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Illyria is on the loveseat, legs tucked up under her as she sits and relaxes in the quiet of the sitting room.
Lauriana enters the room slowly, peering around her with intent blue eyes. She notices only one occupant in this room and nods her head in acceptance to the Innkeeper, "Yes, this will do fine for right now. Please have some tea and a plate made up for the both of us please." She walks over to one of the couches and takes a seat, adjusting her skirts around her.
Illyria blinks and looks up at the sound of voices. Her attention is firmly fixed on the woman as she walks over to take a seat on the couch.
Adrian follows in behind Lauriana, almost as if her shadow. His left hand polishes the large topaz on the hilt of his sword almost constantly, as if a nervous habit. His gaze is just as restless, moving constantly as if he expects attack at any instant and from any quarter.
Illyria glances a bit warily at the newcomer, eyeing his clothing as much as his manner. Somewhat self-consciously, she lowers her legs to the floor and sits properly on the loveseat, her gaze directed away from the man and woman, though she tries to keep them in her perhiperal vision.
Lauriana smiles up at Adrian as he walks in behind her, "I think you can relax for a moment, Adrian. I have been to this place once before and it seem decent then." She glances over to the girl, seeing slight movement from the corner of her eye. A soft smile and a nod directed towards Illyria in greeting before turning her attention once again to Adrian.
Adrian nods slowly to Lauriana's comment, but seems less than convinced. He slips off his sword belt so that he can sit comfortably and takes up a position seated near Lauriana on the couch, sword held across his lap, hand still absently polishing the jewel on the pommel.
Lauriana smiles softly and shakes her head, "Ok.. I know better than to press." She glances up just in time to see the innkeeper walk through the door, carrying a tray filled to the brim. He sets it down on the table before the couch, bowing deeply to Lauriana and her companion before backing out the door.
Illyria watches Adrian sit, her manner like that of a cat suddenly encoutering a seemingly docile dog. She smoothes the folds of her dress, apparently unaware she is doing so. She squirms in the loveseat as if making to rise and then her eyes widen as her brain finally registers what her eyes are seeing; Lauriana's shawl and Great Serpent ring.
Adrian watches the innkeeper carefully as he sets down the tray, and as he leaves, too. When Illyria moves, his gaze flicks to her immediately. Just as quickly, he seems to dismiss her as a non-threat. His attention returns to the tray of food. Almost as if the scents are pulling him by his nose, he leans forward.
The smile widen's upon Lauriana's slightly tanned face, her eyes still intent on the young girl sitting on the loveseat. She scoots forward till she sitting on the edge of the couch, her hands going towards the teapot on the middle of the tray, "Are you ok, girl? Has something frightened you?", her tone one of amusement as she lifts the teapot and pours two cups of steaming liquid.
Illyria gives a start when Laurianna speaks - actually speaks! - to her and she freezes almost like a deer catching scent of a hunter. "I...I, uh, no, that is, I, uh...no, Aes Sedai," she manages to stammer, her soft voice edged with anxiety and perhaps a bit of fear.
Adrian shoots a quick smirk at the girl, but says nothing. His attention immediately returns to the platter in front of him, one hand snatching up the tea cup while the other snags a slice of bread.
Lauriana gives a disapproving look to Adrian, before turning her attention back to her own tea. She adds a dollop of honey, stirring it slowly and then looking back to the girl, "I won't hurt you, I promise." Lauriana tilts her head for a moment, staring intently at the young girl before raising her cup to her lips. Just as she is about to take a sip, she softly murmurs to the man beside her, too low for anyone else to hear.
Lauriana whispers, 'I do believe she can channel.'
Illyria blinks and swallows under that piercing gaze, nodding her head almost absently to show her apparent acceptance of Lauriana's statement. She pauses, perched awkwardly on the edge of the loveseat, gaze locked on the Aes Sedai and the man with her. Hands gripping her thigh tightly, she swallows once then again before managing to speak. "I...I didn't mean to bother you, uh, Aes Sedai," she says, the sincerity in her soft-spoken voice clear. "I...I'll let you...I'll leave."
Adrian nods slowly to the whispering woman as he sips his tea. As he chews his bread he gives Illyria another look, more considering this time. He washes the bread down with another swallow of tea and sets the cup back on the table, hands gravitating back to rest upon his sword. His dark gaze remains steady on the young woman, not openly hostile, yet far from friendly.
Lauriana shakes her head, taking a quick sip of her tea before speaking, "Nay, please sit and talk with us." The cup is set back down on the tray and she picks up a sweetcake from the plate. Wrinkling her nose faintly, she picks at it for a moment and then looks up to Illyria, "What is your name, child?" A warm smile on her face now, though her eyes are still intent, as if searching for something.
Illyria freezes half-on, half-off the loveseat, the blood seeming to drain from her face for a moment. "Sit and talk?" she breathes. She starts to nervously smooth the folds of her dress when she notices Adrian's gaze and her hands soon cease their movements, her attention all on the man, unable to feel comfortable. She wrenches her attention back to the Aes Sedai as she releazes she has not yet answered the sister's question. "My name...is Illyria," she says, some of her colour returning, though mostly the red flush of embarassment at having kept an Aes Sedai waiting. She adds a belated, "Aes Sedai," and blushes even harder than before.
Adrian nods slowly and leans back on the couch. His gaze on the young woman is a bit less harsh now, but still wary. He stills his hands on the sword, and seems to relax, but only slightly.
Lauriana nods her head slowly, nibbling at the sweetcake before setting it back down and dusting crumbs off her hands. She licks her lips slowly and then glances to Illyria out of the corner of her eye, "Are you aware that you can channel, child?"
Illyria nearly jumps out of her skin, giving a startled, disbelieving gasp as she presses herself as far back in the loveseat as she can. "Channel?!" she asks. "Me??" She rapidly shakes her head back and forth in denial, though a hint of wonder makes it mark on her face, warring with denial. "How...?" she starts to ask, then clamps her mouth shut, glancing briefly at the floor before lifting her chin to look at the Aes Sedai once more. "I can channel?" she asks again, this time with more control.
Adrian frowns very harshly at the young woman. In a cold voice, softened only slightly by the musical accent of Cairhien, he says,'The ring and shawl say she does not lie, child. You would be wise to moderate your tone.'
Lauriana offers a smile to Adrian, pausing as he speaks and then nods slightly, "The ability for you to channel is there. It would take a bit of training to see how well." She lifts the cup to her lips once again, sipping at the hot liquid. Frowning down into her cup, she blows soft ripples across the surface and then takes another sip. "I think you should come with me, but that is your choice. I could see that you get the training."
Illyria blinks and swallows again, face red in embarrasment from the verbal dressing down from Adrian. She bites her lip in thought, hands locked together in her lap. "You mean..you mean I would become Aes Sedai?" she asks, soft voice tinged with hope and desire. Her expression softens and she actually smiles, her lips upturning quite prettily. She opens her mouth yet again, a thousand questions forming on her lips, but she cannot seem to order her thoughts long enough to form a coherent question
Adrian snorts softly as if in doubt of that response, but does not offer any more spoken opinions. Suddenly he gives a slight shake of his head and seems to totally dismiss the girl from his mind. He leans forward and reaches out with his left hand to snatch up one of the honey cakes from the tray and begins to munch on it quietly.
Lauriana hrms softly and then shrugs, "You could, if you do well in your training. I could have you there in less than an hour if you get your things together." She takes another bite of her cake, watching Illyria with a curious gaze.
Illyria frowns slightly at being able to travel to the Tower so quickly, but then she shrugs; Aes Sedai can do many things beyond most peoples' ken. "Would I be able to let my parents know, Aes Sedai?" she asks, joy and wonder at the prospect of going to train clearly written on her face and in her voice.
Adrian stuffs the rest of the honey cake in his mouth and moving with a very subtle grace, quietly picks up the rest of Lauriana's from her plate.
Lauriana smiles and nods, blinking in suprise at Adrian and then frowning slightly. She shakes her head, rolling her eyes and turns her attention back to Illyria, "Of course you can talk to your parents, but I believe the sooner the better."
Illyria nods, a slight smile on her lips. "I can leave them a letter with the innkeeper," she breathes, clearly excited now. "I know they'll not say no - to be taken to be trained as Aes Sedai is more than they ever could have hoped for me," she says, than smiles to herself as if to say being trained was more than she ever hoped as well. She sits up straight, hands smoothing the folds of her dress once more. "As for my things, Aes Sedai, I'm wearing all I own," she finishes in a soft, respectable tone.
Adrian quickly swallows the rest of his honey cake, the half of Lauriana's still held protectively in his left hand. He glances down at his coat and his sword, then back up at Illyria. He gives her a mischievous wink and says in that soft, musical accent,'I do not even own what I am wearing.' He smiles broadly as if what he says has amused him very much, then pops the stolen cake into his mouth.
Lauriana giggles faintly at Adrian, rolling her eyes again. "Men.. no matter what role they have in life, they are mostly the same." She licks her lips slowly, smoothing her dress, "Would you like me to ask the Innkeeper to bring parchment and ink?"
Illyria watches the byplay between Aes Sedai and Adrian with interest - and a slight frown; she has no idea what Adrian meant by his comment - and then gives another embarrased start as she realizes the Aes Sedai has spoken to her and she has failed to respond with due alacrity yet again. "Ah, yes Aes Sedai," she responds, gaze cast downwards to hide her embarassment, though she looks up at Lauriana through her lashes.
Lauriana stands up and goes to the door, just peeking her head around the corner. Some whispered conversation takes place and she nods her head approvingly. With a smile, she turns and walks back over to the couch, sitting down slowly and smoothing her dress, "He will be here.. ", those words not even uttered as he saunters through the door with the asked for supplies. He walks over and sets them down on the table, taking up the tray that is unsuprisingly empty and walking from the room.
Illyria smoothes her hands yet again and then shifts her position so she can comforatbly reach the pen and parchment. She is breathing deeply and somewhat shallowly as she laboriously writes out a missive to her parents, still not quite able to believe that she is sitting so close to an Aes Sedai as to almost be touching and that she is to be taken away for training. After several minutes, she sets the pen down and massages her hand before turning to Lauriana. "I am ready, Aes Sedai," she states in her soft voice in what she hopes is something approaching a confident manner.
Adrian rises gracefully from his seat on the couch, quickly buckling his sword belt back on. He dusts the crumbs from his coat and then wipes his hands on his pants before taking up a position standing next to the couch near Lauriana's right shoulder.
Lauriana smiles softly and nods her head. She looks to Adrian with a slightly curious look, "Is there anything else you want to do while we are here?" A slightly amused look on her face as she watches him swipe the evidence.
Illyria closes her eyes briefly, taking several calming breaths, though her chest continues to rise and fall at a slightly increased rate. She sits, not at all calm, though trying hard, hands in her lap, letting her gaze really take in Lauriana's features, eyes going to the shawl and ring.
Adrian props his elbow on the back of the couch and stands in a lazy slouch, a slightly self-satisfied smile playing across his lips, all evidence of his theft having been brushed from his clothing.
Lauriana snickers softly and stands from the couch, adjusting the shawl around her shoulders. She smiles faintly at Illyria as a blaze of light suddenly appears before the fireplace, seeming to twist and widen at the same time. A clearing can be seen on the other side, a rope marking the clearing.
Illyria's eyes widen nearly enough to pop out of her head as she stares, poleaxed, at the...the construct of the One Power that Lauriana has made. She manages not to cry out, though her breathing has quickened a bit more as she stares, then blinks as she suddenly finds herself on her feet.
Adrian's slouch evaporates. Suddenly he is up and alert, left hand clenched tightly upon his hilt, right hovering above the pommel-stone, flexing open and closed as he looks around warily, everywhere but at the gateway.
Lauriana chuckles softly and then gestures towards the gate, "Step inside, it will not bite." She glances quickly over her shoulder at Adrian and then takes a step over to the gate herself, though waiting for Illyria to walk through first.
Illyria gathers her courage visibly then, with a slight curtsey to the Aes Sedai, walks forward hesitantly, focring herself through the...whatever, casting one fearful glance backwards to Lauriana as she steps through.
Adrian turns his back to the gateway, watching the room warily as he waits for Lauriana to pass through.
Lauriana walks through the gate, it disappearing in a flash behind her. She smiles softly and inhales the air around her, "This is where you will be training. Get used to it, for it will be a long time before you will see anything else." She glances to Illyria as if gauging her reaction.
Illyria looks around with frank curiousity, a small frown on her face as she slowly turns in a full circle. Her breathing has calmed mostly, and when she turns back to face Lauriana, she asks, "Is...is this Tar Valon, Aes Sedai?"
Adrian seems to relax immediately upon the gateway vanishing. He releases his hilt and lowers his hands to his sides, lazy slouch returning and says with a slight smirk,'I really do not think so, child.'
Lauriana laughs lightly and shakes her head, "Nay.. this is not Tar Valon. This is Salidar." She begins to walk from the roped clearing, not bothering to look if anyone is following her.
Illyria looks at Adrian, her brow furrowed in thought at his comment, then turns her attention back to Lauriana, confusion evident. "I...do not understand, Aes Sedai," she says as she hurries to follow.
Adrian snorts softly as if Illyria's statement was very obvious, then he begins trailing along behind Lauriana, a pace behind and to her right.
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