The Grey Tower

She looked at him.

There was still an seemingly uncrossable gap between the two of them. Betrys was fairly sure that it if she'd had more experience and a better understanding of men she might have understood how to make this work out properly so they could at least have what had been there before when it had all been a lot less complicated "Ya nae a bad man Valadin. Ain't drink that makes man bad or not..." she muttered "Else ma pa and the rest of my kin wouldnae hae been good - and they were. Didnae stop them from being able at downing a drink or me ending up more than a wee bit scuffed by the end of the evening..." she paused and shrugged before suddenly giggling.

"Actually side from the fact ya are the worst I've seen in a brawl - it were kind fun. Though I promise I willnae tell nae one that yer were needing help from a wee lass like meself tae save yer ass...." Betrys grinned at him.

Yes, she was still angry but he'd apologised and there were things in her own past that had created more than there share of problems and pain her family - they'd forgiven her...so she could unbend enough now, right? "Course ya hae tae promise to come and watch me Earthsinging tomorrow..." she insisted and folded her arms "Might be I'll need tae hae someone point out what I can be improving on" Betrys added "...fair?" she questioned, not letting him go that easily "And stop striding off like that..." the addition arriving as Betrys caught up with him and grabbed his arm again.

"I hae little legs and it looks daft to always be chasing after yer" Betrys added and tugged on his arm "Promise, yer still help me wiv that and being ma friend. I've tae pick an Ajah and a Warder afore long...going tae need ma friends advice on those scores" she added.

Her words broke the earlier gloominess between them. There was still much unsettled, but Betrys had made it clear she would not abandon their friendship. Shamed by the Accepted's conviction Valadin had no words for her, replying instead with a weak smile and a small wave before heading through the ironclad doors leading toward the hall where the Dedicated convened for any number of reasons. Tonight few remained awake, most taken either with duties or by sleep.

Seeking a shadow of companionship of the sort that could only be enjoyed while in a room full of people, yet going unnoticed he fell into an unused cushion, soft grunt announcing his disposition.

"Hard night, Manelle?" someone called to him, but he didn't deign to answer or even look to identify the speaker. Appearance would've given sufficient summary of the night's tidings for those whom were sincerely concerned; if they cared none would ask of it.

How many hours or minutes passed by was lost in the deep reflections of how the night had gone. Tomorrow would undoubtedly bring with it the consequences of the evening's debauchery, but Valadin was more concerned with the implications of it...what these feelings clawing at his insides meant. For a long time he dwelt upon such things trying to discern the best course of action to take and ended up struggling with the matter for a good deal of time before realizing the lateness of the hour.

Scouring the room found only one other than he that had stayed the night from his bed. An older man with the rough shadowing of chin indicative of a hectic season. Valadin scrubbed at his face and found he needed a shave of his own. Rising he left behind the Dedicated, the weighing thoughts, the missing Nykk, and the wondering what Betrys Cadawaller really meant to him behind. Sleep was what he was after now.

Tomorrow's problems be burned.