[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]

She cannot say that she is surprised - either that they would participate in the Great Game or that he would dislike it, given the things that he has mentioned before.

“Were you often in attendance at such events?”

[bialy_wilk]

"Not very often. Never could stand wearing a doublet."

He reaches for the carafe and tops off his wine once more, then reaches for the glass for a sip. "Now and then, though... yeah. Went to a few."

[blue_ajah]

She assesses his attire in a single glance and nods. “One would likely suit you, but I can see that you might wear your armor more easily and comfortably than current court fashions.”

It is as matter of fact as if she were remarking on the direction of the sunrise.

[bialy_wilk]

"Might suit me, huh?"

Sorceresses. They all like a doublet, it seems. "But you're right about the armor. The lighter stuff, anyway. Heavy plate was never my style."

[blue_ajah]

She inclines her head in assent.

“Besides which, such armor might draw lightning or weight one to drowning in a river.”

[bialy_wilk]

"Both situations I try to avoid," he agrees. "Monster hunting is hard enough without drowning or getting electrocuted."

[blue_ajah]

“Wise of you,” she murmurs. “One might think the monsters would be danger enough.”

[bialy_wilk]

"More than, most of the time. And some of them are pretty fond of drowning anyone nearby, so."

He studies her with those steady yellow eyes over his glass. "Guess you've probably had your share of formal occasions, too."

[blue_ajah]

"Troublesome," she observes, before giving him a small nod of acknowledgement at his observation. Moiraine seems untroubled by his level, considering regard.

"I have, although not recently. Other things have taken precedence."

[bialy_wilk]

"Mmhm. Anything in particular?" He tips his head, slight, letting his wine glass dangle from his fingers between his knees.

"Can't all be chasing down Dragons."

[blue_ajah]

"No," she allows, with the barest hint of something wry beneath her words. "There were other things as well, for quite some time. Of late, I have been studying comparative magics and seeking new methods of protecting people, against future need."

[bialy_wilk]

"Protection against what?"

Magic, monsters, men? All of which might require wildly different options.

[blue_ajah]

"It is far from certain." For several reasons, in fact, although she fails to elaborate in full. "The world where I was born is moving through the aftermath of war, and things are unsettled, there and elsewhere. It seems best to be as prepared as I can."

[bialy_wilk]

He makes another sound of assent, rumbling low in his chest.

"These people you're trying to protect: other magic users, or not?"

[blue_ajah]

"Some are, some are not." She gives a very slight shrug. "That does not make a difference, save in the type of assistance that might be needed."

[bialy_wilk]

He lifts a hand, palm turned up. "Quite a project," he says. "Protecting who knows how many people with a wide range of abilities from every possible threat, magical and otherwise. You must be busy."

[blue_ajah]

"Too busy, some might say." The wryness of before is back, tempered with resignation. Something of the sort has been said, as it happens. "But I have never been good at being idle, and I have found in the past that knowledge and preparation may well tip the balance between survival and disaster."

[bialy_wilk]

"Helps if you know what kind of disaster you might be up against," the witcher observes, bland. "Got anyone helping you?"

He leans just a little on that you, just enough to make it clear he understands who is normally doing the helping in Moiraine's world.

[blue_ajah]

"I have been consulting with a few people here who have experience with the nature of the power that is currently the most pressing concern," she says. "They have offered some assistance with the problem, where possible."

It is not exactly an answer to the witcher's specific question, but it is close.

[bialy_wilk]

"Advice," he says. "Consultation. Not worth much when you're facing down whatever's out there in the dark."

But it does sound familiar. It sounds all too familiar. It's the sort of story he hears right before someone offers coin in exchange for his sword.

[blue_ajah]

She gives him an enigmatic look and reclaims her wine glass for another sip. "It is better than nothing at all," the Aes Sedai points out, pragmatically.

[bialy_wilk]

"Depends on the advice."

He studies her for another long moment as he works through his thoughts. Unlike the people here, he can't – or won't – offer to help out of the goodness of his heart, but he dislikes the idea of her going up against whatever the hell it is alone. "Hiring some help might not be a bad idea."

[blue_ajah]

She nods in acknowledgement of his first point before setting the glass down again and considering him.

"That is not something I had even thought of," she says, frankly. "Do you have any suggestions on the matter?"

[bialy_wilk]

A subdued, almost imperceptible journey from exasperation to reluctant acquiescence plays out across his face in tiny shifts of his jaw, muscles tightening around his eyes.

Finally, he says: "If you want to add my advice to the pile, I'd say you should hire yourself a witcher. Depending on what you're up against."

[blue_ajah]

"I am not certain it is a monster in the sense a witcher might describe it," she cautions. "But I will also admit that my knowledge of such things is limited, as you are the first that I have met."

She has not missed the shifts in his expression, although the reason for them remains to be confirmed.

"There is a place that might be described as haunted, or perhaps cursed. Spirits of the dead have emerged from it, as has at least one entity which appears inimical to the people who live nearby."