All In the Line Of Duty

Ojean
******

"Man I've never seen anything like this," the tall boy stood a safe distance
away from the adults with Gus standing right next to him. 

"Ah surely they had rain storms back where you came from," Gus commented
dryly. Looking at the boy like he was crazy or something.

"Rain yes!" Ojean agreed quickly, holding on tighter to the stapes on
Teewith's saddle. "But nothing like THIS!! I mean we had some down pours in
Whiteriver but nothing so bad that you felt like you'd be blown away by the
first gust of wind that came your way."

Gus said something but it was blown away by the wind, and before Ojean could
ask the boy to repeat it, Teewith informed him that the Warrenlady wanted to
see him. 

<<Sure. Please tell them that I'll be right there.>> he replied and touched
Gus on the shoulder to get his attention. 

"I'll be right back!" he yelled over the wind. "Tara wants to see me!"

Gus nodded in understanding then turned back to watching the sea out past
the beach. 

Ojean found Tara in the doorway of the building closest to the beach. In her
hand which she held out to him was a couple of rolled up papers that he
recognized as the same kind of official letters Trinale used to give him to
deliver in Whiteriver. 

"Putting me to work already," he grinned as he accepted the letters from her
and put them inside his jacket where they would be kept dry.

"Yes I am," she grinned back at him forwardness. "I need you to take these
to Cabral and find out who the best person is to inform about the weather
that's approaching."

"Tell them about the storm huh?" the boy nodded his head in approval.
"That'll be a good thing for us to do. Makes them feel like we're looking
out for them. Just like we're suppose to."

"Yes like we're suppose to," she agreed, her eyes turning to look back out
at the sea. "Be sure to tell them that we're not sure yet where the worse of
the weather is going to hit, but if we can be of any help to just let us know."

She turned back now and looked at him. Her face full of worry and concern.
"Now at all times you are to take care of Teewith. If the weather turns to
bad you are NOT to try and fly back here and over extend him. do I make
myself clear?"

"Oh don't worry about us," he assured her. Tee's small so he'll fly though
the storm better because he's also very quick, and I wouldn't go if he
didn't think he could make it. He's very smart and not one to risk himself
if he doesn't think he can do it. He's not a show off you know," he said
earnestly then gave her a sly smile. "Besides... Fayloth and Doshy would
fray him alive if he did anything so stupid."

"They won't be the only ones," she assured him and he knew she meant it. 

"We'll be fine," he told her and then looked back to where Teewith had
landed near by. Just to the left of the small beast his eyes caught sight of
Gus and an idea came to him. 

"You know... If I could take Gus with me..." he started, not knowing how
she'd feel about the idea. "Then I'd be able to get these notes to the right
people even quicker."

Tara looked down the beach to where Gus was standing with his Loki. He could
see it in her eyes that she was about to say no. 

"Teewith says Loki doesn't mind if Gus goes," he said hoping he was reading
her right. "And he really would be a big help to me since I haven't had time
to get to know all the people I should know... and I promise I'll tell him
that I have to do all the talking and keep him out of trouble....and..."

"Okay okay Ojean let me speak!" Tara laughed when the boy had finally run
out of and umms... "He can go. BUT! I want it understood before you leave
that you are in charge of this little trip and he is to listen to you at all
times!"

"Oh he will I promise..." He turned and ran down the beach before she could
change her mind. Not stopping until he slid to a stop beside his new friend. 

"Hey come on Gus... We need to get you a clean coat before we leave," Ojean
told him and reached out to pull on the boys arm when he didn't move quick
enough.

"I have a coat!" Gus told him pulling his arm back out of Ojean's reach.
"And where are we suppose to be going?"

"To Cabral," he answered impatiently. "And you're coat may be okay for
hanging around the Warren but not if you are going to go visiting the Lords
of Cabral with me on official Warren duty!!"

"Woooo Wait just a minute!! Who says I'm coming with you!"

"Why Tara.." Ojean lied just a little. "She said that since you know most
everything there is to know about the place and that since I'm new here that
I should maybe take you with me to help me figure out where these people are
I'm suppose to find and give these notes too."

"Tara said that?" Gus looked a little dubious... but pleased. 

"Yes she did.. I told her Tee and I could do it on our own cause you
wouldn't want to go and because of Loki..."

"Hey wait a minute! I didn't say I didn't want to go!" he exploded and then
turned back to Ojean. "When did I say I didn't want to go?"

"Well I just assumed that you wouldn't *want* to go back to that town..
after all you have a rep to protect!"

"Nothing wrong with my rep there!" Gus frowned. "I was to good for them to
caught me out so they could never hang anything on me!"

"So do you want to go or not?" Ojean said as if he was growing board with
the conversation. "I mean I know Tara thinks you'd be of some help to me..
but if you're against the idea...."

"I *NEVER* said I was against it...are you sure she suggested I go?" he took
a good look at Ojean now, wondering if this was a scam on the other riders
part or not.

"Told me so herself.. but like I said... I don't know how you could be any
help with what I got to do..." Ojean commented again. "Course as the senior
dragonrider here... Well I am if you remember... I have been joined
longer... *and* as the courier for the Warrenlady herself...I would be in
charge.. "

Ojean could see Gus was thinking it over and knew that the other boy
couldn't pass up the challenge. "Okay... Loki said this would be a good
thing for me to do and that I should go.. So let's get going!"

"Well okay if you're sure..." Ojean prompted slowly. 

"I'm sure. Let's go get me that coat and get out of here before the storm
hits!" Gus stormed off muttering in the direction of the stores with Ojean,
a grin plastered on his face following behind.

......................

"Okay so we're to find this Lord first... got any idea where we should
look?" Ojean asked Gus after they'd arrived and dismounted from Teewith. He
had two letters in his hands and was wondering which to deliver first.

"Yeah follow me.." Gus told him and started off to the west. 

"Just remember once we get there I'm to do all the talking," Ojean reminded
him and was rewarded with a dirty look from his friend. 

As they past by a crowd of people, Ojean couldn't help but notice how Gus
seemed to walk a little straighter. With the leather flying jacket he had
picked out.. (After Ojean had pushed him to take the fancier of the two..
after all Gus was a dragonrider and on a mission like this should look the
part!) Gus wasn't exactly showing off... But Ojean couldn't blame him for
wanting these people to know he had made out pretty good at the Warren. 

He'd felt that same way himself back after Saul had brought his family to
Whiteriver. There had been something so gratifying in seeing the shock on
the faces of those who had turned their backs on his family when Fawna had
fallen sick.... The shock of them seeing him come back... as the adopted son
of Lord Vaddon.

Not that he did more then rub it in with a smile here or there, cause his
new father would have been upset to see him rub it in any other way
unbefitting his new rank.

........... 

The wind was beginning to really pick up just as they made it to the first
of the places they had on their list. Lord Japer had come himself when they
told the person who answered the door why they were there. 

At first, the woman at looked at them with suspicion  until Ojean identified
them both as dragonriders. 

"Gus here just joined last night with one of the eggs we had on the sands,"
he told her letting her know he was now one of theirs. "And I've been joined
for a year now, but because of my age they have me working as the
Warrenlady's courier instead of in a fighting wing."

"Ah.. so this one must be your new helper. What with him being so young
too..." her eyes lit with a new respect for the young boy she remembered
from the streets. Poor dear... She knew who he was.. Couldn't be anyone
else.. Not with him being the spiting image of his father... So this was
what had happened to the boy in the last few days... A dragonrider. Lordy
were there going to be some who would just die when they heard the news.
"Come in and wait in here.. I'll go inform Lord Jasper you are here."

Ojean had had to step on Gus's foot to stop the boy from making the comment
he knew Gus had been wanting to make when the woman had spoken.

"I ain't no helper!" Gus rounder on him as soon as the door had closed
behind the woman. 

"For now you are." Ojean reminded him. "And if it will help us get them to
believe us when we tell them about the storm coming then you will act as my
helper until we get back to the Warren."

Gus puffed up, readying for a fight, but Ojean held us his hand. 

"Look Gus.. right now it's important we do what we came here for... and if
they think that you have the Warrenlady's ear... then no one will dare treat
you bad... No one likes to get on the Warrens bad side believe me I know...
So just go with it and let them believe what they want for now. then see how
they act when word gets out and you come back here again with Loki."

[[Okay Kate so what will Gus think about that?]]

"We'd heard there was a new Warrenlady up to the Warren," Lord Jasper
commented after he had joined them and Ojean had handed over the letter Tara
had entrusted him with delivering. "Sad thing that happen to the other woman. 
Been meaning to get up there and meet this new girl... Tara you say her name
is... But with one thing or another.. we just felt it better to give her
time to settle in before we descended on her."

"Believe me sir I'm sure Tart will understand. It had been rather hectic at
the Warren also. With what happened to the old Queenrider and the hatching
of the eggs... But we're all hopeful because of the new hatchling Queen."

Lord Jasper had been scanning Tara's letter, but Ojean and Gus saw his eyes
light up at the mention of the new Queen. 

"Hadn't heard about that. But that's good news. Yes very good news," He
turned to look down at Gus. "You joined at the same hatching then I take it?"

"Yes sir," Gus said in a tone that Ojean found strangely tame for the boy.
"My dragon's name is Loki, and he's a fine fellow. Indeed."

"Good for you boy," Jasper said with a smile, then turned back towards the
letter in his hand. How sure are they that this.. hurricane is going to hit
land?"

"Pretty sure sir," Ojean stated slowly. "We've riders out there now keeping
track of it, so we'll be able to let you know something when they report
back in.. But Warrenlady Tara wanted to get the warning out just in case we
for some reason weren't able to... Dragons can't fly to well in high winds
like they're predicting."

"No I understand they can't, but still it's laudable, most laudable of her
to send out a warning."

"The Warren protects them who looked to her," Ojean said and stood up.

"Well yes.. good show and our thanks, but I'm sure you two have other places
to go, so I won't keep you."

"Thank you sir," Ojean bowed slightly at the waist then turned and started
for the door. Gus followed.

"Well that went pretty good," Ojean commented as they remounted Tee for the
second leg of their trip. He had been surprised and pleased with how Gus had
handled himself. 

"He was easy," Gus commented, the street rat persona back in his tone.
"That's why I took you to see him first. Cause I knew he'd believe us and we
wouldn't have to spend to much time with him... Besides.. he's done a good
turn or two to some people I know Jasper's not stuffy and stuck on himself
like the next Lord ( and Ojean heard him sneer the title) we're going to see."

"But I've a letter from Tara..."

"Don't matter. Won't cut no ice with fish face Grouty," Gus warned and
rolled his eyes at Ojean's nativity. "He's more likely to believe that the
warren made up the storm just to spite him cause he's so stingy about his
tithes."

"Well we'll just have to convince him otherwise."

"Fat chance," Gus muttered as they landed. 

It was a very belligerent Lord who finally showed up in the sitting room
when Ojean had refused to give the letter from Tara to one of his underlings. 

"Now see here kid..." he started in, but Ojean cut him off. 

"Ojean, rider of Teewith. Courier for Warrenlady Tara of  Jasra Warren..
Sir," he added after a pause that didn't go unnoticed by Grouty. "With an
official letter of warning about the storm fixing the hit land."

He handed the letter over then stood back, hands clasp behind his back, legs
spread slightly and chin up. His eyes met and held Grouty's when the man
looked at him trying to Lord over him. But Ojean refused to give ground. 

His adopted father had told him once that if you gave into men like this
then they would forever think they had the upper hand. you needed to teach
them right off that they couldn't intimidate you or they would never take
you seriously.  

Grouty looked way first. A sneer on his face as he opened the letter and
read it. Then the man broke out in a laugh that filled the room as he waved
the letter in front of the two young men. 

"A summer storm! That girl is worried about a summer storm!! Can't say much
about her up bring in that other Warren if she panic's at the first sign of
a little rough weather!"

"I do believe sir that the Warren weather watcher has validated the severity
of the storm and it was he who predicted how bad this one will be," Ojean
informed him to get the records strait. "Warrenlady Tara took it upon
herself to get the warning out to the Landbound cities who look to the
Warren for protection...As is her duty..."

"Protection ha!" Grouty snapped. "A bunch of lazy ...

"You're lucky she's new and doesn't know what a jerk you are, and how you
treat your own people," Gus spoke up before Ojean could stop him. "If I were
her I'd of just let you deal with it on your own and let you live with the
out come.."

"Gus!" Ojean said sternly hoping to quiet his friend. 

"How dare you speak to me so you rude little..." Grouty rage.

"Truth hurt Grouty?" Gus wouldn't be stopped. He stepped in front of Ojean
and faced the man. "You should thank you're lucky stars that she doesn't
know what you are. She didn't have to warn you but she did cause she's more
worried about the people who live here then you are! SHE knows what her duty
to the people is.. unlike you who only cares about his pocket book! Now
you've been warn man! Do something about it before you lose both the ships
you have in the harbor and the people you have crewing them!"

Ojean could see the Lords face turning red with rage. Saw the man take a
step forward arm lifting to his side before dropping back down to his side.
He also saw Gus's body tense up as if getting ready to avoid the blow.. or
fight back.. 

"I won't stand here and be insulted by two little boys just out of nappies!"
his voice was filled with the same rage Ojean had just witnessed in the mans
face. "I've wasted enough time with you and this young girls fairy tale fear
now you can leave. But make sure I will be speaking to your Warrenlady about
the type of people she has working for her...."

"Better work for her then have to live in fear from day to day if I'm going
to make it to the next one cause of being over worked and under fed." 

Ojean stepped forward in front of Gus again. "You've been warned of the
storm as was our duty. From here on out what you do with the warning is in
your hands Lord Grouty. I just hope you make the right decision for the sake
of your people."

With that Ojean turned, grabbed Gus by the arm and left the room, then the
house manor.

"Just what in the heck did you think you were doing in there!?!" he rounder
on the boy as soon as they were back beside Teewith. He'd had to reach up
and take hold of the saddle straps because the wind was threatening to knock
him off his feet.

It was even stronger now then when they'd arrived and if it got much worse
then he knew they'd never be able to make it back to the Warren. 

"You don't know him like I do kid.. He won't warn his people.. Not that
one.. why he's likely now even issuing orders for his ships to go out to sea
just to show us how wrong we are!"

"But even he can see how bad it's gotten out here! He wouldn't send them out
in this and get them killed!"

"Oh wouldn't he!" Gus commented heatedly. "All he thinks about is filling
his belly and chests with the hard work of others... why I could tell you
stories but right now I think we should head down to the harbor and warn the
ships captains about the hurricane.... I know Grouty won't!"

Against is better judgment Ojean let himself be talked into it. After all
Gus did know these people better then he, and if he was right....

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

Ojean & Teewith
Jasra Warren

aka Barbara