01-13-2023, 02:42 PM
She really thought he was going to come to the right decision and simply stroll through her gateway in the end. She certainly coddled him gently enough. There was no threat here, only hope for redemption.
Instead, his heckles raised and Jai retreated. Lythia was actually not disappointed at all. This was an opportunity she was willing to take advantage of. She signaled Hessalam and almost instantly a bloom of silvery threads erupted a blossom around the Asha’man’s head like a halo before subsequently disappearing within. Lythia had considered linking with Hessalam in order to better feel the flows of what was now hidden, but then her decoy channeling wouldn’t have been possible and the Asha’man would have sensed what was coming. This was her first time witnessing compulsion, and there would be more opportunities to practice in the future. Lythia had no desire to inflict automated worship into anyone, though. Once she learned, it would only be used for strategy. Lythia was nothing if not strategic.
Hessalam spoke as she channeled. Her voice was serious now, although it was clear that she delighted in having so pretty a target under her control. “Speak your command and he will obey,” she explained. Jai just stood there, Lythia noted. Behind her, she allowed the gateway to wink away. It had only been to her quarters in the White Tower. There should nobody on the other side to view what occurred, and the next gateway would open to an entirely different place.
She studied his face as she spoke, curious to watch his reaction. “You want to go to the White Tower. That’s why you came to me, Jai. You want to help Daryen and there was no other way except to ask the White Tower to step in.” Lythia glanced at Hessalam as if seeking approval, but she promptly recognized the brief moment of inferiority, squared her shoulders and continued. “You came to me to help protect Daryen, Nythadri, and yourself. You want to talk to the Sitters. You’re going to tell them that Trista Gaidar was sold to appease the terms of the treaty,” she spoke firm and evenly. These were all facts she was certain Jai already considered, but something in his conscience prevented him from taking that final step. This was only a nudge. Lythia nodded.
“And you realize that the M’Hael and the Amyrlin conspired together to make this happen. While the Hall handles the Amyrlin, you will handle the M’Hael. You hate him anyway. He’s unfit to rule the Black Tower. A darkfriend and a tyrant. You’re going to assassinate the M’Hael before sunrise. You’re going to be calm and collected while you speak to the Sitters and Travel to the Black Tower.”
Those were a lot of instructions. She looked at Hessalam who was quite joyous in the moment of mastery over the beautiful Asha’man. Were they too much?
“Its best if they already want to follow your orders. The weave does less damage,” she explained.
Lythia crossed her arms. Hessalam vowed to do no harm to his delicate mind. The Dark One have mercy on her if she did otherwise. At least until he wasn't useful anymore. For now, his sheer proximity to powers in play made him an exquisite weapon at her disposal.
“There’s something else in there,” Hessalam turned her face as though peeking through the loot inside his head.
“Another compulsion?” Lythia asked, wishing she felt whatever it was for herself.
“Something like those silly bonds you children have created,” she stepped nearer Jai. His height towered over Hessalam’s stooped shoulders, and while the disfigured woman purred contentedly to be so near the object she desired earlier, Lythia wondered if Nythadri had already bonded him. That might complicate things, but if so, why was Jai asking to speak with her? Another Sister, then? But Hessalam said ‘something like’, which meant she didn’t recognize the exact weaving.
“Hessalam! Leave the man alone,” she seethed and waved the woman back. Darkness! What must she have been like before? Whatever she was, now, she was obedient. With a shrug, the blush of Saidar disappeared from the woman’s aura. When next Jai turned, the former Forsaken was gone from sight and Lythia was nodding as though agreeing to be the helpful ally that Jai sought all along.
The next time a gateway opened, it was Kekura who stepped into view on the other side, oblivious to the plotting moments before. Lythia stayed behind when the gate closed, confident that Kekura had the pliant prize she sought. And none would know any different.
She stayed with Hessalam while Kekura’s plan unfolded in the White Tower. She’d return the former Forsaken to another master in the morning, and Darkness knew she wasn’t leaving the woman to wander the night alone. There were more lessons to learn, for instance.
The whole time, though, Lythia was confident the world would be changed by morning.
Instead, his heckles raised and Jai retreated. Lythia was actually not disappointed at all. This was an opportunity she was willing to take advantage of. She signaled Hessalam and almost instantly a bloom of silvery threads erupted a blossom around the Asha’man’s head like a halo before subsequently disappearing within. Lythia had considered linking with Hessalam in order to better feel the flows of what was now hidden, but then her decoy channeling wouldn’t have been possible and the Asha’man would have sensed what was coming. This was her first time witnessing compulsion, and there would be more opportunities to practice in the future. Lythia had no desire to inflict automated worship into anyone, though. Once she learned, it would only be used for strategy. Lythia was nothing if not strategic.
Hessalam spoke as she channeled. Her voice was serious now, although it was clear that she delighted in having so pretty a target under her control. “Speak your command and he will obey,” she explained. Jai just stood there, Lythia noted. Behind her, she allowed the gateway to wink away. It had only been to her quarters in the White Tower. There should nobody on the other side to view what occurred, and the next gateway would open to an entirely different place.
She studied his face as she spoke, curious to watch his reaction. “You want to go to the White Tower. That’s why you came to me, Jai. You want to help Daryen and there was no other way except to ask the White Tower to step in.” Lythia glanced at Hessalam as if seeking approval, but she promptly recognized the brief moment of inferiority, squared her shoulders and continued. “You came to me to help protect Daryen, Nythadri, and yourself. You want to talk to the Sitters. You’re going to tell them that Trista Gaidar was sold to appease the terms of the treaty,” she spoke firm and evenly. These were all facts she was certain Jai already considered, but something in his conscience prevented him from taking that final step. This was only a nudge. Lythia nodded.
“And you realize that the M’Hael and the Amyrlin conspired together to make this happen. While the Hall handles the Amyrlin, you will handle the M’Hael. You hate him anyway. He’s unfit to rule the Black Tower. A darkfriend and a tyrant. You’re going to assassinate the M’Hael before sunrise. You’re going to be calm and collected while you speak to the Sitters and Travel to the Black Tower.”
Those were a lot of instructions. She looked at Hessalam who was quite joyous in the moment of mastery over the beautiful Asha’man. Were they too much?
“Its best if they already want to follow your orders. The weave does less damage,” she explained.
Lythia crossed her arms. Hessalam vowed to do no harm to his delicate mind. The Dark One have mercy on her if she did otherwise. At least until he wasn't useful anymore. For now, his sheer proximity to powers in play made him an exquisite weapon at her disposal.
“There’s something else in there,” Hessalam turned her face as though peeking through the loot inside his head.
“Another compulsion?” Lythia asked, wishing she felt whatever it was for herself.
“Something like those silly bonds you children have created,” she stepped nearer Jai. His height towered over Hessalam’s stooped shoulders, and while the disfigured woman purred contentedly to be so near the object she desired earlier, Lythia wondered if Nythadri had already bonded him. That might complicate things, but if so, why was Jai asking to speak with her? Another Sister, then? But Hessalam said ‘something like’, which meant she didn’t recognize the exact weaving.
“Hessalam! Leave the man alone,” she seethed and waved the woman back. Darkness! What must she have been like before? Whatever she was, now, she was obedient. With a shrug, the blush of Saidar disappeared from the woman’s aura. When next Jai turned, the former Forsaken was gone from sight and Lythia was nodding as though agreeing to be the helpful ally that Jai sought all along.
The next time a gateway opened, it was Kekura who stepped into view on the other side, oblivious to the plotting moments before. Lythia stayed behind when the gate closed, confident that Kekura had the pliant prize she sought. And none would know any different.
She stayed with Hessalam while Kekura’s plan unfolded in the White Tower. She’d return the former Forsaken to another master in the morning, and Darkness knew she wasn’t leaving the woman to wander the night alone. There were more lessons to learn, for instance.
The whole time, though, Lythia was confident the world would be changed by morning.