Hollow Eyes

[Steven]

Kaci Taravin Kaci enjoyed spending time with her men, but now and then she just wanted to shed all of her titles. For all their fuss over pretending she isn’t the Lady Kaci, Commander Kaci was almost as bad. Conversation changed when she neared, the men drank less than they would if she weren’t present. Only Mikael treated her like an equal, but even then he was more like her father than a companion. It had taken nearly an hour of arguing to convince him to let her out alone, she even had to show him her crimson leather armor and mask locked tightly away in the chest beneath her bed. Just a few drinks she had told him.

It had rained, so her boots sank into the mud in some places. Wagon wheels muddied up her cloak as walked. She was almost glad for it. Nobody looked twice at a muddy cloak and boots on a day like today. Lightning flashed in the distance, its thunder taking several minutes to reach Kaci’s ears. Music and laughter filled the crisp night air as light spilled out of an open door ahead. A man stumbled out, yelling something about more ale to the burly man behind him. It was as good a place as any for a few too many drinks.

Kaci caught the door before it closed all the way. She threw her hood back and nodded at the man guarding the door. The place was packed, barely enough room to stand. Men tried talking over one another to carry on a conversation. Some sang along with the slip of a girl standing on a raised platform in the corner, two men playing a flute and a dulcimer seated at her sides. She had a beautiful voice, so it was no wonder why the place was so full.

A man nearby eyed the blade at her side, and with a grin he beckoned her over. “Barkeep, another ale here, for the lass!” Kaci flashed him a smile as she approached. He extended a hand and introduced himself, “Jayce.” She grabbed it, his grip was iron. His eyes were pale green, swirling like the clouds on a stormy night. He had a defined chin and jaw, high cheekbones, and a warm smile. As one of the more handsome men she had encountered in a while, she knew she wouldn’t mind if his generosity came with a price.

“Kaci.” His expression showed recognition, but she wasn’t surprised. She had worked hard for well over a year building up the reputation of the Freedom Guard. “Just Kaci.” He grinned at that and nodded his understanding. Jayce stood, offering her his stool and gesturing to a plate of crusty bread, dry meats, and fresh cheeses. She snatched up a piece of cheese and placed it in her mouth, letting her fingers linger on her lips a moment longer than necessary. The barkeep slammed a mug down in front of her. Kaci held up a finger for him to wait a moment, lifted the mug to her lips and drank it down in a series of gulps, emptying the mug. She handed it back to the man, nodding for him to refill it. Jayce laughed, laying a hand affectionately on her shoulder, as if claiming her as is own for the night. Kaci didn’t mind, she winked at him.

[Steven]

Keiran Taravin Keiran idly fingered the silver sword pin at his collar. His dreams had been haunting him of late, with memories of what took place on the other side of the arches. It had only been a few days, but if they didn’t stop soon he knew he should seek help with them, though he was afraid to share the details. He knew he should have used his new found freedom as a Dedicated to finally go and visit Kaci. She would be ecstatic at the news, but he knew as soon as she saw him she would know something was bothering him. The tears would come, and he would feel like a fool. No, he wanted to master himself again before he went to her.

Saidin roared in Keiran. For a moment he just sat in the stillness, taking in the feeling of the power raging through him. Several balls of light danced in his vision. He varied the size and intensity of each light in turn. Abruptly they faded as he returned his attention to the Tar Valon mark in his palm. He was supposed to be practicing a Finder’s weave, but for a weave using only Spirit, it was unbelievably difficult. Luckily, when he failed this one it couldn’t blow up in his face like so many others had.

Asha’man Phil had left him alone in his quarters as he was summoned by the M’Hael. He had made it explicitly clear that he wanted to have the mark in his hand with a Finder’s weave tied off and stable as soon as he returned. That had only been a short while ago though, and Keiran felt his eyes being to droop from boredom.

Quickly, Keiran channeled Air, pouring a bit of Kaf into a small cup. The cup floated to his hand and a trickle of Fire had steam rising from the surface of the black liquid in seconds. Keiran grinned like a boy on Wintersnight. At least he knew he could do something useful with the One Power, even if it was just serving drinks. He laughed at his own thoughts and took a sip of the Kaf in his hand. The drink had grown on him, as it was Phil’s favorite. Still, Keiran greatly enjoyed his tea, but the Kaf was a treat during his lessons with Phil.

[Steven]

Kaci Taravin Jayce spun her around in the space the patrons had cleared in front of the singer. She didn’t know the words to the song, but she didn’t care. Jayce’s hands felt good on her as they spun. His smile was infectious, she couldn’t help but return it in kind. Already he had stolen a few kisses, but his lips felt good on hers so Kaci didn’t mind. Each time the song changed they kept right on with their dancing.

The hour was getting late and the common room began to empty. Eventually, to Kaci’s disappointment, the music stopped as the singer and the musicians scurried off to their beds. Still, just under a dozen men remained. A few played a dice game near the back, a few more still sat at the bar, drinking and talking away their problems. A couple of the serving girls sat on the laps of a pair of older men. Kaci shook her head at that.

A scream came from down a corridor leading to some of the rooms. Jayce pushed Kaci behind him, drawing his sword. She was irritated, but didn’t argue. She’d had her fair share of drinks. In fact, the room seemed to spin a bit if she turned her head fast enough. Jayce stepped lightly into the dark corridor. The barkeep came to stand beside Kaci, furiously scrubbing a mug with his apron. Kaci let out a small scream as Jayce’s head rolled out into the common room. Every man in the room was standing, drawing his knife or sword, easing their way closer to the corridor. Kaci drew her own blade, however unsteadily.

A man wearing a dark hooded cloak darted out of the corridor with a hiss. He was wielding a blade made from steel as black as tar. His cowl hid his face, but Kaci could feel his gaze sweep over her leaving behind an uneasy feeling in the pit of her stomach. A few of the men lunged at him, but they were cut down with ease. The older men and the serving girls ran out into the night, screaming. The cloaked man paid them no mind. Another two men swung furiously at him, but he deflected their blows as if playing a game with children.

Kaci joined the fray, landing a deep slash across his arm. He didn’t even seem to flinch, instead he took a step towards Kaci and struck her with the back of his hand. The blow sent her reeling, her blade left her hand as she tumbled across the floor. The cloaked man beheaded one of the other patrons, and skewered the other like a wild boar. The barkeep stood frozen, hand still inside the mug as if he was still rubbing it clean. A clean slash from the black blade sent a fan of blood flying through the air. Almost immediately, the barkeeps apron was stained red and he crumpled to the floor.

That horrible gaze from the unknown attacker fixed on Kaci. Standing took a great deal of effort, her body wanting to remain frozen in fear. She eyed her blade on the floor nearby. She jumped to it, rolling out of the way of a stabbing thrust. As quickly as she could, she parried several of the man’s blows, but he was too skilled and too powerful. A more powerful blow knocked her own blade from her hand. The man’s armored glove wrapped around her neck and lifted her feet off the ground. Finally, she could see into his cowl. Pale white skin with sockets where his eyes should be. Kaci tried to gasp, but her air was cut off. Her entire body quivered in fear. Fade!

[Steven]

Keiran Taravin “Blast it!” The weave just wouldn’t settle into the coin like he intended it to. Each time he thought he had it, he realized at the last minute that a single flow was threaded the wrong way, or an end was loose so when he let it go it just unraveled. It was frustrating. He wondered why it wasn’t so easy to just will something into being. Everything was so intricate and irritating, and beautiful he had to admit. He sighed and stood, carrying his empty Kaf cup over to the table. Keiran knew Phil would be back soon, and he wouldn’t be pleased with the lack of progress.

Keiran took a deep breath, centered his focus on the coin in his palm and started the weave again. This time he didn’t go as slow as before. Weaving quickly and with full concentration. As he came to the last thread he tied it off. It held. Instantly, his pride was erased by overwhelming fear. Yet, he knew it wasn’t his own fear, there was nothing around to fear. Kaci. Recognition hit him like a bolt of lightning. He had felt a feeling similar to this before, but only when the two of them were near. Never like this. Keiran knew she was in trouble, and he would never reach her in time. Panic took him.

He turned and faced another direction, somehow knowing that she was there, straight in front of him. Saidin still raged within him and he started to weave Spirit. It was unfamiliar what he was doing, but it felt right, like he knew exactly what he was doing. Somehow he knew that he was pulling Kaci to him, or at least the place where she was. All he had to do was rip a hole from here to there, and he could save her. With that thought he wove a streak of Air, a thin bright line appeared directly in front of him. It widened large enough for him to step through. On the other side he saw a figure dressed in black holding Kaci in the air with one hand.

As Keiran stepped through the gateway, the black cloaked man turned his gaze on him. The feeling that came over him, even in the Void, was unmistakable. Myrdraal! Keiran quickly conquered his panic. Every lesson had taught him never to face a Fade on your own. Half a dozen of his Brothers and Sisters, plus their Warders, would have a hard enough time bringing it down without losing one of the own. Light!

The Fade didn’t hesitate. He drove the blackened steel straight through Kaci’s heart. Her eyes turned to Keiran as he screamed. She didn’t make a sound, but her lips curled in a smile meant for him. The life slipped out of her eyes and she was at peace. The Void wavered. Keiran kept feeding his pain and his anger into the flame of the Void, but he could still feel the pain. His hands clenched into fists, nails digging bloody rivets into the flesh of his palms. His teeth ground together as tears flooded down the sides of his face. Suddenly, Keiran realized he was still screaming.

Keiran raised his fist at the Fade and began to weave faster than he had ever done before. Saidin coursed through him like a torrent of searing fire. Dimly he was aware that it was pain he felt from saidin now, not the awe and force of power he was used to. A warning in the back of his mind told him it was too much. He stopped drawing more of the power into him, but continued with his weaves. He wove a thin sliver of Air to sever the Fade’s head, a gout of Fire to sear him into ash, the Earth to grind him into dust. He channeled Water to fill the Fade’s lungs, wondering to himself if they even needed to breathe. Somewhere in all those weaves he managed to intertwine them all with threads of Spirit.

Nothing went as it should. The weave began to settle into a long filament connecting his outstretched fist to the Fade. It turned to him and started to close the distance. Just then, Keiran’s weave seemed to collapse altogether, coalescing into a fist sized bolt of blinding light. Keiran stared in awe. The Myrdraal seemed to turn inside out, his cloak and blade turning white as snow, his face and sunken eye sockets black as night. It screamed but no words escaped. Keiran felt a ripple in the air.

[Steven]

Phillips Mathwin (NPC) Asha’man of the Blue Ajah Phil stalked back through the Blue Ajah Halls. The M’Hael was infuriating at times. He was Red Ajah, and even if their purpose had changed throughout the centuries, the feud between Red and Blue had never really ended. Besides, the gall to ask some of the questions that he had ask; Phil had half a mind to bring it to the Hall. But, politics would reign, and Phil would hold his tongue. It was maddening, and Phil thought it high time he take his talents back out into the world again.

As he approached his apartments, Phil could feel Keiran channeling way more of saidin than he ever had in lessons before. He opened the door about to lay into a tirade about the dangers…when he stopped dead in his tracks. Phil knew for a fact that Keiran could not weave a gateway. Quickly, his confusion turned to horror as he beheld the scene on the other side. Phil seized saidin and ran through the gateway.

The stream of Balefire ceased. A man in an apron and a girl Keiran’s age were standing in the same spots where they laid dead moments before. Phil cursed out loud and unwove the gateway before Keiran fell into a heap on the floor. The girl rushed to him and Phil recognized her as the twin sister he had been told so much about. He cursed, under his breath this time, and began to weave an intricate ward around the Tavern, inverting it at the same time so prying eyes wouldn’t see it there. No doubt the Tower would send someone to investigate in time. The ward would notify him of any Shadowspawn drawn to this spot by Keiran’s channeling, and discourage them from entering.

He turned to the barkeep, still paralyzed in fear. “Listen to me. I have protected this place. You will not experience the…trouble you did tonight. You can tell the Guard what happened, but leave the boy, the girl, and myself out of it. I will see that you are well compensated. Understood?” The man just stood there dumbfounded. Phil swatted him upside the head with flows of Air, “Understood?” The man nodded, wringing his hands.

Phil growled, turning his attention to the girl, “Kaci, right?” He didn’t wait for her nod, “Pick Keiran up and follow me. Now. We have to get him to a safe place before the Shadow, the Tower, and who knows what else is drawn to this place.” Phil threw open the door with flows of Air, and warded himself so no one could sense his channeling.

[Steven]

Kaci Taravin Every inch of Kaci’s body was trembling. She was dead. She had remembered dying, the pain of the Fade’s blade piercing her heart, Jayce’s head rolling across the floor. Oh Light, Jayce! She didn’t know this Asha’man, but he knew Keiran, and seemed like he was only interested in helping. Keiran, what did you do? She scooped his nearly lifeless body off the floor. Her training over the past year had hardened her muscles, she had little trouble lifting his weight. She was still quite intoxicated though, and nearly lost her balance as she stood.

Kaci followed closely behind the Asha’man. Her eyes scanning every face as they walked past. She checked down every alleyway, peered into every dark corner as they passed. She was terrified that another Fade would find them. This time she had Keiran to protect, she couldn’t fail again. Kaci looked down at his face. He seemed grown, older than when he left her that first day at the Lion’s Rest. Kaci supposed she looked older as well, they mimicked each other in almost every way.

Despite the circumstances, Kaci’s heart soared a bit. Knowing that Keiran would wake up any moment and they could laugh and cry about being together again. Before long the Asha’man took a key from his pouch, opening a door to a fairly modest house squeezed in between two shops. She followed him inside. He motioned her to lay Keiran on a bed in a room towards the back. Kaci sat on the bed beside him, stroking his hair.

“When will he wake up, is he okay?” The Asha’man was peering out the window. He nodded absently.

“An hour, maybe longer. He was channeling a lot of the One Power to do what he did.” He turned his gaze on her. His features softened. “You remember everything?” Kaci swallowed, murmuring her agreement. The Fade’s face appeared when she closed her eyes and she flinched.

The Asha’man laid a hand on her shoulder reassuringly. “It’s an awful thing. Remembering your own death.” He nodded at her, grimacing as if he was trying to picture it himself. “How…how did Keiran do it? I thought the One Power couldn’t bring someone back from the dead?”

The Asha’man replied, quietly, “You can’t. At least not in that way. Keiran erased that Myrdraal from the pattern completely. He used enough of the One Power to erase him far enough back that he never existed to kill you or that barkeep.” He paused a moment, his gaze lingering on Keiran’s peaceful and motionless face. “It’s also forbidden.”