Nynaeve followed behind Duncan and Alistair up the ramp. She searched, but there was no sign of what had happened. There was nothing left of Ser Jory and Daveth, but, she vowed, she would remember. She would never forget.

The night was dark and quiet. And she wondered when, and if, she would see the light of day again. She was frightened.

"There is an ill wind in the air," Duncan quoted from the Chantry. The words were supposedly spoken by the Maker's wife, Andraste, the night her mortal husband betrayed her. Nyn hoped it wasn't an omen.

"That's only Loghain you're smelling," Alistair chuckled. "I don't know why Cailan puts up with him. You would think he was king the way he acts."

"The teyrn is a hero," Duncan said. "And if it were not for him, you would not be standing here today. It would be best if you remembered that."

"As though I could forget," Alistair snorted.

Hmmm. Nynaeve wondered what that was about.

"He doesn't seem to like the Grey Wardens too much," Nyn spoke.

Alistair laughed, "He likes us about as much as the Chantry likes its mages."

"The Grey Wardens answer to no king," Duncan explained. "But this works both ways. And Loghain believes we are being given too much authority."

"Right," Alistair said. "He's only afraid the King might start listening to someone other than him."

"Alistair," Duncan cautioned. "We are not in the keep, guard your tongue." He sighed. "Things were not so bad before we asked the Wardens of Orlais to send aid."

Nynaeve was quite surprised by that herself. She may not know of everything that was going on around her but even she knew of Orlais and their occupation of Ferelden. They would still be under Orlesian rule if not for King Maric, Cailan's father.

"I thought he was going to pull his sword on you when Cailan told him," Alistair chuckled. "I would have liked to see him try."

"Do not be so sure," Duncan sighed. "Loghain is a master duelist. They said he could even best Maric."

"He would be no match for you."

"Perhaps," he breathed. "Though I rather doubt it. And I hope never to find out."

"Did you see his face when the King denied him?" Alistair laughed. "Who do you suppose punishes the King when he's been a bad boy? Loghain? Or the Queen?"

"The Queen?" Nynaeve questioned.

"Queen Anora," Alistair answered. "Cailan's wife. And Loghain's daughter."

"But the King called him Uncle."

"Loghain was good friends with Maric, and Maric considered him his brother," Duncan told her. "Anora and Cailan were promised to each other on her naming day."

"And her mother?" Nynaeve asked.

"She died when Anora was still very young," Duncan answered. "Her health was always delicate."

"Being married to Loghain," Alistair smiled, "who could blame her."

Duncan slowly shook his head. "I am not sure the King did us any favors back there," he said. "Loghain is up to something. But I do not know what game he plays."

"At least he didn't get his way this time," Alistair said.

"Did he not?" Duncan wondered. "Or is that what he wants us to think? I do not trust him." Neither did Nynaeve. But she didn't trust Duncan either. "That is why I am sending you and Nynaeve to secure the tower."

"You mean I won't be fighting in the battle?" Alistair said. "You can't do this. I am a Grey Warden now."

"Then you will act like it. I gave you your orders."

"Fine," Alistair said. "I'll do whatever you say. But if you want me to wear a dress and dance the marigold, I draw the line. Just so you know."

Nynaeve rolled her eyes. "I think I'd like to see that. I'm sure one look at your legs and the darkspawn would run off without a fight."

"For you, I might," he winked. "But it would have to be a pretty dress. I have very nice legs, so you know."

Nyn laughed. Alistair reminded her very much of Anders. Maker, she missed him. She wished he were here with her now.

Duncan cleared his throat. "Nynaeve, go down and find Loghain. He will brief you on the mission. I wish to speak to Alistair alone."

Huh... she wondered if the younger Warden was in trouble. She looked at them, one and then the other. There was something between them, a fondness that went farther than master and apprentice. Almost like a bond between father and son. Though, they looked nothing alike.

"Yes, ser," she replied.

Nynaeve left them and walked down the ramp. There was no sign of Loghain, or anyone. The command center had been cleared out. She moved toward the table. Loghain's map was still there though, and there were small game pieces on it to represent the different armies taking place in the battle. She moved in for a closer look.

The King's knights were gold. The grey, she guessed, would be the Wardens. The Chantry was the white, and so the Mage Circle was the blue. The King's army would have to be the silver. And Loghain and his troops were the black. She wondered why he would give himself the black...

The darkspawn were given the beasts pieces of the game.

There was something wrong here, and she gasped when she spotted it. There had to be a mistake.

"Can I help you?"

Nynaeve jumped. "I was just looking... for you. I mean I was sent to find you." She scowled. What was it about this Loghain that made her so nervous? She didn't like it... or him. "You weren't here."

"And you thought you would take the opportunity to snoop?" His thin lips twisted in a sneer. "Did Duncan send you to spy?"

She arched a brow. "I wasn't aware allies needed to spy on one another."

Loghain laughed; a sound as harsh as his smile. "You must not have spent much time around the nobility then." He nodded behind her. "You saw the board, what did you see?"

Nyn swallowed. "It... isn't my place to say, ser."

"Coyness does not suit you. And I believe I told you before I am not a ser," he paused, "mage."

"If this were a game of Armies it would be a winning board." Just barely, she thought. This was a game where the player only cared about winning, not how many pieces they lost.

"You play?" He seemed surprised.

"I am told I am quite good," she said. She beat Irving nine times out of ten.

"What would this board tell you about the player?"

Nynaeve watched Loghain. Was this a test? Or a trap? If anything he seemed amused... or bemused by her. "This player believes in winning at any cost."

"I don't like to lose," he moved closer, making her look up at him.

"Neither do I." She crossed her arms defiantly.

"Perhaps we should play one another," his voice was low and husky, "some other time."

"I am always up for a good challenge."

Loghain had her trapped between the table and himself. And at the moment his eyes were more green than grey. He smiled and she was very much reminded of a predator. Loghain was a wolf, and she felt like prey.

"I am told I can be quite challenging." By the Maker, that voice. "But you did not come here to play games, did you?"

For one moment she couldn't remember what she had been doing here. She couldn't even think. There was only Loghain.

"I was sent by Duncan," Nynaeve told him.

"Of course, he is sending you and the boy," he stepped back and motioned her towards the board. She turned around, but he remained behind her. Close behind her. He handed her one of the game pieces. She looked down at it in her hand; the queen. He covered her much smaller hand in his and guided her piece to where the Tower of Ishal stood on the map. "You will light the beacon when the mages signal you with their fire." He spoke softly behind her, his breath against her ear. His other hand drifted to her side and rested on her hip.

"Ser Loghain... I apologize for interrupting but you wished to be informed when the King departed."

Nynaeve looked up. The intruder was a young knight, a young female knight - a young pretty female knight. Dark hair and a pale white face. She looked surprised to find her general in this way. Nyn snorted. Who was she fooling? It was obvious what was going on here.

"You have delivered the message, Ser Cauthrien," Loghain told her. "You are dismissed." The knight left, and did not look too happy about it.

Loghain coughed and stepped back. Nyn turned around. He was still near, though not quite as close as he had been. "I should return to Duncan."

"Yes, you should," his lips twisted and his eyes turned cold. He caught the pendant that Alistair had put on her with his hand. "You shouldn't trust them."

Nynaeve jerked the chain out of his hand. "And I suppose I'm supposed to trust you instead?"

"Trust me least of all, mage," he told her. Loghain reached for another game piece and placed it next to the queen. The fool. But who was it? Alistair? Or himself?

"Fare you well," she bowed and prepared to leave him.

"Mage," he said. "The night is dark, watch yourself."

Nynaeve paused. Another quote from the Chantry. This one spoken by Andraste's mortal husband before he betrayed her. She thought it was an odd thing to say. An ill omen.

"The Light has no fear of the dark," she quoted back.

She hoped it was true.