There are 4 messages in this issue.
Topics in this digest:
1. [DL-N] What don't you understand
From: jim grace <darvituakblackhart@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
2. [DL-N] Another mourning that night.
From: jim grace <darvituakblackhart@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
3. [DL-C] The Parent Trap (JP)
From: trissana@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
4. [DL-N] Revelations and Greetings
From: "Tree Deutscher" <treedr@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
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Message: 1
Date: Mon, 14 Feb 2005 05:30:47 -0800 (PST)
From: jim grace <darvituakblackhart@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
Subject: [DL-N] What don't you understand
Day 6 early evening
<snip>
"Tell me what you remember" Link asked the big man.
<end snip>
Ranker looked puzzled, for he knew that he had just told him that he
does not know what is real in his memories. Still he responded by
saying, "Like I said, everything is a mystery in my head. So please
just tell me everything that happened that day, as if I was not there."
Ranker sat back smirking at his confedence that he made his self clear
to the dumb dumb.
<Tag Max>
Submitted by Jim AKA Ranker.
__________________________________________________
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Message: 2
Date: Tue, 15 Feb 2005 05:37:55 -0800 (PST)
From: jim grace <darvituakblackhart@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
Subject: [DL-N] Another mourning that night.
Day 6 mid night.
Ranker is awoken by the voice of a dear friend in his head.
{Ranker? You up?}
[I am now. What's wrong Kautiv?]
{I can't sleep. Please tell me a story.}
[Sure. Anyone in particular?]
{Yeah! The one about your dad fighting the town over you fighting with
those boys.}
[Okay. One time when I was young I caught those boys that fondled that
one girl before, trying to do it again. This time I laid the hurt on
them, as my father did me. The boys told their fathers, and the whole
town called a meeting to see what is to be done with me.
My father said to the people that what I did was just, that those boys
should not have been touching the girls in town the way they were. But
the town foke said that my punishment was too harsh. Then my father
said that this town was without honor, and that the punishment for rape
is death in these parts. So how was their punishment too harsh?]
Then he noticed that the big beast was asleep.
He tried not to think about the story anymore. For what he never told
his dragon, and thought of was that he did kill those boys for what
they did, and that it was a lot harsher rape then Ranker ever admitted.
Ranker laid there chained to the wall listening to Woodlenns beautiful
song that some how reminded him of Valatina's wedding.
Valatina was Ranker's one, and only love, that never loved him back in
the same way. They where always just friends.
Then he did recognize the song. It was that song that that professional
musician wrote for their wedding.
Ranker listened joyfully in sorrow for the loss of Val both in love,
and in death now. But he will try to keep his silent word on her
wedding day that he will never love again, and if someone could get him
to fall in love, and love him back in the same way. Then they deserve
him.
Submitted by Jim for....
Ranker and Kautivrad.
---------------------------------
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Message: 3
Date: Wed, 23 Feb 2005 23:41:29 EST
From: trissana@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
[DL-C] The Parent Trap (JP)
Med Center - Day 1
/snip from "Two For The Price Of One"/
"Nothing is wrong. This just will take longer than a usual birth,"
S'lomon stated. "Why don't you go with Andahar and... take a walk."
Kellie came and took the place beside Cynthia and pushed Trevor
toward
the door, "Yes, good idea."
"I think I'll go with them," Turner stated.
"No whiskey," Kellie murmured to Turner, "And I mean it."
Kellie, Andorra and Cynthia watched the three men leave the room,
and close the door behind them.
"Men no use when having baby," Andorra commented.
"She's absolutely right," Kellie agreed, nodding vigorously.
>From the other side of the room was came a snort, "I'm can still
hear you," S'lomon said. "You should at least wait until I've left the
room to disparage my gender."
Cynthia laughed, "Ok, most men are useless."
"That's better," S'lomon said walking back toward the bed. "Now,
let's see how you are doing." He examined her for a moment and asked,
"Do you feel ready to push?"
"I've felt ready," Cynthia replied.
"Ok," he nodded to Kellie who took Cynthia's hand. "Push. 5, 4,
3, 2, 1. Ok relax."
"I don't want to relax. I want to push more."
S'lomon nodded, "Go ahead."
Cynthia pushed for what seemed like an eternity that was more like
5 minutes. First came the head. Then the shoulders, the worst part.
Then the rest. S'lomon expertly tied the umbilical cord, and Andorra
cut it with a quick prayer to Anavasha. The baby, her baby took his
first breath and wailed heartily before Kellie took him and wrapped him
in a blanket. She handed the bundle to Cynthia who cradled her son
against her.
Andorra was probing her abdomen with expert hand, and she had a
concerned look on her face that S'lomon had learned to recognize.
"Andorra?" S'lomon asked softly, not wanting to alarm Cynthia or
Kellie.
"There is another baby," Andorra announced.
"What?" Kellie and Cynthia asked in unison.
"Another baby," Andorra explained, "Twin."
"But I don't feel like I..." Cynthia was cut off by strong
contraction. "Oh, never mind." She handed her son carefully to Kellie.
"Um... Let me know when I can push."
A few minutes later Cynthia was cradling a baby in each arm. A son
and a daughter. She wondered out loud if that was why she was equipped
with two breasts, and couldn't quite understand the laughter in
response.
---
/snip from "Two For The Price of One"/
Trevor looked closely and saw that, indeed, the baby girl was
noticeably darker-complected than the boy. "I thought twins were
supposed to look alike," he said, looking back and forth between
Cynthia, Andahar, and Andorra. "I mean, I realize that they're not
identical twins...if they were, they'd be the same sex, right?...But I
thought..."
Andorra frowned at the last comment and looked at her cousin
curiously, before stating the obvious to Trevor, "Each twin look like
father."
Trevor looked confused. "I'm confused," he said, looking back and
forth from Cynthia and the babies to Andorra, and then to S'lomon.
"So am I, to be truthful," Cynthia said. Together, the proud parents
looked at the two healers.
/end snip/
S'lomon looked uncomfortable, but seeing that everyone was looking
at him, he cleared his throat and began talking. "Well, you see...I
don't KNOW that this is what happened, and it would be a medical rarity
if it did, but it IS possible..."
"What's possible?" Trevor wanted to know.
"Well, it's possible that a woman can conceive..um, twice...from,
um..two different...well, you know..."
Trevor looked at the babies, once again noticing how different they
looked. He looked at Andahar and Andorra with a questioning look on his
face.
Andorra shrugged, her mastery of the Dragonland tongue was not
sufficient to explain this one. She turned to her cousin and told him
in their native language how she believed the two babies had come to
be.
Andahar sighed as he translated quickly, "Two children, one mother,
two father. You... and me."
Cynthia's mouth formed a large O, she looked at Andahar and then
Trevor. "Do you remember that night we spent together..."
"Ah, night with mating flight... remember Bohoc was too injured
to fly and I had that wine and..." Andahar smiled with the memory.
"Yes, about nine months ago." Trevor continued the thought and
grinned at Cynthia, "You were amazing."
Kellie slapped his arm, "Not in front of your mother."
Cynthia laughed, "We were all fairly amazing."
"Well, yes, but maybe it was day at lake... or..." Andahar
speculated.
Trevor narrowed his eyes in thought. "Or... was it the time
that Triss made that funny tea of hers in the bathing pool...or was I
thinking of something else? My memory from that day is a bit fuzzy,
I'll admit."
Realization began to sink in that he and Cynthia and Andahar
had...well, that S'lomon's explanation could well be correct. He looked
at Cynthia. "Um...okay, well...how are we going to work this?"
"Work this?" Cynthia said.
"The twins..."
"Are twins," Cynthia replied, "Our twins." As if on cue, they
started to squirm.
Trevor knelt at Cynthia's side and looked at the baby cradled to
her breast. He felt like they were both his, even though he now
understood that the baby girl's parentage was different...but this one,
the light-colored baby boy - of that one, there was no question. He
leaned over and gazed with wonder into the small, wrinkled face. The
eyes were not yet open, but he had the strangest feeling that the baby
knew he was there nonetheless. He extended a finger down, and was not
surprised at all when the small fingers wrapped themselves around it
and
squeezed.
"He's going to be a strong one!" Trevor said, grinning. He turned
his head to gaze softly into his mate's eyes. "You did a heck of a
job," he said, reaching out his other hand to gently stroke her hair.
"It was a joint effort by all three of us," she said wearily as she
reached out to grasp his other hand.
"They're both beautiful," he said as he looked from one baby to the
other. "Have you thought of a name...I mean, names?"
The Warrenlady arched an eyebrow. "I'm taking suggestions," she
said. "Perhaps you and Andahar can come up with some ideas?"
"In the meantime," S'lomon announced, "there are some things I need
to do for both the babies and the mother, things that are better done
without the father...er, fathers...in attendance. If this weren't a
warren, I'd suggest that you go out and tell all your friends the good
news, but I'm sure your dragons will have told every other dragon in
the
warren by now. Still, perhaps there's something you can do to make
yourselves useful for half an hour or so?"
"I can think of one thing," said Cynthia. "We need a crib."
"We have a crib," Trevor began, then caught himself. "Oh..."
"Right, it's not a double," said Cynthia. "Why don't the two of you
go over and see if Alania has something suitable in that warehouse of
hers. Either a double, if she's got one, or another single."
Trevor and Andahar were quickly ushered out by Andorra, and told to
come back when Leis let their dragons know it was ok. They walked past
the waiting queen as they exited the front door of the Med center, and
Syren gave each of them a happy nudge with her nose as they went past
her. Trevor gave her a pat on the nose and then looked around as his
own dragon made her appearance from around a corner of the Med center.
Evidently she had finally realized that the surgery rooms had no
windows
for her to look through. She walked slowly behind Trevor and Andahar as
they walked toward the quartermaster's office.
[My rider, I have been thinking about something,] she said. [What
are we going to name the hatchlings?]
He looked back at her as he walked. *What are WE going to name
them?* he asked.
She cocked her head. [I don't know, that's why I asked you. I
*did* have a suggestion, though,] she hinted.
*You have a good name?* he asked.
She nodded. [Trissana,] she told him proudly.
Trevor couldn't help but laugh, and this drew an odd look from
Andahar until he motioned his head to indicate the dragon following
them. Andahar nodded, knowing that he'd hear all about it after their
talk was over.
*Yes, dear, you have a VERY pretty name,* he agreed, *but that
doesn't help name the babies.*
[No, no, THAT is my suggestion!] she insisted. [I think it would
make a lovely name for the hatchling!]
*Well...for the girl...maybe,* Trevor conceded. *But naming her
will be between Bohoc's and Syren's riders. We need a name for a
boy...er, male hatchling.*
Triss thought a moment. [I still think it would be a very pretty
name!] she insisted.
Trevor rolled his eyes. *I'm not sure he'd agree with you,* he
told her. *Can you imagine how a boy named Trissana would get teased by
the other kids?*
[Nobody ever teased me about my name,] Triss told him, now sounding
a bit self-conscious.
*That's because you're a dragon, and a female besides,* he reminded
her. *He'd probably want to kill me, so you and I would need to make
ourselves scarce. I can just see myself sitting in some seedy tavern
twenty or so years from now, and in walks this tough-looking kid who
yells, "My-name-is-Triss...now-you-take-this!!" right before he busts
me
across the face with a chair. Hm, now, I did know a guy at Keldarra
once
named Tristan...*
[Perfect!] she decided. [And you could call him 'Triss' for
short!]
*Well...*
[Just please do not call him Kup-kake, because that would be
confusing,] she said.
*I don't think you have any worries on that score,* he said, sighing
with relief as they rounded the corner and the quartermaster's office
came into view. *I will, um, talk to Cynthia about this...*
********
Quartermaster's Office
When they got to the quartermaster's office, Andahar stopped
just outside, suddenly wondering, "How am I going to tell Alania?"
Trevor cleared his throat, and turned to the dejected-looking
Nomad. "Well, look at it this way," he said lamely, "you're not losing
a lover...you're, um, gaining a...crib?"
The Nomad blinked and stared at Trevor, "You think Alania
would... because of..." He shook his head, unable to utter his fears.
"No, I will talk to Alania. We are all clan now."
"Whatever you say," Trevor said, trying to look nonchalant.
"But, um...you and Raine...weren't you 'clan' too? Or was that
something else?"
Andahar stiffened, "She betrayed my trust! She has baby of
another man.... and..." Andahar sighed and squeezed his eyes shut, "I
have baby with other woman. I see your point, Trevor. I do not deserve
Alania."
"Isn't that for her to decide?" Trevor asked gently. "After
all... the night this must have happened, wasn't that before you even
met Alania?" he asked.
Andahar nodded, "Yes, but...?" He shrugged helplessly and then
nodded toward the door. The baby changed everything. But how could he
explain it to Trevor?
Leaving Triss waiting outside - with the promise that her rider
would bring her back one of those tasty sausages from inside - the two
riders walked into Alania's office.
"Um, we have a problem," Trevor told the quartermaster. "We,
um, need another crib."
"We...you mean you and Cynthia?" Alania asked, an excited look
coming into her eyes.
Andahar's face was unreadable as he said softly, "No, we. Trevor
and Cynthia and me. Cynthia have twins. Boy and girl."
"That's fantastic! Congratulations Trevor!"
Trevor cleared his throat. "Um, thanks, but...well, I'm not the
only one that's due congratulations...I guess..."
"You mean Cynthia? Well, as soon as I see her, I'll be sure to
congratulate her, as well..."
"No." Andahar frowned.
Trevor saw Alania's eyebrows go up, and he looked back at Andahar.
"Do you want to explain?" Trevor suggested to Andahar. "She might
rather
hear this from you. Or, maybe it would be safer to just have Bohoc tell
MoonDancer?"
Just then, Trevor got an urgent mental summons from outside.
"Alania, I hate to be a bother," he sighed, "but *someone* outside
thinks she should get one of those smoked sausages for all of her help
today."
"You need to explain to Trissana that those are intended for the
warrenfolk, not for dragons," Alania reminded him. "But what the heck,
this is a special day so I guess she's entitled." She handed him the
sausage and he nodded thanks.
"I'll be right back," he told them as he went back out the door.
Alania was watching Andahar with a look of concern on her face. "Are
you ok?" she asked. "I thought you would be happy, seeing how much you
like children and all." She reached for his hand, brushing her fingers
along his. "What's up?"
He managed to smile and nod. Children were a blessing and he
enjoyed being with them. "Cynthia has... one boy and one is girl... but
Trevor is not...." Andahar's forehead creased in consternation. He
still wasn't sure he could translate what Andorra had tried to explain
to him, and S'lomon really hadn't explained it any better.
Alania's eyebrows shot up. "Trevor is not? He's not what?"
Andahar sighed and shook his head, "Trevor has one. Trevor has
son." Andahar's head drooped, "I have benna -- daughter."
She blinked. "Um, excuse me?"
"Andorra explained to me. Cynthia fertile. Both men plant seed.
Both seed grow." He shrugged helplessly.
"Oh..." She leaned back against her desk, looking thoughtful. She
didn't know what to say now.
"I must ask her to be wife. It is only right. But... what about
Trevor? I do not know rider custom. Nomad, one man can have many wife,
but can one rider wife have many husband? Will Cynthia become mate of
both?" Andahar shook his head and looked at Alania, pleadingly. "What
do I do?"
She looked up in surprise. "You what?!" She backed away from him
and frowned. "What do you mean you must ask her...." she stumbled over
her words and turned away.
"She has given child. It is Nomad way. Woman who is not married
presents man with child, then he marries her. It is why I was going to
marry Saleh, but she was not honorable! She...." he noticed the hurt
look in Alania's eyes and frowned, "I am sorry, I should not talk about
Saleh. She will never be our family."
"What if Cynthia doesn't want to marry you? And what about me?
You won't marry me unless I have a baby with you?" Alania trembled and
clenched her fists, her emotions once again getting the best of her.
Andahar sighed, "You think Cynthia will not marry me? That is what
I was afraid of! But how can we be family if she does not? What do you
do when woman has child of more than one man? Nomad woman does not do
that or man will send her away." He paced back and forth shaking his
head.
Alania turned and looked at him, narrowing her eyes slightly.
"Seems it's something you need to ask Cynthia, not me." She moved back
to sit behind her desk. "Now I have work. If you would please close
the door behind you on your way out." She looked down at the page on
her
desk in front of her without seeing it.
"But...?" Andahar blinked in surprise. "Do you approve then? You
must approve before I ask. It would not be right to ask if you do not
agree. I know some men do not care what first wife thinks, but I
promised you. I would not go back on promise."
"Andahar you can do whatever you want." She did not look up at him.
"But if you marry Cynthia you will not be marrying me." She looked up
at
him then, the hurt and confusion obvious on her face. "You promised me
you would not be with any other woman anymore, yet you want to marry
Cynthia...." She just shook her head and looked back down, exhaling
slowly. "Do whatever you want."
"I do not understand." Andahar stood there, crossing his arms over
his chest. "You are angry with me? I promise, you would be first wife,
even without child! You are 'murad' to me. I will not marry Cynthia as
first wife -- if she will even marry me."
She looked up at him. "Because I deserve to be with a man who wants
to be with me, and me alone. A man who will love me and no other.
Maybe that is selfish of me to think, and maybe I will never find that
man. But I will not settle for the first man who comes along and
captures my heart."
She sighed and brushed her hand over her face, wishing that just
once things would happen without disrupting her life. "Just go, talk to
Cynthia. It may not matter what you want to do if she does not want to
marry you."
"Your words confuse me. You can only love me if I only be with you
and no one else? You want me to act as if child was not born and mother
of child did not birth her? Should I not act as father does? Do I not
provide for child by marrying mother?"
Alania sighed and covered her face with her hands. "I dunno
Andahar. I don't know what to tell you. This was not something I
expected to have to deal with." She paused and then looked back to him.
"Talk to Cynthia. It may not be as you think it is." She sighed
again, hoping Cynthia would come up with something to convince Andahar
he could be the child's father without having to marry her. Truth be
told the whole thing still seemed odd to her.
Andahar closed his eyes tightly for a moment and just for that
moment he looked so young and uncertain. When he opened them they were
surprisingly shiny. Could it be tears? He blinked and turned away from
Alania, his voice was very soft, "I understand. You hope Cynthia says
baby is not mine. You wanted to be first in all things. But... Alania,
Andorra says baby girl is mine."
"No Andi, that's not what I want." Her voice was softer, sadder it
seemed. She looked down at the papers on her desk. After a moment of
silence she bit her lip. "I don't know what to tell you. I don't think
it is my place to tell you what to do."
She leaned back in her chair and ran her hand through her hair. "I
just need some time to let the situation settle in my head, I guess."
He was surprised by her use of his childhood name. Was he acting
childish? He swallowed and turned to her, "Situation. Situation is,
Cynthia and Trevor are... mates. I ask you because... I did not know if
dragonrider woman can have more than one... mate, and if not... how do
I
provide for child? Must I give her to Trevor? Alania, I do
not want to give benna away!"
Alania stood and walked around the desk. She looked at Andahar for
a long moment, then moved closer, wrapping her arms around him and
hugging him close. "I think it's not a decision you or I can make
alone.
If you want I will go with you to talk to Cynthia and Trevor. You can
tell them your concerns and together we will come up with a solution."
He returned her embrace, holding her tightly, breathing in her
scent. He released her gently and managed a weak smile, "Murad, I am
sorry. I ask you for advice... and did not think how it would make you
feel. But I would want you with me when I talk to Cynthia and Trevor."
She nodded. "And I am sorry for thinking so selfishly. I know how
much you should be a part of this child's life. I am sure that Cynthia
and Trevor know as well."
She hugged him again and then took his hand. "Come on. I want to
see the babies anyway. Let's get that crib on the way out."
Trevor was standing outside when they exited, conversing with his
dragon. Trissana was happily munching on the sausage Trevor had brought
her, or at least half of it. He was holding the other half in his hand.
"Sorry," he said, as he saw the other two come outside. "She didn't
want to eat it all at one gulp, so I got stuck here holding this half
waiting for her to finish the other one."
Andahar shook his head as he handed over the crib they'd brought
from inside. "Mapmaker has big problem," he said. "Has not finished
raising one child, must now start raising another!"
Trevor tossed the other half of the sausage upward to free his hand
to tie the crib onto the side of Triss' harness. Unfortunately, when
the dragon moved to catch it, she bumped Trevor with her shoulder and
he
sat down hard on the ground.
The crib went flying, but Andahar caught it. "Safer to carry
this," he said.
********
Med Center
Andahar paused outside of the birthing room. He felt Alania give
his hand a squeeze and then he knocked softly on the door. He was about
to say that maybe they should come back later, when Andorra came
bustling out, with an arm load of soiled sheets.
Andorra looked at her cousin, frowning, and said, "Why do you hide
in hallway? Go inside!" Then she turned and hurried away.
Andahar took a deep breath, but before he could get up the nerve to
step through the now open doorway, Alania pulled him through into the
room.
Alania smiled and then moved closer to gaze down at the twins.
"They are beautiful." Then she looked to Cynthia. "So are you."
She grinned at Cynthia, who rolled her eyes, and then moved to sit in
the chair near the bed. She glanced to Andahar.
He looked decidedly nervous. His palms were damp. He cleared his
throat and all eyes turned to him. It was now or never.
"Cynthia, I have been among dragonrider for some time, but still do
not understand all tradition... I see many couple who are mates but I
am
not sure if this is same as married...?"
Cynthia shook her head. "Dragonriders don't usually 'marry,'
Andahar," she said. "That is a landbound tradition, but....being mates
can be similar. Mates share the same feelings for one another that
married couples do, but at the same time they recognize that their
partners cannot be devoted entirely to them. The dragons make that
impossible."
"Marry is also nomad tradition." Andahar frowned, not sure if he
understood Cynthia's answer. He repeated what he had told Alania
earlier, "When nomad woman gives man child, he marries her to provide
for her and child, and make them part of clan. Nomad men can have many
wife, but nomad wife only have one man. I do not know if dragonrider
woman can have more than one... mate?"
Alania looked at Trevor, wondering what his reaction would be to
what Andahar said. The mapmaker stood rock-still, also waiting to hear
what Cynthia would say.
Cynthia looked at Andahar for a moment and a look of comprehension
crossed her face. She looked over at Trevor and flashed him a
reassuring smile. Then she fixed a serious gaze on Andahar. "Are you
asking me to marry you?"
Andahar held her gaze for a moment, and then looked at the floor.
When he looked up at her he said flatly, "Yes, it is the honorable
thing
to do."
Cynthia nodded slowly. "I am honored by your offer of marriage,
but I respectfully decline."
Andahar looked alternatively confused and shocked, "But I must
provide for benna..."
Cynthia held up her hand and cut him off, "I agree, but I won't
force you into a marriage that you do not desire in you heart.
Dragonrider customs are different than Nomad, and with good reason. Our
lives are full of mating flights, and our relationships reflect that.
Trevor and I love each other, but we understand reality, that we will
be
with other people. Our culture has also developed based on the fact
that we do dangerous things. Riders die. The community has a
responsibility to provide for all the children in the Warren."
"It is not enough to be part of Warren community," Andahar said
looking at the baby girl, "She is benna."
Cynthia smiled, "You worry that she will not know?" He nodded and
she continued, "They will know that I am their mother, and she will
know
that you are her father. You will always be welcome in our home when
you want to see her. Now, would you like to hold her?"
Alania watched as Cynthia passed the baby girl to Andahar. She
smiled as the look of fondness came across his face as he looked down
at
his daughter. She could easily see how much he loved the child who had
just entered his life. Suddenly she felt a squeeze on her hand and
glanced over to see Cynthia smiling at her. She smiled back and mouthed
a thank you to the warren lady. She knew that Cynthia would be able to
come up with something that would satisfy Andahar.
For a few more moments the adults in the room fussed and cooed
over the new babies. Then all at once Cynthia and the twins yawned.
"I think it time for some naps," remarked Alania as she stood to
go. Andahar placed the baby girl back with Cynthia and nodded. He took
Alania's hand and together they left. Trevor took the chair next to the
bed and soon all four left in the room were asleep.
Submitted by:
Alton (Cynthia & Syren)
Arlene (Andahar & Bohoc)
Rachel (Alania & MoonDancer)
John (Trevor & Trissana
Cleft Warren
Summary: Med Center, Day 1: S'lomon and Andorra attempt to explain why
Cynthia's twins each have separate fathers.
Trevor and Andahar go to the quartermaster's office to get a second
crib. On
the way, Trissana gives Trevor her ideas on names for the children. T
At the quartermaster's office, Andahar tells Alania of his parentage of
one
of Cynthia's twins, and also tells her that his responsibility to the
child
requires him to ask Cynthia to marry him. Alania suggests that they
discuss this
with Trevor and Cynthia.
Back at the Med center, Andahar makes his proposal but Cynthia explains
why
marriage does not work among dragonriders. They defer the question
while the
babies take their nap.
[This message contained attachments]
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Message: 4
Date: Thu, 24 Feb 2005 03:54:03 -0800
From: "Tree Deutscher" <treedr@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
Subject: [DL-N] Revelations and Greetings
Day 6 Mid Evening
<Snip>
As Delilah sat waiting for Ranker to eat, Ranker opens up, and says,
"So you again? Huh? what is it? do you find me inturesting, or do you
just have to come here now?"
Ranker sat down to him meal. <meat, and potatoes again?> He thought to
himself.
"So? What do you know about what I'm in here for, and what's your
conection with the guy?"
<End Snip>
Delilah stared at the man without emotion. 'Connection'? She had no
connection to the dead man though she did know of him. It had taken a
bit to sift through the memories of before but she'd finally remembered
him and he'd been like the usual men that hung around the taverns,
preening like overstuffed turkeys instead of being home with the
families they so professed to care about. She'd seen him a time or two
at the warren alehouse and it was always the same. But he'd held no
interest for her then, nor did he now.
"You know you could say something instead of just sittin' there staring
at me!" Ranker snorted in-between bites. Taking a drink from the flask
she'd brought he wiped his chin with the back of his sleeve.
Delilah's head tilted as she eyed him narrowly, "You know you're just
like them. A brutish animal that preys on those weaker then you!" She
exclaimed in a hoarse whisper. The emerald gaze held Ranker's for a
moment longer then she slowly rose to her feet. "Your kind don't
deserve to live." With a swish of her skirt the dark-haired woman
hurried out of the jail leaving the prisoner to ponder about the
strange visit.
Day 7 Early Morning
She had just poured herself another cup of coffee and sank back into
her chair. Throwing one leg up on the desk Breezy leaned back trying to
collect her thoughts. So far her investigators had validated Ranker's
claim at not striking the first blow. Yet his *overzealous* nature had
caused a senseless death and the villagers were demanding blood despite
the facts. Unfortunately, Ranker's gruff personality had alienated just
about everyone that knew him and finding any character witness's would
be difficult.
There was a light tap on the door and she bade enter dropping her foot
to the floor.
She arched a brow when the handsome accountant and young scribe filled
her doorway. "And what can I do for you gentleman this morning?"
As the drawing was shoved across the desk at her Breezy started
slightly her eyes widening before she bent forward to examine the
picture more closely. Awed by the detail she looked up at Jocko, "Wow,
you are good!"
The young man grinned broadly, beaming at the praise.
"You know Breezy," Jack began, "this is quite a detailed painting you
saw. Whoever did it was an exceptional artist....?" He left his
sentence dangling as he watched the Sr. Wingleader expectantly.
Breezy arched a brow at the teacher and she gave him a sly smile. It
was good to know he could be trusted. "Actually Jack, Jocko is the only
artist here. We ran across our friend here when we discovered the
crypt. He was a bit petrified, of course but real none the less."
The accountant's eyes widened and he leaned back in the chair and
crossed his arms and looked from the blonde man to the redhead. "If
these things actually existed and if what Jocko is saying is true about
the dragons of old being scared of them. Where'd they go? And just what
are they? There's been nothing like this around ever that I know of?"
"I think I can answer that," Jocko answered digging though the armful
of scrolls he held. "I've gotten this one partially transcribed, "It
describes them a little bit. I think this is a diary from someone
important but I'm not quite sure yet." Carefully unrolling the ancient
text he quickly scanned the flowery handwriting, "Yes this is the one..
....the scouts are sure that the dark creatures come from beyond the
barren wastes of the outland. A place that none has dared venture
before, a place beyond mortal man. We had thought to drive them back
from whence they came, but all our efforts have been futile. They
disappear shortly before dawn and return each night like a sickening
swarm of death. Now that all the forest herds have been decimated they
are drawn to the temples in hopes of feasting on dragon flesh. Several
of the men have tried to follow them to find their dens but were
severely wounded in the process. They still take little interest in us
humans and treat us like annoying pests more then an enemy. All they
want are the dragons and even though we have managed to hold our own
their numbers are endless.
I have sought counsel with Casmian and his father about evacuating both
our peoples, but both adamantly refused saying they would not be driven
from their home by mindless beasts. I had then suggested that maybe it
would be best to send the dragons away until we could find a way to
defeat these horrible creatures of the night, but the dragons have
refused to go. They fear for our safety and what would happen to us if
the beasts were to find them gone. Daily my worries grow as my people
look to me for guidance and I have so little to give....
Jocko fell silent and the only sound that was heard was a low whistle
from the accountant.
Breezy leaned back in her chair her brows furrowed in deep thought. Too
many things were happening to be mere coincidences and this whole thing
was getting plain weird. The bleached bones of the huge herd and those
of the dragon she'd seen only a couple of days ago swirled through her
mind. She was definitely going to have to get with Jale to see if he'd
found anything out about the bones she's left with him. Plus, there was
still the mystery of the skeleton that had been dug up inside the
warren to contend with.
"There's something else I found you should hear," the young man spoke
softly pulling out another scroll.
"Which one is that, it looks different the others!" Breezy asked
curiously, inwardly trying to quiet the creeping chills running up and
down her spine.
"It is, I think it's older! A lot older! I found it in the.um.." Jocko
glanced sideways at Jack then at Breezy not really sure how much he
should say.
The Wingleader smiled, "Jack is a trusted aide you can speak freely."
Jocko nodded his eyes sparkling with growing excitement, "I found this
one in the crypt in a cubby beneath the altar. The handwriting is
totally different then any so far I've seen! It took me a bit to figure
it out but it's a very very old and rare form of script! It's kind of
description from what I can tell." Clearing his throat Jocko once again
began to read. "
*I have found that the Sword of Illumina is a weapon of great power and
only those of pure heart dare touch it. The mighty Zephryia, leader of
all dragonkind, crafted it for the Goddess of Light. I am told that
even though a Dragon Empress can forge many swords, by the laws of the
nature she possesses the power to create only one such magnificent
weapon in her lifetime. The hilt is made from blackened bronze and gold
and is molded and sculpted into a dragon's claw. The claw holds a
unique blue stone that is known as the dragon's heart and is said to
hold the very soul of the dragon. The metal for the blade is a gift
from the Ancients and is forged with the Empress's flame and sealed
with her blood. It is said to imbued with the energy of all that is,
and magic more powerful than time.
Beware! To wield the mystery of Illumina's blade is peril to the dark
of heart!*
Breezy blinked in disbelief. Was this the Sword Galen had told her
about, his quest for the King that had sent him into the wasteland so
long ago? A futile quest that had brought him through a perilous
journey to Norwall? If it was, she knew exactly where that sword was,
and he was going to be sorely disappointed.
Sighing deeply she rocked back running her fingers through her hair to
lace them behind her head. "Well shit damn!"
Jack openly gaped at the scribe his face filling with recognition as he
turned to the redhead. "Isn't that...wasn't that.." he stammered.
"Yeah, it probably was!" Breezy answered with a roll of her eyes.
Jocko looked between the two in confusion, "Was what?"
A sad look came to the big blue eyes, "That description you just read
fit a sword that left here with a friend of ours awhile back. But lets
get something straight right now. I don't believe in myths, legends or
ghosts and I certainly don't believe in curses! Let me have the picture
and that scroll, the last thing we need is for them falling into the
wrong hands. With the way things have been going around here people are
ready to believe anything, we'd end up with a riot on our hands. I'll
need to talk to Jeneve about this. Jocko, I know you have other duties
now with the children and training, but the faster you can translate
those things the happier I'll be!"
Jocko nodded solemnly, and Jack leaned forward eagerly. "I'll help
anyway I can!"
"Good idea, two heads are better then one. Jack, shift some of your
duties to a few of the others as inconspicuously as possible that will
give you more free time to help Jock."
The accountant nodded vigorously with a huge grin. "I'll get right on
it!"
"Well I guess we're done for now, but keep me informed!" Jocko nodded
and rose to leave with Jack following suite, "You know the drill guys,
not a word leaves this room!" Breezy added as they walked out the door.
{Tag: Carina and Katie - so what trouble can these two get into?}
Day 7 Late Morning
"Shitshitshit!" Breezy muttered hurrying out her office door to almost
run down Jeneve and Devareaux. "Oops, sorry about that!" She said
taking a step back.
"What was that you were saying!" Dev asked with a smirk.
The little wingleader pursed her lips sourly at the tall man.
"Lord Tallon is here!" Jeneve exclaimed her pretty face etched with a
multitude of emotions as she spoke.
"Yeah, I heard!"
"Then you'll join us to welcome him?" The warrenlady asked with a
wistful smile.
"Oh of course!" Breezy answered forcing a smile. What else could happen
this morning the redhead thought, sighing inwardly?
[Do you really want to know?]
*NO!*
[Ohhhh o-kay then!] Coo chuckled through the mindlink.
[..]
The young Lord had just dismounted when the two Queenriders and the Sr.
Wingleader approached. The stormy gray eyes took in the pale blonde
warrenlady his breath catching in his throat at the sight of her. She
had grown even more beautiful over the long winter months. The reports
they'd received about the warren since leaving the mountains had not
been good and he'd brought even more supplies from Ryensmoor. It had
been a long trek from the estates and he'd been impatient to see Jeneve
as that's all he'd thought about for months. Now that he was here all
he could do was stand and stare at her. The haunted faraway look in her
eyes brought a momentary frown and he hoped it was only the rigors of
her position causing it and nothing more, yet there was something
different about her.. The fact that her hand was linked through arm of
the tall man walking next to her was not lost on the handosme royal as
he moved to meet the trio.
Ignoring the others Tallon's gaze was only for the willowy beauty and
his frown turned into a warm smile, his deep voice was like a gentle
caress as he reached out his hands to greet her. "My beautiful lady,
how I have missed you!"
{Tag: Carina - Ok the boy is back in town! :D)
Breezy's pasted smile drooped when she saw the Mayor and the Judge
hurrying their direction.
{Tag: Eddie - So what have those two been up too and how 'bout dem
bones? :D}
Respectfully submitted by,
Tree Deutscher
AKA
Breezy, coo and Delilah
**Summary**
Day 6 Mid Evening
* After giving him his dinner Delilah lets Ranker know what she thinks
of him
Day 7 Early Morning
* Breezy gets a visit from Jocko and Jack about some interesting
discoveries
Day 7 Late Morning
* Breezy, Jeneve and Dev go to meet Tallon and Breezy isn't too happy
to see the Mayor and the Judge heading their direction
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