<M'lent>


"Thank you."  the boy took a long swallow of the cider then wiped his hand
over his mouth.  "That was very welcome.  I'm sorry... I should have named
myself before."  He shook M'lent by the hand   "I'm called Edbert."


"Pleased to meet you Edbert."  M'lent smiled,  then took a swallow of ale  


"What did she mean  'be careful'?"  Edbert asked curiously  "Do I look that
disreputable?  It's been a long trip to get this far and I've haven't had
the little luxuries of life... hot baths, hot meals.. that sort of thing.
But I'm not a thug....."


"If Mira thought you were that type you'd be out the door so fast your feet
wouldn't touch the ground!"  M'lent shot a fond look in Mira's direction,
"It was a small misunderstanding I had with a lad about your age a few
months back.  I offered a drink and he thought I was interested in more
than conversation... if you get my drift?  She hasn't let me forget it
since..... Have you lass?"


Shaking her head, Mira deposited a plate of stew in front of the youngster.
 "Here eat up lad.  There's more where that came from.... "


"Put it on my...."  M'lent started


"...tab?   Already done!"  Mira told him.  


"You're starting to know me too well!"  M'lent laughed as she walked away.  


His eyes admired the subtle sway of her hips as she moved, and he sighed
with regret that he wouldn't be spending tonight with her after all. Still
no use brooding on that... he turned back to his guest and studied him as
he wolfed down the food that Mira had brought.  The boy couldn't be more
than 16 years old, and his weariness showed in the droop of his shoulders
as he hunched over the hot stew.  Ah.. but that aura of affinity!


"What brings you to Fairlight, Edbert?  There's not much to see once you
get this far into the mountains."


"I'm headed up to Keelands Gap."  Edbert answered round a mouthful of bread
 "Then up to Norwall  Warren."


"And once you reach the Warren?"  M'lent asked


M'lent studied the boy as he told of his ambition to Join with a dragon and
make a name for himself as a rider.  He nodded to himself happily, here was
another new recruit for Norwall... the boy would be a strong candidate for
one of Garnet's next clutch.  There was always so much satisfaction in the
Search..... especially since *his* Searchlings always Joined.


"You'll be most welcome at Norwall."  M'lent explained who he was, and his
job as Searcher for the Warren  "When you're ready Ebony will take us up to
Norwall..."


"Ebony?"  Edbert asked curiously


M'lent's reply was interrupted by the appearance of a small form ducking
and dodging among the tables.  Excusing himself, M'lent stood up quickly
and caught the fleeing figure....


"Easy girl.  Calm down."  he studied the flickering aura that surrounded
the small dirty face, and hid a smile at her sullen expression.  Another
one with the affinity!   "What's this you've got here?"  He pried the sack
from her grasp and tugged at the drawstring


"Food for my band!"  


The girl looked boldly into his face, though he could feel her shivering
under his restraining hand.  He smiled at her attempts to appear
unconcerned, and she glared at him fiercely.


"Go  take this to your band," he told her gently. "You're getting away with
this only
because I'm going to come with you."   


He shook his head as Morgan started towards them, indicating that he would
deal with the girl.  Understanding on his face, Morgan shrugged... as long
as he got paid he wasn't too worried about who was footing the bill.
M'lent took a firmer hold on the girl's thin shoulder;


"Lead the way.  Edbert wait here for me... this shouldn't take too long."


>She stalked out of the tavern, more sullen than she had ever been before. Had
>she been careless? Foolhardy? Stupid? In any case, she knew what she was now.
>'Terrified' didn't begin to describe her state.
>
>Soon the silent procession reached the base. She slowly opened the door and
>was greeted by a chorus of terrified gasps. Her steely glare silenced them
>all. She shrugged her pack from her shoulder and threw it to Arron's feet.
>"Here's your food, you fools. Jacus, get your tail over here."
>
>Her minion scurried into view. She gently laid a hand on his shoulder.
>"Jacus, lad, you're in charge now. I've been captured. I mentioned you in my
>rescue sheets, but I'm telling you now what's going on." She leaned to
>whisper in the new leader's ear. "And don't ever go on a food raid!" Domaia
>felt a light tug on her shoulder and took her cue. With that, she stalked out
>of the shack, dragonrider in tow. He managed to steer her back to the tavern.
>She groaned aloud. 
>
>"Oh, don't worry, young lady. You're in no trouble. Folk found on Search can
>be delivered from the law. You know what Search is, don't you?"
>
>Domaia snorted. "Yeah. You're on search when the law's after your hide." She
>didn't even look up. Her fate was sealed, and she didn't like the color of
>it. Fear gnawed at her. She felt another squeeze on her shoulder, this time
>gentler, more reassuring. The rider looked her in the eyes and opened the
>tavern door. He led her back to that fateful table. He stopped for a moment,
>and gave a slight bow. "M'lady, I believe I have forgotten my manners. I
>didn't get your name."
>
>Domaia glanced up at this unexpected show of courtesy. "Domaia."
>
>"Domaia, my name is M'lent, and his name," he pointed to a lad sitting at the
>table, "is Edbert."


He pulled out a chair for her, and called for a bowl of stew for her before
he sat down himself.  He waited until she was eating before he starting
talking again.


"I was about to explain to Edbert here, before we were interrupted, who
Ebony is?" Edbert looked at him with interest, but Domaia kept her eyes on
her plate.  "Ebony is my dragon and he's very useful...."


There was a muffled gasp and Domaia suddenly started choking.  M'lent and
Edbert leapt up to pat the red-faced girl sharply between the shoulder
blades....


"I.... I'm... alright....really....."  she managed between coughs, tears
rolling down her cheeks  "please....stop......"


"Something go down the wrong way?"  Edbert asked sympathetically  "Not a
nice experience.  Feeling better now?"


She nodded and wiped her eyes on a corner of the tablecloth.


"I'm fine.. thanks."  she turned to M'lent, and asked in a hesitant voice
"This dragon......Is it hungry?....er ..... tame?"


"Oh,  Ebony hunted before we came down from Norwall this evening."  M'lent
answered, a teasing glint in his eye  "But I'm sure he could manage a
morsel more.  And he has a fondness for small girls...."  


Domaia licked her lips nervously, and her eyes flickered sideways as she
began edging her chair back from the table, her muscles tensed to run as
soon as she had space.  M'lent took pity on her;


"I'm sorry... I shouldn't tease you so."  he sent her an apologetic grin
"Ebony is a very well behaved dragon, and he wouldn't dream of eating
anyone.  Finish your food and I'll take you to meet him.  If you're going
to be a dragonrider then you'll have to get used to dragons....."


Submitted by


M'lent & Ebony
Norwall's Search team


NRPG  Paula & Ed... I'll let one of you write the trip back to Norwall on
dragonback.  M'lent would introduce you to Naomi the following day
sometime... (probably the afternoon since she's had a busy morning so far)
Have fun!
-- 
Mint,  the voice and soul of

Timi Caplain  FO   USS Javelin       T'Beth  CMO/Coun  USS Magellan
Lillith the Mage     Broken Lands     Minty, Kirimith's rider  Dragon Lands 
                          Caliban, Lute's human       Dragon Lands  
Naomi, QueenRider to Amethyst, Norwall's WarrenLady,  Dragon Lands

http://www.netkonect.co.uk/~lovers/mint/norwall.html
http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/5902/
http://www.dragonfire.net/~Mint/