What had once been the guardhouse was now rubble, although the repairs were moving at a fair pace. Mordjen stared in mild disgust at his colleague, who was picking his nose quite openly in front of his colleague and the visitor. "Yere a real charmer sometimes, Heb. A real charmer." The other guard - Heb - gave a mild shrug, then returned to the busy business of the interior of his nose. Mordjen grimaced apologetically. "The name's Mordjen, pleased ta meet you. I'll take you where you're needing to go. If yer'll come with me, please?"
Mordjen led the way, taking comfortable ground-eating strides down the long road that ended in the Grey Tower, the salvation of Hama Valon. It too was under repair, now segmented in eight as the Red Ajah finally got their time in the light. As they walked towards the looming glass and stone structure, Mordjen chattered amiably with the newcomer. Just before they got to the Tower proper, Mordjen veered off to the right, cutting across a field towards a large four- or five-story structure.
"I never tried being a Warder myself," Mordjen continued. "Me wife Liz, the Light protect 'er, well she'd greet herself to sleep every night if I told her I wanted to get myself bonded to some fancy lady Aes Sedai." The guard chuckled at that. "No, my duty's fine enough. Watching the front gate, helpful with the repairs, that's all more than enough o' a connection to the One Power for me, yesser."
Mordjen picked up the pace. They were walking into a hard-packed dirt yard, between four buildings spaced far apart. To their immediate right was a barn-sized building all of a single story, with a few people around it. The men and women practicing various forms of fighting styles were spread from there all the way across the Yard. At the opposite end were two newer structures, made of unweathered stone, although the purposes of either was not evident from the exterior. Immediately ahead was the large dormitory hall, and it was towards that and a large set of doors that Mordjen led them.
They entered a large foyer. Fireplaces roared in two alcoves set on opposite walls, around which tables and chairs were set. The reflection of the flames danced in the polished wooden panels, and off the large mosaic that dominated the floor. A circle divided by a sinuous line, half white and half black. The symbol of the Grey Tower. Beyond that was a large staircase that led up to the first floor.
"The Master a' Training's office is upstairs an' to the right. Master Darrow, he's a good man, but a hard man too. You've set yourself on a challenging course. Don't let his manner dissuade you none." Mordjen turned and clasped his hands behind his back. "If he's no in, you can wait here for him. He's easy enough to spot." The guard grinned broadly. "If is good to welcome you to the Grey Tower. Good luck!" With that, Mordjen patted the newcomer jovially on the shoulder, then retreated back along the way they had come.
Ravak Darrow, Master of Training
Mordjen led the way, taking comfortable ground-eating strides down the long road that ended in the Grey Tower, the salvation of Hama Valon. It too was under repair, now segmented in eight as the Red Ajah finally got their time in the light. As they walked towards the looming glass and stone structure, Mordjen chattered amiably with the newcomer. Just before they got to the Tower proper, Mordjen veered off to the right, cutting across a field towards a large four- or five-story structure.
"I never tried being a Warder myself," Mordjen continued. "Me wife Liz, the Light protect 'er, well she'd greet herself to sleep every night if I told her I wanted to get myself bonded to some fancy lady Aes Sedai." The guard chuckled at that. "No, my duty's fine enough. Watching the front gate, helpful with the repairs, that's all more than enough o' a connection to the One Power for me, yesser."
Mordjen picked up the pace. They were walking into a hard-packed dirt yard, between four buildings spaced far apart. To their immediate right was a barn-sized building all of a single story, with a few people around it. The men and women practicing various forms of fighting styles were spread from there all the way across the Yard. At the opposite end were two newer structures, made of unweathered stone, although the purposes of either was not evident from the exterior. Immediately ahead was the large dormitory hall, and it was towards that and a large set of doors that Mordjen led them.
They entered a large foyer. Fireplaces roared in two alcoves set on opposite walls, around which tables and chairs were set. The reflection of the flames danced in the polished wooden panels, and off the large mosaic that dominated the floor. A circle divided by a sinuous line, half white and half black. The symbol of the Grey Tower. Beyond that was a large staircase that led up to the first floor.
"The Master a' Training's office is upstairs an' to the right. Master Darrow, he's a good man, but a hard man too. You've set yourself on a challenging course. Don't let his manner dissuade you none." Mordjen turned and clasped his hands behind his back. "If he's no in, you can wait here for him. He's easy enough to spot." The guard grinned broadly. "If is good to welcome you to the Grey Tower. Good luck!" With that, Mordjen patted the newcomer jovially on the shoulder, then retreated back along the way they had come.
Leaning hard into the leather back of his chair, Ravak was focused on the turmoil going on his mind, his eyes shut in concentration. He still felt weak after the defence of the Tower, and only a part of that was due to the effects of Healing. Through the pale blue shirt, he ran a finger over the arrow wound that had pierced his lung. Elia's quick thinking had saved his life, but her Healing hadn't removed the scars. The one in his shoulder wasn't as bad, and still paled compared to the wicked scar that crossed his back from a Trolloc's weapon.
The room's furnishings had been carefully set out and chosen by it's occupant. Everything was Shienaran in style, if not in manufacture. It was a lot easier to get imitations carved by the Tower's craftsmen than to import furniture from the Borderlands. Hard edges and clean lines were everywhere, all built from solid oak, darkly strained. The desk had solid sides as opposed to spindly legs, so the lower half of the Master of Training was concealed from view. Two newer chairs sat on a Taraboner rug for the Gaidin's visitors. A weapon rack in one corner held Ravak's weapons. His Tower-forged longsword was placed so that the Great Serpent on its crossguard was visible. Beside it rested a stout sword-breaker, a long quarterstaff made of silvery wood, and a simple longbow. There was a second table, covered in sheets of paper being weighed down by various throwing daggers. Lastly, a small stand held a teapot and cups.
Rav opened his eyes. His hand moved away from his chest, back onto the arm of the chair. He tried to relax his muscles, but there was a physical and mental tension he couldn't shift. His sister was in the basement of the Grey Tower, contently working in the Vaults. He didn't like knowing that as a certainty. Elia's quick thinking had saved his life, but there was no further need for the bond between them. Despite the circumstances, it would not be good for Elia for anyone to learn that they were bonded, saying that his permission had never been sought for the act.
The sounds of creaking on the floorboards outside of his room roused Rav from his concerns. He lifted up his iridescent quill from his desk, then pulled a ledger near. There was always an inordinate amount of paperwork to be done. The Master of Training sat up straight, carefully watching the doorway out from the corner of his eye, as he anticipated his latest visitor.
The room's furnishings had been carefully set out and chosen by it's occupant. Everything was Shienaran in style, if not in manufacture. It was a lot easier to get imitations carved by the Tower's craftsmen than to import furniture from the Borderlands. Hard edges and clean lines were everywhere, all built from solid oak, darkly strained. The desk had solid sides as opposed to spindly legs, so the lower half of the Master of Training was concealed from view. Two newer chairs sat on a Taraboner rug for the Gaidin's visitors. A weapon rack in one corner held Ravak's weapons. His Tower-forged longsword was placed so that the Great Serpent on its crossguard was visible. Beside it rested a stout sword-breaker, a long quarterstaff made of silvery wood, and a simple longbow. There was a second table, covered in sheets of paper being weighed down by various throwing daggers. Lastly, a small stand held a teapot and cups.
Rav opened his eyes. His hand moved away from his chest, back onto the arm of the chair. He tried to relax his muscles, but there was a physical and mental tension he couldn't shift. His sister was in the basement of the Grey Tower, contently working in the Vaults. He didn't like knowing that as a certainty. Elia's quick thinking had saved his life, but there was no further need for the bond between them. Despite the circumstances, it would not be good for Elia for anyone to learn that they were bonded, saying that his permission had never been sought for the act.
The sounds of creaking on the floorboards outside of his room roused Rav from his concerns. He lifted up his iridescent quill from his desk, then pulled a ledger near. There was always an inordinate amount of paperwork to be done. The Master of Training sat up straight, carefully watching the doorway out from the corner of his eye, as he anticipated his latest visitor.
