[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

[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?"

[blue_ajah]

She inclines her head in assent before confirming with a simple "Yes."

Rand had been able to learn to channel and to control his abilities, both, after all - even his ta'veren nature, to a degree.

[bialy_wilk]

"How?"

He studies her with guarded interest. "Study at a school? With a mentor?"

[blue_ajah]

"Either may be possible, depending on a student's particular circumstances."

She waits, then, to see if he will admit the reason for his interest.

[bialy_wilk]

"Hm."

It's low in his chest, more grunt than hum, and his glance tracks away from her, toward the fireplace, where he can watch the flames flicker as his thoughts drift.

[blue_ajah]

"If you would be willing to share more about the potential student, or students, that you are interested in, perhaps I might be able to offer more specific advice," she murmurs. "I myself am not inexperienced in teaching such things."

[bialy_wilk]

He watches the coals in the fire settle for another long moment, considering. Even when he speaks, he doesn't look back over at her just yet. "It's not you," he says, then amends. "Maybe a little. I don't always have the best luck with sorceresses."

Understatement. "It's not safe. For... a potential student. For too many people to know about them."

[blue_ajah]

"I am not offended," the Aes Sedai replies. "Caution in such matters is strongly advisable."

She takes another sip of the wine, letting her glance rest on the glass, although she continues to observe him from the edge of her vision.

"As it happens, I am not unfamiliar with that, either."

[bialy_wilk]

"Yeah, I'm getting that."

The flames reflect in his yellow eyes before he looks back to her. "Ever hear of the Wild Hunt? The Red Riders, they're sometimes called."

[blue_ajah]

"Not by that latter name, that I recall, but yes. I have." Moiraine looks up at him. "It has appeared in different ways in different worlds here, that I know as well. In the world where I was born, the Shadow's hounds pursue their prey under the direction of their leader, who himself has many names."

[bialy_wilk]

"They're after this person," the witcher says, blunt. "Been chasing them for years."

[blue_ajah]

She lets out a long, soft sigh, but there is no surprise in the dark eyes. "A close Mirror indeed," she murmurs. "Light illumine and protect this person, then. I presume you are intimately aware of the various dangers, if they are anything like those I have seen. Do you have good weapons against them?"

[bialy_wilk]

"No."

He's still never seen the weapon that can defeat the Hunt. "They die, sure. But they don't go down easy. Why this person's been on the run for so long."

[blue_ajah]

"No, I suspect they would not, at that. And if this person is not able to channel, or otherwise use their power under control..." She shakes her head.

[bialy_wilk]

"Control's always been a problem," he muses. "Even with the greatest sorceresses of their generation trying to help."

[blue_ajah]

There is something very wry about her expression. “I might surmise that they came to an awareness of their power on their own?”