Saul
****

>"No, me and Reekor were... away at the time."  Tanya saw a quick flash of
sadness and regret flicker through his eyes as he said the statement.
Tanya, before she knew exactly what she was doing, reached out and took the
man's hand in a comforting gesture. Her hand was engulfed by the large
hands, but the touch was gentle, as was the gaze turned her way.

>"I'm sorry to put you through so much pain," Saul said, seeing the pain in
Pa'gan's eyes, "but we need to know these things.  Are you sure you didn't
see anything that day?"

"Of course, I have been alone for some time," said Pa'gan. "There might be
things I've forgotten."

"I understand. You are welcome here for now. You'll have to speak to the
Warrenlady when she returns. It might be late tonight, so perhaps you could
see her in the morning." Saul turned to Tanya, "Perhaps you could help him
find an apartment to stay in for the night."

Tanya nodded, clearly pleased at being given such an important task. Saul
smiled warmly at her, then turned back to Pa'gan. "I'm sure Trinale, the
Warrenlady will welcome you to stay also. I'll let her tell you about our
life here. If there are no more questions, there are some other things I
must see to tonight. I leave you in Tanya's capable hands. Feel free to
have dinner and enjoy the Warren for the night."

Saul stood leaving the young man and young woman sitting at the table as he
exited the dining hall, having already eaten his dinner. <Fayloth,> he
called to the blue dragon, <I have the urge to visit the Pig's Whistle
tonight. Meet me on the green.>

<We have a morning patrol with L'rian tomorrow remember.>

<We won't be long.>

Saul finished the short walk to the green, meeting his dragon there. He
gently caressed the dragon's neck ridges, "I'm in the mood for a bit of
cards, my friend."

<Cards is it? And I suppose the fact that Celia is there has nothing to do
with it.>

<That's just the icing on the cake, dear one.>

<So the young dragonrider, did get to you, as I thought she would.>

Saul climbed on the dragon's back, dismissing the dragon's words, <Don't be
silly, Fayloth, she's a child, no older then Trinale.>

Fayloth didn't say anymore as he launched himself into the air, but Saul
could feel the dragon's smug smirk at being correct. Saul knew that
eventually he would have to come to grips with the fact that young women he
had known as babies, were now no longer so young. Even now they were
becoming dragonriders. The thought bothered him much more then he cared to
admit.

<To the inn, Fayloth.>

In an instant the ever present sound of the waterfall was silence as they
broke out into the skies over the Tilharnon countryside. The Pig's Whistle
was a short distance out of town and Saul knew it well. It was one of his
favorite places for gaming. It was also the inn where he had lost his
father, and almost lost his own life so many years ago.

The buxom Celia smiled happily as the roguish dragonrider entered, "Saul,
love! I wouldn't have expected you for a while longer. It's not been that
long since you were last here."

Saul swept the woman into his arms, kissing her soundly, "You know I can't
stay away long from your beauty, fair Celia."

The woman chuckled, "Ever the charmer, you are. What can I get for you
tonight?"

"I was hoping to find a bit of card playing going on."

"There always is, you know that." She cocked her head toward the rear of
the room where a group of four men set around the table. "Right over there,
love. Fairly congenial crowd too. Don't change the nice quiet night for me,
okay."

"Never fear, sweet Celia, I did not come to fight." His eyes twinkled as he
looked at her. 

She smiled wryly at him, "I never expect less, when you are around. Just
look me up, when your finished playing .. cards."

"Oh, woman, you make me almost want to forget the cards." She chuckled, but
knew him to be lying. Saul very seldom passed up a good card game.

****

<Saul!> came Fayloth's stern cry.

<hmph> the dragonrider snorted, as he lay basking in the aftermath of his
reunion with Celia.

<We have patrols in the morning with L'rian! You can't stay here tonight.>

Saul sighed, knowing the dragon was right, but he was loath to leave the
warm form beside him.

"Go on," a soft voice whispered.

"I don't want to," He said breathing in the musky scent of her skin.

"I can tell, Saul. You forget, I've known you far to long now. That dragon
of yours is calling isn't he?" she asked as she ran a stray finger down his
bare chest.

"Yes," he admitted, "I have patrol's in the morning."

"Then go, and come back later, when you get a chance."

"You are an angel, sweet Celia, you know." He said looking into her eyes.

"I know .." she said softly.

He stood grabbing his clothes. This wouldn't have been the first time he'd
left her bed in the middle of the night, and he knew it wouldn't be the last. 

After he'd finished dressing he bowed gallantly to her blowing her a kiss,
then stepped lightly out of her room. The inn was dark, all of it's
patron's having left or gone to their rooms for the night. He quietly
opened the door and headed out into the cool night air. 

Fayloth was waiting for him, <You are going to be cranky in the morning
from lack of sleep, you know. And I have to put up with it.>

Saul chuckled, <Then perhaps you should have chosen another to be your rider."

<Perhaps I should have!> said the dragon indignantly. Each knew that the
other would not be happy without the other, but still they loved to tease.

****
(Morning after council)

Saul woke early in the morning with little prompting from Fayloth. He found
that he was starving and wanted to get in a good breakfast before he and
L'rian went on patrol. He headed into the dining hall and was surprised
when Glynda from the Medical center handed him a white envelope.

"What's this?" he asked.

"It's from Titania. She's left."

>"She left?" Saul asked quietly.

>Glynda nodded, "But she asked that I make sure you get this."

>He nodded and took the envelope from her. Moving over to a quiet corner of
the dining hall he opened it. He frowned as he read her parting words. He
was sorry that she couldn't stay. But he was glad that she had found her
quest. Everyone needed a quest. He thought of his own quest so long ago.
He'd had plans to search ever corner of the lands in revenge over his
father's death. But the hatching of the beautiful dark blue dragon had
changed all that.

>Then there had been training and patrols. And not long after that he'd
begun searching along with A'got. He'd found a new place with a new family
and other things were forgotten. Now he had responsibilities, something
that he never would have thought possible all those years ago.

>"You're looking very somber this morning. That's quite unlike you, Saul,"
he heard the sweet voice behind him. He turned to see Caliban.

>"Cali," he grinned. "But now I've got you to cheer me up."

>She smiled, "What's wrong."

>"Just got news that Titania isn't staying after all."

>It was now Cali's turn to frown, "She's not? I'm sorry to hear that."

>"Me too," he said quietly, "But so it goes with spirits such as her I
suppose. So where have you been hiding yourself, Sweet Cali. I haven't seen
much of you."

****

Saul met L'rian out on the green a short time after chatting with Cali.

"You look pale, old man," chuckled L'rian.

Saul winced slightly at the reference, then chuckled himself. L'rian was
three years older then Saul, so he had no room to talk, and was simply
teasing his partner, "If I'm old, what are you?"

"I'm feeling a bit old myself," the man sighed. "With my oldest daughter
now running the warren. With the Council yesterday I realized that she's
not 'playing' at being the Warrenlady. She is."

"I know what you mean, my friend." The two men hopped on their dragon's and
headed out on their patrol.

They hadn't gone far when they spotted a man slumped over on his horse.
Fayloth quickly landed allowing his rider to slide off. The cows scattered
at the sight of the two dragon's landing on their pasture. The horse the
man was on was skittish but didn't run.

Saul cautiously approached the horse. "Hello .." he called, hoping the man
wasn't dead.

He noticed the man's binding and hurried over to the animal, "Sir," he said
shaking the man slightly.

--Saul & Fayloth
****
NRPG: I know we really don't want to go beyond the Council, but I didn't
want to leave Mia slumped over the horse for too long :}

So Mia, is he alive?? :}

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