Ripple Four: Questions
written by Gaura Sindaran, Kira al'Haram, Shyne, Sigmund von Danzig and Lord Kadar en'Damier

OOC: These events occur in a part of the Warder Hall no more than maybe an hour after the Halls burned.

Gagged and bound to the chair by hands an feet, Gaura Sindaran glared as the door before him closed.

The room was in utter darkness now, though he knew that the ji'alantin who was captured as well sat equally bound next to him. In the dark room, all they could see was theline of light underneath the door. All they could hear was their own breathing. When Gaura looked over to the one sitting beside him, all his blue eyes could see were vague outlines. Yet he was sure the blonde and handsome... almost... feminine... man looked straight back at him. His right arm was tied to his bother in a sling, and heavily bandaged while his left was tied to the side of the chair. Gaura did not know what the other young man's plan was, but he knew that he would do. He would use his knowledge of the Shadow to buy his freedom. His first loyalty was with himself, and though he had sworn himself to the same cause as the other one, he wasn't any better than he could easily turn back to the Light.

...Given the right situations presented themselves of course.

Soon they would come back... the Master of Training and the two wolfkin ji'alatin who were to aid him in questioning them. The ravishing woman he had often gloated at in the Yards had mentioned some evidence she had found in a dream. If the Tower was desperate enough to trust dreams in order to stall the Shadow's fall over the place, they must surely be desperate. Gaura could not make any sense about what he had heard. Instead of giving it further thought, he began to hum a song he heard some time ago against the gag in his mouth.

Though when the man named Samsu Unraen by his side growled, he stopped.

Kira walked down the hallway toward where the prisoners were, head down and not really seeing the people around her. Even though it was still daylight, she had the odd need to sleep, or to hunt. Either would be restfull right now. I killed a man.

She drew a long breath, going back over the events that had occured not that long ago. There was the trip to the Dream World, then hte fight with teh Drin'far'ji, the Saidin wrought fire, and the attack on the Council members, where she killed another Ji'alantin, another person of her rank, and someone who had made an attempt on her life, and the lives of the people around her. They could not be let free, but in Kira's mind, neither could she.

She looked up, thinking she heard words from someone near her, saying, "Did someone say something? Sorry, I was half asleep, if you did." Her golden eyes seemed dull, and her ashanderei hung from her hand, the end barely off the floor. Her steps were slow, almost slurred as if drunk, but from a different cause.

Shyne walked alongside Kira, still shaking his head over the inconsistencies in him memory of what had just happened. His swords were sheathed, which was a comfort to him. He didn't expect to have to use them again today.

All in all, today was shaping up to be the second worst day of his life. The first had also started with a battle, but it had been much more organized.

Upset and quite confused, he "hmmmm"ed once as he fingered the bottom of one of his scabbards.

"Did someone say something? Sorry, I was half asleep, if you did."

He glanced over at Kira. "No, sorry." She looked a bit out of it. "Is... everything okay?"

Sigmund stood outside the door to the makeshift holding cell, flanked by four guards wearing the von Danzig livery. Sigmund's servent Wilhelm approached, wheeling a cart. There were thumbscrews, a branding iron, and other instruments to encourage persuasion. Sigmund nodded to one of the guards; they admitted the servant silently. Two guards moved into the room to watch the prisoners. Torches were lit, the light flashing across the polished steel instruments. Wilhelm left the room again to fetch more supplies. Sigmund waited.

Shyne and Kira arrived shortly. "Good," Sigmund said grimly. "You are here. Tell me all that you know of this situation, leave nothing out. I must know all I can before I begin." He walked towards them, to make sure their conversation would not be overheard by the prisoners. Turning to the remaining guards, Sigmund ordered, "Clear the hallways of all save us and the one who will meet us. We do not wish anyone to overhear."

I must remember to ask Wilhelm to fetch a towel. This will be messy work.

Kira looked over at Shyne, saying quietly, "I'll be fine. Nothing a good tot of brandy won't take care of." I hope. They had arrived where Sigmund was already, time seeming fast for the first time all day. The girl snapped her guards up, her face becoming an imitation of what she had once viewed on Urikanu Gaidin.

After he had asked them to tell what had happened in detail, and sent the guards away, Kira began with what she had seen and done in Tel'aran'rhiod.

She told Sigmund about the emptiness, and the unknown feelings of evil that she could not explain. The trip to the Sa'Ji's barracks and what she had found in the letter that seemed to change in her very hands. She then told what little she knew o the fight, meaning what she had participated in. The Drin coming from no where, the fire, and then the battle with the three Ji and the second fire.

She glanced around the room once she had finished, catching sight of gleaming metal. She shuddered involuntarily, tearing her eyes from the objects, keeping her face a mask. Only her thoughts betrayed her emotions.

Kadar en'Damier turned left to address northlander standing erect at the entrance to the otherwise empty hall. "I seek Lord Danzig." he announced in an uncharacteristically gruff voice. The guard nodded towards the door at the end of the hall where several similarly dressed soldiers stood guard. Kadar realized that were he anyone else he would have been turned back down the stairs. There were many soldiers, far too many, for a casual meeting. It was confirmed then. There had only been seconds amidst the chaos of the burning hall for Lord en'Damier and Danzig to exchange glances before Kadar was forced to exit the scene. Lord Danzig had recognized him and secured the area for their meeting.

Or else, as any player of the Game must entertain, his ally had turned foe once Kadar had been lured out of the safety of his House. It could be a trap. But Kadar did not assign much credibility to that possibility. Lord Danzig needed him and his knowledge too dearly and they held too much of the Light in common. Of course, another follower of the Creator would not haphazardly turn on another. No, of course not.

Secure then in the reason for the cluster of guards, Kadar en'Damier thought dimly on whether Lord Danzig had finally received the pigeon, or whether he was still unaware of the necessity of his arrival. Surely Lord Danzig knew at that the matter would indeed be pressing if they were to meet in this place. Yet questions remained. How much did Lord Danzig know? Was Saphire aware at all? And where was she? He prepared several honed speeches to deliver the news, each for a different context.

Lord en'Damier smoothed the wrinkles from his navy costume as he approached the guarded door. Merchant clothes, well tailored, but purchased from a peasant. He suppressed the urge to roll his shoulders uncomfortably in the less-than-status material. Instead his hand brushed along the new smallbeard on his chin and his shaved neck. Aes Sedai witches had long memories. But had they seen him enter there was little chance now that they would recognize Kadar en'Damier or his reason for being on Tower grounds. According to Kayla, the Grey Tower witches and madman rarely practiced the Game. They and the shadowsworn would take him for a visitor, or perhaps a merchant selling arms, not Lady Saphire's brother nor Lady Amora en'Damier and Jaisen Davram's son. No, there was no reason to be concerned with an outsider who had little interest in internal affairs. However, some may be aware that he was associated with Lord Danzig, and that required a disguise and alibi.

The guards, who Lord en'Damier now believed were Lord Danzig's personal men at arms, stepped away from the door and allowed Kadar to pass.

Inside Lord Danzig listened patiently to a young Andorean woman give her report. Kadar entered only just to see her tear her eyes away from a rack of inquisition devices. Her expression was stoic, but Kadar judged that she was unused to eliciting information from uncooperative prisoners. One such sat bound to a chair under a circle of light in the corner. Kadar glanced unflinching back to Lord Danzig and bowed, too deeply, for his true rank. "Peace favor your sword, Lord Danzig." He greeted him gruffly in that same false voice. It was necessary to keep up appearances before the others, yet Lord en'Damier knew that his ally would understand the hidden meaning. Kadar was the colloquial mongoose in a pit of vipers. In this pit as well as above ground, Lord Danzig and Lord en'Damer's blades were peace-tied. Yet if they smelled him, he was just as dead. They needed time and a space alone if he were to deliver the warning.

Shyne remained quiet when they entered the room. He continued his silence as Kira gave her report, having nothing to say she wasn't already saying. Instead he spent his time looking at the equipment in the room, keeping a close eye on Kira and Sigmund out of the corners of his eyes, and all around watching the room.

He hadn't felt at ease it a long while. It seemed an eternity since his life had been more simple this morning. It seemed an eternity the actions of the day had been weighing on his mind, weighing on his heart and soul. He was in no condition to speak, too choked up and distraught with tension, grief, and a smoldering anger at the evil that was sometimes so obvious in humanity.

It was because of all of these things that he noticed the man slip in the door. He seemed a merchant, but he too seemed tense in a way that spoke to Shyne of the uncertainty of danger. Shyne's eyes, ears, nose, accustomed to years and years of watching people, noticing how they acted, decided very promptly that there was something decidedly fake about this guy, though it was impossible to tell what.

All of his suspicions were confirmed when the man spoke. His gruff voice seemed the kind used to mask an accent, but it was obvious that he wasn't a Borderlander, as Shyne assumed, from the greeting, he was pretending to be.


It took Shyne a little while to realize he was gripping the knife tucked in his sleeve. Carefully, so as not to arouse suspicion, he released his grip on it and continued to watch, all the while saying not a single word.

Kira began her report again, hoping to cover for her nerves by adding detail where she could. Telling the first time brought more memories forward of what had happened in Tel'aran'rhiod, more detail that could be squeezed out and served to the Master of Training, this strange merchant, and her fellow Ji'alantin.

"The room I was in," she said in a brisk voice, hoping to cover the brief unease she had shown earlier, "Was Ranno's, the Atha'an'Miere. There was a square box on the table, which stayed in on position and closed. The letter said,

"The Officers are [still oblivious/might suspect something]. Sagone and Eya will be the instruments used for the coup. [All is set/there are still some preparations to make] now before we strike. Clavil will be the new Master
of Training, Jhedan the new Gaidin Captain and I will take the place as Master of Arms. [Eya/Sagone] will fill the place as Warder-Channeler Representative first, since there will be none of the current Officers left. [He/She] will press that we are raised and then make sure there are
no competition to the vacant offices. Then we have the Yards in our grasp.

"Should everything go wrong, we execute the plans made for the Claw Stone. Before we leave though, we should rend what we can asunder in our wake. Key points are the [Warder Halls/the barracks where the Warder Halls stood], the [Amyrlin's and M'Hael's study/the Green Ajah quarters/the Hall of Sitters under session] and [the Tower Guard's barracks/the main Foodstorage/poison the Tower's wells and water storage].

"In the Blood of Dawn we trust, and under his command, we cannot afford to fail."

"Where I said two things at once, that means it changed when I read it. I'm sorry I couldn't tell you all of that the first time, an dyou had to hear me ramble again, but I needed a refresher for my memory."

Kira hung her head a little, her face a little sad at the lack of memory. She moved backward then, since she knew it was a fairly full report, and stood beside Shyne, her eyes and nose tuning in on the prisoners, while her ears soon found their quickened breathing, and small movements. Something was not right baout those two, and it wasn't just the Shadow-hearted one's smell, though they both possessed that. Something else was present...

Turning to Kira, Sigmund smiled. "Thank you for this information. The details about the letter will be of great help to me. You are dismissed."

In contrast, the Master of Training smouldered at Shyne. "Shyne Ji'alantin, if you had nothing to report, then why did you come? Just to consume my time with your uselessness? I shall discipline you for this, and for threatening one who comes to see me. Do not think that he or I did not see you fondling your weapon. Report to my office at dawn tomorrow." Sigmund did not even wait to see him leave.

Turning to the merchant, Sigmund smiled. "Welcome," he said, "you wish to discuss something with me? Something about a potential threat to my estates? Perhaps we can each teach the other, as well as help one another obtain new information about our respective concerns." Sigmund's blue eyes flickered to the door.

Wilhelm arrived again, carrying what appeared to be a large table with two cranks, each with two manacles attached. A guard opened the door for him. He dragged the crimson-spattered device into the room, then silently left.

Lord en'Damier painted a frown across his brow that was not far from his own lack of understanding of the heirarchies of this "temple of greyness". Yet he mantained that countinance as the word was mentioned and turned his emerald eyes towards the door where he suspected the instruments of pain were to be pushed through.

Blood Dawn. He thought and betrayed no recognition of the name. So, there are already signs of his plans. . . however this Andorean came across them. He did not pretend to understand where this "Tel'aran'rhiod" was. Some Aes Sedai witchs' meeting place he suspected.

Blood Dawn. Kadar breathed slow and deeply in order to restrain the rage that was betrayal. Then smoothly shifted back to Lord Danzig and nodded in reception of his greeting. He too had seen the uneasy way the young soldier had brushed his blade. It was expected. Burn me if I leave this place in tact. Yet burn me twice if I break my alliances. What Lord en'Damier not anticipated, however, was Lord Danzig's defense on his part. Was it mearly protecting his own authority, or Saphire ultimately, or was there something deeper to their aliance than simple common concerns and value of the Light? It was a curious puzzle . . .

Kadar waited for the adolesents to make their exit before speaking again. He did not like how attentive that boy had been to his presence, almost as if he knew how uneasy this place made him.

"Well met, Lord Danzig, even under such grave circumstances." Kadar dropped the facade of voice and posture, instead taking on a more relaxed ease even in the presence of the rack rolling in. His hand drifted seemingly absantly to his beard. "I see you have a messy task ahead of you. Perhaps I have not arrived too late, then . . . I would even offer to help," he gestured to the far door, " if you do not wish your heretic to survive questioning to recognize me." Kadar smiled wryly.

"But 'pleasentries' aside," His glance shifted among the soldiers' faces. "I trust I am correct in assuming they are yours, personally?" His eyebrows raised slightly. "While I would find nothing so diverting as another philisophical debate with you, I have an urgent warning for your ears alone, although perhaps you have some awareness of it from my pigeon . . . ?" Or am I compeltely unexpected?

Kira moved away immediately upon teh dismissal of herself and Shyne by the Master of Training. Anything less, and she might end up in the situation her friend was in, a trip to the office of Sigmund Gaidin. She waited a few paces away for Shyne to catch up, then kept walking away once she knew the two Lords were ignoring them completely, to her knowlege.

Sister, where are you? I am in need of your company! she called out to Dust Storm, hoping the wolf had enough sense to have found a channeler to get healed from her wounds.

I come came the voice of her sister, from the direction of the Infirmary. May be she had seen an Aes Sedai.

Kira looked at Shyne out of the corner of her eyes, testing the air gently with her nose. What should I say?

She cleared her throat, opened her mouth, then closed it again, forgetting what she was going to say.

Shyne was only slightly surprised by the rebuke. Tension was high and times were taking thier tole on everyone. He simply replied with a "Yes, sir." and turned to leave, following Kira away. He didn't feel bad for what he'd done back there, what he hadn't done. He wondered if perhaps after explaining his actions to Sigmund Gaidin, some level of understanding might be reached and his punishment, whatever it may be, might not be too bad. And if it was... oh well... he'd been through worse. The one thing he was certain of was that he would get nowhere trying to protest his punishment here.

As they walked away, he kept his face forward, not really paying attention, only instinctively following Kira and losing himself in thought. His face was placid, showing no signs of the fact that he'd just been scolded by a superior officer. He also had very little to say, and no real desire to say it.

Kira walked unhurriedly through the corridors, reminiscing on what had transpired throughout the day. This day will go down in Tower history, she thought to herself, a small smile playing on her lips.

A thought hit her abruptly. They had been dismissed, and she knew there was nothing planned for the rest of her day. Whether or not Shyne was free was a whole nother matter. May be we could go hunt... The girl knew that Shyne was a Wolfkin, but how far along was he? How often did the wolf need to hunt arise, or did it?

"Shyne, would you like to come hunt with my pack?" she asked hurriedly, her voice a little breathless. She didn't know how he would take the invitation. The only other time any one had hunted with her, they were looking for a Warder.

Shyne wasn't quite sure what to make of the question he'd just been asked, nor was he quite certain about the way it was asked. Still, he answered as best he could.

"I'd love to, actually, as I imagine it would be a lot more fun than sitting around here... but... it would probably be best if at least one of us waits on call, in case something comes up."

By this time, they'd reached the door to the Hall. He stopped. "But please, by all means, go and enjoy yourself. There's no reason both of us should stay cooped up here. Still, I don't want to think of what might happen if Sigmund Gaidin calls and I'm not present and ready to answer..."

Kira nodded as Shyne talked. It made sense to her that one of them had stayed behind, but something was wrong. Kira felt... nervous and scared. There was somehting wrong in the Yards, and not just the presence of Shadow Hearted Ones. Something the wolves would not tell her was wrong.

A distant thought came from Grizzly, the pack's alph male. Stay away.

She stopped at the door as well, her head going to the side a bit in thought. Finally she let out a slow breath and said, "I think I am going to the Tower. It's been a while, and who knows, may be I'll get lucky and find something. That way, I'm on hand if I get called as well." She did not mention the words the wolf had said, wondering even if Shyne had heard them.

She nodded, to Shyne, a smile starting on her lips. She always tried to smile when people could see her. It made a good mask when people expected a Warder's stone face.

Shyne nodded as she told him where she was off to, then watched as she walked away. Then as she was still walking off, he made a split decision. Shaking his head and frowning, he jogged after her, appearing at her side and falling into step.

"It's probably best we all stay in groups. Besides, I don't really want to stand there waiting to be utelized as an errand boy. We were dismissed right. Not much point in hanging around..."

He knew he was only trying to justify it to himself, make it seem a little less like insolence. He knew he really didn't care much, but still had to talk himself through it...

Kira nodded, smelling his turmoil. She knew what it felt like, but was usually too stubborn to change her mind.

"All right then. That works. The question is, do we go to Hunt? Or we go to the Tower?" She had said she was going to the Tower, but after the wolves had told her about that stone hand... it made her wonder about what it was.

"Did you hear the wolves earlier?"

Hunt? or sit around twiddling our thumbs? Hmmm...

"Wolves? No. They don't talk to me much. Just a few of them." As they reached the point where it was time to decide which direction to go, toward the gate or toward the tower, he turned toward the gate with little thought and no outward sign of a decision. "What did they say?"

Kira looked toward the direction of her pack, her mind reaching out once again to the wolves.

"Grizzly, a big male, told me about a rock. It looks like a hand with claws pointing to the sky, and smells of Shadow hearted ones and Shadow spawn. It's about a day to get there, by Aes Sedai standards. That means proabably half of one for us, near as I can make out." She glanced at Shyne, her eyes glowing dangerously.

"If there are Shadowspawn, there might be Shadow brothers. The pack is reluctant at best to talk of them, and their vaugeness leaves me wondering."

She pulled up her ashanderei, gripping it like it was the only thing keeping her up. Shadowbrothers should be feared, and rightfully so. They were wolves, once. If they left now and rode hard, they would make it around morning, at the earliest.

He listened to her descriptions of what the wolves had told her. He really didn't miss the communication they provided, the company, even if he did wish to get more involved. They treated him much like they treated Nana: as a loner who didn't want to be approached very often. And perhaps that's what he was.

"It could be interesting. It's got to be better than being here, surrounded by all of this. Perhaps we might even find something worth finding."

"Sounds good to me," Kira said, beginning to walk toward the gates. "Hunting, or exploring, we shall go. It's better than being couped up in our rooms, waiting for an attack." Or Dark Friends.

The girl grimaced from past memories. They were only Shadow-Hearted Ones, and trying to kill you besides, her mind was telling her, trying to justify her actions. If she hadn't gone hunting that day, or if she hadn't been as skilled as she had been... but no one had to know her history, as she didn't have to know theirs.

"Should we get horses now, or are we going to walk?"

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