Summer's ears perk up suddenly, causing a growl to issue from the young pup's throat. She raises her head and looks off down towards the farmhouse. Kasim can be seen making his way down the path, his brown leathers stained with dust. Summer lets out a bark and bounds off toward Kasim, yipping excitedly. Kasim crouches as the dog reaches him, scratching her behind the ears and generally roughhousing, not announcing his presence. (Kasim)

Charisse raises her head slowly, and glances off in the direction that Summer has gone. Unalarmed, it's obvious that she is expecting someone, though from her surprised expression it's even more obvious that Kasim is not the person she was expecting. She gasps a startled "Oh!" before rising from the bench. Using her finger to mark her place, she closes the book and calls to Summer.

Kasim looks up at Charisse with a wry smirk, patting the dog on her back and sending her on her way. He stands and bows to Charisse. "My apologies for interupting, milady. My name is Kasim Akylia, a friend of Fayth Elbar. Is this not where she lives?" He shifts the weight of the sword hanging from his shoulder a bit, pushing it back.

Charisse nods slowly, eyeing Kasim up and down. "Fayth does live here, yes. And she has told me stories about a Kasim, though you don't look like I imagined." She scrutinizes him a bit more. "I expected you to be taller. And older. But you don't look that old." She picks up the previously discarded bookmark from the bench, and removes her thumb from her book. Setting the book on the bench, she moves toward Kasim and holds out her hand. "Charisse Elbar. Fayth's sister. Pleased to meet you."

Kasim chuckles and takes the hand, shaking it once before releasing. "Well, I'm more than five years her senior, so I think that's old enough. And I'm plenty tall, for Cairhienin." His voice is solemn, but there is an edge of amusement in it. "My, you look just like your sister. If not for the eyes, you could be twins." He snickers. "That, and I could never imagine 'Fayth Aes Sedai' doing farmwork, though you look quite sturdy."

Charisse nods, crossing her arms again when Kasim releases her hand. "Fayth is always telling me about warders, and I just always picture them as old men." She shrugs matter-of-factly. "I've been helping my father on the farm here for awhile now. Fayth's had a break, so she's gone soft." She grins, and there is a decidedly wicked twist to it. "I won't tell her you said so, though. I doubt she'd appreciate that comment too much. She's so sensitive these days. She's much better off in the kitchen, anyway, I always say."

Kasim chuckles and arches an eyebrow at Charisse. "I'm no Warder, child. Just a man with a sword. Three swords, rather, but there's no need to get technical." Summer comes and sits down at Kasim's feet, looking up at him with greenish eyes. Kasim reaches into a pouch and produces a small ball which Summer recognizes immediately. He pulls his arm back and launches it, nodding satisfactarily as it lands some fifty or sixty paces away, and laughs as Summer runs off after it.

Charisse grunts and watches Summer chase the ball. "You two obviously know each other. If there was ever a doubt that you weren't -the- Kasim, it's gone now. Though, I could have sworn Fayth said you were a warder." She shakes her head and starts to move back toward the bench. "Anyway, if you're looking for Fayth, she's not here. She had to go into town for the day. Some business from the tower. She's told me time and again that just because she's not at the tower, that doesn't mean she shouldn't still be working, but if you ask me, it seems just a little crazy." She drops onto the side of the bench gracefully, crosses her legs, and smiles at Kasim. "I'm not sure how long she'll be gone, but I'll be out here for a while longer if you'd like to stay."

Kasim shrugs and looks around the parched fields, nodding. "I suppose I could wait, if only for awhile. I didn't want to say in the city for too long, but I need to speak with her. I'll give her an hour, perhaps two, but then I must take my mount and ride." He remains standing as Summer comes bounding back, panting. The dog drops the ball at Kasim's feet and flops onto the ground panting excitedly. Kasim chuckles at the young dog, remaining in place.

Charisse shrugs. "I wouldn't worry too much if you miss her. I can always tell her you came by, and she can do that crazy thing where she opens the hole and gets back to the tower in no time. She does that a lot. Me, I'm not so sure about that kind of thing. I -know- farming, and I always like to stick with what I know. But, it's not that I'm all afraid to learn or anything. I love to learn. Oh, and Fayth says she'll take me with her sometime, and get me to sign some book. That sounds exciting. She's teaching me, you know...showing me stuff. Not really teaching, I suppose..." She realizes she is babbling and closes her mouth abruptly. After an uncomfortable pause, she shrugs again. "It's good to have her home, even for a little while."

Kasim nods and looks at Charisse curiously. "I know the feeling..." He trails off, yawning. "And I know she can Travel. But I'm not going back to the Tower. I'm going north, child. Far north." He bends his knees to crouch, petting Summer idly.

"Oh...well I don't know if she knows how to get there...I'm sure she'll be kicking herself for missing you...you could leave a letter?" Charisse frowns, and takes a moment to herself, appearing to be deep in thought. "You'd think with all their new inventions they'd make something that would allow one person to contact another. Send some sort of message, you know? If only Claude were here. He'd go run and find her, I'm sure." She continues to frown, and gazes at Kasim. "You can sit over here if you want. If you're like my brother, and get nervous around girls, I can sit on the ground, or next to the pond..." (Charisse)

Kasim frowns at mention of Claude, and his frown turns to a smirk as she mentions being nervous. "It has nothing to do with being nervous, Charisse. It is polite to stand in the presence of a lady. Furthermore, it would be exceedingly rude for me to sit on the bench while you sat on the ground." He pats Summer twice before standing. He looks to the smudged harp on his hip, and wipes a particularly grimey part with is thumb.

Charisse wrinkles her nose. "I wasn't implying that I -thought- you were nervous, I was just saying that -if- you were...oh, never mind." She looks at the harp as well and tilts her head to the side. "That's a very nice instrument. Do you know how to play? Oh, what am I saying. Of course you know how to play. You wouldn't be carrying it around, otherwise." She grumbles under her breath and frowns again. Apparently at a loss, she looks to Summer for help. Finding none forthcoming, she glances at the house. "I'm sure my mother has finished baking some bread, if you're hungry? Can I offer you something to drink?"

Kasim chuckles politely, shaking his head. "No, but thank you for the offer. I do not hunger much of late. And my throat isn't dry, so I do not need a drink. But, again, thank you." Summer flicks her tail lazily on the ground, twitching every once in awhile when a fly lands on her, but otherwise remains sleeping.

Charisse shrugs again. "You're welcome." A long pause, during which Charisse finds it hard to sit still. She scratches her leg, then her head, and fidgets in her seat for nearly a minute. Finally she stops, and remains still. "So..." She smiles at Kasim, a smile that could rival any of Fayth's. "What brings you here? Tower business? Don't worry, I won't pry. I know that tower business is none of mine." A smirk and a giggle, and then she falls silent again.

Kasim chuckles and shakes his head. "Fidgety, are we?" He listens as she speaks, then says, "I am here on my own business. I am making a, ah, journey northward, and I was informed that Fayth was in Caemlyn, so I figured I would stop and see her briefly before moving on. The Tower has no stake in this, for once. I've made a vow to stay away from the village as long as possible."

Charisse tilts her head and starts to say something, obviously intrigued. She holds her tongue, however, though it's obvious from her expression that holding her tongue is indeed a very difficult thing to do. "I see. Do you have family up north? Some place to stay? Or are you merely playing things by ear?"

Kasim smirks bitterly, shaking his head. "I have no living relatives. And I'll be staying where I can make camp for a night and be relatively safe. I've got some personal business that needs tending to." He sits down in the dirt crosslegged, next to summer, idly petting the dog and humming thoughtfully.

Charisse gasps. "I'm so sorry!" She stands, and moves to settle herself to the ground gracefully in the dirt. "Well, from what Fayth has told me, she cares about you enough to consider you family, and with her comes us, so saying you don't have a family isn't really true, now is it?" She grins at Kasim triumphantly, and nods decisively, apparently quite satisfied with herself.

Kasim chuckles and shakes his head at her apology, but he arches an eyebrow at her remark about Fayth, a cynical smirk spreading across his lips. "Whatever you wish to believe, Charisse Elbar, is fine with me." He looks around, scanning the area, obviously looking for someone, obviously Fayth. He continues to pet Summer, who has begun to snore quietly.

Charisse stares at Kasim a moment, her expression a mix of disbelief and hurt. "If you didn't want to be a part of the family, you could have just said so. And for your information, I speak nothing but the truth. I imagine Fayth would be very upset to hear you say those things." She huffs rather childishly, and crosses her arms, glaring accusingly at Kasim.

Kasim chuckles and meets Charisse's gaze with a flat stare of his own. "It is not that I don't want to be a part of the family, as you put it. You wouldn't understand it anyway, Charisse. There are things that have happened that I doubt Fayth ever told you. And some things that I haven't told her." He narrows his eyes, sizing her up again. "And don't be so indignant. I didn't say anything to harm you."

Kasim shrugs. "Normally, yes. But I've been riding for the past twelve hours, and I'm very tired. Talking and movement help one stay awake, and keep one focused." Kasim pauses for a moment, saying nothing. "You're not so quiet either, you know. You're just like her, always talking." He remains solemn, though for a moment his eyes twinkle amusedly before going flat again, pointedly ignoring the compliment.

Charisse nods and looks sympathetic. "I imagine your behind is sore. Mine always hurts after a lot of riding. And I have to say that the talking thing runs in the family. I can't fight it, it's a hopeless battle." She giggles, then tilts her head to the side to look at Kasim again. "Must be lonely riding all by yourself. I'd go with you, you know. They want me to go to the tower, but I don't really care one way or the other. I'd like to travel, and see the world. It'd be fun!"

Kasim smirks once again, snickering a bit, with a hint of mirth. "You don't want to go where I'm going, lass. I'll be going north from here, through Tar Valon and onward. You step foot in that city, and you belong to Elaida. Not something your sister would appreciate much, I suspect."

Charisse snorts and wrinkles her nose. "Why would you want to go anywhere near that lady?" She shakes her head. "It's a shame, though, really. It would have been nice to travel." She picks idly at the dirt, running it through her fingers halfheartedly. She giggles suddenly, and glances up at Kasim. "You're right, she wouldn't be too happy." She throws her head back and laughs. "Could you imagine the look on her face, though? Priceless." She continues to chortle merrily, and nudges Kasim. "Come on, you can picture it. Seeing that would be something worth dying for, I tell you."

Kasim chuckles and shakes his head. "It would be funny, at first. But it's not something to joke about, child. One day, the Towers are going to have to fight. And that day might not be too far off, the way things go these days. Be careful if you decide to go to Salidar, and keep yourself protected." He stands up smoothly, brushing the dust off of himself, the sudden movement causing Summer to wake up and rise to her feet.

Charisse listens intently to the words of warning, nodding now and again at points she apparently agrees with. Summer isn't the only one startled as he stands, as Charisse scoots back quickly to avoid the dust. She clucks at Summer, then stands as well, watching Kasim, her expression questioning.

Kasim finishes brushing a good deal of the dust off of himself, letting it settle to the ground. His back to Charisse, he readjusts the two swords on his belt and changes the position of the smaller sword hanging at his side. He puts two fingers in his mouth and whistles, and after a moment, a black horse begins trotting to where he his from up at the farmhouse.

Nibbling on the nail of her pinkie finger, Charisse glances toward the town and frowns. Exchanging her bottom lip for her finger, she rubs her arms as she would if she were cold. "Are you leaving so soon? Would you like me to tell her you stopped by? Shall I run for supplies so that you may write her a quick note?" She glances toward the town again, her expression becoming a strange mixture of helplessness and worry. (Charisse)

Kasim chuckles at the enundation of questions that flood out of Charisse, remaing silent until the horse arrives. "Enhance your calm, Charisse. Tell her I stopped by, and that I can be found at the Half Moon Inn until dawn tomorrow. If she doesn't meet me by then..." He trails off, a tiny hint of emotion appearing. "Tell her goodbye, for me." He puts his foot in the stirrup and pulls himself into the saddle, speaking to the horse, now. "Easy, Alyjan. Just a little bit farther, then you can rest."

Charisse breathes a very audible sigh of relief. "Oh, thank goodness. She'd kill me if she thought I let you leave. Not that I could have ever stopped you, of course," she's quick to add. "Anyway, I'll tell her myself the very second she gets here, and she'll still probably be angry that I didn't tell her sooner." She sighs and shakes her head. "You just can't win with her, you know? Okay, Half Moon Inn, dawn tomorrow." She squints up at him, shading her eyes from the sun. "You're sure you won't stay here? I'm sure Mother wouldn't mind setting another place for dinner."

Kasim pauses for a second, as though thinking hard. His horse is panting heavily, and he sways uneasily in the saddle. He swings his legs over and dismounts, a tad less-than-graceful. "Perhaps I will wait, if just for a little bit. Alyjan is in no shape to ride in this heat."

Charisse nods. "Fair enough. Would you like to take him to the barn? I'm sure Lerand would be happy to stable him for you. And I'll tell Mother to set another place for dinner. She'll be so excited to finally get to meet you." She rolls her eyes, and shrugs at Kasim apologetically. "I hope you're ready to be attacked with questions the second you step into the house. We don't get many visitors around here, and to have a friend of Fayth's over is an even rarer commodity. She claims she doesn't have many, but my mother is convinced she's simply hiding them from us." She starts to move toward the house, then stops and turns back. "The barn's that way," she says, pointing, "and as far as dinner goes, it's nothing fancy, but it tastes good. I hope that's okay?"

Kasim nods to the remark about the stables. "Her. Take her to the barn, and yes, that would be fine. And don't worry about food, I'm not all hungry." This is the part where Kasim's stomach is supposed to growl and give him away, but it doesn't, so it seems as though he's telling the truth. "I'll leave as soon as I get to speak with Fayth anyway, so I shan't be around for dinner. I'll walk to the city, and pick Alyjan up tomorrow before I set off."

Charisse stops her journey to the house and changes direction toward Kasim. "Fair enough. I'll take..." She offers an exaggerated curtsey. "...her...to the stables, get her all set up, and send Fayth back to town as soon as she gets here." She smiles warmly, and reaches for the reins. "It was a pleasure to meet you, Kasim, and I hope we speak again."

Kasim nods and begins jogging towards town. "Agreed, Charisse. May the Creator shelter you in His hand." He jogs on a bit more, calling back, "If you're ever on the Blightborder, seek me out. I might still be there." With that, he's gone.