Chapter 8 What Masks Hide
Egwene gazed round the impressive Great Hall of the Paeron house. The sweeping staircase led down to the main floor and an arch filled with glass let you see the gardens.
Safe behind her feathered mask, Egwene stared wondrously at the many different people wearing multicoloured and elaborate costumes. She could not identify anyone but they all seemed to know Elayne, who was wearing a lion's mask with her golden hair acting as a mane of cascading curls.
Lan stood beside her wearing an appropriate wolf mask that covered the whole of his face. He was wearing silver and gold and with his height, his grace and his proper manner he appeared handsome. Every bit a King.
Together the three of them made their way down the steps.
JJ
High above Egwene two women watched the party of three enter.
One woman was short with loose, dark curls that dangled to her waist. She wore a green dress worked with black embroidery and dark lace. A black cat mask covered half her face and the skin that showed was smooth, young and beautiful. She had pulled a piece of hair over her shoulder and absently tugged at it as she addressed her companion.
"You should have put me in charge of this. Emailia is just going to mess it up."
The woman she spoke to looked plain despite her vibrant, red dress. Her mousy brown hair reached her shoulders while watery eyes peered out her brightly feathered mask.
"Oh peace Yana, we've had our orders and, besides, you've only just returned to us," she muttered. "You're not even meant to be here but seeing as you are, go down and enjoy yourself. But don't interfere."
"I tell you Velina, something is going to happen and it has something to do with that man in the wolf mask." With that, Yana turned and left.
Velina looked down at the man. He was strong, sturdy; a man used to the sword. No matter what his skill was it would not alter the Black Ajah's plans.
Now Yana was a different matter. The Great Mistress herself had presented her a little more than a week ago, but Yana was different from the other sisters. She refused to kill, showed mercy to the most unworthy and pulled at her hair if anyone annoyed or questioned her. She was clever though and had extraordinary strength in the One Power. Yes, Yana would need to be watched carefully.
JJ
Egwene felt herself being watched as she spoke to different people around the hall. More than once a woman in a black cat mask appeared, who seemed strangely familiar but whenever Egwene started towards her, she seemed to melt into the crowd. Egwene soon forgot her when the dancing started and a tall, light haired man asked her onto the floor.
JJ
Yana watched the young girl in the feathered mask swirl around the floor with a light haired Andorman. The girl did seem familiar, like they had met before. Yana shook her head and concentrated on her dance partner. He was tall with dark hair, the way she liked, but he lacked the self-assurance, grace and muscles of a swordsman. He was also a hopeless dancer and the conversation he started was so dull that when the dance ended, Yana nearly ran away from him.
As she walked round the edge of the dance floor, she kept the girl within her sights. The child also excused herself from her partner and moved to stand by a giant of a man wearing a wolf mask. They talked quietly and the man pointed out a blonde haired woman, who was dancing.
Yana felt her eyes drawn to the man and the feeling she had on the balcony of danger and familiarity returned. She realised with a jolt that this was the man who appeared every night in her dreams, who she could never quite reach. Even though his face was completely covered, Yana knew he was the most gorgeous man she had ever seen. She ignored the fact that the girl was asked to dance again and kept her eyes on him. She felt her feet move her towards him as if in a dream.
Egwene gazed round the impressive Great Hall of the Paeron house. The sweeping staircase led down to the main floor and an arch filled with glass let you see the gardens.
Safe behind her feathered mask, Egwene stared wondrously at the many different people wearing multicoloured and elaborate costumes. She could not identify anyone but they all seemed to know Elayne, who was wearing a lion's mask with her golden hair acting as a mane of cascading curls.
Lan stood beside her wearing an appropriate wolf mask that covered the whole of his face. He was wearing silver and gold and with his height, his grace and his proper manner he appeared handsome. Every bit a King.
Together the three of them made their way down the steps.
JJ
High above Egwene two women watched the party of three enter.
One woman was short with loose, dark curls that dangled to her waist. She wore a green dress worked with black embroidery and dark lace. A black cat mask covered half her face and the skin that showed was smooth, young and beautiful. She had pulled a piece of hair over her shoulder and absently tugged at it as she addressed her companion.
"You should have put me in charge of this. Emailia is just going to mess it up."
The woman she spoke to looked plain despite her vibrant, red dress. Her mousy brown hair reached her shoulders while watery eyes peered out her brightly feathered mask.
"Oh peace Yana, we've had our orders and, besides, you've only just returned to us," she muttered. "You're not even meant to be here but seeing as you are, go down and enjoy yourself. But don't interfere."
"I tell you Velina, something is going to happen and it has something to do with that man in the wolf mask." With that, Yana turned and left.
Velina looked down at the man. He was strong, sturdy; a man used to the sword. No matter what his skill was it would not alter the Black Ajah's plans.
Now Yana was a different matter. The Great Mistress herself had presented her a little more than a week ago, but Yana was different from the other sisters. She refused to kill, showed mercy to the most unworthy and pulled at her hair if anyone annoyed or questioned her. She was clever though and had extraordinary strength in the One Power. Yes, Yana would need to be watched carefully.
JJ
Egwene felt herself being watched as she spoke to different people around the hall. More than once a woman in a black cat mask appeared, who seemed strangely familiar but whenever Egwene started towards her, she seemed to melt into the crowd. Egwene soon forgot her when the dancing started and a tall, light haired man asked her onto the floor.
JJ
Yana watched the young girl in the feathered mask swirl around the floor with a light haired Andorman. The girl did seem familiar, like they had met before. Yana shook her head and concentrated on her dance partner. He was tall with dark hair, the way she liked, but he lacked the self-assurance, grace and muscles of a swordsman. He was also a hopeless dancer and the conversation he started was so dull that when the dance ended, Yana nearly ran away from him.
As she walked round the edge of the dance floor, she kept the girl within her sights. The child also excused herself from her partner and moved to stand by a giant of a man wearing a wolf mask. They talked quietly and the man pointed out a blonde haired woman, who was dancing.
Yana felt her eyes drawn to the man and the feeling she had on the balcony of danger and familiarity returned. She realised with a jolt that this was the man who appeared every night in her dreams, who she could never quite reach. Even though his face was completely covered, Yana knew he was the most gorgeous man she had ever seen. She ignored the fact that the girl was asked to dance again and kept her eyes on him. She felt her feet move her towards him as if in a dream.