The Grey Tower

[subtitle]Soldier Dai Marjan[/subtitle]
Although the gardens were Dai's favorite place to be, he had come to enjoy the library as well. It was a vast creature, so large and full of knowledge that he almost may have considered it alive in its own right, and he liked that feeling. Back home, he never could have imagined something like this existing, but now he knew and enjoyed it.

He enjoyed expanding his view of the world beyond the narrow confines he had before embraced. Once upon a time, he had not thought much about his life and where it was headed. Now, he realized that his horizons could be...limitless.

And so it was that he found himself wandering through the shelves and rows of the great library of the Grey Tower during one of the small number of free times those of his rank were given. With no particular direction in mind, a book with a vivid white leather binding caught his eye and he pulled it out. The Science of Deduction: Logic in Observation. It drew his attention and he pulled it down.

Carrying it to a table, he almost realized too late that someone else was already sitting there. It was just in time that he saw her, and recognized her instantly for an Aes Sedai. His dark eyes widened in his horror at the slight and, book clutched to his chest, he bowed hastily. "My apologies, Aes Sedai," he said quickly.

Leala Gymorraine - First Reasoner When she read communications from her Ajah, she worked in her office. When she read communications from her lands, she worked in her office. When she worked on her own studies, she worked in her quarters. And sometimes, Leala found herself in the Library when she needed to sort out her work. The Library of the Grey Tower had with it an atmosphere of thought and logic. When the White Ajah, the lands of House Gymorraine, and her personal studies collided in some manner, the Library was simply the logical place to go. She had three folios in front of her, all three in different colors: brown for her lands, white for her Ajah, and lavender for her own studies. The First Reasoner was at the moment reading communications from her Ajah, which always came first.

As she had found the rhythm of Aelyn's encoded message, she saw a tall figure walk up to her table. Looking up, the Aes Sedai saw a dark-haired soldier take a seat next to her. The white book that he held to his black soldier's coat stood out in stark contrast. She recognized that particular book without seeing the title, simply because she had read it so many times. He apologized to her when he took notice of her and her rank.

"There is no reason to apologize," Leala said in an even voice. "I come here, because the purpose of a library is to find evidence, to find reason, to align studies in a logical manner. I would be rather contrary to my word if I did not invite everyone to take advantage of that, especially those who are learning." She offered the young man a polite smile. "But, I am curious...what was it that drew you to that book in particular?"

Oh, dear. She asked him a question...

Dai had now been at the Tower long enough to know what the ranks of the Aes Sedai, Asha'man, and Gaidin were like. They carried with them such auras or power and knowledge and...being. They, frankly, intimidated him to no end. Classes taught by Accepted and Dedicated were easier, while classes taught by this rank were hard to focus. And Aes Sedai even more so, carrying even deeper history.

Still, he knew that one did not ignore them. That was even worse a sin. Besides, even if they frightened him, he had not been raised to be so impolite.

Although he had pretty much all but forgotten what book it was he had chosen, and to answer her question at all, he looked down at it to remind himself. Carefully, he forced himself to set it down on the table. "I am learning many things, Aes Sedai," he began thoughtfully, choosing his words. Her own suggested her Ajah clearly to him, explaining her interest in his choice of book.

"I know that I am here to train as an Asha'man, and hopefully attain that rank, but I know not my path otherwise. Thus I try to learn about many things and see where I am drawn. This book... Well, the study of logic, of the rational, it is intriguing. Many choices in my life have been made emotionally, for better or worse..." he trailed off when he realized he was rambling and looked at the table sheepishly.