As the guardsmen drag Jak out of the palace, unable to walk on his own, Alathea voices a strangled cry and runs towards him, pushing aside any bystanders in her way. Reaching his side, she waves away the attendants, explaining if necessary that she's his sister. Kneeling next to Fiallain, she carefully inspects the gash on his scalp. Although her instinct is to Heal, she settles for ripping a length of cloth from her petticoats and dabbing away the blood. She doesn't think that he's wounded seriously, but she wishes she could Delve him to make sure.
After silently tending to Jak's injury, she sits down and props his head onto her legs, and smiles at Fiallain. "I think he'll be fine when he wakes up. If only..." She clamps her teeth shut and looks about nervously. "I haven't seen Jasmine or Ryland or Jed, either. I was hoping that you knew where they were. Hopefully, they'll find us, soon."
No, I have not seen them since they went inside. Jak needs a place to recover. If you want to take him back to the inn, I can wait here and watch for our companions.
with a loud grunt, jasper groans are we done chatting ladies? he isnt getting any lighter, you know? he points with his chin to him and Pace holding Jak.
Turning around, Pace and Jasper carry Jak to the Inn.
Alathea nods at Fiallain and Jasper's advice. "Perhaps you are correct. Jak will likely recover faster if he's in a bed." She turns to Jasper and Pace. "Thank you. If you want to stay here with Fiallain, I can manage to get Jak back to the Shipyard's Weight if you can carry him to my horse. If you don't, I'd be happy to have you along with us." She turns to Fiallain. "Be careful. If the others are in trouble, don't be afraid to come back and get us."
Alathea rides with Jak back to the inn wrapped in her worries. He hasn't stirred yet. What if his wound is more serious than I thought? Perhaps if I use as little saidar as possible, I can heal him and be sure. But can I risk it?
i dont like the idea of you going off by yourself. besides, how are you going to get him upstairs to his bed? Pace, why dont you stay here and protect- he cuts off with a coughexcuse me, sit with faillian?
with a fake heave, he puts jak onto alathea's horse, then gets onto his horse, following alathea back to the Inn.
"Be careful. If the others are in trouble, don't be afraid to come back and get us."
"I am always careful, Alathea. In fact, carefulness is one of my many good qualities." She grins insolently and in a manner that might suggest quite the opposite from her words. "Go and see to Jak. I am sure it's nothing that a night of bed and a mug of Oosquai won't fix."
Giving Jasper a glare at the suggestion of needing protection, she rounds on him. "I am hardly in need of such, Jasper Firewyn. But one of you is welcome to sit if you wish. It may be that I could use a message boy if things should get interesting here!"
Jasmine looks up from in Jed's arms as they round the corner to the guards. With a cry of relief she says Oh thank the light! This palace is huge and we were running from the explosion. Jasmine breaks down with a shuddering sob and says It was so awful! Please is this the way out?
"You have watched my back Fiallain, now allow me the honor of guarding yours." Pace's seriousness breaks for a moment, "And I promise to be a good errand boy."
Fiallain smiles at Pace. "Very well, I won't mind the company, or the extra set of eyes.
Once Alathea and Jasper leave to take Jak back to the inn, Fiallain finds an inconspicuous spot in the plaza to keep an eye out for their missing companions - and also any Seanchan or other unusual activity. Turning to Pace she asks, "What could cause such an explosion? There was no enemy that I could tell.."
at hearing Fiallain's remark and her glare, jasper chuckles. getting on his horse, he starts to follow Alathea, but stops and canters back.
oh, hey Fiallainhe starts, getting her attention. When she looks at him, he puts his thumb to his nose, wiggles his fingers and blows a rasberry at her phhhhbbbbbtttt!
Turning his horse, he quickly gallops off, catching up with Alathea.
oh, she is gonna hate me for sure he says out loud, to no one in particular.[/b]
Alathea watched sadly as Jak rode down the street, towards the edge of town. After seeing him off from the stables and wishing him the best, she had run up to her room to watch him leave from her window, to keep him in sight for as long as possible. If only that could keep him here... In the distance, he rounded a bend in the street, and just like that, he was gone.
It had always been like this, it seems. Jak had wandered in and out of Alathea's life for as long as she could remember. As children, he'd come and stay with her family on the farm for weeks at a time, only to leave to go back to the city when his family returned for him. It had hardly seemed fair then, and it hadn't seemed any fairer since then, either. After they'd left home, Jak had wandered back into her life every so often, wherever she was. He'd say he was "checking up on her." But his wanderlust would always come back, and he'd leave again with the promise to return.
Jak had awakened last night, shortly after they arrived back at the inn. Alathea had known right away that he was in another of his sullen moods, and the most that she had been able to wring out of him was that he "had been in one place for too long". She had persuaded him to wait until the morning to leave, but no longer--as soon as the sun was up, he had been down in the stable saddling his horse.
Alathea knows that it is only a matter of time before Jak comes back, and she hopes that the next time will be the time that he stays. With one look back at the window, she says very softly, "Good luck, Jak. I will still be here when you come back, I promise."
oh, hey Fiallainhe starts, getting her attention. When she looks at him, he puts his thumb to his nose, wiggles his fingers and blows a rasberry at her phhhhbbbbbtttt!
Turning his horse, he quickly gallops off, catching up with Alathea.
Fiallain blinks and turns to give Pace an honestly confused look. "What did he mean by that? How am I supposed to respond to such a thing?"
These wetlanders are so very.... odd!
At Jasper's childish behavior, Pace sighs and looks away. "It was a thing that a child would do to annoy another child. It was silly and meant to confuse." I couldn't even begin to explain his behavior in general.
"A child hmmm? Well, I am no child, but if he wishes to act as one, he can be treated as one...
Sighing, she turns to resume her watch. "He worries me a bit. Far to rash and undisciplined for this sort of thing."
Pace leans casually against a nearby wall while keeping a sharp eye out around him. "You won't get any argument from me that his power certainly outshines his judgement at this point."
standing next to alathea watching jak go, Jasper scratches his chin. i take it he has done alot of these comings and goings in your life? he asks Alathea.
Alathea smiles sadly. "Yes. Jak is...not meant for settling down in one place for long, I think. He's always been like that. When we were children, he'd always talk about the places he wanted to go: Tear, the Borderlands, even Shara. And when he got old enough, he left to see them. I don't know all the places he's been. But he's always come back to check up on me. He's the only family I have left, so I guess he feels...responsible for me sometimes. He never stays for long, just a week or two at the most, before he wanders off again. I suppose he has his own life, so I can't get mad when he leaves, but it does make me sad."
Alathea scrubs at her eyes for a moment before putting on a brave smile. "But he always comes back, and I know he will again. I just keep hoping that the next time he does, he'll stay for good."
looking at Alathea, Jasper contemplates telling Alathea that Jak can channel, and that the reason he moves about is he fears for his life, but thinks better on it. she needs to be focused on the task at hand, not distracted with hatred at the truth
holding out his arm, Jasper says well, im hungry, and the least we can do is have a toast in honor of Jak.
Alathea shakes her head and turns back to stare out the window. "Thank you, but no. Please have a toast for yourself, but I think I'll stay here for a while."
as she turns her back on him, a dark look flashes across Jaspers face. Anger and malice force his face into a sneer. His teeth grind together in frustration that wench. how dare she turn me down, and with such an off hand remark. i should show her, make her regret turning down my polite invitation!
with a forced cough, Jasper regains control over himself, calming his emotions. as you wish he says as he turns and heads to the bar.
barkeep! looks like im eating alone. send me over some meat and ale!
The woman's lips curve downward into a frown as she plucks at the sleeves of her dress. Her eyes follow a man pushing a cart laden with wrinkly apples past their position. I don't like this. They should have been out long ago. Something isn't right. Are there other entrances or exits to this place?
The guards look to each other and the fading sounds coming from the Outer Palace. One of the guards goes running off down a corridor while the other opens the door, Quickly, leave the palace. I'm sure you can return once the situation has been resolved but you're right, you should remove yourselves from the danger. Not taking any time to argue, the three companions hustle quickly out the door, which is shut and locked behind them.
Jasmine, Jed and Ryland pause a moment to catch their breath and marvel at their luck. It appears they've made it out, none the worse for wear. Looking around themselves, they head off to the right and within a few minutes they find themselves back in the grand plaza. Looking out through it, they catch sight of Pace and Fiallain and head over to meet them. Appraised on the situation with Jak and the commotion in general, Jed and Ryland gather their gear from the palace guards and then the group heads back to the inn.
Gathering back at the inn, it is a somber group that eats in the common room, everyone truly grasping the enormity of the task before them. Meals are eaten and drinks had and soon everyone is off to bed.
Jak slips quietly off into the night, his mind troubled and his feet aching to be moving. With a last glance at Alathea standing in the window, he heads off to the north.
As the group gathers at the inn, "So what happened? Where did the explosion come from?"
Alathea looks about the common room furtively to ensure that she won't be heard by anybody not sitting at their table, and speaks in a low voice. "Jasper and I were looking for the bracelet, and he said that he was going to try and identify things with the Power. He must have touched the wrong thing the wrong way, because the next thing I knew, I was on the floor several feet from where I had been." Although she wants to add more, about how she had warned him that experimenting with ter'angreal was a bad idea, she keeps her mouth shut. It's not worth angering him by pointing out that what he did was wrong. For the benefit of Jasmine, Jed, and Ryland, she adds, "Jak was hurt in the chaos, and fell unconscious. Jasper and I brought him back here, and he woke soon thereafter. After that..." They know what happened after that. If I don't say it, maybe it won't hurt as much.
Alathea turns to Jasmine, Jed, and Ryland. "Did you have any better luck in the inner part of the palace? Did you have any trouble with the guards?"
Jasper just shrugs his shoulders. oops
When they arrive back at the inn, Fiallain immediately scurries up the stairs to her room. She strips the dress off in a rush, though folding it carefully and setting the fabric on the edge of the bed once free of it. She breathes a heavy sigh of relief as she slips on her Aiel clothing and it settles comfortingly about her form. Taking a brief moment to relax before heading back downstairs, she closes her eyes, breathing deeply and slowly. She can feel Saidar there beneath the calmness, calling to her. It has been so long since I've held it...but no! Not here, not now. Too dangerous.
Sighing again, this time with regret, she turns and heads back down the stairs to join the others.
Jasper just shrugs his shoulders. oops
Fia raises an eyebrow at Jasper's "Oops". Might have know... she half chuckles, half sighs inwardly.
Turning to the others, "Yes, any luck?"
Pace glares at Jasper, his voice a forced whisper. "Oops?1? Are you a tool for the Shadow or a weapon for the Light? People could have died in there. I....did things...in there in obvious ways to cover your "oops". We may be compromised because of your "oops". Have some honor and take responsibility for yourself! You seem so proud of your abilities, of the organization we belong in, yet you feel no embarrassment for what you have done. What a joke!" Pace's face contorts into a sneer as he says the last.
staring into Pace's eyes, Jasper glares back. a joke am i? you said it yourself, YOU not i, but YOU, compromised yourself by "doing things" in obvious ways. You could've kept it secretive. you could've gotten Fiallain out of there with no issues. You were the one broadcasting your abilities for everyone to see. and you call me a joke? Blood and Ashes, man. I do have honor, and i do take responsibility for myself. did you hear me say "no, it wasnt me, it was the one legged tinker?" or something to deflect blame. No, i never did. All i said was "oops". Jasper looks at pace a moment longer, then looks at the rest of the table.
would any of you like to know what i found? or does anyone else want to throw me under the carriage and let me forget what i discovered? he ends the statement in a growl.
"If all I was concerned about was Fiallain, then yes I could have gotten her out with no issues. Unfortunately, I would not leave the innocents, including children, that you endangered there injured and possibly dying. And "oops" isn't taking responsibility for a rash, dangerous act, it is merely acknowledging that you acted. You take the blame, but do not allow the consequences change your viewpoint." Pace shakes his head, and stands "Someone else can fill me in on what you found, I need some fresh air. It is rather stuffy in here." Pace stalks out of the inn.
a dumbfounded look overcomes jasper's face. in a questioning and serious tone, huh? he looks that the others. i dont get it. what does he mean by "take the blame, but dont allow the consequences change your viewpoint?"
"He means that you act rashly and without thought for the consequences of your actions, Jasper Firewyn. And when confronted with those consequences, you show no remorse or sign of learning wisdom from mistakes. Instead you dismiss them as one might dismiss clumsily dropping an object of no importance.
"I agree with Pace and Fiallain, that what you did Jasper was dangerous and foolish. We should consider ourselves lucky no one was seriously injured. However, it also gave Jasmine, Ryland and myself an opportunity to enter the Palace proper. Unfortunately we were unable to find what we are looking for. And thanks to Jasmine's quick thinking, she was able to talk down the guards so that we could leave without any trouble."
Having said his peace about Jasper's unenlightened decision to probe dangerous items, Jed continues. "Jasper, you said you found something?"
Glaring about the table, Jasper tells everyone about the bright red ball that he probed.
it was crazy. once my probe hit it, i was suddenly caught in a battle to maintain control of saidan. It was as if it was sucking it out of me. I severed the connection and that was what caused the explosion. i think that we should go back there and retrieve this item he says, and then adds in order to keep others from getting hurt
Alathea pushes her chair back as the argument between Jasper and Pace erupts and keeps her face neutral. Let Jasper argue with Pace for a change. Maybe he'll have more luck than I have. When Pace leaves the room with no more success than she's ever had, she shakes her head. "I'll bring him back. What's done is done, and we have more important things to discuss," she explains as she stands to follow him.
Once outside the inn, Alathea approaches Pace with caution. He has always been calm and rational around me, but he is still a madman. Now that he is angry, will he show his madness? She leans against the wall beside him and speaks quietly, wary for any nearby who may be able to overhear her. "Jasper is becoming more and more unstable. What does your...organization...do when one of you becomes too unstable?" She is aware that Pace knows of her allegiance and her attitude towards male channelers, so she holds up a hand to forestall any protest. "I know that this is a dangerous topic for you and I to speak of, so let me assure you that I mean to take no rash actions. As you and Jasper are members of this...Tower, your rules take precedence. And besides," she says with a hint of a scowl, "I cannot counter my Tower's laws by taking action myself."
Ryland grabs an ale from the bar and downs it as fast as he can. By the Light I knew chanelers were powerful but to cause this much damage just by accident! I can see why male channelers had been hunted prior to the Lord Dragon. To combine this much power with insanity!
He takes his refilled mug and sits near the others and listens.
Glaring about the table, Jasper tells everyone about the bright red ball that he probed.
it was crazy. once my probe hit it, i was suddenly caught in a battle to maintain control of saidan. It was as if it was sucking
it out of me. I severed the connection and that was what caused the explosion. i think that we should go back there and retrieve this item he says, and then adds in order to keep others from getting hurt
Fia shakes her head dubiously. "I am not sure that would be wise. This...sphere.. is not the object the Car'a'carn wishes us to find. That is our objective here. Why endanger that trust by taking on unneccessary risks? Like it or not, your 'experiment today will have put the guards on alert. Should we fail...or worse, get caught in the process and this in an attempt to secure something we did not even come for...something we don't evento know what it is..." Having stated her opinion, Fiallain glances at each of her companions, trying to gage their thoughts.
Jasmine has been mostly silent through the discussion, listening to every side. There is something we have not considered yet that we must at this time. Once the sul'dam come and investigate what happened they will find out that Saidar was not used in the explosion. That will eventually lead them to figuring out that there are male channelers in the city. We must be extra cautious from this point onward. For now we must leave the palace alone. I therefor suggest that we go and find this storage facility and see what secrets it holds within.
The night wears down, people frustrated with the events of the day. Jak's departure weighs on some and overall it is a relief to see the end of the day.
Heading off to bed, some of you struggle to fall asleep while others simply aren't as tired yet. Hopefully the following day will bring better results.
Shadows play across the dark walls as you all pass the night in your rooms. Some of these shadows seem to detach themselves from the walls and approach your sleeping or dozing forms, the glint of metal in their hands.
The floorboards creak under an errant footstep and with a start, Pace bellows at the top of his lungs. Awake!
Fiallain wakes with a start, Paces's shout ringing in her ears. Her eyes open in time to catch a glimpse of flashing metal as a knife plummets toward her. Snarling, she throws herself towards her attacker, somehow managing in that split second to turn what was probably a fatal thrust into a painful but largely unthreatening scratch.
The Aiel woman grasps for the spear lying propped at the side on the of the bed. Her fingers close around the solid haft and immediately she swings it around, bringing the point to bear on the shadowy assailant. She trust hard at him, as much to drive him back and Give herself space to move as to do damage.
(-4 for being prone. Going from memory here, if that isn't correct, please adjust.)
Pace's shout snaps jasper to a sitting position, which has brought him into the slashing path of something sharp, cutting his back.
With a growl, Jasper stands up, using his bed as a makeshift barrier, and embraces Saidar. In a malicious voice, jasper says Pace, Drill number 1
Jed startles awake at Pace's shout and is met with a nasty gash to his side. Wincing in pain, Jed rolls out of bed and grabs his sword and shield which had been placed with easy reach. He doesn't make an attack just yet, but instead tries to take stock of the situation and make sure Jasmine isn't in as much danger.
Light, if they hurt Jasmine...
Alathea is awakened not by Pace's cry, but by the hot, sharp pain of the sword grazing her side. With a cry of terror, she scrambles into a crouching position. She can barely see the outline of her attacker in the faint light coming through the window, and although she knows that Fiallain is just a few feet away, she can't tear her eyes from the shadow looming over her to check on her companion. Her thoughts come slowly even as her mind races in panic. What is happening?! What can I do?
Alathea is terrified, and instinctively opens herself to the True Source. The sweetness of saidar rushing in to fill her clears her head, and a horrible realization dawns on her. Light, I just let any Seanchan nearby know that I can channel! But it's too late to do anything about it now, and she realizes that saidar is her best hope of surviving to worry about the Seanchan. This is no duel. I'm crouching on my bed with only a shift between me and that blade, and my knife is out of reach. I have no other choice.
