Basement: White Tower

Rhynne mumbles a bit from one of the corners of the basement. She's sitting crosslegged on the floor as she pores over several documents in a large box before here. "This is lousy timing for being sent down here to look for something..Light!"

It's amazing just how quiet it gets down here. The bustling sounds of the Tower above do not reach this place.. and once might venture to say that the things that go on down here do not reach beyond these stone walls. The basement's shadows flicker in the low light, the recent tragedy occurring within its walls perhaps easily coming to mind. It is enough to make one uneasy, for certain. It is in that stillness, that quiet, that the sound of footsteps can be heard. Quiet footsteps, in the hall beyond this chamber, distant, but audible.

"Light!" Rhynne hisses quietly at the sound of those footsteps. There's a hurried shuffling of papers as she jumps to her feet and quickly crouches behind a couple of large boxes--and more than ready to embrace the Source if need be, but for now, she holds her breath and waits to see if those footsteps draw any closer, and /whom/ they belong to..

Indeed, the soft sounds do seem to be getting a little louder as the feet that cause them walk down the hallway at a sedate pace. It is the first time that Rhynne has heard -any- noise that she herself did not make since arriving.. and it is odd for -anyone- to be in this part of the Tower. Much less two at once.

Rhynne shivers lightly in anticipation. She's only down here because she was following instructions to come down and search for something for the Greys..but Light, she surely doesn't have to like it! She debates with herself about embracing or not, and the pro side wins out. It's good to be prepared for anything--the soft glow of Saidar would be visible to none save another channeler.

And then there is the down side.. getting caught by said other channeler, when Novices are forbidden to channel unsupervised. The footsteps continue their approach, halting as a woman's form becomes visible silhouetted in the doorway--she turning to look into the room. Sensing the channeling, perhaps, and looking for its source? Or coming to the room for some other purpose?

Despite it being held ever so lightly, the Source can indeed be sensed by another channeler. It's a calculated risk, and considering what's happened down here so very recently, Rhynne's quite prepared to face any punishment that might be meted out. If it comes to that. Meanwhile, she continues to watch as the figure draws closer..though not identifiable as yet. Dang, she should have tried that webbing weave that Sionil taught her..

The figure steps into the room and, hence, into the dim glow of what little light there is. The torchlight flickers across her ageless features, glazed eyes staring into the darkness as though through a fog. Though, what may attract attention more than her face is what she holds in her hands. In the dim light, it is difficult to make out.. but with Saidar to enhance Rhynne's senses she can make out what appears to be a striped stole..and not nearly bright enough to be the Amyrlin's dirty laundry.

Not /that/ stole! Rhynne stumbles backwards as if to get away from the thing, and in the process, trips over her lantern which clangs noisily onto the stone floor, and Saidar flees. A muttered Saldaean curse can be heard breaking the stillness. The young novice tries to keep herself from being spotted, otherwise.

Zicara's head turns, glassy eyes shifting to the spot where the sound came from. The glow of Saidar appears around her, bright with her considerable strength, as she sweeps aside the boxes Rhynne had been hiding behind with Air as though the were feathers. The glimpse of white is all that is Zicara needs to know that the girl must be shielded... and she proceeds to do so, her weaves forming almost instantaneously thanks to centuries of work with the One Power.

"Zicara Sedai!" Rhynne exclaims, wriggling to free herself from the shield. She turns wide eyes on the woman when she realizes she cannot channel. "Why have you done this to me? HELP!" She doesn't like that glassy eyed look one bit, no ma'am! Her scream echoes emptily off the halls.

The glow around Zicara brightens as she opens herself further to the source, Saidar filling her near to bursting as she reaches out again to the Novice, this time with Air. Thick ropes of Air extend to loop beneath her arms, intending to lift her off her feet while at the same time another weave is sent out to stop the girl's cries from ringing out in the room. The ancient Sedai remains silent as she begins to advance forward slowly. Almost sluggishly.

Rhynne's eyes couldn't get much wider as the frightened girl finds herself being listed. She can only mmmf against that gag, and shakes her head violently back and forth in an attempt to spit it out? Light, she squirms even more as the sedai moves towards her. Are these her last hours in this lifetime? Her thoughts go immediately to those she will miss most.

Suspended by the One Power a few scant feet off the floor, her wiggling doesn't seem to be getting her far as the ancient Sedai approaches. The glassy-eyed look on Zicara's face becomes more apparent as she gets closer, the stole all the more visible for what it is.. the seven bands of color darker than they should be in a mockery of not only what the Tower stands for but what each of the Ajahs stands for as well. Zicara's eyes seem to have trouble focusing on Rhynne, and with a faint sniff and a toss of her head she pushes the girl back carelessly with Air, pinning her none-too-gently to the wall.

The trapped novice can still make sounds from her throat, however, and that doesn't stop. In fact the sounds increase in pitch as that evil stole draws closer. Rhynne stares, simply stares at Zicara--she never would have thought the old Grey..Light, who /can/ she trust he--Slam! That thought is driven from her head as it connects with the basememt wall, bringing stars to her vision.

Zicara continues her approach, still glowing with the Power like a beacon in the dimness. Rhynne is jostled a little more against the wall, her arms lifted over her head and pressed to the stone. Still holding her in place, Zicara extends flowers of Earth, sinking them into the stone above Rhynne's head... the cool stone seems to shift against her skin, changing as it extends to curl about her wrists. Few Sisters in the Tower are strong enough in Earth to do such a thing... but apparently Zicara is one such Sister. Once the Novice is secured by these makeshift 'manacles', the flows of air that had held her up are released. The gag and shield, however, remain in place. The Gray stops a few feet in front of her, fingering the stole in her hands as she gazes up at Rhynne.. who is, of course, free to wriggle and writhe to her heart's content. Alas, Zicara is well out of kicking range.

Rhynne mmmmmms as loud as she can, glaring up at those manacles, then down at Zicara with a look that could cut stone, if she wasn't already fearing for her life. She twists about violently. Oh where oh where is help? No one can hear her down here, she's going to die alone..

Announcement: Prophecy shouts "Okay, this is mainly for the Tower channelers. Anyone on the -lower- level of the Tower (this means bottom floor: Entry Hall, Dining Hall, Common Lounge) would feel a -lot- of channeling going on below them. Since no one uses the basements usually, its an extremely odd and disconcerting thing."

Zicara narrows her eyes slightly... as though that will help her focus? Her hands continue to toy with the stole, she lifting it to regard Rhynne over the top of it.. imagining, perhaps, the stole around the girl's neck? Its mate -did- look so good on Jessalyn... and she smiles. A small, cruel, smile as she regards her caged little mouse.

Light no!!! Rhynne shrinks back against the wall, but there is no escape, is there? Oh if only she could channel!! She'd create the biggest whirlwind and would literally drive this evil Sedai through the stone floor!! Her eyes spark blue fire.

There comes the sound of footsteps in the hallway... chasing away Zicara's smile. Her face smooth, she turns to face the door, glowing with the Power and preparing weaves to unleash once she knows what it is she faces...

Footsteps? Footsteps!! Rhynne jerks her eyes towards the sound and silently pleads that it is good news this time..

It's a long hall. However, lit torches line the walls, and in recent days, the entire hallway has been scrubbed clean. Yes, for those who would know, this is the exact hall where Jessalyn was found murdered one week ago. In that time, with all the commotion on this floor, there has been a lot of cleaning. All heavily supervised, of course. But now, the sentries posted as a precaution have gone back to other duties, and the hall is again vacant. The feel of channeling is stronger now, and its coming from further down the hall. Behind one of the doors, in fact. Behind the door to the same room where Jessalyn was murdered.

Tsuiko frowns as she looks over at the other sedai. She reaches out and hugs against Devon and squeeze Wynn's hand tighter..

Lynna walks along the hallway slowly with the group of Sisters. She doesn't hold the Source yet, even though she wants to - but to do so might tip someone off too early. Her face is fixed into a serious expression normally reserved for recalcitrant Novices - only a few degrees more stern.

Saevyna hangs almost reluctantly near the end of the group. The hem of her dress is held in her hand to prevent it from dragging across the dusty floor, her slippered-feet tracing silent footfalls across the floor. Her eyes burn with an intensity of icy-fire, moving about slowly, in order to absorb everything.

Sionil moves along, near the front of the group, having had her own experiences down here as an accepted.

Moving to the front, seeing that most are hesitant to even go this far, Raemira takes charge of the situation. She glances over her shoulders to see who is nearby, then speaks quietly, though loudly enough for the others to hear, "When I open the door, be prepared, if thats to link or react singularly, or whatever. Groups of even three or four over thirteen would work as well." With that said and done, she pulls the handle of the door and starts to make her way into the room, carefully, before anyone can protest too loudly about it.

Alisa walks along following the line of her sisters, though she is acting like it is as pleasant walk rather than a march into possible battle. Looking around she makes a mental note to mention to the Mistress of novices that having the Hall here lined with lightballs would be a good punishment.

Wynn moves along with Tsuiko and the others still holding her hand, but ready to react at a moments notice if need be.

Sionil gives a nod and glances about to the others to make sure they are ready.

Zicara's skirts have not even stopped moving as the door opens, she having turned to face the door moments before. Behind her, Rhynne looks to be 'hanging' from the stone wall somehow, wriggling and writhing and trying to cry out though only a muffled sound issues forth thanks to the Air the gags her. The ancient Gray's features are difficult to make out from across the room, but weaves of fire and air hang ready... but are not yet unleashed. Her head tilted oddly, Zicara's glassy eyes glint in the low light as she gazes across the room... she seems to be waiting for something. Did she not see the door open, for some reason? Dispite the fact that she is looking right at it?

Instinctively, Raemira steps further into the room, but only enough for one or two more to get a full glimpse of the scene. More concerned about Rhynne then herself, Saidar erupts about her, and tendrils of fire and air shoot off at the manacles, in an attempt to weaken and destroy them, without also harming Rhynne any further.

Devon stands behind Tsuiko, blinking at the occupant of the room. "Zicara," she whispers, her voice in shock. Light, the Grey had taught her Law during her novice years.

Lynna is close to the front, but not close enough to see around the Amyrlin, yet. However, once Raemira embraces, Lynna holds herself ready to link - she's not one of the stronger Sedai here, and considers herself better off helping another, stronger Sedai.

Sionil glancing in behind Raemira grows cold... colder then the way she looked when she had to remove Thais from the tower as Mistress of Novices... the sight of her own Ajah Sister harming a student, only her years of discipline keep her restrained from striking out at the woman

Tsuiko stands before Devon.. "You.." Her voice rumbes as well as she lashes out with fire to try and cut the choking stole. Her eyes glint dangerously at the Gray.. "You will die..."

Sionil taking Lynna in a link moves into the room behind Raemira and strikes at Zicara moving a shield of spirit towards her now former 'sister'

Moments after the words are spoken, Zicara seems to finally notice that others have entered. The Gray releases the weaves she had held ready, even as the others begin to move into the room as well. "Thirsty..." she murmurs, still embraced to the hilt and glowing brightly with the Power. The ancient gray licks her lips, and as the 'reinforcements' advance they might note moisture glistening on her brow. She is acting oddly, giving a small start only -after- Raemira's weave strikes its target. The stone the holds Rhynne holds up, but barely. "Stop..." she says, lifting a hand.. but the movement is slow. Sluggish. And in that hand, as attention is drawn to it, can be seen one of those mocking striped stoles. Her glassy eyes flick to the stole as though she had forgotten it was there, and she shakes her head in an attempt to clear it, Tsuiko's words sparking a slight widening of her eyes. Are they all in on it with the girl? Defensive weaves begin to form as she backs away..

Wynn is near the front but still outside the room. She does embrace and gathers flows of air, but does not create any weaves as of yet. She has let go of Tsuiko's hand and tries to focus on what she can see.

Rhynne mmmms as loudly as she can through that gag, her wide eyes going from one Sedai to the next. Light, who can she trust? But they seem to be trying to fight against Zicara, anyway..

Saevyna hangs near the back of the group, in fact, there is a gap between herself and the Sisters at the door. She takes a few steps closer, but even with those, she is well out of reach of the entry way to the room. Craning her head to look down the length of the hallway, she notes that the only Aes Sedai behind her is a short Yellow, Alisa.

Raemira's eyes widen a bit as she glances between Zicara and Rhynne, "There will be no killing." Her voice is firm, "A trial must be had." After having her peace said, she looks to Zicara, "What is the meaning of this?" While she moves even further into the room, she doesn't let go of the source, and yet she doesn't make another attemp to aid Rhynne now. Likely, she's going to ask Micana to set her a pennance for reacting without thinking first.

Alisa is at the back so can not see much at all as the giants infront of her obscure her line of sight.

Sionil moves aside from the entrance to allow more of the Sisters in but still concentrates upon putting a shield on Zicara's ability, trying to weave around the defences that the Gray is doing, not hearing the Amyrlin's words just yet, her reaction taking precedence.

Devon falls behind Tsuiko, hand still on the other woman's shoulder. Perhaps things were /not/ what was assumed. She stands, waiting to see what will happen next.

Wynn is able to slip inside now that Sionil is out of the way and moves to the other side of the entrance, watching, ready to join her flows of air into a weave if need be.

Lynna moves closer to the door, off to the side to keep from blocking others' sight into the room, and letting her Power flow through her to aid Sionil's weaves. She merely focuses her eyes on Zicara - whatever's going through her mind, she says none of it.

Tsuiko nods to Raemira and moves touches Devon's shoulder.. "Please stay here.." She says, before she turns and does the same to Wynn. She moves towards, trying to send a shield towards Zicara..

Alisa looks off to the side studying the halway walls then looking up at the ceiling before checking behind, quite content to stay right where she is. SHe decides reluctantly that the situation call for her to grasp and so she reaches out for the one thing she loves most of all and feels her lovers embrace as saidar floods into her body.

Raemira's question seems to be more that of a person inquiring upon a scene where a child has stolen candy from the candy jar, demanding rather than accusing. She waits for Zicara to give her an answer, even as the others file in behind her. She chooses a moment to turn her attention away from the other woman to look at those who've entered. She casts a frown at those working weaves without actual 'just' evidence that Zicara was doing anything more than interrogating Rhynne on her own findings.

Zicara retracts the hand she had held out, gripping the stole in both hands such that her knuckles soon turn white. She maintains her connection with Saidar dispite Sionil's attempts at shielding her, likely due to the fact that she is embraced almost to the point of burnout.. and for one of her strength that is nothing to scoff at. Perhaps Tsuiko may fare better. Zicara's eyes flick between the Sisters crowding the door, she wetting her lips once more before speaking, "Best for you to kill me.. if you do not, I will expose you all..." her gaze comes to rest on Raemira, and she looks down to the stole in her hands as though disgusted. "I should have known." she murmurs, licking her lips once more. Raemira's question finally sinks in, and she replies as she attempts to slice Tsuiko's shielding weave with a blade of Spirit, "Is it not obvious, -Mother-?" there is some contempt in that word.. as though she thinks Raemira unworthy of the title, "I found your little rat poking where she shouldn't be."

Saevyna has not yet surrendered to the source, and instead of following the rest of the Sisters into the confined quarters of the room, she holds her position in the hallway. With almost casual glances towards the door, she moistens her lips with her tongue and reaches her hand upwards to tuck a deviating strand of hair behind her ear.

Devon blinks, suddenly growing still. Through the events of the day, her elegant bun has come somewhat undone, stray hairs whisping against the nape of her neck. She looks from Zicara, to Rhynne, to the group surrounding her. Bloody hell, who was trustworthy?

Lynna purses her lips. Something isn't right here, beyond the obvious - and this is one knot that won't likely be easily unraveled.

"Whyfore would we want to kill you, as there's no reason for us to do so, Daughter?" Unlike Zicara's contempt, there's only a sense of confusion to Raemira's words. She's trying to rationalize things now, unlike her earlier hasty actions. She glances to Rhynne once more, then back to the Gray Sister and the stole. "I'm sure, however, that everyone here would like to know just where you got that stole."

Wynn blinks as well, looking from the young one up on the wall, to Zicara, to Raemira, slight frown on her lips, her flows are still at hold, the source embraced deeply, waiting.

Rhynne's eyes darken and she just glares at Zicara for her feigned innocence. A pleading look goes to the Amyrlin and she violently shakes her head, then nods it, still bound so she cannot point to her gag, merely emit from her throat.

Sionil feeling the doubt from Lynna through the link pauses the attempted shielding enough for the woman to answer

Alisa quickly forms the tiny flow of fire then curling it into a tiny ball till its luminescence becomes visibly. Tieing the flow off she then uses a flow of air to hold it up against the ceiling keeping it inplace with a spider like structure of air which she also ties off.

Devon tightens her grip on Tsuiko's shoulder. "Enough. Let her speak," she says in reference to the channeling, and across the room to Zicara.

Where there was moisture upon Zicara's forehead there are now beads of sweat. The additional illumination that Alisa provides reveals Zicara to be somewhat pale, her eyes definitely glassy. She looks.. unwell, at least to the Yellows among you. Her brow furrows with apparent confusion, she turning her head to frown up at Rhynne for a moment before her gaze returns to the sisters across the way. "So thirsty.." she murmurs, almost under her breath. "Where I got it?" she asks, swinging from confusion to incredulty rapidly. "It was you that put her here, to trap me!" She coughs, once or twice.

Tsuiko blinks a few times and looks between Raemira and Zicana... She pauses the shield.. before she turns to look at Rhynne.. "Rhynne's the darkfriend?" She blinks and looks back to Zicara.

Lynna frowns now, slipping through the doorway now that she doesn't expect a mad rush. "Let us not jump to any conclusions yet, Sisters," she cautions. "Not until we have a better idea of what we have here."

Sionil finally speaks tho her words are still in a cold manner "Trap you how. A novice trap a sister. quite unlikely. Explain yourself." Sio is Zicara's Sitter after all

"I asked about the stole, not Rhynne. Do not change the subject or the words asked." Raemira advanecs about, starting to form flows of spirit weaves herself. She is strong in the power, stronger than even Zicara, and twice or thrice times over in Spirit than the woman. There is no doubt what the Amyrlin means to do, the woman is a floating bomb, and if she can't be shut off she'll destroy everyone in the basement. "And Rhynne was not sent down here by anyone. However, if you think me the perpetrator in all this, why not give the stole to Tsuiko to 'Recall' and then we'll get down to the truth of the matter." She continues to advance, getting closer and holding out her hand to take the stole.

Devon sees Zicara, and the sweat on her brow. The woman looks...unwell. "She's sick," Devon looks around for a Sister of the Yellow. "Bloody hell," she mutters to herself, and at the rest of the Sisters. In particular, Sionil and Raemira. Both prepared to channel...but was it against a Darkfriend? Or was the Grey Sister innocent? Devon leans herself against the wall, her breathing shallow. Bloody hell.

Saevyna still clings to the hallway outside the room, licking her lips almost nervously every so often. Even as of now, she has yet to surrender herself to the sweet flood that is saidar.

Wynn takes this opportunity to pull on the flows of air she has been gathering and weaves them into an edge to cut through the weave that gags Rhynne preparing to send it to free the girl's mouth.

Zicara backs away as Raemira advances, soon bumping into Rhynne as the Novice continues to dangle. She shakes her head again, as though to clear it, forming weaves of Air intended to push the Amyrlin back as Raemira forms her flow of Spirit for shielding.. fighting back with -her- strength. Or one of them, anyway. "You'll not take me! If I die, you'll all come with me... the Tower will be cleansed!" The glow pulses around her as she manages to take in just a little more of the Power, trembling where she stands and looking to have difficulty drawing breath...

Alisa is still out in the hallway knowing there is conversation going in the room but the echoing effect of the hallway makes it quite hard to determine what is being said. Though the area of the hallway she is in is not brightly lit with few shadows to speak of.

Sionil blinks at the actions Zicara is performing and once again moves her own shield (made with hers and Lynna's powers) at Zicara at the same time Raemira moves against her

Lynna widens her eyes slightly. "Peace," she murmurs. Of course, she is also still holding the Source, linked to Sionil. "Zicara, think about this - what you're trying will harm many innocents in addition to all of us." She narrows her eyes in concentration as Sionil draws on the Power, bringing her own comments to a stop. Slow steps bring her closer to her Ajah's Sitter.

The power of Zicara's weaving is enough to send Raemira reeling back a few steps and to stumble over her own feet and to the ground. She lands with an oomph, clearly surprised. Her shielding weaves dissipate, having never advanced them upon Zicara, in her surprise, however she clearly still holds the source. "Shield her. She's far too dangerous in her condition. If she takes in any more of the power, she may kill not only herself, but everyone in here."

Tsuiko pushes her shiield fast and hard against Zicara..when she's not looking..at her... "Stop her.. hurry!"

Wynn blinks at seeing this happen and changes tactics, having the child able to speak means little if all die. She releases her flows and offers herself in link to Tsuiko to give her more strength.

Devon glances from Zicara to Sionil to Lynna to Tsuiko. Someone was...a darkfriend, all that and worse. But who. Were the Sisters too insistent on channeling against her? Did they have something to hide. Devon's eyes dart around the room, growing more and more wide. Bloody hell, all that desire to pursue the Black Ajah, and remove them, and this is the situation she finds herself in.

Saevyna turns her head towards the entrance to the room every so often, if only to cast a suspicous glance, or to try to form an impression over what is occuring after hearing some slurred words. Looking across the hall towards Alisa, she manages a weak smile for the woman, scratching the back of her calf with her opposite foot afterwards.

"You WILL NOT LIE!!" Rhynne's found her voice, once the gag has dissolved, and aims a swift kick for Zicara's head, since she cannot throttle the woman with her hands. "I'm innocent and you KNOW it, Zicara!" she trembles with rage.

Alisa thinking that to er on the side of caution is perhaps th best idea she forms a flow of air ready to make a wall of air. She is concerned with what is going on in the room but still confident the sisters into can meet the challenge though if such is not the case then the wall of air will serve to protect her at the least.

Tsuiko does link with Wynn and forces the shield further towards Zicara before she turns and fires another gag of air across Rhynne's mouth.. "Now's not the time!" SHe calls out, turning back to further the shiled... "Hurry Wynn.."

Zicara gives a small start at the sudden shout from behind her, beginning to whirl just in time for the Novice's foot to connect with her face. The Gray staggers backward, feet tangling in the trailing end of the stole she clutches in her hands. Zicana goes down with a groan, the glow around her winking out just in time for the shields to slam into place. There will be no more danger from this one, tonight.

Wynn draws to near her limit, which is a fair amount as she is quite a strong channeler and feeds it all into the link, letting Tsuiko control it, as her shield was already formed and ready to be strengtened, so that it can hold, one of two shields more than likely in place now.

Sionil sliding her shield in lets out a grunt and staggers back into Lynna weakly "By the light..."

Now pure confusion besets Raemira's features as Tsuiko sets a gag back onto Rhynne? Why was that done? The girl has every right to speak as the next person. Her brow creases thickly, as she attempts to right herself, making no further move to go toward Zicara. Perhaps her fall has addled her brain so much that she's not thinking clearly? Seeing that the others have Zicara now well in hand, a sigh escapes her. She looks to the Brown holding Rhynne, then states quietly, "Release her." She goes over to retrieve the stole from Zicara. Will the others trust the testimony of the recall? To Raemira, that one object is the only thing that will clear her own name and others of their actions this night.

Saevyna considers Alisa with an inquisitive glance as the woman readies a thread of Air, her eyes blinking behind her emotionless mask of serenity. Her hands travel to the skirt of her rose dress, where spread palms work to smoothing and straightening wrinkles.

Lynna lets out a breath of relief, but only has a split-second before she catches Sionil. "It's done, Sister. For the moment."

Sionil regains her composure and retains the hold on the shield, sorry Lynna, then turns to Rhynne and then to Tsuiko "I will know what this child knows about _my_ ajah member."

On the floor, Zicara groans and presses a hand to her eye, which will likely be black and blue soon if not tended. The stole is easily taken from her grasp, though it must be tugged a bit to get it out from under her where she fell on it. She coughs again, struggling to push herself up into a sitting position and looking as though she might sick up.

Tsuiko looks over to Rynne and nods, letting her weaves fall away... "Yes, MOther.."

The stole, being Raemira's only real goal, not to kill Zicara, or see her harmed, or even to accuse her of anything, is taken from the woman with a few tugs. She is gentle about the whole thing, refraining from any unnecessary roughness until they discover just who is involved and what their loyalties are. She then takes the garmet over to Tsuiko, holding it out to her with a rather expectant look. "I believe you know what to do with this."

Lynna isn't complaining about the link. She lets Sionil up once her Sitter has her footing again. Silently, she looks back and forth between Rhynne and Zicara, then to the stole being handed to Tsuiko.

Devon stands, her face now a bright crimson, flush with anger. As always happens, a dark pink line becomes illuminated upon her left cheek, a remnant from a time before she came to the Tower, a scar faded so much that it only appeared when she was angry...or upset. Not much difficulty discerning which of the two it is this time. Her eyes narrow at Sionil, considering the woman once Mistress of Novices, and now a Sitter. A bloody Sitter. "I think this proves that none of us know who we can trust, and even if those we trust are deserving of it. There are 15 women in this hall, and the Light only knows where loyalties truly lie." Her voice is calm, and hard.

Rhynne sags in relief as she is freed, and rubs her arms. She shrinks away from that evil garment, shivering. "Get..it..away.." she gasps.

Wynn sways a little, as she lets her grip on the source release slightly, reducing how much she is holding after she is freed from her link. She watches at the moment.

Sionil looks to Rhynne "What do you know, Rhynne?"

Zicara coughs again, quietly, from the floor. Turning her head, she casts a rather baleful look in Rhynne's direction. Little rat, indeed. Shaking her head, she moves to sit against the wall, focusing on her breathing and attempting to salvage what little dignity she might have left. She still looks pale, watching the hubub as though dazed.

Lynna turns her attention to Devon, and nods. "You are quite correct, Sister. Only the Light knows - and, Light willing, we will have some questions answered here, or at least some direction." She slowly shakes her head. "Rather than more questions...."

Tsuiko reaches out and takes the stole.. "Yes Mother." She sighs and closes her eyes as she weaves into the stole..

Saevyna casts an irritable glance down both lengths of the hallway, before giving a slight roll of her eyes and proceeding towards the door. Pausing just in front of it, she sweeps her eyes over the contents -- taking in everything from the people, to the contents, and the general assembly of the crowd. Both eyebrows quirk upon her forehead, and as she pulls away from the entry way to reclaim her previous position against the wall in the hallway, she is left appearing somewhat dizzy.

Tsuiko frowns and shakes her head back and forth.. "I can't tell.." She says, reaching out for Rhynne's dress.. "Let me seee the dresses... of them both Mother."

"I was..sent down here by Sorliela Sedai.." Rhynne supplies to Sionil, since she's the one who asked. "She wanted me to look up a document that the Grey Ajan had drafted..something about a treaty or something..and the next thing I know, /she/.." Zicara is pointed to "..comes into the room, throws boxes away from me and binds and gags me before I can even utter a word! Then..then she brought the stole..that evil one..one Angharad found? I was..there..I-it didn't touch me, thank the Light..you came." She collapses to the floor then and sobs.

Devon looks at Zicara, sweat still on her face. "Zicara looks sick, has anyone Delved her yet?" She glances around. One of the Sisters would have to be Yellow, wouldn't they? "Alisa?" she asks, spotting the girl near the hall, "Can you find out what's wrong with Zicara?"

Lynna frowns toward Rhynne thoughtfully. "Down here? There's little down here that any Aes Sedai should send a Novice to get - I would expect the Library to be more useful." She looks to Devon, and starts to say something, but there is a Yellow with them, so she changes her mind.

Raemira sighs deeply, shaking her head at Tsuiko, "I believe, while your Talent is useful, we've been relying on it far too heavily this night. I would hear what they both have to say for themselves before we continue onward." She does catch Devon's earlier words, and her current. Just as she was about to pipe up about her own talent, she stops, giving a small nod of approval to Alisa at Devon's request.

Sionil turns to Zicara and asks "Why did you follow her?" her tone changing back to that of one from her court. Granted Sio still is shielding Zicara ;)

Wynn releases the source now, sweating a bit herself and moving against one of the walls to steady herself. She leans against the wall and watches, looking a bit tired, but then again she always has put all of herself into her channeling and usually ends up exhausted.

Tsuiko collapses against Wynn and closes her eyes, trying to hold onto the other woman tightly.. "I.. I'm sorry mother.."

Zicara's glassy eyes stare off at nothing... which, coincidentally, is exactly what she says--nothing. There is no signal that she has even heard Sionil's words, not even a batting of an eyelash.

Alisa walks towards the entrance to the room surveying the carnage or lack there of. SHe strides quickly towards zicara then going to place her good hand upon the Zicara's shoulder she releases the flow of air then grabs a thick flow of spirit. Starting it at her feet them moving it up her body with well practiced ease.

Sionil frowns at the lack of a responce but looks towards Alisa for a diagnosis of the woman

Saevyna regards Alisa with an near absentness as the woman walks past her and enters the room. Now alone in the hallway, she cranes her neck to peer in both directions, carefully surveying the length of the hallway. Then, satisfied with whatever she had been observing, she places her open palms against the stone wall and leans against it.

Devon watches the room warily, taking every Sister's expression in, studying them. Her eyes remain narrowed at Sionil, flickering down to the Grey Sister in the midst of Delving. Bloody Hell. Was it safe to blame all Grey's for this matter?

"I..I was just d-doing what I was t-told.." Rhynne utters between sobs from her position on the floor.

Alisa finishing the probe of spirit she adds a bit of fire to the spirit flow changing the weave and begins to purge the poison from Zicara's body "Poor excuse for an assassin they should have known not to use such a weak poison. One would think that they would had done black mushrooms or perhaps hemlock or if there are friends of the dark in this tower they would have acess more foul poisons than we would even know existed."

Lynna places her hand to wipe at her face, the breif strain put on her from the intense channeling finally subsiding. "Peace, Rhynne. This will be sorted out. Still, even in the best of situations, we will need to have a long talk to straighten this out. That will have to wait, though." She looks toward Alisa, and arches her eyebrows quietly.

Wynn just rests against the wall and Tsuiko, catching a breather and slowly regaining some strength.

Sionil's frown deepens more hearing that "Poison?" she questions... tho with that surprize she releases the shield and the link with Lynna

Devon chews on her lower lip, her expression going bleaker than it already is. "I would like to know how Zicara could be such a threat, in her state." She begins quietly, looking around the room. "And why it was so easy for some of you to accuse her of guilt. An Aes Sedai, one older than any of us in here, if I'm correct." She looks to Sionil as she says this, perhaps her body language voicing the thought she refuses to.

Alisa continues "I have always thought widowmaker was a nice efficient poison myself and fairly difficult to treat as well. Though rather hard to come by and thus carrying its own problems. This poison more than likely contributed to delusions and feelings of paranoia. Most often grant false visions if administered in small doses.

Zicara continues to sit on the floor with her back against the wall, clarity slowly returning to her eyes as she is Healed. The ancient Gray makes no move at embracing Saidar, even as the shield cutting her off from the Source fails. To her credit, perhaps. Her silence is broken as she murmurs a quiet, "Thank you, Sister." to Alisa.

Walking over to Rhynne, Raemira casts a sympathetic gaze upon the young girl. "Shh. Its alright child. You're not going to be harmed." She casts a glare about the room, almost defying anyone to bring harm to either of the women. Spirit one again is formed, and this time its a weave used to calm people. She casts it upon Rhynne, attempting to sooth her overflowing emotions and allow her to think clearly.

Lynna purses her lips - pausing only a moment to relax as the Source is released from Sionil. "Unless the intent of the poison was to induce hallucination ... cloud judgment ... maybe even paranoia. Would the poison you detected do any of that?" She looks to Devon, and nods. "Something which I believe most of us should do penance for, to some degree."

Tsuiko rests against Wynn and shakes her head and looks over at Lynna and the others.. "it.. sounds like compulsion..." She shudders at that.. clutching tighter to Wynn..

Alisa explains "Well it would seem that there are two choices the would be assassin is quite clumsy and incompetant or that this was indeed the case to discredit a politically powerful sedai. It is my belief that this was a diversion to grab our attention while who knows what goes on while we are occupied elsewhere. Though the why does escape me at this point in time."

Alisa ponders "though the poison was not sufficient to cause any permanent damage to her body besides a few fever like systems."

Rhynne takes deep breaths and nods up to Raemira once the weave sinks in. "Th-thank you, Mother.." And she's perfectly happy to remain on the floor for the time, it would seem. Though Alisa's utterings earns her a shiver from Rhynne.

Sionil does not react or even respond to the accusations from the newly raised Blue but asks of Alisa "And the use of the Power by her, she will survive them?"

Lynna frowns, and nods to Alisa. "Given no other evidence, Sister, I think that the explanation is quite likely." She sets her jaw, quietly pondering.

Raemira glances at Alisa, smirking a touch, "Do you not think that she could have poisoned herself, to cast suspicion away from herself? Rhynne is naught but a child, and while having completed her /beginning/ classes, has not yet the strength we believed to have been used on Meggera. And she likely will not come into her full strength until years after being an Aes Sedai. I believe we need to speak to this Sorliela, now." there is a command in her tone. She wants this settled, and to at least discover whether or not Rhynne's words were true.

Wynn is getting her strength back and supports Tsuiko a bit, but still looks tired, she tries to listens but is just a bit drained still to pay too much attention.

Zicara manages to get to her feet, with effort..and help from Alisa, should the Yellow be kind enough to offer. Once on her feet, and Healed, Zicara seems to be acting much like herself, taking a kerchief from the pocket of her dress to dab at her brow. All the while remaining silent, dignified, and cool as a cucumber. A stark contrast to her earlier seeming poison-enduced demeanor.

Devon voices the thought others may be thinking, but no one says. "No one ever said the murderer was workign alone, Sisters." Whether it be Rhynne, or Zicara, or perhaps another Sister.

Tsuiko continues to hug against Wynn, breathing hard as she does so.. "Perhaps..it is this Sedai that is controlling.." She pants and hugs against Wynn..

Alisa says cooly "well yes mother that is a possibility as the poison used is not escpecially hard to find. Perhaps a canvassing of the herbsellers in the city proper will turn up more clues?"