The Grey Tower

Seth had finally managed to drag himself away from his new desk. He had spent most of the day drowning in notes from those who taught classes giving credit where credit was due. Peace and quiet, walking through the streets of Hama Valon before maybe going to the infirmary to tend to a patient or two. Seth hated that he had a desk that he was expected to sit at most of the day, instead of doing something a little more useful.

Perhaps I should talk to Illyria about how she gets around to doing the things she enjoys, Seth mused, side stepping a cart that was travelling in the opposite direction, smiling at the driver as he bowed in his seat.

A shout flew on the wind, from the other side of Hama Valon. Seth was already running toward the source by the time the word reached him.

"Fire!"

Seth arrived at the front of the inn. The orange light of the fire within spilling out to the street. People inside were either screaming, shouting, or both. The sounds of a brawl were unmistakable above the crackling flames the licked the stone walls.

Seth entered the void, his usually gleaming eyes, brimming with joy, went cold. The brilliant, watery blue becoming icy. Seth seized saidin the raging torrent his to command. Despite shouts for him to stand away or desperate pleas for him to grab a bucket, Seth walked forward to enter the building.

Threads of fire burst into existence, visible only to those who could channel saidin. Directing the flows toward the flames, he drew the heat away. One by one the growing flames lost their intensity as Seth poured the heat into the stone walls and floor, to be dissipated by the earth.

Screaming started to stop as the flames became easier to contain and put out. Buckets filled with water extinguished the less intense fires. Shouts started to die down as the last of the fires were put out. Water dripped down the walls, black in places. Some furniture pieces were nothing but ash and splinters, the surviving pieces burned, but still somewhat usable.

The fires out, Seth surveyed the room, looking over each person. He never released his hold on saidin. Drawing up a chair with some threads of air, placing it in front of the door, he sat in it, and crossed his arms on his chest.

“Well?”

By the time he ran back for water a second time, Dax had run out of curses and started over again. Luck had favored him with coin, and now....now she laughed at him. His good wool cloak stank of sweat and soot and his sword felt like it weighed at least eight stone on his hip.

As he returned with the second bucket, he heard startled gasps, but ignored them in favor of completing his task and removing himself as quickly as possible. He ducked into the common room, then straightened, shocked despite himself. The fire had simply...vanished. Smoke stains and stench remained, and that was it. He turned, and realized that a man in black had blocked the door with a chair. "Well?" This new stranger inquired.

"Mother's milk in a flaming teacup," Dax muttered, as he realized what this newcomer was. As he stared, Trhee men emerged from the same door he had left earlier, pushing the girl and the giant ahead of them, along with a man he did not recognize. Silence reigned for a long moment.

"He started it." One of the men who had been dicing with him spoke up, jerking his thumb at Dax. Blackbeard was nowhere in sight, the Tairen noted bitterly. "He cheated at our game and then attacked our friend."

"That is a bloody lie!" Dax exclaimed. "My name is Dakson Torellion," he told the newcomer. "I came here for a bite to eat and a game before-" he hesitated, casting about for a likely story, "-before coming to the Tower." He nearly swallowed his tongue as the words came out. He was going to do what? "I won two games, and their friend with a crazy black beard declared I cheated and attacked me." He gestured to emphasize his point.

"I am not just some random wayfarer," he declared. "I wish to become Gaidin. Would I risk my chance at that for a petty bar fight?" Even as he spoke, he had the overwhelming feeling that he had just taken a gamble he had no chance of winning.

He hadn't expected it to work at all. Without the Agelessness that was a trademark of those that bore the Dragon Pin or the Shawl, Seth had expected his whole facade to be torn down. Despite his expectations of being called a fraud, no one stepped forward to say so. He had a Dragon Pin, and that was enough to keep everyone stiff backed while they all tried to point their fingers at someone else.

One man came forward, bearing another. Seth looked at the face of the larger of the two - there was some perceivable difference in size - and he instantly recognized Ragan. As the other man set Ragan on the ground, Seth stood from his seat, and knelt down.

"If you can hear me," Seth addressed to Ragan. "Please tell me your name."

Seth had done similar with Elisha not that long ago, but he needed to be sure that Ragan was conscious before he started healing. Saidin in his grasp, he threw together a net of spirit and delved to determine the full extent of Ragan's injuries. Once he was satisfied that he had discovered all he needed, Seth stood up and looked around the room. People were still babbling, trying to lay the blame on someone.

"You," Seth said, pointing at the man, not that much older than Seth himself.
"You," pointing at the man who had dragged Ragan to Seth's feet for healing.

"Stand by the front door and wait."

"And, you," pointing at the girl who had tried to duck out of the back door. "Bring your staff and bring a towel, I need to make sure I can set his leg correctly. It is broken just above the knee joint."

He knelt down once more, he needed Ragan aware when he healed him. "If you are awake, say your name."