We All Fall Down (Attn: Mirin Sedai)

[Jack]

OOC: Two months before The Children MRP
The Lady Ellessya Lyiena, Novice (cameo role by Cassie Majere) The Whitecloak, no older than her or her brother, with dull, almost soulless eyes as he turned, bloodied sword in hand, standing over an injured Coren. Those eyes which widened in surprise as she plunged the knife into a gap in his armor and asked why he had to die when she slashed his throat.

Cassie screamed as she awoke, and the entire world suddenly exploded in light and sound and touch. She could hear the crickets just outside the window she shared with Ellessya, her Seanchan roommate and a noble who previously occupied Walker Manor in the Caralain.

It was the wee hours of the morning, most likely, just before the sun would rise.

She could hear her roommate’s startled swearing as she bolted up, as if half expecting an horde of Whitecloaks to come bursting through.

The ebony beauty with her dark eyes looked on as Cassie threw her legs over the bed and immediately went to the trunk at the foot of her bed. She was still channeling, and while Ellessya was no judge yet of the One Power, it was an awful lot.

She watched as Cassie pulled a large ceramic jug from the trunk, along with a drinking class.

“Cassie ...” Ellessya nearly jerked back when the weave of Air smashed the table near her bed. She watched as the Novice turn, not with the jug but with a long knife — the same one she had brandished in a desperate hour to protect an injured Ellessya when Whitecloaks were ready to ride over them — as if she was expecting an enemy. And she watched as the knife clattered to the floor.

“Get out ... get out now ..” was all Cassie could say before she opened the bottle, poured a foul-smelling liquid into the glass and downed it in one shot.

Before the Seanchan woman could respond, a cricket chirped and she saw the flows of Air coalesce into a brutish fist, without skill or grace and impact the wall. The wall shook and cracks spidered down.

“Cassie ...” she watched her roommate forego the glass and heft the large jug up to her lips.

“Go ... now .. please ...” Her amethyst eyes were on the edge of begging and fear. She looked about then, as if seeing ghosts.

The Seanchan did the smart thing. She bolted, in nothing but a night dress, and left the room.

She bolted toward the Mistress of Novices office and living space. Her mind roamed over the events of the last several weeks. Cassie had become more withdrawn, more focused, and less prone to emotional outbursts. In many ways, she could school Cairhienin women on how to be emotionless drones. Ellessya attempted on many occasions to at least let out a burst of anger.

And then she started to wake up screaming ... the drinking started after that ...

She wanted to stay protective of her roommate so she didn’t rat her out. Light but she was fond of the woman. In all her life, both in Amador and in Walker Manor, she’d never seen anyone throw herself in front of an army with only a knife and protect her, at least not anyone sworn to serve her family.

And she was bloody brilliant, more so than Ellessya, even if the Seanchan didn’t care to admit it. The Aes Sedai said Ellessya would be strong in the One Power, but a look at Cassie Majere revealed one truth: she would outshine them all in the end, simply because she cared enough about others around her.

That was the thought that remained in her mind when the young Ji’ on duty stopped her and demanded a reason for being up so early. Ellessya did the one unlady-like thing she could do in her life: her fist went straight into the poor woman’s gut and she raised a knee to connect with the downed trainee’s jaw.

“I’m sorry ... so sorry ... but ...” The Hall shook slightly and she ran toward the Mistress of Novices quarters.

And she pounded on the flaming door. When an Accepted who surely must have been her aide, perhaps an eager little one who was up early, answered the door, Ellessya bolted in.

“Where is she? The Mistress of Novices has to come now ... “ Before the Accepted could speak more than two words, Ellessya spun on her heels, her dark eyes like fire. “Accepted, I am the Lady Ellessya Lyiena, sister to Tiresa Lyiena Walker, who is the wife of the Lord Daimen Walker, High Seat of his House, defender of the Caralain in the Lion Throne’s name, defender of the Light and the sworn sword to the true Lord Dragon Reborn. I will not be denied an audience with Mirin Sedai and if you want your pretty little head in one piece, you will get...”

She turned then to see a small Cairhienin woman emerge. Ellessya was too worried to notice the state, to even care if the Aes Sedai was tired. She felt the floor shake a second time.

“It’s Cassie, Aes Sedai,” the Novice blurted out. “She woke up and ... started channeling ... and pulled out something foul to drink ... she ...” It there was ever a time when Ellessya lost her composure, it was now. The Demon of Ebou Dar was gone, so there was no help there, and her uncle was away at Camden Corelle. And Cassie seemed more attached to this Aes Sedai than any other. “Mirin Sedai ... please ...”

Cassie had shown so much control in the last months of her life, much to Ellessya's pain. Bit by bit she saw her roommate die inside, for reasons she couldn't ferret out. And now this ... at night she drank, she woke in screams and she wouldn't speak.

The floor shook again and tears escaped the Seanchan noble’s eyes. “Please, she ... I’ll do anything to help her, even if means swearing on the Dark One’s true name ...”

[Jenny]

Mirin Ronaile, Mistress of Novices "It is your choice, Danessa, if you would like to switch courses. Healing is useful in any Ajah. But if you are no longer certain about pursuing the Yellow, it is not a requirement. Do you know what you would like to replace it with?

The Accepted nodded thoughtfully. "I'm not yet certain," she said. "Perhaps I would like to study Battle Weaves. Would that be possible with my schedule?"

BANG! BANG! BANG!

Both women turned at the noise from the other room. At a gesture from Mirin, the Accepted rose to her feet and left the study. Mirin heard the front door open and a new voice began to rant shrilly.

"Where is she? The Mistress of Novices has to come now. Accepted, I am the Lady Ellessya Lyiena, sister to Tiresa Lyiena Walker, who is the wife of the Lord Daimen Walker..."

Mirin rolled her eyes and climbed to her feet. Her silk dress flowed loosely over her rounded, protruding belly. She had thought that she had rooted out the pride that plagued the Seanchan noblewoman, but apparently her lessons did not hold in times of stress.

She swept into the next room and listened to the girl's pleas with calm patience. Cassie Majere had woken up and begun to channel at random. Well, it did happen to novices from time to time, usually due to stress, though she had not expect it from Cassie. The young novice had seemed much more even-tempered since her arrival at the Tower. And while she knew the girl had nightmares, this reaction seemed a little... over the top. Mirin couldn't help but to wonder if there was something more foul at play.

"Come," she said. Despite her pregnancy, she walked with quick, unhurried grace.

She sensed it before she saw it. The feeling of saidar permeated the halls. Novices spilled from the surrounding rooms, screaming and crying. Mirin caught a passing novice by the shoulder, one of the older ones.

"Sabine, gather your friends and take everyone out to the steps of the Tower. Get everyone organized, set up a roll call, and send anyone who is hurt to the infirmary. I will be there shortly. Ellessya, run and fetch a Healer. Quickly, child, and come back as soon as you can. Danessa, prepare yourself to embrace the Power."

Mirin surrendered herself to the warm glow of saidar. She sensed the Accepted beside her balancing at the edge of bliss - nearly grasping the Power but not quite there - and the Aes Sedai reached through her and pulled, adding the woman's strength to her own. Together, they moved toward the source of the errant flows of Power. Mirin wove threads of Spirit to form a shield and held threads of Air to hold the girl.

Then she carefully edged open the door.

[Jack]

They were around her — all of them — their eyes asking why.

The boy she had killed to save her brother. The man Master Copper killed to save them just before their initial flight. The man in the forest who reeked of evil and lacked a soul in his eyes ... the soldiers all who died protecting her in the final hour.

Cassie wept. They all sat in judgment and she could not stop seeing them, even when she closed her amethyst eyes.

“Go away ... please ..” She took a strong pull from the half empty jug of whiskey. It didn’t seem to impact her at all. And she still saw them.

She vaguely telling her roommate to flee, after she raised knife. She remembered everything. The Whitecloaks coming toward them, the dying men and women sworn to protect two women who ... the gold-eyed demon and his Warder who cut down everything in front of the young pair of noble women.

She remembered every face. But first and foremost the one whose life she had taken.

And they all stared at her now. “I am Cassandrya Majere, first of her name, daughter of the Lord Solin Majere, first of his name, granddaughter to the Fox of Ebou Dar, the true Lord of the Caralain, he who is the true servant of the Lord Dragon ...”

It was a prayer she whispered every night. Mirin Sedai had forbid her to speak in public about it, but she recited it to remember whom she was. It helped with the ghosts she saw ... until now.

And they all reminded her that she was a murderer.

She lashed out with a weave of Air and the room shook, but they all stood in judgment over her, all of them asking why they had to die.

She took another deep pull of the whiskey, but it did no damage, nothing to banish the demons.

And then she saw the door open. Her knife was beyond reach ... otherwise this would be over. And when she was about to lash out .. that face ...

Even on her worst day, Cassandrya Majere could never bring herself to harm an Aes Sedai except in the direst of moments. Instead, the weave of Air went around the woman and the floor shook once more.

She felt the solid shield insert itself between her and the One Power and she broke through it out of sheer terror and she gulped more into her. They were all around her .. every face ...dead and judging.

Cassie raised the jug to her lips again only to find it torn from her hands. She looked up at Mirin Sedai and then to the knife. “Please ... end it ... I don’t want to see them ... the gift of mercy ...” Even as she spoke, another part of her held onto saidar and threads of Fire and Air hovered in the air before her, ready to merge and destroy.

"I am Cassie Majere, blood of the Caralain, Novice of this flaming Tower," she yelled, more to ghosts around her than anything else. And then her amethyst eyes landed on the Aes Sedai. Once more she looked at the knife. "Please ..."

[Jenny]

The novice broke through the first shield. The Mistress of Novices winced as the threads of Spirit came snapping back at her. Beside her, Danessa cried out in pain.

Mirin narrowed her eyes. Incredible, she thought. She was not weak in the Power. Linked with Danessa, it should have been impossible for Cassie to break through that shield - though should was not the same thing as would. Her face became grim as she sensed the novice drawing in even more of the Power. Light help her, at this rate the girl would burn herself out soon. Burning out was not the same as stilling. It could not be Healed.

"Stay by the door," she murmured. Danessa nodded. Her face was pale, and she looked as though she were about to be sick.

The Blue sister strode forward. She held flows of Spirit to slice any incoming weaves and wove another shield. This one was thicker - she wove it with nearly all the rest of her power.

She spoke gently, "Cassie, I'm here to help."

The girl only looked around the room as if seeing something that Mirin could not. Then she raised her jug to her lips. Mirin pried it away from her grasp. Her lips thinned as the unmistakable stench of alcohol wafted from the jar. She understood the temptation and use of alcohol. It, too, was her vice. Well, it had been until she had become pregnant. Though Cassie begged for release, Mirin did not even spare a glance at the knife lying on the floor.

Without warning, she struck. Her hand lashed out.

SMACK!

The blow left a bright red mark on Cassie's cheek. Behind her, Danessa gasped. And at the same time, the flows of Spirit darted toward the half-formed weaves held by the errant novice to slice them to bits - and the shield slid into place. Mirin locked it there, holding on tight with all of her and Danessa's combined ability. Though Cassie screamed and threw herself against the invisible barrier, Mirin would not let go. She would not yield.

After all, Cassie's life depended on it.

She held on and hoped that Ellessya would arrive with a Healer soon.

[Jack]

Cassie Majere Cassie howled when she felt the warmth of saidar slip from her, all the sudden cut off. She threw herself against the barrier, as if fighting to regain something that would ward off the demons that surrounded her.

The stinging slap went unnoticed beyond the initial shock and her amethyst eyes, filled with tears, didn’t at all register the Aes Sedai.

All she saw was the White Cloak, bleeding, his eyes asking why. The others, the men who died. All surrounding them like pale wraiths made of moonlight. All of them standing in judgment over her, demanding an answer.

Demanding a price be paid. Her eyes went to the knife. She calculated the distance between herself, the Aes Sedai and the weapon, and she went for it ... or rather she would have had the Aes Sedai not restrained her.

Her hand came up in a clenched fist, but she couldn’t bring herself to strike the Mistress of Novices. Even on her worst day.

“I just ... want it to end ...” She looked pleadingly at the Aes Sedai. “End it ... let me go. I tried so hard ...”

They closed in around her just as she heard the door open and saw an Aes Sedai and Asha’man. Her eyes widened when she saw the face of the Asha’man, but her fear and pain of the ghosts around her were much more concerning.
Jerid Asha’man and Nyoma Sedai (with cameo by Ellessya Lyiena, Novice) As he was about to leave from the Traveling grounds, Jerid Walker nearly found himself bowled over by a Novice in nothing more than her night clothes. Never one for forgetting a face, the Indigo Asha’man recognized her immediately as one of the youngest sisters of his grandson’s wife.

After all, one simply did not forget the face of one who was being hounded by an army of Whitecloaks all the way to the steps of Hama Valon.

And he would have just as easily avoided a conversation since he was due back to Camden Corelle. His tenure as First Seeker was over, and he was only just getting used to being outside the Tower. Unfortunately, some things required the attention of a Healer, and a Yellow visiting the Walker estate in the Mountains of Mists would draw attention and unwanted questions.

But he knew from the look on the girl’s face that she was in a hurry and likely under orders. After all, the Mistress of Novices knew better than to let one of her charges out of her Hall as this early hour.

“Novice Ellessya,” the Asha’man said simply. The girl turned on her heels at the sound of her name and nearly yelped. Some things Seanchan simply did not forget, especially his particular face.

“But you’re supposed to be ... gone ... Cassie she’s ...”

Jerid’s brow furrowed and he immediately told her to speak up. His granddaughter was obviously in some kind of trouble. And the girl squeaked as the words came out.

The Indigo was fast, faster than most would give credit for the slender, youthful Asha’man and he moved back to one of the offices. Within seconds, a short, stocky Altaran Aes Sedai dressed in a yellow gown was on the verge of running him down. Nyoma Sedai was one of the Tower’s more specialized Healers, dealing with poison and afflictions of the mind.

Right now, it sounded as if the latter might be needed.

“Ellessya, now, Child, you are to lead us, stop your staring and come,” the Indigo said calmly. Even the calm voice held the force of an order not to be disobeyed.

After all, there were legends about what happened when one did not do as the demon of Ebou Dar suggested.

It took too long in Jerid’s mind as the trio made their way from the Yellow Infirmary, from the Tower and toward the Serpent building. As the Novices were lining up, the throngs parted to let the group through. One look from any of them stifled any questions.

He knew from Nyoma’s expression before he felt the tingling himself — that sense a male channeler gets when a female held saidar, and from the Altaran’s expression, it was serious. The former First Seeker grasped saidin, braving the torrents of ice and fire and forcing the male half of the Power to his will. He could hear the whimpers, the pleas for mercy.

“Stay here Ellessya,” was all the Asha’man said as he and the Yellow entered the room. From the first look, he could see Cassie struggling with an obviously child-heavy Mirin Sedai. And his eyes went to the knife on the ground. He frowned and a flow of Air flung the knife from its resting place into the nearby chest, embedding in the wood with a solid thunk.

And he wove a shield of Spirit so thick most would raise an eyebrow at its strength. The weave planted itself between the red-haired Novice and the Source should Mirin’s own shield fail. As he tied it off, Nyoma reached for his hand and he consented. Control of saidin was taken from him as the Yellow knelt beside Cassie and the Altaran whispered in a near-musical voice.

“Cassie Majere, look at me.”

The Novice’s eyes shut closed, refusing to open. “Please ... please ...”

“Cassandrya Majere, you will obey the Aes Sedai’s request,” Jerid said. It wasn’t an Asha’man’s order. It was that of a grandfather’s. The girl’s eyes popped open and she immediately shivered as the Delving mesh wove into her. Flows of all Five Powers, and those accessing Jerid’s own Talent for Healing, pierced Novice.

Jerid stood by, lending his strength and power as the Yellow Aes Sedai rooted out any signs of the mind. And she nearly recoiled. The words that slipped from her mouth might have been poetic if one did not understand the Old Tongue, but Jerid raised an eyebrow.

“Poison ... the same kind that we found you filled with, Asha’man, the day your Warder dragged you into the Hall,” Nyoma said. “Not nearly so much ... but she’s surely ingested a steady supply.”

It was Jerid’s turn to swear, and he spoke in a language everyone could understand.

The necessary flows were woven, threads of all five Powers spun with such intricacy and skill that all but the most talented Healers could keep pace. Cassie shuddered violently and fell against the wall. Her eyes were looking up, at the empty air, still terrified.

“What do you see, Cassie,” Jerid asked.

“They are ... all of them ... the boy ... the Whitecloaks ... the soldiers who died protecting ... please make it stop ...” she whimpered. Her amethyst eyes flashed in fear as Jerid found himself in front of her, at eye level. “I am Cassandrya Majere, first of her name, daughter of Solin Majere, High Seat of his House ...”

“You are my granddaughter, the niece of a Gaidin of this Tower’s Yards, and you are descended from the child of two Towers. You have Walker blood in you, and we who are bound to the Tower’s service do not recite titles until the day we are Raised, not even in our darkest hour,” Jerid murmured. “If you are to take pride in anything, take pride in knowing you will be so much more than what you were raised to believe yourself worthy of as a noble."

The Novice blinked and stammered, as if trying to find the right words. "What are our words, as Walkers, the original words?" The Novice blinked. "From common roots we grow." He nodded and answered, "We took them when we were raised high by the old kings of the Caralain to remind us that we serve the people, not the other way around. Sometimes we must do what is necessary to protect them, and sometimes we all fall down, but we must endure and we must pick ourselves up."

"You are home and safe and among those who care for and love you. And you are not alone. When you wake, the ghosts will be gone. Now sleep.”

The words came like truth from the Indigo’s lips. The Novice in front of him visibly relaxed and sheer exhaustion took over, along with the excessive amount of alcohol she had drank.

Jerid held her calmly for a long moment, before he gathered her up and placed his granddaughter into her bed.

The warm look he spared Cassie vanished the second his eyes landed on the Mistress of Novices and released saidin. Instead, it was a cold look, and the gold flecks in his green eyes froze like smoldering embers in a forest. They were judging and they were unforgiving.

“She will need rest, and plenty of it,” Nyoma interjected, a level gaze on the Asha’man as she spoke to the Mistress of Novices. “Mirin Sedai, I would request she taken out of her classes for the next few days. The poison she ingested, however that occurred, is gone from her system, but I fear the mental effects may linger. I will be following up with over the next month.”

Jerid only inclined his head and spun on his heels. Ellessya and the Accepted near her both scrambled out of his way. Nyoma’s eyes landed on Mirin and she murmured, “Unless you talk to him and soon, he will hold to blame for this for the simple reason that she is your charge. Men are in general stubborn as mules, but that one holds a grudge that makes the conflicts between Andor and Cairhien look like children’s fights.” She sat on Cassie’s bedside and murmured, “I will stay with her. When she wakes, I will let you know.”

[Jenny]

She almost snapped at the Yellow sister. Why would she concern herself if Jerid wanted to hold a grudge like a child? Mirin cared for novices and Accepted - she even disciplined Aes Sedai when they requested it. But she had no desire to reprimand an Asha'man in the same way. The facts were simple. Cassie had lost control of her channeling. Mirin had come to protect the novice - and had succeeded in doing so.

Jerid could be as angry as he liked, but Mirin did not answer to the parents nor grandparents of her novices. Well, perhaps she did answer to the great-great-grandparent of one of her former students, but that had been the Amyrlin Seat. And besides, was she to take the blame for every novice who fell afoul of misfortune? She thought it was rather petty and stupid for the Asha'man to direct anger at her when it would be better off spent pursuing whoever did this to Cassie.

She tied off her shield and smiled warmly at the Yellow sister. Nothing in her manner suggested her anger.

"Thank you for your concern and advice, sister. I appreciate you coming to help her," she said. "If there is anything else I can do for you, please let me know."

Then, moving with surprising grace for her condition, she turned and left. She did not have the time to spend fruitlessly searching the halls for the Indigo Asha'man. There was the fallout of this event to be dealt with. She had to calm Sabine and Ellessya the rest of the novices. A report to the Amyrlin had to be written. The incident had to be recorded. Then there were classes to teach, lessons to organize, and Accepted to advise.

The day went on.

Finally, after all the tasks of the day had been completed, she sat down at her desk to write.

Jerid Asha'man, I hope this letter finds you well. If you would like to speak about the events today, I am nearly always present at my office in the morning until two hours after Early. Otherwise, a copy of the incident report has been enclosed for your information. Nyoma Sedai informed me of her concerns regarding the possibility that you may blame me for this event. I assure you that I would never willfully ignore a child in danger. Nor would I ever willfully place a child in danger. If her concerns are valid, then I must regard your behavior this morning as a grave insult to my professionalism and commitment to duty. However, if there is nothing concerning that may affect our working relationship, then perhaps you will be willing to work with me to prevent this from ever occurring again. I would be grateful for any information that can help us in our common goal. Sincerely, Mirin Sedai Mistress of Novices

She re-read the note and allowed the ink to dry before sending it off with a servant.

[Jack]

Jerid Walker Asha'man The response to the letter was quick.

The moment Mirin entered her office, she’d find the former First Seeker observing an object, almost astutely as if it was of great interest to him. The slender Asha’man was dressed in simple black trousers and a green wool shirt, the long knife at his side as much a part of him as his arm or leg.

He appeared as if he were ready to leave the Tower once more. He would have last night had he not received the letter. It was his experience that if he remained in one place too long and he was angry with someone who didn’t deserve his wrath, he would give in to that emotion.

“It’s strange how you miss the little things in the beginning,” he murmured without looking up or even reacting to Mirin’s presence. “Once, I was able to find the proverbial needle in the haystack simply by scanning the room, but that was nearly 150 years ago, when I was thief and the Rahad my world.”

He turned then to look at the Cairhienin Mistress of Novices and gestured with his free hand toward her desk. A small pile of ash was piled on it, obviously the remains of a letter.

“I apologize for the mess, but the letter I was to leave was ... perhaps too much,” he said simply, his gold-green eyes cool as he evaluated the Mistress of Novices. “And yes, I did hold you to blame in the beginning. I left my granddaughter in your care, the niece of the Amyrlin Seat’s Warder, and she was poisoned on your watch, so I was angry.”

He raised a finger to forestall any initial comment. “It’s rare when I admit I’m wrong, so enjoy, Mirin Sedai. I was wrong to judge you because I remember when the safety and wellbeing of my Soldiers and Dedicated were my top priority — and there were a lot more then. I also remember the day I had to lead them in what could have been a war against Tar Valon the day they took my Amyrlin Seat prisoner, and again when I had to rescue her flaming daughter.”

He frowned at such memories. They were not his proudest moments as Master of Soldiers, or as an Asha’man. “So if I offended you, I apologize. I paid a visit to Cassie’s room today while she was visiting Nyoma, and Novice Ellessya was kind enough to highlight her recent behaviors when I noticed this.”

He tossed the object he had been holding in Mirin’s direction. It was a simple pendant of silver and amethyst, nothing unusual about it save perhaps its value. “I gave that to my son Solin with the request it be given to Cassie on her nameday. I’ve never met any of his children and he wishes nothing to do with me, but I do keep track. And I notice the items I select. It’s a very convincing forgery I found.”

“It’s a ter’angreal with a dual purpose, I found out,” her murmured. “It disrupts Wards that protect against dreams, and it exacerbates certain memories by turning them into illusions that only its owner can see. As to the poison Nyoma referenced, it’s a powerful, extremely rare root that grows only in the deep of Hardon Mirk. It weakens the mental fortitude of even the strongest people and even merits minor hallucinations.”

His frown returned. “I know of it only because I was exposed to it, and only by Zae Rowe Aes Sedai, and it was very nearly the end of my life,” Jerid murmured. It was no secret that Zae, a longtime Indigo Aes Sedai and trusted confidant of the former First Seeker was Black Ajah. She’d been responsible for the death of his daughter Bryn, along with a mutual friend of theirs.

“Someone must have influenced her dreams, but why I don’t know, only that it was Black Ajah,” the Indigo said. “All I know is that she blames herself for the death of several people and that person must have access to that information. I’ve since Warded her chambers against such things in the future, and I’d advise anyone heavily against trying to disrupt them.”

He paused to let the information sink in before he confessed one thing.

“I lied to my granddaughter that the faces would vanish,” he murmured. “It’s only the second lie in my life and I did it so she could gain some respite. If she killed someone, she’ll carry that memory until the day she dies, and the poison she consumed will make sure any other face she saw will also haunt her.” He knew from experience. Every soul he killed, he could recall and see their faces.

“She’ll need your help and your guidance, Mirin,” Jerid murmured. “For whatever reason, she trusts you, and if that is the case, I trust you. Enough to let you know that the Black Ajah crossed the line. I can’t be here for her, but intend to hunt down whatever remains here and find the one responsible.”

[Jenny]

Mirin stared at her office door for a long moment. Quietly, she placed a trembling palm against the door. Her wards had been disrupted this morning, and she had come immediately to investigate. She felt nothing with saidar, though that did not reassure her.

Scenarios ran through her mind - each held danger behind that door. It had been months since she communicated with the Black Ajah. Since Emmond’s gentling, she had very clearly fallen from grace. Perhaps now the Black Ajah had finally decided to rid themselves of her. She opened herself to saidar, letting the sweetness of the Power fill her. I am one of the most powerful Aes Sedai in the Tower, she reminded herself. It did not quell her fear.

Mirin began to weave flows of Spirit, Water, and Air. Though she was not particularly skilled in battle, she would not go down easily if this turned out to be an attempt on her life. With a single finger, she gently pushed open her door….

A gasp of breath escaped her lungs as she saw who stood there. Her neck flushed pink with embarrassment and relief. She picked up her dark silken skirts as she swept into her office and shut the door behind her. Though her face remained serene, her hands were balled into tight, white-knuckled fists.

“What under the Light are you thinking?” she hissed. “Disrupting my wards, intruding into my office like this? We live in dark times, Jerid. I thought this was a trap! You scared me half to death!”

She took a deep, shuddering breath. Her lip curled as she saw the pile of ash. With a dismissive flow of Air, she swept it to the floor.

As she listened to him speak, her expression hardened. When Jerid tossed the silver pendant, she caught it and gripped it tight in her hand.

“To poison a child is a despicable thing,” she said. “I must tend to my duties, so I cannot hunt these Darkfriends myself. But if you need my assistance, I am more than happy to help.”

Her smile did not touch her eyes.

[Jack]

Jerid examined Mirin in one glance, noting everything from that serenity Asha’man and Aes Sedai were so well known for to the frustration shown in the grip on her skirts and subsequently the pendant.

Even the false smile did not escape him.

The Indigo merely shrugged when confronted with the dangers associated with tripping the Aes Sedai’s Wards.

“If I wanted you dead, Mirin, your Wards would not have been disrupted,” he said plainly. He looked at the short, child-swollen Aes Sedai

The Asha’man had long outgrown attempting to play the Great Game of Houses. Damien al’Donai, the Carpenter M’Hael, attempted to teach his would-be protege only to nearly rip his hair out; Amora en’Damier had long since given up hope of trying to figure him out when he did the exact opposite of she planned, and so many others failed to think like he did.

So when he said something, he would be blunt. “And it would not be the one Power, it would be a knife, and it would be explained in your last seconds of life,” he said. “But I have no quarrels with you, and you risked the life of yourself and your unborn child in a risky situation to help a Novice you barely know.”

“Besides, the wards could use a bit of fine-tuning,” he muttered. His eyes landed on her swollen belly and he added, “And should you attempt to hunt dreadlords with your child due in a few months, I assure you the Amyrlin Seat herself will tear into you so quickly that your penance would make the one Amora en’Damier bestowed upon me for using balefire look like a slap on the wrist.”

He did not smile when he spoke any one of the words, and it was all too clear who the person would be that informed Miahala should Mirin prove to be ... difficult.

“I believe this to be an isolated incident, but I’d recommend you check to see if Cassie wasn’t the only Novice poisoned,” he said. “Zae Rowe, a Black Aes Sedai who was raised to the Indigo used the very same substance on me over months, and it nearly worked. She’s dead, and so are her entire cell, but they interconnect. If I find the right canary, I will make it sing for what it did to my granddaughter, and I will hunt down everyone involved.”

His gold-green eyes didn’t soften. “You ... all I ask is that you watch Cassie. That she could shake the halls asunder is a show of remarkable strength in the One Power,” he said. “But if she’s not getting proper training, then teach her yourself ... unless the thought of an untrained Novice frightens you.”

The gold flecks in his green eyes danced now. The tone he used might have been half challenge and half compliment.

[Jenny]

Mirin could hardly believe her ears. Anger threatened to spill through the cool veneer. Pale eyes blazed with inner fire. Her finger jabbed at Jerid's chest.

"Yesterday, you insulted me, disrespected me, and accused me - indirectly and passively, shame on you! - of purposefully failing to protect a novice. And you haven't stopped there, oh no. Today, you broke into my office, threatened to report me to the Amyrlin, and mocked my weaves as if you know how to work with saidar better than I. Then you have the audacity - yes, the audacity - to request my tutelage for your granddaughter?!

"You assume much, Jerid, and take advantage of my courtesy. My time is limited and I take on precious few students. I will tutor your granddaughter if and only if she requires it, not because you asked. But I hope that I don't hear from you again for a long time, Jerid Asha'man. I am very upset at the way you have treated me. I was willing to forgive you yesterday, because that was a stressful situation - but this, no, this is too much. You have been unforgivably condescending and rude."

She drew herself up. Her hands folded calmly above her belly and her voice dropped to a quiet and deadly precise tone.

"I do not wish to argue. Do not contact me again except in writing. I do not want to see you again. Run to the Amyrlin if you wish, but I have done no wrong except to demand that you treat me with respect and dignity - which you have not done. Do you have any more information for me? If not, then please leave my office. Now."

She opened the door with a thread of Air and stood aside, her arm outstretched to motion out into the hall.