Saul
***
<<I'm leaving the digging out of the girls open to those of you more
closely involved. But expect that Saul is there and helping out until the
end!>>

Saul had been tired and sweaty when he'd called Fayloth to come and get him
from the dig site. The blue dragon had left his rider in his apartment and
headed out to get something to eat. Mating flights tended to train a
dragon's energies. 

Saul took a shower and was considering laying down to take a nap when
Fayloth landed on the ledge, <Climb on my back Saul!>

<Why? What's wrong?>

<Doshayne is very upset. Something happened to her rider last night.>

"Shawnee .." Saul whispered and ran to his waiting dragon

***

>"Forget about him right now. He's not going any where," the big man
snapped. "It's your mate that you should be worrying about."

"She's not my mate," Saul frowned taking a deep breath and running his
fingers through his wavy brown hair. Why did everyone seem to think that
she was .. "But you're right, K'leev isn't going anywhere. He can't be
allowed to get away with this kind of action with any of the women living
here."

>"Is that all I  am to you Saul," they heard a voice saying from the door
way and turned to see Shawnee standing there, her face devoid of any color
showing off the big bruise had formed over her left cheek where her face
had hit the floor earlier. "Just one of the many women living here."

He looked at her, his eyes taking in the bruise, "Shawnee, are you all
right?" He moved to take her in his arms, concern showing in his eyes.

But she dodged him, "Tell me, Saul."

He looked at her dumbfounded, "You know you mean more then that to me."

"No I don't. You never tell me .."

The large red-headed wingleader stood, "I think I should be leaving know."

"No!" Shawnee said quickly. "I want you to stay. You were here for me last
night." She looked pointedly at Saul, "Where were you?"

He rolled his eyes, "Shawnee, I explained to you about mating flights .."

"That was last night," she reminded him. "Did it last all night? Or did you
just remember I was waiting around here somewhere?"

"I was .." Saul said, his voice tight. He had been going to tell her about
finding the missing girls, but Shawnee was too upset and interrupted him.

"No Saul... don't say it," she held up her hand. "Not this morning. I can't
take any more right now, and Doshy's hungry."

"I'll help .." he began. "Then we can talk about this .. And about your
mother. And the kids."

T'jellan spoke up, "The kids are safe."

Shawnee nodded, "The kids are safe right now and I can handle my mother as
long as I know she can't get to the kids." 

"You don't need to handle her. I can help you." Saul insisted. 

"No.." she forced herself to say. "I'm going to have to learn how to stand
up for myself."

Saul looked at her in shock, "But why .." He asked, "I'm here for you. You
don't need to do anything alone."

"I have to go," she said turning quickly.

"No!" Saul was confused .. He was offering to help.. why wasn't she
accepting it. Why was she so angry at him?

"Why would you want to help me?" she asked, both men could hear the
bitterness in her voice. "I'm not your mate!!"

He froze, "Is that what this is about?"  Surely by now she knew where he
stood on that subject.

"I know you warned me.." she started, her eyes coming up to search his
face. "But I guess I was still hoping if I loved you enough. But you don't
want my love."

"That's not true.."

"Isn't it Saul?" tears filled her eyes now as she faced him. "Can you tell
me that you love me."

Saul looked toward T'jellan who was eyeing him as pointedly as Shawnee was.
He looked back at Shawnee's angry aqua eyes, "It's not that simple .."

"No... I didn't think it was," she said sadly.

"Shawnee .. please," his deep blue eyes begged her, "Please don't ask me to
change .."

"I can't ask that of you my love," she told him. "Only you can decide if it
worth it or not."

Saul's brow wrinkled, "What are you saying?"

"I can't do it any more Saul," her tears were falling faster now. Her heart
breaking in two. She prayed he would open his arms to her and tell her what
she wanted to hear. .. But she knew he wouldn't. "I thought it I loved you
enough you would change. But I was wrong. I guess I don't know much about
men. Only what you taught me,...but I can't do this anymore knowing that
you can't give me what I need. It hurts to much and I don't want to hurt
anymore."

"Gods .. Shawnee .." He whispered, "Please don't do this." 

"I can't be just one of your women Saul," she cried softly. "Do you know
I've heard people taking bets on how long you'll stay with me before moving
on? I can't live my life wondering when that day is going to come. It hurts
to much."

Saul looked away, "I don't want to hurt you. But I can only give what I
have .. If that's not enough .."

"It's not," she lowered her head, unable to look at him. "Not any more."

He looked at her in surprise. How could she do this. A pain in his chest
threatened to overwhelm him. But he quickly composed himself, refusing to
give in to useless emotions. "Well," he said, his voice forced, "You know
if you ever need anything .."

T'jellan sat on the chair looking at the two absolutely stunned. What were
they thinking? He narrowed his eyes at Saul, didn't that man know what he
was doing!

"I know..." Shawnee whispered. God's say something love. Just three little
words and I could never walk away from you. "I have to go," she said
fighting to hide her tears. She had to get out of there. "All I ask is for
you not to turn away Ojean or Fawna if they come to see  you... It would
hurt them to much if you turned away from them..."

"I would never do that," he said simply. 

"Thank you," she said softly and then walked out of the apartment.

Saul watched her go, feeling emptier then he'd ever felt in his whole life.
"You're an asshole." He heard a deep voice behind him say.

He turned to glare at the wingleader, "She walked out on me."

"You let her." T'jellan said.

Saul lowered his head, shaking it, "She asked to much."

T'jellan shook his head in contempt at the dragonrider. "Wrong, Saul. You
didn't offer enough." Then he walked out leaving Saul to stand alone.

Merybelle
***

Merybelle looked at her son. His face pleading with her. "It wouldn't be
for long, Mom. Just a few days .. a week tops."

"Where will you stay? You can't stay alone." Mery said, "And I don't think
you should stay with your father .."

"Maybe with Shawnee and Ojean?"

Mery frowned, "Byrin .. I don't know .."

"Please mom .."

She sighed, finding it difficult to say no. After all he and Saul did seem
to be getting along .. and he did deserve to get to know his father. Though
after Saul's behavior with that young child last night! Someone had tried
to explain the mating flight to her, but it just made no sense.

"I don't think it's a good idea, Byrin."

"Dad would," the boy said simply, and Mery knew he wasn't talking about
Saul of Whiteriver. He was speaking of the man who had raised him from a
young child .. Gorge Barmen. And she knew he was right. Gorge would insist
that she allow the boy time to get to know Saul ..

She dropped her head in frustration. If there were an afterlife as some
believed then she knew Gorge would never stop haunting her if she didn't.
She sighed. "Okay. We'll ask Shawnee."

***

"There she is," Byrin said excitedly as he spotted the blonde woman walked
across the green. "Shawnee!" He called to her.

The woman stopped and waited and Byrin ran up to her, "I have a favor I
want to ask you."

Mery looked at the young woman's face and saw clear evidence that the girl
had been crying. She wondered if it had anything to do with the mating
flight Saul had won the night before

"What can I do for you, Byrin."

"Mom's agreed to let me stay in the warren for a few days if I can stay
with you. That way I can spend more time with Saul .. get to know him as my
father."

Mery spoke quickly. "Don't feel you have to say yes, Shawnee." She debated
over just changing her mind based on the stricken look on the young woman's
face.

"But please say yes," Byrin begged. "I'd like to stay with you and Ojean.
Just for a couple of days. A week at the tops."

Saul
***

Saul stood in the middle of Barry's apartment for a long time trying to
figure out where he'd gone wrong. What had he done?

His head dropped to his chest as his hands covered his head. He knew
Shawnee deserved someone who'd give her what she wanted. A life with a home
.. children .. That certainly wasn't him. He'd just hoped she would have
been happy with him a bit longer.

Damn! He had to clear his head! <Fayloth meet me outside the tailor shop!>

<Where are we going?>

<The Pig & Whistle ..> Yes the Pig & Whistle .. Celia was good at helping
him clear his head.

Regards,
Saul & Fayloth
Merybelle & Byrin
***
NRPG: I leave Byrin in your hands Barb. Feel free to tell Mery as much or
as little as you want :}

Hmm, looks like the old Saul is back.. Timma might be pleased about that ..
but is anyone else :}

Kristen

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