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Pigeons flew into Tar Valon from everywhere, small messages tied to their legs, in narrow tubes, each with a different Ajah code.
Katerine Alruddin opened one of the messages and slowly a contented expression appeared on her vulpine features.
Pevara looked up sharply, as Katerine stalked into the Red Ajah's common areas.
Galina Casban held out her hand and Katerine dropped the message into her hand. A petulant rosebud mouth rose into a slow smile, as Galina declared, "Now it is confirmed. The Daugther Heir of Andor is coming to Tar Valon later this year. The tradition continues. Elayne Trakand has the spark and she is powerful, and Elaida has overseen her upbringing."
Galina glanced in Pevara's direction and calmly said, "Bring this matter to the Hall, as Reds, we will gain a lot of influence from this."
Pevara nodded slightly giving respect to the Highest, as she did so she remembered how in the previous Hall session, Seaine Harimon, who had been sitting among the Whites, had seemed a little nervous, nothing remarkable, but even after all these years, Pevara could read Seaine. Alviarin Friedhien had seemed calm, like an ice sculpture, but nothing would stir her. Clearly something could be going on among the Whites, but if so it was Ajah's internal matter, not for others, and it was not appropriate to ask, as there were customs that were stronger than laws, here in the colorfully tiled corridors of the White Tower.
Liandrin raised her voice lightly, " I've been of the opinion for years that Sheriam coddles her charges too much. That rule that I can't teach novices is just mindless limitation. We Reds know how to use One Power as a weapon better than the Greens do, and what what we do is more important now than ever."
Katerine Alruddin flicked her hair lightly and said pointedly, and condescendingly, "Liandrin, you're not patient, none of us are."
Liandrin's blue eyes flashed as she raised her chin, so that her sharp cheekbones were exposed in becoming way, as she riposted, " You are wrong, dearest Katerine. I can be, as long as the goal is right."
Galina's light laughter cut off the argument like a knife cut, as she murmured with pointed look at both of them, " Liandrin and Katerine, I promise you, one fine day you may have to work together outside the walls of Tar Valon. And these kind of verbal sparrings give a bad impression, better use One Power, or solve your mutual problems in bed."
A slight grimace came to Katerine's lips as she glanced at the doll-like, honey-haired Tarabonian, who didn't seem as enraged by the Highest's suggestion as one might have expected. A slight girlish and charming smile appeared on Liandrin's face as she murmured, "It perhaps be so as you command Highest."
An irritated sigh was heard from one corner of the room as Tarna Feir pointedly pointed out, "Perhaps Reds should ally with Greens temporarily at the Hall? I myself am tired of the way the Blues have run the Hall with their own influence. Amyrlin, Keeper and Mistress of Novices are all raised from Blue. Sheriam is said to have her own personal favorites among the Novice and Accepted crops. Perhaps the Whites should be approached, they always see everything so logically, and if we want law and diplomacy, so do the Grays. I happened to meet Beonin Marinye in the Great Library."
Liandrin's smile was sugary sweet as she said, "Tarna, for once you propose something I can say I support, let's talk to Greens."
Katerine snickered slyly as she murmured, "Liandrin, you just want to get close to Alanna, don't you? Maybe you could try offering her a persimmon, maybe then she might pay attention to you, even if it hardly satisfies you."
Galina enjoyed seeing how Liandrin's face reddened slightly, from Katerine's taunt.
Pevara sighed audibly and began to peel reddish apple with One Power, as the squabble continued.
Verin Sedai sat in the Great Library and in front of her were fragments of tragedy of the relationship between Tetsuan and Eldrene, as Manetheren fell because of spite and jealousy. It was quiet in the library, the only sound was the turning of pages, as some Brown sisters, some Grays sat reading intensively.
And then Verin heard low whispers, near her desk, they were two Novices, " It's so hard to focus on Sarene Sedai teaching, it's extremely illogical how someone can be so beautiful and yet seem completely oblivious to her effect, on everyone. I almost dropped my ink bottle on the floor when she said that beauty is an illusion."
Another Novice whispered, " As I took a tray of dark tremalking honey tea to the Rinna Sedai, in the quarters of the White Ajah, several Tower male-servants formed a line behind me, apparently wanting to catch a glimpse of the Sarene Sedai, but it didn't work out, as Alviarin Sedai opened the door for me. "
There was a barely muted giggling as one of them remarked in saucy tone, " Alviarin Sedai, is quite lovely in her own way too, if one does not mind her slim coolness that brings driven snow to mind."
Verin took her notebook and jotted down few notes, as Novices prattling had given her an idea, or perhaps a part of a one. Her great work, it could not wait. There was so much to do still.
Siuan Sanche Amyrlin Seat was sitting in her little garden, she was feeling pensive.
Tar Valon sparkled below her.
Siuan lightly stroked her new tattoos, which no longer hurt.
She felt an almost burning impatience, for Moiraine had been away from the tower for a long time. Too long. She searched, as their plan had been, but messages came too rarely. Something had to be done, but Siuan's heart ached at the thought of giving Moiraine into the hands of the Reds, as the Greens had suggested.
Sheriam had glanced questioningly in Alanna's direction several times recently, and with a start Siuan remembered that Moiraine had once hinted that there had been once some kind of connection between Sheriam, Alanna and long lost Ellid, there might be a pressure point, perhaps.
Siuan's heart ached, it felt as if there was a great void in her heart, that void would only be filled when she could look at Moiraine, be near her, hear still those very clipped Cairhien's accent, bask the warmth of her lovely smile. It was probable that Moiraine´s frame would again be too slim, and thin, despite all Lan's care. Her lovely pufferfish drove herself, demanded perfection from herself.
Kaetheron Cycle was unpredictable, open to interpretation, and evasive, like a pair of silver spikes lying in wait in the delta. Siuan's fingers caressed the thick book bound in burgundy leather. It was a poor signpost.
Softly, almost whispering, Siuan recited:
And it shall come to pass that what men made shall be shattered,
and the Shadow shall lie across the Pattern of the Age,
and the Dark One shall once more lay his hand upon the world of man.
Women shall weep and men quail as the nations of the earth are rent like rotting cloth.
Neither shall anything stand or abide...
The Shadow shall rise across the world, and darken every land,
even to the smallest corner,
and there shall be neither Light nor safety.
And he who shall be born of the Dawn born of the Maiden,
according to Prophecy,
he shall stretch forth his hands to catch the Shadow,
and the world shall Scream in the pain of salvation.
All Glory be to the Creator, and to the Light,
and to him who shall be born again.
May the Light save us from him.
Siuan, muttered, "Fish guts."
Leane's brisk voice remarked, "Mother, a pidgeon just arrived for you."
Nonchalantly, Siuan held out her hand and Leane dropped the narrow ivory tube into her hand.
Siuan glanced at the seal.
A quiet loving smile came to her lips as she said curtly, "Thank you, Leane. I'll read this in peace."
With slightly trembling hands, Siuan opened the tube, and holding her breath, she caressed Moiraine's beautiful elaborate cursive with her eyes, note was written with their own personal code.
My dear Siuan.
The Pattern is groaning as False Dragons are spun out to prepare the world for Dragon.
I'm heading towards the hinterlands of Andor, in the region of Two Rivers.
The area seems promising, as the old blood sings there strongly.
with all my everlasting love
your
Pufferfish.
Siuan looked up from Moiraine's note, and murmured, "Light, Moiraine, how I miss you, and your warmth. Moiraine, how I yearn for you. For more than ten years, I have had both staff and stole on my shoulders, and you have been in the world, searching. Only handful of times, we have been together."
Siuan stood on the balcony she saw how slowly clouds darkened over Tar Valon, dark-winged ravens circled the sky, and in the distance Dragonmount rising into the heavens smoked quietly. Siuan murmured, The Wheel weaves as it will. We are but threads in the lace of Time."