Thorin
***

>Pa'gan sighed and leaned back in his seat. His wounds hurt from the
sustained increase in blood pressure but he had to hide it from the heart
sick young man.

Thorin was too caught up in his own self-absorption to take much notice of
the strain the wilder had put on himself. The man's words were making him
think. He'd always believed everything his father had ever told him. And as
far as he could see they only time his father had been wrong was when he
had failed to join to a dragon. But that problem obviously lay in him ..
not his father.

>"You love the Queenrider don't you?" Pa'gan asked as much as stated. But
before Thorin could answer Pa'gan started again. "THE BEST that anyone
could hope for is to have someone that loves them as well as they love the
other. As far as what your father thinks........ Well I have known many
warriors, I have known many healers, I have known many teachers, I have
known many different types of people and you know what," Pa'gan forced his
voice to take lighter tone, "they were all the same people. My Clan!
Everybody had to do everything, there were not as many people as there are
here. Perhaps....... just perhaps, if you have to try to please your
father...... why not be a combat medic. This way when you join....... and I
have faith you will, you can be a rider and a healer. Many lives have been
saved by a combat medic, getting the injured a good medical treatment on
the field can mean the difference between life and death. During peace you
continue here in medical."

A healer and a dragonrider? He'd never even considered it. He'd only known
Clarissa to be both. He pushed the thought from his head. He'd never join
now any way. He was sure he would not be asked to stand at the hatching of
Chrysthal's eggs. He was getting too old .. and he'd been rejected so many
times in the past.

Suddenly he hear Pa'gan clear his throat. He looked up and was surprised to
see the cub in the man's hands. When had the cub arrived?

>"After all a person that believes in them self can even tame the wild
beasts." Pa'gan just smiled at Thorin as he watched Pa'gan hand feed the cat.

"You did, didn't you?" said Thorin. Pa'gan nodded. Well, perhaps we should
get you back to your room. It'll be morning soon, and B'ril will have my
head if he finds out you were out of bed so long."

"On one condition," Pa'gan said.

Thorin looked up at him, hesitantly .. waiting to hear his condition.

"You think about what I said .. and talk to Merissa."

Thorin swallowed hard, but nodded none the less. He had to take the oil to
Merissa in the morning anyway .. maybe .. 

***

Thorin finished his shift and headed back into the lab to pick up the
bottle of oil he'd made for Merissa. Now the trick was to find her. He had
thought maybe he should leave it with Clarissa, but Pa'gan's words stuck in
his head.

Taking a deep breath he went in search of her.

<<NRPG: Arlene, I don't know if you are back from vacation or not, but feel
free to have Thorin find her :}>>

Saul
***

>"I'd much rather sneak off with you somewhere and having you show me some
of your other *ideas*,"  Shawnee teased Saul as they neared the marketplace
and saw a wicked gleam appear in his blue eyes when he smiled down at her.

>"I've created a monster," he groaned, pulling her around to face him when
they reached the square. Taking both of her hands in his, he bent his head
to kiss her, and this time she didn't care who saw them as she kissed him
back. 

He grinned at her, "I definitely like this less shy side of you."

"You would," she chuckled. "Though .. so do I." 

They kissed again and Saul pulled away though still holding tightly to her
hands. "Get inside woman, before I carry you up to my apartment where you
can't ever escape!"

She smiled warmly, "That's not a bad idea."

"Saul, are you going to keep my worker out here all afternoon as well as
all morning," came a stern sounding voice from the door of the tailor
shop." They both turned to see a smiling Barry.

"I've tried chasing her off, Barry. But she won't leave me alone!" Saul
teased.

"Perhaps if you'd release the young lady's hand," suggested the older tailor.

Saul looked down at his hands still tightly clasping hers. Then he grinned,
"Oops. Sorry." He released her hands.

"I'll see you for lunch?" she asked.

"I wish I could, Sweet Shawnee. Unfortunately, as a dragonrider I can't
think only of myself. L'rian is expecting me for a patrol in about an hour.
 But dinner?"

She nodded and headed into the tailor shop. Saul was just about to turn and
leave when he heard Barry call to him, "Saul. I need a favor, if you have
the time?"

"Sure, Barry. After what you did for me .. anything." He grinned. 

Barry chuckled, "Could you run these over to B'ril. I have a load of work
and can't get away right now and I know he's waiting on them."

"No problem, I can do that," Saul said and took the white lab coats from
Barry and turned to make his way back toward the medical center.  

He found the healer along with a couple of his staff dumping a large jar of
amber colored liquid down a disposal drain. Saul walked up slowly with a
raised eyebrow

"So they have you on garbage duty these days, B'ril?" he teased.

B'ril looked up and smiled lightly at the dragonrider, "Looks that way
doesn't it." He eyed the lab coats, "Are those for me?"

"Yep, sure are. Barry asked me to bring them over for him." Saul said,
watching the rich liquid pour slowly out into the drain. "Bad batch of
medicine?"

"No, not exactly." B'ril explained taking the light coats from Saul and
setting them over on a nearby counter, "Just worried that maybe it's not
working right. This is a batch of the birth control liquid most of the
female dragonriders prefer to use. We got it from Keldarra a couple of
months ago and thankfully haven't had to use it yet. Seems Keldarra had a
rash of unexplained pregnancies. I don't want to take any chances that this
is the reason."

Saul nodded, "No, that probably wouldn't be a good thing." 

B'ril chuckled. "Not sure Whiteriver could handle a sudden populations
explosion."

"Yeah," said Saul absently, "See you later, B'ril."

"Sure, and thanks for bringing those by Saul."

Saul didn't answer as his mind was on other things. In particular a pair of
aqua eyes which sat delicately on the face of a once innocent young woman.
An unjoined woman, who up until yesterday ..

"Dear Gods .." he whispered. Why hadn't he thought about it. Maybe he
should ask her .. No, he thought it was a little late now. Then he shook
his head .. it was a long shot anyway. What were the chances? One part of
him argued. The other part knew the truth--that it only took one time.

He headed a bit aimlessly toward the dining hall, still arguing back and
forth with himself over what he should do and whether or not he should even
worry about it. He picked up a cup of tea and sat down at a table. Luckily
it was quite a ways after breakfast and before lunch, so there were very
few people around as he sat contemplating the thoughts that refused to
leave his head. 

<This has to stop,> came Fayloth's voice, intruding into his thoughts

<What?>

<Your worrying is giving me a headache.> Fayloth grumbled. <Just ask her
and that will be the end of it. Besides hatchlings are a good thing.>

<Not for me, Fayloth. I'd make a horrible father .. not to mention I'm far
to young.>

<Hmmph,> Fayloth grumbled, <Not me .. I would make a fine sire!>

Saul rolled his eyes.

"Hey Saul," said L'rian sitting down beside him, cutting off any response
Saul might have been thinking of.

The bearded man, "L'rian." Suddenly Saul did a double take, turning back to
look at his friend in shock.

"What's wrong?" L'rian asked, patting himself. "Do I have two heads or
something?"

"You're only 3 years older then me." Saul said with a frown. Time was
beginning to pass him by. 

"Yes. Please tell me you're not just figuring this out." L'rian said with a
grin.

Saul looked down and the table and chuckled. "No, never mind, it's nothing.
Are you ready to go?"

"Yep. Let's do it."

Regards,
Saul & Fayloth
***
NRPG: Something else for Saul and Shawnee to worry about. So Barb do you
think Shawnee can get it out of him :}

Kristen

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  |\  /^~~^\  /|
 -qqQ-\O||O/-Qpp------------------------------------------------------
       \oo/     Kristen Gant
        ~~      (AKA: Darlea & Makayla, Keldarra Warren, Courier
                      Waylene & Aura, Marrid Warren, Warrenlady
                      Meena & Vonn, Norwall Warren, Dragonrider
                      Kalewyn & Sabbith, Telnor Warren, Dragonrider
                      Saul & Fayloth, Whiteriver Warren, Searcher
                      Merybelle Barmen, City of Ralengarde, Innkeeper
                http://homepage.interaccess.com/~sgant/Kris/kris.htm
 --d----------b-------------------------------------------------------
        ()
       \()/
        \/