As Miyadrani Piksaladad entered the chilly room, she was told what no one is told before entering said room. She was told exactly how many tries she had and that she would not be allowed to stay at the tower should she chose to abandon the test after having started it. Miyadrani looked at Alosha Sedai carefully as the older woman spoke of these things, and she wrung her hands together. Unclothed and scared, though she wouldn't admit it, Miyadrani nodded acquiescence. She would take the test.
"The first is for what was.. The way back will come but once. Be steadfast," Alosha Sedai stated. Such ominous words, remarked Miyadrani to herself as she felt herself being gently pushed to the first of three arches.......
She was but a child, thinking child things, and seeing the world through a child's eyes. Miyadrani knew she was only a few months old.. Too young to really know what was going on and yet, she did know. She could see and acknowledge the events that transpired before her. Father was holding her. Kind, loving father. She remembered yearning for him to hold her all the time. Him and Mother. She loved them with all her might, though she should be too young to really know what this need for these two adults really was.
Father was upset. Children know these things, and to six month old Miyadrani, it was very prevalent and obvious. She made a muffled sound against her Father's chest, and he held her close to him. Lifting her eyes to see above Father's grasp, she saw two women playing with knives. Father never let her play with knives; Mother didn't either. So, why could they play with knives and not her? Miyadrani.. No.. That wasn't her name. It was something else. L..? Wasn't that what Father called her all the time? She struggled in Father's arms to get a better view.
It was Mother. She and some other woman were playing. L.. Wanted to play, too. L squirmed in Father's arms, but he only held her tighter than before. He was really upset; his heart was beating rapidly. L thought that was funny. With a gurgle of amusement, she tugged on Father's beard, but he didn't seem to notice. With that thought, she followed his gaze back to her Mother. Mother was winning whatever game she was playing. Even L could tell the other woman was getting tired. She needed to take a nap, L childishly thought as she pushed on Father's arms in order to see better. That was when Father cried out Mother's name. He's not supposed to shout in public, L thought, Mother would get mad at him.
And then L saw why Father cried out. Mother had fallen; the other woman had won. Don't cry, Da.. Thought L.. Fix Ma up like she fixes me... But Father didn't seem to understand L. He cried and held L closer than ever before. Why wouldn't he fix Ma? "Ma.." L managed to mutter. That seemed to make Da cry even harder. The other woman who won walked up to Da and L, saying something that seemed above L's comprehension. L tried again.. "Ma.." Her eyes began to water.. Why didn't Ma answer her? When the other woman said something rather harsh to Da, he reluctantly handed L over to her. What was this? Who was this person? L cried out loud.. Wailing loudly for Ma.
Somehow, Miyadrani gradually began to come to herself. Now, she wasn't in her younger body, but rather, just in the street. She began to comprehend what she had seen. The woman on the street.. Bleeding.. Was her real mother? No. Ivora was her mother.. Miyadrani's gaze turned toward the woman holding the struggling infant, and almost dragging the man at her heals. No. This can't be. Ivora. That was Ivora. Who was this whom her father had loved so much? Miyadrani looked down to see a woman that could have been her twin. However, with much darker skin, and even redder hair than she could imagine.
The way back will come but once.. Be steadfast...
She couldn't think of that right now.. The woman was breathing. Perhaps, she could try to Heal her. Was this her real mother? Taking a step toward the dying woman, Miyadrani heard the voice again...
The way back will come but once.. Be steadfast...
Miyadrani saw something shimmer in the corner of her eye. What was that? Looking she saw the wavery outline of an arch. No, she had to heal her.. Ask her. Was she her mother? She had to know.. As Miyadrani turned toward the woman, the arch began to disappear. No. Ivora could not have lied to her all these years.. Could she have? With that last desparate thought, Miyadrani leapt through the archway.