What We Tried To Save
The View of Latra Posae Decume
Chapter OneI stood in the Hall of the Servants, listening to the plans that were being relayed over the tables. It had been like this since that fool-woman Mierin Eronaile created the Bore. She had destroyed the Sharom, where she was working, and she lost most of her team in the back-blast. Including Beidomon, who was stronger in the Power than most. I caught the endnote of Lews Therin Telamon's speech.
"...And so, we do not have time to finish the Choedan Kal, whatever you say, Latra. The best and quickest way to seal the Bore would be with the cuendillar seals! What happens if Tel Janin or Barid Bel or Duram Laddel attacked either of the places where the Choedan Kal and the Access Keys were being made?"
I walked over to the table, and faced Lews Therin Telamon and his supporters. He was an old friend, but since the Bore was made, he had become egotistical. Most of the male Aes Sedai supported his ideas, but they were all young hotheads. Most of the female Aes Sedai supported my idea. They were the fighters. We were the thinkers.
"Lews, you expect thirteen of us to go to Shayol Ghul and make a circle there. Do you even know what would happen if we channelled there? The Choedan Kal is a safe option. We can tie off the weaves, and shield Shayol Ghul and the dark One until we can think of a more sensible idea to close the Bore, which I might add, was created by your fool ex-lover Mierin Eronaile. What if the seals do not go according to plan? You could rip open the Dark One's prison completely!" I sat down in a high-backed chair, and many of the women cheered me. They all had different views on the Bore and the World, and they had all their little Ajahs. But they were the thinkers.
"We cannot allow for time, Latra. The Bore must be sealed suddenly, when they least expect it, and soon, before it is too late." I whispered into the ear of Vaerlin Sha'raelle, who was one of my main supporters.
"Vaerlin, what do you think we should do?" She stared at me, with her deep green eyes and black hair, she looked like a native from across the World Sea, and that she was.
"Latra, men are foolish. The female Aes Sedai, all of them, they support YOU, not the holder of the Ring of Tamyrlin. He needs a full circle for this. The only place that he will find six women helping him would be among the dozen female Forsaken."
I winced at this. Twenty-seven of the strongest Aes Sedai, male and female, that I had ever known had turned to the Shadow. Some were my friends. Barid Bel Medar, Kamarile Maradim Nindar, Nemene Damendar Boann, Saine Tarasind, Lillen Moiral. I had worked with them all, at one pint or another in my life. I knew that Lews was also torn by the male Forsaken. Tel Janin Aellinsar, the one they called Sammael, the Destroyer of Hope, was once Lews Therin's best friend. Now they were sworn enemies.
"Lews Therin Telamon, Lord of the Morning, Prince of the Dawn, The Dragon." I said to him, and he knew that what I was about to say would be harsh. I rarely used his full name. "What you say is stupid. You will be risking the lives of everything that exists in the World. Humans, Ogier, Nym, Da'shain. I am sure that the women will support me when I say this, but you are a pig-headed man, and none of us will be part of your fool-plan to get us all killed." I turned my back to Lews Therin Telamon, who was there staring at me, with the male Aes Sedai surrounding him.
"Latra Posae Decume, listen to me! If you turn your back on me now, then you turn your back on the Hall of the Servants forever. You and all your faithful concord."
I turned back to face him, and I stared at him, eye to eye.
"Lews, my old friend, talk to Ilyena. If you do this, there may not be a forever. There may not even be a NOW. Myself and my "faithful concord" as you call it can see what may result from this plan. I do not want to lose you as a friend, Lews Therin, and I do not want you to lose your life either. None of us want our lives to be lost. The Shadow has won battles at Tzora, the Gates of Heven, Rorn M'doi, Satelle, Culan Cuhan, Nol Caimaine and Sohadra. This war of Power may end until the Wheel is broken forever. I do not want to see that happen."
With this, I marched through the doors of the Hall of the Servants, with the female Aes Sedai following me. We walked into the streets of Paarad Disen. I sighed as I saw jo-cars and sho-wings carrying soldiers, beardless children carrying swords, and wearing streith or fancloth. I silently prayed to the Creator that we would win this war of Power, before the Wheel WAS broken forever.