[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]

"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."

[bialy_wilk]

The witcher leans back in his chair and folds his arms over his chest as he listens, his expression skewing further and further towards something like annoyance, though it doesn't seem to be aimed at her. "Wonderful," he says, dry. "Hauntings I can deal with. Most curses, too. Not excited about the prospect of both at once, plus a malevolent entity. This thing corporeal?"

[blue_ajah]

"I have known it to be, in possession of another's body." The very level way she says it speaks volumes about her opinion of that. She means it to. "Beyond that, I do not know if it has the ability to take physical form."

[bialy_wilk]

His mouth twists. "My professional advice? Leave it the hell alone and keep other people away from it if you can. But it sounds like it's already past that point."

[blue_ajah]

"It might not be." She taps one finger against the side of the wineglass, almost absently. "I have warded the area for protection, and there are those who watch for signs of trouble and to guard the borders. Still, I feel it best not to assume that will be sufficient. As I indicated before, it is better to be prepared, when one can."

She spreads both hands slightly. "The Wheel weaves. I will do what I may, and Light willing, it will be enough."

[bialy_wilk]

"It showing signs of expanding? Or that entity trying to cross the wards?"

Either way, it sounds like a bad place to be.

[blue_ajah]

"It stirs," she says, simply. "As it has done in the past, as a precursor to other things."

[bialy_wilk]

Is there a less appealing update she could have given than it stirs? His mouth twists.

"Sounds like some protection for you wouldn't be a bad idea, then."

[blue_ajah]

"Very likely," the Aes Sedai agrees, composed. "Especially as if there is an intelligence to it, which the entity has demonstrated in the past, it may well come for what it perceives to be a threat first and foremost."

She has expected something of the sort for some time now, in fact.

[bialy_wilk]

"That's always been my experience with intelligent enemies," the witcher agrees. "Got one of those Warders up your sleeves?"

[blue_ajah]

She shakes her head, her composure unwavering. "He who was my Warder for twenty years is bonded to another Aes Sedai now. Our connection ended when I was imprisoned and believed dead - including by him."

She says it as a matter of fact, one that does not appear to trouble her. Perhaps something of the reason why may be apparent as she continues, "They are well matched, and I am glad of it."