[S'dan]

"Umm, is this going to mean I ought to take some reading classes?" Ilara
added almost straight after.  She wrung her hands, "I didn't get very far
when I was at school."

S'dan studied Ilara and led her into Rhia's office.

"Sit, please.  Why don't we start with what you do know about being a
queenrider?"

"Not much.  I don't know why it's supposed to be so special or why it's
supposed to give me authority..."

S'dan nodded.  "That could be confusing...  I'll start there...."

<...>

"Now, you see why all of that is hard for Rhia to do alone?"

Ilara nodded.  "But I don't know anything about doing all of that."

"That's okay, you do have some time."  S'dan smiled.  "What happened to
Kyrie was unusual, Ilara, and even then, Rhia had two years to train under
her.  Now, Rhia had an advantage, she'd been raised to rule Landress...." 
His voice trailed off.  "Now that may be something you should consider... 
Find someone who can help you who was raised to run a large farmstead or
manor...  I will help you all I can, but I'm Rhiannon's courier and
assistant, and I won't always have time to help you if you're confused..."


----
[H'lie]

The newly-joined and a number of the Warren kids spread out on either side
of the lake, wandering into some of the meadows that dotted nearby areas. 
All of the dragonets were told to call Rendel if they or their riders
needed help, and H'lie headed for one of Rendel's favorite little glens.

As they flew over, he saw Billy and Sarilyn sitting in one of the
tall-grass meadows and grinned.  Those two made an interesting pair.

Rendel landed a ways away from his favorite place, not wanting to disturb
the large numbers of colorful butterflies that would flock up at his
presence.  H'lie spent some time gathering a bouquet of sweetly scented
flowers as Rendel watched the butterflies and the buds swaying in the
breeze, whirling eyes delighted with the riot of color.

[Anyone who needs him can call for Rendel ;)


----
[Glynweith]

"All right my lords and ladies, you all understand your instructions?" 
Glynweith's crisp voice belied her quaking interior.  The members of her
entourage nodded, almost as one.

"Aye, lass," said the grizzled Lord General of the Army, Tahelen Maiore. 
"I've already sent instructions to the local garrisons.  The violence will
nae spread much farther than the immediate vicinity of Lotherra.  They'll
be in position by tomorrow evening."

"Refugees will be allowed through, of course."

"Aye."

"Then I'm going to go to Lotherra.  How stands the council, Uheni?"

"Mostly indifferent, my lady.  Neither Gerard nor Lothar is particularly
well liked, but right now the main interest is in stability.  With all of
this, the production from the mines is going to be disrupted for in
indeterminate amount of time, which, of course, will disrupt the jeweler's
trade and the attendant repercussions of that."

Glynweith nodded.  "I see.  And what legal backing does he have for his
claim?"

"I don't know my lady, aside from force of arms."

"I see.  I want the usual messenger relays set up.  Inform me of any new
developments elsewhere..."

In the company of a few maids, Glynweith went down to the stables and got
into the carriage.

"Ready to go, Bella?  Are there any others who wish to go?"

[Tag to anyone else who wishes to go with the Duchess]


----
[Rhiannon, early morning]

Dawn ran gentle fingers over Rhiannon's face, calling her to her duties
with a compulsion she couldn't fight.

<< Finally! >> said Queri, her tone playful and serious.

< What is it? >

<< You've been asleep!  You're no fun when you're asleep!  Though Rendel
and his rider brought us flowers.  Some of my hatchllings and their humans
helped. >>

Rhia grinned at the pride in her dragon's voice.  < You have hearty
children, beloved. >

<< Of course!  Now, do you feel better? >>

< Yes, beloved.  And now it's time to go to work. >


----
[S'dan]

"What is it, S'dan?"  Rhia's voice was curious.  He hated it when she
identified him just by the sound of him entering the room.

"A few cartloads of tithe from the 'new' lord of Lotherra... along with a
gift."

"A gift?"

"Aye, a beautiful, if rather gaudy bauble that came from Lady Coneta's
jewelry case."

Rhia frowned.  "Then it belongs to Coneta... except I cannot think of a
good way to give it to her without causing problems."

"Not only that, they've already left."

"What?"

"Lothar got a message of some sort and left in a hurry.  Lady Coneta did
not look happy, but what choice did she have."

"Hmmm.  How about her maid, Celia?"

"Odd you should ask that, Celia *has* remained behind."

"Yes, I was expecting that...  Why don't you get Ilara this afternoon and
have her see to it that Celia gets a comfortable apartment."

"I'll do that.  What do you want to do with the supplies?"

Rhia shrugged.  "Lotherra *is* behind on their tithes.  We can send
extraneous stuff back... or more likely, use it to care for the refugees."

----
[H'lie]

The creels of hungry dragons called him out to the Green and H'lie grinned
at the slightly exasperated looks on the faces of the newly-joined.

"Good morning, all!  I hope you slept well."

That comment was greeted by a series of sarcastic snorts and he smiled.

"You'll survive it.  It may be painful, but it does get better...  Now, as
soon as you're done feeding the bottomless pits, we'll head over to the
leatherworkers and get you all measured for your saddles...  Then we'll
discuss dragon diseases and basic riding techniques..."

----
[Afternoon, on the road to Lotherra]

It was the devastation of the countryside that made Glynweith ache the
most.  Not content with simply taking the lands before his brother's manor,
Gerard had razed it, slaughtering the inhabitants like so many sheep.  Even
now, days later, there was a faint pall of smoke that brought tears not
entirely due to the stinging remains.

The riders in the carriage fell silent as they approached the manor.

"Bella, I suggest that you detach yourself with Lady Wylla.  Wylla will be
surveying the damage and questioning those who remain...  Wylla, take care
of Bella here.  Good luck and be careful."

<...>

"Loud clatters?"

Darril nodded a pained look marring his handsome face, "I'm afraid so."

A few moments later Gerard stepped back into the room, smoothing his
thinning hair, "The tea will be here in a moment." He nodded at  his
brother, "You've met my brother, m'lady?"

Glynweith smiled, "I have indeed.  Darril, I would like to continue our
conversation later, if possible?"

"Of course, my Lady."

Giving him a slight smile and a nod she turned to his brother.  Taking it
as the dismissal it was, Darril left the room.

"So, Gerard, mind telling me what possessed you to come here and start
killing my citizens?"

He stared at her, blinking at her rather blunt demand.

"Your Grace?"

"Gerard, I can understand if you don't like your brother.  I don't know
many people who do, but where did you get the idea that I would support you
after seeing the... devastation... your men left in their wake?  Had you
taken this holding peacefully, I *might* have been inclined -- or able --
to convince the council that your claim was legitimate, but you've
disrupted trade, killed -- or driven away -- a significant portion of the
resident population, and now I have to deal with the fallout, so I hope
that you've got a good explanation for all of this."  Glynweith raised a
cool eyebrow as the servant came in and she poured tea calmly, sipping
lightly at the fragrant brew.

-----
NRPG --

James, I'll get to Haedin in my next post, but I'm running out of steam.

If I missed any tags, everyone, please tell me and I'll backpost it :)

*hugs all*

Jill

Assistant Director, X-Files                Rhiannon, WarrenLady  *Xylian*
Sterling A. Kincaid, TL, ECHO, X-Files     Elswyth and Aedra   *Keldarra*
Damien Cunningham, UD DELTA, X-Files       Katla and Satinka *Whiteriver*
Xan X. Xavier, T1, X-Files                 Zera and Mazel       *Norwall*

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			      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
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