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Day 11, post trial

 

Gus watched as the sailors were hauled back to their little cells -
cursing all the way.  She noticed Colm shoot her a single frustrated,
angry glare before he was hauled away.  She grinned viciously.  Foolish
of her not to have sold his ring today, but she'd gotten distracted by
those damn gems.  Her grin faded.  Would Tara mind that the warren had
just made a profit off stolen goods?  Gus glanced over toward the
warrenlady who saw her and smiled.  Gus nodded in return.  Well, Tara
didn't look angry - must be good at hiding it.

 

When the kitchen staff began moving the tables back into some order for
dinner, Gus slipped into a dark corner to stay out of the way.  She stood
and watched the dining hall being returned to its normal state, quietly
wondering how much trouble she was in this time.  She was vaguely aware
of Loki's mischievous laughter over something, but ignored it.  He was
probably up to no good with Selene again - and whatever trouble they
caused, she'd hear about it soon enough. 

 

"Streetrat, rider of Loki….that has quite a *ring* to it, doesn't
it?"

 

Gus stiffened at the sound of Jerram's mocking tone.  Looking over her
shoulder, she noticed with some surprise that his eyes were twinkling.

 

"That was lame, old man.  Can't you do better?"

 

Jerram chuckled.  "I just figured I'd remind you that you need to start
looking for an apartment.  The others did that today while you were
gone.  I believe there are some empty units in the uppermost *ring* near
the top of the bowl."

 

Gus turned to glower at the older rider in return for his pointed
commentary, but her annoyance was lost as his words sunk in.   Look for
an apartment?  She could get out of the barracks?  Hell, without those
damn showers, she could keep this scam goin' for quite some time!

 

"Great, thanks, Jerram.  I'll do that right after I eat."

 

Leaving him without a chance to respond, Gus sauntered over to the newly
forming line to get dinner.  Absently, she chewed her dinner, thinking
over Jerram's words.  She wasn't really surprised he suspected her of
stealing that ring - after all, there was little he wouldn't suspect her
of  - but she was a bit worried about how much trouble he might cause for
her.  Tara didn't likely believe Colm - she had that weird trusting
streak - but she would believe Jerram if he told her Gus was stealing. 
Gus frowned into her plate.

 

"Is the food that bad?"

 

She looked up into Dolfis's smiling face and couldn't help but smile in
return.

 

"Nah, just don't like trials much."

 

Dolfis nodded in agreement and sat down across from her.  Still eating,
Gus watched him covertly.  Some part of her that had idolized him as a
child wanted to jump up and down and scream to the world that she was
sitting with the Seathief! - but she managed to clamp down on
that…mostly.  She shifted in her chair, uncomfortably realizing how
much he was still her hero.  In shifting, the tiny ship of Fortia's
knocked against her - in a heartbeat Gus knew why it had called to her.

 

"Gotcha somethin'," she muttered, drawing it out of her pocket. She
handed it over sheepishly.

 

Dolfis looked surprised, but seeing the boy's discomfort decided against
questioning him.  The way the boy had listened to Dolfis's tale-telling
last night suggested a certain amount of hero-worship - it would be rude
to refuse whatever trinket the boy was offering.  He peeled back the soft
wrapping and gasped in amazement.

 

"This is one of Fortia's."  He glanced up suspiciously at Gus.  Gus
grinned and held up her hands, palms outward.

 

"Relax, I paid for it." 

 

Dolfis said nothing, but nodded.  This was no mere trinket the boy had
given him.  He examined the tiny ship, marveling as always at Fortia's
skill.  The appearance of the ship suddenly registered.  He looked up to
see Gus smile and nod.

 

"Yup.  Tis the Marquesa - s'why I got it.  This way you can have her and
still have Cabral."

 

Dolfis met Gus's eyes and saw within a world of understanding - of
homesickness, grief, loss, regret… - that surprised the pirate,
given the boy's apparent age.  He remembered then that the lad's
mentioning he had no parents and Jerram's pointed hints on the boy's
thievery.  This was truly a princely gift - regardless of the price.  The
boy generosity astounded Dolfis, but he recovered and smiled.

 

"Many thanks, Gus."

 

Gus ducked her head in some embarrassment, pleased that Dolfis liked the
present.  She stood up quickly and picked up her tray.

 

"Well, I got things to do.  See ya' later."

 

She scuttled hurriedly away.

 

*****

<Hey, buddy, where you be? We gotta find our place!>  Gus's mindvoice
rang with her excitement.

 

<I'm coming!>

 

Loki ambled over to the green and nuzzled Gus affectionately.  He didn't
care whether they were in the barracks or their own place - he still more
or less fit.  But if the time had come, Selene would be leaving the
barracks, so he might as well too - besides, Gus was clearly ecstatic
about it.  Gus swung aboard and they circled the warren, looking for just
the right spot.

 

<There,>  Gus pointed past Loki's shoulder, <that wall is easy enough to
climb.  Land on one of those ledges.>

 

The first one Loki landed on was a large ledge - it being the very edge
of the warren wall and curving around somewhat .  Gus dismounted and
strode into the apartment itself.  A living room with a small kitchen -
much like Elly's - led to a small hallway.  The hallway branched into
three rooms - a bathroom, a small storage area and a bedroom. 
Accumulated dust suggested the place was unoccupied, despite the
furnishings. Gus strolled into the bedroom.  The bed, stripped of all
coverings, looked forlorn. Wow, Gus thought, they give me the furniture
too?  She giggled and leapt onto it.  It bounced nicely.  Gus laughed
aloud - she hadn't jumped on the bed since she was tiny - and boy, oh
boy, had Ma been mad. 

 

 Grinning, Gus sauntered back out to the ledge.  Loki had curled up - the
better to test out the "sleepability" of the nest - and then called
Selene over to test out the "cuddle-ability".  The two dragons were snug
and happy.  Gus chuckled.

 

<Guess you like this one fine.>

 

<Yes.  Selene says her rider chose one with too small a ledge, but here
she can fit with me just right.>

 

Gus swallowed a grimace.  Now she'd have the both of them to deal with -
figured Blondie wouldn't know how to pick a proper place.  She growled
softly and swung up onto Loki, as the dragons disentangled themselves. 
Then they glided down to claim their place - and get moved in.

 

*****

Dolfis headed out of the dining hall, cradling the model ship in his
hands.  He was so entranced with the gift that he cannoned right into
Tara.

 

"Oh, I'm sorry," he apologized.

 

Tara smiled in forgiveness and exclaimed with delight over his new
treasure.  After agreeing that it was a magnificent gift, Dolfis
remembered what he'd wanted to ask her.

"Say, ma'am.  I noticed day after tomorrow is Ythfaru's Feast Day - and
my men wanted to know if the warren was going to have the usual parties."

 

Tara looked blankly at Dolfis.  "Ythfaru's Feast Day?  Usual parties?"

 

"Oh, right.  Well, Ythfaru is the god of the deeps, patron of many
sailors.  The usual parties," he grinned sheepishly, "well, its usually a
costume dance of sorts.  See, one of the men dresses as Ythfaru to bless
the feast and so everyone else tends to dress up too - just for the fun
of it."

 

Corwin appeared, on his way out of the hall and stopped.  "Oh, that's
right - Ythfaru's Feast day.  Who's going to be Ythfaru?"

 

Tara grinned.  "Did you just volunteer?  A costume party we can arrange,
Captain.  Are there any other requirements?"

 

"No, ma'am and thank you."

 

Tara nodded and headed off, leaving Dolfis to cope with a shocked
Corwin.  "Me? Be Ythfaru?"  He suddenly smiled slyly. "Shouldn't that be
your job, Captain?"

 

"No, no, I think the job belongs to warrenfolk."  Dolfis grinned.

 

{Tag,  Arle….who gets the job?}

 

*****

Day 12, early morning

 

Gus awoke, slightly disoriented, in her new apartment.  Smiling broadly,
she stretched in the bed, enjoying the solitude and the privacy.  How
nice to live alone.

 

<Come on! You're oversleeping and are going to miss the verdict!>

 

Or…almost alone.  Gus grinned in mock annoyance with Loki's
cheerfulness at ungodly hours and got up.  She sang in the shower, able
to take as long as she wanted, without keeping an eye open for the
others.

 

<We can keep this scam goin' for a long time now, buddy!>

 

Loki responded with glee and further exhortations to hurry up.  Gus
chuckled and finished getting ready.  What a glorious day this was going
to be!

 

__________

 

Katrina

 

Ok, John - the verdict?