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The doors to the study open wide as the two Maidens who stand guard allow Etaine entrance without any announcement. A warm smile plays upon Etaine's lip as she steps into the room, the skirts of her dress swish slightly as she moves. Etaine has almost a radiant look about her, not a look that is caused by the embracing of saidar, but something more natural.
Rand glances up from the maps, irritation playing across his face. For a long moment, he glares at the back of the head of one of the Maidens standing outside the door. Then he lets out a slow breath and focuses his gaze on Etaine. Slowly, he leans back in his chair, but does not seem to relax at all. He gestures to the couch in a quick, tense gesture and says,'Sit, if you like.'
Etaine seems to hold back a giggle, schooling her expression as she makes her way across the room to sit upon the couch. She crosses her legs and absently smoothes her skirts as she makes herself comfortable. "Thank you" she replies simply not offering any other words for the moment.
Rand studies Etaine silently for a long moment, fingers beginning to drum absently on the collection of maps causing the metallic scales on the back of his right hand to ripple and glitter in the light. Finally, he says in a cold, curt tone,'What can you tell me of those with yellow eyes? Those like Jerek and Perrin. I know you are not a brown, but you are here.'
Etaine takes a deep breath her smile now slipping at your question. She looks to you and says in a matter of fact tone. "I could probably tell ou more than most Aes Sedai of those with the golden eyes. They have a special gift, one that most would not understand and fear them because of it." she sighs deeply, her fingers now more than just smoothing her skirts absently but showing the tension that has now affected her. "You must understand, that what I reveal must be highly guarded for their protection."
Rand narrows his gaze slightly on Etaine, the drumming of his fingers coming to a stop. The omnipresent tenseness in his body seems to intensify. In an icy tone, he replies,'With whom would I gossip?' With an obvious effort, he relaxes very slightly and adds,'I have more reason to ask than idle curiosity. Continue, please.'
Etaine's eyes narrow upon your icy tone. Her voice hints at a motherly protectiveness "I do not warn you without just reason. My husband as you well know has golden-eyes, and I was told that my sons will are born to it as well, although it will be many years before that ability shows itself." She takes another deep breath to settle herself. "I am certain your reasons are more than asking of idle curiosity you would not summon me here otherwise." Her tone is more even again. "They have an ability to speak with wolves." She then raises her hand and taps the side of her head. "In here."
Rand's right hand clenches suddenly into a hard fist, the quick movement rustling the papers beneath it. Just as quickly, his hand relaxes, a distant, contemplative look coming over his face, as if he is listening to something just on the edge of hearing. After a long moment, he gives his head a hard shake and focuses on Etaine again. He leans forward slightly in his chair and asks,'How well known is this?'
Etaine purses her lips and then shakes her head slightly with a shrug. "This I am not certain of. I can tell you this, they are very protective of each other. Often Jerek and Bron will leave me at times to handle matters that concern them and others with golden-eyes. What I can tell you is that of those that I have met, they are of some of the most honorable and dedicated people a person could want to know."
Rand's fingers begin to drum again, loudly. His jaw clenches visbly as he ponders this information. With a slight shake of his head, he finally says,'Why would anyone wish to keep track of them? I mean, of what use would it be to know where one of these people is?'
Etaine looks to your hand as your fingers drum the table and then looks back to you. Her hands now resting in her lap she says quietly to you. "I would wager it is because it seems they have the ability to walk in the land of dreams."
Rand frowns sharply and stills his fingers again. He shakes his head slightly and says,'Whatever the reason, I have a report that may concern them. It is supposedly from one of Masema's rabble, so I have no idea how reliable it is. He claims one of the Asha'man was ordered by another man to mark a Two Rivers girl named Tala so that the ones with yellow eyes could be found and killed. Says in his letter that the Asha'man put a bracelet on her that could not be removed.' He leans forward and picks up a note from the middle of the desk and glances at it briefly before dropping it and looking at Etaine again,'Tyrral Vryka he calls himself. You know of either of these people?'
Rand nods slowly and leans back in his chair. His brows furrow down in a frown and he says,'This is the second report I have had recently of men outside the Asha'man giving one of them orders which are then followed. I want to get to the bottom of this. Find out what you can and report back to me as quickly as possible.' His gaze on Etaine grows harder and he adds,'And do not be stubborn and try to bring the Asha'man to me on your own. They do not have your Oath to slow down their reactions.'
Etaine quirks an eyebrow at you as if your words in the last were rather obvious. "And when, pray tell, have I shown that I can not be sensible in the presence of Asha'man?" her tone almost seems challenging.
Rand fixes his gaze upon Etaine and says in a level tone,'Then do not start now. I cannot shake the feeling that this is in some way more important than it seems on the surface. Make haste, but be cautious. If there is merit to this Vryka's story, bring him and the girl here. I would speak with them.'
Etaine keeps her own eyes locked on yours, of one looking at her own equal. "I will do my best to find out who this Vryka man is and this girl Tala. What you said disturbs me, and some of the Asha'man that I have seen, seem to have little grip on their sanity." She takes a deep breath and then looks over her shoulder to the door.
Rand's face goes hard as stone again. As he leans back in his chair, the letter on his desk rises gently into the air and floats slowly towards Etaine. He props his elbows on the edge of the desk and steeples his fingers together, speaking to her over them,'Take that with you and you will know as much about it as I do. If this man is sane or not, if his loyalty lies with someone other than myself, I will have him hanged. I have little grip on my patience.' The last is said with a slight smirk and a dismissive gesture towards the door.
Etaine takes the letter in hand and stands at the obvious dismissal. "It is obvious, my Lord." she adds with a stress of terseness " ... that you have little grip on your patience.." She then turns about without asking for your leave. "Since I have important matters to attend to, I'll waste no more of my time here." And she walks out the door just in time to see Jerek approach.
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