(ooc - this was continued from A Midnight Rendezvous )

The night was cold against Edeleas' face as he emerged from the imposing building that was the Black Tower, his strides in the direction of the White, his face grim as he dragged behind him two Novices whom he'd caught painting the M'Hael's spare robes white. Aside from that, the girls were out-of-bounds too. Cayana would surely have a firm hand with them, she always had, and even the most stubborn girl had burst out to tears in her office. Edeleas strode into the White Tower. The two girls were positively howling now. But he did not give a damn. If they'd been male, he would have been whipping them raw at that very moment. If Cayana was firm, he was worse.

He walked down the White Tower, familiar with the hallways that led to Cayana's office. He was not sure if the woman was still awake, but that'd be no problem, he'd send one of the girls to fetch her if needed. He did not like to punish girls who were out of his power, let someone with that happy power do that instead. He came to the door and knocked, and founding that there was no answer, he went inside and released the girls. They instantly glued back together, weeping, looking up at him in fright. He pointed to the girl called Naina.

"You!" he said harshly. "Go fetch the Mistress of Novices! Now!"

Naina could not believe it. The man had just grabbed her and Mirazhe with saidin and was now dragging them down the halls of the White Tower! As if they were some thieves or ignorant children who would run away and had to be forced to come! At this thought the girl blushed, she did consider the possibility of running away, but she would never dare to, she was not a fool after all. The novice could hear her friend Mirazhe weeping and realised that she too had tears in her eyes. Naina tried to put her hand on Mirazhe’s to comfort the other girl a bit. Light, she felt so angry now she wanted to embrace saidar, but again - she didn’t dare to do that. Bloody Tower, bloody Asha’man! How foolish of her to think he would let them go back to their rooms! Naina knew exactly where her teacher was taking them to, he had said it himself: to the Mistress of Novices! Naina had never been to her office before and she had never met Cayana Sedai, but she knew that she was considered to be very strict, especially with those who didn’t follow the rules. The other girls who went to her office to get punishment didn’t want to talk about it to Naina and she imagined that nothing good happened in Cayana Sedai’s study. And this Asha’man was taking them there now! Why? Just because he had found them sneaking around in the Black Tower in the night with two buckets of white paint and hiding in the M’Hael’s office? Not that Naina had exactly expected him too…but honestly, using the One Power wasn’t necessary! She had never felt so embarrassed, scared and angry at the same time in her life. And remembering that the whole thing was her own fault wasn’t cheering the girl up. The novice wasn’t sure whether she could still laugh about the soldiers of the Black Tower when they would find their black uniforms painted white in the morning. Too bad we didn’t get in –his- room and painted –his- clothes white. Naina scowled at the Asha’man in front of her making sure that he didn’t see her though. The girl was still terrified after all and shaking with her entire body.

Finally they reached the Mistress of Novices study and the Asha’man knocked. There was no answer. She is not there! Maybe we can go to our rooms after all? Naina didn’t really believe that, but she hoped that they could. The moment of hope didn’t last long though. The Asha’man just went inside the study and first of all released the two novices. Naina was glad, but she immediately placed herself beside Mirazhe holding her hand. They both glanced at the Asha’man scared and with tears in their eyes. Naina’s cheeks felt hot. "You!"Edelead said suddenly and pointed at Naina "Go fetch the Mistress of Novices! Now!"
Naina opened her mouth in protest, but managed to control herself and didn’t say anything. What? Why me?! Things couldn’t possibly get any worse now? She gave Mirazhe a terrified glance before forcing herself to give Edeleas a curtsy. Naina avoided looking in his eyes and went out of the room making her way to the Mistress Of Novice’s rooms. She felt like screaming. Aaarrrrrghhh!!!!! Now –she- had to go fetch the Mistress of Novices, didn't she? Wake up an angry Aes Sedai in the middle of the night so she can punish her for behaving like a foolish child? He could go fetch Cayana Sedai himself! But no! He only did that to embarrass me and that’s the only reason! Naina could feel her cheeks heating again, hot angry tears filled her eyes. As she reached that bloody room she couldn’t hold back all those tears and burst into loud crying. She stood in the halls of the White Tower in the middle of the night crying like a helpless child. She was so angry with herself, with the Tower, with the Asha’man, with the Mistress of Novice, even though she hadn’t done anything at all yet. Stop it immediately! You are so embarrassing! You have to storng and confident if you ever want to become an Aes Sedai! Wiping away the tears and trying to breathe normally again Naina walked towards the door and raised her hand to knock. Waking up a Aes Sedai who will punish you… that’s like waking up a sleeping lion. But there was no other way out. She couldn’t just ignore the Asha’man’s order, the girl didn’t even dare to imagine what punishment would await her then! And she couldn’t go and run away from the Tower, even if she felt ready to do that now. It was her dream to become Aes Sedai, and she couldn’t just abandon Mirazhe like this. She hoped the other novice wasn’t too angry with her. Sighing Naina knocked. “Cayana Sedai” she said “I was told to come and wake you. Asha’man Edeleas al’Kuar sends me.”

((OOC: I have already let Edeleas know about this OOC, Cayana is not in the Towers and won't be for a while therefore I will not RP her as if she is here. This is a post by an NPC green I use sometimes, don't think it's Cayana cause it is not. :) If I have assumed anything that your characters wouldn't let happen, tell me and I'll change the post.))

The search hadn't come anywhere as of yet but Gemena wasn't loosing hope. Cayana may be a young Aes Sedai but she had proven herself to be strong not only through the tests for Accepted and Aes Sedai. Lately at night she reacted to any sound in the hallways of the Green Ajah and really most sisters did. They had isolated that two men had channeled in the Mistress of Novices rooms, two gateways had been formed, but there was no way to actually tell if they had worked together or not. Gemena didn't believe Cayana to be such a bad knower of people that she would easily allow a dedicated that close only to get kidnapped by him, but there was always a possibility. And after all there had been a time when they had clearly not been speaking to each other. At the moment Gemena was reviewing reports from various places that had come during the day. Three estates in Illian and been searched by a full circle of sisters but to no help except to exclude them. Gemena had first today been put in charge of the entire thing and clearly she was going to make this a bit more strict. One circle was hopeful to take on two male channelers, to hopeful. Gemena was no fool and was not about to think that these two themselves worked completely alone. Still she was fully aware of the hushed situation.

Steps in the hallway reviled a presence and Gemena sat up straight listening. She could feel how her the one of her warders that were awake noticed her distress and became more alert. As it was no imagined sound Gemena rose and walked to the door, it was far to late for anyone to come down this hallway alone. Opening her door the sound of sobs and a knock reached her. “Cayana Sedai” A young girls voice said. “I was told to come and wake you. Asha’man Edeleas al’Kuar sends me.” Sighing Gemena walked out into the hallway and closed her door behind her. She was relaxed now, only a girl who had been sent by the Master of Soldiers. Can't Asha'man read? This girl had no idea that Cayanas work temporarily had been put on a Grays hands. Walking over to the girl Gemena called on her attention. "Child, Cayana will not be able to see you right now. Did you not see the note on her office door?" Receiving a form of no on the question Gemena sighed. "Come on girl, I'll follow you over to Asha'man Edeleas. Is he in his office or in Cayanas?" Gemena wouldn't have done this if it hadn't been cause Edeleas hadn't been notified of the situation. Dovenie wouldn't tell him anything on the matter and clearly he had not read the note on the door in the first place.

Finding out that they were in Cayanas office Gemena started walking in that direction at a calm pace expecting the novice to follow. As she came up to Cayanas door she opened it without knocking and walked in ahead of the novice. "Asha'man Edeleas I presume." She nodded to him in greeting. It was clear she was not Cayana and he would know such easily. "It is fairly late in the night I don't think Dovenie Sedai will bother to deal with this matter right now." Not waiting for any kind of answer Gemena kept on. "I suggest the novices are to be sent to the temporary Mistress of Novices in the morning before breakfast." She looked over at the girls. "Your names children?" Gemena expected no less then to be obeyed, Edeleas needed to know certain things and she was surprised that he hadn't been notified.

They were in for it now. Naina had started babbling about them taking a walk and accidentally stumbling into the M’Hael’s room. The Asha’man hadn’t seemed to believe it, but then again, he didn’t seem to disbelieve it either. All he had done was pull them out of the room and drag them into the White Tower into the Mistress of Novices office. And he hadn’t just dragged them either. He’d used saidin, the male half of the One Power and wrapped them in what Mirazhe could only guess were flows of Air. Then he’d floated them along until they had reached Cayana Sedai’s office. Mirazhe had been so scared the entire time, she’d barely been able to breathe. Naina had been in a similar situation, and both of the girls had been crying by the time they reached the White Tower. When he had finally let them out of their prison, Mirazhe had run back to Naina and clung to her desperately, glad for the little comfort she got from being with Naina. Unfortunately, her comfort was short lived, as the Asha’man had pointed at Naina and sent her to fetch the Mistress of Novices.

Mirazhe didn’t know which was worse; having to stay in the same room with a man who looked like he was about to explode, or having to go wake the Mistress of Novices from her sleep. She almost wished she were in Naina’s place. At least then she wouldn’t have to be with the Master of Soldiers, who was glowering at her and looked as though he wanted to strike her down at the spot. It was all she could do to stop herself from whimpering and running to cower in the corner. As it was, tears were still streaming down her cheeks and she was still scared witless. A small corner of her mind was still sane, and it told her that she looked an absolute fright. She probably did, what with tearstains on her face, her hair all mussed, and her in a puddle on the floor. If she was going to face the Mistress of Novices, she could at least do it looking normal and proud. But she couldn’t, she really couldn’t, and spent the remainder of the time waiting for Naina to come back crying on the floor.

When Naina finally did come back, she was followed by a woman who definitely wasn’t Cayana Sedai. Mirazhe had only met Cayana Sedai once, and that had been when she had first arrived at the White Tower, but she knew that this woman wasn’t Cayana Sedai. However, she didn’t know if that was good or bad. This woman could be less strict than the actual Mistress of Novices, but then again, she could be a lot MORE strict. Well, at least Naina was back. Mirazhe tried to give her a comforting smile, but she was sure she failed miserably. The woman took one took at the two girls and said, "I suggest the novices are to be sent to the temporary Mistress of Novices in the morning before breakfast. Your names children?" Mirazhe had to gulp twice before she could even make a sound. “M-Mirazhe Tomai, Aes Sedai. And she is Naina.” She was a bit ashamed that she didn’t know Naina’s last name; but the girls had only met recently, so she supposed that it was a bit of an excuse. Trembling, she waited for the Aes Sedai to continue.

Naina waited for an answer, but instead she heard steps coming from behind. Quickly the novice turned around and saw an Aes Sedai walking towards her. More Aes Sedai? I just hope she doesn’t decide to punish me as well.
As the Aes Sedai approached Naina wiped away the rest of her tears and dropped a curtsy. Surprisingly the woman explained that it is not possible for Cayana to come in the moment. Naina wondered what the matter was. Maybe the Mistress of Novices was ill? Maybe she wasn’t in the Tower? Some Aes Sedai did leave the Tower from time to time, but the Mistress of Novices had work here in the Tower, would she just abandon her position so easily? Unless it was something important…
Meanwhile the Aes Sedai sighed and spoke "Come on girl, I'll follow you over to Asha'man Edeleas. Is he in his office or in Cayanas?" Naina answered with proper respect and hoped that the woman won’t hear the disappointment in her voice. “In Cayana Sedai’s office, Aes Sedai”.

Without saying another word the Aes Sedai started walking in the direction of the Mistress of Novice’s office. Obviously she expected the novice to follow her, so Naina grabbed her skirts and hurried trying to keep up with the Aes Sedai. The woman looked a bit troubled, she was probably tired, but Naina still wondered what the matter with Cayana Sedai was. Telling herself not to try to understand Aes Sedai business and to concentrate on the other unpleasant situation she was in the girl continued following the other woman as they walked down the halls of the White Tower.

Finally they reached the right room and Naina placed herself beside Mirazhe immediately throwing scared glances at the Master of Soldiers. Mirazhe gave her a smile and Naina returned it feeling grateful. The Aes Sedai gave Edeleas a nod “Asha’man Edeleas I presume. It is fairly late in the night I don't think Dovenie Sedai will bother to deal with this matter right now. I suggest the novices are to be sent to the temporary Mistress of Novices in the morning before breakfast." So some other Aes Sedai would give them their punishment? Naina thought that things were getting better by now. First of all there was hope that this Dovenie Sedai would be milder with the two of them. As mild as an Aes Sedai can possibly be anyway. And they could go to their beds after all. It was not what the Asha’man had intended them to do and that was enough for Naina to raise her head confidently. It would not be exactly –her- way, as she still would get punished, but at least it wouldn’t be –his- way either. She felt a bit stupid feeling so proud, but she couldn´t avoid it. The Aes Sedai looked at the two novices "Your names children?" she said. “M-Mirazhe Tomai, Aes Sedai. And she is Naina.” Mirazhe said, her voice trembled a bit and Naina didn’t blame her for that. She waited and added a bit unwillingly. “Naina Al’Daan, Aes Sedai.” Keeping her voice steady was easier now, the anger was gone.

Edeleas frowned. "I do not care who is the Mistress of Novices right now, except that these girls need punishing. As I told them before, they are beyond my power, for my power lies in the Black Tower alone. However, you," he nodded to the Gray sister coolly. "Do have that happy power. They are out of bounds at such a Lightforsaken hour, and they entered the M'hael's office without permission." Edeleas paused. "And they painted his robes white."

((OOC: Edeleas it talking to Gemena not Dovenie ;) Got any problems with this post PM me. Naina and Mirazhe, start a new thread for the visit to Dovenie please.))

The girls were nervous, quite reasonably so but still told both Edeleas and Gemena their names without fuss. Edeleas didn't seem very joyous about Cayana not showing up and his words told more then that little part. "I do not care who is the Mistress of Novices right now, except that these girls need punishing. As I told them before, they are beyond my power, for my power lies in the Black Tower alone. However, you," with a nod he indicated Gemena "Do have that happy power. They are out of bounds at such a Lightforsaken hour, and they entered the M'hael's office without permission." Edeleas paused. "And they painted his robes white." Gemena gave the girl a glance before gesturing to them to leave. "I expect you both to show up at Dovenie Sedais office before breakfast. Now leave and don't even think about dragging your feet behind on the way to your rooms."

Once the two girls had left Gemena turned on Edeleas. "Since you clearly can not read, nor listen I'm probably wasting my time. Still since you are the Master of Soldiers you still should know the reason for the note on the door." She gestured to the door that now was closed behind them. "Cayana isn't away on any business of the Towers official, unofficial or personal. It has been established that she was kidnapped by a male channeler out of her rooms prior to the Feast of the Dragon. That is also the reason for one of your missing dedicated and why Cayana has not been fully replaced nor the reason for her absence told to the public." Gemena showed no feelings telling Edeleas this, he might not care much, he might not care at all but clearly the notification system of the Towers were lacking and Gemena needed to correct that part. "Now novices and accepted pranks don't concern me any more then who is the Mistress of Novices does to you. And when it comes to being out of bounds in the middle of the night you have just the same authority to punish the girls as any Aes Sedai. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have more important business to attend. The business of finding our lost Cayana Sedai." She turned and opened the door, before walking out and away from Cayanas office. Wether or not Edeleas listened to her or not didn't matter, it was his own problem. Finding Cayana was hers.