Healic Adlen put down his mug of ale and sighed contently. It was nice to indulge in a festive beverage after a day at the shop. The Black Arrow had the best ale, the most tender meat and the prettiest women in Illian. It was a simple building, made of stone and wood, like most others, but to Healic, particularly after a hard day at his carpenter's shop, it was paradise.
Healic was content today and that seemed to be a rarity with the rumors flying about. Some were not rumors anymore though. Earlier last year there were rumors that a man named Logain was the Dragon Reborn and he had been captured and genteled, others said that the Aes Sedia had killed him; still others said that they obeyed him. The same was also said about Mazrim Taim and about dozens of other men over the past few years. Healic, who was 35, had seen a few false Dragons and, thank the Light, they had all been put down in the end, except for one. Rand al'Thor, a boy from a place called The Two Rivers, claimed to be the Dragon Reborn. But he had taken The Stone of Tear, wielded The Sword That Cannot Be Touched and brought back nearly 400,000 savages, Aiel, he thought he heard them named, from their desert home. Tear bowed to him, and gave regular shipments of grain to Illian. Cairhein also bowed to him and he was holding the Lion Throne in Andor to give to Elayne, the Daughter Heir. On top of that he had made a proclamation saying that any man who wanted to see if he could channel could go to him and be safe from Aes Sedia. Healic didn't mind all the commotion in the world. All he cared about was that he had enough timber to complete his orders and that The Black Arrow didn't fire too many barmaids. He didn't think any of the confusion in the world would affect him. He was wrong.
Healic paid for his drink, left the inn and started down the road towards his home. Some habits die hard and he looked both ways before cross the street. He crossed but heard hoof beats to his left. He glanced and saw two men in dark coats, swords at their sides, riding to the center of town. Intrigued as to how these men seemed to pop into existence, Healic followed them to the center of town and heard them speak. A crowd of people was around them but Healic was close to the front.
"We are here to find any man who wishes to serve the Dragon Reborn. The Lord Dragon is building an army and wants the people of the world to fill the ranks. Any who wish to serve come with us."
This worried Healic, he didn't want to join an army. He was strong and fit but he had tried to handle his father's sword when he was 15 and could hardly draw it without stabbing himself. His father had fought in the Aiel War and had kept his armor and weapons. They were Healic's now, his father being 5 years dead, but he didn't use, or want to use them. He did want to help though, just not as a soldier. He was a skilled carpenter and he could assist in building wagons to carry supplies or erecting forts and the like. Healic, along with twenty or so decided to follow the black clad men to the outskirts of town. Once they were far from the prying eyes of the townsfolk the black clad men dismounted their steeds and turned to the group.
"My name," said the first. "Is Adim Rane. My partner is Jero Nean. We are from the Black Tower. The Black Tower is a place where men seeking the Lord Dragon's amnesty can train to channel without endangering those around him. We are here to; if you allow us to, take you to the Black Tower to test you for the ability to channel."
There was nervous shuffling at this. No man in his right mind wanted to know if he could channel. The Breaking of the World hadn't been forgotten in three thousand years and Dragonmount was a constant reminder. The men spoke again.
"If you do not wish to know if you can learn then you should leave now. Once we take you to the Tower you are ours. If you can channel you will join us. If not we will send you to Caemlyn to form the Lord Dragon's army."
At these words seven men left. A few ran but most just turned and left, trying to forget the whole business as quickly as possible. Healic stayed, he knew he couldn't channel, it was impossible. He was thirty-five, he would've gone insane by now and possibly killed hundreds of people, and he was sane; but he decided to go and become a carpenter in the Dragon Reborn's army. He would do his part. There were thirteen men left, including him. The black clad men looked at them and nodded. The one who was called Adim nodded to Jero and suddenly, it seemed, a hole was ripped in the air, at the other side Healic could see what looked to be a farmer's field. He turned to Adim.
"How did you-" he was cut off.
"It's called a gateway. Don't worry, just walk through it and you'll be where you are needed."
Healic shut his eyes tightly and stepped through. Suddenly he was in a large treeless field. There were about twenty or thirty men in the field, all dressed like Adim or Jero. There was doing any number of things. Some were practicing with swords and others were doing martial arts. What scared him were the others, some people were being lifted in the air and others were making boulders explode. Healic was wide eyed as he saw the spectacle before him. It was only when Jero laid a hand on his shoulders did he break out of his stupor.
"Come," he said. "It is time to be tested."
Healic and the others were led to a large barn. He assumed this was the Black Tower proper. The men were led inside and Healic was impressed with its structure. On the far wall there were beds, enough beds to sleep fifty or so men and by each bed there was a trunk. He guessed the men here had their possessions, whatever they might consist of, kept. Along another wall was a kitchen and several women, possibly wives or sweethearts of the men, were cooking. Finally, at one end there was a very clean brick fireplace where a tall dark haired man was standing, staring into the flame. The man had an air about him that told Healic that he was not to be trifled with. Adim went up to the man and whispered in his ear. The man stood up straight and turned. He had a scowl on his face and a crooked nose. He was slightly taller than normal and had large muscles. Healic knew who this was this was…
"This is Mazrim Taim," said Adim, gesturing to the man. "He is our leader and will be testing you to see if you can channel or not." Adim and Jero immediately left and went out to the field. Healic tried to see where they were going but Taim spoke and he listened.
"There is not much daylight left so I will not waste time explaining the finer points of the power to you, those of you left, until tomorrow. Now, who's first?"
The man was very loud and curt. Healic wanted to get out of here as fast as possible so he shakily raised his hand.
"You're not in school!" yelled Taim. "Get up here!"
Healic hurried to the front and was soon in front of the false Dragon of Saldea.
"What is your name?" asked Taim, eyeing him up.
"Healic Adlen," he said. "I am a carpenter of Illian."
"Why are you here?" asked Taim.
'Why did he have to ask all these questions?' thought Healic silently. "I am here because I wish to serve the Dragon Reborn."
"Very well," said Taim. "We will begin the testing." Taim held out his hand and a small flame was formed. It wasn't much more than a candles flame but Healic stared at it.
"Concentrate on the flame. You are the flame, the flame is the world, the flame is everything." said Taim.
Healic stared at the flame and felt nothing, suddenly Taim snapped at him.
"I said concentrate! Don't just look at it! Block out everything except the flame!"
Wanting to get out as soon as possible Healic did as he was told. His father had taught him a trick from the Aeil War. He taught him to put himself in a blank Void that would block out everything. Healic used it if his muscles were aching to ignore the pain when he had had a long day at the shop and he couldn't stop at an inn, but he seized the Void here and imagined the flame in it. It felt like hours when the flame vanished but it was only a few minutes.
"Okay," said Taim, taking away the flame. "You can learn. Next!"
'What!" said Healic incuriously.
"You can learn to channel, now who's next?"
Healic took a few steps and kneeled down. He ran his fingers through his hair and began breathing heavily as the others were tested. About half an hour later the testing was done. Along with him four could learn to channel, the other nine were sent along to Caemlyn, where Healic was praying he could go. Taim turned to the four who could and took them to the far end of the farmhouse to four beds.
"You sleep here tonight. Tomorrow I'll start teaching you about the Power."
Taim turned on a heel and left. Healic didn't like the man, he never smiled, it wasn't natural. Healic climbed into one of the beds and the instant his head hit the pillow he was asleep.