The Grey Tower

"Are you finished, Rhykana?"

The words were cold and sharp, empathized by a less-than-friendly gaze. "You need not remind me that Aes Sedai are raised from women of all stations, child." Hopefully her shame would convince her to keep her mouth shut while she dealt with Elysianne's issues. The child claimed illness - and the clammy sheen on her forehead seemed to support this. But... Her tone was perhaps too well practiced. But for now, she could not be required to clean chamber pots. Perhaps the situation could be remedied by the Yellows, but that would be dealt with on another day.

"Elysianne, you have done yourself a disservice by not being plain with me. If you had come to me first, I would have adjusted your chore list accordingly, and you would not be in this predicament. In the future, you'll find that its much easier in the long run to be forthcoming about things. If you're not doing your work, you're not reaping the benefits - which means you have catching up to do. You will pick up all of Vesra's chores, excluding the chamber pots, in addition to your own. This includes scrubbing her bedroom floors each morning when you do your own." She would not like that, but the lesson would be learned. "If you attempt to shirk away from responsibility again, the consequences will be heavier." Illyria made a mental note to assign an unnoticeable servant to watch the child; Versa may have been more easily manipulated than most, but scheming wasn't rewarded until after the Great Stairs were ascended.

"And you, Rhykana," she said as she turned to the taller girl, "Must learn to control your temper." This was not the first time she had seen the Andoran in her office, frothing in a rage, nor did she think it would be the last.

"Anger, even when it is righteous, must never control your mind." Illyria, even as frustrated as she was, could not deny that she was worried. Rhykana was strong in the One Power and she let her temper pull her like a rabid dog did a leash - and not using the One Power as a weapon was one of the few things Aes Sedai were forbidden from doing. "I believe that some time away from the Tower would do you good. The Farms, child. Two weeks. Gather your things and be back in my office by the hour." She'd assign her to Mistress al'Gwin. That woman was tougher than the charred chicken the novices ate at dinner - if anyone could get Rhykana on the path to learn control, it would be her. 20 days would be plenty enough time for her to learn that anger was so much more useful when funneled into a purpose than allowed to roam wild.

Illyria pondered if Versa might join her. She needed to understand that chore-swapping was not an option, and further more, understand that it was not necessary. There was no such thing as a weak Aes Sedai - Versa had potential, but the risk of letting her out into the world before that was developed was too great. Many people would be all too happy to take advantage of such a woman; she suppressed a cringe as rumors of the Black Ajah seeking pawns came to mind. Mistress al'Gwin would be good for her too, she decided. She'd call Versa in after these two had gone about their business.

"Any questions, girls?"

Elysianne N'eAlic The pretty haired novice gave a deeper curtsey, as deep as she dared as even still bobbing up and down turned her green. "Yes, Illyria Sedai." Her mind going over the penance as best she could, while trying not to think on what was assigned to Rhykana. Smiling now and giving herself away would only be worse on her, and Elysianne did not want that. Not now. That would be aweful.

"No questions, Aes Sedai." She replied, allowing what miserableness she felt stay in her voice. Light, she needed a deep cleaning and a bath, smelling salts and perhaps a nice long hair brushing. Maybe Cherish would even be so sweet as to braid her hair before bed tonight. That would be very lovely, especially knowing that Rhykana wouldn't even be in the Tower.

Rhyka did not feel anywhere near finished, but she kept her mouth shut. It was an effort, as Illyria Sedai outlined the easiest and simplest chore for Elysianne that she had ever seen the Mistress of Novices assign for a punishment. She clenched her fists at her side, her stomach clenching, but kept her teeth snapped shut. Was Illyria Sedai really blinded but the other novice’s pretty, schoolgirl lies? How could a woman like Illyria Sedai, who Rhyka had always respected until this moment, believe such utter nonsense?

She said nothing when Illyria Sedai turned to her and told her to learn to control her temper, although she could not stop her eyes from shuttering. And you need to learn how to tell when a novice is lying through her teeth! She thought, vicious and angry. Who was Illyria to tell her to control her temper when the woman could not see through the thinnest of facades?

Her respect for the other woman had vanished. Illyria was not fit to be the Mistress of Novices.

“I have no questions, Illyria Sedai.” She told the woman, her tone measured and cold. She had none. She would go to the farms for two long weeks, and Elysianne would assign another girl to do Vesra’s chores. There was nothing else to say.

The both of them, Elysianne and Illyria, deserved a solid smack on their behinds.