The Grey Tower

Kiellan laughed as he followed the Asha'man into a small classroom, smaller than any he had ever used except for his very first time in the Grey Tower. He was surprised to find that his story was in fact quite similar to Derren's. Kiellan had been a rash child, and his temper hadn't always been the best either. He had learned to fight when he was young, and although hesitant at first, he had learned to revel in it as well. But, like the Asha'man, the Tower had tamed his youthful impulsiveness somewhat. He still didn't think of himself as a big thinker, but the Arches had taught him the value of controlling his temper and searching for another solution first.

Unlike Derren, however, Kiellan hadn't surrendered to the order of the Tower. He had fought it, at first. The punctuality, the hierarchy and the many useless rules, especially those about etiquette, had not sat well with him, and his refusal to follow those rules had made sure his first year had been comprised mostly of visits to the Master of Soldiers and the various penances that those visits had led to. After a while, he had figured out that it would be best to follow the rules, at least as long as someone was watching him, but even then it had been reluctantly. Even after the Arches, he still didn't believe all the rules and hierarchies were necessary.

There was one other difference he noted. "But, Asha'man. About anger, or well, violence. I agree that it would be better to search for other solutions. If violence can in any way be avoided, it should. But sometimes, that's simply impossible. Some things cannot be resolved without using some degree of violence. What of those situations, where violence is necessary to achieve peace?"

With a Green, a Blue, and multiple Gaidin and Gaidar in his direct blood-lines, oh, he knew about that. Derren inclined his head with that faint, crooked smile curving his mouth again. "Oh, there are times when that is necessary. No Grey, even, would ever deny that." He paused simply to make sure that his awareness of this and that statement sunk in properly.

"I am a child of the Borderlands, so I know that violence is oft a necessity and there are some adversaries that there are simply no words for and no negotiations with. The Shadow has no mediator." His smile vanished and his face, showing its agelessness--not as settled in as the elder channelers but not new either--aided in his solemnity. "But with people. With people, the Grey believes that we should try words first.

"If words cannot work and violence may be the only way, or we face something with which there can be no peace, then the Grey steps back and lets those better suited to it handle the matter. Because while each Ajah is its own being, we are all akin to one another and part of the same pattern in the Tower; part of the Wheel. We work together, as is dictated by the situation and that necessity. No Ajah is a sole bastion onto itself, in the end."

He held up his hand, one finger as he made his point with that somber but intense look in his steel blue eyes. "And that is ultimately the truth of the Grey: harmony, in every situation."

The mere mention of the Shadow brought back different memories from the Arches, of people being ripped apart by Trollocs and Myrddraal, of total chaos and cruelty and merciless slaughter. Kiellan shuddered, by tried not to show his discomfort. Kiellan had heard stories of the Borderlands, of the never-ending threat from the Blight. Derren would probably have had to live with the idea of Trollocs on his doorstep for most of his childhood, and Kiellan didn’t want the other man to know how much they frightened him. He didn’t want the Asha’man to think he was a coward.

Kiellan was pleasantly surprised, however, by the Grey’s admittance that violence was sometimes necessary. He had gotten the impression that the Grey Ajah was peaceful to the point of stupidity, like the stories of the Tinkers always said, and he was relieved to find out that impression was false. The rest of the story was valid, of course. Kiellan agreed that it was best not to start killing people without trying to talk to them first, no matter what they had done. No man can walk so long in the Shadow that he cannot come again to the Light, whether that Light was literal or just figure of speech.

Kiellan had a lot to think about. “So, if I may summarize. If we look at conflict as a circle, than the Grey is the first part of that circle. They try to mediate the conflict and see if it can in any way be avoided. If that fails, the other Ajahs, most likely the Green, Red and maybe the Blue, take over. Then, after the conflict, the Grey comes in once again to pass judgement, which is meant to avoid further conflict, thereby completing the circle. Would that be roughly correct?”

It was always nice to see a metaphor picked up and carried forward, Derren thought as he listened to Kiellan speak of the Ajahs working together in a circle; a wheel. He liked how clearly thoughtful the young man was and how he obviously took things into his mind to consider them thoroughly. His first question to the Grey about laws and justice had shown that very well.

"Somewhat," Derren answered. "When it comes to matters of passing judgment, the Blues may be called upon as well. The Greys will interpret the laws and advise, but the Blues may be a little quicker to actual render verdicts, as it were." He paused. "And for the middle part of the cycle, do not forget the contributions of our Warder Yards. They are one third of the Tower's strength."

"Of course," Kiellan nodded. "I meant no disrespect to our Gaidin and Gaidar." He was glad he understood at least the basics of what made the Grey Ajah. It had been his first time talking with a Grey, and it had been much more interesting than he would've expected. He had always assumed he would join the Green or Brown Ajah, but perhaps... Perhaps the Grey offered a more suitable alternative. Maybe. All three Ajahs had things that attracted him to them: the fighting spirit of the Green, the thirst for knowledge of the Brown and the search for peace of the Grey. But they all had their drawbacks as well, it seemed. Right now, the Grey sounded alluring, but he had always been impulsive. He knew that. He would have to think about it later, when he wouldn't be influenced by his own impulsiveness.

"Thank you, Asha'man. You've been very helpful, and you've given me a lot to think about. The Grey Ajah sounds very interesting, but this isn't a decision I want to rush. The life of a Dedicated is a busy life, however, as you must know, and I have a lot that I need to do today. Would you excuse me, for now?" Kiellan waited for Derren's dismissal before bowing and turning his back. Calm, but hurried, he started his return to the Halls of the Dedicated. His talk with Derren had been interesting, very much so, but it had taken him longer than he had expected. Not that he really minded, but he would have to work harder for the rest of the day.

OOC: Thanks Bella, you've been great Perhaps Derren and Kiellan will meet again, as equals