The Grey Tower

Taylin found Gabrial Sedai in her rooms, as she had for the previous few weeks. They had been working on many weaves, but the talent called Cloud Dancing had Taylin captured by the idea, by the power of it. She found most days, a slight disappointment if Gabrial did not look dressed to travel. Today, she was in luck. The older Aes Sedai wore a dress of deep purple slashed with pearl white, and a cloak made to withstand the weather of the cold mountains they traveled to practice. Taylin readied herself as well. Not only were the mountains good practice spaces for Cloud Dancing, but it allowed Taylin the chance to start mastering her ability to ignore the elements around her.

Gabrial opened a Gateway in the corner of her rooms in the Tower, and cold air rushed into the room, snow on its trail. The eerie quiet beyond the false doorway was heavier today, the snow thick on the ground and trees. Taylin passed through first, and second came Gabrial. Taylins blond hair was blown into her face, as she tried to right it with a hand. Embracing the Power she wove a ward around herself and Gabrial, to buffet the winds and keep it off of them. The winds whipped around them, yet nothing within ten paces stirred.

“You are becoming very adept at Water and Air, Taylin. However, the weather has much more to it than that. You must learn to harness the power of the storm, and use it against those who would do you harm, or are Darkfriends. Today, you will learn to have the weather fight for you. If I find you, class is over for the day, we will return another. You have one minute to begin before I start searching. Remember; use the storm to hide you.”

Taylin turned without question, masking the glow of her channeling as she ran, the Ward protecting them from the storm gone now. Wind whipped at her Accepted dress and white cloak. She did not notice. She channeled Water, Air, and Spirit, sending the storm above into blackness with the thick and heavy laden clouds. The snow became a mix of ice and white powder. Even as she moved through the mountains, the storm behind hid her trail. Soon the blizzard was blinding. Then she felt it.

Gabriel wove into the dark sky, lightning shot forth from thunderhead to thunderhead, and lighting up the mountains. Taylin reacted; she reversed the weave to make the lightning, and instead turned it to Thunder. The loud crash was followed by the sounds of trees breaking and grounds moving. Avalanche! She spun, to see snow coming toward her like a wave of water. She screamed, and Lightning flashed in a bolt so bright she was near to blind, creating a chasm before her in the ice, where the snows fell, missing her.

Another flash of light, this time from the clouds above. Taylin wove a simple ward, sending up a brilliant red flare, it star-busted once in the sky, hovering over her location. Gabrial appeared within minutes, the snow melting before her and the storm unable to touch her. Taylin wove her own wards around herself, as she pointed toward the avalanche. Gabrial smiled, assessing the girls work. Smart. To close for comfort, near to losing a charge, but the girl had proven smart enough to not need Gabrial to hover.

Gabrial grabbed Taylin’s head and she felt cold rush through her, her eyes healing from the searing light. “Let’s get back to the Tower child; we will come back on a day it is not already in such bad conditions.”

Today Taylin met Gabrial in the Traveling yards, and smiled at her. They both knew what the mission today was, and Taylin was looking forward to it. Gabrial opened a Gateway, a weave Taylin was becoming familiar with. Steeping through to the most remote of locations, Grabrial smiled with pleasure and pride. “You have come far child, now, let us see what my teachings have brought you. As usual, will give you a minutes head start.”

The sunny blue sky bellied the coldness of the land. It was easy enough, weaving Air to hide her tracks in the snow. She wove heavily into the sky, darkening it with clouds gathering in no natural storm. Midday became black as evening time. She needed to reach high ground, a vantage to see Gabrial. The minute was up, and the storm truly began.

Lightning danced from cloud to cloud is terrifying streaks. The lands lit up like noon-day beneath their fiery light. Taylin wove the blizzard into a snow storm worthy of such a name. She raised a barrier around herself, keeping off the snow and holding in heat. As Gabrial had taught her, she melted the snow in her path, creating it as if never bothered once passed. She began her climb into the mountains, up to a rock cliff.

The wind and storm battered at her, but did not break the Shielding. She reached the ridge, where the snow was thick. She reached out with Air and Water; altering the storm, lessening the white out. She could feel Gabrial nearby. A storm of snow enveloped the path behind her, as she cast an Illusion, to hide herself. She Masked the glow of saidar, and waited, It didn’t take long for Gabrial to appear on the ledge.

The Aes Sedai looked over the land, looking to see where here pupil hid. The snows reflected the light and the snow laden evergreens were spruce here. Where was the blasted girl? The snow storm and hiding her tracks had been smart, but Gabrial didn’t realize the girl had masked her own glow. She had to give her points of creativity. Win at all costs, and yet follow the rules, use the weather to hide yourself. It was an original idea, but one of action, something no one could teach. A person was either a natural born survivor or made into one, this seemed the first of the two.

Gabrial was just in time to turn and feel herself wrapped in air. Taylin stood smiling, refusing to shield a Sister.Her illusion was gone, and she was standing far enough away from the woman that it took a moment to notice her. Smiling, she let her teacher go easily and immediately. “Does that mean I win?” Her smile was proud and hopeful. Gabrial seemed to share in her joy.

“That it does girl. That it does. I have but one last request for you; I want you to conjure the worst of storms. We are near no city or people. Unleash yourself child, but do not burn yourself out. Let’s test the limits of this power, of your Gift. And remember, you must control the storm, not ride upon it.”

Taylin looked nervous, but when Gabrial shielded them, she felt better. Embracing the Source, weaves of Air and Water thicker than a man’s thigh reached into the clouds above; the lace of it intricate and repeating. She could feel her connection to it, to the entire web of the world. And then she began to change it.

The clouds grew heavy over the land within minutes. Rain began to fall, but ice came with it. The black sky lost the sun, and the land knew darkness. Thunder peeled so loud the land shook. It built, coming. There was terror and beauty in it. She was the Stormcaller, and it had answered in kind. The lightning began to strike ground, as winds gusted. The clouds above began to funnel. Destruction was coming. She relished in.

“Do not ride the Storm child, direct it” Gabrial said calmly.

Taylin heard the woman, and the thoughts of darkness fled. Moments passed and the danger was gone as it rained. Eventually the clouds thinned, and the sun shown through a thin fog. Taylin was tiered, but not as much as one would have though. Gabrial hugged her, congratulated her, and then took them both home.