Nobles' Sitting Room: Royal Palace of Andor, Caemlyn(#746RLM$)

Rezna hauls his hands up out of his pockets holding a par of leather gloves which he immediately sets to the process of putting on. He returns Dalton's nod but elects to e polite and not interrupt the man's conversation. Instead he heads for a chair by the fireplace. One that is altogether too big for him. He sits down in it and scoots it closer to the fire. ar closer then would be comfortable for most

An off-duty Guardsman stands near the far wall of the sitting room in quiet converse with Dalton Gaidin. The First Prince's arrival draws the man's attention away from the Warder, who in turn looks to determine the identity of the personage who would have such an affect on his conversant. A deep chuckle at the Guards rapt expression sounds from Dalton, a wry shake of the head preceding his approaching and greeting Theowyn. "First Prince, it is an unexpected surprise to see you here," he says warmly, offering the man a polite bow.

The First Prince of the Sword makes his entrance through doors that lead into an office of sorts. The usual escort of two Queen's Guardsman does follow him, though they lag behind as the Warder swiftly makes his way into the noble sitting room. He pauses then, perhaps even in thought, as he spots both Rezna and Dalton in their respected places. The pause gives the Guardsman behind a few moments to catch-up, and Theowyn takes advantage by offering one a few instructions. With one Guardsman heading for the stairs, the second simply stands at the entrance of the sitting room. Theowyn enters more completely, offering Dalton a complete nod. "Brother, you should see me here more often, I live just from that hallway," he notes some door behind him. "How is Andor treating you?" As he walks toward Dalton, he turns to Rezna. "Ambassador. Greetings." The humor shows in his voice, even if only brief, at the sight of the small man in the large chair.

Rezna sits up in the seat and looks over his shoulder. "Good morning Prince Theowyn."

Straightening from his bow, Dalton ponders the tone of the First Prince's acknowledgement of the Cairheinin before replying, "Caemlyn's hospitality is without peer, First Prince, I will find it a difficult thing to part with once my duties here are completed. I trust these times have not overburdened you in your duties here within the Palace?"

"Now that my brother is Captain-General, I have been able to focus on issues more directly suited for me," is Theowyn's carefully worded response, and one would note the difference in tone when it comes to /brother/ and /Brother/, the latter being that between Gaidins, especially of the same path. "But my duties are nevre a burden, simply a challenge, and that is where they stand."

Rezna cannot help smiling. He wonders to himself if those duties best suited to theowyn are the arduous task of counter espionage...or the wooing of that Kandori Princess...He turns back to the warmth of the fire to allow the 2 their space to talk.

Dalton nods sagely as he stand to Theowyn's side, "Well spoken, First Prince. It is a lesson often taught but rarely learned: that one's duties are not to be percieved as burdens, but as the reality of one's thread spun within the Wheel. But come," he says more lightly, clearly moving away from this more somber topic with a gesture towards the seated Cairheinin, "I believe I spy the Ambassador Rezna just there, and I've been much intertested in speaking with him further. Do your duties allow you the freedom to join us as well, First Prince?"

A slight smile breaks free for a moment, as Theowyn leans over to the side. His whisper is loud enough for Rezna to hear. "Now that I am no longer the temporary Captain-General, it would seem my duties are to speak with the good Ambassador. Though it is one of the more enjoyed sets of duties. There are less pleasant guests of the Palace to approach." One could almost see the hints of humor that Theowyn develops around Rezna, which is a good way of dealing with all the danger that surrounds the Cairhienin man, danger that Theowyn is all too aware of after being in Cairhien for over a year some time ago. Theowyn does head toward the small man then. "Perhaps we shall import you a seat for the sitting room as well, Ambassador? I am sure it will fit nicely within this rom."

Rezna shakes his head squiggling a little closer to the fire. "The last time I accepted such an offer...my wife came along and chucked the bed you got for me out with half the other things I own. I would not trouble you only to see something similar happen again." He grumbles.

Moving at Theowyn's side, Dalton's lips quirk into a half smile at the imagery provided by the Ambassadors comment. "Perhaps she might more greatly appreciate a chair than a bed, Ambassador."

Theowyn could have no following after Dalton's statement, the First Prince simply offering an amused smile at the comment. He doesn't take a seat, and instead leans against the fireplace as he watches both Gaidin and Ambassador. After that paues, he does go on. "Did she wish an Andoran bed, or simply was not satisfied with the quality?"

A guard departs the Kamikatsu Royal apartments, and heads down the stairs.

Caenna climbs up the spiraling staircase, from the lower levels of the Palace.

Caenna has arrived.

Rezna grumbles and shakes his head...the mental image of his wife scaring the hell out of him. "No no no...it was not an issue of comfort...you see the bed was to small for 2, and she insisted on us being...together when she suprised me with her arrival." He shudders.

Rezna says "I just came back one day and found that perfectly good bed had been pitched...along with half my other furniture. *he sighs*"

Caenna mounts the stairs, noting each person in the room as she walks in. She does not say anything right away, not interrupting the narrative.

Six Kandori guards head up the stairs, one might be recognized as the man that left only a short while ago. They are followed by three Kamikatsu servants, each with a new gown draped across their outstretched arms. All head into the well guarded Kamikatsu Royal apartment.

Glancing over to view the veritable processional of servants into and out of the Kandori Apartments, Dalton catches sight of Caenna Sedai's entry into the Sitting Room. Lips pursing thoughtfully, the Warder returns his attention to the pair before him with a nearly silent sigh. "Is your wife a guest of this fine city now, Ambassador?"

"Perhaps your wife thought the chambers lacked that..." Theowyn searches for the right word, pausing to nod to Caenna in a more casual ways. He is leaning against the fireplace nice, in that conversation with Dalton and Rezna. "The lack of a female touch within the room? I am sure it is nothing against your taste, Ambassador. But women do enjoy a specific style that is contrast to our own."

Caenna smiles, but volunteers nothing, coming over to join the three with a nod.

Rezna nods somberly in answer to Dalton's question...as much as he might like to pack her up in a box and ship her back to the infernal depths from which she came. To Theowyn he makes the following less than amused response. "I offered her the guest room..."

Rezna sniffs something. Uh oh...speaking of women....he does not turn around to look and has the luxury of being mostly concealed from Caenna's view by the gigantic chair that seems to be swallowing his little self up.

Dalton chuckles softly at word of the Ambassador's 'offering', but elects to refrain from further comment, rather spending his time studying the interplay between the First Prince and the man from Cairhien.

Theowyn ponders Rezna's words, his brilliant blue eyes travelling between Warder and Aes Sedai. The Prince is clearly amused, and while a light chuckle escapes, he would briefly seem on edge. Turning to Rezna, he does offer a shrug. "I do believe the correct protocol would be to take the guest quarters yourself. Though I have yet to marry myself, I hear it is near impossible to actually have the woman part from /her/ bed. And /her/ bed happens to be where her husband would /wish/ to sleep." Theowyn's humor from his year in Cairhien might show, as he arches an eyebrow to Dalton in pondering.

Rezna snorts and cannot help pointing out. "As i recall, when one of our women tried to get you into her bed...you ran screaming back to Andor..." And now perhaps the reasoning for his accepting of this post begins to shine through...

Caenna's mouth curves into a wryly amused smile. She leans against the wall near the fireplace, arms folded over her chest, for all appearances enjoying the conversation.

Elyse arrives from the Kamikatsu Royal Apartments.

Elyse has arrived.

The double doors to the Kamikatsu Royal Apartments open, at once. Two of the Kamikatsu Honor Guards from the interior doing the opening. Standing there in newly attired finery is the Princess Elyse, on the arm of one of the higher-ranking guardsmen. She stares ahead of her with that same vacant stare she has offered since birth, but her body language speaks of an attention to the sounds and vibrations surrounding her in her environment. A small but charming smile is settled easily in her features and she takes a tentative step forward with the assistance of her man. All physical remnants of her previous ordeal through the kidnapping and subsequent torture appear gone--either concealed by cosmetics or having healed on their own during the nearly two week span of time that Elyse remained confined to her apartments. Only the keenly perceptive might spy the long thin scar that stretches the length of her palm on her right hand, depending on the turn of her hand this way and that. Behind her, in formation, are four additional Honor Guardsmen, two abreast, rigid with attention. They follow behind Elyse and her escort as the Princess strolls further into the room with a slow and cautious gait. Once departed, the guardsmen who opened the doors close them behind a trailing single maidservant, in Kamikatsu livery, and those same two guards follow after, making Elyse's party a total of seven guards (including the escort) and a maidservant. Perhaps a bit overkill, but who wouldn't want to error on the side of caution given the recent kidnapping of the Princess--even if she wasn't stolen from the Palace itself?

Rezna sniffs some more...perhaps attempting to ascertain if he recognizes the perfume he is smelling.

Theowyn smirks at the description, rolling his eyes skyward in a plea for help. "Within the first month I wished to make my escape from the clutches of that Princess. It took me a full year to make my departure 'polite' under Cairhienin terms." Another amused smile tugs on his lips. "Though I did send the Cairhienin Princess an rather interesting painting of myself which I hope still has her throwing daggers at the mention of my name." Theowyn seems pleased at this. His attention moves beyond Rezna at the motions by one of the apartments. With a nudge of his shoulder and hand, he lifts away from his leaning position. "Speaking of Princesses," he notes with a more pleased smile, eying the Kandori Princess in good favor.

Rezna frowns as he hears the tromping behing him. He smeels 2 women now. Hmm. That tromping indicates that there are too many guards in escort for it to be his wife. He remains sitting down in his cavernous chair and looking towards the fire in hopes he might be able to figure her identity out without having to look.

Caenna looks over as the Princess arrives, straightening to offer her a polite nod. Her head tilts slightly, an anayltical look on her face.

Elyse continues to glide further into the room on the arm of her man, tilting her head in the vague direction of the Prince's voice, the last one she heard after stepping out from her apartments. She pauses, her escort doing the same a heartbeat later. Elyse then offers a courtly curtsey in the direction of Theowyn's voice, intoning richly, "Peace favour your sword, my Prince." Her smile brightens slightly, warm evident in her tone with regards to be in the presence of the Prince. She has yet to sense that there are others about, specifically, yet the Prince was likely not talking just to hear the sound of his own voice. Rising from her curtsey, the Princess merely waits on the arm of her escort. Her other guards fan out a bit in the room, after the proper bows to those therein, yet the maidservant remains attentively nearby should Elyse have need of anything. The young girl in Kamikatsu livery curtsey respectfully, but remains quiet.

The Prince offers a more formal bow in response to Elyse's. "Princess. The Ambassador is hiding behind his big chair," he nots the man to one side of him. "I would like to introduce to you Caenna Sedai, the leader of the Tower part in Caemlyn. And Dalton, Head of the Star Path, my own path taken within the Tower." With those introductions somewhat out of the way, Theowyn simply watches Elyse with a pleased expression. Though he is eager to take to her side, he waits for the introductions to be completed.

Rezna cannot help smiling as he notes the...MY prince...bit. He's not sure wether to be happy or sad. Thoe is a good guy and he deserves good thngs, but Kandor and Andor allying by way of marriage...is not a thought that appeals to him either. He sighs having figured the first woman was that Sedai. At hearing Dalton is the head of the star path Rezna sits up a little. He knew this guy was one with whom he could at least partially identify. Seems he was correct. "Good afternoon to you Princess Kamikatsu." the little man says to let her know he is indeed there. He makes no move to get up from his chair though. Semms he's sat down...and he can't get up.

Caenna says quiely, "Princess. A pleasure to meet you." The White sister does not seem a talkative, flowery sort, not at all.

Good...

At the First Prince's introduction Dalton steps slightly forward, effecting a deep and formal bow to the Kandori woman. "On behalf of the White Tower I express my most sincere gratitude for the opportunity to make your acquaintence, Princess. I hope that you will allow me the privledge to say that the rumors surrounding the grace of your presence comprise but a pale reflection of the reality before me." So spoken, Dalton takes a half step back, resuming his position near Theowyn's side.

Rezna decides to break the ice...All this formality and introduction starting to cause blur on his brain. He does not move from his chair though...electing to speak out from behind it. "Well now that we are all here and know who we all are...WHat shall we talk about?" The weather won't do...sunshine and not particularly cloudy on this day

The tilting of the head of the blind Princess moves but slightly, from the direction of Theowyn's voice, to Rezna's in his seat, then Caenna's and Dalton's. Elyse offers the Cairhienan Ambassador a polite inclination of the head, the charming smile remains. Yet to the Gaidin and Sedai, she curtseys courtly once more, as one would to another of equal or slightly greater station. The curtsey is made in the direction of the Sedai and Warder's voice, or two separate curtseys if the voices are too far apart to warrant a single dual-encompassing one. To Dalton's well-expressed etiquette and sentiment, Elyse seems to brighten a little more, her smile widening slightly with an accompanying rosey hue to her cheeks. And with another dip of her head in their direction, Elyse responds in a warm and smooth voice, "The honor is mine, Aes Sedai, Gaidin--as is the privledge," her eyes remain unfocused on some distant and unrecognized point in the vague direction of the Sedai, and both Gaidin. "I am deeply indebted to the White Tower for their tremendous service to my country and myself."

Theowyn is more comfortable in a casual atmosphere himself, a surprising quality considering his Royal background. Though at Dalton's flowery speach, the Prince can't help but look to Caenna, and ponder the amusing contrasts. "Princess Elyes of Kandor has been a guest of the Palace for some time now. And it would seem I am fairly persistant in my attempts to insure she does not part from this lovely city." Theowyn's tone hints at a touch more, watching Elyse with that certain gaze. His hand does go on Rezna's chair after that comment, as he leans to it with a slight amusement for the man that sits upon it, but the attention is clearly drawn to the Princess.

Caenna replies, "Indeed, First Prince. I have heard of your endeavors to that end." She leans back against the wall again, a thoughtful smile lingering.

Dalton's bemused expression belies his awareness of the relationship between the First Prince and the Kandori Princess, yet he elects not to comment on it further, rather choosing to broach another subject. "The remarkable coincidence that would find so many of the notable personages in Caemlyn gathered in this very room is one I am loath to allow to pass unexplored, so perhaps I could persuade us to spend a moment or two in discussion of the matter which has brought myself and Caenna Sedai across the leagues from the Tower, and that no doubt sits forward on the minds of many who find their own lands bothered by the possibility of further turmoil within Murandy?"

Elyse blushes a bit more at Theowyn's comment, and the charming smile turns a bit more demure at Caenna's additional one. "One would think that the Prince might grow tired of my personage requiring so much attention when there is no doubt more important duties to tend to. Yet I do not conceit to determine the Prince's interest for him. Tis not my place, certainly," She nods then, in the direction of Dalton's voice and adds humbly, though still with a small and pleasant smile, "I'll not impose upon the business at hand, then," dipping into another courtly curtsey as she prepares to leave, "A pleasure again, Aes Sedai, Gaidin, my Prince, Ambassador." Her Honor guards stir from their places to move back into formation behind the Princess, and her escort looks ready to lead her to wherever she would like to go.

Nolan steps out of Lord Nolan's chambers.

Nolan has arrived.

On that note, Theowyn shows hints of that insistance. He moves forward then, eyes briefly going to Elyse's current escort, as he moves to her other side. "I do believe the Gaidin would be including the Princess of Kandor in this conversation," Theowyn speaks in turn for his 'Brother.' While his arm begins to slip around Elyse, insuring his favored escort does not allow for any parting Princesses, he turns to Dalton and the others. "An opportunity, to say the least. I trust there have been no stumbling blocks in the Tower's inquisitions over the matters?" Theowyn's well pronounced voice travels through the noble sitting room.

Rezna speaks up. He cannot help asking as Dalton changes the subject. "What turmoil do you speak of gaidin Dalton?"

Caenna seems content to let the gaidin lead the conversation for the moment, She answers Theowyn though, shaking her head. "Not that I am aware of, as yet."

Carrying his near ever-present hammered dulcimer, Nolan emerges from the corridor leading to the foreign nobles' apartments. Pausing long enough to offer nods and bows where appropriate, he moves to a seat that's near the conversational group, but not among them either, and proceeds to check the tuning of his instrument.

The escort on Elyse's arm bows graciously to the Prince as Theowyn takes over his duty, and steps back, signalling to the rest of the Kandori contingent to begin fanning out about the room once more, remaining attentive to Elyse's surroundings. Elyse, for her part, seems uncertain, but doesn't refuse Theowyn as he takes her arm, inclining her head a bit towards his voice and softly saying, "As you wish, my Prince."

Sparing the Ambassador a vaguely quizzical look, Dalton replies nonetheless, "I am referring to the current issue of Succession within Murandy, Ambassador. While not overly chaotic, I would think it's subject and far-reaching implications cause it to take on some of the aspects of a situation in significant turmoil."

Rezna smiles. "True enough I suppose...but we all here seem to be acting as though things of this sort have never happened before. Why the violent allergic reaction?"

Elyse smiles, her head tilting in the direction of the dulcimer being tuned, and leaning a little, She mutters to Theowyn, "... would... happen to be..."

Theowyn senses "Elyse smiles, her head tilting in the direction of the dulcimer being tuned, and leaning a little, "That would not happen to be the elusive Lord Nolan would it, my Prince?""

Nolan listens quietly to the conversation at hand as he gives Elyse a soft smile. He knows she can't see it of course, but it is nice to see her back on her feet after her ordeal. Glancing back to his dulcimer, he begins to play softly. Something suitable to a noble setting and quiet enough to be merely background music and not drown out anyone's voice.

Dalton nods to the Cairhienin's observation, "While I think you may be overcharacterising the nature and significance of the interest that the Tower may have in this matter, I can only note that while successions do indeed happen on occasion, they rarely also include the assassination of the standing ruler in the very Palace of a neighboring soverign." A diffident shrug fills the pause between his last comment and the next, "And while a sucession is one issue, an armed conflict within the borders of a neighbor is always a cause for some note, if not concern as well."

Rezna sighs. "I hate to be the one to make this observation...but in my mind, the violence and conflict here in Andor...and the succession in Murandy, are 2 events which are not as related as we seem to be concluding they are."

There is almost a hint of surprise in Theowyn's features that Rezna would suggest otherwise, though the Prince does show a moment of understanding. "I would have to agree, the perception that the assassination in Andor could have been used to catapult a inter-national issue into that of war certainly makes this different, Ambassador. I doubt any would perceive this differently, otherwise. But certainly having Lord Renford accused of interfering in House Hune, and then having an assassination on this very soil of the ruler of Murandy that Lord Renford has now replaced..." Theowyn's voice fades as he shrugs his shoulder. "It merits an allergic reaction." Theowyn turns to Elyse, his escorting embrace of her arm seemingly comfortable, and he does nod after a moment of turning back. "Lord Nolan, if you'd like to join us," he inclines his head. "I present Caenna Sedai, Gaidin Dalton, and you know the others."

Nolan pauses in his playing as Theowyn addresses him. He sits the dulcimer to the side and stands, offering a bow and pleasant smile to the Aes Sedai and her(?) Warder.

Rezna smiles and just shakes his head. "Anyone can find a way to affix a symbol onto a uniform Prince Theowyn...just as anyone can don an Andoran uniform and kill the Queen of Murandy...You are still denying that the guard had anything to do with it I assume?"

Caenna nods silently to the newcome noble, but her attention stays on the conversation, for the most part.

Rezna continues along his logical path. "Why would a fledgling King of what must now be the weakest nation in the world...seek to rouse the anger of Andor...the most powerful nation in the world? By all reports this King Renford has succeeded in doing something in Murandy that has not been done in nearly 300 years. He is intelligent. He would not compromise that fact by attacking Andor and then admitting to the world it was him."

Elyse offers a pleasant smile toward the direction of Lord Nolan and the lingering dulcimer tune before he halts it. Then tilts her head in the direction of Rezna's voice, torn between wanting to add to the conversation, and wanting to be the dutiful quiet dignitary.

"And that alone merits an allergic reaction," Theowyn responds all too swiftly. "That someone would wish to frame a conflict, if that is the case. Regardless, it would indicate that there are those that wish Murandy and Andor at war or in near war. And so I by no means assume that Lord Renford is responsible, but I do assume that this matter requires our attention."

Rezna nods. "And you are conveniently putting your attention in the wrong place. Just as your enemies want you to. My nose tells me Murandy is being made a scapegoat...by those here in Andor who wish your queen to come to a bad end. You did just come out of a war of succession did you not? it is entirely possible that your queen still has powerful enemies who could set these events up within her own country?" He pauses. "Come now Theowyn...what does your mind tell you? That Andor is the victim of an international conspiracy to remove its queen and place a foreign king on its thrown...Or that rebellion is brewing here in Andor?"

Nolan's eyes scan the assembled personages quietly. His eyes linger on Caenna and Dalton for a moment before moving to Elyse and Theowyn. A touch of sadness flashes across his eyes, but is quickly replaced by a thoughtful gaze at Rezna's words.

Dalton returns the most recently arriving lord's greeting with a subtle nod of the head before shifting back towards the Cairhienin Ambassador. He seems on the verge of speaking, yet stills his tongue as the conversation between the Cairhienin and the First Prince develops rather interestingly.

Caenna nods in somewhat reluctant support of the ambassador's words.

Elyse remains on Theowyn's arm, and quiet for now, merely listening to the parlay. Her expression is easily readable, however, as somewhat affronted by Rezna's discourse towards the Prince.

"You assume too much of where my attentions lay, Ambassador," Theowyn states, his tone cooling a little in temperature. "Or where my thoughts carry on a true enemy, or more importantly, the more dangerous enemy. The fact is, Andor is guilty of over-reacting as much as those within Murandy are, and for that I see a commonality. It is becoming increasingly obvious that certain occurances would not have been possible without the support of someone within Andor." Theowyn pauses, taking the moment to insure there are less servants listening. "But this is not a subject I announce in public chambers, as one could imagine. As you say, Andoran's have just lived through an internal struggle. Even the whispers of another might cause violent and uncontrolled reactions."

Rezna nods. "I suggest you and Queen Aislynn begin doing what is necessary to ferrit these people out and silence them...or get ready to experience the violent and uncontrolled reaction you speak of." He leaves just how one goes about feritting unsaid...as likely the preferred method in Cairhien would not sit well in Andor.

At a small clearing of her throat, an apparently pre-established signal, the maid moves to Elyse's other side, the one where Theowyn does not occupy, and leans to hear a whisper by the Princess. Then dutifully, the maid curtseys and moves to the commanding officer of the Kamikatsu Honor Guard. A few bits of whispering insues there, and with a relucant sigh, the officer nods, signalling to three of the six Honor Guard and having them depart with the maidservant. Elyse must feel pretty confident to have dismissed so many of those attending to her. Elyse resumes her more straightened position on the arm of the Prince, listening quietly still.

Nolan watches the three Kandori guards leave. Interesting. Especially considering the recent kidnapping.

Theowyn shrugs his shoulder, beginning to unfold from his hold on Elyse's arm. "One rarely announced their war with a covert enemy. It makes for bad politics, and little success. But I do have matters to attend. If you all would excuse me." He does incline his head to Dalton, Caenna, Nolan, and Rezna. At last, he looks to Elyse. "My Princess, do enjoy your day. We shall speak later, I'm sure." And with that, he makes his departure.

Elyse curtseys to the Prince as he releases her, "Fare thee well, my Prince.