Exploring and Enjoying Freedom of Rank [Attn: Phin]

[Roan]

Late afternoon on a warm spring day saw Tia Tomosan walking through the gates of the Tower on her way to Hama Valon. The free time that came with being an Accepted, and the freedom of movement that came with it, took some getting used to, but she was not so studious as to spend all of her time locked in her quarters or the library studying. Today, her intention was to explore Hama Valon and look for a small gift for her brother. She had all but avoided him immediately following her Arches, and instead of being mad at her, he'd been concerned. . .so concerned that he asked their Great Memma to check in on her.

The Accepted got a few odd looks at the soft laugh she gave when she thought back to her meeting with the Amyrlin Seat. Miahala Sedai had enough years on her to offer Tia wisdom and perspective surrounding what she experienced within the Arches. The talk pulled Tia out of her self-pity, and out of her shell. She was not, generally speaking, a shy girl, but her time as a Novice turned her much more introspective than she'd been when she and Einion roamed the halls of the Tower and the streets of Hama Valon. Since she started wearing the banded dress, she began to crawl out of that shell she'd pulled so tightly around herself. She had her Great Memma and her brother to thank for that.

Shadows of leaves danced as a light breeze teased through branches. Various birds flitted about back and forth, and song birds called out to each other, perhaps looking for mates, or just showing off. A big Robin landed on a low branch to Tia's right and began singing its heart out, watching her as she passed below. While she was currently on her own, she wasn’t alone, as there were a number of people who were heading to Hama Valon from the Tower.

The air was comfortably warm, and the sun shone bright. It was, in many ways, a perfect day, and Tia couldn’t help her smile. She looked over to one side and saw a familiar face. The man had been in the pub when he was a soldier. . .him, Zeen and the Dedicated who had an obsession with pie. Was Murdock the pio obsessed’s name? She furrowed her brows as she tried to recall the Dedicated who was just off to one side, and then said, “Phin. . .right? You’re called Phin.”

[Jon]

Phineas

Phineas found his way out of the library since first achieving his pin. With the pin came new privileges at the Library, which he used as much as he could in that first week or so. Now, he was ready to use some of the other freedoms that came with the pin. He’d only been outside of the Tower once before since enlisting at the Grey Tower. He spent a night at an inn with a Dedicated and another Soldier when he was still unpinned. Then, it had been against the rules for him to leave the Tower grounds. Now, he even had a purse of coin to take out with him, and it had been given to him by the Tower. That was something. Belting the purse on, he made his way out of his room and down to the main entrance to the Tower. As he walked through the hallways, he saw blue skies and sunshine outside. The day was perhaps the best day that Hama Valon and the Grey Tower had seen in quite some time. Possibly, this perspective was more to do with the fact that he was leaving the Tower for the city than with the actual weather. Stepping out the main gate, he shielded his eyes and blinked at the sunlight. That was what happened when he spent almost every free hour in the back corners of the library with a tome about ter’angreal open on the table before him. Breathing in, the fresh air invigorated him with a sense of wonder. The city was so big, and there was so much to be seen. Birds flitted through the branches, and a robin’s song caught his attention. Even the birds seemed to be celebrating his freedom. “Phin… right? You’re called Phin,” came a voice off to his right. Turning towards the voice, he recognized the Accepted from his night with Zeen and Murdock. “Yes, that’s me,” he said with a grin. “You’re Tia, right?” He hadn’t really thought much about this particular Accepted since their night in the inn’s common room. “Are you spending a day out in the city as well?” he asked with a genuine interest. Excited as he was to adventure into the city, a part of him would welcome the company. Hama Valon was a large city, and he hadn’t spent much time in it when coming to the Grey Tower. He expected the Accepted, who had been allowed into the city for much longer than he, would be able to show him around a bit. “Perhaps, we could spend the day together. I’ll admit I don’t know the city very well and would welcome the company.” He gave a small self-deprecating smile at his admonition. Sometimes, the truth was all one needed.

[Roan]

Tia flashed Phin a smile as the pair continued to walk along the path that led into the heart of Hama Valon. The trees that lined the lane were awash with colors as their flowers budded out. She watched as the birds seemed to dance from one tree to another. “I am indeed going to spend the day in Hama Valon. I’m off to find a gift for my brother.

“Before joining the learning ranks, he and I would often spend our time wandering the grounds of the Tower, or occasionally exploring Hama Valon itself. I know the town quite well, so I’m happy to play guide, if you like,” Tia asked, though it was a somewhat rhetorical questions.

The Accepted studied Phin and his uniform a bit more closely before she changed the topic, “I believe when we first met, you were still a soldier, out with the Dedicated on a mission about pie. In the time that’s passed, it looks like you were raised. Perhaps I should have started the conversation off with congratulations.” She offered him a warm smile,”It must be a bit of a relief to have a bit more free time, and freedom of movement from the Tower. I know it is for me, anyway.”

[Jon]

Phineas

Phineas nodded his appreciation to Tia’s offer to play the guide for their journey into Hama Valon. He had to admit that having someone show him around eased a knot of tension in the back of his mind that he had not realized was there. Not that he was worried about being accosted in the city, no, his black coat would make that nearly impossible. Rather, the citizens of Hama Valon knew a black coat and what that meant. They would leave him alone. And it wasn’t like he could get lost. The Grey Tower stood tall among the city, and he would’ve been able to find it wherever he was. Still, not being alone, Phineas was grateful for that. “Aye, thank you,” he said in reply as group of children ran by playing in the street, forcibly keeping his hand from rubbing his pin. What would it be like to live one’s childhood near so many who could channel? “A mission about pie,” he said with a sly grin. “Light knows why Murdock is so obsessed with the stuff, but I’ll admit the pie we had that night was really tasty.” Though, he figured she’d know that. He couldn’t be sure, but he thought she’d had a piece of the pie. There had been too much going on in that one night for him to keep track of it all. The streets of Hama Valon were as crowded as they normally were. The voices of hawkers sounded throughout the city, and there was this murmur of life—the buzzing of a decently sized city. It was all so foreign to Phineas, who had been raised in a small Andoran village. Yes, he would call it a village after being in a city like this, not even a town. Perhaps, Baerlon could be called a town. Eyes wide, he soaked it all in as he walked with Tia. Going back to something she had said earlier, he asked, “You and your brother lived at the Tower before joining the learning ranks?” That was not something he had heard of happening. “How did that happen?” He hoped he wasn’t prying too much, but understanding the woman who strode next to him would help him relax around her. He wanted to enjoy this day, to relax.

[Roan]

Tia Tomosan

Tia watched as the group of children ran by, and found herself smiling as she heard them laughing and playfully screaming at one another. The clear day and spring weather seemed to put a bounce in everyone’s step, and even those the Accepted and Dedicated passed as they entered Hama Valon seemed to offer the pair unsolicited smiles. Tia loved days like this. . .when the weather seemingly forced a person into a good mood.

Phin’s question about her and Einion broadened her smile somewhat, “For a short time, yes. We originally grew up in a Hamlet called Duron in Saldaea. Our parents. . .well, our father is an Asha’man of the Yellow, and our mother is his Warder. They received a summons about the return of our Great Great Grandmother, who is an Aes Sedai. With her return to the Tower, Mother and Father decided it was time they returned to the Tower themselves.”

The Accepted left out the bit about her Great Memma returning from the dead, or her Great Memma being the Amyrlin Seat. “So, yeah, Einion (he’s my twin) and I arrived at the Tower when we were fifteen, I think? I didn’t learn I had the spark until a year later, and it was my Great Memma who spotted it. I was planning on joining the ranks of the Warder Yards. Instead, I found myself in Novice Whites, and now the banded dress of an Accepted.”

A merchant selling cheese offered up samples, of which Tia took one to try. Her stomach rumbled loudly reminding her that she only had a small morning meal. She laughed softly, “I still feel ridiculous in a dress, but I’ve come to terms with it. It’s only until I get raised. . .whenever that will be.”

Looking back to Phin with a grin, she replied, “I have a proposal. . .how about we grab lunch, and you tell me your story over our afternoon meal? I want to know what brought you to the Tower, and why you came here instead of the Black Tower.”

[Jon]

Phineas

Phineas walked alongside the Accepted as she explained how she came to the Tower. So, she was the daughter of two tower members—an Asha’man and his warder. And her grandmother was an Aes Sedai! Part of Phineas was amazed at the revelation. He had not known that the men and women of the Grey Tower had children, not having seen any in the tower grounds. Well, there were a few that he saw on occasion, but he had assumed they were children from Hama Valon. He had never thought to ask why children from the city would be allowed to play in the Tower grounds. Everything slid into place for him then, all the pieces fitting together. Breakfast had been some time ago, so Phineas was feeling the almost ever-present hunger that many young men felt in their prime. “Lunch sounds like a marvelous idea,” he said with a smile. Telling his story, however, filled him with dread. He could give Tia the simple version, but if she pressed, he wouldn’t lie to her. Even though the Three Oaths were no longer required to be sworn, Phineas had every intention to live by them. He wanted to swear them too, but the practical blacksmith inside him knew that he would be removing many avenues of study if he did. Was being Oathsworn really that important? They walked a bit more before Phineas spotted an inn that appeared to have good food. At least, there was a steady flow of people coming and going from the inn, and the smells of food cooking were definitely enticing. This inn, called The Court of Trees—presumably because of the many trees that surrounded the building, had tables placed around its exterior. Shade from the trees outside made these tables a welcome lunch destination on this beautiful day. Seeing a table become available, Phineas quickly laid claim to the space, with a man in a finely embroidered coat giving him a reproachful stare for doing so. That was until he noticed the black coat and the accepted’s dress. Then, he simply turned up his head and walked away. Merchants could be a touchy lot. “Will this do?” he asked, sliding back a seat for her to use. “It looks like a good place to eat, but you would know better than I.” Mistress Forbes, the blacksmith’s wife, would be pleased he had remembered some of the manners she had taught him. Well, she would’ve been pleased, except for that small fact that she probably despised him now.

[Roan]

Tia Tomosan

Tia looked up to the sign for the Court of Trees and back to Phin with a smile, “I actually haven’t eaten here before, though I’ve heard the food isn’t bad, and on a day like today, eating outside seems much more appealing than inside.” She took the seat he offered her and added, “Thank you,” as he pushed her in. Looking around, she noticed the large trees that offered the patrons shade, and laughed as a flock of sparrows seemed to work their way from table to table looking for scraps.

Before the Accepted could turn her attention back to Phin, a serving girl came over and explained that the lunch specials were a savoury beef stew or a cheese board. Tia placed an order for stew and mead, and waited until Phin ordered and the serving girl went about her business before turning her attention back to the Dedicated.

“Right, so Dedicated Phin, tell me? How did you come to the Grey Tower? Why here instead of the Black Tower?” Tia asked with a warm smile. She knew well enough that many who came to the Tower as channelers weren’t so lucky as her to have a supportive family.

OOC: Not my best reply but it was as good as I could do this round...

[Jon]

Phineas

The serving girl was plump and pretty, and Phineas gave her a smile as she took their orders. The stew sounded a bit warm for the weather, so he ordered the cheese board and an ale. Tia’s order of mead helped him decide that he could drink some ale himself. Light, what freedom had he been given on being raised to the Dedicated! The serving girl left with a grin for Phineas as she took their orders back to the kitchens. With her departure, Tia turned the conversation to Phin’s past. “Well,” he said, taking a breath in preparation for the long explanation that he was about to give, “I was a blacksmith’s apprentice in a small Andoran town.” He thought back on that village and the life he’d lived there. Things had looked so good for him during that time. Things changed, though. They always did. “I made a poor decision considering how remote the town is,” he continued, “and I was caught in a compromising situation.” Reliving that experience in the Arches had made all of this fresh again, and he had to swallow down some of the grief that threatened to overwhelm is careful facade. “I was chased out of town, and I met a Black Tower scouting mission.” Moving on to the next part of his story helped Phineas manage his emotions. “I was taken to the Black Tower and learned I could channel,” he added. “I left there when I heard about the Grey Tower.” His body language became nervous as he talked about leaving that Light-forsaken place. “The men of the Black were not very patient in their instruction,” he added, “and the men here have been much more accommodating considering the emotional wreck I was when I first started here.” The image of Cymon with a noose around his neck flashed briefly in Phineas’s mind, and he had to push down the pain once more. “The Grey Tower has been so great for me,” he explained. “I have been able to continue in the forges and to learn how to use the Power to make different items as well. It’s all I’ve ever wanted.” Working in the Forge had been painful at first, but now it was more therapeutic because he was able to beat his frustration out on the anvil.

[Roan]

Tia watched as Phin explained how he came to the Tower. She couldn’t be too sure, but it seemed something about his past struck an uneasy chord with the man. His tone and demeanor seemed to perk up when he talked about working the forges. What was it about the Tower that attracted so many blacksmiths?

Before she responded, the serving girl returned with their meals and beverages, and Tia opted to take a bite or two before responding. The stew was steaming hot, so there was a moment of mumbled “Hot, hot hot!” before she washed down the initial bite with mead. She flashed Phin a sheepish grin, “It’s a bit hot.”

Pushing her food aside to let it cool down for a bit, she took another sip of mead. “My father was a blacksmith before he came to the Tower. He’s an Asha’man of the Yellow, and doesn’t get much time to work the forges any more. My uncle, another Asha’man, was a blacksmith, too, though I think he sometimes helps with the forges from time to time.” She took another sip of her mead, “I take it you enjoy working the forges then?”

Tia looked from Phin back to her stew as she pulled it close once again. She took a careful bite, and when it didn’t seem to scorch her mouth, continued eating her mid-day meal. “And you mentioned using the Power to make things. . .dare I guess you are aspiring to Indigo?”