~Dilora~

 

White walls loomed imposingly above her, and even the distantly seen White Tower itself somehow managed to increase in grandeur as Dilora drew closer. She never could quite get over the feeling of awe and wonder at the sight of Tar Valon, no matter how many times she visited. It was said that even the lowest inn or tavern within the shining walls was still a marvellous work of art and, having seen them, Dilora could fully attest to that. That it was partly her nature to seek out taverns was not really important: she loved beautiful buildings because they usually had fabulous stories attached to them. And people from villages that did not often visit large cities loved the glamorous tales of places like the White Tower. It also made them more amenable to buying things, which was a definite bonus.

 

Her party had increased by numbers, diminished, increased again and had fallen to a lesser number the closer they had arrived to their destination. Some of them, Dilora knew would stay on in Tar Valon, and some would seek to find their own destinations and follow them. It would mostly be alone that she left this place. Still, this place promised to yield some good things if Dilora played her cards right, and it would be good to see some of the faces from her past once more.

 

Faces she doubted would have changed overly much in the few years she had been away. There would likely be some new faces to encounter and some old ones to reminisce with, but her life had been a symphony of arrivals and departures. Meeting old friends on the road was an occasion for a celebration, whereby a cask of some really decent vintage would be broached, and a feast prepared. Tales would be exchanged of how things had been since last they met, and they would talk into the smaller hours of the morning. Not that there had been a lot of that lately. There were new people in Dilora’s life than there were old ones returning, although the arrival of the Gleeman, Malic, had been a particular joy. He had been silent during the course of their travels, which was unusual for such a garrulous type as him. He must have been lost in thought of some sort, or composing a song. The country air, or being reunited with Dilora must have quite caught his tongue. In any case, she would let him roam the city and take things at his own pace until he was ready to talk to her again. At least she was fairly sure she had not offended him: it took a lot to ruffle the feathers of the extravagant troubadour.

 

Jeran, the Ogier, rode in the back of her wagon for the most part, intrigued and puzzling over the words gleaned from the Aiel. Tales of the Tree of Life and words such as “Nym” and “Eye of the World” could be heard in the quieter moments. She spared a thought for those she had left behind, hoping she would encounter them on the road and listen to the tales accrued in the meantime. To them, she would raise a toast that night when she stopped, a remembrance and a hope for safe passage and clear roads until they met once more. Meeting Tyosh had been a joy, but Dilora still did not have enough feathers for a pillow. One day… And she hoped Forge would meet up with them soon. Dilora missed her gentle giant of a protector and wished him well wherever he was.

 

Nerome and Rosheen were expectantly waiting to return to the Tower, a couple of coiled springs or leopards waiting to get back home. They had talked of bits and pieces, and didn’t really talk to many other members of her party once they’d left Caemlyn and the press of those Darkfriends. Nerome really hadn’t liked leaving them to be dealt with by the Aiel, but sometimes it was just necessary, and even though it was probably imprudent to leave live enemies behind them, Dilora could understand why it had been done that way. The Aiel were capable warriors, and she knew that if they were all half as good a fighter as Cor was, then there would be no trouble defeating a couple of rowdies. Of all of them, it would be difficult to say goodbye to the young trainee. They had had quite the escapade when it all boiled down to it, and Dilora hoped he would keep in touch in spite of his Tower duties. Besides, she liked the idea of knowing someone who was handy with a sword – you just never knew when it would come in handy.

 

The wagon rolled over passed the gates and into the busy streets of Tar Valon. Hawkers cried their wares from the magnificence of white buildings in the shape of giant shells and other such items. It was enough to rouse Jeran from his musings on the great trees to view the works of the great Ogier builders that had poured their creativity into the buildings. Merchants of every nationality mingled with stately looking individuals and the folk from various lands; buying, selling, haggling over trinkets, spices and fabrics… The air of profit and loss made Dilora feel welcome. She rubbed her hands together in anticipation.

 

She had her wares in her wagon, augmented by frequent side trips to collect mushrooms, or feathers, or other bits and pieces and had been creatively making little packets of boiled sugar sweets flavoured with goosemint to give it a bit more flavour and help the stomach. She was as prepared to meet the inhabitants of Tar Valon as she could be, which was saying something. Half a hundred or so windows rolled passed as the wheels turned, and eventually the roads opened to a large marketplace framed by inns and shops, and a long road up out to the north Dilora somehow guessed would lead to the White Tower itself. Finding a clear place, Dilora reined Altie to a halt

 

Dilora climbed down from the wagon seat, calling to those behind her that they had arrived at their destination and that they could leave if they wanted. It would be nice if she could stop for a drink, but judging by the people standing and staring at her brightly painted wagon, Dilora did not think that would be happening for a little while. She was very glad she had changed into the best things she owned before she had arrived in Tar Valon, looking rather resplendent in a plain rust-coloured dress and hair done carefully. And then she looked at the expectant potential patrons, and smiled.

It was a beautiful day in Tar Valon and though Aramina knew there were reports to read and notices to send out, she was finding it hard to think of such things. She found too often lately that her mind wandered and even now, she found herself outside, overlooking the Warders Yard. She was no love-sick girl to moon away over a man, but nonetheless she found herself here from time to time, looking towards the tree where she had first confronted Aran. An unguarded smile lit her face, one that he alone would ever see, but she schooled her features quickly enough when she heard the snickers of young girls around her. She turned and caught two looking longingly down at the Yards and as she approached, a stern look from her had them both curtsying and running for their duties that they professed waited for them.

 

A sigh escaped her and in the silence of their leaving she didn't care to control it. There were times when the pressures of her life seemed too much and she just wanted to forget who she was. Light, she wanted to leave the Tower for a while. A trip on the road to visit her agents might be in order. Among them, they mostly thought her a light skirt and she could dance and drink and play as she wanted without anyone thinking less of her reputation. It was a different life she lead as she knew it. Outside the White Tower she was just a Green Sister with little though except for men and drink and dance. Inside the Tower was something else though. Aramina sur Dulciena was known for her presence, for her absolute serenity and Aes Sedai detachment.

 

Aran had a way of changing that, of making her less detached and more open, but it had been a painful price to pay. The involvement with her niece had been the first bit and his pure idiocy with Sirayn has almost cost her what she had worked hardest for. And yet the man still had a place in her heart. She wasn't sure how to deal with that, except to simply accept it and let it be. She could no easier cut him out of her heart than she could Michael, or Natalie, or Sirayn. Light, when did Sirayn make that list? She shook her head. When she had offered a hand up instead of watching her spiral at her lowest.

 

This was all getting too much and she had to force herself away from the wall, away from the Tower for a while. In her rooms she would only find more pain and she needed to forget for a little while. She found herself walking in the city and that was almost always refreshing. Whenever she left the Tower she stopped for a moment close to the gates, a place where years before, a Tower Guard had placed a blindfold over her eyes and sent her on a blind journey to humble her. It was a reminder each time she made that journey and she often wondered what the Guard thought of the Aes Sedai she had become. She would never ask and she doubted the stoic Orion would even say anything, but it crossed her mind from time to time.

 

Wandering in the streets with no purpose, she window shopped and made note of different things. She was always on the look out for gifts or items to round out her own collections and apparel. During this time, she found a crowd rapidly gathering. When she walked towards it, they respectfully gave her room as befitted her standing. It was always refreshing to be around the people of Tar Valon who knew well how to treat an Aes Sedai. A trader's wagon was opened up and though Aramina had never met this trader before, she was glad to take the time to view her wares and make her aquaintance.

 

She approached the woman with an approving nod at her attire. She was attractive and well dressed, showing all that her business was blooming and that her own wares were well come by and in good taste. Whether it was true orn ot, Aramina had yet to judge, but her appearance said that much at least. She nodded to the woman. "Have you come far traveller?" She asked politely.

 

Aramina sur Dulciena

~Thorfinn~

 

Mani slowly apraoched the gates of the fair city of Tar Valon. Thorfinn hadn't been here in over 20 years or so and still the city left him in auw. As he aproached the gates he nodded to the guards on stationed at the gates they watched him, not nodding or aknowledging them.

He just ignored it as ignorance, he had meet people like that alot, even in the Two Rivers. He pulled his cloaks hood down and viewed the site of the city, right along the streets of shell shaped houses and shops to the centre where the White Tower shown brightly in the light.

The noise was the thing that Thorfinn had noticed even a mile away from the walls themselves, people chatting, hawkers shouting, dogs barking. It was near deafening. He wondered how people could hear each other in such a noise, infact he thought they did have hearin problems which was why they wee shouting at each other.

Mani slowly picked his way through the crowd, people moved quickly out of the Dhurrans way and muttered things under their breaths. Thorfinn began to contemplate how he would find Dilora in this mass of noise. he turned in his saddle looking for the person, or persons he was searching for, he caught signs of people watching him, poeple staring, he ignored them. There, he spoted one a guard. he touched Mani's flanks and the Dhurran moved in the direction of the guard.

'Excuse me Guardsmen, have you seen any traders today comin in the south gate?'

'Who do yo.....'

The Guard turned round quickly to confront whoever had interupted him to come face to face with Mani's nose. The guard's eyes slowly looked up until they meet Thorfinn's penatrating Brown eyes.

'Ah, em, well i have seen many today this is the city of Tar Valon sir. Many peddlers come here. Try the Market to the north.'

The guard looked at his feet and moved off in the direction Thorfinn had come from.

Odd chap.Thought Thorfinn, people forgot their manners when they lived in a city. Thorfinn reined Mani in the direcion of North and slowly ploughed through the crowd again.

 

The market was even bussier then the street from where he came. More noise and people standing around, housewives gossiping with fellow housewives. Tradesmen hagging with merchants. Noise, noise, noise.

I'll be glad once we're out of here again Mani

From his vantage point on his Dhurran Thorfinn scanned themarket place, looking for what he thought would be the sign of the peddler trading. a crowd was gathering and he could see a parting in it, there, Dilora. He saw her all dressed nicely and looking quite pretty. But the parting of the crowd wasn't made by Dilora but another women, who walked as if she was a noble or something more.

Maybe Aei Sedai? It is their city after all.

Thorfinn reined Mani to a halt and rested his arms on the pommel of his saddle and watched Dilora speak with the Lady. He didn't want to interupt so he would wait till his time came.......

~Dilora~

 

The elegant green-clad woman approached with a grace Dilora envied: it had been a long time since she had felt like a lady rather than a woman. Her clothes were more practical than fashionable, and her hair was in its usual braid rather than some elaborate style that took longer to put up than it stayed up. The exigencies of the road called for practicality, but she was still a woman enough to yearn for the odd day of being pampered. She barely suppressed the sigh. The other woman was talking to her, with features that Dilora recognised from previous visits to Tar Valon as being ageless. She could put no age to her.

 

“I’ve travelled over many a land, Aes Sedai.” Dilora replied, unconsciously using the opening line of one of her songs along with the honorific title for the sister of the White Tower she had encountered. “Travels take me from one side of the continent to the other, but I always make sure I visit the Shining Walls at least once.” She did not add that it was a good place to trade, with many people to meet and greet. It was probably a well-known fact anyway. Out of the corner of her eye, Dilora thought she saw someone she recognised and turned her head to investigate further. She thought she recognised the fellow riding the horse, but he seemed as a ghost to her, a ghost resting his arms on the pommel of his saddle and watching her intently. A smile spread across her face when she realised who it was. Thorfinn! He’d made it back from the stand the Aiel had made with Forge the Ogier and the rest of her party and had made it to Tar Valon. Who else had survived that day?

 

“Bear with me just one second please, Aes Sedai.” Dilora beckoned the figure on horseback towards her, hearing the dry, steady clop of his horse’s hooves on the cobbles. From what she remembered of the taciturn hunter he would not really speak until Dilora had finished doing business, but it felt good to have him alongside her again – a fragment of her history reassuring her that the decision to split the party had not been in vain. Thorfinn dismounted, his booted feet not really making a sound on the paving, and stood a little way behind her. Light, the Aes Sedai probably thought he was attempting to mimic a warder, standing so! Dilora didn’t mind. It was comforting to have the hunter’s presence with her. Smiling, she returned her attention to the Aes Sedai.

 

“Thank you for your patience.” She curtsied, spreading her utilitarian skirts wide and deep to convey her respect. “I’ve wandered over a lot of lands in my time, Aes Sedai, but as I said before, Tar Valon has great regard in my eyes. My name is Dilora Fashelle, and I am a peddler by trade. I have wares from here and there, and more from everywhere! All for a reasonable price, of course. Is there anything I can tempt you with?”

Aramina watched the interaction with the newcomer with interest. She wasn't used to having someone put her off like that, but it spoke something of the woman and her new companion. There was undoubtable a story but Aramina didn't have the time to delve too deeply into every story she might like. As the woman came back to her Aramina gave a polite smile. "Something to tempt me?" Aramina asked as she looked at the wagon. "I am always on the look out for rare and beautiful items. Jewelry, pottery, weapons..."

 

It was part of what she did, this giving of gifts and she was always on the look out for something that would renew the loyalty of her agents. She trusted her people but a show of generosity was always welcome, she knew. "Do you have anything that might fit?"

 

Aramina sur Dulciena

Drea sat atop her the seat on the front of her over-sized wagon holding the reigns of the two plodding oxen before her. Gary and Elza were good animals, if slow. She could walk faster and farther without then, or jogged for a few miles, but then again her home was too heavy for her to drag along behind her.

 

She was very careful with the two beasts when in a crowd, and if anything could be called a crowd this was it. People from everywhere seemed to walk the pathway on the bridge that gave admittance to the great island City. Beautifully worked towers and spires soared above the city, thin lace like bridges connecting upper levels from one spire to another. In the center the White Tower stood, taller, wider, and somehow more regal then anything that might reach even half it's hight.

 

The Groves near Tar Valon were kept by the Aes Sedai and Drea was making it a point to visit the ancient grove as soon as possible. Now, however, was not the time to think of the trees. The guard at the bridge seemed only somewhat shocked to see an Ogier steering a peddlers wagon drawn by an oxen team. Drea was into the city in relatively no time, with only minor pauses for others who seemed to be in a large hurry, and soon large worked stone buildings surrounded her.

 

Humans were known for there hastiness and no where was that more evident in a city, people ran from store to store and around the street without slowing but plenty of pauses to stop and speak or take a gander in a window or a plate of goods. It all made for a myriad of orderly madness that bread life into the streets of Tar Valon.

 

Drea's gaze swept across the crowd and fell on a young woman, a peddler by the look of her, speaking to an Aes Sedai. The Aes Sedai was expected, this was there home, but the man sitting on the back of the wagon was a shock to her. An Ogier sat apparently in thought on the back of a wagon. Carefully Drea made her way toward the group of people, the oxen forging a path through the people.

 

Pulling up short of the other wagon Drea dismounted from her seat and walked forward to rub the ear of her black bull. Smiling she hailed the closest woman, the one that was Aes Sedai. "Honor to you Aes Sedai, Honor to you fair peddler. I am Drea, daughter of Halima, daughter of Willow, it is my honor to meet you." Smiling she met each woman's gaze, but she couldn't stop her eyes from venturing toward the male Ogier.

~Thorfinn~

 

Sitting on the back of Mani, Thorfinn watched as Dilora as she spoke with the Aei Sedai. The women had an ageless face, one which told of age but still had no age lines or sagging of the face. She was a pretty lass, all in her green dress and such. It still made him suspicious though he knew that the women of the WHite Tower could be maniputive and sly. Often with out you even knowing it.

He looked around the market place gaining the advantage of been mounted. He could see the ogier who liked to read in in the back of Diloras wagon, as usual readin her books.

He looked around again and saw something that caught his eye. It was making it's way through the market place towards them, a massive wagon with two oxen pulling it. Sitting on the set was a ogier, quite a small one. Not even anywhere near the size of Forge, not even the ogier in Diloras wagon. But this one was different in some ways more eligant than the other two, and without the long drooping beards the other two had as well.

The newcomer reined in the oxen just short of Dilora and the Aei Sedai, climbing off of the wagon and nuzzling one of the oxen's ear. Even though the ogier was the shortest he had seen the hieght was still taller than us humans.

Maybe this is an Ogier women?

He caught the ogieress taking a sly look into Dilora's wagon everynow and again.

More meat into the stew, this should be interesting?

Thorfinn pulled out his oilskin and loaded up his pipe, and waited, and watched.........

~Dilora~

 

“I have some lovely pieces of jewellery that might suit you, Aes Sedai.” Dilora remembered she had a couple of beautiful items that might indeed suit the stately woman that stood before her. The green hairclip in the shape of a leaf would do nicely nestled in that hair, the perfect decoration for someone wanting to profess a love for nature. Or should she show the bracelets – one set with green gems and the other with red ones, that would look nice, but she would have to be careful as to which Ajah this sister of the White Tower represented. She would not like to presume to press something … unsuitable … on the woman. Giving it the mental equivalent of a shrug, Dilora decided the best way would be to show the Aes Sedai exactly what she had in her wagon and to take it from there.

 

Another wagon rolled slowly into view, pulled by a brace of slowly moving oxen. It had an air of magnificence and oddly, of knowledge about it, and all eyes turned to it as it rumbled to a halt not far from Dilora. She smiled at the Aes Sedai, not knowing what to say briefly, and then welcomed the new arrival in a hearty voice.

 

"Be welcome, friend ogier. I am Dilora Fashelle. Honour to the Builders. I shall be but a moment while I serve this Aes Sedai, and then you and I must share a tankard and talk tales of the road." She bowed respectfully, and then turned back to the sister of the White Tower to continue.

 

“Aes Sedai, I believe I have just the thing for you in my wagon. Allow me to get the tray in question … it is just inside, if you’d like to follow me?” Dilora led the way around to the back of the wagon where the counter was, and then quickly walked around to the inside, and dug out the tray of her wares. Carved wooden mirrors mingled with silver charms in the likeness of flames and little animals, and the tray of raw uncut gemstones that reminded Dilora of a few of her most precious items. Also, she put up some of the jars of honey, sachets of flavouring herbs and spices, and a few of the pomanders filled with dried rose petals. Pride of place, right in the centre, went the two bracelets she had had in mind, along with the hair slide. She would not get the musical instruments out, as even though the Aes Sedai had elegant and probably capable hands, Dilora thought that the harp and the flute were most likely going to end up with a different owner.

 

“As you can see, gracious lady, I have several trinkets and curios that might serve.” She caught Thorfinn looking at some of the items in surprise, as though wondering where she had managed to find them. Dilora realised, thoughtfully, that she had not shown him the inside of her wagon and so he would not know about the nooks and crannies the interior held. He would not know of the panels built into the floorboards to hide weaponry and her strongbox. He would not have a clue about the hidden drawers between shelves that would appear a flat piece of wood. There were secrets in Dilora’s wagon that she forgot about herself, sometimes.

 

“What catches your eye? As you can see they are of the highest quality, and if I do not have something here it is possible I carry it with me anyway. Do not hesitate to ask if there is something I can get for you – I shall pass back this way soon.” She looked to the horizon, towards the gates back onto the open road where, in a few days, she would set off with renewed goods and energy. “I am bound for Cairhien from here, but will pass back this way before passing down to Andor, and then a tour of the south lands.” Respectfully, Dilora let the Aes Sedai consider her wares and her purchases, and she fell silent while this happened. Dilora smiled brightly at Thorfinn, impossibly grateful to see him again. Friends were arriving all the time, old ones and new, and Dilora felt happy to have met another peddler on the road.

The incessant drone of human commerce filled the air like a giant hive of bees working to fill their own unique honeycombs.

 

The humans never failed to amuse and fascinate the giant Ogier who walked through their midst. Forge towered over the crowd, large even for one of his kind at twelve feet tall and thickly muscular with it. His size alone was enough to garner second looks and even possibly a third, but his disheveled appearance matched most of the other travelers who came through the gates of Tar Valon.

 

As he made his way through the throng, Forge chuckled at the guards who had eyeballed him when he entered the city. He had half suspected they were going to stop him because of his threadbare, and in places slightly blood-stained, clothing and the two wicked looking axes that hung from loops on his travel pack. But after giving him a thorough looking over, he imagined that they had decided those were precisely the reasons to leave him alone.

 

He had several orders of business to take care of, but the least of them was a bath and new clothing. First and foremost, he had told his friend Dilora Fashelle that he would find her as soon as he arrived, and an Ogier’s word was true as good steel. After that he was going to find the young tower guardsman Dilora had befriended and tell him his former “friends” were taken care of. Some point after that he would search out a tailor and a bath, if he wasn’t too tired. But he wouldn’t lay odds on that happening before he got something to eat.

 

He headed directly to the market area, a haven for peddlers and all sorts of sales folk hawking their wares. He figured it a likely place for Dilora Fashelle to begin her visit.

 

Sure enough, he spied her colorful wagon as he entered the vast market. He had no need to ask if anyone had seen her, which was a good thing. He doubted that he could have made himself heard over the din. He didn’t see her in the crowd, but he did spy an equally welcome sight. Two Ogier!

 

Jeran was sitting on the back of the wagon, peering intently at a book, which was exactly how Forge had seen him last. A female Ogier was trying to engage him in conversation, but Forge doubted his friend would have noticed a bee landing on his nose when he was deep into a text. He certainly wouldn’t be bothered to stop reading by another voice in a crowd of hundreds, not even if it was an Ogier woman.

 

As he approached Dilora’s wagon, he noticed what could only be the lady Ogier’s alongside it. Two giant, long-horned oxen pulled what appeared to be a peddler’s wagon. So she is a peddler, too. Interesting.

 

Forge walked up just as the female Ogier was becoming exasperated with Jeran’s inattentiveness. He laughed heartily, the deep, booming bass a richly welcome sound he hadn’t uttered in days. It certainly got the female Ogier’s attention.

 

“Forgive me, lady,” began Forge. “But Jeran wouldn’t notice Tarmon Gaidon when he’s got hold of a good book.” Bowing slightly, he grinned warmly and introduced himself. “I am Hamar, son of Dain, son of Maddic, but I am usually called Forge.” Her face lit up with recognition of the nickname. He had a good reputation as the finest stone and steel worker of all his kindred, as well as other things that he didn’t care to dwell on.

 

“It is good to see another Ogier.”

As Morris approached the city of Tar Valon he was in awe of how any structure could be so large as to be seen so far away from the city. What amazed him more was the chain of events that led him here. What was going to happen here that was so important?

 

As he began to remember his trek he pondered on why so many different people would risk their lively hood and on occasion life for him. And they all said the same at the end. "In Tar Valon you can make your way." Why was the wheel pushing him so hard?

 

As he entered the city he was nearly embarrassed at how much he stared at everything. Even the lowliest building in this city was a masterpiece of art! And it all seemed nothing but a small compliment on the huge tower looming ahead.

 

As he wondered through the streets of the city he began to notice he was attracting disgusted looks. As he looked at himself he couldn’t blame them. He had been traveling for weeks. His clothes where ripped and his boots had holes that his toes protruded thru. I suppose I should at least try to prepare for what awaits me here.

 

So in hopes of finding a cheap seamstress and shoemaker Morris set out to find the market. After a few minutes and a carefully asked question he found himself in the middle of a large square. He noticed a large group of people gathered around what appeared to be a merchants wagon. As he moved closer he noticed a regal woman speaking with the owner of the wagon.

 

OOC: bout time I got him started. :D

“What catches your eye? As you can see they are of the highest quality, and if I do not have something here it is possible I carry it with me anyway. Do not hesitate to ask if there is something I can get for you – I shall pass back this way soon. I am bound for Cairhien from here, but will pass back this way before passing down to Andor, and then a tour of the south lands.”

 

Aramina took her time to admire the goods inside the wagon which held far more than she would have imagined it could. Both bracelets caught her eye. The green for herself and the red as a poosible gift, or maybe a reward for one of her agents. Another though crossed her mind as she looked at it though. "Bound for Cairhien?" Red would look very good on her grand-niece.

 

"I'm interested in the bracelets. Do you have any jeweled hair pieces and and knives or daggers in here?" An odd combination for the asking, but the two things she was always on the look for.

 

"And if I wanted to pass on a letter along with a gift from your wagon, what are the chances of it arrival?" She asked to see what sort of reaction the woman would give.

 

Aramina sur Dulciena

~Dilora~

 

She caught a new arrival from the corner of her eye and she vowed to go and investigate the man when she could. The Aes Sedai had the potential to be an excellent customer and if there was the prospect of passing on messages it meant that there would likely be some return business. Recommendations were part of it: one of the easiest ways to build up her reputation was via happy customers recommending her services and goods to others. Dilora smiled and allowed the Aes Sedai to see the two bracelets up close, letting her turn them over with her elegant fingers to see the quality of the workmanship and that all the fastenings were sturdy and untarnished. Dilora, in the meantime, bent to fetch the small tray of daggers she kept well hidden from all and the hair ornament, the dark green jewelled leaf hairclip she secretly loathed to part with. She placed it on the counter for the Aes Sedai to examine.

 

Even now, Dilora felt she would be hard-pressed to give up the hair ornament, but she realised there were other pieces she could use and that hair decorations were not really all that fitting for a peddler. They were hardly practical for the road, after all. Placing it on the table, Dilora smiled at the beautiful sister of the White Tower and answered her second question.

 

“The chances of my delivering something with a gift from my wagon are very good, my Lady. I would charge only a small fee for the delivery, and seeing as I’d likely be passing that way anyway it would be my pleasure to pass on the greetings of such a gracious patron.”

 

Dilora saw two of the Ogier chatting to each other and she wondered idly where Jeran had gone. The shorter Ogier that enjoyed talking of trees and had a natty line in twisting words to sound other than they were intended had not really been seen since their arrival in Tar Valon. She supposed he had gone to seek out the Grove in the White Tower grounds and would be back soon enough. Perhaps a touch of the Longing was setting in. Thorfinn sat patiently on his horse waiting for her to finish whatever transactions for the moment so he could speak to her and the new arrival seemed urgent to buy something too. Dilora rubbed her hands together briskly: so many customers! Business was booming. At this rate, she’d need to make a stop to find more items to sell.

 

“Tell me, Aes Sedai, where would you like me to send your gift?” Dilora placed the tray of daggers and knives down on the counter so that the lady could see them and choose one if she saw one she liked.

Aramina smiled as she ran a finger over the green hairclip. It was a beautiful piece though she would need a full set to truly show it off. "The gift would be to a noble in Cairhein, the Lady Raina Dulce and I would need a certain amount of discretion with it's delivery, as i'm sure you can understand."

 

"Now this hair piece... an excellent piece but I could never buy it alone. Do you know the maker of this? Could a commission be sent? I would prefer a hair piece along with the matching jewelry."

 

A dagger caught her eye as well, smaller than most but with a red enammeled design on the handle. It matched the bracelet's coloring quite well. A fitting gift for her niece. A token of support and a reminder of the dangers around her. The girl ws quick enough to understand the meaning even without a note.

 

Aramina

~Thorfinn~

 

Taken a long draw on his pipe he watched the two women chat, and saw Dilora making her trade with the customer. She new what she was doing and was quite good at what she did. There was something about watching craftsmen at work that pleased Thorfinn, he was thinking of his own trade, well if you wanted to call it a trade, it was more like necessity to him. He would hunt for game, anything from grouse to deer to bear even; he would skin it and prepare the skins for tannin, leaving some for raw sell. Every now and again some tradesmen would by freshly skinned hides as they were, but then you’d get a few who would want them tanned as well. But Thorfinn could do both, the meat he would cut up for sell too, after he had taken his amount to live off. His larders were well stoked with meats and his smoke house was normally full with meat ready to be smoked or cured.

Oh, what I’d do for a piece of cured ham right now.

He gripped his pipe in his mouth and turned round in his saddle to open up one of his saddle pouches, from it he brought a leather pouch, he untied the draw twine draw strings and pulled out a pit of jerky.

This stuff had done him nearly 3 years now, every now and again, he’d smoke it over some grass to get more flavor back into it. He enjoyed it as it was to his liking, it kept well, and this batch had been kept for 3 years. It also tasted good; he had used sage grass last time to give it some flavor after it had lost some of its taste a week ago. And it was it was good for emergency rations too.

However this was purely for his own use, his father had told him that no one in Two Rivers liked it and no Tradesman would buy it. They preferred the smoked and cured meats. His clothes were his own making too, his Father and Mother could have lived in there farm for ever without leaving it, and that had been how Thorfinn had lived for the majority of his life in Two Rivers once he had returned from Shainar.

The Clothes he wore were the clothes he made himself, even the bow he used was his own making, another gift of knowledge from his father. He had used this particular bow for 15 years now and it was only getting better, it was made of a yew not far from his cabin in the To Rivers.

All in all he could survive by himself, however he was still quite friendly with the Edmond’s Fielders, they had done a lot for him when he needed them. In return he offered his skills to the villagers first before trading with any peddlers. He would help in the apprehension of thieves as well. That was a bit of a soar spot for Thorfinn as he had dealt with Thieves before and wouldn’t let what happened to him happen to the good people of the Two Rivers.

He was quite well known for his skills, people would ask him to do a few things, wither it be tracking down escaped sheep to hunting bears who had slaughtered herds. Sometime he would even be tasked with finding people. One time he had been tasked with find a lost boy, who was eventually found near a river having ‘adventures’ as he had called them. Sometimes too, a Peddler would ask for guidance through to the Mountains of Mist.

He had a really comfortable life, nice and quite, not too noisy and now looks at him hundreds of miles away from home in the noisiest city he had ever been in. He sniggered to himself. He had to admit he was enjoying himself though, being out and about and the company was rather good too.

I think I’ll stay and see where Dilora goes after this she might like some company….

~Dilora~

 

“Your words shall be as though you alone have whispered them in the Lady’s ear, Aes Sedai.” Dilora confirmed to the elegant woman. “And a commission can indeed be sent. If you would pass on the requirements you have in mind I shall send a bird at my earliest opportunity and will get word to you at the White Tower, I take it?” Dilora smiled, thinking that this trip was already repaying the investments that had gone into it. She’d have to get her own messenger birds in place – a small loft built onto the top of her wagon where the birds could still see the sky … that would be ideal.

 

“Delivering your message will be no charge at all, taking into consideration I will be serving the White Tower. Which items would you like to buy, which would you like delivered and to whom should I make the receipt?” Dilora’s hands went to her belt pouch to pull out a small notebook that she would copy from into the ledger later on. Oh yes, she would definitely need to get some more items for sale soon. Perhaps she would take a tour of the shops later on and see what other peddlers had items to offer – if she was bound for Cairhien then basic foodstuffs as well as dried fruit and vegetables could be quite useful. Whatever she could find on the road in terms of edibles that she could keep, she should keep. Everything had a price.

 

As well, perhaps the Yellow Ajah would sell her some healing herbs from their gardens. If some of the leaves grew in shallow soil, perhaps she could create a window box to grow her own from cuttings. Endlessly resourceful where it came to profit, Dilora tried to put her mind back to the job at hand.

 

“Yes, Aes Sedai, I will be happy to follow any special instructions you need. Shall we say five silver Marks for the lot?”

The bargaining began but in truth Aramina had little heart in the exchange. She had a tendancy to see things she wanted and price wasn't an issue really. When the price was settled she was quite happy with it. The green bracelet would go home with her, along with a nice dagger. The red bracelet with a matching red dagger would make it's way to Raina in Cairhein. And the green set that she wanted to match the hair piece would be commissioned and sent her way when completed. All in all a good transaction.

 

Aramina gave the woman a small smile as their business was concluded. "How long will your stay in Tar Valon be?" She asked. "I have found this to be an excellent exchange. Will you be in town long enough to dine in the Tower with me?" She asked.

 

Aramina sur Dulciena

~Dilora~

 

The items wrapped in a package and handed to the Aes Sedai; Dilora lifted her head to regard the woman. Those items intended for the journey into Cairhien, she also wrapped and wrote the name and location on a small label, and tied it on before placing it on a lower shelf. It would be barely visible to anyone not looking for it.

 

An invitation to dine with an Aes Sedai within the Tower itself was an honour indeed! Dilora smiled again, her dark eyes crinkling merrily at the corners. That she had planned to stay only a few days in Tar Valon before taking her leave was now irrelevant: the realisation that she had desperate need to replenish her stores and had old friends to meet up with, and new ones to greet was far more important than a few days headway on the Cairhien road. No. It was a lot better to make sure one travelled well prepared for whatever the road could throw at her. Some more foodstuffs and trinkets would never go amiss in such a city as Cairhien. Dilora considered staying a little over a week, and then rounded it down to the week so she could get everything done that she needed to.

 

“I will be here all week, Aes Sedai.” Dilora could be persuaded to extend her visit if needs be. “I would be honoured to dine with you in the White Tower. You are too kind, my lady, and I am very appreciative. Thank you.” The other members of her party would have to wait with the wagon for a couple of hours, but that wouldn’t be a problem – surely they would be happy with her for such a prestigious invitation. “If you name the time and date, Aes Sedai, I will be there gladly.”

Aramina noted the care with which she handled the gifts for Raina and she no longer felt concern for their well being until they reached her grand-niece.

 

She nodded at Dilora's words. She had a little time to make plans then. "I'll send word for you when i've had the arrangements made. Until then, I hope your stay in Tar Valon is a prosperous one."

 

She left the wagon then, making note of the many who appeared around it, none the less a couple ogier. She had a mind to try to stop and talk to them, but thought perhaps another time. With an Ogier in the city, it wouldn't be too hard to track them down later. She hoped anyway.

 

Aramina sur Dulciena

~Dilora~

 

She watched the departing form of the Aes Sedai with a slightly confused smile on her face. Dilora would be dining in the White Tower, a place of bounteous opportunities and, if one was not careful, the possibility of tied up in more webs than a very clumsy spider. Still, she thought, it would be a good thing to tell people about when she visited palaces and poorhouses alike. Good for business!

 

Stowing away the articles the Aes Sedai hadn’t bought and making sure that there were no other customers around, Dilora turned her attention to the small knot of people gathering around her that weren’t really interested in seeing her wares. Thorfinn and Forge, her companions from the Caemlyn Scuffle, stood mingling with a newcomer she had seen approaching. This one looked as though he could handle himself, if a little uncertain as to his surroundings. Maybe he’d loosen up with a pint and a chat a little later – this could lead to an interesting overture to some of the rougher areas where it was dangerous for a woman to venture alone. Normally Dilora scoffed at such things, knowing full well she could handle herself as well as any man, but there were still some places it would be useful to have an extra pair of muscular arms around. The Ogier peddler stood by her wagon, distant and withdrawn. Perhaps she was feeling the longing too much and, if that was the case, only time at the Grove nearby would help that. Dilora sighed and settled the last tray back into its shelf with a pat and went around to the front of the wagon.

 

“Thorfinn! Forge! Oh, it’s been so long! I’m glad both of you managed to get away in one piece – well, two pieces! Or perhaps in your case, Forge, that should be one very big piece.” Dilora walked over to her two friends and shook her head at them. It was so good to see them! Smiling, she held out her hands and let out a peal of laughter, like bells in the morning.

 

“It is very good to see you again.” Dilora extended the welcome to the new arrivals and bid them come to introduce themselves.

~Thorfinn~

 

Thorfinn chuckled to himself as Dilora came over to greet Forge and himself. He had dismounted Mani and had left the Dhurran standing next to Dilora's wagon with the words

'Wait here Mani and don't go picking at things.'

The horse had just snuffed at him, Mani was a good enough horse to be left standing and he would do just that, he didn't take well to being tied up to things as he didn't like it one bit. Several years ago when Mani and Thorfinn were younger he had tied Mani to the horse rail outside an inn. On Thorfinn's return, he came upon Mani standing still with the Horse rail on the ground splintered and one of the posts squint. He had to spend most of that day finding the other horses and decided it would be best if he just left Mani to stand himself in the future.

Thorfinn had noticed a newcomer enter the group of companions, he had wondered if this was yet another friend of Dilora. She certainly knew a lot of people. And from what he could see, was good at what she did. The lad was certainly in need of new clothes and by the looks of his feet a trip to the cobblers too. He remembered about a shirt he had in his saddle bags he had, a gift from one of the villagers of Deven Ride for escorting her mother from Emond’s Field. It was far too nice for him to wear so he kept it in his saddle bags for special occasions, but he had never worn it in the 3 years he had owned it and wasn’t really thinking of doing it either. He pulled the shirt from the bottom of his bag, it was crushed but it would do him.

‘Here lad, you could use this more than I do.’

He tossed the shirt to the lad and noticed his quick reaction to catch it and the position of his feet, this one new how to handle himself. He smiled at the lad as he pulled his old shirt off and put the new one on, it was a bit baggy on him but it suited him more than it ever suited him. He just hoped that Rosy didn’t find out he had handed it away.

‘If you want lad I could use the material form yer old shirt to patch up yer trousers fur ye, then all ye’d need is a trip to the cobbler.’

Noticing a sudden movement to his right Morris quickly turned and set himself. Only then did what the man next to him had said register in his head. Catching whatever the man had thrown to him Morris wondered why he was so jumpy all of a sudden. Looking down at what the man had thrown him he was shocked it was a shirt, and a very nice one at that.

 

Dipping his head in thanks he pulled off his old ragged shirt and slipped on this new one. It was a little baggy but that would be easy to fix. Then the man spoke again. "If you want lad I could use the material form yer old shirt to patch up yer trousers fur ye, then all ye’d need is a trip to the cobbler."

 

Morris stood astounded at this mans generosity. What would compel him to be so kind to a complete stranger? He must have some kind of motive. He didn’t need to look at his shoes to know they were beyond all hope. He could feel the smooth stone beneath his feet. Choosing his words carefully he spoke. "I don’t know what has compelled you to show such kindness to a run down man such as myself, but if you wish to repair my trousers Im afraid I have no money. Nor can I pay you for this shirt you have given to me."

 

Surely now this man would demand his shirt back. And then Morris would be able to continue his lonely existence without being a hindrance to any other living soul.

~Thorfinn~

 

Thorfinn felt hurt that the lad wanted to give him money for the shirt and repairs he was offering.

 

'Lad if i wanted money i would have asked first, the shirt is a good will gesture, the repairs, the same.'

 

Thorfinn fastened his saddle bag and grumbled to himself. People were so different to the Two Rivers folk, he had grown acustomed to it since his return.

Has it been that long?

He always thought of himself as abit with it when it came to the outside world, but clearly times had changed.

He looked at the lad and could see that he was troubled, he wondered what the lad did for a livin, what skills he had.

'Why don't you join us lad, i think we are goin to find an inn and have a few drinks. Your welcome to join us.'

The lad looked a bit oddly at Thorfinn as if he wasn't sure what he had heard. On his travels from the ambush on the darkfriends Thorfinnhad hunted for a few deer and had sold them at Whitebridge, he had got a few silver coins for it and thought that would be ebough to pay for a few brandys. He then thought of what he would do for a bed tonight.

I think i might just camp outside the walls till i make a few more coins, anyway it'll be quiter outside than here anyway.

Thorfinn mounted Mani and pointed in the direction of an inn he could see

'The Battered Drum, I'll be waiting in there for ye lad.' As he headed off he had a word with Dilora adn told her that he was goin to wait in the inn till she had concluded her bussinus out here. As Mani started to plod in the direction of the in Thorfinn looked over his shoulder to see if the lad was following.......

Morris watched the back of the man who had given him the shirt that he now wore and had even offered to fix his trousers recede into the crowd. Wondering where the man was from that gave him such an odd accent Morris wandered towards the woman that owned the wagon of goods that he had first come to see. He would surely meet the man again. He figured by the way he was watching the peddler that he was a friend of hers. Perhaps even more.

 

Approaching the wares on display he looked over several knives. None meeting his fancy very well he turned and was about to make for The Battered Drum where the man had said he would be. As he was beginning to make his way towards the inn a voice made him look back.

~Dilora~

 

“And just where do you think you’re going, young man?” Dilora’s voice rang out, stopping the man in his tracks. If Thorfinn had gone off to find an inn, Dilora wanted to see if this person was going to buy anything – the other newcomers were just milling around and didn’t seem likely to inspect her wares. Even though Thorfinn, dear Thorfinn, had given him a jacket, or shirt, or something; Dilora had been too engrossed in treating the Aes Sedai as her station dictated, the man seemed a bit ungrateful. She spoke again.

 

“You look like you need a good meal and a good heal. Stay a moment and talk to me, maybe there’s something on my wagon that you might be interested in, friend.” Dilora arranged her skirts with a pat and straightened her hair. Her palms were a little sweaty from the bartering she had done with the Aes Sedai, but it looked like her next port of call would be Cairhien. She waited expectantly for the man to speak. “Tell me, what’s your name? Where’ve you come from that it looks like you’ve lost a battle with a rather nasty hedge? I’m Dilora Fashelle, peddler extraordinaire, and you’re more than welcome to my wagon. Won’t you have a look inside?”

Hearing the word friend uttered what seemed to be so lightly immediately made Morris suspicious of this peddler woman. She seemed like a happy enough person by her talk, though a little on the dull side of the axe. She seemed completely care free. He almost envied her. Then the comment about the hedge made him wonder how bad he did look.

 

"I came here to purchase a needle and thread as to repair my clothes. But as you may have noticed the man that has just left has offered to repair them for no charge. Also I have already taken a look at your wears on display and they are of a far too high quality for one with as little money as myself to even reasonably consider purchasing."

 

Watching her face fall with every word Morris almost felt a pang of guilt at disappointing her. Almost. Then a thought came to him. "However if you need any errands run or heavy items lifted or moved I would gladly help you. For a small fee of course." He prayed to the Light she had many things that needed to be done.