An...Interesting Development (Attn: Anyone!)

[Ashley]

Kiani al'Jaqhar pursed her lips, looking down the hill she was sitting on, her horse shifting underneath her impatiently. The Grey Tower. Even thinking about it made her feel both tainted, and fascinated. The Grey Tower, she had been taught, was the place of the in-between; part of neither Tower, yet in relations with them both. Not all the relations were hospitable, granted, but they were an interesting development nonetheless.

Kiani had been away from the White Tower for a number of years before she had even heard of the Grey Tower's newly swelling ranks. She had spent most of her time in the border towns of Saldaea, her two Warders by her side. Saarn was a crotchety old Shienaran, his topknot more gray than the horse he was riding. He, however, had been instrumental to her survival at the White Tower, before the upheaval had happened.

She was a hunter of Darkfriends. That, and that alone, was her purpose in life. Even if the Dark One was locked away again, and defeated, there would always be those who would try to free him again, would try to reclaim what he had lost. She needed to prevent that from happening. As such, Kiani had made many enemies in the Tower. The number of enemies had risen, over the years, until they had forced her out of the Tower. There were names there, whispered in the dark, that held great power within the Tower ranks, and Kiani knew she had to lick her wounds and retreat, regroup.

So, she had ventured back into the wilds of Saldaea. She had found there a man named Tamsen, an Andoran fair of hair with bright blue eyes, who had become her second Warder. Between he and Saarn, Kiani had been able to add another dozen raven's feathers to her hair. Each raven's feather was a Darkfriend brought to justice. Each one, a small victory, to Kiani. Events, though, had forced her to come back to the world of Aes Sedai politics. She heard whispers on the wind of more Darkfriends amassing, of the Dark One's prison weakening still further...and the weakening make the Darkfriends bold. She needed to stop them, before they became too bold.

Another snort brought Kiani out of her self revery. Tamsen rode his warhorse up beside her, the shifting cloak of a Gaidin around his shoulders. "We have finally arrived, Sedai," he said in his pleasant baritone. "Saarn and I shall take our leave of you now. We know you at least won't stab yourself while we're gone." He winked at her and grinned, before kicking his destrier into a gallop.

A half-smile crossed Kiani's pale features. Her Warders both meant well, even if they were too overprotective at times. She loved them both like brothers, though, and Sarn like a father. He, at least, wouldn't betray her. She could still feel them even as they rode away, small balls of emotion in the back of her head.

She slid off the back of her horse, the raven's feathers in her hair whipping into her face as she was buffeted by the wind. Kiani was small in stature, but what she lacked in physical prowess she made up for in spiritual strength. She was only just beginning to show the agelesness of an Aes Sedai's face, and she knew that that wouldn't make her as many friends with the Aes Sedai of this new Tower. But, she needed to establish herself here. She needed to infiltrate this system...and start cutting out the cancer that was a Darkfriend infestation.

Bright green eyes scanned for a face as it moved across the yards before her. "Excuse me!" She called, spying a cloaked back. "Can you tell me where the stable is? I'm new to this Tower, and I could sorely use some help finding my way around."

OOC: ohai! anyone is welcome :D

[Carra]

Conor Palfrey Pretty Boy Ji'alantin So, he didn't fall for just anyone, but with Amairwyn Sedai off studying light knows what Conor's eyes did tend to wander a little. Not that anyone ever took him seriously; a feat he made sure of early on. He was only a budding Gaidin in training after all. He was getting that 'look' from Yani Gaidar and it only meant a few things. Just a few wrong moves meant more stables to clean out, or he was being unusually good for too long. It was hard to tell. Yani Gaidar might be the Mistress of Arms but she was also his Mentor and there were just some lines he had to be careful of. One, don't hit on her. Two, don't hit on her charges. Three, don't hit on the Aes Sedai.

It made for dull hours between classes and spars when he couldn't run away from thrown objects.

The tall Andoran Ji'alantin sat walked through the Grey Tower without any real consideration as to where he was going or where he was going to end up when he was approached by an Aes Sedai. They all look the same, you see. She was pretty but the two Warders that stood close to her made him rethink his usual approach. The smile he gave her was charming but it didn't cross a line. He wasn't Gaidin or a Blademaster yet to be challenged but even the younger of the two of her warders, let alone the older one. But, Light she was tiny!!

"The Light's Greeting, Aes Sedai." He gave a flourished bow. "To the stables? Yes, they are just to the left of the Grey Tower. Just continue down this way and there will be a road to the left. It is labeled so you should be able to find your way. From there are also the Warder Quarters and the collective there. The Mistress of Arms is Amayani Gaidar and she should be in her office around this time." He gave a respectively low bow to the older Warders. "If you would like I could show you around more, Aes Sedai. I am Conor Palfrey, Ji'alantin. Conor if you prefer." He refrained from saying more, lest his charm earn him a trip alongside the Warders to Yani Gaidar's office. She would too much fun with him visiting her, he was sure!

[Ashley]

Upon further inspection, Kiani found that her newly discovered tour guide was an attractive young man, dressed in garb more befitting a sparring ground than running across the Tower grounds. But, then again, Kiani was unfamiliar with the ways of this place. For all she knew, he could be a Blademaster and she would never know it!

Saarn and Tamsen had come up to her shoulders, both of them holding the reins of their warhorses. They looked at the newcomer disapprovingly, not liking the flourished way he bowed to their Aes Sedai.

"A pretty boy, with no brains," Saarn whispered to Tamsen, whose lips twitched into the ghost of a smile. Kiani stepped on Saarn's toe none so gently, glancing back at him with a disapproving glare. All she could hope was that the boy hadn't heard what he had said.

She cocked her head to the side, studying the young man in front of her. He was unpolished, yes, but she could already see that there was a grace within his steps, a movement learned with practice. Her blue eyes were veiled, hiding any outward emotion she may show. "I appreciate the help...Ji'Alantin, was it?" She pursed her lips for just a moment, before nodding her head at her two Warders.

Wordlessly, Tamsen took her destrier's reins and he and Saarn left, leaving her alone with her pretty companion. "I would love to have someone show me around...I've spent too much time in the wilds, lately, and am unused to the company of normal people. Those two have been my only companions for years," she said, her eyes glinting a little behind her Aes Sedai mask. "So I shall take you up on your offer."

Without asking his permission, Kiani began to walk, the deep green silk of her travelling dress pooling around her feet and moving with her as she walked. The raven's feathers in her hair drifted lazily around her, blowing occasionally into her pale face. She walked in silence for a moment, her icy eyes scanning the structures that made up the Grey Tower. "Conor...was it?" she asked, glancing at her much taller companion. "What, exactly, is a Ji'Alantin? And please, tell me more about the Grey Tower. Like I said...I am new to this place."

[Carra]

Conor Palfrey "You are from the White Tower." He said it so matter-of-factly that there was no real way to tell if there was tact in the statement or insult. He gave a shrug and continued to lead them to the path that broke off to the Barracks and Stables. "I studied there for a time, nearly got my cloak." He didn't enlighten her on his experiences there. The Warder Yard and the White Tower were two completely different beasts in much the same manner as it was at the Grey Tower and her Warder's Yard.

He turned to address the Warders then, "If you carry on this way, there are Stablehands on duty that will help direct you further. Anyone in a Light or Medium color Grey uniform, like mine, are still training ranks and will do as directed. Within reason." There were some that abused their power towards the Training Ranks, and there were those in the lower ranks that did poorly when given directions that should be done by those that give the directions.

He smiled brightly at the Aes Sedai, "The rank titles are a little different here than the White Tower, Ma'dam Aes Sedai. One could say I, a Ji'alantin, am an equivalent to a Youngling. Women are Ji'dar, and our new trainee's are Drin'far'ji. Don't expect me to spell that for you, though. 'Drin' is a fair substitute if you can't remember. Everyone uses it. This way to the Main Courtyard." Conor lead the Aes Sedai through one of the walkways that lead under the Glass Towers and into an open courtyard in the center. There was talk about digging a hole in the center to give the new Ajah, the Red Ajah, a skylight, but he had to admit it would be sad to loose the gardens and the small amount of privacy it gave.

"The Grey Tower itself is more like a grouping of rings, with each floor up you will find something new or different housed. To each path a different Ajah, except the 8th that is located below our feet. Unlike the White Tower, while there were Seven Ajah's, there was no Red Ajah but instead an Indigo Ajah." He held up a finger, "But don't expect me to tell you much about them. I have not researched them myself despite the over view we are all given. I'm not the bonding type, you see." He gave her a wink, knowing from her two Warders that she came in with, chances are she was of the Green Ajah. The worst of the lot for bonding. "Where would the lovely Aes Sedai like to go?"

[Ashley]

Kiani's eyebrow twitched on her forehead as he stated her place of origin so...flatly. Granted, there were many things that had been done at the White Tower, both to her and with her, against her and around her, that she couldn't entirely condone, but it was still her home, Light burn it. But no.

Then again, the White Tower's deeper dark side, the part that allowed Darkfriends to fester under the Amyrlin Seat's very nose, was what had driven her out, and had driven her to seek refuge within the walls of another Tower. The Grey Tower, they called it. This place of in-betweens, and new beginnings.

As he spoke, though, Kiani's icy eyes studied him. Who was this boy, really, who had almost reached the fancloth and then had left so easily? What had happened to him there to drive him away? Was he in a similar situation to Kiani's own, surrounded by enemies, and enemies posing as friends? The Trials each of us face for the Light, she thought ruefully. Unconsciously, her hand went to trace the scar that ran down the right side of her cheek. Ty. She still wondered what had become of that Asha'man in training. She wondered if he still lived, and her heart hurt for just a moment before she slammed that emotion silent.

As Conor led her through the Grey Tower, Kiani stared upwards at the towers of glass that rose above her, contemplative in her study of them. Curious, she thought. The things we can create. Kiani listened with half an ear to his explanation of the rankings. She would need to remember those, if she was going to make the people here respect her.

An Indigo Ajah...Kiani narrowed her eyes slightly and crossed her arms under her breasts. She would need to find out more about these new Sisters of hers...and how exactly they governed themselves.

"Not the Bonding type?" Kiani asked wryly, the raven's feathers blowing gently into her face. "A handsome young man like you? Now that, my dear, surprises me. Most young men your age want to find an Aes Sedai to protect. You will come to that conclusion too, in time." She winked at him before pausing, looking at the rings.

"To be honest, I would like to be everywhere, Conor." She grinned a little, the right side of her face twisting a little with her scar. "But, I will settle for finding a good meal. It's been a long journey, and I'm sure I could eat a Trolloc, were it cooked well enough." Her sense of humor was one that most people thought..odd, to say the least. "Tell me more about you, Conor, while we walk. You seem like a young man with a story."

OOC: sorry it took me so long! Getting ready to move is rough!

[Carra]

Ooc: I'll get you a post when I can! Husband nearly tried to kill himself with blood poisoning over this past week so I haven't been able to focus much on writing. He is much better, so I should get a post out for you soon!!

[Carra]

Conor Palfrey He could not help the grin that warmed his lips, bleeding out bright white teeth. She thought he was handsome! Puffing his chest over the compliment, he only laughed are her bonding remarks. "Oh no. By the time I change my mind I'll likely be two steps into my grave. I don't mind living alone, well, not completely alone. I have Nava. But dying alone... That always sucks."

"Well, here are the Green Quarters, but lets end here. I can't go as far as a Novice can, or even Accepted. But I can help you at least learn the basics here." He pondered, "The center here is all common area and is used by everyone. The further up you go the more specialized? serious? well, the more Ajah Specific it gets. Even going out, too. Except the Red Ajah, which is apparently underfoot and has no quarters up here. I guess no one wanted to share their space." He gave a shrug.

"I'm just a simple man. Born in Andor, ran away from the glorious purpose of serving the Queen to serve the White Tower instead." He shrugged, "Rebellion against my parents wishes didn't change what they wanted of me, if they wanted me at all, but even still it feels like a better purpose then being a foot soldier. I think the Andorian Army would only keep me in the lower ranks. Wouldn't work me hard enough, so I guess that was its own kick in the teeth." He flashed her a perfect smile from his handsome face.

"What of you, Lady Sedai? What, if it pleases you and does not strike me down in lightning, brought you to the Grey Tower? Surely it can't be to just hit on the training Ji'Alantin that catches your interest?"