Saul
***

Saul sat in the med center as T'jellan hugged Shawnee. He watched the
exhibition with a bit of a frown as he remembered what Trinale had told him
about K'leev's accusations. Was T'jellan in love with Shawnee?

The man left quickly, and Saul began to wonder about the look on the man's
face. He couldn't be sure, because T'jellan had left too quickly.

His thoughts were drawn away by the entrance of Barry and Byrin.

Byrin
***

Byrin had not seen Saul since the fight. And the sight disturbed him
slightly. He'd seen men beat up before .. but usually they were strangers.
He did see a lot of strangers in the Rest .. But Saul wasn't  a stranger.
For a moment his mind took him back to seeing Gorge laying on a cot in a
sterile med center .. and his body shook.

But, he reminded himself, this was all very different. Saul wasn't sick ..
he wasn't going to die .. He swallowed hard and moved toward his father.

>"Saul, is there anything I can do to help?" Byrin asked his father wanting
>to do something.

>And when the bearded rider turned to him and nearly fell forward from the
>pain the quick movement had caused, Shawnee was instantly by his side, and
>leading him back to the bed.

He cringed as he watched Saul's pain and Shawnee's concern. Was it worse
then it thought? He knew it looked bad .. but he would be all right ..
wouldn't he?

>"You need to lay back down love," she told him while asking Byrin to go
>get the healer. When Saul protested she scolded him.

He bolted, his face paling. He ran down the hall calling, "I need a healer
.. I need a healer.."

Finally a blonde-haired, blue-eyed woman  popped out in front of him. He
wasn't sure where she'd come from, but she was there now. "I need a
healer," he said.

"I'm a healer .. who do you need a healer for?"

"Saul .. he's hurt."

She smiled at him, "I know he's hurt. Is the pain coming back?"

Byrin nodded. And the woman followed him.

Shawnee looked up at yet another intrustion into Saul's sick room. The
healer eyed everyone, "You know this is the med center .. it is meant to
allow injured persons time to rest .. not socialize .."

Barry grimaced lightly, "Sorry, Clarissa .."

The healer smiled gently at him. "I know you're all worried about Ojean,
but if B'ril comes in and finds you all here, he's going to have a heart
attack."

Barry nodded, "Come on, Byrin, we should go now."

"But .." Byrin sputtered.

Clarissa put her hand on his shoulder, "Saul's going to be just fine .. as
long as he's allowed to rest."

Byrin frowned but nodded and followed Barry out of the room. Barry moved to
put an arm around the boy, "There's nothing we can do right now."

"When is Shawnee going to go get Ojean?" he asked.

"I don't think they'll let her go. She's to closely involved."

"But how is Doshayne going to find Ojean then? I mean wouldn't that make it
easier?"

"How would Doshayne find Ojean?" Barry asked raising an eyebrow.

"Cause she can hear him .. and he can hear her?"

"He can?" Barry's eyes widened, "We've gotta tell someone."

Byrin nodded, pleased to finally be doing something to help.

K'leev
***

>"Tell me where it is and then I want you to get naked while we're gone. I
>want you ready for me when I come back."

>"And if I'm not," she said grinning.

>"Then I'll strip you myself and beat the hell out of you before I take
>what I want," he warned her, his hand grabbing her whole breast, squeezing
>it cruelly and was rewarded by her gasp of pain/pleasure.

>"Down the second hall there all the way to the back."

He smiled, thinking how nice it was to finally have a woman who didn't
cringe when he got that look in his eyes. He knew Racine just tolerated his
roughness, because she felt she had no choice. But it had been like having
a cold fish in bed, as she didn't respond. Not that he cared much  how she
responded as long as he got what he wanted.

Still he thought as he turned toward his daughter, there was a certain
reward to hearing the woman cry out in pleasure. His mind flickered back to
a vague memory of a beautiful dragonrider who had once wanted nothing but
him ..

***
"Take me to bed now, my darling .." she said sweeping into his arms.

He gladly accepted her, gently lifting her small frame to his and searching
out her lips with firey kisses. "What about Thorin .." he wispered between
kisses, not wanting to wake his small son.

"I shut the door," she whispered back. Then she grinned, "Besides with all
that running around the two of you did by the waterfall, he'll be
completely worn out."

He grinned and headed into their bedroom, laying her gently  on the bed and
beginning to carefully undress her as he covered her body with kisses ..
part by part ..
***

K'leev frowned. That was all in the past. She was gone and so it just
didn't matter anymore.  "Cill," he called holding out his hand to the small
child, "Come with me."

"You're not gonna lock me up like she did Ojean .. are you," the girl's
brow furrowed.

K'leev softened, "Of course not, my Cill. I just want to take you to a room
where you'll be safe. Daddy has some things to discuss with Owlean, and you
need you're sleep."

She took his hand and followed him to a small room within the cave. He lay
down blankets and settled a candle down in the corner of the room before
turning to help Cill into the makeshift bed.

"Can't I sleep with you, Daddy. I don't like this cave," the girl
whimpered, "It's cold and dark."

K'leev looked at her sternly, "Now this isn't my Cill talking, is it? My
Cill isn't scared of anything."

She chewed on her lip, "I'm not scared .." The words were hesitant and
K'leev knew she was scared.

"There is nothing to worry about, love. Daddy is only a call away, if
anything happens. Which it won't, because this is Owlean's cave and she's
made it safe for us."

Cill's face wrinkled, "I don't like her daddy."

K'leev shrugged, "She's okay. Now lay down and go to sleep, my sweet girl."

Cill nodded, "Okay daddy .."

K'leev smiled at her and kissed her gently on the forehead. He found it
hard to believe that Racine had produced this wonderful child. She must
have gotten all his genes .. He sighed as he left the room .. he couldn't
have been prouder.  It was too bad she wasn't a boy .. she would have made
a wonderful son ..

He walked back into the main room where Owlean lay, her legs spread,
beconing him with her womanhood. He instantly felt an erection growing in
his pants .. straining against the leather flying breeches. He quickly
discarded them and moved to thrust into that warm spot she had waiting for
him.

Cill
***

Cill fought off the fear that crept over her as her father walked out of
the room. But with him gone, the shadows only seemed to move in closer. She
buried her head under her covers and shut her eyes tightly.

She had to be brave, because that's what her father expected, and she
didn't want to disappoint him .. not like Mara did .. or Thorin. She was
his Cill and she wasn't afraid of anything ..

That was when the cries carried down to her tiny room. She frowned, it was
that woman .. and she was calling her father's name.

Her curiousity drove away the fear as she sat up and listened carefully.
What was that woman doing? She sat there for a while listening .. until she
couldn't stand it any longer. She had to see what was going on! She
certainly wasn't going to sleep with that woman screaming like that .. and
it just seemed to go on and on .. and on ..

She stood and slowly, silently moved to the door of her room. Then she
crept down the hall .. her eyes widening at what she saw ..

That woman was naked, on her hands and knees and her father was behind her,
bumping up against her. She watched with a sick sort of fasination as they
'bumped' rhythmically .. over and over. That woman continuted to scream and
her father continued to bump up against her. Sweat was streaking down his
face and his eyse were closed tightly.

It was then that Owlean looked up, opening her eyes mid-moan and spotted
the tiny girl watching wide-eyed. The woman  smiled .. and the smile sent
shivers through Cill's body. Owlean made a show of moaning again, and
grabbed at her own breast, pinching the nipple as her eyes locked with
Cill's.

Just as K'leev's body began to shudder and his own moans matched Owlean's,
Cill turned and ran.  K'leev never noticed his daughter,  and Owlean just
smiled.

Cill curled up under her blankets after reaching her room. She tried to get
the image out of her mind. But that woman's smiling face still remained ..
The girl fought back tears. Why was that woman here. Surely she and her
father would be happier without her!

Thorin
***
<<middle of the night>>

Thorin was pretendng everything was normal .. at least trying .. as he went
to work that evening. Merissa had been close by all night, always ready to
lend a comforting hand. But he was determined not to let this bother him.
K'leev was gone .. banished .. and there was nothing he could do about it.

He was angry that the man had gotten away with Shawnee's brother .. and it
seemed with Cill too. It appeared that Cill had actually helped their
father to kidnap the boy. Thorin had never been to fond of his baby sister.
She was constantly going out of her way to tease him .. almost just as his
father had done. But Racine was a mess, now that her daughter was missing,
and he couldn't help but feel sorry for the woman, who had always been kind
to him.

As he walked down the quiet halls he heard mumbling coming from Aradia's
room. He quietly opened the door and walked in, "Aradia?" he asked moving
to stand beside her bed.

***

>"I'm so sorry!" she apologized, "Futhark just told me about K'leev!" she
>hugged her friend tightly, not knowing what else to do.

He accepted her hug for a moment the pushed her back to lie down, "I'll be
okay, but you need your rest."

She remained sitting, "No, I don't think you're okay." She took his hand,
"Thorin .. you are always helping others, why won't you let me help you."

"There isn't anything to do, Aradia." He said trying to look busy as he
picked up her chart.

"There is always something to do," she insisted.

He shrugged, "Merissa wanted me to stay home .. but, I think I need to be
here. I was hoping it would take my mind off things .. but all it seems to
be doing is giving me time to think more."

"It'll help to talk about it .."

He shook his head, "No, that's the last thing that'll help. I just want to
forget."

"You can't forget .. trying to forget only makes you think about it more.
Believe me.. I know."

Thorin shook his head, "I'm supposed to be working anyway."

Aradia smiled gently. "Is the night that busy?" He shook his head and
squeezed his hand that she was still holding. "Then tell me what's in your
heart."

"There's so much .." he began.

"Don't worry about getting it out in any order .. just talk."

And he did ..

***

"Pa'gan, was right about you." Aradia said, many words and hugs and tears
later.

Thorin shrugged, "I'm not so sure."

"But I am. You have put up with an angry father for far to long. And I
don't think he'll ever change."

"It's not his fault." Thorin said, but Aradia shook her head.

"Yes, it is. He didn't have to let your mother's lose effect him the way it
did. It didn't make you angry. We all have personal tragedies we need to
see through .. some of us handle them well, just like you. Some of us don't
.. just like your father." Aradia lay back down in the cot, and Thorin
looked at her in concern. Had he worn her out, being so wrapped up in
himself, but she smiled at  him, seeing the worry in his eyes, "I'm fine."

She looked at him, her lavender eyes growing serious, "You are so much
stronger then K'leev, Thorin. Don't seek to gain his approval. He should be
seeking to gain yours."

"Thank you," he said.

She could see there was still some disbelief in his eyes, but she knew
self-esteem didn't come over night. Between everyone of Thorin's friends
and the lady of his life, one day he would get beyond what his father had
tried to do to him. She just knew it.

Regards,
Saul & Fayloth
Thorin & Areena
K'leev & Bruteth
Cill

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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
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