On Wed, 4 Sep 1996, Kat Harris wrote:
> *The day after Qedhar is found, the day Saul goes to Keldarra*

The third day of training was going better than expected.  Chrysthal 
was flying fairly well, Merissa thought, and Merissa was 
really feeling pretty confident in the mental pictures she was getting 
from Chrysthal, when K'rine threw her a curve.

> "Merissa" he called out "Chrysthal is big enough for you to try today if 
> you would like."

She gasped, "all ready?"  

Chrysthal was so excited.  <Oh, yes!  We'll have some fun now!> 
Chrysthal chortled.  <I told you this morning that it'd be today!>

<Chrysthal!>  Merissa mentally reprimanded as Chrysthal swung her head at 
her and gave her a nudge towards her saddle.

"Go on girl!  Mount up!  Just like we practiced."  K'rine encouraged.
"now concentrate on keeping your seat.  Circle once around the waterfall 
and then return."

Merissa carefully mounted and fastened her straps.  Holding on she 
expected a sudden jolt, as it had been when Cali had brought her in from 
Lord Fowler's party for the hatching, however, Chrysthal's mental 
connection allowed her to `know' when Chrysthal was about to take flight 
and Merissa found that she just naturally adapted her seat as the young 
queen rose majestically into the air.  The wind whipped Merissa's long 
black hair, and she felt herself yelling into it with a joy she had never 
known--and Chrysthal joined her by trumpeting, accompanied by a 
wonderful, musical note in her mind.

They were flying.  They dutifully circled the waterfall and returned.  
K'rine then had them practice dives and sharp turns.  They were feeling 
quite worn out, when again he surprised them.

"Now, I want you to picture the top of the waterfall and how it looks 
from there.  Instead of flying to it, I want you to lift off and then 
teleport to that spot. Do you think you can do it?"  K'rine asked.

"Yes!"  Merissa replied excitedly.  They lifted off again--it was getting 
easier to anticipate Chrysthal's movements.  Then they thought together 
of the spot above the waterfall----greyness----and then the sound of 
rushing water.  "WE DID IT!!"  and again the purple queen dragon trumpeted 
with joy!
> -------------------------------------------------------------------
> *The day news of the Council hits*
> After the courier had left, Saul reassured Trinale that she could handle 
> the Council meeting.
> 
> "I know, although I am a little nervous" Trinale said "I need to find out 
> if Chrysthal is flying and teleporting yet to see if Merissa can be my 
> second, or if they aren't, if she is comfortable enough with leaving her 
> behind for a day or two. I would like her to serve as my second."
> 
> "It would be good experience for her." Saul agreed.
> 
> They discussed a few more things and then Saul left.
> -------------------------------------------------------------------
After the training sessions had ended for the day, K'rine reported to 
Trinale the successes (and failures) of the new dragonriders.  He was 
especially pleased to report how well Merissa and Chrysthal had been 
doing that day.  After 2 days of teleporting, Merissa and Chrysthal's 
range had increased, and there was definitely no nervousness on their 
parts.  K'rine had taken them up himself and they had teleported over 
most of the major towns near Whiteriver, with his dragon sending the 
images to Chrysthal.  The young queen was sharp, and where Merissa lacked 
in self-confidence this Chrysthal had an over-abundance.  K'rine was 
pleased as it seemed like a very fruitful joining.

> Merissa stepped into the office a short while later. "You wanted to see 
> me, Trinale?"
> 
> "Yes, Merissa. We have a problem and an interesting invitation." Trinale 
> then explained about the wastes appearing to have expanded and that the 
> Dragonlady had called a Council of the warrens the following day. "I 
> would like you to serve as my second. Will you come?"

"Will I?"  Fear, confusion, self-doubt flooded Merissa.  But, the 
stories!  How could she refuse?  "Of course, I will!"
------------------------------------------------------------------------
> From: Kristen Gant sgant@interaccess.com Wed Sep  4 23:23:58 1996
>
> Thorin picked up the jar and sniffed. He wasn't sure it was what the rider,
> Kalyth, wanted, but at least it smelled better. He headed out of the lab
> and toward the dining hall. He really hated the dining hall and tried to
> spend as little time there as he could. But it was lunch time and that
> meant it was the best time to find dragonriders.
>
> He was almost there, steeling himself for the possibility of running into
> his father, when he heard his name being called. "Hi Thorin!" he turned to
> see the new queenrider approaching. "Are you going to have lunch?"
>
> Thorin shook his head, "No.. I .. I'm looking for Kalyth." He held out the
> jar of oil, "This is for her."

Merissa looked in the jar and saw some oil.  It was reflecting the lights 
and swirled in pretty colors. As it swirled a faint, light aroma rose 
from the jar and Merissa sniffed.

> "Is that oil for the dragons?" asked Merissa. "It seems different. I 
> like it."
>
> "You do?" Thorin asked, almost with a smile.
>
> Merissa nodded, "Why don't you have lunch with me while you look for her."
>
> Thorin froze, "I .. uh, I don't think .."
>
> "Come on, I won't take no for an answer."
Merissa reached out and took his arm, encircling her hand around it and led 
him toward the dining hall.  She wouldn't normally be so talkative, but 
she had had an incredible morning!

"Chrysthal and I flew today all over the countryside.  It was 
wonderful!"  Merissa exclaimed enthusiastically as they walked into the 
dining hall.  "and now we'll be accompanying Trinale to the Council!"

Thorin looked a bit perplexed.  Councils usually were not indicative of 
good news, yet Merissa seemed so cheerful.  He asked, "and why are they 
calling the council, if I may inquire?"

Merissa looked a bit surprised, "You haven't heard?  I thought you were 
taking care of the strangers that were found out in the wastes with 
Wraith injuries?"  

Thorin blushed, "I am assisting in their care, yes."

"But they are the reason for the Council Meeting!  If they were injured 
in a Wraith attack in the wastes..."  Merissa trailed off, suddenly not sure 
exactly how much she should be saying.

But Thorin understood.  He'd been born in the Warrens.  He knew all about 
the boundary of the dragon lands and the Wraiths.  If Wraiths had 
attacked there, then the magic boundary must have expanded somehow.  They 
ate in silence, each caught in their own worries and concerns.

As they were finishing their meal, Kalyth entered, and Thorin quickly 
excused himself to go give her the jar of oil--but as he was rising, 
Merissa looked up with him with her incredible dark eyes and smiled,
"I enjoyed your company, Thorin.  If you get a chance to make another 
batch of that fragrant oil, I'm sure Chrysthal would appreciate it...as 
would I."  Her smile made Thorin's knees feel weak.

He quickly agreed that he could make her the oil, and she suggested that 
perhaps they could meet again in the evening, in the garden....

Not quite sure as to what he was agreeing to, but feeling an intense need 
to flee, Thorin agreed, and then stumbled backwards, rushing to give 
Kalyth her requested oils.

Merissa smiled.  <He's sweet, isn't he?>

<He doesn't have a dragon!>  Chrysthal replied.

<But he understands dragons, and he does make some really great smelling 
oil!>  Merissa chided.

<Hrmph> was all Chrysthal was willing to admit.
_______________________________________________________________________
Submitted by:

-Arlene (aka Merissa of Whiteriver Warren rider of Chrysthal)