Journey to Cairhien, attn: Bella/Haeden

The World outside the Grey Tower is a vast place.
Alianora
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Journey to Cairhien, attn: Bella/Haeden

Post by Alianora » July 27th, 2017, 1:59 am

Liaran Sedai
"No, Shadow. I have to work," Liaran told the dog sitting at her feet. Shadow whined, but Liaran ignored her and continued to sort through the correspondence on her desk. She'd known the Blue maintained a rather large Eyes and Ears network, but she hadn't understood just how vast it was until she'd decided to leave the Tower on a search for women who could learn to channel. She could have gone anywhere, settling in an inn and testing women, but Liaran was far more interested in finding the girls who were already channeling, those who needed to learn or possibly die. This had brought her to make the inquiry to the Blue who ran their network, but she had been expecting maybe a handful of possibilities. Instead, the stack of reports seemed never ending. The Aes Sedai sighed and continued to flip through them. It was well into the afternoon before Liaran thought she had found some likely possibilities. There were some in nearly every country, but she decided to start with the three from Cairhien, if only because she'd never been there. She put the reports aside, patted Shadow on the head, and went downstairs to continue making arrangements.

Not too many days later, she left her rooms behind with a small bag on her shoulder. Liaran hadn't packed much, as she wasn't planning on being gone for more than a few days. For the same reason, she did not stop by the stables for a horse, but hurried on to the Traveling Yards. She had arranged for one of the Gaidin to travel with her, but she'd never met Haeden before and wasn't sure she'd be able to identify him if he'd gotten there first. It was a relief when she found the Traveling Yards empty, allowing her to study all the blond men who passed by. She hoped he wouldn't be long in arriving, as she was more than ready to be gone from the Tower, even for a short time.

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Bella
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Re: Journey to Cairhien, attn: Bella/Haeden

Post by Bella » July 28th, 2017, 11:54 pm

Haeden Ives was one of the Grey Tower's unbonded Gaidin, which put him "on call" for when an Aes Sedai or Asha'man without a warder went out into the world. It could be a dangerous place for channelers, even with their abilities in the One Power, and that was where the Gaidin came in. And that was where Haeden came in.

The Saldaean/Arafellin had not met this Liaran Sedai, but he imagined she wouldn't be hard to find. It was still fairly early in the day and there weren't many channelers lingering about.

He had been told it would be a short trip, and the Gateway could put them very close to where they were headed, thus he was not expected to bring a horse. Winterbourne would not be happy about being left behind, but a few extra apples and carrots would put him to ease. Thus with his small bag, Haeden reached the traveling yards and saw a lone Aes Sedai looking around.

As he approached, her eyes met his and he inclined his head respectfully. Once he drew near, he said, "Liaran Sedai?" he asked. When she acknowledge, he smiled a small, polite smile. "Haeden Ives Gaidin. I'll be traveling with you." He paused, as it was her right to take the lead on their plan, though he would proceed her through the Gateway.

Alianora
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Re: Journey to Cairhien, attn: Bella/Haeden

Post by Alianora » August 4th, 2017, 1:45 am

Liaran Sedai
Liaran had to look up to get any sort of look at the stranger. "It's nice to meet you," she said politely. "Before we leave, I should probably tell you a little more about this trip. I have the names and addresses of three young women who my Ajah's Eyes and Ears think may be wilders, and permission to visit to test each of the girls. We shouldn't need to stay any longer than perhaps one night, if that," she told him. The Blue hoped her trip wouldn't be too boring for the Gaidin. She strongly suspected that she would have little need for him on such a short, simple trip as she expected this one to be. Liaran looked in her bag to make sure she still had the letters she needed, then began the short walk to the Traveling Yards, knowing that the Gaidin would most likely be right behind her.

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Bella
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Re: Journey to Cairhien, attn: Bella/Haeden

Post by Bella » August 4th, 2017, 10:07 pm

And indeed, he was right behind her.

Haeden didn't imagine there would be much need for him either, but it was always best to be prepared. And these sorts of missions always had the air of formality to them, in such a way that a "good show" was always useful. An Aes Sedai traveling with a Gaidin of the Yards looked good, even if he didn't need to draw blade.

"I'm glad to assist, Aes Sedai," he said simply, his long strides moderated to fall in along with hers until they reached the Traveling Yards.

When it was time to pass through the Gateway, Haeden did so first--as Gaidin always did. Knowing they would be so near the city, he did not pull his sword... He knew that he could react in time were there danger, either in drawing then or using his hands. He was well-trained. But there was no danger to be found, and he stood aside to await Liaran.

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Re: Journey to Cairhien, attn: Bella/Haeden

Post by Alianora » August 9th, 2017, 2:06 am

Liaran Sedai
The gateway snapped open, and Liaran stepped back to allow Haeden through first. She waited for a short time, letting the Gaidin make sure it was safe, then walked through herself. She had opened it in a small field within sight of Cairhien's gates, and from there, a short walk took them to the city itself. Once they were through the gates, she pulled a map of the city out of her bag, along with the list of addresses. Her eyes grew wide as she tried to find the way to the first address on her list. Liaran had known Cairhien was a big city, but she hadn't appreciated just how large it was until now. It looked as though their first destination would be somewhere in the middle of the city, quite a distance from where they had entered. The Aes Sedai refolded the map and began walking, hoping she'd read it correctly.

Even with her best efforts, Liaran made more than a few wrong turns, and it was mid morning before the two of them arrived. "I'm sorry that took so long," she told Haeden, more than a little embarrassed. She had never had any trouble with maps at sea, but the map of this shorebound city seemed far more complicated to her. After checking the address on her list one last time, she knocked on the door, introduced herself, and was invited inside by the middle aged couple who answered. Liaran stepped over the threshold and held the door for Haeden, not sure whether the Gaidin would wish to follow her in or wait outside and guard the door.

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Re: Journey to Cairhien, attn: Bella/Haeden

Post by Bella » August 10th, 2017, 3:08 am

As was suiting for a Gaidin protecting a traveling Aes Sedai, Haeden stayed in step with her while keeping a watchful eye on everything that was going on around them or might go on around them. The present and the future were both concerns for a good Gaidin, and so he kept his attention on her and around her all at once.

Of course, it was a slightly more interesting task while she tried to find their way to the first house. He considered offering to help, but she didn't ask and so he simply followed like a large, blond shadow. He did offer suggestions as were fitting along the way.

When they eventually reached the house, she apologized and did look a bit embarrassed. He offered her a small smile. "Nothing to worry about, Aes Sedai," he said. "You've nothing to apologize to me for." He was there for whatever or however long, and would not complain about it.

Haeden stepped through the door, since she held it open in invitation. He did not know what might happen inside, and if he was to protect her, then he needed to be where he could see any issues or dangers.

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Re: Journey to Cairhien, attn: Bella/Haeden

Post by Alianora » August 13th, 2017, 5:36 pm

Liaran Sedai
Allowing the door to close behind her, Liaran followed the couple through the short hallway of what was clearly a rather large and wealthy home. Both looked surprised to see Haeden, and the Aes Sedai quickly made it a point to introduce him. "Master and Mistress Lerandred, this is Haeden Ives Gaidin, who is acting as my Warder," she explained. They greeted him politely before the four of them ended up in the strangely empty sitting room. The Aes Sedai had expected that they were being led to the couple's daughter, Larissa, the potential wilder she sought, but before she could ask about the girl, Master Lerandred was speaking.

"I'm afraid Larissa isn't well," he said, and Liaran nodded. If the girl had been channeling recently, it was no surprise that she might have fallen ill as a result. He went on to explain that Larissa was currently resting and that he would have to wake her to come talk to Liaran, then left to do so. While he was talking, Mistress Lerandred had left the room and returned with a teapot and cups, which she offered to both Aes Sedai and Gaidin. Thirsty from the long walk to their home, Liaran drained half of hers without really tasting it. She failed to notice how strong its mint flavor was until she took another drink, and by then, the Aes Sedai had already began to feel rather dizzy. She shakily set the cup down and rested her head in her hands.

Mistress Lerandred rushed over, asking if she was well. Liaran tried to nod, but even that small movement felt like far too much effort. The woman took her hands, helping her from the chair, insisting that Liaran lie down somewhere. She couldn't find the energy to protest even as she was led from the room, nearly leaning on the other woman in order to walk at all. Her legs felt too heavy to move, and by the time they reached the hallway, Liaran found that she couldn't move them at all. What's happening to me? Frightened, the Aes Sedai reached for the One Power, but saidar wouldn't come to her. She could sense it just as she always could, but no matter how hard she tried to remain calm enough to reach it, it remained just out of her grasp. Her Aes Sedai calm gave way to panic, and Liaran tried to open her mouth, to scream for Haeden, but she couldn't do that, either. In fact, she was completely immobilized, and Mistress Lerandred was nearly dragging her down the hall.

The true nature of her predicament did not occur to Liaran until the other woman awkwardly picked her up and dumped her into a pair of waiting arms. For a moment, she hoped they might belong to Haeden, but instead the face that looked down on her belonged to Master Lerandred. The small bedroom they were in did not look like it belonged to a young woman such as the daughter she was supposed to be meeting, and what little she saw as she was carried through the room and out to a small door suggested that the couple were in fact the only ones living here. No daughter.

Liaran's breathing sped up, the only movement she could still control. She knew now that she had foolishly walked into a trap, though she had no idea why that would be. The Blue tried not to think of it, focusing all of her efforts into trying to move something, anything, to get free. Of course, that didn't work, and shortly she felt herself being dumped rather roughly into the bottom of something and heard the sound of footsteps walking away.

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Re: Journey to Cairhien, attn: Bella/Haeden

Post by Bella » August 18th, 2017, 2:57 pm

Well, this wasn't going well.

As soon as Liaran began to waver and the other woman moved to aid her, Haeden began to cross the very short distance between them...yet even that couldn't be achieved. A large hand wrapped around his arm. It stalled him for a heartbeat, and then a few heartbeats more as he turned and slammed his fist into the wrist holding him. He didn't bother looking at the arm.

It was clear that the Aes Sedai was in danger, and he would not be hindered.

He saw a large man jerk back, clutching his wrist, in the moment there was before he turned back. It was just in time to see Liaran pulled from the room while four men streamed in from the opposing door. They had been prepared. He had to dispatch them swiftly if he was to get to her in time.

Courage is fear when it has said its prayers.

In the moments afforded to him while they closed in, he drew his sword.

Then, because Bella doesn't really want to write out a long fight scene today, she's just going to summarize the Haeden kicked some thug butt. It ended up with a chair shattered against the wall, a table dented from a body falling on it, a broken vase, two dead thugs and two just unconscious, and Haeden with two slices in his leather armor, a black eye and a cut lip, and a bruised shin.

Ignoring all of that and leaping over two bodies in his way, Haeden ran out of the room in the direction they had gone. He looked both ways down a hall and saw a door partially open to the sunlight. Deciding that was the way they had gone, he ran in that direction. Master and Mistress Lerandred got in his way. If those were even their names.

He just didn't care. They were between him and the Aes Sedai he was sworn to protect.

Haeden ran the man through the gut with his sword, while the Gaidin's fist cracked several bones in the woman's face. He left them writhing on the ground as he rushed into the alley behind the house...

But Liaran was nowhere in sight. He was going to have to find her.

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Re: Journey to Cairhien, attn: Bella/Haeden

Post by Alianora » August 20th, 2017, 2:49 am

Liaran Sedai
Unable to move, Liaran could do nothing to resist when piles of heavy sacks were dropped over her. She tried to focus on what she could see of her attackers, but without moving her head, her attempt was mostly futile. She thought she saw more than one pair of hands as the sacks flew in, but couldn't have sworn to even that much. When they finally stopped dropping, Liaran couldn't see anything. A few moments later, she heard horseshoes approaching, and whatever she was in began to move.

It was a less than comfortable ride. The vehicle, she thought some sort of wagon, bumped up and down as if it were traveling on paths that were rarely used. Liaran was sure it was leaving huge ruts in the streets as it passed. She was helpless to prevent herself from being tossed from side to side, and occasionally even up into the air when it hit the worst bumps. She did not stop trying to reach saidar, or to move even a finger or toe, but she had no success with either. Liaran had no idea how much time had passed when she felt the wagon jerk to a stop underneath her. Instinctively, she tried to move her hand, and was rewarded with the slight twitch of a finger. She had little time for excitement over this before the sacks were pulled away from her face.

The Aes Sedai blinked in the sunlight, surprised that she could. One of the sets of hands she'd seen earlier jammed something into her mouth, and another covered her nose. Liaran gurgled a protest, but she could do nothing to stop the tea that was being poured into her mouth. She could either drink it or be drowned in it, and she was not about to let her captors kill her that easily. Reluctantly, Liaran swallowed. The sacks were replaced, and the wagon continued on.

She had no idea how often the cycle repeated as the journey continued. Liaran did her best to focus her attention on her breathing and her continued attempts to reach saidar or to move at all. It was not difficult in the beginning, but as they moved on, she couldn't stop herself from fearing what lay at the end. Where are they taking me? She would later be ashamed that she did not spare a thought for Haeden, assuming that since she had seen no sign of the Gaidin, that he most likely remained free.

Finally, the motion stopped again, and Liaran unhappily braced herself for another dose of that tea. She couldn't fight back, but they were still rather rough in their treatment of her, and if pain were any indication, Liaran suspected they'd broken at least one tooth. The expected tea came and went, but instead of being covered, Liaran felt herself being carried somewhere. She did what she could to remember what she saw, but mostly, she saw the same sort of stone buildings that one might see in any number of cities, no different than the scenery in Cairhien. Were they still in Cairhien? For all Liaran knew, they might very well be.

When they turned a corner, there was a new sight to see, and it was then that Liaran realized where she was being taken. A huge, white building loomed before them, and though she had only seen it in books, Liaran couldn't mistake the White Tower for anything else. Still, it made little sense to her. Her own Tower didn't have the best relationship with the White, it was true, but she had never heard that they'd stooped to arranging to kidnap sisters from the Grey. It gave her something to think about as she was carted down multiple sets of stairs, finally being dumped onto a rather thin pallet in what seemed to be a room made of grey stone. A prison cell? That made even less sense, as she'd certainly never broken any of the White Tower's laws that she knew; most were said to be the same as those of her own Grey Tower. Laying on the mat, she found that she was too tired to think about it much longer. The Aes Sedai closed her eyes and slept, exhausted enough that she didn't even register the return of voluntary movement.
Last edited by Alianora on September 2nd, 2017, 4:42 am, edited 1 time in total.

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Bella
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Location: New England

Re: Journey to Cairhien, attn: Bella/Haeden

Post by Bella » August 31st, 2017, 9:35 pm

Haeden blew out a hard breath as he reined in his temper. While he fought, he'd had the Void, but that was shaken by his anger. His father had been a man of ice, but his mother was a woman of fire. He inherited much of that and felt it burning up within him now. Closing his eyes for the briefest of moments, he spun on his heel and stormed back through the door.

Of the two bodies, the man was dead. The woman had her bloody face covered by her now equally bloody hands. She was conscious, although coherency was doubtful.

That didn't stop him from trying. The mother's tempest stepped right over the corpse with the father's chill, kneeling in the blood on the ground as he grabbed the woman by the front of her dress. She looked at him with wide, wild eyes and started gibbering. "Shut up!" he shouted and she silenced with a choked squeak. "Where did they take her?"

Her head started shaking feverishly, blood splattering to either side and lightly across his face. He shook her once, drawing her attention back to him.

"I know since you sent her away that there was someone else in on this and I'm betting you were too stupid to do it on your own anyways," he said, his voice low and dangerous. "I'm betting that you were hired by someone to lure my Aes Sedai to this place and do this to her, so talk."

"I don't know," she finally blubbered, her voice distorted by her split lip. "We were contacted by someone we knew but he never told us that who he was contracting for. I swear! It was just good money."

"Avarice," he hissed slightly. His gut said it was the truth, though, and he practically threw her down. "Who's the friend?"

"W-will you kill him?" she asked.

"Not if he's smart," Haeden replied flatly.

Her fear of the Gaidin seemed to win out over her concern for her friend, assuming she was telling the truth. He would weigh the possibility of a lie when she said, "Willet. H-he's the apothecary."

He snorted with derision and left her there.

Back in the alleyway, he looked at the cobblestones. He could see where there had been dirt, disturbed in slides and smears, like someone had fought. From there, he saw the long lines that suggested a wheel of either a carriage or a wagon. Of course. That would be the best way to get someone out of there. The tea was obviously drugged, so that would subdue her. Then they just had to hide her.

The dirt was not constant, so the tracks were intermittent. He followed them for as far as they could, but they disappeared at the mouth of the alley when it opened onto a busier roadway. He looked both ways and saw several wagons and carriages, near and far, coming to and from. That wasn't a good clue.

Instead, he spotted a sign over the door of a nearby shop. He recognized the symbol of an apothecary.

It was time to pay Willet a visit.

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