12-07-2025, 01:52 AM
Graciela smiled with only her eyes. Yet her expression held grace and a quiet pride as she inclined her head in reply.
Before she could speak, her daughter stepped forward; not quite boldly, but without hesitation. Misaki’s gaze met the Aes Sedai’s unflinching, and she dropped into a curtsy as practiced as her mother’s.
“I am Lady Misaki Armendariz of Fal Sion,” she said, her voice calm and clear. “Daughter of Lord Xavier and Lady Graciela, and sworn to the defense of the Borderlands.”
The girl stood straight again, shoulders square, not a flicker of fear or awe visible. Graciela did not add to it, nor soften the girl’s words. She simply placed a hand on her daughter’s shoulder resting it there with all the dignity of a queen beside her heir, and nodded once in approval.
Leodon, standing just beyond the map table, gave a short chuckle and offered a small, respectful bow to Misaki. “Lady Misaki speaks well for her years. Fal Sion breeds iron. She made quite the impression in Caemlyn.”
He turned back toward Amelia Sedai, gesturing faintly as he responded. “You are gracious to offer your services, Aes Sedai. And we will humbly accept them when the need arises. Perhaps there is something yet unsorted you might lend your hand to.”
There was a flicker of decision in his gaze then he looked toward Graciela, as if weighing her judgment more carefully than his own.
“My Lady,” he said, “you know the camp and its needs. If you can think of some task deserving the aid of an Aes Sedai…?”
Graciela could have suggested anything. Logistics, aid, counsel to captains. But she surprised him with a faint smile and a thoughtful tilt of the head.
“Lady Nicole,” she said simply. “If there is someone who always knows what must be done, it is Nicole. She has a sharp eye and a quick mind. II would trust her to place the Aes Sedai where she might do the most good.”
Leodon blinked, not having wanted to invite another Aes Sedai into such a secretive inner circle, but soon he nodded after recovering a bit. Hopefully the Aes Sedai didn’t notice his hesitation. “A fair point, and well made. She is more resourceful.”
He looked toward the tent flap, raising his voice just slightly. “Berin, see if you can find … Lady … Nicole and bring her here.” The young noble, standing at quiet attention by the flap, gave a crisp nod and ducked out into the cold.
The moment Berin’s boots crunched into the snow, Nicole knew.
She’d already put distance between herself and the command tent, slipping between wagons and drying lines with the efficiency of someone used to being overlooked. She moved like breath through fog, deliberate and unseen. She had pulled her hood low, her white cloak blending with the sprawl of the camp, every inch of her presence meant to be mistaken for nothing.
She didn’t know what had been said in the tent, but she knew her name had come up.
Light, please, she thought. Not yet.
She wasn’t ready. Her heart felt as though it had been lifted from her chest and rung like a bell. If she saw Amelia again, she might say something she couldn’t take back. She might break, and Leodon could never find out. Worse, Amelia might see through her mask. Might look at Nicole and see Corele, and know what had been lost. Leodon could never find out.
Nicole ducked into the shadow of a supply wagon, crouched low behind a crate of salt beef, and stilled her breath. Berin passed not far from her, glancing left and right, not truly searching just looking, as most people did when they believed they’d find who they were looking for with ease.
He would not. Not this time. Nicole stayed low, the snow cold beneath her knees, the fur-lined edge of her cloak pressed to her face. Leodon cannot find out.
Before she could speak, her daughter stepped forward; not quite boldly, but without hesitation. Misaki’s gaze met the Aes Sedai’s unflinching, and she dropped into a curtsy as practiced as her mother’s.
“I am Lady Misaki Armendariz of Fal Sion,” she said, her voice calm and clear. “Daughter of Lord Xavier and Lady Graciela, and sworn to the defense of the Borderlands.”
The girl stood straight again, shoulders square, not a flicker of fear or awe visible. Graciela did not add to it, nor soften the girl’s words. She simply placed a hand on her daughter’s shoulder resting it there with all the dignity of a queen beside her heir, and nodded once in approval.
Leodon, standing just beyond the map table, gave a short chuckle and offered a small, respectful bow to Misaki. “Lady Misaki speaks well for her years. Fal Sion breeds iron. She made quite the impression in Caemlyn.”
He turned back toward Amelia Sedai, gesturing faintly as he responded. “You are gracious to offer your services, Aes Sedai. And we will humbly accept them when the need arises. Perhaps there is something yet unsorted you might lend your hand to.”
There was a flicker of decision in his gaze then he looked toward Graciela, as if weighing her judgment more carefully than his own.
“My Lady,” he said, “you know the camp and its needs. If you can think of some task deserving the aid of an Aes Sedai…?”
Graciela could have suggested anything. Logistics, aid, counsel to captains. But she surprised him with a faint smile and a thoughtful tilt of the head.
“Lady Nicole,” she said simply. “If there is someone who always knows what must be done, it is Nicole. She has a sharp eye and a quick mind. II would trust her to place the Aes Sedai where she might do the most good.”
Leodon blinked, not having wanted to invite another Aes Sedai into such a secretive inner circle, but soon he nodded after recovering a bit. Hopefully the Aes Sedai didn’t notice his hesitation. “A fair point, and well made. She is more resourceful.”
He looked toward the tent flap, raising his voice just slightly. “Berin, see if you can find … Lady … Nicole and bring her here.” The young noble, standing at quiet attention by the flap, gave a crisp nod and ducked out into the cold.
The moment Berin’s boots crunched into the snow, Nicole knew.
She’d already put distance between herself and the command tent, slipping between wagons and drying lines with the efficiency of someone used to being overlooked. She moved like breath through fog, deliberate and unseen. She had pulled her hood low, her white cloak blending with the sprawl of the camp, every inch of her presence meant to be mistaken for nothing.
She didn’t know what had been said in the tent, but she knew her name had come up.
Light, please, she thought. Not yet.
She wasn’t ready. Her heart felt as though it had been lifted from her chest and rung like a bell. If she saw Amelia again, she might say something she couldn’t take back. She might break, and Leodon could never find out. Worse, Amelia might see through her mask. Might look at Nicole and see Corele, and know what had been lost. Leodon could never find out.
Nicole ducked into the shadow of a supply wagon, crouched low behind a crate of salt beef, and stilled her breath. Berin passed not far from her, glancing left and right, not truly searching just looking, as most people did when they believed they’d find who they were looking for with ease.
He would not. Not this time. Nicole stayed low, the snow cold beneath her knees, the fur-lined edge of her cloak pressed to her face. Leodon cannot find out.