[Almiron]

Almiron spent the morning visiting with Darlea, and then talking briefly 
with Michel.  He was feeling terribly discontented and worried.  Had the 
flash of pain been only a fluke?

Darlea's smiling blue eyes and young body always caused tingles of desire 
deep within him.  He still felt that desire, but it was blunted by the 
numbness in his lower half.  Almiron had never realised how sensually- 
oriented he was.  Now he was realising how important that element of himself 
was.

Kyven had assured him that even if he remained paralysed, that it was still 
possible to give pleasure to another, and even father children.  But the 
spectre of only feeling the echoes of pleasure in his partner through their 
contact, and not his own body's pleasure, haunted his thoughts.

The strange unreality of Michel and Carie making love in the neighboring 
bed, followed by M'tan's visit and the pleasant sensation of his body 
against Almiron's, and then the visit by his lover/friend, Darlea, after the 
frustrating tease of sensation, had built those feelings to a head.

His conversation with Michel had been half-hearted and distracted after 
that.  Michel had been so intent on discussing the mystery of the assassin 
that he seemed not to notice.

After Mila released Michel, Darshan attempted to fill him in on all the news 
of the warren, but Almiron's thoughts were hazy and distant and Darshan soon 
fell silent.

Almiron drifted into sleep.  His healing powers, as if sensing his 
discontent, dragged him further into the deep healing coma.

Darshan stirred in discomfort as his rider's mind receded from him.  He now 
knew what was happening, but it was still a disconcerting feeling, and he 
curled closer to the dragons that were laying companionably near him outside 
the Medical Center.

******

[Kyven]

Mila announced that she was moving Kyven into the room with Almiron now that 
Michel had been released.  The bother of getting through the guards to see 
her patients was wearing on Mila.  Kyven had never seen her so tired, and so 
didn't question her decision.

Almiron was asleep when Kyven was finally transferred.  Mila checked the 
wild rider's condition and found him extremely hot.  Her face creased in worry.

"He's healing," Kyven explained, though he knew Mila should be aware of the 
implications.

"I know," Mila answered.  "It's just... so strange.  One of these days he's 
going to get sick and we're not going to know it because we'll mistake his 
fever for his healing powers."

Kyven considered.  "I suppose that could be a problem.  Though I expect in 
most cases his dragon would know the difference."

"That's fine for you," Mila shot back, "but most of the healers here are 
unjoined."

Kyven smiled.  "Sorry, Mila.  I forget sometimes."

She smiled at the younger man.  "It's all right.  You rest more, okay?"

"Ummm... I was hoping to read some more of that book on poisons."

Mila studied his face.  "You really need the rest..."

"I'm not going to get it with Aleta so ill."

"All right," Mila acceded.  "For a bit.  But I want you to rest often."

"I will, I promise."

He watched her leave and then opened the book, beginning his research again.

******

He awoke from a nap to the sound of his sister arguing with the guard 
outside the door.  Since she was landbound and not of the warren, she was 
having a lot of trouble.

"Look, I've got his children.  Do you think they'd go with just anyone?" she 
demanded.

He rose from the bed, fighting the dizziness that hit him, and made his way 
to the door.  "Let them in," he told the guard.  "She's my sister.  She's 
taking care of the kids."

Ravena and Rytana didn't wait for the guard, but charged their father 
immediately with yells of "Daddy!"

Kyven was bowled over by the twin girls.  He sat up, laughing and hugging 
his daughters to himself as the guard looked on with some concern.  "How are 
my two favorite girls?" Kyven asked and then looked up at the guard.  "It's 
okay.  Come in, sis.  Where's Keev?"

His sister stepped into the room and Keevad emerged from behind her, 
silently stepping into his father's room.  His eyes were puffy and red and 
his face was pale and strained.  Kyven felt a wash of worry and guilt flow 
over him.  His son wasn't well... and he was stuck in here.  Why hadn't he 
spent more time with him before this?

He stood slowly and hugged Keev.  The boy accepted the hug, but didn't 
return it.  Kyven hid his look of worry as he turned to his bed and settled 
back in.

The twins were exploring the room, chattering between them in some odd 
tongue that only the two of them understood.  It was an odd phenomena.  
Kyven had watched his daughters grow into two languages at once-- their own 
private tongue and the language of those around them.  Neither language was 
terribly developed, though good for two-year-olds.

"Hey, don't bother the other patient," his sister scolded the two.

"It's okay," Kyven assured her.  "You can't wake him up when he's like that. 
I think you could blow up the Medical Center and he'd continue right on like 
that."

Her grey eyes, much like Kyven's own, flicked to the strange man in the 
other bed, then back to her brother.  "What's wrong with him?" she whispered.

"He's the healer who can heal through his own strength and touch.  He was 
shot by the assassin."

She nodded.  "I heard the story."

"He goes into that kind of weird coma when he's healing himself."

She looked amazed as she glanced back at the young man.  "Wow.  That's 
really strange."

"Mmmm.  But his healing's come in very handy, which is probably why he drew 
the attention of the assassin.  What's going on with that, anyway?"

She shook her head.  "Mila told me not to discuss such things with you.  She 
doesn't want to stress your heart."

He sighed in frustration.  "As if all the not knowing isn't stressful.  The 
woman even had someone talk my dragon into not telling me anything."

"Sorry, buddy."

Having satisfied their curiosity, the twins climbed into their father's bed 
and snuggled up next to him.  He hugged them, then looked at Keev, who stood 
absolutely mute.  "So, what have you been up to, Keev?"

The boy shrugged.

"Not much I guess.  Did you see your mother?"

Keevad nodded.

"Just for a second," his sister explained.  "When Mila saw that Ree was... 
confused, she ran us out before it upset anyone."  She nodded to the twins.

Kyven nodded.  Ree's memory had, apparently, not returned.  While it 
appeared the twins hadn't picked up on their mother's confusion, Keev 
obviously had.

"We ordered lunch down here," she explained, trying to lighten the 
atmosphere.  "We thought we'd eat it with you."

As if on cue, and orderly came in with their meals.  They ate, making small 
talk, the two adults telling the kids about things they had done in their 
younger days, trying to be cheerful.  Keev ate in silence and never smiled.

After they were done, his sister ran the kids out the door, shut it and 
turned to Kyven.  "I don't know what to do with him, buddy.  He broods so, 
it scares me."

He sighed.  "I don't know.  Gods, what am I doing stuck in here?"

"It'll be okay.  Kids do that, don't they?"

Kyven considered his son.  "I think it's more serious, sis.  I don't know 
what all is going on out there, but what's happened to Ree and I alone is 
enough to crack a tougher kid than Keev.  I'm just glad it doesn't seem to 
have penetrated to the girls."

"Oh, they feel it.  They know.  And I think they're being extra happy for 
him, trying to draw him out."

He closed his eyes.  His sister studied his face.  It was ashen.  "I 
shouldn't have brought them here," she said quietly.  "I just hoped that 
seeing you would help.  I didn't think about how it might affect you."

"It's okay, sis.  Keep an extra-close eye on him, will you?"

"You know I will."  She leaned down and gave her brother a peck on his 
stubbled cheek.  "You just get well, okay?"

"I will.  Thanks for everything."

"You're welcome."  She gave him a sudden grin.  "Say, is your roommate over 
there taken?  He's kinda cute if you ignore the scar."

Kyven arched an eyebrow.  "Little young for you, isn't he?"

"Oh, you know me.  I like 'em young and energetic."  She winked.  "So?"

"'So?' what?"

"Is he taken?"

"I'm not really sure, to be honest.  There's a girl here at the warren that 
I think he's... involved with, and they seem to be very good friends, 
but..."  He shrugged.

She chuckled.  "You can never get a straight answer here at the warren, you 
know?  Ah, well.  Not like he's going to be up to anything, from what I hear 
of his injuries."  There was a sudden protest from two-year-old lungs.  
"Gotta go, buddy.  I'll check in on you later."

Kyven watched his sister dash out the door and rescue his twins from the 
guard-- or, more accurately, rescue the guard from the twins-- and herd the 
children down the hall as the guard shut the door, a look of relief on his 
face.  He lay listening to their receding voices until he couldn't hear them 
anymore, then turned back to the book.

It was nearing suppertime when he found it.

"Mila!" he yelled, as his feet hit the floor, "I found it!"

The door flew open and a guard stepped in, looking worried.

"Tell Mila I found the poison-- the one the assassin used on Aleta and I-- 
and that it has an antidote.  Quick, man!  What are you doing standing there 
like an idiot?"

******

[Almiron]

He awoke suddenly and sat up, confused.  The Medical Center-- that's where 
he was.  His legs!  He ran his hands over them, feeling the sensation.  He 
tried to move his foot and watched as his foot responded.  Tears of relief 
stung his eyes and he buried his face in his hands in relief.

"Almiron?"

He looked up and saw Kyven in the next bed.  He smiled weakly.  "I can feel 
again."

Kyven shook his head in wonderment.  "Let me get a healer here."

"No.  I'll do it."  Almiron swung his legs over the side of the bed and 
slipped off.  He braced himself as his legs protested the sudden 
unaccustomed weight.  Then slowly, he made his way across the room and 
opened the door.

The guard did a double-take.

"Could you get healer for me?" Almiron asked.  "I think I have recovered."

The guard nodded mutely and then fled.

<Pet, you are well again.>

<Yes, my friend.>

<This is some happy news.  I'm going to tell-->

<No!  I want to surprise someone.  After that, you can tell.>

Darshan sighed.  <Please?>

<It won't take long, I promise.>

<Well, okay,> Darshan gave in.  <Do you want to know what all has happened 
today?>

<Not now.  I just want to celebrate for bit.  You can tell me later.>

"How do you feel?" Kyven asked.

"Famished and wonderful."

It wasn't long before he had been totally checked out and given a clean bill 
of health.  All indication of his injuries, beyond some scars, was gone.  He 
wolfed down some food that was brought to him, showered and dressed and 
walked out of the Medical Center, feeling like he could dance.  It was the 
time when those of the warren were curling up in bed and drifting to sleep.

Makayla was curled up next to Darshan.  <Darshan, could you ask that Makayla 
not tell her rider I am well yet?>

<She asks why.>

<Darlea is one I wish to surprise.>

The dragons conferred.  <She won't tell.  Her rider is in her apartment, 
getting ready for bed.  She asks if you would like her to bring you to her 
apartment, since I can't.>

Almiron patted his dragon's side.  <I will get you healed soon, my friend.  
Tell Makayla I am grateful for her assistance.>

He mounted the green dragon, adjusting his weight till the dragon was 
comfortable, and the two flew off to Darlea's apartment.  He slipped off the 
dragon and walked silently and swiftly till he was against the wall by the 
entrance from the human part to the dragon section of the apartment.  Soon, 
he heard Darlea's soft footfalls as she walked barefoot out to the dragon's 
quarters.

"Well?" Darlea asked out loud, looking at the dragon, "What did you want?"

Almiron silently stepped behind her and wrapped his arms around her.  Darlea 
screamed in surprise, turning in his arms to face her captor.  She stopped 
in shock as she saw his face.

"Almiron?  You...?"

"Surprise," he said, his dark eyes dancing in merriment at her shocked 
expression.  Then he pulled her to him and kissed her, feeling, with a joy 
akin to religious reverence, his body respond to hers pressing against him.

<Thank you, Hehran,> he thought.  <I was wrong to doubt.  Oh, thank you.>

Respectfully submitted,
 Lynette R. F. Cowper
  Almiron and Darshan
   (Kyven and Aethnod)

NRPG: Well, whatever happened today, neither Kyven nor Almiron know about, 
so I hope that gives everyone a lot of operating room for whatever.

Is anyone going to notice Keev?

Kris: Hope you didn't mind me borrowing Darlea for a surprise...

Susan: Do they have the antidote from the Sword Guild?

Oh, and Darshan is making the announcement to whatever dragons will listen, 
now that Almiron has pulled off his surprise.

 **********************************************************************
 * 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.                     *
 **********************************************************************