Within minutes of leaving the warren, the village was in sight.  Lyonnia
noticed it was kind of ramshackle as well as rather spacious.  She couldn't
see too many people on the ground, and wondered where everyone was.

H'nry gave the order to dismount, and the group of dragonriders landed on a
green not far from the little village.  Curious as what to do, Lyonnia
dismounted and headed over to her partner, noticing others doing the same.
She glanced around, feeling something weird.  It wasn't quite fear, and not
anger, but something close.  She tried to put it off on the unusual silence
that surrounded them, but she couldn't shake the feeling.

She saw Kay nearby and went over to him.  'Hi' she signed, glancing around.

'I don't like the looks of this place' Kay signed, looking just as nervous
as Lyonnia felt.

'Me neither' Lyonnia signed, smiling slightly.  'Thought I was alone on that
thought.'  She took her bow out of her bag, then, hanging it over her
shoulder, signed 'Did you bring a weapon?'

Before she could get an answer, she heard a commotion behind her, and saw a
group of people coming up.  One, walking in front of the group, seemed to be
the leader.  Lyonnia, for some reason, didn't trust him, even before she met
him.  He was overdressed, with his bright, gaudy clothing and overstuffed
appearance. He was wearing a smile, but Lyonnia could tell it was false.  It
showed too much teeth to be true.

"Welcome, my friends," the man said with a dramatic flourish of his arms.
"What is the problem that requires so many riders to gather in our humble
village?"  Lyonnia wasn't sure, but she thought she noticed an emphasis on
the word 'humble'.

Her hand, involuntarilary, strayed up to her bow, gripping it slightly.  She
didn't like the sound of his voice; too oily, too slick, to be sincere.
Glancing around slightly, she noticed others doing the same as her, gripping
swords or knives, while some stepped back a bit towards their dragons.  The
dragons themselves started creeping slowly foward also, heading toward their
prospective riders.

The man's smile seemed to slip slightly, and he backed away slightly.  "This
is a rare occurance," he continued, his gaze flicking often to the dragons.
"We don't get many dragonriders here, especially not so many at one time."

Lyonnia fought a frown, listening to the man.  She could feel the
nervousness eminating from the man like something palpable, but couldn't be
sure if it was the dragons or something else.  Wish I knew how to use this
talent of mine, she thought dryly.

<I don't like this> Dianthus thought somewhat nervously.  <And neither do a
lot of others here.>

*Yes, I noticed.*  She looked around at all the people around her.  They
seemed tense, both villagers and dragonriders alike.  *I certainly noticed.*

<I'm beginning to think this may not have been a good idea after all.>

*Nonsense, love* Lyonnia soothed her dragon.  *We need information on the
raiders, and were pointed here.*  She looked at the man again, and felt a
little shiver run down her spine as she tightened her hold on her bow.  *But
you're right.  I don't like this a bit either.*


NRPG: I'm not sure what's going on; I'm not even sure why we're here! <smile
sheepishly> I hope I haven't infringed on anyone's plans.  :)

Submitted by

Sarah
Lyonnia/Dianthus *Telnor*
Laris *Telnor*