NRPG: Sorry for the major delay in this post...and Jeanette is CC'd on
this post because in this post is where her character is removed from
Whiteriver.
-------------------------------------------------------------------

Time: Morning, Day 9
Scene: Trinale's Office

Trinale sat at her desk wondering if the patrols Derry had sent out had
found Oldreth and Merissa yet.

[Wintermoon and Chrysthal have returned!] Cricket appeared very happy to
have the two other Queens back home safe.

[Wintermoon, can you have your rider come see me?] Trinale asked, knowing
she was going to have to say something to Oldreth about his behavior.

[He is already on his way] Wintermoon said.

Thats a new one...Trinale thought to herself. Coming to see her on his own
instead of being required to.

She heard a knock on the door.

"Come in" she called out.

He stepped in, looking exhausted and as Trinale opened her mouth to speak,
he held up his hand, momentarily stopping her.

"I'm tired, and I want to go to bed. I have one thing I need to deal with
before I do that. One of the wing riders, Dalton I think, came looking for
Merissa and I, and has threatened blackmail against both of us."

Trinale raised a brow and started to say something as Oldreth started to
speak again.

"Merissa and I made love. It was a mutual attraction I think, and this
rider threatened to say I raped her, and hold Merissa's actions over her
head with Th'rin. Handle it how you wish. I rendered him unconscious, and
send him back to Whiteriver nude, tied to his dragon."

Oldreth set a bundle of Dalton's gear on Trinale's desk, "I'm going to bed
now. If you want to yell at me, I'll be awake some time this afternoon."

Trinale looked at the pile of stuff on her desk and then back up at
Oldreth, but he was already disappearing out the door.


"Oldr...!" she started, but it was too late...he was gone.

She sighed.

[Chrysthal...is your rider available?]

[She is too tired right now. I will make sure she comes to see you when
she is rested later.] Chrysthal replied.

[Just tell me one thing, is what Wintermoons rider says true?]

[I am not sure I understand everything that happened with my rider and
Wintermoon's rider, but they did mate, and it was very nice
feelings...until Daltem showed up.](NRPG, this should say "...'s rider,
but I can't find Daltems dragons name)

Trinale sighed. [Thank you, Chrysthal] Trinale knew she was not going to
get any further information from Oldreth or Merissa right now.

(Cricket, can you find out where Daltem is?)

(He is in the medical center, unconscious.)

Trinale sighed. This was going nowhere. (Let me know when he is awake.)

Suddenly, just moments after Oldreth had left, Xanthia entered the room
and just stood there. Trinale waited, as she looked very anxious and upset
and she knew that it was difficult for xanthia to explain things when she
was flustered.

Finally she gently nudged her.

(snip)
"Well, Xanthia? What is it? Trinale asked after Xanthia stood there
quietly for several moments, looking very much the cornered animal.

<Tell her!> Maxima urged.

"monastery... Went there... Old man... very old... unhappy... mean...
kicked me out... I'm sorry..." Xanthia babbled, her voice quivering on
the brink of tears. "I-just-wanted-to-help!" The last, finally a
complete sentence, came out sounding more like a single word.

"Slow down! Now, from the beginning, what happened?"

Xanthia told the entire tale, supplementing telepathically where
necessary, working her worry stone between her fingers the entire time.
(end snip)

Trinale listened, astounded at the tale Xanthia told. This, combined
with what Sayli and Saul had found out made her wonder if she should
try to set up a meeting with the head of this monastary.

"Thank you, Xanthia, I will take care of things." Trinale said, not even
noticing that Xanthia appeared to be upset over other things than what had
happened at the monastary.

As Xanthia left, Trinale pulled out a sheet of paper and began to write.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
*later*

Later that afternoon, Trinale heard the scream of Chrysthals mating
challenge and went outside to watch. She wondered if Chrysthal being about
to mate, had had anything to do with what had passed between Oldreth and
Merissa. It wasn't really any of her business, unless any of the parties
registered a complaint or accusation. She had gone to the med center
earlier to take Daltem his clothing and belongings, but he had refused to
comment on the happenings earlier that morning.

Suddenly her attention was drwn by a dragon she hadn't seen in awhile
diving at Chrysthal and she saw N'lin grab Merissa. She frowned slightly,
hoping that this wouldn't be too much of a reminder for him about what had
happened before he left. Trinale had to reach out to Cricket's mind for a
moment and feel her reassuring presence, not ever wanting to relive the
time when she could not feel the bond with her soulmate.

She turned and returned to her office, where the paperwork never ended.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
*Later*

Trinale scrawled her signature across the bottom of the letter she had
just finished and folded it, sealing it with the warren seal. She went
outside to find a delivery person, not a dragonrider, as she wanted to
tackle this meeting on an even ground. She walked over to the stables.

There she found Tadler, an unjoined stablehand who had been with the
warren for about ten years. He had the affinity, but had never joined.
"Tadler, can I get you to deliver a message for me?"

"Of course, Trinale, but may I ask why you wish me to do it instead of a
dragonrider?"

Trinale explained and Tadler nodded at her reasoning. "I will leave within
the hour, and will hopefully return tomorrow with an answer, if they will
let me stay all night."

Trinale nodded and walked out.

She looked around the green and spotted Levka and Cricket cuddling, with
the cats climbing all over Levka. Cricket tolerated the occasionaly one
that slipped onto her instead, but she definately did not appreciate them
like Levka did.

Trinale's face widened into a smile as she saw Derry there as well.
She quickened her step and walked over to the group.

"He seems happy" commented Trinale, and her grin widened even more as
derry turned and picked her up in his arms.

(snip)
"He is.  He is surrounded by Cricket and cats, and he gets to fly
tomorrow..."

<* What more could I need for happiness? *> Lev interjected, and
Trinale's blue eyes lit up with laughter, a sight that warmed Derry.
The past few days had drained so much from his beloved that even the
slight turn of her lips was a major accomplishment.

"I see," she said, putting on a wise face, an effect somewhat marred
by the fact Derry was holding her about a foot off the ground, but she
didn't object.  Slowly, he let her slide down, taking an opportune
nibble here and there.

"Derry!"

There it was again, laughter, and he grinned at her.  "Just a taste --
it's a long time until we go to bed."
(end snip)

Trinale's body began to respond to her mate's efforts, even though she
knew it would be a long while before he could make good on those efforts.

(snip)
"Oh, you --"  Trinale's eyes suddenly widened and she looked up.
Derry followed her gaze to 'Tinka's shimmering brown-and-gold form as
his sister and her mate landed.

"What's this?"

"'Tinka says that Chance needs to speak with us -- preferably in my
office, though she wouldn't mind some other secure locale."  The
slight frown was back and Derry silently cursed his sister for her
wretched timing.
(end snip)

Trinale just knew from the look on Chance's face, that this was not good
news.

There was another woman with Chance and Kanler, one who seemed very
apprehensive.

Chance turned to her.

(snip)
"You need to tell Trinale everything," Katla said in a detached voice,
strain suddenly showing on her face.  "You need to make a formal
report."

"But... Kel and Pheran..."

"Let us worry about... Kel and Pheran."

Chance wasn't facing her, but Raine could have sworn that she heard
tears in the indomitable Katla Vaddon's voice.

"I..."

"They won't get away with this, Raine."  Katla's voice was harsh with
pain, and Raine stopped pushing, suddenly remembering the girl she
herself had been... before.  That girl would not have easily dealt
with this idea, would not accept it so calmly.  How hard, she
wondered, was it for a Vaddon, a member of a family to whom loyalty
was not merely a word but a way of life?

"They won't get away with what?" asked a gentle, masculine voice and
Raine looked up, barely recognizing Derric Vaddon before flinching
violently away, knocking Katla down in her instinctive urge to get
away.

The two women went down in a pile of limbs and inventive cursing that
was cut off as Chance had the wind knocked out of her.

"Oh, gods, I'm sorry..."

"It's okay."  Raine looked up to see a young woman who exuded an
authority far beyond her years.  Her eyes were gentle and her voice
kind, and Raine trusted her instinctively.  "I am Trinale, the
WarrenLady here."

"*You* are?" Raine's eyes were wide with shock and she heard a muffled
cough as the younger girl smiled.  "I'm sorry --"
(end snip)

Trinale was used to this reaction. "Thats alright. I know I am young, but
when our last warrenlady was killed about a year ago, Cricket became the
ranking Queen, and myself as the warrenlady."

"I didn't mean to offend" Raine said, her face flushed again.

"You didn't" Trinale reassured her. "Now, lets move to my office and hear
what you have to say."

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Trinale listened to the story that Raine stammered through, with Katla
standing there white as a ghost, Kanler standing close, in case he was
needed. Derry's eyes narrowed as Raine told of the evils his brother had
orchestrated.

Trinale knew Raine was telling the truth by the conviction in her voice.
She looked to Derry.

"What do we do?" Trinale asked, knowing that the protection of the warren
was best left in his hands.

"Let me gather W'lam...With his help, as well as Kanlers, we should be
able to figure out a plan." Derry said.

"You're not leaving me out of this." Katla said, her voice hard, trying to
keep from betraying any emotions.

"Look, sis, you can't..."Derry started but Katla interrupted.

"You are NOT keeping me out of this" she said, her voice cold. "He is my
responsibility to deal with as well."

Derry looked at her, and then knowing he wouldn't get anywhere, he nodded.
"But you are not to be alone with Kel at any time. I don't want anything
happening to you."

Again Katla looked about to argue, but Kanler also interjected at that
point. "I agree. And noone is going to allow you to have anything to do
with this, unless you agree as well."

Katla looked around the room, at Trinale, Derry and Kanler, all of them
with firm looks on their faces. "Fine." she said and turned to stalk out
of the room.

"Wait" Trinale said. "I have a bit of news myself." She then explained
about Xanthia's visit and the letter she had sent to the monastary where
the Blindfolded Lady's followers lived.

"You are not going to meet with them!" Derry exploded.

"Yes, I will, if he accepts my offer. You can set up security that
satisfies you that I will be safe, and you can come with me, but if this
dialogue can help save the warren, then I at least have to try." Trinale
said. "It sounds as though this is a fanatic offspring of this group, that
maybe they would like surpressed as much as we would. Its worth a try."

Derry started to argue, but suddenly Raine spoke up. "You know, I haven't
known any of you very long, but it looks as though there are a number of
strong people here...and you're just wasting time arguing here, Derry."

Derry looked at Raine, back at his mate who was smiling. "Shes right,
Derry." Trinale said softly. "Now, please help me, and don't fight me on
this one."

Derry paused, then nodded his head, resigned. Lets wait and see what he
responds. He may not want anything to do with us. Now I need to see if we
can devise a plan to take care of Kel...and see who else we can flush
out."

He kissed his mate softly and headed for the door, with Katla and Kanler
following.

"Raine, if you'll follow me, we'll get you settled into some quarters and
get you some new clothes and supplies." Trinale said, getting up and
heading for the door herself.

Raine followed, hoping that the would be able to figure out a way to stop
Kel and the rest. She already felt like this was her new home, and wanted
to do everything she could to protect it.

---------------------------------------------------------------------

*A little later on*

(Trinale, please come to the med center, my rider wishes to speak with
you) Maxima said, sounding slightly urgent.

Trinale hurried to the med center, wondering if it was something to do
with her mother.

"My mother...?" she asked Xanthia as soon as she saw her.

"Your mothers condition is unchanged." Xanthia said. "Its Ashelle. Come
with me."

Trinale followed her into the room where Ashelle lay, very pale and still.
T'jellan was also there, holding her hand. "T'jellan notified me a few
minutes ago, that Ashelle was having some kind of seizure. I entered the
room and she was seizing, and then has been comatose since."

"Is she going to be alright?" Trinale asked.

"I'm not sure. This is not our specialty. I'd like to transfer her to
Tinobal." Xanthia said.

"Of course. If you feel she should be there." Trinale said.

T'jellan slowly let go of her hand. "I have to go tell Tevel."

Trinale nodded. "But, lets get transport arranged and get her out of
here."

Xanthia nodded and went to make arrangements.

Trinale walked out of the room, shaking her head.....what else was going
to happen?

---------------------------------------------------------------------

NRPG: I know I still have to get through a bunch of stuff dealing with
Shawnee, but this is a good portion of it...Plan to finish the rest
Tuesday night hopefully....

Sorry this has taken so long...







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                      Vanilla is for Ice Cream       

                  Kat Robertson (katmandu@indy.net)
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                            ICQ #6812944