Saul
***

Saul had found Dranni quickly despite the crowds from the festival. Saul
particularly like his job around festival time! Plenty of excitement. And
he often found excellent searchlings at these events. Of course during
festival's, searching became more a side sport while he entertained himself
with other things.

He spotted one of his favorite 'other things' just across the room from
where he was standing with Dranni. Four men were sitting dealing cards
while piles of coins stacked up in the middle of the table.

Dranni, seeing the gleam in the riders eye, chuckled, "I could get you into
that game .." he grinned. ".. If you're interested." 

"Dranni .. When am I *not* interested a good game of cards!"

"You're sure to be challenged this time, my friend. A lot of good players
in Marketa today!"

"Of that I have no doubt, Dranni," Saul said a twinkle in his eye, "It
shall be fun to fill my lucky bag with their coins."

The two men over to the table where the men sat playing a hand of cards.
Dranni introduced Saul to them. When the four saw Saul's bulging bag of
coins, they quickly invited him to join them. Saul place his lucky bag on
the table and grinned as the others looked at it with greedy eyes. "I've
come to share the wealth." He chuckled.

"That's what I like to here," laughed on man.

Soon the game was going at full force and they were all having a good time,
despite the fact that Saul seemed to be winning more then the others would
have hoped. 

"Ha Ha!" he laughed, "It seems the cards are with me again!" As yet another
hand went his way. He began raking in the coins when a lovely young woman
stepped up to the table. But it was more then her good looks which caught
his eye .. This one he definitely needed to snag for the Warren!

>"I apologize, gentlemen, for interrupting your game, but I'd like to have
a brief word with Mr. Raneu if I may."  Every person at that table, and
most of the crowd around it looked up to see the tall, leggy blond in armor
and the even taller man who shadowed her.  Her mercenary styled clothing
was ill-matched with the soft silvery voice and elegant speech.

Saul eyed the girl as a slight grin sat on his lips. He knew the look when
he saw it, and it seemed he'd not only hit the jackpot in coin, but perhaps
also in searchlings. His deep blue eyes were drawn to the dark, brooding
man behind her. It was there as well. Two at once, that was quite a catch!
Trinale would be impressed.

>Raneu recovered quickly and sat back in his chair to question her.

>"And what would you need to see me about, pretty thing?"

>She felt Grey tense up behind her, but settled him with a discrete touch.
"The Guildhouse sent me to find you.  They said your signature is needed to
okay my voucher."  

>"Well, well.  And what position would a pretty thing like to be put in?"
Several of the men laughed openly at the man's double entendre.  

Saul, who was watching the tall man behind the girl while the other watched
the girl knew the situation needed to be diffused or there would be a
fight. He stood and looked back and forth between the two, "What kind of
work can you do, miss?"

>"I'm looking for work as a guard or tracker."  A couple of folks
snickered, but she stood her ground, relaxing as Grey let go of his hilt.
"I'm an experienced fighter, and I can track near anything.  I'm not bad
taking care of animals either."  The man nodded, his blue eyes twinkling
slightly.

>"What about your big friend there?  Is he part of the deal?"

>Beau cracked a smile.  She knew how much hell she was going to catch for
her next comment.  "No, sir.  Big Grey already has a job.  He just likes to
follow me around."

>"That's a shame.  But I might have a job opening up for you, miss.  Let me
get my stuff and we can go somewhere and discuss it." He glanced at his
table companions and smiled as he raked up the pot he'd just won and poured
it into a purse-bag.

Raneu protested, "Saul, you can't leave us know! You just won most of my
gold. You have to give me a chance to win it back."

"Perhaps another time." he chuckled. 

There were more groans of protest behind him, but he continued out the
door. As they moved toward the door, he heard Dranni assure the gents that
the bearded man would be back some time. Saul never stayed away from a good
gaming table for long! Saul continued to grin as he led the two out the
door of the inn and into the apothecary shop across the street.

>"My name's Saul."  She nodded but didn't offer her own name.  "I'm not
sure exactly if what I can offer you is what you had in mind.  You see, I'm
the Head Searcher for Whiteriver Warren.  And I'm Searching you.  Both of
you."

>The word Warren seemed to have an unfavorable sound to it.  The girl
tensed up immediately and anger settled over her features.  The man... he
seemed to just ice over.

>"I'm sorry, sir, to have troubled you and taken you away from your game.
I'm sure your offer is most sincere, but I can not accept."  She turned in
perfect unison with the dark-haired man toward the door.

For the first time that day, a frown replaced the ever-present grin Saul
normally sported. He knew they were both potential dragonriders, and they
were refusing! He couldn't believe it. However, not being one to give up
easily, he reached across and tugged at the sleeve of her tunic.

>And found a knife suddenly at his throat.  The big man looked Saul in the
eyes.

>"Let go of the lady now, or even this good apothecary will not be able to
stop your lifeblood from staining his floor."  The deep soft voice was as
cultured as any Hold Lord's and as cold as any assassin.  

>Saul dropped his hand from her sleeve, and the knife dropped from his
throat back into it's sheath.  "I at least deserve to know why you're
refusing my offer."

He listened with disbelief as the young woman spoke.

>"Warrens are full of nothing but Dragonriders, disgusting, insane beasts
that worship dragons with blood sacrifices, and fornicate with dragons as
well as with each other.  They're all mad, dirty, animals."

>Saul wasn't sure whether to be appalled or to laugh.  He glanced down at
himself as though checking to see if he'd suddenly changed.  "I can't say
that I've ever fornicated with a dragon, and my last medical exam didn't
say anything about being insane.  I know for a fact that my dragon would
laugh himself silly if I ever even proposed to 'worship' him.  Who told you
these lies, miss?"

>"My uncle said it, sir.  He said all dragonriders were mad and made me
swear an oath to stay away from them.  In all good conscious I can stay in
your presence no longer.  You are a dragonrider, and the very thing I swore
to stay away from."  She said the words, but doubt still lingered in her
voice. It was clear that she was merely repeating what she'd been told and
not some conviction of her own.  Obviously she'd never come in contact with
a dragonrider before or she would have known her statements to be false.

>"Your uncle is a fool, and I'll not beg pardon for insulting him. He's
managed to insult me, my dragon Fayloth, and my fellow riders.  I'd like to
know his name so I can report him to the Council of Warrens."  

Saul watched the silent debate which passed between the two, and he was
glad when the young woman smiled, showing that she had somehow won whatever
debate had been being waged.

>"Would it be an imposition to ask to see your dragon, sir?  This Fayloth
you mentioned?"  Saul had the sudden sure sensation that a fisherman gets
when he knows he's hooked a big one and it isn't slipping off the hook.

>"I can do that.  But at least give me your name first so I can properly
introduce you to him."

>"My name is Isabeau.  This"  she thumbed over her shoulder at the big man,
"is my twin, Grey.  We're both of Breven Hold."

>Saul moved beside her and gallantly extended his elbow to the young woman.
She hesitated, glanced up at the dark blue-green eyes of her so-called
twin, and moved to gingerly take his arm.  

***

Saul did not tell Fayloth they were coming. He hoped to catch the dragon
off-guard. Fayloth was a bit of a show-off and he didn't want the dragon
doing anything which might confirm the young couple beliefs about dragons
and their riders.

He was pleased to see Fayloth looking rather bored as he lounged amidst the
clover and wild flowers.

"He's beautiful." The young girl said.  Fayloth looked over and saw the
three approaching. He immediately sat up trying to look impressive. 

<You didn't warn me ..> complained the dragon to his rider.

<It was better that way,> chuckled Saul to his dragon, <Now just be polite.>

>"Fayloth, meet Isabeau and Grey of Breven Hold." The blue dragon
graciously inclined his head to them in greeting, and Grey suddenly knew
that Beau would be going to the Warren.

"We'll come."

Saul grinned, his deep blue eyes twinkling once again. "Then shall we go
right away? It'll be dinner time at the Warren, and that is by far the best
time to arrive."

***

Fayloth settled onto the green as the evening sun was beginning to drop in
the skies. <Where is Trinale?> Saul asked the dragon.

<She is in her office. I've already told her to expect you.>

<What would I do without you, Fayloth.>

<I really don't know.>

Saul slid off the dragon's back and moved to help Isabeau off, but Grey
stepped in the way to help her down himself. Saul shrugged an let the young
man help her. "I'm going to take you to meet Trinale. She's the Warrenlady
here at Whiteriver."

Isabeau turned her aqua eyes on him, and Saul instantly thought of Shawnee.
His face fell as he realized he needed to take her to see Trinale as well.
He decided he would take Isabeau and Grey first and then go see to Shawnee.
That plan instantly cheered him, and he motioned for the twins to follow
him, "It's just over here."

He entered the hallway that led to Trinale's office and knocked at the
door. "Come in."

He entered and grinned at young Trinale, "May I present Isabeau and her
twin brother, Grey."

Trinale stood and smiled at the pair, "Welcome to Whiteriver. I am Trinale.
Please, have a seat."

Saul moved back, stepping slowly toward the door, as the twin's took the
two chairs in front of Trinale's desk. "Saul," came Trinale's sweet voice.

"Yes," he said turning to look at her.

"Are you leaving us?"

Saul grinned, "You know that I would stay if I could, sweet Trinale. But I
have another searchling I must see to immediately."

She smiled, "Another one! Could this be the older sister to the two small
children now in the medical center."

Saul chuckled, "That it is. I'm sorry I haven't brought her to see you
sooner .. but as you can see, I've been busy."

Trinale laughed, "So I see." Saul turned and headed back toward the door
only turning back to look at the Warrenlady when she called, "So how much
did you win tonight?"

"I'll never tell," he said with a grin as he headed out the door. He headed
first to the medical center knowing that it was likely that Barry had
closed up shop for the night and sent the young woman on her way. He was
certain that her first stop would be to see the children.

He was right. He looked into the room to see the two children happily
laying in their cots as the beautiful young woman read them a story. Not
wanting to disturb them Saul headed out into the evening air, to where
Fayloth was laying on the green relaxing. <Couldn't find her?> teased the
dragon.

<Oh no, I found her, but I didn't want to disturb her. She was reading a
story to the children.>

<Giving up?>

<Not on your life, Fayloth, for the night is still young.>

The dragon chuckled as the his rider began to oil him. 

***

It wasn't too long before Fayloth purred in his ear, <I do believe your
fair lady has emerged.>

Saul, who'd been scratching a few itches on the dark blue dragon, looked
over to see the young woman heading toward her apartment. Her white-blonde
hair was illuminated by the moonlight, making her look the part of the
angel down from heaven. He grinned, <I'm hope you don't mind, dear Fayloth,
I'll finish your oiling tomorrow.>

<I've heard that before,> the dragon grumbled lightly.

<You are never forgotten.>

Fayloth grinned as only a dragon can. This was something he knew but loved
to tease his rider about.

Saul headed toward the young woman's apartment, which she had just entered.
He knocked lightly at the door. She opened the door and smiled when she saw
him. "Good evening, Sweet Shawnee. I had to come and apologize for not
taking you to see the Warrenlady today as I'd promised."

"I figured you were busy." 

He nodded, "Yes, but that is no excuse for not having done what I should
have. Please forgive me."

"I do," she smiled.

"We do have some unfinished business to take care of." He said, his blue
eyes twinkling.

"We do?"

"Well, your young brother seems to think so." He grinned. 

Regards,
Saul & Fayloth
***
NRPG: Okay, Glory and Kat, take it away. Barb, he's all yours :}

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