>> <Lyonnia, H'nry said it's almost time to go.  Can we go now?>  Dianthus'
>> voice was tinged with anticipation, making Lyonnia smile.  *Yes, bluebird,
>> we can go.*
>>
>> <Didn't I ask you not to call me that?> Dianthus asked, her voice somewhat
>> irritated.
>>
>> Dumping her leftover food in the garbage, Lyonnia answered *I think it's a
>> beautiful nickname.*
>>
>> Lyonnia heard a mental snort, but also felt the satisfaction trickling
>> through the link. Smiling, she put her plate in with the others and headed
>> out to see her dragon.
>
>Lyonnia mounted Dianthus out on the green and looked around, <Where are they,
>love?>
>
><Up there someplace, Dalanth said he'll guide me in.>
>
>Lyonnia shrugged, then held on as Dianthus rocked back on her hind legs and
>leapt into the air.  They crested the peak of the Warren before they saw H'nry
>and Dalanth.  Dianthus executed a graceful turn before landing on the heights
>next to Dalanth.

Lyonnia looked around in wonder.  She had never seen anything like this!
The view was spectacular!  She could see all of Telnor, from the river to
all the warren from the vantage point.  Only on dragonback had she ever had
this view.

"Ever been up here before?" H'nry asked.

"No, it's beautiful," she breathed, still staring in wonder.

"On a day like this you can see for miles.  It's also a good place to come on
clear nights to look at the stars.  You can see hundreds from up here."

"You'll have to bring me sometime."

"I will indeed.  Come on."

Dalanth lept off the heights a couple of heart beats before Dianthus.  He dove
for a few seconds, gaining speed, and then leveled himself with a couple of
powerful wing strokes.  A few minutes later they had left the warren far
behind.

<Lyonnia, Dalanth has asked me whether or not I need a picture to teleport
to Telnor's main road intersection.  Do you need it?>

Lyonnia did, having never seen the intersection of the two roads from the air
before.  A moment later, the pair appeared above the intersection of the
roads.  The caravan was stopped below them, attempting to organize itself.
 The caravan from the northern cities of Rasic and Corry having just met the
caravans from the southern towns of Qinar and Glasby.  The men with the
caravan were so occupied with sorting out who would proceed down the road
first, that few saw the pair of dragons circling overhead.

Dalanth spotted the wagon carrying Evart first and Dalanth led Dianthus to a
clearing just off the road near the wagon.  Evart looked surprised when the
dragons settled on the ground about 100 feet from him.

H'nry dismounted and strode toward Evart.  Lyonnia also dismounted and began
to follow a few feet behind.  H'nry looked over his shoulder at her.  She just
smiled at him and continued walking.

"Good afternoon Evart," H'nry said, "since you're not doing anything right now
I was wondering if I might ask you some questions."  H'nry stopped a few feet
from the wagon.

"Well, I'm a little busy right now since I have to get my sheep sorted out,"
he turned from H'nry and began shouting orders, "Titus,  get those animals out
of the grass and back onto the road.  We'll..."

Evart was cut off by H'nry stepping forward, grabbing his shirt and pulling
him from the wagon's seat.  Evart landed on his hands and knees on the hard
packed dirt road.  H'nry pulled Evart to his feet, his years of training as a
smith showing in his upper body strength.

"I think the boy can figure it out on his own Evart.  I'd like for you to tell
me what happened the other day."

Evart looked from H'nry to Lyonnia.  Lyonnia, however, had no sympathy for
the man, who she was sure was cheating the warren of needed supplies.  She
didn't like him anyway; he whined too much.

Seeing no help there, Evart turned back to H'nry.  "We were bringing a herd
of sheep to tithe and a group of men came pounding down the road in the
other direction on horses.  The sheep scattered, and many of them ran into
the woods.  One of the horsemen stopped, and offered to help us recover our
sheep.  That's when you showed up, and he turned out to be the Shadow."  A
bead of sweat was running down Evart's face.

"I don't believe you," H'nry stated flatly, "I think the Shadow knew where
you'd be ahead of time."

"How?"

"Yes, how.  How many horsemen rode through your flock when they were scattered?"

Evart thought fast, "About 10."

"I counted at least 20 bowmen in the woods when the Shadow and I were
chatting.  Since I didn't hear the beat of hooves before they appeared, they
were moving on foot through the woods.  They had to have known where you'd be
and the only way they'd have know that is if they were told in advance.  By
you," H'nry accused.

"But we have no proof it was him," Lyonnia put in, not wanting H'nry to get
in trouble.

H'nry smiled inwardly.  This girl is good, he thought.

Evart saw a chance to move suspicion away from himself.  "It wasn't me, but it
might have been one of the others.  Maybe Titus.  He's been mad at his father
lately over having to work so hard."

Ah, thought H'nry, now the rats would fall upon one another.  The truth was
close, he just needed time to reach it.

Lyonnia beat him to it though.  Stepping up towards H'nry and the herder,
she questioned innocently, "Why, whatever did Titus say?"

"He seems to know something," Evart blurted out.  "Why, I caught him talking
with his cousin, and I heard him say that he knew that he was cheating his
father.  He's an idiot though, to confide his plans to someone like---"  He
stopped suddenly, realizing he was babbling and digging himself a deeper hole.

Lyonnia saw H'nry's grip on Evart's shirt tighten and, stepping closer to
the herdsman, changed her voice slightly, giving it a menacing quality.  "Do
you know what the punishment for cheating the warren is?"  She saw Evart
lick his lips nervously, noticing that H'nry noticed also.  She smiled
menacingly.  "Do you think that dragon's fire only burns wraith?"  She was
bluffing however; she had no clue what the warren did to cheaters.

She got the result she wanted however.  She saw a very visible shiver shoot
through Evart, and knew he was trying _very_ hard to keep the fear from his
face.  Lyonnia, noticing the slight frown on H'nry's face, changed her
tactic slightly.  She smiled, totally innocent, and asked sweetly, "Now,
will you tell us exactly what happened with the herd and the
little.....problems.....we've been having with you and your caravan?"

NRPG:  Tag Kris.  I don't know how Evart will react, so I'm leaving that to
you.  
Sorry I borrowed heavily off Lynette's post; hope I didn't frustrate anyone.

*****BIG BEAR HUGS are the _very_ best*****

Respectfully submitted

Sarah
Lyonnia/Dianthus *Telnor*
Laris *Telnor*