[pfsb] the mirrors of the wheel

[blue_ajah]

The Wheel weaves as the Wheel wills, and all things are part of the Pattern. There is little that she can do now but wait, guard against events worsening as best she can, and watch.

As a result, Moiraine is in the bar this evening, musing over her thoughts with a cup of tea at hand and a slender, leather-bound journal open to a blank page before her.

Comments

[bialy_wilk]

Seems sorceresses are all the same, across the many worlds. He's never known one who didn't want to be in control of a conversation. He considers her for a long moment, then signals the waitrat for more wine.

"'Battery' was the wrong word," he says, finally. "Though I guess they could be used like that. Where I'm from, a Source is someone born already imbued with that power – creation, destruction – in their blood. Immense power. Uncontrollable, usually. The kind of power that can destroy a building, or a city, or maybe even the whole world. Has a tendency to leave the person themselves catatonic."

[blue_ajah]

"A heavy burden to bear, for one so born," she murmurs, watching him as carefully as he watches her. "And not the same as what is known in the world that I am from."

Each word is carefully chosen, although there is no sign of it in the rhythm of her conversation. She has had long, long years to become expert at doing so.

[bialy_wilk]

"No?" He thanks the rat who brings a carafe of the rich red wine, then lifts his brows at her. "So how's it known there?"

[blue_ajah]

"You speak of 'a Source' as a person, and the way you speak of them hints that such a person is necessary to use this power - whether they are willing or not. Am I correct?"

She does not wait for him to answer before offering an answer of her own to his question, in return. "In the world where I was born, anyone who has the ability to channel and is able to use it may draw power from the True Source. The amount that can be drawn and used is limited by the channeler's own ability, not by the True Source itself."

[bialy_wilk]

He shakes his white-maned head at her. "No, we have that, too. Plenty of sorceresses, mages, pellars, village witches, all of them able to tap into power. A Source is different. It's what they are, not what they can do."

[blue_ajah]

"I see," she murmurs. "A heavy burden indeed."

Silently, she prays that Rand is safe, at peace, happy and free, after everything.

[bialy_wilk]

"Pretty heavy, yeah. But like I said, a lot of times once their power gets triggered, they aren't exactly conscious enough to recognize what's happened."

He shrugs and fills his wine goblet. "Not sure if that's more blessing or curse for them."

[blue_ajah]

"As long as they do not feel it, perhaps a blessing. If they are aware enough to know something is being drawn that they cannot stop... I would not wish that on them."

Certainty fills her voice.

[bialy_wilk]

"They're not." His tone carries the certainty of experience.

"Sometimes they wake up enough to know what happened after. Sometimes not."

[blue_ajah]

"I see," she says again.

"Is the duty of a witcher, then, to protect these Sources?"

[bialy_wilk]

He shakes his head. "Witchers deal with monsters, for coin. That's our job."

[blue_ajah]

Her gaze narrows sharply at that, and she pins him with a direct look. "Do you then consider these Sources to be monsters?"

[bialy_wilk]

He narrows his eyes right back at her.

"What makes you ask that?"

[blue_ajah]

"You appear to have a particular interest," she returns, in a tone that is perfectly calm. "For someone who describes himself as not a 'real magician,' but is yet quite familiar with nuances of power. One might wonder why."

[bialy_wilk]

"I know a lot of sorceresses. Even a witcher can pick up on their areas of interest. Power's a big one."

It's true, even if it's not the actual reason. "But no, Sources aren't monsters. I told you, they're human, mostly. Elves, sometimes."

[blue_ajah]

"I can well imagine that it would be," she observes. Moiraine reaches for her glass and tilts it in a small circle, studying the play of wine against the sides of the glass. The fact that it adequately conceals any possible small tremor in her fingers as she continues speaking is a convenient benefit.

"And I might be remiss if I failed to note that there are those who might be called both human and monster. Or elven monsters, come to that."

[bialy_wilk]

"Sure. But that wasn't your question."

He shrugs, watching her toy with her wine. "You asked if protecting Sources was my job. It isn't. Hunting monsters is. And I don't consider Sources to be monsters."

[blue_ajah]

She looks up at him, meeting his eyes without qualm and taking in every nuance that she can from his gaze and the way he holds himself.

"I am glad to hear it," she says, simply.

[bialy_wilk]

He lifts the carafe, silently offering to top off her glass. "Looked like you saw a ghost, earlier."

[blue_ajah]

She nods acceptance of his courtesy with a smile of thanks.

"Only in memory."

[bialy_wilk]

He reaches over to fill up her glass. "Have some experience with all this?"

[blue_ajah]

“Some, yes.” She makes the decision to offer up information in one direction to keep the conversation diverted from Rand without needing to think about it.

“I know what it is to be fed upon by those who would absorb power as I mentioned.”

[bialy_wilk]

"Hm." He sits back again, lifting his own glass for a sip, and observes: "Unpleasant."

[blue_ajah]

"Quite," she says, dryly, and raises her glass to him slightly before taking a sip of her own.

[bialy_wilk]

There's a shadow of amusement at the corner of his mouth as he nods to her toast. "These Sources," he says. "Or whatever you have that's like them. They able to learn how to control their power? Channel, like you said?"