Out with the Old - In with the New (Lone RP)

[Seiaman]

ooc: This is occuring a bit later in Seia's timeline. Post-Turning & post-retirement. So I can play out their relationship.

 

Part One

 

IC: Seiaman laid the broom against the wall - her eyes sweeping across the common room. The Rose's Thorn grew faster than anticipated - she had just bought the place not more than a fortnight ago and the only thing left to do was to open the doors. It had seemed to be too good to be true that on the day of her retirement from the Tower Guards - the former Inn had closed its doors and was put up for sale. Whatever the reason, Seiaman didn't inquire but she had used up half of her life savings to purchase the site. For now, it was more of a tavern and eventually, the extra rooms on the 2nd floor would be furnished to turn the Tavern to a full-fledged Inn. The rooms upstairs were barren for the time being - the floor above it were her private quarters that took up the whole floor. The only way to access it was through a trap door in the ceiling and Seiaman left it as it is. Her belongings from the Tower Guard barracks were moved to her new residence and for the time being, it looked as if she led a minimalist life. She had windows with views of Tar Valon and the White Tower. The previous owners had actually left everything behind but Seiaman knew better than to continue using it as it looked as if Everything went to the poor - beds, chairs, tables, even the rusty kitchenware. The backroom behind the common room was actually once a storage but Seiaman already knew what the new purpose of that room would be. She had it refitted from a storage room to a large sitting room - she had bookshelves built into the walls and replaced the two barracaded doors with two large doors that opened outward to an alley that had an abandoned house across from it. Her future plans were to buy that house and the alley from the city and turn it into a private garden and bathhouse. All in due time.

 

The wooden walls and floor had been sanded and polished to a dark cherry shine with pewter oil lamps situated around the room. It provided enough light that there weren't any candles necessary to be placed on the window. And the fireplace was large enough to fit three children of 10 years, bordered with clustered rocks the size of a man's fist. The walls were covered with weapons found at the furthest corner of the lands, highest mountain, and deepest valley that she could find. They were permanently attached to the walls - she would not risk having a drunk customer ripping a weapon off the wall and wrecking havoc in the tavern. Day after the next, the benches and tables would arrive from a woodsworker that she had struck a deal with. No one else would provide support and services to her regarding woodworking except him. The bar was extended to run from wall to wall, already stocked with wine, ale, and spirits. Behind the bar, she had inserted a long window that granted view of the kitchens. As Seiaman glanced through, the head cook was telling her assistants where to put what - again, Seiaman seemed to have the stroke of luck granted by the Great Lord that the woman herself was from Altara.

 

A loud crash jolted Seiaman out of her musings and she overheard the cook muttering curses under her breath. She let out a smile and picked up a small trash bag and walked to the back of the tavern to the trash barrel in the alley. As soon as she stepped outside, the sight of a street urchin was standing before the barrel - glaring up at the White Tower. "What have we here?" She had to hide her amusement as the wiry child jumped and fell to the floor - she grabbed the urchin's ragged shirt and picked her up off the floor, moving her head to the side as a fist came predictably. Seia tossed the child to the floor lightly and knelt down - judging by the kid's reaction, her speed was unparalleled. The edge of her small axe pressed against the kid's neck. "I bet you're hungry." Sky blue eyes smoldered with anger and distrust shot up at her with a snarl on the lips. "What's it to you?!"

 

A flash of memory came and went - one of her mother bringing in street urchins to feed them and bathe them. Then send them off their way. Those who came back, Roseli helped. "More than you know." She sheathed her axe and stood up. "I'm Seiaman. Come, you like chicken?" She turned around and walked into the tavern, half expecting the child to run off and half to follow. She heard a slight scuffle with a pause - then the nearly silent footsteps following her. "Brandy! Pull out one of the chickens and warm it up, will you?" Seiaman leapt over the bar and turned to face the small child still eyeing her with distrust. "Pull up a seat." She poured spiced wine in two flagons and placed one in front of the child as she sat on the barstool. The flagon was quickly emptied. "What's your name?"

 

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Rat watched the woman retreat back into the building - she quickly jumped up and hesitated. Admittedly, the temptation of food was great but the prospect of being captured into slavery was greater. If I am captured, I'll just escape. Pretend to become sick. And before the door closed fully - she pulled it open and followed the woman named Seiaman Odd name. into the open into a large common room which admittedly looked a lot better than the old Inn. She knew because she came in here a few times to receive an assignment from the Innkeeper. The woman shouted through what seemed to be a window then leapt gracefully over the bar. Rat had to keep the awed look off of her face, reminding herself that this woman just may try to enslave her. That thought brought a scowl back on her face quickly. Seiaman turned to face her, "Pull up a seat." and poured two cups of some kind of liquid. To drug me, maybe.

 

But her dry throat won the argument. Rat sat up on the tall stool and took the cup, brought it up to her nose. Realizing that it was the luxurious spiced wine, she quickly downed the cup and pushed it to Seiaman for more. "What's your name?" She looked up at the woman - oddly enough, the patch over one eye didn't bother her. She has seen worse in the streets. "I'll tell you if you give me some more." The woman let out a laugh. "Please." And she was rewarded with a fresh cup - this time she took her leisure in drinking the sweet liquid. "Dunno my real name. They's call me Rat." The woman's eyebrow raised slightly, "You speak pretty well for a street rat." Rat averted her eyes. "I listen a lot." She had to - to be a spy for well-raised people and understand what was being said and how to report it. But she wouldn't say as much.

 

The chicken was smelling more delicious by every passing minute. Her eyes darted between her drink, the woman, and the kitchen when a steaming plate appeared. Seiaman turned to retrieve it and laid it in front of her. "Go ahead." Something passed within the woman's eyes. Rat wasted no time in pulling the plate closer and meticulously eating every edible scrab. "You have any parents?" Rat shook her head. "A guardian?" Again, the head shook. Every bite was like nothing she ever ate before, she had to force herself to slow down so she could enjoy every single morsel. "Where do you sleep?" Rat shrugged her shoulders as she nibbled on a wing. There was an itch developing between her shoulder blades though - she had a feeling this woman was seeking for a child slave. She sat up straight and took a drink of the wine. Then she looked defiantly in the woman's lone eye. "You gonna make me a slave?" The woman smiled and Rat was about ready to bolt with the chicken in one hand and the drink in the other. "On the contrary. How would you like to stay here as my cousin?" A loud clatter came from the chicken and a woman's plump face turned to face towards them.

 

"What do I have to do?" The woman grinned and took a sip from her own drink. "I didn't realize we were negotiating." The itch eased slightly and Rat returned her attention to the chicken. "Just help around here a little bit. I'll teach you whatever you'd like to know. You'll stay in your own room up on the 2nd floor, free to come and go." Rat darted an suspecious look at the woman. "Of course, we'll need to give you a more suitable name than Rat. A new name for a new life, hm?"

 

"Why?" The woman shugged and leaned over the bar, "Why not? Surely you'd prefer a daily bath, daily food, a roof over your head, clean clothes, and a former Tower Guard for your entertainments." Rat kept the surprise and continue to eat her chicken which was nearly gone by now. So she wants to train me up to join the Guards. Bloody hell if that'll happen. She sat quietly for a few moments until her chicken was finished and her drink was halfway empty. "Can I stay here for the night and think on it?" Seiaman smiled and nodded. "I'll draw you a bath then get you a fresh set of clothes."

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Seiaman leaned back on her makeshift chair as the fire roared in the fireplace. Rat had fell into a deep slumber after the bath in one of the guest rooms in the 2nd floor - she had picked the room that had the only view of the White Tower. Brandy sat across from her on a thick stool from the kitchens and she was rambling about how daft Seiaman was for bringing in a street urchin and offering to adopt it. "Enough." Surely, the Great Lord was smiling down on her - the easy retirement, the findings of the Inn, the Altara cook, and now a child that had enough darkness that she could possibly nurture a new generation of Darkfriends. And if the child could channel, the better the luck for Seiaman. A smile came up on her lips, "It's all for the good, Brandy. Trust me."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Rat slowly woke up and as soon as her eyes focused, she jolted awake and sat up quickly. She looked around the room and surmised that everything was the way she had left it in the morning. She glanced out of the window, the sun had not risen yet but the sky was getting lighter by the minute. She jumped out of the bed and walked to the window, looking up at the White Tower. This is a dream. Rat pinched herself and scowled at the red mark appearing - she looked back out through the window and still saw the White Tower standing there. Not a dream. She grinned and leapt with joy, bounding to the bed and threw herself onto the soft mattress. Granted it had no posts and it laid on the floor but it was much better than her recent beds. And it's clean. She laid there for a few more minutes.

 

But she had to admit that she was still suspecious of this being a trick. That the woman was lulling her into a trusting state of mind before clasping the feared child-slave on her. Perhaps I can test her. She rose from the bed with a nod of the head. At the first sign of ill will, Rat would simply disappear. Tar Valon was big enough for her to hide for a long time from the woman who had meant to chain her down. Rat stood up and smoothed her new clothes - it was a simple breeches and shirt but it was the first clean set she wore that didn't have holes or stains on it. Her new shoes laid on the floor besides the door but she had never worn shoes. And she did not feel like starting now.

 

Tendrils of sweet flavored bread rose through the floorboards - her stomach growled loudly. The only reason she had picked this room was because it was directly above the kitchens. With a new desire, she leapt out of her room and ran down the stairs and stopped at the very last step. Seiaman was helping a boy carry a long wooden table into the common room - Rat had no idea the woman was already awake. She stood there quietly. watching the woman who took her in gracefully bring the table down and quickly wipe it down with a rag. She felt her eyes widening at exactly how quick Seiaman did it then she narrowed her eyes in sheer suspecion. There was more to this person than she let on, Rat knew it.

 

Seiaman straighted up and turned to face her, "You're up early!" A smile was on her lips, "Brandy! Prep a plate!" She turned to the boy and tossed him a gold coin for his help. "Come come, sit." She patted the seat of a bar stool and Rat gingerly complied. The plate came quickly and her stomach growled at the sight. And without further prodding, she dug in the steaming eggs and meat. Seiaman came and went, moving the tables around until the arrangement satisfied her. She drank her goat's milk and cleaned off her plate when the older woman sat back down next to her. "Would you protest if I suggested a new name other than Rat?" The last of the toast was washed down with the last of the goat's milk. "Why? What's wrong with Rat?"

 

Seiaman smiled - "Nothing. If you want to keep it, you can. But a lot of people will be coming here and you'll be meeting many of them. Rat may not be a ... suitable name." Rat shrugged, mulling over the words. At least she's not forcing it on me. "What names?" She pushed the plate away and turned to face the older woman, studying her expression. "I was thinking Coraman. In the Old Tongue, it means Night Dragon." And almost immediately, Rat liked it. She surpressed the surprise and growing feeling to please this older woman. "That's ok, I guess." She shrugged, "Whatever strikes your fancy, ma'am."

 

The older woman smirked, as if she knew that she liked the new name. "First rule, Coraman. No calling me ma'am. There are no formalities between us but I expect you to carry that formality with those who come here." Rat nodded, "Ok. What's the second rule?" She waited for the woman to go off on a tirade of everything she needed to do, all of the chores and whatnot. But instead, Seiaman smiled and pulled out two silver coins. "Go out and have fun. Buy yourself some clothes and shoes. The midday meal will be served at high sun so come back then." Rat felt her jaw go slack as her gaze went between Seiaman and the two silver coins she held out in her palm. "That ... but ... I never held as much money before. I... I..." Seia shook her head and stood up, pressing the coins in Cora's palm. "I'm going to treat you like my child. You go on, have fun. And spend it all." The woman turned around and walked off to the back room, leaving Coraman in her befuddled state. She looked down at her coins and traced her fingers on the embossment. "Coraman." A small smile came up on her lips as she jumped off the stool and ran out into the street.

[Seiaman]

Seiaman watched the girl run out of the door and shook her head with a smile on her lips. It had been too long since she had seen a look of awe and excitement in its purest form with no hint of a taint or damage. With all of the bleakness of her life; fulfilling duties, traveling, seeing pain and death - it felt good to give someone a hope at life. Hardly a trait of a Darkfriend though. She grimaced at the thought; surely her Master would not object at her doings. I'm doing good, as if I still love the Light. The smile slipped off her face and she walked up to the front door - looking up at the White Tower. Over the horizon of the city, she could see the towers and Sirayn came to mind. That woman had pledged her life to that place, to the Light. And she received nothing but pain and hardships. Well, that'll change soon. All she had to do was remind herself that with the help of the Great Lord, Sirayn would find peace even for just a few minutes with her. And later, she will realize that it is the Great Lord who wants His servants to be content. She spat on the ground - inwardly cursing the Tower and the Creator. For all of the good that they tried to do, it was not enough for her anymore.

 

~*~*~*~*~*

Coraman returned at high noon to find Seiaman waiting for her - with a full plate of food and more coins. "We'll be opening this place up to the public tomorrow." Cora nodded while her mouth was stuffed with food. She still waited for the woman to say that Cora had to help clean and cook. "It's up to you if you want to stick around or not. Let me know what you'd like to do." She glanced at the one-eyed woman - hiding her surprise with a nod. A couple more silvers appeared before her. She still waited for the question of what she did her the two silvers she got this morning. They were still burning a hole in her new shoes - she refused to spend the money, instead saving it in case she found herself on the run from this generous woman. "I have one favor I need to ask of you." She produced a letter with a seal and writing on it. But since Cora couldn't read, she had no idea what it said. "I need you to deliver this to the White Tower - go up the giant steps and you'll see a woman in a plain white dress." Her throat tightened and she couldn't swallow. Go to the White Tower? Fear must've been obvious in her eyes for Seiaman smiled gently. "They won't hurt you. Just curtsey, request that the letter gets delivered to Tiassale Sedai, thank her, then turn away."

 

She stammered, finally have had swallowed the food in her mouth. "Ok." She wished she hadn't eaten so much food, now her stomach was threatening to reject all of it. "I'll.... do my best." She took the letter and stuffed it in her inside tunic pocket. "You'll do fine. We may be expecting a guest tonight so come back by the fifth bell to bathe." The words were lost, the mere idea of going to the White Tower and facing one of these women who could channel unnerved her to no end.

 

Jumping off of the stool and walking out the door, she glanced up at the White Tower and felt the food in her stomach roll uncomfortably. Cora took a deep breath and started to walk towards the center of Tar Valon - each footstep seemingly heavier and harder to make. She felt like she was going to sick up at any minute. Finally reaching the gate, she answered the guard's question of her business and stepped inside - looking around the massive place. Men and woman with weapons fighting each other could be seen in the distance - a small semi-circle of girls in plain white dresses could be seen with a woman standing in the middle, gesturing with her hands - she wore a yellow shawl. The closer she walked towards the great stairs that Seiaman described, the more women she saw wearing different colored shawls. Some of them wore blue while others wore red. The ones who wore green did not see her and she was forced to cower while they seemed to walk through her; she felt as if she was invisible to them.

 

Oh Light, I'm going to sick up. She slowly made her way up to the White Tower, her hands were trembling and she fought for control over her stomach. A man with a long scar running down the side of his face; over his eye and mouth seemed not to notice her. He had a sword strapped to his back and she quickened her steps once she realized that the sword was longer than her height. Entering the doors of the Great Hall - her eyes widened at the sheer number of women walking around in plain dresses - some of them had a colored band at the hem. Her stomach rolled its contents again. They could kill her if they wanted to. All it'd take was a glance and she'd be gone. Seiaman wouldn't miss me. The mere thought nearly forced the food to defy gravity.

 

A woman in a plain white dress turned towards her and smiled. "May I be of assistance, child?" Coraman's mouth was dry and she started to stammer. "I-I-I ne-need t-t-t-to," The woman smiled and stepped closer, while prompted Cora to take a step back. Her stomach was near its limitations. "T-T-T-T-Tiassale S-s-s-s-Sedai." Her hand groped for the letter and she couldn't find it. A sob escaped her throat until her hand grasped the paper. "L-L-L-Letter." Pity smothered the woman's face, "It's okay, you don't need to be frightened." Coraman realized she forgot to curtsey and she did so - and at the exact moment, her stomach decided to empty.

 

She fell to the floor and couldn't stop her stomach from pushing its contents out. The woman in the plain white dress shrieked and bounced back. A servant ran up to her with a bucket and another came with a large rag - both whispering soothingly. When she finally was able to stand up, Cora glanced up to see the woman holding a hankercheif over her nose. Her eyes welled up with tears and she thrusted the letter in the woman's hand. And without a second look, she ran out of the Great Hall and the White Tower. She felt humiliated and weak. If Seiaman ever asked her to deliver another letter, Coraman would plead for her to send someone else.

[Seiaman]

Coraman sat in the tub - rinsing herself down. The bitter taste of bile still rested in her mouth - no amount of drinks or meat pies was able to completely remove the taste. Seiaman was sympathetic to her story and promised that she wouldn't send Coraman to the White Tower again until she felt ready to. But she still felt embarrasssed. Her eyes had seen the worst that the streets could provide but the mere sight of a woman who could channel and could kill her if she felt it was simply unbearable to look at. A knock came through the door followed by a voice. "You alright in there?"

 

"Yeah. I'm almost done." Coraman finished up her bath and wrapped a warm towel around her then quickly made her way to her room. The smells of dinner rose through the floorboards, her stomach rolled again but in hunger. Seiaman did not say who was coming but she had hoped that it was not an Aes Sedai. One of the warriors that served them, that would do but not an Aes Sedai. "Please please please, Creator. Not an Aes Sedai." She changed into a simple black shirt and black slacks that Seiaman had bought for her earlier in the day. It was surprising that they fit so well and a glance in the mirror reflected back an image of a girl that was ready to fight. She unsheathed her mock sword and danced around her room, pretending that she was fighting a Darkfriend - curses and taunts escaped her lips and she finally killed her imaginative enemy by beheading. "The name is Coraman, you fiend. Remember that name."

 

A movement caught her eye and she looked up to see Seiaman leaning at the door frame with a grin on her face. "Well fought, darling. He had no chance at all." Cora smiled nervously and felt her face going red. "Put on your shoes then come on down. Our company will be here soon." She felt her insides going rigid and the blood must've drained from her face, for Seiaman had stepped closer and knelt down to look at her eye-level. "I'm here with you, ok? Her name is Sirayn Sedai but she won't harm you. I promise." Cora started to bite her lip and nodded. "You'll be fine." The woman rose up and stepped out of the rooms - Coraman realized what the woman was wearing. Not her usual garb but more elegant and sophisicated. She jumped on her bed and quickly laced up her knee-high black leather boots - another thing that Seiaman had bought her. And for a minute, she sat on the edge of her bed - steeling herself for her first encounter with an Aes Sedai. Coraman had no idea what to expect; she did not even know how to behave around an Aes Sedai which caused her nerves to be rattled.

 

Rising up from the bed, she glanced at the mirror - taken aback with what she saw. Her hair was loose around her shoulders - Her all black garb made her look like she was a warrior. With a deep breath, the face of aloofness and wariness took over and she made her way down to the common room.

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Seiaman stroked the fire to its full roar - the night was unusually chilly and she hoped that Sirayn would welcome the warmth and openness of her Inn. Deep inside, she was nervous about her meeting Coraman and how she'd take to it but she shook that thought of her mind. The door opened and Seia rose from the fireplace, turning to see Sirayn Sedai of the Green Ajah entering her Inn for the first time. She walked up to the woman and bowed deeply before her; taking her good hand and kissing the Great Serpeant ring while she caressed the woman's palm. "I am glad that you came, Sirayn Sedai." Seiaman straightened and motioned towards the common room for Sirayn to look about. Teacups and a tea kettle sat on a small round table with two leather chairs nearby the fire. And she watched the woman stroll about the room with a longing to take her in her arms.

 

~ Seiaman Kera & Coraman

[Sirayn]

Retirement was a word she was scarcely even acquainted with. It had not remotely crossed her mind in connection with herself and people she knew; it did not happen to sisters until advancing age had burned every scrap of usefulness from once sharp minds and weary frames, and while she might admit to the occasional moment on cold mornings in which she remembered how old her bones actually were, she was certainly far from done in her service to the Tower. To think of somebody who had once fought alongside her having retired from duty disconcerted her greatly. For that somebody to be Seiaman Kera … always the boldest and the strongest of the Tower Guard, a heron-marked blademaster, who had fought the Black Ajah with her in Tear and the Aiel at Dumai’s Wells … needed serious consideration.

 

Ordinary folk did not live a quarter so long as Aes Sedai, of course, and by their standards Seiaman had lived long and fought hard. The difficulties of life as a soldier must have taken their toll. Perhaps being struck down in the mud at Dumai’s Wells and left for dead had had its effects as well. All the same, somehow she had imagined that Seiaman would never fail or falter. Part of her remembered the Ebou Dari woman only as her Warder; did not even want to picture Seiaman with her sleeves rolled up in some inn somewhere, forgetting all about the path of the blade, no longer bonded to anyone. Memories and complicated feelings only confused her, but that was the heart of it, if she could only put it into words. She felt forgotten: pushed aside for this strange inn. Seiaman had made a different life that did not include small, crippled Aes Sedai.

 

Not that she did not have every right to do so. Considered coldly, maybe this was best for everyone. Her ex Gaidin now practised her mother’s profession as an innkeeper and doubtless it was a satisfying life; maybe while all that was going on, out of sight and far from her attention, Sirayn herself could be getting on with the work she kept interrupting for this unfeeling woman. She didn’t have time for Seiaman Kera and the host of troubles that came with her … the lying, the protestations of love, the treachery and the predictable departures. Yet for some strange reason, Seiaman had chosen to start her inn in Tar Valon. Why here? It offered no better prospects for commerce than anywhere else. And that kept her forever in sight. Just an hour’s stroll from the Tower, enough so that when Sirayn was out in the evenings on business, if she ever wanted to, she could just drop by.

 

Irony and bitterness filled her up just about beyond words. If anyone else had come after her with a knife, insulted her value as an Aes Sedai, deserted her repeatedly for another woman, abandoned her on several occasions and rounded this off with the occasional recurrence of this bizarre puppet show about loving her -- the depth of her feeling undoubtedly expressed through all the time spent with Jaydena Sedai instead, she had certainly heard about the roses and gifts left at a certain door -- she would have had them thrown out of Tar Valon long ago. Instead she tolerated everything Seiaman did … even the advances that left her cold and shaking and inwardly terrified, remembering a thousand horrors, because Seiaman never listened or cared when she objected. All endured for no other reason than that she was a fool and did not forget as easily as everyone else.

 

Unfortunately, on account of that being a fool, knowing how reckless and unwise it was did not stop her accepting an invitation to dinner. She ought to refuse as coolly as any other Aes Sedai would when she had more pressing matters to deal with than a dubiously motivated ex-Gaidin; in fact, what she did was write a dispassionate response, confirming that she would indeed be there for dinner tonight. Had it been so long already that Seiaman was ready to open her inn? The Rose’s Thorn: she did not need a gleeman to tell her the symbolism there and it worried her a great deal. Seiaman was free now to do whatever she liked with whoever she wanted, even with the now masked but no less gorgeous Jaydena Sedai, so long as none of this involved her.

 

That evening despite her best intentions she found herself preparing as carefully as any shy youngster for her first date. This was by no means a date, nor had she been young in two hundred years … but her heart raced a little just the same, and when she finally arranged her dark green skirts and finished twisting her dark hair up into a knot, a tiny part of her held this irrational hope that when she next looked into the mirror she would be transformed: no longer drab, tiny Sirayn but someone much more beautiful and tempting. Instead she looked much as anyone would have expected, like a plain woman of unremarkable looks, only smartly dressed this time.

 

A date indeed. If she had seen such foolishness in a novice she would have scolded the child. Maybe she had scolded herself enough already. Gathering her courage, fixing a mask of composure in place, Sirayn exited her quarters letting the wards spring up in her absence and headed down through many levels. Stone white as marble glittered beneath the touch of evening sunshine; a scarlet line here, a pool of rich red light there, and all around the hush of oncoming dusk as the novices scuttled about their errands in a flash of ivory skirts. Outside the city lay ice cold and stirring with life. A skilled observer viewed a city, or other equivalent body, not as a string of houses but rather as a complicated organism in its own right; where cheap labour fed the businesses, which poured gold into the pockets of the rich, who in turn established commerce which provided labour for the poor. And where did an inn fit into this?

 

Barring unforeseen incidents like those which had a curious habit of claiming sisters’ lives, Tar Valon held a great deal of respect for the likes of her, and Sirayn crossed through busy streets without so much as a careless thought for her own safety. The danger had gone up recently of course with her ascension to that most prized position, Ajah Head, but equally her confidence had risen in inverse proportion to her faith in everyone else. It escaped her entirely why sisters bothered with an escort of Tower Guards or anyone else; their skills were so small in comparison to the One Power, and their responses scarcely quicker than those of a vigilant Aes Sedai, that their company was all the more galling for their presumption and insolence. Now what gain they could possibly give she could not imagine.

 

Against a western sky prettily touched with red, the Rose’s Thorn stood proud and tall; its shadow lapped at her feet where she stood across the cobbled street. She examined its outside with cynical eyes. It looked well cared for, though when one was retired of course one had nothing better to do than take care of inns … and the sign which hung above the door showed her an image resonant with significance for her. It all seemed like a message she had no way of translating. Some kind of implicit warning? A reminder of their past history? Nothing whatsoever to do with her? She wasn’t certain which outcome would be most problematic. Maybe all this was just a sophisticated way of displaying the life Seiaman had chosen, one much more rewarding, and which did not involve crippled Aes Sedai at all.

 

Ironic that after all the Dreadlords and the worst the Shadow could throw at her, she found the idea of entering a former friend’s inn so daunting. Tai’shar Battle Ajah: the thought produced a wry smile and she crossed the street, silent on the cobbles, and entered the inn. Inside a fire burned merrily in the grate creating a welcome warmth. The rooms seemed spacious and well appointed, the wooden furnishings of good make and she suspected that a good amount of coin had gone into setting this place up. Briefly sounds distracted her from upstairs … footsteps perhaps … and with a sharp sting of jealousy she wondered whether some lover was up there; a pretty young lady perhaps, or maybe even Jaydena Sedai herself, she couldn’t fault anyone for choosing that one; but belatedly she remembered Seiaman had said something about keeping some kind of child here, a fosterling, of no interest to her. She dismissed the footsteps.

 

As always, the sight of Seiaman Kera herself in all her dark Ebou Dari glory produced an odd sense of hurt and regret … memories of a thousand small moments, all long lost now, and everything she had missed in the dark days after Dumai’s Wells. Partly she knew that Seiaman’s affections were fleeting at best, that the woman had deserted the folk she claimed to love so many times it was no longer a surprise any more, but partly … partly she still remembered a time when she would have done nearly anything to think that Seiaman felt anything for her, if she could just have let herself imagine she was in some way preferred to a certain Green Sitter … but of course who would choose the plain one, the awkward soldier above one as glittering and perfect as Jaydena? But she was not that weak any more. She needed nobody and nothing.

 

Composure hid her inward discomfort while Seiaman bowed before her and kissed her ring lightly. It was a simple enough gesture, but the caress of fingers against her palm lit some kind of electric, uncomfortable sensation in her. She hated to think that anyone could make her feel something. She took her hand back when she could politely do so and did her best to ignore this strange warmth. “Think nothing of it.†Smooth tones betrayed no hint of feeling, though at this moment she was remembering again that Seiaman had kissed her amid snow and death in a Borderlander winter … but why, and what for, she had never quite been able to discern. “The inn looks smart. You have put a lot of time into it since your … retirement?†Not quite a question. Retirement still sounded strange on her tongue, what was retirement for, why had she retired? “So how is Jaydena Sedai these days? I haven’t spoken a civil word to her since she called me a coward and I threw her out of my quarters. And am I to meet your guest tonight?â€

[Seiaman]

Seiaman hid a smile at Sirayn's composure. The woman strolled not so far but her eyes lingered on the walls where the weapons lay. Seiaman walked towards the table and began to pour the tea. "The inn looks smart. You have put a lot of time into it since your … retirement?" She raised an amused eyebrow with a quick glance at the Aes Sedai as she added light honey to the already sweetened tea. "So how is Jaydena Sedai these days? I haven’t spoken a civil word to her since she called me a coward and I threw her out of my quarters. And am I to meet your guest tonight?"

 

She took a seat in the leather chair and leaned back with the cooling tea. "I wouldn't know how Jaydena Sedai fares and you know the reason why." Sirayn spared a glance her way and their eyes met. But she knew the woman would not see the hurt and resentment at the implication as there once was. But instead determination and hunger for another. "And yes, you will meet Coraman tonight. She should be down shortly." She placed the teacup back on the table and rose up, walking towards Sirayn. The woman turned to face her completely but she did not move. Seiaman let a finger slowly drag down her cheek and she leaned forward but not too close. Her voice was low, "Believe me when I say that I've missed you." Granted, that was aggressive but as of late, Seiaman knew that she had to be. And careful too, that she didn't cause more harm than she could heal.

 

Sirayn simply looked up at her, seemingly untouched and unmoved. But she would not believe that the woman was as unfeeling as she appeared to be. "You're welcome to tell me all about how you missed me ... behind a privacy ward, if you please." Seiaman smiled softly and nodded, "I shall do as you please." She stepped away as she cleared her throat and walked over to the entrance to the kitchens. Moments later, she appeared from the kitchens with her hands full of steaming Ebou Dari dishes that fared on the tender side of roasted chicken with herbs, buttered potatoes, and beans. A simple dinner but with all of the Altaran spices that Brandy got from her trader cousins.

 

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Voices came from below and Coraman hesitated before she walked down the steps. She could discern Seiaman's voice but not the other woman's. Her voice sounded smooth and unruffled; if she had to describe it she would say it was like listening to a steady stream of water gliding over smooth pebbles. A smirk covered her lips as the woman asked of another named Jaydena Sedai - she would've imagined a similar reaction of throwing the person out if they dared insulted her. Then her insides tightened when the woman inquired about 'the guest'. Seiaman spoke up, she could hear the faint sound of water being poured. "I wouldn't know how Jaydena Sedai fares and you know the reason why." Cora frowned, the inevitable question appearing in her thoughts although she wouldn't broach this subject with the woman around for fear it meant bad blood.

 

"And yes, you will meet Coraman tonight. She should be down shortly." A moment passed in silence when Coraman made to move down the stairs when she heard Seiaman's faint voice. And the woman's. "Believe me when I say that I've missed you." There was a tenderness in her foster mother's voice and Cora froze in surprise. The other woman's voice remained cool and unruffled as the water, "You're welcome to tell me all about how you missed me ... behind a privacy ward, if you please." Cora pressed her body against the wall; the slow realization just who this woman meant to Seiaman. Then the thought caught her attention, perhaps Seiaman took Coraman in to win the woman's heart, to show that she was soft and loving - to use her as a tool. But the anger faded in the surprise that her foster mother bedded other women. No, not just any woman. Aes Sedai. The mere thought of being intimate with a person who held such power and magic clenched Coraman's insides. She was sure not to eat tonight.

 

Seiaman's voice was softer, Cora had to strain to hear the words but she only caught the last. "..you please." Then a throat cleared and footsteps walked towards the kitchens followed by the clatter of dishes being moved around. Who was this woman that Seiaman seemed to love? And who was Jaydena Sedai? A few moments passed as the sound of dishes being settled on the table echoed up the stairways. With an internal sigh, Coraman started down the steps but stopped at the last one; her eyes meeting with the Aes Sedai's.

 

The woman was different as she imagined. For some reason - all the tales of Aes Sedai seemed to portray them as tall and curvaceous women; with long silky hair and a decisive softness about them. It made sense to her that they'd all follow this sort of appearance since the stories were told by men and women who believed that Aes Sedai were schemers with a hidden trait for deceiving others to get what they wanted. But with this woman, her notions of how an Aes Sedai was to be were demolished. She was short; her hair was dark and pulled up to a tight knot and her face had a hardness to it, accompanied with the ageless look that was repeated in the Sedai stories. The woman's eyes seemed to watch Coraman with equal scrutiny; as if she could see through all of her walls and learn her secrets without much difficulty. For a moment, Coraman felt like a mouse being studied by a hawk. And that hawk would have no issues whatsoever in the kill of a mere mouse.

 

She battled inside, whether to play the shy character; one easily intimidated and scared. Or the defiant character, unrelenting and challenging. She had a feeling that the latter would not please Seiaman. "Aes Sedai." Coraman stepped down the last step and remembered Seiaman's request for manners. She bowed before the woman, "I am Coraman." Her eyes darted to Seiaman, who had an encouraging smile on her face. She was unsure what to do next. Light, how she wanted to run back upstairs and empty her stomach - she still had that mousy feeling. But - she would not let the petite Aes Sedai see that.

[Sirayn]

It took some effort to keep a derisive smile under wraps when meeting the guileless green eyes. Such a picture of innocence! Of course the faithful and loyal Seiaman Kera would never even dream of laying hands on a certain Green Sitter. How foolish of her even to propose it. And the very intimation that Seiaman might ever think of betraying anybody … much less the Aes Sedai she professed to be devoted to above all others … another outrageous thought, merely the product of an overly suspicious imagination. Did the woman think that a flutter of dark lashes and a pretty smile was enough to convince her of that? The rest of the world seemed inexplicably eager to forget all the wrongs people had done them, but Sirayn Damodred had not forgotten the times she had been desperate for any sort of comfort, only for this seemingly honest woman to seize the first opportunity to betray her.

 

Missed her indeed. Now there was a phrase to summon real bitterness; her mouth set tight, despite her best attempts to maintain composure and she stamped down the urge to point out that in the past Seiaman had not missed anyone who was not fabulously gorgeous with curves to die for. Perhaps that would be unnecessarily harsh. Light only knew what bizarre reasons lay behind this little show, the dinners and the crude attempts to get her into bed, it certainly wasn’t the looks she didn’t have … so presumably there was some other motive going on here as well. No matter how long and hard she thought about it, how many motives she tried to give Seiaman in her own imaginings, none of this made sense. Tar Valon brimmed over with stunning women whose beauty could knock one dead at ten paces; no doubt all of them only needed a crooked finger to get into bed; so why pick the crippled one, the plain one, who had nothing whatsoever to recommend her? There was no logic.

 

Touching again: a good part of her flinched away when Seiaman lifted a hand to her face. Impossible not to watch those threatening hands and not remember … blood and iron and terror beyond words … maybe if she focused hard enough she could push down fear and revulsion, her first and intense reaction to such a bold move, but after so long this powerful loathing for any kind of contact was grained into her as closely as a scar. It was going to take a Light forsaken miracle to convince her that anybody touching her against her will was good. After the fire and the hot metal … shuddering again. Damn it. Eventually she might even pluck up the courage to tell Seiaman that she never wanted anybody to touch her again, particularly not a certain Ebou Dari woman, and maybe then all this would end.

 

Aes Sedai had to be nothing less than composed at all times despite the provocation. Care and concentration smoothed out any trace of feeling; she pretended she was merely a mirror, reflecting back anything the watcher wanted to see, and nothing inside felt anything at all. Once she had done that she could forget that somebody had touched her … forget that so many times she had been distraught after another tragedy and people had abandoned her when she needed them most, that nobody had truly loved her, that she had never found the comfort and loyalty she craved. Enough self pity for one day. She kept her tones perfectly cool. “You’re welcome to tell me all about how you missed me … behind a privacy ward, if you please.†Not even a spark of shame or fear or even sarcasm. No small achievement given the circumstances.

 

Even as the one-time Gaidin began bringing out dishes, accompanied by what she had to admit were tantalising smells, steps echoed on the stairs and Sirayn turned already preparing a cool lift of a brow. She had expected some kind of inn help but instead … a child scarcely out of the cradle met her gaze. One fragile enough to horrify any mother, small and plain, and for some reason dressed all in black. A warrior’s look seemed rather bizarre taking into consideration the child’s obvious youth and small size: she had not the stance of a swordsman, nor did her hands display the callus of one who worked closely with weapons all day, so presumably the black and the martial look was merely for the purposes of intimidation. Now wary, she kept composure about her and waited for this strange guest to make a move.

 

Typically enough it turned out to be a bow. At least Seiaman taught her pups good manners, although why and when the other woman had started picking up stray children she had yet to understand, perhaps it was some kind of replacement for the busy life put aside … and there was a fool’s thought; of course that had never been regretted for a moment. Seiaman had made it perfectly clear that she was glad not to be bonded any longer. “Good evening …†for once exercising a moment’s pity, she bit off the word child, replaced it with a smooth “Coraman.†It was on the tip of her tongue to inquire who under the Light this stranger was, and what she was doing in the Rose’s Thorn, and why Seiaman felt the need to take in one fosterling when so many thousands starved on the streets, but presumably all would be revealed in good time. “My name is Sirayn Sedai. I gather you are the child of whom I have heard a little already.â€

 

Sirayn Damodred

Retro Head of the Green Ajah

[Seiaman]

ooc: a little peep out of my LOA :)

 

ic: Coraman's stomach clenched and she had to stop herself from looking down to her feet to fidget. Instead, she nodded at Sirayn Sedai's question. Seiaman broke the silence, "Come, let's eat." Making her way to the table, dread filled her very being when her foster-mother sat Sirayn at the head of the table while she and Coraman flanked her. But this much closer, she could see the hardness of the woman's face and the scars. While Seiaman started to heap generous portoins of steaming food onto their plates, she felt the Aes Sedai's eyes on her, watching. Cora had no idea what to say, so she started to give thanks to Seiaman but instead, she looked at Sirayn and blurted out, "Do you like my clothes?" Her face nearly paled, upon bringing the cold grey eyes of the woman to her. Her voice seemed small, "Seiaman picked them out for me." Light, this woman made her want the ground to open up and swallow her! She probably can do that too. The mere thought was sickening, a person that wielded so much power could simply just do away with a common street urchin. All thought of being a rebellious and surly child was gone, despite all she had faced before Seiaman had picked her off the street. "I'm not used to the shoes." Coraman picked up her fork and started to push food around her plate, her stomach void of hunger. "Boots, they're called boots, Coraman." She looked up at her foster-mother, feeling smaller at the correction of her ignorance.

 

Seiaman seemed to sense her immense nervousness and embarassment. She turned to Sirayn with a small smile, "She is just nervous, just the other day she had emptied her stomach's contents in the Great Hall with the mere task of giving an Accepted my letter of invitation for you. It seems to be quite unsettling for her to be around one who wields the Power." Rage exploded in her and her eyes started to brim with tears. She looked at Sirayn and saw the woman's gaze go from Seia to herself, her unrelenting and emotionless eyes feeling as if they brought judgement upon her. No doubt she now viewed her as a weakling. The urge to run off and to never return was great. But at the same time she did not want to justify the Aes Sedai's unfounded belief that all children were simpering idiots who craved attention and affection. So instead, Coraman kept seated and returned her gaze to the food before her, tearing apart the chicken with her fork. With a soft mutter she knew Seiaman couldn't hear, "At least I'm not the one being a lovesick fool." Her foster-mother looked up and with an unknowing tone in her voice, "What was that?" She met the older woman's gaze, "I said that at last the chicken looks good." Seia smiled and nodded, launching into her story about Brandy experimented with roasting the chicken to a golden perfection without drying it out.

 

Coraman's eyes darted to the Aes Sedai and her stomach clenched as she found those grey eyes watching her. And she knew her words had been heard. Quickly, she looked back to her plate and made a show of suddenly having an immense appetite with a heap of food in her mouth. "Coraman. Manners." She sighed in her mind and started to eat more 'appropriately', forcing the food down her throat that her stomach had no interest of digesting. Seiaman was telling the story of that fateful day where she had discovered a street rat in the trash barrel back in the alley, the memory of her mother's good deeds towards the unfortunate, and the days that had followed.

 

As the woman talked, Cora pondered as to who exactly Sirayn was to Seiaman. She knew that her foster-mother was once part of the White Tower as a fighter - was this woman her bondmate? Without a thought, she looked up at Seiaman and spoke up in the middle of a rather drab story of how she had discovered a woodsworker to craft the benches and tables, "Are you two bonded?" Green and grey eyes fell on her. But undeterred, she continued. "I just wondered. How did you know Sirayn Sedai?" She wanted - no, needed to know just what their link was. Seiaman's gaze darted to Sirayn and she laid her fork down on the table.

 

"First of all, it's rude to do what you just did, Coraman. But I shall excuse it this once. Sirayn Sedai was a long-standing Aes Sedai of the White Tower when I had come from Ebou Dar to join the ranks of the Tower Guard..." And thus the story continued, with Sirayn as silent as the dead calm over a still lake. Coraman pondered at this, watching the woman from the corner of her eye as she listened. Normally, when a person who loved the story and relished a beginning, they would pipe in from time to time or at least smile and nod at certain scenarios but Sirayn did none of the sort. Which led her to believe it was a beginning she rather not remember.

 

Coraman knew the story was summed up brutally, crucial points left out to let the puzzle fall together. They met, they bonded in Ebou Dar and had continued as such until Seiaman's false death. Her foster-mother smiled and glanced over at Sirayn but the woman was in the midst of sipping her goblet. "Now, how about dessert?" She rose up, gathering what plates she could and disappeared into the kitchens. Coraman glanced at Sirayn, unsure what to say. "I'm sorry." An eyebrow rose. "Sometimes people don't want to remember. I did not intend to bring unwanted pain upon you. Doesn't an Aes Sedai have enough to deal with?"