Tar Valon,
The White Tower,
The Red Ajah
Kekura Sedai
The Third Age
A stack of neatly sorted papers were arranged on Kekura’s desk. As she picked up the last one, transcribed the contents of its meaning, and devoured the information hidden within, her already grim mood hardened to angry stone. It was a pleasure to weave fire upon the messages, though she wished she could incinerate the entire Tower along with it. She left her desk in a hurry, without seeming to hurry at all, but there was an urgency in her gaze that warned others away who may otherwise be brave enough to approach.
Kekura bypassed Modane’s door with barely a glance. Her sister Modane was an embarrassment. Yes, Reds bonded a male channeler to them these days, and Kekura approved of the act as a way to keep control over their growing influence in the world, but Modane’s frivolous relationship with one, her dogged allegiance to the Blues, and her adoration of the Amyrlin meant that Modane would need addressed.
She entered the private quarters of their third Sitter, Haneyth. The woman was well-respected but known for her stern hand. If Kekura had not been Mistress of Novices during the years of her service, Haneyth would have made a superb replacement, but like Kekura, it would have been a waste of talent. Or perhaps just like Kekura, would have been a penance to suppress talent.
“The time has come, Sister,” Kekura said. Haneyth gestured that they sit together even as the Red warded her own room from eavesdropping. Their topic of conversation was so delicate, not even another Red could overhear.
Kekura sat, but barely saw the weaves. She’d never been so angry in her life, which was saying something.
“Kaydrienne’s support is waning,” she started, “And with her recent endorsement of this horrific deal between Arad Doman and the Seanchan, we cannot let her continue to lead the Tower,” she said.
Haneyth’s lips were a thin line. “There are strong Sisters who still remain loyal to the Amyrlin. Few as they are, they’ll need addressed before we can take any action,” she said.
The faces Haneyth mention floated like haunts before Kekura’s imagination. “Modane will yield to the will of the Ajah or will be expelled from all of her positions. I’ll see to that,” she said. As head of the Ajah, the Sitters were appointed by her alone, and losing her seat in the hall would be the least of her worries if she dared defy Kekura outright.
“And what of our Green sisters, Juleen and Lythia?” Haneyth asked.
“Juleen isn’t a Sitter and is lost somewhere in the borderlands anyway. Lythia, however…” Kekura’s voice trailed into thought. She came to Tar Valon within a week of Lythia. They were novices together, but Kekura was raised to the Shawl a year faster. Lythia always resented it ever since, no matter how annoyingly friendly she pretended to be. The only reason the Greens and Reds came to a truce over rogue Asha’man was their mutual desire to see danger contained. Lennox, Kentrillo and others were the catalyst to healing the rift, but it was Lythia and Kekura working together who sewed the seams of their animosity.
“Lythia has been less enamored with the Amyrlin Seat since her return to the Tower than she once was. Perhaps we can convert her position. But Rikela is a challenge,” Kekura said. The Blue was a dreamwalker and probably head of their Ajah’s eyes and ears. She would know what was happening in the Hall almost as soon as it started. “We need to know exactly where she is and contain her. If she interrupts the proceeding, it will be difficult to proceed. Find out where she is and make sure she stays there.”
Which left one strong ally of the Amyrlin. Who would have thought the Bloody Browns would be the ones to hold up the foundations of the Amyrlin Seat? Fate would be a force of nature, but even their strongest Sister would not be able to withstand the might of the whole of the Hall if unified against her for fear of the same conspiracy.
Haneyth spoke to as much, “The two Brown Sitters will look to Fate to decide their vote unless we can convince the Hall that doing so is a danger to their position. This treaty with the Seanchan by her brother,” she said.
Kekura's teeth grinding to contain herself from lashing out. “If Fate does not denounce him, her destiny will be entangled with his and Kaydrienne’s.”
Haneyth slipped a piece of paper to Kekura. Her attention diverted; she studied the symbol. It was their mark for an Asha’man.
“Dareyn is in the Tower?” she asked, bewildered by the luck.
Haneyth shook her head. “Not him, Sister. The Wheel has brought us another Asha’man, who may be the key to deposing the Amyrlin Seat.”
Kekura’s brows rose. “Who is it?”
The White Tower,
The Red Ajah
Kekura Sedai
The Third Age
A stack of neatly sorted papers were arranged on Kekura’s desk. As she picked up the last one, transcribed the contents of its meaning, and devoured the information hidden within, her already grim mood hardened to angry stone. It was a pleasure to weave fire upon the messages, though she wished she could incinerate the entire Tower along with it. She left her desk in a hurry, without seeming to hurry at all, but there was an urgency in her gaze that warned others away who may otherwise be brave enough to approach.
Kekura bypassed Modane’s door with barely a glance. Her sister Modane was an embarrassment. Yes, Reds bonded a male channeler to them these days, and Kekura approved of the act as a way to keep control over their growing influence in the world, but Modane’s frivolous relationship with one, her dogged allegiance to the Blues, and her adoration of the Amyrlin meant that Modane would need addressed.
She entered the private quarters of their third Sitter, Haneyth. The woman was well-respected but known for her stern hand. If Kekura had not been Mistress of Novices during the years of her service, Haneyth would have made a superb replacement, but like Kekura, it would have been a waste of talent. Or perhaps just like Kekura, would have been a penance to suppress talent.
“The time has come, Sister,” Kekura said. Haneyth gestured that they sit together even as the Red warded her own room from eavesdropping. Their topic of conversation was so delicate, not even another Red could overhear.
Kekura sat, but barely saw the weaves. She’d never been so angry in her life, which was saying something.
“Kaydrienne’s support is waning,” she started, “And with her recent endorsement of this horrific deal between Arad Doman and the Seanchan, we cannot let her continue to lead the Tower,” she said.
Haneyth’s lips were a thin line. “There are strong Sisters who still remain loyal to the Amyrlin. Few as they are, they’ll need addressed before we can take any action,” she said.
The faces Haneyth mention floated like haunts before Kekura’s imagination. “Modane will yield to the will of the Ajah or will be expelled from all of her positions. I’ll see to that,” she said. As head of the Ajah, the Sitters were appointed by her alone, and losing her seat in the hall would be the least of her worries if she dared defy Kekura outright.
“And what of our Green sisters, Juleen and Lythia?” Haneyth asked.
“Juleen isn’t a Sitter and is lost somewhere in the borderlands anyway. Lythia, however…” Kekura’s voice trailed into thought. She came to Tar Valon within a week of Lythia. They were novices together, but Kekura was raised to the Shawl a year faster. Lythia always resented it ever since, no matter how annoyingly friendly she pretended to be. The only reason the Greens and Reds came to a truce over rogue Asha’man was their mutual desire to see danger contained. Lennox, Kentrillo and others were the catalyst to healing the rift, but it was Lythia and Kekura working together who sewed the seams of their animosity.
“Lythia has been less enamored with the Amyrlin Seat since her return to the Tower than she once was. Perhaps we can convert her position. But Rikela is a challenge,” Kekura said. The Blue was a dreamwalker and probably head of their Ajah’s eyes and ears. She would know what was happening in the Hall almost as soon as it started. “We need to know exactly where she is and contain her. If she interrupts the proceeding, it will be difficult to proceed. Find out where she is and make sure she stays there.”
Which left one strong ally of the Amyrlin. Who would have thought the Bloody Browns would be the ones to hold up the foundations of the Amyrlin Seat? Fate would be a force of nature, but even their strongest Sister would not be able to withstand the might of the whole of the Hall if unified against her for fear of the same conspiracy.
Haneyth spoke to as much, “The two Brown Sitters will look to Fate to decide their vote unless we can convince the Hall that doing so is a danger to their position. This treaty with the Seanchan by her brother,” she said.
Kekura's teeth grinding to contain herself from lashing out. “If Fate does not denounce him, her destiny will be entangled with his and Kaydrienne’s.”
Haneyth slipped a piece of paper to Kekura. Her attention diverted; she studied the symbol. It was their mark for an Asha’man.
“Dareyn is in the Tower?” she asked, bewildered by the luck.
Haneyth shook her head. “Not him, Sister. The Wheel has brought us another Asha’man, who may be the key to deposing the Amyrlin Seat.”
Kekura’s brows rose. “Who is it?”