The Golden Wharf was a well-respected establishment, renowned for its honeyed wine. It sat just off the main pier of Ebou Dar, looking out to the sea beyond. The tavern, and its brew, was the favorite of many high-ranking Seanchan officers. It was there that Jarik found himself, tipping cups with Captain Yukaro of the Ever Victorious Army.
"That lot is like to kill you for so much as looking at them wrong!" Yukaro's slurred way of speaking was vastly increased by the amount of wine he had already consumed. Jarik had gotten to know the man from his constant comings and goings through Ebou Dar's main gate, where Yukaro was stationed. "I'd rather fight enemies with sword and spear than with magic, but the sul'dam are powerful, no doubt about that."
Jarik nodded as he took a drink from his cup. Yukaro was a grizzled veteran of hundreds of battles in Seanchan, or so he claimed. Whether or not that was true was of no concern to Jarik. The Captain liked to drink, and Jarik needed information.
"The sul'dam don't sleep next to their damane do they?" Jarik filled Yukaro's cup up with more wine. "I mean, that seems a bit awkward with a leash between the two."
Taking a drink, Yukaro shook his head. "No, no. The new damane all stay in one building together. That big storehouse by the mill. Believe me, I'm thankful I don't have to guard that place…all those women who can channel!"
"So they take the collars off? That has to be dangerous to leave them unleashed." Jarik hoped he wasn't pushing too much, he wanted information but too many questions would look suspicious.
"The collars stay on," Yukaro began, then belched loudly before continuing. "The sul'dam take their bracelets off and hang them on a peg in the damane's room. But if those girls try touching the collar or bracelet they wish never had. I've heard of sul'dam coming in to find their damane writhing on the ground in pain or even dead."
That was not what Jarik had wanted to hear.
"So how do they get the collars on in the first place, if no one can touch them?" Jarik took another sip from his own cup, still his first.
"The collar only hurts the damane, if they try to remove it." Yukaro looked around the common room with glassy eyes, then leaned in close and lowered his voice. "Don't tell no one about this, but there is a small release button on the back of the collar. Click it goes, and off comes the collar."
"How do you know this?" Jarik had to be careful, if this man was feeding him a lie or making it up…
"The Battle of the Ford in Seanchan," the Captain said. "My men destroyed Rylaryk's army and his sul'dam.The reward is high for captured damane. We took eight girls back to the Empress, along with the heads of eight sul'dam." He grinned slyly as he took another swig from his cup.
Jarik had all he needed. With a well-feigned yawn he pushed away from the table.
"What's the matter boy, had too much?" Yukaro laughed as he poured more wine into his already full cup.
"Yes, I have had enough." Jarik stood up and dropped five silver coins onto the table. "The drink is on me tonight, Captain. See you at the gate."
And with that, Jarik walked out of the tavern. His head was spinning, but not from drink. He knew that if he did what he was planning, there would be no coming back. His house would be lost, his business closed down, and he would have to say goodbye to Ebou Dar forever. When he went to bed that night, he saw those green eyes, and knew what he must do.