Cast: Kyle, Ashlynn, Verdani (aka Megwyn), Cassandra, Maeve, Diar, Analee, Ellorin and Kale.

After being repeatedly a meeting refused with the Amyrlin Seat on the grounds that he's dead, Kyle sets out to prove otherwise. But what would change the mind of a woman so obviously stubborn? A gift, something reminding her of her childhood, perhaps. Something you wouldn't be able to find out on any street corner. Something that would make her suspect there might be truth to his words. With this in mind, Kyle sets out to the market area of Tar Valon, feeling completely out of his element but determined nonetheless...

Cassandra passes into Waterman's Plaza from the southeast, coming from SouthHarbor Road.

A dark figure approaches from the road, head down against the chill. Kyle Birnoas grabs his cloak around him, eyeing those on the road with a stern emerald gaze. He nods gruffly to the two women as they pass out of the building, but then his attention is drawn by the window, and he stops to peer inside.

Cassandra looks around at everyone.

Verdani follows, drawing her pale cloak about her shoulders firmly.

Cassandra curtseys politely to the Aes Sedai.

Ashlynn silently inclines her head to Cassandra, though her glance appears to shift toward Kyle. As a Green always does, her look becomes slightly... appraising, if not more observant than before. She almost seems to purr as she looks him over, a slight tugging of her lips telling those about her she's pleased with what she sees.

Cassandra decides to just stay here for a bit and steps out of the way to watch the Aes Sedai.

Being the roughly weathered man peering into the clothing store display window hasn't met Ashlynn before, and doesn't care to stare at her hands to see if she's one of those blazing Tower people or not, he doesn't follow the respectful example of Cassandra. Running one calloused hand through tousled auburn hair, the man's startled glance goes back to Ashlynn at the sound from her throat. He clears his own, before jerking a thumb at the store window. "You was just in there," he states roughly. "They gots just frilly girly things, or other stuffs too?" The man definitely looks out of his element. Better to be off fighting Trollocs.

Verdani is brought along in Ashlynn's wake her smile and unconcious echo of the Aes Sedai's.. without quite as much of a posessive note. She sniffs at the fellow's tone and rolls her eyes.

Cassandra smirks, thinking this may become interesting.

Ashlynn seems to chuckle throatily, "Aye, we were just in there. They've clothing for men as well, toward the back of the store." Somehow, the Aes Sedai still seems to purr toward the man, her eyes glinting within the sunlight, or just from something personal, making them seem like near perfect blue jewels. Her smile appears to broaden slightly.

"Not lookin' for that," the man mutters roughly, his own green gaze focusing on the snow-strewn cobblestones at his feet, the townsfolk walking nearby, the place of the sun in the sky, anywhere except at this predatory woman. His hands plant themselves at his belt, before running one again through unruly, tousled hair. It's probably that way because of the number of times he does that.

A brow seems to quirk upon the Green Sister's features, "Then what, if I may ask, were you looking for?" She tilts her head a bit, curiousity just briefly lining her oh so ageless features, nearly making her stand out to the others within the area.

Verdani smirks slightly, biting back a bit of laughter as she watches the two verbally spar.

Kyle scuffs his boot on the ground before forcing himself to stop and return the woman's look, the movement making him look curiously boyish; which seems odd, on one so obviously hardened to whatever's happened to him since his youth. "Something for m'sister," he states defensively. "Present." By his stance and his tone, it'd be easy to guess he doesn't often go looking for that sort of thing. -Never- would be a good approximation.

Cassandra grins openly, wondering what little town he must have been raised in.

Eyes appear to run up and down Kyle's features in a more than appropriate manner, as if Ashlynn were examining someone to be her next bonded mate. A slight smile curls upon her lips and her expression appears demure and dainty almost, though do not let that fascade fool you, for she is Aes Sedai afterall. "A present for your sister? What sort of present were you looking to get..." She pauses slightly, questing with her words as if to make certain their validity, "This sister of yours."

Kyle crosses thick arms over his chest, eyeing the woman as though debating whether he should actually tell her. This is no country bumpkin, born in a small town; no, wherever this stone-set man was raised, it was somewhere harsh, where having eyes in the back of your head might be readily appreciated. "Don't know," the man finally grunts, frowning vaguely in Ashlynn's direction. "Don't know her now. Knew her when she was eight. Hasta be something from then."

Tsk, tsk appears to be a sound coming from Ashlynn's lips. She shakes her head to match the sound, "It's not good to lose contact for so long." For a brief moment a haunted expression appears in her eyes, though she quickly squashes it to nothingless, "Perhaps a piece of jewelry would be best, instead of a garmet. If you do not know what she likes, it might easily offend her if you get something not of her style."

Cassandra looks around once more then heads down the road.

Kyle shakes his head roughly. "Wasn't my choice," he mutters, peering through the display window again. "'Sides, that won't convince her."

Cassandra branches off to the northwest, heading for SouthHarbor Road.

"Well, either way, you are forwarned..." Ashlynn glances back to Verdani, then back to the stranger, tilting her head a bit.

Kyle's brows knit as he glances distractedly back at Ashlynn. "Eh?"

"About getting styles wrong." Ashlynn merely shrugs her shoulders. "If you will excuse me, I do need to be getting back to the Tower now. It is cold out here." Her breath does mist as she speaks.

Verdani shakes her head, that smile still painted on her features. She looks at the man measuringly and nods, moving to join Ashlynn.

Ashlynn branches off to the northwest, heading for SouthHarbor Road.

Verdani branches off to the northwest, heading for SouthHarbor Road.

(Kyle busies himself for the rest of the day, trying to figure out what gift would be suitable for the sister who insists he's dead. Finally, he finds one...)

[Courtyard: White Tower, Tar Valon]

Analee turns to look at Diar, his over handsome looks very having excited anything in her except amusement at the foolishness of swooning novices. She examines him casually. "Well, if Diar went through such difficulties in this chill weather to deliver it, perhaps you should examine the contents." She looks back to Maeve, grinning slightly.

A black-cloaked figure strides in, one hand rubbing through tousled auburn hair as Kyle Birnoas adjusts the package in his other arm. He pauses just inside the gate, emerald eyes scanning the courtyard, perhaps to avoid that predatory woman he met earlier.

Near the foot of the main stairway there's a small gathering; Maeve, Diar and Analee. Maeve holds a small parcel in one hand.

"Well, just a small gift -- for her birthday, Aes Sedai," Diar says as he bows to Analee finally, after she speaks to Maeve. Looking to Maeve, a moments pause, lips pressed together -- and then he goes on, "Well, it's nothing. Nothing to bother oneself with -- Is there some Aes Sedai tri-- erm, technique shall we say, to live so easily in this foul weather, I wonder? It's cold, rather overmuch for my liking." As he speaks, another cloaked man enters, and Diar studies him, rather more carefully than he did the women. He frowns slightly .. but does look away, even if a hand brushes briefly a hilt of his sword.

Briefly grey eyes slip past Analee and finds the newly entered Kyle. Maeve spares him a few moments casual study, giving herself an extra minute or two to consider Analee's suggestion perhaps, and when she turns back her gaze finds Diar first. One slender brow quirk up ever so faintly in an inquistive manner, just as she replies to the Aes Sedai again. "It could of course be that he has brough me some secrets documents, too sensetive to be shown." She chuckles softly, though it seems faintly less spontaneous than usual. "Or one of those etchings from Mayene perhaps?"

Kyle props the little package on one hip, his green gaze passing over the little group at the base of the Tower stairs after briefly perusing the various commonfolk in the Courtyard today. His eyes first note Diar -- and his sword -- and then pass to the two women. Snow crunches beneath his boots as he moves smoothly toward them, his face ever-emotionless.

Analeelooks at Diar and says cheerily, "Oh, I rather like the cold. I really see no point in adjusting the weather really." She turns to Maeve with a grin. "Secret documents? Sounds a bit odd. If it is a gift, isn't it more likely that it's a something pretty?"

Diar laughs faintly, a little too faintly, and shakes his head rather earnestly as he rubs his gloved hands together, breath turned to mist in the cold ether of Winter. "No, not one of those -- I fear I don't have any, though I suppose I could ask about among the merchants. Some one of them must have a few they'd be willing to part with -- though I couldn't attest to the condition or quality." Another pause .. and then his attention rather goes back to the stranger, again a careful assessing study. At last he rather wrinkles his nose slightly, and looks away -- perhaps a warder, by that frozen look on his face which they all seem to get after being browbeaten by their respective Aes Sedai without pause.

Kale enters the Courtyard through an opening in the large wall surrounding the Practice Yard. Kale has arrived.

As Kyle approaches, Maeve's interest once more slips over his way, her gaze rather more appraising now that he's closer to her, or perhaps what interested her most were the glances exchanged between him and Diar, for her eyes do rest on his sword for a little. "A pity..." She chuckles softly at Diar's words, glancing back up at him again with a playful grin curving her lips, her demeanor noweher near as frosty as previously. To Analee's comment she smiles wryly as well, grey eyes flicking back and forth between the Aes Sedai and Diar for a moment, rather lazily. "One never knows with him... Aes Sedai. Last it was..." She shrughs, her smile growing almost sly, though she spares a casual nod for Kale as he enters.

Kale nods politly to everyone.

Analee turns as Kale enters, and a bright smile crosses her face. "If you'll excuse me a moment," she says to Diar and Maeve before sliding over to where Kale is. "Kale, greetings. A word with you, please."

Not a Warder; just a man who's learned it's easier to do off with emotion most of the time. Kyle stands at the edge of the group, giving a brief incline of his head before gruffly propping the package before him. "Don't mean t'intrude. Anyone know the 'procedure' for gettin' this to Raemira?" By his tone, he's had enough of 'procedures' and 'formality' around here.

Kale nods and stops on his way into the Tower. "Yes, Aes Sedai?

Analee nods. "Were you going somewhere? I'll accompany you. I need to talk to you."

Kale shrugs, "Acutally, I was on my way to see you."

Analee smiles. "Ah, then what luck. Shall we sit down out here, then, or would you prefer to go inside?"

Kale nods, "Here is fine."

There's perhaps a faint glimmer of something which could suggest relief in Maeve's eyes as Analee moves away, though that is all, and as Kyle speaks up the previous exchange is forgotten about. Well, almost forgotten, for she still toys idly with the parcel in her right hand, occasionally glancing up at Diar. Seeing that the Blue sister seems elsewhere occupied, she turns to Kyle with a slight frown touching her expression, messenger duty isn't her favourite one. "It can be brought to her, unless you want to do so yourself. That could be more difficult." She studies for a little more, a slightly thoughtful look on her face.

Analee channels the snow neatly off of the small bench and sits down, arranging her skirts.
Analee sits down on the Small Bench.

Bowing to Analee, eyes passing quickly over Kale, Diar's attention is drawn again to Kyle as the man speaks gruffly. "I shouldn't say I know, goodman," Diar replies as he peruses the package, wondering what might be in it. "Perhaps the Guard, Accepted? Though if it's a parcel of some value, I wouldn't trust them..." It's only after he's done that he notices the rather blunt lack of propriety in naming the Amyrlin by her name -- his mind searches after a thin thread of memory on its own accord, although he tries to keep focused on his present companion.

"Tried that," the man responds in a grunt to Maeve, his green eyes on the package as he turns it over in his hands. "Raemy won't see me, on account 'a my bein' dead. Thought this'd help." He peers at Diar as he speaks, shrugging before nodding in Maeve's direction again. "You know how to get sommat to her?"

The pieces finally seem to fall into place for Maeve as Kyle goes on speaking, she hasn't met him before but there can be no doubt about who he is now. Silver touches her grey eyes as she watches him in an inquistive and curious manner, her bright gaze slipping to the package briefly. "Aaah...I see." For some reason she seems almost amused, but then again most things which dont touch her personally are amusing for her to observe. "I suppose the Amyrlin might very well refuse then... but unlike some around here I do not think she's in the habit of hanging the messenger." She shrughs lightly again, "Of course... a mere Accepted might not be allowed an audience for a time, but even so... " Despite her lighthearted mood, she seems faintly reluctant to agreeing just like that or at least saying she will, perhaps because of the current company.

Kyle taps the package with a rough grin. "Didn't put my name on it. She won't know it's me till she opens it, and I'm hopin' by then she'll be convinced. Iffin' she knew it was from me, she might just throw it in the trash." He frowns then, peering at the rough scrawl of his writing on the package. "She's a stubborn one."

Verdani walks down the steps into the Courtyard, after pushing through the main doors of the Tower.

Diar raises a brow -- at the nickname for Raemira, at the mention of beind dead... "Rather spry one, for a dead man," he murmurs with little humor, only to smile and nodding his head. "Well, I shouldn't say so, but I've found most of the fairer part of the race are stubborn. No doubt she'll .. she'll -- Oh." He stops as he finally latches onto the thread and draws it in. His manner changes, and he just shuts his mouth and looks gravely towards the courtyard after a moment, letting Maeve handle the matter.

Verdani pauses at the foot of the stair to curtsey to Analee with a bit of a smile. Kyle on the other hand, gets a speculative look.

Maeve exchanges a quick glance with Diar, her expression both amused and contemplative all at once, which isn't too unusual with her always shifting moods. She tilts her head faintly to brush some stray locks of hair back from her shoulders, in the process just happening to glance over one shoulder, then when she turns back, mutes her voice just a touch. She mutters to Kyle, "An... though... might... The Amyrlin... without..." She looks away from the two men for a moment as Verdani reappears, sparing her a casual nod once again.

You sense Maeve exchanges a quick glance with Diar, her expression both amused and contemplative all at once, which isn't too unusual with her always shifting moods. She tilts her head faintly to brush some stray locks of hair back from her shoulders, in the process just happening to glance over one shoulder, then when she turns back, mutes her voice just a touch. "An anonymous delivery then? I suppose I can try, though she might be suspicious. The Amyrlin is not... without enemies." She looks away from the two men for a moment as Verdani reappears, sparing her a casual nod once again.

Ellorin walks down the steps into the Courtyard, after pushing through the main doors of the Tower.

Ellorin comes out of the Tower, carrying a notebook. She curtseys to everyone present, then pulls her cloak more tightly around her to keep out the cold.

Kyle nods slowly to the Accepted, his own green gaze glancing about the courtyard as he begins to feel many pairs of eyes on him. "I've gotten in many a closer-guarded place than this, I could probably leave it outside her door. But I promised sommat I'd do all this right." He nods once to himself, eyes clouding as he looks into the distance for a moment. "Anyway. It's just a gift, sommat from her youth. Iffin' it's left outside her door, that'd be fine."

---

And finally, when Raemira does receive her present, this is what she finds...

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 From:  Kyle     Subject: A parcel 

 To: Raemira

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 A plain, brown-wrapped parcel appears with the other mail that has arrived

 for you this day, but the rough scrawl on the front only reads 'Raemira

 Halia Birnoas', with no name attached to indicate the sender. A quick

 probe of spirit reveals no traps or poisons, only some fabric and a thin

 bit of metal. 



 Upon opening the package, a neatly wrapped bundle of fine blue fabric

 meets your gaze, topped with a note written in scrawled, boyish writing.

 By the number of times words have been crossed out and re-written, the

 sender does not often have need to be eloquent on paper. 



 "Dear Raemy (crossed out) Raemira:



 It is with a good deal of desperation that I write you this letter. I only

 ask that you hear me out to the end of this letter, and that you let the

 contents of this package remind you of the days back in Ebou Dar. Even if

 you never admit me, I would have to be satisfied with that, and could then

 perhaps return to the life I have made in the Borderlands closest the

 Blight. 



 I have been told again and again of your refusal to see me; as you are the

 only member of our family I have been able to find, you are my only source

 to the past. I am not sure if I want to remember my past or not, but it

 seems I need to. A special woman reminded me of that. I do not know

 whether you refuse me because you think I am dead, or because I failed

 Father so many years ago. Either one would be more than enough cause;

 Light knows I have punished myself over and over for it. If it is the

 first, I can only hope this gift will convince you of my identity. If the

 second... the family left once because of my shame, and I will not fault

 you should you decide to do the same again. 



 Your loving brother in trust,



 Kyle Juilin Birnoas.



 P.S. - I know you don't have much use for dolls anymore... but I kept

 thinking back to the days before... (many words are scribbled here, as

 though Kyle had trouble writing) Anyway, I'm sorry for pulling the arms

 off your other one. 



 ---



 The package, once you open it, contains a doll wrapped in blue fabric. The

 doll is much like one you used to play with as a child, with auburn hair

 like yours tied into two braids. The blue fabric she is wrapped in turns

 out to be a cloak, stunningly made and delicately embroidered. It takes a

 while before the memories float back... but it looks very much like the

 one you were given for your birthday just before Kyle died. Of course,

 this one is longer and much more exquisitely done... if the rumours are

 true, this Kyle fellow must have won many a duel in the local Taverns to

 buy this.

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