Out of all the chores she was given, Abby disliked scrubbing the floors perhaps the most. In other tasks, it seemed like she had made progress, but the floors never changed. The tiles on the floor just moved as she made her way down, but it seemed never ending. She was slowly becoming used to the labor, though. The first time she had scrubbed the floors, she had become dizzy and out of breath. Now, she could scrub it clean without nearly as much effort. Today, she had braided her hair in the Taraboner fashion. Her black locks were longer than was the fashion, but they made her think of her parents. It was something to distract her from the impending chores. As she scrubbed, she thought of the next class she would have dealing with the One Power. Her teachers all praised her on her potential, but--
"Child."
Abby winced unconsciously at the far-off and cool voice, then lifted her head. Zemare Sedai stood above her, looking down the hall, rather than at her. The White sister had something pressing on her mind. Usually, she was very direct. "Yes, Aes Sedai?" she asked, folding her cloth in her hands as she stood.
Zemare's dark eyes looked at Abby when she stood, then took in her appearance. "When will your chores be finished, Abby?" she asked, the usual directness coming back into her voice.
Blinking, Abby wondered how long she had been at this. Looking out the window, then at a clock on the wall, she said, "In thirteen minutes, perhaps a little less."
The Saldaean Aes Sedai grinned at that. "I like how precise you are, child. In perhaps thirteen minutes, I had agreed to meet with a new drin to give her a lesson on Borderland history." Her grin turned to a smile when she saw Abby's interested expression. "I have been called away quite unexpectedly. I think the lesson will be as good for you as it will her. Now that you have begun your training, you must have more esteem in yourself, yes?"
Abby made herself meet the Aes Sedai's eyes, then nodded in agreement. "You are right, Aes Sedai." She found herself beginning to wring her scrubbing cloth, but had to stop herself. It was still saturated with water and soap...Light knew what else.
"Good," Zemare Sedai intoned, patting her shoulder. She told Abby where to meet her student, and gave her a direct order to go immediately to her room to get herself and materials ready.
Glancing at the clock again, Abby knit her brows in worry. Now she had perhaps eleven minutes. Laying the cloth on the side of her pail, she went to return it to the closets. She had never taught a class before. She was just a novice as well. What under the Light with the drin think when she met a novice for a class? Sighing, she freshed up in her rooms, wiping sweat from her brow, smoothing her skirts, and scrubbing any dirt from them. She did have two books on the subject for reference, though. She took a few sheafs of paper with her, as well as a pen, and made for the classrooms. She would likely be late, but she had not been given much time.
Finally, Abby arrived at the classroom. She noticed a woman in the grays of the Warder Yards waiting for her. The girl was taller than Abby by a few inches, and had beautiful golden eyes and shining pale hair. "Uh-um..." she started, then realized something. "I'm sorry, I wasn't given your name..." she explained. "My name is Abby, and Zemare Sedai asked me to teach you a bit about Borderland history. It is good to meet you..."
"Child."
Abby winced unconsciously at the far-off and cool voice, then lifted her head. Zemare Sedai stood above her, looking down the hall, rather than at her. The White sister had something pressing on her mind. Usually, she was very direct. "Yes, Aes Sedai?" she asked, folding her cloth in her hands as she stood.
Zemare's dark eyes looked at Abby when she stood, then took in her appearance. "When will your chores be finished, Abby?" she asked, the usual directness coming back into her voice.
Blinking, Abby wondered how long she had been at this. Looking out the window, then at a clock on the wall, she said, "In thirteen minutes, perhaps a little less."
The Saldaean Aes Sedai grinned at that. "I like how precise you are, child. In perhaps thirteen minutes, I had agreed to meet with a new drin to give her a lesson on Borderland history." Her grin turned to a smile when she saw Abby's interested expression. "I have been called away quite unexpectedly. I think the lesson will be as good for you as it will her. Now that you have begun your training, you must have more esteem in yourself, yes?"
Abby made herself meet the Aes Sedai's eyes, then nodded in agreement. "You are right, Aes Sedai." She found herself beginning to wring her scrubbing cloth, but had to stop herself. It was still saturated with water and soap...Light knew what else.
"Good," Zemare Sedai intoned, patting her shoulder. She told Abby where to meet her student, and gave her a direct order to go immediately to her room to get herself and materials ready.
Glancing at the clock again, Abby knit her brows in worry. Now she had perhaps eleven minutes. Laying the cloth on the side of her pail, she went to return it to the closets. She had never taught a class before. She was just a novice as well. What under the Light with the drin think when she met a novice for a class? Sighing, she freshed up in her rooms, wiping sweat from her brow, smoothing her skirts, and scrubbing any dirt from them. She did have two books on the subject for reference, though. She took a few sheafs of paper with her, as well as a pen, and made for the classrooms. She would likely be late, but she had not been given much time.
Finally, Abby arrived at the classroom. She noticed a woman in the grays of the Warder Yards waiting for her. The girl was taller than Abby by a few inches, and had beautiful golden eyes and shining pale hair. "Uh-um..." she started, then realized something. "I'm sorry, I wasn't given your name..." she explained. "My name is Abby, and Zemare Sedai asked me to teach you a bit about Borderland history. It is good to meet you..."