"Only a few hours, yes? It seems like much longer..." Alathea agrees. "We have talked a little about the worlds in which we've found ourselves, but only so much can be said in such a short time. But now that we've found a safe place, at least for the time being, perhaps we can speak more." She looks at Analin with curiousity, then asks, "You speak of my reflection in this world, yes? Can you tell me what she is like? We have met Ryland's reflection, and the two of them were very different..."
Analin purses her lips for a moment before coming to a decision. "She has a fondness for wearing dresses that stop above her knee, which is what I meant yesterday. You dress differently than she does. She says "it distracts a man, any man, enough so i have all the advantage". And her hair is different from yours."
The blonde Green pauses for a moment, then shakes her head and continues. "The Alathea Neribar I know is a Red. You are familiar with the Tower- you know the ajahs. But she is not just a Red; she is one of those Reds outsiders tell stories about. She has no use for any man and believes male channelers should be stilled the instant they are found. Not killed, but stilled and left to die. So it was with some surprise that I found you in the company of men."
"I will not speak ill of a sister, but all in all I am glad you are here and not her. She would have been a... contentious presence in this group."
"This may seem a bad time to raise the issue but soon we will have to go, will you accompany us on our journey Analin Sedai? What about you Zira? I am the Warder of Litheene and now that we are reunited, I shall go where she goes. I would hope that friend Rhoekk would come with me..."
Analin looks suddenly over at the ogier. "You are... Litheene's... warder?" She looks at Litheene. "Someone taught you the bonding weave and you performed it on Amorial? How did you know it would be successful? No, how did you know it wouldn't harm him? I've never even heard of such a thing." It seems less like actual questioning than her trying to keep from babbling in shock and surprise.
Chen flourishes for a moment, with a grace and speed that wouldn't seem possible for a creature so large.
Alathea laughs, though it sounds a bit forced, and gestures to the plain cloting she is wearing. "This is not my first choice of dress, yes? In the first reflection of the Wheel, I was forced to take what I could find. I think that I would like her dresses...but not for her reasons, yes?" She shakes her head, dismissing her idle wish. "I wonder how close our reflections of the Wheel are. If she is as you say, I cannot think that she and I share much of our pasts, yes? I do not think that she could have grown as I did and hate men who can channel so much." She sighs heavily, then continues hesitantly. "When...when i was an...an Accepted, I wished to join the Red, yes? Not because I hate them, not like her, but because I believed that by stilling them I could save them before the madness took them." She looks at Kodokura for a long moment. "I have since learned that doing so is much the same as killing them, yes? But her reason must have been very different."
As the row erupts between Fiallain and Ryland, Alathea looks up in alarm. But though her heart goes out to her sister, she does not interrupt. "I do not know what lies between them, and I will not blunder in and make things worse," she thinks. Instead, she waits--she will go to Fiallain later and see what she can do, but not while tempers still flare.
Rhoekk stands in the door a moment, a neutral look on his face. He arrived only in time to catch the end of the confrontation, sidestepping smoothly to allow the stormy presence of Ryland to slip past as he stalks out of the room. He looks after the man for a moment, and then back into the room at Fiallain.
"I heard the disruption; I take it there is no emergency?"
Kodo takes in as much of the various conversations as he can. His eyes follow Rhoekk out the door, and he strains his ears for sounds of further conflict coming from another room, but his attention is caught by Analin and Alathea's conversation. He catches Alathea's look just before she finishes speaking, and nodding at her words, he says to her across the room, "I, too, am glad you are not the Sister from this... reflection of the Wheel. Thinking you were, I acted as I did upon meeting you. I apologise, Alathea Sedai." He then bows his head to concentrate on the last of the washing up.
Alathea smiles at Kodokura's words. It is small and over quickly, but it holds no sadness or irony--indeed, she looks genuinely pleased and maybe a bit relieved. "Thank you, Kodokura, but you have no need to apologize, yes? Finding the mirrors of those you know is not something you usually need to expect. And if you must apologize, then so must I apologize for mistaking you for one I knew, yes?"
Fiallain groans under her breath, mortified as her focus shifts and she sees Rhoekk standing there for the first time. Of all the people to walk in and see her at that moment, he was among the very last she would have wished for! Her anger was still far too strong to let her fully feel the embarrassment she would normally have felt at being caught in such an outburst, but it was still not enough to stop the twin spots of color from blossoming on her cheeks. ”No emergency” , she snaps. ”Unless you count my having been a very great fool all this time!” Then softer, as if some part of her realized that whatever had happened, it was hardly his fault, ”I will clean up the mess later.” She pushes past him, needing suddenly to be somewhere else, anywhere else where she could be alone.
[ooc]hmmm interesting.
you both hear a loud commotion and a scream of rage come from outside the door and down the hall. a heartbeat later, you then hear the floor creak just outside the door.
"Tch," Ryvin tisks. "Sounds like the natives are getting a bit restless." She sheathes her sword, rolls her shoulders and sets off back for the dining area. "Might as well go see what's going on, just in case the Shadowspawn managed to get in after all."
Keelix steps into the dining room, one hand on his blade, and looking around for the source of the commotion.
Rhoekk stands aside as Fiallain moves off, his face as impassive as ever as he looks down the hall where she disappeared. He chose not to follow her, even though the thought presented itself. The urge was strong, but she was obviously feeling vulnerable, and if he were to draw attention to it, or worse, provoke another lapse of control, he would incur much Toh. Instead, he waited silently for a few moments, waiting for the departed woman to have time to reach a place of solitude, before turning back towards his other companions.
He returned to the common room in order to reconnect with Amorial.
"I am sorry for my swift departure, brother; there was no emergency after all. What did you make of the passage I showed you? I have heard the name Nym before, perhaps as a reference to the Green Man. Some of the rumours place him in the Blight. For the Gray Man however? If they are both Nym, what would that mean? Could there be others even besides the two?"
Alathea smiles at Kodokura's words. It is small and over quickly, but it holds no sadness or irony--indeed, she looks genuinely pleased and maybe a bit relieved. "Thank you, Kodokura, but you have no need to apologize, yes? Finding the mirrors of those you know is not something you usually need to expect. And if you must apologize, then so must I apologize for mistaking you for one I knew, yes?"
Head down, Kodo misses the smile, but when Alathea finishes speaking he shakes his still lowered head. "You have no need to apologise to me, Aes Sedai. In fact," he continues, raising his eyes with a small half-smile, another very familiar expression to Alathea, "your greeting was far preferable to the one I could expect from the Red Sister I know." Kodo's eyes then dart to the Green Sister next to her; his smile fades away to leave his customary stoicism, and he picks up the final unwashed plate, concentrating on it intently as he sets to cleaning it.
with the last of the dishes washed, Jasper stands up and walks up to alathea and kodokura.
Fascinating. He addresses you by a title that hasnt been officially earned, yet you do not address him by the title that he has earned. Fascinating.
looking at those nearby, jasper continues.
well, i must be off. Asha'man Kodokura here represents the Black Tower, and as such all courtesies and respect are expected. This includes both the rebels and the white tower aes sedai. He will be the eyes and ears of the Black Tower, and any and all information will be presented to him in a timely manner, so that he may properly attend to the desires of the tower.
walking up to kodokura, he clasps arms with his fellow brother.
farewell, Kodokura. here, keep this. I will be in touch. jasper hands Kodokura a large silver coin.
Jasper turns and walks through the hall, saying goodbye to everyone, but stopping momentarily by litheene. He just looks at her, looks her up and down, and with a grin upon his face, winks at her.
Opening the front door causes a shock to flow through everyones body, as if their essence was joining the very fabric of existence again. The sound of battle filters in through the door and then suddenly, everything shudders again as the door is closed.
Zira walked down to where people were, and just sees as the door closes. She dropd her hands from her ears
"What was that? Sounds like the end times are on us... and we are sitting and relaxing... in a house." she was feeling better. Not the best but better.
-Posted with Wayfinder
"That did not feel right," Ryvin grumbles as she thumps the heel of her hand against her ear. "Blood and ashes! I could use a drink after that. Is there any tea?"
Amorial turns to Analin Sedai, "The choice was my own Analin Sedai. What greater mystery lies in new discoveries after all!"
Amorial seems to believe that his explanation was sound as he looks back down at his books. He then looks back up at Analin, "I do believe that the Wheel has brought us all together for some reason, it cannot be random, not this collection of individual much less collective might for the cause of the Light. One of us may well be Ta'veren. Not with as much pull on the threads as let us say the Dragon Reborn himself but one who brings disparate allies to them unconsciously. I have not given it much thought but I have long considered it both when I traveled with the group before and now".
Amorial considers Rhoekk's comments upon his return, " I will have to ponder friend Rhoekk".
Amorial looks back down at the books then as Jasper leaves Amorial's eyes go wide, "Should we have let him leave like that!"
"He didn't seem to be in a mood to let anyone stop him from leaving," Ryvin says. "And no offence intended to Kodokura, but Jasper seems to be carrying some... inner scars from his stay with the Sisters. He was a bit off compared to how he was when we first set out with him."
The Ebou Dari shrugs apologetically at Kodokura. "I'm real sorry to say it, but I did notice it."
Following Ryvin out of the training room, Chen checked the disturbance. As far as he was concerned one less male channeler was a safer bet anyway.
Spending a few minutes, he donned his armor for the day. Approaching the group, now clad in his massive armor, his helmet and mask hung at his side with his multitude of weapons in their proper place, he says "Let him go. Amorial. Ryvin is right. Not that I knew him, but the feeling he gave off. Unsettling."
Amorial turns to Chen, "Humans who do not know me take one look at me and fear me. Many of them find my mere presence unsettling. These men who can channel, they are a reality that we must all accept. Chains have been broken Chen Armand, the Wheel has turned and Lews Therin has returned as Rand al'Thor. Nothing is as it was, the sooner you"... Amorial pauses and looks about the room, "In fact the sooner all of you accept this, the sooner we can get to working together to save this world from the Shadow of the Dark One. If we distrust and alienate one another then one by one he will consume and destroy us all".
"I'm not too sussed about men channelling," Ryvin says, nodding to Kodokura. "Honest, I'm not. But after what happened with our Kodo, well... I admit the change in Jasper startled me. I'll try to do better from here on in."
"I would some night at a campfire enjoy a conversation with you about the right or wrong of fearing a power that broke the world. But for now, I take your point Amorial." the giant Ogier remarks.
"Are any of you still unable or unwilling to travel. I have no idea what you are all trying to accomplish, but I feel that my path parallels yours for now. Until I find the true path. So I guess that I will help you in your goals should they prove noble, or at least challenging, should you accept me. What are you about then is the question."
Kodokura accepts the coin from Jasper. "Stay well, brother," he murmurs, watching him leave.
In response to Ryvin's musings, he nods even as he sighs. "No offence taken, Ryvin. It pays to be concerned. People are often both too fearful, but not wary enough, of male channellers. Asha'man Jasper is a... unique person, yet I don 't know where I'd be without him. I hope he is still himself next time we meet."
"But after what happened with our Kodo, well..."
"Your Kodokura?! He was not yours, fool woman!" Though Alathea knows what Ryvin means, the thought comes unbidden to her anyway. Suppressing a scowl, she rises and exits the room. Following the direction she saw Fiallain depart in, she looks for her sister. When she eventually finds her, she approaches hesitantly. In a quiet voice, she asks, "Are you well, Sister? Dou you wish to talk?"
Fia scrubs at her eyes with the back of her hand as she looks up at Alathea's approach. Although she looks angry enough to chew nails still, she manages a weak smile up at the other woman. Then turns away and sighs. "Not really... and I do not know." She scoots over however, so that her sister would have room to sit with her.
"When...when i was an...an Accepted, I wished to join the Red, yes? Not because I hate them, not like her, but because I believed that by stilling them I could save them before the madness took them." She looks at Kodokura for a long moment. "I have since learned that doing so is much the same as killing them, yes? But her reason must have been very different."
Analin shakes her head. "I do not know her well. Certainly not well enough to know what made her the way she is. But I would have to agree that your pasts must have diverged at some point. Possibly after she obtained the shawl. I know she has encountered more men who can channel than most, before..." she glances at Kodokura and Jasper "all this."
"I, too, am glad you are not the Sister from this... reflection of the Wheel. Thinking you were, I acted as I did upon meeting you. I apologise, Alathea Sedai." He then bows his head to concentrate on the last of the washing up.
Analin shakes her head again. "She is not Aes Sedai." She looks at Alathea. "I mean no offense, Alathea, but it is best if you do not encourage your companions to continue calling you that. You know the penalties for posing as Aes Sedai. An Aes Sedai more prone to taking offense might decide to call you to Tower judgment if they overhear them calling you Alathea Sedai."
Amorial turns to Analin Sedai, "The choice was my own Analin Sedai. What greater mystery lies in new discoveries after all!"
The blonde Aes Sedai nods in Alathea's direction, including her previous comment in her response. "Questions of mystery aside, friend ogier, it was not your choice to make. You are no more Aes Sedai than the girl. Bonding a warder is the privilege of full sisters, and Litheene has no legitimate claim to the privileges of the shawl."
"I would encourage you to keep that information to yourself. There are Yellows and Browns who would put you on a shelf for study forever if they learned you have been bonded."
....I have not given it much thought but I have long considered it both when I traveled with the group before and now".
Analin nods. "I would imagine that a group as diverse as this must have been spun together by the Wheel."
Opening the front door causes a shock to flow through everyones body, as if their essence was joining the very fabric of existence again. The sound of battle filters in through the door and then suddenly, everything shudders again as the door is closed.
Analin gasps and grabs at the kitchen counter to keep her balance. She shakes her head and takes a step toward the front door and the noise of battle, stopping when the door shuts and the sounds cut off. She looks around at the others in the kitchen. "By the Light! Was it like that for you all before? It was nothing like that when we arrived."
Amorial looks back down at the books then as Jasper leaves Amorial's eyes go wide, "Should we have let him leave like that!"
Still holding herself up against the kitchen counter, Analin shakes her head. "I think trying to stop him would have been more effort than any of us wished to expend."
Alathea nods at Analin's suggestion, though she does not look happy. "I do not claim to be Aes Sedai, nor do I encourage my companions to treat me as one. And as much as I would wish differently, Asha'man Kodokura is my companion for but a very short amount of time, now. Perhaps he is unused to thinking of me as me and not my reflection here, and is being formal out of habit. It is an honest mistake, yes?"
Alathea sits down next to Fiallain and takes her hand in her own. "Then do not speak if you do not wish to. But if you do wish, I am wondering...what has happened?"
Analin shakes her head again. "She is not Aes Sedai." She looks at Alathea. "I mean no offense, Alathea, but it is best if you do not encourage your companions to continue calling you that. You know the penalties for posing as Aes Sedai. An Aes Sedai more prone to taking offense might decide to call you to Tower judgment if they overhear them calling you Alathea Sedai."
Alathea nods at Analin's suggestion, though she does not look happy. "I do not claim to be Aes Sedai, nor do I encourage my companions to treat me as one. And as much as I would wish differently, Asha'man Kodokura is my companion for but a very short amount of time, now. Perhaps he is unused to thinking of me as me and not my reflection here, and is being formal out of habit. It is an honest mistake, yes?"
Kodo nods at Alathea's explanation. "I struggle to separate you from... her." He turns to Analin. "An honest mistake indeed, and not one I'll make again, Analin Sedai. In Shienar, a man must err always on the side of politeness with a woman, and with Aes Sedai doubly so."
When Alathea exits the room, Kodokura puts down the last dish and begins wiping his hands. "Forgive my curiosity Aes Sedai, but how did you come to be here in this place? The idea of it being a coincidence seems unlikely."
"I will remember then to keep such information to myself Analin Sedai".
Amorial grins at Kodokura's statement.
"Ta'veren? One of us?" Ryvin snorts, grinning. "If you find out it's me, let me know so I can get into a big card game, would you?"
Amorial raises his eyebrows at Ryvin but says nothing further.
”I was a fool.” Fia says quietly after a long pause. ”A fool for thinking it would be a good idea… a fool for trusting that man. Oh! I could just skin him alive right now!!” She growls, then looks over at Alathea. ”If we could learn how to pass a warder bond to another, I had thought to bond him. Well, him and Rhoekk, if they were both willing. Only when I spoke about it with Ryland yesterday, he acted strangely, and broke away from our conversation…
”So I meant to broach it again, to try to explain myself and to find out what was bothering him. Only after I had spoken, he was so angry, and told me to just take Rhoekk - and Chen too, that he didn’t care anymore – that he didn’t mean anything to me.”
She looks away, trying to hide the hurt in her eyes, though it was plenty evident in her voice. ”How can he think that? After all we’ve been through? There was a reason I went to him first, burn him! After I opened up and shared my hopes and fears with him? He spits it back in my face?!? After I offered to share everything that I am with him? That is what this weave will do, is it not? Litheene Sedai said she thought it worked inversely as our weave used when first sisters adopt each other… I know she was speaking of the weave itself and how it was made, but.. I thought… I thought….”
”I thought like an idiot, getting mixed up with these fool wetlander things. I should never have!
Alathea squeezes Fiallain's hand. "Maybe Ryland thinks that, by bringing Rhoekk into the bond, you want him only for protection, that he is the same to you as Rhoekk is, yes?" At a thought, she looks at her sister quizzically. "You do not love Rhoekk too, do you? If you do, I have not seen it as I have you and Ryland...if you do, explain this to Ryland. He may not like it, but it can work--I've seen many Green sisters love more than one man at the same time, and all involved happy with the relationship, yes?"
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Litheene looks at him curiously So hard to read.... She channels breifly to feel if she can still trace him .
You know the results of our envoy. Notify Taim. Be safe she calls after him.
Litheene looks at Analin for a while, letting Amorial speak first, as it was his choice indeed. She chooses to reply to her last remark first.
Yes, this is how it was for us Her voice is flat, a mixture between Aes Sedai voice and the voice of one who saw much battle, and haven't yet processed it fully.
Not just then. We had more of that, before, and worse. A few weeks ago I had several black blades stuck in my body, channeling in ways never thought to me at the Tower before, desperately fighting for my life. Same was true for most, if not all, here
She walks over and stands by Amorial Amorial made his choice, and his choice made sense. As I told you before, I broke many Tower traditions, and now you learn of one of them. When the Aes Sedai squabble while the end approaches, the Dragon, in this world, captured, and Seanchan and Shadowspawn running about, my priorities shift. I trust Amorial, and I trust the urgency of our need to work closely together to survive. This is why I bonded him, and I never regretted this choice since.
Looking at her affixed Shawl she continues You may argue about my claim to the title of Aes Sedai. I understand why you say it, and there is truth in your words. The three oats make an Aes Sedai, and I did not take them yet. However, the three oats came later than the title. An Aes Sedai is a servant of all, a protector of the world. The Amyrlin granted me worthy of this title. The hall, and the Aes Sedai who follow her, know that she raised sisters, for I am not the first one, without the rod. They follow her still. For what I see as the rightful Tower, I am Aes Sedai. If you accept Egwene, but dispute her ruling, your argument is with her, not with me. If you accept her, and he new ways, then accept this as well. If you think Egwene an usurper, then call me accepted. I did not ask for the title, but I carry my duty which was placed on me, and will not hide behind the accepted dress.
She glances over at where Zira left to speak to Merdrith, the Ashaman ...
I had to make difficult choices, ones I could not make as an accepted. Claiming myself to be unready to make them, is running from responsibility, nothing more.
Litheene's features relax It is true that his bonding is a secret. Hidding it from you is meaningless, as I doubt we are to leave this place apart. We have much to discuss, about out situation, and what to do. Some of us have various duties we took upon ourselves to perform. I am most grateful for your hospitality, and it may be that the Wheel wove you with us now as well. But first, how did you come to be here? And the most important of all, to precede our discussion, do you support Alaida's capture of the Dragon Reborn?
Ryvin suddenly looks up, makes her way over to where Fiallain and Litheene went and addresses them: "Ladies, I'd like your company for a bit. Power up, gamefaces on. Keelix may be in trouble... or not. I'd like to go make sure."
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Ryvin suddenly looks up, makes her way over to where Fiallain and Litheene went and addresses them: "Ladies, I'd like your company for a bit. Power up, gamefaces on. Keelix may be in trouble... or not. I'd like to go make sure."
** "Oh, Fiallain," Alathea breathes. "You love him, yes? Do you think he reacted as he did because he loves you, too?" She pauses, looking for the right words. "You say you wish to bond him because you can better protect him just as he can better protect you. And you say the same for Rhoekk, yes? But do you really wish it to protect him, or do you also wish it to be closer to him?" **
Fia breathes out slowly, and returns Alathea’s grip on her hand with a squeeze of her own, grateful for her sister’s calming support. ”I did want the bond for protection, and so that I might better protect them. I think that doing such is only good sense, given all that has happened.” She is silent for a bit.
”But yes Sister, I think I was hoping it would bring us closer together...all of us.. but especially Ryland and I.” Fia finally whispers, almost bashfully – as her shoulders slump and her manner seems suddenly completely at odds with the usually fierce and confident woman. ”I think that I love him,” she admits, sounding almost surprised. ”I do love him. Though I often cannot make sense of the things he says and does; though he sometimes frustrates me to no end; though I am but recently admitting it, even to myself."
"It is true, I have always liked him since when we first met. But it was different then. It was a blessing having him there with us, the only one who was not connected in some way with saidar or saidin. Distrustful of it, of those that could use it. She smiles faintly. Though I know that may sound odd, and our friendship an unlikely one, given who I am and what I can do. Yet, back then I saw my ability to touch the source as more of a curse, and Ryland’s company was a comfort I had not expected to find. I was already wed though, and so I did not ever really consider. Now however, I no longer am.” She plucks at her skirt, as if for emphasis.
Alathea squeezes Fiallain's hand. "Maybe Ryland thinks that, by bringing Rhoekk into the bond, you want him only for protection, that he is the same to you as Rhoekk is, yes?"
”Maybe… that could be so, Alathea. Do you think it true?” She returns the squeeze, then sighs softly. ”I do not know for certain if he feels the same about me though, especially now after this. I think sometimes he might have, it would explain some things…including perhaps, his reaction now. But then, if it is so, why has he never told me? Why does he not declare his intent? That is how such things are done, with regard-gift, or...or, well something!”
At a thought, she looks at her sister quizzically. "You do not love Rhoekk too, do you? If you do, I have not seen it as I have you and Ryland...if you do, explain this to Ryland. He may not like it, but it can work--I've seen many Green sisters love more than one man at the same time, and all involved happy with the relationship, yes?"
Fia blinks in surprise. ”Truly? Despite her mood, she gives a slight laugh. ”I knew that some Aes Sedai have more than one warder… that was what gave me the idea in the first place. I did not, however, know that it was like that. Many first-sisters share a husband, but I have never known it to be done the other way around!”
Fia’s grin fades as she tilts her head slightly the way she often does when thinking. It is clear that she is processing and trying to work through her own convoluted feelings even as she speaks. ”Rhoekk. He is a very good man, honorable. I respect and trust him. I care about him deeply. But I have not known him as long, or as well, to be able to say that this is the same as love? Can I? It is very strange Alathea. I am closer to Ryland and know him better, but it is usually Rhoekk I actually understand - if that makes any sense at all. Ryland is like one of your wide… ummm.. oh! Rivers, full of currents I cannot see or anticipate. I... it's all very frustrating. Why must these things be so difficult?" She falls silent, at least for the moment.
When Alathea exits the room, Kodokura puts down the last dish and begins wiping his hands. "Forgive my curiosity Aes Sedai, but how did you come to be here in this place? The idea of it being a coincidence seems unlikely."
"But then, if it is so, why has he never told me? Why does he not declare his intent? That is how such things are done, with regard-gift, or...or, well something!”
Alathea cannot help but smile at Fiallain's admission, and even though it is not a mocking smile, she tries to hide it. "You ask why Ryland has not expressed his love for you, yes? Why have you not done the same for him? If you wonder about how he feels about you since he has never said anything, imagine how he must wonder about how you feel for him."
”I knew that some Aes Sedai have more than one warder… that was what gave me the idea in the first place. I did not, however, know that it was like that. Many first-sisters share a husband, but I have never known it to be done the other way around!”
Alathea nods. It is true, yes? Not all do, but some. Perhaps it is that we...er, that Aes Sedai...do what they will with their bodies and emotions because they have no men among them telling them what is right and wrong to do, or perhaps it is that they feel powerful enough to ignore such customs when they choose. But regardless of why, they are not wrong, I think. Why is it that men amongst your people may wed more than one women, while the women may not wed more than one man? Why must you be wed at all?"
"If you love both Rhoekk and Ryland, do not let someone else's rules tell you that you cannot. Speak with both of them and let them know how you feel...if they feel the same about you, perhaps you can all find a way to make things work."
"I am closer to Ryland and know him better, but it is usually Rhoekk I actually understand - if that makes any sense at all. ... Why must these things be so difficult?"
"Love is always difficult, yes? But it is worthwhile, I think. You understand Rhoekk better because he is of your people. I might say that I understood my brother more than I understood Kodokura, and that I loved both with all my heart, but that does not mean I wished to marry my brother, yes? You love Ryland...put him before Rhoekk, bond him if he will have it, wed him if you wish. If you still wish to bond Rhoekk, make sure that Ryland understands that you wish to do so for other reasons. Or if you love him as well, make sure that both understand you before you go further."
Kodo nods at Alathea's explanation. "I struggle to separate you from... her." He turns to Analin. "An honest mistake indeed, and not one I'll make again, Analin Sedai. In Shienar, a man must err always on the side of politeness with a woman, and with Aes Sedai doubly so."
Analin nods at Alathea and Kodokura's explanation. "The same understandable mistake I made when I first saw you," she says, looking at Alathea. "But discouraging it is simpler than explaining it to an Aes Sedai more rigid than I."
When Alathea exits the room, Kodokura puts down the last dish and begins wiping his hands. "Forgive my curiosity Aes Sedai, but how did you come to be here in this place? The idea of it being a coincidence seems unlikely."
"We came through the Ways. There was no battle raging when we arrived."
If you think Egwene an usurper, then call me accepted. I did not ask for the title, but I carry my duty which was placed on me, and will not hide behind the accepted dress.
Analin sniffs. "The girl is no more Aes Sedai than you, and those who follow her are... I will not go so far as to name them traitors to the Tower, but they have lost sight of their duty in the face of the Last Battle. The White Tower should be united in this time of turmoil but instead those women in Salidar have decided now is the time to air their grievances. It is foolishness of the worst sort, and dangerous not just to ourselves and the order but to the entire world."
It is true that his bonding is a secret. Hidding it from you is meaningless, as I doubt we are to leave this place apart. We have much to discuss, about out situation, and what to do. Some of us have various duties we took upon ourselves to perform. I am most grateful for your hospitality, and it may be that the Wheel wove you with us now as well. But first, how did you come to be here? And the most important of all, to precede our discussion, do you support Alaida's capture of the Dragon Reborn?
The blonde Aes Sedai shakes her head. "I do not. The Dragon Reborn needs to be free to fight the Last Battle. But I continue to perform my duties rather than waging open war on what should be the only united bastion of leadership in the land. We should be an example for those fighting the darkspawn and resisting the Seanchan, not another warring faction." She sighs. "The very fact that you were taught the bonding weave shows those women in Salidar are dangerous, reckless, and have no place claiming leadership in the White Tower."