Though the day might have dawned clear and with a chill, the rising sun has burned away the better part of the cold, leaving the day rather pleasant and bright. The young general of the Band of the Red Hand sits behind a desk set within the Great Hall, his left arm bent so that his elbow and upper arm rest against the polished wood, but his left hand cradles his head as he looks over scattered papers and a large map. Off to his right rests a small pot of ink and a quill, the black smudges on the tips of his fingers proving that he actually knows how to use the thing. The young man wears a wrinkled, white linen shirt, open at the neck to reveal the knotted black silk kerchief that he is never seen without. From the bent over and slightly leaned off to the left way he is seated a small bulge can be seen pressing against his shirt just off to the left of his chest and around the height of his shoulder. His dark eyes are rather bleary and there is what appears to be untouched cup of something, perhaps tea, sitting off to the left.  [Mat]

Savina seems to have woken up on the bright side of the bed this morning. The twinned terror looks back towards her sister and beckons her forward, "c'mon.." If she had a stretch of road this girl would likely bolt - far too much tea this morning can be the only reason.  Her attention turns back to the Great Hall and the meeting that is to come.  Taking a moment the green clad woman takes a moment to breathe and reign in her excitement.  No good, she can't help but enter before Kavina.  It is then that she realizes in all of her preparing she has no idea how to properly greet Mat, well anyone for that matter today.  She spies him, working at the desk, "Light bless, Lord.. er I mean Mat."  She wonders if she messed that up Mae keeps telling her he prefers Lord Cauthon.

Up far too early, and about to sign over her recent freedom to follow a young General and his army, the teen paused at the street before entering to look towards freedom? to look each way. Would the street look different once she had signed up? Like Kaden had told them, it was better to choose what she wanted, than to wait for someone else to choose it for her. And this was their choice. Squaring her shoulders, she follows after her sister, the other twin buzzing like a saw after waaay too much tea and likely too much ale the night before. Stepping over the threshold into the Great Hall, the twin in burgundy closes the door behind her with a soft click. She approaches Mat's desk with a curtsy, "Light illume, M'lord."   [Kavina]

Talmanes walks into the Great Hall from the direction of the Banner Room carrying a cup of tea of his own. He watches the twins enter and raises an interested eyebrow before walking toward the desk. "It might help to pour a bucket of water on his head. Cold water mind." the wiry Cairhienin comes closer, "That will get his attention, and probably make him smell better too."

The sounds of someone entering through the front of the Great Hall, brings Mat's attention away from the work laid out before him. The young general does not lift his head, nor even take his head away from his heat, instead simply turning his head as it rests within the cradle created by his left hand. Though his dark eyes might be bleary this morning, he can apparently see who it is that has entered. His gaze fall first on the green-clad Tower Twin, seeing as she is in the lead of the pair. His eyes narrow slightly, obviously annoyed at the slip of Lord before the girl catches herself and uses his name, a glare that he swings towards the curtsying twin as one of those dreaded 'l' words escapes her lips as well.  [Mat]

He does finally sit up, his left hand falling down to the desk with an audible smack, his head turning towards Talmanes as he enters, offering suggestions. His lips twist towards a frown as he looks at the older soldier, his voice taking a sour note, "And ruin a bloody map of Caemlyn that Elayne's letting me borrow." His left brow raises as he looks Talmanes up and down, "You looking for another promotion?" With that he turns his attention back towards the twins, his right hand waves in a gesture to cut all the polite society as he rises from his chair, "For now just Mat will do." He gestures towards Talmanes, though his attention remains on the girls, "This is Talmanes, or Banner-General Delovinde." The young general reaches both hands behind him, his elbows bent out to the sides and his hands resting at his hips as he stretches his back out, his voice tight with the strain, "You two still looking on signing the Book and riding with the Band?"  [Mat]

Savina lifts her left hand to cover the 'o' shape that her mouth makes at Talmanes' words as he suggests dumping a bucket of cold water on the General.  While the initial look of surprise would be somewhat cute the wrath incurred after is not a thing that anyone should want to suffer.  She dumped water on her sister -once- and the little.. precious loving sister that she is put sprinklewort in her tea and turned her mouth a brilliant shade of blue.  Mat's stirring draws her attention, thankful she didn't have to fetch the water bucket.  "A pleasure to meet you Banner-General Delovinde." Not wanting to be out of place or protocol she offers a small curtsey even though she's in pants.  "Yes, Mat."

The comment about a bucket of water gives twin a moment to look at her loving sister with a small knowing smirk. "Water will just make him moldy after a couple hours, gotta add soap to that water for it to do any good, Banner-General Delovinde. Pleasure to meet you." Any doubts she might have had prior to walking through the gate is gone, the banter between the two men makes this place seem more and more like home away from home. The burgundy-attired straightens her back where she stands, her head giving a quick nod, the pony tail bobbing with the movement of her head, "Yes, sir.. er.. Just Mat." The edges of her lips quirk slightly. Maybe she shouldn't be bantering wit just yet?  [Kavina]

Talmanes gives no indication that he is concerned about the fragility of Elayne's map or upset by the demotion he just received from Mat. Instead he takes a measured sip of his tea and nods to the two young women, nodding again in further approval at Kavina's quip. "Grace favor you both." With practiced eyes he looks the two over and looks over to Mat, "More recruits? At least they aren't Andoran. The Queen would be annoyed if they were Andoran."

Mat looks back over his shoulder, flashing a quick, mischievous grin towards Talmanes, his dark eyes still slightly narrowed at the shorter Cairhienin. It only lasts a moment, however, before his attention returns to the Twin Tower Terrors, though towards both he gives an appraising gaze, looking them over before anything else is done. He takes a pair of steps which lead him around the desk, his shoulders lifting in a shrug as no comment is made from Talmanes over the demotion, "Wouldn't have bloody guessed that he would let Daerid outrank him." His head gives a faint shake, dropping forward slowly as his right hand lifts, a heavy ring of silver on his finger glinting in the light as he rakes his hand through his short, unkempt hair. With his hand half through its trip through his head, his head turns, looking back towards Talmanes, "More recruits. Even had a bloody Sedai and her Warder try to force me to take them in."

With a long drawn breath that ends in a sigh, the young general drops his raised hand to his side, lifting his head once more to look at the girls, "Now, I didn't agree with her and you two joining up has nothing to do with the bloody Tower. You two will work hard, no special bloody favors." He begins to take a step towards the lonely lecture in the corner with its great Book of recruits, though he stops after only a few steps. His head turns back, cocking over his shoulder to look towards the others, "Two things first. One, Sedai and their Warders can stay out of my bloody camp. Two, Talmanes is a Lieutenant-General."  [Mat]

Savina gasps softly, she did not know that their Tower Guardians tried to strong-arm Mat into taking them in.  As Mat speaks again, this time relating to what he expects from them he gains her full attention once again.  "We do not expect special treatment, sir," this time the term 'sir' is used out of respect, "we're not afraid of hard work."  Deciding to leave the matter of Sedai and Warders alone she nods yet again, "Understood."

Kavina grins impishly at Talmanes giving a quick shake of her head at the comment about Andorans. She takes a step to bring herself beside her sister, glancing to the mirror image of herself with an arched eyebrow, why the Aes Sedai would try to dump them into the army has her befuddled, but the glance is brief when she returns her attention back to Mat. "No, sir. We fully expect to earn our place and work hard to get it." Wasn't that the point of leaving Tar Valon in the first place, to make their way in the world on their own. "Understood." She echos her sister.

If Talmanes was unperturbed about being demoted he is just as ambivalent about being re-promoted. He also doesn't seem at all surprised about the mention of Aes Sedai and Warders as well as their protestations about hard work and dedication. He looks at Mat, "I would assume that means they come very highly recommended. Were they trained from childhood to be blademistresses?" He takes another sip of tea as if the question is irrelevant.  [Talmanes]

Mat offers a single small nod towards the twins before turning back towards the lecture and the Book, starting once more to walk towards the corner of the room. He does not turn to Talmanes with the man's question, though he does answer, "Sounds like they weren't flaming allowed to train much." His shoulders lift faintly as his hands spread out to the side, "But I was told they know some basics." Though his pace might be set slow, his long legs still manage to eat the distance between the lecture and the desk that he began at quickly, apparently he fully expects the twins to follow him towards the Book of recruits. He does finally turn back towards the room proper once he reaches the lecture, "This is your first step towards a life with the Band of the Red Hand." Both hands lift as he turns towards the Book once more, taking hold of the small ribbon placed within the book and the book itself to open it to the last marked page. He takes a single step back and off to the side, turning his head towards the Kandori twins, "Just sign your names."

Town criers can be heard in the streets of Caemlyn, proclaiming, "Hear ye, Hear Ye!  The Royal Audience with the Queen of Andor is about to begin!  If you have business with the Crown, now is the time to make your voice heard.  Her Majesty awaits the voices of the people in the Grand Hall of the Royal Palace."

Savina likes a good joke, truly however Talmanes' quip she does not take lightly.  She shifts her stance, feet almost shoulder width apart, folding her arms across her chest, setting her chin.  "No, we were -not- trained from childhood to be blademistresses," she spits the words as if they were venom, "if you must know, Lieutenant-General it was the hopes of our parents that we would have possessed the gift to channel, the Light felt differently."  Touchy touchy.  She gestures to Kavina, as she is technically older by five minutes, to sign in first.  She follows her sibling once she begins to move.

Blademistress? As if. Her lips forming a thin line, but it's Savina that spits out the venom that both girls are thinking. Kavina lightly touches her sister's arm as she passes her by, her light steps leading her toward the Book and to Mat. She glances at the young General, then back toward the book. Reaching over to lift the quill, she dabs it in the ink well and lightly signs her name to the book. Hours upon hours of printing and cursive in her childhood has made her signature fluid and precise. She steps aside to hand the quill to her sister with a broad grin.   [Kavina]

Talmanes nods as Mat fills him in on his impression of the Twins history and training. He sets down his teacup and walks along with Mat toward the lectern and stands on the opposite side. He says to Savina, "Grace and the Light give you what you need at the time that you need it. Such is the weaving of the Wheel." he glances toward Kavina and nods as she signs, "The Wheel has woven you a path to us apparently." He glances back toward Savina and raises an eyebrow.

Mat's left brow arches high onto his forehead at Savina's outburst towards Talmanes, his tongue clicking softly against the roof of his mouth. He does fully turn towards the green-clad twin then, disapproval clearly etched into his features, from the set of his jaw to the frown that rests on his lips, "Keep your bloody head about you. Sign this Book and that's the last flaming time you'll be speaking like that here." He offers a small tight smile towards Kavina, probably not only for signing but also keeping her opinions on the matter to herself. He draws a long breath that expands his chest visibly, "Where you come from and who you were before you sign that Book isn't bloody important to me. Once you sign it, you are Band of the Red Hand, Shen an Calhar. That is important to me." He falls quiet once more, giving Savina ample time to either sign her name, or walk away.  [Mat]

Savina takes the quill from her sister silently.  Before dipping it into the inkwell and signing her name in the book on the line below Kavina she speaks, her tone much more civil, "My apologies," she looks to Mat and then to Talmanes indicating that the apology is for each of them.  The green-garbed twin then signs her name in the book. If anything the girls have impeccable penmanship bordering on calligraphy.  Once the deed is done she rests the quill in it's place and takes a step back.  She knows she's in the wrong and for the time being her mouth is -shut-.

Kavina lightly touches the back of her sister's hand, offering her a small smile, but then draws away to lift her eyes back to Mat, then to Talmanes, "Just as well, Lieutenant-General Talmanes. Otherwise we would be just a shadow to our parents." Her tone is respectful, as she too becomes silent, waiting for further orders. Her eyes shifting from one to the other man in the room.

Talmanes nods at the apology from the two, he appears to have taken no offense but now the two are under the Band's discipline and he will treat them accordingly. He looks to Mat. "Would you like to do the Honors, or shall I?"

Mat offers a small nod towards both girls as they sign and fall silent, his attention turning towards Talmanes at the older general's question. His lips twist for a moment in thought before he responds, "I'm here, so I'll do it. You can lead them to the camp." He returns his dark-eyed gaze to the twins, his expression shifted towards something solemn, for one of the few moments of his life completely serious. His voice echoes the gravity of the situation, "Do you both swear on by the Light and your hope of salvation and rebirth that you will follows the orders of the officers of Shen an Calhar? That you will fight to your last breath against the Shadow, protect the innocent, and your brothers and sisters of the Band?" His dark eyes remain leveled on both Kandori twins, almost seeming not to blink.
 
Savina takes in a slow breath before responding.  Oaths are never a thing to be taken lightly.  With a definitive nod she speaks, "I swear, by the Light and my hope of Salvation and Rebirth, that I will follow the orders of the Officers of Shen an Calhar.  I will fight with my last breath against the Shadow, to protect the innocent, and my brothers and sisters of the Band."

Simultaneously, Kavina also takes a deep breath and repeats the oath with her sister, her voice solumn, "I swear, by the Light and my hope of Salvation and Rebirth, that I will follow the orders of the Officers of Shen an Calhar.  I will fight with my last breath against the Shadow, to protect the innocent, and my brothers and sisters of the Band."   [Kavina]

Talmanes nods in approval as the two young women each make their oaths. He does not smile, but there is a hint of pride in his gaze. He looks to Mat and again nods to him.

Mat offers a single nod to all three present, the solemn mask worn cracking as a small grin touches at the corners of his lips. He takes a step towards the twin, both of his hands lifting to rest on opposite shoulders of the girls, if they do not move out of the way, "Welcome to the Band of the Red Hand." He offers the pair a quick wink before he steps back, his hands falling to his sides, "Now, Talmanes will take you to the camp and the Quartermaster." His head turns, his gaze falling on Talmanes, the faint hint of a chuckle held in his words when he speaks, "Now, I have to go see the Queen."

Savina doesn't make a move to step away, I mean come on it's Mat.  Duh.  "Thank you."  Her smile is genuine as she regards the dark haired General before them.  She glances to her sister with the same grin.

Kavina doesn't move either, her lips spreading into a wide grin, a quick glance to her twin as the deed is done. Just another recruit, but the first step to whatever their destiny holds for them. Thank you, sir."

Talmanes nods to Mat. "Have fun with her Majesty. try not to insult her... again." He then looks to the two new recruits, "To the camp with you then, where you will be issued uniforms and assigned a place to sleep. Was there a particular division you are most interested in, cavalry, infantry, archer, mason? Or shall we test you to see where you skills will be best used?"

Savina had not given much thought as to what she would actually do to contribute to the Band.  After her little bout of spitting venom she's put her tongue in check.  "Forgive our lack of foresight but, it may be best for us to be placed according to our skills."  They've been riding as long as they can remember, they're competent with a sword and a bow, but still willing to learn and practice.

With a glance toward her sister, Kavina responds, "We know how to ride, archery, and a bit with the sword, but its possible there is something else we might be better at, if you wish to test us." She offers both men a small smile.   [Kavina]

Talmanes nods, "Did you bring horses with you? Are they sturdy mounts? Battle trained?" Talmanes looks from one to the other, not yet able to distinguish between the two of them. "I suppose the better question would be what would you -like- to do? Would you -like- to ride in the cavalry with lance and bow?"

Savina gives a shake of her head, "They're sturdy but they are not battle trained.  More for riding."  She's used to the look of confusion as people try to discern the two twins.  "I'm Savina," she gestures to herself, "I usually pull my hair into braids, if that helps at all."  Now watch eventually the two will switch and it will begin again.  "I'd be willing to learn the lance, I admit, I do like to ride."

"Both are Saldaean mounts, quick and agile. We saw their cavalry doing tricks once." Her grin a little sheepish at admitting the admiration of watching the cavalry do their stunts. Kavina glances toward her sister, then back to Talmanes, "I like mine in a pony tail." She reaches up to run her fingers through her blonde hair, then resumes, "I don't think daddy intended us to be in battle, so they are not battle trained. Riding, mainly. I never learned those tricks either. I haven't learned a lance, but willing to learn." With a nod to her sister as they are similar in some things, but have their own identity with others.   [Kavina]

Talmanes seems to absorb this information, processing it as he looks between them, filing it away for further reference. "Good mounts are hard to come by, and I always say a rider and their horse, especially a good horse, are a better team even than brothers... or sisters. Would you say that riding is your best skill, or if not, what -would- you say is your best skill?"

Having never been asked what her best skill would be Savina's expression slides into contemplation, which is mirrored in her eyes.  As she considers the question she draws the end of her braid up and over her shoulder, idly toying with it.  A soft, 'hmm' can be heard, the universal thinking noise.  [Savina]

With a glance toward her sister, Kavina shrugs her slender shoulders, her emerald gaze sliding back to Talmanes, "We haven't been tested for what we do best at, only to keep learning. Find our weaknesses and hone our strengths. I like and enjoy riding and archery, if that means anything. But because I like something doesn't necessarily mean I am very good at it. I like to sing, but my sister says I croak like a frog." She glances at her sister with a smirk, recalling when she caught a couple toads and added them to her sister's bed. The scream could be heard from the kitchens.  [Kavina]

"Hey.." Savina pokes Kavina in jest.  "I still owe you for that, too."  Yeah, there's history there.  "I feel that I could be better with a blade, I am proficient but I feel I could improve more, the same with archery," so far a matched set, "Even though she complains that I try to poison her I do enjoy cooking."  [Savina]

Talmanes nods, "Then we will see to your testing once we see you outfitted and situated in the camp. I do not mind recruits coming to us with much to learn, it means they don't have much to unlearn. I also suppose if you had training in the Tower there is a good basic understanding of weaponry."

Savina gives a faint nod, "We did train with a Warder but not formally -in- the Tower."  She feels she must clarify that.

Corrects her sister, "At least three warders. But more training would be better." They're only fifteen and they don't think they know everything? Astonishing.  [Kavina]