I hear everything

Should I bother waking up?

…the answer was no

Please come back, Nate. I know I'm the last person you want to see…or talk to…but I need you to wake up. I need you to be alright. I promise, I'll leave you alone as soon as I know you're alright. You won't ever have to see me again…if that's what you want. I'll understand, if that's the case. Light knows, I don't want to see myself right now.

Peace, what have I done? I'd take it all back, if I could. I'd let Sammael run loose and slay everyone else, if it meant you were alright and you didn't hate me. I've never regretted doing the right thing more than I do at this moment. Blood and ashes, I hope it was the right thing to do, at least. I hope it was worth it…in the grand scheme of things.

I'm so sorry, Nate.

Please, come back.

Why won't he wake up? Is he in a coma? Damer, please, I need to know. Is he going to pull through?

M'Hael, he wasn't severely injured…not physically, that is. His shoulder mended just fine. It's the shock… I think he doesn't want to wake up. Not yet.

Are you certain that you can't… I mean, with time and perseverance, surely…

Respectfully, there's nothing for me to Heal. It's gone. What you're hoping for me to accomplish, it's impossible. You might as well ask me to instil the ability to channel in someone who doesn't have the spark, in any non-channeler. It simply can't be done. And I'm very sorry for it. It's not easy for me to admit defeat in anything pertaining to Healing, believe me. You could always ask Nynaeve Sedai, of course. We've noticed that men should Heal women, and vice versa, it just works better that way. When I Healed stilling, the women recuperated their full strength, like Logain when Nynaeve Sedai Healed him. But not so the stilled women she Healed… Perhaps she'll be able to do this, m'lord, but I'd advise you to not get your hopes up. It's highly unlikely that she'll succeed. That anyone will.

Perhaps at the turn of the next Age… After all, Healing stilling was long believed to be impossible, even in the Age of Legends.

Today is the beginning of a new Age. I doubt any of us will live long enough to see the dawn of another. But that aside, this is a different matter entirely. When a woman is stilled, or a man gentled, there's something keeping them from touching the Source, but it's still there. What we did, Nynaeve Sedai and I, was to remove that obstacle, that block, nothing more. We didn't…magically restore their ability to channel, because it was never gone in the first place. I'm truly sorry, M'Hael. I wouldn't wish this on anyone, let alone you two. You've done so much for me, and for male channelers worldwide.

Well, you lost an arm, Damer. That's much worse than what happened to us.

I doubt it, but I see you still wish to stay humble. I've always admired that in you. And it seems it's finally rubbed off on Ghraem, eh? He's come a long way. But I always had faith in him. Saw the raw potential waiting to be refined, as I used to see in new recruits, when I was a mere soldier.

It's true, he's not the same man I met all those months ago. I'm glad I listened to you and trusted in your judgement rather than get rid of him, as I initially planned. I owe you, Damer. He's…everything to me. Now more than ever. Though I doubt he reciprocates the feeling...

Aw, you'll be fine. Eventually. The important thing is to live as fully as possible, to fill the void that saidin left behind. Perhaps you should talk to Logain. He did survive several months after being gentled, with no way of knowing that he would eventually be Healed. He will know exactly how you're feeling, and may be able to help you better than I could. If I'm honest, I can't properly imagine what it's like, m'lord.

You know…I think you can call me Taim, Damer. I was never a lord, and I can't rightly go by M'Hael any longer. I'm not even a channeler.

You realise that your strength in the Power was not what made me defer to you, yes? You were my superior officer, of course, which is one thing, but more importantly, I respect you, M'Hael. I wouldn't be so polite to one of the Forsaken, no matter their strength.

What will you do now? Will you return to the Black Tower?

I'll have to discuss this with the missus but, ideally, yes. We could split our time between the White Tower and the Black, if you can work out a proper alliance between the two.

'We'? Damer, whatever you wish to call us, Nate and I are no longer in command of the Black Tower. How could we be?

M'Hael, being in charge of the Black Tower means you don't have to participate in chores such as teaching lessons or testing the newcomers. So…it doesn't matter if you can channel or not, I should think. The Tower still needs you. You know it better than anyone else, you never abandoned it. You know the men, and they know you. They look up to you. It won't matter to them that you can't channel. Remember when Ghraem could barely light a candle? They never held that against him…although his off-putting personality was an issue, in the beginning. At the risk of repeating myself, your reputation and status don't depend on your strength in the Power.

I doubt that the other leaders of the world, and especially the Amyrlin Seat, will be as indulgent as you are. I suppose Logain will have to take the helm, if we want the Black Tower to be taken seriously, as a force to be reckoned with.

Actually, I'm not sure that Logain wants to return to the Tower. His ordeals…the Turning, the gentling before that, now the Last Battle… It exacted a heavy toll. He's alive and physically hale, but he's changed. I think a few months or years of vacation would do him good. And you wouldn't leave the Black Tower without proper leadership, now would you?

What about Androl? You? You're both capable of-

Perhaps we are capable, but neither of us wants to be in charge. Besides, the people will need us in other ways. Countless people were wounded and will require Healing, even months from now, and Androl's Talent has made quite an impression. There will be requests for gateways in the future, and I've heard several leaders who were transported here at the hospital talk of a network of gateways, to facilitate commerce and travel between nations. If the Aiel successfully enforce the terms of the Dragon's Peace, I suppose it could be achieved.

I…I don't know, Damer. I couldn't do it alone, and... I mean, look at Nate. He doesn't even want to wake up. He doesn't want to see me. Why would he? It's my fault. I did this to him. Peace, how he must hate me.

Now, don't say that. Give him time, M'Hael. He needs to process at his own pace. He needs to heal…er, figuratively speaking. In due time, he'll come to accept it. He'll come to understand that he is more than a channeler, he always was. Besides, most non-channelers are satisfied with their existence, are they not? They feel fulfilled. You don't need saidin to find joy or love or excitement in your life. You can be perfectly happy without it.

The difference between non-channelers and us is that they don't know what they're missing, because you can't miss what you never had. But the void…if you'll pardon me for the crude comparison, it will always feel like a phantom limb, like a hole we can never really fill. Will there ever be a time when we're not aware of what is irremediably gone? Will you ever get used to having only one arm?

Of course I will, m'lord. Humans are very adaptable creatures. We can get used to anything and, if these past few months have taught us anything, it's that we don't give up easily. Logain has been through hell and back, M'Hael, but he's still there. You're just as resilient as he is, and so is Ghraem. Together, you can overcome-

But we won't be together. That's my point. Even if Nate decides to return to us, he won't want anything to do with me. He trusted me with the lead of our circle, and I failed him. I might as well have killed him. Even…even if he pretends that he's fine, to spare my feelings, deep down, he will always resent me.

I think you don't give him enough credit. He's not Asmodean anymore. You've turned him not only to the Light, but into a decent human being. I'm not saying it will be easy, but… Look, he knew the risks. Every channeler on the battlefield knew the risks, every soldier. We could have died at any moment, we could have burned ourselves out or lost a limb and be crippled for life. That's war, isn't it? The moment you set foot on the battlefield, you know your life doesn't belong to you anymore. It belongs to your cause, to the reason why you're fighting. The cause is more important than you are, you accept that. You sacrificed your ability to channel to take out one of the most powerful enemies on the field, M'Hael. It wasn't in vain. You saved thousands of lives and it helped us defeat the Shadow once and for all. You're a hero. You both are.

I don't think that Nate would have agreed to all those fine prints, if he had known about them. He doesn't believe in 'the cause'. He came with me because he thought that I had his back, because he trusted me, and perhaps because he wanted to protect me, though he has a tendency to believe himself weaker than I am, for some reason. I'm willing to bet that he didn't truly think anything bad would happen to him, and I'm absolutely certain that he didn't expect me to make the decision I made for him. Even if…well, I had no idea it would happen, of course. It was an accident. But it happened anyway, and I'm responsible. I ruined his life, and at the worst possible moment, too. He was doing so well… Life was good. It had never been better, at least not for me. I was naïve and foolish to think it would last forever. We had a good run, he and I, but there's no coming back from this. Even if his love for me persists, he will never forgive me. And I don't think I can live with that on my conscience. I love him enough to let him hate me, if that makes sense. I hope you'll let me know if he wakes up. When he wakes up. I'll give you an address where you can send a message. But don't give it to him. And tell him…tell him I'm sorry, would you?

You'll bloody tell him yourself! Don't you dare leave this chair until he's awake.

But-

He will wake up, M'Hael. When he's ready. Be patient. And please, I beg you, don't be so hard on yourself. You killed Sammael, burn you, one of the greatest generals of the Age of Legends, a vicious enemy. If not for you, our losses would have been far more numerous, and who knows… We might have lost the battle altogether. Al'Thor gave his life for us, but don't think your sacrifice any lesser. Everyone did their part, and it was worth the cost, in the end. We saved the world, M'Hael. Never forget that.

But Nate helped save it against his will…

You should re-evaluate your opinion of him. Do you really believe he wouldn't have willingly given his life to rid us of Sammael, if he'd known ahead of time that it was the price to pay to lead the Light to victory?

He would have given his life for me. Perhaps. But not for the world. Not for the Light. Certainly not for al'Thor.

M'Hael…you're part of the world. Saving it means saving you. He knew what he was getting himself into, I'm telling you. Now, I'm not saying he'll be all chipper when he wakes up… Let's face it, he'll be cranky and sullen and snippy, but how's that any different than usual? You know what he's like in the morning. Or in the evening, for that matter, before he's had his first glass of wine after a long day of teaching.

Yes…that's a good point. But you didn't see him after it happened, Damer. The look in his eyes…

Give him a chance to prove you wrong, at least. Will you? You've always taken my advice before, M'Hael. Please heed me. He needs you now more than ever. You need each other.

Very well. I'll stay.

Good. I have to do my rounds, but have someone notify me when he wakes, yes? I'd like to Delve him again when he's conscious.

I will. Thank you, Asha'man.

"You planned to get rid of me?"

Taim's eyes flew open. "You're awake," he murmured. His hand moved toward Natael's, but he refrained at the last moment, instead letting it fall in his lap.

"No, I'm sleeptalking. You planned to get rid of me?" he repeated.

Why was that the first thing he managed to articulate? Why was he so surprised at the revelation, for that matter? Taim had threatened to murder him several times, in the early days. Besides, they had more important things to discuss.

The problem was that Natael didn't want to address the elephant in the room. He remembered everything that happened during the battle. He'd heard a lot of things, too, over the past few days, in the strange state between consciousness and oblivion in which he'd been stranded. He didn't want to talk about any of it. He wanted to pretend that all was well – the Light was ultimately victorious, Taim was alive, he was alive. That was more than he'd expected. They were lucky. Countless men and women had died. People had lost arms, legs, eyes… They had broken bones and spines. Taim and Natael were whole…physically at least.

But that was the problem, wasn't it? Most physical wounds, no matter how grievous, could be Healed. Well, severed limbs couldn't be restored, but it was different. Better to lose a hand or a foot than to lose saidin forever. Peace, even death would be preferable. This vast hollowness inside? It was almost painful, like the last stage of hunger and thirst just before starvation. Reflexively, Natael sought saidin, any sign that the Power was in there, somewhere, waiting to be seized.

There was nothing.

"That was when we first met, Nate. You know I would never hurt you…" Taim trailed off, averting his eyes. "Not on purpose."

Yes, I used to believe that.

No, that wasn't fair. Taim blamed himself – as well he should, since it was his fault – but should Natael blame him? Taim had seared himself out, too. He had suffered the same trauma. The guilt was eating at him. Natael shouldn't make him feel worse.

He couldn't help it, though. He did blame Taim for his predicament. Yes, it was an accident. Yes, it was for a just cause, and it had likely saved their lives besides (and that of others, incidentally). Yes, Taim felt horrible about it.

But the fact remained: Natael blamed Taim.

And he hated himself for it.

That was just bloody great. They both felt awful and hated themselves and there was nothing to be done about it.

"Nate? I swear, if I'd known this would happen, I-"

"Is Flinn around? I have a terrible headache."

Taim sighed. "Yes, I'll…I'll go find him. Do you need anything else? Water, or-"

Water? Seriously? Natael almost felt insulted. Didn't Taim know him at all? His throat was dry as dust, but he would ask for wine later. He wanted to limit his interactions with Taim as much as possible, at least for the time being. The guilty, miserable look in his eyes was unbearable. "Just get Flinn."

Cranky and sullen and snippy. Light, was he really so predictable? Taim was wrong; he hadn't changed at all. He was still the same selfish bastard he used to be. Flinn was wrong, too. Natael didn't think he could get past this. Every time he looked at Taim, he was reminded of the tragedy that had befallen him.

He still loved Taim, of course. He cared deeply. His overall feelings for him were unaltered. But would that be enough to salvage their relationship?

"It seems that, once again, you've managed to sleep through the battle, Nessosin," someone said.

His heart jumped in his chest. Was one of the Chosen still alive? Then he realised it was just Bao, standing some distance away. "If I'm doing you the courtesy of calling you by your new name, the least you could do is call me Natael. Or Ghraem."

He moved closer, and Natael was surprised to see that he was wearing manacles. "Natael will have to do." Right. He always gave people that second option but, strangely, they always elected to use the first one.

Bao was alive. Did that mean that al'Thor had survived, as well? But no. Flinn said he gave his life to save the world. Oh, the world must not be happy about this; it had lost its precious saviour and was stuck with a freshly-redeemed Forsaken instead. A former Forsaken who was now in shackles, for some reason. "What happened at Shayol Ghul?"

"Success, as planned."

Concise as ever. "What happened to the Dragon Reborn?" he clarified. "And why are you-"

"Lews Therin is dead."

Natael exhaled loudly. "Why did you initiate a conversation if you're not going to say anything? It's not like you to make small talk. Did you want something?"

"It seems I'm going to require your…assistance."

Ouch, that sounded painful. And to think he'd suffered through that sentence for nothing. "I'm useless, haven't you heard? Even more so than before."

Bao raised an eyebrow. "This doesn't involve channeling."

"Well, channeling was all I had, and now it's gone. I can't help you, even if I wanted to. And I don't particularly want to." He would try to watch his tongue around Taim, until he could figure out how he really felt and decide what to do, but Bao could take the brunt of his huffiness.

"I'm afraid I must insist." Bao sat down in the chair Taim had vacated.

Demandred, practically begging for help? Natael's help? Perhaps he was still unconscious and dreaming this. Hallucinating, really. "What could you possibly need me for?"

He raised his hands to draw Natael's attention to the manacles, in case he hadn't noticed them yet. "I am to be tried soon. So are you, by the way. I thought we could help each other out. We need to stick together."

Natael had stopped listening after the first sentence. "Tried? As in…prosecuted?" He couldn't be serious. After everything they'd done for the Light, after their exemplary acts of redemption, their sacrifices, they might still be executed?

Well, Bao hadn't sacrificed much, except perhaps some of his dignity, but Natael, on the other hand... He'd lost everything. His ability to channel, which was bad enough…but also Taim. He would lose him eventually, if he hadn't already. Even people who truly loved each other couldn't always patch things up when tragedy struck. The loss of a child, a life-changing accident… The other person always reminded you of that one dramatic event, and there was nothing else to do but move on…separately.

Bao misinterpreted his faraway gaze. "Don't look so stunned. It was to be expected. Al'Thor warned us. And with him gone, so is our best advocate. We must fend for ourselves."

Right. The trial. Natael reeled at the news. He hadn't even begun to wrap his mind around the searing out, and now this? "Are they really intent on punishing us, though? Or is it more of a…show, a formality? Just an excuse to declare us officially pardoned in front of everyone, you know."

Bao scoffed and didn't bother to reply. He must think that the question was rhetorical, a poor attempt at humour. "We have some allies, thankfully. Even a few valuable ones. Moiraine Damodred said she would vouch for me, given what she witnessed at Shayol Ghul. I assume that Taim will vouch for you."

If Natael could find it in him to ask him, yes, perhaps. But would that be enough?

"Logain will likely speak in your favour, as well," Bao went on. "Shendla will give a testimony in the name of my people."

Natael frowned. "Shouldn't Mintel do it? Shendla is a formidable woman, don't get me wrong, but she struggles with the Common Tongue, and no one will allow you to translate her words."

"Mintel is dead."

Concise and brutal as ever, indeed. "Oh, I…didn't know that. Sorry. What happened to him?"

"Moghedien decided to impersonate me, when she realised I wasn't around. She tried to manipulate the Sharans and sowed chaos on the battlefield. Fortunately, her isleh was atrocious, so she was eventually unmasked...by Mintel. He exposed her, and she killed him in retribution. She did some more damage, but she was apprehended by the Seanchan in the end. She's been…gifted to their damane, along with her cour'souvra."

Well, that was not an enviable fate… Although she could still channel, so perhaps it was. "And Lanfear?" He didn't care a whit about her, but he was afraid to enquire about Elan.

"Dead, too. One of the lesser ta'veren got her, if rumours are to be believed."

It should have been satisfying, or a relief at least, to know that Lanfear was really, truly dead, but Natael was too upset to care.

"As for Moridin," Bao continued, though Natael hadn't asked, "he might pull through, actually. His condition is uncertain but, after al'Thor passed last night, he seemed to be getting better, to everyone's frustration."

Bao, especially, must be frustrated that Lews Therin was gone.

And poor Elan! He'd been denied death yet again. But perhaps he would be allowed to die for good, now that he'd…failed? Yeah, no, that was unlikely. The Dark One might be defeated, for now, and perhaps He'd leave humanity alone for a few centuries, but He wasn't truly gone. He wouldn't let Elan off the hook so easily, and He certainly wouldn't reward failure with something Elan so desperately yearned for. Elan would be reincarnated and…re-embodied again and again, to be the Dark One's champion until the Shadow was victorious at last, until the world and time itself ended. It was a cruel fate, and an unescapable one. Now that…that was not enviable at all.

"If Moridin does recover, it's fair to assume that he'll be tried as well. And I can't imagine anyone will speak in his defence."

"Neither can I." It was thanks to Elan, to the protection of the Nae'blis, that Taim and Natael had survived for so long, without a doubt, but would anyone care? Probably not. "Just to be sure…Taim is not on trial, right?"

Bao shook his head. "Only you and I, the two former Chosen. No one knows that Taim was briefly a Dreadlord…or Logain, for that matter. If they find out, I'll just say that they were coerced and that they removed the oath as soon as they were able."

Well, it was only the truth. "Why exactly do you need my help?" Natael asked. "What am I supposed to tell them? That you didn't do anything evil, ever?"

"I can speak for myself, Nessosin. Pardon, I mean Natael." Wow, he really did need help, if he was willing to apologise for such a trivial slip-up. "But I need you to defend my people, should the jury choose to have me executed. Shendla will need your help. Learning isleh should be easy enough for you. Its roots are-"

"If they decide to kill you, what makes you think I'll walk free? We were both Chosen, and I've done my fair share of-"

Unexpectedly, Bao snorted with laughter. "Please. I don't even know why they're putting you on trial; it's a waste of everyone's time. You've been loyal to the Light practically since you've awakened, and you weren't much of a threat to them before that."

"Do you have to be so insulting all the time?"

Bao looked confused. "It was meant to be comforting… Believe me, you do not want them to perceive you as a threat." He cocked his head, and only then did Natael notice the three armed men who pretended to do anything but monitor Bao's every movement. They had to be Warders.

Odd. Only Warders? There should be at least an Aes Sedai, to maintain Bao's shield. Even with a tied-off shield, without his sword and wearing heavy manacles, the man was a menace.

"Alright, let's say, hypothetically, that they execute you but release me into the world. No incarceration, no conditions. Then what? If they want to break the Dragon's Peace and go after the Sharans once you're gone, there's nothing I can do about it. I'm no one. I'm nothing. Why would anyone care what I say?"

"You're not no one," Bao said impatiently. "Don't be falsely modest, Natael, it doesn't suit you. You've never been more famous than you are today – the self-sacrificing hero who burned himself out to take down the mighty Sammael." He scoffed at that. "Well, it wasn't you, technically, but the people praise Taim and you both equally, the two fearless leaders of the Black Tower. It helps that very few people are aware of your true identity."

"As soon as the news spread, and it will, thanks to the trial, I doubt they'll see me as a hero. Taim will be given all the credit and I'll be hanged, buried in a shallow grave, then immediately for-"

Bao pinched the bridge of his nose. "Damnation, I'd forgotten how whiny, melodramatic and annoying you could be."

"Yes, well, for once, I think I'm entitled to a proper meltdown. I'm seared out, Bao. Do you have any idea how-"

"SO AM I, BURN YOU!"

Natael startled at his vehemence…and at the revelation. "You're-"

"Yes, you idiot! Just like you, I can no longer channel. But do you see me throwing a temper tantrum like a bratty toddler?"

"I…well, I…I didn't know," Natael stammered.

"Of course you didn't, you self-obsessed dolt. You're so consumed in your own doom that you're blind to everybody else's plights. You did notice that Taim had also burned himself out, yes?"

"I was there when it happened," he muttered. "Look, I'm sorry-"

"I don't want your pity. My point is that you are not the only person who has lost something in the battle, so get over yourself. You're alive, Nessosin. Not everyone is as lucky as you are."

"Hey, don't be so high-and-mighty," Natael said, feeling angry. This wasn't fair! He hadn't asked for this. "You would never have agreed to this, if you'd known beforehand that-"

Bao eyed him flatly. "I sacrificed my own ability to channel so that al'Thor could accomplish his destiny and save us all. Shendla Dreamed it, and it coincided with an obscure line in our prophecies. I went to Shayol Ghul knowing what would happen, and I'm glad I did it, despite the consequences, because it was my destiny."

Now there's a true hero, Natael thought bitterly. Just like al'Thor, who'd been aware of the price he would to have to pay all along. But that was the thing: Bao and al'Thor knew what they were getting themselves into. They knew how it would end for them, and they were willing to do it because they believed the sacrifice was worth it. Natael had imagined himself dead a dozen times in the past year, but the fact that he'd survived overwhelming odds several times had led him to think he might actually make it to the end unscathed. He'd trusted Taim to keep him alive and whole and Taim had failed him and it was unfair-

"I know that look," Bao said with a resigned sigh. "Locked in your own mind with your despair, complaining to yourself about life's injustice. Is it helping in any way?"

"Blood and ashes, give me a break! How are you not falling apart? Are you so dead inside that another hole makes no difference anymore?"

Bao leaned forward in his chair. "I'm behaving like a normal human being. I'm keeping my emotions in check in public. You're the one who's overreacting. Also, I am capable of putting things into perspective. I have lost something important to me, but my strength in the Power never defined me. It didn't keep me alive."

"Nah, your burning hatred for Lews Therin kept you alive."

Bao rolled his eyes. "I've lost a part of me, but the other parts are still there. I'm still me. I'm Bao, King of Shara, the Wyld, protector of my people. I still have a place in this world. There are people who care for me. And that will be enough."

"Great speech, but none of that will matter if you're executed," Natael remarked. He never would have talked to Bao like this, were he still one of the Chosen, though he was hardly harmless, even seared out. Hence the Warders without the Aes Sedai, Natael realised then. But would they intervene if Bao decided to slap Natael senseless or choke him to death?

"Which is why I'm here, asking you – nicely – to look out for my people, in the event of my untimely death."

"Are you really telling me that you'll accept whatever judgement they pass? That you'll go to the gallows willingly, as you went to Shayol Ghul? Is that your destiny?"

"The Last Battle was a turning point in history," Bao lectured him, ignoring the sarcasm. "Shendla has not Dreamed of anything beyond these events, and the prophecies stopped there, too. It's anyone's guess what'll happen going forward."

Natael noted that Bao had evaded his question, but he didn't press him. "So if you're dead, I'll be the king of Shara?"

"Can you be serious for five bloody minutes? This is important to me."

"Then what am I supposed to do, exactly?"

"First, negotiate for a peaceful transition in leadership. I had hoped that Shendla would take my place, but that would mean abandoning her career as an Ayyad, and she insists that she's too young to retire. She's only a hundred and ten, so I can understand that. We've selected a handful of suitable candidates. The important thing is that Galbrait doesn't take charge, because we don't trust her. She's the head of the Ayyad and, if I die, she'll have Shendla assassinated so she can once again rule the nation from the shadows, as she's done for the past seven hundred years. If she pulls the strings, the Freed will be enslaved again, and everything else Shendla and I have worked to achieve in the past year will be undone." Natael had no clue who Galbrait was but, if she was truly that old, then she was older than Bao himself. Well, if one overlooked the three thousand years he'd spent in the Bore. "Secondly, you'll have to handle foreign politics and make sure that the West doesn't try to invade us and take over. I signed the Dragon's Peace but, if I'm branded a war criminal and executed, you can be certain that my signature will be considered worthless, and that the Sharans will therefore be at the Aiel's mercy."

That was too much information to take in all at once. Natael's headache was getting worse. Where was Flinn? "Don't you trust Shendla to handle this herself like a big girl? Surely she's capable-"

"She's very capable, but she will be alone. I'll be dead, and we've already lost Mintel. He was our most trusted advisor. The other Ayyad leaders are unreliable, mainly because they fear Galbrait. They don't dare disobey her. The Freed will be loyal to Shendla no matter what, but they have no political influence whatsoever, despite their numbers. She will need help."

"I'm sorry, but I don't understand why me. Do you really trust me to do this? Or trust me at all, for that matter? I've always been under the impression that you immensely dislike me."

"I do dislike you," Bao acknowledged without missing a beat. "But that doesn't mean I don't appreciate your talents. Your reluctance to fight if it can be avoided makes you an efficient administrator and negotiator. One simply cannot deny that Taim and you ruled the Black Tower efficiently. Taim is also gifted with social skills. You make a good team."

"Well then, why don't you ask him to save your people?" Natael said in a surly tone.

"I'm asking both of you, birdbrain. I assumed I'd find Taim here, but I guess he finally took a break. About time, too. He's been sitting here for days, barely sleeping or eating."

Natael's heart contracted. He'd heard bribes of conversation while he was comatose, but he hadn't realised that Taim was present the entire time, neglecting his own health just to make sure he'd be there when Natael finally awakened. He didn't want to discuss Taim with Bao, though, not until he'd had a chance to talk with Taim in private.

Which he would have to do, eventually. Preferably before he was sentenced to death by hanging. Or worse.

"I'm still confused…" he said instead.

"Perhaps I should have waited for a Healer to see you," Bao grumbled. "You've suffered a worse head injury than I thought."

"Yes, you should have waited," Natael fumed. "I'm definitely not in the right frame of mind for this. Or the right mood. But since you're already here, what I don't understand is why they're so intent on putting you on trial after what you did at Shayol Ghul. If they consider Taim a hero for obliterating Sammael, surely you-"

"Actually, most of them are convinced that I'm responsible for al'Thor's death." To be fair, it was a reasonable suspicion, given their history. "All they know is that I came out of the mountain carrying two dying men." Yes, that was even more suspicious, granted. "That's why Moiraine Sedai's testimony will prove useful. She can attest to what really happened, and there's a fair chance they'll believe her."

"I see. When will the trial take place?" A few weeks, he surmised. That'll allow him to prepare – develop his arguments, talk to potential allies and character witnesses and, more importantly, try to work things out with Taim. He could certainly use his assistance.

"As soon as a Healer clears you," Bao replied. "Which is why I came to you as soon as I heard you were awake, instead of waiting a respectable amount to time. Until you came to terms with your situation, at least."

Natael snorted. Had the other man finally grown a sense of humour? "No, but seriously."

"I couldn't possibly be more serious."

Natael sat up in his bed. Panic was setting in. "But…I just woke up! I…I need to shave, bathe, drink a gallon of wine, find clothes suitable for my own funeral…" He threw the covers and started to rise. "…drink a second gallon of wine, change my clothes a dozen times, compose a song about my upcoming death, have someone give me a proper haircut-"

"You're spiralling," Bao said conversationally. "I was afraid of that. I should go find T-"

"What in blazes are you doing up?!" someone demanded. Natael spun awkwardly and nearly lost is balance. He sat on the bed to avoid falling on his arse like Sammael.

It was Flinn, at last. "Bao, sire, respectfully, Ghraem needs rest," he admonished. "No visitors for him until I say so. Except M'Hael."

Taim was back, but Natael carefully avoided looking at him.

Bao inclined his head. "I apologise, Healer Flinn. We had urgent matters to discuss. I'll leave you to it, but please let me know when he's recovered."

"What could you possibly have to discuss with him urgently?" Taim asked. "Don't stress him out, Bao. The battle is over. Give him a break. Anyway, aren't you going back to Shara?"

Bao once again raised his shackled hands. "The jury will determine that."

Taim frowned. "What jury?"

Flinn exhaled with annoyance. "You've come to bother my patient about your trial? With all due respect, Your Majesty-"

"Didn't anyone tell you?" Bao said. He sounded genuinely surprised. "It's not just me. Natael and I are both going to be tried." Stunned silence followed that statement, so Natael inferred that neither Taim nor Flinn were aware of the situation. "And by the way, you may call me Bao. The Sharans aren't too fond of titles."

Well, that was completely irrelevant.

"Tried for what?" Taim exclaimed at last. "Nate hasn't done anything but acts of contrition and redemption since I've known him! The only people he's killed were men losing their minds because of the taint. It was a mercy! Even in the Waste, he didn't-"

"Save it for the jury, Taim. I know all that. It doesn't change the fact that he was once one of the Chosen, and that's all they care about. You can't really blame them…"

"When?" Taim barked.

"As soon as Healer Flinn deems him fit."

"Well, certainly not now," the Asha'man said. "He has suffered a traumatic experience. He will need a lot of time to-"

"Oh, don't you coddle me!" Natael growled. "Bao has suffered the exact same trauma, yet no one expects him to curl up on the floor and cry for weeks." Which was exactly what Natael, were he alone, would have done. He was capable of restraint, whatever Bao believed.

Taim glanced at Bao, scowling, as did Flinn. "You…you also…?"

Bao nodded tersely. "The only reason why they waited this long was because Natael was unconscious. They don't care about his feelings, and I suspect that, by now, they're aware that he's awake." Indeed, one of the Warders who had been keeping watch on Bao was gone, Natael noticed. Sneaky bastards, these Warders, no matter their size.

"That doesn't change the fact that he's in no condition to be tried," Flinn insisted. "This is ridiculous."

"It's not your decision to make, Asha'man," a woman said. A Grey Aes Sedai, judging by her shawl. She was accompanied by two Greens, a Yellow sister, and their collective Warders – five in total, plus the one who'd slipped out while Bao was talking with Natael. "Cadsuane Melaidhrin summons the two men formerly known as Demandred and Asmodean."

"And who is this person, that she thinks she can summon people like that?" Taim demanded.

It was Bao who answered. "The new Amyrlin Seat."

Natael cocked his head. "Oh? What happened to the girl?"

"She's no longer the Amyrlin Seat."

That wasn't much of an answer. Was she dead? Had she been deposed, for some reason? Maybe she was a Friend of the Dark…

The Grey Aes Sedai pursed her lips at the interruption. "The Mother and other members of the jury have voiced concerns regarding the impartiality of your Healer, who also happens to be one of your Asha'man. Therefore, Aloisia Sedai will Delve Master Natael herself and determine if he is fit to attend his trial." She indicated the Yellow sister, but the woman's hands were already touching Natael's temples by the time she completed her sentence.

"This is an outrage," Taim said. He was outraged, alright. Also enraged, judging by the tremor in his hands. If he were still able to channel, there'd be sparks at his fingertips. Natael's heart soared, despite everything. Taim hadn't changed. He was still willing to defend him, no matter what.

"He has a mild headache," Aloisia Sedai announced a moment later. "But nothing incapacitating. I can remedy to it easil-"

"I'd rather Flinn did it. If that's…acceptable," Natael said, addressing the Grey, who appeared to be in charge. She nodded and gave Flinn permission to proceed.

The Asha'man hesitated. "M'lord, are you sure?"

"Um, yes. I'd rather not die with a headache."

"You're not going to die!" Taim said fiercely. "I won't let them execute you. This trial is madness." He turned to the Aes Sedai and their Warders. "How dare you do this to him? After everything he's done, everything he's sacrificed-"

"That is not for us to judge, Master Taim," the Grey said. "Now come along. Cadsuane Sedai abhors tardiness."