It was midday at the Tower, and like any other day there was a hustle and constant hum of noise on the Tower grounds. Of course that did not register too much in the quarters of the Grey. Taesh, one-time Head Clerk of the collective of channelers whose common aim was peace and unity, nodded in greeting at the random learning ranks moving through the halls on some errand or other. His pace was slow, but purposeful, as he soaked in all that the Grey halls had to offer. The Atha'an Miere had only been returned to the Tower for a little over a tenday. He was pleasantly surprised that his items had been kept in his absence, of course his current rooms were a bit smaller than his one time rooms as the Head of the ajah. Still, he was glad to be off of the deck of the Star Song, as much as he loved the sea, he spirit was anchored at the Tower.
Taesh paused as he passed a mirror. It always amazed him how time seemed to almost have no effect on his looks. He shouldn't have been too surprised, his mother's Windfinder had barely aged herself, though his parents were clearly under the whim of aging. Still, that Atha'an Miere, who was quite proud of his looks and the pleasures it had brought him, could see some changes in his appearance. Smile lines beginning to show, a darkening of his skin that probably came from his time out at sea. Taesh grinned, still quite pleased with his exotic looks, before moving on down the hallway toward his destination.
The invitation for a midday meeting had come as no surprise when the Soldier delivered it earlier in the morning, not once Taesh knew the source. What had been a surprise, for the Soldier of course, was that the dark skinned channeler's desire to wear as little clothing as possible when alone, had only been strengthened by his time with his people. The Atha'an Miere suppressed a laugh as he remembered the shade of red the Soldier turned when Taesh answered the door. He wondered exactly what the budding channeler had reported to when he delivered Taesh's acceptance of the invitation.
How could he do anything but accept, when the invitation came from Derren. The very Asha'man who had so much to do with Taesh's own choice to join the Grey. Derren had even been the one to deliver the news that the Grey had chosen to raise a newly Corded Taesh to Head Clerk. That thought gave the Seafolk channeler pause as he stopped in front of Derren's door. He never thought how Derren might have felt about Taesh's decision to fulfill his parents' bargain, and leave both the Tower and his office. Maybe the meeting was not for two friends to catch up, but for a one-time mentor to scold his former pupil.
Taesh took a deep breath, prepared himself to dive into unknown waters, knocked on Derren Asha'man's door, and prepared himself for whatever greeting he was going to receive.
Taesh paused as he passed a mirror. It always amazed him how time seemed to almost have no effect on his looks. He shouldn't have been too surprised, his mother's Windfinder had barely aged herself, though his parents were clearly under the whim of aging. Still, that Atha'an Miere, who was quite proud of his looks and the pleasures it had brought him, could see some changes in his appearance. Smile lines beginning to show, a darkening of his skin that probably came from his time out at sea. Taesh grinned, still quite pleased with his exotic looks, before moving on down the hallway toward his destination.
The invitation for a midday meeting had come as no surprise when the Soldier delivered it earlier in the morning, not once Taesh knew the source. What had been a surprise, for the Soldier of course, was that the dark skinned channeler's desire to wear as little clothing as possible when alone, had only been strengthened by his time with his people. The Atha'an Miere suppressed a laugh as he remembered the shade of red the Soldier turned when Taesh answered the door. He wondered exactly what the budding channeler had reported to when he delivered Taesh's acceptance of the invitation.
How could he do anything but accept, when the invitation came from Derren. The very Asha'man who had so much to do with Taesh's own choice to join the Grey. Derren had even been the one to deliver the news that the Grey had chosen to raise a newly Corded Taesh to Head Clerk. That thought gave the Seafolk channeler pause as he stopped in front of Derren's door. He never thought how Derren might have felt about Taesh's decision to fulfill his parents' bargain, and leave both the Tower and his office. Maybe the meeting was not for two friends to catch up, but for a one-time mentor to scold his former pupil.
Taesh took a deep breath, prepared himself to dive into unknown waters, knocked on Derren Asha'man's door, and prepared himself for whatever greeting he was going to receive.