Murphy's Law, Wheel of Time Style [Attn: Roan; Andy] [Open/Semi-Big RP]

[Bella]

[subtitle]The Narrative[/subtitle]
It is a well known fact that citizens of the Grey Tower have terrible luck. They never seem to exist in a position of "things are going well" for very long before something comes along and puts a big boot to the backside of their life, scattering everything in a way reminiscent of either a hornet's nest someone ran over or a jar of marbles, rolling on their way to trip someone else up...

Either way, there is ever a plot twist in each turn of their life. The Pattern made to be less like something down with a skillful weaving on the loom but the world's worst knitter putting together a blanket that looks more a collection of ugly knots.

Theories abound, but the narrator here believes it has something to do with the sadistic (or masochistic? depends on your point of view) nature of the writers. Especially the one who is writing the narrative for this story. No one should trust her; she really just does terrible things to characters, even those who aren't her own!

But, this narrator digresses.

As the first tendrils of morning light began to rise around the group from the Tower, in their multiple states of shelter and wakefulness around the clearing, there was another group in motion. One whose luck meant good things for them and bad things for the group of Gaidin and trainees. (At least, good for the moment. What they were about to do would not be isolated. That's for later, though.)

Revenge does not die easy. And so it was that a very large group of the Children of the Light was about to turn this "simple training exercise" into something else entirely.

[subtitle]Natlya Cade Gaidin[/subtitle]
As false dawn fled into true dawn, it was Nat's turn manning the watch. She had picked a tree with some low branches that she could sit on and gain a better vantage of the clearing and the woods that surrounded it. Typically, being on the lookout is a rather boring thing and that was true of this time as well.

Up until now.

A small branch broke not far to her right, which was her forest side and not the clearing side. She knew it was likely just some forest creature, there were plenty around who braved the area once most were asleep, but she wouldn't take the chance. Her hazel eyes were open and intense, scanning...

A flash of white. Not fur, but fabric. Someone sneaking through the brush, towards the clearing...

Nat hissed an inward curse and dropped to the ground, pulling her sword as she hurried to Riahana's side. "Awake!" she hissed urgently, not wanting to give away that she saw them approaching any more than she had to. Once she saw that Ria was awake, she jerked her head back towards the forest. "Company is sneaking up," she whispered. "Wearing white."

She had no proof it was Whitecloaks, but how many bandits wore white?

From there, she hurried to wake everyone else with as much swiftness as possible. She told them all to arm themselves and for the trainees to move to an inner circle with Gaidin protectively around them...

Spoiler: show

OOC: It's a fight! Cause you knew this wouldn't just be a regular training mission, right? There is a plan, but a lot of the fighting stuff is wide open. Want some skill points? Go for it. This fight will last as long as need be. They are Whitecloaks, and there's enough of them to give us plenty of trouble but not to overwhelm us entirely. Have fun!

[Roan]

Riahana Gaidin

Riahana was a light sleeper, and had been since bonding Gareth so many years ago. She was alert the moment she heard Natlya speak. Her mind instantly went to Whitecloaks, but why were they out here? This wasn’t their usual stomping grounds.

The why didn’t matter, nor did she know for certain. Riahana and Gareth were both on their feet in an instant. Turning to look at him, she reached up to touch his cheek, practically willing him to stay safe. They both knew his skill with the One Power was geared more towards Healing, but he was no slouch in a fight.

Neither wasted any more time on any other shows of affection. As Ria stood shoulder to shoulder with Natlya and Alrim, the Blademaster pulled the Void around her, ready for the fight that was sure to come. Not a moment later, white charged through the brush and into their clearing.

There were more of the Whitecloaks than there were of the Gaidin and trainees, but being outnumbered didn’t mean they were outmatched. It didn’t take long for Ria to realize that they were indeed Whitecloaks, and her concern for her Asha’man husband spiked. Truth be told, all of them were considered enemies to the Whitecloaks, but as much as Ria wanted everyone to come out of this healthy and whole, her key responsibility was to her husband and Ward.

Right off the bat, Riahana found herself fighting two other swordsmen. The leading attacker roared as he closed distance, slashing downward with the intent to split Ria’s skull. Watered Silk stopped the downward slash, and Ria thrust forward in one fluid motion, steel grinding against steel as her sword drove home through the man’s throat. He gurgled and dropped to his knees, but Ria turned her attention to the second attacker.

Using the flat of her blade, Ria parried Parting Silk, but didn’t hesitate as she followed up the parry by attempting to cut down her attacker’s mid-section(Black Pebbles on the Snow). The man used Falling Leaf to block her attack and Ria once again found herself moving intoWatered Silk.

Having seen what she’d done to his battle brother, the man took a swift step back to disengage. Ria wasn’t letting him get away that easily as she stepped after him. He slashed wildly, and she parried, but instead of just batting the blade away, began Lightning Strikes the Oak from the parry. There was as much finesse to the move as Ria could manage in a live battle situation, though she did bind his blade and get her leg behind his hip. The Whitecloak’s own momentum ment he fell to the ground. Ria didn’t hesitate as she brought her sword down into the man’s chest, killing him instantly.

There was no rest for the wicked, or the blademaster, though, as more Whitecloaks came. . .

Paks Liard

They put the Drin in the middle of a circle, to keep them safe, with Ji’Val providing another line of defense. The battle was intense, but no one seemed panicked, and Paks wondered how everyone could seem so calm. Must be that bloody Flame and Void thing. . .or ko’di or whatever they call it, she thought to herself as she watched somewhat wide-eyed.

Not all of the Drin seemed as calm as the Gaidin and most Ji’Val. Well, calm wasn’t the right word, but it was the one that came to mind, especially when she watched Riahana Gaidin in action. The woman’s face wasn’t fully devoid of emotion, but there was something. . .almost peaceful to it.

Unfortunately, Paks paid the price for thinking such a random thought. Not a second later, one of the Whiteclokes broke through the line and crashed into Paks. Both man and Drin went down before scrambling to their feet. He held a sword, and she held a dagger. He was an experienced fighter, and she was a Drin. (A Drin who’d been at the Grey Tower for many years, but still. . .)

The man sneered at her and lunged forward, thrusting his sword at her mid-section. Paks relied on the training she had from both unarmed and working with daggers, and stepped to the side. The man’s momentum carried him forward, and Paks stuck a leg out, tripping him up. The man didn’t quite stumble to the ground, but it took him a bit to catch his balance and turn to face her.

He took a more cautious step towards her, slashing at her head, but she ducked and got within his reach, looping an arm around his sword arm. He was wearing armor, thus a knee to the groin wouldn’t be super effective, but she did it anyway, and the man let go a curse as he tried to rip his arm free. He was stronger than Paks and started to get the upper hand, but Paks saw her opening and slid her dagger into his side, in a gap in his armor.

It was a feeling she’d never forget, nor was the scream from the man as she stabbed him. Blood poured out of the wound when she withdrew her dagger, and the man fell to the ground. Staring at her blade and now bloody hand, Paks felt as if she was going to be sick. She didn’t see the blade that was aiming for her neck.

The clash of steel on steel right by her ear brought Paks to the present, and her partner Ji’Val locked blades with the Whitecloak intent on ending Paks’ life. She didn’t say thank you. . .he wouldn’t have heard it, but instead launched herself at another one who was hoping to get the drop on the Ji’Val.

It wasn’t her first exposure with combat, but it was the first time she’d killed someone. There was no time to think about it now, though. Paks threw herself into the battle.

[Andy]

He hadn't managed to get much sleep and truth be told he hadn't expected to. Looking after Ji and Drin always came before rest and he had plenty of time once they had returned to the Tower to lay upon his bed. Time was something he had a bit of these days. However he hadn't expected to be roused by Natlya with the whispered warnings of danger. The tiredness of sleep fell off of him quickly through necessity and was replaced by a frown. How had the Whitecloaks found out about their training expedition? Had they merely stumbled upon them, this far from Amador? He didn't like it, it seemed too convenient. "If I played dice I'd lose my clothes" he muttered to himself as he pushed himself up, drew his weapon and supervised his section of the learning ranks. He was proud of them even if he didn't have time to say it. The way they followed orders, gathering and forming as requested, without full sleep and without question. Technically they were not a standing army but they acted like one well enough. A bit of chipping off of their dross and they'd make fine Gaidin. His face hardened once they were all gathered and he caught glimpses of Riahana, her face as impassive as the days around the Citadel. This was the third time he'd fight the same scrap as her, it was almost tradition at this point. He breathed deeply and the ko'di rippled within him as the sounds of the clash began, metal upon metal and yelled orders. "Stay behind me, any get through shout my name, understand?" he told the Drin and Ji behind him. He planted himself deliberately and waited. It was almost torturous to hear others fighting but knowing he couldn't very well leave his part of the ring open for their charges tog et killed. He didn't have to wait long though, the Whitecloaks spilled over their initial charge focus once stalled and tried to flank. Alrim stepped forwards to meet them, blade cutting under one's guard to slash under the shoulder, a slow death but death was enough. He parried a second's axe, letting its weight follow through and spin the wan around. A hack to the neck brought him down to the floor. He turned to see if the first was still standing but they were already upon thier knees, he could see their face turning ashen quickly. Never will get used to killing people the thought flickered and died as he sidestepped another attack and cut across the back of their knees. They swung wildly and he ducked before slashing the throat. "Alrim Gaidin" came the shout and he turned and ran the few paces to where two others had gotten through. The Ji and Drin were trying to fight them off but not all of them were a match for a seasoned Whitecloak. Thankfully no one seemed to be dead, for now at least. He kicked the back of one's knee to bring him to a kneeling position as his blade lashed out at the second to force them back into a guard and away from the learning ranks. He brought his blade back around in time to cut the one's throat before deflecting the attack from the second, a graze of red across his shoulder for the effort, a minor wound. He set himself between the one and the learning ranks and noted that one was likely to become more quite quickly.

[Bella]

[subtitle]The Narrative[/subtitle]
The fight was suitably valiant. The Gaidin of the Grey Tower fought with the Whitecloaks at the tips of their blades and the trainees at their backs; shields against those who would slaughter children. The trainees were not without training, of course, and when there was a break in the lines, they did their best.

Yet for all their heroics, the number of white-clad, bloodlusting men was so great...

As the lone channeler, the mountainous Yellow did his best. It was no secret that battle weaving was not his forte, even though he seemed to be doing a lot of it in recent memory. As much as the Gaidin, his first thought was to protect the children. Even if they were children with blades. Of course, the big man's immediate second thought was to protect his wife. Even if she was sworn to be the protector.

The sea of white poured on, and it was too much.

[subtitle]Gareth Tomosan Asha'man[/subtitle]
He had a split second to make a decision.

Not since the fight at the Citadel had Gareth felt so uncertain as to the chances of their living or dying. If it was his time to go, he somehow could accept that...but he would not have the death of the young ones on their hands. Who were they protect if not them? And so, he made the decision.

Gareth pulled back slightly and turned to find the nearest trainee, whose name fled his mind in the midst of chaos. "Get them home!" he shouted at her. "And tell Lysira Gaidin what happened!" The look in her eyes was confused until he pointed and a silver shimmer began. A Gateway was being formed.

"Cover them!" he heard his warder-wife shout, knowing instantly what he was about.

The Gaidin picked up on it instantly and protected the Gateway. Protected the trainees as they were rushed through it, breaking free of their individual skirmishes as soon as they could. Whitecloaks were cut down as they tried to follow, although...somewhere in the back of his mind, he thought they didn't try to pursue that hard... Not that he had time to think of it.

Gareth had turned back to the fight, doing all he could. Maybe he could keep it open long enough for all of them to get through... Maybe they could manage the escape... Maybe...

The last thing he was aware of, before darkness took him entirely, was of a streak of panic breaking through his wife's hold on the Void and then her being made unconscious a moment before he was...

Spoiler: show

OOC: HI GUYS! Okay. So. To the "goal" of the Big RP, so to speak, and moving onto phase two. What the heck just happened, I hear you asking. Riahana and Gareth were just knocked the hell out, and they are about to become the most honored guests of the horde of Whitecloaks, many of whom will now be leaving with them while the others cover their retreat.

Most, if not all, of the trainees likely made it through the Gateway. Paks is the one Gareth shouted at, btw. If you want your characters to have gotten through, go for it. If they are stuck fighting Whitecloaks at the clearing when the Gateway suddenly shuts because Gareth was knocked out, go for it. That part is open.

Cavalry WILL be coming. I promise. It's going to be very, very angry cavalry, with a habit of lighting things on fire and blowing them up...

[Roan]

Paks Liard

The battle was intense, and only grew in intensity as the number of Whitecloaks seemed to be endless. The Gaidin kept most of the enemy from reaching the learning ranks, and those that did get through soon found out the learning ranks were just as fierce even if they weren’t yet just as skilled. Paks did her best to focus on the task at hand, but part of her couldn’t see how they would make it out alive.

At that moment, the Asha’man turned and locked Paks in place with the intensity of his gaze, “"Get them home! And tell Lysira Gaidin what happened!"

“Wh..”Paks started to ask, but then looked where he pointed. A Gateway.

Looking around, Paks called out, “Drin and Ji’Val through the gateway!” Few needed to be told twice. Her Ji’Val partner was engaged with one of the Whitecloaks. He screamed out, but a second later, the Whitecloak fell to the ground. The Ji’Val stumbled forward, and Paks realized he’d been stabbed. Moving to his side, Paks picked him up, and pulled him through the Gateway.

All of the Learning Ranks seemed to have made it through, and several of the Gaidin too. A Yellow who happened to be watching the Channeling Yards came to her side and helped her lower the Ji’Val to the ground. Looking up, the Yellow replied, “He’ll be ok. I’ll make sure of it.”

“Thanks,” Paks replied. She didn’t spare anyone else a second glance as she took off to the Warder Yards. She asked some of her fellow Drin if they knew where Lysira was, and they pointed towards the Archery range. She sprinted without looking back. She knew of Lysira Gaidin, but didn’t know her.

Skidding to a halt just behind the bowmaster, Paks did her best to catch her breath, “Lys. . .Lysira Gaidin. The. . .the survival tr. . .survival training mission.” She couldn’t help that her eyes were wide or that she was gasping for breath, “There was an attack. Whitecloaks.”

[Andy]

As the commotion rippled from behind him and a twist of his head brought the familiar shimmer into his peripheral vision he reminded himself to buy the Yellow a drink later, when they were all safe. As it was he was busy enough deflecting blades and splashing bit more red onto the pristine whites before him. There would be no hasty retreat for himself or the other Gaidin, not until the Drin and Ji were evacuated. He hacked the back of one man's legs as he kicked out to send another stumbling backwards into a swift death at the hands of one of Alrim's brothers. Their circle was shrinking now, slowly but enough that they were able to help each other fight more effectively. I swear that if any of the learners are dead I'll burn you all out of Amador myself his ko'di trembled under the weight of his anger but held enough for it to be consumed. Ducking under another blade he met one that had been trying to take a Gaidin from behind, skewering them enough to pivot and put the body between himself and the attack he knew was coming from behind now. The other Gaidin stepped in and dealt with the offender. Alrim sighed and nodded his thanks as he levered his blade free. They were back to back now, the Gateway was but yards away and they were soon to be safe and away. They just had to hold a bit longer. Batting one blade and slicing the neck of another before bringing his blade back around to block long enough for his brother to spill guts was all the time it took before the call went up. The Learning Ranks were safe. He grinned at his new friend and they turned to run towards it....only for it to vanish and a group of Gaidin almost ran into each other in surprise. It would have been comical had it not been horrifying. "No...they wouldn't...it can't be," he muttered as they all stepped back, facing the Whitelcoaks once more, blades up and thinking frantically. They were retreating though, for the most part, which made no sense. They could overwhelm them if they tried but all that was left within striking distance was a small rear guard. He blinked and the copper dropped...they didn't have to fight. "I hate Whitecloaks" one growled and they looked at each other, an instant only it took to decide. "They seem to love us" he noted grimly. There was no other choice but to continue the fight and hope something would turn up. Steel rang upon steel once more as the last stragglers in white were engaged in the effort to clear the field so that thought could take over from action.

[Bella]

[subtitle]Miahala ni Sha'hal t'Darrow[/subtitle]

The day was a normal one. Well, as "normal" as any day can be for a woman who had lived over one hundred and fifty years, had died and come back to life, could move mountains with a thought, had gotten married for the fourth time to a man more than a century her junior and was preparing to bear his child...

Despite all that, it was a normal day.

The day was still early, but Miahala was awake. Husband and wife were indulging in the rare late morning, appreciating the sun through the window without yet forcing themselves to get out of bed. The baby had started to move and Ravak's hand was on her stomach, feeling the fluttery little kicks under his palm.

In fact, it was rather pleasant...

Which obviously meant that that could not be allowed to last.

Someone pounded on the door. Mia and Ravak exchanged a look. They both knew that a knock like that at an hour like this meant trouble, something dreadful. Mia was not yet of a size to make getting out of bed difficult, and so she did so swiftly. She pulled her dressing gown from the foot of the bed and pulled it on, tying it as she got to the door just a moment after Ravak.

Being warderly, he opened the door. On the other side was an exhausted, bloodied Drin standing beside Lysira. The small Gaidin looked...without emotion, which was a bad sign.

Lysira looked at the Drin and nodded urgently towards the Green and other Gaidin. It was a clear signal for the one to tell the others something very important, and a story spilled out about a survival training mission and a surprise dawn attack by Whitecloaks. About some being left behind, including the Captain-General's kin, and suspicion that they may now be in the Whitecloaks' grips. With numbers like that...

The Green stood and listened with no expression on her face, but darkness moving into her eyes.

'I know where they are,' Lysira signed quickly when the trainee was done. 'Riahana told me, in case of emergency.'

"We are going there immediately," Miahala declared without hesitation. "Find my son and my daughter, and Tia." Family would help family; they were blood. "Also find what other Greens, Reds and Gaidin are available within minutes. Meet us at the Traveling Yards and we'll fetch back whoever is left and take care of the Whitecloaks. Go!"

Lysira nodded one, grabbed the Drin, and hurried away.

Once the door shut, Miahala spun around. Channelers slowly lost their ability to channel when pregnant, but her rage was powerful and her pregnancy was not quite midway. Saidar rushed through her and one of the curtains burst into flames, as well as put out again just an instant later. That didn't return what was lost but the rest of the apartment didn't burn down.

"They have my family," she said, rushing back into the bedroom to put on clothes. She knew Ravak was right on her heels. "You know they have them now. Gareth would never have dropped the Gateway unless he was unconscious, or..." She didn't finish that. "And he wouldn't be either of those things unless Ria was..."

She choked back the thought as she threw her dressing gown on the ground and found clothes from her bureau. "Those left will be overwhelmed and kept for information before being killed. If they weren't killed outright." She paused and looked at her husband and warder. "If any of them are dead, I'll burn every Whitecloak between here and Amadacia..."

These last words were said quietly, but with the weight of a vow. The look in her eyes said, Don't think I will? Don't think I can? Don't think I should? Watch me.

[Craig]

Ravak t'Sha'hal Darrow

Ravak could feel – and briefly see – the roiling emotions that swarmed within Mia. He had to keep his own emotions in check as a counterbalance, far too aware how easily they could be caught up in one another's fury. That may just be needed before the day's end, but it was far too early to give in to base emotions, no matter the justification.

The Shienaran wasted no time on choosing clothing, simply grabbing the nearest articles that came to hand. He looped his sword belt around his waist and affixed his fancloak around his neck. He was ready just like that, ready to venture off towards war.

Rav had a few moments to think whilst Miahala got herself prepared. He could feel Mia's desire to make a charnel house of the Whitecloaks' encampment as if it was his own. Forcing the bloodlust down, the Master of Arms tried to think more pragmatically. He'd been able to free an imprisoned Aes Sedai from a Whitecloak camp in the not too distant past (although they hadn't realised she was an Aes Sedai admittedly). Stealth had its advantages, and Ravak could easily pick out half-a-dozen Gaidin he'd trust to aid in that recovery effort. The only issue with that was having to wait until nightfall to make the attempt, assuming they didn't wish to fight the entire camp whilst standing in the middle of it.

So not stealth. Yet he didn't think that this reaction was necessarily better. How many channellers would Miahala's battle cry rouse to their cause? The Greens would follow their Captain-General into battle. The Reds, well, some of them just seemed to enjoy inflicting pain; the inquisition had shown that effectively. As for the Gaidin, he was the Master of Arms. Given enough time, they could have a legitimate force of a couple hundred men and women.

Tugging at his beard, Rav just watched as Mia crossed their rooms towards him. Had he ever seen her like this? The last time this may have happened, husband and wife were enjoying the company and interrogation of Jaryd Asha'man. She hadn't lit anything on fire then, but she had also been shielded.

Before Mia got to the door, Ravak stepped in front, stopping her. This was a dangerous risk, not just for his own skin, but for Gareth and Riahana's. For the first time since their bonding, the Shienaran felt a definitive struggle between his role as husband and guardian, and as the Grey Tower's principal Gaidin.

"We cannot go with an army," he stated firmly. "We can't afford to go to war with the Whitecloaks."

There was still that promise in his wife's eyes, the one that spoke of death to all that opposed her from retrieving her kin. Ravak couldn't muster the same ferocity nor intensity within his own glare, but he met her stunning blue-green eyes with his own stormcloud blue.

His interruption lasted only a few seconds. Time was precious, but so was the security of the Grey Tower. Ravak had let his emotions threaten the safety of the Tower not that long ago. He couldn't allow for such a thing to happen again. He wouldn't be responsibility for placing everyone in Hama Valon at the risk of death.

Miahala seized the handle of the door and pulled it open, leading the way. Ravak followed on her heels, incapable of knowing if his statement had held or if anything of the animosity that coursed within his wife was directed his way.

[Bella]

"To call it war necessitates the idea that there will be anyone left, my love," Mia replied with an evenness that might have been more frightening than the original anger.

They departed then, moving with haste. No one dared get in their way. If the stony Master of Arms wasn't reason enough to dodge away, the icy Captain-General was enough to do the trick. There was no time at all to be wasted, and so the Green was not going to do so. She kept to a walk, but her long strides ate the ground.

"Right now, all we know is that our people have been attacked and some likely taken," she said in a low voice when the hall was clear. "We don't know who is left fighting at that clearing and I will not have us caught undermanned to protect whoever is left and drive off those still there, or drive them into the ground.

"It is not war to defend one's self and right now, they took the first strike. We will get to the area and secure our people. Once there, we will know better what the situation is and then can make a plan to retrieve any of our persons who were taken."

Mia paused very briefly in the hallway and turned to him. "I will take your counsel, my husband, and will not lead us headlong into a conflict that would endanger the Tower. However, even if I have to go alone, I will get back anyone who has been taken. Make no mistake about that." She didn't wait for his reply before striding off again.

[Roan]

Drin Paks Liard and Tia Sedai

After informing the Captain General and Master of Arms of the attack on those involved in the training exercise, Paks and Lysira Gaidin parted ways since it would be quicker to round up those Miahala asked be rounded up. The Drin was currently striding towards the Mistress of Novices office, which is where she was told she could find Tia Sedai. Rarely had Paks moved with such purpose, and so focused was she that people moved out of her way without a second glance. Just as she turned a corner, Paks skidded to a halt, “Blood and bloody ashes! It was the Captain General I kissed at the ball!”

Memories came flooding back to her being as intoxicated as she’d ever recalled being, and planting much more than a peck on the lips of one Miahala Sedai. For her efforts, the Drin was pushed against the wall with a weave of Air. At the time, it’d been worth it. Now? Well, truth be told, Paks had no regrets. Part of her wondered if the Captain General would remember the moment, but another part of Paks realized the woman would be much more concerned with getting her family and the others from the Tower back from the Whitecloaks.

A couple of Novices were staring at Paks, and she simply smirked and gave them a wink as she continued on her way to the office of the Mistress of Novices. An Accepted Paks didn’t recognize was sitting at a desk outside of the Mistress’ office, “Can I help you?” She looked down her nose at the dirty and somewhat bloodied Paks.

“The Captain General sent me to fetch Tia Sedai,” Paks replied.

“For what purpose?” the Accepted looked doubtful.

“For urgent business that is between the Captain General and Tia Sedai,” Paks said as she moved towards the door. She ran into an invisible barrier.

“I didn’t say you could go in,” the Accepted tisked.

Giving the woman a flat look, Paks shrugged slightly, “Then you can explain to both Aes Sedai why I was delayed in my task.”

At that point, Tia, having sensed channeling on the other side of her door, stepped out of her office, “What is going on Accepted?”

“This Drin says the Captain General has sent for you.”

Paks watched the exchange, and couldn’t help the smirk that found its way to her lips. She saw Tia Sedai arch a brow in the same characteristic way Riahana so often did, causing the Aes Sedai to look remarkably like her mother. The Drin resisted the urge to fold her arms, but her look did have a certain ‘I told you so’ quality to it. She wasn’t often smug, but it seemed appropriate in that moment.

“Accepted Anabel Garneaux, any time someone says one of my kin have sent them you send them in without hesitation and without questioning their motives. Do I make myself clear?” Tia replied, keeping her tone calm and even.

The Accepted lowered her gaze, “Yes Aes Sedai.”

Without another word to her assistant, Tia looked to Paks, “Lead the way, Drin. And if you know why my . . .the Captain General sent for me, please fill me in.”

“Of course,” Paks replied as she turned on her heal, not bothering to look back at the Accepted. “I, and several others, were on a training exercise being overseen by Riahana Gaidin when we were attacked by Whitecloaks.”

Tia snapped her head to look at the Drin, “They were attacked? What of my parents?”

Paks furrowed her brows, “Gareth Asha’man opened a gateway to get as many of us back to the Tower as he could. He sent me to find Lysira Gaidin. We in turn found Miahala Sedai and Master Darrow. Not all of the Gaidin made it back through the Gateway. Neither Riahana Gaidin nor Gareth Asha’man came through before the gateway snapped shut.”

The Green Sister felt blood drain from her face. Her parents were either dead, or . . .or prisoners of the Whitecloaks. “Light,” she said as she felt her heart start to race. She stopped and grabbed Paks by the arm to turn the Drin so that they were facing each other, though Tia had to look up to meet the taller woman’s gaze, “I need you to go to the Warder Yards and find Brynmor Gaidin. Tell him as much as you’ve told me, and that if he can help, that I would be in his debt.”

“Of course, Tia Sedai. Consider it done,” Paks replied. With that, the Drin sprinted off in the direction of the Warder Yards while Tia made her way to the Stables, and ultimately the Traveling Yards.