The Family Business [Attn: Tia Tomason Sedai]

[Bella]

"Then we shall have to find out when we are there," Nat said with a faint smile, trying to determine if she was excited or terrified at this prospect. Her test with Thea Sedai had been so sudden she didn't have much time to think, but now she did. She couldn't let it shake her, however. She had earned the right to be here, and she would keep earning it.

Oh, the irony of it all. Once, she had found all the reasons in the world to leave, and now she was so determined to stay.

She bowed her head again. "I shall see you on the morrow, Aes Sedai, and I shall be prepared for anything."
* * * The morning proceeded as usual, until the morning meal was finished. Nat tried to focus and not be anxious about what was about to happen, this new task, although it was a battle all its own. She made sure she had her weapons, then headed to the stables. They had agreed to meet at the traveling yard, so she tacked up her sturdy little mare and headed to meet her Aes Sedai for the trip...

[Roan]

Tia Tomosan

Morning came, and Tia was thankful, not for the first time, to be a channeler, as she took advantage of her skills to warm the air in her bed chamber, which made getting out of bed and dressed for the day that much easier. She took a peek out of her window and saw several inches of fresh snow on the ground. Given the season, Tia dressed in her warmest black breeches, long sleeved black doublet with green trim, and found her heaviest dark green cloak to keep the chill and wind at bay.

On her way out of her rooms, Tia grabbed her thick riding gloves and made her way to the stable, where she found Storm tacked up and ready to go. She checked the mare’s girth before leading her to the traveling yards, where she found the Gaidin waiting for her. Offering a warm smile and tilt of her head, she greeted the other woman, “Good morning, Gaidin. Ready to begin our little adventure?”

Before Natlya had a chance to reply, another Aes Sedai approached. She wore a dark blue cloak, suggesting her ajah of choice. “Are you ready, Tia Sedai?” With a simple nod from Tia, the woman opened a gateway, and Tia looked to Natlya, “I’m guessing you’ll want to go first?”

[Bella]

When Natlya saw the Aes Sedai approach, she bowed slightly. She would have replied, but another Aes Sedai approached. She respectfully inclined her head to this woman as well, but let the Green do the talking. Not that there was much talking to be done, of course, since the Blue--as her cloak suggested--was just there to help with a Gateway.

“I’m guessing you’ll want to go first?”

Natlya nodded. "Yes, Aes Sedai." She knew that there was almost no situation, none that she'd ever heard of, where the channeler would ride ahead of the warder. If the channeler was alone, it was another matter. But Tia Sedai had Nat, and Nat would, by the Light, be the warder in all ways needed.

The small group proceeded fully into the traveling yard, where the Blue moved ahead and began her work. Natlya could not feel it, of course, but she saw the tension of concentration in the woman's shoulders and watched her hands begin to move. So, the other two mounted up without delay and Nat rode slightly ahead of the Green.

Once the Gateway was open, the Blue nodded at them. Nat nodded back and then began to ride, leading the way through the shimmering door. It was still a slightly...disconcerting experience, but she was getting used to it.

Her body was tense with watchfulness as she moved through, feeling like she was trying to look everywhere at once. That was, of course, impossible, but she did her best. It was what she had been trained to do, after all. In a way, Gaidin were trained to do the impossible, so why should she expect any less of herself?

However, the other side revealed no great threat. They were in a small, snow-covered field just aside a road that would lead to a little village in Andor set on the Cairhien border. With the way clear, she moved forward to allow the Aes Sedai to proceed behind her.

[Roan]

Tia Tomosan

Tia understood the reasons Gaidin went before channelers through gateways, and she was thankful she’d have company on this particular trip. Hard life lessons proved to her that she let her studies in weapons and self defense lapse. . .something she intended to rectify in the not so distant future.

Counting to ten, Tia waited, giving Natlya enough time to make sure nothing was amiss. Before riding through, she gave the Blue her thanks. The journey to the village would be quick, though the journey home might take a bit longer. Traveling was not really Tia’s forte. With a deep breath and pushing the stray thought aside, she rode through. It was always a bit jarring to go from the Traveling Yards to somewhere else.

Once on the other side, the first thing Tia noticed was the wind, and she pulled her cloak tighter around her. Looking to Nat before nodding along the road, “Our destination lies in that direction. I suspect today will be an easy one where we talk to people, gather information and figure out our next move.”

With a gentle squeeze of her legs, Tia urged Storm onward, and looked over her shoulder just as the gateway closed behind them. The Blue sister did a good job of getting them close to the village so that they wouldn’t be exposed to the elements too long. Once she and Nat rode out to find those who were creating havoc for the locals? All bets were off. At least she could manage weaves of Air and Fire to warm the pair of them up if need be.

The Aes Sedai looked to her companion for the journey, “When I was sent to find you, I was told you hadn’t long been wearing the Fancloak. Is this your first. . .mission as a Gaidin?”