Date:  Wed Feb 20, 2002  2:42
pm


> `Tonio looked at Xanthia, "We must get you to safety, milady.  I 

> will not risk having something happen to you."

> 

> "But….but," Xanthia began.

> 

> `Tonio shook his head, "No Xanthia.  You have a child to 

> consider. That and we will need somebody to tell the warren where 

> we are. You will serve as our noble courier."

> 

> Xanthia's eyes widened, "Like in the stories?"

> 

> `Tonio nodded, "Yes, now be both swift and silent.  A courier is 

> no good if they are caught."



Xanthia dashed swiftly through the brush to where Maxima was 

secreted and in a mere moment the two were off, blinking out of the 

region of the mines into the air space above WhiteRiver.



The pair landed and Xanthia ran breathlessly into the Warrenlady's 

office without so much as a knock on the door, her heart still 

pounding in her chest.



"You need to send help now!" Xanthia exclaimed. Her flushed cheeks 

and tousled red hair set off the intensity of her ice blue eyes as 

she stood there catching her breath.



"Xanthia! What on earth? I'm having a meeting here!" Merissa 

exclaimed, gesturing to the other two queenriders in the room.



"I serve as Sir 'Tonio's noble courier!" Xanthia puffed her chest 

out proudly and bowed as nobly as possible. "I just came from the 

mines... Latnem and 'Tonio are there looking for a Snake... We hid 

in the brush..."



"So I see," Arri commented with a look to Oldreth and Merissa, 

plucking a twig from Xanthia's hair.



"Sarah was right, they are mining *cinnabar*! A volcanic ore! It's a 

natural source of mercury! They are mining it. Lots of it" Xanthia 

exclaimed anew, trembling with excitement. "The earth shook... an 

explosion. 'Tonio sent me to get help. Maxi's giving the image to 

all the dragons. I think I know the man there. It looked a lot like 

Corwyn Blackthorn, if it's not him, maybe a relative..." 



Xanthia's voice trailed off pensively; but then, after a brief 

pause, she continued as fervent as before, "But cinnabar is also 

used by some artists to make a orange-red paint!" She gestured with 

a wild lock of her own hair and pointed at the lone red strand which 

graced Merissa's otherwise dark head, "This color!"



<<NRPG: Tag to Arlene, Rob, and Bets!>>



***



** Meanwhile, back at the mines... ** 

 

> "Hey! You two!  What are you doin?" came a rough voice from ahead.

> 

> `Tonio and Latnem rose.  `Tonio shuffled his feet and looked 

> down, "Sorry dere, boss.  I's a just takin' a quick break from 

> werkin' in that mine."



Latnem looked askance at 'Tonio, but followed suit by shoving his 

hands in his pockets, lowering his head and nodding guiltily.

 

> The man glowered at them, "Well, you'd better get back to work.  

> They just set off a charge, so there'll be plenty of stuff to cart 

> out."

> 

> "Alright, guess we'll be gettin' a goin', boss," `Tonio responded, 

> clapping a hand on Latnem as they walked past the man.



Latnem carefully assumed a more common stride, so as to better blend 

with the miners. He was surprised that the man thought nothing of 

the fact that their clothing was relatively clean as compared to the 

other miners, however grateful he was for that oversite.



> 

> They continued walking when the man's voice shouted out, "Wrong 

> way! Head down the path to the left!"

> 

> Latnem raised his hand and waved in acknowledgement as they 

> changed course, "Guess we're going to find out first hand what  

> they're doing."

> 

> `Tonio nodded, "Indeed."



They walked down the lefthand path, and the two men looked upon each 

other and raised their eyebrows at the sight that met them. There 

were equal carts of coal as cinnabar, and miners were bringing even 

more. They were greeted by a paunchy middle-aged fellow with salt 

and pepper hair and steel gray eyes, his clothing and skin smudged 

equally with both black and reddish smudges. 



"Heya!"  grizzled the miner exclaimed, eying the two of them with a 

piercing gaze, "I don't know you two."



"Boss over yonder sent us here." Latnem explained, surmising this 

must be the foreman of this particular mine.



The miner gave a disgusted grunt, and spit a reddish brown stream of 

tobbaco juice. "Well, grab a cart and take it down river," he 

instructed, pointing.



'Tonio and Latnem exchanged a look, each knowing that the river fed 

into the lake at WhiteRiver. 



"And then what?" 'Tonio asked.



"Dump it in the river, you idiot!" the miner ranted. "On with you 

now!" He turned his back and walked away, all the while shaking his 

head and mumbling to himself complaints about the lack of 

intelligence of young men these days.



"Hope Xanthia sends help soon," Latnem commented as he and 'Tonio 

started pushing the cart of cinnabar toward the direction the 

foreman indicated.



<<NRPG: Tag Chris!>>





Respectfully submitted by:



Morgan

The heart and soul of Xanthia and Maxima, Latnem, Corra, Tarv'renon 

and Murkash, et al