Marian let her horse trot into the city at an easy pace. She was in no hurry that morning, which was quite a lovely thing. She had finished most of her reports early that morning, and though she knew that there would be a fresh stack of them waiting once she returned to the Tower, Marian pushed that thought to the back of her mind. She wanted to enjoy her day out in the city, and she certainly planned to push the paperwork off as long as possible. The Grays can keep me in Tar Valon, but they will not control me here, she thought stubbornly to herself. As Head Clerk of the Gray Ajah, it was important and necessary for her to remain in Tar Valon, at the center of attention for the sisters, but Marian did not plan to wait like a sitting duck. She would be active here, even if she could not wander the world like some of her friends would be able to, once they gained the Shawl. Kathera had been raised to Accepted, and she was well on her way to becoming Aes Sedai, or so Marian hoped. She would do anything to help her - well, anything within her power, that was. However, she had a strong belief that Kathera would be able to manage becoming Aes Sedai on her own. She had come this far, hadn't she?

Marian rode into the crowded cities. People parted for her horse, but most did not recognize her as Aes Sedai. Her ring was too hard to see from a distance, and Marian supposed it would be some time yet before she acquired the ageless face of an Aes Sedai, though she certainly felt old, with all the paperwork she had been doing lately. I shouldn't have wasted my youth, she thought grimly to herself. She should have pulled more pranks with Kathera while she was a novice. Perhaps she would have had more fun. And perhaps the former Head Clerk wouldn't have thought me to be such a good Aes Sedai. The Grays seemed to think that she would be taking orders well. She planned to show them otherwise. They'd invoked a part of Marian that had not come out since she was a toddler - pure stubborn anger. The only difference is she hadn't thrown a tantrum. Yet.

She shook her head in annoyance. She wouldn't think about such today. Instead, she kept her horse trotting along the road, wondering if she would encounter anything interesting that morning. She certainly wouldn't mind a cup of tea...

Edeleas was getting bored. He stood up from his bed and proceeded to stand before his mirror, observing himself. His eyes looked like dead tunnels, and his strikingly blank face betrayed nothing whatsoever. His was a face already given agelessness. Melise had told him he did not look a day older than twenty. He was not sure if that was a compliment. He went to his closet and picked a fresh black robe, wearing it listlessly and pinning the Sword and Dragon to his collar absent-mindedly. He went out to the halls of the Dieb Cha, ignoring nods and smiles, thus earning him a frown or two. But he didn't give a damn about anything right now, except the odd rumble in his belly that had been there since last night.

He went to the familiar broom closet, and there wove himself a gateway that opened out into one of Tar Valon's many empty alleys. He stepped out of the alley and wanted to look for any inn or tavern to have some decent meal. He crossed the street, not really looking. He did not know something was happening until a horse neighed wildly, and what looked like a hoof went for his face, but Edeleas was quick, he quickly flattened himself to the ground and rolled away to safety, mud staining his clothes.

"What under the Pit of Doom?" he muttered, getting up, pushing his glasses. He squinted to see the horse's rider. He couldn't exactly remember who she was.

((OOC: Crap, I just realized that this was supposed to be in the City, but oh well...))

Marian turned her head for a moment to glance at one of the bakeries. The sweet scent of breakfast rolls drifted through the air, and Marian wondered if she should stop to buy one. They certainly smelled good, and her purse clinked on her belt, tempting her. She turned back to see a man mindlessly cross the street. Before she could halt her horse, it reared and kicked at the man... He fell down and rolled, thankfully, to avoid the hooves of her horse. She yanked on the reins sharply and wondered what in the Light the man was thinking, crossing like that!

Taking a closer look however, she realized that that wasn't merely a man. He was an Asha'man. She could tell by his dress and pins. She didn't think she knew him... unless... She blinked in surprise and nearly gasped. Swinging herself off her horse, she grabbed the reins and dragged the horse over to the man. As he got up and pushed his glasses back on correctly, Marian saw that she was right. She did know him! It had been several years since she'd last seen him, but Light!

"Edeleas!" she exclaimed. "Light, Edeleas! I'm sorry! Don't you remember me? It's Marian!" She brushed some dirt off of his black uniform. She really hadn't meant to run him over...

Edeleas had to suppress a snarl as the Aes Sedai reached out with a slim hand and brushed dirt off his black robes. He distrusted everyone around him, and usually, those who touched him suddenly met gruesome deaths. But this was Tar Valon public, he had many things to do, and he could not afford failing the Great Lord. He looked at the Aes Sedai. Still no name came to his mind, until she spoke it herself.

"Edeleas!" she exclaimed. "Light, Edeleas! I'm sorry! Don't you remember me? It's Marian!"

Marian...? Edeleas thought, racking his pitiful scraps for memories. Nothing. He forced himself to smile though, another thing he failed dismally. Dreadlords did not know how to smile. They were not made for lowly feelings such as affection, kindness. They were made for hate, spite and envy. But Edeleas knew he had to go along. He nodded slowly, still looking at the Aes Sedai.

"Marian? Oh yes...it is you!" he said, but his voice was tad toneless. "So ah..." She had to expect him to ask her for some lunch. Of course. He had to bear with it. "Are you free...Marian? Let's go get some food; my stomach's rumbling."

He turned and led the way, not even taking a look if she was catching up. Ch, why she had to see me...what a waste of time... Edeleas snarled inwardly. A girl bumped into him, and Edeleas glared at her, and the kid started to cry. He pushed her out of his way and went on walking.

"Catch up, Marian." He said again.

Marian almost frowned when Edeleas smiled at her. It could hardly be called a smile, and it was so... not like Edeleas, at least the boy she remembered... Light, what had happened to him over these past years? "Marian? Oh yes...it is you!" When he spoke, his voice didn't seem so enthusiastic as it had been, years ago. Perhaps he had just grown up, but Marian didn't like it. Something about the way he watched her now, those dark eyes, made her stomach turn. "So ah... Are you free...Marian? Let's go get some food; my stomach's rumbling." Light, it had been years, and now he just asked if she wanted some food? There was no greeting of friendship, there was nothing. That was not Edeleas. She didn't know this man before her. Nevertheless, he began walking, and she had no choice but to follow or let the crowd swallow him up. As much as it made her sick, she followed him.

"Catch up, Marian." She could hear a girl crying in the background as he spoke. Who was he? She quickened her pace to be walking next to him. "Where have you been these past years?" she asked calmly, though it was really only the Aes Sedai calm she had been practicing taking over. Inside, thoughts whirled through her head. Light, this couldn't be Edeleas. But looking at him, she could see the features. But his eyes... No. She couldn't believe it.

They weaved their way through the crowd on foot, though Marian's horse certainly helped clear the way somewhat. Edeleas's uniform marked him as an Asha'man, and that was enough to make somewhat of a path. The people of Tar Valon usually respected the Asha'man and Aes Sedai, though most probably could not tell that Marian was Aes Sedai. She hadn't worn her shawl into the city, and without the ageless face, no one would know. Glancing at her former friend, she wished that she knew what had happened to him.

"Where have you been these past years?" the Aes Sedai asked. Edeleas noted the difference in her tone now. She did know what he was. Now this gave him yet another person to add in his watch list. So many people who knew who he had been. It made him want to tear his hair in frustration and balefire something. He pushed his glasses upward, as it was slipping down the bridge of his nose.

"I've been in places." He replied blandly. "Roaming the world, really. Been to Seanchan, Tremalking, Aiel Waste...Rhuidean even. You won't believe how much the city has grown." He explained, still nonchalantly. "But then I got tired of running around, so here I am. Back." He saw a particularly good-looking inn. He moved towards it. "Let's go. It will be my treat today."

He pushed the inn's door open and marched inside, earning himself some stares. Of course. He was Asha'man. He found a table and pulled up a seat for Marian. When she was settled comfortably, he sat down himself and waved for a serving girl. He noted the way Marian stared at him. Was that disbelief on her eyes? Or fear? Edeleas would have loved it better had it been fear.

"What under the Light do you stare like that?" He arched an eyebrow. "Do I have dirt on my face?" He barked a hollow laugh. "Stop that. It's unnerving me."

"I've been in places," replied Edeleas, or rather, who seemed to be Edeleas. "Roaming the world, really. Been to Seanchan, Tremalking, Aiel Waste...Rhuidean even. You won't believe how much the city has grown." She nearly arched an eyebrow. He had been gone for six years, and that was the reply she got? He'd been to all sorts of places, and his description was that. The old Edeleas would have been going on and on about the architecture in Seanchan, or... just anything. There would have been some enthusiasm, some excitement in his voice. There just seemed to be nothing there in this man. Not in his voice, not in his eyes. Again she wondered what had happened to him, but she held her tongue. If something really was wrong... Well, she'd just be pulling herself into trouble. "Let's go. It will be my treat today."

He led her inside and pulled her a seat, waiting for her to sit before he did as well. At least he hadn't lost all of his former traits... He waved for a serving girl, Marian waited for her to come, still watching Edeleas. She hated to admit it, but it did frighten her slightly, how different he seemed to be. She couldn't believe it. She wasn't afraid of him necessarily, but... Light. "What under the Light do you stare like that?"
His speaking interrupted her thoughts. Why do you bloody think I do? she thought crossly to herself.

"Do I have dirt on my face?" The man laughed, but it was not Edeleas's laugh. Marian was certain then that there was no Edeleas under that man's mask. "Stop that. It's unnerving me." She couldn't help but answer, "Maybe it's supposed to," quite firmly. Her heart was hard now, and Marian tried to ignore the pang of sorrow, missing her friend dearly. She would get to the bloody bottom of this... If not now, eventually. Oh, Light, Edeleas! What have you done to yourself?

Edeleas ignored this Marian's comment. Unnerve me? He cackled insanely inside his own head. No one frightens Edeleas al'Kuar, Dreadlord to the Great Lord of the Dark! NO ONE! The girl arrived, and Edeleas' handsome face gave way into a frown as he looked up at the girl. "Is that the kind of service you give to your patrons? A tortoise can get here faster than you, you Light-blasted insect!" He said loudly, and in a hard voice.

Silence ensued the inn. Out of the corner of his eye Edeleas saw Marian shift, but he did not pay attention. "Well? Are you just going to stand there until Shayol Ghul erupts, or will you start getting our orders?" The girl jumped and squeakily asked what they want. Edeleas grunted. "Give me some squid and a cup of mint tea." Marian mumbled about her own food, but Edeleas really wasn't listening. His temper crackled dangerously, he was reining it in. Light-blasted idiot! So slow! When the girl literally dashed to get their food, Edeleas nodded in grim satisfaction.

An uneasy silence descended between him and Marian. She was still looking at him, and her face got darker by the minute. But Edeleas did not give a damn. Think what she wants. Just don't barge in on my plans and I will spare you, little girl. He thought darkly. The food arrived quicker than expected, and Edeleas, not making any more riff-raff speeches, quickly started to eat. He hadn't had dinner and breakfast, after all; the food in the Mess Hall was simply trash.

Marian did not enjoy Edeleas's outbreak with the serving girl, and she would make sure to slip the poor thing a few extra coins when they left. He had no bloody right to do such... Has he so soon forgotten what it was like to be that age? Merely six years ago, I can remember a humble Dedicated, eager to learn what his masters taught him... Her heart churned with an anger that she had never felt towards Edeleas before. That did not sit well with herself either. Marian didn't like her feelings like that. More than anything, she wanted to know why he had changed so much. Could things have been so awful in his life that he had grown into this? Light, who had he encountered on his journey? However, Marian doubted she was going to get any answers from this man, the way he was going. She most certainly didn't want to eat anything he was paying for either.

This has to be a joke, part of her said. There was no way that the kind boy she had known as a novice could have turned into this man. Light, but he had the same looks. He was Edeleas. There was no way that this couldn't be him, but Marian didn't want to believe it was. Watching him eat his food, she did not touch her own, she didn't like the way he watched her either. In fact, she seriously doubted he even knew who she was. "What Ajah am I in?" she asked him suddenly. It seemed like a stupid question, but if he couldn't even answer that... Well, then she would really know something was wrong. Part of her hoped that he could answer that question, but Marian found another part of her hoped that he couldn't, for then she would have something against him.

One thing was for sure - no matter what had happened to him, Marian had changed too. She was Aes Sedai now, and if he wouldn't treat her as a friend, he would treat her as Aes Sedai. She would make sure of that.

"What Ajah am I in?"

Marian's question cracked the silence like a whip. Edeleas slowly dropped his knife and fork and reached for the napkin, wiping his lips. He delved in his memories, digging deep. But he could only dig so much. He could not find any answers. He looked at her, his head tilted to one side.

"I do not know." He answered truthfully. Then he buried his face in his hands for a moment. Why did the Great Lord burden him with such a hard problem? After a moment he resumed eating, and when he finished, he methodically drank two cupfuls of tea before paying for their meal, even if Marian did not touch her own food. He knew he could not stay here. Already he made a mistake that could prove as a pitfall for him in the future.

Edeleas rose smoothly and walked out of the inn, without a second look nor a word. He had to get away. Already a strange feeling blossomed within him, and as always, he did not like feeling things he could not even put a name to. Perhaps returning to Tar Valon was not such a good idea after all. But he had orders. Orders he could not reject.

I will obey. He thought, ruthlessly swatting away the strange feeling from his system.

"I do not know." Edeleas's words hit her hard. He did not know. There was no Edeleas left in him then. He would have remembered at least her Ajah. She didn't know him. She didn't know him at all. Watching him still with narrow eyes, he buried his face in his hands for a moment, as if frustrated. Don't pull that with me, whoever you are... she thought bitterly. Another part of her ached with sorrow, wanting to know what had happened to him. Why had the cheery boy she'd cared so much about turned into this cold-hearted man? Light, he was certainly Asha'man now. She wanted answers, but she was not of the Blue Ajah. Questioning him using Daes Dae'mar was not her strength, and Marian doubted she could have ever out-witted him.

She watched as he smoothly rose and left the inn. Marian didn't try to stop him. A twisting feeling in her heart told her something was horribly wrong. She would not follow him. No. He was dangerous now, that was certain. Marian had to again remind herself that they weren't friends anymore. Just the way he stared out of those darkened eyes told her that. She placed her napkin on the table and paid the serving girl without a word. Normally, she would have apologized for Edeleas's outbreak, but she did not. She had too much on her mind...

However, Edeleas, or whoever he was, knew that he had sparked an Aes Sedai's suspsicion. He did not, unfortunately for him, know that he had sparked the Gray Ajah's Head Clerk's suspsicion. She'd have him on closer watch than a bird in a cage. I'll get to the bottom of this, Edeleas. Don't you think I won't.