[Day 8- The Celebration]

Corwin filed into the dining hall with others from the warren.  Though he
had been here only a short time he had found a comraderie here much like
that onboard a ship.  They had all worked hard to preserve the warren.  He
felt saddened when he had heard there were doubts that the warren would
remain open.  He didn't know what he would do or where he and Syngnath would
go should it close.  He couldn't imagine having a dragon aboard ship.

<*I wouldn't have to be on your ship.  I'd be perfectly happy in the water*>
Syngnath replied, though Corwin hadn't realized that he'd been broadcasting
his worrying to his dragon.

<Where ever I go, don't you worry, we'll stay together!>  Corwin assured
him.

Vignette was speaking, and Corwin only was half-listening, when he caught
her saying, "...had Jasra not been here, I would not now be welcoming our
two new arrivals - Corwin, rider of Syngnath, and his compatriot from the
lost vessel."   Corwin stood, looking around hopefully to see a familiar
face.  Aitzan stood and Corwin wondered what one of *her* people was doing
at the warren, she had most definitely not been on his ship.

He sat down feeling depressed that his hopes had been raised and then
dashed.  He listened only half interested as Vignette continued, though he
was relieved to hear that Jasra would remain open.  But his ears perked up
when Vignette said, "Elvynia, rider of Iris, please stand."

He saw the young woman whose sister he'd carried to the medical center...
the one whose eyes he found himself dreaming about.  He swallowed and looked
around, thankful no one had noticed his staring at the girl.  She was so
much younger than he was, yet there was something about her...

****
The celebration wound down, and Corwin drifted out, finding himself quite
alone among all those old friends.  He returned to the hatchling barracks,
as Syngnath was insistent that he needed a scrub and wanted to be fed.

<*I don't care much for this oil.*>  Syngnath commented. <*Can't we go out
onto the beach and let me roll in the sand and play in the water?*>

Corwin looked at the sad little Seadragon.  His scales were patchy and dry.
How could Corwin refuse him?  They walked to the beach together, and after a
good oiling and rubbing of sand over his hide, Syngnath was soon shining,
and much less itchy.

As Syngnath frolicked in the waves, Corwin walked up along the beach.  He
stopped when he saw the Jakka woman prostrate on the sand.  What was she
doing there alone -- and so far from her people?  He had never seen one of
her people alone before.  The always traveled in large family groups.  As he
watched she slowly got up from the edge of the ocean and walk back a few
yards.

He approached her and saw the tears streaming down her face.  She looked
about as alone as he felt.

He frowned, trying to remember the right Jakka words.  He spoke slowly, not
sure if he was pronouncing things correctly, "::Greetings, sister, how is
your trade?  How are your family?::"

Aitzan looked up at the tall sailor, surprise evident in her eyes.  She
spoke too quickly in a dialect he was not familiar with, and only caught
about two or three words, one being "storm" and the other "alone".

He shook his head, "::Not fast!::" he said.

Aitzan frowned and began again.  This time Corwin was able to understand
that her shipmates, correcting his misuse of the similar sounding word for
"family," and their ships had been lost in a storm, though not everything
she said.

****
TAG Bridget -- what does she try to tell him that he doesn't understand?
****

They returned to the barracks just as Jerram came in.

<SNIP from John's Post>
(Hatching Barracks)

     "He's a beauty, isn't he?" Jerram asked, looking down at the
hatchling - who was peering curiously back at the tall rider.  "So his
name's Syngnath?"

     Corwin nodded.  "That it is," he answered.  "This is all pretty new to
me...you say he and I are *joined?*"

     "That's right," Jerram told him.  "You're the only one who can hear him
and speak to him, aside from the other dragons here and a very few people -
like Tara's brother Ansel - who have a special ability to do so."

     "I'd gathered that," Corwin answered.  "The question is, then...what
now?"

     "What now, indeed," Jerram said reflectively, twirling his mustache as
he thought about the situation.  "You're not from around here, I know, so
you're probably not familiar with the warrens, are you?"

     Corwin shook his head.  "Not to the point of actually living in one,
no.  I've traveled a bit, though, and have heard the word mentioned."

     "Then you may have heard what we do," Jerram said.  "We protect the
landbound from wraiths, such as the ones who attacked your ships, and from
other dangers that they aren't equipped to defend themselves against.  I
don't know if you've given any thought to your future from this point on,
but you and this little fellow here are an unusual pair...and quite valuable
to a warren such as Jasra."

     Corwin looked up sharply.  "Valuable?  Why?"

     "Because Syngnath here is a seadragon," Jerram explained.  "There's
only one other like him here at the warren.  He can operate in the water
just as easily - and maybe more so - than he can on the land or in the air.
Other dragons can't do that."

     "I see," Corwin said thoughtfully.

     "So, if you decided to stay here with us, there'd most certainly be a
place for you," the Swordmaster finished.  "Regardless of what you decide,
though, the first thing I'd do were I you is to get with Wade...you met her
yesterday, as I recall.  She's joined to our other seadragon, and can tell
you things about your friend here that I couldn't begin to.  If you do
choose to stay, though, you'd start training with the others when I return
tomorrow."
<END SNIP>

"Training?"  Corwin looked surprised, "Dragons have to train?"

Jerram laughed, "I suppose wilders learn by doing, so we do some of the
same, only we also train the riders and dragons to work together and to work
as a part of the wing."

Corwin nodded, though he really didn't fully understand.  "Well, We'll be
there for training tomorrow, then," he assured Jerram.

****
[Dinner]

Corwin noticed that dinner was rather sparse that evening, and he overheard
that it was due to a certain lizard that belonged to the woman Aitzan.

He saw the woman Wade as she came in and called to her.  She brought her
tray over and sat with him.

"How are you tonight, Wade?"  Corwin asked.

"I am...well," she replied.  "And you?"

He frowned, "Concerned... about Syngnath."

"Concerned?" she asked.  "Why?"

"Jerram says he is unlike the other dragons that he knows -- except yours!"
Corwin replied.  "I'm afraid I don't know much about dragons, and absolutely
nothing about seadragons... maybe you could help me?"

Wade looked pensive.  "I know nothing of training others," she said
doubtfully.  "How could I do what Jerram cannot?"

"I told Jerram that I'd be at training in the morning..."  Corwin sighed.
"But it's more than that.  Syngnath told me today that he wanted to return
to the sea... does your dragon need to be in contact with the ocean often?"

Wade nodded.  "Of course, she is from the sea.  Neither of us can be long
away from it.  The same would be true of Syngnath.   Seadragons are like
other dragons in some respect, but very unlike them in others."

"How so?"

"Seadragons can breathe in the sea, unlike others," she told him.  "They can
breathe air, too, but not forever.  Every few days, they must return to the
water."

Corwin nodded, already he instinctively knew this.  Syngnath's health had
deteriorated rapidly overnight, but after the frolic in the waves that
afternoon, he was in perfect health.

"And when I was with him... I could breathe under water..."  Corwin looked
at Wade closely.  "Is that the same for you?"

She shook her head.  "I am not of your race.  My people live in the sea, and
can breathe underwater on their own.  But...I have heard it said that a
joined seadragon can, for a time, provide his or her rider with the same
ability to breathe underwater...as long as the rider remains in contact with
the dragon.  If the rider dismounts, the magic begins to dissipate."

"Only his rider?  So I couldn't take anyone else with me underwater?" Corwin
asked.

Wade looked uncertain.  "Jismin is not sure about this...you see, we have
never known of a seadragon joining to a lander...and I have never taken a
lander underwater on Jismin.  Perhaps it should be tried, however."

Corwin nodded, wondering who could be the guinea pig.  Wade had finished her
meal, and rose to leave.

"If you have any more questions, I'll be glad to try and answer them if I
can." Wade smiled.

"Thanks, Wade.  I'll remember that."  Corwin flashed her a dazzling smile,
which she returned before leaving the dining hall.

****
[Day 9]

Corwin and Syngnath were at training, as he'd said he would be.  He listened
to Jerram and watched with elation as the young dragons took to the air.  He
watched with dismay as Loki crashed into Jerram and Iris crashed into
Selene!

<*Let me try!*>  The voice of Syngnath cut through his thoughts.

"Syngnath says he'd like to try."  Corwin called to Jerram.

They watched as Syngnath ran, gathering himself and pumping his wings... but
he only managed to lift about a foot into the air.  He continued to try with
all his might, but was unable to make enough lift.

<*I can't fly!*>  Syngnath sobbed, dejectedly.  Corwin rushed to him,
cradling his head in his strong arms.

"Jerram?  He can't fly?"  Corwin, greatly concerned, looked at the trainer.

Jerram shook his head.  The dragon had certainly grown quite a bit, but...
"It might be that he's just little too young, yet."  Jerram said.  "Give him
a few days, and we'll try this again.  He is a few days younger than our
youngest hatchling here."

Corwin passed that on to Syngnath, but it did little to console the young
seadragon.

<You can fly in the water, Syngnath>  Corwin commented.  <Maybe we should
practice more there?>

Syngnath seemed to brighten at that and the two had just decided to give it
a try when they got a summons from Varaenna for Corwin to report to the
Warrenlady's office.

He turned to leave, and noticed Gus also bearing in that direction.

"You, too?" He asked as they hurried across the green.  At Gus's glum nod,
he went on.  "Any idea what it's about?"

Gus shrugged and together they entered the Warrenlady's office.

<Snip from John's Post>
     Moments later, both Gus and Corwin arrived.  They both looked as though
they'd rushed directly over from training.  "Thank you both for coming," she
said.  "I have a problem, which one or both of you might be able to help me
solve."

     "What's that?" Gus asked.

     "A vessel arrived offshore awhile ago," Tara told them.  "I've just
spoken to her captain.  He says his vessel was damaged in the hurricane, and
asks that the warren help him to make repairs so he can be on his way."

     "Seems reasonable," Corwin ventured.  "Next to Cabral, this is the most
likely place for a damaged ship to put in.  You *will* help him, won't you?"

     "It's not that simple," Tara told them.  "The decision I have to make
is whether or not to extend aid to a pirate vessel.  Have either of you ever
heard of Dolfis Seathief?  And if so, what can you tell me about him?"
<End Snip>

Gus shrugged. "He's a legend 'round town.  Don't know how much is real.  Why
not help him?"

Corwin nodded, "He's more than a legend.  I was aboard ship when his pirates
attacked.  I'll give you this... he's got a loyal bunch of men!  I faced him
across swords -- and though I would have tried to kill him if I could have,
when he took the advantage he didn't try to kill me -- in fact... not a
single one of my shipmates was killed during that raid!"

Thinking of Dolfis made Corwin examine the face of the lad standing with
him.  There was a look about him that reminded him of Dolfis....

"Y'mean that parts true? I figured that much was just legend stuff."  Gus
snorted half in disbelief and half in approval.

Tara looked closely at the two as if weighing what they'd said.  "An
honorable pirate?  Can there be such a thing?  I know I was amazed that he
tithed..."

"He tithed?"  Corwin echoed in surprise.

"Well, sure he tithes," Gus exclaimed.  "It's the warren, for cryin out
loud."

"Well, if he tithes, then isn't he under your protection?  And wouldn't you
be honorbound to help him?"  Corwin replied.

"Put that way, I guess I would be."  Tara answered.  "But ship captains that
aren't thieves might be upset..."  Tara mused, "But I thank you for your
assessments.  Now I have a decision to make."  and with that the two were
dismissed.

****
TAG John - so what does she decide?
****

The two riders left Tara's office and headed back towards their waiting
dragons.

<*I've asked Loki to come swimming with me!*>  Syngnath chortled happily.


Corwin grinned, at his little dragon.

He saw Gus' eyes go unfocussed and knew that his dragon was probably telling
him the same thing.

<Syngnath and I are going swimming. Too bad you can't.  The water's lovely.>

<Atta boy, rub it in, why dontcha?> Gus grinned fondly at her absent dragon.

"So are you coming?"  Corwin asked Gus.

"Sure, got nothing else to do right now." Gus matched her stride to
Corwin's - not an easy task, given his height and the length of his legs.
Maybe she could practice writing her name in the sand while he wasn't
looking.

The little dragons, however, easily beat them to the water.  Corwin and Gus
stood side by side watching their dragons frolicking in the waves.  Gus
scanned the shore, finding a stick and standing slightly apart from Corwin.
Once again closing her eyes to concentrate on the feeling, she inscribed her
name in the sand.

They didn't notice as Iris landed softly in the sand.  Her rider was walking
down the beach towards her, and smiled as she saw who was there ahead of
them.

<<Look, Iris, Loki and the seadragon are having some fun.  You could join
them.>> Elly smiled at the sight of the two dragons playing in the surf.

<The seadragon would be one things, but Loki would be liable to get me
drowned.>

<<Don't be ridiculous,>> Elly scolded. <<Go on and have a swim.  You've
earned it.>>   Elly wandered over toward Gus, catching sight of the markings
in the sand.

"You're practicing, Gus?"

Gus looked up startled. "Uh...yeah."  She whispered, glancing over at
Corwin.  "Did I do it right?"

"That looks just right, Gus.  Now that you've mastered your name, you're
ready to learn some new words.  When are you going to give me a chance to
teach you?"

Gus shrugged. "Maybe tomorrow after dinner?"

"An early dinner, then, so we'll still have enough light." Elly encouraged.

"Sure, whatever."  Gus agreed reluctantly.

<*Join me, Rider!*>  Syngnath called to Corwin, sending a seductive mental
picture of sailing through the pellucid green waters.

Corwin called to the other humans, "Gus, Elly!  Why don't you both join me
in a swim?"  He shouted as he began stripping off his clothes.

Gus froze with Loki's snide chuckle ringing in her mind. "Ah...no thanks,"
she managed to mutter before turning her eyes desperately to the horizon.

Elly, however,  was racing across the sand almost before her clothes landed
helter skelter behind her.  With a neat hop, she cleaved the water in a
smooth dive.

Iris followed Elly into the water, although at a somewhat slower pace.  She
enjoyed the water but not nearly as much as her rider. She also wasn't sure
she trusted Loki.

Corwin laughed, and chased after the slim girl, calling over his shoulder,
"Come on, Gus!  The water is calm today!"

"Nah, I...uh..I'll pass."  Gus felt her cheeks flush.  She sank to the sand,
closing her eyes to blot out the image of naked skin.

Elly swam rapidly out beyond the breakers, then let the currents float her
easily as she enjoyed the contrast of cool water and warm sunshine.

Corwin followed Elly, with strong powerful strokes.  Suddenly he was caught
up by Syngnath who had surfaced right under him.

Elly, who had been bobbing along on her back, righted herself when the water
suddenly surged as Syngnath surfaced. She coughed to clear the gulp of
seawater from her windpipe.

"A whole ocean and you have to nearly drown me by surfacing right here?" She
glared at the two of them.

"My sincerest apologies, dear lady!"  Corwin flashed a dazzling smile as he
looked down at her from atop his seadragon.

His charm coaxed an answering smile from her.  "Well, it isn't as though I
weren't already wet."

She watched as the rider and seadragon vanished below the waves.  They were
gone a very long time and she began to worry.

Loki slid quietly through the water, drawing himself silently up atop the
small outcropping of rock.  With a gleeful mental "YeeeHAAA!" he leapt back
into the water....not more than one dragons-length from Iris, thoroughly
drenching her.

<Loki, you wretch!  I oughta get Selene to sit on you!>  Iris threatened.

<Oh, could you?>  Loki dove under and away from the slow moving Iris.

<Oh, you're impossible.  I doubt Selene would do what I asked, anyway,> she
muttered to herself.

<Why, thank you.> Loki caroled and swam about, thoroughly enjoying not only
his swim - but the opportunities it was presenting.

Gus lay back on the warm sand, all but ready to howl in frustration.  It was
warm and the sounds of splashing - coupled with Loki's play-by-play was
almost more than she could stand. Snarling, she removed her jacket and
tented it over her face.

Iris swam out to where Elly was scanning the water around her. <<Do you see
Corwin and his dragon anywhere, Iris?  They've been down an awfully long
time.>>  Elly asked.

Iris and Elly fruitlessly searched the surrounding water for any signs of
the missing rider and dragon.

Corwin was in ecstasy.  This was better than any sailboat ever built!  He
was cutting through the water and though he could feel the fluidity of it
sliding passed his skin, he could still breathe.  The world had taken on a
silky aspect as he viewed it from below the waves.  Seaweed danced about
them, glorious fish and other seacreatures swam away as they flew through
the water.  Looking over his shoulder, Corwin suddenly realized how far away
from shore they had gotten.

<We'd better turn back,>  Corwin mentally reined Syngnath in.  They returned
to where they had left Elly and the other dragons.

Elly turned back toward the beach.  "Gus!  Do you see any sign of Corwin?"

Tossing the jacket off her face, Gus sat up, alerted by the concern in
Elly's voice.  "Aint he out there with you?"

"No, he and Syngnath submerged quite a while ago, and I can't find them."

"Can you climb up higher to look?"

<Loki, do you see them anywhere?>  Standing up, Gus headed over toward the
rocks, scampering quickly up.

<I don't see them, and Syngnath's mind is very confusing.  Iris can't
understand him either!>

Standing on the rocks, Gus shielded her eyes and stared out at the water.
She could see Elly's head and Iris and Loki, but neither Corwin or his
dragon.

Suddenly, Elly vanished in a cloud of spray.  Blinking in surprise, Gus
stared out at the water. <Loki, is Elly all right?> She stood poised on the
edge of the rocks, ready to go in as needed - but praying it wouldn't be
necessary.

Syngnath emerged below Elly, and Corwin quickly grabbed hold of her as they
submerged again.

Elly gasped in surprise. Expecting choking water, she was shocked to find
that she could breathe.

<I can't see them and Iris is panicking.> Loki called.  Sighing heavily, Gus
dove neatly into the water, pushing forward toward where she'd seen Elly go
down.

She twisted around to look at Corwin, her brows elevated above wide eyes
indicating her confusion.

They surfaced again, "How...?"  Elly gasped out.

"Magic!  Seadragon magic!" Corwin crowed.  Then he saw Gus paddling about,
"Hey, Gus!  You decided to swim anyway?  Come join us!  I've got something
incredible to show you!  When you ride Syngnath you can BREATHE underwater!"

"WHAT? I come all the way out here, thinkin' Elly's in trouble and you guys
are playing games?!"  Gus' eyes flashed angrily.

Elly gave Gus a fond look in response to his admission that he was coming in
to help her, but knowing how uncomfortable it would make him, she refrained
from commenting.

"Well, actually..."  Corwin grinned at Elly, "I wasn't sure if Elly would be
able to... but Syngnath had a mind of his own.  Sorry, El."

"That's all right.  After the initial shock, it was rather fun.  Can we do
it again?"

Corwin nodded in agreement, "You sure you won't join us Gus?"

Snorting with disgust, Gus turned to swim back to shore. <I need you to
cover me again. Idiots playin'!>  Gus chose to ignore Loki's answering
chuckle.

Gus sloshed out of the water, swearing violently under her breath.  She
grabbed her jacket from the sand and pulled it over her shirt - once again
soaked to her skin.

She leaned against Loki's side. <I gotta stop doin' this.>  Loki only
chuckled as Gus slipped on her shoes and marched off to the barracks.

****
The water swirled around them, as Syngnath's wings beat it behind them.
Their hearts raced, as they saw rays and sharks shrink away from the
powerful dragon.  Corwin held Elly tightly, somehow aware that if he lost
his grip on her that she could be swept off into the currents and drowned.
He relished in how her shoulder-length, white-blonde hair floated freely
behind her.  Noting suddenly how closely their bodies were pressing to each
other, Corwin flushed as he felt his body begin to respond, <Syngnath, I
think we should go back...We don't want to tire you.>

<*Tire me?  My rider, I was born to fly in the sea!*>  Yet, he swung about,
heading for shore.

 Elly became aware of a heavy pressure beneath her.  Without her having time
to think about it, her hips flexed in response.  Her reaction startled her,
making her quickly slide forward on Syngnath's back to regain a more
comfortable distance.

Syngnath brought them up and out of the water near to the beach, where they
noticed Loki and his rider were no longer, though Iris waited patiently,
basking in the sunlight.

The shock of the splash as he dismounted helped to extinguish the fire, as
did his own embarrassment for not being able to control his passion.
"Elly... I... I hope we can ride again some time..."  He blushed, realizing
how that had sounded.

She pinkened even more before nodding her agreement.  "Yes, I think I'd like
that...very much."

Returning to where they had deposited their clothing, Corwin hurriedly
pulled on his pants, noting how difficult it was when wet and sandy.

Elly surreptitiously admired him from the corner of her eye as she buttoned
her shirt.

Corwin looked up and caught her eye.  The setting sun turned her flaxen hair
into a burning halo around her face.

"Hungry?"  he asked, realizing that it had been a long time since his last
meal.

"Yes, I am," she told him, a hungry look in her blue-gray eyes.

His sea-green eyes met hers and they locked for what seemed an eternity,
until he finally broke it, saying, "Care to join me in the dining hall?"

She held out her hand to him in silent response, thinking ahead to sitting
across from him in the dining hall, their gazes meeting.

****
NRPG: Many thanks to John, KK and Dana for the assistance in creating this
post.  It was fun!

Respectfully submitted by:
Arlene Jacobs
AKA Corwin rider of the seadragon Syngnath of Jasra Warren.