The Return of Ravhala [Attn: Craig]

[Bella]

"Mother... Why me?"

Haeden's voice held a plaintive whine in it that he hadn't used since he was ten. And the look she gave him was enough to tell him that she thought as much, but it didn't stop him from following her around her sitting room like a dog seeking its master's affection. The Gaidin's present mood had something to do--everything to do--with the nine month old child he was holding in his arms like it was a toxic material of some sort.

It wasn't that Haeden had never held his half-brother, because he had, but he had never held him while his mother was preparing to leave.

"Dear, stop fretting. I promise that you will be quite fine," she assured him as she moved around, packing and preparing. "Ravak is already waiting for me, so I need to hurry this up and get going. I really wish you wouldn't worry so much. Iain is a very good baby and I doubt he'll give you much trouble at all, as long as you stop treating him like a decomposing goose you found on the lakeshore."

"Lovely imagery, Mother," Haeden groaned. Now he sounded like he was twelve. So, he was progressing. "Why can't Sadira watch him? She has experience, at least."

"That would be lovely, dear," Mia said, putting a blanket over Haeden's shoulder, "but also rather difficult seeing as how she and Alrim are in Shienar."

Haeden scowled.

She patted his cheek. "Get that look off your face before it stays that way," she said in a motherly tone that few would think Miahala Sedai was even capable of. She closed the flap on her travel bag and put it over her shoulder. "Now, I've already explained everything that you need to know and I've put Gareth on call in the infirmary if there are any problems. But there won't be, so don't worry about it. I don't anticipate being more than a few days."

"Mother, you always think that and you're never right. It always takes longer."

"Then you already know what to expect," she said, far more pleased than her son believed she had any right to be. She kissed her smallest son on the head and he gurgled and tugged on her hair. She smiled affectionately and then kissed her larger son on the cheek. "It will be fine, my lovely son. Just relax."

As she whisked out of the room, Haeden and Iain sat down hard on the couch. Iain tugged on his brother's hair now. "If only I could feel that easy about it," the Gaidin muttered.
* * * It was always difficult leaving your children, especially for the first time, but Iain was old enough now. He was no longer nursing, which was a little early but he seemingly had made the decision himself, so she was able to leave for more than a few hours. She worried, but she also had complete faith that her sons would do fine with one another. She believed it far more than Haeden did, she knew, but that was always the way.

With her travel bag over one shoulder, she made her way to the stables were Ravak had headed down early to prepare their horses for the journey. They would be using a Gateway, but would still need their horses for the travel in-between.

The closer she got, the stronger the bond grew within her mind, as that small, warm glow that continually comforted her with its presence. She walked into the stables and crossed through a couple of aisles in the massive structure until she found her warder and husband. Seren whickered softly upon her arrival and she patted his thickly muscled neck as she moved towards Ravak and smiled warmly. "Everything is set now," she said lightly.

[Craig]

The Rav in Ravhala

Ravak hummed his way around the stables, preparing the horses for the journey. Seren was giving him a look, one he happily returned. Love his wife as much as he did, her horse had an attitude against him. "Be as jealous as you like, I'm going nowhere," he muttered. Rav crossed over to Impala, giving him the attention Seren didn't deserve.

This was the first time either of them were leaving the Tower since Iain's arrival, ignoring walks through the city. Rav hadn't been thrilled to go, but it was only for a short time, and nothing was going to happen to Iain. Well, so Mia had said, in that tone women used to brook no argument.

There may still have been an argument.

Seren wickered, as if congratulating her owner. Just as Rav was about to open his mouth and give Seren what-for, Miahala appeared. "Everything is set now."

He smiled, quickly leaving aside the retort. His fingers brushed down the length of his sword pommels for comfort. "How thrilled was Haeden? I'm guessing somewhere between 'not very' and 'chastised'." It was a little bit mean to treat Haeden thusly, but Mia's son wasn't here to defend himself. It was, and probably forever would be weird that his stepson was the same age as him. And let's not forget Sadira. Aes Sedai made normal families an impossibility.

Ravak finished preparing Impala as Mia did the same with Seren. They had more than enough food and drink, and clothing that would cover a few days under a few different weather conditions. No camping equipment; either they found a tavern or they Travelled back to the Tower. If not for the fact that they weren't meant to look like Aes Sedai and Warder for this trip, Ravak would have insisted they did the latter.

"Are you sure you want to go?" the Shienaran asked yet again. From behind a hooked nose, two tilted eyes stared back. "Had to ask," he grimaced, raising his hands in surrender. Wrapping Impala's reins around his gloved hand, Ravak led the way towards the Travelling Yards.

[Bella]

The Hala in Ravhala
What was it with the men in her life?

Miahala laughed in exasperation as the pair began to make their way out of the stable. She knew that Ravak had raised Kaira, although not so much Zarayne, but she thought that sometimes he acted like Iain was his first child. Was it because it was a little boy? Or was it because now there was a...familial set.

Father and husband, mother and wife, and child.

Whatever it was, she had spent the last near-year resisting the urge to call him a mother hen. (She may have slipped that one time, but all the rest, she'd held her tongue.)

"You're worrying too much, my love," she said as they walked. "I can feel it. Iain will be fine, and Haeden will too. It will be good for the both of them. The little one to learn a little independence, and the elder to learn his more nurturing side. My older son has been spending far too much self doing nothing but honing himself into a blade. I want him to remember that he is more than that."

She cast her most convincing smile in his direction. "And it's good for us to be out in the world again just a little bit," she said. "This is as much in my blood as being a mother is, and I need it to remind myself that I am more than a vessel to bear and care for a babe."

[Craig]

Ravak

Rav made a non-committal sound. He tried his best to brush past his discomfort and slip on the familiar feel of grudging acceptance. He even played with the idea of trying to enjoy this break away from the Tower. Ah yes, the blissful serenity of waltzing onto the Whitecloaks' welcome mat. Stroking the hilt of his longsword did nothing to assuage his chagrin.

It didn't take long to reach the Travelling Yards, less so with an occupied mind. When he became aware of his new surroundings, Rav started to push all of those issues to the side. He waited patiently as Mia spoke to the one of the Green Asha'man in attendance, emptying his mind of his fatherly duties. He had one job whilst they were Tarabon: keeping his wife from harm.

The anticipated slice of silver light appeared and rotated to open up a square rent in the air. Beyond lay the Amadicia-Tarabon border. It was dim from the storm clouds roiling overhead. Rain came through the Gateway at a sharp angle, splattering on the dry ground. Rav muttered a voiceless oath just before he stepped through the Gateway. The rain was icy cold and it fell in thick droplets. He raised an arm to shield the worst of it as he looked around, using his other hand to keep his winter cloak shut.

Ringed on three sides by hedges, their destination seemed to be an overgrown field near to an abandoned farm. With the dark grey clouds and rain, it made for a dismal sight. It was, however, completely free from signs of recent trespass. Satisfied that it was safe, Rav whistled sharply to beckon Impala through. The Gateway was big enough for Miahala to ride on through, so Impala didn't need to drop his head as he crossed. As soon as all four of Impala's hooves were grounded in Taraboner soil, Ravak pulled himself into the saddle. He started to scan the clouds for a hint of the sun whilst Mia made her own way through.

Ravak scowled at the sky as water splashed against the exposed parts of his face. Most was absorbed by his beard or hair without notice. Finally he caught a glimpse of the sun between the clouds. "North's that way," he pointed, "so we want to go... this way." He turned Impala to face south-westernly. "Meant to be an hour to town. You got anything to keep the rain off you?"

[Bella]

As soon as the rain drops began slashing their way through the Gateway, Miahala sighed inwardly and just knew that this was going to do absolutely nothing to improve her warder-husband's mood about this whole endeavor.

You could have helped me out a little bit, she muttered to the Wheel, the Creator, the Light, and the Pattern...whoever she thought might listen to her silent griping for just a moment, even though she knew no one and no thing actually would. And if they did, they wouldn't care, since her and her soggy Ravak would be the least of their worries.

She waited patiently as he went through first, and then took the horse's cue to move through.

Pulling the hood of her dark green cloak further over her head, she nudged Seren to come alongside Ravak and Impala as they turned in the direction they were meant to go. She turned her head, blue-green eyes peering at him from the shadows of her cowl. "Only the One Power, which I'd rather not use until absolutely necessary, and my dear cloak."

Miahala didn't enjoy being in the cold rain, but she was no stranger to discomfort. "Best to just move onward and hope the rain lightens up as we go."

[Craig]

Ravak

Ravak grunted in response. The rain, this journey, spending a few days pretending to be someone else doing something else rather than being a father to his son... A little sigh followed on from the grunt, the noise lost in the rainfall.

They rode side-by-side, easily done with the familiarity between Impala and Seren. Any competition between the two of them had died out, even if Seren was still one to challenge Ravak's presence. They moved not much faster than a canter to ensure neither steed lost their footing in the slick mud.

The rain never let up by the time the ground changed to stone when Mia and Rav joined the road towards Nassad. The road ran from Tanchico through Elmora all the way to Amador. Despite the weather, there was a moderate amount of traffic. Say goodbye to the Grey Tower. Farmers moved produce, traders sheltered in the awnings of their trade coaches, whilst other individuals rode quickly on solo endeavours. There wasn't, blessedly, any sign of the Whitecloaks, but they rode towards Amador. Plus there was always the off-chance some Whitecloaks rode in disguise, not that the Children of the Light ever engaged in any subterfuge, oh no.

Rav moved Impala close to Mia. "This doesn't seem any different from usual. Doesn't feel like the Children are surging into Tarabon. Maybe we can be home for supper?"

[Bella]

The bond did nothing to hide her husband's grumpiness, but the longer they rode in the rain, her own began to reflect it and join in. She was beginning to second guess herself on the wisdom of this trip, if this was how both he and the weather were going to be like. Next time, she'd just go on her own...

See how much he liked that instead.

"So far, no," Miahala agreed lightly, her blue-green eyes continuing a casual examination of the roads and the people on it, as well as their surroundings. She looked at him with a faint smile. "Maybe we will," she said. "I am sure that both you and Haeden would be highly enthused were that to be the case." That came out a touch sharper than intended, but she didn't amend it.

[Craig]

Ravak

There was no hiding Mia's mood. Ravak cast a grimace of a smile in his wife's direction because he couldn't hide his mood either. There was no competition between being soggy on the back of a horse or sitting in front of a fire with a book.

Rav wiped rain from his nose. Every Aes Sedai and Gaidin knew how to ignore extreme cold or heat, but he couldn't ignore the numbing pain that spread over his face and ears. He'd been sequestered away in the mild climate of Hama Valon for too long, not that he was willing to openly admit that. Well, not to Miahala at any rate.

The town of Nassad came into view after another half-an-hour on the road. The rain didn't lessen, nor did the number of fellow travellers. The road also continued to be devoid of Children of the Light - at least any visible ones. Ravak found himself rubbing his hands together. Only an hour outdoors and he already missed having a roof over his head.

The westernly gate was open. There were a few men on the walls, but no-one seemed to be on the ground to question the travellers. All seemed normal. Ravak moved in closer to Miahala, making it clear to anyone looking that they were together and that she was well-guarded. Looking beyond the gate, Nassad seemed quiet. He couldn't see much, but it seemed the townspeople were being sensible by avoiding the rain, and those that entered the town looked for shelter within shops or drinking establishments.

They reached the gate. Impala moved forward, leading the way around traffic moving the opposite direction. Ravak kept his hands on the reins and his eyes on the crowd. Once through the threshold, Rav pulled Impala aside until Mia and Seren caught up.

"There's nothing here," Rav said, shaking his head. "Who's Eyes and Ears said the Whitecloaks were invading? I don't think I've seen an Amadician face the whole time here."

[Bella]

Miahala felt her edginess like every hair on her body twisting in their follicles, and she had to resist the urge to twitch and roll her shoulders under the minuscule assault. Was Ravak going to be like this every time they left the Grey Tower until Iain was fully grown? Oh, Light, she hoped not.

She might just have to kill him.

"The intelligence hit my desk," she said softly, looking around as well but making a casual show of it. "From a reliable source. I know you want to get home again, but I don't want to depart quite yet without being thorough. The rain remains and that will have driven many inside. So why don't we stop at an inn for a meal, and then see and hear what is going on?"

Her gaze was impassive but focused, suggesting that she wasn't going to be dissuaded from this.

"If we still see nothing and hear nothing of a kind with the news, then we will go back to the Tower." And you're sleeping on the sofa. But she didn't say that out loud.

[Craig]

Ravak

The prickling sensation that ran up Rav's neck had nothing to do with the weather or his unfamiliar ensemble. There was something that Mia wasn't saying - not about the mission, about something else - but it made him wary. The bond gave him this information but it was his spousal sense that was tingling.

He frowned. Of course I want to get back home, but I'm not looking to skip out before we know what's what.

They approached the second inn nearest the gate. Impala and Seren were placed in the care of some stable hands, as were two silver coins. He'd fished out his collection of foreign coins before departing, so nothing depicted the Blade, Fang and Flame of Hama Valon. The man and woman took the reins, leading the horses into the stable. All that was left to do was enter.

Miahala led the way. Whatever role they were playing, Mia clearly had him in her employ. The hired hands followed, no matter how much his Warder training strained against that. It's not like the two seconds that Mia was indoors without his survey of the room was going to make the least bit of difference, and it wasn't like Mia couldn't handle herself.

Beyond the doorway was a tavern common room like a hundred others. The timbers here hadn't been varnished, so the interior was lighter than usual. It still had the physical presence of alcohol in the air. Breathing in felt a little sticky; the floor was far more so. Rav rubbed his nose, breathing in deeply. He didn't catch the smell of ale and soggy travellers, that sense long since eroded. Instead he caught the whiff of minor scuffles and physical raucousness. He tucked his thumbs behind his sword belt, content that there were no assassins lurking in the corner.

Mia walked towards the bar, garnering the interest of some patrons. It was a challenge not to glare at everyone of them until they desisted. Instead Rav followed afterwards, playing the bodyguard.

While Mia spoke with the barmaid, Rav placed an order with the barman. He handed over a Kandori silver, receiving a few coppers in change. As he picked up his mug and turned to watch the room, he briefly glanced at the coins in his hand. Pausing, he turned them all over as he inspected their origin. Each one bore the seal of the King of Amador. Nothing too suspicious this close to the border, but it was something. Enough of an excuse to keep poking around. His hopes of seeing Iain before his son was asleep vanished into his ale.