Welcome to Gaia! ::

Esole nodded to Cobain as he left. She returned her attentions to Melthin. "Nice of you to finally arrive, Melthin dearest. I was beginning to think you had left," she said sternly while motioning him to sit.

Esole had some idea of Melthin's thoughts from his feelings and arched an eyebrow at him. She had missed his presence - it would have helped to have him there last night to keep her calm when dealing with the Yellow - but was not in the mood. "Yes, other herb. One I picked up from a village wise woman in Caemlyn," she said lightly. Esole eyed the man up and down before settling her sights on her punch.

"It was the events that you missed last night. Kiae Bonded Ethin and Cobain. I nearly killed Ethin and this morning I got drunk of my bottom," she said, letting out a breath she hadn't known she was holding. Esole looked into Melthin's eyes, wondering what he thought of the fine mess she had created for herself.

"Melthin, he is still my Warder," she said gravely. Esole stared up into his sadly. "Honestly, it is very unsettling. I am not fond of it at all." She knew it was something he was very talented at, and to have someone he cared about tell him she didn't like his talent must not have been happy news. She gripped his hand tightly in hers, "I'm sorry."

Esole beamed up at him affectionately. "That's a wonderful idea," she said happily, tightening her grip on his hand.
"Perhaps, while you work on it I can try and smooth things over with Kiae," she said uncertainly. Whenever she was with him, she always felt like she was acting a small child.
"A much more logical child than the adult Esole," she thought wryly.

(Goddamn, you people of unprintable words! I miss it all, all because I work!!! Thanks for sticking Ethin with me, though, and not abandoning me, Inky!)

"I appreciate you trying to explain, Ethin," Kiae replied, easily being civil. "But I did not Bond Andurael merely for protection, or because I needed him for service. And I do not Bond anyone for such a sad reason as that."
She shook her head, and sighed. "I may have decided to travel with you only because of your words. But I feel as if I have been tricked into Bonding someone who cares as little for me as a wolf does for grass," she admitted. "I was foolish. But to Bond someone merely because you need them for power, or knowledge, or anything like that - I dislike the idea immensely. It's merely another way to use someone."
Kiae glanced at Cobain as he returned to the table, and clasped her hands together so tightly her knuckles were white - an obvious effort to control her emotions. "I will retain the Bond until an Aes Sedai bloodhound is no longer needed on this hunt," she said dryly. "And then there is apparently no more need for it."
It hurt her to say that - she would have liked to have thought the Bond to Ethin was not merely useful, but of actual friendship - but nothing he said rang of that.

(Inky's gotta sleep some time yannoe! & no probs Fubar biggrin )

Ethin sighed regretfully. He hadn't wanted the conversation to go this way. He could feel her hurt through the Bond. "Kiae, please. It is not only that. If there was another Aes Sedai here instead of you with the same knowledge but a bad disposition, do you think I would still ask for the Bond? I had hoped we'd have some form of a friendship. But I guess that's too much to ask for," he said sadly.
"If my Aes Sedai has no further need of me." He said, rising from his seat and bowing once again before walking over to Esole's table and plopping himself down in the seat next to Melthin's gloomily.