She went back to her room – Rand's room – to find the Dragon Reborn and Natael focusing on nothing she could see. It had to be weaves of saidin, the male half of the Source. She considered for a moment then decided to join them. She sat on a cushion next to her supposed lover. Natael scowled at her. "My Lord Dragon," he said crisply, "perhaps it would be best for us to continue this lesson another time."
Rand eyed Neya warily, but he simply shrugged. "Why? She can't see anything. If she wants to sit here and stare at invisible weaves, it's all the same to me. Show me again," he ordered the older man.
She watched them work, impressed at how relaxed Rand appeared around the former Forsaken. Natael, on the other hand, seemed agitated. She listened to them with only half an ear, mulling over everything that had happened today, particularly Mat's account of the past year. She also considered Moiraine's warning about channeling. The Aes Sedai was right, of course. Neya would need to learn to use the One Power properly, eventually. After everything Mat had told her about the other woman, however, she couldn't find it in her to trust her. She would ask Egwene tomorrow.
The men were done with their lesson. Rand was getting to his feet and Natael had already retreated to his cot, picking up his harp. Rand turned to Neya. "Are you alright? I didn't see you all day," he said, looking concerned. "Did Lanfear come to you?"
She shook her head hastily. "No, I haven't seen her. I woke up late, spent the afternoon with Mat, then sparred with Moiraine's Warder," she told him.
"You sparred with Lan?" he repeated dubiously.
"Indeed. I picked up a few skills while I was away," she explained with a casual shrug.
"I see. I'm sorry, I have to meet with the clan chiefs. Are you staying here?" he asked, glancing in Natael's direction.
"Yes. Jay and I have some bonding to do," she said. Rand frowned slightly at 'Jay' but didn't reply. He left the room a moment later.
Neya walked up to the older man and sat beside him on the cot. He turned to her, scowling darkly. "What do you think you're doing?" he demanded.
She smiled innocently. "I just want to listen to you play the harp, that's all. Elan always said you were the best harpist of your Age," she told him truthfully. Elan had also said that the man was vain and arrogant – like most of the Forsaken. In any case, a little flattery never hurt.
Natael's frown faded somewhat. He sighed dramatically. "Fine. But don't talk, or move," he commanded. "And don't breathe too loudly," he added nastily.
Then he began to play. The man might be a nuisance, but he did play beautifully. Leaning back against the wall, she closed her eyes to enjoy the music. She wasn't familiar with the tune.
He let the last note dissolve into the air and a hush engulfed the room. They didn't talk for a long time. Eventually he cleared his throat. "Are you going to stay there all night?" he asked dryly.
"I would sooner eat my own liver," she replied with a bright smile, standing up. "Good night, dumpling."
"Don't call me that, woman," he growled at her. "As if the situation wasn't bad enough, now I have to endure you as well," he muttered sourly.
She didn't bother to answer this time. They would have to be more civil toward each other, however, otherwise this masquerade would break the moment they were seen in public.
She set to find Egwene the next morning. She found her friend filling jugs of water near the Wise One's tent. "Good morning," she called out cheerfully. "Need some help with that?"
Egwene started, nearly dropping her jug, and glared at her in reproach. "Oh, so now you're talking to me?" she said bitterly.
"Eggs, I'm sorry. It's been a long… week," she finished lamely. "Can we talk? We have so much to catch up on."
The other girl straightened up, carefully placing the jug down. "Let me just take care of this first."
After she had disposed of the jugs, they decided to sit in the same spot where she had talked with Mat the day before. "I'm really sorry about yesterday. It's all a lot to take in," Neya said softly. "I never imagined I'd find you three here. And everything that's happened…" She trailed off, suddenly at a loss for words.
"I'm more curious as to what happened to you," Egwene told her. "Rand and Mat haven't told me anything, and it seems Moiraine didn't get much out of you. Where have you been? Why did you disappear like that? You didn't run away, did you? Do you have any idea what it's been like for Natti and Abell, and the girls?" she went on in a low voice. "Light, even Mat looked depressed."
Neya's heart broke at the mention of her family. As if she would ever abandon them without a word, after everything they had done for her. But that was what they had convened with Rand and Natael. She had left home to find adventure and gotten tangled with the gleeman some time afterward. Sighing inwardly, she didn't have to feint the blush of shame creeping in her cheeks. "I was bored," she started to say. She went on quickly when she saw Egwene's expression of outrage. "I thought I would be back in a month or two. I hadn't planned on being away for so long, I swear. I just got carried away, I guess." She spread her hands guiltily. "I don't need a lecture, Eggs. I know I screwed up. Please don't be angry. I need your help. Please," she repeated fervently, meeting her friend's large brown eyes.
She heard Egwene swallow audibly, as if she were holding back tears. Her voice was a bit unsteady. "Neya, we all thought you were dead. You do realise that, don't you?" she asked, clearly not expecting an answer. Neya nodded miserably; she could feel her own tears threaten to spill. Egwene sighed. "It's not my place to lecture you," she went on more firmly. "I'm just glad you're alright," she finished with a tremulous smile. Suddenly they were both crying in each other's arms.
They pulled away eventually, sniffling, looking slightly embarrassed. Neya gave her friend a small smile. "How about we changed the subject?"
Egwene nodded eagerly. "Can we talk about the fact that you can channel? You are aware that you can channel, aren't you?" she asked with a slight frown.
"Yes, of course. And as a matter of fact, I was hoping we would talk about that," Neya told her truthfully. "You can channel too, can't you?" she added after a brief pause.
Egwene nodded. "Moiraine began to teach me soon after we left the Two Rivers. Now the Wise Ones have taken me on as their apprentice," she said brightly. "I've learned a lot with them already, although their methods are rather… unusual. Has anyone taught you anything?"
Neya shook her head ruefully. "I've only channeled twice so far, without really knowing what I was doing. I Healed someone," she explained.
"Healing? But that's one of the most difficult ability to master! How could you have done it without knowing what you were doing? Did they survive?" Egwene wondered dubiously.
Neya gave her a tight smile. "It was the same person both times, actually. And yes, he did survive." And then he got himself killed anyway, she thought bitterly. "I don't even know how to embrace the Source, to tell you the truth," she admitted.
"You of all people should know that channeling isn't safe without proper training, even for a woman, especially considering how strong you are," Egwene told her. That was the second time someone had mentioned how strong she was. How could they know that? "You should ask Moiraine for advice, at least. I know the boys warned you about her, but she's not a bad person, Neya. She can help you. I don't trust myself to teach you on my own," she said simply.
"I'll think about it. Egwene, what happened to you, exactly? Mat was rather vague about everyone else and he said he couldn't remember most of what happened after picking up that cursed dagger in Aridhol. He told me about Falme, told me you were there, but why were you there when you were supposed to be training at the White Tower?" she asked curiously.
Egwene's face had gone very pale. She recounted the events of the past year from her point of view, speaking softly, but looking fierce whenever she mentioned the Seanchan. All in all, I really don't have much cause to complain, Neya found herself thinking.