Etheniliasa sat silently on her bed eyes gazing at her reflection in the mirror on the small dresser on the other side of her tiny room in the Novices Quarters. Slowly she lifted her hand from where it had rested momentarily at her side and resumed the slow one hundred strokes through her lustrous long black hair. Ninety Eight, Ninety Nine, One Hundred Lowering her arm holding the brush to her lap Etheniliasa was terrified by the bleak face that greeted her in the mirror, yesterday had been such a disaster. Kobryn Asard had been set to walking Etheniliasa through the motions of embracing the source, it was a testament to how far along Kobryn was or how negligible Etheniliasa was that she had been given the task, neither girl had known which and it grated both of them. Eventually at her wits end Kobryn had thrown her hands up in frustration and accused Etheniliasa of being a lazy twit, unfortunately this criticism had struck a cord in Etheniliasa and rather than eliciting her usual tears and low confidence it had provoked an unexpected touching of the source. Kobryn had stopped berating her when the hem of her skirts caught on fire and her rage had turned to a shriek of surprise causing Etheniliasa to lose the source instantly. Unfortunately for both girls Parenalla Sedai of the Grey Ajah had been heading past the chamber and had rushed into the chamber extinguishing the fire that assaulted Kobryn. This action by the Aes Sedai had earned Kobryn a reprimand to have better control over her novices in classes and to be faster thinking to remove the threat of the fire. Etheniliasa could see the hatred that streamed from Kobryn’s eyes for making her look such a fool but to make matters worse Etheniliasa had earned the sympathy of Parenalla Sedai and had been informed she had a lesson with the stern Grey the following morning after breakfast.

Etheniliasa began to cry softly so as not to arouse the attention of her fellow Novices. Why am I here? I will never master the source and they continue trying, I am never going to be Aes Sedai. A sudden clamor in the outside corridor caused the flow of tears to stem although a few stragglers slid down Etheniliasa’s cheeks, hastily she scrubbed her hand across her face to dispel them. Picking up her plain wooden brush Etheniliasa walked over to the dresser to put it down next to her comb and other few grooming tools. Smiling sadly at the finely worked hand mirror her mother had given her for her thirteenth birthday Etheniliasa turned to the oddly shaped wardrobe that was the largest piece of furniture in her sparse chambers. The wardrobe was ancient and careworn with a roundly shaped head as opposed to the square tops Etheniliasa was used to. Whatever paint had once decorated the front of the worn wardrobe had faded or been chipped away and what was left made for an ugly and strange piece of furniture. Suppressing the urge to laugh hysterically Etheniliasa grinned widely as she pulled open the heavy right door of the wardrobe to extract a new shift and her dress for the day. Her mother would have had a fit seeing that wardrobe, there was no way such a piece of would have graced Isabella Toseric’s carefully matched and pristine home. Pulling of her shift and shivering in the chilly autumn air Etheniliasa hastily pulled on her new shift and the warm white woolens a Novice was expected to wear at all times. Etheniliasa stared down at the dress with apathy, once in what now seemed like another universe Etheniliasa had adored white now she found the very idea of putting it on each day left a sour taste in her mouth.

The sudden sound of other Novices heading to breakfast reminded Etheniliasa of where she was expected after class. Parenalla Sedai was not known for teaching Novices she usually reserved her expert grasp of the law to teach Accepted it was really a testament to how badly she had done yesterday that Etheniliasa had been told to see the sister after breakfast. Stamping her feet into the plain white slippers she was expected to wear in the Tower Etheniliasa took a final glance in the rooms only mirror on the duchess before she left the chamber. The face that greeted Etheniliasa was certainly fairer than it had been since she left for the Tower to Etheniliasa’s eyes she looked tired and unprepared. Sweeping her fringe away from her face Etheniliasa turned her back on the mirror and headed from the chamber slipping a white cloak across her shoulders as she left.

The corridor was almost empty and Etheniliasa hurried her steps towards the kitchens she had risen much earlier than any of the other girls but was one of the last to leave. Etheniliasa had left it late to leave not wanting the stares of the other girls, Kobryn was not an Accepted that many disliked but few Novices dared to cross her and many looked at Etheniliasa as if she was some how daring for her actions yesterday. Little did they know that Etheniliasa’s actions had not really been her own, she could not really say she had knowingly channeled the fire that had ruined Kobryn’s banded hemmed dress. Settling into a steady pace Etheniliasa approached the dinning hall with a heavy heart as soon as she entered the chamber conversations would start and some would end, suffice to say her actions yesterday had brought Etheniliasa unwanted attention. As Etheniliasa entered the chamber Harriet Grenchet stood up and shrieked loudly clutching at herself her eyes swimming with cruel mirth.

“Don’t burn me please I beg of you.”

Etheniliasa flinched and stood dumb for a moment horrified that Harriet could make such a cruel joke, the sound of other girls laughing at the joke hurt Etheniliasa but also provided the impetus to walk and collect her meal. The serving woman who gave Etheniliasa her steaming bowl of porridge smiled warmly at her squeezing her wrist before she left for the table and crinkling her eyes in warmth. Etheniliasa was profoundly touched by the woman’s kind gesture and returned to the eyes of the other novices with a confidence to her step. Harriet opened her mouth once again but shut it as soon as Etheniliasa looked at her. Settling into an empty seat at the end of the table that was the most far away from the rest of the Novices Etheniliasa ate her meal silently mentally trying to prepare for the ordeal she was heading towards after breakfast. Etheniliasa noted with gratitude how the few Novices she was friendly with left her alone with her thoughts for company she honestly was not up to making polite conversation this morning.

As the Novices began to depart from the dining hall and the clatter of dishes and cutlery began to replace the gaggle of voices Etheniliasa finally found the strength to extract herself from her seat. Picking up her finished bowl of oats Etheniliasa carried it over to one of the few Novices who had to assist in the kitchens as punishment for cleaning. Etheniliasa waved at Allyrin but did not pause to speak with her as she walked past the few stragglers left in the dining hall and headed out towards Parenalla Sedai’s chambers. The walk to Parenalla’s chambers was uneventful Etheniliasa could not even find the curiosity within her to examine the Grey Ajah as she entered there section of the Tower. What she noticed most was the fine carvings and subtle shadings of grey that decorated the walls and floors of the Ajah, the occasional tapestry no doubt connected to legal precedence also captured Etheniliasa’s eye. Shortly after entering the Ajah quarters Etheniliasa found a tapestry that appeared to depict the codification of merchant law in Arad Doman besides the tapestry was the door Etheniliasa was searching for. The door to Parenalla Sedai’s room had a large pot of red tulips growing beside it on the left side opposite to the tapestry. Stepping up to the simple wooden door Etheniliasa knocked loudly, foot steps sounded and the door was opened by Parenalla.

Parenalla Sedai was a woman of indeterminate age she bore the ageless features of all Aes Sedai there was no hints to her age except for her aura of authority and steel grey hair a sign of considerable age. Parenalla would never have been considered a beautiful lady and the agelessness of her face only softened what would always be angular and strong features and an overly broad mouth. Parenalla’s face widened into a generous grin displaying her large front teeth and instantly Etheniliasa was put at ease, quietly she could understand why Parenalla was so successful most nobles would be lulled by her peasant appearance and not realise the intellect that lurked behind those wide eyes. Parenalla had the most beautiful dark eyes and Etheniliasa was taken aback at how attractive Parenalla’s eyes were for such a strongly featured face her eyes were warm, soft and inviting.

“Take a seat please child we will begin the lesson today with a little lecture I have prepared.”

Parenalla stepped back and allowed Etheniliasa to enter her chambers shutting the door softly as soon as Etheniliasa entered. Etheniliasa was surprised at the comfort the décor of Parenalla Sedai’s evoked within herself. The customary white tiles of the tower had been replaced with large stone coloured tiles that with the sturdy furniture created the feel of a well kept farm house or small manor. Etheniliasa used to such surroundings instantly felt at home, Parenalla’s room was filled with vases of tulips of all colours and shades everywhere there was a table or decoration space a vase with its flowers was placed. Etheniliasa reached out to touch a particularly beautiful bright red tulip and was surprised to find the tulip felt as if it had been picked this morning which Etheniliasa thought unlikely given the state of the Tar Valon area at the moment.

“Thank the Light for the discovery of Keepings these flowers have been with me for six months and they do not even look aged. See child the power is a wondrous thing and you are right to fear it but understand you can create wonder with it. My dear you are working with the Light every time you touch saidar. Come take a seat.”

Etheniliasa stared at the tulip in wonder for a moment before following the directions of Parenalla Sedai into the drawing room before a merrily burning fire. As Parenalla settled into her large and heavily padded armchair before the fire indicating Etheniliasa to the spare armchair opposite her Etheniliasa could not help but notice half completed knitting on the small stand table beside the Aes Sedai’s chair. An Aes Sedai who knits? Smiling warmly at Etheniliasa Parenalla indicated to her chambers and raised an eyebrow her disarming grin once again painted across her face.

“What do you think?”

Etheniliasa glanced about and once again was reminded at how comfortable, sturdy and surprisingly humble the chambers were. Not that all Aes Sedai were arrogant but it was strange to see an Aes Sedai living in a chamber that honestly would have accommodated the simplest farm wife. Etheniliasa found the rooms to be inviting and the decoration in the form of flowers created a sense of serenity and a removal from the bustle of the world and Tar Valon.

“I love your rooms Parenalla Sedai. I feel so secure, so removed from the hustle and bustle of life it is like being home under my mothers care.”

Etheniliasa had been raised with a little more luxury and some gilt involved in her surroundings but the stability and practicality in the chambers evoked a country air and spoke of earthy wisdom.

“Child these rooms reflect the lifestyle I envy the most. Before coming to the Tower I thought I would be apprenticed to the local weaver’s guild the following year in my native Tarabon. Light that was almost two hundred years ago, I had never aspired to be an Aes Sedai little did I realise that the pattern had decided my fate for me. A little over a year later I had touched the source in the presence of a former novice turned away after failing the test for the Accepted she instructed me to head to the Tower and this is where I ended up.”

Parenalla smiled warmly and indicated to a kettle of water sitting besides the fireplace waiting to boil. Etheniliasa rose and pushed the kettle into the fireplaces flames taking a seat Etheniliasa turned back to Parenalla.

“Child I have bedded in the palaces of the wealthiest men and women in the world and I can tell you the décor of my chamber reflects the lifestyle I prefer. I know the game my dear but that does not mean I do not appreciate the life that exists below the petty games of the powerful. But child you and I have to go to work we have to be the conscious for the land, yes a sometimes divide conscious but when the land needs legal and moral direction they have the Tower, the Amyrlin Seat and the Hall speaking as one voice. No one likes what we do but they know that when I adjudicate a treaty both sides will be treated to honesty and fairness, few Aes Sedai can be swayed to one side over another.”

The kettle had begun to whistle and Ethenilia quickly removed it from the flames after a moment of not knowing where to find anything she followed the quick instructions that Parenalla gave her to recover a pitcher of milk, honey, a tea strainer and a pot with tea leaves in it. Pouring the boiling water into the teapot Etheniliasa placed two cups, the teapot, milk, honey and tea strainer on the small table between the two tables and replaced the kettle beside the fireplace before resuming her seat..

“Thank you for that child. What I am telling you child is that you and every woman with the ability to channel has a duty to the pattern and the light. We are the guides, the watchers and the morality of this world and we are the shield against anarchy. I understand your fear and the self doubt but child you have a duty that is larger than yourself. I knew soon after joining the Grey Ajah that I could uphold the law and thus strengthen the structures of power that govern the world and with my training as an Aes Sedai I could use my position as a mediator to ensure morality was enshrined in the structure of power created in my treaties. Child I know I sound boring and probably confusing but just recognise now before we begin, the job you have been born to do. Aes Sedai is a title that all who have the chance to aspire to should covet and hopefully hold.”

Etheniliasa could not really understand the point that Parenalla was trying to convey she understood the duty and obligation of all Aes Sedai to the wider world but what did that have to do with her? Etheniliasa Toseric did not have the potential to shape the world and uphold morality, did she?

Parenalla poured out two cups of tea and passed one over to Etheniliasa who dutyifully stirred in some milk and honey leaving her tea to sit for a while Etheniliasa found herself staring into the fire.

“Parenalla Sedai, I don’t think I can channel very well and I question what place I would have in the pattern.”

“Child, Child, Child you probably don’t channel well in fact I know you don’t but you have to understand that if we knew the thread of our lives there would be no wonder in our world. I can tell you now that you have potential to be a great channeler one day and after we have finished talking I hope I will be able to prove to you that you like every channeler and everyone in existence for that matter has a purpose in the turnings of the Wheel.”

Etheniliasa nodded silently in response to Parenalla’s words only now beginning to understand the intention and direction behind Parenalla’s words. I have a duty? A role? Etheniliasa was not certain how she was supposed to find the strength to wield the source, what good was knowing she had a path ahead of her if the beginning steps were so hard why should she continue to try? Etheniliasa could not help but feel like her head was about to burst, she could now see why Parenalla tended to teach Accepted. Taking a sip of her tea Etheniliasa greatly appreciated the hints of citrus in the smooth blend of Tremalking black.

“Child I think I have given you much to think on understand in parting to our discussion that each person has a role set out for them and I believe yours is along the path of Aes Sedai. Forget that for now and let me tell you that learning to channel is never an easy lesson to learn saidar is like learning how to be one with the river it can never be dammed forever only the riverbed has the power to direct the flow of the sheer volume of water so you must be the riverbed to saidar. Child finish your tea and close your eyes let us imagine you are a riverbed that has stood for a thousand years can you feel the direction and control you have?” Etheniliasa nodded, “Feel the power of the river that flows through you can you feel it?” Parenalla’s voice came out as a whisper, Etheniliasa paused to take stock of the river above her slowly she began to feel its presence and shortly after that its power coursing above her. “You are the riverbed child and the river is there for you to direct so what are you going to do? I want you to embrace the river to you like a child and let its presence sink into you till you know that you can gently direct its flow.”

Long minutes passed whilst Etheniliasa struggled to connect with the river in her mind eventually a warmth suffused her and Etheniliasa opened her eyes shocked at the wonderful presence of the river in her mind. Parenalla smiled widely at Etheniliasa her eyes swimming with what appeared to be understanding. Suddenly a light seemed to spring around her and Etheniliasa could not help but stare was she seeing the glow of saidar?

“Can you feel the five strains in the river child, earth, air, fire, water and spirit?” Etheniliasa nodded now that Parenalla had directed her mind towards the five distinct sections of the river she could feel them, “Child I want you to step out of the river, feel it flow out of you and come back to me.”

Reluctantly Etheniliasa did as she was told and she gasped as she if she had just run for a mile as the last of the river left her. Etheniliasa looked at Parenalla her eyes wide with wonder.

“Was that the power Aes Sedai?”

“Yes my child you got it that was the power. You touched the source all by yourself there was no lack of control there you are the river bed.”

Etheniliasa burst into tears she was so overwhelmed. I can touch the power, oh light it is so wonderful. Etheniliasa was suddenly made aware of Parenalla taking her into a warm but firm embrace.

“Welcome to the sisterhood.” She whispered into Etheniliasa’s ear, removing herself from the hug Parenalla returned to her chair. “Now you have reached the source once you will find it will be easier each time we have now started on an exciting but dangerous road. The source is addictive and it is dangerous you must never touch it without an Aes Sedai or an Accepted being present, I mean this child never. Understand full well that to fail with the power is to die or worse be stilled you must practice first before you can be trusted to use it by yourself, so let us begin.”

For the remainder of the day Etheniliasa ran through the exercises to calm her mind and her body to welcome the power into her. At one point frustrated by Parenalla droning on about how she was a ruby red tulip opening up to the light Etheniliasa realised that she had not left for any of her daily classes, somehow Etheniliasa knew that Parenalla had organised that she should spend the day in her presence.

*
Towards the end of the day Parenalla Sedai called an end to the lesson, Etheniliasa had embraced the source the last four times before Parenalla Sedai had finished the breathing exercises she had set Etheniliasa.

“You have it child I can hand you over to an Accepted now to train we have discovered together that you have the potential and the ability to channel and do it well. You will be Aes Sedai, now go have a break before the evening meal.”

Curtseying once Etheniliasa could not help but reach out and hug Parenalla Sedai, as much as Etheniliasa knew it was against custom she was so grateful for Parenalla’s help. At first the stern sister resisted but she eventually returned the hug before reminding Etheniliasa of the proper behaviors of novices. Smiling at Parenalla Etheniliasa realised that no matter what Ajah she chose she would have lessons from Parenalla again. As she headed back towards her room in the Novice quarters Etheniliasa could not help but step into an alcove and embrace the source. As saidar flooded into her Etheniliasa was overwhelmed she could do it she could channel, perhaps be an Aes Sedai one day?

*
Etheniliasa walked into her room in the Novice Quarters and was immediately confronted by the fact that her table candle was lit. Puzzled Etheniliasa entered the room and shrieked loudly as the door slammed shut behind her, spinning about Etheniliasa was surprised to find herself face to face with Kobryn. Oh light what does she want? I had not even thought of what Parenalla set Kobryn to doing for the day? Light let her have been fair.

The Mistress of Novices was not known for her patience of Novices with a temper as Trisha learned the hard way. Though, in retrospect, she should have learned to hold her tongue long before now. In the two years the Cairhienien had been in the tower she had raised the ire of several Aes Sedai and Accepted teachers and visted the Mistress of Novices more times than she could recall. She had probably spent more time in the blasted woman's office than she did in her own rooms.

Rooms. Trisha laughed at the thought. That small, square, sparse thing wouldn't have been suitable as a closet much less a sleeping place for a highborn such as herself. Ever since she had arrived here she had been treated worse than the help. She wasn't sure if that irritated her more than the fact that even were she to reach sisterhood she'd still be at the bottom of the power totempole no matter how wealthy she was. Trisha had been able to grasp the source simple enough, but she was laughably weak. Some novices could use two weaves at once, Trisha struggled with just one. Between her studies and being treated as dirt was enough to drive her to run away, which she had tried countless times.

“I see you've had a visit with Jeriana Sedai again,” a melodious voice called from behind her. “What did you do this time to earn a paddling?”

Trisha quickly removed her hands from her bottom, not having realized that she had been walking down the halls trying to rub the sting away. Her glare turned to the Novice now accompanying her. Laurana was everything Trisha was not. The Andoran girl was tall with golden hair and curves that turned every head and put her at the center of attention and far more powerful with the power than she was. Trisha barely reached the girls chest and her body was nowhere near as developed. Only one thing truly separated them in her head, however. Trisha belonged to a very wealthy family where as Laurana was nothing but a farmgirl. Let the other girl have her looks and power, she'd never know the splendor that Trisha was accustomed to.

“Why should you care?” Trisha retorted, her jaw clenched.

“From what I heard you talked down another Aes Sedai. I don't think you should have called her a peasant.”

“Well, she is!” roared Trisha as she threw her hands in the air. “How can that blasted woman expect me to make a weave of spirit if she's huddling over me like some old crow.”

Laurana gave a sweet laugh and shook her head. “Keep this up and you'll never make Aes Sedai you know. You should try harder and put in more practice. By the way, you missed breakfast... again. I'm surprised the Mistress of Novices actually has enough time in her day to deal with other Novices what with as much time as she has to spend with you.”

“Ha ha.”

“Seriously though,” Laurana spoke, her voice lowering to nearly a whisper, “I've heard a few things and it seems you're on the ropes as it is. There's even talk that they'll just put you out.”

Trisha snorted and continued to walk, her long, brown ringlets bouncing with each step. She put no thought to Laurana's ramblings about her being put out of the tower. More than likely it was just gossip, the girl would believe anything she was told. One thing was true though, she did have to try harder. Even though she was weak, that wouldn't put Trisha down. Once she was set to a course she'd achieve her goals no matter what and though she had scorned her father for making her come to this accused tower her mind was now set to becoming an Aes Sedai.

“You've already missed breakfast and your classes. How about we go out to the garden? Or better yet, we could go see the warders training!”

“I swear, all you think about is gossip and men. Fine,” Trisha reluctantly agreed. She could care less about the warders, but it was the best way to shut the other Novice up and it gave her plenty of time to just sit and think things over.

The two girls spent most of the afternoon and evening outside, Laurana standing with a gaggle of girls to gawk at the men train while Trisha sat on the ground with her legs folded beneath her white dress, hands folded neatly on her lap. She was probably going to get in trouble for getting grass stains on her dress, but she didn't care about that right now.

After a while Trisha was brought out of her thoughts by a light touch on her shoulder. Looking up she saw Laurana standing above her. Everyone had already left.

“It's time to go eat. I don't know how you couldn't hear the bell or everyone leaving. What were you thinking about?”

Trisha shook her head as she stood and brushed her dress, trying her best to get any grass or dirt off of it. “Nothing that would concern you. Anyway, I think I'll go change before I join you at dinner.” The other girl shrugged and walked off. True she didn't care what any of those low born Aes Sedai thought, but it wouldn't be smart to visit Jeriana Sedai again. Trisha's bottom was still sore from that morning.

She lifted the hem of her dress and began to hurry towards her room. It was a very unladylike thing to do, but her hunger was overcoming her sense of decency and décor. Before she had reached her room however she heard a shrill shriek that brought the small girl to a skidding halt. That wasn't the sound of a simple prank or accident, that yell had been full of fear.

Trisha turned to the source of the shriek and started off at a run again.

Dear Ally,

I was sent a worrying letter from Jeriana Sedai. You must promise me to stay in the Tower and do you training properly, I will not rest easily until you write me back with your promise. Do not worry about us, your cousin Lissiana has come to stay and tends the children just fine, they are adjusting well I think. Your mother rests behind the beech tree and we put flowers for her every day.

I know you’re a bright girl, stay out of trouble and do what you are told. I wait for your promise.

Rash

****

Life in the Tower, as it were, had turned out to be quite similar to life in a farm. The days had looked the same since she got back from her adventures; early morning with chores, raking in the garden between classes, meager meals and then chores again before dropping exhaustedly into an uncomfortable bed. Supposedly she was to be thankful they had been lenient with her and not sent her to a farm, but truth to be told Allyrin thought she’d evaded the farm simply because they thought it would be too easy on her. Instead she was forced to do triple chores and struggle through her lessons on top of that. Lessons had not been easy before and with her head and body in a constant ache it did not seem to get better.

You’ve been through worse the Andoran girl thought to herself as she sat mending her white dress, torn by a particular stubborn branch of the blackberry bush she’d been set to trim today. You’ve been through worse and come out alive and it’s not like they can keep you in Novice white forever she thought, suppressing the small voice in the back of her head that persistently whispered that she’d been a rash fool and deserved what she got and that – maybe, maybe they couldkeep her in white for a long time. Aes Sedai were supposed to live forever, right? They had time.

Well, she hadn’t. It was four months since she’d tried running away. Four months since her mother had died and she was miserable. Not even her friends could cheer her up, the precious few moments when they could actually see each other in between the sever punishments they’d been set. Ally had always had two things in her life; a purpose and her pride in what she was doing. She’d always been respected by her peers even since she was a child, and the fact that she’d made a mess of her time in the Tower and let her friends and teachers down ate at her heart. Only the fact that she’d recently been able to touch the Source kept her spirits up somewhat, that and the fact that she was a natural good humored girl if somewhat dispirited at the moment.

Allyrin sighed and put the dress down. Her room was really too dark for any fine needlework with only a small candle to light it up and she didn’t feel like mending the hateful white dress either way. If only she’d mastered Saidar well enough to channel a globe of light – or to channel at all. Then she surely would feel neither irritated nor bored. The almost painful sweetness of holding Saidar had filled her more than once now and she had to admit that she probably spent more time than what was healthy longing for that feeling. Her teachers said that you could lose yourself to Saidar and Allyrin didn’t doubt that.

To stop herself from brooding she reached over to where she’d put her white pouch on her side table and carefully pulled two letters out of it. They were both from her father but the first one she sat aside without unfolding it. It was the letter that had prompted her to sneak out of the Tower all those months ago and she had spent enough time reading it over and over to know it by heart. The second had arrived as much as three weeks ago but she had still not managed to pen an answer.

With a sigh she carried her candle from the side table and set it on her small rickety desk, carefully taking a paper from her small stack and preparing her pen and ink. The light was not any better for writing than it had been for sewing but she had better send him the answer he wanted and promise him that this time she would fulfill her time in the Tower and do what the others expected of her, even if she felt miserable about it the whole time.

She rubbed her eyes and pinched her ears to wake up properly – writing was not her strong side and she was impressed that her father had managed to write such an intelligible letter as he had – and leaned over to start writing when she was disturbed by a shriek, coming from further down the hall.

Ally got up without thinking about it. She was halfway down the corridor out of pure instinct before she realized she’d gone out in her shift, her dress still lying half-mended on her bed. Well, there was not much to do about that she thought as she sprinted down the hall. The shriek had sounded as if it came from Etheniliasas room and that worried Ally. The shy Kandori had seemed even more dispirited lately and Ally had not been able to avoid hearing about her disastrous lesson with the Accepted Kobryn. I hope the girl hasn’t decided to succeed where Kobryn failed and hurt herself with Saidar the Andoran thought, closing up on her friend’s room, noticing as she did so that the door stood open.

As she arrived in the room she almost ran head first in to Trisha, a noble Novice Allyrin had studiously avoided since finding out their difference in station. Behind the short Cairhien Ally could see a terrified looking Etheniliasa firmly shook by her shoulders by a dark haired Accepted with a frightful face. Allyrin pushed past Trisha and reached for the obviously hurt girl. Ally could not help but let her motherly instincts take over.

“What are you doing to her? Let her be!” she said firmly to the Accepted, ignoring the woman’s blazing eyes and focusing on her visibly trembling friend.

”Now, the important thing is to be relaxed. Before we get started I want you all to take a couple of deep breaths and shake your shoulders lose, make sure to get rid of all the tension. That’s right, now close your eyes and breathe. Does anybody have any questions? Kobryn, do you want to add anything before we move on?”

Kobryn gritted her teeth. If she didn’t know for a fact that Soniah, the Ghealdan Accepted holding the class, loathed her she could almost have thought the question was meant to be respectfully encouraging. As it were she knew it was said to taunt her. So she gritted her teeth and forced a superior smile on her lips.

“No Soniah, I’m sure you have it all in hand. Please continue.”

“Thank you Kobryn,” the fair-haired Accepted said with an equally forced smile before turning back to the class of novices assembled before her. “I want you all to think about your favorite flower. Can you see it in your mind? No, don’t answer, just picture the flower. Now, imagine that you are the flower…”

Kobryn tuned out while Soniah droned on, going through the regular Saidar exercises with a voice so monotone it was sure to put anyone in a trance. This was the third – and last, thank the Light – Saidar Basic class she’d sat through this day. It had not been a good day. It was ridiculous of Parenalla Sedai to waste her time like this, forcing her to spend the entire day listening to novice exercises she herself had performed a million times while in novice white. Kobryn could still hear the Grey Sister’s words:

”If you want to become Aes Sedai you will have to learn not only how to solve situations when they occur but how to stop them from happening in the first place. Not only did you not react promptly enough when the novice set your dress on fire but you should have known better then to let that situation occur in the first place. Perhaps spending a day watching others teach will help you reflect on your own teaching”.

Parenalla Sedai might be known for her mild temper – mean gossip in the Accepted’s Quarters even called her harmless – but Kobryn felt certain that even the patient Grey Sister would have a fit if she had to tutor slow-witted novices all day. Eventually Kobryn’s temper had got the better of her; calling Etheniliasa a slow twit had been the result of a very long and very frustrated lesson. The girl was shy and seemed almost afraid of who and where she was. Kobryn herself was more of a go-get-it person; forward and unhindered by neither failure nor fear of it. She had very little patience with any other kind of people and very little understanding why anyone would deny herself like that novice did.

“Can you feel the warm rays of the sun? Open yourself up to them, let them warm you. You are the flower, Saidar is the sun…” Soniah kept the lesson up and Kobryn watched her for a while, Parenalla’s instructions clear in her mind.

Kobryn didn’t think she was a bad teacher but she was the first to admit she had no natural inclination to do it. No, she would rather read about exciting places or obscure diseases or practice her weaves, or explore Tar Valon. Many thought that because Yellow Sisters devoted their lives to curing others’ they had this inborn desire to help others in all aspects, including teaching. Kobryn had discovered that to be false. She herself intended to leave the Tower as soon as possible after her raising and travel the world to truly help people who needed her aid. A common dream among the Accepted, true, but an inspiring one none the less.

Eventually the lesson came to an end and Kobryn waited while the novices made their curtsies to her and Soniah before she herself left with a quick good bye to her fellow Accepted. It had been a class for newly arrived novices and none of them had actually managed to touch the Source but still it made Kobryn think. Soniah was a good teacher, Kobryn admitted that. The Ghealdan was a curvaceous your woman who always seemed ready to smile and passed her classes seemingly without making an effort. Soniah was also a bit of a gossip. This was probably why the novices relaxed and made great progress in her classes, and also probably why Kobryn didn’t like her. Kobryn was focused and did not like gossips or people who took anything to do with the Tower too lightly. But, when it came to teaching it was obvious that Kobryn had failed with one student while Soniah had managed six.

Kobryn changed direction and made her way to the novice quarters, setting a quick pace and wearing a scowl. She realized that she had to go and see Etheniliasa again or else the poor novice would probably spend days terrified of running in to Kobryn. The responsible thing was to go see the girl and make sure she was all right. Unpleasant things were best taken care of right away and if she was fast enough she might even make it in time for dinner. Novices curtsied as the Accepted moved through the halls, no doubt they’d heard about the fire incident; Soniah was far from the only gossip in the Tower. Kobryn had to ask a few of the girls for direction before finding the right room and when she got there it turned out to be empty. Kobryn was determined to speak to the girl before she changed her mind but at the same time she had no desire to be seen standing in the hall and waiting for a novice. Instead she resolutely opened the door to the small room and went in, channeling as she did so to light the small candle she knew she would find on the side table. Novice rooms never changed.

She had to wait for a while but then the door finally opened and Kobryn rose, smoothing her banded dress as she did so and even running a hand through her straight black hair, hanging lose down to her waist. It was not that she was nervous, no, but she did not want the girl to see that this whole incident had ruffled her. Novice rooms truly did not change; as she rose Kobryn realized there would hardly be room for the door to open, her to stand and Etheniliasa to enter. She shifted over to make room for the girl, swiftly catching the door as it opened and closed as soon as the girl had entered. She had no intention of letting any of the other novices hear this conversation and as Kobryn let go of the door she thought some of that determination might have carried through to her movement for the door closed with a bang – making her fellow Kandori shriek with fear.

“Now really girl, there’s no need for you to…” Kobryn said, annoyance clear in her voice. She was interrupted however by the girl, who stared anxiously at her for a while before actually embracing the Source.

I can’t believe this, Kobryn thought to herself, after all the trouble we went through yesterday when the girl seemed like she wouldn’t be able to channel a touch.

“Etheniliasa, there’s no need for you to embrace the Source,” she said to the girl, trying to imitate Soniah’s confidence inspiring voice, “release it so we can have a talk.”

“I- I can’t!” Etheniliasa squeaked, a note of panic in her voice. “I don’t know how I embraced it and I…” the girl trailed of and Kobryn realized that the young Kandori was holding more Saidar than a novice should. Far more than what was healthy.

“Release the Source Etheniliasa,” Kobryn ordered her, gripping the girl’s shoulders and forcing the novice to meet her eyes. “You’re holding too much, you must release it.” Remembering today’s lessons she added in a much softer voice; “It’s all right Etheniliasa, you’re doing fine, just detached yourself from the light and…”

Again she was interrupted, this time by a short novice who shouldered through the door like she’d been running. Kobryn gave her a stare and the girl had enough sense to be quiet, however a second novice came running not long after – in her shift! – and she forced her way forward and reached for Etheniliasa. Kobryn recognized both the girls but she had no time to deal with them, Etheniliasa took all her focus.

“What are you doing to her? Let her be!” Allyrin demanded.

“Step out of my way, can’t you see the girl is holding too much?!” Kobryn snarled, channeling as she did so. She pushed Allyrin aside using a flow of Air that set the girl stumbling until she landed on Etheniliasa’s bed. The Andoran novice was out of Kobryn’s mind the very same minute she channeled the Air, instead the Accepted focused on weaving Spirit into a fine shield and then gently, gently sliding it in place to ease Etheniliasa of the shock of being cut off from the Source. As she did so Kobryn realized that she no longer just gripped the girl’s shoulders, she was supporting her weight, holding her up…

Etheniliasa could not believe what was happening she had walked into her room and had been frightened by Kobryn. Instinctively she reached backwards into the days training scrambling for the comfort of the source after a few desperate moments the power flowed through her. Eyes loosing a little bit of focus Etheniliasa was buffeted by the deliciousness of the one power flowing through her being, a ripple in the flow seemed to occur like a mirage at the corner of Etheniliasa’s awareness but she dismissed it her mind was focused solely on the one power and the feelings it evoked. Eyes out of focus Etheniliasa did not notice how Kobryn’s face suddenly displayed shock and then wariness at her embracing the power, Etheniliasa was consumed by the comfort the power was giving her, once again the ripple in the ether surrounding Etheniliasa’s connection to the power occurred but she was to focused on the heightened sense of awareness granted to her. Light she felt alive. Etheniliasa’s face relaxed and the worrying guarded set to her face was dispelled displaying the peace and contentment she felt and revealing the stunning beauty that Etheniliasa had. Her rosebud lips parted in awe at the sensation of the power and her pale skin seemed to gleam with the presence of the light that was saidar within her.

Her blue eyes widened slightly as she became aware of Kobryn speaking at her informing her that she had no need to hold the source. Light I embraced the source what is going on? Etheniliasa began to panic the rippling was growing intense and the sweetness of saidar was now tinged with a tightness Etheniliasa had never experienced. Her face tightened as Etheniliasa tried to wrestle with the power within her like a large snake the power began to writhe, the rippling in the air almost seemed to be visible to Etheniliasa now. Etheniliasa felt something within her flounder and she pleaded with Kobryn trying to explain that she had no control over what was happening within her body, eventually exhausted Etheniliasa mentally fell back from the power amazed as it settled but continued to strengthen.

A dull ache settled behind Etheniliasa’s eyes and she felt as if there was something within her that was trying to resist the pressure of something vastly greater then Etheniliasa had ever sensed before. Kobryns voice sounded calm and collected urging Etheniliasa to release the light Etheniliasa began to relax although her senses screamed at her something was trying to break through to reach her. Following the sound of Kobryn’s voice Etheniliasa felt the power of the source within her diminish slightly and then slightly more, shock gripped Etheniliasa as her vision began to dim. Light what was going on? The only steady presence of feeling and connectedness Etheniliasa felt to the world was the feeling of Kobryn griping her. The sudden slamming open of the door caused Kobryn to jump slightly and the aura of peace and contentedness fled from around Etheniliasa, her connection to the power weakened greatly but the pressure of the shifting of the pattern bore down on her. Slowly the commotion of the room faded to nothing and Etheniliasa’s mind shrieked in fright as the presence that had been struggling to break through the power that had shielded her reached forth to grip Etheniliasa in its embrace.

Shifting flows of light and colour seemed to dance within Etheniliasa’s mind and it seemed as if she watched threads of the pattern bend and mold to the power of the wheel. Her minds eyes was glued to the vision before her even as she clung to the pathetic protection the power granted her suddenly something seemed to slide through the power like pair of sharp scissors through silk. Etheniliasa sighed deeply in shock as what remained of her personality was swept aside by the force of the pattern. The vessel that was Etheniliasa had been freed of the impediments to the flow of prophecy. Kobryn struggled with Etheniliasa for a moment attempting to support her weight before Etheniliasa folded to her knees on the floor. Head bowed Etheniliasa suddenly drew a sharp intake of breathe, the three women in the room looked at each other in shocked silence stilled by the shock of the ongoing situation. The pattern seized Etheniliasa and she saw.

“Hark then and know sisters of the light a danger as perverse as any you shall know even now sits comfortably in the Halls of your Tower of alabaster light. Clouded in the garb of the women who would seek to cure all ill and guide your Tower bright this woman garbs as a Queen fresh from the throne but with the intent of the foul and depraved she schemes to create a sinister throne. Death is her kingdom and many would ware lest they cause the ire of one with such a foul named realm.”

Etheniliasa looked at the women assembled in her room but there was no sign that she recognised the women assembled before her. Her usually soft and sparkling blue eyes gleamed a piercing blue which held the attention of the three women assembled.

“Sisters of the light coming so you must know a darkness is in thine heart and this Sitter seeks to fool you all of the darkest intent and deed is she who would carve your heart out to feed her lusts for glory. Know then and seek to unmask this hateful Queen, of yellow creed and darkest deed lest in your follow she breaks you like twig to knee.”

Etheniliasa opened her eyes and was surprised to find herself on her knees in her bedroom blinking bleary eyes she looked up into the white and shocked faces of Kobryn, Allyrin and a novice Etheniliasa believed was called Trisha. Why am I on the floor? Why is Allyrin in her shift? What are Trisha and Kobryn doing in my room? Kobryn! Etheniliasa had had a few classes with Trisha, the Cairhienen women had the airs of a noble very highly bred and in many ways she reminded Etheniliasa of her wealthy great aunt the Lady Irenne El’Adies. Irenne had loved to hear Etheniliasa sing and the fact that keeping Aunt Irenne happy tended to see coin flow into the families hands had meant that Etheniliasa had spent a great deal of time travelling to visit and be with her aunt. Seeing her Aunt Irenne was not something Etheniliasa had found unpleasant. Irenne had her airs but she was a good woman underneath and Etheniliasa suspected as much of Trisha. Without Irenne Etheniliasa never would have come to the Tower it was one of Irenne’s Aes Sedai associates who had taken her off to the Tower. Etheniliasa tried to focus on the situation around her but found it difficult to do so. Why am I so dazed? What just happened?

Etheniliasa stared at the shocked faces of the three women before her and tried to remember what had happened during the day, her face screwed in concentration and for a moment all she found was mental fog and darkness. Eventually memories surfaced and Etheniliasa gasped as she realised she could not remember what had happened after she had entered her room. Something was amiss she remembered something that felt like concern radiating from Kobryn but all she could sense now was shock and disbelief. Allyrin was the most shocking dressed in a shift and looking like she had seen a ghost what in the lights name had occurred?

“What happened?”

Etheniliasa was terrified of the answer and she stared at the shocked faces of the women before her. Waiting for one of the three to answer Etheniliasa tried to remember as much as she could she vaguely remembered embracing the source. I embraced the source on my own without guidance? The thought terrified Etheniliasa and she was certain that worse was to come, slowly it dawned on her that there had been something terribly wrong with her touching of the source, something within her had been compelled to draw the source into her like a shield but why? What was there lurking in Etheniliasa that saidar could be used to force back. Etheniliasa was gripped by a heavy sick feeling in the pit of her stomach. The more Etheniliasa pondered the thought the more worried she became something had happened and Etheniliasa was not certain she liked the horrified looks in the faces of the women present in her chamber.

A Foretelling.

Kobryn stared in shock at the girl who she was supporting, crouching down on the floor where she had landed when Etheniliasa had collapsed in her arms. The girl was anxious and disoriented and seemed half in a trance still. There was no doubt in Kobryn’s mind that the girl had just had a genuine Foretelling. Kobryn felt a bit anxioius and disoriented herself. Trisha and Allyrin stood quietly by the door, Kobryn could feel them shifting slightly behind her. The room was cramped both literally and figuratively speaking, the tension so high you could have cut it with a knife.

Foretelling was a rare Talent, one of the rarest in fact. Kobryn knew about it of course, not in the exaggerated half-truth way that novices whispered about it, she knew it from studying it during her Accepted years. She could vividly remember the White sister – Taliath Sedai – who had spoken so dispassionate about the subject. It had amazed Kobryn how anyone could teach such an exciting subject with such apparent lack of enthusiasm. Kobryn had never even imagined that she herself would experience the Talent like this. She had never imagined that she would hear a Foretelling at all during her life time and certainly not in a novice room with two other novices listening.

A feeling of dread spread through her body as Kobryn realized the significance of the Foretelling. She was no great scholar but the words seemed clear enough. A Black sister in the Hall of the Tower. A sister from the Yellow Ajah.

Kobryn fought the urge to vomit.

You cannot give in to fear now, she scolded herself, slowly rising when it was evident that Etheniliasa was stable enough, they’re just novices but you’re an Accepted. And the Foretelling didn’t mention the Black Ajah, did it? She said that one of the sisters has dark and cruel intentions. It was a feeble excuse for hope, she knew that, but Kobryn did not want to – could not? – admit that one of the Yellow Sitters were Black. How could she? She wanted to join the Yellow, to be an Aes Sedai dedicated to healing and aiding people. The thought of one of their leaders being sworn to the Dark One was too overwhelming, too menacing to grasp. And yet that was what the girl had said, clearly than most of the Foretellings Kobryn had read about. And it was Kobryn’s responsibility that the Foretelling reached the right Aes Sedai to be administrated.

“What happened?” Etheniliasa said, her voice weak from the exhaustion of her ordeal.

Kobryn met Etheniliasa’s eyes and smiled encouraging, trying to sooth the girl’s nerves though most probably doing a terrible job. She was too agitated herself to inspire much confidence. The thoughts raced through her head – what was she to tell the girl? No doubt Allyrin and Trisha would give colorful narration of the event unless she gave them some firm directions. It was time for her to take charge of the situation. Kobryn decided that the best action was to be clear and firm.

“Don’t be alarmed,” Kobryn said, kneeling once again to face Etheniliasa, “you had a seizure and what I believe to be a Foretelling. There’s no need to be afraid,” she added hastily when she saw how the novice’s eyes widened in fear. “There is nothing wrong with you but just to be sure I will Delve you, all right?”

The novice nodded and Kobryn took Etheniliasa’s head in her hands, weaving as she did so the familiar weave of Delving. As she had suspected there was nothing wrong with the girl a part from some fatigue. She told Etheniliasa so and helped her to sit up on her bed, turning then to include the two remaining novices in the conversation.

“Now, Etheniliasa will be fine if left alone to get some rest. You should both be at dinner now, and you Allyrin should certainly not be running around in nothing but your shift.”

The girl colored at her words but none of them made a move to leave. Kobryn eyed them firmly.

“Be assured that I will handle this and make sure a report reaches the right person. Etheniliasa will be taken care of and tutored by Aes Sedai regarding her Talent. However, it is up to her and her tutors to decide who and when to tell about her Talent and this event. If I hear as much as a whisper about this I will make sure you two are the first Jeriana Sedai calls to her study, do I make myself clear?”

“Yes Kobryn,” Allyrin and Trisha mumbled simultaneously, glancing at each other as they did so. Allyrin looked worried and Kobryn could guess why.

“I will forget your behavior tonight Allyrin, no doubt it was a result of your concern for your friend. You should mind your manners though, I am sure you want to avoid catching the Mistress of Novices attentions any more than you already have, yes?”

“Yes Kobryn, thank you.” Allyrin said, visibly relieved.

Kobryn turned back to Etheniliasa. “You should spend the evening in bed and rest Etheniliasa, I will make sure dinner is sent to you. Try not to ponder this event too much but rest assured that everything is handled, can you do that?”

Etheniliasa nodded but Kobryn felt certain that Etheniliasa would get little rest tonight. She did not envy the girl, the Talent of Foretelling could be a heavy burden and Etheniliasa was so young. Kobryn doubt she herself would get any sleep either for that matter, but she pushed that concern out of her mind. She had several things to do until sleep was even a question. Feeling a bit confident that the novices would not do anything rash - at least not right away – Kobryn ushered Trisha and Allyrin out the door. They left with long glances at Etheniliasa, mumbling their goodbyes with sympathy. Kobryn herself did not stay long after, just to make sure that Etheniliasa settled in to her bed. Closing the door behind the novice room Kobryn had the feeling that she closed the door behind a defining moment in her life.

******

Allyrin stood just inside her room, head leaned against the door and straining to hear Kobryn’s steps as she walked by. The Accepted’s warning was still fresh in her mind – she did NOT was to catch Jeriana Sedai’s attention again, but she would not leave Etheniliasa by herself after what had just happened.

Finally someone walked past and Allyrin, too wound up to consider the fact that it could have been anyone, started to open the door. Then she realized she was still in her shift. She closed the door with a very uncharacteristic curse and pulled her torn dress over her head. She had no intentions of running in to an Aes Sedai this evening but if it happened she wanted to be in a dress, even a torn dress, rather than her shift. If Kobryn find out what she intended to do she would be neck deep in trouble as it was.

The Kandori Accepted had both surprised her and lived up to her reputation. It was said that Kobryn was a stern woman and a strict teacher, and Allyrin had certainly experienced that strictness this evening. At the same time Kobryn had displayed both concern and thoughtfulness to Etheniliasa which had surprised Ally. But the most important thing was that Kobryn had taken charge and told them what to do. Allyrin was sure she was not the only one who had let out a sigh of relief when that happened. Ally admitted to herself that she had felt faint after Etheniliasa’s seizure, feeling incapable of handling an event of such magnitude. She still felt like that. Like this was too big for her. Until Kobryn reached an Aes Sedai there were only three people in the Tower that knew of the Foretelling – Etheniliasa had obviously not been able to remember anything. Ally wondered who Kobryn would go tell. Surely not someone in the Yellow Ajah, even though Ally knew the Accepted had close ties to the Yellows. Would she go to the Amyrlin? Could an Accepted go to the Amyrlin? Ally could not imagine what kind of courage it would take to disturb the most powerful woman in the Tower, and during dinner most likely.

I never thought I would be glad to be a novice, Ally thought. This would be one of the first times in her life that someone else would take responsibility. Ally could even go to dinner if she wanted, follow Kobryn’s orders and not think about what had happened any more. But that was not going to happen. Allyring knew herself too well for that. She was living under the same roof as a woman sworn to the Dark One. The thought made her shudder and she had to suppress an urge to simply curl up in her bed and cry. There were always rumors of Darkfriends in her village, of the Last Battle and the Dragon, but they were just rumors. This was something else. A woman with power and influence, a woman who Allyrin might even have met, wanted to harm them all. Ally had to steady herself against her desk when that realization hit her.

But Etheniliasa was lying alone in her bed and she did not even know what had happened. Allyrin forced herself to stand straight and continue dressing. She very much doubted that Kobryn had told Etheniliasa of the details of the Foretelling, Kobryn had seemed to think the novices should all just forget about it. As if that was possible for them to do. Allyrin didn’t think she would ever forget this evening. She had certainly never felt so small and exposed.

Ally finished dressing and fastened her white pouch as well as her small belt knife to her belt before going out the door. She felt a bit foolish for bringing the knife – a belt knife would be of no use against a Black sister – but she did not intend to move through the halls of the Tower without at least some protection. Light, I wish I could channel! she thought, acknowledging for the first time since her mother had died that she wanted to be Aes Sedai. Someone has to fight against the darkness.
A short moment later Ally knocked on Etheniliasa’s door and was not the least surprised to find that Trisha was already there. The tall Andoran looked from one girl to the other.

“How are doing you Etheniliasa?” she asked concernedly before turning to the short Cairhien. “Have you told her what happened?”

Trisha crept down the empty hallway. Kobryn had told her and Allyrin to go to dinner, but after what had just happened that was highly unlikely and Trisha had no fear of being sent to the Mistress of Novices. She already had three more appointments with the blasted woman anyway, another wouldn't hurt any more than the others.

A foretelling. Just remembering it sent chills up the girls spine. It was horrifying, terrible, and very very interesting. The talent was rare and she was sure only a handful had ever heard a real foretelling. She was now one of those few and her mind was racing. A Sitter of the Yellow Ajah with dark intentions. As much as it terrified her, she couldn't help but want to know more, to stick her her hand in it and see what she found.

She would have liked talking about it then and there, but Kobryn had been all too eager to rush them off and make them forget everything that had happened. Surely she wanted to be the one to tell the first Aes Sedai she found what had happened and take all the credit and status for herself.

Approaching Etheniliasa's room, she knocked softly, not even waiting for the girls response before slipping inside.

“That was brilliant! A real foretelling. I guess even someone as plain as you can have some sort of talent,” Trisha said, moving to lean against the wall beside the door, arms folded beneath her breasts.

The girls quizzical look reminded Trisha that she didn't remember any of it. She even said so herself, asking what had happened shortly after the trance-like state she was in.

“Oh, yes, I forgot you don't recall.” So Trisha told her everything, word for word, of what had happened. Information was knowledge and one had to be able to recall what they knew without any mistake. That was something her mother had always told her while growing up in Cairhien. Her mother was wonderfully skilled in Daes Dae'mar. It was one of the few things Trisha could do well in the Tower. Everything she was told, everything she learned, she could remember on the spot without any sort of reminder.

Before she could say more a knock came at the door and Allyrin entered.

“How are doing you Etheniliasa? Have you told her what happened ?” the other girl asked.

“I did,” Trisha responded, looking Allyrin up and down with a slight smirk. “I see you decided to put something on this time.” She wasn't quite sure which had shocked her more, the foretelling or the fact that someone would actually leave her rooms with nothing but a shift. Just the thought of it brought a slight blush to her cheeks. No matter how urgent something was, there was no need for indecency.

She ignored the Novice's look, turning to take in both her and Etheniliasa. “So, we heard a fortelling. A <i>real</i> fortelling. What should we do now? I know Kobryn told us not to say a word, but the day I follow that Accepted's instructions will be the day I become Amyrlin.” She meant it too. She didn't much like the older girls attitude even though it was so much like her own. She also didn't like the thought of conferring with these two about what had happened, but she wanted to know their thoughts.

Nadia scowled as she trudged down the hallway from to the kitchen, on her way back to the novice quarters for the second time that day. Trust an Accepted to choose the most run-down novice in the hallway to run an errand. She had just been returning to her quarters after a long day when the Accepted had accosted her. Kobryn, the Accepted, looking rather pale in Nadia's eyes, had called out to her and told her to bring a tray of food up to Etheniliasa's room. Nadia had been only a few steps away from her own room, in the same hallway as Etheniliasa's, and she had just come back from pot-scrubbing duty and dinner in the kitchen. Earlier that day, she had been beaten for giving an Aes Sedai an unpleasant look.

Try giving anyone, Aes Sedai or not, a pleasant look when the left side of your face is so badly scarred that you can't even smile. If the Aes Sedai were so good at healing, surely they could heal the scar or make it fade. None of them seemed interested in trying.

Tonight was the same as any other night. Punished for being seen as unwilling to follow the directions of the Accepted and Aes Sedai who had failed, time and time again, to teach her how to touch the Source and hold it. Being ordered around by every Accepted in sight, running errands she could not refuse on behalf of other novices, and being discriminated against for her weak power and the terrible scar that marked the entire left side of her face. She had not progressed a step further in the White Tower than on the day she'd arrived.

She glared at the other novices who were walking in and out of the quarters, for whatever reasons they had. Many of them were on their way to various punishments meted out by Aes Sedai for any which sort of infraction. Some of them were returning with friends after a day of learning weaves and White Tower history. None of them were like Nadia, stifled by others' prejudice, held back by an ugliness that dresses and powder could not hide and a weakness that no amount of classes could correct.

Nadia realized suddenly that she had walked straight past Etheniliasa's door and even past her own. She turned clumsily and walked back, feeling a sharp pain as she bit her lip in anger, ignoring the titters of a few novices who didn't even wait until she was out of hearing range to laugh. Etheniliasa was one of those novices whom Nadia knew she would never like. The girl would never know what it felt like to be given a dress by the White Tower and then to be completely humiliated by the laughter of other girls when admitting that it was the finest dress she had ever had. She had probably never felt the fear of a Trolloc attack. Felt the terrible agony of burns which scarred her permanently. Tried to hide a permanent limp to keep from being laughed at even more than she was now. The girl even had glossy, shining hair which she probably brushed a hundred strokes a day in her vanity. Nadia brushed her own dark hair down daily to try and hide the scar. It didn't work. The burn which had caused the scar had also caused her eyelid to fuse shut... an injury which was impossible to hide.

She reached the door and kicked at it with her foot, feeling too spiteful even to switch the tray of food over to one hand to knock. The sound of talking which she'd heard through it faded away immediately before a voice called out, "Who is it?"

"Kobryn ordered me to bring some food for Etheniliasa," Nadia said sullenly, realizing that there were other girls in the room. Light burn them all. They were either going to make fun of her while pretending not to, try to ignore her existence entirely, play pranks on her because she was deaf and blind on her left side, or try to order her to bring them trays of food as well. She waited bitterly for the door to open.

Kobryn closed the door carefully behind her and then leaned back against it, letting out a deep breath. The wood felt good against her back; firm and supporting. Everything she had needed to be the last hour and the way she needed to stay even though every inch of her body wanted her to lay down and hide. If this was what being an Aes Sedai was like, the fear of not knowing who to trust and the weight of important decisions then Kobryn was not so sure she was cut out to make it. Aes Sedai had something that Kobryn lacked, something that she wished desperately for; Aes Sedai were tested and everyone who wore the ring had passed. Surely an Aes Sedai would not hesitate or question her ability to handle a situation like this, no they knew they had that ability. They had faced hardships and passed. Kobryn doubted herself every day and she had done so since she failed to test for the ring on her first chance. It was doubt that turned her insides to jelly and made her feel faint, not fear. It was also this feeling that drove her on, determined to succeed without further failings.

She turned the key in her door, feeling foolish for locking the door behind her and even more foolish for feeling better from it. Her room was austere, more so than most of the other Accepteds’. She did not care much for decorating and had never once felt the need to make her room homely. Perhaps if she reached the shawl she would gain rooms that felt like a home. Perhaps. The narrow bed was covered by an extra blanket – she’d learnt to loath feeling cold when she lived in Kandor – and her desk held several piles of books from the library. She had three candles, more than what was strictly allowed, to give her light when reading and the small side table held a dried flower, pressed to fit into a small wooden frame. A part from that only a small mirror on the wall, framed with a white-painted wooden frame, decorated the room. It fitted her, she was not one for embellishments on any accounts; rooms, clothes, characters.

Kobryn lit the three candles, gently weaving Fire and rejoicing in the feeling of Saidar filling her. She hastily prepared her ink and papers and then sat down at her desk to document what had happened in Etheniliasa’s room. She had repeated the Foretelling to herself over and over since she left the novice quarters – deviating from her path only to find a novice to send with Etheniliasa’s supper – and thought she remember the wording exactly. She took great care when writing it down, fully aware that the phrasing of a Foretelling was crucial to the interpretation. Not until she had gone over it in her mind three times and started over with her notes two times was she satisfied. Putting her pen down Kobryn realized that she could not put off the inevitably any longer.

Who to tell? Her first reaction was to go to the Yellow Ajah. She had… well, maybe not friends, but mentors and teachers she trusted there. Or thought she could trust any way. No, the Yellow Ajah was not an option. Perhaps she ought to see the Amyrlin? Coriandred Sedai was supposed to be a graceful woman and she had certainly appear to be the few times that Kobryn had seen her. She was still the Amyrlin though, and not a woman a mere Accepted could demand an immediate audience with. In the end Kobryn decided to seek out Jeriana Sedai. The Mistress of Novices seemed the logic choice considering that she was responsible for novices and accepted. And what was more; Kobryn knew Jeriana preferred to eat most of her dinners alone in her rooms.

Kobryn took a few moments in front of the mirror before she left to make sure her hair hung straight and no spots of ink ruined her appearance. She gave herself an encouraging smile, meeting her own gaze in the mirror. Until she had tested for the shawl and knew for certain what her capacity was she just had to treat everything as a test to be conquered. Reporting a Foretelling of a Dark Sister did fit under that category.

****

It did not take her long to reach Jeriana Sedai’s rooms. She had enough reputation among her fellow initiates to scare any social callers away when setting a determined pace. Once in the Ajah halls she had begged indulgence from the two Sisters that had approached her, claiming urgent business. Not a lie as it were. The Kandori knocked on the door and let out a sigh when Jeriana answered the call, relieved that she would be able to make her report straight away.

****

“Sit child, you look pale enough to faint dead on me,” Jeriana Sedai said when Kobryn rose from her curtsy. The Sister indicated a velvet covered chair and Kobryn was glad to accept. Jeriana wiped her fingers on a napkin and leaned back, her half eaten meal on the table before her.

“Now, you claim you have something important to tell me, something so important you decided to intrude on my dinner, yes?”

“Yes Aes Sedai, though again, I apologize.”

“Save you apologizes for later child, should I decide you made the wrong assumption. No, I can see that something is bothering you. Tell me what it is and we’ll see if I can help.”

“Yes Jeriana Sedai, thank you, I – “ Kobryn swallowed then took a quick glance around the room to steady herself. It was a luxurious room compared to her own, mementos and souvenirs mixed with books and papers and even a few garments tossed on a chair by the door. It was not nearly as clean and orderly as the Mistress of Novices office. Clearly Jeriana wanted to separate her duties from where she lived. It was a home.

“Yes, child?”

“I witnessed a Foretelling tonight, made by the Kandori novice Etheniliasa in her very room. The foretelling indicated that one of the Yellow Sisters serve the Dark or in other ways aim to hurt the Tower. Novices Allyrin and Trisha also heard the Foretelling, though I have ordered them to silence and I think they will comply. I saw Etheniliasa to bed then went to my room to write down the Foretelling and then went here. Here it is,” Kobryn finished her report by handing over her notes to Jeriana, who looked stunned for a short moment before taking the notes, once again a serene Aes Sedai.

“Well, child, that is certainly quite a claim. You are sure of this? No,” Jeriana said before Kobryn had time to answer, “of course you are, I can see the sincerity in your face. Give me a minute to read this.”

Kobryn nodded and waited patiently while Jeriana Sedai read her notes. She felt better now, having shared the burden of the Foretelling with an Aes Sedai. Jeriana looked up from the papers and if Kobryn didn’t know Aes Sedai never showed emotions she would say that Jeriana was furious.

***

The Mistress of Novices questioned her for almost an hour before she let Kobryn get back to her room. If Kobryn had feared leaving anything out from the Foretelling in her original notes she need not fear any longer. Jeriana had made her retell the events several times; going over every aspect of it until the Aes Sedai was sure she had not missed a thing. In the end Kobryn felt like she simply repeated herself over and over again and Jeriana must have realized that too. Kobryn was sent to her room with assurances that she had done well, that Jeriana would handle everything from here and that dinner would be sent to her room. Much like Kobryn had done with Etheniliasa. She did not miss the irony but it was not with any resentment Kobryn went back to her room to wait for dinner. Relief was more like it, relief that someone else would handle the matter and that she had done well.

Jeriana had understandably made no implications that Kobryn would be informed of further events regarding the Foretelling. Why should she? Kobryn was only an Accepted and not even the one who had made the Foretelling, merely the highest ranking listener. The logic of it didn’t trouble her but there was a feeling of dread mixed with the relief. As she accepted her dinner – rabbit stew with boiled vegetables – from the novice sent by Jeriana and sat down to eat the feeling of dread grew until she had to put her fork down and confront it.

What if Jeriana Sedai is Black Ajah? Then there won’t be any further events to inform any one of, then the only thing I’ve accomplished tonight is put me and the novices in danger. The only way to make sure is to go tell someone else. But whom?

…and I shall kneel in supplication before the light willing only to cast off my sin as the Light orders it so. I will exercise my might only in the service of the Light to fight back the dark and shelter the world. I seek to bring harmony to the world and preserve the pure content of the creator’s creation and all its creatures. All servants of the Dark must be destroyed and there remains ground to dust. Hallowed be the Light, all glory to the wheel and adoration to the creator.

Persephone Al’Nator Sitter for the Yellow Ajah and one of the twenty one Sitters serving in Tar Valon finished her early evening prays. Raising her head from where it had been bowed before a single lit white candle Persephone blinked to adjust to the now dim light of her chambers in the Tower. Smiling into the darkness Persephone attempted to marvel at the wonder of creation around her rather then focusing on her aching knees, after two hundred and fifty years of life Persephone refused to give in to human weakness. Rising to her feet without groaning Persephone turned towards the large shuttered window that looked out on the city below, the River Erinin and Dragonmount. Swinging open the shutters she stared at the looming peak of Dragonmount in the declining sunlight. As a sitter Persephone could have requested any of the finer rooms with open balconies but no balconies in the Yellow sector of the Tower faced Dragonmount. As it was this was one of the few rooms in the Yellow section of the Tower that caught a view of the mountain and that was the reason Persephone had occupied it for most of her time with the shawl. Sighing slightly at the constant reminder she forced herself to live with in Dragonmount, Persephone turned from the window and headed towards her evening meal. The Dark must be conquered.

Persephone’s chambers were simply but richly furnished all of the pieces of wood were inlayed with gold etched into marble, pearl or ivory to hide there wooden colours. The colours of white and gold had become a uniform to Persephone’s life and they reminded her of the youth she had led as a member of the Servants of the Light. Before discovering she could channel Persephone had moved from her home in Kandor with her parents to a small community of Servants of the Light in the Black Hills. The sect was presumably extinct now with Persephone being the only recognised practitioner of the rules and prayers of the church. The Servants of the Light had been in the decline when Persephone had been initiated into the group and she had spent the few years before the Tower mastering the group’s lore, prays and rules. Everyday Persephone prayed from the ancient tome of the order that rested in velvet and behind a keeping in the heavy wooden lectern on the opposite of the chamber. Persephone looked across the chamber in the dim evening light at the plain slab of marble the lectern rested on, beside it on the slab rested a bronze gold plated brazier and a chalice of gold and large diamonds. Each morning Persephone broke her morning thirst from the chalice with water placed in a blessed urn and thrice blessed by the light of the full moon and the morning sun. Persephone understood that many sisters saw her as a light crazed fool who murmured pray far too much.

Settling down at her small table Persephone eyed the meal before her with scorn. I requested wholemeal bread and a glass of water not broth, bread, wine and cheese. Sighing to the empty chamber Persephone dipped her spoon into the broth and began to eat, the broth was refreshing, well spiced and entirely inappropriate. Persephone was prone to shun the evening meal eating only that which could sustain her till the morning, the cooks in the Tower all portly women were not impressed with this. It was actually a while before they discovered that she would eat what they sent her as long as it contained no meat after noon. Nonetheless Persephone would always request bread and water and without fail she would receive bread and water but accompanied by light refreshing cheeses, broths, fruits and spreads. As she finished the broth Persephone thanked the Light for the fine food she had just eaten. Standing from the table Persephone walked forward and blew out the lone candle plunging the room into darkness. Persephone picked up the tray that her meal had been settled on and placed it outside of her doorway to await collection. Taking a quick glance to see that her room was closed Persephone quickly hurried to shut the open shutter before leaving her room. Closing the heavy wooden door Persephone drew a large iron key from her belt pouch and locked the door.

As she headed away from her rooms Persephone could not help but note the cool looks she received in the hallways. Many Aes Sedai thought the stern sitter was strange but they did not understand the importance of following the Light. Persephone was a tall women standing close to six feet at five foot eleven with luxurious wavy black hair licked by wings of white at her temples and a beautiful but stern face. Persephone’s eyes were warm, almond shaped chips of blue ice, her nose was thin and aquiline and her lips full. Her comely appearance was tempered by the fact that Persephone only wore clothing of aesthetic and simple cut in only white and gold few other colours made an appearance except on certain feast days and services. Ignoring the looks of sisters, accepted and novices alike Persephone headed towards Jeriana’s rooms in the Tower intent on chatting with the Mistress of Novices.

As Persephone walked she had to resist the temptation to grind her teeth in frustration over her fellow Sitter for the Hall Allora Tethorn. That women screams poxy tart except she has the carriage and bearing of a sitting queen. Mollified that she could think such malicious thoughts Persephone chastised herself for the rash words. The reason she did not like Allora was her tendency to spew drivel that ignited tensions in key debates in the hall. Allora tended to suggest sisters not suited or far removed for key posts and she had a cold mask of serenity that unnerved Persephone. Allora was tolerable she just seemed to lack the true dedication to the causes of the Ajah and the Tower. Persephone did not like the women and if she was not a talented and accomplished healer Persephone probably would never have communicated with the women. To often Allora led the hall in a direct that when examined later had seemly unrelated but drastic consequences, Persephone was just a little wary of the women and her ways. Sighing softly as she neared Jeriana’s chambers Persephone dismissed Allora from her thoughts.

As Persephone stepped up and knocked on the Mistress of Novices door she was slightly disturb at the complete lack of attention she had displayed in walking to Jeriana’s chambers. Glancing about the halls she was glad to see no sisters Thank the Light at least I did not ignore someone, I think. Sighing to herself Persephone was surprised when the door was pulled open and a wary Jeriana poked her head out a large white kerchief dangling across her silken gown.

“By the Light!”

Jeriana gasped her eyes widening slightly, Persephone resisted the urge to wrinkle her brow something was not right.

“Jeriana I am here to discuss the religious training of the Novices and Accepted I am worried their spiritual health suffers and how this could negatively harm their health.”

Jeriana blinked once, twice and her mouth opened once and then closed quickly, Persephone could not help but stare. Hastily Jeriana tore the kerchief that was tucked around her neck away and wiped her lips, her hand darted forth and pulled Persephone into her chambers. Persephone’s eyebrows rose at the bold action on behalf of the usually reserved Mistress of Novices. Laying hands on another sister let alone a sitter was not common practice. Persephone’s eyebrows wanted to climb higher when Jeriana embraced the source and wove a weave against eavesdropping. Persephone’s stomach began to boil with ill ease at the frantic actions of Jeriana. Nervously she searched Jeriana’s face and was shocked to see relief and fear.

“What I say to you could kill us both, but Light, things are afoot that we must stand against. Light I hope I can trust you.”

“Jeriana you can trust me, I may not know you personally as a friend but the Light and my duty as a Sitter should assure you that you can trust me.”

Jeriana flinched at the mention of the word ‘light’ and Persephone’s ill ease increased. Let it not be the Dark One. The Light preserve and shelter my mind let me see with clarity and follow your direction. Silently Persephone prayed.

“Sit. There is much I must tell you and there is much you must read.”

Persephone settled into the comfy chair at the other side of Jeriana’s dinner table her eyes noting the barely eaten roast on the table.

***

Allora stood naked illuminated by the last vestiges of the sun as it dipped towards the horizon. Her smooth light honey coloured skin glowed seductively in the fading light and she laughed in sheer delight. Stepping away from the large windows that framed her bedroom wall Allora headed into her well lit dressing chamber. Bending smoothly to seize a white silken robe that lay against the room’s lone chair Allora slipped it about her form marvelling at the feel of the silk. Smiling at herself in the large mirror opposite the door Allora ran her hands through her freshly braided hair marvelling at the little golden beads that glittered in the light. Everything will be perfect for him, my love, the Nae’blis. Allora shivered in anticipation at seeing his face again and being in his formidable presence she was reminded when she was with him of the power she now controlled. Allora’s hands knotted in her hair as she was reminded of the purpose of tonight’s meeting. He will want to know what direction the Tower bends to. I have done well. Will he agree? Allora relaxed and eased her hands from her braids, suddenly aware of her actions she stared nervously in the mirror checking for loose hair. Relieved that everything was in order Allora sat down before her duchess and fiddled with a string of gold beads and pearls.

The Hall headed in an appropriate direction they bickered and wrangled but ultimately Allora was able to assist in shifting the direction the Hall took. In this task she was sometimes aided by Mai and the urgings of key black sisters in Ajahs but usually she relied on manipulation, playing on fear and sheer determination. The previous day the Hall had met and Allora had used her skill to direct the debate away from the south towards the Seanchan and the Whitecloak’s on Almoth Plain. The Hall had been planning on hashing out the details of the actions it had taken to stabilise the countries of the South and to revise the security plans for the region. That move would have seen the Tower increase the presence of sisters and strengthen the guard on key people, city stores and artifacts it also would have seen money flood the area and assist in stability. The Shadow did not want this it much preferred the Tower to continue with old foes rather then protect that which when broken would assist in the downfall of the Light.

It had taken considerable talent on Allora’s account and the testimonials of soldiers, scouts and a weaker sister all of them compelled to get the lesser consensus to stand. The motion that more effort be applied to the west was adopted and Hall had begun a sitting committee chaired by a Green, a Gray and a Blue to organise espionage, scouting and potential skirmishes. Allora had been battled turn for turn by the Brown Ajah, Jenisi of the Blue particularly and Persephone Al’Nater from her own Ajah. Persephone caused Allora’s teeth to grind in anger and she hastily dropped the chain she was fidgeting with lest she break it in rage. Persephone and the Sitters who had supported her always attempted to direct the Hall back towards the path that the Shadow was desperate it did not take. Persephone particularly was always there usually with the backing of Elizabeth Ralforn and Ajierene to turn the tide on Allora’s fear tactics. Regardless of the past Allora had won the day and she would have success to report to Shadarmael, perhaps she would receive a reward. Allora smiled in delight her eyes scanning the chamber witlessly.

The sounding of the gong announcing the end of the dinner period of the evening brought Allora back to her chambers and the tasks she still had to do. Standing once again she disrobed however her eyes barely lingered on her slim form. Hastily Allora drew a servants garb from a heavily sealed and hidden box. Slipping into it silently Allora turned to face herself in the mirror. With a deep breath she embraced saidar and wove the necessary weaves of illusion about her form, instantly she aged and changed looking like her long dead aunt. Continuing to weave with the five powers Allora hid her ability to channel. Reluctantly she released the power after extinguishing the lights in her chamber, if discovered she would rely on a more dangerous power source. Walking into the dark chamber Allora moved silently towards her door and slipped out into the hallway. Eyes darting she was pleased to see that the hallway was empty as it usually was. Reclaiming a piece of broken pottery Allora headed purposely towards her intended targets. Her actions tonight were both well travelled and extremely dangerous and new.

After a while Allora stopped beside a statue of a hunched shapeless form in the common area of the Tower. Allora placed the pottery behind the statue and reached up into the secret compartment for the report she had requested. A little while away Allora spied the broom she had ordered left close to the report. One part of the evening completed Allora drew a deep breathe as she prepared to do the most dangerous part of the evening. Since being raised to the Second Chosen Allora had been consumed by paranoia at the threat of loosing her position, steps had to be taken. Tonight Allora would initiate a terribly dangerous plan, she would walk towards the each Ajah and leave a ward of the True Power in place to be triggered to cause mayhem. The trigger would be one of the five powers and Allora would soon alert key sisters in each Ajah as to the circumstances under which they were to trip the wards. Each ward would cause damage and simulate an attack and would hopefully give Allora the time needed to flee the Tower if she was discovered. The wards would draw sisters and would prevent a full strength being mustered against Allora. Smiling in anticipation of the dangerous pleasure she was about to experience Allora headed towards the Red Ajah. Allora prayed that sisters would only see a maid and not notice her lingering to long.

***

Etheniliasa stared at the bright and securely mortared wall beside her tiny lumpy bed. Numbly she tried to recall getting into the bed and pulling the covers up around her and failed. A sliver of fear slid into the pit of Etheniliasa’s stomach as she grappled with what felt like a slippery eel in her mind, the memory seemed as if it should be recalled but try as she might Etheniliasa could not. Silently a single tear moved down her high cheek bones to travel down beside her lush red lips. Etheniliasa’s creamy skinned hand dutifully rose and scrubbed from her lip across her cheek to her eye. Etheniliasa’s hand stilled and grasped at her cheek her nails almost piercing the skin as she was gripped by a deep fear. What is wrong with me? Frantically Etheniliasa’s eyes scanned the room desperate to identify the physical source of such a consuming fear. After a few frantic seconds Etheniliasa was reminded that the chamber was empty and the lone candle burned brightly in the small space. Etheniliasa laid back on the soft down pillow and turned to face the wall her hands snaking about her slim form. What is it I don’t know and why? Tears once more welled and Etheniliasa scrubbed her hands across her face to prevent there flow.

Calm suffused her and Etheniliasa drifted back into it contentedly her eyes slipping out of focus and the frown on her pretty forehead straightening. Etheniliasa gasped, her perfectly arched red lips spreading in surprise and her long, thick, black lashes fluttered as she realised a light seemed to shadow her minds eye. Faintly she recognised the powers presence in the looming light. Slowly the thought clicked in her mind and Etheniliasa was shocked at how scared and confused the realisation made her feel. What is wrong with the Power? Why do I fear saidar? Why does it make me feel out of control and directionless? The positivity from yesterday’s lesson evaporated and Etheniliasa could not help but feel dirty. There was something to feel dirty and ashamed about when it came to the power, Etheniliasa felt so used. Blankly she once again attempted to grapple with the elusive thought that stood outside of her grasp. All thoughts evaporated as a knock sounded loudly on the door, Etheniliasa paused in shock but had no time for action when the door swung open. Trisha Mandelaren slipped into the chamber shutting the door softly behind her as she entered. The diminutive Cairhienen turned to face Etheniliasa her eyes blazing with curiosity mixed with excitement and well controlled fear. Etheniliasa stared at the pretty girl confused as to her presence.

Etheniliasa and Trisha had had few classes together and Etheniliasa could already tell they had a different view on the lay of the world. Etheniliasa was born into nobility of significant wealth but her father and mother had opted for the quiet life of rural nobility. Trisha lived and breathed the politics of a city and the airs of the high nobility. She was reminded of her Great Aunt Irenne but soon grew disconcerted at the thought. Etheniliasa was convinced that she had had the thought only scant minutes before. With a jolt memories came flooding back and Etheniliasa felt her eyes widen as Trisha went into great detail over the foretelling she had forgotten about.

Silently Etheniliasa listened, taking in the words that Trisha spoke and struggling with the momentary confusion and amnesia she had experience after being left alone. Am I broken in my head? Etheniliasa lifted her hand to her head slowly but she felt nothing amiss. Trisha halted mid-sentence and looked at Etheniliasa in concern but Ethenili waved at her wanting the end of the story. Etheniliasa stared in horror as Trisha finished speaking, Trisha opened her mouth to speak when once again the door was knocked and opened to allow Allyrin to slip into the chamber.

Etheniliasa’s eyes turned towards her friends and the compassion she saw there in the brief moment they shared a look filled Etheniliasa with a sense of calm. Ally addressed Trisha and the two bantered for a moment as Etheniliasa attempted to address her amnesia. Etheniliasa could not help but not the manner in which Ally turned away from Trisha whenever she addressed Ally as a simple peasant. Silently she resolved that the trauma had left her mind fuzzed and that had caused her to momentarily forget the last twenty minutes. Etheniliasa turned to face Trisha, sliding out from under the covers and sitting on the edge of her bed as she realised the Cairheinen Novice was talking to her. Blinking a few moments as she struggled to connect the words to meaning in her buzzing mind Ethenilisa finally comprehended.

“Light. What do we want to do? Run away? What have I done?”

Etheniliasa placed her head in her hands and began to sob uncontrollably, once again feeling used and overwhelmed ‘something’ had seized control. Etheniliasa’s tear filled eyes and bowed head did not see the scorn filled look Allyrin shot Trisha. Neither did it see the clearly mollified look the shorter girl sent back at the Andorian. Together the girls settled on either side of Etheniliasa and Allyrin drew her unresisting body into a warm hug. A clear indication to Trisha that she was better suited to comforting the concerns of others. Trisha attempted to pat Ethenili on the shoulder but Allyrin shot her a slightly warning look above Etheniliasa's head.

“We cannot run away we are safest here Ethenili and if we ran where would we go?” Etheniliasa dried her tears on the palms of her hands and turned to face Allyrin as she spoke. “Ethenili you have not done anything wrong, rather something wondrous, you have read the layout of the pattern and gleamed the flow of the wheel.”

Etheniliasa stared at Allyrin surprised at the gentle wisdom in the girl’s words. Faintly she remembered a sense of a pattern and the meaning it imparted when the foretelling had seized her. Trisha faintly patted Etheniliasa across the back.

“Besides think of the duty and the adventure you have created for us.”
The Cairheinen laughed when Etheniliasa looked at her in surprise, slowly a grin spread across Etheniliasa’s face. Adventure? Maybe we could do that. The three girls shared a grin and began to laugh quietly. Allyrin and Trisha stopped and looked at each other in surprise, clearly realising they had shared a moment in jest. Etheniliasa oblivious to the sudden silence around her continued to laugh.

“Fine we are three against a dangerous and by the sounds of it ruthless killer Aes Sedai. I can barely channel and mistrust the power and we are expected to do what?”

Etheniliasa looked at the two girls desperate for some sort of solace. Trisha smirked widely at Etheniliasa and imitated her with a slow witted voice. Ethenili burst into laughter at the joke but Allyrin just stared disapproving. The three girls stilled in the silence when a shuffled step followed by a knock sounded on the door.

“Who is it?”

Trisha trilled in her most arrogant voice and Etheniliasa cringed at the prospect of Kobryn returning to that voice. Allyrin sighed loudly and Trisha stared at her in disgust. Light let us just get on with this in peace.
“Kobryn ordered me to bring some food for Etheniliasa.”

The voice that answered made Etheniliasa paused for it was so soft and filled with an internalised pain that Etheniliasa did not think she would notice if she faced the girl on the other side of the room. Halting Allyrin from answering with a tap on her shoulder and giving Trisha a firm look Etheniliasa stood up and welcomed the stranger into the chamber.

As she softly shut the door behind the Novice Nadia Etheniliasa could not help the flood of pity that rose to greet the sight of Nadia. Giving Trisha a warning look from over Nadia’s shoulder Etheniliasa attempted to subtly study the hideous disfigurements marring Nadia. The brief glimpse that Etheniliasa managed to get reminded her of nothing more then the ruthless attacks made by Trollocs. Etheniliasa shuddered at the thought and she silently re-assed the badly tempered Nadia. Her hair is the right shade and the shape of her unmarked face is typical of Borderlander stock. Quietly Etheniliasa re-assed Nadia and her conclusions caused more sympathy to well within her. Etheniliasa understood the terror of Trolloc raids. True she had always lived behind the safety of walls and with the protection of soldiers and the farmers who served her family but the stench, sight and sound of Trollocs was hideous and terrifying.

“Thank you Nadia you may place the tray on the desk.”

Etheniliasa said with a warm smile, indicating to the lone desk in the chamber. The desk was ugly like all the pieces of furniture in the chamber and Etheniliasa could not help but love it. As she watched Nadia walk towards the table and place the tray upon it Etheniliasa ushered the other girls to silence. This is my room. Etheniliasa’s eyes seemed to see and the faint nods from the other two allayed Etheniliasa’s fears. Etheniliasa suddenly realised that it was important they make a good impression it would be terrible if Nadia returned to talk to Kobryn.

“Nadia take a seat and talk with us.”

“Why? What do you want?”

Nadia’s eyes darted to the faces of the three girls and she gave them wary looks. Etheniliasa smiled beautifully at Nadia her perfect lips curling into what she hoped was a winning smile. Nadia frowned and took a seat on the edge of Etheniliasa’s bed. Glancing at the other two girls Etheniliasa could see the frozen looks on their faces clear signs that they had realised their dilemma. If Nadia spoke to Kobryn they were in big trouble. Silence settled into the chamber and Etheniliasa looked at Nadia with a smile glued to her face. Nadia looked about the room a few times and then looked back at Etheniliasa. Etheniliasa blinked in surprise was that a faint hint of malicious mirth in Nadia’s eyes?

“Your up to something?”

“What are you on about we certainly are not.”

Trisha blurted her eyes unnaturally wide. Nadia looked at Trisha and her face widened into what Etheniliasa assumed was a grin, it was terrifying.

“Tell me or I will have to talk to Kobryn.”

Frantically Etheniliasa looked about the room her eyes going everywhere but at Nadia. As Nadia shuffled and began to rise Etheniliasa gasped and lent towards Nadia her arms outstretched.

“Alright please don’t tell just listen.”

Slowly Etheniliasa began to speak.

***

Persephone left Jeriana’s chamber in all appearances the same as she had entered it outwardly calm. Inside Persephone seethed rage and fear gripping her in alternating cycles. Slowly she headed back to her chambers passing a strangely behaving maid of remarkable if faded beauty apparently staring at a support pillar near the Yellow Ajah entrance. Persephone could have sworn the women wore a face badly attempting to hid rapture. How nice she is awed by the Towers architecture. She would want to return to work soon or a sister not burdened with thoughts will set her straight. Dismissing the women from her thoughts Persephone unlocked her door and entered her chambers. Channelling to light all of the rooms lamps Persephone wearily closed and locked the door. Settling into a worn old chair she began to think. For now we have the advantage but for how much longer? Tonight for the first time in twenty years Persephone would ward her rooms. Tomorrow Kobryn would be summoned before the Mistress of Novices for a complaint in regards to one of healings. Jeriana would then send Kobryn through a gateway into Persephone’s room there they would talk. Of course Jeriana would announce to a passing Novice that she had sent Kobryn out of the Tower for the day to make amends to the healed peasant. At the end of there session Persephone would take Kobryn to a farm a days ride from the Tower there would be a horse waiting and Kobryn would have to ride to a nearby cross roads. In the meantime Persephone would head to Jeriana and inform her that it was safe to open the gateway for Kobryn. Persephone twitched in her chair eager for action. Even now the women whom the foretelling no doubt slept content in their plans and eager for the demise of the Tower.

Persephone clenched her hands in frustration and fear. Who? Light! Who? The foretelling hinted that it was a sister of the Yellow creed who practiced the art of healing. Perhaps it was a Yellow but there were plenty of sitters in the Hall who were accomplished healers, perhaps a Grey or a Blue? Try as she might Persephone could not escape the surety in her mind that the foretelling spoke of a Yellow Sitter.

The other two Yellow Sitters in the Hall were women Persephone had worked with for many years now and both had been appointed by either Linaria or Tamerlene before that. No would accuse either of the First Weavers of being Black or even Shadow inclined. Tirania Gedal was renown for being vain but her head strong vanity was tempered by a willingness to be swayed to an alternate argument. However try as she might Persephone could not forget the lust for power well known in Tirania it was well known Tirania coveted a Sitters seat before she attained one. Many could not forget the actions of Tirania to secure the Amyrlin Seat last time the Hall had voted on the matter but was that recognition of being a Black Sister? Allora Tethorn up until a few months ago had been the model of Aes Sedai restraint and Sitter wisdom, she had been a reserved women of cold arrogance but fair wisdom if sometimes strange views. Persephone had admired her detached manner of addressing issues and appreciated the way in which her unique opinions had brought diversity to the Hall. Something had changed. Allora now dressed like a women in the full throes of the courting process attempting to please a lust filled lover by the comeliness of her form. Allora had changed in the Hall stirring up fear and sending the Hall away from Persephone and others directions for the better. Allora now caused disquiet and tension and was one of Persephone's greatest enemies in the Hall but was that the actions of a Black?

Persephone sighed loudly and placed her face in her hands. It did not matter which of the Sitters it was for Persephone's hands were tied. Linaria would require proof before action and Persephone could not be sure that it was even a Yellow Sitter. Settling back into her chair and tried to remember every action surrounding both of the Sitters. Both Sitters had no family to speak of and both were silent on the issue. Tirania had been an orphan discovered by a wandering Aes Sedai and Allora had come from a deep family lose which appeared to haunt her to this day. Allora constantly would leave the Tower on short notice in search of her long lost brother whenever news of the man would appear. Tirania would leave the Tower to tend to the care of homeless children however the nature of her work meant it was difficult to keep track of her. Exasperated Persephone rose and walked towards the shuttered window facing Dragonmount.

Pulling back the shutters Persephone stared into the darkness at the blurred form of the great mountain across the river. The Light had made the presence of a darkness in the Tower known to a Novice. Persephone was stunned, few sisters had the foretelling but none would expect the Pattern to speak through a voice with no power or influence in the state of Aes Sedai affairs. Silently Persephone contemplated approaching the Amyrlin and dismissed the thought quickly. The Amyrlin would demand action and that might tear the fragile Tower apart. Sighing loudly Persephone allowed the confusion to well as she stared into the cool night.

“The Light will shelter and preserve, adoration is the byword of peace and darkness shall fear the light.”

Persephone turned from the window and moved towards her altar to the light. Kneeling in supplication before the large slab she slowly opened the heavy box and drew out the book of prayers. Opening at a well worn page Persephone began to silently pray.

***

Allora paused as she drew her scant garments about her form, Shadarmael would be coming soon and she had to keep her mind on the things she would tell him. Allora smiled at the thought that Persephone had passed her in the hallway only a half an hour ago as she was laying the last of her weaves outside of the Ajah’s entrance. What a shock she would get if Allora ever had to launch her attack. Allora dismissed Persephone from her thoughts as a gateway revolved into view in the middle of Allora’s chambers.

“My love.”

She purred and step through the now shimmering hole in the air.