Dalaine
****

[Day 9öafternoon]

After Corwin's little seadragon Syngnath was unable to get airborne, it was 
Selene's turn for the next flight.  Lainie stood anxiously by, hoping there 
wouldn't be any more disastrous landings, especially for this training 
session.

Trying to emulate what she had seen Loki and Iris do, Selene loped 
enthusiastically across the grassy terrain, wings flapping wildly.  Her 
forelegs lifted off the ground, but she was unable to get enough loft.  She 
stumbled slightly as she drew to a halt, head lowered in dejected defeat.  

<Oh, come on, fathead, you can do better than that!> Loki prompted.

<<That was only your first try, Selene, don't give up yet,>> Lainie 
encouraged, striding quickly over to pat a golden-yellow flank.

<I just know I can't do it,> she moaned.

<<Of course, you can,>> Lainie insisted, while privately thinking it might 
have been better if Selene had foregone the extra portion at noon.  <<Come 
on, have another go at it.>>

Selene repeated her efforts, this time succeeding in getting her back legs 
just above the ground before again failing to rise up any higher.  Her 
mournful wail was a piteous thing to hear.

Gus, hands over his ears, shot Lainie a disgusted look.  "Do somethin' about 
her, will ya!"

"As if you have any right to complain after Loki's stunt."  She scowled 
fiercely.

"That wasn't his faultönot like Selene bowlin' Iris over.  Sheesh, what a 
fathead."

"Of all the dim-witted things to say when it was Loki who was chasing her."  
She turned back to Selene, stroking her neck in an effort to soothe her.  
<<Just one more time, baby, for me?>> she cajoled.

As Selene prepared for another attempt, Lainie noted from the corner of her 
eye Gus and Corwin heading rapidly toward the warren.  Wonder where they're 
off to in such a hurry, she thought.

Screwing up her nerve, Selene made one more pass across the turf, her 
persistence paying off as moments later she found herself soaring high above 
the training grounds.  She swooped around a few times and then steeled 
herself for the all-important descent.  She gauged her speed and incline as 
carefully as she could, then touched down gently, barely ruffling the grass.  

Her unexpectedly graceful landing earned her an acknowledgment of slack-jawed 
astonishment and raised eyebrows.

"Very nice, Selene," Jerram praised her.  "Now, that's how it's supposed to 
be done."

Snout elevated slightly in response, Selene headed in Lainie's direction 
before abruptly finding herself sprawled in the dust.  Glancing around, she 
noted Iris's swishing tail, which gave her some indication of what had 
happened.  The guffaws that erupted throughout the assembled group did 
nothing to mollify her.  Hauling herself to her feet, she abruptly stalked 
off in the direction of the dining hall, hoping to find consolation in a 
bucket of meat.

****


Elvynia
****

[Day 9öearly evening, on the beach]

[snip of Arlene's post]

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.

[end snip]

Her hand enveloped by his larger one, his calloused palm pressed snugly 
against her smooth one, the two riders strolled side by side up the beach.  
He shortened his steps to match her smaller stride, her hip occasionally 
brushing his thigh as they walked.  

"Have you lived here long?" Corwin asked.

"I was born here," Elly told him.  She looked around appreciatively, taking 
in the familiar sights and sounds.

"It seems like a great place to grow up....  I've never really had a home, 
unless you could call the sea my home."  Corwin gazed pensively around the 
warren. 

"I love the sea."  She looked back over her shoulder at the sparkling water.  
The sun, setting behind them, cast a rosy glow on the surrounding sky.  "It's 
one of my favorite places to be."  She looked up at Corwin.  "But I've never 
sailed on a ship.  What's that like?" 

"Until today, I would have said it is the most incredible experience," then 
he looked directly into her eyes, and she could see the truth in them, "but 
riding on Syngnath...that was ...."  He choked, unable to find the words to 
express his feelings. 

She stopped walking and put her free hand on his arm.  "It was indescribable. 
 I wonder if I'll feel the same when Iris and I finally start flying 
together." 
                                
He nodded.  "I'm sure nothing can compare with flying on your own dragon!  
What I felt through our link added so much to the experience....  I'm sorry 
you couldn't share that." 

"What I did experience was amazing.  I can hardly imagine adding to it."  She 
flushed a bit in memory. 

"I am glad we could share that."  Then he smiled, "but I'm also feeling this 
salt drying on me...would you mind if I showered before we went to dinner?" 

"Not at all.  That's a good idea.  We'll be more comfortable that way."  Her 
skin felt almost too tight. 

They picked up their pace, heading toward the barracks.

<Psst, hurry up, someone's coming!>

Gus hurriedly tugged a shirt over her head and whirled to face the door.     

"I'll meet you at the dining hall--in say, 20 minutes? " Elly suggested to 
Corwin.
    
"If you wait a minute, I don't take long to shower...and I'll walk with you." 

"All right," she nodded.  "Gus!" she called as she strode toward the doorway, 
"can I talk to you for a minute while I wait for Corwin?" 

"Uh, sure, why not."

Elly sat down on the bed beside Gus, settling back to lean against the wall.

Corwin quickly stripped the sandy clothing from his body and, rolling it into 
a ball, tossed it near his locker.  He grabbed a towel that he had hanging 
from a peg and, throwing it over his shoulder, proceeded to the showers. 

Face flaming, Gus studiously examined the blankets at the foot of her bunk.  
Dammit, did the man never keep his clothes on?

Elly­ not one to miss a serendipitous opportunity, studiously examined 
Corwin.  She sucked in her breath.  That man was very nice to look at.

Gus glanced up, wondering if Elly would speak, and noticed her eyes fixed on 
the end of the room.  Following her gaze, Gus turned to be treated with a 
view of Corwin's backside.  She quickly turned away, but not fast enough to 
avoid seeing the scars that crossed his back, so similar to her own.  
Curiously she wondered how he'd come by his whipping.

Elly was troubled by the crisscrossing of scars, thinking how much the raw 
lash marks must have burned.  She yearned to run soothing fingertips across 
the broad expanse of his back. 

Impatiently, Gus waited for Elly to start talking.  What could she have 
wanted to talk about anyway?  

Elly sighed and turned to Gus.  "I wish you had been there, too, Gus.  It was 
the most amazing thing riding underwater on Syngnath."

Gus flushed uncomfortably.  Like that was really possible so long as she 
wanted to keep this scam going.  "Uh, yeah.  Some other time."

"Some time soon," she a cajoled.  "You really won't believe it." 

Gus shrugged.  Not soon, she amended mentally.  

The thought was interrupted by a deep baritone singing a sea chanty along 
with the sound of running water. 
    
Elly and Gus exchanged amused glances at Corwin's enthusiastic if unmusical 
serenade. 

As she listened, though, Corwin's deep, rough voice sent shivers running 
along Elly's spine.  Forcing herself to pay attention to the conversation, 
Elly added, "Gus­ I think you should ask Corwin about having that ride."  
Another ride is in store for me, too, she assured herself.

Gus waved her hand in either assurance or dismissal.

"Did you get a chance to eat anything yet?"  

Gus peered at Ellyöit wasn't much to talk aboutöand then noticed her eyes 
drifting again toward the shower room.  Knowing Corwin would never hear them 
over his singing, she leaned forward and grinned.  "Didja wanna talk or just 
watch him?"

Startled  at having been caught, Elly flushed.  "Um, I was just...that is 
...oh, well, can you blame me?  He's awfully good looking." 

Gus ignored the mental voice that agreed with Elly.  "I aint gonna say 
nothin'.  Watch all you want."

Elly grinned in return, now staring openly.  If he would only turn a bit to 
the left, she thought. 

The shower cut off, and Corwin reappeared, toweling off his hair. 

Gus spun to face the wall, wondering if she needed to stay to preserve Elly's 
cover story.

"Told you I was quick!"  Corwin grinned, totally unaware of the reaction he 
was generatingöuntil he noticed the direction of Elly's lowered gaze.  When 
she finally looked up, their eyes met. 

He blinked, surprised by what he thought he saw there.  He quickly glanced 
away and reached for a clean pair of loose-fitting pants. 

Elly looked at Gus in some confusion, feeling like she should ask him to join 
them but not sure if that was what Corwin wanted.  She glanced up at Corwin, 
who answered her unspoken thought.

"Gus!  You're joining us for dinner, right?" he commanded rather than asked. 

At Corwin's tone of command, Gus fought back a knee-jerk instinct to tell him 
where he could put his dinner and managed a nod.

"Come on then, let's walk Elly over to her rooms so she can change."  Corwin 
thudded Gus on the back. 

Gus took an involuntary step forward at the force of the blow.  "Yeah, 
whatever," she sighed.  There was no getting out of this, was there?

Elly led the way to her apartment.  "It's not much, but I haven't been there 
longöor spent much time there, either." 

She opened the door and let them precede her through it.  "Please make 
yourselves at home."  She indicated several chairs grouped around a low table 
in one corner. 

Gus looked around open-mouthed.  "This....  It's all yours?"     

"Mm-hmm, all mine, such as it is....  I'll just be a few minutes, then," Elly 
assured them, making her way toward the bedroom.

Corwin pulled out a chair and, turning it backwards, straddled it. 

Gus slipped into another chair, eyes traveling about the room.

"Wonder if we'll get to pick out our own rooms or if they're assigned," 
Corwin mused aloud. 

"We really get our ownöall to ourselvesöjust for being riders?"

"Sure, I guess.  All the riders have one...and there seem to be plenty of 
empty apartments to go around," he answered. 

"Wow," Gus murmured.     

Corwin smiled in appreciation as he caught sight of the delicate curves of 
the petite blonde as she crossed the short hallway between the bedroom and 
bathroom with an armful of clean clothes. 

Gus flushed and averted her eyes as Elly sauntered the short distance.  
Dropping her head into her hands, she breathed deeply, wishing everyone would 
quit running around starkers all the damn time.

Corwin noticed Gus's reaction.  "Not used to seeing naked girls, huh?" he 
laughed good-naturedly. 
     
Gus glared up at him.  "I was born in a brothel.  Just ain't used to 'em not 
carin'."

Mingling with the running water were the melodic sounds of Elly humming 
Corwin's song.

Corwin nodded, "I've been to plenty of brothels in my time... I'd rather see 
'em do it without pretense, then strut it about for show." 

Gus shrugged at Corwin.  "Ain't much show anyway at the Scarlet Pleasure...."

Corwin looked at Gus, surprised.  "The Scarlet Pleasure?" 

Gus nodded.  "Yup.  Big house over on the north-east end o' the docks."

Corwin nodded again.  "I know of that place...and its reputation...."  He 
eyed Gus more closely then, "They didn't...?"  He faltered. 

Gus eyed him warily.  "Duggan's a sick bastard, but he ain't a rapist."  
There, she thought, that answered his question without actually telling him 
anythingöat least, anything important.  "And he only has girls," Gus added as 
a quick afterthought.

<Nice job, lying without actually saying anything.> 

<Oh, shut up.>

"So is that how you ended up here?  He threw you out?" Corwin asked, concern 
for this lad evident in his face. 

Gus tensed.  This was getting too close.  "I left on my own."  She'd kept her 
tone flat...not inviting further comment.
                                
The water shut off, followed by a sharp exclamation.  "Hey, guys, I thought I 
had a towel in here.  Would one of you mind going into the bedroom and 
getting one out of the drawer?"

Thank the gods!  Gus grinned at Corwin.  "I think that's yours.  I'll wait 
here."

Corwin glanced up towards the hallway then looked over at Gus and grinned 
back.  He rose swiftly and entered the very tidy bedroom.  He found the towel 
without effort, crossed the hall into the bathroom, and turning around in the 
doorway, handed the towel over his shoulder.   He could see her shapely body 
reflected in the bathroom mirror as she leaned out to grasp the towel. 

Gus laughed softly, watching Corwin turn around to hand Elly the towel.  He 
might be too nosy, but he wasn't such a bad guy.

Elly dried herself briskly, dressed quickly, and ran a brush through her fine 
hair before rejoining the others. 

"Shall we go?"  Corwin grinned, as his stomach protested its emptiness. 

Gus chuckled. "We better, you sound like Selene."

Elly laughed.  "I wouldn't go quite that far." 

Corwin just grinned good-naturedly and held the door as the two smaller 
riders exited. 

They made small talk over dinner, at a table in a back corner, Corwin 
regaling them with tales of his many sea adventures.

"You'll have to swap stories with my father," Elly told him at one point.  
"He has some fascinating stories of life at Jasra when he was young.  When he 
describes things, you really feel like you're right there, living the 
experience along with him."  Her dreamy expression suggested she was 
envisioning such a tale.

Fathers were not generally high on Corwin's list of sought-out acquaintances, 
but perhaps because it would so obviously please Elly if he did, he gave it 
serious consideration.

Gus tried not to roll her eyes in disgust as Elly and Corwin kept darting shy 
glances at each other all through the meal.

When they had finished eating, Corwin and Gus walked Elly back to her rooms, 
Corwin calling out, "See you tomorrow for training," as they turned to head 
back to the barracks. 

That night when she had her recurring dreamöof looking across a wide gulf 
separating her from someone she cared deeply for...someone she needed 
desperately to reach...if she only knew howöa pair of sea-green eyes looked 
back.

****

[Special thanks to Arlene and Katrina for writing Corwin's and Gus's points 
of view in Elly's segment.]

****


Submitted by:

Dana Zuhlke                             

Elvynia (Elly) and Iris

Ro'gen and Apollo
Evlan and Athena                                        
Ed'wen (Eddy) and Hesperus
Dalaine (Lainie) and Selene

Jasra Warren