Kidnapping, Of Sorts (Attn: Craig)

[Jenn]

Kaia

Urgent business came. I waited as long as I could but eight days is... beyond reasonable. Will take care of matters. Unsure as to when I shall return.

Kaia left the note unsigned, her annoyance making her far more curt with Jaryd than she would normally be. She glanced around their shared study; where was he? The Red Asha'man had simply up and vanished without a word of consideration or warning. That was unlike him. She tried to quell the thread of worry that wormed its way through her heart; she knew he could take care of himself. And Light, if she ever said anything about it, the Altaran would simply give her that infuriatingly self-assured smile and tell her that he was Jaryd Kosari, an incorrigible pain in the Dark One's foot.

The petite Domani sighed, shaking her head. There was nothing for it now. She had to go. Her fellow Red may have disappeared but she could not. The missive had stated that the situation was dire, and she had already wasted eight days. The Aes Sedai took a deep breath, trying to ignore the terribly empty way the shared study felt as she left it behind her. Her feet took her up, and soon she was above ground, the air noticeably brightening as sunlight greeted her as it streamed in from the panels of glass that towered high above her head.

Her pace was measured as she wove her way through the halls, soon emerging out into the Warder Yards. There was only one other that she trusted, though whether or not he would be able to accompany her was an entirely different matter altogether. She didn't relish the idea of going alone, but... Kaia shrugged inwardly. I am Red Ajah. If that was what had to happen, then she would make do. And, unlike Jaryd, at least I know where to find the prickly boy, she thought with no small amount of irritation.

Still. It was because of Jaryd and the fact that she would never hear the end of it if she went off by herself without even attempting to bring help... that propelled her steps forward into the Warder Hall. The raven-haired beauty was aware of the looks and sidelong stares she received as she made her way to the Master of Training's office. Ravak Darrow had been instrumental in helping her once before; perhaps he could be so again.

She knocked once, and kept her face still as the gruff command came that she could enter. Kaia opened the door and stepped through, closing it behind her with a soft click. The sound of a chair being scraped back echoed loudly within the office, and green eyes glanced around with mild curiosity – it was rather taciturn. Oh dear boy... she thought fondly, her gaze meeting that of the newly appointed Master of Training. She waved off his bow, inclining her head slightly in acknowledgment of his new rank.

“I must be brief, and I apologize for that. I realize that you have much to do and that you cannot leave your responsibility for long. Know that if I had any other choice, I would not be asking this of you. I” - and here was where her mouth twisted slightly - “need your help. You aided me once before. I have Red Ajah business to attend to in Shienar. The missive reached me eight days ago, stating that the need was urgent. Circumstances played out in a manner beyond my control and I have wasted too much time waiting as it is.” Kaia sighed inwardly, pulling herself up to her full height. “If you are able to, Ravak, will you come with me?”

[Craig]

Ravak

Ravak Gaidin hunched over his desk, peering down at two open ledgers with a frown. The first ledger was written in a smooth, flowing script that had to be Ubriel's, whilst the second started with firm, angular lines, then continued in his own hand. Rav was trying to puzzle out the discrepancies in one student's details, a student who's name he didn't even recognise. He grumbled quietly. Giving voice to his disquiet saved him from bottling it all up for the next person who stepped through the door.

As if beckoned by thought alone, there was a singular knock at the door. The Shienaran firmed his face back into a stony visage as he called "Come". On the instant, the door opened, emitting not a grey-uniformed recruit, but Kaia Sedai. Her crimson dress was of the Taraboner style, the curves of her body accentuated by the clinging fabric. He caught himself looking with a little too much interest, and it was with reluctance that he raised his gaze, emerald green meeting steel blue. He had been accustomed to seeing an expression of amusement or thoughtfulness from the Domani Aes Sedai, but her look was piercing. He stood up, hoping that this anger was not about to be directed at him. If that was her intention, he would loom over her with the full authority of the office. He leaned forward, fists planted on his desk.

She waved a hand dismissively, although she dipped her head slightly in... greeting? So, that intense glare was not for him. He pushed back, setting his hands by his sides. Kaia spoke promptly, but each word was carried clearly to his ears. His mind boiled her words down to three simple truths: she needed help, he was her only form of assistance, and it was urgent. That was enough of a reason to say yes, as soon as he found someone suitable to take over his duties temporarily. Maybe Ferran was still on the grounds, and able to explain this ledger issue. However, the first words out of his mouth were not to say yes.

"Kaia Sedai. I'm honoured that you would come to me for assistance." Again, he caught a slight tightening of her mouth. He thought it had been imagined before, but clearly she didn't like asking, or she didn't like him. A thought for later. "If I may ask, where in Shienar do you intend to go?"

That was the reason he hadn't said yes without pause: Shienar, his homeland. He may have his Andoran father's looks, but his accent was pure Fal Daran, and he bled honour according to some. But the knot in his stomach wasn't homesickness. He had vowed to return to Fal Dara, to serve along the Blightborder against the Shadow. That was the duty of every Shienaran. It was a duty he had shirked, replaced or exceeded by his duties to the Tower. This trip with Kaia Sedai could well force him to face a conflict he had tried to suppressed.

[Jenn]

Kaia

The petite Domani considered Ravak's words carefully; it was a perfectly valid question, and one that she herself would have asked were she on the receiving end of this conversation. That pleased her; she had no use for someone who blindly followed. He had shown himself more than capable during his test and her hunt for the Dreadlord, but it was good to know that such aptitude had not vanished after he had earned the fancloak. The problem, in this instance, was not so much the Shienaran as it was that she wasn't entirely certain herself where the path would lead.

“The missive states that I am to come to Fal Moran and yet I can't help but wonder what they would need with myself or my Ajah,” she admitted reluctantly, her chin lifting as she met the Gaidin's steely blue eyes. Emerald orbs studied Ravak's face, his expression, Kaia feeling an inexplicable pang of sadness as she realized that he did not have one. He was wearing a mask, as she did, as they all did. He was far too young to have adopted that stone faced visage so quickly. She gave herself a mental shake. I am Red Ajah. He is Gaidin, and the Master of Training. We all do as we must.

“The Border nations are usually very adept at managing themselves and their affairs,” she continued as if nothing was amiss, lifting her shoulders in a graceful shrug. “It is possible that once I arrive, events may unfold that will lead elsewhere.” She was careful not to use 'us' – he had not yet given an answer one way or another as to whether he would accompany her or not. There was more that she did not say, but there was no sense in worrying the boy. The missive did not bear any addition details or supplemental information. If Fal Moran was sending for the Grey Tower's Red Ajah, then there were probably half a dozen good reasons for secrecy, none of which made her particularly happy.

She gave him an obvious bow of her head, acknowledgment of the time she had taken up, and respect for his new office and rank. “I cannot wait any longer, I am afraid. If you choose to go with me, meet me in the Traveling Yards in an hour. If you choose not to, then I will ask that you wish me well on my hunt.”

Kaia was moving before he could answer, the petite Domani yanking open the door to his office. She hesitated a moment, sighing quietly. She was being rude. It did not always have to be duty and serenity and pretending that nothing touched her emotionally. The Aes Sedai turned to glance back at Ravak over her shoulder, expression softening as she tucked away her irritation at Jaryd. A corner of her mouth curved up a little, and she allowed the faintest hint of a smile to show on the perfect features of her face. Green eyes were warm. “Congratulations twice over, Ravak Gaidin.”

[Craig]

Ravak

Ravak grunted in bemusement at the empty doorway. He had spent the better part of a week in Kaia Sedai's company, and she hadn't even given him three minutes of her time, yet she needed his help. Within the hour. He grunted again, still bemused, but he didn't slink back into his chair. Closing the ledgers, the young Master of Training started making plans.
----- Heeding Riahana Gaidar's caution, Ravak was not wearing his badge of office when he stepped foot into the Travelling Yards. He wasn't even garbed in the near-black uniform of a Grey Tower Gaidin that he usually wore. A dark green jacket in a simple Shienaran cut covered up a pale grey shirt above brown breeches. Tall leather boots and the fancloak finished his functional attire. His sword belt held two weapons. One hilt of ornate design flashed by his left hand, whilst a simple angular crossguard sat at his right. The former had been forged at the Tower specifically for him. The other had been made in Fal Dara. Fal Moran a long way from Fal Dara. That was more of a hope than the truth. Compared to the distance they were about to travel, Fal Moran could have lain somewhere in the Tower's gardens.

Kaia Sedai was waiting for him, of course. She smiled when he appeared, although Rav thought her eyes didn't display the same emotion. Something was bothering her, just as it had been in his office. Or someone. Whatever or whomever it was, it wasn't him, and he wasn't going to get it out of her. Gaidin may have a status equivalent to that of an Aes Sedai or an Asha'man at the Grey Tower, but Aes Sedai were still secretive all the same. If she doesn't want me to know a thing, I'll likely not know it.

"Kaia Sedai," he said in greeting as soon as he was near. "Next time, I would quite like to share some tea, before we head halfway across the world." He made sure his tone was light, a jest. Although he was also half-serious. Whether he deserved respect was debatable, but his title and office did. For that alone, she wouldn't have breezed in and out like a tempest.

[Jenn]

Kaia

The Red Sister let some of her chagrin show, strictly for Ravak's benefit. She had been rude - beyond rude - and there was no excuse for it, no matter what her reasons were. On a lesser woman, the sidelong glance she bestowed upon the Master of Training would have been apologetic.

Kaia nodded once as she acknowledged his words, feeling faint pressure from the jeweled pins and the decorative comb against her scalp as the motion made tightly bound raven-hair shift against her head. As much as she detested being made aware of her own shortcomings, she could not help the sense of satisfaction that came with it; perhaps the backbone that the boy had begun to develop during their shared time in the Blight was still there, somewhere. Good.

“I would very much like to have tea with you, Ravak.” She turned flawless emerald orbs up to meet steel blue, the velvet of her voice perfectly even. “You have my word that I will not barge in quite so quickly or depart quite so abruptly next time.”

The stone-face visage might have shifted a little, may have softened a touch, but the Aes Sedai did not look for, nor did she expect, any kind of response from him. If they were alone, perhaps, or among those that could be trusted... then certainly, she would entertain the notion. But not right now. Not while they were out in the open, exposed for anyone and everyone to see.

The petite Domani frowned inwardly, the very corners of her eyes tightening. She couldn't pinpoint what exactly it was that set her so badly on edge, but it made her want to grind her teeth together. Even Jaryd's mysterious absence did not fully account for the way she felt. The Shienaran Gaidin seemed to pick up on this and as the Gateway slowly rotated open to Fal Moran, they stepped through in silence.
* * * That feeling had only gotten worse.

Kaia fretted and paced to and fro in the lavish guest rooms she had been given, the assumption that Ravak was her Warder granting him the connecting suite next door. He sat in the largest chair that her room had, watching... waiting for her to speak.

As soon as the shatayan had retreated, the Red Aes Sedai had gone through every nook and cranny, had gone over every surface and inch of those two rooms with saidar. To her relief, she did not find anything miss. She did not have Warding as a Talent as Jaryd did, but she had made every possible ward she could think of, including the one against eavesdropping, and had blanketed all eight walls, ceilings, and floors with protective flows and weaves, inverted and finally tied off. Being accused of paranoia was preferable to... whatever it was that she found herself bracing for.

“Something... is not right,” she said finally, her gaze lifting as she checked and rechecked her wards. Her hands went to rest on her hips and she slouched her weight onto one leg, the foot not being used to balance herself tapping against the the tiles partially covered in plush rugs. “The missive they sent me said it was urgent. I waited eight days. Now that we're finally here, no one has so much as breathed a word about this supposed dire situation.”

Her voice dropped, even though she knew that her wards had been made correctly. Kaia did not know how many people knew of Ravak's ability, and she was not about to advertise it as common knowledge. “Does anything smell...” she trailed off for a second, trying to phrase her question properly. “Funny?” she made a little gesture with her fingers, her look self-deprecating. She did not having the presence of mind to articulate it any better.

[Craig]

Ravak

Ravak watched Kaia patiently, easily reading her frustrations from her frantic toing and froing. If he had actually been her Warder as the shatayan assumed then he would know a part of why she was as she was. And if she had been irate in his office, she was full-blown quarrelsome now. Rav knew enough not to do or say anything; he couldn't help with whatever her issues were, or at least she wouldn't accept his help.

Instead he inspected his attire. He had grown so incredibly used to the different shades of grey. He felt incredibly flashy and colourful in dark green and brown. Even the grey of his shirt wasn't the same tint as the light grey of the Drin'far'ji. These clothes had been procured for him at some point since earning the cloak, but no alterations had been made for throwing daggers or hidden pouches. He felt a little uncomfortable without them, but they were the least of his weaponry. His fists served just as well.

"Something is not right." Kaia somehow stood yet tapped a foot against the tiles in clear irritation. "The missive they sent me said it was urgent. I waited eight days. Now that we're finally here, no one has so much as breathed a sword about this supposed dire situation."

The same thought had occurred to the Gaidin. He had half-expected that this journey may have kicked off in a similar fashion to their last one, on horseback tracking down some ne'er-do-well. Wasting time sitting about in some well decorated antechambers was certainly a more preferable leisure activity, but they were not here as the social guests of the Lord of Fal Moran. It wasn't right for them to treat Kaia Sedai in such a fashion.

Two emerald green orbs latched onto him, weary and considering. "Does anything smell... funny?" She made a slight motion with her fingers which didn't mean anything, but he understood her intention.

"Not in here, Kaia Sedai." Rav may have caught a momentary flash of disappointment across the Red Sister's face, but he wasn't finished. "Not in these rooms, but there was something in the hallways, as the shatayan led us here. Outside of the Women's Quarters."

Men, almost by law but chiefly through custom, were prohibited from the Women's Quarters without permission from the shatayan and an escort. The fancloak and the presence of an Aes Sedai seemed to have waived him of both of those requirements, and it had been with no small amount of fascination that Rav leered at the tapestries as they moved through the Women's Quarters. Distracted as he was, he was still Tower-trained and ever vigilant for dangers directed at Kaia Sedai. There had been a smell before entering the Women's Quarters. It was nigh on impossible to place his ability into words, mostly because the sentences he would come out with would all sound mad. But there had been wantonness and avarice and... something deceptive. None of those words meant what he actually could smell, but it was the closest definition he could convey.

"I haven't smelt anything like it. That some crime has been committed, I have little doubt. What that crime is, or whom committed it..." He spread his hands in answer. "I could certainly try and follow the scent, if that is what you desire. However, if you are... concerned, then I think it is best that I stay." Rav didn't want to come out with any inference that Kaia needs protecting - he didn't think she honestly much appreciated having a bodyguard - but that was his purpose here and his duty. "Either way, the scent was in the common areas of the keep, not here."

[Jenn]

Kaia

Green eyes narrowed as she listened, the sense of satisfaction that she was right warring with that dizzying sense of hyper vigilance that bordered on paranoia. Ravak had made no mention of it, but she knew that he had noticed. Kaia was not sure if she felt relief or embarrassment; did it really matter if she was correct? Especially if it meant that something was very very wrong?

She shook herself free of those troubling thoughts, those lingering doubts. She had no time for them. The confirmation that he did indeed smelled something off... wrong... was the only thing that mattered. For a brief moment, the raven-haired Aes Sedai entertained the notion of returning to the Grey Tower... and... no. That was preposterous. She was Red Ajah. And for once, that meant something good. She supposed she should offer the dear boy a chance to return back to the Yards and his office... even if it would make things particularly more difficult for her. Not for the first time, she lauded the merits of having access to the Master of Training's particular gift.

"I could certainly try and follow the scent, if that is what you desire. However, if you are... concerned, then I think it is best that I stay."

Those words fell like heavy stones between them, each one weighted and leaden. The petite Domani blinked at Ravak in surprise, her brow arching slightly. “And here I was about to offer you the choice to return to the Grey Tower if you wished.”

At the wordless look he returned, Kaia had to hide the smile that tried to lift at the corners of her lips. The steel-blue eyes were hammer-like in their intensity and Ravak slowly pushed himself to his feet. The expression on his face was thunderous as he brought the full weight of his stance and height to bear, the intent clear in the way he loomed over her. He maintained a respectful distance, but his meaning was unmistakable.

“It was merely a thought.” The velvet of her voice was gentle, her hands lifting palm up towards him. “It was not my intent to offend or to suggest anything by it. I can see that you are not amenable to the idea of returning and... I'm both relieved and glad.”

The stone-faced visage softened, just a touch, but his tone was still harsher than what he usually used when speaking with her. “You asked that I accompany you here. If you stay then I stay, Kaia Sedai.”

She allowed herself to smile, arms dropping back down to her sides. “I am glad to see that you still have that backbone, dear boy.” He snorted at that, his gaze turning somewhat baleful, and she couldn't help the way she wanted to laugh, finding the sound and that look so very endearing. “If you don't smell anything here, then I suppose we will have to go to where the scent is.” She arched her brow again at him. “Unless you think it wise to split up. Because I don't. And I am going with you, so that is that.”

The pause was a heartbeat too long. “As you wish, Kaia Sedai.”

“It will be fine, Ravak.” Her lips pursed thoughtfully and green eyes suddenly became calculating. “Hold still. Let me look at you.” Her entire demeanour became matter-of-fact as she walked right up to him, circling slowly around him a few times. Flawless emerald orbs traced over every line and curve of the Master of Training, every so often her hand reaching out to pull or prod at his shoulder, or back, fingers lingering along the fold of fabric along elbow and collar. She came to a stop in front of him, slouching all of her weight on to one leg as she gave him an appraising look. “I don't suppose you have anything that fits... tighter do you?”

At his bewildered look, she made an offhand gesture with her hand. “No? I didn't think so.” She sighed a little and shook her head. “I suppose there's nothing else for it then. You are just going to have to undo some of those buttons.” She reached for the row just below his throat.

“Kaia Sedai, what are you doing?” Perhaps it was just her imagination but he sounded positively scandalized.

The petite Domani gave a small toss of her head, her foot tapping against the tiled floor with thinly veiled impatience. “We are going to be coming and going from the Women's Quarters frequently, yes? It would be better if we gave them something to look at - you, dear boy - so that they're distracted and less likely to ask questions that I would rather not answer.” Her brows lifted as she looked at him expectantly. “So? Do you need help with the buttons? Or should I start?”

[Craig]

Ravak

"You asked that I accompany you here. If you stay, then I stay Kaia Sedai." The response was almost automatic. Duty demanded that he remained to protect the Red sister as a Gaidin of the Grey Tower, but it was more than that. She had asked him personally to accompany her. If she had went to Amayani Gaidar, was assigned indirectly to her, well that wouldn't have actually made any difference.

"I am glad to see that you still have that backbone, dear boy." She delivered that with a smile, but he still snorted in umbrage. Question my backbone? He wasn't some mere attendant here for her amusement, or as some distraction. Now that he was involved with whatever was happening, he would see it through to the end.

They shared some more words, the Shienaran brushing off the Domani's slight against his character smoothly. Kaia began to circle him, inspecting him like he was- She tugged at his shirt, prodded him in a couple of places, adjusted a fold on his jacket. Grey-blue eyes watched her disapprovingly. Whatever this was, it made him uncomfortable. Eventually she stopped in front of him, emerald green orbs looking up at him, weighing him like a prized cattle. When she spoke, her voice was business-like. "I don't suppose you have anything that fits tighter, do you?" Rav shot the Aes Sedai a look of confusion. "No? I didn't think so." He literally had the clothes on his back, and the swords by his side, and she knew that.

"I suppose there's nothing else for it then." If the encircling from earlier had been disagreeable, her hands moving towards his neck caused his skin to prickle in response. "You are just going to have to undo some of those buttons."

He edged back. "Kaia Sedai, what are you doing?!" Light, what was she doing? Sinead flashed through his mind, peering down at him through fiery red locks, fervor guiding her fingers undoing his shirt. That was the woman, the only woman he wanted touching him in such a way. Did the Domani think she stood beside the Aielwoman in some way, or that she merited such a carnal response from him? Peace burn you!

Kaia's response fortunately did not align with the flurry of thoughts rushing through his head. So I am a distraction? That was, admittedly, better than the alternative. An alternative with you and Kaia- An unsavoury image passed through his mind, and he made it go away. Just a distraction. He could manage that, maybe. "So, do you need help with the buttons? Or should I start?" The Aes Sedai's impatience was clear, but he was not here to bow and scrape.

"I have this." Ravak took a few steps away from the all too forward Domani, and positioned himself in front of a mirror. A shaggy mess of ginger hair topped his head, nothing alike the Shienaran style. Underneath the unruly fringe were steel-blue eyes, which he made himself soften. Recalling himself as the boy from Fal Dara instead of the Gaidin from Hama Valon helped. Thinking of Sinead helped. His cheeks, normally a healthy red, brightened a little.

He pulled off the dark green jacket, discarding it over the back of a chair. It was warm, which was comforting even indoors, but it concealed his figure. The pale grey shirt was not very thick, but it didn't cling to his frame as Kaia may have desired. He undid the first few buttons, revealing the start of the pale, fine hairs on his chest. The Aes Sedai made a noise of dissatisfaction, no doubt wishing that he'd reveal more skin, but he ignored her. No doubt she expected his muscles to be what diverted attention away from her, and nothing short of unbuttoning the shirt completely was going to help. Instead he rolled up his sleeves until half of his triceps and biceps were bared. He spared himself a few moments to see what else could be improved, but this seemed enough. Turning back to Kaia, he found her eyes still affixed to him. "I assume you approve?" he murmured.

"Much better, dear boy." There was a musical edge to her voice, a faint sound of mirth. "We will need to work on your attire, but you will do for now. Now, do you know how to walk?"

Ravak looked at Kaia like she had gone mad. "Of course I know how to walk!" This was all getting too ridiculous, first looking to dismiss him, then wanting him to go around half-naked. Now this?

"Dear boy-" She would really have to stop calling him that if she wanted his assistance in future, "-I mean, do you know how to walk?" There was an emphasis on that last word. The Shienaran didn't quite get the meaning, not until Kaia made her way towards him. She didn't glide across the ground like all Aes Sedai seemed to know how to. No, her movements had a strutting quality to them. Her hips seemed to sway in a way that caught his gaze and his breath. She had transformed from a figure of immense respect and power to an sensuous beauty, all before his very eyes. Gently, she laid a hand on his arm. "From your expression, I see we'll need to work on that. Another time." She smiled, white teeth beaming on her sun-kissed face. "Just follow me, and put those muscles to good use." She patted him gently, then glided to the doorway, transformed once again into the Red Aes Sedai of the Grey Tower. Rav cleared his throat before he followed after her, completely oblivious of how red his face had become.

[Craig]

Kaia & Ravak

The eyes that fell upon Ravak from the women in the halls of Fal Moran's keep irked him somewhat. He was used to being ignored in Kaia's presence, the Aes Sedai outshining him despite her diminutive stature. He was hard-faced with his steel-blue eyes boring holes whether he looked, fancloak concealing most of his form. However those qualities did not seem to phase his fellow Shienarans. Girls young enough to be his cousins, women old enough to be his mother. The red-haired Gaidin felt very uncomfortable in his own skin.

It was all she could do not to laugh, Kaia delighted beyond all expectations at the results of their little experiment. She made herself smaller simply by letting her shoulders slump a little, stifling the normal grace of her movements. She passed a critical eye over the Gaidin as they walked; his cheeks were still flushed and his walk was not as smooth as it could be. But it wasn't bad for his first attempt at such. She felt a swell of smug satisfaction rise up. There was hope for him; it simply had to be nurtured and directed.

Rav found himself using those steel-blue eyes against the back of Kaia's head, to no discernible effect. His skin prickled, partially from the way the Aes Sedai had forced him into this situation, but mostly from those other eyes on him. He simply did not garner this sort of attention. Smiles met him as he glanced around, still dutifully looking for danger, and slowly a smile of his own formed. He couldn't help it under all of those eyes.

They reached the end of the hallway without incident, Kaia's posture straightening and her shoulders going back when they rounded the final bend that lead into the common room. She turned around, white teeth leaping out from coppery skin. "See?" She could not quite kick her legs up with delight but her hands went to her hips, a broad smile on her face. "That went wonderfully! They might have noticed me, but they will remember you!" Her hands dropped to her sides, fingers waving at the area around them. Her gaze sharpened, flawless emerald orbs curious as she looked up at Ravak. "Do you smell anything??"

Rav touched his open collar, but a glance from Kaia was all he needed to know not to bother. He turned his glare and attention to the task at hand. Breathing deep, the scent he detected was the same as before. There was a sense of recklessness and desire there. A craven need to acquire something, or having already acquired it. A deep need. No, whomever this was had to have already got what they were after, but no-one seemed injured as a result. A slight relieve. "We may be tracking a thief. Someone who coveted something with a fervour." He sniffed again. There was an undercurrent of... wrongness. It wasn't evil, just... Rav couldn't put words or even feelings to it. Maybe it wasn't even wrongness, but it felt odd nonetheless. "There is something awry," he stated simply, "Maybe that's the reason we're here?"

Her head tilted to the side, lips pursing thoughtfully. "Maybe," she agreed. A request for help sent in secret? Somehow... that made this all seem even worse. It would also mean that her paranoia was not entirely unwarranted. Kaia drummed her fingers against her hip for a moment, glancing around them with a frown. The urge to embrace saidar came suddenly, and she pushed it down irritably. "Does it lead anywhere? If so, perhaps we can find some bit of information on what was being sought?"(edited)

Rav peered along the intersection. The trail lead past the entrance to the Women's Quarters, although which way into the fortress they should head, there could be no indication. "I can certainly track it, much as I did before." No need to mention precisely what he meant, the meaning was obvious to both of them. "But I don't know which way he came from, and which way he went. May as well decide on the flip of a coin." And he wasn't even sure where either direction went, and if that could be of any help. Instead he shrugged.

The petite Domani shook her head, her gaze following along the general direction that Ravak also looked. "If the scent lasts, we may as well try both directions. Not the most skillful plan, but it's a plan." She shrugged as well. "Flip of a coin... let's try that way." She pointed down the left side at random, stepping to the side and allowing the Gaidin to proceed ahead of her. She tried not to peer around the dear boy, but as she looked at him, her hands automatically reached out and prodded at the back of his shoulders. "Stop slouching," Kaia whispered, pitching her voice so that only he would hear.

Rav straightened more from indignation than anything else. "I know how to walk, Kaia Sedai," he hissed back in a similarly quiet tone.

Her smile was serene, her tone as placid as milk. "As you say, Ravak."

The Gaidin led the way through the fortress, keeping to the trail that only he could follow. There were plenty of soldiers on the move, with their shaven heads and topknots. Rav wasn't sure whether to be glad that he looked Andoran, or a little miserable. Not that he wanted to shave his head, Light no! I'll get bloody cold ears. Servants and nobles milled around as well, curtseying to Kaia, but not truly wishing to stop and converse. He was thankful that his fellow countrymen respected Aes Sedai, even if they weren't exactly inviting. The stories reach this far north as well.

Eventually they came to a grand doorway, which had to lead into a hall of some description. The entranceway was being watched over by two guards, two sergeants no less. The scent lead into whatever lay beyond.

A flicker of the steel blue eyes towards the closed doors was all the indication that Kaia needed. The Aes Sedai titled her head to the side as she studied the two guards stationed on either side of the grand entryway, her eyes picking out the ornamentation that decorated their shoulders. Some importance then... how much? It irritated her that she didn't know. She wanted to ask Ravak, but the idea of the two guards hearing did not sit well with her. The flat of her tongue clicked against the roof of her mouth. She was overthinking it; there was no reason to complicate matters. "I am Kaia Sedai of the Red Ajah." She let that hang in the air for a moment before continuing, allowing a faint mirthless smile to come to her face. "I have reason to believe that what I seek is beyond this door."

OOC: This was the result of a chatroom RP between myself and Jenn.

[Craig]

Kaia & Ravak

The guards glanced at one another beneath their helms, clearly considering whether or not to obey the Aes Sedai's request. Ravak's hands came to rest on the pommels on his sword. It was maybe a touch aggressive, but then subtlety had never been one of the Gaidin's core attributes. Two pairs of eyes glanced between Kaia and Ravak, before they moved to either side of the entrance way, pushing the doors open into the room beyond.

Kaia allowed a touch of a smile to cross her lips, sweeping past the two guards without further acknowledgement. Perhaps it was on the ruder side of what was acceptable, but as she stopped to let Ravak move in front of her, emerald eyes swept across the space and breadth of the space in front of her. She picked out over a dozen topknots along the path that lead through the very center of the large room. Judging by the presence of those that resembled soldiers... perhaps the Lord of Fal Moran was in residence. The Aes Sedai glanced over to the Gaidin, raven brows lifting slightly with the unasked question.

"The Great Hall of Fal Moran. The Lord is in attendance." Ravak had two or so hands over Kaia, but whilst he saw deeper into the room, he had never been privy to such a gathering. Most of the soldiers seemed to be bodyguards for the Lord, keeping away from the meeting occurring in the middle of the room. Odd, the Lord of Fal Dara wouldn't have guards following him around. Shienaran cities were safe from the machinations of Daes Dae'mar. Something to consider, but for later.

The three men in congress all bore the look of veteran soldiers. The closest, his back mostly to them, had a pockmarked face. They were caused by some explosive flora from the Blight, unless Rav missed his guess. His topknot was entirely grey, and cut very short. On his left, side-on to the approach of the Aes Sedai, was the youngest of the three. He was short for a Shienaran, midway between the height of Kaia and Ravak, and lean. He rubbed at his nose in a familiar way and- "They have a Sniffer."

The Aes Sedai let the serene smile fall into place, the perfect features of her ageless face adapting as easily to that as it did to the expressionless mask. The hush that descended upon those nearest to herself and Ravak was immediate and evident, and it did not take long for the silence to travel the length and breadth of the large room. Kaia clasped her hands behind her back, her head canting to the side ever-so-slightly as she met the eyes of the three men that were of obvious import. The one with the pockmarked face - she immediately disliked him. It came as a sharp burst of emotion that rocked her back slightly on her heels, her body shifting slightly in order to contain it. "A Sniffer," she said levelly, the contralto velvet of her voice rolling out to fill the room. "Now that would be something indeed."

Rav failed to suppress a grimace, but he converted it into a contemptuous scowl instead. That was surely suitable for a Warder, even if he wasn't one. It may have been a poorly kept secret that most lords from all lands employed thief-takers, but it was a secret that some of those thief-takers were Sniffers. He only knew that fact because his father was also a Sniffer, although he had only learnt that term from Kaia. Still, put a name like Sniffer with the ability to literally smell crimes, and it wasn't a big leap.

Grey-blue eyes scanned the men. The pockmarked man turned not for the silence, but for Kaia's statement. The right side of his face was even worse than the left. His cheek sunk into his face unnaturally, and scar tissue covered where his eye and ear should have been. The young man, the Sniffer, went wide-eyed. Seeing him properly, Rav guessed he was the Shienaran's senior by a few years, but then Rav never had much luck guessing ages.

OOC: This was the result of a chatroom RP between myself and Jenn. By mutual consent we have agreed to kill off this thread.