Eyes on the Eyes - Fic

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Kenneth
"Lord of Chaos"
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Joined: April 10th, 2016, 11:58 pm
PC: Taesh Durlaen, Head Clerk
SC: Avairyana Borelle, Novice
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Eyes on the Eyes - Fic

Post by Kenneth » February 17th, 2017, 8:08 pm

Head Clerk Taesh
It was early afternoon in the Tower, and business as usual was going on everywhere. Browns were researching, Yellows Healing, and everyone else was doing what they did. Somewhere within the Tower, in a suite of rooms that looked to be a cross between a seaside sanctuary and a garden. On the walls were ocean paintings, pieces of drift wood, a ship's wheel and more. One the floor and desks, different fragrant and flowing plants were in various stages of bloom, many of them out of season and climate. The own of the rooms, a Grey Atha'an Miere, used the One Power daily to keep them vibrant and alive, as a way of bringing decoration to his rooms as well as practice the Talent he had discovered so many years ago as a Soldier.

The Asha'man in question stood in front of a large mirror, one ran the length of the room, from floor to ceiling; and was about three times the width of the channeler. He rolled his shoulders a few times, smiling at himself as he prepared for the afternoons activities.

"Yes Taesh, you are still quite pretty" a voice stated behind the Atha'an Miere, a deep and rich woman's voice. A voice that was on the verge of being annoyed, accompanied by a tapping heel.

The Head Clerk looked at the woman with the assistance of the mirror, turning his head slightly. Bora Sedai was one of the Sitters for the Grey Ajah, the Ajah that Taesh was currently the Head of. Bora had been Aes Sedai for longer than Taesh had been Asha'man, probably for longer than Taesh had been alive. Sometimes the dark-skinned channeler thought that it rankled the woman that she had been passed over for Head Clerk, but then she was ever helpful, though sarcastic and bold in that help.

"You know Sister, you don't have to help me, any of our Ajah would do honestly" Taesh replied with a bright smile as he turn his attention in the mirror back to his own reflection.

"Of course I know that my dear, but it is always best to have your best help with important tasks" the Grey Aes Sedai replied.

Taesh smiled, his interactions with Bora always brought some amusement to his day. Despite her words, Taesh knew that the woman was not being boastful, she truly considered herself one of the best Greys in the Tower. From all accounts and meetings, Taesh was hard pressed to argue with point, the Aes Sedai was very good and knowledgeable, and he was happy to have her assistance and advice.

"Well, let us begin then. Where should we start?" he asked

"Tear" Bora stated. "Whispers that have reached the Tower from Tear have taken a dark turn, we should begin there."

Taesh only nodded as he took in a deep breath and then summoned the image of the Flame and Void, feeding any errant emotions into the Flame before summoning saidin. The exhilarating and terrifying moment of the part of the One Power that men could use passed in seconds, but it always felt like longer to the Atha'an Miere. The Power was alluring in the enhanced clarity that it brought, but Taesh's training and experiences knew that it was one of the most dangerous weapons in the world.

"Let us begin with Lady Neskayan" Bora said. In her lap was a roll of parchment, and a quill at the ready.

The Atha'an Miere Head Clerk began the work they had come together for, using his still not well known Talent that had come to be called Scrying. A tightly woven column of Spirit and Air sprang from Taesh's being, to spread like a spiders web across the surface of the mirror. The image of the room was obscured by a thick rolling fog as Taesh concentrated on the parlor room that belonged to Lady Neskayan. When the image was firm in his mind, and he could focus on his need to know what was in the room at the moment, a bright red thread of Fire snaked through the column and then encased the mirror. When the circle of Fire had met around the mirror, the rolling fog melted away to reveal Neskayan's parlor.

Bora gave a nod of approval as she shifted her chair to see around Taesh. "As I thought, she has something to report" the Aes Sedai said as she jotted something down on her parchment.

It had taken Taesh and Bora sometime to come up with this system, and while constant use of the Scyring Talent was taxing on the Asha'man, he had to admit it was much more time saving. The Grey eyes-and-ears network was not as extensive as the Blue, but it was formidable in it's own right. Many of the agents were former clients of the Greys, so appreciative of the unifying Ajah's services in legal issue and mediation, that they volunteered to pass on vital information for the Ajah. Many of those who volunteered were men and women in high places. Being a noble might have many perks, but one of the drawbacks was constantly being watched by someone. That made it difficult for some of the Grey's eyes-and-ears to report, for fear of someone noticing something and calling it to question, or using it for their own gain. Bora had been the one to suggest using the Scyring Talent to help out, and it had also been her idea on the system.

The Aes Sedai told her Ajah, that the main problem was not knowing when an agent had something worth reporting, and so a need of constant checking in by another agent or member of the Grey had to happen. This left too many opportunities for someone who didn't need to know, noticing a routine or repetitive visitor. Bora had suggested that they find a way to check in, through other means, on those eyes-and-ears who could least afford to be caught. Each member of the Ajah had ideas on how this could be achieved, and it was many days of debating to whittle down to the best ideas. It was the Grey Sitter's idea of a common items, cups and drink ware, coded by colored rims, left at an inconspicuous place that Taesh could Scry to let the Ajah know if there was anything to report. Taesh couldn't do it for every agent of his Ajah, the time alone was too much, but for those in high and important places he would sacrifice the hours and energy.

"Yes, a black rimmed cup, and it is full. Who is closest to Neskayan to receive her message?" Taesh ask, a touch of worry in his tone.

In order for the Atha'an Miere to Scry any place, he had to be familiar with it. Bora knew Lady Neskayan, and had created the gateway that allowed the Head Clerk into her home. The Lady Neskayan had been a gracious and helpful host, more than accommodating and Taesh remembered her well. He hoped that her news was not something that would be detrimental to her or her House.

"Evanian and her Warder. From her last report she is but a day's ride from Neskayan's estates. I will send the word now to have Evanian make a visit. Her Warder has a voice Bards kill for, he can get them an invitation in easily" Bora said, and without waiting for instruction headed for the door of Taesh's suites.

Taesh only sighed as he released the weave, and then sagged as when the flow of saidin stopped. Scrying still took a lot out of the Atha'an Miere, as he still did not know much about the Talent. There was not literature for him to study, and no one to help guide him. He was still all but figuring this out on his own.

"Rest Taesh" Bora said, a touch of genuine concern in her voice. "I am not interested in the months of debate that it will take for us to come to agreement on who will be the next Head Clerk if you burn yourself out" and with that Bora was out of the door.

Taesh half smiled and gave a weak laugh as he closed his eyes, taking deep breaths to collect himself before the Aes Sedai Sitter's return. As much as she was concerned for him, he also knew that she would expect him to check on the rest of the eyes-and-ears in the Scrying network before the day was done.
"Reflected in the calm waters is the peace we all desire" Taesh Durlaen Taesh's Tracker

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