From: "Mint" <mint@saqnet.co.uk>

[Minty]

>Khi put a hand on David's shoulder, and squeezed gently.  "Ye need rest,
>and food.  Have ye eaten since this started?" She asked.  David was about
>to nodd yes, but shook his head.  "I thought so.  Go'n get somethin'
>t'eat, and get some rest as well." She said, and pushed him towards the
>door.  "I need t'have a talk with yer mate here..."  She then pushed him
>outside, and before he could protest, the door was shut in his face.

Once she was sure that David wasn't going to reappear she turned back
to Minty.

"Ye should be easy on him."  Khi said as she settled into the chair at
the side of the bed.  "He's worried sick about t' bairn.  Ye've only t'
look t' see that."

"He's fixed it with the medical staff that I can't leave here so I
can't go look for my baby! He should be out looking for Zael, mother
Khi.  I can't but he can."  Minty said tiredly, all her energy drained
by anger and despair. 

"Yer neither of yer listenin' t' other are ye?"  Khi said gently,
shaking her head.  "Me son hears only what he *thinks* ye said and
jumps t' wrong conclusions...."

"He doesn't trust me, mother Khi."  Minty shrugged helplessly and
picked at the bedspread with agitated fingers.   "He thinks I've harmed
Zael and I'm lying to cover it up.  And because of that he won't go
look for him and he's the only human in the warren who can hear Zael's
mental cries."

Khi caught Minty's restless hands in her own and held them tightly as
she continued talking.

"Yer still no' takin' in what he said are ye?  He canna hear t' dragons
anymore.  He's been looking for t' bairn but he's no more able to hear
t' mental calls than any other rider."

"What!?"  Minty was startled and confused by Khi's words.  "But then
why didn't he tell me before today? I never even guessed!  How could I
know if he didn't tell me.  I wouldn't have been so hard on him if I'd
known.  How long have you known?  Why did he tell you and not me?"

"Pride mebbe?  No' wantin' t' appear lackin' in yer eyes?  Mebbe he
hoped et would come back given time.  Don't ye feel bad about et... he
didna tell us until yesterday when he was tellin' us how helpless he
felt no' being able to find his own son."

Tears welled in Minty's violet eyes.  

"I have to find him and tell him how sorry I am."  Minty said as she
pushed back the bedcovers and swung her feet to the floor. 

"Give him time t' calm himsel'."  Khi advised as she pushed Minty
gently back towards the bed.  "He'll realise that et was t' worry and
fear that drove ye t' hurt him and he'll forgive ye.  What we need t'
concentrate on es t' mystery of yer visit t' Keldarra.  Do ye have any
idea what could ha' happened?"

Minty paused for a long moment and then nodded thoughtfully.

"There's one thing that could explain it."  she told Khi  "At least I
think it could."

Khi listened carefully as Minty explained about time 'ports and how
she'd discovered that they were possible when she'd realised that she
had to go into the past to help David when he was possessed by the
amulet he'd found in the wraiths caverns.

"And ye think that mebbe that's what happened to ye and Zael?"  Khi
asked eventually  "Ye 'ported back a month or so?"

"It would explain why we both have the same memories of me visiting
Keldarra ... but a month apart."  Minty said  "Something happened on
the way to Keldarra.  Kirimith was knocked out of her teleport and she
lost her way in time rather than space.  There have been some strange
things happening around here lately.  I've heard some really strange
tales about pockets of non-magic suddenly opening up, creating havoc
and then closing again.  David was caught in something like that on his
way back to Marrid earlier today."  Once again tears welled in her
eyes.  "And I was so wrapped up in Zael's disappearance that I didn't
pay much attention to him.  He might have died, mother Khi, and I'd
never have seen either of them again."

"There there lovie."  Khi held her against her ample breast as Minty
sobbed quietly "Et's no use cryin' over might haves.  We need t' find
out exactly what happened t' ye and Kirimith and then we'll have a
better chance of workin' out where Zael es.  Can ye ask Kirimith ef she
remembers?"

Minty shook her head and cried harder.  "Kiri's still unconscious from
whatever happened.  I'll have to wait until she wakes up before I can
ask her."

*******
[Breeze - mid afternoon Day 3]


"OK."  Trey called to the trainees.  "That's all for today, but I want
you all back here bright and early tomorrow morning.  In the meantime
you should all take the opportunity to see the warren's leathercrafters
and get your dragon's measure for a temporary saddle and harness for
your first flight.  You'll need to get your dragon properly fitted for
custom work saddles once they reach full growth, but you'll have to
make do with what there is till then.  Dismissed."

Breeze sighed with relief and brushed the strands of damp hair away
from his forehead as he picked up the oil bottles and rags he'd been
using to oil Saskia's hide.

*Phew.. it's warm this afternoon.* he grinned at his dragon following
behind him.  *Much too warm to spend in a dusty workroom with a load of
other trainees.  Can you ask one of the others if there's a stream or
lake within human walking distance so we can go take a swim?*

There was a moment's silence and then Saskia replied.  *Koroth says
we're not to leave the warren just yet.  There's too many strange
things happening around Marrid and we can't fly ourselves out of danger
if we encounter something.*

Breeze looked back towards the training ground and shrugged a grin at
the trainer's watching dragon.  It wouldn't do to get on the wrong side
of authority if he hoped to make anything of himself here, he decided. 
Swimming would wait.

<OK... we'll stay in the warren.>  he sent as he turned away.

<..>

There was a terrified moaning noise coming from somewhere in the quiet
apartment as Breeze skirted the sleeping figure of Tina's dragon.  He
followed the soft sounds and found Tina tossing restlessly in a tangle
of sheets, her cheeks marked with the tracks of earlier tears.  She
fought against him as he held her, striking out in fury as he tried to
soothe her disturbed sleep.

"Tina.  Wake up."  he shook her gently  "It's OK.  It was only a
nightmare."

Her eyes flickered open and she stared at him blankly for a long second
before recognition crept into her eyes.  Then she sat up and buried her
face in his chest holding on to him for dear life as he hugged her and
tried to ease the trembling that wracked her slim body.

<..>

>"Breeze I need to borrow some clothes, my leathers are kind of ruined."
she said finally.

>"Sure Tina, but wouldn't you be better off getting some new 'female' 
>clothes?"  Breeze answered

>"Sure, if I wanted to be plain and boring. No I intend to get another 
>suit of leathers made. I've got all the bits that go under the leather, 
>but I'm never wearing that suit again."

She shuddered as she looked quickly away from the ruined suit that hung
over the back of the chair.  Breeze stroked her hair and murmured his
understanding.

<A little later>

"These were all I could find that might do."  he told her as he handed
over the dark pants and white shirt he'd fetched from his room in the
hatchling barracks.  

She thanked him, then took the bundle through to the bedroom to change.
 A short time later she emerged again, tucking the shirt's tails in as
she closed the door.

"Well?"  she asked as she turned on the spot to give him a closer look
at her outfit.  

"They'll do until you can get something that fits a little better. " 
he told her,  admiring the way the material of his pants clung
sensuously to her curving hips and hugged her lean thighs.  

Those pants had never looked so.. so...  provacative on him.  Nor had
the shirt moulded itself to his body and strained across his chest in
just that fashion.

"Good."  she tapped his cheek and grinned as her eyes strayed downwards
to the bulge at his crotch.  "I'll catch you later."

<..>

He nodded to Shella as he approached Tina's door with his arms filled
with clothes.  He'd managed to borrow some appropriate female attire
from one of the carnival's women performers.

*Is Tina home?*  Breeze asked Shella

*She is.*  Shella told him shortly

Breeze thanked Shella quickly, wondering why the dragon appeared to be
out of sorts.  He shrugged, and raised his hand to push aside the
curtain that guarded the entrance when he heard the sound of light
female voices and the clink of glasses coming from inside.

*But she has company.*  Shella told him smugly

Breeze placed the bundle of clothes he carried on the ground and turned
away.

*Will you tell her I was here and that I hope the clothes will do until
her leathers are ready?*  Breeze asked Shella.

*******
[Minty - evening Day 3]

"I feel terrible lying to David this way, mother Khi."  Minty said as
she packed the last of her things into the pack that Khi had brought
for her.  "If he finds out that I'm not here..."

"We'll cross t' bridge when we reach et."  Khi told her firmly.  "Ye've
enough t' worry about wi'out needing t' make sure me headstrong son
doesna go runnin' off half cocked."

"But to tell him I don't want to see him and then to sneak out without
a word!"  Minty fastened the last buckle and then looked at David's
mother sadly.  "If he finds out he'll never trust me again."

"Ef et's as dangerous as ye say t' try t' jump through time..."

"Believe me it is."  Minty shuddered as she remembered the last time
she'd attempted to do just that.  "It killed our first born and nearly
cost me my own life.  If that is what happened to Zael I'm frightened
that I won't find him alive.  If that *is* what happened.  Why weren't
Kirimith and I affected by the experience?  Am I clutching at straws?"

"Who's t' say yer no' affected?  D' ye remember anythin' that happened?
 Does Kirimith?  Why did she spend t' best part of two days en a coma
ef she wasn't affected?  I know et's frutratin' fer ye but ye need t'
keep yer mind clear fer this."  Khi told her, hugging her tightly. 
"I'll distract David ef he discovers ye be gone.  Ye just bring back me
grandson ef yer able.  Now.. ready?"

"As ready as I'll ever be."  Minty said with a strained smile.  "Let's
get on with it."

********
[Breeze - lunchtime day 4]

He was so startled by the unexpectedness of the voice in his mind that
he almost fell over his own shadow.

><:Excuse me... I don't recognize you, but could I ask a favor?:>
>
>**shock**
>
>+Do I know you? Where are you?+
>
><:Umm, probably not, and that's not important. My rider is kind of sick and
>not feeling up to cooking. Could I ask you to fetch them dinner from the
>Dining Hall - since you seem to be going that way anyhow and I can't fit
>very well through the door?:>
>
>+I suppose I can. Why all the secrecy? Who are you?+
>
><:I can't really explain that right now, I made a promise. If you could
>just pick up something light and bring it around to the entry to this
>apartment...:>

Breeze's mind was suddenly filled with an image of a dusty and
forgotten ledge high up in the cliff.  The steps leading upwards
appeared next and he nodded mentally as he fixed the images in his
mind.

><:...that would really help a lot. They need the rest and I don't want them
>leaving here when they wake.:>
><:Don't come in, just leave it. They're quite contagious.:>

Contagious?  Breeze hesitated then.  Suppose it was something that
could be passed to Saskia?  Perhaps he should insist on fetching a
healer for the rider.  He racked his brain for a second trying to
remember the names of the healers he'd heard mentioned since he'd
arrived here.  C'tain... no he was sure he'd heard that he'd left
Marrid.  It would have to be Koda.

>+Sure. My name's Breeze... sure you don't want to tell me who you are? I
>promise I won't tell... if they're sick I can get Healer Koda up here and
>have someone look after the baby...+
>
><:NO!!:> Daetyn shouted, louder than she meant to. <:I can't. I don't dare
>- I don't know if they'll make anyone else sick. But thank you for your
>help Breeze. Just leave it on the ledge, walk away and forget about me for
>a while, okay? Don't tell anyone we're here.:>
>
>+Well that's hard if I don't know who you are...+

Breeze shrugged as he continued on his way to the dining hall.  There
was no accounting for dragon's whims he decided, and if the dragon
wanted to make a mystery of things who was he to argue.

<..>

"Didn't I just serve you?"  the cook asked him 

He grinned in what he hoped was disarming fashion and nodded.  

"I.. er... yes!"  he said quickly.  "But I...er... I'm a growing lad
and I need to get enough vitamins and stuff?"  He leant a little nearer
and lowered his voice to a soft caress.  "And I do so love your
cooking.  It reminds me of my mother's."

The cook flushed at the compliment and quickly handed him another tray
of food, her fingers lingering on his as their hands brushed.

"There."  she said with a coy smile.  "And if you need *anything* else
you just have to ask.  Remember to ask for Brenna..."

He took the tray and thanked her profusely, escaping before he could
burst into laughter. 

<..>

>+Dragon?+ Breeze's tentative mental brush woke Daetyn out of her drowsing.
>+I brought that meal, although Cook thinks I'm a little wierd for asking
>for dinner twice.+
>
><:I appreciate your help. Just leave it on the ledge...:>

He did as he was asked and then moved backwards a little.

><:Thanks. Run along and as soon as we get things straightened out, I'll
>thank you in person... well, you know what I meant.:>

Breeze sighed at the dragon's words and moved further back.  If he
could see the dragon maybe he'd be able to figure who the rider was and
then he'd be able to get Koda up here to help her.  Though she hadn't
said so, he was sure the dragon was a female.... her mental voice was
definitely much softer than a male, more feminine.

>Breeze watched the leg come out and take the tray back into the apartment
>in mild confusion. Nobody had ever told him about a *silver* dragon at the
>warren.  Weren't metallic dragons always queens?  He knew there were supposed to be two queens at Marrid because Trey had mentioned it during training.  So where did a third queen fit in?

>He shrugged and went back to the Med Center to check on Tina. He'd
>work it out.

<..>

*Where are you going now?*  Saskia asked plaintively  *We should be
getting back to training soon and I still haven't eaten.  I'm dying of
the hunger!*

*Ah I'm sorry Sask.*  Breeze said apologetically  *I got caught up in
taking that dragon's rider some food and I completely forgot about you.
 Where are you?  I'll fetch you some meat and meet you on the green.*

*I'm already on the green.*  his dragon told him.  *With Kaylin'sha and
his rider.  The human would like to talk with you.*

*Uh oh.  What did I do wrong?*  Breeze asked as he hurried down the
last few steps and almost ran towards the hatchlings barracks. He
picked up a bucket of meat and headed outside again.  

Spotting David oiling his dragon a short distance away, with
Kaylin'sha's bulk providing a welcome screen from the sun for the pair,
he hurried over to them.

He plonked the bucket under Saskia nose and then turned to David.

"Saskia said you wanted to see me."  he said "I don't mean to be rude
but we're supposed to be on the training field in about 5 minutes. Can
whatever it is wait until after training?"

"I just wanted t' ask who et was ye were visitin' up in A'Rillia's old
apartment."  David told him.  

"Who's A'Rillia?"  Breeze asked distractedly.  "Sask...slow down we've
still got a mintue or two.  You'll choke if you gulp like that."

"A'Rillia... t' healer." David offered.  "Ye were up at her
apartment."

"Was I?"  Breeze stalled, trying to do what the silver dragon had asked
of him. "Look I'm really sorry but we have to go now."

He picked up the now empty bucket and chivvied Saskia towards the
training field where the trainees were beginning to gather after the
midday break.

"Come ON, Saskia!"  he called to the dawdling dragon.  "Thanks for
oiling him!"  he called to back to David.

<..>

Breeze tried to concentrate on what Trey was saying about recognising
the symptoms of various draconic dieases but his mind kept wandering
back to the strange behaviour of the silver dragon. If her rider was
sick then maybe he should have told David about it and he could have
arranged for Koda to see to her.  Hadn't her dragon said she was
contagious?  Suppose the silver had caught whatever it was her rider
had and she'd passed it to Breeze.  Saskia could be in danger!

"And I suppose your dragon is completely immune to the diseases that
can kill other dragons?"  Trey asked as he stopped before Breeze.  "Pay
attention Breeze.  What you learn now could one day save your dragon's
life.  Now, the symptoms of ..."

"Can dragons catch human diseases?"  Breeze interupted him.  "If a
rider was contagious could her dragon catch the disease and pass it to
another rider who'd pass it to his dragon?"

"We've already covered that."  Trey told him  "If you'd been listening
instead of daydreaming you'd know there are cases where human and
dragon can crossinfect.."

"I need to see a healer and have someone check Saskia for whatever it
is the silver's rider might be carrying."  Breeze stood up decisively. 
"The silver dragon said her rider was contagious ..."

"Hold on."  Trey held up his hand to stem the flow of words.  "If you'd
let me finish you'd know I was talking about crossinfection of wounds
between species.  Now start again and tell me exactly what you're
talking about."

Breeze took a deep, calming breath and explained exactly what had been
said and how strange he thought it that the silver hadn't wanted him
to fetch a healer for her sick rider.  

"If I've caught something from being close to the silver I could pass
it on to Saskia and any of the other dragons that I've been near since
then."  Breeze finished.

"And where exactly did you encounter this silver dragon you're talking
about?"  Trey asked patiently

"Up there..."  he waved upwards in a vague fashion.  "David said it was
someone called A'Rillia's apartment."

<Late evening - Tina's place>

Tina had been unusually quiet throughout the evening, her usual joy in
being alive muted by her recent ordeal.  They'd left the dining hall
early and brought a bottle of wine to share as they sat quietly
together. 

"A copper for your thoughts."  Breeze said as he put his glass on the
small table beside the couch, and moved closer to Tina.  

He placed a gentle arm around the woman's shoulder and urged her
towards him, lifting her chin with his free hand and lowering his head
to place a delicate kiss on her trembling mouth.  For just a moment she
allowed herself to relax against him and savour the soft movement of
his mouth on hers.  

Encouraged, he probed gently at her lips with his tongue seeking
entrance to the hot sweet, depths of her mouth.

Shuddering, she pulled away from him and buried her face in her hands.

"Tina?"  he questioned, puzzled by her withdrawal

<Tag James!>


submitted by

Minty & Kirimith
Breeze & Saskia


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