Kynwric added his thoughts, "Perhaps Loraine can check with the Green network and see if they have any idea what the exact words are to this oath, but  I'd rather be able to just lie and say we've taken them than actually have to affirm an oath. I'd also really like to have some others skilled in weaponry and scouting along, and preferably a native to the area. Sisters are dangerous when they are allowed, but I do not think we'll be relying on Channeling to solve many problems when in the presence of Seachan, and certainly not in the presence of their leashed girls... Damane? Is that the right word?"  He'd also like someone else along with slightly less pride and imperiousness than three Aes Sedai.

"If the three of you can sit in the back of a wagon, and I mean wagon, not coach... and do what you're told, when you're told, we might can pull a farmer's family off... if you two, Loraine and Jagen, can hide that ageless face somehow."

Madoc stifled a smirk, knowing it would infuriate Mordre further, and answered her question. "I want you." he had ambitions, but the next step on his path was sitting in front of him, and he'd long ago learned you concentrated on the next obstacle in your path than the ones further out. Mordre was the goal he'd set his eyes on next, and after that... well Rhian was getting a little long of tooth, perhaps the opportunity to be Sept Chief would come sooner than he though. "After you, then, perhaps then I may want to be Sept Chief, if fate favors me."

"See, more Wise One talk! And you say you have not been on this path since your hair was in pigtails." Madoc said with a laugh, "My path meanders, it has no real direction yet. I am a Stone Dog, yes. But what lies further than that, I do not know. W ehave a Society Leader, we have a Sept Chief, we have a Clan Chief, so for now I am a warrior and content to be so."

Kynwric nearly scoffed out loud at the idea of Loraine posing as anything but a noblewoman, but he managed to keep it to himself, barely. He did not really like where this conversation was going, and to be honest, wondered why a Red would be interested in that question at all, to begin with. But he answered the question posed to him, "I don't know the answer to that Loraine, I've never been old before. I do not feel as I did the day you bonded me, that was a long time ago, though, and I am a very different man now than I was then. Marriage and children will do that to you, as I understand it." He gave a shrug, "I'm sure there's some Brown who's done a study of Warders, though. Perhaps ask one of them if they have a book?"

"As for your plan Jagen Sedai, Loraine will never pass as anything but a Noblewoman or a very well-to-do merchant. She has neither the bearing, not size for being a guard. Not even the Mask will help with that issue. If you want a second swordsman on the trip, I'd suggest a Tower Guard... or as you said, another Sister with a Warder or two. However, what I hear from those lands is they only ask for an oath of loyalty... although, I suppose that too, would be an issue for a Sister."

"An answer to my question..." Madoc said simply, "You are already practiced in the ways of speaking as a Wise One, answering without answering, asking without asking, telling... well, you may need to work on that one." He said with a chuckle. 

Great!

"Then the question is Mordre, am I a match for you?" He brushed off the question, "I do not know what lies before me, I know what I want, I know what I would do, but I do not know where my feet will take me." 

Hot girls work...

"First? That is awfully presumptuous, to think I'd be able to handle more than one wife at a time. As for handling you, no, I have no illusions that I will be able to 'handle' you, merely enjoy our time together." He loosened his grip around her, feeling the depressed mood fading. "Think you can be content married to a warrior and not some Clan Chief or Society Leader? Or, are you going to hold out for the Car'a'carn?"

Kynwric made himself obvious, now that he realize his presence was unsettling Jagen. He had absolutely no compunction about irritating the other Aes Sedai while she visited with Loraine. He did wonder why an army wasn't being marshaled to oppose the invaders from Hawkwing's empire across the sea, but then, that wasn't really his business either. He could already tell from Loraine's posture and general mood that they'd be leaving the Tower soon enough, and that was good enough reason for him to be in a good mood. 

"Me? Destined for great things? You've been in the oosquai again, haven't you?" Madoc said with a laugh, "I'm no Wise One, nor Clan Chief, to have been to Rhuidean and know the future. But yes, I could see us sharing a roof together. There could certainly be worse fates than that."

"Investigate it with prudence Edana, you're marked forever now... and someone will want that blade." He gave a nod, "And for as long as you walk in the light, I will remain your friend."

When Edana turned to leave Kynwric turned the other direction, to make his way into the dread White Tower and answer his wife's questions about what had happened. She'd likely disapprove, but that was what wives were for, and he had been rash... of a sort.

*stuffs Ed in a drawer*

What are we? "We are whatever we decide to be, Mordre. My path is mine, and has room for you to walk it with me, Your path is yours, and hopefully still has room for me on it with you. Your goals, my goals, they can all be our goals, if we allow it. Between now and then, we are us."

"You earned yours cleaner than I earned mine, and no, there isn't a day that goes by that I don't question whether I am good enough. But... I am still here, and that doubt keeps me from becoming complacent, that and the knowledge that it is more than just my life that hangs in the balance when I draw my sword." He paused, "And there is no fair and square in a real fight, you won or you're dead. Since you're still here, you won. You earned that Heron. Wear it. Be proud of it... but not too proud, for someone wore it before you and they're dead now. Thanks to you."

Lol, now it's complicated... try just writing

"Being bonded is much harder than being married. Although, the inability to lie may have something to do with marriage being simpler." Kynwric mused in reply. "His mess is his to clean up, it comes with the clerk's job... and yes, I know he's too stubborn to step aside. But he's been shown for a bully, and we'll see if that changes his perspective. If he held his temper in check, he is a bette swordsman than I am, always has been... but that temper has always failed him when it mattered." 

Madoc chuckled a little, "You've been showing yourself for some time, you just haven't seen it... and yes, yes you were."

It's been a while, here, actually...

Madoc held her there, "This woman before me, who is strong, willful, and introspective," he replied. "The girl has grown, you should miss her, but not too much. I am fond of the woman, and of course, I always thought the girl a bit of a brat." He said with a smile as he pulled back slightly to smile down at her. 

"Aye, I did." Kynwric said, sheathing his sword and taking a deep breath to help clear the adrenaline from his system. "He questioned your word, and by extension hers." Kyn said, knowing Loriane had filed a report when thy returned, he sheathed his sword and let his eyes drift up and across a balcony to where Loraine stood watching, then he returned his gaze to Edana. "Too many insults, too many times. I'll stand for a lot, Edana, but no one insults my wife unchecked."

"Edana didn't have to bed me, she earned my trust the old-fashioned way, by being loyal and steadfast, something you know nothing about Kilrin." He left he coward comment alone for the moment, he knew his fight, he knew how to be patient, to stand against the storm, and still be standing when the sun came out again. "If you think me a fool Kilrin, come and prove it." He carefully backed his way out of the office and into the yard. Keeping his sword between Kilrin's and his own skin. When he felt the heat of the sun on his back, he threw a short flurry of attacks to give him a little space to exit and reset securely.  His voice raised for all in the yard to hear, "it's no wonder any one with a shawl left good distance between them and you, Kilrin. Look at you, you've the grace and posture of a banker, not a guardsman. How many times have those pants been let out?" He knew a fight between them would draw a crowd, he wondered how long it would take to get back to his wife that he'd picked a fight with the Master at Arms. "As for being a coward, I've stood on the blight against the shadow, I've stood in Amador against the Children, I've stood against whatever my Aes Sedai has required of me Kilrin, all while you sulked in an office. But I have never, ever, once in all my life struck out in anger at a subordinate, like you did today." They were fully out in the yard now, in the sun, and Kynwric moved to take advantage of his advantages. He closed the distance between Kilrin and himself, stalking the man at the edge of their ranges and waiting for the opportune moment to strike. 

When the moment came he didn't pause, The Courtier Taps his Fan led to Cat on Hot Sand, and countered Kilrin's own Hummingbird Kisses the Honey Rose, Ribbon in the Air was countered by Stones Falling from a Cliff by Kilrin, and so on and so on until both men were breathing hard and sweating from the exertion. "You are a disgrace Kilrin, and the only reason you are still here is because you are good with a sword." 

"Wolfie Kronos

Lived in the woods and raised by woods after being stolen from his cradle. Found by a Aes Sedai and brought to the Tower. Wants to be a Warder."

There ya go!

Kynwric whipped his sword from it's scabbard in The Moon Rises Over the Lakes, and neatly and quickly flowed into Cutting the Clouds, he doubted he would score a hit but it would halt the advance of the Master at Arms. He then settled back into his defensive posture, waiting on the other man to attempt to get past him. Without turning his head away he told Edana, "Get out." He then glared at Kilrin, "attacking Guardsmen now is it? I knew you for a bully years ago, but I never thought you'd stoop so low as this." He backed away, towards the door of the office, having heard Edana move through it moments before. "You lack the poise of that office, it has never suited you." Kyn knew he was baiting Kilrin into a further attack, but he didn't want the man to regain his composure, bully or not, he was still and effective swordsman and any advantage he could keep, Kyn would want. 

Nah... anything posted here is fair game