Business of the Tower

[Alicia Sedai]

Alicia Sedai walked quickly down the corridor heading for the ouside courtyard. She was determined to find out more about the young man who had arrived awhile back. After the meeting with several of her fellow blue sisters, and all along the thoughts of what was happening in the world keep playing back. Among other things reports had come in that the south lands were being over run with shadow spawn, and that the the blight itself was beginning to stir..
" Anaiya, " My sources have revealed that darkfriends have indeed been seen in both Andor, and as far as Illian." Kairen, " rumors of more False dragons are pouring in ever day, and some even claim to channel. Indeed this is very bad news indeed." Alicia, " One thing is for certain we must investigate all of these rumors ourselves, and then we can get to the bottom of this." Rafela, " I agree sister.. These rumors must be investigated, and if they are ture the tower will need to act at once." Alicia, " Then I shall travel to the Capital of Andor, and see what I can turn up. I shall keep you all well informed, and hopefully the rumors will turn out to be false.. " Kairen, " Do nto forget the young man who has been brought in that some claim can channel. If this is ture then that will make two comfirmed male channlers alive that we know of.. " Alicia, " We should meet with the young men who came right before he was brought.. They surely know more than they are revealing, and we better move fast. If the reds get to them first then it will be done and over with. They will still the boy and probably have the other two killed." Kairen, " Then it is settled it does not matter which one of us questions them as long as it is one of us so who ever can get to them first will do. Alicia I take it that you will be leaving for Andor tomorrow?" Alicia, " I should be gone before first light as long as everthing goes smoothly. The reds will be asking questions about some many of us blues leaving the tower. Firrst I am going to see about a young man I have discovered here in the tower. He has been here awhile, and no one has been able to get anything out of him."
Alicia moved outside through the court yard, and finally saw the man she was looking for. In her mind she was already thinking of all the possible ways to get him to jin with her on her joruney. She stopped short of a few paces from him and stared him down with her pericing blue eyes. Alicia, " Greetings young man.. I am Alicia Sedai. Do not be afraid for I will not harm you, or attach strings to you as many people may think Aes Seadi do. I merely wish to speak with you of your journeys, and generally any information you may have picked up on your travels."

[dorrin]

Dorrin couldn’t believe how far he had fallen. It had not been that many months ago when he was at the top of the world, he had a mercenary army, he was in charge, he was going to be known as the best military tactician there was. Than he took a job where he ended up fighting five to one odds, he barley got out alive, none of his men did.
In a daze he wandered and somehow he ended up in Tar Valon.
It wasn’t long before everyone wanted to know who he was, where he came from, and why he had come to Tar Valon. But he really was not in any mood to answer, he simply wanted to be alone because while he told himself he felt no grief or guilt, he was annoyed that he would have to start all over, and he simply didn’t have the energy for awhile.
Today he was wondering the courtyard alone with his thoughts. An Aes Sedai came directly up to him and said, " Greetings young man.. I am Alicia Sedai. Do not be afraid for I will not harm you, or attach strings to you as many people may think Aes Seadi do. I merely wish to speak with you of your journeys, and generally any information you may have picked up on your travels." " Greetings young man.. I am Alicia Sedai. Do not be afraid for I will not harm you, or attach strings to you as many people may think Aes Seadi do. I merely wish to speak with you of your journeys, and generally any information you may have picked up on your travels."
Dorrin’s face instantly became a mask that showed nothing.
“Information Aes Sedai? Well being cut with swords hurt, so does being pierced with arrows. Eating bad food will catch up with you, and age is nothing when compared to experience.

[Alicia Sedai]

Alicia, " Be careful young one for the kindness of the tower only goes so far. Speak to other Aes Sedai as you just did and you might find yourself stuck upon a sliverpike.. Especailly if you run into a red sister, for they hate all men." Dorrin face never changed but the Aes Sedai could see his true nature. Alicia, " See through you I can.. Fear and it seems even nervous you are around me.. That is good for any normal person would be nervous around an Aes Sedai. Now I have given you the chance to speak the truth of your journeys, but it seems you are not willing to speak freely so I am afraid you will have to come with me when I leave the tower." Dorrin, " What! I will go were I please, and when I please." Alicia, " That is were you are wrong for the moment you came here you became a target of much concern.. You may stay if you like, but my sisters will not be so kind as I have been. I offer you a chance to leave this place, and once you have served your purpose you may leave my company at anytime." Dorrin was stunned by the words that had came from the Aes Sedai. He found himself in a trap inwhich he could not escape, and to top it off he was now a Aes Sedai puppet. Quickly his eyes darted to see if he could find some way out of this mess, but then he realized that he was in the heart of the Aes Sedai.
Alicia, " I will leave you now to make your choice, for I have many things to take care of before I leave. If you decide to join me then meet me in the stables at first light tomorrow. Beware of my sisters, and even more the reds. They will take any meaures to get what they want as will I, but do as I say and you will come out better than you would with them." Alicia strolled off leaving Dorrin gaping with his mouth wide open as if trying to catch flies.

[dorrin]

Dorrin closed his mouth with a snap. It always amused him how simply changing his face would let people think they knew his emotions. He thought about what the sister said. It was true that he had been here for a long while, perhaps he should go with the sister, simply to get away. He went to bed.
He woke up the next morning with his head much clearer. He saw now how the sister manipulated him, and it annoyed and amused him. He headed down to the stables and saw the Aes Sedai. "You know" he said "you very nearly scared me, except I remembered those three oaths. You can't hurt me, or your sisters, you can just make me leave. But the fact that you have tried to manipulate me shows that you want something from me, and because you have what I want, but I have something you want more, we will strike a bargain. In return for going with you and doing as you say for as long as I am journeying with you, in return you will tell me the complete truth about where we are going and why. Furthermore, I may stop journeying with you when I choose, but I will not hinder or interfere with your journey, once that happens. If such a deal can't be struck we will both lose something, you will lose the finest military mind in the world, and I don't say that lightly or with boast, and I will lose the horse. But I am used to walking."

[Alicia Sedai]

Alicia had known he would react this way since most men of his intelligence would not fall for such a simplemind trick. Alicia, " I will tell you what I think is important for you to know, and only what you need to know. You must trust me for I will have to trsut yo uas well. As far as leaving when you wish I will agree as long as you understand the information you have about the areas we will travel to will be mine. This are the terms in which you will except or you shall remain in Tar Valon til my sisters are through with you. Mind you my these term will be honored, but I must ask that you do not interfere with business that does not concern you. I must also warn you that we will possibly meet danger along the way.. Do yo except?"

[dorrin]

Dorrin laughed out loud. "Danger is not new to me at all, I am a mercenary general after all. Danger and me have a long reralationship. It was Danger that gave this to me," with that he lifted up his shirt to reveal the scar that ran along his chest. "Now where are we going, or do you want to tell me on the road?"

[Alicia Sedai]

Alicia only stared at him with out even a reaction. Her blue eyes without emotion, which was not uncommon for Aes Sedai. Alicia, " Then it is settled ou shal join me and my Gaidin Telrain. I will discuss in detail of our desination when we make camp tonight. There are eyes and ears everywhere here, and I wish not for anyone to know my plans. " Dorrin nodded,but reluctanly. He was not use to being lead blind, and ws not likeing it at all. They walked to the stable were there horses along with Telrian her warder. Alicia, " We will have a hard ride ahead of us before we can stop. I intend to ride til dusk, for we must be quick if we are to find what we need." They mounted and began there joruney throught the city to reach the main gate. They city itself was as busy as ever with merchants, and even Aes Sedai going about there busniess.
After making it outside the city they began there hard ride, and many hours past without a word from anyone. The sky was blue and a pretty day, but darkness began to creep up upon them as the sun left the sky. Dorrin could not understand why there was such a need to ride all day at the pact they were going. It wsa as if they were trying to outrun the dark one himself. As the sun began to set Alicia announced that they would camp in the clearing off the main road. Dorrin and Telrain secrued the horses, and made sure that all was feed before returning to the already burning fire which Alicia had made. Dorrin, " I have been patient long enough, and now I wish to know what it is we are doing if you please Aes Sedai." Alicia looked and if here stare was fire he would haved burned to ashes at that moment. Alicia, " Indeed a promise is a promise, so you shall have your answers. We are traveling to Caemlyn to investigate several rumors about darkfriends, and I fear we may face even worse things when we reach there." Dorrin, " Darkfriends in Caemlyn? I would not think is so, but Aes Sedai are the experts in darkfriends not I" Alicia, " I am gald to hear that for we may run into many conflicts along the way. Bandits are running all through Andor, and the children of the light hav also come in great numbers. It is best if from now on you call me by the name of Mistress Aniya and Telrain by the name of lord Telaik. We do not need trouble from the children of the light, and A red sister by the name of Elaida is the advsior to the queen so we must be very careful of what we do, an say." Dorrin had many more questions but debated if he really wished to know or not.

[dorrin]

Dorrin was content with the answer for a second, but then he realized that it was no where near complete. "Hold on, why can't Elaida deal with the darkfriends. Moreover why are darkfriends such a concern to you? Darkfriends are nothing new, eben in Camelyn, so they would not warrant the attention that you are giving them, so you must b e going for another reason, why? Wait, don't tell me yet, I don't like bad news in the night, I will let you and the gaidain decide who should keep watch during the night, me I am simply too tired to." He left the Aes Sedai staring daggers at him, he went to bed and fell asleep in seconds.
He woke up in the morning and went out to kill a few rabbits. Alicia woke up to the smell of breakfast, Dorrin looked at her and said, "the answers to my questions now please, or should I repeat them?

[Alicia Sedai]

Alicia only stared at hi mas if he had not spoken at all. She left him staring with a disgruntal look upon his face. Alicia went to go check to make sure everything was as it should be, and to prepare to leave. Telrain went to were Dorrin sat to havea few words of wisdom with him. Telrain, " I have some advice give you. It is best to show respect to an Aes Sedai, and not ask questions inwhich the answers are none of your business. Personnally I would rather be surrounded by a hundred Trollocs than face an angry Aes Sedai." Without notice Alicia had came back to sit by the low burning fire. Alicia, " I shall answer the questions that I see fit to answer, and no more. Elaida is a red as I told you last night, and reds are more concerned with men who can channel. Now if you have not heard yet a man named Logain has been captured, and is being brought to the tower to be gentled. He should be leaving Cameyln anyday now. We shall reach Cameyln by sundown tonight is we make good time. To answer about the darkfriends I shall only say this. Many in the tower think that the dark one stills lies trapped unable to take part in the world, but some like myself believe that the end is coming. I am not going to deal with anyone even if I do discover darkfriends. I am only to discover as much about the truth of the matter as possible. I will warn you only once that if you ask to many questions you may find yourself bond to me forever. Somethings are best left secret, and Aes Sedai business is Aes Sedai alone. Now that I have answered your questions and mind you that the answers are the best you shall get. I shall ask a question of you." Dorrin could not believe how a face such as the one that faced him could make him fill so cold. He could not imagine what question he would have to answer. Alicia, " Tell me about where you wer born, and the places you have travled. You may tell me all about yourself while we travel. "

[dorrin]

Without a word Dorrin nodded and got on his horse. He began the story as they were walking, "The story starts with a twelve year old boy on a farm, one who is the sole survivor of a bandit attack. He lies dieing, but is found by a mercenary and saved. He becomes the adopted son of the mercenary, and eventually the mercentary and his son end up wth a mercenary band. They are hired and in mid battle, all looks lost, when the mercenay shouts an ordered that his son suggested, they win and the mercenary becomes the leader. Recognizing his son's natural ability at military tactics he has him study them with a veangeance. The son grows into a man, and is forced into the same position, what happened years earlier repeats due to a fool, but the son salvaged the battle, but not in time to save his father. After that, the camp is no loner unorganized with the strongest taking the lead. It is reorganized, made into a proffesional camp, it is feared. It is given the name the Hand of Death."
Dorrin stopped momentarily when he saw the Aes Sedai looking at him. "YES! I was the infamous leader, the one who everyone wanted to hire. My career was short but legendary, I took jobs thought follhardy, and pulled off the impossible. But then I was given a job that no man could do, and a I lost it all. I then escaped and wondered to Tar Valon. That reminds me, somoene once tried to hire me, but I was forced to decline because I heard rumors about where he wanted me to meet someone who would elaborate my mission. I believe the place was called Shadar Logoth, or something like that. What?" Dorrin asked as he was the Aes Sedai turn sharply to him.

[Alicia Sedai]

The look upon Alicia face show both concern and fear. She had only heard of the place which even trollocs would not dare go, and Shadar Logoth was feared by all who knew of its existence. Alicia, " What was the name of the person?" Dorrin could not understand why she had gone so stiff, but it had to be bad to make an Aes Sedai show fear. Dorrin, " I did not get a name only a location. Why does it matter? What is this Shadar Logoth place?" Alicia, " It is a place of great evil some known and many unknown. Most no longer know of its name of location, but the tower knows well of the evil that is there. It is home to shadows that even the trollocs will not dare face, and that is a good enough reason to stay clear of it. Those who go there do not come out alive, and if they do most will not speak of what they saw. It is good you declined for if you didnt you may have become a host to the darkest evil that is trapped there. Mordeth has a great evil within him, and if you were to meet him at the gates he would take your body,and be released upon the world. I do not believe even the strongest Aes Sedai could stand againist him, and not even the Dark lord could control him. Remember this well for there are few who no of such evil, and those who dont are better off."
It was a long while before anyone spoke again, and even then it was short conversation. As sun began to fall the city of Camelyn came into view. A grand sight is was and only Alicia spoke, " Now the real danger is at hand." With that they began there ride to the city gates all along Alicia was informing Dorrin of were they would be staying. Alicia, " We will stay The Queen's Blessing they are friends of the blue ajah though they will not admit it to no one so remember our names that we go by hear. You will have plenty of time to go look aroudn the city as long as you are careful, and dont draw attention to yourself."

[dorrin]

Dorrin said nothing until they arrived at the Queen's blessing, he picked his room, and promptly went out to explore the city. Or that was wnat he told the Aes Sedai. he already knew about Camelyn, and he knew what the first thing he had to do was. It was nothing to do with their mission, it was something else that had to finish. Because the person that gave him the job and sacraficed his mercenaries was still alive, and that was a grave injustice. He went over to the house where he met the man and knocked, the door opened, and the man stepped out, and Dorrin drove his sword through him. "Fool, you thought I would expose myself like that," said a voice behind him. Dorrin could feel a sword on his back, "actually no," said Dorrin,and he spun around and slashed at the man, recieving a pierced back in return. Dorrin hobbled back to the Queen's blessing, he went to the Aes Sedai's room, and weakly said, "I ran into a bit of trouble," before collapsing on her bed.

[Alicia Sedai]

This thread shall begin again in the middle cont... since that is were we are now..