Catren is walking towards the Petitioner's Square from the east. As she approaches, a squirrel runs across her path, causing her to squeak loudly. She turns and hisses at him between her teeth in a very un-Accepted-like fashion. As she sees the Aes Sedai gathered in the Square, she quickly composes herself, smooths her Accepted dress, and gives the squirrel a much composed scowl. She approaches the women and curtsies respectfully to each.

As the accepted curtsies, Nyla gives the young woman a cursory glance and a faint tilt of her head in greating. "Accepted." The Green sister replies, the agelessness most notably around the eyes. "The squirrel has as much right to the paths as you do. Unless, you think of them as food." She sniffs derivesely.   [Jezz]

Catren nods solemnly before saying, "Yes, Aes Sedai." She purses her lips. A touch of a scowl emerges from behind her eyes. "He still didn't have to run at me like that! That's the second time! It's like he enjoys sneaking up on me!" As Catren gets more excited and fiery in her disdain for the little critter, she tries to mask herself with Aes Sedai serenity. She quickly adds another, "Aes Sedai" at the end of her words.

Nyla quirks an eyebrow at the Accepted. "Come _at_ you?" the Aes Sedai asks disbelieving that a small creature like a squirrel would wish to do such a thing. But they are crafty, like Foamy. "Do you have anything in your pockets? Nuts? Perhaps it thinks you have food. I doubt it would care for you otherwise."  [NPC played by Jezz]

"But.. he did the same thing yesterday!" Catren lowers her eyes. "Evil little thing. I hope a gara lizard gets him." Catren once again composes herself. "I apologize, Aes Sedai. It does seem silly. But he may be rabid. Perhaps we should get the trainees to go fetch him! I wouldn't want anyone to get hurt." Catren nods curtly. She looks quite proud of herself.  [Catren]

Rasim pads quietly into the Petitioner's Square.  He has apparently eschewed the marble path leading to the door of the White Tower, and has instead wandered the grounds.  Several of the gathered petitioners move quickly to avoid the Aielman, but he doesn't seem to notice.  His face set in an expression of mild curiosity, he gazes up at the enormous Ogier-made building, the crowd, and the ornate grounds.

Nyla sighs with a shake of her head. Digging something out of her pouch, Nyla beckons Catren with a crook of her finger as she moves over toward the tree that Foamy the squirrel ran up. Showing Catren the contents in her hand, Nyla lightly drops sunflower seeds onto the ledge separating the path from the grassy slope. "What are your strengths, Accepted, in the One Power?" Nyla asks softly, waiting to the side for the squirrel to come back. [NPC played by Jezz]

Nyla glances up to watch the Aielman briefly before returning her attention back to the Accepted. [NPC played by Jezz]

Catren fidgets with a small belt pouch at her waist before saying, "I am strong in Spirit, like my mother, Aes Sedai. I am also strong in Fire. I have heard that is rare among women."

As he wanders the square, seemingly with purpose, Rasim passes by the Aes Sedai and her charge.  Standing near enough to overhear, but not to intrude, he stops and crouches down near another tree.  Reaching into his pocket, he produces a loop of twine, which he spreads with all the fingers on both hands and then begins to pluck at, causing the loop to distort into odd shapes.  There is a familiarity to his gestures, and a lack of concentration to the task that suggests it is more a habit than a hobby.  He watches the two women with slight interest.  [Rasim]

As the new figure on the Square begins his looping and twirling with the string, a small squirrel jumps down from a tree as if from nowhere and races past Rasim, coming just a few feet from him. Catren has her back to the event, patiently attending to the Aes Sedai. [Catren]

Nyla eyes Catren, trying to recall which Aes Sedai spawned a daughter of Accepted-age. "Fire, hmm, well it wont be Fire that we play with at the moment, but Spirit." The Aes Sedai tilts her head into the branches above, looking for Foamy the squirrel, but any one of them will do when a very brave little creature scampers down the trunk toward the two women. "Ahh, shhh, and watch." She embraces Saidar, the warm glow surrounding her. Channeling a thin thread of Spirit, she creates a filigree with the weave, interlacing Air. Directing it to the creature staring at them on the truck of the tree. Nyla directs the weave to lightly touch the squirrel's head. The squirrel cautiously moves closer to the pile of sunflower seeds. Nyla barely breathes, allowing the creature to come so close and gather the nuts.  [NPC played by Jezz]

Rasim stops his fidgeting with the twine very slowly as the other little squirrel comes to a halt before him, so as not to frighten the creature.  He looks at it a bit suspiciously, but notices the Aes Sedai and the younger woman focusing intently on the other, similar animal and relaxes.  He says very quietly, in a slightly rough voice, "I see you, rodent."  This causes him to smirk slightly, and he deftly untangles his fingers from the string without moving the rest of his body, and holds it out for the squirrel to inspect or take.

As the creature gets closer to the nuts, Catren squeals, "But Aes Sedai, what if he gets used to this? How will he find his own food?" She squints her eyes as the critter jumps and moves back away from Nyla a few feet. He doesn't run far though. He looks at Catren and wags his tail impetuously. Catren's back is still towards Rasim so she does not seem to notice him yet.   [Catren]

"What I think is most interesting, is why we're letting them into the Tower grounds in the first place."  The voice of the newcomer is flat, unamused, gravelly... and harsh.  Judgment given flesh arrives in the form of a male who's hard, dark eyes carry no sign of being impressed by the dealings going on here.  There's a distinct no-nonsense look in Beridar's face as his almost lumbering steps bring him closer.  Those eyes are fixated on the Aiel present, the male version of such, making it clear from the start that someone, at least, is being observed.  But that doesn't mean Svoran's attention is fully focused on Rasim; there's a dark eyebrow that shoots up at Catren's question, and a flicker at the Aes Sedai that makes it obvious someone else wouldn't mind hearing this answer himself.  And no, he doesn't provide any obvious courtesies to the Aes Sedai; that can get your head chopped off, or your heart stabbed, your throat slit, or any number of other things the Aiel are capable of.  Didn't anyone learn from history?  [Svoran]

Nyla tsks softly, "City squirrels have already developed along side humans. They still harvest their nuts and berries out of the trees and shrubs that line our gardens and paths. But they also feast on our scraps, bread crumbs, fruit bits, and the like. They can be scavengers, like raccoons. It would be something entirely if they were bears instead." Nyla ignores Svoran, at least at the moment, because, well, its Svoran.  [NPC played by Jezz]

It doesn't appear that Catren did notice the weave. From the look on her face, she is taking this rather personally. "Of course, Aes Sedai. You, uh.. You delved him-.." There is a hint of a question before she reasserts herself and continues, "To check for rabies. But he still shouldn't be here. It makes the Tower look silly to have beats like that!"  [Catren]

Svoran might be ignored, but there are certain nuances to Aes Sedai behavior that can be picked up if one has been around them long enough.  Which is one reason Beridar's eyes narrow slightly towards something that might be amusement.  He's keeping his mouth shut at the moment, though, peering momentarily at the object of female fascination if not without really taking his eyes off of Rasim's lurking form.  Those big arms fold, but a finger taps all the same.

Apparently, the little squirrel wants nothing to do with Aielman's string, and after a tentative sniff, it darts back towards the trees to hide.  Rasim simply returns to what he was doing before.  As Svoran makes his noisy entrance, the Sovin Nai glances up at the burly man, and regards him calmly.  He stands slowly, returning the string to his pocket, and strides towards the newcomer.  [Rasim]

"I dont see why not, child. They are the cousin of chipmunks and prairie dogs." Nyla purses her lips, "They are not rats, despite all are considered a rodent." Nyla shakes her head, "You were not paying full attention. Why would I need the Air? Did you not notice what I had done?" The Green sister asks, arching an eyebrow. The movement of the aielman is caught in her peripheral, her head turning in his direction when he rises to approach Svoran. The burly man only gets a cursory glance, her attention is on the Accepted.  [Jezz]

"You, uh.. You used Air to.." Catren stumbles over the words before she continues. She begins again. "You used Air to help him get the scent of the nuts. But that only encourages his bad behavior!"   [Catren]

Catren turns to look at where the attack squirrel has gone. As she turns in Rasim's direction, she catches sight of him. He is not far off and her attention suddenly shifts away from Nyla, as though the Aes Sedai disappeared. "I see you." She calls this towards Rasim. It is not intended as a nicety, but a declaration that she knows he is there. She eyes him warily.

Nyla pops a sunflower seed in her mouth, cracking it between her teeth and lightly chewing on the tiny morsel while staring at the Accepted. She spits the shell out. "What would you do differently, child? Kill it? Dump it in the river? Hmm? You feared disease. I checked. Will you be so blind to assume? Will you judge a book by its cover, and not its content?" the Green sister asks, popping another seed in her mouth. [NPC played by Jezz]

And here comes a steamwagon.  "Little girl, the fact you took this long to even recognize the fact he was there bothers me."  It comes out of Beridar's mouth right on the heels of Catren's words, and those dark eyes have shifted focus slightly towards the object of Aes Sedai instruction.  "It makes me wonder what else you miss by not paying attention.  Daydreaming is for novices; you should know better."  [Svoran]

At the Accepted's words, Rasim pauses in his approach and his head tilts to one side for a second.  He turns to the young woman and says soberly, "I see you.  I am Rasim of the Bent Peak Daryne, Sovin Nai."  There is an intense curiosity on his weathered face as he waits to see if she will reply, and it may be telling that he does not call her a wetlander or add any other label.  He makes no move when Svoran lays into her, and in fact it is not at all apparent that he has even heard the boisterous man.  [Rasim]

Catren spins her head from Rasim to Nyla to Svoran. "Chase him with a stick!" She huffs loudly and turns to look at Svoran. "I was attending to the Aes Sedai, if it wasn't apparent. Isn't being on guard your job?" Catren's temper seems to be rising. She spares Rasim another questioning glance before returning her attention to Nyla. "I am sorry, Aes Sedai." She takes a calm breath and soothes herself, allowing her face to become calm and serene. "I let my temper get away with me. Perhaps we could investigate what that Aiel wants?" She turns back to Rasim, yet waits for the Aes Sedai to speak.

Nyla regards Svoran, her gaze sliding up and down his burly form and unpretty face, apparently not amused by his outburst. "When next I am on the training grounds, do not be surprised if I give further instruction to those in your care." she plucks the shell from between her lips, and flicks it in his direction. The odd introduction is noted, but not commented on. The aiel are strange creatures. "Are you going to chase every creature away with a stick?" Turning her attention to Rasim, she eyes him speculatively. "Aren't Aiel creatures? Should I chase him away with a stick?" Nyla asks Catren, obviously she has switched the focus of her lesson. [NPC played by Jezz]

"Aiel are men." Calm, serene, yet very strongly worded. "You don't chase them with sticks. You chase them with spears." This is said matter-of-factly. She backs up to stand side by side with Nyla and her eyes face Rasim and Svoran, looking back and forth between the two. The look is quite similar to the one the now-forgotten squirrel was given only moments ago.   [Catren]

"Why would I be surprised about what Aes Sedai already do?" Svoran's dry response to Nyla is.  It was supposed to sound innocent, but it comes out more as 'tell me something I don't already know'.  "Those boys have enough bad habits.  I'd be very interested in seeing what instruction you have for them."  To the comment of chasing away with a stick, there's a suspicious twitch at Beridar's mouth, but he says nothing.  He does, however, step back roughly a pace, as if to give this whole scene room.  [Svoran]

Now oddly the center of attention, Rasim regards all three in turn before speaking.  There is a hint of a grin at the right corner of his mouth as he considers these strange people.  He speaks first to Svoran.  "I see you, wetlander.  I think I would like to speak with you, but let us not interrupt the Aes Sedai's lesson."  He nods his head very slightly at Nyla, "I see you Aes Sedai."  He finally turns to Catren and gives her a stern look.  "Your teacher asked you a question.  It would be best to give it more consideration than you did before you answer.  Try again."  He then settles into silence to see what they will all do in turn.  [Rasim]

The fiery young woman's jaw sets. She is doing her best to control her anger and for the moment, it seems she is winning. "This is Aes Sedai business. And may you never know shade!" She hurls the insult at Rasim. "Name yourself, friend or foe of Tarkand of the Bitter Water sept of the Taardad." Slowly articulating the words makes them seem less anger than they are intended. "You insult the honor of the Bitter Water, stranger." Svoran is secondary, ignored, and for all intents and purposes invisible to Catren at this moment.   [Catren]

Nyla suddenly laughs aloud at Catren's response, amusement dancing in her jade chipped eyes, "Is there really any difference, child?" The burly man speaks, and although she should probably ignore him, she quips back, "And yet, here you are. Without the White Tower and its purposes, you would still be on your father's farm breaking your back to feed yourself in the winter. If they have any bad habits, its your job to train it out of them. Is it not? And if you are not doing your job, then it leaves it to the women to do it for you. Am I getting that right?" She smiles, her tone laced with amusement. Rasim she addresses last, "I... see you as well, aielman."  [NPC played by Jezz]

"What you can speak to me about, Aiel, is what you're doing here in the first place."  It's the /only/ thing he's interested in hearing, if one reads into the tone of Svoran's words.  Dark eyes swivel fully to Rasim; Beridar could care less if an Accepted ignores him.  If he's ignoring the sister trying to take him to task, it's obvious he's doing a bad job of it.  Why?  He replies back.  With a raised eyebrow.  And a decidedly lower volumed tone, because he's approaching the Aes Sedai, clearly attempting to get close enough so that he can address her without too many prying ears.  Assuming she doesn't do naughty things with channeling.  [Svoran]

Rasim's face hardens at Catren's insult, but he lets her finish her tirade.  At the end, his face softens.  "I have never met Tarkand of the Bitter Water Taardad, but the Taardad followed the Car'a'carn out of the Three-fold Land, as did the Daryne, as did I.  I have no quarrel with them, nor with you, young one.  The insult offered, is the one you are offering the Aes Sedai who is attempting to teach you."  With that, he turns completely away from her with finality and focuses on Svoran.  "I came to offer to help teach the young men here, the apprentice Gaidin."  He turns to Nyla and that slight smile returns.  "Apparently, you are in need of some assistance with them."  [Rasim]

Sighing, Nyla instructs Catren with a cool tone, "Accepted, you will need to control your anger better than that. You will have double duties in the kitchens for the next week. Think about how you will school your anger, then in a week, come see me and we'll discuss it. Understood?" Her gaze shifts to Svoran as he approaches her eyebrow arching. The comment from Rasim does cause the cool look to crack slightly, a hint of humor in her gaze. "I wonder if the aielman would be better at training your students. Are you a wagering man?"   [Jezz]

Svoran whispers to you, 'The thing I find most interesting about what you say, Aes Sedai, is that you talk about things that don't exist.  Or have you forgotten the part that who you were is no more upon joining the Tower?  Or should I take your words as more a matter that you want to convince yourself that you didn't start as lowborn as I did?  That Aes Sedai never had students who came to the Tower as the daughters of beggars, as orphans, as laborers, sickly, or more.  You want to speak of wagers?  Speak of ones you know something about.'

"As you wish. I will see you in the kitchens."  [Catren]

Still approaching Nyla, Beridar makes certain he's at least close by, enough that he can get away with speaking softly enough that the Aes Sedai can hear him without meddlesome other ears nearby.  He talks, his expression perhaps a touch darker than normal, those eyes narrower, harder than they were before.  And only after he's done, after locking eyes with the sister, does he turn away and start to casually make his way to the Aiel.  To stand right in front of him with that same cold expression as before.  "No."  Just like that.  He doesn't even wait to size up the man.  And then Svoran waits for Rasim's response.  [Svoran]

Rasim makes no attempt to eavesdrop, and simply waits quietly for the two to finish their whispered discussion.  If he is intimidated by the hulking brute approaching him, he gives no sign of it, and after there terse-monosyllabic refusal, he nods once and steps to the right, so he can see past Svoran to Nyla.  "I would hear your wager, Aes Sedai."  His tone is warm, but his complete disregard for Svoran is a clear dismissal.

Once Svoran has had her say, the Green sister watches his retreating back. Nyla pops a sunflower seed in her mouth, cracks it between her teeth, and chews the tender bit before spitting out the shell. She drops the rest of the seeds in a scattering motion toward the tree, but she hasn't really looked where they were going. But they are obviously left behind for the squirrels. Its a matter of heart beats, but Nyla follows Svoran back toward the aiel. What she intended to say to the gaidin halts on the tip of her tongue, instead she considers Rasim's words. "You wish to train the men here? What do you bring to the table?" Her attention turns to Svoran as she reaches up to catch Svoran's ear lobe with a fierce pinch (if he even lets her - but I hope it caught him off guard enough by the gesture), fully intending to pull his head closer to her level so she can whisper back in his ear.   [Jezz]

You whisper to Svoran, 'The difference between you and I, is I have no qualms tasking the young women until their bad habits are a thing of the past. It was the same lessons I learned long ago, and will be the same lessons when I am long gone. But if your trainees have bad habits, then either you are not doing your job, or you need someone else to do it for you. The women come here because they have a power that needs to be developed and train. The men come here for glory, or duty, or any other number of things you want to tell yourselves. But it boils down to one thing, you are here for us. You are here to protect our interests. It's what you were trained to do, and what you are training those young men, to follow in your footsteps, and those before you. '

Once the Green has finished her words is when Beridar finally decides to try, very hard, to pluck her hand from his ear.  A small penance, allowing that, or at least enough of an argument that he deserved it, anyway.  But what he has to say to the Green can apparently wait, given the look he gives her, that hard gaze changing further, from steel to cuendillar now.  Beridar's dark eyes focus solely on Nyla, communicating with a glance to the Aiel that what is on his mind most certainly is NOT for public consumption.  But apparently some of it is.  "If this is what you want to wager on, Aes Sedai," he says in a quiet, more dangerous voice, one that Rasim likely would hear, one he's certainly intended to hear, "then expect your gamble to be for avoiding penance that /I/ set."  [Svoran]