To the Two Rivers

[Aviva al'Saar]

Seated in one of her maroon armchairs, Aviva unfolded the letter that lay in her lap. It wasn't the first time she'd read it, and the folds of the parchment already looked a bit worn from being opened, reread, and folded again. Her dark eyes narrowed as she began to review the message yet again, thinking the whole time on the problem it presented. The letter read:

Aviva Sedai,

I hope this letter finds you well. While I realize your time is valuable, I thought you might be interested in some difficulties we've been having here in Watch Hill. Over the past fortnight, there have been several small fires in the village. At first, we all thought it was one of the older boys, being foolish, but since one happened overnight, we're not so sure. I can only thank the Light that nobody has been hurt.

The most recent fire happened just yesterday, right in my own vegetable patch. I lost a few of my tomato plants, but it was so small that there was no other damage. As I was putting out the fire, I saw the al'Azlin boy passing by on the road. It reminded me of our conversation when you were here last, when you told me about the signs of someone beginning to channel. I would have seen the weaves if a woman had set the fire in my garden, but I wonder if it could be the work of a man. Perhaps the al'Azlin boy? I'm keeping an eye on him, just in case. You certainly know much more about that than I do, so I'm hoping you might be willing to come visit and look into it. We'd be grateful for any assistance you might offer.

In the Light,
Calla Thyre, Wisdom of Watch Hill

The Red sister lifted her head and placed the page on the table beside her, having learned nothing new. With a frown for the letter, Aviva stood and begun to pace, slippers soft on the tiles of her apartment. Calla had been a contact of her for years, a weak channeler, but not prone to fancies and whose reports Aviva was inclined to take seriously. To return to the place of her birth and offer her help would have been no trouble at all, except that she had no more ability to reliably identify a man channeling than Calla did.

This would have been so much easier years ago, she thought with a heavier step of her foot against the floor. She had to force herself not to stomp as she walked back and forth, trying to come up with a solution. She'd already sent inquiries to her old friends in the Black Tower, but they were few now, and all occupied elsewhere. The lack of relationship between the two Towers now meant she also couldn't simply contact the Black Tower directly, as she couldn't be sure whoever received it wouldn't ignore a message from an Aes Sedai.

The situation never failed to frustrate Aviva, and she gave an irritated huff as she made herself stop thinking about it. It was a problem, yes, but not one she could deal with right now. The problem now was the trouble in Watch Hill, and it seemed to Aviva that she could either go there alone, or possibly work with another Red sister.

Aviva stopped pacing, and went back to the chair where she'd been sitting. Working with another Red sister sounded like the best solution, but there were so very few Red sisters she would consider for this. Far too many were unfairly hostile towards the Asha'men, some so much that she could hardly be civil when she passed by them in the halls. Sisters or no, she wouldn't trust any of those Reds anywhere near even the potential of a male channeler. She shook her head, frowning, as she mentally reviewed the short list of women who might be suitable, and came to the realization that they were all out of the Tower.

It appeared that she would have to go alone, but as she sat there, looking down at her own red skirt, Aviva thought of a name she hadn't considered before. Wasn't there an Accepted who has some sort of Talent for sensing saidin? What was her name....Elira? Elaira. She didn't know the girl well, but she was rumored to have an interest in the Red Ajah, and with that sort of Talent, Aviva rather hoped the rumors were true. I could certainly put her Talent to good use..and it would do no harm for her to learn more about our work. Satisfied with that decision, Aviva stood and moved into her study to compose a summons to her apartment for the Accepted.

[Elaira Taravin]

The summons did not come as much of a surprise to Elaira Taravin. It found her in her room, alone, pouring over notes and sketches from one of her older notebooks, and Elaira took it with a sense of defeat. Over the past year, she’d been summoned, cornered during classes, prodded, and studied more than she’d ever expected. She was used to Ishara Trakand taking the brunt of attention from everyone around, and the sudden increase in attention she’d received had quickly escalated from bemusing to alarming. Sisters from the Brown and White Ajahs were ever curious, and in Elaira’s Talent they found a brand new area of inquiry that was unheard of: a woman who could sense saidin, the male half of the Source.

They had all sorts of questions for her, always: Could Elaira see when a man was holding saidin? (No, but she could feel it.) Could she tell which man in a group was holding it? (Yes, to the person.) How strong they were? (Not particularly, but she could tell how much saidin they were holding, relatively.) What did it feel like? (A raging tempest.). It was hard for them to find answers, but more than one curious Brown had introduced a “friend who could channel,” that Elaira suspected was actually an Asha'man.

On the other hand, Elaira’s own intentions and curiosity in addition to her Talent had attracted attention from the Red Ajah, many of whom were nearly as curious about the Accepted’s odd ability. When Elaira had first come to the White Tower, she hadn’t expected to become Aes Sedai. When she realized that she was strong enough to attain the shawl and unlikely to escape back to Caemlyn, she’d expected to follow Ishara into whatever Ajah the Daughter-Heir chose (almost certainly Green.). However, finding and saving a young wilder in Caemlyn the previous year had awoken something in Elaira that she wasn’t used to: an ambition. Elaira wanted to find and help more people who were lost like that boy had been...and of the Ajahs, the Reds were best positioned to do that.

When word of that desire had spread, more than one Red Sister cornered Elaira in an attempt to make the case for their Ajah. Some were forceful and aggressive, others were polite and charming. The ones that gave her pause suggested that her Talent would be a strong weapon against the Black Tower and those who might go mad. Enough Reds had been in the last group that Elaira had begun to doubt it was the Ajah for her.

Elaira finally drummed up the courage to set aside her notebook and read the summons. It was from someone named Aviva Sedai, and Elaira wasn’t certain which speech she would get this time. The indicated apartments were in the Red Ajah section of the Tower, though. Light, I hope it’s the gentle nudge this time. Her last conversation had been with Neserin Sedai, and it had been enough to almost make Elaira consider fleeing the Tower entirely.

Elaira stood from her desk, quickly running a brush through her gold-red hair in an attempt to keep herself somewhat presentable. Her dress didn’t require any decision making: like all Accepted, she wore a white fitted dress with seven bands of color at the hem and cuffs and her Great Serpent ring on the third finger of her left hand. Such was life for Accepted. Satisfied that she was presentable enough, Elaira hurriedly made her way to the Red Ajah apartments. One did not leave Aes Sedai waiting, especially not if one was Accepted. It would be an excellent way to earn some unpleasant reminders.

Arriving at the closed door, Elaira paused, smoothed her skirts, then knocked. The knock was, perhaps, a bit timid. Light, I liked it better when Ishara was the only one with Aes Sedai eyes on her.. Through the door she called out, voice smooth.

“Aviva Sedai? This is Elaira Taravin, responding to your summons.”

[Aviva al'Saar]

When the knock came, Aviva was sitting in her preferred armchair, and the Aes Sedai made no move to get up. "Come in, child," she called to the Accepted. The door opened into a small sitting room decorated, as one might expect, predominately in shades of red. Another armchair was positioned beside Aviva's, both facing the door with a small table separating them. A cream and red rug with a Tairen maze pattern covered the dark red floor tiles in front of them, and a small fire blazed in the fireplace. Aviva had added no personal touches to the room, having spent many years avoiding her space within the White Tower.

From her seat, Aviva's dark eyes watched the Accepted as she entered. She appeared somewhat shy and hesitant, not uncommon in an Accepted when summoned to a sister's room. "You may sit down, if you wish," she told the girl. Regardless of whether Elaira sat or not, Aviva began to speak as soon as she thought she had the child's attention. This not being a social occasion, she did not waste time on polite conversation, instead launching directly into the reason she'd sent for Elaira.

She turned her head to meet the Accepted's blue-grey eyes. " I have a task which requires your assistance," Aviva explained. "I have reason to believe that there is a male wilder living in the Two Rivers region of Manetheren, who needs to be located and brought to the Black Tower for proper training. I understand that you are able to detect a man channeling, is that correct?" She tilted her head slightly as she awaited an answer, hardly even blinking as she continued to study Elaira.

[Elaira Taravin]

"Come in, child.”

Elaira opened the door gingerly and stepped in with a moment’s hesitation. Light, when would she be done being intimidated by Aes Sedai? When I’m Aes Sedai myself. Maybe, if I’m lucky. Certainly not a day before. Elaira entered the room with her hands clasped in front of her, sketching a quick curtsy to the older woman seated in an armchair. The room was rather sparsely appointed for an Aes Sedai, Elaira noted, but like all Aes Sedai rooms it was practically a mansion compared to the Accepted quarters. The woman herself was striking; Aviva Sedai’s eyes were large and dark and Elaira felt as though they could see everything.

"You may sit down, if you wish.”

Elaira moved with care to the armchair beside Aviva’s own, settling herself as Aviva continued. Elaira was often distracted, or at least thinking along multiple lines at once, but as per usual an Aes Sedai commanded her full attention. She hadn’t forgotten those Novice lessons.

“I have a task which requires your assistance.”

Elaira blinked at that. She felt pinned by Aviva Sedai’s gaze, but she could help betray the surprise on her face, at least a bit. It wasn’t terribly common for Accepted to be pulled from their studies for tasks, at least not if they were productive (and Elaira was certainly that.

“I have reason to believe that there is a male wilder living in the Two Rivers region of Manetheren, who needs to be located and brought to the Black Tower for proper training. I understand that you are able to detect a man channeling, is that correct?"

Ah, of course. So it was her Talent after all. Elaira tried to calm herself with that knowledge, but it was difficult. Nervous excitement carried through her, and she fidgeted only slightly in the armchair. She idly played with the Great Serpent band with her other hand. She hadn’t been out of Tar Valon since the disastrous and amazing trip to Caemlyn, and this was a chance to help find someone in need? With no punishment waiting for her, this time? Excitement was unavoidable.

“Yes, Aviva Sedai.”

Elaira spoke softly but clearly, averting her eyes from Aviva Sedai’s unblinking gaze.

“It’s a Talent of mine, apparently. I’m not quite sure how it works, or why, but if a man is holding saidin I can feel it. I’d...”

She trailed off for a moment, staring into the distance and chasing her thoughts.

“I would love to help you find this wilder, Aviva Sedai.”

[Aviva al'Saar]

Aviva nodded solemnly, concealing her surprise at Elaira's openly stated desire to assist her. That interest in the task told her that the Accepted would indeed do well for herself, should she choose the Red. As encouraging as that discovery was, she did not want to leave the girl with the impression that the upcoming journey would be a simple matter. The Aes Sedai crossed one leg over the other, then leaned forward, still looking into Elaira's eyes.

"The desire to help others is an admirable one, child, but you should know before we leave that this man may not wish for our assistance. He may be afraid, or simply unwilling to leave the life he knows behind. It can be quite difficult to get some people to understand that proper training is in their best interest."

The Aes Sedai pressed her lips together before continuing to speak. "I must also remind you that it is quite possible for a wilder to have gained at least some control of the One Power, and it is hard to predict what someone will do as they learn. This particular man has been setting fires in the village, and I have to consider that he may have been doing this intentionally." Aviva shrugged her shoulders.

In a somewhat lighter tone, she added, "I don't believe that will prove true of this man, as the fires have been very small and randomly set, but it is unwise at best to go searching for an unknown channeler without being as aware as one can be of what you might be facing."

The Red sister blinked, turning her head just enough that she was no longer staring into the Accepted's eyes. "Do you have any questions, Elaira?" Her use of the Accepted's name was deliberate; if she did well on this trip, Aviva suspected that she would not remain a child in the eyes of the Tower for much longer.

[Elaira Taravin]

Elaira's mind was elsewhere while Aviva Sedai spoke, though she was careful not to show it. She often listened with half an ear, turning her mind to other matters, and it was impossible to do otherwise now. So she sat, eyes somewhat dreamy, and nodded seriously with Aviva Sedai. She'd never been to the Two Rivers; she hadn't been anywhere at all, really, aside from Caemlyn, Aringill, and Tar Valon. She'd met people from Manetheren, of course, but she'd never seen any of the country herself. The Two Rivers were largely agrarian, from what she could recall from lessons, and her hands itched to sift through any of the notebooks tucked safely away in her room.

"The desire to help others is an admirable one, child, but you should know before we leave that this man may not wish for our assistance. He may be afraid, or simply unwilling to leave the life he knows behind. It can be quite difficult to get some people to understand that proper training is in their best interest."

That warning rang true to Elaira, and she winced visibly. Elaira had not expected to be sent with Ishara and Gareth to the White Tower for training, and she had not been particularly eager at the time. She'd hoped to spend a few years training then return home; the Aes Sedai did that, sometimes, for girls who lacked strength in the One Power. Unfortunately, both she and Ishara had turned out to be uncommonly strong, instead. She had quite seriously contemplated fleeing the Tower during her first week as Accepted and had only been able to find the strength to stay with Ishara's help. But that was in the past; she was committed, now, and had things she wanted to achieve. Surely that experience could only help in trying to persuade this young man to do the same.

"I must also remind you that it is quite possible for a wilder to have gained at least some control of the One Power, and it is hard to predict what someone will do as they learn. This particular man has been setting fires in the village, and I have to consider that he may have been doing this intentionally."

Elaira's eyes widened at that. She'd known all the facts that made up the sentence: some wilders were able to control the One Power, even untrained. Men (and women) on occasion committed arson. But she hadn't put the possibility together, perhaps blinded by her prior experiences. Light! A wilder actively causing harm with the One Power was quite nearly a nightmare, though Elaira schooled her features and nodded again, but fiddled some more with her ring.

"I don't believe that will prove true of this man, as the fires have been very small and randomly set, but it is unwise at best to go searching for an unknown channeler without being as aware as one can be of what you might be facing."

Elaira's shoulders relaxed, and she let go of the ring. Of course, yes. She was worrying over nothing. This was someone who needed help, and besides, if he was not she would be with a full Aes Sedai. Against Aviva Sedai, even with malicious intent an untrained wilder wouldn't be able to do anything.

"Do you have any questions, Elaira?"

Elaira cocked her head, thinking back, eyes focusing once more. Elaira had a number of questions--but how many did she feel were proper to ask of a full Aes Sedai with whom she was unfamiliar? A creeping thought had struck her, one that she had to ask about, and she tried to watch Aviva Sedai as carefully as she dared.

"Aviva Sedai, I've heard...or I thought...I...."

She paused, huffing out a breath, and started over.

"I've seen some Aes Sedai that would care little what happens to a male wilder. Those who are not, mmm, overly fond of the Black Tower?"

Elaira very carefully did not say that many were Red Ajah, though the most vehement had indeed been Red Aes Sedai.

"Why do you?"

It was the simplest, most direct way to phrase the question, and Elaira hoped she would not take offense. She'd clasped her hands and kept her tone inquisitive, though not overly so. But Elaira knew she did not want to use her Talent to hunt down men for those who wished them harm, and she wanted to know for sure before Aviva Sedai's mission began in earnest.

[Aviva al'Saar]

Elaira's question ignited the flames of fury somewhere deep inside Aviva. The Red sister arched an eyebrow, allowing nothing else of what she felt to touch her ageless features. If the Accepted looked closely enough, she might have observed the spark of temper flashing within Aviva's eyes, but nothing more than that. Aviva drew in a deep breath, saying nothing while she battled the surge of her emotion. That she should think she even has to ask! It should not even have been a question; it was the duty of Red sisters to aid all channelers, male and female. That many of her sisters had forgotten this never failed to infuriate her.

Another deep breath, and then another, passed before Aviva judged herself capable of speaking with the composure of an Aes Sedai. Still, she turned sharp eyes on the girl, contemplating her motivation for asking what she had. The news of Elaira's Talent had spread quickly through the halls of the Red, and Aviva was not so naive as to think she was the first of her sisters to show an interest in the Accepted. Was the girl's mind already filled with the poison so many of them eagerly shared? Aviva couldn't know, but she made the decision right then to learn more before she took Elaira anywhere.

She blinked once before she spoke, her expression unreadable. "I care because he is a human being, hardly different than you or I." If Elaira had an opinion on this statement, Aviva could not tell just from watching the girl. "While a wilder can be a danger to himself or herself and people nearby, this man is no more dangerous simply for the fact that he was born male." Her words were spoken forcefully, perhaps just a little harsh, but the Red sister frankly cared more for protecting the safety of the innocent man she sought than the feelings of the Accepted across from her.

"You will have heard," Aviva said, "that the duty of the Red is strictly recruitment and handling the occasional abuse of the One Power." That much the Accepted would have learned during novice classes. That there was a third task given to the Ajah in the aftermath of the Last Battle had not often been spoken of in the years since the Tower War, and while Aviva had never forgotten it, what Elaira knew of it was something of a question to the Red.

"While that is true, we have also been tasked to work together with men who can channel the One Power, another reason for my concern. Yes, some sisters choose to ignore the importance of this; I have not, nor will I." Aviva bent her head towards the Accepted and lowered her voice. "And if none of that was true, there is also the simple fact that it is the right thing to do. To leave someone born to the spark to die the death most wilders face is not something any decent person would allow."

Her next words were cold, and Aviva didn't bother trying to soften them. "Are you able to work with this man and treat him with the decency any human deserves, Elaira?" She looked away from the Accepted towards the door to her apartments and extended a hand towards it. "If you cannot, then you may be dismissed."

[Elaira Taravin]

"I care because he is a human being, hardly different than you or I."

Those words were a relief to hear, and Elaira relaxed internally if not visibly. Aviva Sedai’s thoughts echoed her own every time one of the more aggressive sisters cornered her. But the Aes Sedai was not finished.

"While a wilder can be a danger to himself or herself and people nearby, this man is no more dangerous simply for the fact that he was born male.”

The force behind the words startled Elaira, and her eyes widened a fraction. She settled her hands in her lap, waiting as Aviva Sedai continued.

"You will have heard that the duty of the Red is strictly recruitment and handling the occasional abuse of the One Power. While that is true, we have also been tasked to work together with men who can channel the One Power, another reason for my concern. Yes, some sisters choose to ignore the importance of this; I have not, nor will I."

Elaira almost nodded; she’d heard that, before, and it was part of what drew her to the Ajah. Not that she knew many men who could channel, of course. But Aviva Sedai wasn’t done. She leaned in toward Elaira instead, voice low and dangerous, and Elaira couldn’t help but shrink back in her seat.

"And if none of that was true, there is also the simple fact that it is the right thing to do. To leave someone born to the spark to die the death most wilders face is not something any decent person would allow."

Her face paled. She knew the sort of death Aviva Sedai meant. Many of the people dear to her could have suffered it. The boy from Caemlyn could have, had they not found him. Elaira herself might have, in time. It was not something she’d dwelled on; it was an unpleasant death.

"Are you able to work with this man and treat him with the decency any human deserves, Elaira? If you cannot, then you may be dismissed."

Elaira jolted forward at the words, hands twisting in her lap.

“No! Wait, no, I mean—“

She took another deep breath, trying to calm herself despite her pounding heart. Aviva Sedai was yet another woman to add to the list of women who were possessed of an ability to intimidate Elaira. At some point she hoped to get used to it.

“I’m sorry, Aviva Sedai. I want to help, and I didn’t mean to imply otherwise. It’s just that I had to be sure. I don’t want to use my Talent to hurt anyone.”

She looked away from Aviva Sedai, at the floor.

“Some of the talk I hear, it’s...frightening. I was worried you might think otherwise.”

Her voice came out small; Elaira was keenly aware of how insulting that sort of worry must sound, but there was no way around it. Especially not with Aviva Sedai so incensed. The truth was Elaira’s only defense.

[Aviva al'Saar]

Aviva sat up straighter in her chair, still studying the Accepted. Frightening? she thought. Is that what the Red Ajah has come to? Certainly, she could imagine the word suiting some of her sisters, in the eyes of an Accepted, but knowing that her Ajah could be seen that way, that she could be seen that way, did nothing to improve Aviva's mood. When she spoke, she looked away from Elaira and attempted to soften her tone.

"Never be afraid to ask questions, Elaira." she said to the girl. "I asked if you had any, so I can hardly be offended that you have." She let the Accepted think on that for a moment before adding, "Your desire to not use your Talent for harm is commendable." A small, approving smile broke through the Aes Sedai's calm expression, but it quickly faded away. "I can promise you that I have no intention of asking you to use it for that purpose." Not for the first time, Aviva wondered just what Elaira had been hearing from some of the other Reds. It's probably for the best that you never find out, she told herself firmly. Whatever the Accepted was being told to make her see the Ajah as frightening would likely rile her own temper, something Aviva did not need.

The Red sister folded her hands in her lap. "If there's nothing else you need to ask, then you are free to go." she said. "Come to the Sunset Gate in two days' time, precisely at High, and we will be on our way."

[Elaira Taravin]

Elaira sat in silence, stomach twisting, awaiting Aviva’s response. She finally dared to look up, only to find Aviva Sedai looking away, face...pensive, maybe? Aes Sedai were always hard to read.

"Never be afraid to ask questions, Elaira. I asked if you had any, so I can hardly be offended that you have."


The tension went out of Elaira almost immediately. She’d worried the question itself would upset the Aes Sedai; the implication was certainly insulting directed at Elaira herself, and the way she’d phrased the question made it a very reasonable misunderstanding. Aviva Sedai seemed to be taking it well, however, so Elaira relaxed a hair, loosening her hands and listening intently.

"Your desire to not use your Talent for harm is commendable."

The smile that crossed Aviva’s face was unexpected, and Elaira couldn’t help but smile in response. It was such a relief that Aviva Sedai agreed!


“I can promise you that I have no intention of asking you to use it for that purpose."

Elaira nodded firmly. Good. Because she wouldn’t do that, no matter who tried to force her. That realization scared and thrilled her; rebellion did not come easy to her, she typically left that to Ishara. In this case, though, she would not let herself be bent. She wanted to help people, not hurt them.

"If there's nothing else you need to ask, then you are free to go. Come to the Sunset Gate in two days' time, precisely at High, and we will be on our way."

The dismissal felt sudden, and Elaira felt slightly off balance as she stood, but she curtsied anyway. Her mind was pulling her in a dozen directions at once.

“No, Aviva Sedai, thank you. You’ve put my mind at ease. Thank you for the opportunity, I will meet you there.”

She left, head spinning. Light, she was leaving the Tower again, in two days! There was so much to do before then. Ishara was going to be so jealous, Elaira would have snickered at the thought if the entire situation didn’t leave her feeling a little anxious. She was leaving for the Two Rivers in two days! To find a wilder, and hopefully save him.

---

Elaira was at the Sunset Gate nearly an hour before High, sitting on a bench near the bridge and fidgeting with the hem of her white Accepted’s dress. She hadn’t slept much the night before, but Elaira wasn’t the slightest bit tired. Nervous energy thrummed through her, a pale and flighty imitation of saidar. She’d brought a leather pack, tucked under the bench. Elaira wasn’t sure what to expect, or what she’d need to bring. She’d settled on one of her notebooks (currently open and balanced, slightly precariously, on her knee) as well as food and a little bit of coin. What would an Aes Sedai bring on a trip such as this? She hadn’t known, and realized, too late, that perhaps she could have asked Aviva Sedai, but Elaira had done the best she could without.

The sun was warm but the fall wind was brisk, full of electrifying energy. The dark brown traveling cloak she wore insulated her somewhat, for which she was thankful, but the crisp air made her want to move, autumn weather always did. Elaira looked just a bit out of place, because while Accepted weren’t uncommon in Tar Valon they rarely approached the bridges, particularly not outfitted for travel, with a bag of supplies and a cloak. Odd looks were common, and she’d pulled up her hood to, hopefully, avoid having people think her a runaway.
Elaira decided she’d likely be waiting on Aviva Sedai for awhile, given how early she’d arrived. She took to sketching in the notebook, of the bridge and of passersby, as well as jotting down idle thoughts and questions. Her mind was on the Two Rivers, though, not the book in front of her.

[Aviva al'Saar]

As High approached, Aviva walked through the Red Ajah's halls. Aes Sedai did not rush, and so Aviva did not, but her pace most definitely could not have been called slow, either. Her dark eyes scanned the corridors as she passed, and she crossed the hall to avoid other Reds when she saw them. It was not something she did normally, but today she simply did not have the time for either idle conversation or heated disagreement, and she was not going to let herself be drawn into either. She remained attentive, if slightly less so, as she left her Ajah quarters behind and passed through the White Tower's common halls to arrive at the Sunset Gate. Closing the door quietly behind her, Aviva studied the area, pleased to find the blonde Accepted already waiting on a nearby bench.

She lifted her red-embroided blue skirt slightly off the ground to avoid the dirt as she walked over to join the girl. Over the dress, Aviva wore a scarlet cloak that displayed her pride in her choice of Ajah. She carried a small bag dangling from one shoulder, containing little more than a change of dress and some food. She did not expect the visit to be long; Watch Hill had grown since her birth, but it still did not boast that many men of the proper age to have manifested the spark. The Aes Sedai positioned herself standing in front of the seated Accepted and gave her a polite nod. "Accepted Elaira," she addressed the girl.

Aviva had pinned her usual braid into a low bun on the back of her neck, something she always did when visiting the Two Rivers, and it was always just a little strange for her not to feel the braid swinging free against her back. She lifted a hand and pushed one of the multiple pins back into position, then spoke again. "Are you ready to go?" She might have phrased it as a question, but it wasn't really meant as one. The Red sister expected that the Accepted was ready, as she'd been told to be, and she did not wait for a response.

Certain that the girl would get up and follow, Aviva turned and walked away from the White Tower, out of range of the dreamspike that prevented unwanted Traveling within its grounds. When she had reached an open area where she could safely make a gateway, the Red sister proceeded to embrace saidar and weave an intricate construction, primarily using Spirit. A thin silver line appeared in the air before her and appeared to rotate into a sort of hole, framed by the shimmering outline of her weaves.

Through the gateway, Aviva could see an empty field, one she'd chosen for just that reason. It was far enough from Watch Hill to be inconvenient for farming, assuring her that she wouldn't endanger either people or animals with her weave. In the distance, the rooftops of Watch Hill were visible, numerous enough now to be more of a medium-sized town than the simple village of her birth. With the weave completed, Aviva held it open while looking around to learn whether Elaira had indeed been wise enough to follow her.

[Elaira Taravin]

What were the Two Rivers like? Manetheren as a whole was a bit of a mystery to Elaira, who'd never left Andor (and only rarely left Caemlyn) before traveling to Tar Valon. Her family had little to do with the Two Rivers; nearly the entirety of Andor lay between Aringill and Baerlon. Most of the talk she'd heard in Caemlyn, from those with more experience in such things, painted the Two Rivers as a small, nearly backward sort of place...but people who gossiped like that could rarely be counted on for accuracy. She tapped the pen on the edge of the notebook a few times, mind wandering.

Elaira was lost in sketching a map of the Two Rivers and Andor from memory when she became aware of a flash of red standing before her. She looked up just in time to see Aviva Sedai standing there, clad in blue and scarlet, wearing a cloak and carrying a bag. Her long braid was pulled back, and she looked ready for travel. Elaira resisted the urge to run a hand through her hair, worn long and loose. Did you put it up for trips out into the world? Was that something Aes Sedai did? She was, in Elaira's estimation, the very picture of Aes Sedai in that moment. Beautiful, dignified, and...prepared. Ready for anything, capable of handling any obstacle, Aviva Sedai was someone to aspire too. Elaira blinked hastily, trying to gather her thoughts, as Aviva spoke.

"Accepted Elaira."

Elaira started, scrambling to her feet, juggling the notebook and pen with one hand while trying to grab the bag out from beneath the bench with as much grace as she could muster. It wasn't much, but she managed not to spill everything to the ground.

"Are you ready to go?"

She was getting the notebook put away, but Elaira nodded sharply. The book wasn't cooperating, and she looked down to try and finish things quickly so as not to delay the Aes Sedai.

"Yes, Aviva Sedai, I'm ready to go. I'm excited to..."

She looked up, blinking again. Aviva Sedai was already moving, further away from the White Tower. Elaira finished making a mess of her things and clutched at the bag, hurrying after the Aes Sedai as quickly as she could manage. Luckily she had plenty of experience following after a certain red-haired Accepted at barely a moment's notice, or else it might have been difficult to keep pace with Aviva Sedai's steady walk.

They didn't have far to walk, just far enough to leave the range of the dream spike that protected Tar Valon from unwanted Traveling. Aviva Sedai was wasting no time; the moment she hit an open area she opened a Gateway, all businesslike efficiency. Elaira watched, keenly interested as the Spirit-based weave opened a passage, presumably to the Two Rivers. Spirit was not Elaira's strongest element, and though she was able to open a Gateway it was an area that required practice; the ease with which Aviva Sedai managed it was fascinating, and Elaira almost wished for a moment that she'd have time to study the weave before they moved on.... But that would mean standing here, when the Two Rivers was mere steps away.

And it was mere steps away. Through the portal Elaira could see a field, and in the distance numerous thatched rooftops, presumably a town of some sort. It was larger than she'd expected; most of what she'd read or heard of the Two Rivers described it as small and secluded. The town in the distance was no Caemlyn or Tar Valon, but it was hardly a sleepy rural village.

As she studied the scene on the other side of the Gateway, Elaira finally noticed Aviva Sedai looking around, and straightened up to nod politely at the older woman.

"I'm ready, Aviva Sedai. I'm looking forward to seeing more."

And she was, surprisingly. She was discovering a surprising appetite for traveling, one that she wouldn't have thought she possessed before. Most of her life she'd expected to live out her days in Caemlyn, or Aringill, certainly never to leave Andor. Then she'd gone to Tar Valon, but never expected to go much further than Ishara Trakand's side (though that would, undoubtedly, take her far enough on its own.) Now, though, she found herself curious for curiosity's sake. It was a strange realization.

With Aviva in the lead, they stepped through into the empty field. After a moment, the Gateway behind them shut, the bustle of the city suddenly fading to nothing behind them. Elaira looked around, eyes bright. Her Accepted dress now felt conspicuously out of place, but that was at the back of her mind. The rest of her was too busy letting her imagination run wild.

"Do you have reason to believe the wilder is in that town, Aviva Sedai?"

Elaira chanced the question, nodding at the rooftops still visible in the distance. Aviva Sedai had been nothing but reasonable since summoning Elaira to discuss this outing, but she did still manage to be intimidating when putting her mind to it. Elaira had no desire to hear that cold, hard tone again.

[Aviva al'Saar]

Letting the Gateway close behind them, Aviva looked towards the town of Watch Hill. Much of what the Aes Sedai saw was nothing out of the ordinary. Grazing sheep and cattle and thriving crops almost ready for harvest dominated the landscape before them. The clear blue sky overhead promised that the short walk to the town would be pleasant enough, despite the chill that hung in the air. The Red sister gathered the silk of her skirt in her hands, not wanting the hem of her dress to drag through the soil as they walked, but she turned her head towards the Accepted at the sound of the younger woman's voice.

She arched an eyebrow at the question, one to which she thought the answer should be obvious. "I would not have brought you here if I did not," Aviva responded. She began to walk as she spoke, unwilling to waste their time standing in a field talking. "I've heard from a source I trust that there is a wilder here, almost certainly a man, and I have no reason to think he's left. People who live in this region don't usually stray far from it."

In fact, as she continued to move at her usual quick pace, Aviva spotted several scorched areas marring the grassy fields that surrounded them. The observation suggested to her that the man they were searching for was likely a shepherd or a farmer, someone who spent much of his time in these very fields. Not that that helps much. Both occupations were common ones here, but it did suggest to Aviva that the wilder was probably native to the area, and likely not from one of the many foreign-born merchant and craftsman families who'd settled here as the town grew.

They were nearly to the edge of the village before Aviva spoke again. "While we are here, Elaira, I want you to know that you may speak freely. If you have a question, for me or for anyone we meet here, ask. If you see or hear something that might help us locate this wilder, let me know." She did not instruct the Accepted to tell her if she sensed saidin being channeled, expecting Elaira to have the sense to inform her of that without being told to do so. "We'll be visiting first with the Wisdom of Watch Hill, who you may call Calla. She's been a contact of mine for many years and will not mind."

Reaching the town, Aviva quickly led the way through the familiar streets she'd known since childhood. Much had changed since then, but her duty as a Red sister had brought her back to her birthplace more than once over the years, often enough that the growing town continued to be simple for her to navigate. The path she took ended at the edge of the town, in front of a small house with a thatched roof and a large vegetable garden in front of it. Aviva didn't miss that while most of the vegetables were thriving, the tomatoes Calla had spoken of were wilting on the vine. The edges of the grass nearest them were still charred black.

In the garden knelt a middle aged woman, wearing a plain grey dress with a long brown braid dangling over one of her shoulders. She'd been digging a hole, but on hearing their approach, she laid down her shovel, looked up and smiled at them. "Aviva Sedai. I'm so glad you had time to assist us."

Aviva returned the smile. "Of course, Calla," she said. "For a situation such as you described when you wrote, I can always make time. Has anything else happened since your letter?"

The Wisdom shook her head, the braid swaying with the motion."Nothing's changed, really. There seem to have been more fires in the fields just outside town most recently than there have been within Watch Hill itself, so you may be looking for a farmer or shepherd, someone who is there often."

What Calla said matched Aviva's own thoughts as they'd come into the village. "I saw when we arrived that there were quite a number of burned areas in the fields," she commented. "I think we'll try to locate some of those men next, if you don't have any more information for us."

[Elaira Taravin]

The quiet was perhaps the most surprising. With the closing of the gateway, they’d stepped from Tar Valon to Manetheren, and the sudden shift to the sounds of nature was astounding. Gone was the urban bustle they’d left behind; instead, Elaira watched as Aviva Sedai neatly picked up her skirts to keep the dirt and grass from them. Elaira, belatedly, did the same, though too late to save the hem of the white Accepted’s dress, which showed with dirt and grass stains from her brief exploratory walk in the field. The field was very...beautiful was too strong a word, as was peaceful. But it was vibrant in greens and browns and blues in ways that Tar Valon, beautiful as It was, struggled to compare. Something was off, though, and Elaira turned this way and that trying to piece together what she’d seen, but not understood.

“I would not have brought you here if I did not. I've heard from a source I trust that there is a wilder here, almost certainly a man, and I have no reason to think he's left. People who live in this region don't usually stray far from it.“

Elaira nodded, a hint of a blush on her cheeks. Aviva Sedai phrased it so matter of factly that it should have been obvious, but how was Elaira to know? She'd known only that there were several villages throughout the Two Rivers region, any of which might contain the man they were looking for. Did people not even travel from their home towns? It seemed strange, raised as she had been, even though that had been mostly true of Elaira as well. The trip to the town continued in silence as Elaira attempted to keep up. It was only after being left alone to her thoughts that Elaira realized what had troubled her. There had been black, too, in the colorful tableau they were leaving behind. Charred areas left by flame; uncontrolled and unexpected flames had been one of the hints to the wilder in Caemlyn. Well. I guess that settles that. There could be other causes, Elaira reasoned--what she knew of farmers and shepherds could fit in a thimble, after all--but it seemed persuasive to her. She felt nothing to indicate a male channeler, certainly not the sense of a distance storm broiling which had so far always been the first sign. Elaira kept her eyes and ears open, though, and followed Aviva carefully. They moved in silence until they were on the town's edge. Elaira could see and hear the bustle of active villagers, men and women out about their business, when Aviva Sedai spoke again.

"While we are here, Elaira, I want you to know that you may speak freely. If you have a question, for me or for anyone we meet here, ask. If you see or hear something that might help us locate this wilder, let me know."

Elaira nodded at that, eagerly, as Aviva continued. Aviva Sedai had said before to never be afraid to ask questions, a welcome change from many other Aes Sedai, and Elaira intended to take advantage of that.

"We'll be visiting first with the Wisdom of Watch Hill, who you may call Calla. She's been a contact of mine for many years and will not mind.

A Wisdom was a wise woman, healer, and leader in villages such as this, Elaira knew. She also knew that they were often channelers, though not typically those capable of achieving the shawl. Calla would undoubtedly be a font of knowledge about the town and its people. Aviva, satisfied with her instructions, moved into the town without hesitation. She walked with confidence and...familiarity? The townsfolk looked as they marched through the streets at Aviva's quick pace, but the Aes Sedai fit in perfectly with the people here, Elaira realized. Her clothes were, perhaps, a bit finer and she carried herself with the confidence of Aes Sedai, but she was the vision of these people refined through an Aes Sedai lens, down to the braid that seemed to be universal on every woman over a certain age. Elaira, in her Accepted's dress and with her hair worn down, felt conspicuously out of place. She tried, and just succeeded, not to hunch in on herself. If she was to represent the White Tower, she could do so without acting like a child.

The home Aviva stopped at was...perhaps cozy was the best word. The thatched roof and the vegetable garden were a far cry from the stone and gardens of the Tower, but they felt like home in a way that Elaira couldn't quite articulate. The woman kneeling in the gardens stood as they approached, and her smile was at once a comfort. She was born to the role of Wisdom, Elaira thought, at once capable and comforting perhaps more of one than the other as the situation demanded. Elaira watched on as Calla and Aviva quickly got down to business, shuffling from foot to foot uncertainly. They had the right idea, Elaira thought, though....

"Excuse me," Elaira said, once Aviva Sedai had finished speaking, "...Calla," she said, after a moment's hesitation.

A lifetime spent with others in positions of authority made it difficult to use the older woman's name without some form of honorific. Calla, for her part, looked at Elaira with a raised eyebrow, and a curious glance at Aviva Sedai.

"You are a healer for Watch Hill? Has anyone been to you in the past year with symptoms that set on quickly and left in hours? Fevers, headaches, that sort of thing."

These were telltale symptoms of those who touched the Source without guidance, wilders who would either establish a block and survive...or die. Elaira herself might have been one of them, and Ishara too, were it not for the White Tower's intervention. Calla's smile turned into something more like a grin, though she shook her head.

"No, miss, though it's a good thought. I've been told what symptoms to look for, and I've not seen or heard of anyone in Watch Hill suffering them. Assuming this is a farmer boy or a shepherd, they've made do on their own thus far.

The Wisdom frowned, then, looking older and wearier for it.

"I hope that's all it is, but if so, the boy is likely confused and scared out of his mind. There are few good outcomes for a boy running loose with no guidance, least of all one who can channel. Thankfully, with Aviva Sedai here, I expect we'll turn him up soon."

She finished with a thankful nod toward the Sister, and Elaira nodded slowly. The boy in Caemlyn had been much the same, though Elaira hoped it wasn't that bad. He'd been in frightful shape.

With no other information to provide, aside from Calla's recommendation to check in at the al'Azlin's farm near Watch Hill, Aviva had them back on the road shortly. Elaira's thoughts were swirling around a number of topics, but with little else to occupy them as they walked, Elaira decided to take advantage of the explicit permission to ask questions and, hopefully, find out a bit more about the Two Rivers, as well as the Aes Sedai herself.

"Are you from the Two Rivers, Aviva Sedai? You seem very familiar with Watch Hill."

Elaira knew precious little about any Aes Sedai; to Accepted, they remained as inscrutable as ever, but Elaira was curious, and this seemed as good an opportunity as any. She had a million questions for a Sister whose path might, eventually, be her own, but there was work to be done too. Elaira had to keep things concise.

[Aviva al'Saar]

Leaving Calla's home behind them, Aviva led the way towards the fields where most of Watch Hill's farmers made their homes. It was going to be quite a long walk, she knew, having grown up on one of those farms herself. She took advantage of the time they would spend walking by mentally reviewing her impressions of Elaira. So far, Aviva liked what she had seen. The child was not too timid, able to participate in the conversation she'd had with Calla and ask intelligent questions, both behaviors of which Aviva approved. She kept an eye on the Accepted as they left the village, but said nothing. The Red sister remained quiet, feet moving at her usual quick but unhurried pace, until Elaira spoke up with another question.

Aviva did not answer immediately. Instead, she turned her head, fixing the Accepted with a sharp gaze for just long enough to let Elaira know she had heard. When she had invited the girl to ask questions, Aviva had meant questions that would help achieve their goal, not inquiries into her personal background. That Elaira had dared ask about her origins was something of a surprise to her, surprise the Aes Sedai refused to show. She thought about it, continuing to walk on the dirt pathway through green fields, eventually coming to the conclusion that while she hadn't expected it, the question wasn't completely irrelevant.

The Red sister kept her eyes looking ahead of her, even as she gave Elaira her answer. "Yes," she said simply. "I know these paths well because I was born here in Watch Hill." The few small houses that were coming into view were in fact much like the one where Aviva had been raised, and appeared to her like old friends she had not seen in years. Each was surrounded by fields dotted with white sheep, brown cattle, or planted with various crops, with plenty of space between them. She looked carefully at those around them as they passed by, noting that these too were marked here and there with small burnt patches.

She led Elaira to the right, towards a white home where cattle grazed, and the others faded from view behind them. By the time they neared the porch, the al'Azlin house appeared to be completely isolated despite its nearness to Watch Hill. Aviva went straight to the front door and knocked, but as she did, her dark eyes studied the fields nearby. The charred areas seemed to be more numerous here, and Aviva's eyes narrowed as she focused on one that was close to the house. At its edge, a small fire sparked to life. She turned back to the door and lifted a hand to pound harder on it, but it swung open before she could.

The Aes Sedai let her hand fall back to her side and looked into the brown eyes of the man who stood there. His brown hair was a shade that was nearly black, if beginning to silver, and his lined face spoke of a lifetime of hard work. "Master al'Azlin?" she asked, and at his nod, went on. "I am Aviva Sedai, and with me is Accepted Elaira." She eyed the girl as she spoke her name, wondering if Elaira had been observant enough to notice the small flames. "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." With that warning given, Aviva stepped to the side and out of the man's way.