The Brown Sitter stepped from the armor to the bureau. She picked up her comb. It was bone, brought to her by her near-sister when she came back from her sabbatical with the Seafolk. She tied her strawberry hair back in a braid that started at the top of her head and wove its way down to the nape of her neck, adding more hair as she went. The remaining locks were braided down to the middle of her back. The long sleeves of the Aes Sedai's dress brushed against the top of the bureau as she straightened the contents. Smoothing down the light cotton skirt of the dark brown dress. A dark red apron covered the skirt. Ajierene adjusted the red lace at her throat, matching the apron. Despite the summer heat, the Aiel sister was not bothered by the long sleeves. The weather in Tar Valon was still cooler to the Aiel than what she experienced in her recent trip to visit her clan.

Exiting her chambers, Ajierene made a right turn towards the Head of the Brown Ajah. Delphinia Sedai was young for a position of such importance, but she was very mature and did not have any political ties that divided the Ajah when the former Head had disappeared. Lost in her musings, the Brown Sitter had almost not noticed the nervous Novices curtsying clumsily and avoiding the emerald eyes of the tall woman gliding down the hall. The Accepted showed more restraint, their curtsies more determined. They looked the Aiel in the eye and nodded a greeting. Some of the Accepted greeted her by name. They knew her from the classes she taught about Aiel culture, beliefs and studies on Weaves from that culture.

The offices of the Head of the Brown Ajah were expectedly adorned in books. The shelves reached to the ceiling and had ladders attached so that the books could be retrieved from the top shelves. There were seven chairs in the center of the room, circling a table that had more books and manuscripts on them. Three Novices sat in the tables, looking as innocent as possible. Ajierene walked past them to the Accepted sitting at a small table next to a large oak door. "I am here to see Delphinia Sedai. She is expecting me."

The Accepted nodded, stood, "Yes, Ajierene Sedai, I will tell Delphinia Sedai you are here." She curtsied and stepped through the oak door. A moment later, she stepped back. "Delphinia Sedai will see you immediately." After another curtsey, the Accepted sat down again. The Aiel Sitter did not recognize the young woman, but she would not have the honor of working for Delphinia if she was not good at remembering who the Brown sisters were, especially the Sitters. The perks that came with that position made it a contested position among the Accepted.

"I see you, Delphinia," Ajierene said, in a manner of greeting.

"Hello dear friend. I am glad you accepted my little mission. There is a very bright Accepted that is trying to decide which Ajah to join. I do not expect any complications from simply retrieving a manuscript from a village inn. I did ask you, however, just in case something happens. You have proven that you are more than capable of handling yourself and taking care of a charge at the same time. I am also hoping you can discuss our Ajah with her and sway her in the correct direction," The Head of the Brown Ajah winked with the last statement, her eyes sparkling a little. Delphinia was well aware that Ajah choice is individual, but also well aware that she had a preference for the Brown Ajah. "Will this be alright with you?" She still had a habit of deferring to the elder sisters. A habit Ajierene had been working on breaking her of.

"As you wish, Delphinia Sedai," she replied.

"The Accepted's name is Ayanna, do not worry, she knows who you are." Delphinia handed over a parchment, "here is the information on the manuscript. Ayanna will meet you at the main gate just after lunch."

Ajierene took the parchment, said her good byes to the head of her Ajah and left the offices. Back in her chambers, she made sure her pack was ready. The Brown Sitter made her way to the dining room and ate a hearty meal. The meal took a big longer than she planned due to some brave Accepted stopping and asking her questions. The Aiel politely excused herself without quite finishing her meal and headed back to her chambers. A few directions to her maid before heading to meet her charge.

The Brown Sedai did not notice the bustle of the front foyer of the White Tower. Petitioners traveling in and out, some very upset others elated. She set her pack down next to her as she found room on a bench to wait for the Accepted.

Ayanna looked around the hallway to make sure none were watching before brushing her sweat-soaked blond hair off of her forehead. Light blind that Aes Sedai! She had bumped into Ayanna on purpose. Either that, or Accepted became invisible once a woman became Aes Sedai. Ayanna remembered her vaguely, Marana or Mata or something starting with an M, a nervous, twitchy girl in one of her Weaves classes who had somehow managed to test for Aes Sedai before her. Ayanna had been carrying a big load of laundry, and the Aes Sedai had purposely bumped into her, caused the clean laundry to spill all over the floor, and sent her to punishment immediately after. And then there was the additional punishment of extra laundry duty due to the tardiness of the arrival of the laundry that had been spilled all over the floor. Light. Light! Why were Aes Sedai such self-absorbed, irresponsible fools! And why did women’s laundry weigh so much… and stink so badly?

Ayanna was herself an Accepted. Some few years ago--so long ago that she could not immediately recall how many years--she had traded her heavy gold ring with the three linked moons of Tear for the Serpent ring of the Aes Sedai. Yet she did not trust Aes Sedai. Nor did she like being cloistered here in the White Tower, locked away and unable to leave without permission--permission that was given with some small frequency, but always with severe restriction. Ayanna was close to testing for Aes Sedai, she knew it, and yet she was forced to teach classes on elementary weaves day after day. It was some sort of hellish punishment designed to see whether one had the patience to be Aes Sedai. She was sure of it.

Today, however, was different. Ayanna smiled grimly to herself and continued down the hallway. Matara Sedai- that was her name, she remembered now - would be green with envy. Or red, as the Wheel would have it, as Matara hated men and joined the Red Ajah with a passionate wish that it would go back to its man-hunting ways. Matara could leave the tower if she wished, but the Red Ajah head strongly discouraged her from going, citing inexperience and a need for a strong Red Ajah presence in the Tower. And Ayanna had been specially called by the Head of the Browns earlier that day, before the laundry fiasco, and been asked if she was interested in a short journey of 'academic' interest. There would be one Brown Aes Sedai and Ayanna. Not the snooty, clumsy Matara.

Ayanna knew about the politics of the Aes Sedai. She herself was a daughter of a Defender of the Stone of Tear. The web of politics and intrigue that surrounded her in Tear as she’d grown up had taught her to look carefully and listen even more carefully. Ostensibly, the Brown Ajah chose her to accompany an Aes Sedai outside the Tower on a mission of knowledge because they thought that Ayanna might be interested in the Browns. In truth, they were interested in her more because Ayanna had a superb knowledge of angreal and ter’angreal, their making, usage and history. It was natural for her. Only a Defender of the Stone would have seen what lay in the Stone: storerooms and storerooms of dusty angreal and ter’angreal lay waiting for use. It frustrated the Aes Sedai that they could not gain access, though Aes Sedai had begun to enter Tear. But Ayanna Idlri Sundissa, a channeler, the daughter of a Tairen officer, might someday be their key inside.

Ayanna opened the door of her room and stared at her bed. She was already packed. On the bed was a plain green dress. In the pack was a long red-gold dress with a neckline cut to the shoulders, made of pure silk and carefully wrapped to avoid creasing. She did not favor the foolish-looking laces and caps that many Tairen ladies donned.

The head of the Brown Ajah herself had procured new clothing for the journey. So Ayanna did not have room for more than one Tairen dress. The two new dresses she had were dull brown and green, high-necked, much like a Tairen commoner’s. The brown dress was packed with the silk one. Ayanna laughed to herself. A daughter of a Defender dressed like a commoner! Her father would have a fit.

She crossed over to her mirror and looked into it. The sweat had dried off her forehead, but she took a cloth, dampened it in a basin of water, and washed her face. She had a dark complexion—like the olives grown on farms throughout the land, her father said—and was tall and lean. Another joke her father had made one day: Ayanna would be a fine breed of horse, among the best of Tairen’s prized steeds, if she were one. She even had the unattractively long, equine nose, brown eyes, and a thin-lipped expression that sometimes pulled back into a toothy grimace when she was displeased. There was nothing to mark her as particularly Tairen, and she was too young yet for the slowing of Aes Sedai to truly affect her.

Shaking her head, she turned away. She was already late, and delaying further by admiring herself in the mirror. The laundry had… No excuse for being late, laundry duty for you tonight, she could almost imagine the Aes Sedai saying. Who was the Brown in question? She tried to remember as she shirked the dull white dress, the seven-banded dress of the Accepted, and stuffed it into the pack carelessly. She didn’t think she would be forced to wear it on the journey. Even the brown and green commoner dresses suited her better than the Accepted dress.

Ajierene Sedai, the Brown Sitter, Ayanna remembered now. The annoyance of the five-load laundry punishment duty she'd done earlier that day had made her forget. Ajierene Sedai was a typical bookish Brown, always lost in some document or poking at angreals to see if they would move. Even odder, she had been an Aiel, and had the dark skin and light hair to prove it. Ayanna had never spoken with her before, but knew her by sight, as they were both regular presences in one of the Brown Ajah libraries. She pulled the green dress over her head and belted it on, abandoning her sandals for hard-soled boots. Then she hefted her belongings onto her back, feeling like a packhorse, and took one last look around her room. A novice would be by to clean it later. If anything was missing or out of place, Ayanna would get permission to punish the responsible novice. She smiled at the thought. Aes Sedai and Accepted had punished Ayanna throughout her novice years. It was about time she was allowed to spread the misery.

She left her room, walking tall despite her admittedly light load, and smiled with a slight hint of smug secretiveness at the passing novices and Accepted. Ajierene Sedai was supposed to be waiting for her near the Tower entrance.

In a few long minutes of walking – Light, to get out of the Tower – no, to get out of the city! – she reached the entrance. No Aes Sedai stood nearby, though petitioners streamed in and out, trying their best to ignore her. Their nervous glances at her Serpent ring made her want to laugh. They did not know that she was only an Accepted. Ayanna continued casting about, until her eyes fell on a head of strawberry-blond hair. The Aes Sedai was sitting on a bench serenely, hands folded, eyes closed, no doubt some Aiel meditation exercise. Or maybe a nap. It was impossible to tell how long she had been sitting there or if she had noticed Ayanna first.

She walked up to the Aes Sedai and tried to clear her mind of the million prejudices and snide thoughts that had been filling it. “Ajierene Sedai, I’ve arrived,” she said.

The breeze caressed the Aiel's face as she sat on the bench. Her emerald eyes shut against distractions from her other senses. She could feel the sun against her skin and hear the sounds of people in the area. Boots trudged heavily past. They had a more purposeful march earlier. Now the boots marked time in defeat. The wearer's petition must have been denied. Soft slippers crossed quickly. The footfalls were different from the last pair. This pair was more hurried and nervous. Probably a Novice is running to or from an errand.

The sound of traveling shoes approaching caused the Brown Sitter to shift her attention. With no outward signs, Ajierene shifted her attention to the traveling shoes. The shoes stopped a few feet away from the bench; a shadow being cast on the sitting woman cooled part of skin. This was likely the girl for which she was waiting. "I have arrived," said the person standing at the bench. “Ajierene Sedai, I’ve arrived,” spoke the girl standing before the elder channeler.

Ajierene opened her eyes slowly and took a long look at the girl standing before her. The girl was wearing traveling clothes. The Brown Sitter was glad she did not choose to wear the banded dress of the Accepted. This meant the girl had the ability to think about her task. It was amazing how many girls dressed in the banded dress to go out of the Tower on business. Did they see the Aes Sedai wear the shawl of their Ajah and Serpent Ring outside of the Tower? Only on the most rare of occasions. Ajierene took in the features of the girl standing before her. She had the olive skin of a Tairen, her nose a bit bigger, longer, than most of her countrymen. Not an unpleasant girl to look at, though. Ajierene thought she had seen this girl in the libraries before. At least she enjoyed learning, if she was not obsessed by it. Not all Brown sisters had a nose in a book, nor did they have to. Ajierene stood slowly, picking up her pack. Taking a deep breath, before speaking, the Aiel sister tried to remember wetlander social etiquette.

“There is a merchant wagon leaving Tar Valon soon. We will ride to our first town with them. Follow me.” She started walking without looking back. She did not need the soft sound of the girl’s traveling shoes to tell her that she was doing her best to keep up with the elder woman’s long stride . She started talking softly, “You will call me Ajierene or cousin. I will call you Ayanna or cousin. As far as the merchants and anyone we meet are concerned, we are cousins traveling together to visit relatives.” They crossed the threshold of the White Tower grounds and into the city. Ajierene made an immediate right, following the boundary of the White Tower grounds. A few blocks before the docks, the Aiel sister turned right, down a wide cobbled street. Vendors hawked their wares, but the Aiel kept her eyes forward. Presently they came to a wagon train getting ready to head out. Ajierene headed to the front wagon.

“Hello sir, I am Ajierene and this is my cousin Ayanna. We had talked yesterday about traveling with you to Teryvale.” The man, a scruffy sort with a full beard and scraggly black hair, nodded. The look on his face conveyed that he knew the identity of Ajierene, if not Ayanna, but money kept mouths shut. Ajierene handed him some coins from her purse.

The man took the coins and gestured behind him, “The third wagon back. There is room in the back where you will be comfortable.”

Ajierene nodded and led her charge to the prescribed wagon. The two women handed their packs to a youth and were helped aboard the wagon. This one was designed to take passengers. It was shaped as a box to hold cargo, but the top was flat and there were a few rows of seats. A canopy shaded the passengers. The ride was not the most pleasant, but then Ajierene was never very comfortable traveling any way other than with her own two feet. She traveled with the merchant wagons for appearances and to not wear out the young Accepted traveling with her.

The town of Teryvale was less than a dot on any maps in the Library, but it was only a half day’s travel from Tar Valon. Rolling into the small square brought villagers from every house and from the roads. Some young children ran back in the direction of their house, no doubt to tell their parents they needed money for the merchants. This train bought goods from the docks and sold them along a trail to Caemlyn. They generally had nicer goods than peddlers, and sold less in the villages, but usually enough to at least pay for a meal for themselves and their horses.

Ajierene thanked the merchants and stepped out, pressing an extra coin into the youth’s hand that had helped the Aes Sedai and Accepted. As dusk approached, the two ‘cousins’ made their way to the Inn. A young maid had to rush out to get the innkeeper. A plump woman with rust hair and hazel eyes approached the ladies, “A room for two and a bath drawn?”

Ajierene smiled, “A room to place our things, a dinner first, then perhaps a bath.” She pressed some coins into the woman’s hands. A village this close to Tar Valon was likely well aware what an Aes Sedai looked like, but was thankfully also well aware that discretion was the better part of valor. She nodded and led the ladies inside. A boy took both ladies’ bags, though together they were bigger than he was. He trudged in front of them to the room. The Aiel again slipped a coin in his hand. With a quick look to the girl with her, Ajierene focused her emerald eyes back to the dining hall. She settled herself into a table and looked around at the small group. A few local men evidenced by the way they quietly talked and the barmaid knew their drinks. Two travelers sat alone at separate tables. The Brown Sitter focused on them, thinking a way to determine which one would be a better companion for the rest of the trip and the best way to approach.

A barmaid approached, her ample bosom suggested she did well working in this Inn. “We will both have cider to drink and some lamb stew, with ginger bread, if you have it. If not, whatever is locally made.” The Aes Sedai stated before the barmaid could say much. She smiled instead, offering a slight curtsey and heading off to get the ordered drinks and tell the cook what was ordered.

OOC: Hope this alright, I couldn't resist. If you want it fixed or deleted just let me know

Covering his mouth as he yawned he watched as people entered and left the inn with ease, the place was still busy yet he had seen more people in here before. The place felt right to him in a way, full enough to disappear if you wanted the way he liked it. Not that he needed not to be seen at the moment was not what he needed, still not being noticed or given a second glance from a passing by customer was good. The people had there own business to worry about to take notice of a drifter passing through there little town of Teryvale, he was no more threat to them as they were to him.

Leaning back on his chair until it leaned against the wall he took a mouth full of his tea, it tasty just how he liked it, with plenty of honey. Well he was a regular in here so they knew when and how he liked it, it had taken him awhile with the owner but he had managed to get a permanent room with his inn. Still throw enough gold coins in any mans face and he is willing to do anything, which he was thankful for.

Lucky for him the Tower paid well which let him live which way he wanted, still that was until one of his jobs got the better of him and ends him up six foot under the ground with no one to cry over his bones. Still he had done alright so far as an errand boy for Aes Sedai’s, he was actually starting to make his man known amongst them. He would guess because he had survived this long, that and he had caught a Black Ajah once. Not that they let that be known or that he could prove the women had been Black Ajah, since dead bodies couldn’t speak.

Still he carried the memories of that women, she had almost ended his life with her charms alone. The One Power was not something you take lightly that was one thing he had learnt quickly from those women, that and you can’t trust women even when you think they are Aes Sedai. Those women were to be less trusted then most with the power and knowledge they carried around with them, they knew too much for their own good.

As if it was karma he watched as two women entered the room, he was no fool he could tell one was Aes Sedai straight away. So what was the cute strawberry hair and blonde Aes Sedai’s doing here together? If they were both Aes Sedai’s that was, he had been fooled before. Well he had been fooled many of times with those women; they were to be less trusted then all women. Still he did respect them for his mother had been Aes Sedai once, yet threw the Tower away to live the simple life with her lover who had been his father.

He smiled at the Aes Sedai as she scanned the room. Her green eyes didn’t stay on him long as she thought him a local as he was sitting with them. Still he knew these men as they were in here often, he had come to sitting with them “What are you smiling at boy, your very quiet tonight” he looked at the men as he laid his tea down upon the table “Oh I’m sorry, I was distracted by the new arrivals that have entered” the men glanced over at the two women for a moment then back to him.

“New job” they knew he was an errand boy for the women of the Tower. They didn’t understand why he would want to be a errand boy but they thought no less of him for it, that was why he liked the local men of this inn “Not sure I was not informed of new clients” he took another mouth full of his tea. The men just let out a laugh “Maybe you have some fans of Aes Sedai in the Tower” he wasn’t sure about that but you never could tell what Aes Sedai were into or what they had in mind.

“Maybe? Who knows with Aes Sedai” he thought his best option was to sit and wait, let them make the first move if they were here for him. If not at least he got to look some fine women, not that he would ever admit that. Taking another mouth full from his tea he dove back in on what the locals had been chatting about.

Still the thought of those women sitting not far from him made him think of his mother, the women had been Aes Sedai. Yet she had lived a normal life in there village until it was attacked, then her and father had disappeared, that mystery he still had not solved. It was so many years ago that he had left it behind but thinking about Aes Sedai made him think of her. She had been one of the kindest being he had known, she had never shown any sign of being Aes Sedai.

Still this was no time to be thinking of the past, he had to look towards the future and what it brought him.

Ayanna shifted uncomfortably on her seat beside the Aes Sedai, unable to enjoy the meal which had been brought to them. Lamb stew! What were they, farmers?

The woman seemed to be thinking about something, but Ayanna couldn't tell what or why. How frustrating! They traveled hours just to get to an inn and sit there eating and doing nothing. Light! Did all Aes Sedai like to sit around and think until the world came to an end? At least none of the few travelers--all males, though the maid was female--were staring too overtly. But they were still not far from the White Tower, so it could be that the men knew that the women were from there. She shook her head slightly to clear her sense of suspicion. They were on some quest to find a scroll, not an adventure. She was acting like some fool girl, not like an aspiring Aes Sedai.

She had however tucked her Serpent ring away inside her dress, on a chain, while they had been in the wagon. Ajierene Sedai wasn't wearing hers, so Ayanna took it as a tacit sign that she should put hers away too. But she felt uncomfortable with the thing, cold and large, dangling at her collarbone. She looked around the inn, then leaned over and asked Ajierene Sedai if she could change dresses, though her actual intent was to find a longer chain so the necklace would fall between her breasts instead of making a small lump under the cloth of her dress. The Aes Sedai nodded absently, still pondering whatever it was.

She got up, trying to ignore the attention it got from the others in the room. She had to walk near a nondescript man sitting against the wall--drinking tea, from the looks of it--and quite nearby another one, an imposing man with a grim look on his face. She swallowed. She had grown up among soldiers. These men were nothing. She got up and started walking to the stairway, looking ahead of her, tilting her head up just a little so the men wouldn't think she cared about their presence. Still, she clasped her hands together as she came close to the imposing man, who was heavily scarred.

Then she tripped.

It seemed to happen in slow motion. She felt her foot hit some rut in the wood and stretched her hand out to the nearest table. As she did, her hand hit something that tipped over with a clunk.

She didn't manage to stay on her feet. Instead, still grasping the table, she hit the ground with her knees and then let go as the edge of the wooden table scraped her palm.

Then time sped up again. She pushed herself up off her knees and stood unsteadily. Her ring had come out of her dress and flopped against her chest. When she looked up, fumbling to hide it again, she froze under the man's furious glare.

She looked at his clothes and realized dimly that her hand must have hit his drink, spilling it onto him. When he made a slight move toward her, she gasped and jumped back in fright, tripping this time over the hem of her own skirt and falling to the ground. She didn't dare look up again.

She heard footsteps from behind her, and an unfamiliar male voice from the same direction. "Are you all right, miss?" She finally managed to tuck the ring underneath her dress, but she knew that it must have been seen. She swallowed hard and looked at the floor as she let the man help her up. Where was Ajierene Sedai and what was she doing?

The man whose drink she had knocked over was no longer glaring, but regarded them both with cold eyes. He seemed to be waiting for something.

She opened her mouth and shut it again. Only a soldier, Light, he's only a soldier! Your father is more frightening than he is! And furthermore, it had been an accident! But she remembered what Ajierene Sedai had said, during one of her rare moments speaking to Ayanna in the wagon. Avoid confrontation and conflict. If you make a mistake, accept your responsibility and apologize. You are not so privileged that you shouldn't know how to be humble. The Aes Sedai hadn't sounded reproaching, but the words stung her pride nonetheless.

"I- I'm..." she managed, stumbling over her words, caught between fear and anger.

Wade took a sip of his ale, eyes focused on the table, not bothering to look up at anyone else in the inn. He had no interest in them as they had none with him and he preferred it that way. Idle conversation was pointless. He wasn't here to make friends, he only stopped to get a meal, drink, and be on his way again. The drink he had, the meal however eluded him. Apparently he had far less money than he had thought and it barely gained him the drink.

He shifted his bulk in the chair, causing it to squeak alarmingly. It had not been made for a man his size. Few men could come to his size save for aiel and a few borderlanders. His size alone had made a few of the inn's patrons eye him warily, the scars crisscrossing his exposed arms and face made a few get up and leave immediately without finishing their meals. Everyone saw him as trouble walking, a man who would do something dangerous, they weren't far from wrong. The greatsword hanging from his back was not for show.

The door to the inn opened, letting a fresh breeze in. Wade didn't bother to look up, he wasn't interested. A woman by the sound of her voice ordering a meal for herself and a companion. Just another pair of travelers.

It was starting to get late in the day and Wade knew he couldn't stay at the inn much longer unless he wanted to travel at night. He was starting to stand when a girl tripped, slamming against his table, the contents of his cup spilling over onto his shirt.

“You...” Wade growled under his breath. What was wrong with the stupid little chit, was she blind? Could she walk? What kind of oaf tripped over nothing?

His anger started to rise, dimming his vision in a blood red haze. This wasn't good. The muscles in his arm started to flex as his hand reached out to the girl on the floor. Wade tried his best to reign in his fury, but it had already been unleashed and only one thing would quench its thirst. Blood and death.

Something glinting at her chest caught his eye, forcing him to pause. A ring. A golden serpent ring. Aes Sedai.

Wade pulled his hand back, his anger fading away to nothingness. What was an Aes Sedai doing here in some country inn? No, that couldn't be right, this girl looked far too young to be an Aes Sedai and didn't have the characteristic ageless face. His eyes scanned the crowd before falling on another woman who unlike the girl did have the qualities of Aes Sedai.

Wade crossed his arms, glaring down at the girl. “What do you want?”

Ajierene thanked the barmaid for dinner and commenced eating. She mulled over her plans while she enjoyed the lamb. The merchant train was heading south from here and Ajierene needed to head due west. She did not need any companions, but experience has taught her that two women walking alone were much more of a target than if they were accompanied by at least one man. Chewing on a piece of lamb, the Brown Sitter mentally went over the establishments in this small town and their likeliness of knowing someone that could offer such services.

Her companion did not seem to enjoy the stew. Ayanna's hand kept going towards her throat, where a lump hid under her dress. The Brown Sitter suspected the Great Serpent Ring resided there. She was wearing it when they first met, but had tucked it away. It was a good sign that the Accepted was following the example of her traveling companion, especially since the Aiel got the impression that her wetlander companion would have preferred to leave the ring showing. After a few moments, the Accepted asked if she could get changed. Ajierene almost expressed an interest in having her find another place for the ring while she was there, but decided that this was at least part of the plan the young girl had.

Ayanna rushed off once given permission. She seemed a bit perturbed at the lowly conditions her Aes Sedai companion had chosen. Ajierene had not missed the slight curl to her nose at the sight of the rooms, nore the sniff at the lamb stew. There were women who flashed gold and serpent rings and made big shows of where they were. They were also more obvious targets for darkfriends. By the end of this journey, Ayanna will either learn the usefulness of being humble or she will not.

In her haste, the Accepted tripped over herself...twice. The Aiel shook her head at the grace these wetlanders seemed to so consistently lack. The Aiel waited to see what her charge would do. As she watched the scene unfold, she also reached for saidar. The man who's attire was so very recently decorated with tea looked extraordinarily unhappy at the turn of events. He was reaching for his sword. Ajierene readied Air in case he decided to put some thoughts into action.

He saw something and stopped his actions. The look on his face as he helped Ayanna to her feet meant he wanted some answers. She stood there stammering. She had gotten the 'humble' talk while in the merchant's train. She seemed to have some trouble with it, as from what the Aiel Sitter could hear, she was stammering instead of apologizing.

Another man stood as well. It seemed he was the second man Ayanna had tripped into. He did not have the same new decorations as the first man, but seemed to have an interest in the conversation.

Quickly, Ajierene stood up, towering over most of the people in the inn. Brushing smooth her cotton skirt, found the barmaid that was waiting on her table. The Brown Sitter touched the barmaid's arm to get her attention, before pressed two gold coins into the woman's hand, "I need a fresh shirt for the man my companion ran into and two fresh bowls of stew." The maid eyed the gold with a look of wonder. She nodded quickly and rushed off.

The Aiel walked over to the small group. She still towered over Ayanna and one man, but the man with tea on his shirt was about her height. "Hello, men. I apologize for my cousin here. She is a little nervous about traveling. Please, come sit with us. I have asked for a new shirt and some more meals brought to my table. We can order drinks as well."

The Aiel gestured towards the table she recently vacated. Her emerald eyes twinkled a little, a subtle hint that not everything was quite as seemed, but an interesting story and possibly work was waiting with the meals at the other table.

He had to hold his laughter back as the girls hand hit the large mans drink as she fell, sending it all over him. He was sure the large gentleman was not going to be happy about it even though she was a girl from the Tower.

She started to move to her feet until her eyes noticed what he had suspected from the start hung from her neck, a serpent ring from the Tower. Accepted he would guess she was too young to be Aes Sedai yet. Still he had seen what an Accepted was capable of he would have to watch his step.

Still what was an Aes Sedai doing with an Accepted out of the Tower?

You...” he glanced at the large man and the sword he carried, could he stop him if he had too. He would guess he would find out if the man didn’t settle down, saving pretty girls was something he found fun even if they were Accepted. He would have to be quick or he would be dead, the man looked as he knew what he was doing with a blade. Any man who carried a sword knew how to use it a little or should.

He rose to his feet as the man moved towards the Tower girl. He was no hero but he respected the Tower and Aes Sedai’s enough that he would risk his life for them. His mother had been Aes Sedai, he had also trained in the Tower for a few years that he felt he owed it to the Tower. They had taken him in when his village had been burnt to the ground and his parents disappeared.

The man reached out to the girl on the floor until his eyes caught what the girl was trying to hide. He was sure she had noticed them looking at it, he was sure anyone looking would of noticed it. Not that most peoples this close to the Tower care much about Aes Sedai. Yet there was always a first. Even this close to the White Tower there were people that despised the Tower.

The man pulled back from the girl with his anger disappearing, was the man that frighten of Aes Sedai. The man crossed his arms glaring at the girl on the floor “What do you want?” this was interesting? The large mans tone had change since he noticed the girl had a serpent ring from the Tower, maybe he had a history with the Tower as well. So many people had some kind of connection with the Tower.

Before he could say anything his eye caught the other companion coming over towards them, the women which he knew was Aes Sedai. She was the one to keep the watch on at all times. Still what did he have to worry about Aes Sedai really? He worked for the Tower and Aes Sedai personally; he was an errand boy for them. Handling things that they didn’t want to get there hands dirty over. Still he enjoyed his work and they paid better then anyone else.

To his surprise the women was tall. Yet the way she carried herself she was all Aes Sedai "Hello, men. I apologize for my cousin here. She is a little nervous about travelling. Please, come sit with us. I have asked for a new shirt and some more meals brought to my table. We can order drinks as well." The Aes Sedai motioned them to a table.

Drinks? A meal? What was this woman up too? He had not work for her yet there was so many Aes Sedai in the Tower that needed things done he was sure he would have eventually. Maybe he would be able to grab a few dollars helping them with whatever they were up to out of the Tower.

“I guess so but first” he pushed pass the large Gentleman. Reaching out he grab hold of the girls hands pulling to her feet “There you go my lady, you really should hide that thing better” he smiled at her he wanted to laugh but he thought he may acquire a slap across the face. He turned to the Aes Sedai “A meal sounds great” without waiting for a reply he moved towards the table the Aes Sedai had been at.

Trisha brushed some dirt off her red skirts in disgust as she looked at the town before her. It was small and pathetic, just the perfect place for some lowly farmer. If she had a choice she wouldn't even bother looking at it, but she did beg Delphinia to allow her to accompany Ajierene. She had only recently been raised to Accepted and she eagerly wanted to be out of the Tower and this was the perfect chance.

She looked back, watching the Tower guard riding back off towards Tar Valon. Delphinia had only given permission for her to go right as Ajierene had left the tower. Trisha had been lucky she was able to have a Tower guard escort her to where the Aes Sedai had gone or else she'd still be stuck in that bland Tower doing the Creator knows what.

“Ugh,” she said, raising her nose at the smell of the town as she began to walk amongst its buildings. She was used to large cities with far better sanitation than this. “Now to find this inn.”

It didn't take her long to find the inn, it was the only one in the entire town. The building was made mostly of wood with a ramshackle look. It looked as if the slightest wind would bring the whole establishment down. As she reached for the door it opened and she looked up at the largest man she had ever seen. He was rugged and coated with far more dust than she and covered with crisscrossing scars all over.

“I'm don't need your company and I don't want it. Tell that little girl to watch where she walks next time,” the man said in a deep, gravely voice before leaving the inn, forcing Trisha to jump to the side to avoid being run over by him. The ingrate probably hadn't even seen her given her petite frame which barely reached his stomach.

With a shake of her brown ringlets Trisha entered the inn, her eyes slowly growing accustomed to the shadows inside the inn. Once she could see she looked around, taking in everything from the cobwebs in the corner to the pathetic looking patrons to the person she was looking for. Ajierene Sedai. The woman, like the man who had just left, towered over Trisha, but that wasn't hard for an aiel. It amused her to think there was an aiel Aes Sedai, her father would have freaked. Being a Cairhienien her family had no like for the savages, but Ajierene seemed different. It must obviously have been her interactions with the sophistication of a grand city like Tar Valon that had tamed her savage nature.

She walked up to the Aes Sedai and had to force herself not to curtsy to the woman which had become second nature to her after years of being a Novice and the lowest rung of the Tower totem pole.

“Hello cousin, it's good to see you,” Trisha said with a forced smile. Delphinia Sedai had told her about the little cover story Ajierene had set up so that none outside of the Tower would recognize them as Aes Sedai and Accepted. Likewise Trisha had hidden her ring in one of the small pouches at her belt.

Ajierene was standing beside a table with who could only be the other Accepted accompanying her, Ayanna. Trisha had never spoken to the other girl before, but they had passed in the halls several times. Sitting at the table was a roguish man who looked to her as if he could use a bath.

“I'm sorry I was late, but De- Mother,” Trisha quickly caught herself, flushing a little at her slip,”said I could go at the last minute.”

The Aiel shook her head slightly at the large, scarred man as he mad gruff excuses and exited the inn. The other man that was victim to the stumbling Accepted accepted the offer of a free meal. His demeanor read that he knew he was in the presence of Aes Sedai. Well good, hopefully it would mean that he would be willing to help the women in their journey. The Aiel Sitter shook her head slightly at this Wetlander need to have a male escort. Even after over a century working with wetlanders, many of their cultural views astounded her. Then again, she knew many wetlander women who could not fight their way out of a burlap sack, let alone a thief.

Turning back towards the table, where the man was already seated, Ajierene noted a young woman entering the inn. Her head was momentarily angled in the direction of the exiting scarred man. When she turned back around, the Brown Sitter recognized her as one of the Accepted from the Tower. Ajierene's brow furrowed, thinking that this girl was running from the Tower, a place said runaway will not return to any time soon. Maybe she would gain a new respect for her gift and those that teach her after a few days traveling with Ajierene and Ayanna. Starting towards the girl to rein her in, the Brown Sitter only took one long stride before the girl saw her and approached with a purpose. The Aiel stopped as the girl curtsied. The move seemed forced. “Hello cousin, it's good to see you,” she started as she stood, “I'm sorry I was late, but De- Mother said I could go at the last minute,” She finished, stammering a little.

Ajierene looked down at her, her emerald eyes measuring the girl in front of her. A wetlander and somewhat uncomfortable with the current environment. While she was not overdressed, her clothes and demeanor gave the impression she was from royalty. This could be either a very good thing or a horrible one. Well, she will learn. Being an Aes Sedai does not mean luxury at all times. "Very well, girl, we are having dinner now, go sit and wait for the barmaid to bring some food." She turned to the barmaid, who was watching events unfold with a stunned expression. She knew there was more than met the eye, but she could not place it. "Please, another meal for my cousin. No need to worry about the room, she can share a bed with her other cousin." The rotund woman nodded and rushed off.

Ayanna had gone upstairs to change, and hopefully hide her ring better. Ajierene stood a moment, thinking. She now had two Accepted to look after and neither one seemed pleased with their current surroundings. Both girls showed at least some promise, but she did not know either one well. She could not even recall the name of the new girl and was a bit perturbed at Delphinia for not sending a note along. Sometimes the Head of the Ajah forgot that her Aes Sedai did not spend as much time with the Accepted and Novices to know their names. Oh well, she would ask for better introductions later, in private. Right now she had to secure a male escort to make her cover story more believable. Hopefully the man now sitting at the table would be willing to offer that service and hopefully he would not require to much managing either.

The Aiel resettled herself in the seat and nodded to the male newcomer. He was a somewhat nondescript man with no visible scars or definable clothes. He nodded to the Aiel, seeming aware of her current occupation without fear. "It is nice to have a male in company," she started, putting on her best feminine charms. Tehe Aiel generally used to do miserably here, resulting in looking more like a cross between a lion and a gopher. She had refined the technique over the years to seem more like a sad lion, which worked for her. "What brings you to these parts?"