Welcome to Gaia! ::

Returning to the Tower, with out ever having fought anyone at all, Kakashi was slightly dissapointed. Muttering the whole way about not having gotten to bash a few skulls in or bust some shins, or anything of the sort. In the end, to him it had turned out to be a long and unremarkable trip, though a bit exciting at a few moments. The scene in the throneroom had been quite tense, that was certain, but in the end, no skulls busted, no shins cracked and no blood spilled to speak of. Then again, in retrospect, things did go very well and that was a good thing. He can't always have fights to partake in. Wouldnt always be the most beneficial of ways to resolve things.

Alina's words suddenly drifted to his ears, then and out of his rather dreary thoughts he was brought back to reality. Blinking and looking at Alina while tilting his head slightly he grinned. "Yes? There seems to be something on your mind. Am I going to have to pry it out of you or will it come more easily than that?"

Still watching Alina, he tilted his head the other way and laughed a bit. "Just take a deep breath? Or perhaps you just need to think on it for a while longer? Who knows." Nodding he shrugged and looked up at the sky. "It's good to be home again, though, right? I prefer this place much more than Seanchan."

"I have no idea whats going on Merc." Clarissa said rubbing her forehead and falling into a comfy chair. "I'm really confused right now, what with Yurin and then the Seanchan. We're back on square one. Don't worry about me running off, next time I'll take you or atleast assure you I'm going with a safe group. If only Yurin was back maybe you would worry less with him be my side. I need to stop bonding Warders whenever I do something bad happens to them." Clarissa rambled trying to sort through her thoughts. It was good she had Mercury to talk to if she didn't she was pretty sure she would go crazy in about an hour.

Alina blushed. "it means...that even though we thought that we loved each other, it wasnt ment to be. Remeber what happened the other day with the wolves? they knew that it would pass, that another would come along...one that was ment..." she trailed off, not knowing what to say.

alina thought that he was either very thick, of just playing with her. "...well it mnet htat...someonethatwasmentformewouldshowupandthathewouldbewoflkin" she blushed and looked away. im so very stupid

Laughing Kakashi shook his head and put his hand on top of Alina's head. "I think I know how the Seanchan feel when we speak to them. Slow down and don't be so nervous."

(( eek Geez! I leave for a small bit, and I have two pages of reading! You all move fast!))

Mairyela nodded to Skiiy as he addressed her. "I certainly will. I'll see you later." As they parted ways, she slowly began walking towards the bridge. Hitching her bow higher on her shoulder, she was glad she hadn't needed to use it in Seancha.

Walking across the long white bridge, a warm gust of wind blew off the river, blowing her black hair off to one side. She had decided to walk into the city to see what her contacts could tell her. They had been gone for a while, and she was curious to know if anything had gone on during their travels.

Passing the bridge guard, who gave her a smile and a nod, she continued into Tar Valon. Everything was as it had been, the streets full of vendors, and people coming and going. Walking down a few side roads, she came across the place she needed. It was a small inn named The Lions Den. It was off out of the way, but a great deal of information had always been available there. Walking inside, the loud din of the street was cut off as the door was closed. The silence was eerie.

From a back room came a large, graying woman with deep laugh lines. Mairyela had become fast friends with the woman, whose name was Ariene. The reason might have been the womans happy disposition, or her past. When Ariene had been younger, younger then herself as she was, she had traveled here to become an Aes Sedai herself. Unfortunately, she had burned herself out before she had reached the city. She had been trying to protect herself from theives, and had drawn too much. Even with such a horrible past, the woman still looked at the world with a cheerfulness she would have never imagined.

"Well, look what the cat dragged in!" Airene said cheerfully, bustling around the counter and enveloped her in a bone crushing hug. Most Aes Sedai wouldn't stand for such behaviour, but Mairyela had grown used to her ways. "Sit, and have a drink!"

"You know I don't drink, Airene." Taking a seat at a nearby table, the inn owner joined her. "I was wondering if you've noticed anything odd in the last few days."

"Odd?" the old woman pondered. "How do you mean? A lot of odd things happen in Tar Valon; you know that."

Mairyela laughed. "I don't mean the power, friend. Your inn is the closest to the Tower, and I was curious if you've seen anyone suspicious lately."

Airene thought a moment, then snapped her fingers. "Now that you mention it, I've been seeing this one man about lately. Everyday now for the last few days, he's walked by my inn. That bridge guard comes in every now and then for a cold ale, and he told me just last night that the same man, so he described, walks up to the bridge, stares at the Tower, then goes his own way. I don't know about you, but anyone who comes to visit the Tower usually goes in."

She didn't like what she was hearing, especially with all that had been happening. "What does this man look like?"

Airene looked outside. "Well, if you wait until dusk, you can probably see him for yourself. I don't know why he wouldn't show up again today." Before she could say more, a group of men walked in, taking a seat and talking loudly. "Well, duty calls. You're more than welcome to go upstairs and take a room for yourself. There's always a spare up there."

"Thank you, Airene." The woman nodded to her as she left to serve the newcomers. She sat there for about fifteen more minutes, recieving many looks from the group of men. She didn't notice, as her mind was on the new matters at hand.