Another step taken [attn. Vera]

[silhouette]

The tall mouse coloured mare pranced about impatiently. The sight brought a little smile to Nyssa’s face. It had been long since she had ridden home. Five years, at least. She wondered briefly if her horse would still remember it’s name. The stableboy holding the reigns for her looked up expectedly. “Soon.†She muttered. Arriving early had it’s benefits. For one, she would have the opportunity to look every bit as composed as her Aes Sedai companion, who was yet to arrive. Nyree disliked Nyssa with a passion. It probably had a lot to do with the fact that Nyssa towered over the other Aes Sedai. Still, they were both Gray. It would be interesting to see Nyree swallow all her bitter comments.

 

Of course, that wasn’t the only reason she was early. She had told Vera to be early as well, so that they could go over their mission one last time. Accepted could be excitable when they were given the chance to leave the White Tower. Nyssa just wanted to make sure that Vera kept the objective in mind even if she was glad to be away from the Tower for a while. And to be wary of Nyree. The woman was still a young Aes Sedai, but she was good at what she did. Nyssa didn’t want Vera’s raising postponed because Nyree had decided she was not ready to be raised. Of course she could pull some strings, Faerzyne was a closer friend than any would imagine, but Nyree would know, and it would break the delicate truce that existed between the tall Mayener Aes Sedai, and her short Cairhienin Sister.

 

The sound of footsteps alerted her to Vera’s arrival. That, and the way the eyes of the stableboy widened. It wasn’t every day he got to see Aes Sedai at one of the minor gates, and after ogling Nyssa for a few minutes, it was now time to turn his attention on the younger one. Nyssa smiled at Vera, pleased to see that she was wearing one of the riding dresses that Mistress Davina had made for her. It looked quite lovely on her, which was exactly what Nyssa had come to expect from Davina’s work. “How do you feel?†she asked, searching for a hint of nervousness on Vera’s face.

[ashara]

Vera wanted to giggle.

 

Early spring mornings amidst the dew and the mist and the colour and mystery. She didn’t have many memories like this one- she had tried to look back and find one such that would make her understand this sense of déjà vu. And yet, none came. But maybe that was what was the best part of this trip- that it was a new experience. Vera had learnt due to past “never attempted before†experiences, that they always shown her something that she should learn from, something she should remember. Most of it, admittedly, was complete rubbish, as her friend Lyra had put it, but usually, there was some little curious occurring that would cause change in her life drastically. And that made her worry, just a little. Enough anyway, to make people close to her notice she was nervous.

 

Shivering slightly, she eyed her reflection in the mirror once more. Light, she had changed. Or was it merely the dress, she wondered as she stared slightly wide eyed at her reflection. Curves she had never known had existed were suddenly accentuated to the point that made Vera fret. At least it was too early for the rest of them to have risen. Frustratedly she tugged at her sleeves, trying to make them a little more loose. It must have been that woman, she thought, grinding her teeth. That assistant…

 

With a quiet elegance that she had only recently become acquainted with, Vera moved towards the stables. Her bags she had sent there previously, but in her arms she clutched the few last things she felt would be of vital importance during the trip. Well, maybe not vital as she distractedly studied her sketches of people in her little notebook. There was Gillie. And Shayna of course. Aoife had been one of the very first she had ever made. Nyssa’s silhouette had only just been created, since she had been planning to finish it during the trip….

 

“How do you feel?â€

 

A deep red riding dress greeted Vera’s vision and when she lifted her eyes up to study Nyssa, she understood completely the looks the stableboy had been giving her. The audacity, she thought with a dry smile.

 

“Strange,†she said honestly. “Very very strange.â€

 

“Do I look like a fool in this, Nyssa Sedai?â€

[silhouette]

For the briefest of moments a slightly surprised look crossed Nyssa’s face, instantly gone the second the Aes Sedai realised her face wasn’t a perfect mask of serenity. “A fool? Certainly not, my dear.†The riding dress was lovely, and fit for a queen. If any Accepted had seen Vera while she walked down towards the stables, she would certainly have sighed regretfully, and turned green with envy, knowing that Vera had been taken under the wing of a generous Aes Sedai. Things worked many ways, here within the walls of the White Tower. The novices and accepted would work just a little harder for her, knowing that she rewarded generously, and the sisters of other Ajah’s would surely keep their influence away from Vera, suspecting that the favours were meant as a present to celebrate the fact that she aspired to the Gray Ajah.

 

“In fact, I think you look quite respectable, which was the look we were aiming for.†Nyssa smiled warmly at her young protégée. She had many plans for this young women. That was what the trip to Mayene was truly about, to shape Vera, to teach her more about herself, and what it meant to be a Gray Sister. It really was a pity Nyree would tag along, but Nyssa hoped the other woman would mind her own business as much as possible. “Now I know I’ve already told you a bit about our mission, and I’m sure we’ll talk about it far more on our journey to Mayene, but there are a few things I’d like to share with you now. You should find them amusing.†Nyssa smiled at Vera again, a bit sharper this time. There was a hint of something dangerous in her eyes, which faded as soon as it was there again. Nyssa still had strong feelings about Mayene, even if the Tower desired an absolute breaking of all bonds with the past from every Sister.

 

“You see, one of our… guides, in Mayene will be a relative of mine. The grandson of my youngest brother.†Ah, how fondly she remembered her brother. No more than a small boy when she left home for the White Tower, and a pleasant man when he came to visit the White Tower upon her raising to the Shawl. His grandson was much the same, a very pleasant and sly young man, with much of her mother’s wiles in him. Saviene’s touch reached far, even now, almost a century after her passing. “You will notice that he is a true Mayener, from body to soul. Don’t be too shocked when any Mayener suggests a tumble in the hay, even to an Aes Sedai. People from Mayene don’t believe in wasting time with endless courtships. Best that one aims for what one wants now, before Tairen or Illianer lordlings take it from you.†She winked at Vera. She would have told her more about the nature of Mayener people and her ‘nephew’, if not for the arrival of Nyree.

 

~

 

As usual, this arrival did not go by unnoticed. Nyree couldn’t stand it when no one noticed her presence, so she made sure there was no way to keep people from noticing her. Today her arrival was paired with the door to the stable swinging open with too much force, making sure it banged on the wall loudly. Nyree smirked with satisfaction when she saw a stable boy jump. Satisfaction soon left her when she saw that she was not alone with the stable boy. Her ‘companion’ for the trip was already there, with some brat Accepted the woman had decided to take. With a glare Nyree stalked towards Nyssa, intent on lecturing the woman about arriving early without informing her. Realising that would look rather silly she snapped at the stable boy instead. “Get me my horse!†she grated out, as far as she could grate, with a voice like hers. It was a doll voice, to accompany a doll face and a doll posture. Standing next to Nyssa she was once again reminded of the fact that her doll posture meant that she was as short as the average Cairhienin. Tiny. Petite, especially next to the long legged wonder that was Nyssa Deschain.

 

“Sister.†She said, her mouth twisting as though she’d bitten a sour prune. Her eyes ventured over to the Accepted that was to accompany them. What was her name again? Vera something or other… “Miss… Cadsanome. I expect perfect behaviour from you while we are travelling, and even better behaviour when we are in Mayene. You will spend most of your days with my dear, well respected Sister,†she glanced over at Nyssa, wondering if the woman would appreciate the effort she had put into keeping the scorn out of her face and voice, “… but I am sure that we will find an occasion where you can work for me as well. Who knows, you might even learn a thing or two on this trip.†She smiled sweetly at Nyssa again, before turning her back on the pair. “My horse!â€

[ashara]

Now Vera may have grown a lot in her past twenty four years of life and most of her friends and mentors alike would say that she is of a mature nature, who unlike some her age, grasped situations very easily, without the usual giggles or ridiculous amounts of blushing. What however, she was never quite prepared about, was the subject of Men. “Don’t be too shocked when any Mayener suggests a tumble in the hay, even to an Aes Sedai. People from Mayene don’t believe in wasting time with endless courtships.†It took all the lessons and advice Nyssa had ever given her on Daes Dae’mar that managed to save her from going into loud, idiotic laughter. Like fire a deep blush ran down her back, but to her relief, no sign of this crimson fire appeared on her face or neck. She? Why, even courtship was a strange distant idea she did not quite understand-That had always been Shayna’s field of expertise, for with all her perfectly timed silver laughs and doll like fluttering of eyelashes, men had loved her. Little gifts here and there, a new dress, a lovely delicately made comb. Mama used to get so very mad, Vera remembered. "One day, Shayna, they’ll be expecting something in return for all those gifts. What’ll you do then?†she had hissed, softly, matter of factly, but Light, she’d been angry.

 

 

“Get me my horse!â€

 

Unexpected was not quite the word she would use for such a rude interruption to the quiescent aura that had set over her surroundings. Sharply she turned her head to see the newcomer, the surprise she felt masked by thick layers of control and caution. Nyree Caerwain. Instantly she felt herself go a little more straight and unconsciously she tugged again at her riding dress. She had heard of Nyree before, she thought as she watched the doll like figure make its way to Nyssa and her. Her friend Lilyen had often…mentioned her in the course of the day, charging into Vera’s quarters screaming obscenities about some “goat-kissing, condescending woman who believes herself to be the bloody Amyrlin.†It was only much later in the conversation that Vera learnt it was a Gray Sister Lily was talking about. Or rather, yelling about. And of all people Lilyen Seradele that too, who for all her knowledge on swearwords was usually a little too respectful towards most Aes Sedai, she believed. Not that she could say much about herself. Politely she curtseyed to the pretty sneer as it reached them, going just deep enough to be correct. She would not go asking for trouble from women like Nyree.

 

And that was when the “doll†spoke once more. “Miss… Cadsanome. I expect perfect behaviour from you while we are travelling, and even better behaviour when we are in Mayene. Still in the midst of her curtsey, Vera froze for the briefest of seconds, quite unsure about whether she had heard correctly. Rising smoothly, she maintained an unblemished face, waiting to see if indeed, she had begun to hallucinate. Giving Nyssa a sidelong glance, she listened patiently to the other Aes Sedai, wondering whether Nyree had always been so. Now, this was unexpected at it’s best.

 

 

“That sounds wonderful,†Vera started politely, only to be interrupted yet again by a highpitched calling by Nyree Caerwain. And somehow, it was just then, that she could not help herself going back to Lily’s words on the subject of Nyree Caerwain:

 

“That goat-kissing, condescending woman who believes herself to be the bloody Amyrlin.â€