09 July 2002 (7:56pm)
Matalina had always gone to the library, but as of late she had avoided it for very strong reasons. Even though Raeyn spent a good deal of her time there, Matalina had not made her way there since they had returned from the borderlands. Matalina catiously walked up to the library doors and slipped inside. She avoided Yveva’s study and made her way to the very opposite corner.
She was here to continue her studying of Me’Arearth. Great Philosophers and Generals. Matalina had already covered two books, but would start with them again, The Art of War and The Book of Five Rings are two of Matalina’s favorite books. They were always a good way to start a day of reading.
Matalina scanned the book shelves for anything of interest. Infantry Combat: … An Interactive Exercise in Small-Unit Tactics and Leadership (OOC missing The Rifle Platoon where the … are), Armor Attacks: … An Interactive Exercise in Small-Unit Tactics and Leadership (OOC missing The Tank Platoon where the … are), Spec Ops: Case Studies in Special Operations Warfare: Theory and Practice , Surprise Attack: Lessons for Defense Planning , The Thirty-Six Strategems: Secret Art of War , Maneuver Warfare Handbook (Westview Special Studies in Military Affairs) , Sieze and Hold: Master Strokes on the Battlefield (Cassell Military Class) . Matalina scanned for any of the books that might help her in her discipline, eventually she would find something else to read other than the two she’d already read over and over.
Matalina
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16 July 2002 (11:27am)
Matalina pulled out a two books that looked interesting and too them to a new spot in the library to claim as her own. The library was huge and there was plenty of places you could hide here if you didn’t want to be found.
Matalina sat down at a table put her books down and choose one she’d not read. It was a book written about the accounts of some war in the past. Matalina didn’t know which one, the title didn’t reveal much. She opened the book, leaned back in her chair and began to read.
Matalina
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16 July 2002 (11:43am)
Raeyn felt someone approaching her in the Library. Looking up from her project in the back room, she walked to the doorway…. strange, she saw noone but yet the feeling persisted. As she was halfway sitting down, she stood up again, realizing that she was feeling someone approach, sort of, that being her Warder.
Wending her way through the rows of books, ancient and cracking, she bee-lined across the library to a nook near the back, where she found Matalina sitting.
Quietly, Raeyn lowered herself down into another seat and watched as the other woman read. She knew that Matalina knew she was there, but sat waiting for the other woman to respond. Raeyn could… feel.. feel. that something was in the mind of the other woman. She found her hands on her skirts, twitching them. She calmed herself, and waited.
Raeyn Sedai
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16 July 2002 (11:57am)
Matalina felt Raeyn’s presense somewhere off in the other direction of the library. It was a much different feeling than with Yveva, but the same. It was hard to explain, but each of the bonds held a different feel. Matalina smiled as she read. After a while Matalina knew Raeyn was searching for her. The bond was quickly telling Matalina that Raeyn was just around the corner.
Matalina continued to read, Raeyn would find her. This was her first bond and they hadn’t been bonded long, she needed to learn how to use it. Matalina knew Rae had sat down in a chair at the table. “You look nevous.” Matalina sat foward in her chair, putting the front two feet on the ground, where previously they’d been in the air. A balancing act to practice. Matalina closed the book. “What’s wrong?”
Matalina
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16 July 2002 (1:21pm)
Raeyn smiled at the other woman, “I guess that I’m still getting used to having another person in my head… after so many years being alone in my head, it can’t help but feel anything but unusual… how do you get used to such a thing?!” she threw up her heads, and laughed softly as she turned her attention back to her hands in her lap.
After a moment’s consideration, she looked back up at Matalina, “Also, I sensed some.. disquiet? disquiet perhaps, through the bond.. as if there is something going through your mind as of late… something concerning our bond, perhaps?”
Raeyn Sedai
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16 July 2002 (1:38pm)
Matalina half smiled at the feelings of disquiet. Yes she was. All three of them were wondering as to their purpose to their new bond holder. -Is she a darkfriend?- *Please, let her be, I don’t want to be in service of a light fool.* Do be quiet, this is not the place for this discussion, in our head our in the library. So quiet down. “This is not the place to discuss such concerns, too many ears in the library.”
Matalina grabbed all four books and stood up from the table, “Your room might be a good place.” Raeyn nodded and Matalina followed her to her room. This was the first time Matalina had been there. She looked around surveying the details. She’d soon come to know this room very well.
When the door was closed Matalina spoke softly to her new bond holder, “You said you knew one of our secrets, which secret did you mean?”
Matalina
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16 July 2002 (4:49pm)
Asura hated dusting! And the middle of the afternoon was the worst time to do it! She could be outside in the sun watching the Warders practice, if only they’d let her do such a thing. Or she could be outside under a tree reading one of the books instead of dusting them! It really did seem a waste of time more than washing dishes. Some brown sister would simply borrow it, keep it locked up in her rooms for who knows how many years and it would simply get dusty again. She’d rather be washing dishes. Asura cringed at the thought. She never would have thought she’d ever think such a thing. A month ago she wouldn’t have been caught dead in the kitchen except to tell the servent and the cooks what to prepare for super.
As she dusted a curious thing happened. A warder, one she thought she recognized, was looking through books on war. It seemed quite a normal thing for a warder to do and the look on her face was most likely frustration from not finding the book she was looking for. It seemed quite a normal thing except for some reason Asura became curious, there just wasn’t something right about it…
Actually now that she thought about it Asura didn’t think she’d ever seen her in here before, but being a warder and having duties to her Aes Sedai it was probably just because she was busy.
Asura was about to go ask her if she needed any help when shepicked up the books she had and carried them to the other side of the library.
Asura dusted her way over to her and watched. Why am I being so curious? Asura kept watching The warder through the cracks between the books and the shelves. Then she noticed something else quite curious: an Aes Seadi, a brown by the looks of her simple clothes and ink smudges. She approached slowly but stopped before coming within vision of the warder. Asura could see both plainly, but niether could see each other. Although it was strange, because if there had not been a couple of bookcases between them, the Aes Sedai would have been staring right at the warder and the warder smiling as if she knew the Aes Seai was watching her. Asura had never seen a warder smile before. They stayed in thier places and didn’t move for sometime. The warder could be smiling about her book… what book on war would ever be that funny? They must be bonded. There was no other explaination, but then why didn’t one simply approach the other if they both knew the other was there.
They obviously had some major issues to discuss simply by the urgency of the air around them and the looks of uneasyness in thier eyes.
Finally the Aes Sedai got up and walked over to the warder, who did not look up from her book. They exchanged a few words before they book was snapped shut. All Asura could hear were mumbles and whispers none of which were coming from either the Warder or her Sedai but from other places in the Library. before she could get any closer they quicky left and almost scrambled out of the library, Asura just barley brought her feather duster up before they passed and the Sedai gave her a cruel stare. Oh light! I hope she didn’t see me! Asura’s first instinct was to follow and see what they were up to, but she quickly caught herself, if she ran off after every Sedai that did something she strange, she’d never rest until the world was broken again!! And even then…
Though I must admitt, that was awfully peculair. Even for Aes Sedai
Well she’d never get out of here if anyone saw that she wasn’t dusting and told on her, so she went back to grumbling about her chores. She was probably excited about nothing anyway. She really needed to go on an adventure or something….
Asura
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16 July 2002 (5:25pm)
When the door was closed Matalina spoke softly to her new bond holder, “You said you knew one of our secrets, which secret did you mean?”
Seating herself on the edge of a chair, Raeyn grimaced, “When you were unconcious,.. you kept muttering about serving the Great Lord… a dangerous thing to speak, conciously, or unconciously. I felt… that perhaps you would be the kind of protection that I need, and that perhaps I would be able to aid you as well. Above and beyond what we have previously discussed, I swear to you that I know of nothing…. You do, of course, understand what I am?” Raeyn drew in a deep breath, as if it we her last, and gripped onto her skirts. As sure as she was, this was still somewhat of a gamble, but the Great Lord willing, all would work out well.
Raeyn Sedai
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17 July 2002 (6:21am)
Matalina nodded, “Aye, if you know that particular secret. I was truly hoping it was not the case, but it seems that your Master is now mine.” Matalina sighed. Kayla whimpered and well Marosa giggled with glee. All three emotions eminated thru the bond. “However do keep in mind with the servent of your Master there are two friends of his opposer. I may not agree with you, but I will follow orders even those against my true beleifs.”
Matalina waited for Raeyn’s reaction.
Matalina
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19 July 2002 (7:20pm)
After listening to Matalina, Raeyn simply nodded, “I suspected that much as well… I understand this… and am grateful for your aid. As it is, I wasn’t even thinking about bonding when you suffered your… loss. I …” she paused for a moment, collecting her thoughts, “I just wanted to try and save the first person that I had really ever considered a friend. It probably sounds like dung, coming from me, you knowing what I am, but … I thought you should know…” Raeyn looked up from her unconsious study of her hands, stilling herself and facing Matalina, “I just felt that what I did was the right thing, for both of us.” A small laugh, full of mirth. “You probably wouldn’t agree with me, but what can I say?”
Raeyn Sedai
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20 July 2002 (7:05am)
Matalina smiled, “Under the circumstances, with the third bond broken it is good that I did not die when it broke, and that you would not let me kill myself, despite my better judgement.” Matalina thought about the bonds and the failure that resulted in the breaking for three. Matalina sighed, “However, I do not know what kind of Warder I will be for you. I’ve failed two others.” The guilt and the pain rolled off of the void. And there were no more doors to hide it behind. It would one day have to be dealt with.
Matalina
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23 July 2002 (5:41pm)
Raeyn nodded, “I know that you have had your failures in your past, as we all have. But the past is past, and now we can only see how it affects the present. However, if this assurance isn’t enough, I might have a small task for you soon. I cannot say much at this point, but information will be given to you as time permits. For now, don’t worry… keep youself occupied with what you need to, and I will probably have my hands full here soon.” A rougish smile twitched across Raeyn’s lips, and was gone before more than an impression of such could be made on any observer.
Raeyn Sedai
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24 July 2002 (7:22am)
Matalina knew what she had in mind, the smile that parted her lips, Matalina had caught. It was her job to be observant of all things. It didn’t last long and if she wasn’t always looking for things, she’d not have seen it. Me’Arearth was in her blood and had been since she had found the Tower and the Warders training in the yards, more than 20 years ago.
“I will do as I’m told when I’m told. I don’t question unless it’s necessary. However, I have the oppurtunity to go into a different sort of training to help better myself for your possible needs for me.” Matalina let the Rogue training hang as that, “I hate to ask a leave from you, but now that you are Head of the Brown Ajah, I cannot ask you to come with me so early in your career. I don’t know how long it will be, or where I will be going. Will this be alright with you?”
Matalina
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24 July 2002 (9:38am)
Raeyn did smile this time, “A chance for more training? That you can’t get here in Tar Valon? I would be willing to let you go. What can hurt me in the Tower?” A wry chuckle, so soft escaped from still slightly parted lips, and the insinuation shaken away with a simple headshake. “When will you be leaving then?”
Raeyn Sedai
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24 July 2002 (9:57am)
Matalina didn’t laugh, many things could hurt you anywhere, she was well aware of anything possible could happen, but she let her feelings slide on the matter. This training would be something she needed in order to fully protect her Sedai and also to do some of the things she might be needed to do. “Soon I’m thinking.”
“This I hope will be the only time that I request a leave from you. I am happy going where you go.”
Matalina
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24 July 2002 (1:18pm)
Raeyn let the smile slide away… Matalina was worried about threats within the Tower as well? SHE, Raeyn Sedai, was the threat! Regardless, Raeyn sent a wave of reassurance through the bond.
Matalina spoke again, “This, I hope, will be the only time that I request a leave from you. I am happy going where you go.”
Raeyn smiled, “We must do what we need to. I hope that you won’t be gone too long, but any extra training a person can recieve is excellent. I know that I wouldn’t mind a chance to train with others with different methods, but.. oh well,” she shrugged, “Is there anything that I can do for you in the interim? Information, snack treats?…” she trailed off, and absentmindedly dropped into a chair, fishing through a stack of papers on the desk, “I know I have…” she trailed off into murmers as Raeyn shifted folders, books, papers, rocks, and so forth.
Raeyn Sedai
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24 July 2002 (1:43pm)
The reassurance from the bond didn’t comfort her. She may think she was safe, but under the circumstances having the Head of the Brown Ajah being a Black Ajah member was not safe at all. The possiblities were endless if someone found out her true natute. Matalina knew she would not survive another bond breaking.
Matalina laughed at Raeyn went into the typical brown mode. “Typical brown, you lose everything under you books and papers.” Matalina shook her head. “No I’m not in need of anything at the moment. Perhaps if you are hungry we can go elsewhere. You’ve seemed to lost your snacks.”
Matalina
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24 July 2002 (3:20pm)
At Mat’s mention of snack-treats, Raeyn’s head whipped up from her pile of files on the table, “Sounds good.. I haven’t had a brownie since.. right before I found you in the Library…. Actually, I still have some tea and brownies in there.. sound good?”
Raeyn Sedai
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24 July 2002 (3:51pm)
Matalina nodded, “I think that will do.” It’s better than going out and getting beer *You are no fun. I like beer.* You’ve never even had any beer, so how do you know? *I have too.* How, I never have and you’ve only been in my mind for no more than a few months. So how could you have had any? That stumped Marosa, she had no clue. Matalina smiled happily, it was always good to get the upper hand on Marosa.
Matalina