The person would act as Dran until they are able to find two or three more candidates. An impartial arbiter is selected and the candidates, including ...he acting Dran, show the merits of their ability and their desire to be Dran and how it would help the people. After a week of deliberations, the arbiter then chooses the best candidate and they become the new Dran. Like Patrons, it was passed down from parent to child, but she had no idea what happened now. The Dran had no legitimate children,. A dark tan washed her smooth skin, and a lack of freckles gave her face and arms a porcelain look. I watched her as she nursed a beer and made small talk with the older man next to her, and couldn't help but to feel extremely attracted. I finished my beer and asked the bartender what the gal was drinking. "Stella Artois" was all she said as she looked at me. I suddenly realized that I had been so wrapped up in the girl across from me at the bar that I hadn't even noticed the beauty who was. Surely the spirits will be merciful.’ Glade nodded and placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. ‘None can answer for the whims of the spirits. May I attend to young Hyena?’ Glade crouched down by the ailing child while Grey Wolf looked on fretfully. He wrung his hands together and seemed nearly as ill as his son. His wife, Elm Tree, stood by his side and put a comforting arm around his shoulders. Glade meanwhile asked the two worried parents some very precise questions about the fever’s. We’d both taken the opportunity to pull on some jeans. He’d spent a while messing up his hair to make it look like he’d not bothered to prepare. I could smell the tang of his aftershave hanging like bitter-sweet fruit in the air around him. He picked a restaurant on the north shore, up above the beach. The tiled terrace offered a view of the setting sun and we watched the lights flicker on along the beach as the day darkened. I ate linguini and concentrated on not making a mess. My first hot.