T'rend - Marrid Warren (Early evening of the council day)
****

T'rend once again stopped into the Medical center to check on Shard. He
felt partially responsible a the lad had been under his care when the
wraith had escaped and attacked him. So he made it a habit to check on the
boy whenever he had a spare moment. Not to mention the fact that it had
given him opportunities to catch glimpses of the lovely A'Rillia. 

He couldn't stop the grin which spread across his face at the thought of
their conversation earlier that day. Things were looking up. Even Grall had
mellowed at bit in his sarcasm toward the queen and her rider, probably
because he'd seen how happy T'rend was after having been with her this
morning. This time she had proved it had all been a miscommunication and
had not left his heart broken.

T'rend heard a voice in Shard's room and thought perhaps D'ssarian and
C'tain were talking over the boy during a shift change, as it was getting
later in the evening, and probably time for D'ssarian and C'tain to switch.

But as he drew nearer he knew the raspy voice did not belong to either
C'tain or to his father. T'rend moved to stand in the open door and looked
in. There he saw Shard sitting on the edge of his bed rambling. T'rend
wasn't clear on what the lad was talking about, but he was so glad to see
the lad sitting rather then laying pale and unmoving.

"Shard!" he said, "Shard, you're awake."

The lad, still looking rather pale, looked at the man with hazy eyes, "It's
not his fault you know."

"What isn't lad?" asked T'rend.

"The poisoning, my father and uncle had nothing to do with it." Shard said
his expression still blank. His voice, though raspy was even and there was
no hint of the lad's usual stutter.

*The poisoning?* T'rend wondered.

<Shard's father is supposed to have poisoned the dragon's of Norwall many
years ago,> Grall said, always as eager as the average dragon to spread
gossip which wasn't common knowledge. <Chaldecony is distracted, T'rend.
Perhaps his riders disorientation is wearing off on the dragon.>

<Keep an eye on the dragon, Grall. I'll make sure Shard is alright. Tell me
if there is any change in the dragon.>

<Very well, I shall be a watch dragon for now.>

T'rend nodded slightly, keeping his attention on the boy, "Shard, do you
know where you are?"

The youth looked around the room, and shook his head, "Is it jail?"

T'rend grinned lightly, "No lad, I think you're a tad confused after having
been out for so long. Lay down. I'm going to get a healer."

Shard allowed T'rend to push him back on the bed, then the older man headed
out of the room looking for one of the healers. He found C'tain sitting at
his desk scanning some notes. "C'tain," he shouted, "Shard's awake."

The healer looked up and quickly set his papers down, heading quickly
toward Shard's room. T'rend was right on his heals, telling him what the
boy had said. "He's disoriented," T'rend finished.

"I don't doubt it," said C'tain, "He's been in a coma for the entire
summer. Let's just hope disorientation is the worst of it."

They entered the young man's room. Shard had sat himself back up again, and
was rambling again. "Uncle D'Gerritt took care of me. Don't say things like
that."

C'tain and T'rend pulled up chairs, trying to reorient the young man.

****
<D'gerrit---- Norwall Warren>

He struggled upwards, through layer after layer of unconsciousness,
battling against the fog that had tried to cloud his mind for so long.
Snippets of conversation, hushed and muffled impinged on his awareness..... 

"..... the Healer's guild."  

"We can't keep him......"

Recognition came slowly.  Lilliana talking about sending someone to the
Healers guild?  Who?  Struggling futilely he was dragged down once more by
the tide of darkness.......

The journey upwards was easier this time, the layers lighter.  Voices,
muffled by distance....

"... no sign of returning consciousness."

"Well let me know when....."

He tried to open his eyes, but they were gummed shut and he didn't have the
strength to raise his hand to wipe them.  Naomi!  Gods bedamned bitch!  It
was all her fault, all of it, all the plans and strategy and humiliation of
the years of servitude to Jaquel washed away by that whore and her sister.  

Angry tears stung his eyes as he sunk back into oblivion.... a curse for
his tormentor echoing in the vaults of his skull. 

******
<Lilliana>

"And you're sure that he hasn't shown any signs of waking up?"  Lilliana
asked Nash, the orderly, as she gently wiped the tears from D'gerrit's
cheeks  

"No.  I came in to check on him and I noticed the tears, but there's been
no other signs of his coming out of it."  Nash answered  "I've been
checking him 4 hourly up to now... should I increase the frequency?"

"Hmmm.  That would be a good idea.  The tears are the first positive sign
we've had since this started.  If he shows no further signs then I'll go
ahead and have him transferred.... But I really hate to admit defeat
D'gerrit.  There's no *reason* for him to have been in a coma all this time!"

Nash placed his hand briefly on Lilliana's arm, squeezing lightly to show
her that he understood her frustration;  

"You shouldn't take it as a personal affront Lilliana."  he told her  

"I know!  I just hate to be beaten."  she smiled briefly  "Just keep a
close watch on him....."

******
<D'gerrit>

The room was dimly lit, only a night light burning on the night table.
Passersby in the corridor beyond the partly open door causing shifting
shadows on the ceiling, looming and receding with no discernible pattern.....

Dizzy and lethargic he struggled to a sitting position, the effort causing
a white hot lance of pain between his eyes.....

*D'gerritt?*  The mental voice was faint, barely intelligible  *Is that
really you, D'gerrit?  I've been waiting for so long for you to wake up.  I
must call Lilliana....*

*NO!*  Automatically D'gerrit protested  *No.... don't call anyone.  Just
tell me what's been going on.  How long have I been in here?  What's been
happening in the Warren while I've been sick?  Jaquel!  Has she found
another to advise her or will I be free to resume my old position?  Tell me
everything but make it fast....*

Orobos told him.....

About the poisoning of Jaquel and how it had left her a fragile shell of
the once proud WarrenLady.

About the way that the affair with Harkon's heir had been resolved.

About the Naomi had entrenched herself as the ruling WarrenLady, and the
the acceptance she had gained even among D'gerrit's supporters.

When the dragon had finished D'gerrit cursed softly....

*And Shard?  Has there been any news of his condition?*

*I have heard gossip only.  He still  lies in coma at Marrid, much as you
have done for most of the summer. They were getting ready to transfer you
to the Healers Guild......*

*It's been that long?*  D'gerrit gasped,   *No wonder that bitch has had
time to dig herself in!  She's taken everything that should be mine by
rights!!!  And she thought she'd send me away did she?*

D'gerrit swayed as he stood up, but he held himself tightly clenched until
the dizziness had passed.  He grabbed a robe from the chair and belted it
tightly around him.

*Sending me away were they?  Well we'll see about that!*  his mental tone
was edgy and frantic  *I want you to meet me outside the Med centre
Orobos....*

*That is where I have spent most of my time this summer... except for those
times when I needed to hunt.  What do you intend to do?*

*First I'm going to see how Shard is.*  D'gerrit shrugged.  

He struggled to open the window in his room , and then with a grunt heaved
himself through and dropped heavily to the ground outside.  The brick-red
bulk of Orobos loomed before him and he gladly leant against the creature's
side before pulling himself astride the lowest neck ridge.

*And when you have been to see Shard?*

*Ah!  Then we plot our revenge, Orobos.  She took what is mine, but she
won't live to enjoy it.*

The dragon spread it's wings and launched itself upwards, flapping heavily
to gain enough height.....

Then they blinked out.....

D'Gerritt - Marrid Warren
****

Arriving over Marrid Warren the dragon circled down, landing a short
distance from the medical center. 

<Chaldecony is not very intelligible. The other dragons say his rider is
still in the medical center and a bit muddled.>

<Then I'll be in the medical center finding out what's wrong with him.>

It was late and there was little movement around the warren. Even the
medical center was quiet. D'Gerritt walked in with every intention of
speaking out right to the healer to find out how the boy was doing. But
when he heard his name mentioned, he paused and ducked behind a wall to
listen.

".. D'Gerritt is a wingleader at Norwall. There was talk that he was in on
the poisoning, but never any proof."

T'rend
****

"So  then you think Shard knows the truth and has remained silent about it
out of loyalty to this man." T'rend asked.

"I'm really not sure of the specifics. I only know the rumors that have
spread through the healer's guild." C'tain tapped a pencil on the paper he
held. "I went to the special meeting that was held to see what could be
done to help the dragons affected by the poison. So all I got were rumors.
Apparently Shard's father was good friend's with the man, so he
automatically became suspect. But he obviously proved to everyone that he
had nothing to do with it, as he became the Warrenlady's chief advisor."

"Yet from Shard's rambling D'Gerritt and Rixx were cohorts. And you said
theirs definite proof that Rixx poisoned the dragons, despite what his son
believes."

C'tain nodded, "There is no doubt that Rixx was in on it. And if Shard is
correct, I think we need to inform Norwall about the snake in their midst."

T'rend frowned, but nodded. The thought that one dragonrider would poison
dragons was bad enough. But to think that he had help from a second very
powerful dragonrider and leader was downright scary.

D'Gerritt
****

D'Gerritt frowned. At least he knew Shard was alive. But he was talking. He
had to get the boy out of here before anything else was put together. He
started to move but was stopped by the sound of someone else entering the
medical center. He ducked back in the shadows.

It was a woman. She stopped and looked in his direction with a confused
look on her face. Then she shrugged, obviously not seeing him, and headed
to where the two men were talking.

A'Rillia
****

A'Rillia stepped into the office where T'rend and C'tain were talking. The
faces of both men lit up at seeing her. 

"Arri, what are you still doing up?" asked T'rend.

"I've been helping clean out a small cave for the Searchlings to stay in."

T'rend grinned, "I'm glad that's all. You look as though you've been in a
mud fight." He gently touched a smudge of dirt on her cheek. "Did you get
the Searchlings all settled?" 

Arri nodded, "Most of them anyway. Cook still has a couple in her storage
rooms, but we'll have them out tomorrow. Though we still have a couple
hatchlings who haven't flown yet. They are staying with G'zul in his very
cramped though stable apartment."

"G'zul has a kind heart," said C'tain quietly.

"I stopped by because word from the dragon's has it that Shard is awake,"

C'tain nodded, "Yes, but he's quite disoriented and talking quite strangely."

"I'd like to check on him." Arri said.

T'rend looked at her with a bit of concern, remember how touching Tr'etram
had addled her not so long ago. "Are you sure that's such a good idea?"

She smiled at him, "I'm a healer. I know what I'm doing. Besides, I won't
touch him."

"Can I go with you, just to be sure?" he asked.

Arri chuckled, "I'll be fine honest."

"It would make me feel better."

"Very well, come along if you must." She smiled as T'rend held out his arm
to escort her to Shard's room.

D'Gerritt 
****

D'Gerritt watched the pair head down the hall. He listened for the third,
who did not appear to be following. He quietly followed them staying far
enough away that they did not see him. As they entered Shard's room, he
ducked again listening.

T'rend
****

"He's sleeping peacefully. Perhaps we shouldn't disturb him." He whispered
quietly.

Arri nodded, "I think you're right. I'll check on him first thing in the
morning." They stepped out into the hallway.

"I'll walk you home."

Arri hesitated, "T'rend .. I .. There's things we need to talk about ..
first."

"I'll just walk you home, honest. You don't have to invite me in." T'rend
took her hand in his, "I simply would to make sure you get home safe."

Arri chuckled lightly, "I only live a short distance. It's hardly more then
a few steps."

T'rend smiled, "Ahh, but it will be a few steps I will cherish as I go to
sleep tonight."

D'Gerritt
****

D'Gerritt watched as the two stood outside of Shard's room making eyes at
each other. He sighed silently in agitation, wishing they would just move
on. When eventually they did, he headed into Shard's room. He was shocked
by the pale face reflected in the dim moonlight. "Oh Shard," he whispered.

The Norwall wingleader was going to move to shake the boy when he heard
footsteps coming down the hall. He ducked into a dark corner of the room.

C'tain
****

C'tain and Vinton stopped in front of Shard's room. "I just want you to sit
with him tonight. Just in case he wakes or has any seizures, then you can
just call for me. As this is his first night since waking from the Coma
there's really no telling what might be going on in his head."

The young staffer nodded, and moved to take a seat not to far from the
young  Shard. C'tain left them alone.

****

In a dark corner a man sat uncomfortably afraid to move for fear of giving
away his position. He watched as the young staffer's head began to nod, and
soon fell asleep. 

Knowing there was no way he could wake Shard and get him out of the medical
center without waking the young man sitting beside him, the shadowy figure
ducked out of the room to bide his time until he could get the young man.

--Norwall Admin
--Marrid Admin
****
NRPG: Marrid, Okay Shard is awake. If you want to visit him go ahead. But
he will be disoriented and you aren't going to get much out of him. We have
plans for him soon. Oh, and no one will find D'Gerritt at Marrid. He'll
definitely be in hiding.

Norwall, D'Gerritt is gone and we have no clue as to where :} Should be fun :}

Les & Kristen

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Kristen Gant
(AKA: Darlea & Makayla,  Waylene & Aura, Meena & Vonn, 
Kalewyn & Sabbith, Saul & Fayloth)
http://homepage.interaccess.com/~sgant/kris.htm