Merybelle
***
<<WR time - Before Saul goes to Killaglen and meets Ashelle>>

"You .. wanna stay .." Mery said softly.

"Just a while longer, mama. I'm really worried about Ojean. I mean it was
sorta my fault." Byrin said miserably.

"Oh it couldn't have been your fault."

Byrin sighed, "No, I guess not. But .. But I have to know he's okay, mom."

She nodded, "Of course .."

Byrin grinned and hugged his mother, "Come on, my father's with Toral and
Issic."

The color drained from Mery's face, ".. With  Toral .." She hurried quickly
after the boy.

Saul
***

>Linaya was about to reply when the man, Saul, asked, "Dragonrider? What
>dragonrider?"

>"There was a man here earlier that raped and cut a girl from around here,"
>Issic explained. "He was a dragonrider from Whiteriver; Mery remembers
>seeing him on her trip there."

>"Yes, and Narissa trailed his scent to the north of town," Linaya cut in,
>then blushed as three pairs of eyes turned her way. 'Stupid, stupid,' she
>thought. 'What good is this information? He could have gone any direction!'

>But Saul seemed interested, as did the other two. "What did you find?" he
>asked her.

>Linaya felt like stuttering as she looked into his eyes, but kept herself
>grounded as she told them what she'd found.

"You're sure this was a Whiteriver rider." he asked looking at Issic.

The Bartender shrugged, "If Merybelle says it was."

"It was," A voice sounded from behind him. He turned to see Mery and Byrin
heading into the Rest.

Byrin grinned, "She said I could stay a little longer."

Issic and Toral both looked at the woman in surprise, but Saul nodded with
a smile, "I'm glad."

"It's to bad it won't be long enough to meet my new brother .. or sister,
but .."

Saul put a hand on the boys shoulder, "Don't worry,  I'll make sure you are
the first to know .. after me of course."

Byrin grinned. Then looked at the stunned face of Toral. Issic wasn't
exactly surprised, but he did look curious, so Byrin explained. "Saul is my
father," he grinned a little sheepishly as he looked back at the
dragonrider,  "And his mate is gonna have a baby. Isn't that great!"

"Congratulations," Toral sputtered, trying to look anything but shocked.
His eyes found Mery who tried to look anywhere but at him. She'd kept this
secret for so long in in one evening .. it was in the open. Of course she
seemed to be the only one it bothered. Both Saul and Byrin looked very
pleased with themselves.

"Coming here was a good idea, Byrin. We may have just found a lead on
finding Ojean. And it's all thanks to you," Saul praised the boy.

"Really!" Byrin asked wide-eyed.
"Well and your mother .. and the beautiful Linaya." Saul turned his smile
on the young woman.

Byrin looked at her too. Who was she?

"Byrin," Mery said stepping forward, "This is Linaya, she's just moved into
the city and is helping out here for a while. Linaya .. this is my son,
Byrin."

Mery turned to Saul, "He was a whiteriver rider.  A very unpleasant one."

Saul frowned, "I heard .. he raped a woman?"

Mery shrugged, "Well, she says so .. she does have a bit of a reputation
though. However he did cut up her face pretty badly .. just to be mean."

"Mean .." Saul nodded, "That sounds like K'leev. Trinale just banished him
for trying to .. rape Shawnee."

Mery's eyes saddened, "I .. I'm sorry. I didn't know."

Saul shrugged, "She's okay, he didn't hurt her."

"He did this one. She's scarred for life now." Mery told him. "The
Ralengarde Militia is looking for him. But few hold out hope of finding
him. After all, he is a dragonrider."

Saul could hear the contempt in her voice. He wondered why it was that she
hated dragonriders so much .. surely it couldn't be all his fault!

"Yes, which only means that he can not be killed. It doesn't mean he can't
still be punished." Saul told her.

"How are they to catch him, Saul," she spat, "he need only climb on that
monster of his and he's gone.. just like today."

"Well, find him. Even if I have to do it myself." Saul promised her. Saul
looked at Bryin, "I want to get back to the warren .. I have an idea."

Byrin nodded and turned to the other, "I'll be back later. Gosh it was good
seeing you all!" Then he turned to his mother and hugged her again, "See
you soon, Mama."

The boy and the dragonrider headed out the door leaving the four Ralengarde
inhabitants in the rest. Three sets of eyes turned to look at Mery. She
groaned, "I'd rather not talk about it." She turned and headed into her
office, leaving the other three to watch her departing back.

Regards,
Marybelle
Saul & Fayloth
Byrin
***
NRPG: Ralengarde, sorry this is such a clunky post, but I wanted to get it
out of the way :) Expect that Saul will keep his word about bringing K'leev
to justice over the defacement of that girl.

Whiterive, this is a backpost .. so for information only.

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-------------------------------------------------------
        ()
       \()/
        \/