Re: We All Fall Down (Attn: Mirin Sedai)
Posted: September 18th, 2016, 5:09 pm
Jerid looked at the offending finger tapping his chest as if it were a fly. His eyes were hard as Mirin berated him like ... well the jerk he came off as in this moment.
He’d fought Dreadlords, Whitecloaks and Seanchan and let men and women against Trollocs time again, and yet he often found the most formidable opponents came in the form of those at home.
And the Indigo was too tired to deal with enemies on multiple fronts anymore. Yet here he stood, opening yet another one — with the Mistress of Novices no less.
But once Jerid Walker chose a course of action, very few could sway him from it, and even then after they had worn him down. He was too old and too flaming tired of playing rules of nicety and court, precisely the reason he had stepped down as First Seeker.
So when the Mistress of Novices went on with his tirade, his body language changed slightly, tensing as if he were a coiled snake ready to strike or a fox ready to pounce on a hen.
“I should have her removed from this Hall and taken to Camden Corelle,” he murmured. “An Aes Sedai who resides there could take on the task of tutoring and training her, and it would prevent the hall from coming down around everyone’s ears.”
He sighed quietly, almost in defeat that the thought. “But she’s better here,” he said, almost to himself. When the Mistress of Novices bid him to leave, he nodded but not before looking at her directly. His gold-green eyes were hard and he didn’t flinch from Mirin’s gaze.
“As you wish Mirin Aes Sedai,” he said curtly. “Just one last thing: the masks we wear and deceptions we weave are fragile things, but when we layer them on one after another, we may forget we have donned them. And sometimes, we must do things for things greater than us. I trust to choose your path wisely, much as I chose this one.”
Those gold-green eyes flashed for a few brief second. It was an emotionless glance, or anger, or a deep condescending overbearing he had presented in this office. It was regret and guilt, deep and almost painful for the words he had spoken. But the look was gone.
Jerid wasn’t terribly useful with the Game except by turning those who played at it on their heads. But he understood deception quite well. Except when it came to the eyes.
“I will write you when I have my first lead, Aes Sedai,” he said simply. “As to your wish, you’ll likely not see me in this Tower for some time. The words I’ve spoken today will ensure that. Should you need to write, I will be found at Camden Corelle.”
And then he left, closing the door behind him.
~ ~ ~
Sebrina Calin Gaidin [subtitle]The First Letter, one week later[/subtitle] The small, solid Gaidin flitted through the string of Novices, or rather they parted for her as she strode with purpose. A few people whispered, noting mostly the lack of the Gaidin’s wicked looking quarterstaff.
Sebrina Calin was a regular site in these halls in over the last several days, since that day when the Hall itself shook in the wee hours of the morning and Cassandrya Majere was found to be the root of the cause. Rumors speculated and circulated and the normally brash and bold, albeit somewhat controlled Novice withdrew in on herself.
She didn’t flirt with other Novices, as she was wont to do, and what lessons she learned were done in private under Nyoma Sedai’s tutelage. Sebrina Gaidin was the only one aside from Elllessya who spoke with Cassie, who consoled her and tried to help her past that one moment a week ago.
But now the Gaidin was on more direct route, toward the Mistress of Novices office. The fancloak she wore threw the background into disarray, and the long knives at her side spoke of a woman not to be crossed. Despite her short stature of 5’3,” and a slender, if stout, frame, the Warder was a lethal opponent and one of the more skilled unbonded Gaidin in the Tower. Her red-gold hair was done up in ringlets, the Warder’s black training garb a formal matter. Her emerald eyes were calm, but set with a determination.
The Gaidin knocked on the door and the second she was admitted, politely stepped inside with an air of immediacy that an attending Accepted would do well to heed. After all, Sebrina Gaidin’s reputation on the sparring mat and in the field were well earned.
“Mirin Aes Sedai,” the Murandian woman said with a bow. “I’ve a letter for ya, from a mutual ... acquaintance.” The Gaidin produced a fine piece of paper, sealed in blue wax with a three rampant foxes, the personal mark of Jerid Walker.
“He instructed me to attend ya should ya require any context, or had any questions about its contents, unless ya have no need of me,” she said, albeit with some frustration. She might like the Indigo and his kin, but the flaming man could be so vague at times. “He also said time was critical once the seal was broken.”
The paper was fine, but lacked any decoration. Most lords and ladies paid through the nose for paper alone, and insisted upon their personal letterhead, another extravagance. The moment the seal was broken and the letter opened, the Ward triggered, and the ink appeared.
Mirin Ronaile Aes Sedai,
It is with deepest apologies and regret that I convey this message, both for my actions on this day a week ago, and the apparent disrespect shown to you and your office. Please know that I bear the utmost respect for you, personally and in your role as Mistress of Novices.
It was with extreme distress that I spoke those words, and gave the perception of malice, but I could not risk even one chance that others might suspect I was not earnest in their speaking. As you said, we live in dark times and Shadows lurk everywhere. And if one Novice was poisoned, others might be at risk.
I have to give the impression that I am alone in the hunt for the culprit. I will admit my concern is based on the safety and support of Cassie Majere, but I cannot afford to be close. The Shadow tends to either go to ground or be more brazen if I show concern or become a shield, or if I have one in place.
The man who first raised me in Ebou Dar gave one word of advice: Provide no perception of weakness except where warranted. Create enemies of those who respect you in the eyes of others so that they will be less scrutinized. I could not dare ask your help if the Shadow lurked and see you as a perceived threat in this case, lest it rob the Novices and Accepted of a invaluable guardian.
I think in another time we would have been better colleagues, perhaps even tentative friends. But war requires sacrifices and I faced a hard one I will regret for the rest of my days.
On the subject of poison. You have a rotten apple in the orchard you tend, one higher up, but who has yet to require Stairs. Unfortunately, my information those far is limited. I have asked Sebrina Calin Gaidin to act as a liaison for the fondness she bears Cassie, and she has agreed.
These words will last but a moment longer than what it took to read. Know again my deepest regrets. Should you require more explanation and can bear to suspend the conditions of communication, look for the field of stars in the Gardens in two nights’ time.
Respectfully,
Jerid Walker
Lord of Camden Corelle
Asha’man
True to the letter’s contents, the words vanished within a moment after Mirin finished reading.
He’d fought Dreadlords, Whitecloaks and Seanchan and let men and women against Trollocs time again, and yet he often found the most formidable opponents came in the form of those at home.
And the Indigo was too tired to deal with enemies on multiple fronts anymore. Yet here he stood, opening yet another one — with the Mistress of Novices no less.
But once Jerid Walker chose a course of action, very few could sway him from it, and even then after they had worn him down. He was too old and too flaming tired of playing rules of nicety and court, precisely the reason he had stepped down as First Seeker.
So when the Mistress of Novices went on with his tirade, his body language changed slightly, tensing as if he were a coiled snake ready to strike or a fox ready to pounce on a hen.
“I should have her removed from this Hall and taken to Camden Corelle,” he murmured. “An Aes Sedai who resides there could take on the task of tutoring and training her, and it would prevent the hall from coming down around everyone’s ears.”
He sighed quietly, almost in defeat that the thought. “But she’s better here,” he said, almost to himself. When the Mistress of Novices bid him to leave, he nodded but not before looking at her directly. His gold-green eyes were hard and he didn’t flinch from Mirin’s gaze.
“As you wish Mirin Aes Sedai,” he said curtly. “Just one last thing: the masks we wear and deceptions we weave are fragile things, but when we layer them on one after another, we may forget we have donned them. And sometimes, we must do things for things greater than us. I trust to choose your path wisely, much as I chose this one.”
Those gold-green eyes flashed for a few brief second. It was an emotionless glance, or anger, or a deep condescending overbearing he had presented in this office. It was regret and guilt, deep and almost painful for the words he had spoken. But the look was gone.
Jerid wasn’t terribly useful with the Game except by turning those who played at it on their heads. But he understood deception quite well. Except when it came to the eyes.
“I will write you when I have my first lead, Aes Sedai,” he said simply. “As to your wish, you’ll likely not see me in this Tower for some time. The words I’ve spoken today will ensure that. Should you need to write, I will be found at Camden Corelle.”
And then he left, closing the door behind him.
~ ~ ~
Sebrina Calin Gaidin [subtitle]The First Letter, one week later[/subtitle] The small, solid Gaidin flitted through the string of Novices, or rather they parted for her as she strode with purpose. A few people whispered, noting mostly the lack of the Gaidin’s wicked looking quarterstaff.
Sebrina Calin was a regular site in these halls in over the last several days, since that day when the Hall itself shook in the wee hours of the morning and Cassandrya Majere was found to be the root of the cause. Rumors speculated and circulated and the normally brash and bold, albeit somewhat controlled Novice withdrew in on herself.
She didn’t flirt with other Novices, as she was wont to do, and what lessons she learned were done in private under Nyoma Sedai’s tutelage. Sebrina Gaidin was the only one aside from Elllessya who spoke with Cassie, who consoled her and tried to help her past that one moment a week ago.
But now the Gaidin was on more direct route, toward the Mistress of Novices office. The fancloak she wore threw the background into disarray, and the long knives at her side spoke of a woman not to be crossed. Despite her short stature of 5’3,” and a slender, if stout, frame, the Warder was a lethal opponent and one of the more skilled unbonded Gaidin in the Tower. Her red-gold hair was done up in ringlets, the Warder’s black training garb a formal matter. Her emerald eyes were calm, but set with a determination.
The Gaidin knocked on the door and the second she was admitted, politely stepped inside with an air of immediacy that an attending Accepted would do well to heed. After all, Sebrina Gaidin’s reputation on the sparring mat and in the field were well earned.
“Mirin Aes Sedai,” the Murandian woman said with a bow. “I’ve a letter for ya, from a mutual ... acquaintance.” The Gaidin produced a fine piece of paper, sealed in blue wax with a three rampant foxes, the personal mark of Jerid Walker.
“He instructed me to attend ya should ya require any context, or had any questions about its contents, unless ya have no need of me,” she said, albeit with some frustration. She might like the Indigo and his kin, but the flaming man could be so vague at times. “He also said time was critical once the seal was broken.”
The paper was fine, but lacked any decoration. Most lords and ladies paid through the nose for paper alone, and insisted upon their personal letterhead, another extravagance. The moment the seal was broken and the letter opened, the Ward triggered, and the ink appeared.
Mirin Ronaile Aes Sedai,
It is with deepest apologies and regret that I convey this message, both for my actions on this day a week ago, and the apparent disrespect shown to you and your office. Please know that I bear the utmost respect for you, personally and in your role as Mistress of Novices.
It was with extreme distress that I spoke those words, and gave the perception of malice, but I could not risk even one chance that others might suspect I was not earnest in their speaking. As you said, we live in dark times and Shadows lurk everywhere. And if one Novice was poisoned, others might be at risk.
I have to give the impression that I am alone in the hunt for the culprit. I will admit my concern is based on the safety and support of Cassie Majere, but I cannot afford to be close. The Shadow tends to either go to ground or be more brazen if I show concern or become a shield, or if I have one in place.
The man who first raised me in Ebou Dar gave one word of advice: Provide no perception of weakness except where warranted. Create enemies of those who respect you in the eyes of others so that they will be less scrutinized. I could not dare ask your help if the Shadow lurked and see you as a perceived threat in this case, lest it rob the Novices and Accepted of a invaluable guardian.
I think in another time we would have been better colleagues, perhaps even tentative friends. But war requires sacrifices and I faced a hard one I will regret for the rest of my days.
On the subject of poison. You have a rotten apple in the orchard you tend, one higher up, but who has yet to require Stairs. Unfortunately, my information those far is limited. I have asked Sebrina Calin Gaidin to act as a liaison for the fondness she bears Cassie, and she has agreed.
These words will last but a moment longer than what it took to read. Know again my deepest regrets. Should you require more explanation and can bear to suspend the conditions of communication, look for the field of stars in the Gardens in two nights’ time.
Respectfully,
Jerid Walker
Lord of Camden Corelle
Asha’man
True to the letter’s contents, the words vanished within a moment after Mirin finished reading.