'New' Discoveries

[silhouette]

Muirenn reached the alcove where she hid her mask and cloak, those things that marked her as a member of the Supreme Council. Always this part made her wary. While this length of passageway had not been used by any save herself in a century, there was always the possibility that some precocious novice or Accepted could stumble upon the network. It had happened before. She smiled to herself as she thought back to when she and her novice friends had discovered one of the entrances from the kitchens. About the Aes Sedai they had met inside. They had thought nothing of it at the time, more worried about the punishment they would recieve for abandoning their chores to go exploring. And Aes Sedai were always in strange places. But it had been that same sister who years later had led Muirenn, now an Aes Sedai herself, through those same passages to bind herself to the Black Ajah. And then Muirenn had used them again to dispose of that same sister. Her first of many assasinations for the Black Ajah. But the woman had let herself be seen, and that posed a risk to all Black Sisters. So this ritual always made her uneasy. And she kept well clear of the kitchens.

 

Hurrying back to her own rooms through the White Tower's secret network of tunnels and passages, Muirenn's usual feeling of apprehension when returning from these covert meetings was overwhelmed by elation. She had been shown a weave thought lost by the White Tower for all time. She would no longer have to wonder at how the Chosen were able to be there one moment and gone the next. Able to go from Ebou Dar to Shayol Ghul and back again in a single day. And the answer really was so very simple that she felt foolish for not having thought of it before. But now she knew their secret. They could Travel. And now, so could she.

 

She had been summoned earlier today, she had thought to a meeting of the Supreme Council, but Myriam met her alone. Myriam, the young Gray with whom she had actually become friends. Rare for those within the Red Ajah, even more for those in the Black. But they had shared a Heart for many years, known one another's secrets, shared one another's burdens. But now, while she feared for her friend, feared what the Chosen Mesaana would do when she found out what Myriam had done, she was also pleased. Pleased that she now had the upper hand. Myriam might still Head the Black Ajah network, for now, but Muirenn now knew her secrets also. Perhaps they were not so much friends after all. Could a brood of vipers ever really form a bond of friendship?

 

Reaching her room, she entered quickly and silently, checking her wards to be certain no one had tried to visit in her absence. And now it was time to prepare for the next part of the plan. Another had been shown a similar weave. Skimming, Myriam had called it. It was similar to Travelling, but not nearly so fast, and it required much less strength in Spirit to use. She had her guesses about which sister had been taught, likely the new girl on the Supreme Council. But as with many things touching on the Black Ajah, such guesses were dangerous, and often wrong. Now, she had to wait. She was ordered not to act until the other had first. To let her Ajah garner some prestige and petting for their lesser 'discovery' before she unveiled her own. She understood why this must be done, but did not have to like it. Black Ajah secrets should be kept by the Ajah alone. But there must be a cover for why certain sisters always used such large amounts of the One Power in their rooms. It was quick shocking the amount of pure Spirit that was required.

 

Wondering what Mesaana would think of this 'leak' she heated some water for tea. For now, she was very glad not to be in charge of the Black Ajah. But, after this, it was likely that her time would come. And then, then they would learn what it meant to be a Domani Red. Muirenn settled into her chair, sipped her tea with a small smile that did not touch her icy blue eyes, and waited.

 

-Muiren Lina Alianin

Aes Sedai of the Red Ajah

Supreme Council of the Black Ajah

 

 

There was nothing odd about the situation. Just two sisters, meeting in the rooms of the elder sister. Nyssa was young still, by the standards that some sisters held high, so no one would frown upon the visit. Just a visit between two sisters of the Gray ajah. And yet Nyssa founds herself glancing behind her on more than one occasion as she crossed the distance from Myriam’s rooms back to her own. Still, nothing suspicious. Just a Gray sister, walking to her own rooms. As soon as her door was closed behind her she let go of a breath she hadn’t realised she was holding though. Her muscles quivered as if the weave Myriam had taught her was not based on the One Power alone, but had also forced her to work hard, physically.

 

She held her hands before her face, willing the trembling that shook them to lessen. She was in no state to channel, not like that. at least she looked appropriately dishevelled. She had been so careful. And yet Myriam knew. Myriam had singled her out as if all her efforts towards secrecy were feeble. Childish. Nyssa shook her head, unwilling to believe such a thing. If Myriam knew now, it was only because she had always known, not because of something Nyssa did, or worse, had neglected to do. She had to push the thoughts of being discovered aside, and focus instead on something far more important. The discovery. She clutched the spirit angreal she had ‘borrowed’ for the occasion in her hand. A little statue of a winged woman. The face of the woman looked sullen, as if she realised she was used for purposes far lower than she had been designed.

 

Nyssa smiled now, thinking of the weave she had learnt. It was by no means perfect, but it was a start. No doubt someone would come with revisions of the weave, making it better than it was now. It mattered little to Nyssa. This weave gave her power. Too bad she couldn’t keep it, really. If she marched out of her rooms, announcing everywhere that she had re-discovered skimming, people would know. Not the lightfools. They were blind to such things. But rather those who followed a similar path. Far more dangerous than the lightfools, really. It didn’t matter, for she already had a plan to make the weave known. That, and to make her own position within the Gray Ajah a bit more solid. Not with the mass, of course, but with those who mattered.

 

She turned, not bothering to brush her tangled hair, or straighten her white silk dress. Not even to retie the bow that accentuated her narrow waist. Down the hall she walked, in the direction she had just come from. The statue was still clutched in her hands. She walked past Myriam’s room now though. One room. Two rooms. She stopped in front of the third door, and knocked. Moments later a rather tired looking Phaedra opened her door. Instead of following protocol, Nyssa stepped forward, and hugged her Ajah Head. “Sister, it’s wonderful!†she exclaimed, letting a few well planned tears of joy roll down her cheeks. She made sure her voice was low, and that the door behind her was closed before Phaedra could ask her just what this wonderful thing was.

 

~Nyssa Deschain

Just a Gray sister

Supreme Council of the Black Ajah

 

 

“Farrah, that’s quite enough, thank you,†Phaedra rose her head from the sullen position she had kept it in the past few minutes as her servant had massaged her neck. The strain of reading late at night with little light after a busy day was working on her nerves. The headaches seemed to increase, the Gray Ajah needed so much from her and Phaedra had so little left to give. Farrah filled the cup with the black tea the Gray liked to drink and as she walked out of Phaedra’s quarters, she put some honey in it from a small jar that was nearly empty.

 

“The sweet of honey will not dose the vile taste of deception,†she heard Farrah’s voice in the back of her head. Over the years, her maid had become her voice of reason calling her back when she found herself lost for reason. It happened more often now since she had returned to the White Tower. A decision she did not regret, but it did have consequences to live among powerful women and giving up a place of status and power where she ruled alone, as High Court Judge for decades in Cairhien.

 

Phaedra dulled such thoughts and sipped the tea, judging it a little too sweet and wondering if there would come a time when she felt happy about returning to Tar Valon. It was her place, her duty and the reason she lived to be Aes Sedai to be here, but it was also a burden she carried to work through the gossip, the stories that lingered in the air and still keep one’s head up high in the Hall, in the corridor and in the dining area. She settled herself in her seat and finished the tea, ready to start reading again before she would have a meeting with the other Sitters over a new Gray aspirant who needed to learn the ways of the Gray.

 

Tapping her fingers on the wooden table, Phaedra pondered over who she would ask to be this girl’s guide through the Initiation when her door flung open and one of her fellow Sisters stepped in, out of breath, and looking slightly pale and bewildered as she stormed up to Phaedra’s chair. The name had not been on her mind, but rolled over her lips with great ease. “Nyssa? What in the Light?†for what caused this woman to leap in her quarters like this?

 

The Gray rose from her seat just in time to catch Nyssa who stumbled and sounded immensely happy about something. A tear rolled down her cheek and Phaedra smiled softly at it, not sure what to do with this burst of emotions that clung to her silk gray dress like a breeze of fresh air on a dark cloud. “What is it? What happened Sister?†she asked and pointed at the tray of tea, an empty cup rested for a visitor such as this. “Sit down, have some tea and tell me what it is that is so wonderful,†Phaedra said and could not help but feel a little emotional herself. Could this be the moment that the Tower would get a different view on the Gray Ajah? What could it be?

 

Phaedra Eskarne

Head Clerk

Gray Sitter

 

 

Nyssa took a seat at Phaedra’s table, and waited for her Ajah Head to join her, making sure she fidgeted with her hands the entire time. Phaedra slowly gained a look of quiet anticipation. Nyssa knew what bothered the elder sister. It bothered all the Gray sisters, as it should. And now Nyssa was about to offer her a way out of the mess that had been keeping the Gray Ajah down ever since a few rampaging sisters had staged a coup, intending to put Freja in the lead of the Ajah. Nyssa had seen it coming, but at that time it hadn’t been in her interest to stop it. Now it was, for it offered her the perfect opportunity to gain respect within the top of her Ajah.

 

“I’ve discovered Skimming!†she blurted out, before giggling. All her behaviour was exactly the kind of behaviour she expected a young sister would have, if they made such a discovery. “Well, it’s not really a new discovery… it’s more like I rediscovered skimming.†The Sitter’s eyes widened. Nyssa rose from her seat. Here’s I’ll show you. She stepped back a few paces, and looked around her, before weaving strands of Spirit into the little angreal she still had with her, amplifying the threads until she could use them for the complicated weave. “I’m not sure if it’s the exact weave used in the Age of Legends, but I think it comes close.†There, right in front of her a gateway opened. She stepped in, on the little round platform. The gateway closed behind her. Moments later a gateway opened a few feet in front of where the other one had been, and Nyssa stepped out, holding a small, slightly withered flower in her hand. “From the Top Garden.†She said with a broad smile on her face.

 

As she had expected, Phaedra was more than a little interested in learning the weave. Nyssa started teaching her immediately. It was hard, since they only had one angreal, but Nyssa felt they were making progress. Moments before Phaedra got the weave under control, Nyssa suggested a break. “Is it not wonderful? I was paging through some old books, and the descriptions in it were vague at best, but I decided to try anyway… I didn’t think it would do any harm.†She sighed then. “If only we could use this to solve all the problems we have had in these past months.†She mused. It was clear what problems she meant.

 

As if she had only just thought of it, she raised her eyes expectedly, almost as if she was surprised that Phaedra didn’t say exactly what she was about to say at the exact same time. “Perhaps this discovery should come from you, Phaedra, and not from me? I am but a young sister, after all, prone to foolishness. If this came not from me, but from a Sitter for the Gray Ajah… No one would gossip about our troubles again. They will all be in awe over our discovery.†Phaedra looked a little flustered about the suggested. “I beg you, Phaedra, for the Ajah. You need not even keep that much of the truth hidden. You learnt about the weave here, in your own room… you discovered it here. No one needs to know about my involvement. I’ll gladly step aside for the good of the Ajah.â€

 

~Nyssa Deschain

sneaky.

 

 

“I’ve discovered skimming,†Phaedra could not believe what she heard as Nyssa exclaimed this and then to prove her point weaved in front of her and dissapeared. Only to reappear moments later holding flowers in her hand and stating they come from the top garden. Phaedra had a hard time not letting her jaw drop to the floor, but what she could not hide was how eager this discovery made her. To learn it, to use it and to show the world the Grays were not just a fighting bunch of backstabbing Sisters, but talented researchers who had found a weave lost for centuries. Phaedra’s hands trembled, she did not notice as thoughts of how the Tower would react to this discovery kept buzzing in her head. Happiness, a thrill to find a way out of the mess that the four Grays who had been punished a good year ago had caused. Her conversation with the Amyrlin, her conversations with the other Sitters, with Finella her friend on how she could face the music yet another day. Her throbbing headaches, Farrah’s failing attempts at rubbing them away, relieving her stress so she could do her job well. And now, all that seemed to be forgotten as Nyssa stood overjoyed before her Ajah Head, exclaiming to have found Skimming and then proving it. Phaedra’s eyes teared up slightly, a single tear moving from the corner of her eye, quickly whiped off by her motioning hand. “Yes, teach me,†she said as Nyssa offered. The delight no longer hidden, but proudly shown on the Sitters face. This was a good day for the Gray Ajah, the start of many she was sure.

 

The lessons were not easy but Phaedra worked hard and the angreal she used helped her to grasp enough of Spirit to try it. She understood how the weave worked, had been able to detect the pattern after seeing Nyssa weave it over and over again. But to create the weave herself, that took an effort that made tiny trinkets of sweat run down her neck. She moved her hands to try and ease herself into the weave, tried to manipulate each thread until she had it and failed yet again. Nyssa was a calm teacher, eager to have Phaedra learn this weave and use it. Phaedra felt the power they shared between them as they came closer to her mastering this weave. Skimming, who would have thought. Finally Phaedra knew what she was missing and was about to try that when Nyssa announced a break. She felt her mouth go dry, or had it been dry already. She was not sure and wondered how long they had been practising the weave since Nyssa entered her quarters that morning.

 

Staring out of the window, she could see the sun was setting. Her hand stroked the hairs from her face as she smilingly said, “You shall have dinner with me Nyssa,†and then left her quarters to find Farrah and ask her to set up supper and bring them some drinks. “Cold water and some berry juice please, no wine. We have work to do,†she added to her instructions for dinner. Farrah nodded and soon set up the table in Phaedra’s quarters for the two women to share a meal. It was soup, some fresh bread and meat with an assortment of green vegetables, Phaedra wondered if this was not a meal that Farrah had specifically ordered form the kitchens. Her loyal servant was often worried about Phaedra’s health and spared little to take care of the Gray who often skipped meals during the day, only to find a grand meal such as this at supper time. “Enjoy,†she said and toasted with the cold water to Nyssa’s cup, then asked, “Why did you never tell me you were studying the old scripts and books, I never found you the type to study so deeply. Dawn maybe, but you always struck me as someone who is more interested in politics, law and recent events, not old dusty books and essays of old,†a look of interest passed over her face as she took a bite from the meat. Nyssa had just taken a bite herself and was calmly eating before answering, as calm as she’d ever been.

 

Phaedra

Eager & Happy

 

 

Nyssa took a bite of the excellent food Phaedra’s servant had brought them. Before the food had arrived, she hadn’t realised she was hungry. Now that the food was there, she had to restrain herself from wolfing it down as her stomach demanded. Channelling always made her hungry, and she had done some heavy channelling already today. And there would be more of it, she was sure of it. Phaedra was eager to share their discovery with the world. And so was Nyssa, for her own reasons of course. She took another bite before answering the question her Ajah head asked her. She had anticipated on it. She wasn’t a bookworm, after all, so the fact that she had made the discovery made it odd.

 

She wiped her mount clean with a napkin before answering. Not that she was a messy eater, but she was enjoying the anticipation that radiated from Phaedra. She merely wished to stretch it out a bit further. “I saw a stack of papers on Dawn’s desk the last time I visited her. It dealt on several angreal returned to the tower from the Stone of Tear. One of them was suspected to have something to do with Skimming. It caught my interest.†She paused a moment, taking a sip of water. “I thought of how the Gray Ajah would benefit from such a weave. A sister could alternate between advising in one country, and judging in another. There are too few of us to mediate everywhere now, but if we could reduce the travel time to a minimum…†she let the words hang between them, confident that Phaedra was following her train of thought.

 

“So I researched until I thought my brain was going to give up on me. I’ve never been all that fond of studying, not after I was raised to the shawl. There was so much more to learn from the people around me than from the books. But this was something that would benefit the entire Ajah. So I researched, but I got fed up with it after a few weeks, and then I decided to try a few of the things I had deducted from the theory on skimming. I spent most of the past week channelling. I was close to giving up, thinking that I should leave the research to those who specialised on it, until I had a breakthrough today. And here we are.†She finished with a smile.

 

“What should we do next Phaedra? Announce it? Perhaps to a few sisters of each Ajah?†her eyes were firmly on the First Voice. Whatever she decided now, it was crucial that the tower thought it was Phaedra who discovered the weave. Nyssa was sure that the woman in front of her could stretch the truth far enough to make it sound as though she had. People often looked upon the Gray Ajah as the most proficient twisters of truth. Nyssa always thought that the Blue Ajah should hold that title. It mattered little though. There were only a few sisters at the White Tower who could not twist the truth at all. “Will you announce it?†she asked again, her eyes bright with barely concealed excitement.

_________________

WT - Nyssa Deschain, Gray & Black sister

 

 

Phaedra listened as Nyssa explained how she had come to this discovery. She had done the research to help the Gray Ajah, it would have brought tears to Phaedra’s eyes if she were an emotional sort of person. Now, the story met with a simple nod, one that meant so much more than the gesture alone. Nyssa had done a stunningly good job and to hide her effort of finding the way to Skimming so carefully, waiting for success instead of boasting effort, she was proud of the Gray sitting in front of her. A sip of water cleared her mouth and washed down the last taste of the food, it was good and she felt somewhat more warm from it. But now dinner was done and decisions needed to be made. Phaedra waited for Nyssa to show she was finished and then rose from her chair, walking to her window where she stood next to the long deep blue drapes.

 

The sun had just gone under and the last of the red flames that covered the air were dying out and a deep blue color came in its place. She thought about the things Nyssa had said and then spoke, her face still towards the tall window. “You are to remain here as my guest this evening, Nyssa, we shall call on our Gray Sisters to meet us here and study this weave with us,†it was important to include the rest of the Tower, she understood that as much as Nyssa had. But this was a Gray discovery and she would allow the Grays to learn the weave before anyone else did. Even if this meant postponing a discovery that would eventually restore the good name of her Ajah. Nyssa opened her mouth to speak, but as Phaedra turned back towards her and locked deep dark eyes on Nyssa’s she spoke, “We shall send out invitations for tea tomorrow afternoon, by then I hope our Sisters have mastered the weaving,†she paused and thought about how long it had taken her to understand. However, the other Sisters would not need to master the weave, see it a few times and practice it with Nyssa and her own help was enough for now.

 

“I shall send out invitations to people we trust, one of each Ajah, someone we handpick so that we can control the way this information is spread,†it was almost a ploy. A way to gain their status back, they would control the discovery, the spread of information and in the end, the status each Gray had in the Tower. “Tonight we shall spend on further studying the weave and compiling a list of Sisters we want to invite. As Farrah entered, Phaedra asked her to have one of the servants clear the table. “I have a different task for you Farrah,†she said and gave her personal servant instructions to go by each of the Gray Sisters and ask them to meet their Ajah Head in Phaedra’s quarters, at 9 that evening. “That leaves us another 2 hours to master the weaving and to make sure we have enough angreal for our Sisters to use,†she told Nyssa as Farrah went on her way to do as she was asked. Phaedra took the small angreal in her hand and embraced Saidar “We shall commence once more, Nyssa,†she said, her eyes betraying a soft smile that did not reach her lips as they were intently pressed together in concentration.

 

The time of the meeting came sooner than either of the two Grays had expected and Farrah surprised Phaedra by having tea and small cupcakes ready for the guests only a few minutes before nine. She cleared the table and placed the light snacks and tea there, then asked Phaedra if she should stay, to help out with anything. Phaedra was quite stunned by the way time had passed on so quickly and told Farrah that they would be fine. “A Gray can pore her own tea when she visits a fellow Sister, we do not need to keep appearances up among each other,†it was a fact that the Grays were quite informal around each other, Sitters, and older Sisters were respected, but not waited on hand and foot. As Nyssa and Phaedra arranged the angreal they had for the help in channeling Spirit, the first of their Sisters knocked and came to enter. Phaedra was glad they were al on time, this meant that they could begin soon.

 

Phaedra Eskarne

First Voice

 

 

Teaching the weave was taking far longer than Nyssa had thought it would. Not that Phaedra had trouble learning it, but it was a complicated weave, and she wasn’t as good a teacher as the woman who had taught her the weave was. Time passed swiftly, and she half expected the other sitters to barge in any moment now, demanding why Phaedra Eskarne was using such ridiculous amounts of Spirit. They didn’t come though. The only sound that was heard when the time was there was the voice of Phaedra’s servant, informing them that it was indeed time. Nyssa smiled, feeling more than a little smug about her accomplishments. Phaedra had learnt the weave just in time for her to be the one who showed it to their fellow sisters.

 

One by one the sisters of the Gray Ajah filed into the room. Nyssa saw more than one nervous chance, and she thought she could almost read their thoughts. The last time Phaedra had called such a meeting it was to inform them all that a group of sisters from their very own Ajah had attempted a coup, one that had driven Marce out of the White Tower. They relaxed at the sight of Phaedra though. Nyssa stepped aside a bit, clearly indicating that she wanted Phaedra to make the announcement. With the recent troubles the older woman had had with keeping the Ajah under control, and regaining what had been lost when she had taken over as leader of their Ajah, it was no surprise that Phaedra all but leapt at the chance. Details of the discovery were left vague.

 

To Nyssa’s surprise, no one really wanted to know how the two had discovered the weave. She saw that some automatically assumed that she had been Phaedra’s research assistant in the matter of the discovery. Though she would be offended by it on every other occasion, it suited her quite well now. It was easy to let it slide. Phaedra explained to the group that now was not the time for learning, but rather a time of showing. With little feeling for showmanship the First Voice executed the weave, bringing back a flower from one of the gardens of the Tower. The reaction of her fellow sisters to the weave was the same as Phaedra’s reaction had been. They were all happy, and eager to learn. They scheduled a few sessions a day, so that all who wished to could learn the weave from either Phaedra or Nyssa.

 

When hours had passed, Phaedra and Nyssa found themselves standing together in Phaedra’s chambers again, without the presence of other sisters and servants. Nyssa sighed, and rubbed her neck slightly, as if the day’s strain had left a little coil of tension in it. Phaedra looked little better. Angreal or not, the weave demanded a lot from them. “What do you wish to do now?†she asked the First Voice.

 

~Nyssa Deschain

[Guest Celes]

Phaedra relaxed a little in the chair she had taken a few inches away from the table. They had let their Gray Sisters get back to their quarters with the knowledge that they could learn a weave, found again after being lost since the Age of Legends. It had gone well, better than the Gray had expected and she looked calmly over Nyssa who asked her what the next step would be. “Well, we cannot keep this discovery to ourselves, so tomorrow I shall invite one Sister of each of the Ajahs to join us for tea, we shall then repeat what we did this evening and show the Tower that the Grays are not cowering back after defeat, we stand back up again and show them what we’re worth.†It was not like Phaedra to worry so much about the opinion of others, but the recent events had made aware of the need for a leader whose heart was in attached to her Ajah. Also, she enjoyed seeing the Ajah flourish after all the bad news and hard times surrounding their Ajah Head’s disappearance. It would be good for all of them to have a finding, something to show the Tower they were still around.

 

Nyssa nodded and took a pencil and a piece of parchment, they took another cup of tea and then started to complete a list of names. “We need Sisters who we know will understand the importance of this weave and on the other hand will be able to teach their Ajah Sisters the weave,†after all they could not teach every last Aes Sedai in the Tower. As they compiled a list, Phaedra realized that she wanted women who had stood on their side, or maybe she wanted to show those who were rumored to speak ill of the happenings in the Gray Ajah to be amazed and baffled. Finally they had compiled a list and Phaedra told Nyssa she could leave and have a good night’s rest. “I shall write the invitation in the morning and send them out before breakfast,†she said but Nyssa would hear none of it. She wanted to stay with Phaedra and also be present at the tea, as Nyssa had been the one to find this weave, the First Voice did not want to hold her back. “Alright,†and they set to work in writing personal invitations to each of the Sisters. When they were done, Phaedra showed the younger Sister out and asked to meet her after breakfast for a few final practice rounds. Nyssa said she would be there and just as Phaedra closed the door, Finella came up to her, asking if she could have a quick word.

 

The Sitter was thrilled about the good news that their Ajah had found the weave and simply wanted to air her feelings. “We are lucky,†she said and smiled as her eyes wandered over the invitations. “You are inviting one Sister of each Ajah?†she said as she scanned the parchments with ink drying on them. “Yes,†she got as reply, Phaedra was tired and even though she loved her friend dearly and was just as happy about their good fortune, she wanted to sleep now. “Tea?†Finella asked and Phaedra nodded again, “Yes for tea,†she said and Finella nodded. “I have some silver spoons I had made for the Gray Hall, but they’re hardly ever used. Why not add them to the invitations and give these Sisters a very warm welcome,†Phaedra nodded. “Yes, we shall ask them to bring their own spoon,†she said and then let the thought sink in for a bit. Finella was patiently waiting for her to nod and say, “Yes, a great idea indeed, a small gift to show the importance of their invitation, after all they are chosen by us, they cannot refrain from meeting us for tea,†Finella nodded again and soon left for her quarters with the promise that she would have the silver tea spoons over before breakfast. Phaedra went to sleep, knowing that she was a rich woman, of a proud Ajah who would dazzle the other Ajahs come morning.

 

“Dear Sister,

You are herbey invited to attend a meeting over tea with us, to discuss something important that has come up.

 

We hope you shall meet us at tea time, four o’clock this afternoon, please find enclosed a small token of our appreciation for the time you can free up to meet us,

 

Sincerely,

Phaedra Eskarne,

Nyssa Deschain

Sisters of the Gray Ajahâ€

 

Enclosed: Silver spoon, slender model with a flat round ending with scales engraved on it.

 

Phaedra Eskarne

Sitter for the Gray

First Voice

[Kaylan]

The silver spoon twirled in her fingers as she read the letter, the novice standing outside her door looking somewhat impatient as Kaylan detained her, making the firl wait until she was finished reading. An invitation to tea to discuss something of importance? Kaylan didn't know many of the Grays particularly well, and she couldn't imagine what they'd want to discuss with her, but she merely nodded at the novice and waved her away, closing the door absentmindedly behind her as she walked across the room.

 

Might as well make herself look respectable - while the old Aes Sedai was almost tempted to ignore the invitation, it was worded in a way that didn't allow for refusal, and her curiosity was piqued by it. What was so important that they would call a cranky old woman from her quarters? Not simply tea, of that she was sure. Smoothing out the green silk in front of her, Kaylan nodded to herself and began to get dressed for the occasion. She didn't go so far as to pull out her Green-fringed shawl, though she was tempted to. Leaving her appearance simple as usual, though the dress was as low cut as ever, Kaylan brushed her white blonde hair until each strand was shining and smooth, and picked up the spoon once more. Lovely workmanship, and a symbol of the Gray if ever there was one. The old Green briefly wondered what would be on a Green Ajah spoon, laughing to herself at the image of a severed trolloc's head, and looked at the clock. Almost time. She began the walk down to the Gray ajah quarters, arriving quickly enough to find Nyssa and Phaedra sitting together and looking... well, Kaylan could tell that something was going on, and she looked from one to the other with one eyebrow raised just a touch.

 

"Sisters. Thank you for the invitation." Might as well go through the motions. She wondered how many others had been invited. Taking a seat close to the two, she accepted a cup of tea graciously, keeping her curiosity to herself though she was normally more blunt. Let them think they had the upper hand, though what they would want with her - notorious for her uninvolvment with politics - Kaylan could not say.

 

~Kaylan Morin

Aes Sedai of the Green Ajah

Thrice Bonded

[Guest Estel]

"Why in the bloody Pit of Doom am I being invited for tea? With the Greys! 'Something of importance'? If they're wasting my flaming time I'll have their bloody sheepsbrains!"

 

While so much had changed in the woman ranting at her Warder since she had come to the Tower, barely a woman, her language had not. No matter how hard the Tower had tried they had never really blunted her tongue, and it was a filthy as ever.

 

Basically ignoring her, Orion sat across the room sharpening both blades that had protected her more than once. Expert hands sharpened deadly edges that the man could not see.

 

Her lover's indifference and the constant scraping grated on her already irritated attitude. "Do you have to do that?"

 

A look and a raised eyebrow was all she recieved, and she rolled her eyes. Men. Couldn't live with them, couldn't live without them- or rather him. Light, but she had learned that the hard way.

 

Knowing he would pay no attention, she announced to the room that she was going- with many a curse under her breath- and clutching the spoon that had come with the invitation in a death grip, she stalked out the door.

 

Among her own sisters, she rarely bothered to hide her emotions, and in the Tower she was not known to be a woman of serenity- rather the opposite. She never really lost the calm Aes Sedai's mask outside of the Blue Quarters, but she trod the line.

 

She stalked through the Tower and though only a handful of initiates could discern her emotions, any Sister worth her Shawl could pick out the hundred little details that gave her feelings away.

 

Arriving at the appointed place, she was welcomed in. The smile she gave her Sisters was tight but her annoyance was being replaced by curiosity as she spotted Kaylan Morin seated at the table with Nyssa and another Sister she asumed must be Phaedra Eskarne.

 

"Good day to you both, Sisters." she said inclining her head slightly. Both had worn the Shawl longer than her- though Nyssa only by a few years- and that required an amount of respect on her part. She left the question 'What's this all about?' unasked though it hung in the air after her greeting. Unlike her fellow Blues Estel was hardly subtle when events did not call for subtlity.

[Muirenn]

Muirenn heard a yelp, quickly stifled, then a rap at the door. It seemed that yet another novice had learned a lesson in manners. The newest ward was merely a fine tuning of an old standby. It sent a bit of a jolt through whomever chose to come too close to her rooms. Likely it was mere paranoia on her part, but just after she attained the shawl there had been a few incidents with Accepted who had broken into her room on a prank and rifled through her desk while they were at it. Several months later there had been a sister who had done the same, although she had not been able to prove it at the time. It was then that she had taken to using the wards. And now that she had so very much to hide, she was glad of the excuse. Servants had long since taken to leaving trays or packages just outside the door. And where for years there had been a stout willow branch propped outside the door to rap without being caught within the ward itself, there was now a brass peg and the branch had gained a leather cord. She was unsure of who had done it, or why, but she did approve of the effort and had been pleased when it first showed up. She was also unsure of the message such a gesture was intended to convey.

 

Putting down her tea, Muirenn made her way to the door and let the weave down at the same time. The girl outside was nursing knuckles that were rapidly turning a bright shade of red. She wondered how many girls the sender had gone through before finding one who was so new as to be unaware of the dangers of carrying a message to Muirenn Sedai of the Red Ajah. Well, one of the lessons taught in the Tower was that of observation. The next time the child would pay more attention to her surroundings.

 

Sending the girl scurrying down to the infirmary, Muirenn looked at the envelope. It was heavy, and bulged at the bottom. Obviously not a simple invitation. And from the Gray Ajah? Had it really been two days since the orders were given? This was how the girl chose to handle it then. She was rapidly proving he worth. Certainly something to keep in mind considering recent vacancies.

 

Muirenn checked the envelope briefly for wards, there were none, more the pity. It was most unwise to send out unwarded invitations in such times, but then, perhaps the sender did not mind if this were intercepted, or even read by the novice delivering it. Although, there was small chance of that. Few novices had the skill necessary with the finer threads of saidar to make such a thin blade of fire as to tamper with a seal. Still best to be on the cautious side.

 

Using the weave she had just been thinking of, Muirenn slit open the envelope, and extracted both a short note and a silver spoon. Were the Grays really so desperate that they had to send trinkets along so that the recipient of an invitation was required to come, if only to return the bauble? She had thought better of them than that. And the note was from one sister and one sitter? True, she was quite aware that Phaedra Eskarne was in reality the Head of the Gray Ajah, but there were precious few who did. And Muirenn knew far better than to show her cards. Under other circumstances, such a note would be suspect. Why include a mere sister in the invitation? But then, Nyssa was proving quite useful indeed. It seemed the girl knew how to play at proxies as well. And the way the invitation was worded, why, under other circumstances it would have been insulting. It was not so much a request as a demand for attention. But Muirenn must walk a delicate balance now.

 

She noted that it was only two hours after midday, hardly adequate warning for tea. But then, perhaps that novice had known exactly what she would find when she delivered the message and had dallied. There was barely time now for Muirenn to be certain that everything was in order and to cancel her own request for tea from the kitchens.

 

When she arrived, exactly at four, she used a weave of Air to rap at the door to the Head Clerk's apartments. She was shown in by Nyssa, small surprise there, and noted that there were two other guests alreay waiting. A young Blue, with whom she had only a passing familiarity, and an elder Green, Kaylan, with whom she had shared a good working relationship, if never a close friendship. She knew enough of the politics of the moment to know that the Greens stood with the Gray and the Red, and for the first time in nearly a thousand years, against the Blue. Muirenn herself was equally surprised to see the young Blue, more surprised that the child had actually come. Or was it sent? She could be a proxy herself. Muirenn filed that thought away for further analysis. So, it was likely that the Gray had invited a sister from each Ajah to join them. And it was also likely that the Green and the Red were the only two who would be sisters of any note. Turn and turn about went the dances in the Great Game. And appearances were everything.

 

It was quite obvious from the looks the other two were giving at her arrival that they had no idea what was coming. Muirenn easily held onto her mask of perfect Aes Sedai serenity as she greeted the others and took a chair next took Kaylan and across from the Blue. That child must be uncomfortable indeed in such surroundings. And with her distaste for the Blue Ajah, Muirenn was only too pleased to heighten the divide. Turn and turn about.

 

She accepted a glass of tea, and produced the spoon, making a jest about returning lost items. It was obvious that the two Grays were waiting for still others, so Muirenn contented herself with small talk for the time being. Patience, after all, was a virtue.

 

-Muirenn Lina Alianin

Aes Sedai of the Red Ajah

Head of the Black Ajah

[Robin]

Aleanda sad behind her desk. The letter written by two of her Gray sisters in her hand. She wove the Novice away and opened the letter to read it. A silver spoon fell on her desk. The spoon showed scales on the flat round ending. "Gray Ajah." Lea told herself. Her eyes moved from the spoon to the letter and she read it. When Aleanda was finished reading she stared out of her window and pondered about the letter. Why would they have sent the letter to her, and not to one of the other white Sisters, or even Sitters. If it would be that important, it would be logic to have invited a sitter. "Perhaps it are my relations with them." she muttered. Aleanda pondered for a while, then decided she would find out answers when she attended the meeting.

 

Aleanda strode towards the Gray quarters, it was almost four o'clock. She was anxious to know what this was about, to find the reason about the meeting. Aleanda had nothing planned that afternoon, but would she have had something else to do she'd have rescedualed it. She just wanted to attend the meeting for her relations with the Gray Ajah. Which never have been bad, but could always become better.

 

Arrived at the Gray Ajah quarters Aleanda knocked at the right door and opened it. She walked in to see quite some people in the room already. Aleanda knew it was a little over four, still she'd expected to see more than only these people in the room. These people from whom two had sent her the invitation. "Thanks for the invitations sisters" she said with a nod in direction of Nyssa Dechain and Phaedra Eskarne. "Good afternoon to you sisters." Aleanda said to the other sisters who had arrived before her. She saw a Blue sister of her age, an elder Green sister and.. Aleanda almost couldn't keep her expressionless face in shape when she saw Muirenn Sedai. One of the most eldest people in the Tower was attending the same meeting as Aleanda was. She could barely believe it.

 

Aleanda took place at the opposite of the Green and Red Sisters, next to the Blue which Aleanda knew as Estel. Aleanda remembered the time they were both Novice, and Accepted. Aleanda accepted the tea and sibbed it while being in conversation with the blue about nohting in particular. The calm, clear face of Aleanda didn't show emotion. Still inside, Aleanda was eager to start the meeting, but it was obvious they were still waiting for others to arrive.

 

Aleanda Antori

Aes Sedai of the White Ajah

[Guest Celes]

With every Sister that stepped inside her room, with every one that sat down, Phaedra lost the enthusiasm bit by bit. She was not so sure anymore that this had been the right thing to do, especially since she had chosen Sisters from other Ajahs, Sisters she did not have a close relation with. After carefully thinking over each Ajah, choosing a person to send the invite to, she had come to realize that she could not trust on personal alliances alone. It was the Sister who would benefit from the knowledge they had invited, the Sister who was in the Tower and who could be trusted with sharing her knowledge with those of her Ajah who were not in this meeting. Even with those who were not present in the White Tower. These were the Sisters they had invited, be they still quite young to the Shawl or old and of a time when even Phaedra looked up to them.She had her doubt but none of it shone on her face as a silent gaze passed over each of their faces. “Sisters, welcome,†she said as they all had taken their seat.

 

Nyssa had taken to a seat a little back, she had asked the First Voice if she should be present, but Phaedra wanted her to be there, it was the reason she had dotted the other woman's name under the letter. This was a Gray discovery, but Nyssa had been the first to bring this to her attention, the first to find out. Faerzyne and Finella had also joined for the tea, after a brief conversation with Phaedra. This was a discovery made by the Gray Ajah and they would show that, without coming off as pressing themselves on too hard. Finella took a seat next to Aleande of the White Ajah and Faerzyne joined Nyssa in the back of the room. Phaedra kept standing as she knew that sitting down would make her look more hesitant. Instead, she would show these Sisters what it was they had come for, what it was that they were to learn here today. “I thank you for taking the offer for tea,†she did not mention the tea spoons, nor the specific herbal tea selection she had served. Farrah had been responsible for the tea herbs, the flower honey and the cookies and chocolate muffins that laid ready on the table. Phaedra hardly glanced over it all, such indulgence was not why they were here, it was more of a show, a show they put up to calmly enter into their discovery. The Gray discovery, this thought brought a smile back on her face and she started what she had planned to do, since she had sent out the invites.

 

One moment, Phaedra was standing in the center of the room, her eyes wavering over Kaylan Sedai of the Green, the next she was gone. One could tell that she had used the One Power as there was a glow around her, one could tell there was a weave used as she had left the pattern there. A few moments passed, the Grays remained perfectly calm and seated in their chosen places and then, Phaedra was back, behind Nyssa’s chair in fact. She held up a long stemmed white flower with tiny petals, one that grew in the forest just behind the Warders Yards. It had been the furthest she had chosen to go so far and she was incredibly delighted that it had all gone so well. “Sisters, the Grays have discovered an old weave, a weave long forgotten and thought to be lost, we have found the ability to travel through space instantly, Skimming.†She waited calmly, her announcement was made in a deepsounding voice, she had not chosen to announce it like a showcase, instead she fell back on her time as a High Court Judge in Cairhien, reading a sentencing. After all, her Sisters had just been able to see this weave acted out and there was no need to put anything more on them than the simple truth. The Gray Ajah was showing the representatives of each Ajah present in the room, a weave that was found again.

 

“We have gathered you here not just to show you that we can, but to show you how it is done,†and on this cue, Nyssa rose from her seat and lifted a deep blue piece of cloth from the other side of the table where a wide variety of angreal was kept. They did not have to say a word, Phaedra simply held up her hand and showed the small stone ring she had clutched to find enough Spirit to weave the Skimming. There was no need to broaden it out, to enlighten them that it was a difficult weave which required an enormous amount of Saidar, of Spirit. Phaedra had never been the strongest in the One Power and she did not choose to make that of much importance to her. The Gray sought a woman’s strength in her reasoning and in her ability to cope with different situations. This situation was very different and Phaedra wondered calmly how they would react. She settled in one of the chairs between the two parties of Sisters, as if she were at court waiting for the defense to speak up. And now it would be time for them to speak up.

 

Phaedra Eskarne

First Voice

Gray Ajah

 

OOC: As said, there is a member of each of the 7 Ajahs present, of the Gray there are a few present. Even those who could not find a representative to enter this RP will still have learnt of this weave on this very day.

 

 

Skimming: Travel in between two places. Portals are opened up and the channeler uses a platform to “floatâ€. The starting point must be known intimately by the channeler

Skimming recuires: (as Phae is a TPC I do not have an OP score on her and just assumed she'd use an angreal)

Air, 3

Earth, 2

Fire, -

Spirit,4

Water, -

Skill: 16

[Kaylan]

Eyebrows raised slightly over the teacup as Muirenn entered the room - one of less than a handful of women in the Tower older than herself, and Kaylan wondered at the significance of the two of them being called to the same meeting. The others were all younger and less experienced, but a meeting with two such as them... If she'd been politically minded she'd have stopped to puzzle out the meaning behind it all, but she merely smiled at Muirenn and made small talk with them until the rest of the group arrived. One of each Ajah, though the Gray was represented by more, since it was their own quarters, and Kaylan wondered for a moment at the significance of that before pushing the thought aside in favour of a muffin.

 

Phaedra - the sitter, and the older of the two who has invited them, though still young enough that Kaylan might have taught her back when she was just a slip of a girl - stood and spoke, thanked them for taking up the offer and then embraced the source, her eyes fixed on the Green, before she stepped forward and was gone. Kaylan's eyes shot up without hesitation, this time, though she did not move beyond continuing to chew her muffin. There was Spirit in that, and Air and Earth, but she hadn't caught how they were put together, and she still didn't know exactly what had happened. The Grays all looked smug sitting in their places, trying to look nonchalant as though it happened all the time, and then Phaedra was back holding a small white blossom. A familiar flower, but certainly not a flower that had been in the room. So, what was it then?

 

"Sisters, the Grays have discovered an old weave, a weave long forgotten and thought to be lost, we have found the ability to travel through space instantly, Skimming." Her question was quickly answered, and while Kaylan wanted to speak, she waited on Muirenn. Phaedra continued, however. "We have gathered you here not just to show you that we can, but to show you how it is done." Nyssa, the other one who had been named on the invitation, stepped over to the table to reveal several angreal, though Kaylan could tell from her memory of the weave that she would not need one. Her Earth may be weak, but her Spirit was stronger than almost everyone in the Tower, and as Phaedra sat, Kaylan looked to Muirenn for first comments. The old Red didn't seem to be saying anything at that point though, so Kaylan opened her mouth and spoke.

 

"Not quite instantaneous, but certainly more efficient than a horse. Will you show me the Weave again? How do you change it for where you wish to come out?" Obviously Phaedra had gone out somewhere near the Yards, and then come back to the room, but Kaylan wanted to know how she had chosen where, and what she changed in the weave to achieve as much. The old Green may have avoided politics for most of her life, but this was one meeting that she was glad to have been invited to - it was not often that an old weave was rediscovered. If only it was Travelling, though... but they could only dream of that, along with all of the old Talents. One step closer, though. Her tea was forgotten on the table as she concentrated, wanting to make sure that she got it all correct for her Ajah. She was tempted not to tell them, and a small smile graced her lips at the thought, but she knew that she would have to. Still, she was going to learn it first, and she was the one that would be teaching the rest of them. A moment to enjoy, with the cocky young girls who thought themselves true Greens.

 

~Kaylan Morin

Aes Sedai of the Green Ajah

Thrice Bonded

[Robin]

Aleanda sat patiently and listened to the story Estel was telling. They were waiting for the last Sisters to come in before the meeting would start. Aleanda sipped her tea. While listenening to Estel, Aleanda looked over her cup to the woman in front of her. She couldn't believe it acctually was Muirenn Sedai. The Green sister Aleanda didn't know who it was. But it was one of the more respected Aes Sedai as well. When Aleanda heared the name of the Green her eyebrows rose. Kaylan Sedai? Aleanda retrieved her emotionless face as quickly as possible again, but she was quite surprised to find another very old Aes Sedai here as well.

 

When the last sisters had arrived Aleanda noticed that of all Ajahs one Sister had been invited. Of all Ajahs, but for the Gray. This was their meeting so there were a few Gray Sisters. Aleanda wondered what this was all about when Phaedra Sedai, a Gray, started. Aleanda put down her cup of tea, and folded her hand in her lap. She listened carefully. Of course she started with some formalities, but then suddenly she was gone. Gone? Aleanda wondered. She could tell there had been used the One Power, but how. And what was happening Aleanda didn't know. Aleanda got a little more tightened. What was going on? Aleanda's face kept looking at where Phaedra left and her brain worked on full speed on what could have happened. There were ideas, but Aleanda thought they were all too redicilous.

 

Suddenly Phaedra was back. Behind Nyssa's chair with a flower in her hand. A flower? Where did that get from? There was some tence in the room. Everyone noticed that the Gray Aes Sedai were still relaxed while the other Ajah members were not. Aleanda's face was still as emotionless as always, but her arms were unfolded and laid on the armrests now. She saw the Green and the Red, sitting in front of her looking at Phaedra with eyes bigger than they were normally. The Blue next to her had almost stood up when Phaedra dissapeared. And the other two Ajah sisters were as surprised as the others. What was going on? Phaedra explained.

 

This time Aleanda couldn't keep her face in shape. When the word skimming fell, her eyes widened in shock. Aleanda remembered the time when she had read a few books in the library on this weave. But after two or thee books she had left the topic, as it isn't smart to keep busy with what was long forgotten. But they had menaged to retrieve the weave. Aleanda couldn't believe what she heared. When the first shock was over Aleanda got her regular face back. Cold and emotionless. She was still haveing some difficulties when her skills were tested on a way like this. She hadn't worn the shawl all that long. Phaedra continued as if she just told them that it was raining. Though all sisters were shocked as if it was raining while there were no clouds.

 

“We have gathered you here not just to show you that we can, but to show you how it is done.†Aleanda was glad, but hadn't expected anything else. Lea saw Nyssa rising from her chair. She as younger than Phaedra. More of Aleanda's age. Though Aleanda was still younger than Nyssa. Nyssa held up several angreal to help the sisters out with the weave. Aleanda had seen it was a difficult weave, but she hadn't paid any attention to what elements were used so she took one of the Angreal. Kaylan Sedai was the first to speak. She requested to see the weave again. Aleanda knew she would get credit in the White Ajah for this. She was lucky to have been invited at this meeting. Leah would be happy when she would show her the weave. The whole Tower could be happy. There was only one things Aleanda'd like to know. How could they have found out about this? She didn't want to ask it right now, as Nyssa was about to teach them the weave.

 

Aleanda Antori

Aes Sedai of the White Ajah

[Guest Estel]

After Phaedra’s short speech- which none-the-less rocked the Tower’s very foundations in all its simplicity- Estel’s breathed a curse of incredibility. “Mother’s milk in a cup.†She was too preoccupied with trying to remember the weave and did not see if any of the other Sisters threw her a bad look because of her language, though they too seemed too preoccupied to have noticed. Even Kaylan showed expression through her cool mask.

 

Estel had just the patience to wait out Kaylan’s remarks before bursting in with her own- she should have waited to see if Muirenn was going to say anything, but even if she had not been so excited, she would not have cared. Light but she would never be able to bring herself to ever trust any Red but Carise.

 

“If one tinkered with the weave, there would be a chance of rediscovering Travelling, yes? The two weaves must be close, or at least the theory.†The young Blue had never really been fascinated with tinkering with weaves- it wasn’t the danger involved, but rather she focused on other things which consumed every ounce of her soul- but the thought of Travelling excited any Sister, whether as old as Muirenn or green as a Sister just taken her Oaths.

[Guest Celes]

Showing the weave again, this time a little more slowly made Phaedra realize she did not need the angreal she had used to learn the weave of Skimming, It was easier to focus on it now and most of all, she was no longer nervous about the Gray’s discovery and the effects it had on the rest of the Tower, they were experiencing that now. Kaylan rose from her seat to see her weave the Skimming thread again and Phaedra motioned for Nyssa to help and also show the weave. She would have asked another Gray, but as they had only learnt the night before, she did not want to embarrass them by the lesser amount of training they had had. She had been too busy with the preparations for this meeting and the effects it would have on the Gray’s politics to notice what other Grays were doing. They were all equally proficient in the weave, it had been mostly Phaedra’s excitement and nervous streak after all that had come to pass over her Ajah that kept her from having a good look around and noticing.

 

The angreal were taken, or left on the table and her fellow Sisters started with the weave or asked questions. One of those questions came from the Blue representative, a young Sister who asked if this would lead to the discovery of Traveling. Phaedra nodded and found suddenly that there was more to this discovery than her own pride. This brought her back to earth and she calmly gazed over the Sister’s face, letting her question sit for a bit before she said, “We have not made this discovery to keep it for our own use only and I will be the last person to say that we should not continue to study the weave to perfect it and maybe to do a rediscovery of Traveling,†she nodded at each of them. “Sisters, by learning this weave, we open the door to further studies for endless possibilities, Traveling being a very important one I agree, this is the beginning.†She was sure that Traveling would also be brought back, now that Skimming was rediscovered. But that would take years and now she felt like they should all be happy about what the Grays had done for the Tower. As much as it was important to look towards the future, it was important to indulge in the present if it presented itself with such opportunity.

 

Phaedra was sure that none of these Sisters would think about the trouble of recent events in her Ajah. She pored herself a cup of tea and sipped it as she watched the Sisters study the weave and ask questions. Then returned to their little group to help where she could, she was a little less excited now and more studious about what she was telling these Sisters. Where the Grays had asked her many a question, these Sisters had to convene the weave over to their respective Ajahs and as such, needed to be prepared for any question and problem that could arise. She walked over to the Yellow Sister who seemed particularly interested in the distance one could go with this weave and briefly talked about this with her. “Imagine the spot you want to go to, make sure you know the starting point and ending point closely, know each detail and you can float to your destination, as far as you want to go.†When would they be able to use this weave in effect? When would it prove its usefulness to all of these Sisters and make them remember these Sisters as writing this page in history.

 

Phaedra Eskarne

First Voice

Sitter for the Gray Ajah

[Muirenn]

Muirenn appeared to watch the weave closely, to be taking in every detail of what Phaedra and Nyssa were saying. She was quite pleased when the Blue, of all people, gave her an opening.

 

"I do believe you are right, Estel. It should be just a matter of finding the correct balance to adjust this weave for travelling," her words, while perfectly appropriate, sounded almost like praise for a favorite dog, rather than a fellow Aes Sedai. Tweaking Blues had always been a grand pastime.

 

"I think I may be able to duplicate the weave," she said, looking to Phaedra, "If you don't mind, sister?" She waited for Phaedra's nod before continuing.

 

Standing slowly, Muirenn concentrated on the spot where the Gray's first gateway had been created. This was certainly difficult with all the excitement buzzing around the room. Muirenn thought at times that the Talent she had been born with was as much blessing as curse at times, and must be similar to what the Warder bond was like. She brushed the thought away as she focused on the weave. The threads snapped together suddenly, in a bright line of saidar that began to rotate slowly, opening into total blackness. A small railed platform stood there, tiled in red and white marble. Interesting. She stepped out onto it purposefully, and then invited any of the others who were interested along for the ride.

 

-Muirenn Lina Alianin

Aes Sedai of the Red Ajah

Adventurous

[Robin]

Estel's question was a question that had popped into Aleanda's mind as well. This weave was close to Travelling and rediscovering this one had to mean that the other could be rediscovered as well. Aleanda hoped it would be able, soon. Estel's question got answered in the way Aleanda had already expected. There was said it would be able to be rediscovered, at least that's what they all thought.

 

Of course it could turn out to be a lot more difficult that this weave. It at least gave Aleanda something to think about. How did the Gray found out about this weave? Would they be willing to share that information? Phaedra hadn't said anything about that. She had said something about opening doors to new studies, but Aleanda couldn't believe that the Gray Ajah had spent so much time in trying to recover this weave, it wasn't something they Gray Ajah was supposed to do. It was something for the Brown to look at things that had been long forgotten, not for the Gray. Of course every Ajah has Sisters looking at things like these, but still it would have been more likely for the Brown Ajah to come with something like this.

 

Nevertheless Aleanda was very happy to be at this meeting and to look closely when Phaedra did the weave again. Aleanda looked carefully now and remembered it. Lea was about to ask if they could try it themselves when Muirenn spoke. She asked to duplicate the weave as she thought she could do it. Aleanda had stood up and now walked away from the table to look at Muirenn and how she preformed the weave.

 

Lea looked as she always did, but inside her she burned of excitement when she looked into the space that was created by Muirenn. Endless darkness and a small red and white platform were created. So this was how one could Skim. So this is what skmimming was. Aleanda decided to not go along with Muirenn on the platform. This couldn't be safe. "Are you all sure this is safe?" Aleanda had read much about skimming and in the reports she had read there wasn't much said about safety which in her eyes meant that there hadn't happen much accidents with Skimming, but still she couldn't leave to ask the question.

 

Aleanda Antori

Aes Sedai of the White Ajah.

[Kaylan]

Muirenn was the first to replicate the weave, which didn't surprise Kaylan - the old Red was worthy of respect, and had been even back when Kaylan was new to the Shawl, but she didn't suppose that the younger Aes Sedai would know that, or even care if they did. Aleanda was the first to speak, with a question about safety, and the young White hung back, obviously not sure about the idea. Picking up her skirts with a smile, Kaylan stepped into the void and onto the platform. She kept smiling into the darkness even though there was no reason for her too, it was almost as if she wanted to prove to herself that she wasn't scared.

 

There was a distinct possibility that it wasn't safe. She looked at the small square at her feet, extending only a small amount into the darkness, bordered by a rail that seemed horribly ineffectual in the face of all that... nothingness... Kaylan smiled at the red and white marble, wondering whether her own platform would have had green or not, and wondered again just how these things happened. She'd seen the weave enough times, now, that she could replicate it herself without doubt, but the old Green wasn't going to attempt it until Muirenn had taken them somewhere. Perhaps she'd be able to take them back - or perhaps they'd end up somewhere completely different. Either way, it would be interesting, and the idea of keeping it from her sisters was tempting enough, but obviously there was no question. Still, this might give some of them a jolt, and she couldn't help but smile back at the Grays in thanks for the opportunity.

 

~Kaylan

[Muirenn]

Muirenn smiled slightly, "I'm quite certain it is not safe. If it were, I doubt it would have been lost for so many thousands of years." She stepped onto the platform carefully, standing next to the Green. After a few moments, when no one else seemed to be interested in joining them, Muirenn exchanged a smile with the Green, and let the gateway snap shut.

 

Instantly, everything went black and she gasped reflexively, hearing the Green do the same. In moments a lantern appeared on a stand in the middle of the platform. Now that was interesting. Apparently this place, wherever it was, adapted itself to the user. Certainly worth noting. She caught Kaylan's eye and smiled again, the two sharing a quick moment of embarrassment. It was probably a good that no others had joined them.

 

She could feel a sense of movement in the platform, but this darkness looked all the same. It was...disconcerting, to say the least. Suddenly, the platform lurched to a stop, and another gateway began to form. Muirenn peered out as the railing shifted to allow them to leave, and saw to her delight that they were in a field about half a mile from a small manor house. This had been where she had 'retired' to nearly twenty years ago. It looked the same now as when she had left it just a few years ago. "Well, that worked as expected," she said briskly. "Would you like to try your hand at taking us back? I do not think, however, that it would be wise to attempt to gate into that small sitting room. And I do not think either of us know it well enough to do so. Have you any ideas of a location to return to?"

[Kaylan]

The darkness was absolute as the gateway snapped shut, and Kaylan gasped reflexively, suddenly glad that no-one else had joined them and very glad that Muirenn had gasped too. She hated politics, avoided them as much as she could, but there was no denying that Muirenn was a powerful and influential Aes Sedai, one of the oldest left in the Tower and in an Ajah that was seen by many as opposing Kaylan's own. And yet, the Green had found the two to have more in common than most people thought ever possible, and they had been allied in recent years. Still, Kaylan could not help but be glad, and she smiled in embarrassment as the lamp appeared, sharing a moment with the Red that was pushed out of mind at the sensation of moving. As the platform lurched to a stop, Kaylan blinked several times and held her balance carefully, then stepped out through the now open railing and into a field.

 

"Well, that worked as expected," Muirenn spoke briskly. "Would you like to try your hand at taking us back? I do not think, however, that it would be wise to attempt to gate into that small sitting room. And I do not think either of us know it well enough to do so. Have you any ideas of a location to return to?" Kaylan pondered the idea for a moment, thinking about the best place, and remembered that Jada was out of the room for the day, along with Mercury and Calya who almost never stayed in her quarters anymore.

 

"My rooms should be empty, if I can get us there." The Green embraced the Source, taking one last look at the field around them curiously, then wove the threads as she'd seen several times now, watching as the gateway opened onto a white platform with green tiles so dark they were almost black, bordered by a short wall and a rail, with lamps burning merrily at each of the four corners of the platform. She smiled at the thought and stepped in, waiting for Muirenn to be settled in her place before the gateway closed and the platform moved forward. It was hard to tell - there was no wind, no point of reference to look at and see the movement, but she had a distinct feeling that they were whizzing along quickly through the emptiness and toward the White Tower. After a few long minutes, the silence undisturbed, Kaylan felt the platform slow and stop and another opening - bright light streaming in blindingly after the small amount of light provided by the lamps. Squinting, she waited for Muirenn to leave first, and then stepped out herself to see with relief that they'd ended up in her quarters, and hadn't disturbed anything. It was crowded, even though she periodically cleaned it out and put things in storage, and thankfully none of the stacks of notebooks had toppled over, and all of the more dangerous things she'd studied were still firmly in place. A sun-bleached Trolloc skull leered down at them from its place on the cream painted wall, a tattered green silk hanging speaking of how many years had gone between renovations. The Myrdraal blade that took pride of place over her desk reflected the gateway as it closed, and she turned to the Red with a smile.

 

"I'm glad that went well - shall we return to the White quarters?" Her smile deepened as she realised that anyone in the hallways would be astonished to see the Green and the Red emerge from Kaylan's quarters with the ward Kaylan kept around her door when she was away firmly in place. Still holding the Source, Kaylan dismantled it and opened the door, gesturing to the open doorway to allow the older Aes Sedai to pass through first and affixing the ward back in place behind them. She twirled the Great Serpent ring on her finger - a habit from her Accepted days - as they walked back down to the tea room, unsure how much time had passed and lost in thoughts about the implications of this discovery.

 

~Kaylan

Aes Sedai of the Green Ajah

[Guest Estel]

Estel glared at the ancient Red. Had she not been an Aes Sedai, she would have spit at the woman's condenscending tone which nearly threw her into a fit of rage- not that it took much for a Red to send her into a fit of rage. Still, appearance must be kept and she sat in her chair and just glared murder.

 

If not for Kaylan's presence with Muirenn, Estel would have hoped for a mishap. She would be one of the last to weep should any Red- except Carise- meet her end.

 

It was quite some time before the two returned. Both appeared to have had little trouble with the weave, much to Estel's dissappointment in Muirenn's case. Couldn't she had at least gotten a scratch?

 

"Shall we go next, Aleanda?" she asked of the White Sister beside her. At the other woman's nod, Estel stepped forward, and embracing the Power, wove pure Spirit. Suddenly, a verticle slash of light appeared before her, and just as Muirenn's had, it rotated into a Gateway onto which she and Aleanda stepped.

 

Before the Gateway snapped shut- which cause the Blue's eyes to grow quite wide before mastering herself- there was just enough light to see a platform, just large enough for two people with guardrails around. The journey, if it could be called that for her body felt no movement, was not nearly as long as she had expected, and when the platform stopped- she knew it had stopped, though she knew not how she knew it had stopped.

A Gateway opened off the platform and she stepped ahead of Aleanda, right to where she had wanted.

 

Though neither woman felt it, the wind was icy, biting through their dresses. There were atop a hill and in the distance a great shadow could be seen. That shadow was the Blight. They were a few hundred leagues from it yet she could still smell the stench of decay emanating from that twisted place.

 

She never acknowledges the stone, sticking out from the ground. The way it sat, it had obviously been placed but time had worn away any evidence that there had ever been writing on it.

 

"Shall you take us away from here?" Estel asked her companion and watched as the other woman performed the weave that would take them away from that grave. She wasn't sure why she had chosen her former Warder's grave as her location and now she was more than ready to leave it.

[Robin]

Aleanda watched Kaylan step onto the platform and she saw Muirenn join her and the gateway snapped and they were on their way. Muirenn had, before she had left off, answered Aleanda's question with an answer the White had expected. It just wasn't safe. Lea guessed she was the only one who had wondered about that. But safety was something importance to her, to anybody. Though many didn't care for it. It wasn't Aleanda's intention to leave this room and never come back. Or get stuck on one or another place no one knew about and not being able to come back. Or even move, unwillingly off course, to the blight. Aleanda did a step backward.

 

"Shall we go next, Aleanda?" Estel asked her. Aleanda moved her head towards the Blue, thought about it a second and nodded. If you never take risks, you achieve nothing. And well, it was also to show the other Aes Sedai in the room that she wasn't afraid. Or better, to let them think she wasn't afraid. Though it was unnecessary to do for a Sister of the White as no one could ever tell what they felt. Aleanda knew how to hid her emotions. Estel wove the gateway and the platform. Aleanda looked back over her shoulder to the other Aes Sedai still remaining the room and then stepped onto the platform next to the blue. She trusted her, as she trusted most of the Aes Sedai.

 

When the gateway snapped shut it wasn't as scary as Aleanda would have thought. The platform started to move though she could barely feel, nor see, which way it was going. She looked at the Aes Sedai she accompanied. “Where are we going?†Aleanda said. The platform stopped before Estel could answer, and a gateway opened again. Aleanda looked from Estel to what was out of there and she stepped through the gateway. The wind blew through Aleanda’s hair, through her dress and she closed her eyes. The wind was wonderful. How long had she not felt such winds? Winds that didn’t blew in Tar Valon. This was the first time since Aleanda had entered the White Tower that she was far away from it. Far away? Aleanda opened her eyes, and only now noticed the smell that hung around in the air. She looked around. "Shall you take us away from here?" Estel asked her. Instead of replying to the question Aleanda asked “What is this place, where have you taken us.†Aleanda moved her eyes to the mountain in a far distance. The appearance of it was impressive. No, perhaps impressive wasn’t the good word for it, but it for sure had an impact on Aleanda. She couldn’t believe her own thoughts. After getting a confirming answer from Estel Aleanda was ready to try the weave herself and get them out of there.

 

Aleanda got hold of the source and tried to copy the weave everyone had done so often. The gateway almost snapped shut before it was fully open as Aleanda was trying to organise her thoughts while she was making the weave. Focus! She thought. When the gateway had opened up and wasn’t getting any wider Aleanda stepped up and as soon as Estel had stepped up on the platform as well Aleanda set course to her study. Her study should be empty and it gave them both another try. “Why did you take us so far out of Tar Valon. To there.†Unconscious of what she did Aleanda pointed back into the black, guessing that was where they came from. Aleanda hid her emotions like always. Estel couldn’t see if she was angry, or scared. It was just a question, a question she had to answer.

 

Aleanda Antori

Aes Sedai of the White Ajah

[Guest Estel]

Aleanda's confusion over her choice of destination was understandable. Estel herself didn't understanf why she had done it! Her subconscious mind was an enigma to her and there were many quirks about her which she hersefl didn't understand.

 

She shrugged at the White Sister's question and was silent a moment before answering. In truth she was gathering that faithful Aes Sedai mask about herself, trying deperatley to hide any old pain- pain which she thought long forgotten, especially since Faerthines had left- from her voice and face. There was no need to tell the enitre story- too many knew already and had used it against her. Sirayn was perhaps the worst example of that.

 

Taking a breath, she tried to speek with an air of unconcern, but doubted she succeeded. "It was the grave of my first Warder." she said as steadily as she could. However, the strongest emotion connected with that old memory was guilt, rather than grief. Too much had happened during her short year Bonded to Matthias to leave her anything but guilty. "I haven't visited his grave since I buried him there sixty years before." I should have saved him- I could, but I hesitated. Light, never again and certainly not to Orion. Orion's connection to Matthias only deepened her guilt.

 

Whether Aleanda had ever heard any of the events that had passed so long ago was unknown to Estel- the White Sister concealed her emotions better than the Blue could ever hope to.

[Robin]

Aleanda listened carefully to what Estel had to say and while Estel explained why they had gone to that place Aleanda connected the information to something she'd heared earliers. Years ago about this same Aes Sedai. She hadn't heared the full story, but she had heared something. "I haven't visited his grave since I buried him there sixty years before." Estel looked down when she said that. Aleanda laid her hand on the Aes Sedai's shoulder. "Don't worry, I won't tell anyone." And she wouldn't. Aleanda couldn't read the emotion that laid on the Aes Sedai's face. Though she thought it wasn't grief or anger. Grief for the one she lost, or anger for the one who had killed him. Aleanda had been pretty good in cheering up people, but she didn't know what she had to do now. "We need to keep in touch with eachother some more Estel." Aleanda said to her. "Just to chit chat like we sometimes did when we were Novices."

 

The white platform stopped and the gateway opened again. This time it opened to Aleanda's room. Her own study and it was empty as Aleanda had expected. Estel and she got off the platform and walked into her room. "Wiat a few seconds please," she told Estel. "I need to write a little note." Lea walked towards her desk and got her self some paper and ink and wrote a little letter. When it was finished she moved to the door and gave it to the first servant she saw while whispering to her that she had to give it to Leah Bree. Aleanda made sure Estel couldn't hear it from where she was standing. When Aleanda walked bach into her study she said to Estel "Now lets move on. It's your turn to Skim to our next stop." It was the same cold voice of Aleanda which brought the words to Estel, though this time she added a small wink. Something she did sporadic.