[Lady Tellari's place - morning]

"Lord and Lady Lothar, how nice to see you!" said Sherri as they emerged
from their carriage. "I hope you had a safe and pleasant journey?"

>Coneta studied the woman, but still did not recognize her. "Thank you   
for
>inviting us .. " she said a bit hesitantly as her eyes fell on Aelxirn.

>She leaned toward her husband as he moved beside her, "What is this, a
>gathering of the displaced .."

>He shot her a dirty look and then smiled at the Lady, "Lady Tellari?"

>She nodded, "Yes. Please come in and have something to drink. I'm sure   
your
>parched after your long journey."

>"Long journey with no stops," Coneta added with a slight smile as she
>jabbed her husband.

Sherri led Aelxirn, Lothar and Coneta up the steps and into the house.   
Silently she sized up the lords and lady.

Coneta was the brains behind the Lothar estates - that was easy to see.   
She was a powerful, observant, good looking woman. Whether she would be   
up for the scheme that Sherri had dreamed up was anyone's guess. Sherri   
eyed her up closely. Coneta was obviously used to power and influence but   
she thrived on wealth and comfort.

"I must compliment you on your dress Coneta, it's most beautifully   
tailored. I simply must have a dress from the same tailor." complimented   
Sherri knowing full well that whoever had made the dress was like as not   
dead from Lothars brothers invasion.

Lord Lothar was not so good looking, or half as bright as his wife Sherri   
summarised. He looked to be filled with his own delusions of grandeur and   
oversized ego. He would jump at the opportunities that she was going to   
offer.

Aelxirn? Now he seemed to have the most potential - perhaps. Although she   
knew of his reputation for his violence and his knack for acting before   
thinking.

"Please make yourselves welcome. Lord Lothar and Aelxirn I believe you   
know one another." said Sherri inwardly smiling, knowing that their   
presence unnerve each other. "Aelxirn I have invited you here to be my   
house guest until we can resolve your situation.

The same goes for you and your wife Lord Lothar. I think you will find   
this house a great deal closer to your estates, and I am far more willing   
to help you reclaim your birthright than those at the warren are."

Sheri openly smiled when she saw Connotes eyebrows raise in surprise. So   
Lothar hadn't told her about the letter, interesting.

"Why are you willing to help me, us." asked Lothar.
"I assure you Lord Lothar that my *aid* is not freely given." Sherri   
raised a hand when it looked like both Lothar and Aelxirn were going to   
interrupt. " Neither of you have anything to fear, what I propose is a   
mutual arrangement to help each of us achieve certain goals. Before we   
talk details there is one other guest due to arrive, I am aware that he   
is on his way, but first refreshments.

I have had the servants prepare a light lunch out in the gardens, as it   
is such a lovely day. I have an inkling that autumn is on its way and   
there will be few more days as warm as today."

Sherri lead them out into the well kept gardens. The food was already   
laid out and awaiting the guests. Servants stood behind each of the   
chairs which stood around a large wooden table.

"I am afraid that after lunch I have a few pressing matters to attend to,   
which require my immediate and personal attention. I shall be away for   
much of the afternoon.

I must stress that you should use this house as if it were your own,   
please make yourselves at home."

Sherri left the table and disappeared for most of the afternoon, leaving   
the lords and Coneta to their own devices.

They said little to each other. Eventually Aelxirn broke the silence.
"So Lothar, what do you know about our mysterious hostess?"
"Yes Lothar *dear* what do you know about her?" asked Coneta.
"Well not much. I received an offer of aid to reclaim my lands, and as no   
one else seemed willing to help I came as soon as I could." squirmed   
Lothar.
"Strange that's exactly what happened to me. I came across a messenger   
who told me that Lady Tellari was offering a helping hand." mused Aelxirn

Coneta laughed out loud.
"Well, it seems no one knows anything about this lady, but she obviously   
knows something about all of us."
"It's intolerable - we should demand the truth from her. We are should be   
treated with the respect we deserve!"

"Respect you deserve Aelxirn?" sneered a voice from the direction of the   
house. Coneta, Lothar and Aelxirn turned towards the house. Standing   
there was Lord Haedin. "I see Sherri keeps 'interesting' company. Yes,   
quite the little nest of vipers."

Haedin strode over and sat at the table, pouring himself a goblet of   
wine. Coneta was the first to speak.
"I presume, Lord Haedin, that you received a similar message as we did?"
"So it would seem."
"Do you know of this Tellari woman then?" asked Lothar.

"Yes I know 'this Tellari woman' as you call her. She seem scharming   
enough for appearences sake, though be warned she's murdered her way   
through several husbands." smiled Haedin coldly.

"When did you arrive?" asked Aelxirn suddenly.
"Just now, it seems that Sherri isn't about the house. Her servants were   
most perturbed when I arrived."

There was an uneasy silence round the table as everyone sat deep in   
thought. Time passed, and the servants appeared to clear away the remains   
of the lunch.

***********
[Xylian - after lunch]
"I am bored Sarilyn. H'lie just bores me to tears! Well it's not just   
H'lie, but most teachers! Gee he even gave us 'homework' I hate reading."   
complained Billy to Sarilyn.
"What did you do when you went to lessons?" asked Sarilyn. Billy looked   
uncomfortable;.
"Well to tell you the truth, I didn't go to lessons much," Billy paused   
and grinned "and whenever I did I made so much trouble the Teachers asked   
why I bothered!" Sarilyn playfully punched Billy on the arm.

Something caught Sarilyns eye.
"I've got to go, I'll meet you in the dinning hall for later!" said   
Sarilyn. Hastily getting up and running across the green.
<Bugger!> though Billy not quite to himself. Chai giggled.
<Cheer up, Sarilyns got things to do.> encouraged Chai.
<Like what?>
<Help Illara and study and things that *you* should be doing!>

Billy noticed that Sarilyn had run up to H'lie.
<I wonder what she's up to?>
<Probably asking about the work H'lie has set. C'mon Billy, lets have   
some fun.>
<Erm what do dragons like doing?>
<Anything but sitting around and moping.> Chai playfully started to bump   
against Billy.
<Aww come of it Chai you're not as small as you used to be.>

"Look there's M'tok, he should be up for a laugh!" exclaimed Billy. He   
got up and started to run towards M'tok.
"Hey M'tok, what you up too?" The blonde lad turned to look at Billy and   
Chai.
"Oh hi Billy. Where is everyone?" asked M'tok. Billy simply shrugged his   
shoulders.
"I was going to take Chai down to the lake and teach her to swim before   
it gets too cold. You want to come?" asked Billy. M'tok nodded and they   
started off towards the lake.

"Sarilyn and me were going to go of to town when Chai and Lunath were   
able to carry us. Do you want to come with us?"
"Erm yeah ok." said M'tok. Billy thought he heard an edge of uncertainty   
in M'tok but decided to ignore it.
"Last one to the lake is a sissy!" shouted Billy. M'tok and Billy raced   
of towards the lake. Chai and M'toks dragon looked at one another and   
then galloped after them.

Billy and M'Tok paused onlly long enought to strip to theior bare   
essentials. Billys eyes flashed over M'tok as he undressed.

<I agree Billy, he's quite cute. So's his dragon.> encouraged Chai.
<Oh, I didn't mean, er...> stammered Billy mentally turning slightly red.
<Don't fret honey bunch I won't tell Lunath. This is going to happen   
sooner or later - especially when I go on a mating flight.>
<But I like, no love Sarilyn.>
<Thats got nothing to do with. You're a dragon rider. You can love   
Sarilyna nd be her mate - as long as you both realise that there will be   
times when you get these urges. Now hurry or M'tokx will beat you into   
the lake!>

Billy glanced up and saw M'tok running towards the lake, Billy rushed   
after him. There were a series of splashes as the two lads and their   
dragons plummeted into the cold water of the lake.

[Tag Lisa. Erm M'tok was one of your NPC's wasn't he Lisa?]

*********
"Ah I see that you have arrived Haedin!" said Sherri as she stepped   
through the door into the main lounge. "I hope the servants have treated   
you well?" Haedin nodded in response.

"Well now that we are all here we can get down to business." began Sherri
"About time too, you've kept us all waiting for long enough!" snorted   
Lothar.
Sherri frowned but chose to ignore his outburst.

"Each of us has a goal that we cannot accomplish on our own. Aelxirn's   
and Lothars I am sure are to reclaim their birthrights and to return to   
their estates.

It's no secret that you Haedin seek more power, and destroy your sister.   
Before you ask my goal is simple, I wish to destroy warren Xylian." sated   
Sherri. the lords looked at her stunned. Aelxirn was the first to speak   
and he simply laughed.

"You wish to destroy the warren? You're as mad as I was. That is what I   
worked for and looked what happened to me. I have better things to do   
than sit here and listen to this nonsense." Aelxirn stood to his feet and   
turned as if to leave.

"Wait Aelxirn, I might be unbalanced certainly. I am not mad however. As   
I said we each have something to offer the other. Lothar his troops."   
there was a look of shock from Lothar."

"Yes I know about your hidden troops Lothar, you will find out how later.   
Haedin you have the political might and the know how of how to hurt the   
warren and the duchess the most.

Aelxirn, you have the one thing we all lack - an informant on the   
inside."

Realisation dawned on Aelxirn.
"I will not use Sarilyn this way! If she's hurt you'll answer with your   
life!" shouted Aelxirn his temper getting the better of him.
"She doesn't even have to know she is supplying you with information. I   
do not want to hurt your daughter - just punish the warren."

"Why?" asked Haedin pointedly.
"Why, because they hurt me in the past. They made me an outcast, they   
destroyed my life and now I want revenge." said Sherri. Everyone n the   
room could hear the venom with which she spat outthe words.

"So what do you have to offer?" asked Coneta who had up until then sat   
quietly.
"Ah for that you had best follow me." said Sherri standing up.

She led the lords out of the house and into the courtyard. Here there   
were horses already saddled for the lords and ladies to ride. They   
mounted the horses and rode out of the courtyard into the open   
countryside beyond.

An hour or so later Sherri called a halt at a cluster of trees. On foot   
the entered the trees. A short while later they came across a large cave.

"Now lords and ladies, please do everything I say without hesitation."   
said Sherri as she entered.

The cave was dry and dark. The floor was sandy and showed signs of recent   
use. The cave opened out at the back. As they entered the cave there was   
deafening  roar that shook the walls.

Lying in the centre of the floor lay a huge crimson dragon. Staring   
straight at the floors. Coneta let out a squeak of a scream.

<Quiet Innel! I told you they would be coming.>
<Yes my darling you did, but I do not trust them.>

"This will be my contribution to our efforts friends." said Sherri   
gesturing at Innel, the red dragon. "Innel is my dragon, we are joined   
and she has managed to lay two eggs. They will hatch soon enough and I   
will need to find people to join with the hatchlings."

There was a cold chilling laugh from Haedin. While Aelxirn and Lothar   
looked decidedly nervous.

"I have two other dragons currently. They scout out the land and tell me   
generally what is happening. I believe you have both met Tem," said   
Sherri looking at Aelxirn and Lothar "he is a dragon rider himself."

"Well," said Haedin "what do you propose we do?"
"That Haedin, is for us to decide." said Sherri.

[Tag Jill, Jeanette and Kris]

NRPG Hi everyone! Am I missing something, you're awfully quiet these   
days! Jeanette I'll send you a little mail as I've had an idea about out   
little trip into town.

James
xxx