Common Room: Flaming Arrow Inn, Tar Valon

The common room of the Flaming Arrow Inn attracts both travelers and residents of Tar Valon. Its casual elegance comes from the extensive use of waxed and carved golden oak. To one side, an solid staircase with bronze arrow banisters below the oaken railing rises to the upper floor. Across from the stairs, a huge stone fireplace sits below a mantle carved with flames and arrows on either side. Large beams cross the high ceiling, supported by shaped columns where lanterns are mounted. Windows are placed across the entry wall of the Inn, which lies opposite from the long bronze-trimmed carved bar by the kitchen door. The windows of the common room have all been opened wide, and the common room hearth is used only by patrons who sit upon its cool stone surface. The room is surprisingly cool for summer, due primarily to the ancient oak that shades the yard and roof above. Bouquets of summer flowers grace the mantle and tables, their scent freshening the room and providing color. Tantalizing smells waft from the kitchen and windows to mix here with the faint aroma of Tabac. The common room is filled with patrons this evening, delicious smells emanate from the kitchen, mixing with the faint smell of pipe smoke, around the room the hanging lanterns have been lit, their glow is cheery. By the door to the kitchen, a hand-lettered sign reads "The Breakfast Special for today is: Porridge, Beef and Potato Hash, Back Bacon and Sweet cakes."

Contents: Bellator, Janese, Sionil, Keats, Meeko

Keats comes into the common room from the stable yard outside.

Janese has not yet noticed the Great Serpent ring on the woman's finger. "My apologies for prying, but I am a jeweler, you see," she smiles lightly. "So you can understand my interest.." Dark eyes flick to the entrance as yet another customer arrives, and they note the jewelry worn by him as well.

Sionil nods slightly "You are new in town?"

The thump of a heavy staff signals the arrival of Keats, the guard of Ambassador Meeko. He pauses, holding the door open for Meeko to step in as well. That done he glances around the room, checking to see who's there, if anyone looks like trouble or the like. Then the man glances towards Meeko to see where she wishes to sit.

Upon hearing Keats begin to enter, Bellator glances up. He slowly stands again, his ale in hand. He glances towards Sionil and Janese, but again turns to watch where Meeko is going.

Keldrig wanders into the common room, looking for a bit of entertainment as he is finished for the day. He glances around, and sees few familiar faces. He finds an empty table to sit down at for a moment, and calls a serving girl over. After ordering a light drink, he looks around for some gambling or other form of entertainment in the room.

"Yes..I've only been here but a few days..Janese Aleyon.." the Altaran introduces herself to Sionil, smiling slightly. "A lovely city.." The nearby thumping draws her attention to the doorway once again for a moment.

Meeko enters the room after her guard checks it for her, can never be to careful anymore. Meeko looks around and nods to those in attendance, not really seeing anyone in particular as she is hungry and that is distracting her. "Keats lets sit by a window please I love to look out as I eat." she smiles at her guard and waits for him to take them to a table.

Sionil smiles briefly "I like it enough. I have been here seventeen years or so. I am Sionil Diolin if you had been wondering."

Keats seems to have gotten use to the role of servant to Meeko, even if he does hide his distaste behind a placating smile. Glancing around he comments, "It looks like the window seats are taken, Meeko. Perhaps by the fire?"

"Miss Meeko, it has been awhile since last we talked." Bellator says, walking across the room towards Meeko and Keats. He then glances outside, "However... I have some business I must attend. Perhaps we will talk before long, I will head over towards your office."

Keldrig accepts the drink from the serving girl, and continues to scan the room for anything of interest.

Meeko glances at the window tables, her favorite and notices Sionil. She nods to her but that is all as the hunger drives her to order. Hearing her name she stops and turns in the direction of the voice, smiling as she sees Bellator "It is good seeing you again, shame you have to go though." she lowers her voice a bit Yes we must speak soon." she then rejoins Keats and goes over to sit at the fireside table

You sit down at the Fireside Table.

Keats sits down at the Fireside Table.

Sionil unfortunately having been talking to the person at the table across from her, is unable to see the nod that she recieves from the High Ambassador

"Light illumine," Janese offers the ageless-looking woman. She's not seen many Aes Sedai, so may not be that familiar with that smooth look. "That is a long time to live in one place.." Her wine arrives and she pays the girl the appropriate amount, not over this time.

Sionil hmms "Why do you say that? There are peasants all over the world who never travel more then 3 miles beyond their family farm" Keats waves over a serving girl and orders a drink for himself and glances to Meeko to see what she wishes. As an afterthought he orders some bread to.

Meeko looks to Keats "You may have a meal if you wish I will pay for it, afterall you have been so kind to me." Meeko orders a wine and the special for the evening. "Did you see Sionil Sedai as we came in? I wonder how she is taking the death of Kirill." Meeko adds as she gently brushes some hairs from her face.

Keats hmms and adds some soup to his order before looking back to Meeko. "Thank you. Guess I didn't realize how hungry I was." A glance towards Sionil at her mention before he returns his attention to their table. "I'm not sure. Hopefully not too broken up over that madman."

Janese smiles cryptically at Sionil's comment--and question. "That may be so..but I prefer to travel, myself." With a nod to her then, she glances about the increasingly-crowded room as she sips her wine, dark eyes resting briefly on Keldrig before moving on. So many new faces to learn...

Sionil smiles widens somewhat "I have traveled. But my work causes me to remain here in the city for the majority of my time. I am a Magistrate of the city courts."

Meeko settles back in her chair and awaits the order, she looks to Keats with a smile "Keats maybe after we eat we could stop at the import shop and get more of those wonderful chocolates." she is hopeful "I really love the mint ones." The acting High Ambassador glances round the room and back to her guard "The elections are coming up again and I really need to make some plans to draw in votes." she brushes that bit of hair back again "I hear Lt. Alesse is running against me this time."

Keats shakes his head and says a little more vehemently than necessary. "No more chocolates." Realizing he was perhaps a little to noisy he hushes up and whispers something to Meeko. "Well, Lt. Alesse shouldn't prove too much trouble to you during the election. Being in the guard probably doesn't lend itself well to politics."

Keats whispers "You can only have chocolates if you are careful... and do what I say."

Kradan comes into the common room from the stable yard outside.

The cook carries out a new sign and mounts it by the door to the kitchen which reads : "The Luncheon Special we offer today is: All You Can Eat Smoked Pork, Creamed Potatoes with Cheese, Apple Fritters."

Sionil's further remark pulls Janese from her visual musings back to regard the woman at the other table. "I see..a worthy occupation.." Meeko's nearby words reach her ear, but she doesn't look over.

Meeko looks hard at her guard as he tells her no to the chocolates but nods to his whisper and makes mental note to speak to him about this later. "I do think you may be right Keats, I wouldn't suspect a guard would do well in the running but I fear I must do something to attract votes and get people active." she glances towards the kitchen in hopes her food will get here soon "Do you have any ideas what we can do?"

Sionil wonders to the other woman "Since you travel so much, what places have you seen?"

Keats hmmms softly to himself. As his drink arrives he nods to the serving girl and beings to take a few gulps. "Hmmm... I'm not sure. That will definitely be a good tactic though."

Janese takes her time in replying to Sionil, swirling the contents of her glass about, then sipping. "From my homeland, I traveled through Murandy and Andor to here.." Plenty of places to offer there..plenty of sights.

Sionil says "Quite a journey from Andor to Tar Valon"

Unlike her guard the High Ambassador takes delicate sips of her wine as she considers options for the elections "I know the Tower hosted debates last time and I suspect it will happene again but I think I would like to have a tea for the Tower folk or even a gathering of some sort." she again sips the wine as she settles back in her chair "I wonder if a banquet would bring the Tower folk out as I know it will the townfolk."

Janese is about to comment further, but Meeko's nearby comments on the Tower..Light, just that word alone brings a shiver. "Yes it-it is.." she replies absently, then rises abruptly, retrieving her bag. "If you'd excuse me? I promised.." She doesn't finish that, and knows it, but doesn't care at this point. Her eyes and steps are for the door..and some air.

Janese stands leaves the Window Table.

Sionil gives a slight nod to the woman "Good day."

Kradan steps in quietly. Boots whisper across the floor faintly as he glances about slowly, stepping clear of the door and frowns slightly and briefly. Than a ghost of a smile flitters across his face.

Janese barely misses the man who steps into the inn as she is exiting quickly. "Excuse me.." she murmurs in passing, only her scent lingering.

Keats glances over briefly as Janese rises from her seat. Dismissing the woman he looks back to Meeko. "Hmm, a banquet might go well, but it would require a tremendous amount of food. Perhaps a dance, or invite one of those traveling menageries for publicity."

Janese opens the door to the stable yard and heads outside.

The serving girls returns with the food and Meekos attention shifts there momentarily then to Keats "you are right Keats, food is still not plentiful. Maybe a masquarede or regular dance or something?" she considers the rest of your words while taking a bit of the potatos, bah they are to cold so she unthinkingly embraces and warms them with a simple weave then releases, now they are fine "A traveling menagerie, my do you know any around or how to find them?" she grins "Oh and maybe some fireworks would be nice too."

Sionil shakes her head at the sudden departure by the woman, 'Nil then looks back to her cup of tea which during the conversation had grown cold... after a minute or two it steams up again amazingly ;)

Keats eats his food silently, pausing to drink every few moments. "Hmmm... not sure how to contact a menagerie, though if we hear of one we might wish to rope them in for a performance. Perhaps fireworks would be better. I've heard rumors of an Illuminator coming to Tar Valon."

Meeko finishes the food she has placed gently in her mouth as she listens to her dear guard "Yes I do think I have heard about that also I wonder where they could be." she grins "Oh Keats do you think you can find out for me? I would be so grateful to you." Meeko flutters her eyelashes jokingly.

Keats sighs and roles his eyes. "I'll see what I can find out, Meeko," is all he says.

Kradan mumbles something to himself and slips back out. Hrming softly.

Kradan opens the door to the stable yard and heads outside.

Alesse comes into the common room from the stable yard outside.

Sionil slides into the Window Booth.

Keats sits eating a quiet meal with Meeko at the fireside table while Sionil sits drinking tea by the window.

The door opens quietly, and the Senior Lieutenant of the Tar Valon Guard enters, slowly closing the door behind herself, as she lets her eyes adjust to the light difference. She looks about the common room casually for a moment, before heading towards Meeko's table, her soldiers walk making her stride appear arrogant.

Sionil glances towards the doorway as it opens and the Guardswoman enters. Idly she follows the womans steps towards the current High Ambassador.

Meeko pushes her plate back on the table and picks up the wine "that was a wonderful meal Keats, how is your soup?" she looks around the room and notices the Sr. Lt heading their way and nods "Keats we have company comeing maybe we can discover if she is really running."

"Soup's good," grunts Keats as he spoons it into his mouth. Setting down his spoon he breaks off some bread and dips it in just as Alesse nears. He nods politely to her, but seems more interested in his food.