The Grey Tower

Rav pulled his rumpled shirt from off the back of the chair, and slowly put it on. He made a slight show of himself, making sure to flex his muscles just so in the candlelight, so that Sinead could admire his form a little longer. She was partially concealed by blankets, although enough sun-kissed skin still peeked out from underneath. They watched one another admiringly. The Accepted's green eyes ran over his half-dressed form with open interest. How could she still be thinking of him in that way, at this hour? Well, he was wondering if he could afford any more time in her presence, but it was getting dangerously close to morning duties as it was. Finishing off with the buttons on his shirt, Rav lifted a bundle from beside the doorway. With a loving smile, Rav turned to face Sinead with his hand resting on the door. "I shall speak with Mirin Sedai today, and then we can depart."

The Accepted's returned smile was only a little downcast. She was still being accosted by those flaming Wise Ones in her dreams. "They hear only the wind," she murmured softly, then in a stronger voice, "I shall see you wake, Ravak Darrow."
----- The Master of Training was well practiced at his elusive return to the Warder Yards, and it was still of an hour that very few people were about, and less people who would question his comings and goings. It was a very dangerous game he played, but when it came to matters of the heart, Ravak threw every fibre of his being into it. In two days at the most, he would be leaving the Grey Tower, with Sinead by his side. That thought alone would power him through the classes and lessons and paperwork between then and now, and all of the preparation work that would go into it.

Rav's hand rested naturally on his sword-breaker. He had concealed it within his fancloak, not that Sinead had ever asked him to, but out of respect for her ways. Maybe if he took some time to train with Dax, he could do without carrying a sword by his side at all times. There were also the throwing daggers to consider, but Sinead was less-

The Shienaran's thoughts ended when his vision fell upon three forms in the corner of the Yards. He recognised, with a slight grimace, the outline of Dakson Torellion. Ravak had to begrudgingly admit he was a fine Gaidin, even if he wanted to like nothing else about the Tairen scoundrel. The other man, the taller man- "Oh, burn my bones," he grumbled. Zarius Iiro, the flaming soldier that had almost killed his sister and destroyed the Weaponry Hall. His fingers tightened around the grip of his sword, but the rest of him was hard stone.

Only when he got closer did he understand why the two men were staring stiffly at the third. Ji'dar Ani Imirwyn. She had only recently returned from her survival test; he had ridden out with her to the Mountains of Mist. Rav thought she held some promise with war axes, a promise that would never be realised, although her presence around Lysira Gaidar had caused her significant distractions from her studies. We'll never know now, will we? There was an unseemly amount of blood, and his steel-blue eyes coolly scanned the scene and her broken body. "Was this either of your work?" A quick glance at each man's face answered that question. "How long have you been here? Did you see anyone?" Rav didn't glance around - he had borne witness to nobody else on the approach. What he did do is sniff the air for the unmistakable smell of murder. Carefully, he crouched down opposite Dax, watching the man move the body into a more natural position. "Her fingers are broken." The two Gaidin shared an understanding look. "Who's wanting to silence Lysira?"

This was becoming a circus, but at least those who knew could be trusted. And Zeen.

"Can you... keep watch and keep gawkers at bay? I... I will go find Lysira and deliver the news." Riahana was not quite as stoic as the Master of Training, or as quietly indifferent as Dax, but then neither of them bore her title, nor had her length of service at the Warder Yards. She had the ko'di wrapped around her, with that tone and look of focus. Normally, well usually, Rav would not question the Mistress of Arms' commands. But in this instance...

Rav rose from his crouch, already turning to follow on after Ria. "Dakson, I need you to keep onlookers away. I trust you can do that?" It wasn't really a question, but the Shienaran still waited a moment for the Tairen's answer. Dax stiffened, his eyebrows pulling together, lips thinning in disgruntlement. But with a look at the Ji's dead body, then at Ria, he touched his forehead in a mocking salute. I don't need you to like me, just do as you're told. Rav nodded appreciatively, then set off after Riahana.

A questioning look greeted Rav as he dropped in alongside Riahana. He had noted her habit of quirking an eyebrow when she heard something dubious, or believed something was awry. Countermanding her orders understandably fell under that. The Shienaran rubbed at his nose, sniffing the air, before answering the unasked question. "I can be of more use here, and if Lysira is in any trouble, you may require my assistance in tracking her." To anyone else, he would have phrased that as a statement of fact. To the Mistress of Arms, his tone was soft and slightly questioning, because despite what he thought about his aid, she held the command.