<span style="text-decoration: underline"><span style="font-style: italic">"What did you do to your shoulder?"  </span></span><br/><br/>Shadow blinked, "Hmmmmm?" he hummed as he artfully lured her gaze away from the prancing dappled grey horse and the cursing stable hands.<br/><br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic"><span style="text-decoration: underline"> "Is that a horse bite??" </span></span><br/><br/>"What where?" he asked.<br/><br/><br/><span style="text-decoration: underline"><span style="font-style: italic"> Does it hurt?</span></span><br/><br/>"Huh?" Shadow huhhed, and then smiled innocently looked at her as if he didn't know what she was talking about.<br/><br/><span style="text-decoration: underline"><span style="font-style: italic">... Why are you soaking wet?" </span></span><br/><br/>"uuuuuh" Shadow hummed, "Cold water is good for you,... helps grow your muscles and makes you tough," he informed her matter-of-factly and curled up his arm flexing his bicep for her.<br/><br/><span style="text-decoration: underline"><span style="font-style: italic">"This simply will not do."</span></span><br/><br/>"Its just a bit of water, I'll be dry sooooo-Ooon," he exclaimed as suddenly Ilia was dragging him down the street!<br/><br/><span style="text-decoration: underline"><span style="font-style: italic"> "I feel sorry for the poor fellow who gets saddled with that horse." Ilia commented</span></span><br/><br/>Shadow chuckled nervously, "Yeah... me too," he remarked, "Oh that, its fine, I'll clean it up and sew it back," he assured her when the energy wash over him like a cold bucket of water ice water!<br/>"There. Hopefully they have something to clean you up with..."<br/><br/>"What?! I can sew! its fine!" Shadow insisted stubbornly.<br/><br/>"Get yourself some new clothes and also some winter wear. If you can think of anything else, get it. Not anything perishable. We can get food and whatnot the day we leave." Ilia beckoned<br/><br/>Shadow was about to insist that he was fine, and that he didn't need anything, or any new clothes when he heard the melodious sound of a black smith hammer. "Yes! Illia Sedai, I need new clothes and things! of course, Illia Sedai," he agreed and with a swift bow he turned began walking toward the clothing shop... he glanced over his shoulder for a moment and then promptly rounded the corner where he commenced to oggling all the sharp pointy objects and the armor... armor counted as clothing... yes... it definitely did!<br/><br/>Shadow was like a kid in candy store! Immediately he began squandering away the money, upgrading his arsenal!  Two Crossbows! A New matching damascus steel Sword and dagger!  A new set of ten ornaments blades all complete with black ornate leather sheaths! A Spear! A round shield, with three leather loops to hold three darts! Chainmail shirt to go under his lamellar chest plate! Pauldren's on his shoulders, and wrists guards on his wrists that matched his new black leather gloves, , a knightly helmet with a visor... and then he was broke.  Sadly the clothes would have to wait... But good weapons and armor was totally worth it! he was also paying for the service as well as he was waited on and hand and foot getting his exact measurements, adjusting the chain mail and lamellar metal plates of armor to fit him just right! Shadow figured he had best get it while he could as... whenever Illia bonded him, he'd likely never get away with anything ever again. Well he had a few coppers left jingling about in the flat sad floppy money pouch.<br/><br/>Shadow wisely squandered the rest of the money on a shish kabob! and a single red rose. He figured if that didn't quell Ilia's anger, it would at least look nice on his tombstone.<br/><br/>~~~~~<br/><br/><br/><span style="text-decoration: underline"><span style="font-style: italic">"Luna Sedai?</span></span><br/><br/>"Yes darling..." Luna replied... there was muffled rustling in the back ground and muffled feverish male breath,  .<br/><br/><br/><span style="text-decoration: underline"><span style="font-style: italic"> I apologize if I am... interrupting anything,</span></span><br/><br/>"OOoooo, no," she assured her, "I can talk..." she chimed, and the in low voice she hissed at Moe... telling him not to stop whatever he was doing... there was more muffled rustling!<br/><br/><br/><span style="text-decoration: underline"><span style="font-style: italic">... might the four of us have dinner tonight? To discuss our journey?"</span></span><br/><br/>"Oh yeeeees!" she gasped excitedly , "yes, that would be lovely," she said in softer more normal voice!  "Yes, yes, right there! I mean I'll be right there! got to go for now! so much to do! so many new dresses to try on!” she chimed her, her voice becoming a little more frantic and then quickly hung up!<br/><br/>——<br/><br/>Several hours later, Luna elegantly strode down the hall. Her blonde hair done up by several golden pinions. Her exotic, near scandalous two piece form fitting sparkling burnt bronze sequin gown sparkled with every step... Luna smiled as she entered into Ilia's chambers.  Following behind her, Moe's broad shoulder's brushed past the door. His boyish face beamed with pride, his green color shifting cloak was complimented by the fine ornate brown leather armor and sparkling bronze studs, silken grown scarf with glittering golden crescent moon and rose on the four corners.<br/><br/>His large hands dwarfed the large fruit basket and wine bottle that he brought to Ilia as a gift.<br/><br/>Luna smiled and greeted Ilia with a warm embrace, "Good evening, I love what you have done to the place," she remarked,  and glanced over toward her warder and, her bright blue eyes sparkling with pride... shamelessly showing him off.<br/><br/>"You said four? is someone else coming?" she inquired...<br/><br/>Luna<br/><a class="postlink" href="http://www.kippcreations.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/1800x/040ec09b1e35df139433887a97daa66f/_/1/_100087900.jpg">[ img ]</a><br/><br/>Moe short for Moecephus!<br/><a class="postlink" href="https://i.imgur.com/AUK8Biz.jpg">[ img ]</a><br/><br/>--<br/><br/>Moments later Shadow ambled on in... hay in his hair and smiling a like a lunatic, and clearly trying to hide a slight limp.<br/><br/>"Ilia Sedai, Luna Sedai..." he greeted them with a formal bow, and then paused glancing jealously at Moe's cloak... the words stuck in his throat like a fish bone,  "Swordmaster, Moecephus," he replied through greeted teeth.<br/><br/>Moe winced hearing his own full name, he liked it when Luna it said it, but not from his friend.  "Shadow," he replied and shuffled awkwardly knowing full well that Shadow was by far superior when it came to combat. "Are... are you alright?" he asked worriedly.<br/><br/>Shadow gazed upward at his large friend with a crooked grin as he gazed up at him with through his good eye, the other swollen shut and had a knot on his head the side of a goose egg.<br/><br/>"Oh... that, I ran into some trouble in the stables... I guess thats what I get for throwing to much coin around," he shrugged.<br/><br/>"Footpads! How many where there?!" Moe gasped in shock. Moe had automatically assumed he was talking about footpads! Shadow was actually talking about ,Killer-Rain, his new spirited dappled grey horse... but he didn't correct him either... Shadow had grown accustomed to the Aes Sedai double talk, and Cadre Caulen often tormented them with it. Naturally warders were expected to find ways to cover for their wards... preferable without lying as well.<br/><br/>Shadow wasn't exactly sure how he was going to explain to Ilia that he had squandered all the money she had given him for new clothes and supplies on weapons, armor and a psychotic horse that probably enjoyed the taste of blood more than it did eating oats!<br/><br/>Shadow shrugged and added the tattered single rose into vase on the table... Seeing the rose Luna raised her brow toward Ilia, her lips moved soundlessly making quick secretive amused 'awe' expression... it of course vanished back into ageless serenity as it soon as it appeared.<br/><br/>"I didn't count," Shadow laughed, and then grunted his hand went to his aching side... the armor was quite good, it hadn't deformed or anything even after the horse had kicked him in the chest...  He had managed to get a saddle on her... but well... things didn't work out so well after that.  Still progress was made... he had stayed on for at least 30 seconds, and she only bit him twice this time... thankfully we was wearing durable leather gloves.   On the positive side, Shadow was confident nobody would ever steal her... or at least ride off with her anyway!<br/><br/>Shadow eased himself down onto the chair and tore off a chicken leg and began talking with his mouthful, "I was lucky to get out alive though, good thing I as prepared," he chuckled, and then paused... "Is anybody else going to eat?" he asked.<br/><br/>Luna gave a Ilia an awkward look, Moe smiled nervously feeling awkard and embarrassed for his friend... Unlike Shadow, while Moe was not as street smart, he was extremely well educated and understood all the formalties that Shadow was oblivious too. Shadow could only imitate Lan's mannerisms so much... he never been in a formal setting before in his life! Thinking quickly Moe hurriedly sat down as well and tore off the other chicken leg and began piling his plate up... and glanced over toward Luna... they exchanged affectionate knowing glances... each one knowing the other's thoughts...<br/><br/>Luna took in a deep breath and sighed... although she did not approve of Shadow's uncourtly behavoir and uncuth mannerisms, she also understood Moe's affection for his friend and deeper knowledge from Shadow's background... Shadow was an orphan, that had grown up in barracks full of rowdy males.<br/><br/>"Oh my," she giggled and gave Ilia an understanding and sympathetic smile and leaned in whispering to Ilia.  "Isn't Moecephus a sweetheart?" she sighed. "Before we leave it might be a good idea to have Shadow properly familiarized on certain formalities... I do wish Cadre Caulen would teach his cadets something useful besides walloping brutes over the head's with sticks... I am mean really! Sure we can take them down a dark alley way in the forest, but Light above most of them are absolutely clueless on how to act in public in a formal event, or feast,"  she whispered in a low voice.<br/><br/><br/><br/><a class="postlink" href="https://i.imgur.com/yAytMED.jpg">[ img ]</a>