>Toral sat in the back of the wagon with Pat, allowing Mery and her 
>mother
>to sit in the front. Pat thought it was great as the wagon bounced 
>along.
>"Woop!" Pat shouted at one particularly large bump, a smiled 
>spreading
>across his face. He looked at Toral, "I like your wagon, Toral."
>
>"Thanks, Pat. But actually it's Mery's .. she uses it for business for 
>the
>Rest."
>
>Pat nodded dumbly, then smiled, "I like it!"
>
>Toral chuckled nodding at the child-like man beside him.
>
>"Hey Toral .." Pat asked a moment later.
>
>"What?" Toral asked.
>
>"Do you play cards?"
>
>Toral shrugged, "Now and again. Do you like to play cards, Pat?"
>
>"Oh yes!" Pat nodded, "I do like to play. But mama doesn't let me go 
>play
>much, cause the guys ain't always so nice. But sometimes I play with 
>Wally.
>He's pretty busy though .. but he likes to play when he can."
>
>"Wally's your brother right?"
>
>Pat nodded, "Yes .. my brother! He's Mery's brother too .."

"Well," Toral nodded, "there are some cards back at the Rest.  I'll find
them for you when we get back there."

"I'd like that," Pat replied.

"I'll be able to play with you for a while, then I have to help Merry
decorate for the wedding."

Pat nodded, and looked at Toral, "You're a lucky man," he said seriously.

For a moment, Toral wondered if Pat realized just how true that statement
was.

>***
>Toral smiled comfortingly. "Now, Saul's been a big help to us here."
>
>"I know he has .." Mery nodded, "I just .. well I wish Byrin had been
>Gorge's son .."
>
>"He is .. in more ways then he'll probably realize right now. However, 
>it's
>very exciting for a boy his age to be the son of a Dragonrider, and 
>you
>have to admit Saul has taken an interest in him, and seems to have a
>genuine affection and concern for him."
>
>"I know .." she sighed, "Which makes me feel guilty for having kept 
>them
>apart all these years .. but .."
>
>"But you were hurt and you did the best you could. Believe me, Mery, 
>you
>did nothing wrong by your son. He's a good boy .. almost a man."
>
>She smiled at him, "You always know the right thing to say .."

"I try hard," Toral said, "But even we have to be prepared."

"For what?" Merry asked.

"Byrin is Saul's son, and I've heard that dragon riding is in the blood. 
Someday he may go off to the Warren and join a dragon."

Merry frowned and Toral pulled her in close, "You aren't supposed to make
me sad the day before our wedding."

"I'm sorry," Toral said, "I've got the perfet cure for your sadness."

"Oh?"

"Hard work.  We have to get all the decorations in place."

Merry laughed, "One of these days I'll figure you out."

"I wouldn't be sure," Toral said with a twinkle in his eye.

>***
>"Of course not, but look, soon it'll be midnight, and you can't see 
>the
>bride before the wedding."
>
>"But .." Toral tried to protest again.
>
>Issic grabbed his arm, "Nope .. nope .. Mery's mother made me promise 
>to
>see you home. Dear woman that she is. You know Toral Smith, you are 
>getting
>yourself a wonderful mother-in-law .."
>
>Mery chuckled as Issic pulled Toral toward the door.
>
>Toral shrugged and waved back at her blowing her a kiss and mouthing,
>'tomorrow'. Mery smiled happily and blew him a kiss back as the door 
>slow
>shut behind them. She took one more look around the room before 
>heading
>through the kitchen and to the Barman home .. and her own room.

Toral and Issic walked out into the moon lit night and turned down the
street toward Toral's small apartment.

Toral stole a glance over his shoulder at the Rest and smiled, "Do you
have any idea how lucky I feel Issic?"

"You had better feel very lucky.  Merry is a wonderful person."

"She makes me amazingly happy."

"And you had better keep making her happy, or a whole bunch of us will
take it out on your hide," Issic threatened with a smile.

"I don't think I have much to worry about, then."

They reached the front of the building in which Toral would be spending
one final night and stopped.

"Good night Toral."

"Good night Issic."

Toral stole a last galnce down the street before heading inside.

***
The morning dawned bright and clear, and birds were singing in the garden
while Toral waited.

"Stop fidgeting, dear," his mother chided as she adjusted his bow tie for
the tenth time.

"Is it time to begin yet?"

"No, son," his father said as he walked from the building into the
garden, "but it will be soon.  The guests are starting to arrive."

"Please tell me it gets easier from here," Toral pleaded.

"It does.  The waiting is the hardest part," his father told him.

His mother nodded agreement, "It's probably harder for Merry."

NRPG:
I'm finally ready for the festivities to begin :)

Kris: Is Merry going to keep her last name?

Alton Reich
Toral Smith

***
Alton J. Reich -> On the road again.
The alternate address - <areich1@juno.com>
The normal address - <alton.reich@snet.net>

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