06-08-2018, 11:24 AM
With the door sealed off, darkness fell like a cloak. It was freezing cold. Not a few steps later the wind kicked up, but it lacked the strength to disturb more than his ears. When the wind finally died, Jai realized just how insanely quiet it was. A million collective breaths being held before the break of a storm. Or the city was resting peacefully. It was the same kind of quiet.
Lamps glowed white orbs left and right down Araya's street. South side, near the outer rim of the island. It was a gamble either direction, but standing there, snowflakes collecting in his hair and dusting across his shoulders, Jai slid his hands in his pockets and took the right for no particular reason at all. It simply felt like the way to go.
His gaze fell to the pristine sparkles blanketing the path as took off; down from the height of buildings. He realized it was dumb, but he couldn't help lingering on the feeling of what it was to be the first to walk across new fallen snow. It was nice but reminded him of a hundred other quiet nights, when the shadows were too thick to distinguish earth churned up by saidin from the dead lumped up beside them.
After the adrenaline inside that consumed had been the last few minutes diminished, he remembered how exhausted he was; and just exactly where he was. Even out here, the slim line of bridges arc'd overhead, much as they did over the rest of the city. They connected guard towers as often as not. The city watch would be on patrol, then. Trudging through the sleet, head held high, ears numb, fingers locked around the hilt of a sword. Circling the outer wall with a brother. The sickle of torchlight gleaming from their armored shoulders. The honored guardians of Tar Valon waiting, daring the city's enemies to march into the open and face their fury. The glint of a thousand spearheads, the weight of a thousand shields. Honor. Home.
It'd been so appealing to a kid staring out his window, chin on his fist, and counting the days until he was old enough to enlist. In the meantime scheming up fake documents to join in early. He shook his head, but no self-deceptive smirk lightened his mood this time. "Right."
No light gleamed from his shoulders. No heroic gaze looked into the setting sun. "What else do you think I fight for if not for them?" Araya had asked with so much passion.
Torn, his brow darkened. What am I fighting for?
Then, a crunch. Hurried footsteps pounding through snow. Catching up to him.
Jai paused and the count in his head slammed to a halt. Then, with hands in his pockets and snow dusting his shoulders, he turned, fearlessly unhurried, just as Araya joined him.
Huh. He came after all, and backlit by the white glow of lamplight, something of a surprised smile darted to life briefly before it delved from sight altogether. The two men caught eyes. Then, a nod and Jai returned to his previous pace. If perhaps half a step slower than it had been. The image of Araya's slim frame struggling to heft a taller brother to his feet the likely motivation to slow down.
Question asked. He looked blankly up, from staring at more than the few steps in front of him at least, and followed the consistent trail of lamplight leading to nowhere he recognized. It was a decent neighborhood. Rows of modest buildings lined either side of the street. But even the poorest of residences in Tar Valon was better than the best of many cities. Some had the flower pots of private residences, others the broad windows of storefronts. The sort of place a man would feel safe to leave his family behind. Or should. For a while longer.
They couldn't see it now, the craftsmen skill too excellent to tell without looking for it, but Jai would wager there were patches in Araya's half of the city as common as in his own. Cloven hooves once trampled these streets. The eyeless once stalked Tar Valon's open road. Repairs. They were still working on it, Ogier Masons. He wondered if the attack was before Araya's time or not. The guy had moments of age to him, despite the same youth that kept Jai young. Had Araya raced out his door that night to defend the city he'd chosen to plant his roots? Jai doubted the guy fumed defiance at his father like the hot-headed young man he'd been. Nor ready to sprint out like a hero, only to let himself be guilted back like a coward. He thought about that for a second.
A heavy sigh prepared him for the cold soon to shoot into hot lungs. He breathed deep, and the guilt fizzled out like a dying fire.
Where did he want to go? He blinked, realizing he'd never answered. "Anywhere that looks decent,"
he said with all the weight of a burdened memory he didn't mean to fall into. It was a different life. A different time; he had to move on. And focus on right now. And whatever it was they were soon to walk into. Something different happened every time the first face realized an Asha'man kicked back the door. In Bandar Eban the worst of it was shrugs and the best a roudy invite to join in on whatever was going on. In Tear it was roaring noise skid to immediate silence. In Caemlyn, it was mutters under everyone's breath. In Tar Valon? Well. They'd soon find out.
They stopped at a crossroads. It looked promising. A couple carts labored through the snow, goods tented. A guy in an abundant overcoat slipped on a hard pack, but caught himself on the verge of wiping out. But frozen shells of fountains looked abandoned for the winter and no particular sign caught his eye in the darkness.
"Uhh? Any input here?"
Left or right? He scratched his neck. Or onward? Jai shrugged to himself and followed Araya's lead. Other than a quick glance behind them, he didn't pay much attention which way they turned.
So long as where they ended up was a decent enough place willing to front the money to buy into a game, he really didn't care. There were always men willing to place a few bets. There was always something to eat. Though the quality of both tended to vary. Unless the anonymous reputation that came with being a man of the Dragon was enough to accept he was good for it. Had it been an issue of collateral, a pristine sword usually satisfied, but tonight Jai didn't have so much as a bloody belt buckle to put down. Coin or not, silver that fine could delight the most frugile of skeptics. Which left trading on his name. In this city, a banker's reputation was the surest bet in, but neither dropping his name nor taking money from Araya were options Jai was willing to consider.
They walked for a long way before Jai glanced over again. Araya's green coat seemed colorless in the low light, and the snow melted a wet sheen across his shoulders; dark and soaked as his own. The flakes disappeared in his pale hair, whiter than Daryen's was yellow, but not faded with age. More like he'd been born that way. The scarf would be nice, but Jai had his own high collar snug at his throat. No sword either, despite the commission. Light, he could understand a Tinker's choice to leave a blade behind. He caught his own hand about then. Absent habit about to send it to relax on a hilt that wasn't there. And quickly stuffed it back in his pocket, frowning.
They picked the first place they came to. Despite the bawdy sort of front, the place looked almost inviting. A broom was perched up by the door, but it seemed the step hadn't been swept for the last hour. Frost clung to the corners of the window. The yellow of a large fire illuminated the other side.
"You a gambling man, Araya?"
He asked, quietly. Staring the place a good look over. Five minutes might be enough to find a guy with Araya's quiet confidence occupied for the night, but that was plenty of time for Jai get his hands on a couple coppers. He cracked his neck to loosen up a bit; finally realizing he'd held his jaw tight the entire time.
A shrug and he led the way inside.
Lamps glowed white orbs left and right down Araya's street. South side, near the outer rim of the island. It was a gamble either direction, but standing there, snowflakes collecting in his hair and dusting across his shoulders, Jai slid his hands in his pockets and took the right for no particular reason at all. It simply felt like the way to go.
His gaze fell to the pristine sparkles blanketing the path as took off; down from the height of buildings. He realized it was dumb, but he couldn't help lingering on the feeling of what it was to be the first to walk across new fallen snow. It was nice but reminded him of a hundred other quiet nights, when the shadows were too thick to distinguish earth churned up by saidin from the dead lumped up beside them.
After the adrenaline inside that consumed had been the last few minutes diminished, he remembered how exhausted he was; and just exactly where he was. Even out here, the slim line of bridges arc'd overhead, much as they did over the rest of the city. They connected guard towers as often as not. The city watch would be on patrol, then. Trudging through the sleet, head held high, ears numb, fingers locked around the hilt of a sword. Circling the outer wall with a brother. The sickle of torchlight gleaming from their armored shoulders. The honored guardians of Tar Valon waiting, daring the city's enemies to march into the open and face their fury. The glint of a thousand spearheads, the weight of a thousand shields. Honor. Home.
It'd been so appealing to a kid staring out his window, chin on his fist, and counting the days until he was old enough to enlist. In the meantime scheming up fake documents to join in early. He shook his head, but no self-deceptive smirk lightened his mood this time. "Right."
No light gleamed from his shoulders. No heroic gaze looked into the setting sun. "What else do you think I fight for if not for them?" Araya had asked with so much passion.
Torn, his brow darkened. What am I fighting for?
Then, a crunch. Hurried footsteps pounding through snow. Catching up to him.
Jai paused and the count in his head slammed to a halt. Then, with hands in his pockets and snow dusting his shoulders, he turned, fearlessly unhurried, just as Araya joined him.
Huh. He came after all, and backlit by the white glow of lamplight, something of a surprised smile darted to life briefly before it delved from sight altogether. The two men caught eyes. Then, a nod and Jai returned to his previous pace. If perhaps half a step slower than it had been. The image of Araya's slim frame struggling to heft a taller brother to his feet the likely motivation to slow down.
Question asked. He looked blankly up, from staring at more than the few steps in front of him at least, and followed the consistent trail of lamplight leading to nowhere he recognized. It was a decent neighborhood. Rows of modest buildings lined either side of the street. But even the poorest of residences in Tar Valon was better than the best of many cities. Some had the flower pots of private residences, others the broad windows of storefronts. The sort of place a man would feel safe to leave his family behind. Or should. For a while longer.
They couldn't see it now, the craftsmen skill too excellent to tell without looking for it, but Jai would wager there were patches in Araya's half of the city as common as in his own. Cloven hooves once trampled these streets. The eyeless once stalked Tar Valon's open road. Repairs. They were still working on it, Ogier Masons. He wondered if the attack was before Araya's time or not. The guy had moments of age to him, despite the same youth that kept Jai young. Had Araya raced out his door that night to defend the city he'd chosen to plant his roots? Jai doubted the guy fumed defiance at his father like the hot-headed young man he'd been. Nor ready to sprint out like a hero, only to let himself be guilted back like a coward. He thought about that for a second.
A heavy sigh prepared him for the cold soon to shoot into hot lungs. He breathed deep, and the guilt fizzled out like a dying fire.
Where did he want to go? He blinked, realizing he'd never answered. "Anywhere that looks decent,"
he said with all the weight of a burdened memory he didn't mean to fall into. It was a different life. A different time; he had to move on. And focus on right now. And whatever it was they were soon to walk into. Something different happened every time the first face realized an Asha'man kicked back the door. In Bandar Eban the worst of it was shrugs and the best a roudy invite to join in on whatever was going on. In Tear it was roaring noise skid to immediate silence. In Caemlyn, it was mutters under everyone's breath. In Tar Valon? Well. They'd soon find out.
They stopped at a crossroads. It looked promising. A couple carts labored through the snow, goods tented. A guy in an abundant overcoat slipped on a hard pack, but caught himself on the verge of wiping out. But frozen shells of fountains looked abandoned for the winter and no particular sign caught his eye in the darkness.
"Uhh? Any input here?"
Left or right? He scratched his neck. Or onward? Jai shrugged to himself and followed Araya's lead. Other than a quick glance behind them, he didn't pay much attention which way they turned.
So long as where they ended up was a decent enough place willing to front the money to buy into a game, he really didn't care. There were always men willing to place a few bets. There was always something to eat. Though the quality of both tended to vary. Unless the anonymous reputation that came with being a man of the Dragon was enough to accept he was good for it. Had it been an issue of collateral, a pristine sword usually satisfied, but tonight Jai didn't have so much as a bloody belt buckle to put down. Coin or not, silver that fine could delight the most frugile of skeptics. Which left trading on his name. In this city, a banker's reputation was the surest bet in, but neither dropping his name nor taking money from Araya were options Jai was willing to consider.
They walked for a long way before Jai glanced over again. Araya's green coat seemed colorless in the low light, and the snow melted a wet sheen across his shoulders; dark and soaked as his own. The flakes disappeared in his pale hair, whiter than Daryen's was yellow, but not faded with age. More like he'd been born that way. The scarf would be nice, but Jai had his own high collar snug at his throat. No sword either, despite the commission. Light, he could understand a Tinker's choice to leave a blade behind. He caught his own hand about then. Absent habit about to send it to relax on a hilt that wasn't there. And quickly stuffed it back in his pocket, frowning.
They picked the first place they came to. Despite the bawdy sort of front, the place looked almost inviting. A broom was perched up by the door, but it seemed the step hadn't been swept for the last hour. Frost clung to the corners of the window. The yellow of a large fire illuminated the other side.
"You a gambling man, Araya?"
He asked, quietly. Staring the place a good look over. Five minutes might be enough to find a guy with Araya's quiet confidence occupied for the night, but that was plenty of time for Jai get his hands on a couple coppers. He cracked his neck to loosen up a bit; finally realizing he'd held his jaw tight the entire time.
A shrug and he led the way inside.
Only darkness shows you the light.