08/19/2000

Dining Hall, White Tower, Tar Valon

One may see, here, a huge buffet table full of every type of food
imaginable, from nearly every part of the known world. Occasionally empty
plates are removed and replaced, for there is no common eating time for any
but the students. Most eat when they remember to, or find the time. Other
tables are present. Some have broad cloths thrown over them, in the color
of the Ajah that normally sits there. Others are left plain, indicating a
table at which anyone may sit.

Bobbing lights, produced by the One Power, emit a soft glow, replacing the
need for candles and lamp oil, whose supplies are growing short each day
and which are getting quite expensive. Occasionally as some fade an
Accepted will walk in and replace them. The floor, white, is kept
meticulously clean and scrubbed. No sooner does some morsel find its
accidental way to the ground than someone is along to sweep it up and throw
it away.


Redd walks in quietly, making his way to the food line. He doesn't like
being here right now. At least his appetite looks better, as he grabs a
little less than half his usual meal, better than last time. 

Espiria heads in quickly, glancing around for some strong back and good
arms. "Hmm.. Sunan? I require your assistance if you please?" She crosses
her arms lightly over her chest and waits. "I won't take up too much of
your time for now and then you can go back to your eatting."

Tarah follows in after Espiria wondering what is going on. What could be so
important that her help is needed. But she stays quiet, Espiria is the
Accepted. Tarah would be recognized as the novice that offer Wyntere a link
last night and pulled a stupid, but brave stunt.

Neelkan is just finishing up a meal on another table and glances up as Espi
heads in. He doesn't know the Novice, nor does he know that she's the one
who offered the link, but no doubt he would like her right away just for
that... He stands to dispose of his plate, offering a grin and a nod to his
friend as he passes by.

Redd moves towards the table Sunan is sitting at, when he spots Espi and
Tarah. Oh yes, that is the Novice... He smiles to her, weakly, but a smile
none-the less. He stops a few steps from the table, waiting for the others
to finish before barging in.

Sunan pushes away his plaet and stands. An intuition... He promptly
replies, "Of course. Is it about her?" He does not feel teh need to specify
"her."

Espiria sighs softly, trying not let her calm face crack. "Yes, Sunan. It
is." She glances around and smiles, "Aed? Would you care to join us as
well? I could use your help too." She smiles, motioning him over as well.
She glances at Neel, knowing smile crossing her lip before she winks at
Redd. "Just a moment, Redd and I'll be done and leave you all to your meal.
It won't take long."

Tarah just stands there with a confused look on her face. Espiria has
something going on with so many. So the novice holds the books in her hands
and waits.

Well, he isn't even going to ask if he can join, Neelkan just heads right
over after disposing of his plate and offers a grin at Espi and one at
Sunan and Redd too. He doesn't really grin at the Novice though, because he
doesn't know who she is, and just figures she's a 'girl'. Which is a
correct assumption. A typical 'girl' in his book though... she might not be
that exactly. But until he learns differently, she is.

Redd nods, "I don't mind at all." He sets his food down. Of course he won't
mind, this is Espi we're talking about.

Sunan hisses quietly, He mutters to Espiria, "... feel I can... you, and...
and Redd. I... about my... I... to... of... that... used... a... if
necessary. And... hand I... use,... well... has set her... I don't...
may... danger already,... must... cell guard... let her..." 

Espiria whispers something to Sunan for a moment, shaking her head gently
before she addresses the rest of the group. "Wyntere Sedai has asked me to
have this done and she wanted all of us pulling together for it. Mother's
birthday is coming..and before I hear mutterings and grumblings, yes..I
know how we all feel right now, but this was a request from Wyntere Sedai.
I think we all should honor it."

Espiria takes a breath. "There are some storerooms downstairs. Filled with
various old things that have been collecting for a very long time. She has
asked us to clear these rooms out..rearrange the things into the various
rooms that willthen be empty so that each room will belong in a way to each
Ajah. The one room that is left will be only for Mother's things. A private
storeroom for everything she's been meaning to clear out..but has had no
room to do so." She pulls out the paper given to her by Wynt, "This is the
plan for what she wanted done. I think if we all pitch in...we can all have
this done before Mother's birthday."

Tarah glances up looking discouraged, but if Wyntere still wants it done...
"I'll help. If it's what Wyntere Sedai wants." She moves over to glances
down at the blueprint. "But I need those stories for Mother. I want her to
know I don't like Wyntere Sedai down there."

Search throu--err--/clean/ the storerooms? Hmmm. Hmmm. Sounds like a good
idea to Neelkan. He nods his head lightly in agreement. No arguement from
him. And he can handle the larger things that the younger boys can't. Heh.
And while he isn't as obvious about the fact that he wouldn't say no to
Espi as... say... Redd is, he probably would agree with most of what she
said just as quickly as the young boy. He glances over at Tarah at what she
says and gives a sympathetic look in her direction. None of them here like
Wyn down there.

Pale baby blue eyes flicker to each person assembled at the table before
Aed says,"I'll help I guess. Not sure of how much use I'll be. I'm not too
strong." His voice is somewhat dejected for a moment but then he shrugs.

Sunan nods intently, "I understand. I will help in any way I can." Then he
whispers something to her.

Kyleigh appears to have recovered from the burns that had her in the
infirmary when they came back from the little 'mission' that no one is
really talking about. If anything her expression is made only more sour and
scowling by the recent events surrounding the MoNster, but she has been
looking for someone, and now she seems to have found her. Entering the
dinning hall she spots out Espiria and without any care at all to the fact
that they seem to be having some sort of secret meeting she storms quietly
over. Can you be quiet while storming? Well, apparently this novice can.
She remains quiet as she comes to stand behind Espiria and look on, that is
if they don't hush up when she comes over. And why shouldn't they, what
with her looking as snappy as a badger with a sore paw?

Sunan asks, He mutters to Espiria, "What... we really doing... there." 

Espiria tips her eyes over to Sunan and whispers to him for a moment, eyes
pleading as she does before she glances to everyone else. They stop on
Tarah and she manages a smile, "That's where Redd comes in, Tarah. He's
going to see that Ogier friend of mine and Thain will have all sorts of
stories like that he could give to you. I will give Redd something to write
on..so that when he goes to see Thain...he can ask him for some of the
stories you need. Will that work alright for you?" She grins, smoothing out
the paper. "I'm going to have all of us meet downstairs..I have to go speak
to someone for a moment. But I will go with you to show you what to start
on."

Tarah grins and nods. "Works for me just fine." Tarah sets the books down.
"let's get to work." Alright, something to get her mind off things and
she's back under Wyntere's rule. Funny how the monster can still lead her
pupils from a jail cell.

Nodding his head, Neelkan smiles at the Accepted, then glances over towards
the one Novice he remembers meeting briefly. Down in the basement in fact.
Ironic, huh? He doesn't really smile at her, but he doesn't glare, which is
good enough, right? "Leave the heavy stuff t' m'." he adds with a smirk.
And to think, when he was on 'Task punishment' when a Sedai asked him to
move anything heavy he whined and complained... Hmm.

Redd just remains quiet. For now that is the best he can do.

Baby blue eyes flicker to Espi,"Ummm... What kind of stuff are we moving
anyway?" Leave it to Aed to think to finally ask that question.

Sunan nods, "Of course. I will clean the room very efficiently. Very very
efficiently." Then to Espiria...

Kyleigh scowls whether she's looking at anyone or not, so perhaps it's just
purely accident that she scowls back at the fang-boy. She taps her foot
impatiently because Espiria doesn't seem to have noticed her even though
she's standing right behind her. Finally she blurts out, "that's it?? The
Amyrlin locks up Wyntere and we're going to do a -favor- for her?? Pigs
feet." Is she just talking to herself? Partly. She's very, very frustrated
by this whole thing. From what Wyntere had said when they talked in the
dungeon she was hoping for something a little more... useful to the MoNster
than cleaning out rooms!

Sunan mutters to Espiria, ""Have... yourself... you... will be..."

Espiria glances over to Kyle, smiling as she offers a nod of her head.
"Kyle...Wyntere Sedai asked us to do this. It's her request..shouldn't we
honor that?" She smiles turning to face her, "I would be very happy as I'm
sure Wyntere Sedai would be if she knew that you were helping with this.
Please? We can use every hand we can get." She looks back over to Aed with
a soft smile, "There are papers...boxes..some clothing. Furniture. Odds and
ends from all the Aes Sedai here..or any that have been here." Her eyes tip
over to Sunan as she sighs. She lowers her voice to a soft whisper for a
moment, saying something to him.

Tarah just stands there waiting ready to looking. "Come on, Accepted, let's
go. At least I won't get caught not doing chores?" She really doesn't need
any more trouble one trip to the Mother was enough today.

Kyle? So that's the name of that novice? Neelkan will remember it, because
it's short. Now if he learned her full name, he might have a problem. But
the shortened version is ok. "I'll be right behind ya." he adds with a
smile, and he will.