The Grey Tower

“Are you certain, Kaia Sedai?”

The petite Domani made an irritated gesture with her fingers, the serene mask absent as she directed a little scowl towards the Shienaran Gaidin. The expression as well as the mild annoyance held very little actual heat. She knew that it was just the way he was, but sometimes Ravak's formality was a little much.

“Yes I am certain. It is not like anything that will happen is some great mystery or secret. I will be answering whatever questions Accepted Torianin has about the Red Ajah. Perhaps even offer a hands on glimpse of what we do. Besides which, you are my Warder, so your presence is perfectly fine and understandable.”

And if I have to tell you again, I am going to box your ears. she let that thought fuel the pulse of emotion she sent through the bond and though Ravak's answering feeling was quickly stifled, Kaia chuckled, just a little, at the rare flash of amusement from him. She could not help but feel inordinately pleased about that. Always so serious, dear boy, even when you don't have to be.

Kaia stretched along the second awareness in her head as she fussed over the arrangement of chairs, the bond directing her up, up, to where Jaryd was in his offices. The Asha'man was prickly, no doubt wishing he could stab his way through the mountain of paperwork that never seemed to end. She brushed against his mind and a surge of warmth responded, the Red Aes Sedai letting the smile of delight sit openly on her face for several long moments. Then, it was back to the task at hand.

She did not know the Accepted personally; from the information she had been given, Torianin's past was complicated indeed. Seanchan. And a former damane. The petite Domani mentioned as much to Ravak, emerald green eyes sweeping over the second study room that she used for purposes just such as this. She deliberately did not let herself linger on the thought of being collared, focusing instead on the things in front of her. Two comfortable armchairs facing one another, a large teapot with three cups arranged on the table, Ravak situated across said table from the armchairs, near the wall. He had even brought a book with him, but from this distance Kaia could not make out the lettering that denoted the title.

She grasped a silken fold of her red slashed skirts and twitched at the fabric absently. “I was thinking we could help make her feel more at ease with tea. I seem to recall a certain someone commenting on my lack of manners in that regard before our trip to Fal Moran.” Her eyes met steel blue, white teeth flashing into view at the Shienaran's answering mild look.

“I would prefer to keep my buttons buttoned this time, Kaia Sedai.”

She made a little gesture with her fingers, managing to keep her face still even as laughter bubbled through the bond. “That won't be necessary this time. The Accepted should be arriving shortly.”

Kaia listened as Torianin spoke, the mask of perfect serenity keeping the petite Domani's thoughts from showing. Collared. Light. There had been no collar for her, but she had been trapped too, unable to escape... No. Not here. Not now. She would not think of that now. Fear, anger, disgust welled up within her, and it took significant effort for her to push those unhelpful emotions away, the two constant presences in her mind reacting to what she was feeling. She sent back reassurance and mentally reordered her thoughts.

What this Accepted had endured... it was not something the Aes Sedai would wish on anyone. Green eyes were steady as she nodded. “Your desire to stop this kind of abuse is admirable. I... do not know how one would go up against the entire Seanchan Empire, but I am sure there are ways to achieve what you wish to do. Even if it is by freeing one collared woman at a time.” Kaia stirred at her tea before taking another sip, a hand reaching down to brush at the lace and silk that draped over her knee.

“Do you have any questions for me, Accepted? You may certainly ask them of me at any time, but once we head out into Hama Valon, there will be much to occupy your attention.” Full lips curved up in amusement, green eyes level on the former damane. The Red Aes Sedai waited, half expecting Torianin to pose a question about how the Red Ajah differed from this or that Ajah. Every other Dedicated or Accepted that had come to her had had one. Kaia did not really expect this time to be any different.

Twenty-three namedays did not change the fact that Ravak felt like a little boy listening in on a conversation he knew he shouldn't be privy to. Still, he did have a cause to be here, as Kaia Sedai's Warder, although he would not be too open to reciprocating the offer. Having an Aes Sedai accompanying him and a new Drin around the Yards would just seem strange. Plus, he didn't wish to give over any impression that the Gaidin were beholden to Aes Sedai or Asha'man.

Rav had met and spoken with Seanchan before. They couldn't have easily passed for people come elsewhere from this side of the Aryth Ocean, not with those drawling accents. It made listening and understanding them a bit of a chore. Torianin was different however. Damane. Rav knew from having it explained to him how channellers were treated in the empire of Seanchan, but he couldn't quite imagine it. The bond between himself and Kaia Sedai was one thing, and he knew that could be used to control him. The treatment of damane was far beyond the pale. His jaw was set in a rictus grimace for a while before he noticed. Part of that was from Kaia's own feelings washing over him. The Warder leaned forward slightly, hard eyes watching his bondmate for any sign of actual unease from having to face a former captive of a foreign empire. He was always looking for threats, even here in the Tower, and he would happily and readily carry off this slip of a girl if needed.

The feelings of reassurance from Kaia did little to assuage his concern. There was a sliver of irritation at that. The red-haired Shienaran knew it was directly at himself, not at Torianin nor Jaryd. He didn't quite understand it, but he recognised it. She was the one that kept calling him 'dear boy', as if the cloak on the back and the pin on his shirt wasn't evidence enough that he was no mere boy. Boys just played at soldiers with wooden sticks; it was two steel blades that rested by his side.

Ravak's attention turned to Kaia's words suddenly. "Even if it is by freeing one collared woman at a time." He was only vaguely knowledgable about the threat the Seanchan Empire posed, and knew it was dangerous that he didn't know more about that threat, but this idea chimed a chord inside him. Freeing collared women. That surely had to fall under the purview of the Red Ajah, making an indentured slave out of one that should be Aes Sedai. He wondered what that crime would smell of. Despite himself he sniffed, enough to pique Kaia's attention through the bond, although she sat with a serene look of amusement on her face. There was nothing beyond Kaia's scent to detect, of course.

The Gaidin dropped his eyes back down towards the book, neither woman having actually seen him watching them. He had some questions of his own for the Accepted, but this was not his office. She was not his student, and he was not her Master. Plus, if he ever started to meddle in Kaia's affairs, she would undoubtably start meddling in his. Rav settled back into the chair, reading nothing and watching everything else.

Kaia felt the tightness in the bond, the wary concern, and she gave herself a mental shake. Reassurance both flowed to and from the Aes Sedai and the Gaidin and she chided herself for letting that much of herself slip through to the Master of Training without realizing it.

She went still at Torianin's question, and another spike of concern came, this time from both of her bondmates. Light. She squared her shoulders and let her gaze fall onto the Accepted.

"The Grey Tower's Red Ajah, to me, is a fresh start. A way to move forward. To combat the Shadow. To deal with those that abuse power. To end suffering. To help make the lives of people better." The contralto of her voice was level and her words were measured and even. "I was once an Aes Sedai of the White Tower. I was Red Ajah there. It was not pleasant. I think many of my former Sisters joined because they disliked men, or had been slighted by one." She made a curt gesture with her hand. "I do not know if they did not wish to believe that saidin had been cleansed or if they simply did not care. Many of them thought the Black Tower was an affront to all that was good in the world. I felt as if we were going about everything all wrong.

"As you can imagine, things did not go well for me during my time there. Due to machinations beyond my control, I ended up being Stilled and put out of the White Tower." Not the entire truth, but truth enough. "Ironically, it was a Red Asha'man from the Grey Tower that brought me here. It was another Asha'man - a Yellow - that Healed me. I learned that the Red Ajah had been created here and that they are very very different from their White Tower counterpart. There is purpose to the Ajah here, one that I wanted to be a part of. It was because of abuse of power and abuse of the One Power that I was Stilled and I very much wish to see occurrences like that ended."

The Aes Sedai felt Ravak's surprise; while what had happened to her was not a secret, neither was it openly spoken of or discussed. Kaia smiled a little, letting the feeling travel through the bond as well. She did not shy away from it. Others rarely asked; the Accepted had, however indirectly, and so the Red answered honestly. It was personal, for her, and she was not ashamed of that fact.

Green eyes became hard and she looked at Torianin. "There is danger in what we do and in how we do about doing it. You must have a care not to become the very thing which you fight against. Do you understand?"

Kaia's look was steady as she lifted herself gracefully to her feet. She did not need to look to know that Ravak had also risen to his feet, the book that the dear boy had been pretending to read set down onto the side table. The Accepted rose as well, and the Aes Sedai nodded briefly to the younger woman.

"I will meet you by the main gates in an hour. Be sure you change out of those banded whites into something less conspicuous." Her voice was pleasant.

After the Accepted left, she turned to find that her Warder was looking at her warily. Kaia returned the look with an arched eyebrow, brushing against the second knot of emotions in her mind. Jaryd answered with a similar sensation, his touch lingering. "Yes, I know. I will be changing as well. You'll have to try to blend in as well."

The Gaidin scratched at his beard. "Why this particular merchant? There are others you could have picked out."

She made her way through the doorway that lead to the study she shared with Jaryd, her delicate steps taking her towards her private rooms as she spoke over her shoulder. "This one did not seem too horrible." Ravak followed her right up to the door. "I am not trying to coddle the girl but I don't want to frighten her away either," she waved her hand absently. Amusement flared up between them, Kaia grinning. "Besides, I like jewelry."

He shook his head a little, the muscular frame doing little to keep her from sensing the laughter he did not share.

----

The Red Aes Sedai was clad in greys and browns, the muted colours failing to disguise the fine silk of the Tairen cut dress. Ravak led the way, and Kaia glanced over to the Accepted that walked next to her without Serpent Ring or banded hems. Though their pace was leisurely, the Shienaran felt alert and focused.

"Torianin, I would like to know what your thoughts are on why I had you change out of your uniform. Why do you think I had you do such a thing?"