Saul
***

>"Why, I'll have you know Saul of Whiteriver, I wasn't the one *doing* the
kissing back there. I was the one *getting* kissed. There's a difference."

>"Yes Ma'am, there surely is," he agreed a little too smugly, moving her
hand so it laid on his arm. "I had your brother's permission."

Saul chuckled and soon Shawnee was chuckling to. "He likes you." She said
quietly.

"He's a very good judge of character then, isn't he." Saul teased her.

The two entered the dining hall, and found a seat at a table where a pretty
chestnut-haired young woman sat. "Good evening, Sweet Cali." Saul greeted
the woman, "I'd like you to meet Shawnee. She's just joined us as a tailor
with Barry."

Cali looked up at the new arrival her blue eyes twinkling. "I'm glad to
meet you, Shawnee." She grinned at Saul who took a seat next to Shawnee,
across the table from Caliban. "Is this what you were whistling about this
morning, Saul."

Saul chuckled and turned to Shawnee, "You'll have to excuse young Cali
here. She can't stop herself from incessantly teasing me."

"That's only because you make it so easy." She laughed musically.

They sat chatting with Cali for a bit while they ate until the young woman
stood and excused herself, leaving Saul and Shawnee alone again.

"She's very nice," said Shawnee.

"Umm hmm," Saul agreed taking another bite of his dinner. Then he spotted
another familiar face across the dining hall. "Ah ha. I have someone to
introduce you to. And this one doesn't necessarily agree with your brother
about me."

"What?" Shawnee teased, "Someone who isn't fond of you, Saul?"

"You'd be surprised how many people are not fond of me, Sweet Shawnee." He
grinned.

"Because you take their money playing cards?"

Saul grinned slyly, "Among other things." He said cryptically.

He led her over to a table where a tall, pale young woman sat. "Good
evening, Sweet Kalyth."

She looked up at him with her steel blue eyes, and smiled slightly. She
nodded at him and the young woman with him. "I'd like to introduce you to
Shawnee. She's only just arrived in the Warren."

"Did he drag you here, too?" She said with a wry lift to her lips.

"He dragged you here?" she asked looked at Saul whose eyes were still smiling.

Kalyth raised an eyebrow at Whiteriver's searcher. "I wasn't very happy
about it then .. but now .. I guess it wasn't such a bad thing."

Shawnee looked a little confused, but Saul quickly intervened, "I brought
Shawnee here so that her little brother and sister could get the care they
needed. And now thanks to B'ril, they are."

"Your brother and sister are sick?" Kalyth asked.

***

"So Sweet Shawnee," Saul said quietly as he escorted her home, "Do you
think you're going to like the warren?"

"The people are very nice." She said.

"Yes they are. We have a few, you'll want to avoid as much as possible, but
on the whole most good people." They were interrupted by a loud singing
coming from a nearby apartment. A large man swaggered out holding a mug
high over his head as he sang. A small, mousy woman was pulling on his arm
trying to get him to reenter the apartment.

"Leave me alone, woman," the man said loudly as he shook her off.

"I take it he's one to avoid," Shawnee whispered to Saul.

Saul simply nodded the smile vanished from his face. Unfortunately the
large man spotted Saul and headed towards him, "Saul! Saul, my friend!"

Saul reluctantly turned to face the approaching man, plastering a smile on
his face. "Good evening K'leev." He turned to the small woman who hung off
to the side, out of the way, "Good evening to you as well, Racine."

"Thank you, Saul," she said weakly.

"Did you hear, Saul! Did you see! Bruteth triumphed! He's the winner!" Saul
and Shawnee both grimaced at the man's breath. "And that wimpy boy of mine
.. he didn't stand a chance!"

"K'leev .." begged Racine, "Please come inside .."

"I'm talking to Saul!" he roared at her.

Saul smiled tightly. "You know I would love to sit and chat with you
K'leev. But I have to walk the lady home .."

K'leev's eyes narrowed, squinting at Shawnee. She shrunk back behind Saul
under the large man's scrutiny. "A pretty one, eh, Saul. Aye, to be you
tonight, huh!" The man slapped Saul on the back as he guffawed loudly.

Saul simply nodded, "Good night, K'leev."  He took Shawnee's hand and
pulled her along as quickly as he could. She came along gladly.

He hugged her tight, "I'm sorry about that, Sweet Shawnee. I only wanted
you to see the good side of the warren for now."

"Every place has it's dark side." She said shivering as she leaned close to
the dragonrider. "I'll try to avoid him in the future."

Saul looked at her and smiled, "I don't think K'leev would actually ever
hurt anyone physically .. but he does get loud." 

Shawnee stifled a yawn that overtook her.  She looked up and saw the
handsome dragonrider grinning at her. "I'm sorry," she said with a blush.

Saul smiled warmly. "I've kept you up very late haven't I, Sweet Shawnee?"

"I don't mind."

"Between moving to a new place, getting a new job, and watching after your
brother and sister, I can imagine you are very exhausted. I should have
been much more understanding. I've been very selfish." He kissed her
lightly on the forehead, "Let's get you home, so you can rest."

Regards,
Saul & Fayloth
***
NRPG: Just introducing Shawnee to a couple more characters :} Anyone else
who would like to jump into a late dinner, feel free. (It is after all
after she's already put her siblings to bed :})

As for K'leev, I figure he's got to be gloating about how his dragon is the
sire of Whiteriver's next clutch .. so I threw that in.

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