The heat wasn't so bad in the canyon.  The walls kept the two shaded most
of the day, and the wind coming down the canyon off the river was cool. 
Every now and then the canyon would tighten so the river and a small
stretch of bank was all that ran between two large mountains.  
	The woman had remained silent and C'aranth had let her.  Conversation
seemed pointless anyway, she couldn't speak his language, and he couldn't
speak hers.  So he gave up after the first day.  The churning of the water
or a cry from a hawk only broke the silence.  
	He wounds hadn't been getting better.  They still wept blood, and they
need some stitches.  The bruises had gotten bigger, and as they started
this morning she started coughing up blood.  He feared she had punctured a
lung with one of her broken ribs.  He couldn't simply leave her, and she
would have died if had left her.  She didn't seem to complain about the
wounds either, like she was lifeless.  That made changing the wrappings
easier.
	The small canyon they had been traveling down opened up to a large field.
Several terraces rose to a plateau covered in grass with an anthill of
caves rising in the mountain.  Scaffolding surrounded walls where large
pieces had been removed and were being replace by dirt covered men.
	C'aranth lead the horse up to the first terrace.  Several men working to
lay seed watched as he walked to the gate.  A solid arch supported by two
towers leading back to an entry gate.  That was standard.  The
fortification against ground troop was necessary, but the large mounted
weapons on the wall were meant for an air attack.
	The gate was open and men walked in and out with arms loaded with rock and
mortar.  As C'aranth entered he was stopped by a dragonrider on guard. 
"Can I help you?"  It was more a command then a question.
	"She needs a doctor."  C'aranth looked over his shoulder to the woman on
the back only slightly.  "Where is your hospital?"
	The young man noticed the woman for the first time it seemed.  His light
blue eyes widened.  "We should hurry.  Come on."  He began blowing a
whistle that seemed to summon some more guards who took the woman off the
horse.
	C'aranth looked the grounds over.  Inside it seemed there was a battle. 
The scorched earth and some scorching on the walls still remained.  He
guessed at least a week ago.  Perhaps those three he saw attacking the
Nomads.  He would ask latter.
	He followed the guards as they carried the woman on a stretcher into the
hospital.  Nurses and a doctor emerged out of the hospital carrying silk
and wadding.  Two doctors in white aprons looked at the woman.  One headed
into the hospital with the girl the other one looked up at C'aranth.  "Are
you C'aranth?"  He wiped his hands as he approached him.
	"Yes"
	"I am Dr S'lomon, I received your case some time ago.  Dr Hansen wanted me
to take over your case."  S'olomon put his hand out to shake.
	"Good to meet you."  C'aranth didn't take the hand but turned back to the
horses.
	"He said he had reached an impasse with you.  It is ok, I understand.  It
may take time.  Feel free to talk to me if you want to.  I will need to see
you for a few hours a week if that is ok."  S'olomon smiled as C'aranth
unloaded the bags from the horses.
	"Where do I get a room?"  C'aranth turned to look at the doctor.
	"Turner will help you with the room, he is the master mason."  S'olomon
followed C'aranth as he set the bags next to a wall.  "There is someone I
want you to meet, she too lost a dragon, but she has rejoined.  I think she
could help you deal with·"
	"Shut up."  C'aranth cut him off.  "You don't understand, you will never
understand me.  And do you think rejoining will replace what I have lost? 
Dr Hansen thought so as well.  Had me show up at two different hatchlings
to see if any of them would take to me.  
	"I was standing there with a bunch of kids waiting for a dragon to pick
me.  I have filled the gap, now if you don't mind.  I have work to do.  I
need to report to the Warrenlady, I am still a rider, they haven't taken
that from me.  Don't want to tarnish my dignity, do they.  Thank god they
give me dignity.
	"If you could just tell me where this Turner is, I will be off."  That was
the most C'aranth had said in a long time.  And he should have said it at
his Warren, not here, not to him.  The Dr didn't deserve it, but C'aranth
couldn't stop it once it began.  "C'aranth looked at the ground.  "I am
sorry·"
	"No it is ok."
	"Can't you even treat me like a real person.  Anyone else would talk to
you like that you would at least accept an apology.  I was an ass just now
and it is ok."  C'aranth grabbed his bags.  "Where is Turner?"
	
	C'aranth found the apartment and the door was open, he pushed it silently
to look in the room.  He found Turner, in the arms of a woman, seemingly
not resisting, and not working on the apartment either.
	He watched as they talked softly.  He had seen couple together, but this
couple seemed strange.  Then he realized she was older then him, by a
spread.  He knocked on the door.  "Turner?"  The two jumped apart.
Darren Hunter
Roland Brock
korzad@lgcy.com