Indigo Exploration (attn Illyria)

[Bree]

Ubriel felt the heat in her cheeks rise as her thoughts turned to some of the more active events of her recent honeymoon. She kept finding herself smiling broadly for no reason as she walked along the cold stone paved corridor of the Indigo Ajah. Clearing her throat and tossing her head to clear that as well, she picked up her pace and tried to ignore the curious glances her direction. Inevitably, she would find herself grinning and flushing and tittering as she watched her feet slowly swing one past the other again. This is ridiculous. If I don't get a hold of myself, the journey to see Illyria is going to take a week.

With that, Ubriel began to recite the steps of her quarterstaff practice exercises in her head and matching her steps to that pace. That seemed to work. One did not titter at the thought of sweating through practicing moves to crack a mans head or hands, nor did one get lost in giddy memory. Tittering at the giddy memory that floated through her mind just then, she growled audibly, startling a passing Accepted in a banded dress. "Light Blast it! Accepted, attend!" It was not really her purview to order about Accepted when not in the Warder Yard, but she needed to get into the Yard and work some of the ridiculousness out of her head. So she pulled a bit of paper from the notepad she kept in her pocket and wrote a quick note:

Illyria Sedai,
The Light Illuminate You.

I hope my missive finds you well and your husband, Silas, as well. My new husband, Zacharyn Mael'din, and I would like to invite you to dinner and a quiet conversation to explore the details of the Indigo Ajah. We will be pleased to receive you in our quarters tomorrow evening at Low. I received the secret to honeyed tansy cakes as a wedding gift and I can't wait to have you try them.

I do hope you and Silas can come.

In the Light,
Ubriel Bryne Mael'din

Re-reading the short invitation and nodding satisfaction, Ubriel folded the paper and wrote Illyria and Silas' names on it. "Now be sure this is delivered directly into the hands of the Mistress of Novices or the Captain General tonight before you sit for your own supper. I expect to hear a return reply by noon tomorrow and I will know if this missive never makes its destination."

The Accepted, not too young but not older than Ubriel herself, took the note and said, "As you say, Mistress. I do be on my way there now." Her thick accent rolled off of her tongue with a lilting songlike quality and she dipped a graceful curtsy. She didn't seem to mind in the slightest having been waylaid and sent on an errand. Ubriel watched her glide away and sat for another moment on the bench there in the hall. She was again caught in one of those blissful memories when she and Zacharyn had been caught on the road in a light rain with no shelter for miles. She had asked him if he knew how to make a shield of air and then the two of them had spent an intoxicating night inside a clear bubble of air. In their moments of quiet rest, looking up at that dome, the rain coursing over its surface she had been mesmerized by the glistening of light through the runnels of water. The play of light and shadow that was thrown across their skin... Ubriel growled at herself again and made a beeline for the Warder Yard.

Step, thrust, sweep, chop, thrust, step, thrust, sweep.... Ubriel managed to get all the way out of the Tower and within sight of the Yard before she caught herself tittering again.

[Stasia]

Illyria Malkom Dinner and a Movie...? Her mouth twitched with distaste; it had become painfully apparent why the Tower did not endorse pregnancy among its members. It was difficult to work and preform her various duties with the massive priority shifts that had come with a child, and she loathed feeling so ambivalent about her station. She'd wanted nothing more than to be Aes Sedai, once. That had been a very long time ago. And she did not even have as much freedom as the average sister - she was practically bolted down to her office. The work suited her, but did not suit her new life.

She would find a way to adapt, she had no doubt, but that did not mean that she had to enjoy the adjustment period.

Her chubby, cranky baby was left in the hands of a hyper-capable Tower servant, and she disliked how eager she was to have an excuse to dinner to herself, almost as much as leaving her child with someone else. However, Illyria was glad that she had plenty of help should she need it, and she knew that she could count on the ever-wise and constant Saffiah to point out overprotective gaps in her parenting. Already, the little one had puked on her favorite Aunt. Saffiah's questionable Warder had not taken a drop of shame in his delight. It was a bizarre family dynamic, but they would make it work.

She'd sent a copy of Ubriel's note to Silas - she could feel that he was nearby, somewhere in the Training Yards, she assumed that it had reached him, and that he would show once he had beaten the pulp out of enough people. She had put a conscientious Accepted in her office - any fires would be doused quickly and efficiently - and she had no excuse to not go to dinner. And now that she had had this conversation with herself three times, she was nearly late.

She strode across the grounds, and though the sun had already set, the dusky evening offered plenty of light - she could clearly make out the Barracks. She was not sure exactly how Zach had gotten permission to marry and move, but could not pass judgement. She'd kidnapped Silas once and dragged him up and down the western coast. Ubriel was doing the responsible thing, making sure that he kept up his studies and stayed on top of his work. Much more productive than a six month vacation and a secret bond. She snorted beneath her breath.

How that hadn't dropped him into a pot of boiling water, she couldn't say. Too much luck for their own good, probably. But it had ended happily - she ignored a pang of guilt as she thought of Emila - and they were lucky that the Great Stairs hadn't had some adverse affect on the bond. That was something Zach would need to know, among many other things.

She compiled a list as she walked and still felt as though she was missing things when she arrived at Ubriel's door - hopefully, they were all things that would reveal themselves through conversation. She knocked and prepared a smile for her friend, and greeted her with a hug when the door swung open.

"You look so much better without feathers, Bree."

[Bree]

Ubriel frowned in a mock wounded way at the reminder of the incident in the Warder Yards due to the untamed abilities of an Accepted Dreamwalker. "Yes well ... Honestly I think I did an excellent job during that incident given that I had no preparation and I had nothing tangible to hit with a stick other than a bewildered Accepted." Ubriel returned her friend's fond hug and motioned her inside. Zacharyn was in the other room trying to make himself presentable after a long day of demonstrating the Weaves involved in Aligning the Matrix while making Power Wrought Metal. Ubriel couldn't imagine much past nails, horseshoes and weapons that would be of any use made from the stuff but apparently there were a myriad.

Her quarters were not large. Only a bed chamber and a minuscule outer sitting room with a tea table usually. Tonight she had requested a small portable dining table and chairs delivered with their meal. The two lounging chairs that normally occupied the majority of the floor space had been moved into the bed chamber and a small, inviting fire warmed the small area with cheerful crackles. Ubriel had thrown a few small cedar branches into the fire earlier to give a fresh scent to the room. When the food had been delivered, the warm and spicy smells of an Ebou Dari vegetable stew and baked gilded fish and nearly black molasses bread rolls had overwhelmed and encompassed the room. She had impressed herself with how much like a home the small suite felt like from just the few minor changes.

She gestured to one of the seats at the table and asked Illyria, "Would you like a cup of wine or tea?" She poured for herself as well as the Aes Sedai before she took her own seat and then said, "Zacharyn is nervous. He wants to impress you and we are not sure what all he will need to do to for you. Are there specific things that you require from people interested in joining the Indigo Ajah?" She sipped her wine. "Where is Silas?"

[Zack]

Zacharyn was somewhat tired on top of the intense nervousness that had formed a knot in his back. He had been quite busy trying to gather up all the necessary information and history that he could find regarding the Aligning the Matrix talent that he felt he possessed. He had yet to speak with a representative from the Indigo Ajah regarding his talent, but that was to be another time. This evening he would be spending with friends and asking after information in order to determine if the Indigo Ajah would be where he should dedicate himself completely. Given his penchant for creating things and his interest in histories, the Indigo would be a good fit, but Illyria-sedai should be able to put all of his questions to rest.

Hearing one of their guests arrive Zacharyn steeled himself. He was immensely nervous about Illyria and Silas visiting the home he now shared with Ubriel. He wasn't ashamed or anything of the sort. It was just the potential for being sent to the Master of Soldiers regarding how he had simply gotten married without asking permission or alerting anyone at all. "Rory was there though...He even officiated the ceremony! I had explicit permission from an Asha'man. If anyone should be sent to the Master of Soldiers, it should be him." Nodding to himself, he walked into the room. Zacharyn greeted the Auburn haired Mistress of Novices as soon as he recognized her as their first guest. "Illyria-sedai, Thank you for joining us this evening. The last time I saw you, you were still round with babe. How is your little one?" Zacharyn had a slight blush about his face, but he loved babies and was honestly interested in hearing about her young one. Having greeted the Aes-sedai formally, Zacharyn continued across the room to his wife and wrapped his arm lovingly around her middle. He was still dreadfully nervous about the evening and hoped that Ubriel would be able to help guide him through the process without stumbling too hard.

[Bree]

Ubriel had stood and walked to Zacharyn, bringing him a cup of tea, as he entered the room. She grinned in an unabashed and delighted way at her husband and felt her cheeks heating and her heart beat a little faster. She loved this man with a fiery passion. She leaned into his embrace and turned back to Illyria to await her response to the questions posed.

It was completely reasonable to assume that the Green Ajah head would be late to dinner. He seemed to always be busy with the requirements of his office these days. Ubriel patted her husband's arm and then left his embrace so that they could both take their seats.

[Stasia]

Illyria Malkom "Would you like a cup of wine or tea?" Illyria nearly grinned and answered quickly - "Wine, thank you. It's been too long since I've been able to enjoy it." She settled into the mismatched chair gratefully, and wished that her own quarters were this homey. Ubriel's were dim, lit only by fire that gleamed cheerfully on wood-paneled walls. Her own quarters were painted cream, and quite a bit more frivolous, but there was dignity to be maintained when both of the occupants held positions of power. Though those years were painfully lonely, she sometimes missed the lack of expectations that she had lived when she had been only a new Aes Sedai. No such thing as the best of both worlds, she thought as Ubriel poured her wine, But Bree has found a lovely balance.

"Zacharyn is nervous. He wants to impress you and we are not sure what all he will need to do to for you. Are there specific things that you require from people interested in joining the Indigo Ajah?" She sipped her wine. "Where is Silas?"

"He's likely beating the snot out of someone," she said idly. "It's good for stress management." She flashed the Gaidar a grin. "He has aspirations of becoming a Blademaster, you know. With one of those.... stick things. He's told me the proper name more times than I can count, but it always escapes me." She took a long sip of her wine. Light, that was lovely.

"I take nervousness as a good sign; it's arrogance that I cannot abide by in a student. If he's willing to learn and work hard, he will do beautifully." She did not mention to Ubriel that technically, if Zacharyn was deemed worthy of becoming Asha'man, no one could deny him his Ajah of choice - that was privileged information, and she could not expect her to keep that from him. She'd do near anything to set Silas at ease, and assumed much the same from Ubriel - and she doubted that Ubriel would care so much about ruffled feathers and tradition as most people.

"For specifics - do you know why he's interested in the Indigo? Perhaps if I knew, I could be of more help -" A door swung open, creaking loudly on ancient hinges, and revealed the Dedicated in question. He seemed to hang back, not yet over the threshold that stood between the bed chambers and the little sitting room, and looked at her with ill-disguised unease. Illyria nearly opened her mouth, ready to assure him that she would not eat him, but all at once he seemed to steel himself and strode purposely towards her.

"Illyria-sedai, Thank you for joining us this evening." Her chair scraped loudly as she stood to shake his hand. "It's no trouble, really."
She tried to assure him, "I'm always glad to see students interested in my Ajah."

"The last time I saw you, you were still round with babe. How is your little one?" He took a half-step - the distance of their little table - to Ubriel, and hugged her close. Illyria blinked, and kept from clearing her throat; she was in their home, after all, and would not infringe on Seth's decision. They had been allowed to marry and so they were allowed to behave as though they were married. However, she still felt like an intruder, and quickly buried her face in her wine glass to disguise her discomfort. Silas liked to tease her about how painfully bashful she was about public displays of affection, and despite his best efforts, she had yet to outgrow it.

But he's shameless.

Her glass had returned to the table and they were still attached. "She's fine," Illyria said quickly, "And doing wonderfully." Ubriel seemed to pick up her hint, and encouraged him to sit with a gentle pat, and once he had taken his seat and a helping of food, Illyria turned her attention to him. "Zacharyn, why are you interested in the Indigo Ajah?"

[Zack]

"Zacharyn, why are you interested in the Indigo Ajah?" Illyria had tossed firmly what she wanted to know out onto the table for discussion. Zacharyn felt he tensed visibly as she did so. He had been expecting the topic to finally come up in conversation, just not quite so early in their evening. On top of which, he had actually hoped Silas would be present for this portion for questions and visual confirmation.

"I would like to answer your question partially with a demonstration if you don't mind Illyria-sedai." Receiving a short nod of assent, Zacharyn pulled two small metal bars from his pockets and laid them on the table flatly for the Aes Sedai to see.

"I had actually hoped S-Silas would be with us for this portion of the evening. For um... visual confirmation of the flows I'm about to produce." Zacharyn adjusted the bars on the table nervously. "I've been recently intentionally training in the usage of what I believe to be a lost talent, and in doing so have let loose a monster within myself. One that has a dire hunger for the research and development of the talents and abilities the Indigo studies." Zacharyn grinned proudly and grasped hold of Saidin. "I'm now holding Saidin and am going to show you the effects of what I believe is my performance of the Alligning the Matrix talent." Tapping the first of the bars then the second each produces a small ringing, similar to a tiny delicate bell's, but long in duration and somewhat pleasant to hear.

"Aes Sedai, I'm currently using a flow of Earth to vibrate these two bars at a relatively low frequency. If I make that frequency higher however, this one..." Zacharyn taps the bar on his left side. "...will crack under the strain."

Continuing his flow of Earth, Zacharyn pulled slightly harder on Saidin and allowed it to flow into the metals under his hands. The bar on his right vibrating visibly now, and rattling against the table slightly. The one on his left, as the other began to vibrate against the table began to make a tinny, shrill noise and there was a sudden loud noise, akin to a spring breaking. Zacharyn halted his flow and released Saidin. Moving his hands away he revealed the two bars. On the right, just as it was when it had been laid down on the table. The bar on the left, cracked in two with another obvious fault forming on one half.


"Illyria-sedai, I believe with the proper training within the Indigo Ajah, not only could I further develop this ability for the benefit of the Tower, I believe I could teach it to others with the ability to learn. I also believe I could use the same ability to make cuendillar, and potentially make it stronger than before." Zacharyn had obviously become quite excited and had begun to talk with his hands making gestures about this and that as he did. "In addition to what I feel like I may be able to provide, I'm also remarkably interested in the making of Ter'angreal and other talents associated with their production and discerning their uses. I suppose I simply feel like the Indigo Ajah is where my talents are going to be best placed. I also feel it's where I am going to grow and develop the most.

[Bree]

Ubriel beamed at her husband. She had no idea what he was doing but she was sure that it was ground-breaking and important. "So what did you do to that block that made it break?" That had to be the point, right? "Or was it the other one that you changed? What does Aligning the Matrix cause?" A thought suddenly occurred to her and she inhaled audibly, eyes widening. "Did you do this to any of the weapons that you have made for me?"

She turned to Illyria and asked, "Isn't that prohibited? When Zacharyn becomes an Asha'man and takes the three oaths, won't the second one prohibit him from making weapons?" She turned to her husband. "Will it be of any use for anything else?"

She sipped her wine and broke an end off of one of the bread rolls. She nibbled it as her gaze swept back and forth between the two channelers awaiting some kind of answer. Her excited mind was still roiling trying to imagine other things that could be made with this trick of the Power that would not constitute a weapon. It doesn't seem fair if using the Power to make a weapon keeps the good guys from having better equipment against the filth of the Shadowspawn.

[Stasia]

Illyria Malkom

She watched, wide-eyed, and cursed herself for not forcing Silas to attend. He had wanted to train - she hadn't really figured that he would be needed, and assumed that he had been invited out of politeness. But without him, there was no telling what the boy had stumbled onto, if he had stumbled onto anything at all. There was no denying that one had shattered from the force of whatever he had woven and that one had not, and that power-enforced weapons were much more durable, but she was did not want to enthuse the boy without first proving that he had actually done something.

"We'll need Silas," she agreed, hardly able to keep the excitement from her voice. "Bree, can you send someone to fetch him?" She had a small army of novices for message sending at her disposal, but that did not mean that drin'far'ji were subjected to the same treatment. "And... You raise important questions. As you are aware, Zach," she turned to him, finally tearing her eyes away from his work, "You take Oaths as an Asha'man. One of them says that you may not use the One Power to craft any sort of weapon. Up until you are raised, it is very strongly suggested that you behave as though you have already sworn these oaths." She refrained from glancing at Bree's weapons that were stacked neatly in the corner - he would understand her meaning.

"But that does not mean that the skill is useless. Hardly. Just that power-crafted metal cannot be used in weapons... Zach, tell me more about what you've been doing. Aligning the Matrix? Describe the weave to me." It would do no good at all; saidin and saidar were night and day, and she would never be able to replicate his work. And she knew that she should have been more disciplinary - it was dangerous to let children stumble too far ahead into the dark. But even if he had asked for help, who could have guided him? It was a skill that was widely regarded as lost to the Ages.

Perhaps, she thought giddily as he started to explain, It's been found.

OOC: Silas has been poked, but if he can't wriggle out enough writing time, I'll drop him in as an NPC. *grin*

[Zack]

Zacharyn knew the oaths were going to be mentioned during this particular display. He had a few ideas as to how to make weapons with the power, but not weapons that could ever hurt a human. That however, was for another day when he was far advanced of where he was now. Now in this moment, Illyria had changed notably in demeanor from... unsettled by his and Ubriel's hug, to sharp as a dagger and twice as pointed. He would have to explain carefully and be very concise, else he could come under great fire for his talent, that is what he feared anyway.

"The flows for it are difficult to describe. I use flows of Earth as a means of delving the metal I'm working with. While I'm delving the metal, I'm also using a combined flow of Earth, Fire, and Spirit, in order to....put the metal in order when I know what needs to be moved. I can do it to a certain extent right now, with the metal cold and unmalleable. I'm only able to do it to the very surface of the material though. Kind of like putting a bandage on a wound. Unless you do more than put the bandage on, there's still a giant gaping flaw there. It's just covered up. Does that make sense?" Zacharyn was becoming quite nervous. From the heated look Illyria was giving him, Zacharyn felt like he was already being written an order of execution from the Master of Soldiers...for something. He didn't know what but he was certain that he must be in trouble.