[Rhia -- Afternoon (see 'Timeline' post)]

Gor'd shrugged, "Well, I would like to explore them more. But I'd been gone
so long, I thought I should return and report."

"I'm very glad you did, Gor'd. You said there was good news."

"Oh yes, " Gor'd smiled, "A queen egg has been laid at Epion!"

Rhia smiled, delighted.  "How wonderful!  After that terrible accident with
the Wing...  I must send a message at once.  Will you go to the hatching?"

"Of course!"

"Well, stay here for a few days, Gor'd...  You should probably meet our new
Queenrider..."

"New Queenrider?"

Rhia laughed.  "Yes, we've a new one of our own, for which I am grateful!"

"Of course my lady."

Holding out a hand, she gestured for him to help her rise.  "S'dan and
Ilara are helping some people choose new apartments, but I would be
delighted if you would take dinner with us...  And let dragon-gossip do
it's work."

----

[H'lie]

"H'lie!  H'lie!"  The young, golden grandson of Elspeth ran into his office
just as he finished the minimal paperwork that Rhiannon made him do.

"Yes.. Rivirn, isn't it?"

The boy nodded, face pale.  "Please, sir...  Ice -- he's not hungry."

"What?"

"He's not hungry, not like the other hatchlings, and he's not growing as
fast, either."

H'lie's eyes narrowed.  "That's not a good sign... Let's take him to
Nineve.  How does he feel?"

"Okay, I think.  Just not hungry...."

"Then have him meet us on the Green and we'll take him to Nineve."

<...>

-----
[Haedin Meradh, evening]

"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.

"Oh, come now, my dear, I'm certain you didn't set all of this up without
some kind of plan."  Haedin smiled but his dark eyes glittered coldly.

Sherri flashed him a demure smile, "I may have a few ideas, my Lord.  But
come... enough business for this night.  My servants have laid dinner. 
Think on it tonight, and we can make plans tomorrow."

They rode back to the manor in thoughtful silence.  Haedin watched the
others dismount and enter the manor house.

"Is something wrong, my Lord Meradh?"

He studied her with dark eyes, taking in the tempting figure and the
seductive eyes.  "Perhaps.  Lord Lothar is not interested in helping me
gain control of the Plateau.

Sherri's tongue flickered out, moistening her lips.  "Perhaps not, Lord
Meradh, but for now, he is completely without holding... He can hardly
expect to take the Plateau himself."

He dismounted and walked over to her, lifting her down from her horse.  She
laughed richly, brushing against him as she moved toward the door.  Looking
back over her shoulder, Sherri smiled.

"Imagine it, my Lord...  Ruling Eos with the power of the Warren at your
side, not arrayed against you...  Your heirs ruling from dragonback... 
With nothing to stand in their way..."  Her hand trailed idly over her
abdomen, smoothing her gown as she turned and entered.

Haedin raised an eyebrow, a dark smile curving his lips.  Imagine,
indeed...


----
[Glynweith]

A knock came at the door and Glynweith looked up.  It was getting quite
late and she was becoming concerned about Bella and Wylla.  Wylla was one
of her best bodyguards, but in a conquered city such as this...

"Good evening, your Grace."  Darril Lothar smiled gently at her as he
ushered Wylla and Bella into the room.  "Your lovely charges ran into a bit
of difficulty down in the city...  I might advise that you send normal
guards with them if you need to send them into the city again..."

Wylla waved a hand negligently.  "Ah, my lord Darril, your assistance was
most appreciated... as was your tour...  your Grace, if you'll excuse me, I
am quite fatigued and would like to rest."

"Of course, dear Wylla."  Glynweith smiled graciously, knowing that in
reality the woman was going to go write up a report.  "Bella, Darril, would
you care to join me for a cup of tea?"


[Tag, Kris, Taylor]

-------
[Nineve]

"He's not hungry?"  Nineve knelt down next to the dragon, running her
fingers lightly over Icetek's stomach.

"No ma'am."

"But he doesn't feel ill?"

Rivirn shook his head.  Nineve looked at him curiously and placed a hand on
his forehead.  "How have you been feeling?"

[Tag, Bridget]


------
[Haedin]

As dinner broke up, Haedin waved to Lothar with a slight smile.

"Lothar...  I am glad that you are here.  I've a gift that I've been
meaning to give you."

"A gift, Lord Haedin?"  Lothar looked at him suspiciously.

Haedin's smile turned slightly edged.  "It's well known that your wife is a
bit... cold."

Lothar stiffened.  "My relationship with Coneta..."

"Is none of my business... How tiresome, Lothar.  You cannot get yourself
an heir if you don't share her bed... and she's getting on a bit...  Lovely
though she still is...  If you'll come with me..."  Haedin turned and
headed toward the series of rooms that Lady Tellari had dedicated to
himself and his men.  Lothar followed, frowning.  When Haedin got to the
door he wanted, he turned and looked at the other man.  "Honestly,
Lothar...  It's just that when I found this, I immediately thought of you."

The door opened on a young woman dressed in a thin, cotton shift... 
Luminously beautiful, with perfect, alabaster skin and blue eyes that
rivaled the sky at midsummer, she looked much like Coneta had when she
first married Lothar.  Haedin smiled at Lothar's gasp of surprise...  He
walked in, trailing light, sensitive fingers over her various attributes.

"Lovely, isn't she?  A perfect concubine for the Lord of Lotherra...  Any
child she gives you, no one would ever know from one birthed by that cold
wench you married...  Still a virgin --"  Haedin smiled slightly, "but well
trained in every other form of pleasure...  She will never say no -- she
can't actually, as she has no voice -- though she can hear you perfectly
well, and will obey your every whim..."  Haedin brushed a hand down the
side of her neck, "Won't you, my lovely toy?"

The girl nodded, fear of him flashing in her eyes before she lowered them
demurely.

"What's her name?" Lothar stuttered.

Haedin chuckled.  "Whatever you choose to call her...  Goodnight, Lothar...
 Sleep well..."

-------
[Morning, Nineve]

"All right, Malic -- up you get..."

A voice groaned from the bed and Nineve chuckled lightly.

"You're better now, Malic.  It's time for you to move out from the Med
Center and time for you to find an apartment."  She studied him carefully,
smiling as he brushed a silver lock of hair away from his face.  "Since you
didn't quite finish training, I suggest that you got talk to H'lie about
finishing it...  As you know there's a class in session..."

[Tag, Sarsif!]

-----
NRPG --

There ya go, kids :)

*hugs*

Respectfully Submitted,
Jill E. Flansburg
Rhiannon, et. al.

  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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