Rogue dragonriders.

Well, that was just PERfect. First, nomads were stealing women from the
warren, and now rogue riders were torching everything in sight. 

What else could go wrong?

<<Novara says she has found dragons.>>

That could go wrong. *How many? Can we get enough riders over there to-*

<<It's not like that. They are wilders. *sniff* They say they had nothing
to do with this, but rogues did.>>

*So, where does that leave us? Did they know where the rogues came from?*

<<Novara says they're not telling.>>

*Great, great. Well, at least we put out the fire.*

<<Such a pretty fire it was, too.>>

*I'm sure you would think so. Put me down near Blanchie's rider.*

B'rand crossed over to Nelar and Lenna, placing an arm around the
latter's shoulders as she turned to face him. He could see her face
was blackened with soot, just like his. 

"Ready to go home love?" he asked, pointing upwards towards the 
new Wings arriving.

"Oh yes," she answered. "Home, bath, and then bed for a week."

"In that order?" he smiled.

"Uh huh, but I could use someone to scrub my back," 

"Only if you return the favor," he replied.

"You got yourself a deal handsome."

****************

B'rand put an arm around Lenna's waist as they dismounted at her apartment.
She didn't object; in fact, she looked like she was about to collapse.
Considering that they both looked like they had been the main course at 
a roast, he wasn't suprised.

He led her back to the bathing room and as he set the water to fill 
the big tub, she began to peel off the soot and ash covered leather 
riding outfit she had on. By the time she was finished and the 
red-head helped her into the tub, she was nearly asleep. B'rand
had to hurry to strip before the blonde fell over in the warm water.

"Can't rest yet, love," he said as he joined her in the warm water 
and began to run a wet wash cloth over her skin. "We got to get you 
clean first and then I'll tuck you into that nice big bed in the 
other room."

"Only if you're going to join me," she yawned, and tried to help 
him by lifting her arm. "I'll need someone to cuddle up to, to keep 
me warm tonight."

"Oh I don't think I'd say no to that," he chuckled. "Just as long 
as I'm the only one you want to cuddle up to."

"It'd have to be you," she sighed. "Don't love no one else the way 
I love you, so don't want no one else in my bed with me."

"You don't know how relieved I am to hear you say that," he told her 
as he began to rub the shampoo into her hair. "Cause I sort of feel 
the same way."

"Ah!! but will you feel the same way after I beat you in our sword 
fight?" she giggled. "Will you still love me then?"

"Boy you think a lot of yourself, don't you?" he laughed. "Why by 
next week you'll be my slave for the week doing all of those lovely 
things I've been thinking of having you do for me. I tell you what, 
I'm really looking forward to beating you. I've never had a slave 
of my own before."

"Keep on dreaming handsome," she grinned as he tilted her head back 
and poured clean water over her head to rinse off the soap. "I think 
I'll have you start by giving me a back rub. Always did like those."

"Like this?" he asked and she felt his strong figures began to dig 
into the sore muscles of her back and shoulders. It took a while to
work the knots out of her muscles, but he could soon tell that she
was enjoying it immensely. "How's that feel?' 

"Ask me again in two hours and by then I may still be awake enough 
to tell you," she all but purred. Then she nearly jumped out of her 
skin when she felt a cascade of cold water being poured over the top 
of her head.

"What??? B'rand!!" she sputtered trying to get up out of the tub. 
"That's mean!!" She said turning around in the tub to face him. He 
reach up and caught her arms, pulling her on top of him. 

"Yes it was..." his emerald eyes sparkled with mischief. "But now 
you're awake enough so that I won't have to carry you to bed." 

She kissed him hungrily, and he was beginning to wonder if they would 
make it to the bed...until the water drained away, and she gasped and
pulled away a bit. 

"Time for sleep beautiful," B'rand said softly, giving her one final 
kiss before rising up out of the tub and picking up two big fluffy 
towels to use in drying them off. "We can play when we wake up in the
morning."

"As long as there isn't some kind of an alert," she groaned.

Moments later, they were both under the covers, Lenna's warm body 
pressing tightly against his as he held her. Soon enough, she was breathing 
slowly and regularly, but B'rand just couldn't seem to follow her into 
sleep, tired as he was. Something was nagging at his mind...ah, yes.
He was going to have to have a talk with Lonnie...perhaps they could 
alter their patrol a bit, see if they could pick up traces of other 
dragons. Anything was possible...then of course, he would have to get
a hold of her other brother, Farr'n, and see what he could do about 
lessons, although he didn't know what he could do in just a week's time.
B'rand sighed heavily; the week after the bout would prove to be a long one.
He was still feeling the vestiges of uneasiness as he drifted off...

**********************

nrpg: Sure enough, I was about to post, and I decided to check first...
good thing, too, 'cause we certainly would have had a cross-post. I think
it's sort of like washing your car before it rains...anyway, I'll wait 
until everyone catches up for the night, cause I wanted Farr'n free at 
some point the next day. :)

Too bad, I had all kinds of fun planned in the tub...*sigh* 
*tosses wadded up paper in the virtual wastebasket*


	
        Respectfully submitted by:
	Allen Veazey <wolf@dbtech.net>
	Warrenlady Phaedra and Melith (Geode); Gerald and Random (Daere)
	Ash'chenon (Telnor); B'rand and Rook (Cleft),
	C'nis and Liupeth (Keldarra), Orbus of Amber (Amber)
	               Geode Warren Page:
        http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Acropolis/3043/crystal.html
	
     "Don't call ME a mindless philosopher, you overweight glob of grease!"
				-C3PIO