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"In here," the Accepted said curtly, gesturing to a door Named Pedra, she was a short, oman, a little older than Nynaeve, and with a briskness always in her voice "You’re given this time because it is your first day, but I’ll expect you in the scullery when the gong sounds High, and not one ue at the Accepted’s retreating back Itbefore that Sheriam had finally put her name in the novice book, but already she knew she did not like Pedra She pushed open the door and went in

The roo wo around her shoulders, sitting on one of two hard benches The floor was bare; novices did not get irl was about her own age, but there was a dignity and selfpossession about her that made her seem older The plainly cut novice dress appeared soant That was it

"My nawene "And you are Egwene From Emond’s Field, in the Two Rivers" She said it as if it had soht on anyway "Soned to a new novice for a few days, to help her find her way Sit, please"

Egwene took the other bench, facing Elayne "I thought the Aes Sedai would teach me, now that I’m finally a novice But all that’s happened so far is that Pedra wokethe halls She says I have to help wash dishes after dinner, too"

Elayne gri dishes I never had to -- well, that doesn’tFro at this hour every day, as a ain from dinner to Trine If you are especially quick or especially slow, they may take you from supper to Full, as well, but that is usually for htful expression "You were born with it, weren’t you?"

Egwene nodded "Yes, I thought I felt it So was I, born with it Do not be disappointed if you did not know You will learn to feel the ability in other wo up around an Aes Sedai"

Eganted to ask about that -- Who grows up with Aes Sedai? -- but Elayne went on

"And also do not be disappointed if it takes you so With the One Power, Itakes a little time Patience is a virtue that must be learned" Her nose wrinkled "Sheriam Sedai always says that, and she does her best to make us all learn it, too Try to run when she says walk, and she’ll have you in her study before you can blink"

"I’ve had a few lessons already," Egwene said, trying to sound modest She opened herself to saidar -- that part of it was easier now -- and felt the war she kne to do She stretched out her hand, and a glowing sphere forht It wavered -- she still could not e to hold it steady -- but it was there

Calht appeared above her pallowed all around Elayne Egwene gasped, and her ball vanished

Elayne giggled suddenly, and her light went out, both the sphere and the light around her "You saw it around me?" she said excitedly "I saw it around you Sheriam Sedai said I would, eventually This was the first ti with the other girl "I like you, Elayne I think we’re going to be friends"

"I think so, too, Egwene You are from the Two Rivers, from Emond’s Field Do you know a boy nawene found herself re a tale Rand had told, a tale she had not believed, about falling off a wall into a garden and asped

"Yes," Elayne said simply "If Sheriam Sedai as much as heard I’d mentioned it, I think she would have "

"Everyone talks about being called to Sheriam’s study Even the Accepted Does she scold so fiercely? She seems kindly to me"

Elayne hesitated, and when she spoke it was slowly, not wene’s eye "She keeps a itch on her desk She says if you can’t learn to follow the rules in a civilized way, she will teach you another way There are so many rules for novices, it is very hard not to break some of them," she finished

"But that’s – that’s horrible! I’m not a child, and neither are you I won’t be treated as one"

"But we are children The Aes Sedai, the full sisters, are the grooh to be trusted without so over their shoulders every moment And novices are the children, to be protected and cared for, guided in the way they should go, and punished when they do what they should not That is the way Sheria to punish you over your lessons, not unless you try so you’ve been told not to It is hard not to try, sometimes; you will find you want to channel as much as you want to breathe But if you break toowhen you should be washing, if you’re disrespectful to an Accepted, or leave the Toithout permission, or speak to an Aes Sedai before she speaks to you, orThe only thing to do is the best you can There isn’t anything else to do"

"It sounds alwene protested

"They aren’t, but then again, they are Egwene, there are only forty novices in the Tower Only forty, and no ht will becoh, Sheriah Aes Sedai now to do what needs to be done But the Toill notcannotlower its standards The Aes Sedai cannot take a woman as a sister if she does not have the ability, and the strength, and the desire They can’t give the ring and the shawl to one who cannot channel the Poell enough, or ill allow herself to be intih Training and testing take care of the channeling, and for strength and desire Well, if you want to go, they will let you Once you know enough that you won’