Traveler: Wheel of Time Universe

"Speech"

'Thoughts'

Waking with the sun, Chao took time for hot bath in the single tub the inn had available for customers. Being the only customer awake at such an early hour guaranteed hot, clean water. Much of the time in such simple locations water was reheated and reused. He found it best not to take chances with such facts.

Drying and dressing quickly, he entered the dining hall to find it empty. The only sounds of life came from the back where the kitchen was found. The smell of fresh bread baking filled the air causing his mouth water and his stomach to rumble with hunger.

Taking a moment to flex a hand, Chao made a copper piece to appear between his nimble fingers. Repeating the gesture once more he moved to the kitchen door and politely knocked to gain Mistress Al'vere's attention.

Spotting the matron of the inn he implored upon her good nature to spare him a loaf of the fresh bread she'd just pulled from the baking oven.

"My dear Mistress, could you spare a loaf of that fine smelling bread for this poor traveler." Feigning weakness he held tight to the counter and winked at one of the younger girls watching him.

"Three copper pennies for a loaf of bread, cheese, and porridge for the morning meal." The older woman said with a smile as she kneaded more dough for the next batch.

"Alas I have only two copper pennies." Looking as sad as can be he moved to exit the kitchen. Suddenly a smile graced his face as he looked at a giggling girl peeling potatoes. "Wait one moment? I believe this young lady might be able to help me."

The girl eyed the young man warily as he slowly moved his right hand to the side of her head. Faster than the eye could see, a coin appeared in his fingers. It was as if he'd pulled it from thin air.

"Are you a gleeman?" Asked, the young girl simply amazed.

"I'm sorry to disappoint you, my dear, but I can neither sing nor dance. I fear for the moment pulling a copper from your ear is my only claim to fame." Bowing to the group of children nearby, he bid them good morning. Smiling, he slipped from the kitchen, carrying his loaf of bread, cheese, and a bowl of porridge with none in the kitchen, save the mother, seeing him leave with the food.

Estimating the age of the youngest girl that fit the description of Egwene quite well as nearly ten, he began eating his food.

'That would mean Rand, Matrim, and Perrin would be roughly eleven at this time. Nearly nine years from the time of Moraine's arrival in the village.' He thought as he enjoyed his meal.

Nine years to prepare and complete his tasks. First step would be to become a part of the community. Perhaps he could find a plot of land in the Westwood to call his own. Somewhere that would allow him to pass the al'Thor farm on occasion.

Not likely to farm. That was not a skill that he'd chosen for this adventure. Given time, a bit of work in the Mountains of Mist and then he'd be in business.

Making short work of his breakfast he picked up his satchel from the floor. Taking time to make certain he had everything he needed he left the building to seek out the town black smith.

The bellows were being worked steadily and the dark smoke signaled it's location in the north eastern section of the town. It was just far enough from the nearest houses to avoid problems yet near enough to be available to customers.

He found a young man that had to be Perrin rhythmically using the air pump to bring the fires to their peak temperature while Master Luhhan set about with his implements and metals for use. That pretty well confirmed the ages for the boys at being eleven or twelve by this point.

He'd speak with the smith about out being supplied with all of the necessary hardware to build a home in the Westwood. Fortunately, he'd chosen some woodcraft skills to round out his abilities. At least he wouldn't starve in the country.

Stepping into the forge proper, he carefully avoided the sharper implements nearby as he approached the smith.

"Excuse me for interrupting your morning, Master Smith." He opened catching the man's attention.

"I am in need of equipment of the finest quality. While I have yet to discover who I must speak with in regards to purchasing land I wish to be prepared to begin work as soon as possible."

Giving a skeptical look at the thin man before him the smith began listing off the needed items and the costs. At the end the total came to roughly twenty five silver, or four gold marks.

Moving to return to work, Master Luhhan heard the clink of coins upon one of his anvils. Turning around he found five golden coins of indeterminate origin sitting upon his medium anvil.

Smiling the young man tipped his hat to the very wide eyed child. Never had the stout boy seen so much money, though he never stopped pumping the bellows.

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Mid Afternoon found Tam al'Thor on the western edge of town. He was making his way into town at a reasonable pace for the mild mid-summer day. His reason for coming was the village council. They'd sent word that there was a young man interested in setting up a homestead in the Westwood. He represented the few far spread farms to the west of the village on the council.

There was plenty of good land to be had, but would the young man be more trouble than they'd like to have in Emonds field? Having married an outsider apparently made him an expert as to outsider agendas as well.

It had been over a decade since he'd returned from that devastating battle on the Dragonmount, and still the memories remained strong in his mind.

Tam himself had nearly been labeled a stranger upon his own return to the village. Fortunately, friends he'd made as a young man welcomed him and his family back with open arms. Now here was a stranger that wished to live in 'his' woods.

'Might be interesting to learn of what has happened in those near, but still so distant lands.' He thought as the red tiled roof of the inn came into sight.

Moving up the steps to the door he paused before opening the inn's front door. There sitting in front of the large fireplace were all eight men of the council.

"Ah, Tam, we were waiting for you. Now we can begin." Bran said standing and bringing a mug of ale for Tam as he took a seat.

"Are you certain a full council is needed for this Bran? Is there a problem with this boy that you didn't mention in your message?" Tam asked setting aside the ale.

"It's not so much a problem as, well… Look at these coins." Master Luhhan said and place the five gold coins on a small round table in center of the men.

Picking up one of the coins he made a show of examining the symbols on either side of gold piece. Biting it to verify it was gold, he looked puzzled.

"I've not seen a coin of this style before now. The crane and seven towers on the sides show the coin came from the country of Malkier. It was lost, though, to the blight years ago."

He examined the other coins.

"I recognize none of the others, so cannot say to their origins. Has he used many of these?" He asked of the rest of the men.

Bran laid out a gold piece and the three copper pennies used that morning to purchase breakfast. The gold piece was had a lovely queen, and an eagle in flight upon it. The copper pieces were even more unusual as they were blank on either side. They were smooth, as if they'd never been printed.

"While unusual, I see no problems at this point. Has he been acting suspicious or caused problems?" Tam asked considering the information he was given.

"Nothing except a large order from my mill and Haral's smithy; he hasn't purchased much else, yet." Jon Thane said tapping the ash out of his pipe.

"His horse is of a good quality. I'd say he bought it from Lars Dahlin over near Baerlon. Cost him a good ten silver for that bloodline." Abell Cauthon mentioned while he drank his ale. He was quietly considering asking the man to rent the horse for breeding with his own horses.

"Where is he right this moment?" Tam asked stroking his chin thoughtfully.

"I'm right behind you, sir." The voice startled most of the men, and brought their attention to the door to the inn. There stood the young man named Chao.

"Did you wish to speak with me gentlemen? Or would you like sometime to speculate upon my intentions?" Cenn Buie, his gnarled form glaring at the boy, sniped at his apparent disrespect for them.

"Watch your tongue, young man. This is the village council and you should show us some respect."

Chao didn't take his eyes from Tam for the exchange, and instead of responding to Cenn he saluted Tam. As a second Captain, years ago in the Illian, with the Companions he slowly began to understand what could be happening.

"Who sent you young man?" Tam placed his ale on the table and stood up.

"I have a letter for you sir." Reaching into his ever present satchel he presented the elder al'Thor with a thick parchment sealed with the wax image of the Illian Companion's banner. Prying the wax off, he quickly read through the letter.

Looking at Chao carefully after having read the letter he handed the parchment back to what the page said was, essentially, a minor lord fleeing from Illian. The current officers in Illian remembered how a Second Captain Tamlin al'Thor had spoken of the quaint village of Emond's field. It was considered a good place to send the runaway.

The letter recommended the young man as competent if not a farmer by nature. Even if Tam hadn't been given the letter he'd likely have helped the young man. This was because there on the hilt of his dagger was the boy's house symbol.

Three circles linked in the center. The house seal of the blade master he trained under. A teacher that had taken a young man, taught him discipline, and kept him alive during the Whitecloak war.

"Welcome to Emond's field. There is a plot of land half a day's walk from my farm that should be suitable for you to build upon. I'm certain you'll find all you need here in town for the time being." Tam gave a look to the council that implied his tacit approval of Chao and moved to leave the inn. He'd best leave now to make it home before dark.

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Tam did indeed reach the farm before the sun had set for the day. The house was in the midst of construction. Examining the timbers and supports that had been hoisted only the day before, he found nothing amiss. Soon the new rooms would be complete.

Moving into the house, he found his son stirring the pot over the fire.

"She managed to foist her chores off to you once again eh, Rand?" Tam said as he examined the stew bubbling away.

His eldest son gave him a discontent look and continued his task.

"She bet she could beat me home from the Master Dautry's farm. Mother wanted us to go see if Mistress Dautry had gotten over her fever, and to send them some of her preserves." Looking up to the loft he found his daughter's, Rand's twin, head poking out the door. She was smiling like the cat that got the canary.

"Where is your mother?" Tam, while smiling, asked to change the subject. It wouldn't do to start laughing at his son's pouting.

His daughter lost her smile.

"She got sick earlier and went to lie down."

Thanking his daughter, Tam moved to the stairs and into the master bedroom on the second floor. There he found his wife sitting on the down mattress of their bed. Sitting beside her, he rubbed her back and asked if she was feeling alright.

What he didn't expect was the teary eyed, yet smiling, face that he found looking at him.

"Tam, it's… I'm with child." Struck dumb he held her firm as she grabbed him in a hug.

'That's another room to add.' He thought with a smile.

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Back in town, Chao could only be grateful that the background prepared for him was a success. Otherwise he'd have had an interesting time assimilating into the local population. Near everything seemed to match with the books.

Tam was younger which was expected considering the period he'd been set into in this reality. Egwene and Perrin were as they likely should be. Matrim, whom he was observing now, was definitely a trouble maker.

Something was causing him unease, and it wasn't that Matrim was chasing one of the local girls around with a frog in his hands.

Well, he'd simply have to take the situation as it developed. He was after all a force for change.

In the distance, dark storm clouds were moving in from the west. Over the Mountains of Mist lightning rent the sky.

To be continued…

AN: Chao is pronounced Kay-oh. Just FYI