Even in the dusk, the White Tower dominated Tar Valon. In some peculiar sense, the Tower was more Tar Valon than Tar Valon itself, climbing into the sky as if trying to compete with Dragonmount itself. You didn’t need to be standing mere paces from its gate to appreciate that but that was where Sial Daemoa was.

 

A cairhienin, Sial would never be called tall and perched on a deep grey heavy footed horse that quite obviously had at one time or another been ploughing fields, she looked smaller than ever. Looking up at that huge white monument to history, she felt smaller too, a feeling she was not used to and did not all together like. She found her eyes instinctively roving for chimney pots. Bloody idiot, of course theres bloody chimneys…She stared deliberately away from the skyline and stared at the gates instead. Well, glared. Glaring came all too naturally to her, despite trying to keep a straight face. Then again, in Maerone, a merchant playing Daes Dae’mar would read as much from neutrality as open crossness. But this was Tar Valon, not Cairhein. She would have to get used to that, and quickly.

 

A passer by who happened to glance at her would have seen a young, dark haired woman in a green brown woollen dress, an off-black cloak on her shoulders. Had they  looked closer, they might have noticed the smoky dark eyes glaring out from under jet black brows or noticed that her hair, plaited untidily down her back, had several burrs in it and was fighting free of its twist. They may even have seen that her pale skin had a hint of olive about it or that her shoes were muddied and travel worn. Asked to put an age to her, however, and the passer by would have been likely to say sixteen or perhaps a very matured fifteen. They would have been unlikely to guess that Sial could claim 18 years and 11 months of life. They would have been surprised to hear that she was scraping under the Novice age bar by a whisker.

 

Sial patted Coal absently and shifted in her saddle. Well, not technically her saddle. Or her horse, for that matter. The Aes Sedai who had picked her up in Maerone had purchased both horse and saddle for Sials use when Sial made it perfectly clear that she was not going to leave home on her families only equine, Sooty, an even tempered black draught. Spontaniously disappearing from home in the dead of night leaving only a note of goodbye was one thing. Kidnapping the horse that was so useful to the family business was another thing entirely. Light, she did have some morals. Some.

 

Where was the woman anyway? Sial absently chewed the end of her plait. It bothered her that she didn’t even know the name of the Aes Sedai she had been travelling with, nor that of the womans Warder.  It bothered her even more that she had spoken so little to both people throughout the whole journey from Maerone. That was not entirely her fault; an Aes Sedai did not socialise with a potential Novice and both woman and Warder had for the most part treated her as a slightly unruly child. It wouldn’t have hurt her to dig a bit though. She wished she had, now. Any information could be used and at this particular moment, Sial wanted anything that could help her in the slightest. What if the Aes Sedai didn’t come back and someone asked her what she was doing? ‘A woman who wears a hooded cloak all the time and a man in a colour-change cloak who isn’t Cairheinin told me I could learn to channel, bought me here on this horse and told me to wait here while they went to find someone to greet me?’ The mere thought made Sial laugh. That is, it would have done if it had not been her.

 

She glared at the gate harder. She should run now, before people had a chance to laugh at her. Or she should dismount and march up to those gates and demand to be let in right now. Or she should go and look around Tar Valon, then take news of the sweep situation home to her brother and father and uncles. Or she should shout that she was not Aes Sedai material and march off now, on her terms, rather than waiting for what was surely inevitable failure-who had heard of a Sweeps Daughter Aes Sedai?- to send her packing.

 

She did none of those things. Instead, she sat frozen on Coals back with white knuckles gripping the reins, awaiting someone to open the gate and let her in. Frozen as a rabbit freezes on approach of a hungry fox. Blood and ashes, she was bloody doomed…

 

 

 

She was not native to Cairhien but Eqwina did hold a certain affection for the land of her mother’s birth. It was counted among the few places in the world Eqwina could go and not stand out for her height, or lack their off as it stood. But that was as far as her love for the country went; so when she was given orders sending her there she had been less than pleased.

 

Eqwina pulled charcoal black cloak tighter as she sat observing the road ahead. The day had dawned colder than any had expected and a light coating of snow already covered the ground. The dark gray billowy clouds were filled to busting with snow; the evidence already lay on her cloak. Eqwina’s petite hand reached out and pulled her cowl farther over her head; She spared a moment to glance at the young girl that traveled with them. It had not been her choice to shelter the girl all the way to Tar Valon but in the end she had been unable to refuse.

 

It was good that the towers were coming into view because the little coin she had brought had been spent to supply the girl with a horse and saddle, a fact she sorely regretted. She supposed she would make a girt of the horse to the girl, she had no use for another.

 

Absently she patted Firehearts neck and made soothing noises under her breath. It had been months since she had seen the gleaming towers and as much as she hated to admit it they warmed her black heart. “Wait here child, I will find someone who can come back and..deal with you.” Her voice was as cold as the ice that caked her saddle. She turned her horse towards the city and road out of sight with her cloak flaring behind her.

She was doing the girl a favor, arriving in the city with the likes of her could do nothing but harm the child…or was it that she had become so self absorbed that she could no longer be bothered with the likes of a novice?

 

Eqwina sat on her horse staring back at the hills, even though the girl was hidden from her view. Perhaps she could help the child..just to reassure that the child would not speak of anything she saw while she had accompanied Eqwina. Once again she turned Fireheart and speed back the way she had came.

 

”Come child, everyone else was busy so it looks as if you are in my care for now, I will help you get cleaned up and show you where you need to be” Eqwina tried to make her voice light and missed her mark by a span. Long ago all the light had gone out of her life.

 

An Aes Sedai appeared so quietly that Sial could almost believe that she had zapped herself there with those peculiar powers. Then again, the Cairheinin woman had to admit that she had not been paying as much attention as perhaps she should have been. That damned Tower and its contents-not to mention recent events-were distracting her. Bloody idiot, this isnt the time to loose your wits. Sial shifted her hands on Coals reins, the joints stiff from a combination of cold and strain. She noted rather disconnectedly that the closer she had got to Tar Valon, the more she had seemed to be scolding herself in her head. That didnt bode well.

 

It wasnt just any old Aes Sedai either, Sial realised. It was the Aes Sedai, the one that she had tried following in Maerone so that she could sell the infomation on. She was still cloaked-not that Sial would have been able to recognise her even if she wasnt-but there was no mistaking that voice. Chilly was putting it lightly. She could probably cool forestfires with that voice, bloody woman. I dont even know her name! Of course, the Aes Sedai was still on her horse and while Sial was no horsetrader, she could recognise a creature that she had spent time following.

 

”Come child, everyone else was busy so it looks as if you are in my care for now, I will help you get cleaned up and show you where you need to be” the Aes Sedai said. That was a surprise, though Sial kept her expression neutral. Not through any particular skill; by that point her face was so cold, the muscles so knotted with tension, that she doubted she could have flickered an eyelash without knowing about it. Why? she wondered silently in response to the womans words, though she had sense enough to keep that word to herself. The cloaked Aes Sedai had hardly acted overjoyed at a potential novice unwittingly falling into her care, and Sial had no doubts that her own enthusiasm for both her fate and her mysterious cloaked companion had been damp at best.

 

Some response was obviously called for. Sial was occasionally overbold and stubborn more often that not, but she wasnt stupid. Cairheinin held Aes Sedai in fear and awe and the people of Maerone had been no exception. "Yes, Aes Sedai, ma'am" she replied solemnly and with unusual calm. Inwardly, she winced at her own submission-she had never called anyone "ma'am" in her life!-but she had little doubt that Aes Sedai required manners. Light, let that be enough! She didnt think she could choke out more bloody honourifics. If nothing else, her jaws were complaining of having to work in the cold.

 

A sudden rush of pluckiness made her open her mouth again. "Aes Sedai? Is it proper for me to call you that? I have never asked you name." The words somehow came out stupidly prim, too prim for a common sweeps daughter, and with her Cairheinin accent, Sials low voice sounded unpleasantly like some noble twit equiring after something they had no idea about but were pretending otherwise. She fought the urge to swear to balance it out. Instead, she gave Coal a nudge in the ribs to warn him that they were about to move on and looked down, seemingly at her horses shoulders. However, the Cairheinin woman was watching the Aes Sedai out of the corner of her eye, gauging. Everyone agreed that Aes Sedai were unpredictable, as well as being serene which made no sense in Sials mind. Which was truth? And, more importantly, was a simple question like a name enquiry about to get her walloped?

Eqwina sat with her hands on Firehearts pommel and stared off towards Tar Valon. This was hardly how she imagined her homecoming, arriving in the snow, at night, and saddled with a potential novice. She tightened her jaw to help suppress the urge to sigh. “What can not be changed must be dealt with”

 

“You can call me Aes Sedai if you prefer, but Eqwina Sedai will work just as well” She still did not take her gaze from the towers ahead of her; even after so many years they still took her breath away.

 

Glancing back to make sure the girl followed, Eqwina booted Fireheart in the ribs she sped off towards Tar Valon. She did now slow until she reached the Tower stables. Eqwina was glad to see that the girl had kept pace; enough time had been wasted already. “Grab your things and follow me” She looked at the horse she had spent coin on and this time was not able to suppress a sigh. ” I have no use for another horse, so it appears this one belongs to you” Eqwina turned and left the stable, covering ground with a long stride; Or as long as she could manage with her short stature.

 

A few people eyed her askance as she stalked to her rooms with the disheveled girl in toe; but Eqwina kept moving. The sooner this girl was in the hands of the Mistress of Novices the better.

 

Things? Sial thought to herself. The clothes on her back and the items in her saddlebag were her things. Memories meant more than clothes, anyway and besides, if rumour was right, she'd get a new dress soon. Eqwina Sedai...well, its a name I suppose. I could use it, I bet. The dishevelled cairhienen girl kept pace with the other woman quite easily. Sial was hardly a spectacular rider but she could do the basics. Go faster. Slow down. Turn. Jump. That sort of thing. For her mounts part, Coal seemed resigned to listening to whoever sat on his back with at least a semblence of mild obedience. It didnt take brains to tell an obedient animal what to do.

 

Sial dismounted with confidence but not elegance. The floor was a lot further away than she had realised and her knees jarred. She was in the process of grabbing her saddlebags when the other woman-Eqwina Sedai, she reminded herself-spoke. "I have no use for another horse, so it appears this one belongs to you” Sial found herself very glad she was holding onto something. The woman was giving her a horse?! For her own? She liked animals but a horse was something major. It was as if someone had told her that they were giving her management of their business or control of their entire pepper wagon or leaving her in charge of messager pigeons with nobody watching. Bloody...blood! Oh light! What would them at home say if they knew I had a horse? I bet Coal is as good as Sooty at home. Maybe better. And hes all mine!

 

Of course, then other reasoning kicked in. It always did. Why is she giving me a horse? Is she trying to tie them fabled bloody Aes Sedai strings to me? Or is this a gesture? Will the other Aes Sedai respect one who gives freely to some commoner woman?But how can I turn down a horse? Oh, ashes, I cant turn down a horse. Not without looking like some idiot noble with more pride than brains. Besides...besides, if this whole stupid, trollocing situation catches fire, I could get home on Coal, easy. Or flog him for some money or something. Patting the heavy grey horse, Sial said as respectfully (and quickly) as she could, "Thankyou, Eqwina Sedai."

 

Wether the other woman had heard was another matter. She had gone striding off like a general or something. Sial patted Coal once more (Deas Dae'mar token or not, she did like the animal), flicked a bug off her wollen brownish dress, rearranged her not-quite-black cloak and strode after Eqwina Sedai. Staying behind her. It wasnt that she was intimidated, of course not. As far as Sial was concerned, there was no such thing as intimidation, not of her at any rate. She just...thought it would be more respectful. Yes. And wanted to sightsee a little better.

 

They entered the Tower without the pom and ceromony Sial had expected. A few stray people gave them funny looks, which Eqwina apparently ignored. Sial, however, glared at them. And glared rather fiercly too. Whoever these people were, she didnt intend to be thought of as a trotting puppy at the first hurdle. The little woman reached to flick strands of dark hair out of her eyes-glaring somehow lost its impact if you looked like a tumbleweed.

 

"Eqwina Sedai? Who do I need to speak to-ooh, I like the floor squares! um, I mean, who are we going to see..."She trailed off, mentally kicking herself. Bloody, bloody idiot! Honestly, floor squares! Think before I speak, think before I speak, think before I bloody well speak-oh Light, not bloody, dont start swearing. Dont let her think you are an idiot. First impressions stick-dont let hers of you be 'motormouthed nosy midgit with as much sophistication as a haystack and hair to match'...

OOC: I promised not to leave any novices in the lurch! So I am posting here to save you waiting for the new MoN to be chosen. :)

 

 

Pia's lips curled in a small, accomplished smile. They day was still quite young, yet already she had finished the day's paperwork, evident by the neat pile of papers placed squarely on the corner of the ancient oak desk. Pia Tovisen enjoyed order, loathing to be behind in any of her work. Today however, it meant she was free to spend time watching the girls under her charge.

 

It was a joy to Pia, watching the fresh-faced, highly unpolished girls grow and develop as they honed their skills and followed the path that would one day see them gain the shawl of the Aes Sedai. It instilled her with pride, knowing that she had an influence, that she assisted in the moulding of these girls. Sometimes that required a firm hand, and other times a shoulder to cry on. Whatever it took, Pia made it her mission to be there every step of the way. Besides, mingling with the novices and accepted herself helped her pick up undercurrents and moods that would not be easily noticable behind her desk. There was not much that slipped past her notice.

 

Her thoughts were interrupted by a knock on her door. "Come." She toned, lifting her dark eyed gaze to the door as it swung open. Two rather travel-worn looking people stood on the threshold; one clearly Aes Sedai, Eqwina, and a young companion who clearly couldn't be an initiate, or she wouldn't have dared to be seen in anything other than her novice white. A petitioner, perhaps? Or mayhap a secretary, several sisters in the tower used the services of one.

 

"Please, come in." Pia's smiled warmly as she indicated that the two should enter, a simple weave of air closing the door behind her. Her eyes turned to Eqwina Sedai. "To what do I owe the pleasure of this visit, sister?"

 

 

Pia Tovisen, Mistress of Novices, Gray Ajah.

Sial was twining the end of her plait between her fingers and looking around the room. Not that the new woman-she had to be Aes Sedai!-was not impressive in herself. However, the short woman had other things on her mind. Where is this?  Since when do Aes Sedai write? Blood and ashes, I hope they dont ask me to write...the merchants always said my writing looked like some lightforsaken rat had been dancing a jig on the paper with inky feet. Bloody merchants.

 

She switched her attention from a rather ominous looking mirror to the other women properly. Her dark eyes skipped from one to the other, eyebrowns lowering only a fraction in though as her cairheinin mind automatically looked for advantage. Who was the important one? Strange though it seemed, Sial thought perhaps it was the unknown Aes Sedai. Eqwina Sedai was cold and chilly and distant while the other woman was polite and familiar, yet there was a definate degree of command there. Hmm. That was interesting. She went to lift the end of her very frayed plait to her teeth, then dropped it and folded her arms behind her back carefully. No point letting them think what she didnt want them to think.

 

Sial carefully shared stares between the Aes Sedai, expression reasonably neutral but eyes calculating. They cant really be real sisters, can they?

 

Sial Daemoa

Novice (to be)

 

OOC: Than you Lavinya! Its really apreciated *huggage*

Eqwina, I know you were interested in Eqwina getting lumbered with Sial. Lillian is going to be her mentor but Sials writing is terrible-maybe Eqwina could get stuck doing writing lessons with her or something? Or anti-swearing lessons? ;D