Welcome to Gaia! ::

((Hope exams weren't too hard on you, Merc! And I've been online here since I was in grade 10...which would have been...2003? Around then, lol. I've had to change accounts a few times (damn hackers!) but yeah. It has been grand! ^.^))

Zeara wanted nothing but to smack both Warders for their game of words. It was clear that it was not her Warder's fault, and yet this ignorant fool of a man wanted Aiken to apologize? She highly believed that the horses in her fathers estate would grow wings and fly away before Aiken ever had even the smallest amount of sympathy. He had witnessed him cut stronger men down for simply staring at him wrong. This new Warder was lucky to simply be standing.

Looking more closely at the new man, she noticed something with his eyes. They were not that of a normal human being, being a deep amber yellow. It reminded her of the Keeper, as well as that other Sister whose rank she could not care to remember. She suddenly had the feeling something was afoot but dared not to speak until she knew it safe. Only fools let their tongues slip where it should not.

((More to come, I swear!))

surprised The other Warder stared him down squarely. If it was supposed to intimidate him, it wasn't working. But perhaps there was more to this man than seemed; few were able to meet him for the first time and stare so boldly into the golden yellow eyes. The eyes were unsettling enough normally; it did not help the matter that Markis's own eyes had a slight manic gleam to them-a remnant of his days under the Shadow.

Markis shrugged and gave a sigh-whether it was of disappointment or vexation was unclear. "Ah well...not much to be done if the new soldiers don't know their place." he said audibly.

Aiken's scent remained unchanged throughout the encounter, but Zeara's had changed swiftly to one of irritation first, followed by suspicion. Mingled with...caution?

Markis turned his gaze on Zeara, plainly looking her over from top to bottom. His expression did not give away anything, except boredom. Suddenly, he lunged forward, took hold of her hand and sniffed it. As a Wolfkin, the action was largely unnecessary, but he doubted that Zeara knew as much. "It seems we've not met! What lovely soap...but too unsuited for someone like you. Perhaps something a little more...oh I'm digressing....whomever-you-may-be Sedai. " He stood up, but kept a hold of her hand; he made sure, however, to keep a safe enough distance to avoid any physical attacks-particularly a slap or something of that sort.

"You might teach your Warder some respect for others. Arrogance doesn't become Gaidin. But I do admit it is quite enjoyable." He laughed, but it sounded more like a cackle than anything else.

((I think I should make more Wolf like characters man...seriously the devil may care attitude it new for me to play; and so much more fun! twisted ))

Mairyela felt as though she were a novice again, spying on the whole scene as if she were once again a young girl. The whole thing was much too amusing to keep her eyes from wandering, though thoughts of paperwork and investigative work into this Zeara Sedai nagged the back of her mind. The simple look on the Aes Sedai`s features when Markis took hold of her hand was simply divine! If there were a way to travel though time and space, she would travel back just far enough to watch that expression again and again! The action had taken her by surprise as much as the other, as it was so unorthodox. But then again, that was the way Markis liked to do things; extravagantly and by means of surprise.

Watching the exchange, though her attention had tried to remain on the Warder Aiken in particular, she could not seem to hold her attention, no matter how hard she tried. Beyond the scent and the eyes of the man everything else was beyond ordinary. Then it hit her, as though a lead weight had fallen from the sky and crushed her. The smell, the soulless, dead eyes...she knew then what he was. Fear held her tongue for a brief moment just long enough to watch the...creature unsheathe a knife from his sleeve.

"Markis, watch yourself!" Mairyela threw herself from her hiding place, reaching for the Power as Aiken thrust the knife towards Markis` ribs.

((Ahahaha! Lets get some action going twisted ))

Markis was about to give some reply to Zeara (along the lines of how, speaking of respect, both her warders seemed to lack the same for their Aes Sedai; and that he would stop being arrogant when Zeara did) when a number of things happened at once.

He wasn't sure if it was his nose or his ears that picked up the change first, but either way, both of them were triggered by Mairyela. The scent of Mairyela, which had been thoughtful and amused, suddenly changed to one of alarm, caution, fear, realization. At what seemed the same time, he could hear her shouting warning to him.

Warning him of what? Danger! From where? A lesser man would have been lost in the onslaught of thought, but Markis's well trained reflexes reacted long before his mind understood the situation. Move! his muscles shouted. He sidestepped, the blade just grazing him, rather than penetrating through. Simultaneously, he brought his right fist into a swing towards Aiken's jaw, and with the left, gripped the hand holding his opponent's dagger firmly, and pulled, to use the momentum of the failed thrust against Aiken. At the least, his enemy couldn't attack with the same now blood tipped dagger; even if Aiken escaped the manouevre, it would allow Markis to draw his sword. And then the real fight could begin.

Thank you White Hare; I'd rather not have to hear the earful Mercury would have given me if I'd gotten hurt. Now, let's dispose of this filth shall we. What was it that alerted you? he asked, in the wolf mind.

Without a word, he embraced the Void. His mind now caught up, the golden eyes took in the situation quickly. The scratch on his side was bleeding, but it was superficial, and was rather painless at the moment. Boron seemed dumbfounded, and Markis remarked to himself that it was a reaction unbecoming of someone who had earned the title of Gaidin. He wasn't able to assess Zeara's reaction from the angle he was at.

((Aye aye Captain 3nodding ))

Aiken knew from the get go, even before drawing his knife, that the fight would be a difficult one. He was not even sure what made him attack, just the sense that this man was of importance. In the long run that was all that mattered.

The blow to the jaw barely fazed him, and the solid grip of the man on his arm was a minor inconvenience. The force of the pull he used to his advantage. With the forward momentum he placed one well aimed foot in the center of the mans chest and kicked, effectively tearing from the mans grasp and placing some distance between them as he executed a back flip using his free hand. Once back on his feet he was prepared to strike again.

Mairyela expected some trick from their enemy but she never thought Zeara would be so bold as to use such force within the Tower`s walls. Surely she knew grasping the Power would be like slamming a hammer to a bell; a red alert to anyone who could sense it. In a building full of Aes Sedai, she may have just signed her own death certificate.

Weaving a thread of water, the fireball aimed her way was quickly neutralized but she could not stop the other. The ball of fire hit the floor in an angry sea of flames and smoke that obscured her vision of both their adversary as well as Markis. She called out to him through their bond as Wolfkin.

Bristle Fur, be careful! His dead expression, his scent! I should have realized before, but the man is no man! He is one of the Soulless!

The thought made her even more afraid for her wolf brother. If it was true, then what kind of blade was he wielding? One of steel or something more sinister? Quickly weaving wind she tried to clear the hallway of smoke before things became too dire. Already she could see Zeara was nowhere to be seen, choosing the cowards way out. Boron still stood not knowing what to do while Aiken looked ready to strike again.

((Eh? whee What do you think?))

The kick sent Markis stumbling away from his opponent. He cound smell Zeara's scent retreating, and saw the fireball coming. Mairyela was in no position to aid him. His dark abilities could aid him greatly, but he did not want either Aiken or Zeara to realize he was capable of them. Then, he sensed something.
White Hare, be ready. I leave the coward to you.

The fireball was three quarters of the way to him, its heat racing ahead of the orb itself. The other one had exploded into a cloud of steam, obscuring his vision, but his nose still worked perfectly. He dropped to the ground, and rolled towards the orb. As a result, it flew past him, and he ended up being in contact with the blaze for less than Zeara had intended. His clothes were singed, and his arms were slowly turning pink from the burns. The fireball exploded harmlessly against the wall on the other end of the corridor.

He then drew his sword, and turned his gaze on Aiken. A malevolent smile crossed his features. "You are a fool Fade, to challenge me. You will die this day, and I will enjoy drawing every last black drop of evil from you."

Now White Hare!!

(( neutral I hope I didn't go all mod style on that...I thought it would be ok, so long as Hawk didn't actually do anything else relating to the rest of the fight sweatdrop ....if not, [in case I went overboard] let me know, and I will change it! pirate ))