Logain had bathed and been given a change of clothes, a simple shirt and faded dark breeches. He'd been on the road for… Was it two weeks? Three? He wasn't sure. He'd been too focused on his destination to care about much else. Too delighted, too relieved to be able to channel again, to be free at last. The black-coated men assured him Taim would be notified of his arrival, and an arrogant, golden-haired youth came soon afterward to let him know his audience would take place in an hour. The same man – Asha'man Mishraile, he'd introduced himself – was now leading him through a crowded street, where Logain had to dodge running children and men and women hurrying in all directions. There were quite a lot of dogs around as well. Logain knew the animals enjoyed the company of male channelers, unlike cats, who preferred Aes Sedai.

The young man led him to what looked like a small palace, or a large mansion. He knocked on the door and it opened a moment later to reveal a pretty young woman with wavy brown hair. Logain smiled at her, but she didn't appear to notice. "Come on in. He's in the study." She moved away from the door to let them pass, without a glance at Logain. As he moved closer to her, he realised that the girl seemed to… glow. He remembered seeing that kind of aura around someone before, a young man who stood near the Royal Gardens of Andor when Logain was brought inside the city in a cage, what seemed like a thousand years ago. He hadn't paid much attention to it back then, but now he was curious to know what it meant – if it meant anything. There was no time, however. His guide was already walking ahead and the girl had gone back to what appeared to be the kitchen. Logain wondered if he'd just been brought in through the back door and thoroughly ignored by a servant.

Logain followed Mishraile to the next room on the right, where another man sat writing at a desk. He had his back to them. "Just a moment," he said without looking at them. They stood waiting at the door for a minute before he finally stood up. He was a tall man, close to Logain's own height, and obviously Saldaean. Mazrim Taim. "Thank you, Asha'man." The dismissal was clear in his voice. The younger man bowed slightly and departed. "Sit down," he went on, addressing Logain and indicating some comfortable-looking chairs. Logain took the one nearest to the door. Taim sat across from him and studied him for a moment. "You claim to be Logain Ablar," he said eventually.

Logain snorted. "It's not a claim, it's a fact. I am Logain Ablar. Former False Dragon and dispossessed minor Ghealdanin noble," he added bitterly. "And you claim to be Mazrim Taim." He fixed the other man's eyes steadily.

"M'Hael," the other man corrected him. Logain frowned at him. M'Hael? If his rudiments of Old Tongue served him, that meant… "It means 'leader' in the Old Tongue," the Saldaean explained contemptuously, as if he were reading his mind. It did mean that, but the fact that there was no prefix implied that he led nothing specifically or, rather, that he led everything. Literally, it would translate as 'leader of all'. Is it an inaccuracy on the man's part or does he really think that highly of himself? Logain wondered idly. "And unlike you," Taim went on, "I have people to back that claim."

Logain sneered. "Many people can confirm it for you, if you can be bothered to ask. It's like I told your men, Taim," he emphasised the name slightly, "I was captured and gentled, then I escaped the Tower – the White Tower – and made my way to Salidar, where the rebel Aes Sedai have gathered. You've heard about that, surely?" he asked with an arched eyebrow. Taim nodded sharply. "When I was there, I was Healed by a young woman named Nynaeve al'Meara. I don't know how she did it," he said truthfully, spreading his hands apart, "but I swear it's true. I will swear an oath on it, if you wish," he said with a shrug.

Taim was still studying him, his dark eyes glittering. "Would al'Thor know you?" Logain shook his head. He had never met al'Thor before. Taim was silent for another moment. "Seize saidin," he demanded abruptly. "Hold as much of it as you can."

Logain complied without a word. As always lately, he felt relief mixed with distaste as the Power filled him. He had to admit that he had not missed the taint. Saidin surged through him as he held as much as he could safely manage without harming himself. Taim nodded briefly, more to himself than to Logain, and gestured for him to release, which Logain did reluctantly. There was a soft knock on the door, but the girl didn't wait for an answer before walking in. She carried a tray with cups and a pot of tea, as well as some biscuits. She set it down on the table then took a chair for herself and settled down with them.

Logain looked at her in surprise, then at Taim, but the man didn't say anything. He seemed lost in thought. The girl turned to Logain with a bright smile. "You're Logain?" she asked with obvious curiosity. He nodded, confused. Apparently, she was not a mere servant. "I'm Neya," she introduced herself.

Neya? The woman who supposedly ran the place with Taim? She was barely more than a girl! "Pleasure, miss," he said gallantly. He smiled once more, and this time she gave him a small grin in return. Light, she was pretty. As if reading his mind, her grin widened and he felt himself blush slightly. Taim was looking at him with narrowed eyes. Logain cleared his throat roughly. "Look, it's easy. You obviously know how to make gateways. All you have to do is find someone who knows me, and they'll tell you I'm who I claim to be."

"No, I don't think so." Taim turned to Neya. "Can you Delve him?" he asked her.

She appeared surprised by the question – although not as surprised as Logain was that the girl could channel – but she quickly rose from her seat and walked up to Logain. He looked up at her, although she was short enough that he barely had to raise his head. "May I?" she asked him. He nodded, a trifle uncertainly. She put her hands on his temples and his skin broke into goose bumps as she embraced saidar. She stared at his forehead for a minute or so before finally stepping back. Taim had gone to stand by the window and was staring outside. Neya joined him and they talked softly for a moment but, no matter how he strained, Logain couldn't hear what was being said. He could have, if he'd seized saidin, but he doubted the other man would appreciate.

Their hushed conversation lasted less than a minute, then the girl came back to pour the tea. She handed him a cup and took one for herself before settling back in her chair. Taim was still standing near the window, his back to them. "When did you realise you could channel? How many years ago?" Neya asked him.

"About seven years."

She seemed to consider that for a moment. "How long were you gentled for? Almost two years?" Logain nodded sharply. This was not something he was comfortable discussing, not even now, especially with a female channeler. They lapsed into silence. The girl looked thoughtful.

Taim finally walked back to his chair. "I believe you are who you say you are," he said cautiously, "but why have you come here? You can already channel better than most. There's not much I can teach you."

What had the girl told Taim that he suddenly believed him? Could she tell if someone was lying by Delving them? "Where else can I go?" he replied bitterly. "The rebel Aes Sedai may have let me go, but the White Tower will still be on the lookout for me. Here, I can benefit from al'Thor's amnesty, just like you."

Taim nodded. "You may remain here. Neya will show you around and we will discuss further tonight." He got up once more. "I have much to attend to." Without another word, he left.

Logain stared after him for a moment. What had the girl said to convince him he was indeed himself? And why did she glow like that? He opened his mouth to ask any of these questions but she forestalled him. "How is Nynaeve?" she asked eagerly. "Did you see Egwene, too?"

He was slightly taken aback. How did she know them? "Nynaeve is… fine," he told her. "Stubborn woman. But I owe her. More than she knows, I'd wager. The other one – Egwene? – she's their Amyrlin now." She seemed to know them personally. Was she an Aes Sedai? She certainly didn't look - or sound - like one.

Neya's eyes opened wide at that. "Egwene is the Amyrlin? Are you sure? A short girl, with long dark hair and large brown eyes?" Logain nodded. "Burn me!" she muttered incredulously. Then she let out an amused chuckle. "All things considered, I shouldn't be surprised. She's probably fitter for the stole than anyone else. She was always so bossy when we were younger. Always scolding us. But she's capable, and she's tough. She'll be great. She'll be the grandest Amyrlin the world has ever known, you mark my words." Logain didn't answer. From what he'd seen, the girl did appear to know what she was doing. "Anyway," Neya went on, "we should get started. I'll show you around quickly, but I have sword practice in half an hour. Come on." She took sword lessons? And she could channel, and she glowed. The girl was an enigma. Her relation to Taim was unclear to say the least. He would have to ask about that as well. As he stood up, he began to wonder exactly what he'd just walked into.

Logain met with Taim again that evening. It was a rather brief discussion; the Saldaean made excuses after barely half an hour. Neya had already explained how the ranks were attributed, so he supposed it made sense for Taim to hand out both pins from the start. Taim further explained that he gave the Asha'man more advanced lessons and that Logain was welcome to join them. Logain said that he would think about it. The older man had then proceeded to question him about his time in Salidar.

He couldn't say what it was exactly, but something about Taim troubled him – disturbed him, in fact. It might have been nothing more than his patronising, almost condescending manner towards Logain. Or maybe it was his obvious vain streak - what sort of man wore such ridiculously fancy clothes? Logain couldn't fathom vanity in a man.

In any case, Logain was fairly certain that they wouldn't become best friends any time soon.

Neya was another matter entirely. She had appeared somewhat aloof, when they were in Taim's study, but she turned out to be quite amiable. And she had an amazing smile.

She seemed to be constantly surrounded by two little girls, although neither child could possibly be her own. Neya couldn't be more than eighteen, nineteen at most. She filled him in on life at the Black Tower. Everybody was given their share of chores, except for the Asha'man, who were only occasionally given guard duty or sent on missions abroad. Logain would be given a barrack for now, until it was made clear what Taim intended to do with him. She asked him if he would be interested in taking sword practice and he shrugged noncommittally, although he supposed the exercise would do him some good, after so long. He wondered how the girl managed to even hold a sword properly, she was so tiny.

It had therefore come as a shock when he finally understood that she was in fact the one who trained the men. She must have realised that he hadn't caught on yet because she asked him to demonstrate what he could do when they reached the practice yard. She offered him a practice sword and took one for herself and they stood facing each other in the yard as the rest of the men gathered around them. He heard not a few sniggers and even outright whoops when he asked her if she wouldn't prefer he demonstrated with someone his own size or at least waited for their tutor to show up.

She gave him quite a trashing, he didn't mind admitting. She probably somewhat relied on the fact that most men were likely to underestimate her – or dismiss her entirely, as he had stupidly done – but even once he understood who he was really facing, he'd been hard-pressed to keep up with her. She was stunningly fast and more vicious than a grizzled alley cat. She hadn't seriously hurt him, of course, but his pride had taken a painful blow.

After practice, Neya had left him in the care of several Dedicated and departed to attend to other matters.

Later that afternoon, they all gathered in the large tent where dinner was served. There were so many people that they had to divide the services. The children and women ate first, then the Soldiers, and finally, the Dedicated. Apparently, the Asha'man usually took their meals in their own barracks or, in Taim's case, in his mansion.

An exception was made for Neya's two miniature escorts; apparently, Ilawen and Karys were allowed to eat whenever and wherever they wanted. He expected Neya herself to join them, but she explained that she took her meals with Taim, so they could review the events of the day.

Ilawen had apparently decided that Logain made a comfortable chair and stayed with him for a long time, pestering him with questions during the whole meal, under the amused grins of the other Dedicated. She didn't quit until Karys scolded her and told her that they should wash up and brush their teeth before Neya came back to tuck them in.

The other men who shared his table on that first day had introduced themselves earlier as Androl Genhald, Evin Vinchova and Taril Canler. Genhald appeared to be a reliable, down-to-earth man and quite capable despite his weakness in the Power. He could barely channel enough to light a candle but, the others explained, he had a special Talent for creating the largest and most incredible gateways. Genhald had to be pressed to demonstrate, but he agreed eventually. Although gateways were a novelty to Logain, it seemed improbable that the man could channel enough to make even a small one. He made six, all simultaneously and of various sizes. It was truly astounding.

Canler bragged about the weave he'd discovered to bond women and offered to show him how to do it, but Logain declined. He couldn't see the use of such a weave, not for himself, anyway.

Vinchova couldn't have been more than sixteen. He spoke very little and seemed uncomfortable at having been raised to Dedicated so fast. He appeared almost frightened of Logain, or maybe he was simply impressed by his tale of being gentled and then Healed.

Logain set to find out more about Taim and his activities. The Saldaean was obviously neglecting some of the students in favour of others, although it was unclear why some men made it into his advanced class when others did not. It didn't seem to be related to their strength in the Power, or not only related to that. The Soldiers and Dedicated didn't know what was taught during those special lessons. It seemed Taim was inflexible where discipline was concerned, although the men agreed, almost reluctantly, that he was mostly fair in that regard.

When Logain asked about Neya's place at the Tower and her relationship with Taim, he sensed a slight unease from his fellow channelers, which he interpreted to mean that they were lovers. He had suspected, of course, but it was still rather surprising. They didn't seem alike in any way. He supposed he was also a bit disappointed. He'd had half a mind to go after the girl himself.

Apparently, she was in charge of pretty much everything that didn't directly pertain to channeling, from the scheduling of meals to the repartition of the chores. The men were fond of her and spoke highly of her, although they clearly didn't approve of her relationship with Taim. Their opinion of the Saldaean was ambiguous: they didn't like him, but they seemed to respect him, if somewhat grudgingly.

After dinner, Logain walked back to the barrack that had been appointed to him and met Neya on the way. "Off to nurse your bruises?" she asked with a sly grin.

"I fear it will be some time before I regain feeling in my left arm," he told her impassively.

"Light, I'm sorry," she said, eyes wide. "I should have offered to Heal you. I don't know what I was thinking." She looked genuinely embarrassed; she wasn't making fun of him.

He let out a hearty laugh. "I'm just kidding, lass. Don't worry, I'll live. I've been through worse than that." Worse than you can imagine, he reflected sourly.

"Are you sure? It's no trouble at all." Logain shook his head amiably. His pride had taken all it could handle in one day. "Alright then. Don't let me keep you. Have a good night." She gave him a bright smile. Light, she's so pretty. He gave her his best grin in return and stared at her ruefully as she made her way to the children's barracks. Well, nothing was etched in stone. Logain could be quite charming, when he put his mind to it. Taim had better watch out.