Into the Novice Book

Zerese could not help a smile as the other girl accepted her offer. It would be good to face the Mistress of Novices with someone else by her side. Well, someone other than Eleria, of course; she had grown quite fond of the Aes Sedai during their many months of travel, but that was more as a pupil is fond of her teacher. It was simply inappropriate for an Aes Sedai to befriend a Novice, or even an Accepted, for that matter. There were strict hierarchies in place, and that was something that Zerese at least passingly understood from the start; Eleria had never even had to explain it to her.

Of course, that wasn’t to say she couldn’t become a little closer with Liam. Even that was a little too inappropriate for Eleria’s rather conservative tastes, but it isn’t as though the Warder had become Zerese’s best friend during their travels. It was nice to have someone to talk to about things other than the Power, as excited as she was to begin learning about it. She supposed even that would have to end now, though; her only friends would be the other Novices now, and even that only until her eventual raising to Accepted. That would forge new bonds and break others… as would attaining the shawl. Light, but the path of an Aes Sedai seemed complicated! Would she ever truly have another friend again?

There was no more time for thinking of it, though. They had knocked on the door, and moments later, a deep voice beckoned them inside. Zerese and Miranna looked at each other; bells jingled in the other girl’s hair as they both nodded, and each pushed aside one door as they moved into the room. Eleria flowed along behind, her movements fit for a queen advancing on her throne, despite the obvious wear of travel about her.

Her first look at the Mistress of Novice’s office told her that she was a woman of efficiency. There was nothing of flash here. Dark and sturdy were the clear orders for whoever had furnished this room. Cairhienin, perhaps, from the look of it; Zerese never did have much of an eye for such things, but she had heard they were rather plain and reserved folk in every respect. At least, where other eyes could see, they were.

It came as something of a surprise, then, when Zerese noted that the ageless woman sitting across the efficiently-carved desk of dark wood looked almost Saldaean! Gray had begun to pepper her hair, true, but it was fiery, and with those tilted green eyes and that sharp nose, what else could she be? Zerese supposed that should make her feel more comfortable, and yet she could not forget that she was standing before the Mistress of Novices, no matter how she tried. This was the woman who would upbraid her for not following the rules, set her extra chores in the kitchens for being late for class, switch her for showing disrespect to an Aes Sedai. Oh, Light send not that! Zerese had always been known for letting her temper get the better of her, but the Light send anything but that!

The girl turned halfway over her shoulder to look at Eleria as Candance addressed her. She supposed it was to be expected that they knew each other. Why was Eleria smiling, though? She must just have been glad to be back at home in the White Tower, Zerese decided. She was glad to be here too, after all. There were times when she had been certain she would never see it.

The Mistress of Novices turned her attentions to Miranna first, and Zerese nearly flinched at her response. She came from a family where Aes Sedai were very well known and respected—her grandmother’s aunt was an Aes Sedai of the Green Ajah, at that—and certain conventions were second nature. True, bobbing curtseys for every Aes Sedai that passed by would become quite difficult to get used to—she was, after all, the daughter of a noble family, if a somewhat minor one—but the proper way of addressing an Aes Sedai was worked into her bones.

Zerese practiced very hard at being invisible while Candance lectured Miranna. She did not want to add to the girl’s embarrassment by responding in any way, and the best way to help her stomach the situation would be to simply stop existing. Borderlanders were proud, and Zerese knew that she hated being upbraided at all, let alone in front of someone else!

But when Candance spoke again, Zerese nearly jumped when she realized that the woman was looking at her! She was proud that she had not actually jumped, though. That would have been too embarrassing to stomach. Instinctively, she dropped into a curtsey and introduced herself.

“My name is Zerese Demenia, Candance Sedai.” Thank the Light Eleria had mentioned the woman’s name earlier! She would have hated to fumble for it only to have to resort to a simple ‘Aes Sedai.’ “I am from Maradon, and I am just turned seventeen.” Well, she had just turned seventeen when she left Maradon. How long ago had that been? She found that she could not recall. It would be good to get her bearings in order again!

Phew! And just like that, it was done. Candance jotted down the information, and Zerese felt, somehow, like something had changed within her. Her name would be in the Novice Book now. That was almost as permanent as carving it in stone. She could practically feel the white around her. It was a difficult feeling to describe. Awe and trepidation all bundled up into one, mixed with bone-weariness. Hesitantly, she glanced at Miranna, offering a nervous smile of encouragement. It was her turn, now. They would become Novices together!

If only she had known that it was something only one of them actually wanted.