[Rhia -- backposting a bit, to the day that she talked to Carlynee]

"Ah milady ... if it's not to much to ask.  Is there any way Lavine 
and I could have seperate rooms?  Two artists sharing one room is um, 
rather cramped.  And if it's not too much trouble ... could we use the
room that we had used for the Fair as a place for art classes?  We 
have our certificates and are ready for such a challenge I'm 
certain."

"Of course.  Ilara, take care of that would you?  You've looked at the
list of open apartments more recently than I have..."


<...>
[ Back in the present ;) -- meeting with B'lin.  Taylor, I'm changing this
to Rhia's office since there is no way she'd ever meet B'lin in her
apartment ;) ]]

Someone entered the office, stumbling slightly and Rhia frowned slightly as
she shut the drawer on the cabinet in the back storage room and navigated
her way into the main office.

<< Queri, who is it? >>

< B'lin. >  Queri's disapproval was evident from her voice.

"B'lin?" Rhia asked aloud, scenting the faint traces of alcohol but keeping
her face impassive as Queri snorted in the back of her mind.

< Glay had to fly him around a bit in the upper air to try and sober him
up. >

<< Glay told you that? >>

< No.  I saw B'lin coming out of Nashell's apartment and he was
staggering. >

"Yes Rhia...it is I.  You called for me?"  B'lin's jocular tone pulled her
out of conversation with Queri and Rhia held her temper with iron control. 

"Yes..." Rhia nodded.  "I need to speak with you regarding a few things
that have come to my attention."

"Such as?"

"It has taken me a while to compile the reports of your behavior at
Lotherra, B'lin, but I would like an explanation for why you would defy my
orders regarding giving support to Gerard Lothar."

"Ma'am?"

"And then there is the small matter of your mate..."

"Mate?  I don't have a mate, my Lady --"

"Oh?"  Rhia smiled slightly, with an edge of danger.  "You mean to tell me
that you are living with a sheltered, underage LandBound girl and she is
not your mate?  Does *she* know that?"

"My lady --"

"A moment, B'lin," she cut him off with a soft tone that could have etched
glass.  "I am responsible for the welfare of everyone within the bounds of
this Warren, dragonrider.  Not just the WarrenBorn, not just the
Searchlings, and not just the dragonriders.  Lecia of Lotherra, from all
accounts, is a snobbish, gently raised, *innocent* girl.  She isn't one of
the sophisticated young things that you find here in the Warren, so I would
like an explanation, from one LandBorn rider to another, what the hell is
going on if Lecia isn't your mate.  Ce'lot's sister is not a whore, and I
will thank you not to treat her like one."

[Tag, Taylor]


-----
[After B'lin leaves]

< Rhia, there's a transfer who wants to see you... >  Queri's voice was
mischievous and Rhiannon frowned.

<< Queri, what are you -- >>

< Oh, nothing...  Talk to the nice man, Rhia... >  With a mental giggle,
the senior Queen of Xylian trailed off and Rhia heard the beat of wings. 
There was a knock on the door and Rhia turned her attention from her
mercurial dragon to the business at hand.

"Come in, please.  It's cold out there..."

The door opened and Rhia felt a blast of frigid air before it swung heavily
shut.  She turned her face to the door and smiled welcomingly.

"Who is it?"

"My name is J'res, rider of Tleilaxu..."

"Ah!  The new transfer."  Rhia's smile brightened.  "Welcome to Xylian,
J'res!  I hope you had a safe trip."

"I did."

"Wonderful..."  Rhia waved toward the chairs before her desk.  "Please, sit
down..."  Her hands caressed the fronts of several drawers before opening
one and pulling out a list and a small map.  She laid them on the corner of
the desk near where she had heard him sit and gestured to it.  "This is the
list of free rooms and a map of locations...  mark the ones you'd like to
see and Ilara, our Junior Queenrider, or S'dan, my assistant, will take you
to see them...  But while you're looking, why don't you tell me a bit about
yourself and your skills?"


-----
[Glynweith, evening]

"He expects you to *what?*"

"He expects me to propose to you and that you will accept."

"Well, I don't accept."  The diminutive Duchess rose to her feet and began
pacing, oblivious to the sumptuous meal that had been laid before them in
the receiving rooms.  "Damn him, and damn his ambitions!  You're a fool,
Darril, if you stay by this madman.  Aside from his expecting you -- at
your age -- to accept his will in choosing a bride, do you seriously
believe that he will ever accept your sacrifices as what they are."

"He is my brother.  He is the most fit to rule Lotherra."

"'He is my brother and I shall not want?'  *MY* brother is Haedin Meradh,
of Daorith.  Don't you even *try* to tell me that it is necessary to remain
loyal to kin above the people.  Darril, that man is not worthy to shine
your shoes, let alone rule Lotherra!"

He stared at her and she whirled around in frustration.  "Come with me. 
Uheni!"

The tall Chief Advisor appeared beside the door.  "Your Grace?"

"Bring Bryn and Her Serenity, the High Lady of the Temple to my private
chapel immediately."

"Yes, your grace."

"Wha--  What are you doing?"

"You are getting married.  I am adopting Bryn into the Allari family."

"But..."

"Do you want your child to be born a bastard?"

"No..."

"Do you want to give Bryn your name?"

"Yes... but Gerard..."

"Darril Lothar," Glynweith announced in a deadly tone, "You have seduced
and impregnated my beloved cousin, Bryn Allari, and you will do the right
thing by her, do you understand me?  I am the ruler of this plateau and
your liege lord, and I will not tolerate this state of affairs.  You will
be married by special dispensation tonight, by the High Priestess of the
Gods.  What say you?"


[<eg>, Tag, Kris.]

-----
[Dawn, middle of the night]

She and Coneta stared at one another.

"We... we could work together, instead of against one another..." Dawn
suggested softly.  "My lord --" her tone made it clear she was not
referring to Lothar, "-- told me that you need an heir for Lotherra, and if
you will not bear one yourself...  All I ask is adequate repayment for my
services..."

"Such as?"

"We resemble one another enough to be close kin..." Dawn whispered.  "You
could sponsor me at Court, find me a wealthy husband..."

"You think Lothar would allow you to do that?" Coneta shook her head.

"My lady, once Lotherra has an heir, why would you continue to need him? 
You would have a legitimate claim to the Lotherra on your own..."

[<veg> Tag again, Kris ;)]

-----
NRPG -- Sorry that took so long, folks :)


Respectfully Submitted,
Jill E. Flansburg

                 X-FILES                         DRAGONLANDS

  Assistant Director                     Rhiannon, WarrenLady  *Xylian*
  Sterling Kincaid, Team Leader, ECHO    Elswyth and Aedra   *Keldarra*
  Damien Cunningham, UD DELTA            Katla and Satinka *Whiteriver*
  Xan X. Xavier, Trainer, Classroom A    Zera and Mazel       *Norwall*

 =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
			      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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