Red. So vivid. It flashed so quickly. The smell is so sharp. Sun glints off a silver blade. Its sharp edge glides easily along flesh. Her brother. His chestnut hair. Where were the smiling eyes? They used to smile. No more? What is that noise? Only her heart. It is breaking in two. Suddenly through the window a Tower, bright and blinding, gets closer. Soon it will crash into the very room she is standing in. He is gone. Where did her brother go? Everything is white. And bright. It hurts her eyes.

 

Flashes from last night’s dream flew through Mirandha’s mind as her body swayed in the saddle. The rhythmic movements of her horse lulled her mind into a quasi-conscious state. Caught between dreaming and reality, her mind felt like it was stuffed with cotton balls. Dredging herself back into the more conscious of the two states, Mirandha took stock of her environment. The road was dusty and they were surrounded by a cloud of dirt. Mirandha wondered if dirt clouds rained pebbles. Clearly she wasn’t entirely awake just yet.

 

She studied the form riding the horse in front of her. Telena Sedai packed away her deep red shawl when on the road. It probably resided next to her red slippers – the ones Mirandha remembered seeing right before she passed out from pain just two nights back. It was Talena Sedai who saved her life; saved her from her crazed brother, Xaviar. She bowed her head and blinked back the tears that came to her eyes. Images swirled around in her mind once more. Her brother laughing, returning from his first hunt, teaching her how to ride, and then trying to kill her with Saidin. A chill ran up her spine.

 

The other three Aes Sedai that made up their party rode close together. It wasn’t as if they showed an outward dislike for their Red Sister, it was as if they had nothing to discuss with Talena. Mirandha didn’t mind. At night it was Talena Sedai who told her about the One Power. She explained what happened to her brother; how it could drive him to such a mad state. More importantly, Talena described the mission of the Red Ajah; at least, she gave Mirandha the bare bones of it. There was no need to immerse the girl completely in the mysteries of the White Tower if it wasn’t even proven that she could channel. Even then, there was no guarantee that Mirandha would move past her Novice years.

 

Mirandha chewed on the idea of Novicehood as their party moved onward. She had a small taste of what her life would be like should she be one of the few girls that can learn to channel Saidar. Each night at camp the Aes Sedai gave her orders and chores that she was to complete in a timely fashion. She recalled the first night when she outwardly refused to “do the common duties of a maid!” That night also marked her first ever slippering. It was a hard lump to take knowing that she would spend the next 8 to 10 years working as a servant girl. It almost made her want to cut and run. There was a comfortable life waiting for her back in Andor. Her family was well positioned and very well connected. She would want for nothing. But something told her that her destiny was far greater than being just another Lady of the Bayana House (or whichever House she married into). She needed more of a purpose.

 

After several more days of travel, and several more nights of serving the Aes Sedai, their small party crossed into Tar Valon. Not one to gawk at grand sites (she had spent plenty of time in the Royal Palace in Caemlyn), Mirandha had to admit that she was impressed with the island city. The Aes Sedai said their farewells and wished her luck as Mirandha was handed off to the closest Accepted. Said Accepted led Mirandha up several flights of stairs to what the girl called the Mistress of Novices office. Here it would be decided if Mirandha would put on the Novice white or return to her life of luxury and privilege. With her future staring her so boldly in the face, Mirandha was now a little unsure if that life as a noble lady wasn’t purpose enough for her.

 

Never-the-less, Mirandha knocked on the door and waited for permission to enter.

 

The walls of the corridor seemed to alternately shrink and expand about her as Larindhra walked back to her office after visiting Shevara.  They had to do something about these … Ashaman, but what?  Most of the Reds didn’t want to talk about it, but there was no point in hiding their heads in the sand over this.  Well, she’d even skirted the subject with Shevara, but she could tell the dilemma the Reds were facing was on her mind too.

 

At some stage someone was going to have to give direction about this, before something … unpleasant happened. She might be Mistress of Novices now, and not directly involved in that type of thing, but the good of the Red Ajah was always a high priority with her.

 

With a start Larindhra realised that she’d reached her office without any conscious thought.  Hopefully she hadn’t walked over or ignored someone on the way. Tsking to herself, she made a mental note to keep a better grip on her worries in future, lest she earn a reputation as a scatter brain. Or even worse, let the other Ajahs know that the situation was getting to her own.

 

Absentmindedly she removed Mishu from her chair and draped her shawl over the back of it before seating herself.  She was still staring into space pondering their options when there was a knock on the door.

 

“Enter!”  She regarded the girl who entered over steepled fingers: Andoran by her clothes, but quite dark haired for one of that nation.  Not one of her novices or Accepted, so yet another one who’d been allowed to just wander around by herself, she thought with a sigh.  It really was time she took them in hand just a little more firmly!

 

“Yes, child? I presume you’re here because you want to become a novice? Well come sit down and tell me how you came to the Tower.”

 

 

Larindhra Reyne

Mistress of Novices

 

Mirandha smoothed down her hair before entering the Mistress of Novices office. She gave one last tug to straighten out her travel stained skirts, and then pushed open the door. The woman sitting behind the grand desk was unmistakably an Aes Sedai. Mirandha saw the edge of a red shawl hanging from the back of the Aes Sedai's chair. So, another Red. This fact gave her a small sense of comfort although Mirandha could not identify why. Perhaps it was that only a Red had shown her any consideration. Or that it was the Ajah as a whole is made of women who can contain the insanity that is a man who can channel.

 

Mirandha swept a graceful and low curtsy as she said, "greetings, Aes Sedai.

 

“Yes, child? I presume you’re here because you want to become a novice? Well come sit down and tell me how you came to the Tower.”The Mistress of Novices spoke with a no nonsense voice. Mirandha imagined that most young women that came to the Tower felt intimidated at this point. Not Mirandha. She was used to keeping a strong backbone and steel resolve against commanding and powerful women. She had, afterall held conversations with the Queen of Andor. No, she was not raised to quail in the face of authority. She was raised to be the authority. And one day she would be. True, it would take longer than if she stayed at home and became a powerful force with her family name behind her. However, before she walked through Larindhra Sedai's door her mind was firmly made up. She would take the path of Aes Sedai. And to reach that rank she would need to obey their rules. Follow their protocols.

 

Of course that didn't mean she would have to simper while doing so. Holding her head up, meeting the Aes Sedai's strong gaze, and speaking in a clear voice, Mirandha replied "No, Aes Sedai I have come here to become an Aes Sedai. But I do understand that I must first be a Novice." Taking the proffered seat, Mirandha continued to answer Larindhra's question. "I left my family's estate in Andor with my sick brother. We went to Caemlyn looking for a famed healer. Before I could locate her my brother went insane. He attacked me. It was Telena Sedai that saved me. She explained that he could channel, and that there was a strong possibility that I could as well. She said I must wait for you to test me to be sure."

 

There really was no doubt in Mirandha's mind that she would be able to channel. She knew this was her destiny.

The girl’s eyes flickered to the shawl hanging behind Larindhra and then, strangely, she seemed to relax slightly.  Now that’s unusual, she thought to herself.  Usually those who knew what the red fringe meant had the opposite reaction.  Her lips twitched slightly at the reply, though she managed to contain her smile.  So … this one had a good bit of backbone.

 

All desire to smile left her once she heard the full story. Most Reds tried their best to save the men they caught, contrary to popular belief. Telena would not have liked to lose one in that way, especially in front of his sister. She would have to speak to her later, find out how the girl had coped with the situation.

 

“I am truly sorry about your brother, child.” Her eyes softened and she offered a comforting smile, before reaching for the blue gem on her desk.  “Let’s see if you can learn to channel, then.” She suspended the gem between them with a thread of Air, feeding a thin thread of Spirit into it.  “Try to clear your mind of everything, and focus on the gem … only the gem … “Her voice was low and soothing, encouraging, until the hoped for flash appeared.

 

“Excellent!  Let’s get your details down before we go any further.”  She opened the Novice book and took up her quill.  “Your full name, age, and place of birth, please?”

 

 

Larindhra Reyne

Mistress of Novices

 

“I am truly sorry about your brother, child.” The Mistress of Novices said. Mirandha's back stiffened just a bit more - if that were possible at all. She didn't want sympathy. She didn't want understanding. She wanted to forget it. She wanted to completely put it out of her mind. She wanted to, as they say, repress. The young girl didn't give a thought as to how that could be dangerous for her and others. In some ways she was worldly for a young woman. In others she was hopelessly naive and stupid.

 

Before Mirandha could think more (or as it were, less) on the subject, it was time for her to be tested. At this very moment it was as if Mirandha could feel the threads of the pattern coming together. This would be *a* defining moment in her life. Those seemed to be in abundance lately. She stared intently at the smooth gem floating in front of her. She couldn't see how it was done, but it was amazing to her untrained eyes. The Aes Sedai she traveled from Caemlyn didn't use the Source very often. Their goal was to stay primarily undetected.

 

Try to clear your mind of everything, and focus on the gem … only the gem …"

 

Mirandha did as instructed. She pushed away everything in her mind and focused completely on the gem. She felt herself floating for a moment in a place that had no time. A place that was completely fluid. She almost felt as if she were outside of her body. And then...there was something. An awareness of sorts. It came as a shock to Mirandha who was not expecting such an emotion. After the flash in the gem, the Mistress of Novices asked for the requisite information.

 

"My full name is Mirandha Bayana. I am 19 and was born in Andor," replied Mirandha. She was unsure if she should specify her family's standing in her home country, or where specifically she had resided. But, as her mother told her, too little information isn't always a bad thing when it regarded personal information about yourself.

Larindhra almost rolled her eyes at the bare details given her. Some girls thought to practice Aes Sedai dissimulation from the word go; this one seemed to be one of those.  Oh well, there were worse things than that … like girls who smiled too much.

 

“Now, child – a bit more information please. Where exactly were you born, which House? Names of your parents?”  She entered the details as they were reluctantly given her, then went in search of novice whites that would fit her latest charge.  Handing them to Mirandha, she motioned for the girl to rise and follow her. She had hardly stepped out of her office when she saw a far too familiar face approaching her. Sighing, she wondered what transgression Jasmyne had committed now, to be sent to her office yet again.  Well, she might as well kill two birds with one stone.

 

“Jasmyne, I presume it’s the usual, for you?” The girl’s eyes flashed, though she kept that famous smile plastered on her face. “I thought so.  Well, here’s our latest novice … yet another one abandoned at my door. Do I look like I have time to escort novices around?  Rather than the usual punishment, let’s try something new: You will find each Novice and Accepted in this Tower, and inform them that the next time this happens, I will stripe each of them – and you will get an extra lashing. From now on, they are to escort any applicant or visitor into my office, then wait outside to take her wherever she needs to go.  Should said novice or Accepted have an errand or class to attend, she will find another to take her place … immediately.  Have I expressed myself clearly enough? Good.  Off with you then.” 

 

Larindhra watched as the tiny little Accepted practically stalked off, noting with approval that she WAS at least getting better at holding her temper.  “Come along then, Mirandha – let’s get you settled.  You will be assigned a Mentor who will explain the rules and your duties fully, but tell me as we walk what impressions you gained of Aes Sedai during your journey here.”

 

Larindhra Reyne

Mistress of Novices

 

“Now, child – a bit more information please. Where exactly were you born, which House? Names of your parents?”

 

Apparently they would need more information about her. She sighed (softly enough so that she wouldn't be heard) and continued to give the requisite information. Born on the family estate in Andor...House of Bayana...etc. etc. Mirandha had to work hard at separating her feelings from the names of places so familiar to her. She had to distance herself from the thought about not seeing home for a very very long time. Who knew how long it would really be? She seemed to have passed the test to see if she could learn to control her gift here in the White Tower. Once the Mistress of Novices was satisfied with her answers, she went about collecting all sorts of white garments. Ew. White. Mirandha hated to wear that color. It made her look washed out and sickly.

 

The Aes Sedai led her out of the office and straight into an Accepted who seemed to be in trouble. Mirandha looked the girl up and down as subtly as she could, then kept her eyes trained on the ground. By keeping her eyes off of the girl perhaps she could control the urge to giggle as the Accepted was given a talking to by the MoN.

“Come along then, Mirandha – let’s get you settled.  You will be assigned a Mentor who will explain the rules and your duties fully, but tell me as we walk what impressions you gained of Aes Sedai during your journey here.”

 

Mirandha quickly thought about how to answer the question put to her. "Well, my immediate impressions were that they had quite a store of confidence in themselves. It was almost over powering. And, of course, there was the air of power about them. It's like they oozed power. I also noticed their grace. I admire them for it."

 

Mirandha didn't include that she thought most of those she had met were haughty and cold.

 

 

After the girl, Jasmyne, was given her instructions she turned and stalked off. Mirandha assumed she was to follow so she quickly caught up.