Looking for Trouble (attn: Bella)

The World outside the Grey Tower is a vast place.
Alianora
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Re: Looking for Trouble (attn: Bella)

Post by Alianora » August 29th, 2019, 10:04 pm

Liaran Sedai
Liaran listened carefully to Haeden, her dark eyes on his, diverting most of her attention to him. It didn't stop her from being aware of the orphanage they were watching, but it did prevent her from looking over at it more than once or twice as he spoke. The Aes Sedai nodded and said, "It isn't really that strange that she doesn't seem to have been using the One Power to do...what we think she's done," in a voice that was barely more than a whisper.

She allowed herself a brief glance towards the orphanage door, taking in as much as she could without turning her head to view it directly. Seeing nothing that stood out to her, Liaran looked back at Haeden and redirected her focus towards him again. "I can think of a few reason why she wouldn't have been channeling. She may still be bound to the Oaths by the Oath Rod, and if she is, she wouldn't have been able to use it as a weapon."

Her voice remained as quiet as it had been earlier as she continued, "Or, she might not be Oathbound, but simply not want to draw the attention that using the One Power could bring. Another possibility is that she might have chosen not to act against the Three Oaths by using it, even if she could. Of course, her reasons could also be something else entirely. I can't even begin to imagine what she's thinking." Whatever was going on in Nykkolaia's mind was something Liaran wasn't honestly sure she wanted to understand.

She was still looking at Haeden, doing her best not to make their shared task too obvious, when a server approached their table. Food was the last thing on Liaran's mind, and she hadn't had a thought to spare for it. Since she had no desire to eat anything before the confrontation that lay ahead of them, this didn't really matter. The Aes Sedai settled for nothing more than a glass of water, then let herself check the orphanage and surrounding streets again while the server turned to Haeden.

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Bella
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Re: Looking for Trouble (attn: Bella)

Post by Bella » September 9th, 2019, 10:57 pm

For his part, Haeden ordered a small meal so that they did not look too conspicuous--sitting here without eating or drinking much. He wasn't especially hungry, but he also knew to eat when food was offered most of the time. One never knew when the next meal would be delayed, and it was his duty to remain as strong and healthy as possible for the sake of his Aes Sedai.

He waited until the server moved away, and then he turned back to Liaran.

Everything she had said made sense. He wasn't a channeler, so those details were not always things that sprang right to mind. Frankly, though, everything about this entire situation struck him off. Nykkolaia seemed to have found some odd in-between area. She wasn't striking him as one who had gone over to the Black Ajah...but she wasn't on the side of the Light fully either.

If the evidence was right, she was a murderer...

An Aes Sedai who went "wrong" the same way as a regular person with no ability to touch the One Power? It just seemed odd, but again, they were all crafted by their experiences. He almost died while still in his mother's belly because of a Black Ajah Aes Sedai...

"I suppose we can't know until we find her and speak with her," he finally said with a faint, cold smile. "Assuming she is even will to speak with us. If she is guilty, she may be just as likely to not speak as to explain. So many variables, it's a little maddening."

Alianora
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Re: Looking for Trouble (attn: Bella)

Post by Alianora » September 10th, 2019, 10:33 pm

Liaran Sedai
Liaran shrugged, the issue Haeden brought up not being one that concerned her very much. "I really don't think she'll refuse to speak to us," she told him. To explain why, she added, "Everything we've learned so far only proves that there has been a string of murders in the area that seem to be connected. While we know that Nykkolaia was visiting each of the towns where one took place, and even that she was seen near a couple of the houses, none of that makes her guilty, it just strongly suggests it."

She had meant her words to be more reassuring, but somehow, Liaran didn't think she was succeeding in that. The Aes Sedai sighed and said, "What I'm trying to say is that there shouldn't be any reason for her to think we suspect her. If she won't even see us, however, it will look as if she has something to hide. If she is the one responsible, I don't think she'll want to allow that."

She turned her head slightly, looking at the orphanage again. Seeing that nobody was at the door, or even moving in that direction, Liaran did not study it for long before the clinking sound of a glass being set on the table caught her attention. She turned back just in time to see the water she'd requested sitting in front of her, but for the moment, Liaran ignored it. She raised her head to look into Haeden's eyes.

"I just want this to end here," she admitted quietly to him. "If we're right, and if she's guilty, I believe we'll be able to prove it after speaking with her...and once we can, I want to bring her back to the Tower to be held accountable for what she's done."

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Bella
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Re: Looking for Trouble (attn: Bella)

Post by Bella » September 16th, 2019, 5:37 pm

"That is what I want too," he agreed sincerely. He knew this mission was unsettling to his Aes Sedai, so he did not want it lasting any longer than it had to and he was hoping "had to" did not last longer than this. He hoped that they would find her here as she entered the orphanage and either prove herself innocent, or give them reason to believe she was indeed guilty...
* * * Time passed, and Haeden did his best to keep them looking like it was okay that they had occupied this table. The terrace had not yet grown busy so he felt safe assuming they would not yet be kicked out as long as he kept spending on their drinks...which he did, though he was careful to not overdo it.

It was just as the first hint of dusk was touching the horizon that a woman approached the front door of the orphanage. All Haeden could see at first was a blue cloak. The hood was back, but he could only see long blonde hair...until she turned her head to look down the street and he saw the scars covering her face.

"She's here," he said to Liaran in a low voice.

Alianora
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Re: Looking for Trouble (attn: Bella)

Post by Alianora » September 17th, 2019, 10:23 pm

Liaran Sedai
As the day turned into evening, Liaran had begun to watch the sky as well as the orphanage, trying to decide when it would be best to leave. She wanted to arrive early, but not so early that their appearance would disrupt the children's routines. So she waited as the sun began to set, thinking it would be best if they stayed at their table for just a short while longer. She had just glanced at the orphanage door again, when she noticed the woman in blue who seemed to be walking towards it.

Women in blue cloaks were hardly an unusual sight, so while Liaran watched her, the Aes Sedai felt no particular sense of alarm when she noticed this one. Trying not to be too obvious about what she was doing, Liaran had just turned back to the table and was looking at Haeden when he spoke to her.

"She's here."

She couldn't stop herself from looking at the door again, where the blue-cloaked woman now stood. While she couldn't see the woman's face, Liaran knew that Haeden wouldn't have said anything without being sure he was right. She was out of her chair, standing at the table almost before Haeden finished the sentence. The Aes Sedai nodded. "Then it's time for us to go." She fished some coins out of her belt pouch to leave on the table for the servers, and then left, trusting that Haeden would stay with her.

Since they had only to cross the square between where they'd been sitting and the orphanage, it seemed to Liaran as if she took only a few steps before she reached it. Standing before the door, the Aes Sedai took a deep breath, assuming the emotionless calm that she would need to display before Nykkolaia.

She looked towards Haeden and said, "If you don't mind, I think I should go in first. She'll probably be able to identify you as a Warder, and I don't want her to feel threatened."

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Bella
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Re: Looking for Trouble (attn: Bella)

Post by Bella » September 30th, 2019, 3:13 pm

Haeden Ives
Haeden was barely half-a-step behind his Aes Sedai as she was suddenly on the move. They had been sitting there for long enough, and he was relieved that they had not been there in vain. It had not escaped his consideration that Nykkolaia would not show up at all, that the orphanage mistress had been wrong or something changed...

Thankfully, this was not the case.

When she said that she wanted to go in first, however, that bristled against every bit of Gaidin training and protective instinct that he had, but he respected her and knew that against a channeler... Well. If Nykkolaia truly moved straight to the offense, he was a temporary shield at best. Perhaps Liaran could avoid that.

He stayed close, of course, and tried to look less...threatening as she opened the door, and he followed her in.
Nykkolaia Zeran
She had not been inside the hall but a few moments when the door opened behind her. This was curious, although not unheard of. An orphanage could, at times, be a very busy place. She was the one right in this newcomer's path, however, with the mistress of the orphanage not in sight.

Lowering her hood, she turned and took a quick breath. She was about to speak, to greet this person, when the breath caught in her throat.

The blonde brow on the un-scarred side of her face arched, but that and the flash of light in her pale eyes were the only sign of emotion. "Liaran din Chelai Morning Star..." Those pale eyes roved the other woman up and down. "Aes Sedai." Nykk had met the woman before, but she was an Accepted trying to find her Ajah then.

Of course, the wolf behind her, Nykk only knew by sight and reputation. "Haeden Ives Gaidin." Her lips curved with dry emotion. "You have done well for yourself, then. Son of the former Amyrlin. The woman who died and was reborn. Congratulations, Liaran."

She didn't insult either of them by asking why they were there, but neither did she offer anything.

Alianora
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Re: Looking for Trouble (attn: Bella)

Post by Alianora » October 1st, 2019, 10:18 pm

Liaran Sedai
Inside the entrance to the orphanage, Liaran positioned herself in front of her Warder, close enough to be within reach should that be necessary. Despite all the effort they'd both spent in finding Nykkolaia, Liaran still had no idea what to expect from the other Blue, and she wasn't taking any chances. She watched the other woman carefully, her assumed Aes Sedai calm hiding her surprise when Nykkolaia turned and addressed her by name.

So she does remember me.

Liaran had known that might be possible, but could only wish she knew whether Nykkolaia's memory of her would make the evening's discussion easier, or more difficult. She nodded her head when the other woman finished speaking, then looked into the blue eyes.

"Thank you, Nykkolaia," she said quietly. "If you have time, we'd like to speak with you further. " Liaran took a deep breath, very aware that with her next words, she could be wading into shark-infested waters. "Haeden and I have been tracking what appears to be a string of murders in this region. I've heard you're familiar with this area, and I'd appreciate the assistance of someone who knows it better than either of us." She kept her eyes on Nykkolaia, her expression as serene as it had been when they entered.

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Bella
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Re: Looking for Trouble (attn: Bella)

Post by Bella » October 10th, 2019, 1:33 pm

Haeden's body remained tense and ready, knowing that he could be needed to leap to action at a second's notice. Although the weaponry at Liaran's disposal would be of far more use against another channeler than his, he would still throw himself before her at the slightest indication... For now, there were no such signs.

But that could change in an instant.

He was surprised that Nykkolaia recognized him at all, but his lineage did tend to remove his anonymity when it came to the Tower's citizens... So he just watched her. Studied her. The icy expression, although there was a slight twist of her head and narrowing of her eyes as she seemed to consider this.

"Alright," the scarred woman said slowly. "We can talk. But not here. Not around the children."

Alianora
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Re: Looking for Trouble (attn: Bella)

Post by Alianora » October 13th, 2019, 7:48 pm

Liaran Sedai
Liaran nodded in agreement, no more willing to have this sort of discussion here where small ears could overhear them than Nykkolaia was. She turned to the doors, holding one open to allow the three of them out into the evening. She said nothing as they left the orphanage behind them, staying close to Haeden's side. It wasn't that she feared the other Blue, a woman slightly weaker than herself and potentially less practiced with the One Power, but that Liaran simply could not trust her. She kept her eyes in front of her as they walked, not allowing herself to watch the other woman, forcing down a strong desire to reach for saidar. She knew that she could not, that Nykkolaia would likely consider it a threat if she did, but the knowledge did nothing to stop her longing for it.

As they continued to walk, Liaran distracted herself by focusing on the knot of emotions that was Haeden's presence in the back of her mind, taking comfort from the protectiveness he felt towards her. It still frustrated her not to be able to fill herself with the Power, her own best weapon, but if it came to that, she knew she was not completely without defense. Once they got further away, she moved towards Nykkolaia, speaking quietly of the little they'd learned that she felt comfortable sharing with the other Blue. It wasn't much more than locations and descriptions of the murder scenes, but Liaran didn't dare to provide too many details. She was not going to give Nykkolaia any reason to suspect her true intentions, not unless the other woman forced her hand.

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Bella
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Re: Looking for Trouble (attn: Bella)

Post by Bella » October 16th, 2019, 4:41 pm

The pale, icy eyes behind the vine-like scars that seemingly grew up the side of Nykkolaia's face were piercing but steady. She had been an Aes Sedai for some decades now, and she had clearly learned the art of mastering what emotions were revealed. Of course, Haeden thought none as good at it as his mother, but that was another matter.

Except that one time with the curtains... The errant thought was there and gone in an instant.

"Yes," Zeran said slowly. "I was in those places and heard of one or two of those events. I do not believe that I can help you, however. I have been in this town, with these people--" She waved back toward the orphanage. "--for some time now."

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