01/31/2001

Mooorning has broooken! Like the first moooorning! Actually, let's keep
Kyle from singing shall we? Because she's terrible at it, and if Neelkan
isn't already awake it would likely wake him up, and then kill him by
overloading the pain sensors in his ear drums. To make a long story short,
unlike some people, she can't sing a note. Meanwhile, back in the woods
though she's just starting to wake up, and let me tell you, she is not a
morning person. However she is wrapped in the warm fuzzy blanket that was
Wyntere's last gift to her before the ungreatful wretch up and ran away.
It's a really nice blanket though, a red one as a matter of fact so... it
doesn't blend in very well. But she likes it anyway. Slowly she cracks open
one green eye and peeps about.

Well, Kyleigh may not be able to sing, but Neelkan can. That doesn't mean
he is. He has been awake for about an hour though, and has saddled the
horses again and was planning to try to wake the former-Novice in a little
while. He doesn't mind that she's sleeping late, he just can't sleep after
he gets woken up by a dream. So he didn't even attempt to go back when he
woke up. He glances over and notices that she has an eye open and says
softly, "Mornin'. We better get movin' soon if we wanna find a village." He
doesn't seem to be in a rush at least. But he certainly doesn't sound like
he's a very chipper person in the morning himself. At least he didn't yell
though, right?

Right! Gooood Gaidin. Kyleigh grumbles and sits up, keeping the blanket
around her. Mumblegrumblegroangrump. "What's for breakfast?" What, he
didn't expect her to start riding without anything in her tummy did he? She
snuggles deeper into her blanket, just her eyes peeking out for the moment,
well and little bits of orange hair. Did the Wards hold? Well, they're
still in one piece aren't they? The good thing about being hungry though is
that is a kind of pain so she embraces to take them down and... blinks!
Very slowly she starts to float off the ground. "Holy flaming pig swallop!"
She shrieks and kicks and in her surprise/fright she disentangles herself
from the blanket which proceeds to rise again without her, depositing her
just as soundly in the dirt as he did yesterday. "Oof." Someone is going to
have a bruised bottom if these keeps up. She just stares up at the blanket
as it gets about a foot above her head and then stops.

"Breakfast?" Blood and ashes. What does he look like? A chef? Neelkan
grumbles and moves over to his pack, unrolling it enough to fish out a bag
of some dried foods that he packed along for the ride. "I didn't have any
time t' set traps, so yer gonna have t' live with 'is. I'm not 'xactly a
good hunter, so unless yer flami--" eh? He glances over as she curses and
shrieks and kicks and... was she floating for a second? "What in the
flamin'...? it.. it.. blood 'n ashes! 'at blanket's floatin'!" Thank you,
Master of the Bloody Obvious.

Wait a sec... Kyleigh continues to stare up at the blanket, and then
releases the source, and it promptly dumps itself on her head. There are a
couple beats of silence and then an excited squeel as she digs her way out.
Alright, we have hit on one of the things that makes Kyle -very- happy, and
that is new knowledge. This is even better than normal because it's a new
toy as well. "Didyouseethat?" She lays the blanket flat on the ground and
sits on it before she embraces again. They both begin to float again and
she's actually beaming in disbelief and delight. "Look! I'm flying! Wait,
wait, come sit on it too. I wonder how much weight it can hold! How the
heck do I land this thing? Go down," she tries to command the blanket, but
it ignores her.. and keeps rising.. uh oh... if she just releases the
source now she'll fall... again!

"..." Neelkan is just going to stare in stark amazement, alright? This is
not something he ever expected to see when he was awake. The power is one
thing, but a flying /blanket/ is another!! He can handle fires! He can
handle balls of water floating through the air! He can handle lightning! He
can handle gusts of wind! But a flying /BLANKET/ is a little out there!! He
works his mouth a little with wordlessly, then yells, "Get down from 'ere!
'fore ya fall!" Hey, he's never seen a flying blanket before, cut the boy
some slack, alright?

Cut -him- some slack?? What about her?? "I can't!" The blanket, headless of
both of them just continues to rise until she's out of reach. If she was
thinking and not panicking here she would realize that she's jumped off the
roof of the Tower and caught herself on an Air trampoline thing that Kaomi
taught her. But she's not thinking right now. Besides, it would be far more
interesting to try and figure this toy out. "How the... ok, verbal commands
don't work... so..." She takes a deep breath and tries to think of the
blanket as going down, and promptly drops like a rock towards the ground
with yet another shriek. Sorry, she's a loud female.

She's a loud female, and he's a quick guy. With a spring, Neelkan is moving
towards where theblanket and the girl would fall and aims to catch her. It
doesn't quite end up right as the blanket smacks him in the face and then
the body falls. He's able to catch her for the most part (though he may
have his hands in some.. err... bad places) before he falls down himself
under the tangle of flying blanket and long limbed novice. Ow... this is
why he hates women.

Ooooh boy. Where to begin? Well, it takes Kyle a second to realize that she
isn't dead, or even hurting all that much, and that she's landed on
something rather soft. With the blanket in the way she had no idea anyone
was under her. The second thing she notices are his hands in the
aforementioned bad places. Normal girls would naturally be upset, and
probably a little embarassed about this, and they might even smack the guy
around a little (even if he is as cute as Neelkan) but Kyle's reaction is a
little... extreme. First of all... a nearby tree explodes in flames. She
didn't exactly conciously try to do it, just... memories kicked in and her
channeling simply reacted. Thankfully she didn't light -him- on fire
though. Her subconscious just wouldn't allow that. Second of all, she leaps
away from him, trying to drag the blanket with her because it's -her-
blanket dammit, and because it's something to hide behind and glare at him
around. Glaring and setting a tree on fire are all she does though because
frankly she's too terrified to snap.

Hey, cut him some slack, he was trying to help!! It's not like he
/intentionally/ grabbed her there! Grr. Neelkan immediately lets his hands
drop and lays back on the ground and just waits for her to get off of him,
though the sound of a tree exploding does surprise him. Meep! What was
that!? He waits until she's off (and the blanket) and looks towards the
tree with a shocked look, then towards the girl before he says, "Uh... ya
a'right?" He really hopes that was her who blew up the tree... he doesn't
want to fight any channelers today! "Was 'at.. uh.. ya?"

Kyleigh continue holding the blanket up in front of her, looking at him
warily over the edge of it. She glances towards the tree and just nods,
returning her gaze to him after only a split second. It's not really that
she thinks he did it intentionally, or that she's worried he's going to try
it again. She's just very, very uncomfortable at the moment and not quite
sure how to get over it, and not entirely sure she wants to get overit. She
doesn't even realize just yet that she's still embraced and the blanket
isn't floating anywhere.

Um... ok... Neelkan's gonna guess that she's a little sensative when it
comes to those things, so he just nods and moves to get together the
parishable food that he had in his pack and walks about half the distance
to her and sets it down, "If yer still hungry, 'ere. I'd like t' leave 'is
place in a few hours." He moves back over to their horses and makes sure
they weren't too spooked from the tree exploding, though, it seems they
were rather spooked before he added, "Uh.. I'm sorry, by the way. Try not
t' go flyin' off 'gain, a'right?"

Kyleigh continues to watch him warily, and takes a couple steps back as he
advances. Once he leaves the food alone though she practically pounces on
it, keeping the blanket wrapped around her. Despite her ravenousness she
actually has fair manners, and she even swallows before asking, "Why a few
hours? Why not when I'm done eating?" Yes, she's still just a little
suspicious... irationally so but that's Kyle for you. She doesn't reply to
either the apology, or the request to not go flying off again, or at least
she views it as a request, whether he intended it that way or not.

"Uh... I dunno... I just thought ya might wanna d'.. ya know.. girl
things." The way Neelkan says that shows how completely oblivious he is to
what exactly a girl may wish to do, all he knows is that as far as he can
remember from his vast experience with sisters, whatever it is that they
/do/ do, can sometimes take a great deal of time. "We can leave whene'er
yer ready though."

Kyleigh chuckles, his obliviousness putting her a little at ease. "I'm not
getting dressed up for a party here." And even if she were it's not like
she'd take the time to make herself look pretty. If anything she tries to
make herself look unattractive. Suddenly she realizes she's actually no
longer in a bad mood and frowns slightly. That's not good. I mean.. it is
good, because that's why I left really but... considering all that's
happened do I really have the right to be anything resembling happy? It
certainly seems like a slap in the face to Corbie's memory, and Helios'
loss. She finishes enough of the food to ease her hunger and stands up,
carrying the rest back to her own pack, or at least that was the plan. Both
horses, after having calmed down from the channeling display are a bit...
upset again. One rears up and takes off into the woods before either of
them can do much to stop it. "Blood and ash!" There is a horse-like scream
from the woods and then silence. Looks like there's something out there...

Blood 'n ashes. Neelkan pulls the sword out of the sheath that's was laying
on the ground near his feet, and his fan goes into his other hand a second
later. "Stay 'ere a'right. 'n don't go blowin' up anythin' 'til we know
what it is." It could just be someone in the woods that spooked the horse.
Or it could be a Trolloc or something. Just incase he glances at the
remaining horse and makes sure that none of the packs are on him. His pack
is luckily on the ground (along with his cloak), so just in case they have
to make a run for it he can have her carry it while he keeps himself armed.
With that said, and himself armed, he starts towards the woods. Not quite
the appearance of a Warder, but he certainly moves gracefully enough. He
just doesn't have the look that causes most people to cower away down quite
yet. And he certainly could never pull off stone-faced.

There is a low growl... and then a Trolloc does indeed burst from the
direction the horse went in. Kyleigh doesn't even try to hold onto their
remaining horse's reins because she'd probably just get trampled and that
wouldn't do anyone any good. That's wierd thoug because.. Trollocs don't
usually go off by themselves. This one actually looks wounded though, and
so maybe what little judgement it had to begin with has been impaired.
Maybe that's why it charges an armed Gaidin (even one who doesn't really
look the part) without a Fade telling it too and without any weapon except
it's wolf claws.

As soon as the creature appears from the woods, the Gaidin stops in his
tracks and sets his feet. Well, at least it's just one Trolloc instead of
twenty. Neelkan can handle one Trolloc. It makes him quite happy that there
is no Fade or other Trollocs to back him up. The fact that the creature
looks hurt doesn't slow him for a moment as he waits until the creature is
close enough before he even moves from his spot. Using the sword, he
slashes towards the head area while he keeps the closed metal fan to block
one of those claws from hitting him.

The squeel of claw against steel is almost painful in and of itself, but
far less so than that claw raking against flesh would have been. Suddenly
the Shadowspawn just.. isn't moving anymore and it's head goes rolling in
the dirt. That was almost pitifully easy... Almost dissapointingly so.
Well, some people might find it disappointing. Others would just be
grateful they're alive. Kyleigh is peering out from being huddled in her
blanket again and just staring at him and the dead Trolloc.

Hearing the sounds of battle, Marek holds his hands up to his troops. The
motioning in silent, he motions for them to split up ad circle the area.
While he continues riding his horse foreward to the scene of the crime. If
you call killing a trolloc a crime. The men move in silent as bid though
you could hear Marek's horse approaching.

That was easy. But Neelkan's glad it wasn't too much harder. He glances
over his fan to make sure it wasn't damaged or dented too badly, mainly he
tests it by sliding it open and closed once, then putting it aside. His
sword is whipped on a clean.. err... cleaner part of the Trolloc body and
he nods, glancing back at Kyleigh to make sure she's alright before hearing
the sound of a horse. He raises the sword again, just in case. Though it's
said that a Fade's horse doesn't make any noise...

Kyleigh glances towards the sound of the horse and says softly, "Maybe it's
yours, coming back..." Now, Kyle is not one to look on the bright side of
life, but in potentially Very Bad situations, she does have some room for a
little hope. And may I add that this is exactly why it's a very good thing
he came with? Some channeler you are Kyleigh! Hey! It's not like I plan to
be a Green! Excuses, excuses. As the sound draws closer though she does
make sure that Neelkan is between her and it, though she doesn't get too
close either, not wanting to get caught in the fray if there is one.

The horse with cloaked rider pulls up short of the small clearing where the
two of you reside. A grin can be seen from the clean shaven chin under the
hood. "Well, look what we have here." Marek makes a soft bow in his saddle.
"Princess, your mother is worried over you. I've been sent to bring you
back. Now sir, if you'll so kindly release the princess, perhaps the Queen
will be merciful with you. If not, then accidents do happen." He whistles
slightly in the air and the gaurds pop up between the trees with crossbows
aimed at Neelkan.

.... Prin..cess..? Neelkan's eyes widen significantly. He doesn't have any
idea what these people are talking about except that they have crossbows
pointed at him. Even with his earrings he doubts that he could dodge every
one of those, so he just stands there. Or, at least, his equivilant of
standing there. He's still shifting around his feet a little and glancing
back to look at Kyleigh. Princess? He don't see no stinkin' princess.
Finally, he says something, "What're ya talkin' 'bout? I'm not holdin'
anyone!" He doesn't lower his sword though. Hey, would you?

Kyleigh blinkblink...blinkblinkblink...blinkblinks... and then she starts
to laugh. "Um... what?" Princess?? She starts to laugh harder. "Did Wyntere
put you guys up to this?" It sounds like something she'd do because it's
just too ridiculous to be believed. She remains huddled in her blanket, not
because she's afraid just because it's comfy. She does bite down hard on
the inside of her cheek though and embrace, just in case they actually plan
to use those crossbows.

Marek glances to his men and they tak a step closer. Then his eyes look
straight towards Kyleigh, "Princess, it's pointless to resist. I've heard
them all before. And you know who I am. Am I going to have to come over
there to get you or are you going to consent and come over here to me? And
like I said, your mother, Her Royal Highness asked us to search for you.
This is no laughing matter." Then he glances to Neelkan, "I'm glad to see
you aren't holding the Princess captive. I suggest you put down your sword
before further complications arise. And please tell the Princess to come
over here so that I may take her back to the palace. Her mother is worried
sick and I'm not going back without her. I'm sorry if this ruins your
eloping, but the Princess already has a fiance." Wyntere... why does that
name ring a bell? Marek tries hard to place the face. He knows he has heard
that name before.

Looking back and forth from the man on the horse and the novice that he
helped escape, Neelkan looks completely dumbfounded. "Yer a princess?" he
whispers in the girl's direction sometime in the middle of the man's tirade
before he gets to the part about eloping and fiance. "'ey 'ey 'ey 'ey 'ey
'ey 'ey!! Hold on a bloody flamin' minute!! I'm not elopin' with no one!!
Burn me!!" He does lower his sword at least, if only because he's too
confused not to. "I don't bloody know what's goin' on 'ere, milk-drinker,
but if Ky don't wanna go with ya, 'en I'm not 'bout t' let ya take 'er." He
glances towards the 'princess'. "Ya sure ya don't know 'ese guys?"

Kyleigh stares at Marek slack jawed and then shouts at Neelkan, "I am -not-
a princess!" And then just to everyone in general, "And I'm not eloping
with anyone! And I don't have a fiance! I don't know who the flame you are,
but I am a novice of the White Tower," heh, a runaway one at that, "and
I'll prove it to you if you think that necessary. Who are you anyway?"
Either this Princess is an -exceptional- actor, or there's something very
strange going on here. Instead of protesting that she doesn't need Neelkan
to protect her though she actually steps a little closer, eyeing the guards
warily. I'll be burned if anyone is going to take me anywhere and force me
to marry some... man.

"So if your not eloping her, then you kidnapped Princess Amalthea? That's
even worse, son." Marek nods to his gaurds men. "Take him prisoner." And
now the gaurds move in a few steps closer. 10 of them total with crossbows
still on Neelkan, three move forward to arrest him. Then the man glances
back to Kyleigh as she starts yelling. He holds his hand up and the gaurds
freeze. Swinging a leg down off the horse, his hood falls back and you
actually see that Marek, is a female. Yes, there's more than one person
acting here. "Calm down, Princess. Alright, we'll talk before going back to
the palace and your parents. What is it? You not like the man they chose
for you? That's a common occurance. We can talk to Her Highness about it."
Then she tilts her head to the side. "Wait, you truly don't know who I am,
do you? I'm Mareka Guerette, Advisor and Ambassador to the Queen of
Aelgar." She makes a flourished bow/curtsey type thing. "And if your not
the Princess, then who are you both?" Her green eyes flicker between both
'captives' now.

Um... Um... Neelkan blinks as the men come forward to arrest him, and he
grumbles but lets them take his sword, but if they try to hold his arms he
starts to pull a little bit and protests that he doesn't need to be held.
Grr. He blinks in surprise at the female Ambassador and at her declaration
that she's an Ambassador to the Queen of Aelgar, or whatever. "Look, lady,
I'm Neelkan. I'm a Gaidin of the flamin' White Tower, 'n she really /is/ a
Novice..." Or... was... bah. whatever. He motions towards the pack laying
on the ground over near Ky and says, "M' Gaidin cloaks e'en in 'ere if ya
don't believe m', but I didn't kidnap 'er, I swear. I'm not in the habit of
kidnappin' girls." Even when he /was/ a bandit.

Kyleigh doesn't react much to the female Ambassador. She's surprised, but
she's more angry right now, and Mareka or whatever her name is being female
makes her a little easier to deal with in Kyle's mind. "I told you, I'm a
novice, and he really is a Gaidin. I've never met anyone named Amalthea,
and my name is Kyleigh." That's so strange that she could be mistaken not
just for any princess, but a specific one... She takes a deep breath and
slowly pulls off one of her gloves. "Does your Princess have hands like
this?" As in.. ones that are missing their pinkies. Icky. She hates
uncovering her hands, but being carted off and married would be infinately
worse.

Mareka ignores Neelkan right now and deals with Kyleigh first. Seeing her
hands, Marek takes a step back. "No, she doesn't unless your Gaidin here
cut them off. But seeing you so attached to him, I can reason you are who
you say you are." Glancing to her gaurds, she waves her hands to let
Neelkan alone. "A gaidin and a novice. I thought the name Wyntere sounded
familiar." The woman crosses her arms over her chest. "Now I should ask
-what- are you doing away from the tower? Or are you an Aes Sedai in
disguise? Here's what I suggest. We all mount up and head to the palace at
Aelgar. From there, I can send word to the tower of your where abouts and
work a deal upon your safe return from there." Wyntere. Yes, we shall
remember that name. And by the sound of it, you -are- going to Aelgar.

No... pinkies? Neelkan blinks a few dozen times. Obviously he had not known
this before. He doesn't say anything though, just stands there silently. He
may be the one who has been calling the shots (to an extent) so far, but he
pretty much said he would watch her until she was safetly to wherever she
wanted to go, and then he was planning to go back to the Tower.

Kyleigh lifts her nose in the air with all the haughtiness of a bratty
channeler. "What we are doing out of the Tower is none of your business."
An Aes Sedai in diguise? No, she's not going to pretend that. She's already
said she's a novice... and that would -really- get her in trouble. As
calmly as she can she slips her glove back on, stuffing her hands in her
pockets. "Why do you want me to come to Aelgar anyway? I'm not your
princess."

Marek glances around at her gaurds a moment and nods to one of them that
comes up behind Kyleigh. "Perhaps why you are out of the towre is none of
my business, but I know enough to know you shouldn't be here without an Aes
Sedai. So if there's an Aes Sedai near, I'd like to know. May I also remind
you that I have the upper hand here. There are 10 men around you right know
with crossbows." And you see those crossbows raise up at that. "Taking you
to the palace is simple. You shouldn't be out here alone and the palace is
safer for you until an Aes Sedai can come get you. You don't really have a
choice." The Aelgar ambassador raises her hood back over her head and turns
to Neelkan, "Gaidin, you are in charge of your party. Why don't you join us
at the palace for food and drink to rest your feet whie we send an Aes
Sedai for the novice? The guests rooms there are comfortable and it
wouldn't hurt returning with this princess you have in your care." Nah, she
doesn't care much for tower folk, but when you're an ambassador you learn
to work with people.

Neelkan clicks his tongue against the roof of his mouth for a moment before
saying, "Excuse me for a moment. I must speak with my 'charge'." As long as
they don't abstruct him any, he moves over to Kyleigh and lowers his voice
a little, "I think we should go with 'em, 'least back t' 'eir palace. I'll
ask 'em not t' send f'r 'n Aes Sedai if ya want, 'n soon as 'is mess is
settled ya can go on yer way. Aelgar's not a bad place, I 'ear. Ya might
'cide t' stay 'ere." And then he can go back to the Tower. But he isn't
going to put her into a situation that might force her to return against
her will. He may think she's a little psycho, but he doesn't think anyone
should be forced to do something.

Kyleigh frowns at Neelkan and glances at Mareka, really really wanting to
argue about just how much choice she has. A shield of Air would make it
hard to intimidate her with those crossbows wouldn't it? She really really
-really- wants to argue about Neelkan being in charge too, but she has a
feeling that would get her absolutely nowhere. Finally the novice sighs and
chews on her lip. "If you promise you won't let them send for an Aes
Sedai... I'll go," she whispers back. Just a little psycho though? She'll
have to work on that. ;) "I can get us out of here though." She wiggles the
blanket a little. Ok, maybe that's not such a good idea after all
considering what happened the last time, but this is all making Kyle feel a
little too helpless, which is a very bad thing.

Marek glances to these two. Kyleigh, Kyleigh, a little bump on the back of
your head to knock you out would render channeling useless. The ambassador
waits the decision. "Are you going to come as my guests or my prisoners?
I'd much prefer you to be my guests. Guests are treated much more kindly
and it'll make the negoitations easier between us and the tower. I'm sure
they are missing you, Kyleigh. At least someone there is. Come be our
honored guest for awhile and perhaps the Queen will treat you like one of
the princess's, isn't that every girl's dream?" Well, doesn't that sound
better than a dungeon cell waiting for Wyntere to come find you?

"Shut up lady!" Neelkan snaps over, then nods at the girl's response,
"A'right." When he turns back to the woman he says, "Now listen 'ere, we'll
go with ya on a condition. One, don't contact the Aes Sedai, I'll handle
any communication with the Tower m'self." Which of course means none.
"Two... uh... 'ere is no two. Just don't worry 'bout comunicatin' with the
Tower, a'right?"

Kyleigh glares at Marek from behind Neelkan, still huddled into that
blanket Wynt gave her. It's a security blanket! ;) She let's Neelkan do the
talking for the moment though because he's supposedly in charge and she's
keeping her eye out for any itchy trigger fingers or guards trying to sneak
up behind them. :P You may be able to knock her out, but can you shield
her? Er.. unless she has some forkroot.. That would not be good.

Marek glances to the men at that responce. "Very well. Have it your way.
Let's go." She reaches over and grabs the reigns of her horse. "Princess,
would you like to ride with me? I don't bite and neither does the horse."
Well, Kyleigh might as well get used to the title now. "And that way I can
help you out on the manners of a princess. How to walk and address people.
Where your quarters will be. IF I can mistake you, the rest of the world
can." Mareka holds a hand out to help Kyleigh upon the horse. Nope, she
isn't planning on taking the blanket from the girl. It's just a blanket.
"Gaidin, you have your steed? If not, two of my men and double up and you
can ride one of theirs. Once we get to the palace, we can get you settled
in the guest quarters until things are cleared up."

Um... horse? Well, it got spooked by the Trolloc. Neelkan glances at
Kyleigh for a moment then says, "I'll be right back. I'm gonna go see if it
stayed close." Or if the Trolloc killed it. Sigh. He should have asked for
Wartrained horses instead of normal riding horses. But he didn't know he
was going to have a Trolloc nearby. Grr. He starts to move off into the
woods to look, if no one protests, either way he doesn't get his horse
back, so the others are forced to double up so he can have his own horse,
which he makes sure to put his pack (which includes his cloak -- which is
sticking out halfway) and then gets on, muttering something about how
Aelgar horses aren't half as good as the Tower horse.

It would be a bit of an understatement to say Kyleigh really doesn't want
to ride with Marek. She would almost... rather ride behind Neelkan.
-Almost-. What she really wants to do is ride on her blanket, but... she
doesn't want to take another spill and further embarass herself. Dilemas,
dilemas. She almost says she's rather walk, but knows that wouldn't fly
either. So grudgingly she lets Marek pull her up onto the horse. "I don't
see why they can't double up again so -I- can have my own horse," she
grumbles, and then blinks at Neelkan, realizing that they're doing the same
thing, even if it's on different subjects. Scary. "What are you talking
about though? What does the rest of the world mistakign me fo-" She stops
dead in mid sentence and almost hops back off the horse. "Oh no, Oh no you
don't. I can't impersonate a princess! If that's what this is all about
then you can forget it!"

Marek grins and relaxes seeing these two cooperating. She helps Kyleigh up
on the horse and then rides behind her to keep a close watch on the novice.
"You can impersonate the princess and do a terrific job. We have those
willing to train you and it won't be forever, just until we find Princess
Amelthea again. It's either that, or I can take you directly to the tower.
Look at it this way, it's something you can tell people later. Like when
you become an Aes Sedai. Great story to tell novices before bed. It can
start, "Once upon a time, I was a princess." Mareka is actually not as
rough as before. Not now that she has Kyleigh safely upon the horse with
her. "You'll like Her Highness. She cares alot for her daughters. At least
give it a try. And if that doesn't convince you, how about this. Aelgar has
lost it's princess. That's like saying the tower has lost the Amyrlin. It's
all about pride. We hide the fact we can't keep control of our heirs, just
like the tower will never tell when the Amyrlin is in trouble. Make sense?
So overall, you are doing us a favor and we are treating you like royalty."
Mareka glances over her shoulder to Neelkan and the gaurds know to watch
him close. "You getting settled on that horse? Ready to go? We travel hard
and fast."

Neelkan nods from atop his horse, ready to ride as hard and fast as they
require to keep and eye on the girl that he has promised to watch over.

Kyleigh would never admit it, but the idea -is- rather tempting. Still...
she has her reservations. "What happened to the real Princess?" That would
be -really- strange if she ran away too. Just how similar is she to this
princess? That would actually be kind of funny if she took this Amalthea's
place at the Palace, and she took Kyle's place at the Tower. "And what
about this fiance business? I'm not getting married to anyone!" Can she
really pull this off? She doesn't just have to act like a princess she has
to act like -the- Princess... "And what about my fingers? Won't people
notice that difference?" She almost says she doesn't give a flame about
what happens in Aelgar, but she just can't. She does sort of care, which is
the worst part. :( Poor Kyle. Poor Kyle?? She gets to be a Princess for the
Creator knows how long and get treated like royalty and you're saying poor
Kyle?? Oh hush.

Marek kicks the horse and they start moving. Slowly to get out of the
forrest. Wouldn't want to hit a tree right? That would be bad. "Alright,
Princess Amalthea disappeared. She was either kidnapped or she ran away.
And no, you aren't the Princess, so you don't have to marry anyone.
Besides, her wedding is a year off or so. And your fingers, we will find a
way to hide that fact. You just sit up straight and act like you run the
place. You defer to His Highness and Her Highness. The rest you listen to
and value their opinions. Though in your station, privately you are no one,
in public you shall act as you are the Princess. You'll catch on fast,
don't worry." Then Mareka changes the subject, "So, why did you leave the
Tower? You don't want to be an Aes Sedai? There are many girls who would
love that opportunity." glancing back she looks to Neelkan.

Kyleigh bristles a little. She does not like taking orders at all. Even
Wyntere has trouble giving them to her, but maybe that's because Wyntere
cares about her, and this vile woman probably couldn't care less. Hmph.
"We'll see," she mutters under her breath about this defering to their
Highnesses. She can pretend to run the place though! Oh yes! Mareka is
right about one thing, Kyle will catch on fast. This actually kind of
exciting... you just won't hear her actually saying that. She -completely-
ignores Mareka's question and latches onto something else. "Kidnapped? Who
would have kidnapped her? And why would she have run away?" Let the
interrogation begin! "Which do you think it was?"

Neelkan just shrugs his shoulders as he listens to all this, especially
when Mareka looks at him. She certainly didn't leave because of /him/. He
just facilitated her escape.

Marek looks down at Kyleigh and doesn't answer. "Could have been either and
I don't know. Why did you run away from something as great as the tower?
Perhaps if you answer my question, it would give me an understanding."
Nope, you have all the information you need to know. And besides, Wyntere
can to order you around. If you don't watch it, you'll get more than you
asked for.

Yeah right. ;) Wyntere's a push over. Kyle has her wrapped around her
little fing- ... er... nevermind. "And what if I don't want to give you an
understanding? I have my reasons, and that is all you need to know," the
novice snaps. She left the Tower to -escape- all that, and she certainly
doesn't want to talk about it and dredge it all back up... "What is this
Princess like anyway? Aside from being a princess?"

"The princes is fairly nice to people. A little arrogant, which you won't
have any trouble at all mustering up. She obeys her Her Highness, her
mother, usually without question. Does her duties like a faithful daughter
should." Mareka is not going to let you slide from the tower questioning.
"Alright, tell me why you don't want me to contact the Aes Sedai to let
them know where you are. Surely there's one that's worried sick over you. I
need a reason not to tell them I have a novice with me." Well, so she
didn't necessarily agree not to contact the Aes Sedai. She just made it
where she didn't have to hit you over the head. And no, Wyntere isn't a
push over. If you think she is, she'll have to change that.

Neelkan doesn't even know why she left exactly, but he figures she had her
reasons, and they must have been good. And she actually admited she needed
his help. That always earns points with him. When Mareka makes the demand,
he raises his eyebrows and just listens. Hmm.

Kyleigh just smirks at what she presumes is supposed to be an insult. She's
actually pleased with her prickly nature though, so oddly enough that
doesn't make her even more prickly. "First of all... if you tell them I'm
with you then they'll come to get me and you won't have anyone to play your
precious princess anymore." The worried sick comment does give Kyle a pang
of guilt though and she glances down at the horse's neck. She shrugs though
and tries to says as nonchalantly as possible, "I lost a good friend of
mine, and another friend was... It was just too much alright? Don't ask
again or I'll tell everyone at the first chance that I'm not the real
princess." Which means she's tacitly agreeing to play the part... for now
anyway. If she was dutiful though... it's unlikely that she ran away isn't
it? That worries her a little and she actually glances over to Neelkan. No
way she'd actually take comfort in knowing he's close by would she? No!
Grumble! "So she was probably kidnapped," Kyleigh just comes out and says
it. "Which means whoever did it probably won't be happy about my filling
in."

"You're a smart one." Mareka's voice is a bit on the retorical side. "They
might wait until we find the Princess before coming to get you. Alright,
then tell me this, did you want to be an Aes Sedai and are you willing to
give up that chance? Or is this a short term leave and you're thinking of
going back." Hey, you have to know what you are dealing with before going
in with your guns. If the girl doesn't ever want to return then that pistol
might fire a blank. "And Her Highness will know you're not Princess
Amalthea. She can tell." So, no, that threat doesn't phase her.

"Of course she will," Kyle snaps again. "I meant -everyone-. As in reveal
the secret that you're trying so flaming hard to keep." And she doesn't
believe that bit about waiting till they find the real Princess for one
minute. So this is going to be dangerous.. possibly. Still, what better
does she have to do? "I'm never going back there," she replies with
determination she doesn't really feel. She does want to be an Aes Sedai.
She just doesn't want to hurt anymore. Physical pain she can deal with. She
does it every day, but the emotional overwhelms her far too easily. She's
not going to tell this woman that though.

Marek nods to that. "Very well, then. I'll let it be. That's all I needed
to know. But don't you think you should at least let someone know you are
alright and don't want to return? It's the least you can do for them."
Maybe she's not that foolish afterall. "And you tell everyone that you're
not the princess and I'll take you straight to the tower." Mareka slows the
horse and starts to turn it towards the direction of the tower. "Now, are
you going to follow orders and be pleasant or shall we end this? I'm not
afraid to hurt you to take you where you need to go. So spare me the
threats, alright?" Maybe it would be best to dump this kid right here in
the woods were the bears can eat her.

Ok. Neelkan can take a lot of things, but threats to hurt someone he's
promised to watch is not one of them, "Now hold up
'Mar-whate'er-yer-name-is'. Don't e'en think 'bought threatenin' 'er with
violence e'er 'gain 'r I'll kick yer ass. Crossbow people 'r no crossbow
people. I think I could kick yer ass 'fore 'ey could get a bolt int' m'."
Though... he is a little reluctent... hitting a woman... Oh. He can do it.
"We a'ready 'greed t' go, now stop bein' a sour-milk-sucker 'bout it."

Alright, why did I get on this horse again? Did I intend to put myself in
the clutches of evil? Because that certainly seems the result. Kyleigh is
about to open her mouth when Neelkan starts talking for her and she glances
over at him. The look on her face is a little smug, though Mareka can't see
it. Maybe Gaidin aren't such bad things after all... Er... not that she'll
ever find out since she's not going back and she's never going to be an Aes
Sedai. Actually, she decides to take out her little notebook and write some
of the more interesting curses she's heard from him. Definately a would be
Brown is Kyle. "I have already agreed to do you this favor Mareka. I don't
intend to let myself be killed though. As long as I'm in no danger I'll do
what is necessary to maintain the charade." Or at least she'll think about
it. Once they're in Aelgar the evil woman will have a harder time
threatening to take her back... er... though a pigeon could always be sent
to the Tower- no, don't think about that. "I have something you want, and
you have something I don't want to happen, so can't we just be pleasant
about this?" Woah, now there's a switch? Is she going all Aes Sedai on
them? Maybe it had to do with taking out the blank book. "If you hurt me,
or the Gaidin I will be -very- uncooperative, and how much longer do you
think you can hide the fact that the princess is missing without me? How
long has she been gone anyway?" She's strangely... calm... which is very
strange.

Marek turns to Neelkan with harsh eyes. "If you were a true Gaidin, you
wouldn't have let her out of the Tower. Most likely you stole that cloak in
the bag. So don't start with me. You and I know fully well that the way to
disable a channeler is a blow to her head. If she's not consious, she can't
channel. So you but out of this. If she can threaten me, I can threaten
her. It's fair play. And at this rate, she's going to make a lousy princess
anyway. Therefore, the kindest thing I can do is take her back to the tower
and dump her off. I was headed that way until I found you." Then hearing
Kyleigh speak, Mareka then turns the horse back around to head to the
palace. "That's much better. I'll answer any questions you have along the
way about how to become the princess. She's been gone a little over a week
so far." Pleasant. Yes, with you pleasant, Mareka is pleasant.

"A Gaidin is sworn to protect the Tower, and the women of the Tower. This
girl asked me for help, and I promised to protect her until I saw her
somewhere safe. She did not feel safe or comfortable in the Tower, and who
knows what she would have done to herself there. I feel I am doing what is
best for her. If you have a problem with that, then... ya can kiss yer milk
drinkin' ass." Neelkan glares at her, rubbing his bracer lightly at his
wrist as if he hopes it'll shoot fire out of his hand. And yes, for a few
minutes he actually spoke without his accent. All except the end, though
the reasons for that are the same reason his sister sometimes slips into
hers. Sometimes he's just too pissed.

Kyleigh just ignores the talk of hitting her over the head and what a lousy
princess she's going to be. Oh it doesn't make her very happy, but she'll
have her revenge when she gets to this palace. There she'll have power, and
she'll find a way to use it over Mareka. She does notice the lack of accent
though and blinks a couple times, glancing over at him, and then taking a
few more notes in her book. "Interesting," she murmurs. She's going to have
to find out what he has against milk. "Thank you Neelkan. I think you put
it rather nicely. I thought we talked about this girl business though? You
wouldn't like it if I called you boy would you?" Woah.. um.. What happened
to Kyle? Maybe this is Amalthea pretending to be Kyle so she can pretend to
be Amalthea... Kyle's not usually so... self-posessed. She spends the rest
of the day taking notes in her little book and asking questions about being
a princess and stuff. And she remains pleasant most of the time too...
Maybe she hit her head when the blanket fell... That's gotta be it.