Fayth stops humming immediately, and jumps up from the bench. She gives Claude a very startled gaze, then manages to choke out "Err..Hello." She places a hand over her heart and attempts to slow her breathing. After a moment, she grins at Claude, looking rather embarrassed. "I'm afraid you startled me." She holds out her hand. "My name is Fayth."

Strolling languidly into the clearing, Tasman spies Fayth sitting by herself. A broad smile crosses his lips as he begins to saunter in her direction in a half walk - half jog. Ignoring the other man in the area, he gets very close to Fayth and speaks, "Greetings Fayth. I trust this day has found you well. Might I sit beside you?" As Fayth jumps, he turns to regard the other man. With a neutral glance, he dips his head slightly in a gesture of greeting and respect. (Tasman)

Claude takes it in his own very softly and bows, "A pleasure Fayth. I am Claude." As he straightens he gives a small smile and a nod to the stranger as well, and gives him a greeting of, "And the light bless you to this day sir."

Fayth grins at Tasman and nods. "Of course you may! You should know by now that you do not need to ask..." She winks at Tasman, then, feeling Claude take her hand, she turns her attention back to him. "Well, Claude, it is very nice to meet you." She takes her hand back and curtsies slightly. "You may sit as well, if you'd like."

Tasman speaks very neutrally to the man, "And you as well. I am Tasman - a member of the Band of the Red Hand, though I fancy myself having just a -bit-..." He shoots Fayth a glance and smiles. "more tact than most members do." Turning slowly to face Fayth. "You are kind to say so, but a gentleman should never presume when it comes to affairs with a lady." He chuckles softly, then sits down on the bench.

Claude merely shrugs at Tasman's words, "I see, well met then Tasman." Turning his attention back to Fayth he waves a hand, "No, no. I'll stand, I have too much energy today to be sitting down." He shrugs again and bats at a braid that slipped in front of his face, tossing back his head to clear his field of vision before returning his gaze to Fayth.

Fayth grins. "Just a bit..." she mutters, and nods at Claude. "Very well, but these benches are very comfortable..." She grins up at him. "So, Claude. Tell me a little bit about yourself. Are you new here?"

Tasman grins and mumbles something under his breath. Words like "...that woman....flies...honey than vinegar...queen bee." are said more audibly than others. He chuckles and puts his head to his chest - looking down at his boots. Once he has contained himself, he looks back up at Claude - waiting for his answer as well.

Claude Can't help a small laugh and lets his lopsided grin split his face, "No, no, no. I've been here for quite some time. I practice a lot though, don't get out much. And yourself? I've never seen you around. but I don't see much of anyone." He hooks his thumbs through his belt and shifts his weight to his left leg, still declining the benches at this time.

Fayth smiles back and nods. "I'm just a little old novice, although I must say I spend more time gossiping and visiting with everyone than I do with lessons. And of course, there are always pots to scrub..." She trails off, grimacing. "I'm surprised I haven't met you yet, though, I seem to run into all sorts of people when I'm not in the tower." she says, leaning over and nudges Tasman with her shoulder, giggling.

Tasman chuckles softly. "Aye. And you'd think you'd have learned by now that it meant trouble." He chuckles again and nudges Fayth back. His eyes are smiling. He glances at Claude, "You'll have to forgive me. I am usually a bit more composed. It's just that I don't get to meet with Fayth very often and the excitement has gone to my head." Glancing at the way Claude wears his sword, he nods to himself. "I doubt you have much of a problem with composure though..."

Claude answers Fayth's comment first with a smile and, "Well, you've met me now...and youre one of few, believe me." Switching his emerald gaze to Tasman he shrugs, "Composure....?" he grins, "Never heard of it." He shifts his weight over to his right leg and rests unhooks one thumb to rest his right hand easily and carelessly on the hilt of his sword.

Fayth grins at Tasman, and reaches over to give him a sort of sideways hug. "Let's just make sure that's the only thing that goes to your head..." she says, winking at him. "We've already determined that those bandies..." She trails off, and looks at Claude's sword as well. She mutters something about "men and their swords" under her breath.

Tasman puts his hand across his stomach as he laughs hard for awhile. As he stops, he wipes a small tear from under his right eye away. He grips the hilt of his own sword as he speaks, "Bah, all I hear from you women is men and their foolishness with swords. That pales in comparison to you women and your foolishness with gossip. Like hens clucking. At least we wear ours openly." He grips the hilt of his sword tightly, and stands up. "Unfortunately, I have to get back to camp. Fayth, I pray it won't be long until I see you again." Turning to Claude, "Good day to you as well sir." He bows slightly, and begins to walk out of the clearing.

Claude nods his head and replies, "The light favor your path sir." Turning his attention from the man he eyes the bench and raises his left hand to stroke his curled goatee as he seems to toy with an idea or something, as can be seen on his face. Finally he smiles and slips down onto the bench, near Fayth, but not too near her. "So, what brought you to Salidar, if I may be so bold as to ask?"

Fayth waves at Tasman's back and watches him leave, a small smile playing on her lips. When Claude sits, she grins at him and nods. "Glad you decided to sit. My neck was starting to get a little sore." She pauses, and her eyebrows furrow and her forehead wrinkles. She appears to be deep in thought for nearly a full minute before her face relaxes and she shrugs. "I was...traveling. I had managed to make it to Caemlyn, where I was found by a very nice gentleman by the name of Gaudior." She pauses here, and frowns. She rolls her eyes and then, apparently remembering that she is not alone, she returns to her story. "Gaudior introduced me to someone whom I later found out to be an Aes Sedai. She stared at me quite funny, then told me I could channel. They whisked me away to" she gestures around her "here, and I began my lessons." She sighs. "It was all very overwhelming..."

Claude whistles appreciatively and laughs lightly, "Well, that crushes my story. I was met by the same man though, Gaudior Gaidin. He asked me what I would say if I was given the chance to learn from and become one of the best swordsmen alive. It was an offer I couldn't refuse. And thats how I ended up here." His eyes twinkle slightly and he gives another lopsided grin to Fayth, "I am glad I came though, very glad indeed."

Fayth nods. "Yes, Gaudior is a good man." Her eyes take on a deep sadness, and her face slowly moves to match them. His last words sink in, and Fayth blushes, sending a mischievous grin Claude's way. "You'd be surprised how often Ive been hearing that lately..."

Claude smirks and responds light heartedly, "Well, I'd think so, youre very deserving. Though....coming from men in the Band, you may as well be trying to eat air then take actual stock in their word, but who am I to judge." He shrugs helplessly and rests back against the bench.

Fayth giggles and nods. "Too true, although there are some members of the band...granted, very few...that haven't yet been transformed into rude, uncouth..." she trails off again, seemingly at a loss for words. "Ok, maybe I am giving them too much credit..." She winks at Claude, and giggles again.

Claude winks back and gives her another grin, "You know, you should be careful with them though. Not that they themselves can really harm you, but if the Mistress of Novices catches you...or for any matter any of the Sedai. I'd say you'd have a few more pots to scrub. And a pretty girl like you doesn't deserve extra....but thats just my warning."

Fayth laughs out loud at this, and glances at Claude, her emerald eyes twinkling with mischief. "Yeah, I'm afraid I know all about what happens when a novice gets caught alone with boys..." She snickers softly, and shakes her head. "You'd think I'd learn my lesson, but...well..." She shrugs at Claude, and winks.

Claude chuckles and makes a waving gesture with his right hand, "Well, at least your safe with me, eh?" Even as he speaks he stretches slightly and then straightens his shirt frowning at it then shrugging to himself and turning his gaze back to Fayth.

Fayth chuckles. "Am I?" she asks, her eyebrows raised in question. "And how do I know that I am safe with you?" She grins at him, her face a mask of pure innocence.

Claude gives her a small smile and returns, "Well, youre probably a smart girl, you'll figure it out. But I'll give you a hint...which men -can't- you get in trouble from by being with?" He then starts to chuckle and slouches on the bench.

Kasim enters the clearing, stopping suddenly at finding it occupied. He gives a start and bows shortly, saying, "Excuse me for interrupting you. He looks at the two oddly, especially at the Novice, and turns to leave.

Fayth looks at Claude, her expression changed to one of confusion, yet the mischievous glint in her eyes betrays her. "I didn't know such men existed!" She drapes an arm over the back of the bench and crosses her legs when Kasim enters, and raises an eyebrow at him. "I have no objection to you staying, unless Claude here does?" She gestures to her neighbor.

Claude gives Fayth a slight wink and then shrugs lightly, "Oh, its all right with me. No harm done."

Kasim nods and moves to the pier, moving silently and quickly, sitting down on the edge. He takes his harp off his hip and begins playing softly, a cascading tune leaping across the scale, bouncing off the river and echoing away from the two on the bench.

Fayth watches Kasim move to the pier and hollers to him. "Why are you so far away? Makes it rather difficult to enjoy the music." She pauses, then adds "We were supposed to go see Celline Sedai today, you know."

Kasim turns and arches his eyebrows, still playing. "We were? I was not aware of this." He frowns thoughtfully and returns to the river, still playing.

Fayth nods. "You left before she could finish with the punishment. She asked me to retrieve you and go see her." She shrugs. "I've already written the paper and went to see her earlier. I think she forgot about you, so don't worry." She turns to Claude. "I know you said you haven't met many people, but surely you've met Celline Sedai?" A small smile plays on her lips. "She's very kind. I think you would like her."

Claude blinks and bites on side of his lip, chewing on it slightly in thought before shaking his head and replying, "Umm, no actually, I haven't. Like I said...I don't get out very much."

Kasim shrugs at her, nodding. "Tell me when, and then we shall go." He continues to play the harp.

Fayth grins at Claude and winks. "That is definitely something we will have to change..." She turns to Kasim. "Don't worry about it. I already took care of it." Her voice has a slight edge to it. "Are you planning to entertain the river all day, or will you be joining us at all?"

Kasim frowns thoughtfully. "My apologies." He stands and walks to a tree closer to them, the music filling the clearing now. He sits down at the base of the trunk, the song still morphing and changing, never repeating.

Fayth nods at Kasim, and watches him as he moves. She stares at him, her emerald eyes sparkling with something that looks like a mixture of fury and sympathy. She opens her mouth as if to say something, but closes it almost immediately. Shifting on the bench to get a better view, she sits quietly, watching him.

Claude sighs softly and raises and eyebrow in curiosity then shrugs and lets it go. Pulling up his legs to the edge of the bench to pull his knives out of his boots and stretches his legs out again before beginning to juggle the knives slowly, his interest averted for the time being, though shifting the occasional glance to Fayth.

Kasim closes his eyes, not paying any attention to Fayth -or- Claude, looking out onto the water, yawning. The song slows a bit, the notes longer, and it takes on a bit of a sad sound.

Fayth continues to glare at Kasim for just a moment, then sighs, and turns her attention to Claude. "You'll have to forgive me, Claude dear, but I'm afraid I need to be getting back to my lessons." She smiles at him, and holds out her hand to him. "I certainly hope we will meet again soon."

Claude catches his knives and switches them to his left hand, and takes her hand in his with his right. Kissing it gently he nods and grins. "Sometime soon I hope."

Kasim ignores her glare, and the whole conversation. He stands silently, still playing, and walks off, toward Salidar, though he goes as the crow flies, not by the path.

Fayth beams at Claude, blushing just slightly. She winks at him once, says "Yes, very soon, I hope," then turns and makes her way back to the tower.