Chapter 5: The Beginning of the Hunt
The past two years had been the busiest and most tiring of Kiara's life. She was actually Kiara Lisette now, having earned her third name in the speed and efficiency of her learning of three subjects at one time.
Over a month ago the dreamwalkers had claimed that there was no more they could teach her, and the Restorers claimed she was a more than adequate Restorer a fortnight ago. She had left M'Jinn to stay in Comelle to finish learning Refining. Nemene Boann, who had earned the third name Damendar, and had become Kiara's close friend, had stayed behind to study as a master Restorer.
Just last night she had graduated from the Refining school in Comelle, and was all set to go home to Shorelle. She had not seen Joar Addam since he had walked out on her in tel'aran'rhoid that night, two years ago. She had written about a dozen letters to him, but he did not reply to a single one.
She would be leaving Comelle via Travelling at daybreak. She had just enough time before bedtime to go down to the workshop. She found some gold, silver and adamantine, which was a kind of metal almost too strong and hard to break and did not rust. She also found small amounts of steel, and set to work. She had asked especially to learn how to shape musical instruments.
The adamantine she shaped into a harp frame. Weaving Fire and Earth, she melted the gold and silver to make perfect, burnished patterns on the frame. The steel she drew out into long, flexible lengths of varying thickness. They would be the strings—steel harp strings were popular these days. She set the strings into the frame with careful, measured precision. Two hours gone, and it was almost done.
Kiara took out the white cuendillar snowflake she had prepared a few days ago and set it into a corner of the harp. She then set about making a case. She again shaped adamantine to make a box large enough for the harp. She found some smooth leather and cuendillar nails, binding the box.
She worked on the interior then. The best quality fragrant wood was used to make a mould for the harp to fit in. She shaped the wood with chisels of Air. Then she attached the mould to the interior of the case. This done, velvet lining was added to the entire inside surface of the case.
All there was left to do was to make a strap. Kiara was tired, but she pressed on. She shaped a length of chain made from an alloy consisting of adamantine and silver. It shone like the latter, was almost as strong as the former and did not tarnish even under the worst conditions. She covered this chain with transparent streith, sewing the covering on with her own hands. She even took the trouble to embroider snowflakes down the length of the strap.
"Avierhyl," Kiara called softly.
"How may I serve, Kiara Sedai?" the Aiel asked meekly.
"Where is the silk I told you to buy?" she said.
Avierhyl scurried from the room and returned a few minutes later with a small bolt of the finest midnight blue silk Comelle had to offer. A silver snowflake had been embroidered in the corner, like Kiara had wanted it.
"Thank you," she told the Aiel with a wan smile. She wrapped the case, with the harp inside, in the silk, making sure the embroidered corner showed, and bound the package with gold cord. "Let's go to bed, Avierhyl."
Two years had passed since Joar Addam last saw Kiara. A year since he left Shorelle to seek his fortune. He was currently in Paaran Disen, but he would be moving to Comelle at daybreak. Kiara had mentioned Comelle. Perhaps they would see each other there.
He snorted at the hope in his own thoughts. He had walked out on her, two years past. little chance she would have forgiven him. Perhaps better not to see her than to see her married to someone who could hold his temper.
No, he would not seek Kiara out. He would not go near the guild of Refiners. He would not even ask about her. It was, perhaps, for the best.
Kiara Travelled to Shorelle the moment the sun rose completely above the horizon. She went home and visited her family before going next door and knocking on the door, silk-wrapped package clutched in her arms.
"Is Joar Addam here?" she asked the Da'shain Aiel who opened the door.
The Aiel looked devastated. "I used to serve him," he said. "But I failed miserably, Mistress. He vanished a year ago. In the middle of the night. No one knows where he went. The Aes Sedai said there was a gateway made to Mar Ruois the night he disappeared."
Kiara flinched as if hit. "Thank you, Da'shain," she muttered before rushing back to her house and snatching up her still-packed bags. "Avierhyl!" she called. "We're leaving for Mar Ruois. Now."
At Mar Ruois, Kiara and Avierhyl went to every inn and tavern, giving descriptions of Joar Addam and asking if anyone had seen him.
At the end of the day, the pair took a room at the last inn, exhausted. Their search had been futile. Kiara ate her supper in a stony silence. The common room door opened to admit a large man swathed in a cloak. He came right up to the two women.
"I hear you have been asking for a musician with dark hair and eyes who calls himself Joar Addam Nessosin," the man said in a grating voice.
Kiara looked up hopefully, fatigue forgotten. "Have you seen him?" she asked in a low, anxious voice.
"I work at the airport in Mar Ruois," the mysterious stranger said. "I saw this man board a sho-wing due for Paaran Disen six months ago."
Seized with gratitude, Kiara sprang to her feet right there in the middle of the common room and curtsied to the man. "You have my eternal gratitude!" she said sincerely. "If you ever have a need, contact the Hall of Servants and ask for Kiara Lisette Eronaile. I will attend to your requirements as soon as I can."
The large man laughed, a low rumble. "There is no need for any such thing, Aes Sedai," he said softly so only she could hear, "I know a woman searching for her lover when I see one—that was how my wife found me twenty years ago. I was a trader. Good luck on your search, Aes Sedai. I hope you find your musician." Without further ado the stranger walked out again.
Kiara sat back down. "We leave for Paaran Disen at first light, Avierhyl. By Travelling. There is no time to take a sho-wing. I am sorry to put you through all this, but I have to find him."
"I will follow you anywhere, Kiara Sedai," Avierhyl said with her usual quiet confidence. "If this man is so important to you, it is just as important to me that we find him."
Kiara Lisette smiled warmly at her companion. "Thank you, Avierhyl. Thank you."
It was such that the hundred-year-long search began.