Clash of Interests [ATTN: Kids and Blues]

[Guest Estel]

The sun shone outside, mocking her with the little light that came in through the tiny, barred window. She scowled at it, hating it and wanting more. Beyond these four walls were sunshine and happiness and it called to her, saying: “Come out here, come and be free!†For hours she had slammed her fists against the wall, screaming herself hoarse to be let free. She hated this confinement- hated any confinement! And though her life outside was cruel and hard, it was still better than this.

 

Brianna looked down at her hands, down at the weapons that had killed a man and dropped her into this. She looked down at her hands and shivering, turned her face away. There had been no blood when he had died- or at least not on her- but it felt like they were drenched in it. She denied any guilt in the matter- ‘it wasn’t my fault, I didn’t mean to!’- but there was no way to shake the sickening feeling of being dirty. It was like the feeling she felt after turning a trick but this was far stronger.

 

Her face stared back at her from her washbasin, inconveniently placed in the direct path of the light from her window, the only place there was enough light to reflect an image. She had always been thin; her cheeks gaunt from malnutrition, and her young eyes had seem more than a girl her age should have, but her face had not had the look of horror that was now permanently displayed on her face. Every time she closed her eyes or tried to sleep she could see him, lying on the ground, his body twisted out of shape and his eyes staring blankly back at her. Oh the horror! Those eyes stared, accusing her, punishing her. In her nightmares he lay, broken, lying in a puddle of blood. From his dead mouth he would accuse her and warn her that she would never again sleep for he would haunt her dreams.

 

With a cry of anger, frustration and despair, she kicked the bucket of water out of the light where she could no longer see her murderous self.

 

~Brianna Pryan

TPC Wilder and Murderer

[Kaylan]

"Sir," Analie spoke quietly but forcefully, her training from her father finally coming in handy for something, "The girl Brianna Pryan is wanted by the Children of the Light for the murder of one of our officers. We also have reason to believe that she has broken the laws of Amadicia by using the One Power, and we are simply asking to speak to the King so that we might take custody of her and return to our country for trial."

 

They had been going on like this for days, now, back and forth with the clerks who were running them around in circles. It had taken months to track her all the way to Cairhien, the der'Algai becoming involved as soon as the death of one of their officers became known. The girl was a witch, had channeled the One Power to kill a Child of the Light, and regardless of how Analie might feel personally about that particular law, there was no excuse for murder. No excuse.

 

"I'm afraid not, Hundredman Shehan, the King is busy today."

 

Frustration bubbled up, but she kept her face smooth and her voice calm.

 

"What about tomorrow, Clerk Ulrich? Can we not make arrangements to see him tomorrow?"

 

The answer was the same. Come down tomorrow, when the King's schedule was finalised. With a short bow - curtsies did not look right in breeches - Analie nodded smoothly, stalking out of the room with a black look. She had even dressed formally for this, which she had not done in months. It had not helped.

 

It was a quick walk back to the Inn, and she called the group of der'Algai into the private dining area for a meeting.

 

"We are to go back tomorrow." It pained her to admit it, especially in front of Arala. Why the throne was making trouble for the Children, she could not say. While she was not so rash as to suggest them all darkfriends, it was still frustrating to be met with opposition on what should have been a simple enough matter.

 

~Analie Shehan

Hundredman of the Children of the Light

der'Algai d'ma Rahien

[Lwena]

Sierra was bored.

 

Frowning a bit, the woman tilted back on her chair, balancing on the back legs and propping her feet up on the table, and wondered vaguely if that situation would be remedied any time in the near future. She had done the exact same thing the day previous though, and the day before that, and the day before that and, frankly, she was getting rather sick of this whole wondering thing. What frustrated her more than being bored, though, was that she couldn't do a thing about it - she was no politician, and for all that she'd grown up in Cairhien, she wasn't good at dealing with people who weren't common soldiers. She was there because she was with the der'Algai, and felt more than obligated to be there.

 

After all, the witch had murdered one of their officers.

 

Shaking her head, Sierra started as there was a knock at the door, and nearly overturned the chair she was sitting on in the process, but caught herself in time. Fat lot of good it would have done her, to land flat on her back... Standing, she pulled open the door to find the hall empty, but then heard from the next room over someone shouting about all the der'Algai going downstairs to the private dining area - meeting. Slipping out of her room, Sierra hurried down there, crossing her fingers for good news. They'd been sitting around doing nothing for far too long, and while Sierra was hardly keen on trials (especially of Aes Sedai) in general, murder was wrong and this girl deserved to be punished for it. Conviniently, of course, Sierra was forgetting about the people she'd killed - not in cold blood, of course, but in self-defense. In the end though, they were all did, and really if she wanted to get technical, she deserved to be punished for some of the things she'd done too. But Sierra didn't feel like getting technical, and so she shoved it all aside. She wasn't, to say the least, a thinker.

 

Really, she was crossing her fingers to do something because she was sick of sitting around not doing something. If there was a meeting, that meant that there was either good news or bad news - the first being they got the girl, and the second being they'd gotten themselves kicked out of the country for the time being. Rolling her eyes, the woman entered the private dining room, not the last to arrive but pretty darn close. Taking a seat, she eyed Analie, who was wearing a formal uniform and not looking hugely happy.

 

Damn.

 

"We are to go back tomorrow."

 

Sierra stared at Analie for a moment, and then said flatly,

 

"Are you serious?" Obviously she was, but - well, they hadn't just sat around in Cairhien for Light knew how long to be sent home like children to their mothers! This was frustrating, though she had to admit Analie was probably more frustrated than Sierra was - she was the one who'd been doing all or most of the communcations work, after all. Rolling her eyes, Sierra rubbed her hand over her face and asked, "And what are they -" Her expression suggested she wasn't too fond of 'they', the Cairhiens, at the moment. "-going to do with her?"

 

-Sierra

ooc: Woah. So out of practice...

[TheWhiteSword1]

Corik frowned as he looked around the room. Why was he even here? This was der'Algai business. Were they considering inviting him to join them? Unlikely, but he had helped save Arala's life back in Tar Valon, not by fighting but by giving her his sword. He would have been more than happy to use his sword, but it had been a duel. One that Arala had gotten herself into with her big mouth. From the flat look she gave him from across the room, she either did not remember his generosity, also unlikely, or she did not care to remember.

 

He leaned casually against the wall with his arms folded. Maybe they would invite him to join the der' Algai. He was known as one of the better swordsmen amongst the squadmen, and he was still young. With time he was confident that he could become a blademaster.

 

Analie looked to be in a dark mood. It appeared she had been denied the chance to see the King again. He did not understand why they refused to help. The girl, Brianna, had killed a Child of the Light. A Child of the Light and an officer. She was a darkfriend. It was as simple as that. There was even word that she had used the One Power on him. She might as well have marked the Dragon's Fang on her own door.

 

The King should have been willing to do everything in his power to help them. Unless he was a darkfiend as well, and that was an unpleasant thought. The problem was that the clerks had been the ones that had not allowed Analie to see the King. Had she seen the same clerk everyday, or had it been more than one clerk? It was a lot easier to claim a clerk was a darkfriend and bring them to justice.

 

Analie's words interupted his thoughts.

 

"We are to go back tomorrow."

 

Corik stared at her for a moment in bewilderment before his face darkened into a scowl. The other Chilren did not appear to like the idea either. Murmers ran up and down the room.

 

"Are you serious?" One asked. It was women Corik did not know very well. He thought he had heard someone call her Sierra. Yes, that sounded right. She sounded just as frustrated.

 

Corik had more than few words that were itching to come off the tip of his tongue but he held his mouth closed. This was not his place to speak. He knew that even if he didn't like it.

 

What surprised him was that Arala had not voiced her thoughts yet, or simply raised her voice. Usually from what he had seen she spoke before she paused to think. She had a barbed tongue, one that was even worse then his. A sharp tongue was one thing, but when combined with her lack of fear it was very dangerous. She talked herself into bad situations that other people, such as himself, had to drag her out of. And did she thank them? No.

 

Corik stood up from leaning against the wall, ready to go pack his things. It would be a long ride home, and one that he felt none of them would enjoy.

[Kaylan]

"Are you serious?"

 

All Analie could do was look at Sierra. It was a mark of how bad a temper she'd been left in that she actually let her irritation touch her face.

 

"And what are they going to do with her?"

 

The red-haired Child shook her head.

 

"I don't know."

 

None of them looked happy. As well they wouldn't - it was really a simple matter, and Analie could only curse that they hadn't been able to catch the girl before the Cairhienin authorities had arrested her.

 

"I intend to get answers tomorrow."

 

Of course, she had been trying to get answers for days, and hadn't been able to yet, but there were other ways of asking the questions. She simply hadn't wanted to go that way yet.

 

"In the meantime, perhaps we should start investigating the Cairhienin government - the clerks that I am speaking to keep saying that their hands are tied. Perhaps there is someone above them..."

 

She still didn't want to say it out loud. Analie was not a hardliner, she was not the kind of Child that would accuse anyone that was less than respectful of being a Darkfriend. However, things were beginning to seem suspicious, here. If she didn't know better, she'd have thought that the Witches were involved somehow.

 

Analie was Andoran and, though she had given up and claim to it, of noble blood. She knew well that the Cairhienin may have invented the Great Game, but the Witches had perfected it.

[Ellorian]

Arala was quite drunk. More so than usual. Days of inactivity had soured her mood further and driven her to overindulge in what was quickly becoming her favorite, er, indulgence. Spiced wine. And lots of it.

 

The aniversary of Branlon's death never took her well. Coupled with Ren's attack and a few other ill timed annoyances, Arala was sinking into some sort of depression. Though with her she wasn't so much sad as angry. Well, angrier than usual.

 

The only thing that seemed to calm her (besides the massive amounts of wine) was Con. The squirrel Con, not his namesake. The namesake was back to irritating her, if ever so slightly less that before, with his self-righteousness and penchant for actually being right when it was the most inconvenient for her. Squirrel Con was as amusing as ever. She had managed to teach him to bring her a cup just by clicking her tongue, but Con still did not understand that there was a right way to carry a cup and a wrong way. Dark red wine stains dotted the carpets in her tent, but she had bigger problems. The other issue was to teach Con to bring a cup and a bottle, but she suspected a full bottle was more of a load than the poor little thing could really carry. She was pondering the question when Analie appeared again.

 

"We are to go back tomorrow."

 

Arala almost giggled. Mostly it was because this meant she could head back to her room and really let loose with the wine instead of trying to be inconspicuous with her tiny flask, but also a little because she still liked it when bad things happened to Analie. She didn't want the woman mortally wounded or anything, but it would be nice if perhaps she tripped over her own boots at important moments for the rest of her life or if maybe she never could quite get comfortable when in bed (especially if it was going to be with Doeshan). Better yet, maybe all her hair could fall out unexpectedly. Yes, that would be fun. Arala was beginning to ponder that when another voice interrupted her.

 

"Are you serious?"

 

Arala could almost hug Sierra. In her stupor she had forgotten to ask the very same thing. She watched the exchange between the two women enjoying the irritation that crept onto Analie's face until her eyes lost focus. She let her flat gaze drift until it decided to cooperate and was a bit surprised when it landed on Corik. Good kid. She liked him alright, as well as she liked anyone anyway, though at the moment she couldn't remember why. Something about a sword and a giant ape?

 

For some reason she thought of Hallin. He wasn't an ape or even all that big. He did take his pants off that one time...Arala didn't realize her mind had drifted until she heard herself giggling. Luckily she was drunk enough that it didn't embarrass her, though it really should have.

 

"Erm, sorry, I was just picturing how amusing it is going to be when we all have this exact same conversation tomorrow." She grinned and surpressed a hiccup. As on edge as everyone was from being cooped up like a bunch of hens, she thought there was a pretty good chance she might get a rise out of Analie. And if not, well, there was a pitcher of wine in her room that would provide more than enough entertainment.

 

OOC: Ah, well since we're all missing Arala's charming personality, thought I'd pop in:D BTW, good thread so far, guys. Kids rock.

[Kaylan]

[OOC: Kids do rock. I love you guys. *wipes away a tear*]

 

Oh, dear Creator, was Arala drunk??? The giggles, the slightly slurred words, the vacant stare... All Analie could do was shake her head and give her fellow der'Algai a look that showed her distaste.

 

Of course, she might just have been bored. Analie didn't bother to change the look, though.

 

Their animosity was no secret, and certainly hadn't improved any when Doeshan had made his decision and started to openly court Analie. It was still hard for her sometimes, being alone with a man, but she had always trusted Doeshan and was determined not to let Ethin's madness ruin her life.

 

Her determination wavered sometimes, though. She could only be glad that Arala did not know of it - the woman would gloat and prance about as if she'd won a prize had she known the more intimate details of Analie's relationship with the Drillmaster.

 

"I do not intend for us to be having this conversation tomorrow." It took all her willpower to keep from clenching her jaw at Arala's insinuation, and Analie knew that she'd stay there all night rather than come back with the same news. Just to spite the stupid chit of a girl.

 

"Perhaps you'd like to come with me, Arala, and make sure that I'm doing my job properly. Provided you're sober enough, of course." The words were said with an almost sickly sweet smile, and as soon as they were out Analie regretted them.

 

Yes, that was probably going to lead to a fist fight. Or worse.

[TheWhiteSword1]

Corik blinked in surprise and tried to surpress a groan. Arala had been drinking. Her taste for drinking had increased noticably of late. He scratched at the red beard beginning to grow. It had only been days since he shaved it last. Why did it have to itch so?

 

As startling as Arala's behaviour was, Analie's response was even more unexpected.

 

"Perhaps you'd like to come with me, Arala, and make sure that I'm doing my job properly. Provided you're sober enough, of course."

 

Corik almost slapped his forhead as he groaned. This was not good. It looked like there were only two possible outcomes from here. Either the two would get into a fight, which would be a wonderful example for all of the people here who looked to them for guidance, or Analie would have to eat her words and let Arala come with her.

 

From the giddy smile on Arala's face it looked as if she had not taken the worded barb to heart. Of course in her drunken stupor it could take seconds for the words to cut through the fog. Her mood swings were often violent and with little warning as well. This was not something he wanted to be in the middle of, not that is was even his place to attract the notice of them. He was still not der'Algai.

 

No one else seemed to be making a move to intervene. Before Corik realized what he was doing, he was stepping forward. Did he think he was going to try to stand between the two woman? Better to try standing in the middle of a whirlwind. He gripped the hilt of his sword tightly. He was not about to go tossing it to Arala again. Even with all her skill she would probably still harm herself as drunk as she was. Unless the sword caught a flash of sunlight or a reflection. That would probably dazzle her senses for a few seconds, he doubted that Analie would be amused though.

 

"A wise suggestion Commander, but I believe that Arala has a squirel to tend to. I am sure there will be other times."

 

He realized that his hand was resting on Arala's shoulder.

 

Analie frowned at him as if wondering who he was and Arala looked up cross eyed and scratched her head. He hoped Analie could see the out he had given her. Of course by the glare she had given Arala, maybe she was just looking for the chance to fight. If that was the case then a whirlwind would have been a much better choice.

[Kaylan]

She wasn't frowning because she was wondering who Corik was - she was frowning because he was calling her 'Commander', and the way that he had his shoulder on Arala's shoulder, he was looking like a lover. Analie didn't particularly want to think that the woman had gotten herself one of those.

 

"A squirrel." Her tone was flat, though the Child's eyes flashed with anger. Arala needed to be tending to her duties as a Child of the Light, not some bloody forest-rat.

 

"A squirrel." The repetition was in that same flat tone, as though she had let herself think it over for a moment and still couldn't believe it. The once-noblewoman's distaste for Arala's hijinx was obvious on her face as her gaze swept from the woman to the young man they'd asked to accompany them, then back down again. Why had they asked him again? Because he had proved himself in Tar Valon, and could very well be a useful member of the der'Algai d'ma Rahien. But judging from the group of them sitting around the table, the standards had been slipping of late, anyway.

 

"Yes, I'm sure that Arala needs to tend to her pets." Piercing green eyes shot back up to Corik's, one slim red eyebrow raising just a fraction. It could have been amusement, it could have been questioning, or it could have been her daring him to start an argument.

 

Whatever it was, he'd never know, because Analie immediately swept out of the room and slammed the door behind her.

 

[OOC: And, that looks like a good spot for that one to finish. So, next round then, Estel? Want to bring the Blue Sisters into it?]

[Guest Estel]

To all outward appearances, nothing separated the three Aes Sedai who stood before the Sun Throne. The eyes, so trained the Great Game, did not see any difference in the three Sisters' manners, purposes or standing. To them, they were just three representatives of the White Tower.

 

Estel Sedai stood a few paces back from the other two women and let them do the talking. The Cairhienin would not pick up on it, but to any Aes Sedai worth her salt it wasn't hard to pick out that the tall Domani took her lead from the other two. She had been Aes Sedai for over one hundred years and still she was treated as little more than a child.

 

Estel, Serena and Elyssa were here because some Wilder had killed a Whitecloak and now was being sentenced to death. Of course, Estel and Serena's reasons for actually being in the area were slightly...shadier- at least by Aes Sedai standards. Since this involved a Wilder, it was only natural for the White Tower to get involved. The Tower was declining and Tarmon Gai'don was on the way, a single soldier could tip the war in their favour.

 

"You realize you're not the only party asking for custody of the girl." The king's dry works floated into Estel's thick skull, nudging at her explosive temper. Light, he was going to give the girl to the Whitecloaks instead! Surely he couldn't be that stupid! Even she wasn't that stupid- no doubt many of her Sisters would beg to differ!

 

"The Whitecloaks?" Her voice was cool, questioning and though it was her best 'Aes Sedai' voice, no doubt she would receive a lecture later about not letting her 'elders' handle the situation. Damn them! She was not a child! "You would risk the wrath of the White Tower to appease the Children?" It was phrased as a question but the king would not be sitting on that throne if he couldn't recognize the threat.

 

"She killed one of their officers."

 

"All your reports seem to agree that the girl used the One Power to do it. She is untrained and it is possible she will do more damage yet without the White Tower's guidance."

 

 

"She is accused of murder, the sentence is death."

 

"The girl does not know how to control her Power, she cannot be faulted for the accident."

 

The Blue congratulated herself for not allowing any of her seething temper to enter her voice but before the king could answer her, her other Sisters retook control of the petition. It took the memory of the watching Cairhienin to keep her from sighing aloud.

 

At the end of the day the White Tower always got what it wanted and the three Blues were escorted down to the dungeons for their first look at the girl.

 

ooc: sorry that took so long...there was a bit of confusion and because Cale is on indefinite LoA, Estel will also be joining the thread...

[SerenaMorrigan]

Serena's face remained calm and collected, but the fire behind her tilted emerald eyes shone brightly. It took almost all she had to not remove her hands from her side and place them on her hips. The discussion taking place was not going well, and she could not understand why. The White Tower would have the Wilder!

 

Among the three women that stood before the King of Cairhien, Elyssa was probably the smartest and more silent, Estel would be hasty and rash, and Serena would silently scorn in her rage. Luckily, with all three of them together, and their training, they wouldn't erupt into a an explosive ball of chaos. Serena could hold her own and usually knew when to let her wrath reveal itself. As she grew older, the things to become angry with grew less.

 

"You realize you're not the only party asking for custody of the girl."Biting the inside of her cheek, the Saldaean Blue had to restrain herself from drawing blood. How, in the name of the Light, could the king be thinking what he was thinking? As she went to open her mouth to speak, Estel beat her two it.

 

"The Whitecloaks?"Estel had been positioned behind Serena and Elyssa for a reason, now she had breached her responsibility. Out of the corner of her eye, she shot daggers at the younger Blue.

 

As the conversation between Estel and the King progressed, Serena wished she could have channeled a gag for the Domani. The questions and statements she made were good; however, they could have been made a little differently.

 

"The girl does not know how to control her Power, she cannot be faulted for the accident," Nodding at the last statement Estel made, Serena silently thanked the Light that the Domani Blue hadn't erupted in anger. No doubt the woman was boiling over the edge, just as Serena was.

 

"Estel Sedai is merely stating the facts. If this girl is not placed into our hands, she could hurt more people along the way as well. The White Tower needs to deal with her, not the Whitecloaks. All they wish is for revenge, but what we seek for his justice. Is revenge Just? Is putting someone to death for what they do not know how to control or understand, right? I think not!"

 

The discussion laboured on and on. At last, the king let them see the girl. On their way down to the dungeons, Serena caught Estel's attention and nodded in approval. The Saldaean Blue was to keep the Domani on a tight string.

 

 

Serena Morrigan

Blue Ajah

 

OOC: Guys, I"m sorry it took me so long. I lost the ability to write for Serena for a moment, but I"m back on track and will not stall you again.

[Guest Estel]

Her temper tantrum had cooled off hours ago and now she was bitterly regretting kicking the day’s drinking water, spilling it all over the floor. Light blast her! If she wasn’t trashing out half-mad in rage, she was regretting it hours later. Such was the cycle of her utterly miserable existence.

 

She stared out the window, absently chewing a chunk of horribly stale bread. The sun had long since passed overhead to the other side of the building: it was afternoon. Her window gave her a clear view of the clear sky but because of the angle of the sun, no light streamed into her pathetic excuse for a living space. Her only source of light now was the flickering torches lining the corridor outside her cell. It gave the entire place an eerie feel- not that it wasn’t creepy enough.

 

As far as Brianna knew, she was the only woman in this corridor and therefore didn’t dare try and strike up a conversation with any of her fellow convicts, all of them scumbags and rapists if they weren’t murderers too. The presence of a female had created excitement among the prisoners when she had first arrived but now it had been two weeks since she had first been brought here and the fun of taunting the whore and making lewd suggestions had lost its excitement.

 

Footsteps and the creaking of the doorhandle were suddenly heard from behind the door at the end of the corridor. There was rustling all along the hall as all the prisoners shuffled to the barred windows in their doors. Even watching the bored guards check the status of the prisoners was more interesting than watching the mould grow.

 

What surprised Brianna were the three women who trailed behind the pair of guards, looking into all the cells as they passed. They were dressed finely, though not ornately and were definitely not Cairhienin- no, that wasn’t true, one was certainly short enough but the way she held herself told Brianna that this was no prissy noble. Even in the poor light, the fluid grace and height of the Domani in the rear could not be missed while the last seemed almost the happy medium between the two.

 

For some reason, none of her male fellows dared venture any crude jokes about the three women except for one. Mid-sentence he was shut up by the Domani who threw him a glare and not-so-absently reach up to brush a strand of hair from her face. Torchlight glinted off a ring on her finger.

 

Finally the party stopped in front of Brianna’s cell. Her breath caught in her throat, wondering what this could mean. Was her sentence to be carried out now? Had the guards lied when they told her she’d be given final rights before she was hung as her crime necessitated? Fear stopped her heart cold in her throat. She wasn’t ready to die. Burn her, she wasn’t ready to die!

 

“Wha- What’s g- going on?” she trembled as the guards opened the door to her cell.

 

ooc: The Sisters have been given custody, your turn Serena...