Haven't been here long myself.

But, rp'n with you has been lotsa fun!  (and I think you approved one of my bios...)

So:  Thanks!

At High Bell, Serey made her way to the garden with a tray of tea and biscuits.  Miya Sedai was waiting for her.  And setting the tray beside the woman, Serey bobbed a quick curtsy and handed over the journal she had spent the last week writing in.  

It was hard, turning the book over, knowing that Miya would read each and every written word.  Numerous times Serey had wondered exactly why the woman wanted her to write it in the first place.  She was a Blue, after all, and Blues had causes.  Was Miya's personal quest to help Novices?  Serey doubted it, but could not think of how a novice writing a diary could serve any other.

Trying not to fidget, Serey waited to be told what was expected of her now...

Forward:  The following is a daily account of the life of a novice of the White Tower.  The purpose is to allow others to gain perspective from the novice's experience, and to pass along whatever wisdom she finds (or stumbles upon.)

 

Day 11

Let me begin by explaining the date.  While this marks the first day of my journaling, it is my 11th day in novice white.  My first week as a novice was very much unremarkable, and typical of any other initiate of the Tower.  All of my belongings were taken from me and put into storage.  The dress I wore on my initial visit to the Mistress of Novices (the Aes Sedai in charge of all of the Tower's initiates) was burned and I was given a white dress to replace it.  My slippers are white, my shift is white, even my hair ribbon and purse are white.  The room I am staying in is small, windowless, and sparely furnished.  I was enrolled in a class to teach me the decorum and proper etiquette expected of a novice, and one on geography (a subject in which I am lacking).  The rest of my days were filled with chores.

 

A typical day has been as follows:

-Wake up

-Clean room (sweep and scrub the floor, make the bed, and dust the furnishings)

-Get dressed/ perform morning routine

-Breakfast

-Morning class

-Free hour (one hour to be spent studying/ preparing for classes, or performing extra chores for punishment)

-Morning chores

-Afternoon chores

-Dinner

-Afternoon class

-Late afternoon chores in the kitchen

-Supper

-Evening chores

-Free hour

-Bedtime

 

Today was different in that I reported to the Mistress of Novices (MoN) for the first time, to report a transgression.  Yesterday, I was informed that my dress was dirty.  As punishment, the MoN gave me a lecture about keeping up ones appearances, and I had my backside paddled 5 times.  It very much made me feel like a naughty little girl.  But, if I dirty my dress like one, I cannot complain when I am then treated like one.

 

I am tired now, as writing this has kept me up past my normal bed time, and thinking is becoming difficult.  So, what I've written will have to do.

 

Day 12

I have decided that breakfast is my favorite time of day.  Other novices complain of how we must eat in complete silence, and only have ten minutes to eat our fill.  But I live for those ten minutes.  For at breakfast I have yet to make any mistakes.  I can eat with a clear consciousness and the hopes that this day will be better than the last.

 

Today was not better than the last.  I fell asleep during morning class and had to report once more to the MoN.  I received another beating.  Further, I am to spend all my free hours for the next three days in the kitchens.  As I write this, my nails are as black as the ink you read.  While the pots I scrubbed were cleaned, I fear my hands were stained.  I need to find a knife to trim  back my nails.  Maybe then they won't hold dirt so well.  Another novice suggested that I simply bite them off- but I've not the guts to do it.

 

Day 13

Today I made no transgressions and thus evaded another visit to the MoN, for which I am glad.  But I fear that without my free hours to study, I am falling behind in classes.  I started a new class today:  “Introduction to Saidar” and we learned about the one power and the 5 elements.  Further, I was given a list of names of women who were stilled (cut off from the power)  to memorize.  So I make this note short, in fear that if I don't study the list a bit before I blow out my candle I will be back to the Mistress's Study in the morrow for not knowing the class material.

 

Day 14

I am exhausted and sleep deprived.  Some of this comes from the extra chores I have been doing, some from staying up late last night studying, and the rest from my “Introduction to Saidar” class.  

 

Today, for an hour I sat in a classroom trying to pretend I was a rosebud.  Thinking myself a flower is suppose to help focus my mind so that I may embrace Saidar.  So far all thinking of a flower has done is given me aches of the head.

 

A thorn in my side is that most of the novices in the class managed to embrace Saidar, even if it were just once and only momentarily.  I shall try not to judge my progress off of them, and instead shall hope that tomorrow will be the day that I manage the task, myself.  

 

Day 15

Today I have been released of my extra shifts in the kitchens.

Today I failed to embrace Saidar.

 

Day 16

As I write this, I sit in the library.  It is my evening free hour, and I have decided to take a break from studying geography to pen my entry early in the hopes that I will then be able to go to sleep that much sooner.  Nothing worth noting has occurred today, so I figure it is a good as time as any to spend some time explaining my own background.

 

So here is the short of it:  I grew up in Amadicia.  My father was a soldier for the Children of the Light, and my mother a good-wife.  Unlike some in the tower, I did not grow up wanting to be Aes Sedai.  I grew up fearing them.  Sometimes that fear still creeps up on me, and I wonder if by entering the Tower I have made a grave mistake.  For now, I can never return to my home, to my country.  By studying at the Tower, I have more surely than any other novice, severed all ties to my past life.  

 

But, don't let such sentiment convince you I am unhappy.  I will be Aes Sedai- and not because someone has told me I must train in the Tower.  I came here freely and because I wanted to learn about the world, and about the power.  But most of all because I want to be Aes Sedai.

 

Day 17

Today I have done it!  I embraced the source.  I am so relieved.  Though I did not write of it, I had begun to fear that I had a block (a mental -elf-defense that prevents a channeler from reaching the source).  But I do not have a block, and I can embrace the source.  Of course, I've only managed it once, and when I did I was so surprised that I lost it again.

 

Today was also the first day that I have readied for bed and not been completely exhausted.  Perhaps it was the extra thirty minutes of sleep I had last night.  But, heres to hoping that it was not the extra sleep, and rather that I have finally become acclimated to my busy schedule.  

 

Day 18

It was the extra 30 minutes of sleep.  I can barely keep my eyes open and shall write no more tonight.

 

Day 19

Today I shall make mention of exactly why I am writing this journal.  I know that in the forward I said some things, but they were half-truths.  The full reason I am writing this is because I was told that I must.  It is a chore set on me by an Aes Sedai.  At first I thought it better to make no note of this, but if this journal ever does make it into the hands of someone other than myself or that Aes Sedai I thought it best to have the whole truth out there.  

 

That said:  as part of this chore I am not only to write about my experiences, but also to reflect on my past, and speculate on how my present and past experiences relate to each other.

 

Tomorrow I am to turn the journal over for the Aes Sedai to read and as I have yet to do any speculating I shall do it now:

 

Novice life is well known to be harsh.  It is also known that the reason for it is so that the Tower can weed out the weak.

 

I think everyone has it wrong.

 

Novices are not plants growing in a garden.  The hardship is not some gardener trying to determine which of the plants are weeds to pull up and throw away.

 

Rather, I think the reason Tower life is hard is because the Tower is trying to make Aes Sedai, not grow them.

 

As I have mentioned before, my father was a soldier.  And when new recruits join the ranks their lives are made difficult.  This is not to make the weak run away, but rather to make the weak strong.

 

A better analogy, perhaps would be a mason set the task to build a wall.  In this analogy, the new wall is an Aes Sedai.  However, when the mason goes to the spot where the wall is to be built he finds one already there (the Novice).  But the old wall is weak, and couldn't possibly stand up to an attack, in fact it cannot even serve its function as a wall.  So the mason starts by chipping away at the old wall, getting rid of all the weak points (the hardship of novice training).  By doing so he makes his way down to the solid foundation of the wall and there he is able to begin laying new bricks (the classes novices take, and the time spent as Accepted).  These new bricks are set correctly, and make for a strong wall.

 

Maybe building a wall isn't the correct analogy...

 

What I mean to say is that the Tower does not weed out the weak, the Tower rids its initiates of their weaknesses.  Yes, there are many who break under the strain and leave the Tower.  But one only has to look at any Accepted or Aes Sedai to see that for those who do not break under the strain, the Tower makes them into strong, capable women.

 

Then again, I could be spewing nonsense.  After all, no matter how many times I try to convince myself that the Tower is NOT trying to break me- it so often feels like it.  Except, of course, at breakfast.  For at breakfast I am invincible!

**EDIT:  added in the last two lines- which didn't get copied over, for some reason...**

Just a poke to say, I've posted on my intro thread:

http://forums.dragonmount.com/index.php/topic,50551.0.html

~Serey

At first, Serey read to hide her embarrassment.  She never much cared for compliments and she definitely didn't expect to get one from Miya Sedai.  Light! I practically waved the parchment in her face.  Serey bit her lower lip and turned a page.  She hoped the woman didn't think she had been fishing for a compliment.

But then, she began to pay attention to what she was reading and Serey let out a short laugh.  Had Willa Ness ever even been to Amadicia?  She skimmed through the remainder of the chapters on Amadician justice before setting it aside and reaching for the next book. 

Narrin Bental, at least, seemed to know what he was writing about.  His book gave an excellent overview of the laws that ruled Amadicia.  But, having grown up in Amadicia, there were few laws Bental could tell her that she did not already know.  What Serey found interesting was Bental's interpretation of the laws-  Why, for instance, did all nobles have to build their houses out of wood?  She had been told, as a child, it was to show that they needed only the protection of the Light.  Many commoners also avoided stone when building their own houses, to prove that they too were protected under the Light.  Bental's interpretation:  the nobles were forced to build with wood so that they could not defend themselves from attack- and thus had limited ability to build a resistance to either the King's rule, or against the  Children of the Light.

Interest peaked, Serey moved on to the next chapter, Common Law:

The laws governing the common folk are clearer in their reasoning.  A thief is to be punished, no matter how valuable the item stolen, because taking what does not belong to you is wrong.  At the same time, the punishments for crimes committed by the common folk are far harsher that anything done to a noble or a Child of the Light.  The strict laws not only serve to discourage the citizens from wrongful acts, but for those who commit them, the punishments often serve as a constant reminder to not sin again.  For example, with thievery the first offense results in branding, the second amputation of the dominant hand, and the third death by hanging.

Serey closed the book, having read enough.  Her forehead felt hot and itchy.  She suppressed the urge to push aside her bangs, and reached for the the last book.  Lars Heflin's writting on the Children was so accurate and detailed, Serey couldn't help but think he had been one himself, or at least that he was Amadician. 

Serey looked up at the large clock at the front of the library.  It was almost the end of her free hour, and she hadn't penned a single word.  Serey set the book down and picked up the quill.  She dared a peek at Miya, out of the corner of her eye.  Besides the ageless face, she could have been anyone's grandmother.  Surely an Aes Sedai as old as her would know all there was to know about Amadicia- or if she did not, wouldn't need the assistance of a novice to gather information and reach conclusions.

So, what did she want?  Serey sighed.  It didn't really matter.  Right now, the woman obviously wanted Serey to write an essay, so she would write her a bloody essay.

Research on Amadician Law and Justice, by Serey Dorrin- Novice of the White Tower

 

Preliminary findings

~From “Midland Justice” by Willa Ness: 

Ness believes the people of Amadicia to be cowed, unhappy people who live each day in fear.  Her writing reflects such views.  She goes further to assume that much of the justice served out by the Whitecloaks is undeserved, and that innocents are found guilty of crimes to remind the populace of the harsh punishments doled out to those who break the law.  My conclusions based on Ness's writing is that outsiders see Amadician law as overly strict, cruel, and unjust.  While the laws are strict, and the punishments may not always appear to fit the crime, in my own experience justice is served.  Everyone accused gets a trial and a chance to prove their innocents, a fact Ness failed to mention.

 

~From “The Law of the Land - a review of Amadician Law” by Narrin Bental:

This book is accurate in its descriptions of the laws.  Bental takes it a step further by delving into the possibly reasons for each law, and how such laws affect everyday life as well as the politics of Amadicia.

 

~From “By the Light - An overview of the Children of the Light” by Lars Heflin:

Another accurate book about the history of the Children, how they came to power, and how they maintain their unique position in Amadician society.

Serey blew on the parchment to help dry the ink, and frowned as she re-read her work.  It was certainly amateurish, rushed, and only grazed the surface of the topic.  But, as the clock chimed the hour and marked the end of her free period, it would have to serve.

Setting the parchment down, she stood and dropped a curtsy.  “Begging your pardon, Miya Sedai, but I'm due in the kitchens.”

Serey sat down and busied her hands with uncorking the inkwell and smoothing out a piece of parchment while her mind whirled.  Had she imagined it, or had the Aes Sedai just stumbled over not knowing Serey's name?  At the very least it had given her pause.  Perhaps Miya Sedai's icy, always annoyed persona was a front?  Somehow, Serey doubted it.  More likely, the crotchety old woman was just upset that she did not come across as all knowing as she wanted to.  Or perhaps she was upset that Serey had not given her name- never mind that the Aes Sedai had not let Serey get a word in edgewise, and had not bothered to take the time and simply ask.

Picking up the other quill, Serey dipped it in the ink and began to write.  For this, at least, she was sure not to incur criticism from Miya Sedai.  Her handwriting, in both cursive and print, was uniform and legible.  As a child, her father had her pen all of his formal inquires and letters, and she did the same for may of her former employers.

“Research on Amadician Law and Justice, by Serey Dorrin- Novice of the White Tower,” Serey wrote swiftly in a round print free of both adornments and inkblots.  Once done, she turned the paper to give the Aes Sedai the ability to glance at her name without craning her neck.  Whatever Miya was, she was Aes Sedai and Serey did not want to make an Aes Sedai feel uncomfortable.

“Kailani,” she said, “Kai, for short.”

She stared at the wolf.  What are you called?

Wolf follows a wasp as it flies back to its nest. It is summer, and the sun is warm on his back.  He sees the wasp go into a nest and he sniffs it.

“And he's called...”  Kai shook her head.  “I don't know, it's not a name- its more like a memory complete with feelings and emotions.”  She sighed, and the wolf wagged his tail.  “Something about following a Wasp, maybe.”

Wasp? she asked, and the wolf yawned.

“Wasp,” she said aloud, “I think.”

Kai looked down at the cup in her hands, at the way her fingers clenched around it.  Drinking their tea, telling them her name, the wolf's name, it felt like losing, like they were getting the upper hand.  She wanted them to go away, to leave her alone.  But they wouldn't.  They were meddlers.  They had come, uninvited and they would probably do other things she did not wish. 

“I know you want me to eat, but I can't," she said, trying to sound honest and not like a whiny child.  "Not right now.  I think I'd sick up.”  Kai relaxed her grip on the cup.  She brought it up to her mouth and breathed in the steam, trying to let the scent calm her frayed nerves.  If she wanted to get the upper hand, emotional outbursts wouldn't win her any points.  She needed to be calm and rational. 

“So,” she said, looking at Rhya and Owen in turn, “other than for me to eat, what do you want of me?”

“As you say, Aes Sedai.”  Serey took the the list and curtsied.  The Aes Sedai might have berated her and stared at her like she was a total disgrace, but Serey had taken it in stride.  She couldn't help but be a little proud of herself for keeping her composure.  Smiling, she turned and walked at a fast clip towards the Librarian's desk.  Once out of Miya's sight, she paused to examine her dress.  

“Blood and ashes!” she cursed, under her breath, noting that the hems of her dress were more gray than white.   Her face turned a deep red, and she let out a sigh.  She had hoped to never have to report to the Mistress of Novices for punishment.  Especially for something so silly as having dirtied her dress like a toddler.  

If you hadn't been skulking around the Ajah quarters last night you would have had time to scrub the dress, she told herself.  Then again, if she hadn't been in the Ajah quarters she wouldn't be in the Library now.  While Miya Sedai had been curt with her about her transgressions, she had also made it obvious that she was doing Serey a bigger favor than Serey was doing her.

Determined to prove herself and do the best job she could, Serey hurried on.  “Excuse me,” she said softly, to the plump librarian.  She had to repeat herself three times before the woman looked up.  Then Serey wanted to crawl under a rock.  

The librarian was an Aes Sedai and novices did not speak to Aes Sedai without being spoken to first.  Light!  I might as well make my bed at the foot of the Mistress of Novice's desk.

But the Aes Sedai did not seem to notice the breach in courtesy.  “How may I help you, child?” she said with a warm smile.

“Could you tell me where to locate--”  Serey's voice cut off as she stared down at the list.  

“The Law of the Land - a review of Amadician Law” by Narrin Bental

“By the Light - An overview of the Children of the Light” by Lars Heflin

“Midland Justice” by Willa Ness

All on Amadicia.  Either a coincidence or Serey hadn't been paranoid when she thought Miya Sedai had stared a bit too long at her forehead.  Miya Sedai wanted books on Amadician law and she just happened to have an Amadician novice fetch them for her.  A novice who bore a mark of Amadician justice.

The Aes Sedai librarian leaned forward to peer at the note.  “Oh, right over there, child,” she said, pointing in the direction Serey had come from.  “Alphabetized by the author's surname.”

Serey nodded, feeling a fool.  The books were right there, of course they were.  Right in front of her, and she had walked clear across the library, wasting time when Miya Sedai had wanted her to be quick and efficient.  She was halfway back before she remembered she was supposed to gather writing supplies from the front desk.  

Mud.  Her mind was turning to mud.  Serey walked back to the desk, and smiled at the kind Sedai as she collected two quills, an inkwell, a stack of parchment, and the other necessary writing supplies.

“Calm down, and stop thinking” she told herself, as she returned to Miya Sedai.  The woman was not out to get her.  She was a novice, her past was in the past.  It didn't matter, not to the Tower.  Miya Sedai wasn't trying to expose her as a thief, or get her kicked out of the Tower.  Serey was being paranoid.  Besides, figuring out the meaning behind the actions of an Aes Sedai was not for a novice to do.  Her job was to do as she was told and do it well, without comment.

Unable to look at the Aes Sedai, Serey clenched her jaw, as she set the writing supplies on the table.  She made quick work of the list, pulling each of the three books off of the shelves and stacking them neatly beside the Aes Sedai.

Staring at the floor, Serey dropped another curtsy.

**EDIT:  Oh typos, will I ever be free of you?**

Continued from:  Home Sweet Tower

“Yes, Miya Sedai,” Serey said, dropping a curtsy.  She managed to make it back to her room, close the door, light a candle, and throw herself down on the bed before letting out a long moan.  “Why me?” she whispered, as she curled up into a ball.

Perhaps, she thought, their was a fundamental difference between the women of the various Ajahs.  That the lesson she had missed was: stay away from the Blues.

But surely a Blue, or any Sedai, would have no use for a novice.  After all, what could a novice do for an Aes Sedai that a servant could not do better?  Rolling on her back, Serey stared up at the ceiling.  But no answer came to mind.

“I hate puzzles,” Serey said, as she scooted off of the bed.  She took off her dress, hanging it neatly on a wall hook, and began to ready for bed.  Maybe, Serey thought, She simply wants me to carry books for her.  It made a sort of sense, as Miya Sedai didn't seem to have a servant and Serey had been a handy novice.

But Serey couldn't convince herself that was true.  Miya Sedai knew she had studies, she had even mention she didn't want their trip to the library to interfere with them.  So, why didn't the woman just hire a servant to fetch and carry for her?  That made sense.  Having her do it didn't, so there had to be a reason.  Maybe Miya Sedai wasn't staying in the Tower long enough to warrant the hire of a servant.  Or maybe, it was because Miya Sedai needed an excuse for Serey to return to her quarters.  That way, she could confront her about some missing trinket.  But why the farce about the library?  She could have just ordered Serey to return.  But what use could she be in the Library?

“Stop!” Serey ordered herself, realizing that her thoughts were turning circles.  Blowing out the candle she crawled into bed.  She needed to sleep, not let silly thoughts keep her up all night.

But they did, and Serey woke up the next morning having slept only in fits and starts.  Groggily, she readied for the day, taking extra care with her hair.  She yawned her way through morning chores, and almost fell asleep in her porridge bowl at breakfast.  She'd likely have slept through her morning class, if not for dread and worry making her too nervous to spit.

When the accepted dismissed them, Serey stayed sitting and watched as the other novices rushed off, probably wanting to take advantage of their free hour.

“Do you have a question for me?”  the accepted asked, stopping beside her.

Serey stood, and curtsied.  “No, sorry, Accepted.  I was just lost in thought.”

The woman arched an eyebrow, but said nothing.

Forcing a smile, Serey turned and walked out of the classroom.  No need to worry, she told herself, as she walked to Miya Sedai's room.  I've done nothing wrong.  And as long as I do what I'm told like a good little novice, I can't be found at fault.  Whatever the woman had in store for her, Serey would bear it.  For all she knew, it was common practice for Aes Sedai to have a novice at their beck and call.  Maybe it was just another layer of training to try and weed out the weak.  Maybe, even, it was a good thing. 

Schooling her face in an imitation of Aes Sedai calm, she rapped twice on Miya Sedai's door.

• Novice Quiz - [Complete]

• Arrival: Meet MoN - http://forums.dragonmount.com/index.php/topic,50551.0.html - [ 3 / 4 ] [incomplete]

• Novice Life - URL - [ - / 4 ] [incomplete]

• One OP Related RP [ 1 / 4 ] [incomplete]
  * Class 1: - http://forums.dragonmount.com/index.php/topic,50974.msg1387686.html#msg1387686 -[ 1 / 1 ] [Complete]
  * Class 2: - URL - [ - / 1 ] [Complete / Incomplete]
  * Class 3: - URL - [ - / 1 ] [Complete / Incomplete]
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• Choice RP:
  * [Chore RP] - http://forums.dragonmount.com/index.php/topic,51491.msg1391797.html#msg1391797 - word count= 1176 / [ 2 / 4 ] [incomplete]
  

Serey dropped into a deep curtsy, relief making it hard not to grin like a fool.  Perhaps, since the woman had answered her door, Serey could slip away.  The Aes Sedai hadn't said she had to come back if she delivered the letter, only if no one answered the door. 

Let some other novice or servant draw a bath for Miya Sedai, she thought.  The woman didn't know her name, after all, and if she simply described her to the Mistress of Novices instead-  Well, Serey was willing to take a beating if it meant not having to return to Miya Sedai's room. 

"A letter for you," Serey said, holding it out, "From Miya Kiyoshi Sedai." 

Serey silently willed the Aes Sedai to take the note, without comment, and dismiss her.  It was past time for her to be readying for bed, after all.  And, she really did not want to face the humiliation of having her pockets searched if Miya Sedai determined something was out of place in her quarters.

Note in hand, Serey curtsied, walked out of the room, and shut the door quietly behind her.  Then she spun around to rest her burning forehead against the cool wooden door.  She gasped in a ragged breath, squeezed her eyes shut, and let the breath out slowly.  A week.  She had been in the tower one whole week and no one had said anything about it, no one had looked at it, no one had done anything to suggest they had seen the branded “T” on her forehead or understood its meaning if they did.

So silly of her to expected that to last forever.  True, she was a novice now, and novices were expected to forget about their former lives, to start anew.  But it was stupid of her to think everyone in the Tower would give her that chance.

Serey wondered if the Aes Sedai was even now checking over her dusty belongings to make sure the thief hadn't pocketed something when she wasn't looking.

Serey had lived with the mark for years, long since becoming use to the way people were cautious around her, the way they followed her with their eyes, or demanded payments upfront, or wouldn't let her into their homes.  Plenty of time to not let such treatment bother her, to not feel guilty and ashamed and dirty.

But she did.

And, it stung to be caught off guard, but as Serey took in another breath she promised herself it wouldn't happen again.  The brand was there.  People would notice it and judge her by it.  And from now on, she would be ready for it.

A semblance of calm restored, Serey stepped away from the door and opened her eyes.  Her gaze fell on the note and her stomach dropped to the floor.  “Light!”  She moaned and forced her hand to relax its death grip on the parchment.  Inspecting the note, she let out another long sigh.  It was clear by looking at it that the note had been mishandled, but the seal, at least, was fully intact.

As she walked down the hallway, Serey quickly adjusted her bangs to make sure they hide the brand.  Then, knocking on the fourth door on the right, she counted to 100, slowly.

It was dusk, and Serey should have been making her way back to the novice quarters and getting ready for bed.  But, she wasn't sleepy.  Her last class of the day had left her with too much to think about.  So, rather than heading directly back to her room, she had decided to take the scenic route and wander.  That she had ended up in the Ajah quarters...  Well, a lucky coincidence...  Serey couldn't help but smile as she shook her head.  She hated puzzles, and the Ajahs were most definitely a puzzle.

In class, an accepted had lectured about the different Ajahs and what the mission of each Ajah was.  Then, the accepted had stated that, as new novices, everything she had just said mattered little.  After all, it would be years yet till they became accepted, and years after that till they would have to choose an Ajah.

What Serey couldn't understand was if she wasn't expected to think about which Ajah she would like to join- why was it important to know about the different Ajahs?  It had to be important if it was part of the standard curriculum for a novice.  Did the differences between the Ajahs go beyond what each stood for?

Serey sighed.  She couldn't help but feel like she had missed something, something important.  But...  What could it possibly be?  Watching Aes Sedai of various Ajahs hadn't been much help.  Each Ajah seemed to be an eclectic mix of heights, weights, nationalities...

“You there, girl!” A voice boomed.

Serey nearly jumped out of her shoes, just managing to hid her shock with a curtsy.  At least she hoped she covered it with a curtsy.

“Obviously if you have time to gawk at the hallways you have time to run some errands for me.  I need an ice cold glass of milk and something to eat brought to this room straight away, then you’ll see water fetched for my bath.  Hurry along girl, I’m not getting any younger.”

Serey dropped another curtsey.  “Yes, Aes Sedai,” she said, but when she looked up, the Sedai had already entered her room.  Spinning on her heals, Serey ran to the kitchens.

“Excuse me,” Serey said, somewhat breathless as she stumbled into the kitchen.  “I am in need of some ice cold milk--”

“And I'm in need of a good man,” one of the kitchen servants said, the others around her snickering.

“Best be leaving, girl,” the servant said.  “Cook won't be happy to find a novice ordering us about.”

“But...”  Serey wet her lips.  “I'm sorry, but...”

“Best be leaving,” the servant repeated.  “Besides, it's dark- not exactly the time of day for getting milk.  Come back in the morning.”

“But!”  Serey took a deep breath.  “Please, it's not for me.  An Aes Sedai sent for it.”

“Why didn't you say so?” the servant said, turning to give Serey her full attention.  “What's her name, I'll have it brought up straight away.”

“I...  She didn't give a name.  And!  She wants something to eat, and water for a bath.”

“What Ajah?”

Serey couldn't help but smile.  “Blue.”

“Of course!  Bloody blues.  Scurry in, scurry out.  That's them.  Never take the time to get their own servants.  To think, we don't have enough to do without doing someone else's job on top of it?”

Serey had managed to make it to the doorway before the servant called out.  “Where are you going?  If you don't know her name, you'll have to bring the food up to her.”

Nodding, Serey took a seat on a stool, trying to stay out of everyone's way.  

“Here,” the servant said, handing her a tray containing a pitcher of milk, bread, green beans, a roasted chicken, and silverware wrapped in a cloth napkin.

“Thank you.”  Serey bobbed a careful curtsy and headed back up the stairs to the Blue's quarters.

Resting the tray on her hip, she knocked on the Aes Sedai's door.

**Edit: found a typo and couldn't live without fixing it, pah!**

Thanks!

I am taking an Intro class (Intro to Saidar).  But I'd love to take another.  I'm finished with school (as of 10:15 tomorrow morning)  And then I've a bunch of free time for a while.

**EDIT**  and her cause would most definitely be something to do with the Children of the Light and Amadicia**

~Serey

I'm considering either making my character a brown or a blue (leaning more towards her being a blue with some major brownish tendencies.)

Just a novice right now, but I think it might be neat to interact in some way with a blue while she's a novice.

~Serey

Thanks, Visar!  I hope I pass, too.

I had a headache today, and used it as an excuse to take a break from studying and type up my response.  So, I've posted!

~Serey

Serey stared down at the washbasin, trying to see her reflection.  “You can do this,” she told the image, and smiled, trying to look as if she believed it.  After running a hairbrush once more through her thick curls, she corralled them into a ponytail tied off with a white ribbon.  Everything she wore was white, now.  It was strange, she thought, that novices wore white, just like the Children of the Light wore white.  Stranger still, that novices were referred to as “children.”  Serey thought it sad that the Children of the Light thought Aes Sedai servants of the Dark One.  In many ways, they seemed such perfect matches for each other.  The Aes Sedai keepers of knowledge, and the Children, protectors of the world.

With a sigh, Serey placed her brush on the nightstand and moved to her small writing desk to collect some parchment and her writing kit.  Supplies in hand, she headed out of her room and to class.  When she arrived the room was half full of novices, so chatting amiably, others sitting in silence.  Serey sat down next to one of the quiet ones and began unpacking her kit.  She wanted to be prepared.  Novices were expected to remember what they were told, and Serey had never been good at memorizing facts.

“It's good to see you all in my class...” a voice said, and Serey grabbed her pen knife and quickly sharpened the tip of her pen.  When the novices around her gasped and shot to their feet, Serey didn't know what the fuss was about.  Looking up, she saw an Accepted making her way to the front of the class, and shot to her feet and dropping into a deep curtsy.

As the woman spoke, Serey wrote furiously. 

Reasons why Novices are not to channel or even embrace the source without supervision:

~Channeling the power requires discipline. 

~For someone unskilled, trying to channel can be dangerous:  one can be “Burnt Out”

~Channeling can be addictive, resulting in taking in more of “Saidar” than one can handle.

~Injury can result, not only for the channeler, but for those around her.

~Gaining proper discipline takes years of study and guided practice.

"But away from these topics for now,” the Accepted said, “And now it is time for something that is easier to listen to.  Now it is time for your first lesson.  Take out pen and parchment please.  You are going to have some copying to do."

Serey's face turned a deep red, as she looked around, realizing no one else had started taking notes yet.  Placing her first sheet aside to dry, she took out a fresh one and began again.  By the time the accepted asked if anyone had any questions, Serey had filled the page with notes and her head hurt. 

She had known both men and woman could channel the power, but she had never known that they used different parts of it.  What was the difference between the two halves?  They both were made of the same elements, so the difference was not clear.  Could it be the proportions of each that made the difference?  Somehow that did not seem right.  And, did men go mad because they had no one to teach them, as well as the taint?  Did they become addicted, unable to see reason, then the taint corrupted their actions?  Or did the corruption make it so they could not gain proper control over the power?

Serey looked at the piece of paper with the list of names of woman who had been Stilled.  She wondered if there was a similar list of the men who had been gentled, but couldn't bring herself to ask.  Even though she would have loved to have the list, she didn't relish memorizing it.  The list of female channelers was long enough.

We've two weeks to post on each thread, correct?  (and that gives us till Sunday, right?)

The timing was a bit bad for this first one, for me.  I'm about to graduate from grad school and this weekend is my written comprehensive exam (6 hours of test taking fun!)

Then I have to go in front of a jury on Tuesday for my oral comps (1 hour of fun!)

If I don't pass either, I don't get to graduate in May AND I don't get my degree and I can't sit for the licensing exam so I can get a job.

So...

Anyways- Posting has taken a back seat to cramming at the moment.

But, I do plan to reply on Saturday or Sunday.

~Serey

Wahoo!!!  (I'm one of the other new novices.)

We've just started up a novice class (Intro to Saidar) that I think you can still join up, if you're interested.  Info is at the Secret Whisper Hole board.

~Serey

”Clear your mind completely and focus on the stone,” The Mistress of Novices said, kneeling in front of Serey and holding out a small gray stone.

Serey nodded and tried to calm her whirling thoughts. 

Test?  She hadn't know she had to pass a test to become a novice.  And exactly what was she suppose to be doing, exactly?  Clear your mind.  Serey took a deep breath, just managing not to sigh.  She had never been able to clear her mind.  It was like being told not to think of a purple cow.  The order issued, her mind couldn't help but speculate about what, exactly, a purple cow would look like.

Concentrate on breathing... she thought, and tried it for a few breaths.  But as she did, her eyes lost their focus on the stone.  Serey blinked, narrowing her eyes.  How exactly was she suppose to clear her mind and focus at the same time?  She hated contradictions...

Serey tried studying the stone.  She tried looking through the stone.  She tried holding her breath.  Nothing worked. 

Frustrated, Serey squeezed her eyes shut.  Maybe she should just leave.  Or ask for more specific instructions?  If the Aes Sedai wanted her to do something, why didn't she just say exactly what she wanted?

Clear your mind...  Focus on the stone...

Defeated, Serey opened her gaze settling on the stone.  Just leave, she thought, and just as quickly pushed the thought away.  For just a second, Serey felt-  Something...  Her brow wrinkled in concentration and she tried once more, pushing any wayward thoughts away as soon as they appeared.  It was if her mind were a compass needle and the stone was north.  When her thoughts whirled, she let north pull them back into place.

Then, for just a second, Serey thought she saw the stone glow.  But as soon as she pushed the thought away, the glow was gone and Pia Sedai stood up. 

Serey's face flushed in embarrassment, and she reached down for her pack, ready to leave.

“Congratulations, dear,” Pia Sedai said.  “You can learn to channel.”

Serey sat up straight, dropping the bag.  “What?” she asked, trying to focus, trying to understand.  “I can learn to channel?  But- How do you know?  I just gazed at a stone.  What does that have to do with anything?”

Not sure if my character is far enough along to participate- but I'd love to get her into both (but if I had to pick one:  herbs).

~Serey

What are the requirements of the post?  Just reaction to what has been said, and ask a question?  Or is asking a question optional?

Kai had accepted the cup and plate of food without comment.  Looking at the food made everything seem so clear.  Everything, all of it, was real.  The hut, why she had come to live in it, the wolf, the strangers.  Light help her, but she wasn't delusional. The wolf, the woman and the man were odd, true, but she just wasn't imaginative enough to have thought them up.  And too much of what the man had said was correct.

Watching them now, she couldn't help but grimace, as the woman merrily ate her portion of the rabbit and bread.  Kai didn't feel like eating, the tea she had drunk earlier felt heavy and expansive in her gut.  But, the woman had said eating wasn't optional, that she and the man would force feed her if necessary. 

Go ahead and try, Kai thought, smirking.  She didn't think she could stomach anything else, not and keep it down.  Hoping the woman was too busy eating to notice, Kai set her plate down in front of the wolf's head.

He whined.  Eat.

No, she thought, glaring at him.  You eat.

The wolf stared back.

Can you understand me? She gazed into his golden eyes, looking for some sign of comprehension.

Eat.

“Well,” Kai said in frustration, setting the cup down as well, “if the first thing a wolf tells you is his name.  This one is called 'Eat.'  As to my name-”  Her cheeks flushed, anger making her cut the sentence short.  She stood up and walked over to the window.  A wave of dizziness passed through her, and she placed a hand against the wall to steady herself and tried to concentrate on taking deep breaths.

She had always prided herself for her ability to to not only keep her temper under control but to control what she became angry about.  Little things never bothered her, and when something bigger came along, she dealt with it and moved on, anger rarely entering the equation.  Now, she was angry and she didn't fully understand why.  It wasn't that the strange group had forced their way into her home uninvited.  And it wasn't the way the woman, no older than herself, treated her like some insolent child.  It wasn't even that they made her feel like an insolent child.

“You don't know me,” she said, her voice bitter as the reason dawned on her.  “You think you know what's happening to me.  Well, maybe you do.  But you don't know me at all.  You think you know what's best for me?” 

Kai turned around to glare at them, unable to keep herself from shouting.  “You don't know anything, all right?”

When the ghost-man stopped speaking, Kai felt numb.  While he had spoken, she had sat up and listened, his words capturing her attention.  So much of what he said was correct.  The confusion, fear, isolation, the wolves...  And then, the Stedding.  Kai tried to wrap her mind around the idea: a safe place, no one would harm her, others like her lived together.  But he didn't know everything.  He spoke of her being safe from others, but what about keeping everyone else safe from her?  And what about Brason?  He wouldn't be waiting for her at the Stedding.  Her family wouldn't be at the Stedding.

Kai realized she was breathing hard, and it took another moment before she realized it was because she  was crying.  Mortified, she buried her head in her hands and tried to calm down.  These people, they said she wasn't crazy, but if she didn't get a hold on herself...

Images and feelings rushed through her mind, too quick to decipher, but they chased away her own thoughts and left her with feelings of calm and hope.

The wolf, she realized, and wiping away her tears she looked at him.  Was he even a wolf, or some other creature?

As if called, the wolf walked over and lay down beside her, resting his head in her lap.  Images filled her mind again.  The wolf sneaking after a wasp as it flew back to its nest.  Curiosity.  Poking the nest with his nose.  Wondering what the wasp was doing inside.

The ghost-man had said she could talk to wolves.  That was crazy, but, what if he was right?  Could she learn to understand what this wolf was trying to say?

Carefully, Kai ran her hand down the wolf's long back, and the wolf wagged its tail. 

“I...”  She shook her head, and smiled.  “I've always been scared of animals, especially dogs.”

Kai brought the cup to her lips and feigned taking another swallow as she tried to make sense of the woman's words.  We don't allow people to die...  Who was we?  Did the woman mean herself, the ghost-man and the wolf?  And...  Owen...  Rhya...  That was more than a little odd.  Usually the characters in her dreams remained nameless.  A tingling feeling ran down the back of her neck.  Could the odd grouping be real, and not just a figment of her imagination?

Kai shook her head, and sighed.  She doubted it.  It was just her luck that her mind had conjured up a wild beast, a ghost, and a pushy, know-it-all girl who all seemed bent on making her eat.  "Can't complain if you get what you wish for," she reminded herself and looked down at the cup.  It was half empty.  That was odd too- whatever the dream was, it was surely detailed.  Kai stiffened.  Dreams with too much detail were dangerous.  Things that happened in those dreams, they blended with reality and next thing she knew she had sleepwalked or--

She let out another sigh.  No matter how real the dream, she did not have to play along.  Kai held the cup out at arms length and tipped it over before dropping it.  “Go away,” she said, laying back down and closing her eyes.  "Leave me be." 

If they didn't, well, she would just ignore them.  It couldn't be much longer, anyways.

Read and understood