Finding a Trail, Keeping a Secret

[Aria Airn]

Aria got out of her bed in the Gambling Badger Inn, and stretched in the morning sunlight. Stripping off her shift she walked to the washbasin with a bounce in her step. She had been on her little private hunt for almost a year now, and here in Caemlyn she finally had a lead on her quarry. She giggled happily to herself at the word quarry. Pulling her long blonde hair over one shoulder she secured the gold locks with a bit of red ribbon and looked herself over in the mirror. Her hair had grown to the small of her back, it was the longest she had ever worn it, and she had grown slightly more lean. She studied the deep blue eyes staring back at her in the mirror for a moment.

 

How much have I changed, She thought to herself. and will it matter?

 

Sighing she washed her teeth with salt and soda and sat on a nearby stool with a brush. Pulling it through her tangle of curls she started to count out her hundred strokes. Soon her mind drifted to thoughts of the night before. Down in the common room, she had been been doing as she had done in many inns before. Sitting at a table within reach of the Inn's strong-arm waiting for someone to offer to buy her a drink. A few men had already. But after learning she was after information and nothing more, they had left to find more promising prospects. One man, however, had strode in and spoken a few words to the Inn Keeper as if they were old friends. He had worn a black coat with some kind of pins on the collar. He had peaked her interest almost immediately, and she had to hide a smile of smug satisfaction when he sat down at her table and politely offered to buy her a drink. Chatting idly with the man she had found herself spinning a tale not too far off from the truth. That she was seeking someone, what he looked like and so on. The why she kept to herself, but the man had not seemed to mind. A few more questions and she had gotten some vauge directions.

 

Aria realized that she had completed her brushing and was sitting there staring at the brush lost in thought. Standing she strolled over to the wardrobe and selected a pair of breeches and a loose red blouse. The blouse was a little billowy but she liked the way it looked on her. Sliding on the breeches she felt them snug to her form and grinned. She enjoyed the occasional look by men. Not that she wanted to be drooled over, but any woman felt good having someone look at them appreciatingly. slipping the blouse over her head she paused halfway, and considered the wrap with the ties on the side she sometimes wore under her shirts. She decided against it and let the blouse fall, straightening it and doing up the ties in the front. She was not overly large chested but sometimes you just had to wear things to be proper. Smoothing the blouse over her chest she admired herself in the mirror. She wasn't that small chested either. Aria giggled. Packing her clothing and brush, she reached under pillow. Every night since she left Gehanna, her Ogier friend, she had slept with the small bundle under her pillow. Pulling out her dagger, and the pouch containing her gold and notes for more, she smiled. You could never be too careful as a woman travelling alone, and Gehanna had given them to her as gifts. Sitting on the bed, Aria attached the sheath to her thigh and slid the dagger home with a smile. Taking one last look around the room she attached her belt pouch and walked to the door. Nothing could darken her mood today.

 

Finding the old Inn Keeper was no trouble, the man was loud and talked a lot. Not that he was a fool, just friendly, and Aria liked the man. She thanked him and he smiled at her till she was sure she could leave without paying had she only asked. Pressing gold into his palm she went up on tip-toe to lightly kiss his cheek. The man went red to his hairline and Aria giggled. Swaying out the kitchen doors she headed for the stable. Smiling at the man who leapt to his feet at her approach, she sweetly asked him to saddle Tsorovan. Aria grinned as the man knuckled his forhead and stammered. He was cute, she would give him a silver penny instead of copper. Once she had paid the man and mounted she set off down the winding streets to the south gate.

 

In short time she was heading down the road to Far Madding. The man had told her that she was to turn off the road when she saw- There! Guiding Tsorovan more with her knees than the reigns she turned in a more easterly direction and started riding through the woods. She really only had a vauge direction to go on but was confident she could find what she was after. After all, she had searched this long. There was not point in giving up now, and Aria had a stubborn streak in her a mile long.

 

OOC: Anyone who can come up with a good reason to be in the woods North West of the Farm wanna come Find little ol' Aria?  :D

[Sieve]

Geirrin was deep in the woods northwest of the farm.  He did not mean to venture so far though he was looking for a particular tree.  The small ship that he was building with Gale was almost complete and he needed a special type of wood to finish it.  Geirrin was studying a Fir when he heard the soft clip clop and the faint creak of leather.  Leaning around the tree he spotted a woman on horseback.  Her long blonde hair was draped over her shoulder.  Light she was beautiful and alone.  Why under the light would a beautiful woman be wandering alone in the woods this close to The Farm?  He quickly embraced saidin and glanced around looking for others.  In the void the sound of her approaching became more distinct.  Aside from that he heard nothing but birds calling and squirrels shittering.  Gierrin prepared a shield and several nasty weaves just in case this woman wasn't what she seemed.  Best not to be too complacent.  The battle in Shienar had taught him that, expect the unexpected.  He did not think she was Aes Sedai or a Darkfriend but one never knew.

 

As she neared, Gierrin stepped out from behind the tree far enough so as not startle her.  Well if he did she at least had plenty of room to recover.  He stood roughly six feet tall with short cropped dark hair and blue eyes.  He appeared to be in his late teens or early twenties and would seem of a thin to medium build in his high collared black coat complete with the collar pins which named him an Asha'man.  Anyone with half a mind could tell that he was Tairen and of the lower class.  The woman reined in though he missed her reaction as he bowed to her.  It was a poor attempt at a proper bow but he was not used to bowing and scraping, not much on that on deck.  You just followed orders and did the tasks assigned to you.  "Pardon my Lady, I did not mean to frighten you but a woman traveling through a forest alone is odd at best."  He quickly glanced around though the void told him there was no one else around.  "You should not be traveling alone, not here at least."  What if she wandered across a group that was training.  Sometimes they ventured into the woods though usually not this far, even so a woman should not travel alone.  "Are you lost my Lady?"  He purposely kept his hands folded at his waist away from the hilt of his sword to show her he meant no harm.

[Aria Airn]

Aria led Tsorovan through the trees, letting the sound of the wind and the forest life relax her. As she wound through the trees, letting Tsorovan find her way across the ground she noticed a man step silently from behind a tree. Tsorovan whickered softly and shied slightly when he stepped into sight, but a slight pressure of her knees, and a pull on the reigns and she stood still. Dark haired and tall, he was roughly hansome but she only had eyes for what he wore. Noting the black coat and pins her hand left the dagger at her thigh and returned to the reins. The man bowed to her and spoke, with a Tarien accent unless she missed her guess.

 

"Pardon my Lady, I did not mean to frighten you but a woman traveling through a forest alone is odd at best. You should not be traveling alone, not here at least. Are you lost my Lady?"

 

Aria flashed her most breath-taking smile at the man and took a deep breath. First he bowed and then called her Lady? Light, but the man was flattering! Her blue eyes took him in from head toe and she blushed, realizing that she was still on her horse. Dismounting with a fluid grace, she curtsied before replying.

 

"You could say so," She began. How was she supposed to explain things? She had not worked out what she would say before hand. "You see I... Well that is," She blushed again. "I spoke to a man who wore that as well." She gestured vaugely to his coat and pins. "He told me of a place around here that he lives and I was looking for it. He did not give me very good directions I fear." She flashed the man another grin and leaned against her horse lightly.

 

She had started the morning so confident, so sure. Now she was standing alone in a forest with a man who towered over her by about a foot. He looked well muscled and he wore a sword at his hip. There was no Inn's strong-arm here to help should the man get the wrong idea into his head. Folding her hands at her waist she gazed at the man and hoped she had not seemed too inviting before.

 

"Could you by chance show me the way? I could use some protection if you are willing." She gazed at the man, wanting to smile but not daring to. What if he got the wrong idea? Light she was just trying to be friendly but that had gotten her into trouble before.

[Sieve]

Her smile nearly unsettled him, light she was a beauty.  He had never seen the like in his small fishing village.  He knew beauty but of a different sort, rough natural beauty.  None of the women he knew looked like a Lady, none like her at least.  He was not worldly, he was no judge of classes except for the lower caste but she seemed to have some polish if that was the right word. 

 

So she spoke to a man who wore the coat of a man attached to the Black Tower?  Her comment made him look down at his high-collared black coat.  He had become so used to wearing it that he no longer thought of it unless someone else mentioned it.  Most did not unless they were outside the farm.  It still struck him as odd that she had travelled alone.  Where had she come from?

 

A soft breeze whisked through the trees but he barely noticed.  He was captivated by the blonde haired beauty as she asked for assitance.  She had dismounted and asked for an escort though she stayed near her horse ready to flee in a moment if she thought his intentions were ill.  It made him blush, was he gaping at her?  Certainly that would unsettle the woman who was travelling alone.  He curse himself for a fool.  Some at the Tower had become very arrogant and sure of themselves but not Geirrin.  He knew what he was and the power which he held yet he had changed little from the fisherman that he used to be.  The only difference is that he had become somewhat harder since the battle in Shienar.  Until that day he had still believed that trollocs, lurks, and other creatures of the Shadow were just fairy tales.  Until that day he had never been involved in a battle.  His forehead scrunched and the skin around his eyes tightened as he recalled that day.  A gruesome day, one he wished that he could forget.

 

The man she met could very easily have opened a gateway to the farm yet channeling in certain regions could be dangerous.  There was the Amnesty yet there were still some that would put an arrow through your heart or slit your throat given the half the chance.  The wind picked up and he heard the Lady's horse whinny though he only had eyes for the Lady.  His eyes met hers and she had that expectant look on her face.  He kept his distance so as not to scare her but he quickly spoke.

 

"I'm sorry, I've no more manners than a silverpike chasing after bait fish in the reeds.  Name's Geirrin, Geirrin Hale my Lady.  I'll show you the way."  He glanced at the ground before meeting her eyes again.  "You're not an Aes Sedai are you?"  She did not have the ageless look yet he had to ask.  The fact that she traveled alone was still a mystery to him.  He brushed off her response that she as not an Aes Sedai.  He quickly added half stammering.  "No offense I just had to ask you see, please don't take offense.  There's some that don't approve of us and not too many women travel alone unless...well that's neither here nor there."  Geirrin frowned, light he was a fool.  Put a beautiful woman in front of him and he fell apart.  He had enjoyed the company of many women but most were commoners, none had the look of a Lady.  Come to think of it he hadn't seen many Ladies but this one looked the part.  Something about the way she rode her mount and the way she spoke.

 

Geirrin turned his back to the Lady then formed the weave for the gateway.  The vertical blueish silvery light appeared then widened as the gateway opened to reveal the traveling ground.  "Right this way my Lady, just mind the edges."  He said as he stepped through waiting on her to follow.  The gateway was tall enough for her to mount though he doubted that she would given his warning about the edges.  He saw the look on her face as she stared into the gateway.  Perhaps he should have walked with her instead of opening the gateway?  "If you'd rather walk I understand though it is perfectly safe to step through."  He demonstrated by stepping back to her side then back to the Farm again then waited patiently for her to decide.

[Aria Airn]

Aria chided herself for thinking ill of the man, he was looking at her appreciatively, but with respect. His face kind of got all scrunched up as if he had smelled something bad, but he kept his distance. Just as quickly the look was gone and he seemed to remember himself.

 

"I'm sorry, I've no more manners than a silverpike chasing after bait fish in the reeds.  Name's Geirrin, Geirrin Hale my Lady.  I'll show you the way. You're not an Aes Sedai are you?"  The familiar references to fishing she found comfortable and she almost lost his name. Geirrin, that was it. Then it hit her what he had asked her and she laughed, a silvery bubbling laugh.

 

"I thank you for your willingness to help. Nice to meet you Gierrin. My name is, well, you can call me Mahdi." Aria hoped that the man didn't notice the refrence to the Old Tongue word for seeker. "And goodness no I am not Aes Sedai." She smiled to show the man she wasn't offended by the question, only amused.

 

"No offense I just had to ask you see, please don't take offense.  There's some that don't approve of us and not too many women travel alone unless...well that's neither here nor there."

 

Suddenly she understood. It did seem odd that she would be riding around out here alone with no one to guard her back. She felt compelled to explain herself.

 

"No offense taken Gierrin, I have only rode a short way from Caemlyn. Plus I have a strong man like you to help." She smiled at him winningly. Light. she was flirting again! He turned his back and suddenly a thin vertical line appeared, widening into a doorway of some kind.

 

"Right this way my Lady, just mind the edges." Her stomach fluttered and she felt like sicking up. What was that?! "If you'd rather walk I understand though it is perfectly safe to step through." The man stepped through the door way and back again. Was it some kind of camouflaged door out here in the forest? The trees had looked especially thick there. Aria decided not to think too much about it and led Tsorovan through into a village that looked like an ant hill kicked over. Eyes wide, she gazed around the village.

 

Gierrin motioned for her to follow, looking like he wanted to lead her by the hand. Light, she was gaping like a fish pulled up on the bank. Recovering as well as possible, she followed leading Tsorovan. They strode across the gounds to a squat building that had the look of an Inn about it. As she hitched Tsorovan to a post Geirrin bowed and smiled again.

 

"Here we are my Lady. Let me know if you need anything, I will just be going in for a drink." The man sounded hopeful. She was grateful for his assistance, maybe she would have a drink with him as repayment. Aria grinned to herself behind her riding glove as she patted Tsorovan. This was shaping up to be a good day after all.

[Sieve]

Geirrin thought on the name she had given as she followed him towards the inn.  Mahdi he said to himself.  He remembered hearing that name when he and a handful of others from the Black Tower attended the Festival of Lights hosted by the Tuatha'an.  A man, who he took for their leader had introduced himself as Mahdi or was it the Mahdi.  He couldn't quite recall which it was.  Surely there was no connection so he left the thought fade like fog before a summer sun. 

 

He did not look back though he knew she was following him.  He had let Saidin and the void go when the gateway winked out yet he could still hear the sounds of Mahdi and her horse following behind.  She hitched her mount while he bowed adding a smile for good measure.  "Here we are my Lady. Let me know if you need anything, I will just be going in for a drink."  He said before disappearing inside the inn.  He would have held the door for her though he had no idea whether she meant to come inside.  Better to go inside than to have her think he was leering at her.  She had to know she was pretty, she must be used to the attention yet it was improper to stand there and stare.

 

Geirrin stopped just inside the door and smiled.  Around one of the tables were a few familiar faces deeply engrossed in a game of dice.  As he made his way to the table he called to the barmaid for a mug of ale then joined the gamblers at the table.  A roar came from the table as he took in the dice scattered the worn table top.  Each showed a single pip, the Dark One's eyes he said to himself.  Tossing a silver mark on the table he watched eagerly hoping his luck was in.  While he waited on the dice to come to a stop he glanced quickly towards the door hoping to see her.  You are a fool Geirrin Hale he thought to himself.  She did not come all this way to see you, you are a fool.  How often had he heard that in his lifetime, far too often he thought.

 

 

[Aria Airn]

Aria watched the man walk into the Inn. He did have nice shoulders. Absently, she tucked her riding gloves into the back of her breeches and bent to run a hand along Tsorovan's foreleg. She had been hurt on her way to Caemlyn but now seemed to be doing well. Aria ran her hand along Tsorovan's side admiring the coloring. It was like boiling thunderheads streaked with white. That was why she had named her Tsorovan, Storm in the Old Tongue. Making sure the knot was tightly secured, Aria pushed open the door and stepped inside.

 

The Inn's common room was of fair size, with a few tables filled with either dicing men in black coats, or others drinking quietly. Settling herself at the table nearest the door she sat and waited. When the serving girl finally got away from the dicing table she asked her for a mug of spiced wine. Waiting for the wine she stared at the table top.

 

Now that I am here, what do I do?Aria chewed her underlip in a somewhat pouty way, although she would be shocked to hear that observation. It has been almost a year, and now that I am close I loose my nerve like some lack-witted fool? Aria scolded herself.

 

Thanking the serving girl as she brought the wine, she took a sip and sighed. The cool liquid felt good and it tasted suprisingly delicious. Trying to figure the best course of action, she settled on the man Geirrin. The man had been helpful and from what she had seen of the place so far, the man she had met at the Gambling Badger might never be found. Yes Geirrin was her best bet. Looking around she found him at the dicing table and caught his eye. Grinning, she motioned with her mug for him to come sit with her. Reaching her foot under the table, she pushed the chair opposite of her and it slid back with a scrape. Sitting up straight she straightened her blouse, the billowy thing had crept up her stomach as she pushed the chair, and leaned her chin on her hands. Now all she could do was wait and hope he new something she could use.

[Sieve]

Geirrin focused on the table again, perhaps she was not coming in.  He tried to push her out of his mind and concentrate on the dice.  A few tosses and already his coins were dwindling away, his luck was not in today.  He looked up from the dice and saw her sitting at a table near the door.  He was about to glance back to the dice when she caught his eye motioning him over to her table. 

 

As he approached the table slid back with a scrape.  With mug in hand he took the proffered chair then averted his eyes as she adjusted her blouse.  When he looked back in her direction she had her chin resting on her hands.  He shivered suddenly, he felt as if she were weighing and measuring him to see if he could be of use.  She said nothing which was unsettling, very unsettling.  He was no conversationalist but he couldn't just sit there and say nothing, the silence was uncomfortable.  "Is there something I can help you with my Lady?"   

[Aria Airn]

As Gierrin approached the table, Aria realized she suddenly did not know what to say. Panic ran through her head and she scrambled for something to say. The man shivered and she thought harder. Gierrin spoke and eased some of the tension thank the Light.

 

"Is there something I can help you with my Lady?" Aria tried to think of a question to ask the man but he was staring at her expectantly wich had her totally of guard.

 

"Can't a girl share a drink with a man that so recently helped her?" She asked sweetly. "You were very helpful indeed and I don't know anyone here." She hesitated briefly, unsure of how to go on. "I really am lost and unless random women showing up is a daily occurence," she grinned and raised one eyebrow at the man to show what she thought of that. She didn't want to get too far into why she was here.  "Who is in charge around here?" she asked, diverting the conversation. "You?" She smiled sweetly at the man briefly touching his wrist.

 

The converstaion went on for a time, Aria ordering a meal, Gierrin declining. She asked the man simple questions. Did they have any jewlery merchants here? Were there any dress shops? How often did men show up here? Her questions were simple but there was one subject she never touched on. She did not want to know why there was a village out here hidden, with what seemed to be an army living there. Those kinds of questions could get you killed. It made her nervous just thinking about it but she had to know if what she sought was here.

 

Aria thanked the man for his kindness as the conversation and wine ran out. She had long since asked someone to stable Tsorovan and had inquired after what rooms were available. The man had answered her questions but she was not really sure if any of the answers had helped. She was glad for the conversation and the company however. The man was darkly handsome and it had been a while since she had spoken at length with anyone in the last year. Leaning back in her chair she glanced at the nearly empty common room and sighed. Time to get some sleep, she would continue her search in the morning.