As Litheene looks down from the skies in her conversation with Kodukura, her eyes continue scanning the surrounding, until suddenly she realizes something is amiss Where is Stephen?
Keelix emerges from the treeline, a small deer-like creature over one shoulder, loping along at the ground-eating pace of someone who has somewhere to be and must not arrive exhausted. As he approaches the farmhouse he carefully moves through the corridors of hardened air and the traps.
Setting the field-dressed carcass near the fire, he turns to Ryvin after a quick glance at the others. Noting their eyes frequently turned skyward, "I see that I am not the only one that noticed the flying lizard. Do any of you know what it is?"
"Raken," Ryvin replies. "The Seanchan use them as mounts for aerial scouts. We're probably having our meal on the go - once we've found Stephen. Did you see him out there?"
a voice shouts out, cutting through your conversation.
Blinking, it takes you a moment to realize that this voice wasnt within the house, but outside.
Looking out you see one lone man standing within the wheat field. His features, though distant, seem oddly familiar, like you have seen him before. It is but just a single moment when it dawns on you...
...you are looking at Ryland.
but, Ryland is standing within the house with you.
Litheene hesitates just a moment before drawing on Saidar, as her thoughts were still full of the alternative.
Kodukura she whispers, And Saidin present? If not, then we might have just found the local you her head slightly nods towards Ryland, eyes not leaving the newly appeared man.
"Blood and ashes," Ryvin sighs. "Well. It's a mirror-world. This was possible from the start. Who will go out to respond?"
Fia felt a short ripple of relief after glancing at the others. No, they saw him too. I suppose I can. It probably shouldn't be an Aes Sedai, and it probably shouldn't be Ryland... Fia says with a shake of her head. "I would say either myself or Keelix perhaps." She squints out through a crack in the wooden boards, looking for something..
"Alright then."
If no one voices objection or alternate plan, Fiallain opens the door, steps a few paces from the house, and calls out. "I see you...wetlander."
Alathea pushes her anger with Kodokura to the back of her mind and returns to his side, taking his hand in hers. Looking back and forth between the Ryland here in the house and the Ryland out in the fields, she finally asks the one in the house, "Do you...know that man out there?"
Staying out of sight of the Ryland in the field, Keelix nocks an arrow and stands ready to attack. His eyes are locked on Fiallain, judging the situation by her body language.
Ryland grunts at the site of him self outside the house. "Bloody hell! Where in the flying fornication are we! Don't any of you sumbiatches shoot me until I talk to...myself."
Kodo shakes his head in response to Litheene, mystified. "No, no saidin that I can sense." As Alathea takes his hand he gives it a squeeze, and her a quick apologetic and abashed look, before returning his attention to the scene outside.
"Please don't talk to him yet," Ryvin says to Ryland. "This will be jarring enough even without... Ugh! Just... Never mind."
The Ebou Dari briefly channels, wrapping herself in a protective layer of Air before stepping out to stand next to Fiallain. "We both see you," she says, her voice carefully neutral, as she crosses her arms. "Who might you be, and what business have you with us?"
PEACE! two of you! Perhaps there are more of you in there? Perhaps if it was lit on fire, how many rats would flee? Blood and Ashes I jest, lady. Don't scowl at me, makes you seem less attractive. By the Creator you are a pretty one.
coughing abruptly, ryland shifts around on his feet.
I tend to ramble, i apologize. Name's Ryland. Ryland of Fal Dara. Yes, i know i am far from home, but so are most people these days. That is neither here nor there. What i want to know is to whom do you swear allegiance to?
"To the Light, above all other things," Ryvin replies, arms still crossed, brows still lowered. "To ask is to answer. With whom lies your allegiance, Ryland of Fal Dara?"
Peace woman, of course anyone is going to say the Light. Let me see if i can lower this to your level of understanding. exasperation is heard in his voice.
Who, upon this bloody flaming world, do you hold allegiance to? The b dragon? The bloody white tower? the flaming rebels? the Seanchan? bloody someone else? Speak bloody true, for a lot rides on your flaming answer
Fia shoots a quick glance at her companion that could have meant anything and then looked back to this Ryland. "I am Fiallain Bo'airr, of the Cosaida sept of the Chareen Aiel. How many men do you have in those fields, Ryland of Fal Dara? And to whom is their allegience? You should train them better. They show themselves too easily."
Ryvin's frown turns into an outright glare, and she spits on the ground.
"Burn me before I bow knee to the Seanchan flaming empire!" she snarls. In the eyes of anyone capable of seeing saidar, Ryvin's aura is briefly so thick with red sparks that it starts to drown out the white - but it stabilizes.
"Before I say more, I'd also like to know what your allegiance is, Ryland of Fal Dara," Ryvin continues, nodding to Fiallain. "Light's truth, but this feels too much like you finding a reason to have us peppered with arrows from ambush. What is your business with us?"
Fia crosses her arms and watches this new Ryland intently, waiting to hear his response.
Holding his hands up, the other ryland answers.
I am to my own, so along with the men. he shall shatter all oaths, and break all ties. i, and the men with me, we fight for ourselves. Weve settled here in the mountains, away from the lowlands and their issues. We have no issue with those around us, aside from those that seek to bind us or force us from this land. We just wish to be left in peace
now, i have answered truthfully. What say you?
you barely feel someone channeling near by.
you feel someone channeling near by
Fia nods slightly. Yes, that sounds much like what a Ryland might do...
She smiles and holds her palms outward, showing him her empty hands. "We too wish only to be left in peace, Ryland of Fal Dara. I have and hold no loyalty to any in these lands , save only to my companions. We did not come and have no wish to bind or force you or yours from this place. In truth, I can honestly say that I do not even know for certain where 'this place' is. We came only to rest and recover our strength before moving on."
Ryland strains to hear himself speak to the others and tries to open himself to wolf speech but to listen only.
Channeling. Litheene whispers to Alathea, so that those still in the hut would also hear. You felt it too, right? Close but weak
Carefully folding her shawl back into her clothes, Litheene holds her hands in her sleeves to conceal the ring for now. Her concentration focused on intercepting incoming weaves.
"There are men channeling out there as well," Kodo murmurs to Litheene and Alathea. "Do we link or remain apart?"
Men? This is not likely to be Seanchan. At least not the one I know
You two link, to provide protection against a potential circle. If they have men and women channeling together it could be dangerous, and you will be able to spot together either type of weaves. I will provide backup in case of multiple attackers, as a separate weaver. With Alathea's SaAngreal you won't need my power anyway
"If that is so we should be ready to move out if need be."Vala says as she has her hand on her swords and looks to the others.
Alathea nods to affirm Litheene's question. "Somebody is channeling out there, yes." To Kodokura, she replies, "Yes, we should complete a circle together. With Ryvin blazing with power over there, any surprise that using the One Power might give us is gone, yes? I think that showing that you can channel, too, is worth being ready if things go poorly. But we will make sure that things do not go poorly, yes?"
Alathea opens herself to the sweetness of saidar but does not yet surrender to it. Instead, she waits to share it with her Heart. Looking deep into Kodokura's eyes, she waits for him to reach into her and complete the circle.
Ryland laughs.
Oh, so you are saying that you just happened upon this exact bloody place out of flaming luck? PEACE, lady, you are a lightskirt. Burn you, Do you think i was born bloody yesterday? I know what you and your flaming lot are! You are locals sworn to the Seanchan. Your crackbrain friend cemented your alliegance when she spoke against them. Only someone truly in the thick with them would bloody deny it that well and that flaming fast. Before, they had sent smaller parties, and we took them out. Burn me, that was hard work to be done. But now, they send you and your group. To infiltrate this land, to find the ruins of bloody Manetheren.
Fia's eyes narrow dangerously and it was with a visible effort that she calmed herself. Nevertheless, despite the words that followed, her voice was calm, sure and collected, and yet she spoke with a quiet intensity.
"Do I look like a bloody local to you, Ryland of Fal Dara? Do I appear of this.. Seanchan people? Open your eyes and use that brain of yours!
Are the Seanchan in the habit of letting women who channel roam about uncollared? Have they been sending women heavy with child to spy out your defenses?
If my 'crackbrained' companion so vehemently denies allegience with them, perhaps she finds the idea abhorent. Perhaps... just perhaps it is because she was harmed by them?
I came out here to meet you because I thought you might be a man of sense. I came hoping to find an ally in this strange place. I came to offer you peace, Ryland of Fal Dara. Was I wrong to do so? Have I found instead a fool? Will you push us needlessly into a dance? I will dance with you if need be, damned fool thing that would be... for both of us. She studied him a long moment.
I still offer you peace and friendship - despite your insults, Ryland of Fal Dara. When you have made up your mind whether you are a fool or not, call out again and I will hear. She turns on her heel and begins making her way back to the house.
She pauses, looks back at him before continuing on. "I do not know what tbis 'Manathra' is, nor do I much care. Keep it."
Why are you traveling around with a pregnant woman? A pregnant woman isnt in any condition to be traveling these mountains. Ryland snaps back. Only the crackbrained or seanchan followers would do such a thing. And yet, i see no pregnant woman with you. Perhaps in the shed?
he moves his head in an exaggerated motion, as if looking for something.
Now, i must insist that you and your friends come out from your hide-away. Come out, and lay your weapons out in front of the house and then go stand by the barn. And please, no funny business with the One Power. Wouldnt want any of you to get hurt, nor draw in any of those Seanchan scum. They seem to swarm around any woman in this area who is channeling like bees to honey.
Although he stands there in the field, unarmed, you pick up on the intent to do violence should the need arise.
"If you were a woman and had ever had one of their stinking collars on you, you'd denounce them wherever and whenever you could," Ryvin growls, her eyes practically shooting flames at AltRyland. "I've spoken no lies, you goat-fathered fool, and I'll not stand here to be called a collaborator!"
Saidar blazes around the Ebou Dari as she shouts those final words.
Kodo nods to Alathea as the confrontation outside grows dangerously tense. "We shall show them, dear one," he murmurs fiercely, his eyes ablaze as they meet hers. The fire fades as they hold each other's gaze momentarily - he feels himself drawn into the deep pools that are her eyes, a brief respite from the raging torrent of saidin that, as always, threatens to engulf him.
Then the storm inside him rises once more, and Kodo feels the tug of Alathea's power. She finds herself yanked into the circle roughly, a result of his lack of fine control at linking. Kodo gasps as he draws deeply from the Source, holding as much of the Power as the two strong channelers, aided by their sa'angreals, can muster. Taking Alathea by the hand, his other inside his belt pouch, he turns back to regard this world's Ryland, his eyes afire.
"The last time someone demanded we lay down our spears, despite our willing compliance, we ended up with slit throats and being chased across an entire continent. Why should I do this again? Why should I trust you?"
because we havent killed your friend.... yet.
litheene
keelix
vala
alathea
kodokura
rhoekk
ryland
as you listen to the exchange, you pick up on leaves and grasses rustling behind you, from behind the house.
Hardly words to endear trust, Ryland of Fal Dara. Fia responds with all the considerable dryness of tone she can conjure up. Her eyes slide in the direction 'Ryland' seemed to have been searching moments earlier.
Her attention casually returns to him and she slowly draws her knife. "Or are you just stalling for time? I warned you this was pointless... Her wrist flicks, quicker than the eye can follow, and in a heartbeat the dagger stands quivering point down in the ground a foot in front of his feet. I only do this because I think there are worse threats to us both and blood spilled here only serves the enemy. If any harm comes to those with me, you
will answer to me for it."
Bending over, ryland picks up the blade and flicks it back to Fia, having it land closer to fia's foot than hers to his.
Burn me, If i wanted to stall, id play kiss the maiden with you, while dancing your lightskirt friend upon my knee.
"Call me a whore again, you flaming, sheep-kissing bastard, and I'll cut open your gut and stuff your own tubes down your throat," Ryvin growls, her hands clenching and unclenching at her side.
Fia doesn't flinch as the knife sticks in the ground scant inches from her toes. She raises one eyebrow at the man. Knows about that game, does he? To Ryvin she hisses softly, He is goading you...
"Oh I doubt you could play kiss the maiden with me very long, wetlander. I can be quit...vigorous when I put my mind to it. She pitches her voice a little louder, loud enough to where she thinks Ryland -the real Ryland - and Keelix at the very least would be able to hear her with their acute senses. So this isn't all to give those men to either side of me time to sneak up on the house?
smiling wide, ryland says to ryvin my kind of lady. direct, bold, blunt.
looking at fia, and utterly dismissing ryvin, he continues. Vigorous, i know how you Aiel women can be. Vigorous in the dance, even more so on the mat. But in either case, i must ask you once again to surrender your arms. I promise no harm shall come to you, any of you.
An odd piercing whistle suddenly erupts in the air over the field. It takes everyone a moment to identify it as a whistling arrow.
Peace, they are coming back. Ladies, i must insist you surrender to me now and come with me, otherwise i cannot guarantee your protection. If you say no, I will leave and leave you to them.
Rhoekk whispers to his companions in the house, "This position is well fortified now... I see little to be gained by giving ourselves over to an unknown force, and a lot that could be lost. Perhaps another force is coming; perhaps it is a ruse to get us to leave. We have already seen that the character of an individual in one world is no indicator of his character on another. We have have no way of knowing if this Ryland can be trusted, and he has done nothing to inspire trust, and much that could be called deceitful."
Rhoekk readies his bow, with an arrow on the string and two more in his bow hand, ready for rapid deployment. He shrugs his shoulders to feel the position of his spears, wedged as they are beneath his quiver.
Fiallain gives a shake of her head, torn. She didn't trust this Ryland farther than she could stab a spear, but she also didn't exactly like their chances in their current state against a possible encounter with hardened Seanchan troops likely supported by collared women. After a brief moment she spoke.
"If these truly are the Seanchan coming, then from what little I know of them, they will try to enslave those with me who can channel and likely kill the rest for resisting. Against that possibility, I cannot ask my companions to surrender their means of defending themselves and place their lives in the hands of - you say you like bluntness - a stranger who has repeatedly tried to use this distraction to sneak his men into position to ambush us. For all I know, it is you who are working for the Seanchan and your plan to sell us over to them.
She reaches down and retrieves the dagger. "No. If...IF we accompany you, it will be as we are now - ready and able to defend ourselves - and yours - should the Seanchan overtake us. If you know maiden's kiss then you must have known some other of the aiel. You would know the value we place on Ji, on our honor. I give you my word that we will not betray or harm you or your men, so long as you and they are true to us. I will even swear water oath on this, if you wish. If your intentions towards us are honorable, then this should be enough for you. If it is not so, then be gone, and know that whatever ill fate descends upon us, it will be your doing."