Is this thing magical? (Illyria)

[Bree]

Ubriel entered the quarters of the Indigo Ajah and approached the nearest Accepted. "Excuse me, where can I find Illyria Sedai?"

The Accepted blinked at her and seemed to be processing the request for a moment before saying, "Go to the end of the hall and turn left. Try the third door on the right."

Ubriel nodded and thanked the woman and moved off in the direction she had been instructed. Four hallways and six wrong doors later, Ubriel was hoping to find that Accepted again so she could pummel her. Sighing heavily, she began to walk through the halls back toward the door out of the Tower, so that she could start again.

Rounding a corner, Ubriel saw an elegant Aes Sedai coming out of a room half way down the hall.

[Stasia]

Illyria Malkom

Illyria shut the door behind her with a soft click, and the brassy handle was Warded and locked with an uncomplicated set of sibling weaves that she knew by heart - she had always favored Air, and it worked well with Fire as both a spare key and an alarm system. She’d know straight away if anyone tampered with it, and she was aware enough of her husband's general location to allow for discernment - if it was him, she’d know it. If it wasn’t… Well, she’d know it. And drown the would-be intruder in her ill-accustomed wrath. She’d been the Mistress of Novices for a long time, now. Anger was the only thing that worked with some girls, and she had learned to feign it with the best of them.

It’s one of the best counters for stupidity, she thought in resignation, And it would be very stupid to attempt to enter my locked quarters.

She took a moment to chew her bottom lip in distracted dissatisfaction - that was a common emotion, these days, in the last third of her weary pregnancy - and took a mental inventory. Back pain, hip pain, pain everywhere, really - but nothing so terrible she felt as though she needed to visit the Yellows. Her baby stirred right on schedule, poking an intrusive foot towards the outside world. The indentation was hidden beneath a layer of grey linen, but they had kicked hard enough for it to be uncomfortable - she was used to the sensation enough to keep it hidden from her expression, but not used enough to it to ignore it. It was strange and it was powerful; with every passing day, her child felt more like a reality - and one day soon, they’d have a more powerful role in the Pattern.

For now, they were confined to keeping their mother on her toes. The Aes Sedai was grateful, in a pale sort of way, that she didn’t yet have the babe in the world. She wasn’t sure how she was supposed to take care of one when she was this tired. Of course, she had all the required items and informal training - the Infirmary workers were more than happy to share their knowledge - but at the same time, that looming fear of failure was daunting. However… Light, was she hopeful for her child.

She patted her swollen belly absently and then began to stride down the purple-tiled hallways towards her unruly novices. A handful of girls had been serving penances in the kitchens all day, for their second time this week, and had explicit instructions not to leave until she had gone to fetch them. A few days ago, they had decided that after a few hours, they had served their penance after a mere two hours - they had not counted on the Mistress of the Kitchens reporting them. And so, they were back up to their necks in greasy pots.

However, her hike to the kitchens was interrupted by a wide-eyed Ji’dar - her flyaway hair was cropped like a boy’s, and her expression was brimming with frustration - Illyria tried not to chuckle at the sight. The girl looked completely turned around, and the Indigo could not say that she blamed her for it - the Ajah Quarters were far more maze like than anything the Warder Trainees had to navigate in the Yards.

“You look a little lost, child,” she said with a small smile clinging to her mouth, “Can I help you?”

[Bree]

"Yes, please, Aes Sedai!" Ubriel's unfettered grateful sigh of words accompanied her swaying motion forward. To an observer it might look a little like a puppet being caught on a wave, the way her top half flowed forward before her bottom half caught up. It was a quirky movement that Ubriel was prone to when she was flustered.

She lifted her medallion from around her neck and proffered it to the Aes Sedai before her. "This was a family heirloom and I have reason to believe that it might have been Weaved on at some point in the past. I think it is designed to make the wearer sick if they Travel through a Gateway."

She took a moment to really see the woman she was talking to and realized she was pregnant. Ubriel tried not to recoil. She didn't have any problem with children or even babies but the thought of pregnancy was terrifying. She knew it wasn't catching but she responded instinctively as she would to someone with the pox. She hoped sincerely that the Aes Sedai had not noticed.

"Would you be able to tell me if that is the case or if I am just allergic to Gateways?"

[Stasia]

Illyria Malkom

“Yes, please, Aes Sedai!" The Ji’dar rushed towards her, and the young woman’s feet seemed to struggle to catch up with her enthusiasm. Illyria’s smile didn’t falter at the girl’s lapse in decorum - she could remember being that enthusiastic once. Even if she had not outwardly expressed it, it had been keenly felt. The girl took hold of the thin, stiff chain that hung around her neck and dragged up a pendant that hung beneath her shirt. The necklace looked neglected, clogged with rust and Light knew what else, but the pendant was well-cared for. It shone softly in the light that streamed in through high-arched windows, illuminated well enough that a foreign script could be made it - but seeing as it was not even made of the same alphabet, Illyria could not begin to guess what it said.

"This was a family heirloom and I have reason to believe that it might have been Weaved on at some point in the past. I think it is designed to make the wearer sick if they Travel through a Gateway." Illyria blinked. What was a Ji’dar doing going through Gateways? But that was right - a countries and culture class had been hosted not too long ago. The Mistress of Novices had only been made aware of the attending girls in white, but she assumed that Ubriel could have gone along as well.

"Would you be able to tell me if that is the case or if I am just allergic to Gateways?" The Indigo ran her thumb over the thick coin, her brows furrowed slightly. Two decades now, she had wished nearly every day that she could read ter’angreal... But wishes weren’t really useful. There wasn’t any growth in wishing. She was just as good an Indigo without the affinity, developed her expertise in other areas, and she had the resources to get the girl what she needed.

“I cannot tell you for sure, child,” Illyria said while she handed the medallion back to its owner, “Not all Indigos can read objects by touch. I assume that it is Power-made, and since you cannot channel, it may be one of the rarer ones that doesn’t require channeling to be activated.” Here, she paused, considering an alternative. Was it possible that the medallion was activated by channeling, and that was why she felt ill going through Gateways? Anything was possible. “It is conceivable that this object was designed with the intent of making the wearer ill when exposed to the One Power - the a’dam was designed with an even more sinister purpose in mind. We’ll hope that this is a friendlier object.” She smiled thinly, and then presented the Ji’dar with an alternative option.

“I can take you to an Accepted with a strong Talent for affinity, if you’d like - she’ll be able to tell you what it was designed for immediately. If you’ll follow me?” She walked as smoothly as she could - the gliding gait that Aes Sedai were famed for was much more difficult to achieve while with child - but arrived at the girl’s door, gave a stiff knock, and turned to face the taller Ji’dar. “If your ter’angreal proves to be dangerous, I hope you will understand if I feel the need to move it into the Vaults. I’d hate to see you harmed by it, even if it is an heirloom with sentimental value. If it’s safe, then it is yours - I’m only required to take objects from Novices.” Technically, all students were meant to give up objects of the Power, and not meant to have them returned until they were fully raised. But if the Mistress of Training didn’t know…

Light, she’d gone soft. Where had the strict and rule-abiding Aes Sedai gone? Perhaps it was the way the girl had been so eager to have the medallion returned about her person - most students here were only allowed a single piece of home with them, if that much, and mid-ranks were supposed to cut all ties from the world but their duty to the Tower as part of their raising test.

Illyria supposed that she could sympathize with the child. Home was hard to put behind you when you were young. And the Grey Tower had not felt like home to her until long after she had gained the shawl.

She could hear Accepted Lana stirring from behind her door, finally - though the girl was talented, she was a bit of a day-dreamer. Before the initiate was able to answer the knock, realized that she did not know who the Ji’dar was. That was remedied with a quick question - “What did you say your name was, child?”

[Bree]

"Oh! My apologies, Aes Sedai. I am Ji'dar, Ubriel Bryne." She bowed formally and when she straightened she said, "I will understand but I will be very disturbed. We were able to confirm that the medallion really was a gift from my relative, Jain Farstrider. I worked hard to uncover the truth of its origin and with that done, I would very much like to have the opportunity to one day pass it on in my family."

Ubriel watched for any sign from the Aes Sedai and when none was forthcoming, she turned her attention to the door. As it finally opened, Ubriel recognized the woman behind it. Irritation prickled the tops of her ears but she held her tongue. This is the scatter wit that sent me rambling through these halls. Ubriel felt her hopes sag at the thought that this woman was the one that she would have to rely on for answers about her medallion. What if she tells it wrong and gets it taken from me even if there is no danger!?

She took deep calming breaths and tried not to judge too harshly. Just because a person didn't have the knack with directions that she always seemed to have, didn't mean they were completely incompetent in all ways.

[Stasia]

Illyria Malkom

Illyria fought down the urge to voice her skepticism, and kept her features schooled to impassiveness. Ubriel had likely already gone through her history lessons, and obviously had not come across any reason to doubt herself nor her heritage. It harmed no one to let her continue thinking that, and in all likelihood, did a lot of good for the girl: after all, no one could make it through the training to become a Warder without determination and drive. Perhaps thinking that Jain Farstrider was her second cousin fifth removed was a motivator. She merely nodded at the Ji’dar’s confession of reluctance to let it leave the family, and hoped that she would not have to take it from her.

Lana swung the door open with a distant expression, and dipped into a curtsey once recognition glinted in her dark eyes - it would take a very unobservant person to not recognize the redheaded, pregnant, petite Mistress of Novices, and then stepped aside to allow them entrance to her room. Despite the mismatched furniture that was provided to all Accepted, the room was cozy, with a cheerful fire flickering in the hearth. Lana began to turn back towards her desk, not bothering to wonder aloud why the Mistress of Novices and a Ji’dar had just come into her room, and Illyria wondered if the girl had been working too hard lately. In her own days as an Accepted, she had been known to stay up far too late studying… She’d have to check on Lana later and make sure the girl was getting the rest she needed. She will not gain the shawl any faster if she attempts to work herself to death.

“Lana,” Illyria said blankly, calling the girl back to reality, “Would you read this ter’angreal for me?” The Indigo gestured to Ubriel, who handed over the medallion somewhat hesitantly. Lana blinked, murmured an, “Of course, Aes Sedai,” and took the coin into her fingers. She stared at intently for a few, long moments, and fumbled with her words.

“It’s… It feels like a net,” she said uncertainly.

“A net?” Illyria repeated, wondering how a net could be linked with Ubriel’s travel-sickness. “Is it dangerous?”

“I don’t think so, Illyria Sedai,” Lana said, her voice more sure this time, “Ter’angreal generally feel… Icky if they’re dangerous. I don’t mind touching this one. It’s… A net. A hollow net. I can feel it everywhere. I think something’s meant to move through it.”

“Does it requiring channeling to be activated?” Lana shook her head.

“I’m not sure what it requires, but it definitely requires something.” She twisted the coin between her fingers and handed it back to Ubriel. “Until I know what activates it, I’m afraid I can’t tell you anything else.”

[Bree]

Ubriel scowled at the medallion as it was returned to her hand. "Thank you." She returned it to her neck and felt a sense of relief like she had been spun around blindfolded and suddenly was allowed to open her eyes and locate the door. Her audible sigh drew the attention of the other two women. "I apologize. I just felt better once I put it back on. Lana, can you tell me if and why the medallion might make me sick when I go through a Gateway? It was a novice that I shared a room with while on the Countries and Cultures class trip that suggested it was the medallion that was causing my illnesses. She said it felt strange when she held it. That is why I came to see you."

Ubriel looked desperately at the Aes Sedai and then back at Lana. "Is there anything that I can tell you about its history or anything... else... that will help you be able to tell me more about this... "net".

[Stasia]

Illyria Malkom

Lana shook her head. “All ter’angreal have stories, but they can be misleading.” The Accepted turned to go back to her desk as Ubriel began to take her leave, but Illyria had seen the look on her face once the medallion had been returned to her - it was more than just relief to have it back in her possession, and certainly not joy that it was not dangerous; she was leaving disappointed enough that something simply wasn’t adding up.

“Ubriel,” Illyria began, “Are you sure nothing has changed since its returned to your person? Passive ter’angreal are often activated by touch… Even if it seems silly, any change could mean something.”

[Bree]

Ubriel thought about it and frowned. "It seems stupid. Hard to describe." She pondered a moment and then brightened. "Have you ever been totally turned around and lost and then suddenly you recognize a landmark and you know exactly where to go and how to get there? That relief, like you were a loose leaf on the wind and suddenly you are anchored back on your mother tree again."

Ubriel stopped short and looked into the faces of the other two women. She was absolutely certain that they had no idea what she was talking about. "I don't know. I don't think I can explain it better. It has felt that way every time I can remember putting it on. I always thought it was just because it was such a significant piece of my family history."

Ubriel held the medallion in her hand and stared at it. She thought about how she had never actually used a map when she was wandering before coming to the Tower. How the Gateways made her feel dizzy as if she had been spun around mercilessly. She thought about the fact that it had been bequeathed from a famous world traveller. She related all of that to the women standing there and asked, "Do you think it is some kind of... I don't know... map?"

[Stasia]

Illyria Malkom

The ji'dar wore a perplexed expression as she attempted to explain the medallion; it had been proven already that it was ter'angreal, if an ambiguous one - surely it had a purpose of some sort. Lana had been able to ascertain that it was a latent object - Urbiel seemed capable of activating it, and she had not a hint of the Spark in her. If it didn't require a channeler, perhaps it had been designed with someone who could not access the Source in mind?

Ubriel stumbled through sentences, thinking aloud more than anything else. Illyria listened carefully, storing the information away and attempting to pin a purpose to it. The important thing was that it was not going to be a danger to her. Whether or not they were able to discover its function was more of a luxury at this point, but her curiosity had been sparked. It was not often that someone who could read ter'angreal was unable to provide a detailed diagnosis.

"Do you think it's some kind of... I don't know... map?" With that quiet, perhaps embarrassed question, the pieces seemed to fall into place.

"It might very well be," Illyria said quietly, looking at the pendant intently, "From what you describe, it seems as though it has something to do with helping to determine one's location, though Lana would have known if it was merely activated by touch." Ter'angreal could be unimaginably clever. "You said it was a family heirloom?"

The little coin that hung loosely about her neck was a mystery she intended to solve.