Dalia keeps a serene look on her face as the men continue to ask questions of Manwhen Sedai though she does shake her head a bit in disproval. She has questions of course but has learned better than to question Manwhen Sedai, she is after all only an Initiate. If I know better why do these men not know better?
Isa purses her lips, eyes seeming to oh-so-casually watch everyone at once. The Aes Sedai did not seem inclined to answer questions, though that was no real surprise, especially with the apparent spy present.
She studies the man's face, truly curious for the first time about him. I wonder what he knows, how valuable he is, what games are really being played here. Probably I will never know. Aes Sedai are even worse than Wise Ones with their strings and weaving of plots.
She says nothing further, however. The men seemed to already do a fine job of irritating the Aes Sedai. With the faintest smile at the thought, she decides to let them, and in the meanwhile simply observe.
Nodding at everyone, Manwhen smiles. Right. Any more questions? she asks in a tone that makes it a rhetorical statement than anything else.
Now, the maidens here will be bringing in some food for everyone to enjoy. I suggest you eat your fill, as it may be your last hot meal for the next couple days. We leave tonight, in two hours. Accepted Dalia, a word please? Manwhen nods to beyond the curtains.
Standing up, she strides out through the curtains, without looking back, knowing dalia is following her.
Dalia, your brother. Is he ready for this? I had been hesitant in bringing him along, but you did vouch for him, so i relented. He is a capable footman, but will he listen when we need him too? this is too important for a smart hand remark. Concern in her voice comes through.
After Dalia and Manwhen step out, three Domani serving ladies sweep in, large platters full of food born upon their shoulders. Turkey, ham, beef, with beans, cabbage, lettuce, carrots, celery, and potatoes and rice all piled high upon the plateware. They all look at each of you, an invitation of pleasure in the glance, the lips showing desire, the sway of the hips offer delights. And as fast as they come in, they disappear again.
Jamyn claps his hands together, and speaks for the first time. Well, the brunette was a great delight this afternoon, but i wish i had more time to compare her to her friends he cackles to himself, spooning a huge heap of rice upon his plate before cutting a section of beef for himself.
Lucius rises to his feet as Manwhen seemingly dismisses them and as she passes by his seat, he speaks softly, hopefully for her ears alone, "Mistress Manwhen, when time permits, I have new information I would like to give you."
Lucius scowls at the man's vulgarity, then proceeds to try and ignore him while enjoying the meal.
'Any question, didn't she embarrass us enough? Who would ask more questions? Well at least were getting fed. Time to see how the kitchen prepares for a Aes… oh, so Dalia gets the secret information. Of course she would give more information to the other Aes Sedai, I bet... is that ham, and beef and turkey? Well at least Manwhen knows how to order, what kind of potatoes I wonder.' rolling his eyes, as the two Aes Sedai are preparing to speak privately. Elathras is distracted by the quantity and quality of food that is being served and the servers bringing it.
'Well, the serving girls certainly know how to work a room.' After watching the waitress enter and exit, Elathras begins helping himself to the nearest dish When Jamyn comments about the brunette. He stops and looks at the man, 'Should I punch him or just dump the gravy on his lap?' He looks from Jamyn to the door the waitress exited then the curtain the Aes Sedai are hiding behind. Serving himself some potatoes, then reaching toward the beef, 'Maybe just an insult.' he stops before he picks up the knife, nodding toward Jamyn's hands. "Did you pick up the knife with your 'brunette' or her friend your 'redhead' hand." Shaking his head, "Never mind, I think I'll just try the turkey." He then slices himself some turkey, and begins to eat.
Tianas hand actually twitched toward her vwil this time, before she brushed a stray length of hair out of her eye.
**'If I was that foolish wetland harlot id have cut his throat if he even looked at me!'** She signed at Isa.
She frowned as she made her way to the table, taking a plate and filling it with beef and rice. She ignored the filthy Seanchan pig as she turned on her heel and returned to her spot against the wall. She crouched on her heels as she began to methodically eat her meal, tasting nothing, mentally preparing herself for the trip to come.
When Elathras made his joke she laughed softly before glancing at him. "If I was his left hand I'd have already cut off the right to spare myself the sight of him fumbling with that shriveled up little pecker!"
Jamyn looks down at his hands for a moment, taking a moment to figure out insult. Then he slaps the table hard and laughs loudly. oooo those are good ones! I will have to remember them! chuckling some more to himself, he takes a bite, chews, then swallows. haha, when i see your mother again, i shall have to tell her about this. At least she knows how to enjoy this little pecker jamyn finishes the statement with a vulgar gesture at Tiana.
mr.Mar'Neill, you wanted a moment? Manwhen says to Lucius.
Bormanes eyes the serving girls appreciatively - after all, they were quite pretty - then helps himself to some food. He listens to Jamyn's comment, and looks at the Seanchan spy out of the corner of his eye. Really. Such vulgarity. In Cairhien we at least have the decency to be oblique about it. Out loud he says, "It's probably just as well you don't - I've heard that a Domani woman will make you promise her the moon first. Course, I've also heard that she might ask you for the moon after. I hope you didn't promise her anything you didn't mean to," Bormanes said the last somewhat teasingly, but part of him hoped it would give the man a moment of panic - just for his amusement, of course.
Dalia returns to the room and takes a seat next to her Brother and eats in reserved silence, quite Aes Sedai like!
Bormanes nudges Dalia back under the table to show his understanding, but remains focused on the food for the moment, since she obviously wanted privacy.
Lucius is by turns impressed that one of the Aiel found humor in a 'wetlander' joke and surprised that the borderlander had a sense of humor, after all, didn't that get frozen off along with everything else up there? And finally, he waits; waits for Tiana to lift that veil to cover her face.
Luckily, Manwhen Sedai chooses that moment to have time for him. Luckily?! I must be slipping if a respite from this scene is a private chat with an Aes Sedai. Lucius rises from his chair smoothly, casts a pitying look at the nearly dead man, and steps outside the curtains with the Aes Sedai.
Assuming they are or that Manwhen makes them so, Lucius bows slightly to her, you catch more flies with honey, "I do not know if this will have any bearing on your mission tonight, which is the only reason I mention it. I am as certain as I can be without having the spy willing be tested that he is a man who can learn to Channel, or one who already knows. I was caught by surprise when you revealed his status and I embraced the Source. I felt the tiniest of echoes within him, and his gaze snapped to me after I embraced the Source. It was unusual, and given the nature of what we do this night, I felt I should inform you of unusual things."
Manwhen nods at the news. thank you, Mr. Mar'Neil. Our intel on the esteemed Jamyn has had suspicions about his ability to learn how to channel. He may have done it unintentionally. Perhaps, you should watch him? she asks.
He almost forgot for a moment exactly what they had been talking about when the woman with the food arrived, but the spy's crude comment quickly brought his focus back to where it should be. He was almost equally as shocked at the aiel woman's words but he thought he hid it a little better.
He filled his plate mostly with vegetables, giving himself a bit of ham to spoil himself a small amount. He didnt want to weight down his stomach with rich food in case things on this trip went worse than they should.
[Ooc]if no one else has anything else to add, i will make a posting this evening[þooc]
When Elathras made his joke she laughed softly before glancing at him. "If I was his left hand I'd have already cut off the right to spare myself the sight of him fumbling with that shriveled up little pecker!"
'Well, at least one of them has a sense of humor,' Seeing the 'Maiden' glance his way, Elathras gives a slight smile, then notices, the Aes Sedai come through the curtain, and almost as quickly leave with the one called Lucius. 'More private conversations, this time with the Asha'man. Well, better him than me, that's all I have to say.' He takes a large bite of the turkey, noting that Jair is eating mostly vegetables. 'Normally he eats more meat. I'll have to ask him about that, if we survive this Aes Sedai web, that is.'
Isa gives Tiana a mirthful smirk at her comments and then rolls her eyes at Jamyn. Fixing a modest plate of beef and vegetables, she goes and crouches next to her spear sister.
"I wonder what all that is about." She mutters rhetorically with a short gesture at the string of private conversations with the Aes Sedai and sets to work on her plate.
She clicked her tongue and shook her head sadly when the pig replied to her. "Silly wetlander thinks it would bother me if my mother threw him a pity f*&+. She is a grown woman, I do not control who she lies with. I will say though, she is neither blind nor desperate, so I doubt she is your type!" She turned back to her food with a small satisfied smile.
'Just wait till he steps out of line, then you can hurt him!'
Tiana glances at the taller woman before following her gesture towards the Aes Sedai. She snorted quietly before replying, "These Aes Sedai are worse than Wise Ones for plotting. Could be anything!" She switched to hand talk to finish her thought, **I have a good bottle of Oosquai in my pack. We could take the Apprentice for a few drinks and find out?**
Isa glances at Dalia then grins back at Tiana. Her hands flash briefly.
***If not for our excursion tonight, I'd say yes. But we probably don't want her drunk for this job. Amusing as that might be.***
Tiana chuckles softly to herself before nodding. **Yes, the Wetlanders usually can't hold their Oosquai I've heard. And considering she is a Treekiller...** She grinned at the end to show she meant no malice by this statement.
Jamyn laughs lightly. Light, you Aiel are sooo touchy. It's not like i said anything about taking her honor, or her owing Toh to me, or how i made her my little Gai'shan girl for the night. Jamyn laughs again, this time his laughter taking on a more malicious, evil tone.
Mr. Fynn! That is enough! Manwhen says sharply, cutting through the noise of both the back room and that of the common room from down the hall. The noise from the far room quiets suddenly, as if over a dozen ears are straining to find or hear who said that.
Manwhen Sedai surprises everyone from the sheer viciousness of her attack. She has used Saidar before as a tool to teach others the errors of their ways, but never like this.
No one moves to help Jamyn, nor does Manwhen inform anyone to help him.
If he doesnt awake before we leave in a couple hours, I will awaken him. Vigorously. she says with finality.
turning to Tiana and Isa, she bows slightly. I apologize for Jamyns behavior. Ive had the pleasure of having met him a couple times before, and he's never acted like this. she finishes with a look and a sniff in Jamyns direction.
*********
Jamyn sits upon his horse, his hands to his head, with a look of absolute misery upon his face. He looks again sheepishly at Manwhen Sedai and then into the darkness of the alleys that he passes. To the Aiel, i do apologize. i never should have infered such awful things about your mothers, nor should i have insulted your code of conduct and beliefs. I would say I owe you for my poor behavior, but i understand now that since i am a "wetlander" i do not incur nor deserve toh. Jamyn finishes and bows slightly in the saddle. He groans again and holds his head tighter.
Everyone sits upon horses, or stands ready as the small column arrives to the darkened gate that stands guard against the unseen beyond, in no mans land.
Thank you, Mr. Fynn. Now shush Manwhen says in her normal Authoritative tone. Now, we need to talk about something important. she starts upon her mare. We are heading to Weathertop. It is a structure that stands 1000 feet above the plains of Arad Doman. It provides a commanding view of the land for miles and miles around. It was once a military post throughout the history of its existence, but recently, about 100 years ago, it had been abandoned. Now, while it still is known as Weathertop, it is also known as "the Little Blight".
She stops and looks at Elathras and Jair. I hope you gentlemen remember what you learned about the Blight, because the same rules apply here. There is a path through the little blight, to a small house that is maintained for these exchanges. It is not uncommon for these trades to suffer some sort of casuality due to the lesser shadowspawn that roam the area. The Blight extends only 1 mile away from Weathertop, but it might as well be 10 miles.
A dull thump and light groan comes from the gates as one of the doors, open by a dark clothed figure, swings open far enough to allow a horse to walk through. At that precise moment, clouds cover up the half-moon, bathing the world into a deeper darkness.
Elathras, Jair, please, lead the way. Lucius, ride with Jamyn. Tiana, Isa, take the flanks and rear. Dalia, with me. Let's go....discreetly
He sat at his chair aghast at what the spy was saying. He had only the tracest amounts of understanding of what the man was saying, or Aiel culture in general. He knew enough to know the man was being very insulting. He was less suprised at Manwhen Sedai's swift handling of the situation.
Serves him right, though he probably deserves more.
He thought quietly to himself slowly finishing his meal. After the meal when it was clear they were leaving soon, he found himself back in the stables prepping and checking the horses. When it was time to go, he was ready and in the saddle. Short bow in hand. At the gate His face fell when she spoke of ... well the effects about the military posting.
He nodded vigorously to the Aes Sedai quietly leading his horse out of the small town they were in. He didnt range far but as soon as he thought they were out of earshot he slowed the horse down to spread what he knew.
"The blight is dangerous, more so than you can imagine. Touch no plants, drink no water. Keep and wary eye about you. Grandfather used to tell me how even the trees at times seemed ready to eat you. Everything is dangerous. There used to be a type a catapillar... you know the little worm things that turn into butterflies? that would kill you with a single touch. Try to follow the path that Elathras or I set."
He offered before taking the lead once again.
’Ok, those were fighting words.’ Glaring at Jamyn as he continues insulting the one named Tiana, Elathras almost jerks out of his chair when Manwhen addresses the spy. ’Did she just use Saidar to smack him in the back of the head? That’s awesome, Funny, I wonder if that should make me like her more or less. At least she won’t put up with any shenanigans.’ Smiling ever so slightly, he raises his cup to the green Aes Sedai then taking a sip, puts it back on the table. Finishing the meal, he returns to the room and repacks his gear.
Standing beside his bay gelding, Elathras watches and listens, first glaring at Jamyn as he spouts an apology. Then turning to Manwhen as she gives her instructions. ’An abandoned military post… The little blight…great, so any trollocs will have a fortified position to raid from. I wonder why were going through the blight rather than going around it. If I ask, I’ll probably get told it’s above my paygrade. Blasted Aes Sedai. Well, we probably go through to discourage being followed. But an explanation is always polite…. Lesser shadowspawn, hard to call them lesser if their what’s killing you... But at least that’s consistent, one mile in the blight feels like ten anywhere else. That’s the reason I left. Blasted Aes Sedai, after this I need to find a different employer.’
Nodding to Manwhen Sedai, noting that Jair, was leading his mount out the gate, Elathras follows close behind. ’riding into the blight, time to double check everything, just in case.’ Checking the cinch strap on his saddle one last time, while Jair explains a little about the importance of paying attention and not touching anything. He nods in agreement, mounting the big bay, unconsciously checking his sword strap and then the placement of the hilt. Falling in behind the woodsman he asks, ”You any good with that bow? If I had known we were riding against Shadowspawn, I would have brought one. I carry a sling more for filling the stewpot than anything else, but I guess it will do until were close enough for blade work.”
Bormanes smiles as Jamyn gets smacked on the head by saidar. Again, one must be circumspect when discussing these things - it isn't polite otherwise.
Pulling Dalia aside, he says, "What is it you want to discuss?"
Bormanes listens as Manwhen explains the history of Weather top, barely stifling a groan. The Little Blight? Why are we holding a prisoner exchange in a place called the Little Blight? This is entirely unsafe. I never should have come along on this. But Dalia is going in there regardless. Well, then. So shall I. I have to protect her. Bormanes takes out his crossbow and loads it, making sure it's ready.
Having been excluded from Manwhen Sedai's marching order, Bormanes falls in behind Manwhen and Dalia, doing his best to act the way he imagines a Warder would act - eyes alert, scanning the horizon for danger, and trying to keep his sister safe.
Isa nods stiffly to Jamyn, but says nothing. She rather suspected the apology had more to do with the wetlander's aching head than any contrition and besides, his comment had been directed more to her spear-sister.
The Aiel woman listens to the Aes Sedai and nods. She quickly strings her bow and checks her spears. Turning to her counterpart she says, "I'll take the left flank, you take the right? We can both drop back at opposite intervals to check the rear."
Lucius gives a short bow to the Aes Sedai, then reins his horse to be behind and to the left of The spy's horse.
Stay close to me and do not take unnecessary risks. Do your best to not have your mouth get you or any of the rest of us in trouble. I may chastise you in public but you know full well I appreciate your sharp whit, please do not let it interfere with this exchange as this is a delicate situation and one which could disrupt the peace of centuries if handled improperly.
I assured Manwhen Sedai that you would not be troublesome". She grins and gives him a light kiss on the cheek, "After this exchange is complete of course I gave mo further assurances on your behavior".
---
Dalia nods as her Brother falls in behind her, she would never admit it but knowing he was here gave her greater confidence than if he were not there.
Dalia embraces the Source as danger was now just at the edge of her vision...
Manwhen snaps her gaze upon Dalia, and says in a stern, yet quiet voice Who told you to embrace the source?! youre a beacon in the night. let go!
With the clouds obscuring the light from the moon, the landscape takes on a air of foreboding. Of horrors lurking in the night, just beyond eyesight. a twig snaps, a stamp of a hoof striking a rock, the creak of leather as someone shifts. The slow walk of the horses seems more akin to swiming in molasses. Elathras and Jair take point after quickly explaining what they knew about the Blight, ranging slightly further ahead. Tiana and Isa, true to their Aiel heritage, easily keep pace on foot, running along the flanks and then falling back every so often. Bormanes edges his horse closer to the rear flank of Dalias mount, who rides next to Manwhen, while behind them sits a patient and observant Lucius.
and riding next to lucius, is Jamyn. Several times Jamyn mutters quietly to himself, yet slightly loud enough for Lucius to hear. bloody Aes Sedai. Bloody Aiel. Light blasted Borderlanders. suddenly he shudders, as if shaking off something, and then his entire demenor changes. before he was hunched and miserable looking, but now, he sits upright, commanding, like a king out for a ride with his court. The confidence that wells from him is palpable, and against Lucius' better judgement, cannot help but feel confident as well. A favorite quote Logain likes to give to the Asha'man at the various chapter houses when he taught came to his mind. Fake it til you make it! False confidence is better than no confidence. Your enemies will view your lack of confidence as a weakness. Show them that youre always confident in what you do, and they will believe that you are confident
Dalia whispers a response, "My apologies Manwhen Sedai, nerves..."
She pauses as she sees the light in the night and turns to Bormanes, "In the west, a light a fire I believe. It just went out. Did you see it?"
Bormanes, who had been looking the opposite direction as Dalia, says, "A light? To the west, you say?" Bormanes looks in that direction, eyes scanning the horizon, looking for any signs of someone.
"I didn't see it - and I don't see anything now. I believe you saw it, though. Who knows what may walk in a place called the Little Blight?"
Dalia turns to Manwhen Sedai, "We should watch from the western flank Manwhen Sedai in case of unwanted visitors".
Nodding to Manwhen Sedai, noting that Jair, was leading his mount out the gate, Elathras follows close behind. ’riding into the blight, time to double check everything, just in case.’ Checking the cinch strap on his saddle one last time, while Jair explains a little about the importance of paying attention and not touching anything. He nods in agreement, mounting the big bay, unconsciously checking his sword strap and then the placement of the hilt. Falling in behind the woodsman he asks, ”You any good with that bow? If I had known we were riding against Shadowspawn, I would have brought one. I carry a sling more for filling the...
"A fair hand, but to be honest friend its been more in pratice than pratical use."
He answered before they split up to forge the path ahead.Every now and then he veered his horses trail back torwards the other Borderlander just to ensure nothing had been seen on the other side of the trail... and well for a bit of comfort.As a youth he had always dreamed of battling evil in the blight and being a big damned hero... now that something simular was actually happening he was filled with nerves.
Isa trots easily out on the flank of the party, her long athletic legs easily keeping pace and then some. She grimaces to herself as she looks about, searching their surroundings, a slight nervous energy coursing through her.
The three-fold-land was hard and dangerous, and it often killed off the weak or the careless. Yet a blight, even a tiny one like this, was said to be touched by sightblinder and must be every bit as hard and deadly. No. That probably wasn't right. The three-fold-land was a place she knew, was raised in, loved. Her home might be harsh, but it nurtured those that came to know her, molded them. It had a hand in making Isa who she was. The place where they headed tonight, if it was anything like the tales of the old blight, it actively hated and went out of its way to kill you. Worse, it was a place she knows not, and that ignorance alone could make it far more dangerous.
Shaking the nerves and unpleasant thoughts out of mind, she moves further out, where the sounds of muffled words and horses' hooves would not as easily interfere with her senses.
'A fair hand, that's better than me.' As the head out, Elathras nods to Jair, "A fair hand, good. That's better than me. When I trained for the militia, I shot ten arrows and the sergeant handed me a halberd and told me to keep the trollocs off of the real archers." He winks and then smiles. "Fortunately, they let me dump the halberd for my grandpa's sword."
'Need to stay sharp, I like the fact Jair, isn't static, a good scout keeps moving around. The 'Maidens' too, they know their business. What the blazes?' His head snapping around, as he reaches for the sword, Elathras breaths a sigh of relief when he realizes it's just Manwhen raising her voice at her assistant. 'Blasted Aes Sedai, does she want something nasty to hear her? I hope that's not her way of testing our metal.'
Still looking back, he sees the commotion, then thinks he hears Dalia saying something under her breath to Bormanes then something to Manwhen. Elathres stops his big gelding, as he holds a fist in the air, for the benefit of those behind him. Then calling out to Jair, "Hold on a second Jair." He turns back in the saddle addressing the Green. "Mistress, err, Aes Sedia Manwhen, is there something wrong?"
He then nervously looks around again....
Everyone pauses at Elathras' hand signal, and begins to look about, searching for signs of...something. A long, breathless moment passes before Manwhen Sedai snorts, and says in a voice slightly louder than a whisper. It must be nothing. Its good to be cautious, so thank you for that. but let's not get too cautious, otherwise we will never arive at our destination. Now, we have about 2 miles to go before we hit the Little Blight. Let's move out with that, she nudges her horse forward.
'Good to be cautions... so thank you? Bloody Aes Sedai, why does she sound condescending even when she's being nice.' Lowering his fist, as Manwhen Sedai gives her directions. Elathra's nods, spurring his bay to move forward, he approaches Jair's mount, and address his fellow borderlander, "Sorry I slowed us down, I just must be jumpy. I thought there was a concern. I guess not."
'I wish I had brought a lance.' He looks out into the night as they move forward, keeping a keen eye out.
Tiana ranged to the side of the party, her veil raised, her eyes sharp as she slipped silently through the underbrush. A weight had been lifted from her shoulders it felt like, as she manuevered through the dark, dropping back occasionally to scout their back trail and keep an eye on the rear element. She longed, in truth, to be ranging ahead of the group, but this would do for now.
'Clear paths and a beautiful night sky. The perfect way to spend your time!'
Between something and the light that went out Dalai was nervous and had to fight to not embrace the source once more...
Bormanes stayed as close to Dalia as he could, his nerves tense. That they hadn't even entered the Little Blight yet and he was already jumpy wasn't good. He took a couple of deep breaths to steady his breathing - he'd never been good at mastering that Flame and the Void technique his blade instructor had tried teaching him, but he attempted to reach for some semblance of it now. He did feel a little calmer, so maybe it was more effective than he thought.
Bormanes returned his attention to the countryside.
The moon stands at it's uppermost zenith in the night time sky as the party moves down the unmarked trail that Manwhen Sedai directed Eltharas and Jair to lead them down. The light of the moon, muted for majority of the night time due to overhead clouds, manages to push through a gap, and reveals a startling landscape.
As if a line was drawn by a giants hand, the trail ahead changes drastically, from lush field and fertile farmland to mutated mockeries of plant and wildlife. Where there was grain, straw, alfalfa, trees, bushes, vines, there is now strange looking...things. Long and lanky, short and thick, withered and overgrown, there is no rhyme or reason to the plants and what is affecting them. Yet they all are covered in strange slime, mold, pus, and other noxious fluids that belch, vomit, splat, bleed upon the ground and other wildlife. Creatures that had ventured beyond the line were changed as well. As if mange, rabies, worms, and infection all set upon the afflicted, the things that were animals ooze disease and rot as they move about, writhing.
What once could have been a rabbit, or ground squirrel, perhaps even a large rat, crosses the path leading into the interior of The Little Blight. Blood, pus, and other ichors drain out from a stump that used to be a tail, like a snails trail. It gives a violent cough, and a too large volume of phlem and bile billows out from its small mouth. It lands upon a pus covered tree-like plant, and it causes part of the rotted plant-flesh to instantly dissolve into an even larger puddle of goo. The thing writhes, twitching violently, forcing the thing to flop about.
yet an odd thing happens. Its movements force the creature to cross the dividing line. Suddenly the writhing stops, the spasms cease, the creature lays still. To your amazement and horror, it suddenly shrivels and wrinkles, like a grape changing to a raisin instantly. Any left over noxious liquids within the body are forcibly ejected out, like a pigs stomach rupturing. Before the liquid can disolve anything as it did within the Little Blights border, it vaporizes and drifts away, harmless.
And thus we see the dangers of this place. Manwhen Sedai says softlywe must leave the horses here, lest they become something worse within. There, just down the lane is our destination Manwhen points.
The light of the moon shifts slowly, revealing a small stone hut set next to a towering rock formation. The stone hut rests at the base of the monolith, beside which a large stone roadway goes up and disappears out of sight around the end of Weathertop. Your eyes are drawn up higher and higher, until finally you are leaning back a little bit to see, what the locals call the top of the world, in these parts.
yes, weathertop. The watchtower of Amon Sul. The Fort built at the top is a lookout tower, meant to act as an early warning device for the lands surrounding this area against possible attack. It was used off an on throughout the millennia, but 100 years ago, it was abandoned, overnight, by the Seanchan. Rumors abound of a strange creature inhabiting the Fort at the top, and could be what drove off the Seanchan. Within several years, the area around Weathertop began to be corrupted, and now, as you see, the Little Blight now exists. The White Tower has attempted to examine the cause of this Blight, but excursions have ended in failure. Manwhen Sedai rattles off in admiration. suddenly, she shakes her head. Blood and Ashes, here i sit prattling on about this place when business must be done.
suiting words to action, she slips off of her horse.
Bormanes stares in horror at the animal. Anything in there is tainted, and yet the taint vanishes upon leaving. How does the Little Blight spread? Bormanes once again has second thoughts about traveling with the group, but he knows Dalia will go in there, and he does not intend to let her go without him. Steeling himself, he dismounts and looks about.
Noticing Jamyn, he wanders over to the man and quietly asks, "Everything alright, there? A disturbing sight, I will admit, but surely this will not take long. You'll be out of there quite quickly. Besides, we'll all be there with you, and you can rest assured that we'll protect you. After all, we don't get our people back if they don't get you."
Jamyn snorts softly and looks fully at Bormanes, his eyes boring deep into the back of Bormanes' skull. its not the Blight I am worried about
At the edge of the blight though well away from its edge he took the gathered horses and led them away enough to tether them to a couple of stakes in the ground. As dark as it was barring anything truly wild coming from the evil grounds they should quietly wait there in the dark for them to return. . . at least that is what he hoped. He hoped to return. The little blight looked terrible indeed.
He pulled out several bags of oats just in case and once he secured the horses he quickly returned to lead the others down the path Manwhen Sedai pointed out.
"Remember... touch nothing, not plant animal or goo, Keep your eyes sharp."
With that he moved forward torwards the pathway arrow nocked to his bow.
Well, at least they can see a little of what were going to deal with. Of course maybe we would have been better off if the cloud cover had stayed.’ After moving forward on the trail until they near the edge of the ‘little blight,’ Elathras naturally stops his gelding, as the Aes Sedai shares the history of the tower and warns the others. ’I’m glad she’s having us go on foot, the horses aren’t trained for this.’
Dismounting, he leads his war horse back to where Jair has tied the others. Placing the big bay in front of the other beasts of burden, he moves in front of the gelding, dropping the rein he gestures toward the other mounts. ”Guard.” Then reaching in his pocket he pulls out a carrot, feeding it to his mount. Following Jair back to the others, he smiles, and tells Jair. ”He will guard the other horses.” Then shrugging and smiling wider, ”Or he will head back to the warm stall and I’ll be walking back to the Inn.”
’No need to wait.’ Drawing his sword and resting it on his shoulder as he returns with Jair to the others, nodding his head in agreement with the ranger. ”Jair is right, is everyone ready?” He looks towards Manwhen waiting for her nod. ’It’s nice to have a couple of competent people on the flanks.’ He then looks towards the maidens to see which is going to start where. Nodding to them, as he follows Jair down the path.
'Well. That's something one doesn't see every day.'
Isa's gaze lifts from the animal's corpse and into the blight ahead. She straightens from a crouch and waits as the others listen to the Aes Sedai say something and stow their four-legged beasts.
Catching Elathras' eye, she returns his nod with one of her own and then veils her face and turns away. Absently testing the tension on her bowstring, she pauses briefly to listen and watch, then steps silently beyond the barrier and into the little blight.
Tiana nodded sharply before taking a step forward, matching her sister on the other flank. A spear twirled through her fingers before thudding in to her palm softly, as she stepped to avoid touching any of the underbrush.
Bormanes considered Jamyn's response, then whispered, "Your masters won't take your failure kindly, will they?"
Lucius dismounts, doing his best to portray complete calm.
His outward calm effectively conceals his inner turmoil. Though he wants to, he does not draw his blade nor does he embrace the Source. Why, in the name of the Light, do the exchanges happen in there?!
Jamyn turns his gaze from Bormanes, glances briefly at Lucius, and then looks up at the summit of Weathertop.I have no Masters, save one. He is locked away, unable to break free of his prison. Soon though, I shall help him escape and seek justice against those that wrongly imprisoned him. jamyn coughs slightly, and continues. no, what worries me is the one who would stop me. HE is rumored to have been last seen in this area jamyn states, waving his hand at the surrounding area.
Enough of that prattle, Jamyn! Manwhen says sternly.Ill not allow you, nor your attempts at persuasion derail this exchange. There are three Sisters' lives at stake, and your wild ramblings are not more valuable than my sisters. Is that clear?
Jamyn looks at Manwhen, a look of rage and anger crossing his face before its gone, and he sulleny nods his submission.
Bormanes feels the hair on the back of his neck stand up at Jamyn's words. His master locked away? What does that mean? Manwhen Sedai seems to brush it off, but Bormanes isn't so sure. He decides to keep an eye on Jamyn as much as on the Little Blight. Something wasn't right - there was more to this than just a spy exchange. Bormanes may treat Daes Dae'mar like a game, but that didn't mean he hadn't been trained on it just as other Cairhienin were.
Bormanes falls into formation behind his sister, keeping a side eye on Jamyn as he goes.