<Where to now?> Darshan asked.  <I'd like to do some hunting.>

<I need to find out what is happening with Evelle, and talk to Michel, and 
check in with Medical Center and find out if I can help, and check about Keev.>

Darshan, my rider needs your rider to take command of the half of Gamma Wing 
that will remain here while we go to rescue Evelle.>

Darshan relayed this information to Almiron.  Almiron sighed.  He would have 
liked to help with the rescue.  He also wondered why Wynn hadn't asked his 
wingsecond to remain behind, but perhaps she was with him.

He watched as a group of dragons launched into the air and winked out.

<Darshan, where is Michel?  Did he go with group to rescue Evelle?>

<I don't sense Paranth's presence at the warren, so probably,> the dragon 
answered.  <By the way, Starleanna has been asking after you for her rider.>

<Hmmmm... I will have to see what she wants after I check in at Medical Center.>

They headed for the Medical Center and landed there.  Almiron stepped in and 
found Mila.

"Mila, is there anything I can do to help here?  I have heard that M'ressan 
was badly injured."

Mila shook her head.  "I'm sorry, Almiron, but I don't want you touching 
anyone until I run stuff by Kyven, and he's asleep right now.  You come back 
later and we'll see."

"But--"

"No buts, young man.  I don't know the limits of your talent and I don't 
need you hurting yourself.  Now go on."

Almiron sighed in exasperation and left.

He could feel Darshan's exilharation at flying again.  The dragon was out 
among the herds somewhere and Almiron decided not to bother him.  Besides, 
it was so good to be able to walk again that even the pain in his knee was a 
welcome feeling.

He headed back towards the warren, thinking of having an early lunch.  He 
saw Briana walking toward him, her head slightly bowed, her face distant in 
thought.  He quickly sidestepped as she almost walked into him.

"Darshan told me, you looked for me this morning," Almiron said when she 
stopped.

"Yes, I did," Briana said, looking at him perplexedly.  "Almiron, what the 
hell did you do to Darlea?"

He started slightly at the question.  "She is unhappy?"

"You could say that.  She cried her eyes out to me but wouldn't tell me what 
was going on."

His heart ached to think of the hurt he was causing Darlea.  Why couldn't 
things have been different?  "Where is she now?"

"She went to Marrid to see her father."

He nodded.

"You haven't answered my question."

He bit his lip, wondering how to answer her.  He couldn't explain about 
Salinda because she hadn't wanted the story known.  "She and I have... 
have..."  He felt his face growing hot, though he knew most everyone knew he 
and Darlea were-- had been-- lovers.  He still felt slightly uncomfortable 
admitting that when there had been no commitment between them.  "She and I 
have decided not to be lover anymore."

Briana absorbed this information.  "She and you or just you?"

"I asked for this and she agreed."

Briana shook her head.  "Why?  I don't understand."

"I... it was for best."

"For whose best?  You don't seem very happy and I know Darlea's not."

He shook his head.  "I'm sorry, Briana.  I can't explain."  His stomach was 
hurting.  He wanted to go to Darlea and comfort her, but knew he couldn't 
without wanting her or making things worse.  He felt his eyes start to tear up.

"Almiron?"

He wiped the tears away, almost angrily.  "I don't want to talk about this.  
Is this why you wished to see me?"

"No.  Actually, I wanted to see if you could do something about my arm, but 
this doesn't seem to be a good time.  I'll just--"

Almiron reached out and grabbed her before she could walk off.  He felt the 
pain in her arm and the massive energy flowing out of himself and into her.  
He felt the flash of heat pass through her at his touch.  It seemed to calm 
him somewhat.  At least he could do some good.  He released her, meeting her 
wide eyes.

"Your arm is better now."

"Yes... it is... thank you," she said, somewhat flustered.

"You're welcome."

He turned and walked off, heading for the Dining Hall.  He ate alone, off in 
a corner where no one would bother him, then headed to his shop to work.

He finished up a riding jacket he was making, and turned to his work table, 
trying to decide what to do next.  His hands rifled through the various 
pieces of leather that lay stacked.  The third time through, he stopped at a 
particularly soft piece and pulled it out.  It was a remnant he had saved, 
not knowing why other than its sheer softness.  He sat and stared at it, 
then began slowly outlining a pattern on its surface.

Another leatherworker wandered by and paused to watch his painstaking work.

"Are you making those for Christalla and M'ressan's little one?"

Almiron looked up, surprised.  He had been concentrating so hard, he hadn't 
heard the man come up.  "What?"

"The pattern there.  If I don't miss my guess, you're making baby booties. 
Are they for the new baby?"

Almiron looked at the pattern.  He hadn't really considered whom he was 
making them for.  He had just thought the leather perfect for such a 
project.  Perhaps he would give them to M'ressan and Christalla....  Or 
perhaps, he would save them for his own child.

His child.  His stomach twisted at the thought even as a thrill ran through him.

He opened his mouth to reply when the shaking started.  He stood, then 
grabbed hold of the table as he started to lose his balance.  A stack of 
hides he had sitting atop a cabinet toppled, raining leather down on him and 
the table.

The shaking stopped and he and the other man stared at each other in surprise.

"Goddamn!  We just had an earthquake."

He could hear dragon trumpetting outside.

<Darshan, are you all right?>

<Yes, pet, I'm fine.  There's news...>

Another, quicker quake interrupted him.  A bottle of stain tumbled off a 
shelf and shattered on the table, spraying his face with the stain.  
Almiron's eyes started burning.  He felt hands grabbing him and leading him, 
quickly through the room.

"Sit.  Tilt your head."

A liquid ran into his eyes and he flinched away.

"Hold still.  It's water.  We've got to get that flushed out of your eyes."

Long seconds, and a few minor tremors later, the burning lessened, and 
Almiron blinked water and tears.

"You okay?"

Almiron nodded, wiping his face with the proferred towel.

"You didn't take any glass, did you."

Almiron wiped the last of the water from his eyes, trying to keep them from 
tearing, and looked about the room, concentrating on the feeling from them.  
"I don't think so.  Just dye."

"Good.  But just in case, I'm going to take you down to the Medical Center."

Almiron started to protest, then realised that there were probably a few 
injured, and he could help them while he was there.  He nodded and walked 
out of the building with the other man, heading for the Medical Center.

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

 **********************************************************************
 * Lynette R. F. Cowper       *  Official INWO Rules 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)   *
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 *    I write of things which I have neither seen nor suffered nor    *
 *  learned from another, things which are not and never could have   *
 *  been, and therefore my readers should by no means believe them.   *
 *                                            --Lucian of Samosata    *
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