Tell tale Signs

As he waited for her to speak he studied her covertly, not wishing to appear to stare. She seemed fine, didn't appear to be hurt or anything but… She looked so shocked, so confused, so lost… Had he shook something loose in her head? Had he hurt her more than he had thought. Light he hoped not. It would be just his luck and all if he had! 

Watch where your standing next time you uncoordinated lump! he growled softly at himself, cursing his decision to attend the Festival at all.

He could have stayed in tonight, caught up on his reading or played his harp but no… He could not resist the call of the Festival, oh no. Not he! Not Lord bloody Jondin flaming Kern! He sighed softly, lethargically, wanting to slip away into the floor, wanting to disappear from sight completely. He was always at the fore front of messes like this, no matter where he went in life. The Pattern may had twisted a new thread into his life but he was still as unfortunate as ever, or so it would seem! 

"Well at least I am not destined to go mad…" he whispered softly to himself, staring sideways into the crowd. THAT was some sort of relief!

 As she began to speak he felt most of the tension drain away, tension he had not realized he had built up. She was fine, not hurt and she was apologizing to him. A strange turn of events… All the Male Novices ever seemed to get from the Female Novices was frosty destain and mistrust, in his experiences any way. The Tower may have been accepting Male Channelers now but, in essence, it was still a Girls Club. They ruled the roost while the men just sat back and watched.

Or maybe its just me. My track record with women has never been good… That thought brought the ghost of a smile to his lips.

He had been engaged once, a long distance ago, before he had left for Illian. He had been destined to marry a Lady of the highest pedigree, the daughter of another High Lord of Tear. It would have tied House Kern and House Brend together for many many years to come, had he not fled and had the woman not preferred the company of her own sex anyway.

Trust me to get stuck with a woman more interested in women than men. How could I have married her when I had known that? It would have all been a lie. He shook his head softly and smiled. The trip to Illian had saved him of that at least. And her.

He smiled softly as she explained what had happened. He knew the feeling all too well. The overwhelming sea of White, mingled with the colors of the Ajah, shot through by Trainees in all shapes and sizes and served with the dark Black of the Asha'man… The place was overwhelming, even for him. He looked around slowly and nodded. 

Impressive but indeed scary!    

Caemlyn? The woman was Andoran? A delightful turn of events. He could hear it now, as she spoke. He had missed it before, so lost in the quivering of the voice as it was. As she seemed to steady herself it began to come out more and more. He had longed for the tones of Andor the last few weeks. The place had brought him comfort, after that day in Four Meadows.

"A beautiful name indeed!" he smiled placating, hoping to settle her mind. "Andor is quite a lovely place and Caemlyn the most beautiful City of all, or so they say!" he nodded softly. "And having seen it, I could hardly argue. Forgive me for not saying earlier, I was born and raised in Tear!"

"And I'm not a Lady."

He laughed softly, grinning from ear to ear. "Indeed you are not. Noblewomen are the most useless creatures in the world and you, dear Teli Mildune, seem far from useless!" he smiled, hoping she took his compliment well.

She did not seem to hear him as she pushed her way on in the conversation, clearly embarrassed by her exclamation. She was a strange one, this Teli. She was skittish and nervous, a most bewildering trait. He wanted to take her by the shoulders and shake her softly, tell her to calm down. He had thought about doing it more than once but, in truth, he feared she would scream and collapse and THAT would not have looked good. She was panicky in a crowd, he could see that. Maybe if he got her outdoors, into the Gardens she might relax. SOMETHING had to give before she broke down or passed out from over exerting her heart!

He tuned back in to what she was saying, having missed the first few seconds. She was looking for somebody, that was a clear. Another young female Novice he supposed by the name. He nodded softly and thought furiously. The name didn't sound familiar. He knew practically no one in the whole Tower, bar Julia of course! When she smiled he felt his breath quicken a little. She was truly quite mad, this young Teli Mildune, but her smile was quite pretty.

He felt himself smiling back, genuinely. "I am afraid I do not know your friend no. But I am more than willing to help you look for her. I fear if I stand still too long that Trainee over by the far wall will ask me to dance!" he nodded his head softly to the far wall, toward a woman of SeaFolk origin wearing the Flame and Chain on her shoulder. "I like dancing well enough, but dancing with a woman who could and might slit my throat…? Not my idea of fun!" he smiled softly at Teli and laughed to indicate he was joking. "Well we could stay here to find your friend or check the Gardens? I would suggest the Gardens as you appear to be in need of some air… " He made his voice soft, kind. He did not want her thinking he was scolding her. "And to answer your question I have been in the Tower maybe two months now… It is hard to track time accurately, I am sure you know yourself!" he nodded, draining the last of the wine from his Goblet and smiling. "Well… Shall we? As we walk you can tell me more about yourself. Like how long you are here and why you came!" he smiled kindly and indicated towards a doorway just ahead.

OOC: I do believe I remember Hyldae. I think it would have been Tain that had played with her. :) Well I am glad to RP with you again too! :)