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 Posted: Mon Dec 06, 2010 9:26 am
Mercury didn’t bother particularly much with the ranking system of the Power. There were few who were even close to being her equal in strength, and those few that could have been her equal were far outmatched by her rank as Keeper. She wondered how Keepers before herself had managed, if there had been Aes Sedai superior to them in strength, but inferior than them in rank. Probably there was a Brown somewhere in the library, well versed in protocols, to answer the doubt. Not that it mattered.
She took a moment to glance at her visitor. Hm. Fairly strong, above average in fact. Certainly enough to merit the haughty attitude that Mercury had heard her to have. She couldn’t say particularly much about one of the Warders, but it would have been a lie to claim that she didn’t immediately understand what Mairyela had meant about the other one-and that was considerably striking, since Mercury was far from a Wolfkin. The discussion of scent was beyond her for the most part. But the fact that he was…eerie. That remained to be considered. I’m not scared…but how does she tolerate that grim presence? Light knows what kind of emotions he must have…
“Please, come in Lady Zeara.” The Keeper motioned her towards the two chairs in front of her desk. Clarissa had once said that seeing Mercury behind that desk-which had the Flame of Tar Valon painstakingly carved in detail on the front-with the Stole made her look imposing (also adding that Mercury’s unusual hair color did not aid any sign of softness to the image). She hoped that it still held true.
To what Mercury hoped would be her fortune, two other people entered, one behind the other. The first was Hawk, and the Keeper fought down a glare behind the mask. She would deal with the fool man later. Senseless fool. Dallying about when there was work to be done. In her irritation, she shielded her mind from Hawk’s side of the bond. Thinking of Hawk, she idly registered that Wolf was in the Training Grounds, a somewhat curious aspect coming from his mind; if only he was here, so he could see-or was it smell?-what Mairyela had meant.
The other was a Novice, bearing the tray of tea and the flask of wine. She curtsied to the Keeper, and then to Zeara, and stood awaiting instruction on where to place the tray. The Keeper paused to see how the other Aes Sedai would react to these unexpected people.
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Posted: Mon Dec 06, 2010 9:37 am
Jerome managed to hide his Whitecloak clothes in a tree trunk; it was a lucky find. Having to dig a hole meant leaving signs that someone was sneaking around. In his common rough wool shirt and breeches, and plain boots, he would not attract much attention, even if he hadn’t had the disguise that wilder had crafted up for him.
He walked past the area where he and Raznon had been ambushed. There was no one there; he had not expected there to be. He did not enter into the field, or linger in the area, in case whoever had been after them was still there. Without another thought, he merged into the streets of Illian, deciding to try and find some hint as to where the rest of the Tower party had gone.
And the best place to start would seem to be their original destination: the docks. He followed the roads down towards the harbor that he could vaguely see from this side of the city. If he did not find Raznon there, then he would proceed to think of another means of seeking the Tower party out.
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Posted: Mon Dec 06, 2010 9:41 am
More than a few of the servants of the Al’Draco house had put up a discussion about their newly returned master. It had been said to be true that he was a Warder. But it seemed the tales were not true, that their very gait was that of death, for Hawkeye was as normal a stance. But some insisted that it was perhaps a trick to disguise himself, that the Warders at the Andoran Court were truly fearsome. As the Gaidin to none other than the Keeper of the Chronicles herself, would he not need to be on an even more skilled plane?
The maids gossiped about how handsome he was, and how he had changed since leaving. The coldness about him was different, not as harsh as it had once been. Many at the estate had feared that he would become but a statue; he had not been an emotional boy from the start, and to send such a boy to Warder training had seemed…overly frightening. Warders were themselves rather cold, changed after their training; if Hawk, an already cold person were to succeed in his goal, what kind of person would he become? But then again, no one had sent him to Warder training; it had been his own wish. He was the heir, but his sister could also inherit if it came to that. There had certainly been enough talk about it from the time when he had made his intentions clear, up until his actual departure. The family situation had always been civil towards one another, but till now none of the servants truly knew what Hawk’s standing was with the House.
The stableboys’ tongues wagged about how the horse, though certainly a fine animal, fell short of their expectations of the feared battle stallions. They wondered why he had brought a normal gelding with him, instead of the war horses he had often brought on his rare visits home. Those beasts had been something to see indeed, refusing to be tended by any but the Lord Hawk himself.
As Aram wandered about the grounds in his disguise as Hawk, everyone discussed their own thoughts. But one thought lurked in everyone’s minds, common to their curiosity. What was Lord Hawk doing here? Why had he returned? And for how long? None of them realized that their own fiercely noble Lord Azrael Al’Draco, the current Seat of House Al’Draco, had asked himself and Hawk those same questions in his study but an hour ago.
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Posted: Sat Dec 11, 2010 12:01 pm
Lady Zeara had waited for this moment for a long time. Finally reaching the office and entering upon the Keepers invitation, she knew this type of splendor was what she truly wanted. The Keeper of the Chronicles made an imposing figure in the high backed chair, elegantly adorned desk and grandly decorated room, she wanted it all. It was her right, in her opinion.
Readjusting her own shawlto try and match some of the Keepers elegance, she stepped forward, only pausing long enough to glare at the young Novice that had curtseyed to her. Did the girl not know this was a meeting of Aes Sedai? Tea and wine aside, she did not like the others presence. She also did not like the appearance of what appeared to be the Keepr's Warder. No doubt there for her own protection, but it made her a bit wary.
"Keeper," she curtseyed, keeping to formality, however annoying it may be. Raising, she was about to continue when she felt yet another presence appear at the door. Looking over her shoulder, she had to fight to keep her Aes Sedai calm as the Mistress of Novices stopped at the door and gave the Keeper a curtsey. What was this? Was she not allowed a private word with the Keeper? Glancing at said woman, she lost her cool. "Keeper, what is this? I demand to know why all these others are here as well! I thouht this was going to be a private meeting!"
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Posted: Sat Dec 11, 2010 12:20 pm
Going as fast as she could, to make up for lost time, it was only by the skin of her teeth that Mairyela made it to the Keepers office on time. The Lady Zeara was there, just coming out of a curtsey, with her two Warders standing off to one side. Hawk was there as well, and of course Mercury Sedai, seated behind her desk.
As Zeara Sedai looked back at her, glaring as if she were the Dark One herself, she slipped into a curtsey, both for the Keeper as well as to hide her grin. The woman was haughty in the worst sense of the word, and it pleased Mairyela to no end knowing the woman was razzled. Mairyela was not in any way a cruel person, but she did enjoy seeing people get their just desserts from time to time.
"I am sorry for being tardy, Keeper." she said, raising and going off to stand on the other side of the room, away from the strange womans Warder. The woman was as hotheaded as she appeared as she started questioning the Keepers intentions. Mairyela couldn't believe the nerve of this woman! What in the Light was she even here for?
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Posted: Sun Dec 12, 2010 10:56 am
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Posted: Sun Dec 12, 2010 11:29 am
Demand indeed she thought dryly to herself. It would seem that the other woman had evinced what all Mairyela had spoken of her. It was clear that Zeara was...petulant about the prescence of the others.
Mercury waved aside Zeara's troubles. "My Warder is only here doing his duty, as are yours.The Accepted will excuse themselves to the other side of the door momentarily. Mairyela, if you would please wait there? I know you had asked for a meeting earlier, and I was unable to grant it. If you would be patient, I shall discuss with you when I am done speaking with Zeara Sedai."
Effectively Mercury had implicitly not only ordered Mairyela to wait, but had legitimized her prescence there, whether Zeara liked it or not. Perhaps it was throwing oil on the flames, but it was also the quickest way to finding out both Zeara's intentions, and personality. What if the other woman challenged the Keeper's authority? She doubted it; though irate as they came, Zeara seemed unlikely to do something so foolhardy. She mildly wished she hadn't closed Hawk's end of the bond, if only so that she could figure out his opinion on the situation.
"Please, sit, unless you would prefer to stand of course. Will you have tea or wine Zeara Sedai? Once they have waited on you, the trainees will wait outside until such time as we need them to serve us again." She said it as much for Zeara's benefit as for the girls'. Behind Zeara, she saw the girl near the drinks quietly sigh in relief. "Children, a cup of tea for myself, and the Mistress of Novices-if she wishes."
The Accepted behind the Keeper's desk hurried over to the other girl, and between them they poured two cups of tea, placed them in saucers, and took them-one each-to the Keeper and the Mistress of Novices. They then inched back to the flasks, waiting for Zeara's order, so that they could deliver it to her and be gone. Ani-one of the two-had previously had the misfortune to once be assigned to Zeara for a day, and she did not wish to repeat the experience, nor to be in the prescence of such a unstable taskmaster.
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Posted: Mon Dec 13, 2010 11:19 am
((Poor Markis...wonder where I lost him in this confusion... sweatdrop ))
Markis waited patiently as Haim tried to recall anything about the man who was Zeara's Warder. But one couldn't exactly go about describing an Aes Sedai as cold, or a Warder as frightening, and expect to get very far in terms of information.
Haim suddenly nodded to himself. "Well, I recall something about her having two Warders I think. One of them is Boron; short and stout. Not that we can describe ourselves or any Warder as ordinary, but in any event, Boron is not particularly an outstanding Warder.
Put more simply, in a fight against you, or Hawk, or myself, he's not much of a challenge, Gaidin or otherwise. He would do in a fight against less skilled men and Shadowspawn of course.
I don't recall much about the other fellow. You'd best ask Haram or the Bowmaster. Now then, do you feel like some sparring mayhaps? Could use a good match!"
Markis stopped in thought. Mercury was intently focused on something, but not in any great danger. Before she closed it, he faintly sensed Hawk enter her offices. She was safe. His Wolf senses told him Mairyela was there too.
"A few moments to prepare Staffmaster, and a match it shall be." Jaim nodded and went to set some young would be gaidin straight while Markis began his stretches.
His large, sandy wolf form padded through the forest, and saw White Hare some distance away. His wolf name was Bristle Fur. His fur tended to stick up like spikes before, and after the scarring, it was only even more obvious. He lifted his massive head, and howled quietly into the air, then stopped, and sniffed the air.
White Hare, it is I Bristle Fur. I feel you. What is going on there?
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Posted: Sat Dec 18, 2010 9:39 pm
((Argh! So...late! I`ll have to post Zeara tomorrow. Must...sleep T.T Here`s something though, lol!))
Mairyela took the saucer and cup from the obviously nervous Initiate. She nodded a thank you, then gave a nod towards the Keeper at her request to wait outside. In truth she had wanted to be there in order to get perhaps a better feel for the Warder and his haughty Aes Sedai, as well as to make sure that the Keeper was alright. She knew that Hawk could easily handle himself, but the Light only knew what the strange man was capable of. Quietly leaving with the young Accepted, who left the Green to the other girl, she quietly closed the door behind her.
The Accepted couldn`t leave fast enough. Giving the fastest curtsy Mairyela had ever seen, she scrambled off light the Dark One himself were on her heels. The other girl left a moment later, mirroring the Accepted`s actions. She was alone to her thoughts in mere moments as no doubt the meeting commenced.
Or perhaps not so alone. She felt the other presence as though he was standing next to her, ever so suddenly and yet not so. She could see the sand colored wolf, and knew the image well. Markis...Bristle Fur.
The sandy wolf howled and White Hare perked her ears. White Hare replied by howling back, then laying on the ground, her white and brown fur slightly raised. Turning her head, she gave a short bark.
I see you also, Bristle Fur. So far, I am waiting for word, but I remain cautious. If anything happens, I shall tell you.
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Posted: Sun Dec 19, 2010 12:27 pm
Lady Zarina Sheillen realized her mistake a few seconds too late, but was too proud to blush or feel any types of embarrassment. She should not have yelled, but who would blame her? She was on a mission in her opinion, and the fewer people who knew the better. Besides, that Mistress of Novices annoyed her to no end. It was as if the woman were spying on her, and were they not in the Tower, she would have dealt with it her own way. She was not among the Battle Ajah for nothing. Even her father, a Lord back home, feared her powers.
"Tea would be nice." She directed the snide comment more towards the young Novice still left in the room, and the girl was nearly a blur in getting what Zeara Sedai wished. Taking the saucer when it was presented, she took a sip, remaining on her feet. The tea was quite good and tasted of mint and jasmine. Walking over to the table holding the tea and wine she set her saucer back down and turned again to the Keeper. "Thank you for your hospitality, but now I must insist we get down to why I am here."
Waiting until the server girl was gone, she continued. "I have been training back home in Mayene for a while now, but lately I have heard quite a disturbing rumor. I came here to learn more and to see if what they have been saying is true..."
Ever the one for politics and drama, she let the comment hang for a moment before going on. "The Sisters in Mayene and other southern nations have been spreading word that the Amyrlin may be ill. No one has seen her for quite some time and naturally, loose lips will talk." She waited for some type of reaction from the Keeper, but the woman was Aes Sedai serenity itself. "I am here to do business. To make a proposition with you, if you are willing to hear me out."
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Posted: Thu Dec 30, 2010 1:44 pm
((My turn to be late...*flail flail* ))
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Posted: Thu Dec 30, 2010 1:51 pm
Well Light be...she's from Mayene too...a match for Berelain herself in ego..if she thinks that will gain her any favor, she'll soon learn different.
She idly sipped on her tea, only partially concerned with the rumor regarding the Amyrlin. That she could handle easily enough. The suggestion of another proposition however, piqued her curiosity. It would seem they were to come to the heart of the matter quickly. In the Keeper's opinion, it was for the better; the other Green's melodramatic air was starting to irk her.
"People will say what they will. But. Even to this day there are people who think Cadsuane is passed on, but she will come and prove otherwise. In any case, please, elaborate. What is the proposition you had wished to discuss?"
What is she getting at....she has to know I won't be baited so easily into anything regarding Clarissa. so what does she want....If only Wolf or Mairyela were here.
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Posted: Thu Dec 30, 2010 2:04 pm
Bristle Fur snorted, and settled in place. However, he did not cross his paws at ease, as he would have at rest. He lounged in a position from which it was easy to spring and pounce.
I see. Be wary. I haven't found anything about the second Warder. So far, Mercury is only irritated, with a slight tinge of worry. No cause for panic yet. he relayed to White Hare.
Things had changed since he had left. He was happy to see the newer Wolfkin taking to their abilities, and moreso to see the people taking to the Wolfkin. He had been amongst the first to change, around the same time as Azalea. And while Azalea's Aes Sedai status had protected her from the stigma that came with yellow eyes, he had not been so fortunate. But it was behind them now.
Mercury had closed Hawk's bond; Markis sincerely wished that whatever quibble they were having, that she would open that bond as well, for her own safety. Of course he and Hawk could react with unbelievable speed, but in his opinion, the actions were never as swift when you could not anticipate your Aes Sedai's needs.
He finished stretching, took a staff, and after bowing, began his duel with Jaim. The series of blows were rapid coming from the Staffmaster, and Markis had to admit it was well worth the practice. However, a part of his mind lingered ever on the wolf plane, and his bond with Merc.
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Posted: Thu Dec 30, 2010 3:02 pm
Aram had finished wandering the grounds, after getting lost a couple of times. The curtains were drawn against the day's sunlight, and he relaxed in the very soft, rather plush bed. Even though he was not in a deficit of sleep, the setting of the room seemed to encourage it. It was more than adequately comfortable.
He was about to doze off into a nap, when he heard a sound. Slowly rising from his sleep, he looked around and saw the handle to the room being turned. He wondered who it was; probably some servant.
He was therefore surprised, to see the door opened by a very good looking young woman, dressed in what were plainly expensive clothes. She stopped just within the door on seeing him, frowned, and crossed her arms across her torso.
It would seem that it is a mannerism on this continent too....
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Posted: Thu Dec 30, 2010 10:49 pm
((Ah, no need to flail. Unnecessary flailing can lead to injury! xp ))
White Hare snorted as well, and though she lowered her heckles, she raised to a sitting position, eyes bright and alert. I understand. I am just outside her office. At her word or yours, I shall be there within an instant.
Mairyela nodded as their conversation drew to a close. So the woman was being her irritating self. Nothing to worry too much on. But where the Keeper was worried, as was she. She watched as the other initiate finally left the office, giving her a curtsy on her way. As the door slowly closed behind the girl, Mairyela caught sight of the elusive second Warder. Her heckles rose once more as she spotted him staring straight at her. He knew precisely where I was all this time. What is he? He was certainly no Wolfkin, and the longer Mairyela had to be around him, the more sure she was that he also was not human. I can only hope that Markis finds something on him soon. The more we can learn, the better!
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