[Two Days Before the Magic Shifts]

"Wait here while I see if the Warrenlady is busy." B'rall said, looking
the skinny man in front of him up and down.  "And she 'usually' is."
The man just nodded, and when the rider turned around, he slipped by into
the room before the man could do anything.

"Ahhh.... m'lady!" Zaphir made a bow that would make a king blush,
flourishing his cape widely as he met Waylene.  "It is so good to meet
you!"

B'rall rushed in and took him by the arm.  "That's enough old man." He
said, and looked at Waylene.  "I'm sorry m'lady.  He slipped by me..."

"Nonsense!  You opened the door and I had to make a proper entrance."
Zaphir said, "Now unhand me you brute..."

"It's ok, B'rall.  I think he's harmless." Waylene smiled, "Isn't that
right harper?"  B'rall let him go, but stood close by just in case.

"So I am found out!" Zaphir chuckled, and shrugged.  "And so I am.  From
the guild in Magek in fact.  Currently I am traveling with a wonderful
carnival..."

"So that is what is piling up on my Warren green." She said, 

"Ahh..." Zaphir coughed, and then nodded.  "Yes, that would be it."

"So what do you and your fellows want?" She asked, standing up and walking
over to a cabinet.

"To entertain your warren for a bit m'lady!" The harper said with another
flourish.  "Games, acts of bravery, song and dance...."

"Is that right?" Waylene said as she took out a bottle of wine and poured
it into a glass.  The bright red texture was heightened in the crystal
goblet.

"Of corse...." Zaphir began, dropping off in mid sentance as he caught
sight of the wine.  Waylene poured another glass slowly.

"And what can the warren do for you in return for your services Master..."
Waylene asked, carrying the glasses to her desk.

"Zaphir." The man said, and licked his lips.  "All we ask for is a few
nights dwelling, access to your lovely green for our tents and booths, and
perhaps a trade of supplies and such..."

Waylene took a light sip from one of the glasses.  "I'm sure a comprimise
can be reached... but is your show good?" She asked.

"Good!"  Zaphir cried, and produced five colored balls from nowhere and
started juggling them.  "My lady, we are more than good!  The Travelers
Bazarr is known throughout the kingdom for its shows and oddities, as well
as being the main attraction commisioned by the king himself years ago for
the capitol's 500th anniversary."  He performed a few small acrobatics as
he talked, the colored juggling balls still flowing through the air.  "We
are 'THE' show to see!"

Waylene smiled, and nodded.  "Well, I suppose we could use a bit of
cheering up around here.  I'm sure that your people will mind their
manners while they stay here?"

Zaphir made his juggling balls dissappear one by one.  "They will, m'lady.
By my honor."  His eyes kept darting to the full wine glass sitting on
Waylene's desk.

"Then it is settled.  And we can arrange a trade for supplies as well
later." She said as she stood up, carrying both glasses.  "Is that ok?"

Zaphir looked at the wine glass, and grinned.  "You torture me so,
Warrenlady.  But how could I resist?"  He nodded, and Waylene held out the
glass of wine.  He took a long, deep gulp and sighed.  "Marrid wine, from
10 years past.  Still wonderful!"

"I'm glad you approve." Waylene laughed, and finished her glass.

"Well, I must be going.  The work is just beginning, and I believe I have
a dining hall to entetrtain before bedtime.   Thank you for your generous
hospitality, m'lady."  The harper made another bow, flouished his cape,
and walked out of the room.  Waylene laughed to herself after the man had
left.

"Is he ok?" B'rall asked as he watched the door swing closed.

"I certainly hope so." Waylene giggled, and sat down at her desk.  "Either
that, or I just gave a madman permission to hold a carnival at Marrid."
At that, she giggled even more.  

*** NRPG: I hope I did Waylene proud, Kris.  Any changes or additions,
please feel free! ***

[The Day Before the Magic shifts]

[afternoon]  

"You, lad!" Theos yelled out after the young man.  "Damn it all... what is
his name Stasha?"  He asked the woman next to him as he held a bar in
place.     

"His name is Breeze, love." She replied, and slipped a rope through the
bar, pulling it taught.  "You've asked me enough times since he joined up
with us."

"That right." Theos nodded to himself, and called out again.  "Breeze!
Come here lad!"  

A minute later the young man came running around the tent, sliding to a
halt.  "Yes, sir?" He asked.

"Where are you off to today?" Theos asked as he tested the bar, making
sure it held well to the ground.

"I was going to find... someone I know." He said.

"I thought you have never been here?" Stasha remarked as she tied another
knot in the rope.

"Uh... I haven't.  But riders come into Wellcot all the time." He added,
smiling.  "I just want to say hi."

Theos laughed.  "Well, you'll have plenty to time this afternoon to be
running about.  For now, I need you to help Stasha here put up the rest of
the tents.  I've got to go over the schedule for tomorrow with Kallil."

"Ok." Breeze said, already looking at the sky at the dragons flying in
and out of the warren.

Stasha took his arm, and winked at Theos.  "Don't worry, he'll be all
right with me."

Theo's nodded, and headed toward the main wagon.

[...]

"Are you sure you want to do the schedule this way?" Sharon asked, looking
intently at Kallil.  "Putting my act in the middle of the lunch hour?"

Kallil sniffed and looked over the paper again.  "It will be perfect.  The
riders will want some enterainment with their meal and I'm sure they would
love to come out to the warren green to have some of our lovely exotic
food.  They are well fed here to be sure, but Leon knows many recipies
from many lands.  And what better way to entertain riders than with your
expertise knife throwing?"

Sharon shrugged.  "If you say so.  But don't expect my new trick yet, I'm
still working on it and it would be a shame to lose Theos here..."

"Hey!  Who said I was going to be the target?!" Theos looked around.  

"It is your turn." Zaphir said.  "In case you have forgotten.  Besides, I
don't think I have ever seen Sharon miss before."

"There's a time for everything." Theos mumbled, and smiled.  "To be
sure.  Fine then, at the lunch hour."

"And you, Zaphir, I know that you will be running around the fair grounds
doing your work, yes?" Kallil asked.

"Of coarse.  And in the evening I will be singing the Talerion Cycle in
all it's glory!" The harper smiled, and refilled his wine goblet.

"And Theos, your acrobats are ready for the night?"

"We are ready any time of the day!" The man said, "As long as I am there
to perform my act." He said, nudgeing Sharon in the ribs.  Everyone began
to laugh.

"Yes, it would ba a shame to lose such a talented..." she began, and
pushed over his chair, knocking the man off balance. "acrobat as
yourself."

"Hey!" He called out from the ground.

"That's enough you two.  The only change in our regular schedule is
Cleitus's act.  He will be performing after you Theos." Kallil said, and
looked at the illusionist.  "So what is your performance going to be?"

"Oh, a little this a little that." He said, and made a toothy grin.  "I
suppose the pinbox would suffice, as well as sawing a warren voulenteer 
in half.  Just an illusion of coarse..."

"Of coarse." Kallil nodded with a grin.  "They would love to see that."
He sat back and put his hands across his girth.  "Well, now that that is
seettled, I need you all to get the camp ready.  We need the booths open
and ready to go tomorrow morn and all the acts ready to give the day
after!"

[evening]

David took a deep breath, sighing contently to himself.  His eyelids
drooped down slowly as he watched the fire burn in the hearth, his mind
falling asleep after a long day and an even longer evening trying to get
Zael to fall asleep.

Minty lay against him, already breathing softly, her eyes moving
underneath her lids rapidly.  David wondered what kind of dream she was
having.

*David, are you asleep?* Kaylin asked.

David opened his eyes lazily, and stared towards the wall behind which
Kaylin and Kirimith slept.  'Yes, I am.' David thought, and closed his
eyes.

*Oh, well, maybe it can wait until morning.* The dragon sent, letting the
latter end drag on.  David mumbled to himself, something about never being
able to get any sleep with an insomniatic dragon on your hands.

'Ok, Kaylin.  What is it?'

*Someone was asking about us today, or at least that's what Ainu was
saying.  I had almost forgotten, but I just remembered... * The dragon
began, and David yawned.

'But ye don't know who they are?'

*No.*

'But they are here.'

*Yes.*

'Good, then maybe I'll see them tomorrow.  For now I am going t'bed.'
David finished.  'Thanks Kaylin.'

*You're welcome!* The dragon said happily.  

David looked down at Minty, and smiled to himself.  The golden earrings he
had given her sparkled by the firelight, and made small dancing lights
across her cheek.  "It's times like this that I know I'll love ye fer
ever." He whispered, and kissed her on the cheek.  She murmured something
and smiled.  David smiled, leaned back, and closed his eyes.  Time for
bed, and Minty will be up early tomorrow....

[The day the magic shifts]

[morning]

>Minty flushed warmly and pulled away.  She quickly mounted the saddle
>and urged Kirimith towards the outside ledge.  Once there she made sure
>Zael's straps were secure, settled herself comfortably in the saddle,
>blew a qucik kiss in David's direction and then slapped Kirimith's neck
>as a signal that all was ready.
 
>Kirimith launched herself from the ledge, circled the warren once and
>then blinked out.

David smiled and shook his head.  It was too bad they were leaving now,
with the carnival starting up.  But maybe he and S'an could go down and
have some fun.  

'Kaylin, can ye ask Joell if he would ask S'an if he would like t'see
te'fair today?' He sent.

*Of coarse, my rider.* The dragon sent back.

David fixed some breakfast, and waitied for the reply.  After a while,
while David was oiling his riding gear in the lair, Kaylin nudged him.

*Joell says that S'an would like to, right after he sees Yasmine in
Tressa.  Perhaps in the afternoon?*

'That would be good.  Tell him I'll meet him en te'dining hall right
after lunch hour.'

*Well do.*

'Oh, Kaylin, I need t'go down into te'bowl fer a while, and ye need a
bath...' He said smiling.  'And don't say ye can do it later.'

*Oh, if you insist...* Kaylin said, and streached.  *I feel like sun
bathing anyways.  There are many females down there...*

'Already looking around, and here Kirimith has not been gone fer three
hours!' David remarked, 'Perhaps I should tell Minty about et when she
returns?'

Kaylin looked at his rider askance, and harrumphed.  David laughed, and
began buckling the riding gear onto Kaylin.

[early-afternoon]

David bid Kaylin a nice bath before dismounting and heading across the
green to where Kendal held his self-defence classes.  David had been
meaning to talk with him about helping him teach since he wanted a little
more time to train aside from the private lessons he gave.  As he
approached, Kendal saw him and nodded with a smile.  David returned
the smile, and leaned up against a tree as he watched.  

"Ye do be pretty good there, Kendal." He said with a smile, and walked up 
to him.  "I've been meanign t'talk with ye about continuing te'classes,
and also if I could help ye as a co-instructor?" He asked, and added.  "We
would be able t'handle twice te'class size."

Kendal was about to reply when Kaylin interrupted David's thoughts.

*Rainy has died!* He sent, and David felt the emotional loss surge through
him.  David looked at Kendal and opened his mouth, but the young man spoke
first.

"Well have to talk later.  Trak want me to find out what happend..."
Kandal said, and David nodded.

"No problem.  I'll catch up with ye later." He said, "Be careful."

Kendal nodded, and David headed towards the dining hall.  He would have to
meet S'an there...

************ SUBMITTED BY ***********
Justin

NRPG:  Well, that should get me caught up.  There's more to come later
with the carnival and all.  Feel free everybody to have some fun with it!
:)  
       ___
       | |         Justin Almeida   
   ____| |____     almeidaj@nevada.edu
   |___   ___|     punchingbag@juno.com
       | |   
       | |         Las Vegas Valley Search for Christian Maturity  
       | |         Board Member - Communications Committee
       |_|