Calling in the Air Tonight [Attn: Anyone]

[Bella]

The hour was a strangely quiet one in the Yards.

Just past the morning bustle yet before the real heat of the working day began, it was that unusual lull in activity that made anyone who actually noticed it a little uneasy. The Warders--fully raised and trainee alike--were accustomed to the level of activity that could mimic a beehive that had been kicked over. Any moment that was not like this stood out, except in the very depths of night.

It was in this lull, in a corner of the Yards that served as much as a physical lull as the hour served one in activity, that a Ji'dar was engaged in a moment she had never expected.

This was the only activity, and it was short-lived. Brief, and bloody. This girl was no Blademaster. She was not even Gaidar. The girl was not equipped for the force that came for her. Her struggle was valiant, if brief. The results of which left her body in a shocking state, out in the open for the judgement of the elements and traumatizing of whoever should come near enough to discover her.

Splayed in ways no living being could recreate without harming themselves, she lay with her head nearly severed. The bruises and cuts on her face showed that there had been a fight before hand. Her blood soaking into the ground showed she had been killed where she lay. The unnatural angles of her fingers showed they had been broken, all of them, but to what end?

This body was still warm enough to be known as Ani Imirwyn Ji'dar. Rapidly cooling in the early morning air, she waited to be noticed.

OOC: This is open to anyone to find. I do have a small arc in mind here, which anyone who can find good reason IC to be involved is welcome too. Other characters of mine will come in as suits. Lysira is likely to not be far, so someone can find/stumble on her if you want. If you have any questions, feel free to PM me.

[Sunny]

Dax leaned against the wall outside the Warder Hall, waiting for a certain large Amadician to show up for his morning lesson. The two of them had been working together for some time now, and he had begun to feel a bit more comfortable around the channeler. In fact...he realized abruptly that he was actually rather looking forward to seeing him. After a few more minutes of waiting, he saw the taller man approaching along the path- as usual, sans black coat.

The Tairen grinned and pushed himself to his feet as Zeen approached. "Bust the seams on another jacket?" He asked, nodding to the man's white shirt. Zeen's only response was a huff of breath and a spread of his hands, which Dax took as affirmation. He clapped the man on the shoulder with a laugh, and then turned to lead the way through the Hall to the yards beyond.

It was mid-morning, a time when most of the learning ranks were in academic classes or doing chores. Thus the yards were rather quiet- which suited Dax's purposes just fine. The soldier he accompanied still seemed a tad uncertain about his abilities, but they could not afford to drag the Keeper of the bloody Archives to every practice session. Especially not when it was clear that practice helped Zeen keep his head on straight. When did I get so comfortable with the One Power that I would agree to train him at all, let alone without any kind of protection? Perhaps it had less to do with the Power, and more to do with Zeen himself. That thought kept Dax busy for the rest of the walk.

As they approached the corner where he prefered to practice, he and Zeen both abruptly stopped, their eyes riveted on the figure in gray that lay on the ground near the fence. "Blood and bloody ashes," Dax breathed, his fists clenching against his sides. The ko'di wrapped around the Gaidin as his crossed the remaining distance in several long steps, dropping to his knees next to the mangled corpse. He thought he knew her -Ami? Andi? Ah, Ani- a Ji'dar who served as Lysira's translator.

Dax looked up at Zeen and opened his mouth, but before he could say anything he saw an all-too-familiar figure in dark gray approaching. Swearing silently, the Tairen turned his attention back to straightening the poor girl's body into something resembling humanity.

[Craig]

Ravak

Rav pulled his rumpled shirt from off the back of the chair, and slowly put it on. He made a slight show of himself, making sure to flex his muscles just so in the candlelight, so that Sinead could admire his form a little longer. She was partially concealed by blankets, although enough sun-kissed skin still peeked out from underneath. They watched one another admiringly. The Accepted's green eyes ran over his half-dressed form with open interest. How could she still be thinking of him in that way, at this hour? Well, he was wondering if he could afford any more time in her presence, but it was getting dangerously close to morning duties as it was. Finishing off with the buttons on his shirt, Rav lifted a bundle from beside the doorway. With a loving smile, Rav turned to face Sinead with his hand resting on the door. "I shall speak with Mirin Sedai today, and then we can depart."

The Accepted's returned smile was only a little downcast. She was still being accosted by those flaming Wise Ones in her dreams. "They hear only the wind," she murmured softly, then in a stronger voice, "I shall see you wake, Ravak Darrow."
----- The Master of Training was well practiced at his elusive return to the Warder Yards, and it was still of an hour that very few people were about, and less people who would question his comings and goings. It was a very dangerous game he played, but when it came to matters of the heart, Ravak threw every fibre of his being into it. In two days at the most, he would be leaving the Grey Tower, with Sinead by his side. That thought alone would power him through the classes and lessons and paperwork between then and now, and all of the preparation work that would go into it.

Rav's hand rested naturally on his sword-breaker. He had concealed it within his fancloak, not that Sinead had ever asked him to, but out of respect for her ways. Maybe if he took some time to train with Dax, he could do without carrying a sword by his side at all times. There were also the throwing daggers to consider, but Sinead was less-

The Shienaran's thoughts ended when his vision fell upon three forms in the corner of the Yards. He recognised, with a slight grimace, the outline of Dakson Torellion. Ravak had to begrudgingly admit he was a fine Gaidin, even if he wanted to like nothing else about the Tairen scoundrel. The other man, the taller man- "Oh, burn my bones," he grumbled. Zarius Iiro, the flaming soldier that had almost killed his sister and destroyed the Weaponry Hall. His fingers tightened around the grip of his sword, but the rest of him was hard stone.

Only when he got closer did he understand why the two men were staring stiffly at the third. Ji'dar Ani Imirwyn. She had only recently returned from her survival test; he had ridden out with her to the Mountains of Mist. Rav thought she held some promise with war axes, a promise that would never be realised, although her presence around Lysira Gaidar had caused her significant distractions from her studies. We'll never know now, will we? There was an unseemly amount of blood, and his steel-blue eyes coolly scanned the scene and her broken body. "Was this either of your work?" A quick glance at each man's face answered that question. "How long have you been here? Did you see anyone?" Rav didn't glance around - he had borne witness to nobody else on the approach. What he did do is sniff the air for the unmistakable smell of murder. Carefully, he crouched down opposite Dax, watching the man move the body into a more natural position. "Her fingers are broken." The two Gaidin shared an understanding look. "Who's wanting to silence Lysira?"

[Bella]

Quick OOC: It should be semi common knowledge that Ani has been serving as translator for Lysira. Just in case you wanted to incorporate it!

[Sunny]

OOC: Ah! I did not know that. I will edit my post.

[Jenn]

Zeen spared Ravak Gaidin a glance, baring his teeth at little at the Master of Training's obvious dislike. Flaming Light, it was not as if I was trying to hurt your sister. But the tall man was not about to waste his breath explaining it again. He eyed the two crouched figures in front of what remained of the mangled body of the poor... girl, grasping enough of their hushed conversation to understand the gist of what was being left unsaid.

Grey eyes went flat as he seized saidin, feeling the rush of icy fire pour into his body. He grimaced as the Power set the marrow of his bones ablaze even as he reveled in. His senses jumped with heighten clarity and he turned away from the fence, his gaze wandering across the emptiness of the Yards and beyond. He took several steps forward, making no sound as he breathed in deeply. He recognized the scent of blood, but... given the amount of it by the body and the fence... that was hardly a surprise.

Nothing seemed out of place - not that that meant much. He was a frequent visitor to the Warder Yards, but he spent much of his time on the opposite side of the Tower grounds. He made a slight noise as his tongue clicked against the roof of his mouth. He did not see or sense any residue from the male half of the Source - again, not that it meant much. His ability in that regard was sporadic at best, and even if there were traces left behind, it was more than likely that the weaves had dissipated by now.

“I do not sense anything with saidin,” Zeen said quietly over his shoulder, “but I will keep looking.” Even if he was not entirely sure what he should be looking for. He did not release the Source, and instead began circling the area around where the body had obviously been left for someone to find. He looped together threads of Fire and Spirit, a small rolling ball of light flaring to life. He tied off the weaves and began studying the ground in earnest.

[Roan]

Riahana set aside time before high to find a quiet spot in the yards to run through her sword forms. Later in the day, she would be teaching an archery class, and training a Ji and Drin on swords before her administrative duties would require her attention. As the Mistress of Arms approached her preferred place to run through the forms, she noticed Dax, the Master of Training, and the Soldier who reduced the weapons hall to rubble gathered around. . .something?

Curiosity got the better of her so Riahana closed the distance between Rav, Daz and Zeen, and felt trepidation build in her gut. It wasn't a thing they were gathered about, but a person. As she took the last few steps to meet the group, the Gaidar paled. Ani. . .what happened?

“Blood and bloody ashes,” Ria cursed under her breath. “What happened?” As the men looked to her, she realized they knew about as much as her, which warranted another curse. “Has anyone informed Lysira Gaidar?” It looked like they hadn't been there long, and when they shook their heads, she let go a slow sigh and took refuge in the Void.

Her eyes turned to Ani’s broken fingers. Someone wants to silence her. . .but it went beyond that, didn't it? Was it a message to Lysira? Was her friend in danger, too?

Looking around, the Mistress of Arms saw a crowd start to gather. She stepped away from Rav and Dax and put on her best booming, commanding voice, “I am pretty sure everyone here has lessons or chores to be about. If you know nothing of what happened here, I expect you to be on your way at once!”

She looked back to Rav and Dax, “Can you. . .keep watch, and keep gawkers at bay? I. . .I will go find Lysira, and deliver the news.” Not that she had any idea what she would say, or how she would deliver the news.

[Craig]

Ravak

This was becoming a circus, but at least those who knew could be trusted. And Zeen.

"Can you... keep watch and keep gawkers at bay? I... I will go find Lysira and deliver the news." Riahana was not quite as stoic as the Master of Training, or as quietly indifferent as Dax, but then neither of them bore her title, nor had her length of service at the Warder Yards. She had the ko'di wrapped around her, with that tone and look of focus. Normally, well usually, Rav would not question the Mistress of Arms' commands. But in this instance...

Rav rose from his crouch, already turning to follow on after Ria. "Dakson, I need you to keep onlookers away. I trust you can do that?" It wasn't really a question, but the Shienaran still waited a moment for the Tairen's answer. Dax stiffened, his eyebrows pulling together, lips thinning in disgruntlement. But with a look at the Ji's dead body, then at Ria, he touched his forehead in a mocking salute. I don't need you to like me, just do as you're told. Rav nodded appreciatively, then set off after Riahana.

A questioning look greeted Rav as he dropped in alongside Riahana. He had noted her habit of quirking an eyebrow when she heard something dubious, or believed something was awry. Countermanding her orders understandably fell under that. The Shienaran rubbed at his nose, sniffing the air, before answering the unasked question. "I can be of more use here, and if Lysira is in any trouble, you may require my assistance in tracking her." To anyone else, he would have phrased that as a statement of fact. To the Mistress of Arms, his tone was soft and slightly questioning, because despite what he thought about his aid, she held the command.

[Roan]

The Mistress of Arms held Rav’s gaze for several steps before looking in the direction the pair were walking. She was about to say she didn't think Lysira was in trouble, but in truth, she honestly didn't know. “Appreciated, Ravak. Lysira Gaidar is more than capable of taking care of herself, but if murdering her translator was meant to be a message for her instead of a random act of violence. . .”

Ria trailed off, lost in her own thoughts for a brief moment. “The Tower is not new to such acts of violence, but that this took place in our Yards to one of our charges,” she continued in a quiet growl. “I want her killer found and brought to justice. If Lysira Gaidar finds them first, she will deliver her own justice,” she finished.

[Bella]

Lysira Walker Gaidar Ani had been in that area of the Yards that morning because she was due to meet Lysira, which was why the latter was also in that area at that time...but the Wheel weaves and can be cruel. Her arrival was just far enough away and just late enough to not be in time to save her friend and translator, or in time to even be the one to find her.

No, Lysira was waiting where they had agreed to meet and now the moments were passing by with no sign of the younger woman. The diminutive Gaidar wasn't sure whether to be concerned and aggravated, and so her agile mind flowed deftly between the two while her obsidian eyes continued their warder-like sweep of her surroundings.

It was during one of these moments that she saw someone approach. Her body tensed instantly at what she noticed first--tense postures--but she relaxed, somewhat, when she noticed the second thing--their faces. She knew Riahana and Ravak, that latter far less than the former who was a good friend, but she knew them and knew who they were.

She could also tell in a moment that they were coming for her, and it did not look like a pleasant greeting.

As if sensing that very tension and the uncertainty over the cause, the darkness in her mind swirled around the edges of her thoughts. She wrested it back and would not let it have sway, for she could control it in all but certain, bloodier moments. Instead, she focused intently on the two and took the last steps to meet them. The hints of grimness in their expressions could not be missed by a warder of her experience.

'What has happened?' she signed. She knew that Ria could read most of her signs and although instinct and concern made her want to sign quickly, she kept them slow to be sure she was understood. She did not know if Ravak would understand her, but Ria would and one was enough to answer a question.