More than a Secretary, Perhaps? (Attn Tyne)

[Lavinya]

Fiery red curls whipped about Lavinya's face, stirred into life by the breeze coming from the river as she looked over the bridge railing at the docks. She was listless, a recurring situation of late, and the quiet of her apartments, coupled with the roaring of her own thoughts had become oppressive, leading her away from the White Tower, into Tar Valon.

 

The Great Serpent ring on her delicate finger glinted in the sunlight, labelling her as Aes Sedai, should anyone miss the ageless features or regal poise. She possessed no shortage of arrogance, hence she never left the tower looking anything but immaculate, perfection on the outside, from her hair, smooth complexion, to the classic, sheer cut of her expensive green skirts.

 

Lost to her thoughts, Lavinya barely took in the scene below her, her attention turned inwards as a young girl alighted from a recently docked ship. The motions went by unnoticed, until her gaze was drawn to her side, the girl looking at her with a mixture of awe and fear and she dropped into a somewhat awkward curtey. Face impassive, Lavinya took the note the girl offered, scrambling to restore her thoughts to the present, and away from the sombre thoughts of before.

 

"To the most Revered, honoured Aes Sedai,

 

The bearer of this note do be my daughter. She do be clever and well educated - Ive taught her nearly all I do know. History, and Geography and much of the like, as well as bargaining and accountingg. She will make you a fine secretary or other hand. Please take her, all I ask is that you keep her from harm, and she remembers her father some time.

 

Yours in humility,

Adben Egil"

 

After reading the missive, Lavinya looked at the girl once more, her hair short and dark, her figure somewhat plump and unkempt. She seemed somewhat out of her depth, and Lavinya could not help a small amount of pity for the girl. The language in the note had painted her father as an Illianer, so the child was clearly far from home. A kind smile curved Lavinya's lips, as she found a compassion for the girl, that would normally prove foreign to her. "I am Lavinya Sedai. What is your name child?" Refolding the note, she placed it in her belt pouch as she listened to the answer.

 

"Very well Tyne, I shall take you to the White Tower. Follow me." With another smile, Lavinya led the way away from the docks, towards the glistening white of the tower she called home, a wayward thought leading her to muse as to whether the child would possess the ability to do more than act as a clerk, but to learn to channel herself. She determined to find out.

 

Lavinya Morganen, Gray Ajah.

[Lavinya]

(Posted on Tyne's behalf)

 

Tyne would have very much liked to actually marvel at the marvels of tar valon. But it did be more important to get the ships accounts in order then stand there on deck gawking. Still she hurried as to gather the inventory, and managed to grab the last of the leaves of paper just as the ship landed - causing her to spill the whole stack as the ship lurched slightly as it came to port.

 

Burn her but she did have the dark one's luck when it came to keeping her balance. Even after all these years on the river one would mistake her for a passenger rather then the daughter of the Albatross's captain. The thought of her father made her hurry even more then the sight of the fabled city of Aes Sedai. Adben Egil wasn't a patient man unless negotiating for goods - but it wasn't his wrath she feared - it was his disappointment.

 

She had been up literally all night, working on the ships accounts and inventory in preparation for thier journey to Tar Valon. After all, where there do be a city there do be profit, where there do be a great city there was a greater profit - and in the Abode of the Witches - what was there to be made but the deal of a life time? If One was quick- if one was clever- if one was on time.

 

Her father was waiting for her on deck and looking a tad pensive. she faltered a moment before attempting to compose herself and then walked on. "Here do be the accounts Father and the inventory. I've kept it as staight forward as possible, but there's a lot of it. Lucky I do have half of it memorized." A bit of an exaggeration but if he thought she was needed he might take her with him when he traded with the Witches. I'll have to remember not to call them Witches where they can hear, she thought.

 

Tyne knew they were going to be trading with Aes Sedai - Father only got this pensive when there was a very important deal at stake - or an out of season storm. She knew not to ask to come, she'd just make her self invaluable and be taken. If she could help him land this deal, he'd never doubt her ability again.

 

"Tyne" he said in a soft almost affectionate voice. "I Do be here on important Buisness, as I'm sure you guessed already. Buisness I can entrust to no one else but you."

 

Tyne beamed "What ever it is, I wont fail you."

 

"I do need to see that this letter is given to an Aes Sedai. It's with them i be making the deal. Look for a finely dressed woman with a gold ring, it will be of a serpent - curtsy - like to a noble woman, no like to a queen, and present her with this letter. She'll tell you what to do. Do not open it, even with a hot knife, I'm sure the Aes Sedai will know."

 

Tyne nodded eagerly and took the letter with out looking back, nearly tripping over several deck hands as she walked to the planks leading off the ship. In fact she nearly fell off the planks, but she keep tight hold of the letter, ignoring the jests and curses from the sailors - they were used to her by now but by no means happy with her presence.

 

She looked around for a finely dressed woman as she dismounted ,trying not to be distracted by the city itself. It would do no good to look like a newcomer here. Not when dealing with Aes Sedai - Aes Sedai you had to be on your toes for.

 

Well she looked fancy enough. Getting close Tyne could see the ring. And Tyne felt her stomach lurch - the woman was watching her. She fell into the best curtsey she could pull off, and prying this was the right person she handed her the letter, never letting on that she had no idea what contract father was trying to draw up.

 

The woman read it without expression, which both impressed and unnerved Tyne, probably the reason she wore such a countenance. But after a moment her expression changed slightly, and the woman- the Aes Sedai - wore a smile.

 

"I am Lavinya Sedai. What is your name child?"

Child? She was not..."Tyne Egil." She answered at once, and added, "if it please the Aes Sedai," very quickly.

 

"Very well Tyne, I shall take you to the White Tower. Follow me." Tyne almost gaped. Father hand't told her they d be conducting business there! Nervously she swallowed and followed warily, glancing from here to there across the architecture when she thought she wouldn't get caught, and wondering what the note had said.

 

Tyne Egil, Novice

[Lavinya]

The look on the child's face was pure shock, causing Lavinya to wonder. Did she expect to work for the Tower here at the docks? Unless of course she was not privvy to the contents of the letter...interesting. Lavinya was silent as she led Tyne away from the river and through Tar Valon, Tyne following close behind, keeping up with Lavinya's brisk pace. Her thoughts were temporarily and thankfully diverted from her own troubles, as she silently decided to have the girl tested. There could be no harm in it, if the child couldn't channel, she could stay on and work.

 

Soon the bustle of the city was behind them, the glistening walls of the White Tower looming above them. No doubt the picture would inspire awe in most, it was a magnificent sight, but Lavinya barely noticed anymore. She lead Tyne up the steps and into the main hall, oblivious to the grandeur of their surroundings as she made her way through the twisting corridors of the tower. Still she did not speak, until she stopped before the door of Faerzyne Grigory, the Mistress of Novices.

 

"Now remember your manners child, be sure to curtsey and be polite. Faerzyne Sedai will help you." Lifting a delicate hand, Lavinya rapped on the door, waiting to be beckoned before leading Tyne inside. Nodding respectfully to her Ajah sister, Lavinya motioned to Tyne as she handed over the letter.

 

"I thought you may like to test her first, Faerzyne Sedai. I would have done so myself if I'd had the necessary prop." Lavinya could almost feel Tyne's curious stare, but she did not look at the girl. If she could channel, her fate was with the tower anyway. If not, no harm done.

 

Lavinya

 

OOC:Sorry for the delay! I'll try to post faster now! :)

[Tyne]

Tyne tried not to gawk at the building- it had to be the White Tower its self as she entered, but was sure she had failed. She wished she had known she was coming here, she have been in a dress instead of her leather vest and breaches. Still the blue beads in her hair were suitable enough. Tyne hoped they were sutable enough in any event.

 

She barley had time to marvel at the oplance of the place till she was being told to mind her manners and being brought before another Aes Sedi. She cursydid as low as she could and waited till there was a pause in the conversation, before straiting and speaking. “The Light favorer you Aes Sedi, and shine upon all your endeavorers.†She said flawlessly. It was best to flatter a possible business contact, but never so far that it seemed more then extreme plightness.

 

Tyne said nothing more, but waited for them to give her some indication as to what there business here was- she couldn't ask of coarse that type of ignorance would be foolish to admit.

 

Still she wished she had thought to to open the letter before handing it to the first Aes Sedai.

 

Why had father sent her to the witches? Moreover, how was she supposte to conduct any sort of negation if she weren't informed as to such things?

[Lavinya]

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

 

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

~Faerzyne Grigory, MoN

 

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