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[ Setting : Oval Lecture Hall : http://sapphiresanctuary.com/wte-back/?page_id=47 (For Description Only)

 

In the center of the room is a board with the words written "What is Daes Dae'mar?"]

 

[ Time : 10 Min before Lesson. All may come in earily, or Late. I will post up the first lesson in 24 - 48 hours(ish). ]

 

 

**Edit**

 

Sorry Sandry. :) Just post below. :) I can add your post in after this from the comments.

Is there any way to be able to see what other people are writing? Or am I doing something wrong and I should be able to see other peoples replies?

Sandry sighed as she headed down the hallway heading for the Oval Lecture Hall. Another day, another set of lessons, homework and chores that left her with no time to even attempt a start at her studies. Light, she had never been a lazy girl, but life in the Tower was getting a bit insane for her. Taking a seat on one of the wooden benches near the middle she rested the book she had borrowed from the library next to her. Reverting to one of her common past times she removed a bow string from her belt pouch and began twisting it, slowly tightening the fine threads into one string--she glanced around with all appearance of acting casually.

 

The room was impressive to say the least, and even in her exhausted state her

keen eyes took in her surroundings; she quickly noticed detail without appearing to care one way or another. Growing up with an officer of the Children of the Light for a father, not to mention a mother who might as well have been a training officer in her own right, didn't lend to allowing the only daughter to grow up without the skills and training alloted to her brothers. Sandry learned long ago to be aware of everything, while appearing to be the innocent that her gender ascribed to her.

 

Shortly other girls began to arrive and not long after the door she had noticed

behind the dais opened from the other side. Sandry sat up straight but kept

working the string in her lap without much thought as she focused blue eyes on the dais.

LoL just for the record I am an idiot!!! LoL sorry brain dead on the weekend.

Ino stepped into the room, glancing right. Yes, this was the right room; the odd word "Daes Dae'mar" was written on the blackboard in neat yet graceful script. And it did not appear that she was late, either. A thin smile flitted over her lips as she walked to the center and took a seat, one row behind the first.

 

Ah, she wasn't late, but she wasn't the first, either - someone else had beaten her here, and looked as impatient as she felt. The novice nodded quietly to her, settled her skirts to fall properly, and flipped to the first empty page of her ledger.

 

"What is Daes Dae'mar", indeed. A question she well wanted answered. Apparently, not knowing what it was and saying so in front of a Carhienin earned one the gaze reserved for a freak in a wandering carnival.

 

"It is the Game of Houses," the novice - Athelta - had said, peering up at the taller Ino. "You do understand that...?"

 

Ino shook her head. "I'm sorry, Athelta. I've never read much about Carhienin history before." Tar Valon history had been pretty much all she'd been exposed to in her studies, before the Tower.

 

That had earned her an even more shocked stare, and then laughter. LAUGHTER! And cemented Ino's determination to take this class, right then and there.

It was an Accepted hem that rustled through the corridor. In the block of free time between weapon training and her dreaded meeting with Estel Sedai, she contemplated a walk. A nice stroll under the sun dappled trees would do her good, clear the mind, prepare her for the penance she'd surely get, if there could be any preparation. It was times like these that the wearer of that Accepted hem felt jaded. Just a morning in the White Tower. Typical morning, but for the laughter. The beginning came quiet, like a draft from an opened window. But it grew, a tinkering carefree merriment rolling in the air, infesting the well-brewed "mood" she was in.

 

Curious at who could find humour in a classroom, she did a Vera Sedai. Her head was craned so far she was sure it'd fall off. The laughter transformed; it became ugly, having picked up a malicious strain. Her dear, unprotected mentee stood - the object of ridicule from the more experienced Novices. Saline felt an irrational moment, but as of this day she was an Accepted, expected to make decisions, and take responsibility for the consequences that undoubtedly follow. And follow they will, as truly as her shadow.

 

Looking straight ahead past the dais where the door hung opened slightly, the loops on the board caught her eye. "Daes Dae'mar?" She looked down at the ring. Really looked at it. "What does it mean, really?" Musing the Accepted decided she would also sit in, at least for the day.

 

Saline admired Ino for trying to take such a harder level, discussion-intensive class. The fact that she had never taken Daes Dae'mar struck her as odd, now that she came to think on it. She too, was less learned than many of the Accepted, but she'll be blasted if she permitted anybody to hurt her mentee. It was a reflection on her, and her pride would not take this laughing at Ino business standing.

 

Then sit down.

 

The question of where to sit? There was a certain psychology, just as one could pick out in the crowd who was most ambitious, who tend not to talk, who wanted all the attention... She sat just the row behind her mentee. Beside her might make the Novice nervous, so here seemed a good spot, should she want for partners or just help in general Saline could keep a sharp lookout for Ino.

 

From the wooden benches, Saline glimpsed red in the front, and smiled. A early bird. So Syara was also taking the course. She waited for her friend to notice her. It would be good to study together again.

It felt weird. Waking up in the small Novice room by herself. It was almost spacious now. With Saline and Rosetta both raised to Accepted. Maybe she would get a new roomie sometime soon. Not that Syara minded, it wasn't as if she didn't have company most of the time anyway. There was always one or two girls who brought their homework over to do it with her.

 

And having her own space was something she did welcome sometimes. It was nice to be able to come back to the room and not have to worry about anyone or anything. Although she did dearly miss Saline. But once she was raised she would see more of her banded sister. Of course raising could be a long way off. But that didn't bother Syara. Being a Novice had it's own priviledges.

 

One of which was most definitely not control over their own time. She had a class to be at soon. But this was one class Syara was actually excited about. She had heard a lot about Daes Dae'mar, mainly from Aes Sedai telling her she could do with learning when and when not to speak up. But it sounded like fun, and would definitely be interesting. And if she wanted to be early she should really leave now.

 

-----------

 

The big lecture hall was a very big, nice and completely abandoned room on most occasions. Too big for any Novice class most of the time, and not much use for anything else. It had been left to collect dust by almost everyone. But it seemed that someone had decided to put it into use again.

 

Walking down an aisle Syara took a seat two rows from the front. Glancing at the board in the middle of the room Syara decided to leave thinking about that question till class started. There was only one other Novice present, Syara believed in being early for everything. Better to be bored for a few minutes, than to miss something important. She passed the time by becoming engrossed in placing her note taking instruments in their most economical positions. Finally satisfied that everything was perfect Syara looked up to see that many more Novices had arrived. Not to mention a few Accepted.

 

In fact one of those Accepted seem very familiar. Letting out a joyful shout Syara gathered up her tools and bounded up the rows to hug her former room mate. She had not expected to see Saline here, but it was definitely a pleasant suprise. Placing her now crumpled paper and thoughtfully stoppered ink in front of her. Syara turned back to the newly minted Accepted.

 

"I think you owe me a visit dear. But regardless I am glad to see you."

IC: Veria was excited this morning. She was going to start her Daes Dae'mar class. She had never been intrested in the "Great Game" before but not as an accepted she felt she should learn about it. She knew she would have to master it is she was to be a good Sister and have influence in the world. He family's secrets might even fource her to play it. It bothered her to know that there was somthing she did not know about her family. She had thought abouit it for years and could not puzzle out what it could be. She definatly knew there was something about her great grandmother she did not know. unconciously fingering her necklace, it was passed down from her great grandmother, she remembered seeing her in her youth. A wonam with deepred hair as herself but with brilliant green eyes. letting go of her image, veria sighed.

 

stepping into her class, seh found a seat. settingout her paper and quill she waited for her teacher to show, she pondered the question on the board.

 

"what is Daes Dae'mar?"

Badriyah rose wearily after another night of unrelenting insomnia. She sniffed the shift she wore automatically, as she did everyday, to ensure that it didn’t need washing, then snatched a fresh, white novice dress and pulled it over her head. Once she had washed her face, hands and long fingernails, the latter especially very carefully, she exited her quarters and headed out to locate the classroom where she was to have her first lesson of the Daes Dae’mar course she had signed up for. She held her head high as she walked down the gallery, looking through the faces that passed her. It was not an attitude formed out of haughtiness or noble heritage, it was a defensive pose she had learned to strike while working as an assassin in Lugard.

 

Badriyah’s lips turned up into a hollow smile. Had one of the other novices not told her it was starting today and asking if she had signed up she would not have known the subject of the class she was attending today. They had told her she had to sign up for a number of courses. She had signed up for them randomly, not caring to see what they were about. What did it matter anyway? None of it would be to her taste.

 

Ahead, in the wing where the class was to be held, she spotted the girl who had informed her about the topic of the course. She watched her carefully, taking care to follow her into the same room, a giant, old, lecture hall, though not to follow her too closely so as not to look like she was with her. Taking out a plain notebook and a pen reminded Badriyah of how she had first learned to read and write. It wasn’t until she had been around twelve years old, after she had joined a group of hirelings who killed for high prices in Murandy, when their leader insisted that she was to be taught. When none volunteered to teach her he had taken the job on himself. Ironic, she thought, that this skill he had taught her would continue to be used by his killer long after his death.

 

The young Murandian glanced around, noticing that she was neither the first nor the last to enter the room. Novices of all shapes and sizes were still hurrying in, huffing and puffing, talking in hushed excited tones and gesturing enthusiastically. What could they possibly have to be happy about? They were destined to be slaves to a system, and they were so eager for the life of an Aes Sedai, that phony life of sitting around in chairs all day, sipping tea from porcelain cups and talking to “influential” people about matters they considered important. Fools, thought Badriyah with disgust and disdain, flaming children! They’re so naïve it’s almost pitiable.

 

Badriyah abruptly noticed the question that had been put up on the board, What is Daes Dae’mar? it read. Badriyah glanced around expectantly, she cared not to participate unless she had to, and there were certainly plenty of other novices that looked as thought they would like to. She would leave it to them, she decided silently. Badriyah idly tapped the end of her pen on the desk, tossed her head to get dark, stray strands of her long, wild hair out of her face and waited.

 

 

Badriyah