[DL-W] Visions Of Murder Danced In Her Head
by
Rhiannon <rhiannon@indy.net>
First of all, my apologies for taking so long to answer tags. My
parents are both ill and I've had my hands full. Second, my
apologies for a monster post, but this is just how it all came together
in my mind. Now, on with the show....
Afternoon Day 10
******************
The knife throwing practice had gone well, and Moira had
J'red's promise to approach W'lam about training her in
combat. She had eavesdropped on and watched enough
caravan guards to know that while she may not have
strength in a fight she had good reach and speed. Now to
just learn how to use them.
Moira made her way back to her quarters and changed into
some older clothes, ones that had now been delegated to
"dragon cleaning" clothes. She and Vasra flew down to the
lake and caught up with Truan and Drakken. They
scrubbed hides in companionable silence, occasionally
chatting about the various events going on around the
Warren and comparing notes on thier training. Tomorrow
was a big day, they were going on flights outside of the
Warren and learn to teleport back. Both riders and dragons
were jittery with anticipation.
Moira finished oiling Vasra's leg and leaned back to admire
the glistening dragon. The oil really brought out the depth
of Vasra's color, a rich burnished indigo chased with swirls
of true black. She watched as Vasra suddenly looked
back towards then Warren, then turned her head to look at
Moira.
*Maxima says that her rider has hurt herself, she upset over
Wintermoon's rider.* Vasra relayed.
"Oh no.." Moira felt her panic run through her. What had
happened? Why would Xanthia hurt herself?
*I have asked Areena if her rider thinks we should come. He
says it's not needed, but maybe you can speak to Maxima's
rider later.* Vasra interjected.
"I will, after practice." Moira nodded, and began gathering up
her things. She and Vasra returned to thier quarters where
Moira got cleaned up and prepared for dinner.
With a promise to meet Truan in the dining hall, Moira went
on to the small art supply store. Quietly she tried to explain
to the proprietor that she was newly joined and had no
money, but she would be glad to exchange her sewing skills
in return for some supplies. Chuckling, he simply handed her
the items she'd picked out and told her he knew where to
send the bill. With a bemused smile Moira took the package
and went on to meet Truan.
Dinner was quite and uneventful, she and Truan compared
notes on places they had picked out as good spots to
teleport to around the Warren, describing the details back
and forth and getting the dragons into the practice by
having them exchange the visualizations. Neither figured
on much sleeping that night.
Moira returned to her quarters after bidding Truan and
Drakken good night, worried thoughts chasing back and
forth through her mind. She was concerned for Xanthia,
she had heard at dinner that Oldreth had left the Warren.
Had it been because of Xanthia confronting him with her
feelings? Was this her fault for suggesting Xanthia
confront the queenrider? A question to Vasra revealed that
Xanthia was in her quarters sleeping, or trying to according
to Maxima. Moira's mind went on to the Cult. What were
they up to now? Who was the man she had seen handling
the coal?
With an exasperated sigh she stood and unpacked the
bundle she had brought from the art store, pulling out a
good selection of paper, pencils, brushes and paints. Actual
paints! Moira took a deep breath and worked on
remembering the details of the Warren as seen from
dragonback. The lake, the layout of the cliffs, the trees
below. Suddenly the image became sharper, she realized
Vasra was helping, curious as to what Moira was up to.
Carefully Moira picked up a brush and dipped it into the
paint, and made the first stroke, leading to
another....gradually the image appeared, the Warren as seen
from dragonback. Smiling, she set the painting aside to dry.
*Moira, could you do this to make the image of the man
who poisoned the coal?* Vasra asked.
Moira caught her breath, she hadn't thought of drawing
him! She quickly grabbed a pencil and began sketching. She
could not get good definition of his features, but could
draw a semi likeness. She paused and pondered this idea,
why had she never thought of drawing her visions? With a
disgusted sigh she set the supplies aside and decided to
go to bed. Regardless, from now on when she did a reading
she would have art supplies handy. *Thank you dear* she
told Vasra as she went to hug the dragon good night. *You
are a genius.*
*Yes.* Vasra replied smugly. *a genius who needs sleep.*
Laughing, Moira made her way to bed.
Day 11
******
The day was bright and sunny, energizing the group of
newly joined that much more. Meredywn and Tr'lkin who
had come along to help today. the old rider had probably
forgotten more than he still remembered, but he had a fond
spot in his heart for this batch of recruits.
Meredywn had flown out the long way, letting the dragons
and thier riders burn off some energy, then had them fly
formations and patterns, promising that as soon as the
series had been done without flaw they would get to
practice teleporting. After a stellar performance, she called
them in and explained the process, then lined them up to
give it a go one at a time.
Nervous apprehension kept the riders and dragons quiet.
They watched as the first student and dragon flew into the
sky, the dragon broadcasting the image he had gotten from
his rider. At Meredwyn's cue, the dragon teleported.
Nervous moments passed as the students held thier breath,
then a great shout echoed off the cliffs as the rider and
dragon reappeared in the sky! The first teleport had been
successful. It had been well impressed upon them that it
was risky, you could get lost, or you could teleport inside of
something if you weren't paying attention.
Moira fidgeted with her riding straps and tightened her
jacket as the next two riders went up, then it was her turn.
Giving a smile to Truan and returning his thumbs up, she
and Vasra launched into the air. Composing herself, Moira
built the image in her mind of where they were going to
teleport. She had chosen a small ridge near the back of the
Warren, not far from thier apartments.
*Meredywn says we image in very good detail* Vasra told
her. *Hold on!* Moira grabbed the flying straps and held her
breath as suddenly the sky vanished around them, cold
snatched at her breath in the darkness. Then suddenly they
were in the sky over the Warren, looking down at the ridge
Moira had chosen. *Again!* Vasra told her and another
blink found them flying over the training ground looking
down on the other newly joined.
The afternoon was spent practicing teleporting back and
forth to various spots. Moira even teleported as far as the
Weaver's Guild in Killaglen, since she had a good image of
it. She hadn't stopped, but she secretly hoped Guras had
been glancing out the window and saw the indigo dragon
swoop over the guild and dissappear.
The final lesson of the day was to teleport as a group, while
flying formation. They appeared over the Warren and
swooped down to the feeding grounds like seasoned
riders. Meredwyn and Tr'lkin congratulated them on and
excellent days' work, then released them to find dinner.
Tr'lkin led the way to the dining hall bragging loudly to
every rider he could find about this batch of new riders,
proud as any grandparent. Laughing, the students
scattered to tend to hungry dragons and hungry rider
stomachs.
It was late before Moira got back to her quarters, the days
excitement had tired her greatly. "Vasra, is Maxima about
and how is her rider?" Moira asked as she wearily bundled
up some laundry to be done the next day.
*Maxima's rider is in her quarters, she doesn't want to see
anyone.* Vasra answered.
"Oh dear." Moira sat in her chair for a moment, debating if
she had the energy to go and speak to Xanthia. She found
herself nodding a few moments later. "In the morning. First
thing in the morning." Moira promised herself in a whisper,
then fell into bed for a night of unusually dreamless sleep.
Day 12
******
Moira rose late and hurried to take her laundry and do it.
Thankfully today was a rest day for the trainee's. "Xanthia,
I'm supposed to check with her today." Moira mused as she
scrubbed a particularly stubborn stain. "Where is she
Vasra?"
*In her apartment, but Maxima says she is urging her rider to
go and eat.* Vasra replied from her place in the sun.
"I'll meet her in the lunch room then!" Moira took her freshly
scrubbed laundry up to the apartment and put it away, then
rushed to the lunchroom. There was no sign of Xanthia yet,
but Vasra assured her the girl was coming. Moira grabbed
some fruit and sandwich and laid claim to a table, watching
for the redhead. She was surprised to see Xanthia in the
line with Tarv'renon, but shrugged. They appeared to have
reconciled thier differences. So much had been going on in
the Warren, and Moira knew she had probably missed a
good deal. She pondered Xanthia's limp, wondering if this
was the injury she'd given herself that Th'rin had mentioned
through the dragons.
Waving, she caught thier attention and brought them over
to her table. They sat and ate in companionable silence, but
Moira was worried, and could tell that Tarv was too.
Xanthia looked pale and ill and was picking at her food.
When Moira mentioned it Xanthia defiantly began eating
with great gusto, then suddenly gasped and fled the
lunchroom. Moira and Tarv looked at each other with
puzzlement and concern on their faces, then abandoned
the table and followed. Moira quickly cleared the table of
thier trays and then followed outside to find Tarv tending
to a very ill Xanthia. Moira rushed over as Xanthia finished
throwing up and then collapsed onto the green.
"My name is W'lam. Is everything all right?" An older rider
stood an Moira's elbow. Tarv gestured to an unconcious
Xanthia. "No, she..."
"Let's get her to the med center." Moira interjected. *Vasra,
alert Areena and her rider, please!*
******
Moira watched as Th'rin took the limp form of Xanthia and
carried her back into one of the rooms. She started to pace,
but found the room to confining for her long legs. "Tarv, I'll
be outside. Let me know.." A nod from the other rider sent
her stalking outside to wear a path in the grass, back and
forth. The older rider who had helped them carry Xanthia to
the center followed.
"What's wrong with her?" He asked.
"If I knew that she wouldn't be ill!" Moira snapped, giving him
a frosty glare, then put her hand over her face, mortified. "I'm
sorry, I'm sorry. I'm just very worried. She's my friend." Moira
closed her eyes, struggling with her feelings of guilt, worry
and dispair. She should have checked on Xanthia sooner.
"Checked on her?" Asked W'lam.
Moira's eyes opened, had she spoke out loud? "Yes,
checked on her. I knew she was..emotionally upset about
something, and had heard that she'd injured herself. I was
told it was taken care of, but I guess not. I don't know. I
should have checked with her the other night, but I got
caught up in drawing my visions." Moira wrapped her arms
around herself and stared across the green, wondering why
she was babbling to this man.
"Visions? What sort of visions do you have?" W'lam
asked, staring at her intently.
Moira shook herself from her thoughts and stared at this
man, who was he? Frowning, she nearly turned from him
and returned to the med center when Vasra interjected and
told her he was the dragon rider that hunted the cult of the
lady, and also the man J'red was going to speak to about
teaching her to fight. Moira took a deep breath and began
to explain.
"When I touch things, things that have been involved in an
emotional situation, or are handled alot by someone, like a
favored piece of jewelry, I see things. I handled some of the
coal that was poisoned trying to find out who did it. I don't
have a good image of him, but..I can sort of see him. I was
trying to draw it the other night." She trailed off, realizing
how foolish she sounded.
"Trinale did not tell me she had a psychomtrist in this
Warren! Why on earth did she leave that out!" W'lam looked
positively angry, turning as though to go and find the
Warren Lady and ask her this moment.
"Wait!" Moira grabbed his arm hard, stopping him.
"Psychomowhat? What was that word? Is that what I do, is
that what it means? Do you mean other people can do it?"
******
(TAG Mike!)
*****
Moira sat quietly on a bench outside of the med center,
pondering over what W'lam had told her. So she wasn't the
only one, it was just a rare talent. Footsteps caught her
attention as Tarv walked out of the med center towards her.
*****
(TAG Morgie)
*****
Day 13
Sleep had been restless the night before, images of Xanthia
lying pale and still danced back and forth with images of
blindfolded women and madmen, and images of Tarv and
Th'rin as she had seen them that day of Areena's mating
flight.
Wearily, Moira dragged herself down to the training
grounds and made her way through the days practice
session. She watched as one of the other trainee's, a
young girl, flirted with Truan, leaving him flustered and
blushing. She smiled wearily, not having the energy to tease
her little brother about his potential girlfriend. Instead she
encouraged him to go to lunch with the young lady, then
made her way to the med center.
"She's sleeping." Th'rin told her.
"I would still like to peek in and see her Th'rin. I promise I'll be
very quiet, it'll just be a moment." Moira struggled with the
images from the night before dancing through her mind.
What was wrong with her today?Th'rin stared into her eyes
for a moment, then nodded. "A moment, that's all."
Moira peered into the room and then quietly stepped next to
the bed, looking at the pale figure laying there? She felt
guilty, she should have checked on Xanthia before. "I'm
sorry." She whispered softly, then snuck out of the room.
"Moira, you don't look well yourself." Th'rin stopped her.
"I'm just tired Th'rin. It's been a busy last few days, and...I'm
very worried about Xanthia. I should have checked on her
sooner, I just got caught up in training." Moira answered.
"Xanthia isn't your responsiblity." Th'rin told her pointedly.
Oddly, his tone of voice and attitude angered her.
"No, but she is my friend! I knew she was hurt and upset and
I wasn't there for her. There is just...so much happens....there
isn't enough time..." Moira trailed off, her hands waving in the
air. Th'rin caught one and had her sit down.
"I know. You can only do so much. I'm kicking myself for not
making sure she tended the wound on her leg. " Th'rin told
her.
"Th'rin, what happened? She said she was hurt because
Oldreth and Merissa mated, I told her I thought it had
something to do with Chrysthal's mating flight. I knew she
had strong feelings for Oldreth..I...picked it up once while
handling something of hers. " Moira sighed and ran her
hands over her face. "I encouraged her to go to Oldreth
and tell him how she felt. I didn't know he was going to
leave that morning. I don' t know what happened. I feel
like...this is my fault."
"It's no one's fault. Affairs of the heart are.....tangled at best."
Th'rin said, his expression strange. Moira again saw the
image of Tarv in her mind, and gritted her teeth to keep her
jaw from dropping. "You should get something to eat and
take a rest this afternoon. You look worn out. You did
teleporting training all day yesterday, didn't you? That is
very tiring. Ask Clarissa for some medicine for that
headache too, I can tell you have one, you frown
something terrible."
With a halfhearted chuckle Moira nodded and went to seek
out Clarissa. After taking the medicine she went to the
dining room and packed a small lunch, then called Vasra to
the green.
*What is going on, where are we going?* Vasra asked as
Moira climbed aboard.
"I need some peace and quiet and room to think." Moira
answered. "We're going for a picnic." The two flew quietly to
a small glade near the lake and settled down, Moira eating
her lunch and then she and Vasra watching the clouds go
by and napping in the sun.
Moira roused from her sun induced sleep hearing Vasra's
voice. Evening was coming on, they had slept nearly the
day away. Her headache felt remarkably better.
*We're needed in the Med Center. Trinale wants you to look
at some objects and tell them about them.* Vasra told her.
Moira felt apprehension slide through her, but nodded and
climbed up. Her few hours of quiet were shattered, but still,
she'd had them. She and Vasra quickly flew to the
apartment to get her art supplies and then to the med center.
Clarissa led her to a room where a group of people waited.
Moira felt her stomach sink and grow butterflies the size of
buffalo, something big was happening.
Th'rin, Merissa, Derry, Trinale, Katla, Kanler, W'lam and J'red
were all waiting for her. Moira gripped the bundle of pencils
and papers in her hands and sat down in the chair they
indicated.
"Moira, we have a big favor to ask of you. We have several
items we need you to look out. A couple of them are from
people who died. "W'lam explained quietly. Moira felt her
breath whoosh out of her, this was going to be very hard.
She nodded and indicated for the older rider to go on.
"Most psychomotrists won't read from objects that have
been involved in a death. I understand you have before."
W'lam watched as the girl nodded solemnly. "I know you are
newly joined, but you mentioned Vasra was able to help
you with a reading, can she help you with this?" Again
Moira nodded. "Then what do you need to get this done?"
Moira took a deep breath. "A table, so..if I can, I can draw
what I see. And..if everyone could sit down, it would help. All
of you towering over me is..unnerving at best." Moira tried to
smile, it was a weak effort. "Also, if I get...lost...you need to
keep telling me who I am, so I can remember me. I'm sorry, I
know that doesn't make much sense, but..it's the best I can
say."
Moira put her chair in the corner and sat while a table and
more chairs were fetched. She concentrated on breathing
evenly and trying to stay calm, she had a bad feeling about
this though. All these people here! Vasra murmered
reassurance in the back of her mind, even passing on
reassurance from other dragons that knew what was going
on.
"First we need you to look at these coins." W'lam carefully
placed a few shiny pieces on the table in front of her. Moira
did not bother to look at them, knowing what emblem they
probably bore. She looked around the room and nervously
ran her fingers through the stray tendrils of hair that trailed
about her face, then closed her eyes and dropped the palm
of her hand down onto the coins.
Emotions swam in her mind, a man with a cold and cruel
nature. She shivered, fighting to remember herself and to
keep that which was her seperate from the person the coins
belonged to. "Kel" the name whispered in her mind. An image
of a battered and abused woman, an image of a meeting,
other people. She suddenly took a deep breath, her eyes
flying open but not seeing the room in front of her. A man,
"Kel" was looking at a man, and she could not be certain but
she thought it was the man who had handled the coal. She
tried to get an image of "Kel" as well, her hand blindly
seeking one of the pencils and roughly sketching the image
on paper. She pulled her hand from the coins, shivering,
while she sketched madly, trying to capture the images. She
felt Vasra's presence, helping her to keep herself seperate,
and helping to define the images more clearly. Dropping the
pencil, she looked at the images on the paper before her.
She pointed to first one, then the other. "This is the man that
had the coins, he...
he hurt some woman, and...he's one of the cultists. He hates
the dragonriders...I think he's of noble blood, he.." Moira
paused and glanced up at the room. "Pardon my saying..but
he had an arrogance, a disregard...that you sometimes find
in some nobles. He also wore fine clothes and had fine
things. He often met with this man.." Moira pointed to the
other image. "They plotted things together. This other man, I
think..he may be the one who poisoned the coal. He looks
like him, as far as I could make out." Moira shivered and
rubbed her forhead. "That's all I can get from these, I'm
sorry."
"Don't be, it's very helpful. " W'lam took up the pictures and
passed them to the others, then laid a medallion on the
table. "This was found on a dead man. Are you up to this?"
Moira glanced up at W'lam and nodded, settling herself
back into the chair. "The first reading wasn't too bad, Vasra
is a big help. Just remember to tell me who I am, I can't forget
who I am." Swallowing, Moira dropped her hand on top of
the medallion and closed her eyes.
Immediately, she made a horrible choking sound and
grabbed her chest, her eyes flying open and staring in front
of her, blankly. "My Lord Jason, why? Why..." her voice
faded to a whisper, her eyes widening, the pupils shrinking
to nearly nothing, staring in front of her. Her breathing
faltered, color fading from her face and lips. She couldn't
seem to breath.
"Moira?" Th'rin stood, then leaned over her, putting his
fingers over her pulse. "Moira!" Looking up at W'lam he
slapped Moira's hand away from the medallion and grabbed
her by the shoulders, shaking her. "Remember who you are
Moira, you're not dying! You have to breath Moira! W'lam,
this is idiocy, what's happening to her!"
Moira gasped weakly, blinking, her eyes slowly focusing on
Th'rin, tears sliding down her cheeks. "He had a little boy, he
was worried about what would happen to his little boy..."
she said weakly and began sobbing. Th'rin wrapped his
arms around her, holding her.
"She said Jason." J'red said softly, shock on his face.
"Lord Jason."
"This is over. " Th'rin stated. "I want you all out of here. You
can find out who killed Gywna and her dragon some other
way."
"Th'rin." W'lam began, but was cut off.
"You could kill Moira finding out! She nearly stopped
breathing, her heart nearly stopped!Then what good would
that do? NO!" Th'rin shouted.
Moira sat still in Th'rin's arms, listening. Images ran riot
through her mind, her chest ached where the dagger had
been plunged into it, no..where Lord Jason had stabbed the
man who had died. "He poisoned the coal too. He's the one
who poisoned the coal, Lord Jason did it. " She whispered
weakly. "It was him I saw before with the coal, and who Kel
saw. It was him." Shakily, she pushed herself away from
Th'rin, and reached for a pencil.
Th'rin made to stop her but was stunned as she violent
slapped his hand away. "NO! If I have to see these things, if
this is what this gift brings me, then by all the gods these
men will be caught! They will be stopped! They killed Barry,
they killed Vasra's hatchmates, they've raped and
murdered women and children and they are monsters and if
I can stop them I ...WILL....STOP....THEM!" Moira realized
she was shrieking at the top of her lungs, tears pouring
down her face, her hair undone. Vasra screamed in rage
outside, echoing her rider's distress. Moira began drawing
furiously, swiping at tears that dropped and stained the
paper.
"Moira," J'red said softly, crouching down by the table. "We
know who Jason is, we..know what he looks like. " J'red
sighed heavily. "You don't have to draw him." Moira let the
pencil drop from her fingers and put her hands over her
face, sobbing. Shaking, she fought to get herself under
control. Th'rin handed her a glass of water, which she drank
from , spilling some of the water into her lap with unsteady
hands.
"You've been a big help Moira. We can't ask any more of
you." Trinale stood and began to gesture for the others to
go out.
"No!" Moira yelled and slammed the glass down on the table,
shattering it and sending glass shards and water flying.
Everyone froze, looking at her, stunned. Moira took a deep
breath and glared at them. "There was something else. One
of you said something about Gywna, and Vasra said a
dragon was killed. You have something from that. One of
these monsters killed a dragon rider, I'll find out who he was
so he can be tracked down. Give me what ever you have!"
Moira clenched her jaw and braced herself, trying to stop
the shaking. Anger, terror, confusion ran riot through her,
but she knew that this was what she was going to do. It
was all she could do, and they weren't going to stop her.
"Are you sure?" W'lam asked quietly.
"Yes."
"Sit down." W'lam fetched pulled something from a bag and
sat down next to her, looking at the others. They sat, slowly,
not sure whether to protest further or not.
"Moira this is dangerous." Th'rin said.
"Having these bastards roaming the countryside is also
dangerous. This, it's just me in danger, having them out
there is dangerous to everyone. I have Vasra, she can help
me, and I have you. You're a good healer Th'rin, I know you'll
take care of me and make sure I'm all right. I'm going to do
this. We can either do it now or I'll find out from Vasra
where it happened and I'll to the site and read it there, alone.
Which would you prefer?" Moira turned her head and
stared at Th'rin, her head up and her eyes cold. "They were
in your very apartment's Thr'in, not long ago. They could
have hurt Merissa, or Oberon. They did hurt Xanthia. If it
were you, wouldn't you go ahead and do it? WOULDN'T
YOU????"
Th'rin held her gaze for a moment, then nodded and sat
down. Moira held out her hand for the items W'lam held. He
placed them in her palm and stepped back as her eyes
closed and she took a deep breath and concentrated.
Everyone in the room jumped as her eyes flew open and
she slammed back into the chair, trying to get away from
something only she could see, she struggled to her feet and
stood swaying. "NO!!" Moira suddenly screamed, striking
out in front of her, as though trying to defend herself. "Gods
no...Please No I won't tell anyone!!! Stop! Dalton, stop,
please!!" Moira's shoulders slammed into the corner behind
her as her eyes held wide and she shuddered, tears pouring
down her face, a low moan coming from deep within her.
Suddenly her eyes rolled back in her head and she
collapsed on the floor.
Th'rin pushed the table aside and knelt, checking for a
pulse. Moira's ragged breathing filled the room with sound,
but she made no other response to her name being called
or shaking. Th'rin peeled back her eyelids, finding her eyes
rolled back in her head as far as they would go.
*Vasra, what is happening? Help her!* Trinale cried out to
the dragon that was screaming outside.
*I can't, she won't hear me!* Vasra cried out in dispair. * The
man who killed the woman, the things he did to her, my rider
felt them, knew them. She has fled into her mind to get away
from them. She had never mated, she didn't know!*
Trinale repeated what Vasra had said, eliciting an explosive
curse from Th'rin. "She's catatonic! She's in so deep a state
of shock I don't know that she'll ever come out of it." Th'rin
motioned for J'red to help and carefully picked Moira up
and placed her on a bed in the corner of the room. "Have
Vasra keep talking to her. People need to come in and talk
to her. She's like Caitlin, I don't know what else to do. Maybe
N'lin can do something, I don't know. "
"Dalton." Trinale said, her face grim. They all stared at the
silent pale figure laying on the bed, as Vasra called out
sadly in the dark.
*************
So, there you go....Feel free to embellish and build off of it, I
figure Moira to be in a coma for at least a couple of days,
maybe longer. She's going to be a basket case for a while
after that.
Rhiannon
Writer of Moira and Vasra
Return to Posts for Jun 1999