Avialle had barely been at the Tower a day when Malia Sedai came storming into the infirmary in a temper. The woman managed to master herself as she whispered with one of the Accepted, and then approached Avialle's bed. "Avialle," she began, a dark look in her pale eyes that made Avialle's stomach clench, "It seems that there are some people here looking for you." Avialle's heart sank as she realized that it had to be Danya ... who else even knew she existed? She had no idea what the rules were in this type of situation, she only knew that her familly would make sure that she paid for running away. Not because they cared about her, but because they considered her "property." Malia Sedai sighed and shook her head. "They've been sent to see the Mistress of Novices, whom you would have been meeting shortly at any rate, so this just speeds things along."

Avialle didn't know what to say, but it was clear that she was also expected to see this Mistress of Novices, so she prepared herself as well as she could. Malia Sedai had gotten her a proper white dress for the occasion, although there was a festival going on and Avialle didn't strictly have to wear the white dress just yet, Malia felt that it would be best, and who was Avialle to argue?

The walk to the Mistress of Novices office seemed interminable, and Avialle kept wondering if there was some way she could simply disappear. Could the Aes Sedai do that? Just disappear into thin air, in a puff of smoke or a white cloud or something? Running away was out of the question, however, as Malia Sedai had hold of Avialle's arm the entire way there. Avialle was starting to wonder if reading minds was an Aes Sedai talent as well.

Finally, they were there in the antechamber to the Mistress of Novices office ... and so was Danya. Avialle had been prepared for the sight of her sister, but not that of her parents as well. Amilial rose immediately upon seeing her daughter and ran up to Avialle, throwing her arms around her daughter and squeezing her. "Oh thank the Light, Avialle! Oh, I've been so worried all of these years! Let me look at you..." Amilial held her out at arm's length. "Hmph, white's not really your color, is it dear?" Avialle didn't know how to feel or what to think. This was her mother; on the one hand, she wanted to hug her back and love her, on the other hand, she knew that her mother had never really cared for her and that this was an act for the benefit of the Aes Sedai. She prayed that Malia and the Mistress of Novices would not be fooled.

Kavead and Danya said nothing as Malia Sedai rapped lightly on the Mistress's door. Avialle stared at that door with a mixture of hope and dread in her belly, and no idea of what she wanted - to stay here in this strange place, or to go home with a family that was still her family, regardless of their personalities.

Tower politics, a side of the Tower that wasn't Cayanas favorite, especially not when she was the one playing the game. Sure she was Aes Sedai and in some extent she knew the Daes Dae'mar, but she hadn't grown up with it as she was from Saldaea. During this day she had found out that one of the newly arrived, an Andoran novice who had burned down an inn in the city, had family who wanted to see her. The Family was the Verais, a wealthy merchant family who Cayana knew some about due to her foster fathers profession. They took what chances they could and could not be trusted. Cayana was glad she remembered, things like these were important.

Instead of bringing them into her office she had selected an antechamber further down the hall. This room was square and was in a constant light through out the room. In the middle stood a round table with some comfortable chairs. Here she took in the mother of the novice and here they all would have a little 'chat'. Cayana waited with the mother until Malia Sedai of the yellow, one of those not to fond of Cayana but who actually unlike others accepted Cayanas choice in life, brought the novice. Naturally the mother rose as soon as the girl entered the room and ran towards her. "Oh thank the Light, Avialle! Oh, I've been so worried all of these years! Let me look at you..." The act did feel natural all until the woman graded her daughters 'new look'. "Hmph, white's not really your color, is it dear?"

"Her color or no, she's wearing it." Cayana said in a serene voice. The girl wouldn't be leaving the Tower any time soon, with what she had done she wasn't taking part in the festivities at first either. Knowing or not she had burned down an entire inn and could very well have killed someone. Hadn't it been for the Yellow Ajah and a few witnesses they would have assumed that the burned body would have been her doing. "You must understand mistress Verais, your daughter isn't only capable of learning how to channel, she has the spark. She is a danger to the people around her and must stay here for training until she can handle what she can do. Do you understand?" Cayana was for once not patronizing the woman. It had become a habit of doing so with people, had she not been feeling like a child last time she met him she would probably have done so with her own father.

Avialle wasn't sure how to feel when Cayana Sedai told her mother in no uncertain terms that Avialle would be staying right where she was. She was relieved, but a little bit frightened when Cayana Sedai said that she had "the spark." What did that mean? Amilial sat down and pursed her lips in what Avialle could only call a pout just as her father rose.

"Now see here, Aes Sedai. I understand that you have rules about these sort of things, but Avialle is a valuable member of our family. It will be quite a hardship for us not to have her with us." The way he stressed the word "valuable" turned Avialle's stomach. Her face flushed a little as well - her father was attempting to haggle with an Aes Sedai as though she were another horse-trader or merchant. It was at this moment that Danya decided to join the fray.

"Yes, and she's cost us quite a penny looking for her, as well." She sounded like a petulant child. Kavead wasn't interested in anything Danya had to say, however; he shot her a vicious look and she sat back down, doing a good impression of their mother's pout.

"The money notwithstanding," Kavead continued smoothly, "the fact is, we haven't even seen her in four years. Our old stablehand kidnapped her, no doubt because of his improper lust for young children -" He got no further than that before Avialle was out of her chair.

"How dare you!" Her rage was so great she could barely speak. She felt something inside, and then outside, in the very air itself. It crackled with some kind of power, and the candles around the room all blazed forcefully as she started moving toward her father. "Maric was twice the man you'll ever be, you light forsaken fool! How dare you speak of ill of him?" She didn't know what she was going to do when she got across the room to the man who called himself her father, but she did know that she wanted him to pay for everything he'd done to the only person who had ever really loved her.

The father rose now, trying to hassle to his advantage, Cayana wasn't going to have it, but even so she listened to the man. The more he spoke and she didn't gave her an impression of the situation. "Now see here, Aes Sedai. I understand that you have rules about these sort of things, but Avialle is a valuable member of our family. It will be quite a hardship for us not to have her with us." Cayana felt like arching an eyebrow as they stressed the word valuable, but she didn't say anything or move a mussel at that. She was going to let them slip, not her. "Yes, and she's cost us quite a penny looking for her, as well." Amilial said. Something Cayana wouldn't argue with... yet. "The money notwithstanding," Kavead continued in a smooth voice, "the fact is, we haven't even seen her in four years. Our old stablehand kidnapped her, no doubt because of his improper lust for young children -" Then the child rose and started to channel "How dare you!" She yelled, embracing the one power. "Maric was twice the man you'll ever be, you light forsaken fool! How dare you speak of ill of him?" She used air in fashion Cayana had done plenty of times. But new or no she wasn't going to have it. Embracing Saidar calmly she blocked the girl from the source with little trouble. "Sit down child. You are not to channel without permission from Aes Sedai. Not against your parents in a rage or otherwise. Is that clear?" Cayanas voice was hard as ice and she looked at the girl with a stern look.

Not allowing any talk back she continued without even letting the parents interrupt. "Now Avialle, tell me, how did this kidnapping come about?" She rose a hand to her parents marking that she would not have interruptions. An other one and she'd let Avialle do what she wanted with her parents, be that to scare them or worse.

This entire situation was slightly amusing to Cayana. Her parents said they had spent so much money trying to find the girl, when really they wouldn't have needed to spend a dime, as reporting such a crime to the authorities would mean the Guard took care of it. Same as with thieves and murderers. Really Cayana didn't think they had spent a penny. Which made Cayana want to know what exactly had caused the running away. Avialle wouldn't defend a man who raped her would she? Really, Avialle was young, but unless she had actually fallen in love with this Maric Cayana would be surprised of any kind of defense if what the parents spoke of was true.
When it came to 'improper' relationships between young and old Cayana didn't have anything to say. All things considered, such things was seen differently among channelers. Even she had a lover over 60 older then herself, though he was seen by the Towers as much younger then her. How little they knew...

"Sit down child. You are not to channel without permission from Aes Sedai. Not against your parents in a rage or otherwise. Is that clear?"

Avialle was stopped short as the power she felt suddenly disappeared. Bewildered, she sat back in her chair without a word. I was channeling? She hadn't done it on purpose, but now that the feeling had been taken from her, she could definitely tell that something had been there ... something sweet and wonderful, something that had made her feel like nothing could stop her. It was the same feeling from the night of the fire, and instead of frightening her as it had then, she felt exhilarated. She knew instinctively that what she did by accident was nothing compared to what she would be able to do on purpose, and it was this more than anything that led her to sit down and shut up on Cayana Sedai's orders. Normally her stubborn pride would have bid her to at least argue, but that taste of Power was enough to let her know that she really did need to be here; she couldn't risk angering the Aes Sedai. What if they refused to teach her?

"Now Avialle, tell me, how did this kidnapping come about?"

Avialle forced her thoughts back to the situation at hand and took a deep breath. "It was no kidnapping, Aes Sedai. I ran away." She glanced at her family with a look of deepest loathing. "My father was beating his poor horse and I tried to stop him. He hit me with the horsewhip ... " She held up her arm where the scar still remained, even after all of these years: the result of her parent's careless treatment of the wound. "...and Maric lost his temper. Maric had always taken care of me, like a real father." Kavead scowled and looked like he might interrupt, but for once he seemed to realize that the Aes Sedai would brook no interference and kept his mouth shut. "He was furious when I was hit, so he and my father fought. Maric won, and embarassed my father. That night I heard him tell my mother that he was going to have Maric killed. I knew I had to warn Maric, but I also knew that my father would take it out on me that Maric had escaped his anger, so I decided that the only solution was for both of us to go. I think Maric knew in his heart that he couldn't leave me there, so we left together." Giving her father another venom-filled look, she continued. "I swear under the Light that Maric never touched me. He was my only true family, and yes, we loved each other, but the way a father and daughter do, not as lovers."

Kavead opened his mouth, then closed it, then shook his head. It was obvious that he wasn't sure what to say. Finally, he pointed a finger at Avialle. "Lies! That man has obviously filled her head with nonsense. I would never do those things! Why, Avialle was always my favorite."

Avialle almost laughed out loud - she was surprised that Kavead even remembered her name. Looking over at the Aes Sedai, she watched to see if the woman would be taken in by her father's falsehoods.

"It was no kidnapping, Aes Sedai. I ran away." With a glance at her family the novice started to explain."My father was beating his poor horse and I tried to stop him. He hit me with the horsewhip ...and Maric lost his temper. Maric had always taken care of me, like a real father. He was furious when I was hit, so he and my father fought. Maric won, and embarassed my father. That night I heard him tell my mother that he was going to have Maric killed. I knew I had to warn Maric, but I also knew that my father would take it out on me that Maric had escaped his anger, so I decided that the only solution was for both of us to go. I think Maric knew in his heart that he couldn't leave me there, so we left together. I swear under the Light that Maric never touched me. He was my only true family, and yes, we loved each other, but the way a father and daughter do, not as lovers." During the entire explanation, far more elaborate then the one her parents had given, Cayana looked over at the father. The father was infuriated, in a way that was obviously not due to Avialle hurting him. Only his pride and efforts to gain from the situation. "Lies! That man has obviously filled her head with nonsense. I would never do those things! Why, Avialle was always my favorite." He exclaimed, pointing at the girl. From this Avialle was very amused. "Alright." Cayana said. "Since these stories are conflicting, and you are saying Avialle was your favorite child." Waving for the novice to rise, Cayana backed towards the door. "I want a word alone with Avialle, when I come back I will question you," She looked at the parents, "and from that I will determine the truth. Malia Sedai will be keeping you company." Cayana saw the Yellow out of the corner of her eye. Malia, Cayana knew, wasn't happy with that assignment, but had to obey as Cayana was stronger in the One Power. Malia wouldn't forgive that in a heartbeat.

Opening the door and letting Avialle out first Cayana walked after. Talking to her as they crossed the hall and walked though an other door Cayana hoped Avialle would understand. "Don't try to break the shield girl." She said as she tied it off and wove a listening ward around the room. "Close the door behind you." She added before she finished, then tied the ward off and let go of saidar. "Now, don't worry about me sending you back with those people." She said to Avialle. "Parents or no you are to be trained but according to your story they have had little to do with you since you ran away. Besides reading you until the time you ran off, I bet they haven't done much for you." She leaned against a table and watched Avialles reactions. "I want you to tell me somethings, personal stuff about you that only a father, who really loves his children and who is a part of their life would know. Is that alright with you?" Really it wasn't a question. If Avialle lied now she would be in deep trouble. Silly parents though to think they could trick the Towers, and Aes Sedai at that. Once getting a clear response Cayana continued. "What was your favorite past time as a child? What is your favorite flower? What clothes did you prefer to wear and what were you forced to? Tell me the name of your closet friend as a child." Cayana smiled at the girl, encouraging it was meant. She would ask for a lot more personal stuff before they went back. Hopefully the girl would cooperate.

Avialle was releived when Cayana Sedai decided to speak to her alone. Being in the room with her family for that long was making her feel like she needed to bathe.

"Don't try to break the shield girl." Cayana was saying. Avialle didn't want to embarrass herself by admitting that she couldn't break the shield if she wanted to; she had no idea how to channel on purpose. "Now, don't worry about me sending you back with those people." The Aes Sedai continued. Avialle was so releived she sagged back in her chair. She hadn't realized how tense she was until now. Before she could break into 'thank yous' and promises of undying gratitude, Cayana Sedai went on. "Parents or no you are to be trained but according to your story they have had little to do with you since you ran away. Besides reading you until the time you ran off, I bet they haven't done much for you." Avialle nodded in agreement. She was certain that they hadn't even tried to look for her, or if they had, it had been to save face, not out of any love for their child.

"I want you to tell me somethings, personal stuff about you that only a father, who really loves his children and who is a part of their life would know. Is that alright with you?" Cayana Sedai asked. Avialle nodded, her father knew next to nothing about her, there was no way he would pass a test such as this.

"Of course, Aes Sedai."

"What was your favorite past time as a child? What is your favorite flower? What clothes did you prefer to wear and what were you forced to? Tell me the name of your closet friend as a child."

Avialle considered these questions. "My favorite pastime was swimming. Maric used to take me when we could get away long enough." She smiled at the memory. There was no way her father would know that; he was deathly afraid of open water. "As for flowers, I don't have one... I've never paid attention to them before. And clothes, I just wore what was passed down to me. I'm the youngest of seven, so most of my clothes were pretty worn out. Although, I did have a necklace that my sister Maeve gave me when I was five. I wore that all the time." She would still be wearing it now, but she had sold it two years before for food. Maric had forbid her from doing so, but she knew that he was going hungry for her sake. She couldn't stand to see it, so she had gone behind his back and sold it. She made up a story about where she'd gotten the money, and Maric never knew what she'd done for him. The last question made her smile. "Maric, of course. My sisters were all older than me, so of course they never wanted to play with the 'baby.' I tried to have friends in the neighborhood, but my father always ended up taking advantage of their family in some way, and the next thing I knew they weren't allowed to play with me. Eventually Maric was the only friend I had." She realized as she was speaking how pathetic that sounded, but it was the truth; she couldn't make it sound better than it was. She waited silently to see if the Aes Sedai found her answers sufficient.