[panfandomsandbox] change is in the wind

[blue_ajah]

She sits at the table near the fireplace, sipping tea and reflecting on what she has learned in recent days.

In the world where she was born, the Dark One is also known as the Lord of the Grave, and is the one who holds power and sway over the dead -- and to an extent, death itself. Fortunately, Moiraine is experienced enough with Milliways to not draw instantaneous conclusions.

(The lessons learned from Anthy Himemiya will remain with her for the rest of her life.)

It had helped that she had seen nothing of intentional evil or the mark of the Shadow as she knows it when she had studied Harrowhark while channeling. It is nonetheless something that requires consideration, in case action of some sort becomes necessary.

The Aes Sedai has much to think about.

Comments

[blue_ajah]

"A ninth experiment," she muses.

"How many houses are there?"

[we_bring_hell]

"There are Nine Houses, but the First House is empty," she says thoughtfully. "Reserved for the Emperor and the Lyctors. Yes, it does make sense."

"Somewhere..." She's searched the house high and low. But it must be there somewhere.

[blue_ajah]

"Perhaps each step is meant to unfold in sequence," Moiraine offers. "In the White Tower, during the testing for the Accepted to be raised Aes Sedai, there are a series of weaves which must be performed in order. Each one builds on what has come before."

[we_bring_hell]

"Perhaps..." she says. "Perhaps once they all are known the order may become apparent."

"We can still for complete the experiments once the key has been claimed--you simply don't get access to the written materials. Once all the keys have been claimed we could circle back. But I am afraid when we reach that point events in the House may accelerate."

[blue_ajah]

"You said before that one of these two experiments was created by those of the Second House," Moiraine points out. "And that the other involved a method used by the Eighth."

Her dark-eyed glance is thoughtful as it rests on Harrow.

"What acceleration do you expect?"

[we_bring_hell]

"I hope," she says, "that when we run out of keys, we will begin negotiating. Those who have made the most progress would have a stronger position. But..."

"But I fear that the realization will sink in that there is, indeed, only one rule in Canaan House. We are not forbidden to duel for keys. We are not forbidden to steal or kill." Her face is tight and sober. "I do not believe the Third House has any keys. But their cav is a ranked duelist."

[blue_ajah]

"The Great Game indeed," the Aes Sedai murmurs.

"What of your current alliances?"

[we_bring_hell]

She exhales. She hates this part.

"The Third have nothing from the experiments, but everything else on their side--wealth, resources, two necromancers and a ranked duellist."

"The Fifth are dead. The Fourth adore Gideon, but they are children," says the seventeen year old. "The Eighth despise us, but everyone despises them equally. The Second will not make alliances--they think they are in command."

"The Sixth has been friendly so far. The Seventh is the biggest problem. Dulcinea Septimus is dying, and her cav is a puppeteered corpse. I don't know why or how she is doing it, but I am certain, and she will not be of use."

"But Palamedes the Sixth is in love with her." She grits her teeth and says between them: "So, I fear, is Gideon the Ninth."

[blue_ajah]

The Aes Sedai does not at all like the idea of a puppeteered corpse as a Warder. Something hardens in her glance, although neither her tone nor the expression on her strangely ageless face changes.

"So the Seventh, the Sixth, the Ninth, and perhaps the Fourth might be considered allied in some fashion, or at least to have some common cause of care."

[we_bring_hell]

Harrow agrees, and in fact Protosilaus the Seventh's head is in her closet right now.

That distaste is written on her face when she says, "Indeed."

"The situation is not... unpromising. My greatest fear is the mystery of the Seventh. If she was involved in the deaths of the Fifth, the Fourth will not rest until she's dead. And if she was involved with the deaths of the Fifth.... I fear Sextus must have assisted her. I do not wish to think it of him, but she and her puppet couldn't have done it alone."

[blue_ajah]

She tilts her head slightly to one side.

"Why do you think she may have been involved with their deaths?"

[we_bring_hell]

"She is lying," Harrow says plainly. "She is involved in some kind of conspiracy. She has already broken a serious taboo of necromancy by her manipulation of her cavalier's corpse, and I am unsure how she even managed that, for so long, with a intra-orbital journey. In front of eight other necromancers."

"It may be unrelated, but it concerns me deeply." Harrow has her own secrets, and is perhaps a hypocrite here. Is definitely a hypocrite here. "I don't know who else is strong enough to do what was done to them, and I don't know how she is strong enough to do what I know she has done."

She drums her fingers on the table. "Earlier today," she says slowly, "Protosilaus the Seventh was supposed to duel the Eighth. He was waiting for the match. I... probed the magics supporting him from a distance. The theorem collapsed immediately."

"Whatever she is up to, it is about to unravel, and I... I am afraid."

[blue_ajah]

"You must be very careful, Lady Ninth," Moiraine tells her.

"In the world where I was born, I have known those in the service of the Shadow who hid in plain sight among those who were believed to be their colleagues and even friends, and they were some of the most dangerous of all."

[we_bring_hell]

"That is what I am afraid of," she says, with some relief at being taken seriously.

"She has been friendly where I was solitary, and kind where I was harsh, and gentle where I was brutal. She is beautiful. And so I fear she has more than half-seduced Gideon away from me, who I foolishly did not include in my plans from the start."

"If she is all she seems then... Fine. Good for Griddle." Her face gives the lie to this, but she goes on. "But the gentle invalid she pretends to be did not stab a man through the chest and seamlessly manipulate his corpse for weeks without a qualm."

If I am monster and a liar, at least I wear my monstrosity on my sleeve.

"Murderer or not, she is not what she pretends."

[blue_ajah]

The Aes Sedai considers all of this for some time.

Finally,

"Why was Protosilaus supposed to duel the Eighth?"

[we_bring_hell]

"Protosilaus punched the Eighth necromancer--or rather, Septimus used him to punch the Eighth necromancer. Oktasiron was trying to summon the spirits of the Fifth."

This is probably even better evidence than, 'she keeps flirting with my cavalier'!

"It was ambiguous--Oktasiron appeared to have possibly hooked a bigger and more dangerous spirit than he intended, and it was having a deleterious effect on Septimus. But it was suspicious. And of course the creature demanded Protosilaus duel his cavalier for satisfaction, because the Eighth are always scrupulous about propriety when it's in their advantage to be."

This is unfair; the Eighth are scrupulous about propriety when it's in absolutely no one's advantage too.

[blue_ajah]

"And when they were to fight," she observes, "you tested the weave, and Protosilaus collapsed, leaving Dulcinea without a cavalier - is that correct?"

[we_bring_hell]

"Just before the Eighth cavalier arrived," she says. "He was alone; I had a few moments to examine the body before I was interrupted."

[blue_ajah]

"I see."

The Aes Sedai gives a very slight sigh. It may be no more than a matter of a young woman's jealousy, but in the Great Game that itself can be a powerful weapon - and in this case, there may be more at stake. She would be remiss not to mention it.

"Lady Ninth, is it accepted, or even possible, for a cavalier to switch House allegiances?"

[we_bring_hell]

"Formally changing House would be quite difficult," she says. "It happens in the case of marriage, but even if things had reached that pass--which I doubt highly--there is no one in Canaan House to officiate."

"I was thinking more of insubordination. We are in a lawless place, and Gideon and I..." She studies the tabletop. "Have a tumultuous past. If it came to a necromancer's duel between Septimus and me, I... don't know what she would do."

"She has proven her willingness to sacrifice. But I do not believe her loyalty stems from House propriety. She is her own creature. If she thought I was wrong..."

[blue_ajah]

"Then it would seem best for matters not to reach the point of a necromancer's duel," she says, very simply. "Do not allow yourself to be led down a path that you would prefer not to walk."

[we_bring_hell]

"You are correct," she admits heavily. "I appreciate your insight."

[blue_ajah]

It is little enough to offer, the Aes Sedai thinks.

"I would also suggest," she says, gently, "that you continue to consider where your advantages may lie. For one thing, how many keys remain to be discovered? You have two, I believe you have said?"

[we_bring_hell]

It as much help as an adult has offered Harrowhark since the day she came home to five nooses.

"Yes," she says. "I believe one or two at most remain, of the eight trials I know. I know someone has completed the challenge that was most intuitive to me, what I believe must have been the black key of the Ninth, and some of the others show signs of having been at least worked, perhaps solved."

While she was counting doors! Frustrating.

"I know the Seventh has one in addition to the one she assisted us with. Palamedes must have at least two, and I suspect even three. He's smug enough." This is base slander of a very kind young librarian.

"The Second and Fourth have not even claimed the facility key. The Third... lurks, rather than partakes. The Eighth avoids me with a religious fervor. I didn't even know he had a facility key until he told the Fifth about it."

Grimly: "The Fifth died in the entryway."

[blue_ajah]

"I see."

Her dark-eyed gaze is very thoughtful.

"Palamedes is enamored of Dulcinea, you said. Do he and Gideon themselves appear to be in any conflict?"

She is rapidly reaching a conclusion, but must be certain before she speaks.