Oblivious Gray. Likes to take long walks in dark alleys. (Attention Jozan)

[Elgee]

The story so far:

 

Groups of Aes Sedai are sent out of the Tower to look for women of all ages who have the spark inborn or can learn to channel. The women found are either escorted back to the Tower by Aes Sedai, or else sent back in groups by themselves if they are judged responsible enough to do without supervision. Esther Tremaine, young Aes Sedai of the Gray Ajah, is now returning with a mixed group.

 

 

Esther's eyes were fixed on the gleaming white tower she could see far in the distance. This was her first time returning to Tar Valon as an Aes Sedai; maybe in years to come the thrill of coming home wouldn't be quite as strong, but right now she was sorely tempted to just open a gateway straight to the Tower. There were at least 2 more towns to check before they reached the island, though, and Cara had given her firm instructions to sweep up any of the women sent ahead. Apparently some of them had gotten cold feet and never made it to the Tower.

 

She turned in her saddled and swept her eyes over the women riding clustered behind her, a mixture of satisfaction and irritation showing for those who knew how to look. The women looked back with at least outward respect, though she was sure a few of them had to apply their acting abilities to the fullest. Well, it was at least better than what they had tried at the beginning of this journey!

 

Most people respected, or at the very least feared, Aes Sedai. Unfortunately, Esther looked no older than most of the group - in fact, she looked a few decades at least YOUNGER than some! It took a few rather firm spankings - the One Power could not be used as a weapon, but a flow of Air to a recalcitrant initiate's bottom was quite acceptable to teach the lesson. Grabbing one particularly mulish noblewoman by the back of her neck and sticking her head in the horse trough drove the lesson home, in Esther's opinion. She might be an Aes Sedai now, but she'd grown up on a farm and her muscles hadn't atrophied since then. Nor her ideas of how to deal with mules.

 

Nodding with grim satisfaction, Esther turned her attention back to the far distant Tower, with a bit spared for the village they were entering. The women behind her began chatting together softly, mostly wondering if she'd let them stretch their legs a bit at an Inn. Esther's bottom was feeling the imprint of her saddle too, and she had urgent need of a necessary to boot. She picked the first Inn she spotted, dismounting and motioning for the others to follow suite. The group of rough clad men lounging around completely escaped her attention as she waited for the group to finish fussing with skirts and hats and whatever else it was that pretty girls were wont to fuss with. Esther just wished she'd not lost her shawl to a gust a few days back. It was hard enough to make these women believe her to be a full Aes Sedai - impressing that fact on an Innkeeper or his serving women usually took a few object lessons.

 

 

Esther Tremaine

Oblivious Gray

[jozan]

He saddled his horse and put on the saddlebags and mounted a grand black stallion, which he had bought a few months ago, in a small town outside Caemlyn on his way back to Tar Valon. He had named it shadow because of its black color and its swiftness when it moved. Jozan had finally had a good night sleep after months of nightmares, where he saw Lynna die right in front of him, and even though he had killed the Dread-lord right after it didn't smooth the pain he still felt. Lynna…I still miss you! He thought to himself while riding on a lonely road, leaving the small town behind him.

 

It was getting dark and the rain was slightly pouring down as he started galloping toward a small village within an hour of his position. Where he could hopefully find shelter or even better an inn, so he could get some well needed sleep and something to eat before he moved on. His coat was getting wet and his cloak were already soaked, his hair dripped of water but luckily his staff and weapons were kept safe from the rain. Just as he made sure the saddlebags were secured, he noticed a small group of women ahead who was traveling without security, which was a bit in these parts. Even the Aes Sedai travel with their warders at their side at all times. Jozan thought to himself with a slight smirk on his face while he fixed his sitting position on the horse.

One of the women did seem to be in the lead as she was a bit harsh toward some of the other women. She even put one of the women's head in the horse trough, which made Jozan grimace just a tad bit. When that happened to her, the other women in the group seemed to willingly follow the leader. After riding behind the group for a short of time, the inn was getting closer, and Jozan couldn't wait to get something to eat and to get some rest for himself and his horse. They had been riding for several hours straight and without seeing much of anything on their journey here, he was actually a bit happy to ride behind a group of people who just happen to travel at the same direction as he.

 

People started staring at him as he rode toward the inn; some women with a slight smile on their face while others with a slight sullen expression, as if he wasn't wanted there at all. But he continued on anyway, and when the group stopped and started dismounting, Jozan noticed a few rough clad men lounging about. The women didn't seem to notice them at all but Jozan was trained for this kind of thing at the tower. They were bad business, that was certain, but were they after someone special or just out for money.

He dismounted and placed the horse's reins in a stable boy's hand and took out his own made quarter staff and embraced the void of nothingness. The fire came forth in his mind and he placed all emotions inside the burning fire, and became emotionless, a deadly weapon ready to engage in battle. The men were rough looking and quite large, but Jozan was well built and trained by the best fighters in the known world. He was a tall man with broad shoulders and could easily crack open a man's skull with his staff if he wanted to. But these men didn't know that as they started circling around him. There were about six men in total, most held old sword that had seen better days, and others used clubs. They were not bad fighters, just unprepared to face a real martial artist like himself.

 

“He's just a man, we can take him.” One of the smaller men said and raised his rusty sword as if ready to charge at him, but then a taller and more muscled man said “No, not yet. Let's see what he's made of. ““I challenge you to a duel.” The man said after a short pause of breath. Jozan looked at him with a slight puzzling smirk on his face “I don't duel for the sake of it; I see no joy of killing people.” He was ready though when the first strike would come, as he was certain it would come. It wouldn't matter what he did, they would attack him despite his best efforts of showing no hatred toward them. And it came faster than he first anticipated, and nearly lost his balance as the man stroke at his arm with a hard blow with an upward swing of his wooden club. Jozan slightly backed and then charged at the man with a fast twin twirl of his staff, which hit him in the face twice. He staggered back and touched his mouth to see if it was bleeding, which it was. He told the others to charge at him with ferocious attacks. And so the real dance began, Jozan twirling his staff and the others swinging their weapons in a deadly dance to the death.

 

Jozan Elvilmawien

Guardian of the light

Towerguard of the White Tower.

Edited April 15, 2012 by jozan

[Elgee]

As they were about to enter the Inn, a commotion broke out behind them. Esther swirled around just in time to see a man attacking another with a quarterstaff. Several others immediately joined in, creating such confusion that she at first couldn't figure out who was attacking whom. She gaped, unable to believe her eyes, then yelled at them to stop their nonsense. Of course, she was roundly ignored as the men now fought for their lives.

 

Esther had a placid nature, normally, and when she did get angry, she almost always managed to suppress it. On those scarce occasions that she DID lose her temper, however, she did so in a big way. Unfortunately, a bunch of louts carrying on like dock rats right there amongst her group of initiates was too much for Esther's self control.

 

"Get into the Inn!" she snapped at the women as she embraced the Source, then Wove Air, Fire and Spirit to create fields of static that zapped at the men. Some of the men flinched and froze, but most of them were too engaged in their battle to take note, even when some of the sparks caused their clothes to start smouldering.

 

Stamping her foot in frustration, Esther drew more heavily on the Source and Wove solid Earth into the ground, bringing it up and around each of the combatants until they were encased up to their hips. THAT certainly had the desired effect of both making them immobile, and scaring most of them half to death. To emphasize her point, Esther wove Air into one very very loud Thunderclap.

 

Fists on her rounded hips, Ester barked at the men, "Explain yourselves!"

 

 

Esther Tremaine

A Gray you DON'T want noticing you.

[jozan]

While Jozan fought with a grizzly looking man who was quite good with his sword, the woman suddenly started channeling and created fields of statics. This hit some of the men and made them stop fighting. But Jozan and the man still fought fiercely against each other. The man swung his sword and Jozan just barely went the other way, and only got a slight cut on his right arm. He swung his staff and hit the man on the knee cap and you could a crack, and the man gave away a grunting sound.

 

The woman snapped at her companions to get into the inn, and at that moment Jozans’ coat started to smolder, which didn't bother him too much as he was too caught up in the fight. The other men looked both a bit shaken and some even froze Light, have they never seen a channeler before? Jozan thought as he ducked away from the man's swinging sword that nearly decapitated him.

 

The woman was getting more and more irritated and stamped with her feet on the ground with frustration while waving a weave, which caused the Earth to erupt and in-case each man in solid Earth which immobilize them all. Most of them looked terrified which didn't surprise Jozan, as most people would be terrified by channelers. But not people like Jozan, as he was a tower guard he saw this on a daily basis in the tower. He merely stood there encased in solid earth and embraced in the flame and the void, which his first mentor had taught him a long time ago. That same man had taught Jozan to use the quarterstaff as a lethal weapon.

 

Suddenly a loud thunderclap echoed in the air which made Jozan look at the woman, with a stone cold face without any emotion. His face was the face of a veteran soldier that had fought many battles, with a couple of scars below his light blue eyes. And those eyes looked straight at the woman that seemed to be in charge of the group, or that had at least done the channeling stuff.

 

She suddenly spoke up while holding her fists on her rounded hips “Explain yourselves.” She said with an irritating tone to her otherwise fine voice. One of the less scared men said with a hesitating voice to her “H-he started it…we just defended ourselves.” He could barely look at her without wincing back. Jozan shock his head in disbelief and said with a steady voice “I am just passing through here, on my way to the tower. When these men were trying to seize an opportunity to rob you, my lady” Jozan didn't know why he called her a lady, as she didn't seem like one. Shes probably a wilder, too young to be an Aes Sedai. That is for sure! He thought but at the same time there was something about her that didn't add up.

 

Jozan Elvilmawien

Tower guard of the White Tower.

Edited April 15, 2012 by jozan

[Elgee]

Esther tapped one black booted foot whilst she waited for an explanation. Her fists remained clenched on her hips, scrunching up the plain dark gray wool of her divided skirts. Eventually one of the scruffy looking men stuttered “H-he started it…we just defended ourselves”, in a whining voice. Esther raised one eyebrow at him, but the man it seemed they were all fighting against spoke up. “I am just passing through here, on my way to the tower. When these men were trying to seize an opportunity to rob you, my lady.”

 

The others immediately started denying any such intention, talking over each other in a such a jumble that she could hardly make out anything. The lone man just stood there, regarding them wryly ... even a touch disdainfully. Esther was young, inexperienced and unseasoned, but she was not stupid.

 

"Be quiet, the lot of you!" she ordered in a loud voice. One of the men continued protesting his innocence, until a well aimed flow of Air clipped his ear for him. She glared at them, brows drawn down. "You want me to believe that one lone man, armed with nothing but a quarterstaff, attacked six of you out of the blue for no reason?" She sniffed disdainfully. "What? He was going to rob you of your rusty weapons?" She looked around, but there was no-one in the street who could give evidence. The initiates had all done as they were told, for once, and run into the Inn.

 

She turned to the lone man, looking him up and down. His clothes weren't of any better quality than the six others, but much better kept. He seemed to have also kept his person cleaner and tidier. The man was large, and held himself with confidence. This was definitely no ordinary footpad or criminal ... maybe a soldier? The fact that he was cleaner and tidier than the others did not imply him innocent, though, nor his six scruffy opponents guilty. She glared at them all equally, irritated by the fact that she could not prove beyond a doubt who was guilty of what, here. Eventually she let the Weave of Encasement go, freeing the men from the earth which had held them immobile. Some of them seemed ready to pass out as they watched in terror as the earth slowly subsided until they were once again standing on solid ground.

 

Esther knew that as Aes Sedai she should be putting the fear of Light into these men, enough that they would never again think of committing even the most petty of crimes. She was at a loss as to how to do that, unfortunately. Attempting a stern yet also serene look, she tried to make her voice cold, though its natural huskiness did not lend itself to that, nor did her pouty mouth look particularly stern. "Since no-one has been seriously hurt, I will forgo taking the whole lot of you to the nearest magistrate. I would strongly suggest you get out of my sight right now, though, before I change my mind." The six men scattered, leaving the lone man standing there, regarding her quizzically.

 

 

Esther Tremaine

Not very clued up Gray

[jozan]

Jozan watched as the other six men scattered like cockroaches and vanished from the place. He was alone with the woman he assumed was a wilder and looked quizzically at her. He wasn’t sure what to think of her way of getting them to listen to her, she should’ve been more careful as to not bring the attention of an Aes Sedai, unless she was an Aes Sedai which was very doubtful at best.

 

He dusted off his clothes and eyed her with an intense glare while he cleaned himself up a little, until he could finally calm down a bit. “It would be very dangerous to bring unwanted and unneeded attention to yourself. I suggest that we go into the inn and continue our discussion there instead, away from any prying eyes out here.” He said with a firm and a bit deep tone to his otherwise calm voice. Jozan motioned for the woman with his hand toward the inn, and he opened the door for her and they then walked into a quite large inner room. Which was a bit surprising compared to the size of the village.

 

The other women in her group were already sitting in one of the corners of the room. They sat down at the table and jozan ordered ale for himself. People in the inn started glancing and some even stared at Jozan and his companions, mostly because of his size and also because he was at the moment scruffy looking. So, they all probably assumed he was bad news for the village.

 

“Not to be impolite but why are you traveling without escort, and where are you going?” She can’t be going to the tower, is she? That would be stupid. He thought to himself with rising eye brows. “I am traveling to the heart of Tar Valon, the White Tower. I have been gone for almost two years now.” He said with a sight.

[Elgee]

“It would be very dangerous to bring unwanted and unneeded attention to yourself."

 

What? Why would attention be dangerous and unwanted? Aes Sedai had very little to fear from anyone. She tried to tell him that, but the man just carried on talking.

 

"I suggest that we go into the inn and continue our discussion there instead, away from any prying eyes out here.”

 

What prying eyes? Esther tried to look around but the lummox of a man seemed to block out half the sun. He waved her into the Inn and, half suspicious that he would walk right over her if she didn't move, Esther grumpily complied. Once inside, she tried to set him straight - they had absolutely nothing to discuss - but the man just hustled her over to where the initiates were seated, casually ordering ale for himself. Again she tried to get a word in, but the man yet again spoke up before she could.

 

“Not to be impolite but why are you traveling without escort, and where are you going?” The man had the nerve to regard her with raised eyebrows, like an uncle catching a naughty niece up to mischief! She started at him in bewilderment - who on earth did he think he was, to speak thus to an Aes Sedai?

 

“I am traveling to the heart of Tar Valon, the White Tower. I have been gone for almost two years now.”

 

Esther's temper got the better of her again, and she sprang up to stare down at him, fists clenched at her sides. "What need has an Aes Sedai of an escort, my good man? And what business is it of anyone other than herself whether or not she has one?"

 

 

Esther Tremaine

Not so diplomatic Gray

[jozan]

The woman suddenly stood up and clenched her fists at her hips and she even glared down on him, while being fueled by anger. Jozan blinked and then she said "What need has an Aes Sedai of an escort, my good man? And what business is it of anyone other than herself whether or not she has one?" That statement took jozan by surprise and he was taken aback by it and wasn’t sure what to respond to that.

 

She’s going to boil…light she really seems to be about to explode. He thought to himself and the other women at the table were all shocked by her reaction to his question, which was asked quite politely he thought. “I am sorry that I didn’t realize that you were an Aes Sedai. For that I apologize deeply, but you do not look like an Aes Sedai.” He put down his empty cup and stood up and sat down on his left knee and put his right arm on the right leg, and bowed as formal as he could muster at the time.

 

Jozan looked up at her while bowing in that way, with his ocean blue eyes and spoke “I am Jozan Elvilmawien, towerguard of the white tower. I pledge my allegiance to the light and to you, Aes Sedai of the white tower. May the light guide us home safely under the creator’s protection” He said with a confident and serene voice. He then asked the waiter that had heard it all to bring warm soup and meat, and something warm to drink to the table. He was dumbfounded by her statement that she was actually an Aes Sedai. He felt bad for thinking she was just another wilder trying to lure him she was a servant of the tower.

 

The waiter came back with the food that brought a fresh and warm odor to the table, and there were enough food for everyone to dig into. Juicy and tender meat, smashed potatoes, and a warm soup that drenched his empty stomach with a warm feeling had been brought by a slender short haired girl, that couldn’t be more than in her early twenties. Her hair had the color of sand blonde and her shirt was pale white, and she also wore baggy blue trousers. It was a sight to behold when the women started eating of the food. Jozan took a sip of the spicy wine that had been put on the table as well.

“I almost forgot, you asked me before whose business it was that an Aes Sedai had escort or not. Well, you may have the source to grasp hold of but it does not stop a well-aimed arrow to bore your heart. And you cannot defend against several men if you’re knocked out. Therefore, having extra help is not a bad idea. That is why tower guards exist and why Aes Sedai bond, to feel safe and to have someone by their side on the journey outside the tower.” Jozan said with a soft voice to the woman as he took a bite of the tender meat held on his fork.

[Elgee]

If ONE more person tells me I don't look like an Aes Sedai ... Esther barely noticed the extremely polite apology - all that rang in her ears were those irritating words. It wasn't even that she thought Aes Sedai should be listened to with more respect than any other mature woman, but people seemed to think her some particularly dim-witted child! Men in particular, for some strange reason, thought she couldn't open a door by herself. She was 30 years old, for the Light's sake!

 

Esther glared at the man, but before she say anything he was bowing to her with the utmost courtesy. His next words completely confounded her.

 

“I am Jozan Elvilmawien, towerguard of the White Tower. I pledge my allegiance to the Light and to you, Aes Sedai of the White Tower. May the Light guide us home safely under the Creator’s protection.”

 

Her mouth fell open and she gaped at him with rounded eyes. One minute he seemed to be implying she was some incompetent Wilder, and the next he was offering her allegiance? The words were so formal and ... serious. What exactly did the man mean by them? He didn't give her a chance to question him, though, instead he was taking charge and ordering food and drink for them all. She should have thought of doing that herself, but the flaming man unsettled her. He was just so ... so ... BIG! Esther flushed at her own idiocy, but even realising that she was acting like a novice didn't seem to settle her down. In fact, it just made her feel even more flustered.

 

The food was warm and filling, its wholesome taste settling her down somewhat. The aspirants were all tucking in with a will, though still chatting and joking amongst themselves. They were doing it quietly, though - at least she'd managed to teach them that.

 

“I almost forgot, you asked me before whose business it was that an Aes Sedai had escort or not. Well, you may have the source to grasp hold of but it does not stop a well-aimed arrow to bore your heart."

 

The man was speaking softly, for her ears only, but she still jerked and checked around that no-one was close enough to hear. She didn't want him giving ideas to some idiot.

 

"And you cannot defend against several men if you’re knocked out. Therefore, having extra help is not a bad idea. "

 

Esther nodded as she chewed. What he said was obvious, but an Aes Sedai wasn't that easily caught!

 

"That is why tower guards exist and why Aes Sedai bond, to feel safe and to have someone by their side on the journey outside the tower.”

 

She choked on a mouthful of bread, then nearly landed face first in her food when Jozan pounded on her back.

 

"Bond?" she squeaked, eyeing him sideways. The mere thought gave her the heeby jeebies. Have another person ... a MAN ... feel exactly what she was feeling? Expose all her fears and short-comings and incompetence for another person to know first hand? "I doubt I'll ever Bond anyone. It's not like I'm some battle crazy Green, anyway - I don't need a Warder!"

 

 

Esther Tremaine

Too silly to even know the right questions, Gray

[jozan]

"I doubt I'll ever Bond anyone. It's not like I'm some battle crazy Green, anyway - I don't need a Warder!" Jozan leered at her from where he sat, and put down the fork to respond “I don’t know, you seem to be someone that gets into trouble. If I had not come to your aid before, we may not have had this discussion – heated or not.” He said with a slight smirk on his face, and the other women giggled amongst them self. That brought a glare from the Aes Sedai that could pierce you in half. The women stopped giggling and lowered their eyes to the table of food – they were seated at.

 

The innkeeper suddenly approached them and told them it was time to head to bed, as it was past the time she usually closed the inn. Jozan nodded and collected his stuff to move upstairs, to get some rest before moving to Tar Valon, in the next morning. His room was placed for some reason beside the woman’s room. It didn’t bother him that much, but it probably bothered the frustrated Aes Sedai – who seem to have something against him or men for that matter.

When he entered his rather small but charming room, he put broken glass on the floor in front of the door – so he’d know if someone came inside. He had learned a lot of stuff not just from the tower, but also on his travels with his bondmate. He was always careful in a place that wasn’t familiar to him. It had saved both him and the Aes Sedai he had been bonded to once.

 

The sun rose early in the morning, and it shined through the only window in his room. It woke him up and he checked the broken glass and it was still there. Jozan got dressed and removed the glass, and gathered all his things. Jozan walked out and went downstairs, and surprisingly the Aes Sedai wasn’t around yet. He walked over to the innkeeper to ask her “Excuse me, but have you seen the woman that was with me last night?” and the innkeeper gestured to him that she was already getting ready to leave. He sighted and went toward the stable and found her group saddling their horses. Curse the light...Why did she have to be a bloody AES SEDAI and not a wilder. It would’ve been so much better – if she had been a wilder. He thought to himself as he started saddling shadow.

They would ride together toward the shining white tower, which he had not seen in ages it felt like. And with this woman beside him it would surely be a day to remember. He reined shadow into galloping ahead of the group – so he could scout along the road they were taking, so he could spot anything beforehand – but he couldn’t find anything so he went back to the group. “Aes Sedai, the road ahead seems to be safe, as far as I can tell.” He said with a firm voice and paused for a brief moment then continued “I can’t keep calling you Aes Sedai, my lady. Might I know your name?” He still held shadow’s rein in his hands and glanced at the woman with water-blue colored eyes.

 

A sudden swooshing sound startled him and he almost lost balance, as an arrow flew by his head. He yelled to the Aes Sedai to go faster, as another arrow swooshed by him. Someone wanted him dead, or maybe the same rough men from yesterday, wanted their revenge on the Aes Sedai. Only one thing mattered though, he needed to get them safely away from the road. “Ride ahead, while I keep them at bay as long as I can muster. Head to Tar valon, and get some help.” He nearly yelled the words at the Aes Sedai, while he started to ride back toward where he thought the arrows had come from. He would not let another Aes Sedai die because of his foolishness.

[Elgee]

“I don’t know, you seem to be someone that gets into trouble. If I had not come to your aid before, we may not have had this discussion – heated or not.”

 

She was not! Someone who got into trouble, that was. Deanne had always been the one for that, not her. She found herself missing her old nemesis ... friend ... whatever she was, she'd know how to handle this rude lummox of a presumptuous man. The giggles and sniggers from her charges finally penetrated, and she whipped round to glare them into quiescence.

 

She turned back to the man and was about to give him a proper set down - she really was - but the Innkeeper chose that moment to try and usher them all to bed. Esther tried her best Aes Sedai stare on him, but he seemed oblivious and just rushed her up the stairs. Fool man. Both of them. She got her revenge by ordering warm water to be brought for all of them before allowing the Innkeeper to find his own bed for the night. She wanted to be on her way early enough in the morning to avoid the Warder, or whatever he was, and that meant washing tonight.

 

She had another ace up her sleeve, to get an early start. Maids were bringing up buckets of hot water, and she took the opportunity to check that each of the women had a clean set of clothes for the morning. "We will arrive at the Tower tomorrow evening, Light willing. If you want to meet the Mistress of Novices looking like a dockworker, that is your problem, but I will not have her blaming me for it!" She informed Nacille, one of the laziest girls she'd ever had the misfortune to meet. "Now get washed and to bed, the lot of you - we leave early in the morning." She ignored protests and excited questions equally, intent on finding Jaisie. As usual, the woman was making herself small, waiting to see what beds the others picked and making do with whatever was left. Esther tried not to frown - that would only set the poor woman to quakingly wonder what she had done wrong.

 

"You have everything you need, Jaisie?" Esther tried to put the former tavern trull at ease with a soothing voice, but she feared the woman had been abused beyond repair. She tried, though. Apart from hating to see any woman - any person, in fact - so broken, the woman would one day be unbelievably strong in the One Power. If she made it through the training, of course. Her one other talent - that they knew about so far - was the ability to wake up at any time she was told to. How someone could tell the time in their sleep was beyond Esther, but apparently it was a natural ability to Jaisie.

 

"Will you wake us all one candlemark before first light, please?" Jaisie nodded, not looking Esther directly in the eye. "Thank you, my dear - you be sure to get a good night's sleep now." Again the woman just nodded. Esther hoped the Mistress of Novices would be able to help her. Esther headed off to her own room, sparing one fulminating glance for Jozan when she saw him waiting at the door next to hers. She sniffed pointedly before slamming the door behind her. Insufferable man.

 

The sun was just above the horizon when the all settled onto their horses the next morning. The three women who were responsible for that - apparently still thinking they could ignore a summons to get up and dress - were sitting gingerly. Esther's favourite hair brush had not survived the ordeal, which put her into an even worse mood. She gritted her teeth when Jozan strolled out, saddled his horse and just joined them. Without even asking permission! To top it all, he had the audacity to scout the way, and report to her - REPORT TO HER - that the road was clear. She didn't need any flaming man telling her about the flaming road - she could see the flaming thing for herself! Well, she could see a lot of trees lining the winding road - it was quite a foresty area they were riding through.

 

“I can’t keep calling you Aes Sedai, my lady. Might I know your name?”

 

Before she could say anything, something whooshed past her face. She jerked on her reigns in shock, and another thing flashed past. Jozan was yelling, the girls were screaming, and it took Esther precious moments to realise someone was shooting arrows at them.

 

“Ride ahead, while I keep them at bay as long as I can muster. Head to Tar valon, and get some help.”

 

Esther almost growled at him - run like some coward while he did battle? The nerve of the man!

 

"Get off your horses and hide behind them!" She shouted at the girls, then had to perform a quick novice exercise to embrace the Source, so angry was she. Some of that anger was directed at the men attacking them, to be fair. She recognised some of those face peeking around trees, right before she tossed some good sized Fireballs that exploded men and trees equally. Fireballs were quick and easy to make, and very satisfying too, it seemed. She could handle this lot quite easily.

 

"Jaisie!" The scream had her head whipping round in time to see the woman slowly crumbling to the ground, her hands clutching the arrow sticking out of her middle. She didn't know who had screamed, but several of the women were trying to drag Jaisie to safety. One of them crumpled herself when an arrow pierced her side. Esther was sure she had accounted for four of the men - there had been only six, hadn't there? - but her eyes searched frantically for the rest of them as she galloped back towards the fallen women. As she reached them an arrow took her in the arm, sending her tumbling off her horse more than dismounting. Pain and shock made her lose her hold on Saidar. Desperately she tried to embrace the Source - she could hardly heal a minor wound, but it would at least keep the girls alive!

 

 

Esther Tremaine

Gray, not Green

[jozan]

While Jozan was trying to find out where the arrows came from, the women behind him were screaming or panicking. He did not notice until a bit later the reason why, as he looked behind from where he was hiding. The Aes Sedai had been pierced by an arrow in her left arm, and one of the other women had an arrow sticking out from the middle. Jozan sighted I told them to get out of here, to get more help. He thought to himself as he put an arrow on the string. They had been six men in total back at the inn, where they had picked a fight with him ­– a tower guard from the white tower.

He strung his bow and took aim and even though he was no bow expert, he did have some training with it. He released the arrow into the forest, and after a moment a shout was heard, as one of the men was struck by the arrow – with some luck caused by the wind. Since the Aes Sedai had used the one power to kill two of the men, there were only three left that could harm them. But, Jozan knew they needed to get out of here, before more trouble came along. But, he also knew he needed to get rid of the rest as well. Because if he didn’t, while he was gone they could easily kill the Aes Sedai and the women.

 

He couldn’t let that happen, not as long as he was breathing would he allow that to happen. He grabbed his bow and while keeping low, he tried to get closer to their hiding place. And when he finally found it, he strung his bow once more and fired an arrow into the right leg of one of the men in trees. The man fell to the ground in aching pain, and tried to stand up but fell helplessly back to the ground. The others drew their rusted swords and charged him at once; they fought bravely though stupidly against him. Jozan twirled his staff in the air and hit the man on the ground on his knee, and then he ducked away from a sword slash in the air. He kicked the man who had swinged the sword in the stomach, which made him lose balance and fell. Now Jozan could charge against his third attacker more easily, and he twirled and swinged his staff at the man in a combo. And in the end he knocked the sword out of his opponents hand and on the way broke the man’s knuckles. He then mercilessly killed him with a hard blow to the head. He couldn’t let them escape and bring back more men and more trouble. When one of the less hurt tried to run away, he strung his bow and shot him down. And then there were only the man on the ground, with a hurt knee left. He could bring him to justice by bringing him to the tower for judgment, but that could be dangerous. Who knows what this man could be conjuring up inside the walls, while trying to escape. No, he had to be dealt with right away, and so Jozan took out a small dagger and sliced the man’s throat. He wiped off the blood on his already dirty clothes.

 

He then mounted shadow who had been tied to a tree close by , and rode back to where the wagon was standing, and the women in panic was located. When he arrived at the site, he noticed that the Aes Sedai had been hit in her left arm by an arrow, which would need to be removed before he could do anything. Jozan sat down beside her and told her to calmly breath, and after a brief moment he broke the arrow in half and pulled it quickly out. The woman gritted her teeth and a grunting sound came forth, and Jozan made a bandage around her arm to keep it from bleeding. That will at least keep her from bleeding, while I get some help from the tower He thought to himself as he slowly put his cloak under her head, to make her more comfortable.

 

He then turned to the other wounded woman and saw how bad it really was, and he knew there was not much he could do for her. She needed the healing of an Aes Sedai, but the only one in close range was hurt. “I am sorry; there is not much I can do.” He paused as he noticed how shaken they all were by his statement, and because of all that was happening around them. “I will need to get some extra help from the white tower, and I will bring with me extra guards. I won’t be gone long.” He said with a soft and confident voice, even though it would take a bit of time to get to-and-back from Tar Valon. But, the sooner he started the sooner he would be back with help. A yellow sister and a few guards would fit the bill nicely. Jozan looked at the women sitting beside their friend, with both fear and sadness in their eyes. He mounted Shadow and told him to ride fast, as fast he could.

 

After galloping for what felt like several days he was finally at the gates of the tower. One of the serving guards hauled him “Who goes there?” Jozan nearly yelled at the man halting him “I am Jozan Elvilmawien, tower guard of the white tower. I am in dire need of assistance. I was ambushed, along with an Aes Sedai and a few other women she was escorting to the tower.” The guard allowed Jozan passage and hoped he would bring them back safely.

He was able to find a willing sister of the yellow ajah, and three tower guards not on duty to bring with him. Thankfully the yellow sister knew how to make a gateway to the village where they needed to go. And, that would only take a short moment to travel, instead of riding which would take a few hours. And in that time the sister would be in even more trouble, and the woman that the sister was escorting would be dead.

 

OOC: Sorry for the wait, I haven't been in the best condition to reply until now.

Edited May 11, 2012 by jozan

[Elgee]

Esther gritted her teeth against the pain as Jozan firmly gripped the arrow, snapped off the one end and pulled the other out of her arm. Only a grunt escaped her lips, but to be honest the pain in her arm was much less than the one in her heart. Her eyes were on Jaisie as the Warder bandaged her bleeding arm. She only nodded when he told her in his earnest way that he was going to get help from the Tower. Help might come in time for Sabina, but she very much doubted that Jaisie would last another candlemark.

 

Her face must have been very pale, since the two older women in the group, Mari and Vatalina, practically forced her to lie down. "Please make the others as comfortable as possible!" she urged them, and eventually Mari nodded to Vatalina, who rose from where she had been kneeling by Esther's head. Mari jogged off too, but soon reappeared with cup of water.

 

"Come now, drink this. It's a pity you wouldn't teach any of us to Channel, or we could have at least have heated some water for tea," she muttered at Esther as she helped her to sit up and sip the proffered water. Her tone was more wistful than accusatory, but Esther had to pull herself back from an abyss of what ifs. Even if she'd started to teach them from the day they set out, there was no way any of them would be able to form the extremely complex Healing Weaves yet. The shame of what her arrogance had led to made her want to curl up into a ball and hide, though.

 

After a few minutes the worst dizziness passed, and Esther managed to sit up. She could see most of the other women clustered around the two injured girls, the rest taking care of the horses. though a few were tentatively approaching the surrounding forest. She wanted to call a warning, but it became clear that they weren't heading more than a few feet away from the road. It appeared they were simply picking up kindling and small branches, depositing them in a heap roughly between Esther and the spot where the two injured girls lay. "Vatalina remembered that we have flints," Mari proffered, seeing Esther's stern look, "and that we can still do things the old fashioned way."

 

Nothing could distract Esther for long from the supine figures of the two girls, though. Determination eventually managed to overcome self-loathing. "Help me up, please." Mari protested, but Esther repeated her request in a quiet but firm voice. It was only about ten paces, but Esther felt decidedly weak when eventually she knelt by Jaisie's side. For a long, dreadful moment she feared she would not be able to embrace the Source after all, but eventually the euphoric warmth of the One Power swept through her. Her weaving was clumsy and a far cry from her usual Strength, but she managed to meld together Air, Spirit and Water. Her fingertips trembled against Jaisie's forehead as the extremely weak Healing Weave sank into the girl. Releasing Air and Water, Esther used Spirit to Delve Jaisie and sighed in relief - the girl's heart was stronger and she'd managed to seal most of the blood vessels. At least the girl would not bleed out before help arrived ... with luck.

 

She had to rest for a few minutes before she could turn around and do the same for Sabina. She knew nothing after that, until she heard Jozan's voice urging her to wake up - that help had arrived.

 

 

Esther Tremaine

Gray Ajah