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With cool politeness, the guards at the door nod at your approach and open the doors, allowing you entrance to Zerani's office. Zerani herself is standing at the window, looking out over the courtyard below with her face hidden from view. Her hands are clasped loosely behind her back and she does not turn as you step in.
As the door opens, two Maidens step forward. Rand clears his throat loudly and they turn to sniff disdainfully at him. he says, 'I will speak with the Regent alone.' One of the women flashes hand signals at the other for a moment, then they shrug and step aside, taking up positions on the far wall from the door guards. Rand shakes his head slightly in exasperation and then turns to enter the room. The door closes behind him as he moves to stand by the fireplace, slowly pulling off his gloves and tucking them behind his belt. He clears his throat lightly and says,'Good day, Regent. I trust things are going well?'
Zerani doesn't turn from the window, waiting until the door is fully shut before finally giving a slight nod. 'As well as can be expected.' she says, her voice calm, if perhaps a touch cold, and her Cairhienin accent is quite heavy, 'Cairhien is not an easy nation to control.'
Rand nods once and straightens to fully perfect posture. With a tone that is just a touch colder than would seem necessary,'You only have to hold it together until I can fill the throne.' He lets out a soft sigh and says in a less harsh tone,'I apologize for the lack of pleasantries, but I am short on time. I am here to discuss Na'kar Saighan. What can you tell me of him?'
Zerani's jaw clenches at your words, her hands tightening behind her briefly before she forces them to relax and folds her arms in front of her instead. After a few moments, she turns from the window, her face a mask, though her golden eyes glitter dangerously. 'I know little of him, he managed to seize the High Seat shortly after you placed me as Regent and I was busy with managing the country as a whole rather than tangle myself in the inner affairs of one house.'
Rand's fists clench at his sides and then slowly open again. He looks hard at Zerani for a moment before he says in a mostly calm voice,'I am not blaming you, Regent. I am just seeking information.' He goes silent for a moment, studying her face carefully, then asks,'What do you think his reaction will be when I have him declared outlaw?'
Zerani gives a soft snort and turns away to pace towards a small table in the corner by the fireplace, pouring herself a glass of brandy as she answers, 'I was not implying any blame at all.' her words a touch clipped before she continues in a bit more normal tone of voice. 'As to the High Seat... again, I do not know the man. Were we to meet, have no doubt, one of us would end up dead.' These last words issue with almost a snarl as Zerani turns back towards you, glancing down at the brandy as she regains her composure. 'Would you like a drink?' she asks, her tone almost, but not quite, pleasent.
Rand frowns slightly for a moment, as if considering. Finally, he inclines his head in a brief nod and says,'Thank you. Yes.' He turns and begins to pace slowly back and forth. Loud enough to be clearly heard, but in a tone as if speaking to himself, he says,'I wonder if he might attempt to strike at you to disrupt my control of Cairhien. Or perhaps some other act of desparation?' His hands clench and unclench as he paces. Abruptly, he stops and turns to face Zerani again. His mouth sets in a hard line as he studies her. After a long moment, he speaks as if carefully choosing his words,'I have reports of this man channeling and with skill. Are you confident in the ability of your guards to stop him should he make an attempt for you? Or would you prefer I assign one of the Asha'man to assist you until he is dealt with?'
Zerani watches you carefully until you give your answer, then, with a bit of a nod, she turns and pours a second glass, handing it to you as you pace past her the first time. Arching one eyebrow as she overheards your mutterings she takes a slow sip of the brandy, a bit of a frown pulling at her lips. At your quiet study, a bit of tenseness enters her stance, but she merely takes another calm sip of her brandy, but at your question, dark fury scrawls itself across her face and her fingers clench tightly enough to the glass in her hand that it is probably a wonder why the vessal didn't shatter, not voicing any response just yet.
Rand sips from the glass that Zerani handed him as he waits for her to respond. He frowns hard as he sees the reaction on her face, then shakes his head slightly. He tosses back the rest of the brandy and sets the table on the edge of the desk before turning back to face her. With the slightest shake of his head, he says,'I will not insist upon it, Zerani. It is your life and you know your guards. I do not.'
Zerani's rage vanishes like a popped soap bubble, though the dark scowl remains. She turns her gaze down to the brandy in her hand, tossing down the last of it as well before setting it on the table behind her, still not saying anything for a few moments. After a few moments, she manages to say in relatively calm tones, 'You intend to fight fire with fire?'
Rand's entire body trembles for a moment as if with barely contained rage. In a harsh, cold voice, he says,'This man commited murder with the One Power practically under my own nose. Then he kidnapped someone from an Inn less than a league from the palace in Caemlyn. I intend to see him dead.' As he speaks his voice rises until he is practically shouting,'I intend to offer a reward for his capture that would tempt his own mother to turn him in. I am of a mind to give him to the Red Ajah!' He turns and begins to pace again as he struggles to contain his temper.
Zerani's hands clench tightly into fists, though she tries to disguise the fact by folding her arms in front of her and leaning back against the table she stands in front of. 'I was speaking in more blunt terms. Namely, the taint.' she says with forced blandness in her tones, 'If Na'kar has the same allience as did Justarius, then he is safe from it. You and your men are not.'
At the mention of the taint, Rand stops pacing and cocks his head to the side for a moment, as if listening to something. For a long moment, he says nothing, then his attention focuses on Zerani again. His eyes are blank, almost dead, and his voice cold and harsh,'I will fight with whatever weapons I have to hand. The Last Battle is rapidly approaching. There is little enough time for the taint to trouble us.' He shakes his head and some of the coldness in his voice evaporates,'I know you do not wish to be around men that channel. No one does. Given your position, I cannot promise that you will not have to deal with my Asha'man from time to time. If you are the person I thought you were when I appointed you, then you will endure this... although not necessarily with good grace.' His lips quirk up very slightly into an almost-smile at his last comment.
Zerani's scowl deepens further with each word you speak, especially the last, though she does not show signs of loosing her temper. Her jaw clenches tightly for a moment or two before she manages to say, 'How many?'
Rand's fist clenches suddenly, knuckles going white as his temper very obviously flares. Slowly, he forces his hand open and says in something approaching a calm tone,'However many are necessary, when and if they are necessary. I will not play power games with you, Zerani. Rest assured it will not happen unless it is necessary.'
Zerani gives a curt nod, reaching up with one hand to tuck her hair back behind her ear. After another lengthy pause, she motions towards the interior of the estates with another nod. 'Should the case arise, there are unused rooms which can easily be used for your ... comings and goings. Few will hear or see anything that goes on'
Rand nods slowly and says,'Thank you. I will need to study one of the rooms for a time.' He removes his gloves from behind his belt and begins tugging them on, pulling them snuggly up to cover the dragon heads on the backs of his hands. He nods again and says,'I will keep you informed on this matter. I need to return to Caemlyn now and make arrangements for the hunt to begin.' He opens his coat and pulls a rolled up piece of parchment from an inside pocket and holds it out to Zerani. 'If you please, have copies of this posted in prominent places and have criers announce it throughout the city.'
Zerani steps forward after the briefest of hesitations and takes the paper calmly with a nod. 'There should be a runner waiting to take you to the rooms when you step out.' she says, tucking the paper under one arm without a second glance to it.
Rand lowers his hand as Zerani takes the parchment from it. 'Good day to you, Zerani. I will be in Cairhien often. Do not hesitate to contact me if you hear more on this darkfriend.' With one last tug at his gloves, he turns and moves to the door.
Zerani merely gives a curt, unseen nod, and turns back towards the brandy, pouring herself another glass 'I do not hesitate in matters of importance.' she comments calmly, 'Travel safely.'
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