Fairy Takes Only Happen In Books

Raine
******

"I was searched!"  Merissa grinned, "While singing a love ballad, no less."
she embellished for the delight of the young girl, who had quickly ushered
her in to her room, and then embraced her with a surprisingly strong hug.

"YOU? A dragon rider?"  Raine sputtered in disbelief.  "Now your tales are
becoming pure fantasy!"  she teased.

Merissa smiled slyly, "and of a Queen!"

"A Queen... gees... Then that means..." Raine's eyes open wide with a new
hope as she took the seat across from her friend. "That means that if you
say I can stay here in the Warren then no one.. not my father or my brother
can make me leave."

"That's right Merissa grinned then noticed all humor had left the other
girls face. "You can stay here as long as you like."

"No one... not father or Pheran can ever make me do anything I don't want to
do ever again!!" Raine said as if just realizing it was true. 

"No one... not that bastard of a brother or your self-important father.
Especially," and now the girl saw the Queenrider wink broadly at her. "As
you've been searched for the next eggs on the sands. It's in the contracts
that if a person is searched.. and accepts they are under the laws of the
Warren."

Raine chuckled, sounding more like the young friend Merissa remembered from
so long ago. 

"I was searched at one time I'll have you know."

"Really? Oh do tell," Merissa begged to hear the story. 

"Really. By the great Saul of Whiteriver even," the girl told her and
wondered at the sadness that had flashed in the girls eyes for a second
before she brushed it away. 

"Oh gees.. I'll bet your father had kittens over that," Merissa giggled. 

Raine nodded, then her face clouded over. 

"I think that's when everything changed. That was when he and Pheran started
to treat me differently. You see they didn't tell me at first Saul had asked
for me. I only found that out later after seeing him in town, but when I
went home to confront father with it, he got very angry and told me no child
of his was ever going to be a dragonrider and I was then packed off to my
aunts home so I could forget about it."

"I'm surprised you're not there still. With your aunt I mean."

"I was suppose to be," the girl muttered. "And maybe if I had stayed there
then none of this.... But no I wanted to come home. I missed the shops and
seeing the people and well I thought Pheran was on my side when he agreed to
let me stay with him in out apartment in town... Father never goes there you
see. He bought it for Pheran ... And keep my being there a secret from
..father... That's where I met Kel... and stupid me thought that just
because I was falling in love with him that the attentions he was paying
me.... and the things we did... were because he had fallen in love with me
too.."

"It must have been hard to find out differently," Merissa reached out to
take the girls hand in her to offer what comfort she could. 

"Yes... it was a very bitter pill to swallow," hate filled Raine's tone. "I
only found out that last night just why Kel was paying me any mind...
because it was cheaper to use me then to have to pay for a whore! Oh but
that's not right because he did *PAY* my brother in copper coins for the
rights to use me the way he did. Then when I complained and tried to get
Pheran to help me... he told me that he had no sister... then laughed at me
and told me... told me I was no better then a whore and he ..he used me just
like Kel had...."

"Look Raine... if you don't want to talk about it..." Merissa said softly.

"No... it happened I can't forget it no matter what I do. I hate to keep the
hate alive so that if I'm to help you all prove what they have done... and
by this I mean the damn cult they belong too..."

"Now wait a minute my Friend! Who said anything about you helping? You've
been through enough already."

"But I can't just sit here and feel sorry for myself," Raine told her. "I
have to feel like I'm doing something or all of the suffering I went through
will have meant nothing! I *HAVE* to see them caught and punished for what
they did not only to me but to this Warren and for the murder of those
dragons who were killed because of them."

"We'll see... but I can't promise anything...We can't do anything until we
know all the facts and see who else might be involved."

"Just so you don't let the forget I want to help."

"Fine.. but until we know more there's really no reason to dwell on it...
and besides... I want to hear how your father took it the day my mother
walked out on his oh-so-very-kind-offer the last time we were in your home."

"Well he wasn't very happy she turned him down I tell you," Raine allowed
her to change the subject. "He went on for days muttering about how
ungrateful that bard woman was and didn't she realize that she'd never have
a better offer!!"

Merissa stayed a while longer and by the time she left, rain e was feeling a
lot better. She felt an ease that she hadn't felt in a long time and knowing
she'd be safe here in the Warren, she went to bed and slept restfully for
the first time in days. 

Kanler
********

[[meeting in Trinale's office.. which ever day it is..]]

L'rian was silent for a moment, not wanting to say the name that sat poised
on the tip of his tongue. He pulled his daughter off to the side, "Trinale
.. what if .." he paused for a moment gathering his courage to condemn his
closest friend. "What if it was Saul."

"What??" Trinale looked up at her father in shock

"I know, I don't want to think about it either, but who else had reason to
hate her so. Dandy told me that dragon gossip says he nearly killed her in
the apartment yesterday, and that if  .."

"No! Not Saul!" Trinale shook her head, "He was angry, yes, but .. but you
know Saul .. he wouldn't."

"Wouldn't what? Run off with barely a word .." L'rian shook his head, "No,
daughter, I think Saul would do anything he could to protect Shawnee and
those kids .."

Kanler hadn't meant to ease drop on father and daughter, but he couldn't
help it and now was glad that he had. Not that he was happy with what the
man had said... but he didn't want this stupid rumor to get around the
Warren when he knew in his heart it wasn't true. 

"L'rian.. Trinale.. I'm sorry I wasn't purposely ease dropping.. but I heard
what you said just now L'rian and frankly I'm surprised that you could even
think that," Kanler said, not being able to hold back any longer. 

"Saul of Whiteriver might be capable of a lot of things.. but murder of a
fellow dragonrider for any reason isn't in his make up. Not even after what
that bitch did to him! I was there when he confronted her. I saw how angry
he was... but *I* know he would never have taken his revenge on her by
taking her life!"

The others in the room turned to look at him. Not understanding why he was
saying what he was.. but then it dawn on them.

"Look I don't want to believe it either..." L'rian insisted, "But it has to
be thought of as a possibility. I mean he's gone and the woman comes up dead."

"Not by Saul's hand she didn't," Kanler insisted again. "You're talking
about a man who gave everything he had to this Warren and then some. You're
talking about a man who has saved your life more times them you can
remember. Yes he was angry at the bitch. Who wouldn't have been... but no
one will ever convince me that Saul changed so much that he could have so
cold bloodedly have killed a woman did the things to her that were done...
and then go off to live a normal life with his mate and children. I just
won't believe it. Not Saul!!"

[[Anyone else have an opinion?]]

"I think the question is, is how are we going to prove Pheran Calarais and
Kel Vaddon are part of this cult," Kanler spoke up after listing to what the
others were saying. "I don't mean any disrespect toward Lady Raine.. but all
we have is her word for what happened to her."

"If she said that's what happened then you can be assured that *that* was
what happened," Merissa spoke up in defense of her friend. "I've known her
nearly all my life from the times we visited their estate and Raine and I
got to know eachother rather well."

"Point taken," he smiled at the red-head. "Still.. it's her word against
theirs and somehow we're going to have to prove she's telling the truth."

"I could go see Kel," Derry said quietly. "I mean they can't have had time
yet to hear about Jason being found out.... What if I just sort of bump into
him in town and..."

Chance didn't much like the idea and neither did anyone else. But what other
option did they have. They had to find some proof that would link Kel and
Pheran to the cult and maybe if Derry told them what Jason had admitted to
it might force their hand. 

"Well think about it tonight," Trinale told them. "And tomorrow we'll try to
decide how to put our plan into action."

Raine
******

She was startled at first to hear the sound of knocking at the door. Afraid
for a moment that they had found out she was here, then relaxed when she
heard Merissa call out a greeting. 

Slowly she opened the door and let her friend in. 

"I thought maybe you might like to go over to the shops with me and get a
few more changes of clothes," the bard's woman told her. "I'm sure they
won't have anything befitting a Lady of your rank...but we do have a
talented tailor here."

"Leave off about what rank you think I have," Raine said a little to
sharply, then regretted it. Merissa was only joking she knew. She was just
falling back on the game they used to play as children. 

"Sorry... I'm a little bit touchy on that subject I guess," she apologized
and saw her friend smile warmly. 

"But I really could use something beside this brothel dress to wear," she
yanked on the bodice to try and bring it up far enough to hide the creamy
flesh showing. "Something with a little more material would be nice. That
way I won't feel like I'm about to fall out of it if I take to deep a breath."

"Oh I don't know," Merissa chuckled. I'm sure there are several riders
around here who would find you rather charming in that dress...but if you
want to disappoint them... come on."

They spent a few ours going around to different shops and Merissa told her
about Barry... And how she missed the tender hearted tailor who was killed
when the bomb went off in the hatching caves. 

"He must have loved that little girl quite a lot to give up his own life to
save hers," Raine commented when the story was over. 

"Yes he did. We all loved Fawna and I can't tell you how sad I am that she
and her family moved away. Shawnee was one of my best friends around here
and I miss her dearly."

"I don't know why you're so upset," Raine said, a half smile forming at the
corner of her mouth. "I mean you *ARE* a dragonrider after all. wouldn't it
be an easy thing to just get on your Queen and pop into see her sometime!"

[[Well Arlene? Wouldn't it?]]

They had dinner in the hall before Merissa took her back to her apartment
with a promise that she would introduce her to her son the next day. As they
were saying their good-byes by the door Raine looked up to see the tall
blond headed man who had been with Chance Vaddon earlier. 

She waved when he saw them, not feeling any fear of this man because of the
way she had seen him act with Chance, and smiled when he came over to say hi. 

"And did you two happen to leave anything in the shops for the rest of the
Warren when you finished your shopping?" Kanler joked when he saw all the
packages in their hands. 

"Oh maybe one or two things if someone hurries," Merissa turned to easily
joke back with the man. "What are you doing in this next of the woods?"

They were in the area where apartments had been set up for the unjoined and
Kanler being a rider would live somewhere else. So his being in the unjoined
area was strange. 

"On my way to see Th'rin sister Cill," he told her and held up the book in
his hand. "I found this in our apartment and thought she might like to read
it. It's a journal of sorts that Ojean has been keeping for some time and he
talks about her a lot in here. Thought maybe it might cheer her up if she
could read about how much he cared about her."

"Oh that's a splendid idea!" Merissa cheered. "I know right now Cill could
use all the good news she can get. And maybe this will help her feel better."

"Who is Cill," Raine asked wondering why the girl would need the cheering up. 

"Cill's my mates younger sister and she was injured in the explosion when
the bomb went off... then too she's sad because her friend Ojean left the
Warren when my friend Shawnee did. He was her brother you see, and Cill has
been missing him."

"So you just take her with you on that dragon of yours when you go pop into
see her," Raine remarked with a smile.

"You're going to see Shawnee?" Kanler asked unaware of their joke. 

"No.. It's just that I was Telling Raine how much I missed her and Raine
here reminded me that as a rider of a dragon I can go *pop* in on them when
ever I want to," she explained. 

"Ah," he nodded. "But do warn the rest of us before you decide to do any
popping around huh?"

They talked for a few minutes longer then he left to go find Cill. 

"She's in her room right now," Racine told the rider when she opened the
door to find him standing there and he told her why he was there. "But I'm
sure she'll be happy to see what you brought for her. She has been missing
him a lot since he left so maybe this'll cheer her up."

Kanler reached out, placing his hand on the woman's arm before she could
start back into the apartment and down the hall to the girls room. 

"Racine... if the missing gets to much for her and she'd ever like to go see
Ojean in Jasra... I'd be happy to take her, and you too if you wanted to go
with her to check things out."

"Thank you Kanler," Racine smiled warmly and took him hand in hers as she
led him inside. "That's very kind of you to offer. It'll give her something
to look forward to when she feels better."

She led him down a short hall and raised her hand up to knock on the third
door. "Cill sweetie there's someone here to see you."

They waited for a few seconds then the door opened slowly and Kanler saw the
young girl lift her head up and look around her mother to see who it was. He
saw the glasses she was wearing and saw her duck her head when she saw him
look at them. Withdrawing into herself he thought. 

But he didn't help raise his younger brothers and sister without being able
to being able to bring them out of a funk once in a while. 

"Oh good...You'll be able to see what I brought you with your new glasses,"
he said without a tract of pity in his voice as he moved past the girls
mother to kneel before her. 

"I found this and thought maybe you might like to read it, so I brought it
over."

"What is it?" she asked and bravely stole a look at him then down to the
book in his hand. 

"Well you know how you females are always keeping diaries and writing
everything down... Like the first time met a new friend or the first time
you kissed a boy..."

"I never kissed a boy," she giggled a little, but he had her attention now
and he went with it. 

"Not yet? Humm... there must be some dumb boys in this Warren to pass up on
a pretty girl like you."

"I'm not pretty," she said and moved her hand up to cover her scars. 

Kanler reached up and pulled her hand away. 

"Yes you are Cill. Ojean thought so and I know he's a smart boy. He thought
you were the most wonderful and special friend he had and I can prove it
with this book."

"What is it?"

Kanler smiled and winked at her. "Why my dear it's his diary and in it he's
written a lot about you and how much your friendship meant to him."

"Really?"

"Cross my heart," he said and held it out to her. 

Cill took it and looked down at the cover. 

"Thank you..."

"You're more then welcome sweetie," he told her and dared to reach out an
ruffle her hair. "Maybe later you can tell me what he said."

Racine spoke up just then.

"Cill honey why don't you take it back into your room and start to read it."

Cill looked up and Racine nearly wept as some of the old fire came back into
the girls eyes. 

"Thank you rider Kanler," Racine said a few minutes later when they were
both back out in the main room. "I never thought I'd see the old Cill come
back, but you seem to have found her."

"Not me," Kanler shook his head. "Ojean... He asked me to give her the book
if I thought she ever needed it. He wanted her to know.. to believe that he
did.. does care about her and won't forget her even if he's living somewhere
else."

"Well whoever the credit goes too it was nice to see a glimpse of the old
Cill in her eyes just then... Would you care for something to drink?" she
offered and was somewhat pleased when he accepted. 

Kanler too had felt good to be able to bring a smile to the young girls
face, but could now sense that maybe the mother might need someone to talk
to too so he accepted her offer of a drink and followed her to the kitchen. 

Chance would understand why he was late. 

"So tell me," he said when they were both seated at the table. "How is that
son of yours doing?"

[[Tag Kris :)]]   

[[The next morning. Trinale's office.]]

"Well did anyone come up with a plan to trap Kel and Pheran into admitting
they are part of the cult?" the young Warrenlady asked and looked around the
room hoping someone had.

"I still think it would work if I went to them and told them about Jason,"
Derry said.

"Only if I go with you," Chance said when he was finished. 

"No way!!" Both Kanler and Derry spoke up at the same time. 

"I'm sorry love but I don't want you anywhere around them right now," Kanler
told her when she would have said something. "You hear what they did to
Raine and heard also what they said they would do to you if they ever had
you. I don't want that to happen."

"Nor do I," Derry agreed venomously. 

"But if Derry is there..."

"It won't matter," a voice said from the door way. "They would only try to
kill him to get to you and then use you the way they used me."

All eyes turned to see Raine Calarais enter the room. 

"I came here to warn you so that couldn't happen Chance," she said her eyes
meeting only the girls. "You are a good person and have done a lot of
good... but your name and money won't save you from them and the plans they
have for you. No more then mine did me, but you have something more
important then money or a name. You have a dragon and others in the Warren
that depend on you. While I have a plan...."

She avoided looking at Merissa knowing what her friend would think of her plan. 

"Raine no..." Merissa said softly.

"NO WAY!!" Derry and Chance both agreed after learning of Raine's plan to
have them take her back and let Chances informant leak word of her being
there to drawl the others to her. 

"They can't hurt me any more then they have already," she insisted "And
won't feel the need to keep their mouths shut in my company. Instead they'll
be more likely to brag in front of me knowing I can't run away and hide
anywhere where they can't find me... they'll want me to know what they are
doing just to rub it in as to helpless I am to prevent it...But they won't
kill me.. not yet... not when they want me to witness their deeds and have
someone to gloat about them too."

"No it's just to dangerous."

"Not as dangerous as not knowing when they are going to strike next!" Raine
snapped. "You know people who could keep an eye on me Chance... the man who
told you where I was... I'm sure he'll be willing to help out for a price.
He'll know just the right people who can keep tabs on me and get word back
to you if they think I'm in to much danger or I can slip them word somehow
when I find out their plans... Isn't that worth knowing to save a lot of
lives.?"

"Not if it might mean your life," Kanler told her. 

"I don't have a life any longer," Raine's words were hollow. Almost wooden.
"They took that away from me the day they raped me. But I *need* to do this.
To help bring them to justice. Can't you see? It's the only way I can ever
get back some of what they took from me! If I lose my life knowing that I
helped to save so many others then to me it will have been worth it. Let me
help?"

[[Will they?]]

*****Submitted by: *******

Kanler & (his dragon }
Lady Raine Calarais
Whiteriver Warren

aka
Barbara