Amorial turns as Ryvin and Keelix walk out, "We must stay in one place and decide how to proceed next my friends. We cannot stay here forever".
Fia returns Ryvin's bow with an apologetic nod of her head. "Another time then."
She remains quiet for the moment as she stands next to Alathea. Such things as ter'angreal and portals were largely beyond her experience or knowledge, so she listened with the intent to learn more - though in truth it seemed as if the Aes Sedai themselves knew only a little more than she. She listened, and tried to keep her mind focused, but was hampered as thoughts of Ryland and their earlier fight kept interrupting and threatening her concentration.
Alathea frowns in annoyance as Ryvin leaves and Keelix follows. Shaking her head, she mutters something inaudible but which sounds none too flattering.
Nodding at Analin's suggestion, Alathea says, "That is sensible, yes? Do you have something in mind?"
Kodokura watches Ryvin and Keelix leave, his expression unreadable. He then turns to Alathea, his face expressionless but for a tiny, infrequent twitch of his right eyebrow. "Entering that door could have killed you both - or worse. How could...?" He cuts himself off as his voice begins to rise just a little, then takes a deep breath and continues on in the same mild tone with which he began. "Do you have such little regard for your own safety? Asha'man Jasper has entrusted me with watching over you all. I didn't realise I would need to watch over you as one watches over foolhardy children."
Having said his piece, Kodo turns on his heel, intending to exit the room.
Amorial is exasperated, "If we shall not talk and operate as one than I too have important matters to attend to. Litheens Sedai, I will need to borrow the book you have taken from the Library, I will take good care of it".
"How sad to be proven correct in this... We shall have to - you shall have to inform the others," she says. "Alathea already dislikes me enough and I have shown too much animosity towards that pair already. My word would be suspect at best. Do it quietly, where the wretch cannot see you, but please do it soon.""
Keelix nods in acceptance.
as ryvin steps out into the hall she hears merdrith respond to the question of throwing something inanimate through the door.
what about her? apparently there is nothing between her ears except empty space. that's inanimate, yes?
Those in the room see Merdrith smile, a bright smile with lots of teeth.
Leaning down, Merdrith removes a shoe. well, i too know nothing about examining a ter'angreal, so i guess we shall utilize observation to complete our testing. with that, she opens the door.
the smell of a forest fills the room. the rustle of leaves picked up by the wind tickles your ears, and the swaying of the trees dances the light around the forest floor.
well, here goes she says, tossing her shoe through the door.
In answer to Alathea's question, Analin nods in Merdrith's direction. "Something like that. I would have used a pillow rather than my own shoe, but it is largely the same." She watches closely to see what happens.
the shoe flies through the doorway and lands 15 feet beyond into a pile of leaves.
smiling again at analin, merdrith responds. well, i cannot walk around with only one shoe.
Turning, she slowly reaches her hand out. she extends her pinky finger, and pushes it through the threshold of the doorway.
Nothing happens.
she pushes her hand through...and nothing happens.
well, if anything were to happen, it would have done so by now. she says, more to herself than anyone else.
Alathea steps to Merdrith's side and experimentally pushes her own hand through the doorway. Finding nothing to alarm her, she takes a breath and looks at the other woman. "Shall we go and get it, yes?"
Amorial places a hand on Alathea's shoulder, "Before you enter friend Alathea, there is a Tome I wish to peruse, it is a Tome on Ta'averen. I this one that you picked up? What about you Fia, do you have that one or should I ask Ryvin if she has it?"
Alathea shakes her head. "I have taken no books, Amorial."
"Nor I, Alantin. It may be that Ryvin has it. I do not know for certain."
After an unreadable glance at Alathea, Fia continues in a very carefully neutral voice...”Merdrith... If you two are to do more than retrieve that shoe, I would prefer it if I were there to guard my sister’s back… and yours… of course. Would you mind if I accompanied you…? I will not be in the way.
"I shall ask her. First though I must ask if this is a wise course of action. Our friends are all over this odd complex, if something happens we are in a weakened state to step in and assist you. We should be taking no risks unless awe are all together".
Alathea frowns. "If you wish us to all be together, then go and talk with Ryvin, yes?" She is the one who has decided that these doors were no longer worth investigating once all of us were gathered here."
merdrith frowns at the mention of ryvin.
that one needs to have castor oil poured down her throat. I havent done anything wrong to her and yet she hates me.
she then looks at amorial. you speak good sense, Amorial. This forest that we gaze upon is still the same as i remember, but precautions should be kept. it was once home to bandits for a summer until my father wiped them out. Course, my family has been dead all these years and it is possible that things are different. So we should have prudence. but we have here 2 Aes Sedai, 2 Accepted, and an Aiel Wilder, along with an Asha'man. I think we are ready to handle anything that appears.
Amorial turns to Merdrith, "Your overconfidence will be your undoing. I will go speak with Ryvin quickly as I need something from her. Then I shall seek out the rest of our friends and return here so that we can together investigate these doors all together".
Amorial walks out of the room seeking to retrieve the book on the Ta' averen from Ryvin.
After standing in silence near Ryland for several minutes, Chen bows slightly and then respects his wish to be left alone.
Wandering the hall he bumps into Ryvin. "What's going on? Where is everyone?" he rumbles.
"Good, Amorial," Ryvin says, beckoning the Ogier over. "Keelix overheard something you need to hear. Once you do, I hope you will understand part of why I do not wish to discuss our group's next move in there. Not to mention the Tower loyalist in the room."
When Chen appears, Ryvin gives him a respectful nod. "They are all in the room of doors. But tarry a bit. There is intrigue afoot and I for one would value your input."
Amorial pauses and grins, "Ah intrigue! In Cairhien I spent a great deal of time dabbling the Daes Dae'mar. Proceed friend Ryvin".
"Yes, proceed." Chen doesn't sound nearly as excited as Amorial but he will listen all the same.
Keelix takes a deep breath, and his voice is low when he speaks, "I overheard the suldam speaking to the freed damane. The freed damane agreed to act as a spy for the suldam. The 'freed damane' seems to be an act, and she still serves the suldam."
Analin continues frowning at the forested land on the far side of the doorway. "It isn't so much what is over there that concerns me, Merdrith. It is the getting there I'm worried about. Not to mention getting back."
As she speaks she mentally summons Landa, letting him know without words he should come ready to travel.
Alathea nods in agreement. "You are correct, Analin Sedai," she says. "It is possible that these doorways are dangerous or strange, yes? But to travel to wherever we would, as I think they allow, would be an amazing thing! I think that it is worth the risk to try to use them...and I volunteer to do so myself rather than put others at risk."
"You are all mad - and when the one telling you that is a male channeller that dips his soul in the taint of saidin daily, you should be questioning your sanity. But my orders are to watch over all of you, and I will do so, regardless of where, or how, you travel. I will be accompanying whoever enters that door," Kodo says resolutely.
Alathea smiles at Kodokura's words. "Thank you, my..." she cuts off with a squeak and coughs. "...Asha'man Kodokura. I am grateful that you are willing to risk your safety for us, yes?"
Amorial grins and whispers back, "That old game. Truth be told, I assumed they would do that anyway. A zebra cannot change its stripes so easily. What purpose spying brings I cannot say but for now, should you wish to provide them with false information on something, I suggest you do it. We all have secrets that would be best held close to our fur.. or er... vests. The most important should be shared with as few people or Ogier's as possible. Ryvin, would you be so kind as to lend the Ta'averen book to me? I believe you have it yes? I shall then go to retrieve Rhoekk and Ryland, Chen will you accompany me?"
"Ta'veren book?" Ryvin looks nonplussed. "Naw, not me. I took one about Portal Stones to validate my research and one about the classic form of swordfighting from the Age of Legends. And you don't want me to be the one to spread misinformation; I lie like a sauced herring. Anyway, we need to alert the others of this -- and we need to plan our next step where that sul'dam and the Aes Sedai can't catch on where we're going exactly."
Chen grinned behind his mask. These people still didn't understand the loyalty that the empire inspired.
"That surprises me little." he stated. "Even though I have adopted an open mind in light of recent revelations. I will still allow no harm to come to lady Mitsobar. To do so would make me an oathbreaker and tarnish my family's honor forever. Right or wrong, the bonds of the empire are forged in iron. Heavy, and not easily broken or set aside."
He shrugs, "All aside, we should leave this place soon or at least stick together in our exploration of it."
"Ryvin, please retrieve Ryland and head to the room of doors. I will be back with Rhoekk. You see, Chen agrees with me, we must stick together".
As Amorial walks with Chen he turns to him and unsheathes the axe he had taken from the Ogier he slew, "I was forced to fight two of your kind as they refused discourse with me claiming that I was "Fallen". I killed one spilling Ogier blood in anger. What does that mean? Our traditions of peace have been in place since the Breaking of the World. Why would we be considered fallen?"
_____________________________________________________________________
Amorial heads to the Library to retrieve both Rhoekk and the book he seeks.
"Friend Rhoekk, these Wetlanders, as you call them, do not listen to reason. They are even now exploring a dangerous place here and I think we will all be needed to decide what steps to take next. We will need to put our research on hold for the time being".
-Posted with Wayfinder
"Ryland?" Ryvin repeats. She sighs. "Fine, fine. I'll fetch Mr. Grumpy. Keelix, will you join me?"
Regardless whether Keelix agrees or not, Ryvin goes looking for Ryland...
As Chen turns and walks away, Ryland curls his left arm and thrust it upwards as he stops it by laying his right arm into the crook of his elbow.
Keelix nods and follows Ryvin