Zarin took the medallion that was handed to her. She opened herself to saidar, surrendering to the sweetness that was the Power. She gently wove flows of Air and Spirit into the black medallion. It was a trick that she had learned as a novice. By placing flows in an object, the Power would protect a woman from shielding.
Zarin tied off the weaves, and, with effort, let go of saidar. She handed the medallion back to Tovra and smiled. "So, I'll assume that you wish to be bonded. Is that what you meant by 'protector'?" Zarin folded her hands. Someone came by and picked up the stack of books that was left, and Zarin forced herself to not look at her bundle of papers.
She truly hoped that this woman wished to become a Warder. Zarin had a great need of one, now that the Dragon had been Reborn. Just thinking those words made her mouth go dry.
xxxx
Tovra carefully took her medallion back, discretely checking to see if it had been outwardly changed. Satisfied, she hooked it back onto her face chain, and considered what she had just seen and heard. The weaves that the Aes Sedai had woven were very delicate- something to do with prevention. She stored the incident away in the back of her mind, to inquire about at a later date.
Bonded. A Warder? Her? That would be a permanent position... But it would be something to do with her life. She felt a liking for this straightforward, to-the-point woman, and she didn't want to spend the rest of her days as a thief or Healer. Such callings were not for her.
She looked across the table, straight into the eyes of Zarin Sedai. Without blinking, she spoke simply, softly but firmly.
"Yes. I do."
She folded her own hands in turn, wondering what would happen. Would she receive a swirling cloak, as she had seen the warriors in the yards wear? She stilled her thoughts, he face a blank mask as Zarin Sedai spoke.
xxxx
Zarin gave a slight nod and a small smile. It was obvious that this woman was determined to be a Warder. Slowly, she stood and, moving closer to Tovra, embraced saidar.
Taking Tovra's head between her hands, Zarin wove the weaves that would bind the two together. The weaves encompassed both of them, and Zarin let go of saidar after finishing the bonding.
Zarin stepped back and took a deep breath. This was the first Warder she had since Aiden had died. It felt good to have another's emotions in the back of her mind like a bundle.
"Well." For a moment, Zarin thought of telling her new Warder of her plans, but a wave of fear hit her. It was the first time since she started her research that the true knowledge of what she was doing struck fear in her. The Dragon Reborn. What kind of chaos would strike the world for the Dragon Reborn to seem a pleasant alternative?
Aware of the fact that Tovra could feel her emotions made Zarin force down the fear. She smoothed her face in case any of the fear had shown on her face.
xxxx
Tovra took a deep breath, at the same time as Zarin Sedai- my Aes Sedai, she thought experimentally, and tentatively searched through the knot of emotions and feelings at the back of her head. Tovra knew that she could close her eyes and point exactly where Zarin was- an affect of the bond she hadn't known about.
As her Aes Sedai spoke- "Well."- Tovra felt a wave of fear surface among the many emotions. Fear, intensified by the fact it wasn't her own, but she yet felt it. Feeling it- and seeing it, no matter how she tried to hide it- she reached up, carefully placing a hand on Zarin's shoulder.
"Whatever we go to face, Zarin Sedai," she said quietly, "I will protect you from it. My life before yours," she swore. No need for fancy words. If you did not mean what you said, then no oath would hold you.
Her face crinkled in a slight smile, looking up at her charge. She liked this feeling, of being connected in the world. Connected to someone else.
"Zarin Sedai," she asked before the other had a chance to respond to her words, "Shall I get a shifting cloak, as the others have?" A twinkle came into her eye, trying to cheer up her gloomy Aes Sedai. What could be so frightening an Aes Sedai is scared of it?
xxxx
Zarin's eyes widened slightly as Tovra placed a hand on her shoulder. She was trying to comfort her! Zarin blinked then. She had forgotten momentarily that the bond would convey her feelings to her new Warder. It had been a long time since she had a Warder, and some things had slipped her mind.
"Whatever we go to face, Zarin Sedai, I will protect you from it. My life before yours." Zarin nodded slightly. That was the oath that Warders gave, but the other woman gave her no time to speak. "Shall I get a shifting cloak, as the others have?" Tovra asked, a twinkle in her eye.
Zarin almost laughed. She was sure that amusement was carried strongly through the bond. "Of course you may have a shifting cloak, if that is what you want," Zarin answered. She smiled at her Warder, but a stray thought entered her mind. Her smile faded as she asked, "How soon do you think you will be ready to leave? I have important... business."
Zarin was sure the Black Ajah was catching up to her. She just needed to take a path none of them would suspect. A Brown leaving the White Tower for an unknown destination would throw them off for a while, but it wouldn't be long enough. What would Tovra think if she told her that they were going into the lion's den with no weapons but their minds?
xxxx
"How soon do you think you will be ready to leave? I have important... business." She was surprised at this, as she hadn't expected they would leave so soon.
She gestured once more at her weapons- most of them, anyway, she thought, brushing her belt knife- and spoke softly. "I could leave this very minute, if you wish it, Zarin Sedai," she said. "All I need is my weapons." She shifted slightly towards them, feeling naked without her steel. Still, I have the Power, she thought. But she only knew a few battle weaves. Still, bonds of Air and shields of Spirit were all she had needed in the past.
Remembering what else her Aes Sedai had just confirmed, she questioned again, carefully. "Would there be time to get a cloak?" She truly was interested in them; she had always wondered how they were made, and how they worked, from the moment she saw her first Aes Sedai and Warder. They had wanted passage on the Leaping Gull, and Tovra had turned them down. They stuck in her mind now, particularly the Gaidin. She was like him, now.
Apprehension, expectation of the enemy, flowed gently through the bond. She began to suspect it would be a constant for a while.
xxxx
"Of course we will have time to get you a cloak. I have to run up to my room to get some things, and I will meet you in the practice yard. Just tell one of the other Warders there that Zarin Sedai sent you for a cloak. If they don't believe you, just wait for me."
Already standing, Zarin grasped the bundle of her papers in one hand. What to do with these. If found by the wrong eyes, it would be dangerous to herself, her Warder, and the Dragon Reborn. Coming to a decision, Zarin embraced saidar.
She let just a trickle through, when all she wanted was to open herself up to the sweetness and let it consume her. With an effort, Zarin kept it to that small trickle and wove a thread of Fire and Air into the bundle. Tying it off, Zarin let go of saidar. Stepping clear from Tovra and any stray papers and books, Zarin let the bundle fall.
As soon as it left her hand, the bundle stopped falling. Suspended in mid- drop by the weave of Air, the papers caught on fire. Once they were all ash, the weaves dissolved. Turning back to Tovra, Zarin smiled. "Shall we go now?"
xxxx
Tovra watched with interest as Zarin Sedai let her papers fall, then burnt them with the power. What could be so important that you burnt it instead of hiding it? A million and one questions swirled in Tovra's mind as she looked at her Aes Sedai.
"Shall we go now?" Tovra was startled out of her thoughts, blinking at Zarin. Oh.
"Yes, of course," she said, nodding slightly. She strode steadily towards the door a step behind Zarin, pausing to scoop up her weapons. She buckled them on as she walked, attaching sword, and sword breaker, at her hips and back. Her quiver she picked up as well, her bow tucked into a special casing on it. Patting her pockets to check her coiled bow strings, she channeled, releasing the soothing scents of her sniff-box.
Parting ways with Zarin at a bend in the corridor, she headed straight as an arrow from the string to the Practice yards. A Warder cloak. She truly had become a different person from the one she once was. Before she knew it, she was outside, the cool currents of air whipping away all but the strongest scents from her box.
Entering the Practice Yard and carefully stepping away from anyone practicing, she headed straight towards a Gaidin, chin held high.
"Zarin Sedai has sent me for a Warder cloak," she told the muscular man firmly. She would not be barred now. They stood in a deadlock for a moment, both struggling without moving to gain the upper hand. Perhaps it was the fierce fire in her eyes, the knowledge of her quest and Aes Sedai... But after a split second, he relented, grinning.
"This way," he said, and walked off, into the Warder barracks. She followed him, excited, as he lead her deeper and deeper into the rooms. At last, they came to a large oak door, figures of the Old Tongue engraved deep into it, the handle worn with Ages of use. It was used now, swinging open silently on well-oiled hinges. The clean, yet slightly musty scent of the room came over her like a gentle wave, as they moved into the room. Moving to a shelf, he carefully removed a fold of cloth, holding it almost reverently.
"Here," he said, smiling lightly and holding it out. She took it slowly, letting it flow from her hands till it hung before her. The colours moved like liquid, shifting from blacks to greys to browns, matching those of the man behind it. It seemed as if she almost held nothing, so light and airy it seemed in her fingers. It shimmered like quicksilver now, its own welcome to her.
She gazed at it a moment more, then swung it onto her shoulders proudly. The man looked on with approval touched with amusement, a man who had seen this happen often.
She looked up at him again. "It's beautiful," she murmured. Without replying, he twisted, heading back the way he had come. Speaking over his shoulder as he moved through the dark passages, he said, "Welcome, to the Warders."
"It is customary," he informed her, "for a new Warder to wear their cloak for the first week. After that, wear it whenever you need to, whenever you travel."
"I suggest," he said with a wry smile as they reach the courtyard once more, "That you do not wear it when Whitecloaks are present?" Nodding at her, he disappeared into the barracks again.
Shaking her head, she headed to where Zarin, her Aes Sedai, was waiting for her.
xxxx
Once Tovra was out of sight, Zarin walked faster to her rooms than she ever thought she would. Embracing saidar, Zarin directed thread-thin weaves of Earth and Air into the doorknob. Earth would unlock the door, and Air would disable the traps she had laid.
With flows of Air and Spirit cable-thick readied, Zarin pushed the door open and ventured in. After a complete search of her rooms and finding no one, Zarin grabbed a change of clothes, her shawl, and several bags of coins.
Upon exiting her room, Zarin wove a barrier around the room, hiding the weaves so no Aes Sedai could sense it. Stepping back, Zarin studied her work. Anyone that could channel the One Power would be unable to enter the room without a few... surprises.
With everything she needed, Zarin rushed out to the practice yard. "Zarin Sedai." Zarin stopped and looked around. An Accepted was coming toward her. "Zarin Sedai, I was told to give this to you," the Accepted said, holding out a piece of folded paper.
Zarin blinked and took the paper. "Thank you, child," she said absentmindedly. Walking slowing out to the practice yard, Zarin stared at the paper she had been given. Through the bond, Zarin felt a surge of joy. Tovra must have gotten her cloak.
Zarin broke the seal on the paper- it had been the Flame of Tar Valon, every Aes Sedai had one- and unfolded it. It just had two simple words written in a plain hand, but it was enough to make her afraid.
xxxx
Seconds before Tovra reached her, she felt fear rush through the bond, stopping her in her tracks. She paused where she had been, a span from Zarin's back. Her Aes Sedai faced away from her, neck bent over something. What could be written- for that was surely what it must be, a note- that could instill such fear in such a strong-willed woman? She walked slowly the last few steps, reaching out a hand and placing it on Zarin's arm, her shimmering cloak falling back to reveal her shoulder. She pushed it back carefully.
"What is it, Zarin Sedai?" she asked gently, avoiding seeing the note itself. "Are we still to leave now?"
xxxx
Zarin started when Tovra's arm touched her arm. Thinking it might be a Black sister, Zarin embraced saidar and readied the weaves of shielding.
"What is it, Zarin Sedai? Are we still to leave now?" Zarin let out a sigh of relief at hearing her Warder's voice. She had been an idiot. If she wasn't so wrapped up in the note, she would have noticed the bond, and besides, a Black sister wouldn't be so gentle.
Zarin turned, folding the paper back up. "Yes. We are leaving as fast as we can get horses." Zarin thought of telling her Warder what it said, but decided to wait until they were away from the crowded streets of Tar Valon, and the Tower.
Suiting her own words, Zarin strode over to where the stables were and spoke briskly to the stable boy. "Get two horses, boy. They need to be ones that have endurance. If I find you have cheated me, you will be sorry."
The boy, thoroughly spooked by being threatened by an Aes Sedai, ducked his head and ran off to find the stable master. Zarin held back a sigh. She had no right to scare the boy like that. Just because she was spooked by the letter didn't mean that she could give the stable boy the rough side of her tongue.
xxxx
Tovra followed her Aes Sedai towards the stables, still wondering what the note had said. All in due time, she told herself calmly. She watched with her eyebrows raised as Zarin cut into the stable boy, calling roughly for two strong horses. She gulped. She had never liked horses. Oh, she had learned to ride them fine, but she had always liked the Rakers better. Rakers did what you told them; at least, most of the time.
As the boy ran off, Tovra edged over to Zarin, lowering her voice so none of the hired hands in the stables could make out her words.
"Where are we going, Zarin Sedai?" she asked softly. "You do not have to tell me now, if it will take too long," she added, still unsure how formal she should act around Zarin. Calling her Zarin was all well and good, but in public was completely unknown territory. So is private, for that matter, she grimaced to herself.
xxxx
"Where are we going, Zarin Sedai? You do not have to tell me now, if it will take too long." Zarin looked back at Tovra. "I will tell you when we are out of Tar Valon," she promised. A stable boy- a different one, Zarin noted- led out two horses.
Zarin took the reigns of the silver from the stable boy. "What is her name?" she asked. The stable boy looked slightly shocked that an Aes Sedai spoke to him. "M-Meara." Zarin nodded absentmindedly as she stroked the silver's neck.
Swinging into the saddle, Zarin was glad that she had been wearing a dress with divided skirts. Catching some apprehension through the bond, Zarin smiled at Tovra. "I would take a ship, but the Sea Folk would most definitely deny me passage, and if I cannot get a Sea Folk ship, it would not be worth it."
With one last pat on the neck, Zarin took the reigns firmly in her hands and headed out of the Tower grounds. Zarin slipped the letter into her saddlebags; a reminder of the danger would come in handy every now and then.
xxxx
"I would take a ship, but the Sea Folk would most definitely deny me passage, and if I cannot get a Sea Folk ship, it would not be worth it."
Tovra smiled sadly at Zarin. She would be refused passage? Likely it would be her that made the Windfinders turn them away immediately. After her... banishment... her description had been circulated by the Mistress of Ships... no Atha'an Miere would even acknowledge her now, if not spit in her face. What is in the past is in the past, she told herself firmly. There would be plenty of time for self-pity later. Besides, once they were out of the city, she would find out where they were going- and why.
Tovra swung quickly into the saddle, imitating Zarin. She sat straight, holding the reins loosely and calmly restraining the dancing animal. These horses actually weren't that bad- she rather liked them, actually- but they could never match a ship.
She slowly followed Zarin out of the grounds of the Tower, relaxing and deciding to enjoy the ride. The swaying of the horse was almost like being on the deck of a ship again. She could almost feel the spray...
A pang of homesickness struck her heart, and she quickly turned her mind to other matters. She stayed silent as they rode through the city, displaying her new Warder's cloak proudly.