Kyven had called Almiron back to the Medical Center about a half hour
after Almiron had left him.  <He says to bring a saddle,> Darshan told
him.  <We are going to Marrid when Beta gets back-- it appears most of our
severely wounded are there.>

Almiron secured a new saddle and headed to the Center.  He spent the next
twenty minutes or so visiting some of the more severely wounded that were
already at Keldarra.  Kyven accompanied him and kept him very much in
check.  The healer was extremely anxious for the return of Beta.  At
first, Almiron assumed that he was waiting for the return of his mate,
then he remembered that she was with Alpha, not Beta, Wing.  He considered
asking, but the healer seemed to be barely keeping himself in check,
trying to concentrate on his job.  Almiron decided asking might ruin his
concentration.

"The wounded from Beta Wing are arriving," another healer informed them.  
"The battle's over."

Kyven nodded.  "Take over," he said to the staffer and headed out to the 
waiting Aethnod, with Almiron at his heals.

Almiron spent some time scouting for missing and dead bodies, as Kyven
wouldn't let him assist until those most in need could be determined.  
Then he spent the hour after that visiting the most severely wounded, 
from any of the warrens.  Kyven wouldn't let the contact with any of them 
last too long, which hurt-- Almiron wanted to end all the pain he felt, 
but was pulled away too soon.

Kyven then went on rounds visiting all the riders from Keldarra, ordering 
Almiron out of the building to wait.  He wasn't taking chances.

He was standing there, debating what to do when Briana ran out and
stopped, fighting tears.  She hadn't noticed him when she passed.

"Can I help?" he asked.

"Its S'brogh," she sobbed, "he's depressed about being injured & refuses
to see anyone.  I didn't know I cared so much till I heard he was hurt and
then didn't know how bad....now he doesn't even want to see me cause he
feels like an invalid."

He stood, stunned.  There had been so much death and horror, and S'brogh 
was upset about two broken legs?  But, perhaps, he was simply reacting to 
how close he had been to death with falling off his dragon... or simply 
hiding his grief over all that had happened today.  It was all Almiron 
could think.  Surely S'brogh wasn't so petty.

"Maybe I can help," he offered.  "Let me think for while."

"Almiron, there are others who need you worse right now," Briana said. 
"But maybe, if it isn't too much on you, could you help him later?"

He nodded.  "Of course.  Many are worse off.  I have seen Kyven's mate, 
Reetsada.  She has bad head wound.  It is not known how bad."

"Oh, dear!  I hope you helped with her?"

"No," he shook his head, "There were many yet who were worse than her.  I 
did not have strength by time I got to her."

"It's so awful," she said and he could tell she was thinking as much 
about what had just happened with S'brogh as with everything else.

"He has just had frightening experience and is in lot of pain.  Don't be 
too hard on him."

Briana seemed to waver between anger and compassion.  He wasn't certain 
which won, because she began crying again.  He laid a hand on her 
shoulder and she leaned into him.  He hugged her, and just let her cry.

******

The transfer to Keldarra went smoothly and all the patients were roomed 
by bedtime.  Almiron went to his apartment and collapsed for the night.

He arrived at the Medical Center the next morning and was directed to 
Ree's room.  Kyven was there asleep in a chair.  He quietly cleared his 
throat and Kyven jumped.

"Gods, Almiron, is it morning?"

"Yes."

The healer sighed.  "I hadn't intended to sleep here... just dropped 
off.  Can you come back after lunch?  I need to go see my kids."

"Of course."

"Thanks.  You've been a great help....  Oh!" he exclaimed, looking at his 
bloodstained clothes, "Better change first.  No need to frighten them."

Almiron nodded.

Kyven made it to the doorway, then paused and sighed.  "I don't know what
to tell my kids.  How do you tell two two-year-olds that their mommy's
asleep right now and probably won't wake up any time soon?"

Almiron watched as the man leaned his head on the doorframe.  A silent 
sob passed through his body, then another.  Almiron stepped forward and 
laid a comforting hand on the healer's shoulder just as he completelyy 
broke down.  Hoping it wouldn't offend the man, Almiron enfolded the man 
in a hug.  Kyven half regained control.

"I can't cry here.  Someone from the staff might see me."

"I think he or she would understand."

Kyven continued as if he hadn't heard.  "I can't cry at home because it 
would frighten the kids.  I can't cry."

Almiron looked up into the taller man's face.  "Child knows when you are 
hiding something.  It is best to be honest."

Kyven stopped and considered this.  "I suppose you're right."

He turned, stepped across the room to his mate and lightly kissed her, 
then stood and considered her, his finger tracing the line of her cheek.  
"It doesn't seem fair to have to deal with something like this twice in 
one lifetime.  Sometimes I just want to go tell fate to go mess with 
someone else's life and leave me alone.  But then I think how awful it is 
to wish this on anyone.  I wouldn't wish this pain on my worst enemies."  
He turned and considered Almiron, then quietly said, "You first."

"What?" Almiron asked, confused.

"You first.  I don't want you staying here and trying to heal her.  I have
patients in worse shape and I don't want you wasting your strength on
her."

"But she is your mate."

Suddenly that very vulnerable face Kyven had shown disappeared behind a 
calm, dispassionate mask.  "A healer doesn't play favourites.  She isn't 
your first priority.  Do you understand me?"

Almiron felt dizzy from the sudden change and stared at the healer in 
bewilderment.

"Do you understand me?" Kyven repeated.

He nodded mutely and left the room at the healer's gesture.  Kyven stopped
a staff member and instructed her that Ree wasn't to be disturbed and then
walked off.  Almiron watched him leave, still horrified that the healer
could sacrifice the health, possibly the life, of his mate in order to see
others healed.

He glanced back at the room where Reetsada lay, her skull a jigsaw of 
broken pieces.  He wanted to dash in there and take that pain into 
himself.  There was too much pain.  Too much.  He clenched his fists in 
impotent anger at a world where such pain existed.

He turned, not seeing, and plowed into someone on crutches.

"Damn you, why don't you watch where you're going?" S'brogh demanded 
irritably.

"I am sorry," Almiron said as he helped the injured man back up and handed
him his crutches.  He felt the pain of the broken legs and bruises, but
shrugged it off.  He had felt much worse the past few days.  He walked
past S'brogh without another word and out the door of the Medical Center.

<Darshan, where is M'tan?>

There was a pause.  <He is in his apartment with Benna.>

<Is Aleta there?>

<No, she is in a meeting with M'ressan and Wynn,> the dragon answered, 
<about how many riders we can afford to send to Marrid.>

<Good.  Ask him if he minds company.  I need someone to talk to.>

There was another pause, then Darshan landed in front of him, saying, 
<Come, pet.  He would like to see you.>

Almiron smiled with relief and climbed aboard the dragon.

As Almiron landed on the ledge of M'tan and Aleta's apartment and was
greeted by a comforting hug from M'tan, D'neor emerged from the shadows
and watched the two disappear inside his brother's apartment.  No one who 
would have an opportunity to see the young man's face could have guessed 
what thoughts passed within.

Respectfully submitted,
 Lynette R. F. Cowper
  Almiron and Darshan

NRPG: Hmmmm... what could D'neor be up to?

Kris: you'll have to decide based on your needs what help Almiron was at
Marrid.  He would have treated dragons, too, if need be.

Kat: Feel free to continue the conversation after her crying fit is over. 
Almiron's mystified, but willing to give S'brogh the benefit of the doubt
for now.

 **********************************************************************
 * Lynette R. F. Cowper       *     Official INWO NetRep & Goddess    *
 * lcowper@io.com             *        Circle of Janus Secretary      *
 * lcowper@indy.net           *   VP of P.U.R.P.L.E. (People United   *
 * http://www.io.com/~lcowper/*   Respecting Purple Legal Equality)   *
 **********************************************************************
 *     The INWO rulings I make are official.  All other opinions,     *
 *  discussions, deck ideas, card ideas, political beliefs, etc. are  *
 *  my own and not those of Steve Jackson Games, the Circle of Janus, *
 *                        or P.U.R.P.L.E.  Fnord.                     *
 **********************************************************************