Tanami
(early evening, day 13)

     Tanami stood on the beach as the sky darkened, looking out past the 
rolling breakers to the endless expanse of blue sea that lay beyond.  Her 
home...or at least it had been so until recently.  Now, against all her 
hopes, she had found the legendary Jasra.  She had found a place where she 
could be around others, even if they weren't *quite* of her own kind...and 
did not, in return, have to worry about Kethriss being off by herself in the 
ocean deeps where any number of dangers might have beset her.  It was almost 
too good to be true...particularly when she'd harbored the initial fear that 
these landers would be as close-minded about others as her own people were.  
Most of those living back in her underwater city despised the landers, even 
though the majority of them had never laid eyes on one before.

     She missed her home, to be sure...and she was just beginning to miss the 
freedom that went along with being entirely on your own.  She and Kethriss 
had been able to go wherever they wished, whenever they wished, free to sport 
with the dolphins on the surface, or explore the depths where daylight barely 
reached...

     A huge head broke the surface a short ways offshore.  [Free to sleep in 
watches because it wasn't safe to let down our guards, lest some predator 
surprise us,] Kethriss continued for her.  [Free to spend most of our days 
just foraging for enough to eat...having only each other to talk to...I like 
this place, my rider!]

     Tanami smiled as Kethriss waded ashore, and put her arms around the 
seadragon's slender muzzle.  *I know, dear,* she reassured the seadragon. 
*I'm not saying that I would want to leave...and this place is everything 
we'd heard it is, and more!*

     [Yes, it is,] Kethriss agreed. [Syngnath and Khamorray are very nice.  
Syngnath is quite good looking, too...perhaps Khamorray will be also when 
he's a little older.  I cannot wait for them to be fully grown, though, so I 
can show them all the wonders that you and I have seen in the deeps of the 
sea.]

     *How are you getting along with the other dragons?* Tanami inquired.  
[The ones who aren't seadragons, I mean.]

     [Oh, very well,] Kethriss replied. [They're a bit different, and take 
some getting used to...but once you get past their appearance, they aren't so 
different at all.  I must admit I was a bit afraid of the big queen, 
Varaenna, at first...she seems to have quite a temper, and I had heard that 
she isn't partial to seadragons for some reason.  But when I met her, she 
seemed quite willing to help out with Khamorray.]

     Tanami smiled, nodding. *Arriving with a sick child in your arms does 
wonders to break down barriers, I'm sure.*

     Kethriss cocked her head, waiting for Tanami to say more.  The girl 
sighed, sitting down on the sand while Kethriss settled down also so that her 
rider could lean against her. [Now, what's bothering you?] the dragon asked.

     *Nothing, really,* she said. *It's just that...well, you at least have 
two others of your own kind here.  But for me...well, I am the only one of my 
kind.  Everyone else is different...it's hard to explain.*

     [Try,] Kethriss urged, in a tone that told Tanami that she would not 
accept no for an answer. [Surely it is not that they look different...I 
cannot tell that much of a difference between you.]

     Tanami thought a moment before continuing. [Corwin - Syngnath's rider - 
was one of the human sailors, like the ones we met before on their ships.  He 
knows the sea, and so he and I can understand each other, at least to a 
degree.  But the others...they are true landers, Kethriss.  We have nothing 
in common.  They know nothing of the world we came from, nor can they ever 
because they cannot go there.  And I do not know *their* world.*

     [But you are here now,] Kethriss reminded her. [If they cannot be a part 
of our world, perhaps you can become part of theirs.]

      She looked up into Kethriss' aqua eyes. *I wonder, though.  Even if I 
*could* do this...would it be at the cost of becoming something other than 
what I now am?*

     [I do not know, my rider...I do not know,] Kethriss said sadly. [But 
Syngnath asked me to remind you to come to the dining hall in the warren.]

      *Dining hall...oh, celebration of Ythfaru!* she said.  She all but 
forgotten about that...her people also held such celebrations, but that of 
Ythfaru generally took a full week since he was the greatest of deities. 
*Yes, I'd definitely better go.*

     [Syngnath also said to remind you that it was a costume party,] Kethriss 
said.

     *What is a costume party?*

     [Syngnath doesn't know.  He said he can ask his rider if you'd like.]

     *Tell him not to trouble Corwin...I'm sure I'll find out for myself when 
I arrive.*

* * * * * * * *
(Shortly afterward, dining hall)

     The young ocean-dweller couldn't believe her eyes as she made her way 
through the crowds that filled the spacious dining hall.  She already knew 
that landers were more varied in their dress than her people were, some of 
them downright flamboyant by her standards...but she'd never imagined 
anything like this!  People crowded around her, clad in garish costumes of 
every sort - hence, she now realized, Corwin's mention of a "costume party."  
Made sense, she decided.  However, it did make her more than a little 
self-conscious that she was the only one who wasn't wearing a...

     "My dear, where *did* you get that costume??" asked a tall, slender 
woman, taking her by the arm and half-turning her for a better look.  "It's 
so much more...more realistic than mine!"

     Tanami studied the woman over, realizing that her hair was (presumably 
dyed) a bright green, and she wore a tight-fitting dress that looked to be 
made out of something resembling fish scales.  She was, Tanami realized 
self-consciously, trying to look like one of *her* people...and she was 
assuming that Tanami herself was as well.  Perhaps, she thought, things 
wouldn't go so badly after all.  What did it matter that she wasn't wearing a 
costume if everyone else assumed she was?

     "This material is exquisite!" the woman cried, trying to pinch a fold of 
Tanami's form-fitting suit between her fingers.  She only succeeded in 
pinching its wearer, which earned her a glare from the waterbreather. 
"Sorry," the woman said.  "But you must tell me where you got this!"

     "It is made from the skin of a shark," she replied, and this wasn't just 
too far from the actual truth.  The woman, however, sniffed haughtily and 
flounced away, clearly offended.  Her own dress, Tanami thought, was a bit 
*too* tight-fitting for her rather ample figure...she just hoped the woman 
didn't have to bend over to pick up anything while she was wearing it.

    She watched as Tara the Warrenlady - at least she *thought* she 
recognized the Warrenlady's voice, though she couldn't make out her face 
behind the mask - stood up on the dais and announced the coming of Ythfaru.  
And then Ythfaru came...only it wasn't Ythfaru, it was Corwin!  She found 
herself clapping along with the others as he "commanded" that the revels 
begin.

     Seeing that she probably wouldn't get a chance to talk to Corwin - 
certainly not while he was up there on that dais - she decided to see if she 
could locate Ansel. But before she'd gone half a dozen steps, she found 
herself swept up in a mass of excited lander-girls, all struggling to push 
their way forward to the dais.  


>>Corwin was grinning madly, still on the dais at the front of the dining hall
>> brandishing both scepter and the necklace of cowrie shells that would mark 
the victi-er, >>winner.

     Tanami saw Corwin throw out the necklace, heard the girls screaming 
excitedly as they all leaped to catch it.  Without thinking, or knowing why 
she did it, Tanami leaped too...and found herself easily jumping much higher 
than the other girls.  She'd forgotten that these girls, with their 
lander-muscles, couldn't compete with her in such an activity.  Distracted by 
that thought, it wasn't until she was back on the floor that she realized 
she'd caught the necklace of cowrie shells.  She felt a but guilty over 
it...but now there was nothing to do about it other than go along with 
whatever her "victory" entailed.

     She allowed herself to be led up to the dais and found herself facing 
the still grinning Corwin.  He was holding an ornate scepter that she 
recognized as an imitation of the Scepter of Ythfaru, which had been lost for 
ages.  In her city, something similar was used for the annual celebrations, 
and in all the other habitations of her people.  But, she thought with just a 
touch of envy, she'd never seen a reproduction quite *this* good!

    Corwin laid it in her arms, and spoke.  "Take this and rule beside me, 
Lady of the Waves." The ritual phrase spoken, "Ythfaru" leaned forward to 
kiss his consort, and with that, the rituals were over and the party moved 
into full swing. 

     Tanami found herself shivering, both from the lingering effects of 
Corwin's kiss...and from something else.  An odd warmth seemed to suffuse 
her, along with a feeling of dizziness.

     "Hey, are you all right?" Corwin asked, reaching over to steady her.  

     "I...believe so," Tanami answered, as Corwin helped her down into the 
"throne" reserved for Ythfaru's consort.  "Perhaps it is just that I am not 
used to being around so many people at once."

     "That's probably it," Corwin agreed, sitting down in his own throne 
again.  "But if you start feeling dizzy again, please let me know!"

     Tanami nodded, then looked down at the scepter she still cradled in her 
lap.  She presumed she was supposed to give it back to Corwin now, but she 
couldn't help examining it for a moment.  This one *was* just like the one 
she'd seen at the Ythfaru celebrations at home, right down to the smallest 
detail.  She wondered how these people had heard enough about the scepter to 
duplicate it, then remembered Wade.  Surely it had been Wade who had told 
them what it should look like.  Still, the quality of the imitation was far 
better than what she might have expected, based on the other decorations she 
saw around the huge hall.  Some of them were quite inventive, but still 
showed evidence of having been contrived in a hurry.  The scepter, though, 
appeared to be of real gold, and the jewels which studded it looked real.  
And the huge diamond at the top, which represented the "Eye of Ythfaru" on 
the original scepter...it looked real!!  In fact, when she gazed closely at 
it, she almost thought she saw a soft, blue glow within it.  She blinked her 
eyes and looked again, and this time the glow was gone.  She turned it over, 
and saw something that intrigued her...tiny lettering engraved just beneath 
the "eye."  She peered closely at it, and saw that the letters appeared to be 
those of her own language...but when she tried to read them, she came up with 
nothing but gibberish.  

     Just then, Corwin laid a hand on her arm.  "As soon as they've gotten a 
couple of dances completed, we can continue with the ceremonies.  Just like 
we used to do on shipboard."

     She shook her head.  "I have never participated in this on your ships," 
she said.  "What needs to be done?"

(Tag Arlene)

* * * * * * * *
Jerram

     He was starting to wonder if he'd been wise to trust Ansel's judgment on 
the matter of his costume.  Dorlan the Despicable, or whatever this 
character's name was, seemed to be drawing more amused snickers than anything 
else.  He wondered if there'd be a "Best Costume" award tonight...he hoped 
there wasn't a "Most Humorous" costume award, which he most definitely didn't 
feel like winning.

     It appeared that another dance was going to start in a few moments, so 
he figured it was time to look for a dance partner.  Suddenly, it seemed as 
though the milling crowd in front of him parted for just a moment...and that 
was when he saw *her.*

     She was talking to Dolfis, the pirate...and she was the loveliest thing 
he'd ever laid eyes on!  Unlike his own costume, which hid almost everything, 
hers showed off both her face and figure...and both looked wonderful!  Who 
was she?  He'd never seen her around the warren, he was sure of that!  Not 
one of Dolfis' crew, either, he was sure.  Perhaps she came from one of the 
villages near the warren, or was a daughter of some noble at Cabral.  Well, 
it didn't matter...he decided that he'd just found his new dance partner.  

     He started towards her, through the corridor in the crowd that was 
fortunately open, at least for the moment.  But just as he started toward 
her, he felt a hand on his shoulder.  "And just who is *this* 
frightening-looking individual?" she asked.

     Jerram turned and saw that it was Cordelia, one of the older riders 
here...and not one of Jerram's favorite people, of whom there were few.  
She'd been trying to catch Jerram's eye (or that of any unmated rider, 
actually) for quite awhile, and she was obviously seeing an opportunity here. 
 Her costume, from what he could tell, was a rather poor imitation of the way 
Wade had dressed while she was here..except that Wade had never looked as 
though she was about to bulge out of her costume like Cordelia did right now. 
 But Jerram didn't plan on taking time to suggest that she join Selene in 
dieting....he had to find that extraordinary girl he'd just seen and ask her 
to dance!

      But, as he looked past Cordelia, he saw that she was gone.  Dolfis was 
standing there talking to Tara now.  Almost frantically, he tried to spot her 
and failed.  Well, he'd do whatever he needed to do!  He started to push his 
way into the crowd, but Cordelia put a hand on his arm.  "Wait, handsome!" 
she giggled, a nasal sound that Jerram found disconcerting.  "Don't you want 
to dance with the prettiest girl at the ball?"

     "Yeah, I do," he said.  "Ah...look, there's a gold coin on the floor at 
your feet!"

     "Where?" Cordelia asked, releasing Jerram's arm and instinctively 
bending over.  By the time he heard the unmistakable sound of ripping fabric 
and Cordelia's mortified shriek, Jerram had blended safely back into the 
crowd.

* * * * * * * *
Tara

     Tara decided it was time to find Kay and Ansel again.   She'd missed one 
dance, but hoped to get the next one in.  The party was going well, she 
noticed.   People were having a good time, but not getting rowdy.  Well, at 
least not yet.  Still, the crowds were rather thick, and it was slow going in 
getting where she needed to be.  She could hear the musicians starting to 
play, and saw couples beginning to fill the dance floor.  Well, it looked 
like she wouldn't make it back in time to dance this one with Kay.

     "Excuse me, m'lady!" said a masculine voice from behind her.  "May I 
have this dance?"

(Tag anybody who wants to dance with the Warrenlady...without necessarily 
knowing it's the warrenlady! :)

Ansel

     *This party is great, isn't it?* Ansel asked Kay telepathically, as they 
stood on the edge of the dance floor.  *Of course, it could be a little 
lighter in here.*

     *It's supposed to be dark,* Kay told him.  *That's the whole idea...it 
makes things more romantic!*

     Ansel nodded as he watched yet another dance begin.  Kay was right, of 
course...not that the romantic atmosphere seemed to be doing *Ansel* any 
good.  Kay, of course, had better prospects.  *So, are you going to dance?* 
he asked.

     Kay nodded his head slowly.  *Yes, as soon as your sister gets done 
talking to Dolfis over there.  How about you?*

    *Um...well...I don't know,* Ansel said nervously.

     *It would be a shame to waste these costumes you made, or the masks I 
painted just standing here on the sidelines all night,* Kay observed.

     *I know, but...*

     *Ansel, why don't you go over and get us some wine,* Kay suggested.  
*Maybe that will loosen you up a bit.* Ansel couldn't see past the mask, but 
was sure Kay was smiling broadly.

     *Okay,* he agreed.  *I'll be right back.*

     Ansel walked over to the long table where bottles of wine waited in neat 
rows for the revelers.  He wondered how many of them would be left by 
morning...not many, he decided, what with this being both a hatching party 
and a Ythfaru's Day Party.  He filled one glass, tossed it off at a single 
gulp, in hopes of bolstering his nerve enough to ask someone to dance.  He 
almost coughed it up, but managed to get it down.  Then, for good measure, he 
swallowed yet a second.  He then filled Kay's glass, and his own a third 
time, and was about to walk back over to where Kay waited when he noticed 
movement in a shadowed corner of the dining hall.  He decided to investigate, 
and walked his way slowly - and just a trifle unsteadily - in that direction. 
 

     That corner was, he saw, where the extra food supplies had been stacked 
so that the servers could readily get at them if what they'd already prepared 
proved insufficient for the partygoers.  It was dark here, even darker than 
the area of the dance floor..but again he noticed movement.  "Who's there?" 
he asked.

     The figure turned, and Ansel saw...a dragon??  In the dining hall? It 
was impossible, he thought....and then he understood what he must be seeing.  
He burst out laughing.  

     "That dragon costume is incredible!!" he laughed.  "Who made it?"

     [What are you laughing at?] demanded a voice sliding through his head.  

     That brought Ansel up short...there had to be at least two people in 
that suit, he knew, to work all four of the legs...and one of them was a 
telepath, just like him!

     *You're a telepath!* he said unnecessarily, eyeing the dragon-costume as 
best he could in the dim light.  It was gray, he saw, and every proportion 
appeared to be correct, right down to the way the muscles moved beneath the 
surface with every motion of the body.  The head looked just like that of a 
real dragon...was, in fact, holding a large ham in its "mouth."  He wondered 
what sort of mechanisms it must contain to operate the jaws, and how the 
person or persons inside did it.  *How many of you are inside that suit?* he 
asked.  *I didn't know any other telepaths were here.  Are you a man or 
woman?* He winced, realizing even in his slightly tipsy state that that might 
not have been a proper question.

     [Um, a female...er, a woman!] said the "dragon," and Ansel thought that 
he heard the timbre of its mindvoice rise just a bit, like a person trying to 
talk at a higher pitch.  The "dragon" looked almost embarrassed.  

     *Really?* Ansel asked excitedly.  *Say, maybe we could talk after the 
party!* She probably couldn't, he realized, talk normally inside that bulky 
suit...at least not so that anyone outside could hear it.  *Um....but is the 
other person in there your...um, mate or anything?* he added, not wanting to 
cause any trouble.  

     [Other person...? Oh, no no, of course not!  We're just a couple of very 
pretty females in here!] 

    Ansel nodded, satisfied.  The wine had gone to his head by now, and he 
felt like getting back to the party.  *Why don't we go over there, where 
everyone can see that wonderful costume?* he asked.

     [Oh...um, well, actually, I...I mean, we...we need to take some food to 
a sick friend of mine...er, ours!]  The "dragon" shuffled it's feet, as 
though it was uncomfortable here.  

     *I'm sorry to hear about your friend,* Ansel said.  *Maybe I can help!  
What did you want to take her?*

     [Oh, a few of these hams, several steaks, maybe that side of venison 
over there...]

     Ansel's eyes widened.  *Your friend's going to eat all that?*

     The "dragon's" eyes widened.  How *did* they manage that, Ansel wondered.

    [Ah...did I say friend?  I meant *friends!* I have some sick friends!  
Several of them...]

     Ansel nodded his head.  *Oh, okay.  Gee, I hope it isn't a plague or 
anything!  Could I help you take the food to your friends?*

     [That would be *very* kind of you!] the "dragon" answered.

     *Okay!* said Ansel.  Then, emboldened by the wine, he added, *But only 
if you'll come over and dance with me first!*

(Tag Katrina - how's Loki going to field *that* request? :)

NRPG: I'm counting, of course, on Loki's very small size and the fact that 
(a) it's dark in there and (b) Ansel's a bit tipsy. I don't believe, though, 
that Kay would be fooled should he come over to see what's delaying Ansel.

Have fun at the party, everyone!

Submitted by:

John

Warrenlady Tara & Varaenna
Tanami & Kethriss
Jerram & Seydor
Ansel & Khamorray

Jasra Warren