the Wolf, the Falcon and the Dragon

Faile and Min arrived back from their walk slightly earlier than Rand might have hoped. The familiar rythem of Min's knocking caught the two men still tidying up the sitting room, a glance was exchanged and they both took their seats and composed themselves before Rand called "enter".

Min poked her head in the door, her eyes drawn immediately to Rand, and grinned widely. Slipping inside, she sauntered over to the chair next to him and collapsed into it, swinging her feet up and planting them right in Rand's lap as though he were a footstool. He gave her a wry look but said nothing, well used to her cheeky ways by now. Min was one of the most beautiful people he had ever met, her very presence seemed to act as a massage on his nerves, and she was a great friend. That was all she was, of course, he wouldn't allow himself to think of her as anything else. That would leave too many doors unguarded... The Dragon could not afford to be vulnerable to anything or anyone.

Faile, on the other hand, was somewhat less than soothing company. Hawk-nosed and proud-faced, she flung the door aside and shot Min a glare, apparantly offended that the other woman hadn't held it open for her. Rand had never seen Faile look less than offended, in fact, but obviously Perrin had or he wouldn't have married her. He supposed the girl just had something against him. She would hardly be the first. The Saldaean Lady glided towards her husband's chair and placed a hand on his shoulder possesively. "Husband", she said formally, "I trust you have been good in my absence." Perrin grunted, not trusting his communication skills.

Rand took a moment to search his heart for jealousy at the sight and was a little surprised to find none. He didn't like Faile, or her mother for that matter, both women were fond of shooting scornful looks and comments his way, as though intent on getting a rise out of him. Somehow he felt he should be angry at them, but he wasn't. He felt indifferent towards them in fact. And perhaps that was what offended them most. Saldaeans were a strange bunch at the best of times. Still, part of him liked their fierce pride. They reminded him of the Aiel a little.

"So, Min, did you enjoy your walk?", he said by way of an opener.

She raised an eyebrow at him wryly, "The Royal Palace is such a lovely place, and the company was every bit as fascinating." Rand kept his face still, knowing her opinion of Faile, but the other woman seemed to pick up on it anyway. She was certainly no fool.

"Fascinating, yes. I particularly liked the twinned themes of swords and roses, though its a shame that the Andorans place such an emphasis on the latter over the former. Almost gauche in fact." She shot an arch look at the flowers embroidered on Min's breeches, Min's scandalously tight rose-red breeches. "In the Borderlands we know better than to place our faith in anything but sharpened steel." Faile raised an eyebrow and looked Min straight in the eyes.

Min drew breath to respond, spots of colour in her cheeks, but Rand butted in, hoping to forestall an argument. "Sharpened steel is always a good thing to have, but it belongs to the Light and the Shadow both; it will take something more valuable to win this war." He was careful not to look at Min, but he could feel her frown. A quick glance from the corner of his eye caught her frown changing into a delighted grin, big brown eyes lighting up. Quicksilver, thats what she was.

Faile sniffed at that, "I wonder where it will be found then," she murmured, searching the room with her eyes. Abruptly she stopped, staring at something on the floor behind Rand. Perrin's gaze followed hers and he sat very still.

The Dragon Reborn was too busy being offended to notice, "You'd best pray its found somewhere", he muttered.

Faile fixed her surprisingly raptor-like stare on Rand, she seemed shocked that he had responded. Colour drained from her cheeks. Her mouth moved as though trying to form words and Perrin squeezed his eyes shut. Finally she rasped, "Perhaps you could dance the sa'sara for us my Lord Dragon, the Dark One might be so moved he would declare peace in our day and you could both live happily ever after. Peace!"

At that she curtsied abruptly and strode out the door, Perrin rose pondorously and lumbered after her, his head lowered.

Min's jaw was hanging open and her eyebrows seemed to be trying to unite with her hair. "That... that cheeky bitch", she spluttered, "How dare she!?" She shook her head in bewilderment, "What Perrin sees in that one I'll never know."

A troubling thought was forming in Rand's mind, but he didn't want to look behind him and draw Min's attention there. One of the Maidens glanced in from tha doorway to ensure that nothing was amiss, and closed the door when she saw nothing but Rand and Min lounging around. "Perhaps I should take this as a sign", he mused, standing. "Theres alot of work to be done if we're to stand a chance of winning this war and I'm the one that has to do it."

Min stood also, and held his forearm gently. "Not alone, sheepherder".

Rand smiled wanly, "No, thankfully not that. But I really should get back to work. Theres armies in need of feeding."

"Is there nothing I could do to help?"

"Not at the moment, but I'll call on you if I need you. I have a meeting scheduled with Lady Dyelin tomorrow morning and your gifts would be a welcome help."

"I'll be there", she said, placing a hand behind his neck and rising on tiptoes to kiss his cheek. "Don't be working too hard Rand, you look a little peaked." At that she smiled mischeviously and swayed out of his chambers, closing the door softly behind her. Thats one word for it, Rand thought.

Rand stared at the door for a while before sighing and turning to look at what had upset Faile so badly. Sure enough, the rug that he and Perrin had cavorted on was there. Rumpled and roiled as though wrestled on. And stained too. Except that wasn't blood...

"Blood and ashes", the Dragon sighed.