Just as Rejik turned the corner that led to his quarters, he was knocked 10 feet back and breathless by a fireball. Light, if I didn't have my shield up…
Rand appeared in front of him. "Thought you could get away with bringing one of your friends with you?" He was filled to the point of breaking with saidin--almost as much as Rejik.
"My Lord Dragon," he explained petulantly as he released saidin, "Birgitte told me that my quarters had been trashed! I was investigating it, and she gave me permission to channel, too," he added as an afterthought. Well…sort of, anyway.
Rand narrowed his eyes. "Let's see for ourselves."
When they got to Rejik's quarters, they had been trashed. Well, as trashed as a Dedicated's quarters could be. Rand started looking around the quarters.
Rejik thought of something. "Whoever did this, my Lord Dragon, was probably in it to kill you. We should, if it pleases you, go to your chambers and see."
Rand looked up at nothing and muttered something. "All right, Dedicated," he said harshly, "but no saidin from you."
Rejik hid a long-suffering glare and said, "As you command, my Lord Dragon."
***
Min sat in Rand's room, fiddling with her wine cup. She turned and looked at his chair. Light, this Rejik is no Fedwin Morr, Rand! Rolling her eyes she turned around and was greeted by the sight of an unfamiliar woman.
"What are you doing in Lews's palace, wench?" Instead of answering, Min gaped at her aura. Light, this woman loves Rand!
Shaking her head impatiently, she bound Min with saidar and looked around for some parchment and ink. When she found them, she wrote a short note on Rand's chair.
You are still mine, Lews.
--Daughter of the Night--
With a smug nod, she wove herself in folded light and made a portal. Now for Ilyena.
***
Needless to say that Rand was surprised when he found Min. With a frown on his face, he undid the weaves and hugged her.
Rejik shuffled his feet a little. He started looking around Rand's room out of sheer boredom. "Dedicated!" came Rand's voice. "There is a parchment on my throne. Retrieve it." Once Rejik, who was surprisingly well versed in history for a man that could channel, read the parchment, he paled. Light, Birgitte!
"This woman is going to kill Queen Elayne, my Lord Dragon!" When Rand looked at it, he cursed and made a gateway to Andor, and Rejik flew out of the room. Light, where are you, Birgitte?
Sweat poured down his face as he rounded the last turn to Birgitte's quarters. He knocked frantically, but no one answered, so he destroyed the door with saidin.
Birgitte, in the middle of dressing, gave him an indignant look and was about to say something when Rejik cut her off and grabbed her by the shoulders. "Birgitte, where's Elayne? This is important!"
Birgitte tested her warder bond. "Somewhere about 50 leagues west from here. Why?" She found she was talking to mid-air. She shook her head and continued dressing. Men!
***
Elayne was debating furiously with the Sea Folk delegation. "I am trying my best to provide you with teachers! There are just not enough sisters…willing to participate in this." She winced at the pause between sisters and willing.
"We have no need of your teachers, Elayne," one of the Sea Folk said contemptuously. "We already have a teacher…that will show you the price of lying to the Ath'an Miere!"
A woman stepped out from the edge of the circle. A small smile formed on her lips as she embraced saidar.
Elayne grabbed for it in the same instant, but knew she had very little chance against this woman. Light, she's as strong as Nynaeve… Her thoughts were cut off by a torrent of pain. "You think that you can steal Lews away from me in this life as well, Ilyena? I have learned from my mistake--you're not going to live to steal his heart. He is mine!"
Elayne knew she was close to dying. Her vision was getting blurry, her heart slowing. The last thing she remembered seeing was a flash of light.
Rand stood over her, weeping. "What have you done, Lanfear? The light burn your flaming hide!"
Lanfear gave an amused smile. "That isn't my name any longer, Lews. Are you ready to accept that we were meant for each other?"
Even Rand's eyes shook in rage. He embraced saidin and hit Lanfear as hard as he could. It was when another gateway opened behind Elayne that Lanfear cried out. Rand didn't seem to notice, though.
Rejik looked at the limp body on the ground and recognized it to be Elayne's. If she's dead… He stooped down and started weaving Healing when he was knocked over backwards with saidar. He looked to the combatants. Lanfear had lost a second by channeling towards him…Rand would get the upper hand next time. He dove toward Elayne, and wove a barrier, not healing, counting on the fact that Lanfear could not see saidin.
It paid off. His barrier shook a little, but it held steady. He turned his head just in time to see her barely escape through a portal. To contest the Lord Dragon with the Power…she must have been strong!
Rand walked over and said, rather grudgingly, "Thank you, Dedicated. Heal Elayne and report to my chambers." Rejik complied and made a vortex--something new he was testing with saidin--but this time sucked himself into it. He was at Rand's chambers before Rand was.
Rand gave him a surprised look and sat down on his throne. "In light of your exemplary service to the light and to the Dragon Reborn, you are hereby declared Asha'man." Rand went to him and pinned the gold sword and dragon on his coat.
Rejik looked at him wide-eyed. "I am honored, my Lord Dragon…thank you."
"You're first assignment, Asha'man: help Nynaeve. It seems that I owe quite a few people an apology."
Rejik barely held back a wince. Nynaeve? I suppose it is time that we found her friend. "As you command, my Lord Dragon."
***
When Rejik got to Nynaeve's quarters, Birgitte was there. Rejik almost gasped when he saw her. She was covered with bruises and burn marks. "Nynaeve, what in the name of the light happened?"
She shook her head. "I have no idea, Rejik. We were talking…" from the color that rose in her cheeks, it was apparent they were talking about him, "and then she collapsed on the floor saying, 'light, Elayne, I'm sorry' and the like."
Understanding dawned on Rejik. "The warder bond…a Forsaken that loved Rand almost killed Elayne because Rand loved her."
Nynaeve's eyes narrowed. "Lanfear? She killed Moiraine, Rejik." She was about to explode with anger when Rejik looked thoughtful at that last comment. When Rejik saw, he almost ran out of the room. "Calm down, for the light's sake! I was thinking about the vortex…if she were a Forsaken, then she would probably be in the Dark One's prison to heal, wouldn't she? I could throw myself near her location through the vortex and hopefully find your friend!"
Nynaeve's brows drew down. "First of all, what's a vortex? Secondly, a dead woman's life isn't as important as letting the Dark One take control of you. Lastly, where do I fit in in the whole bloody thing?"
"Nynaeve, the vortex isn't a thing like a gateway or portal--you can only do it to yourself. Besides, I couldn't show you how because of the differences in Powers."
If it was possible, Nynaeve looked resigned. "Listen, Rejik…be careful, all right? I can't come and save your hide this time." Rejik missed the look she gave Birgitte.
He nodded and started forming the vortex. He located Lanfear, but…he couldn't quite explain it, it was as if it was on another plane of reality. Drawing a deep breath, he sent himself through.
***
Oh, Light! Rejik thought despairingly. I know this place. I know it! He was walking through black mist.
YES YOU DO, MY ENEMY. YOU WILL KNOW IT AGAIN, an unfamiliar voice popped inside his head.
Who are you? Rejik thought.
I AM THE DARK. I AM YOUR MASTER.
Go away! Rejik thought frantically. He tried to embrace saidin, but found that the whole place was a filthy mass of it.
Maniacal laughing filled his head as he searched for saidar inside the place. He found several readings--4, to be exact--but one was substantially weaker than the others. That's got to be her, he thought to himself.
He walked to the source. Oh, light… The woman was blackened and twisted. She looked up with an insane glare in her eyes. It passed when she saw him, though. "You're not…one of them, are you?" she whispered as scorched red hair obstructed her vision.
She must mean the Forsaken, Rejik thought, pitying the woman. "Can you stand? A lot of people are anxious to see you…Moiraine?"
The woman looked distant, as if trying to remember something. "Yes…but it is not to be. You must put an end to this, boy. I've been stuck here too long…I couldn't survive anywhere else. Oh, light, boy…I'm turning evil."
That tweaked something in Rejik's mind. He nodded sympathetically. "I know the feeling. Are you sure?"
A tear appeared in Moiraine's eyes. "Yes, boy."
Rejik closed his eyes and used the saidin around him to gently sap Moiraine of life. It was difficult--this saidin was Dark, and not easily controlled. Once it was done, he saw a smile on her face. Now comes the hard part.
STAY HERE, AND YOU ARE MINE, MY ENEMY. LEAVE BY MY POWER AND YOU ARE MINE. EITHER WAY…
Rejik hardened himself and started gathering the tainted saidin to form a vortex. Blood and bloody ashes…there are 2 of us now! Then he remembered something that a man named Death had told him. Think, and it will happen. Reluctantly, he grabbed on to the Dark Power. Saa floating in his eyes, he teleported both himself and Moiraine's body back to Nynaeve's quarters.
***
Nynaeve's eyes went wide as she saw Rejik and Moiraine come through the vortex. She got even more surprised when she felt no life in Moiraine and saw Rejik vomiting uncontrollably on the floor. "Light, Rejik…what happened to you? What happened to Moiraine?"
As soon as he could stand, Rejik said, "She…the environment," he shuddered convulsively, "made her…was going to make her…evil. She asked me…to kill her." Rejik stumbled over the words, but Nynaeve could tell it was not from grief. Nor should it have been.
"I understand, Rejik. What happened to you?"
"I…I had to see the saa again, Nynaeve. To escape." A sadness appeared in his eyes, but Nynaeve couldn't quite tell what from.
"At least you survived…" she trailed off as he took a deep breath and closed his eyes.
"I…will end up like her. No one can see the saa and walk in the light at the same time. My…strength in the Power is unnatural, Nynaeve. The Dark One infested me with his Power in order to control me." His gaze hardened, but did Nynaeve see a tear? "I'm not going to let him."
Birgitte sat up straight in the bed. "What are you saying?" she said, gripping her skirts tightly.
He walked over to her and sat down. "I've…" he resisted the impulse to kiss her and stood up quickly. "I've got to go."
Outside in the hall, he took a deep breath. Forming a gateway to nowhere, he entered it. The platform was there, as usual, just no end point. He looked at the edge and recalled what the M'Hael had said about traveling. Step over the edge, Soldiers, and you die.
Rejik laughed to himself softly. No, not madness. He walked over the edge and closed the gateway.
***
Elayne sat with Aviendha in the palace. "I don't know what to do about Rejik, Aviendha. I've treated him so badly…and he saved my life."
"You owe him considerable toh, sister…why are you crying?" Aviendha asked as she noticed tears flowing down Elayne's face.
Elayne felt her cheek. "I…don't know." They resumed talking until Nynaeve and Birgitte burst through the door.
"Light, Nynaeve, you scared me half to death," Elayne started when Birgitte flashed her a sullen glare.
"You should be happy, Elayne. He killed himself." Elayne was lost for words. She had never seen her warder like this before.
Aviendha asked for them to tell her all, and when they did, she and Elayne sat back. "He had toh to the world, Birgitte…there is sometimes only one way to repay an entire planet," Aviendha said after a couple of minutes. "He was a…surprisingly honorable wetlander."
That made Birgitte smile.
***
Rand was told minutes later. He sat back on the throne. "He knew his duty, Elayne. He was an Asha'man…a guardian.
After she left, he sat thinking some more. Lews Therin laughed softly in his head.
THE END
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