[Carrying on from Kris's numbering - day three evening at the Tellari   
estates]

Sherri relaxed as Tem worked away the knotted muscles in her back with   
his firm hands.
"Did you follow Aelxirn?" asked Sherri as she almost sighed with   
pleasure.
"Yes M'lady, he went back to the inn where I found him."
"Interesting. I wonder how long until he hears about the 'missing' tithe   
caravan frmo his wife." Tem grinned as he rubbed her back working in the   
sweet scented oils.
"I'd imagine it won't take long, he probably has a few eyes and ears   
still at the village."

A short while later Sherri emerged again in time for the evening meal.   
She was dressed in a figure hugging dark velvet dress. She entered the   
dinning hall and found Haedin and Lothar already there.

"Good evening my lords. I trust my servant are looking after you?" Sherri   
laughed to her self when she saw Dawn rubbing her hand up Lothars inner   
thigh, gradually working her way up. Lothar was preoccupied and only   
managed a vague polite greeting.

Sherri turned and shared a smile with Haedin. He was certainly a good   
looking man, even the cruel glint in his eyes which served to remind her   
how dangerous he truely was merely excited her further.

<If you're so keen on the man, sleep with him.> said Innels voice inside   
her head. Sherri grinned but made no reply. She daintily walked up to   
Haedin. Resting her hand on his arm.

"If my servants are looking after you half so well as Dawn is looking   
after Lothars then I won't expect any complaints." Sherri smile and   
looked into Haedins dark eyes and was surprised to see him smile back.

"I take it that you have heard of the tithe caravan that went 'missing'   
on the way from Nambril to Xylian." Said Sherri who smiled sweetly as she   
noticed Haedin take in a breath of her perfume, and then another one. He   
obviously liked it, Sherri had spent a lot of time investigating Haedins   
likes and dislikes.

"I had heard a whisper or two about it, it was you who intercepted it   
wasn't it?"
"Ahh Haedin, I have to feed my dragons somehow." laughed Sherri kissing   
Haedin lightly on the lips.

"Speaking of Aelxirn and Nambril, did you know that he sent a messenger   
to the warren?" asked Haedin innocently. Sherri paused, this peice of   
informations was new to her. Tem would have to work hard for over looking   
this.
"Any idea what the message was?" asked Loather from the other side of the   
room. Obviously not totally oblivious to the coversation that Haedin and   
Sherri were having.
"Not yet, but my men have picked the messenger up - unfortunately they   
only managed to once he had delivered the message."
"What does he think he'll gain by helping the warren?" asked Lothar a   
confused look appearing on his face.

Sherri took a moment to study Lothar. He was lost without Coneta at his   
side to prompt and guide him. How long until he realised the fact, only   
the gods alone knew!
"Perhaps he has though he can gain more by helping my sister?" mused   
Haedin.

<Maybe he is looking after his daughter?> said Innels silky soft voice.
<Surely Aelxirn knows that he has now put his daughter in Haedins line of   
fire, he'd have done better keeping her out if the way.> replied Sherri

"Haedin, it's obvious he was acting in what he *thought* was his   
daughters best interests, perhaps we can use that to our advantage?"   
suggested Sherri.
"Yes it would obviously be a hold over him." replied Haedin

"Meanwhile we had best make a move on the Lothar estates before Gerrard   
tries to organise his troops further, if we delay my guess is that it   
would draw the duchess into the conflict and who knows perhaps the warren   
as well.

I'll leave the plans for you two to draw up, I can help you with the   
arial combat and advise you on what the dragons can and can't do."

"How long until the eggs hatch?" asked Haedin.
<Not long my sweet, I can hear them already. They are close and I have   
started naming them. Where are the people to join with my children?>
<Hush Innel, there will be plenty of searchlings at your hatching. I   
won't make the same mistake twice.> asured Sherri as she winced in   
emotional pain as she remembered the pain that Innel had felt as they had   
lost the hatchling who had not joined.

"Innel says that it won't be long now. We need more people to join,   
urgently!" stressed  Sherri "Then Innel and her children will be free to   
provide support to your ground troops. If we wait a few months we will   
have lost the element of surprise but then the newly hatched dragons will   
be ready and trained. It is up to you my lords!" said Sherri.

There was a noise at the far end of the room and Sheri glanced over and   
was surprised to see Coneta and a guard of Haedins enter the room. Sherri   
smiled inwardly, glad to see that Coneta had managed to regain her grace   
and composure. She wouldn't be surprised if Coneta gave Haedin a run for   
his money!


[Sometime after Sarilyn and Rhia's little chat about the letter from   
Aelxirn]


Billy hovered impatiently outside Sarilyns door. He was nervous and   
excited at the same time and was almost hopping from one foot to the   
other. He had made a special effort to look nice. He felt awkward in   
these 'smart' clothes and longed for his usual comfortable clothes.

<Relax, she'll be over the moon to see you! Who wouldn't be?> said Chai
<But we haven't really spoken since she's been back.>
<Lunaths tells me that something is up with the warren, and that   
Sarilyn's involved somehow. After all she is going to be busy. she is   
helping the junior queen rider now.>
<Yeah I know.> sighed Billy.

He reached out and knocked on the door, there was a muffled reply. Billy   
opened the door and peered round. A large grin spread across his face as   
he saw Sarilyn curled up on her bed with a book on her lap.

"Hi, you ok?" asked Billy cheerfully "I missed you, and no one would tell   
me where you were. I was worried - and so was Chai."

Sarilyn put the book down on the pillow next to her. Billy walked over   
and sat down next to her. He paused slightly, was it his imagination or   
was Sarilyn looking uncomfortabe?

<It's your imagination dolt!!!> said Chai in exasperation.
<I'm not so sure.> countered Billy.



[Tag: Kris, Jeanette, Jill]

NRPG - Hope this will do - the Tellari estate stuff was moving along so   
quickly I had to re-write that part about 3 times!!!! Cool - keep it up!

It's been a while since I wrote I hope you all remember who I am *grin*!

Jeanette - I had no idea what Sarilyn is thinking or feeling at the   
moment so I kept it brief - I'll eagerly await your reply. and see what   
she has to say.

Jill - You couldn't let me a list of the post list for Xylian could you?   
(cute puppy dog eyes and everything) I have this feeling that the one I'm   
using is a bit out of date - let me know if I've missed anyone off!

Well guys I guess I'm back!

love and sticky stuff

James
xxx

"We shall not cease from exploration
And in the end of all our exploring
Will be to arrive where we started
And know the place for the first time."
                                 -T.S. Eliot