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"My name is Haidar Martan. I have come from the White Tower to deliver a message from your Sitter, Kiae Sedai," he informed her, ignoring the other Warder as only one could. He reached past the shorter man to hand her a letter, which she cautiously took.

It took her only a few moments to scan the meager contents, none of which pleased her. It was short and sweet, quite the opposite of her Sitter.
"Haidar Martan is a skilled Warder. I have heard distressing news relating your travels and your Warder and have sent him to protect you. Bind him or not, he will remain. He has his orders and will obey them, so I suggest you take advantage of this unique opportunity."
"How lovely," Kiae murmured to herself, reading it once more just for good measure as she considered this. The man was staying, she had no choice about that. As for forming a Bond, only time would tell if she had the heart to do it again. She looked up at the man and nodded slightly. Apparently, that was all he required to drop to his knee before her.
"By the Light and my hope of rebirth, do I pledge myself to thee if you will have me," he swore, and she barely managed to not roll her eyes in exasperation.
"It doesn't really matter what I want, according to this letter, so get up and stop this silly display," she ordered curtly, relieved when he immediately obeyed and watched Ethin warily. "Maybe he'll be better trained," she thought wryly, the one bright spot.

Kiae sighed wearily, resting her face in her hand for the moment. She was torn between amusement and anger, sensing Ethin's own emotions. "Do you realize how much trouble you and my Sitter are causing?" she asked calmly, finally getting to her feet. "Come outside, I need to talk to you. I will be back shortly, Ethin," she added over her shoulder, not even bothering to check if the man was following, which he indeed was.

Once they were outside, she turned on him and glared up at him. "I have a Warder, as I'm sure you can see. Get back to the Tower and tell her you are not necessary," she informed him coolly, ignoring his implacable stare.
"I cannot, Kiae Sedai. Your Sitter has been informed of the fate of your last Warder and she was unaware you had another. That matters little to me, given the orders I have," he said, choosing his words with seeming care. "It is your choice whether you wish to Bond me or not, but follow you I will. Even if I have to play catch-up the entire way," he added grimly, staring down at her with a determination she knew was unbeatable.
"I'm sure she only sent you because you're so bloody stubborn," she muttered. Esole's remark stung - but at the same time, Kiae had to admit she was pleased her Sitter thought her worthy enough to send a potential Warder right to her. "Never look a gift horse in the mouth, especially when it comes from the Tower," she decided ruefully.

"Are you all right, Kiae Sedai?" Haidar asked, noting that her breathing was a bit labored. She had been pressing her hand to her side without even realizing it and quickly removed it, drawing on a tiny bit of saidar to help block the pain for the moment.
"I am perfectly fine, except for the trouble you're sure to cause," she informed him sharply. He took her attitude passively, merely watching her. She was pretty and appeared delicate, but he knew better than to believe such things.
"It might not be so bad to travel with her, for at least a time," he mused, sure that anyone with such losses must also have their fair share of adventure as well. "If you were injured before, shouldn't you ask the Green to Heal you?" he suggested, privately grimacing at the expression that crossed her face at the suggestion. "It seems these two are definitely keeping the tradition alive," he thought sourly.
"I may. It's not so bad," she replied stiffly, sure she would end up speaking to Esole later in private and asking. Kiae took a moment to appraise the man before sighing again. "All right, I suppose I have no choice but to allow you to accompany me. However, I will not Bond you," she added sharply.
He merely bowed slightly, the somber expression fixed on his face. "That is your choice, of course. It will make our arraignment a bit more difficult on my end, but nothing I can't compensate for," he assured her, almost sarcastically. She shot him a look before choosing to ignore it, turning towards the door. He was in front of her before she could move again, opening the door and striding in before her.
Kiae shook her head and retreated back to the warmth of the inn, promptly freezing in place when she saw the noblewoman practically on top of her Warder. Her eyes narrowed, but she remained silent, lips pressed together in a thin line.

(Lol at what?)

Haidar glanced down at the Yellow and dismissed the woman in red, whom he had initially thought could be a Red Sister, as an irritation. He simply ignored her, remaining next to Kiae pointedly. "She must care much about that Warder, to display her emotions so easily in front of others," he thought, curious as to whom he would be traveling with and hoping it merely extended to the Warder and Green. Who did not appear to have a Warder, he noticed with even more curiosity, and hoped she would stay away from him.
Kiae took a breath and settled herself with a thin smile as she turned to Esole. "I'm pleased you've recovered so quickly," she said, deciding that if Esole could resist making a remark, so could she. "I would speak with you privately later, if you're feeling well enough," she continued, hoping her tone would at least be civil, if not as blasted cheery as the noblewoman's.

Kiae shot Rosalyn a cold look before returning her attention to Esole. "Then may we please go somewhere else?" she asked, glancing around to see the kitchen door was ajar and dark, everyone gone for the spectacle of the queen. She quickly strode in, gesturing for Haidar to remain outside, and waited until the confused Green followed her in.

Shutting the door, Kiae turned to Esole with a wince. "I'm afraid I have at least one broken rib from my own attack. My Warder has not apparently noticed anything-" this was said with a frosty chill "-I was hoping you could Heal it for me. It's rather painful," she admitted through set teeth. "I did not want anyone else - blast it, I didn't want that lightskirt noblewoman to see me like this," she added mildly.

She looked at Esole's startled expression, half-amused, before sighing. "And could you please remain here when I speak to her? I have no idea what she's going to say. I know we have our differences, but I'm sure you don't want her anywhere near Ethin as much as I do," she added, hoping the Green would accept a truce over the woman.

Haidar remained outside, leaning against the door and surveying the woman in red with more distaste than he had for Greens. "Is she suicidal?" he wondered, privately surprised Kiae Sedai had not said anything in regards to such behavior.

Kiae sighed in relief at losing the pain and nodded. "I have no idea, I was hoping you would," she admitted. "I don't understand why she doesn't seem to understand the simple concept of staying away from a Warder," she continued, setting her teeth slightly.
She saw Esole's look and shook her head. "And I am not going to Bond Haidar, at least not in the foreseeable future. I can't send him away, though," she muttered. "So I'm stuck with him for now. Blasted Sitter. I suppose I may as well get it over with, if you have no clue what she wants either," Kiae said, grateful Esole would remain with her to prevent any mishaps falling the noblewoman.

"He is more than a Warder to me," Kiae replied, understanding what Esole meant. "But the nature of our relationship is private and does not concern that noblewoman. The simple fact that he is a Warder and Bonded man is enough reason," she added shortly.