Welcome to Gaia! ::

"I hate to say it but there is so much more than just us in this. So many things that we don't know and never will," Ethin said darkly, unhappy with how Erasmus was playing Kiae. He knew the man was using her in some way but he could not figure out how or to what end.

Ethin smiled at her teasing. "I can't help but be absolutely ecstatic when people are trying to kill us," he said sarcastically. He looked up and found that they had just arrived at the inn. Rosalyn's coach was waiting out front. "It looks like Esole and Lady Rosalyn are inside, along with Esole's brother," Ethin said observantly.

Ethin pointedly ignored what Kiae said and walked through the door. As always, he found Esole's family at their table, along with Esole and Rosalyn. From what Ethin could hear, Rosalyn was being filled in on the strategy that had been decided for the precession. "We should be getting into our positions now," Ethin announced. The group looked over, surprised. His entrance had gone unnoticed to all but Esole.

"Ethin is right, we need to be off. Rosalyn can stay with my father and Derin," Esole said, a hint of annoyance in her voice. Ethin assumed it was because her brothers were going to be helping but then he noticed the look Esole gave Rosalyn before rising from her chair.

"Are you sure I cannot assist? I can hire men for you or watch your back," Rosalyn asked sweetly. She hoped they didn't think she was being fake because her attempt at helping was genuine. But she knew they would probably turn her down anyways. She could not channel nor was she any good with a weapon aside from a knife. She suppressed a sigh and gave the Aes Sedai and Warder a hopeful look.

"No," Esole snapped. The woman was so seemingly good-natured and sweet it made Esole want to vomit. If Ethin and Kiae even thought of letting Rosalyn along, she was going to teach all of them a lesson.

"What Esole means is that you cannot come along because we don't want you to get hurt. And there's just not enough time to hire men and we also wouldn't be guaranteed their loyalty. I'm sorry," Ethin said hurriedly, trying to cover up Esole's rudeness with his soft words.

"Oh," Rosalyn said quietly, somewhat hurt. "Stay safe," she continued in her sweet voice. Esole rolled her eyes and sighed audibly.

"Thank you, Rosalyn. We will be on our way now. Chel, Easar," Ethin responded, shooting Kiae and Esole disapproving looks for their rudeness. Chel and Easar rose as their names were called and followed Ethin's lead as he stalked out of the doors of the inn.

"Yes. I wanted to use the Power and strangle her to death and see how sweet she was then," Esole muttered angrily.
At that moment, Ethin turned on his heel and stood looming over the two Aes Sedai. "I can hear you," he said shortly. He turned around and informed Chel and Easar about their positions before the trio split up. Ethin left without a backward's glance at the two Aes Sedai.
"Bloody summer ham he is," Esole growled, so angry she didn't even realize how offensive what she had said was.

"Probably is," Esole replied with a short laugh. She found Kiae's concern over Ethin amusing. Esole guided Kiae in the direction Ethin had gone. "We are all going to be on the same block so we may as well head after them. There is an inn near where they are stationed and across from that is an abandoned two-story house with an attic. Take your pick," Esole continued.

"And even if he is, the man is crazy about you. I don't think the Creator himself could stop Ethin from loving you," Esole said in a comforting voice. She laid a hand on Kiae's arm before continuing. "And dear, jealousy is unbecoming of a young woman. Especially an Aes Sedai at that," she said with a laugh.

"That sounds like a good plan but poor Ethin would be fuming," Esole responded with a rare genuine smile for Kiae. "Blood and ashes, we're here. The door should be open in the back," she said in a serious tone before splitting ways and entering the inn. She promptly paid the innkeeper for the highest room overlooking the street and assumed position. She held herself ready to embrace the Power but not quite so as not to attract attention to herself.

Esole looked at the street and found her brothers, seemingly interested at two street stands. She found Ethin as well. He was standing threateningly outside of a building, appearing to be the building's guard of some sort.