Tia Sedai
“The honor is mine,” Tia replied, offering their host a warm smile. “Any help you can provide would be appreciated. Trying to find one specific young woman is not too far off trying to find a needle in a haystack, especially since we’re not even sure if she made it into the city itself, or not.”
Kass motioned for Tia and Lys to take a seat, “Of course. Tell me about this woman you are looking for?”
Sitting opposite Kass, Tia looked to Lys for a moment before describing Zarayne, and that she might be wearing a banded dress, though by now, she may have gotten other garments. The three women discussed Zarayne’s background a bit, but before long, Kass excused herself before returning with a young man and young woman in tow. She had Tia describe Zarayne once more before telling the two to search the city. If they got any hints on Zarayne’s where-abouts, they’d follow up so long as it kept them in town, but if any news pointed to one of the surrounding hamlets or villages, they’d return right back to the manor.
There wasn’t much for Tia, Lys and Kass to do after that other than take a meal together. By nightfall, the two who’d been sent out hadn’t returned, and Kass had rooms arranged for both Tia and Lys. The Mistress of Novices didn’t sleep much that night as she fretted over Zarayne. Her thoughts went to the Novice she’d lost to the Arches. She’d felt helpless because there was nothing she could do to get the young woman back. Despite being an Aes Sedai of the Green, all her power did her no good.
Tia found she didn’t like feeling helpless, and despite the effort she was putting into finding Zarayne, she still felt helpless. While she didn’t sleep much, she did drift off, because she was startled awake by a knock at her door the next morning. Sitting up, she looked to it, “I’m up.”
Lys stuck her head in, The messengers are back.
It didn’t take Tia long to get herself dressed on hearing the news. She felt her heart pound in her chest as she felt anxiety take a firm hold on her. As she pulled her boots on, the Green took a deep breath to try and calm her nerves before she made her way downstairs.
Lys, Kass and the two kids were in the same room where they’d met the day before. Kass nodded to the young woman, “Go on. Tell Tia Sedai what you told me.”
The girl looked nervous, and her voice shook as she spoke, “A. . .a merchant sa. . .said he saw a girl in a dress such as you described heading east. She was close to the town of Prenoa. She had the red hair you described, and a squ. . .square jaw. He asked if she needed a ride, but she didn’t answer. Put her head down and kept walking towards town.”
Tia offered the young girl a warm smile, “Thank you. That is most helpful. How far is this town?”
It was Kass who answered, “You can be there by mid afternoon if you ride.”
Tia looked to Lys, “We should ride out as soon as possible.” When she looked back to Kass, her smile turned sympathetic, “I’m sorry we can’t spend more time here for you and your sister to visit. Thank you for your help and hospitality.”
“Of course, Tia Sedai. I will have our cook prepare something for you to take with you,” Kass replied.
Tia looked to Lys, “Let’s see to our horses.”