Wiping the tears of her good-bye away, she set her back straight and walked quickly to the waiting caravan. Upon arriving her face no longer showed the signs of tears, instead it showed her strong determination to get to Tar Valon. She paid the man in charge of the wagons and took a hold of the sword hilt, like her father had done, while she regally walked to the spare horse. It was a beautiful golden chestnut stud that was decently taken care of although it could use a really good brushing. She was grateful she had put on her brother’s pants and shirt as they made it easier to sit like a man on the horse. Signaling her ready she rode away from Shol Arbela never once looking back and with her head held high.

 

The caravan made good progress down the road to Tar Valon and she learned what it meant to be saddle sore. She refused to allow the tenderness of her bottom show as she questioned anyone she could about the great city and it’s White Tower. She also made the guards show her how to make camp and set up a solitary shelter and then she did it herself after the first two nights. She kept to herself in the small towns along the way as she was impatient to get back on the road and didn’t want to seem rude. Altogether it took roughly a week to get there but she saw the White Tower a full days ride away. It took her breath away to imagine how big the tower had to be in order to appear a full day’s ride away.

 

Her breath was further taken upon traveling through the city surrounding the tower along with the height and span of it. Saying her good-byes were easier this time as there were no close bonds to break this time around. Keeping a steady eye on the tower she rode the chestnut, a gift for her from the owner of the caravan, towards the fabled White Tower. She still managed to get lost here and there but was not going to give up. It was nearing early evening as she entered into the Tower grounds and letting a handler take her horse, asked where she needed to go to be tested.

 

It took only a few minutes for a woman in white with a colored band on the hem of her dress to appear. The woman instructed her to follow and wasted no time in leading the way through the Tower. Masuko was thoroughly lost by the time they arrived at a large wooden door. Where she was instructed to knock and wait until the Mistress of Novices bade her enter and then to be quick about it. She was also told to be respectful and answer everything with a respectful Aes Sedai at the end. With that the woman turned and walked briskly away.

 

Hm, that woman seemed nice enough. Well nothing for it but to do as I was told, wearing her determination plain on her face she knocked smartly three times and waited.

 

Masuko Svetanya, Novice to be

“You’re supposed to be catching mice, not lolling around on my desk trying to lick the ink, you blight blasted fool!”  Larindhra’s words might have sounded fierce, but her cooing tone would have had most of the Novices, and maybe even the Accepted, goggling.  She made a grab for the ink pot with one hand, managing to prevent a messy spill just in time, while tickling the tummy of the purring kitten which seemed to have taken possession of her once tidy desk.

 

She knew she should have just taken the nearest adult cat she could find, but the sleek little black kitten with the roguish green eyes had caught her attention.  Rolling her eyes, Larindhra rescued yet another rather important document.  “Stop that, Mishu! You really are impossible, you know … silly thing!”  Cuddling the kitten to her face, she wondered for the umpteenth time what has possessed her – she needed a mouser, not a pet!

 

“Would you like a bowl of milk, sweet …” Her cooing was interrupted by 3 firm knocks on the door.  Trying to put on a dignified look while disentangling the kitten’s claws from her hair, she called a rather gruff “Enter!”

 

The Arafellin girl who entered seemed extremely young to be enrolled as a Novice, but then even most of the Aes Sedai seemed young to her these days.  “Well, child, what can I do for you?  And how did you get here?” She added with a frown.  She was going to blast the ears off the novices and Accepted who just dumped girls at her door, without a by your leave.

 

 

Larindhra Reyne

Mistress of Novices

 

Masuko saw the kitten first and then the disheveled Aes Sedai holding the kitten. She wasn't sure if she could laugh so she hid her smile with a curtsey, making sure her sword wasn't in the way. It made for an akward curtsey and then she remembered the frown and the questions she was asked.

 

" I am Masuko Svetanya from Arafel and I have come to be tested," he chin rose just a fraction as her eyes and mouth set in determination. " I was lead to your door by a woman wearing a white dress with a rainbow of colors along the hem...Aes Sedai. I'm sorry I don't know your name to give you a proper title Aes Sedai." She looked down then at the woman behind the desk, not in a condescending manner but in a way that asked for the courtesy of a name.

 

Fidgeting just a little before she remembered her father and brother. She had a reason for being here and it was not to cower because this woman might take offense. Straightening her head she looked at the woman and with a fierceness in her eyes said, " I am sorry to bother you but I must be tested. I have a promise to fulfill and family to avenge. I must learn the way of this One Power so that I might return to the Blight and defeat the foul denizens who bested my father and brother Aes Sedai."

 

She stood there looking like a hawk about to strike and let nothing get in its way as she waited for a response.

“Must … must … “  Larindhra tasted the word, much like one would an unfamiliar fruit, unsure of the slightly sour taste. The kitten was deposited unceremoniously on the floor, its indignant squawk ignored, as her full attention turned on the girl before her. Her dark eyes raked over the silver bells in the hair, the men’s clothes, the sword … they stopped at the sword for a long moment, before returning abruptly to the blue eyes.  Her expression never altered, but the intensity that blazed in her eyes made the girl take a step back.

 

“You use that word rather casually, child.  There are many things that must, but few that require its use by a novice, or even a potential one, towards an Aes Sedai.”  She paused, allowing the menace in her voice to penetrate the self-absorbed fog that seemed to surround her latest aspirant. When she deemed the lesson learnt, she waved a hand at the chair in front of her desk.  “Sit down, child – we might as well see if you can learn to channel. My name is Larindhra Reyne – you must address me as Larindhra Sedai. I am the Mistress of Novices.”

 

A thorough search of her desk finally produced the gem she was looking for.  Suspending it midway between them with a thread of Air, whilst feeding a thin thread of Spirit into it, she addressed the girl in a more soothing voice.  “Clear your mind and concentrate on the gem … only the gem.” Her voice remained low and calm and almost hypnotic, until she was eventually rewarded by a flash in the gem.

 

“At least you can cross one of your musts off your list.  We will have to see how well you can learn. Fighting … foul denizens is still a long way off, I’m afraid,”  She drawled, though she was rather pleased by that attitude. At least the chances were slim that this girl would be drawn to the … darker side.  The mere thought of that soured her mood again. Drawing the Novice Book towards her, she snapped her questions.  “Name, age, place of birth?”

 

Larindhra Reyne

Mistress of Novices

 

Masuko was taken aback slightly by the intensity of Larindhra Sedai's response. Mollified as she was sure she was suppose to be, she took the offered seat. When the gem was produced she let the Mistress of Novices words wash over her and carry her through the exocise. Focusing on the gem she at first felt nothing, but as she focused and allowed the anger and defiance wash out of her she felt a warmth building in her chest and mind. As she focused it eventually spread through her whole body and felt like a sweet and powerful heat filled her to bursting as the gem started to glow. Just as gradually as it came to her it was abruptly gone as Larindhra Sedai spoke again.

 

Hearing that she could channel and had one less part of her goal to worry about left a warmth in her heart. Enough that she relaxed in her chair. She was a little disappointed to hear that it would be some time before she could fight in the Blight but at least she was on her way.

 

She wasn't sure what caused the Aes Sedai to turn sour again so she sat up to better answer the questions and made sure to use proper curtesy. " My name is Masuko Svetanya, I am fourteen and hail from Shol Arbela Larindhra Sedai. I apologize for my earlier attitude, I just have strong reasons for wanting to learn and am still dealing with my grief Larindhra Sedai." She bowed her head to hide both her grief and her fiery determination and waited for her next orders.

“Fourteen?” Larindhra looked up from the Novice Book, one eyebrow raised. “That’s a bit young to join the Tower, child.  Are you sure you want to do this now, not wait a few years?” A look of fierce determination crossed Masuko’s face, and Larindhra shrugged before lowering her head to the Book once more. “Just remember that Novice training is long and hard, my girl. If you’re ever having trouble, or just need a shoulder, please come to me … or your Mentor.”

 

Larindhra eyed Masuko up and down, thinking of who it would be best to pair her with.  “Hmmm … that would be Eadon Sedai, of the Green Ajah. Once you’re settled into your room, you can ask one of the older novices where to find her; I’ll give you a note to take to her. Now let’s get you some proper clothes.” A quick search in the small room off her office produced a set she thought likely to fit. “Put these on and give me all of your clothes and anything you want kept safe.  That will mean the sword too – a novice has no need of something like that.”

 

Now the expression turned pure muley. Larindhra put her hands on her hips and raised an eyebrow again.  “Don’t even THINK of arguing with me, child.  Just be glad I let you keep those pretty bells in your hair … for now. When an Aes Sedai tells you to hop, you hop! Best you learn that fast.”  She left the girl to her reluctant undressing, hastily penning a note to Eadon Sedai, which she sealed and then handed to the now properly clad novice. “Those seem to fit you well enough, but I’ll have another few sets altered and sent to your room. These things of yours will be kept in a locked box in the little room; don’t think to try and sneak in here to retrieve some of it – I’ll be putting a Ward on it,” she told the girl in a stern voice.

 

Poking her head out the door, she was gratified to see an Accepted standing there; it seemed her little talk with Jasmyne was having results, if the girls had learned not to just dump someone at her office and then wander off.  She gave her instructions with a pleasant smile, before turning back to Masuko. “Welcome to the Tower, Masuko. May the Light bless you and your journey to becoming Aes Sedai. I know you will do your best.”

 

Larindhra Reyne

Mistress of Novices

 

Masuko sat there quietly until her age was mentioned. Without meaning to she let her feelings show plain as day on her face, it was the look of a hawk fiercely determined to catch it's prey. Smoothing her face took some effort and was helped by the offer of someone to talk to. Instead of having it's desired intent, it produced another fire in her to never come to this woman for help. She tells me I'm too young and then tells me to seek her out for help! Why? So she can say "See I told you you were too young! and send her packing?! Never!

 

Smoothing the fire of her emotions she listened to who her mentor was to be and that she should find her soon. A Green? I wonder what she will be like? I've seen some Green's back home but always from a distance. Only one way to find out I guess. Her thoughts were broken by the announcement that she had to give up everything but her bells. Pouting horribly, she started to protest on the sword until she saw Larindhra's expression and the Aes Sedai's no non-sense attitude.

 

Grudgingly she accepted the new clothes and handed over evrything but the bells in her hair. It pained her greatly to lose the sword, it didn't matter that she didn't know how to use it very well. She had become used to it's weight and the feel of it on her hip. She also enjoyed the looks that people gave her and the second thoughts from people thinking to take advantage of a girl bearing arms. Sighing she gave it up and took the letter from Larindhra Sedai.

 

Following her to the door she waited until she was dismissed before curtsying and sullenly saying, " Thank you Larindhra Sedai, I will do my best." Then she turned and followed the Accepted quietly to her new rooms and life.

 

Masuko Svetanya, Novice of the White Tower