Participants
Maddy Mantear, Tower Accepted (POV)
Lady Chloro Arovni Aes Sedai and sitter of the Gray Ajah
An overworked, grumbling scribe bustles into the room, scowling darkly.
The scribe says 'Chloro Sedai requests your presence in the Gray's Meeting Room, Maddy.'
Finishing her errand, the scribe turns on her heel and scurries back the way she came.
Chloro calls for the carveddoor to be opened.
Maddy curtseys to her audience.
Maddy says, 'Good Morning Chloro Sedai, you summoned me?' then smiles at the other Sisters in the room.’
Chloro looks over from the side board a freshly filled mug of steaming liquid, smelling of spice and chocolate clasped in her hands. ‘Ah yes, my sister Rebeka's apprentice.’
Chloro says 'Do close the door child and have a seat. I believe it is time we grow your knowledge in the aspect of inner politics.'
Chloro moves to her usual seat on the south-western bend of the great table. Tell me child, what do you know of the inner politics of the Tower? What have your observations shown you since we last had a lesson?’
Maddy gracefully crosses the room and sits at the table, opposite Chloro Sedai.
Maddy says 'I suspect many Aes Sedai are doing many things that the others may not be aware of, or know the motivation for and that requires a lot of trust in each other.'
Chloro nods and lets the cup sit in front of her allowing the spices to fully steep. ‘Come now, you hope to one day call me Sister, do you not? Let's push the idle chit chat away and you speak freely. Now try again.’
Maddy says 'I have also noticed some overlap in traditional roles, for example Tolza Sedai asking me to meet with Elder Frey.'
Chloro says 'And?'
Maddy says 'This leads me to believe there may be some frustrations at other Ajahs, within your own and call for much discussion and repair for each overlap.'
Maddy says 'It seems the Gray Ajah role is the one the other Ajahs seem to think they can do.'
Maddy smiles at her.
Maddy says 'Although, to Tolza Sedai's credit, she did invite me to investigate the Dreamspike, which I think would normally fall to the Brown Ajah.'
Chloro looks to the Accepted, weighing and measuring the girl, her face never changing from serene calm and her cool Gray eyes betraying no emotion. ‘Good, you do have a head on your shoulders then. Many say the Great Game began here, and I tend to put merit in it. Even the newest of Sisters will have been playing it for years as Tower Accepted. It is time you begin to account for this and start playing yourself.’
Maddy nods at her.
Chloro says 'To be Gray is to be alone, and yet never alone at the same time. Our work often takes us to places where only one Sister can be known to be there. You must begin to hone your inner resolve, and have projects in place that can be altered as events happen. '
Maddy says 'Yes I agree. I have been making new contacts in other cities and clans, and winning their loyalty'
Chloro nods and allows a slight motherly smile to grace her face, only for a moment. ‘That can be a power string to tug on when needed, however those within these walls will outlive all of those contacts. Do not forget to foster your network within the Tower as much as you do without.’
Maddy smirks, 'I have a few projects in the forefront and many in varying degrees of completion.'
Maddy nods at her.
Chloro says 'Well then child, do tell me about them.'
Chloro reaches into the knitting bag slung over the side of her chair and pulls out two needles and royal blue yarn. Listening quietly she begins to cast off on one needed while balancing the other in her lap.
Maddy gives Chloro Sedai a bright smile, 'I am waiting for Elder Frey to respond to the letter I sent, with Rebeka Sedai's approval. I am finessing my class on Mayene. I am researching the cities that have Treaties and have shared their laws with us, in hopes I can help them either approach the Gray Ajah for Treaties, or help them establish their laws.’
Chloro raises her left eyebrow ever so slightly as she picks up the bare knitting needed and rhythmic clicks ensue as she starts knitting one and pearling two. ‘That is good child, however have you considered how a treaty with Tar Valon is also a bargaining chip? I would weigh your options carefully before suggesting a treaty with another nation. Tar Valon exists on tithes from nations and trade. We do not have our own farms or factories that produce goods in mass.’
Maddy frowns, then muses, 'I have thought about that, but I am merely doing the research at the moment. to bring to Rebeka Sedai. As to Elder Frey, my responsibility, as I see it, is to bring him to the table.'
Chloro continues her knitting looking up to meet the Accepted directly in the eyes. ‘Is it? Have you made sure there is a table they must be brought to? What advantage does Tar Valon gain with a treaty that ties us to the Great Forest? To my knowledge the Foresters are neutral and the Forest does not belong to them. It would be quite a scandal explaining that to the Ogier that live in the Stedding there.’
Maddy says 'I thought it would be worth it for the use of their barracks to begin with. There seems to be a lot of dark activity in the Great Forest, and our fighters could use another base.'
Chloro says 'That is admirable, though, however, have you considered the logistics of doing this? The extra cost it would take to march men to the great forest? Or the implications of the nations around them learning it? My sisters and I are often thought to be too slow to react, or criticized for taking time to settle things. If only they know what went into those decisions. The amount of minds that worked through the calculations and projects to come to those decisions.'
Maddy nods at her.
Chloro says 'Consensus is every bit as necessary to the Gray Ajah as it is a hindrance to others. For once a decision is made and a path taken, there is no going back.'
Maddy flashes a smile at the Aes Sedai, 'I have seen how hard the Aes Sedai work and how much thought and research goes into decisions and am eager to contribute.'
Maddy says 'As for the other question, regarding allies within the Tower. I have fostered many deep relationships with my fellow Accepted and many Novices, who will be going to a variety of Ajahs.'
Chloro nods a quarter way done with the scarf she is knitting. ‘Let us now focus on inner politics. Maddy you mentioned Accepted and Tolza Sedai. What of the other Sedai? You hope to one day call them Sister, yet have you made any effort to get to know them, or gain knowledge from them?’
Maddy says 'Yes I have spent much time with Kitiara Sedai, Etain Sedai, Vianca Sedai, and of course Melosa Sedai. I have met Emmalina Sedai and completed a task for her, but she has been absent for quite some time. I have had a few lessons with Sarinda Sedai.'
Chloro nods, ticking off each of the names in her head. ‘To which Ajah's do you think you need more exposure? Unlike other mentors, it is not my place to guide you for this. A Gray must be capable of assessing this and making adaptations if needed. I will act as a sounding board only.’
Maddy says 'Many Sisters seem to be traveling lately. I think the most I see around are the Green, the Brown, the Gray, the Blue, then the Yellow. The White has been mostly absent or busy in their chambers and the Red I suspect are traveling the world looking for men who can channel.'
Chloro says 'Then child, which do you think you need more exposure to?'
Maddy says 'The White and Red.'
Maddy says 'I do know a few of my fellow Accepted wish to go Blue or Yellow, but not many are choosing White, perhaps as they don't realize what they do.'
Chloro sets her needles down and looks to the Accepted. ‘How did you come to the conclusion of Red and White?’
Maddy says 'Because they are not apparent in the Tower, and no Accepted are choosing that path.'
Chloro nods and finally lifts the mug in front of her taking a sip of the luke-warm liquid. With a quiet sigh, she places it back down. ‘You are to keep me apprised of your developments with the Red and the White. You are also to keep me apprised of your developments with the Gray. There are seven Ajahs child and many women in each. Do not forget that going forward.’
Maddy says 'Yes I will of course. I was happy to see Sarinda Sedai in the city yesterday, but she moved quickly past me.'
Chloro nods. ‘The Wheel stops turning for now woman. Taking the shawl is only the beginning of learning and helping the world. Remember you are only taking pre-steps in hope of following that path.’
Maddy brushes her hair from her face, beaming a smile at all the Aes Sedai in the room, 'I'm looking forward to a lifetime of learning.'
Chloro says 'Be prepared for both following that path, and taking another. Putting a cart before your horse yields little results.'
Maddy nods at her.
Maddy says 'I have learned to embrace change since being here at the Tower, and find it quite invigorating. I have a passion for growth.'
Chloro nods and looks to Annoura for a moment before focusing on the Accepted. "You are dismissed Maddy, light illumine your path, where-ever it may lead."
Chloro gestures with her hand.
The door smoothly swings open.
An Aes Sedai has arrived from the east.
Maddy pushes her chair back and stands up curtseying once more to all the Aes Sedai in the room before giving Chloro Sedai a smile, 'Thank you for taking the time for me today. I appreciate it, and I am looking forward to learning much more from you.'
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