To Delay Nightmares

Uriya Sedai glanced down at Talents and Their Considerations with a sigh before slipping a ribbon at her place, closing the book to her study of it tonight, at least in the Library.  Others might find a chronicle of Talents, and how they were considered a Talent and not just a mere weave boring, but not only did the book delve into that, but also into the possible connections between strengths in certain Elements and the Talents a channeler would have.  A fascinating book to read, and a fitting one for a Brown Sister, since they all seemed to want to try and discover all the secrets of the world and translate that knowledge into books, so that it could be shared with anyone else that wished to learn about such things. 

And who wouldn't? She asked herself as she made her way around the Library on her final rounds, leaving the book on the desk, to retrieve it before she went to her own quarters for the night.  It was already late; late enough that Uriya should have done the rounds before the last tolling of the bells, or maybe even the time before that.  Time always managed to slip away from her when she was engrossed in a book.  She doubted that she'd find anyone else inside the Library at this hour, except for one of her Sisters, or perhaps a mischievous Novice or two.

She was more than a little surprised when she not only found a Novice in the Library, but one who was actually studying a book, and not sneaking around.  She watched as the Novice curtsied, giving her a nod in acknowledgement, but when she saw the girl about to fall, she reached out, catching her.  She knew well what it was like to get caught up in a book without a care to how you were seated, or even how long it had been since she had slept or ate, but she was surprised to have found a Novice in a similar predicament.

“Are you alright child, that position you were in really isn’t good for the posture and reading books for so long especially late into the evening will drain you as well.  What are you reading anyway?”  Uriya took the book from the Novice, studying it for a moment. “Hmm,” she mumbled, eyeing the young girl over the book.  “So you're having trouble sleeping are you? Nightmares?”

The Novice's short answer surprised her, making her mind wonder at what could possibly drive the girl to read this particular book, especially out of her own volition it seemed.  Rarely did she see anyone but her Brown Sisters, or sometimes a Yellow read such books.  The Novices and Accepted usually read the books of tales, unless otherwise required by some lesson or another.  Her nightmares must be of a particularly nasty sort if she sought out the answer in the Library.

“Child, why don’t you accompany me to my rooms for a while?  I was about to kick you out of the library anyway, as it’s getting rather late.”  She said as she placed a hand on the Novice's shoulder, who was a little more than a hand shorter than her.  She led her to her quarters just outside the Library, hoping that the girl's legs wouldn't give out again, but also concerned about the child.  A high number of Novices these days, it seemed, came to the White Tower with nightmares of their lives before coming.  Uriya wondered if the trend was because so many of the new Initiates came to the Tower with previous channeling experiences…not to mention the young men that had been joining the ranks within the White Tower as well.

“Child why do you study books on meditation and dream wards?  That stuff is dangerous you know and given that you are still a novice you are not allowed to channel unsupervised and that rule is mostly for your safety.”  She asked, watching the white-clad girl with concern as she pulled out a chair at a table for her.  She listened to the Novice's guarded answer once again, taking a seat for herself.  She sighed as she stood again, going over to a stand that held a teapot, cups, and some boxes of loose leaves. 

“Where are my manners?  I’ve been so worried about why you were reading those books that I totally forgot to introduce myself.  I'm Uriya Sedai, of the Brown Ajah as I'm sure you know."  She said as she poured some water and leaves into the teapot, carrying a tray over to the table with the pot, two cups, and a bowl of sugar cubes.  She didn't usually take much sugar, but she had found that a number of her Sisters enjoyed it, as well as Novices and Accepted that would sometimes speak with her.  She found herself speaking to a number of them, since she was still low among the Sisters, since had only been Raised a mere decade or so before.  She didn't mind it, really, since those that came to her might be interested in choosing the brown shawl once they were Raised, but it did keep her busy along with her duties in the Library and the occasional lesson.

She wove a thread of Fire, heating up the water.  Soon, the water was steaming, and after the tea had brewed for a moment, she poured some into the two cups, pushing one towards the Novice.  "And what is your name, child?"