[Morning, Day 13]

Inagua stared at the ocean from beneath her hat brim and wondered what the big
deal was.   It was just a bunch of water.  If she had wanted to look at water,
she would have gone back to Geode and stared at some glaciers which, as an
added benefit, she could walk over.  Frankly, all that water made her rather
nervous.  Thank the gods her vacation was only for a couple weeks, she wasn't
very enthusiastic about having to learn how to swim.
No, the ocean was definitely a something she could live without.  Of course,
there was no reason to let anyone else know that.  Her supposed fascination
with it gave her a good excuse to sit on a rock and sip her stolen wine
without anybody getting suspicious.  
Her dragon was obsessed enough for both of them anyway.  Myacura had been in
the water anytime she could get away with it, often accompanied by Vaslath and
today was no exception.  Inagua watched curiously as the three dragons took
off clumsily from the shallow water to go greet a new arrival.

***********************************

D^ñtagnan and Bonsai appeared in the cloud-free sky, looking down at the deep
blue waters of the sea.  The weather was much warmer here than it had been at
Geode, so D^ñtagnan immediately started undoing the fastenings on his riding
jacket.  Even that wasn^ñt enough.  Pulling it off, he also pulled off the
tunic that he was wearing underneath.
	
As they came in toward the warren, a bugle erupted from below, answered by two
others. Moments later three dragons rushed out to meet the approaching
aquamarine dragon.  A pink female dragon was chased by a dark green male while
a silver and black queen brought up the rear.  All of them were very familiar.


{Vaslath and Kikeane and Myacura! Wonderful!} reacted Bonsai, who was in the
throws of a happy reunion.

{Yes, and unless I miss guess, that^ñs Inagua there on shore} replied D^ñtagnan,
indicating the lounging figure staring up at them.  {Land near her.}

The deep aqua dragon landed gracefully on an outcropping of rock near where
Inagua had been sitting, while the other dragons twirled happily in the air
and came to rest on the shore once more. 

D^ñtagnan dismounted and approached the dismayed young woman.

Slipping her canteen into her pocket, Inagua stood up reluctantly to greet
D'tagnan, caught somewhere between disgust and despair.  Why couldn't she have
been sent to one of those Lost Warrens for vacation?  No one ever visited
there, unlike Jasra, which seemed to be unduly popular with Geode riders.

^îHello Inagua,^ï he said with a smile.

She didn't reciprocate.  "What are you doing here, D'tagnan?" 

^îActually, I came here to check on you.  I^ñm being transferred to Telnor
warren for the moment, and I thought that I^ñd stop here on my way in just to
see how you are getting along,^ï he replied.  ^îAnd Ghost^ñd kill me if I stopped
by without saying hello...^ï

Inagua glared at him from beneath her hat brim.  Check on her?  Of all the
insulting things to do, what business did that stupid twit have asking how she
was doing? As Geode^ñs only remaining queenrider, Argent was probably rejoicing
over the possibility of never seeing her again.

"I'm fine," she snapped.  "Now that that's settled, Pinky over there should be
able to tell you where Ghost is." 

Taking his queue from her uncooperative behavior, D^ñtagnan retreated,
promising that he^ñd check her health later, when she was in a less belligerent
mood. Returning to his dragon, he pulled a handkerchief out of his saddlebags
and mopped his brow with it. Boy was it hot here!

{Ask Kikeane where her rider is, would you?} D^ñtagnan requested of his
dragon.

{Kiki says that her rider and Vas^ñ are up in their apartment. Get on my back
and we^ñll follow her.}} replied the aqua dragon.

D^ñtagnan mounted, as commanded, and they took off after the pink dragon.

****************

"D'tagnan?" Ghost grinned as she opened the door to see her old friend
standing there. "It really is you! I couldn't believe it when Kiki told me
Bonsai bespoke her."

^îOf course it^ñs really me! Who else would dress this way?^ï replied D^ñtagnan
with a grin. ^îI^ñm on my way to Telnor, where I^ñve been transferred as a
healer. I thought I^ñd stop in to check on Inagua. We can^ñt have her trying to
kill *another* warrenlady, now can we?^ï

"That bitch!" Ghost swore as she stepped back to allow D'tagnan inside. "She
was one of the reasons I moved away from Geode...One of the bad memories and
then I find out she's being sent here to stay...and recover."  The last she
said with a sneer in her tone. "And on top of that Key has been assigned to
act as her damn watch dog to make sure she behaves herself."

D^ñtagnan looked around the inside of the apartment. ^îNice place. And, Ghost, I
think that it was a good idea that they appointed Key. He knows her better
than the people here do. He^ñll know better what to watch for. And you have to
admit that she *does* need a watchdog...^ï

"Yes she certainly does," Ghost frowned, the left side of her lips curling up
in disgust. "But why does it have to be my Key...He's suffered enough from
being around her already...And each day he has to spend with her is one more
day we live with these old things in here...We've been trying to find time to
go shopping and pick out something we like...But each time we make plans...SHE
has to come along and ruin them...I just wish someone else could watch her for
a few hours so Key and I can go shopping."

^îIf you want, I can take her off of your hands for awhile...^ï replied
D^ñtagnan.

^îOh, would you? That would be great,^ï exclaimed Ghost. ^îYou could take her
shopping for costumes. You are staying for the party, aren^ñt you? You^ñve *got*
to! It^ñs going to be lots of fun. You really must stay.^ï

^îWell, I had planned to stay the night, but I can^ñt stay too much longer,
because they^ñre expecting me at Telnor,^ï replied the healer. ^îNow about this
party...what^ñs going on?^ï

^îYou may have noticed the ship out front?^ï she looked at him questioningly.
^îThere was a hurricane. The sailors had to stop here for repairs. This party
is a celebration of some holiday that they have...I^ñm not sure what that^ñs all
about. But there^ñs a costume dance!^ï

******************************

D^ñtagnan left Ghost^ñs apartment in good spirits. {A costume party! This is
going to be fun.} He climbed from the stone ledge up onto the large green back
and Bonsai took off, leaving the ledge to the pink dragon.

{Can I go get something to eat? Kiki was telling me about the great fishing
they have here.} replied Bonsai. D^ñtagnan was guiding him over to an
uninhabited ledge where Ghost had said that he could stay. Landing, he let his
rider detach the bags and harness before returning to the air in search of
food.

D^ñtagnan entered the apartment and started opening bags. He hadn^ñt figured on
it being so hot here! He remembered that he had an old pair of pants in the
bottom of his bags somewhere...

Digging his hand down into the very nether reaches of a bag, he finally found
them. Hauling them out, he laid them out on the bed and proceeded to cut the
legs off with his belt-knife. He stepped out of his boots and wiggled his
toes. Slipping his current pants down his muscular legs and off his feet, he
stepped into the new garment he had made. Fishing in one of the bags again,
his hand came out with a pair of special shoes that he used for climbing
glaciers back at Geode.

Leaving his chest bare, and his possessions strewn about the apartment, he
swaggered to the ledge and looked down. Good. This wouldn^ñt be any harder than
that time he had gone hiking in the mountains...

Swinging his legs over the edge, he spread out and gripped the wall with the
special shoes. Next he moved his hands down to secure finger-holds. In that
fashion he slowly descended to the ground.

************************

Leaving the main warren behind, D^ñtagnan returned to the beach where he^ñd
first found Inagua, and found her still sitting where he^ñd left her. And
drinking out of a canteen.
The healer wondered what was in the canteen. It could simply be water, and it
was certainly hot enough for it, but with Inagua...

The young woman in question was watching her dragon frolic in the water, bored
utterly out of her mind, despite the pleasant alcohol induced buzz she had
been nursing all morning.  If Inagua had known a vacation would be this dull,
well she would have made plans to take up a hobby or something.  Of course,
boredom was much preferable to being stuck with a sitter; being watched made
her skin crawl...just like it was doing now.

Inagua turned around, just to confirm what she was already certain of, and
sighed when she recognized...a nearly undressed D'tagnan.  She suppressed a
surge of envy.  It would be so much more comfortable to dress like that, at
least until her skin started blistering. 

She had the distinct impression from the way he was approaching her that he
wouldn't be sent away this time.  Sighing, Inagua shoved the canteen into her
pocket and stood up, wincing as pins and needles attacked her feet.  She
stomped around a bit, looking like an absolute moron she was certain, to get
her blood flowing again while she waited.  When he was close enough to speak
comfortably, she held her tongue; he had come to her after all.

^îI^ñm told that the warren is having a party tonight. I^ñve been asked to escort
you on a costume shopping spree,^ï D^ñtagnan informed her. ^îBut first, I want to
check your canteen.^ï When the girl started to back away, her eyes gone wild,
he grabbed her arm.
^îAlright, Inagua. Hand over the canteen,^ï the healer demanded firmly. 

Inagua jerked back, testing his grip, and found it as firm as she feared. 
Gods damn it, why couldn't they just let her be!  She glared up at him, trying
to mask her irrational terror at having her canteen taken away in fury.  "Let
go of me!" she hissed at him.

D'tagnan was about as responsive to that as a rock.  She did the next thing
she could think of.  Inagua moved into him, faked a knee to his crotch, and,
when he moved to block it, landed her heal squarely in his instep.  While he
was distracted with that, she grabbed the canteen out of her pocket and
attempted to toss it in a nearby nest of boulders where she could find it
later.  He jerked her around by her arm just as she let it fly.  It landed in
the ocean with a depressing plop before floating farther out.

Now she would never get it back.

Picking up the struggling girl, D^ñtagnan called to his dragon. {Can you get
over here so that we can get on our way?} Inagua was pounding his back with
her fists, and doing her best to kick him. 

The aqua-colored dragon soon appeared and landed on the beach next to them,
squatting down to be mounted. Throwing the writhing mass of girl onto Bonsai^ñs
back, D^ñtagnan swung up as well. 

Once the two riders were arranged suitably, Bonsai leapt into the air,
circling high over the sea. {{Where is it that you want to go, my rider?}}

{The nearest town. I believe that it^ñs called Cabral. You^ñll have to get the
coordinates from one of the dragons here,} responded the healer.

After a second, Bonsai replied, {{I got them from a dragon named Apollo. Brace
yourself.}} With that, they teleported.

*************************

[Cabral]

Inagua was still fuming as the port town appeared below them.  Not only had
she lost her canteen, though there hadn't been that much wine left, but he had
practically kidnapped her to go shopping of all things.  Who gave him the
right to throw her over his dragon like a sack of potatoes anyway?

Bonsai landed and D'tagnan dismounted first, putting them, for a moment, at
eye level.  Never one to miss an opportunity, Inagua balled up her fist and
punched him just beneath his jaw.  Once he had hit the ground, she dismounted
daintily and leaned over him.

"Now we're even."  He seemed to accept that well enough.  "I hope you brought
enough coin for both of us," she commented, her tone dripping sarcasm, "I seem
to have left mine in my apartment." 

********************

D^ñtagnan and Inagua walked down the street, looking at the different shops. 
This being a port town where Ythfaru was a popular god, all the shops had
exotic costumes and foods on display to entice shoppers.  For the children, at
least, the party was already in full swing.  They were running around town,
chasing each other and watching out for anyone dressed as Ythfaru.  There were
a couple of those walking about town, handing out treats and colorful goodies
to the ecstatic children.

Inagua led the healer into a brightly adorned clothing shop.  Looking around
inside, D^ñtagnan didn^ñt really see anything that caught his eye.  Sliding
through the racks of clothing, he was about ready to give up when he spotted
just the thing; a mint-green shirt and pair of pants, along with a scull-cap
and a small rectangle of matching cloth which had a string hanging off of each
corner.  It also came with a pair of shoes that were by far a lot smaller and
flimsier than the boots that D^ñtagnan was used to, but they were in fact
rather similar to his climbing shoes.

Lifting the hanger carefully off of the rack, the healer approached the
proprietor of the store and asked if there were any dressing rooms.  The old
man, who was as gnarled as the root of a tree, gestured toward a doorway
behind one of the racks.  D^ñtagnan entered that sheltered spot, and slipped
off his cut-offs before proceeding to slip on the outlandish costume.  *It
fits well,* he thought to himself.  He slid out of the costume and into his
shorts.  

{My rider, I just got an urgent summons from back at the warren.  There are
some dragons who are in need of our help} Bonsai informed him.  The dark
aqua-colored dragon was really worked up.  He didn^ñt like to hear that some of
this brethren were hurt.

{{I^ñll meet you out at the front of this shop.  Be ready to take off
immediately.}} D^ñtagnan didn^ñt like hearing about hurt dragons any more than
his dragon did.

Plunging back out into the shop, the young healer tossed the small purse of
coins, which it had taken him years to collect, to the shopkeeper. ^îI^ñm taking
this costume, and the rest should cover whatever that girl back there has in
mind.^ï The young healer gestured toward the back of the shop, where Inagua
was, as he ran out the door.

NRPG: Tag! Bridget. What is Iggy going to do, without an escort and with the
remains of D^ñtagnan^ñs purse? <eg>

**************************

There was a large commotion in the street as people watched Bonsai try to land
between the several buildings. Just barely managing to squeeze his bulk down
between them, the dragon squatted to let his rider mount.

{{This is going to take one good jump, my boy,}} D^ñtagnan told his dragon.

{I can do it. Just watch me!} was the only reply he got.

As ordered, the healer watched. The aqua dragon hurled himself skyward,
thrusting out his wings just as he cleared the buildings. There was an updraft
there, supporting the lucky dragon as he make his way skyward.

NRPG: Barb, since Ghost and McKey are probably the only two people so far who
know that D^ñtagnan is here, do you want to be the one to tell Tara and
Corwin?

Respectfully submitted:

David Hoover
Forrellyn & Pekin, Telnor
T^ñdrim, Jasra
J^ñadoube, Xylian
D^ñtagnan & Bonsai, healers extraordinaire.


AND

Bridget Olsen
Iggy & Mya, Jasra

Sorry, Bridget, but I don^ñt know your credentials to list them out.


YOU NEED TO BELIEVE IN THINGS THAT AREN'T TRUE. HOW ELSE  CAN THEY *BECOME*?  
-Death, "Hogfather" by Terry Pratchett

"I play the game for the game's own sake."
                   -Sherlock Holmes

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