Tara
***

The young serving girl was headed toward the Lady Coneta's rooms .. No they
weren't Coneta's any longer .. she had to remember that. She frown
slightly. She'd been afraid of Lothar .. but it was even worse with his
brother. He was tempermental and impossible to read. She'd gotten cuffed
several times already in the few days he'd been back in the castle. She
knew others who'd gotten it even worse.

She never thought she'd wish to have Lothar back .. but this 'Lothar' was
so much worse!

"Excuse me .." she heard a voice behind her say. She turned to see the
Duchess' lady in waiting. She quickly curseyed, not wanting to take any
chances of possibly offending her. She knew there'd be hell to pay if she
did.

"Yes, ma'am, what can I do for you." She hoped this wouldn't take long ..
she'd been ordered to attend to the dragonrider in Lady Coneta's rooms..
and she couldn't screw that up either without fear of retribution .. what a
mess she found herself in.

"I'm looking for my friend, Belarade. She's not in her room. You wouldn't
have happened to see her, would you."

"Oh yes ..well, no .. but I know where she is. Lord Ger.. Lord Lothar has
ordered me to attend to her in his wife's suite. He has asked that she be
well taken care of."

"Oh .. well, I guess I'll see her later then."

Tara curtseyed again and turned to hurry on her way when the lady called
her once again, "Could  you tell me how to find Lord Darril?"

Tara turned nervously as the minutes ticked away, "Lord Darril's rooms are
in the East wing, third floor." She looked at the woman  and swallowed,
"Would you like me to tell him you need to see him?" It was on the opposite
end of the castle .. but, she didn't want to offend the woman ..

The lady shook her head, "You seem nervous? Does Lord Darril scare you?"

"Oh no, m'lady," Tara almost laughed but caught herself. She looked
nervously around, "It's just that .. well .. I'm to attend to the Lady
dragonrider .."

"Oh, I see. I apologize for detaining you. Please I don't want you to get
in trouble."

"Thank you, m'lady .." She moved to turn, then stopped, "I mean, if there's
nothing else."

"No no, go on."

Gerard
***

"My Dear Glynweith," Gerard smiled walking into the sunlit breakfast room.
"I hear you were looking for me."

The Duchess nodded, unsmiling, "Yes, I want a tour of Lotherra."

"Of course, I'll be happy to have my guard take you .."

"Actually, I was thinking that ~you~ would take me."

Gerard's face looked blank for a moment, then he recovered, "Of course.. if
that's what you want."

"It is."

"Then let me make the arrangements .." He faltered, his face paling at the
idea. Damn! He'd need extra guards for this. He'd already had several death
threats aimed at him. In the castle he was safe.. on a tour he wasn't so
sure. But he couldn't let the Duchess know .. "If you'll excuse me, I'll do
that right away."

"Aren't you going to have something to eat?"

"I'm .. I'm not very hungry."

Darril
***

"Good morning, Lady Wylla." Darril smiled, as he met the Duchess lady in
waiting in the large foyer. "I'm sorry to keep you waiting."

"I haven't been waiting long. But you did just miss your brother and the
Duchess."

"Oh," he said. "Where are they?"

"Lord Lothar took the Duchess on a tour of the city."

"He what??" Darril asked, concern in his voice. He knew it wasn't safe for
Gerard outside the castle walls.

"He took her for a tour .. is something the matter?"

Darril frowned, "I hope not."

"Now that I think about it, he did seem to take a large guard with them..
is there a problem?"

Darril shrugged, "I suppose nothing that wouldn't be a problem for any
other new conquering Lord." He smiled, "I'm sure Gerard can handle it."

Wylla nodded, "I'm sure. There is something else I need to discuss with you."

Darril raised an eyebrow at her careful tone. He had a feeling this wasn't
something he was going to like.

Coneta
***

As the breakfast dishes were cleared and the guests of Sheri Tellari began
to talk quietly among themselves, Coneta leaned toward her husband. "What
are you up to?"

"Me?" he looked at her with a smile, "I don't know what you are talking about."

"I'm talking about the cheerful morning countenance. You are never this
happy in the morning."

"I had an ..  enjoyable evening."

Coneta snorted lightly, "Some servant girl you forced into warming you bed .."

"Hardly, my love." Regil smiled back. "This one was more then happy to
oblige me."

"Indeed, I find that difficult to believe."

"Well, believe it, for I think I shall have a smile on my face every
morning from now on." He chuckled as her eyes narrowed.

"What are you talking about?"

"A little .. gift .. from Lord Meradh."

"He gave you a whore for a gift," she said, disgust clear in her voice.

"Tut, tut, Coneta. He gave me something much better .." Regil smiled
broadly, loving taunting his wife. "He gave me a concubine."

Coneta's jaw dropped, ".. a concubine .." she breathed softly. She frowned,
"Regil, my family will not stand by and .."

"Of course they will. It was one thing when I owed a large amont of my
lands to your brother. But I don't anymore," he watched her smugly,
"Anything I take back, will be by my own hand now. With, of course, help
from Haedin and Lady Tellari. I couldn't turn down a gift from so great a
friend could I? And really Coneta, who can blame me. You are .. aging."

Coneta shook with fury, her knuckles white as she gribbed the arms of the
chair. Her voice rose louder then she would have liked, but her anger was
getting the better of her. "You call that vile man a friend! You're more
~stupid~ then I would have thought! I'll not stand for this!"

"You have no choice." Lothar's voice rang coldly.

Coneta noticed the others looking at her. Haedin's eyes especially amused.
She forced herself to calm down, "If you'll excuse me," she said staring
back at the tall Lord, "I'm going to be sick!"

She hurried away, using all her strength to keep her poise until she was
out of sight. Then she chocked, clasping her hand over her mouth and nearly
stumbling up the stairs. A concubine! How could he!! There was nothing more
humiliating! Well, she wouldn't stand for it! There had to be something she
could do.

She made it to her room and chased the serving girl out as she collapsed on
the bed, sobbing. She was losing everything now. Her home, her maid .. her
self-respect!

Darril
***

His dark eyes regarded her as they sat in the library of the great castle.
She could see he was deeply troubled by what she had asked of him. Could
the Duchess have been wrong about him? "Do you realize what you are asking?"

She nodded, "I do. I'm asking you go against your brother in this. But the
Duchess felt that you had a good heart and would understand."

"Oh yes, I do understand," he said frowning, "but .."

"If you can't help, I understand."

"If I help, it's almost like turning my back on my brother .. and I've
promised to support him."

"We only want to offer his servants a chance for another life. If they're
happy here, then you've nothing to worry about. If they aren't .. then
should they be forced to stay anyway?"

Darril sighed, "It's not that easy. They're servants. It's always been both
my brothers opinion that they have no call to be happy or unhappy .. only
that they should serve them."

"Do you agree with that?"

"No .." he said softly. "Neither of my brothers, ever bothered to get to
~know~ anyone who they don't deem as worthy to know. I have .. I know many
of them as real people with real lives .. but this isn't about that. You're
asking me to go against my brother. I can't do that."

"I see."

Darril breathed heavily, "Look, I know what you're doing, and I agree with
it. I won't stand in your way. I won't say anything .. but as much as I
think you're right, I can't break my word. I can't help you with any other
the my personal servants .. whom you are more then welcome to talk to.
Beyond that, I can't."

"I can speak to your staff?"

"Oh of course." He looked at her for a moment and added softly, "I have
some errands to run this afternoon. I can have someone else, keep you ..
entertained .. while I'm gone."

They both turned as a guard walked into the room, his armor making a
clanking noise as he moved. "Lord Darril, I have someone who says he needs
to speak to Lord Lothar."

Ce'lot
***

Ce'lot watched the guard leave and was about to turn to the others to
discuss their next step when a figure caught his eyes. There was something
vaguely familiar about it, and he found his eyes drawn to it as it slowly
became clear it was a woman.

"Ma'am...Ma'am..." he heard B'Lin call to her.

"Yes..." she turned around.

Ce'lot's eyes widened ..

>"Bel?" B"lin stopped as one side of his mouth drooped in a scowl. "What in
>the gods names are you doing?"

>His disapproval was evident in his tone, and Belarade answered him
>shakily. "Going for some breakfast?"

>"Dressed like that????!!!" He spun her around quickly, still frowning.
>"Take these off right now, and put on your other clothes....we're going
>back to the warren."

The wingleader stepped forward, "You look .. incredible .." he breathed, as
he stared once again into those chocolate brown eyes that had captivated
him on more then one occasion.

"You would think so!" B'Lin snorted.

"What are you doing here?" she asked, still seemingly stunned to see them.

"We're here to rescue you and take you home! None to soon, I can see!"
B'Lin said.

"Are you all right?" Ce'lot asked, ignoring B'Lin.

She looked at him and nodded. He smiled holding out his hand to her, "We
were worried."

B'Lin growled slightly and pushed the wingleaders hand away, grabbing
Bella's hand, "~I~ was worried. Now let's go."

"B'Lin, I can't leave now. I'm with the Duchess." Belarade said, looking at
her brother.

"Is there a problem here?" A deep voice called out. They all turned to see
the dark man coming out, followed by the guard and another well dressed
lady.

Ce'lot recognized the man immediately. He tensed waiting to see if the
youngest of the Lothar brothers would recognize him. B'Lin, true to his
nature, spoke up first, "I'm B'Lin, rider of Glay, and I'm here to get my
sister and take her back to the warren where she'll be safe."

The woman behind Darril moved toward Bella, "Are you all right?"

Belarade nodded, "This is my brother .."

"I assure you, sir,"Darril said to the dragonrider, "Your sister is safe
here with us. In fact, I'm sure my brother, were he here, would invite you
all in for refreshement." His eyes scanned them and Ce'lot found himself
holding his breath as Darril's eyes passed over him breifly.

He was almost about to breath again, thinking the man hadn't recognized
him, when his dark eyes laid on him once again. He looked mildly shocked,
but held his composure. "Are you all dragonriders?"

"We are sorry to intrude," Ce'lot said, "But we were concerned about
Belarade. I am Ce'lot, Alpha wingleader of Xylian Warren, rider of Britche.
This is Carlynee and Halyn, they are not riders."

Darril nodded slightly, his eyes still studying the golden-haired man,
"Ce'lot .. is it .. you are all welcome to come in and rest for a bit. If
.. you think it's a good idea."

"No, it's not," B'Lin said, "We only came to get Bel and we're getting the
hell out of this wretched town!"

"B'Lin!" Ce'lot said.

Darril shook his head, "I understand your hesitance. Things are .. in bad
shape right now." He turned to Bella, "It's up to you if you want to stay
or go, I'm sure the Duchess would understand. But you all do look tired."
His eyes fell on Ce'lot once again, "I can take you to a private room where
you can all rest for a bit. No one will disturb you."

"I am hungry," Carlynee spoke up.

"Me too," said the boy, they'd helped in the gate.

Ce'lot looked back at him, "We'ren't you going to look for your grandfather."

"Sure, but I haven't eaten in a while .." the boy blushed slightly.

Ce'lot turned to Darril. "A private room would be good."

Darril nodded, "Follow me."

Darril
***

A short while later, and after some protest from B'Lin they were all
settled in a back room with tea and fresh fruit. "Rest here as long as you
want." Darril told them, "No one will disturb you. In the meantime, Lady
Wylla and I have some things to do. So if you'll excuse us."

Ce'lot nodded, "Of course, you've been more then generous."

Darril moved out of the room, followed by Lady Wylla, closing the door
behind them. "Follow me, m'lady and I'll get someone to show you around the
castle."

"You recognized Xylian's wingleader?"

"Did I?" Darril said evasively.

"It looked like it."

Darril shrugged, "Maybe. It was a long time ago .. and I can't be sure." He
lied, for he was sure, but that was Regil's business not his. How Coneta's
serving boy turned theif had become a Xylian wingleader was beyond him. He
suspected the thievery charges were trumped up by Regil to get rid of
Coneta's pet. But it didn't concern him.

His mind was on other things as he led the Lady Wylla to his suite. As they
entered the East wing he pulled a bell cord. "I'm ringing for Jaybid, my
most trusted servant. He's been with me since I was a boy. And when Regil
threw us out, he went with me."

A thin man, with gray hair and gray eyes aproached, "You called for me, sir."

"Jaybid," Darril smiled fondly, "This is Lady Wylla. She would like to talk
with all of my servants. When she'd done that, please give her a tour of
the rest of the castle .. all of it."

"Sir?" Jaybid asked.

"Just take her where she asks."

"Of course, sir."

"Good man. Now if you'll excuse me, m'lady .."

"Sir .." the older man said, his voice filled with concern, "May I enquire
as to your destination?"

Darril smiled, "Errands, Jaybid."

"Not to question you, but I think it would be a good idea if you were to
stay in .. Questions have been asked, " Jaybid said cautiously.

Darril frowned, "Gerard?"

Jaybid nodded, and Darril's frown deepened. "Perhaps, sir it would be
prudent .."

Darril shook his head, "No, Gerard's out of the castle. Don't worry Jaybid,
it'll be okay. Just do as Lady Wylla asks. You are at her disposal."

"Yes, sir."

Darril turned to the lady, "Now if you'll excuse me."

Regards,
Ce'lot & Britche
***
NRPG: Well, I think I got through everything I wanted to.

Jill, I think probably, Darril's servants will be pretty happy with him..
Jaybid especially, the others will all have been recent "acquisitions" and
probably just glad not to be in Gerard's way :) She'll probably find most
of the other scared to say anything negative about Gerard .. tho there may
be a few :)

I don't know what Coneta will do .. but she's not very happy right now ;)

Hmmm, wonder where Darril's going :):)

Taylor, Ce'lot thinks Belarade looks great  :) And he is glad to see her
again. BTW, I loved your last post .. fun, fun!!

Kristen


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       \oo/     Kristen Gant
        ~~      (AKA: Darlea & Makayla, Keldarra Warren, Courier
                      Waylene & Aura, Marrid Warren, Warrenlady
                      Meena & Vonn, Norwall Warren, Wingleader
                      Kalewyn & Sabbith, Telnor Warren, Dragonrider
                      Saul & Fayloth, Whiteriver Warren, Searcher
                      Merybelle Barmen, City of Ralengarde, Innkeeper
                      Ce'lot & Britche, Xylain Warren, Wingleader
                http://homepage.interaccess.com/~sgant/Kris/kris.htm
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