The Asha'man struts around the camp, and after attempting to stare him down for a few moments longer, Alathea can no longer maintain a cool composure. To hide what she considers to be her weakness, she turns away from him and kneels down beside Jak. Shaking him gently, she speaks in a low voice, mostly succeeding in keeping her anxiety out of it. "Wake up, Jak. Someone has come for us, and you need to see for yourself!"
"Jasper, I cannot claim to know your past. But treating these women as you have been treated by the Aes Sedai is not the way move past the hatred that is so apparent between the White and Black Towers. We are your companions, whether you wish to treat us as friends or not. You have respect for your fellow Asha'man. I ask that you have respect for your companions as well. And defending one who insults your companions does not show respect."
allowing himself to be led, Jasper listens attentivly to Jed. seeing the look directed towards Deloval, Jasper whispers Jed, would you be acting the same way if that was a Red who walked through that gateway, denouncing me? Calling me all sorts of names? What if she had thrown a shield on me? Would you come to my aid? Or would you let yourself be directed by your... ward?
sighing, jasper looks towards the horizon we are both men of honor. We both have codes within our organizations that we keep at all costs. In time, i am sure things may be different, but at this current moment, we are bound to our... "betters".
Rock, meet hard place, Jak thinks as he wipes fake sleep from his eyes, keeping up the charade for Alathea's sake.
He gives a pointed look at the man's coat, "Until we know more about those guys, we should be careful of them." He looks Alathea over protectively, "He didn't hurt you, did he?"
The ruse wasted, he stands up, ineffectually dusting off his rumpled but expensive clothes while keeping the blade in-hand.
Seeing that the worst had blown over, at least for now, Ryland bends to restow his pack. He refolds his bed roll keeping his back facing out of the camp.
Never turn your back to danger is what Da used to say. First time I wouldn't turn my back on my companions though.
Shouldering his pack Ryland stands and slides a knife into his boot and his camp axe into his belt.
Jed answers truthfully to Jasper. "It is true that I follow Jasmine and trust in her judgment, but I assure you that if there is ever a disagreement between us, I will not hesitate to speak my mind to her. That's all beside the point, as I believe Jasmine would even come to your aid. Yes, we are both men of honor and follow our own code. I just ask that we all, including the women over there, back each other up. It seems we are all being pulled together by the Pattern, so we might as well learn to like each other."
Jed clasps arms with Jasper, should Jasper agree to it. "You'll come to learn that I always speak my mind to my friends, for better or worse." He then turns to Jak as he stands up. "Nice of you to join us." Jed says this with a smile, though it quickly fades as his gaze turns back to the Asha'man walking around their camp.
Jak gives a half-hearted smile, "You know me... fashionably late."
Jed answers truthfully to Jasper. "It is true that I follow Jasmine and trust in her judgment, but I assure you that if there is ever a disagreement between us, I will not hesitate to speak my mind to her. That's all beside the point, as I believe Jasmine would even come to your aid. Yes, we are both men of honor and follow our own code. I just ask that we all, including the women over there, back each other up. It seems we are all being pulled together by the Pattern, so we might as well learn to like each other."
Jasper grunts. so it would seem.
Jed clasps arms with Jasper, should Jasper agree to it. "You'll come to learn that I always speak my mind to my friends, for better or worse."
Jasper looks down at the arm and then clasps it. and im always speaking my mind...even when i shouldnt
Glancing at jak any longer and id've let my horse drop a "present" on you to waken you up
Pace releases the Source as ordered by Deloval and stands stoically by as the man precedes to stir up a hornet's nest. His insides boil as he see's the weaves of Spirit slam around Alathea. Calmly, as if it were ice in his veins instead of blood he finally speaks, "Asha'man, I am aware of the danger of having Aes Sedai as companions, and I watch them very closely. No woman will cut me off from Saidin. I am a weapon and will stay that way. Now you release your shield on her because she will be useful in Tanchico and I would not have the trust that we have built be broken."
Alathea shakes her head in response to Jak's question. "No, he didn't hurt me. It's just words, and if words were enough to hurt me, I'd be dead long ago." She certainly isn't going to tell him that the madman has her cut off from the Source. Telling him would only make things worse.
When Pace speaks of it anyway, she winces, but keeps her voice level. "Thank you for your concern, Pace, and for your trust. However, if this man finds me so fearsome, let him do as he will."
Deloval seems mostly to ignore most of the chatter around himself. At Pace's request he stops and gives the man a long look until he worries he might have overstepped some bound. Then with a shrug the Asha'man turns and continues his pacing, although Alathea seems to suddenly regain some of her calm.
After a little while longer the Asha'man finally comes to a halt nearly on the spot where he started his pacing. I'm ready. Those of you who are accompanying these men, gather your things and be ready. I don't want to leave the Gateway open for too long.
A moment later a thin vertical line appears in midair, slicing cleanly through the tree trunk and rotating open. Through the gap in space everyone can smell the tang of salt air and the warm breeze coming off a coast over a thousand miles from where you stand. With a gesture from the black-coated man you all hurry through the Gateway, all but Pace and Jasper showing various degrees of discomfort.
Remaining on the other side Deloval gives you all once last look. Remember to watch your backs, all of you. There are worse things than death waiting for you in Tanchico. Just get the bracelet. Once you have it, get word to Valot Jazreh at the Salty Spray. He will send word to me and I will come and collect you. With that the Gateway twists shut and you are all alone, standing on a small rise about an hour's walk outside Tanchico.
Pace seems to ignore Alathea's words, his eyes steady on Deloval. When he shrugs and turns away Pace looks over to Alathea, relieved to see the weaves drop off of her. Without further theatrics he turns and walks over to his gear, quickly gathering it up and packing it on his horse. Once Deloval begins to weave the gate Pace immediately turns his attention to the weaves and focuses intensely. After a moment he nods his head, a small smile on his face. Going through the gate he nods to Deloval.
Turning away from the view once everyone is through Pace nods once more at Deloval's words. "As you say Asha'man. We will be careful and successful."
Alathea shakes her head as the Gateway opens. She's had her emotions shaken too much this morning to muster much more than dull disbelief. She knows that since she can't see the weaves that form the Gateway that they're undoubtedly saidin. Although she knows that she should fear such a display of madness-tainted Power, she only thinks, Why is it that these madmen should discover these things, and not us?
Nevertheless, Alathea leads her horse through the Gateway. I've thrown my lot in with these people for more than a month now. They need me, even if they don't admit it. And I need them.
On the other side of the gateway, Alathea mounted her horse and sat tall. And now I come to the thing I don't want to do. Best to do it now, though, than wait and make it worse. Gritting her teeth, she nudged her horse and guided it over to Jasper. "Jasper, I need to talk to you."
Jasmine looks over at Alathea pulling Jasper aside and says Alathea? When you are finished with Master Firewyn you and I need to speak in private.
With that she pulls Jed aside to where they can speak privately and says We are in extreme danger here, Alathea and I. She does not know fully the capabilities of the Sul'dam and their damane. Nor do the Asha'man. They believe themselves weapons but you have seen what damane can do. I want a promise from you. With this she looks directly into Jed's eyes so there is no mistaking her intent or conviction. If it looks like I am to be captured and you are not going to be able to save me...I want you to kill me. I understand the burden I am placing upon you but I will have your word on this or we will not be going. You know how I was when you found me. I was already half gone and I will not become a pet for them again. Jasmine finishes her statement looking directly into your eyes, never wavering, and you can tell that she absolutely means it.
Alathea turns at Jasmine's words and nods in acknowledgement. I could just go over and speak to her. She makes it sound important that we speak. More important than talking to Jasper... She pushes down her excuses and continues towards the madman.
Watching Alathea nudge her horse towards him, Jasper groans to himself meddlesome. As she gets close enough to see where his eyes are looking, Jasper gets a sly smile on his face as his eyes traverse her entire body, from head to toe, and slowly back up. with a low whistle, Jasper meets her gaze and answers in the cold detached manner that Asha'man Devolal had used during the briefing, yes?
Rylnad walks his skidish horse through the gate and mounts up on the otherside. His horse, Drake, side steps and does a half hearted attempt to buck after Ryland is in the saddle. "Easy boy. Easy Now." He pats the geildings neck, trying to ease some of its nervousness.
"Right then. Well if we are all done here, I will move out in the lead." Ryland dosen't seem to actually wait for an answer before giving Drake a slight kick, moving towards Tanchico at a trot.
Burn me for getting involved with all of this! Now here I am stuck between the White Tower and the Black with just may sword and my witts to protect me, and after all of this I am begining to think I can only count on my sword.
"I should have never left The Blight."
Alathea's lips thin into a bloodless line at Jasper's leer, but she keeps her annoyance from her voice and speaks softly so that only he can hear. "You said a great deal to me, unasked, when I spoke to your superior. You were out of line, but some of your questions were fair, and I owe you answers. Some. Do you really believe that I wish to gentle you because I dislike men who can channel, and for no other reason?"
Despite posing her statement as a question, Alathea doesn't wait for a response and rushes onwards. "You were right in that I wish to watch over you and Pace. But I do not do so because I fear for myself or those around you, or even because I fear that you and those like you will break the world again. I do so because I don't want to see you fall to corruption and madness. I've seen it happen before, when I was helpless to do anything to stop it. I cannot see it happen again." Flushed and out of breath with the effort of speaking so quickly, she pauses to compose herself. "Not even to you. You must believe that I will never take delight in any man descending into insanity due to saidin."
Jasper quirks an eyebrow at alathea's statement when admitting to seeing a male channeler fall to madness.
was i out of line? i hardly think so. Sometimes you Aes Sedai do get rather full of yourselves, and need to dropped a few pegs. Humility is good for the body, even if it takes some pain to get there. Dark One knows how pain i have suffered through.
But, I commend you for chatting with me. I know your jasper raises his voice so it can carry stuck up friend over there then lowers his voice would never even think to come over to make amends. So now, as much as i would like to continue with this conversation, i can feel some eyes boring into my skull and id rather be riding to tanchico. When this is over with, i promise you, you and i can go off someplace secluded and talk this through... among other things with a wink, Jasper pulls himself into his saddle and gallops off, catching up with Ryland.
Upon catching up with Ryland, HO! Ryland! How you doing?
Alathea scowls at Jasper, as coldly as she ever has. I don't know why I feel I must explain myself to him! It is like speaking to a brick wall! That infuriating man! In her frostiest tone, she says, If humility is good for the body, perhaps you should follow your own advice. I have seen very little humility from you, save towards that...man...who brought us here. Then, though, you were as meek as milk! Is it such a strange idea that one should respect his allies, and not just his superiors?" Although she begins quietly, by the time she finishes, she is shouting loudly enough for all of her companions to hear, and then some.
Furiously, she turns her horse away from Jasper and attempts to compose herself before speaking with Jasmine. And here she will call me down, she thinks, The prodigy who knows better than all! But this is unfair, she knows. Jasmine is indeed more talented than Alathea can hope to become, and she knows that she is more than a little jealous of her talent. But although she knows that it is unfair to hold Jasmine's talents against her, especially since she has never actually looked down upon her, she cannot keep all of her sullenness out of her voice as she speaks to her. "You wish to speak with me, Jasmine?"
Ryland slows drake into a walk and turns his head towards Jasper. "Doing fine, now. Do you have any idea where we need to start this search, or do I just lead us to the closest Inn worthy of our presence and start asking questions?"
Jed's normally stolid demeanor immediately drops at Jasmine's words and he feels as if he could choke. Kill her? I'm not sure I could...
"Jasmine, I... Of course I will do as you ask. But you must understand that I will never let that happen to you again, even if it means sacrificing myself to protect you." Jed puts both of his hands on Jasmine's shoulders and looks directly into her eyes. "I can feel the anguish even the thought of being a slave to those horrible people brings you. I will give you my word that I will do what it takes to release you from that pain, but you must know that I have no intention of letting it get that far ever again. You are safe by my side."
Jed sees Alathea approaching and smiles at Jasmine before walking away, over to Pace. "So, any ideas on where to begin?"
As Jasper works his magic once again Pace chuckles and leans in towards Jak's, "How that man has avoided getting a jeweled dagger stuck in him is a mystery." Overhearing Ryland's question Pace interjects, "Deloval didn't give us the least hint at where it might be, or how to destroy it when we do find it. I was thinking that we could find an inn before beginning our investigations, something not frequented by too many of these Seachan. After we get settled we can get together to come up with some ideas on where to start our search."
Jasmine is about to respond when Alathea comes up. Thinking better of it Jasmine says simply Thank you Jed. I know you will do what's right. You always do my friend. She takes a deep breath before saying Now if you would excuse Alathea and I for a moment we need to speak.
Jasmine looks at Alathea for a moment before saying We need to discuss what our strategy should be around these men of the Black Tower. First and foremost should anything like that happen again we must link immediately, it would have made it much more difficult for him to shield us. We need to stick together and present a united front in dealings with them. You handled yourself well when he threw the shield over you by the way. I am not sure I would have been as calm as you were if I was in your shoes. That being said, we must not let them goad us into arguments and fights as that is exactly what they want. We will be going into a vipers nest in Tanchico and I have no intention of being captured again by the Seanchan. As the conversation has gone on you notice that she is calm but there is a undercurrent of extreme fear bubbling just beneath the surface. We will be reliant upon the men but that does not mean we will be subservient. Calm, serene, and above the muck is how we must be if we are to retain any semblance of control. If we let ourselves be dragged into their insecurities, then we will have lost control. I value you as a friend and future sister and we will both need to support each other if we are to survive this, and I do not just mean Tanchico. Jasmine waits a moment for Alathea to respond if she wishes and then gives her a warm smile and mounts her horse to ride next to Jed.
Asha'man Deloval jasper states, with a pointed glare at Pace. But the biggest problem will be the female channelers. According to them, they glow like a lightning bug when they access the Source. According to the stories, these newcomers have pet Aes Sedai on leashes.Jasper pauses for a moment, glances at Jasmine and Alathea, gives a chuckle, and continues i think pace is correct. Find the nearest Inn that is far enough from the city for us to hide at, and then we can setup a game plan as to finding the TER. Also, i think we should setup a fall back position, incase we have to get out of town real fast.
Pace stares dispassionately back at Jasper, "Asha'man Deloval gave us next to nothing to go on. You are right about the Seanchan and protecting Alathea and Jasmine and about a plan for a quick escape. Did you catch the weave he used to get us here? I think I can copy it, though it is going to be a stretch. That could be used for a quick getaway." It also makes the Aes Sedai more dependent on us, Pace keeps to himself.
Alathea listens to Jasmine's words, and as she does so, her expression softens. When Jasmine speaks of her as a friend, a smile even touches her lips. Compliments on her composure were not what she had expected to hear from Jasmine, especially immediately after her spectacular loss of composure with Jasper. "Thank you, Jasmine."
Noticing the way she speaks of the Seanchan, Alathea asks, "These...Seanchan? What do we need to know about them? How can we avoid them?"
That is something that needs to be discussed with the group as a whole I think. Jasmine looks at the rest of the group and says Gentlemen, if I might have a moment of your time. I am not sure how much you know about the Seanchan but there are some things that should be said about them. She pauses a moment to let those who wish to listen come. Continuing she says You have heard that the Seanchan have pet Aes Sedai on leashes. This is partially true. The Seanchan have taken some Aes Sedai prisoner and made them damane. These are women in plain grey dresses and they will always be accompanied by at least one, sometimes more Sul'dam who hold the women's leashes. They are marked by grey dresses with red lightning designs on them. Make no mistake, these damane are extremely dangerous. Jasmine looks at the two aspiring Asha'man and says I do not mean this to offend, nor is it a boast so take what I say seriously. I have seen some of what you can do and it is impressive but these women are weapons of the highest possible danger. They are trained extensively in using the one power as a weapon and have done so in some cases for decades. Do not under any circumstances take them lightly. I was made damane for nearly a month and it nearly broke my sanity. I almost became damane in truth. Were it not for Jed's heroics rescuing me I would have been on a ship for Seanchan and I would not have been able to do anything about it. The leashes they use are some sort of Ter'angreal that form a sort of link between the two. The damane is utterly subservient to the Sul'dam and will kill without hesitation should the Sul'dam direct them. They have trained all their lives to be weapons of the one power and as such need to be respected as such. You have been channeling in the Black Tower and being forged into weapons for a short period of time I'm told. A year? Two? The Seanchan find these women very quickly when they are young and forever more are trained as weapons of the empire. Despite herself a measure of the fear she felt when captured goes into her voice when she speaks. Once finished she calms herself and returns to the serenity of her previous demeanor.
Had Alathea been looking for reassurance from Jasmine, she was sorely disappointed. Although she had heard the rumors, hearing Jasmine relate her experiences and observations of the Seanchan so...bluntly...terrifies her. And for her to lose her composure like that...Jasmine, of all people! Alathea knows full well that she had to work harder to attain the legendary Aes Sedai serenity, but for Jasmine, it had come naturally to her, even from the first day she had come to the Tower.
Unsettled by the happenings of the morning and previous evening, Alathea seeks out Jak. Jak always makes her feel better. He has always been a constant in her life, or at least as much a constant as one so free-spirited can be. He'd tell her that things were going to be all right and laugh gently at her nervousness, wouldn't he? "Jak, what have we gotten ourselves into?"
Jak gives a disbelieving shake of his head at Pace's comment about his black-coated brethren, "I honestly have no idea. I have more than one scar for saying far less than he has today to an Ebou Dari girl."
Jak's subdued manner seems to lighten when the hole in the air disappears, and his usually quick smile returns as he waits for the group to set off. As he waits for Alathea, he slips back into old habits, muttering to himself as he looks towards Tanchico.
"Nope. Never been to Tanchico. Never met one of these Sanchean, either. Yep. I heard that. Heard they were from across the ocean... no, that's just stupid. If they had flying monsters, why would theys top at Tanchico? Next you'll be telling me there are trollocs waiting for us..."
Alathea's interruption brings him oiut of his muttering, and he smiles, apparently not even realizing he was muttering. "Not a clue, Lath. I blame you." His smile tells her he's not serious, "We've gotten out of worse scrapes than this before. You remember that time we stole half the cows out of that old codger's pens that summer? This can't be half as bad as that." His tone turns serious in a heartbeat, true to his mercurial nature, "Either way, we do need to stick together. This group has been helpful so far, but I can't shake my unease wiht these black-coated fellas. Pace seems nice enough, but we don't know what they're capable of. Let's just stay on our toes while in Tanchico... should be fun if nothing else."
jasper pulls his horse up and turns around to listen to jasmine.
he chuckles a little bit at hearing how Jasmine was damanae. sure you were. i can see how being forced to be subserviant to another person, and a non-channeler to boot, really would drive you to the point of insanity. And yet, here you are, acting with a "higher than thou" attitude. Well, like you said, these Seanchan will be on the look out for female channelers. Not male, but female. So your whole attitude is going to have to change, otherwise we might as well put you back into those gray dresses.
As to handling the witches, we avoid them for now, and if pressed, kill them both.
Now, If i remember correctly, there should be an Inn around here. I say we hurry up and get to it.
Jasmine ignores Jasper as if he didn't even say anything. To the group she says Did anyone have any questions before we move on?
Despite herself, Alathea smiles at Jak's words. They do make her feel better, but she takes exception with his recollection of events. "'We' stole half the cows? I seem to remember that you stole half the cows, and that I was merely following you and trying to keep you out of trouble." Having set Jak's version of events straight, she laughs. "Remember how angry Mother was? She wouldn't even listen to me when I told her what really happened, and just thrashed us both! And then Ralin had to take her side and tell us that we should have known better..."
Alathea frowns at Jasper's latest tirade, but says nothing. Recalling Jasmine's words, she is determined that he will not get the better of her this time.
It takes all of Jed's willpower to not to run over and wring Jasper's neck, but he manages to keep his cool, with only a short flash of anger showing for a brief second. Light, I don't get Jasper. Doesn't he see that he can't earn respect with these insults? Jasmine has shown him nothing but courtesy since he's been with us, not this "holier-than-thou" attitude Jasper suggests. If anyone's attitude must change, it's his, or he'll find himself in dire straits.
In case Jasmine didn't make it clear enough to the group how dangerous these damane are, Jed decides to interject a little about what he saw himself. "These damane are more dangerous than you can possibly imagine. I have never seen so much lightning rain from the sky, turning the landscape to dust. We must do everything we can to avoid the damane. These sul'dam do not just enslave women, they force them to become pets, less than slaves. And they train them with pain and agony. Despite any differences there are within our groups, I'm sure we can all agree that to be enslaved by a Seanchan is one of the worst fates imaginable." He points the last sentence towards Jasper, hoping the future Asha'man understands his point, that to wish such a horrible thing upon anyone is beyond reprehensible.
Everyone is quiet and reserved as the city first comes into sight, the heat of the journey and the conversation both bearing down on everyone. As the horses enter the outskirts of the city, Tanchico seems to be a stark contrast to this.
At first glance things appear as normal as any other of the great cities of the Westlands. People wander about the daily tasks of any other city yet there is a subdued and humble look about them as the Seanchan presence is clear in the streets. Men and women in strange garb, sometimes with heads shaven to various degrees!, walk purposefully through the streets, the locals backing away to allow them passage.
Whereas Falme was a cowed town that easily flamed into violence against the foreign armies at the first spark, Tanchico seems to have embraced their new rulers, especially with their own King dead and Panarch enslaved. Much of this is due to the fact that people seem to be better off now than they were before. Where Tanchico was lawless and on the verge of collapse a mere few years prior it now bustled with all of the signs of a booming city back on the mend. The people no longer looked hungry or destitute but well-fed and with a purpose again. That they had to bend knee to a new foreign master seemed a small price to pay.
Not more than a few minutes into the city you spot a dusty sign blowing in the breeze announcing the Shipyard's Weight. Stepping inside after handing off the horses, the chubby innkeeper Less Polgun welcomes you and proceeds to set you up with rooms upstairs and a meal in the common room. If you folks need anything while you're hear, just ask.
With the sun still a bit over the horizon the common room is relatively empty although you can see the preparations being made for the expected evening's custom.
Ryland listens intently to Jasmine's description of the Seanchan and the damane. Before he can ask a question Jaspers outburst takes him off guard and he looks at the man and shakes his head. After the ride for a bit, Ryland pulls his horse next to Jasper and looks the man in the eyes.
Jasper, I know I dont know you that well and can only guess at what has made you so full at venom at these Aes Sedai, but I can tell you this from years of experiance living with war in the blight. Your hatred is going to eat you alive if you dont keep it in check, trust me I have seen it. And if you dont keep the trust of you companions, you may find yourself alone when the Trollocks come. We travel into a den of the enemy where they would kill us if they could, and if we cant rely on each other, we may as well just turn ourselves in to the first patrol we come across.
I am not saying you have to like them, I am just saying we have to all get along or we are all goin to die."
He continues to ride next to Jasper until they reach Tancho.
Alathea thanks Master Polgun and retires to the room provided for her. After so long on the road, the luxury of a bed and a basin in which to wash is very welcome. Was the last time I slept in a bed back in Illian? I've been traveling for so long, it seems like years. She luxuriates in the sensation of cleaning herself from her travels, even if it's only with a cloth and basin.
After washing and changing into a clean dress, Alathea descends the stairs and takes a table in the corner of the common room to wait for her companions.
Riding next to Ryland, Jasper listens to what Ryland says.
indeed, friend Ryland. Just engaging in some spirited debate, whether they like it or not. As long as it is beneficial for the group, and for myself, im willing to listen. But they need to be reminded of the fact that we are not some lowly tarts that dont have a back bone. Some people play nice and others dont. Since they are the reps of the white tower, they get to hear my beef. But now that the enemy will be surrounding us, i wont say another peep,raises voice so others can hear lest i get dragged into whatever crap they manage to get themselves into for not dropping the facade lowering my voice again, Jasper talks to Ryland there, thats the last time i put a thorn in their garters. hehehe
anyone want to share a room? Alathea? Jasmine? Jasper asks lewdly.
Ryland nods his head to Jasper and rides the rest of the way in silence.
Once at the Inn, Ryland takes care of his own horse and look at the rest of the group's mounts taking notice of any injury as needed.
When he is done, Ryland circles the inn, checking for roof access,and general suroundings.
Alathea shakes her head at Jasper's latest crude remark, but remains seated and does not look in his direction. That pig! Why did I ever feel I owed him anything? I opened up to him, hoping that he might see that I'm not his enemy, and he doesn't even try? That ends. Now.
Pace listens to Jasmine's speech thoughtfully, but does not comment. As the party settles at the Shipyard's Weight, Pace approaches the proprietor, "Excuse me Master Polgun. We are new to the city since the Seanchan have began their rule, and so some things may have changed that we might need to know about. We may have some business at the Panarch's Palace, but I don't want any trouble with the new rulers. Are they a heavy presence there? Have they restricted access to the palace?"
After his talk with the innkeep Pace approaches Jak in a place where no one outside of the group could hear, "We're going to need to know if the Seanchan have a particular interest in Power wrought objects, and what they would do with them. You seem to have a way of finding things out. Would you be interested in asking around?"
Ryland nods his head to Jasper and rides the rest of the way in silence.
Once at the Inn, Ryland takes care of his own horse and look at the rest of the group's mounts taking notice of any injury as needed.
When he is done, Ryland circles the inn, checking for roof access,and general suroundings.
As Ryland exits the stable and begins checking the area, Fiallain meets his glance briefly before nodding in what might be approval, smiling slightly as she too takes stock of their surroundings. The odd, usually taciturn woman holds her ever-present weapons in easy reach as if expecting attack at any moment and her eyes constantly rove about - a habit she seems to always be engaged in. She raises a spear point into the air slightly as she passes by the man.
I see you, Ryland. It is good that one other here has eyes in his head. I would hate to have to watch over all of you wetlanders like a mother hen all by myself.
With that, she chortles, giving a last sweeping glance about before heading into the inn. She will give a brief nod of her head to Alathea as she seats herself at a nearby table, listening to the conversation and ordering a meal.
Alathea returns Fiallain's nod with a smile, and motions to an empty chair at the table she's sitting at. She is unsure about her relationship with Fiallain: although she seems to be a good person, she seems...distant. Perhaps it is the gap between their cultures: while Alathea has met people from many distant lands, and has become close to her fellow Accepted despite the different customs they may have, the Aiel culture seems extraordinarily strange beyond any others she's encountered. Even so, she wants her to feel welcome amongst their companions. "I see you, Fiallain. Please, will you share this table with me?"
Ryland nods at Fiallain and returns her smile. "And I see you, Fiallain. Have no worries, not all wetlanders are soft. Some of us are from the Boarderlands." He grins at his own joke and continues his assesment of the inn before going inside to stow his gear and wash the road dust off then joining the others down stairs.
Fiallain hesitates the briefest of moments before nodding. I see you, Alathea. I will, Thank you. She rises from her char and slides into another across from Alathea.
This seems a strange place....Have you been here before?
Alathea's smile widens as Fiallain sits down at her table. Perhaps familiarity can bridge our distance.
"I have been to many places before, but I've never been to this city. It is strange in some ways, but for the most part, all cities feel familiar after a while. People everywhere need the same things--shelter, sustenance, friendship--and so, all cities have the means to provide them." She pauses and thinks of Tar Valon, but dares not speak its name. Deciding that Ebou Dar is a safer example, she continues. "I am from Ebou Dar, a great city to the South. While the people here don't look the same, or sound the same, or wear the same clothes, they are familiar because they want the same things as the people in Ebou Dar do. And," she smirks, "I feel certain that there's a girl somewhere in this city, bringing in goods from her family's farm to market, just as I once did. As long as I can imagine that, no city feels all that strange to me."
After a brief pause, Alathea looks at Fiallain, then asks, "Can you imagine someone like you here, too?"