It had been an exceptionally tiring patrol.

        Gerald was beat. There was something about flying monotonously
around for hours in the early morning that took something out of a 
person. He stretched, then pulled off his boots. His feet thanked him 
profusely. Wiggling his toes, Gerald looked around the green, only to
see that two people were rapidly approaching. Ja'ks and Jadain, looked
like.

        *Oh, great.*

        <What's the matter?> Gerald could sense Random above him, 
settling on a high perch.

        *Sprarroe's rider and Jadain are coming, and here I am, looking
like I've been lazing about all day.* Gerald started to pull his 
boots back on. 

        <Relax. Even if I didn't already tell Jadain we were flying, 
the windburn on your face would give it away.>

        "Good morning, Gamma wingsecond," Ja'ks said, a barely hidden
smile on his face. "Taking a break, I see. Must be nice to lay about
like that all the time."

        *See?*

        Ja'ks was openly grinning as Gerald struggled to his feet, 
embarrassment plain on his features. He raised a hand as Gerald started
to dissemble. "I already know. You need something hot, you look like
you've been rubbing your face with snow. By the way, you'd better hurry,
I think you've got something to do later."

        "Huh? Did I forget something?"

        "You'll see."

        Jadain broke in. "Hey, you brought it!" He was pointing to 
Gerald's axe, the one that Gerald tried hard to hide around the
youngster. "Would you throw it again? Please?"

        Gerald sighed. *Damn.* Unstrapping the enormous double-bitted
axe from his back, he looked around. "I'm really not very good at
this..."

        "Sure you are! Uncle Ja'ks didn't believe me."

        Ja'ks looked wary. "You can actually throw that thing?"

        "Not very far. G'ther's been fussing with it, he weighted the
haft and has been showing me what to do. I still don't like it very
much. Give me bare hands any day."  Gerald sighted a nearby wooden 
target, relaxed, then heaved in a blur of motion...

        Humming like a large fan, the axe spun through the air and 
struck the target with a meaty thunk; both the heavy target and the
axe crashed to the ground a few feet away.

        "Yeah!" Jadain howled. Gerald shook his head. The kid liked 
weapons, that was for sure. Ja'ks looked impressed.

        Gerald placed his foot on the target and heaved at the axe.
It finally popped free, the wood squealing in protest. "Well, I guess
I'd better eat while I can. Any hints as to what I'll be doing?"

        "Sure. Get cleaned up and dress in your finest."

        "Thanks," Gerald said as he headed off.

        *Wish he could be a little less cryptic.*

        <Then it wouldn't be any fun!> 

        Soon enough, after Gerald had stopped off in the dining hall then
retired to his apartment, he was enlightened.

        <Viktroy's rider wants us on the green. We are to go to 
Keldarra!>

        *What?!? When?*

        <Almost as soon as we get there.>

        *Why didn't they warn me?* Gerald was aghast. He hurried with
the last fastenings on his clothes.

        <Oh, Kutath told me a little while ago.>

        *Wicked dragon...why didn't you let me know?*

        <You never asked.>

        Soon enough they were flying over the warren, then visualizing
Keldarra... 

        Landing on the green, Gerald was taken in but the alien sights
of another warren. Seeing he was quite entranced with the view, 
Jayleigh tapped him on the arm.

        "Oh, I'm sorry, m'lady. I've never been here before."

        <You've never been anywhere before. Get a life.>

        "Would you like to look around?" Jayleigh asked. "You could 
come in with us and be introduced. I don't remember your meeting the
Dragonlady last night."

        Gerald backed slightly. "Oh, no, I couldn't. Please, go ahead,"
motioning for the Warrenlady and Realee to continue.

        "Very well then. We'll be right in there," as she pointed to 
a door. 

        "I'll be right outside if you need me."

        Gerald leaned outside the doorway as the two women went inside.
Pondering, he was interrupted by Random's huge head in front of him.

        <Well, if you're not going to meet the Empress' rider, I can
at least greet the Empress again.>

        Gerald shrugged. *Go ahead.* 

        Bracing himself against the rush of air, Gerald was soon alone.
unstrapping his harp (half again the size of a normal lap-harp) he
softly played a few variations on a theme he was thinking of. Funny, 
he thought, sometimes music is the only way I can communicate with
people.

        Now there's a thought: a mute player, his only voice a harp...
Gerald's fingers glided over the strings as he worked on a melody to 
fit the poem he was already composing...

        "Gerald, would you come in here for a minute?"

        He gave a guilty start, brought back to the present. Ducking 
inside, he wandered into a side room to see Jayleigh and Realee sitting
in chairs across a desk from a short blonde woman who could only be-

        Gerald felt tongue-tied. Crossing over to the desk, he lightly 
grasped the extended hand and bowed low. "My lady, I'm honored to 
meet you." Standing up, he moved back; he could see the amusement in
the Dragonlady's eyes.

        "A charmer, I see. Tell me, was that your playing I just heard?"

        "Y-yes, ma'am," Gerald stammered.

        "I seem to remember you playing at the funeral, also. Tell me,
Jayleigh, are all your riders as talented?"

        "No, Gerald's one of a kind." Gerald turned beet-red at the
praise.

        Crystalla laughed, not unkindly. "Please, have a seat..."

****************
NRPG:hey, I can get Gerald involved, can't I? :) I must say, putting 
words in Crystalla's mouth is sorta like juggling with Grandma's best
china...always worried about a slip :)



                        Allen E. Veazey
                        wolf@dbtech.net
	        Phaedra and Melith (Geode Warren)                     
		 Gerald and Random (Daere Warren)
		 B'rand and Rook (Cleft Warren)
                    Ash'chenon (Telnor Warren)
	        Geode Warren Home Page:
     http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Acropolis/3043/crystal.html

	         "The future ain't what it used to be."
				-Yogi Berra

    

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