Mesaana looked up from her studies with a start. Another Black was channeling...outside of the Tower! She mentally summoned Alviarin, and momentarily a portal formed near her. She didn't let go of saidar until she was sure it was Alviarin, though.
"You summonned me, great Mistress?" Alviarin said.
"I have sensed another of your Ajah outside of the Tower walls. I do not remember ever giving any of our sisters permission to leave the Tower."
"Nor do I. What shall I do about it?" Alviarin was not too happy about having to leave the Tower at this hour--she was having so much fun with Elaida…
"You will go out and find why our sister channeled and report back to me." Mesaana leaned back in her chair, as if relaxed.
Alviarin knew better, though. She shook her head almost imperceptibly. "As you command, great Mistress."
***
Egwene thought she would burst with impatience. They had waited 3 weeks out of the month, but she was ready to go. If only Gareth Byrne's scouts were back with news…
Suane Sanche's head popped in Egwene's tent. "Sorry for disturbing you, Mother, but Sheriam insisted that I inform you immediately. We have completed the cloak of saidar that surrounds the entire area. It took upwards of 30 sisters and about an hour, but we did it."
A relieved smile crept onto Egwene's face. "Excellent. Now no one can discover us until we attack the Tower. I trust that all the safeguards went into place?" When Suane nodded, she continued. "Do you have the supply report with you?"
"Unfortunately," Suane grimaced. Egwene could see why upon reading the list.
"This is barely enough gold to last for 2 months! How are we supposed to siege Tar Valon in 2 months?"
Some of the old Suane came out with her smirk. "You're the Amyrlin…Mother."
Egwene sighed in mock-frustration. "Enough, Suane. Give orders to the soldiers telling them to forage for all that they are worth this week--it'll be our last here."
Suane nodded gravely, and left the tent.
***
"Great Lord of the Dark, why have you summoned me?" Demandred asked, rather shakily.
"I REQUIRE A DEED FROM YOU, CHOSEN. TO PROVE YOUR LOYALTY, YOU MUST BRING AL'THOR TO ME. ALIVE."
Demandred grimaced inwardly at the last part. He shrugged his shoulders and said, "As you wish, Great Lord of the Dark."
"AS ALWAYS," the Dark One said in a voice even more menacing than it had been before.
***
Moridin clenched his fist in anger. Of course he would not allow Demandred to capture al'Thor and bring him to the Dark One--more likely than not, al'Thor would take his place as Nae'blis. That was part of the reason that he had Semirhage in the room with him.
"Why do you have need of me, Nae'blis?" Semirhage said, as if she had important business pending.
"I need you to go on a mission for me. Stay with al'Thor at all times--swear the traditional oath of fealty to him," Semirhage's lips curved up at that, "and make out to be one of his 'trusted' Aes Sedai. I need to know all of his plans."
Semirhage's eyes narrowed. "And, because of my trouble…" she folded her hands expectantly.
Moridin sighed. Some are easier to manipulate than others. "You will get…" he paused only for a fraction of a second to think of something, and then smiled. "…a chance to kill al'Thor."
***
Nynaeve went down the steps to the Sun Throne, and stood face to face with Rand. "Where is Min, Rand? I haven't seen her for days!"
His face adopted a mocking tone. "I wonder why?" Upon seeing Nynaeve's fierce glare, he relented and shrugged his shoulders. "She's somewhere in the Andor palace. Does that help you?"
"Thank you, Rand al'Thor. I didn't expect you to tell me."
"Why not?" Rand looked genuinely confused.
Nynaeve shook her head. "Never mind." With that she left.
Confused girl, that one is, Lews Therin said.
Why do you say that? Rand asked. Lews Therin always picked the worst times to make himself heard…
That shake of the head…looked like an aftershock of Compulsion! For some odd reason, that seemed to amuse him.
What's that? Rand asked urgently. He could almost feel that he was on to something.
Some Age of Legends trick. None but the Forsaken would know or use it. That seemed to be the limit of Lews Therin's sanity. He broke down and started crying and moaning about his beloved Ilyena.
Rand rolled his eyes and muted his voice. Why in the Light would Nynaeve want Min? he thought to himself.
Minutes later, another Aes Sedai walked into the room, but it was one he had never seen before. White Ajah, by the look of it.
"My Lord Dragon," she said after a moment's pause, "I wish…to swear fealty to you."
Rand's eyes widened involuntarily. What kind of Aes Sedai would swear fealty willingly to a man who could channel? "What?" he asked incredulously. After no response, he started thinking again. Probably some Aes Sedai plot. Either way, he saw no hurt in allowing an Aes Sedai to swear fealty to him. "As you wish."
***
Both Narishma and Flinn shook their heads as yet another design for the apartments fell apart.
"Light, Flinn, this is insane! This has to be some sort of punishment from Taim…I could see it in his eyes!" Narishma cursed.
Flinn audibly grunted. "Probably because we teach the only non-lethal subject in the tower. A cruel one, that Taim is."
Narishma reached for saidin again. "Talking all day can't help this project. Try making more weight to the middle…" Scaffolds appeared that only a man who could channel could see. Narishma's eyes beamed, even as they collapsed into nothing again. "I see the problem, Flinn… all these parts have equal weight! Let's try making the weight fall off towards the middle and top." Flinn shook his head wearily, but embraced the Source again.
This time, however, they held together. Not a pretty building--but a building all the same. Suddenly, Taim appeared behind them. Later, Narishma could swear he recalled Taim grimacing when he saw the finished design.
"I see you have made some progress," he said flatly. Flinn gulped with the effort not to laugh, but Narishma concealed a snicker with a cough. Taim's eyes narrowed.
Narishma took a breath and said, "Yes, and we're ready to start as na'lin now, M'Hael."
Eyes still narrowed, Taim's face darkened. Taim spoke up, sounding almost frustrated. "Yes, I suppose you are." As soon as he left, Flinn gulped, now with relief.
"We've got to watch him, Narishma."
Narishma, realizing that he hadn't been breathing, exhaled softly. "Yes, we do."