Fools Gold

"Please Lord Gossimor, Jason is one of my elite squad and I trust him
implicitly. Where the gold is I don't know but we will find it." The
Wingleader could feel the makings of a bad headache coming on as he tried to
calm the older man.

"I've always respected the riders in Daere Wingleader T'rell," Lord
Gossimor's eyes were dark in both fear and anger as his fingers closed
around the empty bag that had held the gold. "But I thought you had better
control over the situation then this. The kidnappers aren't going to be very
happy when they find out we lost their money!"

"Lord Gossimor I assure you... None of my riders would even dare think of
stealing your Gold," T'rell tried to assure the Lord Holder. "I think you
know that Jayleigh would never knowingly put you or your daughters life in
jeopardy."

Gossimor swore and threw the empty bag to the ground." I know that T'rell,"
he snapped. "I'm just concerned about my daughter."

"As any parent would be Sir," the Gamma Wingleader nodded.

"Yes well," Gossimor grumbled to hide his fear. "Do you think your riders
could keep the piece this time if I went back into the bank and withdrew
more gold?"

T'rell cleared his throat. "Yes, Lord Gossimor, I'm sure we can." He glanced
around at his riders, with a look that told them exactly what he expected.

"Good then I'll take the young lady, Sharees back inside with me... with
D'Altar and ... Lexi is it...too while you get your riders set up," the Lord
commented and waited until the two male riders he spoke of moved to flank
him on either side and Sharees moved out in front of them to lead the way.
He took a side glance at the new rider he'd only that day met and wondered
what his parents had fed him to make him grow so big. Then he wondered if
there were any more like him at home. He could use a few good men of that
size who could move so quickly around his estate or when they traveled. "Let
us know when you're sure it's safe for us to come out."

"As the trio walked inside, Gossimor couldn't help but notice the looks Lexi
was getting from the female population and supposed the man might be called
handsome. The ladies certainly thought so if their looks were anything to
judge by. Why couldn't his daughter have fallen for someone like him instead
of that farmers son she was playing around with. 

This one looked as if he could have handled the girl's wild nature with
ease, and still treat her like a lady and keep her safe from her own
foolishness.

The banker was reluctant to hand over an additional sum of gold, but knew
better then to refuse the Lord Holder or to make any comments about it. He
sent an order to his vault keepers to refill the bags and then offered Lord
Gossimor refreshments as they waited.

"T'rell has the riders in position whenever you're ready Lord Gossimor,"
D'Altar commented to the man as his eyes continued to scan the area around
them. Gossimor took note that the rider's hand was never far from the hilt
of his sword.

He took a side glance at Lexi and noticed the other rider's hand was also
with in easy reach of his own weapon.  A hammer by the looks of it, and he
was sure the man had no problem putting it to use. Even the girl Sharees had
a weapon with her and knowing the girl as long as he had from past visits to
the Warren, Gossimor knew dare well the little lady could take care of
herself real well. That was one reason he didn't comment when she had been
assigned as one of his guards.

He tuned and looked back at the others and something about Lexi looked a bit
familiar. He knew he had never met the rider before this trip to the Warren,
but still there something about him.

"Have we met before rider Lexi?" he finally asked when it wouldn't come to him.

"I don't think so My Lord," the rider shook hi head. "But you may be
thinking of my sister Panda who was with your Lady when Healer Heron..."

"Your sister is she?" Gossimor grinned now. "Yes I can see the family
resemblance now. Fine stock. The blood does tell."

Even while they talked Gossimor noticed the man's eyes hadn't been idle. He
was sure if he asked him, Lexi would be able to tell him how many people
were in the bank and what color their closes were.

Then the bank manager came up to them and told him the gold was bagged and
ready for them to take.

"Would you be requiring the service of a few of my guards this time My Lord
to make sure you get where you're going?" the man asked, only to receive a
scolding look of reproach for his trouble.

Four more riders entered the bank, and Gossimor noticed the young man Jason
was one of them. His lips curved into a frown when he saw him, but then he
realizes the what happened probably wasn't the mans fault.

T'rell had thought the gang who pulled off the theft was well organized and
probably had some inside information. Which reminded Gossimor that they
might very well have a spy in there group from the caravan.

"Young man," Gossimor spoke up when Jason came level with him.
"T'rell trusts you so I guess you knows what you're he's doing. I'm... sorry
for my words spoken outside."

Jason nodded slowly. "Thank you for that... vote of, um, confidence, My
Lord." He responded.

"Yes well I know you did the best you could and I think you for that," the
Lord Holder said and then Sharees touched his arm. 

"Lord Gossimor we're ready to leave the bank sir. Leader T'rell said the
dragons are blocking a path for us and no one can get through this time."

Once they were outside, Gossimor waited just long enough to answer a
question posed to him by T'rell. 

"Now that you have the gold," the Wingleader asked. "How will you get it to
them?"

"I'm' to be contacted at the Warren," Gossimor answered. "We'll just have to
wait and see until then." Then Sharees took hi arm and led him to her dragon
where she helped him mount. 

Seconds later they were in the air over Triylar and just before T'rell gave
the order to teleport, he remembered the strange dragons that had been
spotted earlier. 

<<Allesha... I want you and your patrol to stay behind once the rest of us
teleport back to the Warren and keep an eye on those other dragon,>> T'rell
told the light blue dragon and the others, knowing the dragons would relay
the message to their riders. <<Allora is staying on the ground to check
things over incase they land. Be sure to keep an open ear for her.>>

Kayla looked around and saw that they all had received the message and as
one made a circle in the air with their fists to show T'rell they understood.

She and Jonah arrowed off to the left to keep the north side of town guarded
while Puss and big Olaf went south. Now there was nothing to do but wait to
see what the strange dragons would do.

****Submitted by: *****

Lord Gossimor
Kayla & Allesha (BCS Wing)
Daere Warren

Aka
Barbara