You enter a room well lighted by a window, the red silk curtains, drawn to the side to let in the natural sunlight. It too is lavishly decorated, expensive furniture and fine rugs, with a dark wood desk in the corner. A small woman sits at the desk and seems to sense enter the door, as if poked by something she turns to greet you. She stands and is small not only in height but all teh way around, yet her presence is commanding. Her green eyes sparkle with knowledge both of the streets and of books. her face is youthful but worn, as if she has seen more than her share of the world. Her flame red hair is cut short, a little longer than boyish, but it's stark contrast to her eyes, seems to give her a wild personality. "My name is Bhanta Niccoli, Mistress of Novices and Sister of the Red Ajah." She motions to a large sofa and table, "Please child, sit and have some tea." She smiles warmly but even so you feel forced to comply. "As a young child I didn’t have any friends. Personally I felt this was because I had no father and my mother was to busy dragging me everywhere with her merchant caravan. Often while staying for any period of time I would try to make a friend or two but always ended up in a fight. The guards took pity on me and gave me lessons on how to fight and defend myself as well as treated me like a daughter. So with one very busy mother and multiple fathers I grew up and started attended business trips with my mother to nobles’ houses. Through doing this I became adept at manipulating and getting my way with the stuffiest of nobles. This made my mother proud so she hired me the best tutors for when I would take over the caravan. My mind soaked in every lesson like a sponge and soon my mother couldn’t find decently educated teachers willing to travel with them just to teach one headstrong and demanding child. On one stop at a large city my mother went off in search of an economics tutor and sent me off to market to get supplies. Heading out I took a short cut through an alley. This proved to be a horrible mistake;" The woman's eyes suddenly flash with hatred, "three men came at me and brutally attacked and raped me even though I managed to seriously wound one of them. My mother was outraged and sought them out like a wolf. One she found was a member of a noble family, which was well placed and tended in the game of houses. Playing her pieces like a pro she arranged a marriage for me with the lad for after they returned from a trip to Tar Valon and the White Tower. While in Tar Valon, discussing the prices, an Aes Sedai looked at me once and asked to have a “talk” with my mother. Instead of being married I was sent off to become a Novice at the age of 16." The woman smiles again and a knock comes at the door. "Bhanta Sedai...there's an urgent mess concerning some novices and a bowl of pudding." Bhanta doesn't even hesitate and grabs a willow branch in the corner of the room and walks swiftly out the door.