Leavetakings

[Craig]

Ravak Leavetakings, Pt. I

Ravak Darrow moved quietly towards the pigeon coop, mostly concealed from any watchful eyes by his cloak. There was a novice and a soldier currently on duty, collecting the messages that came in, preparing the messages to send out. Either of them had seen the Warder approach, and neither of them would see him leave. All the better, as the excuses he had for meeting Sinead were thinning out.

As he rounded the building, Sinead was leaning against the wall, her arms folded. "It's been rather a long time."

"Since?" Rav stepped closer, until he was within reach of Sinead. Briefly, he thought she was reaching to embrace him, but her fist struck hard against his shoulder instead.

"Since I saw you," she answered, but her heart wasn't entirely in it. In spite of the pain that flared, he moved in closer towards the Accepted with a grin. A grin that faded when he saw her eyes held a forlorn light. "I saw the Waste last night in my dreams. I am not looking forward to returning."

"Why do you have to return?" This was the first time Ravak recalled having heard Sinead mentioned going back to the Waste.

Instead of answering immediately, the Aielwoman's expression softened as she took the Shienaran in. "I noticed your weaponry hall has a new doorway." Her lips twitched in amusement.

Rav sighed. "Yes, well. Male channellers." He shrugged.

"Mmm. I had never encountered one before coming here. Ours go... north. Even now." Those last two words were softly spoken. That sounded significant, but it didn't seem an appropriate time to ask. Fortunately Sinead continued on. "As for why I must return. The Wise Ones grow insistent. Now that I have passed that bloody test." The Arches. Both Elia and Sinead had bad experiences in the Arches. "They see no obstacle to me going to study with them, and are rapidly running out of patience."

Rav directed a finger towards the Grey Tower. "That seems like a suitably grand obstacle." When his words didn't inspire the smile he had hoped for, he turned solemn. "Why should you listen to them, my love? I understand they are your people. However..."

She shuddered. "Because it takes half a second of thought and a snap of their fingers-" she snapped hers in demonstration "-to transport me into a hell you can't imagine." The look of dread returned. "Every night. All night. Until I do as they demand. And there are none currently at the Tower with the skill to stop them."

If Ravak had been graven before, he was stone-faced now. "We should go tonight, then." There was no hesitation, no need to think about the actions or consequences. A form was already hatching. "I can make Mirin Sedai allow me to accompany you to the Three-fold Land."

""We"?" Sinead looked at him warily, her head tilted in that way women did. A smile slowly formed on her sun-kissed face. "That..."

Steel slid along gravel. "I wouldn't have you go into that hellscape alone."

"Suddenly the barren wasteland I used to call home does not seem so bad. What of your Aes Sedai? And your duties? This will not be a short trip, Ravak Darrow."

Rav placed his hand tenderly on Sinead's cheek. "I would not have you go alone, my love. I have a duty to you, and that comes first and foremost. Kaia Sedai shall understand. As shall the Warder Council."

She nodded. "It is true the Wise Ones are unlikely to allow an Aes Sedai chaperone. They are... nosy. The Aes Sedai, that is."

"The only interest I have is you." Still with his hand on her face, Sinead began to blush. I've never seen you blush before. For a wonder, ji'e'toh didn't reassert itself. He half-expected her to turn and run, half-expected her to hit him. But Rav smiled, at least until she did anything to make him stop.

"I would be pleased to tell them we will depart." The Accepted did sound pleased. "Perhaps I will tell tonight, and we can depart in a day or two."

"Whenever you want to go, we shall."

She touched his cheek in response. "Tomorrow then, love. I'll speak to Mirin Sedai." She started to move away, but Rav forestalled her.

"Are you sure you wish to speak with her? Maybe it would be better coming from me?"

Sinead tilted her head. "I had assumed I would need to, but if you feel it is best..."

"I may have an edge in those negotiations." The sort of edge that comes with being an equal, and having a Keeper for a bondmate.

"Very well. I will get my things together. What few I have." An amused smile crossed her face, although the Shienaran did not know the meaning of it. "Perhaps I will retrieve my cadin'sor and truly shock the... what do you call them. Savages." She winked.

Rav threw up his hands defensively. "Not my words."

Sinead waved a hand dismissively. "Wetlanders in general. Though the Tower seems to have somewhat forgotten that I am anything otter than a freakishly tall red head. Comforting, in a way. Frustrating in others. I need to practice." That last was in a musing tone.

"I'll find you after I have things arranged?"

"Yes. I am teaching a class this afternoon, and after- well, you know where my chambers are." Her lips twitched in amusement. "I will see you tonight, then." With a smile and wink, she turned and walked away. From the shelter of the building, Ravak watched her depart with a pleased smile on his face. He couldn't wait to get away from this place, where he did have to hide his feelings for Sinead.

OOC: This was based on a chat RP between myself and Marla.

[Craig]

Ravak Leavetakings, Pt. II

Ominous grey clouds drifted in front of the sun, casting a dark shadow over the Grey Tower's gardens. Two sets of eyes glanced up at the source of the newfound darkness, one a piercing grey-blue, the other wide and curious. As if master and hound were in step, they both looked away from the sky at the same time, and continued on their merry way through the gardens.

"Come on you," the grey-blue eyed man said, "go run about and be cute." In response, the white ball of fluff yelped and bounded off further down the path, running beyond an intersection that led back to the Tower proper. Ravak grinned at Snowflake, the young husky's endless energy and enthusiasm reminding him of simpler days as a young boy in Fal Dara. Where did all of that enthusiasm go?

As the Shienaran slowly followed after Snowflake, a short woman in a dress of dark greens entered the crossroads from a different direction. Mirin Ronaile, the Mistress of Novices, was Ravak's peer in the Tower, although whilst he looked after the Drin'far'ji, Ji'alantin and Ji'dar, her duties were towards the novices and Accepted. They had a functional working relationship, but not much more could be said about the two. However, today it seemed like Mirin Sedai was channelling all of Rav's put-on anger, although hers seemed entirely genuine. Their eyes met, and the Shienaran found himself being drawn into a conversation he could have done without.

"Good... afternoon, Ravak Gaidin." Purposefully or not, the Cairhienin was glaring daggers at Rav. He hoped none of that was for him, but... no, she wouldn't know.

"Mirin Sedai," he replied in a friendly tone, bowing respectfully. They stopped in the middle of the crossroads, which would act as a real impediment for any of the learning ranks who wanted to move beyond them.

"Where are you off to?" She snapped. For a brief moment, Rav was transported back to the Tower Library a few years ago, when a then-Accepted Mirin had reprimanded a then-Drin Ravak. "Can I walk with you?"

The Master of Training found himself with little recourse other than to agree. As long as all of this pent-up anger - maybe not so pent-up - wasn't to do with him, or Elia, or Sinead. In truth, he wanted to spend a little more time getting to know the woman. There had to be lessons they could learn from one another, when it came to teaching and discipline. Plus, with Kaia now being the Tower's Keeper of the Chronicles, he was begrudgingly aware that the politics of the Tower may start coming knocking at his door before too long.

Rav whistled at Snowflake, the puppy bounding back dutifully and scampering along by her master's side. Mirin seemed not to pay the dog, or the Gaidin, much mind as she went off on a rant about some runaway novice. Runaways were one of the irregular problems he had to deal with; people realising that the life of a would-be Gaidin was too much work; those who were fearful of testing; others getting dragged back into their family affairs. Some he tracked down, some he did not, it depended on the circumstances.

Rav smiled knowingly. "Runaways are an issue, albeit I imagine more for you than myself."

"I suppose it's because your recruits aren't dragged here against their will," Mirin remarked, pondering.

Rav's smile soured. He began to recall a conversation from a few days ago, in Riahana Gaidar's office. "Actually, I shall have a new recruit where that is the case."

"Oh?" Mirin arched an eyebrow, her anger now nearly dissipated from her rant. "And how're you keeping him, or her, here?"

"She is coming here to avoid a hanging. Or jail." Rav frowned. The specifics really didn't matter to him; the entire affair was an affront. And yet. "It is a favour for the Mistress of Arms."

The Blue sister stared in open disbelief for a moment. "Is she a criminal?!" Gloomily, Rav nodded.

"Certainly enough that a lot of strings were pulled to get her out of jail." He made a grumbling noise. "Although the Light knows why I have to be her gaoler instead." There was no point hiding his own distaste when Mirin's rage had been apparent moment before.

She threw her hands up in the air. "Oh, Light knows indeed!" From her tone, she was just as affronted, but then she returned to cool, Aes Sedai calmness. "If I may ask, what is her name? Perhaps it would be a good idea to keep an eye out for her."

Rav chuckled dryly. "Oh, I'm going to keep my eyes on her. And give her a stern mentor to boot." He scratched at his ginger beard. "Paks Liard, I believe? An Andoran, I think?"

The Mistress of Novices nodded grimly. "Andoran. Figures." Rav glanced at her curiously for that sudden remark. "Oh, I like Andorans well enough," she continued, "but they do tend to think laws are for everyone but themselves." She huffed. "Please excuse me, I need to find someone to go find the runaway." And with that, she began to march off in the direction of the Tower.

Rav raised his voice before she go too far away. "Actually, Mirin Sedai." The Cairhienin stopped, turning around on the spot with her hands on her hips. Clearly the anger had only been hidden. "I had a.. request to make of you."

"Yes?" She still stood a little bit off, clearly happy to make the Master of Training feel a little like an errant Accepted. Rav began to regret his timing, but...

"There is an Accepted, an Aielwoman who..." What to say... "She has been recalled to the Three-fold Land by her Wise Ones. Would you give her leave to go, if I were to accompany her?" Mirin's expression didn't change, and he scratched his beard warily. "I would assure her safety, and her safe return back to the Tower."

Mirin's eyes seemed to glance at something out of Rav's vision, her lips twitching in... amusement? But when she answered, it was back to icy cool Aes Sedai notes. "Yes, I would, but not because she has been recalled by her Wise Ones. Are the children of the Grey Tower to be at the back and call of their former countrymen? No. When she gained Acceptance, she left the past behind. So I hope that she will make it clear that she is returning not because she is under their thumb, but because they have something of value to offer a student of the Grey Tower." Her frown intensified as the Aes Sedai veneer cracked. "I'm losing both a novice and an Accepted? Light, what a day!"

Relief filled the Master of Training. Light, that was easy. Well, it was a start, at least. There were still a lot list of things to plan and organise before anything could happen. There was Riahana, whom he was not best pleased with. And Kaia. That may be an interesting or awkward conversation. Then probably Ferran, who would have to step in. And Elia. But still, relief all the same.

"I can find a Gaidin to find your lost novice, if you desire." The words tumbled out without realising how much like a blatant thanks this may seem. You needn't be thankful to protect an Accepted - any Gaidin could do the same.

Fortunately, it seemed to be well received. Mirin's face held a look of surprise. "That is... a generous offer, Ravak Gaidin. Once I find a sister who is willing, I will ask if she would like company. It's certainly not necessary for a female channeller to find the novice... but it does make things so much easier." She bowed slightly. Light, a bow. I must have the Dark One's own luck today.

"I shall have a word with Amayani Gaidar, and get word back to you." With that, Mirin turned once more towards the Tower and set off. Rav stood, watching the back of her dark green dress until it was out of sight. Something pressed against his ankle, and he crouched down to nuzzle Snowflake. "Come on you, we'll need to find someone to look after you whilst I'm gone. I don't think snowflakes would do well in the Waste." The Waste, with Sinead. If not for the underlying circumstances, it would have been a dream come true.

OOC: This was based on a chat RP between myself and Jenny.