Ce'lot
***
<<Early evening day of Ce'lot's search>>

He'd barely had time to get Carlynee and Halyn started on passing out
supplies as the dragons arrived bringing them when Aggie  stepped up to
him, with the tiny blonde form dragging a little behind her. "I've talked
Lecia into being a good girl and talking with you."

Ce'lot nodded his apprciation and turned to face his sister as Aggie backed
off and moved to help the others.

"I'm sorry this is a shock."

Lecia didn't raise her eyes to him, "You could say that."

Ce'lot took a deep breath. "I know you may not believe me, but when Mama
and Coneta .."

"Coneta?" Lecia asked raising angry eyes to him, "She talks to you after
what you did."

"I was set up," he said quickly defending himself. Then he shook his head,
"Look it doesn't matter what you think of me. As long as you're safe. Mama
was very scared."

"I just can't believe this," she said. "It's so unfair."

Ce'lot offered her a gentle smile, "You've grown up to be very pretty .."
He really didn't know what to say to her. But he'd been watching her, and
she was a lovely girl. A bit of Coneta's doing no doubt. She had the same
sort of walk .. and poise ..

That was when B'Lin stepped up and tapped him on the shoulder, startling him.

>"Sorry...didn't mean to scare you," B'Lin grinned because that had been
>exactly what he was trying to do.  "And I especially didn't mean to
>interrupt your conversation with the lovely lady."

>He made a small bow and managed to get a better look at the girl's legs as
>he did so.  A quick guestimation on her age put her at eighteen...perhaps
>even a little older.

>"Excuse me," he smiled his most charming smile at her as he looked up from
>his bow.  "My name is B'Lin, and I am a dragonrider."

>He straightened back up and gave the wingleader a bit of a smug grin.
>Women loved the dragonrider bit.

Ce'lot's eyes narrowed as he recognized the looks the man was giving his
sister!

>"My name's Lecia..."

>"A beautiful name for a beautiful girl....and you've obviously caught He-
>I mean Ce'lot's eye," B'Lin gave the other dragonrider a harsh glare.

"Go away, B'Lin .." Ce'lot hissed.

"Being a little possessive aren't we .. what would Bel think?"

"This is none of your concern .."

"Stop it!" Lecia screamed. The two men looked at her with wide eyes.
Ce'lot's wide in surprise, and B'Lin's wide in amazement as a satified
smile crossed his face.

"Lecia .." Ce'lot began.

"You have no call to send him away. Who said I even wanted to talk to you
anyway! I'm only here cause Aggie made me. If I had my way I'd be long
gone, back to Lotherra! I don't need your help and I don't want it!" She
turned to B'Lin. "Is your dragon here? Now?"

B'Lin grinned. "No lovely lady, but he can be here in a matter of moments
to submit to your every whim."

"Lecia!" Ce'lot said in disbelief.

She spun on him, "Where did you say *my* mother was?"

"She .. she's at the warren." The blonde was at a loss as to explain what
the girl was doing.

Lecia turned to B'Lin offering him a charming smile .. once which Ce'lot
recognized as one Coneta used when trying to get her way. "Can your dragon
take me to the warren to see my mother?"

"Anything you want, gorgeous."

"B'Lin, she's only 16!" Ce'lot glared at the man.

"17!" Lecia spat, "Which you'd know if you really cared. My birthday was
just last month. But you don't care. All you care about is yourself."

"A girl after my own heart," B'Lin chuckled. Ce'lot's eyes knifed through
him and for a moment he was glad that looks could not kill.

Lecia paid him no mind as she grabbed B'lin's arm and pulled him away from
her brother. "Thank the gold! If you hadn't come in .."

"I wouldn't have let him hurt you, babe."

"I just can't believe this. He's supposed to be dead!"

"He is?" B'Lin asked pointing back at the Wingleader who had thrown up his
hands and moved on to help an elderly man unto a dragon. He did catch the
man's blue eyes looking back toward them, and he grinned and moved to put
an arm around the girl, who had missed the glances between the two men as
she continued to mutter.

"He's a liar and a thief and I hate him!"

"Now now, you just tell B'Lin all about it."

Darril Lothar
***
<<as night begins to fall - same day>>

Once night had begun to creep over the city, Darril had brought the two
women back to the Castle.  Gerard was in the main hall as the three walked
in. "Darril, where the devil have you been?"

"I was worried about Lady Glynweith's companions being out alone in the
streets." He told them, the lie falling easily from his lips, for surely
had he known they were out there he would have been worried. "So I went out
with a carriage to give them the tour myself."

Gerard grumbled, "I needed you here!" He pulled his brother away from the
two women, "Things didn't go as well with the Duchess as I'd hoped. She's a
hard woman to read."

Darril couldn't help but think he thought she'd been perfectly clear to
him, but he held his tongue. "Where is the Duchess."

"She's accepted our hospitality for the night. She was tired from the
ride." Gerard told him, "But I need you to talk to her and make our case.
You can do it Darril. Show her who deserves Lotherra."

Darril nodded to his brother. "Of course, brother." He smiled and turned
back to the two women. "I'll show you to the Duchess' suite for the night.
It's been a long day."

Gerard nodded approvingly, "I'll see you in the morning then."

Darril watched as his brother headed up the large staircase toward his own
suite, before turning back to Wylla and Belarade, "Please come with me,
ladies." He smiled graciously as he led them up the stairs.

Ce'lot
***

Ce'lot hung close to B'Lin and Lecia as he helped either distribute food or
get folks on dragons for transport to the Warren. He wasn't happy about
this one bit. B'Lin would surely take advantage of the girl ..  and
probably in more ways then one! Ce'lot's blood boiled as he thought about
it. It never occured to him that that might have been how B'Lin felt seeing
Belarade with him.

He was even less happy as he spotted B'Lin's dragon landing and him helping
the girl up. He saw the man move to the side to speak to a dragonrider who
was helping his family onto dragons, giving Ce'lot a moment to move in and
talk to his sister.

"Lecia, let me take you to Mama."

"No, go away."

"I don't like you going with him."

"You have no say .. you're dead!"

"Lecia .. please," Ce'lot didn't like resorting to begging, but the girl
was being unreasonable and childish. He wasn't used to that sort of
behavior.

"I don't want to talk to you." She said, her blue-grey eyes looking down at
him, "Go away!"

"You heard her, Mr. Wingleader." B'Lin grinned coming up behind him, "Go
away. She's going with me." B'Lin climbed nimbly onto his dragon's back,
taking a seat behind the pretty blonde. "Now back away, or you might get
mussed."

Ce'lot had no choice but to move back from Glay's powerful wings. He
watched the dragon take off into the darkened sky.

"There's soldier's in the woods!" he heard a man call, "Aggie's been hurt!"

Ce'lot pulled his gaze away from the disappearing dragon and ran toward the
commotion. People were ducking behind trees as arrows haphazardly flew
through the air. He was relieved they'd gotten the elder and the very young
away on dragons already .. including being even thankful that B'Lin had
taken Lecia away. He hoped those remaining were strong enough to fend for
themselves.

He saw several of the larger of the refugee men in a fray with about 6 or 7
soldiers. He jumped in as well, knocking an aiming crossbow out of one
guards hand.

***
<<late night>>

The moon shone down on the now sleeping band of refugees. There were only a
handful left. Those who for one reason or other did not want to go to the
warren. Many because they intended to go back to Lotherra for family or
friends as soon as they could.

Ce'lot had his back to them as he stared out at the stars.

"Are you going to sleep?" he heard Carlynee say behind him.

He turned to her, smiling a bit as he spoke, "No."

"How many more groups do you think are out there?"

He shrugged, "I'm not sure. But at least Lecia's safe." Under his breath he
added, "I hope."

"She's safe." a deep voice said. Ce'lot looked up in the moonlit sky to see
B'Lin striding toward them.

"Didn't expect to see you back." Ce'lot said, his blue eyes regarded the man.

"You mean you hoped I wouldn't be back."

"I'd hoped your attitude wouldn't be back." Ce'lot retorted.

"Can't get rid of me that quick. My sister's still in Lotherra .. or did
you forget."

"I didn't forget. You got Lecia to my .. her mother."

B'Lin nodded, "You coulda told me she was your sister."

Ce'lot eyed the man for a moment then turned away. "Why? She didn't seem to
be to happy about that fact."

B'Lin snorted, "No she doesn't much care for you."

Ce'lot frowned but didn't answer. It wasn't worth arguing with him about.

"I think I'll go lay down before we get started again in the morning." He
winked at Carlynee, "Care to join me?"

"I don't think so," the artisian scoffed.

"I'm wearing you down..." B'Lin said with a smile.

When he had gone Carlynee moved to sit next to the wingleader, "So .. did
you do all those things they're saying you did?"

"All those things??" Ce'lot asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Stealing jewlry from Coneta .. seducing her .. murdering your own father?"

"What!!?"

Carlynee chuckled lightly, "Well you know how they say the story grows as
it gets passed along. The last thing I heard was that you were actually a
spectre come back to haunt Lotherra and hunt down the object of your
desire."

Ce'lot stared at her for a moment trying to figure her out. Then realizind
she was joking he chuckled lightly. She joined his laugh and shrugged, "I
don't believe any of it. You certainly don't look like a ghost."
"What do most people think?"

"That you're a theif who got lucky." She said simply.

He nodded, he'd seen the way many of them had watched him as he helped.
Those who hadn't know a thing about him before today, knew all kinds of
stories now. And depending on how they talked while at the warren .. He
sighed. "Doesn't surprise me."

"So what's the truth?"

"The truth is .." he frowned, "The truth is once again I'm gonna have to
fight to clear my name. I only hope I have a better chance this time." He
looked over at her, "You should get some sleep. I want to leave in a fe
hours to get to Lotherra while it's still early, if at all possible."

"What about you?"

"I'll sleep in a bit."

***
<<dawn - day two of Ce'lot's search>>

When the first light of dawn began to stream through the trees, Ce'lot
woke. He'd probably only slept for a couple of hours. But he wanted to keep
moving. He had to get to Lotherra .. for Bella? for himself? He wasn't
sure.. He just had to go.

He woke B'Lin, Carlynee and Halyn and moved on to the horses. It was quiet,
with the exception of B'Lin grumbling about ruining a perfectly wonderful
dream. Ce'lot was more concerned with the young woman, Halyn. She'd been
very quiet on the trip. He'd begun to think maybe it hadn't been such a
good idea to take her along. It was only a few hours to the surrounding
farmlands of Lotherra .. it wasn't going to be easy for her.  But he
couldn't send her back to the warren alone either.

He noticed Carlynee sticking pretty close to the girl and he approved. The
normally flamboyant artisian seemed to have a sense that the girl shouldn't
be alone, and she was keeping a bit of a comfort zone around her.

Coneta
***
<<lunchtime>>

Coneta eyed the woman. She was attractive and poised .. obviously a lady
and she knew how to pay a compliment as well as the next ..

"I must compliment you on your dress Coneta, it's most beautifully
tailored. I simply must have a dress from the same tailor." she said.

Coneta smiled and nodded her thanks. She thought briefly of her dress
makers, wondering how many of them were still alive.

>"Please make yourselves welcome. Lord Lothar and Aelxirn I believe you
>know one another." said Sherri. "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."

Coneta frowned slightly, wondering what she was talking about. Lothar
ignored his wife's razor-like stare and asked. "Why are you willing to help
me .. us."

>"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."

As the woman led them out to the gardens, Coneta elbowed her husband, "What
is going on?"

He shrugged her off, "Wait and see."

"In other words, you don't know, do you?" she whispered.

He ignored her and she fumed. What was he thinking! She knew what he was
thinking. He was trying to come up with yet another scheme to add more
power to his holdings.. which at the moment were very slim!

>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."

Lunch was simple and elegant, and after traveling all day and night, it
tasted wonderful to Coneta. She complimented Lady Tellari on her chefs
before the woman was called away on her errands.

>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. She did enjoy
watching her husband squirm, when faced with a question she knew he
couldn't answer.

>"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."

Coneta frowned. Haedin too? What was that woman up to. Lothar and Aelxirn
were fairly harmless .. well at the moment anyway. But Lord Haedin was
dangerous. Not to mention he gave her the creeps!

>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 seems charming
>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.

"Well," Coneta said, "If no one objects, I would like to take advantage of
the Lady's hospitality while I can and get refreshed. I'll leave the three
of you to plot and plan all you want." She turned to her husband. "Just
remember the old saying Regil. 'Kick 'em when they're down' .." She left it
hanging as she knew no one had to tell Lothar how far down he was right now.

She smiled cooly at  the others and headed back into the main house to seek
out a servant.

***
<<Sometime later that afternoon>>

Coneta listened to the words of the woman, who though she looked sane was
obviously not very sane at all! Destroy the Warren? For what purpose. She
knew Lothar despised the warren, but that was because he was greedy and
didn't want to pay his tithes.. what was her reason?

Haedin asked the question they all were thinking. "Why?"

>"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 in 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.

Coneta almost groaned when she saw the horses. The last thing she wanted
was more traveling .. she hoped it wouldn't be too long of a trip ..

>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.

Coneta let out a squeak of a scream. She certainly had not thought to see a
dragon! And this one was huge! Larger then the bright red that had given
her a ride to the lake ..

>"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.

"You can't fight the warren with three dragon and two eggs." Coneta said
finally finding her voice after the shock of seeing the large dragon.
"Xylian has several hundred dragons and riders."

Regards,
Ce'lot & Britche
***
NRPG: Taylor .. have fun with Lecia. She's like a miniture Coneta
basically. But spoiled and more then a bit immature :) She'll definitely be
one of those who would instantly fall for B'Lin's charms. Especially since
he helped her get away from Ce'lot!

Jill, Feel free to ask Darril anything ..

Cheryl, I hope I didn't take to many liberties with Carlynee ..  but I
needed someone to sorta solidify in his mind what he had to do.  No more
hiding .. he want's it all out in the open and over and done with.  This
has nothing to do with the warren .. it's become personal. He doesn't want
to be the 'theif' that got away anymore :)

Also, I didn't mean to skim over the fight so much, but I'm really not so
good at writing fighting scenes .. so feel free to add more..

Lisa, almost to Lotherra :):)

Oh, BTW on my last post with Gor'd .. Lisa (who writes at Jasra) pointed
out to me that Vignette did not take refuge at Jasra .. tho she did take
refuge somewhere safe :)

James, I didn't do much more then quote stuff for Coneta .. sorry. But I
really don't know what your plans are.. and Coneta and Lothar too are in a
bit of shock at the moment anyway :):)

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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