< At Nambril Manor >

  Kedrina slipped from her bed, feeling happier than she had in quite some
time.  Turning to tuck the covers gently about her love, who had come back
into her life, she smiled and hummed as she washed and headed to
dress..leaving her long hair flowing behind her.

  She headed downstairs, to get something light to eat, and chuckled.  Her
new eating habits were helping her become even more fit and trim than she
had been already.  She laughed out loud at what love was doing, and earned
a smile from one of the servents.  Though she'd started calling them by
their names and treating them with more respect than Aelxirn had.  In
turn, she was reaping the benefits, and the manor was happy.

  As she sipped a glass of chilled juice, one of the servents slipped
inside with a rather worried expression.  "Lady Kedrina, there is a
problem, I think."

  She closed her eyes, sighing softly.  Eventually, all the little
problems would be completely ironed out and things would be somewhat
normal again..until then, though...
  
  "What's the matter?  Let's talk about it and maybe we can get it fixed
before the morning meal is over with."

  Kedrina offered the young man a glass of juice and waited, patience on
her face, and a smile at her lips.

  The young man blinked, took the juice and shook his head.  "I don't
think so this time, Lady Kedrina.  This is strange to say the least."  

  Setting her glass aside, the woman arched a brow.  'Strange' wasn't used
all that much around here since Aelxirn was gone, and she didn't like the
sound of it.  "Explain what you mean about strange, please?"

  "Well..remember back when you sent those overdue tithes to Xylian
Warren?  Usually, the drivers of the train come right back and let us know
that all went well, or that something was missing or needed, and the
like..."

  Kedrina felt a warning tickle at the base of her neck, and sat up more
attentively, she definately didn't like this now.  "Yes, and so?"

  The young man sipped his juice, and sighed softly.  "We still haven't
heard from any of the people driving the tithe train.  It's like they
disappeared completely.  And there has been no word that the train even
reached Xylian at all."

  Kedrina blinked.  "Not at all, you're certain?  Maybe a simple
miscommunication?"

  About that time, yet another servent, this time a girl, hurried into the
room, carrying what appeared to be a message.  "M'am, there's a problem."

  Shaking her head slowly, Kedrina crossed her legs, secretly smiling at
the feeling of being relaxed in pants instead of stuffy gowns.  But she
wasn't all that relaxed right now..another problem?  She poured another
glass of juice, and held it out..her other hand reaching for the message.
"This seems to be the day for them, I fear.  Well, let's see what's going
on, and get things fixed then."

  She broke the seal of the message, and frowned as it was one that she
didn't readily recognize.  The contents were short, and to the point.

  'Thank you for your generous contribution of supplies.  We hope that you
will continue to provide such valuable support.  Of course, if you return
what you stole from Aelxirn, your contributions will no longer be needed.'

  She actually cursed, bringing startled looks from both servents, and
slammed the message down on the table.

  "Something the matter, 'Rina?"

  She turned to see M'ris, dressed and smiling at her from the doorway,
though his eyes held concern as well.  He stepped into the room, and moved
to give her a hug before settling into the chair next to her, glancing at
the message.

  She passed it over, and sighed.  "It seems that the tithe train that I
sent to Xylian with all the back tithes we owed...or should I say, Aelxirn
owed, never made it.  I'm thinking it was waylaid or stolen.  This will
not look good to the Warrenlady.  I need to explain that we did send those
tithes...and she needs to see this."

  M'ris frowned as he read, and sighed softly.  "Looks to me as if someone
is trying to make you look bad, or worse, turn the Warren against you.
But is Aelxirn capable of it?"

  Kedrina shook her head slowly.  "At one time he might have been, but he
doesn't have the funds or the resources to do anything this bold.  This is
someone else's doing, and I don't recognize the seal either.  I think we
need to contact the Warren, M'ris.  I wonder if anything else untoward is
going on."

< At the Tellari Estate >

  Sherri chuckled as the messenger arrived, relaying the news at the
message had been delivered to Lady Nambril, and that the new supplies were
being put to good use.

  "Good news, wonderful in fact!  I do hope that Aelxirn apreciates what
I'm trying to do for him.  Soon, that 'Lady Nambril' will be gone, and he
can have his rightful place again.  And when we are through with the
Warren...well..this is going to go much better than I'd originally
planned."

  She glanced up and arched a finely trimmed brow.  "And the drivers and
people of the train?  What of them?"

  The man smiled.  "Convinced that they might be better off elsewhere,
Lady Tellari, though one got away, we are trying to catch him now."

  Sherri nodded slowly.  "See that you do.  And see why Aelxirn hasn't
returned yet.  It shouldn't take this long to gather up a few
insignificant items from that ratty inn he was staying at.  Maybe you
should send Daltem or someone else to check on him.  I don't like to think
that our only means of information about Xylian has gotten himself hurt or
worse.  We need him to get at that daughter of his."

  The man bowed and slipped out.  And Sherri smiled...this was going to be
very enjoyable.  Very enjoyable indeed.

[Tag:  James (if you can),  Jill,  Kris]

[NRPG:  If you want the others at Sherri's place to get in on this, ok!]

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Jeanette
Lady Kedrina * Nambril Manor