A tall man with a grey cowled cape strode into City Hall. Delicate snow flurries rushed into the heated office as he turned and replaced the heavy doors. Though he held a huge traveling bundle and numerous weapons, his broad shoulders allowed him to close the door with ease. One of the clerks recognized him and hustled him through the door into the mayor's office.
Mayor Zandera got up from behind her desk and motioned to the chair across the way, usually reserved for visiting Aes Sedai from the White Tower. "Have a seat."
Unmindful of the dampness his clothes left on the red, velvet cushion, he set down his burdens on the floor in a heap. His features remained mostly shadowed by the cowl as he relaxed in the chair, likely not having shown anyone his exhaustion for the past few months.
"Well?" the mayor asked.
"It is done."
Mayor Zandera's features relaxed. One of her big problems had just been solved. The tension in her shoulders was obviously eased as she went back to her desk to find the right page. One more thing she could cross off her list.
The man frowned when she turned her back. He had never ridden so far--or for so long as he did for this job. He'd never fought the kinds of things he'd had to survive the past few months. And he'd seen war. He'd seen far more than you could likely imagine. He'd survived it all and come out on top, and that didn't seem to satisfy her. He grimaced and cleared his throat. The mayor looked askance over her shoulder at him. She looked expectant, and Kveldolf hesitated for the space of a breath. But finally his frustration got the best of him, and he spoke loudly and firmly, with a tone that would leave other grown men shaking in their boots.
"I have tamed wilderness that has not yet seen man or civilization. I have ridden until horses collapsed beneath me. I have looted and returned time and again with everything you have asked for. I have slain beasts and men. It's been months--years at this point--since I've had reprieve from this servitude. Is this not enough? Is all that I have done to serve so far... been not enough?"
Zandera turned to the citizen and frowned at him. Kveldolf almost wished he could gather up the words and put them back in his mouth the moment after he said them. Back talk was quite uncharacteristic of him, being military, and the Tar Valon official had quite the scrutinizing glare. The words were said, though, and there was no changing that--so he looked back at her without allowing his gaze to waver.
What Zandera saw was a man whose eyes burned like hot coals beneath the cool, grey cowl. Within his gaze, she saw a fire previously absent in this man's intention. This war veteran had always traveled wherever the flow of war had taken him, and now he had seen true to this path to join the White Tower without abandonment for as long as he himself had recited. He had a goal now--and despite the enemies, the challenges, or those that would get in his way--he would not stray from his goal. She nodded absently to herself. That resolve would surely assist him where he was going.
"Yes," Zandera said, whose expression softened in a way that made the man a bit taken aback. She seemed sad but at the same time, kind. "Yes. It is enough."
Congratulations, Recruit Kveldolf! The time is now!
Mayor Zandera got up from behind her desk and motioned to the chair across the way, usually reserved for visiting Aes Sedai from the White Tower. "Have a seat."
Unmindful of the dampness his clothes left on the red, velvet cushion, he set down his burdens on the floor in a heap. His features remained mostly shadowed by the cowl as he relaxed in the chair, likely not having shown anyone his exhaustion for the past few months.
"Well?" the mayor asked.
"It is done."
Mayor Zandera's features relaxed. One of her big problems had just been solved. The tension in her shoulders was obviously eased as she went back to her desk to find the right page. One more thing she could cross off her list.
The man frowned when she turned her back. He had never ridden so far--or for so long as he did for this job. He'd never fought the kinds of things he'd had to survive the past few months. And he'd seen war. He'd seen far more than you could likely imagine. He'd survived it all and come out on top, and that didn't seem to satisfy her. He grimaced and cleared his throat. The mayor looked askance over her shoulder at him. She looked expectant, and Kveldolf hesitated for the space of a breath. But finally his frustration got the best of him, and he spoke loudly and firmly, with a tone that would leave other grown men shaking in their boots.
"I have tamed wilderness that has not yet seen man or civilization. I have ridden until horses collapsed beneath me. I have looted and returned time and again with everything you have asked for. I have slain beasts and men. It's been months--years at this point--since I've had reprieve from this servitude. Is this not enough? Is all that I have done to serve so far... been not enough?"
Zandera turned to the citizen and frowned at him. Kveldolf almost wished he could gather up the words and put them back in his mouth the moment after he said them. Back talk was quite uncharacteristic of him, being military, and the Tar Valon official had quite the scrutinizing glare. The words were said, though, and there was no changing that--so he looked back at her without allowing his gaze to waver.
What Zandera saw was a man whose eyes burned like hot coals beneath the cool, grey cowl. Within his gaze, she saw a fire previously absent in this man's intention. This war veteran had always traveled wherever the flow of war had taken him, and now he had seen true to this path to join the White Tower without abandonment for as long as he himself had recited. He had a goal now--and despite the enemies, the challenges, or those that would get in his way--he would not stray from his goal. She nodded absently to herself. That resolve would surely assist him where he was going.
"Yes," Zandera said, whose expression softened in a way that made the man a bit taken aback. She seemed sad but at the same time, kind. "Yes. It is enough."
Congratulations, Recruit Kveldolf! The time is now!
