Edeleas knew it was the moment for the festival of Danshu, and by the sense of relaxation Myara reflected to the bond, he had been many times tempted to shake off his work, all of it, and go outside and give himself over to ale or a good jig over the dance floor. But he sighed, knowing that if ever he did do his plan, he would regret it later. These days paperwork seemed to multiply the fastest whenever you left them alone on the working table to do something else. It was quite a horryfing prospect, much less on Edeleas, especially when he was not dealing with paperwork he had had to deal with troublesome boys and men who still thought they were so. He had no time to go dancing and drinking.

The blonde Dieb Cha looked at the note on his hand. A new boy had arrived in the Black Tower, an Aiel, and he was to be assigned to a mentor and room as soon as possible. Edeleas knew his work, but being the Dieb Cha that he was, he could not help but feel curious at this. He went to his office and sat down behind his desk, taking a few minute's liberty to massage his temples and gulp down some drink before straightening up in his swivel chair. Edeleas steepled his fingers together and waited for the Aiel to arrive; surely he would have received his note by now.

An Aiel of the Taardad... Edeleas was not sure if the Aiel still banished male channelers into the Blight, but if they still did, this Naridin was extremely lucky to have made it into Tar Valon territory alive. He would have been Trolloc food otherwise. Edeleas poured himself some more water and drank down great, hungry gulps. He hoped his new Soldier had no block whatsoever.

A Soldier. That was what he was going to be called beginning then. He never expected to be so, ofcourse. Asha’man were equivalent to Aes Sedai, and never in his dreams did he expect to be Aes Sedai. Naridin lowered a white shirt over his body and glanced at the note lying on his bed. Edeleas al’Kuar, Master of Soldiers, had summoned him to his study. An Asha’man. An Aes Sedai. The Aielman sighed. He wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for Sehluile. Then again, he wouldn’t be alive either, if it wasn’t for her. If the journey through the Waste didn’t kill him, his ‘gift’ would. Gift, is it? That was what that Asha’man called it. Too much, just like what she did, and he would suffer the same fate. And Naridin knew he did not want to. The thought tugged at his mind, reminding him of how much a coward he was when faced with death. Aiel or not, he argued with himself, he was not going to lie on his back and let his enemy stab him with a spear. In this case, it wasn’t a human enemy threatening to kill him. I have to learn, and to do that, I have to be Aes Sedai. Or something very close to it.

Naridin sat on the floor--he was not comfortable with the bed in the temporary room they gave him, it was too soft--and tugged his soft, knee laced boots on. He was reminded of his original boots, the one he wore through the Three-fold Land and through Cairhien. Besides his dagger, it reminded him of his origins, of his being an Aiel. Also, it reminded him of his shame, and he was going to make sure he remembered that for the rest of his life. His dagger, though, was taken to be left ‘in somebody’s care’. They burned his boots, too, and everything else. Normally, he would have faced Sightblinder rather than let anyone take his weapon, but he would not dare stab an Asha’man. Atleast they promised to give his dagger back when he became a Dedicated. He had every intention of getting that priceless item back. After everything else, Naridin wore the uniform of a Soldier, a black coat. He did not have to glance at a mirror to know he looked far from the young Aiel who mischievously snuck away from warrior practice. Tucking his hands in his pockets, he left the room.

In the hallways were many others like him, Soldiers with black coats. Some of the men were not Soldiers and wore a silver pin on his collar, which meant they were Dedicated. Naridin mentally congratulated himself for remembering what he was told. But he did not find the Asha’man he was supposed to salute to. A closed to fist to the chest, was what he was taught. Naridin found himself glancing at the collar of every man he passed. He did not stare openly, and even his glances could not be noticed without staring at him for more than five minutes. It was like his eyes always looked ahead, but the gray eyes below half-closed lids darted from one person to another. Being able to see everyone without them knowing, he noticed that he was easily taller than most of them, even with him slouching as if sleepy. A lot stared at him. Ignoring this, Naridin found the room he was looking for. It was easy to find, since he was already told where it was. The instructions were not hard to follow.

Naridin pulled out a hand from his pocket and opened the door. Knocking was not part of Aiel custom.

"May you have shade and water this day, Edeleas Asha'man." he greeted as he entered.

Edeleas looked up as the Aiel entered. He stood up and closed the door, and did not bother offering his new mentee a seat. Aiel were known to be more comfortable on the floor, really. He could not change that - or perhaps time in the Towers will. But no, Edeleas was not going to waste any offerings of seats here. Edeleas turned back to Naridin and gave the soldier what he hoped was a friendly smile. "Naridin, I trust? Make yourself comfortable. You are hungry? I do not take no for an answer, usually. Join me in my snack." So saying he touched saidin and materialized some cookies and a nice pitcher of mint tea.

"So Naridin, tell me of your exploits in the Three Fold Land before you came here." Edeleas began. "I need to know what there is to know regarding your channeling before I can even begin to admit to you to the current training I am holding with the other members of the Ashan family. This family will be like your home here in the Black Tower. The other member soldiers and Dedicated will be your friends and will help you. But first things first. Since when have you been channeling? Can you touch the male half of the True Source easily, do you not experience a block? Can you see individual flows and differentiate them from one another?"

As he waited for the Soldier to answer, Edeleas took the liberty of pouring them both some mint tea and taking a sip from his cup. Ah, the tea was particularly cooling and soothing. Edeleas checked the hourglass by his table. He still had three hours and thirty minutes before he had to go to the classrooms and get on with his One Power Talents class.

Naridin silently gazed at his senior as he was given a warm welcome. He was younger than the soldier expected, but age didn’t really matter. This Asha’man seemed to demand respect by his mere bearing. But something bothered the Aiel. There was something in Edeleas that prickled at his senses, and Naridin prided himself in having sharp senses. The smile directed at the soldier was friendly, but there was something in those green eyes that did not seem cheery. Naridin quickly shook away his thoughts when Edeleas spoke. “Naridin, I trust? Make yourself comfortable. You are hungry? I do not take no for an answer, usually. Join me in my snack." A nod answered the first question as Naridin sat cross-legged on the floor. Crossing his arms, he watched as food came out of nowhere. Saidin… For the first time, the One Power intrigued him. How could drink and food just come out of nowhere like that?

The next questions came before Naridin could enjoy his host’s hospitality. "So Naridin, tell me of your exploits in the Three Fold Land before you came here. I need to know what there is to know regarding your channeling before I can even begin to admit to you to the current training I am holding with the other members of the Ashan family. This family will be like your home here in the Black Tower. The other member soldiers and Dedicated will be your friends and will help you. But first things first. Since when have you been channeling? Can you touch the male half of the True Source easily, do you not experience a block? Can you see individual flows and differentiate them from one another?" Naridin was too reserved to tell everything, so he concentrated on the questions. Most of the words Edeleas spoke were not familiar, but the Aiel worked through the questions one by one, slowly answering them. Not a frown creased his face.

“I first...channeled…eight months ago, while I was still in the Three Fold Land. The male half of the True Source…you must mean saidin.” He paused, remembering, as a cup floated towards him. Lifted with the One Power, he supposed. He graciously took it and sipped before continuing. “I have not consciously attempted to touch it, if that is what you mean. I simply found myself filled with it only twice. I do not know what you mean by ‘flows’, though, Edeleas Asha’man.”

“I first...channeled…eight months ago, while I was still in the Three Fold Land. The male half of the True Source…you must mean saidin. I have not consciously attempted to touch it, if that is what you mean. I simply found myself filled with it only twice. I do not know what you mean by ‘flows’, though, Edeleas Asha’man.”

Edeleas thoughtfully lowered his cup, his dead eyes boring onto his new mentee's form. It was tough business, teaching boys with blocks. Goodness knows what Lightforsaken methods had had to be employed just to break those annoying barriers to the One Power. This was Edeleas' first time to train someone with a block. He did not like to think what methods he'd have to employ just to get Naridin to touch saidin succesfully and easily like most of the men in the Black Tower. The Dieb Cha placed his goblet onto his table.

"What I mean by flows are the five flows of the One Power, each corresponding to the elements." He touched saidin, and plucked out a thread for each - Fire, Spirit, Air, Water and Earth. He wove them into a net and placed this net just before Naridin's eyes. "Can you see this? I have woven a net and placed it before you. Tell me if you see it or not...and then I will decide what to do with you afterward."

Edeleas waited for Naridin's answer, and something struck him. His mentee was Aiel. He was Cairhienin. He personally bore no grudge on the Aiel whatsoever, they could live and die as they pleased for all Edeleas cared, but what would Naridin do? This could ruin their training in the days to come.

Now why was something still bothering him? Naridin narrowed his eyes as he waited for the Asha'man to answer. What was so particular about him? He studied the man in front of him. Shorter than him, ofcourse, green eyes, a comely face, not that he noticed those kind of things. And then...He resembles a treekiller. And he was alone in a room with one. But this man was his host, and it was not right to dishonor his host. Besides, Edeleas was an Asha'man. Still, he was a treekiller, and his time with his treekiller friend would not change how he felt about them. Treekillers are oathbreakers. Unless he proves otherwise, I can not trust this one. The Aielman kept his face smooth but kept his eyes on Edeleas.

"What I mean by flows are the five flows of the One Power, each corresponding to the elements. Can you see this? I have woven a net and placed it before you. Tell me if you see it or not...and then I will decide what to do with you afterward."

What net? Naridin stared. There was nothing in front of him. Can he be mad? But the man did not seem mad. A treekiller, but not mad. He supposed it was a matter of the Power.

"I see nothing." he answered. Then, as an afterthought, "Asha'man."

Edeleas sighed and let go of saidin and the net vanished altogether. He sat on his desk and ran a hand through his brow. He was not liking this as each second passed by. No, he wasn't, and the Shadow take him. He hated teaching kids with blocks. "I see. Well, listen to me Naridin, you have a block, I take it, and because of this, I cannot make you join the other Soldiers in the family training with Laridian Asha'man. You will take personal training with me until we break your block."

He waited for the Aielman to speak, his thoughts going through a spiral whirlpool, jumping from one subject to another, fleeting, like a whirlwind moving mercilessly across the land. Even now, this early, Edeleas was starting to think what methods he'd have to use if he wanted to break this Naridin's block as quickly and as safely as possible. First he had to know what induces Naridin to channel - he particularly remembered Nynaeve al'Meara's example - she could not channel unless extremely angry. Naridin might be the same, but then, his channeling abilities might be induced only by liquor. It was absurd, and blocks came in many and weird ways, but there you were.

I suppose I could always try drowning him. Or maybe making him drunk he forgets all sense and even his name. Edeleas thought hard. There were far more extreme measures, and he did not like doing those unless only absolutely necessary. Which was why he hated teaching kids with blocks! He supposed he could always ask Laridian for help, though... he sighed.

"Do you have any other questions, Naridin?" he inquired.

((ooc - ok, end this thread and i'll have your block breaking up prolly this weekend. ;) ))

"I see. Well, listen to me Naridin, you have a block, I take it, and because of this, I cannot make you join the other Soldiers in the family training with Laridian Asha'man. You will take personal training with me until we break your block."

Block? What in Light's name is that? From what the Asha'man told him, he would find out soon enough. And he did not like how it sounded, 'breaking your block'. Personal training with him? That did not sound good at all. Naridin lowered his goblet, staring up at his superior. He looked to be thinking hard, and something suggested they weren't pleasant thoughts. Atleast, not to him.

"Do you have any other questions, Naridin?" The query made Naridin jump, and him being Aiel, that meant blinking and refocusing his eyes on the man in front of him.

"None that requires answering right now, Asha'man." came his simple reply, but his head was already buzzing with them. What will happen now? An old Aiel saying punctuated in his mind. 'When you expect the worst, suprises are pleasant.' Considering the Asha'man was an oathbreaker and could channel, it wasn't very hard to imagine.

((OOC: I guess this can end here, Edeleas Asha'man? *am still researching on how Aiel end conversations* :P ))