Servants of All [Avyra!]

[Stasia]

Liza Damodred

The sun had yet to rise at the Grey Tower, but those that needed care the most usually hid during the day. Even in a city that had risen around a Tower, not everyone was willing to come to the Aes Sedai. The poorest in Hama Valon were not here by choice, and mistrust and disdain was not uncommon. The mountain guard city was not a paradise for those that could wield the power any more than any other city was - but even the ungrateful were worthy of help and Healing, if they chose to accept it. More often than not, Liza found that it was fear that kept them from coming forward than disrespect in truth. She had also found it was much more difficult for one to decline assistance when it was beneath their noses. Rather than expect them to find the courage to ascend from the gutter to the Tower, Liza preferred to be tempting as she could be.

There were plenty of Healers that preferred Healing in the academic sense of the word; Liza, however, had never really gotten any use from formal instruction in the Talent. It came natural as breathing to her, whether it was with the Power or with a smile and a few words of encouragement. The Damodreds were infamously mired in Daes Dae'mar, but Liza had no interest in politics or climbing social ladders: if she could have healed her immediate family of that, she would have. She gazed at her face in the mirror as she readied herself for the day - it was still such a shock to see that her features were not ageless, but she had unsworn the Oaths for her own safety. No one trusted Aes Sedai, and her chosen duty was a precarious one. The academic Healers were never in any danger of getting burned at the stake by Whitecloaks.

She wore a simple dress, modest and dark wool. Lighter colors were more fashionable, and therefore, more expensive. They would make her less trustworthy. The only way she could be more obvious about her identity would be to wear her yellow fringed shawl to the slums. Her long curly hair was tied back with a bow. She looked like she was in her mid-twenties, genuinely - she was far too light-hearted for her eyes to convey anything that belied her youthful appearance. Liza grinned. Though the proposal to remove the Oaths had been intended for those who went into battle, she did not think that the Hall of Sitters had considered the subtler applications. The best place to hide was in plain sight. She was no longer ageless, and was bound to nothing but her Ajah and her own principals.

Liza clasped her cloak around her neck, then referred to the little missive that Mirin Sedai had sent her - the Mistress of Novices knew that she had a fondness for venturing through the streets, helping where she could, and had asked that she take a novice with her. Avyra Moeryr. It left a bit of a bitter taste in Liza's mouth that she was asked to force someone to perform community service, but she hoped that this would be an opportunity to show the child that it was a responsibility, not a burden. She picked up a large, wide basket - after she had fetched the novice, they would stop by the kitchens and get enough food for the morning - and strode towards the novice dormitories. It had been such a long time since she had worn white, but she remembered the days fondly, and she hoped that Avrya would remembers her fondly as well. She had been told that the girl had potential - if she could learn to control her temper.

Little slips of paper had been tacked to teach door - it was not long before she found Avrya's dormitory. Liza announced herself with three sharp knocks and a smile on her face.

[Avyra]

Avyra had been given the day off, in one sense of the word. If one liked community service. But she didn't know what such a think intitled, having never done it before, so she was neither excited nor dreading it. However, she didn't have very high hopes seeing as it was supposed to be used as punishment. But she was going to keep an open mind. She didn't know what to wear, having never gone into Hama Valon before, so she just put on her Novice dress to be safe. It wasn't like she had much else. She stared at herself in the mirror for a moment, sighing softly. The dress made her look worse than she already was. It was a skin to fill that was way too big to possibly ever fit. It almost seemed to tell her that she didn't belong here. Three knocks announced that her teacher for the day was here, and she made her way quickly to the door as to not keep her waiting. She had been told that she was going to be spending the day with Liza Sedai. Silently, she felt bad for the Yellow Sister. From what she heard, she cared deeply about her work and was now being punished by Avyra's presence. Avyra was fully prepared to have a grumbling old lady following her around all day, barking orders because she had a Novice who didn't want to be there along for her pleasures. The face that greeted her, however, was unexpected. The Aes Sedai looked to be about twenty, although Avyra knew her age was probably more, wearing a bright smile and simple, dull colors to contrast it. Her smile was completely infectious, and Avyra couldn't help but return it. "Good morning. I take it you are Liza Sedai?"

[Stasia]

Liza Damodred

Liza was pleased to see that her charge was bright-eyed and bushy tailed. That was always good in a novice. The girl returned her smile, perhaps a little sheepishly. The Yellow looked at Avrya, and despite green eyes there was no mistaking the child for a felllow Cairhienin; she was so petite that even the smallest whites swallowed her whole. Liza quirked a brow - how do you keep from tripping, child?? - and her smile grew a little. She was a little taller than the child, but she remembered that the only thing she missed about home was that she did not have a hired entourage of tailors to hem her dresses. She'd learned to use a needle in her first weeks at the Tower; perhaps if Avrya behaved, Liza would pass on the craft.

"Good morning," the novice said cheerfully, "I take it you are Liza Sedai?"

"I am," Liza confirmed in an equally chipper tone. "I'm glad that you're an early riser, child. We'll be busy. And you'll need your cloak; it's quite cold outside this early in the morning." The Yellow waited while Avrya gathered her cloak, white as her dress, and hoped that the girl's uniform would not discourage any of the people that she hoped to aid. It will have to do, she reminded herself, my dresses would not be much of a better fit. The novice returned to her doorway quickly, cloak clasped at her neck, and for all intents and purposes, was ready to go. Liza nodded with a smile. She turned quickly and began stalking towards the kitchens with purpose; she spoke as she went, and was careful to watch her pace so that the novice would not be left behind.

"We'll be taking food and offers of Healing into Hama Valon," she explained. "Not everyone is willing to outright seek the aid of Aes Sedai, you see, even if they desperately need it. Do you have any experience with Healing?" Liza considered the child's answer for the space of a heartbeat before her smile grew a little wider. "Would you like to learn more?"

They reached the kitchens, chatting happily, and the cook on duty stocked Liza's basket silently. The Yellow was a regular and the kitchens knew what she wanted. Bread, meat, cheese, and full water-skins. Whatever leftover burlap they had from last week's shipment of food, aprons that had been stained beyond repair, and any other miscellaneous every-day item that the Tower no longer had use for. Liza thanked the cook with the same, beaming smile, and carefully herded Avrya towards the entrance of the Tower. In all likelihood, the girl had not left Tower grounds since she had signed her name in the Mistress of Novices' ledger. It was not long before they left Tower grounds and passed into the city proper.

"Well," Liza said, a slight bitterness coating her tone, "Ready to see the parts of Hama Valon that most people prefer to ignore?"

[Avyra]

Avyra did as she was told, scampering back into her room to find her white cloak. White was so boring; she hated having to wear it.

She returned and they were off on their adventure. Avyra kept up easily, the Aes Sedai and fellow Cairhienin wasn't so much bigger than she was so keeping up was easier than keeping up with Terric or Danos, especially when they meant to get somewhere quickly.

"We'll be taking food and offers of Healing into Hama Valon," she explained. "Not everyone is willing to outright seek the aid of Aes Sedai, you see, even if they desperately need it. Do you have any experience with Healing?"

"No, Liza Sedai. I can delve, but not heal," Avyra admitted.

"Would you like to learn more?"

Avyra nodded. She would love to learn more of the One Power.

They reached the kitchens, and Avyra didn't speak, not wanting to say something she shouldn't nor disturb the cook. But there was little trouble when they grabbed what they needed, and they were off again to Hama Valon.

Avyra had never been to the town; it was forbidden for Novices to venture there without escort.

Well," Liza said, a hint of bitterness in her tone, "Ready to see the parts of Hama Valon that most people prefer to ignore?"

Avyra nodded. She wasn't sure if she was but she would give it a try.

[Stasia]

Liza Damodred

Avrya was a quiet one, seemingly nothing like the spitfire child that Mirin Sedai had warned her of, but Liza was not so quick to believe that mortification had so easily changed the girl: it had barely been a quarter hour and they had not yet begun the real work of the day. Perhaps she's just tired, Liza conceded, watching the child out of her peripheral vision as they began to stride down the empty and still-dark streets. Or perhaps it's fear that has stilled her tongue. It was good that the child was interested in learning the art of Healing. The fact that she had not yet been snatched up by the Yellows and brought to her attention suggested that she had no great or hidden innate skill, but even a Healer of the smallest Talent could make a difference.

They walked quickly and quietly, Liza leading them around familiar corners towards the slums of Hama Valon. There were many well-to-do denizens of the Tower's city, merchants and craftsmen and seamstresses, but there were also orphans and those without a roof over their head. The Mar a'Mael took in children with the silent implication that once they had grown, they would repay the Tower's kindness, and many children were not fond of the idea of becoming too familiar with the One Power. Liza did not think that this excluded them from the right of needed Healing, kindness, or a hot breakfast any more than it did exclude them from being children. And there were adults, too. Women of the night, mercenaries, homeless, and many of all manner that did not wish to seek the Grey Tower's aid for fear of Aes Sedai's strings. Thank the Light for my freedom, she thought as they approached where she normally began her rounds, I will not be so easily recognized.

There were some of the destitute that knew her for what she was, and had come to expect that Liza Damodred would arrive every few days with fresh bread, slightly dried cheese, and toughened jerky. They waited for her, staring up expectantly from where they were huddled in a popular alley, and did not seem to notice that Avrya existed. Liza smiled at them, and could make out their faces in the dim morning light.

"Child, these are some of my friends. Lisa, Karlin, Bo, Cerise,...." Liza listed off each of their names carefully, taking care not to misidentify any of the huddled masses. They were human and deserved to be addressed by their names and treated respectfully, regardless of the grime that coated their skin. "If you will take the breadbasket, child, I will begin handing out blankets." Liza smiled encouragingly at Avrya, hoping to soothe any apprehension that the child might have. If any prejudices came to light... Well, Liza would make her wish that she had never stepped foot in the Tower to begin with.

"Has anyone been hurt, lately?"

[Avyra]

Avyra followed close, walking just to the right and a bit behind Liza, still letting her lead, as she had no idea where they were going. She didn't want to be trouble for this event, and she doubted that walking beside Liza and possibly cutting her off of a turn wouldn't be the right thing to do. She set a quick pace, but it was easy for Avyra to keep pace with the other Cairhienin. Liza wove them through the streets in the darker part of town, Avyra keeping a bit closer to the Aes Sedai. It wasn't anything she hadn't seen before. Grime covered the ground; the smell of smoke and waste filled the air. She could tell that people lived here. If she looked into the windows of some of the houses, she spotted people watching them, in their fancier clothes and clean faces. A few people sat on the sides of streets wrapped in moth eaten blankets and dirt, watching them with sad, wistful eyes. It hurt to see people like this. Even though Avyra had seen streets like this from her journey to the Tower, it still made a slice in her heart. There was one building that was slightly cleaner, slightly more well kept than the others. Actually, that was quite a lie. The difference was painfully obvious. That must be the Mar a'Mael. There was already a group outside the doors of the place, a group of children, it seemed, and Liza seemed to know them. They all perked up when she approached. "Child, these are some of my friends. Lisa, Karlin, Bo, Cerise,...." Avyra bit back a retort of I am not your child. It did not seem the time to make herself more insufferable. However, she smiled at all of the children crowded by the wall. There was probably a group of ten of them in all. "If you will take the breadbasket, child, I will begin handing out blankets." Avyra did as she was told, taking the basket so that Liza could hand blankets to the children, who all reached for them like a nest of baby birds would a worm from their mother. Liza was probably the closest thing to a mother these children had. "Has anyone been hurt, lately?" the Aes Sedai asked as she worked. Avyra began to pass out the food in the basket, cheese, bread, and jerky, to the children, who all suddenly seemed to notice that she was there once the food was presented. Now that they were out of the shadows, Avyra noticed that they were all about five or six, with a few older children in the mix as well. They seemed a bit apprehensive of her Novice whites, but the call of food was too strong for them to pass up. "Don't shove; don't worry. There is plenty for all," Avyra reassured them gently, making sure she held true to her word. Everyone would get a piece if she was looking over the distribution. She glanced back to Liza Sedai, waiting for futher instruction. The basket was now empty, its contents gone. Most, if not all, of the kids were glowing now, their eyes looking brighter than before. It made Avyra beam bright, too. As much as she enjoyed causing trouble she also enjoyed making people happy, and for sure she was making some people happy here, in the streets of Hama Valon.

[Stasia]

Liza Damodred

The Yellow pretended not to notice when the novice stiffened beside her, likely displeased that she had not been called by her given name: it was difficult not to smile at her own memories of novicehood, and a faded impression of incredulity returned to her from across the decades. She had hated being treated as a child by Aes Sedai and Accepted when she was a woman in her own right, but that was the entire point of this exercise. Avrya had yet to learn that she was a child.

Liza passed along warm blankets for the children, smiling and hugging the ones that were brave enough to cling to her skirts. They knew that she was Aes Sedai and she had yet to harm them - that was good. If they wished to go to the Mar a'Mhael and enter a silent agreement with the Grey Tower, that would be their choice. For now, the Yellow was happy to help them if she could, and not demand anything in return for her service. She was pleased to see that the petite novice did the same. The girl passed out what food they had brought with a smile and reassuring words for the younger ones, and waited patiently for the older, more skeptical children to come forth. Liza did not often bring anyone with her and the Aes Sedai could not blame them for their hesitance.

"Karl's been hurt," Cerise said beneath her breath as she approached Liza, exchanging a new blanket for a muddy, soaked one, "But I don't if he'll take to your Healing, Mistress Liza." Cerise was one of the older girls, perhaps nine or ten, and Karl was one of the younger boys, maybe five or six. He disliked the idea of the One Power and despite living in Hama Valon, he had always lived far enough away from the Tower that the mistrust was free to continue. Liza looked at Karl out of the corner of her eye, currently chewing on a tough piece of flavored jerky, looking absently at Avrya.

"What's wrong with him?" Liza asked in a soft voice, so that the boy would not hear her over Avrya's soft chatting.

"He fell and hit his head. He's not been quite the same since." Cerise's features were pinched with concern: though she cared for most of the children, Liza knew that she heavily depended upon her charity and did not want any of the orphans she had under her wing wrapped in Aes Sedai plots if it could be avoided. Liza made a soft, noncommittal noise. If Karl consented to Healing, there was little doubt that she could mend whatever had gone awry. But that would require convincing him that she was not going to eat him if he accepted a gift.

Liza finished passing out the blankets and then motioned to Avrya. "Child," she said quietly, calmly holding her ground and reminding the girl that they were not equals, "The boy there, with the green blanket? He's had a head injury. I believe I can Heal him, but he will require...Convincing. Not many here trust Aes Sedai. Can you help me? Just do as you have been - be calm and reassuring. Watch my weaves; you might learn a thing or two."

Liza unpinned her cloak from her shoulders and let it settle to the disgusting ground, took a few steps towards the boy, then bent to her knees. She pushed her sleeves back, preparing to Delve the boy, but waited patiently. His eyes seemed unfocused - one pupil was larger than the other. "Karl?" she asked quietly, "Can I see what's wrong with you?" The young boy shook his head stubbornly. "Why not?"

"You'll take me from Cerise!" He was defiant, though desperate - he knew something was wrong, but would rather remain here, in pain, than be taken away from the only family he knew. Liza scanned the boy for obvious injury; on the back of his head, his blonde hair was matted with blood. Cerise had likely tried to clean it away, but there was only so much that one could do with limited resources.

"I will not," Liza said softly but firmly. "You will stay here, and I will keep bringing you food, and blankets, and anything else you need. Your head hurts, and I can fix that too. Will you let me?"

[Avyra]

As Avyra continued to make the children comfortable, telling a few jokes, even to make them smile, she listened to Liza talk to the other girl, about ten years old it seemed. One of the kids was hurt. It didn't take Avyra long to figure out who it was; he was one of those who had to be coaxed into taking her food and was now curled up by the wall, looking absentmindedly at both the channelers. Liza motioned to Avyra, and the Novice walked over to the Aes Sedai once more. "Child." I'm not your child! "The boy there, with the green blanket? He's had a Head injury. I believe I can Heal him, but he will require... Convincing. Not many here trust Aes Sedai. Can you help me? Just do as you have been - be calm and reassuring. Watch my weaves; you might learn a thing or two." Liza, however, took the lead, making her way over to the child, asking him a few questions. He only shook his head in response, and looked frightened. After some prodding, he managed to yelp out "You'll take me from Cerise!" "I will not. You will stay here, and I will keep bringing you food, and blankets, and anything else you need. Your head hurts, and I can fix that too. Will you let me?" The boy still shook his head, backing away further. Avyra bent down to his level, glancing over at Liza. "Don't worry about her. She isn't going to hurt you. Neither of us are. We'll help you, okay?" She paused. "You know, when I first came to the Tower I was frightened. It was scary. And after about a week I hurt my arm. I burned it, really good. It hurt so much. But I went down to the Aes Sedai, told them what I had done. And look!" She held up her arm in question. "Its all gone. No burn." Karl still didn't look convinced. He stared at her nervously, and then decided to trust her. But he reached out his hand, and Avyra took it, holding it tightly as Liza bent down too, placing her hands on the child's forehead. Avyra felt like she should warn him for the odd feeling but Liza was already weaving a web of healing. Karl shivered, starting to whimper and pull away but Avyra helped hold him and comfort him. "Its going to be okay. You're okay." As soon as it was over, Karl shivered again, wiping a few tears from his eyes. His head was fully healed, from what Avyra could tell. "You did it! You did great!" Avyra bent down to give him a quick hug, carefully. She knew how weak healing made someone. "Get rest, okay?"

[Stasia]

Liza Damodred

The Yellow spared a secret smile for Avrya - the girl could not see it, busy as she was trying to tempt Karl into being Healed - and felt hope for the girl's future. That is, Liza thought as she shifted to cup Karl's little features in her hands, if Avrya can learn a measure of self-control. She Delved the boy quickly, weaving Spirit, Water and Air, working silently as the novice held his hand. It was a sweet gesture, and she had a good bedside manner. If she had any Talent at all with Healing, she might make a good Yellow. Liza tucked away that thought for another day, and took stock of Karl's injury. Cerise was right; he was fine, aside from the head injury, and a few scrapes and bruises. The Aes Sedai could not fault Cerise for not mentioning those. The girl could not know that the entire body needed to be Healed at once for it to be Healed at all.

Thankfully, it was not beyond the scope of Liza's Talent. She was careful to weave slowly, and stuck to the traditional methods so that Avrya might learn something of simple Healing if she wished to, and braided Air, Water, and Spirit into careful little webs. She mentally moved them, sticking some here and there for his cuts and bruises, and then used a final slightly more intricate weave for the boy's head injury. It required a great deal more finesse and Spirit, as it was a head injury, but Avyra still should have been able to learn something if she was paying attention.

Karl shuddered as the weaves sunk into his skin, but Liza could not help but smile: she knew that the bruises and scrapes would quit aching, and the horrible headache that he had had would fade now. He smiled up at her, looking a little tired - Avrya was right, the boy would need plenty of rest.

"You did wonderfully, Karl." Liza patted his cheek before turning back to Cerise. "If anyone has any other injuries, even small ones, we can take care of them. Cuts, bruises, even superficial things. Life is difficult enough without pain accompanying it."

[Avyra]

Once the first healing had gone down with no ill effects, the children all wanted a chance to be healed. A few went to Avyra, but she had to direct them to the line for Liza Sedai. "I don't know how to heal, but I can help you through the process. Don't worry." Pretty soon, all the kids had been healed, each one wearing a smile. Avyra loved this. They were all such sweet kids, and to be in these conditions... it broke her heart. The healing on all the kids had caused them to all grow wearier, however, even though it was only morning. They would need rest, but luckily they had just eaten, so they had the energy to fight off most of the weariness. Avyra loved this. She loved the children; she loved seeing them smile. That was one of the only things she could find joy in: the happiness of others. Especially if she helped make it. This wasn't a punishment, to her. This was a privilege, and she wanted to come back to do it again.