From: John Pepper <trissana@aol.com>
Date:  Wed Apr 17, 2002  9:51 pm
Subject:  [DL-T] The Queen(s) and I

Dalmar
Telnor's Green, morning, Day 4)

/snip from Arlene's post/

Mae nodded, "I think the one right next door to mine would be nice, don't
you? It shares a small balcony like walk-way between the two ledgers, so
you wouldn't have to climb up or down any stairs to come over and visit."

"That sound just perfect!" Ann exclaimed.

In short order, Ann was in her new apartment, and all her belongings had
been unstrapped from Mint and brought inside.
/end snip/

Dalmar had helped with the unloading, of course. Since it had been he,
in part, who had convinced Ann to come here with her queen, he felt a
particular responsibility for making sure she was settled properly.

That done, he left the others who were still helping Ann get settled and
walked into the larger, outer area that housed the queen. Mint looked up as
he approached.

*If you don't mind, I'd like to check you over,* he said to her.

Mint craned her neck around to glance back at her glittery,
titanium-colored scales. [Over what?] the dragon asked, perplexed.

*What I mean is, I'd like to examine you,* he told her.

Mint took another look back at herself. [Well, I *am* rather beautiful,
am I not? Very well, you may stand there and look at me as long as you
please.]

Dalmar cleared his throat. *No, no, you don't understand...I'm a
dragonhealer, and I need to examine you.*

[Well, you've been standing there examining me ever since we began
talking, but if there is more you want to see, then feel free to continue,]
Mint told him.

Dalmar had to chuckle to himself. *No, Mint, you see, I am a journeyman
dragonhealer, and...*

[You're a what?]

*A journeyman dragonhealer, and...*

[You are confusing me,] Mint said. [First you said you were a
dragonhealer, then that you were a journeyman, and then that you are a
dragonhealer again. Were you about to tell me you were something else as
well?]

*I can be more than one thing,* he said patiently. *Sort of like the
fact that you're a dragon doesn't prevent you from also being a queen.*

Mint cocked her head. [Okay, I can understand that. Now, just what is
a dragonhealer?]

*Someone who heals dragons,* he said. *And I need to examine you to...*

[Oh, I understand,] she said at last. [But it's all right, I'm not
sick, so you really don't need to do anything. So, what else do you do?
What is a journeyman? Maybe I do need one of those.]

Dalmar's attempt to explain that one only made things worse. [So you're
telling me that you heal dragons, but you haven't really finished learning
how to do it yet?] she asked. [I *am* a queen, after all, surely I should be
attended by someone who knows more about...]

*I DO know!* Dalmar said in exasperation. [I will have you know that I
am the top dragonhealer in the largest warren in all the DragonLands...isn't
that enough?] Well, that was mostly true...Telnor was certainly the largest
warren, and although Someyn might have more practical experience, she only
worked on dragons part-time. He doubted that Someyn would have argued the
point, if it meant reassuring the queen.

[Well, I suppose so,] Mint agreed with an unconcerned shrug. [But
there's still the fact that I'm not sick, so why do you want to examine me?]

*Well....various things, you know,* Dalmar stammered. He doubted that
she'd want to hear anything from him that suggested she was less than
perfect....much less that one of the things he'd want to check her for was to
see what sort of barnyard parasites she might have picked up on the farm.
And since he knew he'd probably get a tail-swat for saying he wanted to see
if she had brought any fleas along with her, he had to be tactful. *Well,
um, you see, um, I...*

[Oh, forget it!] she snapped, her earlier good humor over his attempts to
make conversation vanishing rather abruptly. [Whatever it is, I'm not
interested!]

*Well, but you see, I'm just trying to do my job, one of which is to make
sure that the warren's queens are in tip-top condition...*

[And just what makes you think you are even...even...*worthy* to attend
me??] she demanded, emphasizing the point with a sudden roar. [No one is
WORTHY to be around me!]

Dalmar slowly began to back away from the queen. He suspected that
something more was going on here than Mint's simply getting tired of his
company. And that use of the word "worthy" generally suggested a LOT more...

The queen slowly stood up from her sandy couch, glaring around her as
though expecting to see someone else here. Dalmar wisely decided that the
best place for him was a nice corner well away from the queen...and one that
wasn't between her and the entrance.

"Um, Ann...?" he called out. "I think we have a problem..."

(Tag Jason)

* * * * * * * * * *
(Later in the morning, hatching cavern)

As soon as Mari had left the hatching cavern, Dalmar knelt down to
finish his examination of Regenta's eggs. He leaned down and gently pressed
his ear against each of them in turn.

[What is that for?] Reggie asked. The queen was always suspicious of
anyone doing anything to - or even near - her eggs. Typical queen-reaction,
Dalmar thought absently.

*Listening for sounds of life inside the eggs,* he replied absently.

Reggie snorted. [I could have told you they're alive,] she said. [I
*can* hear their thoughts, you know.]

*Yes, but you can't tell whether they're healthy and developing
properly,* Dalmar said, *because you only know what *they* know, and they
haven't the experience to tell.*

[Dragons know more than you humans think!] Reggie huffed.

*Of course, I didn't mean to imply any different,* Dalmar said, knowing
that his answer didn't really make any sense but figuring that at the same
time it wouldn't leave the queen much room to continue the argument.

Reggie narrowed her eyes as she mulled over what he'd said, and then she
changed the subject. [So, what is *your* opinion of my eggs?] she wanted to
know.

*Well, other than the thinness of the shells, they seem okay,* he told
her. *Won't know for sure until they hatch, of course...and these ones that
have the coverings on them may need some help to get out, either from you or
from their riders.*

[Because these human-made shell coverings do not thin before the
hatching as a real eggshell does?] she asked.

*Yes, that's exactly right,* Dalmar said, realizing that he shouldn't
have been surprised that she would make that connection. If there was one
thing that queens knew all about, it was eggs and their development.

He finished checking over the eggs, then stood up and looked at the
queen. *Are you happy here?* he asked curiously.

The queen blinked in surprise at his question. [I am happy wherever my
rider is,] she replied.

*Yes, but given your choice, would you go somewhere else?* he pressed.

[Why do you ask, are you that anxious to be rid of me?] she countered.

*No, I was just thinking of the eggs and the hatchlings,* he said.

[Because if you think I am going to leave just because you...huh?]
Reggie caught herself in mid-lecture. [What about my hatchlings?]

*Well, hatchlings do better when they have their dams near them,* he
told her. *There have been studies done over the years to show that dragons
who lose their dams while they're still hatchlings tend to be less healthy.
And, um, your eggs....*

[What about my eggs??] she quickly demanded.

*Well, it's just that they may be, you know, starting off at sort of a
disadvantage already,* he said hesitantly. *If you and your rider were to
leave anytime soon, well...I don't know how they'd do."

[I miss Daere,] she said sadly. [But I know I cannot go back there, at
least not to live.]

*Well, I don't know what you or your rider have planned,* he told her.
*I was just pointing out that your hatchlings and their need for you would be
a good reason to stay.*

[I will think about what you said, and pass it along to my rider,]
Reggie said noncommittally. Dalmar shrugged, looked back at the eggs, then
suddenly froze.

[What is it, what is wrong?] Reggie demanded, clearly worried that
something might be the matter with one of her eggs.

*Look!* he said, pointing down at the one nearest him. "Did that
one...move?]

(Tag Diane - false alarm, or real thing?]

Submitted by:

John Pepper

Dalmar the Dragonhealer
Telnor Warren