The Grey Tower

The Fish Quarter had been a rough neighborhood before the invasion. Now, with much of the city in ruins, the Quarter was more dangerous than ever. Refugees packed the streets and shoulder thumpers lurked in alleys. Usually, neither Terric nor his friend Gaval Hanania would have spent more time in this neighborhood than they had to. Neither man was afraid, especially now that they were riding high off their recent promotions to Ji’Alantin. However, neither man was a fan of taking unnecessary risks. This afternoon’s excursion wasn’t an unnecessary risk however. The Fish Quarter, largely untouched by the fighting, was home to one of the few taverns still standing in Hama Valon.

In the weeks following the Seanchan invasion, Terric, along with many of his fellows had been deemed worthy of progressing to the next level of their training. The powers that be decided that the Tower needed more Dedicated, Accepted, and Ji’Alantin to help recovery. Nobody labored under the impression that their rapid promotions also meant loosened training standards. The new middle ranks didn’t know what the future held, but they all agreed it wouldn’t be easy. Eager to take advantage of the relative calm, Terric and Gaval Hanania planned an outing for their classmates. A chance to bond and just enjoy being alive in the wake of all this death and destruction. Seeing representatives of the Tower mingling among the common folk and proving their spirits weren’t broken would do a lot to improve the people’s moral and their confidence. Hama Valon would see that the Grey Tower was not beaten or broken, its members could still laugh and sing and they were ready for the next fight.


The name Lady of the Lake lent the tavern an air of class, it certainly did not deserve. The two men could tell as much from the street. The Lady’s door was covered in peeling blue paint and much of the gas in the windows was cracked. Terric suspected those cracks had been there long before the Seanchan ever came. A bald man, larger than Danos Al’sheen lounged by the door, keeping a watchful eye on the streets and a callused hand on his cudgel. They shouldered pass and into the tavern proper. The floor was covered in straw and rough men hunched around tables, while women in low cut blouses rushed between the tables with food and drink. A man sat in a corner forlornly plucking at a stringed instrument. Surprisingly, especially in contrast to the streets outside, the place was relatively clean. Upon closer inspection, Terric noticed that while most of the patrons seemed like rather unsavory sorts, there were people from all walks of life mixed into the crowd. Another hulking tough lounged at the end of the bar, next to a door that probably lead to the kitchens and the alley.

Behind the bar, a woman even Terric would call statuesque, chatted with a patron while refilling his drink. The two Ji’alantin took seats at the bar to wait. She turned to them, “I’m Kiko Setoma, welcome to the Lady of the Lake. How may I help you two young men?” She had shoulder length black hair and a blouse cut as low as the barmaids with scroll work emphasizing her already impressive bust.

Gaval Hanania leaned forward, obviously enthralled. “We’re hosting a party of sorts tonight and we want to reserve a table.” He was doing his best to keep maintain eye contact, and surprisingly he’d managed not to swear once. He continued, “If you have one, we’d also like a bottle or two of Sheinaren sake for the table.”

They didn’t spend much time at the Lady of the Lake after reserving a few tables. Terric did manage to find out a little about Mistress Setoma though. She was an Arafellan business woman who’d taken over the place when the original owners fled the Seanchan. She was doing her best to attract a better clientele. The two men made their way back to the Tower to quietly spread the word amongst their classmates. “Celebration at the Lady of the Lake. Try not to travel alone.”

Gaval sat alone at the end of a large table. It had been pushed to a corner a bottle of sake sat in the middle as well as a pair of pitchers of a local lager. None of the other students had arrived yet. Terric had told him that he planned on coming with his Cairhienen friend. Gaval was glad he didn’t have a date for himself. He watched Mistress Setoma’s swaying walk as she brought a tray of food to a table.

The common room was beginning to fill up, even if nobody from the Tower had arrived. A gleeman had arrived and he played his flute as a woman sang and played a tambour. He hoped everybody came, but if they didn’t he wouldn’t let this night go to waste. No sir, he did not plan on that. Gaval poured himself a mug of beer and sat back to wait.

Walking through a Wetland city with a Cairhienen girl on his arm. If a Wise One saw him, she’d have a fit. Terric wasn’t going to let himself worry about that. Not tonight at least. This was his night, this night was for his classmates who’d worked hard and survived hell to reach the next level of their training. He knew once he would have blushed at the very idea of walking down the street arm and arm. He did feel like everybody was watching him. He knew it was irrational. Wetlanders walked around arm in arm all the time. If it wasn’t a faux pa here, then why should he be concerned? He still was, but he didn’t let it show for Avyra’s sake. He had made sure she walked on his left side though. He didn’t want his knife hand obscured. He would have to do something about the cross draw. Maybe he could wear his knife low on his right leg as well.

Knives aside, he was enjoying walking through the city with Avyra on his arm was actually enjoyable. The large golden dog he’d rescued a few months ago trotted along beside them, weaving in and out of crowds. There was no sign of the starved wretch they’d found behind the kitchens. After a regimen of feeding, doting, and general spoiling by Terric and his classmates, Dog Gaidin was as healthy as he could have ever hoped. One of the students had even gotten him a forest green bandana. Even as they made their way towards the less than reputable Fish Quarter, Terric’s mood didn’t falter, the city was rebuilding itself and he was in for a night with good company.

Beside him, Avyra confessed that she’d never drank before and speculated that she didn’t have much of a tolerance. “Don’t worry, Avyra, don’t drink if you don’t want to, but if you do end up drinking too much, I’ll make sure you get back to the Tower in one piece. Drinking or no, I’m glad you’re along. Dog Gaidin is as well.” They turned a few more corners until they arrived at the Lady of the Lake with her faded blue door. “Trust me, this place is much nicer on the inside,” Terric said as he pushed the door open. They were greeted by the sounds of a woman singing and of men laughing. The evening’s revelers were coming out in force. Over the crowd, he could see an empty spot, the tables they’d reserved. Gaval Hanania sat at one table rocking along to the music and watching Mistress Setoma, who gave Terric a friendly wave. He waved back and gently pushed his way through the crowd, keeping Avrya close. Dog Gaidin would make his one way eventually. When they reached the table, Gaval Hanania, whose tan cheeks were already darkening, placed a mug of the local lager before each of them.