To Find the Missing Piece (attn Visar and Sieve)

[Eqwina]

Kabria and Perivar met Jural outside the gates to the city at first light the next morning. Kabria had had Perivar up long before the sun and they had been sitting in a small clearing next to the road for more the two hours when Jural arrived.

 

She did not need to look at Perivar’s face to know what he was thinking. The feeling through the bond was more than enough. It said that she had been impatient this morning, but that he was taking the high road and not saying a word. Shooting him a cool glare she rode up next to the thief catcher. Taking out a small pouch she passed it to him. “I hope this is enough to cover your expenses. If you need more it will be there for you.”

 

She was antsy and it showed in her posture, and in the way Blade danced as if anxious to be off.  “Now can we be off, we are wasting daylight.” Shadows still stretched long and the sun had not yet come over the trees, and the two men exchanged almost identical looks.

 

[Visar Falmaien]

(ooc: I think we said the place Katarina was at was about a week's journey away?  Something like that?  Let me know if I should change anything)

 

“I hope this is enough to cover your expenses. If you need more it will be there for you.”

 

Jural weighed the pouch carefully, though resisted the impolite urge to count coins in front of his employer.  Tucking it away, he nodded.

"This should be more than enough, thank you my lady." he said.

 

The lady wasted no time in saying they needed to be off.  Jural nodded, and urged his horse forward.  An hour into their journey, a rainstorm briefly poured on them.  Once it was over, Jural pulled out his map to explain to Kabria their route.

 

"According to my map, we need to follow the river north for about two days, maybe one and a half if we ride swiftly and well into the night.  Then we'll need to take the ferry at Ibis Cove (ooc: made up village name) to the west bank.  I think the fee is a silver penny per person but I'm not sure...the price may have gone up since I heard last, and it has always been too expensive.  It's very safe though, and there's plenty of room for our horses.  Once we're on the opposite shore, we can resupply in Ibis Cove what we need and make the rest of the journey along the northwestern road. I estimate it should take us three, maybe four days.  So, total, the journey shouldn't take us much longer than a week. I think delays are quite possible, though, given the rains this time of year.  Parts of the road have been known to flood or be too muddy to travel safely on.  I'll do my best to guide you safely and speedily through, regardless."

 

Jural realized he was babbling on, and decided to quit rambling about details the woman no doubt already knew.  Yet it was uncomfortably quiet without him saying anything.  The woman and her bodyguard/perhaps lover had strangely not said much of anything to each other for most of the journey.  Jural wondered whether they might have had a quarrel or something.

[Sieve]

Perivar sat on Nightdancer surveying their surroundings with his strung horsebow hanging from the saddle's pommel.  A full quiver hung from the saddle in front of Perivar's right leg.  On the outside he was the image of patience personified but inside he was irritated.  Not even a bite to eat he thought to himself.  His sleep was restless at best, a result of the bond with Kabria.  Perivar hated when she masked the bond but last night he wouldn't have minded.  She kept him up all night.

 

Perivar refused to say a word though, he knew better.  Let her take her frustration out on the thief catcher.  Finally the man appeared, well actually the man was right on time though they had arrived far too early so it seemed as if the man had taken his sweet time.  Kabria's cool glare told him not to say a word.  Riding up to the thief catcher she handed him a heavy purse.  Perivar eyed the purse trying to judge the weight of the purse from a distance.  Even though this was important, Kabria was far too generous with her coin.  Every town they visited she always handed out coins to those in need, Perivar could not fault her for that though only when she was excessive with her generousity.  Giving away coin like that made her a target for brigands.  They could handle themselves but not without blowing their cover.  Their were several places that did not think kindly of Aes Sedai.

 

Perivar guided Nightdancer over to the pair to look over the map.  He glanced at the map while maintaining his surveillance of their surroundings.  Perivar glared at the man a moment, they didn't need a travel guide!  Perivar bit his tongue, it would not be wise to put this man's back up, they still needed his services and the man would work better without Perivar's comments.

 

When the thief catcher was done with his little speech Kabria spoke with an edge to her musical voice.  “Now can we be off, we are wasting daylight.”  He and the thief catcher gave each other a look after confirming that the sun had yet to clear the trees.  Light she was eager to be on her way.  He would have to ease her tension somehow or else they would be in for a bumpy ride.  Perivar could not think of a way to broach the subject so he let it lie for now.  Better that than an argument which would be difficult to resolve in front of the other man. 

[Eqwina]

Kabria’s emotions bounced up and down from violently angry to blissful during their journey; causing the two men to walk on eggshells.  She tried desperately to temper her anger when it hit, but each time she lashed out without the slightest provocation. When she cooled she always apologized, but by the eighth day Jural had taken to riding as far from her as he could and still be a part of their group.

 

Certain things would have been made easier had the thief catcher known the truth of who he was dealing with. It also would have explained the rather strange fights that she and Perivar had had. On the end of the 3rd day he’d approached her about her attitude and she lashed out at him in full fig. She did not know who had mentioned it first, but one or the other of them had made a comment about ‘feeling’ emotions clearly through the bond. In the heat of the moment they had not noticed, but Jural’s shocked and bewildered stare had made them both more careful with their tongues. Since that day no one had mentioned her attitude and everyone rode with tight lips and a strained look to their eyes.

 

When they stopped on the evening of the eighth day Kabria walked around the fire, pulling out of Perivar’s grasp, to stand over Jural. Her small fists were on her hips and her pale blue eyes were ablaze. “You said  near a week Jural? We had better come across this place in two days, three at the most or you will regret agreeing to be in my service!” Stalking off into the dark night Kabria went to set by the small stream and brood.

 

She wanted desperately to know the woman who had birthed her; to know why she had left her on that ship. She had been old enough then to have many memories of her childhood and of Katarina’s beautiful face. She loathed to admit that the face she remembered was much like her own. Scrubbing tears off her cheeks she felt Perivar approach. “Did you come to start another fight? Or question my treatment of the help? You of all people, a Lord..” She invested the word Lord with great scorn. “Should understand that sometimes hired help requires a firm hand.” The excuse sounded hallow in her own ears, but she was not about to admit that she was wrong. Not now, with her moods swinging as they were.

 

OOC: I am laboring under the assumption that there are 10 days in a week, though RJ makes references to both 7 and 10 day weeks I have always assumed in my mind that they were 10

 

[Visar Falmaien]

(ooc: didn't know about 10 days a week, I was assuming 7, but makes no big difference to me, sry for getting back so slowly.  I'll just move us along to being a day away how bout that?)

 

Jural stared at the fire sullenly, his mind trying to stay calm after yet another outburst from the Lady.  At least she had gone off and not waited for his reply, which would have been the same as it had been, "we arrive when we arrive."  He knew that even in the best of weather noble-born could lose their patience, but the roads had been drenched, and the mud had delayed their progress.  Any faster was asking for trouble, especially with one of the horses breaking a leg or something.

 

Jural glanced at a shadow moving in the corner of his vision.  Must be Perivar, he thought, going to try to talk some sense into his woman.  Jural was tempted to eavesdrop on their conversation and learn more about the pair, especially when hearing that strange bit about their bond of emotions a few days earlier.  Jural felt like he should know what that meant, but he couldn't place it no matter how hard he tried.  He dared not ask about it, though, not with the lady's temper.  And he had the feeling that the two would know if he was listening on them.  That warrior was more perceptive of his surroundings than his silent demeanor let on, that much Jural was sure of.  And the lady seemed to be just as observant.

 

Warming his hands by the fire, Jural waited a while until the pair came back, and then climbed into his tent for the night.

 

Jural heard sounds before his eyes opened, and got up.  It was before dawn, as his clients somehow automatically preferred to wake up, and they were already breaking camp.  Getting ready as quickly as he could manage, Jural was a few minutes behind their saddling up.

 

The lady glared at him, but said nothing thankfully.  Rubbing his head, Jural took the lead, keeping a sharp eye on the road ahead for patches that might be tricky to navigate.

 

A few hours into their journey Jural noticed a slight incline.  He checked his map, and checked his surroundings.  Sure enough, a tree-topped hill lay in the distance to their right.  Slowing the horse down, he let the lady catch up, and showed her the map.

 

"We're here," he motioned on the map, though the lady had snapped his head off before that she could read maps just fine without him. "Which means if we don't meet with any more delays in the road, we'll be in the village by sunset at the latest."

 

Jural smiled, hoping that the lady would be pleased with that information.

[Eqwina]

OOC:As I said.. Jordan makes reference to both 10 days in a week and 7. I like the idea of 10 days a week, 3 weeks in a month.

 

IC:

Kabria’s mood went from foul to deplorable and both men said little more than need be. Not even the news of their near arrival brought more than a growl. “You had better be right Thief catcher, or I will have Perivar take your head.” Her threat sounded so offhanded, as if it were a matter of everyday that even Perivar gave her a surprised look.

 

Pulling the hood of her cloak up to hide her face Kabria looked only forward, where in a few hours she could come face to face with the woman who’d abandoned her. If the fool thief catcher had not lied Slowly the sun began to creap towards the horizon and with every fraction it fell from the sky her anger turned to a bubbling acid fear. What on earth made her think this was a good idea?

 

[Visar Falmaien]

(ooc: if you're still interested in finishing this...I had forgotten about it my bad)

 

They rode in silence after the Lady's threat. Jural was unsure whether she really meant it by now, or just really wanted to get this journey over with.  A very tense hour passed by, as slow as a garden slug.

 

Finally, they reached a point in the road where the trees started to clear, and when they rounded a slight bend, Jural could see a hill with two dwellings a top it.  One was a massive barn, and the other was a smaller but no less impressive country estate.  Only a few minutes later, the village proper came into sight.

 

"Here we are." said Jural as they entered the rustic village, smiling and breathing easily with relief.  Finally, they had reached their destination, and he would hopefully be able to get this nagging noblewoman off his back with her deadly threats.

 

They reached the only inn in town, and Jural dismounted.  After briefly inquiring with the inkeeper, the three ascertained that the manor on the hill was the best place to look first for Kabria's mother.

 

"I'll wait here at the inn, if you don't mind. I would only get in the way of your reunion.  I hope you find her, my Lady."

 

For both our sakes!  Burn my soul if I have to travel another minute with that flaming woman! he thought a few minutes later at a table, already guzzling down his second pint of ale as if he would never be able to drink again the next day.

 

 

[Eqwina]

I am . I will get a reply up tomorrow.  ;D