Cor returned from the hunt with a troubled heart and a bloody shoulder.

 

Evening clouds formed blood red arrows and blue-purple battlements as the sun splashed its last bit of artistry across the sky before the coming darkness overwhelmed the colors with its inky black. The long shadows cast across his path were apt metaphor for the days ahead, or so thought the unusually brooding young Stone Dog as he traversed the Aiel tent city camped outside Cairhein.

 

The hunt had been successful, as the large boar carcass draped across his shoulder attested. Nei’din had eaten his share immediately, but Cor made his way back to his tent with his portion for an evening of tasty, well-cooked pork. But, the hunt hadn’t been enjoyable. His mind had been wrestling with a burden far heavier than the large boar he now carried, and he couldn’t find a way to ease the mental load.

 

The time here near the Treekillers’ city had been a difficult period for the Aiel, and Cor still spent a great deal of time trying to understand the why of it. There had been much bloodshed, and even if most of the casualties had been oathbreaking Treekillers, he knew that dancing for no understandable reason did nothing more than make widows out of wives. Surely the Car’a’carn had a reason for the Aiel to remain here, but so far it hadn’t come to him.

 

He dropped off the half carcass of wild boar outside the tent he shared with a handful of other Stone Dogs and peeled out of his bloody shirt. He gave instruction to the gai’shan to prepare the meal and clean his cadin’sor, then decided to visit the sweat tent. He needed a thorough cleansing, for both mind and body, and a visit to the soothing, relaxing heat in the sweat tent sounded like the best idea he’d had in a while. Nei’din, his belly already full and feeling content, plopped down outside the tent and promptly fell asleep.

 

Unnoticed by the pensive Cor, the sun had fallen from the sky and the golden afterglow just before darkness reigned reflected off his shirtless body as he traversed through the intermittent light of frequent campfires.

 

Cor was oblivious to the numerous Maidens who took notice of him and tried to catch his eye, eager to take away all the thoughts that weighed on his mind and replace them with much more immediate and pleasurable notions. The Wise Ones often threatened to send him to Rhuidean if he didn’t quit thinking so much, and this evening’s introspection was the reason why.

 

He couldn’t wait to just sit in the steam and forget about everything.

Sullynn ran. It was the only thing that managed to put her mind at ease. To free her thoughts from the day to day worries. When she ran, nothing else existed. She was the wind. Unbreakable. Unstoppable. Firm against any obstacles that presented themselves in her path.

 

She wished she could run with her eyes closed. Running always seemed to cheer her up, but that day it only reminded her of where she was. Why she was there. What she had to do. Suddenly all the worries started to rush back in. Wanting a wall to bang her head against, she sighed and headed back to the tents. Even one of her most loved activities, running, was lost to the bloody wetlanders.

 

After reaching her tent, Sullynn slipped out of her clothes and let her hair fall back on her shoulders. She needed to ease her muscles after the long run and decided to head to the sweat tent. Perhaps that would manage to cleanse her and make her forget, at least for an instant, that she wasn't in her land.

 

Putting on a robe, she headed to the nearest sweat tent. Slipping out of her robe, she tossed it next to the entrance and docked in casually, sitting herself in the most secluded part of the tent. It was rather full but she managed to occupy a distant spot from the rest. Folding her legs, she closed her eyes and inhaled.

 

Sensing someone sitting to her right, she disregarded the person completely, remaining with her eyes shut. But soon, curiosity took over. She half opened her eyes and looked sideways. Sullynn had to stop herself from snorting. It was a new Society Leader. Cor. It was one of those happenings where they grabbed a mere child for a job of a man.

 

Sullynn rolled her eyes at the mindless chatter of some maiden in the tent. It was quite obvious who they were talking about. Shifting her gaze, she met Cor's eyes. "You stink of blood. Hopefully not a treekiller's blood." Leaning closer, she whispered. "I hear they carry diseases. A variety of them. Some are known to influence men's...performance. And having so many prospects around..." Sullynn looked around the tent and then focused her look back on Cor. "Well, lets just say these women won't take disappointment well."

 

 

 

Sullynn

Thunder Walker SL

Nephuria walked the streets of Caemlyn, the city itself was ill suited to her and she could not wait to get back. She had gone to see a man about herbs at his home, and it was there in a house large enough to hold three times as many people as lived in it she now found herself. The wetlander gai'shan, not not gai'shan, they were servantsshe reminded herself, wetlander's had no honor but she still did not see how anyone could disgrace themselves so.

 

She had rushed to get done there, giving him only half her mind. He turned out to have what she wanted, and was a horrible one for trading with what he was sure to see an Aiel savage. He had sold her what she wanted for half of what she had been willing to pay. Half! These wetlander's truly were slow.

 

Walking down the crowded street, she was somehow given a bubble of space that allowed her to travel unhindered through the small people of this land. Treekillers. Loathsome people, she would not return to this city. It stank of filth and was full to the top with filthy beggars and people who coward before a glance, never mind a sneer. They were weak, all of them.

 

Stopping herself from getting angry was no easy task but with the quick pace she set she was able to clear her mind as she reached the wallssurrounding the city. The Guard at the gate glanced at her, but nothing more. In her white blouse and heavy skirt, her hair wrapped in her kerchief she was the picturesque Wise One, and they knew enough to not spit as she paced.

 

Once among the tents, Nephuria finally felt muscles in her back ease, funny, she had not noticed tensing them. Walking to her tent took still longer, but her legs were still strong and she did like to feel the air as the sun set. It was the only time in the Three-fold Land when the weather was perfect, warmth from the sun still seeped from the hard baked clay as the night's cool breath slowly leached it away into darkness. She smiled slowly for the memory, and felt a twinge of pain at the loss. Perhaps she would see her homeland again before she died.

 

At her tent Nephuria removed her clothing and slipped a simple robe over her naked body. She could feel days of exhaustion leech her bones, and she ached for sleep she knew she would not get. Tonight she was to walk the Dream,the Wise One's had told her of the meeting in her dreams the night past, and she did not look forward to any more bad news.

 

The gai'shan in her tent immediatly took the discarded clothing away and another offered her a cup of cool water. Nephuria took the cup and drank heavily, thirst was not in it, but she liked to have a drink first thing when she returned to her tent. An old habit.

 

Leaving the tent and the gai'shan to cleaning her garments and beating woven rugs on a rope tied between two poles behind her tent, she headed for the sweat tent. Once outside the tent she folded her robe and laid it beside the tent entrance and cracked the flap to walk in.

 

Warm damp air hit her square in the face so that it felt smoldering and heavy. The dampness gave a welcomed warmth provided by the hot coals in the center of the tent, where a woman sat spooning water onto a pile of hot rocks to produce the cleaning haze.

 

Her ears caught the last bit of banter between two of the people already seated in the tent and she smiled and laughed easily. Taking a seat to the left of the woman who had spoken, Nephuria had a scraper in hand and was already cleaning one of her shoulders. She looked at Cor openly, he was an impressive man, if young yet. Nephuria was one to meddle and the man obviously needed a woman's firm hand. She thought she might know someone who could keep the man's hide at least half hole, she was sure he would turn to mist every time she came around if he learned what she wanted.

~Caliendhra~

 

The afternoon had been incredibly long and wearing. Verdant grass had turned to hard-packed dirt roads, and then to stony streets as Caliendhra had run on, and on, and on. She knew well the importance of the message she had to deliver and they had picked her as the swiftest courier to deliver it. And once it had been delivered, she was alone in the strange wetlander city … left to her own devices without being able to return until a reply was composed. She hated being a messenger sometimes. The lines of tents towards the outer edge of the city were beckoning to her, even though she did not have one of her own she would surely find the Roof of the Maidens and be welcome here.

 

She hoped so. The nights in the Threefold Land were cold, but it was unusual and unsettling sleeping out of doors in these damp Wetlands. It was rain that always amazed her. Water falling freely from the sky! Such a miracle! Caliendhra had stared up at the incredible feat of nature and let the raindrops splash on her face in wonder. Some fell on her open mouth and slid down to her mouth. She tasted them, and smiled. It was pure. She had enjoyed it right until she had awoken in the morning and discovered an ache or two – easily ignorable, but damp was a feeling she was unused to.

 

A sniff at her clothing revealed it was definitely time to visit the sweat tents and get clean! Bathing in water she had heard about, but it wasn’t the same as feeling the deep, cleansing steam caress the skin and remove dirt that went far deeper than the surface. It was good for the soul. Caliendhra cast her eyes about this way and that, trying to find the closed tent that would be home to a large pile of hot rocks and a small pitcher of water ready to create the wonderful steam. Spying it, she made her way to it confidently.

 

A white-robed Gai’shain bowed respectfully at the door and held her arms out to receive her clothes. Caliendhra quickly disrobed and left her weapons in a pile outside. They would be perfectly safe here. Easing open the door, feeling the cold prickle her skin into goosebumps, Caliendhra slipped inside and found a seat before leaning forward to pick up a staera to scrape the residue of the day from her body. Conversation continued around her as she closed her eyes and allowed herself to be reminded of the arid dry heat of her homeland, and sweat evaporating on skin as soon as it was perspired. It was nice. With her soul a little lighter, Caliendhra opened her eyes.

Cor piled his weapons up carefully outside the tent, then removed his soft boots and his pants and left them where they lay, and casually ducked inside. He peered through the thick steam looking for a likely spot. There were more people than he had expected including several Maidens, but there was still room for him near the back.

 

Still deep in thought, he unknowingly passed several small groups of female Aiel that eyed him with apparent favor. He didn’t pay much attention at all to the numerous beautiful Aiel Maidens with their lithe limbs and golden tans glistening appealingly with sweat, like thousands of tiny diamonds on their skin. He was oblivious to their subtle movements aimed at drawing attention to their supple curves and deliciously evil smiles.

 

Instead, the introspective young Stone Dog strode unceremoniously toward the back of the tent and plopped down with a sigh. Closing his eyes, he searched for peace. He even managed to block out most of the barely heard words the Maidens whispered that were obviously meant for him to hear. Otherwise they would have used handtalk. A small smile crept onto his face, but his eyes remained closed.

 

They stayed that way until a voice to his left disrupted his reverie.

 

"You stink of blood. Hopefully not a treekiller's blood. I hear they carry diseases. A variety of them. Some are known to influence men's...performance. And having so many prospects around… Well, lets just say these women won't take disappointment well."

 

Opening his left eye just a crack, he spied Sullynn, the Thunder Walker society leader, sitting just to his left. The taunts had been hers. He never had learned why she was the only female to belong to a Society other than the Maidens, but nobody seemed to care. She was a very gifted leader; she had held the position nearly as long as he’d been alive.

 

Sighing, he closed his eye and responded.

 

“Since when are you concerned with a man’s abilities between the blankets? And just so you know, this blood is from a wild boar. Judging from the way he looked, I’d say he was your twin, but then he had less hair on his back.”

 

The tent was filled with laughter, including Sullynn’s. She had heard enough jokes in her life that he doubted he’d ever be able to get under her skin. Opening his eyes at the feeling of cool air as the tent flap opened, he spied some other arrivals including a Wise One and the Maiden Caliendrha. He gave her a slow wink and a thorough looking over. He remembered examining her tantalizing body much closer than he was now, and wouldn’t mind doing so again in the future.

 

Still, Sullynn was sitting next to him, and perhaps there was more fun to be had with her. His body was finally sweating enough to begin cleaning, so he took a staera and begin wiping away layers of grit, blood, and grime. This trip was proving to be enjoyable in many ways.

"Since when are you concerned with a man's abilities between the blankets? And just so you know, this blood is from a wild boar. Judging from the way he looked, I'd say he was your twin, but then he had less hair on his back."

 

Sullynn barked a laugh and propped her feet on the ground and leaned her chest forward against her thighs. Giving Cor a long sideways look she made a mental note to be careful around him. Young as he may have seemed, appearances were sometimes deceiving. And even though Sullynn didn't find him competent enough to be a society leader, didn't mean that he was a fool.

 

She wondered, though. How he managed to achieve the title. There couldn't have been foul play. It was unconceivable. But with time, Sullynn planned to find out. Out of curiosity if anything. It might not have directly concerned her since she didn't have to answer to Cor, but at the same time, she couldn't help but wonder.

 

Noticing Cor grabbing a Staera and starting to wipe away layers of dirt, Sullynn smiled. "It is probably comforting to know that in time of need you may always resort to your fellow Aiel to help your scrub those hard to reach places. I'd assist myself but I wouldn't want to break you." Sullyn gave him a vexed smile and poured some water on the coals to produce more steam.

 

 

Sullynn

Thunder Walkers' SL

~Caliendhra~

 

Well, well, well… When Caliendhra had thought about finding some familiar faces and comforts of home and the Threefold Land, she had not expected to see Cor. The rest of the occupants she did not recognise, but Cor was unmistakable, and the level of light was far better this time. She wondered what he was doing here. Dragging the staera across her shoulder, Caliendhra felt comfort in the hot steam, and leaned back. Her free hand pushed her reddish blonde hair from her face, and she blinked her eyelashes to accustom her eyes to the change in temperature. It felt good.

 

She pondered why Cor was here though. The other women, Caliendhra had not met either. It was the one thing she detested about being from such a far off clan: not knowing anyone. Her attention caught on the woman near her, her long blonde hair hanging dampened with sweat in long tresses down her back, indicating she was likely a Wise One. Leaning forward, Caliendhra had by now accustomed herself to the presence of the others, and started to speak.

 

“I see you, Wise One. May you always find water and shade. My name is Caliendhra, of the Jumai Sept of the Taardad Aiel.” The staera moved down over one muscled arm and down the slight curves of her midriff, removing more of the days grime. It was so muddy here, not at all comparable to the dust of the Threefold Land. “May I ask what news there is of home in these Wetlands?”

The wetlanders were learning quickly. Those who the Car'a'carn appointed to lead the city were wise not to resort to their usual treekiller ways, such as the Game of Thrones, and kept their oaths to the Car'a'carn. Some of them even managed to overcome the mutual hatred between the treekillers and the Aiel, which was nothing short of a feat! One such man was lord Dobraine Taborwin ( ok, I could not thing of a name, so I am using the name of the Steward of Cairhien from the books ), appointed by the Car'a'carn to be Steward of Cairhien. And it was after long discussion with Dobraine Taborwin that Ghaul was heading for the Aiel camp outside the city walls, and the sweat tent, one of the things that reminded them all of their home in the Three Fold Land. Ghaul left his clothes at the sweat tent entrance, Gai'shain folding them neatly, and quickly entered the tent, into a cloud of steam and a few familiar faces.

 

It seems that Cor was already into the sweat tent, and into the midst of a battle of wits with Sullynn. Not to mention that he has caught the eye of a few Maidens. And staying a bit away from that merry band of people were two women Ghaul also recognized. Caliehndra and Nephuria, a Maiden of the Spear and a Wise One. It was rather surprising that they have not joined Sullynn's verbal attack on Cor, but that might have been because the three women did not knew eachother that well yet. Well a good long steam bath was just the thing to change that. And it seems Ghaul have arrived just in time to join in the fun. Nodding in salute to everyone on the tent Ghaul sat down and turned to the young Stone Dog Society leader. On the inside he smiled as he thought of Cor as young. The difference between them was not at all that big, as Ghaul was one of the youngest chiefs ever.

 

"Well Cor, I heard you needed reinforcements, so I decided to drop by. But I see you're handling things well on your own, as I expected. Hold the line, Stone Dog, consider that an order"

 

The last was said in a joking tone and caused another explosion of laughter in the tent.

 

"Watch out for Sullynn though, she's a veteran and a sneaky one" - the woman flashed a grin at Ghaul, who flashed one back - "Not to mention that she's a Wise Ass"

 

Yet again the tent erupted in laughter.

 

 

Ghaul

Cor gave the older warrior a sly look out of the corner of his eye, then with a wink returned a jest.

 

“It’s often fun to have a woman’s help rubbing hard places on my body, I agree completely.” There were scattered chuckles at his mildly humorous observation, but the young Stone Dog continued without pause. “If you wanted to help me Sullynn, you wouldn’t have to worry about breaking me. I’m very flexible.” The laughter in the tent at this joke was widespread and enthusiastic. He even heard a few Maidens offer to help him prove it.

 

Smiling, Cor continued cleaning the grit off his body.

 

As the clan chief entered the sweat tent, he heard Caliendrha ask about news from the Threefold Land and his ears perked up. He had been away from home for too long, and any news would be welcomed. His attention was diverted briefly by Ghaul sitting down and offering a few jokes of his own.

 

"Well Cor, I heard you needed reinforcements, so I decided to drop by. But I see you're handling things well on your own, as I expected. Hold the line, Stone Dog, consider that an order."

 

Cor laughed out loud along with everyone else in the tent at the clan chief’s twist on the old Stone Dog battle cry.

 

"Watch out for Sullynn though, she's a veteran and a sneaky one. Not to mention that she's a Wise bunny."

 

More laughter accompanied Ghaul’s comedic statement. Cor couldn’t keep himself from laughing heartily. For the moment at least, his earlier worries had completely melted away in the heat and comfort of the sweat tent.

Nephuria was quiet in the sweat tent, enjoying the normal banter that made the sweat tent so much more than just a place to come clean, it was a place to forget that outside these canvas walls there was no hard baked clay, no Sept or Hold anywhere near. The wetlands deserved there name, water fell from the sky! Still, it was nice to feel something normal among so much change.

 

Working the staera over the muscles of her upper arm, Nephuria tilted her head to peer at the woman next to her as she spoke.

 

“I see you, Wise One. May you always find water and shade. My name is Caliendhra, of the Jumai Sept of the Taardad Aiel.” The staera moved down over one muscled arm and down the slight curves of her midriff, removing more of the days grime. “May I ask what news there is of home in these Wetlands?”

 

 

Nephuria very much wanted to sigh, news of home had been decreasing as the number of Aiel who crossed the Dragonwall had now begun to dwindle. Those who wished to come, had massed over the wall, those who wished to stay behind were carrying on much as they would had the world not been falling apart around them. The only way news was shared was through the Dream, and only things deemed important enough to call such meetings.

 

"I see you Caliendhra. May you always find water and shade. I am Nephuria," a Wise One's sept and clan mattered minimally, Wise One's were Wise One's no matter where you went. Grudgingly she amended, the Shaido Wise One's were in violation of ji'eh'toh in more ways than she could count of fingers and toes, perhaps they were no longer Wise One's. Not the first time her mind had followed these thoughtlines.

 

"The news from the Three-Fold Land is much the same as always, skirmishes over water, grazing sites, new Hold's. Life is much the same as it has always been, the Aiel are hardy, they will endure." Nephuria watched the other Aiel in the tent without appearing to, more than one had heard the question. The Wise One's were weary to speak to fondly of there lost home, the Bleakness still took some, and word of home would only make the pains more evident.

 

Laughing at the remarks flying around the tent Nephuria smiled for Caliendhra, "Tell me, Caliendhra, what are your feelings on our station here? Now that the city is taken I mean." Nephuria suddenly watched the woman closely, if this woman felt a way, it was likely the same for many of her spear sisters. Nephuria still felt a warmth for the Maiden's she had been forced to leave for the responsibility of a Wise One, and her smile for the woman before her was genuine approval and friendly.

Cenn had recently finished his warrior society initiation, and his initiation towards his new Hold of the Dragonmount Clan. It didn't take long for him to become the Hara Na'Dore, though most of his family had come from the Trolloc Crushers. When he left his sept, he believed that he would find something different for his life.

 

Several days after his promotion to the Hama Na'Dore society, he was sent by his Chief, Ghaul, as a make-shift commander. With a dozen and a half Aielmen and women to help strengthen the bonds in Cairhien, Cenn had sent off during the night. Traveling during the night for four moons, they finally reached the Spine.

 

It didn't take long after that to reach the outskirts of Cairhien. Just outside the city were hundreds of Aiel tents. I think this is where I'm supposed to be. Throughout his small journey, the men and women he was with were looking up to him. He was older; yes, but less experienced, and yet they still looked up to him.

 

"This is our camp. Find yourself a tent or make one yourself." Cenn had told them in a friendly tone, and some of them asked him if they would tent with them that night. The majority of them were Maidens. He politely declined, as he had business to do. Well, that's what he told them.

 

He wandered the tents and found a sweat tent. Just what I need. I haven't bathed in weeks now. Not since I left the Blood Pools. He stripped down and left his veil and spears outside the tent. Putting them in a place where he would remember, of course. He walked in, and the atmosphere seemed to be much different then outside. Laughter erupted from the flaps as he opened them and he hurried inside not to bring in the outside dryness. A few of the Maidens looked his way, but most of them seemed to be admiring the young male in the corner.

 

He looked around briefly, trying not to bring attention upon himself; and found one of the only open spots to be to the left of said young male aiel. He went and quickly sat down, trying to shy away from most of his Brothers and Sisters. They don't know me. They don't want to know me, I'll just clean my self off and leave. Cenn hoped.

 

He really, hoped.

~Caliendhra~

 

She listened to the Wise One’s words and let the steam wash over her. Asking for her opinion on something she barely knew about was quite a difficult thing to respond to given that she was merely following orders, and not encouraged to think too much. They never had wanted to give her any responsibility; a fact that still rankled long after Caliendhra had become reconciled to it. She considered replying along those lines, but it would probably result in her being marched outside and having to run laps of the camp, or beat carpets or something for her insolence. Not that Caliendhra minded a little run to stretch the legs every now and again.

 

It made her think of Cor, sat a little ways away from her, and the last time she had met him at her hold. The race they had run, and the events that had followed. Thankfully the light level was low and the blush she had on her cheeks would be taken for being flushed from the heat. Continuing to scrape the staera along her golden limbs, the shadows dancing across her muscled body, Caliendhra chose her words carefully to reply to the Wise One.

 

“It is not really my place to comment on this situation, Wise One. I miss the heat of the Threefold Land, and I am unaccustomed to the amount of water there is here. It is a soft land, rich and fat, and I do not want to become lazy and fall out of condition by being here.” She pointed at herself, normally tanned skin tinged with the shades of the tent that emphasised her athletic physique, and sighed. “I do not want to lose what I have worked so hard for. I guess I am homesick, and long for the sun’s hot caress and the blessed welcome of shade. Here, there are days when it is difficult to find the sun. Forgive me, Wise One, I do not presume to question the judgment of my superiors, merely to state how I feel. I know what must happen will happen for a reason and I do not dispute that. I just wish that it could happen in a different way, or that I might adapt quicker to this land of silk and spider webs. However, I am but a spear, to be danced where directed.”

 

A new arrival had entered the tent, an older Aiel man she had not seen before. She tried to catch his eye, but he seemed to want to blend into the shadows that permeated the sweat tent. “What do you think of our situation here, newcomer?”

As Cenn began to dry-wash himself in the sweat lodge, he heard of several conversations being brought up. One was with a handsome rather then pretty woman, and Cenn believed she was a Wise One. The Wise One was speaking to a Maiden, and she seemed to think of it as an every day occurrence. Cenn had grown up around Wise Ones, but he was always told to instruct them as if they are queens, per say. They talked of the situation here in Cairhien, and of the situation in Illian, Tear, Andor.

 

Suddenly the Maiden turned from the Wise One and caught the eye of the old Hama N'Dore warrior. He immediately put his head down, and tried to not look her in the eye. "What do you think of our situation here, newcomer?" she had asked him.

 

No introduction? I don't even know her name, yet she asks me how the situation fairs. These people are so different then from home. For better, or for worse, though?

 

As the question drifted out of his head, he stumbled his answers out, "I.. I don't think I have any right to comment on our situation here, sister. I have only recently arrived." He wished he could of been more formal, but he couldn't think of what to say. She had already broke how he was raised from her initial speech.

 

But his small fraction of adventuress spoke for him, "But, Sister, I believe from what I've seen that the Wetlanders are slowly giving into our Car'a'carn." He let it sink into himself, then began again, "We are his hand, and we are his eyes. We must act to what he tells us." He stopped and realized nearly the entire tents eyes were on him. Now I've done it. I let my emotions get the better of me. They're probably going to try and dance with me, now, or think that I am so different from them. But I am, but I'm not at the same time.

 

"I.. I am sorry, my sister. I do not know how to act, around.. well, other people.." He sighed and looked to his barefooted feet again, and began scrubbing himself clean.

~Caliendhra~

 

She regarded the newcomer with mild amusement in her blue eyes. He spoke sense, that much was obvious, and his dedication to the Car’a’carn was laudable. Would that all of the Aiel shared that view. Caliendhra had heard rumours of those that had thrown down their spears to become mera’din, the brotherless, or gone to join the Shaido and did not know what to think of it. In her own mind her duty was first, her personal beliefs second, probably why she had been passed over for command so many times. She suddenly realised she had not introduced herself.

 

“I have not introduced myself to you properly. I am Caliendhra, of the Jumai Sept of the Taardad Aiel and recently come to these Wetlands. I yearn to return to the Threefold Land, but I have a feeling I will have to remain here for longer than I had originally thought.” She risked a look at Cor, who had captured her interest in that race outside their hold, and then looked back to where steam rose from the stones piled to provide such. Caliendhra rose gracefully, firelight gleaming off athletic golden limbs, and dipped the gourd into a small pail of water. When the stream of clear liquid landed on the stones, it hissed briefly and turned instantly to warm steam, filling the tent once more with heat. She had hoped it would please the Wise Ones present, and was relieved when she saw one of them sit back with approval on her face, enjoying the warmth of the steam. Caliendhra resumed her seat and her staera, and began to scrape the dirt off her lower legs, bending forward so her reddish blonde tail of hair fell over her shoulder. She looked up and saw the newcomer who did not know how to act around other people go back to his ablutions.

 

“It is a relief to find a sweat tent in these wet lands. Have you heard how the wetlanders bathe? I have not had what they call a bath yet, nor do I wish to, not really." She looked at him appraisingly. "You and I should have a race some time, and then afterwards you can tell me about how you came to the Wetlands. We could talk over old battles with oosquai.” He looked as though he had seen a lot of life, that one. Caliendhra pondered his name, surreptitiously studying Cor through the haze of steam.

Cenn eyed the Maiden with no hint of distaste or love. He knew many Maidens from his time, but it was rare he saw one that would.. catch his eye to say the least. He tossed his head and got the images out. Not for me. No one he repeated to himself. He made it sound as if he had thought it before. Many times.

 

"I have not introduced myself to you properly. I am Caliendhra, of the Jumai Sept of the Taardad Aiel and recently come to these Wetlands. I yearn to return to the Threefold Land, but I have a feeling I will have to remain here for longer than I had originally thought." The Taardad Aiel? He had never met someone from the Taardad Aiel. Needless to say, Cenn thought himself to be quite well traveled. He had been to a few different septs for supplies, water and shade. But they had all been within the Dragonmount Clan. He had even danced with a Shaido, once. But finally, he thought, a proper introduction. He wanted to smile, but kept his enjoyment to himself.

 

"I am Cenn, of the Blood Pools sept of the Dragonmount." He let the sept sink in to the people in his general vicinity that was listening. Not many knew of the Blood Pools sept, and the only ones that did were Thunder Walkers that had traveled to the Blight with him and his family.

 

After he finished his speech, he noticed she had tried to steal a glance at the young man in the corner. He had heard rumours, that his name was Cor of the Deep Shade. He had heard the name before, not as a legend, really. He was a traveler and his name was spread in his hold quickly for WILLINGLY traveling beyond the Dragonwall.

"Do you love him, Caliendhra of the Jumai sept?" He asked innocently. He had noticed her glancing at him a few times in their conversation. He didn't mean to pry, but it was a question he often asked people who tried to steal glances at others. He made it quiet so no one else could hear them, but it was still in a different tone then one could imagine. He asked it in the same tone as everything else; monotone.

 

"It is a relief to find a sweat tent in these wet lands. Have you heard how the wetlanders bathe? I have not had what they call a bath yet, nor do I wish to, not really." she had said, was she trying to joke with him? No, why would anyone do that? They were Aiel! Or is it only me?

 

He hesitated for a moment, then responded calmly and flatly; "I have heard of this bath. They give for granted of their water and try to near drown themselves, no?" Had he just made a joke? No, doubtful he thought. Atleast none of which would be funny.

 

Looking up he almost wanted to laugh at himself. Here he was socializing in Cairhien, the Hama N'Dore society leader of the Dragonmount. It wasn't how he had planned his life, no, not at all. "You and I should have a race some time, and then afterwards you can tell me about how you came to the Wetlands. We could talk over old battles with oosquai." she had spoken abruptly, breaking his chain of thought.

 

He heard a word in there he did not recognize. goosequa? Was that what she called it? Oosquai, he finalized his thought. "What is this... Oos'quai you speak so fondly of, Caliendhra of the Jumai sept?" He asked curiously. He knew quite a bit, ranging from how Warders fought to the different lands and history of where the wetlanders lived.

~Caliendhra~

 

“You’ve never heard of Oosquai, Cenn of the Blood Pools Sept? And to answer your question I would not make a bridal wreath to lay at the feet of Cor, and neither would I throw away my spears for him. He is, however, as pleasing to the eye as a pond in the Threefold Land.” Caliendhra winked at the Stone Dog, who did not seem to notice or if he did, chose not to respond at that precise moment. He seemed to be in conversation with another of the sweat tent’s occupants, so Caliendhra added “And I do like a drink.” Switching to scrape the dirt from the other leg, Caliendhra looked up at the newcomer from Blood Pools Sept and began to talk about Oosquai.

 

“It is a drink, Cenn of the Blood Pools Sept, that will warm the heart of you on the coldest night in the Threefold Land. It is a drink for strong Aiel, but then, we are all strong. And you say you’ve never tried it? From the looks of you it is surprising that no Maiden has taught you how to play Maiden’s Kiss, or that you have tasted the warmth of Oosquai before.” Caliendhra finished drawing her staera across her lower leg and began to move to her arms. “I cannot believe you have not tasted it yet. Have you never sat around talking with your friends about victories or defeats, or needed something to ward the chill from your bones on the long night watches?”

 

She felt more than saw him shake his head in the dim steaminess of the tent, and laughed loudly. “It seems you and I will have a meeting, Hama n’Dore. You will need to become acquainted with Oosquai, as well as other people. It will help you to remember more about being Aiel when you are in these Wetlands.” Caliendhra flicked the tail of her hair back over her shoulder and sat looking at him, waiting for him to protest her gentle teasing of how much of an Aiel he was. She smiled to take the sting from her words, and then nodded.

 

“When you are done here, I will take you to where you can find some oosquai so you may try it. I need to keep my head clear for the morning, as I do not know where I shall be sent next. I am awaiting orders of where to dance next, so to speak. What do you say?”

Cor lay back languidly, thoroughly enjoying the relaxing heat of the sweat tent and the open humor of its occupants. Sullynn possessed a clever wit, not surprising in a society leader. He found her quips very entertaining, and Ghaul’s jests were equally as witty. This seemed like the first time in an Age that the problems on this side of the Dragonwall weren’t weighing on him. He reclined comfortably, half asleep with his eyes almost closed, trying to experience the moment fully. Who knew what the next moment might hold here in the wetlands?

 

Except for when laughter broke out in the tent, he could hear most of the conversation between Caliendrha and the unusual newcomer, Cenn of the Blood Pools. The man was different in many aspects it seemed. Most notable was his black hair and beard. Few Aiel had dark hair, and none allowed their facial hair to grow. I guess the times are changing, and the Aiel must change with them. How much will the wetlands change me? Also unusual was his position as the leader of the Mountain Dancers despite only arriving recently from such a distant hold. That pointed to his talented leadership skills. But who hadn’t heard of oos’quai?!? Truly, life was strange near the Blight border.

 

Caliendrha, though, he knew. She was a very intelligent, lovely Maiden who could run like the wind. He smiled to himself when she mentioned racing Cenn. Before the Dragonmount Clan had crossed into the wetlands, he had traveled all the way to Jumai hold to challenge the fastest runner of the Taardad, a Maiden who it was said could outrun her shadow. Caliendrha had lived up to her reputation, although he had narrowly won their race. If they raced again she might come out on top, which wouldn’t be a bad thing from his perspective. She was as lovely as she was swift and the way she moved was certainly enjoyable when viewed from behind. Or from below.

 

Cor knew next to nothing of the Blood Pools sept, so he decided to learn more, and just as importantly he wanted to reacquaint himself with Caliednrha.

 

Sitting up, he winked mischievously at the gorgeous Maiden but spoke to the Hama N’Dore. “Tread carefully, Cenn of the Blood Pools. Caliendrha is so fast, she has to wait on her shadow to catch up even when she’s walking.” The sweat tent once again was filled with warm, easy laughter. “A race with her is a noble effort, but I wouldn’t wager anything unless I wanted to lose it. She is the fastest runner of all the Taardad, and she might be the fastest Aiel anywhere.”

 

“But she is right about oos’quai. It will make your eyes water and your throat burn, but it definitely adds some zest to an evening. Be warned though, it makes you kiss ugly women.” The tent erupted as the men laughed in agreement and the women laughingly argued their own version of its effects.

 

As the amusing comments continued, he slowly scraped a staera down the sweat-slicked muscles of his right arm, but he looked directly at Caliendrha.

 

Her eyes were deeper than any pool, and he had a thirst that water couldn’t quench. His eyes smoldered as he openly looked over the delicious curves of her body, drinking in every inch. His lips turned up slightly in a wickedly delightful grin.

 

“I hear that plenty of wetlanders still wish to dance against the Car’a’carn, so there’s no need to hurry off, Caliendrha.”

 

This time his wink wasn’t humorous. It was a brazen invitation.

Nephuria watched the man who was late into the tent. His beard was a shock, and his long hair strange. She knew little about those Aiel who lived close to the Blight, but the man actually seemed to want to shrink away from people, Nephuria took it for a lack of self-confidence, a trait that should have been being worked out by a Wise One, a man with responsibility had different obligations than one who held a spear among many. He was expected to be confident and self-assured.

 

The comment that he had never tasted oos’quai meant he was smart in her book, smart or a very good fighter, a proper warrior would not be drunk when battle could come from any direction. The Wise One's had given up drinking anything but water since the beginning of the fighting with the Wetlanders. The Aiel in the camps and the Shaido, they were a thorn in all the Wise One's palms that she wished she could forget, plus the Car'a'carn made making time for much hard, much less time to drink.

 

She could feel the loosening of muscles in her legs as she scrapped the staera along the skin of her calf and shin, mud and dust swirled in maze of light gray and brown mush as it was whipped away revealing smooth, clean, sun darkened skin.

 

Noticing Cor looking past rather than directly at her, Nephuria tilted her head slightly, damp white-blond hair falling forward around her face, hiding the direction her eyes followed. She could see Cor staring at Caliendrha so that he probably wouldn't have noticed a spear in the ribs.

 

At the mention of wetlander's and dancing there was sense of reality rushing back in, so much so that it was uncomfortable. Nephuria relaxed the muscles in her back and tried to loosen the one that seemed ever present behind her eyes.

 

She waited for what banter the Maiden would counter with, but mentally her mind was working furiously. Perhaps the woman would one day leave the spear for a husband, but could she somehow hurry the two along? The slow working of the scrapper on her legs was done thoughtlessly, cleaning with ever stroke expertly. The Wise One's often used the privacy of a sweat tent to speak at length about matters concerning them, working the staera slowly and effectively while still debating and discussing plans.

 

Laughing she motioned at him as if showing off a prize carcass after the hunt, "Next he will be begging you to make a bridal wreath if you aren't careful." leaning forward she laughed and pulled her long hair over her right shoulder so she could scrape her left one, she spoke looking at the maiden, " Of course you could do worse, he is quite pretty after all." that she said with an approvingly amused smile for Cor. The whisper was loud enough to be heard around the tent, but it was meant for Caliendrha. Nephuria laughed with genuine amusment, how long it seemed since she had done so she was unsure, but it felt good.

 

Still, she made it a mental note to speak with the young Society leader at some time in the near future. In her mind he was far too young to be left so unwatched, of course she would never say it in that way.

 

Ghaul had come in at some time during her talk with the Maiden and Nephuria had not had the chance to speak to him until now. Speaking loud enough to be heard across the tent, but low enough not to intrude on other conversation, Nephuria spoke companionably to the Aielman "I see you Ghaul, may you always find water and shade."

It all seemed to happen to face for Cenn. A maiden approached him, trying to direct his eyes upon hers. Cor, a Stone Dog if his eyes did not fail him, spoke of the Maidens swiftness. A wise one, speaking of bridals as if these people do it often. But what if they did, he thought to himself. Life beyond the border was much different then here. His people were strong, not saying that these were not strong. Oos'qai was never shown, and he figured because it'd dull his senses. They were raided often, so they must dance with the Eyeless Ones and Shadowtwisted often.

 

They had been cooped inside their hold so long that they never shown support to the Car'a'carn. He had been the first to leave the Borders. The Borders which held these Aiel from the Shadowtwisted. Most could handle themselves against a few Eyeless Ones. Cor was one, yes, he was good. Strong, hard, and he could dance well. The Maiden? Possibly. He knew many women, most could dance better then he. She was strong, but to outgoing one could say.

 

He remained quiet from the invasion of his privacy. One by one they seemed to ask him questions, to which he merely nodded and continued to scrape sweat and dirt away with his staera Finally, when all the questions seemed to be finished; the trio seemed to rest their eyes upon him. The newcomer. How could he come so earlier and gain the position of the Society Leader of the Hama D'Nore, they probably wondered. Ghaul had seen him dance, he had seen him run. He had seen him climb, to balance, and he knew why.

 

"Maybe, Caliendhra of the Jumai sept, I shall try your drink. Maybe." His voice had a more firm tense then he would of expected, but it was over with now. "I do believe I shall not dance with the young Maiden, Cor of the Deep Shade. I am not so much as a good runner as some of you." He took this time to simply point to his braden chest. It seemed that his left pectoral was lower then his right. He explained to them that it was due to the fact of him missing a lung.

 

"We all dance the spears for Car'a'carn here. But even I can tell, that some of you are interested in where I come from. From the few people I've talked to, no one from our Clan even knows what the Blood Pools are. We are a Sept to the Borders, and we have waged many raids into the Blight; as much as the Trollocs and Shadowtwisted rage against us. Why I left, even more of you may wonder. Do I come to the Wetlands to escape the Shadowtwisted? No, not for that. I would dance to my last breath with a Shadowtwisted." He didn't want to spill it all out, but it just came. He didn't mean for it, but all his silence over the years seemed to build out now. "I did not leave for a vengeance against a fallen friend or family. To be honest with you, brothers and sisters, I do not know why I left. I left for myself, I left for the Car'a'carn, I left for a thousand odd reasons. Not one of which I understand, nor do I think I ever will." His face remained stern and content his speech, and some of the on lookers looked at him in horror, some in disgust, some in eagerness. But all still looked.

 

"I.. I am sorry for my outburst. It has been long since I have spoken to.. nearly anyone. I will go now." He words drew that he was sad, or disappointed; but his face remained stern as he had been when he entered the tent. A strong man.

 

When...

Marriage! Ha!

 

Cor rolled his eyes at the Wise One’s words. They were always trying to push him in a direction that they thought was best. Did they ever ask him what he wanted? Oh, no, of course not! What they wanted was the only perspective that mattered, at least if they had their way with things.

 

Truthfully, he simply wasn’t ready for marriage yet. There were too many places he hadn’t seen, too many books he hadn’t read, and too many enemies to count. He decided to try and ignore her. It would be like ignoring a spear in the ribs, but he was going to give it a try. Let the clan chief deal with her.

 

He was just about to sit back and admire the lovely curves of Caliendrha a bit more when the unusual-looking Hama N’Dore from Blood Pools spoke up. His reply was delivered with intensity but in an odd monotone. It was a strangely disconcerting combination. When he had finished what was obviously an uncomfortable answer, he sat there with a stern look on his face as if to challenge any one who doubted his conviction in following the Car’a’carn or his right to be among them here on the wrong side of the Dragonwall. Cor decided to speak up to try and ease the tension in the outsider.

 

“Rest easy, Cenn. There is no dishonor in joining your spear brothers away from your own hold. Your choice to follow the Car’a’carn is yours to make, one you share with everyone of us stuck here in the wetlands, even if we don’t understand why he cares so much about the treekillers.”

 

Cenn looked at him oddly, seemingly a mixture of relief and injured pride as he was in the midst of rising to leave. Cor didn’t understand, but he decided to make a point of befriending the Mountain Dancer if the man would allow it.

 

“Don’t go. There’s no need. If you can’t speak freely in the sweat tent, then you might as well cut your tongue out and feed it to the ants. Besides, I would like to learn more about the Blood Pool and life so near the Blight.”

 

Cor waited to see if Cenn would accept his invitation of friendship or continue his lonely existence despite the thousands of Aiel around him.

Cor seemed to try and calm Cenn down, and seemingly it worked. Cenn glanced at Cor, then at a few of the Maidens who were looking him from head to toe for more then one reason. For one, he was the only one in the room with a beard; something he kept always from his hold. Not if fifteen Car'a'carns told him to shave, he would not.

 

Without saying a word, Cenn sat back down and began to scrape the dirt off himself again; staring at the ground.

 

He finally looked up, and looked his piercing eyes into the deepest part of Cors head. "I see why everyone drinks this Oos'quai."

 

To Cenns suprise, the room erupted with laughter and he felt himself ease back down into his seat, and even emitted a bright smile that looked so unusual on him it nearly looked like two swords hanging from his sides.

 

He began scraping again, and began telling Cor of his childhood and his life in the borders of the Blight. How they were constantly raided, but they raided them just as frequently. He told them how nearly none of the Border Holds fought against each other, how all of them worked together. He even told them of a Shaido clan that was far to the east of his Hold. But they never danced, and this seemed to confuse some of the Wise Ones and even Cor himself.

"In the Borders, there are so many Shadowtwisted that you don't really have time to worry about other Clans that could be in your vicinity. It's sort of.. an unspoken treaty one could say." Cenn tried to describe. Some of them frowned at him, others nodded, and some only stared as if they looked at a ghost. He had never seen an Aiel be afraid before.

 

"I have danced with Shaido myself, over water. Though it was infact on my way to the Dragonmount Hold." Cenn looked to the dirt, and his smile grew weary. Zen, of the Shaido Clan. He never announced himself until the end of the dance, he told them. He was a fellow Mountain Dancer of himself. Some of them nearly fainted at his remark; for it was near forbidden for a member of a society to fight another member of the same society. "I had no choice. The honorless scum threw himself at me with his spear and nearly took my side out."

 

He felt ashamed, and hurt, at the same time. He was as honorable as he could get, but he would not give his life up for a warrior of the Shaido. He finally gave rest and sat back and admired the people that were shaking or nodding there head. Truly this is so different from where I come from. And for the better, rather then the worse I believe.

 

"And you, Cor of the Deep Shade? I had heard of your travels, but I've never traveled much myself. Tell me about you!." The smile was back; a genuine, real smile. Something new Cenn had encountered, and something he may have to get used to.

~Caliendhra~

 

It became clearer with every word the bearded Aiel spoke. So he was from the northern end of the Threefold Land that bordered the Blight. And he was in the front line against Sightblinder’s minions and, most likely, to be among the first to dance the spears against the dark hordes when the Car’a’carn or the Wise Ones told them to. Not for the first time, Caliendhra was glad she was merely a spear to be danced where the music dictated. Even with a command such as she aspired to, she would never have to make decisions such as those. She had sympathy with the northerner from Blood Pools sept, and looked at him gravely with her large blue eyes and vowed silently to introduce him well to oosquai so he could at least drown his sorrows, should he need to. Alcohol had great antiseptic properties and could clean a wound until it could be dressed and healed by the Wise Ones.

 

Cor was making her laugh inside. Now her scraping with the staera was done, Caliendhra sat back and let the steam fill her nose. Had someone put some fragrant leaves on the stones to give them an extra scent? And his talk of marriage! Light! She shook her head ruefully from side to side and then piped up to make a comment.

 

“That one is likely to fall over the number of bridal wreaths laid at his feet, but if he was forced to choose one in particular he’d likely get lost.” She wondered if that would get a smile from the other occupants of the sweat tent. Cor, for his part, took it with good humour and made a comment back about Caliendhra not being able to find a plant with prickly enough blossoms to match her nature. Caliendhra looked at him and smiled, wishing she was still young enough to get away with poking her tongue out at him. She could get her own back when they left this tent and went to find some oosquai, as she could drink him under the table. Cenn would likely prove to be a highly capable drinker, knowing her luck. Never tasted the stuff in his life and the first time he did, he would have perfect control. She doubted it though. Oosquai was such a potent spirit it would be unlikely he kept his feet through the experience.

 

The steam felt good, Caliendhra realised. Cleansing, deeply cleansing, and reminiscent of home to the point she had nearly forgotten her troubles of the day. The morning would yield new instructions and orders, but tonight she could rest easily when she eventually sought sleep. It was a relaxation she had not had in a long time, having been caught up with the solitude of the wetlands and being separated from the majority of her fellow Far Dareis Mai for too long. She gave her companions an appraising stare, feeling emboldened by her newfound relaxation.

 

“They say women take longer to prepare than men, but I am already finished and seem to be waiting for you. Whenever you are ready, let me know, and we’ll go and find some oosquai and maybe play a game.”

 

Caliendhra winked at Cor slowly. If it were going to be anything like last time, she would not mind that as the end to an evening. It almost felt like home… Sitting back again, she flicked her tail of hair over her shoulder and inhaled deeply.

Cor was enjoying himself, savoring every moment of the sultry heat in this haven of Aiel society. Outside lay the strangeness of the Treekillers and the wetlands. But for the moment, all was as it should be.

 

Cenn’s words were troubling, but as the Mountain Dancer continued his tale they became more understandable. Fighting the Shadow was never predictable, and he could see how that task would supercede the Dragonmount Clan’s battle with the Shaido. It was strange to be sure, but these were strange times. Killing a member of your own society was more shocking, but sometimes you had no choice if you didn’t want to be run through with a spear. And everyone knew Shaido were honorless dogs fit for nothing but scavenging off others.

 

When Cenn finished and made his request of Cor, the young Stone Dog paused before answering. He decided not to mention the tale of his taking five Shaido boys as gai’shain when he was 14, because somehow that story had been heard by Aiel all across the Threefold Land even though he had never shared how it had happened with a soul. It was a good story, but now wasn’t the time to tell it.

 

And he didn’t think Cenn was interested in how, at 12 years of age, he had walked naked and alone to the Shaido because a raiding Shae’en M’taal had knocked him down while he was herding goats with a staff. That story was well known, as well, and was largely responsible for his choice to become a Stone Dog.

 

With a small grin because he understood what Cenn would enjoy hearing, Cor began telling of what he had seen in the far away places.

 

He told of the peaks of the Dragonwall, what the wetlanders call the Spine of the World, and how he had climbed them to catch a cloud eagle chick for an old Far Aldazar Din that could no longer run but had taught him so much. How they were so tall that you grew cold even during the day and became short of breath even when you were standing still. He told of traveling the wetlands and meeting a beautiful peddler named Dilora Fashelle who sang strange songs. Of climbing the Mountains of Mist to fetch back another cloud eagle chick as a mate for the first. These mountains weren’t as tall but they wore wreaths of clouds on their heads, and you were soaked to the skin by merely walking through the fog.

 

He told of crossing rivers so wide you could barely make out the land on the other side, and of reaching the endless sea where the water was poison and went on until it met the sky with no land in sight. He told of the vast plains of grass that knew no man and of the herds of horses in Tear that were as numerous as grains of sand.

 

He told of the Ogier stedding and the feeling of peace amongst the Treebrothers, of sharing water with strange wetlanders wearing all manner of strange costumes.

 

When he finished, his throat was dry and many of the gathered Aiel were listening in rapt fascination. Caliendrha spoke into the silence that followed with a warm, slow wink at him.

 

“They say women take longer to prepare than men, but I am already finished and seem to be waiting for you. Whenever you are ready, let me know, and we’ll go and find some oos’quai and maybe play a game.”

 

He stood and stretched, his muscles flexing under the sheen of clean sweat. Smiling to Cenn he said, “We should talk more, and see how you like oos’qaui, but for now I think I am ready to leave.”

 

With a mischievous grin at the lovely Maiden, he added, “What game do you have in mind? Maybe you can teach me how to play…”

 

Her warm breath in his ear as she whispered to him, and the feel of her skin on his cheek were just the first of many tantalizing sensations she shared with him that night.

Although Sullynn spent a long while surveying the impertinent new society leader, Cor, another Aiel caught Sullyn's eyes. One that ironically enough was conversing with Cor. Although Sullynn couldn't fish out the conversation from the overall murmur in the tent, their body language said it all. He was bedding her, or planning to tonight.

 

Sullynn only knew Caliendhra by name. A maiden , by default, as all warrior women were maidens, aside from Sullynn. She could understand how she managed to grab the young SL's attention. She was quite striking. Beautiful blond red hair, capturing emerald eyes, yet there seemed to be some sort of quiet sadness in her. A yearning for something that has been evading her.

 

Planning to spend yet another quiet night in her tent, drinking herself to sleep, Sullynn left the tent, her mind focused on both Cor and Caliendhra. Putting on her robe, she suddenly saw both Cor and Caliendhra coming out as well, slipping on their robes. Approaching them, Sullynn spoke. "There is a severe problem that you two might be able to help with." Both of the Aiel warriors looked a bit confused but nodded.

 

"I have a pile of oosquai skins in my tent that need drinking. Alone I wouldn't dream of finishing them. Care to lend me a hand? or two?". Smiling at Caliendrha, the other woman smiled back.

 

 

 

Sullynn

Thunder Walker SL