"Doesn't matter though, does it?" Ryvin says, as she hears A'Mar. "He's the Dragon. Tarmon Gai'Don is coming. Sink or swim, break or mend, he's the leader for the Last Battle. You can stand with him, the Shadow, or try to run and hide. Me, I'm not a rabbit to run, and I'll set myself on fire before I'll go dark."
A'mar smiles the would be the heavy part, Duty, I figure to hand out a lot of feathers to the shadowstained. This organized encampment right under our noses, this type of planning means there is likely fall back plans and thus fallback sites.
"Ah, like vermin anywhere, then," Ryvin says with a mirthless grin. "Burrow, spawn, burrow, spawn, and burrow some more."
If the shadowsouled have these traveling gateways like what I have seen in the last week or so, this place could be overwhelmed before it resists without the aid of the Aiel, or any such place in the South is at risk. I for one am glad I dont have figure out how to deal with it. Patroling my section of the Blight was hard enough; with Gateways; Ptah, this is going to get really ugly really fast. Even vermin can be deadly if there are enough of them
"Never said they weren't," Ryvin replies. "Now... what's this about 'travelling gateways'?"
" I am not to shy form my oath I gave into the light, and in my blood! I swore to the Light, when I was a mere girl taking up the swords of my family and went out and slew my first Trolloc. My house is gone, my sisters abandoned it to join other houses as wives, while I went as a maiden and sought out Trollocs and Fades and slew them. That's when I was taken under a man whose skill with a blade is a beautiful but deadly dance. He gave me my armor, returned to me my fathers house ring and told me I was an equal. I came to dance with death, and care to do so under the banner of the Dragon" she said as she looked into his eyes and than turned as she looked down at the ring trying not to tear up, for her emotions were running again wild she had left the calm of battle, damn she needed a drink.
"Sorry, Its just I've fought in the wilds of Sheinar. I slew Trollocs, and Fades, found toff the cruel jests and jokes of men I thought my peers. And So when My mentor told me I was worthy of my house, they wouldn't let me a Woman reestablish it. So I swore that day to my self and the Light That after hearing the rumors ot the Dragon I swore that I would follow him, and lead my blade the best i can to his armies. I have only my belongings on me now, I left all my ties and all I have known to follow him. she swallowed her emotions as she gripped tightly on her blade and began to alter her breathing she wasn't turning around yet she was going to congeur her self , She wasn't much of a talker and wanted to get to the matter of saving some crazed Aes Sedai before she got captured or worse. "Let us get on to exploring this manner shall we I grow restless with all this talk"
If we go indoors; A'mar will put away his bow and noched arrow and take out his sheild and sword.
-----
A'mar speaks with a Kandoori accent
Indeed, lets get on to "exploring this mannor", as she puts it The aes sedai says from within the entrance, her voice sounding hollow and pointed.
Nodding to herself, she waits while everyone else begins to walk into the entrance, stepping in next to Kodokura. She looks hard at Kodokura, as if weighing him for the market.
The entry into the lower levels of the mannor house is remarkably dry. Nobles are not known for keeping their servant quarters well kept, nor allowing servants to repair, forcing them to live in squalor conditions, but this is an exception. The floors, the walls, the ceilings, where one would expect to see mold and water condensing upon the walls, instead dry walls and paint meet. Fresh signs of repair have been made in areas that need it. Wooden beams, fresh cut, show in areas, replacing signs of rot and neglect.
The further in you go, you begin to notice a slight shift of the path to the left, as you walk, your sense of direction begins to tell you that you are no longer walking on your original line of direction. Walking further, you cross an unseen threshold and stumble upon cells.
8 cells line the hallway, 4 on each side. stout wooden doors with iron bars bar entry and exit from these cells. The cells themselves are well kept, clean, tidy. CHamber pots sit upon stools in the corner, with cots with blankets stand against the long wall. Some chambers have a table and second stool, others do not.
The last chamber is surprising, as it is three times as large as the others, with a tapestry and rug on the floor. A large double wide cot sits at the far end, with a sink and mirror stand against another wall.
my quartersthe matron mummers.
beyond that, you see a single door, with purple lines crossing diagonally on the door and door frame.
what is beyond the door then..
Ryvin growls, not quite under her breath. Anyone capable of touching saidar can see those odd red sparks squiggling through the aura of the One Power surrounding her. As soon as they appear, they are gone. She mutters something in the Old Tongue...
She waited among the others her sword at the ready, as she looks about
"So what exactly did they do to you, I mean it looks like cells. being a prisoner is better than being in a Trolloc kettle, or on a spit. or worse a play thing for a Half-Man!"she says looking at the opulence and than the others.
"I have seen some horrors as an outrider, and scout. I wish to know what seems to 'unnerve' an Aes Sedai!" she says wondering what could cause such woman who could summon flame and wind at a hearts beat to be so...afraid?
Litheene murmurs thanks as she accepts the Angreal back from Fiallain, her mind set on what she recalled about the sword. I'll bring this up once we are out of this mess. This weapon needs to be explored, to understand which of the swords it actually is.
Upon entering the mansion, she embraces the source, feeling on edge from walking through a hideout with lurking Suldam. Litheene almost loses the hold on Saidar upon arriving at the damane quarters. Just like Shari's old cell ... but Litheene manages to suppress the voice, refocusing on the danger at hand I've beaten them then, I've beaten them again today, and I'll beat them yet again.
Looking at Vala, she keeps quite for a moment, looking at the adam locked on the matron by Alathea's hand. It is neither the cells nor the conditions, which 'unnerves' Aes Sedai. It's the accessory that comes with them. Damane are animal to the Seanchan, and the adam - a tool to make them behave, and eventually think, as such.
"So they treat Aes Sedai like pets...That is awful Why would they do such a thing, despite all the things Aes Sedai Are said to be you are still people...You fight the shadow, and wield a weapon far great than a spear or a sword! But making people pets! That is vile!" she said with contempt and disgust. She spit on the ground and looked about.
"Seems I have more than just a personal grudge against these Seanchan, Seems i must help protect you and your fellow Sisters from being abducted, no Woman deserves to be leashed!'She says as her knuckles go white on her goose pommeled sword. She was livid. Had the people she ahd seen abducted been Aes Sedai...or may be women who could wield the One Power...She growled as she thought on the matter...She could of saved them, but she wasn't skilled enough yet she needed to learn more, to hone her blade better so it did not fail her again!
"They don't just do it to Aes Sedai," Ryvin grumbles.
"Wait the leash more than Aes Sedai?" She said puzzled as she looked about and shivered."I'd rather die on my own sword than be the pet of some Seachan!" she says as she looks in on one of the stalls.
we know little about them as yet; but they are organized; well trained, well equipt and have a rigid code of beliefs from what I ahve seen today; if have have numbers as well, and can controll weilders of the One Power; they could be a terrible enemy and vast threat to the Dragon distracting him from Tai Gaimon, If they all serve the shadow; we need tofind out more about them and find their weakness
" Seems, a fearful thing a nation devoted to the shadow, if they are not than if what you say is true, the Dragon may need to bring them under his banner as well, for they would be a force to be reckoned with!, We must though,if there be more here to protect these Sisters,We can't have them fall into there hands again, not just because they were...leashed, but that the Shadowcould use them to further there gain, and the captured be impossible to stop them" She shivered at the thought of these woman forced to be tools of the dark friends! She continued to look about as she looked at the sisters and shook her head. She could not fathom what that would be like,leashed and unable to fight yourself free
Amorial simply listens as the group heads into the complex. He will continue to hold the axe in his hands as if a foe were lurking around every corner.
while they do appear to be devoted to the Dark One, in actuality they are not. They have this innate fear of the one power, one that stems from Artur Hawkwing's misconceptions and megalomania during his rule 1000 years ago. At first, he had Aes Sedai to help guide him in his rule, but something happened that turned him against the White Tower. What we see here is the fruition of 1000 years of hatred and bigotry against channelers. The aes sedai chimes in in a tone that is found in the instruction hall.
we must be wary of what is beyond this door. I overhead one of the guardsmen talking about traps, lots of traps. So be careful, Aiel. She says to Rhoekk.
As they pass her former cell, Alathea murmurs quietly to the Leashed One. "You need never return to such a prison, yes?"
At the closed door, Alathea asks the Leashed One and her granddaughter, "You say that you had access to this room--what can we expect to find behind this door? What sorts of danger should we guard against?"
An odd look overcomes the matrons face. you mean, freedom? From this? i used to dream of it, when i was first...leashed. But over the past 400 years, it has become just a distant memory. My name is Moira, by the way. she finishes, extending her hand to Alathea.
through the a'dam, alathea feels from the matron a sense of devotion begin to build within.
When i would go down it, it was just rock and stone. There was no fear for anything beyond. This talk of traps is new to me.
Rhoekk approaches the door and leans close to examine it. He searches for any traps that might be be set off by an attempt to open it.
Amorial grins widely, "Did you say traps? Why I love traps! You humans are quite ingenious when attempting to cause mayhem without the presence of another member of your race present. Why whenever I heard of a Cairhienan nobleman setting traps in their manor I would often pay a visit to study them. With a little time and careful study you can disable such devices. It is great fun, would you like me to teach you how to do so friend Rhoekk? First of course you must find them. Sometimes I would disable them and then reconfigure them to set off in a way they never expected, oh the amusement I would get when I would hear of a nobleman setting off and getting caught in their own traps! Of course I would replace the lethal countermeasures with something more embarassing. Er nevermind, you seem to be doing a fine job already, we must spend more time together after all of this terrible business, you Aiel know the most wonderful things!"
"Ah, thank you for the advice, treebrother. Yes, I would enjoy talking about such things with you. This is not a common skill among my people; we tend to use traps rarely, and mostly just for hunting. But occasionally, a criminal on the run would adapt such snares and traps to catch an unwary Aethan Dor pursuer off guard. I have noticed that wetlanders seem to have dedicated far more time and effort to the concept. Some of their traps are... very unusual."
Rhoekk takes his time peering at the door and door frame. Spotting a small hole, he follows the line up towards the top of the door frame. There he sees a hair thread of a wire poking out. Taking his dagger, he presses firmly upon it and easily cuts the wire.
"There was a wire here meant to trigger something when the door was opened. There is likely a proper counter release somewhere, but I have disabled it for now. If you would all stand back, I'll open it now."
Rhoekk waits for everyone to back up to be out of the line of fire of spikes, crossbows, fire, or whatever else the door might have been rigged to do. Standing to the side, he opens the door.
Opening the door, you see a long tunnel that slopes down and to the right. Torches and lanterns hang at 10 foot intervals, casting short flickering shadows upon the floor and ceiling.
Looking up, the wire that was cut hangs limply from the ceiling, the slight breeze causing it to now sway.
Spotting something in the wall, you see a series of holes, small in diameter, set at regular intervals. The same is seen on the opposite wall.
Alathea smiles at the matron and takes her hand in her own. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Moira. I am Alathea Neribar. And I do speak of freedom from this Leash, should you wish it. I have heard of those like you who do not wish to leave the Leash; if you wish to keep it I cannot stop you. But if you do, there will be a place for you here, with the Aes Sedai or...elsewhere." Her face falls at the last, but she quickly continues as if seized by another thought. "Your granddaughter may also be welcome, should she treat you and those like us as deserving of freedom, yes?" She turns her gaze onto the Leash Holder with a sharp expression.
"Arrow holes?" Ryvin suggests, pointing her fiery staff at the holes in the wall.
" Thats a dirty trick,...effective but dirty" Vala says as she follows the others every ready to pounce if need be
Hearing Alathea's conversation with the Seanchan matron, he cannot help but ask. "And what of men like myself?" he asks quietly in a neutral tone. "Does your belief in freedom for all extend to men who can channel?"
Though his eyes flicker to Alathea's as he speaks, he quickly reverts to studying the group's surroundings.
Let us move and find what we are looking for guestures to the door
Alathea frowns at Kodokura's question, and reflects a long moment before she replies. "There is a difference between you and these Leashed Ones. They will not descend into madness, at least not in numbers greater than those who cannot channel. Your kind, on the other hand, cannot escape such a fate. At one time, I thought that I could do a service to those like you by Gentling you and sparing you the horror of such madness. It is difficult still to not think that way, but I have met and traveled with several of your kind, and I have learned in no uncertain terms that you do not feel this way."
Alathea shakes her head. "This understanding goes against all that I have been taught on the matter, and it makes me uncomfortable, yes? I have seen the descent into madness before, and I never wish to see it again. But I have been told that by Gentling you, I would only inflict a different sort of madness."
Although she has avoided Kodokura's gaze up to this point, Alathea now looks into his eyes unflinchingly. "Your madness is inevitable whether I help you or not, but I do not wish to hurt you unnecessarily. While I doubt that those I hoped to join would approve of my decision, I will allow any like you that I find to live as they are unless they ask to be Gentled. But I intend to watch you, and any others I find. When your madness becomes too great, I intend to do what is necessary, yes?"
Kodokura listens intently to every word, although his youthful features remain impassive. After Alathea finishes speaking he remains silent for a few moments, though the corners of his eyes tighten almost imperceptibly.
"What is necessary. Yes." His gaze drops to the floor, though his eyes appear unseeing for a moment. "For the good of all," he finishes quietly.
Then the mask returns, and the young man begins to once again pay keen attention to his surroundings. As his eyes dart around searchingly, they fall on Alathea for a brief moment, once again distant and unreadable.
She looked at the Aes Sedai with the leashed, and the man in the Black coat! A man who could channel! She had heard rumors but never witnessed one of these, Asha'Man. She felt her hand tighten about her hilt, but remained calm. She looked and wanted to say something, but nothing came finally she looked to the man and nodded. "I'll make sure you die with sword in hand, its the least, One can do for a fellow Borderlander, I am Vala of Fal Dara, and when the sister does it I will make sure to give your sacrifice honor, by letting you die as a warrior, with blade in hand" she says softly stepping back inline beside her fellow Borderlander her hand tight, but her face a mask of passiveness as she looked at you with a mix of pride, and sorrow.
The Asha'man stumbles a little, perhaps at Vala's show of Borderland solidarity, then turns to her with a slightly queer expression. "Peace favour your sword, lady of Fal Dara," he responds. "You do me much honour."
Rhoekk eyes the apparent arrow holes in the walls of the descending staircase.
"There are two ways to proceed. The first is quieter, but risky, the second, safer but loud. I can move down the stairs slowly, trying to determine if there are any pressure plates or devices that might trigger arrows or darts from those holes, and risk getting hit by them if I miss something; or we can send something heavy down the stairs and hope it will set off the majority of any triggers."
He looks around the room for a moment, "What we would need is something about the size and weight of a person..." though it might be your imagination, it seems Rhoekk's eyes alight on the rude Aes Sedai for a moment... "Such as one of the mattresses."
"What do you think: quiet or loud?"
"Loud," Alathea replies. "With all the racket and chaos we have caused thus far, someone waiting down that hallway would have to be deaf to not have heard us, yes?"
"Agreed."
Rhoekk grabs one of the mattresses and sets it on the steps so that it will slid down, hitting every step on the way. He then gives it a firm push to set it on its way. Regardless of the result, he grabs another one and this time sends it tumbling down, end over end.
The large sacks that are matresses are flung down the stairs, bouncing and sliding. Their erratic path hits anything and everything, walls, rail, stairs, and the torches. The odd torch is knocked from its sconce and lands on the floor, causing shadows to dance about. One of the torches gets tangled up in the mattress and after the matress comes to a rest at the foot of the stairs, causes it to start on fire.
Leaning in close, the matron whispers to alathea Beyond this is a room where we interregated prisoners and abductees. there is a small door beyond that. I was never allowed in there, but she was. she finishes with a nod towards the aes sedai who leans against the wall towards the rear, watching, waiting, a look of agitation and frustration clear upon her face.