 Matalina |
By the Ferry – Alikatia – 03-30-2010 07:38 AM It had seemed that she’d traveled farther south with each passing year, getting further and further from home. Mayene was probably as far south as she could ever go with out hopping on a boat to find some new land to explore. Aeronwy knew that she needed to find some income or she’d be spending her time in Mayene in not so nice places. She wished that the city was accessible with out the dreaded ferry ride. Aeronwy feared the boats, more so the water. Learning to swim near the blight was not one of her highest priorities and she had yet to find reason to do so now, there was almost always a bridge to cross over foot, or Anna would carry her safely across. There was rarely an occasion she needed to travel the waters herself. To be over the water for that long wasn’t any comfort to Aeronwy. Aeronwy begrudgingly walked the plank to the waiting ferry with Anna in tow and Jack perched on her shoulder. Both animals felt at ease as Aeronwy walked the rickety plank to meet the semi solid platform that was the ferry boat. Aeronwy tried not to show her discomfort but she knew that it showed, it was hard not to hid such a fear, she was only glad it wasn’t a paralyzing fear as snakes had been for her little sister. Aeronwy smiled as she remembered stamping out snakes from her little sisters bedroom. She missed her family, maybe one day she would go home again to visit. “Maybe one day soon.” she muttered to her self. Breathing deeply, Lyssandra smiled inwardly. “The smell of the ocean must be the smell of freedom,” she thought to herself as the wind swirled a loose strand of hair into her face, “the smell of new beginnings.” She patted her mare, Palla, on the shoulder, and then tucked the strand behind her ear. Yes, a new beginning, and perhaps for the first time, independence. It was exhilarating knowing that she was free to serve as she saw fit in a relatively important city, but frightening on some level to be about as far from home as she could be without leaving the mainland. “Home…” she murmured to herself, wondering at the meaning of the word. Kandor surely wasn’t home anymore, but was Tar Valon either? Oh sure, she had more space that was ‘home’ in the Tower itself than she’d ever had when living with her parents, and it had been a cozy place… when she’d bothered being in the Tower itself. Lyssa had loved roaming the local villages and mapping things out. Good maps, after all, were always useful in defending or attacking a target. At least, that’s how she justified her little jaunts, and her fellow Greens were supportive of developing such useful skills. Shaking herself out of her reverie, she spotted the ferry landing just ahead. Her heart leaped in her chest momentarily, though her calm Aes Sedai demeanor betrayed nothing; she appeared serenity incarnate, as befit one of the Tower. Still, she couldn’t help smiling at the sight of a small woman standing before her, muttering. Lyssa approached, and as she dismounted Palla, addressed the other woman, “Hello there! You and your mount appear to be blocking egress to the ferry… mind moving over?” She continued to smile; no need to be rude, after all. Aeronwy looked over her shoulder to the woman behind her. She muttered. “I’m sorry. Just not use to boats.” Aeronwy hurried over the plank and on to the ferry proper. Moving aside. “I’m sure I’ll be slow to get Anna to the stable to stay while we journey over the water.” Aeronwy smiled but it quickly turned to frown as she happened to glance over the side. She was thankful she hadn’t lost her balance, but she was not happy to be on this ferry, it didn’t feel safe as a larger wave struck the side of the ferry. Aeronwy looked up to see a larger ship passing by. It was distinctly different from all the others. “Sea Folk.” she heard from some other direction, she wasn’t sure who had said it, but she smiled at those around her. “I’m not sure how they do it, living on a boat all their lives. I can’t fathom the idea.” Aeronwy took Anna’s reigns tightly in her hands and started to the area designated for the horses. Jack sat ever on her shoulder with his talons slightly digging into her skin. It was a comforting though, she clung to that as the ferry swayed, it hadn’t even launched yet. Aeronwy looked over at the woman who had asked her to move, Aeronwy had started setting up Anna next to her. “Despite this ferry ride, the weather is rather nice. Lyssa smiled at the other woman, and listened to her running commentary as they led their horses to the stabling area of the platform. She deftly stepped around a fresh offering from one of the other steeds, and thought on her current companion’s words. “I’m not terribly used to travelling over water myself,” she admitted, turning her attention momentarily to tying up her horese, “I vastly prefer horses, but then, I grew up around them.” She smiled, and reached over to give Palla another pat. “It is a beautiful day though, and the wind smells so fresh off of the ocean. It’s just… so… new.” Lyssa chuckled softly to herself and eyed around as she took off her gloves and tucked them carelessly behind her belt. It was a well made, if plain, wide leather belt over a simple green dress cut for riding, and liberally flicked with bits of mud and dust from the road. Not that she minded; it was a simple matter to clean it with the Power… not that this was the place to do such things. Turning her attention back to the other woman, she shook herself slightly and continued, “You might laugh at that, especially if you’re not a fan of being on the water, but this is my first time being so far south. Light, it’s my first time near the ocean, and I like to try to make the best out of new things, and find enjoyment where I may.” Lyssandra paused for a moment, and then spoke, “So, if I might ask – if you’re so unfond of boats and the like, what takes you to such an isolated part of the land?” Aeronwy smiled. “It’s not the boat I dislike, it’s the water.” She steadied herself as the ferry started its journey to the city state of Mayene.” Aeronwy thought about the question, and patted Jack for comfort he squawked a little in enjoyment. “I go to Mayene as it’s as far away from home I can possibly get without getting on a boat.” She still missed her family, but she enjoyed her life too much to really think about returning home. Though it was a possibility, but that trip would take far more money than she had now. “I’m looking for a new adventure and hoping Mayene has something to offer.” Aeronwy looked up at her temporary companion, “And what brings you here?” “What brings me here?” Lyssandra asked, her eyes sparkling, “You might say some of the same reasons as yourself. It’s about as far as I can get from my family, my home, without crossing an ocean. Adventure would be nice, and I hope will be the case, but duty to myself and others ranks high on the list as well.” Tapping the fingers of one hand on the railing, the other rose unbidden to the chain around her neck. Her Great Serpent ring was there, as it was generally a bad idea to travel through a country such as Tear while proclaiming oneself to be Aes Sedai. And even though she had been a Sister for some years, her hand still felt curiously naked without it. “Don’t fret about it until you’re safely within the confines of the Adjunct.” Lyssa chided herself, moving her hand to join the other on the railing. “All in all,” she continued after a moment, “It should be a nice change of scenery… not that I know much about the area. My sisters told me a bit, but most of them haven’t explored this region of the world; recommendations for eating at specific inns only go so far, you know? And what’s this I hear about Aiel – Aiel! in the region? Have you heard anything about this, or is this just one of those peddler rumors?” Aeronwy smiled, she’d never seen an Aiel before, but she had heard the same thing. And Children of the Light, and the White Tower all had a presence here in Mayne. “I’ve heard much the same thing myself, thought I thought they stayed in their own lands. It would be rather adventurous to find one here so close to the water.” She grinned. “I hear they fear the water more than myself. So how they got here is beyond me.” Aeronwy patted Jack on the back and ruffled his head feathers. “I’m off to find a place to eat, you stay with Anna. There might be a mouse or two to be found for you here.” And she placed Jack on Anna’s saddle on the railing. She turned to her companion. “I am going to seek a place to sit and eat away from the smell of these many animals. Care to join me?” Wrinkling her nose slightly, she nodded agreement, “Yes, somewhere not here would be ideal – perhaps if we moved over there?” Lyssandra gestured to an unoccupied bench upwind of the stabling area. She turned to rummage around in her saddlebags to see what she could find, “Light’s truth, I very much look forward to a proper meal – travel fare serves its purpose, but it doesn’t compare to something hot and fresh!” She flashed a smile over her shoulder, and turning back to her mount, she extracted several wrapped packages before closing and rewarding her saddlebag. Juggling her burdens, Lyssa worked her canteen loose and started towards the bench. “Now, let’s see what we have here,” she said as she picked up one of the packets she’d dropped in her lap upon sitting down. It was the standard goods – cheese, dried meats, and so on. The one in her hand was, upon opening, cheese only slightly softer than a rock; it probably had come all the way from Tar Valon with her. Hard or not, it was quickly consumed, and Lyssa began opening another packet. “You make a good point about the Aiel and ships,” she commented, “And I rather intend to find out how they’re getting here. Some of the Browns think that they might be willing to speak to a Sister in spite of their reticence towards practically everyone on this side of the Spine of the World, but it’s worth a shot. After all, it’s important to know all the ways in and out of a place, don’t you think?” Nodding to herself, she started in on a piece of dried meat. Aeronwy smiled. “Yes it is. The more ways to get out or in, and also where to defend if necessary.” Aeronwy pulled out her rations, they were simple and she was looking forward to a hot meal once they reached the city. “I’m getting rather tired of hard cheese and overly salted meats.” With the company Aeronwy hadn’t realized how much of their trip had progressed. The two women chatted about this and that and started back to their steeds once they saw the city of Mayene growing in view. “We’ll be there soon. Are you staying anyplace specific?” And then it dawned on Aeronwy, that her companion was an Aes Sedai – sister, Brown. Now she filled in the blanks, she smiled guilitily. “Never mind, you I’m sure are staying within the Adjunct building I’m sure.” Aeronwy wondered what that was like, perhaps she’d have to make a visit to the compound just to see it for herself. There was a lot for her to see with in the city. Nodding, Lyssandra replied, “You assume correctly. There was an opening available, so I figured it would be an ideal place to be based. Sure, I could stay in an inn anywhere in the world, but isn’t it nicer when the room and board is free?” She smiled briefly, and then took a moment to adjust and check the fittings on her saddle. As she verified that everything was still in place (not that she expected anything different), Lyssandra smiled inwardly to herself, “She seems knowledgeable and observant… and perhaps a bit brave, too.” Being as new to the shawl as she was, it still pleased her when people recognized her as Aes Sedai for whatever reason, and even moreso when they would still talk to her in spite of it. This was an even bigger deal now that she was far away from Tar Valon; people near the city were always polite and respectful to Aes Sedai. Not that the average person could recognize an Aes Sedai, but that was somewhat besides the point. As the ferry bumped up against the dock, Lyssa braced herself against Palla; it would never do to fall over. A mild flash of panic clouded her heart and mind, much like it had when she was called to her tests for the ring and shawl. It was only natural – it was one thing to know a big change was coming, and another altogether for it to be happening. Not that anyone could spot the warring emotions, no – she kept those inside herself as she mounted her chestnut mare and waited for her turn to ride off of the ferry. Once off, she pulled to the side and waited for her new-found companion to exit as well. “I’ve enjoyed conversing with you. If you’d like to meet up sometime, and you apparently have already figured out where I’ll be, come by and ask for me sometime – Lyssandra Beline. It will be nice to see what’s on your mind when not preoccupied with water.”
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