As Thayous sat on the thin mattress, he thought deeply about the events that have taken place when he had made it to the Black Tower.

The walls were big if not as magnificent as the White Tower. As he walked thru the entrance gates, he stopped to look at his new home. To him, it all looked like a huge maze. Figuring he would get lost Thayous stopped a man dressed in all black with a silver sword on his collard and asked where the new recruits were to go. The man acted as if it was a sin to the Light itself, that Thayous had dared stopped him. After asking where to go the man cocked his head and mumbled something that sounded as a “over there”. Thayous walked until he miraculously found where new ones were put down in the “soldiers book”. Hesitantly Thayous had his name added. And with that he was shown his room and given new clothes, black like the man he stopped.

Once dressed in his new attire he walked out and wondered about, until he came to… he couldn’t have said what it was. Men in all black fighting one another, while a man laid in the middle of it. It looked as if one man was trying to get his way to the man who was on the ground. Thayous saw a man standing there over looking it all, looking and very unhappy. The tightness of this mans eyes was the only signed that he was very nervous. Taking the man as the teacher Thayous looked back to the battle he noticed something different. The men fighting weren’t trying to hurt each other at all! Finally the teacher walked thru the battlefield to the man that laid bleeding on the ground. Thayous didn’t know what he was seeing, but a strange glow enveloped the man. When the glow disappeared, the man laying down got to his feet and brushed himself off. Then the teacher started to yell at the man who tried but couldn’t manage to get to the “dying” man. The teacher grabbed something off the poor guys collard. The guy walked away, obviously embarrassed and ashamed. It was then that Thayous knew this was going to be a miserable adventure.

When everyone dispersed Thayous ran after the embarrassed young man and caught up to him in what he was told as the “Dedicated” floor. After introducing himself, Thayous tried to talk to the man, but the man was not in a talkative mood. Following the man into his rooms he tried again to open the man up. Finally the man started talking. “Canyale” he said. Thayous was so surprised that at someone other than himself talking. “What?” Thayous asked. “Canyale, that’s my name. Dedicated Canyale. Well I guess its just Canyale now. I was kicked out of the Black Tower just a few minutes ago. The Mahdi al'Tain himself has said so.” “Who? What’s a Mahdi al’Tain?” Thayous ask curiously. Canyale looked at Thayous and said “I take it your new, so let me put it this way. Do you know any tales of the White Tower? The Amyrilin is the head of all the White Tower. And Her second and right hand man, no pun intended, has the title Keeper. Here in the Black Tower we have M’Hael and his second the Mahdi al’Tain.” Thayous thought he knew what Canyale was talking about. Everyone knows tales of the White Tower.

After a few more minutes talking Thayous left Canyale apartment. Thayous thought as he walked back to his own room that Canyale seemed a nice guy and how he finally has met someone, only for that person to be leaving the Black Tower forever. The Mahdi al’Tain seemed to be worst than a fade, and just as deadly. His cold eyes never let any emotion slipped as he yelled at Canyale in the battle yard…

A knock at his door took Thayous out of his thoughts. Who could this be knocking on his door? The only one he knew, and knew him was, Canyale and he was packing his things. The door opened and admitted the Mahdi al’Tain. This would not be fun.

Rialt often took it upon himself to learn every incoming man to the Black Tower. He had to, he wouldn’t feel right if he one day found himself teaching a nameless face, and was then expected to judge him worthy or unworthy of being raised. Well, that wasn’t necessarily true. It wasn’t up to him to raise anyone anymore, he merely made his presence known amongst those of the lower ranks. He held substantial influence with the Rei’s, as they did with him. They were the foundation of the Black Tower, they held up its rules, it very form would not exist if they did not. So, when one of them felt strongly about not raising a Dedicated to Asha’man, that man’s Rei listened intently, after all, he would be intrusting his life to him if he did raise him. No Asha’man in the Tower could have even the slightest hesitance when it came to battle, and as such, there were a few men who had been Dedicated close to fifteen years of their lives. They just seemed unwilling to put themselves on the line, and that was not what a Guardian symbolized, what an Asha'man was.

He realized suddenly, that he had let his mind wander from what he had been about to do. He was informed that a new Soldier had joined the ranks that day. A young Andoran by the name of Thayous Makria. He hadn’t caught sight of him yet, so he questioned the Dedicated who had escorted him to the Master of Soldiers to be entered into the log. He was said to have been very distant, which could be a problem. Then again, anything could have signaled a potential problem that needed quick ratification, that all depended on the boy’s mannerism and attitude. He thanked the young Dedicated’s description and made his way back to his study. Later that evening, he called in one of his honor guard. That was one thing the Black Tower ensured, the safety of the M’Hael and his Seeker. Not that Rialt needed any protection (for you had to be a complete fool to attack him), it was a façade and represented the position more than anything else. But his guard, consisting of Two Asha’man, and a one honored Dedicated (He had excelled in the Doon M’Taal), he mainly used for errands. They served as his body guards, but were more like venerable secretaries, and sometimes Rialt felt a right old jerk for making them do simple work, but it needed doing. And they never complained… not that they would, but he thought he would have been able to tell if any of them were unhappy. If that had been the case, he would have dismissed them honorably and he would have their position filled.

So he called in the Dedicated, Andry. “Ah, Dedicated. I am going to visit the new Soldier this evening.” With a salute, hand to chest, the thirty something man turned on his heels to make it known that the Seeker was not going to be excepting any company that night, and opened the door for him. They made their way quietly over to the Dedicated and Soldiers barracks. Rialt noticed that a few were out past their curfew, but he didn’t feel like reprimanding them, and left them to their own devices. It was his wish that he gadged the new Soldier, Thayous, properly. He needed to know if the man could channel already, or if he simply had the spark. The Dedicated rapped on the wooden door, and it opened a few seconds later to a moderately tall, dark haired youth. “The Mahdi al'Tain requests your presence Soldier.” At that he stepped aside, holding the door open for Rialt to enter. He nodded at the Soldier before him, who seemed both annoyed and slightly intimidated by his sudden presence. “Thankyou Dedicated, you may go.” Andry pulled the door shut behind him and Rialt listened as the man’s steps gradually faded off into the distance.

The room was bare, except for the beds and the washstands that were provided. Soldiers were expected to dedicate themselves to training with Saidin, and as such, material possessions and lavish furnishings distracted from that, so they were not provided. They would earn that right upon becoming Asha’man…if they made it that far. He walked in and took off his cloak, laying it on the bed. He situated himself on the far wall and sank down to a sitting position. It probably looked odd, but Rialt liked to be comfortable when he was holding a meeting with any of the Soldiers. “Please, sit.” He motioned across from him to the front of the bed, eluding that Thayous should seat himself on the floor opposite of him. After he had sat, he wasted no time. “My name is Rialt Erydinan, I am the Mahdi al'Tain or Seeker, if you do not know the old tongue. You may call me Asha’man Rialt or Mahdi, whichever you prefer.” He waited for Thayous to introduce himself; after all, this was a conversation, not a reprimand. Two people were needed to make conversation.

Two people were needed to make a conversation. One of the many old sayings Thayous’s father had. Thayous suspected that his father made up many sayings on the spot. Pushing that thought out of his mind, he studied that man in front of him. About a hand taller than Thayous himself, with long blonde hair that was tied back. With blue eyes and a well built body. Maybe one on one Thayous could have overpowered him, but if he were wrong he would be hurting for a long time. And this man, this Rialt Erydinan had a calm nature about him. And if Thayous really believe that, he would eat his sword. This Rialt was a cold man, and Thayous wouldn’t want to be on the opposite side in a battle with him. What really bugged Thayous was how Rialt seemed to be full of himself. Puffed out chest and arrogant attitude. The kind of people Thayous kept away from, kind of people Thayous couldn’t stand. Thayous had notice something about the man to, a sort of kinship.

So sitting across from Rialt –it would be hard calling this man by a title, Thayous hates titles- sat there staring at Rialt and not saying anything. Instinctively he opened himself to the void and grabbed the warmth. And with that 3 blue fireballs danced in front of him. It was a trick he had taught himself. One of a few tricks he learned, and some he would not tell a soul. Thayous didn’t mean to come across as disrespectful or rude. It was just something he did. When all of a sudden a glow surrounded the man and he did something that Thayous saw but couldn’t understand. And then, the fireballs that Thayous created winked out and he could no longer feel the warmth that pulses. “What did you do?” Thayous yelled. “UNDO IT! UNDO IT OR I’LL KILL YOU” Okay maybe this wasn’t the best start, but what’s done is done, and he could only go forward from this point.

As he waited for a response, he felt the young man before him embrace the Source and create a rough weave of fire and air. Three balls of fire, bluish in color, light up the room beyond that of the candle glow, and he began to rotate them in circles. How rude of him, Soldiers these days have no manners or hospitality. Rialt didn’t take things like this lightly, he realized the man was new to the tower, but first offenses were the best way to correct the mistake. He embraced the Source, and judged the boy’s potential. He had quite a bit, the Black Tower was lucky that he joined himself, instead of having to seek him out themselves. He let it go on for a moment, and then formed the weaves of a Shield. He slid it over Thayous easily, even though the other man had already embraced the Source, that didn’t matter. He could still place the shield in place, and that often did the trick. While he was shielded he intended on telling him he was not allowed to channel unless give strict permission. He would have gone over that already with the Master of Soldiers upon arriving, so he had either ignored the rule, or had not paid any attention when the Asha’man had informed him.

The response he expected to get, was of shock and maybe a comment, but certainly not what he received. . “UNDO IT! UNDO IT OR I’LL KILL YOU” The Soldier screamed at him at the top of his lungs. At that Rialt stood up immediately, and bound the Soldier with weaves of air, making it impossible for him to move anything but his facial expressions. He spoke roughly and with force, “You will first refer to me as Mahdi, you are never to refer to me as anything else again, or I will have you serving five years of penance on the Farms. And let me tell you, living five years without the Source is not something you want to begin your time here at the Tower with. Secondly, you are to speak to your superiors with respect, and I am one of them. You are a Soldier now BOY, you have forfeit your rights as a man until the M’Hael gives them back to you. You are not to channel unless given strict and direct permission from one of your superiors. Now, do you have anything else to say Soldier?”

He had to make completely certain the man before him understood that he was less than a peasant now, he lived to serve, he lived to follow orders and do what he was told, when he was told. That was one thing that was often difficult to communicate to new initiates of the Tower, they were too prideful. They had big heads as well, thinking that since they could channel it put them above everyone else.

Bound and shielded. That what the Mahdi told Thayous that was what he had done. Unable to grab the warmth but he could feel it. Like something in the corner of his eye, when turned to see it, was gone.

A knock to the door was all the warning Thayous had before it was open to admit a man with the same glow around him as the Mahdi. “Is everything okay Mahdi?” The man asked. “Everything is alright. Just explaining the rules to our new recruit.” The man nodded and made a quick look at Thayous before shutting the door behind him. The Mahdi looked at Thayous. With a slight smile he let the shield go. Thayous smiled himself. He slammed Rialt into the wall with the Power, not knowing what the man would do in response. “No one owns me! You understand. I’m here only to lean how to control the One Power so I could go hunt the shadowspawn that took my parents from me!” Before he knew what was happening, he went prone and could do nothing, he was again shielded and could not touch the Source. “Now, tell me about it.” He spoke, if a little roughly."

“My parents were killed by a Trolloc 8 years ago. Almost every day I’ve relived it, and almost every night I dream about it. I haven’t been the same since. When it’s really bad, its like Saidin takes control. Whenever I try to use it, it doesn’t work right. I’ve torn tress apart when all I was trying to do is move rocks so I can sleep. And then there was an instance where I was setting camp out side in the rain and a wild bore came after me. I try to defend myself with the power and the only thing I could do was dry off my clothes. I don’t know what happens. I get in these dark moods. Could last a week, a month, or a day. If it gets so bad, I’ve blacked out. When I came to my camp was torn to shreds. I’m sorry I blew up a minute ago. I’m use to protecting myself, and seeing everyone as possible threat. I’m not use to people pushing me around, leaving me defenseless. It makes me feel the same as seeing my parents murdered when I could do nothing.” Thayous chuckled. He was NOT planning to tell this much or apologized but it feels like a floodgate, once opened very hard to closed it up again. “If only I tried to use the One Power, maybe I could have done something.”

The Mahdi just sat there listening. He seemed to have been paying attention. You know, I do know what its like to have lost the most important people to you. I’m sorry you lost your parents I sympathize. I really do.” Thayous was surprised to say the least. Then the Mahdi leaned forward and his face darkened. “But if you ever try to use the Power agents me again, or directly disobey and order, I will make you wish you were in your parents place." Thayous stared at Rialt, bearing his teeth wanting to kill him on the spot. But not now, maybe not ever. Rialt was getting old if he was the Mahdi. Once Thayous becomes an Asha'man, he wont have to put up with Rialt. If it takes to long, he'll just run away.

He released the man before him from the Shield and air that bound him, thinking that he had learnt his lesson. That was a mistake; the other instantly embraced the Source again and flung him into the wall behind him, with a dull thud. Rialt’s head snapped back and smacked into the wall, temporarily causing his vision to blur and things to sparkle. How DARE he, the bloody goat kissing darkfriend! He wasn’t really angry, more like he was just annoyed that he had allowed a Soldier to do something like to him, and the fact that this untrained youth had completely disobeyed a direct order AND lashed out with the Power at him. But just as quickly as he had been struck, he took a hold of the Source and immediately shielded and bound the other to a point that bordered on pain. He would know his place, if Rialt had to beat him into submission. Sometimes, the situation called for harsh measures, and he had no problem with dealing those out.

He spoke, schooling his voice to a low and lethal volume, “Now, Tell me about it.” He listened as Thayous broke into a flurry of the quite horrid tale of his life. Trollocs had murdered his family, and he had been forced to live a life on the street and by himself. Rialt could tell easily, that this man was consumed by hate and lust for power, no doubt to seek revenge on the beasts that murdered his family. Light, Rialt knew revenge, knew it like it was his only companion. There were so many times that he had wanted to forsake everything, to run into a battle arms flailing and hacking away at anything that got in his way. There had been too many battles in his lifetime, and he knew, that there would still be more. He simply had to content himself with the time that he now that was relatively peaceful. But none of that was reason enough to allow chaos amongst the new initiates of the Tower.

He could understand why the Soldier was so upset, so upset and fuming. He knew that feeling more than he wanted, but it was something that he needed to learn to control, or else it would cause trouble and problems for everyone who encountered him. “Soldier, I understand that you want to seek revenge on those Shadowspawn that ruined your life, but now is not that time, and I am certainly not the one you need to be taking your anger out on. Had you been here even a day or two, you would be serving penance for what you just did to me, you are never, and I repeat, NEVER to use the One Power without the permission of your superiors, and NEVER to use it in force against anyone unless your life is in danger.” He fell silent, to see if the message had been clearly illustrated to the young boy before him. Well, he wasn’t that young, but to Rialt, everyone was.

Thayous stared at Rialt. Yea yea yea, I got the message. Thayous thought to himself. Stay out of your way, don’t channel unless given permission. This place is quickly becoming his least favorite place he’s ever been. Waiting and watching as Rialt walked out and shut the door behind him, Thayous really consider throwing something at it. Why on earth did he ever come here? He was doing fine on his own. He could have taught himself enough to hunt shadowspawn.

Tomorrow he had to be in a classroom. Had to mingle with other “soldiers”. Be another number for the Tower. For the both of the Tower’s. Thayous had to keep that in mind. Even the women were not his friends. Not even Canyale. He could have been but he was kicked out of the Black Tower. Which could be good to remember if Thayous wanted out bad enough. Slowly counted to fifty, and then Thayous open his door and looked out. No one was around. Going back to the bed and he sat down. Thayous wrapped himself in the warmth and 3 fireballs once again appeared in front of him. Spinning them in a circular motion he started to think again. What could he do to get back at Rialt? Where could he go if he needed to get out?

Rialt watched as the Soldier finally nodded in acceptance, averting his eyes to stare past him. That was fine with him, as long as he understood that he was not the one in charge, that he would follow orders when given them. He walked past Thayous and picked up his coat, opening and calmly shutting the door behind him. He was a bit angered by the sudden outburst, especially since the Soldier had used Saidin on him. That was absolutely unacceptable. It was like healing someone without their permission, or even bonding them without their permission!

He stalked away from the room, shuffling up dirt as he went. I intend to make sure that that boy understands that I am NOT going to tolerate his attitude. Too many of them are fool hardy and insolent, they have no regard for rank. He is going to learn his place, even if I have to force it down his throat. He nodded to the Dedicated and dismissed him for the evening. He shook his head at the events of the night and made his way back to his offices. He had paperwork to attend to, and a punishment to think of.

Zaide made his way through the halls, staring at the map in his hand, and shifted the bundle of clothing he had gathered from Haras's office. How was he supposed to understand this bloody thing, he did not even know where he was, let alone where to go! Finally, he figured out the direction he needed to be facing, and tried to make his way through the halls to the room marked on the map. Thanks to the map he made his way to his room fairly quickly, and did not get lost, though he did make one wrong turn. As he turned into the hall he would be living in, he saw a man walk out of one of the rooms, the man was obviously not a soldier, his carriage was too smooth and sure for that, perhaps one of the Asha'man. As Zaide walked down the hall he realized that the room that man had come out of was to be his own. Has my bloody roommate already gotten into trouble?! He wondered, Zaide did not like this place, but he had no intentions of earning more trouble than he needed.

Zaide raised a hand to knock on the door, then change his mind and pushed it open, it was his room after all. Inside was a man looking less than happy, Zaide wondered what that Asha'man had done to him, but did not speak, if this man wanted to talk, he would have to initiate the conversation. Zaide would have no problem spending all his years as a soldier without speaking to the man who would share his room, or anyone else for that matter. He just wanted to get out of this place and go back to Andor, or perhaps someplace completely different. Maybe Arad Doman, or Ebou Dar, they were both quite exotic. Zaide set about putting his things away and then sat on one of the beds. Not soft, but better than the ground he had slept on for most of his journey here, they had stayed at inns when they could, but when they could not, Zaide had found out quickly the channelers had no problem with sleeping on the ground.