It was night when she finally reached Rhuidean. Incredibly, she was freezing. The temperature had started dropping an hour ago and hadn't stopped since. Before she even reached the outskirts of the city, a giant man with dark red hair had grabbed her arm and asked who she was and what she was doing here. She told him she was looking for Jasin Natael. That was the name Mierin said Nessosin took for himself in the Waste. It seemed to have absolutely no effect on the man. He accompanied her to a cluster of tents near a large, empty fountain and offered her a blanket, which she gratefully wrapped around herself. They remained there for a long time. She didn't know what they were waiting for.
An hour later, a tent flap finally opened and a group of women came out. Neya had been sitting on the edge of the dried-up fountain, staring blearily at the ground, shivering with cold despite the blanket. The women were all taller than Neya, except for one, who was even shorter. She was a pale woman with dark hair and large brown eyes. There was something odd about her face. Neya couldn't quite put an age to her.
The man who had brought her here addressed one of the taller women, who looked like a grandmother with her white hair and creased face. "Wise One, this one arrived an hour ago out of nowhere, blue with cold. She says she is looking for the man Jasin Natael."
They all eyed her up and down, as if examining a strange beast. The woman – the Wise One – was the first to speak. "Who are you, girl?" Her voice was reedy but strong.
"My name is Neya, Wise One." It seemed to be the appropriate title. She didn't say anything else, instead waiting for the older woman to speak.
Another woman spoke. She was slim and taller than the Wise One, with blue eyes and white hair, although her face looked improbably young. She seemed to be addressing the Wise One. "She can channel, Bair. She is strong." The older woman gave a small nod and opened her mouth to speak, but Neya was saved from whatever she was about to say by the appearance of two more women emerging from the tent. They both looked much younger than everyone else. The first was tall, with red hair and bright blue-green eyes. The other, as short as Neya herself, looked stunningly familiar. Why, if not for that tanned skin, she would have been the spitting image of–
"Neya?" the young woman whispered incredulously, staring.
Neya blinked in shock. "Egwene?" she murmured.
The girl stood there frozen in place for half a second before taking a few hasty steps toward her and throwing her arms around her. "Light, it is you. I can't believe it! I thought… We all assumed…" She trailed off, taking a small step back to look at her. "Neya, we thought you were dead," she said in a low voice. "What happened to you?"
The other women were taking it all in, observing the scene quietly but keenly. Before Neya could answer, the ageless woman spoke. "Egwene, do you know this young woman?" she asked crisply.
Egwene half-turned to her, amazement still painted on her tanned face. "I do, Moiraine. She's–"
"Egwene, wait. Please," Neya interrupted her. "I'm sorry, but I need to talk to Jasin Natael. It's important. Do you know where I can find him?"
Egwene frowned at her, obviously confused. "Natael? Rand's bard?"
It was Neya's turn to scowl. "Rand's bard? Rand is here?" she asked dubiously.
"Yes. Mat is here too," she added. "Wait until he sees you! He will be…" She trailed off once more, looking at her with concern. "Neya? Are you alright?"
She knew the blood must have drained from her face; she felt faint. "Mat is here?" she repeated, dread tinting her voice. He couldn't be. After everything she'd been through to keep them all safe, they couldn't be here, of all places, where the danger was strongest. It wasn't fair! What on earth were they doing here? Inhaling deeply, she tried to make her voice steady. "I can't see him right now. I need to find Natael," she repeated stubbornly. "Why would Rand have a bard?" she asked abruptly. That didn't make any sense.
"Rand appointed Natael as Court Bard of the Dragon Reborn," Egwene said with a faint grimace of distate.
Neya felt as if she'd been punched in the stomach. "Rand is the Dragon Reborn?" Her voice was a bare whisper. Egwene nodded, a slight frown creasing her face. "Rand al'Thor is the Dragon Reborn?" she said again, louder this time. They were all staring at her now.
Neya started to laugh. She didn't know what else to do. The sound reminded her vaguely of Elan's mad laughter.
She wasn't sure what she'd expected, but it certainly wasn't this. Lanfear had referred to the Dragon Reborn as Lews Therin. Neya had seen pictures of the man; she had assumed his reincarnation would look as he had when he was known only as the Dragon. She had most definitely not expected Rand bloody al'Thor, of all people, to turn out to be the man who would both save and destroy the world. It changed everything, of course.
The Aiel and the ageless woman had pestered her with questions and, when they saw she wasn't going to be bullied into answering them, they had turned to Egwene. But Neya had been inflexible: she had to see Natael right away. It was urgent. Lives were at stakes. She could not explain. Finally, reluctantly, they had agreed to lead her to the building Rand had taken for himself.
There were two women guarding the entrance, both rather tall. It seemed to be an Aiel thing, as were the red hair and clear eyes. Could it mean that Rand was Aiel, somehow? His height and colouring had always set him apart from everyone else in the Two Rivers.
The Wise One asked if the Car'a'carn was inside. The Chief of Chiefs, Neya translated automatically from the Old Tongue. It appeared to be what the Aiel called Rand. The guards started to shake their head in response when a soft voice came from behind them. They all turned to face the man who was walking toward them.
"I'm right here, Moiraine. What is it this time? Couldn't it wait until morning?" he asked resignedly. Rand al'Thor, the Dragon Reborn. He seemed even taller than she remembered, and larger too, more muscular. His dark red hair was tousled and his eyes looked tired. He was dressed in a fancy-looking green coat with gold embroidery. When no one answered, he eyed them all wearily, then did a double-take when catching sight of her. His eyes widened in shock. "Neya?" he asked in a puzzled voice. She gave him a small grin. Suddenly he was looming over her and crushing her in his arms. He was indeed a lot stronger than he used to be. "Light!" was all he seemed able to manage to say at the moment.
She'd been wondering how she was going to get him alone, to tell him about Lanfear and Ishamael and everything else. This seemed like the best opportunity. Steeling herself, she murmured as softly as she could while he was still hugging her. "We need to talk about Nessosin," she said.
He pulled away from her as if he'd been goosed, glaring at her for a second before regaining his composure. His face became carefully guarded. Everyone was watching them attentively. Finally, Rand jerked his head toward the building. "Come with me," he said harshly. When the other women started to follow, he looked briefly back over his shoulder. "Just her. Alone. That is an order, Moiraine," he added firmly. The women froze in their tracks, staring at Neya. She heard Egwene call out to him, then to her, but she was already following him inside. She didn't look back.