The Grey Tower

She hadn't believed that it would ever be possible for her to feel settled into her own skin again. The challenge of the Arches had been so much more than she could have ever expected. While it was true that no-one had prepared her beforehand, Betrys was fairly sure that it wouldn't have actually made much difference in any case.

As much as it pained her admit, going in with the innocence she had possessed had probably be better. That didn't mean that the images and experiences faded away anytime soon. So, when she had returned to the room that had once been hers as a Novice it had been about saying goodbye. After being Raised to Accepted she had been shown the new room that was hers but it didn't feel right - although the small bag of coin had presented some options and opportunities that hadn't really been available before now. Betrys had still felt the need to go back...just once and see the room. Mirin wasn't there anymore either...

It was sad to see it so empty but it had been necessary and Betrys nodded to herself before leaving.

Now for something else.

Something new.

Hama Valon provided her with that chance and ensured that her interest was grabbed from the moment she arrived. While rushing off to spend all the coins was an interesting idea, that didn't mean she needed to do right now. Instead Betrys allowed herself to watch the people, of course it was not the same as being among the people she had called her own family but it was a nice change to see others who were not part of the Grey Tower...and a little strange as well.

But Betrys wasn't going to allow herself to focus on any negative thoughts of feelings and instead smiled warmly and absently until she was distracted by the sight of a tavern and couldn't resist answering the curiosity that filled her soul and stepped on inside.

Taylin's long blond hair fell in loose curls past her shoulders. She'd not take the time to do it up before leaving her rooms in the Tower. She was wearing her shawl, and a dress that she seemed on the verge of spilling out of. The rich, deep green color had a slight shine to the silks that seemed to hug her curves before falling loosely around her feet. She'd put on coal eye-liner and some basic powder to her face. Perfuming herself with a rose oil extract, she enter into her sitting room and strapped her sword to her ornate belt.

The woman still did not have the Ageless face of a Sister, but her skin was beginning to feel somewhat normal again, or she was getting used to feeling crammed into a too tight seal. The Oaths still sat upon her with the weight of reminder of all she'd been through. Yet, it did not tickle her thoughts at every movement she'd make.

The new bundle of emotions in the back of her mind seemed to vibrate as she felt for Michael's presence. He was several stories down in the Warders yard, and yet with a slight touch of Spirit on the bond, she felt his attentions shift. It was the first way she'd learned to contact him at a distance. The Green Halls were alive with people at this time of day, and Taylin made it out of them with only a twenty minute delay. Enough time to find Michael waiting on her at the entry hall in his fancloak. The man's smile was warm and rare. Taylin enjoyed these private moments. She let her hand trail down his right arm, feeling the solidity of muscle under skin.

"Good Morning Taylin Sedai." Michael's voice was light hearted as it often was with her. She didn't blush, but her smile was very friendly.

"We're going into the Town for a bit, I need to see the seamstress and I thought we'd stop for a drink while we are out." Taylin's voice was warm, even as she schooled her face into a calm smile at the passing of two Accepted. She watched how one eyed Michael, and found her temper rising. Instead of saying anything, she'd link her arm through his, and begin walking down through the Tower.

As soon as they hit the main level of the Tower however, Taylin unlinked her arm and Michael took up a place exactly three steps behind her. It was in this way they ventured into the city. Taylin's face had yet to achieve the Ageless look, with her strength in the Power it might take some time, so she made sure her fringed shawl was easily seen. Michael's predatory movements behind her should tell anyone with half a brain what she was, but it never hurt to make sure.

Their stop at the seamstress was perhaps the longest, but after a couple of hours Taylin emerged from the store with a smile at Michael who had been set up on a barrel next to the steps. "So, how about that drink now?" she asked with a smirk. She moved into the street, a small bubble of space seemed to form around the two as they went, Michael's color-shifting cloak drawing more than one or two looks. Taylin made toward one of the inns she'd frequented upon first arriving, before being signed in at the Tower.

They walked into the Tavern, and the sounds of the place washed over them. Taylin moved toward a table against the wall, in front of a window looking onto the street. After a moment Michael appeared with their drinks. As he sat down he'd follow Taylin's gaze.

"She one of the Towers." He would state to his Aes Sedai.

"She is indeed. Don't want to ruin her free day though, she'll feel inclined to leave if I speak." Taylin's reply was half-aware. She seemed to be studying one girl in particular among the patrons of the place.

"Perhaps I can solve that." Michael stood and moved through the place like a shadow until he'd reach the girl. He was tall and broad, and undeniably handsome. His smile would have been alluring, except for the swords and fancloak. "Aceepted, my Aes Sedai sent me over, she'd like to buy you a drink, so long as we don't interfere with your free day, of course."

She'd been looking for a reminder of home or rather that place she had called as such when that had been her life before coming here all those months ago but now her world, her own sense of self had altered. It had changed, it had needed to change in respect of the realizations that had come from her time in the journey through the Arches. Not that Betrys needed to concern herself with that right now, she needed to be thinking much more about here and now. She didn't want to stand out but she really did.

The awareness of the eyes watching her arrival and how they looked (and mostly dismissed) at her, certainly made sure that Betrys ended up standing there looking very confused and very much on the spot at the moment.

Betrys hated to be the center of attention and for a brief moment that is exactly what she was. Standing still as the rest of the people inside looked her over she was moderately surprised when a man in his fancloak and swords, clearly a Warder approached and began speaking to her, it actually took her a heartbeat to even realise what he was saying before she nodded slowly "No...I's like that. ummm...if, yes...thank you" she stumbled, before offering her usual smile and moving to follow him towards where his Aes Sedai was sitting "Hello. I'm...Betrys" not completely sure how to begin and hoping politeness would end up working out.

Michael's form did not loom over the girl, but the looks that were cast toward them now were finding other places to settle. His cloak could cause a dizzying effect to those unused to it. As they reached the table where Taylin sat, he took a seat at the end of the table, where he could easily stand if the need arose. Taylin, on the other hand, sat with her fine silks and jewelry sipping from a glass and peering out of the window. It was only upon her feel of Michael's nearness, that she turned.

A face that was beautiful, but certainly not ageless would peer from under white and golden hair. Her nose and cheeks were sharp, almost like a bird of pray, although the woman herself was far from looking like a beak nosed fowl. Her clothes were scandalous to most ideals of propriety, unless one was in Arad Doman. As a Sister no one would school her on which style of clothing she wore, and true to her blood, most were cut with revealing ways, some even held together with golden chains and pins.

The emeralds set in white gold on her ears would catch light from the candles on the table, throwing a refraction on the glass of the window. Her look was neither cold nor disapproving, if anything she seemed thoughtful. "Hello Accepted Betrys, would you care for a drink? I was just going to have another, it's my treat of course. Tea perhaps?"

Taylin's shawl was draped behind her in the crooks of her elbows, but she sat so straight her back did not meet the chair, it was room enough to show to any who would approach from behind her the Aes Sedai seal. Plus, she had Michael now. That brought an unintended smile to her face, and a brief glance as she felt the affection returned. She thanked the Tower for her lessons in composure as she schooled her face from reddening. She refocused on the Accepted, gesturing at the open seat in a friendly manner.

The first thought that arrived when the Aes Sedai turned, was that Mirin would approve of her appearance. The other Accepted had always been one interested (even obsessed) with fashion and style, while Betrys had gotten better at understanding what truly flattered and complimented her own appearance she had never really been bothered with some of the more intense attempts at being fashionable that Mirin had bothered with accomplishing. The skills she had with sewing were far too limited and until recently coin hadn't been forthcoming to seek someone out whom she could pay to accomplish that sort of thing.

So, she stood for half a beat longer than she should have and took in the over look. Betrys would have to share this with Mirin at some point, although she acknowledged silently that she would likely still miss some of the salient points that would have interested her friend deeply "Thank you for inviting me over, it was an unexpected thing Sedai" she responded simply, the words spoken slowly and with some effort to correct the worst of her accent and coarse manner. That this was a wearer of the Green was interesting and once more Betrys looked to the man with her...one day that would be her who sat with a shawl and the confidence and a man bound to her protection as she traveled.

At the moment it was years away.

"Yes, I...would like that" she added and gratefully took a seat, attempting to to not appear like she was too over-awed or surprised at the invitation and the offer of a drink. Betrys was but she was trying to be an Accepted, cool and confident but in her case some of the rougher edges were showing just a little bit.