Ripple Three: Trapped
written by Tan’qui al’Taya, Firredal Osielin, Aynaiss Cuelaen-Walker and Thepon (NPC)

After the turmoil settled in the Warder Yards, and when their prisoner was taken into cutody, Caden Ives instructed Firredal and Aynaiss to immediately make their way to Sagone Asha'man's study and late also his private chambers. It was imperative that all the leads that may be on those two locations were collected before the agents of the Shadow got there and destroyed them. Hopefully, they would find something which would lead them to the one directing the Black Ajah's movements. Before they had set off, they had told him about what they had found on the roof and what conclusions they had drawn from it. Caden Ives had listended and told them they had done well.

With the two Warders, Caden sent six Tower Guards which were at their disposal. They were all armed with steel plate and longswords, and the Gaidin Captain had faith in those six for he had taken time to train them himself. The commander of the small elite squad was named Thepon, a big hard Arafellin without any form of humour. Icy blue eyes and blonde hair bound into two tight braids and two curved swords upon his back made his origin unmistakeable.

They arrive at the study a mere minute after four shady figures had left the hallway. Only one hidden young man remained, oblivious to the suspicions he would draw...

Tan'qui heard the three of them leave shortly after the other, this Shar'rahien. His knees refused further service as he remebered their conversation. He had been in the same room as this Eya Sedai. He had remembered her voice. And those other must have been her Warders. And there were other, other Darkfriends beside this Dawn of Blood. Then it struck him.

Drelle! Eya said, she was a Darkfriend too! It can't be. She said it wasn't. Oh no, don't let it be. Drelle. Why?!

Anger filled him. He recollected himself and walked out the back room. He knew what he had to do. Drelle, sweetheart, if this is true, you're in for trouble. He assumed the Void to keep his anger at bay, and stood still, trying to get a hold on himself. Then he heard people outside the room. The door started opening up...

Within seconds, he seized Saidin, the river of burning lave and freezing ice, and moved into Leopard in the tree, in his knees bent, leaning forward with his hands on the hilt of his sword.

He finished just in time before the door fully opened, and he saw a big Arafellin with two curved swords and icy blue eyes stepping in the room. He was clothed as a tower guard, and with him came some more guards, and two warders...

Firredal paused with a hand on his hilt, studying the man in front of them. One of the Soldiers, I think... what was his name? If he is Black, then we are all dead. The man looked ready for a fight, and Tower Guards looked ready to oblige him. Mother's milk in a cup, that's just what we need.

"Tan'qui?" he asked cautiously, finally remembering the Soldier's name. He shifted his weight, sliding to the right in order to put himself in front of Thepon; he didn't want the big Arafellan moving too suddenly. If it came to violence - especially violence with the One Power - then any evidence left in the room could easily be destroyed, and they couldn't afford that.

Aynaiss finished buckling her left wrist guard, light but rather supple leather. Not sure what to expect, after receiving the nasty dagger throw her shoulder, she felt taking no more chances and had given herself armor. Ignorantly on her part, she felt shamed and guilty, knowing that perhaps she had taken on a husband and two lovely children, only to loose them by dying a stupid death that would cause them pain. She was a Warder, and Warders risked their lives for the Tower, never thinking a second about the connections with those they had known. My duty was to wed death, not a man who stole my sense...Well, whatever my duty was, I changed it and I can't regret that now, or I will be as good as dead, stabbed through the heart instead of my shoulder.

Her face was set grim, and her gold hair was tied back with the usual black ribbon. The impressive Borderlander guard was ready with his men, Aynaiss was ready with the katana at her hip and a long dagger in her boot, although her hands ached to feel the rough hewn wood of her quarterstaff. We are only inspecting a room... one part of her said. But another said as equally strong, Would you rather be wary and be ready; or be unprepared and slow on the attack? She sighed and found her two companions. A Soldier name Tan'qui and her previous partner, Firredal. She nodded in acquiescense when they noticed her, and Aynaiss stretched her half-Healed shoulder. She had refused to be fully healed, so the true aftermath of Healing--hungry and weakness--would not hit her yet.

Upon entering, Thepon's first reaction had been to draw his swords and order his men to make sort business with the young man. His mind had screamed: Shadowsworn! Soul unclean! The boy looked read to draw his sword. To him, that made him as guilty as sin can be. Clenching himself, the Arafellin knew the implications of that black coat of his.

Then the Gaidin had stood in his way, and he had to disregard the order on his lips. The Warder seemed to know the young man, and thus he let the Cairhenin handle the talking. Instead he held out his open hand to the side and ordered; "Hold!". Yet his eyes never left the channeler. Give me one, small, reason.

Having fought in the Borderlands before he came to the Grey Tower, Thepon was eager to cleance his new home from the Dark One's taint. The Shadow had no place in the Tower, and if there was any small indication of hostility, the walls and roof would run red with blood.

Tan'qui noticed the two Gaidin, and the tower guard. He remembered Firredal, and felt almost sure of the sidethese eight people were on.

But on the other hand, Sagone seemed okay as well. And her he turned out to be a member of the Blacks.

"A gaidin, a gaidar and sic tower guards seem too much to be a group of the Dark One's followers. Therefore, I will give you the benefit of the doubt." he said, releasing his sword while standing up straight. "But on the other hand, just a few moments ago this room was filled with five shadowsworn. So, just to be sure, I'm gonna have to ask your forgiveness, but I want to talk first. And to ensure my safety, I have build a little wall of Air just in front of you."

He noticed the looks on their faces. While the two Warders didn't like the idea, but seemed to understand there was no point in objecting, the big Arafellin seemed willing to jump right at him.

"Before you start trying, would you listen first, please." And in his soft voice, the tall youngman told them the story of his being here, and what he had overheard...

Firredal listened with a growing sense of revulsion as Tan'qui told his story. So that was their plan... and the Drin's death interrupted it. He wished he could be certain that this Soldier was telling the truth, but that would be a matter for others to determine. The younger man certainly seemed sincere - and disturbed - enough to be genuine.

"I see," said Firredal, glancing at Aynaiss to see if she had anything to ask. He had no doubt that Thepon would ask anything that came to mind, either. "How was it that you ended up in exactly this room?"

What does he mean? How I ended up in this room?

He released Saidin, confident these people would pose no threat to him, at least for now. "I was still trying to get a hold on myself again, and I was on my way out via this room, when I heard you people at the door."

Firredal shook his head. "I meant that these are Sagone Asha'man's chambers. How did you come to these chambers in particular?"

The Soldier seemed to have relaxed, which was fortunate. Aynaiss would know - he hoped - if Tan'qui had any hint of recent violence on him. If the Soldier was a darkfriend, he would hardly have spent the day in quiet study - so Firredal felt reasonably safe in trusting him so long as Aynaiss agreed.

"Oh, that. Well, this morning I got a note from Sagone asking me to come to his study. When I arrived there, he said he was thinking about getting a Warder, and because he had little time, or so he said, he asked me to go to the Warder Yards. I was supposed to look for Warders fitting for him.

Later, I saw this young man, a Drin?, hanging from the Warder Halls, and when approaching a Gaidin, or so a thought, he turned out to be a Sa'Ji, spoke to me. He told me to go to Eya Sedai and give here the message. He was one of the Darkfriends, as I later learned.

After that, I remebered my duty for Sagone, and made my way over here, to tell him what happened. I could think he wouldn't be to pleased with that. At that time I didn't know he was Dark, I didn't know anyone was Dark. I learned from the meeting they held here."

Firredal nodded slowly. "Thepon," he said, turning to the Arafellan, "Will you have your men conduct a search? You know what sort of things to look for. I'll keep an eye on Tan'qui until the Warder Council can question him." Besides, I won't be able to contribute as much to the search as Aynaiss' Talent will.

He did not even glance at his fellow Warder; he would not presume to give her orders. "Tan'qui, I'd appreciate it if you would stay by me and let us know if you sense anything having to do with the One Power." So saying, he moved towards the center of the room, to stand beside the Soldier.

"I will stay." Tan'qui said, and once again took hold of the One Power, Saidin, the river of burning ice and freezing lava. That way he was better able to sense anyone if they would channel.
"I'm only going to be able to sense Saidin. As a male channeler, I can't sense Saidar." His voice was like a stranger's to him, it was strange how it showed no concerns, while not being able to sense Saidar was a problem. "I can only sense someone is channeling saidar when that person is only a few meters away from me."

He silenced for a while, thinking about what Firredal had said. "Firredal," he said after some time, "I understand the Warder Council will have to challenge me, but I'm afraid there is not that much time.. From what I could overhear, their plan has been accelerated by the activities of both the Tower officials and Sagone Asha'man.

Firredal nodded. A good point. Of course, he could just be saying that to get us out of this room before we find anything... "It should not take long," he said. "This is not a thorough search." He glanced at Thepon, then Aynaiss. "Anything?"

Thepon was leaning over the armchair, sniffing. "The woman sat here not long ago. The last residues of perfume still linger," he said and then placed his hand upon it. With a grunt, he straightened and looked towards the boy-channeler, "It seems that part of your story reads true. However..." The Tower Guard commander walked over to the young man, and then sniffed in the air in front of him. With another grunt, he turned away. "It must be so, for evidently you are not the kind either. Men, do you have anything?"

Six faces turned back to him... putting down furniture and shutting drawers... but they all shook their heads. Disappointed, Thepon turned to Leisha Gaidar and Firredal Gaidin. "The Shadow has already been here, for the desk lack any form of parchments and notes. There are no such in the side table by the armchair either. Probably, they took all that could be found before the alleged meeting took place." With the last comment, he looked towards the one they had found. His story could be true, but he could just as well have attended the meeting himself. The rumours and myths about the Dawn of Blood said that he was young. Could it be that they have found the legendary shadowsworn, and now welcomed him to their side. He should not be in our midst until we question him further, he thought, for he knew that Tan'qui had left things out in his story. He had attended to many shadowsworn interrogations in his homeland to miss the gaps in tales. Whatever happens, he will not catch me unawares... Whatever my two superiors think of him.

"Now that we know their identities," he said. "We have other places to go to. And since we do not know where the Blood Dawn recides, we should go to the next in line. Eya Sedai of the Green Ajah. We should hurry to the Green Ajah halls next, and maybe, we can intercept their escape." Clenching his gauntlet-clad fists by his sides, his men gathered up behind him. "We stand ready for your decision, Gaidin and Gaidar."

Tan'qui felt the suspicion of the Tower Guard Captain. He really doesn't trust me. Could he have noticed the gap in my story? Or is he just always so suspicious? And what about this sniffing thing?

"Ehm, if I may make a suggestion?" He didn't wait for any approval. "From the things they said, it seemed Eya and her Warders are on the run. I think Thepon's idea is good, but we should hurry, or they may be gone already."

"And, if I may ask, what were you sniffing for, Captain? I never saw a human with a dog's nose, so I suspect you weren't sniffing up scents." He gave a small smile, to show the Captain he wasn't making fun of him.

First there was silence, then Thepon spoke in a dangerous voice.

"Like I said, there were residues of perfume on the armchair. I needed to make sure that you were not the cause of them, boy," he did not smile. "One never knows. Your story could be true, and yet it could not. And there is no healthy man who don't recognize a lady's scent. Though you do not look like the kind to wear a woman's fragrance, one can never be to sure with today's youth. Now keep your mouth shut in front of your superiors, boy.

"Firredal Gaidin and Aynaiss Gaidar needs to make a decision."

"To the Halls of the Green, then." Firredal's tone was cautious; he was not certain that their authority extended that far... but if they played their cards with skill, they might be able to enlist a Green to their aid. Yet, aside from Saphire, whom could we trust? That thought sparked another: Well, we can always say that we are there on her business. She would support us, I think, under the circumstances. With luck, no one will bother to question us, but...

Beneath his cloak, his hand rose to the longer of his two blades. He had drawn blood once today, and would be ready to do it again... foolish to think that it wouldn't come to that. "Tan'qui, stay by me. We may yet need you."

Aynaiss drifted with the rest of the party, the Captain, Firredal Gaidin and one of the channeler trainees, Tan'qui. However dire the situation was and however sore her shoulder felt after having the nasty spaded throwing dagger embedded in her shoulder, they blanked out when she thought of her beloved children, almost three, and her husband. I chose love over my duty while I have sworn the counter of duty ruling love. Her almost unconscious decision pained her, knowing that her pride had been silently injured and her sworn promises to the Tower were laid somewhat false by their standings with her family.

A small voice argued in her head as she followed the train of guards and members of the Grey Tower like a ghost. You are being foolish and are not thinking that duty and love can be equal. Your promises are not forfeit, the ones you swore as you donned the fancloak. The day when both the Tower and your family are threatened, you won't choose one over the other, you will save both; and that decision will be the best one. Aynaiss frowned thoughtfully, wondering in how her conscious always managed to side talk her.

Her small reverie ended when Thepon emphasized her end title of gaidar She blinked and was re-bombarded by the heavy scent of perfume (well in her opinion at least). Aynaiss nodded her head and noted what she scarcely remembered the guards reporting about the Shadow having already visited the room. She tightened her grip in a reassuring way around her sword, let go of it, and then glanced to her sides where both of the younger men stood. She didn't need her Talent gifted nose to sense the tension between young Soldier Tan'qui and Captain Thepon. She raised her eyebrow lightly at the cutting edge of the Captain's voice when he snapped at Tan'qui, which she felt was uncalled; however she felt her duty call.

Aynaiss agreed with Firredal and said, "To the Green Halls, and I hope, Captain, that no more bickering is needed." She said the words lightheartedly, aiming to both settle the tension and lighten the dark afternoon.

Chapter Three: The Dawn of Blood
~Ripple One: Alive
~Ripple Two: Captured
~Ripple Three: Trapped
~Ripple Four: Questions
~Ripple Five: Your Mission
~Ripple Six: Task Presented
~Ripple Seven: Vengeful Assassain
~Ripple Eight: Echoes

Return to the Ripples Intro