01-17-2023, 11:01 PM
The shadow of shadow of darkness. It dashed through the back of his head. Wise? He did not feel wise. Zakar was always wise. Even if he didn’t follow his own wisdom. His insights were brilliant. Except when he accused his baby brother of stealing because he was a bigot. Not that it mattered in the end. But Esenya's description should be directed at someone else. Lythia Sedai perhaps. Or Kekura Sedai. Jai shook his head.
“I am a man who had no other choice, Esenya Sedai,” he said. No corners pressed against his back. Just truth. The end of a road and either turn around and go back or hack your way through the woods alone.
“The High Lord coveted Trista. She best his Voice twice in sparring, and the gaidar is beautiful. Cold as dead skin. But beautiful. He wanted her. You could see it in his eyes. Not of the body. Not like that. Like a thief spying sapphires.” Tashir’s falcon had sapphires in its claws. Jai could practically see it dangling the neck of the beaten man. Snatched away along with the rest of his valuables. Resting against the sweaty chest of his killer for years unknown. The same color as Daryen's eyes.
Breath came slowly.
“Months with no progress on the treaty. Then the day following the second spar. It’s announced.” He'd been there. Watched it happen before drawing the High Lord's attention himself. Would Daryen have bartered Jai away? Surely not. No. Daryen wouldn't do that.
His hands folded in his lap, but they wanted to touch his cheek. Andreu's fists bloomed those colors.
Chin tilted slightly. ”She was sold to appease the terms of the treaty.” It felt like a weight lifted as soon as the words left his mouth. A key turned in the locks inside his head. A great secret bared. A burden passed to Sisters who may be able to unload it.
Did the King of Arad Doman sell her? Yes. But on whose orders. Tyrant. Darkfriend. The words whispered. It was some moments before he spoke again. Likely struggling to find the right words. But they felt stuck. Like a wheel broken on a rut unable to turn. Jai reported to Daryen. Daryen outranked him in strength and age. And it had been more than a decade since Daryen knelt at the dais of the Black Tower. The M’Hael was a ruler second only to the Dragon Reborn. They all reported to someone. Suppose the Dragon reported to the Creator?
“We’re all Asha’man, Sister.” Was all he said. It was truth, and truth was freeing as a calm sky and distant horizon. Some comfort, he supposed.
He stood to signal his testimony was done. Though he would answer their questions as long as they posed them, it was to Kekura Sedai that his study settled.
“I am a man who had no other choice, Esenya Sedai,” he said. No corners pressed against his back. Just truth. The end of a road and either turn around and go back or hack your way through the woods alone.
“The High Lord coveted Trista. She best his Voice twice in sparring, and the gaidar is beautiful. Cold as dead skin. But beautiful. He wanted her. You could see it in his eyes. Not of the body. Not like that. Like a thief spying sapphires.” Tashir’s falcon had sapphires in its claws. Jai could practically see it dangling the neck of the beaten man. Snatched away along with the rest of his valuables. Resting against the sweaty chest of his killer for years unknown. The same color as Daryen's eyes.
Breath came slowly.
“Months with no progress on the treaty. Then the day following the second spar. It’s announced.” He'd been there. Watched it happen before drawing the High Lord's attention himself. Would Daryen have bartered Jai away? Surely not. No. Daryen wouldn't do that.
Quote:Lord Sivikawa slowly turned. Then his Voice spoke. "It is said a single Asha'man--" she wrestled with the word "--is worth a thousand swords in battle."
Jai shrugged and Daryen cast him a coy smile that dared him to go easy. "Do not believe every rumor you hear," he spoke directly to the Lord rather than his Voice, "It’s at least twice that many."
But the Lord's response drained the grin from his face. His Voice spoke, "Then we must assume it takes two thousand soldiers to bruise the face of one Asha'man. An impressive feat. The battle must have been long and glorious indeed."
His hands folded in his lap, but they wanted to touch his cheek. Andreu's fists bloomed those colors.
Chin tilted slightly. ”She was sold to appease the terms of the treaty.” It felt like a weight lifted as soon as the words left his mouth. A key turned in the locks inside his head. A great secret bared. A burden passed to Sisters who may be able to unload it.
Did the King of Arad Doman sell her? Yes. But on whose orders. Tyrant. Darkfriend. The words whispered. It was some moments before he spoke again. Likely struggling to find the right words. But they felt stuck. Like a wheel broken on a rut unable to turn. Jai reported to Daryen. Daryen outranked him in strength and age. And it had been more than a decade since Daryen knelt at the dais of the Black Tower. The M’Hael was a ruler second only to the Dragon Reborn. They all reported to someone. Suppose the Dragon reported to the Creator?
“We’re all Asha’man, Sister.” Was all he said. It was truth, and truth was freeing as a calm sky and distant horizon. Some comfort, he supposed.
He stood to signal his testimony was done. Though he would answer their questions as long as they posed them, it was to Kekura Sedai that his study settled.
Only darkness shows you the light.