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DRAGONMOUNT

A WHEEL OF TIME COMMUNITY

The Weakening Wards of Tar Valon


Arinth

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Grey adjusted his sword belt nervously. The clothes he wore were clean and functional, but they were not pristine. It wouldn’t have mattered if it was just going to be another day of training. Today was going to be different though. A few of the Aes Sedai were planning to investigate different things going on in the city. As Aes Sedai they were more than capable of handling themselves in almost every situation. In some cases muscle was needed though.

 

He ran a hand through his blonde hair. It had the wavy, casual length of youth. He was not tied to any Aes Sedai himself. He was not even an “official” tower guard yet. He was still in the training phase of his career. That might change one day though. He was open to the possibility. They had asked for volunteers to accompany the Aes Sedai though and when he had volunteered his trainers thought he had become at least competent enough to not hurt himself. He had been proud. He had felt that he was progressing in his training, but this was validation that what he had perceived in himself, though still possibly skewed, was also not too far from reality.

 

He did his best to push aside the nervousness he felt but it would not go away. He had thought that when joining up as a tower guard trainee that he would have more encounters with the Aes Sedai and he would have grown familiar with them and at least comfortable enough to know what to expect when around them. Aes Sedai kept largely to themselves though. Those he had encountered or passed had barely taken note of his existence. He had not taken offense. There was little reason for him to have warranted their attention.

 

Today would be different though. He was going to be in their midst. “Calm yourself. You just have to follow orders. There is nothing to worry about.” He took a deep breath and let is out slowly. It was time to go and meet up with the others.

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Grey frowned nervously. Was he at the right spot? His orders, as he had understood them, were to meet here at this time. There were supposed to be other guards, Aes Sedia and possibly even warders that would go out together to investigate things going on within the city.

 He was the only one here though. Had he been too early? Did he just need to wait longer for the others to appear? Ever moment felt like an hour painfully stretched out. He was definitely starting to feel anxious. Had he been late and the left without him, not knowing to wait for him or carrying whether he joined them or not?

 

He paced the grounds. His hands moving restlessly, between swinging at his sides and locked together behind his back. How did Warders and Aes Sedai manage always be so composed with the chaos and disorder around them. It was something that he would have to learn because he was not close to mastering it, he realized. His hands fidgeted as they checked his belt and sword and equipment making sure everything was in order again.

 

What was he supposed to do if nobody showed up or he had missed them? He did not fully know what the purpose of the trip was to begin with. How could he see it through by himself? There were whispers that the end of the world was at hand. The Dragon walked the world, and the armies of the dark one were being gathered in the north. The weather was hot and oppressive. The food spoiled before there was any reason for it to and now there had started to be a large number of rumors about ghosts. Those transparent and those that looked as real anyone else you might meet on the street. It was a scary time to be alive.

 

Grey heard footsteps. He turned towards them. Was it someone that was supposed to meet him or just merely someone else passing by?

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It took a few moments of looking and re-looking at the hand-drawn map in her hands. It was painful how little she actually left the White Tower. There were a few places in the market that she would frequent, purchasing threads and beads, but otherwise she kept to herself if she wasn't putting in stitches to the unfortunate trainee that crossed her path. For a time many of the younger ones thought having cool looking scars would attribute to their bravery, but all Kisathera though was how brilliantly stupid it was. She kept the thought to herself, of course, and did her work quietly and diligently. 

 

When she was asked to go on this small quest on the Tar Valon Island, it was argued that she wasn't leaving the safety of the White Tower, but it made her nervous all the same. Opening her mouth and closing it,s he wanted to argue the point, but the best she could do was ask for a map of the location. Thus, a scribbled out version was the best that was handed to her. So befuddled by the request, Kisathera did not think to ask why she was being sent or what the problem was.

 

Coming to the allocated area it was quick that she recognized the one waiting for her. Grey. He was easy to remember simple because his name was an Ajah. She gave a soft, warm smile, while pulling her shawl more tightly around her as if it were armor.

 

"Light Blessings, Grey. I was told to come assist with some problem with... well, a problem around here?" She let her confusion hide behind her general aloofness her soft features allowed her. If she wasn't told what the problem was, who's to say she could say it right or wrong. "Has anyone else arrived yet?"

 

 

Kisathera Nilyron

Aes Sedai of the Yellow Ajah

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Astradore worked her way down the final steps of the winding stairs that worked themselves all the way up to the top of the Tower, a walk she never particularly liked. A small smile crossed her lips as she mused. A gateway from our Ajah quarters to the main floor would be useful. They would just need to pick a spot to as to not accidentally open a gateway on a person. She tapped her finger on her opposite hand. What would happen if you criss-crossed two gateways atop another? The White was sure something disastrous would result. Experimentation was not worth the knowledge or proving a hypothesis.

 

Dressed in fine white-slashed gray silk, a pearl-beaded hairnet catching her long hair, Astradore was far from a plainly dressed White; she wore the most fashionable things she could find. She spotted a young Tower guard--no, wait, that was not a full uniform--and a sister of the Yellow wearing her shawl. Clouds covered the sky, but Astradore had a feeling it would not rain.

 

"Kisathera?" she asked, recalling her name from her own orders. "And you?" the Tairen sister asked the guardsman. "You look awfully young; are you a trainee then? The guards could not spare a fully-trained man? No, nevermind. If they could, they would have, so no matter."

She turned back to Kisathera. "We're headed to the southeast district to investigate... rumors." Ghost stories, she thought. Ghosts didn't exist. But she kept her face cool. "Shall we?"

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The footsteps Grey had heard belong to an Aes Sedai. He felt a mixture of relief and renewed anxiety. He was glad of course that he had not been late. It would have been bad to have missed the meeting time. Especially when it appeared that there were not any other guards coming along. He had assumed he would be one of a handful, but it appeared he was wrong.

 

Just as he was relieved that he had not made a mistake, he felt the nervousness of being in front of an Aes Sedai with her attention focused squarely on him. His eyes widened in surprise when she said his name. He did not know that anyone really knew who he was. She was Aes Sedai though. Whatever she wanted to know and be aware of she was capable of. They could have meet in passing previously or it the trainer that had advised him of the trip could have simply told her who to expect.

 

“Has anyone else arrived yet?”

 

 

Grey looked around. He was the only one standing in front of her. It seemed like a fairly obvious answer. He tried to choose his words carefully. The last thing he wanted was to sound rude or disrespectful to the Aes Sedai. Her smile had been warm and friendly.

 

“Your presence is the first I have been graced with since I arrived.”

 

Another Aes Sedai appeared and Grey’s nervousness increased. He would have to learn how to be better around them. He couldn’t be giving himself a heart attack every time he met or had to interact with one if he was going to be a tower guard and live within the tower. The new Aes Sedai was dressed elegantly in white and cast a very impressive figure. She also had a fine attention to detail. As she looked at the first Aes Sedai she seemed to gather and process all the data that she needed, including the fact that he was a trainee.” He hadn’t planned on being forthcoming with that bit of information, but it was also not something he could deny either.

 

The Aes Sedai moved on from her question before he had a chance to speak though. She knew the answer and no amount of talking was going to change it. He was relieved because he wasn’t sure if his answers would be as good as those she came up with on her own. Her answers sounded good at least. She turned her attention to the other Aes Sedai and explained what it was that they would be doing.

 

Grey kept his place beside them. He was there to help. He would be attentive and ready to act any moment. He was hesitant to do too much beyond that though. These women were very capable, and he could unintentionally cause interference or a distraction when trying to help. He waited quietly at their side, ready when they were to begin the investigation.

 

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Kiyi's arrival on the scene was achieved very simply and in exactly the same way she arrived on every scene; in her own time.

 

She was of course also utterly composed. Mostly because she was rarely anything other than composed. It was a fact that had little to do with the typical agelessness of her features, or with her immaculate appearance in midnight blue silks, and everything to do with long practice. Handling the political machinations and manoeuvrings of the various nobility populating the world's courts had made appearing unflappable something of an essential skill. Kiyi had been out of the Tower doing just that for the better part of 50 years. She had only returned, reluctantly, last month in order to touch base with her Ajah and provide a personal report to the Amyrlin. What she had not counted on was being dragged into some random fact finding mission within Tar Valon when she'd much rather be heading back out on the road. 

 

The diminutive woman was quite certain she could be researching and observing these rumours perfectly well alone, but when orders were handed down from not just one Sitter, but two, it would take an idiot to demur. And so, here she was, primed to co-operate and work with Sisters from outwith her own Ajah. She scanned the two women already present as she joined the waiting group, cataloguing their appearance and bearing, right down to the minutest detail. She was unsurprised to discover that she knew neither of them. Her overall instructions left much to be desired and hadn't even included names.

 

Kiyi inclined her head politely at the White, which made a few loose, coppery curls dance merrily around her delicate features. Their Ajahs were allies after all and more importantly the woman was stronger in the Power. It wasn't for Kiyi to speak first but she did offer a warm smile that included the Yellow too. Age has to have some privileges after all, the thought was laced with humour. As usual, everyone towered over her, but she'd kept far enough back that she wouldn't have to spend her time with a crick in her neck. That tended to be very inconvenient.

 

Speaking of inconvenient heights... Kiyi's forthright look directed itself to the youngest member of their party, sweeping over him in a quite thorough examination from head to toe and back again. She nodded approvingly as if matters had arranged themselves particularly to please her. Tower Guards were supposed to be tall. She'd always said so. That was just as it should be. She had no idea what his name was either. 

 

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Cyrain fastened the clip in her guard uniform cloak as she walked briskly, she was cuting it short and was none to happy about it: Finally something out of the ordinary runs and she lost the note geting ready with instructions on where to meet. 

 

She knew little of what this mission was about, but it involved escorting Aes Sedai and she hadnt been told to pack, which meant it was local, so something must be up out of the ordinary. She had a smile on her face as she rounded a corner, she had a good feeling about this one, and was more then ready to have an adventure. 

 

She saw a trainee, and three Aes Sedai ahead, she was wondering how large a party this would be as she headed over, she had some run in with the Aes Sedai, though mostly yellows in the infarmary. And she silently cursed inwardly when she saw a yellow shawl, but was relieved to see as she got closer that it was an unfamiliar face, she did not need to be prooded about any previous trips to the infarmary as was. 

 

So it was with a light mood she joined the group and greeted them with a nod and a smile. 

 

ooc just jumping in here quick after a brief skim through so you can move it along tonight if wanted too.

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She couldn't help falling into her quiet nature and deferring with a nod to the White Aes Sedai. Not that she paid much attention to such things but her strength was enough to out rank the other young Aes Sedai, who was also too young to become a Sitter. Kisathera did not mind not being considered for that kind of power. It wasn't in her. 

 

A friendly nod to the newly joined Tower Guard, Cyrian, and kept her response simple. She may not know all the Aes Sedai in the Tower, but she collected Warder Yard names in the way Blademaster's collected scars. "I am ready." She said, waiting for the White to take charge. She was here to help lend her abilities in the strengths that she had. 

 

 

Kisathera Nilyron

Aes Sedai of the Yellow Ajah

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OOC: Hmm, I realize I don't know what Kiyi's Ajah is??

 

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Astradore nodded back to the other Sister who arrived. She had been told three would be chosen altogether, including herself. She was especially pleased when another Tower guard showed herself. "Perfect," she said in reply to the Yellow.

 

"As I'm sure you all know, there have been rumors of ghosts, of all things." She kept her tone cool despite her words. "We'll head to the south east district, near the Ogier Grove, and work our way counter-clockwise. Keep you eyes and ears open for people talking of the matter, or perhaps even screaming in the streets. Right then. Shall we hire a litter, then?" she suggested to her si9sters as they made their way to the main Tower Square.

 

The whole thing was strange, but Astradore figured if so many of these rumors were going about, perhaps there was a bare hint of truth to them. But what, really? They finally reached the Square, and finding a litter wasn't too hard. They came here because Aes Sedai often hired them, and she was sure they had to be out all day doing this. She wasn't going to walk around the city for hours. Better to support those who were offering their services. The Tairen climbed in first, leaving the curtains open. They needed to see what was going on in the city.

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  • 2 weeks later...

Kiyi looked the litter over with barely hidden dislike, only her willpower preventing her from scrunching her nose up in distaste. She was used to walking everywhere from the time her legs could carry her. Failing that, accomplishing a journey on horseback was perfectly acceptable. The concept of being carried about by other people, however, had struck her as lazy and indulgent ever since she'd arrived in Tar Valon. Still, she had to grudgingly admit that it kept men in decent employment. It would be churlish to refuse them an opportunity to earn, and equally foolish to offend the sensibilities of her sisters this early in a new venture. 

 

Gathering her skirts in one hand, Kiyi followed the White's example, ascending the litter, and choosing to dispose herself beside the opening. If she had to suffer enclosure, she could at least do so with fresh air circulating. Stillness settled around her like a cloak as she turned her thoughts to their mission.

 

Rumours of ghosts, she mulled the idea over feeling less sceptical than the leader of their little coterie. And why not? If Palace corridors can shift and re-route themselves, why should the dead not walk? 

 

Kiyi had spent the last few months, prior to her return, in Caemlyn. Ostensibly paying her respects to Adine, she had actually been there at the Queen's request, observing the steady stream of visitors to the Palace. It had been ...instructive. And disturbing. Particularly concerning were the unpredictable changes to rooms and corridors within the Palace. They had resulted in events sometimes amusing, more often debilitating, occasionally devastating, and always inconvenient. A clear sign, amongst many others, both in Caemlyn and elsewhere, that the Last Battle was coming.  

 

Probably sooner than any of us will like or are ready for! 

 

Bringing her focus back to the present, Kiyi made an effort to be sociable, addressing her quietly spoken question to her companions with a polite air of enquiry.

 

"My apologies, Sisters, I was not furnished with the names of those participating in our little venture and I'm afraid I have been long out of the Tower. Kiyissalle Chevra of the Blue Ajah, at your service. May I have the privilege of knowing with whom I travel?"

 

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Grey walked quietly beside the Aes Sedai in their litter. The minutes that he had waited alone before the arrival of anyone had seemed like an eternity. Every second had dragged as his nervousness grew. Once the Aes Sedai had gathered, things had moved quickly. It felt like he had barely had time to blink before the Sisters had all acknowledged each other and were on the move.

 

He had to give them credit for their efficiency and focus on the task at hand. They seemed to recognize immediately who was in command and where their place was. It seemed much more civilized than the way that men approached it, feeling the need to fight to establish dominance.

 

He glanced at the Sisters sitting in the litter. His gaze fell to the last Aes Sedai to join the group. She was a tiny little thing, but her presence was impressive. He didn’t know her, but he felt like he liked her. Like. He turned the word over in his mind. It didn’t fit perfectly with how he felt but it was close. The others also had their qualities. The Yellow was friendly. She even knew his name, which had caught him by surprise. The White was logical down to the bone. It was an attribute that he could respect even if it wasn’t always warm and friendly.

 

He could not see the guard on the other side of the litter, but he knew she was there. It had been a relief when she appeared. He knew the Aes Sedai were more than able to defend themselves but if it did come to trying to fight to protect them it would be difficult to guard three of them by himself. Another guard split the work in half. He didn’t know her name, but he had seen her around the yard. She carried herself well.

 

He was glad he had been assigned to this task. He was friendly with those he interacted with on a daily basis. Many people were set in their routines, which were different from his own, so that he had never gotten a chance to meet them. This would be a good chance to him to establish new relations within the guard and the Tower.

 

His eyes scanned the crowds. There was a nervous edge to several that he had never seen before in Tar Valon. The crowds did look relieved to see the Aes Sedai though. It was good to remind them that they were not alone. There was no safer place in the world than here in Tar Valon where they had the protection of the White Tower.

 

A skinny rat scurried into the shadows around a corner and into an alley. Its long tail was the last thing to disappear, as it flicked in the air. He could see the looks disgust on the faces of the civilians who took note of it. Weeks before nobody would have dreamed of seeing a rat in Tar Valon. They had started to appear more and more frequently. People were still not used to the site though. To be honest, he wasn’t either.

 

There was a commotion up ahead. Several people had gathered in a small group around someone who was talking. He avoided resting his hand on the hilt of his sword, but he kept his hand close. There was a nervous tension in the crowd that he did not like. An old woman was standing in the center of the small crowd.

 

“He walked right through that building I tell you.” Her voice was shaky but held conviction.

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Cyrain listened to what was said, ghost she didnt know about that, but who knew, either way something would be behind the rumors, no smoke without fire in her book, which meant finally some action. She sent grinned at the trainee in glee as she headed around the litter to take up post on the other side. She did not have the size on her side and bulk of many of her fellow guards, but her trainee days though she had been reluctant to some of it had made her fit, and being slim and small had its advantages too, made her a smaller target. She flipped the red cloak back over her shoulders and let a hand rest on the hilt of her sword, entering the flame and void she took on a mask of seriousness. She also had her uniform customized enough that as the fabric shifted as she moved it was posible at times to get a hint of the shape she was in even if she was not bulging in her muscles, they were defined enough to show well, since she was so light in body build. 

 

She noted some of the crowd seemed nervous which seemed odd to her, brawls and such sure when they patrolled but this was Tar Valon, hardly anything happened her in her mind, what all was there to be nervous about. She silently shook her head to herself, then heard the comments and peeked curious in the direction they indicated, scanning the building as if to summon what they were talking about.

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The other Sisters introduced themselves to Kiyi as the litter moved off, and she carefully committed their names to memory, murmuring her thanks for the information. Subsequent conversation was somewhat desultory, ease being difficult to come by between complete strangers who had no idea of the others' alignments, interests, and opinions. No doubt they were all watching their words and weighing the other women, as Aes Sedai were prone to do.

 

The minutes ticked by, progress slowing somewhat after they had circled the White Tower grounds and hit the bustling main thoroughfare that would, eventually, lead to the Ogier Grove before it crossed the Osenrein Bridge. It was filled at this time of day with all shapes and sizes of traffic, and the clearly very experienced litter bearers demonstrated considerable navigational skills as they wound through crowds, past building works, and around the many obstacles that presented themselves.

 

Kiyi's attention was soon drawn from her companions to the passing world outside, caught up as she always was by the noise, the myriad colours, the stunning architecture, and the sheer variety of life encapsulated by Tar Valon's walls. She occupied herself with watching the crowds, registering changes since her last visit, noting which of her favourite haunts were still in business and which not, and identifying new places of interest. There appeared to be at least two new eateries that warranted her patronage while she was there.

 

A slight hitch of movement at the periphery of her vision had Kiyi turning her head to fix the trainee walking alongside with a sharp stare, noting how his hand was held close by his weapon. She followed the direction of his watchful eyes and had to agree there was cause for concern. The tension was growing and palpable throughout the gathering crowd.

 

"Tsk. That simply won't do," she muttered, and rapped imperiously on the roof of the litter with one tiny fist. As the bearers brought the conveyance to an instant halt, she spoke quietly to the other women. "We appear to have an imminent delay up ahead, Sisters. No need to disturb yourselves. A minor matter. I'll deal with it, and direct the men to bring the litter on behind." She didn't bother to add that it was a perfect excuse to get out of such a ramshackle contraption but she thought it!

 

"Oh? Yes, of course," Astradore responded, seemingly surfacing from some daydream.

 

Gathering her voluminous skirts in one hand, Kiyi prepared to alight only to find a hand courteously extended before her. Taking it, she stepped carefully onto the street, and raised her eyes up. And further up. And up a little more. And favoured the owner of the hand with a considering look before asking his name.

 

"Well, Grey, I need you to nod, listen, and generally look intimidating for the next few minutes." Kiyi's face remained impassive but her eyes hinted at suppressed laughter even as she winced self consciously on hearing her own voice; a habit she'd never quite managed to break. "We're going to have a little chat that will hopefully put an end to whatever is brewing here," she explained vaguely and then added wryly, "and I shall try not to break my neck as we do so."

 

With a quiet instruction issued to the lead litter bearer to follow on at a discreet distance, Kiyi quickly wove flows of Air that would amplify her voice, allowing it to carry clearly without being overly loud. Setting off at a gentle stroll that required Grey to hastily modify his stride to a far shorter length, the dainty Cairhienin commenced a nonchalant flow of seemingly inconsequential chatter.

 

"... and as I told the Amyrlin Seat on my return, the uproar in Caemlyn was quite the sight to see. All those silly people scared of their own shadows and muttering about ghosts walking. Well, why should that be a surprise, I ask you? Don't we celebrate the feast of Amaetheon on the sixth day of Shaldine every year to remember our dead with joy? Everyone knows the dead are merely spirits and can't hurt the living. Except for the people of Caemlyn it would seem. Poor Adine Sedai... no, I must remember she is Queen Adine now... was quite at her wits' end."

 

Kiyi turned her head enquiringly up to Grey as though he was about to speak. "Yes, yes, I know what you're thinking... what about all the Palace Guards? And you're absolutely correct. It was nothing but a distraction for the men who would be far better employed dealing with the matters they're supposed to deal with and not running about after people who are behaving like moonstruck lambs instead of civilised folk!" Kiyi allowed disgust and impatience to suffuse her tone, glancing at the crowd from beneath lowered lids. Her rambling conversation was already having an impact with people on the fringes slinking away, pretending they'd never been a part of unfolding events at all.

 

She took two more steps before coming to a sudden stop as if struck by a revelation. "One of the Yellows in attendance was careless enough then to ask the Mother what she would do if the panic spread to Tar Valon! And do you know what the reply was? Why, the Amyrlin Seat drew herself up, looked down her nose... quite haughtily, I have to say, she's very impressive when she's annoyed...and said in the firmest voice, 'Do not talk such fustian, Daughter. The citizens of Tar Valon live in the wealthiest city in the world. They are protected by elite Tower Guards...' that would be you!" Kiyi inserted, patting Grey's arm, "'... patrolling the streets day and night, not to mention sheltered under the auspices of the White Tower and the Aes Sedai. They would be ashamed to be caught behaving like mud footed villagers. This city has withstood every onslaught imaginable, what are a few ghosts to its brave people?' Never a truer word was spoken."

 

Kiyi began to stroll once more, ostensibly looking at various shop fronts and passing occasional comments about things she must buy, surreptitiously noting that the crowd had largely dispersed. Women were eagerly engaged in batting their men folk around the ears with imprecations, and sharp words about having told them so, while some men began adjuring their neighbours not to be so wool headed as to listen to people talking rubbish, and hadn't they said there was nothing to fear with Aes Sedai on the doorstep?! Satisfied, she spoke again, "Mother is of course very wise. The people of Tar Valon will hardly be troubled with harmless abnormalities. They know better and will put the residents of Caemlyn utterly to shame! Hmm, I'm sure there was somewhere selling tea in this part of the city..." Finally, she let the weave dissipate.

 

"Begging your pardon, Aes Sedai," one of the few remaining women curtsied before her while Kiyi put on a polite expression of surprise as though oblivious of the world until that very second. "I couldn't help but overhear like, and I run a small tea shop myself. Only the best quality. It would be an honour to assist you, so it would."

 

Smiling warmly, Kiyi thanked the woman and gave her name. "That's very kind of you Mistress..? Ah, Mistress Danein. If you could direct some of your mint tea to the Tower, I'd be very grateful and I'll be sure to share your direction with my Sisters of course." She was well aware of how such patronage could impact the woman's business and it would only serve to emphasise the benefits of not annoying the Aes Sedai with silly talk about ghosts!

 

They had exchanged only a few brief words on the efficacy of certain teas in dealing with headaches when Astradore appeared at her shoulder.

 

"That was very good, Kiyi," she murmured quietly, then raised her voice and spoke to the townswoman, "Mistress Danein, was it? Tell me, and do be quite honest, have you seen ghosts in Tar Valon? Or do you know anyone who has claimed this?" 

 

Kiyi held her tongue, slightly exasperated by the bluntness of the questioning. Whites! 

 

Thankfully, Mistress Danein saw nothing amiss and mentioned in an offhand fashion that rumours of ghosts and other strange occurrences had started springing up all over the city only a week before, initially near Southharbor.  Astradore nodded in satisfaction and Kiyi inclined her chin in thanks, before they excused themselves. Kiyi watched the woman withdraw, deciding she would make a useful contact in future. Looking to the road ahead, it was to find no sign of the crowd that had previously blocked the thoroughfare. She vouchsafed no comment, merely flicking dancing eyes up at Grey before following the White who had already set off after the litter which had passed them a few moments before.

 

Having progressed further down the road, safely away from their point of origin, Kiyi's overriding passion for education took over, as it was wont to do. She spoke softly, modulating her voice to minimise the ever present smokiness, "A lesson worth remembering, Grey. If you know how to use this," she tapped her head at the temple, "then it will be less necessary to resort to, what will no doubt become, your excellent knowledge of this," she tapped a finger on the hilt of Grey's sword, her face revealing nothing. "A Tower Guard need not simply be able to use external weapons of their trade when they can be so much more. Do not restrict yourself as others do. It will open up vastly more opportunities in future. Ah... and here is the litter!"  

 

Kisathera was there before them and, once Astradore had settled herself again, Kiyi returned to her earlier perch, encased once more in stillness as the Sisters proceeded to fill each other in regarding all their newly uncovered information. 

 

 

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Cyrain watched the Sister do her thing, and suddenly they were all gone and there was no one to talk too about ghosts. She took a last look at the building they been in front of thinking she could go back later and look at it. Ghosts she wasn't so sure about, but maybe something else was going on, like something making them think it was ghosts, something that she could stick her nose into and get some fun. 

 

She wondered if she should maybe bring someone along. It was always more fun if one had company on adventures, but she decided she had plenty time to figure that out later. Time to focus again as she trod along with the litter watching for where the Aes Sedai and trainee went too.

 

Meanwhile she absently picked out one of her smaller knives from up her sleeve and started trimming a nail that had ripped as they walked, before flipping the blade back into place. Her hand went back to the handle of the longer dagger on her hip.

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"Tsk. That simply won't do," Kiyi muttered. Astradore drew her attention from the buildings and to the other Sister as she rapped on the ceiling. The litter came to a halt. "We appear to have an imminent delay up ahead, Sisters. No need to disturb yourselves. A minor matter. I'll deal with it, and direct the men to bring the litter on behind."

"Oh? Yes, of course," she replied. The White had been daydreaming about the beautiful architecture. Every time she did venture out of the Tower, the Tairen always told herself she would spend more time out in the city, but it never came to be. She was sure her free time was ample, yet most of that was reading books, for both pleasure and research, and doing mathematics.
 

By the time the litter stopped and Astradore got out,  she caught the tail end of whatever Kiyi had been saying, talking about the Amyrlin Seat and a conversation about how brave the people of Tar Valon should be. Ah, so that's what Kiyi was doing. The White watched the crowd disperse, and in that dispersion she saw a rat running under a stall. She was not disgusted with the animal at all, but was indeed disturbed by what their presence meant. Shen glided over to join Kiyi as she requested some tea to be sent to the Tower.

"That was very good, Kiyi," she said with a hint of satisfaction in her voice. She kept glancing around, however, not looking at her sister. The crowd had thinned, and that was fine, for she was sure the shopkeepers would be much more useful.


"Mistress Danein, was it?" she asked the woman selling tea, her eyes finally settling on the woman. There was no point in avoiding the topic, and people gave plenty of space to the two Aes Sedai. "Tell me, and do be quite honest, have you seen ghosts in Tar Valon?" She did not think of being more discreet, for what was the point? Indeed, she needed to get right to the point. "Or do you know anyone who has claimed this?"

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Following the lead of the stronger and the younger, Kisathera held her tongue as Kiyi went ahead of her into the litter, but when it came to politics it would never be her strong suit. Even if she was walked over by weaker and younger Aes Sedai then herself. She could already her a Yellow or two be absolutely affront by it. But when it comes to anything out of the Infirmary, Kisathera was relatively unfamiliar either way. Perhaps experience set them apart more than strength in this scenario. Yes, That would be how she felt about it. It was not that she was giving deference to strength, merely experience and enthusiasm. She was support, not a lead. 

 

The current of the air among those she spoke to was of fear and of annoyance. The streets were filthy. People were unhappy about this. It was not good for business. But they did not want to go out and do it themselves, feeling spooked by 'renegade' power form the White Tower. Or at least that was one of the rumors that she heard.  She kept closer to Cyrain and Grey, at least keeping them within sight as she talked to people. Astradore was much more sociable than her, Kiyi moreso with her open ears. Feeling deeply out of her element, she tried.

 

A few seamstresses claimed to have seen nothing, but spoke of rumors of customers seeing figures and spirits. People talked during fittings, but it was all second hand. Thanking the ladies each in turn, Kisathera caught up with the litter while watching Kiyi and Astradore speak to the tea seller from afar. It was clear to her that Astradore caught the tea seller off guard. She wondered if they received more information. Fully intending to tell the other two Aes Sedai that the majority of the ghostly figures were seen in the older parts of Tar Valon, and many near the Grove. 

 

Seamstresses hear and remember many things.

 

 

Kisathera Nilyron

Aes Sedai of the Yellow Ajah

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  • 7 months later...

Cyrain listened absentmindly as she walked beside the litter, so they were on to a new place. This seemed to have the potential for a long dreary day just walking around talking to people and not really geting into any fun, typical Aes Sedai, she just hoped they would be back in time for her to hit one or two of the pubs later. She sipped her waterskin as she scanned the crowd silently, wondering how Grey was doing on the other side of the litter.

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