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The weather is horrible as night descends on Keani. Her snowycloak hides the banded dress from the cold and her hair is tied back against the blistering cold winter wind. The World is frozen around her and she feels less substantial than before.

"THis is dangerous, Accepted Keani" comes a voice from behind her. The shadows obscure the face and dark cloak of the man that just spoke. She is pleased to hear her title. After years of study she finally were given more responsibillity. The Tower is her home now. Even Lieutenant Herron from Illian Companions could reignite her love of Illian and her home.

"You know why we are here, Jearom." she wisphers , THe Valley ahead is frozen but the early sun shines down upon a land almost silent with winter. Her serpent ring pulls at her finger and she gazes at the Portal stone standing not hundred yards away. His horse comes closer and he blinks in the light.

"If i recall correctly, the previous time you were around one of these, you almost died." he studies the Surrounding great forest around them. Her Palfrey frollics and she slowly moves forward.

"I heard a Ogier namde Moldi say to me once. "THings are not alwasy what they appear", and it took it to heart. THe Tower have books that dates back hundreds of years. Do you know what they say about the Stones. That stone and the others all around the world?"

He glances at her, absently scratching a scar on his right brow. Something of a badge for him, for he carried her to Tar Valon , at great cost to himself. After a perticular nasty Fade Named Razhak attacked her.
"Enlighten me, Accepted Keani." his words is soft, reflecting his own love of reading.
"Nothing. Not a single thing. Mention is made of aes sedai studying them closely and making sure that they are documented. But that is not much. Looking at one, and being able to read ogier, i have understood more of them now than what i did before. Remember those stones in the forest we found?"
He laughs softly and she knows why he is doing it. Her eagerness with those stones proved hazardous and she fell hard on her behind. What she discoverd on that day turned out that those small stones were made of the same stuff as the portal stones. That they are desinged intentionally.

Chala Sedai once said that there is more to the world around than what we can percieve.
"I remember clearly. So what are you going to do here. We have visited 3 of these so far and this fourth one is going to just give you the same symbols as the others."
She approaches slowly and holds out her hands to the ancient column. The slight hill and grass poking through the snow, sinks beneath her fur covered feet.
"It is not all the same. Learning with the power has taught me that there is patterns withing patterns. The Wheel weaves as the wheel wills."

She ignores him as he takes her horse and rides a few paces away. She cannot understand a mans lack of wanting to know more. How can the future develop from the present if you dont even learn in the now.
She shakes herself. She is not White sister, so logical thoughts should be put aside for a moment. She starts marking down the symbols around the column and is vaguely aware of the fact that one should refrain from touching the source around here.

"I will make camp, seeing as we might be here another few days."
She glances over at Jearom. He looks exactly like Frey, but has a different personality all of his own. She wonders for the hundreth time if she would ever consider him for Giadin. Not that she is unable to look after herself.
"Next i will be saying that i am weak." she grumps under her breath. Her legs are tucked in underneath her , book opened and ogier script all over the page. She remembers Kayleigh Sedai asking her once, why she wants to study in the kitchen. Her response was that its a great place to meet new novices and waiting for dishes makes her aware that being Accepted does not take you away from the kitchens.

She has learned a great lot about stones so far and according to her studies so far, she has a idea that there could be only a select few. Keani looks at the symbol for danger, the scroll that she received from Elder Tarneth from Stedding SHangtai, states this symbol leading somewhere. What she doesnt understand is that it also means Braem. But Evil braem, it just doesnt make sense. How can there be a place like Evil braem.

Suddenly the stone under her hands start to vibrate and she jumps up faster than she can say life.
Keani backs away from the stone, her eyes riveted on it. This is the first time that she has ever seen it do this.
"I think someone is using them, Child" says a unfamiliar woman behind her. The womans beauty shines through her and Keani takes a deep breath. To the south she spots Jearom busy with the horses and camp.
"How do you know this?" she asks. But the woman dissapears in a flash and Keani realises that she travelled away. This is strange and troubling. No one can channel around a portal stone.

THoughfully she goes to Jearom. Ready to discuss this strange new development. Being that he is from a different time. He might know more than what he let on earlier. On the other hand talking to him might just jog loose an idea that has been nagging at her for a short while now.
The woman, a stone in a place that makes no sense and her own studies to be completed. Sighing she sits down at the fire....

[ This Mail was edited by: Keani on 2007-02-17 07:31 ]