Ce'lot
***
<<Late afternoon>>

Ce'lot was getting tired and hungry, not to mention frustrated. So far they
had run into two refugee groups. Both of them from the outlying countryside
around Lotherra. They knew nothing of what had happened within the city
walls.

Each time, a little more depressed, Ce'lot called to Britche to send Molla
and her volunteer riders to take the groups food and supplies and direct
them to the Warren where they would be rested and cared for for as long as
they needed.

As they drew up to another Inn, the wingleader stopped. "I need something
to eat," Ce'lot found himself saying.

"HA!" B'Lin spat, "I said that at lunch time .. but no .. you wanted to
chase off after that old man who told us absolutely nothing!"

"It was a good lead," Ce'lot glared at the man.

"Yeah, right, that dead end could have waited until after lunch."

"STOP!" Carlynee shouted. "They won't let us in to eat if they think you
two are gonna bring down the roof."

Both men looke properly chastized, but it was B'Lin who spoke first, "I do
apologize, beautiful Carlynee.."

Ce'lot groaned as he watched B'Lin's charming smile aimed at the young
artisian. He turned his horse to the inn. He was letting the man get the
better of him and it was a bit annoying. When they got back to the Warren
he would make sure B'Lin was placed in Beta Wing! How could he possibly
work with the man contradicting him ever chance he got .. Gods it was
almost as bad as .. Molla? Well, yes, but at least she did it in private
and with an air of respect. Ce'lot wasn't sure B'Lin had any respect for
anyone.

He tied his horse to the post outside the inn and walked up the steps to
the door, grumbling slightly. Following that old man HAD been a good idea.
He was sure he would tell them something .. but he hadn't, and Ce'lot had
been very frustrated.

He motioned to the barman as he took a seat at a table, followed by
Carlynee and B'Lin.  He pulled off the hat that Carlynee had insisted he
wear and ran his hands through his sweat drenched hair, the golden locks
sticking together  as they fell back over his forehead. "I could never had
imagined horseback riding could be this draining."

Carlynee grinned, "Is that much different from riding a dragon all day."

"Oh yes!" B'Lin said. He was feeling the strain as well. "But riding a
horse isn't all that bad," he was quick to add.

"At least on a dragon you're riding in the wind .. it keeps you cool"

Carlynee leaned closer to the Wingleader, "That man over there is staring
at you."

"Probably noticing how much you smell," B'Lin chuckled.

Ce'lot ignored him and turned to look at the man sitting at the bar ..

Suddenly it was as if many years vanished and he, a young boy of 14 was
standing watching the older man as he polished a marble bath ..

***
"Come here, boy and let me tell you a secret .. Coneta is a perfectionist.
You wanna please her .. you gotta do it right the first time."

The young lad puffed himself up, bravely fighting back tears at his new
circumstances. A young boy pulled away from his family .. his father .. his
mother .. and taken to live as a servant, at the beck and call of a master.

The older man's eyes softened, "What's your name, lad?"

"Nunlot, sir .." he whispered. "My papa calls me, Nuns."

"Well Nuns, you can call me Garth. And you can count on me to help you
anytime."
***

The man at the bar watched him, his face paling slightly as he leaned to
his partner. Ce'lot vaguely remembered the other man, but his name escaped
him.

"You know them?" Carlynee was asking.

Ce'lot merely nodded his head. The were house servants .. they had been in
the Castle .. with Lecia.

A pretty buxom woman stepped up to the table, "What can I get for you?"

B'Lin's eyes took on a leacherous look, but Ce'lot stood and pushed his
chair in as he moved to the pair at the bar.

Garth stood, his wrinkling face watching almost in disbelief. "By the gold,
I thought you were dead."

Ce'lot shook his head, "I'm not."

"I can see that now! There were rumor's of course .. but  ol' iron butt
quickly squelched those." Ce'lot chuckled slightly at the not so nice
nickname many of the house servants had for Lothar's General of the guard.
"So you got away .."

"I had help."

Garth nodded, "Coneta no doubt .. she did have a soft spot for you. Does
your mother know?"

Ce'lot nodded, "She's known all along."

"It's no wonder Coneta kept her close .. this is some secret they shared."
His eyes narrowed, "Your sister doesn't know. I know that for a fact. She
despises you, you know. Seems to blame her status on you."

Ce'lot's pained expression was soon buried, he had a mission to accomplish.
His mother had told him about Lecia's blaming him already. He had expected
it. "Do you know where she is? I .. I've seen Mama and Coneta. They're
worried about Lecia."

Garth nodded, "And well they should be. Gerard stormed the castle. His
guards were merciless. But Lecia's safe .." The man grunted, "If she hasn't
been slapped silly by those at camp."

He shrugged at Ce'lot's questioning look, "She's a brat, Nuns .. there's no
denying it."

The wingleader frowned, but didn't say anything. He turned back to the
table where Carlynee was watching him, trying to ignore B'Lin as he flirted
with the waitress. When his eyes met hers she took that as an excuse to get
up and move over to him.

"Are these more refugee's?" she asked

He nodded, "Carlynee, this is Garth. From Lord Lothar's castle."

"HA!" Garth laughed, "It ain't Lothar's anymore .. Gerard has seen to that!
Ben and I went back to the castle the next day .. it's locked up tighter
then a drum. Each person trying to get in is screened and searched."

Ce'lot's thoughts drifted to Belarade .. Though she was with the Duchess.
He doubted Gerard would keep the Duchess out. No he'd want Glynweith to
come in and support his claim. He hoped she found her parents ..

"What about Lecia? Where is she?"

"She's at camp. In Grand Chesa Forest. Aggie's taken her under her wing."

Ce'lot smiled slightly at the memory of the large woman who was Lothar and
Coneta's cook. She had a good heart and he had no doubt she'd take good
care of his sister. He breathed a bit easier in the knowledge that she was
okay.

Gerard
***

>"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.

Gerard frowned, but caught himself quickly, "Of course I do, M'lady. Regil
was destroying Lotherra slowly. I had to stop it."

"So yo destroyed it quickly?"

"Oh no. Oh the contrary .. I have saved it. Saved it from Regil. Surely you
know that my brother had been stealing from his people for years. The poor
were getting poorer, while my brother and his few close allies, got richer.
He even instituted something which could be considered no less then
slavery?" Gerard shrugged, "I have just liberated all his slaves."

"What about all the people lying dead both outside in the fields, and
within the city walls themselves?"

 "My men had to defend themselves from attack. Even when it comes from
farmers carrying pitchforks," he turned to the Duchess, "Why I've even
saved you, M'lady?"

Glynweith looked at him in amusement, "Me?"

"Yes,  you know he's had his eye on your throne since the death of your
husband. My brother has forces in the Dawn Falls mountain range which are
poised to attack Eos as soon as the opportunity presents itself." Gerard
grinned, "But now, they belong to me."

"I know about the Dawn Falls army Lothar's been building up .."

Gerard's eyes narrowed, "I am Lothar!" Then realizing he'd let his anger
get the better of him, he added, " .. m'lady .."

Glynweith frowned at him, "Not until you are recognized by the council."

"Forgive me, m'lady." Gerard said bowing slightly, "I have been under a lot
of stress lately. But once you have heard my story you will know that I
should be recognized. For I was wrongly driven from my home by my brother
.. wrongly accused of things I did not do .. And I will be able to provide
Lotherra with an hier. Something my brother has failed at miserably."

"I was not aware that the ability to reproduce was reason to be a Lord?"

"I am merely stating an obvious truth that will be of benefit to Lotherra.
Coneta is aging .. and as they have not yet produced offspring I think it
unlikely that they will. I on the other hand have a young wife .. just now
entering her reproductive years. She is a fine, strong woman worthy of
bearing the future generations of Lothar's."

"Future generations that will not have a place to live as you have
destroyed the farmlands and killed the people."

"They will recover.  Once I am recognized as Lord Lothar, they will be
rebuilt. And I will use the monies which my brother stole from his people
to do so."

Regards,
Ce'lot & Britche
***
NRPG:  Taylor, my timeline agree's with yours, so hopefully we aren't both
confused :)

I didn't get to Lothar. I'll wait until he arrives at the estate of Lady
Tellari in the morning :) I feel like I'm forgetting something, but I can't
think of what it is... Ah well ...

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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