Intersection (Attn: Jenn)

[Leala]

Leala gave a passing glance to the Warders' Yard as she walked through the Gardens toward the Library. She would not need a guard on this mission. She would be leaving with a group of people to support her, and she also had a personal guard on her family's grounds. She gave thought to stationing one or two outside of the main hall, where she would meet with these Aes Sedai from the White Tower, even if just for show. It was a delicate game she played, not knowing these women's full intentions. She had a high-ranking Asha'man raised from the Red Ajah going with her, and she had a pair of Grey Asha'man as well. As she turned a corner, she saw the very woman she had planned to speak with next passing through the Gardens as well, gliding along the stone paths.

Changing her course, she began to walk toward the First Inquisitor. The Red was a dark-haired beauty from Arad Doman. She handled herself with grace and confidence, but not arrogance, and Leala always appreciated that. She came apace with Kaia and kept astride with her. "Good day, sister," she said evenly and politely, but not in a way that was too casual. "I hope the day finds you well. If you have a moment, I have something I'd like to speak with you about." She kept her mannered tone, but added a bit of seriousness to it as well. She so disliked it when a friendly Yellow began a conversation with a ring of friendship and ease before moving into a more serious matter without clues to suggest otherwise.

[Jenn]

Kaia

“I hope that you are also doing well, Sister,” the petite Domani replied evenly, returning the courtesy. Whatever it was that Kaia felt at this rather strange occurrence was carefully shuttered behind emerald green eyes, her expression pleasant as she regarded the First Reasoner. Leala, if she recalled correctly. She was not certain what the White Ajah wished with her, but experience had quickly taught the raven-haired woman that no one sought out her Ajah – the Red – without good reason.

“I do indeed have a moment to spare.” The coppery-skinned Aes Sedai nodded once, gesturing briefly for the Leala to continue. “Several, in fact.” Every time she sought to find some small modicum of peace in the Gardens, something inevitably turned up and put a halt to that. Perhaps the Red Ajah's current location in the basement truly wasn't so bad a thing. A faint smile appeared on her lips and she found herself vastly entertained by that idea. If Jaryd could follow the odd turn her opinion had taken, the Altran would never let her live that admission down.

The part of him that was nestled in her mind prickled as if summoned by her thoughts, the Asha'man responding to her amusement. A second prickle followed on the heels of that one, fainter, Ravak's curiosity tinged with his customary concern. It was endearing – if sometimes outright infuriating; she was not some helpless princess locked away and in need of rescuing. No matter how many times she told the dear boy this, the Master of Training merely nodded and then promptly continued as he wished, ignoring her.

Kaia reordered her thoughts, returning her attention to Leala. “Shall we sit?” A wave of her hand hand indicated a nearby bench, but she waited for the White to move first, if the pale woman found the intention amenable.

[Leala]

Leala politely smiled as Kaia motioned to a bench. "That would likely be beneficial," she said with a nod as she took a seat, adjusting her skirts as she crossed her legs. When the Red sat next to her, she wondered how this conversation would go. She recalled her conversation with Jaryd, and Leala knew the woman's connections with the White Tower, although she had never spoken of it with her. She would have to approach this letting the other woman know from the beginning that any involvement in this meeting would not be thrust upon her. "I would like you to attend a meeting that is taking place on my family's lands," she began, "but before I explain it to you, I want you to be aware that taking part in it is entirely up to you. Should you decline my invitation, I will feel no ill will toward you or your Ajah in any way." She spoke plainly for the first part, so that no doubt was left between them.

Now that this was out of the way, she would have to speak carefully. "A few days ago, I received a letter, given to me from my staff. It stood out as a letter from someone that I normally do not receive communications from. They informed me that as they were passing through the Four Kings, they heard mention of me and my attachment to the Grey Tower, and that they wished to pay me a visit. The sender of this letter was an Aes Sedai of the White Tower, representing the Red Ajah. I understand that you had a difficult past with the White Tower." She understood that the other woman's past was far more than "difficult," but she kept her voice steady and concise. She did not want to give the impression that she was coddling the other Aes Sedai. "And I have invited others to go with me. Asha'man Jaryd has agreed to go as well as Asha'man Kiellan and another Asha'man from the Grey Ajah. When I meet with these women, I want to give the impression that the Grey Tower is a united front. And, because of your past connection to them, I wanted to make you aware of the situation and offer you the chance to come with us, should you accept."

[Jenn]

Kaia

The petite Domani listened carefully as Leala spoke, amusement surfacing from the depths of emerald green eyes. So, there was something that the other Aes Sedai wished from her, but the pale woman's approach was like nothing Kaia had encountered before.

What presented next was nothing she could have anticipated, the Red Sister not bothering to hide the surprise that came to her face. What business would the White Tower have with an estate from the Four Kings? What could they possibly want? Perhaps nothing... but the attempt at intimidation sounded very much like something those of her former Ajah would try. It gnawed at her, that she couldn't quite figure out how these pieces fit together. Who lead the White Tower delegation? Again: why?

Kaia smoothed the silk of her skirts down over her knees, unable to fully repress the sharp edge of resentment and anger that welled up from deep within her, along with an almost perverse sense of curiosity. She had to know what her former Sisters were doing, despite the “difficult past” she had endured.

A united front. Yes. From what she had seen in the time she had been here, the Grey Tower would be able to do just that. These men and women would not be easily cowed. At the mention of Jaryd's name, Kaia allowed herself to smile a little. So, he would be coming as well. As well? She supposed she had already decided the moment that Leala had mentioned that women from the White Tower's Red Ajah would be present.

“I accept, Sister.” The velvet of her voice was perfect. Ravak would be going as well, or she would not hear the end of it if she left without him. “I am curious about something. Who is the head of this delegation the White Tower has sent? I may know her.”

Her gaze was level as she met Leala's. She could not entirely shake herself free from the misgivings she felt - to ignore that would be foolish - but she would not be alone this time. Kaia knew that she was not doing this for purely altruistic reasons, but as white teeth leapt out from coppery skin, she could not truly bring herself to care.