*Near Whiteriver*
**Aeryin**

Aeryin strode easily beside their bright wagon, enjoying the balmy 
warmth of the late morning sun.  Serimo whistled the song she had played 
last night from the driver's seat, and she smiled.  It was a good day 
for traveling, it was almost a pity they would reach the warren today.  
Of course, the children would probably tear her hair out if she even 
suggested such a thing.

Rajar and Amiya, and all the rest of the kids in the caravan, had woken 
everybody up before dawn, all of the opinion that they should have been 
at the warren yesterday.  Aeryin would of liked to know who let their 
child see the travel schedule.  While it wasn't really a rule, it 
prevented a lot of whining if the kids didn't know when they were 
arriving, especially if it was someplace of interest.

"Are they far enough ahead?" she asked her husband softly.

"Yes I think so," Serimo said in a normal speaking voice.  "Miya and her 
hat is up with Geran by Frinden's wagon, and Raj is talking with Nierlo 
by Wiquen's."

She nodded in agreement, four and six wagon's ahead should be plenty of 
distance.

Privacy was hard to come by, especially when the kids could pop up at 
any moment, so parenting conversations had to be held when the kids were 
in sight, but not earshot.  There were, thankfully, the Parent's Days, 
when all the grandparents, older kids, single people, and couple's 
without kids would take all the young ones for a day.  But those 
precious hours were usually used for purposes other then talking...

"What do you think the rules should be while were at Whiteriver?" Aeryin 
asked since he had the biggest problem with the place.

"If I had my way, we wouldn't be going to that nest of lecherous 
dragonrider's," he complained with a derisive snort.

She sighed with irritation.  "Serimo..." she said in a scolding tone.  
Aeryin understood his dislike for the warren, she didn't approve of 
their free ways either, but enough was enough all ready, this was all 
she'd been hearing about since the decission had been made.

"Sorry, love..." he said with a sigh, and looked at her, hazel eyes full 
of appology.

She laughed lightly, her dark chuckle causing one of the horses to turn 
in its harness, hoping for a treat.  She had never been able to resist 
those beautiful eyes..

"Forgiven," she said with a smile.  "Just don't mention it again."

"Deal," he said with a grin.

"So what do you want to do?" she repeated after a short pause.

Serimo sighed and tugged at his beard like he always did when he was 
thinking.  Aeryin waited patiently.  Some people had called her beloved 
slow, but she knew better.  He was merely thorough, a trait that many 
people could thank him for since he caught things they sometimes missed.

"Well," he said after a few moments, still tugging on his beard, "I 
suppose we can't be too restrictive can we?"

Aeryin shook her head.  They children would resent them if they kept 
them on a leash... though she doubted that was even possible.  They 
weren't bad kids.. just used to being able to roam at will.

She mused over the problem for a few moments before she recalled 
something that might be a good solution.

"I was talking with Kryala and she said that quite a few families would 
rather not have their kids learn too much of the warren ways either," 
she said quietly.  "It was suggested that maybe we could do the group 
thing, like we do in the big cities."  

Aeryin looked up at him and noticed the slightly blank look on his face.  
Well it had been quite a while since they'd used it, she had forgotten 
about it as well.

"You remember, the kids would go out in groups chaperoened by one or two 
adults.  We'd do it in shifts so everybody could get equal selling 
time... But of course selling isn't all we'd have to do with our time 
alone," she added, her blue eyes sparkling mischevously.

He grinned down at her, the same thought obviously occuring to him.

"Kind of like an extended Parent's Day off but we get to work to.  I 
could get used to that sort of thing..." he said and they both laughed 
softly to themselves.

"Can you live with that sort of arrangement, Ser?" Aeryin asked, serious 
now that the moment had passed.  She really didn't have much of a 
problem with it.  It had more advantages then disadvantages in her 
opinion.

Her husband sighed and gave his blond beard one final tug before 
answering, "I can live with it.  Its better then having them run wild 
like usual, but I'd feel better if they were locked in the wagon and 
didn't come out til we leave."

"I know love."  

Aeryin expertly hopped up to the driver's bench and gave him a long 
kiss.  

"Shall I spred the word then?" she asked, slightly breathless.

"I suppose..." He genlty cupped her breast with his free hand and 
arranged his face into a playful pout, "But I rather you stayed here 
with me..."

"So would I," she said with a chuckle.  She gave his a parting peck on 
the lips and hopped down, letting the wagon pass her.

She turned around and waved to Urya, who was talking with her eldest boy 
Girn while he drove their wagon.  Aeryin waited until Urya was abreast 
of her and started explaining her idea.

<...>

It took perhaps an hour and a half to get tell every wagon the idea and 
it looked like it would probably be what would be done since no one had 
objected to it.  Feeling rather pleased with herself, Aeryin walked back 
to her and Serimo's wagon with the intention of replacing him.

Just about everybody in the caravan prefered walking to driving, and her 
beloved was no exception.  He'd been up there since they'd left and he 
must be starting to cramp up.  She also had the feeling that the kids 
wouldn't think to go replace him, not with the warren so close.  
Perfectly understandable though, she'd been the same way.  
Aeryin caught sight of Rajar's blond head on the back of old Vito's 
wagon, no suprise there, and took a slight detour.  Her youngest was 
sitting on the back lip, with a sketch book braced against his knee, 
while his other leg dangled, his feet bare as usual.  She didn't 
understand her son's aversion to shoes.  He was, otherwise, an extremely 
neat child.  But she didn't complain so long as he didn't lose them, 
remembered to wash his feet, and wore them in town.

"What ya drawin', Raj?" she ask with a smile as she hopped up next to 
him.

"Hi Mommy," he said, pleased to have someone other then the aging 
artist, Vito, to show off his work to.  "I'm drawing Big Foot and 
Apple."  

He offered her his pad, and she could see a vague resembelence to their 
two horses.  The perspective was a bit skewed, and the ears looked a bit 
funny, but he was only six and it was better then she could do.

She gave the boy a beaming smile, one of the same that Serimo claimed 
had stolen his heart, and kissed him on top of his blond head.  "Its 
beautiful, hon."

Looking at his blinding smile was almost like looking into a mirror, 
Aeryin thought, giving him a hug.  "Do you know where Amiya is?"

"With Geran, where else," Rajar replied smartly.  

The sparkle in his blue eyes promised he'd be tormenting his older 
sister about it in the near future.  Aeryin supressed a sigh.

"Thanks, dear.  See you, Vito," she called towards the front, it was his 
wagon after all.

"Nice to hear you, Mrs. Bochaz," he shouted back.

She rolled her eyes at his formal, and usual address, sending Rajar into 
giggles, and jumped down.  It was time to check up on her rambuctious 
daughter.

She found the hat, and then the girl, about two wagons up, talking 
animatedly with Geran.  Aeryin took in the muddy bare feet and legs, 
though where the girl had found mud was beyond her, grass stained bottom 
and back, and a tear along one of the sleeves and sighed loudly.  It ws 
nearly impossible to keep that girl clean for more then an hour.

Amiya whipped around, nearly losing her straw hat, and smiled guiltily 
at her mother.

"Hi Momma," she said, her tone almost challenging Aeryin to do something 
about her appearance.

"Hi to you to, munchkin," Aeryin said lightly, ignoring her daughter's 
tone.  Cleanliness was not a battle she won often with Miya so she 
choose her battles carefully.

"I expect to see you at the wagon a half an hour before we arrive.  You 
are not going into the warren like you are." Aeryin said casually, but 
firmly.

Amiya's mouth opened to protest, but Aeryin fixed her with a stare that 
changed her spirited daughter's mind.

"I do not want to have to come and get you," Aeryin said, iron under her 
soft tones.  Amiya nodded acquiescence.

She removed her daughter's hat and kissed her forehead above the hat 
line, brushing back a strand of sweaty auburn hair.  

"Have fun until then," she said, returning the straw hat to its 
customary position.

"All right Momma," Amiya said sullenly.

Aeryin shook her head ruefully as she walked back to relieve Serimo.  
What a handful those two were, and she loved every minute of it.

<...> 

Aeryin had been driving for about an hour when she hear the whistle, two 
short, loud blasts, from the front of the train.  A big grin bloomed on 
her face as she watched the children and a few of the others rush 
towards the front to catch a really good view of the warren.

It was a tradition for those up at point to blow the whistle when they 
had reached a place where there was a good view of their destination, 
usually along the last short stretch of the journey.

The horses, know the whistle meant grain and rub downs were in the near 
future, quickened there pace and she let them go.  It was early enough 
in the day, almost noon, that a little more work wouldn't hurt them in 
the least.

Personally, if the caravan train hadn't speeded up of its own accord, 
Aeryin would have held them back.  She was almost nervous about this 
trip to Whiteriver warren.  She really wasn't looking forward to 
exposing her children to the loose morals of the warren, yet she wanted 
to see the hatching in the worst way, maybe even more then her kids did.

Perhaps it was because she wanted to see where the corruption of good, 
well brought up people started.  Or maybe just plain suriousity about 
what one was like.  She wasn't really sure of anything except she 
desperately wanted to watch this hatching.

The caravan slowly made its way towards the warren, and, about a half 
mile out, they stopped.  It had been agreed earlier that they would ask 
permission to set up inside first.. it wasn't a town after all.  Also an 
official vote would be taken on whether the children should be confined 
to supervised groups or allowed to roam freely.

All of the aduly made their way up the the first wagon of the train, 
leaving the children to watch the beasts.  Aeryin waited almost 
impatiently for everyone to arrive, her eyes fixed on Hiron to start the 
meeting.

"Everybody here?" the thin man called out 

A general murmur of consent greeted him and he nodded.

"All right then," Hiron continued.  "First things first, who wants to go 
with  Chinol into the warren to speak to the warrenlady?"

Aeryin, without thinking, raised her hand while the words, "I will," 
tumbled out of her mouth.

Serimo looked at her with total astonishment, and she shrugged, though 
she was as confused about her response as he was.

"Aeryin?  All right, I guess Serimo can voice your vote for you," Hiron 
said and then started moving onto the next issue.

Aeryin ignored him as she wove her way through the crowd to where Chinol 
was saddling two of the caravan's riding horses.

The lanky black haired man looked up at her, the suprise that she was 
the one going with him evident in his brown eyes.  He tossed her a brush 
and gestured to the appropriate saddle.  She nodded and got to work.

In under ten minutes they were mounted up, and on their way to the 
warren at an easy trot.

"So who are we going to talk to again?" Aeryin asked as they urged their 
beasts into an easy canter.

"The Warrenlady Trinale," he said simply.

Chinol was always the first to go into a new town or such because he 
some how knew the name of every lord in any domain.  While usually he 
was fairly taciturn and abrupt, when he was among the nobility he was as 
smooth as a good cup of ale.

She supposed he was like that with his wife, quiet Frinda, but he sure 
wasn't with anyone else.  Still, he knew what he was doing and she 
didn't.  She would follow his lead and hope her horse didn't panic when 
it got near the dragons.
**********************
NRPG: Its about noonish when Chinol and Aeryin will reach the warren, so 
tag Kat and anybody else.  Um, the caravan is a trading one, so if you 
want to get anything from them, do it before the hatching, cause they 
are gone once its over with.  N'lin will be dealt with in my next one.

Oh and here's various bios

Name: Aeryin Bochaz (born Aeryin Jarkip)
Age: 25 (birthday November 1st)
Height and weight: 5'11" , 130 lbs
Appearance: long dark brown hair, tanned skin, blue eyes, she's very fit 
and still has a slim waist even after two children 

Personality: Aeryin is practical, dependable, and a problem solver.  She 
keeps a cool head in most situations, unless they involve her children, 
then she'll loose it a bit.  She doesn't have much patience for 
stupidity in those whom she deems grown up, people who are 16.  She does 
have a good heart and she's a very good mother, even if she's rather 
stubborn.  She can be rather close-minded about somethings, but she 
learned that from her husband and she's not as picky as she could be.

History: She was 6th, in an eventual family of 9, born on a small farm 
just outside Mabillion, Keldarra Domain.  A small group of wraiths 
killed most of her family except her and her younger brother Dreynor, 
who had accedentilly gotten locked in a cellar.  A caravan of traders 
was passing by and noticed the destruction of the farm.  They stopped, 
heard a banging from inside the cellar and rescued the now orphaned 
children.  Firun, a furniture maker, and his wife, Ylta,  a tailor, took 
Aeryin and Dreynor in and raised them as there own since they had no 
children.

Aeryin took to life in the caravan and learned several trades including 
sewing, leather working, animal husbandry, basic smithing and tinkering, 
carpentry and wittling, a bit of herbal lore,and how to play the harp as 
well.  She truly excells at making instruments though and it is her 
chosen title and ware to sell.

Dreynor, never took to the traveling life and married a pretty little 
farmer's daughter, Risa, when he was 18, 4 years ago.  They now live 
near Rivenor, Keldarra domain

Aeryin fell in love with Serimo Bochaz, a herbalist and acomplished 
wittler, and married him when she was 17.  Aeryin had her first child, 
Amiya, six months after the wedding.  Their second child, Rajar, was 
born two years later.

Dragon: Arhotarkhe (are-oh-TAR-khay kh=the ch in loch) or Arho (are-oh)
Sex: male
Appearance: Medium sized; grey eyes; he's a rather disturbing mixture of 
black, greys, browns, dark ochres, olive type greens, and dark red 
streaks and swirls. (think VanGough on a really bad day)
Personality: Arho is usually in a good mood, despite how he looks.  He 
likes to cuddle, matchmake, and generally have fun.  He has an obsesion 
with thunderstorms.. the more violent the better.

Name:Serimo Bochaz
Age: 29             Height and weight: 6'3.5", 230 lbs
Appearance: blond, slightly thinning hair, has a bit of a pot belly but 
otherwise in shape, hazel eyes, thick beard but no mustache, fairly 
handsome, but not hugely so
Personality: He is a good man, and a great father, but he is very set in 
his ways.  He hates homo or bisexuals, and doesn't much like 
dragonrider's.  He is very proud of his independence in the caravan and 
hates it when somebody starts to encroach upon it, unless its his wife 
of course.

Name: Amiya Bochaz
Age: 8            Height and weight: 4'8", 85 lbs
Appearance: shoulder length, wavy auburn hair, pale skin that burns 
easily, tall and thin for her age, gray eyes, always wears a straw hat.
Personality: Amiya is high strung, outgoing, a little spoiled and very 
self assured.  She likes to get into trouble and loves caravan life.  
She's a tom boy, but is a pretty girl once you wipe the seemingly 
everpresent dirt off her face.

Name: Rajar Bochaz
Age: 6             Height and weight: 4'4", 75 lbs
Appearance: dishwater blond curly hair, blue eyes, thin, but not as much 
as his sister, tan skin.
Personality: He's kind and rather outgoing, but not as much as his 
sister.  He likes to draw and read, and sometimes even manages to sell a 
sketch of his now and again, he's got a soft spot for animals too.

Name: Chinol
Appearance: 6'3", slim, black shoulder length hair, brown eyes, dark 
complexion
Personality: Usually quiet and abrupt unless around nobility and such, 
then he's very smooth.

______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com