The Grey Tower

Taylin was dressed in a simple gown of deep gold fabric. Her chest fell into her dress, showing a fair amount of herself. For being sixteen, she dressed more scandalously than some women. It fell in waves to the floor, trailing along slightly behind her as she tried to keep up through the city toward what was the Grey Tower. She touched her bang, making sure they fell properly with the rest of her blond wavy hair.

She was shut off from the people around her, from the woman she had traveled here with. Detached, but hyper-aware. Everything seemed so much to take in, to absorb. Colors, scents, people, food, swords, and so much more. She urged the horse behind her to follow closer, using him as a way to shield herself from the people around. The woman in front of her never let her venture from her watchful stare.

The Aes Sedai's warder was behind her, his own horse followed as trained. Taylin almost liked the woman now, but it didn't matter. Everything was changed, nothing was the same. And yet it felt as if she were the same woman, but had woken up to a world gone mad. Far Madding seemed a place of the past already, and she was ashamed at how little she felt like crying, or even being upset. It would come eventually, this wasn't the first time she'd felt this way.

They entered into the main area of a large courtyard. Men and women came to take the horses as she followed the Aes Sedai into the building. Once inside, Taylin began to look around. The woman she had traveled with left to attend to 'business', only offering a quick word promising her return. Taylin looked out of place; her hands folded before her with no smile breaking her pretty, albeit sharp featured face. Her blue eyes were glazed slightly, evidence of her nerves slowly breaking in half, then half again.

Conor Palfrey A Pretty Wall Flower.. and a Girl "Yes, my hair is getting long. Knock it off, Nava!" He chimed at the brown squirrel that nattered at his shoulder. Sticks and flowers had somehow been braided into his hair by tiny squirrel fingers.. claws and now he was trying to pull them out. Nava would have none of it and seems to feel very motherly in telling him just that. "Get your own nest, and not in my hair." Yet he spoke more in jest, even if a sliver of his heart wanted to toss the squirrel into the bush.

Problem with following through with that idea was that they shared the bed, and it would leave Conor on the floor if Nava let him back in the room at all. It made him feel very sulky.

But his sulkiness could not keep his eyes from wandering to find but a vision sitting at a bench, with light reflecting like the sun from her golden hair. And they way it kissed off her dark skin, why, he could almost swoon to just the way the wind touched her cheeks and kissed her hair in the breeze.

Why, he was practically drooling! Nava nipped unnoticed at Conor's ear and jumped off his back and waited in a tree nearby. HE wasn't about to become an unfortunate bystander in his human's shenanigans. Further the tall lummox of a Ji'alantin walked and situated in front of the lady lovely, carefully not standing in her sunlight and golden glow, bowing with a flourish. "So lovely a lady could not be here just for a lazy sit. Allow me to escort you to where you need to me, My Lady Divine."

Oddly, she did not see gaggles of women and men working the One Power, creating havoc, or in general doing anything sinister. What was this? She was expecting a carnival, something out of a gleeman's tale. She saw no Ogier, no strange Kings and Queens. It was impressive, just not really what she pictured in her mind.

Taylin looked toward a man, a very broad man. His shoulders seemed set apart like columns holding up a huge building. His arms were probably as big around as her thighs, if not larger. She did not bother with a smile or a blush. Instead as he spoke, her right hand went toward her neck, where a dagger should have been hanging. The Aes Sedai had told her not to bring it, that it would be destroyed. She didn't know her mother had put a hairpiece on the back of it, and it was now safely hidden behind her neck.

Refusing to risk losing it here, she settled for a distant, somewhat calculating look from the mans face, to his body, and finally his feet. Yes, he was formidable. Once she could channel that would be less of an issue; but this was here and now.

"..Uh huh." Even her voice held a chill to it, though it wasn't the harshness of anger or hate. It lacked emotion in nearly every way. "I am to wait on the Aes Sedai who brought me. Unless of course you know who takes in the women here....you know, after we are whisked away from our homes like..." She stopped. She'd been about to say like a crazed False Dragon. Old ways died hard. Harder when a society remarks upon every male mistake.

Conor Palfrey Not really this stupid... ish The icy cold in her voice only brought his smile brighter, although the tears in his eyes were genuine. The poor girl seemed to think she was abducted unfairly and now was stuck to live out her life a maiden in the clutches of a shadow-filled Grey Tower. The joke of it being more in the shadow than the White simply because it was the GREY Tower nearly broke his focus but alas, he persevered. That and there was in injustice before his eyes and that must be his first priority! He brushed a few loose twigs from his hair before he fell to one knee before her. Almost to reach for a hand, his palm open for her to accept.

"Ah, but Lady Dearest, you have been given such a gift! Had you not been broken from your chains you would never have been able to grace the world with your perfect jewel eyes. It would be quite the shame, for I am blessed to have had their gaze upon me. Surely that alone must ease but that ache. Never the likes of here will you have else where. Of that I can promise." Not that he knew of what being a Novice was like aside the rumors and the complaints. Most he just ignored. "But if it is to the Mistress of Novices you must proceed, I just so happen to know the way. If you will allow me." The smile, that Palfrey! smile at the ready.

Taylin watched in abject horror as the man fell to his knees. She all but fell out of her dress trying to pick him up as soon as he shut up. By the Light, what kind of people lived here? He wanted to take her to see his Mistress? Who advertised their affairs so freely, even Domani had some shame.

She wished she had her dagger, or that her mother be here. The thought of that gave her the closest thing to real laughter she'd left in days. She knew she couldn't lift the man and finally gave up. Like everything else, she would just accept it, for now.

Giving him the slightest of peeved looks, she stood, her bearing much that of a woman used to taking charge of things. Though she was small and obviously displaced in her current situation, the makings of a strong backbone would be ever present. She assessed the situation quickly and decided on a course of action.

"This Mistress of yours, she will help me find a room? They were joking about burning my things, right? They won't sale my horse will they? If you want to help, help. You have enough smarts to survive the Aes Sedai. Then you have enough to know you're acting off-color. Now please, forgive me, but this is one in a series of very bad days for me." Giving the bridge of her nose a squeeze with thumb and forefinger, her blue eyes would take him in, resigned acceptance settled in, taking the fire right out of her, as quickly as it'd been rekindled. "My name is Taylin." It was added as an after-thought.

Conor Palfrey Is no Mistress nor has a Mistress? Conor opened his mouth for a quick reply but it shut again for a moment, confused by her words. She stood and quickly like the gentleman he was, Conor also stood up. Briefly brushing away any dust from his leathers as it did not match well with his Ji'alantin uniform.

"Illyria Sedai.. she." No, he didn't know how to explain it as her questions and reasoning confused him. He had no knowledge of any dress burning (as that would be something he should know about! It was DRESS BURNING!) and he gave a shrug. "She will have better answers for you than a lowly Ji'alantin such as I." Funny, he didn't ask her name and she gave it, yet she did not bother to ask of his. "I am Conor, Conor Palfrey at your service Lady Taylin. Illyria Sedai is this way." All ranked members of the Tower and the Yard knew where the MoNSTers were, schedules were made specifically to avoid them lest one were in a foul mood.

He held out an arm to escort her, should she wish it. "I am sorry you have having such a sad day, my Lady. New adventures have always been an excitement to me. I did not mean to cause you distress."

Distress, a scene in front of people she was afraid she'd see again. Well, at this rate she was fairly positive. And from a man she didn't know. She wanted to blush furiously and give him a proper tongue lashing. Instead she let the anger freeze and dissipate. Then she realized, like dawn breaking the night, she could be anyone here.

Why not? This was a new place. She could be anyone she wanted. This Aes Sedai he spoke of shouldn't be too bad, if she could help after all. Again she gave him a glare, lacking any heat, before laying her hand gently on his arm. She wasn't fool enough to ignore the strength there. Strength she might one day need.

Despite everything she attempted to thaw her disposition. Eying him from her peripheral vision she gave his body the once-over. He wasn't as oafish as one would believe, and something told her not as slow as some might think. She could appreciate the wilder side of the man, the untamed beast within. It was something of a raw power not everyone possessed, only the fun ones. Could he be fun? Perhaps, but this Mistress still had her wondering.

It wasn't up for debate, she decided, losing the last of her chill and walking more normally. She even ventured a small smile before speaking. "So, how long have you been here, Conor Palfrey?"

Conor Palfrey He felt very important, escorting her to the Mistress of Novices. A beautiful new lady on his arms, why he would be able to brag of something new in the mess hall this evening! It was all so very peachy and he felt happy to be of help. Even if her cold glare made him want to run to the hills. At least the Lady Distain warmed with a little honey and sweetness.

"Oh, for just a little while." He said, non-commital. "I was at the White Tower for a few years and then I came here for a while. I think they want me to smarten up so they can make me Gaidin, but I like it as a Ji'alantin. All the training and fun and no responsibilities." He looked down at her with a flirty smile, completely missing the hint of something behind her eyes. "That and I can't really be bonded yet, so it means I'm out of reach for a little while. I don't want to be chased by men or women to be Gaidin just yet." His knack for people he cared about getting hurt didn't sit well and it was something he didn't want to share with just anyone.

"And we are here!" Conor said as he swept into a deep bow after releasing her arm. "Just knock on the door and I believe she will be able to help you! It was lovely to meet you, Lady Taylin."

Taylin smiled as he spoke and they walked. She attempted the glide of the women around her, and managed to not look like a duck, at the least. She touched her dress with her off-hand. She loved the smell of home on it, and her soaps.

She wondered what the Tar Valon witches were doing to lose people as valuable as gaidin. It didn't much matter one way or the other, her life seemed set in motion. As they came to a door she bid Conor a farewell, with a promise to see him again. And she would make sure she did.

Taylin took a deep breath, straightening her hair. Finally she reached out and gave a firm knock.

Renai, fiery obstinance, independence, and haughty battlechanneler, wrapped in beauty, mystery, and infuriatingly translucent disregard for orders and duty, had not guided the newest novice to her office. Not that Illyria was particularly surprised; Renai had been raised a short four months ago into her husband's Ajah. And tradition demanded that the newest raised went on the boring missions. Mistress of Novices or not, she was not going to meddle in the affairs of the Captain-General. It'd be a scandal - demure Illyria Sedai, playing puppeteer with the Ajah Head of the largest sect in the Tower! It wouldn't matter that she was his wife, or that she wanted the best for the novices, or even if he particularly agreed - if he departed from tradition, there would be hell to pay.

And when you were Green, the boring missions were the ones where you went to scoop up girls with the spark or the ability to learn. And unlike most people, the Greens were usually upset when they weren't given orders that lead straight to the heart of the Blight. Truth be told, Illyria believed that Renai was more angry about the fact that she had been given marching orders than anything else - it didn't matter that the mission was boring, not with her freshly bonded Warder at her side - it mattered that someone else was telling her what to do. Most Accepted believed that once they became Aes Sedai that they would be free agents. For any child aspiring to one of the six - No, seven, she corrected herself swiftly, still forgetting to count the Red Ajah even though it had been established for quite some time - other Ajahs that was the case. Those aspiring Green seemed to forget the small detail that they were joining a military force and not a shadowspawn slaying club that drank together on Tuesdays.

That was always how Saffiah treated it, she thought dimly, signing off on a final report before she stood from her chair, But Saffiah was quite a bit more willing to scream in people's faces than Renai is. She brushed the thought from her mind as best she could, though that sharp face with the puckered scars and peridot eyes hung in her head longer than it should have. What had become of her? Alcohol poisoning, lying dead in some gutter, slain by Myrddraal with that Warder who had even less care for decorum than she did at her side. As far as she knew, they never bonded. But Illyria was willing to privately admit that she knew very little of the Kandori woman that had once been her friend.

She shook her head bleakly and her hair pins did not fail her - every auburn lock was held precisely in place. She crossed the ancient carpet, the same one that had been used by her predecessor, and she was sure the Mistress of Novices before that, and opened the door to her newest charge. Grey eyes assessed the child coolly. The well dressed girl met her gaze directly, perhaps in an attempt to weigh her, and Illyria only blinked, and kept her gaze flat and emotionless. In her early days of the job, she had been worried about the children that wanted to test their strength against hers. After years of practice and the merits of having a husband that preferred methods that were more akin to blunt force trauma rather than attempting to sail with a blindfold, Illyria had learned to sail the ship through rough waters. And what she once thought were rough waters were now more like irritating sprays of salty water. The child would eventually relent or she would leave.

"Taylin Melandrin?"