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     "Okay, that's it!!" Gus shouted angrily, skidding to a stop and
turning 
to glare at the Swordmaster.  Nobody gets away with that, you sonofabitch!"

     Jerram grinned, using a finger to beckon Gus forward.  "You want a
piece 
of me, here I am...shortsheeter!  Or should I say...GUZ?"


  Gus clenched her fists and started forward, circling slightly, looking
for weak spots.  
 
 <My rider, Doshy's rider wants to see you in her office.>

  <Not now - I gotta beat the crap outta Jerram first.  He aint gettin'
away with this this time!>

  <Um, ok.  I'll tell her, but I don't think she's going to like it.>

  Gus ignored Loki's warning and kept up her advance.  She found the
spot she wanted and tightened her fists in anticipation.  

  "What's the matter, streetrat? All talk?"

  Without further warning Gus's fist shot out, nailing Jerram square on
the jaw.  He staggered backwards, rubbing his jaw.  But by the time Gus
closed the distance for another shot, Jerram had dropped into fighter's
stance, ready for her.

*****
 Striding briskly out of the offices, Ed'wen mentally called to Hesperus
to locate Gus for him.

 {Right in front of you, rider.}
  
Ed'wen's head shot up, his eyes focusing on the scene unfolding on the
green.  {{Oh, shut up!}} he shot back to the draconic snickering. 
{{Time to break up a fight.}}

{At least this time you're not in it.}  Hesperus continued to chuckle
despite his rider's reproof.
  
{{And I intend to keep it that way.}}

{Famous last words.} 

With his long strides, Ed'wen was quickly within arm's length of the
combatants.  Stepping between them, palms facing toward each one, he
began, "Hold on there...."

****
Gus didn^ñt even notice Ed^ñwen, so intent was she on her primary target. 
When she could see Jerram^ñs muscles tense as he was about to act, she
moved.  She^ñd wipe that damned sneer off his face this time!  

Their blows landed more or less simultaneously.  Jerram ^„s fist launched
out on a course with Gus^ñs face as hers headed for his gut.  The one
thing that neither of them had counted on was Ed^ñwen^ñs move between
them.  The sound of fists hitting flesh - the WRONG flesh - was enough
to bring both combatants to a screeching, guilty halt.

Ed'wen doubled over from the twin blows to gut and jaw.  Clutching his
middle with his right arm and rubbing the  point of impact on his cheek,
he ground out, "Dammit, what the hell did you do that for?" 

"Sorry, Ed'wen, I was aiming for Gus."

"Well, you started it," Gus protested.

"*I* started it?!"

"I sure didn't hit you with a sword, did I?"

"Oh, shut up both of you!" Eddy broke in.  "Obviously you're both at
fault."  He gingerly straightened up. 

Both Gus and Jerram flushed sheepishly and said nothing. 

"Whatever the problem is, you can resolve it later.  In the meantime,
Gus has an appointment with Shawnee, and he's," Ed'wen paused to let
something like the crack of doom accompany his final word, "late." 

Gus winced and nodded.  "Right. Let's go, then."

*****
<snip>
She waited... She wanted him to say the words. His half attempted didn't
satisfy her. She wanted him to spell it out in words that meant something.

"I'm waiting."

"Waitin' fer what? I just said, didn't I?"  Gus frowned.  The danger with
Ojee had passed, but what was Shawnee still so upset about?

"For your promise." She stated calmly.
<end snip>

In the moment's silence as Shawnee waited, Ed'wen broke in.  "That
damned streetrat won't promise you anything straight out.  Right now the
wheels are turning in that conniving head of his, trying to figure out a
way around it."  
 He glared at Gus.

Gus glared right back.  Gods, Ed^ñwen was nearly as bad as Jerram!  Well,
he^ñd have to learn the hard way, then, same as Jerram - she only hoped
HE at least was smart enough to learn.  She turned her attention back to
Shawnee.   The Wingleader was clearly quite angry about the whole
teleport thing.  Gus thought hard.  Better to say whatever it was
Shawnee wanted to hear before she got any angrier.

^îWhat was it you wanted me to say ^„zactly?^ï

^îI want you to say the words.  Say that you promise you won^ñt try
teleporting again until Jerram has passed you into the Wing, fully trained.^ï

^î You want me not to teleport in training, if Jerram asks for it?^ï

A muffled sound from behind her alerted Gus to just how that last
question sounded.  Shawnee gave no sign of amusement save a very slight
flicker of one eyelid. 

^îNo, you will, naturally, follow your trainer^ñs orders.^ï

^îOk, then.  I promise not to teleport until Jerram has finished the
training and puts me in the Wing.  Happy now?^ï

Shawnee^ñs lips tightened in annoyance with Gus^ñs continued attitude -
but he HAD promised.  She nodded shortly.  ^îDismissed,^ï she uttered
curly.  

*******
Loki stretched his neck out and wriggled deeper into the warm sand.  The
sun was hot on his back now, but the sand wasn^ñt TOO bad.  Besides, if
he got too hot - as he would soon - he could just go for a nice swim. 
He gloated at the prospect - teasing his rider with the knowledge that
she couldn^ñt partake.  He chuckled briefly at the wave of annoyance that
wafted down the link between them.  Then he frowned.  Ever since this
morning, Gus had been grumpy.  First, there was that ...that...whatever
humans called it with Jerram  and then the meeting with Doshy^ñs rider. 
Now, Loki could feel Gus sulking in a quiet corner - worried that this
morning^ñs troubles would add to the trouble certain to follow tonight^ñs
revelations and lead Tara to do...something - something awful.  

Loki rolled the problem over in his mind.  He had to do something to get
his Gus back in a good mood.  When she worried like this, he felt it -
and he didn^ñt like worry.  Not one bit.  It spoiled the fun.  He caught
the tail end of one of Gus^ñs self-recriminations and was inspired.

<Doshy?> he called.

<Yes?>

<My rider and I have missed the last two training sessions.  What should
we do to make up the lessons?>

The teal paused, thinking.  <Well, you could ask Seydor to go over the
missed lessons, I suppose,> she offered tentatively.  

<Thank you.  Have I mentioned today what a lovely color you are?>

<Why thank you.>  Doshy^ñs mind voice gave no sign of her suspicion, but
her eyes watched the little grey carefully.

Loki turned his attention next to the blue.  <Seydor? What do I need to
make up from missing training?>

<Well, you and your rider chose an apartment....and you fly well so
that^ñs fine....About the only thing you really missed is the lesson on
eating coal to flame longer.>

<Can you explain it to me?>

<You eat the coal and then you flame.  Flaming lasts longer with the
coal.  The only reason we practice is because it tastes AWFUL - so you
need to be prepared.>

<Thank you, Seydor. >

Loki stretched and rose to his feet.  Making up the missed lessons would
make Gus feel better, he was certain.  

He was right.  Gus was delighted by the suggestion and hurried off to
...borrow a small bag of coal.  Loki watched her through their mental
linkage, picking up pointers on how to move about without being seen. 
Granted, she was a lot smaller than he was, but he still couldn^ñt tell
how she managed it so easily.  

******
[Dolfis - after Wisp (aka Darcron) tells him about Gus]

Dolfis slathered the side of the ship with pitch, oblivious to the
dribbles onto his arms until the heat registered.  With a yelp he
dropped the oar he^ñd been using as a paddle and hastily washed the hot
liquid off.   Griffin^ñs laughter floated over from the stern of the ship
where he was similarly occupied. 

^îYou should^ñve kept the crew around.  You^ñre too excited to work, same
as them.^ï

Dolfis grinned sheepishly. ^îThat I am, my friend.  But it^ñs Ythfaru^ñs
Feast Day and we^ñre in port - I couldn^ñt have kept them working.   You
and I can finish this last bit in no time.^ï

^îAnd it keeps your mind off what Darcron told you?^ï

Dolfis nodded.  ^îAlmost.^ï

With an effort, he turned his attention back to the work at hand.  He
managed to stay focussed for all of fifteen minutes before his thoughts
once again began to wander.  At last! He^ñd found her - well, Darcron
had, but at least Dolfis now knew where she was.  She was safe - thank
the gods - more than safe - a dragonrider!

^îBy Ythfaru^ñs scepter, Griff, what a woman she^ñs become!  She^ñs smart, tough..^ï

^îSneaky,^ï Griffin interjected, grinning.

Dolfis grinned in return.  Then his grin slowly faded as reality sank
in.  ^îGods, how am I going to face her? What do I say?^ï

^îTen years we^ñve hunted for her and you never considered that?^ï

Dolfis shrugged.  ^îI always assumed I^ñd just know what to say when I
found her.^ï

^îFor a smart man, you can be a real idiot sometimes.^ï

^îShut up and get back to work.^ï

Griffin chuckled.  ^îI will if you will.^ï

Dolfis nodded curtly and forcibly turned his thoughts to the other woman
in his life.  


*****
Dolfis was just heading out of the dining hall after a long overdue
lunch when he heard the dragon^ñs bugling.  He turned to Griffin, who
shrugged.  They stared at each other, hoping that the noise wasn^ñt a
herald of wraiths and then heard the joyful cries of ^îthe EGGS!^ï.   A
rider neither of the sailors could identify pushed past them, inviting
them to follow along and see the hatching.  They didn^ñt need to be asked
twice.  

*****

Gus glowered in disgust at the scorch marks on the sleeve of her riding
jacket before turning her baleful stare on her dragon.  Loki tried to
make himself small against the far wall.

<I^ñm sorry, my rider.  I guess the wind blows the flames to the side....>

<So I can see.>

<I didn^ñt do it on purpose, honest.>

Gus was set to deliver another blistering reprimand - payback for the
heart attack she^ñd nearly had when the flames had sizzled so closely
past her - when the sound of dragon bugling filled her head.  

<Hatching?> she asked, feeling the excitement rise.  

At Loki^ñs gleeful assent, she threw herself into the saddle for the
short flight to the Hatching Cavern.  They rushed in, wriggling forward
to see over the taller folk.  Gus was unable to even pretend to
disinterest.  The only other hatching she^ñd ever been to was
Loki^ñs....and that was still so fresh in her mind.  She smiled over her
shoulder at Loki, blue eyes glowing with delight at the memories.

*****
Dolfis made his way into the Hatching Cavern.  He could barely believe
he^ñd actually get to see a hatching!  He was staring avidly at the eggs,
willing them to break open, to join.  His attention was momentarily
diverted by the sight of Gus, turned to smile at the small grey dragon
behind her.  The rapt look on her face made Dolfis^ñs breath catch in his
throat.  She was lovely, this daughter of his.  And when she turned back
to watch the eggs hatch, Dolfis was reminded that he had not been there
for her joining.  Hadn^ñt been there for anything important....  He^ñd
promised himself he^ñd find her - rescue her.  He^ñd found her, but too
late to rescue her, too late for anything.  He only half noticed the
joinings occuring on the sands - his joy ruined by his guilt.  Without a
word, he slipped out of the cavern before the hatching was finished. 

*****

Gus waited outside the Cavern for her partner.  Training had once again
been set aside - this time interrupted by the hatching.  Tonights Feast
would double as a hatching party as well.  The spare time would give her
time to convince Lainie of the costume idea Gus had.  It seemed fitting
to her anyway...  She stilled her thoughts as the blonde stepped out of
the cavern.

^îC^ñmon, Blondie, we got some work to do.^ï

Gus grinned at Lainie^ñs surprise.  No doubt, she^ñd thought to have to
chase Gus down.  But Gus was excited now about the party - and eager to
transform Lainie the way Lainie had transformed her.

^îAt last you^ñve come to your senses.  I never thought I^ñd see the day.
So, let^ñs get going.^ï

^îAint come to no senses...just got an idea for your costume.  Fair^ñs fair.^ï

Lainie grinned impishly.  ^îThis I^ñve got to see...^ï

Chuckling softly, the two headed off.

_______________
Katrina
aka Gus and Loki, Jasra Warren
       Dolfis Seathief

NRPG:  Many thanks - as always - to Dana for her invaluable assistance.