Ar'Aman and Kayla were still chatting about some of the soft touches in the
warren's trainee riders. It really did sound like T'rell had his hands full,
whether he wanted the attention or not. Soon, Darar was informing him that
T'rell wanted them both to come over the  hatching barracks so he began to
get Darar ready and they flew on over.

Once there, they were introduced to a pretty young girl who had been found
by Jayleigh and come to the warren hoping to join. She looked reasonably
fit, but he was sure she wasn't used to the kind of activity T'rell would
subject her too.

The two girls left to find a room for Marialla and Ar'Aman stayed, chatting
with T'rell.

"Ar'Aman, could I talk to you for a moment?" T'rell asked, as the other
rider was starting to follow them.

"Of course," he said, turning to come back.  "What can I do for you?"

"I've got a proposal for you," T'rell told him.

 "Well, I don't know about that," said Ar'Aman, affecting a thoughtful
expression.  "I'm rather interested in Kayla, you know..."

T'rell chuckled.  "Good one," he conceded.  "But seriously...you may or may
not have heard that I'm going to be spending more time training Jadain in
how to use his telepathy safely.  That will force me to divert some time
from what I'm doing here...so I've decided - and the Warrenlady has agreed -
that I could use some help."

"But I thought that Jer'lin was still head trainer," Ar'Aman observed.

"He is, but he doesn't want to be tied down to the job every day," T'rell
said. "And for as many years as he did this job, I don't blame him.
Actually, I had someone else in mind...someone like you!"

Ar'Aman was genuinely shocked! he knew that since coming to the warren he
had become an accomplished rider and was progressing well within the Wing,
but this was a chance a something else. He had always been envious of the
trainers. They had the opportunity in however limited a way, to shape the
future of the Wings by the way they carried out training. He also very much
approved of T'rell's methods. Something struck him, however.

"Ordinarily I would jump at the chance," he said, "but I will have to speak
with Kayla first. She might not appreciate me intruding into this part of
her life."

"I see what you mean. Perhaps you can ... erm ... *persuade* her."  He
smiled. "I really need the help if I'm going to help Jadain."

"I can't promise anything right now, but I'll have a word and take it from
there. OK?"

"Yes, thanks."

"By the way, what's all this business about paint? Darar tells me some
interesting things which I thought was idle dragon gossip, but Kayla tells
me she spent some time dragon washing."

T'rell recounted the whole sorry tale, as far as he knew it. Ar'Aman was
laughing and T'rell looked rather sheepish.

Wiping a tear from his eye, Ar'Aman said "your dragon certainly livens
things up around here. But anyway, here comes my lady love. I'll speak to
her about this and maybe we can meet for a drink later in the dining hall?"

"OK, about 1900. I have a couple of things to do later on, but that should
be fine."

As Kayla approached chatting away with the new girl, Ar'Aman once more found
himself thinking of his luck since joining the warren. Perhaps when Kayla
joined, Darar might get a friend to snuggle with. He had certainly been
rather deprived of such things as most females seemed to be busy with other
things.

"Kayla, can I talk to you for a minute?"

"Of course. What's up?"

"T'rell wants to help Jadain to use his telepathic abilities so that he
doesn't get injured again and he's asked me to help him."

She looked puzzled. "How can you help him, my love?"

"He wants me to assist him in the training. I did not say yes. I wanted to
see how you felt about it."

"Well, I'm not sure. Do you want to do it?"

"Yes, but that's not the point. If you feel uncomfortable about it, I don't
want to do it. T'rell will not find it difficult to find someone else."

"So you'll be bossing me around?"

"Well, I suppose, but ..."

"And making me run around and getting me all hot and sweaty ..."

"Yes ..."

"A little bit like now ..."

She approached him and kissed him, stroking his back under his shirt.

"Mmm," was all he managed to say as she continued to kiss him.

"Then of course I don't mind silly. Just make sure you don't show me any
special favours. OK?"

"What, not even that you get to come home with the teacher?"

"Oh, if I must ..."

And with that said, she took him and showed him just how much energy she had
left.

****************************
1900
****************************

Ar'Aman said goodbye and flew off to meet T'rell. He caught up with the man
in the dining hall and got them both a glass of wine.

"So, how goes it with the little woman?"

"She didn't object at all. In fact, she seemed rather happy about it."

"So I see," he smiled, seeing a certain twinkle in the man's eye.

"Don't worry, though. I won't go easy on them. We're going to get them in
peak physical condition and when they join, they're going to be doing plenty
of drills. Perhaps I'll even get my Flight involved - simulation, that sort
of thing. We'll scare the pants off them if they don't remember their
training!"

The two men chuckled. Ar'Aman changed the subject to the party.

"I remember getting something else when it was with the Landbound. The
'bumps'. Basically, someone either hit your rear or a bunch of people picked
you up and bumped you on the ground. Not very pleasant."

"I liked the paddle," grinned T'rell.

"I hope so, because I have a feeling you're going to become intimately
acquainted with it," he laughed back.

"You don't know how right you are, Ar'Aman," he said, but refused to say
anymore.

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

After leaving the dinning hall, Ar'Aman decided to go for a walk. As he
strolled around the warren which was now his home, he had plenty of time for
reflection. Not so long ago, friends had been few, romance non-existent and
he had been a young rider struggling to make his way in a new place. Now he
was a Flight leader, assistant trainer and firmly attached to Kayla. He
still felt that Darar was a bit too isolated, but he would soon fix that now
that they were going to be really in the thick of it.

Thinking of his time in Ralengarde, he could not remember being truly happy.
With no friends, an empty shell for a mother and a father who could not
share his feelings, life had been lonely. He had even got into some trouble
when the son of a wealthy merchant and land owner had been somewhat
over-zealous in his advances towards a young girl. He remembered the drunken
man and the girl's screaming as if he could hear it now. He also remembered
the ensuing fight, the man pulling a knife.

In the struggle which had ensued, Ar'Aman had fallen, dragging over the man
who fell on his knife and died. The ensuing trial would surely have gone
against him, had it not been for the fact that the girl had been willing to
testify and had seen the whole thing. But the family had money and power and
had never let him forget it. He had been glad to get away from their
vendetta.

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

With no idea of the time, save that it was now dark, Ar'Aman decided to head
back for home. As he strolled back towards the dinning hall, he saw
something at the Med. Centre. He crept cautiously over and hid behind a
bush. It was Ja'ks and T'rell and they seemed to be opening one of the side
doors. It took a long time; they did not have the key. After entering, dim
lamp light was soon seen in the office of ... healer Noni! Whatever it was
they were up to, he wouldn't want to be in their shoes if the mercurial
healer discovered them.

He went on and found Darar. Upon returning home, he found a note from Kayla.
She had gone out to meet Marialla, to show her around a bit and get to know
her. So, he settled back with a nice wine and some nice aged cheese and
picked up a book. After reading for a while in front of the fire, the warmth
sent him to sleep.

NRPG:

Not over long, but just let's everyone know I'm back.

Respectfully submitted,

FCO Lt.(jg) Olivier Patru, USS ORION NCC-1997, Starfleet.
Special Agent-2 Jim Reaper, X-Files Division, FBI.
Ar'Aman Bowright and Darar, Daere Warren, DragonLands.
Mc'Key and Vasleth, Geode Warren, DragonLands.

aka Peter Shillan.