A Lesson in Awareness
written by Amora en'Damier and Aviaine Chaimere

In her shifted attention, it seemed that her presence had not carved a clear enough path through the Blue Ajah Hall, for someone strayed from the steam that flowed around her. Amora Sedai felt the impact of another body bump into her and she snapped her attention forward, and down. Amora Sedai's entourage that had, until now, formed a V like a flock now moved forward as if in protection of the Lady from this insult. They surrounded the individual like two hawks wings sweeping forward, and Amora Sedai as the head looking down upon a wayward rabbit. Amora Sedai's presence doubled, her emerald eyes grew icy, and she bore down upon the girl who had failed to move out of the way. An unspoken challenge, "Yes?" resounded in the brief silence as if in response to the presumption.

Aviaine trailed her fingers along the wall, smiling dreamily as her dark eyes regarded the blue hue. Her free hand trailed down toward the hem of her dress, and she jerked back, resisting the impulse to trace the colored bands that circled her skirt. Stop that, Aviaine! she scolded herself. You are eighteen, not eight. Surely you are able to handle your excitement with more serenity than you are now! She shook her head. Despite the calm expression on her face, her insides were jumping for joy. She fingered the new serpent ring on her right hand, letting out a little squeal of delight. She couldn't help it...she had been raised, and she was excited. Everyone knows you're not very good at hiding your emotions, anyway.

Her eyes followed her hand on the wall. Well, actually they followed the ring on the hand. So intent was she on her hand that she didn't realize that someone was in her path until she bumped directly into them. She fell.

Lovely, Accepted! Very graceful! She chuckled slightly to herself. Nothing like a graceless fall to put you in your place!

She heard voices around her and looked up, her smile dying on her face. She was surrounded by men and women, some of them looking at her, all of them frowning. The ones whose gazes weren't directed at her were looking, instead, at the woman who stood before her, a stern look upon her ageless face.

"Yes?"

Aviaine didn't think she had ever heard a single word sound so cold. Hastily she rose to her feet, blushing as she brushed the dust from her dress. She spread her skirts and curtsied.

"I am sorry, Aes Sedai. Please forgive me. I wasn't looking where I was going...you see, I was just raised, and I thought I'd come down here and..." She clamped her jaw shut. Light, quiet your mouth! When are you going to learn to think before you speak?!?

"I am sorry."

Amora en'Damier Sedai's expression was stern and commanding. A long velvet cloak hung from her shoulders to the floor in forbearance. She gazed icily down at the Accepted from the lining of her electric iridescent blue hood. As a young woman, this daughter of the Ajah should have had her head more firmly attached to her neck rather than floating about in the clouds. It didn't reflect well on the Ajah. No, not at all. Another lesson for Talia. In her day as Mistress of the Novices and Soldiers Amora would have guided novices to curtsy to all Sisters and Brothers. What would be a fitting lesson?

A very faint, but knowing, smile curved Amora Sedai's lips for a moment before she moved towards this Blue aspirant, and then, touched her on the shoulder. "You should pay more heed to your surroundings, and to your elders, daughter." Her hand vanished beneath the black and iridescent blue swirl that was her cloak. Her hood turned to her followers and a honey haired Aes Sedai bowed her head deeply. The rest of Amora Sedai's entourage followed her in the same perfect V as before, but Beatrise Sedai remained behind.

"Follow me, daughter." She said softly in the din of the crowd that had formed. Beatrise began walking with bell-sleeved hands linked, she looked over her shoulder to be sure that Aviaine trailed behind her. They left the crowd behind and drew deeper into the Blue Hall where the blue flamed torches burned along the walls. Passing round the stone carved statue of Amora Sedai on the left they came across the legendary Sister's double doors.

"Sweep and wash these floors. And report what you see and hear of those who pass, on this:" The honey haired Beatrice produced a parchment, an obvious Eyes and Ears report. "Be thorough and detailed in your descriptions. Leave nothing out of your report. And do not get caught! I will return at the second bell after High and give your report to Amora Sedai."

Beatrice believed she knew the intentions of Amora Sedai's assignment for the Accepted. A lesson, surely. And public face, and covert face to that lesson.

"Yes, thank you, Aes Sedai."

Aviaine murmured. "Would you tell me..." She lifted her eyes from the floor in time to see the woman turn, the rest of her lackeys trailing after her like well-trained dogs. Only one woman stayed behind.

Aviaine rose from her curtsy, resisting the impulse to make a face at the Aes Sedai's back. Thank the Light I'm not a noble, if all nobles act as uppity and stuck-up as that one! She hadn't even given her name, as if expecting that Aviaine should know it.

"Follow me, daughter." Aviaine hid a smile at the address. Yes, I am a daughter now...and next I will be an Aes Sedai! She felt so excited at the thought that she could burst. The other woman had addressed her so, as well...perhaps Aviaine's feelings had been a bit harsh.

She followed the Aes Sedai, nervousness beginning to eat away at the excitement in her stomach as they walked deeper and deeper into the interior of the Blue Halls. She clasped a hand protectively around her new ring. Whatever they have planned for me, I will do it. I will prove that I deserve this ring.

An eyebrow raised when the Aes Sedai stopped abruptly and turned, giving Aviaine her instructions. Ah, I'm to be a spy, am I? Nodding, she took the parchment. She dropped a curtsy with a soft, "Thank you, Aes Sedai," as the nameless woman hurried away.

Aviaine stood for a moment, unsure of how to proceed. These instructions were perhaps the oddest ones she had ever received, and she hoped dearly that she would succeed. Submerging the impulse to embrace saidar and channel the floors clean with a few weaves of Water and Air, she grabbed a sponge and a bucket, quickly channeling Water to fill the bucket before she dropped to her hands and knees, nothing more than another aspirant fulfilling duties. She really didn't mind the work; she had done much harder chores before and after arriving at the Tower. It was her other task that made her bite her lip. Eyes and ears open, she waited, not allowing a single movement or word of those around her go undetected

Aviaine's knees ached almost as much as her hands. She was unaccustomed to having to crouch for such a long period of time; up until now, her chores had consisted of mostly standing or sitting. She had never taken such a toll on her knees before, and they hurt.

They had nothing on her hands, though. Aviaine had spent most of the day either scrubbing the floor or scribbling down notes as hastily as she could. And, now that the floors were clean, she had no excuse to continue listening to those around her. She was done.

Straightening, glad to finally be on her feet again, she glanced again at her notes before knocking on the Aes Sedai's door. Several particular passages jumped out at her...< BR>
Two Aes Sedai of the Blue, Phyrina and Chesema, walked very hastily through the halls, speaking in very quiet tones. Phyrina wore a dark blue dress, with her face veiled in her Taraboner heritage, and Chesema wore a light green silk. Their Warders (I didn't catch their names) trailed after them. One was a tall blonde man with two longswords strapped to his back and the other, a muscled redhead, carried a bow and had several knives strapped about him. They both wore their fancloaks. I heard something about the "Oath Rod" when the women passed me, but when Chesema passed she glanced down, saw me, and elbowed Phyrina. They both stopped talking and smiled at me, quite pleasantly. Chesema asked who had put me to such an awful punishment. When I told her that I wasn't sure of the name, but the woman had been wearing a long, dark cloak, they glanced at each other and Phyrina said that it was most likely Amora Sedai, that she was much too harsh with the aspirants, and that if she did it again, to come to one of them and they would see it lessened. They continued on.

Neriman Asha'man, also of the Blue, also passed by. He was wearing his Blue cord along with his pins, attached to his Asha'man uniform. He reached up to touch his cheek a lot. He seemed rather pale. Also, he carried a book in his right hand, a black, leather bound book that I believe was called History of Cairhien. It was rather hard to get a clear look at the title, because a bee began flying around his head and he used the book to wave it away, and the title and cover of the book seemed to waver when he shook it rapidly. He also took very quick steps and seemed to be in a hurry. He was joined by Herabine Sedai, and said that he was very hungry. She wore a pale blue silk with pearls in her hair and tiny blue slippers. She suggested that they eat, and he nodded and tucked the book into his jacket pocket. They left via the stairs leading upwards.

The rest were typical...learning ranks coming to sweep the halls or wash windows at the behest of steely-eyed fully raised, Aes Sedai and Asha'man hurrying past in her in their haste to be elsewhere, downcast servants rushing in and out of the rooms of the Aes Sedai. It would have to do. Tucking a strand of hair behind an ear, she knocked.

ooc: ok, here's the deal...the Black Ajah is planning a take-over of the Blue. Now, this could be happening in other Ajahs or it could not be, but it is definitely happening in the Blue. Phyrina, Chesema, and Neriman are all part of it, Herabine can be at your discretion. The plan is to get rid of Talia Sedai (kill her? Poison maybe? Or to simply stab her when she is unaware?)and set up Phyrina as the Head, using Compulsion on the other Ajah members if necessary (which, incidentally, is what Neriman's book was really about). They will then, slowly so as not to cause alarm, either kill, turn to the Black Ajah, or simply manipulate the rest of the fully raised members. Since the aspirants have not yet sworn the Three Oaths, the plan for them is to make them swear, using the Oath Rod, to serve Phyrina Sedai, or the Black Ajah. The plan has not been set into motion yet, but it set to happen very soon as soon as all the creases are ironed out; for example, they don't have the Oath Rod yet, and are still perfecting their Compulsion weaves. Hope this works, feel free to tweak it or throw it completely out the window if you like! :-)

Amora Sedai stood before her paneled glass overlooking the Blue Ajah Courtyard in the afternoon light. She thought with care of the journey she would be undertaking soon. It was one she had attempted to avoid for decades. But now . . her side burned with the wound. It was proof enough of the power of the Black Ajah in the Tower. It had hit close to home, too close from home. Amora had not attacked first, but she would attack last. She regretted the loss, of her Black Sister, even if Corrin would not have regretted the loss of her little sister's life.

Amora heard Nalia let the girl in. The Ancient Blue's attention focused on the sound of her double doors opening, of slippered feet on carpet, of Nalia standing aside with grey bristled hair, and of Beatrise Sedai previewing the girl's observations.

Amora Sedai heard a snort from Beatrise. "See one of Amora Sedai's penance lessened? What gaul. They might as well 'see about' undermining the Amyrlin Seat too."

Amora Sedai turned slowly. Her hand raised to hush her little sister as if to say, There is no need to go in to that now. She will leer the complexity of the Tower's heigharchy with time. Now a silhouette against the afternoon rays. Jade green was her gown, sequined with stones, shone in soft velvet. Green as life, but her thoughts were dark as death as she realized why these Sisters believed they had the power to undermine her. Amora Sedai's face remained impassive as she received the Accepted's notes. Her emerald eyes scanned the pages, allowing one after the other to fall to her desk like autumn leaves.

Some was important. Some was alarming. Some . . was fluff. The alarming news of just how close her sister had struck home Amora Sedai kept in he depths of her mind. It was confirmed, agents of the Shadow lurked in her own Ajah plotting for control. But on her face only expressions of a hard-nosed teacher emerged before the Accepted.

"And what, of this . ." The Legend gestured at the parchment notes, ". . is relevant?" A single eyebrow rose as if the ancient Mistress of the Novices and Soldiers were holding her student's hand through lessons once again. "What is worth reporting, Aviaine?"

Aviaine's thoughts whirled. She wished she could remember everything that was on the paper, and her fingers itched to grab the parchment that lay on the desk. Instead, she stood, fingering her serpent ring and praying that her voice remained steady.

"What of the information is worth reporting? I suppose that depends on to whom you are reporting..." Her words were slow as Aviaine tried to put some order to her thoughts. "I suppose the unusual pieces garner some acknowledgement...the fact that two Blue sisters were walking about their own halls with their two fully-armed Warders is a bit odd...what do they fear? And of course, the words Chesema Sedai spoke to me were a bit alarming...why would an Aes Sedai display the cracks in solidarity in an Ajah to an Accepted?" She thought a moment before continuing.

"the Asha'man's book did strike me as odd, also, the way the cover wavered when he flapped it about. Might he have been using Illusion to hide the true nature of the book's contents?"

Report

"Not bad."

Amora Sedai graded Aviaine as if hearing a book report, rather than a sign of her elder sister's movements. Amora Sedai's eyebrow fell back in place. No wonder Corrin hadn't sent another assassin, at least not yet. Rather, she had planned something far more complex and messy to address privately. What better way to finish the task? The only other viable explanation was that the elder en'Damier sister was moving apart from her Black Sisters in the White Tower. Either pattern was probable. Amora would have sighed in exasperation had she not the need to keep up appearances. Instead her expression remained cool and foreboding as it had decades past when receiving novices for penance.

Without a word Amora Sedai stepped towards her desk. Nalia moved in to place with the smooth glide of her training. Nalia pulled Amora's chair out for her and allowed the Lady Aes Sedai to sit gracefully without showing her physical weakness. Although, the puncture between Amora's ribs pinched in pain as the boning of her dress settled. She resisted a wince as she took up a fountain pen.

It wasn't surprising, Amora thought to herself, that this Accepted didn't understand how deeply the Black Ajah had woven itself into the Grey Tower. She did not have the context with which to integrate this new knowledge. And it was that naiveté that the Ancient Blue would use to her advantage.

Something had to be done for the Ajah before she departed.

With the parchments sealed Amora Sedai pushed the envelope across her desk. "Take these to Neriman Asha'man, Chesema Sedai, and Phyrina Sedai. Tell me how they take it."

And with that, Amora rose and passed in to her Library to meditate on the future. Soon her next caller would arrive.

"Now be quick about it." Beatrise Sedai urged Aviaine through the double chamber doors, "Don't keep Amora Sedai waiting."

Gently, Amora Sedai had initiated correspondences with the suspected Sisters and Brother of the Shadow. Subtly, she had gained the confirmation of their alliances. Their reactions upon receiving and sending notes had bolstered the truth in her susspicions. And so, a week later, Chesema Sedai had fallen off a horse out in the countryside. Neriman Asha’man was found poisoned over a cold teacup in his bedchamber two days following that. The last, Phyrina Sedai, was never seen again a day following the discovery of Neriman’s corpse. Her presence was never found in any Eyes and Ears report.

Saphire Sedai had left with her Warders to establish the Citadel just outside Tarwin's Gap. Asha’man Ashfalcon had just been elected M’Hael. It was on that following day when Amora Sedai set out for Whitebridge with the Thirteen, the Tower that much more secure in her race for the High Seat of the en'Damier House. But not secure enough to prevent the capture of three Ajah Heads by the Black Ajah.

-Zaria Sedai
Sister of the Brown Ajah

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