Courtyard: White Tower, Tar Valon

Before you stands a magnificent palace made of delicately sculpted marble, rather than blocks. Gently arching walls and bulging domes rise high into the sky, seemingly just barely touching the clouds with its delicately crafted spires, topping off the breathtaking sight before you. Looking about, one can see a small garden off to the side, with a small winding path down it's center that leads into a maze of bushes where one might get lost if not too careful.

The grounds look much like a garden as trees, flowers and shrubs start to bloom, bringing spring into view. Colors start to come about and birds start singing once again. There are several benches about the grounds where one might be able to sit and relax. The noon sun rises high in the sky, shining down brightly into the courtyard grounds. All around you can see that the area is a bustle of activity as Novices and Accepted alike work on their chores or mill about on various benches in the yard doing their studies. Aes Sedai clump together in small groups, holding private conversations, keeping a careful eye on events in the area.

A broad stairway, made of pristine white marble, enters into the White Tower, marked by a massive pair of doors decorated with delicate carvings of intricate workmanship. A tall, white wall cascades around the yard, its entrances and exits marked by high gates leading to the street, watched by the Tower Guard. Somewhere in the courtyard you can see buildings for the barracks and the stables. You can also see an entrance to the practice yard, marked of by a row of high hedges.

Morcath

Meeko enters the courtyard and speaks hurridly with the guards. She then rushes in, pale and upset as she waits for the guards to get Morcath so she can tell him the news of what she has just seen.

Morcath is just in the practice yard when the guards come and get him. He enters the yard at a run, heading toward Meeko. "You said you wanted to see me, beautiful?" he says quietly. "What is it? what's wrong?" Obviously he can see it in her face.

Oakwind wanders out of the Tower and gives the courtyard a semi-look, not really caring who is there. The golden eyed man then slowly heads over towards the newly blooming garden.

Meeko's eyes wonder the courtyard, she smiles at the creature..ah man that comes out. Those beautiful eyes he has, she nods to him then turns as she hears the familar voice of Morc. "Morc I am glad you were around. I..well I found a body. It is horrible." she gasps. Face pales as she remembers the sight of the thing. "I did not move anything and have set one of the people from the Inn to guard it's location so nothing will be moved." she finally pauses for breath as she looks to Morc.

Wrinkling his nose, the man that is enjoying the garden furrows his brow and looks towards the new arrival and the gaidin. Letting the flower in his hand drop he takes to watching the two converse.

Morcath nods, his blue eyes growing suddenly cold. "Let's go then. quickly, sage." All business, his tone is direct and succinct, bordering on rude. Those who know, would understand that it is urgency, not lack of manners, that affects his tone this time.

Meeko again glance to the one with the golden eyes. Strange man she has not seen him around before "Morc we should bring that trainee with us." pointing to Oak as she speaks. Meeko then turns and redies to leave the tower grounds.

Oakwind furrows his brow again as he is pointed at. Him? A trainee? At his age? Blinking in shock he doesn't say anything yet. Course he isn't the most verbose of late either.

Morcath glances over at Oakwind. Not a trainee, but the Gaidin nods. He knows how the man could be useful. After all, he was the one who dragged the poor soul kicking and screaming (and the biting!) from a dungeon in Cairhien at the simple request of his Sedai. Morcath gets the man's attention and motions for him to hurry and follow.

Oakwind shrugs slightly and follows silently along behind the duo, as talkative as he was before. He nods politely to Meeko, but that's about it.

Nodding Meekos leaves the dreaded Tower grounds, a place she would much prefer not to enter but as Ambassador it seems she is spending as much time here as she does at the shop. She pats Misty, her mouse, and hurries towards the street

You pass through the Osendrelle Gates under the watchful eyes of the Tower Guards.

Osendrelle Square: Tar Valon, Tar Valon

Morcath enters the Osendrelle Square through the Osendrelle Gates of the White Tower, watched by the hawkeyes of the Tower Guard.

Morcath keeps stride easily enough. His eyes are always watching, seeming to take in everything at the same time. No chit-chat either.

Oakwind enters the Osendrelle Square through the Osendrelle Gates of the White Tower, watched by the hawkeyes of the Tower Guard.

Change of scenery...

Stable: Flaming Arrow Inn, Tar Valon

The stable of the Flaming Arrow Inn is very large and runs across the entire back of the property here. The long aisle of stalls holds many horses, enough for both guests and patrons of the Inn. Large support beams run down the center of the wide center aisle towards the back of the stable where the Tack room runs the width of the building. All manner of harness and stable implements are stored inside, while pitchforks, brooms and other common stable tools hang from the outer walls of the tack room. A large hay loft forms the upper level of the stable, a worn wooden ladder disappearing into a square in the ceiling it's only access.

The windows of the stable have been opened with the coming of spring and you realize the horses are feeling the season's impatience. Many snort and toss their heads, eager to be out for some exorcise. You hear the occasional horse kick at their stall in frustration, while the smell of horse, hay and leather surrounds you. The golden light of afternoon slants in from the windows as the stablemen go about the daily grooming of the horses still remaining at the Inn. The stable's normal aroma is somewhat overridden by the smells emanating from several of the stalls being mucked out.

Loft Ladder StableYard

Morcath steps inside from the stable yard, then slides the door closed.

Oakwind steps inside from the stable yard, then slides the door closed.

Morcath seems to become more on edge as they enter the stable. His hand goes to his sword almost instinctively.

Oakwind coughs the moment he enters the stables and covers his wrinkled nose. "What happened here?" he asks, still wincing from a stench he smells.

Meeko hurries into the stable, she dismisses the man she had standing guard giving him the silver she promised. She turns to Morc "That trainee sure is silent." she looks to Oak "the body is in the loft. I went up there, as I do sometimes, to get away and think and I found it." she begins to climb the ladder.

Morcath glances at Oakwind and then at Meeko. "He's not a trainee, he's my fiancee's relative. He's been staying here for a little while from Cairhien." He looks around again and then begins to climb the ladder. About halfway up, he says, "Relovic, keep an eye out." not a request.

Morcath climbs carefully up the ladder into the hayloft.

You climb up the ladder carefully to arrive at:

Loft: Flaming Arrow Inn, Tar Valon

The hayloft of the Flaming Arrow Inn stable is very large and takes up the entire upper floor of the stable. The floor is strewn with loose hay everywhere and long rows of haystacks run the length of the loft. Large support trusses support the peaked ceiling, from them hang intermittent hooks, designed to hold a lantern or pitchfork. Looking closer you see that the haystacks are closely spaced, but allow for ventilation, each is made up of many individually tied bundles to simplify handling. At each end of the loft is a wooden sliding door with a rope, net and pulley setup used to move hay and fodder from or into the loft.

The haystacks in the loft are much smaller in stature after the winter. One wooden door has been opened on one end of the loft and the stores of hay and fodder are slowly being replenished. With the coming of spring you can hear that the horses below are feeling eager to be out for some exorcise. The afternoon hours are quiet here, as are the horses below. All you hear is the occasional sound of the stablemen as they joke while mucking out the stalls below.

Morcath

Corpse

Morcath moves nearer to the body, his nose wrinkling slightly as the stench increases. "How long ago did you find him?"

Meeko enters the loft, the stench nearly overwhelming "there." she points. Her eyes cold "Morc when dis Mez'tolth escape?" her voice controled and cold.

Meeko responds "just before I came for you."

Oakwind comes into the hayloft, having climbed the ladder from below.

Morcath nods. "Mez'tolth? A few weeks ago. I suppose he's back, doing what he did before. This body has been here.... weeks, easily. Wouldn't surprise me if it was the day he escaped." The Warder looks around the loft, searching for more clues.

Meeko nods "I saw him at the Inn about that long ago. He was covered in blood. I didn't say anything since he threatened me again and.." she pauses feeling a bit uncomfortable "How did he escape Morc I thought I would be safe." Meeko looses control of her emotions as the anger rises in her "I hate that man do I have to finish him off myself." her voice rises as her eyes grow with the fire of hate she is feeling.

Morcath shoots her a stare that has frozen trainees in their place and caused grown men to quiver. "You will not, Meeko. Unless he comes after you, you can't hurt him. The law is the law and I will uphold it, even if that means you are arrested for murder. Do I make myself clear? He will not get away, rest easy on that."

Meeko glares at Morc, she has seen that *look* of his before "alright but I tell you know if he comes into the shop and I cannot yell loud enough to get your attention at the Tower I will protect myself." she is most definately defient as Morc knows only to well.

Oakwind glances up at the loft and the 'rucus' going on up there.

Morcath replies simply, "If he comes into the shop and attacks you, do what you have to do in order to subdue him. One ounce of force more and I will take it quite personally, and that includes the One Power, Sage." He crouches down, blue eyes searching for anything that might suggest how this person was killed.

Meeko begins to pace "Morc I cannot control the Power. It just comes when I am in fear, or threatened you cannot hold me accountable if that happens." she continues her pacing avoiding the body "You swore to protect me or have you forgotten since you got involved with your Sedai?" she is struggles for every ounce of control, she should know better then to buck Morc but what the heck Meeko is Meeko.

Meeko quickly adds "its Ambasador."

Morcath looks up at her and says, "Yes, I promised to protect you, but first and above all else, I swore to uphold the laws of the Tower and of Tar Valon. I won't let him get away again, it will be done this time. But I am not above the law and neither are you, /ambassador/."

Meeko nods "well then are you not going to provide me with protection." she looks down the ladder "that wolf thing would do well he could smell the man a mile away." she is pretty sure Mez and water have not met in a very long time.

Morcath answers, "You know you will be protected." He looks back up at her and says, "When have I ever hurt you? If I remember correctly, I've watched you during an entire night, not sleeping." something behind those words. "I'll see if Relovic is willing, but the trail may have gone cold....."

Meeko softens a bit at Morcs words. Yes she does remember "Thank you Morc." she begins to shake as the fear and anger take their toll on her "I could not believe my eyes when I saw that evil man openly at the Inn. I.." she is at a loss for words at the moment, enjoy it while you can.

Morcath nods. "I can understand. Likely, when I catch him," when, not if, "one of us will not be walking away. I intend on making sure I am within every right and obligation first. Which means, I have to prove he did this."

Meeko nods "you know he is the only one to do this to a person. He is evil, a spawn of the dark he is." she spits out the words distastefully "I will only be happy when I see his body lay still forever." a strange coldness has come into her voice.

Morcath doesn't reply, focussing on the task at hand. The Gaidin goes over everything three, four times, making absolutely sure there is nothing blatant. Finally, he rises to his feet and says, "This was not done here.... I'll have a Sedai or two come down and see if they can learn anything more."

Meeko nods and heads for the ladder "is it safe to leave this here or are you going to take the body with you?"

Morcath shakes his head. "I'll leave it here. I'll ask the owner to make sure no one comes up here and I'll be back later to look some more."

Meeko nods again and hurries down the ladder "I will meet you at the bottom I have to get away from that smell."

You leave the hayloft and carefully climb down the ladder to arrive at:

Stable: Flaming Arrow Inn, Tar Valon

Oakwind climbs carefully down the ladder from the hayloft.

Morcath climbs carefully down the ladder from the hayloft.

Oakwind stands near the door, breathing in the fresh air from outside. Glancing towards the ladder as Meeko and Morcath climb down he comments, "It stinks."

Meeko rubs her nose as though trying to rub that horrible stench from it. She looks at Oak "yes it does golden eyes." she has no clue his name "do you pick up any other smells? Maybe of the man taht did it."

Meeko is near positive it is the grotesque work of Mez.

Morcath nods. "A corpse will do that when left to rot. Do me a favour and wait here until I get back? I won't be long, I'm just going to get a Sedai or two to take a look. No one can get up there, okay?"

Meeko again glares at Morc "I will do that but only for you and only if you leave him with me." she points to Oak. Everyone knows how helpless dear Meeko is.

Oakwind rolls his eyes and nods. Guard duty. What fun. "Of course." Turning back to Meeko he shakes his head, "No. There are no smells. Whatever is dead up there did not die there."

Morcath answers, "I may need you later, Relovic, in case I need to track him. If you have a problem with that, let me know and we'll work something else out, but since you're here and you're you...." He glances at Meeko and says, "I had intended that for Relovic, but if you want to stay as well, feel free. I was going to offer you an escort home, though."

Oakwind nods simply and doesn't seem to have a problem with being a blood hound. "Of course. Who ever did that," a gesture towards the loft, "deserves to be caught."

Meeko smiles innocently "Oh." is her only comment. Meeko really does have to learn how those fool Sedai control their emotions "I would appreciate an escort Morc." she seems a bit overly humble but the Ambassador must keep herself safe.