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"I knew your cousin would run straight to you!"  Reain snapped.

"Andorra?  What...?"  Andahar began.

"She is a meddling, *old* woman!  Andahar, I love you, but I will not be
Chunor in your tent with that bitch, Saleh, as your wife! I just won't!"
Reain spat. "I have my own tent here. I am dragonrider! Benna Jaliase and I
will welcome you, Andahar, but I will *not* reside with Saleh!" Tears
squeezed past her lashes, as she tried to blink them back.

Andahar just nodded, "Many Nomad chief have more than one tent -- when have
more than one wife." Then he flashed her one of his most charming smiles,
one that melted the Nomad girl's heart.

Then she realized what it was that Andahar was offering! "You will make me
wife?" Then her eyes narrowed slightly, "First wife -- or second wife?"

"Do you really care which? I thought Nomad status meant nothing to you?"
Andahar hedged. 

Reain felt as if he'd slapped her. But she didn't let it show hurt she was
by his comment. She couldn't really say anything because he was only
repeating what she had been saying for the last few weeks. If she acted like
a jealous fishwife now she knew she might loose him for good. No she would
sallow her hurt and act as if it didn't matter, for she loved him that much.

Reain smiled, a forced one that shouldn't have fool even him, but he misread
the slight blush on her cheeks as acceptance. "You have caught me, have you?
I say I am dragonrider, not needing Nomad honor, and then I ask for honor of
first wife. No, Andahar, I care not which wife of yours I am. I can never
turn you from my mat."

"Good, because I can not give you that honor of first wife.  Saleh has born
me son, and must get that honor," Andahar grinned, unable to control his joy
at the thought of the twins.

"Saleh? She had baby?" Reain's eyes widened with surprise and fear. 

"Not just one son, two!" Andahar beamed with pride.

"Ah..." Reain frowned, trying to take in the news.  A bit unsteadily, she
murmured, tying to keep the jealousy and bitterness out of her voice. Which
she did but just barely. Something Andahar would normally have noticed if
his head wasn't already filled with dreams of the greatness his sons would
one day achieve. With his sons now to fill his mind, he would have no time
for she and her daughter. "Congratulations on becoming father, Andahar."

Andahar noticed her hesitancy. "I did want to be first to tell you, Reain, I
worried that it would upset you."

"And you think I have no right to be upset?" she asked him, suddenly over
come by the hurt she was feeling inside. "You think I should not hurt
because I who you say you love can not give you what that bitch who you
slept with while drunk can!"

"Reain..." Andi started frowning at her as her words spoken just a bit to
loudly, began to drawl the attention of others in the room.

Her blushes deepen, for she did not want to embarrass him or herself. She
bowed her head. "Forgive me Andahar, but news *has* upset me more then
thought it would for I have wished to be mother of son and heir. Have longed
to give you son to be proud of who would lead your people to victory. It
hurts very much that I do not carry your seen inside of me even now."

"Reain..." his voice was softer now as his hand moved to lift her head
upwards until their eyes met. "I too have wished to see my seed grow within
your body. The gods will know when it is right time^�" His lips suddenly
curved up in a knowing smile even as his eyes half closed. "Between time we
can practice. Can we not?"

"Oh yes my handsome Nomad..." she was quick to agree, happy now that he
still wanted her. "I hear it say practice should be done over and over until
thing is done right^�"

As it happened, they didn't get in the *practice that both riders had been
looking forward to anytime that day. Andahara had stood and held his hand
out for her to join him, but two things happened at once and both we called
in different direction.

Reain going to the medical center after being told by Sylois that the nomad
woman they had brought in was awake now and the healers were requesting her
presence.

Andahar had something else to do that in time would make people wonder about
him. 

[[ Tag Kris^� What's up with Pua? ]]

[[ Sometime later that day^� in the camp sight of Reain's Uncle's Tribe. ]]

"Reain thinks to much of herself. Thinks she is nearly as good as a man. She
forgets her place in my tent," Andahar was telling Raiden, Reain's uncle
after showing up in the Chiefs tent. She has nerve to tell me... ME!!
Andahar, Chief of Anavasha that she is dragonrider now. Free woman. She will
sleep with who she will and will share my mat only if I give up twin sons
that Saleh has given birth too."

"She goes to far!" the Nomad Chieftain exclaimed. Reain might be his
favorite niece, but even she would not be allowed to act in such a manner.
Or when he himself had given her to this brave man. The honor of his family
was at stake.

"Do with her what you will Andahar of Anavasha," Raiden proclaimed. "She has
dishonored this tent one time to many. From now on she is nothing to us. I
will have words read."

The Chief in such a rage didn't notice the look of horror on his wife's face
nor the look of satisfaction that came over Andahra's for a brief moment
before he hid it.

"It is not enough to simply cast out a disrespectful female my brother,"
Andahar told Raiden after the Chief had sent his wife to retrieve one of the
holy men of the tribe.

"Would she be dishonorable if not for the teachings of the people who live
behind stone walls? Would our people act like heathens if dragonriders did
not invade our lands..? Mock our ways... Bringing sickness to the minds of
our young? NO!" Andahar said firmly. "Warren people did this to her...
Sickened her mind against what she was taught to believe and confused her.
Warren must pay for that."

........... 

"We will ride against the stone dwellers and demand the return of our lands.
Our people. Our ways," Raiden told his war chief later that day as the tribe
was readying itself to head back to the Warren.

He felt himself a fool now for listening to the deceitful tongue of the
woman who rode Queen dragon. He had been blinded by her aura of power and
fine speaking words. But no more. He was glad Andahar came to speak truth
words with him. No more a fool would he be. It was time now for the Nomads
to take back what rightfully belonged to them and start living life the way
the Nomad's had lived, long before the dragonriders on their fancy beast
showed up.

He would get his niece back and... No... That he could not do. For he had
already had Holy man speak words of shunning. And once they were spoken,
they could not be taken back. For him Reain, his beloved niece was now dead. 

No more could her name be spoken. No longer could he lay his eyes upon her
soft beauty even if her spirit walked among them. Backs would be turned to
her, her presence ignored.

To the tribe of the Rain Dancer, for which she's been named... Reain,
daughter of Baryon no long excited. She was now dead to them because she had
accepted the ways of the Stone dwellers above the teaching of her own
people. Her dishonor was final.

Still they would ride, for if nothing else to show the Stone dwelling
dragonrider's that they could not come in and take what had been the Nomad's
lands for thousands of years. They would not be allowed to spread their vile
ways and become the ruin of someone else's niece or daughter. The Warren and
her riders would have to leave.

That was why the Tribe of the Rain Dancer would ride.
.............. 

Reain was hungry. Dealing with the nomad woman and explaining things to her
had been fun, but tiring. She almost grinned to herself as she thought about
the little trick she was playing 
on both the woman and Dan'yar... Well not a trick. Not really, but woman
needed male to protect her now that she was alone with baby. She didn't have
a dragon like Reain did so Reain worried that other men would think nomad
woman free to use since she had no male to protect her. If Dan'yar accepted
her, then Reain knew woman would be safe, and Dan'yar would not harm her or
treat her like Reain's first master had treated her.

Dan'yar was perfect choice. Reain was glad it had been he who had come when
twins who rode dragons found woman and son. For he was an honorable man with
no woman living in his stone tent other then daughters. Such a man who had
been without touch of woman might welcome what only woman could give to
him... And she knew from things she had heard about him, that Dan'yar being
a man of honor, would not take from Pua what other less honorable man might.
He would share her mat only when and if she was ready... and not because Pua
thought it expected of her. 

Dan'yar would find no pleasure in laying on mat of woman who only coupled
with him because she thought it was expected of her. He would wait until
coupling was something both wanted together. If even came the time.

If she helped them out just a little by offering advice that was maybe a
little... off... Then who would know until it was to late? Reain didn't tell
woman that Dan'yar could free her to be own woman who depending on no man
for protection. If woman believed that she belonged to Dan'yar now since he
was male who brought her back to Warren.. Reain saw no reason to tell her
differently. 

And if Dan'yar believed truth in her words of the Nomad custom that said
woman found alone... became property of male who gives aid.

"When you bring woman back here to heal... Then you say you are responsible
for her and son." She had told him while hoping her Gods would not strike
her down for the small lies and half-truths she told. "You make decision to
bring woman back here to Warren when hurt, so by her custom, you are
claiming her for your own."

"I did no such thing," he'd protested. "I did what anyone would have done...
You were there. You saw how badly she was hurt. It could have very easily
been you who decided to bring her back."

"I did not. You were leader... You made decision. If you reject her because
it is not Warren way to claim woman in raids... Then she will have no honor
and might become Chunor of man who might abuse her for his own needs."

"But it doesn't have to be that way," Dan'yar protested. "She can live here
free and pick her own man when the time comes and she feels ready to look
that way."

"She, who was raised among the Nomads will not see it that way. She know you
bring her back here... If you tell her you do not want her living in your
tent... She will feel dishonored and..."

Dan'yar had frowned and sighed deeply. "Okay what would you suggest I do?"

"Be her protector until she can accept being free to make her own choice.
She will keep home clean, clothes washed..."

"I don't need a servant," the tall man frowned.

"No but she has been raised to work, and if you offer her your protection,
then she will feel she has to repaid somehow.. Let her do so for now and
little by little you can show her other ways."

Dan'yar had finally given in, never knowing that Reain had fudged just a bit
to both parties to get things set up. But she didn't feel guilty about her
little whites lies... For she was only trying to make sure Pua would have
someone kind as her protector. The woman had just loss whole entire tribe to
gray things... She needed kindness in her life now. Dan'yar would see she
received it.  

<<Sy my love... is Bohoc back in Warren yet?>> she asked the light blue
dragon she had joined with. 

<He is back...> Sylois told her rider. And Reain heard the same sad tone in
her dragon's tone that she heard every time Sy had to speak with Andahar's
dragon. She's asked her about it before but Sy had told her it was nothing.
Maybe she should talk to Andahar about it and see what Bohoc had to say. <He
is in stone place that gives out food.>

<<Thank you my love,>> Reain said and increase her steps to get there faster. 

She saw him right away and came up behind him to give him a hug... And rock
back on her feet as if something had hit her. By the time she had her
footing back, she saw Andahar walking away towards the food table, and as
Amar came to life inside of her, thoughts that Reain would never have
thought of came to mind. Reain/Amar took off following the tall Nomad male
Amar had just lost possession of. There was more then one way to cause
trouble and get him to fight... this female could be the key he needed.

The Reain/ Amar entity fumed silently as it watched as the tall nomad walked
away from them as if he hadn't even noticed they were there. Then again
maybe he hadn't but it gave Amar an excuse to start a fight with him anyway,
and make him look bad. If he could get the Nomad mad enough at the woman to
hit her...  His pride and ego would be his undoing, and at the same time
cause enough trouble to keep things started going.

Amar let the female grin slightly as he searched through her resent memories
and came up with something he could use to get the fight rolling. Then
started after the tall nomad as he took his try and looked around for a
place to set and eat.

"Is not my cooking good enough for Chief of Anavasha?" she/they said with
just a hint of anger in her/their tone.

"Reain..." Andahar turned and smiled, happy to see her standing there.
"Would much rather eat your cooking, but did not find you home."

"I did not feel like cooking for man who tells uncle lies. So I did not
cook. Simple as that," she/they said and to add more heat to the fire,
she/they snapped their fingers under his nose.

"What lies do you thick I have told?" he asked confused. "I have not seen
your uncle in long time."

"Do you think I am stupid because I am woman?" she asked and then snorted.
"I know you went to My Uncle and told him lies about me to make me look back
because I refused to be only a Chunor to you."

"You dishonor your self woman! I have said I have not seen your uncle and I
have told no lies about you to him," he snapped, not understanding the
change in her at all. Did this have to do with the birth of his sons? "Maybe
I should seek your Uncle and..."

"And what will you do?" she laughed bitterly, interrupting him. "Will you go
back and tell Uncle this disrespectful female did not have dinner ready when
GREAT Chief Andahar demands? Will you tell him you were caught spreading
lies then denied it when caught?" she/they asked in a tight voice. "Should I
be scared that you will beat me?"

Andahar looked up at her totally confused by the way she was acting.
"Reain..." He frowned, dark eyes glaring at her. "Once again you speak to me
this way in front of others. Why?"

"Maybe because I do not want to share my mat with man who is taken in by
father of a whore! Maybe I do not want to be known as only a second wife to
man who would marry bitch like Saleh because she says babies are yours. Do
you know for sure Andahar of Anavasha? Woman lies before. Maybe father
whores her out to another and when baby's come tells you they are your
babies because he think to save daughter from being known for whore she is!
They play you for sucker. You act so great and honorable, but stupid enough
to fall for lies. Stupid man. I would rather share mat with horde of gray
things then share mat any longer with man so easily fooled by..."

"I am no ones fool," he growled coming to his feet, both hands clenched
tightly into fist, held as if by sheer force of will alone down by his side.
"But I can see I was a fool for you."

"More of a fool then you know Andahar the great!" Reain/Amar shouted and now
heads did turn towards them. "Go. Marry your whore. But know this! She will
bring you no joy upon the mats, for when you are bedding her *my* face will
be the one you see!"

.................................

So the great Nomad chief really believed the two squalling brats were born
of his seed, the Reain/Amar entity smiled thinking of how mad Andahar would
get if anything were to happen to the sons he was so proud of. It hadn't
been able to make him hit the woman in the dining hall no matter what she
had said or accused him of.

And he had been upset by her words. At one point Amar nearly cheered out in
triumph, thinking he/they had finally succeeded in angering the proud nomad
enough to strike out at her, but instead he had fought down the rage and
stormed past her instead, exiting the hall to keep from beating her. 

So Reain/Amar had to think of something else and that was when Amar
remembered the man's thoughts of pride for the two squalors lying in the
baskets before him/her.  What man wouldn't go insane with rage if something
happened to his sons... 

Reain/Amar looked down at the two babies for a moment, feeling nothing. Then
she/they reached inside the bag she carries and took out the bottle of
poison she had gotten from the healer saying it was for killing rats in her
home. She set it down on the table and then turned back and reached for the
glass of water she had thought to bring with her and set it down beside the
bottle.

"A spoonful should do," Reain/Amar said softly and mixed the powder into the
water swirling it around with a spoon until it dissolved. 

Then she/it picked up the water mixture and a rag she had brought with her,
dunked the rag into the water, soaking up just enough of it before moving
towards the first crib. There she reached in, carefully picked up the first
of Andahar's sons and cooning softly to him so he wouldn't start to cry out,
Reain brought the rag up to his lips and dribbled a few drops into his
seeking mouth..... 

Then the door opened and she nearly dropped the brat as she whipped around
to see who it was, a lie already forming on her lips, but stopped when she
saw Andahar standing there with murder in his eyes.

"So it is true! You did come here to kill my sons! Are you MAD woman!" he
said coming towards her and all but yanking his son out of her arms. Then he
handed the baby to someone who had entered behind him and turned back to
face Reain/Amar.

Pain laced through her head as his hand came in contact with her jaw. Reain
staggered backwards suddenly very dizzy, but before she could fall, his hand
shot out to grab her and she felt a second blow before everything started
going black.

From somewhere she could hear men shouting and babies crying.
But it all seemed to be coming from a far off dream, only the pain in her
head told her it was for real, and her mind took her back to a different
time when she'd been beaten by her master.

But this wasn't her master. This was Andahar, the man she loved. The man who
said he loved her..... So why then was he beating her! What had she done to
deserve this from him? Why had he turned against her?

"Andahar why??" she forced out through bloody lips that were already
swelling up quickly. "I loved you..."

	[Well Arle..... does he have any reply for her?]

Nrpg: I assume you all do know Amar had his part in this whole thing.....
from Andahar's visit to her Uncle to Reain's getting mouthy and then trying
to kill the babies..... With Andi in the pokey... that's one less person to
fight..... but will they be able to get him there while Amar is still with
him..... or will Amar be trapped in there with him..... humm..... stay tune
for more exciting plots to come.....


***Submitted by: *****

Reain & Sylois
Cleft Warren 

Aka
Barbara