Date:  Mon Jan 21, 2002  1:12
pm


Day 7 - dinner



	`Tonio received the kiss as best as he could.  Her sudden 

affection didn't surprise him entirely, but the method by which she 

displayed it was definitely unexpected.



<snip>



She parted long enough to continue, "I didn't know you'd been 

released! Why didn't you come tell me! Come, sit down, chat with us! 

I can teach you some of the signs I learned today!"



<end snip>



	`Tonio let himself be led to a table where he promptly sat 

down across from her.  He smiled and saw he expectant stare, "To 

answer your questions milady, I was intending to tell you at my first 

opportunity.  However, I have been kept rather busy all today.  This 

is the first opportunity that I have been given."



	"Well, you should have told me sooner," Xanthia said with a 

pout, "But I do have something to show you!"



	`Tonio smiled, "Yes, you mentioned something about signs."



	"Uh-huh, it's so I can talk when I can't talk.  Eleanora is 

going to teach Latnem, Merissa, and Th'rin, and then they're going to 

teach other people and pretty soon we can all talk with everybody 

else," Xanthia said, growing louder and louder in her excitement.



	`Tonio reached out to touch her hand, "Softer, Xanthia."



	"Oh, sorry," she whispered, " I got a little excited."



	"That's okay, Xanthia," he said, squeezing her hand 

reassuringly before letting it go.



	He saw a flicker of something flash across her face, "So, 

let's see some of these hand signals you've learned."



	Immediately her countenance brightened, "Okay!"



	`Tonio watched as she went through the hand motions, 

listening as she explained each one.  He recognized most of them from 

his earlier training and was impressed with her ability to learn.  

Suddenly she stopped and looked at him intently, "Do you have a white 

horse?"



	`Tonio blinked, "A white horse?   Oh…you mean like the 

one….oh!"



	"So, do you?" asked Xanthia again, insistently.



	**Well, this is an interesting development.  Do you think 

she's trying to discern fact from fiction?**



	<The book that she read was an accurate account of a Knight 

of Passion's exploits.  There was little to no embellishment.  For us 

it was a biography, not a work of fiction.>



	**Ah, but does she know that?  Tread carefully, `Tonio.**



	The Knight nodded, "I do have a white horse called Laroxes, 

he resides in a stable quite some distance from here."



	"Could I see him?" Xanthia said, her gaze intensifying.



	`Tonio nodded, "Of course milady, but not immediately.  In a 

couple of days I will show you.  It has been awhile since I have 

ridden."



	**Should I be offended here, `Tonio?**



	<Of course not DeMarco.  You are my preferred steed of 

choice.  I am simply indulging Xanthia's wants.>



	**Once again, tread carefully my rider.**



[..]



Day 8 – morning



	`Tonio woke feeling refreshed.  The late night with Eleanora 

had proven to be very pleasant.  They had talked some about her 

actions and he learned some about her family life.  She would recover 

from her loss quickly, which pleased `Tonio greatly.  It would have 

been a shame to have lost such a bright soul to such a tragedy.  They 

had parted on friendly terms and `Tonio slept well for the first time 

in a couple of days.



	After bathing, `Tonio dressed himself in black riding pants 

and a light blue shirt, accessorized with a black belt and boots.  He 

kept his hair loose, letting it flow down just past the shoulders.  

Walking out of the apartment he patted the crimson snout of his 

draconian companion affectionately, getting a rumble of approval from 

his bondmate.



	**Mmmmm, very good to feel you in such a good mood.  Tell me, 

will we get a chance to fly today?**



	<It is possible, DeMarco.  Patrols start up for me again 

tomorrow, but I was hoping to exercise you some today so that you 

don't get rusty.>



	The dragon snorted, **Two days does not make me rusty.  Two 

months would have been a different story.**



	<Indeed.  I shall make an inquiry with Merissa to okay the 

flight.  In the meantime, it is a good time to eat breakfast.>



[..]



Day 8 – Breakfast



	`Tonio walked in, finding the dining hall fairly empty.  

Grabbing a plate, he sat down at a large table by himself and began 

eating.



<Tag!  Anyone up for breakfast?>



Submitted by

`Tonio and DeMarco

AKA Chris Weeda



NRPG:  Okay, moving just into Day 8.  Post on folks!