[Rhia -- before talking to Ilara (day 2)]

"If they find out what he's done, they'll kill him.  He may not be
perfect, but he's trying to help... and even he doesn't deserve that.  What
can I do to help?  I just can't sit back and do nothing!  I can't!"  The
young woman began to sob, though the sound was somewhat muffled, and Rhia
heard the man shift, probably to put his arms around her.  "I'm scared,
H'lie...for you, for Rhia, my friends here, and my father."

"Shhh..."  H'lie crooned softly.  "It will be okay."

Rhia kept her expression impassive, trying to decide if she believed the
claim.  A titled Lady with a dragon?  A queen?  That seemed unlikely...
but it was so completely bizarre that it was hard to believe that the
rather unimaginative Aelxirn of Nambril had just made it up...  But then,
it was hard to believe that the man cared enough about Sarilyn to warn the
girl.

"Thank you for bringing this information, Sarilyn," Rhia said 
thoughtfully.  "For now, there isn't much any of us can do until we get
more information.  I know you don't want to just sit and wait, but we 
have no choice.  The plateau will be locked up by winter soon -- the
patrols have all been encountering winter storms -- and there won't be much
anyone is doing to go anywhere."  Unless Lothar attempted to re-take
Lotherra in winter, which was possible, though more than a little crazy,
but that was a matter for the Duchess, though the stability of the region
was a concern.

<< Queri, when will Ce'lot and the others be back? >>

< Some time tomorrow. >

<< I see.  Tell Chalia that I will need to have a conference with her
tomorrow, when Ce'lot is here.  I don't intend to go over this more than
once. >>

Rhia bit her lip thoughtfully.  "Sarilyn, I will have riders keep an eye
out for your father, and in extremis, I will offer him sanctuary here...
but he will have to ask for it."

"He'll be in danger..."

"Yes, I imagine he will, particularly if Lord Meradh is involved.  But
brutal as Haedin Meradh is, he's unlikely to throw aside a useful tool if
he thinks he can use it.  The question is whether that message got here
without one of Meradh's spies seeing him."

"What can we do?"

"I don't know yet," Rhia ran a tired hand through her hair.  Trouble,
trouble, trouble!  She needed Ilara trained and ready to take her place! 
There weren't enough hours in the day for one person to put out all of the
erupting fires.  She sighed.  "I don't know, but I will.  I swear that to
you, Sarilyn.  I will."

-------
[Next morning, when Ce'lot rides in (day 3)]

< Britche says that Ce'lot needs to see you. > Queri announced as Rhia
pulled a brush through her hair.

<< Tell Sianna to tell Chalia.  I need to speak with both of them, as soon
as possible. >>

< I see, > Queri said disapprovingly.  Queri wasn't overly fond of Sianna,
who was, apparently, a bit aloof and very quiet.  < Sianna says that her
human will be there.  Do you wish me to tell Primeta and... >

<< No.  I'll let the WingLeaders decide what they're going to do. >>  Rhia
twisted her fingers through her hair with practiced ease, putting it up. 
<< Shall we go down? >>

< I'm hungry... >

<< Then go hunt, beloved. >>

< Come with me... >

<< If I can make some time later today, I will, but I can't now, beloved. 
Not yet... Oh, tell Erkvinen that I need Ilara in the office immediately.
>>

< Rhia, my daughter isn't even awake yet. >

<< Well, that's too bad, >> Rhia told her dragon stoutly.  << Your daughter
is a queen, beloved, and her human is a queenrider...  And I need her in
the office at this meeting. >>

Rhia pulled herself onto Queri's back, and they flew down to the little
building that held the office.

Rhia dismounted as a small, breathy voice greeted her from the side.

"Good morning, Rhia."

"'Morning, Chalia," she shivered a bit in the early morning cold.  "How are
you?"

<< Where's Ce'lot? >>

< Speaking to his family...  Brit says he's on his way. >

<< Good. >>

"I'm fine, Rhia.  What's going on?"

"We've received some disturbing information...  Let's go in, shall we?"

"Aye.  It's a bit chilly this morning."  The two women went inside and
S'dan greeted them from his desk in the corner.

"Did you sleep at all last night?" Rhia asked laughingly.

"Of course.  I happened to get up early and I saw Ce'lot and the others
ride in."  A fire crackled in the fireplace and Rhia walked over to enjoy
the glow as the door opened.

"Good morning, Ce'lot."

"Um... Good morning."  The man sounded startled.  The door opened again and
Rhia recognized Ilara's light tread.

"Good morning, Ilara.  Ce'lot, why don't we start with your report and then
we can get on to business..."

------
NRPG --
<eg>  Tag all.

Welcome back to the Warren everyone!  After the morning meeting with Ce'lot
and co, Rhia will be wanting to talk to everyone who went on that little
adventure, so feel free to drop on by ;)  Please don't go beyond evening of
this 'day' -- I'll be writing a 'fluid time' post presently (I know, I've
been saying that for a month, but I wanted to see everything tied up ;)

Hope y'all had a merry Winter Holiday Season (since I can never remember
all the names for all the festivals) and a great new year!

Cheryl -- so what's going to happen if/when Carl see's Ilara? (I'm dying of
curiosity here ;)

Lisa -- how's Halyn holding up?  What's Iralyn up to?  Feel free to jump in
some comments at training!  Not to mention... Day 2 -- afternoon practice
was *flying*...  Please feel free to vaguely listen to H'lie and get you
and your dragon up into the air!  (Which goes for everyone at training,
which includes you, Sarsif ;)

Sarsif -- How're things going?  I know you've been busy, but a post would
be good ;) :)

Jeanette -- Poor Kedrina...  Did the bad guys leave any clues that we can
use?

Kris -- You did perfect with both Haedin and Tevran :)  I wrote this before
your last post came out (I was waiting to see if I'd need to make any
changes..  Which I didn't ;)  I'll get something out on Haedin and co.
later (maybe today.  Mom had to go to the hospital this weekend so I'm a
little scattered right now.)

Taylor -- Gotta see that B'lin-Lecia combination...  He still set on
cold-bloodedly seducing the poor child (*snerk*)?

James -- are you going to be able to post?

Sam -- To you buddy, how's Ilara taking the pressure?

Bridget -- How're Rivirn and Chelea?

*hugs*

Jill
                 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*

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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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