Shadow did his best keep his gaze straight ahead and out of the window... that white accepted dress did something... it was meant and designed to remind both wearer, and observers that they were still students... now even out of the silk... Ilia looked stunning! she always looked stunning, even in the demeaning white... but now it was like a veil had been lifted off of her and he saw her more clearly as she truly was.<br/><br/><span style="text-decoration: underline"><span style="font-style: italic">"I like the orange on you." She commented</span></span><br/><br/>Blood and ashes!  Shadow winced as Ilia declared how she liked the orange on him.<br/>Shadow felt absolutely ridiculous, plain cotton white tunic and dark brown trousers blaring orange mismatched patched cloak that matched absolutely matched nothing... well perhaps orange vomit... Oh he wanted to chuck the thing out the window! but he kept his calm, instead he smiled and gave a sweeping bow. "I shall wear it everyday, Ilia Sedai," he chimed sweetly... there! that  would teach her, he knew she was trying to use reverse psychology on him... he knew it! but he wasn't falling for that Aes Sedai clever talk! well....not again! she was still new! she was still Ilia... he tried to imagine her wearing the accepted white dress... it didn't do him any good... the way she walked, the confidence and serenity on her face was unnerving... he liked it... damn it he did... he just hated the fact the Moe was running around with a bloody green cloak and he was still...he was a bloody Cadet, dam him, dam him it was wasn't fair!<br/><br/>"Well, are you ready?"<br/><br/>Shadow instinctively reached out... and he blinked when he felt the hefty weight of coins in the sack...<br/><br/>"I am now," he remarked in low voice, and quickly grunted and "Yes, of course Ilia Sedai," in a much deeper masculine voice doing his best to act is he hadn't repeated himself and hastily pivoted around stalked on out, doing his best to act as if nothing had happened.<br/><br/>-<br/><br/>Wearing the colorful cloak was a huge mistake, children gathered about shouting for him to juggle, or sing a song! or tell a story! or do a magic trick!  Dammit he was supposed to be a warder not a gleeman! dam, dam, dam, dam!<br/><br/>Shadow did his best to ignore them. It was then a large coach rolled on by, Moe sat on top... grinning ear to ear, love marks pourly hidden beneath a brown scarf as he sat on top of coach driving a team of handsome chestnut horses... and that bloody, damned green cloak fluttering in the wind.  Sitting in the coach, Luna waved at them as they drove past... pointed and laughed...<br/><br/>Moments later the Carriage came back around... and came to halt...Dressed in bronze silken gown and matching flowery wide brimmed hat Luna leaned out grinning over to Ilia and tossed shadow another sack of  heavy gold coins, "Buy us another carriage darling," she chimed.<br/><br/>Shadow's face went beat red and glowered at Luna. "Really? Carraiges through the northern mountains?" he scoffed.<br/><br/>Luna smiled sweetly, "No silly, we are going to take two carriages incase one breaks down, we'll convert them into sleighs once we reach the snow and sell what we don't need once we hit he mountains," she declared with an amused smile.<br/><br/>Shadow clenched his teeth and glanced away... it was a sound plan... prudent, they would have enough supplies and spar parts in case things went wrong.  "We'll be magnet for bandits," he grunted.<br/><br/>Luna's smile tightened and she brandished teeth, "Good... Illia needs practice," she replied darkly. "You'll let us know when there is good bit of bandits up ahead we can practice on won't you?" she asked.<br/><br/>Shadow grimaced as he felt an invisible sharp needle like poke on his ear... his nostrils flared, and refused to cry out or acknowledge it.<br/><br/>"of course, Luna Sedai" he agreed quickly.<br/><br/>"Excellent! Don't forget the winter clothing and snow shoes! two more horses! one for Illia Sedai and for her young gleeman." Luna chimed, she blew Illia a kiss and stamped her walking stick and Moe set the carriage back in motion.<br/><br/>Shadow sighed and turned around a dozen young faces had gathered about  staring up at him with big eager eyes... obviously expecting him to do something amazing!<br/><br/>"Who wants to ride on the pony?" he asked, there was a bunch of excited shouts and happy squeals Shadow discreetly slipped the stable hand several gold coins and whispered, "This should be enough to them entertained for the day," he instructed. Once he was out of view he quickly stuffed the ridiculous orange cloak into a wooden barrel and then went about to going haggling over having another coach assembled as soon as possible.  Then the team of horses and their kit.  It was expensive! but he had a lot of gold! So much so he felt sick spending it all thankfully it wasn't his!<br/><br/>Once the coach was taken care off... Shadow went about trying to find Ilia a horse... something fast, something nimble.  "Does anything stick out to you?" he inquired, "Try not to name it... we'll get lost and have to eat it anyway," he grunted... as he was still feeling sour with the latest Luna encounter... blast that Luna woman! she was insane!