The Grey Tower

Would Kaira remember who her father was? Ravak had basically cast aside his parents, to his chagrin, but the past was past. And Kaira only had the one parent to forget about. And she'll outlive me by countless years. The truth be told, the time was long past for Ravak Darrow to exert any influence over his daughter. The best he could hope for was that she grew up to become an Aes Sedai, and that Elia would look after her as much as possible.

Rav shook himself free for those thoughts. He had to focus on the upcoming journey instead.

The Gaidin Captain meandered around the stables with far less grace and ease as the Captain-General. Unlike Miahala, who had been raised on a farm by all accounts, Rav was a city-dweller who'd never left the walls of Fal Dara before he was seventeen. As they had been then, horses were the property of the lancers, and Ravak had never had the aspiration to become one. It was only once he'd arrived at the Grey Tower did he get his first riding lesson, and he'd been fearful of the large beasts. Nowadays he was a competent rider, and had seen far more frightening sights than a baying stallion. Yet despite that, he still had this apprehension around horses.

The Shienaran moved to the stall that held his own animal. The black gelding was well-mannered, which was pretty vital for Rav. He didn't have the time to look after Impala himself, so he only used the animal on the few occasions he got out of the Tower. It would have made more sense to give the steed to someone else, but the Gaidin Captain always needed a horse ready for him, apparently. Rav sighed to himself as he got Impala sorted out for the journey ahead. Impala's saddlebags were already packed, but Ravak unbuckled one of the smaller pockets. With some effort, he yanked off his ill-fitting gloves and stuffed them into the pouch. He flexed his hands, enjoying the new-found freedom.

Miahala and her black stallion were already waiting for them as Ravak led Impala out. He gestured with a sweep of his arm. "Ladies first."

They walked back towards the Tower. The Channelling Yards was the usual and ideal departure point when an Asha'man or Aes Sedai wished to Travel. Ravak quickly caught up beside Miahala in the wider avenues, scratching at his beard in consternation. He didn't have much of an ego, but Miahala's black stallion was, well, bigger than Impala. "They must raise them good in Saldaea." He didn't have a clue what sort of breed Impala was. Could be a Seanchan grolm for all I know about horse breeds. They were both black, but that could have meant anything.

There was a well of knowledge concerning horses that Rav was only now starting to recognise. Oh, he had some inkling about what sort of horses you could take into battle, but this crossed beyond that. Maybe I should look into breeding horses. That would fit the bill of finding a hobby to distract himself with, plus it would be good for the Tower as well.

Rav wasn't sure why he waited, but he just stood by Impala's flank whilst Miahala got herself settled on her stallion. This wasn't like most of the other times he'd been out escorting Aes Sedai. No divided skirts for riding, no sense of mounted royalty judging all they saw. The Captain-General seemed far more like one of the Gaidin than an Aes Sedai, with clothing chosen to be suitable for the journey ahead. Give her a sword and a fancloak and-- Rav grinned. And I'd think she was Riahana.

The Shienaran chuckled to him as he got himself seated on Impala's saddle. He pulled the fancloak out from under his scabbards, and double-checked his saddlebags one last time. As the Asha'man in attendance formed the silver slash of light that rotated into an opening, cold air rushed in from the northern extent of Shienar. An unfamiliar shiver surprised the Gaidin, but then he was grinning again. The cold was good. The cold meant freedom.

With a slight hug of his legs, Rav got Impala moving towards the opening. One moment he heard the sound of horseshoes walking on stone, and then there was the crunching of snow beneath Impala's hooves. The gelding moved a short distance from the Gateway, as Ravak waited for Miahala and Seren to join them. Rav was already scanning the surrounding land for dangers, as well as directions. The sun was at a different angle here to the east of Hama Valon, but he still knew which direction was which. What appeared to be gently sloping hills stretching endlessly to the northeast was the path to Tarwin's Gap. Of course, the hills hid the rougher terrain that expanded out of sight, but both he and Miahala knew that fact well.

When the Green sister stepped alongside, Ravak was rubbed his hands together for warmth. Should have bought new gloves before now. Well, too late for that now.

"So, to which outpost are we riding?"

Ravak tried to picture the whereabouts of the outpost in his mind. He had a good knowledge of the eastern expanses of the Blightborder, but the name wasn't one he recalled. He knew of Kentano though, assuming it was the same lancer who held off a Trolloc advance by himself. The honour of the title 'hero' had a heavy cost up in the north -- one that Kentano had earned -- but it was generally bartered in blood.

He kept a fervent eye on the landscape, as if anticipating the appearance of a Worm at any time. Not that he knew what a Worm looked like, thank the Light. The worst he'd seen was a Draghkar, and that from quite a distance. If we could go without seeing any Shadowspawn, I'll count that as a success.

"It must be quite the favour." Colour touched the Shienaran's cheeks. "Sorry. I didn't mean to say that aloud. I'm sure there's every justification for--" He cut himself short before blundering any more.

Pinching the bridge of his nose did nothing to help the situation, but at least it forced him to break eye contact with the Captain-General.

"Sorry, what I meant to say is that it'll do the outposts good to see that we here to aid them." There was a touch of skepticism in his voice, but embarrassment helped to keep him largely earnest. "With having to combat living nightmares every day, it must be a rallying boon to see an channeller of the One Power stand alongside them, even for a short time. A reminder that for as bad things can be, there is a hope and a light just as strong as the shadows it faces." He grinned, his own mood buoyed at the truth of that. "I sometimes catch myself wondering whether it would be a more honest life to be stationed at the Citadel on a permanent basis. Not as some beacon of hope -- I'm no Asha'man after all -- but just to be on the front lines."

He cast a cautious glance Miahala's way, uncertain how she was taking all of the bumbling foolishness that was spilling from his lips.

Rav couldn't help but peer at Miahala in fascination. He held a mental picture of her as she had been countless times in the Hall, as Amyrlin, wearing the eight-striped shawl. To Ravak, she was even now the Flame of Hama Valon. Maybe a different person held that title now, but she was the fire around which the Grey Tower had centred itself on for... well, he didn't know how many years. Enough at any rate. She was as much the Tower as the dirt of the Training Yards or the glass front of the Ajah Halls.

He shied away as she noticed his eyes on her, and picked up on his inspection of the land around them.

The snow-covered wilderness was a vast change from the lands of western Andor. Fraught with danger as they were, they were a comfort. It reminded him of the simpler times, back when he was just Ravak; no titles, no responsibilities. Just a lad who wanted to grow up and become a soldier, like everyone else. "Duty is a mountain..." Light, it's been a while since I thought about that.

Traces of what Miahala had just said played in his thoughts. The Borderlands were as much of a home to her as the Tower? That was a surprise, but what was more surprising to him was that he didn't think of the Borderlands as home any more: Hama Valon was home. The Tower is where he had met all of his friends, learned how to fight, became a man instead of a boy. It was where he'd met Betrys and Katrie and Kaia. And Mirin. And of course, it was where he had raised Kaira, but not without the substantial assistance of her various 'uncles' and 'aunts'.

Ravak made an amused sound in his throat. Here he was, thinking Mia couldn't residing anywhere but the Tower, yet he was the one making noises about taking off and going to the Citadel. It was bloody nonsense.

Running a hand through his hair, he turned his attention back to his travelling companion. "Anywhere would be grateful to receive your presence, Miahala Sedai, and be richly benefitted for it."

Ravak started to get the ground prepared for the tents as Miahala dealt with the horses. He picked out a mostly flat patch of land to lay out one of the groundsheets, then commenced the business of getting the Green's tent up first. One tent could easily accommodate the both of them, in a pinch, but they each had their own. The canvas was easy to set up once the two poles were set into position, then he hammered in the ground pegs to keep the structure steady. He called over to Miahala once everything seemed secure. "I'm just going to take a scout around." Hearing the Saldaean's assent, he stalked off to make a patrol of their surroundings.

The Gaidin walked the grounds for any signs of tracks. There was still a bit of snow on the ground, but most of it was just slush. Beneath that, the ground was both wet and firm. His boots made some impression, but not a great deal. As he walked, he sniffed at the air for the scent of Shadowspawn. He knew what the reek of Trollocs was like: murder, but with odours of brutality and animalistic fury mixed in. Comparatively, Fades had a softer stench, for they seldom played with those they killed. Fortunately there was no sign of murder, whether man-made or otherwise. No smells of any crime at all.

He returned to camp just as the last visages of sunlight were dancing on the horizon. The horses seemed settled, and a small fire had started burning near the sister's tent. "No signs that anyone or anything's been past here for a few days," he reported. "But I'll keep watch tonight all the same." He hovered his bare hands over the fire. "I'll get my tent up in a moment, then we can see about eating. I'm assuming you're hungry?" Rav certainly was.