[Tem and Aelxirn]

"I got exactly what I deserved.  Mostly.  I've made my peace with my
daughter, and we are at least, if not close, more friends than we once
were.  I'm proud of her, and hope she does well.  Better than me.  I hope
that my wife, sorry..ex-wife, runs the village better than I did.  But
the one thing that rankles me most is the banishment that was imposed   
upon
me.  I don't think I deserved it.  Maybe force me to live elsewhere on   
the
village grounds, but to totally exile me from it?  No!  Totally
unacceptable!"

  Then Aelxirn shut up..and turned to stare at the road in front of him,
going back to his thoughts

Tem looked at the ex-lord next to him, almost feeling sorry for him. Not   
knowing what to say or even if he should.

Tem knew his mistresses plans, but had sworn to secrecy and he wasn't   
about to break his oath now.

"What would you have done? If you had been allowed to stay in the   
village?" asked Tem. Aelxirn looked at his companion and then shrugged.
"Doesn't matter now. Now that I've been exiled." he said.

The road emerged from the dark pine forest. Fields now flanked the road   
on either side now. Every now and again a small farm house, or barn could   
almost be seen in the darkness.

The night wore on and in the coldest hour, just before dawn, a large   
fortified building loomed.
"Welcome to the Tellari estate, Aelxirn." said Tem. They rode up to the   
iron barred gates. Tem called up to the guards in the tower. The gate   
swung open and the horses plodded through.

A young lad hurried over, obviously just woken up, and collected the   
horses. The two men dismounted and the horses were led away.

"Would you like a bath before you travel to bed, or would you prefer to   
grab a few hours sleep first?" asked Tem as they walked up the steps to   
the main door. Tem knocked loudly and the door was opened. The men   
stepped inside, grateful to be out of the chilling wind and drizzle. They   
shook of their water covered cloaks and handed them to a servant who had   
opened the doors.

"Ah Lord Aelxirn, I see you have travelled with Tem. You look wet, I   
shall have a change of clothes brought to you immediately." said Sherri   
Tellari. She was of medium height and slim, with dark, raven black hair,   
Even though she had woken up at such and early hour and at such short   
notice, she looked radiant. "I am Sherri Tellari and we have a lot to   
talk about."

Tem bowed and left, leaving Sherri and Aelxirn alone in the dark hall.

[Tag Jeanette, the mansion, is very much like an old English country   
house. Suits of armour, pine pannelling etc etc. I don't know when I'll   
get rounf to Billy - a touch of writers block with him at the moment!]

James
xxx