This is Where a Clever Title Goes [Attn: Pretez d'Grayson Gaidin]

[Bella]

[subtitle]Sadira Rose Jolstraer Sedai[/subtitle]
Sadie could not honestly decide whether she was annoyed with her mother or not.

Then again, when it comes to one's mother and being a daughter, that could often be a natural and persistent state. Not that Sadie and her mother had ever been a truly volatile pair, even a century ago when Sadira was a teenager, but still. Mothers and daughters, it would ever and always be a thing. Thus so it was now.

The Blue had not sought a warder in the many years since Scerai had died. He had been the love of her life for decades. They had been well-suited to each other, and gotten one another out of many a scrape. However, she could not deny--as much as she might like to--that her mother was right. It was a long time since she lost him, and if she wanted to continue going out and about in the world...

Well, a warder would probably not be a bad idea.

But to have her mother playing matchmaker? The woman was over a hundred and fifty, at the very least, and Sadie over a century. This was ridiculous! Even if it was a potential warder not, say, a husband, it was too close for comfort if Sadie were to be asked. Which, of course, she wasn't. Her mother didn't really ask anything. She was pretty much told to attend.

She was not, of course, told how to feel about it or him. They might not get along, or they may. Sadie had just agreed to the meeting.

It was scheduled for the gardens, which pleased it. It was one of her favorite places to be in the Tower, most likely because of how often her mother had brought her and her brother here when they were little. Oh, Rynny... She missed her big brother, a lot and often. He had been a few years older than she, and a great big brother. And not a channeler, so losing him to old age was inevitable.

Finding a bench, she took a seat and waited...trying not to think about the Gaidin she had lost, seeing as how she was here to potentially find one to gain.

[Prew]

The Gardens... ironic in that he had met his first Aes Sedai here, a woman of the White Ajah. He had only recently arrived and knew absolutely no one. As he walked down the path towards the location given him by an Accepted, on orders from the Amyrlin of course, Prewtez recalled that day. The woman had made him feel welcome, not a small accomplishment considering the usual aloofness associated with the Sisters. It was on that day that he had first seriously considered bonding. Not with the White, of course. Their devotion to logic would most likely have been at cross ends with his more emotional side. He had heard that she was now the head of her Ajah, no doubt not one to consider leaving the Tower for any length of time.

It was odd now, to be meeting a Blue. Of course he had considered a Blue or Green to be best suited, but his encounters with the latter had put him off that Ajah, although it could just have been the Sister herself that grated on his every nerve. Marissa Sedai was not a person he wanted in his head, or anywhere else for that matter.

Prewtez checked his uniform, a needless act in that he had worn them for years. Though he had traded red for gray, they seemed almost a second skin. His hair was pulled back into a short tail, the gray mixing with the black, advertising his age if not his maturity. There was nothing, of course, he could do about the scar above his left eye. Perhaps it lent him an air of danger? Or was it just evidence he could be hurt?
As the path led around a corner he spied the woman he was to meet. Even from a distance he could see she was physically impressive, tall and solid with a strong jaw. Her jet black hair was worn in a long braid, making her appear taller even when seated. Prewtez was surprised to note that his mouth had gone dry. Nerves? Truth to tell, he was not the most comfortable around women. Having spent so many years in the military, most of them on the frontier, his experiences with the fairer sex had been quite limited. Bar maids and serving girls in the main, if one didn't count Lorena. With her he had always been at ease, she was his true soulmate. And then the White Cloaks had taken her away from him. He winced at the memory, felt again the hole her absence had left in his being. No time to be thinking about such things, d'Grayson! He chided himself mentally, You're here for a reason.

Approaching the woman seated on the bench he wondered how he would be received. Was she here of her own volition, or because the Amyrlin had ordered it? Did she require a traveling companion, someone to watch her back? Or was this simply a favor being done him?

As he stepped up to introduce himself he paused for the briefest of moments, taken by the blueness of her eyes.

“Sadira Sedai? Allow me to introduce myself. I am Gaidin Prewtez d'Grayson. May I sit?”

[Bella]

As she heard the approach of a person, Sadie turned to see. It looked to be the man she was here to meet, and she took in the measure of him as it seemed obvious he was taking in the measure of her as well. Well, of course he was. Gaidin have that trait practically beaten into them, because being unobservant is a quick way to get dead.

"I am she," she agreed when he stopped and proved who he was. "It is an honor to meet you, Gaidin. Please." She gestured at the open spot on the bench beside her.

It seemed a little strange, this meeting. She had met Scerai because she'd been learning to use the sword and he had helped to train her with the weapon. Everything had happened fairly organically from there, and she had been much younger. Now, she looked at everything from ten different angles. Frankly, it was exhausting.

He did look like a man who had seen his share of fights, and had the experience to be out in the world. That was what her mother had said of him, and said that he was looking for in a bond-mate. So, there was that. What did one say here, though? She was not typically a woman prone to being at a loss for words, but this was new.

"I am surprised I have not met you before," she began after a moment. "I spend a share of time in the yards, either practicing my swordwork or spending time with my brother." She paused and realized he may not know who that was, since their names were different. "My half-brother, Haeden Ives Gaidin," she clarified.

[Prew]

Haeden Ives Gaidin? Prewtez searched his memory without success as he took the proffered seat.

“No, I can't say that I know him, Sadira Sedai, but that is not really surprising. I'm afraid I am not the most social of persons,” after all, in the beginning, he had been older than most of the other Drin and had no desire to participate in their high-jinx. As a Ji, and now as Gaidin, he spent the majority of his day practicing the sword or in the stables with Albion. The gray charger was plenty company enough... most of the time.

“However, if he is quite skilled with the sword I should look him up. I find one improves their skills best when sparring with their equals or betters.” And it was getting harder and harder to find the latter.

He paused for a moment before adding, “Perhaps we can spar sometime if you still desire practice.”

“And what about you? May I inquire as to what led you to choose the Blue Ajah?” No need to ask why she was in the Tower in the first place. After all, wasn't that where channelers usually wound up?

[Bella]

Here he was proclaiming that he was not the most social of people, and she reflected that it could easily be said that neither was she. Would that mean they could be suited to one another indeed, or would be unable to converse for longer than five minutes? Social graces had a certain amount of unpredictability that came with them.

"My brother is very skilled with a sword," Sadie said. Her expressions were economical, but there was the pride of a big sister as she spoke. It had always been a close-knit family, and after their mother had died--Haeden's father with her--the two had been the only ones left, and had grown very close. "He is the son of Caden Ives Gaidin, after all. It's in his blood.

"I am not so skilled as he, but I always seek to improve."

To his question, she nodded thoughtfully. It was a question frequently asked, although usually from young channelers trying to find their way in their world here. This was different, and so her answer was less a sales pitch and more...something about her. Thus, she thought about it for a few moments longer than she usually might.

When she spoke, it was with a small smile. "At first, I considered it because my father was a Blue. I was frequently told growing up that I was much like him. My mother tells me still from time to time. So, naturally my eyes were inclined toward it. Apparently, the resemblance was true, because I found a calling there.

"I saw wrongs in the world that I should wish to right, as best I might. Unlike the Greens, though I revere them, I sought methods of doing so beyond fighting. And to fix wrongs of smaller natures than what called for battle," she continued. "And you? What do you seek to do in the world?" It was a broad question, but akin to asking her about the Blue.

[Prew]

Prewtez took a moment to consider all she had said. Of course even he had heard of the great Caden Ives Gaidin, Blademaster... the aspiration that drove him. He knew he would never be as proficient in as many weapons as the great Caden, but to achieve the Herons, that was a worthy enough goal. If nothing else came of this meeting, perhaps he would at least have a new sparring partner or two. He made a mental note to seek out this Haeden when he had the opportunity. And of course he would offer to instruct Sadira if she desired.

As he listened to her explain her calling he could not keep a smile from his face. He knew it was wrong to judge all Greens by the actions of the one he had met, but her blood thirsty attitude and disregard for safety had left a bad taste in his mouth. In addition, Marissa Sedai made no secret of her desire to bed him, if not bond him as well. Neither appealed. Sadira, on the other hand, exuded a maturity, a calmness, he found reassuring. He had no idea her age, nor was he about to ask, but he felt she must be older than he, the ageless appearance of the Sisters made it difficult to judge.

A wry grin crossed his face as Prewtez began to answer her question.

“I quite understand your desire to right such wrongs as you find, a worthy goal, made more so by your desire to do so by peaceful means. It may sound a strange thing for a Gaidin to say, but I, too, would seek non-violent solutions when possible. One reason I strive to earn the Herons of a Blademaster. Those markings alone have prevented many fights from starting. Men think twice before crossing swords with a man who has earned them. So, you know of one thing I seek,” he paused, organizing his thoughts before continuing.

“As for broader goals, well, they have changed over time. I was originally being groomed to assume the leadership of a Great House in Andor, but the arrival of a legitimate heir led my father to send me off to the military instead. Thus, the next stage of my life was spent defending Crown and Country in the Queen's Guards,” if fighting to keep Murandian raiders from burning and looting a few farms or leading men to do the same could be considered 'defending'. “Politics again decided to end my career. Thus, I came to the Tower. Why here? You might ask. Honestly, I'm not sure. The one thing I do know is that I was through with such large causes, and the politics that went with them. I came here seeking to offer my services to one person, to devote myself to protecting and keeping that one person safe, and nothing else. A simple ambition, perhaps, but with the right person, I would be contributing to a much greater cause.”

Again with the smile as he looked her directly in her eyes. “I shall not take up more of your time, Sadira Sedai, unless you wish it. Might you be such a person as I seek?”

[Jack]

Cassie blinked and looked incredulously at the Soldier beneath her. Her amethyst eyes narrowed to slits and she thumped his chest lightly. It did in lieu of a slap across the face for what he had just insinuated.

“Men, always thinking down south,” she said, half-insulted. “I like you, Alric, but if I wanted that from you beyond a few kisses, I’d be more blunt. ”

She half a mind to do more than just thump him in the chest. She briefly wondered how long she could leave the weaves binding him tied off before, but thought better of it. It could rain, birds could come down and poke at those gorgeous brown eyes, or some flaming idiot could come by singing some Amacidian diddy so bad it could curdle milk.

“As for losing control,” she murmured, glancing at his arms and the flows that bound him in place, “me out of control is shaking the Novice Hall because I saw that Whitecloak and everyone else who died because of that decision while I was awake.”

She leaned down again, but this time stopped just beyond his reach. “I thought I could get through that flaming thick skull of yours, and help get rid of that block,” she said. “Instead, I just find a man who is just too uncompromising and rigid and afraid to try to think outside the box, too afraid to take a risk and play it safe now that you’re here in this comfortable little place.”

The words came out like sharp knives. And they were just as blunt as the ones Sebrina Calin Gaidin had thrown at her the day the former had left, effectively ending an argument.

”Yer too intense, Cassie, and all over the place. One minute yer all fire and passion, and the next cold as ice, and ya have been even more erratic since her betrayal. Ya get intimate with people but ya don’t let anyone in. What happened to the woman who aimed to misbehave, the one I was falling in love with? Because she’s barely there any more.”

That particular memory stung more than anything else, and it prompted her to stand. Saidar still flooded her, and she looked at the weaves she had woven. They were delicate things at the heart of everything. Her eyes went to Alric’s sword and she reached out physically, and the weave of Air called it back, hilt first, to her hand. And she promptly dropped it unceremoniously just outside his reach before she tied off the weaves.

Tightly.

“There’s your precious sword, Soldier,” she said coldly. She contemplated kicking him, but listened to better judgment. Whatever she was, Cassie was no bully.

She gathered up her bow and quiver and muttered, “I’m no expert in tying off weaves. They should last an hour. If you want to find me, do look at the knitting circle or the water fountain where other Novices might gossip for an empty-aired girl like myself.”

And then she was off, deep into the Gardens and off the beaten path.


~ ~


Kiena Sedai (the not-so-Big-Bad)

Kiena Sedai’s thin lips curved into a smile as she watched the entire affair from afar. The girl had done just as she anticipated.

From the first time she had been assigned to teach the girl, the Blue Aes Sedai had seen so much potential in Cassandrya Majere. So much raw strength, albeit in constrained forms. And the second she had prodded the girl while trying to break her block, she knew once that stubborn streak and sense of control was breached, her confidence level was low.

A few choice words on that day nearly six months ago enabled Kiena to see the girl at her fullest potential. Granted, she had only soaked her dresses, but the Aes Sedai had seen the potential damage the Novice could have wrought had the wards protecting the Channeling Yard not nullified errant weaves.

From that day, the Aes Sedai knew the young brat would serve as a useful tool of the Great Lord. Unfortunately for the Altaran Aes Sedai, two obstacles stood in her path.

One was a troublesome Gaidin who was no longer in the picture, and the other had been Mirin Ronaile, the then-Mistress of Novices. Both women seemed to be in her way at every corner, and Mirin had even taken it upon herself to attempt to break the girl’s block.

And one did not go up against that woman without hoping to be struck down. Despite whatever rumors surfaced after the Novice and Soldier Halls were destroyed, and that disgrace of an Aes Sedai outed as a member of Kiena’s own Ajah, she saw Mirin for what she was -- incapable of harming children. The woman was quicksilver, yes, but she cared so very much for her charges.

Once Mirin was gone from her role and post of influence, Kiena moved in. The Altaran implanted the first weave of Compulsion so very gently. It was a delicate art, that weave, and it took time to manipulate a strong-willed individual like Cassandrya. But she was heart-broken when the one Aes Sedai she trusted here was found to be a traitor.

Rather than forcing the girl to act out of character, Kiena had manipulated the obvious traits her new puppet showed: erratic emotion, an appetite that made most envious and pride. The only stumbling block was that the girl seemed very well adept at keeping her emotions in check, and that was still a problem. But there was one thing Kiena had taken advantage of: Cassie would not disobey an Aes Sedai, nor harm one so it seemed.

Kiena’s programming had essentially caused her puppet to become a perfect potential weapon. When she revealed emotions -- more than Kiena liked -- for the Soldier she toyed with now, Kiena had made sure to amplify certain erratic tendencies. And the results she witnessed were overwhelming.

The Aes Sedai quickly removed herself from her hiding spot and moved deeper into the Gardens, to a predetermined spot. And she waited until the Novice entered, her amethyst eyes dull. She still held the Source but a quick order solved that.

As the Novice gave a report in an monochromatic voice, Kiena smiled. She embraced saidar, and the Compulsion weave took hold as she wrapped it around the girl’s mind.

“Tell me what you know of Jerid Walker Asha’man ...” Jerid Walker Asha’man and Nyoma Aes Sedai, overprotective

“She’s never late to anything, Jerid, not one flaming thing,” Nyoma said. The short, stocky Altaran Aes Sedai walked in sync with the youthful-looking Asha’man, almost as ready to kill him as kiss him for caring so much.

The slender Asha’man, dressed in simple noble’s clothes of earth-toned hues, walked beside her, his expression blank. His gold-green eyes, however, betrayed two different things: an age that defied his appearance and a wrath that was looking for an enemy.

He was angry because his granddaguther had not kept appointments, important ones. He’d nearly called in Tower Guard to facilitate a search, but Nyoma had calmed him down.

And so the Indigo Asha’man found himself tracking Cassie down with only a Yellow dressed in ... well ... yellow-accented gown adorned with an Oath-sworn pin.

He was about to retort to an order to remain calm when he caught her glance. It said shut up or I’ll tell your Warder. While the Indigo would normally call the bluff, he knew his wife and Warder were in these very walls. The Indigo had fought too many wars against the Seanchan, withstood the Battle of Lights, the war with Tar Valon and so many other things, but a threat to bring a Warder in on this was where he drew the line with questions.

“She was supposed to meet with you for ...”

“I know what she was meant to see me more,” the Yellow retorted. “And she has been very good about keeping the dates.”

Jerid was about to respond when they entered one of the many alcoves of the Garden. And his jaw clamped shut as he saw the dark-skinned soldier on the ground.

“He’s bound,” was Nyoma Sedai before she waved hand. Jerid growled and within seconds the bands keeping the Soldier down vanished.

As the lad stood up, Jerid was in front of him. “Where is my granddaughter?

[Bella]

OOC: Uh... Wrong thread, hon? XD

[Bella]

"Sir, you've hardly taken any of my time at all," she replied easily, a faint smile curving her lips and a light in her blue eyes. "As an Aes Sedai, I am granted a great deal of time so I may be free with where I choose to offer it." Threads of humor could be heard in her tone, not at him but simply of one who, at the heart of all, has warmth and humor therein.

She brushed an errant strand of dark hair back from her ageless face. Unlike her mother, she had chosen to keep the Three Oaths. She knew that it came with repercussions, but the Oaths had allowed her a way to work in many situations by convincing those she dealt with that she was not lying. "I think our goals could quite nicely align, and I would be willing to explore that theory further.

"To me, it is best to seek non-violent means to end a conflict or the right a wrong. However, I will be clear that I am not necessarily adverse to the judicious use of combat or violence. It has its place, so I feel it wise to be prepared to use it. I simply do not focus my life on it, such as a Green or a Red might."

Pausing, she held his gaze for a moment. "I would be happy to continue talking, unless you have somewhere you need to be?"

[Prew]

A great weight seemed to depart his shoulders and Prewtez almost exhaled with relief. He knew he had needed to ask her the question though he feared her answer would end their conversation. Instead, she seemed to relax a bit herself as she spoke the words he had hoped to hear.

“No, Sadira... may I call you that without the honorific 'Sedai'? ... I have nowhere I rather be at the moment.” He noted the smile on her lips and returned in kind.

“I must confess that I am no stranger to violence, despite my desire to avoid it where possible. And I cannot pretend that my violent acts were due only to soldiering,” if they were to work together, and he sincerely hoped that would be the case, honesty between them was a necessity. “I bear a great grudge against the so-called Children of the Light, murderers and thieves for the most part, and confess to having killed a few in the past.”

Would this admission put her off? Would she see him as a coldblooded killer?