Interview with the Dancinglight

The following is a transcript of an audio recording. Vocal stammers have been edited out.

It's the beginning of the month of Vosotta, 2068 Volcanic. My name is Elan Straibala, and I recently arrived at the Eddy. I'm here to do a project about the Water Seekers for my apprenticeship in description writing...and I have the indescribable honor of speaking with Sage Alcendis Varenonde. I hardly need to list her accomplishments, but will do so briefly for the sake of the record. As a child she survived the Zaiyevi eruptions and is the last living heir to one of that island's most honored bloodlines. She fought against the Unity with the Dissolvers, and when they launched their attack on Mraydor she confronted Kezlaf face to face and defeated him.

*sigh*

Then she ended the conflict through diplomacy, guiding the Allied Isles into being and directing the Isles' Meet for its first years of existence. But most importantly, she rebuilt the Water Seekers from nothing and was their Dancinglight for three decades until her retirement two years ago.

I can't in honesty deny anything you've said, but this is grossly oversimplified.

I wanted to keep it short.

Hm. Perhaps I'll have the opportunity to clarify some of it. I beg your pardon, please do continue.

*clearing throat* As I said, I am creating a descriptive work about Water Seekers. I was given permission to come to the Eddy so I could observe and talk to the Seekers directly. And there is no one I have more wanted to talk to than the previous and longtime Dancinglight. Sage Varenonde, I am most grateful to you for giving me your time today.

I'm glad to share it with you.

Now, I would like to make it clear that you're under no obligation to answer any question that you don't want to.

I understand and thank you for that consideration.

I'd like to start with the most basic question, and the core of my project: What is a Water Seeker?

In one sense, a Water Seeker could be defined as any person whose aura is drawn to the vast, slow circulation of water in this part of the ocean. More broadly, anyone who has enough control of her watersense to affect things beyond her own aura has the potential to be a Water Seeker. But for the moment, to be recognized as a Water Seeker one must stay here long enough to learn the requisite skills and philosophy--which is expected to take at least two years--and accept the limitations described in our oath.

And what are those?

The exact skills depend on individual range, but any Seeker should be able to meditate, mirror an aura, and hold and move an amount of water proportional to her range.

I meant-- I'm sorry, what was that? Her range? How far she can throw it?

Ah, no. Range is the scale at which one's skill is strongest. It varies from person to person. You're probably most familiar with the large-scale workings such as the Dancinglight's Dome. That's outside my range--my skill works best at arm's length. Like so- (stretching a handful of water into a thin rope between her palms the distance from shoulder to shoulder) There are areas of overlap. Ardez--you may not have met her yet--she supports part of our version of the dome, and this is about the smallest range at which she can work. If she tries to do this-- (bringing her hands close together again, supporting a thick pillar of water between them) --water goes everywhere. On the other end, Istlourn can easily hold a shape of this size, but if he stretches it as far as I just did it falls apart.

*a long pause while I stare at the water she's still holding*

Is this confusing?

What? Oh, no, not at all, I'm sorry. I do understand, I was just...distracted. Let me move on to my next... *sound of paper shuffling* Here. How are the Water Seekers now different from the Old Eddy Seekers?

Oh, I wish I could answer that question. The problem is, no one really knows what the Seekers were like other than the Seekers themselves. Certainly everyone tells stories about them, but I believe those as much as I believe all the rumors I've heard about me.

You don't think any of them are true?

Undoubtedly some of them are, but which ones? Since none of the old Seekers are alive now, we have no way of finding out. The only reliable piece of information is how secluded they were, which casts doubt on all-- *a sharp pause* *laughter* That's the answer to your question! The old Seekers had the luxury of not caring what the rest of the world thought about them. We're still distant from the Cluster Islands, but very conscious of their perception of us. People have better memory of the Wringers than the Seekers, and because some of the Wringers are still here, that's the standard we're being judged against.

Clarification: As Uniter, Kezlaf eliminated most of the old Water Seekers through the targeted eruption of an undersea volcano. He then formed the Wringers from young water-sensitives who might otherwise have become Seekers, but used them to enforce public compliance with his decisions.

What made you decide to renew the Water Seekers?

It wasn't a decision so much as a need. Kezlaf may have destroyed the old Seekers, but he couldn't destroy the Eddy. This place still has the same attraction that it always had to those with a certain desire for its great calm. I feel it. Many of the Wringers do. There would be others around the islands, on Tiderider ships, who would come once Kezlaf wasn't siphoning them away. And where else could Istlourn or Ardez go? There's no island in or around the Cluster that would let either one live there.

Clarification: Istlourn and Ardez were the most senior and most feared Wringers. After the Unity fell, there were repeated demands that they be executed.

The decision I made was to pledge our support for the new Allied Isles so that the world would know we weren't coming here to hide.
During the time you were Dancinglight, what was your goal for the Water Seekers and the Eddy?

That's been one of the greatest challenges of my role, identifying how the Seekers could best fit into the post-Unity world. In the first few years, that meant keeping the remaining Wringers out of the way while taking apart the Unity's authority and returning it to the islands. Kezlaf never went anywhere without at least five Wringers with him; I needed them to be out of sight and out of reach to show I would be doing things differently.

And is that why it took so long to start building the New Eddy?

That's the most significant reason, yes. The construction needed support from a majority of the islands, which couldn't happen until we had established an organization that represented them fairly. That was... *deep breath* Three harrowing years. It made me appreciate why Kezlaf always traveled with Wringers for his protection. There were enough attempts on my life that I began sleeping on a boat so that no one could come near me without coming across water. I didn't feel any safer after the Isles' Meet was finally accepted, because many still held the idea that I would be resurrecting the Unity at the Eddy. That rumor I hoped could be dispelled when others started coming, but no one did and I knew I couldn't wait. That's when I presented the public invitation for water-sensitives to join us.

The one that Uncle Nkeba answered.

Clarification: Nkeba Rruend, the new Dancinglight, is my father's brother and the reason I received permission to stay here to work on my project.

Yes, and even then it was only outsiders who would take the risk. So I changed the goal. Instead of living in seclusion and hoping the islands would forget how bad the Wringers had been, we needed to create and publicize a model of what a Water Seeker should be like. We decided what skills should be taught and which forbidden, codified the ranking system, and wrote the oath for protos to verbally accept that model as their goal. That's all Istlourn's wording, by the way.

Oh! I meant to ask about that before. What is that wording? That is, what are the limitations?

Simply, that by taking the oath a proto-Seeker promises never to do anything the Wringers were known for. We don't go into full detail because we certainly don't want anyone learning how to do these things just from a description of them, but the key point is that Water Seekers are forbidden from altering another person's aura. We also will not visit any island uninvited or interfere where we aren't asked. We make sure it's public knowledge who is ranked as Seeker and Sage, where they are, and what they've been doing.

How is a Sage different from a Seeker?

The rank of Sage reflects a higher level of...dedication may be the best way to say it, although that doesn't mean Seekers aren't dedicated. Being a Seeker isn't like an apprenticeship, where the expectation is that you'll advance to the next level. Becoming a Sage isn't a matter of learning new skills or reaching expert proficiency. The requirements for being a Water Seeker are well-defined, but much less so for a Sage. They do have to have a certain amount of experience, of course, and it helps to be particularly skilled in water working. But the most important thing is being able to teach well. Sages are keepers of wisdom, and wisdom is useless if it isn't shared.

What about Dancinglight? What's required for that rank that's more than a Sage needs to be?

That's even less well-defined. I was Dancinglight to start with because someone had to be and no one else would. That's the qualification in its simplest form: the ability and willingness to do what needs to be done.

What did you have to do?

Entirely too much. *chuckle* In the old days the Dancinglight was the one who would meet with visitors to the Eddy, and that's still the greatest part of the role. That and joining the Isles' Meet wherever it sits, to represent the Eddy. Officially, as the highest in rank, the Dancinglight has the authority to discipline any Seeker or Sage, but thank the tides that need has been rare. Seekers not in residence report to me-- Oh! *laughter* By the deeps, these habits are hard to shake off! They report to Nkeba now, tides bless him.

*uncertain pause* Forgive me, but it's beginning to sound as if you really didn't like being Dancinglight.

I don't mean to imply that it was unpleasant, but the responsibilities were heavy and I am enjoying not carrying them. Leadership is rarely a good time. It's often dull and tedious, and that's when it's going well. I've had several exciting experiences as Dancinglight and I don't care to repeat any of them. But there's also something deeply satisfying in putting your best efforts toward making something better. Or even exist, where it didn't before. As hard as it was, I don't regret a moment of the time I spent as Dancinglight.

But then why did you retire now after thirty years? Please don't misunderstand me, I couldn't be happier that Uncle Nkeba is Dancinglight now, so I'm not at all calling your decision into question, but why did you wait so long?

It was a matter of having someone ready to succeed me. I still hold to the opinion that I was never the best candidate, but in light of the Wringers' reputations I was the only one that the islands would accept. The Dancinglight after me had to also be someone completely outside Kezlaf's influence. I'll tell you Nkeba was the first I considered, but not the first we invited. I'd hoped Idhikkire would take over until he was ready, but I can't blame her for declining.

But then why didn't you ask him sooner?

If I could do it again, I certainly would! But I was firmly against thrusting someone into the role who was as young as I had been. Nkeba was so homesick after just two years here, we couldn't possibly do anything other than return him to Eihlari. When I heard he was taking a career as a judge, I felt it would be best to let him have some experience before putting the question to him. But then came the uproar over Lysiddea and Gorles. Nkeba had already accepted the title of Sage, and was on the committee deciding what to do about them. He was in the minority, inclined to be lenient.

Clarification: Gorles admitted to having used Wringer techniques on his aunt to make a point, in direct violation of the Water Seekers' oath. During the investigation, it came out that he and Lysiddea were regularly using similar techniques to send each other unspoken messages.

*pause* That's...the reason? You didn't like his opinion, so you changed your mind about wanting him to be Dancinglight?

My thoughts about his opinion aren't relevant. It was the first time that the integrity of the Water Seekers had come into doubt, and we had to defend ourselves and our oath. Regardless of whether you or I or Nkeba think Gorles deserved to be stripped of his title, the important outcome is that the Cluster Islands saw the Water Seekers take another step away from Wringers. Now, with that having just played out, how do you suppose it would have looked if I had then retired in favor of the one Sage who appeared to think that Wringing might not be so bad after all?

*inhale* Ohhhh. *pause* But he doesn't really think that!

Of course he doesn't, and everyone who knows him knows that.

Then what's different now? I mean to say, since Uncle Nkeba is Dancinglight now. Did he change his mind?

It never was his mind that needed to change. I waited another ten years to give the islands time to see that our system functions as intended. We haven't had to discipline any other Seeker so severely. Gorles has passed every subsequent evaluation. He and Lysiddea have even acquired a little reputation as folk heroes. Once I felt that people would accept your uncle as the new Dancinglight, I sent him the invitation.

Did you know he almost declined?

To be honest, I almost expected him to. I understand it's extremely nontraditional for your people to leave their island.

Well, yes, but he's not really Eihlarian.

Clarification: Nkeba was abandoned as a baby and adopted into the Rruend clan. He's since learned the identities of his lineage parents, who were from an entirely different island.

True, but it's his home regardless. Your families matter a great deal to you. It's difficult to just...leave them.

I beg your pardon, Sage Varenonde, but I'm here.

Yes, and so is your favorite uncle, I notice. I doubt you would have been comfortable enough to come all the way to the Eddy if Nkeba hadn't been here to start with.

*long pause* That's probably true.

I also believe that he is more comfortable as Dancinglight with a member of his family close at hand, giving him that feeling of home even though he's far from Eihlari.

You really think so? *shuffling papers* Anyway, I think that's about-- Well... *nervously rubbing my hands together* While we're somewhat on the subject, I do have a related question. To Eihlari, and the Eddy. *taking a few settling breaths* Why didn't the Seekers ever resume visits to Eihlari?

*pause* You'll have to explain that one to me. I wasn't aware that there ever were such visits.

You weren't? Oh! *nervous laughter* It's a relief, actually, that you didn't know. It's been so long, I was pretty sure that was the case, but there are some people who think-- *ahem* But that doesn't matter. I'm sorry, I should explain. Or, wait--first let me ask, how much do you know about Eihlarian history?

Almost nothing, I'm afraid.

Really? Well, I wonder why he didn't- Never mind. Ah...let's see... Well, as you said, our families are important. And we used to--this was more than a thousand years ago--the clans used to feud against each other constantly. The very worst was when several clans got together against one they all hated, and forced them all to swim in the bay until they started dying. The Water Seekers felt that, and came straight from the Eddy to put a stop to it. They spent the next hundred and fifty years setting up courts and schools so that we could settle our disagreements without beating each other over the head. *nervous laughter* Then when we started running things ourselves, and not making a mess of it, they came back just once a year to visit and see how we were getting along. They didn't really need to for all those centuries, I guess, but--well, Eihlarians like tradition. Though of course it hasn't happened since the old Eddy was destroyed. I know that things are different now and no one's really expecting any Seekers to show up at the next one, but my grandparents' generation remembers, and I just thought I'd ask.

I am so sorry, I had no idea.

That's what I figured. How could you have known?

I'd suggest discussing it with your uncle. It's up to him now whether to resume this tradition or not.

Maybe I will. *shuffling papers* Of course there's much more I'd like to ask, but in the interest of not taking too muich of your time, I'll conclude this interview here.

You're always welcome to ask me more questions as you need to. I am fully in support of your project.

Thank you, Sage Varenonde. End recording.