Zaide gathered his things, and looked around the room, recently there had been a shuffle, and many of the soldiers found themselves with new roommates now. Zaide suddenly had three new ones, two of which were new to the Tower, and the other he had never met. He did not have much to gather, upon coming to the Tower, they had taken away all of his few posessions, and he had gained little in that time. He took those few things he had, mostly consisting of his spare uniforms, and a book he had taken out of the library. He knew where to find his new room, the new Master of Soldiers, Edeleas, had given all the men specific instructions. Zaide stepped out of the room and shut the door behind him without looking back, he had never cared for this room, and had no real attachment to his roommates. He doubted that his new room would be any different, likely he would simply inhabit this one as well, until there was another shuffle, or someone got raised. He walked through the halls, not paying any attention to the other soldiers he saw finding their new rooms. The Dedicated were not housed in this area of the Black Tower, but not far away. Near enough that there were a few making their way through the halls, Zaide thought that they had been moved as well, but likely their moves were done with more quickly, since they had fewer people to worry about.

Zaide walked quickly to his new room, not incredibly far from his old one, and pushed the door open. He was the first one here, it seemed, as there were no other posessions to be seen. He walked over to one of the bunks and threw his things onto the top. This room looked exactly like the other, two bunk beds, a washstand with a small mirror, and two closets croweded the room. Zaide reached up and took his clothes from his bunk, and hung them in the closet. That done, he climbed up onto his bed, and lay down on the hard bed, opening his book. It was not overly interesting, generally dealing with what was known of Shara, and Zaide had chosen it purely by chance. He had needed an excuse to go somewhere, so he went to the library and took this. He had read little of it so far, but there seemed nothing else to do now. The soldiers had been given a few moments to resituate themselves in their new rooms, and Zaide knew better than to leave his room- that would almost certainly earn him some errand that an Asha'man needed run. So he stayed where he was. Besides, he was a bit curious as to who his new roommates would be. Not that he really wanted to get to know them, just to see them, and decide whether he would be able to tolerate living with him for the next unknown number of years. Whoever it was, he did not expect to become overly close to them, it had not been so with his former roommates, after all.

((OOC: Nice to meet you!))


Rownan made his way to his new rooms. He wanted to be early, to avoid to crowd. Unfortunatly, when one live in a place as populated as this, at least twenty other people had the same idea you did at any given time. Despite his best intentions, he was pushed along a stream of people, all carrying their possessions in containers that ranged from small to pathetic in short order. Rownan glanced at the some of the latter, wondering how they managed to live like pack rats in a place that housed them in such close proximity. As for himself, Rowan had nothing except the uniforms that had been issued and the small, sandlewood box that he had acquired for all his washing things. When he had lived out in the world moment by moment, his life had necessitated constant movement. He had enjoyed it. But now, when he arrived at a place where he expected to remain for an indefinate period, he was expected to move again. And moving once you had settled somewhere was a nasty business. Rownan hated disorder. Still, he had not batted a lash when the order came to pack up. Now Rownan stood still. The flow of moment had almost halted due to the fact that one of the less balanced recruits had tried to run and failed, all of his possessions, which had been hastily wrapped in his blanket. Fell to the floor, effectively stopping everyone from going about their business. Stamping his irritation down, Rownan kept a smooth face as he watched the clumsy fool scuttle about apologising and gathering his things. It would have been easy to set down his things and help, as some of the others were doing, but Rownan simply looked on with cool detachment, as if it had been his idea to stop in the first place. Once the lad was on his way, Rownan continued.

It was the third door on the left. Rownan shifted his belongings into one hand, and reached for the door latch. And was nearly thrown off balance while another recruit jostled him. Very, very nearly, Rownan bared his teeth. Again he had to tamp down his irritation. Why did these silly mongrels think that getting close was a good idea? Why didn't they watch where they were going? The person who had bumped into him bowed hastily. "Sorry there . . .hey, your Rownan, right?" At any other time, Rownan might have bourne making small talk. Not now. Not while everything was so frazzeled. Keeping his face as smooth as a mirror, he nodded. He made his eyes search the boy, take his measure. For some reason, when he did this, he made people uncomfortable.The boy backed up and nearly collided with someone else. "Hey, I said I was sorry . . ." With that he turned and ran off. He cast several glances over his shoulder, and even above the din, Rownan thought he could hear profanities. Blinking once to regain his calm, Rownan opened the door. It was the same as his last room. Small and clean. Someone else was already there. Rownan looked at him for only a brief moment before turning to close the door gently behind him. As he bent to put his things on the lower bunk of the opposite bed, he tried to remember where he had seen this one before . . .his sharp memory told him in a moment. Yes. The practice yard. He was average in the power, or so Rownan had gleened. Also he hated being in the Tower. Everyone who had known him for more then five seconds or even had heard about him knew that much. Zaide was his name. Rownan racked his brain but could not remember if he had ever heard the soldier's last name. Finally, Rownan finished his minimal unpacking. His bed was straighter then before, if that was possible. All of his clothes neatly tucked away in a closet and his case of personal belongings was stowed away under his bed.

At last, Rownan turned to his roommate. He took his measure for the first time in detail. The boy was huge, almost a good foot towering over Rownan. Lighter coloring and more defined features. Rownan guessed eighteen or a little older. Taking a deep, but unobtrusive breath, Rownan lowered his eyes to the floor. "I trust we will get along, Zaide." He said. He could not make his voice anything other then cool and emotionless. Far Madding had left its mark on his accent as well. Rownan wondered if he should have begun with something about the weather or the time of day or the maddness of changing rooms in the middle of the year? Worthless pleasantries. Rownan glanced up out of the corner of his eyes to see if Zaide cared, or if he was like himself.

((Bloody darkfriends! Now all Cedrith needs is Nhadnay, the Sharan, and he'll be scarred for life :look))


"Two halls down, take a left, third door..." Cedrith frowned as he made his way to his room, fingering the high collar of the soldier's uniform. He certainly wasn't going to get used to that, but after he watched them burn all his clothes, he didn't have much choice. For now at least. If he ever decided upon it, not even the Asha'man of the Black Tower would be able to stop him from leaving. Cedrith had yet found anyone who could stop him when he decided upon it. But maybe we wouldn't have to leave this time. The idea of channeling intrigued him. He stopped and looked around again. Was it two halls or three? "Bloody maze," he muttered to himself as he took the next turn.

The door was open as Cedrith moved closer to it. At the very least, if he had the wrong room, they would be able to point him in the right direction. Possibly. Unless the soldiers had as hard faces as the Asha'man chiseled from stone that introduced himself as the Master of Soldiers. Cedrith could have asked anyone in the halls, but they were busier than a beehive jostled by a bear. He shook his head as gave a tenuous knock on the opened door while looking in at the two soldiers already there.

Neither was smiling, and neither spoke, but both glanced up at him as he entered. Cedrith nearly sighed. He could be just as cold and stoney, but he was just as often simply quietly smiling. At first impression, he didn't think either had cracked a smile since birth. Bloody luck, he thought to himself and gave a hesitant, forced smile. I'll have to get along with them one way or another. That was, unless this was the wrong room. Their first looks made Cedrith certainly doubt it. There was only one way to find out. He cleared his throat and spoke. "Hello. My name is Cedrith, new to teh Black Tower. I'm not sure if I have the right room..." his voice trailed off. Cedrith did not speak much, and that was certainly his longest utterance since he was sent by the Gaidin to the Black Tower, following the equally silent Asha'man.

Zaide lay on his bed and read, he had hardly finished a page before the door opened again. Zaide closed his book, and looked at the young man who entered. He had black hair and eyes, and was quite a bit shorter than Zaide. Zaide looked at him for a few moments, trying to determine whether he had ever seen the man before. He did not think that he would have forgotten that face, and after a few moments Zaide did remember seeing him a few times. As far as he knew, the man was quite new to the Tower, but then again, Zaide probably would have thought the same of somoene who had been in the Tower for quite a long time. He had been told the names of his new roommates, but was unsure of who this was. Zaide thought that he would know the other soldier when he showed up, he had heard of the silent man they called "Yellow-britches" enough for that. That meant that this man was either Rownan or Cedrith, but Zaide did not know who. He listened while the man spoke, almost emotionlessly. That the man knew his name surprised Zaide, but he did not ask, perhaps this man already knew the others who would share this room. "I'm sure we will," he replied, as he opened his book again. The man said nothing further, and only a few moments later the door opened again. Zaide glanced at the man, another with dark hair and eyes, a few inches taller than Zaide himself. Zaide also guessed that the man was several years older than himself, but he was not Nhadnay, so that meant that this man was new as well.

The man smiled slightly, and introduced himself as Cedrith, a new soldier. He said that he was not sure whether he was in the right room, and Zaide forced down a sigh. "Yes, you're in the right room. I'm Zaide," he said simply. That meant that the other man was Rownan, then, which left only their final roommate to arrive. "Choose a bed," he instructed, watching the man. Though he was apparently older than either Zaide or Rownan, Cedrith seemed a bit unsure of himself. That was not a great surprise though, adjusting to Tower life was not easy, it was enough to make anyone nervous. Except that other man, Rownan did not seem nervous at all. Zaide closed his book and set it on the bed as he sat up to lean against the wall. He did not really want to talk to either of his roommates, but he thought he should at least get to know something about his roommates. Besides, Cedrith might need some help adjusting to the Tower, and Rownan, if he was as new as Zaide thought. Zaide had been here long enough that, though he rarely talked to anyone, he thought he could give at least some help to the others. Zaide caught himself in those thoughts and wondered just when he had become so helpful. Perhaps the Tower is having more of an effect on me than I thought. Though it certainly took long enough! He wondered whether changing roommates would finally put himself on the track to accepting Tower life, the track he had been trying so hard to find lately.

((OOC: I guess we can start circling now, while we wait for Nhadnay to arrive?))

At least the boy was quiet, as Rownan's last roommate had not been. It was almost an effort not to sigh with relief. It was easy to see that this one at least, would not ask any questions or put his nose into any ones business. Rownan was most defiantly pleased. "I'm sure we will," the boy had said and returned to his reading. Nodding with satisfaction, Rownan leaned against the far wall crossed his arms and ankles, then waited patiently for the next arrival. No way am I going out into that hall again until things settle down. Rownan listened to the hustle and bustle outside the door and allowed a little shiver between his shoulder blades. Yes, it was best to stay here and meet all of his roommates at once, instead of waiting haphazardly for another opportunity, which surly would not come until later when the lights were put out. Instead, Rownan half closed his eyes and tried to go over in his mind his history lessons. It shamed him greatly not to know some of the things that even the youngest understood. It was perfectly wretched to be thrown into classes with people who still spoke in a lisp. Weeks ago, Rownan had determined to get out of those classes as quickly as possible. It was proving to be uphill work. Looking up and out of the corner of his eyes Rownan saw Zaide still studying. Rownan new the basics, but a book that thick was beyond him. Rownan had a sum total of two years that he had been given even an elementary education and that was slipshod and catch as he could. His duties never centered around book learning. Rownan closed his eyes again and tried to review his lessons. But at that moment, someone else knocked on the door and entered.

Rownan felt the need to press himself back into the wall. This man was huge, taller then Zaide, heavier and much older, by six or seven years at the least. Immediately, Rownan put his eyes down and deliberately tried to make himself invisible. This room was starting to feel smaller and smaller. "Hello. My name is Cedrith, new to the Black Tower. I'm not sure if I have the right room..." Rownan wished he didn't have the right room, but the name rang a bell. How did this man fit inside doorways? Rownan was never grateful for his slight build and short stature, but this Cedrith was bull. "Yes, you're in the right room. I'm Zaide," Rownan looked up at the newcomer, he seemed a quiet enough fellow for the moment anyway. "Choose a bed," Zaide finished. As the newcomer shifted Rownan spoke up. "Either of these are free," He gestured very slightly with one hand and tried to summon at least a passing smile. He was not good at it, but he kept his face friendly and his mouth shut. Then he allowed Cedrith to get on with his business without anymore annoying chatter. Rownan kept his place at the wall facing the door, mindful to move if he was in the way. Cedrith could step on him and not notice. Even after all his time here in the Tower he could not get over how large everyone seemed, and how close they were, physically at least. Rownan wondered if he had missed a lecture that everyone else had gotten about how to remain comfortable in a place like this. First chance I get. He told himself firmly, I am out of here. Even the air was growing stuffy, the window was small, far up and barred. This place felt like nothing so much as a prison. Remaining still, Rownan tried to force his mind back to his lessons and off his discomfort. He could handle people in small groups. Three was not many. The bustle outside was making him nervous. That was all. Just waiting for one more. He thought, and then I can leave.

OOC

*pokes head in* I just have to say this, m'boys, but your RPing is awesome! :lol: :lol:

ooc: by all means, continue and don't wait for me.... I'm on a form of LoA at the moment, due to RL situations... I'll try to get back when I can, but I don't expect it to be soon.... :unsure:


edit: oh by the way... Zaide, in the tower it is still not known that Nhadnay is of shara, nor what his real name is... if he is asked, he'll answer (well, write down at least) 'Yellow-britches'

OOC: Woops! *goes to edit* I knew that...I really did, I just forgot. :look

((OOC: This is ridiculous! SOMEONE POST!!!!! :BOOM: ))

((OOC: I was waiting for Cedrith, but I'll post with Zaide later tonight. :)))

((OOC: Fashionably late was two weeks ago. I luff this site to pieces and it is frustrating to have nothing to do. *nods*))

((Ha! thats how i felt as a Soldier too ;) it will pass))

((OOC: Sorry again...this thread saps my inspiration, I swear, hopefully before the weekend though))

ooc -- is everything in this thread ooc? Come on people! :P

ooc

SPAMMER! *tackles and drags out of the room*
Okay boys, resume whatever you were doing... :whistle

(OOC: Boys? *eyes her roommates...then everyone who has posted in this thread...Resolute...I think you're all alone. :P)

OOC-....yea....i noticed..kinda scary actually

Zaide looked at the man who stood at the door, and then again to he other, sitting on a bed. He stayed silent for the moment, simply observing. Finally, he snapped his book shut, having lost interest, and tossed it, hoping for it toland on the room's one table, but missed. It landed loudly on the floor about a foot away from its intended destination, and Zaide cursed quietly. Soldiers did not train in weaponry, but were still expected to be able to do somethings. After all, aim was necessary for using the Power, especially in battle. Zaide ade no move to pick up the book, though he knew he should, he would pick it up later, if it was still there when he got up. Were he on the bottom bunk, he would have done so right away. Zaide shifted on his bed until his back was against the other wall and he was looking at the room, rather than the wall near the foot of his bed. He looked at the smaller man still sitting on the bottom bunk of the other bed. Zaide had no idea where the man was from, and did not particularly care, it did not matter here. Still, in order to promote the seemingly quite man to conversation, Zaide asked, "Where are you from?" Zaide was not used to being the more talkative in a conversation, in general few people talked to him, and that was hoe he liked it. However, he thought he should know something about his roommates, and home was usually a safe enough question.

Zaide sat silently, lost in thought, willing to wait until Rownan chose to answer. After all, home might be a dangerous question. Zaide himself did not like to talk about that farm in Andor, and he knew there was worse out there- soraya, for example. Zaide blinked, Soraya? He had met her years ago, and had not seen her since he found her crying. He was surprised he had thought of her, but from what he knew of her, she had indeed had a more difficult life than he. He wondered whether the woman was still even in the Tower, and if she was, was she still a novice? He shook off those thoughts, and focused back on Rownan. It was not hard to do, though curiosity at where his thoughts had come from still remained. He waited for Rownan to answer, now slightly curious as to his roommate's origins. He concidered offering his own nationality, but changed his mind, the man probably did not care anyway. Zaide was still a bit surprised at himself that he had tried to start a conversation. Apparently changing dorms has shaken me more than I knew, he thought, trying to find an explanation for his strangeness lately.

The room was oddly silent. Rownan, interested now despite himself, continued to remain on the lowest bunk. His last room had been filled with chattering magpies and pigs. Needless to say he had not gotten on well with the last set. All these men seemed to be as quiet as he was himself. Perhaps this would work out for the best after all. Mildly content now, Rownan closed his eyes and once more began to rehearse his lessons in his mind. A movement above him caught his attention, and he opened his eyes in a flash. He watched as a book sailed out of Zaide's hand. Never gonna make it. The book slammed messily onto the floor. Rownan winced. In the world anything could become a weapon. You did not treat weapons thus. Glancing up, Rownan saw that Zaide sitting upright on his bed and was regarding him with an interest that seemed to stem from boredom. "Where are you from?" The man asked suddenly, as if it were nothing. Rownan resisted arching an eyebrow. What would this man want to know about his past for? He's probably used to asking these questions. After considering for a moment, Rownan decided to answer. "Originally, Far Madding. I've been just about everywhere since." Everywhere on land. Rownan had never been on a ship before, and he had never been to the Blight or the Waste. He liked cities, just because it was easier to survive in them. If he could have found a way to live in alone in a desolate place he would have done so long ago.

For myself I would have chosen a small place, away from jostling people. A place where I could be invisible alone. It would be a quiet, isolated place and preferrably beautiful, near a stream to remind him of home. But that would never be. He had a job to do here, and a vengeance to extract. It would be a long while before all those wearing silk and calling themselves ladies paid for what they had done to his mother. Even if he didn't succeed in the end, the Dark One would destroy them all when he broke upon the world. He would destory everything indiscriminately. That thought brought Rownan no pleasure, but it did satisfy his sense of fairness. And what does a thief know about fair? Pushing the last thought from his mind, Rownan stooped and picked up the book that had fallen to the floor. Interesting title. He thought as he set it gently on the small stand, after first making sure that none of the pages were bent. The other, besides Zaide, was sill going about the business of settling in, apparently. Rownan wondered when the other was going to show up. Once he does, I will leave. This whole day had set him off balance some how. He would seek some quiet hole on the grounds to go and be by himself until he regained equilibrium. Until then he had to pass the time somehow with these men. "You come from the east I imagine," He said, addressing Zaide.

Zaide nodded when the man said that he was from Far Madding. Since coming to the Tower, he had heard of that place vaguely, a place where one could not channel. Zaide was not entirely sure how he felt about that, he certainly would not want to be separated from saidin, but it also meant that no one could use the Power on him. He decided, rather, that he would simply prefer to stay away from the place, and never find out what he thought. He quirked an eyebrow slightly when Rownan suggested that he was from the east. Zaide was not entirely certain where Far Madding was, but he was fairly sure that it was to the east of Caemlyn. Did he look Cairhienin or Shienaran? Zaide did not know, he did not know what any place in particular looked like. But, he may as well answer his roommate's question. "No, I'm from Andor, just outside of Caemlyn," he said flatly. The mention of his home brought no fond memories, and he had no desire to go into any depth about that. But what else was there to talk about? Zaide had no desire to sit here in silence for the rest of the evening, and he certainly did not want to leave the room, and chance being sent on some meaningless errand by an Asha'man. So he chose the former, and sat silently, reflecting. He wondered idly what places Rownan had seen, and how he had come to be in the Tower. Zaide had little desire to see the world, but he could not deny that some places sounded quite exciting, from what he had read.

Zaide looked again at the book lying on the ground, that contained information on one of the places he found very interesting, if frustratingly unknown. At least, it was unknown to him, he had no idea what secret information the Asha'man and Aes Sedai held on the mystery that was Shara. He could not deny that that was one place he would like to see, but from everything that was known of the place, that was very impossible. He thought that he might one day be able to travel to one of the trading cities, and get a glimpse of the place. If not, then he would doubtless continue to read every book he could find on the subject. Zaide shook his head to clear his thoughts, he could ponder over the mysteries of Shara later, right now, he should be doing something to get to know his roommates. One of them was very silent, and one was not here yet, so Zaide continued to direct his conversation at Rownan. "How long have you been in the Tower?" he asked, reasoning that that was a fairly safe question. Unless, that was, Rownan felt about the Tower the same way Zaide did. Or, used to, he decided. Zaide finally had to admit to himself that he did not hate the Tower as much as he did, though he certainly did not like it. Maybe it would not be so bad to be Dedicated, and maybe Asha'man. As long as it did not come too soon, that was.

I daresay you will just have to reset your room, since Cedrith is gone. I am closing this. :)