The Golden Hippo Rises (Attn: Matty)

[Craig]

Deyeniye

The small chamber that served as the meeting place for the Supreme Council of the Black Ajah seemed unnaturally cold to Deyeniye. She had been summoned here an hour early for what she anticipated was an ambush. Long ago, she had woven many threads to ensure the downfall of the rest of the council on the occasion that she should disappear mysteriously. But the ambush was not from one of her peers.

It was far worse.

A pale figure in an unwavering black robe greeted her. Deyeniye did not need to see the eyeless face to know what it was; fear had seeped into her bones before she got that opportunity. The Fade was the first Shadowspawn she had seen with her own eyes, and it took all of her resolve not to collapse grovelling at its feet. She had served the Shadow loyally for years at this point, but somehow this meeting made her question whether her commitment was truly strong enough.

She listened closely to the dry, rasping speech from the Fade. She had the horrid vision of bones being crushed to dust behind its thin, bloodless lips. Through sheer force of will, Deyeniye stopped the contents of her stomach writhing up, but she had close calls. It spoke in a monotone for endless minutes, not giving the Aes Sedai a moment to speak.

"Do you understand?" it asked finally. Deyeniye swore she heard its blackened blade being drawn, but her bloodshot eyes couldn't pull free from its glare to check.

She gasped frantically "Yes! Yes! A thousand times yes!" Her knees buckled, and she prostrated herself before the Halfman. "Serving the Shadow is all I wish for. I am grateful for this opportunity to prove myself to the Great Lord of the Dark."

Deyeniye kneeled on the ground for a minute or more before risking a glance up. The Myrddraal was gone, with no trace of it having ever been in the Supreme Council's chamber. Aside from the cold chill in Deyeniye's heart, and the utter dryness of her mouth.

Elia Darrow

The Shienaran strode with purpose, ascending one of the winding spiral staircases towards the top of the Grey Tower. Although no longer a Sitter, she moved with the air of one, expecting those in her path to move or be trampled upon. For all of her generally known disposition for being kind and amenable, she shared with her brother a determination that came with having an arrow-like focus. Elia knew precisely what and who she wanted, and nothing was going to step in the way of her goal.

After the ten flights of stairs from her quarters, no amount of determination stopped the sister from feeling winded. She took a moment in front one of the large mirrors, checking her appearance from any blemishes. Today's dress was modest; a pink halter dress that exposed most of her pale back. The only jewellery she wore was her Great Serpent ring and her Oathsworn brooch. The glass rose angreal sat in a pouch in her pocket.

Having perfected her appearance, Elia knocked calmly on the door leading into the Keepers' office. The door was ajar, so she pushed it open without waiting for a response.

The room had only one occupant as she had desired. The Keeper of the Archives looked up from his desk, brown eyes fixing upon the newcomer darkly. Elia only smiled brightly at Murdock's open hatred. She paraded into the room after checking the doors to the Amyrlin and M'Hael were shut. This meeting was for the two of them alone.

Elia gave Murdock's desk a quick inspection. A prickly green plant sat on a corner of the desk caught her eye. It looked like nothing she had seen before, and her first guess was to assume its origin stemmed from the Blight. She kept a careful distance from the alien flora, settling herself by the other corner of the Keeper's desk.

"My Murdock," she crooned, "it feels like an Age since we last had a proper talk. How are you? Still quite happy being the M'Hael's lackey, no matter who the M'Hael happens to be?" She grinned cruelly as her voice turned wistful. "To think, he put an axe in my back once. I certainly hope you don't have the same desire. It would be a shame to have to leave Giselle without a husband."

[Chris]

Murdock Mather Murdock thought he would rather enjoy this Keeper business more, if not for the visitors he received. People who thought they were important enough to speak to the M’Hael as if he was sat in his rooms, lounging around shirtless waiting for them to enter (actually, that sounded rather accurate… the man might not be able to read or use contractions but he certainly knew how to grunt and not wear a shirt). Were Murdock working for a more interesting man he might have relished the opportunity to deny others his presence more, but as it was he felt like he was guarding a child’s toy that, when they got to it, would only be a disappointment when it didn’t rattle as it was supposed to.

Today’s visitor was one of Murdock’s least favourites, and he should have expected a visit from her at some point. He suspected it was something to do with their mutual bondmate, not that Elia was aware of this to his knowledge, suddenly disappearing off the radar. Murdock could only hope he had found a way to safely remove himself, and then threw himself off a bridge, but reports said he was alive and well, so apparently Elia’s hold on him was not as strong as she liked to think. So here she is now, sinking her claws in elsewhere the man thought dourly, not keeping anything from his expression as she approached his desk. The way she walked, he wanted to sever her foot clean off so she would lose that ridiculous Aes Sedai glide she had perfected. Maybe Murdock was a tad bitter because he never got that Asha’manly prowl some men could master, only managing an aggravated limp at the best of times.

But then he also felt like Elia would be much more approachable were he to remove her eyes, so she could never look at his desk. Murdock could just… pick Bradley up and ram him into each socket, wouldn’t that be nice for her? It would make him feel better, though when Elia took a seat and started to talk, the Keeper reassessed his opinion and decided that no, he would much prefer to ran the plant down her throat instead.

He couldn’t disagree with her sentiments about his role as Keeper, though that had never been something he was particularly passionate about in the first place so that bounced off his grumpy hide. “I have no care for who the M’Hael is. Different jars of honey attract the same disease ridden flies.” He gave the woman a frown, because then she was mentioning Giselle’s name and that was something she had absolutely no right to do, none at all. He leaned forwards, closing the book he was reading with a loud thud. “You will not speak my wife’s name in my presence. You do not deserve to lick the ground she walks on, you arrogant little chit.”

Oh, if only their moronic M’Hael had done a better job of putting that axe into her back. But Murdock was not an axe sort of fellow. “If I were to attack you it would be in a much less crude manner than an axe, and far more painful for you. But as it is I have no such desire at this moment in time.” Though the small angreal she had gifted him had not left his person since receiving it, and there would be an opportunity. A time and a place to remove this stain from his life once and for all. “I take it you aren’t here to see our esteemed M’Hael, so what do you want from me? Make it quick. In fact, you can save time and next time send a messenger. Send someone you want removing from the scene and I’ll even remove them for you.” He’d rather Rend some unsuspecting fool to jelly than bandy words with Elia, that was for certain.

[Craig]

Elia

Elia smiled sweetly. Poor Murdock, still preening over a dead woman. She had no earthly idea whether it was possible to resurrect the dead, but it was that sliver of hope that kept Murdock bound to her. Bound, yet unfortunately not muzzled. For such a bookish fellow, he did have a mouth on him. Still, what did they say? "Words will never hurt me"?

The fear that Elia once had in the Keeper's company was now soothed over by her newfound power and position. She made that much apparent as she plucked the nearest letter off the Keeper's desk without a 'by your leave'. The Indigo almost thought she heard Murdock's teeth grinding within his skull. He would learn to abide her intrusions in time.

She piled the sarcasm on thickly as she scanned the letter. "Oh Murdock my sweet, you cut straight to the heart of the matter. There are some people I need removing from the scene." Something about Altaran wines? She placed the order down and took hold of another. "I just received a visitor on an important matter, and I would love if you could accompany me." Costs for the new Novices' Quarters. Light, Ogier cost more than their weight in gold.

She took a third letter from the Keeper's desk. "We're going on a little journey, you and I. I think-- oh look, you do have it." The message was from High Lord Ansel Salinatis. She read quickly, already in possession of more facts than the lordling thought suitable to write down in ink.

"Trouble in Tear, oh my." Elia looked up and stared deep into the Keeper's brown eyes. "I think the Grey Tower ought to send a delegation to the city. And I think they ought to send the two of us, wouldn't you agree?"

[Chris]

Still Murdock There was a difference between paying an unwelcome visit and going through his belongings. The sheer audacity of it was incredible, and Murdock’s mouth opened in indignation as soon as she plucked up the first letter. “What do you think you’re doing? These are private documents and anything you need to know, I will tell you!” Indeed, Murdock was fairly good at passing on any information to the higher ups that he thought they needed – often, they already knew it, and if they thought he was keeping it from them intentionally then it was never a good time for him.

Part of Murdock did so hope that Elia would go through the drawers of his desk sometime. Those were Warded, and only opened safely to his own hand. Of course he was no Warding master, but Jaryd was very good with them and knew some, er, creative ways to put people off going through his things. It was one of the reasons Murdock had never tried to sift through the M’Hael’s private items when the Red was in charge.

“Yes there is trouble in Tear,” Murdock grumped, snatching the latter from Elia and reorganising his desk to make it all look good and proper once more. Being the petty grouch he was, Murdock also seized Saidin long enough to cast weaves of Air, flattening any portable paper onto the table. Only Bradley was free to pick up because the opportunity to introduce him to Elia’s digestive tract was still very strong, and one never knew… oh yes, Tear. “Now Elia, why would I ever agree to accompany you to Tear of all places? If you have a target there in need of removing, then bring them here. Or give me their details and I will go alone. There are plenty of other Aes Sedai in the Tower who could accompany me instead, and I would enjoy their company more.” Murdock looked right back at Elia, a more primal part of him acknowledging that those green eyes were indeed rather beautiful, but he was more irate than aroused because, well, Giselle had blue eyes. And wasn’t a power hungry bitch.

“You may or may not be aware,” Murdock went on, “that the White Tower has also agreed to send delegates to Tear to aid in this. They are going to be a problem. But not my problem. House Salinatis is only loyal to whichever Tower gives the most aid, and I am above petty squabbling between nobles. However, it does sound right up your alley, so all the best and do try not to get yourself killed. I’m sure I would be heartbroken.”

[Craig]

Elia

Elia let a lingering silence lie between the two of them. Murdock was getting all flustered, and not granting him the answers he sought only to rile him up further. Brown eyes challenged green across the space of a few feet. Truly Elia's fear for the Keeper had truly whittled away since becoming 'Deyeniye'.

"I am sure you would be," she quipped sardonically. "But regrettably for you, I am not asking for your assistance Murdock, I am dictating it. You shall convince the M'Hael or the Amyrlin or whomever that a delegation should be sent in order to gauge and assuage the situation in Tear. You shall ensure your own presence as an envoy from the Grey Tower -- I'm sure the presence of a Keeper would show we're very concerned about the situation -- and you shall also ensure my presence. Say my charming presence would be a boon, or dangle the possibility that I may be able to place my hands on some Tairen ter'angreal. Whatever works to make the jolly Green giant or Whatsherface place both of us in Tear." Elia had gestured towards the two doors leading to the M'Hael and Amyrlin's studies at the last. Such a source of regret that Jaryd wasn't still the Fang of Hama Valon. An evening alone with him, and she could have got the same result without Murdock's secondment to the task.

Commandments out of the way, Elia settled into a more pleasant tone. "I know we've had our disagreements in the past my sweet, but is it not time we set that aside, mm? Our arrangement has worked well so far, but this time I cannot bring you the people who need to disappear; we have to go to them. If you were a little more receptive to my requests, I wouldn't have to make them orders."

Deyeniye leaned in imperceptibly towards Murdock; the raven sizing up her prey. "Maybe I can give you a little something as a token of good will?"

[Chris]

Murdock was not a creature with fur, but he did know how to bristle, and that is exactly what he did then. It started at the top of his neck and worked its way down his spine, making his whole sleek body shiver as his eyes narrowed, true irritation on his face. Who did Elia think she was to give him orders? She could dictate, demand, drum her feet on the floor all she wanted, at the end of the day Murdock and she were members of the Black Ajah, nothing more.

He was pretty used to not being told what to do, something that had been met with begrudging acceptance as a trainee. Being told he would do A, B, C, was only agreeable to him if he was ordered about by a well bred authoritative lady, and this was just Elia being her bossy smarmy self which really didn’t do it for him. At least she wasn’t using Compulsion, no doubt she had come to rely on it so much she didn’t know how to use any tact. The right tone was needed, the right way of addressing him, to really get Murdock’s gears going. Why, Giselle knew just how to cut him down to size. And Fiona had that way of speaking when she went into one of her more passionate moments that made Murdock’s blood boil at just the right temperature.

It wasn’t that Murdock couldn’t spin this to get the pair of them to Tear, he was not motivated to. Being told he had to by Elia was all well and good but really, anything to spite her was fine with him. “Make whatever orders you like,” he said, “I’m sure the servants and Novices bend over backwards to whatever requests you make, but that is them, and I… am a very busy man, with a long line of people I don’t want to help. But even then you are behind those people.” Disagreements? Disagreeing with being Compulsed was hardly something to blame him for. Besides, he’d gone and helped her and Mirin with castrating Emmond, something he sort of regretted sometimes…

Murdock was not a stupid man by any stretch of the imagination and it occurred to him, with a sudden sense of foreboding, just why Elia thought she could act like a complete bitch and get her own way. This wasn’t just Aes Sedai arrogance, this was… I suppose someone had to take Emmond’s place. Mirin was too weak, and I have no interest, so by default it would have to go to the hungriest. Did it bother him? Actually, not as much as it could have. It was on the cards all along that in the void created by Emmond, someone was going to have to assume the mantle, and it was always good to know your superiors. Supposedly. Murdock liked it more in theory than in practice but it was what it was, and he had no interest in her role. Another Elia would be along soon enough to do to her what they did to Emmond. Oh, Murdock would enjoy that day.

Elia could be the raven and he could be the worm, but he would make sure to choke her on the way down if it came to it.

She did mention “a little something”. Murdock was not above bribery, the angreal he wore was a testament to that, and the dour man figured he could hear her out. She might well have some other trinkets to throw his way, the sort that he could use. That might make getting her spoiled arse to Tear worth it. “Get me something that is worth it and I can get us to Tear quicker than you can charm your way into some other idiot’s bedchamber. Less of the stick and more of the honey would go a long way, and I’ve quite the sweet tooth.”

[Craig]

Elia

Elia's eyes tightened at the mention of bedchambers. Did Murdock do everything in his power to be as objectionable as humanly possible? There had to be Trollocs somewhere with more charisma then the scowling Brown.

Her thoughts returned to the Myrddraal she had just met and her anger cooled under a renewed wave of fear.

"The orders come from on high," Elia croaked in a decidedly pained tone. Normally there was no slight worse to the Indigo's pride than to be ordered about, but this had been no ordinary order from no ordinary superior. In fact, she only just realised, this was the first order she had received as head of the Black Ajah. She shivered at the thought of having to meet yet more Fades in the future.

"We go to Tear," she continued in a less shaky tone. "If my mission proves to be a success, then you shall be rewarded. If my mission proves less than successful..." The Myrddraal's rasping voice filled her head again. There were things decidable worse than death.

A hopeless sound rose up from the back of her throat.

Elia took a moment to recompose herself. She needed something to bring Murdock over to her side. Aside from his wife, what else does he want? The Brown was a man of almost no vices, but Murdock liked his experiments. She could shuttle off mindless drones to his apartments in droves, if he wanted toys to play with. But then Murdock clearly had his own ways of acquiring his victims. What else would gratify his needs?

"I'll send a gift to your apartments tonight, in a show of good faith." The answer would come to her before nighttime, she was certain. Elia's tone returned to normal, which meant she resumed being dictatorial. "So long as I hear that the two of us are being sent to Tear. A gift tonight, and another when we return. Does that sate your sweet tooth?"

[Chris]

Le Murdock It got to a point where the people giving the orders were no longer people, but something more. Something more wicked and terrible than Murdock ever wanted to rub shoulders with - another reason he was happy to remain in his current position and let people like Elia take the heat from them. But at the same time, anything that came from those lofty heights meant that failure would not only be a major setback for Elia, but anyone she decided to enlist. Whether it came from her or something else, Murdock's failure to co-operate would not be looked upon kindly.

It was so much easier to be belligerent when it was only Elia he was troubling.

Murdock didn't let this trouble show on his face though. He didn't have Elia's direct experience of dealing with anything particularly unpleasant, and so it was a lot easier for him to smooth away his troubles. When she sweetened the deal with not one but two gifts, the man actually managed a small smirk. "I have an idea for what you can do," he said. "You can help me find my daughters. Anything else you may want to give me I'll happily accept, but this? Help me with this and I will do whatever you need." Murdock hadn't exactly divulged the situation of his missing children to anyone, but he had the feeling that those who needed to keep an eye on him were aware, not to mention that they possibly had a hand in it. If it was a test, it was a poor one. Four adult women snatched in the night from Far Madding with no clues as to their whereabouts? Odette had been less than useful in what she told him, that she had orders of her own. All he had been able to wring from her was that it was a former Indigo, but people said the strangest of things when they were hallucinating on too much peach pit to the brain.

Besides, Murdock wasn't really an interrogator, he was more of a tinkerer who asked questions at the same time. And he hadn't been at his most rational with Odette, which was to his detriment. Next time he could enlist Elia's assistance to get the answers he needed. "Start with Odette of the White. She was in my Heart." 'Was' being the operative word, but Murdock didn't dwell on the specifics any more than he had to, Elia was a smart woman. At least she was when she wasn't thinking like a Green and drooling over her puppets.

"You can go," Murdock waved his hand, "I'll make the arrangements now. By this evening we will both be confirmed as heading to Tear via Gateway come morning. I'll send a messenger to you with the confirmation." If she gifted him then that would be sweet indeed, but really getting news of his daughters would be an entire honey pot. The sooner she left the sooner she could get started. She might already be aware of Odette's unfortunate demise - jumping from her room's balcony, how dreadful! - and how it came to be. Or she might not be. Who knew what she and Emmond were up to, now he no longer held that bond?

True to his word, Murdock did indeed arrange for them to go to Tear, and Elia would receive confirmation of such almost as soon as she returned to her rooms.