The tall Aielman leaned against the wall of the Mistress of Novice’s office.
“So what do you think?” he said.
Mirin grimaced and stood.
“I suppose it has to be done. Now, Jhanic? Let’s just get it over with.”
Together, they walked to the Warder Yards where the young trainees of the Tower. Ravak was there, barking orders.
“Duck! Sweep! Watch your footwork, Horan! I've seen quicker cattle, c'mon, you need to watch more carefully. Now, again!"
Then he noticed the two approaching channelers and bowed smoothly.
“Mirin Sedai. Asha’man Jhanic. Can I help you?"
His eyes swept across them. Though his gaze lingered no longer on her than it did Jhanic, Mirin felt a blush creeping up her cheeks. Focus, woman! she told herself. She lifted her chin haughtily.
“Ravak, as you know, Jhanic found that one of your young Drin could channel. We would like to test each of the trainees. Again. I promise it won’t take long."
Ravak shrugged and turned away. Almost, Mirin thought he would tell them to return later, but then the Shienaran Gaidin shouted, his voice resonating across the Yards. “Water break! And line up! Mirin Sedai and Asha’man Jhanic have something to say to you all.”
And soon Mirin found herself sitting across from a young female Drin with a half-burnt candle in hand. She opened herself to the Power and wove flows of Fire and Air. A small flame appeared at the wick of the candle.
"All you have to do is look into the candle," she said.
One by one they came to her. Mirin was beginning to see spots everywhere from gazing into the small flame so long. Then finally, as she was testing the twentieth Drin, the candle flickered - and sputtered out. She felt the brief presence of saidar, along with a tentative sense of kinship.
Mirin smiled. Finally, she had found one.
"Your name? Fiona? Congratulations. You can channel."
“So what do you think?” he said.
Mirin grimaced and stood.
“I suppose it has to be done. Now, Jhanic? Let’s just get it over with.”
Together, they walked to the Warder Yards where the young trainees of the Tower. Ravak was there, barking orders.
“Duck! Sweep! Watch your footwork, Horan! I've seen quicker cattle, c'mon, you need to watch more carefully. Now, again!"
Then he noticed the two approaching channelers and bowed smoothly.
“Mirin Sedai. Asha’man Jhanic. Can I help you?"
His eyes swept across them. Though his gaze lingered no longer on her than it did Jhanic, Mirin felt a blush creeping up her cheeks. Focus, woman! she told herself. She lifted her chin haughtily.
“Ravak, as you know, Jhanic found that one of your young Drin could channel. We would like to test each of the trainees. Again. I promise it won’t take long."
Ravak shrugged and turned away. Almost, Mirin thought he would tell them to return later, but then the Shienaran Gaidin shouted, his voice resonating across the Yards. “Water break! And line up! Mirin Sedai and Asha’man Jhanic have something to say to you all.”
And soon Mirin found herself sitting across from a young female Drin with a half-burnt candle in hand. She opened herself to the Power and wove flows of Fire and Air. A small flame appeared at the wick of the candle.
"All you have to do is look into the candle," she said.
One by one they came to her. Mirin was beginning to see spots everywhere from gazing into the small flame so long. Then finally, as she was testing the twentieth Drin, the candle flickered - and sputtered out. She felt the brief presence of saidar, along with a tentative sense of kinship.
Mirin smiled. Finally, she had found one.
"Your name? Fiona? Congratulations. You can channel."