The Grey Tower

The idea of even touching the bird’s talons and beak was also about as appealing as dating said aforementioned Trolloc, and Johan found himself struggling to keep his feelings from his face. He’d always been something of an open book. It was something he had never worked on changing. He wasn’t from Cairhien, and, besides, he’d always been beneath people’s notice. He could have painted his face bright blue and no one would have seen or cared.

Now, though, he bit his lip to stop himself from saying anything, and then plastered yet another smile on his face. Birds were simply not his thing. Animals had never been a part of his life. He didn’t really understand it.

But he couldn’t keep his mouth closed for too long.

“How…” He stopped and then started again. “All she’s known is the Tower, right? How do you know she can survive elsewhere? The world outside is completely different. Don’t you worry…” He left the sentence hanging.

Don’t you worry that she could die.

“I mean, it’s just a rabbit on a rope…”

Johan frowned. He’d never much liked being laughed at, and his question had been perfectly valid. He knew nothing about birds of prey, and, for all he knew, captivity could make them lose their ability to hunt in the wild. It with some animals, he had heard. Once taken, you could never let them go. He felt his cheeks colour ever so slightly, and he looked away, his lips pressed into a thin line. At some point he’d also crossed his arms.

And he stayed right where he was.

He wondered if this was how Warder’s felt, expected to trail after their Aes Sedai like a good little pet. He didn’t much like things being assumed about him either. He’d tolerated everything so far, even though he didn’t even like birds, and then she had laughed.

“I doubt there’ll be much game in the Gardens,” he said, his voice a little tight, arms still crossed, feet very much planted. Everything about him said that his pride had been hurt, and it had. “Maybe outside, but…” He shrugged. “Too many people about. I don’t think the Aes Sedai would be impressed if she caught the Tower cat.”

Johan had hoped that there would be something of an apology for laughing at him, but, when there was none forthcoming, he remained where he was. He owed her for rescuing him from the other Accepted, yes, but he was pretty sure he had already paid it off by watching the bird hunt, and the idea of traipsing through the Gardens in search of rabbit didn’t really appeal to him. Oh, outside the Tower would have been an entirely different matter, because Johan still regularly jumped at the chance to escape, but staying? No thanks. There wasn’t really a reason for him to still be here.

“I’ve got to be getting back,” he said, even as he starting backing away, angling himself so that he faced the Warder Yard. “I think I’m overdue some chores. If you don’t mind...? But, thanks.” He flashed a quick smile. “For saving me before.”

And then he was gone, his steps quickly leading him away and out of the Gardens.