<T'grat>


The bright sunlight outside the apartment did nothing to lift his
spirits... it seemed strange that the sun should still be shining when his
mood was so dark and foreboding.  Running his hand through his crisp curls,
he stood still for a second watching the activity around the Green.
Everything looked so reassuring and normal....


Shrugging slightly to himself he started walking towards the spot where
wing practice was usually held.  His hobbling strides carried him past
small groups of riders chatting and laughing in the late sunshine and he
frowned slightly.  They were carefree and happy while he had this cloud
hanging over his and Greta's future... 


*It will come right T'grat.*  Mal soothed, trying to blunt the edge of the
despair welling up inside his rider.  


*I don't think so... not this time anyway....* 


He halted suddenly as he spotted L'gan talking to one of guardsmen that had
come in with Harkon's party.  L'gan gestured angrily as the other man
<Timone?> tried to push something into his hands.  When L'gan would have
walked away Timone reached out and grabbed his shirt front, shoving the
paper under L'gan nose before tucking it into the boy's shirt pocket.  Then
with a mocking look Timone turned and  headed back to the temporary
quarters assigned to the party from Whitbarrow.


A shiver ran down T'grat spine as he observed the look of malicious hatred
that L'gan threw after Timone's retreating figure before he too hurried
away.  T'grat let him put some distance between them before he followed
L'gan... there was no point in tipping his hand letting L'gan know he'd
seen him talking with Timone.  


It seemed the conspiracy was widening it's net, and they had others to be
wary of.....


<..>


L'gan was leaning miserably against Sparks side when T'grat finally caught
up with him.  He straightened quickly and scrubbed at tearstained cheeks
when he saw his Wingleader standing there.


"Bad news?"  T'grat asked, gesturing to the crumpled note that L'gan held
"Is there something I can help with?"


He tried to put sympathy into his tone, knowing he wouldn't get very far
with accusing the lad outright.... and for a moment he thought he might
have succeeded.  L'gan's shoulders slumped in weary defeat and he opened
his mouth to speak... Then his eyes focused on someone behind T'grat and a
look of horror spread across his face, quickly covered by a false grin.


"No everything is fine."  he said loudly, eyes still on the figure behind
T'grat.


T'grat turned as rapidly as his broken leg would allow.... but he caught
only a glimpse of a retreating back, with no way of knowing who it belonged
to.  When he turned to face L'gan again the lad was more composed and the
note had disappeared from his hand.


"Did you want me for something, T'grat?"  L'gan asked   "Because I have
somewhere I'm supposed to be......"  


He trailed off, watching T'grat's face for some sign of suspicion or
accusation.  T'grat merely shrugged and dismissed him.  He wanted to find
out who had been following him without his knowing... and why.  And then it
was time to bring Naomi and Lacey into this, he decided reluctantly.  One
watcher in the Warren was bad enough... but two or more?!


*Mal I need you to watch Greta's place for me.  Don't let Greta or the kids
leave until I get back.*  T'grat hobbled rapidly towards the admin building
  *And be careful who you let get in.  Timone and L'gan are *not* to be
allowed near them....*


*And how do I stop them?*  Mal asked lazily  


*Anyway you have to !  Lay across the doorway and pretend to be sleeping!
Pick them up and dump them in the pool outside the Med centre.!!  Anything!
 Just don't let those two within 10 feet of that door!*


Malachite chuckled delightedly at the last suggestion, and T'grat breathed
a sigh of relief.  Knowing that Mal was on guard eased his mind slightly......


*There's one more thing you might have to do for me.*  T'grat warned as he
pushed at the heavy door of the admin building.


*For you... anything!*  Mal promised extravagantly


*I might need you to contact Naomi.....*  T'grat started


*Oh no... no way.  It's more than my life is worth to interrupt Amethyst's
day out!*  T'grat could almost feel the horror in Mal's mind  *Anything
else but that.  She'll flay me alive....*  A shudder rippled through the
dragon's mind.  *I'd rather give my hide to Lilliana for her drums... she
at least will wait until I'm a corpse.....*  


*Don't over dramatise Mal!*  T'grat sent, his thought unsympathetic
*She'll flay you alive if she misses out on any excitement in -her- Warren.*


*Damned if I do... damned if I don't!*  Mal sighed theatrically  *Nowhere
will be safe from her wrath!*


*So go ask Sirus to teach you his camouflage trick*  T'grat said hardly as
he knocked on Naomi's door  


Lacey's subdued "come in"  sounded then, and T'grat pushed the door open
and entered quickly.  He was surprised to find Meena, and even more
surprised to find Lacey sobbing on Meena's shoulder.  Embarrassed he tried
to back out of the room, but Lacey sent him a watery smile and held out her
hand for him to stay.


"I'm sorry."  Lacey sniffled, rubbing at her eyes with a delicate lace
handkerchief  "I'm just upset about Darrkon and Calindeth being missing.... "


"I'm sorry Lacey.  I was so caught up in my  problems that I completely
forgot that you had your own worries.  Has there been no news?"


Lacey shook her head, and her lower lip trembled as she fought to control
the tears that were so near the surface.   "Helping you to sort your
worries out will take my mind off of mine.  Sit down and tell me what's
wrong."


He was reluctant to burden the young woman any further,  but something had
to be done about the developing situation between Megandra and L'gan  (*and
whoever else she had some kind of hold over*).


"Do you want me to go?"  Meena asked tentatively  


"No.  This involves your father's wife and maybe your father for all I
know."  T'grat said as Meena moved towards the door   "Please I'd welcome
any suggestions you might have too."  


He turned back to Lacey and quickly began explaining what had happened that
afternoon.


"I can't deal with it on my own anymore."  he admitted finally  "I can't
physically watch everyone I -know- is involved in this.... and there could
be any number of others that I -don't- know about."  He looked at Lacey and
Meena with despair in his eyes.  "If anything happens to Greta ......"


Submitted by

T'grat & Malachite


NRPG

I thought I'd leave it up to Lacey whether or not to call Naomi back to the
Warren  :) :)  (Should safeguard Mal's precious hide!  *grins*)

-- 
Mint,  the voice and soul of

Timi Caplain  FO   USS Javelin       Caliban & Lute,          Dragon Lands
Lillith the Mage     Broken Lands     Minty, Kirimith's rider  Dragon Lands   
Naomi, QueenRider to Amethyst, Norwall's WarrenLady,  Dragon Lands

http://www.netkonect.co.uk/l/lovers/mint/norwall.html
http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/5902/
http://www.dragonfire.net/~Mint/