White Tower – A Writing Archive

Raising of an Amyrlin (attn: Sitters)

02 September 2007 (12:39pm)

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The dusk had settled over Tar Valon and the last trails of the beautiful sunset were giving way to the darkening night sky. In the Gray Ajah quarters the standing lamps along the corridors had been lighted and the rooms of Annais Nevell were brightly lit with candles and hearth fire. She had changed into her silky night gown already and combed her hair that she had released for the night from the ornate curls piled on top of her head. She had always been partial to Cairhienin fashion and since her own hair was sadly straight, it was a chore every morning to get it presentable. But the moments when her hair was tended were spent productively going through her mental to do list for that day or the next.

She had arranged three meetings for the next day and first she would have lunch with a Blue sister with vast Eyes and Ears network and she would try to get a confirmation to her suspects that she might be the head of her whole Ajah’s information gathering. Any news from the world would also be welcomed. She was looking forward to the dance back and forth between them as they would feed morsels to each others and see if the other one had already heard that piece. Dinner time would be spent in the White Ajah quarters where she had gotten herself invited to as she was trying to find out more about some internal going ons of the Ajah. It seemed to her like there was some kind of a conflict kept well in wraps among the White Sisters and such struggles might affect the power structures of the Ajah. She had to know who had the authority and support of most of the Sisters among their own Ajah if she was to function well in the task Phaedra, the First Voice, had set for her.

She wasn’t particularly looking forward to the occasion as she always felt slightly inferior in the company the Philosopher Sisters. The Browns she admired for their vast knowledge but they were somehow more unintimidating in their intelligence than the Whites who often made no pretenses to cloak their sharp minds under guise of absent-mindnessness. But she would just have to do and get something out of it for after her meeting with the Whites, she would have supper with her Ajah Head who expected a report of her progress.

Her ponderings were interrupted by an authoritative knock on her door and as she called who ever it was to enter, she was in for a quite a surprise. In came all three Sitters of her Ajah wearing their shawls and best dresses. She didn’t have time to ask what was going on as Phaedra intoned “Annais Nevell, you are summoned before the Hall of the Tower.”

“Ask not why you are summoned. It is yours to answer, not to question.”

“Delay not in your coming. It is yours to obey in haste.”

“It is well to fear the summons of the Hall. It is well to obey in haste and humility, unasking. You are summoned to kneel before the Hall of the Tower and accept their judgement.”

Those were the words of summons to a trial… or to become the Amyrlin Seat. Annais had never in her life done anything that would merit the first so it had to the latter. Light! It had come to this then. The Hall had determined that Sirayn Simeone was gone for good and she needed to be replaced. And they had chosen her? She was feeling faint. Since the Gray Sitters themselves risked coming to fetch her and supporting her claim, it meant that the Hall had to be unified this time unlike it had been with Lanfir. The Tower could not afford to exile another four Sisters like had happened to Asyndara and her backers. It had been a long negotiation since the Hall had been in sitting since the morning but maybe there had been other issues too. Was she the compromise candidate? How locked had the Hall been in their choice? Would she have to wash feet?

But the Sitters were growing impatient as she just stood there rooted but ceremony forbid them from saying anything more to her. Annais wouldn’t even have time to change into a finer dress so she did the best she could do and grabbed the shawl she used in balls and nodded to the trio that she was ready. In reality she was not and she was still half expecting that she would be called to account of some crime. She tried to calm her doubts and fears by running novice excercises through her mind and reminescing how exactly the words of the ceremony would go. It had been a long time since she had last read through that piece of Tower protocol as she had never thought that she would personally need it, not even if she became a Sitter one day like she had begun to dream.

Annais was familiar with the impressive room that was the Hall of the Tower. She had been there before to give her reports to the Hall as a leader of several missions and as the Tower’s representative. Today the illustrious room and the serene faced women all looking at her unnerved her. The Gray Sitters stepped aside to reveal her and Adrai Tynin, the eldest Sitter spoke. “Who comes before the Hall of the Tower?”

This was it, these were not the beginning words of a trial.

“One who comes obediently in the Light”, Annais replied with calm certainty that she did not really feel inside her.

“Who comes before the Hall of the Tower?”

“One who comes humbly in the Light.” Why her? Could she really do this? She had failed to make peace between Arad Doman and Tarabon, just two nations and as the Amyrlin she would have to worry about every nation of the world. She had been able to represent the Tower with honour during the Aiel War and likely her recent success with bringing back the Sisters captured by the Black Tower had merited her name to come up among the Sitters. But those had been single tasks and the Amyrlin juggled dozens of balls in the air at the same time.

“Who comes before the Hall of the Tower?”

“One who comes at the summons of the Tower, obedient and humble in the Light, asking only to accept the will of the Tower.”

“Are there any present save women?” The youngest Sitter spoke the ritual question that dated back to the Breaking of the World.

Adrai was the first to put aside her shawl and unfasten her dress pushing it down to her waist. There was no shame, no emotion what so ever in her bronze skinned face. “I am a woman.” One after another the Sitters rose and bared them themselves, showing proof that they were women.

“I am a woman”, Annais said with everyone else and after a searching gaze, the youngest Sitter declared that there were none present but women.

“Who stands for this woman, and pledges for her, heart for heart, soul for soul, and life for life?”, Adrai continued the ceremony.

“I so pledge”, the Gray Sitters repeated firmly in unison.

“Come forward, Annais Nevell”, came the command and obediently she walked forward three paces and knelt. “Why are you here, Annais Nevell?”

“I was summoned by the Tower.”

“What do you seek, Annais Nevell?”

“To serve the Tower, nothing more and nothing less.”

“How would you serve, Annais Nevell?”

“With my heart, my soul and my life, in the Light. Without fear or favor, in the Light.”

“Where would you serve, Annais Nevell?”

“In the Amyrlin Seat, if it pleases the Hall of the Tower.”

Then it was time for voting and Annais held her breath to see who would rise to support her. The Gray Sitters assumed their own places, standing proudly before their seats and their confidence in her was a small comfort. She prayed that it would not go to feet washing. She had heard that both Lanfir and Sirayn had had to do it so the Sitters might want her to get a reminder of humility too. The Amyrlin Seat might be the first among equals with the Sitters but the Hall had the power to elevate her and bring her down like they had done with Karana Majin. Dear Light, please let them be unanimous. She did not regard the Sitters as lapdogs and never would so there was no need for them to draw it out.

Annais Nevell
Gray Sister
Petitioner before the Hall

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06 September 2007 (3:18am)

Sada sat in her Sitters chair and observed the other women. They whispered to each other or sat quietly. This was a historic meeting…a meeting where a new Amyrlin is raised is always historic. Sada felt weary, the hall had been debating all day. The situation with Syrian leaving was something to talk about to be sure…the decision on who to raise was a hard one. Sada was very much against another green. They defiantly had heart and passion but the tower needed to be lead by someone with logic and a clear mind. After hours of debate they finally came to a consensus. Keeping her face smooth she watched the Grey Sitters leave to collect the Sister who would be summoned. After not to long they arrived and presented her to the hall. Adrai stood and began the ancient forms…

“Who comes before the Hall of the Tower?”

“One who comes obediently in the Light.”

“Who comes before the Hall of the Tower?”

“One who comes humbly in the Light.”

“Who comes before the Hall of the Tower?”

“One who comes at the summons of the Tower, obedient and humble in the Light, asking only to accept the will of the Tower.”

As the youngest in the hall Sada began her part…

“Are there any present save women?”

Adrai responded…

“I am a woman.” One after another the Sitters stood and gave proof that they were indeed women.

“I am a woman”, the supplicant said intone with the hall.

“All present are women” Sada proclaimed.

“Who stands for this woman, and pledges for her, heart for heart, soul for soul, and life for life?”, Adrai continued the ceremony.

“I so pledge”, the Gray Sitters repeated firmly in unison.

“Come forward, Annais Nevell”,

Annais Stepped forward and knelt before the sitters.

“Why are you here, Annais Nevell?”

“I was summoned by the Tower.”

“What do you seek, Annais Nevell?”

“To serve the Tower, nothing more and nothing less.”

“How would you serve, Annais Nevell?”

“With my heart, my soul and my life, in the Light. Without fear or favour, in the Light.”

“Where would you serve, Annais Nevell?”

“In the Amyrlin Seat, if it pleases the Hall of the Tower.”

Annias continued to kneel as her Ajah sisters took their places and stood. They looked on her proudly and with expectation. Sada sat along with the others of the hall. Watching the woman, Sada went over in her head what she had learned. Annais served with loyalty and heart for her Ajah and for tower. Recently she helped to bring home sister who had been held by the…A shudder went through Sada’s spine….the Black Tower. She remembered the day Annais stood before the hall and made her report. It was Detailed and well done. Annais would make a very good Amyrlin, but Sada did not want Annais to think that the Hall would be her toy. Sada choose to remain sitting for the moment.

Sada Kuchim

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03 October 2007 (2:55am)

The image of Annais being brought before them to be the next Amyrlin was one that set too many emotions loose inside Aramina’s head. Thoughts of Natalie and their youth spun around in her head so that she had to close her eyes a moment to keep tears from forming. The words of the ritual had been spoken and as the rest continued she forced her childhood memories away.

The voting began and though she believed in Annais, wanted to throw her support behind her, Aramina couldn’t stand the first time around. The thought of replacing Sirayn still bothered Aramina, almost as much as the woman’s sudden disappearance. There were plenty of people that had reason to dislike Sirayn, but she had no idea how someone could get into the Tower to take Sirayn away without being noticed. It led to conspiracy theories that were almost impossible to trace. Not just because she had been gone at the time, but also because there were far too many. From the Forsaken, to the Black Tower, to members of her own Order, Sirayn had enemies in abundance.

Aramina pushed back memories of her time away, of how she had been taken from Sirayn’s side and what had happened in Kandor. She was barely able to keep her hand from coming to her throat where the light forsaken a’dam had rested. Placed by one of the Forsaken’s minions as a message to Sirayn, only there had been no Sirayn… only Annais to help her out in her need.

She continued to sit, out of respect for Sirayn, through the first footwashing. She smiled slightly at Annais as she completed the task, hoping that the small gesture would be recognized for what it was. True support. When the second round of votes came, Aramina stood.

Aramina sur Dulciena

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12 October 2007 (9:37am)

Jaydena existed inside the bubble of serenity but inside her emotions were in conflict. Sirayn the woman who had once been her best friend, Ajah Head, love, and Amyrlin was gone. No one knew where she had gone and Jaydena feared that the other woman had perished. Sirayn had always been to loose with her own life and this could be just another case. The woman had never been the same after Solin, the torture, rape, and the loss of her hand. Honestly, who could expect her to be the same person after all that? Jade could say that she wasn’t the same person after walking in and seeing that boy on his mother. She looked back the front of the Hall; they had been at it all day, working through the lunch and dinner that had been brought to them. An Amyrlin Seat must be chosen the Tower was once again without at the time when they most needed one. However each Ajah had their own agenda, they must find someone who wanted to work with the Dragon and not against him. The person must be strong and yet flexible enough to move with the wants and needs of her members. There was more than one name mentioned, her own name had been brought up briefly by her own Sitters, but she would never go for Amyrlin and the Tower would never approve her. She had been wild in her younger days and her sanity had been questioned in the past and most likely still was. The mask that covered half her face was another reason they would never choose her. The Amyrlin Seat didn’t need to be beautiful but she also didn’t need to scare small children, Sirayn at least had been able to hide her missing hand at most times.

Her back hurt and she was tired of all of this, it was times like this when she wondered why she didn’t just give it all up. Leave the Tower and its politics to the capable hands of others in her Ajah. Just head out into the horizon and fight it out until she perished. Perhaps even settle down somewhere and enjoy the retired life. Pretend she was someone else and ply herbs for the local villagers or disappear in one of the cities where Aes Sedai was welcomed. Jaydena looked around the Hall with veiled eyes and thought about the last time she had been here in this position. She had stood in front of this Hall twice and argued for a Green Sister and won. It had taken work and commitment but she had seen those two candidates to the Seat, with the help of several others and days of planning. Now they didn’t have days and the Hall would never elect another Green after the last two had lasted such a short time. They had settled on a Gray Ajah Sister named Annais and now they were waiting for her Ajah to summon her to them.

Finally Annais arrived and the Head Sitter began to speak, “Who comes before the Hall of the Tower?” Jaydena sat silently and watched without passion as the Gray began the ceremony. It passed for a few moments until Jaydena stood and pulled her top down, revealing her large breasts as she said, “I am woman,” with the rest of the Sitters and the possible new Amyrlin Seat. Jaydena pulled her top back up and returned to her seat as the rest of the ceremony commenced. They ceremony seemed to take forever, yet Jaydena knew it was only a matter of minutes. The Gray were the first to stand and several from other Ajahs. She remained firmly in her seat; she didn’t know when she would stand. It wouldn’t do for her to make the Grays mad but on the other hand, she had firmly supported the last two candidates and she didn’t want to appear week. Light forbid she should ever appear weak in the eyes of the Hall, she would lose her spot in a moment. Sitting with a serene mask she waited to have her feet washed…

Jaydena Mckanthur

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15 October 2007 (11:00am)

It was the first meeting she had ever had within the Hall of Servants, and had it been any other reason that she were to attents, her opinion would have held more wieght. However, it was her duty to defer to the Highest of her Ajah, the one that in her eyes stood higher than any woman in this room. Tatian’as features were serene although the look in here eyes were hard, hiding the concern she felt. Had it not been fo the reason they were there, she would have voiced her thoughts. However, for the raising of a new Amyrlin Seat it would not be best to question the Highests motivations. Not after her month long absence in the keepers lair that many called the Black Tower. It was but a mockery to her. To her Ajah. To the Tower. The White Tower.

Her eyes gazed indirectly at the Highest, Maegan Ryanne. Young for her station, but few could play Daes Daemar within their Ajah better than her, nor had the knowledge of the Brown Ajah at her finger tips. The woman was a shroud of mystery to Tatiana. But what unnerved her the most was the lack of sparkle in the woman’s eyes. Maegan Sedai always had a sense of humour few understood and there always seemed to be something behind the womans small gold framed glasses. ‘But not since the Black Tower..

Without a show of emotion the three Red sitters stood in turn, revealing a bare torso and incanting the words, “I am a woman.” Tatiana was kind enough to give Annais a nod of her head in show of respect to their soon to be appointed Mother. But the lack of show on Maegan Sedai’s part caused her consern that even showed on the Gray Sisters face. ‘Burn you, Mae.‘ But there was nothing she could say. Not here, and possibly not for a good long while. It was a simple known fact that Maegan would never reveal anything without just cause, lest it be woven into the pattern. They were setting a new path for the Pattern in this very room, and yet Tatiana felt completely out of control. She never liked to be out of control. However, she would have to become used to this, as the Hall had just appointed a Gray Amyrlin, and Tarmon Gaidin was only around the corner. After their feet were cleansed, the Red Ajah stood in favour and support of Annais Nevell Sedai as the new Amyrlin Seat.

Tatiana Muireach
Red Sitter (NSW)

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15 October 2007 (6:56pm)

Kareja sat silently following the events, only standing for the ceremonial revealing of being a woman. She didn’t like this, surely all the signs where pointing towards Tarmon Gaidon, two former Amyrlins of the Green gone so soon, within such a short timespan. If anything such only concluded in her mind that those ready needed to take the wheel, the Green and the Reds they needed them to control the Dragon Reborn, who else would know better how to deal with a male channeler who couldn’t be gentled.

Also no sure clue of what had happened to Sirayn, it was not to her liking, and she was happy to see Jaydena keep sitting at least through the first round. She did not like this, but one thing she wouldn’t do was stand up the woman beside her, her head and split the ajah, in especially not having been initiates together. No even if it was a step back, keeping the Ajah strong could be futile even more so now with the battles oncoming for sure. One could but pray to the creator that they didn’t come to soon, and mayhaps a Gray could help in least in collecting the full strength of the countries behind them, the last thing affordable would be them bickering over Borderlimits with so much bigger things at hand.

Kareja

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18 October 2007 (12:20am)

Raeyn only quirked an eyebrow at being summoned to the Hall; it was a simple matter of grabbing her shawl and following the twitchy Novice sent to pass the summons.

“I wonder what farce-come-business is in store today,” she mused to herself, “Perhaps we’re finally picking a replacement for that stupid Green trollop raised during my attempt at retirement.” Raeyn snorted softly to herself, and forced herself to outward serenity as she glided towards the Hall.

Sure enough, the Hall held no surprise for her – a Sister was being brought forth to stand for the Seat. “At least,” Raeyn thought to herself bemusedly, “At least someone’s had the sense to put forth someone NOT a Green this time. Still, a young Gray, barely tested…”

Reseating herself, Raeyn permitted herself a small smile as the call to stand and support came and went. “Child she is, she’ll have to show a little servitude before I consider kissing her ring!”

Raeyn Sedai

Brown Ajah

Library work for the Gray Ajah (Open )

24 August 2007 (12:29PM)

A strand of hair fell down Ava’s face as she flipped another page, absentmindedly she pulled the hair back and forced it to remain behind her ear. She had read this page over for the third time now, the book was dreary and hard to chew on it seemed. Ava had taken the job her Ajah Head had set on her as something of a prize, something that she could make her own project. But now she wished she had tried to refuse, hard as that would have been because the materials that were in the Gray Archives were old, dusty and too long for a quick read through.

“Ava, I need help with a letter I am writing to a member of the Council in Cairhien, I hope you can help me with some background research, it seems they want to offer us a different type of ambassadorship. One based on a former contract some decades ago,” Phaedra had explained to Ava what it was she needed, Ava had taken notes, asked questions and set about to talk with both Vera and Faerzyne about their experience with this type of treaty. Neither woman had been a really big help, but that was Phaedra’s problem to start with, so much was lost from memory when it came to very specific dealings. It was best to study the records, she had told Ava and of course she could ask one of the clerks to help her with that.

The Gray had pushed that thought off, this was a matter she could deal with herself, she was experienced in law and regulations in the southern regions and had studied with Phaedra during her days as Clerk, right after her raising to the Shawl on ambassador history in Cairhien. That research had led the older Gray to go to Cairhien and work there for a long time as High Court Judge, a position she had gained while working at court and also studying the different laws in Cairhien for the Tower. Ava did not care, she had been happy for the other Gray to find a position she fitted so well in, she herself should be so lucky.

And in return, Phaedra had helped her get a position in Andor as ambassador for a high lord there. The connection with the Tower was improved thoroughly in that southern part of Andor and she had picked up a lot of great skills while working abroad. But now, back in the Tower, Ava had trouble fitting as well as she had before. It was a combination of finding it hard to adjust to the changes in the Ajah and to the changes in the Hall. The Tower had grown, just as she had, but over time, Ava had never chosen to keep in close touch with the politics in Tar Valon. She always believed politics changed to rapidly to keep up, but the gist of the whole thing would never change – how wrong she had been.

Now she was working through these papers, some of them had old notes in her own handwriting, she could read them but not figure out what they meant exactly. They were from an Ava Sedai young and inexperienced in writing notes and references. Some were outdated by now, she needed new records to complete the background report for Phaedra and she realized that the Library was probably a better place to look for those than the Gray Archives. The Library was kept up to date much better and the reference archives were clear and uniform – as taught to novices by a Brown who made them write up references to their own study books. If only the Browns could help her rummage through the Gray Archives, maybe set something up -.but of course there was no possibility of that. The information the Browns could find there was not for their eyes, their curious quickly scanning eyes to see. Ava shrugged her worries off and headed down to the Library to find out more about this particular deal.

She stroked her soft lavender dress-sleeve. Her dress wore a brighter color than could be said for her mood, but she did not mind hiding behind a frivolous color, her mood said deep tones of gray and black for she did not find what she was looking for. Her temper rising, Ava found a novice standing idly by one of the longer tables and called the child to help her out. “If you have nothing better to do than stand there, child, help me sort through this selection of books. I need to you to take notes of all books that have references to ambassador rights in Cairhien for the past 200 years.”

The directive could not be more vague without specifying nothing at all, the novice would be set to work for many hours and Ava could probably only use a tenth of that work. But she could not be more precise right now as she simply did not know where to look. Taking up another book and her quill, Ava started to note down law references she thought might help in her search. The ideas flew through her head and she did not notice anymore who sat down and who rose to leave around her. The job was tedious at best, but also in a good way as she enjoyed the hard work and the outcome that could help out her Ajah. Sometimes it was good to do the manual work yourself and see what was out there to find.
Ava
Gray Ajah

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24 August 2007 (7:24pm)

Rubbing her eyes, Raeyn blinked at the partially-scribed book before her, and wondered why it was so dim. “Of course,” she muttered under her breath, “I’ve let the candles go out again.”

She stood and stretched, enjoying the sensation. “Important preservation work or not, I could do with a break!” Raeyn thought to herself as she eyeballed the text upon her desk. It was some treatise or another on Cairhien ambassadorship; it was not a tome that was of particular interest to her, it was just another one of the endless books that needed rescribing after years of existence.

Stifling a yawn, Raeyn stretched a bit more before stepping over to her mirror. She studied her image – a slightly plump woman clad in dark violet with faint circles under her eyes, and unmussed dark hair sensibly pulled away from her face. She nodded in satisfaction, and headed for the door.

Raeyn glided down the hall with no particular destination in mind. For once, her brain was a peaceful blank to match the serene exterior as she progressed downward. Before she knew it, Raeyn found herself within the welcoming warmth of the Library.

“It shouldn’t surprise you,” Raeyn thought ruefully to herself as she nodded a greeting to the Sisters on duty, “You DO spend more time in your quarters over the Library than you ever did in your chambers within the Tower!”

She panned her eyes around the room. Suddenly, her gazed locked onto a frustrated young woman sitting next to a nervous-looking Novice. Permitting herself a small smile, Raeyn approached their table.

“Hello… Eva, is it?” Raeyn queried, “You look frustrated… do you wish assistance in anything?”
Raeyn Priya Saethyr
Brown Ajah

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25 August 2007 (4:26pm)

The voice was kind and familiar, but Ava had to look up to see who the voice belonged to and found Raeyn Sedai of the Brown Ajah standing next to her. She looked disturbed for an instant, then found the novice had not budged and was still working hard so she allowed herself a moment to break away.

“Good day, Raeyn and thank you for offering your help, it is not frustration you see, but an hour too long of studies I guess.” Ava pursed her lips an instant thinking of kind words to send the Brown off again when she noticed a book under the other Sister’s arm. It was a volume of a series Ava had been reading through and maybe she could find some information directly from the Brown. This Sister would probably have studied the book and know all about what was in there, was it not quicker to ask her than to read the 1000 pages herself?

“I see that you carry a book in the same series as one I am reading,” Ava pointed at the stack that lay next to her. It had the first two volumes and missed the third that Raeyn held. “Would you be so kind to have a seat and maybe discuss the topic with me? I am studying the ambassadorship in Cairhien and am slightly pressed for time to go over all these volumes,” her smile was warm as her hand swooned over the books. She found the novice staring up at her and Ava chose to ignore the child, hopefully Raeyn would help her and sort out some of these various details Ava had scribbled down so far.

Ava Dorelle
Gray Ajah

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25 August 2007 (9:10pm)

Sial Daemoa liked the library. It was perhaps a strange place to appreciate when she only got a day off every 20 days, unless her lessons got cancelled or she finished a chore extra early, but she liked the library all the same. There were books, for a start. Sial knew how to read but that was more luck than judgement; her mother had been too busy for books and she had always been skeptical of wether her father and uncles knew their letters at all and, as such, a luxury like books had not been common back in her home in Maerone. The books, in such numbers, were facinating but her attraction to the library was more than that. There was a peacefulness to it.

This particular day was not a day off but her main chore had been cleaning fire grates and so she had finished with time to spare: you didnt spend your life as a chimneysweeps daughter and not pick up a few tricks. This particular day she was not in the library entirely for lesiure, either. She had nipped into the stables to visit Coal, a heavy horse that had been an unintentional gift from Eqwina Sedai, and had noticed the massive grey animal was less chirpy than usual and that his nose was running. Sial liked Coal a lot but did not claim to be an equine expert. The Tower grooms looked after Coal as well as all the other White Tower horses and while they did their job well, she avoided them as much as possible to avoid calling attention to herself. She wasnt entirly certain that Novices were technically allowed horses, despite an Aes Sedai being the one who had given her Coal four months ago, and if that was the case she definatly didnt want the grooms poking their noses in and getting her big grey pet confisgated. No grooms meant no one to ask for horse infomation, though, which had lead her to the Library.

The trouble was that the Library was so big. Sial had had no idea where to start looking for infomation on why a horse might have a runny nose. She had stopped, just for a moment, to consider her predicament, twiddling the end of her plait around her finger and scowling.

Standing still, however, seemed to have been the wrong thing to do when a cross sounding Aes Sedai in a pretty lavender gown called to her. “If you have nothing better to do than stand there, child, help me sort through this selection of books. I need to you to take notes of all books that have references to ambassador rights in Cairhien for the past 200 years.”

200 years?! She must be bloody joking! Sial had hesitated, but only for a moment. She did have something better to do but she wasnt totally daft. You didnt go telling a full Sister that you couldnt help her because your horse might have a cold, not unless you particularly wanted to be scubbing pots with black-and-blue buttocks for the next Age. Coal would have to wait. Besides, any work for an Aes Sedai could be useful…she walked rather warily over to the lavander-gowned sister and sat down beside her.

The sooty-eyed Cairheinin felt awkward. Awkward was putting it lightly. The Aes Sedai in an irritable, lets-give-the-lazy-Novice-a-rubbish job mood and now she couldnt escape. Sial picked up a book to look busy but she was too dazed to actually work. She felt wrongfooted. The day had started so well, what with getting such a straightforward chore and having the chance to pet her horse but now…Light, let this be easy. Even as she thought it, Sial realised exactly how many books were in the Aes Sedais selection. Light, 200 years? It will take me that long to read one of these buggering great books! In the future some doddery old Brown will decide to look for a Cairheinin ambassadorism book for a bit of light reading and will find my withered corpse jamming up the pages. Assuming I dont die of boredom in the next 200 minutes…

Almost as if her thoughts had called her, a Brown sister appeared. Sial did not even know the sisters name but knew the sister was Brown from catching a fragment of conversation on one of her own excursions to the Library. This particular Brown was not the doddery old figure of Sials musing but a sensible, tired looking woman in a violet dress that contrasted rather nicely with that of the lavender-clad sister. “Hello… Eva, is it? You look frustrated… do you wish assistance in anything?”

Sial did not presume that the woman was talking to her. Instead, she made a mental note that lavender-dress was Eva Sedai, assuming, of course, that the Brown had not made a mistake. Lavender-dress replied “Good day, Raeyn and thank you for offering your help, it is not frustration you see, but an hour too long of studies I guess.”

Again, Sial noted the name but also made a good pretense of reading the book in front of her. Lavender-dress sounded frustrated, whatever she claimed, and the Novice had no intention of irritating her further by appearing to slack. She carefully picked up a quill and a piece of paper.

“I see that you carry a book in the same series as one I am reading,” the woman continued, suddenly looking interested in the Brown sister. Sial stopped imitating scanning the page and looked up, intregued at the change of tone. “Would you be so kind to have a seat and maybe discuss the topic with me? I am studying the ambassadorship in Cairhien and am slightly pressed for time to go over all these volumes.” The woman looked straight at Sial, who shifted in her seat, but either did not see that she had stopped reading or did not care to make an issue of it. Thats interesting…whats she up to?

To cover the fact that she was trying her hardest to eavesdrop, the Novice made her dark-lashed eyes look at the page before her. ‘…cairhein has been the centre of both commerce and social advancement in years and under its current talented monarch promises to rival the glory of Artur Hawking. In particular, it can be noted that the recent relationship bewteen the country and…‘ Out of nosiness more than anything else, Sial read the page she was looking at properly. She was a surprisingly quick reader for a commoner and by the time she had finished the page, she had sussed why Ava-Sedai was so snippy. Anything titled ‘Cairheinin relations with the North’ promised to be about as fun as poking yourself repeatedly in the eye with a chimney brush. That page alone made the Novices own temper deteriorate a notch; not only was it blatently written by some suck-up noble who wanted to get into the monarchs favour, she would probably have to read the entire book to see if there were any references to Ambassador rights at all.

Sial titled her bit of paper ‘A list of books that contain references to the rights of Ambassadors in Cairhein’ in her appauling writing, then doodled a hangman on the corner of her page as her mind drifted back to the Aes Sedais conversation. Eavesdropping was so much more fun than reasearching…

Sial Daemoa
Nosy, nosy Novice

——————————————————————————
28 August 2007 (5:46pm)

Raeyn blinked at the Sister in front of her before looking down. Sure enough, the volume she had been copying from had wandered downstairs with her!

“Light,” she muttered as she eased into a seat, “I meant to leave this up in my chambers, as I was in the process of rescribing it – boring stuff, really.” Raeyn placed the book on the table in front of her and paused to muse aloud, “I still have a bit to go on this volume, and should take it back up with me… in addition to the fact that this volume is in need of rescribing both due to age and the fact the prior scribe did a very poor job – it’s quite difficult to read.” Her brows furrowed as she thought further before suddenly brightening, “However, I do have another Sister’s notes in my chamber on this volume and those other two you have with you – I fetched them from the Library as a reference aid to make sure that I copied everything as correctly as possible… perhaps they would be of greater aid to your research than recreating it yourself?”

Raeyn had to suppress a smile as the Sister in front of her’s head jerked upwards, “Actually, yes!”, the Gray replied, “It could save me time that would otherwise be spent pouring through all these volumes myself.” Raeyn nodded and spoke again, “Indeed! If you would like to accompany me back to my chambers, you are more than welcome to read through them.”

She did permit herself a small smile as the Gray Sister’s body visibly relaxed as she nodded agreement. “Poor dear,” Raeyn thought to herself, “she must be on a task for Phaedra or one of the Sitters.”

Raeyn stood up and gestured to the Gray that should should as well. As the rose, Raeyn suddenly gestured to the Novice and spoke, “Before we leave, perhaps you should see what your young assistant has found, if anything.”

Raeyn

——————————————————————————
28 August 2007 (9:47pm)

Sial had to fight the urge to dance. As it was, it was difficult not to drop the book, now open on the line ‘…not only what is collectively known as the Borderlands but the tenuous relationship with the Aiel…’, in her enthusiasm. Raeyn Sedai was going to take the other Sister away! Surely a Novice would not be left to reasearch unsupervised, so she could get dismiessed. She could drop this tedious task, look up a cure for Coal, maybe sit in the gardens, get some dinner-

“Before we leave, perhaps you should see what your young assistant has found, if anything.” the Brown Sister finished. Any delight Sial had felt at the likelihood of getting away evaporated. Oh buggery! I cant say anything! They’ll get cross at me for being a Novice bloody slacking and I’ll spend the rest of the day-and probably the rest of my bleeding life too-cleaning chamberpots as punishment. Arg! I’ll…I dont know!…I’ll…blag…

In desperation, Sial scanned the page. ‘…and the mightiest nation this side of the Aryth Ocean is acknowledged even by the savages, who the might Monarch of Cairheinin continues to negotiate patiently with despite the Aiel lack of understanding in the concept of Ambassadorship. May the Royal line of Cairhein live forever, light be willing! In the case of Tar Valon…‘ The Novice kept her face neutral-you couldnt play merchants off against eachother if your face told your infomation for free-but her eyes darted. Time for some quick thinking.

“Yes Aes Sedai, though I have not been working for long. On this, I mean. I mean, all Ive found out is the general overview of…um, this book.” A Cairheinin accent was not meant for umming and ahhing and usually the mere sound of herself would have been enough to trip the young woman over her words. In this case, however, the waffling gave her a chance to think. To think very, very quickly. She adressed Ava but switched eye contact between the two Sisters when she spoke, in a bolder tone.

“I have only had a chance to check this book, Aes Sedai, and I havent read much beyond the prologue but Ive found out several things. First, this was written before the relationship between Cairhein and the Aiel soured, in the time of a king or queen. Second, it contains referances to Ambassadorships between the North-the Borderlands and Tar Valon included-and Cairhein. And third, its been written by some bloo-ah, someone of noble blood or maybe someone who wanted to suck up…er, who wanted to gain royal favour, so its strongly biased.” Sial tried not to shrink under the eyes of the two Aes Sedai. She was not particularly tall and wanted to keep every inch she had when facing these women, even in response to a question.

“I hope that helps Aes Sedai” she added, standing to throw in a clumsy half-curtsy for good measure. That ought to do it. She’ll know if thats what shes after. Light, I wonder what she is after? She’d better not be bloody messing with Maerone…not unless she’s planning to soot up some chimneys. Dami can make a fourtune if she did that. Oh, who bloody cares what the bloody woman is up to? Let me go, lady!

Sial

—————————————————————————
29 August 2007 (1:03pm)

Ava frowned at the thought that Raeyn would invite her to her quarters. Yet, she was happy with any help she could get that would lighten her chore a bit. It would take much longer to stay there and have a conversation than to stay in the Library and work. But the Brown had notes that Ava could use and she was all the more glad for it, her mind running over the possibilities of scanning those notes quickly and then adding them as a reference to her report to Phaedra. The Gray Sitter did not need the actual reference, but it was useful to know where this information had come from, Ava suddenly realized it could not be that only a Brown had such detailed notes and made a mental note to find the time to do some rearranging of the Gray archives after this particular quest was over.

Raeyn rose to leave and Ava followed, gathering her notes when the Brown pointed at the novice who was looking up at them now. Ava would have thought a Brown would have forgotten about a novice as the stories went of Browns too lost in thought to even remember themselves. But now the Gray had lost the novice from her thoughts and she nodded, then turned on her heel to face the woman clad in white woolen. Yet, before Ava had opened her mouth to inquire after the young woman’s progress, a whole waterfall of words fell from her lips and Ava stared at her, her brows lifted slightly as she listened to the girl’s explanations and findings. When she finished, there was not a trace of happiness of pride over the girl’s work on Ava’s features, it was annoyance and aggravation that painted along her stern gaze.

Ava forgot about the Brown for a moment and took a long moment of silence before speaking, “Child, did I ask for an elaborate report on your findings?” the girl’s jaw clasped open and shut again, “Tell me, did I ask you to speak, or did you decide that for yourself?” she found the questions rhetorical enough to turn back to Raeyn and said, “Perhaps this novice can carry some of my materials, so I do not lose anything and then she can wait outside of your quarters while we discuss the notes that you offer?” she could not bring herself to smile at the thought of help from the Brown, as she felt like the novice had taken the last shred of Ava’s patience. Why did these novices not see that they were students and had to learn? Had the Brown not been standing there she would have put the novice to a particularly nasty chore for the rest of the day. But now it seemed she was stuck with the child as she could not very well send her on her way now. The girl would have to stay near and behave from now on, for Ava felt a responsibility for the child. Maybe the Mistress of Novices would be a good next stop, but she had no time to fit in that type of a meeting today.

“Best follow us,” she told the novice. “Bring all that and try not to blotch any ink on my papers,” she said and took just one leaflet she had been writing on just now. The novice bopped an odd sort of curtsy which Ava recognized as one she received often when speaking to novices. The willingness and relief had washed off the child’s face and Ava shook her head lightly as she headed out of the Library. Did none understand that she was not interested in hearing a life story about how they had done a job she asked them to do, was it not enough to simply do the job and be quiet? Did the novice require a pat on the back and a cookie every time she did as she was asked? She would certainly lead a very uneventful life if all her work was treated by rewards and no endurance was asked in any task laid on her. Ava headed towards Raeyn who had started towards her quarters, lost in thought evidently as the two women walked quietly. Outside of Rayen’s door, Ava checked briefly that the novice brought all the books and papers and then told the girl to wait outside. She would be called if any of the belongings in her arms were necessary. “I will call for you, no need to barge in and bring me what I do not need,” she insisted finally.

Ava Dorelle
Gray Sister

—————————————————————————–
29 August 2007 (7:58pm)

Sial had felt a momentary surge of satisfaction as she had spun her tale. Still can do it! Any positiveness soon evapourated. Lavander-dress not only looked like she had just discovered that she had stepped in cow dung, she wasnt even slightly grateful. Sial was accustomed to Aes Sedai looking down on her as a Novice (it never occoured to her that her height might have something to do with that as well) but to be told off for doing as she was told?! That bloody Brown as good as bleeding told me to speak up! Im not Lavander-dress’s personal bleeding maid! I ought to bleeding well burn her bloody papers…

It took a certain amount of effort for Sial to keep her features acceptable. She was so used to scowling in this situation that it was a struggle not to. As it was, she couldnt stop herself completely, but better to look faintly pained than to glare at a Sister. She gathered up the books first, into a rough and decidedly heavy stack, then carefully sandwiched the papers in ‘Cairheinin relations with the North’ so that she couldnt crease them unless she tore up the book first. Tearing up the book was starting to look decidedly appealing but it was a bad idea and even thinking of such damage to something as expensive and precious as a book made her wince. Balancing the inkpot and quills on top, Sial waddled after the Sisters with the pile teetering. She was quite pleased with herself for not dropping it but it made her muscles ache. It wasnt that she was weak; books just weighed a lot and were awkward. The 19 year old clenched her teeth to stop herself cursing and instead cheered herself up by thinking of as many insults for the Sister as she could manage.

The Aes Sedai paused, then Lavander-dress rummaged through the pile Sial was holding as if she honestly expected the Novice to have set fire to them somehow between Raeyn Sedais door and the Library. “I will call for you, no need to barge in and bring me what I do not need,” the woman said. Sial nodded. She could hardly attempt to curtsy with her hands full. “Yes, Aes Sedai.”

Sial

——————————————————————————

02 September 2007 (7:53pm)

Gesturing to her desk, Raeyn seated herself in her cushioned relining chair, “The notes are there, Ava… feel free to make use of the blank sheets for whatever notes you wish to make, as I’m afraid that I can’t let you walk off with the lot while I’m still using them.”

Ava’s eyes flashed sullenly, “Perhaps she thought she could dash off with them,” Raeyn mused to herself as she watched the Gray Sister start into her efforts, “Perhaps some tea would calm her.”

She rose silently and strode to the outer door. Opening it, she leaned out and spoke quietly to the Novice, “Child, why don’t you run down and fetch some tea and cakes for us. I’ll move her stack in here in the meantime, so it will be safe.” The Novice curtsied, “Yes, Aes Sedai,” and started to turn. Raeyn stopped her with a firm hand on the shoulder, “I should add that I wouldn’t be too cross if a little cake didn’t make it all the way up here, if you understand what I mean… off with you, now!”

Raeyn closed the door behind herself and made her way back to her recliner. “I sent the Novice for tea and cakes,” the Brown Sister spoke. She raised her hand to forestall Ava from speaking, and continued, “I’ve moved your things inside by the doorway, where they will be safe… and I also wanted to speak to you briefly on a matter.”

“And what would that be, Raeyn?”

“I couldn’t help but notice the way you were acting towards that Novice girl,” she smiled apologetically, “but it’s generally not wise to take your stress out on a Novice, or anyone for that matter. Just because you are on an important task… for one of the Sitters, I’d guess?”

Ava opened her mouth, but Raeyn once again gestured for silence, “Whatever the case – taking out bad feelings on Tower initiates is in poor taste – we as Sisters have a standard of firmness and fairness to set. This isn’t just for their own good, but for yours and mine, too.” Raeyn leaned forward and caught hold of Ava’s gaze, “Because… ‘lazy, slacking’ Novice or not now – some of these children will be our future Sisters.

Suddenly, someone knocked on the door. “One moment!” Raeyn called as she rose from her chair. “Of course,” she started, turning once again to face Ava, “that is unless you want to find a lack of allies in future years due to thoughtlessly alienating people in petty ways… not that I condone coddling the children either, but there must be balance.”

Raeyn stopped on that note and strode to the door. Upon opening it, she found the Novice waiting. “Come in, child!” Raeyn spoke, and gestured to the table where Ava was sitting. Smiling brightly, Raeyn shut the door behind herself and turned again to face Ava, “Well, the tea is here now.”

Raeyn

—————————————————————————-

02 September 2007 (10:51pm)

“I should add that I wouldn’t be too cross if a little cake didn’t make it all the way up here, if you understand what I mean… off with you, now!”

Sial was a little bemused as she passed the stack of books to Raeyn Sedai. She knew what the woman meant all right, but what was she playing at? The Novice had been bought up in a country where hints and insinuation were as good as straight out bluntness but such a hint from a Sister? The woman had as good as told her to steal cake. Not that she probably wouldnt have anyway but this puzzled her considerably.

Nethertheless, whatever the Brown was playing at, Sial was not about to drop a cake oppertunity. Aes Sedai could not, after all, lie, so Raeyn at least would not get her in trouble for being a cake theif…or would she? Aes Sedai told the truth but not always the truth you thought you heard and the woman had not said ‘Sial, sweetie, have some cake and you will not get in trouble’, just that she wouldnt be too cross…maybe ‘not too cross’ would get her in trouble out of some sort of Brownish lesson? Of course, assuming there was no politics behind it (a foriegn and strange suggestion) then the Aes Sedai must just be kindly and, assuming that unlikly possibility was the case, Sial was grateful for the option of cake.

Glad to get away from the bizzare Brown and a disgruntled Lavender-dress (Eva, Ava, whatever her name was) the Cairheinin bounded down the corridor with her usual skippy walk toward the kitchens. There was no point in bothering a cook, she decided. It was easier and quicker to take what she needed, something that she did. Despite her distinct resentment to Ava and her suspicion of Raeyns motives, the dark haired woman took special care over the tray. There was a hot pot of water, as she didnt want the tea to stew, and several different options for leaves on a saucer. In a moment of cheekiness, she even added the tealeaves that allowed preganancy to be avoided. Ha. I wonder if that will offend them. There was a dish of sugar and some honey in a tiny bowl. Looking around the kitchen, Sials sooty dark eyes latched onto cakes. Many cakes. May as well take a bit of everything…who knows what bloody Aes Sedai expe-ooh! Is that a cookie? Better add some of them for good measure… Once she was finsihed, the Novice had succeeded in loading the tray with enough selection to put a bakery to shame.

Stuffing a few biscuits and a slice of what appeared to be cherry cake into her belt pouch, Sial picked up the tray. Then put it down very quickly. Blood and ashes, whod have thought cake could weight such a trollocing lot?! She picked it up again, more warily this time, and walked very carefully to Raeyns dwelling. She was quite pleased with herself for making it such a long way without upsetting the water or dropping anything, although her shoulders did complain at the weight. The problem came when she reached the door. How in the Light do I knock? If I put the tray down, I’ll spill stuff but I cant knock with my hands full…

With the hooliganistic balance of someone who climbed, Sial balanced on one leg and used the other to drum against the door. It made a satisfying knock and she managed to keep the tray straight. “Come in, child!” Raeyn Sedai called. Sial opened the door with an elbow and walked carefully over to the table that the smiling Brown indicated. What is she beaming about? I wouldnt be smiling if I was stuck on my own with Lavender-dress looking that irked. Browns really are nutty. I should have bought her the almond cake.

Setting down the tray, Sial bobbed a very bad curtsy to both Sisters. She just couldnt seem to get the hang of this flouncing arounf with your skirts lark. Which was when she noticed the black smudges on either side of her Novice whites…

As noncholently and possible, she shifted her dark eyed gaze to her hands. Her fingertips were smudged with ink from writing earlier with the quill. Which meant-

Oh, Light, no! She looked out of the corner of her eye to the teatray. Everything was perfect. Everything, that was, apart from the rim of ink around the edge of the teacups. Had Sial been watching events featuring another Novice, she would have laughed at the potential for a prank and perhaps suggested handing the inkiest teacup to Lavender-dress. As the Novice was her, however, she wanted to scream and the best suggestion she could think of for herself was to run, far away, and live in the woods for the next Age or so.

Thinking quickly, Sial made a plan. She had a feeling Ava would shoot her down for speaking out of turn but better a reprind than a punishment for a horrible, horrible accident. “Ava Sedai, Raeyn Sedai, would you like me to pour the tea?” She curtsied again, eyes on the floor. She didnt trust herself to catch either Aes Sedai’s eye.

Sial Daemoa
Unfortunatly untidy Novice

Death Becomes Her (Murder Mystery Phase 1)

Fishing around on her table, Raeyn Sedai, the ever so dignified Head of the Brown Ajah, growled at the fact she couldn’t find something as simple as a hairbrush.

“It’s even worse knowing that you have one… somewhere!!” she muttered to herself, carelessly moving stacks of paper around to peer at the layer of dust on the tabletop.

Sighing, she strode to her overstuff armchair, and flopped back inelegantly. Her woolen nightgown flapped about her ankles as she jumped right back up with an exclamation of surprise, peering into the seat. “Some things are right under our noses… or other body parts!” she exclaimed to herself, scooping up the brush before sitting back down. Pulling the ribbon out of her long hair, she shook it down to stream across her breasts into her lap. She stroked idly, reflecting on a day spent fussing at unruly Novices in the library, “Was I as foolish as the lot of them when I was that age? Surely not…”

Her thoughts were interrupted as a gaping yawn attempted to escape from Raeyn. She hurriedly covered her mouth, grinning ruefully, “I’ve been pushing myself too hard lately… I should take some time to relax tomorrow!” She snuggled back into her chair a bit more, continuing her idle strokes with the brush. Before she knew it, she was fast asleep, brush dangling from her outstretched hand.

And that is how she was to be found on the tomorrow that wouldn’t come for her.

Raeyn Sedai
Head of the Brown Ajah
Bonded to Matalina Gaidin

——————————————————————————————
Meagan rubbed her eyes as a yawn escaped her lips. Earily morning never bother her too much, but after spending a late night practicing her 100 weaves in the dark, it was enough to make her wish she could have slept late. But the time waits for no woman, and she was off to the library to search out more books on weaves like any good dedicated Accepted.

Her sandled feet moved silently over the stone steps of the Legendary Library of the WhIte Tower. A Library she would have given her life to see, to study in. She walked carefully up the steps, although she knew each step by heart. She had to know, for her lack of sight demanded it. Her cost to study in this library was her inability to actually see the library the the books within. Maegan yawned again, pulling open the door that lead into the entrance, filling her nose with the smell of paper, ink and a slight insence smell that one of the sisters must have burnt to help with the smell of the dust. Domani inscense, if she guessed correctly.

“Morning, Maegan. You look worse for wear. Up practicing again?” The sweet brown that sat at the desk smiled at her, although Meagan couldn’t see the smile, she heard it in the woman’s voice. Maegan touched her hair, as it showed it usual disarray, despite the bath of this morning. Her thick hair never wished to do anything but tangle amnd make her look like a dis-shevled old woman. A perfect image for a brown.

“Morning to you too, Elrenie Sedai. Up earily cataloging again? I thought you had a weave for everthing that it should already be perfect.” Maegan smiled at the woman, handing her a book that she had borrowed the night before.

The woman chuckled in her low alto voice. “We all have our passions.”

“Indeed.” Maegan said with a grin, and continued her way into the library. She slowly picked her way to the stacks, avoiding chairs and table legs. Reaching the shelving that was dedicated to weaves, usually moderate to complex ones that all Aes Sedai should know, she started to run her fingers along the shelf that was within reach. Her fingers traced the bindings, spelling out the contents of the book. It was a time consuming method, but she was in no rush. She had all day, and if it took her years to achieve the Shawl, it was on her terms, and with her knowledge.

“Water weaves for the kitchen……Camp Fires and other use….Weather and how it… ” She skipped over the ones she had already read though -thanks to a novices help, who she had sworn never to repeat these weave until she also reached the banded accepted dress.- and frowned as her fingers came across a empty space in the shelf. A book was missing, and it was the next on her ‘reading list’. Picking up the hem of her skirt, she went back to the front desk and inquired about the missing book. Elrenie Sedai had left for a tea break, and another Aes Sedai she had not been aquainted with yet told her that a Raeyn Sedai had borrowed it to help one of her own students. Or as far as her knowlegde could percieve of the book.

After receiving directions to Raeyn Sedai’s room, Maegan let out a soft prayer that the woman would not be upset for being waken this earily in the morning. Maegan halted in her steps and looked out the window. Judging by the light that now filtered into the room, it was getting close to mid-day. Light! where had the day gone!

With soft footsepts, despite the time of day, she dared not wake anyone that wished to sleep late, and prayed that Raeyn Sedai was in her room, and not asleep. She counted the doors on her right…..15… 16….21…22…

Meagan was surprised to find room 23 slighly ajar as she attempted to knock. The door creeked open on its hinges at a high enough pitch to cause Maegan to shutter. Her hearing must be getting finer-tuned without her sight. She made a mental note to talk to a Yellow about this. She did not bother to touch the doorknow, but slowly pushed open the door, trying not to let the creeking door bother her.

“Raeyn Sedai? Are you here?” She peaked into the room, her heart starting to beat faster. The room was dark. No light from a window or a candle could be seen. Maybe she wasn’t in here, or still asleep. But why was the door open? Maegan tried her best to still her beating heart, but the sense of something tickled at her nose. “May I come in?”

After recieve no answer, she made the logical choice of going in, if just to see if the book was available. She stepped slowely, careful not to knock anythign over, or step on anything that might hurt her feet, she did not bother to embrace the One Power, her only chance to be able to see anything. At first, nothing seemed wrong. Ther room held a darker feel, like a brown long dedicated to her work and study. Harsh lights were never friendly to one that read a lot, and the rooms feel reflected that. But something wasn’t completly right either. The room had a very unsettleing feeling. Most rooms of the browns held insence, or a warm smell of the one that lived there. The sent of warm skin, or the fregrance of hair. But there was nothing in this room, and it unnerved her. Far more then the creeking door.

With her limited vision she scanned the room. The bed was flat, the table and tea setting was also empty. And then her eyes fell to what looked like a overly large armchair not far from the bed, yet opposite the window. In the chair was a figure. She could not make out the figure, it was like a ghost in a room full of things that blured and shone. But it was there. Slowly walking towards the figure, she tired her best to make out the figure. There was nothing tryly stick out, infact she was surprised she saw the figure at all, as like everything else, the figure reflected the dark tones of the room.

“Raeyn Sedai?”

Maegan was desperate as she walked forward, her hear in her through and her hair on end. A voice in the back of her head told her to run. To get anouther Aes Sedai. To get A yellow, or anouther brown. But her curiosity kept her moving forward. She needed to know. reachign out with her hand, she smoothed back the hair, obvously recenltly brushed, unless the woman had not moved all night, but with a shock, she pulled her hand back to her chest, as if electrified by the figure.

The Skin.. It was not right. It was far from the feeling of any normal skin that would usually be warm to the touch, and was indeed cold. Too cold. It was clammy and clung to her fingers, ans the feeling of dread washed over her. Taking a step back, she stepped ona hair brush, the Power of Saidar ripped through her body as the figure came to light.

The rolled eyes stared up at her as the body sat limp in the chair, the moth slighly open and the skin white to an almost greyish tone.

She opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out as she looked down to her feet,. A jeweled, yet simple hair brush layed at her feet. And realization of what she already knew struck her hard in the chest, and the room grew dim, and her touch with the One Power faded.

Raeyn Sedai was Dead.

Maegan Ryanne
Accepted
———————————————————————————————
//flashback//

She tossed in her sleep, the hairbrush still in hand to flail at dream assailants. Occasionally, the brush was thrust forward, as if being wielded like one of the fluted rod ter’angrael or sa’angrael. Troubled dreams for a troubled time…

No one could say for sure what caused her to wake from her slumber. The door creaked open quietly as a true assailant snuck in; stealthfully they moved across the cluttered chamber. Perhaps it was the sense of another with the ability to wield the Power…

She jerked awake, opening her soul to Saidar… only to find herself blocked from the Source! The moonlight glinted through the window off flashes of metal all over the room, to include her assailant.

“What… what do you want?” she queried angrily, “Is this about the other day?”

The person in front of her said nothing, though the moonlight flashed off white teeth as the head bent nearer. Raeyn eyed her hairbrush sideways, and attempted to club the mysterious person’s head. The blow landed, but not strongly enough for her to escape. Flows or Air bound her to the chair. Her breath fled her body and all turned to red, but not before she felt the binds leave and a voice whispered, “Good bye, Raeyn Sedai… may your next life have meaning to it.”

Darkness covered all, and her form went cold.

Raeyn Sedai
Head of the Brown Ajah
Bonded to Matalina Gaidin
———————————————————————————————
Maegan stood there for hours. Ot is seemed like hours. Her vision none existant as she shared the presence of the room with a figure that will haunt her.

::”Death is a mysterious thing. One day she was smiling, and looking at us with Happiness, and the next she no longer moves. We will never understand it, but it happens, just as, one day, you and i will one day die.” Maegan didn’t look to her farther as he spoke. She only watched without understanding, why they were placing her mothing into the ground while she was asleep. Everyone was weeping. Everyone…but her. And she didn’t understand.

She slowly backed out of the room, not touching anything. Feeling heat flow up to her cheeks and making her dizzy, she left the door open and leaned her body against the oposing wall, allowing the coolness of it seep ingot her skin and drain out the heat the rose from her body. Her fear. Her shock.

And then she screamed.

Maegan Ryanne
White Tower Accepted

———————————————————————————————
The rest of this RP never happened. 🙁

You’re in For it Now, Emyli! (ATTN: Wedge)

04 March 2003 (11:12pm)

Raeyn Sedai sat in her corner of the library and sighed. As much as she loved her other Brown sisters, they did tend to neglect the maintence of the library. Shaking her head, she turned back to the book at hand.

After an indeterminable amount of time, she looked up to see her latest mentee, Emyli, sitting at a table pouring over a stack of books. Raeyn smiled inwardly, “Ahh, I remember having to study like crazy when I was still a novice.”

As if her thought was a cue, Emyli stood up and started to walk away from the table, leaving the stack of books. Standing up, Raeyn dashed to the girl’s side.

“What do you think you are doing, Emyli?” Raeyn demanded indignatly, “You should not leave the books on the table! That is disrepectful to those of us in the Brown Ajah that work hard to keep the library in some form of order! I think that a lesson is in order!”

Grabbing the girl’s hand, Raeyn dragged her back to the table and pointed to the stack of books, “Firstly, put up these books that you took out, and then put up those books there.” She said as she gestured to the overflowing carts of books that needed to be reshelved, “Then make sure that the card catalog is in order… I think other novices have let it get out of order again.. And when you’re done with that, much dusting is in order. Well? Get on it!!”

Watching the girl, Raeyn returned to her chair and sat back down. Before a full minute had even passed, she was engrossed in her book again.
Raeyn Sedai
Brown Ajah

——————————————————————————————
05 March 2003 (7:19pm)

Emyli sighed over her stack of books. As nice as Ashanda was, her classes required alot of work. All these books on the Age of legends! Sniffing, she closed on and put it atop the rest. ‘I think I will take a walk around the halls to clear my head’ Emyli thaught to herself. Beginning to walk away.

What do you think you are doing, Emyli?” Raeyn demanded indignatly, “You should not leave the books on the table! That is disrepectful to those of us in the Brown Ajah that work hard to keep the library in some form of order! I think that a lesson is in order!”

“BUT AES SEDAI!!!” Emyli begged, she would come back and clean them.

“Firstly, put up these books that you took out, and then put up those books there.” She said as she gestured to the overflowing carts of books that needed to be reshelved, “Then make sure that the card catalog is in order… I think other novices have let it get out of order again.. And when you’re done with that, much dusting is in order. Well? Get on it

But Aes Sedai…”
“No BUTS!”

Resigning to her fate, Emyli began putting the 7 books back that she had been reading. You would think that 7 books on the same subject would all come from the same section! FAW.
Raeyn Sedai hadn;t even bothered to make sure she was doing any work. but Emyli knew, if anything was off, Raeyn Sedai would have her hide sent to the MoN. Besides the fact that she was her Mentor, and could make lessons very painfull.

Pulling a stool up to the card catalog, Emyli sighed again and got to work. What a mess! Q books in the A drawer! “This will take forever.” Emyli mused to herself…

“Put a little elbow grease into it girl!” Raeyn Sedai said, walking by seemingly never stopping reading that book as she walked. She turned down and aisle. “And get off that stool, proper girls don’t sit like that.” The last words fading into the distance.

Sighing once more, Emyli pulled the stool away and began sorting again. Someone had put half the R’s in the P drawr, and some T’s in the P. Why did everyone not put these away!?!?!

A few hours past, and Emyli was almost done. OH! Here is an H in the Z drawer! Pulling the Z draw out, she heard a loud Crack and the bottom of the drawer fell out, spraying cards everywhere!

Another hour, and Emyli’s stomach was rumbling, but she finished up. Luckilly the wood could be restuck onto the nails that held the sides of the thin drawer together.Sighing, Emyli ran off hoping to get some dinner before the kettles were cleaned.
Emyli
——————————————————————————————
05 March 2003 (11:31pm)

Looking around the Library, Raeyn could see that Emyli had made an honest effort, but things still needed work. Deciding to let the girl get some dinner and rest, she decided to let things go until the next morning.

~***~

The next morning found Raeyn Sedai in the Novice Quarters bright and early, and once again knocking on a now-familiar door. A groggy Emyli answer, squeaking as she dropped into a curtsy in her nightgown.

“Emyli, I wanted to thank you for your work yesterday. However, I think there is still much that you could do. Change, get some breakfast, and then meet me back in the library.”

~***~

Another hour or so later, Emyli skidded to a halt right outside the library where Raeyn could see her as she approached the younger woman.

“Took your time over breakfast, yes? I will not punish you for now, but do keep in mind that when a Sister asks something of you, you should hop to it as if your life depended on it, which it might just within the Tower.”

Smiling, Raeyn guided the Novice around the room, motioning to various wall hangings, “As you can see, many are quite dusty and dirty, and in need of touching up. If you could carefully clean them, I would be most appreciative.”

Pointing the girl in the direction of the cleaning supplies, Raeyn picked up the book she had left in her chair the night before and resumed reading.
Raeyn
—————————————————————————————–
06 March 2003 (7:57pm)

“As you can see, many are quite dusty and dirty, and in need of touching up. If you could carefully clean them, I would be most appreciative.”

Emyli sighed once more. This seamed to be a recuring theme in her life lately. She decided to start lightly, with the duster. Making her way around the library brushing the feathers across all the wood. And there was alot of wood! She wondered what the point was of pushing the dirt into the air, just to settle down again in an hour.

Mid thaught, she bumped into a table, sending the porcalin figurine on it into the air. Dropping the duster, she reached for the valuable trinket. grabing at it in midair, it jumped out of her hand. Bobbling it a bit, it hoped around her hands, and finally came to a rest. Emyli wiped her brow. that was close. She placed the figurine back on the table, and continued with her dusting…
Emyli

——————————————————————————————-
07 March 2003 (6:34am)

The sound of an object falling pulled Raeyn up from her book and her attentions back on Emyli. Standing up, she made her way over to where the girl was.

“Emyli, take a short break when you are done with the dusting. Go get some lunch, and then come back up here, and there is more that I would like for you to do. And while you are at it, bring up a tray for me, please?”
Raeyn

—————————————————————————————
07 March 2003 (12:53pm)

Finishing her dusting, Emyli walked down to the mess hall, grumbling. “SHe thinks she can order me around…blah blah blah! Get this, do that!” Pausing, she minded her voice, still muttering.

She ate alone, a small meal of soup and bread, with some cheese. She didn’t have many freinds here at the tower. Soaking up the soup with her bread, she realized that Raeyn Sedai hadn’t even told her what she liked to eat.

She went back for more food, and got an assortment of cheeses, bread and some meats for her. Hopefully Raeyn Sedai would like this. Carrying the tray up several levels to the library was a pain, but what wasn’t today? Placing the tray in front of her reading mentor. “For you Aes Sedai” Emyli made her best curtsy.
Emyli

———————————————————————————–
10 March 2003 (7:02am)

Smiling, Raeyn stood up to help Emyli bring in her lunch. “Oh my!” she mused inwardly, “I must have forgotten to tell her what I wanted, with her all overburdened with food like that!”

Taking away the tray and stashing it in her back room, Raeyn walked back out to Emyli and handed her a broom, “Now that you’ve dusted, and gotten some food into you, it’s time to sweep!”

Leaving the astonished girl with a broom, Raeyn walked to the back and settled in for lunch.
Raeyn

——————————————————————————————
11 March 2003 (5:35pm)

“Now that you’ve dusted, and gotten some food into you, it’s time to sweep!”

Emyli took the broom. “As you say Aes Sedai.”

Starting in a corner, Emyli sneezed and coughed her way across the room. Mind you a cute sneeze…

She thaught about how much fun it would be to boss around novices when she was Aes Sedai. Emyli took care to lift fragile things off of tables before she moved the table to sweep under it. After she swept all the dust into a corner, she took a thin peice of wood to sweep the dirt onto.

She carefully got all the dirt on it, and lifted it so she could find a place to dispose of it. Concentrating on balancing the thin wood and dirt, she negelcted to notice a stack of books some other careless novice left next to some shelves. Tripping, she spilled the dirt all over the floor, landing face first in it. He dusty face lifted from it, with a full mask of dust. A sneeze racked her body, sending the dirt everywhere…

Sighing, Emyli wanted to cry as she wiped herself off, and re-swept. The next time, she was carefull enough not to drop the dirt again.

“Aes Sedai, I have finished dusting.” Raeyn Sedai looked up from her book…
Emyli

——————————————————————————————-
11 March 2003 (5:57pm)

Tapping a finger thoughtfully against her upper lip, Raeyn mused, “Is there anything else that I can think up for this poor girl? ”

She appeared to be lost in thought as she paced the length of the table that Emyli was leaning on, attempting to catch her breath. Suddenly, Raeyn stopped and grabbed the girl by the hand, “Come with me!”

Dragging the girl to a back area of the library, she pointed to a stack of maps. “These need to be sorted by country, or area. When you are done sorting, there is a bin in which they can be filed there.” She pointed to a large, slotted bin off to their left before rounding back on the Novice, “Be very careful with these maps! Some are older than you could possibly believe, and we are fortunate to still have them!”

She started to walk away, but stopped for a minute to observe the girl before wandering back to the front, and her book.
Raeyn

——————————————————————————————-
11 March 2003 (7:39 pm)

“These need to be sorted by country, or area. When you are done sorting, there is a bin in which they can be filed there.” She pointed to a large, slotted bin off to their left before rounding back on the Novice, “Be very careful with these maps! Some are older than you could possibly believe, and we are fortunate to still have them!”

Emyli turned to the Maps, sighing again. Emyli had no use for maps. She knew her way around most of the northern part of the world. She had travelled all her life. The borders of the countries made no difference to her, but she would always know where she was. Sorting the maps she thaught. ‘Kandor and Arrefell are in the north? Yes i think so. She put them near each other. Caemlyn and Carhien were both big cities. They can go here.’

Emyli had never felt at home in Tar Valon, she always did feel bad in populated areas. Seperating the maps by city, then by region, Emyli dusted off her hands. These were quite organised now if she did say so herself!!!

Hopping after Raeyne Sedai. “Raeyn Sedai, I am done! May i go get dinner now?”
Raeyn

——————————————————————————————-
12 March 2003 (11:39am)

Blinking, Raeyn wandered over to one of the windows to see that the sun was a blazen mass of crimson on the horizion, but she also noticed that the windows were dirty. Shaking her head, she turned back to the girl, “Let us go get some dinner,and then I have one more small task for you.”

Taking Emyli by the hand, Raeyn led the tired girl down to the kitchens for a meal. She let the Novice take her time with the meal, and ask questions of whatever she felt like asking. After a good half hour or so, Raeyn stood up, and motioned the girl to follow her back to the Library.

“Now, the last task I have for you this evening is to clean the windows. I know some are quite tall, so use a ladder CAREFULLY! I know practically nothing of healing, and I’m not sure I could fetch a Yellow Sister fast enough to save your life. When you are done, report back into me.”
Raeyn

—————————————————————————————–
12 March 2003 (7:09pm)

Emyli sighed even more, and dragged the heavy ladder towards the large windows. Climbing up the ladder, she labouriously and tediously washed the windows. Each little crack and cranny. Raeyn made sure she even whiped down the lead of the stained glass.

Emyli was finishing up when she leaned back a bit to admire her work. The ladder tipped a bit, but she recovered. Smileing, she was finally do… “AAHHHH…AAHHHH… AHHHHHHH CHOOOOOO!!!” She opened her eyes. She was still on the ladder. Luckily. She squeaked loudly as she looked at the glass, realizing what her sneeze had deposited on it. She quickly whiped it down, and went off the ladder, then put it away.

“Aes Sedai, I am done with my chores.” She was quite tired, and wished she could go to bed.
Raeyn

——————————————————————————————
13 March 2003 (12:12pm)

Raeyn smiled as the novice stumbled back over to where she was sitting, “Done already child? Well now, you do look as if you should go bathe and rest. But first..” She trailed off as she reached behind the counter and pulled out a few brownies from a tray she kept there while she was working, “You should have a little something sweet before you go. Enjoy these brownies, and by all means, get some rest!”

Shooing the girl off, Raeyn sat back down and continued to read.
Raeyn

Time to Get Going, Emyli! (ATTN: Wedge s)

23 February 2003 (9:31pm)

Raeyn Sedai straightened up from her table at the sound of a knock on her door. Slightly disgrunted at the disturbance, she strode across her chamber, irritably smoothing out her skirts. Upon opening the door, she was somewhat suprised to find Nynaeve, the Mistress of Novices at her door.

“Now, whatever could you want with me, Nynaeve Sedai?” Raeyn queried with a mild smirk playing across her lips, “last time I checked, I hadn’t been a Novice in a century or so.”

Offering the other Sister entrance, Nynaeve declined, and handed her a slip of paper, explaining that she had been selected for mentorship duty, then taking her leave.

Musing to herself, Raeyn glanced over the bit of parchement, “A mentee? Interesting…. I can’t remember the last time I had one of those…..”

An hour or so later found Raeyn within the Novice’s Quarters, knocking briefly before entering.

“Emyli, is it? I am Raeyn Sedai, your assigned mentor.”
Raeyn Sedai

———————————————————————————————
23 February 2003 (11:14pm)

Emyli sat at the rooms small desk. Her roommates were out as usual. They were never all there except when sleeping. She assumed she would be at that pace soon anyway. The door opened.

“Emyli, is it? I am Raeyn Sedai, your assigned mentor.”

Emyli hopped up and curtsied like her mom showed her how. “Yes Aes Sedai, Emyli Toranin that is my name Aes Sedai.” She blushed, she was aying to much.
Emyli
Novice

—————————————————————————————–
24 February 2003 (6:59am)

Motioning Emyli up and away from her desk, Raeyn Sedai shuffled the girl out into the hallway, “Now, now child, there is no need to be quite that nervous. Come along now, there is much to see of the Tower.”

Starting down the hall, Raeyn immediately began pointing things out to the Novice, “I’m sure that by now you are aware that this floor, and the floors surrounding it, comprise the Novice galleries, with the Accepted galleries below…..”

They walked to through the areas of the Tower where classes were held, to and through the Library, and along the dusty corridors where some of the more dedicated sisters of the Brown Ajah lived. The Amyrlin’s Study, and the antechamber where Arette Sedai, the Keeper of the Chronicles, were passed by quickly in favor of the Tower’s Kitchens, to grab a lunch to take outside to one of the gardens for a bit of sunshine.

As they ate their lunch, Raeyn turned to Emyli, “Now, child, is there any questions that you would like to ask of me that you haven’t yet?”
Raeyn Sedai

—————————————————————————————–
24 February 2003 (5:33pm)

Emyli listened quietly as they strolled through the Tower. By the time they got to eat, she was quite hungry.

“Now, child, is there any questions that you would like to ask of me that you haven’t yet?”

Emyli paused with a chunk of roll in her cheek. She suddenly remembered to finish chewing. “Well Aes Sedai, everyone says I can touch the power, but what if i dont know how?”
Emyli

——————————————————————————————-
24 February 2003 (7:16pm)

“Well Aes Sedai, everyone says I can touch the power, but what if i dont know how?”

Raeyn took a deep breath, and then began her explanation, “Why child, noone really knows how to touch the One Power without some form of guidance, and that is one of the first things that we in the Tower will teach you – how to touch and control Saidar. I will attempt to guide you, if you are ready?”

When Emyli nodded in agreement, Raeyn began, “Now, clear your mind of consiousous thought. Picture a rosebud, you are the rosebud….. “, she continued on, hoping that this would be of aid to the Novice by her side.
Raeyn Sedai

—————————————————————————————-
24 February 2003 (7:59pm)

“Now, clear your mind of consiousous thought. Picture a rosebud, you are the rosebud….. ”

Emyli did as told, picturing a rosebud in her mind, relaxing herslef, imagining it opening. Trying to feel the power that she should be touching, it eluded her. Attempting again. She certainly felt calm, but she felt nothing.

Huffing… “Aes Sedai i can’t feel anything…” Emyli frowned.
Emyli

——————————————————————————————-
24 February 2003 (8:27pm)

Huffing… “Aes Sedai i can’t feel anything…” Emyli frowned.

Smiling the smile of patience, Raeyn touched the girl’s shoulder, “One thing that you must keep in mind when trying to touch and channel Saidar is that to master it, you must surrender to it. Trying to grasp it is like trying to grasp air – it simply isn’t possible. With this in mind, try the exercise again.”

“Now, clear your mind of consiousous thought. Picture a rosebud, you are the rosebud….. ”
Raeyn

—————————————————————————————–
24 February 2003 (8:59pm)

Emyli nodded and tried again. The rosbud opened in her mind. Her eyes closed, peacefullnes overcame her. The flower opened more.

Faintly, barely, a feeling came to Emyli, like a sun just about to tip the horizin, or sleep about to overcome you, a precipice. Emyli strained, reaching for it, almost moving her hands towards the ever present light. It fell away. “Ggrrrr”

“I can’t Aes Sedai!”
Emyli

—————————————————————————————–
24 February 2003 (9:23pm)

“Never say can’t, child! You are very close, but remember! You cannot force it at all… let it come to you, surrender to it, and then only may you master and use Saidar.”

Taking a deep breath to calm herself, she gestured to the girl to do the same, “Calm is the best way to approach the Source. Be calm, be clear. Now, from the beginning again!

Picture a rosebud in your mind. You are the rosebud…..”
Raeyn

——————————————————————————————
24 February 2003 (9:49pm)

Emyli relaxed again. The rosbud came, with it the relaxation, and the sun just below the horizon. She reached, reached, nothing. The a thaught floated across her head
*You cannot force it at all… let it come to you, surrender to it*

Shes breatehd and relaxed. the..light, or whatever, Emyli couldn;t explain if she was asked to, tipped above the precipice. It was like a light, or a feeling or somthing undescribably, except she wanted more. It faintly touched her, and she gasped. She even shook. It enveloped her, made her feel, hear. She opened her eyes. She wanted to see the world with this new feeling.

She looked at Raeyn Sedai and it fell from her. The beuty and splendor was gone! “I…I” her eyes welled. “I had it…”

Emyli blinked, whiping her eyes. She had to be tough, she would be able to get it again. “Aes Sedai, it felt so…good.” the last word was nearly a whisper. Her life had changed. She could never again be the simple tinker that she was…
Emyli

——————————————————————————————
24 February 2003 (10:15pm)

“So you found Saidar this day, Emyli. This is good. Some girls have a harder time of it, but it seems to go alot on personality.” Raeyn smiled down at the novice… she could still remember the joy of finding the One Power.

Returning from her trip down memory lane, she turned back to Emyli, “If you wish to, you are more than welcome to practice a little more. You will be going through the same thing in some of your classes, but it’s always nice to have a head start. And besides, it is a nice day, and you won’t be able to see too much of them for awhile to come. Novice training is rigourous, and will more than likely keep you busy until you fall onto your bed each night, too weary to understand how you will make it through the next day, or the next. But you will, if you will it.”

Handing the girl another sandwich, Raeyn indulged in another one as well, to give Emyli the time to decide what to do with the rest of the day.
Emyli

——————————————————————————————-
24 February 2003 (10:57pm)

“I will practice more Aes Seai thank you.” Thinking. This was new, this was AMAZING! The beuty of it. “Aes Sedai, is it normal to want to hold onto it?”

“Yes Emyli, but you must be strong and not give into every urge, that can be dangerous, and the point of much of your training.”

“Yes Aes Sedai.” Emyli smiled and her mentor. “Thank you.” Munching on the sandwhich, she that of what she had felt, and where it may take her life. Suddenly her loss of her family wasn’t quite so bad. But she still missed her mother, and her sisters, and her dog Rogue. “Aes Sedai, i would like to take a walk today, then retire to my room, where I can continue to practice.” Emyli smiled a wide eyed smile.
Emyli

——————————————————————————————-
24 February 2003 (11:07pm)

“A walk, then? Let’s!” Raeyn replied, genuinely happy to be outside for once… she spent too much time in her chambers working.

Along the way they made idle conversation of this and that, mainly admonishments from Raeyn Sedai not to try to do anything with the One Power at this point, but to merely practice opening up to it, and holding it. Before she knew it, time had passed, and it was time to return Emyli to her room.

“Remember child, don’t try anything without an Accepted or an Aes Sedai to guide you! Saidar is no child’s toy, and you can hurt yourself or someone else.. you could even burn yourself out, and never be able to feel Saidar again… you would be an empty shell. Anyways, get what rest you can before you are put to work on chores and classes, and I’m sure we shall meet again.”

On that note, Raeyn turned from the door and headed back to her chambers.
Raeyn