Analise fumed silently as the young Warrenlady arranged an escort for her,
then swept grandly out of the hall with the three men in tow.  Once
outside, she rounded furiously on her escort.

"You," she growled, stabbing a manicured finger into Terau's chest, "You
will go home and leave me alone, do you understand?  I am *incredibly*
insulted and I don't want to see either hide or hair of you until I'm ready
to do so!"

Terau smiled in the half-light and bowed. "Lady, I'd be infinitely happy to
comply with that.  I don't have any real desire to see your face either. So
if you've no further objections to make, I think I'll be on my way.  Sleep
well, Analise, and rest with the knowledge that I'll make damn sure you're
going back to Ralengarde as soon as possible."

She stared at him, stunned, looking for something to say.  "Well, I never--!"

"I know," Terau broke in smoothly.  "That's why you were always trying to
get into my bed.  Fortunately, I had and still do have better sense.  Good
night, lady.  Shall we retire, son?"

J'red was not incredibly pleased at the prospect of being alone with this
woman, and he gazed longingly after the departing backs of the blind bard
and his son.  "Um, the guest apartments are this way, Lady, if you'd care
to see them.  Lord Vaddon and his family are staying there too."
Awkwardly, J'red extended an arm.  "If you want me to, Lady, I can take you
home in the morning.  I've been to Ralengarde a few times."

"We'll see when morning comes," she purred, digging her fingers into the
young riders' arm.  "In the meantime, why don't you show me my rooms,
dearie.  And join me for a little drink, wouldn't you?  You seem like the
type of lad who knows how to treat a lady of good birth . . ."

*****
NRPG: Just a short one to explain why Tanya didn't meet Terau and Telaran
along with Analise and J'red.  More to come later. . .

--mia

***********************************************
198,000 miles per second.
It's not just the law, it's a good idea.

seraph@wam.umd.edu
http://www.wam.umd.edu/~seraph/alt_real.html