Chapter Eleven: A Switching
It was dawn when Alessia felt her shoulders shaking. She opened her eyes and saw her friend Nynaeve trying to wake her up. Leaning up with a yawn and a stretch.
"Good morning." She spoke softly as her friend nodded.
"Morning to you too." Nynaeve spoke. "I want to hit the markets soon as possible." She added. Alessia nodded and stood up. Quickly grabbing her plant slack pants and red tunic to put on with her boots. Brushing her long hair and just letting it hang. Not bothering to put it up. They linked their arms while heading out of the room. Alessia had put her coin purse tucked under her belt. They heard a pair of footsteps. Looking at each other before quickly following. Alessia ran up the stairs and saw it was Lan. She stopped at a distance as did Nynaeve. Frowning at the sight, it was Stepin. The man was on his knees in front of a statue. A pool of blood by his knees. Alessia gasped and covered her mouth.
"Go get Moiraine." Nynaeve spoke. Alessia turned her heels and ran for it. Knowing Lan was in good hands with Nynaeve for now.
"Moiraine Sedai!" Alessia shouted while knocking on the woman's door. There was no answer.
"What is the matter?" Tarna's voice spoke as Liandrin was standing next to her.
"Have you seen Moiraine Sedai?" Alessia asked.
"What for my flower?" Liandrin asked.
"I need to speak with her. It's urgent!" Alessia spoke. Her heart was pounding fast as the woman in red reached out for her hand.
"What's with the shouting?" Moiraine's voice finally came.
:"Moiraine! You have to come quickly! It's Stepin!" Alessia spoke. No words were needed to say after. Alessia turned her heels and ran again. Leading the way to the Warders quarters. All three Aes Sedai on her heels. She ran up the tower stairs and down the hall. Skidding to a halt as Lan was shouting. Hugging Stepin. Alessia had her mouth covered again as Moiraine walked over to Lan. Touching his shoulder as the man looked up at her. You could see the world shattering around Lan. Alessia felt her eyes sting. How it hurts to see a loved one die. All they could do was watch as Moiraine was now on her knees hugging Lan as he was shouting again. Alessia felt a hand upon her lower back. It was comforting.
"Go get Alanna." Moiraine instructed Nynaeve who nodded. She watched her friend turn to leave. Alessia decided to go with her friend. She couldn't bear to see the hurt in Lan's eyes. She knew the feeling too well and it hurt her heart. She wasn't close to Lan like Moiraine and Nynaeve were but she respected the man. They made it to the green ajah's floor and found the woman talking to both of her warders as her eyes fell upon them. She didn't have to say anything, the woman already knew just by the way Alessia and Nynaeve were looking at her.
"Come. Let's get you changed." Alanna had spoken as they were making preparations for Stepin's funeral. They were both handed a white robe for the ceremony. She let the robe fall over her body as she put her hair up in a simple low pony. Not wanting to fight with it. She made a mental note to speak with Alanna later. Nynaeve took Alessia's arm into her own as they left their bedroom. Silently walking down the halls. Not knowing that the two women in red were watching her. Hearing a sniffle, she looked up to see Lan. He was leaning against the wall as the body was carried into a room. They stepped aside to allow the others to pass in. They were the last to enter the room. It was brightly lit as everyone was in white. Nynaeve left to stand near Lan. Alessia took Moiraine's left. Feeling the woman stare at her for a moment before taking her hand into her own. Intertwine their fingers. Alessia felt her heart skip beats before looking down. It was now a time of mourning for those close to Stepin. There was low humming from the men in the room.
"Al'Lan Mandragoran." The man who was in the front spoke. Lan did not move for a moment. Then he slowly moved forward. "Lay your hand on him." He added. Lan did. "Relieve us of our grief." The man spoke as the humming was low again. Then there was silence. Alessia kept her eyes upon Lan. He was hurting. He needed to let it out. Then all of sudden, there was thumping. All the men in the room were hitting their chests with their right hands. Then Lan started. Alessia felt her hand squeezed tightly. Looking at Moiraine who was now hitting her chest. Tears started to fall from her eyes. She frowned at the blue eyed woman before looking down to the ground. Not sure how to comfort anyone in the room at the moment. She wanted to stay respectful. Not hitting her chest was the only thing she knew at the moment. Hearing Lan yell was painful. Her own eyes started watering at the scene. Seeing Lan rip his shirt open from the grief before laying upon the side of the bed Stepin was laid on.
Stepin's body was laid to rest not long after. Many were still silent as Nynaeve was pulling Alessia out of the room once they had changed again. Her friend still wanted to go to the market. Knowing Moiraine would be by Lan's side during this time. She tucked her purse back under her belt before following her friend out and down the halls.
"Where are you two going?" Liandrin's voice caught them off guard.
"None of your business." Nynaeve spoke while glaring at the woman in red.
"Hmm." Was all the woman in red said. She had a smile on her face. Alessia couldn't help but stare at her. Knowing full well Liandrin could see this. Feeling her arm pulled as Nynaeve pulled her friend again. Her eyes were still locking on the blue's before turning to leave. She could still feel the eyes on her as she smiled weakly. They had made it out of the tower while running down the street. Nynaeve was laughing a little. Alessia gave her friend a confused look.
"Come on! We need to have a little fun!" She spoke as Alessia shrugged her shoulders. They had found a clearing full of market stalls. Alessia smiled while browsing around. There were so many things to look at! Nynaeve was grabbing herbs and what not. Frowning as she felt around her pockets. Alessia took out some gold marks and handed it to Nynaeve.
"This is too much!" She whispered.
"So? It's for our friend." She spoke. This had seemed to have won over Nynaeve who nodded. Alessia turned around and looked at some clothes. There were fashionable clothes as well. Humming softly as she picked out a new pair of black slacks and a red sleeveless blouse. It fit her style. Knowing full well the clothes will be burned once she becomes a Novice. She didn't care. She was helping out the economy for these people. They had finished their shopping while putting their stuff in a basket. Nynaeve seemed to be happy right now.
"I hope this will help Mat. He needs it." Nynaeve spoke.
"I still think we should tell Moiraine." Alessia frowned.
"You really don't like Mat do you?" Her friend asked.
"Moiraine isn't going to hurt him. If she had channeled, the Aes Sedai would notice especially here in the city." Alessia explained.
"What do you mean?" Nynaeve asked as they made their way back to the Tower. Walking slowly down the halls to the Warders quarters.
"The Reds watch for weaves being used by male channelers. If Mat had channeled, they would know." She spoke as Nynaeve nodded her head.
"If worse comes to shove, then alright." Her friend spoke. "I want to try and heal him first." Alessia nodded her head at this. She changed into her new clothes and smiled. Her pants came to her stomach almost but it was meant to. Tucking in her shirt and smiling. Putting her hair half way up.
"You look. Wow." Was all her friend could say. Alessia smiled and curtsy bowed to her.
Watching Nynaeve leave to find Lan to comfort him. Alessia however was walking around the halls before bumping into Tarna again.
"We have to stop meeting like this." Tarna chuckled as did Alessia. "You look cute. Trying to impress someone?" Her friend teased as Alessia rolled her eyes.
"What are you doing?" Alessia asked while raising a brow.
"The Amyrlin seat called a meeting. Alanna, Moiraine, and Liandrin had to answer for Logain. I'm going to go listen. Come along?" Tarna had asked.
"Am I allowed to?" Alessia had asked.
"Well no, but neither am I. I'm going to listen in." Tarna smirked. 'Oh I like her!' Alessia thought before returning the smirk and followed her friend. It was not long as they were sitting against a wall. The doors were not guarded and they could hear clearly. There was a loud clang that had rung through the room. It gave Alessia goosebumps.
"Attend you, all. She comes." A voice spoke Alessia did not know.
"That's Leane." Tarna whispered.
"The water of the Seals, the Flame of Tar Valon, the Amyrlin Seat." Leane spoke. Alessia gasped as she was then shushed at this. There was silence. Alessia was waiting impatiently.
"Bring the false Dragon." Leane's voice spoke as they heard doors open and then closed.
"Why is this man chained?" A new voice spoke. She sounded calm and scary.
"That's the Amyrlin Seat." Tarna spoke. Her friend sure knew the voices well.
"Gentled as he is, he poses no threat." The woman spoke. Alessia knew she was talking about Logain. "Do you know why you are here?" The woman asked.
"Do you know what they say about you?" Logain had asked. Alessia's eyes went wide. He knew what he was going to say. "The Aes Sedai, the further you get from this Tower? That you are weak. Weaker than ever before. A hundred years ago, if a man stood up and said he was going to the White Tower to throw the Amyrlin seat from her throne." Logain spoke. Alessia looked at Tarna who gave her the same look. She did not like where this was going. "No one would follow. They'd kill me for even suggesting it." He spoke. Alessia nodded her head. They would indeed kill him. "But when I said I was coming for you, I had an army behind my back within the year. And even your little parade showing off your prize. You know what they will remember? That one man fought against nine women, nine mighty Aes Sedai and I staked that Green bitch to the wall." Logain spoke. Alessia grunted and ballad of her hands. She felt her eyes sting at this. Anger rose inside of her. Tarna grabbed her hand and rubbed it gently. It seemed to calm her down for the moment. She was still angry. There was another loud clang that rang through the hall after Logain's words. Alessia could imagine the sisters in there. Then the Seat began to speak again. Saying she is not easily fooled.
"If it is the release of death you are looking for, you will not find it here. No matter what foulness you say. You will serve as an example to all other false dragons and men who dare to channel." She spoke with a firm voice. "Until you lose yourself entirely to madness. That is my judgment. You may remove him." The seat spoke. Hearing the man plead for death. Hearing the man scream from the other side of the hall. It rang in her ears. Alessia felt her heart racing and not in a good way.
"Liandrin." The Seat spoke. Alessia felt her eyes go wide again as did her friend's. Looking at each other dead silent while waiting. "Alanna. Moiraine. Approach." They could hear faint footsteps. "Rest of you depart now in the Light." She spoke as the rest of the sisters left the Tower on the other side. "That man deserved a fair trial, not battlefield justice." Alessia shook her head. She was wrong. That man killed someone.
"We had no choice, Mother." Liandrin's voice carried. "He was the most powerful man I've ever seen. He is lucky to be alive."
"You took the shawl many years ago, Liandrin. Have you forgotten your training?" The Seat asked. "Shield first, gentle second, kill last of all." She spoke. Alessia took this in a mental note.
"But you didn't see what he did to her!" Liandrin raised her voice. Alessia touches her hand to her chest to feel her heart. She could hear the pain in the woman's voice. It pained her in return. "Forgive me Mother." Liandrin spoke in a lower voice this time. Alessia could imagine the woman in red bowing her head or something. Being humble after the outburst.
"I beg for Amyrlin's clemency." Alanna's voice finally came. "Kerene died to protect us because she knew the false Dragon was too strong. Liandrin made the right choice." Alanna spoke. Alessia heard Tarna gasp and cover her mouth. Alessia raised a brow at her friend while there were gasps in the hall as well.|
"Tell you later." Tarna whispered to her as she nodded.
"If we hadn't tamed him, Mother, all of our sisters would've been killed, not just Kerene." Moiraine's voice spoke this time. There were more gasps. Alessia was even more confused as her friend's eyes were so wide, she could have sworn they were going to pop out from her head.
"Our laws don't exist to protect our lives, comforts. They are to protect our people from us. Liandrin, when Kerene fell, you were in command. The fault lies with you as will the punishment." The Seat spoke. Alessia frowned at this. The woman in red did not deserve to get punished. "I will think about your penance. You have something more to say, Daughter?" The Seat asked. Knowing full well she did.
"I'm just surprised. You don't care about the girls." Liandrin spoke. Wondering what she meant. "When we found Moiraine, she was traveling with two of the most powerful channelers we've seen in a thousand years. More powerful than you Mother." Liandrin spoke. Alessia could feel Tarna's eyes on her. Alessia was dead silent now. The woman in red was talking about her and Nynaeve. "And yet Moiraine said nothing of their skills. We knew nothing. Until Nynaeve al'Meara healed us of our wounds and Alessia gave us more power to gentle the false dragon."
"I was unaware Nynaeve could channel." Moiraine spoke so silently.
"Sorry, Sis, what did you say?" Liandrin asked.
"I was unaware that Nynaeve could channel." Moiraine repeated herself. Hearing a scoff.
"But you must've known she was more than a simple village girl. That she was something special. You knew about Alessia but not Nynaeve?"
"I suspected."
"Mmm." Alessia could hear the two going back and forth at each other.
"Is there a point, Liandrin?" The Seat asked.
"Moiraine, has flitted back and forth to the Tower for twenty years? Her purpose, the purpose for all Blues, is to gather secrets and discover danger before it strikes at the heart of us, before it strikes at you, Mother." Liandrin spoke. She could hear some of the sisters in there agreeing with the woman in red. She wasn't wrong. It was Blue's job to find out the dangers. "Trollocs invaded from the west." Liandrin added. Alessia frowned at this. She was part of that attack. "And Logain's army swelled from the South without even a warning from Moiraine." She frowned at the woman in red's words. Did Moiraine not even warn anyone about the dangers that were going on? Hearing a chuckle.
"Why?" She had asked. "Well, I suggest you ask her, Mother."
"This is Blue business mother." Maigan's voice came. "Not for scrutiny in this Hall."
"All business is judged here, Maigan." Liandrin interrupted her. "Unless you're suggesting the Amyrlin does not wish to question Moiraine because Mother was once a Blue herself." Liandrin spoke. Alessia gasped again at this. Feeling her friend cover her mouth with her hand and made a shushing gesture at her. A staff clanged twice in the hall to silence the murmuring in the Hall.
Moiraine Sedai." The Seat spoke. "You left the Tower two years ago. Where have you traveled?" The Seat asked.
"From Tear to the Two Rivers." Moiraine spoke without hesitation. "And many towns between.
"What is the purpose of your travels?" The Seat asked.
"Forgive me, Mother. I cannot say." Moiraine spoke as there was some silence. Alessia felt like something bad was about to happen.
"Cannot or will not?" Silence. "On your knees." The woman spoke. "I will ask you one more time. What is the purpose of your travels?" The woman spoke louder.
"I cannot say." Moiraine spoke.
"You dare to challenge me?" The seat spoke. There was something in her voice that scared Alessia and she did not like it.
"Perhaps it is your noble blood, Lady Moiraine Damodred." Alessia gasped. Their Houses were allies to each other! Moiraine was a Lady like her?! No wonder Moiraine was close to Alessia and all. Hearing the Hall murmuring again at this.
"That breeds contempt for those you consider beneath you." The seat spoke as she went on saying it is her Tower, city and her world.
"Remember that well when your forehead and your lips touch this marble and you beg your Mother for mercy!" The seat shouted. Alessia bit her hand in fear of making any noises. "I will think about your penance and deliver judgment tomorrow. Depart now in Light." The woman spoke.
Alessia felt her shoulder hit as it was their cue to leave. Alessia jumped up and dashed down the hall with Tarna as they stopped. Catching their breaths.
"That was intense. Oh my goodness." Alessia spoke. Her face was flushing from what she had just heard.
"Yeah, that was pretty bad in there." Tarna added. Hearing voices, they turned around and saw Liandrin walking up to them.
"Leave us!" Liandrin spoke. Alessia didn't need to be told twice. She frowned and bowed before dashing away. Turning a corner and sighed. She did not like how the woman in red looked. The anger on her face from what had just happened. She could barely make out what was being said as she saw Moiraine and Alanna walking by. Her eyes catching Moiraine's. They looked at each other for a moment while Alanna was speaking.
"Apologize to her publicly while you still can." Alanna's voice carried.
"What good will that do me?" Moiraine asked as they left. Alessia watched the scene before her. The red and the blue speaking to each other. There was tenseness in the air between the two.
"Tomorrow your reckoning comes." Liandrin spoke before she turned and walked away. She was coming down the hall Alessia was in. She looked around and leaned against the rail. Looking down below to watch warders spar with each other. She wanted to look like she did not listen to what had happened. There was so much in the air, too much, she could barely handle it. Moiraine was right about the Tower's politics. It was harsh. She looked up and saw Nynaeve leave with the Ogier. Her friend caught her eyes and nodded at her once before seeing the eyes go wide and quickly dashed away. Alessia raised a brow and then heard footsteps stop behind her. Holding her breath as she turned to face Liandrin face to face now. Tarna was on her right side as the other reds had left.
"How much did you hear?" The woman in red asked. Alessia gulped at this. Knowing full well she was in trouble now.
"I uh." Alessia spoke.
"All of it. It was my fault Liandrin Sedai." Tarna spoke as the woman in red was staring at Alessia. There was a hint of anger in Liandrin's eyes but there was something else there. Pride?
"You are to report to me after dinner. Eavesdropping is against the rules of the Tower. You will face the switch." Liandrin said while looking at Alessia. Tarna began to protest as they left. Alessia frowned at this. After they had left, Alessia made her way to the blue ajah's floor in the Tower. She found the door and knocked. Lan had answered it.
"She's drinking her tea." Lan spoke.
"Let her in." Moiraine spoke. Alessia went into the room and saw the woman in blue drinking her tea.
"What is it?" Moiraine had asked. Alessia frowned at the woman Seeing Moiraine stand up and pull Alessia into a tight hug. She returned it. Inhaling the woman's scent as she got a little light headed from it. She pulled away and looked into the blue eyes.
"It's Mat. Rand thinks he channeled." Alessia spoke. Moiraine's eyes went wide.
"Lead the way my dear." Moiraine spoke softly. Alessia nodded and turned to leave the room.
They walked down the halls and saw the reds looking at them. Liandrin was among them. Seeing a glare at them from the woman in red. Alessia only frowned and looked to the ground as she led the blue ajah out of the Tower. Lan followed right behind them. Alessia led them to the Inn they were staying at.
"How bad is he?" Moiraine had asked.
"Worse than we thought." Alessia spoke. Looking around to make sure they weren't followed. She opened the door and stepped aside.
"I'm sorry." She spoke. Seeing Rand glare at her and went at her.
"Stop! I told her to." Nynaeve spoke as she stopped Rand.
"Why?" He shouted. Alessia only frowned and looked at Mat. Rand then began asking about Perrin and Egwene.
"How long? Moiraine asked while looking at Mat.
"A month now. I know what you're doing here." Rand spoke.
"I know what Aes Sedai do to men like me." Mat spoke weakly from his bed. Alessia looked at him and frowned. Moiraine only moved a foot as Alessia instinctively put an air shield up as she stepped in front of Moiraine. Lan however went to Rand.
"Don't be stupid!" Lan spoke.
"I'm not going to let you hurt him!" Rand shouted as he pulled a sword out. Nynaeve was outside now.
"Bless his heart. He tries." Mat weakly spoke from his bed. Watching Lan take Rand down with ease.
"He hasn't channeled!" Rand protested. "Mat tell her!"
"The world doesn't need a Dragon like me." Mat spoke as Moiraine moved closer to Mat. Alessia was still in front of the woman in blue. Making sure she wasn't in any danger before letting her weave fall and stepped to the side. Mat jumped with a dagger and Moiraine was too quick for him. Using her weave to snatch the dagger from him as Mat was slammed back to his bed.
"Oh you stupid boy." Moiraine spoke as Alessia gasped as she saw the dagger. "You took this from Shadar Logoth." Moiraine explained. "Hold him down! Alessia shield." Moiraine ordered. Alessia moved her arms quickly and placed her shield back up. Watching Lan and Rand hold Mat down. The event unfolding in front of her was not a pretty sight. Moiraine was weaving something out of Mat's mouth. She felt disgusted as a black stream of the darkness came from his throat. It tried to go into Moiraine's mouth as Alessia was using her shield to prevent that from happening. Instead, it went straight into the dagger again as she dropped it to the floor. Alessia moved to the side and in front of Moiraine again. Lan covered the dagger as Alessia dropped her weave. Her eyes go from Rand to Moiraine and then to Mat. Seeing their friend falling asleep.
She followed Moiraine outside to the patio walkway as they were in silence. She could feel her heart racing from the scene that played earlier. She felt Moiraine's eyes on her as she looked at the woman.
"You were willing to protect me." Moiraine spoke softly. Feeling the woman pull her close. Her hand gently touches Alessia's chest. Caressing it as the woman in blue was closing the gap between them before the door opened. Their eyes were locked as Alessia's breathing was deep. Her cheeks were a crimson red now. Hearing footsteps before anything else happened. Moiraine pulled away while still looking at Alessia. Alessia however felt her heart racing as she looked down at the townsfolk.
"Thank you." Rand spoke as he was now outside with them.
"What do you expect me to do?" Moiraine had asked.
"I saw the darkness moving over you." Rand spoke. "You took on that evil for Mat." He spoke as Moiraine shook her head lightly.
"Alessia shielded me to prevent that evil from entering me." Moiraine spoke and Rand touched Alessia's shoulder. She looked at her friend and nodded her head lightly.
"I would do it for any of you." Moiraine added while looking between the two of them.
"You could just say you're welcome." Rand added. Alessia chuckled at this. "So if Mat could not channel, then he is not the?" Rand began to ask as Moiraine turned to him now. "Just the darkness from the shadowed city?" He asked.
"I don't know. He is stronger than he has a right to be." Moiraine spoke softly. "If not, that dagger would have had him long ago. Be careful. Watch him. I healed him from the connection of the dagger but it was feeding him the darkness in him as he was off on it. If he touches it again, he may be lost forever." Moiraine spoke as Nynaeve had finally come back.
"Of course." Nynaeve spoke.
"Nynaeve. Builder." Moiraine spoke as she bowed her head to the Ogier. Alessia did as well as she smiled at him. Nynaeve and Moiraine snapped at each other over Mat. Alessia felt uneasy at this.
"Your pride would have killed your friends." Moiraine spoke sternly. "If Wisdom is the title you claim, I suggest you start using some." Alessia's eyes went wide at Moiraine's comment. There was an awkward silence.
"Alessia, come." Moiraine's voice spoke. She looked at her friends before hugging them and followed the woman in blue back to the Tower.
"Get some dinner. Before you go. When I call upon you. You must come." Moiraine spoke as they were in her room. Alessia raised a brow before she nodded and left the room. She hadn't the fancy idea where to go. Hoping to run into Tarna again. Frowning as she didn't so she missed dinner. Again. Shrugging at it as she made her way to the library. There was no one in there but one brow ajah. She smiled and bowed at the woman before watching her leave. Dinner was over as Alessia left the library. Dreading on what was coming next. Sighing softly as she went up the stairs to the red's floor. Seeing Tarna speak in a hushed voice to another red ajah before stopping. Alessia could see tears in her friend's eyes.
"Tarna Sedai?" Alessia asked with a frown. She saw it. The back of her shirt was ripped as she walked by.
"I am so sorry Alessia." Her friend spoke before leaving.
"Ahem." The other red was there. Gently touching her shoulder. "It happens to the best of us." The red whispered as she knocked on the door.
"Come in." It was a voice she did not know. She walked inside and closed the door. It was a woman in blue. Liandrin was there as well. Their eyes locked before hearing the woman in blue speak.
"You are Alessia? I hear you are becoming a Novice?" The woman asked as Alessia nodded her head. "Sit." She ordered. Alessia obeyed. "My name is Sheriam Sedai. The Mistress of Novices. You report to me as I hand out the punishments and classes and when a Novice is ready to be raised to Acceptance." Sheriam spoke as Alessia nodded her head to show she understood. "Liandrin." The woman spoke. Alessia watched the woman in red stand behind Alessia and ripped the back of her shirt. Alessia's eyes went wide as the woman in blue pulled out a rod.
"Your first offense." The woman spoke. Alessia gulped again.
"She is not a Novice yet, Sheriam Sedai." Liandrin's voice spoke. There seemed to be a hint of hurt in the woman's voice. "Very well, consider this your warning. Five lashes. Liandrin Sedai, leave us." Sheriam spoke as Liandrin started to protest before taking her leave. She felt Sheriam stand behind her before hearing a wind whistle and a slap against flesh. Alessia whimpered as the rod made contact with her back by her shoulder. She bit her wrist as her eyes stung. Another whip. Alessia felt her flesh tear open as warm liquid slowly went down her back. Another hit. This time she was holding her knee with one hand as the first one was covering her mouth. A third hit. Fourth. Finally, the fifth one.
"You may go." Sheriam spoke.
Alessia felt her cheeks stained from crying. She was covering her mouth while slowly walking down the hall. It was silent outside as the day was leaving for the night to come. Feeling someone touch her shoulder, Alessia jumped.
"Shhh my flower. Come." It was Liandrin's voice.
"No. This is your fault." Alessia spoke slowly while holding her arm with the injured shoulder. She felt the woman in red push her against the wall gently.
"If you are to survive it here in the Tower, you need to learn the laws and rules. I can only protect you so much from the others. I cannot look like I am playing favorites." Liandrin spoke. Their eyes met as Alessia looked away. The pain in her shoulder caused her to cry again.
"I'm sorry Liandrin Sedai. It won't happen again." She sniffled. Avoiding eye contact. She felt strong arms wrap around her waist as the older woman pulled her close.
"Just don't get caught next time. I need eyes and ears and you are perfect my flower." Liandrin spoke as she gently squeezed her hold across Alessia's waist gently. Alessia scoffed and shook her head at this.
"No. I will not be used." She spoke. Avoiding eye contact. She felt a finger touch her chin as she was forced to look into the blue eyes. Looking right into her soul.
"I would never do that to you. I just want to know that I can trust you to tell me the truth when I ask it of you." The woman in red spoke.
"Of course." Alessia spoke softly at this as she was able to look away now.
"Come. You are bleeding. Let's get you all cleaned up my flower." Liandrin's voice sounded loving as she felt a kiss upon the injured shoulder before she was led to another floor. The Yellow ajah's floor. Alessia was still in the red's arms as she was led away.