Tahlaya sat and watched in facination as the handsome man she was lunching
with continued to talk about his dragon.

The words spoken only staying briefly in her mind as she studied his features. 
He was very attractive, his boyish good looks and charm was enough to melt
any heart. But the more she looked, the more she felt he was just *too*
perfect. She longed to find a flaw in this diamond.

Comparing Ash with this stranger, made her even more aware of Gabriel's
beauty. Ash with his pale grey eyes, scared face, and  his haunted past.


>"Hello," he said, patting Laya's shoulder and extending a hand to the 
>new rider. "I'm Ash. Pleased to meet you. I came as requested, milady,"
>he added for Tahlaya's benefit.

Her face lighting up as she giggled at Ash. Now this man she could look at
and see his flaws. They were honest, not hidden. Everyone could see how
imperfect he was and she accepted him; she didn't care about the damamged
wrapping, the gift inside was pure.

>"I'm Gabriel St.Knight," the man replied. "I'm certainly pleased to
>meet you." 

Ash'chenon made apologies for the puma and walked over to the kitchens to
get Avid some  food. Thalaya continued her study.

When he returned, Ash asked after Gabriel's dragon.

> "So, Gabriel, you ride the black dragon with the green eyes?"
>
>"Yes, that's Veil. Have you met him?"
>
>"Ah..yes, we've met," Ash said, his face a study of nonchalance.

She could feel Ash tense and she sensed that he didn't altogether trust the
dragon.

<Girls, have you spoken to Veil?> she asked her lifemates.

{*HIM!?*} came the indignant reply.

*He doesn't think...*
{... we are unique!}

{* We don't like him. Worse still we don't trust him!*}

Maybe she had found the flaw.


**************************************
Ash's apartment mid afternoon.

They lay entwined on the dishevelled bed. The sheets strewn across their
glistening bodies.
Tahlaya could feel his fingers tracing patterns over her belly.

"What are you doing, love?" she asked, her breathing slowing to it's normal
rate.

"Hmmmm?" Ash mused. "Nothing." He placed his lips on her rounded stomach and
kissed it tenderly.

She opened her eyes slowly and watched him. Looking  up at her, he rolled
over onto his back, pulling his mate on top of him, resting his hands on her
hips. "I have to go soon," he said as she bent to kiss his lips.

"I know," she whispered sliding to one side, her thigh resting on his.
"Here," she said, removing the silver chain that had a double headed dragon
suspended from it, "wear this for me."

"Laya, I can't. It's your's."

She silenced him with a kiss as she fastened the talisman around his  neck.
The kiss arousing both of them, they made love again before he went to face
the ghosts of his past. 


***************************************

Day two: just before lunch and after Danielle visits Kay.

"Tahlaya are you ready?" Eliana's sweet voice filled the cavernous kitchen.
The young girl had filled out since she joined with Taerith all those months
ago. She had grown several inches and her body no longer had that boyish
quality of pre-puberty.  She was turning into a very attractive young woman.

"Nearly," Tahlaya puffed as she heaved a large basket down from a table.

"What on earth have you got in there?" the dark haired girl asked as she
peeked inside. "Ohhh are these a bribe for my Papa?" 

Tahlaya grinned, "Well lets just say it's a gift from an admirer."

The two girls laughed as they picked up the wicker basket between them and
loaded it onto Sunburst and Eclipse.

"Ready?" shouted Tahlaya as she seated herself on her saddle. 

With a nod the two riders and their dragons were up in the air, and were
then gone.

******

Raisa.


Although it was warm, Eliana pulled her riding cloak and scarf tightly round
herself.
The two of then walked up the steps of the keep and into the cool interior.

Eliana lead the way. "Careful of the steps, Laya. They are a bit worn."

They reached the bottom of the stairs only to be greeted by a large guard.

"What do you want?" he said gruffly, his eyes wandering over the two women.
"And what's in here?" he said, grabing the basket from Tahlaya. He looked
suspciously at the cloaked figure. "What are you hiding in here?" pulling
the scarf and cloak away from Eliana's face. "Ohh ain't you a pretty young
thing?" he leered suggestively at her. 

"And you will be out of service if you lay as much as one finger one me!"
Eliana said haughtily, removing her  cloak and revealing  a large golden
clasp on her bodice, blazoned with the coat of arms of her family

He stood speechless as Eliana glared at him. 

"You know who I am?" her voice authoritive for one so young.

"Y... yes, your grace, "he said bowing low. "Your father did not inform me
that you would be visiting the cells, your grace."

Ignoring the man, Eliana made her way into the holding area. 

"We wish to see, Kalewyn!" she said, throwing her cloak onto the table.

"Only one visitor at a time, your grace," the guard grovelled.

"I said *we* want to see Kalewyn!" the look she gave the man was enough to
make even the bravest of men quake. "NOW!"

The man jumped at the command and opened the door leading to the cells. 
The three of them stood infront of a barred door.

"Open it!"

"But... your grac..."

"Are you deaf or just plain stupid? Open it!"

Eliana looked at Tahlaya, her pale eyes glinting in a mischievous way. The
corners of her mouth trying not to quirk into a broad grin.

The guard rattled the key in the lock and the door swung open on creeky hinges.

Turning to her companion, Eliana said, " I will go and see my father, Lady
Tahlaya," she winked at the older woman, "I will return after lunch."
Turning to the guard she hissed, "You, get the basket and bring it in here.
My friend is not to be disturbed while I am away. Is that clear!?"

"Yes, your grace," he replied with bowed head.

When he was out of earshot, Eliana laughed. 

"Ohh the power of authortiy is wonderful at times," she said, hugging her
friend. "Now if you will excuse me, I need to speak to my father. Give Kay a
hug and a kiss from me and tell him he'll soon be free!"

"I don't know how to thank you, Eli," Tahlaya smiled at the tiny woman-child.

Before Eliana could reply the guard  returned with the basket and placed it
on the table by the door of Kay's cell. Removing a bottle of fine wine and
some delicacies that she knew her father was fond of, Eliana left Tahlaya
alone with Kay, making sure the guard escorted her out.

Tahlaya could see Kay on his bunk. His back turned away from the door.

The cell wasn't that small. It was well lit from a glazed window high in one
wall and there was a lantern on the table, along with some paper and chalks.
She watched the hunched up figure, and walked across to him.

She touched his shoulder and jumped back as the young lad swung his fist
out. He was on his feet staring at his friend.

Kay stood in disbelief. 

'How... what...' he signed.

Tahlaya just stood with her arms outstretched towards him, mouthing, "Oh Kay!"

She folded her arms around him and felt the sobs of despair. They sat back
down on his bunk and all she could do was stroke his hair and hug him.
Waiting for the tears to subside so they could then talk.

***************************

Tahlaya stood up and paced angrily back and forth in Kay's cell.

"How dare he! How dare he do this to you," she said turning back to face the
frightened young man.

'It's all my fault,' he signed.

Grabing Kay's face between her hands, Tahlaya pulled it close to her's.

"Kay, let's get one thing straight. It... is... not... your... fault!"

'But I'm...'

"But nothing. Listen to me. You have to stop this self pitying! I know
things seem bleak, but we won't let anything happen to you. You have to
trust me and have faith in us. Sabbith needs you to be strong. I know you
have it in you. I have seen it!"

Kay sat back on his bunk with his head in his hands. Looking up at Tahlaya
he signed, 'Trap's right, I'm useless. '

"That bastard isn't worth it Kay! All he is, is a bully. Don't give him the
satisfaction of being right! You are worth a great deal to many people. You
have friends who are on your side, fighting for you. Count them, Kay. You
know I'm right! You mustn't give up! Prove to everyone that you are as
strong as any man! Do it for Sabbith and for Kittabrie, but most of all do
it for yourself!"

**********************************

Mid afternoon back at the warren.


She was angry. Livid! Taking out her anger on the fencing target, she didn't
hear the man at first.

"Laya! I said where's Ash?" he shouted.

She stopped in her tracks, not daring to turn round to him. Fearing that she
would kill him.

"You're doing pretty well with that blade. Is Ash teaching you?"

She turned slowly round, lifting the point of the sword up and placing it at
Traplin's throat.

"Hey careful, Laya," he said raising his hands up in defence and steping
backwards. But she followed him, her hazel eyes filled with anger.

"How dare you! HOW DARE YOU!" she screamed.

By now Trap had been backed against a wall.

"Laya put the sword down," his said smiling, trying to appease the woman. "I
don't know what the matter is, but let's talk this over calmly." He side
steped but she was quick and caught his cheek.

He wiped  the cut with the back of his hand and stared at Tahlaya. 

"You're insane! What in the God's names are you playing at? What have I done
to warrent this from you?"

She said one word, "Kay!"

He rolled his eyes at her and said,  " Him? What about the poor sap?"

"You have no idea what you have done, do you? You think that you can come
back to the warren after two years and expect everything to be the same.
Pick up from where you left off as if nothing has happened! All hail the
conquering hero!" The tip of her sword swayed slightly.

"Is this what it's all about. That young snot has gone crying to you over
what I said?  Pah! He's using his disability to good effect isn't he! 'Look
at me, everything has been taken away from me, woe is me!' He's pathetic!"  

Laya pressed the blade against the blond man's Adam's apple. 

"You listen to me and you listen well because you are going to hear a few
home truths," she swallowed hard. "Have you bothered to find anything out
about Kay's background? You have no understanding of him, you don't know
what he feels or thinks. You've never spoken kindly to him or of him. Unlike
you, he didn't have a choice about leaving his family. His parents died in a
fire when he was young. He was taken in by his uncle and, from a very early
age, was continually told that the sheep he looked after were more valuable
than he was.  He didn't turn his back on his family because he didn't like
the way he was treated. He had no choice but to stay. 
He's deaf and unable to speak, he wouldn't be able to survive  in a hearing
world.  He was caught in a wraith attack and several sheep were killed.
There were two choices; to return to his uncle's farm and be beaten up for
something he had no control over or to leave. He had no idea how he was
going to survive, but he made his way to an inn where B'larin was. Kay has
strong dragon afinity so he was bought here. 

"People at Telnor were different, they wanted to help and understand him. We
learnt to talk to him with sign language. And for the first time in his life
he could hear. He heard the dragons talking. Can you imagine how that must
have felt? After so many silent years he could hear!"

Trap stiffled a yawn, "My heart bleeds! But he's still a wimp. Getting a
woman to fight his battles!" The cut on his face stung as he once again
wiped away the blood.

She wanted to shake the arrogance out of this man.

Ignoring the comment, Tahlaya continued.

"The reason Kay is behind bars is because of you. Or hadn't you realised
that? We were at the village because of the Shadow. Have you thought about
what would have happened to your prescious 'Dallie' if Sabbith hadn't flamed
that man? No? Well let me tell you. She would  have been killed. Because of
you!"

Tahlaya wasn't sure if he knew this or not. If he did his face was a pefect
mask. It showed no feeling or emotion.

"Danielle became his mate and you didn't leave it. You had to prove that you
could take what you wanted. Just like the Shadow. Is it any wonder that he
was angry? What did you expect him to do? Shake hands? He can't fight you
with words or the sword. He isn't as powerful as you but he's as strong as you!"

"And how do you work that one out!" he sneered. "He's a mouse, a pipsqueek.
He's frightened of his own shadow!" Trap laughed.

"Because he tried to protect people he cared for when he knew the odds were
against him!" The urge to push the tip of the blade into his neck was almost
overwhelming.

"Then he's a fool!"

Tahlaya was getting no where, except more angry and frustarted.

" You now have your family back don't you? Your sister and her mate and his
family. Your new nephew and your father. Danielle.  Everything is all bright
eyed and bushey tailed. Ask yourself how would you feel if the woman you
loved walked out on you the day after you became mates? Or how you would
feel if your dragon nearly dies? Or watching someone you care for being
raped by two men? Or your ex mate being beaten up in front of you? Then to
top it all he is  to be tried for murder and all you can do is to tell him
he is worthless. He's terriefied he's going to die."

The tall rider shrugged, "I lived with death every day for two years, but I
didn't hide in a corner and wet my pants over it!"

Tahlaya's eyes narrowed, "That was your choice, your decision! Kay had no
choice."

"What do you expect me to do, trade places with him?" he retorted.

"God's you are so arrogant! I find it hard to beleive that you and Tera are
related!" she spat back at him. 

At last she saw emotion. She'd hit a sore point. Her wrist jarred as he hit
the sword from her hand. Pinning her arms painfully to her side, he looked
into her eyes. Anger filled them. She didn't flinch as he pinched her.

"That bastard nearly killed Tera's child!"

"It was an accident and you know it! With you it's all 'Me! Me! Me!' You use
people. You used your friends, lovers and even your own sister! You have no
idea what Tera went through when you left her at home. And you come back
into everyone's lives as if nothing has happened. You trample over people's
feelings and expect them to like it. Your're sad. I don't even have pity for
someone like you, you don't deserve it. Kay is better off without that
bitch.  You and Danielle deserve each other. You both use people and are so
self centred you don't care how much you hurt others."

Anger flashed in his eyes as he raised his hand to strike Tahlaya. She stood
there defiantly and he pushed her away visciously. She stumbled and hitting
jaggered rock, she felt a sharp pain as she sliced open her cheek. 

Traplin walked out without looking back.




Tahlaya, and the Amazing Gossips, Sunburst and Eclipse!


nrpg:

*grin*

Ohh how to win friends and influence people.

Kat, sorry I didn't intend it to be bitchy, I guess Danielle won't be  a
happy bunny ;)

Barb, well I hope I did Trap alright? He didn't hit Laya but he isn't as
nice a guy as we thought. Oh Laya will be in the med centre gettin patched
up... she won't say what happned but you never know what the girls will say ;)

Kris, Ok lunch over lets get Kay out :)

Allen I think Laya needs some TLC ;)







"Lust is pure. 'Tis Love, Lust's little sister, that is tainted."