Date:  Thu Apr 18, 2002  10:52
pm


(Morning, Jasra Warren in the Lost DragonLands)  



   Warrenlady Tara of Jasra looked once again at the letter she'd written, 

then wrote picked up an envelope.  In her neat, flowing script she addressed 

it to "Warrenlady Merissa, Whiteriver Warren." 



    Tara sighed, looking up from where she sat behind her desk to the two 

people seated before her.  "You're sure this is a good idea?" she asked.



     "Well, 'sure' is a pretty strong word," said Saul, the warren's head 

searcher.  "Let's just say that I think it's your only option."



     "You agree?" Tara asked, looking at the woman who sat in the chair next 

to Saul.



     "Yes," said Shawnee, Jasra's Alpha Wingleader.  "Look, Tara, Nerika 

doesn't listen to you, or to me, or to Saul, or to Jerram because she doesn't 

consider us...well, *qualified* to judge what's best for her."



     "Because we're just plain 'ol dragonriders," Saul said with a wry smile. 

 



    "As is Nerika," Tara reminded him.



     "But she doesn't realize that," said Shawnee.  "Not yet, at any rate."



     Tara shook her head.  "I hate to send a rider off knowing I couldn't do 

what was best for her."



     "You *are* doing what's best for her," Saul said firmly.  "Merissa is 

both a queenrider AND a bard.  Nerika will have to respect what she 

says...even if she doesn't like it."



    Tara sighed, and looked down at the letter she held in her hands.  Before 

sealing it in the envelope, she read it over one more time. 



    "Dear Warrenlady Merissa," it began, "I hope this letter finds both you 

and your warren well. I have, of course, never visited Whiteriver but have 

heard much about it through the riders whom you and your predecessor Trinale 

were so gracious as to allow to transfer here to Jasra.  Saul and Shawnee and 

their family both send their regards, and young Ojean specifically asked that 

I convey his greetings.  He and his dragon are doing well, and while he is 

too young to fly actual patrols, I do not rule this out for his future should 

he so desire.



    "I know that your warren is short of riders right now, and so I am happy 

that you have agreed to accept Nerika at your warren.  Though she certainly 

cannot replace all of the riders who left your warren to come here, I think 

she does have potential and hope that she will become an asset to your 

warren." 



   Tara frowned as she re-read the next segment of what she'd written. 



    "However, I must warn you that Nerika is, at present, not what I would 

term a model rider.  Her problem is simply this - she has a burning desire to 

be a Bard, and will accept no one's word - not mine, nor that of the Master 

Bard - that this is *not* her calling.  I am certain that her decision to 

follow this path stems from the fact that her father is a Bard of some note 

in our principal city of Cabral, and he himself has stated that he had 

encouraged her in this direction from an early age.  My own parents, who both 

came from long lines of weavers, did the same despite the fact that I never 

possessed any real aptitude or interest.  Though my queen Varaenna can be a 

sore trial to my patience at times, I must always be grateful to her for 

rescuing me from that particular career. 



    "Nerika, alas, does have considerable musical talent.  She sings very 

well, and can play a number of instruments.  She can even, after a fashion, 

compose music of her own. The Master Bard says that she has gone as far as 

hard work and sheer willpower can take her in this profession, but that she 

lacks that instinctive "feel" for music and ballads that separates a minstrel 

or tavern performer from a true Bard.



        "Warrenlady Merissa, you and others like you have demonstrated that 

it is not impossible for a person to possess a second special gift - in this 

case the bardic gift - alongside the dragon affinity.  It is my understanding 

that to possess two such gifts is vanishingly rare, though I yield to your 

expertise in such things as being much greater than mine. Perhaps, with your 

own gifts, you will be able to see the spark of talent in this girl that is 

hidden from one such as myself - much as Saul can see the dragon affinity in 

a person.  But, I must tell you that I do not believe Nerika to be one of 

those double-gifted people, and the Master Bard at Cabral concurs in this. 



    "Ironically, Nerika *is* extremely talented - but not as a Bard. Both 

Wingleader Shawnee and Swordmaster Jerram have noted that she has a 

remarkable ability for spatial perception - the ability to picture and track, 

in her mind, the positions of individual dragons, patrol pairs, and whole 

squadrons in complex, shifting battle situations.  Though these have been 

simulated battles only, the talent is clearly there.  She also tosses out 

answers to hypothetical situations posed by her trainers that show remarkable 

insight to matters of strategy and tactics.  She is also quite competent as a 

rider, and takes quite easily - one might almost say 'offhandedly' - to the 

basic skills demanded of a rider.  I do not use that particular wording idly, 

because she *does* do her duties in an offhanded manner, almost as if she 

were bored by them.  It is the opinion of Wingleader Shawnee and Swordmaster 

Jerram that this is exactly the problem.



    "And so, I believe you can see the tragic circumstances here.  Nerika's 

unswerving desire to follow a false calling at which she can never truly 

excel blinds her to the considerable possibilities that are open to her as a 

dragonrider.  I believe that, were she to apply herself, she could someday be 

a first-class rider, perhaps even a wingleader. But she will not listen to 

anyone - even her father or the Master Bard.  She believes her joining to 

Lyraene is some sort of mistake or misunderstanding, and seems to unable to 

grasp the lifelong nature of the commitment.   



    "As to the reason for her desire to transfer - she has concocted the 

fanciful idea that if she is to be "saddled" with a dragon - no pun intended 

- then the dragon would be most useful as a means of transportation, taking 

her from town to town to practice her calling as a Bard.  When she presented 

this idea to me, I of course had to put my foot down and tell her no.  Were 

such things to be allowed, the next thing you know we would have riders 

taking on professions as traveling winesellers, merchants, even flying scouts 

for rival lords' armies.  No Warrenlady could allow such a precedent, 

obviously. Dragonriders must be dragonriders, under the jurisdiction of the 

warrens, not free agents who can choose to adopt their own independent 

careers and leave, dragons and all. 



    "Nerika did not see it this way, of course, and feels that I am being 

both arbitrary and capricious.  She feels that another warren would better 

appreciate her talents, and it is my hope when she finds out that this is not 

so, she will begin to see things as they truly are.  Watch her, however - she 

is willful and not inclined to follow restrictions she does not understand, 

and it is only because I had my queen instruct her dragon not to take her out 

of the warren without permission that I have been able to keep her here 

without having to lock her in her apartment at night.  I strongly advise you 

to do likewise once they arrive, otherwise you never know where they will be 

off to. 



    "I hope Nerika works out for you.  Saul and Shawnee are in agreement that 

you may well be the only person able to get through to this girl and make her 

see that she is walking down a path that can only end in tragedy.  It was for 

that reason that I approached you about taking her, rather than Ismene or one 

if the other warrens in our own lands.  I think she can be an asset to you if 

you can find a way to channel her energies.  If you find that you cannot deal 

with her, feel free to send her back here and we will cope as best we can.  

Thank you for your willingness to give her a chance." 



    She finished by signing it "Tara, Warrenlady of Jasra."  She placed it 

into the envelope and sealed it with wax.  Then she sent a message to her 

queen.  *Varaenna, tell Lyraene that I am ready to receive her rider.  Oh, 

and tell Lyraene that she is to take her rider to Whiteriver by the most 

direct possible route.  When they leave here - no side trips, no matter what 

Nerika tells her!* Tara knew, of course, that there was no truly "direct" 

route from here to Whiteriver.  Because of the vast expanses of the Wastes 

that separated the magic pockets from one another, she knew they would have 

to make at least one intermediate stop - probably at Haven - en route.  *Tell 

her she can get the images from Doshayne to guide her in the teleports.*



    [Lyraene is a very sensible dragon,] Varaenna answered.  [She knows her 

place in the world, and what her rider's place is as well.] 



    Tara nodded glumly.  *I just wish she could convince her rider of that.* 

She then looked up at Saul and Shawnee.  "Do you want to watch while I give 

Nerika her going-away pep-talk, or are you bailing out?"



     "Bailing out," they both said together, standing up in unison.



     "We have children at home who provide us with our daily quota of 

screaming and crying," Shawnee added.  "We'll leave you to get yours from 

Nerika."

 

       "Thanks," said Tara as they exited.



* * * * * * * * 

Whiteriver Warren 



    The cinnamon-red dragon appeared in the sky over Whiteriver Warren, 

answering the challenging roar of the watchdragon with a loud bugle of her 

own. 



    [I am Lyraene of Jasra,] she told the watchdragon, and informed her rider 

when they were given clearance to land. 



    *Good!* Nerika answered, peering down at the warren as Lyraene spiraled 

down toward the green.  Not too much different from Jasra, she noted 

approvingly, although the lack of an ocean sitting right next to the warren 

was a very noticeable difference.  Well, it didn't matter, she didn't plan on 

spending that much of her time here anyway.  She'd studied maps of 

Whiteriver's domain, and was already beginning to trace out the routes she of 

her trips from village to village.  Yes, this would work out just fine.  Once 

she'd given Tara's letter to the Warrenlady here, she would familiarize 

herself with the latest news from the warren, as well as the surrounding 

territories, and then begin her circuit. Passing along news was as much a 

part of a Bard's duties as was performing and teaching. 



    Lyraene landed gracefully, then crouched down to allow Nerika to 

dismount.  [Hurry up and get me unloaded,] she said.  [Doshayne says there 

are some *very* good looking male dragons at this warren, and I would like to 

make a good first impression.] 



    Nerika grinned, patting the dragon's neck. *Shortly, dear,* she assured 

the dragon.  Lyraene was a very pretty dragon and knew it, so it wasn't too 

surprising that she would be concerned about her appearance. She just hoped 

that Lyraene didn't form *too* close an attachment with any of the males 

here, since they wouldn't be here that much. 



    She climbed down to the ground and opened the pack containing her lute, 

quickly inspecting it for damage.  A gift from her father, she'd had it for 

years and it was her most prized possession.  Fortunately, it had come 

through in immaculate condition, just as when she'd packed it. 



    [I *am* careful about such things, you know,] Lyraene reminded her 

primly. 



    *I know, but it never hurts to check,* Nerika said soothingly.  She then 

remembered to check her vest pocket to make sure that the sealed envelope 

from Tara was still there.  She'd just as soon have lost that during the 

teleport, since she was sure Tara had pegged her as a troublemaker and no 

doubt the letter contained a warning to the Warrenlady here about her.  Well, 

that just meant she had a sell-job to do on Warrenlady Merissa.  Doing 

sell-jobs was, after all, part and parcel of a Bard's duties.  And she'd been 

told that Merissa was a Bard herself, so she should be *much* more 

understanding about Nerika's needs than Tara had been.  Cradling the lute 

under her arm, she walked out on the green to have a look around.  



    [Hey, I thought you were going to unload me!] Lyraene reminded her. 



    *Yes, dear, just as soon as I find out *where* to unload things,* she 

told the dragon. *And I suppose I'd better see about locating someone in 

authority.*  She looked up at the towering walls of the warren, her new home. 

 *Would you get in touch with the queen here and find out where I'm supposed 

to go to find the Warrenlady?*



(Tag Arlene) 



(NRPG: I'm not up to speed on current events at WR, so I'm not sure where 

Nerika's arrival would best fit into the timeline.  Place it wherever it's 

convenient. :)



Submitted by: 



John Pepper 



Nerika & Lyraene 

Whiteriver Warren 



Also: 

Warrenlady Tara & Queen Varaenna, Jasra Warren 

Trevor & Trissana, Cleft Warren 

Wingleader T'rell & Flerrion, Daere Warren 

Dalmar, Dragonhealer, Telnor Warren 







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