"It's strange how everything working out," D'Ren thought as he finished 
laying tiles for the floor of another dragon rider apartment.  "The 
warren is really starting to look like something, we haven't had any 
problems with rogue riders, and the nomads are even starting to accept 
our presence-well at least some of them."  He placed the last tile and 
dusted away some stone chips with a small whiskbroom.  He stood up, 
stretched, and examined his work.  "Not bad.  Not bad at all, no wonder 
why Master Harrand says that you can start learning the rites soon," 
D'Ren said to himself as he tingled with excitement at the thought of 
being allowed to join the Guild.  The only thing that would be more 
exciting would be becoming a dragon-rider.  And he thought if Tymor's 
clutch held a dragon for him.

"Come on, D'Ren your almost twenty-one years old.  No one joins with a 
dragon that old," he thought as he cleaned up.  It wasn't long before 
he was finished.  He collected his tools and went to the door to signal 
for a dragon that was helping lift the workers to the apartments as he 
tried to remember if he ever heard about anyone joining past the age of 
twenty.

***
Later that day

D'Ren sat at a large table with several of his friends.  The fried 
vegetables were excellent and so was the beer that had been brought 
with the last shipment of supplies.  He finished his second glass and 
felt the sought after effects of the drink, and he found himself 
laughing loudly at Gier's otherwise stupid jokes.  His friends were 
also laughing and having a good time, and D'Ren went to refill his mug 
when he saw Lenna walking back to her new mate with a large tray of 
food.  He shook his head in disbelief at the fact that she was serving, 
but then he remembered that she had lost some bet or something and now 
had to serve B'rand.  Suddenly, she dumped a glass over B'rand's head 
and smashed a pie in his face.  D'Ren roared in laughter, and pointing 
at B'rand he yelled to his friends, "Now, how's that for service!"

Tom Oesterman
joesterm@neo.lrun.com

D'Ren Stonecutter