The Grey Tower

Dianlinn looked down at the note in her hand, and sighed. She was getting annoyed with always being the one being picked to do training with the new Drin. She was always told to stay calm and not work them too hard, but it was the only way to stop them from mouthing off and owing her toh which they would not understand anyway. Unless it was a way for the trainers to make her try and be more calm with her recruits. She knew it was a possibility. She was better than she had been, especially with the male recruits, but she still had temper problems sometimes.

The missive had said that she was to meet the Drin by the Tower grounds gates, the ones that led out towards Hama Valon and the grounds around it. She was dressed in her uniform, she had her hip sheath with three spears in it, and her knives at her waist. Her blonde hair was getting longer, though she still had the long tail that trailed down her back. Some of her tan had faded since coming to the Wetlands, though she was still darker than almost everyone else in the Tower. And her shoufa around her neck.

She used one of her smaller knives to clean her nails as she waited, her back straight as she leaned against the wall as she waited for Artur to arrive.

Artur looked through the assortment of weapons in the armory. Daggers are all he needed but so many other weapons from shiny glittering swords to halberds taller than him. He carefully picked out two Daggers and hooked them to his belt along with a set of 3 throwing Daggers. With his tools on hand and a sack of basic sundrys on his shoulder he headed to the gate of the tower.

He was assigned a task to go outside the walls and hunt for more meat for the kitchens. They were stocked but like most things at the tower this seemed a test to gauge his skills.

He would be under the supervision of an experienced Aiel Ji named Dianlinn if he remembered correctly. It was an exciting time. To be able to go back out beyond the walls and people who always want to talk. To walk through the silent forest even if only for a day was a blessing. Unused to working with Aiel it was going to be an interesting experience.

Artur approached the gate and greeted the only person waiting with a nod, a tall women wearing the grey of a tower student.

She looked intimidating leaned against the wall picking her nails with a knife. Alas most of the other students did, something he envied.

"I am Artur, are you Dianlinn?"

Dianlinn had seen the man coming towards her, she had watched him approach through her lashes, without directly looking up. It was a way to watch those who watch you, and a way to be able to keep her eyes on those around them who may pull a weapon at any time. After all, not all Sightblinders minions were twisted and obvious. He was far too cunning for that.

When the man before her spoke, guessing who she was, and introducing himself, she stood up to her full height, placing her dagger into its sheath and looking the blue eyed man in the eye. "I am Ji'val Dianlinn, formerly of the Jagged Spire Sept of the Taardad Aiel. I see you Drin'far'ji Artur Baeyn. May you find Water and Shade." Anyone who knew her this was usually the most she would say in one go.

"Come, we are heading out of the Tower." She turned on her heel and began to walk out of the area, not even checking to see if he followed her or not, as she assumed that he would. After all, it was why he was there.

"I am Ji'val Dianlinn, formerly of the Jagged Spire Sept of the Taardad Aiel. I see you Drin'far'ji Artur Baeyn. May you find Water and Shade."

Artur unsure how to respond or if there even was a correct response just followed the tall aielwoman as she walked out of the gate.

His senses were assaulted by the sights, sounds and smells of Hama Valon. Accustomed to the familiarity of the tower it was all too much for the young Drin'far'ji.

To combat all of the sensations he tried to form the flame in the void to focus on. He would feed the overwhelmed feeling into the flame only for a loud sound to ring out in the crowd or a potent scent to disperse the void in his mind. Even after a few years of training Artur still was not used to maintaining the void.

They reached the walls of the city and he focused on stretching his awareness to locate any wolf brothers in the wilderness. A skill still unpracticed but a hunt was the perfect opportunity to strengthen the bond he held with his brothers and sisters of the forest.

At the farthest reaches his mind could touch he felt the noble minds of two wolves. Not far from the city in the surrounding forest. He sent an image of himself stalking prey with his two knives.

Excited thoughts flew back at Artur. These two had heard of a two legged brother in the place where all the two legged gathered from others that had passed by the city on their roves. Images of the wolves headed towards the city popped into his mind. He would have to find some way to explain the wolves presence or slip away from the Ji'val to meet them.

A smile split Arturs face, he was excited to be outside the city and to meet wolf brothers. He waited on direction from the Ji'val Dianlinn once they left the city. Familiar with hunting small prey and survival skills from his time out in the wild. He wondered if she would want to accompany him or send him on a task.