[Nineve -- Morning]

"Just before I got here...  I saw them.." he bit his lip, fighting back 
the tears and the fury that came with the memory.

"Saw them what?"

"Kill her.. ran her through, there were too many.."  He trailed off and 
stared at his sleeping dragon.

"I see," Nineve said simply, holding him close.  Poor child.  Poor, poor
boy.  Rage and despair mixed in him, strongly enough that the usual
reactions of newly-hatched and newly-joined weren't operating properly.  It
was no wonder that Icetek wasn't eating or that food lay like lead in
Rivirn's gut.  There was nothing that would heal that except for time.  He
stared into the middle distance, watching a scene of horror that Nineve
could not guess at and he began crying again, fighting a losing battle
against the tears.  Stroking his hair and crooning ancient lullabies,
Nineve held him... and exhausted, he fell asleep.

She had one of the orderlies carry him out to the dragon-healing area,
signaling for Icetek to follow.  She didn't know if the dragon understood,
but knew that he would follow his human if he were being carried away. 
They came to a patch of warm, golden sunlight -- a favor granted by the
gods, for soon the air would be crisp and cold, and the snows would fly,
burying all in whiteness.  The dragon lay down, and they arranged Rivirn
comfortably within his dragon's embrace.  Nineve brought out some paperwork
and a lounging chair, watching the boy sleep, so that he would not awaken
and find himself alone.

-----
[Glynweith]

A dozen guards, with others spreading through the city like a cancer. 
Glynweith shook her head imperceptibly as she mounted the horse Gerard
provided for her.  This was not something that was weighing in his favor at
all.

The chill silence of the city was overwhelming, and the tiny Duchess asked
dozens of questions about the crafters, guildsmen, and citizens, all... 
Gerard frequently looked surprised, as though startled that she knew where
the guildhouses were and what the names of the major Guildsmen were.  He
didn't seem to understand that a major part of her popularity among the
people was her *personal* concern for their welfare.  The Plateau was far
too large for her to know the name of every citizen, but she had always
made it a point to know who the prominent ones were and how they treated
those below them.

Gerard's answers were generally unsatisfying, and it infuriated her that he
had been so careless of the lives of the citizenry of Lotherra.  He claimed
to love Lotherra, but she had the impression that his care was for the
estate but not for the people.  Citizens were a renewable resource to him,
and unimportant...

She masked her frustration and held her growing fury as they passed the
Healing Chapel and she saw bloodstains in the courtyard and knew that the
place was empty.  Gerard couldn't explain why there was no one there, but
his eyes held an impatient guilt, as though he couldn't understand why she
was even asking...

And the tour continued...


------
[Wylla]

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."

He excused himself and Wylla considered the problem.  Darril was a puzzle,
an honorable man, but not willing to take a chance and save those he had a
chance to.  Unwilling to break his bond to his brother, because he'd given
his word.

Loyalty.  It was something that she understood, and knew that the Duchess
would as well, but it was frustrating.  Still, there was a simple enough
solution to the problem.  One of the maids, a frightened little creature
came into the room and Wylla sent the girl to bring a few of the Duchess'
guards and a couple of their personal servants.  The Allari livery was
distinctive and Wylla doubted that even the most salacious or pugnacious of
Gerard's guards would interfere with the Duchess' personal servants,
particularly if they were protected by members of the Elite Guard.  She
told them what was needed and turned them loose on the servants of the
Castle.  She gave them the authority to offer sanctuary and hoped that it
would be enough to bring the servants forward of their own accord.

Then she went to interview Darril's servants.

All of them were loyal to their lord, though many of them would quiet on
the subject of Gerard, though none spoke directly against the man.  They
were eager to tell her what a good master Darril Lothar was, which Wylla
was not surprised by, and she smiled openly at their glowing descriptions
of him.  She told each of the offer of sanctuary that the Duchess was
offering, and though none wanted it for themselves, she again hoped that
they would spread the knowledge among the others.

When she was finished, all that was left to do was wait...


-----
[Haedin]

He walked into Lady Tellari's solarium and found Lothar sitting with his
lovely toy giving him a fairly decorous shoulder massage.

"Have you spoken to my wife?"

"Mmmm.  Yes.  An interesting woman, your wife.  It may take a bit longer to
break her to my will than I thought..."  Haedin smiled, black eyes gleaming
with dark mischief, "...but that will make it all the more entertaining. 
Lothar, are there any measures you would prefer I not take against your
wife?"

Lothar thought about it for a moment and then shook his head.  "No.  As I
said... I don't really need her any more.  And seeing her humbled is worth
whatever means you use to manage it."

"I see."  Haedin laughed.  "Have you spoken to Lady Tellari?"

"Yes.  All that needs to be done is to move my... wife."  He frowned. 
"She's going to resist this."

"Would you like a couple of guards to help?"

Lothar smiled viciously.  "Oh, that would be nice.  Although she'll try and
convince them that she's in the right..."

"Let her.  My guards may as well be eunuchs for all that they'll respond to
Lady Coneta's charms."  Haedin laughed silently to himself.  It wasn't
quite true, they simply would take advantage of anything she offered and
leave the woman hanging.

"Very well then," Lothar turned his head.  "Dawn, my dear child, would you
like to see your new room?"

The girl nodded and leaned forward to kiss him, rubbing her breasts lightly
against his back.  Her hands drifted down the front of his shirt, caressing
lightly and Lothar laughed.  He stood, pulling her around, running his
hands up her arms to her delicate throat and the girl arched into him.

"Your new bed as well, I take it?"

Her smile was bright, sensual, and infinitely inviting.  Haedin laughed
inwardly at the interchange and signaled to one of the servants, and asked
that two of his guards be put at Lothar's service.


-----
[Dawn]

Dawn watched the confrontation between her master and his wife with secret
amusement.  The wife was a hag, as Haedin had said, and her temperament
gave Dawn an edge that could easily be exploited.

"This is not over, Regil."  

"By the gold, I hope not! I'm having far to much fun!"

Dawn smiled slowly, insolently, catching Coneta's eyes and holding them as
she stripped the thin wisp of silk she was wearing off, letting the other
woman see the perfection of her youthful figure.  Brushing a caressing hand
on her master's cheek, she caught his attention before kissing him wetly,
undulating against him as he brushed her skin with hot, eager hands.

Unhurriedly, sensuously, she began removing his clothes, fingers sweetly
caressing the exposed skin as his hands cupped her breasts gently...  He
brushed his thumbs against her nipples and she gasped eagerly, abandoned
responses urging him on to a slow, satisfying exploration of her body.  She
heard an outraged gasp as she willingly parted her thighs for her master's
touch, feeling hands that weren't as skilled as Lord Haedin's but enough so
that she could achieve a peak from his touch and his mouth.

Dawn stared at Coneta as her master brought her to the heights of pleasure,
moaning as he entered her wet, eager sheath.  He had caused her some pain
the night before, but repeated experience had told her that his possession
could, were he properly encouraged, bring her satisfaction.

They rocked together, mutual passion binding them in the wet slapping of
bodies, and the hot spill of Lothar's seed in her body triggered
convulsions of her own.

Dawn pulled her mouth from Lothar's, looking through sweat-dampened hair at
Coneta, smiling at the flushed skin, taut breasts, and fast breathing.  She
grinned at the woman and stretched luxuriously, running a hand possessively
down Lothar's back and undulating her hips beneath him.  Her smile turned
feral as she felt him respond, hardening slowly within her.

Lothar is mine, her smile said to Coneta, I have taken his seed and will
bear him children.  You are a fool.

Lothar's teeth grazed her neck and Dawn turned to his mouth, gloating as
the door opened and slammed shut...

And Dawn bound her master to her more tightly to her.

-----
[Glynweith -- Late afternoon, as the storm approaches Lotherra]

"I'm so sorry the inclement weather put such an early halt to our tour,
milady," Gerard said happily.  It was all Glynweith could do not to roll
her eyes in disgust.  The man was blind to the devastation, feeling that it
was just because of the fight with his brother.

"Don't worry about it, Gerard. Now if you'll excuse me, I must rest."  Not
to mention talk to Wylla.  It was time to leave, though the storm would
hold them until the next day.  It rankled to have to accept his hospitality
for another night, but there was nothing to be done about it.

"Of course. You will be down for supper, won't you?"

"By all means."  She gave him a weary smile and walked with a stately grace
toward her rooms.

"Your Grace."  Wylla's calm voice greeted her as she entered the sitting
room and Glynweith sighed.

"Drop the titles, Wyll, I've been 'your Graced' to death today.  What have
you gotten?"

"Darril wasn't willing to move openly against his brother, but he was more
than willing to let me interview his own servants."

"I should have expected that, I suppose.  Damn his loyalty!  He's crazy if
he thinks that he's any safer here than the people of Lotherra.  Gerard is
as paranoid and power-mad as Regil...  He's just got a smidgen more charm."

"Yes."  Wylla paced and Glynweith collapsed into a chair.

"So, how do Darril's servants feel?"

"They love him.  He's a good employer and kind.  Darril knows his servants
and sees them as people, which is more than can be said for either of his
brothers.  None of them would say so, but I think they're afraid of Gerard.
 Where they were eager to talk about Darril, they were equally reticent
about his brother.  Many of them seemed to pity those who were stuck in the
position of having been servants here."

"I see."

"I had some of your servants talking to the others, with a few members of
the Elite Guard stationed nearby.  I think we've managed to get the
information out that we will take any refugees with us.  I imagine that
Gerard will hear about it before dinner."

"Too bad."


-----
[Queri]

Queri lay in her accustomed position in the clearing next to the stuffy
little office in which her human spent most of her waking hours as a chill
wind began rising and thunder echoed in the distance.  Yllath snuggled
against her, catching her up on the latest gossip as twinges of fear
rippled across the edges of her hearing.  Queri concentrated for a moment,
trying to isolate where it was coming from, and she frowned inwardly as she
realized it came from two of her youngest daughters.

<< What has you both so upset? >> she asked Lunath and Erkvinen.

< My rider is gone, and I'm hungry, and it's going to storm and.. > her
young queen said in a terrified rush before Lunath interrupted, worry
edging her voice with hysteria.

<~ I itch!  Erk is helping to scratch me, but I'm hungry too!  My rider
never leaves me alone.  I'm *scared*!  All of this over a short ride? ~>

Queri's startled cry got the attention of every dragon in the Warren as she
sat up angrily.

<< They WHAT?!  They left you both alone, and just took off without telling
*anyone*?!  Riding where? >>

< To wherever everyone else went?  I can't reach my rider, I can't *hear*
her!  I'm scared! >

<~ They are on a horse, and I can't hear *my* rider either! ~>

Queri relayed the information to every dragon within her reach, and
Yllath's rider guided her own out of the little room that her human spent
so much time in.

<* Queri, stop.  We will find your daughters' riders, I swear it. *>

Yllath's calm voice kept her from launching herself instantly into the air
to search for the miscreant humans.


-----
[Rhiannon]

"S'dan, I want Molla and Chalia here now," Rhia said calmly despite the
fact that Queri was screaming in her mind and it was all that Rhia could do
to keep herself even-keeled.

<< Stop it, Queri.  We will find them, but I can't think if you're yelling
at me.  Now ask Lunath and Erkvinen to come here, please. Comfort them and
reassure them, they must be terrified. >>

Queri huffed but obeyed, and Rhia rubbed her temples.  It was sunset, but
it would do irreparable damage to their bonds if the girls weren't found
soon.  They were riding toward Lotherra, and there was no guarantee that
they wouldn't be found by Gerard's soldiers.

Hell.

"You wanted to see us?"  Chalia asked in her soft voice.  Molla stood
beside her, mouth pressed into a thin line.

"Yes.  As you probably know, Ilara and Sarilyn have ridden off toward
Lotherra, for reasons unknown.  Their bonds with their dragons aren't
strong enough yet to withstand much difference, and if they're not brought
back..."  Rhia's voice trailed off and all of the riders shuddered.

She heard H'lie's footsteps and she turned on him.

"Why did they do this, H'lie?  Didn't you tell them about the danger of
separation?"

"No..."  His voice was strained.  "I'm sorry, Rhia, but it's so highly
unusual for the newly-Joined to wander off, it's not something that
normally gets covered..."

"Kyrie told me...  But then..."  Rhia struggled with the memories of that
time.  The pain of loss had still been so new that she'd been very careless
about what was going on.  Kyrie had to pound the fact that Queri was
completely dependent on her into Rhia's mind so that she would care enough
to do what needed to be done.  Rhia shrugged.

"Ideas, anyone?  I can feel the sun setting and the wind is rising."

"Can Erkvinen and Lunath fly yet, H'lie?"

"Without their riders?  They should be able to, though not for great
distances and they'd have some difficulty in this wind."

"It's almost dark," Chalia observed.  "Unless they manage to start a fire,
or something, we're not going to be able to spot them from the air and it's
not feasible to organize a ground search until morning..."

"And with the refugees pouring across our boarders, we don't have the
people to search for them on the ground, either.  If the weather remains
foul, an air search might not be very successful, either."  Rhia grimaced,
thinking.  "Okay, S'dan, Molla, Chalia, I want you to take Lunath and
Erkvinen and start flying over the main road to Lotherra.  I don't imagine
the girls will have strayed too far from it.  Don't let the little ones
overextend themselves, but see if you can get close enough that they can
hear their riders."

"That could take all night," said Molla.

"I know.  But I can't think of a better solution.  Queri tells me that
they're hungry, so you may have to hunt for them as well.  Take any other
riders who might be interested in going."

[Tag, you lot]


-----
[Haedin]

He had to say that Dawn looked exquisitely beautiful in the silks and
velvets designed for Coneta, and the warm little smiles she kept giving
Lothar apparently had him smitten.  The man kissed her lingeringly before
escorting her to Coneta's seat, and Haedin saw Sherri's eyebrows raise in
surprise.  It was amazing how a little kind treatment -- and a talented
tongue -- could get gracious behavior from even a lout like Lothar.

"Where's Coneta?"

Dawn graced him with a beatific smile and Lothar smirked.

"She refused to come out of her room.  Something about clothes."

Haedin laughed.  "Ah, I see..."

He waved to one of his own guards.  "Please go bring Coneta down to dinner,
would you...  and bring a stool... wooden, no padding, for her to sit on."

[Tag, Kris]

-----
NRPG --

Kris, I know you've seen a description of the dresses, so have fun.  Haedin
is going to place Coneta at his own side and might feed her if she asks
nicely.

Sam, Jeanette -- Hope your lovelies are going to be able to find their
humans.  They'll be able to fly straight, but they'll tire fairly easily so
they'll have to rest fairly frequently.  Once they're able to hear their
riders, I think they'll be able to find them, but that's up to you... 
After all, they may be too tired fly all the way to Ilara and Sarilyn.

Sarsif -- you alive?

Taylor, Kris, Cheryl -- Glynweith doesn't yet know about the 
dragonriders, but will be interested in the fact that Ce'lot and the others
are there.  I doubt that she'll be any more pleased about Ce'lot's presence
than Rhia would have been, but she'll not be vocal about it.

Bridget -- Nineve will be there when Rivirn wakes up ;)

James -- How does Sherri feel about the little games Haedin is playing?

Respectfully Submitted,
Jill E. Flansburg
Rhiannon the WarrenLady
Assorted Others
Xylian Warren
DragonLands

                 X-FILES                         DRAGONLANDS

  Assistant Director                     Rhiannon, WarrenLady  *Xylian*
  Sterling Kincaid, Team Leader, ECHO    Elswyth and Aedra   *Keldarra*
  Damien Cunningham, UD DELTA            Katla and Satinka *Whiteriver*
  Xan X. Xavier, Trainer, Classroom A    Zera and Mazel       *Norwall*

 =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
			      Vasaris, the Fuzzy Dragon
       Jill E. Flansburg	    |		            vasaris@az.com
       CS HMC 1994	          |		jflansbu@muddcs.cs.hmc.edu
       History, WWU 199?          |		vasaris@divcom.umop-ap.com
 =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=