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A timid man enters dressed in Asha'man uniform, his face looking somewhat pale. He is very obviously in the void to help control his emotions, but even still it is clearly apparent he is very nervous with being sent to see the Lord Dragon. Coming to a crisp attention just inside the door, he snaps a crisp salute, "Soldier Gallenne reporting as requested!" he manages to warble out, his voice cracking slightly.
Taval enters side by side with Taurin trying not to stare at the Maidens as they pass. Looking at Rand behind the desk he stops and jerks stiffly to attention, his fist thumping to his chest in salute. "Solder Devrasii, My Lord Dragon." He says in a steady voice inclining his head slightly.
Rand continues to read, although his brows furrow down in a slight frown. After a moment, he sets aside the letter he is holding and leans back in his chair. He studies the two men with a stony expression, resting his elbows on the desk and steepling his fingers. Finally, he speaks in a cold tone,'Tell me of this guardsman ordering an Asha'man.'
Taurin fidgets slightly as he stands waiting upon the Lord Dragon's reply, nodding hurriedly with Rand's order. "Well my Lord, I had taken a respite from my patrol in an inn, the Half Moon inn. I was having a small conversation with a Lady that had also taken refuge from the days heat within the cool walls of the inn, when Dedicated Modanran entered. We participated in polite pleasantries for a small time until a Lord entered, two guards on his heels." Takes a deep breathe, pausing for a moment.
Taval watches Taurin as he starts the recitation, and occasionally glancing at Rand as well. Holding himself steady he forces himself to keep his gaze focused on Taurin and Rand both.
Rand taps his index fingers together as he listens, eyes fixed on Taurin in a hard stare. In a harsh, impatient tone he barks,'Continue, Soldier.'
Taurin almost falls over himself to continue, his words skipping along at a break-neck pace, "Well Sir, just after this Lord came in, the inns proprietor entered as well. All three men seemed to hold an acquaintance of some kind or other, and just then, this Lord albeit ordered the Dedicated to go off with him for a talk." Taking a short, sharp breathe, he adds, "I've been around commanding men my Lord Dragon, all my life. His tone clearly expected the Dedicateds obedience,... I thought there was going to be trouble with the two-armed guards and all,....." his voice trails off slightly, a faint frown marring his smooth forehead.
Familliar with the tale, Taval remains standing still next to Taurin, his eyes moving back and forth between Taurin and Rand, but no other part of his body moving.
Rand's fingers stop tapping when the young Soldier goes silent. He nods once, slowly, a contemplative expression replacing the stone on his face, then asks,'And this Dedicated obeyed meekly?' His tone implies that he is merely asking for confirmation.
Taurin nods quickly, "I had gone for my sword, I thought there was going to be trouble for sure.... I didn't think the Asha'man were to obey any Andoran Lords, but I am only new to the Black Tower. The Dedicated clearly indicated there was to be no trouble, and then just left with the Lord and the inns proprietor."
Taval focuses his eyes upon Rand, eager to see what his reaction will be.
Rand shakes his head sharply, bringing his hands down to rest flat upon the desk. His eyes flick to Taval briefly, then back to Taurin. His body is tense, as if on the verge of sudden violence as he says in a harsh, cold tone,'You are not incorrect, Soldier. I have given no Andoran lord leave to command any of the Asha'man. What is this Modanran's first name?'
Taurin nods quickly, "Flhad, Dedicated Flhad Modanran, my Lord Dragon." Shifting his weight slightly, he continues to focus his attention low, just above the desk.
Taval nods once as Taurin answers the Lord Dragon's question. Swallowing once he keeps his gaze upon Rand.
Rand's right hand curls into a fist, crumpling the letter resting beneath it. The noise of crumpling paper seems to draw his attention, causing him to look to that hand. Very slowly, he uncurls the fist and smooths out the letter. Without looking back up at the two Soldiers, he says,'This is not the first odd report I have had of the Dedicated. This letter is a complaint about him, as well.' Finally, he glances up again, and fixes each of the men with a long, examining gaze. After a long moment, he nods as if to himself and fixes his attention upon Taurin again,'Do you know the name of this Lord or of the Lady you mentioned earlier, Soldier?'
Taurin watches Rand carefully, respectfully not making eye contact. Shaking his head in denial, he murmurs, "The Lord didn't give his name..." his voice trails off for a moment before he gives a description of the man's sigil. "The Lady called herself Lina...", he shrugs slightly.
Taval blinks at the description of the sigil, clearly it means nothing to him.
Rand shakes his head slightly and then shrugs. He continues to absently smooth the crinkled paper as he says,'That is not one of the ones I have seen recently. Dyelin will be able to tell me to whom it belongs, though. Can you draw, Soldier?' His hands go still as he waits for a response, an expectant look in his eyes.
Taurin fidgets slightly, a slightly embarrassed look washing over his face, "None too well my Lord Dragon," he confesses in a small voice, mortified. Shrugging expressively, he murmurs quickly, "Perhaps I can point it out though?" he offers.
Taval looks at Taurin for several seconds before returning his gaze to Rand, an almost expecting look upon his face.
Rand frowns slightly, as if disappointed, then quickly shakes it off. He mutters softly,'No. The description will suffice for now, Soldier.' Absently he reaches down and opens on of the desk drawers with his right hand, idly toying with something inside as he turns his attention to Taval. His expression goes cold and hard again as he asks,'How strong in the Power is this Modanran?'
Taurin nods, still looking embarrassed he couldn't help anymore. He looks very relieved when Rand's attention switches to Taval however, relaxing visibly, although still looking tense, considering where he is and all.
Taval blinks once at being addressed, and then responds in as clear of a voice he can, "He's not very strong, my Lord Dragon. A little weaker than I am now at best." His eyes seeming to focus inwards for a moment as he considers Flhad's strength again to be sure, then he nods once to Rand.
Rand looks back and forth between the two men for a long moment, an expression of deep concentration on his face. Finally, he nods once, sharply and pulls his right hand from the desk drawer. With a flick of his wrist, he tosses two small silver pins onto the desk. Then he rises from his seat, pushing the drawer closed as he stands. He tugs his coat down and stands erect as he says in a commanding tone,'Dedicated Gallene and Dedicated Devrasii, I charge you with the task of bringing Modanran to me. I need him alive to answer questions. Do this as soon as you possibly can.'
Taurin sways slightly on his feet, struggling to keep the void wrapped tightly about his mind. Saluting sharply, he responds, "As you command my Lord Dragon!" He looks a little bug-eyed though, unprepared for the current turn of events, shooting Taval a questioning look, clearly waiting for the other mans first move.
Taval blinks once at the pins sitting on the desk, and then looking back at Rand he salutes once more sharply, fist to chest. "It shall be as you command, my Lord Dragon." Nodding once to Taurin, he moves forwards towards the desk.
Rand crosses his arms over his chest, causing the sleeves of his coat to pull back and reveal the glittering dragon heads on the backs of his hands. Looking down imperiously at the two men, he says,'Wear those pins proudly. Now, do you have anything else of note to report?'
Taurin nods to Taval, falling in just behind him and stepping upto the desk as well. Hesitantly he reaches out with a shaking hand and touches the pin briefly, before clasping it up and examining it. Turning back to face Rand, he bows formally over his sword, unable to help himself, "Nothing my Lord."
Taval picks his sword pin up at the same moment as Taurin, saluting once more with the sword pin in his fist has he brings it to his heart. "Nothing, my Lord Dragon. He shall be brought to you as you command."
Rand nods slowly, a grim smile slowly forming on his lips,'You are dismissed, then. Do not fail me.'
Taurin nods in synch with Taval, "We will have him shortly for you, my Lord Dragon." Saluting crisply in more Asha'man style, he looks questioningly to Taval before starting to move towards the exit from the room.
Taval nods once in response to Rand's dismissal, no more words needing to be said. Turning sharply and nodding to Taurin, he proceeds to exit the room through the same door they had entered in, his eyes lingering on the Maidens breifly before they're in the corridor.
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