**Kiree**

>      "What's wrong, Kiree?"

>       "Nothing."

>       "Well, all right, but if you want to talk, I'll be there." R'ven 
>stood to go.

>       "R'ven, wait..."

>       "Yes?"

>       "It's...silly, I guess, but it's about Gerald...and Jayleigh."

        R'ven sat back down and put his arm around her. "It's okay, you 
can tell me. What's wrong?"

        "Well...I..." This was hard for her to say. "What I'm trying to say
is, that Gerald, um, seems to be getting involved with...Jayleigh."

        "Okay..." R'ven waited for her to continue.

        "Well, I was kind of interested in him, too."

        "So, why don't you tell him?"

        "Because he's with someone else!"

        "Kiree, that doesn't make any difference. Why not go after
 him anyway?"

        Kiree was flabbergasted. That simply wasn't done!

        Seeing the look on her face, R'ven laughed, not unkindly. "Oh, Kiree.
Half of the former landbound riders I talk to have this problem. Tell me, has
Salanth had any mating flights?"

        "Of course."

        So, you understand then, that sex is treated a little differently 
here than with the landbound?"

        Kiree blushed, thinking of the wild passion that had taken over,
those times that Salanth had risen..."Yes, but those were mating flights!
That was different!"

        "No, sweetheart, there's no difference. Now that you're here, you 
have to forget all the things that were taught to you as a landbound 
regarding to sex. Sex is not taboo here. It can't be. No one is going to 
chastise you, no one is going to talk badly about you. If Gerald and 
Jayleigh were mates, it might be a little harder for you to grasp, but even
then, that's not impossible. No one would object if all three of you were
together."

        Kiree was shocked. "That's..."

        R'ven smiled wryly. "It's been known to happen."

        "Oh....I'm sorry, I didn't mean..."

        "I know. You may not be interested in that. I'm just trying to make
you understand...if you were involved like that, no one would object.
Relationships here are very complex, but in a way, they're much simpler,
too. Anyone, unless they want to be exclusive to someone else, is fair game.
Jealousy does exist, I admit...it's part of human nature. However, that
usually only happens among relationships where two people are mated. Even
then, how can one of them object if another rider wins a mating flight?
In any case, dear, you have to let Gerald know. You can't blame him for not
pursuing you if he doesn't know you're interested. And you can't wait for
him, either; that one is as shy as a skittish horse. He *does* know how things
are, though; I daresay you might just be suprised at what happens."

        This was definitely good news..."Thank you, R'ven." She gave the
older rider a tight hug, being squeezed in return...for a moment, she felt
the heat in his glance as they parted, and wondered if he was interested in 
her, as well.

        Perhaps that wouldn't be a horrible thing, either...

*********************

        **Gerald, late the next afternoon**

        "Hi."

        Gerald looked up. "Why, hello, Kiree." As usual, he was sitting on 
the green, picking a tune from his lap harp. "Did you fix that problem with
your saddle?"

        "Oh, yes, I did." Something in her glance made him think that this
wasn't quite the subject she wanted to talk about.

        "Is there something I can help you with?" he prompted.

        "Oh, I just wanted to say...thanks for cleaning up...afterwards."

        "Huh? I don't understand."

        "Um, my apartment, after the mating flight."

        "Oh...that was *your* apartment?" Gerald blushed, remembering what 
he had done to mess it up. "I'm sorry, the dragons were mating and it just
happened to be close, and.."

        Hesitantly, Kiree reached out and put her fingers to his lips.
"No, I understand that. Really. I, um, noticed that you and the Warrenlady
were getting, well, friendly."

        "I suppose you could say that." He was really blushing now.

        "Well, I just wanted to let you know..." her fingers traced a line
from his lips down to his chest. "If you ever get to the point where
things aren't quite so friendly, there might be someone else who is
interested."

        Gerald looked at her, suprised. His eyes met hers, and there was a 
brief smoky glance before her blond head turned away.

        "Think about it." Gerald watched her as she walked away.

        *What was that all about?*

        <Wasn't it obvious?>

        *I didn't know she was interested.*

        <Salanth told me her rider was, some time ago...I gave you the 
hint the other day. You never listen to me.>

        *I guess I don't. I couldn't do anything now, of course.*

        <Why not?>

       *I really enjoy making love to Jayleigh...I couldn't just forget her
and start something with Kiree.*

        <Who said you have to stop one to start another?>

        *Humans don't usually work that way.*

        <Humans are dense. Of course you can. Ooo, think of all those good
feelings, all the time...>

        *You are a sex maniac, Random.*

        <Is that what humans say when they're denying what they want?> 

****************

        **Gerald, later that night**

        He shifted position in his chair again, putting down his book. One
of these days, I'm going to have to get a bigger chair...this one folds me
up too much.

        <What's the matter?>

        *I can't get comfortable.*

        <Why not get some company? I've been conversing with a few dragons,
their riders have gone to that tavern you all seem to like outside the
warren. It would be fun to go.>

        *Uh huh...so, why are you wanting to go?*

        <Perhaps there is a little green that I haven't cuddled with in a
little while...>

        *I see. Well, for once, I think you're right. Let me get my gitar
and jacket.*

        A rustle of wings, a feeling of cold air.. and they were there.
Gerald dismounted, moving to the tavern opening.

        *Have fun.*

        <Of course!>

        Gerald was greeted warmly by those riders who were already there.
He spent the next hour playing almost nonstop for the room, with more 
riders appearing regularly. The place was shaping up to be quite a party.
His protests were quickly silenced, and in fact he was really  enjoying 
himself.

        *It's fun to have people actually want to hear me play, but there
is a disadvantage, too.*

        <There is?>

        *Once you start performing for a crowd, they never let you quit.
Hey, Jayleigh might like this, it's becoming a great party.*

        <Don't try to fool me...all this attention is getting you horny.>

        *Random!*

        <Well, it is...but I think Troy's rider is busy.>

        *Oh?*

        <She's with Amadith's rider.>

        Gerald struck a sour chord in the middle of a song, which brought 
exclamations of suprise from several in the crowd. Gerald put the gitar
down, saying something about needing a drink. A place was made for him
at the bar, and a strong, bitter ale was pushed into his hand. Several 
other people in the room took up instruments and started a lively melody.

        <What's the matter, my heart?>

        *I didn't know they were together.*

        <Does it matter?>

        In his mind, he thought of the image of her face, turned up to him,
saying "Do you honestly think I would go from making love to you, something
that I enjoyed more than I could tell you...to sleeping with another man
so soon?"

        *How long have they been mating?*

        <They haven't yet...but Viktroy thinks they will. Why are you so
upset?>

        *She lied to me! I didn't think...it's not that she is interested 
in Tair'n, but she said that she wasn't doing anything like that. How long
has she been stringing me along? I admit I don't know Jayleigh that well,
but I didn't think she would be so manipulative. I should have known when
I saw her with that other man at the lake...I guess she really doesn't give
a damn about my feelings at all, or just didn't respect me enough to tell me
the truth.*

        <I think you're protesting just a little too strongly...could it be
you have feelings for her?>

        *No. Yes. No. I don't know. Maybe she was trying to soften the blow 
a little by not telling me. I really did enjoy being with her though...and
it's not all that much fun being passed over for another. This is awful.*

        <I'm sorry, my rider. At least now you know what love is so you can
sing about it with no problems.>

        *This isn't love, Random, I'm pretty sure of that. If I ever did 
love someone, though, and something like this happened...I'm not sure I
could take it. Love must be a perilous, horrible thing.*

        <Hey, why don't you talk to her?>

        *Because it's her choice. It's not my right to interfere.*

        Gerald began to concentrate on his drinking. He finished the 
stout ale, ordering another...then another...then another...
It was not long before he had lost track of just how many he had drunk.
He remembered at one point he dropped the mug on the floor, staring stupidly
at the liquid artwork he had created.

        "Come on, Gerald, I think it's time to go home."

        Gerald looked at her. It was Kiree. "Okay, I'll go." For some reason,
the alcohol fog wasn't doing much to make him forget his hurt. Meekly,
he allowed Kiree to take him outside and get him settled on Random's 
neck.

        The cold air woke him up a little, enough so that he could see the
concern in Kiree's eyes. "Thanks, sweetie..." he leaned forward, quite
without thought, and kissed her soundly. Once he realized what he had done, 
he expected to be slapped; however, the girl didn't seem to mind, kissing him
with just as much energy. Their embrace lasted for some minutes.

        "See you later." Soon after, Random landed on his ledge, where he
stumbled into his room, stripped off his clothes, fell over the bed in
the pitch darkness, and went to sleep.

        He woke, feeling a warm body snuggle in next to him. Jayleigh 
has come to me after all! he thought. Perhaps I'm not as worthless in her
eyes as I thought....happy at the prospect, his lips found hers. He was 
delightfully wicked, using his mouth and hands to bring her to the brink 
of ecstasy again and again. They made love, their passion strong, forceful,
and wild. A small snippet of a tune ran through Gerald's mind as he thrust
within her, repeating itself over and over, lending a wild, unreal quality
to their lovemaking. He barly noticed that Jayleigh wasn't quite herself,
her responses were different, the strained voice as it whispered his name 
a different pitch...but what did that matter? She wanted him, and he was
going to make this a night of pleasure she would never forget. As far as 
he could tell when they finished, strung out, sated, he had done so.

        He woke on his side again, his head pounding and a vaguely 
nauseous feeling in his stomach. His mouth tasted like someone had 
shovelled in dragon dung. He opened his eyes, but instead of the violet-blue
eyes of Jayleigh, his vision was filled with the cornflower-blue eyes
and blonde hair of Kiree.

        She smiled at him. "Good morning, lover," she purred.


**********************

   nrpg: If I mis-read Jayleigh and Tair'n, then I just did a bad thing...
but then again, maybe not. In any case, if it messes up anyone's plans
in any way, let me know and I'll change or delete it. Thanks :)     
 

	Respectfully submitted by:
	Allen Veazey
	wolf@dbtech.net
	Warrenlady Phaedra and Melith (Geode); Gerald and Random (Daere)
	Ash'chenon  (Telnor); B'rand and Rook (Cleft)
	Orbus of Amber (Amber)
	Geode Warren Page: http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Acropolis/3043/crystal.html
	
     "Fortunately, ah keep mah feathers numbered for just such an emergency."
			--Foghorn Leghorn