Day 10, evening

<snip>
Captain Dolfis, you may repair your vessel here, with all the assistance we
can give you...with the understanding that this in no way obligates the warren
should you come here in similar need again." She sat down at her desk and
faced the pirate captain. "Now, tell us what you need."
<end snip>

Dolfis exhaled slowly, for a brief moment unsure of his senses. Had he truly
heard her right? The ship could stay, the warren would help? Just over
Ansel? As though he could have just walked away with the boy's life at stake,
regardless of her answer. He shook his head. Right, she was asking what he
needed. Stop mooning and tell her, he reprimanded himself.

"Well, we'll need the usual - tar, pitch, some nails and wood. Nothing too
serious or taxing on warren stores. The other problem is the mainmast. We're
going to need a new one. That means starting from scratch. There are forested
areas in the mountains just east of the warren. If I could borrow a guide and
some muscle I could head up that way tomorrow and find a tree to serve as a
new mast - some extra muscle to help incline the ship and to right the mast
when the time comes too. The rest of it my crew can handle. Truth be told,
they could handle it all, but extra hands are always welcome."

"Incline the ship?"

Dolfis remembered with a start that the warrenlady came from an inland village
- and until a short time ago had never lived by the sea. She'd need him to
simplfy things. He grinned sheepishly. 

"Sorry, ma'am.I forgot that you don't know our terms. Inclining is when we roll the ship up on the beach on her side
- so we can scrape the bottom and seal it back up. Then we roll and heave her back into the sea - hoping like hell we don't just bust her right back open in the process." 

He chuckled softly. Perhaps that was oversimplified, but trying to explain the proper angle to rest the ship at was surely beyond such a landlocked mind.

"All right, I'll send my courier Darlea to guide you - with at least one rider, just in case. The supplies you need are at your disposal. Also, there is a party tonight - in honor of Ansel's hatching. You and your men are welcome to attend."

"My thanks, lady. We would be honored."

"Good. Now, if you will excuse me, I must see what trouble my queen is causing now." She smiled in something close to
friendliness and showed him out of the office.

*****

Dolfis surveyed his men carefully. Despite their obvious relief at still having a livelihood, the prospect of inclining the ship thrilled no one. 

"All right men. I have some more news that you should enjoy. There is a party
tonight in honor of an impromptu joining. The warrenlady has been kind enough
to invite us all." He waited a moment for the cheers to die down. "I trust you
all remember the rules?" The Marquesa's crew fell immediately silent. "There
was an incident last night - with several members of the Kraken's crew. They
are locked up in the warren. There will be no similar occurences with MY crew.
Is that clear?" His voice rang with enough menace that several of the
hard-bitten pirates flinched. "Now, go clean up. You guys smell terrible!'

The meeting broke up amid laughter as the sailors hurried to clean up and head
for the party. Dolfis watched them and sighed. 

"Dammit, you are the luckiest man alive. By rights, she should've just handed
your sorry ass over to Grouty - and instead..." Griffin's voice trailed off as
he grinned at his long-time friend and captain.

Dolfis nodded in agreement. Glancing ruefully down at his shirt, he shucked it
over his head. "Want some rags?"

Griffin whistled as he took the shirt. "Can't you ever stay out of trouble?"

Dolfis chuckled. "Never have yet."

Griffin shook his head in wry amusement and headed off. Dolfis was left to try
and find someone who could find that boy who'd rescued him...Gus,that was his
name. Just ahead of him on the path he noticed the older rider who'd been
trapped with Gus. He caught up with the man.

"Say, I'm looking for Gus. Know where I can find him?"

"What would you want with him?"

Dolfis raised his eyebrows in question. "I mean the boy no harm. I promised to
share a few stories with him once I'd spoken with the warrenlady. Do you know
where he is?"

The rider chuckled sourly. "Well, if you really want him.... I'd suggest
filling your pockets with gold - he'll be along for it. Meantime, come along
to the dining hall - join the party."

Dolfis fell into step alongside. Odd, he'd always assumed all riders liked
each other. Stupid of him really, even a small crew always had its tensions.
"So, how is Ansel doing? No lasting damage?"

"Oh, hes fine. Giddy with joining, as it should be. We owe you some thanks."
The rider held out his hand as he walked. "Name's Jerram. And you're Dolfis, right?"

"Right. Pleased to meet you, Jerram." They'd reached the dining hall. "Now, if
you'll excuse me, I'm going to go find Gus - and I think you'd rather lose him."

Jerram chuckled. "That I would. Later, then."

Dolfis entered the dining hall, his eyes scanning the room, but he didn't see
Gus. He began to wander about the dining hall, but it was a large room, and
fairly crowded. Snagging a drink as he passed the buffet, Dolfis decided to
sit down and hope the boy found him. He found a table with several of his crew
and took a seat. While he sat listening to his men spin tales about how big
the hurricane was - and how much bigger another storm was - he noticed one of
his newer crewmen flirting heavily with a young girl. He watched for a few
minutes, noticing the older woman who was also watching. He turned his attention to
the other woman. There was no resemblance, but judging from her expression,
the girl was her daughter. And mama was NOT pleased with the attention. He
chuckled softly and leaned over to the sailor nearest him. 

"Point out to Rafe that her mama isn't happy. Rein things in."

The other sailor nodded and immediately got up and threaded his way across the
room. Griffin stopped by Dolfis's table on his way past with a plate of food.

"Dolf, you gotta come hear this guy! Great stories - might even be better than you!"

Dolfis chuckled but got up and followed Griffin to a crowded table. The man
telling the stories had skill, no doubt about it - and he was telling old
sailors' tales, but he was clearly warren-folk now. Dolfis wondered idly what
had changed the man's fortunes.

[insert the party parts of Arle's "You Can't Have Everything" post here]

Gus snorted in half-amused disgust at Corwin's retreating back. Turning to
Dolfis, the lad grinned. 

"Looks like it's your turn now, Captain."

There were chuckles of amusement from the other crewmen at the table, and
Dolfis surrended with good humor.

"All right, lad, I did promise some stories. But you needn't call me Captain,
unless you're joining my crew. Dolfis will do."

The boy's eyes lit up with pleasure, but he just waved a hand. "The stories,
Dolfis, the stories."


Grinning at the boy's insistence, Dolfis swung into an old favorite. He'd
always enjoyed the tale of the Lost Treasure of the Queen's Galleon - his
father must have told it to him thousands of times. As he described the crew
of the Jacinda finding the deserted isle, his listeners were all but falling
off their seats. He moved on to the finding of the shipwreck, lingering - as
his father always had - over the description of the treasure. He related the
ropes of pearls, piles of gold coins and the bag of jewels. When he mentioned
the bags, he noticed, out of the corner of his eye, Gus flinch slightly, flush
and dart a hand to the inner breast pocket of his jacket. Dolfis continued
with the story without missing a beat. When he had brought the tale to its
dramatic conclusion, he inclined his head in response to the immediate
applause. Declining to tell another before he had a cold drink, he turned to Gus.

"A treasure like that would set a man up for life, wouldn't it, boy? Just the
talk of it is enough to bring a gleam to the eye."

Gus gave Dolfis a long stare. What the hell -? Then she realized her telling
gesture when he mentioned the bags of jewels. Oh great, she thought, I've gone
totally soft. She finally turned to him to respond.

"Indeed. Enough to make a man give up thievin' for a livin', aint it?"

There was a gasp around the table as the crewmen reacted to this apparent
slight on their captain. Dolfis stilled the ominous mutters, before they got
well started, with a burst of laughter.

"Touche, lad. Perhaps I would if I'd ever found a treasure like that - how
about you?"

"Me?" Gus affected shock, but her eyes were twinkling. Dolfis had a way with
words about him - and a manner that got past all her defenses. "Don't reckon a
treasure would make me stop bein' a rider."

"What? Him, too? Are all the riders here little boys?" 

It was the same rider who'd doubted Ansel earlier. Gus glared at the sailor -
along with Dolfis - and the man sank lower in his chair. Before the sailor
could offer any apologies, a voice interrupted them. 


"No, just a few. Watch your gold, Captain...this one would pick a pirate's pockets!"

"You look thirsty, Jerram. Should I get you a glass of punch?" 

There was a malicious glee in Gus's voice that Dolfis didn't understand, but
Jerram certainly seemed to. His face darkened with anger, but he reined it in
and pointedly ignored the boy. Turning to the Seathief, Jerram laid a hand on
his shoulder. 

"Tara just informed me that I am to coordinate the warren's assistance to you
- both supplies and people. So, what can I do for you?"

Dolfis had raised an eyebrow at the interchange between Jerram and Gus. Why
such animosity? Shaking his head, he focused on the question at hand. 

"Well, I've asked Corwin to help me tomorrow - and young Ansel here has also
volunteered. And we'll need supplies. Perhaps we could meet sometime tomorrow
and go over the supplies list?"

"Fine." 

After Jerram had left the table, Dolfis turned to Gus. 

"All right, lad, what's the story?"

"Story? That's your job, Dolfis." Gus grinned impishly. Dolfis frowned and
waited. "Oh, it aint nothin'. Jerram don't like me and I can't help pushin'
it." Gus grinned, but wondered what it was about Jerram that made her want to
push him so hard. Sure, he was a pain, but if she could "make peace" with the
guardsmen, she oughta be able to get along with Jerram. Something about him
though, just brought out the devil in her. 

"You got a liking for trouble, I see."

Gus snorted. "Not so much a likin' as a knack. But raggin' Jerram aint serious
trouble nohow. At least so long's we stick to words."

"No, but charging that dragon earlier was serious trouble."

"Well," Gus flushed, embarrassed, "rider's duty to protect folks, aint it?"

"So I understand - though perhaps you should wait until your dragon is
full-grown before trying again?"

"He is. Looks like he's a runt. Dont reckon he's gonna get
much bigger. But he's big enough for me."

Dolfis forebore from commenting that while the dragon might not grow much
more, the boy was likely to..... He'd trust the warren to know its business. 
His thoughts were interrupted by Gus's voice.

"Ok, enough restin'," the boy grinned. "I want another story. How 'bout you
tell how you set Grouty's son adrift?"

Dolfis frowned - he'd never repeated that story. His voice went frosty and
several of his crewmen winced. 

"How did you know of that?"

"It's an old story, Dolfis. Just aint heard your side is all." Gus frowned. 
Now, why had asking to hear that story upset him so much? It wasn't like it
was a secret or nothin'.

Dolfis's eyes narrowed. "You're from Cabral, boy?"

"Well, yeah. Everyone knows·," Gus's voice trailed off as her indignation
drained away. She laughed ruefully. "'Cept, of course, you - since you been
away so long." Dolfis nodded and waited expectantly. "Hell, aint nothin'
more to it."

"Your parents still there?" Dolfis smiled, wondering how the boy's parents
felt about losing their son so young. True, he wasn't really lost, but the
warren was a long way off to have a young child.

"Got no parents. You gonna tell the story or aint you?" Gus shrugged. She
sure didn't want to explore this topic any further.

"Sorry, lad." Dolfis stopped, sensing further expressions of sympathy would
not be welcome. He noticed Rafe bring the young warren-girl over to the table
and nodded approvingly. Another crewman brought over the drink and he smiled.
Well, he may as well tell the story.

[Insert Dana's "Partners..." post here]
<snip>
After their little talk with the Warrenlady, Gus herded Lainie out the door -
just in time for Lainie to be sick in the bushes. Once she had finished
heaving and collapsed onto the ground, her back to the wall, Gus broke the
sudden silence.

"So, it's awful quiet. That mean you fed that beast more than just the one
fish?" 

"No, I did not," Lainie retorted with a glare. "Although I should have. It's
a terrible way to treat a growing dragon. She's probably sleeping. Trying to
forget her hunger pangs, poor baby."

"Baby? Nothin' that big can be called a baby!" 

"You're just jealous cause you got saddled with that scrawny little excuse for
a dragon," she shot back.

Gus shook her head in mock disgust. "No, no, silly girl. The DRAGON gets
saddled." 

Lainie rolled her eyes. "That was pathetic - but only what I'd expect from you."

"Ooohh, Blondie is disappointed. I'm crushed, I am, truly." 

"I should get Selene to sit on you. Then you'd truly be crushed."

"That's why Tara told you to stop stuffin' her face all the time."
<end snip>

Lainie was tired of arguing. In fact she was just plain tired. She rested
her head against the wall behind her and closed her eyes. There certainly were
a lot of colors swirling behind her eyelids. The motion made her feel queasy.
She took a couple of deep breaths through her nose to try to hold back the sensations.

Gus leaned against the wall. After the spewing, Lainie was pale and sweaty. 
Gus sighed. She'd bet the girl had never been drunk before...in which case
she'd need sleep more than anything else. 

"C'mon, let's get you back to the barracks."

Lainie made no response and Gus sighed heavily. Grabbing her arm, Gus hauled
her partner to her feet, not entirely gently. Lainie jerked her arm free,
losing her balance in the process and leaning heavily against the wall. Gus
watched intently, making sure that if Lainie was going to spew again, it would
be here and not in the barracks. With a deep breath, Lainie straightened and
began lurching towards the barracks. Gus hovered nearby, keeping Lainie more
or less on course, but keeping her hands to herself. 

When they finally reached the barracks, Lainie staggered to her bed and
plopped down. There she lay, fully-clothed and groaning, while Gus watched.

There was nothing Gus wanted less at this moment than to have to babysit - but
clearly Lainie could not be left to her own devices. 

<Loki, have Selene tell·> Gus frowned, trying to remember the name she
sought, <er, Ro'gen's dragon that Lainie is in the barracks.>

<Apollo is told.> There was a gentle chiding in Loki's tone, but Gus chose to
ignore it. She had enough to deal with right now.

"Blondie, if you sleep in your clothes, you're gonna regret it."

That said, Gus headed into the washroom and dampened a cloth with cool water. 
Wringing it out so it wouldn't drip, Gus scowled at herself in the mirror. 
Partners, she swore inwardly. After Llew, she'd never wanted to work with
anyone else - his mistakes had cost her enough - but now it seemed she had no
choice. She let out her breath - and frustration - in a long stream and
headed back to Lainie's bunk. 

Lainie had managed to remove her boots and her pants before collapsing again -
atop the covers. Gus shook her head at this display and laid the damp cloth
on Lainie's forehead. Shifting the girl only slightly, Gus managed to yank
the covers free and pull them over her.

"Thanks, I guess." 

"Don't mention it."

As Gus headed back to her own bunk, she noticed Selene wriggling closer to
Lainie's bunk, crooning softly. The bright yellow dragon was already fairly
cramped. It was time to move into real quarters before Selene got stuck. 
Chuckling at that image, Gus slipped into her own bunk and was soon asleep.

*******
Day 11, early morning

Gus awoke just before dawn, as usual. Groggily, she dragged herself out of
bed and gathered her things for a shower. Nudging Loki gently as she passed,
she woke him up.

<Keep watch while I'm in the shower.>

Loki responded with sleepy draconic grumbles, but seemed to agree. Gus was
losing herself in the warmth and the steam when Corwin's voice roused her.

<snip>
Corwin answered back, loudly, "Yah, G'ret, I was just heading IN TO SHOWER."
He could hear a rustling and scrambling in the stalls behind him. "Did you
use up all the hot water in there, Gus?"

Gus nearly panicked at the sound of Corwin's voice, clearly at the doorway -
if not closer.

<Nice lookout!> Gus scolded her dragon.

<Sorry.> Loki replied contritely.

She whirled out of the water and grabbed the towel, drying hastily before
yanking the clothes on. Wrapping her chest would have to wait. Putting on
a falsely cheery front, she sang out. "Come and see for yourself, you
lay-a-bed!"

Corwin grinned, knowing by that comment that Gus would be covered by then.
He walked into the shower, and turned on the hot water. "Yes, I can see...
that you left US some. Come on in G'ret!"

Gus froze, realizing just how close she had come to being discovered. Then
she caught the wink that Corwin gave her, and realized that he must have
seen G'ret coming and warned her in time.

Gus nodded at Corwin, acknowledging the debt. 'Hell,' Gus thought, 'Corwin
hadn't looked when he'd handed a towel to Elly after her shower -- maybe
Corwin was safe?' She shook her head and headed out of the shower room and
out of the barracks.
<end snip>

Gus headed straight for the dining hall, Loki's saddle draped over one arm. A
whoosh behind her alerted her that Loki had gone to get his breakfast. 

<Make it fast, we got work to do.>

<Bet I beat you, Slug.>

<Not in this lifetime, Runt.>

Gus laughed and snagged an orange. Breakfast in hand, she loped
over to the training field. Setting the saddle down, she peeled the orange
and watched the sun begin to rise. 

She was still licking the sweet juice from her fingers when Loki landed in the
middle of the field. This landing at least was well done. Scooping up a
handful of the sandy soil, Gus dusted the last of the stickiness from her
hands before wiping them on her pants.

She saddled her dragon quickly, double-checking that she'd done it right and
then swung aboard. Her heart began to beat faster in anticipation of flying.

<Let's go, buddy. Your landin' needs work.>

They circled the field once and Loki touched down, fanning his wings slightly
to off-set the speed.

<Hmm,> he thought <I wonder what I did wrong·Oh hey, I know. Ok, I can do it now.>

<Hey, so long's I'm on top, I'm happy.>

Loki chuckled and took off again. They circled once more, but Loki made no
attempt to land.

<Hey, want to try something fun?>

<Always.> Gus grinned madly. She'd never get enough of flying. Between the
view and the rushing of the wind against her face, there was simply nothing
like it.

<Hang on tight, then.>

With no further warning, Loki rolled quickly in the air. Clinging tightly,
Gus gave a great whoop of joy as they righted themselves.

<Oh yeah! Do it again?>

<Um, Seydor says we need to land.>

Gus glanced down to see the blue dragon on the training field along with his
rider. She sighed. Damn, not even awake an hour before I'm in trouble. She
gave the signal for Loki to land. 

This time the little dragon touched down perfectly - not a wing rustled, not a
talon out of line.

<Woohoo! Great job, Loki!>

Gus slid down her smug beast as Jerram marched up angrily.

"Just what the hell do you think you are doing?"

"What's it look like? Practicin'." Even as the words were spoken, a horrible
thought occurred to Gus. Oh gods, is there a rule against it? I aint never
gonna last here with all these rules! Swallowing her internal wailing, she
turned a serious face to Jerram. "Aint I supposed to?"

{{Tag John}}

____________

Katrina