The Grey Tower

From his kneeling position, Kalyan had to look up to get a good view of the plant he was working with. It was now as wide and tall as if it had been growing in that spot for years instead of not even one day. The Dedicated nodded, pleased with his work, as the strawberries reddened and increased in size. It seemed that the berries had also caught Lewin's attention, as the Drin was poking nervously at one of them. Kalyan turned his head towards the other man, easily making the small additions and subtractions of Earth and Water that were all the weave needed at this point.

He smiled and said, "You can touch the plant if you want. It won't hurt you and it won't bother me." He studied the plant, watching as the strawberries' color darkened to a vivid scarlet. A few were smaller and lighter than the others, and as he came closer to finishing his work, Kalyan searched for these, placing more Earth in the weave near each of the stragglers, influencing them to flourish as well as the rest had. The Dedicated gave Lewin a somewhat absent nod as he continued to look over his work.

He frowned when the Drin spoke of how desirable farmers would find his ability. "Suppose they might," Kalyan said, "but I'd hope not. I don't think the One Power is meant to be used to make people wealthy. I'd rather use what I can do to restore failing crops, or to grow them faster so people won't go hungry."

He shrugged and continued on to answer Lewin's question. "Plantweaving is how the spark showed up for me," he said. "Ma and Da run an apple orchard just outside of Caemlyn, so I grew up helping to look after the trees. Thought I was just good with them, until I met an Asha'man at one of Caemlyn's markets who recognized what I'd been doing."

As he finished his weave, Kalyan tied it off and let saidin go. Then he turned his head and looked up to meet the other man's eyes. "What about you?" he asked curiously. "What made you decide to study with the Warders, instead of...I don't know, joining the army or something to learn how to fight?" Bright brown eyes watched the Drin with interest, as Kalyan really wanted to know the answer. He could remember Dianlinn explaining how she'd been basically ordered to come here, but Kalyan didn't think the Aiel woman's experience had been typical. He thought most of them had more of a choice in the matter, more than many channelers were given, and he tilted his head, his attention still on Lewin as he waited for a response.

While he listened, Kalyan studied the plant in front of him and smiled, pleased with his work. He briefly considered whether he should start on the next in the line, but as just as he decided he was too tired for that, Lewin mentioned that he needed to go. The Dedicated turned to the other man with a friendly nod and shook the offered hand. Letting go, he said, "Suppose I'd better get going too. If I don't keep up with my reading I'll be regretting it later."

Lewin's last comment brought an amused smile to Kalyan's face. The Dedicated said, "Don't worry, they're not going to lock you up in the Yards. I have a good friend I met while she was a Drin and I was a Soldier, so I'm sure you'll be allowed some sort of freedom. I'll look forward to seeing you if you ever do make it back here." With that, Kalyan turned and walked away, heading for the library.