The Grey Tower

Torianin took her instructions and curtsied before leaving the basement. Now. How would she get a dress that wasn't the Accepted dress in under an hour...? She couldn't just go out and buy a dress, and she certainly couldn't borrow a dress from an Aes Sedai without coming off as suspicious. Her mind reeled with this dilemma as she ascended the stairs back to the Grey Tower proper. What kind of impression would she make to Kaia Sedai if she couldn't delve deep enough into her resources to find a different dress? Reaching the Grey Tower's first floor, the answer was there, walking all around her, attending to their own business.

~~~

And so, in an hour's time, Torianin met with Kaia Sedai and her Warder at the gates in a borrowed dress from one of the servants. She had had to really reach for Aes Sedai answers and explanations as she searched for legitimate sounding reasons to borrow a dress. Ultimately, she suspected that it was because she was always polite and respectful to servants. She did not keep them as friends, but she always went out of her way to be nice to them. She certainly would have preferred a different color than gray, but she was pleased to find that those feelings of revulsion for the color were no longer there. Truly, the hardest part of this transformation was leaving her Great Serpent ring in her quarters. The woolen dress fit well enough, though, and she was even given a plain brown cloak to go with it.

Keeping pace with Kaia Sedai, she calmed her nerves and focused on the sister's question. "I would assume that we are going into a situation where it would be best if our status here wasn't immediately known." She was careful to word her answer so that eavesdroppers wouldn't delve too deeply into their meaning. She would need to be alert as she walked with this Aes Sedai and Warder. She did not know the exact reason for changing into a less conspicuous dress, but the fact that she was made to change was enough to put her on her toes. She made sure that her expression was cool and neutral as her mind quickly examined everything and everyone around her. It was harder to make sure that her heart wasn't beating out of her chest.

Kaia's smile was pleased at the Accepted's answer. She made an absent gesture with her hands. "Most people will look for markings of rank first. Jewelry, badges, pins, even flamboyant colours. There are times when it flaunting such is necessary. You are correct, however, in that this is not one of those times."

The petite Domani had disguised her ageless face with the use of powders, carefully blended and contoured along the curve of cheek and chin. She envied that Jaryd could simply grow a beard to hide the results of the Oath Rod. Easier than powders but less fun, she supposed.

The Aes Sedai kept her pace casual and leisurely. "Master Alvaro is a well respected jeweler and merchant in Hama Valon. From all I have heard, his family has been well established here for three generations. Lately, there have been unflattering reports... complaints and rumours that seem very much out of place. I do not wish to announce who I am as that will make it nearly impossible for us to discern the truth. The longer we can delay that, the better."

Smuggling and extortion, being the principle accusations that Kaia wanted to deal with.

Green eyes flickered to look at Torianin. "We must discover if the complaints and rumours have substance. If so, then the situation must be remedied. They will not react well to my rank, but for now, we are merely two women perusing shiny pretty wares. When we reach the shop, I shall keep Master Alvaro occupied. I want you to look around, see if anything seems out of place to you. Be discrete."

((OOC: Feel free to run with this! I have a vague idea of what will happen, but nothing concrete.))

Torianin thought for a moment that perhaps a disguise would have worked in this case, but after a second thought, that seemed cowardly. Kaia Sedai was not disguising herself with the One Power, although, what she did use was good enough to hide the ageless look of the Aes Sedai. They walked through the shops and houses of Hama Valon, navigating the crowds easily, with Kaia Sedai's Gaidin in front. They came to a building made of dark red brick with an elegant sign hanging on the front, showing a feminine left hand with a sparkling ring on the middle finger. "Alvaro's Fine Gems," it read in a deep blue hue with a fine, sweeping hand. Had she not known anything about this place, she would have stopped by to look in here on her own. A set of large windows in the front displayed the vendor's wares. She lingered for a moment to look like an appropriate potential customer. They were rather finely crafted.

She followed Kaia into the shop and politely responded to Master Alvaro's hearty welcome and sweeping gestures. He was a jovial Tairen man wearing fine silks to go along with his fine gems. Kaia took the lead with the investigation and began speaking with Alvaro in tones that sounded like a serious customer looking for a certain commission. Torianin wandered off to the side at a leisurely pace. She wasn't entirely sure what she was looking for, though. Rumors of smuggling and extortion were one thing, but smuggling and extortion were things that were not obvious at the front of one's business. Moving from case to case, Torianin considered each piece for a few minutes, enough that she would not be suspicious, if she did what she were about to do.

Casually, she sidled up to Kaia and said, "Mistress, I believe I forgot something down the street. I'll be back in a moment." After she received acknowledgement from her "mistress," Torianin left Alvaro's Fine Gems. Walking at a normal pace, she paid attention to how many people were around her. When she saw a gap, she calmly ducked into a dark, uninhabited alleyway and channeled. She laid an Illusion over herself to make herself completely invisible. This being Hama Valon, men and women were channeling at all times, and everywhere. So, even though there were Aes Sedai and Asha'man about, none of them thought twice about that feeling of Saidar, or that tingling on their arms.

Walking among the crowds was difficult, but she still managed to arrive back at the jeweler's shop without being detected. She did not go inside, though. She walked around to the back, between this building and the tile merchant's building next door. She heard movement and conversations the closer she got. She saw two young men who shared the angular face of Master Alvaro. They were speaking in rather aggressive tones to an older woman who stood with her back erect, and even though she had a proud look on her face, the tightness in her shoulders and neck were familiar to the Accepted. This woman was scared. She held in her hand a small envelope and a small sack. "You can call me a delinquent all you want," she said, keeping direct eye contact with the both of them, "But your grandfather called his funds to my family a gift and nothing else. They were to helps us after his brother-at-arms passed away." Her voice was not raised to a shout, but there was a tightness that matched the one in her shoulders and neck. "You can take your 'repayment,' and your 'service fee,'" she continued, tossing the envelope with enough force that it hit one brother in the chest, then tossing the sack so that the other had to catch it before it hit him as well, "but you'll not a penny more. You will leave my family alone, or--"

"Or what?" one brother asked. Torianin felt anger begin to well up in her chest.

"You'll call the Tower Guard on us? Is that it? Aes Sedai and Asha'man are our best customers, aren't they?" the other brother asked, playful elbowing his sibling in the side.

The woman left before they finished congratulating each other. The brothers headed into the back entrance with their prize, and Torianin began to move. The grass back here made it easy for her to move without being heard, and when the two men had the door closed behind them, she sent two small weaves of Spirit with a flow of Air added to them as a braid through the crack at the bottom of the door to hear what was being said. "I think we should render a notice for a late payment fee," one said. "Yeah, but maybe in a week or two." She heard moving around in the back room, and hoped beyond hope that Kaia Sedai knew that she could leave if she wished. No, Kaia Sedai was an adept sister. She could handle herself. The two brothers discussed the 'late payment fee' a little more before they were called away by their father. She heard a door close, and then nothing else.

The lock on the back door was easily dealt with, using a small thread of Earth. Earth wasn't her strongest of the Five Powers, but she could at the very least open a lock. She slowly unlocked it, and slowly opened the door, making sure that it didn't make any noise that could be heard over talking. There were two small lanterns illuminating the room. This room seemed to be further back than the work space, because this was in no way a place for working jewels. A desk had letters and promissory notes littered all over the top of it. Around the desk were boxes of every size, alone with crates and chests on the other side, even bags. There had been no windows into this room, but there were other locks that were likely used when they were gone.

Her first instinct was to take the envelope and sack that the elderly woman had given them, but they would immediately notice it missing. So, she sifted through the letters until she found a few further in the back. A promissory note from one Alind Sondere to "Gilfer Alvaro, whose father helped me to my feet." The amount on the note was far exceeding just a simple "thank you." As for the smuggling...

Torianin turned around and looked at the boxes, crates, and chests. They were all unmarked. Without exception. She heard a door beyond this one open, then grabbed a small box that easily fit in her hand. Weaving another weave of eavesdropping, she could hear the merchant chat in muted tones with one of his sons. They were moving around, and she really didn't want to hear what they were saying, just that they weren't going into the room. The father seemed overjoyed to know that he had gotten paid, and that there was a plan for further payment. He then called Torianin's mentor a colorful name and added her commission to the list of future funds as well.

All the while, Torianin was slowly opening and shutting the door as slowly as she could. When the door clicked back in place, she used Earth to set the lock back to where it had been, which was trickier than she was thinking it would be, but locked was locked. Walking between the buildings again, she waited for a sizeable gap in the crowds before she lifted her Illusion over herself, but she quickly wove one over the box and envelope she was carrying. Now it looked like she was carrying a small basket of bread and cheese, covered loosely with a small cloth. Tying off the weave, she walked into the jeweler's in a hurried pace, a nervous smile on her face. "I apologize for taking so long, Mistress," she said, walking back up to Kaia Sedai. "Mistress Karlyn threw in some cheese for the wait, however." She was sure to use the name of a baker that was actually stationed in Hama Valon, so as not to seem entirely suspicious.

There was no outward sign that anything was amiss, but she felt the exact moment that saidar was embraced. It was... somewhere beyond the shop, perhaps several streets down? It was difficult to pinpoint without being able to see. She was curious as to what Torianin was doing. Kaia turned her face towards where she felt the Source being channeled, keeping her expression thoughtful as if she was taking a moment to think.

After several heartbeats had passed, she gave a pretty frown, attention returning to Master Alvaro. She leaned forward, eyes narrowing as she studied the detailed jeweled brooch. Several interminable minutes passed before she straightened, a dainty hand lifting to make a curt gesture. "No, I am afraid that will not do. What else do you have?"

She glanced over at Ravak as if she was bored. Her Warder answered with a patient shake of his head, pointing back to the display cases as if reminding her of what she was after. "I did not come here for mere trinkets and costume jewelry. If he keeps showing me inferior items, I will go elsewhere."

"Perhaps he was merely trying to put you at ease, my lady." The Master of Training answered diplomatically, shrugging his shoulders a little.

Kaia rolled her eyes at him, even as fondness rolled across the bond, before gracing the jovial Tairen with an expectant look. The petite Domani saw the way the corners of Alvaro's eyes tightened, but the smile that came to his face was as fake as it was loud, his laugh somewhat forced, the man quick to reassure her that there were finer, more elaborate pieces to see.

They were a wonder to behold... each brooch more dazzling and intricate than the next.

When the sensation of channeling came again, it was difficult to ignore. Green eyes flickered towards the back of the building beneath the cover of half-lidded eyes, the Aes Sedai not bothering to hide her grimace. "None of these will do either." She sighed ostentatiously, casting a baleful look around the establishment.

"Perhaps it merely means that you need to tell them what you wish." Again, Ravak spoke softly, every bit the long suffering personal bodyguard.

White teeth leapt out from copper skin as she smiled, delighted. "You are right!" Kaia tilted her head to the side, tapping a finger against her lips as she stared down Master Alvaro. The man was suddenly very keenly interested. "Listen closely, for I dislike having to repeat myself." Another frown. "Are you listening? Good. This is what I want..."
---- The Aes Sedai let out a soft sigh of relief as Torianin finally returned, carrying... something that was difficult to see past the tied off flows of saidar. Not entirely unexpected, but... well. She felt along the bond to Ravak and the Shienaran answering touch was steady. He was ready. They would simply have to see what this evidence the Accepted had gathered entailed.

"I apologize for taking so long, Mistress. Mistress Karlyn threw in some cheese for the wait, however."

"As well she should." Kaia answered curtly. "Come. We are finished here. Master Alvaro. I shall return soon." With that, she swept out of the shop. She did not stop until they were well away from the jeweler and his shop, the Red Keeper leading them to a shaded alcove along one of the less used roads. Green eyes were curious as she finally turned to Torianin. "What did you find?"

The Illusion dissipated, revealing an envelope and a small box. Kaia listened as the Accepted explained all that she had seen and overheard. So it was true then. It was all true. The smuggling, the extortion... The Aes Sedai clicked her tongue against the roof of her mouth and allowed her irritation and displeasure to show on her face for a brief moment. Ravak took the box from Torianin and took it upon himself to open cautiously. The Domani felt a small trickle of amusement wind together with her fondness at the dear boy's protectiveness. When nothing exploded or otherwise jumped out at them, he tilted the box towards her so that she could see what was inside.

"Dried... herbs of some kind." Kaia shook her head as she looked between the Master of Training and the Accepted. "I think it's safe to say that we should not touch what's inside. I would very much like to know what these herbs are and why a jeweler would have them stashed away in the back of his shop." She took the slip of paper out of the envelope and frowned at it as she read it.

A smile, one that held no warmth, came to her face and the raven-haired Aes Sedai nodded. "You did well, Torianin. I believe it is thanks to you, that Master Alvaro and his sons will have an abrupt change of heart. Once the guards seize their shop and their assets, perhaps we should see to it that those who have been made to suffer receive something from our fine jeweler friends as restitution, yes?" Kaia beckoned and turned. "I want to be there when they are confronted with this unfortunate situation."

((OOC: ARGH, it was not the ending I wanted, but I could not for the life of me get this reply to cooperate. I'm happy to end this here since Torianin is already Raised, though. Go Red!))