"I demand to know who did this! Who is this... 'Selvyn al'Aran'?" Mychael shouted into Brandon Gaidin's face.
"Calm yourself, soldier. It won't do to shout at your superiors," the other man said and frowned.
"Well have you ever heard of this man before? Whoever he is, he must be a spy to sneak into the Tower armory and vandalize its equipment!"
"Mychael, I doubt a spy would sneak in a Tower armory just to write his name all over someone's leather patrol armor. I mean really... why would someone incriminate themselves? And I know you're a very successful soldier, but out of all the things to take, why wouldn't they steal the monstrous greataxe Jeryn Gaidin hauls around, or the decorative company commander helmet of Locus's? I hate to break it to you, but your little patrol armor isn't really that important. And why would they return the equipment? Why not just keep it? I really doubt it was some enemy spy."
"Well, I still demand to know who this 'Selvyn' is! He has to answer for this vandalizing and replace my armor! Caring for the equipment is your job, isn't it?" With that last outburst, Mychael stormed out.
Brandon Gaidin shook his head and walked out of the armory. His steps carried him toward City Hall. I know Mychael has a thing for knowing the secrets of every single person he suspects. He's always playing those recreational mafia games, but this isn't a game. Brandon sighed. He may not be able to find this person at all. What if they didn't even exist, and it was a pseudo name? Aware he was probably on a fool's errand, he opened the doors to City Hall.
"Zandera! I need to talk to you," he said to the woman talking to one of the clerks.
"All right, but can we go outside? I'm on my way somewhere," Zandera said. "What's up?"
"I'm trying to find a man called 'Selvyn al'Aran.' I thought he might be one of yours. Do you know of any such man?" Brandon asked.
"What a coincidence, I was just about to go visit him myself. If you're looking for him, why don't you come along?"
Brandon was surprised. He does exist?? "Sure," he said. They reached a small but manicured house. The sun was nearing the horizon so the windows reflected an orange shade off the glass. The plants out front were nicely pruned and weirdly symmetrical and so irritated Brandon's tastes. They joined with a retinue already present. Soldier Mychael gave Brandon Gaidin a dirty look when he approached, but Soldier Anarie just smiled at him. Brandon noticed that Mychael wasn't wearing any armor. The two were accompanying an Aes Sedai.
"It's a pleasure," Laralelle Sedai said and curtsied to Brandon Gaidin. He bowed to her politely.
"And the same to you. Why are you here, Aes Sedai?" Brandon asked curiously.
"We're here to bring a new recruit to the Tower," she said.
Brandon put his eyes on Mychael. "Oh..."
"Well, with no further ado then," Zandera said and knocked on the door. A serious-looking brown-haired man answered. His fingers were covered with ink stains. Zandera said the ceremonial words.
"You! It was you--!!" Mychael exclaimed and pointed toward the man in horror and... was that rage? Brandon Gaidin thought.
Congratulations on your admission to the White Tower, Recruit Selvyn al'Aran! It looks like you'll be having an interesting time.
"Calm yourself, soldier. It won't do to shout at your superiors," the other man said and frowned.
"Well have you ever heard of this man before? Whoever he is, he must be a spy to sneak into the Tower armory and vandalize its equipment!"
"Mychael, I doubt a spy would sneak in a Tower armory just to write his name all over someone's leather patrol armor. I mean really... why would someone incriminate themselves? And I know you're a very successful soldier, but out of all the things to take, why wouldn't they steal the monstrous greataxe Jeryn Gaidin hauls around, or the decorative company commander helmet of Locus's? I hate to break it to you, but your little patrol armor isn't really that important. And why would they return the equipment? Why not just keep it? I really doubt it was some enemy spy."
"Well, I still demand to know who this 'Selvyn' is! He has to answer for this vandalizing and replace my armor! Caring for the equipment is your job, isn't it?" With that last outburst, Mychael stormed out.
Brandon Gaidin shook his head and walked out of the armory. His steps carried him toward City Hall. I know Mychael has a thing for knowing the secrets of every single person he suspects. He's always playing those recreational mafia games, but this isn't a game. Brandon sighed. He may not be able to find this person at all. What if they didn't even exist, and it was a pseudo name? Aware he was probably on a fool's errand, he opened the doors to City Hall.
"Zandera! I need to talk to you," he said to the woman talking to one of the clerks.
"All right, but can we go outside? I'm on my way somewhere," Zandera said. "What's up?"
"I'm trying to find a man called 'Selvyn al'Aran.' I thought he might be one of yours. Do you know of any such man?" Brandon asked.
"What a coincidence, I was just about to go visit him myself. If you're looking for him, why don't you come along?"
Brandon was surprised. He does exist?? "Sure," he said. They reached a small but manicured house. The sun was nearing the horizon so the windows reflected an orange shade off the glass. The plants out front were nicely pruned and weirdly symmetrical and so irritated Brandon's tastes. They joined with a retinue already present. Soldier Mychael gave Brandon Gaidin a dirty look when he approached, but Soldier Anarie just smiled at him. Brandon noticed that Mychael wasn't wearing any armor. The two were accompanying an Aes Sedai.
"It's a pleasure," Laralelle Sedai said and curtsied to Brandon Gaidin. He bowed to her politely.
"And the same to you. Why are you here, Aes Sedai?" Brandon asked curiously.
"We're here to bring a new recruit to the Tower," she said.
Brandon put his eyes on Mychael. "Oh..."
"Well, with no further ado then," Zandera said and knocked on the door. A serious-looking brown-haired man answered. His fingers were covered with ink stains. Zandera said the ceremonial words.
"You! It was you--!!" Mychael exclaimed and pointed toward the man in horror and... was that rage? Brandon Gaidin thought.
Congratulations on your admission to the White Tower, Recruit Selvyn al'Aran! It looks like you'll be having an interesting time.