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A
Bit
of
Free
Time
Abbela
walked
down
a
hallway
of
the
Tower,
enjoying
a
rare
bit
of
free
time.
She
debated
the
various
places
that
she
could
go
to
enjoy
a
bit
of
peace
and
quiet.
She
decided
and
went
to
the
large
oaken
doors
that
opened
into
the
Tower
Gardens.
It
was
always
so
peaceful
there.
She
could
just
relax
and
not
let
her
worries
and
cares
bother
her.
Her
day
had
been
so
hectic…
and
crazy…
that
it
was
almost
unbelievable.
She
had
started
the
day
off
with
a
lesson
on
Advanced
Water
Weaves.
All
had
gone
perfectly
well
until
she
had
a
mishap
in
moving
water
from
one
tank
to
another.
At
least
she
HAD
apologized
for
what
happened
to
the
Aes
Sedai's
silk
dress…
Immediately
following
that,
she
had
a
lesson
to
teach
a
group
of
novices,
on
manipulating
flows.
That
went
perfectly
until
one
of
the
newer
novices
mistakenly
singed
the
edges
of
Abbela's
hair.
Luckily
it
didn't
all
burn.
The
novice
had
apologized
profusely.
Abbela
understood,
and
said
not
to
worry
about
it.
You
couldn't
really
completely
tell…
Following
that
lesson,
Abbela
retreated
to
her
room
to
finish
up
her
paper
for
the
next
day's
class
on
proper
procedures
for
drafting
treaties.
It
was
a
masterpiece.
But
then,
just
as
she
was
finishing
up
the
very
last
page,
she
upset
the
inkwell…
all
over
the
paper.
Before
she
had
the
presence
of
mind
to
do
anything
else,
it
was
ruined.
She
spent
the
next
few
hours
rewriting
the
paper.
Next
she
retreated
to
the
library
to
look
up
some
information
on
customs
of
the
Atha'an
Miere.
It
took
her
a
half-hour
before
she
found
any
decent
information.
Well…
at
least
she
did
find
SOME.
Three more classes later, Abbela was shot. She finally didn't have anything else scheduled, so she headed out to the garden, where she found herself sitting on a bench. Glancing over to a rosebush, she smiled inwardly as she remembered the old novice exercise of becoming the rose… had it really been four years since she entered the Tower? And she'd just recently gained the ring, with a long way to go for the shawl… She closed her eyes, finding herself going through the well-rehearsed steps again, not touching saidar, merely using the exercise to relax herself. There would be many more busy days, yes. But they were leading up to something. Abbela, you will be Aes Sedai one day… and you'll realize the worth of days like this. The voice in her head seemed soothing. When she finally did open her eyes again, her future looked brighter. She smiled, glad for the time she spent in the garden, and headed back towards the tower. She had work to do. |