Note: The character Dirk's real name is Kye. So either appellation refers to him.

Disclaimer: All profits to RJ

Chapter 14: A Novel Novice

Kea was in a wonderland. Not only was the White Tower magnificent, it seemed a wonder was around every corner in Tar Valon. From the moment Kera Sedai had taken her up from the docks she had seen wonder after wonder. And all this in a town supposedly under siege! Every building seemed like a palace. The architecture was fabulous the designs so intricate and inspiring. Some seemed almost alive built so as to resemble cliffs, water falls and other things of natural beauty. It remained her of the one time she had seen the Imperial Gardens. Those reserved for the Empress and her Gardeners. But there were no Gardeners here. She would have seen them, they always stood out. Surly damane must have been used to build this place. But she stopped herself, not damane, she thought firmly; Aes Sedai. She was going to be one. It would take a long time but she was going to learn to use The Power like one of them. To use it to heal, research, make peace and battle evil. She would be respected and have trust and… maybe…. a Warder; if he would have her.

She was following a woman who was an Aes Sedai. This woman was very important to Kea now she knew as she was Mistress of all the novices. Kea knew from Kera Sedai that she had to complete being a Novice so that she could become an Accepted. If she completed that successfully she would be an Aes Sedai. Once Aes Sedai she would be able to do everything. Have an 'Ajah' which was like a family all dedicated to the same mission and purpose. She would be able to use her Power as she wanted and when she saw fit. She was also strong in The Power she had been told. Now she knew that was true… she was stronger than the woman in front of her and that was for certain.

The Aes Sedai turned into a study and Kea followed. She would get lost in this White Tower; it had so many twists and turns. Her head had been so full of ideas as she had walked, that she had barely noticed her surroundings anyway. The study was a simple one and little in it drew Kea's attention. All Kea could see and all her attention was focused on, was the woman in front of her. The Aes Sedai sat down and faced her across a desk. Kea remained standing and this brought a smile to the other lady's lips. She wore a stern face and her image as a rigid disciplinarian was only heightened by the tight bun in which she wore her hair.

"Good, you understand respect and orders. Sometimes Wilders don't. I Child am Silviana Sedai."

Kea still did not speak; she had not been given permission to. This was going to be easy. Showing respect to women set over her was not difficult. Though it was a little strange to respect someone who could channel, she had had some practise with Kera Sedai. It was no longer as strange to accept that a woman who channelled could be respected, even loved.

Silviana nodded, evidently pleased with how restrained Kea was being. "I was told you were rescued from the Seanchan. Is that true?"

"I was a damane, yes, Aes Sedai."

"Would you feel able to tell us about your life with… your people?"

"Of course, Aes Sedai."

Silviana nodded her face thoughtful. "You are a very strange Wilder Kea. You are very controlled and disciplined. I hear from Kera Sedai that she has not caught you channelling even once without her permission."

Kea did not speak she had not been asked to. Again she saw in Silviana's eyes a kind of weighed approval. "You are a very interesting case. The most welcome Novice of all time with your strength and control, but there are complications to, aren't there. How old are you Child?"

Kea bowed her head. "I must beg your pardon Aes Sedai but all I can say is what I have told Dirk. I am eighty or ninety something. I apologise for not answering the question properly. Damane are not reminded of their age and I have forgotten."

Silviana nodded slowly. "No matter it is not your fault. Had you not been trained you would have channelled anyway and could have died. Your training has saved and prepared you for now, though this talk of leashing gives me a foul taste in my mouth, reminds me of Forkroot!"

Silviana paused, as if she were remembering an unpleasant memory or contemplating a particularly awful piece of filth.

"You are much older than any Novice, you have been trained before and you seem to be able to discipline yourself in matters of etiquette. There are still many things on Tower law and History you must learn: things about the Oaths, Stilling offences, who has been stilled and so on. Being Aes Sedai is more than just channelling."

Kea simply stood there meeting Silviana's eyes, but not staring. She smiled pleasantly and kept her face strictly meek. The Mistress of the Novices finally motioned her to sit. She did so promptly and with a grateful smile so that Silviana would know she had wanted to sit and had stood only from respect not defiance. Silviana seemed to be considering something and finally she leant forwards and said quietly. "You are very strong. As strong as Moiraine used to be. You are stronger than me Kea. How does that make you feel?"

"It makes me feel small. If I am stronger than you, why is it I can do so little with The Power, and you so much? Aes Sedai, I know why. I have been taught only to hurt and kill like a sword for one man to hurt another. I am strong and sadly gifted at doing that. I know an Aes Sedai is more than that. You are beginning to show me how much. I am learning even as you speak to me. That is why I feel small, maybe even a little weak and foolish for being stronger."

"Well aren't you a novel Novice," replied Silviana. "I will enter your name in the book, but it will not be there long. Apply yourself to your studies and learn to use the Power like an Aes Sedai. Broaden your mind as the Ajahs show you the different facets of what you must know. I was going to go through how you should treat Aes Sedai and Accepted but it seems you already know intuitively. I cannot wait to get you into classes and help you learn Child. Kea smiled happily and gratefully.

"What do you want Kea?"

"To be an Aes Sedai," replied Kea at once as if she had been saving up the reply.

"Good, because we test you to make sure that that is exactly what you want; before we let you progress to Acceptance. But I meant what you want right now?"

Kea was aware that it was a test but she could not lie. She might get caught in it and if she wanted to be Aes Sedai she must learn to 'not speak a word that is untrue.'

"Truly Aes Sedai, I just want to fill myself with The Power, I have been holding off for so long. It feels like I might die if I don't touch it soon."

"Ah yes, a weakness, but not one in you alone Child. We almost all have it in some measure or another. Saidar is addictive and compelling. You may channel."

Then the lights came on, without moving at all saidar flooded into Kea and lit her up like a beacon for ships at sea. She did not channel but just held it inside of her for the joy of its warmth and the pleasure of being alive again. She held it for two straight minutes and then released it.

Looking back at Silviana Sedai she knew she had done right. She could not quite keep the regret out of her voice. "Thank you for teaching me that I must not hold it too long. I promise I will remember."

She was dismissed soon thereafter and went to her room which she shared in the Novice Quarters.

Dirk was swinging his sword with a practised ease. Jerome's came and met it. Spinning the sword in his hand he wove around Jerome's blade and thrust forward the Warder slipped backward and brought his own blade over to guard. Dirk immediately went into Heron Wading in the Rushes but Jerome countered this to with Dawn Rising. Back and forth they went neither trying to strike exposed skin but pitting their wits rather than their speed and brawn against each other. Dirk had enjoyed these weeks at the White Tower though he was no closer to knowing what he had to do next. He had been permitted to keep both his sword and cloak. He had entered the Warder training but had proved himself beyond it. Again and again he held fully trained Warders to a stalemate. He had even beaten some of them, but he acknowledged to himself as he caught Jerome's downward swing he had suffered his share of loses as well. His match and his thoughts however were interrupted by a cool and calm voice.

"Excuse me Gaidin." The voice was ice and carried clear authority. Dirk and Jerome stopped themselves mid-swing. In a moment they had pulled themselves to attention standing before the Aes Sedai who had addressed them. It was unusual for an Aes Sedai to come normally if the Gaidin was wanted she would send a Novice or Accepted with her message. It was Turanna Sedai, one of the two Aes Sedai who had brought him and Kea into the Tower three weeks ago, wearing her white fringed shawl and beside her was another of her white-shawled colleagues. The Ajahs kept to there own within the Tower that had been evident from the moment he had arrived.

"Seaine Sedai and I need to speak with Dirk so if you would please provide us undisturbed room."

Jerome nodded, "Honour to serve. As he moved from Dirk's side he held out his sword and they knocked the blades against each other. It was a sign of comradeship Dirk knew and also a way of wishing him look. With two Aes Sedai looking like they might be about to eat him Dirk felt in need of it.

As Jerome moved away Turanna spoke swiftly to her companion. "Make us private please Seaine." Seaine made a small movement with her hand and nodded. Apparently it had been done. Now Dirk was really worried.

"Will you sit with us Dirk?" asked Turanna.

He sat; it was not like he really had a choice.

"We wished to speak to you of Kea."

"How is she?" he asked immediately. He got the question in whenever he could with Aes Sedai. Often they did not answer but he knew they all recognised the name. Kea had somehow made herself well known as a Novice. "Is she causing a problem?"

Turanna's mouth was as thin as a wisp of hair. It seemed in true danger of ceasing to exist. "In fact the exact opposite. She is perfectly obedient, obeying all instructions without question. She is humble and ready to take her turn at any and all chores. She has been a solace and kindness to less able Novices and prevented a run-away. Recently a Novice joined us from the Rebels and even she has latched onto Kea. She has openly and frankly discussed her past with the Seanchan and helped us understand much better the threat and evil they represent. She also the most powerful novice we have enrolled with the exception of Elayne, Egwene and Nynaeve, who were beyond exceptional. I told her to her face, she is of a strength with the Amyrlin Seat and even that didn't go to her head. In short she is the most perfect Novice ever discovered. She is also clearly an advanced age but does not bear some of the crucial marks of wielding the Power."

"I am proud of her. She truly wishes to become an Aes Sedai. She is sorry for some things she has had to do with the Power in the past and sees this place as a chance for redemption. The Sisters fight for the Light and to serve everyone else that is why I knew this was the place for her."

The two Aes Sedai looked at him very closely. Seaine Sedai was the one to speak but she did not address Dirk. "I see what you mean Turanna. He is very like the Gaidin."

"Like…" Turanna snorted, "To all intents and purposes he is a Gaidin. They themselves assure me he is Tower trained. She did not use the name 'Hammar', like the Warders had used. Dirk knew why, he had asked about the name and been told that he, Hammar, had been a trainer for the Warders for many years, but when the rebels had split off he had chosen the other side and been killed in the fighting. The Warders did not like to discuss it. Like Aes Sedai Warders had their individual loyalties as well as they loyalty to The Tower.

"He has a cloak too and I want to know how? Those cloaks are not wide spread, there is only one place they are made and it is here." Turanna was now certainly speaking to him. "Have you been bonded by the Novice Kea?"

Dirk's shock showed on his face and it was that, more than his belated, "No," that convinced Turanna. "I thought not. But you have been touched with the Power that much is certain. Will you give us answers?"

"Have you asked Kea?" Dirk returned shrewdly.

Seaine laughed. "Truly a Gaidin. Yes we have but she will not speak of you. She says you have trusted her and that she will not do, though we put her out of the Tower."

"Ha," replied Turanna her face betraying how cross she was. She snapped her fingers, "Empty words," she knows she is Silviana's favourite; she has even come to the attention of the Amyrlin Seat. "We will never let her out of here until she has ring and shawl and she knows it."

"She is becoming Aes Sedai already then," noted Dirk aloud. He had not spoken loudly but he had not whispered. Both Aes Sedai looked at him and then at each other. "We are doing this for your own good Dirk. Tell us so that we can help you!"

He shrugged, "There do no be much to tell. I know the cloak and my sword with the sign of Illian on are mine. I know I used to have another name and maybe I was a Warder. But I never asked Kea to tell me more."

Both the Aes Sedai's head whipped around. "Kea to tell you; Kea to tell you! How would she know anything? Can she Foretell?"

"She do Read the Roots and she did so on my cloak at least. I woke up and did see her doing it."

"You mean this supposed Talent of seeing the history of an object?"

Dirk nodded.

"You mean to say," continued Turanna Sedai. "That she knows all you did?"

"Something like that," replied Dirk. "She sees all that happens around the object and what was important to it."

"Objects don't feel," explained Seaine Sedai automatically. "That is what makes them objects, their inability to live, think or feel."

Dirk shrugged again. "Say what you will, it do work. But I would like to have her tell me before you and I must say I don't think she will tell you unless I ask her to."