Katja smiled as she opened her mind to the bird perched on her finger. It was a simple creature, not much for communication, but Katja missed having a friend to talk to. Some of the Accepteds had stopped to talk with her throughout the past few days, but she was trying not to be noticed as anyone to remember. She came back from her reverie, and cooed in the back of her throat, copying the call of the bird. It had been a while since she had opened herself. There were wolfkin around, and when she opened up her mind, they seemed able to recognize it. It wasn't the same sort of soul-bonding that was required of wolfkin, it was much simpler, and therefore not as effective, but they could feel something all the same. Suddenly, she felt an animal close by. Why hadn't she noticed it earlier? "Of course," Katja thought to herself, "I can't feel them when I close the wall." There were birds and squirrels all over the yard, but this was a more intelligent creature. It was....she smiled....a panther.
The bird, hurt at being ignored, took flight to try and find somewhere where his song was appreciated. He was happy at finding a human to talk to, but it appeared that it wasn't listening to him anymore.
Katja, oblivious to the bird, turned and slipped off of the windowsill, unto the floor. What was a panther doing in the WT? She wanted to make sure that it was not a trick before she took any action. Trotting down the hallway, she heard brisk footsteps coming towards her.
She ducked behind a door just in time to avoid meeting the three Aes Sedai. Even wearing an Accepted's dress, she was worried about someone realizing she wasn't of the WT. She concentrated on listening, happy that the Aes Sedai hadn't put up a ward, thinking that no one could hear if they talked in whispers. The smile dropped off of her face as she heard what they were talking about. By the time they had walked out of hearing distance, she had enough information to put together the pieces.
Brainwashing Jen! Using Lia! She hadn't quite understood that part, but she had heard enough to be enraged. The rolling black clouds now completely covered her eyes. The power coursed through her veins, feeling, oh, so sweet. Flashes of yellow started cut through the blackness that were her eyes, as she stepped out from behind the door. She was going to find Lia. Now. No longer could she sit and wait, trying to pick up information. Her mind, open to almost its fullest extent, could feel every animal that had ever talked to humans for miles. She picked out the panther, whom she now knew for Nightwind, and sent a message. It had been many years since she had sent her thoughts to anything but Algai, but with the extra power of anger, it was clear. ::Wildcat hunts. I am coming. This place not safe::
A novice, startled by the growling, came running out of one of the computer rooms. A quick gag silenced any screams, and the girl was too frightened to move. Katja had shed the Accepted's dress, and was wearing her usual outfit of leather. The angry creature reached out and grabbed the white-clad girl by the throat, lifting her to eye level.
Her eyes got wide as she saw the gold flash through the rolling black. The black had spread, almost completely blocking out the white. Katja let loose a lion roar in the Novice's face. She then threw the now limp body to the floor as she strided towards the general direction of the Ayenda.
"Lia?" she enquired.
The other woman turned. "Oh ... hi ... I though you were still ..."
"No," Jennaea laughed, "I just came back to get a few things." She opened the door. "Come in, come in."
Upon entering, she found a nameless Accepted tidying the room. "Good afternoon, Aes Sedai," she greeted her, dropping a curtsy.
Lia looked up Thinking Aes Sa-who..?? Jennaea nodded. "Leave us."
"Yes, Aes Sedai." The Accepted scurried off, her work still undone. Jennaea didn't care that the bed was only half-made; she needed to speak with Lia, and it didn't matter.
"Please, Lia, have a seat." She indicated a nearby chair.
"I'll stand." Still wondering what was up with Jen
"Suit yourself. Now, this matter--"
"What the hell is wrong with you?" the other woman cut off, flashing anger.
"Excuse me?" Jennaea honestly didn't know what was going on.
"I said, what the hell is wrong with you? Look ... Mom ... you're not Aes Sedai. You never were. You're not--"
Quickly aligning and thickening flows of Air, Jen slapped Lia across the face. "Don't you EVER talk to me that way again. You may be a guest of this Tower, but as long as you are here I NEVER want to hear you speak to ANY Aes Sedai like that! Just because you flunked out--"
"I didn't 'flunk out', I scared them."
"And with every reason," Jennaea retorted. "You ought to be ashamed of yourself."
The two women stared at one another in silence which hung thick like fog. The tension in the room could be cut with a butter knife. Finally Lia spoke: "I guess you are Aes Sedai, after all." She left without dismissal.
Lia walked angrilly down the hallway... Every so often she could see a flash of the lightning that was result of her anger... "How Dare she Slap me.. After all I've done for her Tower and.... I thought she had changed.. I really thought she wasn't like them... But she used us.. She USED me.... " Lia slammed her fist into a wall in the Yellow wing, and threw herself against it Screaming : "Fuckign Aes Sedai Bitches!!!!" She slid down, her body racking itself with sobs and the tears that now were again silver slid down her face.. enough to make an Aiel tell her to stop wasting water.. Lia sat there for who knows how long, crying like a child who was lost.... in fact.. she was lost.... Jen was all she had in the world... and here she was treating her as if she was merely some Brat accepted of the Damn white tower... She wiped her face.. and went back to her room.... She sat and stared at the purple ring that was still onher hand and ripped it off.... Looking inside at the rose that twisted about the inner circle.... She remembered her fear as the angreal twisted about her hand much the same way.... forming the ring on her finger... She remembered Jen laughing and displaying her Bat engraved ring with so much pleasure.. so much.... So much Jen....
Lia opened the trunk she had brought with her from the U-haul.... It was mostly her clothing.. but a silver box rested in the bottom.. a silver box that contained three other rings... The twisted Barbed wire ring of the Black Ajah... The Golden serpent ring of the Aes Sedai... and the Ancient silver ring of the Aes Sedai of the Age of legends...
Lia stared at the rings.... and at the stack of dresses that lay below them.... The green silk dividing dress that had been given to her the night befor eher raising as a gift from the MoN... The Black Silk dress with teh silver fringe that was to be worn to the Formal meetings of the Black Ajah.... The Soft white Accepted's dress that she wore so often... Yes.. THat was it..... Lia slid the Dress over her head... looking at herself in the mirror and shooke her head... She tied half her hair back the way it was when Jen had first met her.... Slippe dher pack of cigarettes into one pocket of her dress, and the Statue she had always kept in the other pocket slid right back in... The woman with the sword in one hand and a book in the other... Lia lit up a cigarette and walked carefully to the Study of Jennaea Sedai.... With the box of rings in her hand....
She knocked softly on the door.... Jennaea called enter... Lia stepped in.... and saw Jen's eyes register.... now at least, she knew exactly who Lia was.. or had been Lia smiled and curtsied.... " Jennaea Sedai, " She smiled, politely, " I have a few thigns you might liek to see..."
Jen smiled, " Well, child.. it's nice to see you back in your placeagain.. "
Lia nodded... " Well show me... " Lia stepped forward and set the box on the table.... Pulling out the First of the four rings... The Aes Sedai ring " What does this mean to you..? "
Jen gaped, " How did you get that.... That doesn't belong to you.. with trainign.. soon enough but not now...??"
Lia smiled and pulle dout the second ring.... The Twisted Metal of the Black Ajah, " And THis..? "
"That is from your accursed mother and aunt..... The taint we'd never been able to flush out of you... "
"Right again.... and this..? " Lia removed the Ancient Aes Sedai ring and showed it...
"YOu could never get that.. there's only pictures in books.... " Light clicke din Jen's memory, " Unless you weren't lying about traveling time... with your little angreal.."
Lia smiled again and pulled the last ring... The purpel Ring of the Tower.." And this..? "
Jens mouth formed the look of distate as if she'd just eaten a overripe elderberry... " That is from that blasphemous Purple Tower, How did you get that...!!"
"YOu gave it to me Jen... LEt's just say I am a collector... But now... I'm going to use this... " She pulled the Statue from her pocket and put it on the table... " To bring you from this.... " She put the Aes Sedai ring into the Box " Through this... " Sh eput the Ancent aes Sedai ring into the Box, ' AN dback to this, " She put the PT ring into the box.... Slipping the Black Ajah ring into the box, she channeled Fire into the Statue and Held Jens' hand.... With Jen Protesting the whole way....
Lia's voice speaking as narrator
The air was rich as they opened their eyes.... The sun beat down on two girls sittign beside a tree, and talking both holding a small statue.... They disappeared.... Moments later they reappered.. in different clothes... with such odd rings on their fingers.... and books that should have looked old.... but looked new... Running to change they laughed.... The dark haired one slipping the statue into her pocket as they ran.......
The night hung like a fog as Jen ran to stop the evil she felt.... She Saw the dark girl.. smoking.. by a tree.... " Lia look out! There's evil here!!! " The Dark Girl laughed.... " I am the Evil Accepted.... I am all that is Evil.... "
"No. Lia.... You aren't.. you are So good inside..I can feel you.. Just give it time.. You'll fit in here.... I know you will.."
The Dark girl laughed again.. Perhaps.. Shock took on her face as she screamed " Dieda!" And ran off.....
The room was brightly lit.... Four girls stood within... Elayne, Dieda, Jen, Lia... They had a secret... Besides being TWAP.... They had the Secret Purple Ajah.... But now..It wasn't so Secret... Patty entered the Room.. Saying that Jen's request to form a Purple Ajah had been accepted..... There was great joy and laughter.. Lot's of OoSquai from Dieda.. who wanted to be Brown.... Love.. Faith.. Trust...
They all congregated in the Studio.... More now than before.. but not the same.... Jen stood and announced their departure from the White Tower.... To become their Own Tower.... She gave each separate part of their cause a color... Plum, Wisteria, Violet, Lilac, Indigo.... Each claimed their Septa... Each nominated Jen for Cuebiyar... Each nominated Patty for Anima De Turrae.... Each had a place.... A new Era had begun...
The Wheel of Time Turns and Ages come and Go... Leaving memories that become legend, then fade to myth, and are forgotten as the age thatbirthed them comes again.. In one age, called the Fourth age by some, an age yet to come, an age long past... Fire rose in the Heart of a girl named Jennaea, fire as strong as the fire she could channel was weak... But Jennaea was not the beginning, there are neither beginnings nor endings to the wheel of time, Yet.. Jennaea was a beginning....
Jennaea Earned the trust of those who could not trust... loved those who could not love... and gave birth to a dream that would never die.....
Lia born amoung blackness and the taint of the Shadow.... was one of these.... But Lia was not the Beginning either.... She was a beginning.....
Lia released her hold on Jen.. looking up at her, " Now I expect you'll Call in some warders to get rid of me.... Since you are Aes Sedai now.. again.. Maybe you always were..... " Lia removed her White dress and showed Jen teh Blackness beneath it. " Maybe you always were..... But Jen... I tell you.... The Purple Tower will Live on with you or Without you... You began it.. YOu showed us Passion and love.. and the need for each other... But we all have enough pain to continue.... and If we have to cut you down to continue... Jen.. No matter how much I love you.. and I do.... I love you like the sister I never had.. and the Mother I always needed.... But If You try to stop us... I will not hesitate to still you where you lay.. and that will not mean merely cuttign you off from your power..... " Lia gathered up her things and went to the doorway.." I Am Ayende Lia.... Ayende Vera.. Seekers of the Truth.... I am SianSepta of the Plum Septa.... I am Lanfear.. Daughter of the Night.... I am Liandryn Sedai.... A day away from the Green Ajah..... But most of All, Jen..... I am Lia.. Just plain Lia... I never stopped being Lia.. And I always knew that I was not like everyone else here.... and neither are you..... Goodbye Mom.... Pray to the Creator that our paths do not cross.. I hope you have the time of your life....."
Lia stood, and walked out of the room.....
As Lia left Jen's Study.. She heard Night Wind Talkign to someone else then to her Shadow Blade.. WildCat is here.....
WildCat?? Nightwind who the Fuck is WildCat..? Nightwind sent Katja's image to Lia
Oh Katja
Right WildCat
Lia Laughed dispite her anger at Jen
Tell WildCat that I see her.. that I know she is here....
Nightwind sent Katja the Picture of Lia.. Superimposed was that of a Black Lioness with A wild SIlver Mane... Lightnign crashing all around her Shadow Blade sees you... She knows you are here
The side of Katja's mouth opened into a half sneer/half smile as she received Nightwind's message. She could feel the power of `Wildcat` pouring through her, the image of the big white cat with gold tiger-stripes and silver leopard spots pacing in the back of her head. The sneer turned into a snarl, and Katja started to pull her anger back in check. "Won't do much good to be angry now without a plan," Katja thought to herself. She scanned the hallway as she slid into the shadows. Good, her wild rampage down the middle of the hallway did not attract any attention except for that one novice. She slinked her way along the halls till she reached about where Nightwind's picture had come from. She started listening to doors until she found one that wasn't occupied by a giggly child of the WT. She slipped into the door, but stood still and straight after walking in. She had realized that Lia would be ready to kill anybody that tried to sneak up on her, so she wanted Lia to see who was coming in.
Lia appeared to have been waiting for Katja. Katja smiled, realizing that had been exactly what Nightwind had told her. Katja sat down on the floor by an old desk and, without waiting for Lia to say anything, started to spin off all that she had heard in the past few days, especially the conversation that had just riled her fuR.
All the images that had swirled around her were so contrary to everything she'd believed. Somehow she knew there must have been at least a spark of truth to them, even though Lia was not bound to the Oath Rod. Even though she was so dark....
This was something, this Purple Tower--it hadn't been brought up in Jennaea's briefing on what had happened in the Tower since her absence. She had to go see about this. She shuffled her way through the halls and corridors to the office of the woman who had been the "acting" Blue Sitter while she was gone, Tsyi Sedai.
She seemed to be doing a lot of meeting people, Jennaea noted as she knocked on Tsyi's door. It was opened by the short tomboy of an Aes Sedai--the only one of the White Tower Jennaea knew not to adhere to the strict dress code placed on those in the Tower. And a good friend of Jennaea's. As a novice, Tsyi had been sent to Gelpha the MoN on occaissons too numerous to count for breaking those rules, but the hierarchy had been rather lax with her lately--they had other things on their mind. Things which Jennaea had come to see about.
"Jennaea ... uh, hi," Tsyi muttered. Not the sort of greeting she was expecting, but oh well.
"I came to catch up on business while I was gone," she said, getting straight to the point.
"I ... see ..." Tsyi fumbled around in her desk for papers and folders and the like. She looked as though she didn't remember where things had gone. Odd; she'd been so organized before. Jennaea glanced at the clock on the wall, seconds ticking off. Back at Tsyi, still searching. Clock. Blue sister. Clock ... Impatience welled inside her. "Do you have them?" she finally asked.
"Right here," the short Saldaean said as she handed the pale blue folder to Jennaea. The latter sat on a chair upholstered in myriad shades of blue that was behind her, reading. Skimming the page, really--nothing out of the ordinary had happened, but then she found what she was looking for. Purple Tower. Descriptions named their activities: treason against the White Tower, conspiracy, larceny, breaking-and-entrering, possession of illegal substances, assault-and-battery, grand theft auto ... All were channelers, going under the guise of artists. Their leader had been named as one Patty Sulan, an ex-Brown. A list was given of those that had been with them, quite a few former Aes Sedai--some former novices and Accepteds. A good number had spent at least *some* time in the Tower. Their escape had obviously marked them asDarkfriends.
"This Purple Tower," Jennaea said, "do we have any of their members still in custody?"
Sadly, Tsyi shook her head. "Not anymore. Not here, at any rate. All or most escaped through help of their ... friends ..." Tsyi spat the word out. "Though..." she continued, "we had a few of them a while back. Got to be so bothersome we sent them to Tear, where they could deal with them there. They'll likely be shipped to Seanchan."
"What sort of information have you gleaned from them?"
"Not much," Tsyi admitted.
"I see. Thanks for your time." Jennaea turned and headed out the door. She stopped in the threshhold and said, "I'll catch up on this over the next few days; then I'll be back to full duty. Hope the chair was comfortable." She left before Tsyi could say another word. There was hope the Darkfriends hadn't already left Tear.
"Mother?"
Mayadi al'Kella looked up from her desk. "Yes, child?"
Jennaea dropped a full curtsy to the Amyrlin Seat. "Mother, I request permission for a leave of absence."
Mayadi paused and appeared to chew her lip thoughtfully--but of course not, Amyrlins do not chew their lips. "Denied," she said after a moment. "You've only just come back to us, child. I would hate to see you leave sosoon."
"But," Jennaea protested.
"Denied," Mayadi repeated, cutting her off. "We still need to--"
"Please, Mother, hear me out."
They stared at one another; both silent. "Well?" Mayadi queried after a time.
"I propose a mission ... to Tear. I have received word that certain members of one Darkfriend alliance have been sent there. I am hoping that I may be able to take them back for questioning."
"A noble proposition," the Amyrlin commended. "However," she continued slowly, "wouldn't you agree this job is better suited for the Red Ajah?"
"Perhaps," Jennaea replied, only a fringe of ice hanging from her words, "but the Purple Tower has been running from the Red Ajah long enough. Their methods are too overt. We require something subtler if we are ever to call them back to the Light." "Indeed ... indeed."
A thick silence hung in the air as Jennaea waited for the Amyrlin's orders. It was broken what seemed like hours later as Mayadi Sedai finally spoke. "I will allow you to conduct your investigation as long as you take two representatives of the Tower along with you," she said.
"Thank you, Mother," Jennaea replied, curtsying.
"Here are the names of those who will accompany you. As the Blue Sitter, you are, of course, in charge of this investigation." The Amyrlin slid a slip of paper across her desk to the Blue.
Carefully Jennaea picked up the slip and read: Keneda Sedai, Yellow Ajah; and Dieda Sedai, Brown Ajah. She remebered Keneda--the Yellow who had treated her after she'd burned herself out. And she understood why Mother would want a Brown sister to accompany her. But why Yellow? "Mother," she enquired, "if I may ask why Keneda is to come?"
"She is ... she is a Healer. You will find her talents useful."
That was certainly a lame excuse. "She's too strong," Jennaea replied--another lame excuse, to be sure, but one deserves another. "They'll find her too easily in Tear. Channelers may be hated, but they certainly aren't nonexistent--too many are found; I wouldn't want to, ahem, 'blow our cover'. Mother."
"I see."
"If I may suggest another?"
"Name her."
"Tsyi Tenou, Blue Ajah. She is my assisstant--she'll easily be able to help me; we read each other well."
Mayadi considered this. "Very well," she consented finally. "I will inform both of them and they will meet you here in three hours. Until then, child."
"Yes, Mother." Jennaea curtsied again deeply and walked from the Amyrlin's office. She sincerely hoped her plan would work.
The Door opened as Lia fixated her Wristbow on the Door..... It was only WildKat... Lia shook her head.. Katja... Too much time with Nightwind... Who was seated on the other bed purring happily.... KAtja rambled on about her conversation and Lia's eyes grew Dark.... " Using Me are they.... Well.... Jen did.... I can't see why the others wouldn't..... But these... "She picked up the Keys to the White Tower.. " These may come in Handy soon..... Let's get back to the Others and Leave Jennaea Sedai, " Lia's mouth Twisted as if she'd bitten into somethign vile, " To her lovely littel White Tower Bitches and Whores.... " Lia gathered her Trunk and Lia, Nightwind, and Katja headed back to the Fiero and the Uhaul.... Nightwind curled up on the floorboard under KAtja's feet.... He was a baby after all.... and Lia flew out of hte Gates of Tar Valon without looking back.....
Lia called on her Cell phone... " Patty.. Vree... Hap.. I forget who's got the communicators.... Anyway.... Jen... Jen's not one of us anymore..... Katja says she's been brainwashed.... I don't care.... Jen.. Excuse me.... Jennaea Sedai of the Blue Ajah.... Is no longer Cuebiyar of the Purple Tower...... And IF she ever.. EVER... tries to reclaim that position.. or hinder us in any way... Fuck If I ever see her again.... I will not hesitate to Kill her myself....... We're on our way to Tear.... Don't move from where you are...."
Patty's voice gasped with disbelief... and Said.. " Explain when you get here.... We're all at hte Broken Harp.." " On Our way.... Lia out"
Lia opened a gate to Tear.... Parked the car.... and the three of them met the others at the Broken Harp.. Where KAtja explained What she'd Heard.. and Lia explained what had happened....