Courtyard, The White Tower, Tar Valon

Marble tiles gleam from a straight path which leads from the Gates of the
Tower to the wide double doors which announce its entry point. Soft grass
and well planned patches of flowers can be found to either side, with the
occasional shady tree. Accepted and novices sit on stone benches, some
practicing their Power to the dismay of uneasy petitioners passing through.
To the side there is a stable, near the fenced entrance to the clearly
visible yard where shirtless boys go through sword forms through the day.

Guards take the weapons of those wanting to enter, though the Gaidin spread
about the courtyard, seemingly about their leisure, look ready to pounce on
any men who "forgot" a dagger at the gates. Aes Sedai pass through on
various errands, some nodding to acknowledge bows or curtsies. The
atmosphere is busy, but calm.



Kyleigh isn't quite ready to go just yet. All her things are packed, but
she's waiting for the last possible moment before giving herself away, and
she's waiting for help. Thankfully Wyntere gave her the day off, and she
can tell every single person who asks her why she's just wandering around
to go shove it -because- Wyntere gave her the day off. The wierd thing
though is... she doesn't tell them to shove it. She actually calmly
explains the situation and continues wandering in her daze like state. Poor
Kyle's troubles come not single spies but in battalions. So, she wanders
into the courtyard, looking for someone though she could easily be mistaken
for just wandering around aimlessly.

Siiiigh. If Neelkan has one more Fledgling call him 'Gaidin' every five
minutes he's gonna kick him! He was never one for titles, other people, or
his own. He doesn't even call Kaomi the Amyrlin! Titles are for other
people, but not for him. He doesn't use it, and he doesn't expect it.
Though he might insist on it from a Yellow... *whistle* Anyway, this
certain new Gaidin is sitting on a bench, turning the arm brace in his
fingers as he looks down on it, wondering what his new ter'angreal will do.
Wyntere hinted that he would like it, but he doesn't know. He likes it
because it reminds him of himself. And of Hakurou.

Reminds him of himself? What, did he forget who he was? Well, he's about to
have what most would call a stroke over very -bad- luck. Because while he's
looking at his bracer, someone comes and just rudely sits down beside him.
She doesn't even ask, or give a 'by your leave'. Just, plop, she's there,
and she's scowling at him too which is never a good sign. Kyleigh's scowl
doesn't last very long though. Truth be told she just doesn't have to heart
for it. So she glances down at the ground, and takes quite a while actually
saying anything. Maybe she just needed a place to sit really quickly. Well,
that idea goes out the non-existant window when she finally does open her
mouth. "I need a favor." No pleasantries, no aknowledgement of his name, no
'hey, weren't you one of the people who helped me save Wyntere?' Just a
blunt statement of why she's there and what she wants.

No, it reminds him of himself because the color that it has. Bright red
with gold highlights in the sunlight, a white streak down the center where
the bracer connects. It was almost like it was made for him. His hair
certainly isn't common. But it's impossible to believe that someone
hundreds of years ago would know that making a ter'angreal of a certain
color would influnce who got to wear it at this time. At the plop beside
him, Neelkan glances over and raises his eyebrows at the scowl. That's
odd... usually he's the one doing the rude ploping and scowling. He looks
back at the brace and fixes it on his right wrist again, pushing up the
sleeve of his shirt so that it doesn't get caught under it. When she speaks
he glances back over. A favor? Does he even /know/ this kid? He peers at
her through narrowed blue-green eyes for a few moments, but then shrugs. At
least she didn't call him Gaidin, right? "What'd'ya bloody need?"

That's right. No Gaidin calling, and no curtsying here. So thankfully he
doesn't have to kick her around. The novice keeps her eyes fixed on the
ground ahead of her and says quietly, "I need you to get me out of Tar
Valon." She's very blunt isn't she? Well she's usually worse actually. Huge
amounts of grief have done wonders for her temperment.

That causes a blink and Neelkan glances around the yard for a moment as if
to see if there are others too close, "Why?" he asks, then immediately
shakes his head, "F'rget it. I'm sure ya got a reason. Yer prolly gonna try
t' leave e'en if I don't help ya, aren't ya?" He looks over at the girl,
sighing a little bit. Oh, how he remembers when he would have so liked to
get out of this place. That fact, and the fact that he's always had a hard
time saying no to a girl wanting his help (expecially one that actually
says that she needs it) are what has him considering helping.

Kyleigh nods in agreement to the trying without him part. "I will." As for
the why, she just ignores that part, and would even if he hadn't said to
forget it. Glancing over at him sidelong she asks, "You can do it, can't
you? Don't bandits specialize in sneaking in and out of places?" Not to
mention Gaidin. Does she realize she's giving him a left-handed compliment?
Not really... she's just trying to be logical about the whole thing. He's a
bandit, and he hates women. Plus he was just raised Gaidin so likely less
strict about rules and more likely to help her. At least that's her
reasoning. For once she's almost wishing she spent more time getting to
know the males of the Tower (almost being the key word).

Raising his eyebrows at being refered to as a bandit, Neelkan actually
laughs softly. "Oh, ye'h, well, ya could say 'at." He seems a little amused
by the idea and then nods, "A'right. I'm game." He continues to speak
softly from where he's sitting next to the girl who seems to be in the
scowling mood. "Just tell m' when, 'n I'll come up with somethin'."

Hey she stopped scowling a while ago! :P This is tame for her, really.
However, his mirth doesn't seem contagious and she just nods without even
twitching a smile. "Tonight," she replies quietly, not bothering to ask if
he can make preperations that soon. Isn't it nice to have your skills
trusted so well? ;)

"Good t' know ya trust m' so much." Neelkan says with a snicker, then nods.
"T'night's fine. I'll have somethin'." He shifts to stand up, looking
around at the courtyard. "I'm gonna have t' go work on a few things. How
'bout meetin' in the kitchen garden 'bout ten minutes t' sunset?" That
should give him plenty of time to have his thoughts together. Not like this
is the first time he's ever tried to come up with ways to do this after
all.

That brings her scowl back a little. She doesn't really like trusting
people she just... forgot about all her hangups for a minute in order to
accomplish her higher purpose. "Alright." She doesn't move to stand up just
yet, looking up at him with slight speculation. "You -do- hate women
right?" And strangely, she's not asking it like she doesn't believe, she's
asking it like she wants to confirm that it's true. 

"'course I do. What kind'a bloody dumb question is 'at?" Grr. Neelkan hates
women. Yup. Honestly. He does. Women are bad. (Who is he fooling?) He
shrugs his shoulders one last time and starts towards the Tower itself to
start to work on the escape.

Well, apparently he's fooled Kyleigh, or maybe she just wants to be fooled.
She nods and continues sitting on her bench just staring at the ground. She
doesn't bother noticing anyone else right now. Apparently wherever her mind
is it is a far more interesting place than her surroundings.

* * *

No novices here! No one out here but us chickens, for now anyway. Kyleigh
really wasn't sure whether keeping her whites on or changing was a better
idea so she's still wearing them. After all she wouldn't be that hard to
recognize even without them and she's still concerned about her cover being
blow. Her pack is hidden in some nearby bushes while she paces up and down
the garden impatiently, muttering about men in general and late ones in
particular and how if he has notions about turning her in instead of
helping she'll do all sorts of painful things to him. Oddly, she has a note
crumpled up and clasped in one of her gloved hands, and she stops to read
it over again every now and then while she waits.

There is such a thing as arriving fashionably late. But when Neelkan
arrives it is hardly fashionable. He's dressed up in all dark clothing.
Black trousers, black long vest, dark gray under shirt. The bracer on his
wrist is hidden under the shirt sleeve, but the red-gold material still
sparkles lightly whenever the minor light of the area strikes it. His
longest part if his hair is pulled back into a band, securing it out of his
face, while the spikey red and white bangs still fall into his eyes every
so often. That's what the cloak is for later. He doesn't care if people see
him right now. The cloak is being carried over an arm, the color shifting
fabric blending as he brushes past a few bushes. If he has a pack, it isn't
visable right now. He peeks his eyes around, then moves over towards the
girl. "A'right. Grab yer stuff 'n come with m'. We're goin' t' the stables.
I made sure 'at the trainees 'at had late stable duty were all running
laps, so only a few servents are in 'ere. I'll get rid of 'em when we get
in." Pause. "Ya d' know how t' ride a horse, right?"

Kyleigh glares a little and -almost- snaps at him, but much as she might
hate to admit it she needs help, and it shouldn't be for very long so she
can suffer for a bit. She wouldn't be Kyleigh though if she didn't retort
just a bit snidely, "of -course- I know how to ride a horse. Do you take me
for a black veiled savage?" Er.. actually they both could probably be taken
for very short Aiel, but that's beside the point. She goes over to the
pack's hiding place and retrieves it, feeling just a little pleased because
aside from the lateness, so far this seems to be going well. Now she just
has to hope that Wyntere hasn't found her note just yet. She shouldn't be
missed until tomorrow morning though, and by then she'll be long gone.

"A'right." Neelkan nods lightly, not seeming to care about the snap. He has
to stay focused right now if he's going to get her out, and he can't
affoard to get into an argument with her. And that she knows how to ride
will save him the trouble of having to quickly teach her. Something he was
not looking forward to. He starts in the direction of the stable and
glances back to make sure she's near him and following before he says,
"'ere's the deal. Yer gonna change as soon as we're in the stable. I got
clothes a'ready in 'ere. 'ey should b' close t' yer size. Yer gonna pose as
a trainee, 'n I'm takin' ya out of the Tower 'n city f'r a late training
exersize in night survival. Act like ya don't wanna go, 'n keep yer head
downcast. Good thin' yer hair's not any longer're I'd have t' cut it, but
at 'at length it should cover yer face a lil if ya keep yer head down."

Kyleigh doesn't bother with indignation, and instead just nods. Frankly if
he told her she had to dress up like a Tinker and do handstands out the
Tower gates she'd probably just nod glumly. Half her isn't there at all,
and what's left... "I never thought I would be glad I had a block," she
murmurs, more to herself than to him. It does have the singular advantage
of leaving her undetectable as a channeler, as long as she doesn't do
something silly like hurt herself. She follows him into the stable and
already practicing letting her hair cover her face it seems. Or maybe she's
just finding the ground more interesting than the rest of her surroundings.

Getting to the side entrance of the stable, Neelkan waves for her to stay
back as he enters and glances around to see where all the stable hands are,
(luckily none are too close to that entrance) and waves her in and motions
towards a stall nearest to the door that is empty. Empty of horses at
least, but under the pile of hay a piece of cloth can be seen peeking out.
A blanket covering his own sparce baggage and the clothing he's left for
her to wear. While she slips in there (if she follows his instructions, he
moves into the stable and speaks to the three hands that are there, "'ey,
guys! Ya got 'ose horses I asked 'bout saddled?" Eh? Well, the best way to
break out of this place is to act like you have nothing to hide. Either way
he seems to be willing to be fingered as the one who helped. If he'd try to
sneak her out, there would be the chance they would be caught, a very high
chance, considering the security. This way, yes, he will likely be
discovered as the accomplice, but do you know what? He frankly doesn't
care. What're they gonna do? Take away his ter'angreal and his cloak?
(Oi...) The stable hands nod in the affirmative and he makes a soft cheer,
"Yah! I knew ya guys could d' it! Why don'tcha take a break 'n go tell the
boys 'ey can stop runnin' 'n come back." Glad for some time off, the three
men move out a different door (as if by sheer dumb luck) and then Neelkan
says, "Better hurry. We should t' b' outta 'ere 'fore 'ey get back." And he
doesn't glance towards her, just goes to check on the horses and get them
ready. "'n bring m' pack 'en yer done too."

Kyleigh slips into the stall as directed and quickly pulls on the clothes,
managing to wriggle into them while keeping her dress on at the same time
so that when she's done she somehow got changed without exposing an ounce
of skin. It's more out of habit than fear though. She's been living with a
roomate for about a month now and just got used to changing that way, being
rather... fastidious about being clothed. Without a word she emerges after
the coast is clear, carrying both packs. She does note that he actually
packed, but assumes that's just for the ruse. Taking a Gaidin along would
imply that she intended to come back to return him, which she doesn't.
"Here," she says quietly, handing him his before she walks over to load
what she assumes is her own mount up and swinging up. She may not be the
best rider in the world, but she's competant it seems. After she's sitting
she musses her hair a little so it can get more easily in her face and
adjusts the heavy coat so it looks more like a boy's bulkiness than
anything resembling feminity. "Will that do," she asks with all the
emotionlessness of a stone faced Warder. Well... not totally lacking
emotion, just... too weary to put too much into it.

"'anks." Neelkan actually murmurs, securing the pack behind the saddle
before putting his cloak on, which causes most of his body to vanish as the
fabric blends into the area around him. He jumps up onto the horse easily
and settles himself in. The pack was very light, probably couldn't contain
more then a pair of clothing, a water skin or two, and maybe a couple
knives. His sword is at his hip, along with his fan and the knife that his
sister gave him. He motions the horse immediately towards the main exit,
and then onward to the main Tower gate. "'ey guys!" He grins down at the
guards, not even bothering to hide his appearance, "I'm takin' 'is
Dedicated out f'r a night survival lesson. Let us pass, 'eh?" He grins and
nods his head towards the poor Dedicated.

Kyleigh grumbles something about having to flaming sleep on the bleeding
hard ground in her best aproximation of a low voice. She keeps her eyes
firmly fixed on her horse's neck though, trying to give the impression of a
grudgingly cowed Dedicated. For a brief moment of terror she wonders if
there are any dedicated with orange hair, and her mind reels a bit with all
the things they should have done, like dying it or something. But anxiety
is typical in a situation like this, and while Kyle has done plenty of
stuff to get in trouble, she's never much cared about the consequences.
This time she does, and the stakes are higher, which might also account for
her apparent change in disposition. Apparently though one of the guards has
the same question because he doesn't recognize this orange haired
Dedicated. He asks it in a joking manner though and addresses himself to
Neelkan, "A relative of yours?" The other one grins and adds, "bet that's
his son, huh. I always knew that woman hating thing was a front." Kyleigh
actually stiffens at that and darts a glance at him through her hair.

"Relative? Blood 'n ashes, ya caught m'. It's m' cousin. He wants m' t' get
'im int' the program." Neelkan grins a little bit, barely able to keep from
snapping at them about the son thing. How old do they think he is!! He
couldn't be the kid's dad! Grrrrr! He does glare down at them a little bit
though. "Don't tell, a'right? I'm just takin' 'im out f'r a taste of what
he's gonna have t' d' 'fore I try t' get 'im in the program. 'at is if he
still wants." he glances back at the red haired girl and then smirks
lightly, "'n f'r yer information, I d' hate women!" Ok, so he couldn't
resist after all.

"You'd better," she mutters just on the edge of hearing. Whether he catches
it or not is totally up in the air. The guards chuckle and nod, "Alright,
alright. Go on through. Don't let him rub off on you, kid," one of them
says to the 'Trainee hopeful'. "In fact when you come back lemme know and
I'll introduce you to some top quality women (ahem), and bring your cos
along too if you can. I doubt even he could hate these." Kyleigh does the
only thing she can think would be appropriate at a time like this and
grunts non-commitally, kicking her horse into motion. She's definately
eager to get out of there.

"Milk-drinkers." Neelkan mutters under his breath, as he knees his horse
out of the gates as well, shaking his head. Yes, he likes women like that
(as in he is attracted to them), but he's not a jerk who thinks women are
for only one purpose! There's a huge difference between abhoring the
gender, and wanting to use the gender for his own pleasures. He's had women
in his bed before, a lot less since he got into the Tower, but still, it's
not that he likes men or anything. Grr. He hates men even more actually!
Especially those kinds of men. "Now all we gotta d' is get through the city
gate. We'll keep with 'is cousin thin', it works better."

Kyleigh doesn't want to know about his bedding habits!! Or anyone's for
that matter! However the little conversation with the guards has jolted her
out of her funk a little bit. At least they didn't talk about seducing
novices in front of her. That she just wouldn't have been able to handle.
"Fine. Let's just hurry." There is a bit of relief that they're at least
out of the Tower, and a little bit of dread that the next guards will be
like these last ones. Suddenly she jerks her head even down more as an Aes
Sedai she knows passes right by them, heading into the Tower. The woman
doesn't bat an eyelash though, oblivious to the girl's blocked ability.

"Don't go runnin' the horse 'r nothin'. 'at'll just attract attention," but
Neelkan does knee his horse to a slightly faster walk as he leads the way
towards the only opened gate in the city. It doesn't take too long, as the
streets aren't as full at the night-hours as they usually are during the
day, but it still takes a while. He glances down at the guards and says,
"'ey, I'm Neelkan Gaidin, gonna take a ride 'side the city with m' cousin
'ere who's visitin'. Prolly won't b' back 'fore mornin'." He actually uses
his title. Well, there are times when titles are needed.

These guards aren't nearly as friendly and just glance over the pair,
taking note of the cloak before waving them on. As they cross the bridge
Kyleigh breathes a sigh of relief and actually relaxes a little. Once
they're across the bridge and out of sight of the guard post she pulls up
beside him and stops her horse. "Thank you... You might think about lying
low for a while... I doubt Wyntere will be happy that I'm gone." She
reaches into her pack and holds out a little purse of coins. "Here. That
should help. You can tell them I forced you to help me or something. I
don't care."

"What the bloody Light ya talkin' 'bout girl? I'm goin' with ya." Neelkan
insists, pushing the purse away, "Now come on. 'less ya wanna go back t'
the guards 'n 'xplain t' 'em 'at yer a run 'way Novice from the Tower?" He
knees his horse on and starts down the road, listening behind him to make
sure she moves to follow and doesn't take off into the woods or anything.
If she does, then he's going to move to follow no doubt, but either way,
he's moving on. Why would he want to go with her?

That's what she'd like to know, which is the only reason she follows him,
really! "What?? No, no, you got me out. That was the deal. Besides you
don't even know where I'm going!" Muahahahahah, the scowl is back and in
full force, though it's having to vye with sheer surprise for posession of
her features. You've served your purpose, now shoo!

Turning his horse around, Neelkan shoots one of his best blue-eyed glares
at her as he says, "Listen 'ere, /girl/. Yer right. I don't know where yer
goin', but 'til ya get 'ere, I'm responsable f'r ya! So shut up, sit on 'at
horse, 'n 'ank the Light at I gave m' help!" He glares a little more, then
adds, "I'm a Gaidin of the flamin' Tower, 'n it's in m' mission statement
t' take care of the women who train in it, 'n I don't care if ya've quit,
'til I see ya where yer goin safely, I ain't leavin! So where're we goin?"

Kyleigh's green eyes meet his blue ones and just continually widen during
this little tirade. She just sits there in stunned silence after his
question and doesn't answer for a long moment, her ire growing. "And here I
thought they taught Gaidin better manners." She narrows a glare at him and
then kicks her horse into a trot. "I don't know," she murmurs as she passes
him. Oh that's great Kyle, juuuust great. Well.. she usually has plans, if
it's any consolation, just not right now. "The Blight for all I care, or if
that will get you off my back."

"All the better I'm 'long 'en, so ya don't get yer fool self killed! 'r
worse." Neelkan turns his horse again to head down the road next to her,
glaring in front of him. "'n ya know I was a bandit 'fore I was a trainee,
so m' manners were already corrupt." He looks right ahead, then shakes his
head a little bit, white whisps of hair falling in front of his face,
"'ere's not many villages down 'is road anymore, with the Fort so close, so
we'll prolly have t' ride all night 'n most of t'morrow. If ya wanna try t'
sleep on the horse ya can, 'n I'll lead yer horse." No mention of him
sleeping at all. He can make it for a while. He doesn't like sleeping
anyway. "We should head south-west. Soon as ya find someplace 'at ya can
find a place t' stay 'n somethin' t' d' t' get yerself some coin so ya can
take care of yerself, I'll leave." The second he agreed to help her get
out, he took her safty into his hands, and he won't let anyone say that he
failed as a man because he let a little girl ride off to her death. And
plus, he wanted to get away for a while anyway. He can't stand to think of
Varcel and Espiria bonded. *grump*

Awwww, poor Neelkan. Not! Kyleigh is cruel and has no sympathy of the
pitiful plight of gilted men! Ok, ok, that's not quite true. If she really
didn't care she probably wouldn't be running away. But he's annoying her.
The only reason she's not fighting this more is because she full intends to
take off as soon as he falls asleep. "Whatever. I'm probably more capable
of taking care of myself than you are. Lest you forget I -can- channel."
Just... not unless she's in pain, but she's not going to mention that part.
"I'm not tired," she says stubbornly, and for the moment that's actually
true. She's got too much adrenaline in her blood from the escape to be
tired. That will fade soon though. After a moment she asks, "Why
south-west?"

"Channel? So what? Lest /you/ f'rget 'at the bloody Forts only one day ride
'atta way," Neelkan points in the direction of the fort, knowing his
direction fairly well, "With dozens 'n dozens of channelers, male 'n
female, who would b' quite happy t' kick yer ass, shield ya, 'n try t'
convert ya t' 'ier way of thin', 'r just hold ya prisoner til ya die. I've
been in 'ose cells. 'ey ain't pretty!" He mutters a little bit, shaking his
head, "'n have ya e'er fought a Trolloc? A Fade? 'is isn't a story, lil'
girl, 'n 'ose thin's aren't just found up in the Blight. 'ere's thin's out
'ere 'at would o'er welm ya. 'n I'm not e'en gonna mention what a couple
bandits would d' t' ya. I've fought channelers, male channelers e'en! It
ain't 'at tough, so don't act all high 'n mighty just cause ya know how t'
stur a lil' wind 'r light a bloody candle!" Grr. He glares straight ahead,
and then finally answers, "'n south-west is the safest way t' go. 'n I've
been 'at way, too."

Kyleigh's eyes narrow more and more as he continues, though she actually
pales a little more at what he doesn't mention about the bandits than
anything else. Finally she gets fed up and pulls her knife, which she stuck
in her boot when she put it on, out. Instead of trying to use it to attack
him though she slashes her own arm and seizes the Source, tying a filament
of Air between his horse's front legs, because no matter how big she talks,
or what threats she makes she's only used the power offensively to actually
harm once, and if she has her preference she'll never do it again. "As a
matter of fact I have fought Darkhounds." Well, ok, that's not entirely
true. She almost got killed by Darkhounds but the Amyrlin saved her. Still,
it sounds good. "And I am -not- a little girl. My name is Kyleigh and if
you don't start using it I'll tie you up and gag you and leave -you- for
bandits." No, she didn't like that reference at all. At least she's not
protesting his coming anymore, right?

Ok, the horse suddenly can't seem to step forward and starts to stumble,
and Neelkan doesn't know what's going on except that that girl just STABBED
HERSELF! What the bloody Light was THAT for!?!? He rolls off the horse and
then moves rather quickly (though not as quickly as he could with his
earrings in support), intent of prying the knife out of her hand as he
attempts to pull her down off her own horse. "What 'n the bloody Light d'
ya think yer doin'!? Cuttin' yerself!? Don't ya e'er d' 'at 'gain, ya 'ear
m'! Ya bloody women!! I don't understand ya at all!!" Once he's done
ranting and yelling he settles down to try and get a look at the cut, still
having no idea why she would possibly do such a thing to herself, but he
isn't about to let it bleed any longer then he has to, "Ya can try t' tie
m' up 'n leave m' t' the bandits, but I doubt ya could d' it. Ky, ya need
m', 'n the sooner ya admit t' it, the sooner we can get ya far from the
Tower! 'n whatever the bloody Light ya did t' m' horse, I hope it was worth
possibly alertin' a Dreadlord 'r Shadowspawn of where we are." He knows a
little bit about channeling lore. Enough to know that channelers and most
Shadowspawn can feel other channelers channeling.

"Let go of m- oof!" Kyleigh in the struggle ends up on her butt in the
dirt. "That's my block you moron! Now that's my knife and I want it back!"
She pulls her arm away from him, glaring furiously, "Don't touch me. I know
what I'm doing." Burn it, why does he have to be right though? She -hates-
that. And it seems to happen so frequently. She hadn't even thought that
there would be any other channelers nearby, she just let her emotions run
away with her like she always does. Cradling her arm she looks away. "I
just want to be left alone," she says quietly, but bitterly. She seems to
have calmed down though, possibly to the point of some semblance of
docility, but she still clearly isn't happy.

Shoving the knife into his belt, not listening to her at all, he pulls out
a small scarf he carries around to wrap bread in when he wants to get
something to eat and reaches to grab her arm, "I don't know anythin' 'bout
a block, but ya need t' get 'at fixed up, a'right? Now just let m' clean 'n
bandage it, a'right?" Neelkan looks at her for a few moments, and no matter
what she says he stands up and goes to his horse to help it calm down so he
can get a waterskin from his pack and head back over, weting the small
scarf and reaching to try and grab her arm so he can clean the wound, while
saying, "I'll give ya yer knife back, 'long as ya promise not t' stab
yerself with it anymore 'round m'. Ya don't need t' be channelin' 'til
we're much further 'way from 'ere. Ya may not realize, but the Fort /does/
have Shadowspawn, and I'd really like t' avoid fightin' any b' m'self, are
we clear on 'is?"

Kyleigh snorts. "You act like a Yellow you know that? I've never seen
someone so squemish over a little cut before," well... not -that- little.
It is bleeding after all. She refuses to watch him bandage her arm though,
perhaps pretending that it isn't happening. She listens, though that's not
easy to tell seeing as she does her best to look like she's not listening,
and after a few moments of silence she says, "a block is what keeps a
wilder from channeling whenever she wants to. I channeled before I was
trained so I have one, and it happens to be that I have to be in pain. I
can find other ways of causing it if you insist on keeping my knife, but
I'm not going to let you keep me from channeling." After another pause she
releases the weave she put on the horse and then the Source, not that he
would be able to tell the latter. She's not about to admit that he was
right that this was a bad place to be doing it though. But she isn't really
in the mood to be yelled at either so she adds grudgingly, "but I won't
until we're farther away." And even that was like pulling her own teeth, so
don't expect any kind of apology!

"Don't /e'er/ compare m' t' the Yellows, Ky!" Neelkan growls, but he
doesn't stop in fixing up her cut, nor does it stop him from tying the
scarf there as a bandage before he stands up and dusts off his hands. He
wasn't squimish about the blood, but she's under his protection now,
whether she likes it or not. The block thing does purplex him a little bit.
It kinda ruins not wanting her to be hurt. "Fine." He pulls the knife and
hands it back, hilt towards her. "Let's go, a'right? We're wastin' time we
could b' usin' gettin' 'way from 'ere." He doesn't want to spend too many
nights sleeping outside.

Kyleigh sticks her tongue out at him while his back is turned and stands
up, brushing her pants off. Hey, she's still a novice. She's allowed to be
a little childish. Er.. wait, she's not a novice anymore. Dang. There goes
that excuse. She resheaths her little kitchen knife and hops back into her
saddle. "I could probably be half way to somewhere by now on my own," she
mutters, but not very loudly. And she does start her horse south-west, so
maybe she's just going to pretend to protest the whole way. That's better
than being tied up with the Power though, right? "Why shouldn't I compare
you to the Yellows," she asks after a pause, her curiousity getting the
better of her for the moment.

Pulling himself up onto his own saddle, Neelkan glares towards her for a
moment before following after with his own horse. Two horses stolen from
the Tower, no less... Ah well. He shrugs at the question, then responds,
"'cause I don't like the Yellows 'n 'ey don't like m'. I spent a couple
months in the Infirmary 'en I first came t' the island. 'n a few more times
since."

Kyleigh smirks and glances at him sidelong. "Then can I drive you away by
telling you I can Heal?" She's not really serious, and it's a tribute to
her strange mood that she can even think of making a joke. I guess a verbal
row just... helped her forget about all the bad things that have happened
recently. Hmmmm, maybe she -should- keep him around a little longer. It
really is too bad Aes Sedai can't heal themselves. Now she's going to have
a scar from that cut... Back in the Tower she could just go get it
healed... She's definately going to have to find a better pain inducement.

"I have notin' 'gainst Healers. In fact, 'at's nice t' know, case I get
hurt tryin' t' protect ya." Neelkan continues on, staring ahead of him,
until he yawns briefly, then snaps his mouth shut. He is not tired. He will
not yawn. He has no need for sleep. Sleep is bad.

Kyleigh snorts and tries to take his reigns from him. "Some Gaidin. You
sleep on your horse and I'll lead." Of course that actually happening is
unlikely. What is likely though is that they pass a few hours of travel
bickering occasionally, with long stretches of silence in between until
finally the only really sensible thing to do is to stop and rest. After
all, they shouldn't be missed until tomorrow so they should have enough of
a head start. A suitable camp sight is found and prepared and Kyle sets up
what Wards she can whether he likes it or not before settling uncomfortably
into sleep.

Sleep is bad for a reason... Neelkan doesn't sleep well, as she will no
doubt learn eventually.

But look at it this way... at least Neelkan doesn't grope in his sleep.

Much.

Next time, find out if Neelkan awakes with both hands still attached to his
body.