>"Noone is going to hurt your babies." Trinale reassured her anxiously.

>The mother broke into excited chatter and all of the trio rose into the 
air, and in the next moment, they were gone.

>The group in the room looked stunned.


Cali stood dumbfounded at the unexpectedness of the disappearance!  One
minute there had been a tiny creeling hatchling in the palm of her hand and
the next a fully grown adult.... whatever!...had launched itself into the
air and teleported.   And they were telepathic too if Trinale and Tanya
were to be believed.  She looked at Trinale, ready to ask what the mother
creature had said, but Trinale beat her to it


>"Now, would someone please care to explain to me what is going on here?" 
Trinale said, looking around the room.


Tanya and Cali both looked to each other, shrugging at the impossibility of
what had just happened.  Tanya responded to Cali's gesture to start first,
and she had just opened her mouth to speak when a figure burst into the
room, seemingly intent on making a real mess of K'leev.  But the man, Cali
vaguely recognised him as the injured Pa'gan,  collapsed unconscious before
he could reach his goal, his sword clattering to the floor beside him.


K'leev used the commotion to slip from the room quietly.  Cali realised
that there were more than enough people to help the fallen rider, and she
followed K'leev from the room, breathing a silent sigh of relief as the
noise level lessened slightly.


"They had a lucky escape."  K'leev told her with a malicious laugh  "Two
seconds more and I'd have spitted them on my blade.  They would have made
good eating...."


"With the speed they matured they must be considered 'good eating' by many
creatures."  Contempt for him showed clearly in her eyes   "They must be
used to fleeing from monsters......"  Her voice trailed away, and she
smiled in satisfaction at his gasp of rage as his mind supplied the missing
words  '....like you'.  


Turning on her heel she moved rapidly towards the exit to the medical
buildings.  She knew that K'leev was unlikely to forgive the insult she'd
just paid him, but she couldn't feel sorry for it.  The man deserved
everything he got and more..... She'd seldom known a more insensitive,
boorish, intolerant, spiteful, overbearing, boorish, insensitive....


*You're repeating yourself you know.....would you like some help with an
appropriate description of him?*  


An amused laugh tinkled in her mind, and she smiled ruefully as she went to
where Lute was patiently waiting for her.  She leaned into the warmth of
Lute's hide and relaxed after the excitement of the hatching and everything
that had followed.  She scrubbed at Lute's eye ridges as she scolded her
affectionately;


*You shouldn't really listen to my rantings love!  He just makes me so
angry sometimes.  There's no need for him to treat Thorin the way he
does......*


*I think the healer can take care of himself.*  Lute said placidly  *And if
Chrysthal will persuade her rider not to be so silly, then soon.....*


*Lute, you've been gossiping again!*  Cali tried to be serious, but she
dissolved into giggles at Lute's attempt to assume an innocent expression
*Oh my!  You're totally incorrigible.*


*Oh..... but you love me anyway.*  Lute said smugly   *Now can we go and
eat?  I'm hungry!*


Still laughing Cali climbed onto Lute's back and directed her to teleport
to their favourite hunting ground......


<..>

<Early the following morning>


Cali lay on the grass beside the lake reading the book she'd found in the
Warren's archives the previous day.  She was still searching for any hint
of the animal she and Tanya had discovered, but she'd had no luck so far....


*You'd think someone would have recorded an animal that can mature to fully
grown in seconds!*  Her frustrated thought brought Lute's head out from
under the spray of the falls   *There must be some mention of it somewhere...*


*Why worry about it?*  Lute asked puzzled  *It was here... now it's not!*


*Well she was kind of cute.  The hatchling might have made a good pet.*
Cali teased, sitting up to watch Lute as she splashed in the lake.


*Cute?*  Lute peered at Cali as if she'd gone mad  *She attacked you!*


*But we threatened her eggs.*  Cali laughed at Lute's outraged expression
*I'm teasing you love.  But I'd really like to know more about a species
that can grow so fast....*


*Just so long as you don't happen across the animal that hunts them.*  Lute
dove beneath the surface once more, swimming rapidly back beneath the
waterfall


Caliban shuddered as she tried to picture the predator that could cause
that kind of survival mechanism in it's prey.  <*Not* something to meet on
a dark night that's for sure!> she thought as she stripped off and joined
Lute in the lake.


<..>


She was combing her wet hair into some semblance of order when she heard
the caravan of wagons coming towards the Warren.  She pulled her shirt over
her head and was fastening the last button when the first of them hove into
view.  As the lead wagon drew level with her the horses were pulled to a
halt, and the driver hopped lightly to the ground.  He was tall, and
dark-haired and very confident as he approached her.


"Good morn to you m'lady."  


He sketched a quick bow as he greeted her, his mouth curving into a wide
grin to reveal even white teeth.  She looked up into sparkling brown eyes,
and her own mouth twitched in a smile.  


*My oh my... he certainly is good looking!*  she thought at the still
submerged Lute  *And doesn't he know it!   Stay there like a good dragon...
I wouldn't want to spook the horses......*


*Huh!*  was the only reply from the indignant Lute


She refocused on him, and his patiently waiting expression told her she'd
missed something he'd said.  Apologising for her wandering thoughts she
asked him to repeat himself, and sighed with regret as he said;


"I asked if you would direct me to WarrenLady Deanna."  He was tolerantly
amused, the twinkle in his eyes telling her he knew how he was affecting her. 


"Impossible.... er......I mean I can't!"  Cali stammered   "I'm sorry...
I'm trying to say that Deanna was killed some time ago.  You'd need to see
Trinale instead."


"I'm sorry to hear about Deanna."  he said in a mournful tone  "She and I
were old friends....."


"You were?"  Cali asked startled, wondering why she'd never seen this 'old
friend' of her former WarrenLady.  


"We were."  he said solemnly  "We met in Ralengarde some time ago and she
invited me to stop here with my players if I was ever near Whiteriver.  So
here I am... but too late it seems."


"Players?"  Cali finally looked at the rest of the caravan and was
delighted and amazed by the colourful posters and pictures adorning every
one of them.  


"Fun and frolics for all.  Conjurors and sword swallowers and fire eaters
to delight the heart of the young and old."  Once more the man swept a bow
"Do you think Trinale will be open to the delights of a carnival?"


"I know I would be!"  Cali exclaimed  "Look why don't I take you to meet
her... she should have a little free time right now."


"Lead on young lady.  Lead on."  The man helped her up onto the wagon seat,
and settled beside her   "Tell me a little about Trinale before I meet her.
Does she like fun and laughter?  I find it best to be prepared....often the
older ones are averse to light heartedness!"


"I wouldn't let you catch Trinale calling her older"  Cali clutched the
edge of the seat as the wagon lurched into motion  "She's younger than I am!"


Cali thought she heard a muttered comment from him about 'no dried up old
prunes here either' as she told Lute to meet her back at the Green.


<..>


"Trinale!"  Cali jumped lightly to the grass and called to the young
Warrenlady  "I've someone who wants to meet you.  This is... er....."  She
turned to the man standing by her side suddenly realising that she didn't
know his name.


"Daimon."  he introduced himself  "At your service m'lady."  


He took Trinale's hand in his and raised it to his lips,  his eyes sparkled
with warmth and admiration as he placed a lingering kiss on her fingers.....


Submitted by

Caliban, Lute's human




-- 
Mint,  the voice and soul of

Timi Caplain  FO   USS Javelin       Caliban & Lute,          Dragon Lands
Lillith the Mage     Broken Lands     Minty, Kirimith's rider  Dragon Lands   
Naomi, QueenRider to Amethyst, Norwall's WarrenLady,  Dragon Lands

http://www.netkonect.co.uk/l/lovers/mint/norwall.html
http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/5902/
http://www.dragonfire.net/~Mint/