From: "Vasaris, the Fuzzy Dragon" <vasaris@az.com>

[Glynweith]

Something woke her in the still pre-dawn.  Lying still beneath the
wine
velvet coverlet, Glynweith opened her eyes to the steel light jabbing
through the windows of her rooms, softened only slightly by the sheer
draperies surrounding her bed.  Her breathing remained smooth and
relaxed,
and she listened.

There -- was that a footfall?  Had Haedin finally become confident
enough to
send one of his pet assassins after her?

Her hand closed around the hilt of a dagger.

"Your Grace?"

The voice was soft, coming from near the foot of the enormous playing
field
that claimed to be the ducal bed of Eos... and it was familiar.

Wylla.

Glynweith sat up slowly, her long, dark hair shrouding her features...
and
the knife.

"Yes, Wylla?"

"First, I must say that's the earliest you've managed to wake upon my
entering the room, and your reactions were, for the most part correct.
Next
time, however, do not open your eyes so fully.  Otherwise I might have
believed that you had remained asleep."

Glynweith laughed, placing the dagger back beneath the pillow.  "Is it
time
for me to be up?"

"No, but there is something that may need your attention, your grace."
Wylla began tying back the long, sheer draperies as a small coterie of
ladies moved into the room, uncharacteristically silent as they went
about
their daily tasks of setting up Glynweith's ablutions and selecting
her gown
for the day.  Glynweith had never quite understood what took so long
about
the second task, nearly everything in her closet was black, and even
those
things that were colored lent her a somber mien.  When was the last
time she
had had the option of being frivolous?

"What is it?" Glynweith asked as she rose and slipped into the
bathtub.

"Lord Regil Lothar has managed to regain control of Lotherra.  Our
rider
just brought the news.  I expect that he and Gerard will know
shortly."

Hesitating only a moment before lathering up her sponge, the Duchess
considered the intelligence.  So, Regil was now effectively
undisputed.
That would make things a bit more difficult for her plans for Darril.
But
she had intended to base her attempt to have the brothers removed from
power
based on their poor stewardship of the land and monies of Lotherra --
a
strategy that might still work, despite the hawks that would be so
eager to
support Lothar... until he managed to mortally offend them, which
wouldn't
take too long, unless Coneta started using her skills on his behalf
again...

"What news of Coneta, my ladies?"

"My maid told me that there is some gossip in the servant's hall this
morning, your grace."  This from Lady Elina Forten, the youngest --
and most
wealthy, saving only Glynweith -- widow in Eos.  Barely eighteen,
Elina
wasn't a beauty, but she *was* striking, having a vivacious charisma
that
could hold everyone in her thrall.  "It is said among the servants
that
despite the tensions of the evening meal, Regil and Coneta had a
spectacular
reunion."

"How so?"

"It is said that the boy, Anlon, is jealous -- every time he entered
his
lady's apartment, they were... vigorously engaged, and Coneta gave
every
sign that she was enjoying it and wanting more."

"*Coneta*?  As in Coneta *Lothar*?  Bedding her husband *and* enjoying
it?"
Disbelief was clear in Glynweith's tone just before she ducked beneath
the
surface of the water to wet her hair.  Wylla approached, carrying a
flask of
the honey-and-spice scented shampoo that Gynweith preferred to the
sickly-sweet florals of most court ladies.

"Begging for it, apparently.  Though given Gerard's reputation as a
lover,
perhaps it isn't unlikely."  Wylla noted as she began washing
Glynweith's
hair.  Scandalized giggles erupted.

"Oh, I don't know," said Lady Xelasi Merolin, "Lothar's said to be
pretty
inept himself..."

"Talking to your maids again?"

"Well, I've never met anyone of noble birth who wanted to bed him, not
even
his wife!"

The laughter started again, though Glynweith's eyes were sad.  "And
servant
girls have little enough choice if one of their masters demands time
between
her legs."

That silenced the women for a moment.  Then Kalina Relinar, Lady of
Vorexe,
shrugged.  "True.  There are many who prefer seduction to force,
however,
and no few of those maids who wish to better themselves on their
backs."

The duchess nodded calmly enough, just before Wylla dumped a bucket of
warm
rinse-water over her head.

"Back to the Lothars -- how much of the rumors are true?"

Xelasi blushed.  "I -- well, I was in that part of the palace..."

"Xela, your rooms are in another wing..."

"But Lord Anderen's are there --"

"Are you still with him?  I thought you had better taste --"

"Ladies!  Please --"  Xelasi had gone a fiery red, and Glyn took pity
on
her.  "Did you see something?"

"Well, I was passing Coneta's rooms, *on my way to visit Lord and Lady
Caridon,* and the door was slightly ajar to Coneta's rooms... I've no
idea
why, since it was quite firmly closed later.  In any case, the sounds
that
were coming from her and Regil, they were enough to set a wing of
dragonriders to blush!  It was clear as daylight -- her begging, even
the
sound of their bodies..."  Xela broke off, face flaming.

"Stayed to listen, did you?"

"Well, at first I was stunned!  Incredulous, even.  I couldn't make my
feet
move...  Bad enough that the door was ajar so that anyone passing by
could
hear such debauched sounds, but the utter amazement of Lady Coneta
Lothar
*keening* her husband's name as she... uh..."

"I think that would transfix many a person, Xela.  How long were you
there?"

"Five, maybe ten minutes.  I couldn't believe it, you see -- I waited
to see
if..."

"...if one or the other of them spoke a name again?"

"Yes.  And...  Well, Lord Lothar -- Regil, I mean -- well, he was
quite
noisy when he, um, well -- anyway, he shouted her name and, well, she
was
um, well... begging him."

"I had no idea you were such a voyeur," Kalina laughed.

"It was Regil and Connie Lothar, who wouldn't stop to gape?" snapped
Glynweith.

"Your point, your grace."

Glynweith laughed and got out of the bath.  "So she was enthusiastic.
What
a surprise...  she'd been sleeping with his brother."

"On orders?"

"Regil's?  I doubt it."

"They were with your brother."

"True.  Haedin would certainly do that."

She was dried and dressed in a robe as Xela did her hair.

"Coneta as Haedin's pawn?" Glynweith theorized.

"Possibly," replied Wylla.

Dressed in formal, unrelieved black, Glynweith glanced in the mirror.
Her
skin glowed like pearl against the darkness of her hair and dress, and
her
eyes seemed more eerily green than normal in the clear, radiant light
of the
newly-risen sun.

Today, the Council would meet.

Today, the Council would hear evidence against Sherri Tellari and
decide her
guilt.

Today, she would pronounce sentence.

Today, she would herself mix the cup that would put an end to this
nightmare.

Today, she would try, at least, to make Darril Lothar ruler of
Lotherra.

"Breakfast, my ladies?"

<...>

"Coneta!  You lying .. slut!"  Gerard Lothar roared, his voice echoing
into
the corridor Coneta and her Ladies-in-Waiting strolled through.

"Oh, dear," was all Wylla said before they turned to enter the
courtyard.

"How dare you speak to my wife in that tone," Regil said sharply,
glaring at
his brother as the duchess approached.

"I'd expect such treachery from you, brother dear!" Gerard spat, "But
you!"
he reached out and grabbed Coneta by the arm, pulling her towards him
and
wrapping his hands around her pale neck. "I trusted you! I loved you!"

"Wylla!" Glynweith said sharply, watching Coneta struggle against
Gerard's
choking grasp as he began to throttle her.

"Unhand her!" Regil shouted, pulling the decorative sword that was
slung at
his waist, "Or I will run you through!"

Gerard laughed, "Oh sure, now you play the doting husband. Do you know
that
this slut has been warming my bed the last few months? Telling me
about how
horrible a husband you are! Telling me how she wished you were dead!"

*Who wouldn't?* Glynweith thought irreverently as Wylla began to move.

"Let her go!" Regil warned again.

"She's going to DIE for her treachery. Adulterous, lying bitch!"

Regil swung his sword, cutting a bright red line across Gerard's left
cheek.
Gerard flinched and released Coneta as one hand went to his face,
while the
other reached for his own sword. "I can see first I'm going to have to
kill
you! I should have done it the first time! Lotherra is mine and
neither you
nor that treacherous whore you married can take it away from me!"

"So sorry, brother dear," Regil said with a wicked grin, "I already
did.
And now you'll pay for betraying me in the first place."

Wylla took her place beside Glynweith as swords clattered.

"We can't just let this continue..." the Duchess protested.

"My lady, interfering now would be most unwise.  Gerard called Coneta
a
whore in front of witnesses, and Lothar has little other recourse than
to
call his brother out.  That he should do so in the courtyard is
unusual, but
not unheard of."

"Wylla, someone..."

"Will probably die.  You will not increase your popularity by
interfering in
what most men here would consider their prerogative... even if their
wives
*have* been whoring.  No man here would stand for that."

"You place more importance on the fact that Gerard said that than the
fact
he tried to kill her?"

"Yes.  You know how it is... appearance is everything."

The clatter of swords brought their attention back to the fight as the
brothers sank to the ground.  One courtier moved to Gerard, placing
his ear
against the man's chest.

"He's dead!"

"So's this one..."

Wylla moved forward as Coneta ran to her husband's side, barely
sparing a
look for her lover, Gerard.  Lord Athlen held her back, holding her
shoulders gently.

"My lady... I am sorry. It looks as though the killer was poison. What
else
could have done the deed so quickly?"

"Many things, my lord," said Wylla.  She knelt next to Regil,
examining his
stupefied expression before closing his eyes with a gentle hand.

"Don't touch the swords!" someone warned as the guards came forward,
Lord
Uheni appearing behind them.

"My lady Wylla, that is for the doctors to decide."

Wylla nodded, raising her eyes.  "Have them check Lord Regil for signs
of a
heart attack -- his weight did not favor him, and this was most
unaccustomed
exercise for him."

"Indeed, my lady."

Glynweith smiled at Uheni's tone.  He was imperturbable in the
extreme,
though she knew that he did not entirely approve of Wylla's status as
a
bodyguard and advisor... more because it was unseemly for a lady of
gentle
birth to even be aware of death, let alone deal in it, than for any
other
reason.

"Guards -- be most careful taking these swords to the healers, as one
or
both may carry poison meant to kill.  Clear the courtyard if you
will..."
Uheni's calm order began to stir everyone.

"What -- no!  What are you going to do about this?"

Coneta's voice rose in a kind of hysteria, and Glynweith studied the
woman
with cool eyes.  There was some trickery in this, something strange.
She
looked into her brother's eyes, only to see a kind of non-plussed
amusement,
as though something had not gone quite to plan, but he was
contented -- in a
vicious kind of way -- with the results.

"Let it be known," she announced in a gentle tone that carried well
into the
courtyard, "that the council is called to session ninety minutes from
now.
Let all those with an interest in the ordering of the plateau be in
attendance.  Evidence will be given in this most monstrous morning, as
well
as the accused evil of Sherri, once of Xylian, who held title to
Tellari.
Let those assemble who would decide the fate of Lotherra, and other
holdings
as determined by the Council.  A light repast will be served to the
councilors in their seats."


Respectfully Submitted,
Jill E. Flansburg
Glynweith Allari, Duchess of Eos
Xylian Warren
DragonLands

             X-FILES                         DRAGONLANDS
Director, X-Files Division           Rhiannon, WarrenLady  *Xylian*
Sterling Kincaid, TL, ECHO           Elswyth and Aedra   *Keldarra*
Damien Cunningham, Forensics         Katla and Satinka *Whiteriver*
Xan X. Xavier, Trainer               Zera and Mazel       *Norwall*

                        Visit the XFRPG Web Site:
                http://www.steele.ml.org/~wiggly/xfiles/

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