The Family Business [Attn: Tia Tomason Sedai]

[Bella]

[subtitle]Miahala Majere Sedai[/subtitle]
Although no longer Amyrlin, there was a certain level of status afforded to an Aes Sedai as elder and powerful as Miahala. And even if that weren't the case, there was some power afforded being the matriarch of a familial line deeply rooted in this place. Either way, it allowed her to be sitting in her parlor, awaiting the arrival of her great-great-granddaughter, whose presence had politely been requested.

Her newly allocated chambers in the Halls of the Green Ajah were comfortably appointed, but simple and utilitarian, as suited both she and Sojin. There was one bedroom, and one living space with a fireplace, a long sofa and pair of armchairs, a sideboard and bookshelves, and a table for two. It was at the corner of the green brocade sofa where she now sat.

On the table was a pot of tea, kept warm with the occasion filament of Fire, and an opened letter on the other side--far enough away to not run the risk of being set aflame by the warming of the teapot.

In due course, there was a knock at the door. With a look up, she called, "Enter." The small knot in her mind worked itself in the Yards, and she couldn't help a small smile. An expression that grew slightly with the entrance of her kin. "Tia," she said, shutting her book and setting it away on the table. "Thank you for coming. Please, have a seat."

[Roan]

Tia Tomosan

The last time Tia Tomosan received a summons from Miahala Sedai, the elder was Amyrlin Seat, and reached out to the younger on behalf of her twin brother who was concerned Tia had withdrawn into herself. In the aftermath of the Seanchan attack, Tia did her best not to withdraw, though she also didn’t speak overly much about her time in captivity. Now she was a full blown Aes Sedai, she could spend her time as she pleased, and she made sure some of that time was shared with her brother and family.

Some months had passed since Tia earned the Shawl, but she was still getting used to life as an Aes Sedai. Having her own personal living quarters, where she had her living space and her bedroom was a luxury she learned to relish. It felt. . .decadent to have so much space just for her, but she was not going to complain.

The summons from Miahala came not all that long ago, but Tia took time to make sure she looked. . .acceptable. She tended to shy away from the fancy dresses many of her fellow Sisters tended to favor. The very first thing she’d done when she earned the Shawl was buy multiple pair of breeches. Some were black, others deep forest green, while one pair were brilliant white. To go with her riding pants, she had a selection of blouses in various shades of white, black, green and everything in between. There were the occasional blue and reds, but there was something to be said to attire in the color of your Ajah. It was kind of. . .tradition.

Today, Tia Tomosan Sedai wore black breeches, riding boots, a white blouse and a deep green vest. Her hair was pulled back into a simple ponytail. She glanced at the shawl, but decided to leave it behind as she left her quarters and walked a few meters along to knock on her Memma’s door.

“Enter.”

It was the first time Tia’d been to her Memma’s new quarters, and she looked around, realizing Miahala’s living quarters were not so different to hers. She looked to the older Aes Sedai and offered a warm smile as she came to sit on the same sofa Mia currently occupied, “How could I refuse a summons from you, Memma?” She brought one knee up on the sofa and turned so she was facing her great-great grandmother, “Though I am curious about the summons. I’ve not already broken some. . .Sisterly code I didn’t know about, have I?” She allowed a humorous smile as she leaned against the couch.

[Bella]

To see her kin dressed so much like Miahala did when she was the girl's age... Well, it brought a new warm smile to her face. After attaining the rank of Aes Sedai and spending pretty much all of her time out on "important tasks," she was oft seen in breeches and lace-up vests, daggers strapped in surprisingly creative places...

"Not at all," Mia laughed quietly. "When you are an Aes Sedai, few can challenge you." Humor lit her blue-green eyes. She wished she could better remember what it was like to be Tia's age, but then, when she had been, her life had looked quite different than her kin's. The paths they tread were so similar, and yet so different. "You create your own code."

Pausing, she lifted her cup and sipped her tea. As she set it away, she continued, "No, I actually call on you with a request. This is at the behest of our family, though it seems a task for a Green as well." She lifted a piece of folded parchment, with the seal broken, and handed it to her. "Hilen and Hilde Fuutal. They are the great-grandchildren of my younger sister Matila. Twins, moving into their silver years.

"Twins. Rather odd pair." Mia smiled wryly. "One of the few of the Sha'hal line to settle outside the borderlands without being here at the Tower. Anyways. It seems their village is having some bandit trouble. Having connections here, they have written and asked for someone to come check. I'm unable to, but you're a full-fledged Green now. Would you be willing to lend aid?"

[Roan]

The Sha’hal line was not small, and Tia knew only a fraction of her living relatives. She realized in that moment that the only relatives she knew were those who were descended from the woman before her. The possibility of meeting other relatives was exciting, and it showed in Tia’s eyes as she offered Mia a warm smile. “If a Sha’hal is asking for assistance, who am I to refuse them aid? I would be honored to assist, Memma.”

The younger Aes Sedai hesitated and tilted her head slightly, “Though, I don’t think going it alone would be wise. Aside from ameture skill with the bow, I have no real skill with weapons as of yet. Given how eager I was to join the Yards originally, I am ashamed to admit this, and it is something I intend on correcting sooner rather than later. Still. . . I would need to find someone to accompany me, unless you might have someone in mind?”

[Bella]

Mia was glad her young kin was not as brash as...well, as Miahala herself had often been. She smiled slightly and nodded. "I think that is a wise precaution. I do not know anyone available off the top of my head, but let me make some inquiries..."

OOC: Apologies for the craptastic post. >.< But I wanted to roll along. In your next post, go ahead and have Tia and Nat meeting? You can say that Sojin told Mia that Nat was available and set them up.

[Roan]

Tia Tomosan

It hadn’t taken Miahala long to locate someone who might be able to accompany Tia for the journey to the small village where her kin lived. Part of her hated to admit she couldn’t follow up on the request on her own. . .she hated to admit that she wasn’t completely independent and self sufficient. As a Sha’hal, she tended to be fiercely independent, but perhaps even more so in the wake of the Seanchan attack. Having been collared, and felt so helpless had a significant impact on Tia. . .how could it not?

It wasn’t something Tia had or would admit to, because, in her mind, it was a failing. When she looked at her family, she saw one independent channeler after another. At the head of the family was Miahala Sedai. Yes, she was bonded to Sojin, but the woman could look out for herself. Tia felt she had such a long way to go to consider herself an equal to her aunt or Memma.

The Aes Sedai forced those thoughts of self doubt to the depths of her mind as she approached the Warder Yards. Miahala sent word that a Gaidin named Natlya Cade was available to ride with Tia to the small village. She could have summoned Natlya to her rooms in the Tower, but sending such a summons seemed. . .presumptuous given she’d not been an Aes Sedai all that long.

The Yards were busy, but Tia had a good description of the woman she was searching for, and she found her going through sword forms against a training dummy. “Gaidin Natlya Cade? May I have a moment of your time?”

[Bella]

The fancloak had not changed the drive that Natlya felt. Whether that was a surprise or not was up to each individual person's perception, and she didn't imagine many people working too hard on perceiving her... For her own part, it did not surprise her. She was in the Tower to train, and to become better. A better person. A better fighter.

That learning would never stop.

She heard a voice calling her name and turned. When she realized that an Aes Sedai stood before her, she blinked. The woman was not familiar to her. What could she want with me? But she lowered her sword and turned to face the woman completely, bowing slightly. "Of course, Aes Sedai," she said formally. "My time is yours."

[Roan]

Tia Tomosan

There were not so many people around their corner of the yards, and Tia felt content to explain the situation without needing to find more privacy. “A small village known as Fairview has experienced trouble with bandits and has requested aide. The request was made by distant kin of mine to Miahala Sedai, who has asked me to investigate.”

Tia let the initial bit of information sink in, and studied Natlya during the brief pause. What she’d seen of the Gaidin as she approached the yards spoke of someone who could certainly wield a sword with ease. She’d moved with grace and confidence to Tia’s untrained eyes, which was more than the Aes Sedai could do. She continued, “I have no Warder at this time, and know it would be more than foolish for me to go on my own. I was told you might be available to join me on the journey.” She paused again and tilted her head slightly, “Would you be available, or even interested in joining me to investigate the claims by the village, and, if needed, find and dispatch those who seem to be causing the townsfolk grief?”

Did Aes Sedai and Asha'man give people a choice when they were asking them to join them on errands and missions? Tia grew up in a channeling family, but none of her kin seemed to put on airs the way many Aes Sedai, and even some Asha'man seemed to do. She had no desire to be a demanding, high maintenance kind of Aes Sedai who expected those who could not channel to worship the ground she walked on. . .that just was not her. Her Memme did say to forge her own way, and she had every intention of doing exactly that.

[Bella]

Natlya wasn't sure if she was more surprised that she, a brand new Gaidin of little reputation in the Tower, was being asked to aid an Aes Sedai, or that the Aes Sedai was asking instead of ordering in the first place.

Still, there was no way she was going to say no. She wasn't inclined to, as there was no reason she had to want to decline, but this was another opportunity to truly put all her training to the test. She had protected one Aes Sedai out in the world, but that task would never be complete--even if the Aes Sedai were different.

Looking at the other woman, she bowed again. "I live to serve, Aes Sedai. When do we leave?"

[Roan]

Tia Tomosan

It would take time for Tia to get used to the formality afforded to her now that she was an Aes Sedai, and no longer a learning rank. She wasn’t sure she liked it, especially given that the woman standing before her would put her life on the line to save Tia’s if it became necessary. Perhaps there was a reason for the formality, but why? It was a question to ask Miahala at another time.

Tia inclined her head, “We leave just after the morning meal tomorrow. We can either meet at the stables, or the traveling yards. We’ll travel by gateway to the village, and meet with my kin and the townsfolk to speak with them of their troubles.

“I’m hoping they can give us a lead on where we might start to look for these bandits,” Tia explained. “I have no idea what to expect once we get there, or what form our bandits might take. With luck, it will just be a small band of troublemakers, and nothing more. I’m afraid I don’t know much more than that, though.”