A Matter of Urgency [Attn: Valadin & Riahana]

[Bella]

The Blue Ajah was renowned for its ability to form impressive eyes-and-ears networks throughout the land. Even the most junior of them boasted their spiderwebs of attention throughout the nations and had information to filter through, sometimes on a daily basis. Nykkolaia Zeran, even for all her oddities, was no different. She was an Aes Sedai, and she was a Blue. She had eyes everywhere.

But sometimes, a piece of information just landed on a Blue's desk by happenstance.

Today, that was Nykkolaia's desk.

She sat reading a missive that had been sent to the Tower, and its content necessitated the attention of a Blue. Circumstance was what dictated that Nykk was, for all intents and purposes, the best available Blue the Tower had. This could be very rare, really, because most seemed to not want to deal with her or pass things along to her, but today it was apparently unavoidable.

This was not the first time she had read the letter, penned and sent from Cairhein. She had already read it several times, and sent out letters of her own: namely to her fellow Ajahs to request the assistance that she would need. Two return notes sat on her desk now as well reading the names of the channelers who would be going with her.

The Yellow had assigned Gareth Tomosan Asha'man, who would be traveling with his warder, Riahana Ferria Gaidar. And the other...that one caused her almost more dread than the original plea for assistance. She had requested a Green for the possibility of needing advice on policing tactics for the dangerous situation. She had not expected Miahala Ives Sedai to volunteer. That was far more firepower than she had intended on bringing, but who would say no to that woman?

There was a name missing, but this was...a different necessity. She folded the letters and slipped them into the pocket of her dress, leaving her office and using her means to track down a certain Dedicated...

[OOC: If you want to go ahead and put where she can find Val, she'll ask him and then we can move to the meet up and my serious case of Multiple Personality Disorder can begin.]

[Sean]

Valadin[/u][/character]

“Look Malorn…” Val growled, the beginnings of a headache throbbing at his temple. “…you will bloody scrub the floor! Ent no Soldier that’s ever been too good to scrub it an’ noble-born or no, Light burn me if yer gonna be the first! Now get for I have yer hide an’ send ya off to Master Elonid!”

The lanky princeling affected his usual spurious smile before bowing elegantly and returning to his duties. Not far the young man’s lackey’s eyed Valadin with loathing in their eyes. Since becoming Dedicated the desire to crawl into his room and wait out the Last Battle became increasingly appealing. Fingering the polished Sword pin adorning the left collar of his coat, a fresh swell of pride bloomed in his chest. It had been only last year that he’d come to the Grey Tower against his will.

In that time he’d made a few friends…and many enemies. Asha’man and Aes Sedai had become his staunch supporters as well as his most vigorous detractors. A servant scuttled through the assortment of young men on their hands and knees scrubbing mindlessly at the stone floor. Portly, but always donning a smile Bedia was a welcome sight and Val hoped that she would have time to talk. At least it takes my mind off her. Like biting into a fresh loaf of bread and finding it ridden with weevils, the thought soured the good mood from a moment ago. “Morn, Bedia.”

“Dedicated.” the woman returned with a curtsy. Not far, Malorn snorted loudly and his group shared a chuckle at whatever nasty thing he had to say about a Tower servant talking to one of the ranks under his breath.

“Aye, that’ll earn ya a good night’s work of muckin’ out the stalls this eve, Soldier. Yer boys’ll be sleepin’ well tonight while you wade in horse dung,” Val called out without sparing the slightest glance. The subsequent groan that followed was satisfaction enough to ward away the headache.

“Can’t say I like that lad much, but you needn’t look after me so Dedicated. Tis only right that I go about my business without making you look bad in the process. It’s just…you’re always so nice to me. Can’t help, but to say hi when I see you.”

Val studied her. Strands of wistful black hair struggled free of a bun that seemed to pull painfully on the woman’s scalp. Back in the Four Kings, Bedia would’ve already been Promised to someone. For all her weight and plainness, she had a decent personality; if she could cook, there wasn’t much more a man could ask for from his wife. She shined on him, Val knew that. He’d been oblivious until one of the other Dedicated had commented as much on it. Didn’t help that Soldier Malorn had made snide comments about it in earshot of Val on more than one occasion.

It was unfortunate. He liked her, but…

Like the front preceding a storm, Nykkolaia Zevran Sedai appeared from around a corner. The hall was scant with activity making it the perfect place for these Soldiers to work and he to lounge about, but with her coming there suddenly didn’t seem to be enough space in the entire Tower.

“Soldiers, make way!” Val commanded, his bearing revealing none of the anxiety that had set his heart racing. He was proud of his ability to keep his voice even and his expression flat when the men looked at him with curiosity in their in eyes. “I take it the rest of ya want to be muckin’ ‘longside ole Malorn this night?”

Without hesitation the hallway cleared, Soldiers lining the walls on either side as Nykk approached. Val himself inched away from Bedia who had dropped her head to the ground in deference to an Aes Sedai. For his part, Val bowed uncomfortably as the instinct to sweep her into his arms was squashed down.

“Light illumine ya Sister, what can I do fer ya?”

[Bella]

As she watched him with the Soldiers, Nykk reflected that he was settling well into his new rank. She had found herself relieved to hear that particular news too, as it relieved a little of the burden and the concern of their meetings...

"Dedicated Valadin," she greeted, her usual impassive expression of Aes Sedai coolness well in place, as need be in such a public forum. "If I may have a word with you." She raised her hand just enough to indicate a position a little away from prying ears. Walking there with him, she chose not to ward off their conversation but kept her voice even and low. "A matter of some urgency has arisen.

"I am being dispatched to Cairhein, with a small contingent, to aid in a particular issue being faced there." For now, she played it vague. "It might be a little..." She paused, looking for the right word. "There may be some trouble and I could use assistance. As a Dedicated, you are free to depart the Tower more easily. Would you consider accompanying me?" Always to the point, really.

[Sean]

Nykk’s expression as always was unreadable.

At first Valadin dared not hope that she had simply come to see him. It was hard enough already to resist snatching her up in a desperate hug. While she spoke about a matter that seemed to have no business with him, he stood a little closer than might have been decent. His face, hardened into a look of concentration, served as a ruse to mask the deep inhales of her scent that he stole.

He was sure she didn’t notice. The two of them rounded the corner of the corridor and found themselves alone for the moment. Passersby had been scarce during the day and with it being past midday it was unlikely that too many more people would come trundling through this section of the Tower. Only servants and tabard-wearing sentries passed with any regularity; they were more apt to avoid interfering with Aes Sedai business than anything else. The men are ‘round the corner. Bedia too. Be quick. Say what ya got to say and return to duty before anyone get curious. That’s what his good sense was telling to him do, yet as the silence hung heavy with Nykkolaia’s question Valadin knew there was no keeping his frustration bottled up any longer.

“Course I’m comin’ with you—ya didn’t really come down here just to ask me that?” he hissed incredulously. Even in the effort of maintaining secrecy, their voices rebounded indistinguishably off the stone and carried much further than Val felt comfortable with. Still he’d have his say. “I thought—” he started a bit too loudly and winced at the boom of his voice choosing to draw nearer to her to lessen the risk of discovery.

Now his chin hovered inches above the top of her head. He could reach out and squeeze her quickly; no one would be none the wiser. His vision was rimmed in red though as he quivered and ground his teeth while scanning for eavesdroppers. “Light, Nykk, I thought you bloody missed me…” he finally said in as soft a voice as he could manage.

For all he’d meant to come off as angry, the hurt in his words were obvious too. Light, he hated how much pleading was in voice.

[Bella]

His tone--the anger and the hurt--made her recoil. Her pale brows drew in slightly as her lips curved downward. She didn't like to think she'd hurt him, but equally sh didn't like how dense he was that should make such assumption. Also taking her own glance around for anyone near, she turned back to him and leaned in.

"You think I came all the way down here and interrupted your tasks to ask you in person a question that would have been more efficiently seen to by a servant with a piece of paper?" she said softly, almost hurt by his reaction. "I wanted to see you, so I came myself. And I wanted to know that you'd be by my side when I departed the Tower and not have me do so alone."

I wanted to make sure you still felt the way you said you did before... Didn't he see that she would otherwise have done this task alone, but that she wanted him with her?

[Sean]

Now it was Val’s turn to shrink. Moments ago he was nearly blinded with wounded pride and anger. Such a bloody fool, a voice in his head scolded. This time he was inclined to agree.

Though guilt made his cheeks go slack and his jaws tighten at the pained look in those pale pools of blue, Val couldn’t deny the relief that washed through him like a cleansing rain felt good. No longer caring who saw them at that moment he took her hand and pulled her close before she could protest—or he lost his nerve, “I…I know…burn me, I know,” he murmured into her hair, planting a quick kiss on her crown.

“Sorry, Nykk. I…I’ve jus’ missed ya. I’m a fool an’ I’ve always been. Hope it ent too much trouble lookin’ after an addle-brained lummox like me.”

With that he pulled away, dizzy from the warmth of her slim frame clenched against him and her scent still sending tiny shivers of desire down his spine. The savage hunger he’d fended off in the weeks that had gone by since he’d seen her returned, snapping madly at reason and beckoning him to secret the woman to one of the unused rooms down the hall. Flashes of pleasure cries and Nykk’s arms about him set Val’s heart racing again. They could be quiet…with the Soldiers handling their chores they wouldn’t question his business with a Sister and risk punishment…maybe she wouldn’t mind…

No. She’s here an’ she wanted to see ya. Be happy enough with that.

Swallowing his lust, Val straightened and fought to keep his concentration on matters at hand though he did take an extra step back not trusting himself to keep his hands from her a second time. Already he was wishing that he didn’t feel quite so tight in his breeches. Splotches of red colored his cheeks as he fought down the lingering remnants of his passion, “Right. So this business with Cairhien: when do we set out?” he growled without meaning to.

[Bella]

After his embrace and seeing his expression, she felt the change in the tension around them and knew it different than before but it was unfamiliar to her. Her tongue darted out to briefly lick her lips, which had rapidly gone very dry. He touched you. It was her own savage little inner voice. He really is a fool. She silenced that voice.

"Soon," she said, finding her voice slightly hoarse behind the mask she forced into place. She swallowed hard. "There will...be two other channelers in attendance. We simply need to confirm with our schedules, but not more than a day or two."

[Sean]

Words were difficult to find so Val kept his response to an affirming nod. More than once he found his eyes scouring the halls and each time he told himself that it was to ensure their conversation remained private; his heart knew otherwise. The urges still haunted him though an iron will now beat them into submission leaving behind the dutiful Dedicated who would serve the Tower in whatever capacity that he was able.

Most other times that was enough, however watching Nykk lick her lips made Valadin lick his own out of reflex. He’d have given anything to know her thoughts; was she as burnt up with desire as him?

Finally he couldn’t stand the tension anymore, “I…um, then I’ll await your instruction,” he stammered.

Before anything further could be said the sound of laughter boomed from where the Soldiers were supposed to performing menial chores in silence. The tension drained away at the prospect of having to deal with Malorn and his lot, but he found solace in that he was no longer gripped by the enchantment Nykk always cast on him with her presence. When next he looked at her he found that he still wanted to kiss her, but the impulse no longer ruled him as it once did. “Eh, Sister, if you don’t mind? Those Soldiers, they…they need attending and if Master Elonid finds these halls filthy I’ll be the one on my hands and knees,” he explained.

He should’ve waited for her dismissal as was proper, but something needed to be done first. Memory wasn’t Val’s strongest suit, often times failing him completely where it mattered most. On rare occasions such as this, however it proved lucid reminding him of a tryst kept in the Tower Gardens. Clear images from the day came to him easily. The remembrance of confessions made…of wants left unsated.

Feigning an exit with a bow, he started past Nykk, but when he was close enough he looped an arm around her waist and pecked a final kiss on her unmarred cheek. The feel of soft skin and the gentle smell of her made him melt inside as he broke away, hand falling from her hips where it had seemed too comfortable. Now it was his turn to concentrate on some duties while leaving his heart’s dearest flabbergasted. Striding purposefully around the corner he found his Soldiers milling about in conversation…until they saw him.

By the time they could make out Val’s expression, the mischievous smile he’d worn had vanished replaced by the hard glare of a man who’d brook no nonsense.

“You lot want to explain to me why these buckets ain’t clenched in yer hands?”

“W-we finished, Dedicated,” a smaller boy who looked a lot like Cyn answered. Fool, Val thought tenderly. There’d been a time when he would’ve said the same thing; he would break them of that. It was duty…

…and Nykkolaia Zevran was his everything.

OOC: Didn’t really want to prolong that quick meeting…though it was enjoyable. I hope that's okay. If we still need to set up some background we can always have Val and Nykk meet up on the day of or the evening before to talk about what needs to happen next.

[Bella]

Gareth Tomosan Since he was rarely likely to be anywhere else during the daytime hours, except when he was the Yellow on-watch in the Warder Yards, Gareth Tomosan was in the Infirmary when the missive came in. He took it with a deep but quiet 'thank you' and then read it over. His brows rose with curiosity, realizing that he was about to be somewhere else for a while...

The young man who had delivered the message was still there. The big Asha'man handed it back to him. "See this delivered to Riahana Gaidar in the Yards. Tell her I'll meet her at our quarters." Once the young man was off, Gareth finished up his tasks and then turned the Infirmary over to the next Yellow, heading back to his quarters in the Yellow Ajah Halls.

[Roan]

"Move those feet!" Riahana bellowed to a small group of Drin' and Ji' who had the fortune or misfortune to have her as their instructor for swords. The group were going through exercises without partners, practicing one move to the next, with the aim to improve their foot work. She knew all too well what could go wrong if your footing failed you. "I said MOVE those FEET!"

There was a change in the way the warders-to-be moved, with each step being more deliberate. Ria was not born to bark orders at people, but it was a skill she'd learned. She knew all too well that sometimes the best way to get through to some poor Drin' or Ji' was through fear. . .namely theirs.

As the group moved from one synchronized move to another, a young man approached, "Gaidar Captain, I was asked to deliver this to you, and the Asha'man said he would meet you at your quarters."

Arching a brow, Ria took the note and mumbled her thanks. After a quick scan, she looked to one of the more senior Ji', "Ji'dar Liantha, see the class to its conclusion. I am sure the Mistress of Training will ensure you have another instructor arranged for next week if I have not returned." Without further explanation, the Gaidar Captain turned to the young man who handed her the note, "My thanks once again. Please visit with the Mistress of Training and let her know that the Gaidar Captain has been called away on Tower business, and I am uncertain when I might return."

Without further delay, Riahana made for the Yellow Halls, and the family quarters she shared with Gareth and the twins. Realization dawned on her. . .they hadn't left the twins on their own at the Tower before. The journey before them might prove interesting in more ways than one. She smirked as she crossed the threshold into her home, and saw the hulking form of her husband, "So it seems they let you out of the Tower after all?"