Soiree

[Colette Moreau]

"Nicole Candraed"

The pigeonry flew out this morning, so, today her letter should arrive at the Black Tower. It was addressed to him, there was no getting around that. Lennox Orander.  Corele had to close her eyes just to close the image of him from her mind. If she lingered on everything that had happened, the ring and note Kymira found, and Nessie's admission of an Asha'man wielding that name, these things would overwhelm her.  He couldn't be alive.  It would be impossible. 

But Light save her, what if he was? 

There was little else she could do but wait. The note was away, and if a man bearing her warder's name was in the Black Tower, it would eventually find him.  She had to be patient. 

She was presently in a reception room in the palace. A large fireplace gleamed firelight along wooden floors. The ceiling was painted with rich murals and fine woodwork ran along the length of the walls. She stood sentry with another of the Queen's ladies like a pair of guards on the periphery. They were the final say between those waiting to be called within like a bridge petitioners were forced to cross. Nicole passed an easing smile to the girl next to her, a gaunt thing of seventeen, who looked underfed despite how much she ate. It was only her second week serving the Queen given that the former Lady in Waiting was recently married, and she still glanced around the room like a wide-eyed child whose breath was stolen away every other minute.

Corele was aware she didn't look much older, but there was a vibrancy to her color that was not there before, and her smiles seemed slightly less haunted by regret. She was aware of the passing of her pain, not gone, but eased a little. The suffering was more a rainstorm on the windows rather than the terror of a thrashing thunder. She caught herself watching the reason then. He was across the room with his father and captain of their House armies. All three men were formally attired, with the captain in full regalia, waiting for word when their audience with the Queen would begin. She was comforted even from across the room just knowing he was near. 

Then something drew the gaze of all the men, and her Lady in Waiting companion gasped. She glanced behind to realize why. Faodella Sedai was a Green, and a right haughty one at that. Corele immediately recognized that sincerely cheerful face and sarcastic glare to her blue eyes. Her cold blonde hair was decorated lavishly. However a Green managed it was beyond Corele’s understanding. As Keeper she required a servant to aid her formal hairstyles, and they were nothing as elaborate as Faodella’s braids and baubles. Behind the Green’s honey smile dripped disapproval at everything she saw. She, along with her two warders, entered and made to proceed onward as though she had every right to interrupt the Queen.

Corele quickly whispered to her fellow Lady, "Quickly Jespa, inform her majesty Faodella Sedai is here." Another Green, and that made them Ajah sisters, the Queen would want to know about her arrival immediately. Though it was beyond both Ladies in Waiting to know whether the green was expected. It was their job to see proprieties observed, and announcing an Aes Sedai counted as the proper thing to do. Certainly Corele was not about to leave that fidgety girl alone with this Sister. Faodella would eat her for lunch. 

Jespa nodded gratefully, and slipped from the room. 

If she recollected accurately, and she was sure she did, the Queen should outrank Faodella in the White Tower's hierarchy, both in strength and deeds, but Jespa quickly brought back word that the Queen would see to Faodella that very moment. Either she was expected, or the Green was swarming into matters she assumed were some of her business.  How the Queen tolerated such impertinence, Corele was left to wonder if an Ajah secret played a role in their manners. It certainly would not be acceptable among the Blues. Or is something else at play here?  She ached to watch the Sisters' mannerisms. Yet all she could glimpse while respectfully averting her eyes floorward was the saccadic movements of Faodella's two warders. Shadows few in their company seemed to appreciate were truly there, but they were more dangerous than even the Taravin’s captain of the guard.

She was content to let Faodella pass by when she felt a finger lift her chin. Her eyes followed, and met Faodella's straight on. A slight twinge caught her stomach, though.  Was she recognized? 

That ageless face contorted into a tsk, tsk.  "Your name, child." 

Corele's answer came smoothly.  "Nicole Candraed, Aes Sedai." The Sister studied Nicole's face, but she did not peer into the depths of her eyes, only swam across the surface of her skin.  She hated to curtsy before Faodella, but curtsy she did and only as little as she could get away with.

"How did you come by such a scar, child?"  She withdrew her hand, and Corele wondered if a hint of true concern was in her voice.  To everyone else, however Faodella seemed absolutely emotionless.  She was relieved that no glimmer of recognition flashed her bright blue eyes, but Corele wondered if she would ever truly be comfortable enough to lower her guard completely.  No. I look too different.

"A fire, Aes Sedai. Not several years ago.”  She heard a few rustlings of movement around her and she briefly glanced at Leodon.  He was listening, arms at his side, polite but tuned to what she might say next.  The Aes Sedai, however, was not satisfied.  "A fire that touched only the upper half of your face?  And what a shame too, for such a lovely face."

Nicole held the Aes Sedai’s gaze even for the compliment, "Yes, Aes Sedai. I was stoking the logs beneath a large kettle at the hearth in my family's home.  The bracers came away from the wall and the kettle fell.  It  sprayed hot coal. The Wisdom wrapped my hands with bandages soaked with ointment, but the ointment seeped into my eyes and I could not stand the pain of it.”

As though uncomfortable by the attention, Corele smoothed the skirts of her Lady’s gown. It of course drew the Aes Sedai's attentions to her hands.  Hands which were uninjured and smooth, and also bearing the silver ring on her finger. It was a movement she wanted the Aes Sedai to notice. Playing to the game, Faodella gently took that hand into her own, and pat it sympathetically. 

"That is an unfortunate story.”  She started, but it was a ruse to examine the exquisite piece of jewelry.  “My Sister was kindhearted to take you into her service. Hopefully you will," Corele felt the Aes Sedai's fingers linger on the ring before she released her hand, "continue to fare well." 

"Thank you Aes Sedai.”  She curtsied then lingered, expression tight, upon the Aes Sedai's back as she left. Faodella referenced the extraordinary feat that a powerless figure had drawn someone's attention - with all the thanks going to the Queen’s charity rather than her own prowess of course. That kind of oversight was exactly what she was going for with living out life as a minor noble, but it irritated her to have to play it in front of Faodella. If that one knew how many bones Corele was aware were piled up in her closet, she'd not dare tempt her to unearth them.

Soon after the Lords Taravin and their captain were summoned into audience. The High Seat did not so much as glance at her, but Leodon was watching, as perfect as ever. His wide eyes were amused, a hawk circling lazily above the field, trying to decide which mouse would be his supper. Or one that he'd found but was unsure if it were more interesting to watch from afar or swoop in for a closer look. Corele felt her ire over Faodella diminish, and she looked away before anyone realized there was something more than the common girl's infatuation for someone out of her reach.

Her resolve was only so strong, however.  When the High Seat and Captain passed by, Leodon lingered a brief moment to steal a few seconds to speak with her, and she found herself questioning why she was so determined to push him away this last year. 

"You truly are fearless," he complimented, but she did not know what he meant. He dipped his head as though to lean close to speak quietly in her ear. He was wearing a cologne today she didn't recognize, and a royal blue coat that made the color of his eyes capture her. This was a man capable of making any woman worship him. "Did you know that Lady Jespa was trembling while you handled the Aes Sedai like an equal. Then the glare when she turned her back. She deserved worse, I'll admit, for taunting you. The vile woman."  His lips thinned as he took the offense for the slight against Nicole's honor, glancing at the Aes Sedai now out of earshot.  She didn't fault him for not coming to her defense.  In fact, she had forgotten what that felt like.  To be defended.  "You are a mystery, Nicole." 

If he only knew... "You should be careful, My Lord.  Aes Sedai have ways of hearing things we cannot.”  He had, however, made sure that the Aes Sedai saw him come to her. 

"The One Power, yes. I imagine so,” he mused. Then as though on cue, the Sister glanced their way. Nicole rightly averted her eyes, but not before catching Faodella's lingering study.  It was simple curiosity, and Corele could practically feel the Sister cataloguing what she witnessed for future reference: the heir of a Great House whispering in the ear of a lovely nobody.  Then there was all that strange attention. She suspected something; though Corele was confident she did not entertain the truth among her conjectures. Nicole would be a an easy pawn for White Tower schemes, and if she had the ear of House Taravin's heir she might also have the ear of other powers.  At least, that was how Corele would have used her, but Faodella was a Green. Still, Corele would be mindful of their Ajah hovering in the days to come.

After the comment about Elayne's charity case, the Aes Sedai would have witnessed blank-faced as Lord Leodon Taravin gently kissed her hand and strolled onward, joining his father.  Moments later the doors closed of the audience chamber closed, and Corele resumed her duties, slightly out of ease, though she refused to think about why.