Netland Towers Library: Heavier Than a Mountain

Heavier than a Mountain
by Jonathan Azbell

The sun had just climbed and breached the walls of the city flooding the tower with its golden rays and warming all that it touches. Ralyse Sedai was on her way up to the bird tower to see if there was any mail to be had. The novice was late again it seemed. She clucked her tongue as she walked the last flight of stairs to see the novice on her knees with the paper spread everywhere. She looked down at the white clad girl who noticed the stern face Aes Sedai with a squeak and tried to stand up to offer a curtsey spilling out the pile of letters that were resting on her. One such letter fell face up and the heraldry displayed on it was odd. There were two seals, both with a falcon displayed in different position. What caught her eye most was the name emblazoned as the receiver.

Jonathan Azbell
Third Seat to the House of Azbell
White Tower, Tar Valon.

Ralyse quirked an eyebrow but quickly smoothed her face. “Child, What are you doing? The mail should have been delivered ages ago. As soon as your finished report to the Library, I have a special assignment for you.” The Aes Sedai bent down picking up the letter addressed to Jonathan. “I have a meeting with him, and will make sure it gets to him to help you with your chore this one time.” She smirked slightly, a truly horrifying experience for a novice. She did have a meeting with him, or at the very least she did now.

Ralyse eventually found Jon in the training yards, she watched him for a moment as the young man talked with the various trainees for what seemed like ages before settling down to begin his stretching. He was sitting under a tree, eyes closed when she finally arrived. “Manshima, this arrived for you this morning. It seems very important.”

Jon opened his right eye slowly, taking a very deep breath before extending his hand. “Thank you Aes Sedai, I am glad you could take the time to deliver the message to me” He glanced down recognizing the writing almost instantly and for a brief moment his eyes widened. Why had she written to him like this of all ways? This was not good news and he knew it. He slowly began to stand, offering the Aes Sedai a bow and started to head back to the tower.

“Where are you going Manshima, shouldn’t you be training with the rest of the Warders? It is just a simple letter you could read it here and not take the time to walk all the way back to the rooms.”

Jonathan could only bite his tongue; he would not take the bait he would keep his tongue in cheek…the thought didn’t last long. “Thank you for your concern Aes Sedai, but as you say if it is important then I should take care of this post haste. I am sure a few moments can be spared to take care of such business that would warrant a visit from an Aes Sedai.” He bowed again and wanted to kick himself. He had done it now, pissed of the Brown Bitch of the tower. Well some things just couldn’t be entirely avoided. He quickly spun on his heels trying to get away from the woman before she deigned to sink her claws into him more.

Jonathan arrived at Jericho’s quarters to find them empty, it was odd that she was up this early but he imagined being some tower business that needed to be attended to. He closed the door behind him, manually locking it so that he would be undisturbed. Settling down at the desk he broke the seals and began to read.

Jonathan,

We haven’t heard from you in some time so I hope that this letter finds you. Your father and I hope your training is going well and that you will bring this woman who has captured your heart so. We both desperately want to see who was capable of “taming an Azbell” in their wanderlust stage of life.

Not all is good here; Nathan has fallen in the line of duty. We are both very proud of him; his sacrifice saved the lives of the rest of his company. While your father smiles and shakes the hands of all those that speak highly of such, I can see the sadness just behind his eyes.

Jon stopped reading the letter, blinking a few times memories of the trouble his brothers came flooding back to him. The many times all three had snuck out of the house to enjoy the nights charms only to come back to find Father waiting. How each in turn would take the blame so the other two could get away without getting into trouble. How in the end they all helped each other with the punishments because, well they all had a hand in every last one of them and it wasn’t fair. Jon was there when Nathan had met his future wife and saw it in his eyes. Jon was the one after all that pushed his brother into walking up to her during the harvest dance to begin with. The Saldaean gave a sad smile and kept reading.

I am afraid that the bad news does not stop there, little Sonea is gravely ill. It seemed after an odd storm that she suddenly came down with we are not sure what. She suffers from no apparent cause but has the shakes and the chills for hours sometimes days at a time. She is unable to even get out of bed. In her fevered state she is constantly asking for her “Light blasted, blight spawned trolloc of a no good rotten brother.” It appears that the sickness has yet to dull even her temper. The physician says that it’s a good sign she is a fighter and its not going to get her down so easily. We are all fighters though, its part of what being an Azbell is. If she doesn’t get well soon and continues to take a turn for the worse we will be forced to travel with her to the capital to see if an Aes Sedai will see her. I am sure that is something that you have a great deal of experience now

Sonea? Sick? Jon could only see the vibrant young woman that he remembered when he left. So full of energy, full of life thinking of her bed ridden was almost imposable. He remembered the last time she got really angry with Jon. Stopping her from seeing one of the no good boys in the village. When she found out it was him that was the ringleader in scaring away the boy she came up to him without another word and punched him right in the eye. The Saldaean was forced to go around the town and the house with a black eye for the next week. His brothers would not leave it alone constantly ridiculing him about getting beat up by a girl. Jon could only shake his head not wanting to read any more of the letter, afraid of the rest of the contents.

Alem has been talking to Micah about filling the shoes that Nathan left. Both you and I know that while Micah is a good fighter and a good soldier he isn’t a good leader. He will just get himself or worse his unit killed. That is why I am asking you to come home. Take the position; lead like the Azbell we both know you are. If not for us come home for your sister, she needs you Son. We all need you here. Miss you terribly, stay safe.

With Loving Thoughts,
Susan Azbell

Jonathan sat at the hardwood desk. He was staring at the elegant writing on the paper. Belief in the letter just didn’t register. The words were there but it couldn’t be…it just wasn’t possible. Jon knew, knew, that this day would come but why this soon. Never in his wildest dreams would it have happened this soon. Light! Nathan was only a few years older then himself, it just was not right to die so young with so much left in life to look forward too. Sonea…the name seemed to be a fleeting whisper that floated across his conscious mind, begging for attention. The Saldaean was suddenly filled with the urgency the letter provided. He ran through the checklist of all the items that was needed to travel. He thought about food, about water about feed for Testament that was all that he needed. The lighter he could travel the faster he would get there. He would have traveled lighter but hunting took precious time. He would not loose his sister.

The letter was soon forgotten in the rush of activity that now filled the room. It rested open, its contents spilled out to the room on the dark wood desk as the tall man gathered his belongings from the white sitters room. Sitter…Jeri…the two words caused his mind and his body to all but stop. The only thing that continued its movement was his thundering heart and the view of the window.

Jonathan’s gaze was heavy taking in all the sites that the window could see. His eyes grazed over the stables, the trying yards where much of his time was spent, the inn where he would go to relax, the reflection of a pool of the tower where he was staying and Jeri…He could see her walking up the path on her way back to the rooms. She was bouncing slightly the way she always walked when she had something pleasant on her mind. Jon could not help the smile that had begun to form as he watched her. He crossed the room back to the desk and took out a new sheet of paper, unfolding and addressing it to his family. He began to write, “I’m Sorry.”