!!!!

 
-- 
Mint,  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

 http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/5902
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