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[not_only_wisdom]

The last thing Nynaeve was expecting this morning was to walk out of her -- all right, her bedroom -- and wander into Milliways

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[not_his_pa]

William's yawning over a mug of coffee near where she's sitting and tips his hat to her.

Bar gave him some paper since he really needs to write notes and figure out how one of the doctors here can help with Mark.

[not_only_wisdom]

Nynaeve favors him with a return nod, giving herself a minute to determine whether or not she's met him before.

He doesn't look familiar, but it's been a fair span of time -- plus an entire apocalypse -- since her last visit here.

She hedges a little more by taking a quiet sip of her tea, then lowers her cup into the saucer with a tiny clink.

"Good morning."

[not_his_pa]

"Morning, ma'am,"

They haven't met but he was raised to be polite.

[not_only_wisdom]

"I don't think I've seen you here before."

She takes another small swallow of tea.

"Though that may mean I've been away rather a long time."

[not_his_pa]

"I ain't been comin' here terribly long, ma'am. Only a few months,"

He takes a long drink of his coffee and Bar provides him with a biscuit with ham and cheese.

[not_only_wisdom]

"Then I have been away some time. More's the pity."

Whether she means more's the pity that she's been gone a long time, or more's the pity that she ever came back --

It's a little unclear.

[not_his_pa]

"I guess so, ma'am,"

It is and he doesn't want to presume anything.

[not_only_wisdom]

"At any rate -- have you a name, child?"

For all that Nynaeve looks like she's barely over the age of twenty, she's also used to being an Aes Sedai.

[not_his_pa]

"William Evans, ma'am,"

She has a look in her eyes that reminds him of his mother, stubborn and not taking anything.

[not_only_wisdom]

"William, is it? I'm Nynaeve. Well met."

He's a polite enough boy.

They're better than most.

[not_his_pa]

He's not sure he can get his tongue around her name,

"Good to meet you, ma'am. Hope Milliways didn't get in the way of your doin' anythin'."

[not_only_wisdom]

"Provided it didn't lock up behind me, I'm sure I'll be fine."

And if it did, she'll just have to blow it down.

Or wait for Lan to show up, as of course he would.

Of course.

[not_his_pa]

"Has it done that to you before, ma'am?"

When he was sick, he ended up Bound but he wasn't really aware of it.

[not_only_wisdom]

"Once was enough."

Her voice is a little tight, a little more sharp.

She does not have fond memories of being Bound. It chafed.

[not_his_pa]

It is and he sits up a little bit straighter,

"Only had it happen to me when I was sick, ma'am, probably was for the best."

[not_only_wisdom]

Her eyes narrow at that.

"Because you're not inclined to take care of yourself, or because the healers -- and doctors, of course -- here are good at what they do?"

He's a boy.

She has her suspicions.