Egwene was studying the map attentively, although if she was honest with herself, she didn't understand everything Mat was saying. He seemed perfectly confident, if somewhat nervous, sometimes muttering under his breath in the Old Tongue, sometimes cursing so everyone could understand him quite clearly. In the distance, Demandred's saidin-amplified voice was booming, demanding that Lews Therin face him in person. Had the Forsaken not yet realised that Rand wasn't on the battlefield? Well, it was all to their advantage, Egwene supposed. Demandred didn't seem inclined to pulverise them until 'Lews Therin' responded to his challenge.

In the command tent, Elayne was resting on a stool with her Warder, Birgitte, at her side. Logain Ablar had returned with them, with his few remaining followers from the Black Tower. Min and Siuan were talking in low voices, probably discussing what had happened earlier. Lan was there as well, staring in the distance, presumably toward Shayol Ghul, where Nynaeve was. Gawyn stood nearby, of course. He never left Egwene's side for longer than he had to. He was engaged in conversation with his brother, Galad. Leilwin stood rigidly a few feet away, still as a statue. Natael was idly plucking at the strings of his harp; the man seemed to carry the thing around like some people carry their sword, and he rarely stopped playing music. Egwene still hadn't figured out exactly what the man was doing here, why Rand had insisted that he remain close by. She had other, more important matters to worry about, however. The Great Captains had all been deposed, in light of the recent realisation that they had been Compelled. While Graendal made the perfect culprit, the Forsaken was supposed to be dead, according to Rand. Still, it was possible that the Compulsion had been placed upon them before her demise.

It looked bad. Bloody catastrophic, in fact, as Mat put it. He wasn't sure how much he could salvage, following the chaos that the confused minds of the Great Captains had wreaked. But he would try; that was one thing for which he could be counted on.

Logain cried out suddenly, shouting 'gateway!' and Egwene whirled around, filled with saidar, linking with Siuan and Elayne and taking command of the circle, ready to attack.

Everyone in the command tent stared as Neya strolled out of the opening, which winked out of existence as soon as she was through. It didn't make sense. If Logain had sensed the gateway opening, it must have been created with saidin. Admittedly, that was hardly the only thing that didn't make sense at present.

There was silence, everyone temporarily stunned speechless by Neya's impromptu reappearance, after months of absence.

Mat was the first to recover. "Blood and ashes! You have got to stop doing that! I thought you were dead. Again! Flaming ashes," he muttered once more, for good measure. He walked up to his sister and hugged her awkwardly for a brief moment. "Are you alright? After what happened with Taim…" he said uncertainly.

Egwene finally found her voice. "Mat. You should step back."

He turned to her, frowning. "What? Egwene, it's Neya!" She refrained from rolling her eyes. As if she couldn't see that.

"She's wearing Sharan clothing," Egwene explained. "The women who attacked our camp wore the same blouses." She knew she was right about the clothes, but she couldn't make sense of this. How on earth had Neya ended up in Shara, of all places?

Before Mat could reply, Neya spoke. "She's right, Mat. I was in Shara for the past few months." Her voice sounded…different, somehow. She seemed more poised, more mature. Her posture was upright; she radiated confidence. This was not the Neya Egwene remembered. "Bao brought me there. I assume you've puzzled out who he is by now?" she asked, looking at Egwene, who nodded curtly.

"She's under Compulsion," Logain said before Neya had a chance to continue. He was studying her with narrowed eyes, arms crossed. "Or she's been brainwashed. She's different from before," he went on with a frown.

"Oi!" Mat protested. "Watch your tongue, man. That's my sister you're talking about." Logain looked at him in surprise, as did some of the others in the tent.

"Logain, it's not like that," Neya said softly. "Please, you need to hear me out." Once again, she looked at Egwene as she spoke. "Eggs, you were-"

"Show some respect, girl," Gawyn hissed, reaching for his sword, "when you address the Amyrlin Seat." Egwene put a hand on his arm in a placating gesture.

Neya looked unfazed. "Egwene," she said again, "you of all people should understand. You were with the Seanchan for weeks. Does that make you one of them? Did they manage to brainwash you? Why couldn't I have remained true to myself in captivity, just like you did?"

Egwene regarded her old friend thoughtfully, considering. Siuan took the brief silence as an opportunity to whisper in her ear. "Mother, the girl is ta'veren. She glows as brightly as Cauthon does. Do you really know her?" Egwene nodded. It made sense; at the very least, it would explain why Neya always popped up in the most unexpected places, at the most unexpected times.

Min approached on her other side. "I would love to tell you what I see, but she's a channeler and ta'veren besides," her friend muttered darkly. "There are so many random images swirling around her, it makes me dizzy. One thing is clear though: she is no Darkfriend." Egwene turned to her, raising an eyebrow questioningly. "There's this…aura enveloping her. It's not unlike your own." Now Egwene was frowning, too. Her own? She had an aura? "Did I never mention it?" Min shrugged. "Well, you said you didn't want to know what I saw around you. Anyway, it's a bit like what I see around Logain, except for the colour. It's pure white. It's the colour I associate with people who serve the Light, as opposed to the pitch black I see around the Forsaken. I saw it around Semirhage, anyway," she amended. "Of course, it doesn't mean she's not under Compulsion. She might even have been brainwashed, but if that's the case, she's still convinced that she walks in the Light."

"Neya," Egwene asked, raising her voice for all to hear, "if Demandred had you all this time, why did he suddenly left you unsupervised, long enough to allow you to escape? And if you can Travel, why didn't you come back earlier?"

"I can't make a gateway, if that's what you're asking. I had one of the male Ayyad open one for me. Bao left me behind without guards because he trusts me," she went on casually, as if it were a perfectly reasonable explanation. The fact that she would believe such a thing seemed to tip the scale heavily in favour of brainwashing or Compulsion, but Neya had a point. The Seanchan hadn't succeeded in breaking Egwene's will, and Neya had always been stubborn, even by Two Rivers' standards. She had to be given the benefit of the doubt – for now, at least.

"Why did Demandred even take you in the first place? What happened?" Logain demanded. "I never got the truth out of Taim, even after..." He trailed off abruptly. His days spent in the Black Tower's dungeons were still a sore subject.

Neya shook her head. "I would never have left on my own initiative, Logain. I wouldn't have abandoned you like that. Bao – Demandred – just showed up that night and took me to Shara. He claimed I was to be used as leverage. But I had no idea that Mazrim was a Darkfriend before that, I assure you. How did he die?" she asked Logain. Her face betrayed no emotion, but her voice was tight.

The tall man sniggered. "Die? He's not dead, lass. He's one of them. M'Hael, they call him now." Neya's face drained of colour. Her previous impassiveness melted off. She looked genuinely upset.

"You didn't know?" Egwene enquired shrewdly.

"No," Neya whispered. "That bloody son of a flaming goat!" she cursed fiercely. Her fists were clenched at her sides.

"That's a euphemism if I ever heard one," Logain stated bitterly.

"Not Mazrim," Neya said. "I was told he was dead. Trolloc balls!" she exclaimed, exhaling sharply. "I wonder… If they made him a Forsaken… Could that explain what happened to our bond?" she murmured to herself.

Everyone stared at her in stunned silence once again. This time, Egwene was the first to recover. "Bond? You bonded Taim?" She couldn't keep the incredulity from her voice.

"He bonded me," Neya corrected. "I was too far away to feel much from him, and I believe he voluntarily masked it, but about a week ago it just…vanished. I can't really explain it. I just woke up to realise I couldn't feel him at all anymore. I assumed he had severed the connection himself, on purpose, but then I was told he died." She grimaced. "I have only a vague idea of what's happened here. Bao didn't tell me much, except that Semirhage and Osan'gar had died."

"Osan'gar?" Egwene repeated. She'd never heard that name before.

"Bao said he was Aginor reborn. Or reincarnated, same difference. You are aware that the Dark One is putting deceased Forsaken in new bodies, aren't you?" Neya asked around uncertainly. "At least those who weren't killed with Balefire," she amended. "I think Aran'gar might be dead as well, something to do with Graendal betraying her. I mean him. She – he – was the new version of Balthamel." She glanced at their bewildered expressions, before finally settling her eyes on Egwene. "You do know all that, don't you?"

"How are we supposed to know?" Galad demanded, stepping forward. "None of us are Darkfriends. We don't have access to the same knowledge as you obviously do."

Neya opened her mouth to retort, but Egwene was faster. "There's no need for that, Galad. She's not a Darkfriend. Why would she tell us that, if she was?" she went on when her husband's half-brother looked ready to protest. "I realise that this might be a trap, that Demandred might have sent her, but I do not believe she's turned to the Shadow. I won't believe it, not until I have evidence of the contrary." Egwene fixed her gaze back on her old friend. "We need you to tell us everything you know."

"Of course," Neya put in quickly. "But Eggs, that's not why I'm here. Not just that, anyway." She sighed heavily. "Look, I know how it looks. I disappeared for months, and before that I was with Mazrim. Considering how things turned out with him, it makes perfect sense for you not to trust me. I expected that. But will you at least hear me out? Please? I will tell you what I know, but this is beyond important."

As if on cue, there was another commotion. Mat and Logain both cursed, and Lan had his sword out before anyone else had time to react. Gawyn and Leilwin both jumped in front of Egwene, shielding her with their bodies and almost hiding her view of the man who had just materialised inside the tent. Apparently, no one had sensed a gateway opening. In fact, there was no trace of one.

Egwene linked with Siuan, Elayne and even Logain this time, but she couldn't shield the newcomer. She tried to send a weave of Fire, then bonds made of Air, but nothing seemed to touch him. The weaves...melted as they came close to him. She glanced at Logain, who shook his head in disbelief. It wasn't saidin.

The traitor Mazrim Taim surveyed them all with a bored expression. "I'm not here to destroy you," he said dismissively before turning his attention to Neya.

"Mazrim. It's true. You're alive," Neya whispered. She looked shell-shocked, even though she'd heard the news beforehand. Clearly, she hadn't believed it. She took a few steps towards the Saldaean, but Taim gestured for her to keep her distance. The look on Neya's face was almost painful to witness.

"I'm so glad you remember who I am," the newly-raised Forsaken declared dryly.

"Mazrim–"

"If you were wondering what happened to the bond, allow me to enlighten you. I've been masking it for months, practically since you were taken. I figured you wouldn't appreciate sensing my feelings as I was forced to do unspeakable things, not to mention my recent visit to Shayol Ghul." He took a step toward Neya, then thought better of it, stopping in his tracks and placing his arms behind his back, as if to refrain from reaching out to her. He may present an expressionless façade, but the intense yearning in his dark eyes told a different story. His voice betrayed none of this, however. It was cold, with a wry undertone. "I didn't particularly enjoy it myself. Very gloomy place, and I could have hoped for a better sponsor than Demandred, as you can imagine." Neya paled visibly. "I don't know what happened to the bond afterward. It went…numb. I could tell that you were alive, but that was it. No emotions, no sense of where you were." He smirked. "Until a minute ago, when I felt a vague tingling sensation, warning me that you were nearby."

Before Neya could reply, Logain spoke. His voice dripped with hate and scorn. "Do you really think you can take us all at once, traitor? There are several of us, and only one of you." Egwene rolled her eyes in frustration. At least he didn't say how many channelers there really were inside the tent.

"I believe I could. You'd be surprised at what one can do with the True Power, Logain. I don't care to find out, however," Taim answered with a shrug. He never took his eyes off Neya.

"Why have you come here, Taim?" Egwene asked him sharply. Why in the Light would the man appear right inside the tent on his own? What twisted scheme was this?

Taim didn't answer her. He was still intent on Neya. "Have you discovered a way to Heal the madness?" His voice was now so soft that Egwene had to strain her ears to make out the question. Neya nodded slowly. She has? Egwene thought with wonder. Independently of Nynaeve?

Taim turned to Egwene. "Then I'm here to make a deal, Mother," he announced with mock cheerfulness.

"Do you seriously think we'll make a deal with you? Are you bloody insane?" Logain asked incredulously.

Taim favoured him with a crooked smile. "I am, as a matter of fact. Hence my previous question."

Before Logain could rant on, Egwene stepped forward, Gawyn and Leilwin on her heels. "What deal? What do you have to offer us in exchange for your sanity?" she demanded. "Will you and your men return to the Light and fight the Dark One's puppets?" They were badly outnumbered, now that Demandred had unexpectedly appeared with an entire army. With the rogue Black Tower men on their side, they might still be able to turn the battle around. With Mat's knack for devising strategies, with his improbable luck, they might.

Taim let out a dry, mirthless chuckle. "If you were not so clearly losing, some of my men might be persuaded to do just that, but as it is, I'm afraid my defection is more likely to cause them to rally Demandred's camp than yours. As for the others… Well, I'm sure Logain's told you what happened to them. It's no use trying to bring them over."

Neya was frowning at him. "Why? What happened to them?"

Taim's wry smile vanished instantly, but it was Logain who answered. "He's Turned dozens of them to the Shadow, against their will. It can be done, if you happen to have thirteen Myrddraal and thirteen Dreadlords at you beck and call," he said angrily. He had been made to endure the process quite a few times, from what Egwene had gathered. She was curious to learn how he had withstood the Turning – many of his fellow Asha'man hadn't been so lucky.

Neya didn't say anything, but the look she gave Taim caused him to swallow. He dropped his gaze. "Anyway," he went on, speaking to the ground, "none of them were ever following me out of loyalty. They want power and a place in the Dark One's new world." Egwene noticed that he used the term 'Dark One', as any of them would. Though it might mean nothing – perhaps he was using it out of habit. He had been concealing his true affiliation for months, at the very least.

"That's the deal, then? We gain…you, and you get to recover your sanity?" Logain scoffed.

"You know very well what I have to give you," Taim countered in a clipped tone. "Are you really going to make me believe you have no interest in retrieving the seals?"

"Not at all," Egwene replied calmly. They had to get the seals, somehow, but could they really trust Taim to hand them over, even if they managed to come to an agreement? "Do you have them with you?"

"I brought one, as a show of good faith. The others are hidden in a secure location." The Saldaean took out a small disc out of his coat pocket and flippantly tossed it to Egwene. Thankfully, Min had quick reflexes. She caught it deftly before it could crash to the ground. Burn the man! No one would be foolish enough to handle the fragile seals with such carelessness. Unless Taim had truly lost his mind. Min carefully handed the disc to Egwene, who manipulated it with extreme precaution. It appeared to be authentic, but…

"How do we know it's not a counterfeit?" Logain asked the question that was on everyone's mind.

"Break it and find out," Taim offered with a sneer. Logain growled, placing a hand on his sword, and took a few determined steps toward the other man, but Lan grabbed his arm.

"You are willing to give us the seals, provided that Neya Heals the madness in you," Egwene recapped. Could it be as easy as that? Was Mat's legendary luck finally kicking in?

Taim snorted. "Don't be foolish. Do you have any idea what Demandred would do to me if he knew I was even talking to you? He taught me a few tricks, you know. For instance, did you know that there is a weave that can sear the flesh off your body and keep you alive during most of the process?" he asked no one in particular. "I need a promise that I will be safe from him – and the others, but mostly him – until the fighting abates." Logain seemed ready to protest but Egwene shushed him to allow the upstart Forsaken to pursue. "I also want your word that I will not be prosecuted, should al'Thor somehow be victorious. I will agree to be exiled to the far end of the world, never to return again, but I will not be severed or harmed in any way."

Light, the man was insane. Egwene could not agree to these terms, not after everything he'd done, not even if he'd accomplished some of it under duress or because of the taint – something that could never be proven. In any case, becoming a Forsaken and pledging his soul to the Dark One had been his own choice, ultimately. "We must take this under consideration," she told him guardedly.

Taim gave her a mocking bow. "You have one hour. The offer expires after that." With a last glance toward Neya, he vanished. He didn't open a gateway; one second he was standing there, and the next he was gone. The air seemed to warp around him for an instant. They all stared at the spot he had just vacated for a long time.