(a bit of a backpost...sorry so late, Nichole)

	"Norin, I am not going to tell you again.  Get out.  I will 
finish with you tomorrow," he grabbed her by the arm and steered 
her out the door and onto the steps.  "Now, goodnight!"

	He shut the door on her, and paused to look at the dagger a 
moment before pulling it out of the door and walking it back to the 
table.

	"If that's an example of the sort you choose to associate 
with, I may have to take my business elsewhere," Nefiri said coldly.

	"She is...useful...in some capacities," he offered by way of 
explanation, reaching for another glass to pour himself some wine.  
"Now, you said you had a business proposition for me?"

Nefiri's eyes flicked up to the recently closed door; C'nis took a moment to 
smile behind his glass. "I know Norin pretty well. I'm betting that she's 
dumb enough to run off in a huff rather than put her ear against the door.
Ah, the naivete' of youth. I'll teach her better, of course."

"One wonders why you stoop so low. Let's say, more than one *has*
wondered."

He shrugged, feeling the involuntary chill down his back. "Where else can
I get information in this place? The most-reviled are often the best informed,
for some reason. Perhaps because many of them are inherently suspicious.
By the way, if you were inferring that I am being watched, I know that full
well. I operate on that principle."

"You sound angry, C'nis."

"I am." His eyes flashed; why bother hiding it? If this was a contract he was
already dead. "I've had a healthy respect for TAG, Nefiri. I've done business
with them before. I have yet to step on anyone's toes. I find it very distressing
that TAG is personally involved against me."

It was Nefiri's turn to shrug. "What  personal involvement? It's like you said 
yourself, it's business. You paid up. I...there are some people who would 
consider the matter closed."

"So why are we talking?" He toyed with the dagger, a reminder of tension,
juggling it through some private routine in his hand. Twirl, flip, roll the hilt
along his knuckles...

"I think that an exchange of information would be beneficial to both of us."

"What, now? What might this humble person know that would be beneficial 
to a whole organization of the best spies?"

"You're in a unique position, are you not?"

"I am. And what would I get in return?"

"Money? Influence? What are you looking for at the moment? Let me hear
your price."

He let his eyes roam up and down her body, deliberately. She shivered
slightly. "That is also a possibility," she murmured. "Don't you ever get 
tired?"

"You have no idea."

"Yes, I do."

The dagger vanished in his hands, secreted up his sleeve. He turned his
palms over, examining them in mock suprise. 

"Very pretty."

"And very educational." He put his palms on the table and looked Nefiri
in the eyes. "So much remains hidden. I think you had it in the beginning...
I would benefit from the knowledge that TAG could provide, in return for
mine. Not just from Daere, but from contacts spread all over the Dragonlands,
the lost warrens included. You think your information would be worth that
kind of trade?"

"It would, to you. Most of what we find is...profitable."

"Indeed. I agree, as long as it remains profitable to both of us. No 
pressure from either side. We evaluate what we get from each other and
try to trade evenly. After all, we have only our reputations to rely on."

"Yours is hardly sparkling."

"Nor is yours." He flipped the dagger out and threw; the point stuck,
quivering, in the center of the table. "Also, I don't want to find any more of 
these waiting on me when I get home. Another...problem...comes up, just
discuss it with me directly. I don't see why you have to play head games."

"Like you said, you've dealt with TAG before."

"Yes, I have. Oh, I have no doubt that I can be killed.  But where is
the profit in that? I can guarantee you, whoever tries will find their hands
full. Ash'chenon taught me the sword, and he didn't pull any punches. I 
won't either."

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

(back to the almost-present)

"Four drams? That's all I need?"

"Those four drams would be enough to start a town on an unending orgy. 
This supply ought to last you for a least a couple of years."

C'nis shook his head at the small bottle, then shivered. It was ice cold
under the shadow of Mt. Carnos, and he'd be damned if he was going to
stay up in this frigid hell longer than he needed. He handed the river 
trader a small bag of gold, watched him leave.

<I take it that this is yet another secret I shouldn't reveal?>

*You have it. Just a little fun, that's all. Just a little joke...but I don't want 
it found  out that's I'm involved. It would be damaging.*

<As if we're not damaged already.>

*Damn right. We'll find another place, Liupeth. I arranged for a cave 
outside the warren for us to fall back on in time of need. We won't be caught
like that again.*

<You let them clean us out this time!>

*I underestimated how complex the conspiracy was. I'll handle it. It just
needs some damage control. I've already made nice with Jayleigh, I 
just need to make the rounds with some others.*

<Where to now?>

*We wait until dark, then spread some of these mushroom spores in the
bags of coffee beans. Then, we go back to
the hills and spread some more, so it looks
like the harvest was contaminated natually. I already know that the
mushroom can grow here-rare, but possible-so it should look like a freak
accident.*

He chuckled, holding the small glass bottle to the light. Oh, we'll use up the
whole bottle now, he thought. Bless you, Jayleigh, for being so predictable.
Arranging for some special rare coffee to be brought in for T'rell's birthday...
and you, T'rell, I'll never forget your hand in my humiliation. It's a shame
that you'll never know that it was my hand that arranged this. Have all the 
coffee you want! Save it for a special occasion! Drink up! You'll be
screwing anything that moves, and I'll be laughing. 

<Won't anyone else be drinking the coffee too?>

*Of course, my heart. I'm betting that many of them will be the same people 
who helped him take our things and sell them. Lucky that they missed the
amethysts. I hid them well, though...anyway, it will be fun to watch, and no
one will get hurt. Physically, that is...*

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

"Working late?"

Jayleigh jumped behind her desk. "Where the hell have you been?"

"Talking to a few contacts." He sprawled, uninvited, into her guest-chair. 
"Nothing to drink?"

"Coffee."

He screwed up his face. "None for me, thanks. I've had plenty of coffee
today. I'm sick with the smell of it. How about something stronger?"

"Why?"

"A peace offering, I think. My way of saying that I might stick around for
a while. With the understanding that I have to continue my responsibilities
to Keldarra, of course."

"What changed your mind?"

"Is it really any secret? I have what Velara would never give me, and I am 
loathe to give it up. Even with all of you against me."

Jayleigh cast her eyes down. "I said that I was sorry."

"Yes, you did. Hence, the peace offering. I like this job. It has so many
unexpected fringe benefits," he said, leering at her. He watched her fidget.

"What is that bottle?"

He smiled. "It's called 'Uzo'. It's fermented from a very pungent plant, and
then distilled. Definitely not meant for large glasses." He produced
two shot glasses and poured. "Cheers."

Jayleigh made a face. "That's awful." 

"It's an acquired taste. So, where are you going to get your searchlings?"

"How did you...never mind. We're going to start doing some intense 
Searching to find them, right now."

"It amazes me that each warren is so wrapped up in their own affairs."

"Meaning?" she bristled. 

"Meaning that you can also cull Searchlings from adjoining warrens. 
Not everyone is having hatchings, you know. Just contact them, I'm sure 
that they'd be glad to assist."

"Of course!"

He mentally thanked Vesta for clueing him in on the day's conversations.
He'd thank her in person later. Yes, he'd thank her for a long time.

"Honestly, you're provoked too easily. You'll have to learn how to be
graceful under pressure."

"What do you mean, provoked?"

"Why are you always so on edge when I'm around? Things have been so
cool and serene since I offered to help-"

"You 'offered'? 'Offered'? You back me into a corner and now you think
that you're doing me some kind of favor?!"

"Still, it's bad form. You can't fly off the handle, think about how it hurts 
your affairs with the Lords. I thought you were going to have a heart 
attack back during that little tension with Kellimor."

"Tension?!"

"That's not a good enough example? I'll show you another. You're wanting 
T'rell to lead Gamma-"

"I don't even want to know how you found that out."

"Common knowledge, my dear Jayleigh. So is the fact that you were all
bent out of shape over that former wingleader, what's his name..."

"Gerald," she breathed. 

"Gerald, right. Honestly, if the man would have just learned how to
duck..."
 He was ready for it, so he wasn't suprised with Jayleigh jumped
out of her chair and ran at him. He grabbed her arms and pivoted, sliding 
her into the chair he had just jumped from. He held her arms to the chair,
turning to avoid her knee if she tried.

"Damn you , let me go! I'll-"

"What? Look at yourself! Are you going to do this whenever a Lord says 
this to you? You can be sure that they will, just to gain the upper hand!
Look at how you're reacting!"

"Gods damn you, if you ever mutter another word about Gerald I'll see
that you regret it!"

"He's dead. Dead and gone. All he is now is ammunition to use against
you. I trust that I have made my point?"

She sagged against the chair. "Just get out of here."

"Not until I'm finished. I figured that you'd be mooning over your bard
once you started having problems with Tair'n. Am I the only one who
saw where your thoughts were heading? And just why are you so 
combative? Would you do this if anyone else said this to you?"

"Yes! Now let me up!"

He released her. "No, I don't think so. Do you really hate me that much?
Or...could it be...of course! You're attracted to me!"

"Wh-what?!"

"You want me! No wonder you get so worked up when I'm here. Delicious!"

"You're crazy.." she turned on him, eyes flashing, but made no move to 
put any distance between them. "You think you know me so well but you 
don't."

"Am I? So, why aren't you ordering me away, hmm?"

"Because I have work to do. Now I'm just sorry I apologized to you, you
pompous ass!"

"Sorry, yes...sorry doesn't explain the flush on your skin, the rapidity 
of your breathing, the sparkle in your eye-"

"Oh, stop it! If my skin is slightly red it's because I'm fed up with 
your ego I could kill you."

"And deprive the warren of such an asset?"

"Ass is right,"  she muttered. Can't you just forget this...this delusion you
have about how every woman  you meet wants you?"

"I believe this is important. We need to deal with this 
attraction you have for me."

"I have... FOR YOU!!!! Gods you have an ego the size of Daere and 
beyond. I wouldn't want you if you were the last man on this planet!!"

"For years, Daere has harbored the lustiest, the most out of control
reputations in Dragonlands...and you are the Warrenlady. YOU are Daere.
It's...daunting to be lusted after by you so..."

Your ego is just too much!" she sneered in anger. 

"I know...but I can tone it down for you and your interest..."

"The only *interest* I have at the moment is getting you the hell
out of here."

"I think we need to keep a working relationship...keep your desire for 
me separate from your job...after all, we can't be having sex on your 
desk like I heard you did to ah, certain previous interests...I found 
that I can relate to certain warren denizens easier that way. Do you
really want me gone, my dear warrenlady?"

"YES!!" she snapped. "I would."

"Leave you? Do you not feel a little certain... heat...when I'm close? 
Do you not feel the absence when I'm not here?"

"No... I.. don't feel anything... I don't want to think about you..." 

"Then why won't you look into my eyes, dear lady? Why do you look away?
Showing me your demure side?
Look into my eyes and tell me you don't want me!"

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

(tag, Barb :)
Danika and Marialla next :)






 


Allen Veazey
wolf@dbtech.net

"And in these days,
When darkness falls early
And people rush home
To the ones they love,
You better take a fool's advice
And take care of your own;
One day they're here
Next day they're gone."
	--Don Henley, New York Minute