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Day 3
In the Med Center.

Finally!  Would that woman never leave?  Andahar waited until he was sure
Lady Madyllin was gone.  Why was she butting in to his tribe's personal
business anyway?  He heard Trevor talking to him... but it seemed so far
away.  He felt the room lurch and spin, and he knew he was falling.

****
Tag John

****
He came to, looking up at the angry, yet concerned face of his cousin.  Like
the other woman, Lady Madyllin, Andorra also began berating him.  What had
he done to deserve such scorn from women?

"Please, cousin, just tend to my wounds, we will talk later."  He lay back
hoping she could see sense.

What was it that Andorra was going on about?  True, Saleh wasn't the perfect
bride for a young chief, she wasn't of a particularly strong clan or family,
but he could do worse.  But, wasn't it Andorra that had first counseled him
that it was his duty to marry Saleh?  She must be testing him in some way...
testing his resolve, or his holding to traditions.

"... Even Raine would make a better bride and Saleh could be your chunor."
She pulled a small twig out of his leg.

He winced as Andorra cleansed his external wounds, "Please cousin!"  He
loved Reain, but she was his Chunor and also not pregnant with his child.

<SNIP from Darren's Post>
"I am the dain, and I am counseling you.  So heed my counsel, the god's know
you have not since.  But this is very serious."  She waved the twig at him
like a scepter.  "Your a fool man who has landed himself in a cook pot and
that girl and her father are going to make a meal of you.  It is just that
you are hurt like this, perhaps it will give you time to think and listen
instead of charge headlong into the frey like some fool bull."  She cleaned
the last open wound, and paused.  "Do not be mad, I just worry for you
cousin.  You will make a strong leader."  She bent down and kissed his
forhead.  "This will  tingle."
<END SNIP>

He felt the pain easing, as his flesh was mended and healed.  He felt her
break away, and he knew that he was not completely healed, but it was a vast
improvement over his condition only moments before.  "It is truly a blessing
to have you,"  he said as he sat up, gingerly, testing his body, feeling the
strength returning -- as well as the unexpected benefit of arousal.

He saw how weak she had become from the healing -- he must have been in
worse shape than he'd thought.  He saw her slump down into a chair.

"I want to marry Nikol, soon.  Before the summer."  Andorra's voice
whispered.

Andahar looked at his cousin more closely -- the last statement came from
the weakness brought on by the healing as he was sure she would not have
spoken that way to him.  Yet it came from her heart.  So he responded in
kind.  "I will speak to blaster, my cousin.  I need to understand what is
responsibility of both ... clan."  He frowned thinking about the strange
words that Lady Madyllin had imparted earlier.  She certainly didn't mean
for him to pay a bride price for a man?  It seemed rather an odd custom!
But perhaps he could work out some deal with him... he really needed some
horses... for Saleh.  "And I see now why you test me, cousin.  You test my
resolve to fulfill my duty to you and to Saleh.  I will get bride price from
Nikol... and I will have bride price for Saleh.  It will all come to pass."

Andorra looked up at Andahar and shook her head sadly.  She could see that
Andahar truly believed he was doing what was best for their clan, yet
joining with that Hanan woman was a mistake, she was sure of it, even though
she had first spoken to him about Saleh.  The more she knew of the girl, the
less she felt that she was speaking truthfully... though she couldn't put a
finger on what exactly was dishonest in what she had told her.

As soon as Andorra left, Andahar bespoke Bohoc telling him that he was going
to be okay.


****
Bohoc was snuggling next to Triss when he heard from Andahar, <My rider is
going to be okay... >

Trissana nuzzled him, <I am so sorry, Bohoc... I never should have tried to
fight wraiths.  Syren's rider was right... I will never be a good dragon.>

Bohoc swirled his tail around Triss and sighed, <You are a wonderful dragon,
and I know you did not mean to injure my rider.  It was I... I should have
been able to protect him...>

<You, Bohoc?  You were wonderful!  You did protect him, and fought off those
wraiths all by yourself!>  Trissana responded.

Bohoc hung his head sadly.

Triss looked around... <You know what?  We need a game of ball>

<But I popped your ball, Triss...>

<Well.... look... over there?  In that rolling thing... those look like
balls, don't they?>

Bohoc looked over at the wagon that stood near the dining hall.  It appeared
to be filled with some round yellowish balls.  <Why, yes!  I think they
are!>

Triss gleefully ambled over to the wagon and pulled one out with her claw.
She tossed it into the air, but Bohoc missed it, and is smashed onto the
ground, splattering the area around it.

<That didn't appear to be a very strong ball... maybe the next one is?>
Bohoc suggested.

<Maybe you can catch the next one...>  Triss said as she tossed another
towards Bohoc.  He opened his mouth wide to catch it, but when it hit his
teeth, it also shattered, spraying him with sticky pulp and juice.

<Hmm... not bad... not as good as a fresh deer... toss me another!>  Bohoc
exclaimed.

Triss frowned, but did as he requested.  This one Bohoc gulped down in one
snap.

<Hey!  But if you don't throw it back, how can we play?>

<Oh, right... OK... I'll catch this one.>  Triss flicked one to him and he
hooked it on his claw and flicked it back.

Unfortunately it went wide and smashed against the side of the dining hall.
<Try again!>  Triss called as she tossed another.

Bohoc again caught it and flicked it to Triss, who gracefully caught it in
her mouth -- also crushing it in her powerful jaws.

Spitting furiously she cried out, <ICK!  And you liked this thing?>

Bohoc rumbled in response, <Guess it takes a bit of getting used to.>

As Triss tossed another melon towards Bohoc, the owner of the wagon emerged
from the dining hall with one of the cooks.

The woman's scream was ear-piercing, as was the man's loud words.

<What are they so upset about?>  Triss puzzled as she watched the man leap
onto the wagon.  <I didn't realize that humans could be so possessive over a
few balls...>

****
Andahar was kept for observation, since Andorra hadn't fully healed him,
though he felt fine.  He was fed dinner there, but all he could think about
while he ate was the wonderful meals that Reain had prepared for him... and
Reain herself.

As soon as he was released he had Bohoc fly him straight to her apartment.
He knew that whether or not she had barricaded the door, he was going to be
spending the night with her.  He was, therefore, incredibly pleased and
surprised when she threw open the door when he knocked only once and greeted
him with a huge hug and kiss.

"Love me, Andahar." She spoke softly. "Please, love me."

He was more than willing to oblige.  He took her into his arms, kissing her
passionately.  He was still confused as to why she had refused him the other
night, but now things were just as they should be.  Their passion grew as
they found their hands eagerly exploring the other's body.  He swiftly
scooped up the young Nomad woman and carried her into her bedroom, shedding
clothes along the way.

Once there, his experience took over, and he knew exactly what to do to
please Reain.  Her small gasps thrilled him as he expertly brought her close
to the edge again and again, before plunging them both over into release.


****
Day 4

Andahar hadn't remembered sleeping so well ... in a long time.  In fact, he
didn't rise early to greet the morning as he normally did.  He smiled as he
reached over for Reain... only to discover that her spot was empty.  He sat
up quickly and looked around.

A Nomad expletive escaped his lips, before he thought better.  Perhaps she
was making breakfast?  He found his clothes where he had scattered them the
previous night and dressed swiftly.  But when he entered the main room of
the apartment, Reain was not there.

Sighing he made his way outside onto the ledge.  He called to Bohoc, who
responded immediately, and winged his way over to pick him up.

Since his "accident" the day before, Bohoc informed him that Shinner's rider
had "grounded" them.  No patrols for a few days.

<*What will we do?  We can't sit around Warren...*>  He sighed sadly.  They
landed on the green and Andahar walked into the dining hall for a late
breakfast.

****
NRPG:  Any one interested in brunch?  OK, John... Andahar's available. [g]

Respectfully submitted by
Arlene Jacobs
AKA Andahar of the Anavasha rider of Bohoc of Cleft Warren