Post by Taivin Rashai on Mar 3, 2019 1:01:16 GMT
Name: Taivin Rashai
Age: 29
Nationality: Saldaean
Place of Birth: Sidona, Saldaea
Place of Residence: The White Tower, Tar Valon
Affiliation: Saldaea, House Rashai, The White Tower
Rank/Title: Gaidin, Scion of House Rashai
Talent: Viewing
Weapon Skills:
Martial: 7 | Handheld: 7 | Staves: 0 | Thrown: 5 | Ranged: 9 | Mounted: 10
Weight: 176 lbs
Build/Complexion: Athletic/Medium
Eye/Hair Color: Gold Hazel/Dark Brown
Distinguishing Features:
Taivin has the build and demeanor of a soldier, someone that is accustomed to physical activity. Years of training at the White Tower has resulted in a well-defined musculature, but he has retained the lighter, dexterous build of an accomplished rider. His dark hair is, more often than not, on the unruly side. He keeps it a few inches in length, albeit because he can’t be bothered to cut it, and maintains a well-trimmed beard. His eyes are predominately brown but in bright light, flecks of gold and green become visible. He favors the simpler attire that is standard for Saldaean light cavalry, in darker colors. While cut finely enough to distinguish his status as nobility, the materials are usually common, suitable for travel and combat.
PERSONALITY
As a child, he hated to be cooped up inside. He was the first of his siblings to bolt outdoors and the last to return home. Even when it was less than wise to venture outdoors, Tai would manage to slip away somewhere, preferring freedom and fresh air. His uncle equated him to a spirited colt, with the oft repeated need to bridle him to get him to hold still. This has not changed in the years since, save perhaps a higher tolerance of indoor spaces.
Taivin takes after the founder of his line, if the family stories are to be believed, as he is an inherently modest individual. He is not one to boast of his abilities and one might even argue that he does not fully understand the extent of them. He was the youngest of three boys, after all, and often found himself in the shadows cast by his far more charismatic brothers. When his skills are commended, Tai emphasizes practice and repetition, over any natural talent. As such, he can come off as unintentionally arrogant, with some believing he downplays his expertise on purpose.
Not that many would say so directly. Tai has a rather austere demeanor and many would not risk his predicted ire. Contrary to this, he is quite kindhearted. He demonstrates this with his actions, though, instead of words. This makes him an excellent instructor, even if his students tend to be intimidated. He does, however, have a low tolerance for foolishness and will not hesitate to admonish someone who has acted so.
Taivin is also fiercely loyal, to his family, to his people, and to those few who have won his friendship. There is little he would not do for them. Yet even to those people, he often remains at a certain emotional distance. There are a number of reasons as to why he has grown this way, but the first and foremost would be his Talent. Being able to foresee any misfortune in someone’s life might equip him to mitigate their effects, but it cuts him deeply that he is unable to prevent their occurrence to being with. And so, whether consciously or not, he often keeps himself several stages removed.
With Tarmon Gai’don on the horizon, the Westlands needed every blade it could muster. Thus Rolen t’Kaien Rashai saddled his finest mount and answered the call of his Queen. He served directly beneath the Marshal General, Davram Bashere. He earned recognition and respect for his efforts on the battlefield, despite his insistence that it all could be attributed to the quality and character of his steed.
In the end, the forces of the Light were victorious…but their triumph came at great cost. Saldaea suffered catastrophic losses, particularly amongst their nobles. With an entire nation to lead and rebuild, young King Maedin recognized that he must restore its leadership. In acknowledgement of their valor against the Shadow, he raised several families to the nobility. Rolen, a horsebreeder turned soldier, became the first High Seat of House Rashai and Steward of Sidona.
It was an unexpected, and to a certain extent an unwelcome, honor. But Rolen was not one to shun his responsibilities. He tackled his new status with the same level of fervor he dedicated to his herds. Under his rule, and the additional revenue of his family’s trade, Sidona quickly recovered from the destruction of war. Within a single generation, the city was well on the road to prosperity.
Yet even with their newfound success and influence, the members of House Rashai remained true to their roots. Each High Seat, in succession, worked to foster and maintain benevolent relations with the other Houses of Saldaea, but otherwise focused on the management of their own lands. When it came time for Gial, great grandson of Rolen, to lead the family, Sidona had grown into a major point of trade on the Arinelle.
Aletheia was of an old bloodline that had always called the river plains as home. She was fiercely protective of her native soil and chose to devote her life to its defense. Her skill on horseback was such that it attracted the attention of her lord and Gial commanded her into his service. Yet with each skirmish he thought of her less as a soldier and more as a woman until, at last, he asked for her hand.
Theia settled into her new role with the ease of one born to it and soon enlivened her House with its next generation. In her eldest sons, the nobleness of their youthful lineage bred true; both were natural-born leaders. She knew from birth, however, that her third son was different. Taivin was a far more reserved child. As time passed, it became apparent that he was also remarkably perceptive.
He was the first of his siblings to come to another’s aid, often before the need was even identified. It wasn’t until he was older that his parents learned this intuition was not without cause. Tai had seen auras and images around people for as long as he could remember. Most had been curiosities. Even if he understood their meanings, their context remained unknown. So for the most part, he had simply ignored them.
Until the winter his cousin died. In the months leading up to her death, Tai made several strange pronouncements to his family. He had somehow known his aunt was with child, that she would deliver a girl…and that the babe would live for mere moments. At first, this was brushed aside as the unfounded concern of a young boy. But then events proceeded exactly as he had foretold.
Yet of all this, the strangest part happened soon after. In an attempt to console his grieving aunt, Tai calmly informed her that she should not be so quick to lose hope. She would be a mother one day. It just wasn’t meant to be now. This latest stunt was enough to convince his parents that, at the very least, they needed to talk to their son. For his part, Tai thought he was in trouble.
With a great deal of patience, and more than a little coaxing, Theia managed to draw out her youngest son’s secret. Not that it was much of a secret. Tai hadn’t tried to hide it. In fact, he had assumed that it was normal. He simply hadn’t understood most of the omens he saw and thus had had no reason to speak of them. This revelation was a minor relief to his family. A great deal of Taivin’s behavior, believed to be quirks of his personality, were now attributed to his Talent.
But its very existence also posed a problem. Believing Tai was too young to make any serious decisions about his ability, his family decided it was best to make it a secret in truth, and keep it within the family. It was rarely spoken of, unless Tai himself initiated the conversation. For as he grew older, his understanding of his Talent improved. Secrecy became ingrained in him, however, and he continued to keep most of his Viewings to himself.
Two years after that first fateful proclamation, his aunt Teodora brought her second daughter into the world. Natasia proved to be a healthy and spirited child, not so unlike the cousin who had foretold her birth. And as like attracts like, Tasia became enamored of Taivin, following him about as soon as she could walk. For Tai’s part, the attention was not unwarranted and most assuredly was not unwanted.
As the third son, Tai had been provided an education befitting his status as a nobleman, but he also had a great deal more privileged freedom than his older brothers, saddled as they were with the weight of their future responsibilities. And while Taivin loved and admired his older brothers, none of the three were ever particularly close. There had never been any outright animosity between them, but there had been a certain amount of distance.
The differences in their ages, while slight, had already caused a slight rift. Tai was often free to scamper about their hometown and the surrounding countryside to his heart’s content, while Fenr and Haden were occupied with countless lessons in their father’s study. His younger sister, Aliah, wasn’t much for rousing adventures. But Tasia was more than eager for such excitement. So for the first time in his young life, Taivin had a likeminded companion.
The next few years of his life were idyllic. Like all the members of his House, horses were a vital part of daily life. Tai was astride his first horse not long after he managed to climb to his feet. At the age of seven, it was obvious he was a born horseman, as Tai could handle most of the mares and geldings in the family’s stables. His more flexible schedule meant more time to practice as well and his ability on horseback soon surpassed most his age.
Once he earned his uncle’s approval to venture out alone, beyond the stable’s enclosures, Taivin would spend hours in the saddle each day. It was an exceedingly rare day indeed, when he wasn’t in close proximity to a horse. Over time, he became intimately familiar with the fields and hills that surrounded his home and, as the years passed by, of the adjacent regions, with his cousin a frequent presence on these wanderings.
When Taivin had seen seventeen winters, his thoughts turned toward his future. He was of half a mind to follow in his uncle’s footsteps, what with his love of and skill with horses. But any chance he may have had at deciding his own fate ended a few months later, when the last of his childhood innocence and naiveté came to an abrupt end. His Talent had hovered over every aspect of his life, always present and active, even if Tai had chosen to do very little with it.
He had learned early on, after all, that revealing an omen never changed the outcome. What he saw was always meant to be. But one morning that changed, suddenly and drastically. For the first time in his life, Taivin Viewed an aura that had two potential paths. Of all the people in Sidona, of all the people he encountered on a regular basis, of course that aura belonged to his eldest brother, Fenr.
And of course it was a death omen. At this point in his life, Tai was far too familiar with death omens. He had seen countless auras of its like, especially amongst soldiers. But his brother’s fate was markedly different. Unlike every single aura he had seen before, Fenr’s death was not absolute. The problem being that Taivin didn’t know why. And, even worse, he didn’t know how his brother might avoid Death.
He became fixated on that chance, however slim. And it was now that Tai began to regret neglecting his Talent. Even if his entire family knew of his Talent, they didn’t understand it. He had rarely, if ever, spoken of what he foresaw. Which meant that now they could not fathom Taivin’s sudden obsession. He started following his older brother about whenever and wherever possible.
Yet this only served to irritate and alienate. Within weeks he had driven Fenr past the limits of his patience, to the point where he started to actively avoid his little brother. This would prove to be his downfall. Fenr left one morning on a routine patrol, unbeknownst to his brother. Routine, that is, until they were attacked by a rogue Trolloc band. House Rashai’s heir did not survive the confrontation.
If Tai had been quiet before his brother’s death, he was all but silent after. With the Blight’s resurgence, every family in Saldaea, in all the Borderlands, had suffered the loss of loved ones. But he was still burdened with guilt. He had seen Death around his brother, had known it had marked Fenr, and had even known there was a chance to avoid it. Yet he had still been unable to save him.
For a time, he was infuriated. With himself, with his Talent. What was even the point of having it? What was the reason behind that flicker of hope? Maybe the outcome would have been different, if he hadn’t been so insistent. If he had tried a different tactic. Maybe Fenr would have taken the warning to heart, if he had been so guarded with his Talent. This train of thought only worsened in the months that followed his brother’s death.
If “obsessed” was the term his family used to describe his behavior before, then “manic” might be the one used for after. Taivin had never been particularly dedicated to the military side of his House’s duties, aside from what was called for as one of its sons, but now he rode with every patrol and sortie he could manage. His guilt and grief, far greater than anyone in his family knew, drove him on past the point of his physical limits.
Even once exhausted, he continued to force himself onward. His father believed it was a part of his son’s grieving process. That he would settle down, once the leading edge of his anguish had burned itself out. But his mother knew better. She had always understood the difference, even more so perhaps than her son did himself, between Taivin and the other men of her family.
For all his skill, whether with horse or bow or even blade, Tai wasn’t a soldier. He was an observer. One with a keen eye, who was only moved to act when things he truly cared for were threatened. It was why, for years, he had ignored the knowledge his Talent had provided. Until he had seen auras that pertained to his family. Thus, Aletheia understood that Taivin’s self-destructive descent wouldn’t end until something forced it to.
If nothing changed, she knew she would lose another son. Yet despite her best efforts, her voice and intent were unable to reach Taivin, in his current state of mind. So Theia turned to the last remaining resource she had: her husband. If a mother’s love wouldn’t work, then perhaps a father’s authority would. And in the end, it didn’t take all that much effort to coax her husband into action.
Gial had always intended to send one of his sons south, to learn the art of war from the finest warriors in the West. Taivin had always been too independent, too tied to Sidona, to be reasonably considered. Haden had been the ideal candidate with his militaristic demeanor, but with the death of his eldest son, he was now the heir to his High Seat. So if his mother felt that it was in Taivin’s best interest to be sent south, he had little reason to argue.
Taivin, however, did not take the announcement well. He felt his place was here. The entire family was still reeling from their loss and Haden was scrambling to come to terms with his new position. He was needed at home. To worsen the impact of his father’s decision, it was to be taken into effect immediately, before the weather turned sour and complicated travel.
He protested. More vehemently than he had ever disputed any other command in his life, to the surprise of all his relatives. And yet he had always been the dutiful son. So, despite his less than favorable reaction, Tai prepared himself to follow through with his parents’ wishes. Within a month, he was riding south, taking in the scents and sights of Sidona, savoring the last time he would see his homeland for years.
Being away from his family proved to be both a blessing and a curse. As his mother had hoped, absence from Saldaea did indeed provide a different perspective on his brother’s death. The physical distance imposed a certain degree of emotional detachment. His brother’s death still hurt, but even the scant distance of the journey south was enough to force Taivin to come to terms with his grief.
The downside to being sent south was clear within days of his arrival at the White Tower. Sidona was a fairly large town. Add in its location on the River Arinelle and it meant a fair-sized crowd of people passed through on a regular basis. Of those, only a relatively small number had auras. At the White Tower, nearly everyone had one. Novices, Accepted, Aes Sedai, the Gaidin and their trainees.
His parents had meant well. The fact that Aes Sedai, and those that gravitated toward them, were significantly predisposed to having auras had simply not occurred to them. Suffice to say, Taivin’s adjustment to life at the White Tower was a rough one. He threw his all into his training. After all, if he was too tired to think, then he wouldn’t be as concerned with all these omens and portents around him.
He had never shown any particular talent with a blade, much preferring to hone his archery and horsemanship in his youth. But repeated, continuous sparring with superior swordsman eventually instilled a more solid foundation of the sword forms and their uses in combat. And as time passed, he also adjusted to the overwhelming number of auras that assaulted his senses at the Tower.
With an improved proficiency in both the blade and his Talent, it was safe to remark that Taivin’s time in Tar Valon was invaluable. Yet neither of those were the most important result to occur. For it was at the White Tower that Taivin stumbled across something quite unexpected: a lifelong friend. It had started out fairly innocuous, with the two of them paired together for training.
Over time, they began to speak of things other than swordplay. Gareth was remarkably easy to talk to, especially for one who typically maintained a certain emotional distance from his peers. Before long Tai found himself confiding in his new friend and the First Prince of the Sword became the first person outside his family to learn of his Talent, along with all the trouble it had caused in his life.
As he nears the end of his time with the Gaidin, Taivin finds himself in the same position he was in nearly a decade ago: considering what was to come next. He had certain obligations back home, of course, but he no longer felt an acute need to be there. And despite his commitment to his House and home, Taivin finds himself reluctant to return. The years away have changed him, but only time will reveal the true extent.
73 FA: Union of Gial t'Sidona Rashai and Aletheia ni Sidona t'Rashai
74 FA: Birth of Fenr Rashai
76 FA: Birth of Haden Rashai
79 FA: Union of Kesan t'Ramsin Rashai and Teodora ni Ramsin t'Rashai
84 FA: Birth of Taivin Rashai
86 FA: Birth of Aliah Rashai
91 FA: Birth and Death of Lena Rashai; Taivin's Talent Revealed
93 FA: Birth of Natasia Rashai
95 FA: Union of Fenr t'Gahaur Rashai and Kera ni Gahaur t'Rashai
97 FA: Birth of Rolen Rashai
101 FA: Death of Fenr t'Gahaur Rashai
102 FA: Taivin Travels to the White Tower to Train with the Gaidin; Meets Gareth Trakand
112 FA: Leaves the White Tower as Escort to Ishara Sedai of the Green and Elaira Sedai of the Red
113 FA: Bonded to Ishara Trakand
Books Read: “New Spring" to "The Crown of Swords"
Age: 29
Nationality: Saldaean
Place of Birth: Sidona, Saldaea
Place of Residence: The White Tower, Tar Valon
Affiliation: Saldaea, House Rashai, The White Tower
Rank/Title: Gaidin, Scion of House Rashai
Talent: Viewing
Weapon Skills:
Martial: 7 | Handheld: 7 | Staves: 0 | Thrown: 5 | Ranged: 9 | Mounted: 10
APPEARANCE
Height: 5’11”Weight: 176 lbs
Build/Complexion: Athletic/Medium
Eye/Hair Color: Gold Hazel/Dark Brown
Distinguishing Features:
- a prominent, yet faded scar on his left shoulder, from a childhood injury
Taivin has the build and demeanor of a soldier, someone that is accustomed to physical activity. Years of training at the White Tower has resulted in a well-defined musculature, but he has retained the lighter, dexterous build of an accomplished rider. His dark hair is, more often than not, on the unruly side. He keeps it a few inches in length, albeit because he can’t be bothered to cut it, and maintains a well-trimmed beard. His eyes are predominately brown but in bright light, flecks of gold and green become visible. He favors the simpler attire that is standard for Saldaean light cavalry, in darker colors. While cut finely enough to distinguish his status as nobility, the materials are usually common, suitable for travel and combat.
PERSONALITY
As a child, he hated to be cooped up inside. He was the first of his siblings to bolt outdoors and the last to return home. Even when it was less than wise to venture outdoors, Tai would manage to slip away somewhere, preferring freedom and fresh air. His uncle equated him to a spirited colt, with the oft repeated need to bridle him to get him to hold still. This has not changed in the years since, save perhaps a higher tolerance of indoor spaces.
Taivin takes after the founder of his line, if the family stories are to be believed, as he is an inherently modest individual. He is not one to boast of his abilities and one might even argue that he does not fully understand the extent of them. He was the youngest of three boys, after all, and often found himself in the shadows cast by his far more charismatic brothers. When his skills are commended, Tai emphasizes practice and repetition, over any natural talent. As such, he can come off as unintentionally arrogant, with some believing he downplays his expertise on purpose.
Not that many would say so directly. Tai has a rather austere demeanor and many would not risk his predicted ire. Contrary to this, he is quite kindhearted. He demonstrates this with his actions, though, instead of words. This makes him an excellent instructor, even if his students tend to be intimidated. He does, however, have a low tolerance for foolishness and will not hesitate to admonish someone who has acted so.
Taivin is also fiercely loyal, to his family, to his people, and to those few who have won his friendship. There is little he would not do for them. Yet even to those people, he often remains at a certain emotional distance. There are a number of reasons as to why he has grown this way, but the first and foremost would be his Talent. Being able to foresee any misfortune in someone’s life might equip him to mitigate their effects, but it cuts him deeply that he is unable to prevent their occurrence to being with. And so, whether consciously or not, he often keeps himself several stages removed.
HISTORY
The tale of House Rashai is a fairly recent one, in terms of noble lineages. It started out as a common bloodline, notable for one reason: its members bred and raised horses. Within several generations, their herds were renowned in the Heartland for their resilience and martial aptitude. But even with this growing fame, the family was content with their rank and role. Their passion was for horses, not political clout. One’s place in the Pattern, however, cannot be chosen.With Tarmon Gai’don on the horizon, the Westlands needed every blade it could muster. Thus Rolen t’Kaien Rashai saddled his finest mount and answered the call of his Queen. He served directly beneath the Marshal General, Davram Bashere. He earned recognition and respect for his efforts on the battlefield, despite his insistence that it all could be attributed to the quality and character of his steed.
In the end, the forces of the Light were victorious…but their triumph came at great cost. Saldaea suffered catastrophic losses, particularly amongst their nobles. With an entire nation to lead and rebuild, young King Maedin recognized that he must restore its leadership. In acknowledgement of their valor against the Shadow, he raised several families to the nobility. Rolen, a horsebreeder turned soldier, became the first High Seat of House Rashai and Steward of Sidona.
It was an unexpected, and to a certain extent an unwelcome, honor. But Rolen was not one to shun his responsibilities. He tackled his new status with the same level of fervor he dedicated to his herds. Under his rule, and the additional revenue of his family’s trade, Sidona quickly recovered from the destruction of war. Within a single generation, the city was well on the road to prosperity.
Yet even with their newfound success and influence, the members of House Rashai remained true to their roots. Each High Seat, in succession, worked to foster and maintain benevolent relations with the other Houses of Saldaea, but otherwise focused on the management of their own lands. When it came time for Gial, great grandson of Rolen, to lead the family, Sidona had grown into a major point of trade on the Arinelle.
Aletheia was of an old bloodline that had always called the river plains as home. She was fiercely protective of her native soil and chose to devote her life to its defense. Her skill on horseback was such that it attracted the attention of her lord and Gial commanded her into his service. Yet with each skirmish he thought of her less as a soldier and more as a woman until, at last, he asked for her hand.
Theia settled into her new role with the ease of one born to it and soon enlivened her House with its next generation. In her eldest sons, the nobleness of their youthful lineage bred true; both were natural-born leaders. She knew from birth, however, that her third son was different. Taivin was a far more reserved child. As time passed, it became apparent that he was also remarkably perceptive.
He was the first of his siblings to come to another’s aid, often before the need was even identified. It wasn’t until he was older that his parents learned this intuition was not without cause. Tai had seen auras and images around people for as long as he could remember. Most had been curiosities. Even if he understood their meanings, their context remained unknown. So for the most part, he had simply ignored them.
Until the winter his cousin died. In the months leading up to her death, Tai made several strange pronouncements to his family. He had somehow known his aunt was with child, that she would deliver a girl…and that the babe would live for mere moments. At first, this was brushed aside as the unfounded concern of a young boy. But then events proceeded exactly as he had foretold.
Yet of all this, the strangest part happened soon after. In an attempt to console his grieving aunt, Tai calmly informed her that she should not be so quick to lose hope. She would be a mother one day. It just wasn’t meant to be now. This latest stunt was enough to convince his parents that, at the very least, they needed to talk to their son. For his part, Tai thought he was in trouble.
With a great deal of patience, and more than a little coaxing, Theia managed to draw out her youngest son’s secret. Not that it was much of a secret. Tai hadn’t tried to hide it. In fact, he had assumed that it was normal. He simply hadn’t understood most of the omens he saw and thus had had no reason to speak of them. This revelation was a minor relief to his family. A great deal of Taivin’s behavior, believed to be quirks of his personality, were now attributed to his Talent.
But its very existence also posed a problem. Believing Tai was too young to make any serious decisions about his ability, his family decided it was best to make it a secret in truth, and keep it within the family. It was rarely spoken of, unless Tai himself initiated the conversation. For as he grew older, his understanding of his Talent improved. Secrecy became ingrained in him, however, and he continued to keep most of his Viewings to himself.
Two years after that first fateful proclamation, his aunt Teodora brought her second daughter into the world. Natasia proved to be a healthy and spirited child, not so unlike the cousin who had foretold her birth. And as like attracts like, Tasia became enamored of Taivin, following him about as soon as she could walk. For Tai’s part, the attention was not unwarranted and most assuredly was not unwanted.
As the third son, Tai had been provided an education befitting his status as a nobleman, but he also had a great deal more privileged freedom than his older brothers, saddled as they were with the weight of their future responsibilities. And while Taivin loved and admired his older brothers, none of the three were ever particularly close. There had never been any outright animosity between them, but there had been a certain amount of distance.
The differences in their ages, while slight, had already caused a slight rift. Tai was often free to scamper about their hometown and the surrounding countryside to his heart’s content, while Fenr and Haden were occupied with countless lessons in their father’s study. His younger sister, Aliah, wasn’t much for rousing adventures. But Tasia was more than eager for such excitement. So for the first time in his young life, Taivin had a likeminded companion.
The next few years of his life were idyllic. Like all the members of his House, horses were a vital part of daily life. Tai was astride his first horse not long after he managed to climb to his feet. At the age of seven, it was obvious he was a born horseman, as Tai could handle most of the mares and geldings in the family’s stables. His more flexible schedule meant more time to practice as well and his ability on horseback soon surpassed most his age.
Once he earned his uncle’s approval to venture out alone, beyond the stable’s enclosures, Taivin would spend hours in the saddle each day. It was an exceedingly rare day indeed, when he wasn’t in close proximity to a horse. Over time, he became intimately familiar with the fields and hills that surrounded his home and, as the years passed by, of the adjacent regions, with his cousin a frequent presence on these wanderings.
When Taivin had seen seventeen winters, his thoughts turned toward his future. He was of half a mind to follow in his uncle’s footsteps, what with his love of and skill with horses. But any chance he may have had at deciding his own fate ended a few months later, when the last of his childhood innocence and naiveté came to an abrupt end. His Talent had hovered over every aspect of his life, always present and active, even if Tai had chosen to do very little with it.
He had learned early on, after all, that revealing an omen never changed the outcome. What he saw was always meant to be. But one morning that changed, suddenly and drastically. For the first time in his life, Taivin Viewed an aura that had two potential paths. Of all the people in Sidona, of all the people he encountered on a regular basis, of course that aura belonged to his eldest brother, Fenr.
And of course it was a death omen. At this point in his life, Tai was far too familiar with death omens. He had seen countless auras of its like, especially amongst soldiers. But his brother’s fate was markedly different. Unlike every single aura he had seen before, Fenr’s death was not absolute. The problem being that Taivin didn’t know why. And, even worse, he didn’t know how his brother might avoid Death.
He became fixated on that chance, however slim. And it was now that Tai began to regret neglecting his Talent. Even if his entire family knew of his Talent, they didn’t understand it. He had rarely, if ever, spoken of what he foresaw. Which meant that now they could not fathom Taivin’s sudden obsession. He started following his older brother about whenever and wherever possible.
Yet this only served to irritate and alienate. Within weeks he had driven Fenr past the limits of his patience, to the point where he started to actively avoid his little brother. This would prove to be his downfall. Fenr left one morning on a routine patrol, unbeknownst to his brother. Routine, that is, until they were attacked by a rogue Trolloc band. House Rashai’s heir did not survive the confrontation.
If Tai had been quiet before his brother’s death, he was all but silent after. With the Blight’s resurgence, every family in Saldaea, in all the Borderlands, had suffered the loss of loved ones. But he was still burdened with guilt. He had seen Death around his brother, had known it had marked Fenr, and had even known there was a chance to avoid it. Yet he had still been unable to save him.
For a time, he was infuriated. With himself, with his Talent. What was even the point of having it? What was the reason behind that flicker of hope? Maybe the outcome would have been different, if he hadn’t been so insistent. If he had tried a different tactic. Maybe Fenr would have taken the warning to heart, if he had been so guarded with his Talent. This train of thought only worsened in the months that followed his brother’s death.
If “obsessed” was the term his family used to describe his behavior before, then “manic” might be the one used for after. Taivin had never been particularly dedicated to the military side of his House’s duties, aside from what was called for as one of its sons, but now he rode with every patrol and sortie he could manage. His guilt and grief, far greater than anyone in his family knew, drove him on past the point of his physical limits.
Even once exhausted, he continued to force himself onward. His father believed it was a part of his son’s grieving process. That he would settle down, once the leading edge of his anguish had burned itself out. But his mother knew better. She had always understood the difference, even more so perhaps than her son did himself, between Taivin and the other men of her family.
For all his skill, whether with horse or bow or even blade, Tai wasn’t a soldier. He was an observer. One with a keen eye, who was only moved to act when things he truly cared for were threatened. It was why, for years, he had ignored the knowledge his Talent had provided. Until he had seen auras that pertained to his family. Thus, Aletheia understood that Taivin’s self-destructive descent wouldn’t end until something forced it to.
If nothing changed, she knew she would lose another son. Yet despite her best efforts, her voice and intent were unable to reach Taivin, in his current state of mind. So Theia turned to the last remaining resource she had: her husband. If a mother’s love wouldn’t work, then perhaps a father’s authority would. And in the end, it didn’t take all that much effort to coax her husband into action.
Gial had always intended to send one of his sons south, to learn the art of war from the finest warriors in the West. Taivin had always been too independent, too tied to Sidona, to be reasonably considered. Haden had been the ideal candidate with his militaristic demeanor, but with the death of his eldest son, he was now the heir to his High Seat. So if his mother felt that it was in Taivin’s best interest to be sent south, he had little reason to argue.
Taivin, however, did not take the announcement well. He felt his place was here. The entire family was still reeling from their loss and Haden was scrambling to come to terms with his new position. He was needed at home. To worsen the impact of his father’s decision, it was to be taken into effect immediately, before the weather turned sour and complicated travel.
He protested. More vehemently than he had ever disputed any other command in his life, to the surprise of all his relatives. And yet he had always been the dutiful son. So, despite his less than favorable reaction, Tai prepared himself to follow through with his parents’ wishes. Within a month, he was riding south, taking in the scents and sights of Sidona, savoring the last time he would see his homeland for years.
Being away from his family proved to be both a blessing and a curse. As his mother had hoped, absence from Saldaea did indeed provide a different perspective on his brother’s death. The physical distance imposed a certain degree of emotional detachment. His brother’s death still hurt, but even the scant distance of the journey south was enough to force Taivin to come to terms with his grief.
The downside to being sent south was clear within days of his arrival at the White Tower. Sidona was a fairly large town. Add in its location on the River Arinelle and it meant a fair-sized crowd of people passed through on a regular basis. Of those, only a relatively small number had auras. At the White Tower, nearly everyone had one. Novices, Accepted, Aes Sedai, the Gaidin and their trainees.
His parents had meant well. The fact that Aes Sedai, and those that gravitated toward them, were significantly predisposed to having auras had simply not occurred to them. Suffice to say, Taivin’s adjustment to life at the White Tower was a rough one. He threw his all into his training. After all, if he was too tired to think, then he wouldn’t be as concerned with all these omens and portents around him.
He had never shown any particular talent with a blade, much preferring to hone his archery and horsemanship in his youth. But repeated, continuous sparring with superior swordsman eventually instilled a more solid foundation of the sword forms and their uses in combat. And as time passed, he also adjusted to the overwhelming number of auras that assaulted his senses at the Tower.
With an improved proficiency in both the blade and his Talent, it was safe to remark that Taivin’s time in Tar Valon was invaluable. Yet neither of those were the most important result to occur. For it was at the White Tower that Taivin stumbled across something quite unexpected: a lifelong friend. It had started out fairly innocuous, with the two of them paired together for training.
Over time, they began to speak of things other than swordplay. Gareth was remarkably easy to talk to, especially for one who typically maintained a certain emotional distance from his peers. Before long Tai found himself confiding in his new friend and the First Prince of the Sword became the first person outside his family to learn of his Talent, along with all the trouble it had caused in his life.
As he nears the end of his time with the Gaidin, Taivin finds himself in the same position he was in nearly a decade ago: considering what was to come next. He had certain obligations back home, of course, but he no longer felt an acute need to be there. And despite his commitment to his House and home, Taivin finds himself reluctant to return. The years away have changed him, but only time will reveal the true extent.
TIMELINE
73 FA: Union of Gial t'Sidona Rashai and Aletheia ni Sidona t'Rashai
74 FA: Birth of Fenr Rashai
76 FA: Birth of Haden Rashai
79 FA: Union of Kesan t'Ramsin Rashai and Teodora ni Ramsin t'Rashai
84 FA: Birth of Taivin Rashai
86 FA: Birth of Aliah Rashai
91 FA: Birth and Death of Lena Rashai; Taivin's Talent Revealed
93 FA: Birth of Natasia Rashai
95 FA: Union of Fenr t'Gahaur Rashai and Kera ni Gahaur t'Rashai
97 FA: Birth of Rolen Rashai
101 FA: Death of Fenr t'Gahaur Rashai
102 FA: Taivin Travels to the White Tower to Train with the Gaidin; Meets Gareth Trakand
112 FA: Leaves the White Tower as Escort to Ishara Sedai of the Green and Elaira Sedai of the Red
113 FA: Bonded to Ishara Trakand
Books Read: “New Spring" to "The Crown of Swords"
