Tony
M'hael
[F4:1256010066]
Posts: 5,172
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Post by Tony on Jun 10, 2005 18:16:12 GMT -5
Closing the door firmly behind him, Jaric and Dagon stood in the hallway of the Borderlander. The smell of vomit still filled his nostrils and his own stomach threatened to bring up his breakfast. Dagon didn't look too good either, but that could also be from the fact that he was going to go to the White Tower today.
Jaric tried to think up somehow to help Jakob. He could just go out and find a woman who knows about herbs and the such or he could go and find a sister to see what she can do for Jakob. In all likely hood there wouldn't be a woman who knew about herbs. Why would you need on in Tar Valon when you had Aes Sedai that could help?
Jaric sighed and turned to Dagon, "Are you ready to go the Tower? I thought that when we went over there we could ask an Aes Sedai to come to the Borderlander and take a look at Jakob. It may just be the flu or something, but I rather not take a chance. Also, I doubt there would be a woman who knows about herbs living in Tar Valon."
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Victor
Baijan'm'hael
"...here is a strip based on the entirely fan-created homosexual tension between Flik and Viktor."
Posts: 567
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Post by Victor on Jun 10, 2005 18:38:54 GMT -5
No, I'm not ready, thought Dagon, but rather than saying so, he nodded. "Let's go to the White Tower. It would let me get this... thing... with my leg over with, and we'd be able to help Jakob, too."
The journey to the White Tower seemed to move quickly before Dagon's eyes. After retrieving their horses from the stables, the pair rode down the streets of Tar Valon, neither rushing or loitering. The city seemed bright in the morning, with people hustling down the streets and merchants beginning to sell their goods. Although the city was impressive in the morning light, Dagon was to preoccupied by what was looming ahead of him to be affected by it.
Once they had reached the Tower, Dagon and Jaric dismounted their horses and entered. Although the grounds of the White Tower was bustling with visitors and Tower residents, it somehow seemed far more peaceful than Tar Valon had. Something about the place took Dagon's breath away and quieted his thoughts, allowing him to dispel most of the nervousness that had taken control of him.
Jaric led the way, threading his way through the people who had crowded the Tower grounds. Dagon followed as closely as he could, impaired only slightly by his rested leg. After several minutes of searching, Dagon caught sight of a woman who seemed to be unoccupied for the moment. The young man pointed her out to Jaric, and the two men made their way over to speak to her.
"Excuse me," said Dagon as they approached her. "Do you know where we could find a healer? A friend of ours in the city could use some assistance, and I myself have a problem that I could use some help with."
Dagon flinched as the woman turned her piercing gaze upon him. "I am Miera Sedai, of the Blue Ajah. There are several Yellows in the Tower that could help you or your friend, but they will need to know the nature of the problems. And," she added pointedly, "why they are serious enough to warrant are attention."
Trying and failing to find his voice, Dagon cast a pleading gaze at Jaric. "Don't try my patience, young man," said Miera Sedai. "I'm a very busy woman."
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Tony
M'hael
[F4:1256010066]
Posts: 5,172
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Post by Tony on Jun 11, 2005 10:33:58 GMT -5
Jaric cleared his throat and with the smoothest voice he could manage said, "Aes Sedai, our friend back in the inn we were staying suddenly fell ill. He was fine beforehand and nothing was wrong. Then all of a sudden he just fell to the floor vomiting. It could just be some kind of light sickness, but we have traveled far to Tar Valon and do not wish to take the risk of having one of our own die.
"As for Dagon here," Jaric gestured, "He said he was born with a lame leg. He hoped that coming to Tar Valon the Aes Sedai could make his leg whole again or at least better than what it is now. Is there a chance you would be willing to help us?"
The Aes Sedai stared at Jaric and he met her stare for stare. He was not afraid of Aes Sedai. Growing up in Shienar he was around Aes Sedai sometimes. He knew what they were capable of and and what they were. He was about to open his mouth and ask again when he felt the pressure in the back of his head growing. Blood and bloody ashes! he thought. He turned to try and get away as to not frighten anyone, but it was no luck. It came with a force of a thousand thunderstorms. The pressure felt like it would rip his head apart. That his eyes would pop out of their sockets. He fell to the floor and gripped his head. It was perhaps the biggest vision yet to come and he did not want to see what it was going to be about.
Jaric saw himself walking cautiously down a stone corridor, both of this swords drawn. There were torches that lined the sides of the hallway giving off a flickering orange light. Anything could be waiting in the shadows between the torches. He saw himself come to a corner in the corridor and slowly glance around. Down the hallway was a small room and big, heavy, iron bound door. There were a couple of tables in that small room and some guards. Jaric saw himself take a deep breath and then sprint down the hallway. He got the room with his swords ready and then . . . a flash.
Jaric bent down and wiped his blades on the shirt of one of the guards. He sheathed his swords and went to the heavy door. He grunted as he pulled on the handle, but it swung out. Taking a torch down from one of the brackets he walked into a dungeon like area. Cells lined the sides with men cursing at him from all directions. He knew, but didn't know, what cell he was looking for. After walking past a half dozen cells he came to the one he was after. He looked in and saw . . . a flash.
Jaric was running down the hallways of the Tower, both his swords drawn again. Novices squeaked at the sight of him and the men behind him. Jaric glanced to his side and saw Jakob. Glancing to his other side he saw , Light!, Dagon. The man wore a half grin as his sprinted with the rest of them, the limp in his leg almost gone. Jaric grinned himself. They came to the main entrance of the Tower, but instead attracting more notice they rand down a different corridor to a side entrance. They came upon a door and . . . there was a flash.
Galloping down the streets of Tar Valon, they made their way to the nearest bridge that crossed the Erinin. Guards would no doubt be waiting for them there, but Jaric was ready to fight. He came all this way and he wasn't about to be stopped by a bunch of half trained boys. He grimaced and grabbed his sword. Luckily the Aes Sedai had not kept that. He was good with his swords, but he preferred the spear over them all. Jakob unsheathed his sword and Dagon knocked an arrow in his bow. They continued down the roads of Tar Valon . . . there was a flash.
Jaric felt too exhausted from the sudden vision. His arms felt like rubber and so did his legs. He did not think he could have even opened his eyes to see where he was. He could almost feel himself being picked up, but he thought he imagined it. He feel asleep to a dreamless sleep and was carried away.
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Victor
Baijan'm'hael
"...here is a strip based on the entirely fan-created homosexual tension between Flik and Viktor."
Posts: 567
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Post by Victor on Jun 13, 2005 12:39:15 GMT -5
OOC: Tony, if there's anything you want done differently with Jaric, say the word and I'll edit
Dagon followed Miera Sedai and an attractive girl in white garments to the infirmary. In front of them, a stony-faced man held Jaric in his arms and was partially dragging him along with him. However, the fact that the Borderlander's feet were hanging in the air and that the man who was carrying him was bearing the load unnaturally easily suggested that Miera Sedai was doing... something to lighten the man's weight.
In an attempt to make conversation and lighten his mood, Dagon turned to speak to the girl clothed in white. However, before he spoke, he noticed that her eyes were narrowed and her breaths were short and controlled. Confused, Dagon turned forward again and continued his walk to the infirmary.
When the group finally arrived, Miera Sedai opened the door and ushered the group inside. "Put the man down," she instructed sharply, gesturing toward an empty bed near the entrance to the infirmary. The man bearing Jaric brought him over to the bed and set him down. As whatever force was helping to carry the man released its grip on him, he heard a deep sigh behind him and turned to see the woman in white's mask of concentration fall away.
"Thank you, Accepted," Miera Sedai said to her. "Now bring us a Yellow." As the younger woman scurried off to do the Aes Sedai's bidding, Miera turned her gaze upon Dagon. "I believe we will be able to help your companion," she said, gesturing to Jaric. "And shortly after we have seen to him, we will send out a group to examine your friend in the city."
"Thank you," Dagon said. After a short hesitation, he continued. "If I may ask... what is a Yellow?"
Miera Sedai gazed at him with an expression which was somewhere in between amusement and annoyance. "A Yellow," she began, "is a member of the Yellow Ajah. You recall me saying that I was a member of the Blue?" Miera continued before Dagon could confirm what she had said. "There are seven Ajahs within the Tower, each with a different purpose. The Blues, for example, attempt to forward worthy causes. The Yellows concentrate their energies on Healing. Understand?"
Dagon nodded. Satisfied, Miera Sedai turned away and began conversing in low tones with the man who had carried Jaric into the Tower. Having nothing else to do, Dagon removed his quiver of arrow from his back and counted how many he had remaining. Seventeen, he counted. He had managed to refill his supply of arrows since he had left Caemlyn, ensuring that there would be that many more shots between his opponent and himself. Satisfied with the arrow count, Dagon turned his attention to his unstrung bow and the bowstring which he carried in his pack.
"What is it, Miera Sedai?" asked a woman as she grew close -- another Aes Sedai, Dagon guessed, mostly due to the ageless look she wore on her face that was similar to Miera's.
"This young man," Miera Sedai said, pointing to Dagon, "and his companion," she gestured at Jaric, "came here in search of assistance. According to the one who is abed, they have a companion waiting in an inn in Tar Valon who they are concerned for. The young man seems to be here for the purpose of receiving Healing for his lame leg. And the other man had a fainting spell after giving me all this information."
"I see," said the other Aes Sedai. Then, she moved over to the bed Jaric was laying in and placed her hands upon his forehead. After a few moments, she turned to Dagon. "Your friend seems to be exhausted, but other than that he is fine. If he's given some rest and some food, he should wake in a matter of hours."
Dagon smiled slightly. "Thank you, ma'am."
"You may call me Jilia Sedai," she said. "Now, which inn did you say your other companion was residing at?"
"The Borderlander," Dagon answered. "He suddenly became sick at breakfast. It's probably nothing serious, but Jaric and I thought that it would be better to find help than to risk his health."
"Accepted Rhea?" called Jilia Sedai. As Dagon turned his head to follow the Aes Sedai's gaze, he noticed that Miera Sedai and the man who had accompanied her had left.
"Yes, Aes Sedai?" The same girl who had accompanied Miera Sedai approached from another part of the infirmary.
"Find Larisa Sedai. Tell her that Jilia Sedai sent you. Inform her that there is a young man in the Borderlander who suddenly became sick this morning. It may or may not be something to concern ourselves with, but two men came here earlier and requested that we make sure he is alright."
The girl -- Rhea -- nodded and went to follow Jilia Sedai's instructions. Then, the Yellow turned to Dagon. "What is your name, young man?"
"Dagon."
"Now, I believe Miera Sedai said something about you wanting your leg healed?"
Feeling his pulse quicken, Dagon nodded.
Without a word, Jilia Sedai reached out to grasp Dagon's arm and led him further back into the infirmary. At the Aes Sedai's bidding, he removed his breeches and lay down in an unoccupied bed.
The embarrassment Dagon felt at sitting in the infirmary with his exposed undergarments faded quickly as Jilia Sedai examined his leg. The woman's expression was unreadable as she moved her hands along the too visible disfigurement. "How did this happen to you, young man?" she asked.
"I was born with this leg," said Dagon.
The woman resumed her examination of his leg, but did not speak for several moments. "People are usually not born with such disfigurements," she said. "Perhaps it was an injury your leg sustained during birth? No matter," she continued as Dagon expressed his confusion.
"Will you be able to Heal it?" asked Dagon after several more moments, dreading the woman's answer.
"Yes... I believe it is possible." Dagon's heart leaped at the Aes Sedai's answer, but the woman looked up at him. "I warn you, young man -- the Healing will not be painless. It may be excruciating, depending on how well you respond to the herbs you will be given. It will likely leave you exhausted, as well."
Blood and ashes, he had been right to worry. But... the pain would be worth the reward, surely. After all, pain was a small price to pay for the reward of not having to live with his lame leg any longer.
"Then I would like my leg to be Healed," Dagon said.
---
Over the course of a half hour, Dagon had followed Jilia Sedai to a room near the infirmary. Unlike the infirmary, this room was secluded. Two other Yellows and a pair of young women in white had joined Jilia Sedai in the room.
Dagon, who had stripped off his shirt along with his breeches, lay on the bed. He had been waiting there for at least five minutes, and although he trusted that the women knew what they were doing he could not help but feel nervous.
"Dagon," said a voice, and the young man sat up in his bed to gaze at Jilia Sedai. "You will be left in here alone. We will be burning several types of mind-affecting herbs while we are gone -- you must lay still on the bed and inhale the fumes. Once the herbs have finished burning, we will reenter the room and being our attempt to reconstruct your leg."
The three Aes Sedai and the young woman who had accompanied them left, leaving Dagon alone in the room. As they instructed, Dagon lay still on the bed he had been given and inhaled the fragrances given off by the herbs that were being burned. After several minutes of this, Dagon slowly began to lose track of time. By the time the five women reentered the room, Dagon was only vaguely aware of his surroundings.
One of the women in white reached down and withdrew the sheets from Dagon's bed, revealing his leg. As that woman stepped away, an Aes Sedai whose name Dagon did not know said something to the other woman wearing white. That person gave the Aes Sedai a sharp instrument.
Then, the Aes Sedai stepped forward and extended the object toward Dagon's leg. Something told the young man to panic, but his mind and body were moving too slowly for him to do anything.
A second later, a hot pain reached up Dagon's disfigured leg. A small groan escaped the young man's mouth, but beyond that... nothing.
That pain was not the worst of what was happening to Dagon. He felt his flesh being cut... and beneath that, sharper pains as the woman with the sharp object worked. Through a haze of pain and delirium, Dagon could barely see the Aes Sedai with the cutting instrument pull away and bend down toward the wound she had created. Then, a harsher pain than anything he had felt so far passed through him, and Dagon exhaled sharply.
When the Aes Sedai returned her attentions to Dagon's leg, the pain grew. Mercifully, Dagon had withdrew further into the pain and herb-induced haze that had accompanied him this far into the treatment. Light... Jaric and Jakob...
Unknown to Dagon, the Aes Sedai's careful deconstruction of his leg had come to a stop. The three Aes Sedai hovered over him as the young women in white looked on. The two who had not done the cutting bent down to examine the wound.
Jaric and Jakob... Dagon's mind continued. Where... where are they...?
Then, suddenly, a sharp feeling broke through Dagon's pain and hallucinations. It felt as if he had been tossed into a pond in the middle of winter... but despite the shock, the feeling took away most of the pain he felt.
As the feeling faded, Dagon felt as if his mind had shut down. Truly enough, he could not bring himself to move... and he could barely bring himself to think.
---
"It appears our work was a success," Jilia Sedai said as the young man she and her companions had been treating lapsed into unconsciousness. "We've managed to cut away the malformed muscles in his leg, and have broken the disfigured bones. Unless I miss my guess, our healing should return the muscle and bone to their natural state."
A look of disquiet passed over her face. It was one that only an Aes Sedai would notice... but she was with two of her sisters. "What is wrong, Jilia?" one of them asked.
"Poor young man," she said, quietly enough so that the two Accepted would not hear her. "I wish I knew some way of sparing him the pain of the operation, but... the herbs we gave him were the most effective way available to us."
Shaking herself free of those thoughts, she looked to the pair of Accepted. "Valerie, Caraline, take him to the infirmary. If you can, find him a bed near the back, where he will be left undisturbed. His leg will be alright but... after what he has been put through, he will need rest."
The two Accepted concentrated, and after a moment Dagon's body began to float through the air. As the pair of young women moved toward the door, one of them, almost as an afterthought, stopped to pick up the possessions Dagon had carried into the room with him. Certainly he would want his belongings to be close to him when he awoke.
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Robert
Baijan'm'hael
Oriental Despot Extraordinaire!
Posts: 920
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Post by Robert on Jun 13, 2005 19:02:33 GMT -5
His eyes flicked open, maddened, darting around the room. It was all as he had remembered... The windows were closed, and the day was getting long outside. The tapestries on the wall were unmoved, and his sword was by his side.
So why did he feel so afraid.
He shifted, and realized that a half a dozen covers were pulled over him. He never slept with more than one... He pushed off the thick layer, wondering what the hell had happened. Then it hit him. Breakfast. Sickness. Carried up to his room. That must have been earlier today, and if Jaric and Dagon weren’t here, they were surely going to get...
No.
He leapt up and buckled the swordbelt around his waist. A knock came impatiently at the door, at which he jumped. The first round must have been what awoke him...
“I’m... Dressing. Excuse me for a few moments,” he called out the door.
“Very well, but do not keep us long.”
Us. Damn. Sisters. This is going to be rough...
He looked around. How could he possibly escape. There was no way that he could get out of here, he thought, no way... His eyes went back to the window. He moved to it quickly, and tried his best to open it... but the hinges must have been rusted shut.
Damn.
No way to get out, no way to leave...
“Are you going to keep us all day?”
“I’m... I’m sorry. I really don’t think you should come in,” he called. “I’m definately not in a temper to see anyone...”
“You will see us. Your friends have told us you are sick, and we will see you. Now.”
“No. No, I’m all right... I don’t want to see anyone.”
A second voice came from outside. “Maybe we should just leave, he’s wasting our time enough.”
“Nonsense,” the first voice said. “I must see what is wrong with him.”
Exasperated, he called out, “There’s nothing that’s bloody wrong!” his voice cracking mid sentence. He winced.
“Need we barge down your door to see you? Open the door, lest you want trouble with Aes Sedai.”
He needed something. Light, let something help me. A diversion, something to draw their attention... A favorable wind...
Something moved within him and a gust of wind blew suddenly, tearing the roof to pieces above him.
“Blood and bloody ashes!” he shouted, mingling with the voices of the Aes Sedai.
Suddenly a prickle rand down his neck as he heard one say, “Just to be safe–”
Something tried to cut him, to cut him off from the light, the world. He shuddered as the light grew dimmer, and dimmer, and focused all his resolve into freeing the light. A thick, pulsating strand of... something... lashed out and broke the door down in the faces of the startled Aes Sedai, and the pressure on the light ceased abruptly.
“Light!” the two of them cried, but the end of the word was drowned out in a sudden roar from behind him, and he was knocked onto his face. Rising, he looked about, and a smoldering hole loomed in the wall.
My chance. My wind of fortune.
He leapt for it–
–and suddenly felt as though a giant hand grasped him, clenched him. A thick wedge of something forced the light out of the world, and his arms snapped to his sides... Something else forced its way into his mouth.
“Light. To think a male channeler could lurk in Tar Valon.”
“Indeed.”
“Well, I’ve got him taken care of. Go tell his friends that they needn’t worry about him–that he was a danger to all of them... Explain the circumstances.”
“Of course, Sister.”
******************
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Tony
M'hael
[F4:1256010066]
Posts: 5,172
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Post by Tony on Jun 13, 2005 21:45:04 GMT -5
Jaric slept with sound resolve after his Foretelling. He was exhausted, but other than that okay. Dreams did not impede into his sleep and he regained what lost energy he spent. A couple of hours after passing out he awoke in a small room. The walls were white, the sheets were white, even the bed frame was painted white. He had either become a novice or he was in the infirmary. The infirmary . . .? Why would I be - Jaric's thoughts stopped in mid sentence. Of course, he had one of his Foretellings in front of an Aes Sedai. They must have been worried about him and stuck him in one of these blasted rooms.
Throwing off the sheets and blankets he got out of bed, but quickly jumped back in. Someone had taken the liberty of removing all of his clothes. Grumbling, he shook a blanket and wrapped it around himself and walked over to the small dresser. Pulling the drawers out revealed his clothing and belongings. His saddle bags lay empty at the side of the dresser. Jaric grabbed a pair of loose fitting brown pants, a white shirt, and a dark blue coat among the small clothes needed. After dressing he looked around for his swords and saw them propped up against the corner along with his spear. The spear was about three-quarters as tall as he was with a foot of steel at the end. It could be used hand-to-hand combat or on a horse. His swords were both the same, except weighted differently for each hand. They had a slight curve to them and were single-edged. They almost looked like Heron-Marked swords except Jaric had to sharpen his. He envied the men who didn't have to sharpen their swords. He hated to sharp his weapons.
He grabbed for his swords and stopped. Walking around with swords buckled to your back was bad around Aes Sedai. They would either think you meant them harm or you were a fresh Warder. He didn't really want to be bonded to a Green minutes after he stepped out of the room. He rubbed his hand through his blond hair to make it as straight as possible and stepped out into the hallway. Novices, nurses, and even Aes Sedai bustled along the hallways of the infirmary. He tried to stop an Aes Sedai and ask where they had taken Jakob and Dagon, but they all ignored him.
By the time he had found his way to a small desk in a small lobby he was ready to bite heads off. He strode up to the small desk and stared at the woman who sat behind it. She gave no sign of his approach and he was not about to give anyone the satisfaction of being in charge. He stood there for minutes when she finally gave a sigh and asked, "How may I help you?"
"I'm looking for two friends," Jaric replied in a calm as possible voice. "The first, his name is Dagon Keis. He came in to get his lame leg Healed. He's about as tall as my shoulder with brown hair and brown eyes. If would direct me to his - "
The woman cut him off with an excited face and voice. "I know of him," she said, "He was quite a challenge for the Yellows, but they did it. Aes Sedai can do anything you know."
"Yes, yes, I know that. Now if you could - "
Jaric was cut off again by another woman who strode up. "Is this young man bothering you Clarine?" The other woman was Miera Sedai.
"No, he is not Miera Sedai. He's just asking where Master Keis' room is."
"I will show him the way," Miera replied and strode off down a hallway. Jaric followed her, grumbling under his breath about the rudeness of Aes Sedai. After many twists and turns the Aes Sedai finally stopped in front of a room. She opened the door and showed him in. In the room was a bed, a wardrobe, a stand, a single chair, a pitcher and basin, and even a rug. It was a palace compared to the room they gave Jaric.
The Aes Sedai turned towards him and said in a commanding voice, "You may visit him for a little bit. He still needs much rest after his long surgery. So keep it quick and quite." With that, the Aes Sedai walked out the room slamming the door loud enough to wake the dead. Jaric grabbed the single chair and set it next to Dagon's bed.
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Victor
Baijan'm'hael
"...here is a strip based on the entirely fan-created homosexual tension between Flik and Viktor."
Posts: 567
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Post by Victor on Jun 17, 2005 18:42:57 GMT -5
Through the sleepy haze that was seemingly alive within his head, Dagon heard a loud noise, as if something had crashed to the ground. What was it...? Dagon could not tell; it was all he could do to open his eyes.
"Jaric..." he murmured as he lifted his head up fractionally. "What in Shayol Ghul was that noise...?"
Then, as Dagon's mind began to work again, his eyes widened. With a supreme effort, the young man pushed himself to a sitting position with one arm. Then, propping himself up, he pulled away the bedsheets whoever had brought him to the room had placed on him.
"My leg..." he murmured, gazing at it in wonder. Where once he could see the twisted muscles showing through his flesh, there was only smooth skin. He reached a hand forward to touch the flesh, to make sure... it only took him a second of touching his flesh to know that the Aes Sedai had been successful, but he let his hand linger in its touch for several more moments.
"They healed it," Dagon exhaled as he let himself sink back to his bed. "They really did it."
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Tony
M'hael
[F4:1256010066]
Posts: 5,172
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Post by Tony on Jun 25, 2005 14:36:10 GMT -5
Jaric felt his eyes bug out. Dagon's once oddly shaped leg looked normal. It looked better than normal, it looked perfect. Aes Sedai can do almost anything, Jaric thought. He looked up from Dagon's leg to his face and saw bliss. It made him happy inside that he helped Dagon get his leg Healed. He felt like a hero out of legend. He felt so happy he started laughing. Not a chuckle, but a full fledge laugh. It felt good to laugh after being chased by Trollocs and Eyeless.
After awhile a woman came into the room. She motioned to Jaric and he got up and went to her. Speaking in a hushed voice she said, "Sir, your friend must rest some more. His procedure took a lot out of him and he needs his strength. You can come back later if you wish."
Jaric nodded to her and turned to Dagon. "Dagon," he said and the man looked up from his leg, "It seems I must let you rest some more. I'll come later when you've woken." The other man nodded and Jaric stepped out of the room. The young woman went to leave, but he laid a hand on her shoulder to stop her. She turned back to him with a questioning look in her eyes. "I'm sorry, miss, but could you tell me where I can find my other friend? His name is Jakob. I had him retrieved from an inn because he had fallen ill. I would very much like to see him."
The girl nodded and said, "I'll go talk to one of the Aes Sedai. Wait here, please." She turned and left him next to Dagon's room. Minutes past and he saw no sign of the girl or any Aes Sedai. He was about to walk off when one did appear at the end of the hall. She walked down the hall graceful and commanding with two men following her. Each had a sword on his back and an air of danger around them. Jaric knew their likes. Warders. Why would an Aes Sedai need Warders in the White Tower?
As the Aes Sedai got closer Jaric picked up her features. She was as tall as his shoulder with long brown hair in a long braid. Her eyes were a light blue and her face held that ageless look Aes Sedai acquired when they worked a long time with the Power. She wore a slimming blue silk dress with light blue making small designs on it. The Warders were different and alike at the same time. They wore battle clothes, had a hard look to their face, and walked with the same catlike walk. The one on his left was a bit taller than him with short brown hair. He wore his sword sticking up from his shoulder. The other man was a little shorter than him and wore a sword on his belt.
The Aes Sedai stopped in front of him, a few paces away. She studied him for a few moments and then said, "You are Jaric? The man who accompanied the channeler?"
Jaric's mind reeled. A channeler? There were no channelers among them. "My name is Jaric, Aes Sedai, but I did not travel with a channeler. I would have known."
The Aes Sedai raised an eyebrow and said, "Did you not have us go retrieve a young man by the name of Jakob?"
"I traveled with a man named Jakob, but I do not know if he could channel or not."
"I see," the Aes Sedai said, "Come with me then. We will talk of this more." She motioned the Warders away and started down the hall. Jaric quickly followed her and walked next to her. They didn't talk for awhile and Jaric was grateful. He played all the events that had happened since he had met Jakob. Yes the man was a little odd, but not like other men he had met before. There was one man Jaric met who said he could talk to wolves. Somehow he made his eyes golden to match. But this wasn't as bad as talking with wolves, this was channeling. Men had gone mad and Broke the world and scattered people to all ends of the earth. This was needed much talking.
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Tony
M'hael
[F4:1256010066]
Posts: 5,172
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Post by Tony on Jul 2, 2005 19:35:54 GMT -5
When the Aes Sedai finished telling Jaric how they found out Jakob could channel he felt stunned. But even more stunned he felt angry. Not at Jakob for not telling them, but towards the Aes Sedai because they wanted to gentle him. They had no right to take an innocent man and gentle him just because they were frightened. The Aes Sedai who told him the story, Caloin was her name, took his anger being directed at Jakob. She looked slightly happy at his anger and that made Jaric all the more angry. There was only one thing he could do to help Jakob and it would be a tough job to do. But he needed more than just himself to get this done. He would have to get Dagon's help as well.
"Aes Sedai, when will Jakob be gentled?" Jaric asked, trying to make his voice sound meek as possible.
Caloin stared at him a few moments and then said, "In a few days. We are going to wait until Logain has been gentled first and then gentle Jakob along with the others."
"What others?" he asked. Could there have been other male channelers the Aes Sedai had hidden away?
"Oh just two men who thought they could be heroes. They will be dealt with the same way your friend Jakob will. It is nothing to worry about. You should go back to your room and get some rest," she said and waved him away.
Jaric got up from his chair and slowly walked back to his room. He needed to make an effective plan and he had to do it fast. If he was going to break out Jakob and the other two as well, he needed a lot of luck. And maybe a channeler of his own. But that was stretching it too far. He would break all three of them out at night when the guard were at their most unprepared moment.
Soon Jaric found himself in front of Dagon's door, ready to go in. Without a knock he opened the door and to his surprise Dagon was still up. The man looked up at his entrance and went back to looking at his leg. Jaric took his old seat next to Dagon's bed and watched him. He would need to tell Dagon of the news, but not as to get the man frightened. As he ordered his thoughts Dagon continued to stare at his leg.
"Dagon?" Jaric asked quietly after a few moments. Dagon looked up again from his leg, the amazement diminishing slightly. "I've got some bad news about Jakob."
"Is he going to be all right?" Dagon asked, worry painted his face.
"As right as he can be, I suppose," Jaric replied.
"What's the matter then?"
"Jakob," Jaric hesitated for a moment and then said, "can channel saidin."
"What? Channel? . . . Jakob can channel?" Dagon half shouted. All of the amazement from his leg was replaced by shock and confusion. "But, but why didn't he tell us . . . Oh. I suppose it's obvious why he didn't tell us. He must have been afraid we'd turn against him."
Jaric nodded with understanding. His thoughts had run the same way. "But we're not going to turn on him Dagon. We're going to go help him by breaking him out of prison."
Dagon looked even more stunned. "How are we going to do that? We're in the White Tower surrounded by Aes Sedai, Warders, and soldiers. Even a novice could take us down with no trouble at all."
"What we're going to do is sneak into the prison and break them out. We'll do it at night when the guard are at their weakest. We'd have to knock out the Aes Sedai, though, so the shields holding them will disappear. Then we'd have to - "
Jaric was cut short, "Who is this 'they' are you referring to? Are there others?"
"Yes. The Aes Sedai who told me of Jakob's ability to channel let it slip that there were other men also shielded. I plan on getting them out, too. If they are trustworthy enough. They may also help us get out of the Tower if we come across . . . difficulties a sword cannot handle. But to break them out, Dagon, I need your help. You may just know how to use a bow, but even that can be a powerful weapon among the skilled. You could become another Birgette if you tried hard enough. We do have a few days for you to rest. Logain will be here by then and after he has been gentled they will gentle Jakob and other two. Do you want to help?"
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Victor
Baijan'm'hael
"...here is a strip based on the entirely fan-created homosexual tension between Flik and Viktor."
Posts: 567
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Post by Victor on Jul 2, 2005 19:45:41 GMT -5
Dagon's mind spun from the effort of taking in all that he was hearing. That, coupled with the energy his recent Healing had taken, was enough to make him lightheaded enough that he might faint. Even so, Dagon attempted to keep his head clear and address the topic at hand.
Jakob could channel, and he was imprisoned within the White Tower. That alone was enough to tell Dagon that the notion of freeing him might be a bad idea. Even so... Jakob, a male channeler, had risked coming to Tar Valon. Had helped Dagon get to Tar Valon so that his leg might be healed. Even though Jakob could channel, he was still Dagon's friend, and Dagon still owed him something.
"Yes... of course I'll help," answered Dagon, reclining in his bed. He knew that he was skilled with the bow... and now that his leg was healed, he might become more than a hindrance to Jaric. Now that his leg was healed... he might do many things. Jakob. After Jakob is free, Dagon reminded himself.
"Is there anything else I should know?" asked Dagon.
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Tony
M'hael
[F4:1256010066]
Posts: 5,172
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Post by Tony on Jul 6, 2005 21:05:38 GMT -5
Jaric hesitated a moment, deciding if he should tell Dagon of his vision and what they hinted at that could happen, but just as quick he dismissed it. It was too much for Dagon all at one moment. "No, there really isn't anything else. All we can do now is prepare for it. So get some rest, eat, and be ready. I think I may go scout around and see what we're really up against."
Jaric got up from his chair and left Dagon's room quietly. He took his time walking around the Tower. Occasionally he ran into a novice or Accepted that offered to help him and sometimes he asked them questions to locations in the Tower. Like where all the exits were outside the Tower. How many levels were in the Tower and what was on each level. After hours of scouting around he think he had a basic layout of the Tower and what they were going to do.
The first thing was to walk out of the medical wing. After getting out of the wing they would make their way to a small stairwell that led into the lower levels of the Tower. He had to make sure they didn't end up in a storeroom or something. After they got into the prison area they would storm it. Jaric would go after the Aes Sedai and knock her out, kill her if he had to, and Dagon would help suppress the guards with his bow. With the guards down and the Aes Sedai out of the way he would break open the prison door and lead them out of the basement levels. Then they would need to be quick and make their way to the stables. From then on he didn't know. They would probably run for it and leave the city as soon as possible. It would cause commotion, but not as much as if they tried to hide in the city and wait for a good time to escape.
Jaric returned to his room and flopped down on the bed. He didn't bother taking off his coat or boots and just left them on. Soon he was asleep and dreaming.
Two days past with more scouting and looking around. Dagon looked much better each day and each day he was getting stronger. On the third day they were both walking around the Tower doing some last minute check ups on things. They had packed their stuff and hidden it away in one of the lower levels of the Tower so when they ran they could easily take their stuff. What they did have was some of the essentials. They left most of their clothes in their rooms. The clothes would just become a hindrance. They did, however, pack away as much food as possible. Jaric didn't know how long it was going to be before they could buy more food.
With their things safely tucked away all they had to do was wait. And they did wait for quite awhile. It was well past dark when Jaric finally decided it was time to go and break Jakob out of prison. He nudged Dagon who had fallen asleep and he woke with a start. After a few moments he realized where he was and what he was doing. With a look of confidence he got ready. Jaric nodded back to him and eased his swords in their scabbards. Walking quickly, but quietly, they made their way to the small staircase. Walking down the small, stoned-lined, dark stairway they made their way to the depths of the Tower. Jaric counted three levels and stopped. This was the floor the prison was suppose to be on. He walked slowly down the hallway checking every door and hallway so they would not get caught. Dagon brought up the rear with an arrow knocked and ready.
They came to a small hallway that branched off to the right. He drew his swords and carefully walked to the edge and peered around. Down the hallway was a small room with a big, heavy, iron bound door. There were a couple of tables in that small room and some guards. Taking a deep breath to steady himself he turned and ran down the hallway as silent as possible. Running into the small room he tried to spot the woman and did. She was sitting in a chair at one of the tables and was staring at the door. Using the flat edge of his blade he struck her on the head and she crumpled to the floor. The few guards in the room were at shock and then scrambled as fast as possible. One was about to yell for an alarm when an arrow flew into his neck cutting it off. Jaric readied himself for the fight and the guards came.
There were three of them against him, but he could take them. The guardsmen made a circle around him to keep him from escaping. The guard in front of him slashed with his sword, but Jaric blocked it and attacked with his other hand. The guard dodged his swing, but ran into an arrow that was fired from Dagon. He faced the other two, each on one side. He attacked and blocked trying to get past them both. He thrusted his sword at the guard and brought the other one around. With only one sword the guard blocked his thrust, but the swing of the other got him in the neck. Jaric turned to fight the other one, but he was down with an arrow in the heart. He bent down and wiped the blades on one of the guards coats and sheathed them.
Walking over to the iron bound door he gripped the door handle and pulled. Jaric grunted as he swung the door open, but it did open. Grabbing a torch from a near-by bracket he made his way into the small celled area. He looked into each cell peering at the men or women inside. Curses came from them, either from the sudden brightness or the fact that he didn't let them out. Even the women spurt out curses that would redden any wagon driver's ears. After going past a half a dozen cells he came to one that contained Jakob.
Jakob was sitting on a cot with his head on his hands. As Jaric approached he looked up. At first he looked happy, but then suspicion painted his face. "What are you doing here? Did you come here to pelt rocks at me and call me a Darkfriend? To feel sorry that I'm "cursed" and must now be gentled? I don't want your sympathy or your anger. Just leave me be."
Jaric grinned, "If you would like me to leave without breaking you out of prison, I guess I could do that. But I may end up back in here anyway for killing a few of the guardsmen."
Jakob tilted his head to one side and raised an eyebrow, "What? Surely you jest. You wouldn't be stupid enough to break me out of the White Tower..."
"I am not jesting and I am stupid enough to break you out of the White Tower. Now, I knocked out the Aes Sedai that was in the outer room. I do not know how long she will be there or if someone will check up on her. If you could channel the cell door open we can go," Jaric said motioning to the cell door. With a burst of flame the lock melted and the cell door swung open. Jakob casually got up from his cot and walked out, grinning at him as he passed. They made their way back to the outer room. Dagon stood at the entrance looking down the hallway keeping an arrow knocked in case someone came. He turned as the two men walked out of the prison.
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Victor
Baijan'm'hael
"...here is a strip based on the entirely fan-created homosexual tension between Flik and Viktor."
Posts: 567
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Post by Victor on Aug 23, 2005 20:30:12 GMT -5
The trio of Jaric, Dagon, and Jakob crept stealthily away from the cell which Jakob had been confined in. Staying as quiet as they possibly could, they passed the guards who Jaric and Dagon had fought, as well as the unconscious Aes Sedai.
Then they were away from the prisons, and made their way through the corridors of the White Tower. Jaric gripped his sword tightly as he moved, and Dagon nocked an arrow to his bow. Jakob also carried a sword which he had picked up from one of the dead guards in the previous room.
None of the men were able to accurately keep track of the time they spent in the White Tower, but they suspected quite some time passed as they attempted to reach the exit of the Tower. Several encounters with the Tower guards occured, but none of them resulted in fighting. Soon, the three men had reached the main exit of the White Tower. Unfortunately for them, there were five guards there waiting for them.
"They must not have found the men we fought in the prison yet," Jaric murmured. "And the Aes Sedai must still be unconscious. We're going to have to do this quickly, before that changes." He glanced at Jakob and Dagon. "Let's take them out. After we kill them, we can get out of the Tower grounds and into the city."
Dagon drew back his bowstring, and Jaric prepared to lunge forward. But before they could move, Jakob hissed at them quietly. "No, don't fight them! I think I can take care of this without killing them."
Jakob closed his eyes for several moments. The effects of what he was attempting were immediately apparent -- three guards stopped moving immediately. Their companions took notice, and confusion shone in their eyes.
"Get them!" hissed Jakob, still with his eyes closed. "I can only hold these three!"
Jaric responded immediately, dashing forth from the shadows and bringing his blade to bear against one of the guards. Dagon responded a moment later, aiming for the other mobile guard and releasing his still tight bowstring.
After only a moment, the guards had been disposed of. Quickly, Jaric knocked out the guards who had been confined by Jakob with the hilt of his sword.
"Let's go!" shouted Jaric. "Once we get out of the tower grounds we'll be able to get out of the city!"
Dagon and Jakob nodded, and followed Jaric through the night.
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Robert
Baijan'm'hael
Oriental Despot Extraordinaire!
Posts: 920
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Post by Robert on Aug 23, 2005 22:58:06 GMT -5
“Bloody guards,” Jakob murmured as they crept further across the grounds. He looked up and about at the grounds, trying to see if there were more of them creeping about. He looked with his eyes for a moment more, and then closed them again, reaching out with his inner sense, grasping a hold of that brilliant white light in his minds eyes.
The rush of exhilaration that roared through him was tremendous, like an avalanche of energy. It was hard to maintain his mental balance, but he kept it, barely... Feeling omnipotent. He opened his eyes again and looked about the grounds. The shadowy figures of the guards in the distance leapt out at him as easily as if they were five feet away; he could discern even the vaguest of figures. He was alive, and experiencing life to the fullest.
He threw out a hand to stop Dagon and Jaric. “Wait. There are two ahead. We can jump them if we move quietly enough.”
“Those are Warders, or Tower Guard,” said Jaric, with the ringing tones of someone who knew what he was talking about. “We can’t jump them.”
Jakob frowned, but nodded. “Then let me try something.”
He rode the wave again, and reached out. He felt a long talon of fire lash out from his fingertip, a graceful sinuous line of light that flung across the courtyard... and suddenly the two figures were down. He opened his eyes, and saw it for himself.
“Did you see a line of fire?”
“No.”
“Good, then they won’t either. But the Aes Sedai seemed to notice sometimes when I channeled, and that was no small amount of channeling. They’ll also notice that two of their Guards are dead, too.”
“That’s true,” said Dagon with a rueful smile.
“We’ll go over to the nearest bridge. That one should be,” he checked around for a few seconds, “The one to the other side of the Erinin. The East bank. We can then go to either Cairhein or the Borderlands, depending on what we decide–let’s go.”
“But won’t they be watching the bridges?”
Jaric shook his head. “They’ll expect us to use a ship. Who’d be mad enough to cross a bridge with a company of guards camped out at the towers on either end?”
Jakob smiled. “Us. But they don’t know that. Yet. Let’s go.”
And so they went. A few more skirmishes before they were free. The guards at their end of the bridge proved a more difficult problem, but a bit of the light dispatched them, and they were across the bridge in a few more minutes. But then, then it was more difficult. An Aes Sedai waited for them on the other side.
She stood in an focused stance, arms folded across her chest and eyes glaring at them like there was nothing else in the world. Her Warder stood beside her, his face might have been carved of stone for all that he moved.
Her eyes looked at one party member after another, and then she moved, shifting subtly, her green fringed shawl swaying slightly in the wind.
Suddenly cold ripples went across his skin and goose bumps flared all over his skin as Dagon was knocked aside by nothing, to the side of the road, unconscious, while her warder advanced on Jaric.
Jakob’s eyes flickered over to Jaric for a moment, but he barely registered the Borderlander saying, “Come fight me then, Warder.” He barely noticed the keening clash of metal on metal, the swords that leapt into either man’s hand as they fought in a swirling rush. His eyes were only for the imperious Aes Sedai.
“You have troubled the White Tower for some time now. But it will end now, Jakob. You cannot win.”
He raised an eyebrow. “I doubt that, myself.”
He closed his eyes and the white flame leapt at him, he seized it and rode the tumbling wave of furious destruction. A burning, pulsating braid of fire leapt at the Aes Sedai, but it was parried in midswing. He felt the jarring impact in his head. He threw three strands of air at her from different directions, and felt the coldness shift slightly.
He whirled the whip of fire around at her from another direction, and wove a strand of fire and a strand of air together with his mind, and suddenly a lightning bolt crashed down from the dark sky.
He opened his eyes, and she was gone.
How did that happen?
The Warder stopped fighting then, stricken terribly. Jakob offered a hand to Dagon, but he was watching the Warder warily. Without warning, the man took Jaric’s own blade and plunged it into his throat; he was dead before they knew what was happening.
Jakob sighed. “That’s it, then.”
“What do you mean?” asked Dagon.
“I’ve killed an Aes Sedai. The Tower will want me dead.”
“Are you sure?”
“Are you mad? Of course I’m sure. No organization takes well to losing members. I’m hunted now. I’m mad in their eyes, mad with the taint, and dangerous; they won’t just try to still me next time, it will be death. And death for anyone around me.”
He looked into Jaric and Dagon’s eyes in turn. “If you wish to turn back... To leave me... to my fate... and go on your way... It will be better that way. Turn back.”
He looked at them again. “You’ve been good and true friends, but if you wish to step back now, I will think no less of you for it. I’m likely to be killed, and get everyone around me killed. Leave now, and I won’t blame you.”
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