A light rain fell on the city of Tar Valon as Kennar and the others followed the insufferable wench from trainee barracks.  The weather fit his mood, he preferred gloomy rainy days.  Lightning or thunderstorms were an added bonus which he enjoyed immensely.  He almost liked them as much as he liked night.  Night was much better for his kind of work.  Most people were scared of the dark.  It was very easy to get someone off balance.  Moving unseen at night was a simple matter and the lower sorts often did their work at night which made it easy to make a cold blooded murder look like the work of a cutpurse or footpad.

 

Thera, the insufferable wench, the one in charge of all trainees sauntered ahead of him like some lady of battles.  He did not doubt her deadly grace, that was not something you could fake, though it irritated him to no end, much about her irritated him.  Regardless of her prowess he still thought he could slip past her defense with a dagger to slit her throat or slide a blade in between her ribs.  That is if he had a dagger he thought to himself.  Forget the fact that she could best him any day of the week, that thought he conveniently pushed aside.  Yes that was it, if only he had a dagger he thought to himself, that and if those around him would not pounce on him in a matter of seconds.

 

You were supposed to come to the ceremony unarmed.  He had throwing knives hidden about his body that no one would know about unless he was fool enough to flash one of them.  If you are so brave you could have it her with your throwing knives the voice in his head chided him.  He could do that if he was a fool.  He couldn't just hurl one or two of his knives into her back and escape with all these witnesses around.  He wanted to, he would enjoy it immensely but he also wanted to live.  He could be elusive but there was a limit to what he was capable of.  He hated limits and restrictions.  He had been denied the joy of taking a life for far too long.  The little witch Eqwina promised him that she would have use for his skills soon.  That was what drove him during the stressful days training.  Soon he would be unleashed.  If she lied then she would pay.

 

One advantage that made his job easy was that he was so unassuming that most would never expect an attack from him.  Looking meek and mild came easy to him, something that allowed him to lull his victims into thinking they were safe.  He loved the look of shock on his victim’s faces as his dagger pierced their flesh.  The thought made him smile which these dolts would take for exuberance with the impending ceremony.  Even the intolerable wench Thera had been fooled, he would not give her the honorary title unless he had to.  Even she had believed him when he exclaimed how happy he was at being raised to a Tower Guard.  Well in truth he was happy, being a Tower Guard would allow him more freedom to continue his work for the Great Lord.

 

Kennar's smile was so wide that one of the other trainees clapped him on the shoulder congratulating him on the achievement.  Kennar did the same then went back to his own thoughts.  These light blinded fools were probably thinking of glory in service to the White Tower.  Kennar was thinking of glory in service to the Great Lord.  Glory in service to the Great Lord of the Dark and immortality, those were his primary objectives. 

 

As they neared the stone slab he had a few moments left for his thoughts.  Even though the sky had cleared so that light shone on the stone it still did not ruin his good mood.  In his mind the sky was dark and rain still fell on the glade. 

 

Kennar could see people assembled around the stone slab where the ceremony would take place.  He scanned the area briefly not recognizing any of the faces of those who awaited the arrival of the soon to be Tower Guards.  He half expected the little witch Eqwina to be in the crowd of onlookers.  She would not speak for him, no that would be too risky, even these light-blinded fools might take notice of that but she had an interest in him so he would not be surprised to see her amongst the onlookers.  He had been sent to Tar Valon to aid her...well to serve her but he preferred to think of it as the former.  The latter grated too much, he served the Great Lord, that was how he saw it.

 

If things went according to plan others would see him simply as her secretary and nothing more.  After enough time transpired many would probably forget he had trained in the yards.  If others remembered then so be it.  If an Aes Sedai decided to use a person trained in the yards as a secretary rather than a guard then who would dare speak against it?  Once he was assigned to her it would be her prerogative to decide how he served.  She was a sitter after all and the head of the Black Ajah.  She had conveniently held those bits back but he had ways of gathering information.  The thought made him smile.

 

Outside of the Tower would be another matter, none would suspect what he was until it was too late.  Who would expect the diminutive little Aes Sedai's secretary of being anything other than what he appeared to be.  Kennar had plenty of practice being what he was not though in truth he was quite capable as a secretary.  He could pull off this act without effort, his previous master had seen to that.  He was destined for great things in service to the Great Lord, as long as he continued to prove himself.  Kneeling in front of the stone slab, the smile on his face broadened until it seemed like his face would split in two.  Get on with it you fools, I have work to do...

 

Whenever the day came for a raising Thera always took some time to reflect. This morning she’d spent time in the Oiger grove in the city, sitting under the trees and meditating on the day to come. She felt as if a small part of her went with each trainee that was raised. As hard as many of them would find it to believe she cared for each person that came through her yards. How could she not when she saw many of them grow from children to adults before her very eyes? She often felt responsible for the lives they led once they were raised. After all it would be her fault and on her head if they had missed some small part of what they needed to know. Tucking in her snowy white shirt and donning her jacket Thera buckled on her sword. The rest of what would be needed was already waiting, except to fetch the trainee.

 

She remembered the day Kenner arrived. He was meek and mild and too quiet by half; she’d not thought he would last a week.  He was always wringing his hands and apologizing when there had been no transgression. To date, he was the least punished trainee in the books. Still, there had always been something about him that had bothered Thera. It was almost like a movement, just out of sight. There were times when she couldn’t believe that anyone who could survive in the Warders Yard could be so complacent and droll, but survive he had and now it was time for him to move on. Time to find his own way in life, whether that meant becoming a Tower Guard or being bonded by some Aes Sedai; though Thera could not see the latter.  As she crossed the yards to the Trainee Barracks she nodded to several of her charges, but this morning she did not stop to offer her advice. There would be time enough for that when the ceremony was done.

 

“Come along Kennar, its time” She said after knocking on his door and going in. The trainee’s rooms did not have locks and the doors were never barred for her. “Remember to leave all your weapons behind.”

 

Taking the lead, as was proper, she took him across the yards and into the Glade. She only paused a moment to nod to Mia before taking her place. The smile she saw wreathing Kennar’s face as he kneeled made her grin inwardly; this was a monumental day in his life and his eagerness made her proud. The nagging thoughts she’d been having about him melted away as the ceremony began.

 

Kennar looked up at Commander Mia as he spoke the words which had been drilled into his head.  "I come here unarmed, offering to give myself to the defence of those who serve all."  Other thoughts and pledges came to mind but he pushed them away.  Slipping up now would make the two years of training for naught.

 

Commander Mia stared down at him, her eyes boring deep into his soul to determine if he was worthy.  He nearly looked away under that gaze.  A Tower Guard named Darrel, who had taught one of his classes stood to the Commander's left.  On the other side stood a brown haired Aes Sedai with her white fringed shawl.  Her features named her a Domani and her scowl said she was not pleased about having to be part of the ceremony.  Well the feeling was mutual for he did not want to be this close to an Aes Sedai.  Idly he wondered how they chose an Aes Sedai to speak for you.

 

His eyes snapped back to Commander Mia as she intoned in a commanding voice "Who would speak for you?"

 

Darrel spoke for him "I would speak for him, he is fit."

 

Commander Mia spoke again "Who would trust you?"

 

This time the Domani Aes Sedai replied "I would trust him."  The Great Lord preserve him for the woman no longer scowled.  She actually smiled at him...at first he would have described it as warm yet it was more of a knowing smile.  Had his Mistress sent this one to watch over him?  He fought the urge to look around for the tiny little witch.  Kennar knew she was having him watched but he never suspected other Aes Sedai.  How many "Friends" did she have?

 

Commander Mia went on "Who would accept you?"

 

Darrel spoke again "I would."

 

Commander Mia continued the ceremony "Who would witness your oath whose word is beyond question?"

 

The Domain Aes Sedai spoke again, that smile returning to her face.  "I will"  The Great Lord preserve him but she knew!

 

Commander Mia locked eyes with him again as if trying to determine his worth.  "Do you understand that once pledged you are forever bound to a rule of defence? Defence of all Aes Sedai, the defence of the White Tower?"

 

Kennar spoke "Yes"

 

Commander Mia "Do you understand that once pledged you are forever bound to a rule of obedience? Obedience to your officers, obedience to all Aes Sedai?"

 

Kennar replied "Yes"

 

Commander: "Do you understand that once pledged you are forever bound to a rule of commitment? Commitment to serving faithfully, commitment despite any adversity?"

 

Again Kennar responded "Yes"

 

Commander Mia spoke with authority "Then give your oath now."

 

When he was first learned of the words which he would have to speak today he nearly shuttered.  Surely the Great Lord would forgive him for uttering the oaths today.  Kennar had made other oaths in service to the Great Lord which nullified those which he was about to give.  He took a deep breath as if to steady himself.  None would think this odd as it was a monumental occassion for those light-blinded fools.  For Kennar it was just the means to the end.

 

Kennar spoke the words as if he were one of those light-blinded fools.  To those watching they would think his words were sincere.  He was very well practiced at lying, his life often depended on it.  To date this had to be his boldest lie.

 

"I swear by the light and my hope of salvation and rebirth, as a Tower Guard to defend the White Tower and all who call it home."

 

"I swear by the light and my hope of salvation and rebirth, as a Tower Guard to serve faithfully for as long as the White Tower requires me."

 

"I swear by the light and my hope of salvation and rebirth, as a Tower Guard to fight the shadow and uphold the light until my dying day."

 

When he finished the oaths Commander Mia spoke again "We welcome you to the Tower Guard, you that were known once as Kennar Tynes of Amadicia."  As the Commander spoke the words the Aes Sedai stepped forward draping the crimson cloak over his shoulders and clasping it.  Kennar nearly flinched as the clasp clicked shut.

 

"We welcome you as Kennar Tynes of the Tower Guard, our brother in arms. Rise and stand as one among many."  Kennar rose and Thera stepped forward presenting him with the ceremonial long dagger.  He smiled warmly to her and nodded as a sign of respect.  It grated a little to do so but it was necessary to keep the facade.

 

"You came to us unarmed, and as our mark of trust we place this steel in your hand. May you keep it as a symbol of the trust that has been placed in you, and may it serve you well."  He was careful not to let his true thoughts run through his head for fear of speaking them aloud.

 

Commander Mia walked around the stone slab placing her left hand on his left shoulder as she spoke the words concluding the ceremony.

 

"Spare a moment for those who have come before you and to who you have become, as shall those who follow you."

 

To his relief the Commander led the procession from the glade.  Kennar let out a long breath as those light-blinded fools passed from his sight.  Finally it was over.  He could not run from the Glade so he spent some time reflecting on his true cause...

 

It was so easy to get caught up in the peacefulness of the Glade. She always felt it such an appropriate place for them to be raised. A moment of peace to begin a lifetime of weapons and violence; the irony of it was too rich.

 

Letting the words wash over her, Thera stood at attention watching as the young Domani Sister spoke for Kennar. It was a small surprise that she wasn’t better at keeping the emotion from her face. Whites were logical and cold by nature, but this young one seemed to have temper enough for a Green. Her face spoke volumes about her dislike of her task, and the clipped way in which she said the words shouted of her eagerness to be done. As she finished and stepped back into line her hands twitched to her skirts, preparing to walk.

 

Reaching behind her back to take the dagger from its place she stepped forward with a small smile playing at her lips. "You came to us unarmed, and as our mark of trust we place this steel in your hand. May you keep it as a symbol of the trust that has been placed in you, and may it serve you well." Smile or no Thera’s words were somber and she placed the dagger in his hand with grim determination in her eyes. No one could speak those words without fully feeling their weight, and she often thought she felt it more than the children she’d led here. Trust was being instilled in the newly raised Tower Guard, trust that she’d said they were readying for.

 

Walking from the Glade in a measured pace she stopped at its edge and turned back to stare at Kennar. There was still something about him she couldn’t fully see. Sighing she started stripping off her coat as she walked away; intending on spending a few hours working the forms with her kids.  “He is not my problem now. The Light keep and protect him.”

 

The time for reflection was over so Kennar twirled the dagger in his hand  to kill some time.  After he became bored with that he began studying the crimson cloak that would name him a Tower Guard for all to see.  It was much nicer than any garment that he had owned before.  It was a shame that it would not see much use for it was well made.  Perhaps he would use it more than he knew.  Who could tell what the woman would do with him.  All he knew for sure is that he would serve her. 

 

Studying the inside of the cloak he discovered a pocket sewn into the lining.  Reaching in he found a folded piece of parchment.  Unfolding the parchment he stared at the coded message.  He suddenly felt uneasy as if he were being watched.  Pivoting in a circle he scanned his surroundings though no one was there, no one that he could see.  Tucking the parchment into his pocket his made his way from the Glade. 

 

As he made his way to the barracks he thought what the woman could want with him.  Odd that he had not thought of her as the little witch.  Perhaps he was preparing himself so he did not slip in front of her.  She would not take the insult kindly.  Well whatever she wanted with him he was certain that there would be no celebration for him tonight.