Saul
***

>"Why don't you go ahead and look in on your brother and sweet little
Fawna. I'll be along in a minute. I just want to have a word with B'ril
first."

He watched as the young woman hurried to see her brother and sister, his
eyes looking in her direction long after she left his line of sight.

"Saul .." B'ril called, bringing his gaze reluctantly from the empty
hallway to the healers chuckling face.

Saul ignored B'ril's teasing laugh and got right to the point. "B'ril I'm
concerned about Thorin."

The healer sighed, "We all are. I've done everything I can think of to make
it known to him how important he is around here. His father continues to
step on him any chance he gets."

"We've got to try harder. I think it's very close to a breaking point for
that boy. Either he's going to come around and learn to stand up to K'leev
or we're going to lose him. And I'm not just talking about the possibility
of going to another warren."

B'ril nodded. "I'm not about to give up on the boy, Saul. Gods know I need
him around here!"

"Good. I appreciate it," Saul clapped the man on the shoulder, "Now back to
Sweet Shawnee .." 

"Uh Saul .."

"Hmm," Saul replied not really paying attention.

"Don't forget you're supposed to go to Marketa this afternoon to take that
medicine to my cousin." B'ril said.

"Oh, of course not, B'ril." Saul said remembering his promise the healer.
B'ril's cousin was one of Saul's gambling buddies in the small town of
Marketa just outside the Warren. B'ril had asked Saul to run this errand
for him as he knew how much Saul loved the opportunity to head into the inn
for a bit of cards. He had been right, Saul had gladly accepted. "I'll stop
by just after lunch, to pick up the package for Dranni. But in the mean
time, I don't want to keep that lovely angel waiting."

B'ril chuckled, "Certainly not, my friend. Oh and tell her the little girl
will probably sleep most of the day. The medicine you know."

Saul nodded and headed to the room where Ojean and Fawna were. He reached
the door to Ojean and Fawna's room just in time to overhear the little boy
asking for another ride on Fayloth. Saul grinned .. his dark blue dragon
would be pleased.

>"I was asking if you got to see Saul this morning. I wanted to thank him
last night for letting me fly on his dragon," her brother's smile turned
impish. "But I fell asleep before I could. Do you think he would take me on
another ride if I ask him please?"

>"Just as soon as you get better and the medic says you can go," Saul
answered from the door way. 

As Shawnee moved over to check on her sister, the little boy was pulling on
Saul's sleeve, "Do you mean it?" he asked excitedly.

"I do," grinned Saul. "I know a very beautiful dragon who is simply dying
to give you rides, Ojean." 

"He is," said the boy wide-eyed.

"Oh yes, but you need your rest first. Show B'ril and Clarissa what a good
and strong boy you are by getting better, and Fayloth will fly you anywhere
you want to go."

"I will be good," said the boy.

"I know you will," grinned Saul. He stood to move beside the boy's sister
after ruffling the lad's hair a bit.

>"B'ril said to tell you that she will sleep most of the next day or so,"
she turned to find Saul standing beside her. "It's the medicine they have
her on. He said to tell you not to worry."

>She brought her hand up to the side of his face in a gentle caress,
noticing how soft his beard felt, and wondered if it would tickle. She
smiled at the thought and didn't realize she had spoken the words out loud
until he threw his head back and laughed.

He watched the blush rush to the woman's cheek, as he laughed merrily. The
he brought his face close to hers, and whispered, "I should be happy to
allow you to find out." A grin twinkled in his eye and slid gracefully
across his lips.

She turned her face away, "I .. I'm so sorry .."

He gently place a hand on her cheek pulling her face back to look at him,
"I'm not."

"Hey!" shouted the little boy from across the room, "Are you going to kiss
my sister!"

Saul grinned at the accusing tone of the little boy and turned  to face
him, "Would that bother you if I did?"

The little boy pondered the question for a moment, his tiny brow furrowed
deep in thought. The he shook his head emphatically, "No, it doesn't bother
me. I like you."

Saul laughed, "Well, I'm so glad, because I like you too."

Saul turned back to Shawnee who had distanced herself from him a bit as the
nurse walked in to give the children more of the medicine which was helping
to combat the illness which had fallen upon them.

"Perhaps we should let the children sleep. We still need to get you to the
tailor's shop."

"Do you have to go?" asked the little boy sadly.

"I'm afraid so, love," said Shawnee moving to kiss the boy on the forehead.
"I must get a job."

"No more stealing?" asked the boy. Shawnee shot a look at the nurse, but
the older woman seemed not to have heard.

"No love, a real job. Now you lay down and sleep for me."

"Okay, Shawnee, I love you."

"I love you too, my sweet Ojean." With that the little boy curled up on the
pillow, the medicine already beginning to take affect on his small body.

"Shall we got see the Tailor about that job he has?" Saul asked holding out
his arm once again. He grinned .. he was beginning to like this.

>"Well I sure hope he does or Terau might be a little disappointed when he
gets there to the shop and finds I won't be making him a new outfit to wear
after all." Shawnee quipped, reminding the rider about his high handedness
of the night before. 

Saul simply smiled at her, and held tightly to the hand she wrapped around
his arm.

***

>Much to her surprise and delight, the tailor was more than willing to give
her a chance on Saul's recommendation alone. He even agreed that she could
start by making a new shirt and pair of pants for Terau when he showed up. 

>"Though we do have something's already made up that are very nice," the
tailor said. "It might just take a few nips and tucks to make them fit
right. But I'll guess we'll have to see what the gentleman will want....
Off you go Saul, I'll see the young lady is kept busy today."

>"See that you do!" the rider said before turning and reaching for her
hand. "You see Sweet Shawnee, the good times are already starting to
happen. All you have to do is make the most of them"

>She nodded her head in agreement. "Again I find myself thanking you for
your kindness. I fell like I should *do* something for you in return. I'm
not used to people helping us, it's all so strange,"

>"It's the way of the Warren," he replied and then he was gone.

Saul whistled his way across the warren and toward the green where Fayloth
sat still preening, only this time to rather then for the young silver
queen, he was showing off for the lovely cream Lute.

Lute was one of Fayloth's favorites, having won her once before in a mating
flight. Lute always sat calmly eyeing the big blue show-off. Saul grinned
that dragon was definitely good for Fayloth's ego.

"You sound quite happy," said a musical voice coming from behind the
reclining form of the cream dragon.

Saul grinned, "Sweet Cali .." he walked around to the other side of Lute
where the small blue-eyed girl sat, comfortably relaxing beside her dragon.

She smiled up at him, "Another hatching soon, eh Saul. So you've already
begun your search."

"Of course, I take my position very seriously." His brown eyes twinkled.

Cali's musical laugh brought a smile to the man's face. 

****

Saul searched for the beautiful Shawnee in the dining hall as he quickly
ate his lunch, but was disappointed that he didn't find her. It was just as
well he thought, he did have plans for the afternoon and were he to run
into those eyes again, he might just want to cancel them.

He finished and headed to the medical center to pick up the package for
Dranni and then he and Fayloth were off to Marketa.

Regards,
Saul & Fayloth
***
NRPG: There ya go, Glory. He'll be in Marketa for the afternoon. As I
didn't know what you're plans were, so I didn't take him anywhere in
particular. Though he will need to stop at one of the inns to deliver his
package :} He's also hopeing for a bit of cards ..

Kristen

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Kristen Gant
(AKA: Darlea & Makayla,  Waylene & Aura, Meena & Vonn, 
Kalewyn & Sabbith, Saul & Fayloth)
http://homepage.interaccess.com/~sgant/kris.htm