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Day 12
Late afternoon

Corwin examined Sy once more, but the swim in the fresh, open sea had done
wonders to improve his condition.

<*What is it around the warren that could have made the water bad?*>  Corwin
wondered as he rubbed Syngnath down with a rough brush, which the young
seadragon preferred over the washcloths and oil that his land-cousins
enjoyed.

Ansel looked up from scrubbing down Khamorray, concern clearly displayed on
his face.  "Corwin?"  He paused waiting for the large man to look his way,
"Corwin, has Sy ever complained of being ... sick before?"

"No, never,"  Corwin's eyes turned dark.  "Tanami thinks something in the
water around the warren poisoned them."

Ansel shook his head, "But who would want to poison our seadragons?"

"And with what?  We need to find this out, Ansel... or we may have to move
out of Jasra...."  He left that thought hanging ominously in the silence.

***
Early evening.

Corwin watched Sy resting.  It seemed to him that the young seadragon's
breathing was still a bit raspy, though Tanami had thought it was only his
gills that should have been affected.  Corwin was also fretting that
Syngnath's coloring didn't look right, as well.

He was so engrossed with his observations that he didn't even notice when
the petite, platinum-blonde woman moved up behind him.

"I heard he wasn't feeling well."

Her soft voice startled Corwin out of his reverie, "Elly!"

She pulled back, surprised by the intensity of his greeting, "How is Sy
doing, Corwin?"

"I'm not sure... look at him, Elly... do you see... anything... unusual?"

Elly examined the sleeping seadragon and turned her questioning eyes to his
rider, "His color... it doesn't seem to be the same as it was, does it?"

"Right.  That's what I thought, too.  And his appetite, it just hasn't been
good all day.  And listen to him breathe!"  Corwin's eyes held a mixture of
fear and anger.  "But I guess there isn't anything we can do right now...
and he is sleeping."

"Maybe we should just let him rest."   Elly eyed the seadragon with her own
concern a reflection of Corwin's.  She thought for a moment.  "Well, if
there's nothing more we can do for him," She chewed her lip thoughtfully for
a moment, then a playful smile bloomed on her face, "perhaps we should just
see if we can find something to take our minds off him for a bit."

Corwin looked at her and cocked an eyebrow, "Oh, and what did you have in
mind?"

"Dinner?"

Corwin chuckled, "Sure, dinner sounds like a good idea."

***
Dining Hall

Elly let Corwin hold her tray while she selected an assortment of dishes for
them to share.

Corwin was still rather preoccupied and didn't really attend to which items
Elly chose.   When it seemed sufficiently full, he followed the petite young
woman to a secluded table.

Elly took the food off the trays and placed the dishes in the center of the
table, handing one empty plate to Corwin and setting the other in front of
her.  "May I dish you up some of the bouillabaisse, Corwin?"  Elly wondered,
"it's awfully good."

Corwin nodded as he absentmindedly picked up a roll and slathered it with
creamy butter.  After taking a bite, he dipped it, slowly, into the soup
that Elly had passed to him.  He smiled, letting a soft moan escape him,
"Oh, this *is* awfully good, Elly... great choice."

Elly flushed prettily.  "I'm glad you're enjoying it."  She reached for a
grape and popped it delicately into her mouth, licking her lips to catch the
dripping juice.  "Would you like one?" she asked, holding a plump grape up
toward his lips.

His eyes regained some of their usual luster as he leaned forward, his lips
parted and gently kissed the grape out of her hand.  Some of the grape's
juice drizzled down her fingers mixing with the moisture from his kiss.

Startled, Elly withdrew her hand, staring at her moist fingertips.  Then,
her eyes never straying, she brought them up to her mouth and tasted them
one by one.  "Mmm, sweet, isn't it?"

"Yes...," Corwin murmured and he watched her soft, rosy lips purse to suck
the last drops from her fingers.  Then he shook himself.  What was he
thinking?  Syngnath was ill; this wasn't the time for dalliances.  He turned
away, attacking the food in front of him, though very much aware of the
physical presence across the table.  He felt the heat rise in his cheeks as
he studiously tried to avoid looking at the young woman.

Elly watched in bemusement as Corwin's attention so quickly turned from her
to his food.  Men!  Would she ever understand them?  Probably not.  Mama
certainly complained about not understanding Dado often enough.

***
Day 13
Morning

Corwin walked along the beach staring out at the waves.  But the peaceful
waters that normally would have thrilled his soul seemed darker and more
ominous than before.  He wondered about the poison that could possibly be
out there -- a poison that could make the seadragons ill.  Was it a natural
phenomenon?  Or had someone, some human, been responsible?

Syngnath was still complaining of not feeling well, and Corwin was concerned
that he might have gotten more poison than the others, having been around
the warren longer than the other two dragons.

Ansel came and joined him out on the beach. "You working on the Marquessa
today?"  the young man asked.

"No, today's Ythfaru's feast day... no work for that crew,"  Corwin smiled.

"Khamorray says that Sy is still not feeling too well... and I'm not sure
about Khamorray, either,"  He was obviously also concerned about the
seadragons.  "What do you think is causing it?"

"I don't know... but I think I should mention it to your sister."  They
walked back to the warren in search of Tara.

****
Tara's Office.

Corwin knocked on the warrenlady's door and entered after hearing her
greeting.

"If it isn't Lord Ythfaru," she grinned as she saw Corwin enter. "Shouldn't
you be getting ready for your feast?"

Corwin returned her grin, "Yah, oh, and that reminds me... I'll need some
treats to give out."

"Treats?"

"Beads and candy and the like... mostly for the children... it's tradition."
Corwin stated.

"Ah... well, then you'll probably need some money to buy some, I don't think
we have any in the store rooms here at Jasra,"  She stated as she retrieved
a bag of coins from her desk and tossed them to the large man.

"Thanks, but this isn't why I came to talk to you."

She arched her eyebrow, curious.

"It's about the seadragons and why the water around the warren seems to be
making them sick....  Syngnath still isn't feeling well." Corwin stated.

****
TAG: John and/or David.  I assume that D'tagnan's arrival can be used here?
:)  Maybe bring Tad into the picture to find the poison?

****
Late Morning
Hatchling Barracks.

Corwin was able to relax a bit knowing that Syngnath was being looked after.
The healers would be able to get to the bottom of his puzzle.  But today was
Ythfaru's feast day; Corwin smiled as he thought of portraying the great
King of the Ocean.

He draped his large frame in the white robes of sea spray, and the turquoise
pendant the color of the waters, and the golden crown for the bright golden
sun.  He admired himself in the mirror and nodded.  Now all he needed was...

The door to the barracks burst open and Ansel came running in.  "He asked,"
Ansel gasped, "he... asked me to give this to you!"  In Ansel's hand was the
scepter -- to rule over the oceans!

Corwin's deep-bellied laugh startled Ansel.  "Sorry, m'lad, it's just that I
was only now thinking how all I needed was the scepter... and here you come!
Where did you get this from?"

"From him, the pirate, Dolfis!"

"Dolfis gave you his scepter!?"  Corwin asked incredulously.  This was an
obvious piece of art!  It amazed him that a pirate would "give" something to
someone, and he chuckled.  "Well, then, now this really looks like Ythfaru's
scepter!  Wonder if that pirate took it from the sea-god himself?"  He
laughed out loud, "Here, what do you think?"

Corwin struck a regal pose which made Ansel double over with laughter.

"Watch it, lad, or Ythfaru might curse you instead of bless you!"  Corwin's
voice boomed, which caused Ansel to laugh all the harder.

"OK!  I'll stop!" Ansel chortled, trying to catch his breath, "So, does
Ythfaru do that?  Curse people and bless them?"

"Well, yes, that's what the feast day is all about.  Ythfaru -- that's me --
goes around and gives treats, beads, and blessings to those deserving... and
curses and switches to those not.... Oh! Damn, now where am I going to get
the candy and beads for the kids?"


"Well... there's always Cabral..."  Ansel answered.

"Hmmm... right... that's what your sister said.  Now I just need a ride to
get there!"

And as if she had been called, a pretty, platinum-blonde head peeked through
the door.  Elly took one look at Corwin and burst into laughter.

Corwin glared at her in mock anger and then started to laugh himself.  "Do I
really look that bad?"  He asked.

"Oh, no... it's just that... well, you have a lot of ... um... cheek showing
... for a god!"

Corwin turned to look at himself in the mirror and then snorted as he
noticed with embarrassment that the bottom of his robe was tucked into his
rope-belt.  He yanked it out with aplomb and chuckled deeply.  Then he
turned to Elly, "How would you and Iris like to give me a lift over to
Cabral to get some 'treats' for Ythfaru's feast day?"

"She's on her way."  Elly grinned playfully.  "How's that for service?"

He bowed to her and answered, "I couldn't ask for any better, my lady."

At that moment, they heard the backwinging of a dragon outside the hatchling
barracks.  Saying a quick farewell to Ansel, they climbed aboard Iris and
headed to the "big city".

****
Cabral
Late Morning/Early Afternoon.

It didn't take them long to spot the perfect shop for Corwin to purchase all
the trinkets and candies that he needed... in fact, dressed as he was, he
had already had children running up to him in the streets asking him for
treats.  Corwin selected the bags of candies and small trinkets, thrilled by
the collection.  He happily poured them into the tightly woven net and slung
it over his shoulder.

"Now, I'm ready!"  He laughed as he posed for Elly's benefit.

"Yes, you are."  Elly joined in the infectious laughter.  "Now, where's my
trinket, oh mighty Ythfaru?"

"Oh, I have a trinket for you," His eyes sparkled as he held up a brightly
colored bead necklace, "Why don't you come a little closer so I can put it
on you?"

Elly's eyes lit up in return.  She slowly walked toward Corwin, her eyes on
his face, her heart pounding at a trip-hammer pace.

He watched as she delicately licked her lips, and he knew at that moment how
much he desired to kiss her.  As he leaned down to place the necklace about
her slender neck, he could smell the enticing fragrance of her hair.  He
closed his eyes for only a moment as he inhaled the sweet smell.  When he
opened them, he saw that Elly's had closed as well in anticipation, her face
upturned towards his.  Her ruby lips, moist and inviting, were slightly
parted.  He bent his head down slowly, and brushed them with his own.

The kiss was only the barest of touches, but it sent shivers through him.
He sighed softly and backed away.

Elly took a step forward before realizing what she'd done.  Then, obeying a
sudden impulse, she reached for him, planting a lingering kiss on his lips
before quickly slipping out of his grasp.

Delighted, Corwin grinned at Elly, "I rather liked my... treat, too"  He
chuckled, then he took her elbow in the palm of his hand and escorted her
out of the shop.

Elly's elbow tingled where Corwin's warm hand touched her.  Caught between
the desire to pull away and another to move closer, she swallowed hard and
leaned in toward his side.

They moved out of the shadow of the shops into the bright sunshine and heat
of the Cabral streets.  People were already laughing and mingling as they
wandered about, enjoying a day of leisure.  The exotic smells of spices and
cooking food mingled with dust from the streets enticing their senses.  It
was getting close to noon, and both of them were beginning to get parched.

"We could return to the warren..." Corwin suggested, "or...," his eyes
scanned the crowds and the shingles of the taverns before meeting Elly's.

Elly nodded.  "Good thinking.  Lead the way."  She smiled up at him.

They wandered a little further down the street and Corwin suddenly parted
the crowds to escort Elly to a small, but cozy tavern.  "Haven't been here
in years!  But I remember that the beer was cold and the sandwiches hot!"

"Good.  That's much more appetizing than hot beer and cold sandwiches."
Elly grinned.  "Not that I dislike cold sandwiches, mind you, it's the warm
beer I object to."

His deep laugh boomed out above the crowd noises and made heads turn as they
entered the tavern.

A woman standing near the counter turned her pale, heart-shaped face towards
the door.  Her oddly colored eyes watched as the couple entered the shop.
The woman of the pair was dressed as a dragonrider, she noted, but the
man....  She shook her head, sending her shoulder length, light brown hair
with red highlights, swaying gently.  She picked up the bottle in front of
her and tipped it over her empty glass... the bottle was also empty.

Corwin and Elly headed towards a dark booth near the back.  As they passed
the bar, Corwin murmured, "Isn't that the new queenrider?"

"Yes, it is.  And she's certainly not supposed to be in here.  Do you think
we should talk to her?" Elly wondered.

Corwin shrugged, "I say we enjoy our lunch first... but keep our eye on
her."

****
TAG:  Bridget.  How will Iggy interrupt their lunch?

****
NRPG:  Much thanks to Dana for writing Elly (and proofreading)

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