Cold wind breezed between the snowy coniferous trees and rattled the flaps of the tent set to middle of nowhere between Tar Valon and Cairhien. Sahra reached out and straightened the fur covering the doorway. She was glad of the small distraction from the company of her mentor and once willing kissing partner. Things had grown tense enough between her and Sana that she had suggested a change of scene out of desperation. She thought that being on the road again could cheer him up and traveling together might force them to work things out. She also had a secret plan that relied on physical proximity they couldn't escape. She had been thinking his words about sleeping together and thought that it could help them get frustration out of their systems. Also, how was she supposed to make an educated choice between Fior and him when she didn't know what he was like in the bed. It was utterly indecent of course and she was ashamed for thinking it, but she wanted it. Now when she knew what it really could be like, her dreams of him had gotten disturbingly vivid and drooling over him while they were training definately hadn't made it any easier for her to be around him.

 

For reasons of his own, Sana had decided to take her to a trip. He had gotten them an assignment to carry an important message from an Aes Sedai to her niece in Cairhien. He had frightened her and drilled to her that it was imperative that the message was delivered. Even if something happened to him, she would have to see to that. She had of course protested that nothing like that would occurr but he had been insistent and made her promise. That memory still bothered her and she turned to look at him in their small tent. She froze and stared as right that moment he had been taking off his shirt to change clothes and she got a good view of his tight abs and well formed and firm shoulders and arms. She had to swallow the sudden extra moistness that filled her mouth. He was gorgeous and the situation made her nervous... and needy.

 

It was only a little over week since the day she and Fior had been skating and warming each others up after she had fallen through the ice. Sana hadn't been a least bit pleased when he found out and his hurt and her guilt over hurting him hadn't made interaction between them very easy. They spent one third of their days in the company of each others but they hadn't really had a proper conversation since the night and she had been basically doing solo training as they avoided physical contact like the plague. Burn him, but she missed him! She missed laughing and joking with him and the hand-to-hand training and him actually sparring with her. It had been even worse because she had barely seen Fior. Cairma drove him hard and they had been placed to different rooms even if her things still were in their old room.

 

But she should be worrying about the present. She looked away with unease and rolled her sore shoulders that crunched after a badly slept night in a bad position.

 

"I could help you with your shoulders, Sahra", Sana suggested and she startled as she realised that the voice was coming from closer than it was supposed to. Still topless Sana crossed the last little space between them walking on his knees and positioned himself behind her. She was too shocked by him suddenly talking to her so... like in the old days and actually wanting to touch her that she just let it happen. She was disturbingly aware of his thighs resting against her lower back and she actually let out a ragged sigh as he gathered her hair from the nape of her neck and moved them aside touching her skin in the process with his fingertips. That small contact was sending waves of pleasure all over her and she shivered.

 

"Where's the wind blowi... ahh... mmm...." Her question was interrupted by half pleasured, half pained moans as his hands began to work her tense muscles. He was good with his hands like she had always known him to be. And because his closeness, she just couldn't relax which defeated the purpose of the massage. She was acutely aware of the fact that if she just turned, she could kiss him and slide her hands over the his bare skin of his magnificent torso. It definately was getting hot in the tent for her and she wondered if that had been his purpose. Did he want her?

Light, but it felt good to be on the road again. At least on the road he didn't feel like every eye was on him. For the past week he'd felt it, felt like everyone knew what had happened and was watching him. He wasn't normally the paranoid type but he knew that his own behavior towards his trainee had been anything but good. He still wondered how he had been able to speak to her the way he had, and how she had still wanted to continue training with him.

 

So, when she made a passing comment about getting out of the Yards, he had jumped on it. He had a few ideas on how to make this a good training exercise for her and being away from everyone else made him feel more at ease. Light, everytime he had seen Cairma since it had happened he couldn't help but get fidgetty and think that she was about to confide in Ginae what was really happening. Sometimes he thought it might be best for all of them, but other times, he knew that he had Sahra worked well together and that her training benefitted from that. As long as he remembered his place.

 

It had been hard as they had started out the day before. Packing their gear up and getting them out of the city had been painful for him and the silence that passed between them was tense and nerve wrecking. At least in the Yards the silence between them had been filled with other sounds, lathes and shouts, training sounds to make their tension less noticable. Here, there had only been silence.

 

When he woke that morning though, she had still been asleep and it had been too easy to simply watch her, the cares of the past few days erased from her face. This was his Sahra, the woman who laughed and flirted, who conjouled and bantered with him, not the woman who looked under her lashes with guilt, who feared his touch and his anger. Light, he needed to make amends and he had to start quickly before it became too much. She was his trainee and she was his friend and she deserved more than the harsh words he had directed at her.

 

She began to stir then and he had gotten up started to get ready. He felt her eyes on him thought and he couldn't help the passion that it stirred in him, that she might want him still after all of this. He took a deep breath as he moved quietly towards her. She seemed almost as surprised at his offer as he was for having made it. It had been a spur of the moment thought when he saw her trying to roll the muscles loose. He had done this a million times before as had she, so why was it so foreign to them both?

 

 

He pulled her hair aside gently and began working the tesion from her shoulders. She had knots that wouldn't go away so quickly and it upset him to know that he had probably put them there. his hands began working lower, but her shirt was working against him. Without thought he put his hands underneath her shirt and began working on her lower back muscles. He'd done it before and he had always loved the softness of her skin, but today the feel was electric. His hands moved up, continuing the small circluar motions to work away the tension. He felt some tension leave her, felt new tension rising. He leaned slightly forward to speak soflty into her ear. "I'm sorry Sahra. You didn't deserve my words or my anger. Forgive me?"

 

Ursana Tahn Sakhr... Sahra's...um... mentor??

Sana's hands worked wonders on Sahra's shoulders but were very damaging to her stomach and peace of mind. She was on knots all over and he only made it worse by diving under her shirt. She stiffened and had to force herself to breathe and loosen up again. It was just a massage and she should be glad that he had felt comfortable enough to give it to her. But as his hands moved upwards, she could not think it as a simple rub anymore. It was pure sin and her nerves were vibrating under his fingers sending small lightnings of desire to the pit of her belly. Was he doing this on purpose? He had to be knowing what this was doing to her. She almost whimpered when his warm breath touched her sensitive ear and unconsciously she leaned toward him so that his lips touched her skin. She closed her eyes with pleasure and a sigh escaped her parted lips.

 

He had been talking to her and she had to focus heavily to remember what he had said. "I'm not angry at you", she mumbled. But she had been and she had thought up some retorts she had never actually said to him. "You were hurting and upset and we all make mistakes in a state like that." She turned to him sliding her hands over his arms and then shoulders. Her emerald eyes were smouldering with passion as she twined her fingers behind his neck pulling him closer. "I loved the kiss, though", she whispered against his lips before she brought their mouths together.

 

The kiss was hungry and sizzling and her hands roamed down to his back caressing the planes of muscles while his stayed under her shirt pressing her tightly against him. She could feel that he was definately excited and the knowledge that she had caused it exhilarated her. She chuckled huskily, a sound muffled by his plunging tongue and their nuzzling lips. Taking a good grip of his shoulders, she rested her weight against him for a moment as she wrapped her feet around his waist. He moaned as she bore down right against his arousal and all she had to do was lean back a bit and make him loose his balance. He tumbled heavily on top of her, right where she wanted him.

 

Sahra, Sana's eager disciple to whom he has many lessons to teach ;)

The feeling of falling finally pulled him away from her for a moment. When their kiss broke it seemed like a spell had been broken too. Light, what was he doing? He pulled back suddenly, as if he had been stung and moved to the other side of the tent, slipped his shirt on quickly without a word.

 

When he was safely on the other side, and clothed, he felt safer. He felt more in control of his emotions. Light, this had been a bad idea. The road was always good, but you had to pick your companions and this had been a poor choice considering everything. Blast it all, but he still wanted her like he'd never wanted another. That was something that her outing with Fior had pointed out for himself more than anything. If he could have Sahra, he could do without others and he knew it. Not being around her was killing him and he was still trying to find the balance to that.

 

That was before she had turned and kissed him though. If she was so completly wrapped up in Fior, then why was she doing that with him? Why had she pulled him on top of her like that? It didn't make sense and the last thing he wanted from this was to confuse things even more.

 

He didn't look at her as he pulled himself together and spoke. "I... I won't do this Sahra. No matter the mess of anything else, I won't sleep with you while you're a trainee. I won't complicate things even worse than they already are. I hope you understand that... this isn't about if I want you. Light, you know I do Sahra, but I'm not going to hurt us by doing something stupid right now." He grabbed his coat and tugged it on. "I need to think. I'll be back."

 

WIth those words said, he grabed his saddle bags and headed out of the tent. His horse was saddled and ready to go in record time and he left their camp to try to think his way through what was happening.

 

Ursana Tahn Sakhr

Sana moved away from her abruptly and Sahra just lay there knowing defeat. Things were very much back the way they had been. Except that they weren't because he had apologised and been warm and more like the old Sana again. But she had had to pressure him into more and now she might have ruined everything they had managed to salvage. Finally she propped herself on one elbow and looked at him. He was wearing his shirt again and wouldn't face her.

 

It was about not wanting her enough. She could understand that, though; it was against the rules and no matter how he could scoff them sometimes, this made a difference. And some lines and limitations just had to be maintained or being a Tower Guard would mean nothing. At least he still wanted her and she knew that if she would pledge herself to waiting, he would be hers in two years. But it was a long time and she could spend it happily with Fior. The question that remained to be answered was whether she would be as happy with him as with Sana. And she didn't want to think it right then.

 

She wanted to tell Sana to be careful and tell him that she still wanted him too even though everything was so very complicated. But it might have been promising too much and the words just wouldn't come out. She listened as he rode away and rested her head to her knees for the longest time. She didn't want to be alone and bothered by all of it so she could as well do something productive. Grabbing her sword, she went outside and inhaled the crisp cold air before she began to move smoothly through her forms.

 

Hours passed and she fed the fire, gathered more wood and made herself dinner between working her swordplay. Sana still wasn't back and she was slowly starting to get worried. As the darkness began to fall and heavy snowflakes with it yet there was still no sight of him, she began to border fear. Sana knew his way in the wilderness and he knew how to survive. But what if something had happened to him? He could be laying hurt somewhere out there. Grabbing a lantern, she trekked out with determination. The snow was already beginning to cover the tracks and she lost them completely at some point. She just picked a direction and called his name on regular intervals.

 

She didn't even know how long she wandered but by the time she turned back, the night was pitch black, she was chilled to her bones and her voice was hoarse from yelling . She stumbled in the snow and had difficulties finding it back to their camp where the fire had of course burned out. Once she got it going again and thawed a little, she found that gnawing anxiety kept her awake and she had to feed the fire frequently anyway so any sleep would be spotty.

 

The next day she continued her futile search and began to really despair. Sana wouldn't have abandoned her here so she knew that something had happened to him but there was no way her feeble tracking skills would be able to find him. And she didn't have food for eternity and if she didn't get back to the road and civilization, she would die from exhaustion or cold. She would have to get to Cairhien and deliver the message. Sana had stressed that it was more important than either of them but she had never felt more miserable in her life than now when she had to abandon the hope of ever seeing him again. She was no weeper but a steady stream of tears froze on her cheeks and eyelashes nearly blinding her as she forced herself to move on barely able to supress her sobs. She was very much tempted to read the bloody burning message that had cost Sana's demise but she didn't really want to know. She admitted that she was afraid of what she could find and she could not afford loosing faith now. If this all was in vein...

 

 

***

 

 

Two days later a weary and disheveled traveler perked up as she smelled smoke... and roasting meat. She was hopelessly lost and had no idea which way was Cairhien and which way Tar Valon. Sana had explained to her something about tree bark being darker on the side of the north... or was it south? But with her inexperience, she couldn't see any difference in the colours. Despite rationing, her food would run out within few days as Sana had taken most of it with him. She had to fight grief as she thought of him. There was a slim chance that he had somehow survived and would make it home safe but she couldn't allow herself to dwell on it or she would collapse.

 

And now there was the unlikely prospect of encountering other wanderers in the middle of nowhere countryside. It was enough to make her send a quick prayer to the Creator that was half thanks and half begging that her nose had been right. She trudged toward the direction she thought the other people might be at and saw the faint glow of their fire in the distance. She had seen correctly, she was saved! Walking the horse packed with gear, she emerged from between the trees and saw the pair sitting by the flames and indeed cooking dinner. Her mouth watered at the thought of fresh meal instead of dried food.

 

"Greetings travelers!", she called with a voice that was still a tad husky from the strain a few days back. "May I join your company for tonight? I am... well, a bit lost. I'm on my way to Cairhien so maybe you could tell me if I am heading to the right direction."

Anabel was uneasy. She was almost always uneasy at the Stedding, but with Anton she normally found more even footing. Not tonight though. There was nothing different to explain her restlessness. Nothing to explain why she found her hands trembling at moments, or found it hard to concentrate. For once, her moments of fear and doubt, her need to run with the wolves and forget where she was, her moments of pain were far from her consciousness. And yet she was uneasy.

 

Anton was being..well.. Anton. He was infuriating to her at times, scolding her out of her confusions and yet gentle at times as well. She didn't know which she preferred but tonight she got neither. Tonight it was just Anton without any special need to worry over or new wanderer to pick up. Just Anton. And her. Her and Anton. Alone in the woods. Her and Anton alone on a beautiful night. Her and Anton...

 

She looked over at him, puzzled by the strangeness of her own thoughts but he seemed to be looking elsewhere. She caught it then as she reached out with her senses. Someone was approaching. Before she got too close her voice called out and Anabel shook her head. She had just been enjoying the night alone with Anton. Wait... she's just been confused about being along with Anton, about wanting to be alone with Anton. She shook her head. This night wasn't getting any less confusing for her.

 

To her surprise when she looked over at Anton, he let her know that he expected her to deal with this. It was just like him really. He was always trying to help get her out of her head. Maybe he thought she needed to pick up some poor lost soul of her own to fuss over. Light, the woman wasn't likely to understand a word she said anyway, but she'd give it a try.

 

She stood up as the other woman came into view. Her voice gave away a bit about her condition, as did the lumbering way she moved. She smiled, hoping the woman could see her well enough by firelight. "You are welcome to our fire friend." She said with a thick accent that most couldn't understand. She spoke slowly, trying to make it easier on the other woman. "Please, join us. I am TimeWalker, and my companion is Anton." She gestured for the woman to take a seat near them, then settled next to Anton again.

 

Anabel/Timewalker

Gratitude welled in Sahra when she was welcomed to the fire and she nearly stumbled as she moved forward. The woman's accent, though... she had never heard anything like that before in her life and the way she mangled her consonants and vowels made it very hard to comprehend what she was saying. In the end she spoke slowly, like to simpletons. Taking a seat tad heavily, Sahra just stared at the fire for a moment to gather herself. She extended her arms toward it to enjoy the warmth and the juicy smell of the roast made her stomach rumble audibly.

 

She nodded in acknowledgement of their names and suddenly realised what she should ask them. They clearly had experience about wandering the wilderness and they could maybe help her find Sana. She was torn again between the mission and saving him but these people could resolve it one way or another. But it was good to be polite, even now.

 

"Thank you very much, TimeWalker and Anton. I am Sahra and I was traveling with my... mentor." He voice cracked with pain and she leaned forward with a feverish gleam in her eyes. "You know your way in the countryside, so maybe you can help me. He... got lost three days ago, I think." It was hard to keep track of time anymore with the spotty sleep she had gotten. "Something must have happened to him. I searched for him for many hours and then the whole next day. I called for him but he did not answer and I could not find him. And then I... I couldn't wait any longer, I had to move on. But he is still alive, right? It is cold but he is an experienced traveller and knows how to survive. He is still out there and I did what I had to. I had to continue, didn't I? " Her look begged them to assure her and she appeared exactly as young and frightened as she was.

 

She fell quiet but not before whispering to herself under her breath "If only I hadn't driven you away. It's my fault." Her awfully hopeful eyes were still fixed on the pair.

There were so many conflicting emotions coming from the young woman that Anabel nearly flinched from it. She was obviously concerned over her.. mentor... she wasn't sure what that word meant but it was some sort of companion she understood form the rest of her words. She looked at Anton and sent the image of him going to look for the other, though she wasn't too sure he'd follow her lead or if he'd just stay there.

 

"You know your business better than we. If you had to leave, then you had to and no doubt your companion knew of your purpose." She said in an attempt to console the woman. "If he is a seasoned traveller then he should be fine. If he got lost perhaps he is making his own way to your destination and thinks to find you there?" She suggested to the other woman.

 

"For tonight, you are welcome to our fire and our company. You look like you could use some sleep and a warm meal as well." She said, trying to be kind.

 

Timewalker/Anabel

OOC: Sorry for NPCing Anton but me and Crista are trying to help you out by not having to post more than once to the whole thread :) We know how insanely much you have on your plate. Sana is about 30 mins or less behind Sahra and if Anton goes off, he will meet him. They have a little chat and Sana explains that this wole thing is training. Anton can react to that as he pleases but unless you want to, you don't actually have to RP out the discussion. If you want to interact with Sana more, Anton doesn't necessarily have to even come back or the groups can split the next day with Anabel traveling with Sahra for a day or two.

 

 

IC:

 

Sahra had to concentrate to understand the woman and it took her mind away from her trembling hands and lower lip. She was on verge of tears and she was no cry baby. The last three days had just been excruciating. She was thankful for the assurance and the reminder that Sana had set this purpose and told what she had to do if something happened to him. Still it did not ease her guilt and grief even if it fortified her faith a bit. And she was definately more certain now that Sana could well be alive and fairly fine somewhere. They might meet in Cairhien. She would wait for him after delivering the message.

 

She sighed as if a huge burden had fallen off her shoulders and her stomach protested again, this time louder. "Food sounds heavenly." Anabel handed her a wooden plate and she cut off a slice off the rabbit while Anton said he would go scouting and headed off the woods. Sahra was too focused on gorging down the delicious steaming meat and avoiding getting her mouth burned to wonder about it too much. Once she was done and wiped her greasy mittens to the snow and washed her mouth with some of it, she leaned back with a satisfied sigh.

 

"Thank you. Thank you for everything. May I ask you something, TimeWalker? Where are you from? No offense, but you have a very interesting way of speaking. And are you headed to Cairhien too or heading away from there?"

She wasn't sure how to answer once she had understood the young woman's question. Her own story was hard to believe and without the wolves to back her up she doubted even Anton would have believed her story. She pushed that aside for a moment even as her thoughts went out to Anton as he went to scout out the missing boy.

 

"I think perhaps our way lies with you for a bit. We wander on our own path." She said, with a small smile. "It would be nice to have more than just Anton for company tomorrow." She added, though to be honest she was uncomforable around people. Still, if Anton could find tracks of her missing friend then they would have done something good and that's what she was trying to do. It gave her a purpose besides just living and that she needed.

 

"Um... my accent.. I... I am not from around here. The place that I was raised, it is no more so I am trying to correct my words, but it is hard. I am getting better, though I think perhaps only Anton could witness the truth of it."

 

Anabel/Timewalker

Timewalker gave her a mysterious and evasive answer about their goals and her origin and Sahra wondered about her name too. It was likely her last name but even that was peculiar. But since she didn't want to divulge too much of her mission either, she should be just thankful of the company and guidance. She didn't know much anything about these people but she had a gut feeling that she could trust them. She followed her intuition most of the time and besides, she was too tired to move on tonight.

 

"I welcome your company too." She was quiet for a moment before speaking genuinely. "I am sorry to hear about the place where you grew up. I can't claim to know anything about what happened but I have a good guess of how it feels like. I am an orphan myself." Although she had been lucky enough to have had loving people around her who had become her new family. "And your accent is just fine." She grinned. "It makes the listener really focus and adds a touch of enigma to you which is never bad. Maybe the Aes Sedai should take lessons from you."

 

She yawned widely. "On that topic, I am a Tower Guard trainee. A very tired one. I hope you wouldn't find it very impolite if I set up my tent and went to sleep. I will of course take my turn on guarding the fire and the camp. Light only knows what kind of beasts could be wandering here in the wilderness. Wolves and bears... I don't want to loose my horse."

 

"But before I go, I would like to ask something. Is Timewalker really your name? I deduced that it would be your last name. It is a very beautiful one but also exotic. My full name is pretty boring, Sahra Alisa Covenry." She pouted prettily. "I wish my mother had named me something more interesting. Maybe after some great heroine. I would have loved to be Birgitte, Mabriam or Eldrenne after the last Queen of Manetheren. Her story is so tragical and epic."

Anabel smiled at the girl as she talked. An enigma? Oh, she had no doubt these Aes Sedai would like to learn a little something from her, but she had no intentions of ever meeting one. It was enough for them to see her golden eyes without the knowledge of how far back her past truly lie. She had been blessed that her brethern of the wolves had taken her in with no more questions than they had.

 

"You have no need to worry of wolves." She said, a light laugh following her words. "Anton and I guarantee you that. But my name... it is a name that was chosen for me by others. The name I was born with passed away with my home and family. Timewalker is all that I am now." She gave the girl another small smile. "Sleep now. I will wake you for your watch."

 

She had no intention of letting the girl take a watch, but she had no need to know that. She was growing concerned over Anton's continued absence though and she hoped that he would find the young lady's friend or a clue to his disappearance at least.

 

Anabel/Timewalker

The moment Sahra had her tent set up and her head touched the self-made pillow, she was deep asleep. Dreams did not bother her and she got up refreshed if hungry. It dawned to her that she hadn't been woken up for the watch and she didn't know what to make of it. It could have been compassion for the exhaustion or then lack of trust or both. She was annoyed but she tried her best to not show it as she emerged. Wishing them both good morning politely, her smile turned genuine when Timewalker handed her a plate full of all kind of greasy goodness.

 

Between wolfing down her breakfast she got a better look at the two of them in the morning light and noticed the peculiar colour of their eyes. She had never seen such a shade of light brown before, it was bright enough to be golden yellow. She broke off the stare embarrassed when she realised that Anton had caught her on it. But curiousity plagued her and she decided to ask. "Umm... are you two related? No offense, but I have never seen eyes like yours and that is not a very common colour. It is beautiful." And a bit scary too, reminded her of some kind of an animal, a feral beast.

 

Her and her big mouth. She really needed to learn some tact. "Anyway... thank you for keeping the guard so well and patrolling. I really did not have to worry about wolves. Are we going to be on our way soon?" Thinking her mission and Cairhien soured her mood and she glanced balefully at her tracks and the direction she had abandoned Sana. Light had to keep him safe. And Timewalker had said that he might well be making his way to Cairhien too and she shoud know, being such an experienced ranger.

Looking down at the trail, Anton smiled as several images filled his mind. Not from Timewalker, though those were rather enlightening since Anton had walked away not long after the girl had revealed who she was, rather they were from the nearby wolves who had done him the favour of investigating the surrounding woods. It seemed that there was a man trailing the girl that had been wandering, staying back far enough that she would never know he was there, but while it made sense he still didn't know the identity of the man. Maybe it would pay to be a tad neighbourly, introduce himself to the man and discover exactly what he was up to.

 

Stringing his bow, he laid a shaft to the string and took up a position in the shadows and it wasn't long before Anton melded into the dark around him. Unlike this man who was following, Anton had a sight that made the night as clear as the day and his woodcraft had only improved as a Tracker. Concealed by tree and the shroud of darkness, Anton knew he would have an easy advantage on the other man, and that the other man would realise it. That would make the whole process alot easier as far as he was concerned, that and it minimised the risk posed to him in case the man wasn't who he thought it would be.

 

Thankfully, Anton didn't have to wait forever and soon the sound of grass crunching beneath boot touched his ears. Closer and closer they came, but Anton remained relaxed and silent, he knew where the man was and he wasn't alone in observing. An older female, Snow Vixen, was keeping an eye on the stalker and making sure he was following the trail, following it right into Anton's trap. Waiting until the man was a good dozen paces past his tree along the trail, Anton lifted up his bow as he spoke with a menace honed from years of dealing with thieves and murderers.

 

"Hold or die! Do not move, do not turn, stand where you are or I'll place this shaft fair betwixt your shoulderblades. State your name and your business stranger, ah! Keep your hands away from your belt or I'll make good on my promise. Name and business!"

 

 

Anton Averdal

Farpaw

"Hold or die! Do not move, do not turn, stand where you are or I'll place this shaft fair betwixt your shoulderblades. State your name and your business stranger, ah! Keep your hands away from your belt or I'll make good on my promise. Name and business!"

 

Sana had been thinking about a nice warm fire and some hot food when a voice pulled him out of his thoughts. He took a deep breath and put his hands up at his sides to show he had no weapons in hand. He could get to them quick enough if need be, but he'd never been the type of person to run head first into a fight, no matter how many fights his old roommates used to get him into. Or how many 'lessons' Aran felt he needed.

 

"My name is Ursana Tahn Sakhr and I was just passing through." He said, not wanting to give up Sahra and her travels if the man was some sort of bandit. He hadn't seen any signs of trouble for her yet, though he knew she wasn't faring as well as he had hoped. The good part of him thought it was horrible what he was doing to her, but the part of him that was still hurting was rather pleased to see how upset she was at his disappearance. It was harder to live with that as the good part kept pointing out that she just might not care at all after she realized he'd done this on purpose. Well, he'd gotten over it with Aran and at least he wasn't getting Sahra kidnapped. It was good for her to learn what she could do on her own without the hope of her mentor around.

 

He kept telling himself that. Of course, he wouldn't need to feel bad if he was about to get shot, but he didn't think the other man was going to do it. If he was, he'd have shot without asking questions first. He'd just have to continue living with his guilt. Yipey. "Company would be most welcome if you should decide against an arrow in my back." He tried to sound light hearted and at best came off as casually put out.

 

 

Ursana Tahn Sakhr

Well, that was an interesting development. A Sakhr, he knew Rosheen from Tar Valon when he had last visited and he had met her parents at one point as well. A cousin perhaps? A bit of a stretch, there were undoubtedly other Sakhr in the world, but on the trail of a Tower Trainee it suggested a bit to him. Regardless, caution was required and if the man was who he thought he was, then perhaps the treatment he was about to administer was called for anyway, though for entirely different reasons.

 

"Just passing through? I've been following you for a good while, and you've been following this trail that I've been waiting for you to stumble along. Either you're a terrible liar or you're fool and neither sits well with me. So, we're left with only one alternative." Watching the man carefully, Anton proceeded to give his instructions in a voice that would brook no dissension.

 

"You are to strip off all of your weapons one by one and toss them to the third tree before you and slightly to the left, the one a good dozen paces away. You shall do so slowly, you will not entertain any thoughts of turning around and trying to cut my throat and as long as you do so you shall live for awhile longer. After you have done so, you will inform me as to your true purpose here and I'll warn you right now, I can tell a lie from truth and if you spin the former, I'll assume you're a bandit and leave you dead and festering on the forest floor." All his senses focused upon the man, Anton was prepared to read truth from lie, or a threat that he'd answer swiftly with his shaft.

 

Anton Averdal

Farpaw

The order to remove his weapons was not a surprise and it was easy enough to comply with. He had no wish to start a fight and there was something in the man's voice that spoke of calm. He didn't think he would get an arrow shot out of arrogance or panic or excitement. Whoever the man was, he was controlled and that boded well for the situation.

 

He had a few daggers on his person and threw those aside, his sword landing next to them. It was far harder to part with his staff, but there was no keeping it. Anyone with the sort of control that this man showed was sure to have enough experience in the world to see a staff for what it was, and not just a walking stick. Still, he liked his staff. Not as much as his life though so it was the last to go.

 

"There, my weapons are gone. I have told you my name and my words were the truth. I am just passing through here on an errand and want no trouble." He thought about it for a few minutes before continuing. He had spent his life on the road and no matter that this man had taken him in a suspicious fashion, Ursana didn't think him a thief or bandit. He was well hidden and there was no sound which seemed to indicate he was alone. If he had been waiting for Sana on this path, he had probably seen Sahra as well. He decided to trust his instincts.

 

"I was following these tracks as you already seem to know so I don't know why you bother to ask me my business. I would be interested in knowing yours though, and if you have seen my companion who is a little ways ahead of me?"

 

Ursana

Processing the new information, Anton was fairly certain things were safe now, even if the man hadn't come right out with his identity. The girl, Sahra, had supplied the rest of the details that were necessary, so it was little wonder that the man concealed his allegiance. Not everyone would be so friendly to one who had given their loyalty to the White Tower. Still, there was one last thing he'd do, just to be certain. His voice still as cold as before, Anton asked his question. "You are passingly familiar to me, you would know a Roshana Sakhr would you not?"

 

It was the last thing Sana had expected to hear and he stood there for a minute with his mouth open before he could answer. How in the world did this man know anyone in his family? “I do. How do you?” He asked.

 

Anton laughed slightly. "There are two kinds of people in the world that are important to you at this particular juncture. There are the people who ask questions and there are the people who answer them. Since I'm the one holding the bow, you're one of the latter. Now, who is she to you?"

 

He shook his head. If this guy knew his family, why were weapons still involved? He’d yet to meet a person that wanted to harm his mother or father and those that were interested in hurting his sister…well they’d have their hands full. “Like I said before, I’m Sana Than Sakhr. My parents are Rosana and Urseen. My sister is Rosheen.”

 

He was getting a bit irritable at this point, but mostly because there was still a weapon and his family had been mentioned and he really wanted to get up ahead and make sure that Sahra was alright, but he wasn’t about to rush anything and turn this into some kind of trouble.

 

"I suppose that makes that wide eyed doe Sahra your student then." Lowering his bow, Anton replaced the shaft in his quiver as he added. "You've evaded a quick death, thankfully, I'm not sure I would have wanted to be the one to tell your sister that you'd gotten your fool self killed out here. You can turn around."

 

Stepping out of the shadows, he approached the younger man and held out his hand. "My name is Anton, once a thiefcatcher but now just a Tracker out here in the wilderness. I'm out here with a student of my own, oddly enough. I assume you don't want Sahra to realise you're out here?"

 

Sana smiled at the comment about his sister. The man did know her after all. He shook hands with Anton and nodded to his question about Sahra. At least the man was smart enough to catch that without being told. It was good to know he hadn’t had an arrow on him by an idiot who might have let loose for the wrong reason. “Exactly. It’s a training exercise. I’ve been keeping back to make sure she’s OK but I don’t want to interfere with her. You left her with your student? Hope she likes to talk. Sahra will talk her ear off.” He said with a fond smile. He shook his head then, realizing that fondness was not something he should be thinking of just now.

 

"Yes, my student is with her at the moment. She's not exactly talkative but she needs to learn, might even do her some good to be sitting with your Sahra." Something was wrong with this Ursana, Anton could smell the sudden change in emotion. Odd. Taking his bow in both hands, Anton began to unstring it as he spoke on. "At anyrate, they will be fine for now. I take it this is that survival test that you Tower Guard always seem to be fond of giving your trainees. She can travel with us if you want, or we can disappear before she wakes up and leave her to continue on alone."

 

Ursana shook his head. “It’s your choice. I’m just following. My idea of survival includes knowing when to ask for help and learning to accept help when it’s needed. Too many people in the world can’t ask for help, especially when they get a title and a little experience under their belt. If you were planning to go with her, please don’t let me stop you.”

 

He looked up then and looked the other man in the eye, really looked. He had thought his eyes had been playing tricks on him before when they shook hands, but they weren’t. He could clearly see the color of the other man’s eyes. The way the light caught them seemed to make them glow. “I don’t mean to be rude, or perhaps I do since I’m asking anyway, but… I’ve never seen anyone with golden eyes before. How’d that happen?” He asked. He’d seen a good bit of the world in his travels but it wasn’t something he’d ever heard of.

 

"I could tell you, but then I'd have to kill you." Laughing at the confusion he sensed and saw from Ursana, Anton slipped the bowstring into a small pouch at his belt as he added. "Its a long story, suffice to say its not the mark of the shadow or the other nonsense that some yokels tend to conjure up. And some of the sophisticated cretins from the city for that matter as well. Nevertheless, it does cramp my ability to be a thiefcatcher, hence why I've taken up tracking. Don't often run into idiots that'll go jumping to assumptions and trying to stick me with pitchforks. How is your family anyway? And things at the Yards, I haven't seen some of the people I know there for awhile. Lyv Tylin, Lonrick Myrrdin, perhaps even Aran? He's a touch shorter than me, big mouth, liar, cheat, thief and a dozen other terrible things?"

 

“Oh blood and bloody ashes! Why is it everywhere I go, someone knows Aran? I would think the only thing the man ever did in his life was travel about the world drinking his way from one city to the next, just to meet people and smirk at me when I tell him I met a friend of his in the middle of nowhere.” Sana said with a shake of his head. His voice held a fair share of both exasperation and fondness though. Sana might think many things about Aran, but he liked his mentor and all too often thought they were too alike for his own peace of mind. “You should really add gambler, womanizer, and drunkard to give the right impression though.” He said with a smile. “And you would be looking his student actually.”

 

Anton couldn't help it, the outburst was one thing but now to learn that the man before him was one of Aran's students! And Rosheen's brother as well no less, he couldn't stop laughing. Having to lean on his bow in order to prop himself up, Anton forced himself to cough as he tried to rein in his amusement. "Ahem. Ah, yes, I imagine that it must be interesting being one of Master Aran's students. Yes. Not everyone gets the priviledge." It was difficult, and Anton's lip trembled, but he managed to keep it together nevertheless.

 

Sana decided he liked this Anton character. “Interesting would be a nice way to put it and I’m sure if more trainees were so ‘privileged’ we’d have a lot less Tower Guards.” He smiled again. “It’s been an interesting way to pass a few years. I suppose after being on the road for so long, a normal teacher wouldn’t have held my attention for too long anyway. But you’ve been to the Yards? Did you train there?”

 

"Certainly not, having to take all those orders and direction, much better for me to make my own way." Smiling, Anton found himself liking this student of Aran's. "I've visited a couple of times. The first time I'd been in Caemlyn, hired by a young noblewoman from Shienar to assist her in recovering some stolen goods. Lyv Tylin and Lonrick Myrrdin stepped had run into her in the market and when there was an incident, they stepped in and defended her. In the process they got themselves thrown in prison, and I had to go bail them out. I ended my employment and accompanied them to Tar Valon. Thats where I met your sister, and it was a good chance to see Aran. Hadn't seen him for a few years."

 

“Rosheen is a hard one to miss when you come to the Yards.” He said with a grin. “You could pass me by anyday and never think twice about it but Rosheen does stick out like…” he stopped. “Well, you’ve seen her. I’m not sure I understand her friendship with Aran, but then again, I don’t understand how Aran makes friends with half the people he does. I’ve decided it’s an art form.”

 

Grinning, Anton nodded. "Thats one way to put it, he has a tendency to irritate and disarm people simultaneously. Been that way since we were children." Turning about, Anton stepped back into the shadow to retrieve his stave as he continued. "Had a habit of getting us into alot of trouble, and getting us out of it, gift and curse depending on what was happening. No doubt you know that one for yourself."

 

“Wait, you knew Aran as kids?” he asked with a fair amount of incredulity. “I can’t imagine it. The trouble I can, just not the kid part. No, actually. I can. I just imagine him as he is now, only smaller and without the beer.” He laughed. “So what are you doing out in a place like this? And I should thank you, for keeping an eye out on Sahra. She’s a strong girl, but you never know what will happen with your students, you know?”

 

"Sahra will be fine, all it means is just another student underwing for me. Maybe she'll even pick up a couple of things about tracking and surviving out here, Timewalker has come a long way so they'll end up talking about that at some point." Catching the glance at the name Timewalker as he turned about, Anton chuckled. "Don't ask. To sum it up, Time has an aversion to her real name being used, to the point that I don't think there's anyone who actually knows it." Stepping back out of the shadow again, Anton used the stave to lean on as he pointed to the left of the trail. "A couple more minutes walk that way and you'll find a nice place to shelter if you know what you're looking for. I have to head back to make sure everything is alright."

 

Sana hoped that before it was all over he’d get to meet this Timewalker and maybe actually sit down with Anton instead of talking like this, but he wasn’t sure he’d ever get the chance. The other man hadn’t mentioned what he was doing out here either with a female student of his own. Was he in the same position that he was? Caught with an amorous student who honor wouldn’t allow him to touch? Wanting a little time alone with his student? Or maybe he was just solitary by nature. He didn’t know, but in case they didn’t meet up again, he had to ask one more question. “Aran. What was he like, as a kid?”

 

Laughing at the question he received, Anton turned and began to make his way down the trail back to the camp. Sensing the disappointment that came from Ursana as he did so, Anton called his answer over his shoulder. "Like all brothers, annoying." Leaving a pause, Anton added. "We're headed south tomorrow, in case you lose our trail just follow the birds, we'll be camped by a small creek. Keep out of trouble."

 

Sana shook his head. Well, tomorrow was a new day. Maybe if he followed behind Anton might stop back again and he’d have another crack at finding more about his mentor and, dare he even think it, friend. “Aran’s not around to get me in trouble so I should be fine. But thanks again Anton. And if my girl’s too much trouble, just let me know and I’ll come get her.”

 

Waving with his free hand, Anton didn't bother saying anything more as he made his way down the trail. The reason they were out here after all was to see how well Timewalker could hide her trail, it'd be a challenge to see whether she could hide three from this Tower Guard.

 

 

Anton Averdal

Farpaw

 

Ursana

Tower Guard

The next morning dawned too early, Anabel thought as she was stretching. Especially mornings when she had been up too late. Not just with her watch, but when she had finally turned in to sleep her mind hadn't given her any rest. The girl's distress at losing her mentor was playing havoc in her mind. She understood it, understood her relationship with Anton and how it mirrored this girl and her... mentor. But she'd dreamed. She'd dreamed of Jorah, drowning while she could do nothing but watch. When she'd woken from that nightmare she'd had another. She'd been in the room again, the strange windowless room that she'd been cast into before this time, only she had known what was happening. She had known the passage of time as it truely was and had lived through it all. Worse than knowing everything around her was changing, she had known Anton was outside. She had known that as she sat there, unable to do anything, his life was moving on and by the time she'd be released, he'd be dead as well.

 

She had been in a near panic for a few minutes after she had woken and it wasn't until she made contact with the wolves that she had been able to believe her eyes and to see that Anton was truely there with her. She didn't think anyone could understand so she didn't try to explain her heart wrenching terrors. The girl didn't seem to notice anything, but she wasn't sure about Anton. It was always hard to tell with him. He watched her with a wearyness somethings that saddened her, though she understood.

 

As breakfast was ready, Sahra came out and thanked them for letting her sleep. She looked better for it and Anabel was glad she had made that choice. At least in that she had been right. She handed the girl a plate and took her own to start eating, though she had no appetite. It was easier than trying to look at Anton though. She hadn't been able to meet his eyes yet. She just hoped he'd let it go and not press her on it today.

 

Sahra questioned Anton about his eyes, but before he could answer she spoke again about being on the road. Anabel nodded. "It will only be a few more minutes and we can be on our way. How are you feeling this morning? You look better."

 

Anabel/Timewalker

"Oh, so I looked really dreadful last night?", Sahra asked with a dramatic pretended huff. Anabel looked confused for a moment and since her antics were often misunderstood and caused hurt feelings, she laughed. "I really did look like shit, didn't I? Honestly, if it wasn't for you, I might be frozen by now. Thank you again." She looked forlorn when she thought how disappointed Sana would be at her performance. She would have to learn and she wouldn't waste this change to have such experienced teachers around her. And Sana would be in Cairhien, he would be. "Now, I am just fine and ready to get going. Just tell me what I need to do help. Even though I have my thumb in middle of my palm when it comes to navigating, I can put a camp up and together."

 

"How long will you two be traveling to the same direction than I? Will you come to the city itself?" Keeping a pause to take a breath, she realised that Timewalker was only nibbling her breakfast. And she seeemed somehow... evasive about her companion. Maybe it was her own situation or just her wild imagination but immediately she sprung up a story of the two of them, Timewalker and Anton, maybe being in the same situation than she and Sana. Except that Timewalker wouldn't have a second man in the picture, unlike her sluttiness. No, she would not get depressed again. But she felt guilty when she realised that she hadn't even asked yet how the other woman was.

 

"I talk way too much", she said contritely. "Just tell me to shut up. Really." She took a deep breath. "Now, how are you doing this morning, Timewalker? You did my guard shift and I am sure that you had a long day of traveling behind you too." She leaned forward and supported her chin to her knee in genuine interest. "And you too, Anton?", she shifted her gaze at the man noticing again the peculiar eyecolour. "Did you have a nice walk in the woods?"

 

Sahra Covenry

Tower Trainee

Mentee of Sana

Anabel already knew the answer to Sahra's question and knew that the young man traveling behind them didn't want his trainee to find out about him. She decided to take up the conversation before Anton would have to find a way around the truth. Not that she understood the young man's desire to stay hidden. The girl was obvious upset about his disappearance and it didn't help Anabel to know they could stop the girls concern with a single word. Still, Anton was keeping his silence so she would as well.

 

"You needed sleep more than I did." Anabel said slowly, making her accent more understandable. "As for how far we will be going, we do tend to wander a bit so we will just have to see how far our roads travel together." She wasn't about to commit them to taking the girl all the way in case the wolves came back with some need, but she hoped they would at least see the girl part way. She might learn a few things with them along the way as well.

 

The others were done eating and she realized her plate was still mostly full. She forced the food down as quickly as possible, then took the dishes for clean up. She smiled at the girl. "Get your tent down and we should be ready to go by the time you have your pack ready."

 

The dishes took no time and as predicted, when she came back Anton had taken care of their camp and Sahra was ready as well. Anabel's own pack was neatly stowed and she packed the dishes fast enough. When she pulled her back up onto her shoulders the others did the same and they were on their way.

 

She started walking beside the girl and gave her a small smile. "Tell me about yourself Sahra. Where do you come from? What is it you would do with this life?"

 

Anabel/Timewalker

Anabel's reply made Sahra frown slightly. The other woman hadn't really told how she was doing, just repeated that she had needed the sleep more. Strange. Anabel began to wolfing down her own breakfast so maybe Sahra had been just talking her ear off and kept her too busy to focus on it. She made an obedient Tower Guard salute and headed to ravel her tent and stuff her things to her pack. Anabel's prediction turned out to be correct and she and Anton had their tents and packs ready when she was done. Maybe they had even had to wait on her, she though with chagrin. She should ask them to observe if she was doing everything in the most practical way and give some advice that was likely needed. Only it should have been Sana to help her out and not some strangers, no matter how nice they were.

 

She was glad that Anabel joined her company voluntarily and made the initiative for a conversation. She smiled brightly at the her in response. "I'm from Tar Valon and I have lived there all my life. The furthest away that I have been until now is half a day's travel from the city and I'm sure that it shines a mile away that I am a total novice outdoors. Sana gave me some advice on our way before he... went missing." She bit her lip and just dropped the touchy topic. "Anyway, as I mentioned, I am a Tower Trainee and I have about two years left. Once I earn that fancy red cloak, you can bet that I won't be staying much in the White Tower. I want to travel and adventure... but of course as it serves the Tower the best. I suppose that my choice of career might seem strange to someone who is not from the City but I have lived all my life around the Sisters and admired them and their ability to do wondrous things and help people." She grinned. "Since I can't become one of them, I want to still help out and make a difference in some way and I think that this actually suits me much better than sitting on my ass and training for tens of years."

 

"How about you? I could ask the same questions from you."

((Sorry!!!! But you know I love you hon :P)))

 

 

 

 

Anabel listened with an intensity that had quickly become second nature to her since meeting Anton.  It was really becoming less and less of an issue to understand people, except when the speaker was a fast talker as with the girl before her.  Making herself understood was still trying at most times, but there were people like Anton who took her accent in well enough and learned to hear what was said.  She doubted this one would be with them near long enough, but she considered it an exercise in learning to fit in with this time period.  She needed to be doing something to keep from drowning in her past, and it did help to have someone like this who needed help more than she did.  At least, she needed help that Anabel could give.  The things Anabel needed weren't something that could be handed out so easily as a plate of food or a warm fire.

 

She pointed at her eyes when the girl asked about her occupation.  "The chosing was done for me." She said with a small smile.  Long years ago she had been bullied and hurt for what those eyes had shown, but her family had never turned on her, something that had given her a great deal of comfort in the following years.  She had left them before anyone could turn on them , so as far as she knew they had lived out their lives to be old and grey.  "I suppose I could learn to heal others or find some other duty within my kind, but it seems best to me to be on my feet... to keep moving.  I do not like to spend too many moons in the same place.  It is enough to know that there is a home somewhere in the distance that I would be welcomed to should I need."  She thought of Anton and his oddly comforting ways, one minute gentle and understanding, and the next demanding of her things she did not think she could give.  "It is enough to be with friends as I travel."

 

"But I do not think it odd to wish to serve another in your fashion.  It is a great thing you do, to dedicate your life to something greater than you.  It is how we move forward when the world seems unfamiliar and uncaring of our own pain.  It is the greater part of us that helps us survive."  Her eyes were clouded as she spoke, unaware that though the worlds could well be taken as a comfort to the girl beside her, it was her own heart she was revealing.

 

Anabel/Timewalker

Timewalker pointed to eyes as if it answered the question what she was supposed to do in the life but Sahra did not understand the connection. What did yellow eyes mean exactly? It wasn't her natural colour? She was confused but she let the woman finish and focused on listening to her and making sense of her thick accent. She could very well understand the wanderlust, she yearned to see the world too and explore it and experience adventures. It had to be hard on Sana to stay for the most part stuck in Tar Valon. And now when he had finally gotten away, he had... No!

 

The yellow-eyed woman seemed to be gazing at distance and speaking almost to herself. Obviously her life hadn't been that easy either. She leaned over to lay a comforting hand on Timewalker's shoulder. "The Wheel weaves as the Wheel wills and it weaves both good and bad things to our lives. It is just up to us on which we pay more focus. I try to count my blessings and friends are definately such." They really were if you didn't do your best to hurt them and alienate them. She and Sana were friends beside everything else and she wasn't sure if they could ever go back to it. If he was even... but she wouldn't go there.

 

Anton was already glancing at them and she was fairly certain that he wanted to get going already but he was kind enough to let them finish their conversation. "I think that your companion wants us to move on", she said sotfly. "But I do hope to discuss with you when we camp again. Maybe you can then also give me some pointers about surviving in the woods."

 

 

***

 

 

Sahra's bottom was getting tired by the time Anton called halt. It was amazing how the two of them kept up with her on a horseback on foot and she knew that if she had had to trek, they would have had to drag her along and she would have been a major hinderance. She patted Mist greatfully and promised it quietly a good rub tonight. They set up the tents and not so surprisingly Timewalker and Anton were done long before her and the woman came to help Sahra with hers. She showed her an effective way to hold the tent fabric while fastening it but clearly large part of it was practice and not just technique. It was something that she was going to learn since on missions Tower Guards rarely had the luxury of staying in inns or even farms or barns.

 

"Thank you, Timewalker. You said that you would give me some tips about survival outdoors so what would you consider to be the most important things to know?"

 

Sahra

Tower Trainee

"The most important thing?"  Anabel thought for a few minutes before she could answer.  So many things rushed through her head but she wasn't sure what to say.  There were a good number of things that you needed to know out in the wilderness but she didn't know which she would consider the most important.  She smiled then at Sahra.  "How to pack."

 

"We have to be prepared for anything, but good preparation can make the whole thing far better.  Like packing your favorite treats that you can't find on the road.  Maybe not essential, but when you're really tired and can't stand the thought of another step, a small thing can mean a lot."

 

"Oh, and know two things.  How to make a fire and how to swim." She said the last loud enough for Anton to hear.  He knew she wasn't able to swim and it was a subtle hint that she needed to conquer that fear soon.

 

 

Anabel/Timewalker