acrookedpath | [pfsb]

He keeps hold of Wei Ying's hand and meets the Aes Sedai's eyes with a level stare. "Is there anything else we should know before we travel with you?"

Moiraine raises her eyebrows very slightly as she considers him. "Is there anything else you wish to know?" she counters.

Ah, there is the Moiraine he remembers.

Wei Wuxian eyes them both, ready to intervene if it becomes necessary.

"I have asked," Lan Wangji says, levelly, and the Aes Sedai has to fight not to let out an exasperated breath. She needs their assistance, she reminds herself. Besides, it is useful for her to remember what it is like to be challenged so. All things are part of the Pattern.

"And I have responded," she replies, with perfect poise. "I am not unwilling to speak, but I have also learned not to make assumptions about your beliefs and desires. To a certain extent, you may be as prepared as is possible, but if there are other things you are curious about or would wish to discuss beforehand, then do not expect me to read your thoughts to discern them."

Wei Wuxian breaks into an uncertain laugh, turning take Lan Zhan by the shoulders as he insinuates himself between the pair.

"I am certain I'll think of plenty to ask once we have a good look at the anomaly," he says. "We know enough to get started at least, eh?"

He has already had this argument with Moiraine before -- what she considers unimportant, a cultivator may find very important, and vice versa -- and it got him nowhere. Lan Zhan will have even less luck, he's certain.

It takes him a few moments of leveled gaze before he looks over at Wei Ying and gives an infinitesimal nod. "Mn."

He will just have to be watchful. More watchful.

Wei Wuxian's expression blossoms into a bright grin. He doesn't bother restraining himself from kissing the tip of Lan Zhan's nose.

"Good!" he chirps. "Then shall we?"

Light help us all, Moiraine thinks, but inclines her head in assent. "There is little to be gained through further delay, I should expect."

She glides to the door of her study and opens it, then waits for them to pass through so she can set the wards before departing.

Picking up his bag, Wei Wuxian slings it over one shoulder -- almost knocking it into the doorframe of Moiraine's room -- as he exits.

As Moiraine busies herself with... something; probably like the locking talismans on their own door, he lowers his voice so only Lan Zhan can hear.

"What do you think?"

"That we shall soon see." He rests his hand at the small of Wei Ying's back to guide him for a moment as they follow the Aes Sedai.

An amused snort. "We will," he agrees, before lifting his voice a little -- not quite including Moiraine in the conversation, but no longer angling for any semblance of privacy. "How many worlds will this be now? Let's see, there was Ingress, Tom-gongzi, Geralt-qianbei and Ciri -- ah, and that brief visit to Canaan House to assist Harrow -- "

"Other worlds than these," the Aes Sedai observes over her shoulder, without turning. There is something very dry about her tone, for some reason.

"Many other worlds than these!" he says, unperturbed by whatever private joke Moiraine might be making. "And now we may add one more to our list."

"So you may." Moiraine crosses the main room without pause until she reaches the front door. "If you are ready, follow me through."

With that, she opens the door and steps through into what looks like a small library.

Wei Wuxian follows readily, glancing around at the books with interest as they step into Twin Peaks. The titles on their spines resolve with a shimmer as the inn's magic does its work.

"Your collection?" he asks Moiraine.

"Some of it," the Aes Sedai tells him. She waits for Lan Wangji to step through as well before closing the door to allow the portal to the bar to dissipate. "That which is acceptable for others to see. Some things are hidden."

She opens the door again onto a neatly kept sitting room. The apartment's small kitchen is to the side, and the bedroom lies behind a door on the other side of the sitting room.

"Ah, Moiraine, you shouldn't tell me you have hidden knowledge in your personal library!" he says -- and it's light enough that he may actually be teasing her.

She arches an eyebrow, considering the teasing sound of his voice, and considering as well whether this is something she wishes to do - then gives the faintest shrug.

Silver-gold light glimmers at her fingertips for an instant, harder here to see than it was in the bar, but visible to a discerning eye all the same. She flicks the weave at an empty spot against the far wall, where a series of small paintings hang, only for them to vanish entirely as the illusion dissipates and a bookcase filled with scrolls and journals and a set of wooden boxes appears.

Edited 2023-02-20 16:19 (UTC)

Wei Wuxian stares -- he hadn't expected Moiraine would actually respond this way! -- then bursts into laughter, making an immediate beeline for the scrolls. To his credit, though, he doesn't touch them.

(Yet.)

"So what is in all of these that requires their hiding?"

"Wei Ying--"

Perhaps it is like the restricted section in the Cloud Recesses library, and if so, some of these may be dangerous. Lan Wangji is under no misconception that such a thing would stop Wei Ying if there were need, but still. He joins him beside the bookcase.

Behind them, the Aes Sedai observes, as unruffled as ever. "They contain a number of things. Histories, personal journals, records of weaves and other techniques, letters, and artifacts of sorts are among them." Her dark-eyed glance is sharp and keen as she watches them.

"Artifacts?"

As if reassuring Lan Zhan that yes, he will not grab for something dangerous without warning, he clasps his hands behind his back as he peers closer at the shelf.

"Of sorts," Moiraine repeats.

Some few of the books on the hidden shelves are of the sort that have been printed rather than handwritten. Several are of poetry, including a copy of The Tower, by Yeats, which stands next to a thick dark tome with a red rose on the spine and a well-worn copy of a Bible marked with a narrow blue ribbon. Scrolls are likewise bound with ribbon and neatly stacked beside a polished wooden box with the only pattern to it from the wood-grain of its making. There is no sign of a lock.

Wei Wuxian hums, his curiousity plain. After a quick glance to Lan Zhan -- it's all right, don't worry about me -- he skims a finger along the darkest book, outlining the shape of the rose, then grasps it by the top of its spine to tip it forward into his waiting hand.

The Wheel weaves, and all things are part of the Pattern. Moiraine watches as Wei Wuxian lifts the last volume of the series, and holds herself perfectly still.

She does not miss the swift, wary glance that Lan Wangji casts her, but does not let herself react to it.

The book is damaged, as it happens, and missing quite a few pages from the back. The title embossed on the front cover, above the image of a man standing in a field of red roses, is The Dark Tower.

Histories and artifacts, she had said, and he cannot miss either her stillness or the look Lan Zhan cuts her way.

He lets the book fall open. It feels a little wobbly and lopsided from the missing pages, the spine gaping too large; the rounded lettering sweeps into the clean, precise angles of a thousand brushstrokes.

I denied Discordia and regret nothing; I have spat into the bodiless eyes of the Crimson King and rejoice; I threw my lot with the gunslinger and the White and never once questioned the choice.

Wei Wuxian huffs the smallest breath of a laugh, and there is recognition in the sound.

"Something amuses you?" Coolness tinges her words.

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