Sereina glances back at the men that are accompanying her, silently wishing that Samuel had been able to go. She stops by the fruit stand and points to the various bunches while the man behind the cart gathersemote glances back at the men that are accompanying her, silently wishing that Samuel had been able to go. She stops by the fruit stand and points to the various bunches while the man behind the cart gathers up her things in a basket with one hand while the other is held out for her money. She pays him and carries the basket along, scratching it off of her list. With another pensive glance behind her she nearly runs into a boy. 'Oh, I'm sorry, I should watch where I am going...'
Tyrone looks up, almost not noticing that he had almost run into the lady before him. Quickly composing himself he stares at the foreigner "It...I mean..Umm..Don't worry ma'am..It was all my fault"
Mazrim looks over at Sereina with his mouth drawn tight into a small thin line. "Make sure you get all the supplies that are needed ... Mrs. Quinlen." His lips twitch into an almost frown from being unused to dealing with the Wives of his men, especially without the other present. "Don't daudle though." Slowly he eyes up and down the small dirt street, shaking his head in near disgust at the small town, and turns back to Sereina just in time to see her bump into the young man. Raising an eyebrow curiously he looks over at Kaith and nods his head to call the other man over as he starts towards Sereina and Tyrone.
Kaith strolls along, casually observing the activity in the village. He seems to catch some movement out of the corner of his eye and turns to see the M'Hael's summons. Moving with a fluid grace, left hand moving to rest lazily upon the hilt of his sword, he approaches Mazrim and raises his fist to press against his chest, thumping softly against the black silk,'Yes, M'hael?'
Tyrone looks up, almost not noticing that he had bumped into the lady. After blinking a few times, he says to her "Im very sorry ma'am..It was all my fault..Im always so clumsly..I really am..I promise I won't do it again" . He sneaks another quick glance at the foreigner, then starts to scurry off, head bowed low.
Sereina wrinkles her brow as the boy practically runs away from her and glances behind her, groaning softly as she sees the M'Hael and his other cohort....Athynannies or somesuch, approaching.
Mazrim watches the young lad start to move away from Sereina, and reaches out and grabs him by the shoulder, stopping him from getting away. Looking down into his face he says, "Tell me boy, have you heard in this light forsaken village that the Dragon has been Reborn?" Looking Tyrone up and down with an intense gaze and then focuses on his face once more, awaiting a reply.
Kaith lowers his fist from his chest and turns a cold gaze on the young man. His eyes narrow on the boy as he speaks in the crisp, precise accent of Cairhien,'I doubt they have heard of much anything this far from civilization, M'hael.'
Tyrone starts, then, in a fit of courage, glares defiantly up at the strangers 'This village is NOT Light forsaken...And YES, I have heard of the Dragon Reborn, his name is Rand Al'Thor..and he came from a village too.' He grins, proud to have stood up to someone a lot bigger than him.
Sereina puts all of her weight on one foot and rolls her eyes at the men. 'I'll just be going along my way...you know, getting food for the rest of you ingrates...' she says beneath her breath as she turns around and heads off towards the butcher.
Mazrim glances at Sereina as she departs, a frown forming on his lips momentarily. Glancing back at Kaith the corners of his mouth twist into an almost smirk slightly before he faces Tyrone again. "Well boy, it seems that there might be hope for this village yet." He grips his left elbow with his right hand as he continues, "It so happens that we are here looking for any men who would be willing to serve the Lord Dragon. Would you happen to know of any that would be interested?" Turning slightly he gazes the length of the street once more and mutters under his breath something about not wanting to stay in this village longer than nessiscary.
Kaith draws himself up to his full height, gaze growing even harder on the boy. The sunlight sparkles off the pins on his high collar as he snaps out in that crisp accent,'You will refer to the Lord Dragon by his title, not his bare name.'
Tyrone whimpers a quick "Yessir.." then turns to Mazrim. All of a sudden his attitude and tone of voice changes "Well sir...I'm not sure about Doran, or Flick..But PLEASE take me with you...I can't stand this damn town anymore. I am stuck working in the mines with my father, or running errands for my Mother..I want MORE! You have to..you MUST take me with you. I will do whatever you say.." His eager voice quietens, but the fire in his eyes stays there, his whole body tensed, waiting for an answer.
Sereina bobs out from the butcher's shop quickly, holding a large white wrapped bundle. She walks back to the men and stands a couple feet behind Mazrim, staring at his back challengingly. 'Was there anything else you had needed, my -Lord- M'Hael?'
Mazrim tenses slightly at Sereina's comment and slowly turns to face her. His voice cold he says, "If you have all of the supplies that you and the ... other wives ... have decided you need, then you may wait for us to finish." Turning back to Tyrone, Sereina's presence already forgotten he says in a dry tone, "Enthusiasm is good, boy, but you had best be sure you know what it is you're asking." Glancing at Kaith he says, "Asha'man Athanes will tell you what would be expected of you if you desire to be tested." Nodding once at Kaith, he takes a half step back to allow Kaith room to address Tyrone.
Kaith shoots a quick, enigmatic glance at Sereina, then just shakes his head slightly, as if in disbelief. When the M'Hael finishes speaking, Kaith turns his attention fully upon Tyrone. He clasps his hands at the small of his back and begins to speak in that precise, musical accent,'If you wish to serve the Lord Dragon, complete obedience would be expected of you. Whatever role it is decided you may best serve, you will perform to the best of your abilities, without question. If you have any reservations about that at all, now would be the time to decide.'
Tyrone considers it for a moment..."No...no reservations..I will do whatever is needed of me"
Sereina glares at the back of Mazrim before setting her basket and her bundle at her feet to keep her arms from getting sore. She crosses her arms and frowns, a faraway look coming to her eyes.
Mazrim looks at Tyrone with an intent expression. "If you proceed, Asha'man Athanes will test you to see if you have the ability to channel. If you do, you will join us at the Black Tower and learn how to use that ability. If you proceed and are not able to channel, you will join the Legion of the Dragon, and fight in the Lord Dragon's name."
Kaith raises his right hand, palm up, towards Tyrone. He loops his left thumb casually around his hilt as his lips twist into a distasteful smirk. Saidin floods into him causing a feeling of menace to vibrate from him, apparent to those men trained to channel. With his gaze steady on the young man before him, a small flame appears and begins to dance above his palm. In a cold, harsh voice, he says,'Concentrate on the flame, boy. Ignore all else.'
Tyrone looks at the flame , then starts to concentrate on it, blocking out everything else around him
Mazrim looks on with an expressionless face, his eyes almost wanting to half close as he feels for the positive response out of habit.
Kaith cocks his head to one side as if listening for something, but his eyes remain intently focused on the face of the young man. As he concentrates, the flame above his palm stops flickering and becomes a steady, blue jet.
Tyrone says to Kaith, without breaking his own concentration "What does that mean??"
Mazrim glances over at Sereina standing waiting for them to finish, his tilted eyes hardening as he watches here for several seconds, before they return to gazing up and down the street.
Kaith's mouth sets in a hard line. His left hand clenches white-knuckled on his hilt. He seems to tremble slightly, as if from anger. In a cold, harsh voice, he snaps out,'Silence! Concentrate on the flame and do not ask questions. If we must start over, you will wish that your father and mother had never met.' Through it all, neither his right hand, nor the flame hovering above it, never wavers.
Tyrone almost yells back, but instead focuses his anger, letting him concentrate with more easa. All he sees is the flame...
Sereina stares back at Mazrim challengingly as he looks over at her, crossed arms tightening over her chest. 'If you're going to take a long time can one of you at least get me back to the farm? I don't want the food to spoil like last time.'
Mazrim strides over to Sereina looking at her with a cold hard gaze. Standing there silently gazing at her for several moments he starts to lead her away from Kaith and Tyrone. Once they're down the street several paces he siezes Saidin, his mouth twisting slightly and he weaves the flows for a gateway, spearing them into the patern. The thin silvery line twists open, a small out of the way spot on the Farm visible through it. "We wouldn't want to ... waste anything ... would we?" he says, as he waits for her to step through.
The flame suddenly winks out. Kaith's right hand snaps shut, as if catching a fly. He lowers that hand to his side and seems to relax slightly as he pushes Saidin away from himself. He shoots a glance over his shoulder at the young woman and says in a very neutral tone,'Perhaps a few late evenings in the practice yard for Soldier Quinlen are in order.' Then he turns back to face Tyrone and snaps,'What is your name? You have the gift, Light help you.'
Tyrone grins, a frightened, but pleased grin. " My name sir, is Tyrone De'Danan..I am going to be an Asha'man...I have heard of you..Thank you sooo much!"
Sereina mutters beneath her breath at Kaith as she gathers her things and follows Mazrim away. 'I'm only thinking of your strength, My -Lord- M'Hael, she says with an akward curtsey....only akward because she was carrying rather a lot of weight in her arms. 'Everything shall be ready by the time you return.' with a cautious look at the edges of the gateway, she steps through, walking towards the farm at a swift pace.
Mazrim lets the gate close as Sereina steps through, and turns to stride back to Kaith and Tyrone. Noticing the flame gone, he looks at Kaith and simply raises an eyebrow.
Kaith raises his right fist to his chest in a salute as Mazrim walks up. As he lowers it, he says,'The farm for this one. Bashere will be disappointed, I'm sure.' He quirks a sidelong glance at Tyrone, then looks back to Mazrim to add,'He is a bit exuberant, but I think the first cold meal will take that out of him.'
Tyrone raises a well-defined eyebrow at Kaith's comment about the cold meal, but after that, standing still, no expression showing on his face. He looks around at the town, knowing that he won't be seeing it's houses and his family for a long while. All the thought gets is a slight shrug, and then it is gone.
Mazrim nods once and says, "Then let's return to the Tower. I for one, will not mind leaving." Nodding once to Kaith to weave the gateway he turns to Tyrone and says, "Your new life is starting, boy. Do as you're told, and hopefully you'll live until Tarmon Gai'don."
Kaith nods and turns to walk off a short way down a small alley, Saidin suddenly filling him again. He draws deeply as he walks, the feeling of menace rolling off him in waves. Abruptly, he stops and spins out thick threads of Spirit fashioned into a spear-like structure which he seemingly stabs into the open air. A bright slash of light appears and rapidly widens into a hole in the air through which can be seen a browned clearing. Once the outlines of the hole stabilize, he turns and nods once towards the M'Hael.
Tyrone watches as the slash widens into a hole, his eyes full of wonder and amazement "I will be able to do that one day...That..and more" he says to himself. With a devious smile, he waits to go through the gateway.
Mazrim gestures to Tyrone to step through the gate. Following him through he says, "I'll have someone show you to a spot in one of the barracks. You can also tell them your family's name and where to find them so that word may be taken to them so they don't worry." Looking around he stops the first Asha'man to come near, and instructs the Soldier to get you situated as he stands and waits for Kaith.
Kaith follows the other two men through the gateway, then releases the weave, not bothering to look back as it rapidly dwindles to a small point of light and is then gone. He pushes Saidin away from himself and clasps his hands behind his back, waiting.
Tyrone looks around at the farm, amazed that this could be the centre of Asha'man activity. He wtahces as people are drilled on both fighting skills, and trained in Saidin. Every now and again a woman hurries past. "THIS is the Black Tower???"
Mazrim nods at Tyrone. "Yes. This man will show you where you'll be sleeping, and then make sure you get setup. Welcome to the tower." Turning from Tyrone he walks over to Kaith and starts to discuss the status of some of the Asha'man whose training he's been overseeing.