10/26

>       "You'll have plenty to do from now on." T'grat warned her "When I hear 
>you cursing me for overworking you.... and I will!... I'll remind you of
>what you just said.  If you've no questions I suggest you all get going....
>I won't be so lenient and indulgent from now on.  This is where you all
>start to earn your keep."
>
>       As the trainees turned to leave, T'grat called out;
>
>       "Aleipha... I'd like a word with you please."
>
>       The girl said a quick goodbye to her friends, and then walked to where
>T'grat was standing.
>
        Piper hung back for a few moments waiting for Aleipha to come out
and then headed out to look for an apartment alone.

        It took little time for the girl to find an apartment that suited
her, but Bishvilea was a bit more particular.  

        *I can't just sleep anywhere, Piper,* the golden-red dragon said,
giving the girl the impression that the dragon pouted.  *I need room to
stretch out in.*

        Piper shook her head, *They all look the same to me, Bishvilea.  But
I would like to be close to Aleipha.*

        The dragon flew quickly to an apartment the suited her.  *How about
this one, Piper.  The one next door is free also.*

        Piper shrugged, *If you are happy, I'm sure that I'll be happy.*
Piper swung down off of Bishvilea's back and went to look the rooms over.
They were clean, neat and sparse, but had everything she would need.
Absently she wondered how she should decorate her apartment, what kinds of
things she could add to make it her own.  

        Bishvilea interrupted her reverie, *Penthos and Aleipha are on their
way.*  The thought intruded in the matter-of-fact way that the golden red
dragon always intruded, a soft, gentle mental touch.

        *Tell them to look at the apartment next door!* Piper was excited,
hoping that Penthos wouldn't take a disliking to it.  Dragons could be -so-
picky.

        "Harrumph!"  Bishvilea snorted, *I am not 'picky.' I am meerly
discriminating.*  Piper turned to look at the dragon.  *After all, dragons
are much more sensitive than humans.*

        Now it was Piper's turn to harrumph, but it turned into a chuckle
and then into a laugh, and continued until tears were streaming down the
girls face. *I love you, Bishvilea my love,*  she said, wrapping her arms
around the dragon's neck.  *You are wonderfully discriminating, and of
course, you chose the best apartment for us.*

        The dragon peered down at the Bardling that was her rider and said,
*Of course, I did, Piper.  I am always right.*

        Piper petted the dragon's warm smooth hide, and finally thought, *I
wonder how Aleipha and Penthos are coming in finding an apartment.  I should
move my things up here from the trainee's barracks while we wait.*

*          *          *          *          *

Later,

        Piper was finished in no time putting her few things away.  She
looked around satisfied.  It would take a while to get the apartment fixed
the way she wanted it, she would need to barter for a few luxuries, but it
would be more comfortable place than the barracks had been.

        *Suppertime, I think, love,* Piper said to her dragon, who lounged
near the ledge in the westering rays of sunlight.

        *Penthos and Aleipha are ready for supper also,*  Bishvilea replied,
and stretched before allowing Piper to slip onto her neck ridge.  

        *Let's go, then,*  Piper said, and the pair made the short trip down
to the bowl, where Piper hopped off.  Aleipha and Penthos joined them
moments later and the two girls headed for supper while their dragons went
to theirs.

        The dining room was busy tonight, and the talk was loud and raucous.
The girls found some food and a table toward the side, where they could have
some relative peace and quiet to talk about the recent events.  Suddenly,
they noticed a sudden quiet and both looked up to see what had caused the
change.

>       After a moment's consideration on the ways of dragons H'tor entered the 
>busy dining hall. Conversations stopped and eyes tracked him as moved to 
>where he could put together his evening meal.
>
>       He had reached the table when the first of the clever comments on his 
>appearance began to circulate throughout the hall. He took no apparent 
>notice of the jokes at his expense. Jokes about his weak attempt to achieve
the >color of the dragon Haroc were particularly popular among the younger
>dragonriders. Almost everyone had something to say about the filthy and
>blood-soaked man who felt the need to interrupt their dinner with his
>outlandish appearance. When he turned to leave with his bundle of food
several >called out to him advising how to achieve a richer, fuller color or
suggested >other ways he could liven up their evening meal.
>
>       H'tor exited the dining hall without reply, stowed his supper in his
>pack and retrieved his ax and polearm from where Haroc ate noisily.
>

        By the time H'tor left the dining hall, the noise level had risen
above what it had been before.  Piper tried to talk to Aleipha, but she felt
she could barely be heard over the din.  "What do you want to do tonight?
We have a few free hours.."


Respectfully submitted,
Piper and Bishvilea

NRPG: Well, Michelle, what kind of trouble can they get into next? :)  Any
one else who would like to approach the pair while they are eating and
thinking is welcome... I'm looking for a way to work more into the story line :)

Louise #8->
  


sanya42@mwci.net

Very funny, Scotty. Now beam down my clothes.