The Grey Tower

OOC: Hi! I’d love to meet somebody who can take my character to the Mistress of Novices and answer (or ignore) all her dumb questions. Marla kindly invited me to join the existing open thread in Hama Valon, but I didn’t want to ruin the mountain of corpses situation over there with my unrelated drama. Thanks in advance.

On the last morning before she entered the Grey Tower, Nadia Marcos sneaked through the still-sleeping Flag Inn and crept up a narrow flight of steps that creaked at each step, a bag of pastries tucked under her arm.

At the top she slipped down a corridor. The door opened for her and she tiptoed into a little room that rented for a few coppers a night, breakfast not included. Now the first colourless light of morning slipped through the tiny window, making it just bright enough to see.

It was so silent inside that once she latched the door behind herself she stopped just to look. Just to drink in the sight of her two little sisters asleep together. This might be her last chance for a long time.

Little Beckan had sneaked under the covers with fourteen-year-old Stacia, cuddled into the curve of her body, tucked under the weight of her arm. Beckan had buried her face in Stacia’s shoulder, and Stacia had turned her cheek against Beckan’s dark curls. They both slept deeply.

It twisted Nadia’s heart to even look at them. She padded across the floorboards and dropped a last kiss on the top of Beckan’s dark head. Maybe it was better this way. She could sneak out without any arguments, any tears.

But a floorboard creaked, and Stacia stirred. Her heavy eyes fluttered open, the dark lashes lifting over irises as grey-green as the distant sea.

“I brought pastries,” Nadia said, keeping her voice low, so as not to wake Beckan.

Stacia eased out of bed, settling Beckan into the warm space where she had lain. Beckan twitched and whimpered in her sleep, and Stacia stroked her cheek to soothe her. Beckan had always been bouncy; since leaving Tear, she had become scared, clinging to her older sisters and not wanting to sleep alone.

Nadia and Stacia ate the pastries together, sitting on the edge of Nadia’s bed. The pastries should have been good—hot and filling, fresh from the ovens in the inn kitchens downstairs—but Nadia barely tasted them. The silence stretched out.

Nadia licked the pastry flakes off her fingers. “If I don’t return by sundown, I’ll send word. If I don’t send word…” She would be dead. Or worse.

“Don’t.” Stacia twisted her hands in her lap. Her dark curly hair, wound into a braid, spilled down over one shoulder.

But Nadia persisted. “You can make it without me, if you have to. Beckan needs you. You have enough coin to make it for a while, long enough to get a job and maybe find somewhere permanent to live. You’re strong. You two can make it alone.”

“I don’t want us to make it alone.” Stacia sniffed. “I want you here. I want Lia back. I want…” She bit her lip to stop herself.

Nadia badly wanted to wrap her arm around her little sister and tug her close. But she had been away too long, on too many jobs she couldn’t talk about. The gap between them was too big. Nadia cleared her throat, a bit gruffly. “I’ll get Lia back. I promise.”

Stacia and Lia were so close in age they were practically twins. Stacia had always been the serious one, Lia the firebrand. “I bet Lia is bossing everyone around,” Stacia said, trying to laugh. “I bet the witches are sorry they ever stole her.”

They were going to be sorry all right. Nadia would break every rule, cross every line just to get her Lia back alive. And if the witches had scared her, if they had hurt her… Nadia’s jaw clenched. The little dagger hidden in her boot didn’t seem like weapon enough. “I have to go.”

Stacia’s face crumpled, but she caught herself and choked back the tears. She swallowed hard and nodded. She was a soldier, just like Nadia. She would manage alone. She had to.

Beckan still slept, curled into a tight little ball, the covers pulled up under her chin. Nadia longed to wake her just enough for Beckan to creep into her lap and cling to her in that fierce five-year-old way. She wanted to see that sweet smile one last time. But her baby sister needed her sleep. And Nadia needed to move.

She didn’t even make it to the door before Stacia caught her in a giant hug. Nadia’s heart turned over helplessly and she squeezed Stacia so tight it almost hurt. “I’ll bring her back, Stacie. I swear. I’ll bring her back.”

Stacia gulped, and let go. She stepped back without another word, rubbing the tears off her face with her sleeve.

Nadia swallowed down all the words she was dying to say. And walked out.

With every step down that narrow stairwell, she cast off her real self.

One. She shook out her dark curls and pulled them back in a messy knot with curls escaping to frame and soften her face. Two. She lost the straightness of her spine, making herself a little smaller, a little less certain. Three. She shortened her stride and slowed her pace. Four. She lowered her eyes, a little mouse of a girl in drab clothes, lost and shy in a huge world.

By the time she hit the bottom floor of the inn and strode out into the open air, she was Casey Frey.

*

Hama Valon was a jewel.

Casey had seen it all yesterday evening, when she had first slipped into the city as the sun dipped into molten gold on the western horizon. Now it struck her afresh.

The morning had dawned crisp, and mist lingered in the streets. Casey drew in a breath and the sharp air hit her in the lungs. She had never known a world so high, so cool; her native Tear had been stifling hot, not like this city hidden among towering mountains. Mountains! She had never even imagined such vast creations, shouldering upward, piercing the sky. It barely seemed possible that those white caps could be snow.

Everything felt clean and fresh here. Even Casey herself was new. She had invented this alias just for this mission.

Out of an excess of paranoia, Casey spent an hour laying down false trails so she couldn’t be traced back to the Flag Inn before she finally set her sights on her real target. The Grey Tower leapt so high above her that it filled the world, a miracle of blazing glass, already catching the fire of the rising sun. It stung her eyes so that Casey had to shield them against the dazzle. And that was only the beginning—the tower rose from its own set of fortifications that made Casey feel smaller than ever.

Casey’s shoulders slumped an inch. It seemed impossible. She briefly fantasised about stabbing every person she came across until they gave her sister back, but her arm would get too tired. She wasn’t even much of a fighter unless she could set up an ambush. The place was so huge, and her enemies so powerful.

They were probably torturing Lia right now.

I’ll bring her back, Casey had promised Stacia. I swear.

All right, then.

Casey scouted around for the first person she could persuade to take her inside.

Felix Kal'Sarak

Avyra Moeryr

What a day. Avyra found herself enjoying the breeze and warm weather while it lasted. Outside was a wonderful place to be, especially in this time of the year. She was aiming to venture into the city again, grab something to eat, maybe. The Tower food wasn't bad, but there were so many better cooks in Hama Valon. And more food variety. Or she could eat the same thing every night. Only problem was that it cost money. Now that was an issue. But she'd figure that out later. However, something at the gate caught her attention. Dedicated Felix talking to an unfamiliar, smaller form. Avyra raised an eyebrow, heading over. The tall Dedicated was asking the new girl a question. Since Felix was actually kind of scary, especially to little Avyra, the Accepted decided to dart in as well. "Dedicated Felix. Are you scaring our guest?" She teased. Then she looked to the newcomer. "Hello. Accepted Avyra, nice to meet you." She held out a hand. "What can we do for you?"

Casey just about managed not to take a sharp step back.

She could deal with the unnecessarily tall stranger with the fancy sword at his hip. Casey was no stranger to violence. But this girl had startled Casey with her outstretched hand, her ready smile.

For some reason, she hadn’t anticipated facing two opponents. All her planning had been for just one. Now what? Did she need to isolate one from the other? What if they both interrogated her? Both attacked her?

Rylan used to test her by making her assess their targets before they made their move. The rain would drum on the roof just above their upper-floor window where they watched the street below in the gathering dusk. As they leaned on the window sill together, Rylan would chew on the end of her cigar and say: Tell me what you see. And kid? Impress me.

Even now, it came automatically.

This Dedicated Felix stood tall in his fancy black trousers, his fancy black coat. Casey had seen his type in Hama Valon before, always treated with respect by the locals. His dark hair was tied back with a leather band—some foreign custom? Casey hadn’t seen it worn anywhere else. Perhaps it showed what he was Dedicated to? He wore a sword; if they had still been in Tear, Casey would have thought him a lordling, but it seemed anyone could carry weapons here.

You missed something, Rylan would say. Look at the pin. And this time, pay attention.

The silver pin on his collar gleamed so bright, it looked new. A mark of rank. Given that he had approached her, perhaps he was new to his rank and eager to use it? Not in a bad way. But perhaps she was the lost girl and he was the gallant rescuer?

As for this green-eyed Accepted Avyra, at first glance she seemed far too young and sweet to be Aes Sedai, but then Casey had made a whole career out of persuading people she was harmless. In the slums of Tear, a handshake was just an excuse to bring somebody in close enough to stab them. Maybe that was what Accepted meant? Maybe she was the one who lured you in for the killing blow.

Maybe both of them were witches. Maybe they could toast Casey to a crisp and go for a drink afterward, forgetting all about the scorch mark on the cobblestones.

At home Casey would have been beaten for even speaking to a lord and lady, let alone Aes Sedai types. The locals here in Hama Valon didn’t seem so terrified, but maybe they knew how to avoid the beatings. Casey did not. So this might sting.

“My lord, my lady.” Casey couldn’t bring herself to accept the handshake. She dipped a small curtsey instead. “Forgive me if I speak out of turn. I’m but a servant, and my mistress never taught me how to show proper respect to Aes Sedai. I hope I don’t anger you.”

In fact, Rylan had taught her exactly how to show respect to Aes Sedai and Asha’man. You’d better cut their throats from ambush if you want to survive. Make it one quick slash. Because once they realise you’re there, they’ll use their powers on you. You’ll be dead in seconds.

There are no Aes Sedai in Tear, Casey had said. Channelling is forbidden. She had still been young then.

Rylan had chuckled. Oh, they’re here all right. They’re just quiet about it. Just like you and me. We’re forbidden too.

Casey kept her eyes low, twisting her fingers in the rough fabric of her skirts. It didn’t take much pretence to make herself small before these two strangers who could probably obliterate her on the spot. “Everything is so big here, and I don’t know my way. Could you tell me where girls go if they want to join the Aes Sedai?” Say, if they were kicking and screaming and threatening murder. And they had been kidnapped from Tear. And their name was Lia Marcos.

Hypothetically.

Felix

When Felix laughed, Casey’s face heated up with a stupid blush. She hadn’t exactly thought they were full Aes Sedai and Asha’man, but it was better to be too polite than not enough. Rylan had ordered her to scar people for lesser crimes than disrespect.

They both seemed so nice—telling her to relax, reassuring her that she was safe here—that she allowed herself to think maybe she wouldn’t get beaten today. In a wild moment Casey even considered telling them the truth: that they had kidnapped her sister, and Casey had come to find her. Maybe they would understand. They had made a mistake, that was all. Lia surely couldn’t be Aes Sedai, and even if she could, she was so young and so wild, she needed her family. And Casey needed her too. Casey had been away working for too long, missing her little sisters every day. All those feelings had knotted so tight she couldn’t even get out the words. Nothing would be right until she could bring Lia home.

No. It was ridiculous to think this Accepted and Dedicated would help her. The Aes Sedai would never give Lia back. Casey would have to steal her.

And this Mirin Sedai, Mistress of Novices, was her next target.

“Um…” Casey’s face still felt hot with embarrassment. “Forgive me, Accepted, Dedicated. I thought you must be Aes Sedai and Asha’man. Since your pin is so shiny and all.” The silver pin still gleamed on Felix’s collar. “I’m Casey. I’m nobody.” She caught herself still fidgeting with her skirts; it took an effort to let go. “And I’m not… I’m not running from anything.”

Even Casey caught the little guilty hesitation in her voice. How had Felix even known to ask? Could Asha’man hear people’s thoughts? Was Casey a worse liar than she’d thought?

Maybe she just seemed hunted. Lost.

Casey couldn’t stop herself stealing a quick peek at the crowds. This was far too public for her liking. The Masks would be hunting her for certain, and not just because of the money she’d stolen. And it wouldn’t take Rylan Jakes more than half a second to figure out Casey had gone after her sister. So somebody could be watching her right now.

“Please. I’m not supposed to talk to anybody. My mistress said if I’m not to be a novice, I should make myself useful and work in the kitchens. She has no further need of me. And I… I can’t go back there.” The scars still ached, fresh and tender. In desperation, she turned to Avyra. “Is there a charge to speak with the Mistress of Novices? Should I bring gifts?” In the Masks, an outsider didn’t even get to meet with the higher ranks unless they paid in gold or blood or worse. And to meet with an Aes Sedai… Casey cringed inside. That would surely cost more than she could afford. The five hundred marks she had stolen was supposed to keep Stacia and Beckan fed and sheltered. What if she had to give it all to this Mirin Sedai? What if the fee was higher still? She would have to get a job here just to buy her way in. “I have a little coin, if it’s needed. Or I could work off the debt. I’m a good servant, I swear. I won’t complain. I’ll do anything.”

Felix

Casey resisted the urge to put her face in her palm.

It turned out that being a criminal enforcer in the slums of Tear had in no way prepared her to infiltrate the Tower. Because everything Avyra told her just confused her more. No charge to see the Mistress of Novices? What kind of operation were they running here? That was how you kept riffraff from pestering your top people with minor problems. Was money not even important in the Tower? Maybe all these Aes Sedai types were so filthy rich, their lives so luxurious, that they wanted for nothing?

This Gaidin thing pricked her interest. Casey remembered stories about them—the warriors who shadowed Aes Sedai and Asha’man. Not that she would ever want to be shackled to a walking abomination, but when she inevitably failed the test for this Power of theirs, maybe it would give her a good excuse to remain at the Tower. Maybe she could stay as long as it took to find Lia.

Just one little problem, Rylan would say. You’re small. You’re weak. You’re cowardly. How would you even get accepted as a Gaidin? You think they have a shortage of little girls? Maybe they need someone to clean their boots?

I stabbed you pretty hard, Casey imagined saying back. So maybe cleaning boots isn’t all I’m good for.

It was just as well Felix had taken a step back earlier because his increased tension put Casey on guard. He eyed the crowds around them like he was worried about Masks too. Seven hells, maybe he really could read her mind. No, she would surely be in irons already. Maybe he was just very perceptive? Enough to start wondering what Casey was really afraid of.

She tagged along with Avyra and Felix as he dealt with the gate guards. The guards eyed her, and Casey managed not to shrink. Those portcullises could slam down in front of and behind them in a heartbeat and they would be trapped in a narrow stone tunnel at the mercy of the defenders. No escape.

But the guards waved them on, and Casey let go a slow breath as she passed through the gate.

She had just survived the first battle of this war without even a bruise.

As she stepped out into the fresh air again, she had already begun looking ahead to the next.

“Thank you so much, Accepted, Dedicated. I think I’d be lost without you.” Casey stared around in amazement at the green world that had opened up around her, aglitter with glass and alive with people. She blinked, barely able to take in so much space. Cities were supposed to be all muddy narrows and stifling crowds. “Could you tell me about Mistress Mirin Sedai? Is she the one to decide whether to keep me? I haven’t been tested for the Power yet. At least I don’t think so. I don’t know what the test is.” Casey was the absolute least likely person in the world to ever pass this mythical test. She was about as special and powerful as a doorknob. But just in case, she might need to make doubly sure she failed. “Will it, um… hurt?” As much as Rylan’s attempt to carve out her liver?