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A slight scuffle is heard outside the door that leads to the south, a woman's voice rising to almost yelling. Her words becoming prounounced, the more upset she gets. "I haven't done anything wrong, I was just walking through the garden!"
Rand glances up from book he is perusing. He glances over the toes of his boots which are propped on the edge of the desk. Rolling his shoulders in a slight shrug, he looks back down at the leatherbound volume while switching his feet so that the right foot is on top and casually turns a page.
Another voice can now be heard along with the first, one that you might recognize as one of the maidens. Though her voice is level and really can't be heard. The undeniable screech of an upset woman being heard soon after that, "You can't just toss me around like that, I'm a minor Lady, you flaming trolloc lover." Her words clashing rather terribly with what she's trying to tell the woman, language rather colorful as she continues on.
Rand lets out a put upon sigh and closes his book around his left index finger. He peers up over the toes of his boots to the south and raises his voice,'What is all the commotion? I am trying to read.'
A female walks through the door to the study, her arm firmly grasping the upper arms of a dark haired female. Janelle is clad in a flimsy green dress that is the style of most Domani, her glossy black hair rumpled around her face, that is somewhat flushed right now. Emerald green eyes sparkle rather dangerously as she glares at her would be captor. "This woman tried to enter your study from the gardens, she didn't like the way I handled her so she started screeching like madwoman." The look that is tossed at Janelle from the woman says that she believes her words to be true.
Rand's brows draw down in a slight frown. He gives a tiny shake to his head and says in a flat tone to the Maiden,'She looks dangerous. I am sure you did nothing that caution does not demand.' Lowering his booted feet back to the floor, he sits up straight in his chair and places the book opened, face down on the desk before addressing the Domani woman,'What is your name and what brings you to the gardens?'
Janelle tries to jerk her arm away from the maiden standing next to her, but the woman has a firm, harsh grip. Scowling she turns to Rand, muttering fiercly, "I am Janelle Azuren, Minor Lady of the House Azuren from Arad Doman. I'm here to see talk to someone in charge about an important matter." She doesn't seem to recognize who you are, despite the maidens and guards all around.
Rand runs his fingers through his read hair while letting out an exasperated noise. Whether planned or not, the motion exposes the metallic looking dragon head on the back of his hand. Then he leans back in his chair and fixes the woman with a hard, examining gaze. After a moment, his eyes flick to the Maiden and he snaps,'Release her unless you feel there is some need to fear her.' Returning his gaze to Janelle, he watches her in silence for a long moment before saying,'Well, Janelle Azuren of House Azuren, until the Daughter-Heir returns to claim her throne, I am the closest thing here to someone in charge. My banner flies over this palace right now. I will leave it up to you to decide which titles to use.'
Janelle blinks her eyes in suprise, mouth falling open a moment and then snapping shut with an audible click to her teeth. The maiden releases her and takes a step back, Janelle stammers out, dropping into a deep curtsey that leaves her forehead almost touching the floor, "My Lord Dragon, I'm sorry for disturbing you. I thought perhaps there would be another.. " She stays in her prone position for the moment, obviously awaiting for some word from the man before her.
Rand lowers his hands to rest on the cover of the open book. His fingers tense, but remain open, mouth setting in a hard line. He watches the woman for a brief moment, then snaps,'Get up. As long as you are here, you can tell me why want a job. I thought ladies usually avoided jobs.'
Janelle straightens up, her hands moving to smooth her dress over her hips as her tongue moves slowly over her lips. Her voice still holding a bit of nervousness but she seems to have recovered some control on her emotions, "Well.. there are special circumstances involved, My Lord. I'm not really welcome back at home right now and I thought I would offer my services to the Royal Court of Andor, if they would have me that is." She glances over the man before her, emerald eyes studying him intently for a long moment.
Rand's frown deepens. He crosses his arms over his chest, hands grasping his biceps in such a way as to display the dragons prominently. His eyes remain fixed on the woman's face as he asks in a dubious tone,'What services would those be?'
Janelle glances around nervously. She tries to take a step foward but the aiel woman behind her lays a hand upon her shoulder to keep her in place, "I could perform various court duties.. ", her words trail off as she licks her lips again, eyelashes lowering a bit as her tone changes, "All men love a pretty woman and a wink. I'm sure that you could find a use for me."
Rand's grip tightens on his arms, the scales on the backs of his hands glistening in the light from the window as he flexes. He opens his mouth as if to speak, then seems to change his mind, mouth closing with an audible click. His gaze moves to a point between Janelle and the Maiden. A moment later, a book from the shelf behind them floats between their heads and comes to hover over the desk. Rand unclasps his arms and reaches up with his right hand to pluck the leatherbound volume from the air. He lowers his eyes to the book as he opens it and says in a flat tone,'The taint is all around me, Lady Azuren. If you wish to compete with it for my mind, I think you will lose. Now, do you have something specific in mind?' All this is said without looking up from the gilt-edged pages.
"Actually I did, though perhaps not what you thought I was speaking of." Janelle clears her voice softly, glancing over her shoulder with a smug glance and then looking back towards the powerful man in front of her, "You have enemies all around you and some perhaps even in this palace. All just waiting for the moment to plant a dagger firmly in your back, if not worse. I believe that I can help you in some.. small way. Though perhaps it is best said where so many others cannot hear." She tilts her head, a soft smile playing upon her lips as she keeps her gaze firmly on Rand's face.
The air around the room shimmers slightly, much in the same way as it would from the heat in the waste. Rand leans back in his chair again and looks up at Janelle. His hands remain on the book, no move made to close it. He says flatly,'I trust the Maidens completely and no one outside this room can hear anything.'
Janelle glances around the room, somewhat nervously, again licking her lips before speaking in a soft voice, "Men are fools, well atleast most of them. All a woman has to do is smile the right way, perhaps show a little ankle and they fall all over themselves to spill their dirty little secrets." She shrugs faintly and then lets her hands run once more over her shapely hips and thighs, "I used to do it for my family all the time back in Arad Doman, thwarted a few devious plans and assasination attempts upon my father and other Nobles."
Rand purses his lips thoughtfully and slowly closes the book. After a long moment, he asks,'And what would you want for this? This man is not foolish enough over a glimpse of ankle to believe in the charity of strangers.'
Janelle smirks softly and then shakes her head, "Nay.. I never said I would do this for free, My Lord. Everything has a price, as do I." She puts her hands behind her, clasping them at the small of her back, pausing for a moment before speaking again, "I am getting married in a few days, to a man that I met on the way here to Caemlyn. My family is sure not to approve since he is not of noble blood." She shrugs her shoulders slightly, letting out a slow breath, "I would like sanctuary basically, a place to stay and perhaps a job for him also. For that, I would do anything you want."
Rand nods slowly and then says,'You want to spy. But how do you want to pose?' He shrugs his shoulders and adds,'It is not as if I can go to Mistress Harfor and tell her to put you up in a room and start paying you the standard spy wages. How do you propose to appear?'
"Hrms..There are plenty of people coming in and out of this palace everyday. I'm sure you have a few nobles that stay here. I could pose as a lady in waiting for one of them. Most think them rather loose anyway." Janelle shrugs her shoulders, "Or you could have me doing something else that you actually need, like messanger. That way I would actually have a reason to come in and out of the palace."
The air shimmers again. Rand looks back down at his book and says in a distracted tone,'Very well. This maiden will take you to see Mistress Harfor and inform her to put you up in a room. After that, you may start work by finding Lady Dyelin Taravin and informing her that I require her presense here as soon as she is able.'
Janelle bows her head slightly, the smile spreading across her lips, "At once, My Lord." She turns and looks to the woman with a rather level gaze, "After you?" The maiden turns and walks without any comment, though perhaps her hands move as she walks past the others while moving by. Janelle follows her out of the room, not bothering to look back.
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