Carra entered the wing of the Blue Ajah, with no note in hand or other form of invitation. She stood there for a moment, face masked, confused where she was suppose to go. Dressed in her Accepted dress, red hair loose and in waves well past her shoulders, she felt a little out of place and yet a familiar calling in these Halls.
It was, after all, one home she was considering.
An Asha'man passed her by, and Carra spoke up with an appropriate curtsy. "I was requested to assist, Asha'man Shaow? Forgive me, I could not quite catch the name from the Illiander that was sent to fetch me. Thick Accent. Where could I find someone of that name?"
Carra
Unaspired Accepted
A Blue asha'man
Commands.
It was, after all, one home she was considering.
An Asha'man passed her by, and Carra spoke up with an appropriate curtsy. "I was requested to assist, Asha'man Shaow? Forgive me, I could not quite catch the name from the Illiander that was sent to fetch me. Thick Accent. Where could I find someone of that name?"
Carra
Unaspired Accepted
"Come along, girl." The Asha'man said to the Accepted. His one eye narrowed dangerously, already irritated with the distracted child. "If you have enough free time to be wandering the halls, you shall be made to be of use." Placing his hand on the back of the child, he offers her a gentle shove forward.
"Shaow Asha'man was Black Ajah, child. One that i have slain myself." The scarred Asha'man growled dangerously." One that has been dead for thirty years. Now why would you be seeking such a man, Accepted Carraidhin Glaisne?" He asked, his tone more controlled. "Were you sent by a foolish Illianer, with an oversized mustache heavily oiled?"
Walking to her side, and slightly behind, the Asha'man knew exactly why the girl was here. He knew this girl to be hard working, and quite ambitious. Though perhaps most did not realize the latter. "Accepted Carraidhin, take a right over there, and ask the Blue's kitchen staff for a pot of Kaf, from the lavender jar, served with the crimson pot." He instructed coldly.
"The one you are seeking has an office not far away. Once you've done as i asked, go down the hall, and look for the door with the name Zhao Dun upon it."
The old Asha'man put the girl from his thoughts, and headed on his way. He had an appointment to attend to, one of significant importance. He was to see someone, who was thankfully an unknown to the two Keepers.
They were not ready for her.
Carra Glaisne
Only to the Letter
"Shaow Asha'man was Black Ajah, child. One that i have slain myself." The scarred Asha'man growled dangerously." One that has been dead for thirty years. Now why would you be seeking such a man, Accepted Carraidhin Glaisne?" He asked, his tone more controlled. "Were you sent by a foolish Illianer, with an oversized mustache heavily oiled?"
Walking to her side, and slightly behind, the Asha'man knew exactly why the girl was here. He knew this girl to be hard working, and quite ambitious. Though perhaps most did not realize the latter. "Accepted Carraidhin, take a right over there, and ask the Blue's kitchen staff for a pot of Kaf, from the lavender jar, served with the crimson pot." He instructed coldly.
"The one you are seeking has an office not far away. Once you've done as i asked, go down the hall, and look for the door with the name Zhao Dun upon it."
The old Asha'man put the girl from his thoughts, and headed on his way. He had an appointment to attend to, one of significant importance. He was to see someone, who was thankfully an unknown to the two Keepers.
They were not ready for her.
The look she gave back at the Asha'man was far from blank. She didn't challenge him but the raised eyebrow nearly got him one in return. She was Accepted, and looking for a name of a dead man. How the hell could she not look lost. Good grief. She didn't give him answer or cause to keep her longer. She gave a curtsy as he sent her on the right path. "Thank you, Asha'man." and off she headed to the the room of this Zhao.
Collecting the pot of Kaf from the lavender jar, collecting the crimson pot and added it to her try. At least they had a better organized kitchen then the Brown Ajah. Everything there seemed misplaced by absent-minded browns. Except Alshamz Sedai who kept all her good tea's in her quarters. Carra would have to remember that once she gained a Shawl.
Finding the door of Asha'man Zhao, she gave it a light knock and entered when summoned. Her curtsy with the try was perfect.
Zhao Dun (PSC)
hat better be a well scripted letter.
Collecting the pot of Kaf from the lavender jar, collecting the crimson pot and added it to her try. At least they had a better organized kitchen then the Brown Ajah. Everything there seemed misplaced by absent-minded browns. Except Alshamz Sedai who kept all her good tea's in her quarters. Carra would have to remember that once she gained a Shawl.
Finding the door of Asha'man Zhao, she gave it a light knock and entered when summoned. Her curtsy with the try was perfect.
"Serve, and sit." The scarred Asha'man bluntly ordered, as the Accepted entered. Well this is a start, at least. The man reflected, appreciating that the girl had followed his instructions, and had been prompt about it. A definite improvement from the child he had seen but moments ago in the hallway.
His lone eye gazed upon the girl, as two worn hands were cupped together, resting upon the desk he sat behind. The desk was neat, with nothing but a dry quill and sealed inkpot upon it. There was plenty of room for the girl to place the tray, and do her duty.
His shoulder length hair was thick, and curly, and tied behind his head in a messy tail. His lips were dry, and void of humor. To the side his coat hung upon a peg. Near the peg a massive two handed sword rested upon a rack, the blue tint of the steel reflecting off the sunlight from half closed curtains. If looking upon the blade at the proper angle, one could see the family crest of the Keeper of Archives.
"What is it about you that marks you as different." The man asked, his gaze piercing the girls own. He leaned forward, awaiting a cup of kaf, awaiting an answer. He had seen this girl, or to be more precise, her shadow. He had seen her, when he should not have been able to. A year of his lost eye being blind to all, and he had been awakened by an image of this child.
Who are you, his lone eye screamed.
Carra Glaisne
In bad handwriting
His lone eye gazed upon the girl, as two worn hands were cupped together, resting upon the desk he sat behind. The desk was neat, with nothing but a dry quill and sealed inkpot upon it. There was plenty of room for the girl to place the tray, and do her duty.
His shoulder length hair was thick, and curly, and tied behind his head in a messy tail. His lips were dry, and void of humor. To the side his coat hung upon a peg. Near the peg a massive two handed sword rested upon a rack, the blue tint of the steel reflecting off the sunlight from half closed curtains. If looking upon the blade at the proper angle, one could see the family crest of the Keeper of Archives.
"What is it about you that marks you as different." The man asked, his gaze piercing the girls own. He leaned forward, awaiting a cup of kaf, awaiting an answer. He had seen this girl, or to be more precise, her shadow. He had seen her, when he should not have been able to. A year of his lost eye being blind to all, and he had been awakened by an image of this child.
Who are you, his lone eye screamed.
She had played this game before. Time and again she had served members of different Ajahs, as she seemed to have intrigued them in one way or the other. As far as Carra could tell they were trying to get her to impress them and Carra just kept falling short because as far as she was concerned she wasn't impressed with them. It made this simple, easy, the emotionless stares that gave simple monotone responses and to the letter replies. Carra knew she was strong enough to gain the Shawl. Not as strong as some born to Aes Sedai, but she wasn't by all means weak. They wanted her, and Carra was letting them try to beg her for scraps.
Serving the Asha'man Carra took a seat where she was motioned to. Her red hair set in a complicated five strand braid down her back. Her Accepted dress pristine, now that she knew how to clean it with the One Power. She gave the cup of Kaf with a sniff and set it down. Strong, but not something she favored at all. Not unless she didn't want to sleep at all.
Carra looked at him, the glaze in one eye telling her he was partially blind, no hesitation as both her eyes met one. "Perhaps it is my red hair, or that I can braid it without looking. Or perhaps it is because I am completely ordinary, Asha'man Zhao."
Carra
Unaspired Accepted
Zhao Dun (PSC)
Just follow child.
Serving the Asha'man Carra took a seat where she was motioned to. Her red hair set in a complicated five strand braid down her back. Her Accepted dress pristine, now that she knew how to clean it with the One Power. She gave the cup of Kaf with a sniff and set it down. Strong, but not something she favored at all. Not unless she didn't want to sleep at all.
Carra looked at him, the glaze in one eye telling her he was partially blind, no hesitation as both her eyes met one. "Perhaps it is my red hair, or that I can braid it without looking. Or perhaps it is because I am completely ordinary, Asha'man Zhao."
Carra
Unaspired Accepted
"Or perhaps because you are able to lie without hesitation." He said roughly in reply. He took another sip of the Kaf, which had been made quite well. While he was used to the flavor, he found that he, much like the girl, had little interest in the beverage at the moment. As expensive as it was, he cared very little for wasting the Ajah's exotic resources.
"While some Ajah's may find you appealing for such foolish reasons, the Justice Ajah's interest in you…" He began saying, but stilled his tongue instead. "My interest in you differs significantly, child." Tapping his eyepatch, he said far more forcefully "You are important enough that i saw you, girl." His remaining eye's brow arched, clearly displeased ith these word games.
Looking above, his lone eye pointing towards the Keeper's offices, he muttered angrily "I have been spending far too much time with you, old friend."
Standing from his chair, he walked to the weapon display, and took his sword in hand. "Follow me." He simply said, as he wove a weave to the game to Hama Valon. With blunt sid of the sword resting upon his shoulder, he motioned her forward.
Carra Glaisne
I don't follow, but I will walk with
"While some Ajah's may find you appealing for such foolish reasons, the Justice Ajah's interest in you…" He began saying, but stilled his tongue instead. "My interest in you differs significantly, child." Tapping his eyepatch, he said far more forcefully "You are important enough that i saw you, girl." His remaining eye's brow arched, clearly displeased ith these word games.
Looking above, his lone eye pointing towards the Keeper's offices, he muttered angrily "I have been spending far too much time with you, old friend."
Standing from his chair, he walked to the weapon display, and took his sword in hand. "Follow me." He simply said, as he wove a weave to the game to Hama Valon. With blunt sid of the sword resting upon his shoulder, he motioned her forward.
Carra couldn't help the raised eyebrow at the old man's words. So easily a liar? It wasn't entirely untrue but she did not say so much as a lie that he would call her out on. Carra believed herself very much ordinary and not nearly so important as others hinted at.
"Yes, Asha'man Zhao." She gave a light, appropriate curtsy from Accepted to an Asha'man of his status and followed him without a word. Concerned that this old man was losing his mind.
"Yes, Asha'man Zhao." She gave a light, appropriate curtsy from Accepted to an Asha'man of his status and followed him without a word. Concerned that this old man was losing his mind.
Zhao Dun (PSC) A House of Hope
"Let me tell you a story." The scarred Asha'man said, as they emerged behind a house in Hama Valon. There were blueberry bushes around the yard, each and every one appearing dead. But they would all grow again, once the season came. Behind the Asha'man and the Accepted stood a house, humble in design. The architect clearly had a borderland theme in mind when creating the home.
"There was once a boy, not much younger than you, who had been nearly killed by a trolloc. A boy who lay dying, who had grown up with nothing, who knew only poverty and shame." Kneeling on the ground, he touched a stone, and channeled into it. Soon after, another gateway opened, and the pair went through.
The old Asha'man ignored the cold wind. They were on a path on the side of the Mountains of Mist, facing Hama Valon's direction.
"An Aes Sedai saved the boy's life, and brought him to Elman's Creek. There, her peers helped heal the boy, and give him a different future. One filled not with hopelessness and poverty, but instead with education and opportunity."
As they walked up the path, the Asha'man's lone eye gazed everywhere. Occasionally, upon the woman following him. He cared not if she could ignore the cold, he only cared that she listened to his story.
"The boy became an Asha'man, and made dear friends. One of which he fell in love with, and married. Marriage turned to children, couple turned to family." He continued on, circling his fingers in the air, letting the woman imagine the little details.
"The shadow, always tainting the light of life, fractured this family. A child was lost, and the boy turned Asha'man felt pain. Pain turned to despair, despair turned to anger. Anger, the Shadow could use." He said, gauging the woman's reaction to the latter.
He kneeled, and touched a stone. Soon after, they crossed yet another gateway, and found themselves on a path far higher than before.
"The Shadow can use anger, pain, and turn a good man into something else. Where once this man lived to help children find a better future, this man became a nightmare for his once pupils."
He stopped, and looked upon the Accepted. The wind was so cold, and sharp, but the old man ignored the frigid fingers of the Mountains of Mist.
"Where once a man caused pain, he found his redemption. Where he had made the mistake of harming the children he swore to protect, he had sworn to protect them from all, including himself."
Kneeling once more, he touched one last stone, then wove one more gateway.
"Accepted, weave spirit within the dark blue stones, and you shall find the path to the next." He said, offering all he could about the simple, yet important TerAngreal stones.
Stepping through, he saw that the winds had kept this place frozen in time. The scars of a past battle were but faint memories. Before him, the stone was cut, creating an even surface to walk upon. Before the man and woman, there was a grand hole, revealing a perfectly carved cave within the mountain. A cave created with Saidin, and Saidar.
"The Asha'man created the plans for Hama Valon, and created this place. A Sanctuary. A shelter for Hama Valon's children, were something to ever happen. A place hard to find, easily defendable."
"Hama Valon," He said aloud, gesturing in the direction of the youngest great city in the land. "Our home. In the last battle, our brothers and sisters shall help the Light fight the Shadow. But when that day comes, when our strongest warriors, and our brightest channellers are gone. Who will protect our future? Even if our home is destroyed, our children could live on."
Letting the woman reflect on his abbreviated story, with partial truths and vague explanations, he entered the cavern. The doorway large enough to allow a young Ogier to step through. Inside, there was enough room to fit hundreds of beds, for hundreds of children.
"There was once a boy, not much younger than you, who had been nearly killed by a trolloc. A boy who lay dying, who had grown up with nothing, who knew only poverty and shame." Kneeling on the ground, he touched a stone, and channeled into it. Soon after, another gateway opened, and the pair went through.
The old Asha'man ignored the cold wind. They were on a path on the side of the Mountains of Mist, facing Hama Valon's direction.
"An Aes Sedai saved the boy's life, and brought him to Elman's Creek. There, her peers helped heal the boy, and give him a different future. One filled not with hopelessness and poverty, but instead with education and opportunity."
As they walked up the path, the Asha'man's lone eye gazed everywhere. Occasionally, upon the woman following him. He cared not if she could ignore the cold, he only cared that she listened to his story.
"The boy became an Asha'man, and made dear friends. One of which he fell in love with, and married. Marriage turned to children, couple turned to family." He continued on, circling his fingers in the air, letting the woman imagine the little details.
"The shadow, always tainting the light of life, fractured this family. A child was lost, and the boy turned Asha'man felt pain. Pain turned to despair, despair turned to anger. Anger, the Shadow could use." He said, gauging the woman's reaction to the latter.
He kneeled, and touched a stone. Soon after, they crossed yet another gateway, and found themselves on a path far higher than before.
"The Shadow can use anger, pain, and turn a good man into something else. Where once this man lived to help children find a better future, this man became a nightmare for his once pupils."
He stopped, and looked upon the Accepted. The wind was so cold, and sharp, but the old man ignored the frigid fingers of the Mountains of Mist.
"Where once a man caused pain, he found his redemption. Where he had made the mistake of harming the children he swore to protect, he had sworn to protect them from all, including himself."
Kneeling once more, he touched one last stone, then wove one more gateway.
"Accepted, weave spirit within the dark blue stones, and you shall find the path to the next." He said, offering all he could about the simple, yet important TerAngreal stones.
Stepping through, he saw that the winds had kept this place frozen in time. The scars of a past battle were but faint memories. Before him, the stone was cut, creating an even surface to walk upon. Before the man and woman, there was a grand hole, revealing a perfectly carved cave within the mountain. A cave created with Saidin, and Saidar.
"The Asha'man created the plans for Hama Valon, and created this place. A Sanctuary. A shelter for Hama Valon's children, were something to ever happen. A place hard to find, easily defendable."
"Hama Valon," He said aloud, gesturing in the direction of the youngest great city in the land. "Our home. In the last battle, our brothers and sisters shall help the Light fight the Shadow. But when that day comes, when our strongest warriors, and our brightest channellers are gone. Who will protect our future? Even if our home is destroyed, our children could live on."
Letting the woman reflect on his abbreviated story, with partial truths and vague explanations, he entered the cavern. The doorway large enough to allow a young Ogier to step through. Inside, there was enough room to fit hundreds of beds, for hundreds of children.
