(no subject)

[blue_ajah]

The room which she has converted into her private study is simply furnished. A small desk stands to one side, with two chairs near it; there is a sofa as well, two armchairs, and a low table before them.

A shelf holds a few books and some papers, weighed down by a crystal paperweight with a flickering blue flame inside it.

A vase stands on the desk, containing blue flowers of a sort not seen anywhere else outside the Dreaming.

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[not-only-wisdom.livejournal.com]

In earlier times, Nynaeve would be stomping, fury sparking from her in obvious fashion.

Instead she glides through the door, her version of the Aes Sedai composure in place.

Fury still sparks, though. The set of her jaw and the slight twitching of her hand toward her braid makes that more than evident.

And then she waits.

Someone is bloody well going to tell her what's going on.

[flame-and-void.livejournal.com]

Rand follows behind Nynaeve, holding the door for Moiraine. He casually eyes the room, an air of determination about him.

"Perhaps I should have one of the waitrats send up some wine."

[blue_ajah]

"It might not go amiss," she replies, gliding into the room and moving toward one of the armchairs. "I expect that we have a great deal to discuss, and it may take some time to do so."

Either that or things will go very poorly very quickly, she thinks, although she does not say it.

[not-only-wisdom.livejournal.com]

Nynaeve heads for the other armchair, though her movements are more brisk than gliding.

"I should hope so. Provided, of course, anyone says anything of substance."

She moderates her voice from snappish to merely businesslike midway through the first sentence.

It is something like a victory, at least in her own mind.

[flame-and-void.livejournal.com]

Rand calls a waitrat and orders the wine, then sits down on the sofa, relaxing back. Or at least seeming to.

"I assure you--there is much substance to this place. Milliways is a sort of juncture between places, other possibilities. Many find their way here through happenstance, while others come here specifically. Some find themselves unable to leave after arrival--they are effectively 'bound' to the premesis."

He glances at Moiraine.

[blue_ajah]

Smoothly, she picks up that cue.

"I myself have experienced something of the sort," she says calmly. "We may all hope that you will not."

"Still, the Wheel weaves, and we must assume that you have been directed here for some reason."

If there is resignation in that statement, it is well-hidden.

[not-only-wisdom.livejournal.com]

"I would hope so."

The grumbling, at this point, is more for form's sake than any real feeling. Though it is doubtful anyone would be able to tell.

At least, so Nynaeve thinks.

[flame-and-void.livejournal.com]

Rand trudges onward.

"The inhabitants, for lack of a better word, are from many, many different places. It is important to know that no 'business' is allowed to occur in the bar, or any sort of malicious attacks. It is a safe house. Or at least the security tries to keep it that way."

"Oh--and it is visible when one embraces the source here. Keep that in mind."

[blue_ajah]

"It is a goal that they strive to achieve," she murmurs. "Not always with success, but perhaps that is only to be expected."

A pause. "Should it come to it, however, self-defense is permissible, of course. Subleties of distinction are of use."

Daes Dae'mar remains in effect here as anywhere, she thinks. A beat.

"Yet, for the most part, it is a refuge of sorts."

[not-only-wisdom.livejournal.com]

"Visi--"

She huffs out an irritated sigh.

"Light, but that's inconvenient."

Some things take a while to sink in. She shakes her head briskly, giving her braid a light tug.

"Still, I suppose it might be worse."

[flame-and-void.livejournal.com]

"It...could be."

Rand stops as someone knocks at the door. Crossing the room, he opens it and murmurs thank you to someone, then stoops down and returns bearing a tray with a pitcher and three simple cups.

"You must understand why I haven't spoken of this place before Nynaeve. It cannot be spoken of. Especially since the last thing that needs to be known is that Moiraine is alive and staying here--the last thing we need is people trying to figure out how to make their own way to Milliways."

He distinctly leaves out the fact that Moiraine has already left the bar multiple times.

Calmly, he pours two cups, holding out one to each at the same time.

[blue_ajah]

She accepts the cup from him with a murmured word of thanks, then turns it about in her hand once and glances up at Nynaeve to observe her reaction to this.

Her silence indicates implicit agreement with what Rand has said.

[not-only-wisdom.livejournal.com]

Nynaeve's nostrils flare, and she glares at Rand for a moment.

Then she takes the cup from him, the gesture sharp. Hot tea hits her hand, and her scowl grows more fierce.

"I might have guessed that."

[flame-and-void.livejournal.com]

"Guessed, yes. But I am not going to leave things unsaid and to supposition. You must know."

He pours a cup for himself, and then leans his back against a door.

"The question is, what do we do from here?"