Robin spins where she is.  Where is she?!?  Dammit!  Okay, she was just talking with Paige and the kids.  And then she left.  And then there was... walls.  Definitely walls, she remembers that.  And carpets.
            But now?  Robin looks around again.  Why would anyone have so *many* corridors and passages and stairways and things, all kind of meeting in a big jumble that no one ever came to, judging from the dust.  Leering, crumbling, fractured, constricted passageway...
            Okay.  That's it.  She needs to get out of the Castle.  And fast.
            Listening carefully, the Ranger picks her way over the uneven and mismatched flooring, reaching for the sound of people moving.  There!  Down the kind of olivey green, mostly stone corridor leading upward at a slight angle.  Trying not to run, Robin makes her way back to the inhabited reaches of Castle Amber.  And pounces on the first person she finds.
            "Please.  Can you take me to Prince Julian?"  Though fighting to stay calm, Robin's breathing is definitely elevated and her face pale.

"I can take your ladyship to his chambers," the page says, and proceeds to do so. It takes the ranger they find on duty there a few minutes to locate Prince Julian, and after what seems to Robin like an excruciatingly long time, she is in the gardens outside the castle with her father.

Julian waits for Robin to master herself, to rid herself of the dread of the hated castle, before speaking.

Deep breath goes in, deep breath goes out.  Deep breath goes in.... deep breath comes out.  Eventually the garden air works its magic and Robin's color returns.
            "Sir?  Reaching my limit here."  Because a Ranger who ignores it and pushes past endangers herself and her entire team.

"Then it is time and past time for you to leave," Julian says firmly.  "Are you ready to go to the Isles? We'll have to walk through the castle to the place where Random has fixed the cards--the so-called 'trump booth'". Julian wrinkles his nose at the term.

Robin's blonde head bobs.  She can walk through the Castle one last time.  And with her father beside her, she might actually get where she was going. 
            As for ready, yeah.  While she could probably think of reasons for and benefit from further meetings with her relatives, the Ranger's not sure she'd handle them well given her mounting stress levels.  As for things, she only truly needs what's on her.  And her father, brother and Vere.
            The thought of Vere brings a happy smile to Robin's face.  She nods again.  "Thank you sir."

"You're welcome, Robin." Julian smiles warmly at his daughter and offers her his arm.

An arm that Robin is as happy to fly to as any of the other wild winged things of Arden.

They proceed through the castle at a rapid pace, but not so rapidly as to cause anyone who sees them to remark on it. The halls seem less looming and constricting, less like the belly of a great stone beast, when her father is with her.
            Soon enough, they're outside and heading toward a small, low outbuilding. An osprey cries harshly above them and seems to be swooping down toward them. Robin's keen eyes make out a packet attached to it, for all the world as if the proud bird were a homing pigeon. Julian sees it, too, and halts to offer it a gloved arm.

For a moment, Robin's eyes widen but then she sees clearly that it is a different osprey that approaches her father now.  The girl releases her father's arm so that he may see to what this one brings.

The osprey lands like a hawk in the mews and lets Julian take the packet.  He whispers to it in the tongue of birds, and Robin senses the power of the Pattern flowing through him and into the bird. It rises from his arm, and cries again, and is gone.
            Julian opens the packet and looks inside. "A mourning gift from Jerod," he says. And indeed, there is a note and other things, which he puts aside to deal with later.

A quiet smile lines Robin's lips as she nods at the toes of her boots.  Another cousin who is harsh with words but gracious of deed.  As her father tucks the packet away, Robin watches the wings flutter away into the sky.  Free.

At the door of the "trump booth", there is a guard. He notes Julian's and Robin's arrival, but waves them in.
            Inside the low but well-lit outbuilding, trumps and sketches are affixed carefully to the walls, as if some thief would come and carry them off were they left on a table. Julian makes his way unerringly to a sketch of Vere, and waits for Robin.

Robin gulps and pales visibly.  Could it possibly get any worse?  Close tight walls of stone and on them - Cards.  Everywhere cards.  A shudder goes through the girl.  But there inside is the white figure of her father.  And he stands beside the image of her love.  The Ranger forces herself forward until she stands next to both of them.
            "K."  She fluffs with preparedness.  "Danu.  Weasel draconointel out of Priestesses.  Practice Godding.  Stay safe."  Her green eyes look up at her father.  "Arden.  Seek draconobindings.  Firm up land.  Stay safe.  Right?"

Julian nods slowly. "Those are my instructions. But as always, I trust your judgement in hunting further clues."

Robin throws herself on her father in a rib-crushing hug.  "Love you, Dad.  Thank you."

Julian returns the fierce embrace, picking Robin up off the ground, leaving her feet dangling. "Fly free, Robin, and return safe."

Once back on her feet, Robin faces Vere's Trump.  Despite the pretty swirling colors, her nose wrinkles as she reaches out to trace the line of her love's cheeks.
            The call of Robin's heart is not in words.  But then she doesn't need words with Vere.  Just the joy, the love, the wonder and the longing.

As Vere walks away, his face unreadable, his mind sings a wordless song of joyful greeting, a welcoming unbounded.  He waits for his love to reach out to him, a solid oak awaiting the coming of a roosting flock, the shore awaiting the incoming tide.

"Veeeerrrreeee!"  It's not so much a word as a raptor's call.  A hunter's thrill coming before the shadow on the ground.  And Robin reaches for her wonderful, wonderful man.

With a laugh he pulls her into his arms.

The ranger finds herself on a beach, with ocean and a blindingly large sun to her devant.  The coastline curves away quickly in both directions, and she sees Jove's dragons here.
            Kourin is in an encampment in the trees, Padraig is in a chair near the treeline.

In between Robin's ardent kisses, the occasional happy croon makes itself heard.  Away, away and here, here.  It doesn't get any better.

Vere holds her tightly, reveling in once more being with his beloved, letting all other concerns fade away.  He holds her as though he cares nothing if the world falls into void around them, leaving naught in all creation save the two of them and their love.

Robin stays in that moment forever.  The sunlight in her hair, on her skin.  The intoxicating scent of her love.  The wind ruffling her hair.  The feel of his steady strong clasp.  The belling of the dragons.  The sound of his heartbeat.
            Slowly feathers ruffled and nerves jangled by days of public appearances before predators, overwhelming scents and colors, infuriating confusion and consternation are replaced with simple being.
            A happy sigh, almost a purr, ripples through Robin and she lifts her eyes to Vere's.  No words seem right or can be found, just a happy blissful smile.
            Followed by a playful kiss to the nose.

Vere chuckles, and plays at biting her nose in retaliation.  He steps back, holding both her hands in his, and says, "Welcome to the Isles, my love.  My birthplace is my home once more, now that you are here."

The white flash of Vere's teeth brings a laughing toothy grin to Robin's face.
            With Vere holding her hands, Robin leans back , tilting her head far enough that sea and sky are reversed.  A laugh escapes her.  "Hi, Home!" she shouts gleefully.  Out here in the open, away from Amber, Robin is far larger and her fires begin to burn high in wild abandon.
            Tipping back to Vere, Robin's eyes are gleaming.  "Oo!  I have to meet the sea too!"

"You shall, my love," he assures her.  "For now, however, we are on display."  He nods back towards Padraig, sitting beneath the lean-to.  "I am in the process of freeing prisoners.  Stopping for a swim, while tempting, might be taken as indicating that I gave less than full seriousness to the matter.  Shall I tell you of them?"

"You're working?  Ooops."  Robin tones down her playfulness with a rueful but accepting grin.  This is probably going to be something of a pattern with them in the future.
            "Sure, tell away."  She releases one of Vere's hands so that she can slip against his side in a comfortable walking position.

Vere begins walking slowly towards the edge of the forest, holding Robin's hand in his as they walk.  A certain portion of his attention is evaluating Padraig's reaction, judging whether he saw Robin's appearance from nowhere, and if so how he is handling the display of magic.  "Your brother captured men who were strangers to us, allies of my mother's enemies.  I have spoken with their leader, and he tells me of a threat from the far East, men who serve a cruel god, and who may well come from another world all together.  They have stories of warring brother gods, a stolen sword, and a kingdom under the sea.  All of this may be mere shadows, of course, but it may well mean that another relative is making war upon this world.  I intend to travel to where I can find some answers to this mystery.  It may well be that it has some bearing on the reason the Spider chose to betray my mother."

The Ranger's blond head nods in thought.  "K.  But I'd be wary of getting tangled in further strands.  'Fwas me?  I'd go for the quick intel-and-out."
            She smiles up at him, knowing that Vere can see the inner nose-scrunch at the thought of him leaving soon.
            "Oh!  Vere.  *Don't* let me forget."  Cause she certainly has in the past.  "I need to tell you something before we get all matrilinear here.  But it can wait while you work."

Vere pauses and turns to her.  "If it is important, then other matters can wait.  Padraig needs to explain to his crew the agreement that they need to give their oaths to leave the Isles and not return bearing arms against us, before they can be released.  He knows this, so I do not need to speak with him again before that is done.  I must speak to Kourin to see if she will agree to carry me to Padraig's superiors, and it seems logical to me that we travel together to my mother and sister first, so that I may explain what I am doing, and you can remain with them then to discuss matters related to battling the Great Dragon.  Before we meet Kourin, then, let us discuss any other matters that require it."

Robin nods and her mouth purses as she works out the phrasing.  "It's like this."  The girl grasp Vere's other hand as well, holding both to her chest as she looks into his eyes.
            "I won't be able.... no, that's not right.  I just won't bear us any heirs, my love.  Father's pointed out that there's a breeding weakness running down my maternal line.  There's a good chance that the first child I bear you will be the last thing I do.  And.... and I'm kind of selfish.  I'd rather have you all to myself than leave you to raise our child alone."  Robin's eyes are large and green as she gazes at her love.
            "Now when you get to the place of needin' to be a father, mon coeur, I figure we'll work something out.  But it, it won't be from my body.  I'm sorry, Vere."  The side of Robin's mouth ticks unhappily, as a furrow of sadness knits her eyebrows.  "I just thought you should know before your mother or sister start... hinting."

"I understand, my love," Vere answers, his eyes meeting hers.  "Father told me that the same malady that took his mother claimed his sister in childbirth.  I will not risk you."  He pulls her back into his arms.  "There shall be nieces and nephews a plenty for us to spoil, and when we tire of them we may give them back to their parents and rejoice that they are not ours."

Robin chuckles happily from where she is snuggled up against Vere.  He is going to be such a good uncle.  And though she still thinks he'd make a damn fine father as well, she Hears her man skip past that point and honors his decision.
            A happy wiggle goes through her.  Vere is so easy to talk and not-talk to.
            "Thank you, wonderful man.  Okay," she looks back up to him as she shifts to his side, "back on track.  You needed to talk to Kourin and Hoshith?"

"Aye.  Let us to her camp."  As they begin walking again he says.  "Whatever is decided when I speak with Kourin, afore anything else I shall have her bring the two of us to my mother's camp.  I shall stand with you when you take your place amongst them."

A blown breath fluffs Robin's hair and she nods.  A bit of teeth slip out to nibble her lower lip and her brow furrows again.  "My love?"  Those green eyes turn to Vere.  "What if she decides against me?"

"Then we shall request that she explain her reasoning and decide from that how we shall respond.  It is a most unlikely eventuality.  But you are not a supplicant here, beloved.  You come to ask advice in carrying out a war from the mother and sister of your betrothed.  It is family."  He laughs.  "And if they refuse to give you any advice at all, then we shall go to the Witch Queens, who made your mother their Goddess, and they shall bow before you and answer your questions."

Vere's laughter and his answer bring a confident smile to Robin's lips as a dark green fire lights in her eyes.  "Works for me.  Thank you, love.  For answering both questions."
            Damn, he's fine.  A throaty croon rumbles through Robin and she rubs up against Vere as they walk.

As they enter the forest he glances down at her, admiring her in her natural element.  "Other quick things," he says, "Best mentioned now, as we may not have privacy again.  Mother has the relic of Ysabeau. I know not what it may be, but it is yours by right, and you should claim it from her.  I have not found any trace of your ocarina, and I fear that the Spider has it.  I have not mentioned its existence to anyone else.  I have not seen your gulls, nor heard anyone speak of them."

The green shadows over her and Robin is once more within the trees' breathe. She grins up at her man.  "Noted.  Damn.  And I can make more."
            "Have you mentioned So-omeone else where anyone here could've heard of them?"  Robin slides the name gracefully, knowing that Vere can pick his sister's name out of the word.

Vere smiles and shakes his head slightly.  "I saw no need," he answers.

"Excellent."  Robin murmurs happily as she leans her head on his shoulder.

Together they walk into the encampment, and Vere leads her over to Kourin.  "Queenrider," he says with a nod of his head, "I am certain you remember the Lady Robin, my betrothed."

"Of course. J'rim's sister." Her smile is genuine and she holds out a hand, but tentatively, as if she's not really sure how to greet the Ranger.

Whereas Robin is not at all unsure how to greet the woman she flew to Amber with or hugged at the Masquerade.  "Hey, Kourin."  Big hug.  And then a wondering look.  "You okay?"

Vere smiles as Robin hugs Kourin, and remains silent for the moment.  Depending on how perceptive Kourin is, she may or may not realize that he is more relaxed than he has been at any time since coming to the Isles.

She looks at Robin and pauses for a while.  "Yeah. Yes, I'm fine."

Robin raises a brow.  But hey, Kourin is a big girl.  She can certainly decide if she's fine or not.  "Hoshith, too?"  The Ranger looks around for the larger, more gold one of the pair.

Vere interjects, "I hope you do not think it an impertinence that I took this liberty with your prisoners, Kourin, but I have told Padraig that if he and his crew will take oath that they will leave the Isles and not return bearing arms against my people, they may go free.  If all goes as planned, this shall occur immediately.  I will inform my mother and sister when we return."

She nods.  "Yes, that sounds like a good idea." 
            She turns to Robin.  "It's a strain on dragons to be asked not to make a Weyr and it's a strain on them not to have one, too, but we're getting by.  We need to resolve that pretty soon or else we'll have a wetyrful of young dragons here, weyr or no weyr."

"Soooo."  Robin says as she starts to amble Hoshith-ward.  "Where do *they* want to Weyr?"
            Funny how her hand manages to sneak into Vere's without her noticing.

Vere smiles and glances over at Robin as they walk.  "They want to go home," he answers for Kourin.  "This war has turned into something they were not expecting, and they do not like what they have been asked to do.  Nor do I.  I have been quiet for too long.  The nature of the war will change, and rapidly, or else I shall encourage your brother and the Queenrider to depart."  His voice remains calm and conversational, and the smile remains on his face, but the way he squeezes her hand shows how deeply he feels what he is saying.

Worried eyes look up at Vere, then over to Kourin.  "That so?"  Robin asks in concern.  Not that she doesn't believe Vere, but she's interested in Kourin's words on the subject.
            Though, remembering Jove's reaction the last time they were in town, and some of the things he said, Robin would be willing to bet a body part that her brother would be more than a little uncomfortable with a religious war.  And if the rest of them are like him -- heroes -- well, then yeah it would follow that they wouldn't 'like what they have been asked to do.'

Kourin smiles.  "We're glad you're back, Robin.  Yes, this isn't our war, but we knew that going in.  We came here to fight because of you.  Now we can figure out what that means and we can figure out how to work through it and, eventually, past it."

Robin stops dead where she is walking.  There is a distinct 'oh, shit!' look on her face.  "Because of ME?!" She squeaks.  "I... I thought... Jove said, it was to avenge M'Corli.  And to beat up on...  oh."  She finishes quietly.
            The Ranger gets it together quickly, though.  Looking back and forth between Vere and Kourin and finally lingering on Vere, a firm line comes into her shoulders and she nods.  "Well, okay then.  Let's see what we can do."  Robin grins to Kourin and starts walking toward Hoshith with purpose in her steps.

Vere matches his step with hers.  "Padraig has offered to lead me to his superiors, so that I may speak with them and learn more of the invaders.  It might be a trap, of course, and even if he is true his superiors may think differently once they have me in their grasp.  But I think the information is worth the risk.  It would take a fortnight to travel by ship, however, which is longer than I wish to be away."  He does not complete the logical train of thought, allowing Kourin to take the opportunity to consider what he is asking, and the dangers he has just made clear, without compelling an immediate answer.

Kourin stops walking and gets a faraway look in her eyes.  She is momentarily silent, and then resumes walking.  "J'rim agrees that we should ferry you.  I'll need to go argue with him in person about who should go and who should stay.  Are you ready to depart?"

"I wish to receive the oaths from Padraig's men first."  He bows to her.  "Allow me to return to them to see to that."

Kourin's words bring a chuckle from Robin.  Yep, arguing with Jovian is best done in person.  With a spread of hands, Robin indicates that she's ready for whatever, but otherwise lets Kourin and Vere do their own planning.

"I shall speak to Jovian, then."  She too, turns to depart.

Vere is going to speak to Padraig, he had been assuming that Robin and Kourin would continue towards the dragons together.  If not, he'll pause to see whether Robin intends to accompany him, or if she has other plans.

Robin looks at Kourin's back.  Then back at Vere with a cheerful smile.  "You want my help with that, love?  Or should I go say hi to Antrith and Manarth?"  Cause there ain't no way Robin's going to crowd Kourin when she's doin' necessary arguin' with Jovian.

Vere returns her smile.  "Your company would be appreciated, my love, as always.  And I would appreciate your opinion of Padraig, as well."

"Okay."  Robin reverses her path with a happy skip, never loosing the grip on Vere's hand that she doesn't seem to remember she has.  "Sooooo, Padraig is from the continent.  Annnndd he's mentioned allies with cruel gods, warring brothers, stolen swords and undersea kingdoms, right?  Does this connect with the Land of the Valiant guys you mentioned earlier?"
            The Ranger's doing some quick fact checking as she looks up to Vere with sparky green eyes.

"Not allies, enemies.  His people, who call themselves the People of the Land of the Valiant, are being pushed out of their lands by invaders, who I believe to have been brought from another Shadow.  They are the ones with the cruel gods and legends of a stolen sword, warring brothers, and so forth.  Legends which fit in far too well with facets of Amber's history for my liking.  Seeking allies against these invaders, Padraig's people made common cause with the Witch Queens, which is what brought them into conflict with us."
            Vere leads her back towards the beach as he continues to speak.  "I mislike the coincidence of a possible Amber or Rebma connection, in conjunction with the apparent subversion of Vianis by someone who might have convinced her that she was the Goddess, someone who I more and more think may have come from out of this Shadow.  I incline more and more to thinking that our true foe is a Lord of Chaos or a member of our family.  Or perhaps one of each."

"Hunh."  Robin thinks about it.  "Possibly.  But I wouldn't set toooo much store by the fit with Amber's history.  That it is *Amber's* history is probably what caused it.  You know, the ripples through Shadow theory.  I'd rather see the shape of the enemy with my own eyes than try to guess it from it's bow wave."  The Ranger shrugs.
            After a moment spent chewing her lip, the girl adds.  "I hope Padraig's people got good trade with the Witch Queens.  'Cause it sounds like the deal isn't working out for them so good on this side of the war...."

Vere nods.  "These are the reasons I want to go and speak with Padraig's superiors myself.  To learn more about the invaders, and to discuss their continued alliance, or lack of same, with the Witch Queens."
            He is silent for a moment as they walk together, then adds, "I fought alongside the Witch Queens and their men during the very worst period of the Black Forest.  I do not like their practice of sacrifice, nor their refusal to allow their people to question anything about their way of life, but we _were_ able to make common cause to protect our world.  It is an important thing to remember."

"Yep.  Folks is folks.  Sometimes you dance with 'em, sometimes you kill 'em.  But they're still folks," says the Ranger in a 'there you have it' tone with a shrug.

Vere laughs, stops walking, turns to face Robin, and pulls her into his arms for another long kiss.  When they break he says, "I love you, my lady."

"MMmmmm.  Love you, too."  Robin says as her sparkling eyes reopen.  A happy wriggle goes through her.
            "You're *never* going to get any work done if you keep that up." She chuckles.  The near edges of the forest beckon and Robin's got that 'throw him over your shoulder and go' urge again.

"You are quite correct," he replies with a nod of the head.  "Duty calls."  He links her arms with his and resumes walking towards where he last left Padraig.  "Let us go and receive the oaths of these 'folks' and release them to return to their families."

Robin croons a little as she links arms with Vere and Listens forward to where Padraig is sitting.

Padraig rises when Vere returns with Robin.  "We are ready at your word, warleader.  I see your wife is a wi-- Priestess.  Will she be taking our oaths or shall you?"

Since the question was addressed to Vere, Robin contents herself with smiling confidently at him.  Obviously she is completely comfortable with being neither wife, wi-- or Prietess, but only ever and essentially Robin.

"Betrothed, in point of fact.  We are not yet wed.  She shall witness the oathtaking, but I shall be the one you make them unto, and through me my mother, The Lady, Queen and High Priestess of the Isles."

Padraig nods, politely, to Robin.  "Let us go to my crew, we'll take that oath."

The Ranger returns his nod and follows the two men to where the other prisoners are.  On the outside, she's all business.  On the inside, she's fighting hard to resist the urge to skip.  Giddiness, silly giddiness at being near Vere again.  Going to have to watch that, she reminds herself.

Padraig assembles his crew, men, boys and a few women.  "Warleader Vere, son of the Queen and High Priestess of these Isles, has offered us our parole, on generous terms.  For our part he asks us to agree to leave the isles and not return as warriors against his people."  He looks over his crew.
            "Any man who will not agree to these terms shall stand aside now.  You'll have to elect a new captain if you do, for I'm taking his oath.  Well?"
            No one moves.  "We'll all take yer Oath, warleader.  Give them your words."

Vere steps forward and looks out over the assembled crewmembers.  "Your captain and I have spoken," he says, "And I have heard of those who are invading from the East, and beyond the East.  These tidings are grave, and I shall take them into account in deciding what must be done in the future.  For now, I am convinced that you are men and women of honour, and that your alliance with our foes and your involvement in our war was undertaken out of what you though to be necessity, and not from enmity with my people.  I hope to speak with your leaders soon, so that we may resolve such issues.  But for you, I offer your freedom.  Swear upon your honor that you shall depart the Isles, and that you shall not return bearing arms against the folk of the Isles, and you have my leave to depart."

Robin's green eyes travel over the assemblage, noting and memorizing each face, each emotion, each moving mouth.

The men (and the small complement of women), swear, on the honor of their families and by the Goddess, to depart and not return in arms against the Isles.  They seem relieved by the light terms of the parole.

Kourin comes up during the oathtaking, but does not interfere.

Padraig turns to Vere.  "Thank you Warleader.  It will be some days before they have the ship re-masted, but they can leave as soon as that's done."

"Good.  We should never have been foes at all."  Vere regards Padraig for a long moment, then says, "Are you willing to come with me, to lead me to your leaders?  I would speak with them, to learn more of these invaders, and to seek some common ground."  He turns to Kourin, "Queenrider, are we far enough from anyone else that the crew can be safe in completing their repairs and departing without risk of interruption?"

Robin is all green eyes and support but doesn't interrupt.

"We're pretty far from the main sweep of the Isles, purposefully.  No one but us and a few inhabitants here, which will let them complete repairs.  We'll want to watch their departure, but I don't think it'll be a problem.  She hesitates.  "If they need help, we can provide some very large muscle."
            "I've spoken with J'rim.  We have the weyrleader's very gracious permission to go, as long as we keep in constant contact and turn tail at the first sign of trouble."  She smiles.  "It's actually good advice.  We'll be pretty far from backup, so we don't want to stir up too much, just enough."

Vere nods.  "We shall do my best to avoid trouble.  Here is how it will occur.  Kourin, I would like you to take Robin and me back to speak with my mother.  I shall inform her and my sister of what we are doing, before rather than after."  He smiles.  "We shall see if they appreciate my consideration.
            "Padraig, you stay with your crew as they begin their repairs, and explain to them that I am not holding you hostage.  I shall return soon, probably within a matter of a few hours, and we shall head out immediately."
            He turns to Robin and takes her hand.  "I know you work under time constraints, my love, to carry out the task given you by your father.  If you think it best that you remain with my mother and her priestesses, I understand."

"Thanks, love."  Robin smiles up at him.  Then her eyes wander off in thought.  "IIIiii think I'll hold off on that decision until after I meet your mother, okay?"  Her nose wrinkles slightly at the decision delay.

Kourin coughs, quietly.  "If you meet the Priestesses, you may have already made that decision.  I had about a 24 hour 'greeting ceremony' and I'm only the girlfriend of a grandson of a goddess, whereas you're a goddess.  I think they've been anticipating your arrival.  Maybe you could meet them on the way back?  Dragons are fast, but ceremonies aren't."

"That will have to be your decision, my love," Vere tells Robin.  "You know the urgency of your mission best.  Come with me now to meet with my mother and Avis immediately, or stay here with Padraig and his crew to learn what you can from them about their people and the invaders, and come with me to meet their leaders after I return from informing Mother of what I am doing.  I am content with your decision."

Robin blinks at them both in confusion.  Then smiles and shakes her head.  "I appreciate the warning, Kourin.  Really I do. I hate surprise ceremonies."  She adds with a snigger.
            "But the Priestesses keeping me against my will for a lot of pomp would be no better for them than locking me in a dungeon was good for Vanis.  Kinda one of the perks of Goddessing."  The tongue that Robin sticks out and the wrinkle of her nose convey the rest of what she feels about Goddessing.
            "Soooo off to meet Mom.  And decide about other things later.  K?"
            Robin takes a 'we're going now, right?' side-step toward Hoshith.

Kourin nods, and walks towards Hoshith.  Hoshith bends down, her enormous head looking at Vere and Robin.  Her eyes seem to spin in slow hypnotic circles.

Vere smiles and bows his head in greeting to Hoshith.  "Well met, beautiful queen," he murmurs in a low voice before mounting.

"Helloooo, Hoshith."  Robin's voice is warm and her grin huge.  She bobs in a little bow.

Hoshith's looks at each of them in turn, her eyes spinning slightly faster.

As she helps the two non-riders up and into the straps, Kourin says to Robin.  "Be careful with the Priestesses.  They've already lost half their number in a crisis of confidence."

Vere nods slightly, but says nothing in response to this.

"Oo.  Good point."  Robin purses her lips and nods in thought.  Then gets distracted by the thought of dragon flight.  A happy chirrup emerges out of her and her body begins to twitch in excitement.

The dragon's skin is warm and taught beneath their hands and feet as Kourin settles the riding harness.  The powerful muscles beat down as the great creature leaps into the air, a final ringing bugle signaling her departure from the prison isle.  After they reach a good height, Kourin shouts "Ready?"  She cannot possibly hear the response in the wind, and with her riding clothes on.

Robin's response is a thrilled whistle.