Alex was finishing his meal when Gerald stood saying, "I'll see you 
tomorrow, and we'll get you situated within my wing,"

     "That will be delightful, Gerald," Alex said standing with large 
man.  They shook hands, and the wing commander left, while Alex finished 
his dinner.

     <Are you finished yet?> Alex asked his dragon.

     <Just about, and you are going to sleep with me tonight?> his 
friend replied finishing his meal.

     <Yes.  You know that I wouldn't think of sleeping anywhere but near 
you.  We're fighting companions, partners.  I'll see you in a few 
minutes on the main green.>

     Sopping up the last bit of stew with a large chunk of brown bread, 
Alex neatly popped the morsel into his mouth when a lady walked up to 
the other side of the table.

     "Do you mind if I sit here?" she asked politely.

     He stood up and smiled, "Not at all fair lass," he replied with a 
polite nod.

     Alexander waited for the lady to sit before he took his seat, and 
as he resumed eating he took care to use his best manners.  

     As she prepared to make her dinner disappear she said, "I'm 
Dyanisa.  Your new here right?"

     Alex caught himself staring at young lady and her interesting lock 
of hair.  Her features were almost familiar, but he didn't know why.  
When Dyanisa questioned him, he smiled hoping that she didn't realize 
his rudeness.

     Politely he answered, "Yes.  I am Alex Gossimor.  I along with my 
dragon Talafal have returned from Whiteriver.  Talafal was born here 
four years ago, and I of course have family in Ranscor."  Alex found 
himself staring at her white lock again even as he spoke, but she didn't 
seem to mind.  He wondered if she was a rider and was just about to ask 
Talafal to find out for him, when he noticed some commotion across the 
room.

     Suddenly the warren lady Jayleigh screamed, "Where's my son!"  
Almost at once a few dozen riders were on their feet and out the door, 
and Alex found himself moving along with them.

     <What's going on?> he asked

     <The other dragon tell me that Jayleigh's son is missing.  They 
have a problem with outlaws here and fear that the rogue might have 
taken the child.  I'm coming to meet with you now; I want to join in the 
search.> he dragon replied as he took to the sky with a mighty leap.

     Alex started arming himself, and was finished strapping on his 
breastplate as his dragon landed.  Quickly Talafal was saddled, and Alex 
sprang into his seat.  They whooshed into the sky together following a 
few others into the darkening sky.  Talafal received instructions and 
teleportation directions from the other dragons, and gave them to Alex.  
In a few minutes they were over a strange and unfamiliar part of the 
Triylar.  Alex searched the ground with his keen eyesight but was unable 
to find any sign of the warren lady's son.  They searched until it was 
too dark to see and returned sadly unsuccessful.  As they landed, they 
noticed a great commotion.  Talafal instantly relayed the terrible news 
to Alex; a rider, T'van had been killed.  Talafal howled with anger, 
licks of flame shot skyward.  Alex removed his helmet and let it fall to 
the ground with a thump.  He then looked skyward towards the dark starry 
canopy and asked the gods for justice.

Tom Oesterman
joesterm@neo.lrun.com

Alex and Talafal...the Greatest in the Realms