I do not own any of the people from the books wheel of time
Full Moon
As the parol of Deathwatch Guard marched through the dense vegetation some cutting their only way through, others sinking to theirs ankles in mud. It was hard to believe that just four-day's Journey past the mountains had produced this wasteland. The sounds were so alien from the woods from Ledwood's past. A man would be easily get lost in here, thought Ledwood . He was thinking about the stories of half man & half beast that locals on this side of the ocean called Trollocs. He was a Deathwatch Guard. Nothing like that could exist could it? This land had once belonged to his fathers.
It was just after dark, the time of night just before the moon rose. Not that they could see it within this wood. But Ledwood having just been given the Rank of Tower Raven the Tattoos on his arms still burned. He pushed the pain to the back of his mind He was of the Deathwatch the elite of the seanchen hand of the empress herself! They were the ones sent into the hottest part of battle. Their very bodies and souls bound to the empress, may she live forever. Empress mother of the Daurther of the nine moons had died last month (so much for living forever thought Ledwood) to become empress she first had to had to have a heir.
Upon her return the Deathwatch were dumbfounded that she, the High Lady Tuon, had in fact married someone from this side of the ocean. They had to find the Prince of Ravens, their General head of their order. He had to be found before more of the high blood thought they could carve their own empires out of this place, homeland of the Imperial family, thousands of miles from the main empire. The prince of Ravens Personal army he called The Band of the Red Hand. Their sign was a black fist on a red flag under these colors was a flag with dice on it with spirt on it, which read in the old tongue read: "its time to throw the dice" From what the high lady would say about him, he was a gamble just like the last prince of Ravens had been.
The high lady Tuon had said " she had wanted her Toy back". The toy's name she had said was Mat Cauthon, Mastermind of the hand and now their leader Toy (thought Ledwood what a odd thing to call the prince of Ravens but let the high blood do what they want I say) Ledwood had been one of twenty-five men to fight the rebels. They had wanted the Daughter of the nine moons dead; the traitor had been one of the high blood her name and house were no longer mattered her sentence had been to become property for crimes against the crown.
Ledwood knew that the empress put down rebels hard but the way this Mat had done it with the eggs from those dragons and the crossbows of his band, the enemy had no chance. They had been mad with gold, the bounty for the empress was very high. Good thing that was behind them. After seeing what his band could do, it was no surprise that the high lady had married the man. His men being out numbered at least ten to one but only a few had got close that is were the pikemen and deathwatch Guards had come in. Being out numbered was nothing new to him and his men.
We were the best fighting men the empress had but that was before they had meant the Hand. The strategies of the hand and the Deathwatch were very different (were we went for hand to hand the Band of the Red Hand went for speed and killing the men at a range only three rounds from the crossbows and two from the dragons and no one was left), thought Ledwood (it would be very hard to even get close to the ranks). He had seen what those bolts could kill, two men with no armor on and kill a man wearing quarter inch thick armor and that was what the deathwatch wore.
After the battle the hand had left through the pass. The Prince had said he had other business on the other side of the mountains when Musenge had asked what business he had said "The Dragon is pulling at me and a old friend needs help... one I thought was dead I will let one company of your Deathwatch men to come with me after you get Tuon to safety. That is if you can keep up. We move fast" that was all Mat had said turning his back. Musenge had asked what am I to tell high lady. "Tell her I seek the tower of Snakes and Foxes. Move out men!" that was it and they were gone.
A Chance Meeting
Just then dense woods fell away and a tower rose into the darkness of the night sky. For the last half hour he had heard bird calls, but now everything was quiet and at the base of the tower was a camp, a very large camp he guessed it was at least four companies. He couldn't make out any of the flags on the posts. Then to his left he saw a silveriest white flash of light from it came three men in black cloaks, after them came ten women in aiel dress with black veils over the lower part of their faces. They waved, a Man came though with a women at his side then the light was gone and before he knew he it he and his men were on the ground.
"Don't kill them yet, I want them all alive for now!" the man with the short girl at his side said as Ledwood started to study the people around him well as much as one can with a spear inches from one's throat. These men, he knew who they were, the men in black had to be asha'man. These men had fought the deathwatch as well as the collared ones, the female channelers, the main fact the ever-victorious army won almost every battle. In the south they had been in a stalemate for week, neither army gaining any ground. Never in the history of the empire had that happen, but then again never had they face male channelers before. "That one is their leader" said the short girl in men's clothing different than of aiel that was clear. "Are you sure, Min?" Said the tall man that held his right hand "Yes well ... that was a dumb question you never say anything unless its right."
The man then spoke to the maidens telling them to find the leader of the camp. Tell him I wish to speak with my old friend Mat Cauthon. With the spear gone from his throat, Lenwood tied to get up but some kind of invisible bonds held him. If his guess was right, the rest of his men were in the same way, too. Startled from his thoughts when he rose into the air. "Now guessing from what my men tell me of your armor you are Deathwatch, yes?"
Within the Tower
Mat knew by entering this Tower with Thom and Natue, That part of him thought what the snakes said was coming true. Mat couldn't help but think he may well be giving up half the light if they entered to save Moriaine. He could hear two or three pairs of dice in his head rolling, one pair had stopped that morning when he had decided on Natue for this mission. The very air within the Tower smelled dark."Really Thom", was all Mat could say "If its gets her back I will risk my very soul." An odd thing for a gentleman to say. "This will make a grand story to tell our children" Said Natue holding his staff in his left hand. The doorway stood in front of them as if matching them.
Mat Truthfully didn't ever want to see the Eelfinn or the Aelfinn again. The very fact that they could see though his eyes was discomforting and not something he wanted to live with for much longer. That was his other reason for trying to save yet another Aes sedai . True that this one had taken him from the Two Rivers and she may even be a friend but she was more to Thom. Thom acted as if Moriaine was an old lover. "Before we enter, lets read that letter once more ." said Mat still not wanting to enter. After Thom read once more to the trio, were as ready as well ever before apawn entering. They knew it was a very large room and very dark. Then light slowly came on Three Eelfinn were on the right and Three of the Aelfinn were on the left.
One of the Aelfinn, he was in the middle highest pestool spook pointing at Mat "You have been here before and as I recall you cheated us the last time. This can't be! No one cheat us two times... you have broken our Treaty." The Aelfinn just stared at Thom "you have brought a musical insturment with you. These must be destroyed before our world falls apart." Mat was just remembering the odd rules of both the Aelfinn and the Eelfinn. Spook of the last time he was here. "And you" One of the Eelfinn was pointing at Natue "you begin fire!" pointing at Mat "you have not any broken our treaty and it has held for three Thousand Years, but have completely shattered it.
Mat then opened his mouth but groaned when he felt one of the dice stop "I only come to get a friend back." the Eelfinn spook mat couldn't tell which one sighed, "You come to claim the one that destroyed our doorway. What do you wish to trade for the girl?" Mat thought for what seemed like hours before he said "what are your terms and what of the Lanfear? She was the other one that got to know a way through your gate." all the Eelfinn just laughed "she was killed by the other with what she called bail fire. It is the only thing that could have destroy our gateway. We ask again what will you pay for her freedom?" Mat knew what the only thing that would save Moriaine was. "The Aelfinn said I would give this up to save the world not someone Will half the light buy her freedom?" the Eelfinn just smiled, "that will do"... everything around Mat when black.
A Meeting with a Raven
Lenwood looked at the man's arm that held him so tightly in the air. The man's arm had once had some kind of snake tattoo on what used to be the mans forearm. The design continued onto the hook mirroring the design on his right arm. When Lenwood tried to speak, but found the bonds that held him prevented this as well. "Why do you trespass on my land?" To have nothing within his crotroll was unnerving to say the least. When Lenwood finally got over his fear and conrtacted on what the man in black was saying. "You and your men are far from any land the Seanchan control."
After saying this the man just raised un eyebrow as if give him permission to speak "We... are look for The Prince of Ravens by Order of the Daughter of the nine moons and his personal army the band of the red hand." Replied Lenwood "His wife would like him to return to her for state business. May I ask why you seek the prince?" The man was so surprised that what held Ledwood in the air disappeared. With in secends Lenwood hit the ground hard. "I'm Randthe Dragon Reborn and I need Mat's luck for my plan a deal with your people."