Chapter Text
Chapter 1: The Tea
Moiraine and her traveling companions had disrupted Liandrin’s plans for Logain Ablar, and now she had to be more subtle in her mission to gentle the men capable of channeling. Those cursed, unworthy creatures.
And so Liandrin drew back and manipulated from afar.
She watched and waited. She saw Nynaeve’s thinly veiled disdain for Moiraine Sedai.
The Wheel’s pattern was revealed only by the glimpse, and with it she noted the growing intimacy between the Wisdom and the Warder.
Coming between Moiraine and her Warder could destabilize whatever it was the Blues were playing at. And so a plan took shape…
***
“Escaped did you?” Nynaeve nearly jumped at Liandrin’s, sharp and discerning voice. She’d been deep in thought about her interaction with Stepin. Thinking about what it was, this bond between Aes Sedai and her Warder. Thinking of a specific Warder. Attentive and kind at times and then so remote. She’d nearly lost him, and yet had never had a claim to him at all.
The time for reverie was over, she had to be on her guard with this Red sister, Nynaeve knew that every word and action Liandrin spoke was calculated. She could almost respect Liandrin for being open in her manipulations. Almost.
“Women hold the One Power, but men still control much of this world.” Nynaeve let Liandrin speak, she seemed intent on pontificating. Did she agree? The Women’s Circle in Two Rivers was strong and responsible for a great many decisions, but they did have to appease the men and make it seem like they had come to the decisions themselves. Nynaeve could almost wish herself home chastising the old Cenn Buie, but Egwene was still missing and if she was honest with herself, since she had channeled, she was not sure that the Two Rivers could ever truly be home again.
“Now that you’ve escaped Moiraine’s cage you should enjoy yourself.” Oh but did that grate. She knew it had been meant as a barb, but wasn’t it the truth? Had Moiraine not secreted her away from prying eyes, limiting her freedom at the same time?
“That way leads to the library” Liandrin pointed, “then on to the gardens. Or you could join me for tea in the solarium this way, and I can tell you some secrets of the White Tower.” Nynaeve considered the options presented, her medicine bag was getting quite slim, but Liandrin was in a mood to share. She could quietly listen, and share only spare details if pressed, and perhaps there was something to be gleaned.
Decided, Nynaeve nodded and tilted her head in the direction of the solarium.
***
Nynaeve huffed a sigh of relief as Liandrin released her from tea. The brew had been strange and bitter, and the company gratting. Liandrin spoke at length of the Ajah, the building of the White Tower at the Breaking of the World in the Third Age, and as expected asked many questions about how Nynaeve had come to be in the company of Moiraine and her Warder. It had taken a great effort, but she had managed to hold her own and speak no untruths without volunteering too much.
Liandrin pointed her back to the gallery, and to her prison and seemed content to leave her to her own devices. Nynaeve knew that she had not seen the last of Liandrin, but hoped when their paths crossed again it was in company. Bodies buffering the worst of Liandrin’s games.
Nynaeve saw Maksim and Ihvon, Maksim’s around Ihvon, their heads bowed close together, whispering secrets. She smiled to herself, and blushed as she remembered how scandalized she had been around that fire to learn what was between the two warders and Alanna Sedai.
She made her way towards them, towards her room, but she had not gone ten paces before she began to feel flush, and slightly dazed. They smiled as they saw her approaching, their genuine joy at meeting her there touched her, but she had a dread sense that something was terribly wrong. “Please, get Moiraine. Quickly!”