Explanations Owing

Wisp listened to the Dragonlady's fine speech from the back of the room
where he was sitting with several others. In his disguise as the local
merchant, he had no fears of anyone, and that meaning Tara or Lady V
recognizing him, he frowned and wondered just what kind of game she was
playing here. 

He knew darn well the Dragonlady had meant for Tara to stay here and keep
the Warren open, so why then was she saying it was to be closed?

Some kind of game maybe? Trying to see just how badly the young Queenrider
would involve herself in this mess here?

Wisp thought about it and them more he did the more convinced he was that he
was right. Vignette was testing the girl. But maybe she was going a little
to far. He could tell by the disappointment on every rider in the hall each
time she mentioned the closing of Jasra.

Though it was a good plan. How else was she to know how deeply these riders
felt about their home.

As bad as the threat to close the Warren was though, Wisp had something else
to worry about. He'd seen the man sometime before he'd gotten up to speak
his mind. Seen him and wondered why he was here. The last time they'd run
into one another had been in a little bar far away from here, and over a
small table playing a friendly game of cards. 

Wisp remembered that night clearly, even though he'd had more to drink then
he usually did. Something he didn't normally do. Not with having to watch
his back all the time. But there had been something about this other man
that he had liked. 

Liked and knew he could trust. A friendship had developed between them. 

The friendship had worked out fine as long as the man had been living to far
from here to make any never mind.. but now that he was here.... Wisp made a
note to himself to find him alone sometime and ask him why. Find out what
reasons the man had for being in Jasra and if his being here was going to
pose any problems for him or Tara.... 

Not that he thought the man would being any harm to the girl. Rather he
would welcome the second set of eyes keeping a watch over her when he had
business elsewhere.

"Okay Wisp... Show yourself," Vignette chuckled as she entered the room
allotted to her for the evening. "I can see you've already helped yourself
to the Marrid wine the leather crafter had been so nice about letting me
have. Rather mean of you as I hear he doesn't have many left."

"In a pigs eye," a male chuckled back as he came into the light of the
candle on the table. "Don't let that old man fool you my dear. His daughter
and her mate are both dragonriders and can go back and get him more when he
wants it. You know the bearded fellow and that beautiful lady with those
stunning aqua eyes."

"You would notice the lady," Vignette commented dryly as she accepted the
offered glass of the red. 

"I may have noticed my dear," he grinned and mockingly swept low in a bow.
"But alas the beautiful lady had been wedded, bedded and babied by someone
she loves very much and I would never try to come between that. Not even to
experience the heaven I know I'd find in her arms."

"You are to gallant by far."

"Why thank you M'lady. But I fear it's not my sterling morals I'm here to
talk to you about."

"Oh," her eyes opened wider as she regarded him in amusement. "Do we have
something else to discuss?"

"Yes we do," he challenged as he refilled her glass and motioned for her to
take one of the comfortable seats in the living area a few feet away from
the dining area. "I think we do. Like explaining to me what kind of game
you're playing here?"

[[  Tag John:)  ]]

Ojean
******

"He may feel a little better if someone nearer his own age goes and checks
up on him," Shawnee suggested after the party had got going. "If you
wouldn't mind...?"

"No I don't," Ojean was quick to agree. "I mean I know how it is to be the
youngest person in the Warren with a dragon and if it wasn't for you and
Saul even I might have been scared."

"Not you sweetie," Shawnee laughed and pulled her brother into her arms for
a quick hug. "Now I'm not sure where he is about now, but I'm sure if Loki
is still a wake, he might be persuaded to tell Tee if he knows."

Ojean thought it a good idea but the newly hatched dragon was fast asleep
when Teewith queried her so, the boy set off towards the barracks to see if
by chance Gus was still there with his new friend. 

He wasn't so Ojean turned and began the walk back to the party with hopes of
finding him there when he saw two people leave the hall and noticed the
smaller of the two was supporting the lager one. He decided to follow them
and see what was going on.

By the time he caught up, he was in time to hear the slamming of a door and
someone laughing out loud.

She heard his panicked gasp and then the knob rattled.

"Remember Jerram - if they dissolve you, you flunk."

Chortling at his predicament, Gus leaned against the wall and smiled.  

"You gonna let him out anytime soon?" Ojean spoke up and saw the young boy
turn towards him in a defensive stance. He held his hands up in front of him
to try and keep things cool. "Cause if you're not then I suggest we go back
inside where you'll be sure to be seen in case someone later wants to know
if you had anything to do with what just happened."

"Nothing happened." The boy said eyeing him, daring him to say anything. 

"Nope... I didn't see anything... but maybe if you don't mind you can tell
me how in the world you ever came up with that idea!" Ojean laughed.

"It was HIS idea - I just twisted it a little.  "Sides - I wanna him to know
who done this to him.  Make sure he understands."

"Well I'm sure he'll get the message," the older boy chuckled. Then
remembered why he had been sent to find the boy. "So did you get Loki
settled in okay? Shawnee asked me to help you if you needed it cause I have
my own dragon too.. his name is Teewith and she thought maybe you'd reacted
better... I mean take help from someone more your age."

Gus scowled at the boy. "He's fine. There really that much to know?"

"Yes there is..." Ojean told him in no hurry to leave. "Cause you see
looking after a new born dragon is sort of like looking after a new baby.
you got to know what to do if they get sick... or what to do if their skin
starts to flake... and sometimes you'll feel like you're so hungry you can
eat a horse... even after you just ate, only to find out it's your dragon
who's really hungry."

"You feel what the dragon feels?"  Gus frowned, then remembered 'feeling"
her wing tip foul on the hatching grounds.

"Oh yes... it's sort of like you're one person now. But that'll change a bit
when you get older. You'll be able to hide what you feel/think from them if
you're careful.. or better yet if you don't want them to know what you're
thinking it's better to do it while they're asleep."

"He can read ALL my thoughts?"

Ojean nodded. "It's kind of hard to keep a secret from your dragon, but
there are ways... they'll teach you that or you'll figure them out for
yourself... the important thing is to listen to what the trainer teaches you
so you don't end up hurting yourself or your dragon... it's happened you
know. Someone thinking they didn't need help and they ended up hurting the
dragon so that they couldn't fly together for a long time."

He could see the boy thinking about what he'd just said.

Gus swallowed hard.  Hurt Loki? Damn, just what she needed - for that Jerram
to be right. She scowled.  "So, unless he's sleeping - I got no privacy no
more?"

"That's about the long and short of it," Ojean nodded his head. "But I
wouldn't worry to much about it. Your dragon will be the best friend you'll
ever have so he won't do anything to hurt you... And I don't think you'll
need to worry about mating flights for a while. I know Teewith won't fly
until I'm ready for that kind of thing. He's told me so."

'Mating flights?"

"You mean no one told you about mating flights...?" Ojean asked then
remembered the boy had only just arrived and hadn't been told much of
anything. "Well you see... the females.. they raise every so often to mate..
but only the Queen lays eggs... and well any male dragon who can caught her
... their riders also... well you know. Mate. It's something everyone looks
forward too so I've been told. But I'm sure you won't have to worry about
that yet. Not until you're older. They say the dragon always knows when
you're ready."

"Don't have to worry about it yet." Gus repeated. "Oh, cause Loki isn't
gonna be ready for a while, right?" Try as she might, Gus couldn't
completely keep the edge out of her voice.

Just then as Ojean was about to say something they both heard the sound of
someone banging against the door and Ojean grabbed Gus by the arm and began
to lead him away. 

"We better get out of here before he breaks free or there'll be hell to
pay," he said and started back towards the dining hall. "If anyone asks I'll
be sure to say you were with me.... on second thought... maybe we should
clean the room up just in case he does say something. That way he won't be
able to prove what happened."

"Why?" Gus looked at him warily. 

"Why not?" Ojean looked back at him.

"No why are you doing this?"

"It seems like fun, and I'd hate to see you in trouble your first night
here, so what do you say... do we wait until he's gone then clean up the
evidence?"

He could see the kid's smile grow as he thought about it.

"Okay let's do it."

Later after the two of them had snuck back into the party, Ojean made sure
they were both seen by others as they filled their plates and stopped to
talk to several other people Ojean had already met in the new place. 

By the time he noticed the commotion going on near the Warrenlady's table he
knew something was going on and herded Gus in that direction. 

"And I tell you that Street Rat did it to me!!" Jerram was stammering as
they drew near.

"What did I do to you?"

Gus smiled slyly at Jerram.  She hoped Ojean was right - and without proof,
Jerram had nothing on them.

"You know exactly what you did and when I get my hands on you.." he made a
move towards the kid but stumbled over a bench. 

Saul got up and reached to assist him to his feet. 

"Now wait a minute. Instead of attacking the boy maybe we should find out
where he was," the bearded rider looked towards the two boys. "Ojean maybe
you can shed some light on this. Where was Gus when you found him?"

Ojean didn't hesitate, but he prayed Saul wouldn't know he was lying. "With
Loki... He was sitting there on the floor just staring at him. then I talked
him into coming back here with me."

Gus moved quickly to back the boy up. Did he have to look so guilty? "Yeah,
got kinda worried about him - so I went to check on him." She faked a blush,
"Couldn't stop watching him."

Shawnee looked them both over quickly just to satisfy her own thinking. She
was sure they were telling the truth, because Ojean would never lie to her. 

"Ah Shawnee.. you remember how it was when Tee was born... I was ALWAYS with
him... You always knew just where to find me."

Saul laughed. "Well that's the truth."

"Look are you gonna do anything' to this street rat... I'm telling you it
was him that did it to me!!" Jerram broke in and pulled his arm away from
Saul, but made no other move towards the boy. 

"Now Jerram.. I know it's a party but are you sure you didn't just have to
much to drink and imagine the whole thing." Tara asked.

[[Tag Kate and John:]]


 [[The next morning]]

Morning was not always the best time to find a game going, but Wisp wasn't
about to look a gift horse in the mouth when he found the table of men
looking for a forth to play.

He had felt the need to be off by himself, away from the Warren for a little
while and the silence of his cave just didn't suit him, so he ended up
stopping off just long enough to change his looks a bit and then took the
horse and wagon on into town.

A bit of conversation and some food was all he'd been hoping for, but when
the others had asked him to sit in, he didn't want to be unsociable and tell
them no. So he took the seat and hours later the pile of credits in front of
him had grown steadily.

He would never be able to say how later if asked, but he somehow knew who
had walked in the front door without turning to see the man's face. Maybe it
was some sixth sense he'd developed over the last few years, but question it
he never would. 

It had saved his life on more then one occasion.

"You gonna place your bet or just sit there lookin' at them cards in your
hand?" one of the other players asked when more then a few seconds had past. 

Wisp had been trying to decide if it would be better for him to fold and try
to leave the bar before the man spotted him or just stay where he was and
hope the man had to many other things on his mind to take notice of the
poker game. 

But in the time he took deciding it was to late. He should have known Saul
of Whiteriver... no make that Jasra Warren now... would never let a card
game go unnoticed. It was in his blood. 

"Maybe he's trying to decide if the hand he's holding is good enough to beat
you or if he should try for the two aces he has up his sleeve?"  came a
voice from the past behind him. "Haven't you fellows learned his ways by now?"

"If they have it's because you were a lousy teacher. Can't I go anywhere
without you showing up? " Wisp said without turning around. Instead he threw
three copper coins into the already growing pile in the middle of the table.
"I'll call your three and bump you three more." 

"If he's that sure of himself, I'd for sure check his sleeve," Saul told the
others, but they could tell by the grin on his handsome face that he was
just teasing. 

"Hell wouldn't matter if he had the whole deck up his sleeve," one of the
players quipped. "Jasper over there is so easy to read that you'd have to be
blind not to see that he's bluffing. Sides... how do you know this here
feller... I can't say I ever seen you around before."

"You haven't," Wisp told them as he reached for his coffee and took a sip.
"But he's the reason I left the other side of the world. Couldn't find a
decent game of cards without him showing up and stealing all the glory. But
I got me the winning hand here so why don't you just fold and put yourself
out of your misery while you still have a few coppers in front of you."

"Now I don't know... Seems like he has a pretty good hand to me," Saul said
after moving so he could see what cards the other player was holding. "Seems
silly to fold so quickly when he might leave here with a few more copper
pieces them he has now."

Wisp looked up at him and saw the twinkle he remembered for so long ago
shining in the riders eyes deep blue eyes. 

He frown slightly.

"How bout you go get us a few brews and I'll come join you as soon as I
collect my winnings," Wisp said hoping Saul would take the hint. "It'll only
take me a minute or so more. You gonna bet or fold Jisom?"

"Why I think I'm gonna bet," the man said bolstered by Saul's encouragement,
threw the rest of his money into the pile. "I call... lets see what you have."

Wisp knew he was in a spot now. He did the only thing he could to keep the
man's good will, because he couldn't afford to lose this place as a contact
spot for finding out what was going on around the lands. And if he took the
pot then answers might not be so easy to get from men who held might hold it
against him.

"I'll get you for this Saul.. mark my word." he muttered as he threw his
cards face down onto the pile. "Somehow Fayloth's rider... I'll get you for
this."

"Well looks like my luck has run out," he said as he stood and picked up
what coins were still on the table in front of him. "Maybe next time I can
win some of that back."

He saluted the three other played with a jovial grin and turned around to
find Saul alone at the table furthest from the front door, but with in two
steps from the back door leading out into the alley. Two mugs of ale were
sitting on the table in front of him. 

"Where'd Jerram get to?" he asked, glad not to have to face the dragonrider
who was so close to Tara.

"Though maybe you'd feel better talking without him hanging around. "I don't
suppose you've told her the truth yet have you?"

"No, and the longer I can keep it from her the safer she'll be," Wisp
replied, not even pretending not to understand. "What in the hell are you
doing here in Jasra? Nearly gave me a heart attack last night when I set
eyes on you I tell you. Never thought to see your sorry hide again. And not
on this side of the world."

"Long story."

"Have anything to do with that pretty woman who was hanging on your arm last
night?" Wisp asked. "You know the one I mean? The sexy blond with those
incredible eyes.. though what she sees in you I'll never understand."

"Well I'll tell you what," Saul quipped. "If you ever find out then be sure
and tell me. But until then stay away. She's very much taken. This one is
all mine and I don't plan on letting her get away from me ever again."

"What? Saul of Whiteriver in *love*?" Wisp chuckled. "Why I never thought
I'd see the day."

"Me either," Saul nodded his head, his smile never leaving his face. "Not
only do I have the loveliest woman in these parts or anywhere for that
matter, but two kids as well."

"Now wait a minute... Those kids she had are yours?" he knew they were but
wanted to hear the man say it so he could gage just how deep the attachment
between the two really was.. She looked so sweet and trusting. Shame if she
got hurt.

"My daughter Lynnie and newborn son Aarin, and I couldn't be happier," he
told a look of intense pride lit up his eyes and the smile on his lips could
have been classified as sappy by some.

Wisp was finding it hard to believe. The Saul he remembered would never have
been happy tided down to the same woman and... kids... Why the very thought
had once scared the man to death. He shook his head.

"She must be one very special woman?"

"You'll never know." All laugher was gone from his tone and Wisp knew he had
nothing to worry about. He'd never seen a man so in love with his mate as
this one was. He could also see that something was worrying him, and thought
he knew what that might be.

"Well I hope you and your family will find happiness and grow here in
Jasra," he said offering his hand to seal the pledge.

"If we're allowed to stay," Saul replied. "You heard Vignette last night.
She is going to close the place down."

"No she's not," Wisp reached up and touch his forefinger to the side of his
nose, indicating secrecy. "Told me so herself. She's just playing her little
games to see how Tara will hold up and how badly the girl wants to work to
keep the place running."

"And you know this because....?"

"Had a little talk with the old girl last night and she told me," Wisp told
him with a grin. "But made me swear on everything I hold dear not to tell a
soul, but because I know you don't have one I'm breaking that pledge and
letting you in on the secret."

"Big of you."

"Yes it was wasn't it?"

"So when will the others find out?"

"Sometime later today I suppose. The old girl just loves to play her games."

"But this really isn't a game is it?" Saul asked.

"No." Wisp agreed. "But with all that's happened around here in the last few
years, she really needed to find someone with the heart and the back bone to
take this place and run it the way it should be run. She wasn't to sure Tara
had what it took because of her attachment to a family who wanted nothing to
do with her every since she joined with her Queen. But after they tried to
kill her bother..."

"What do you mean?" Saul asked, fearing what he was about to hear, and
praying it wouldn't be anything like they had just left in Whiteriver. 

"Her family is from a weird sect that believe dragons are evil and that
anyone who joins with them, or even speaks up for them, is evil."

"Is that why you had to... Well do what you did?"

Wisp nodded. "They are dangerous people who live on hate and their own
narrow minded ideas and they punish anyone who disagrees with them. That's
why I begged Vignette to get Tara way from them. I ...we .. both hoped that
with her here in Jasra she would be able to think about what kind of people
they really were and not be blinded by 
by family ties. It wasn't until they tried to kill Ansel that she began to
open her eyes. That's why I had to... you know... to protect them. But I
told you all about that before."

"Yes you did, but until I met them and went through some of the same sort of
narrow-mindedness in Whiteriver, I don't think I ever fully understood. I
nearly lost my mate, our child and Fawna, Shawnee's sister, when someone
blew up the hatching caves in Whiteriver just as a hatching was starting. I
had hoped that by coming here we were leaving that all behind."

"Well I wouldn't worry about it to much if I were you," Wisp reassured him.
"They are a lot closer to Ismene Warren then they are to Jasra, and you can
be damn sure she has people keeping an eye on their movements. If they are
planning anything we'll hear about it in time to do something about it."

"I hope so my friend. I really hope so."

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

Shawnee & Doshayne
Wisp & Smoke 
Ojean & Teewith
Jasra Warren


aka
Barbara