The Grey Tower

It had took an hour from him to catch the runaway pony and even longer it took to get back to the point where they have left. The small pony was carrying all the books he had found and most of his note books too and it was exhausted. Runaway attempt seemed to take last of his strength. The pony reluctantly followed the chestnut coloured mare, Suklaa, Amadeo was riding. Even though he was annoyed that he had to had go catch the pony he tried to cheer him on even though he knew the pony would probably newer believe him, not after he forced the poor beast carry the mountain of books.

“Not long any more!” he said “We are almost there. Soon all of us get some food and drink. Just a little more…”

He was excited to get back home to the Grey Tower. He could finally put all his detailed notes to use and start his book about the lives and culture of the Borderlands people. He would also need to show the drawing of the archway to an Indigo Aes Sedai or Asha’man. Go see the leader of Brown Ajah and let the other Browns know what he had figured out. He also wanted to go see Savannah and find out what she had been up to the past two and half years the trip had took. Hopefully sister wasn’t too upset that the trip had took so long. He could go and carry on their private plans as soon as she wanted now that he was home. Maybe the fact that he had cut off the ponytail she hated would make her less quarrelsome. Lots of things to do at home, but first of all things, he needed to go and get some food and drink, before he would faint for hunger as he hadn’t eaten for two days. He wouldn’t mind bath and clean clothes either. He bet that Miliane was already eaten and taken the bath and was now going too her herbs. He hoped he could be already doing the same things with his books.

Finally they arrived to the Grey Tower. He left his trustworthy Suklaa and the reluctant small pony, who was seemingly happy to get away from him, to the stables. The people there would take the best possible care of the two. Amadeo grinned happily as usually even though his stomach made loud protests. He wiped off some dust off from his brown modest travelling clothes and started to look around for some extra hands. There was too many books in the several bags he had brought home, he couldn’t carry them by him self, especially as he had troubles thinking anything else than bowl of meat stew, a cup of water and maybe also a cup of tea. He should have asked from Miliane what tee would be good for the relaxation. He had noticed that there wasn't any familiar faces around, but didn't think much of it, the books were priority.


(OOC: Feel free to jump in. Like Miliane Amadeo thinks he has been away only 2,5 years, but was stuck in ter'angreal and was gone actually around 80 years. You don't need to know him. )

Jain had some free time now and had been pondering what to do with it. After posing his question to the Gaidin, they recommended that he go to the stables and familiarize himself with the horses there. When he was properly raised, he would be taking care of his own warhorse and if he ever Bonded, he would likely look after the horse of his bondmate as well. His trainers didn't understand why he went around the Grounds armed but they also didn't understand how he seemed to be more in tune with his weaponry than others at his level. Its all in the dedication he would tell himself.

As he approached the main stable area, he saw a tall man leading a horse and pony, both of which seemed to be laden down with saddlebags. A quick look over the man and Jain immediately thought they must be a Brown and he guessed the saddlebags were full of books, notes and other such things. Since the man looked to be a bit confused, and not really on the muscular side, he walked over to him and said, "Welcome to the Grey Tower. May I be of some assistance with your saddlebags?"

First Amadeo noticed a novice. She was petite looking and the way she glanced him or more likely his saddlebags, told him clearly she didn’t want to be the one carrying them to his quarters. He didn’t like the idea either. The girl would probably drag them there and the thought of what might happen to his precious books and notes made him shudder mentally. She though, could go and fetch him a more suitable person to carry his saddlebags. He was about to summon her to him when he saw from the corner of his eye that someone was approaching him.

Amadeo turned his gaze towards the approaching figure and saw a man. The man was exactly what he needed, big and strong looking and he wore Drin’far’ji’s uniform. The hadori he was wearing was interesting touch to the Brown Asha’man “Hmm... Malkier. It would be interesting to interview him at some point. People wearing the hadori aren’t that common nowadays, not after the country stopped existing. To find out what he knows about his heritage and bloodline would be interesting indeed, but to the matter in hand...” he thought when the Drin got to him and offered to help with the saddlebags.

“Thank you for the offer, Drin’far’ji. Could you take the saddlebags to my, Amadeo Asha’man’s, quarters at the Brown Ajah? You need to be careful with them though. I don’t want anything to happen to them.” Amadeo gives a steady look to the Drin to make sure he understood that he was truly serious. “I need to go find a maid so if you need help just ask, as someone in the Brown halls can give you directions.” Amadeo stopped talking and gave a calming smile to the boy as his stomach made loud grumbling sound.

"Of course, Asha’man. I would be honored to serve. I must ask though about the care you desire... Is there something in one of your bags that might break or tip? If so, I would want to give it extra care and make sure not to pile anything on top of it or perhaps solicit the aid of one of the Tower servants to be sure everything survived intact."

Jain waited as the Asha’man explained it was more that he didn't want the saddlebags thrown around or allowed to get wet than anything in particular that was fragile. With nothing else to say, he turned and walked towards the Tower, leaving Jain with the animals and luggage. Shrugging, Jain called one of the grooms over and directed him to help him detach the saddlebags. That completed, the groom took charge of the horse and pony while Jain trudged off to the Brown Ajah quarters carrying the heavy leather satchels.

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Jain arrived at the entrance to the Brown Ajah's quarters, conveniently located near the Tower Library. He went up to the desk and began speaking only to be shushed by the woman sitting there. He opened his mouth again after a moment and her hand shot up with a finger up stilling him again. He stood there quietly for some time before she finished what she was writing and looked up at him. "What can I do for you young Drin?"

"I was asked by an Asha'man in the stables to take his saddlebags to his room. I did not recognize his name but he told me to ask here and you would be able to direct me to his rooms."

"Certainly child. What is this Asha'man's name," the sister replied, turning to open a book.

"Amadeo Asha'man, Aes Sedai."

The sister stopped looking through her book and looked sharply up at him. "I don't know what you are thinking, but that is not funny."

Jain was taken aback. "Funny Aes Sedai? I meant nothing of the sort. I was in the stables at the direction of the Mistress of Arms to familiarize myself with the care of warhorses when a man came in with a horse and pony laden with these saddlebags I carry. He looked as though he needed assistance so I welcomed him to the Tower and asked if I could help him. He responded happily and directed me to come here and put his bags in his quarters while he went to find something to eat. He told me his name was Amadeo Asha’man."

The sister looked at him for a moment with intense clarity before she pointed at a passing Novice without taking her eyes off of Jain. "You. Novice. Find Carla Sedai and tell her I need her to watch desk for a moment. She should be at the reference desk." The Novice scurried off to find the other Aes Sedai while the sister looked at Jain and said, "And you will follow me."

The unnamed sister led Jain briskly into the Brown Ajah quarters and after a few turnings, knocked on a door between two tapestries depicting the wonders of the Age of Legends. They entered the room and the sister bowed and began, "Pardon Sitter but this Drin has come claiming to have saddlebags to leave in the room of Amadeo Asha'man. He further claims that Amadeo Asha'man is currently getting himself something to eat."

The Sitter looked at Jain then told him, "Leave the bags here for now, child. Come with us while we look for this man who claims to be Amadeo Asha'man. We shall deal with him as needed."

As Jain follows the Sitter out of the Brown Ajah quarters, the Sitter catches a passing Novice and tells them to find Jaryd Kosari and meet us in the dinning hall. Tell him it concerns Amadeo Asha'man."

Ah, he has questions. Not everyone from the learning ranks would dare or think of asking questions. Drin’far’ji with brains.., Amadeo thought. He gave a happy little grin and opened Suklaa’s right saddlebag to make sure it was the correct one. “I’ve stored my ink and other writing tools to this one. The other one has my notes and books though...” He frowned slightly and turned towards the Drin. “...but it seems like I’ve misplaced a perfume bottle I bought. Hmm... “ He opened the saddlebags one by one and tried to find the misplaced perfume, but the bottle was nowhere to be seen. As he didn't want to unpack all of the books, he left the location of the bottle as a mystery. Maybe it’s somewhere in Liane’s bags... he thought. “Anyway... Don’t throw or drag or drop or do anything that could harm the content. The ink...” Or perfume… “...could ruin the books. Do you have any further questions?”
There was none, like he had hoped, as he was getting a bit annoyed for the missing perfume and delays for his meal. He started walking towards the Tower entrance, his stomach making loud protests for all the meals he had missed.

Further in the Tower, while hurrying towards the dining hall and the kitchen, Amadeo noticed he collected some glances from the people he passed by. He knew he was anything but his usual self. He was covered with dust from head to his boots, and the truth was his clothes weren’t that clean under the dust either. For a second he pondered if he should go and take a bath before the meal, but decided eating was far more important. I can go and clean myself up after the meal and become again the clean and tidy Asha’man. Food first, he thought and grinned cheerfully to everyone who glanced him and his dirty clothes with disapproval.

The dining hall was almost empty. Only a few novices were there eating. They started giggling among themselves when they noticed Amadeo. He gave them a glance with his common smile before giving his attention to a maid who had hurried to him. She looked him up and down with laughing brown eyes clearly thinking the way he looked was hilarious. “I’m Zsara, how can I help you?” Asha’man’s stomach answered first and he smiled to the girl. “If you could please bring me something to eat? A lot of it, please. I’ve dreamed about beef stew, but anything is good enough. Also some water and a cup of kaf would be great.” Zsara nodded and went to fetch the food while Amadeo chose a table.

Zsara brought the food: a big bowl of steaming beef stew with vegetables and some white bread, a cup of water and kaf and a promise to bring more if needed. Amadeo concentrated on eating it with some of manners and didn’t pay much attention to his surroundings. I can’t eat the food like a beast, even though I would love to just devour it. What if Sava walks in and sees me doing that? She would give me a lecture of my life in front of the novices, he thought.
After finishing the bowl of stew and the bread, he leaned back in his chair and relaxed with the kaf. As he raised his gaze he noticed three people walking towards him and one of them was the Drin’far’ji who he had send to take his luggage to his quarters.
Maybe I should have found out his name. Did something happen to my things? Did the ink or the perfume break... The woman among the two men he didn’t know. She was another new face, but the average-sized, blond man who had forked beard that was a bit darker than the hair was an old acquintance. For some reason the man always wore small bells bound to his beard.
“Greetings Aes Sedai. I was going to come see you as soon as possible, Minjar. I came back with Miliane Sedai. Our journey is finally over and we are home. It took a bit longer than we anticipated, but it was 2,5 years well spent...” He hesitated a moment as something about Minjar looked different, he looked older.
Amadeo slowly stood up before continuing and turning his gaze from Minjar to the Drin and then to the Aes Sedai and then again back to the Drin. “Did something happen to my luggage?”
What happened to him? Why is he looking so old? It must be an illusion. The Aes Sedai is doing it. That must be it, he thought while waiting that someone would answer him. Knowing Minjar, it would most likely be the Aes Sedai or the Drin.