Who are You Really?

[TaeaDawn]

There were a any number of things Ursana hadn't expected to be doing while he was training to become a Tower Guard. One of those happened to be sitting in an Inn in Cairhein, getting ale for himself and his mentor, Aran. Even having travelled with the man and trained with him, he knew nothing of him really. He was good at what he did but he had an irreverant attitude about it, which suited Ursana just fine. He wasn't one of those boys who'd come to the Yards with destiny in mind. He'd been dumped there, left behind by a family that didn't know what to do with him. He'd been quite happy with his life but after being injured in Tar Valon his parents had decided that taking the family caravan away from Tar valon while he was still recovering would give him a chance to recover and to see his sister. The sister he had hardly spoken to and had in fact avoided lately. The same sister that had meant the world to him as a child and was slowly making her way back up his good graces. It was hard to stay mad at Rosheen with big smile and earnest desire to put things right.

 

Still,he was a trainee long after he had planned on leaving. He wasn't sure what kept him now, but for tonight he wasn't thinking about it. He was just there for whatever Aran needed him along for. Or at least he was here to help out in whatever someone had needed to send Aran for. He got the ales and grabbed them, walking them back to their table. He set one down and took a seat across from Aran. "So now that we're here, are you ready to tell me what's happening?" He asked.

 

"No." Grinning, Aran took his mug and threw a good portion of it back in one go. "Tell me, you even a little bit closer to answering that question I gave you? Its been awhile now." A question that he had deemed rather important, but his student had been unable to conjure an answer yet.

 

Sana gave a small laugh at Aran's 'no' but he took a long drink from his mug, trying to figure out the answer he was supposed to give. It wasn't that he hadn't tried really. It was just... well it was an odd question and one he couldn't seem to put his head around. How could you really answer it? He wasn't a trolloc! He wasn't some sort of shadown spawn that loved to kill. Ursana didn't like killing period. He didn't enjoy violence of any kind really, though he understood the necessity for it. "I keep thinking about it, but I can't see to find an answer. I mean, you don't hurt family, but Trollocs don't think like we do. Who knows how they do what they do or even why they do them? I just can't get my brain around it."

 

Sipping at his mug, Aran grinned as Ursana spoke. Still no closer than before, but it would occur to him. Eventually. Maybe. "Clearly you just need more time to ponder the question. But no matter, in the meantime I have something for you to do." Finishing his mug, Aran stood up. "As soon as you finish that mug, you're off to buy some travel rations and a purple cloak. Don't ask."

 

Grinning, Aran turned about and left Ursana where he was. He had things he needed to do, especially now that things had been put in motion.

 

Aran

Tower Guard

 

Ursana Tahn Sakhr

Trainee

[TaeaDawn]

Why was it, whenever there was work to be done Aran found a way to make him do it all? Ursana was sure if he could figure out that answer he'd be in a much better position. It was, he was certain, the secret to training with Aran and he really did want to do well with his mentor. So now, he found himself wandering through a strange city with the general notion of buying supplies for their travel. Not that he knew where they were going, but he was sure Aran would have told him if he needed to get anything our of the ordinary. Besides a purple cloak. He hoped.

 

It wasn't a difficult task really. A quick joke and a few words to the stable hands and they let him know the best places to buy supplies. The travel rations were easy enough to track down so he decided to do that last. First, he needed to find a purple cloak. After a few stores looked at him funny, he finally found a place that offered a cloak, though they didn't have any purple ones. When he specified it needed to be purple, they looked at one another a long minute before producing one. It was of finer quility than Ursana had meant to spend on the thing, but it seemed to be the only one in town ready to go. Apparently someone was supposed to have picked it up three days ago and hadn't shown. Well, it was his lucky day.

 

As he walked out of the store, he realized the cloak was going to be a problem. He didn't want to ruin it by dropping it or dragging it on the ground when he started carrying their rations, so he made a quick choice and hoped Aran wouldn't mind as he put the cloak over his shoulders.

 

 

"Shut up!" Punching his fellow guard's arm, Brand scowled, he had enough of it. He had been drunk, he had done a stupid thing, and it had been a week ago. Just because he never usually got drunk and therefore usually never did stupid things, one moment of stupidity was going to stick to him. And on patrol with several other guards, of course he was supposed to just grit his teeth even as they laughed. It wa- Purple cloak?

 

"Hey, thats him, look." Pointing the man out, no more than a lad really, Brand gestured for the others to follow. That one would earn them some coin, they'd just been lucky enough to stumble on him first. The lad saw them as they neared, no need to hide it now. "Grab him!"

 

Ursana looked up and saw a group of guard's walking around the city. He wondered briefly if they were anything akin to one another, people trained to defend where others would run for their lives. His training was far from complete but he knew the Warder's training was supposed to be the most comprehensive in the world. How did his training compare with what these men had come from? His train of thought was interrupted as the men looked at him and yelled.

 

He had no idea what was happening. One minute he was shopping, the next he was grabbed by two men at the same time. He jerked back, trying to get away but they weren't letting go. "What in the light are you doing?" He demanded. Which got him a fist in the eye.

 

It was beyond ludicriss but Sana wasn't about to just let these people nab him. He hadn't done anything wrong! The good thing about the Yards was that they had trained him to take a hit and keep going. He let himself fall back as they expected him to, but he came up swinging which they hadn't. He was free of their hands in a minute but there was no escape. There were too many and even as he continued to come up swinging, he saw them closing in on him.

 

It took a bit, but soon they had him on the ground. A few not so well placed kicks soon had him curled up, he wasn't going anywhere else now. Standing over him, Brand gave his orders. "Get him on his feet, take his weapons from him. We'll take him to the lower docks gaol, that way we keep the share for ourselves." Getting a chorus of agreement from the others, they set about their work with a practiced efficiency and before long they were on their way to the Lower Docks Gaol.

 

He was being dragged and didn't know where or why. His head was ringing from a blow and he wasn't sure he hadn't broken a rib again. It hurt to breath and that was never good. Where were these supposed guards taking him, and why?

 

"Let me go. I'll come along, just tell me what's happening." He said, trying to remain clam even though it hurt like hell and he really wanted to scream at someone for this. "I don't know any of you , so what do you want from me?"

 

 

"Tal." Grinning as the big man who had the lad's right arm leveled a punch in the lad's kidneys, Brand spoke as if nothing happened while the lad had to be half dragged to keep up the pace. "Shut up."

 

 

And that was the end of his attempts at conversation. Whoever these men were, they weren't about to let him find out what was happening. The goal they were taking him too wasn't too far away, but ever step was like fire for Ursana and he stumbled more than once, only to be kicked or pushed forward. Everything happened in a blur and before he was entirely sure of what had happened he found himself thrown down a flight of stairs.

 

"Tal, we need him relatively undamaged." Shaking his head at the man, Brand pointed at him to pick the man up. Finding their way around the Lower Docks Gaol was always a hassle, especially when the Head Gaoler wasn't in his office like he was meant to be. Old fool was probably doing the rounds.

 

The halls of the gaol were illuminated only by weak torchlight. The stench of unwashed people and burnt oil was overwhelming, but for those who were used to it it passed by without notice. It was perhaps a good ten minutes before they found him. He was greying, and the his piercing look even made Brand feel nervous. There was a coldness to him that unnerved Brand. "We found Vic, fool was walking out on the street without a care in the world."

 

There was a pause. "You're certain?"

 

"He fits the description."

 

"Bring him." Signalling the other guards to follow, Brand fell in with the Gaoler. Brand was quite sure they were amongst the lowest cells when the Gaoler stopped at one heavy oak door and unbolted it, opening it wide. "Throw him in here, his head will roll later."

 

Acquiescing, Brand paid little heed as the lad was thrown inside. "And the reward?"

 

"I'm not a magistrate, take it up with one." Scowling, there was little else that could be done. Turning away with the others, he didn't notice the gaoler bolt the door and return to his rounds. A magistrate indeed, that wasn't who was going to be paying.

 

"Wait!" Ursana tried to get the gaoler's attention quickly. "I'm not Vic. I don't know who they're talking about. I was just in the city and they grabbed me. Let me out of here!" His cried fell on deaf ears and Ursana had to lean against the bars to keep from falling over as the pain blossomed in his body again. Bloody ashes! How long would it take for his mentor to realize he had disappeared, and would the man even care when he had Tower business to attend to? he scrubbed a hand across his face trying to think his way clear of this. Well, the gaoler wasn't going to listen. Perhaps someone else would, if they let him talk. It wasn't a comforting thought. Lowering himself to the ground carefully, he decided it was best to conserve energy. He started making a list of his injuried, his assetts, and tried to figure a way out of this light forsaken dilema he had found himself in.

 

Ursana Tahn Sakhr

Trainee

 

Brand

 

The Gaoler

[Wayfarer]

"Get your hands off me!" Cuffed for the trouble caused, a bolt slid and a yawning darkness loomed. Rolling along the ground as she was shoved, Karli came to rest face first on the ground. The door was already shoved closed and the bolt sliding home, sending the cell into near darkness save the small bit of torchlight that made it through the cell door's window. She was about to get to her feet when she heard something move, something larger than a rat.

 

Time seemed to have slipped past him and Ursana wasn't sure if it had been sleep or a black out. He woke as he heard the door creaking open. If he hadn't been hurt, it might have been enough of a chance to escape. He still might have had a chance to get past the Gaoler if they hadn't thrown a figure through the door, blocking his only chance at rushing his captors. A scuffling sound came from the other side of the small holding cell and Sana decided to stand up. He didn't know what sort of criminal had been thrown in there with him, but it would be best to start out standing anyway. "Take it easy." He said in a calm voice, hoping he sounded a little like his Papa at the moment.

 

The man had a friendly voice, but when you were caught selling your cousins favorite rag doll, it was menacing and intimidating. He was going for the latter and hoped that at the least it would seem the former. Friendly would be better than frightened and though he was afraid of what was happening around him, he wasn't the sort to let that stop him.

 

Getting to her feet, she whirled toward the source of the voice. "Who are you and what are you doing here?!" In the cell, it was hard to make out anything beyond a few vague shadows.

 

Saying 'I'm innocent' didn't seem the best move, but he was glad to hear the voice was female. She was probably more dangerous than him, most women in his experience were more dangerous than men, but they seemed less likely to hit you. "Call me Tahn." He said, not ready to reveal who he was to a criminal. "And take it easy. I'm not gonna try to hurt you. I just stopped by for a little shut eye." He said, hoping levity would work.

 

He sounded young, and Tahn didn't sound Cairhienin. "Karli. Where are you? I can't see anything in here. Stand up and come over here where I can see you. Whats with the name? You aren't from around here, I'd know a Tahn." Her words were hurried, nervous.

 

"No, I'm not from around here. I travel a lot." He said, feeling a little more comfortable with the sound of her voice. "Not sure how I got in this fix, though from the bruises I would say someone kicked me all the way from the Wastes. How about you? You OK?" He asked, moving closer to her. He made sure to make as much noise as possible so as not to scare her. It was odd really, since he'd learned more about moving quietly in the Yards, but he'd also been taught that every circumstance was different and what worked in one place didn't always work in others.

 

"What do you mean am I ok? I'm in gaol!" Letting out a half nervous laugh crossed with a sob, she spoke up. "Where are you? I can't see you!" There he was. Reaching about blindly, she found his chest. "There you are, light." Issuing another sob, though one of relief, she slipped her arms over his shoulders, he was easily half a foot or more taller than her.

 

That wouldn't be a problem.

 

Sobbing again as one foot rested behind his, she shoved forward as she quickly hooked her other foot around his so he couldn't step back. Falling like a tree, Karli was ontop as he hit the stone floor. Slithering up him as quickly as she could, she had her knees on his arms so he couldn't move anywhere and pulled a shiv from her boot and had it at his throat before he could properly try to dislodge her. "Don't move." Any helplessness that had been in her voice was gone now.

 

It was the last thing Ursana would have expected, though he should have. He was in a gaol with a criminal, no matter that she was female. His ribs hurt like fire and breathing seemed to be out of the question between his beating her the small sigure sitting on him. In the end there was only one thing he could do, and he was rather good at that. He laughed. There wasn't anything particularly funny about finding himself arrested for no reason, accosted by guards and thrown about by small female prisoners.

 

The only thing that would really top the day off right would be for them to show up at that point and take him for a hanging, with Aran watching from a good height with a mug of ale in one hand and a pretty girl in the other. Still, it was all he could do at the moment so laugh he did, until he was weazing for breath and tears leaked from his eyes.

 

Frowning at his reaction, it took Karli a moment to decide what to do. Digging the shiv in got her some quiet, and with her free hand she began wandering all over him. Not finding anything, she still had the legs and boots to check. "I want you to curl your legs up, slowly. If you try and knee me you'll bleed out before you can turn it on me."

 

Receiving his compliance, she ran her hand over his legs and boots. Nothing that she could find. "Lay your legs back down flat." Waiting until it was done, she continued. "I shouldn't be in a cell with a man, so either they want some sport or they didn't care to check. Either way, I'm not yours. If you lay even a finger I don't want on me, I'll kill you. Understand?"

 

The blade at his throat kept him from laughing again, but it still struck him as funny in a really pathetic sort of way. "I understand perfectly." He said, some of the humor still evident in his voice. "Though you could have asked if you wanted to feel me up." It was probably the wrong thing to say. He'd never had much luck with girls.

 

Well, Esthelle had been different but then she'd beat him up to begin with so that was probably a guilt thing. "Sorry, it's.. been a long day. My sense of humor seems to be deserting all sense of decency at the moment. Honestly, I'm not gonna try anything. You could probably kick my hide all the way through those bars if I tried anyway. And now that I've said that, would you please get off me? I think that might be a broken rib you're sitting on."

 

Narrowing her eyes, Karli leaned forward on her knees to ease the pressure on his chest, but increased the pressure on his arms. She wasn't done with him yet. "You don't talk like anyone I know... Well, 'Tahn', consider yourself warned. I'm going to stand up now, and you're not going to move until I'm clear of you."

 

Standing, slowly, she kept her blade next to his neck as long as possible. Hopping clear, she moved away, giving herself some space. Hurt or not, he was still alot bigger than her, and she no longer had surprise.

 

Ursana sighed. He didn't think she'd really believe him if he told the truth and he wasn't sure he wanted to explain anyway. "Someone recognized me when they shouldn't have." He said. "Guess I was careless and before I could get away there were too many of them to fight." He said. It was as honest as he could be in here.

 

"Hmph." Dropping her shiv down next to her, Karli still had it in easy reach if she needed it. "Either way, don't come too close to me." Curling up in a ball, she let her chin rest on her knees as she wrapped her arms around her legs. They were going to be here awhile.

 

 

Karli

Rogue

 

Ursana Tahn Sakhr

Trainee

[TaeaDawn]

There was nothing else to do in the darkness of his cell than to think about his situation. Not just being in goal, but his life in general. He's head was up for the taking it seemed, and all because he joined something for his sister. Would Rosheen understand he would die to bridge the gap between them? Or was he just taking the easy out and blaming this on her? He'd been in the Yards long enough to walk away by now. In fact his family had been close to Tar Valon and he had told them he'd catch up with them the next time around. He'd been too caught up in his training to want to stray from it. His sister had meant the world to him as a child, but he wasn't that little boy anymore who needed to rush to Rosheen and have her make it all better. But he was a lot like her and apparently the Yards brought that out.

 

Light he was an idiot. If he did die, she'd better not think it was her fault. At least she'd better blame Aran. He deserved a little kick or five for all the laps he'd made him run. Still, this wasn't helping his situation any. In fact, it made him want to find a way out of this. He looked over at the girl sitting across from him. He couldn't see well in this light but she had her knees pulled up under her chin. He doubted she was asleep. The way she had attacked him had been a surprise but being tossed in with a man like that must have been bad for her. Though she seemed to know the minds of their keepers far too well by what she had said.

 

He took a deep breath and let it out, wondering what to do about this whole thing. He didn't have an answer so he went with avoidance. "Can I buy you dinner when we get out of this?" He asked.

 

Blinking, Karli looked over at the vague shape that was her cell mate. She'd come across few men that were that large, he'd loomed over her before. But he wasn't moving anywhere, he wasn't trying anything, and that had put her at ease, enough so that she'd put her shiv away back in her boot. When he spoke, it was almost enough to make her smile. Stupid jokes. "Sure, and I'll share a drink with you if we make it out."

 

There wasn't much hope in her voice, the lower docks gaol was a place to be afraid of for good reason. "Aren't you scared at all? There are plenty of people in here who don't come back out. Not even by intention, they're just forgotten, left in their cells to rot away. Its..." Unable to finish, Karli shivered.

 

Sana stopped the urge to move over and comfort her. It was probably the last thing she wanted in a place like this. "Scared spitless." He said, keeping his voice light. "But I don't like to count my chickens before they hatch and I'm not playing dead until they find a blade sharp enough to get through my thick neck." He said. "I didn't come all the way to Cairhein to get killed for no good reason. So, we just need to figure out what we can do to keep that from happening. You with me?" He asked. He wasn't sure what he was talking about but something in her voice... he wasn't about to sit by and listen as hope bleed away from her.

 

Frowning, Karli didn't say anything for a moment. "You're not from Cairhien? That explains why you sound so strange... What can we do? I don't know about you but me..." Her voice was deadpan as she continued. "If that guard lives, he might come to visit. If he dies, his friends might come and visit. There is no way out of these cells, the bolts are too heavy to shift with anything we could use. Doors too heavy to break down. If someone comes, they could most likely knock us both down, especially with how you are."

 

Sana nodded, though she couldn't see it. She had some good points, but then what choice did they have really? It was get out or stay there forever. If Aran did come looking for him, he might never find him in this hole in the ground. "Well then we need to get you out of here before they know if he'll live or die, before they decide to come and visit. Now, tell me what you think. If that Gaoler put you in here for a little game, he might just be wandering around, hoping to hear something to come see." It was a disgusting thought, but he was trying to come up with something. "And people see what they want to see. If he thought I was... done with you.." the words stuck in his throat but he continued "he just might want his own turn. Between us I think we can take him, even as pathetic as I currently am." He said, giving a small smile he hoped she heard.

 

"You filthy, le-" Stopping, she paused before scrabbling to her feet. Skipping to the door lightly she put her ear against the door. Footsteps! Taking her head away, it only took her a moment to decide. Better some chance than none. Tahn was only a few steps away and taking them, she squatted down infront of him. Grabbing his shirt, she leaned back, pulling him onto her. Embracing him, she whispered in his ear. "Move, don't make any sounds, and if you try anything I'll stab you." Arching back, she let slip a low moan.

 

She could have given him a little more warning, he thought as he was suddenly laying on top of her, trying to inflict as little pain as possible on himself as he tried to breath. An interesting predicament really. He felt like he really did owe her dinner now. And he was certain she really did expect him to be up to something other than trying to get out.

 

Well, if he could see her face and they weren't about to die, he might have other things on his mind. He was as human as the next man after all, but there were limits to that. Even his libido shut down when he needed to get out alive.

 

Mostly it shut down. It was a bit hard when she kept moaning like that. Really, he was only human... and a trainee at that who was trying to become a Tower Guard and devote all his energy into that. Which boiled down to him being a healthy young man with no action as of late and a woman moaning underneath him to save their lives. Great. Bloody great. How did he manage to get himself into these things?

 

The footsteps were coming closer, even as Karli become louder. Stopping outside the door even as she let out a final a final groan, wrapping her legs about Tahn, the bolt slid across. Pushing Tahn away, she scrabbled back against the far wall. If the gaoler wanted her, or whoever it was, they'd expose their back to Tahn. As the door swung open, a rather deep voice intruded.

 

"I'm not interrupting anything am I?"

 

"Cal!" Getting to her feet, she ran and hurled herself into the arms of the man who waited for them. He was a giant, easily a foot and a bit taller than her. "I thought you might get bored here, maybe you'd like to come with me. Who's your friend?"

 

"Oh." Stepping back, she gestured to Tahn. "Tahn, we were miming in case it was one of the gaolers. How are we getting out?"

 

"Walking of course, coin can buy anything." Looking to the man who'd pulled himself to his feet, he grinned. "You can come along if you want, they won't really care if its one person or two."

 

Ursana had been thought he was prepared for anything, but as she threw herself at the other man, he was left in the dust again, trying to figure out what had happened. Honestly though there wasn't a lot to figure out. They were going to help him walk out. That's all he needed. He smiled at the other man. "I think i'll take you up on your offer there. I was done sleeping anyway."

 

"Well, come along then." Smiling, Karli stepped out away from the doorway to give Tahn room to step through. Waiting as Cal closed and bolted the door, Cal led them out with a familiarity that said that wasn't the first time he'd been there. Eventually stepping out into the night, they were soon free of the place. As soon as they were a couple of blocks clear, Cal brought them to a halt.

 

"Tahn, I'd like to thank you for not taking advantage of my young Karli here. I'm sure you have your own business, but if you want help or a place to hide, look for a place called Salsons on the docks and ask for Midget. You'll be taken care of."

 

Ursana smiled at the two. "It seems a shame to part company so soon. Besides, I owe the lady dinner." He took a look at her then, letting himself really do so now that they were clear of the gaol. She was a slim thing, about 5'1". Curly hair. And spunky as could be. "And a drink if I remember correctly."

 

Laughing, Karli looked to Cal who just rolled his eyes. "Well, come along then." Answering Cal's questioning glance as he turned away with a grin, Karli gave him a playful shove forward. Maybe this Tahn she'd found was alright, they'd find out one way or another.

 

There were few things Ursana was certain of in the world. When the world went crazy, his sister was always there. When things were at their worst they could only get better. And when you offer to buy a woman a meal you were honor bound (and downright safer) to follow through with it. He had a passing thought about his mentor and the task that they had been sent to do, but Aran was probably already on his way to whatever it was the Tower had needed him so badly for and he didn't want to be the cause of any hold up. Besides, he wasn't entirely sure where he was and how he'd get back to the man if he wanted to.

 

Watching Karli walking in front of him, Sana smiled to himself. No, he was just fine where he was tonight. Just fine indeed.

 

Ursana Tahk Sakhr

 

Karli

 

Cal

[Wayfarer]

Karli was finding Tahn to be a bit warier than expected. That wasn't to say that he wasn't friendly, but he offered little of himself. A smart thing, but also unexpected all things considered. Two days had passed since they had met, and he was well enough now that he could move about without wincing. A good thing because he was going to have to repay them for the shelter and food he'd been given.

 

Entering the back of Salsons, the spare room at the back was where she found Tahn playing with some dice. Maybe he wasn't as smart as she thought, he certainly wasn't happy judging from the look on his face. Lar and Mac were the worst cheats, which is why they had to play people who didn't know them. Motioning for Tahn to shove over a bit on the box to give her room, she sat down beside him with a grin. "Impressive, you always play so well?"

 

Ursana grinned up as he saw Karli sitting down beside him. "Light no. I'm normally much worse." He said, trying to hide his chagrin. He never lost this bad. He normally had good luck actually, though with the way things had happened lately he should have known better than to gamble. He still smiled at her though. He hadn't been too comfortable the last couple days.

 

He'd needed to heal a bit before he could get around but it was nagging at him that he hadn't been able to figure out a way to let Aran know where he was. Almost as bad as it nagged at him to know he was living with thieves. He kept to himself mostly, trying to keep his personal business to himself. "Good thing I don't make my living gambling." He said with a small laugh.

 

Laughing, she reached over to Lar with one foot and nudged him. "I need Tahn for awhile, you don't mind do you? Midge wants him." Any objection Lar might have had died with the reference. Midge, Midget, Cal, their boss. Standing, she called over her shoulder. "I'm not carrying you Tahn, hurry up." They had a good walk ahead of them."

 

He wasn't sure what was happening. This was new, and he didn't have any idea who Midge was. Still, he followed Karli. He wanted to trust her, though he wasn't entirely sure he could. As they walked away from the others he caught up with her and fell into an easy stride beside her. "So, where are we going and who is Midge?"

 

"Don't you remember the other night?" Exiting through the backdoor, she kept talking. "Cal is Midget, or simple Midge. We have work tonight, and seeing as Cal got you out, he feels that he should give you a chance to repay the debt. He'll tell you about it when we get house he is in."

 

Sana nodded but kept quiet as they kept walking. Or he tried to. He wasn't sure where they were going and he started to say something a couple times to the woman beside her but stopped after each mumbled start. Before he could figure out what to say, or what he wanted to say, they were walking up the walk to a small shabby looking house. It had the look of abandonment, but not quite the feel of it, something he knew well from his life travelling. He still hadn't figure out what to say as she led him in the front door.

 

Pushing the door open, Karli held up her hands to to those as who turned to look. There were three gathered in all at a table the middle of the room; Midge, Caric and Esra. With them were two empty seats, one of which she pointed Tahn to before closing the door and taking the remaining. As she did so, Midge spoke. "You seem to be recovering well, how do you feel? These are Caric and Esra by the way." Each nodded as they were pointed to in turn.

 

They wanted him to help them steal? He looked at Midge and then turned to Karli, remembering just in time that they knew nothing about him except that he had been found in a jail cell with an almost certain death sentence over his head. They didn't know that he was innocent of that and he hadn't figure it was all that safe to divulge that information. He took a deep breath before answering. "I've barely slept under one let alone walked the top, but I suppose I could do it." he said, afraid to outright say no to anything they were suggesting.

 

"Excellent, your partners will explain it all to you. Oh, and Karli, you're in as well. I'll see you all after its done." Raising an eyebrow at Midge as he left, she turned to the others and shrugged. "It'll be awhile yet, lets get something to eat beforehand."

 

 

Karli

Rogue

 

Ursana Tahn Sakhr

Trainee

 

Midge

Bossman

[TaeaDawn]

It was a long and strange road he had travelled, Ursana thought as they walked along the street. The dirty packed masses had given way to the merchants and eventually to the well to do as they began to travel in neighborhoods of better quality. Sana still wasn't sure what he was doing here. There were things happening around him that he couldn't seem to stop, but that he felt he should. On the other hand, these people, these thieves, had helped him out of a bad situation when no one else had lifted a finger to halt his abduction. See rock. See hard place. Watch morales get smashed between them. Yep, that was his luck.

 

He looked over at Karli and gave her a small smile. He had taken a liking to her. It probably had to do with the false perception of someone that needed help those first few minutes in a cell together, but it stuck, no matter how hard Sana tried to squeeze it out of his mind. "Nice place to live." He said, indicating the fancy houses around them. He thought one of them might be their target, but he wasn't given too many details about that just yet.

 

Karli smirked "Nice place, its too bad most of the people don't fit in." Getting a chuckle from Caric and Esra at that, Karli led the way to one of their easier ways up to the Thieves highway in this quarter. An alley that ran between a group of tightly packed houses had a wall running through the middle of it to form a pair of cul-de-sacs. On their side, a stack of boxes led to the top of it, giving easy access from there to the wall and from that in turn to pull oneself up onto the rooftops. Leaping up onto the first box, she turned and grinned at Tahn. "Well, you coming?"

 

Sana watched her and saw where she was going. It was amazing that it was so easy for her to get up there. He had expected a lot of things, but not that. She gave a sharp shake of the head in disbelief but sighed as he did so. "Well, if i'm in, i'm in." He said finally as he jumped onto the first box behind her. "Might as well make my way through the City in style tonight." he said quietly.

 

They all made their way up to the rooftops quickly and quietly. Staring at the rest of the world around them, Sana was surprised at how small it made him feel to see the world like this, and how disconnected. Aran was out there somewhere, maybe worried about him. Maybe needing him. He pushed the thought aside, along with a similiar one. Rosheen.... He pulled his thoughts away and looked over at Karli, giving her a warm smile.

 

Smiling, Karli shook her head at him as Tahn was looking about. "I'm amazed you didn't crack your head. Now we're heading that way." Karli pointed down the line of houses that ended out of sight at the wall of a townhouse, their mark for the night. "You better know how to jump, or you'll end up badly hurt. Caric, lead the way."

 

Following Caric quietly, Karli spoke to Tahn as they moved. "Soft footsteps, imagine where the beams are underneath helps, especially with thatched roofs where you can put your foot right through if its too weak. Thankfully most of the houses here are tile though. Be wary of loose tiles while you're about it, you'll know if they are near if you hear a rattle."

 

Reaching the end of the first closely pressed houses, Caric was the first to leap over the street onto the next house. It made a bit of noise, but most people ignored it, thinking it was cats or somesuch. That or they didn't want to stick their head out and get themselves in trouble. Esra went next, and then it was Karli's turn. A short run and she flung herself across the space to be caught by the pair on the otherside in order to minimise the sound. Looking about, she gestured for Tahn to take his turn.

 

For a moment, a moment he was sure he would later forget, he was happy with all the laps he'd been running. At least it gave him a fighting chance tonight. He had the feeling he had a better chance coming out alive if he didn't make it than if he didn't try. He kept in mind what Karli had been telling him and he took a deep breath, the focused on the deed at hand. Concentrating on the run, he made the jump and found a pair of arms steadying him on the other side of it. He gave a sharp nod to let them all know he was good, and they continued.

 

It was a good twenty minutes on the rooftops, not only because of distance but with the care that was required. Karli had nearly slipped on a tile but had steadied herself and managed to stop the tile from sliding down where it would have raised a racket. Esra had nearly missed a jump but they were there, the townhouse's wall lay before them. A good six or so feet away and a bit higher, they just had to catch the top and pull themselves over. As Caric and Esra threw themselves at the wall and hauled themselves over, Karli turned to Tahn. "If you try and catch yourself when you fall, you'll hurt yourself. I'll jump on the wall and then shove over a bit so you can get a grip, get to the top of the wall with me and then watch how I fall."

 

Hurling herself up rather than at the wall, she caught the top easily enough and shoved across. If she could do it, Tahn could easily with his height which he did. Pulling themselves up, they were a good twenty or so feet above the ground. An easy way to hurt oneself if they didn't know what they were doing. Dangling herself over the other side, Karli looked up and grinned at Tahn before pushing off with her feet. Landing, her knees were bent and she rolled across the ground to absorb the fall rather than try and catch herself. Picking herself up, she looked to and Tahn and gestured for him to follow.

 

Light, but there had to be a better way to meet girls, he thought to himself as he looked at the brop below him. Well, at least she hadn't beaten him senseless yet. Or her friends hadn't and that was something to be happy about. It was certainly better than thinking about the fact that his legs were beginning to move in such a manner that he was about to find himself thrown to the ground without hope of a soft landing.

 

He was good at rolling with the punches though so he did just that, as he had watched Karli do before him. He landed worse than he could have hoped, but considering he wasn't completely healed yet it was a good landing. He stood up, gingerling touching his ribs to one side, but nodded again to Karli to let her know he was ready to move on.

 

Rolling her eyes at Tahn, Karli was glad he at least hadn't managed to kill himself, that landing could have been far better. But that was neither here nor there for the moment, especially as Caric and Esra were off to do their parts. "Those two are going to find us a way out. Meanwhile, you and I are going inside. There's a back door, I'll open it up. You know how to walk quietly? Bent knees and roll onto each step softly. We're going up to the second floor, and looking for the study. Come."

 

It was a modest townhouse as far as they went in Cairhien. That was to say it was modest on the outside and gaudy on the inside as they let themselves into the kitchen. There were no lights, but it was just a matter of allowing ones eyes to adjust before moving on. There were no noises save for the occasional creak upstairs as someone shifted in their bed. It was important to be able to distinguish between normal and unusual sounds. If one leapt at the former, one could give oneself away. If one didn't leap at an unusual sound, one could easily find themselves in a cell within the hour if not outright gutted. Proceeding with caution, she just hoped that Tahn didn't give them away.

 

Sana rolled his eyes at Karli's instructions. As if he could possibly believe it was a good idea to be loud when coming into someone's house in the middle of the night to steal from them. And the added instructions on how to walk almost made him laugh. If he didn't know to walk quietly, did she really think those few words would do it? Luckily enough he could walk softly before he had come to Cairhein. They made it through the house and he had to trust to Karli when it came to the noises around them. She hadn't flinched yet and he wasn't going to, even if it felt like they were about to get caught.

 

In a minute, which felt like an hour as they moved stealthily through the house and up the stairs, they found a solid oak door. It seemed to be their destination so Sana stopped in front of it, waiting on Karli.

 

Slipping her picks from her sleeve, they seemed to apparate from thin air into her hands as she worked on the lock. A simple click was all it took and they were in. A small room, it had a desk on either side and was lined with shelves. Bringing Tahn in she closed the door behind them before walking over to one of the desks. Locks on every drawer, they took a little bit but soon she had them undone.

 

Gesturing for Tahn to come over, she spoke quietly. "Look for anything mentioning House Mandeos. I'll start on the other desk, use the light from the windows as need be." With that, she walked over to the other desk and began jimmying the locks.

 

House Mandeos? Oh light, this was over something political. He hated politics. Still, at least it wasn't as if he was taking food from the poor or anything. He could live with that. He started going through the drawers and reviewing the paperwork there. The only sound was the faint woosh of turned pages and papers shifted. It was oddly exciting, he thought as they worked. He should have felt more fear or anxiety, but he was simply amused that he was doing so well in all this.

 

He was so busy patting himself on the back that he almost missed the page. In fact, he had already moved on when his brain caught up and realized he had found what they were looking for. "Karli..." he whispered her name to get her attention, then held the sheet of paper up.

 

Walking over to Tahn, Karli quickly skimmed over the page and nodded. "Ok, now put everything back the way it was except for that piece of paper. Let them think they misplaced that page. I'll lock the desks up once we're done." Walking back to her desk, Karli began tidying up and putting everything back the way it was.

 

He didn't have the faintest idea what he was about. After everything, he was there to place a page out of order? If he thought he'd get a straight answer, he'd have asked her exacly what was going on? It wasn't the time or place for it though. Instead he followed her instructions to complete their task at hand.

 

It was perhaps a good ten minutes before everything was fixed, and another ten before they were out of the house having left everything as it was. The gates were already open, Caric and Esra had unlocked the main gate which could only be done from the inside. Making their way clear, they were done. Simple, easy, not an alarm raised and not a person hurt, except for Tahn who had yet to learn how to fall properly.

 

Grinning at Esra and Caric as they gave their goodbyes, she waved them off as she and Tahn kept walking. It was a few minutes before she spoke up. "You didn't do half bad there Tahn. You're rough around the edges, but you could maybe make a decent thief if you gave it a go."

 

He didn't know how to take that comment so he decided she meant it as a compliment. He knew some touchy people in the Yards who would have considered it a pretty vile think to say to someone, but they would probably have let themselves be killed before falling in with thieves. Ursana valued his skin more than his reputation, if only by a little. Still, no matter her profession, he liked Karli. "Not bad for a first time, huh?" He asked, giving her a smile. "Now, if you'll so kindly explain to me just what it was we did in there?"

 

"We took something which wasn't ours." Grinning at the look Tahn gave her, Karli continued. "House Mandeos in Illian is making contacts here. We were sent to find out what their invitations to other houses involved. We give this to Midge tomorrow, in the meantime the rest of this night is ours. I think we need to grab something to eat, and then something to drink no?"

 

Sana laughed lightly then. He was still a little in the dark. He'd never understand the way these Cairheinin's played with politics. Still, he understood the need for food and he was more than willing to do a little celebrating tonight. He'd managed to get through his first efforts at thievery after all and he was undamaged except from his earlier wounds. It was definitely something to raise a glass too. He gave Karli his most charming smile. "You are right my Lady." He said as they walked on. "It's time to celebrate our freedom."

 

Karli

Rogue

 

Ursana Tahn Sakhr

Trainee

[Wayfarer]

The dinner had been solid as opposed to fine, but for the two that had feasted on it it may as well have been served at the King's table. The wine had also helped with that, something Karli was able to keep up somewhat with Tahn with despite her smaller size. Perhaps he wasn't given to much drinking, but then not everyone had a taste for the grape like she did.

 

Of course, the wine had led them into some silly things. She'd barely managed to avert them from being drawn into a card game, and Tahn had needed to shoo a couple of overly interested people from her. Now they had a bottle sitting in the middle of the table, disdaining glasses for mugs as they worked their way solidly through it. Smiling up at Tahn, a whimsical smile played on her face as she spoke. "You sure you can handle the vine? Its potent, and I wouldn't want you to push yourself after all."

 

Sana laughed into his mug as Karli teased him. He was still trying to get his mind around what he had done earlier, but at the same time, he liked Karli, like the people she was with on some level and it made it difficult to think about it all as wrong. "The vine I can handle Karli. Unless you're afraid i'll drink you under the table. You're not one of those women who gets angry when they drink, are you?" He said, looking her up and down suspiciously.

 

Laughing, Karli took advantage of the fact she was sitting next to Tahn and punched him in the shoulder. "Yes, absolutely. A smarter man wouldn't ask that sort of question Tahn, not while a woman is drinking anyway." Smiling, she began pouring herself a new mug as she continued. "You're a strangely naive man Tahn, or one that likes a bruising. Which one would you be hmm?"

 

Sana laughed as he took another drink. "Maybe a little of both." He said with a grin. "I've been around a little, but this has been a new experience for me." He was still smiling at her though, smiling because he was relaxing and enjoying himself and she was good company. "Besides, if I thought you were the kind to get angry when you drink I wouldn't have asked."

 

"Hah, I wouldn't put it past you to ask regardless." Grinning as she took another swig from her mug, she set it down as she continued. "You know for a man your size you're actually somewhat quiet when you sneak about. I was actually rather surprised considering how you were with the roof running. Where did you pick up your skills?"

 

"Training." He said before he could think about it. "You know.." he said, trying to cover up his mistake. "got to keep light on your feet when you're out with the ladies. I've been practicing for years. Good to know it's working." He said, taking a large drink from his mug.

 

"Training for the ladies hmm?" Karli laughed as a thought came to her. "That explains your strange way of speaking then. But don't you have a mistress at the moment? Surely there would be no lack of employment for a man of such talents here?"

 

Ursana barely manged to keep from spitting his wine across the table. As it was, he started coughing, trying to keep from choking any worse on the drink than he already had. When he finally managed to get a handle on it he looked at Karli and laughed. "You always know the right thing to say?" he asked.

 

Slapping her thigh as she laughed, Karli hadn't been expecting that reaction of all things. Smacking him on the back as he choked, it took him a bit to finally get it under control, where Tahn proceeded to join her laughter. Grinning impudently at Tahn as he spoke, she shrugged. "Its a gift." Her grin turning mischevious, she continued. "Well? Is that what you trained for then? Come on out with it."

 

Sana sighed as he looked at his cup. He wasn't sure what he could say. He hated lying to her, but he wasn't sure how she'd take the truth. He wasn't sure how the others would either. He took a deep breath then looked back up at her. "I want to tell you something, but I need to know you aren't going to tell the others."

 

Leaning toward Tahn, Karli flashed him an easy smile as she put a hand on her heart and spoke with mock sobriety. "Indeed, not a soul shall know your most deepest and darkest secret that you are going to reveal to me dear Tahn. By all means proceed."

 

He gave her a small smile. "Alright then. First, my name isn't Tahn. You can call me Sana." He wasn't about to give his full name and she'd have to look pretty hard to connect him to it. "And for training, well, I came here with someone as part of my training to be a Tower Guard in Tar Valon." He said, waiting to see her reaction.

 

Looking at Tahn with shock, Karli punched him in the arm as she started laughing. "Oh yes, Tower Guard thats a good one. And I'm the Amyrlin, and for my next trick I'll channel us some more drinks. Oooooo." Waving her fingers at their mugs with the last, she began laughing again.

 

He looked at her with a slight expression of frustration. He'd finally managed to tell her the truth and she didn't believe him! "It's true Karli. This whole thing was a mistake. I was in town and these guards mistook me for someone else. I was only there a few hours before you showed up." He put a hand to her hand to get her to listen. "I really am a trainee in Tar Valon."

 

"Yes, yes, yes of course you are." Wiping tears from her eyes she'd been laughing so hard, Karli shook her head at Tahn. "If you were from the Tower you would've been with someone, and you would have been sprung from your cell within the hour. Now don't be so silly and go get the both of us drink." Finishing her mug, she handed it to him. "Go on, scoot boy and get the drinks. Tower Guard indeed, go."

 

And so he found himself scooted off. He got the drinks, stewing the whole time about how to get her to believe him. In the end he wasn't sure he could. It wasn't like he had the movements of a fully trained Tower Guard. He didn't have anything to back up his story. He put the mug down in front of her, then took a long pull from his own. "If you don't believe me, then you tell me what I'm trained for?" He said, letting an easy smile appear on his face. If he couldn't convince her, so be it. At least he had told the truth.

 

Karli chuckled as Tahn resumed the discussion, he really wasn't taking the hints, any of them. "To be slapped across the chops if you keep up a joke which isn't funny anymore. You certainly weren't trained to be a con artist, that much is certain." Rolling her eyes at him as she took a draw from her mug, she continued. "But tell me, what are your plans after tonight? You going to stay with us or do you have some other business so secretive that you gave that ludicrous tale?"

 

He shook his head as he set back. "After tonight, I have to find someone." He said. "So you need to take advantage of me now if you have need of me." He smiled at her again, deciding it was best not to say anything that might upset her. He liked her after all and this would be the last night he had with her.

 

"Take advantage? Little manslut." Laughing, Karli drained the better part of her mug before speaking again. "I was asking because we're going to have to leave soon. I have my own sort of curfew to keep, and I can't leave you wandering about like yourself like some Andoran sheep, that is to say confused and unable to walk properly. Hurry up and finish."

 

Sana laughed as he did his best to drain his mug quickly. It was made harder when Karli kept laughing and he really didn't want to be wearing the drink. Mug emptied and left on the table, Ursana stood offering a hand up to Karli. "And where are we off to now my Lady." He asked as they went out the door and into the streets.

 

"My lady?" Karli poked him in the ribs none too gently. "That might work with your other girls I'm foolproof when it comes to manwhores. We're going back to Salsons to get some sleep, before I get in trouble and you manage to stumble into more. Can't take you anywhere." So the wordplay continued until they reached their destination. Pointing to the back door, Karli clicked her fingers. "Well? Go get the door already."

 

"So I've been demoted appraently from manwhore to servant." He said with a roll of his eyes. "So good to know my training will come in handy as I grovel for you." He said, bowing low as he opened the door for her to proceed him.

 

"You have to be useful for something." Grinning as she walked in and led him to his room. Light but she was feeling the drink a bit, and it seemed Tahn was as well. Holding the door to his room open with a mocking smile, as he entered she shut the door.

 

From the inside.

 

Shoving Tahn onto the bed none too gently, she straddled him much the same way she had in the prison except she didn't pin his arms down. Leaning over him, she had a grin on her face as she spoke simply. "Not a word." And not a word was spoken afterward.

 

 

Karli

 

Ursana Tahn Sakhr

[TaeaDawn]

The sun was up well before one Ursana Tahn Sakhr managed to open his eyes. He wasn't normally one to oversleep, but when he did he managed to sleep mornings away. Between the last couple days events, the healing, and the night exertions, he woke up extremely late and yet feeling very well rested. There was one problem with that really. Where was Karli?

 

Last night she'd tackled him to the bed and had stayed by his side for the rest of the night. He didn't like going to be with a woman and then waking to find her gone. It cheapened things to him and whether he was serious about the girl or it was just a one night thing he was particular about the girl not thinking she had been mistreated in any way.

 

Of course, he was the one that was most likely to be mistreated here, but he wasn't complaining. Today he needed to get clear of this place and try to find Aran. He was mostly healed now and his debt to these people was paid. It was time to let him mentor know he was still alive.

 

He cleaned up in the water basin then got dressed quickly. He needed to find Karli. Hopefully she would be wherever food was because he was starving. He opened the door and heading into the hallway to try to locate his stray Lady.

 

Her feet propped on a table, Karli laughed as Lar and Mac argued over who had had the better Feast of Lights when she saw Tahn enter the room. Smiling, she gestured for him to come over, a cheese wheel in her otherhand. The night before had been spur of the moment, and she'd been rather glad she had chosen as she had. Especially since they were to part ways soon.

 

Sana smiled as he found her laughing at the two men. He walked over, taking a seat beside her. "Did I sleep the whole day away this time? or only half of it?" He asked in good natured humor.

 

Smiling, she tore a piece of the cheese wheel off before hand the rest to him. "You didn't wake up earlier so I decided to leave you there. Nothing short of clubbing you would have worked, think you hadn't gotten any sleep at all." Grinning as she looked over at the other two still swapping their stories, her grin faltered as she spoke. "So what is your plan for the day?"

 

Sana took the cheese happily but shrugged when she asked him about his day. "I have someone to find." He said, looking fown at his hands. "I'm not sure what will happen once I find him."

 

"Thats fair enough, where do you need to look maybe I ca...."

 

The words died as they Karli looked to the doorway. Men that shouldn't be there, men armed with cudgels. Big men, Karli slid daggers from her belt as she stood though Lar and Mac did no such thing. In fact they continued chatting happily away as if nothing had happened save for the glances they stole. Eight of them, Karli bit her lower lip before putting her daggers on the table.

 

Ursana wasn't sure what was happening. Karli's reaction wasn't exactly encouraging either. The two men with them didn't react at all to the newcomers and Karli didn't seem to know what to do. Ursana looked up at them wondering which would most likely be in charge. He decided to go with the one with the broad brimmedleather hat. He wore gold rings on his fingers and instead of a cudgel, an axe sat on his belt. He was the only one that showed anything worth taking anyway. He watched wearily as the men came in, waiting on a sign from Karli to know when it was time to run or time to fight.

 

Karli sat down at her chair as the man with the hat stepped forward. She knew that fighting and running were both out of the question now, the only thing left was to try and talk her way out of whatever the terror before her had in mind. "Durand, what brings you here?"

 

"What do you think brings me here?" The man stopped before the table with a smile on his face. An ugly one, time had not been kind to his features nor had the disease that had ravaged it. "You had quite a little dance on the rooftops no? Now I went and asked Caric and Esra why, and I have to say their answers were disappointing. That would be why they're somewhere downriver, which is where you will be if you don't have something to offer."

 

"We were just passing through, we didn't stop by anywhere. Midge just sent us to retreive something, why don't you ask him why?"

 

Screaming as she her hair was grabbed, there was nothing she could do except hold onto Durand's hand as she was pulled over the table. Arms grasping her own, she was put on her knees and turned about to find Tahn on the ground with a couple of Durand's men standing over him. The man himself was smiling as he spoke. "I'm not asking Midge, I'm asking you. What were you doing there?"

 

"I don't know!"

 

"Really? Shame. Maybe he knows." Wandering over to prone man, Duran put a foot on the man's bared throat as he spoke mildly. "Tell me, what were you doing there last night?"

 

He had know this was going to be bad, but as soon as the guy reached for Karli he'd started to move. The others seemed to expect it though so he was quickly dropped onto the floor, his face in the ground and his ribs burning again. Why was it always his ribs?

 

They man turned from Karli as she claimed ignorance and focused on Sana. He looked up as the man's foot came down on his neck. He wanted to spit in his face for coming in like that, for threatening Karli, but he couldn't manage it. Instead he smiled. "Just went out for a little stroll."

 

Laughing, Durand looked to Karli with a grin on his face. While he didn't speak, he knew that Karli understood exactly what he was saying because she said. "Please don't."

 

Removing his foot from the man's throat, Durand's grin turned to a snarl as he unleashed the power of his boot into the man's ribs. Watching the main huddle up, he spat on him before turning to Karli. "Well dear, you had your chance to talk, I'm not the sort to agonise. If I can't get my money this way, I'll just have to get it some other way. You know... Some people like a bit of sport, sport with spirit."

 

Lashing out only earned Karli a black eye for her trouble. Dragged away as she weakly struggled, she didn't see Durand turn to the other men left in the room. "Make sure this one learns to loosen his tongue in the future."

 

Ursana wasn't in a good position to fight off his attackers and for his own sake he might have let them have their fun and just tried to protect himself as best he could. However, Karli had been dragged away and he wasn't about to just settle in for a beating when it meant she might be hurt.

 

He tried to get up onto his feet but the first kick came before he got to all fours. They had seen where the other man had kicked him and they made sure to hit the sore spot again. Sana kept trying to get up, but in the end there was no way to fight them off as he was.

 

They did a fair share of damage before they decided they had taught him his lesson about a loose tongue. Sana tried to stand up again as they left but there was nothing left in him at the moment. Hands wrapped around his arms and he started to struggle but knew it was no use.

 

The two men that had stood by, watching Karli be dragged off simply stuffed Sana back into his bed and went back to whatever they had been doing before the others had arrived. Sana, thought it went against everything in him, lay quietly in bed. There was nothing else he could do. he didn't have the strength to stand up just yet not did he have any idea what to do to help the strange girl he'd come to know.

 

Durand

 

Karli

Rogue

 

Ursana Tahn Sakhr

Trainee

[Wayfarer]

"Hey, wake up." Prodding the lad, Caric frowned as he looked up at Esra. "I don't think he's going to be much use. Look at him." The grunt from Esra said everything, Tahn looked like he'd been done over quite thoroughly. Still, they needed to know what had happened and how. This time Esra leaned forward and slapped Tahn. "Wake up you whoreson, where is Karli?"

 

Sana woke with a start and hissed in his breath as the pain came crashing into him. He took a shallow breath trying to see his way clear of the pain. Then he heard someone talking and realised they were talking to him. "Karli?" He asked dumbly for a second before realising what they were saying. "Karli! Some guys came and took her. She said a name.. um...Durand... he took her."

 

"Flaming Whoresons!" Esra thankfully decided to kick a nearby chair as opposed to the bed while Caric considered the news quietly. He was beginning to have second thoughts about the idea of going after Karli already. It didn't matter whether or not it was the right thing to do, or the other items of interest for that matter, Durand's gang was heavy handed. "You are sure? His men all had axes?" Getting a nod, Caric whistled. "Well, thats the end of that."

 

"The end of what?" Sana said, starting to get up. It hurt less than his initial awakening had, but it still wasn't good. "You know where these guys are? We have to go get Karli." He said adamantly.

 

It was Esra who answered. "She's been taken by Durand, we can't do anything. Thats it, she's done for. She's gone." Caric took over from there. "She'll be sold to a Hell, they sometimes like sport that'll fight back. Either in an arena or a bedroom, perhaps the latter first and then when they're done there, stick her in arena with a dagger against someone and see who comes out. She's done."

 

"No, she isn't." Sana said, his voice growing tight with anger. "I don't care if you're going with me or not, but I'm going after her." Adreneline was forcing the pain back and he stared at the two men. "Tell me where to find them. I don't care about anything else, just tell me where they are." He didn't understand his need to protect this girl that he barely knew, but he didn't try to analyse it either. No matter who or what she was, she didn't deserve to be treated like that and he wasn't going to stand by while the people she knew were just going to let someone hurt her.

 

"Don't you understand? Gone means gone. You go after her, you're gone as well. There are more of them than us, simple." Caric was resigned but Esra on the otherhand had other ideas. "No, wait there. We could haul her out, we'd just need a decent enough distraction."

 

"No, we go we're as good as dead."

 

Ursana looked at Esra, ignoring Caric altogether. "Tell me what you need me to do to get her out. I'll be a distraction, I don't care what happens." He said. "What can we do?" He asked.

 

"Fine, you people do what you want, but I plan on living to see another day." Spitting to the side as Caric left, Esra looked to Tahn and was quick to explain. "They have a small house they use as a place to rest, and thats also where they keep their goods and coin. She'll be there. If I can make a distraction out the front, you can let yourself in through the back. You would only have a few minutes at most, but if you're quick then you can get her out."

 

Sana nodded at Esra, ignoring Caric and his departure completely. "I will get her out." He said without hesitation. "But can you distract them without getting yourself killed?" He might be willing to put his own life at risk, but he wanted to know that Caric had a chance of getting out alive.

 

"Good luck to them, if they can catch me then I deserve the axe for my trouble. Come on, lets go." Esra, led the way out, they had things to do.

 

 

Esra & Caric

 

Ursana 'Tahn' Sakhr

Trainee

[TaeaDawn]

It didn't take long to get to the place that Esra had been talking about. He hoped the other man wasn't about to do anything too stupid, but considering what he was about to do he couldn't really stop him. At least, not with anything convincing since he wanted to get Karli out of there far more than he wanted to convince anyone it wasn't worth it.

 

He gave Esra a nod as they surveyed the house, eyeing Durand's roughs from a safe distance. They both knew their parts already and there was nothing else to say, so he clapped the other man on the back, then quietly made his way around to the back of the house.

 

He wasn't exactly sure what Esra was doing, but he had been told he'd know when it was time. Sure enough, he heard shouts out the front. It was quite a racket actually and Sana moved carefully up to the back door. He went through and moved quickly through the house, amazed at the lack of guards inside. Something wasn't right. It was too quiet. No matter what distraction was out front, they shouldn't all have left.

 

Or they were all with Karli now. It made him more cautious as he moved, but quicker also as he feared what they might do to her while he tried to be clever. The house felt deserted though and he trusted his feelings about things like that. So he moved through faster, finding a stairway that led down. All sorts of warnings went off in his head, but he ignored them as he heard a muffled moan.

 

He ran down the stairs, hoping that if anyone was waiting his rush would take them by surprise. But there was no one there, but Karli tied to a chair in the middle of the room. Something was definitely wrong hereso he rushed forward to get her untied to help him figure it out, but he never made it. Three strides away from the bottom step and he felt something hit the back of his head, his hand reaching to free Karli even as he fell into darkness.

 

[Wayfarer]

It was awhile before Ursana began to stir, but Aran simply sat there quietly. He wanted to see how his trainee reacted when he came to and discovered himself tied to a heavy chair quite securely and blindfolded. Not for personal pleasure as such, but to see how the man dealt with failure. Any fool could win and enjoy a victory, it was much more interesting to see how a man handled overwhelming loss and helplessness. In fact, there was little joy in it at all but Aran needed to know nevertheless. The final act in the gauntlet of events that Ursana had been engaged in.

 

The first thing that he noticed was that something was wrong with his eyes. Even in the dark, he should have been able to see something given a moment or two, but there was nothing when he managed to open his eyes. He started to reach a hand up to brush his eyes, but found that he coudln't move his hands at all either. "Light forsaken fool.." he mumbled to himself as he tried to move both his arms. His hands were tied tight. Too tight to get free.

 

He took a deep breath, trying to think himself clear of it. So one of the guards had stayed back at least and he had let him get himself knocked out. He had no idea where Karli was, but he didn't hear any noise around the room. It wasn't quite the stillness it had before so his guard was probably in the background somewhere, watching and waiting. There was no sound of Karli though, unless she was unconscious. It didn't bode well for either of them.

 

But there was something in him that refused, no matter how bad the situation was, to give up, to think that he coudn't get out of it somehow. There were always possibilities. He had to get to Karli. And beyond that, he had to get home to Rosheen. Always, home to Rosheen. He couldn't be the cause of her tears and death in a Cairheinin basement was sure to set her to tears. Or a murderous rampage and that would only end up with a dead sister eventually, and bless the creator, he didn't want to be meeting him just yet, not with his sister close at hand especially.

 

"You don't happen to have any good ale do you?" He asked, amazed at how calm and casual his voice sounded. "I'm rather thirsty and if you're going to do anything to me now, i'd prefer to be a bit into the cups first."

 

Raising an eyebrow, Aran was surprised by Ursana's reaction. He was tempted to just let him loose, but he decided he needed to do something else first. Standing, he freed a pair of daggers and walked over and stood infront of Ursana quietly. After a minute, he scrapped his daggers together. Repeating the motion, he began walking around him. Observing a person under stress, helplessness, maybe he needed just one more push to get a real look.

 

It was unnerving to say the least, as he heard the sound he had learned so well out in the Yards. The sound of blades slowly gliding across one another. It was intimidating, and meant to be. Perhaps it was because he was becoming more of a man and less of the boy he had once been, or perhaps it was simply, as he thought, that all the Tahn Sakhr's were a bit off in the head, but if he was going to die for trying to protect a woman he barely knew, he wasn't about to do it as a coward. At least when he met the Creator he could do it with his head held high.

 

"I guess that's a no for the ale. A shame really because it sounds like you've got some steak knives and some ale a good steak would be welcome about now. I missed my last meal it would seem."

 

Continuing on for a few more minutes, Aran could see Ursana's sister in him. Well, a bit more elegant with his words, but there was the same defiance. Now all that was left was the final shove, something he did by stopping behind Ursana and stilling his movement. He would wait and see if Ursana reacted or not, either way would be telling. Given a bit of course, he wanted to give Ursana time to react after all if he chose to.

 

The motion stopped behind him. No words. No blade. No way of escape. He was alone and like most things in his life, in over his head with nothing but what he had on his body to help him out. Still, he wasn't going to accept the end quite so easily. With his hands tied so securely, he had only his legs. WIth all the strength he had remaining, he pushed back and up, trying to catch his attacker unaware and knock him down. Unfortunately it wasn't enough, just as he had known it wouldn't be. The guard behind him jumped back out of the way and Sana was in the same position, only without knowing what his attacker would do now. Still, he wouldn't go down without a fight and if they got close to him again he'd continue until there was no strength left in him, or until he lost the match for good.

 

Sheathing one of his daggers, Aran waited a little longer before stepping forward. Stripping his blindfold off, the next thing he worked on were the hands and freeing them, Aran walked about and cut the bonds on the lad's legs. All the while his mentee seemed to be in shock. Standing up, there wasn't a smile on his face as Aran turned about and gesturing with a hand for the lad to follow he sheathed his other dagger. He was sick of the basement, and there was food upstairs.

 

Ursana didn't know what to think. One moment he was about to be filleted, and the next Aran was rescuing him. Except that Aran was the only other person in the basement. Which meant that the whole scene had been perpetrated by his mentor. It only took a moment for the rest of it to sink in as well. He was angry. He was beyond angry. He's never been this upset in his life.

 

He was furious and wanted more than anything else, to strangle the living daylights out of Aran. Instead, he kept his mouth shut and clenched his fists until his knuckles were white to keep from hitting something. He followed Aran up the stairs, waiting for him to say something.

 

Leading the way into the kitchen, Aran took a seat that the table, there was fruit at the table and that would have to do for the moment. Apart from them, the house was empty so Aran had no worry of being overheard at all. "Sit down, it is time for us to discuss your little adventure. Starting with why you didn't come to me when you got free of the gaol."

 

Ursana wasn't sure what to do, but it was best to start small. He took a seat across from Aran and didn't bother with the food before him. He'd lost his appetite the moment he had realized that if Aran was behind this adventure, that Karli had been as well. He'd been duped by all of them and he'd gone like a lamb to the slaughter.

 

"I was injured and unsure of where I was. It seemed like the best idea to figure out where I was. I thought you were here on Tower business and if you hadn't figured out what had happened to me yet, you had had to leave me to complete your business and would be back when you could. I was going to come back to the Inn today to see if you had made it back yet." He said, his voice tight with emotion that he refused to let vent to.

 

Aran blinked as he grabbed an apple and tossed it to Ursana before helping himself to one. Taking a bite as he leaned back in his chair, he chewed slowly as he thought on which words to speak next. "That is nonsense, the first thing you should have done was returned to the inn. I know you didn't because the innkeeper hasn't seen you once since you left on my errand. Why didn't you come back?"

 

"Light burn you Aran!" Sana said, throwing the apple against the wall to vent off some of the steam that he was failing to control. "Your errand landed me in the worst place I've ever been! I'm not sure I could have walked all the way to the Inn on my own if I had tried and I certainly wasn't going to ask a bunch of criminals to please go take me back to my mentor from Tar Valon! They thought I was a criminal too and I was in no position to tell them the truth!"

 

His anger wasn't gone, it was barely showing, but he tried to reel it back in. He took a deep breath. "When I felt well enough to get back, they said I owed them and since I didn't have any coin, they were right. They'd helped me out of something I couldn't have done on my own. I owed them so when they told me to help out I did and I will not have you sit there and act better than me because you orchestrated the whole bloody mess and don't like how I behaved!"

 

Well, that was perceptive of Ursana, then again Rosheen underneath her act was rather observant as well. But, time for some button pushing that would start with... "So, you're going to keep making excuses? You were well enough to walk with them all the way to their quarters but you couldn't make it to the inn? You're lying to yourself as much as to me, so howabout we have the truth now? You're not so stupid as to be incapable of finding your way back, so what was it then? Well Ursana? Lets hear it."

 

 

Aran

Tower Guard

 

Ursana Tahn Sakhr

Trainee

[TaeaDawn]

"What do you want Aran?" Ursana yelled. He never yelled. Ursana Tahn Sakhr was normally the one guy in the middle of the fight trying to keep the others from fighting. He was also usually the first to get hit. "You want to hear that i'd rather spend time healing with a beautiful woman than sitting in some light forsaken Inn watching you drink everyone into oblivion?" He asked.

 

He was saying things he shouldn't. He had done things he shouldn't. In the end, he had known he should have gone back to Aran at the beginning, but he hadn't seen the point. He'd lived his life too long on his own to think he needed to clear everything about it with someone else and getting away from it for a few days certainly reminded him why he hated routines.

 

"Do you want to hear that I thought the whore you bought into this had higher character than you? That I was tired of doing as I was told and letting someone boss me around all the time! I never wanted this life!" He yelled. "I never wanted to be in the Guard! This is someone else's choice, not mine!"

 

He stopped then, apalled at what he was hearing. The bare truth that he didn't want to think about and had avoided for so long was just sitting out there now, between himself and the one man he thought couldn't care less.

 

He had become a Trainee because it was something to do while he waited for his family to come back and pick him up. He had chosen the Yards because it meant getting closer to his sister. Light, he loved her. She had always been the one person he had looked up to and admired, but it was hard not to think of the years separated and grow bitter. In fact, it had been too hard for the boy he had been. He had started avoiding seeing his sister when they did come to Tar Valon even when she sent him letters and his mother told him that she had asked after him over and over again.

 

Pride was something no man should have to fight against and yet he warred with it often. How could he try to keep her at bay when he was so proud of her accomplishments? So he had managed to find a way to meet somewhere in the middle. A young man come to learn who his sister really was. Only when it had come time to go back to the others, he had stayed in the Yards saying he'd come back when they made their next rounds, that he was still working on his relationship with Rosheen. That's what he'd told them.

 

It wasn't a lie, but he knew it wasn't the whole truth either. He had enjoyed being in the Yards. As much as the routine and the orders set against his nature, the work and the thought of protecting others inspired him to do things he didn't think he had it within himself to do. Tonight, he had been willing to die for the girl he hardly knew. More the fool him, but it was true nonetheless. It was something he would never have known about himself if he hadn't remained in the Yards.

 

A hard realization and he sat down hard on his chair, taking another deep breath. He was in the Yards because of the person it made him into. He was there, in the end, because Ursana Tahn Sakhr, not Rosheen Tahn Sakhr, had chosen to spend a life protecting others.

 

"I'm a bloody fool." He mumbled to himself as he placed his head in his hands and closed his eyes.

 

[Wayfarer]

Well, that had managed to get quite the reaction out of Ursana, and Aran had learned quite a bit in a very short time. If only for this, the entire exercise would have been worth it. He now had a better understanding of his trainee. But of course, the more one learned the more one realised they didn't know. He wasn't done with his questions, and the door had been flung open, he certainly wasn't going to give it time to shut again. Still keeping a level look at Ursana despite his moment of pique, his voice was dead calm in stark contrast to Ursana's enraged tones.

 

"Yes, yes you are." Staring down Ursana's eyes as he looked up, Aran could still see some of the anger there. But now it was time to quell it with some answers, but alot more questions. It was questions that taught people, not answers. "Of all the things you've said since we met, that is the wisest thing you've uttered. It is the most important thing any man can realise in fact, once you realise you're a fool and that you don't know everything then you're ready to really learn something and become a little wiser for it."

 

"For example." Aran, put up his feet on the table as he spoke. "Everything that has occured since we arrived here, why did it happen? Unless I do these sorts of things for my own amusement, which is unlikely because this cost me quite a bit of coin, then there must be another reason for it. And don't just whine about not knowing and that I am all that is evil. Your sister may like to act as dumb as an ox but beneath all that she's got a brain and so do you and I won't expect any less just because you happen to be a bit younger."

 

"What things happened during all this? What things did you learn? Not just about the people you met, but yourself as well. In particular yourself. Come on, speak."

 

 

Aran

Tower Guard

[TaeaDawn]

"What things happened during all this? What things did you learn? Not just about the people you met, but yourself as well. In particular yourself. Come on, speak."

 

What had he learned? That was a jar of worms wasn't it. He took a deep breath trying to get rid of the last of his temper. No, Aran hadn't done this for no reason and whatever that reason was, the payoff was now, he was certain. He was still angry, he couldn't get rid of that and still upset that Karli had played him so completely, but at least his outburst had gotten rid of the worst of his rage. He looked up at Aran and shook his head.

 

"I'm not sure what you want me to say. What did I learn? That I like a bunch of thieves better than I like you. That when push comes to shove, i'm just like they are?" He shook his head. "I learned that i'd die to protect someone you paid to use me. Thanks. Feels great. Hope you got your money's worth and that you think it was all worth it."

 

Sighing, Aran contemplated hurling the apple core at Ursana. He was being ten kinds of woman and he had hoped that it would be quicker than this. Of course, if Ursana hadn't been ten kinds of woman then he might not have gone to these lengths either. "I didn't realise Tahn Sakhr was old tongue for whiney wench. Think, what were the things you did? The things you did wrong but also the things that you did right."

 

He ignored the insult and thought about what Aran said. It wasn't his anger that was getting the best of him, and though Aran may have fronted the coin, it was Karli that had hurt him. It wasn't right or fair of him to take that out on his mentor. He closed his eyes for a minute, scrubbing his hands through his hair as he got up and paced.

"What did I do wrong? I think too many things to count. Getting put in goal started it off. I should have come back to the Inn the first night, or at least insisted on sending a message to find you if I was too hurt. Maybe I should have paid them in coin for their treatment of me, but I don't think it was wrong to repay what I owed and if they chose the coin, so be it." He added, afraid his mentor would take him to task for getting involved in breaking and entering. He still wasn't sure how much of his adventures Aran had set and how much was just something extra that had happened.

 

"As for what I did right, I think it was right to try to help Karli out of the gaol. It was right to try to get her out of here tonight."

 

"Yes! Now we're getting somewhere." Aran smiled as he took his feet off the table and rested his arms on the table as he leaned forward. Now that his mentee was doing what he was supposed to be doing, he was going to openly pay attention. "What did you think of the thieves you worked with? What specifically did you do with all of those thieves? Also, what do you think of the gaol you ended up in? Or those guards who arrested you?"

 

"The guards were stupid greedy fools who didn't care about anything. The strange thing is that when I saw them, I wondered if they were like me. I mean, i'm in training to be a guard and I thought maybe we were similiar, but we are nothing like them." He said. "If I acted like they did Ginae would have set me out of the Yards no matter how much she liked my sister. The Gaoler was worse. If either of them had listened to me, I wouldn't have been in that position, but they didn't. They just threw me in and didn't care."

 

It was harder to talk about the others, but he pushed through. "The criminals that found me... well... there were some good ones and some bad ones. One guy wasn't willing to help get Karli out at all. The other guy was there to try. I guess it's like everything else. There are good people and bad people and the fact that they do something shady sometimes doesn't necessarily mean they aren't good people."

 

Aran chuckled, now to push it a bit further. Ursana was sure of himself, but now he needed to think about it a bit further. "Alright then, now take a stab at this. Why do you think the guards were greedy? Why didn't the gaoler listen to you? What made those thieves you knew good or bad? So doing shady things does or doesn't make a person good or bad? And no, don't give me that look, I expect you to think about this and answer. Think about it."

 

"Being a good or bad person is about who you are. It's about the repect you have for yourself and others. The guards were different from us because they were only looking for a reward, they weren't looking for the truth really. They didn't care that I hadn't done anything wrong, so long as they got paid for it and the gaoler cared even less. I'm not sure I know how to explain it any further. It was their disregard for someone else's life that makes me think bad of them. The one guy, Esra, he was willing to risk his life to help someone else. It made him a good person."

 

Aran nodded, though Ursana hadn't really answered the question he was after. He was still trying to explain why they were good or bad, but not what might have made them so which is what he was really after. "Good, but we can do better. Yes the guards are different from us because they were just after the reward. What would make them like that though? Let me give you an example with the Gaoler. He spends his entire time locking up people who could be murderers, thieves, rapists, any and all sorts. Because of that, by the time you came along he's become altogether indifferent to the pleas of innocence because he has heard such things from everyone who has passed into his care. The only way for him to deal with it then is to not take responsibility for it altogether. He didn't arrest the people that are brought in, he just holds them until a magistrate can sort things out. Now try and apply the same thinking to the guards and the thieves in how they acted. What could have made Caric and Esra different? Why did the guards seem more interested in the money? I don't expect you to have the right answer, I do expect you try and think of possibilities though."

 

Sana took a seat across from Aran again and tried to think about it. "I don't know what could have made the difference but I see your point. You're talking about motives I think. Like maybe the guard was worried about the reward because he's got hungry kids at home and doesn't make enough money to support them, or something like that, right?" He shook his head. "But how can you look at life like that all the time? At some point, you have to be accountable for your actions no matter what the intention. I've been in villages where they want to run you out because they are so afraid of outsiders. Their intentions are good, they want to protect their own, but at what cost? The death of innocent people who only wanted to trade? At what point do you make these people responsible for their own actions?" He asked Aran.

 

"Thats a fine question." Aran grinned at his mentee. "And that is something you have to start asking yourself. You can't just decide whether someone is good or bad right off the cuff, you have to look at why they are doing what they're doing. That isn't to say that if someone charges at you with a sword you need to think it over, you don't have time. But if you do have the time you should take it, reserve judgement. You can't really know things for certain until you get both sides of the story, do you understand what I mean? And even if the guards were greedy bastards, which they were, you might look at why. As much as actions and results are important, so are motivations. Haven't you ever felt you were judged harshly because of what happened, instead of what you were trying to do?"

 

Sana gave a bitter laugh. "I've been run out of more villages than I would care to remember, just for being an outsider. I think that would qualify as being judged too harshly. It's why I've always tried to be open about things, but I think even if you try, at some point you get lost in who you are and you forget sometimes. Guess I needed a reminder." He said with a shake of his head.

 

Nodding his head understandingly, Aran pondered the next words before he voiced them. "Even though we can be victims, it is important to remember that when we have power that we don't then strike out in the same way as those who mistreated us. When you have authority, and in your case you will one day not only because of your cloak but the sword at your side, you will have to decide how you use that power. Sure, you are meant to uphold the honour of the White Tower, but there will be times when you may have to do things that you might consider dishonourable. Or you will see others who shall do the same. By what measure shall you hold yourself? The Aes Sedai? Those whom you trust? Yourself? These are things you must decide, and all the while you must remember those around you and how your actions will affect them. To do that, you need to at least try and understand those around you, even those you may have written off us being bad because of what they do rather than who they are. Do you understand?"

 

Sana shook his head. "I think I do, though i'm not sure it's all sunk in just yet." He said giving Aran a small grin. "I've beat on the head a lot in the last couple days. I'm not as quick as I should be."

 

Aran chuckled, Ursana was coming along nicely now, or at least he hoped he was. If it was an act, Aran would be rather surprised considering the sheer amount of stress Ursana had been through. "Faugh, nothing wrong with you. But let me ask you something, do you think you're a little closer to answering my question about the trolloc yet?"

 

Ursana shook his head again. "I knew that was going to come around again sometime. I'm not sure I can answer that one because I don't think I could ever get to the point of ever being like them, but I suppose that no matter what you are, you want to have more, you want family and you have the desire to leave something of yourself behind. No matter what you are you want to belong."

 

Aran nodded at Ursana's words, he was on the right track and that was the main thing now. "Remember, trollocs were formed by fusing man with animal, and they took the most aggressive instincts from both. They cannot help what they are, but despite that they still have children, they raise them in their own way. As evil as they are , there are still some things that we would consider good. The lesson being that there are no absolutes. There is nothing absolutely evil save the Dark One, and there is nothing absolutely good except the Creator. If you can remember that, you can find redeemable traits in the worst of people, and faults in the best. The reason this is so important is because it reminds you not to judge too quickly, and if you remember that there is always a side to a story that you don't know, then you can remember not to make a final judgement. Otherwise you can always make a mistake. Like Karli for example." Aran decided to press on a clearly sore point.

 

Sana's smile fell from his face as Aran brought her up. "What about Karli?" He asked.

 

"Your words before." Aran shrugged at his mentee. "Do you think I paid her to sleep with you?"

 

"I don't know." He said with a shrug. "I don't want to think so, but I don't know how much of that is my head or my heart. No, that's not true. I don't think she did, not since I got past being angry, but I don't want to be a fool and if she did, then more the fool me for wanting to protect her."

 

Aran nodded as he thought on another question to pose to Ursana. "Here is something for you to consider. Would it matter whether she had been paid or not? As in, would you have gone to protect her either way?"

 

"Yes." He said without hesitation. "I would have gone either way."

 

"Then you can decide for yourself whether it was real or not, I have faith you'll come to the right conclusion." And therein lay the main reason for this lesson. "And this is one of the main reasons I did this. I could tell you all of these things, but you don't know what its like to be in a cell until you've been thrown in one. You can't know what its like to be an inch away from death until you think that time has come, you can't know what its like to fear being discovered until you've snuck into someone's house. The real learning is in experience, and discovering things for yourself. Understand?"

 

"Yes, I understand. But I have a question for you. What did Rosheen do to you that I get this for it?" He asked with a smile. This had nothing to do with his sister, but he knew the two were close and it was as good a way as any to try to get away from their current topic. His brain was about to explode and he didn't want to think about Karli anymore. Unless she wanted to see him now. Then he'd think about her some more. Thinking about her while sitting across from Aran talking life and death and understanding just seemed to fuzz his brain too much. Or maybe that was just from Aran hitting him in the head.

 

"She was a good enough friend that I decided that her little brother needed to be able to go into things with both eyes open. Speaking of which, you said something before. What did you mean by it wasn't your choice?" Aran had been wanting to ask about that, and since the topic had swung back to Rosheen it seemed as good a time as any to ask about it. After all, he had always been curious as to why the two of them weren't together more often.

 

Sana groaned as his mentor brought up that comment. Still, after everything that had happened, why not? "The family came to Tar Valon to see Rosheen and I refused. I'd been refusing for quite some time actually. If she'd try to come out and visit i'd leave the caravan until she was gone. They'd go to the city and I'd stay at the Inns, gamble, drink, but I never went near here. The last trip, I got into some trouble. Too much drinking, won too much at gambling and I got my purse stolen and a lot of bruises for it."

 

"I don't know if it was necessary or if my family managed to convince the Yellow Sisters at the Tower to keep me longer than they needed to, but by the time I was awake again, my family had left me at the Tower by myself with nothing to my name but a change of clothes." He shrugged. "I decided to find Rosheen then because I didn't know what else to do. She talked me into joining the trainees at least until the family came back around. I decided to give it a try. The training and trying to get to know her." He gave Aran a small smile. "So it was their choice to leave me and Rosheen's choice to keep me close."

 

Nodding, Aran considered what was said before he continued. Honesty and bluntness seemed the best option, especially if Rosheen was anyone to go by. "So how is it between you and her? I do not see the pair of you with one another at all. Don't you get along much at all? I've carried quite a few bruises because of her but she isn't that bad." The last was said with a smile.

 

Ursana smiled at that and shook his head. "It's hard. I was 6 when she left and I never quite forgave her for leaving me. But then it's hard to stay mad at her when she's right there in front of you being.. well.. Rosheen. I watch her sometimes and its amazing what she can do, how people respond to her and the trust and respect she commands from people. I see it and I understand." There was no hiding the pride in his voice at his sister's accomplishments.

 

"But then she's always doing her thing and i'm a trainee now so I'm always doing mine. It's hard to find a time when one of us isn't bloody, sweaty, or exhausted. And when I say that I mean it's normally hard for me not the be one of those things." He added. "I'd kill for my sister, but it's always slow going when you're building up bridges you burnt a long time ago."

 

There it was, something else he would have to work at. But, that would have to come later when Rosheen was with them. As she wasn't, they would have to work on something else, like getting a solid meal that was more substantial than fruit. "Fair point. Ok, I think thats enough questions for now. Time to get a decent meal, come with me and we'll head back to the inn. Tomorrow, we return to Tar Valon."

 

He thought about asking about Karli, if she was still there or not, if she was close by, but he decided against it. He's taken enough blows to his ego tonight. He wasn't sure he could take another. And this time it wasn't a thought of her getting paid, but rather a thought that now that the charade was over she would want to get on with other things. So instead he nodded. "A meal would be good. You might have heard me mention before that the thugs you paid beat me well enough that I was passed out through my last meal."

 

And he was back again, the same carefree Sana that had come to Cairhein in the first place. A couple bruises, some damaged ribs, and a lesson learned, he was ready to begin again. He walked out of the house feeling better than he had in some time. The weight of his decision seemed to have been holding him down far more than he knew. The acceptance that he had chosen this life was as illuminating as the lesson his mentor had come to teach him.

 

All in all, it was a good night. At least there was a meal at the end of it and hopefully a warm bath and bed for it was all through.

Aran

Tower Guard

 

Ursana Tahn Sakhr

Tortured Trainee