Mentiri stepped into the training yards of the White Tower, for the first time in years. He felt that same majestic air about the place, and it glided all around the city.
Where is this 'Aiel Warder' Delèndriha spoke of? I hear she is a master of the spear, far better than most other Aiel.
He walked on, sensing his way through the crowds of people. A few bumped into him. They most likely would have said something to him if he didn't a black band 'round his 'dead' eyes, but they didn't say a word. Most knew who he was. The damned warder who lost his Aes Sedai and his sight five years ago. What a title to own, he thought. He heard rumors and felt them make gestures of mockery against him. He was ashamed of his failure, but his heart weighed down by his Aes Sedai's death was enough punishment. Why couldn't these warders leave him alone?
"Hey, you're him, aren't you?"
Mentiri turned.
"You're the blind wanderer."
Mentiri smiled. "Yes I am blind. And I do wander. But I do not know what you speak of." He walked on, ignoring the man. He felt a tug at his shoulder.
"Hey! I'm talking to you! Don't you walk away, son of a trolloc!" Mentiri heard a metal slice come from within a sheath, and then felt the air near his face move.
The man had drawn a sword.
"I want to see you fight! Can you even fight!?" He stepped in front of Mentiri, slashing his sword in the air. He laughed.
"Do you even know where I am?" Mentiri soaked in this man's ignorance. Control, that's what Delèndriha and Ger'reth taught you while you stayed in the waste. Prove to them and to yourself you have that discipline!
"Well, Are you going to fight me or what?" The man asked. Mentiri cast his 'gaze' to him, and stood still.
"I will not fight you. I fight Shadowspawn. Leave me be. I came here looking for someone." he said, anger building in his voice. Calm... Calm...
The man swung his sword down at Mentiri's shoulder. Feel the current of air shift, and precise movement is upon you. Mentiri slicked his shoulder back from harm. The man swung up at Mentiri's neck! Your skin's touch will be your eyes. He cocked his head back, feeling a rush of wind howl his throat. The man screamed as he stabbed the sword towards Mentiri's belly. If angered, your opponent will become as blind as you. Mentiri ducked and caught the blade between his hands. The man gasped and tried to force it forwards. Mentiri held him there. Your body is lightened, because of your lessened sense. Use this to lighten the world... Mentiri then snapped the blade in half, feeling the steel turn colder without its hilt.
"No! It can't be!" The man fell to his knees. A gust of dust and air poured onto Mentiri's legs, and Mentiri focused on every particle.
Calm...Calm...
"Now if you will excuse me, I am looking for an Aiel Warder." Mentiri said, sensing the audiences awe.
xxxx
Waiting for the Sitter to speak, Lavenda's ears heard a snatch of conversation. An Aiel Warder? Someone was looking for her! But why? Feeling the tension in the air, she glanced over the Sitter's shoulder. A man, with a black bandage across his eyes, was standing in front of a kneeling Warder.
What? she thought. But... that's the blind one! She had heard many stories about him, the Gaidin who lost his Aes Sedai and his sight in the same day. Most of those stories weren't kind. If he was looking for her... It will have to wait a moment, she said to herself. It would not be wise to anger a Sitter by leaving suddenly.
xxxx
Mentiri scanned the yards. He tried to hear that distinct Aiel dialect, that soulful crispness they all bore. She was very young, by Delèndriha's description. He paced slowly forward...trying to hear for her voice, for any clue as to where she was. Damn crashing metals...I must wait for her. Perhaps she isn't in the yards right now. I'll find her soon enough.
"Not at all, not at all. No harm done, and no need to apologize, Lavenda, isn't it?" Mentiri remembered hearing some one say that during his 'fight' with the irate man. The name of the Aiel Warder...Lavenda! He walked towards the source of these words, and prayed to the creator that she was near.
xxxx
In a heart beat, Lavenda realized that the blind warder wasn't so helpless after all. He was stepping towards her, skillfully avoiding clashing swords and sparring trainees.
Blood and bloody ashes, I hope I don't have to choose between a Sitter and a legendary Gaidin...
Time moved slowly onwards.
xxxx
She glanced at the Aiel woman before her, or maybe girl was a better term. No, Jacquelynn. she told herself. A woman of forty would be young to me! Not that I am ever so old for an Aes Sedai... In fact, many of the Sitters were a good deal older than her, some of them well into their third centuries and more. Of course, there were the younger ones too. One of the Green Sitters couldn't have been more than forty or fifty in age, at least not by her estimations, anyway!
Is there anything I want? the Aes Sedai mused with the hint of a smile playing around her warm, weather-beaten features. There are too many things that I want. Too many by far. Even so, Jacquelynn sensed that their was a depth in Lavenda's question, more layers to the question than she had first perceived.
Her blue-green eyes glanced across the Warder's features once more, searching for anything in them. There was so much fierceness in them, perhaps a hint of anger, and there was resolution; a brave, strong determination in the woman. She would make a good Warder for a lucky Aes Sedai someday.
Before she could reply to the woman's question, Lavenda's eyes chanced a look over the Sitter's shoulder, and Jacquelynn turned too, following her gaze until her eyes came to rest on a man with a dark cloth wrapped around his eyes. Blindness. Something the Yellow Sisters cannot Heal?
The man was moving towards the pair of women though, avoiding combat far better than the Sitter had done even with the use of her eyes. I truly am hopeless sometimes. Put me in a battle and I would be an absolute liability! Perhaps it is time that I considered taking a Warder...?
Turning back to matters at hand, she waited patiently as the man made his way towards them. There was recognition in Lavenda's face, and Jacquelynn looked to her.
"Do you know this man?" she asked, knowing full well that she herself should know the man's name. I ought to spend more time away from the ter'angreal, more time with people...
xxxx
Lavenda tore her gaze from the Blind One once again, refocusing on the Sitter. She looked her in the eyes, having to glance down slightly. "Yes, Sitter," she replied carefully.
"His name is Mentiri. He is quite infamous; perhaps you have heard of him?" Sensing she hadn't, Lavenda continued. "He was blinded when his..." she choked up, she quickly continued. She couldn't have noticed such small pause. "...Aes Sedai was killed by Shadowspawn."
"He is mocked by some Warders, and quite a few others." Lavenda was troubled by that; how could you mock one who lived through such pain? He had not run away; he was not a coward. "But those who do not mock him, respect him deeply. He has lived through a lot; and managed to come out near the top."
"I believe he is trying to find someone. Perhaps you, Sitter?" She inclined her head respectfully, considering how to put her next words. "Perhaps you- we? Should meet someplace less..." Once again, she indicated the men dancing the spears behind her. "Crowded?"
Done her question, Lavenda discreetly studied the Violet Sitter's features. Not much was usually given away in an Aes Sedai's face, but...
A hint of indecision? Something was there, something she didn't recognize. What was it?
As she finished her thoughts, Mentiri reached them, stepping up to them smoothly. Lavenda was in awe of his deadly grace, and his precision despite his loss. He cleared his throat, and she waited for one of them to make the first move.
xxxx
Mentiri reached the source of the voice he had heard, and stood still for a moment. He was about three feet from the two women - one of them must be Aes Sedai, for that magical air about her and one must be...
An Aiel woman!
That smell of adventure and honey coated her entire body. That raging desire to dance and be free in a stricken world. She had been through a lot, Mentiri could sense it. She reminded Mentiri of himself actually, when he fought to die and sleep forever. He finally asked,
"Might any of you two women know where I can find a an Aiel warder named Lavenda? I must speak with her."
He awaited a response.
xxxx
Lavenda's eyes bugged out of her head. Her?! He wanted to see... her?! Realizing she was standing with her mouth hanging open, she shut it with a snap. Her cheeks burned bright red with shame, for letting such obvious surprise show, then deeper red for showing embarrassment. Before it went any further, she cleared her throat.
"I..." she squeaked. She cleared her throat again, redder than ever. She continued in a more normal voice. "I am Lavenda," she said with her old confidence restored. "I am honored you want to speak with me, however..." She reached behind her with her still unsheathed spears, and stopped a random blow coming towards the back of her head.
"Might I suggest a quieter place?" Without waiting for an answer, she started striding off the practice courts, by way of the edge. Being rude to a Sitter might be asking for a flogging, but letting one be killed in the middle of the courtyard asked for death.
She reached the entrance/exit that was used the least, and looked behind her, hoping that they had followed her. Ack! she thought quickly. He's BLIND, you wool-headed milk sop! Fortunately, he seemed to have no difficulty traversing the courts towed, or towing, the Sitter. Finally, they reached where she was.
Striding under a nearby tree with a bench under it's shady green branches, she motioned at the bench, offering it to the Violet Sitter.
"Now, what would you like to talk about?" she addressed to the air in between the two. Let them battle out who would speak! thought the wicked part of her.