Setting: Aes Sedai Living Quarters: White Tower, Tar Valon

Characters:
Jelanna - Accepted
Marein - Novice
Kyra - Aes Sedai
Sionil - Accepted
Alyndara - Tower StableHand
Milli - Wisdom

Jelanna makes her way down the ramp from the quarters above, the banded hem of her dress rustling slightly as she walks. As she catches sight of the newly made Sister, she drops a respectful curtsy.

Swinging a light forest green cloak about her shoulders, Kyra strides from her room purposefully, actually remembering to pause to acknowledge curtseys directed her way. "Peace favour you both."

Jelanna has a light woolen wrap around herself as well, apparently intent on going out into the city upon some errand.

Kyra turns her stride down the ramp, nodding again to the Accepted with a quirked grin. "Availing yourself of a bit of the city this afternoon?" The newly raised Sedai seems content enough to be casually cordial. It's been a mild day.

Full lips slide into a smile as Jelanna brandishes a piece of paper, "Yes, Lira Sedai gave me a list of items she wanted from the city." Her tone is eminently respectful, although the glint of her eyes indicate she is not exactly thrilled with the chore.

Kyra quirks a brow at the paper and what little she could see of its contents, "Hm, some tea, a book ready to be picked up and some ready clothes." Leonine strides carry her further. "Sounds like a joyous trip. I myself have some tunics and the like at that very seamstress."

Marein walks on, heading for the dorms. At last a night in her own bed. And feeling Saidar again brings a smile to her face.

Marein swishes up the carpeted ramp and enters the top floor of the Tower.

Jelanna tucks the offending note in a small waist pouch, before giving Kyra a nod and asking "Would you care for some company then, Kyra Sedai?"

[Tower Office Wing: White Tower, Tar Valon]

"Aye, that'd be welcome. Market days have never been my favorite," the Green Sister responds with a wink. Without further ado, she heads out of the Tower. Wait, conversation. "So.. how fare your studies?"

Auburn curls provide a startling contrast to the white of Jelanna's gown as she follows behind Kyra. "Oh they go well enough, if a little slowly for my taste." A rather wry twist of her mouth and then "Of course, Lanta Sedai says I rush too fast, that I should....what was the word she used...'savor' my time as an Accepted, that I would look back on it as some of the best times of my life." A roll of her eyes indicates the Accepted doesn't find that too likely.

Sionil wanders into the Office Wing from the Learning center.

With a wry chuckle, Kyra repeats "Savor, hm?" Conversation doesn't slow her pace any. "Oh you'll be glad to look back on it alright." Clearly there's more meaning there than the face value. "What's the next lesson you have need of?" Steel grey eyes do not address her companion Accepted, rather choosing to keep alight on her surroundings.

Sionil comes out of the center followed by several novices dispersing to chores, shaking her head slightly she spies the newly raised Sedai and gives a smile then a curtsey.

Kyra nods towards Sionil's curtsey, adding a quirked smile on top of it.

Jelanna walks along with Kyra, keeping up with her long stride without ever seeming to hurry, rather almost gliding along with a certain grace that is decidedly in contrast to the brisk pace of the Aes Sedai. "Earth....something that I'm not the best in." Her tone of voice indicates she is not best pleased with the thought of being only /mediocre/ in strength.

Sionil walks over the smile on her face a mixture of that lesson she just gave and the happiness of seeing Kyra out of the evil and tacky accepted whites, "Congratulations, Kyra Sedai."

"Peace fav.." Kyra begins her traditional greeting litany when she receives Sionil's congratulations. She interrupts herself to nod gratefully "My thanks, Sionil." Back to Jelanna. "Earth is not one of my strengths either, though that's to be expected I suppose. Coranna Sedai was one of the few I know of that can actually claim that as a strength."

Jelanna shakes her head slightly as she tries to consider the idea of actually having strength in Earth, and it seems to be an alien idea indeed as indicating by the shaking of her head "Yes, well I've got to get it the lesson for it done....I've been putting it off but I suppose I should just get it over."

Sionil snickers slightly "That one will be only slightly better then fire will be for myself."

Kyra tsks with a gleam of mirth in steel grey gaze. "Ah, lessons are to be revered for the knowledge they impart to one as yet ignorant of the subject." True enough words, despite the hint of laughter in Kyra's voice. "Perhaps we can get that 'over' along the way. Provide a bit more entertainment on errand running."

Jelanna gives Kyra a companionable enough grin before saying "That would be much appreciated." Sionil gets a friendly nod as well as she passes the other Accepted.

Sionil returns the nod with a smile on her face as she heads out

Sionil pads down the carpeted ramp, disappearing around a turn.

[Entrance Hall: White Tower, Tar Valon]

"Not at all," Kyra replies "I'm not too far removed from such lessons myself, Jelanna." Without much more transition than perhaps a squaring of her shoulders beneath the cloak, she asks "What do you know of Earth so far?"

Jelanna considers the question as she walks along, "Well, Earth can be used for several things, such as testing soil for the viability of being able to support growth, also being able to use flows of Earth to move stone, and also influence metals by bending a spoon."

[Courtyard: White Tower, Tar Valon]

Sionil gives a curtsey over to Kyra

Milli stands, dipping into a curtsey herself. "Peace favor you, Aes Sedai."

Alyndara looks around, biting her lower lip slightly as more people enter the Courtyard. She too curtseys to the Aes Sedai.

"...correct." Kyra is saying to the Accepted by her side, "though the stronger in Earth can actually move larger masses of land, ground eruptions and the like. I doubt I can demonstrate that to you." Steel grey sweeps the courtyard automatically, dark-braided head dipping in a nod of acknowledgment towards the greetings directed her way. "Peace favour you."

Jelanna walks along with Kyra, apparently in some conversation with her before she glances about and nods to those she knows. She nods at the Aes Sedai's words, commenting on her own "Could you not twine Spirit about your flows of Earth to augment their strength?"

Kyra's eyes lock on something other than people or ground for that question. "Not exactly..." she begins her explanation slowly. "There is enough of a difference between Earth and Spirit to render the weave changed as soon as you introduce a mix. It may augment it to some extent, but you end up exerting that much more effort to accomplish little more than the original weave."

Alyndara slips quietly from the group of people, and heads towards one of the gates.

Sionil looks over to Milli "How are you feeling? I heard there was a commotion within the courtyard."

Jelanna notes Kyra's words with a nod, "Hmmn, very well." She glances about the crowded courtyard, glancing toward the girl heading through the gates with a thoughtful look.

Milli nods to Sionil. "The Alindrelle square, actually. A fool Illuminator was trying one of his... new fireworks. He kicked it, and it blew up. The only reason I'm standing here today is because a fourteen year old girl in front of me took the blast for me." Milli actually sounds enraged, enough to bite the head of any Illuminators showing themselves nearby.

Sionil nods slightly examining Milli, "You look okay, I suppose, I'm not one for healing."

Kyra continues on her intended journey out the gates of the yard itself as well as the conversation she has already started.

[Osendrelle Square: Tar Valon, Tar Valon]

"How well did you fare in your beginning lesson with Earth?" Kyra inquires as she merges into the bustle of the city streets. She does not raise her voice, while she scans the buildings and people as natural inclination.

"Well, as the flows were fairly small, I was able to complete it with several tries." There is a slight tinge of irritation in her voice, as if she expects more from herself.

Kyra hms, then points with her chin towards the silverworks, "Let's have a look around in there." Never mind that it wasn't on the original list of stores to choose. She has an agenda.

Jelanna nods and eyes the silver shop. She's not an avaricious woman, but always has had something of a penchant for silver. It won't be a hardship for her to browse around with the Aes Sedai.

[Main Shop: Alvens' Silverworks, Tar Valon]

Kyra hails the proprietor with a pleasant enough smile and her usual "Peace favour you." She doesn't waste any time in making her request, leaving the Accepted to browse at will for the moment. "Have you a spare trinket or so, made of silver?" Coin materializes into Kyra's hand from her belt pouch, dancing nimbly across knuckles.

Jelanna browses amoung the other counters, as she awaits Kyra to finish her business.

The proprietor, used to making a sale by going through an extensive conversation, is taken aback by this request. Presently he does make a choice for the oddly clad woman - he hadn't yet noticed the serpent ring on her, but does notice the Accepted's presence as channeler in his shop. The object chosen is a small ornamental piece of silver, ornately fashioned into a dagger with none of its namesake's sharpness. "That'll do, my thanks." Kyra flips the coin towards the shopkeeper, then turns to Jelanna expectantly.

Jelanna glances at the curious transaction, the background of mercantile lords coming to the fore as she sees Kyra casually handing over her money. Her lips tighten as if restraining some comment, before she says to Kyra "Are you ready, Kyra Sedai?"

Kyra nods for answer, extending the silver mock-dagger to present it to the Accepted. "You remember how to use the Earth flows to maneuver metal? Try bending this into whatever shape you will."

Jelanna carefully takes the dagger, turning it over in her hands carefully getting a feel for the metal. She places it carefully on a counter, before reaching out for the golden warmth that is the female half of the True Source. A golden glow surrounds her before she forms brilliant emerald strands of Earth which she twines about the edges of the metal. A small hook is formed which she attaches to one end of the dagger and the 'pulling' it.

That same tell-tale glow is already surrounding the Aes Sedai in a nimbus of Power. With her Source enhanced senses, she nods approval at Jelanna's attempt thus far, awaiting the results of the weave before saying anything.

The dagger, to those of who cannot see the weaves which are effecting it, suddenly seems to shift in shape, subtly twisting this way in fits and starts.

Kyra nods again in satisfaction, choosing the moment to voice a suggestion or two. "Try interspersing the weave within the metal itself. That means the threads have to be thinner, requiring less actual strength, but since you're manipulating smaller portions of the metal, it should still move according to how you direct."

Jelanna tightens her lips in concentration as she holds firmly to the flows of Earth which seem to have come alive in her grasp, like living things which attempt to go their own way. Slowly though her control tightens and where once a dagger lay now a rough sphere of glistening silver can be seen. It is rough looking, and one can see the remains of what it once was but the shape has been shifted.

The shopkeeper has been discreetly trying to determine just what these women are doing with his dagger. With a blink and startled look at the state the silver is in now, he decides he'd be better off finding something else to do. Aes Sedai and Accepted by their conversation. And channeling in his store. That's a tale for the tavern.

Jelanna releases the flows of Earth, a slight gleam of perspiration appearing upon her brow as she murmurs to Kyra, "Kyra Sedai, the flows almost felt like they were actively 'resisting' me." Her tone is concerned, apparently this hasn't ever happened to her before.

"Well done," Kyra states simply at the results. "Your skill with Earth flows will easily counter lack of raw strength." She looks around for the shopkeeper again, now concentrating on some polishing in a far corner of the building. "Pardon me, sir, but might we borrow a lock of yours?" To which the shopkeeper hesitantly asks "Yer not going to do that to it are ye?" The question goes unanswered for the moment as Kyra quirks a brow at the information. Fighting flows? "How so? Flows do not normally have a will of their own - particularly if you're wielding well within your limit."

"It is as if they were slipping and sliding through my grasp, twisting in directions of their own....." This last is said in a voice low enough for only the Aes Sedai to hear "As if something other than I was attempting to control them." She shakes her head as she says "Although that is impossible....", she seems to be saying it to herself as much as to the Sister.

The news does nothing to lighten Kyra's consternation, the darkening of her brows signifying the opposite direction. "With all the strange accidents going around, there's no telling what that could be, though it's likely a similar situation." She doesn't like being unsure of something so simple as a lesson weave. "And yet the Amyrlin decreed such weaves acceptable." The shopkeeper still hangs about in the background, open study on his face. Impossible.

Jelanna nods her agreement, although the shadowing of her gaze perhaps shows that she is not nearly as sure as the Amyrlin's pronouncement as everyone else. She seems to take herself in hand however and says "Yet, the weaves remained in control, perhaps the effect is weakening." Even as she speaks she catches sight of the gawking shopkeeper and delivers an icy stare in his direction. This has the effect of sending him scurrying off to start polishing the glass top of a counter.....on the other side of the shop. With a small sniff, the Accepted returns her attention back to Kyra.

Even before the shopkeeper is stared back to his corner, he has somehow managed to deposit a small closed lock on the counter nearest the Tower folk. This Kyra picks up and tosses between her hands in consideration of the situation. 'Impossible.' "Perhaps we can try the next exercise since it is a weave of more finesse than strength - surely it won't wrestle itself out of your control. As a precaution, I'll ready a shield should things go wrong." A proposal. Borderlander sensibility keeps the Aes Sedai courteous.

Jelanna eyes the Aes Sedai warily, if simple Earth weaves are out of control, what might happen if a shield were to be brought against her. She might be shielded.....or stilled if something went wrong. She rather delicately asks "And has anyone reported instances where Spirit weaves have....mutated into something other than what the weaver meant?"

When about to err, err on the side of caution. The saying flits through Kyra's mind briefly giving rise to her next comment. "We could just abort this lesson attempt. I have confidence in my ability to keep control over Spirit weaves since it's one of my own strengths, but I will not ask you to subject yourself to whatever this random evil happens to be. This lesson simply isn't worth your life, nor your ability." Flatly said.

Jelanna merely says, "Whatever you think best. I myself trust your judgment, Kyra Sedai." Her gaze is open and steady, without wavering, although the perceptive might notice one hand is tightly clenches at her side.

After a long moment of difficult consideration, Kyra almost casually tosses the lock towards Jelanna. "See what you can do, but have a care. The moment the weave moves against you, drop it." Her voice may have been conversational and easily amicable before - they are not now. A simple lesson has escalated into something more. "I will still ready a support for you in case it goes beyond you, but will institute the same limitation on myself."

Jelanna spins out thin flows of Earth, twined into a threadlike spiral. Firmly does she keep hold of the flows, ready to disperse the weave at a moment of waning control or unexpected effects. The strands of Earth themselves are extremely thin, twined together in a beautifully designed weave which shows that Jelanna's skill with weave is formidable even if her strength with this particular power is not. The weave is carefully inserted into the lock, the flows twining and shifting around the mechanisms within and with a soft *click* it pops open. With a somewhat relieved look on her face, the Accepted lets the weave disperse back to the nothingness from which they were formed.

Kyra is not quite leaning forward in her anxiety to have the exercise go well, but a sudden release in taut muscles at the success belies the sentiment. Her own latent weaves are dissipated. "How did that go? Anything amiss?" She has to ask confirmation - the One Power doesn't really guarantee mind-reading unless Bonded or linked.

Jelanna shakes her head, "Nothing wrong in the least, Kyra Sedai. It felt perfectly normal, and the flows did exactly as directed." She herself looks extremely relieved at the success of the weave.

Kyra nods again, finally addressing the shopkeeper off in his self-relegated corner. "See? Your lock has survived." Laying it on the counter, she turns to head for the door after bidding the shopkeeper a farewell and thanks. "That was masterfully done, Jelanna," she comments upon reaching the door. "Perhaps that oddity has passed." She hopes.

Jelanna shakes her head as she follows the Aes Sedai, as she only comments "One can only hope. I wonder what could be possibly causing this....." To the shopkeeper, an absentminded nod is given in farewell as she exits the shop.

[Osendrelle Square: Tar Valon, Tar Valon]

Kyra has regained some of the easy grace of her movement, released somewhat from the tension of moments before. Scanning the crowd again. "I'm sure I've no idea. The Amyrlin herself seems quite concerned with the state of the city. I believe the Browns are even more married to their lore in order to try and find some hint or clue in history." A few more yards down the street brings her back to the lesson at hand. "The last exercise to the lesson involves moving rocks around. Think we can handle that without interference?" Again, opinion out of courtesy - the Accepted should be comfortable with the task in order to perform well, after all.

Jelanna seems to have regained a bit of her pluck as well, after all she's not one to stay mired in what-might-be's....."Yes, Kyra Sedai. I believe it should be possible. As you said before, perhaps the anomaly has indeed passed."

"Done then," the Green Sister now turns her scanning to the ground. Heeere, hapless rock. Spotting a likely looking candidate, she casually saunters her way to it and stoops to retrieve it. That too is tossed around a bit while she next looks for a suitable area, preferably away from people and property. Caution again.

Jelanna reacts with caution as well, glancing about as she walks behind the Aes Sedai toward an area not populated by people or things.

Oddly enough, with the afternoon having waned closer to evening and dinner time, finding just such an area proves no great difficulty. Tossing the chosen rock onto the ground, Kyra turns to the Accepted. "You're familiar enough with the weaves to know what to do." A statement of fact rather than question. Stepping back a pace, she goes on her guard again.

Jelanna nods to the Aes Sedai, drawing forth strength from the Source and once again forming flows of Earth with which she separates into strands twining about the rock. At the first, the flows behave themselves as she quickly wraps them around the stone in question but as she attempts to move it from one spot to the next the strands seems to pulse....and with each pulse they grow firmer, stronger and stress fractures start to snake through the stone, indicating that any second it might shatter into a million pieces.

That's not supposed to be happening. Kyra takes an agonized moment too long to realize that the anomaly had not passed after all. Steel grey eyes wide as realization dawns, her reflexes take her a step closer, not away, even as she pulls on a flow of Air dome-like as a crude but thick shield to fling onto the shuddering stone. She lets the Air shield fly, deadly accurate as any of her dagger throws, but is it too late?

Jelanna frantically attempts to disperse the flows of Earth, lips tightly compressed as her entire concentration is focused upon regaining control over her maddened weave. The stone though, unused to such abuse, has no patience for the Accepted and so shatters, several large pieces hitting the top of Kyra's shield with a dull *thwack* while the rest of the rock becomes a finely grained powder. Finally, Jelanna manages to retract the flows and bring the weave back under her control even as she turns wide panicked eyes toward the Aes Sedai.

Frozen. Wide-eyed, the newly Raised Aes Sedai maintains her position by sheer tension incurred by what she just witnessed. It is another moment before she snaps herself back to the passage of time, turning towards Jelanna with the frown of worry never relenting. "Are you alright?" The question is meant to encompass the Accepted's entire well-being. Already, Kyra has stepped several paces closer, a single hand raised whether to offer aid or to ward off the possibility of harm having come to her student, it's not clear.

With an abrupt wink, the dimly perceived glow about the Accepted vanishes, and with that the remnants of her weave. With a small shuddering sigh she says "Yes, Kyra Sedai, I'm fine." A wry look crosses her face as she says "My nerves are shot....but other than that I'm in one piece." Realization that she is repeating herself apparently occurs to the Accepted, perhaps making one wonder if she keeps saying it to reassure herself as much as she is to reassure Kyra.

It's not that Kyra doesn't believe an Accepted acting as if she were already bound to the Oaths, but "Allow me a delving attempt to affirm this?" The worry, combined with the aftereffects of the dangers narrowly escaped keeps Kyra's tones distant and strangely formal. She glances back towards the exploded rock passing a hand across her brow at the same time. The Air shield is dissipated and a Spirit one prepared to carry through the request.

Jelanna sighs, but allows the request "Of course, Kyra Sedai if you feel it's necessary." She seems to brace herself for the coolness that always seems to pervade one whenever a delving occurs, her clenched fists and tightened lips are indicative of her nervousness at having anything composed of pure Spirit near her.

The moment lengthens between formation of the Spirit weave and its application - as if Kyra were waiting for something. No tremors, no pulses, not even a twinge in her weave gives her the confidence to apply it quickly and carefully. Indeed, the Accepted is unharmed. With an inaudible sigh, Green Sedai backs quickly away from her hold on the Source - likely one of the few times, if ever she has done so. A deep breath. "Let's get back to the Tower. If Lira Sedai takes exception to your errand running, I will answer."

Jelanna nods, shaken to the core by the instability of her flows. She pulls her wrap more firmly around her as to ward off an inward chill, and after apparently summoning up her courage she asks the Aes Sedai "Kyra Sedai, yo...you don't suppose that the Taint that is on Saidin is not somehow finding it's way into Saidar, and is merely reacting differently because it is Saidar and not Saidin?" Her very soul is shaken at the thought at never being able to channel again.

Kyra has already turned for the Tower when she hears the conjecture Jelanna utters. It is only the saving grace of the staff she always carries, butt end planted firmly on the ground to compensate the Sedai's reaction, that allows Kyra to keep semblance of normalcy to her turning back. "No." she responds immediately, a fleeting cloud of doubt passing across her eyes. Then, "No," more firmly, coupled with a shake of her head. "Saidin and Saidar are separate and different enough to prevent such an event." With a nod of finality that she hopes is as decisive as she wants to feel, she finally turns back towards the Tower.

"I pray to the Creator you are right!", a mutter that is said under the Accepted's breath, most likely too low to be heard by the Aes Sedai as she follows along. After all, Saidar and Saidin are halves of one whole-the True Source, and if the Taint effects one half what is to say that eventually it might not spread throughout the Power, like a disease rotting it from within.

The journey back to the Tower is largely silent, each channeler wrapped up in thoughts of her own concerning the disturbing events of the afternoon. Unscathed except for the mental questions brought about by events. Will these questions be answered? Are there even answers? The ramifications, should these events continue to occur, go well beyond imagination for the moment.