Alathea clambers onto the ledge alongside the others, pale and shaking from her ordeal. Though her breathing is labored and her head is spinning from the thin air, her trembling is from her almost fall. But after a time huddled against the cliff wall as far from the precipice as possible, she begins to calm herself. By the time Kodokura hauls himself over the edge, she is able to force herself away from the cliff face and help pull him to safety.After looking on Kodokura with a concerned eye, Alathea puts her arm around his shoulder. "Peace, my heart. We are safe for now, and you will adjust to this air."
Kodo's rests his head on Alathea's shoulder for a moment, though his cheeks flush in shame at the obvious reference to his distress. He raises his head again, murmuring, "Peace, indeed. I will be fine, dear one, I just need a moment."
Kodo opens his mouth to respond to Fia and Alathea's conversation regarding the dreamworld, then stiffens for a moment. He turns to look Alathea in the eye. "The voice," he say softly to her. "He's back. He wants... to meet me. He says he can give me the Power back - and he can send us home." Kodo's voice is flat and unemotional as he imparts this information to Alathea, though his eyes look troubled. His breath still short, and his mind sluggish, he awaits Alathea's response, even as he tries to process the ideas himself.
Despite her weariness, Fia's knowing grin flashes at Alathea's response of having watched the warders more than paying attention in her classes. It was unfortunate that her sister didn't have any bits of information that might aid her when she attempted entry into the dreamworld. Then again, she hadn't really expected her to. The world of dreams had always been the domain of the Wise Ones, rather than that of the Aes Sedai. "That is what I thought you would say. I will simply have to be careful and alert when the time comes. I am sure it will earn me several holes to dig when Inorea finds out, but so be it."
When Kodokura interjects, the Aiel woman looks at him with concern. "He still is speaking to you? You do not trust what he says, do you? He has shown himself to be our enemy."
Rhoekk returns from his trek, a look of wide-eyed wonderment upon his usually impassive face.
"Up ahead, beyond the dock and the outbuildings, there is something most... surprising. A whole city up here, above the clouds, covering the whole top of the mountain. It is one of the ancient cities, I believe, for it is larger than anything seen in our day. I have never seen anything of the like."
Ryland frowns at Rhoekk's words then opens himself up to the wolves. We are near a ruined city of the two legs. Is this where you are?
Alathea returns Fiallain's smile with one of her own, not shy but almost...proud? "If I had known that it might be useful one day, I would have payed more attention to my lessons than to the men, yes?"
But Alathea does not smile at Kodokura's words. Narrowing her eyes in worry, she looks at him for a long time. Finally, she asks, "What do you think this madman will gain by restoring saidin to you? By returning us to our world? Does he say?" She shakes her head. "He has not spoken to me for a time, yes? But when he did, it was to bully and threaten. I do not trust him."
Finally, to Rhoekk's news, she nods. "When the world was broken, it is said the land changed in ways I find hard to believe. Perhaps this city was not always at the top of a mountain, yes?"
Alathea returns Fiallain's smile with one of her own, not shy but almost...proud? "If I had known that it might be useful one day, I would have payed more attention to my lessons than to the men, yes?"
But Alathea does not smile at Kodokura's words. Narrowing her eyes in worry, she looks at him for a long time. Finally, she asks, "What do you think this madman will gain by restoring saidin to you? By returning us to our world? Does he say?" She shakes her head. "He has not spoken to me for a time, yes? But when he did, it was to bully and threaten. I do not trust him."
Kodo nods wearily. "You are right, I know - he cannot be trusted. Still, part of me wishes he were true, wishes to meet him and hear him out." He sighs. "I know. If wishes were fishes... Still, being able to go home, being given back... the Power... That would be something," he finishes lamely, a faraway look in his eyes.
matt, laying upon his back, eyes closed, chest heaving, groans.
the aiel here are stand offish. they would sooner plant a spear in your chest as they would help you find water. Their wise men are some of the fiercest warriors to walk the land, deadly up close and from afar. The women chained to them i believe to be female channelers, destined to be driven mad by their 16th birth year from the dark ones touch. Some are horrible to behold, their left eye withered and decayed, the sign of the dark ones touch. all women who channel too much here get this visible sign. looking up at fia, he grimaces. i see the touch is upon you...
looking at fia, at first you take her left eye to be blood shot, but looking closer, you see it to be darker, a vile darkness upon the blood vessels within the eye itself.
"So they chain the women to these 'wise men' do they? Well I suppose being sent off to seek an honorable death in the blight would have been too easy for your world." Fia sighs and gets to her feet, readying herself for the final climb up to Rhoekk's city. "You said that by their sixteenth year the girls go mad? Is it the same for the wetl...why are you looking at me like that?" She frowns as Matt's words settle on her. "What do you mean... the 'touch is upon me..'?" Her frown deepens as she crosses her arms and glares at Matt.
Alathea cannot help but to steal a glance at Fiallain, hoping that Mat's words are untrue. Unconsciously, she raises a hand to her own left eye, perhaps to feel for signs of her own corruption or to hide it from her companions.
Letting her hand fall back to her side, she smiles at Kodokura, although with a certain tension about her eyes. "We will return to our own world, yes? And if there is a way to return to you what you lost, like this madman tells you, then I will personally find it and make you whole again. I promise this, yes?"
Ryland frowns as he turns to the others. "We need to go to the largest building."
The woodsman shakes his head and looks at Fia. "We will leave this place. the Dark one shall not touch you." He turns and looks ahead for the building the wolves spoke of.
Turning from Matt, Fia looks at Ryland and nods matter-of-factly, but then smiles at her friend. "Of course. We've rested long enough. Let us be off to find this building."
Rhoekk nods.
climbing up onto the pier, you make your way into the city.
Large massive buildings, some taller than six stories, tower over you as you walk down the wide bolevards of paved marble and gold. Strange iron lamp posts line the avenue, some in various states of decay, yet others untouched by the elements.
Where doors and windows should be, now stand openings that display the inner contents, as if in a perverse peep show. Tables, chairs, dressers, all within view, making you feel uncomfortable to be staring into this ancient city.
Where there was a wind outside below the dock, the air now stands still, stagnant. Breathing hard, the lack of fresh air now makes breathing more difficult and thought consuming. your lips grow parched, making you desire water. Your stomach growls, making you desire food. And yet you dare not stop, as if stopping makes you vulnerable...
Despite her overwhelming need to keep walking and find a place to get out of the open, Alathea stops. Perhaps it's the thin air, the overwhelming fatigue, the hunger, the fatigue, or a combination of all, but she finds herself unable to continue. Sinking to her knees, Alathea pulls her cloak about her and huddles into herself.
At first, Fia looks about in wonder at the strange buildings. She gazes wonderingly about, taking in the odd lamps and the openings in the buildings. Her curiosity was short lived however, as the oppressive... oppressive something began to weigh upon her. It could not be the stillness of the air or the parched throat could it? It was often worse in the three-fold-land. Still, something seemed to be sapping her already depleted strength. She makes it only a few steps further than Alathea before starting to look back at her friend who had been beside her a moment before. That slight slowing in her pace was enough. She came to a halt, not quite having turned enough to look behind her before stopping and standing stock still, stomach growling as she looked around as if in a daze.
Fia, Alathea, and Rhoekk all slow to a stop, and a far off, vacant stare overcomes their faces. A slight smile begins to creep over their faces, as if seeing something that isnt there...
...where you once stood within an abandoned city, devoid of life, you now find yourself within a new city. People walk about, jostling each other on the busy thoroughfare. Some even bump into you, and mumble something that is akin to a buzzing noise.
The smells of fresh baked bread, roasted mutton and beef, fried tomatoes, and other sorts of exotic fruits and meats fill the air. Your stomach, once growling with hunger, seems to feed upon the air itself. the more you breath in, the more satisfied you feel.
People around you, ones who bumped into you, now stop and stand around you, looking at you. They appear to mimic the smile that now begins to grow upon your face. With each breath, they step closer. Slowly they approach, their hands stretching out, begging...
oh wow...matt says out loud. He slowly takes a step forward, and the people nearest to him begin to smile. Their heads begin to nod as they encourage him forwards.
Alathea feels the difference before she sees it. Where she was cold and hungry and miserable, she now feels warmth as if the sun has finally come out again after a long winter. Cautiously, hesitantly, she lifts her head to look about, and her face brightens as she returns the smiles of the people around her. Rising once again, she shrugs off her heavy cloak--why did she have it in such a wondrous place, anyway? She beams as she takes it all in, and is glad to see her friends. Rhoekk, Fiallain, Matrim...but where is Ryland? And where is her heart? She twists and stands on her tiptoes--surely, Kodokura must be here, lost in the crowd of friendly faces...
...and is relieved when she finally spots him. "Isn't this wonderful, my heart? And to think of finding this place atop a desolate mountain!" She rushes over to Kodokura, slipping gracefully through the crowd of friendly people and throws her arms around his neck. "Come, we must see it all, yes?"
Fiallain blinks in surprise. Were they not just alone on a desolate mountaintop? Where did all these people come from? And why were they all grinning like loons at her? It was then she realized her own lips were turned up in a broad grin. She stilled it immediately and fought to keep the smile from returning. It was difficult though... she felt... good? Better than she had in quite some time in truth. She felt that silly smile start to return again.
Nonetheless, she had never been a fan of the press of large crowds, and the woman felt a bit of her usual aloofness return to her as she glances about for her companions. She took a step backwards from the gathering people, or tried to at least as she spotted them. She grins at Rhoekk. "Perhaps we can trade for some food and supplies before continuing on. It would be good to have something besides rations."
Ryland shakes his head, closes his eyes and takes a deep breath trough his nose. Some thing does not feel right. This should not be.
The nagging feeling of strangeness buzzes in Kodo's head, and only increases at Alathea's odd expression. When she dances towards him, seemingly dodging things he can't see, and giddily throws her arms around his neck, he places his hands lightly on her waist and cocks a curious eyebrow at her. "Yes, well... It doesn't seem all that exciting to me. I find it kind of eerie here, to be honest. I don't think this place is... friendly to intruders. There has been a weight on my mind since we arrived." He gently disengages her arms from around his neck, taking her hand instead. "We should keep moving, if we intend to continue," he says, addressing Alathea and the rest of the group. Then, seeing Ryland's movements, asks, "Ryland? What is it? What do you... smell?"
Alathea cocks her head to the side and looks at Kodokura quizzically. Perhaps her love for him had blinded her to some saidin induced madness? She squeezes his hand. Speaking with slow reluctance, she asks, "But how can this place be eerie? These people, they do not look unfriendly, yes?" Now uneasy, she pulls him closer. Whispering, she asks, "Do you think that they hide their true intentions?"
Kodo's eyebrows both climb at Alathea's disturbing words. He opens his mouth to speak, then closes it. He takes a moment to examine to the others, looking for signs of strangeness in them as well.
Taking a long deep breath, your nose picks up various scents and emotions. Catnip, fresh blood, lust, anger, joy, regret, paint, body odor, cotton, turnip oil, salty ocean air, fresh fish, fresh sawdust, and more.
A man, dressed in a guards uniform, strides through the crowd, the people giving the man a wide berth. He strides up, and upon his chest is the ancient symbol for the Aes sedia, the flame and the dragons mark.
Bowing deeply, he greets you all
Good day to you all. I have been instructed to guide you to the palace upon yonder hill. If you would be so good as to follow me.
Turning, he begins to walk towards a large, steep hill that appears to go up to the top of the world. There, within the peak is a large black opening, where what appears to be people walking in and out of the entrance.
The crowd, once pressing close to you, now seems to have lost interest in you, as they turn away and go about their business.
Casting a bewildered eye at his companions, Rhoekk follows after the strange man, leading the way for the group.
Ryland opens his eyes at the man's voice and growls, a low sound coming from deep in the Boarderlander.
"Who are you? What is this place?"
The wolf brother turns his head looking for the source of the smell.
Blood. Fresh blood. Light what have we gotten into?
Seeing everyone's attention turn to the same empty space, then Rhoekk turn and start walking off with a decidedly odd expression, Kodo speaks up. "Hold, Rhoekk. What's happening here? You're all acting so strangely."
This is the great city of Parel, jewel of the Arnith Ocean, Lordseat for the Harranth district. the man quips over his shoulder, continuing to walk, ignoring the dangerous glare from Ryland.
"I was not expecting to see people up here. I assumed the city would be long abandoned."
Kodo blinks at Rhoekk's statement. "People? What people?" He looks at the others as if trying to perceive something. "Do you all see... people?"
Fia looks at Kodo quizzically. "What do you mean?? They are all around us.
Alathea squeezes Kodokura's hand, harder this time. "My Heart, you must see them, yes? We must follow this man; he is here to help us." She smiles at her lover to put him at ease, but she no longer feels the carefree happiness she feigns. Though she is grateful to find such a safe and inviting place after all their hardships, what good is it if her Heart cannot share it with her?
Kodo leans in close to Alathea, speaking under his breath. "Dear one: there is nothing here. I don't know what's going on, but this city is empty, ruined... and heavy with grief, or pain, or evil." He stares into her eyes, willing her to believe him. "You must trust me, Alathea. I'm not mad - I wasn't before my gentling, and I'm not now. There. Is. No one. Here."
Alathea cocks her head to the side and looks at Kodokura quizzically. Perhaps her love for him had blinded her to some saidin induced madness? She squeezes his hand. Speaking with slow reluctance, she asks, "But how can this place be eerie? These people, they do not look unfriendly, yes?" Now uneasy, she pulls him closer. Whispering, she asks, "Do you think that they hide their true intentions?"
Kodo shakes his head slightly. "There is something wrong... Stay close to me, Alathea Sedai," he murmurs, his voice and expression business-like, his hand on his sword.
As the guard approaches and speaks to the group, Kodokura squints at him, not amiably, and slightly shifts his body to put it between the man and Alathea.
Although she cannot see what Kodokura might fear from this beautiful place, these beautiful people, Alathea slips her arm into his and stays close to his side. "I will, my Heart."
This is the great city of Parel, jewel of the Arnith Ocean, Lordseat for the Harranth district. the man quips over his shoulder, continuing to walk, ignoring the dangerous glare from Ryland.
Walking through the now thriving city, the guard stops often to speak with random people.
eventually, after taking what appears to be the "short" way as the guard put it, you are lead up to a long flight of stairs.
Looking up, the stairs appear to be carved directly into the stone face, and at such a severe angle that ropes have been attached to the stairs themselves to help people climb.
Grunting, the guards speaks out loud.
Now i remember why i hate having to get people to see the lord
reaching up he grasps the rope and begins the long climb up.
you all look at each other, wondering why such an odd looking stair. not seeing an answer anywhere, you shrug and begin to climb.
Within moments of climbing, you feel your limbs tremble, your lungs ache, your heart beat rapidly in your chest. your breathing is labored and hard to do. perhaps its the stairs you think to yourself.
This is the great city of Parel, jewel of the Arnith Ocean, Lordseat for the Harranth district. the man quips over his shoulder, continuing to walk, ignoring the dangerous glare from Ryland.
Walking through the now thriving city, the guard stops often to speak with random people.
Fia takes the stairs without complaint, though the usually spry aiel woman seemed to soon be just as out of breath from the climb as her companions. Pausing in her climb, she calls ahead to their guide. "Why such an odd and difficult approach to this palace of yours? Does the palace have a history of being attacked?"
Wiil: