Ripple One: The Sunrise
written by Kira al’Haram, Shyne, Bassal Toram, Saphire en'Damier, Ellisande Alenar and Sigmund von Danzig

The young girl slunk along the shadows with her friends, the wolves, hunting in the minimal light of the pre-dawn. They crouched and sprung, moving as one, thinking as one. Gold eyes glinted all around her, and she felt at home. The catch, if any, would go to the pack's Alpha, but Running Wind, as the girl currently thought herself, would do her share to contribute to the pack.

Eventually, the sun rose over the skyline, it's golden rays touching and dancing off the coats and eyes of the wolves. With the light, they stopped the hunt. Running Wind came back to her human side, back to being just plain Kira, Ji' alantar.

Kira picked up what few belongings she had taken with her to the forest, making particular cares to see her Ashanderei safely in her hands as she walked back to the Tower. Back to life. The thought came unbidden from the depths of her mind, the feeling that she was leaving one life, and going back to another, more dangerous one. At least there would be no hunt in the human life.

She was wrong. When she arrived back at the Warder Yard, there was a panic. People were all mulling about, looking in one general direction. Kira looked where people were pointing and staring, and saw a a boy, a Drin'far'ji, swinging a the end of the rope. For once, Kira wished she had no enhanced sight. She quietly walked to the side of the Yard and emptied her stomach.

The sun's up, Shyne thought to himself. I probably should get back to the Hall before I'm missed. With a sigh, he stood from the bench he'd been sitting on, causing the shewolf at his feet to stand up. He nodded and turned away, knowing she would already be headed for the gate outside. All this time hovering outside the Tower and she still didn't like people.

Leaving the Gardens, Shyne walked around the Tower, an amazing sight at sunrise, and found a crowd gathered in front of the Hall. The building itself was bathed in sunlight, though quite a bit less spectacular a sight than the Tower.

As he approached the gathering, he noticed that they all seemed to be wearing the Drin'far'ji uniform. He didn't enjoy doing things like this, but being of a higher rank, it was partially his responsibility to keep them in line, and he knew that if a Gaidin found this group with him there, he would pay. Stepping out of line wasn't something he could afford right now.

Raising his voice to be heard over the murmurs, he called out "Alright everyone. Social hour is over. You've all got responsibilities to see to. No standing..." He cut off as he heard someone's stomach wretching. Looking over, he noticed that it was Kira, a fellow Ji'. The first thought to go through his head was that he wouldn't be the only one in trouble.

Only then did it occur to him to wonder what could make a WiT and a wolfkin lose her breakfast like that. Only then did one of the drin'far'jis pluck his sleeve and point up. As he followed the young woman's finger, he very quickly understood.

Kira quickly stood up from her crouch when she heard a voice speak, quickly realizing as she did that it was Shyne, a fellow wolfkin and Ji. She felt like blushing to her toes, but the sight of the Drin swinging kept her expression in place. She only hoped it was a semblance of calm, not the green she expected it was.

"Shyne," she said, glad her voice was steadier than she felt, "It is good you have come." She walked over to him, leaning heavily on her ashanderei as she did. As soon as she got close enough, she said in a feirce whisper, "We need to get these Drin's out of here with some warnings before they decide this is a good tale to tell. The less that know about this occurence, the better." Kira noticed her voice was feeling less... hesitant once she began to get her wits back.

"They don't seem to be listening to your initial command to leave, so maybe two voices will be heard better than one."

Shyne likewise snapped out of it when he heard Kira's voice. He could hear the ring of logic in what she was saying and quickly threw down the notion of all of these people dead. He didn't like the thought, but was aware that sometimes innocent people had to die to protect the general population. Besides... it's not like it would be the first time he'd killed an innocent.

Nodding to Kira's suggestion, he began to shout again, and this time she joined him. They called out to the Drin' telling them that they were to go about their business and speak of this to no one. Shyne could only hope that the threat of many extra chores and possibly harsher consequences would stay the crowds tongue.

When things seemed underway, Shyne turned to Kira. "When they're all gone, go see... someone... one of the Gaiden and find out what they want us to do..." He then pointed to one of the passing Drin'far'ji. "You. Come with me."

Startled, the young man followed him through the doors. He had to get the body down before anyone else saw it...

Kira shouted as loud as she could with Shyne, swearing every once and a while under her breath. She stopped once all the Drin'far'ji had dispersed and everything was seemingly normal, bar the one thing she didn't look at.

When Shyne turned and said, "When they're all gone, go see... someone... one of the Gaiden and find out what they want us to do...", Kira nodded quickly, turning on her heal and running back into the warder barracks and to the Gaidin's quarters...

As he raced through the Hall, the Drin'far'ji just behind him, Shyne turned slightly to the man. "Do you know who that is up there?"

The answer came quickly. "Luantar cen Thaal..."

"Do you know of any reason he would be up there?"

"Well..." It was obvious he was hiding something, but that didn't matter.

"When we get done we'll sort this mess out."

The rest of the trip was in silence. It didn't take long before the young drin'far'ji was out of the sun and in one of the third story windows. Go get Captain Ives and bring him here."

The drin'far'ji returns to Kira and Shyne. Turning to Shyne since he had given him the order, he spoke in a hesitant voice. "He wasn't in his study, ji'alantin. Maybe he has not come down from his chambers by the Amyrlin's Office yet. He is bound to come down soon though, he always does. Maybe we should find some other Warder?"

Even though he was standing as tall he could in attention before the two, he felt very small when he thought about Luantar's body. His heart was still beating fast.

Kira returned quickly, frowning thoughtfully. The Gaidin Captian wasn't in his studies, and most of the other Gaidin were unwilling to come solve a few Ji'alantin's problems.

She found Shyne quick enough, and the Drin'far'ji who had been with him had left. "No Gaidin are willing to help right now. Maybe we should... I'm not sure what we shold do." She sat with her back against the nearest wall, her knees drawn up against her chest. "Maybe we should go to the Amyrlin, or the Keeper. Anyone."

Shyne sighed and looked out the window again. Perhaps they could wait for Captain Ives at his office... or try to find him either in his rooms or en route... But alas, there was already a crowd down below again. Apparantly they hadn't waited long to reform. Also, he caught the sight of... was it... Aynaiss Gaidar ducking behind a building.

"There's Aynaiss!" he exclaimed. He turned back to Kira and the Drin... who's name he still couldn't of. "One of the Gaidar is down there. Let's go."

Bassal took off at a run after speaking to his fellow Drin' outside and made his way into the Halls running as fast as his long strides would take him and he rounded a corner almsot colliding with the two Ji'alatin and the Drin'.

Gasping for breath he spoke "My apologies but..." for some reason he couldn't bring himself to say it he just stood their bretahing heavily trying his best not to think of the sight or the smell of it.

Kira gave a jump as another Drin skidded toward them, obviously making an effort to stop. She arched an ebrow when he said, "My apologies, but..." and trailed off. She thought he looked a little green, not unlike she had when veiwing the once dangling corpse. Now, Shyne had pulled it inside the window, the overpowering smell of decaying flesh almost made her want to empty her stomach again.

"Please be more careful the next time you decide to run through the halls," Kira said in an overly sweet tone, "but from the look on your face, you must have seen what was hanging outside a moment ago." She looked at Shyne then, wondering if she should punish him, or bring him along.

Shyne quickly assessed the situation. This young drin'far'ji... Bassal, if he remembered correctly... they'd had a few classes together... Bassal had come running up here, probably to do what he himself had just done, and in seeing it close up... was expectedly a bit disgusted, perhaps even scared.

Shyne took another second to look around. They were standing near the door to a classroom. Glancing at the other three in the hall with him, he nodded over to the door, which was promptly opened by the (still nameless) drin'far'ji. Shyne carried Luantar's body inside and set it down on a mat.

He looked up. "You," he said, pointing to the Drin, "stay here and don't let anyone without a fancloak, a shawl, or a dragon pin in here." His head swivled slightly. "You," he said, looking at Bassal, "I saw Aynaiss Gaidar outside. Go find her and bring her in here. Bring any other Gaidin you find on the way, as well..."

Finally he looked at Kira. "Either Captain Ives or Ellisande Gaidar or one of the other Officers needs to be found, and if two sets of eyes will find them easier than one."

Without really waiting to see if any of them were doing as he'd asked, he rushed out, and headed toward the Officer's appartments.

Kira nodded briefly to the two Drin'far'ji as she too made her exit from the passage. She glided along the hallways connecting the many rooms of the Warder Barracks, pausing now and then to look around and smell for one of the Officers.

A wolf joined her during her trek, Kira's wolfsister Dust Storm. The wolf had finished sunbathing and had come to find out what was making Kira so agitated.

Sister, Kira said almost immediately, her eyes adn thoughts focusing on the wolf at her side. Have you seen any of the two legs with the long, rippling cloaks?

The wolf sent back a negative answer, so they continued.

The girl rounded a corner, noticing as she did there was light showing through the cracks around Saphire Sedai's study door. Maybe the Warder- Channeler Representitive would count for an officer... Kira knocked on the door, the wolf sitting down across the hall to wait out any conversation.

Shyne sprinted down the hallway, unaware even of whether or not Kira was still following him, he turned the corner, and headed past the Officers' studies, noting that Caden's light wasn't on.

Instead, he just rushed down the stairs and out the door, headed for the Tower.

Kira nodded briefly to the two Drin'far'ji as she too made her exit from the passage. She glided along the hallways connecting the many rooms of the Warder Barracks, pausing now and then to look around and smell for one of the Officers. If two eyes serch better than one, we must go to different places, Kira said to herself, going a direction she knew Shyne had not.

A wolf joined her during her trek, Kira's wolfsister Dust Storm. The wolf had finished sunbathing and had come to find out what was making Kira so agitated.

Sister, Kira said almost immediately, her eyes and thoughts focusing on the wolf at her side. Have you seen any of the two legs with the long, rippling cloaks?

The wolf sent back a negative answer, so they continued.

The girl rounded a corner, noticing as she did there was light showing through the cracks around Saphire Sedai's study door. Maybe the Warder- Channeler Representitive would count for an officer... Kira knocked on the door, the wolf sitting down across the hall to wait out any conversation.

Two worlds, one reflecting her chambers in the Citadel behind her, the other her study in the Warder Yards before her. The flat images curved into twin convex forms and met at a seam above, below, and to her sides. Saphire walked between mirrors, holding anxiously to Spirit as if it were a lifeline.. The world of the Grey Tower stretched open before her until she felt her faces push through like the surface of water. She stepped out to the sound of knocking. There is always something. Saphire Sedai mused. First one, then the next foot met the floor. She turned. And for the briefest moment the other side of the mirror shown her Citadel chambers as if the mirrors were windows. Until she released saidar, and then there was only her study reflecting back at her. With her phobea at bay, she breathed a sigh of relief.

"Open locks whoever knocks." She called.

Kira opened the door quietly, looking about carefully before stepping inside. Her eyes glowed dimly gold as she turned her eyes on the Aes Sedai. Kira nodded briefly to the Aes Sedai, then looked back out into the hall and checked to see if anyone was near. Nodding grimly to herself, she truned back around and looked back to Saphire Sedai.

"Saphire Sedai," she said quietly as soon as she closed the door fully. "We have a bit of a problem." She then mentally berated herself for not following custom and saying Good Morning or anything like that, but what is said, has been said.

For a moment Saphire was taken aback by the bright glow of golden eyes that at first flashed past her from the unlit doorway. Father? She squinted, But he's dead . . .

Then a young woman in a Ji'alantar's uniform stepped into the dim morning light of her study. How long have I been gone that I have never met this trainee who is already halfway to becoming a Gaidar? It was a distressing thought, but the Citadel was a project that would hopefully worth the price to future Warders.

Upon addressing her, Saphire Sedai assumed that the Ji'alantar knew how to identify her, at least from her study and therefore rank. The Warder-Channeler Representative listened, but grew slightly alarmed at the news. She forgot to insist that the trainee bow upon addressing her.

"Speak." She nodded for her to continue.

"Yes Aes Sedai," Kira said hurriedly, bowing her head. She then plunged into the story, starting with coming back from hunting. "When I returned from my hunt this morning, a very... disturbing sight met me. A Drin'far'ji was hanging from a window on the third story, and let me say, it was not a pretty sight. From my judgement, he was dead before her got there, so other people are more than likely involved. Shyne and I cleared out the Drin'far'ji standing around and watching, but too many have seen and few heeded our warnings to stay clear." She paused, watching the Aes Sedai for a reaction. "Shyne cut the poor boy down."

Unbecoming of her rank and heritage, Saphire Sedai's eyes widened in horror.

But she did not miss a beat. Her mind focused on what needed to be done. "This requires swift action."

Abruptly she turned on her heels back to the mirror, the feel of the forrest green aristocratic overdress she was forced to wear was forgottom momentarily as it whispered across the carpet. With well-honed skill she opened herself to saidar and the mirror shimmered before them. Rippling like the surface of a pond it revealed the image of her chambers in the Citadel. Like the practiced general she was, Saphire Sedai commanded: "Go to the Citadel and find The Mistress of Arms and Master of Training. Tell them I sent you for them and that it is an emergency. They should know to ask Haruld Asha'man to weave a gateway back. With what time you have tell them what you have told me and that I believe we need to hold an Executive Council immediately. I will take care of the rest here." Holding the ter'angreal open just long enough she ushered the wolfkin through.

Kira practically ran through the mirror into where the Aes Sedai had sent her. The walls around her were not familiar, so she was puzzled for a few moments after the Saphire Sedai had closed the portal and Kira was alone. Looking around and assuming it was the Citadel that she was in, she pushed open the door to the chamber she was in and went trotting off to find Ellisande Gaidar and Sigmund Gaidin. Perhaps someone could show her the way, if she found anyone. Otherwise she would have to search.

Ellisande expected that she would never be used to this northern tundra. Gathering her cloak more tightly about her narrow shoulders, she peered down from the high, well-fortified walls. Winter--proper winter--was still several months away.

Unbelievable, she thought to herself. She buried her hands in the fur lining of her mantle. And I thought the Tower in winter was cold.

It was early yet. Ellisande wrenched her thoughts from the cold and her eyes from the landscape beyond the stone battlements; she had neither the time nor the luxury to dwell on such trivial concerns as bodily discomfort. Burrowing a bit deeper into the thick cloak, tugging absently at the rim of her hood, she briefly reviewed her schedule for the day. There was much to be done. While the Citadel's construction had ended weeks ago, these first few months would be crucial to ensuring the success of the Tower outpost.

She smiled to herself; she was getting ahead of herself again. Ellisande put aside the thought of the "first few months" and concentrated on her plans for the day. She was to meet Sigmund this morning for another tour and review of the stations. Perhaps, Ellisande reflected, if time permitted, there would be a moment for a shared breakfast and a pot of stout tea in her study.

She rubbed her palms together; her cheeks burned pink in the chilly morning. She heard footsteps on the flagstones behind her, approaching rapidly. She turned away from the battlements, expecting to see Sigmund Gaidin marching to meet her at the wall. As she turned, however, the instinctive smile fell from her lips. This was not a single set of footfalls; there were hushed, hurried voices approaching. Ellisande caught one clear, bell-like tone?"Saphire Sedai." One of the Tower Guards was leading a young woman that Ellisande vaguely recognized down a stone walkway, and the Gaidar noted immediately that the visitor was shivering; she wore only a light cloak. This was no Shienar visitor come for an interview with the Mistress of Arms.

The face fell into place. This was Kira al'Haram, a Ji'alantar. Ellisande had witnessed her raising not long past. She frowned, a quick jolt of worry flying to her stomach. The Ji'alantar was certainly not scheduled for a rotation at the Citadel any time soon, and such a sudden arrival could only mean one thing. Ellisande felt suddenly very ill.

"What's happened?" she asked immediately, stepping forward to meet the pair, the morning cold now paling beside the worry in her veins.

Kira was on the point of bursting. The guard she had found was no help whatsoever, taking her to places where no one was, let alone one of the two warders she was searching for.

"Saphire Sedai sent me to find he warders, and you can't find one of them out of two!" she snapped at her escort. She knew she should try to be polite, but the days events had put her in a short, very short, temper. Plus, the cold was no help. her golden eyes widened as she began to hear footsteps. Perhaps it was one of the two...

A figure appeared before them, and with a start Kira recognized Ellisande Gaidar in a thick cloak.

"What's happened?" said the Gaidar immediately, and Kira slowed to a halt.

"Gaidar," she began, launching into the same story she had told Saphire Sedai earlier. "A Drin'far'ji was found ung this morning. In my opinion, dead before he was hung, but I am no expert. Many of the other Drin'far'ji had seen the body before Shyne could pull it into a window, but we are not sure how many others have seen. It was hung out of a third story window in the Warder Hall." Kira began speaking faster as she went, ending in a rush. "Saphire Sedai sent me to find you and Sigmund Gaidin and tell you. She also said something about an Executive Council Meeting and getting a gateway back to the Tower as fast as possible."

Oh, Light in heaven.

Another death to the tally. Ellisande remembered all too well the frenzied discussion she had had with Caden Gaidin weeks ago--talk of the Black Ajah, and Darkfriends in the ranks, and brewing plots. She felt the blood temporarily drain from her face.

It had truly begun, then.

She nodded curtly to Kira--she would contain her fury and fear for now. The girl was growing more and more frenzied as she delievered her report. "Thank you for your services, Ji'alantar." Ellisande glanced at the Tower Guard immediately. He too looked rather pale. "Find Haruld Asha'man and have him wait for me in the main courtyard," she said quietly, her tone brooking no argument. "Be quick about it; there is no time to waste."

She turned to hurry off, but paused, fumbling at the clasp of her cloak. She wordlessly thrust it at the Ji'alantar, giving the girl a hard, unreadable look. The girl was several inches taller than Ellisande, but the cloak would have to do. While Ellisande hoped that the return to the Tower would come swiftly, the girl was ill-equipped to wait in the Shienar cold. Ellisande spun no the heel of her boot and hastened down the path.

Chances were, she would find Sigmund in his own study. She might as well begin her search there, at least. She swallowed the burning lump in her throat, catching her breath now that she was safely out of sight.

She broke into a run as she rounded the first corner.

"Jek, you're falling behind, maintain formation or all is lost!" Sigmund shouted at the Tower guards he was drilling. Burn me, these are good enough for the Southlands, but they're not good enough for the Blightborder! In an instant, that little bit of Saphire in the back of his head grew very distant.

"HOLD!" he shouted. Saphire didn't mention anything about a trip back to the Tower ... Sigmund paused for a moment. She hadn't yet returned. If she had planned on going back for an extended period of time, Saphire would have mentioned something. Something must be wrong. "Paulus, Olaf, Thom, Hans and Sigurd, dismount and get halberds, then follow me. The rest of you keep drilling, I want you to be adaquate by the time I return!"

With an about-face, Sigmund walked to his office. "Where did you last see Harud Asha'man?" he asked the troops following him.

"I saw him in the mess at lunch naught but half-hour past, my lord," replied Sigurd.

"Go then," commanded Sigmund. "Find him and bring him to the central courtyard. We will be returning to the Tower immediately."

Swiftly entering his office, Sigmund scratched out a note to Ellisande.

"Sigmund has returned to the Grey Tower to address certain concerns which have emerged recently. He shall return at his earliest convenience."

"Tack this to the door," he commanded Hans.

"Yes, my lord."

He barely heard the rote acknowledgement as Sigmund removed his winter cloak. Donning a maille shirt, he threw his fancloak over it.

Sigmund was just on his way out the door when Ellisande arrived. "My love! I'm glad you're here," he said. "Saphire has returned to the Tower. She did not mention any such plans to me, and it has gone longer than her usual errands. I fear something is wrong."

Kira stood in the central courtyard with the Asha'man, waiting for the two Warders to return. Her feet were planted firmly, as if determined not to move, no matter what came.

The thick cloak was held closely around her body, and though it was a few inhes too short, she was glad for the extra warmth it provided. Light send they come soon, she thought absently as she caught a draft.

The Asha'man stood beside her, and Kira tried not to look at him. Even though she knew the taint was clean, it was hard to not belive what you were brought up to know. Male channelers must be gentled, but now that the taint was clean, would beliefs change as well?

All in all, Ellisande was rather surprised--and relieved--to find Sigmund exactly where she had expected. She blinked at the maille shirt and the fancloak, wondering if the Gaidin had perhaps been alerted of the situation at the Tower. When he spoke, however, she knew otherwise. She faltered.

"Inside," she murmured quietly, gesturing to the study. The news of the Drin'far'ji's death would undoubtedly be public soon enough, but Ellisande had no intention of discussing volatile information in the public corridors of the Citadel.

The heavy door fell shut with a satisfying thud.

Ellisande glanced up at her beloved. "I do not know why Saphire returned to the Tower. It doesn't particularly matter now." She paused. Her gaze wavered. "She's sent a messenger."

The silence in the study was suddenly oppressive. The brave, composed front Ellisande had managed in front of Kira and the guardsmen, in the corridors--it began to unravel. She closed her eyes and briefly pinched the bridge of her nose. She was dismayed; her hands were shaking.

"I think--it's too early to tell, but I think..." She folded her arms over her chest. She spoke quickly, quietly, grimly; there was no time to be wasted on her own weak trivialities. "A Drin'far'ji has died. I don't know who it was; Saphire sent a Ji'alantar with the message, and she doesn't know much. From what I can piece together, she and Ji'alantin Shyne discovered the body this morning," she took an unsteady breath, looking up at Sigmund, "hanging from a third story window in the Warder Hall. It's too early to tell, but it looks as if he may have died before he was hung."

She felt ill. She swallowed the lump in her throat, forcing herself to go on. "There's to be an emergency meeting of the Executive Council. I've already sent a guardsman to locate Harud Asha'man. We need to leave immediately." Her fingers flitted to her temple. "Caden Gaidin and I--there's much to be--" She broke off. Ellisande Gaidar prided herself on her collected composure and her skill at the Game, and yet she was swiftly falling apart in the privacy of her love's study.

"We think," she said hastily, the words tumbling from her lips, "that there are Darkfriends in the Yard. We're certain of it." Her eyes were bright. "We--we have to leave immediately. Now."

Sigmund's worst fears were confirmed in an instant. His face grew grim. "By my life and my hope of salvation and rebirth, I swear that not one of those blaspheming Darkfriends will survive my wrath!" he swore gravely. Sigmund gazed at Ellisande. "Thank you for alerting me," he said, his tone growing more compassionate. "We should go, we haven't time to lose."

With that, he did a prompt about-face. "Come, guards!" he called to the soldiers he left outside his room. "We go to the courtyard, and from there to the Grey Tower! Be alert, we have Darkfriends to slay!"

Chapter One: Dawn to Murder
~Ripple One: The Sunrise
~Ripple Two: A Written Order
~Ripple Three: Where are you, Luantar?
~Ripple Four: Uncertainty
~Ripple Five: One Fine Morning
~Ripple Six: Taking Action, at Whatever the Cost

Return to the Ripples Intro