A Trail of Lies Left Behind (ATTN: Taylin)

[Leala]

Leala watched as Taylin took out the books she had found and set them to the side. She handed her a smaller one that she said seemed similar to Edenia's journal. She took the small book and could tell immediately that it was old, much like the journal, but perhaps better cared for. It was in the library, after all. Opening it, she flipped through it. It seemed to be a book about weaves, the pictures well drawn and crisp. "A book like this would certainly be useful further on in our studies," she commented. Looking at the weaves, Leala decided that they looked too advanced for their current status with the One Power, but she flipped through them anyway.

Her pale eyebrows rose as she found one illustration that explained that this particular weave was developed by Saphire Sedai of the Green Ajah. She furrowed her brow in thought for a moment. She wondered what had become of her. She noted that the weave was called Liquid Fire. That would definitely be a weave that she would not be allowed to touch until she reached the shawl.

Flipping the book back to the front, she saw that the author of the book was Edenia herself. She had seemed rather astute, just from reading her journal. Not only that, but she listed herself as Edenia Sedai of the Brown Ajah. "Saphire, the Aes Sedai that was captured during all this, has an entry attributed in here to her," she said, showing it to Taylin. "And Edenia made it to the shawl, it seems, but I don't think she's in the Tower." Carefully, she tucked the book between the others and back into Taylin's bag.

"Let's find Tinia Sedai," she said, placing Edenia's old journal in her own bag. Standing up, she left the novice quarters with her roommate and headed to the Yellow Ajah's quarters for a start. After asking around and fabricating an easy story that they were looking for her, because they would begin a class with her, they were told to look in the gardens. Leala took note that the Yellows they had told about the supposed class seemed happy that she was taking students again.

They left the Tower to go the Gardens. They looked for a few minutes before finding a solitary figure in a yellow dress, looking out into the distance.

[Kevin]

Taylin didn't mind Leala taking the lead, it gave her time to place things in her own mind. She'd had a full day, on top of what was promising to be a full afternoon. She'd been juggling orbs of power, each element, all morning with Reain Sedai. She was getting stronger in the Power, but prolonged work still tired her.

She'd been near to killing to twit of a girl in the class with her. She was constantly losing the Source, and balls of light would fade in and out. Taylin juggled all five globes of light, each a different element. They spun like a fair's wheel in front of her open palms. She wanted to swat the girl next to her for her lack of effort. How long had they been at this now? Of course she couldn't multitask her day to day activities, much less the Power.

Shaking off the memory Taylin realized they had gotten to the Yellow Halls only to be turned toward the Gardens. "I haven't the slightest idea what I am to say to this woman, much less how two Novices are going to get an old wo..." She stopped as she saw the Aes Sedai. Well, maybe not old looking but that face would hide age.

Taylin walked with Leala up to the sister, and dropped a bow with her. The Aes Sedai smiled warmly enough, and offered them a motion, as if dismissing such things as bowing.

"I am Tinia Sedai, is there something I can do for you ladies?" The woman knew they must be after her, there was no one in the garden with her. Taylin looked at Leala, and finally spoke, her face a bit played toward a more bewildered expression. "We were sent to you from one of the Brown's who has been doing some studying, and as penance for over keeping books, we are helping him out today...." She stopped and gathered herself.

"We were sent to ask you a few questions, if you had time, Tinia Sedai?" Taylin looked at Leala, as if saying she were throwing up her hands.

[Leala]

Leala gave the Yellow a polite curtsy. The tones in her voice were very gentle, but also sad and distant. It made Leala wonder. The Aes Sedai lifted an eyebrow, asking what they wanted without asking aloud. She hadn't had any experience with this sister, so she wasn't sure how to approach the subject, but there was only one way at this point. "Aes Sedai, I was in my room, doing my studies, and I found this," she said simply, taking out the thin journal.

Tinia Sedai's brown eyes widened in instant recognition. Her olive skin went a little paler at the revelation of it as well. She regained her Aes Sedai composure, but her voice still shook when she said, "Light... So, you're the one that found it." Leala nodded as she handed it to her. Tinia opened the book and flipped through it. "Well, I suppose you've already read through it, otherwise, you wouldn't know to bring it to me." She paused and looked at the two of them. "Is this what you wanted to ask me about?"

Leala nodded respectfully. Tinia Sedai sighed and handed the journal back to Leala. "I think Edenia would want you to give that to the library when you're done with it. Well, what would you like to know?"

Leala knew that a respectful pause was due here, so she smiled at the Yellow for a moment. "We were wondering whatever became of Edenia, if you wouldn't mind telling us."

"Ah..." Tinia blinked a few times, thinking of what to say. "She did gain the shawl, at about the same time I did. She was always about her studies and building more knowledge for the Tower. She passed away perhaps thirty years ago. No, it's not nearly so sad now. She had gone to a very secluded village somewhere in Arad Doman, and caught a flux there. When she finally realized what was happening, it was too late, and she was too far away from a healer to do anything." She shrugged. "It was not a glamorous death girls dream of, but Aes Sedai are still human." There was a pause, but Tinia still seemed willing to talk.

"How did you and Edenia know the Aes Sedai that brought you with her to her group?" Leala chose her words carefully, not sure how someone would take her speaking about the Rebellion.

"She was Edenia's teacher in the One Power. I believe they had been learning about wards and such. Edenia was her favorite student. Thinking back on it now, I believe I may have been brought along so that my sister would cooperate. Edie was very adamant about seeming cooperative with them, even though we saw through their ploy very early on. She didn't want to see me hurt." She sighed and ran a hand through her dark hair. Leala noticed a few strands of silver in it. this must have happened a long time ago. It was good to know that Edenia had lived a long life, if it was short for an Aes Sedai.

"Do you know what became of Saphire Sedai?" Leala asked.

"Well..." Tinia blinked again, thinking. "That's a bit more complicated. I know that she hasn't died, but she is not in the Tower. Perhaps you should ask one of the clerks, though. I don't know where she is."

Leala smiled and nodded, accepting the news. "Thank you for your time, Aes Sedai," she said with a curtsy. "I'll be sure to turn the book in."

"Ah..." Tinia said, raising a hand. "On second thought, I'll turn it in. You may run into trouble if you do."

"That makes perfect sense," Leala said with a smile as she handed the journal to the Yellow. Tinia gave them a smile and waved as they left her little space. As they left, Leala thought for a moment. "I suppose now, we can take a deeper look into that book you found."

[Leala]

Leala and Taylin made their way back to their rooms. Today had certainly turned out to be interesting. She had been expecting another day of studying things she had already studied before coming to the Grey Tower, possibly reading up on weaves that she had practiced in class, or maybe reading ahead. It was infuriating to study how to use the One Power without actually being able to study it in practice without supervision. She did her best thinking by herself. Some days, she couldn't wait to become an Accepted. Taylin being her roommate helped, though. The two of them were certainly different, but they were similar enough to get along much better than they had with her previous respective roommates.

Now they had met Tinia and learned what had happened to Edenia. This entire thing was just incredibly hard to believe. The Aes Seda and Asha'man of the Grey Tower seemed to get along so well. How under the Light had they come to the point where one group suspected the M'Hael of being an agent of the Shadow? The state of the Grey Tower now was proof that he certainly was not a darkfriend. She wanted to dig further and see if it was determined that the Black Ajah had had anything to do with it, but she had a feeling that if she looked specfically for that in the Tower's records or asked anyone who was there at the time, she would get vague denials. It certainly looked like something the Black Ajah would do, just to cause dissension among the members of the Grey Tower.

That would just have to serve as speculation for the time being.

Right now, the best she could hope to do would be to look through the book of weaves that Taylin had found and come up with questions to ask Saphire Sedai.

As soon as they entered their room, Leala retrieved the small book that her roommate had brought from the library. For her own sake, she didn't ask if this was in a restricted section when it was found. She flipped back to the page about Liquid Fire.

"This weave that Saphire Sedai made looks powerful," she said, turning so that her roommate could see. "It looks as if it makes fire rain down on one's enemies." She wondered what kind of situation would have to be in play for such a strong weave with such a wide range to work with the Three Oaths. The thought took her to a dark place in her mind.

They skimmed over the page for a few moments before Leala spoke up again. "I certainly plan on asking her about this weave...perhaps how she came to think of it. I think since she was an Aes Sedai at the time of this, she'd have a better understanding of what went on. Do you have anything you'd like to ask?"

[Kevin]

Taylin was tired. She had had an interesting day. The only other girl in Novice white aside from her roommate she had become close with, had been raised to Accepted the night before. Taylin knew her own time in Novice white was growing short, her classes now a mixture of Accepted, Soldiers, and Dedicated. She was happy to be heading back to her rooms. It was a strange kind of surreal, walking the halls alone now.

Entering her room she sighed, dropping her bag by her bed. She turned, falling backwards onto the mattress. "It appears Nephuria has been moved to Accepted. She won't even look at me properly today. Are we all destined to keep making and breaking friendships?"

Rolling onto her stomach she watched Leala take out the book of weaves, stopping on one page Taylin had been peeking at rather often herself. "That weave, something about it seems familiar. If one wanted to rain fire upon enemy heads, I have to wonder how much is based on strength in Water and Air, they seem to be the key elements in Weather alterations. Though clearly she has added enough fire to cease calling Lightning, and instead actual Fire. I doubt I have the strength with Fire to ever properly execute it."

Taylin waited for Leala to get closer, before pulling out a pen and paper. She wrote down what she wanted to say, lest someone hear.

"I think we should have code names," the paper read. "If we are to dig in the wake of the Shadow it is only a short time before we reach the source. I already have one in mind for myself."

Handing over the slip of paper, her smile was conspiratorial.