Although she moves much more slowly than Rhoekk, Alathea likewise springs into action at Chen's attack. As quickly as she can, she runs over to place herself in front of Kodokura, interposing herself between the Asha'man and the Ogier. With a snarl of determination, she draws deeply on saidar and spins strands of Air, Spirit, and Fire into a ward around both herself and Kodokura. As she does so she mutters, almost under her breath, "You will not kill my Heart again, Ogier!".
The ogier's attack, and Rhoekk's blindingly fast counteraction, are begun and finished before Kodokura can strike. By the time he's taken a split second to assess and decide to kill the ogier anyway, his line of sight is blocked by the pretty little Red Sister. Hearing her muttered words, he once again feels a tug at his soul, and finds himself unexpectedly losing contact with the Power as shock runs through him.
Standing mutely like a frozen deer, he struggles to wrest control of the Source once more, revelling in the feeling of life flooding through him, his skin crawling at the touch of the taint.
She sighs as things seem to have been diverted. Which was good. Now just to see what else will happen.
"Can we stop this insanity? We are on a strange land, and it seems in a strange time and place. Yet all seem bent on killing each other. This has to stop. Now. Or we will die by each others sword and not by those outside." she shakes her head. Peasants.
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Fiallain smirks.
"Since when are you a part of 'we'?" Ryvin asks, her voice cold. "'We' is us, a group that may bicker and quarrel but can trust each other. You and your Gardener are little more than rogue fellow travellers. You are most definitely NOT a part of 'we'. You are the stranger in this land. The only ones we are at all inclined to kill in this place is you. And your Gardener."
Rhoekk remains in his stance, standing astride the massive blade lying upon the floor. He never breaks eye contact with the huge Gardner.
"The only insanity here was allowing you to accompany us while retaining your access to your prisoner. A house divided cannot stand. This threat to our group must be dealt with or we will stand no chance against against those outside anyways. To continue on otherwise would be to sleep with an adder in our beds. Now, release the woman."
'Tali', 'Fifi', 'Merdrith'; what one earth is this woman's name? Wetlanders are so strange...
Feeling awkward to defend a Suldam, Litheene still can't keep silent. Ryvin, while I fully agree with your sentiment, light knows I have good reason to want to kill Suldam in general, and this woman personally, yet we did promise them safe passage, and they did not break their word since. The discussion about freeing Merdrith is more than welcome. Analin not part of our promise so she can do as she pleases, Litheene expression leaves no doubt that she will be glad to see the other Aes Sedai take a shot at the Seanchan, or Merdrith freed but slathering still is wrong, at least on our behalf.
"I only voiced an opinion, dear," Ryvin says, smiling a bit at Litheene. And truly, Ryvin is just standing there, arms crossed. Saidar blazes around her in readiness, but she -is- just standing there. With one hand casually on the hilt of her longsword.
"You do not speak for me Litheene. As I have said, I will not stand by as an Aes Sedai is under the control of that leash. I will say this a second time. Relinquish the Aes Sedai. There will not be a third time.
"I stand with Ryland and Rhoekk. I made no agreement with these Seanchan Litheene. In fact they went out of their way to pretend I did not exist. If this Merdrith wishes to remain a slave, then so be it, but she will be a foolish slave without a leash or collar. Surrender them. Now."
She smiles. "Very well. I will remove it." that was all she said. Then a click and it was done
She did not say anything else. Simply looked at them.
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Trusting Rhoekk to have the Gardner in hand, Fiallain steps around them and stops in front of Zira and holds her hand out expectantly. "Give them to me then."
She looks at her sternly
"I already handed over my first one after you complained. We had a deal. You now decided to break it. I unleashed her. Now you go even further and now want this one too?"
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Kodo watches closely, waiting to see how the unleashed Aes Sedai reacts.
"Yes," Ryvin says, her smile widening. "We do. Consider it an education. You know about giving an education, don't you. Sul'dam educate by pushing further every time... until the student gives in completely. Are you enjoying your lessons?"
"I consider it dishonorable. Cheating. And two faced" she points out
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"How nice," Ryvin says, looking Zira right in the eye. "We agree."
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Litheene looks at Ryland and Fia with a sense of amused satisfaction. I speak of course only for myself. The word I personally gave, I stood by she says, shrugging, and goes on to look at the resolving scene. Snipping at the Seanchan And here you thought I am difficult to deal with. Well, Damane aren't lucky to have one Suldam either. They can change, and so can the demands, and suddenly they are being tortured for something that is a new Suldam's whim.
Being pessimistic at the prospect of Zira cooperating, Litheene is surprised to see her unleash Merdrith, and relieved that violence was avoided.
Walking up to Merdrith she stands close in front of her, almost too close for politeness, looking her in the eyes. You are free. As you once was. I know you believe the leash is necessary for you, that you are dangerous. I know because I believed the same. But you have something I didn't, you have a memory from before, of the tower, of your real training, of your years as Aes Sedai. They are probably painful for you right now, I wish I could help you more, I only hope over time you can rekindle them. She expects anger, or defiance from the unleashed Damane, as happened before, but she doesn't back down, her look is sad. Carefully touching the broken sister's hand she adds Your friend Analin is here. And so am I, if you need any help
With that, Litheene moves aside.
Amorial steps out from before Chen to Zira. "I shall hold that one as I hold the others. No harm shall come to them unless my body no longer draws breath daughter of the Seanchan. I hope that over time you shall witness the honor of the Aes Sedai and realize that such things as placing collars around a neck are not necessary to do to another living being".
She looks at her sternly
"I already handed over my first one after you complained. We had a deal. You now decided to break it. I unleashed her. Now you go even further and now want this one too?""I consider it dishonorable. Cheating. And two faced" she points out
Fia steps closer, her face inches from Zira's. "You heard only the wind if you thought you and I had a deal. I offered you my terms and the price for the chance for you to escape the shadow. Those terms you ignored, and pretended they were never uttered. You came anyway, and the only reason I did not stop you was the fact that we were about to be overrun. Do. Not. Speak. To. Me. About. Honor."
"I have changed nothing. My terms remain the same. Since you have already availed yourself of my end of this alleged bargain you think we made, it is time you fulfill yours. Hand it o.."
She looks up, surprised as Amorial's rumbling voice cuts in and frowns. Then shrugs and locks her gaze back on Zira. "That is agreeable to me. The Alantin may hold them."
Analin completely ignored the ogier and aiel, her focus entirely on Tali. She even passed up the chance to respond to Zira's remark about honor, instead watching Tali expectantly. "Merdrith?"
Her collar unleashed, Tali stands up straighter. her head lifts higher, her shoulders square, her chest sticking out. she looks like a soldier being inspected on the parade field. Her almond gaze looks at everyone, making sure to linger a moment upon their eyes, as if memorizing everyone. Then, her focus loosens, and her eyes glaze over as she stands still, staring out into nothing.
"Oh, go on and sit down at the table, you big girl's blouse," Ryvin scoffs at Tali / Merdrith / Fifi without moving from her relaxed leaning posture against the wall. "Have some dinner like a normal person; no one's going to set a bowl out on the floor for you."
The Ebou Dari's eyes flick to Chen and Zira and her lips quirk in a sarcastic expression... but she refrains from saying any more.
Looking at Merdrith's reaction carefully, meeting her gaze calmly, Litheene releases the source when their eyes meet. She then backs to the table and sits, resuming her meal.
jasper heads back and sits next to Kodokura.
leaning in, his lips nearly touching the mans ears, he barely whispers
Chen was slightly surprised at his disarming. He smirked invisibly behind his steel mask.
This man is fast. Uncannily fast. Chen considered his next move. He held his hands slightly above his thighs, fingers pointing down. He was certain a warrior of Rhoekk's caliber would recall the short-swords that were spring-loaded into the undersides of his forearm armor. Bow and ax were at his back. He was quick for his size, if he could grab hold of the slippery man, or even land one solid blow, Chen was sure he could do significant damage.
Relaxing slightly as Zira interjects. He tenses again as Tali is unleashed, and foes enter Zira's personal space.
"Step back!" he commands.
Lowering his voice, he whispers for Rhoekk's ears, "How can you suffer the likes of him to live?" he asks, with a subtle glance at Jasper.
Still maintaining eye contact with the massive swordsman, Rhoekk subtly tips his brow forward in a nod to his almost opponent.
"It appears that we will not get to dance today, 'Gardener'. A shame, really. Perhaps another time." His voice is even and courteous, and the last statement comes out sounding like a genuine interest.
He steps back from where his feet straddle the fallen blade on the floor. He gazes at it for a second as if considering, and then takes another step or two away from it, allowing the Ogier to reclaim it unchallenged. Were this a sparring exercise, courtesy have would dictated returning the weapon to an opponent thus disarmed, but in this case, and being an Aiel, he would never permit himself to touch a Sword.
Edit:
After stepping back, Rhoekk catches the whispered question and quirks an eyebrow in response. He speaks back, softly, but not exactly as a whisper, "He, has not threatened my allies. He has not invaded a land not his own. He has dedicated himself to using every tool at his disposal to fight the Sightblinder, even knowing it will cost him his sanity to do so, and that his own companions will be forced to kill him should the madness come. He has acted with great courage. That is how. That, and by the will of the Car'a'carn, who has said that all such men may have reprieve, that they may train and fight to defeat the shadow."
"One might well ask how you can bear to serve one such as her," he gestures to Zira. "One who would not only treat her own kind as though they were chattel, but from what I have learned is no different that the woman she enslaves. If it is true that the leash holders are just as capable of wielding the one power as the one it binds, then she is worse than a hypocrite, and lacks even the lowest vestige of honour. The first makes me think of her as the lowest of the low; the second, if true, for I have not seen it with my own eyes, would liken her honour unto that of the vilest wretch, superior only to that of one who would follow her."
Amorial turns to Chen, "I will step back once the leash is in my possession and not a moment sooner, Gardener. I stand here not to threaten your charge but to ensure that I secure the item which has created so much consternation between our groups. I have agreed to hold on to these items as I am the only one here it seems whose blood does not run hot over their existence. I am also the only one here who will not use it. Attack me if you must and I will defend myself as I must. I would prefer it if we could sit down and talk, there is much I wish to know about your... ways."
Looking into the Gardener's eyes again he says, "It is very likely that this information has been long concealed from all, and so it would be unfair to judge one's prior choices, made without that knowledge. What becomes the true measure, is what a man chooses to do once he knows the truth."
They do not know says Litheene, answering Rhoekk, as her eyes glance over the sword on the floor. But it is true, and I can prove it if necessary. Everyone is tested by the adam as a maratdamane first. If the adam works, you are leashed. Some of those who were not, later succeed in holding the leash. But the difference here is between those that have the "spark" as Aes Sedai call it, and those who develop their channeling abilities over time. Yet, from the long usage of the adam as a circle, Suldam eventually gain the ability to touch the One Power, some even see weaves. Because they were first tested to be Damane, and knowledge of the true nature of the Power is rare in Seanchan, it is likely that nearly none, in Seanchan today realise how the Adam actually works. The one who invented it did, however, for she was leashed by it at the end.
Not sure to whom Rhoekk refers, Litheene looks over the group. With her eyes of Analin and Zira during the exchange, she didn't notice what exactly happened between Rhoekk and Chen. They were so fast ... the matter he spoke about it, did Chen aim at one of the Ashamen? He asked for permission to kill Kodukura before, and fought him Chen, I thought you already asked for permission to kill him before, have you not? I don't recall it being granted. He is not the same man with her last words her gaze meets Alathea's eyes for a split second, then she is back at her food.
Rage smolders in Chen's large eyes. He answers Litheene rote, "The one called Jasper, his mind is lost to the shadow. The signs are early, but there. This Kodukura seems sane enough for now."
Getting to the point he removes his steel filagree mask, reveal a face clenched with anger. He looks to Zira and asks, "Is what they say true? Can you and those like you feel the power? Can some see the 'weaves'?" his voice sounds hurt.
Chen looks on, shaking with rage, his face looking hurt.
She probably can't feel it. She is like a wilder, who are often unaware. But if she puts the adam in her hands around her neck, she won't be able to remove it by her own hand. Just like a Damane wouldn't.
He tried to kill Jasper? Woolheaded ... this keeps getting worse Jasper, Says Litheene patiently, clearly annoyed Is an envoy of the Black Tower. For whom I take personal responsibility. And this one is not nearly as mad, at least to my eyes, as the one we dealt with before, and the other one still managed to keep himself focused on the right foes, crazy as he was. I prefer to give this one the safety of the doubt, even when starts going mad. And until he gets back in one piece to the Black Tower, I will resist any attempts of killing him If my eyes follow what's going on. Thank the light for Rhoekk. Should he go mad beyond repair, the White Tower deals with maddened male chanellers, here, in this land, where it's our customs that kept the land safe. And we do so without killing them in any case. After he is back with his folk, they can help him as best as they can, and decide what to do with him. Until then he stays alive this way or the other
"Before we get to talk of severing," Ryvin says, "maybe we should talk about soothing?"
The Ebou Dari walks over to Jasper and Kodokura, and holds out her hands. The gauntlets only slightly spoil the gesture.
"Jasper. I offered you this weave before and you accepted. As I recall, you were happy to have done so. Kodokura, you I have not offered this to before; there is a weave that soothes away some of the worst hurt caused to a man's mind by the taint. I offer it to you freely, without obligation. It is always on offer to those who look to the Light, rather than the Dark One."
Litheene nods That is plainly the first solution. And as I said, for me personally, madness alone is not enough for severing anymore. Not until it's really the end of one's mind. I will gladly assist in Ryvin's efforts. If any of you wish your toll eased.
his face alight with a smile upon his face, jasper hears both litheene's and ryvin's offers, and his smile disappears. What replaces it is a smooth face, no smile, no frown.
and now we see how the White tower offers their leash he replies, still gazing at litheene and ryvin.
"No, they only spin lies. I do not see or feel these... weaves. If i do give you the adam, will you return both when we part ways? So far people have not kept their word on promises made, so i need to make sure that my belongings are returned to me once we part ways" she speaks to the other Ogier
Leash? You need not accept the weave. If you refer to severing, then how does the Black Tower handle those who are gone to the taint? If your way can be done, and you prefer it, I can promise to resort to it instead, if you are ever to be become lost Litheene looks him over carefully, her expression a face emtionless once more. I say this for no reason other than to know. I liked with Ashaman before. I felt the taint. You feel it always. It will consume you eventually. You chose nobly, to fight the Shadow despite the curse. How will you choose for your fight to end?
Lies? Litheene barelly lets a smile at Zira's words. An Adam does nothing to those who can't channel. Everyone in Seanchan knows so, this is how maratdamane are tested. Put on the Adam then.
She merely looks at her
"I do not take orders from you. Low blood."
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With a long step forward, Chen stoops and picks up his sword. The handle now clenched steadily in his hand.
His voice is more even now, his mask clatters to the ground. His eyes pierce his ward. "Lady Mitsobar, comply with this test. I must know."
Amorial still holding out his hand responds, "I shall return this one to you, the other I cannot promise I will return".
He turns to Chen surprised by the piercing gaze he is giving to Zira, turning back to her, he states, "If you place it on yourself, I will make sure that I take it off and keep it safe with the other. No matter the outcome of this test. If you choose not to don it, then please hand it to me".