To the Two Rivers

[Elaira Taravin]

Elaira attempted an innocent blink in the wake of Aviva Sedai’s glance, but when the Red turned her attention back to the path ahead she grinned, a little guilty. She had, perhaps, maneuvered Aviva’s instructions a tiny amount...but after all, she was training to be Aes Sedai, was she not? Twisting words was one of many skills she had to learn. That Aviva answered was evidence enough that Elaira’s question toed the line, barely. Elaira had been trailing behind the taller woman, eyes roaming, but as Aviva spoke and she hurried her pace and looked up at the Red Sister with curiosity.

"Yes, I know these paths well because I was born here in Watch Hill."

Elaira hoped for more, but Aviva Sedai lapsed into purposeful silence. Pressing further was out, Elaira wasn’t foolish enough to think she could get away with it twice. She slowed her pace to look around again, taking in the farms, animals, and fields around them. They were likely nearing the al’Azlin farm, or so Elaira supposed. She bit her lip, studying the nearby fields. What would Aviva Sedai be looking for? For her part, Aviva led them quickly and surely to one of the small farmhouses with decisiveness that suggested she knew exactly which farm to choose. How? Elaira was embarrassingly easy to distract at times, she knew, but she had always been attuned to the people around her, so when Aviva’s gaze shifted Elaira spotted the fire, surprise shifting quickly to alarm as the door swung open. She’d felt saidin[/b], a shuddery evershifting storm of power. Whoever held it lost it just as quickly, but Elaira felt a sense of movement away from her, perhaps behind the house. And even then, all thought to donor say something vanished with the power wrought spark and the ensuing flame.

Master al'Azlin? I am Aviva Sedai, and with me is Accepted Elaira. I was hoping to ask you about the fires that have been occurring in Watch Hill, but it looks as if one is starting in your fields right now."

The man—Master al’Azlin—was older than she’d expected, for some reason, with dark hair fading to gray. Older than her own father, certainly...though Elaira conceded that it was possible that the life of a farmer aged one faster than the life of greater nobility.

This tangent was, she knew, a defense mechanism meant to ward away the decision making required to tackle the problem, “Blood and bloody ashes there’s a fire in a field what do I do?!” Normally she would be more than content to allow Aviva Sedai to set the tone of her response, but she seemed content to step aside and allow Master al’Alzin to go from gaping at Aes Sedai to dashing out into his field cursing and hollering for his children to bring buckets and water. That seemed...wrong to Elaira, but from what she knew of Aviva there had to be a reason for it. Still, Elaira opened herself to saidar. The warmth of the Power washed through her, opening her to the world and tightening her senses. A thread of Water would.... But first.

“Aviva Sedai,”

Elaira began, watching the fire and the frantic response of the al’Alzin family.

“There was someone channeling saidin, here. Right when the fire started. He must have released the source right away, I didn’t have a chance to narrow it down but he can’t be far. I think I felt him run behind the house before he lost his grip.”

She hesitated, then, glancing up at Aviva.

“Shouldn’t we help them? A thread of water would handle it neatly.”

Elaira had no way of knowing how bad it was, no way of knowing how the family had, presumably, dealt with this before. No way of knowing why Aviva hadn’t simply done so herself the moment she’d seen the fire, instead letting Master al’Alzin jump to the defense of his fields. There was too much she didn’t know, and the need to do something and the need to know what exactly she should do kept her trapped, her stomach twisting and palms sweating.

[Aviva al'Saar]

Aviva still stood by the open door of the al'Azlin home, even as four children of the family scurried out the door and into the burning field. Her eyes followed them as they ran, watching the flames. It appeared that the fire would be brought under control with little difficulty, so Aviva didn't reach for saidar yet. She was aware, however, that the situation could change at any moment, and continued to observe quietly even when she felt Elaira embrace saidar. Focused on the scene before her, Aviva did not bother to look at the girl, but simply listened to her words.

By herself, Aviva could have reasoned out some of what Elaira told her, but she would never have been able to know where the man was, not without the girl's unusual Talent. "A good observation, Elaira," she told the girl. "That should make it much easier to find him from here." Before them, the al'Azlins almost had the fire put out, and Aviva opened her mouth to suggest to the Accepted that they did not appear to need any help. As she did, however, Aviva caught sight of another fire blazing to life near the first. This one was behind them, and closer to the house, and that threat made Aviva decide to alter her plans for the moment.

"Yes, they would probably welcome our help," she said, embracing saidar as she spoke. She hurried down the steps, careless of how her dress drug through the grass, and headed towards the second fire. It covered a very small area, but it was growing larger, with flames that easily matched her own height. Aviva drew a thread of pure Water and directed it at the fire. As she worked, it began to shrink, and she was able to turn her head and look towards the back of the house, where Elaira had suggested the channeler might be. There, she saw not one, but two men of the right age who were glaring at each other in a way that suggested that they weren't getting along very well. She made a note of them to herself before turning back to the fire. The immediate danger had to be dealt with first, but Aviva did not think she and the Accepted were very far from finding its source.

[Elaira Taravin]

Another storm swept across her senses, forcing from Elaira’s mind all sorts of worries. She hadn’t expected a second wave of saidin, with its rampant ferocity and unpredictable currents, to wash over her. Aviva Sedai didn’t feel it, but she saw right away the consequences and was already moving through the grass toward a second fire. Elaira hurried after her, eyes searching for the source of the flames.

The fire was taller than Elaira and intimidating up close, but Aviva glowed brighter than the flames. Aviva was strong, as strong as Elaira at the very least, and Elaira had been told over and over again that both she and Ishara were unusually gifted when it came to the One Power. Aviva began to get the fire under control with a thick strand of water, the effort apparently costing her nothing, and the fire immediately began to shrink. Elaira made to add her own thread and to the effort, then paused and turned to face the back of the house. Two men stood there, obviously on the verge of blows, and even as Elaira watched one lashed out with a fist and the two began to brawl.

One of them—both them? Elaira wasn’t sure—held the Power. Unlike Aviva, who glowed with saidar like a torch to Elaira’s eyes, men channeling saidin betrayed nothing. Even to Elaira’s strange Talent they appeared just the same as any other, but she could sense the storm emanating from them. It was a faint, flickering thing, not trained or really understood, but it was raging faster as the conflict intensified. Things could get very bad, very quickly. Elaira stopped, then changed directions. Aviva needed to put out the fire, and for once Elaira didn’t dither about asking questions.

Instead of Water she wove Spirit, one of the first weaves she’d deliberately set out to learn upon returning from Caemlyn. The weave wasn’t her best work, the pressure from both the situation and the decision negating at least some of the practice she’d put into it, but she was still able to surround both men with a shield. The resistance was incredible, and far more than Elaira had ever expected. She’d been told that trying to place a shield on someone actually holding the One Power was more difficult, and it certainly was. Still, the uncertain and untrained channeler, whichever one or combination it was, provided an opening, and at one of the lower points Elaira was able to slam the shield in place, cutting them off from the source.

As suddenly as the storm started it ended, leaving Elaira standing near two young men scuffling on the ground as fires raged behind. What should be done? Elaira decided to once more channel Ishara...or a more restrained Ishara, at least. She cleared her throat pointedly until the two looked up.

“There is a fire! Cease squabbling like children and go assist like adults!” Elaira wasn’t certain which was the channeler. She didn’t know what to do with them. Her skin prickled with saidar, and the shield she held in place was more awkward than she’d expected. The only thing she could do was get them pointed in the right direction and hope Aviva Sedai could sort things out instead. [

[Aviva al'Saar]

Aviva took a step back from the roaring fire before her as she continued to pour saidar into the thick thread of Water she held. The crackling flames demanded her attention, and she fought them with everything she had, directing her thread at the top of the fire and forcing it to die down. Before long, however, flames popped and surged higher again, leading the Red sister to believe that the man she was searching for was very likely still channeling, encouraging it to grow taller and expand. She took a deep breath, filling herself with as much of the One Power as she could safely hold.

Where is Elaira?

She had told the girl to help, and had expected her obedience. Instead, it seemed that the Accepted had disappeared elsewhere. Frowning, Aviva looked to the side, not thinking it wise to take her eyes off the fire for even a second. She did not find Elaira, but she did catch a glimpse of the quarreling men behind the house, and watched one of them strike the other hard across his face. As he did, the flames in front of her appeared to leap upward, and she followed them with her thread of Water. She worked to regain control, pressing her weave against the fire, and felt another woman began to channel nearby.

It had to be Elaira, and once she'd managed to battle the flames lower again, Aviva turned her head in the direction the channeling had come from. There she saw the Accepted weaving a shield and eyeing the pair of men by the house before scolding them for choosing to argue instead of help. Her earlier annoyance vanished, as she approved of Elaira's initiative. The Aes Sedai noted to herself that she should tell the girl so later, when the al'Azlin farm was out of danger. She gave her entire attention back to the fire and the Water thread, but noticed that the flames were slowly fading, the once bright orange now a feeble yellow-orange that barely reached her knees. From there, it was a simple matter to extinguish them completely, then move towards the al'Azlin family.

The fire they had been fighting had been smaller to begin with, and their numbers greater, and as she neared, Aviva could see that only a few tiny tongues of flame persisted on top of glowing ashes. She smothered them with her thread of Water, and then she let go of saidar. Looking around her, the Red sister noticed with some relief that the only damage done was to the small patches of grass where the two fires had begun. She also saw that where there had been two men behind the house, there was now only one standing there, wide-eyed, stunned, and still shielded. Blood trickled from a bruised nose where the other man had hit him, and he watched Elaira nervously, seemingly unaware of Aviva's approach.

She positioned herself beside the Accepted and tapped the girl gently on the arm. "You showed excellent judgment just now, Accepted," she said. Behind her, the al'Azlins filed back into their home. "Is this the man we've been searching for?"

[Elaira Taravin]

Elaira watched the two men warily, hands still on her hips. She’d narrowed it down based on their reactions, really, as the one who had been channeling was distinctly more nervous than the other, who seemed more angry than anything else. That one glared over Elaira, obviously displeased at being interrupted, and she went for her best cool Aes Sedai stare in response. It didn’t feel particularly successful, her heartbeat was still pounding in a decidedly not Aes Sedai fashion, but it was enough for him. He stalked off to help with the fire, cursing under his breath, leaving Elaira alone with the channeler.

He was older than the boy from Caemlyn had been, or maybe just better fed. He was taller than Elaira and broad shouldered, with a frame that indicated he had spent plenty of time helping, maybe around the farm? But he had a jittery, nervous expression and bags under his eyes that spoke of an exhaustion that Elaira found familiar. He’d been dealing with it long enough to realize that he was the cause of the incidents around the village, then, or so Elaira supposed. They stated at each other in silence for a few long moments. He seemed confused as well, maybe even stunned. Doubtless, he was not used to being shielded and cut off from saidin. Elaira had no idea how to start this conversation, she hadn’t thought that far ahead. Light, I am not one for impulsive decisions, what am I even doing?

Thankfully she wasn’t alone on this expedition. Neither she nor her...captive was the wrong word, surely, maybe just the wilder? noticed her approach, but both jumped as Aviva arrived, tapping Elaira on the arm.

”You showed excellent judgment just now, Accepted. Is this the man we've been searching for?"

Elaira turned to Aviva Sedai and beamed at the praise...though that didn’t last long, as she quickly turned her attention back to maintaining the shield. The man was seemingly coming out of his stupor, and based on his increasingly frantic expression he had a good idea of just who had shielded him.

“Thank you, Aviva Sedai. And yes, I believe so.”

Elaira wished she could be more definitive, but saidin was frustratingly opaque compared to saidar. If she were close enough to a woman who could channel, Elaira would know, and would even know roughly how strong she was. With men, she could only sense them while they held the One Power, and only judge strength based on how much of it they were channeling at any moment. It left few areas for certainty, even with her Talent.

“I sensed more channeling back here and saw the two of them fighting. I wasn’t sure which of them had channeled, but based on their reactions when I shielded them, I believe this one is who we’ve been looking for.”

That didn’t sound particularly reassuring, so she tried to smile gently at the young man. Based on his expression, wide eyed and on the verge of panic, she wasn’t sure that it helped. Rumors about the reception make channelers could expect from Aes Sedai continued to circulate, after all, to the point where in some places it all but supplanted any other narrative. Elaira glanced back at Aviva Sedai uncertainly, biting her lip. She wasn’t sure what to do next. In Caemlyn, and just now, she’d acted without thought. Left to actually consider options, she wasn’t sure what to do. Aviva Sedai, with her experience, hopefully would have a better idea.

[Aviva al'Saar]

The dark eyes that darted between her and Elaira before coming to rest on the Accepted could have belonged to any one of Aviva's own brothers when they'd been young men. He took a step backwards, then another, as he stuttered, "You-you're looking for me? Who are you?" His gaze left the Accepted, roaming around the area as if he were searching for an escape. Aviva watched him closely, gathering her skirt in her hands so she could chase after him if he tried to run. When he looked at her with a nervous glance, she spoke as gently as she could manage. "I am Aviva Sedai, and this is Accepted Elaira, of the White Tower," she introduced them. Her grip on the fabric in her hands tightened, as she half expected the frightened man to run once he heard those words. A few seconds passed, and when he didn't, she let go of the skirt and allowed it to settle back into its place.

For the moment, his attention appeared to have settled on her, and Aviva thought she saw a flicker of cautious interest beneath the man's fearful expression. In the same calm tone she'd used earlier, the Red sister explained, "We think you may have begun to channel the One Power. There is nothing wrong with that, you will not have intended it, but it does mean you will need to travel to the Black Tower to learn control of it." Aviva folded her hands in front of her, still watching the man, who looked towards Elaira for a moment before turning his head towards the blackened patches of grass nearby.

Aviva had provided that explanation countless times, to men and to women, and the reactions she'd seen to it varied widely, from denial to terror to anxiety, and in a rare few, excitement. She expected some form of one of the first three from this man, and her own brown eyes followed him as he turned back to her, blinking. "Is...is that what it is?" he asked, staring at her. Not knowing what he meant by that, the Aes Sedai waited patiently for him to continue.

When he did, his voice shook, but there was more relief in it than Aviva had thought there would be. "I mean.........I've been sick a lot this year, and then the fires started, and-and I've read a little, heard some stories...I thought maybe it was the One Power." He looked down suddenly, the tips of his ears turning red. "I thought about being tested, but my father forbade it. He said he couldn't afford for me to be gone from the farm, and that he needed me here." He shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. "So...I tried to stop wondering about it, but I can't."

Aviva's expression didn't change, but the Red sister felt a flash of annoyance with the father's refusal to listen to his son. What the man had asked was no childish whim, but a matter of life and death. She ignored it with the discipline of years spent doing this work, instead watching without further comment as the boy looked towards Elaira, appearing confused. She did the same, but her own face was unreadable.

"What do you think we should do to help him?" Aviva asked the girl. She already knew what she intended to do next, but she wanted to hear the Accepted's thoughts on the matter. Elaira would learn much more if Aviva involved her in the work instead of expecting her to stand there, silently observing, and the Red sister meant to give her every reasonable opportunity to contribute.

[Elaira Taravin]

Elaira glanced back to the young man as he began to speak. His apprehension sparked her own, and Elaira held onto saidar with a mental white knuckle grip. Would he run? Aviva Sedai tensed beside her as though anticipating it, and Elaira almost froze trying to figure out what to do. Aviva Sedai, however, spoke up.

"I am Aviva Sedai, and this is Accepted Elaira, of the White Tower."

Her voice was firm but gentle, and the young man stopped as though held in place by the invocation of the White Tower.

"We think you may have begun to channel the One Power. There is nothing wrong with that, you will not have intended it, but it does mean you will need to travel to the Black Tower to learn control of it."

He looked to her, as though for confirmation, and Elaira tried a nod and a gentle smile. He seemed less terrified than before, intent on the explanation. She'd done this once before, and the boy had clung to her explanation like a lifeline. This young man, after a moment, seemed to do the same. He answered, finally, relief in his voice.

"Is...is that what it is? I mean.........I've been sick a lot this year, and then the fires started, and-and I've read a little, heard some stories...I thought maybe it was the One Power. I thought about being tested, but my father forbade it. He said he couldn't afford for me to be gone from the farm, and that he needed me here. So...I tried to stop wondering about it, but I can't."

Elaira watched as the explanation was rung from him, leaving him embarrassed and lost. Elaira herself felt her heart drop and her mouth with it. The shock and sadness were writ plain on her face. How could a parent ignore the plight of their child like that? Who would dare play dice with their child's lives? The spark was a deadly thing left untamed. Elaira and Ishara had been lucky that they'd been in the sights of the Aes Sedai for most of their lives and had received the guidance to control it. This farmer, well-meaning though he might be, had gambled with his son's life and might have lost if they hadn't arrived. Did the multiple illnesses suggest the spark was burning him? Elaira did not know, but her mouth hardened into a frown. What a foolish, foolish man.

"What do you think we should do to help him?"

Aviva Sedai's question woke Elaira from her worries, and she turned back to the Red Sister. Elaira hesitated, but then spoke up, trying to keep her voice steady.

"We must see him brought to the Black Tower. He needs to be taught control, and his health could be at risk without help."

The sound of footsteps drew her attention past Aviva Sedai. She caught sight of the lined, worried face of Master al'Azlin, eyes concerned and far too knowing. Elaira's mouth tightened again, and her cheeks went pink as she felt a spike of anger. He had known that these fires were coming from his son, or must have at least suspected it, and done nothing. The words came out without thought, full of recrimination.

"Your son is in danger, Master al'Azlin. He should have received help long before this."

[Aviva al'Saar]

Elaira was quick to provide the appropriate answer, which would have earned the Accepted some praise had the young man's father not chosen that moment to join them. Aviva turned towards the older man, dark eyes flashing, noticing that Elaira had done the same. The girl's face was flushed, her anger open, and words spilled from her lips before Aviva could say anything.

"Your son is in danger, Master al'Azlin. He should have received help long before this."

Aviva could find no fault with the Accepted's opinion, though she personally would not have started the necessary discussion with such an accusation. It couldn't be helped now, however, so she merely fixed her gaze on Master al'Azlin, who stumbled backwards a few steps.

"..Danger?" the man mumbled, looking towards his son, then back at Aviva. The Red sister cut him off before he could say anything else.

"Yes, danger, as Accepted Elaira already told you," she said, the coldness in her voice exactly as she intended. "Your son was born to channel the One Power, which is very rare, and it cannot, will not, be denied." Aviva's eyes narrowed as she continued to stare at the man. "Are you so blind that you didn't notice your son's illnesses, or the fires starting out of nowhere?"

"But....I thought....Col's always complained about farming....." Master al'Azlin stammered. "I thought he just didn't want to do his share."

"What you thought doesn't matter," Aviva snapped. "Men like your son have two choices: they learn to channel, or die." She regretted the necessity of that statement, as the young man standing off to the side to listen went nearly white in shock. Aviva gave Elaira a quick glance, then looked at the channeler, who was shivering. She couldn't take her focus from the father, so Aviva could only hope the Accepted would have the sense to go help the young man.

The Red sister turned back towards the father, who wisely said nothing. "He must go to the Black Tower for training, so the Accepted and I will assist him in getting there as soon as he can be ready." She looked from father to son then back again. If needed, she could and would force the young man to go with them, but Aviva suspected that she would get no resistance from him now.

[Elaira Taravin]

"..Danger?"

Elaira crossed her arms and watched as Master al’Azlin wilted under Aviva Sedai’s stare. He seemed shocked by the news, more than Elaira had expected, so some of her anger leaked out of her. This man hadn’t intentionally endangered his son, he was just being a fool.

"Yes, danger, as Accepted Elaira already told you. Your son was born to channel the One Power, which is very rare, and it cannot, will not, be denied."

Elaira nodded as Aviva Sedai spoke. That could be a hard thing to accept. Elaira had certainly found it to be challenging. Having the spark had dragged her away from the comforts and safety of home and family, but there had been no other option.

Are you so blind that you didn't notice your son's illnesses, or the fires starting out of nowhere?"

Elaira watched the father, rather than Aviva Sedai. She wasn’t certain why his response mattered so much to her, but it did.

"But....I thought....Col's always complained about farming..... I thought he just didn't want to do his share."

Her jaw clenched tightly at the excuse. The man was seeking to absolve himself by casting blame on his son, and if Aviva Sedai wasn’t already dealing with him Elaira would be tempted to speak again.

"What you thought doesn't matter. Men like your son have two choices: they learn to channel, or die."

Elaira didn’t need Aviva Sedai’s glance to know how to react to this, at least. Actions and decisions often gave her paralyzing anxiety, but seeing the young man in shock, fear, and pain was enough to shortcut her decision making. While Aviva Sedai continued to talk to the father, Elaira moved to the son and put an arm on his shoulder, gently guiding him away from their conversation.

“You will be fine.”

Her voice was calm, certain, and kind. She could remember that day with the boy in Caemlyn’s alley, remember the shock she herself had suffered before leaving for Tar Valon. She smiled, trying to will this boy to stop shivering. Was that channeling sickness or fear? It was hard to tell.

“But, she said I’d die! And she’s Aes Sedai and the Power and—“

Panic was welling up in him, something unstoppered by Elaira’s attempt at support. She grabbed for his hands, holding them tight. He was a head taller than her and as broad as you’d expect for a farmer’s son, but in the moment he seemed fragile and ready to break.

“You will need training to guide you. You will have it. You need men to teach you. You will go to them. It will be new, and terrifying, and alien. It will not be easy. But you will be fine.”

He stopped as Elaira spoke up, voice firm. He wasn’t in the same position as the boy from Caemlyn, he needed confidence that not everything would fall apart. Elaira knew that look well. She was very certain that it was the same look she’d worn when she’d received her news, the same look her mother had seen when Elaira was finally convinced to unlock the door to her chambers. Dilaeve Taravin had kept Elaira together that night, and she would do the same here.

“I don’t envy you your first few weeks of training, though,” she added, dropping her voice to a conspiratorial whisper. “They worked me ragged at the White Tower, and I can’t imagine it’s any easier for the boys.”

He actually cracked a grin at that, and Elaira returned the smile. He was still shivering, so there was likely some sickness, but with a glance over her shoulder to Aviva Sedai it seemed as though they should be on their was as soon as possible.

“Go pack some things. I’m certain the Black Tower will provide necessities, but it’s better to be prepared. We’ll be leaving shortly.”

He hesitated, then nodded, stepping away from Elaira with a sheepish grin.

“The Black Tower?” He let out a sigh as he started for the farmhouse. “Blood and bloody ashes, Ma is going to have a fit.”

Elaira watched him go, and when he was inside she returned to Aviva Sedai, who seemed to have finished lecturing the father.

“He’s gathering some things,” Elaira explained to Aviva Sedai. “I believe he’s ready to come with us.”

And he’s saying his goodbyes.” That was a part she’d found challenging too.

[Aviva al'Saar]

The man in front of Aviva opened his mouth, then closed it again. Muttering about needing to go tell his wife, he scurried away from her and went back inside. The Red sister turned her head to look for Elaira, finding the Accepted standing a short distance from her with the young man's hands in hers. She couldn't hear what was said, but she could see the other woman's lips moving, and since the channeler was watching her, apparently listened to whatever Elaira was saying, Aviva chose not to interfere. Instead, she simply waited until the young man left for the house and the Accepted rejoined her.

She nodded at the explanation, and not long after, the channeler emerged from the house with a small bag hanging from his shoulder. He was followed by his father and an older woman with mostly gray hair and reddened cheeks who Aviva assumed was his mother. The pair stayed on the front porch, watching anxiously as their son walked towards the Accepted and the Aes Sedai. Aviva met his dark eyes with her own of almost the same shade.

"What's your name?" she asked him, having not quite caught it during her conversation with his father. He swallowed and said, "Col al'Azlin," then blinked and looked away from her. The Aes Sedai tried to soften her voice as she asked another question. "Are you ready to go?" Looking back up at her, he nodded. "I-I guess so." With a glance at his parents, and a final wave goodbye, he followed Aviva as she led the other two to the field where they'd just put out the fires.

When she judged that she was close enough to the spot where she'd been channeling earlier, where she would be capable of forming a gateway, Aviva raised a hand and beckoned the younger man and woman to come closer to her. Col stuck close to the Accepted's side as he did. The Red sister explained quickly, "We won't be going directly to the Black Tower." She did not believe that she and Elaira would be welcome there, and while she might not have cared were she alone, Aviva wasn't about to take chances when it came to the Accepted. "I'm going to take us to an inn in Baerlon called The Silver Bell, where an Asha'man I know will be waiting," she explained. To Col, she added, "He will be able to take you to the Black Tower from there."

With nothing more to say, Aviva reached for saidar and formed a gateway that opened into an empty field just outside the town of Baerlon. Col stared at it, open-mouthed, and Aviva directed, "Elaira, would you go through first, please?" After she did, the young man closed his mouth, and if his steps were slow, he gave her no trouble when she ushered him through next. Once they were all standing in the empty field, Aviva let go of the One Power. She gave each of her companions a look and said, "Follow me," as she moved towards the gates.

She had been to Baerlon multiple times before this, either passing through or searching the place for channelers, so Aviva knew exactly where she was going. She made sure to walk slowly enough to allow the others to keep up with her as she led them through the streets, stopping only when she reached their destination.

When she opened the door, the Red sister almost immediately recognized the man she'd come to meet. Alen Cranor was a personal friend of hers, a Saldaean whose red hair was easy to spot in a room filled with mostly dark-haired people. The Asha'man sat at a table with a dark-haired, dark skinned woman whose presence brought a smile to Aviva's face. Another sister of the Red, Sarisa was also a friend, one Aviva hadn't been able to see in years. She was also Alen's wife and bondmate, and while they most often traveled together, duty could call either elsewhere at any time. Aviva had had no idea before spotting her whether she could also expect to see Sarisa.

The Asha'man stood once they reached the table, smiling at Aviva before looking towards Col, who stood slightly behind her. "So you've brought me another Soldier, Aviva?" he asked. "I'm glad you were able to find him."

The Aes Sedai waved a hand in Elaira's direction. "I did have some assistance from Accepted Elaira," she pointed out. She gave the girl a look of approval before stepping backwards to stand beside Col. "This is Col al'Azlin," she said to the Asha'man. Col was looking nervously around the room, and Aviva reached over and patted his shoulder once. "This is Asha'man Alen Cranor, who will take you to the Black Tower." she whispered to the young man. "I know him well; he is a good man, and will help you if you let him." Col looked up at the Asha'man, but didn't move from where he stood.

[Elaira Taravin]

Elaira stood beside Aviva Sedai, fingers picking at her dress as tension leaked from the moment. Less tension was good, of course, but it was an opportunity for anxiety to sneak in. Had she said the right things? Would the young man return? She thought, she knew, that he would, but her mind was primed to always find a disastrous possibility for her to worry over. And could she hear sobs from the farmhouse, or was that just a memory of her own?

It was a relief when the boy and his parents emerged from the farmhouse, though her heart ached for them. This was a hard thing. And for what felt like the millionth time since she’d gone to the Tower, she desperately wished to see her own parents and siblings. Still, Elaira managed to give Col a comforting smile and eagerly took refuge in Aviva Sedai’s control of the situation. The Red Sister was, as always, decisive and unwavering. She spared little time for further goodbyes, but was gentle in her own way, and soon led them away from the al’Azlin farm.

Col remained close to Elaira on the walk, and Elaira tried to radiate the same easy reassurance she’d managed at first. She thought it was surprisingly effective, as Col’s expression eased as they walked, though he didn’t stray too far from her side. She felt like it was important to say something, here, but the words wouldn’t come. Without the overwhelming drive of necessity, it seemed, anxious waffling ruled the day. Light preserve me.

Elaira slowed to a halt as Aviva Sedai did, thankful for the interruption from her own tangled thoughts.

“We won't be going directly to the Black Tower. I'm going to take us to an inn in Baerlon called The Silver Bell, where an Asha'man I know will be waiting, He will be able to take you to the Black Tower from there."

Elaira blinked at that, but slowly nodded. That made sense. She hadn’t thought about it much, which was a bit of an embarrassing lapse, but with the general prohibition on cooperating with the Black Tower, it made sense that Aviva Sedai had cultivated contacts with the Black Tower. Elaira herself would have to do that, if she truly wished to be a Red Sister. The alternative, ignoring the Asha’man and assuming the worst of them, seemed unbelievably foolish. Perhaps Gareth would choose the Fire Legion…that would simply things, she thought.

Aviva formed the gateway without further discussion. Baerlon would be a larger population center, Elaira knew. They were…miners, primarily? Or at least she thought so. It had been awhile. She caught Col gaping and realized suddenly that the Gateway would be something directly out of myth for the young man. Aviva had a solution for this too, of course.

"Elaira, would you go through first, please?"

Elaira nodded and turned to Col, smiling.

“There’s really nothing to it, Col. Just one step in front of the other and you’ll be in another place entirely. You’ll probably be able to learn how to do it yourself, one day!”

She wasn’t certain if that was as reassuring as it sounded, considering the half grimace that appeared on his face in response, but Elaira did as Aviva Sedai directed and stepped through the Gateway, emerging on the other side. The empty field on the other side was quite similar to the one near the Two Rivers, though there was a smell that separated the two. The sudden sense of dislocation that came from stepping through the Gateway was always an interesting thing, but Col apparently found it jarring. The young man nearly stumbled, and Elaira’s caught him. Well, she helped balance him, anyway, catching him was quite out of the question.

“See? Not so bad after all.”

Col gave a queasy smile of his own in response, which was probably the most she could hope for.

Aviva Sedai set their pace as they moved toward Baerlon proper. She moved without hesitation, though made sure to allow the younger pair to keep up. Was there anywhere the Aes Sedai hadn’t been? Elaira, for her part, divided her attention between Baerlon and Col, who seemed to still be stunned by the sudden relocation. Baerlon itself was interesting, larger than the Two Rivers village, but still smaller than one of the great cities. The log wall was such an odd feature that Elaira expected she would sketch it when the opportunity presented itself.

They arrived at the Silver Bell without further incident, and Aviva made a beeline for a table hosting a man and woman. The man stood to approach, and for a moment Elaira felt as reluctant as Col looked. The last time she’d encountered an Asha’man (officially, anyway, discounting Aes Sedai ‘friends’) had been thoroughly unpleasant.

"So you've brought me another Soldier, Aviva? I'm glad you were able to find him."

Well, at least he seemed more approachable. The woman with him could channel as well, so perhaps this was one of the fabled Asha’man/Red pairings that lingered from before the Tower War.

"I did have some assistance from Accepted Elaira."

Aviva’s response made Elaira want to melt into the floor. Or possibly beam with pride. With eyes on her, she settled for blushing a vibrant red and performing a quick curtesy. Aviva Sedai’s praise, she realized, was something to be coveted. Elaira thought both the Asha’man and the woman had a moment of recognition at her name, but it was hard to tell. She expected that her Talent had made the rounds at the Black Tower as well, its reveal had been quite public and in the presence of both a Dedicated and a full Asha’man, after all.

Aviva spoke quietly to Col, voice reassuring, though the young man still hesitated. Elaira could understand the impulse, he’d gone from his farm to Baerlon to meeting an Asha’man in nearly the blink of an eye. With any lingering fever, this was likely surreal beyond belief.

Elaira stepped closer to Col, hesitated, then got up on tiptoe to make sure her voice carried.

“This is it, Col. Remember, you’ll be fine. You have nothing to fear from the Black Tower, I promise you.”

That last would be heretical in certain areas of the Red Ajah, and Asha’man certainly intimidated Elaira herself, but it was true for Col. He needed this, more than he knew. She didn’t want to embarrass the young man further by grabbing his hand, but she did give him another smile when he turned to face her. Col’s expression was unreadable, but she thought there was some relief there.

The boy turned back, puffed out a breath, then nodded and took a step forward, offering a bow to the Asha’man.

”Thank you for coming Asha’man Cranor. I’ll do my best.”

The Asha’man, for his part, looked vaguely amused, but not unkind. Col turned to face Aviva Sedai and Elaira herself, wearing that same rueful grin he’d had back at the farm.

”I guess this is it. Thank you, Aviva Sedai, Accepted Elaira.”

He bowed to each in turn and something in Elaira glowed, just as it had with the boy in Caemlyn. They’d helped Col, maybe even saved him, and she smiled, bright and dazzling, at his thanks. The Asha’man gave him his moment before clapping Col on the shoulder, drawing his attention back where Elaira supposed it belonged.

”We don’t have a lot of time for goodbyes, I’m sorry to say. Much as I’d like to spend the afternoon here in good company, we need to get you a bunk before it gets dark.”

For his part, the Asha’man did sound regretful, and Elaira had to wonder if that had something to do with the woman at his side, who’d thus far watched the proceedings quietly from their table. But either way, it didn’t stop him from moving to the door, Col in tow. The woman stood as well, moving to the door with a quick word to Aviva Sedai.

”I should go see them off. It was wonderful to see you Aviva. If you have time to trade news, I’ll be stopping back by the Silver Bell for the night.”

The woman smiled fondly at Aviva, and glanced at Elaira with a grin.

”You did well, Accepted. The Red will be lucky to have you.”

And with that, she was gone, leaving Aviva Sedai and Elaira in the common room.

[Aviva al'Saar]

While Aviva remained quiet after the initial introductions, she paid close attention to everything that occurred, as was always her way. She was particularly impressed with Elaira's conduct. Col seemed to have had one last fit of nervousness, but the Accepted had stepped in and handled it beautifully. She gave the young woman another of her approving nods, then smiled at Col's words of thanks. Once the men were moving towards the door, Aviva turned towards Sarisa as the other woman stood and spoke to her.

"I'll come by later this evening," Aviva promised. "Go on and bid your husband goodbye, and thank him again for me. I have an Accepted to get back to the Tower who has more than earned a little rest." This last sentence was spoken with a glance at Elaira, and once Sarisa had gone, Aviva led the way to the door.

As she retraced the path they had taken through the city, Aviva felt obligated to address what Sarisa had said about the Red being lucky to have the girl. She didn't disagree, but Aviva firmly believed that the choice of an Ajah should be left to the Accepted, without interference. She turned her head towards Elaira as they walked.

"You did very well today, especially in how you related to Col," Aviva told her. "Your ability to easily earn his trust will be very useful to you if you choose to continue working with men and women like him, but Elaira, never forget that it is for you alone to decide. Any Ajah will be glad to have you." It was as much praise as Aviva could reasonably give the Accepted, and she was quiet for the rest of the journey home.