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Aileen Sedai of the Green Ajah

Returning to the Black Tower always brought mixed feelings. Echoes from the past always seemed to want to mix with the present. Like shadows flickering just at the corners of your vision. Aileen almost felt as though she could hear them if she listened hard enough. Aileen looked across the yard and saw a crowd gathered. She couldn't hear above the din precisely what had drawn it, but given where she was standing, she could guess. Such gatherings had occurred often enough.

Aileen moved closer towards the crowd to see if she could get a better look at what was happening. Some of the men gathered there paid her little heed, others moved. A few gave her a nod of recognition. As a child, Aileen had spent a fair amount of time at the training grounds watching the men as the practiced. This area, though more dangerous than the others, was also the most exciting. Ifan always meant to keep his daughter from all of this, and she did her best to follow his instructions, but it was difficult to stay away. Aileen loved to watch the men practice the sword and often longed to join them. Even watching them channel didn't frighten her. She had a child's belief that all was right and she would always be safe in her home. Experience would teach her that this was not the case. Still, there was a comfort to being back among the men here.

Aileen's long dark hair was pulled back in a braid and she was wearing a dark green dress, with black vines embroidered on the sleeves and bodice, split for riding despite her discomfort with horses. It was less scandalous than the men's styled trousers she wore when she trained, but still gave her ease of movement. Now she was no longer one of the children who called the Black Tower home, she was Aes Sedai and the responsibilities of that weighed on her as she imagined it did all her Sisters.

As she grew closer she saw something that surprised her though nothing showed on her face. It took her a long time to school her face not to show what she was feeling and now the only thing that that gave away her surprise was a slight turn up of an eyebrow, barely noticeable. Lennox wearing Asha'man black? What else had she missed while fighting along the Blight borders? There was another man whose movements were slow and clumsy and yet he was trying to hold his own against him. The fight did not take much time. The other man was being pummeled mercilessly. Aileen did not know the reason for the beating and men often chose to prove themselves at the lease opportune times. None of the blows appeared to be permanently debilitating, which was good. The Tower could not afford to lose any men. Such deliberate coldness from Lennox Orander was surprising. This was not the man Aileen remembered from her early days at the White Tower.

Lennox left the area without as much as a backwards glance at the man on the ground and another Asha'man moved forward to help. She heard him tell the injured man that it was going to be cold and she realized that he was likely going to Heal the injured man. Not having much talent for Healing Aileen could offer little assistance, but she stayed in case there was some other help she could offer. Aileen had learned a few things from Yellows about more mundane methods of treating injuries and she'd learned a fair bit of battlefield medicine. Though she couldn't help everyone. She pushed the memory back as she waited for the Asha'man to tend to the injured man.

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Asha'man Tayigi

Not every face frowned with disapproval, nor did every set of eyes gleam bloodthirsty thoughts. Tayigi watched without comment or wince to marr his stern face. Today, on the fields, nor had he yesterday during Jai's penance. He simply folded his arms before him and appeared no more interested than having to watch a scene unfold that happened to be in his line of sight.

Some calloused faces among them appeared bored. Others sickened. There were no shortage of expressions from every range of human reaction, but Tayigi was one man able to disassociate himself from the immediate and notice the effect rippling through the sea of his bretheren. What he saw, he did not like.

After Lennox left, he adjusted the bejeweled handle of the dagger thrust in his lime green sash and spoke to the man at his side. "It seems as if he has finally left the soft of dirt between his toes and joined a harder class of men."
The man beside him, having been one whose features marked the feelings of sympathy on his brow turned and met Tayigi's steady gaze. He appeared slightly older as though he began his channeling in the middle stages of life, although Ty's appearance was deceiving. He trusted not to such perceptions of eyesight. He carried himself well, straight-backed and without the round of fearful shoulders. However, the signs of softness were there, flickering whenever he glanced at the one among them who'd called the 'show over.'

"Who? Jai? He must be to take all that. Look at the man. He's still grappling at the sword."

Ty shook his head, and when he looked up, the Asha'man beside him was studying the upper rim of ink bars as could be seen around the lower edge of his bare scalp. His black coat had a collar like his fellow's, but it folded flat from a wide neck rather than stiff and raised around his throat. The pins gleamed on the lapel, but their permanent, black versions were pricked into the skin on his throat in the same place as his brother's were held there by more common means.

Ty nonchalantly rested his hand on the elaborate pommel, absently thumbing an emerald as he did. More tattooes could be made out on his chest, and more than one pair of eyes glanced at them, but Ty was used to curiosity by now. Else he would not wear a coat he kept buttoned only half way up, and held in place by the colorful sash around his waist. "Not him. Lennox. Few mainlanders are able to transition. The world is hard. The Last Battle comes and we cannot afford men whose sails will fold at the first gale. We must hold to the very end, or all will fall."


Ty knew he was fighting a losing battle and glanced around. A few closest to him were listening, but nobody outwardly agreed with him. The presence of an Aes Sedai won his study for a few moments, as though he were trying to decide if he knew her. And nodded a respectful degree if she noticed. But he found himself studying the retreating back of the relieved Dedicated the longest. "Light be with you, brother.."
They exchanged contemplative nods and Tayigi caught up with the young man.

He did not appear happy to be flagged down by the Atha'an Miere Asha'man. Especially having thought he'd escaped the wrath of failure so far, but Ty put his fears to rest quickly. His leniance only slightly widened by dealing with a boy not fully responsible for his ways yet. He clapped the Dedicated on the shoulder, "You cannot stop a wave which has already passed, Dedicated Gestian. The brother you were meant to oversee is a soul who will find his way back or he will not. But we cannot carry dead weight to fight. Look more to his opponent as a figure to emulate. We will be the better force for it."
Young Jindal nodded, face smoothing as they parted.

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Aileen Sedai of the Green Ajah

The man before her fared well enough through the Healing. The bitter, bone searing cold that came from being Healed by an Asha'man was jarring under the best of circumstances and in the condition the Asha'man was in, it did not surprise Aileen in the least that he reacted as he did. Light, knew she'd done much the same the first time she'd been Healed in that way. Aileen's dark eyes showed sympathy and a quick movement kept her out of the range of his.. leavings.

Aileen saw the Atha'an Miere Asha'man and returned his nod. She did not recognize the man, but Aileen felt that Asha'man were owed respect for what they learned and accomplished. The Black Tower did not coddle their trainees and learning to become an Asha'man was at times brutal. There were those who still feared Asha'man. Fear was one reaction but Aileen preferred a health respect. After all, these men were being trained as weapons against the Dark One. A healthy respect for weapons meant that you weren't hurt by one.

The Dedicated who seemed to have been in charge of the beaten man looked as though he was prepared for a penance of his own. Aileen found it kind that both of the Asah'man he encountered didn't seem to fault him for not being able to keep control over the man he'd been put in charge of. That showed compassion and logic. Some people needed to learn lessons in the most difficult manner possible, but Light willing, the lessons once learned would not be easily forgotten. Hopefully this man would mark this lesson well and remember it. Aileen followed them quietly as they were heading along in the same general direction.