Fanfic:The Cleansing/Part Four
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The child had wanted to talk to her, what might be the reason? Amora Sedai had told her about testing Vashan to be part of her secret eyes-and-ears, so that'd mean Vashan had something to report. Gesturing for the Soldier to follow, Zaria made her way past several corridors before finding an empty classroom. Ushering Vashan inside first, she closed the door behind her as she came in. Leading the Soldier to the back of the classroom, away from the door, she gave Vashan a concerned smile.
"What is it Child? You have not taken sick have you?"
Walking quickly and behind Zaria Sedai, they walked past several corridors before coming to a halt in front of a classroom door. Waiting on bouncing toes, Vashan watched as Zaria Sedai opened the door to the classroom and gestured for Vashan to step inside. Once inside, Zaria Sedai closed the door behind her and led Vashan to the back of the classroom, away from the door and curious ears.
"What is it Child? You have not taken sick have you?"
"No Zaria Sedai, I have not taken sick from the vermin infestation." He took a deep breath before continuing. "Zaria Sedai, I have given the infestation situation some thought. How is it possible that the rats suddenly appeared in such vast amounts in such a short period of time? If rats were breeding within the Tower, there should be a gradual increase in numbers. And I would think that if even one rat is seen, the Tower staff would eliminate the rat with all possible haste.
Besides, the Tower has wards that turn away any of the Dark One's creatures, any ravens or rats that try to get close will be sent away. So they shouldn't have been able to get in. If they did get in that would mean there was something wrong with the wards around the Tower. But if there was something wrong with the wards around the Tower, it should be noticeable by Aes Sedai and Asha'man right? I know for a fact that the wards around the Tower are checked and if something was wrong with them, the problem would be patched or fixed right? Also, the amount of vermin present within the Tower today would most likely eliminate the rats coming into the Tower through the wards.
So if they didn't come into the Tower through he wards, then they must be bred here, within the Tower. Someone brought rats into the Tower and began breeding them. But if they were breeding in the Tower, how come no one has noticed? They might be breeding in some dark corners of the Tower, like the basements. Rats go everywhere, and since no one seemed to have found any trace of them before today meant they were well hidden, maybe their nest was even warded."
He quickly continued before Zaria Sedai could interrupt. "I know it sounds impossible, but if it there was even a slight possibility that was true... Rats are quick, they can move quietly and easily through small dark places, I am guessing they are used to gather information quickly by the Dark One. If they indeed originate from the basement, where the Vaults are... I also know from asking discreet questions that the Vaults are warded and checked four times everyday. During those times when the Vaults aren't being checked, it is possible that the rats might have looked through the Vaults, maybe only the less warded ones or maybe not." He cleared his throat quietly. "I know I am stretching this theory... But if the rats are only the distraction to evacuate the Tower as well as disrupt the normal schedules of the day... Burn me, I hope I am wrong." He shivered visibly at the thought that someone within the Tower would steal from the Vault. "Can the Indigo Ajah do a recheck of the Vaults? Or test the wards guarding the Vaults? Or check is anyone else has been down around the basements? Maybe I am wrong. For the love of Light, I hope I am wrong."
Vashan whispered a short prayer to the Creator before continuing. "That's all I wanted to say Zaria Sedai... I don't know if my mind was too creative." Frightened at what he had said to Zaria Sedai, Vashan looked up at Zaria Sedai, wondering if she thought him mad.
OOC: Alright... Do what you will with the post. Maybe Vashan is going paranoid... Uh oh... *looks shiftily around*
Amora, are you going to NPC Zaria back? Or do you want me to do it? Like NPC the post getting back to the Amyrlin and the others.
Zaria usually radiated the sort of warmth a plump favorite aunt would when she baked honeycackes for the villiage children. But a dark cloud passed over her round sun-like face. She remembered the last time rats and ravens had found a way through the wards, and they had brought naught but trouble. The Dark One's trouble. She had offered help in her own way, with information and the history of the problem before she herself had slipped away to safety without the protection of a Warder.
She pulled her thick woven shawl snug around her shoulders as if to protect herself from a chill breeze. She looked like a browned almond. Even if someone had carelessly let a rat or two Travel with them beyond the wards, they could not have bred so rapidly.
"Thank you, child." She patted his cheek. "Trouble yourself not. You have done all you can and all will be well." They began to move towards the other side of the room and the door. Then she paused and frowned slightly. "How did you come to be aware how often the wards around the vaults are checked?" She folded her generous arms under her bosom. "Have you been playing in forbidden places?"
Vashan's mouth dropped open at such a question from Zaria Sedai. "I- I- You don't mean I..." He stuttered in trying to form words, unbelieving that Zaria Sedai was accusing him of sneaking into forbidden places. "I swear under the Light and by my hope of salvation and rebirth, I did not play in any places that were forbidden for a Soldier to go Zaria Sedai." He gave a bow to assure her of his honesty. Well, I didn't lie. "One can learn a lot if one listens intently and observes carefully. And besides Zaria Sedai, I tend to read a lot of books in the Library. With so much knowledge, the puzzle was already there. All someone had to do was put the pieces together."
He gave an innocent shrug, as if to indicate that reading a lot of books in the Tower Library was the latest trend. It was true Vashan got clues and hints from reading about the fortifications from the Library, but the knowledge just wasn't complete, it was too vague and fragmented. To satisfy his curiosity, he had moved around to observe, and listen. More often hiding in places to listen and observe when he should be elsewhere. It was the truth when he said he didn't go and play in any of the forbidden places.
He looked at Zaria Sedai's frown, produced one of his own for her and said. "All will be well Aes Sedai? There are people around who might be after Objects of the Power in those Vaults." He gave a slight pause as he shook his head at himself. "I hope I can do more to help out..." He trailed off what he was going to say, in fact, he didn't know what else he could say.
Zaria Sedai nodded, half to herself and half for his benefit. Her frown relaxed into thoughtfulness, "I believe you, child." But he had given her the impression that he knew what he did by forbidden means. "Mother was more judicious selecting you than I understood if you puzzled together this by indirect means. Perhaps if you find such interest in the Library, I should encourage you to persue the Brown Ajah." Zaria thought on this, for she was indeed in need of an assistant, and Mother knew of the need now that her last one had been raised.
She listened then to the boy's frustration, and this time smiled more warmly. But there was seriousness behind that smile. "With observations like yours," she clarified, "all will be well. You have done all you can, and it is not the first time one has attempted to tresspass through the vaults." She patted his shoulder lightly. "There are proceedures in place to counter these possibilities, and I shall suggest to Mother that they be set in motion. What you should do, child, is play your role as eyes and ears and let others be the hands and feet."
