The common room of the Lion Banner Inn
  Spacious and well-lit by large oil lamps suspended from the vaulted ceiling, the large common room has over a dozen long tables of varying lengths, with six to eight chairs per table. The tables seem to be of plain design, but are built solidly from good oak wood. The chairs have a low back design and are unpadded but also appear to be built to last. To the west, there are a half dozen smaller tables set aside for games of chance. To the north is a short hallway leading to the kitchen. To the east, a hallway leads towards the second floor stairs. To the south is the entrance hallway.
[ Exits: n e s w ]
Ailsa Collette Chastaine [Delovinde] is here. (standing)
Mat Cauthon is here. (standing)
Kagari Yurehl [DesertRose|WK] is here. Volkare is, of course, still ugly. (standing)
Master Marston is here minding the inn. (standing)

An unlikely duo enters the common room of the Lion Banner.  Kiera pauses in her steps and looks back to Letty, forgetting that she walks faster than the youth.  "Are you hungry?"  [Kiera]

Kagari's lips tighten slightly when she realizes the man has come over just to flirt. She normally avoids that sort of thing with her breeches and short hair, but those who show interest in her anyway can often be the most ... problematic. Despite the man's fancy clothing and reputation, Kagari's instincts take over. "I don't think you can do anything about it. You don't look anything like the person I'm looking for," she says flippantly.
 
*Hop* *Hop* The little girl hops into the room, trying to keep to the boards, and not hopping on any of the cracks. Little Letty's hands are held up like little paws and her nose tiwtches comically. "Yup, yup." Her little shrill voice agrees.  [Letty]

Ailsa continues watching Mat crowding toward Kagari, but at his cheesy - and sadly, probably successful - line, taken with his equally cheesy - though admittedly charming - grin, the rogue merely chuckles to herself and goes back to lazily watching the common room.  Her honey colored eyes keep their faintly amused glitter.  Still leaned back against the bar, her black velvet cloak draped fully over her form, she goes back to looking like a glistening shadow in the golden light of the inn.  When the little girl enters, her shrill voice reaching the dark-skinned Cairhienin's ears, focus is drawn once more.  Little girls are not a regular sight in an inn at night, and as such, she and her minder are an interesting sight.

Kiera grins at Letty, the Bunny-girl, "Well pick out a table and I'll go to see what is prepared.  Okay?"  The Altaran woman pauses, waiting to see where it is Letty may well head off to before turning to talk to Master Marston.
 
Ailsa peers at you intently.

"Ok!" Overly excited to be allowed to choose, Letty's head swings from side to side, looking for a good place to sit. She notices the other people, but the little girl doesn't go near them, instead choosing a spot somewhere near the door, but away from the others. She hop-hops over toward the desired destination. Nudging a chair out with her foot, she hops-kind-of-climbs up into the chair, and squats there with her 'paws' out before her. She twitches her nose.  [Letty]

Ailsa peers intently at Letty.
 
Mat's shoulders lift slightly, his hands spreading out to the side in a casual motion. A soft chuckle escapes his lips at the tone of the woman seated at the table, his head shaking slowly as it bows. He takes a long breath as his head lifts, his right hand lifting for him to take a drink from his small pewter cup. Once the cup lowers again, the young general settles his dark eyes on Kagari again, his left brow arching high onto his forehead, "Might not be able to do a flaming thing about it, lass, but I thought I'd offer you a drink." He does not move away from the table, however, instead allowing the woman time to answer. His head does turn, however, looking towards the young girl who has entered the common room and the woman accompanying her. Another faint chuckle shakes the Andoran's shoulders, though he apparently decides not to comment on the matter.  [Mat]
 
Kiera makes a mental note of Letty's perch of choice before regarding those who bear judgemental expressions towards herself and her dinner guest with an almost mocking smile.  Moving quickly, before Letty transforms into another forestrial creature, Kiera moves to speak quietly with the Innkeeper about the day's meal.  The exchange is softly spoken and rather routine, "... two.." a nod, "yes with bread and, do you have honey?"  Another nod and then the exchange of money.  Seemingly satisfied with the experience she moves to join Letty at the table.


Kagari frowns, considering Mat's offer. He doesn't seem to be one of the really bad types after all, and after testing the air with her enhanced sense of smell, she realizes he isn't planning anything untoward. "You're him, aren't you?" she asks, her curiosity finally breaking through her wariness. "The one who can't die. Who tricked the Dark One into trading away his own luck." She doesn't respond to his offer of a drink, and doesn't offer him a seat, but she does glance at one as if expecting him to take it. "They say all sorts of things about you."

Still watching the exuberant little girl with her faintly amused expression, her ears twitch at the young woman's curious voice, and her honey-colored eyes drop to her wine glass.  She lifts it casually, still merely watching it, keeping her eyes from distracting her.  Shifting her position against the bar, she turns fully to rest the middle of her back against the wood, both hands delicately holding the stem of the glass, her amused grin fading slightly in concentration.  [Ailsa]

Bunnies are fun when getting from place to place, but they don't really do much, even if she would like to roar like one. But her mum said roaring at the dinner table is rude. So she sits there twitching her nose. But she is quickly becoming bored as her blue eyes roam all over the ceiling. Then she begins to hoot to herself, and ruffles her 'feathers', the paws changing to wings. She swivels her head as far right as she can, cants it to one side with eyes wide, before swiveling it the other way. Moving her head to look at the pair talking, she almost rudely watches them, her head canting to one side at an almost strange angle. She hoots softly, waiting for Kiera to return.  [Letty]

Kiera slides into a seat across from Letty, "It shouldn't be too long.. I asked him to check and see if he had any -real- milk, not that weird stuff the big guy had the other day."  Now that she's sitting she takes a moment to glance about the room.  "Oh.. well, then dinner will be perfect," she grins as Letty has turned into an owl, "Owls, from what my ma told me, like meat and that's what we're going to have."
 
Both of Mat's brows lift suddenly at Kagari's words, his attention returning back to the golden-eyed woman, surprise quite evident on his features. He coughs, looking somewhat uncomfortable, as the rather wild rumors about him are told to him. After a moment, he seems to remember he has a drink in his hand, about the same time that the woman glances towards the seat at her table. He lifts the pewter cup to his lips, his head slightly bowed, as he reaches out to settle the haft of his odd polearm against the table. Once his fingers slip from the polished shaft, the curving script now easily visible running up the length of the weapon. His hand settles against the back of the chair, pulling it away from the table, the back legs lifted, though the front two remain against the floor. He pulls the cup away from his lips, beginning to speak as he easily slips himself into the chair he has pulled out, "Blood and ashes, they say a lot." His empty left hand lifts, fingers spreading wide to rake through his unkempt hair, "Not sure about the dying, I try and bloody avoid it when I can." He settles back in his chair, his cup hovering a few inches above the table, "Name's Mat."  [Mat]
 
Kagari watches Mat seat himself, reading into everything he says - and does not say - about the rumors she mentioned. She clears her throat and shifts in her seat, hesitating. "I'm Kagari," she says. "They also say ..." she purses her lips, trying to decide how to ask the question. "...They say that you lead that army, the one with the red hand on the banner. The one that takes women," she adds, an obvious question in her eyes.

"Hoot!" Is the reply from the little girl, "I like meat. Yup. Yup." Little Letty agrees, "I was gunna ask fer uh carrot, but bunny wabbits are only good to go places. Not fer sittin' places." She nods her head, apparently quite pleased with her own logic. "Owls fly, but they sit, too." She shimmies her whole body in place as if she just ruffled all of her feathers.   [Letty]

Blood and ashes.  Such a wonderful curse, a curse that reaches Kiera's ears and draws her attention from her Owlish dinner guest to the brown haired man who had been carrying the large polearm (Mat) and the woman with whom he is now sitting with (Kagari).  She knows it's rude to eavesdrop, even 'accidentally', but she is curious so she watches the pair for a moment until her spectatorship is interupted by the arrival of hot food.  "Perfect timing."  The serving girl sets down a plate infront of Letty - stewed meat and potatoes, is that a carrot in there? and then sets down a plate of the same delicious smelling food infront of Kiera.  Bread follows as does a little saucer of honey.  "I'll be right back Miss.." the serving girl murmurs before disappearing back into the kitchens.  [Kiera]

Indeed they do say a lot.  Ailsa flicks her her eyes toward the flirtatious little general and his impromptu date as the man names himself.  After taking the unlikely pair in with another glance, she takes a longer drink of her wine, letting her gaze slide away from them to take in the rest of the common room from behind her glass.  The child gets a twitch of her lips after she sets her nearly empty glass down on the bar behind her and fully ensconces herself in her shimmering midnight cloak and heads for the door.  On her graceful way out through the crowd, her thick high heels thud lightly against the wooden floors.  As she sweeps past the table with the young girl and her minder, she produces a long white feather from somewhere about her person and slides it quietly onto their table.  [Ailsa]

The serving girl returns rather quickly to Letty and Kiera's table.  With a smile she sets down a mug infront of Letty and then one before her companion.  Did that woman just give a child, ale?  "And then," the serving girl lays down a napkin for each on the table before giving Letty an extra one, "enjoy!"  [Kiera]
 
The young general's dark eyes watch Kagari, the left corner of his lips curled into a grin. He right hand lifts, gesturing a mock a toast to the woman after she gives her name, "Nice to meet you, Kagari." He lifts the pewter cup to his lips for a drink, his brows lifting over the rim. Once the cup is lowered, he gives a nod to her final statements, the grin faltering from his lips at the mention of the army, and the likely course this conversation is taking, "The Band of the Red Hand." His head tilts slightly to the side, his left brow arching faintly onto his forehead as he apparently notices something for the first time. His attention is drawn away for a moment as Ailsa makes her way through the room, his mischievous grin once more lighting up the roguish features of his face. After a quick nod, his attention returns to the golden-eyed woman, "You're eyes. They're like Perrin's." The words sound almost musing, but are spoken loudly enough for the woman to hear him.   [Mat]
 
Trying to decide if she should really be an owl and just drop her head into the bowl and pick at her food that way or actually use a fork. Mum would scold her for sure if she actually did try to 'eat like an owl'. So she picks up the fork, hoots once, and stabs a small piece of meat. But before she is able to bring it to her lips, the feather grabs her attention. "Yay! Feather!" she beams a toothy smile, though she is missing a couple at the woman passing by. "Tankyou ma'am! Hoot!" she giggles gleefully.   [Letty]
 
Kagari isn't sure what to think about his reply. Was that confirmation? She opens her mouth to ask again, but is interrupted by his final comment. She straightens abruptly at the name, a mixture of surprise and curiosity on her face. "Perrin ... I know that name. Tallish fellow, has a beard and a big axe?"
 
Kiera regards Ailsa with a warm smile, the gesture of the feather was amazing and sweet.  "Well, it's official, you have a feather now.  I'll have to run even faster to catch up to you now."  The warm food before her beckons.  She puts her napkin in her lap, takes up her fork and scoops up a bite.  A soft "Mmm" can be heard as she chews the savory dinner.

The rogue takes a look back over her shoulder at the little girl and her happy thanks, pulling her voluminous hood up to completely obscure her face, but not before flashing a mischievous smile and a wink back at the exuberant little owl-girl.  That done, the rogue becomes a shadow and the door silently shuts her away, where she vanishes into the dark of night which welcomes her like a lover.  [Ailsa]
 
Mat lifts his brows in surprise at Kagari's response, his body leaning back in his chair enough to lifts the front legs from the floor. He gives a slow nod, "Looks like a blacksmith?" He gives a quick nod, apparently passed whatever shock that had overtaken him. He draws a long breath, his drink once more lifted to his lips, his head tilting back slightly. He settles the cup against the polished top of the table with a soft tink, his body leaning forward once more. He does manage to settle the legs of the chair against the floor once more without too much noise. The young general settles his left elbow against the table, his right still remaining on the cup, "Now, what's your interest in Shen an Calhar?"
 
In a sing-song voice, but especially shrill tone due to her over excitement at the random gift, "I have a feaaaa-theerrrr! A feather, a feather, a feather. Its white and its pretty. Pretty, pretty feaaaaaa-theeeeerrrrr." Letty swings her body from side to side, dancing to her made-up song as she picks up the item of her serande and flutters it at arms distance in a dancing pattern. She sets it back down and grabs the fork back up to eat the piece of meat that she had previously forgotten.  [Letty]
 
Kiera barely manages to swallow her food in time as Letty begins her song.  She giggles, not at her singing, but at the fact the owlet forgot about her food for a minute.  She reaches over to the bread and tears off a small bit and dunks it into the honey on the saucer before popping it in her mouth.
 
Kagari nods in response to Mat's first question. "Yeah, with the big shoulders," she says, gesturing with her hands. Her eyes are still full of the question of how the two knew each other, but she lets it go, having more important things to think about. "Shen an ..." she says, confused for a moment. "Is that the Old Tonuge? Well if you mean the army, I'd like to join it. I've got my own horse, and a sword, and I figure the Queen's Guards don't have cavalry, but the Band does. Kyber says he even knows a couple cavalrywomen."
 
She really does hard not to dribble her food, being very careful and using the napkin like her mum had taught her. "Owls eat all the meat, meat, meat..." she sings more to herself, popping another piece of meat into her mouth and chewing. It takes her awhile, and her chewing becomes much more exagerated, but she hasnt resorted to opening her mouth as she chews. She hums as she chews.  [Letty]
 
Mat turns himself around in his chair, his left arm sliding from the table, to drape over the back of his seat. His head turns, his dark eyes falling the girl who has begun to sing, a small grin dancing over his lips. His head inclines towards Kiera, his grin friendly, though not quite flirtatious, at least not at the moment. Once Kagari speaks, however, his attention returns to the golden-eyed woman, his head tilting faintly off to the side. He blinks as the woman mentions the Old Tongue, the grin wavering on his lips for a moment, the distinct smell of annoyance wafting from the young general. He gives an abrupt single nod, the effort to keep that annoyance out of his voice obvious, "You want to join the Band?" His shoulders lift faintly, his hands spreading out to the sides, the bottom of the pewter cup grinding against the top of the table as it slides, "Sleeping in the dirt and going bloody hungry isn't the life I'd choose, but you look like you know a thing or two about it." He passes his tongue between his lips, his dark eyes flicking towards the cup the he has been holding, "You've met Kyber, then?"

Honey dipped bread, is there any simpler joy?  After the bite is gone she lifts her mug and takes a drink of her ale.  As Kiera lowers her mug she spots the dark haired man smiling towards her.  She returns his smile, and as he looks back to Kagari, the Altaran woman lifts her napkin and wipes her mouth before looking over to Letty.  Just making certain that it's actually what she ordered for the young girl to drink, Kiera peeks into the mug.  Yep, milk.  Good.  "I bet that the other owls would be jealous, their meat doesn't have gravy on it."  [Kiera]
 
Kagari nods, though wondering if she said something she shouldn't have. "I - yes, I'm used to travelling with only what I can carry in my saddlebags. And I can ride - I've been doing it all my life. Ahh ... I met Kyber just the once; he said I could find a bannerman or sometihng to sign up, if I came at the right time." She takes a deep breath, steeling herself against any doubt she might have.

"And other owls eat mice. Mum said so." Letty pauses from eating the meat to set the fork down and grab the mug of milk with both hands. She peeks one eye at the contents, sniffs it, then decides its not the weird drink from the burly man the other day. She takes a long sip of the milk, some of it dribbling on the side of her mouth. When she draws the mug back to the table, she has a lactos mustache. Giggling, she says to Kiera, "Look, I'm a boy!" she flashes the other woman a toothy grin, her eyes crossing as she tries to look down at her mustache.  [Letty]

Mat gives the young woman a quick nod, his emotions slowly getting back under to control, enough so that the grin returns to his lips, though not quite so large as usual. His head tilts back, the remainder of his drink taken in a single a gulp. He settles the cup back against the table with a audible tink, "Just come by the embassy when you're ready." He stands slowly, the cup released and his now free right hand reaching towards the polished black haft of his unusual weapon. His fingers curl around the shaft of the weapon, lifting it easily from the ground as he rises from his seat, "Just tell them I sent you." His left hand lifts, taking the wide brim of his flat-crowned hat from the covered blade of his ashandarei. He settles the hat back onto his forehead, his thumb and forefinger pulling the brim low over his dark eyes, "Guess you're a private now." His head inclines briefly towards the woman, his body turning back towards the table he sat at before he decided to move to meet with Kagari. He lifts the long brown coat from the back of his old chair, draping it over his left shoulder. Without another word, the young general heads towards the front door of the Lion's Banner, his hard riding boots clicking softly against the floor.

Kiera can't help but giggle at Letty's milk-mustache.  As the dark haired man strides past she nods politely to him as he makes his way out. Playing along with Letty she looks under the table for a minute.  "I have no idea where she went.. there was this little owlet.." comes back up from looking under the table and grins at Letty.
 
Kagari is so surprised by the abruptness of the acceptance and the departure that it takes her a moment to get any words out. "I - I will!" she calls to Mat's retreating figure. "I will, first thing tomorrow."

Kiera knows that Letty is just playing but she can't resist playing along.

Quickly grabbing the napkin, Letty wipes the milk-mustache off, "I'm right here!" She giggles, then hoots happily. "The boy is gone now." She turns her eyes to watch the young general leave, her eyes wide. Conspiratorily, but her voice hasnt dropped low enough to a whisper, "He doesnt look all that happy."   [Letty]
 
Kiera shakes her head, which is contradictory to saying it's in agreement although it is.  "No.. he doesn't.  He must be thinking about something very important."  She takes another bite of her meal and after finishing her bite she adds, "or he might be missing his family."

Ragnarr ambles in from the southern hallway, flagon and jerky in hand. He pauses at the entrance, taking stock of his surroundings.

Kagari is left with a lot to think about, following the departure of her new commanding officer. She does take note of the child and her friend's comments about him, and thinks to herself that he must have a very lot on his mind indeed. She doesn't seem to notice Ragnarr.
 
"Then he needs ta go home ta his family." The little girl chirps matter-a-factly. "I bet his mum misses him. My mum would miss me lots, too." She nods her head, satisfied with her logic of the situation. She spots Ragnarr from the corner of her eye, when she jumps down from her chair and 'flies' off in his direction, arms spread wide, arching up to avoid tables and chairs. She 'lands' right in front of him with a hop, both feet together. "You're a big ol meany head." Then 'flies' backs to her chair.  [Letty]

Ragnarr gaze flits between Letty, Kagari and Kiera, finally settling upon the last, to whom he says, "See? I told you giving the girl extra coins was a good idea."
 
Kagari hears a familiar voice and glances up, finally noticing Ragnarr. She is too preoccupied with her thoughts to offer more than a nod at him, but watches the child running back and forth.
 
By this point Kiera's picked up the skill to watch Letty, and her antics, and still eat and drink without choking.  Don't laugh, it's hard to not choke when kids are being kids.  When the owlet flies over to Ragnar and greets him she honestly laughs.  "Sure you did.." her tone is jovial bordering on teasing as she replies to Ragnarr.  Once Letty's returned she nods to her words, "Yes, you are right."  [Kiera]
 
Ragnarr peers dubiously at Letty before shaking his head, "I'm hardly mean. You are, however. Coming up and scaring a poor fellow in the shape of a bird. Terrifying, that." He takes a swig from his drink and settles down comfortably on a nearby bench.

Kagari heads up to her room, hopefully to get a good night's rest so that she can report to her new post in the morning.
 
Hopping-climbing back into her chair, Letty stands up and sticks her tongue out at Ragnarr. "Nuh uh! You gave me icky drink. Plus imma owl." As if that completely distinguishes her from just a regular old bird. She squats back into the chair and 'ruffles' her feathers, her whole body shimmering with the movement. "He is, too. Uh big ol poopy head."   [Letty]

Lifting her mug Kiera takes a long draw of her ale having reached a sated level with her meal.  It's not completely gone, she's made a sizeable dent in her serving.  As she lowers her mug and swallows she licks her lips, savoring the bittersweet beverage.  "Now, he might have tricked you with his milk," she keeps hold of her mug, "but I wouldn't go as far as to say he's a poopy head.  After all," she adds offering a smile to Ragnarr before her attention returns to Letty, "he can't transform into other animals."  [Kiera]

Ragnarr peers sourly at Letty, "An icky drinK? I offered you one of the finest delicies you could ever come across. It's positively unique.  Kings and Shan's dream of it. You've never met it's like before, now have you?"

Letty presses her lips together in thoughtful consideration, her blue eyes swinging off toward the ceiling, "He roared at me. And gave me icky drink. And.. and.." She tries to think of something else, but can't. "Sooo.. he's still uh meany head." To Ragnarr, she frowns at him.

Ragnarr grumbles sourly and looks back towards  Kiera for support, "Well, I convinced the lass to give you twice as many coins, didn't i?"
 
Kiera really can't argue with Letty, well it's not that she can't it's more that she won't.  Her eyes move from Ragnarr and where he's sitting to Letty.  She leans in close to Letty and whispers to her.
 
Kiera whispers to Letty, 'I think our roaring friend might not have too many friends, should we offer for him to join us?'
 
Ragnarr peers between Letty and Kiera, one eye half closed before he turns on his heel and stalks out.

Before Letty has a chance to answer the burly man turns and leaves wordlessly.  This causes Kiera to frown a bit, "Well, maybe next time."  She pushes the bread and honey closer to Letty knowing she hasn't had any of that yet.    [Kiera]