(by Laura Lulli, Reijo Perlman and Mabry Slemmons)

Rafael's feet had taken him to the gates of Comyn Castle again. The Guardsmen looked as if they were about to nudge him in his ribs, but he limited himself to a wink.

He sure wasn't happy about their chatting about his own business, but it hadn't been a long time since he was himself one of them, and the only fun to have the night of the Ball were the gossips...

He made his way towards the Aldaran apartments, then he stopped before the door.

He took a deep breath, and desperately hoped that his look weren't too...creased...then he knocked at the door, and made himself announced by the manservant.

Regis had not slept so much last night but did his best to look good. However, as he was reading a book about history of Aldaran he had occasionally dozed off. He woke up as Rafi was announced.

Regis lifted his nose from the book he was reading, and said, plainly:

"Oh, here you are. I guess you didn't remember that we're going to have a dinner at Congratulatia's, did you?"

Rafe sighed, and thought intensely to the moment he could wander in the streets of Thendara again...

"Change the costume, that will not do...where did you sleep last night? Take a bath too." Regis keeps himself calm, but if Rafi were not so tired he would notice the effort.

"Hope you enjoyed last night...even though you left early...with that amazon…"

Rafe blushed intensely, under the severe gaze of his uncle.

Why on Darkover that man retained the power to make him feel like a ten year old?

He cleared his voice and tried: "Was I supposed to be on service as a regent the night of the Ball as well, uncle?"

"Chiyu! Don't you dare to speak to me this way" Regis pointed his finger at Rafe's chest "I didn't mean that you were supposed to tell me each move of yours, but you should at least have shown a bit of decency..."

"Uncle Regis, this is the one and only time I'm going to tell this: it's mine exclusive business who I choose to spend my nights with. And I did have decency. After all I didn't even _kiss_ her in the Ball room." Rafe breathed deeply, stared at Regis for a few istants, then he bowed sarcastically.

"Now I'm going to take the bath you kindly suggested" and he headed for the bathroom...

Regis shook his head. The youth, the youth...they never understood.

"I would like to point out one thing. It is not your exclusive business what you do. You are Comyn, and thus it is everybody's business. Matters of Comyn are always matters of whole of Darkover. It is the price you pay for being privilegd in other matters."

This said, Regis left the room. Rafael caught the occasion to pretend not to have heard Regis' last words.

By no means he intended to discuss that matter again with his uncle...since he suspected that either of them would withdraw their positions.

So he went to take that bath indeed, and he tried to relax. Last night seemed so far...

Some hot water and clean clothes can make miracles sometimes, and Rafael was now feeling really better.

He decided to check how Mabry was feeling...he hadn't payed much attention to her, the night before, taken as he was by that blond wonder (his blood ran faster again, for a short moment). He hoped that Mabry woulnd't pout at him.

Do you want to read what Mabry did after the Ball? Follow this link: Mabry and Jorik

He knocked at Mabry's door, and entered, when he didn't hear any answer.

"Mabry?" he walked in "How do you do?"

No answer came. Rafael felt a bit worried. What was wrong?

Then he felt someone coughing in the bed, and he drew nearer.

Mabry was in the bed, her cheeks red for some fever.

"That's what happens when you leave the window opened, I suppose!" she smiled to Rafael." Did you enjoy the Ball, my Regent?" she grinned.

He blushed a bit, but ignored the last comment, saying instead "Window opened?!? I'll call for a healer, immediately!" he caressed Mabry's hot cheek, and went to look for a servant to search the healer.

I was going to KILL Jorik! If he hadn't come to visit with me last night, I wouldn't have gotten out of bed, and I wouldn't be sick now! And now I would have to miss that tea with Congratulatia that I had been looking foreward to so much, I thought sarcastically. Probably the only good to come out of this wretched situation. I sneezed.

Lunch with auntie Emelda had been inspiring. Congratulatia was in her bedroom, smiling from ear to ear.

She had never made the connection before, but she had just realized that Claretta Petacci would go training at Dalereuth, under that pimp's influence. Excellent! One more discrediting factor against her scandalous cousin!

Then there was the planned meeting with the harlot Harpy of Aldaran in two days. She would serve her a couple of tea altered with some astrictive substance. That accursed brat would stop defecating, would swell more and more each passing day up to the point of explosion from the inside!

Congratulatia was already tasting the scene and was laughing to tears for the harlot's imminent demise. For once, she did not care whether her perfect make-up was ruined: Marcello had told her, time and again, he considered a woman with melted make-up very sensual; and he had assured her many men were of the same mind, even though they wouldn't usually express it openly. Maybe one day she could try that stratagem to seduce Eduin! Anyway, what counted was Mabry's explosion: the offing of a rival was always such a pleasure!!

The Regents discuss (by Laura Lulli and Reijo Perlman)

Rafael stopped the coridom, and informed him about Mabry's conditions. The man said that he would ask for the best healer in town, and exited.

Rafe knocked then at Regis' door, and breathed deeply, before going in.

Regis looked a bit tired, but warmly welcomed his nephew. None of the two mentioned again the argument they had had before.

"Uncle, Mabry caught a bad cold, somehow..."

"Oh, really? I guess she won't be able to have that tea with the "future queen of the whole Darkover", then" commented Regis, who didn't seem worried at all.

"Future queen?" Rafe was puzzled "Oh, I see. You're talking about Congratulatia. I didn't know that she had invited Mabry"

"Of course you didn't know...You were probably too busy, to notice what was going on in the Ball room"

Rafe wished he could get angry with Regis. But the sentence had been spoken in any but a crabby tone, so he dropped it.

"Anyway, this cold may delay also her departure for the Tower...Neskaya, isn't it?"

Regis nodded.

"Of course. I trust domna Myria completely."

"I think myself that she's more likely the only one that could make it with our lady...Dalereuth has been sort of crowdy, lately; Tramontana is too much near to Aldaran, and the Council would probably object. Arilinn?"

Regis pondered on the last word.

"Mmh...maybe. But I still like better Neskaya. And Myria."

"Me too, uncle. So may we arrange a meeting with the lady Keeper, and maybe Mabry too, if she's feeling better?" Rafe said.

"Yes, it's a good idea, Rafi. Although, I think it would be better to pretend (at least) to ask Mabry's opinion about her laran training, before arranging this meeting"

Rafe sighed.

"I guess. Will you leave me alone with this task, or you're coming with me?"

Regis laughed with genuine amusement at his nephew stooping shoulders

"No, Rafi...I'm definetely coming with you. I won't miss the scene for nothing on Darkover! And I bet you'll need some help, too." He sighed.

"Well, that went better than I expected. A little cold certainly makes her more pleasant to deal with. That cold does not seem to be to bad, so she just needs some rest. Now we have to go to talk to Myria."

"And we should also inform her about Mabry's bad habit to eavesdrop telepathically" sighed Rafe. "Anyway, don't deceive yourself, uncle. She was that soft only because she's sick. I bet that when the healer would do her/his job on her...we'll have some better reaction!"

Regis sighed, too " I guess you're right, Rafi"

Later on, the healer, a nice woman from the Guildhouse, came to visit the Lady Aldaran.

She visited Mabry very carefully, and said that she had a really bad cold, but nothing that rest and some herbs of her couldn't cure.

Both the Regents were relieved. They weren't used to their lady's "weakness".

Mabry slept for the greatest part of the afternoon, after the potions that the healer had made her drink, while Rafe and Regis made plans for their journey to Aldaran.

A manservant was sent with some polite apologies for domna Congratulatia Elhalyn.

A note for Mabry (by Marcello Bellavista and Mabry Slemmons)

Alone, Congratulatia grew enraged. That was an inconvenience against her planned tea with the harlot Harpy of Aldaran, the tea where Mabry would have drunken the astringent tea which would have brought to her untimely demise.

After fanning herself for a little while, she started smiling diabolically. Not everything was lost. In no time at all, Congratulatia acquired the firm conviction Mabry was suffering from some venereal disease (syphilis, certainly) due to her harlot activities.

Should she warn Jorik to steer clear from Mabry for a while? No, why should she? After all, he had accused *Tula* of holding a prostitute-like behaviour, whereas she had proven that *he* was the prostitute. He *deserved* to catch syphilis from that harlot. so she decided she would tell him nothing. She had no intention of having sex with him for a while, and he really had come looking for a disease like that with his licentious behaviour. It would have served him right. HA!

Congratulatia was too worried about winning Eduin's love back for the time being, so Jorik could fade in the background for all she was caring. In any case, a note of sympathy for the harlot of Aldaran was in order.

She took the necessary tools, sat down and started writing.

Mabry scanned the note. She hoped to be able to avoid the tea. She didn't trust that woman. I still didn't feel very well either. So she jotted down a quick reply, and breathed all over it, hoping to contaminate it so she would catch her cold.

The regents discuss (by Laura Lulli and Reijo Perlman)

Time passed more quickly than the Regents expected, and uncle and nephew were rather surprised to see the Lady Aldaran in her dressing gown entering the living room where they were discussing the domain politics.

"Now" yawned Mabry "I could be wrong...but I seem to recall something like you two wanting to send me to Neskaya. It was the fever for sure."

"No, I'm afraid you caught some bits of our conversation, Mabry" Rafe answered.

Regis found a more comfortable position in his arm-chair, to enjoy the show.

"WHAT??" Mabry cried "Have you gone completely mad? Myria and I are going to make each other lives impossible. I CAN'T go there!!"

"Mabry, please! Don't yell at me!" Rafael was altered now. "This is the better solution for you. Regis and I have already discussed this."

Regis nodded. *Right, this is the only help I can get from him..."

"Why not Tramontana?" Mabry inquired "Cousin Aidan is a great laranzu, isn't he?"

"Too near to Aldaran, Mabry. Council would not approve this."

"To Zandru's hells the Council! I won't go to Neskaya!" a thunder rumbled inthe distance.

"Dalereuth, then! Don't you trust domna Marilla enough? And there's that nice Idriel, there, who's about my age...oh please, Rafe. I don't want to go to Neskaya!"

Rafe felt sorry for her but he wasn't going to let her win this argument.

"I heard that Dalereuth is currently full of trainees. Your laran needs the exclusive care of a Keeper, and though I trust domna Marilla, I think that she will be too busy to take care througly of you."

"Arilinn!! Even Comyn Tower and its creepy laranzu'in from the Ages of Chaos!" insisted Mabry "Not Neskaya, please!!"

"Mabry, stop immediately! You lost the right to decide for yourself when you had me in charge of the Domain. And the Council gave you another Regent. You MUST follow our decision, and that's all."

Regis nodded, firmly. "Rafi is perfectly right" *Thank to Aldones, he's mind is clear again* "You have to accept our decision. Furthermore, Arilinn may not be a good politic move: too important a Tower for the Heir to a Domain that hasn't been readmitted yet. The 'creepy'" Regis imitated heavily Mabry's Hellers accent "laranzu'in of Comyn Tower have more important business in putting the Tower back in activity, than train a brat like you. And of course, Myria had always been the best choice for your teacher."

Rafael held his breath, waiting for Mabry's explosion...but it didn't come.

"Well, then. It seems like I have to give up. For now." Mabry gathered her nightgown edge, and headed for her bedroom, an haughty expression on her face.

"I guess we can send a message to domna Myria, now" sighed the younger Regent

*I wonder what Mabry will be thinking tonight* he thought.

The day had come, when Rafael could see his favourite Amazon again.

He swore to himself that he would find the way to slip in the ways of Thendara, heading to Eliadha's bookstall.

Delightful thoughts, of the way he would hold her again, were making his blood hot, when Regis called him back to reality.

"Rafi?" his uncle shook gently his shoulder. "Are you among us?"

"Of course I am, uncle Regis. Did you say something?"

"Yes, I did. You didn't seem to listen, anyway." Regis sighed.

"I was informing you about the message I got from Myria of Neskaya. She's coming around lunch-time, so I guess we'll have to dispose some refreshment to be prepared..."

"You're right, uncle. I'll tell the coridom." answered Rafael.

"When I said we should dispose, I didn't mean that you could just order someone else to do something, Rafi. I think it will be better for everyone, if you lend your *personal* supervision to the whole matter" Regis pointed out.

*Naotalba twist his ankles... He seems to know that I would like to be somewhere else! And he pretends he hasn't got any laran!!"

"Of course, I will, uncle. Everything will be done in the best way, for our powerful Keeper." Rafael bowed deeply to Regis, trying to hide sarcasm in his voice.

*Personal supervision! Personal supervision!!! For a job that the last manservant of Comn Castle could do better than me!* Rafe was furious. *Well, I guess I'll find some way to fly in the afternonn...oh, Eliadha...I hope you won't be mad at me...I can't stand the idea of causing you pain*

Everything was settled. Mabry would go to Neskaya, and with the Lord of Light blessing, Myria would do great good to her...

Despite of her cordiality, the discussion with Myria, and his uncle had left Rafael really tired...not to mention that he was going to have another politic meeting, that evening...a dinner at Congratulatia.

Nevertheless, nothing could keep him, now, from running to his love, and to Zandru's hell all the rest.

Rafe was about to go out, when Mabry appeared behind him, and tapped him on his back. *Not now, please...not another theatrical scene...*

"Where are you going?" she asked, her voice somehow sad.

"I promised to pay a visit to a friend of mine, milady"

"Drop the milady, Rafe. Does this mean that you're still mad at me, for the things I sad yesterday?"

"No, Mabry...I'm not mad at you. And I wasn't yesterday as well...just worried."

"Yeah, worried...No, I'm not going to start again, don't worry" she grinned. Then, serious again. "I was just wondering that you'll be out this evening....and that both of us are about to leave Thendara, really soon. We aren't going to have to occasion to spend some time together for a long time...and we didn't spend a lot, since you became my regent...." her eyes were staring at some invisible things on the floor.

*How can I go out now....Eliadha...* Rafe thought.

"And you have also to prepare, for this evening...Are you going to meet that renunciate of yours?"

"Actually, I was going to visit precisely her..."

Mabry was abot to add something, but a male voice behind her, and Rafe, butted in:

"No, you're not. Mabry is right."

*Uncle Regis...AGAIN!!*

"You owe to her some of your oh-so-precious time, and we have to decide what to say or not at Congratulatia, this evening." ended Regis

So both of them, Regis and Mabry, had had their victory.

Rafe frantically tried to find some good pretest... but he felt trapped, and couldn't do anything but sit again in his arm-chair, and listen to them talking of meaningless things.

*What is she going to think about me....that I'm just like every other Comyn...

I can't even send a message....ELIADHA!* Rafe hardly kept himself from shouting her name aloud.

Dinner at Elhalyn (by Marcello Bellavista, with the help of Reijo Perlman and Laura Lulli)

For the occasion, Congratulatia had asked Clara to let her use the Elhalyns’ gardens of Comyn Castle. So there they were, surrounded by flowers, at the feet of a long staircase. Torches illuminated the staircase at regular intervals. More torches illuminated the round table where the dinner was to be served. Congratulatia had disposed that they sit as follows:

CONGRATULATIA

AIDAN RAFITO

REGIS

She was strongly hoping that dom Di Asturien would play footsie with her after the conversation they had had during a dance at the Ball. However, she was also aware that the Darkovan-style dress she had chosen to wear would not lend itself to such an action from his part.

Rafe was very simply but elegantly dressed: black trousers, fine leather boots, and a white shirt with small black and red embroidery of Aldaran two-headed eagle. A red jerkin completed his clothing. He also had some gorgeous rings under his eyes...

Regis was dressed in simple black trousers and red shirt. Since this was not a formal meeting, he had decided not to wear anything frivolous. He was looking at the garden, which was rumored to be beautiful, when...

Congratulatia made her grand entrance: from the top of the staircase, she started descending slowly as she sang a romantic and delicate Aldaran ballad. She kept her fan as if it were a microphone.

She was wearing an elegant, traditional (Darkovan-style), black dress, with blue lace at the neck and the wrists. Her hair was styled up. Her make-up was light, except for an abundance of mascara in order to emphasize the beauty and depth of her eyes.

Rafe searched for the eyes of his uncle, and then comically lifted his to the heavens, trying to shake his head without making himself seen by Tula (who, of course, was too taken by her own exhibition, to catch her guests’ reactions).

When she reached the bottom of the staircase, the song came to an end; her timing had been evidently rehearsed.

Smiling amicably, she said: "Good evening, gentlemen, you are most welcome."

"Good evening. You look as radiant as ever." It was Regis’s prompt reply.

"How come Dom Aidan is not present?" She inquired, perplexed.

"I do not know... he may have gotten ill. Of course he should have sent a note but perhaps he has forgotten. Mabry had caught a cold and it may be that it is spreading."

Congratulatia reprised with a sad tone: "Oh, yes, I was so sorry to learn she was ill yesterday. By the way, thank you for sending the note: that was really considerate of you." And smiled at her two guests. "Before we continue, I must ask you how Domna Mabry is feeling now."

"She is still bit sick, but definitely feeling better. She does not however like to meet people in case she will spread the disease."

"Oh wise for one of so young an age." Smiled Congratulatia.

Tired of waiting, and extremely irritated for Aidan’s ill-manners, Congratulatia had Decided to start the dinner without him after a moderate wait.

As the dinner was about to be served, Congratulatia started the conversation: "Let us be practical, gentlemen, shall we? As I am certain all of you know, the most relevant politics in this world is not the one carried out in Council, however important that may be, rather it is the smaller groups’ meetings the ones who hold the highest relevance. *This* small group has a special importance due to Aldaran’s current peculiar status. The two Aldaran’s co-regents and the future queen of Darkover will surely have a determining influence in the shaping of our beloved world. So, will we turn practical and share our views of the future in order to meld them together and forge the best Darkover we can have?"

Congratulatia smiled openly to her guests and made a gesture to indicate: "Please, gentlemen, it is your turn to speak now. Who shall be the first?"

Regis saw Rafi looking at him, as if asking him to take the initiative.

"Oh yes, I have always believed in small meetings, to do the ground work.

It saves always so much trouble. Now, I am not sure exactly how long I and Rafael will be acting as regents of Aldaran for of course Domna Mabry will eventually take her place. But right now situation of Aldaran is interesting... and I personally would like to know what the plans of Tramontana Tower are."

"I would have most appreciated dom Aidan’s input on this matter as well. But, as you see, he has decided to remain conspicuously absent from both the Ball and this dinner." Congratulatia replied with a crabby tone.

"Ah, yes, I think me and Rafi should meet him too in the future, to discuss matters of Aldaran."

Congratulatia then introduced a new subject. "Well, I guess the time has come for the Lady Mabry to go training into a Tower, has it not? Has she already chosen which Tower specifically to go into?"

"We have discussed this matter and come to the conclusion that Neskaya would be the best place for her."

"What an excellent choice! The Lady Myria is perhaps the best Keeper Darkover has in this moment. And she has the indomitable strength of will to tame and educate a person as... wild, shall we say... as Domna Mabry is. I congratulate the both of you on this. If things proceed this pace, it will not take long before Aldaran is fully readmitted into the Seven Domains."

"Tramontana would of course be closer to Aldaran," Regis added. "But it will prefer spending time in building itself, not teaching her, I think. And it is important also politically that she will come to some tower of Domains. And Dalereuth is already quite crowded."

"I totally agree. There is also one more factor to be taken into consideration. Maybe you are not aware of this, few people know actually, but the Dalereuth Tower is actually a brothel in disguise run by the Fool of the Valeron Plains; he fancies himself a technician, but few know that he is actually is a pimp (pardon the word) in disguise. Yes, I realize this is a most grave accusation, but if you conduct proper investigations you will find out the truth behind the Dalereuth Tower's façade."

"Dalereuth is a brothel? I am surprised and sad to hear that. I know domna Marilla and it is surprising to hear she allows such in her tower, but of course that rather flippant Piedro and those Renunciates are bad influence."

"Dom Di Asturien, I really must compliment you again on your dancing ability. And you are such a pleasant conversationalist, too! My dances and conversations with you at the Ball were among the best I had, if not the best in absolute!" Congratulatia said with a deep voice and smiling directly to him.

"Thank you, that feeling is mutual." (Slight stress on word 'that', to point out that other possible feelings might not be...)

The dinner went on smoothly, with small talk about Aldaran, how important is to get locals to trust the new co-regents even though they were low-landers. Dom Di Asturien also wondered how to cut down banditry around there.

All in all, Congratulatia was only partly satisfied when the dinner was over. Dom Di Asturien had proven once more to be an excellent conversationalist but, at the same time, a man not easy to control. She was however confident she had an ally in him. She had been most disappointed by both Aidan’s absence and Rafito’s absent-minded presence. She had had plans for those two and now their behaviour was forcing her to change her plans.

But everything would have to be postponed until after Marisela’s wedding (what a joyous event!).

Another hot story's coming…Ready? Will Eliadha forgive Rafe?

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