** Feeling Ganged Up On **

"I...shouldn't be drinking anything right now," she protested weakly. "I
really need to get back to work..." Koda the healer was beginning to feel
the guilt of doing nothing while others laid injured back in the med center.
She wasn't used to doing nothing while every other healer in the center was
over worked and still more injured were coming in.

But what else was she to do. Even to herself, she had to admit that she was
in no condition to do her best for those who needed her and her *at* her
best was what they deserved.

"But you'll feel so much better with a little restorative in you," he
pointed out. "I've worked many an all-night stakeout where I wouldn't have
been able to stay awake without one."

Reluctantly, Koda emptied the small cup. She had to try. Martyn had made her
eat and rest a bit and she really was feeling better... or so she told
herself. "Okay, I need to go back," Koda said, handing him the empty cup.
"There are still wounded to be tended."

But when she got up and headed for the entrance to the dragon's part of the
apartment, she found the doorway completely blocked by the bulk of her
dragon. Ribbon was snoring so loudly that Koda decided to let her have her
fun if the dragon was going to go to these lengths to keep her here, and she
went back inside to were an innocent looking Martyn stood waiting.

"Well, it seems your dragon has fallen asleep," Martyn told the anxious
Koda.  "And she hasn't been working nearly as hard or as long as you
have...does that tell you something?" He got up and drew her back over to
the couch. "Look, my dear... the other healers think you need a rest...your
dragon thinks you need a rest... I think you need a rest... I do believe you
are outvoted!"

Koda looked into his eyes. "It seems I am," she agreed with reluctance. She
knew she should get back to work with more injured coming in, but even she
had to admit...  she was wiped out. Smarter heads then her own were taking
charge. Her dragon being one of them, for she knew the deceiving beast
wasn't really asleep. Her tail was to quiet for one thing. Ribbons tail
*always* moved a bit at the tip when the purple dragon was really sleeping.
Something she never thought to mention to Ribbon.

Guiltily she gave in and thought how nice it felt to be sitting there
relaxing. Then amended it. Nice to be sitting here with Martyn. It was a new
habit she was finding to her liking, but tonight he seemed sort of ill at
easy and when she was about to ask him what was wrong, she head him cleared
his throat and plunged right in with out her prompting him.

"Koda....Lakoda...I've been wanting to tell you something," he said
hesitantly.  "I...well, when I first came from Daere to Marrid, it wasn't
with the intent of taking up permanent residence, you know...I was just
there on a mission from Jayleigh, and had had every intention of returning
after it 
was done."

Koda said nothing, just watched him and listened. She was almost afraid to
hear what he was about to tell her... And prayed it wasn't that he was
leaving her to go back to his old home.

"And...well...when I took it into my head to ask for a transfer, I told
myself that it was because Marrid needed me more than Daere did," he
continued.  "But that wasn't true... well, it *was* true, but I realize now
that that wasn't my real reason for wanting to stay at Marrid...and now here 
at Xylian."

"It wasn't?" she asked.  "Then what..."

Martyn swallowed hard. "Well...the real reason, was, I think, that if I'd
gone back to Daere, it wouldn't have just meant leaving Marrid...it would
have meant leaving you!"

He dropped his gaze, embarrassed. "My dear Koda, I just thought you should
know that...well, that I care a great deal for you...and for that adorable
little daughter of ours...and...well...if I do some things that may seem
impertinent.... like taking you away from your work tonight... though the
gods knew you needed some time away...it is only because I do care so much
for you, and couldn't bear to see anything bad befall you...if you know what
I mean...."

"Daughter of ... ours..." she said softly, her blues eyes watching his face
and showing him how much his words meant to her. "Oh Martyn... I was so
afraid you were about to tell me you had to leave me. That you were going
back to Daere to stay."

"You were afraid?" he asked, finally raising his eyes to meet hers and there
he saw her love for him.

"Yes afraid... I too care a great deal about you and it would have hurt me
dearly if you went away... I've come to enjoy my time with you... and I know
Talera loves you too."

She reached up slowly with her hand to touch the side of his face in a
loving caress, and felt a thrill deep inside when his hand covered hers and
his lips turned just a fraction of a inch to place a light kiss in the palm
of her hand.

"I don't think you need to look for a place to stay..." Koda said softly
hoping she wasn't going to far to fast. "You could move in here with Talera
and I... if you would like too... I ... mean... "

[[ Well John... will he move in?? ]]

"I know what you mean," he grinned, then caught his breath as her free hand
began to move. "Koda... Lakoda... it's too soon after the baby... we can't..."

"Trust me..." she whispered, moving so that her body now half covered his
and her lips went to work teasing another groan for deep inside of him. "Let
me Martyn... Let me love you."

His mind may have been warning caution, but his body had other ideas as her
hands and lips moved to slowly make love to him.
Gone were any rational thoughts as he gave into the feelings this small
woman brought forth from deep in his soul.....

She had done it for him to show him her love, not caring that she too hadn't
received the same satiation she had brought him too. This time it had been
for him.

............... 

Koda awoke later to find herself in her bed. She didn't remember getting
there but knew Martyn must have carried her after they had fallen asleep on
the couch. She smiled and thought how kind of him that was, then sat up and
looked around fearing that maybe she *had* gone to far... but was relieved
to see the pillow on the other side of the bed held the imprint of a head
and the covers were slightly pulled aside as if someone had just risen from
under them.

Then the door of her room opened and Koda looked up to see Martyn come in
with Talera in his arms. The little one had one tiny fist dug into the front
of his shirt as he carried her into the room, and even though she was calm
now, Koda could tell by the slightly red tint of her beautiful little face,
that she had recently been making her discomforts known.

"I heard her crying in the other room and thought I'd better check on her to
make sure she was okay," he told Koda when he noticed she was awake. "I
think she may be hungry... I ... changed her... before bring her in here."

Koda kept herself from laughing, just barely as she pictured this man going
through the process of changing a baby's nappy. Something she was sure he
had never had to face before in his many years of investigations.

She reached up and took her daughter from Martyn, and then without
embarrassment on her part, lowered the blanket she had covering her and
settled her daughter to her breast so the baby could feed.

"I didn't ask earlier..." Koda paused slightly as she remembered the reasons
for her forgetfulness... "But did you find anything when you went back to
search around this afternoon?"

"Umm..." Martyn nodded his head even as his eyes focused on the baby so
contently supping at her mother's beast. "A young boy who said he was from
Marrid. Havelok and I came upon him as a group of those monsters were about
to make dinner of him."

"Oh dear. You got him away safely," Koda eyes widen in alarm and Talera,
sensing the change in her mother's feelings began to fuss in her arms. "Shhh
sweetie... it's okay..." she murmured soothingly to calm the baby. 

"We effected a rescue and the lad is here safely in the Warren as we speak,"
Martyn assured her, not going into his and Havelok's heroics in the days
event. "His name he said was J'adoube."

"Oh Jad... he's a good lad. I'm glad to know he made it here to Xylian.
Though you said he was on his own when you found him?"

Martyn nodded his head. "We didn't see anyone else around at the time and he
didn't mention being with anyone so Havelok and I brought him here to be
looked over by a healer even though he didn't look to have taken any
injuries. I'm sure he's had something to eat by now and is resting somewhere
in a comfortable bed."

Talera, having finished her dinner, drifted off to sleep in her mothers
arms, and Koda very carefully placed her daughter over her shoulder and
began to rub it until the small tall-tale *burp* could be heard. Then when
she made to leave the bed, Martyn was by her side in an instant reaching for
the sleeping child.

"Let me... you go back to sleep for a while."

It was an offer she couldn't refuse and soon was drifting off back into a
deep slumber. So deep that she didn't even sense Martyn's return, but her
body did, moving slightly until it was comfortably settled in next to his
warmth.

.......

<Well it's about time you woke up,> Was the thought from her dragon when
Koda finally came awake the next morning. <You just have time to get dressed
and eat a GOOD breakfast before your late for your shift in the med center.>

<<And just who's fault is it that I over slept?>> Koda groaned as she threw
back the covers and stood up from the bed. But she wasn't really angry with
her dragon... or Martyn for the way they had tricked her the night before.
She really had been wiped out and the sleep had done wonders to restore her
to health.

Then she noticed Martyn was already gone. The clothes he had been wearing
yesterday were missing but she could see the travel bag he had with him when
he'd arrived placed carefully out of the way near the wall.

<Havelok's rider had already been up and helped feed our hatchling before
taking her...> Ribbon started but Koda wondering how Martyn had *fed* her
daughter... cut the dragon off.

<<How did Havelok's rider feed Talera?>>

<Don't you remember my rider?> came the amused reply from Ribbon. <Well
maybe not because you were still sleeping at the time... He brought our
hatchling in to you and... well... I assure you she was fed and happy when
he took her over to the woman who watches her while you are at the med center.>

The Med Center... Work... injured riders and others. Koda moved into a
higher gear and dressed quicker then she's ever done before then when she
tried to get out of the apartment to mount Ribbon for the short flight to
the med Center, Ribbon refused to take her until she'd eaten breakfast.

<I will take you as far as the place where you human's eat, but you are not
to go to work until you have replenished yourself with food. I promised
Havelok's rider I would see that you ate before allowing you to go back to
that place to work.>

Ari would love this, Koda thought grimly as she agreed to do as her
dragon..... and co-conspirator conned her into doing. Thoughts of the older
woman, the Queenrider made the healer smile. Ari would love anyone who could
get her to take care of herself.

Upon entering the dining hall she looked around to see if she could find
anyone she knew to sit with and that was when she spotted the small figure
of the boy Martyn had spoke of last night.

Jad.

She filled her plate and then made her way over to ask if she could sit with
him.

"Healer Koda... sure," the young man smiled as he recognized a familiar face
in the crowd. "I can't tell you how nice it is to see someone I know."

Koda laughed as she sat down. "I know what you mean... It'll take some
getting used to but I'm sure in time you'll make some new friends and this
place will seem like home."

[[Tag David... does he have anything he wants to talk about... questions to
ask..... Koda has a bit of time before she has to report back to the med center.

Koda left him soon after that, telling him if he needed any help she could
be found in the med center.

Ribbon, now that her rider had eaten a good meal, was very willing to take
the healer on to work.

"Well you look a hundred times better this morning," Nineve told her upon
seeing the Marrid healer enter the hall. "You rested well?"

"Not that I had any other choice in the matter once Martyn and my dragon
ganged up on me... But I really should have been here to check on my patients."

"I won't say that we could have used the extra hands, but you were really
looking bad when you came back yesterday, and wouldn't have been much help
to us if you had passed out sick. I know about the illness you have and know
how badly it can effect people who have it so you resting seemed more
important... besides... there's more for you to do this morning."

"Is the attack still going on?" Koda asked, suddenly feeling even more
guilty about the time she's spent away from here last night... and the fun
she'd had. 

"No it's quieted down," Nineve said, then added, "For now. But we're still
getting reports of a few sightings so we can't let down our guard yet.
Though damn creatures could just be regrouping and getting ready for another
attack."

"Does this happen often here?" Koda asked as they moved down the hall and
entered one of the examination rooms, then set about getting it ready just
in case of more trouble.

"Often enough," Nineve told her, handing her a few boxes to put on the shelf
behind her. "I take it you don't have to deal with waste monsters where you
come from?"

"Not until recently," Koda frowned slightly thinking about it.  "They
started showing up around the same time that the magic started shifting.
Until then they were only something parents told their kids about to get
them to behave."

"Some story," Nineve chuckled. "I guess the real thing is somewhat different
in appearances then the made up ones."

"You could say that. Well if we're finished here I'd better go check on the
woman we brought in yesterday."

......... 

The woman was alone when Koda entered the room and she saw her look up and
then hide the disappointment that crossed her eyes upon seeing someone she
didn't know.

Koda suspected she had been waiting for her daughter or someone else.

"Lady Kedrina... My name is Lakoda... or Koda... I'm your healer," she
introduced herself as she moved to pick up the chart attached to the end of
the bed.

"You're the healer who brought me here to this place and saved my life
right?" the lady asked.

Koda grinned slightly. "Well I was only one of the people who helped. But
it's nice to see you looking so much better this morning. I must say you
gave a quite a fright yesterday."

"I'll bet." The woman muttered more to herself then to Koda. "Have you heard
any word on how the town faired?"

"Not yet... But I'm sure I'll learn something soon. We've riders out doing
constant swaps so word should come in soon."

"How many other towns were effected by the attacks?" she asked and Koda
could well imagine her as the Lady in charge of what she ruled.

"I'm sorry I'm not to sure... you see I'm new here... One of the riders from
Marrid... and I'm just not up on the local towns and villages yet, so I
couldn't give you any names... But I can find out for you if you wish me too."

"Please...

[[ tag Jeanette... does she have any questions...]]

Billy was waiting for her when she made it back into the hall outside of
Lady Kedrina's room. He was trying not to look as worried as she knew he was.

"How is she?" he asked and Koda reassured him.

"Much better this morning," she told him. "She's awake now if you want to go
see for yourself. How's your friend Sari... this morning? I haven't been
into see her yet."

"Worried about her mother, but otherwise a lot better," she could see the
relief in his eyes. "Oh and I found the cutest little girl asleep in bed
with you Warrenlady this morning... She looked so peaceful that I didn't
have the heart to wake her up ... I hope that was okay?"

Koda nodded. "Her name is Martika... she's Waylene and Trak's adopted
daughter... I'll go check on her and inform her father where she is in case
he wakes up and finds her missing again."

[[ Tag Kris... does Waylene walk up and find Tinka there before Koda can
arrive? ]]

On her way to check on Waylene, she ran into Tina of Marrid coming out of a
room.

"Oh high Koda. I hope you don't mine my visiting this early, but one of the
rider's from Marrid was hurt and I just wanted to check on him to let him
know how things were going."

"No that's fine. Reassurance from a friend can help an injured rider more
then letting them sit there and worry about it... It's good to see that you
weren't injured... much... during the fight..."

[[ tag again James... Does she want to tell Koda about it before she goes in
and checks on Waylene? ]]

Later while she was sitting down to sample the lunch tray some kind soul had
sent over for her from the dining hall, Koda let her mind slip back to the
night before.

Martyn said he cared about her... and Talera... Maybe life here in this out
of the way place wasn't going to be so bad after all. Finally she felt she
had found someone who could understand her devotion to her healing arts and
still allow her to be a woman... One who happen to be joined to a dragon.
Maybe this time she had finally found someone who wouldn't resent the time
she spent in the med center and become jealous those few times a year when
Ribbon felt the urge to mate... who knows... Maybe Havelok would win.

<<Ribbon my love,>>

<Yes my rider?>

<<What do you think about Havelok?>>

<He's a very fine dragon,> Ribbon commented smugly, the added, <We'll see if
he's worthy enough when the time comes.>

****Submitted by: *****

Lakoda & Ribbon
Head Healer Marrid Warren
Currently in Xylian Warren

Aka
Barbara

Return to Xylian Posts for May 2000