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The sound of booted footsteps announce an approach, then a firm knock upon the doorframe of the open doorway. Rand glances up, irritation briefly flashing across his face before it goes placid again. A black-coated man with a silver sword pinned to his collar snaps to attention, pressing his fist to his chest, and announces,'High Captain Kindar here to see you, Lord Dragon.' Rand nods curtly, eyes looking over the Dedicated's shoulder to settle on the visitor. He casually flips a map of Tar Valon face down on the table and takes a step towards the door,'He may enter. You are dismissed, Dedicated.' The black coated man snaps another sharp salute, turns on his heel and leaves.
Iavoe doesn't walk so much strolls into the room. His eyes seem concerned, and his face oddly open and expressive considering the man's normal nature in formal situations. 'It's been some time lad.......seems some thing have changed since I was last in the city.' Iavoe continues to move forwards into the room to it's center, body relaxed, but still unable to entirely shake some semblance of formality in his posture and voice.
Rand settles back against the corner of the table, more leaning than sitting. He gestures with his left hand towards the room's single chair in the southeast corner. He says,'Have a seat, if you like. I can ring Mistress Harfor if you need to wash the dust of your journey from your throat.'
Iavoe looks over his shoulder at the chair behind him on the far side of the room, then allows a small smirk to mark his lips. Turning his attention back to Rand, he speaks again softly, 'Nay lad, I'm well enough here, and I've been in the city long enough to be rested from my travels. I doubt I would have even troubled you with my presence were it not for this new law I heard of. The one against channeling within the walls of Caemlyn?' Iavoe raises his right eyebrow a hair as he looks to you quizzically, the question unasked clear in his expression.
Rand's lips curl up very slightly in a small smirk. He gives his head the slightest of shakes and says,'I had wondered when someone would approach me on this.' Eyes narrowing on Iavoe ever so slightly, he adds,'However, knowing Aes Sedai as I do, I think somehow that you are not here in an official capacity on their behalf.' The last statement has almost the quality of a question to it.
Iavoe chuckles under his breath, giving a slight resigned shake to his head, 'I won't lie to you lad, I chose to come here on my own. But I do so in the best interests of both those Aes Sedai who might choose to visit Caemlyn, and of the agreement, shakey as it is, that was made between you and Merliss Aes Sedai. Things are shakey enough as it is without this law sparking off trouble that it would not need do...'
Rand spreads his hands and says,'If you have a better suggestion, I will hear it.' Slowly, he lowers his hands and grips the table at either side of him. His posture stiffens slightly and his voice takes on the hint of anger, or maybe frustration,'But I will not let the Tower's civil war spill over into Caemlyn. I cannot just sit idly by when I hear reports of Aes Sedai kidnapping young women from the city's inns and Travelling out of reach with them. I must and will do what I am able to stop such things.'
Iavoe's expression hardens slightly, 'You think shielding and attempting to arrest a girl for making a light in her hand to amuse another is going to stop someone else from channeling and running soon after? I do not think your response time is quick enough lad to stop a channeler who knows how to Travel if they truly wish to do something and run.'
Very gradually a smile begins to spread on Rand's face. With it, the tension seems to drain from his body. He lets out a soft chuckle and says,'You think me as simple as the Aes Sedai do? There is much more to it than that. Much more, indeed.' He releases his grip on the table and crosses his arms over his chest, dragon heads glittering on the backs of his hands as his fingers drum absently against his biceps. He fixes Iavoe with a considering glance and asks,'Would you like to know most of the reasoning and hopes I have for this decree? What I plan to accomplish with it exactly?'
Iavoe smiles softly as he speaks, 'I am sure your intentions are good lad, and while extreme, mayhap it will help with some things. But Rand, it will also cause anger and trouble, and likely shatter the agreement between yourself and the Tower the first time one of your Asha'man tries to shield an Aes Sedai for some little bit of channeling that they are used to doing on an everyday basis. You can not expect any Aes Sedai, nor their Warders to meekly bow their heads to an Asha'man when he tries to shield them and take them into custody for being who they are....' Iavoe releases a sigh, his face showing just how concerned he is over the possibility of this happening.
Iavoe shakes his head again, resigned, 'Rand, the Aes Sedai yielded much in their offer to allow you to manage the Asha'man yourself, and deal with those who succomb to it's difficulties. They have given you a trust, and trust in you that you will manage the Asha'man. But here you make a law specifically preventing Aes Sedai from being whom they are, essentially doing to them what you would not have them do to the Asha'man. Shield them and take them into custody. I do not speak for the Aes Sedai in this, but I do speak for the secutiry of the Tower.'
Iavoe looks up at you as he finishes, 'I think this arrangement has saved many lives on both sides since it's inception, but I do not see it lasting forever under your law as it is. If an Aes Sedai uses the One Power for violence, then aye, I can understand you taking a hand in controlling the situation. And if it is found that that Aes Sedai did so outside the bounds of the Three Oaths then you know there is more to her then seems. But.....' Iavoe does not finish this thought, leaving it open ended as he looks at you for some response.
Rand lets out a long breath, almost a sigh. He shakes his head slightly and for a brief moment looks very, very tired. Just as quickly, a hardness settles over him, pushing away any signs of fatigue. In a frustrated tone, he says,'These things are already happening, Iavoe. I get reports... and I do have ways of moving about the city unknown to observe occasionally. Light, what I would not give for more freedom to do that.' He shakes his head sharply, fingers no longer drumming, but gripping tightly on his upper arms,'No, Iavoe. Having a standard order for them to be shielded is for the best. Otherwise, they think for themselves how to handle it.. You may not know this, but my Asha'man and myself can feel when a woman channels. They do not seem to have this same advantage. You would rather have my men holding Saidin, poised on the edge of violence and waiting for the woman to make a hostile move? Or simply shield her as soon as she gives signs of touching the source?' He shakes his head firmly,'My men are not trained to be subtle, friend. They are trained to be weapons. If I let their instincts and training decide for them instead of spelling things out in decree, Aes Sedai will be harmed or even killed.'
Iavoe says in a quiet voice,'I'd rather lad that Aes Sedai and Asha'man simply avoided each other. I can view this law as different from the policy the Aes Sedai revoked in trust to you. I will tell you now that I did not agree with the White Tower's policy of capturing and stilling men for the good of society either, and though you are not stilling Aes Sedai, you may as well be for you remove the One Power from them while within Caemlyn on threat of punishment, because of something that -might- happen, and will likely happen regardless of this law.'
Rand arches his right eyebrow questioningly,'Might happen?' He shakes his head,'Already has happened. But there is more to it. There are Aes Sedai in the city now that channel freely and with my blessing. The decree is poorly written and will be changed shortly.' He shrugs slightly and adds,'It was hastily dictated and misses the main point I wished to get across. That will be remedied.' A deep frown suddenly etches itself on his face and he says,'Although I doubt the new decree will be seen with affection, either.'
Iavoe takes a moment to absorb this, then nods his head, 'Aye, an ammendment might help. But it still does not help people like the young girl I just saw in the Oval Plaza shielded and nearly arrested for something as simple as a light no larger then a fly. Even the smallest thing from a woman is seemlingly illegal, yet your Asha'man use the One Power freely. Do you claim that your Asha'man are safer and more reliable then anyone else? Have there not been Asha'man who have killed and destroyed things in Caemlyn as well? You can not limit one while liberating another lad, they will not stand for it long.'
Iavoe looks are you, eye to eye, as he makes a last plea, 'Rand, the Aes Sedai have trusted you to police your own Asha'man, mayhap you should allow them to police the White Tower's Aes Sedai. The Three Oaths limit the Aes Sedai as much as feasible with those of power, and those who do not follow the Three Oaths are not truly Aes Sedai.' Iavoe takes a breath and after a pause shrugs his shoulders, leaving it at that.
Rand shakes his head again,'This decree was not meant to single out Aes Sedai. As I said, there are Aes Sedai in the city that channel with my blessing.' He lets out a soft snort before adding,'And if you happen to see the former high seat of House Saighan before we kill him, you may want to ask him how I feel about men freely channeling as well.' He stands from his position against the table and lowers his arms to his sides, tugging the sleeves of the coat down as if by habit. Another shake of his head, and he says,'No, Iavoe, this is not a decree against Aes Sedai. It is a decree against people channeling in my city who do not serve me. It is along the same lines as my laws not allowing foreign soldiers to carry crossbows. These things will be lumped together in the new decree. Those who serve me, who swear fealty to me or who directly serve in the city watch, shall be allowed such weapons. Others shall not.'
Iavoe says in a quiet voice,'And of those who's alliance you will need when the Last Battle does eventually arrive? Those with whom you have already made agreements with you on the handling of channelers? These mean nothing then lad?'
Rand's posture goes very stiff again. He spits out three quick names,'Benjen, Andruq, Ekain. Were these men turned over to me? Was I -allowed- to police my own in their case?' He shakes his head sharply, face tensing into a stony mask. Coldly, he says,'I would be a fool to think that my men can channel freely and without harrassment in Tar Valon. Elaida would be even a bigger fool to think that I will allow her so called Aes Sedai to do as they wish within my walls. If they wish my trust, they will swear fealty to me. If they do that they may Sing to the Earth in the Choldan Fields for all I care!'
Iavoe says in a quiet voice,'Your walls lad? You claim Caemlyn for your own now then? You claim that the man who murdered many of my Tower Guards in trying to free a prisoner from the Tower should not be punished for those murders within the city in which he broke those laws? I would have no problem if an Aes Sedai who commited many murders with Caemlyn was arrested in Caemlyn and tried for those crimes. I myself have faced trial within the walls of Caemlyn and faced the cities justice myself. The Oath given was, if memory serves, that you would be given freedom to handle your Asha'man without trouble from the Tower, but that those who went mad would be dealt with by either yourself of the Red Ajah. The Tower has agreed that those men who do not threaten the lives of those around them are at no risk of punishment. Yet you create law in Caemlyn which punishes any who channel without your permission, irregardless if their intent. Which is more just lad?'
Rand's gaze turns pure ice. In contrast, his voice is almost soft,'Yes. Caemlyn is mine until Elayne Trakand shows up to claim her throne. And it will be in one piece when she does so. But I will no more allow those who do not serve me to wander around freely channeling than I will allow them to walk about the city with loaded crossbows.' He shrugs slightly and seems to relax, all but his eyes, that is. In a calm, reasonable tone, he continues,'No one, other than the Children, seems to object to me depriving foreign soldiers of their crossbows. I will not punish an Aes Sedai for channeling to defend herself against an unwarranted attack. Just as I do not have people arrested for wearing swords.' He shrugs and adds,'Arrange to have this girl sent to me. If she suffered more than her due for her act, I will make reparations. But tell me this. What would Elaida do to a man that danced a flame on his palm in the gardens of the White Tower, even if it were just to amuse a child?'
Iavoe stands straight, making his opinion clear, 'The girl was apparently released after I announced my identity and request to speak with you to the Asha'man present at the time, and she seemed well enough when I spoke to her after. But, if you will not punish an Aes Sedai for defending herself with the One Power, and an Aes Sedai can not use the One Power as a weapon in anything but her own defense or that of her Warder, then the times they do use the One Power are not comparable to men carrying around crossbows as you refer to. The only time an Aes Sedai is allowed to use the Power within your allowances tne the allowance of the Three Oath's is when it is for something passive, which is no threat to yourself or the safety of Caemlyn.' Iavoe takes a deep breath, then releases it, 'I can not tell you what to do lad, nor will I try. I have given you my words, and will leave it to you what will be done about them. There is little more I can do about this law it seems...'
Rand shakes his head slowly for a moment, then says,'I will do what I must to win. That is all that really matters. Know this, though. My new decree will be more lenient by far than the laws of the Tower.' Suddenly, he fixes Iavoe with a slightly disapproving stare and adds,'And you know as well, perhaps even better, than I, that the Three Oaths give great leeway. An Aes Sedai can do much in the way of interference without killing. And if a man reaches into his coat, and she thinks he is throwing a knife, her Oath will allow her to kill him with the Power.. and when it turns out that he was reaching for his pipe, he will still be dead. I wish I could put your mind more at ease, friend. But I must do what I must do.'
Iavoe murmers softly, mostly to himself, 'And if the man was reaching for a knife, and she did nothing....' Iavoe's head droops slightly, and for a moment his age shows through. He looks more like a tired old man then a warrior, but the moment passes and he looks at you clearly. 'So be it then Rand. But remember that a sword, poison, or a dagger in the dark can kill just as readily as the One Power, and with far fewer bells ringing to others nearby.' Iavoe bends at the middle ever so slightly in a small bow, signalling his desire to end this topic of conversation for now.
Rand nods slowly,'I was merely pointing out that the Oaths do not make her omniscient.' He shrugs his shoulders roughly and says,'I will have a decree announced to the city that will be a fair solution. It will not be well received, but it will be as fair as I can make it. If there is still some dispute, I will have Mistress Harfor set aside time for me to recieve an official emissary from the Tower to discuss it.' He turns and takes a step towards the door, then pauses and turns back to look at Iavoe again,'I am going to find a meal. I just realized I have not eaten today. I am sure there is plenty enough for two.' He turns and concentrates in an odd manner in the direction of the map table while he awaits a response.
Iavoe allows a small smile to return to his face, speaking in a more conversational tone, 'Best make it enough for three lad, I find myself famished.' Iavoe moves to follow your lead, thumbs lacing themselves comfortably into his belt. 'Talking flaming politics and laws can make any man think he has not eaten for a week...'
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