A Trail of Lies Left Behind (ATTN: Taylin)

[Leala]

Leala had a blessed day off, and decided to use it studying. She was already aware of what her fellow novices thought of that, but she had never really cared what they thought of her to begin with. Her free day was hers to do with what she wished, and she wished to delve more into the secrets of the world. She sat at the small desk in the room she shared with Taylin, setting a borrowed book on it along with her pen and a notebook. She made a face when she realized that she had let her last inkwell run dry. Maybe the desk held something that she wasn't aware of.

Opening the side drawers only revealed loose sheets of blank paper and another notebook, also blank. Leaning back a bit, she opened the middle drawer, but it was completely empty...but, it didn't sound empty. Something rattled in it as she opened it. It took her half a second to realize that the wood of the bottom of the drawer did not match the rest of the desk. It was at least three shades lighter.

"I'm certain the desk drawer in my old room didn't have a false bottom," she said to her roommate, not checking to see if she was listening before she began to pry the extra wood away from the drawer.

The false bottom fit almost too well to the drawer, and it pulled on her nails to make it come away. Her cuticles took a beating from the effort as well. Finally, though, the false bottom of the drawer came completely off, and she set it to the side as she stared at a small, black leather notebook. As she picked it up, her heart fluttered. A hidden notebook in a place teaming with Aes Sedai and Asha'man could only mean one thing: intrigue.

"This seems like something both you and I could enjoy studying, if someone took the time to hide it for so long." The pages of the book were yellowing, and the leather felt brittle to the touch.

[Kevin]

Taylin sat in the new room with her new room mate. The only girl she had felt kindred with sense dawning Novice whites. She had three large books open on her bed and a book of fresh paper, with a fourth of the pages ripped out and crumbled around her. There was an amount of science to ward weaving, and after her class on the basics, the things that could be done with the Power had fascinated her. Theories and questions littered her notebook, along with notes from sisters and Asha'man of many Ajahs, not surprise the Indigo was the most informative.

She knew how to mask her ability to channel, and even ward a room against people listening. Nothing she had learned this far could hide her actually channeling and working with the One Power. For all the warning of its dangers, Taylin was growing used to the Power at great speed, and felt within her the urge to learn more, to do more with it. It was like an addiction, the Power, and with the doors it would open for the world, she was beyond saving at this point. She had to know, and learn, more.

When Leala went to the desk and started pillaging the drawers, Taylin sighed, taking a break from the nest of books around her, and stretch, looking to see what the other girl was doing.

"Okay, I don't know what the drawer did to you, but you're messing your nails all up, we will have to do them ove..." Taylin paused as she looked down and Leala uncovered a hidden book. Well, that was an unforeseen turn of events. Who's room had they gotten?

"Well, intrigue is one word." Taylin took a look at the generic wooden desk, it could have been anywhere in the Tower before coming to live in this room with them. "I say we open it."

Taylin looked slightly irritated. "If we were Accepted we could make sure no one could come in; we need those banded dresses."

Taylin laughed inside at the thought. She'd gotten away with coloring the novice dresses black, and never told anyone. Leala alone knew her secret, though the confusion that had ensued had been brilliant. She looked back on it now fondly. Her personal growth was remarkable, her outlook changing of the Grey Tower. She had gotten a taste of the knowledge here, and was immediately beyond ever returning to the life she had before now.

"Let's see what it says shall we?" Folding her hands before her waist, she took a seat on top of the secretive desk. What else could they use that hiding place for?

[Leala]

Leala flashed her friend a rare smile. Taylin was the first friend she had likely ever had in her life. It was a sobering thought, but not a sad one. She had someone she felt she could be herself around, someone she could trust. She sat as comfortably as she could in the uncomfortable wooden chair and opened the book. "It looks like this girl's name is... Endenia. Hm," she said, looking at the writing. "This looks like an ordinary journal. Maybe the good part is further ahead." She flipped ahead until about halfway through the book whens he saw an entry that was decidedly different from the other monotonous entries in the journal. "Here's something." She read aloud.

"Yesterday, Kalinda Sedai approached me and said that she was gathering up novices that she trusted to go to a secure place. She wanted me to meet her and this group of other novices in an hour. She didn't say why it was that we needed to go to a secure place, or how the Grey Tower had become insecure. She seemed very worried, though. I'll meet with her and the others to see what's going on."

Leala blinked at the entry. "That seems strange," she said. "I've never heard of Aes Sedai or Asha'man doing that before." She went to the next entry. The handwriting was small and sloppy compared to the previous entry, but she read anyway.

"I'm writing by lantern light right now. Kalinda Sedai has taken us to somewhere in a mountain range. From what I gather, it's the Mountains of the Mist. There are Aes Sedai and Asha'man trying to keep order. It's too dark to recognize them right now. Something tells me..." There was a break in the writing, then it started again on the next line. "Liria Sedai just showed up and told us that the M'Hael is trying to manipulate the Grey Tower to the will of the Shadow! That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard! Other novices and soldiers are asking to go back, but they're being shut up rather quickly. I don't think they want me to wr--" The handwriting stopped and that was the end of that entry.

Both Leala's eyebrows shot up at that. "I certainly wasn't expecting that!" she said. Turning the page, she found another hurried entry. She read about how the novices were all ushered into a tent and told to stay put. There was mention of an Aes Sedai named Saphire who had been kidnapped being held nearby. Leala blinked and pulled back from the journal. "I think this is some part of the Grey Tower's history we haven't been taught yet."

[Kevin]

Tayling paid attention to her friend, her excitement slowly growing as the delved deeper into the book. Something within her told her they'd get in trouble for not turning the things in, but a Novices what better chance had they at finding out secret workings of the Tower? Likely is was sealed to the Ring and not for anyone but Sisters and Ahsa'man to read. Of all of the times to be unable to channel, this was the pits. She wanted to protect herself and her friend, but feared a ward against intruders would only bring unwanted attention.

Taylin thought of Leala like a sister, she was even near to the same age as Taylin's biological sister. The connection between them was a deep understanding from one woman to another. Taylin would go to battle for her friend, but she also intended to protect her.

"IF we get caught with this we will face penance for not turning it in..." the hesitation in her voice was evident. "However, if we were to just borrow it for a time before turning it in, what harm could it do?"

Taylin paused pointing out the section."She didn't say why it was that we needed to go to a secure place, or how the Grey Tower had become insecure. She seemed very worried, though. I'll meet with her and the others to see what's going on"

Taylin lowered her voice to barely a whisper. She needed to channel, she needed to make sure none listened, not with the conclusion she was reaching, slowly but with growing certainty. "Do you think they found the Black Ajah among them?" Taylin had been raised on bed time stories of the Darkfriends and Dreadlords. The cold fear in her stomach knotted up. She knew they were no gleeman's tale.

When she got to the part about the M'hael she felt her blood go cold. The very hierarchy of the Tower had fallen to the shadow should this be believed. She had to know what happened next. What the Grey Tower home to the shadow? Was that why they were training her, to fight for the Dark One?

"Under the Light and by my hope of salvation and rebirth, I vow to do what it takes to keep us safe. This is but a lead to a much deeper issue. I can't let it go at this....shall we find out what happened next? Where do we even begin? The libraries we need may require Aes Sedai permission to get to, and we can't exactly tell them why or our suspicions."

[Leala]

Leala nodded along as Taylin said they would need to know what happened. She was right. It's likely that this event might be referenced in the histories, but here they had this book right here, for them. She had been trying to keep her voice down as she read, but this was sensitive material. It looked like there were a few more entries, though. She would turn the book in, as Taylin said, but she felt like Edenia left it there for a reason. It wasn't in plain sight, but it wasn't warded against people finding it either. How many other novices had just thought that their desk drawer was a little wobbly, and maybe a bit discolored.

"It looks like there's more," she said. "Come sit next to me, and we'll read the rest together." She waited until Taylin was sitting next to her in the other uncomfortable chair in the room. She turned to the next entry, and they read together:

I'm safe back in my room, now. So is Tinia, my roommate. Apparently, this whole thing was a rebellion against the Grey Tower. I haven't been told all the details, but things will never be the same here. Novices, Accepted, soldiers, Dedicated, were all lied to and kidnapped. Some were beaten or tied up because of insubordination, or trying to escape. Tinia and I had to play along to keep ourselves safe. We were interrogated when we came back. I don't think we'll be punished. I don't think the Aes Sedai or Asha'man know about my notebook, either. I want to keep it that way.

I want this notebook to go to another novice. I want someone to find it and learn something from it. I don't know where I'll be when it's found again. But I know the Grey Tower will be different from what it is now. I hope it will be peaceful again. If you find this, I don't know how much will be written about the Rebellion, or how much will be taught to future novices, but if you ever hear someone express doubt about it, just know that it did happen. People were hurt, people made mistakes, and people changed. I still believe in the Grey Tower, though. I believe it will be a stronghold for good people to gather in the name of the Light for years to come.

I leave this journal for you. Do with it what you will.

Leala turned the page again. That was the last entry. She sat up. "Tinia...isn't there a Tinia Sedai in the Yellow Ajah? I haven't heard of Edenia before. And that Aes Sedai that was taken captive...Saphire Sedai. I want to learn more about her." She put the journal on the desk and drummed her fingers on the top for a moment, thinking of what to do with it. "I say we investigate further, as you said, but we should turn this in to someone in the Library. We'll bring the false bottom from the drawer, and explain why we're turning it in. We had to know that whatever was in it was sensitive to bring it to an Aes Sedai in the first place, so that won't get us in trouble. After that, we should go looking for Tinia Sedai."

[Kevin]

Taylin looked at the book the way one might appraise a prize horse. They could turn it in, but that would be the end of the mystery. She had an idea, but it wasn't the best.

"If we hand this over to a Sister, we will be put back to work and told to forget it. Are you sure this Yellow will not simply take the book? You aren’t the only one curious; this speaks of a time long before you and me."

Pausing she thought for a moment, her brow furrowed. "What if we make a copy for ourselves to look at in case nothing is done? That way we can return the original without worry of lying. The false bottom of the drawer may come in handy to us, but if we must tell, then very well."

Taylin still sat upon the desk top, talking to Leala as if they'd known each other a long time. One hand played in her blond hair, as she had finally ignored the itching of the Novice whites. One prank was enough; she’d gotten away with it with none the wiser. This book however could lead to places neither woman was prepared to fight for.

[Leala]

Leala nodded at Taylin's idea in agreement. "We'll copy the whole thing and turn the original in. We can use the false bottom if we need to. When we've followed the mystery as far as it will go, we'll leave our copy in the drawer, and possibly our conclusions to it in the back, for whoever else finds it further down the road." As Leala spoke, she went to her books and flipped through her notebooks. Finding one that only had a few pages written in it, she tore what she had written out.

"I'll copy the whole journal down. There may have been something I missed the first time, some clue that we'll need. While I'm doing that, you could see what you can find in the Library. Just...try not to get caught before we speak with Tinia Sedai," she gave her friend a playful smile. She knew she probably didn't have to say it, but she felt the situation needed at least a little lightness to it.

Turning to her work, she opened her inkwell and began the tedious work of copying everything as accurately and as neatly as possible. She wasn't sure where this story would lead them, but she felt like in order to understand the Grey Tower completely, she needed to follow the story to its end. What had happened after this Rebellion? Who had started it? Was the Black Ajah involved? The Black Ajah was a touchy subject, no matter which Tower was asked. It didn't exist, supposedly, but logically, there were darkfriends everywhere. Aes Sedai and Asha'man should not have been exempt. As she wrote, she wondered what became of Edenia.

[Kevin]

Taylin gathered her dress about herself, readying to go to the library as Leala moved about the room.It wouldn't be odd, her asking after obscure books. From all of her classes, they few Browns who knew her, knew she liked to study every aspect of a subject. She made her way down the novice quarters without avoiding eye contact with anyone, however her aura said she did not have time to be bothered.

Making it to the library she found a table and claimed it with her satchel. She began finding books, reading up on anything she could. A few times she was offered help, but politely declined. This was her homework after all.

Blood hell if she was copying all of this down. Putting the books into her bag, she carried them back tot heir rooms.

[Leala]

((OOC: I'm still determined to get Leala to accepted before my move-in day! xD Even though it's a week from now...))

IC: Leala looked up and smiled as Taylin came in. "Copying this thing down is tedious, but I found out something interesting," she said, "Tinia and Edenia were sisters. Actual sisters, anyway. Tinia came to the Grey Tower two years after Edenia. Then, they did...normal novice things. The older one seems more focused on her studies than learning the One Power, from what I understand, so Tinia was about the same strength as she was. I think Edenia had a smaller amount of potential, though. She didn't write much about that." She looked down at her work and where she was on the journal in her copying. "Wait here for just a few minutes. I'll be done soon."

She sat quietly for a few more minutes, finishing the journal as quickly and as neatly as she could. Finally, she closed her notebook and placed it in the drawer, under the false bottom. Looking back at Taylin, she saw that her roommate's bag seemed a little heavier and fuller of books than it had been when she left. "Did you find anything that stood out? If not, let's start looking for Tinia Sedai. We'll do more reading when we've talked to her." She knew this part of the adventure would have seemed boring to Tayling, but Leala was more inclined to the reading and studying part.

[Kevin]

The Browns were boring. A few of them cute, but stuck in books, she hadn't even gotten a second look from most of the men, even those soldiers in the room, who had books about. She sighed. They weren't why she was here anyway, although getting one of them to do the searching for her would have been easier.

She'd found a few books on foreign policies and histories, tucking the correct timeline of the volumes into her bag. She found herself wandering the libraries expansive labyrinth of books. She found some of the most pointless things ever written, and others she couldn't read. The Old Tongue perhaps? Useless.

Then she found her way past velvet ropes, into a alcove of the library she'd never been in. She found titles from old books, and stories. She pulled a book out, that seemed out of place, slightly older, and less thick. Inside were drawings, weaves, she realized. They were colorized and detailed, like the notes of a White. She tucked the book away, and left to alcove, unsure if she was supposed to see it.

She left the library without paying much attention to anything other than not being followed or looking too out of place. She was relieved when she reached her rooms with Leala.

Taylin waited on the girl to finish what she was doing before opening her bag and taking out the history books, and the two others she'd found in the alcove.

"This one looks like the same sort of book that was in the drawer. I grabbed it in case, I don't think I was in the open part of the library exactly..and I found this."

Taylin offered her the diagram of weaves book.