Once out of the pulsing crowd on the bridge into the city, Badriyah mounted the dun mare she’d been leading and set out at a gallop, headed directly for the White Tower, barely taking note of her surroundings. Had she glanced about she would’ve found the city magnificent, a luxury merely to look upon. Fascinating oddly – shaped buildings lined streets where several Tower Guards and Aes Sedai (as well as those training to be) walked among crowds where people from all nations far and wide mingled. Domanis, tall and willowy with greased beards and rings through their ears, Taraboners, their faces partially hidden by sheer masks, their hair braided and beaded; even Arafellins and Sheinerans from the Borderlands treaded casually throughout the city. But the White Tower, the home of the legendary Aes Sedai, stood out most incredible of all the structures, its brilliant reflecting towers and spires glittering above the brightly – colored rooftops. Badriyah’s gaze did not waver from her destination. Soon, she thought, soon I will be safe.

 

The young Murandian, eyes fixed on those enormous pearl minarets, flew to the gates, dismounted to secure her horse outside, and then rushed up the steps and into the main entrance of the Tower. And suddenly, as her eyes adjusted to the lighting within and she caught site of those women she had aspired to walk among, a huge wave of unease swept over her as the reality of her plan hit her. Light, there are bloody Aes Sedai here!

 

Aes Sedai were known to kidnap girls and hold them captive in the Tower until they were raised to full sisters. It was said that the horrible Daes Dae’mar had been invented by Aes Sedai and that they played the Great Game on every person they met. She had even heard that by using the One Power, those magic – channeling women could detect a lie and would punish gravely for it. What would she tell them? That she had been an assassin? That she was a torturer, a brutal, heartless killer? That she had been raised by a psychopath and had been called such herself many a time? They would probably trap her in a room and use their powers to cause her pain until she could channel and then somehow bind her to the great building. What under the Creator had she been thinking? She should have just gone out to live in the wilderness; surely no one would be able to –

 

“Are you a petitioner?†said a gentle voice, waking the nervous young woman from her thoughts. A girl, around her own age, stood before Badriyah, adorned in a plain dress and looking curiously, though politely, at her. Her mind searched in a panic for a response to give, but could come up with none in time and she stared frightened at the white – clad being who patiently awaited a reply. And then all at once a look of understanding seemed to pass over the girl and she said simply, “You’re here to see the Mistress of Novices, aren’t you? Very well, come this way,â€â€ the novice didn’t even give her a chance to reply! She turned to start down a carpeted corridor and Badriyah was left with no choice but to follow.

 

 

Badriyah Bloodlover

Countless times Faerzyne Grigory had glanced at the sun already, and before the day had ended, countless more times would be added to that. She sighed softly, and inclined her head a little, causing the little bells attached to her braids to tingle softly. Yet even the bells sounded a bit weary, as if they too suffered from a lack of sleep. The Mistress of Novices stifled a yawn, and turned her attention on the book of Novices again. Everything was recorded in there, after all. Everything that mattered at least. Last night another Accepted had ventured into the rings, and passed through them free of everything she had been before she became who she was now. In her fine handwriting Faerzyne made a note of the raising in the book of Novices. Today the girl would choose her Ajah, and her fate would become truly entwined with that of the Tower. Her choice was no secret to Faerzyne, the way very little that happened among the novices and accepted of the White Tower was a secret to her.

 

She closed the big book after she was done. The book looked a little old, but the preservation wards that were set on it worked well. It seemed as though it would never get full. Faerzyne had once paged through it, and found her own name, as well as that of the Mistress of Novices before her. It was interesting to learn how long some of her sisters had been here, and how long they had taken to get themselves raised. Wistfully Faerzyne peered at the sun again, only to find that it hadn’t moved a bit. The day was still young, and she would be tired and aching by the time it was done. Not that the work of the Mistress of Novices ever truly ended. There were wards on the door to the office that told her people were waiting in front of it. The wards would wake her, even if someone tried to sneak in when the night was at it’s darkest.

 

Just as she thought of the wards, a tingling sensation crept over her skin, telling her that someone was about to knock on her door. Soon enough the sound of knocking followed. The sound of a knock often told her a lot about who wished to enter. This was the hesitant knock of someome who came to her with a request. Faerzyne took a moment to school her expression into something a little less depressing than the look of fatigue she had had. “Enter.†She said, her voice calm and low as usual. The door opened as she channelled a thread of air to it. To whomever entered it might seem as magic. The young woman was dressed in clothing that suggested she was not of the Tower. Yet. Things might change soon. “My name is Faerzyne Sedai. I am the Mistress of Novices at the White Tower. How may I help you?â€

 

~Faerzyne Grigory

Mistress of Novices

Badriyah halted stiffly before the looming door, glaring at the novice next to her in utter hatred as she took a deep breath and gave it a soft knock. A moment later an unfeeling voice called out, “Enter†and the other young woman opened the door and walked in, Badriyah in tow.

 

“I’m sorry to disturb you Faerzyne Sedai, but a new girl has arrived to be tested. I just brought her.†And with a smooth curtsey the novice exited the room, leaving Badriyah alone with the regal, ageless woman before her. She felt the rage she had been keeping at bay for the novice overwhelm her and wished at that moment very much that the girl was there so that she could carve her alive. The thought of blood immediately put Badriyah at ease. She would do it, she would have many opportunities to later, she attempted to convince herself and felt the anger slowly melt away.

 

When the young assassin finally trusted her voice enough to speak, she curtsied awkwardly, having had little practice doing so and cleared her throat, “Aes Sedai†Badriyah gathered herself then declared, “My name is Badriyah. I have seen sixteen namedays, and I’m from Lugard. I’d like to study to become an Aes Sedai,†then stood silently staring at her feet and trying to appear meek or in awe of the sister’s greatness. Fearing to lie, the young Murandian simply gave succinct choppy bits of information, all of which were true except that last. Light, how I don’t want to be Aes Sedai!

 

 

Badriyah

Faerzyne gestured to one of the chairs in front of her desk. They were uncomfortable, but that was for a purpose. After all, those who spent too much time in them would deserve the discomfort. Those who did not were merely reminded of the fact that they should not misbehave, in order to avoid the discomfort that came with the chairs. The young woman, who had identified herself as Badriyah, sat down. Faerzyne folded her hands in front of her on the desk, and studied the girl intently for a moment. Not that she could judge if the girl would be worth anything just yet, but at least she would be able to see how nervous the girl was. Those who were most nervous often were the ones who wanted it most.

 

“Tell me, child…†She started, deliberately using the word child. She would become accustomed to it before she was raised to Aes Sedai, and Faerzyne saw no point in shielding the girl from what would be her reality during the next twenty years of her life, if she turned out to be worthy of staying. “Have you been tested?†The girl shook her head, indicating that she had not been tested, or perhaps that she didn’t even know what the test entailed. Faerzyne smiled reassuringly at the young woman, and opened one of the drawers of her desk. There was only one item in the drawer. A gray, clear gem that she had received from the former Mistress of Novices.

 

Slowly she rose from her seat, and walked to the other side of the desk. Though she was by no means the tallest Aes Sedai within the White Tower, she imagined that she must come across as being a giantess to the young woman sitting in the uncomfortable chair. She knelt in front of her, trying to relax the young woman a little. The test would be hard enough as it was without Badriyah being terrified of her. “Clear your mind completely, and focus on the stone.†She said. The girl did, staring at the stone intently. Time passed, and Faerzyne worried that her arm would cramp up before the girl showed any sign of potential. Just as she thought there would be nothing, s light flickered within the stone. Faerzyne smiled, and rose again. As she walked back to her side of the desk, she imagined she felt the surprise in the eyes of the girl as they settled on her back.

 

“Congratulations, dear. You can learn to channel.â€

 

~Faerzyne, MoN

 

Ooc: rp your reaction to finding out you can channel.