As Kayla went off with Marialla to get herself a bite to eat, Ari and T'rell
were just winding up their involvement in the training session.

"I see Norin was absent," Ari commented.

"Yeah, well, I wasn't unhappy about it."

"Did you see the queen egg this morning, you know, through the clouds!"

T'rell couldn't help but grin.

"Yes, I saw it. It was a wonderful site. Just what Daere needs."

"Mm. What if Norin joins with it? Or Kayla come to think of it..."

"Would that bother you?"

"I don't know. I don't think so. After all, the WarrenLady is a credit to
the Warren. I'm sure Kayla would be too. I'd just have to get used to being
her junior."

"Anyway, " T'rell said, "I have to get off. I've got a few things to take
care of today."

"Sure thing, T'rell. Bye!"

With Kayla off in the dining hall, Ari decided to head back to the
apartment, asking Dar to go and wait at the hall for Kayla. Having the
afternoon off (for once!) he decided to indulge in his hobby of climbing.

He had brought his ropes with him and decided to climb up to his own
apartment. It was a challenging climb and he had done it once before. He
thought he'd try a different route though.

As he ascended the cliff, he seemed to be drawing a few strange looks, not
least from the people whose apartments he was passing! He was used to this,
however. Ari just loved to climb; the feeling of freedom and danger. He
loved finding new routes and hanging by only the fingertips with nothing
below except hundreds of feet to fall. It was almost as exhilarating as
riding on Darar.

Finally, he began to near his apartment when a dragon descended suddenly on
to his apartment ledge. Unable to make out more than a shape, he was about
to mentally scold Darar when he heard two female voices. He almost froze in
shock, but managed to pull himself up onto his ledge.

"Seren?" he confirmed, aghast.

"So you do know her then," the WarrenLady's courier asked. "She came into
Jayleigh's office asking for you."

"Yes, we know each other," Ari replied. "Thank you Vesta, you can leave her
in my care."

"That sounds good," the girl said red-faced.

He invited her in and got her a drink. While not unhappy to see the girl,
Ari was very curious. Also, it brought back memories of that night when she
was raped. He had killed for the first time that night. It still brought a
shudder to his body.

"How are you Seren?"

"Better now," she smiled, reaching over to touch his knee.

"Seren, please! I don't want to sound rude, but what are you doing here?"

"Trouble back home just keeps getting worse for me," she told him. "His
family have made sure I can't get a job and things are getting desperate. So
I walked here to find you ..."

"You *walked* here?"

"Yes. I have nothing Ar'Aman. Absolutely nothing and noone."

"What of your family?"

"Mum and Dad died and Boran has already left for the merchant's life."

Ari couldn't help but feel a responsibility for the girl. She was safe
because of him but also in danger because Ari had killed her attacker. He
could see no alternative for the moment.

"Well, for the time being you'll have to stay here."

"I won't disappoint you Ari," she said sliding towards him again.

"Seren, I have a mate who lives here with me. I don't ..."

"That's right. You do!"

They both looked round to see Kayla in the apartment entrance.

"Hello my love. This is Seren of Ralengarde. Seren, this is Kayla, my mate."

The girl looked so unhappy she might cry. Ari told her where the bathroom
was and suggested she get cleaned up. She didn't need any persuasion and so
Ari was alone with Kayla.

"Who is that girl Ari?"

He had already told her about the rape, of course, and his part in it. He
then told Kayla the story the girl had given him.

"And you told her she could stay *here*!"

"For the moment. What else can I do Kayla? She *walked* here for the sake of
the Gods! I can't just turn her away, she's petrified."

Kayla looked at him and he wondered what she was going to do.

"OK, for tonight anyway. But we'll have to find her somewhere else if she's
going to stay for good."

"Thank you my love, you won't regret this."

Kayla did not look so sure....

NRPG:

Well, a little excitement for Ari. Can Kayla keep her jealousy in check if
the girl is flirty? Why did she really come all that way?

Who knows?

Respectfully submitted,

Lt. (jg) Olivier Patru, FCO, USS ORION, NCC-1997.
S.A.(1) Jim Reaper, Team ZULU, X-Files Division, FBI.
Ar'Aman Bowright and Darar, Daere Warren, DragonLands.
Mc'Key and Vasleth, Geode Warren, DragonLands.

Peter Shillan.