Chapter 8: Speaking to the Hall of the Tower
It was a few days later, and Rand and the group were on their way north with the Aes Sedai taking Logain to Tar Valon, and with the group taking Elayne and Gawyn to the White Tower for training. When Perrin asked Rand, privetely, of course, why he wasn't making a gateway there, he said that he wanted to be with Elayne and Min. And also because he needed to make sure that no one outside their group knew he was able to channel. Loyal was walking with them, because didn't want to ride a horse. He said he wanted to see what it was like being with ta'veren, but Rand was pretty sure he just wanted an excuse to be Outside a stedding. And the grove at Tar Valon.
On the way north, Rand planned what he would say to the Hall of the Tower so that they would let him keep an eye on Logain, so that they would let him be a sort of guardien for him. Rand still remembered the weaves he learned in his Foretelling. He wasn't going to announce himself as the Dragon Reborn yet, even though he knew the Amrylin would support him. He had in mind something along the lines of "Let me be his mentor or I'll balefire you." But that didn't look as if it would go down well. But Rand wasn't worried. At worst, he'd just have to improvise when negotiating. He'd just let his ta'veren-ness help him.
Rand spent most of his time talking with Mat and Perrin about stuff and things, like what they would do to change the Pattern. How things will be different from Rand's Foretelling. And about who was better with women, a favorite old topic, which never was resolved.
"Perrin, how is it that you can talk to women so well?" Rand asked.
"Me? It's you that's better with women."
"Well, I'm not the married one."
"Yes, but you have three women to dandle on your knee."
"Four, actually."
"Four?"
"Yes. Elayne, Min, Aviendha and Lanfear."
"Um… Rand? Lanfear is dead…"
"Not yet."
"I see. So how is it that they all are following you around?"
"I don't know. I thought you did!"
"No, not me."
"Mat, do you know something about this?"
"No, not really."
"But you have been with a queen. And you're going to marry someone else whose going to be an Empress."
"But you two are the experts. I don't know anyting about women. Except that you should stay away from the ones who have brothers with knife scars. And from those that want you to be their 'duckling.'" Mat grimaced while Rand and Perrin laughed.
"Maybe we should ask Moiraine about this." Mat and Perrin stared at Rand. "Don't look at me like that. She's the only one I know who had a pillow friend. A female pillow friend." Mat and Perrin were still staring at Rand.
"You go on and do that, Rand." Mat said. "I'll stay right here and stay alive."
Their conversation stayed like this for a few more minutes. Then Loyal came up to them, and asked what they were talking about. Perrin took his time to answer, thinking about everything first. But Mat just said strait out that they were talking about how Egwene and Nyneave will change once they were in the White Tower. Mat always could and would lie with a strait face, which was a lot better than the alternative. Loyal just muttered about ta'veren being strange, even more than normal humans. Then his ears stiffined in embarresment, and muttered an apology.
Rand surpressed a sigh of reliefe - he didn't want anyone else knowing about his Foretelling - and continued to plan how he would convince the Hall of the Tower that he should be somewhat of a mentor for Logain. He wanted Logain to know as much as he did. It was not that he trusted Logain, but he thought Logain would do a better job than Taim did as head of the Black Tower. He wasn't any closer to figuring out what to do than before. He hoped feverently that he'd have something to say before it was too late.
Without thinking, Rand looked toward Elayne and Min. They had gotten very close over the past few days. Rand hoped that the changes he made to the Pattern so far wouldn't affect their feelings for him. But it was to early to know, anyway. The honor guard that brought Elayne to Tar Valon had to make sure Min wouldn't harm Elayne before they allowed her within twenty paces of the Daughter-Heir.
Mat saw where he was looking, and hooted with laughter. Right after he had taken the Shadar Logoth dagger, Egwene contained the evil into him, so that he would not contaminate others, like Moiraine did in the Foretelling. Nyneave still had her block on her, and she tried at every waking moment to break it. She claimed that she was getting closer, but whenever she looked like she was about to surrender to the True Source, she grabbed her braid and tugged it until Rand thought it would be pulled out by the roots. Rand noticed that every time that happened, she was looking strait at Moiraine and Lan. He tried to hide his laughter when he saw that.
Mat's voice brought him back out of his reverie. "Not the one that has the way with women, my aged grandmother."
"You've been spending too much time with Bayle Domon." Rand muttered, but blushed anyway. Rand shook his head to clear it of useless thoughts of his private sessions with Min, Elayne and Aviendha, and tried to concentrate on his task at hand. He could still hear Mat laughing.
Rand just shook his head and rode on.
~~~ Switch POV to Egwene al'Vere ~~~
"Rand al'Thor...is a mule-headed, stonewilled, fool of a...a...a man!" Moiraine exlaimed. Nyneave tugged her braid in agreement. He insisted on going to the White Tower. That was not a problem. The problem was that he didn't tell them why. Egwene suspected something, but she wasn't sure what it was. And he made them promise that they would not tell anyone that he could channel. That fit into what she thought was going to happen, but she still wasn't sure.
Min and Elayne didn't seem so concerned about why Rand was going with them. They seemed to barely separate from each other. Egwene wondered idely what would happen to their friendship when they realized that they will fall in love with the same man. She already knew that in Rand's Foretelling they were okay with that, but she was not so sure that it will happen again. It was a million-to-one chance.
Egwene was doing her best to pretend, with other Aes Sedai around, that she was just a country girl who is on her way to the White Tower to become Aes Sedai. Nothing more. Not someone who can already channel, and knows that she will be the Amyrlin Seat. Whenever one of the sisters came to give her and Nyneave a lesson, she did the exercises, with painfull slowness, but did not reach for saidar when she could. She did notice that whenever a sister guided them through an exercize, saidar flooded into her.
With all her pretending, Egwene knew that she was driving Moiraine crazy trying to figure out what was going on. But would never tell a Red sister what she knew. So Egwene was safe, with no one trying to figure out where she leared to channel so well. For now. In the Tower she would be tormented by every Brown and Blue sister there was. She wished the journey will take longer.
Egwene just ashook her head and rode on.
~~~ Two weeks later, at the White Tower in Tar Valon ~~~
Rand paced the room he was given in the White Tower, and wished once more that he had instead agreed with Mat and stayed in an inn. As soon as they were in the White Tower, Moiraine went off to look for the Amyrlin, and left instructions with a passing novice to put Rand, Perrin, Egwene, Nyneave, Min, and Loyal in appropriate rooms. Mat and Thom stayed as far as possible from the White Tower. The inn they stayed at was called The Seven Sisters, as a courtesy to the Aes Sedai, and the sign in the front had a picture of seven serene women, all wearing shawls with fringes the color of each Ajah. Mat muttered something about there being eight Ajahs, but didn't tell the innkeeper.
Rand was pacing his room, trying to get his nearves together. He never spoke to 23 Aes Sedai before. Well, not when they were not shielded and/or stilled, or when he was not on his throne, or when they were not kneeling to him. All in all, it was a first time for something like this. Egwene was in his room trying to give him advice, such as to speak in a cool, controlled tone, and not to let them think that he was able to manipulate. All her advice he heard before from Moiraine, several Ceirheinin Lords who actually cared if he was going to be successful, and Thom Merrilin. Light, but Moiraine gave him the best advice. After all, she was raised in a noble Ceirheinin household, the ruling House at the time, and then became a sister of the Blue Ajah. Light, but she must be the best manipulator in the world!
It was a shame he could not remember anything she told him.
Egwene was still ratteling on, sitting in a chair, and giving him advice on how to make sure that he was successful in doing whatever it was he was going to do. She didn't know yet. No one knew yet, not even Mat and Perrin.
To his slight surprise, Nyneave and Egwene did not yet enroll in the novice book. They were going on north with him, into the Blight to the Eye of the World, and to find the Horn of Valerie. He was sure that the Aes Sedai will not let go of such "finds" as they were easily.
He was notified earlier that day that he will speak to the entire Hall of the Tower about whatever it was he wished to discuss. He was allowed at all to speak because Moiraine insisted he should be allowed, and because the Amyrlin was persuaded by her friend's pleadings. They probably thought that he would hardly have a case to present, about some minor problem he had. Or that he will accuse them of the Breaking 3000 years ago. They thought they were going to flick him off like an annoying fly. That's why they had this audience so early, so close to when they arrived.
Finally, an Accepted in a white dress banded in the seven colors at the hem came to announce that he was summoned to speak to the greater concensuss, whatever that was. He followed he down a few corridors, up some staircases, down some staircases, and before long, Rand felt very lost. Eventually, they reached the hall of the Hall of the Tower. They were the first there, besides some guy standing near the far wall, and another Accepted standing near him, looking as if she were comforting him.
~~~ Switch POV to Logain Albar, False Dragon ~~~
Logain stood at the end of the hall of the Hall of the Tower. He still could not believe it. they had bloody flaming genteled him! All they had was a false trial, where the accusation was that he could channel, and they genteled him right then! The nerve of them! he was still seathing with anger and disbelief, but now some sadness had crept in. The Accepted they put to guard him had led him here for some unexplained reason. She thought that it might take his mind off his… gentelness… if were to sit in as an audience in a meeting of the Hall of the Tower.
How wrong she was.
They went to sit on the side of the large room when the Sitters began to come in. The man that was supposedly there ro present a case to the Hall of the Tower bowed low to each of them, and seemed to look aprihensive. He was wearing country woolens, Andoran cut, by the look.
After several minutes, the Amyrlin finally came, with the Keeper and all her ceremony. Logain didn't listen to it. Then the young man, who seemed a little familiar for some reason, began to talk in a calm, cool, seemingly indifferent voice. But Logain didn't listen. He was too focused on his emptiness to pay attention, when he heard his name.
"…Logain Albar with me, so that I can study the depression following gentelling." The young man was saying, and Logain snarled. So he was a book to be studied, was he? "It is not only the Brown Ajah that has an interest in gathering knowledge. I ask permission of the Hall of the Tower and the Amyrlin Seat to grant me custody of Logain Albar so that I may study him in the coming years." His little speech ended, and a Brown sister rose from her seat. Logain wasn't sure who it was. All ageless faces seemed the same to him, now.
"We could lend you a book from the Tower Library, if you wish." Browns, while they usualy observe ceremony, could not stand someone taking away something to study. The other two Brown Sitters murmered agreement.
"I am not in the habit of believing everything that is written in a book." For that statement, the young man received glares from the Browns. Hastely, he added "I make it a point to study every possible thing first hand. That way, there can be no mistaking the results, wouldn't you agree?" The Browns did not show any sign of hearing the last part, but Logain counted that a point in favor of this young man, even if he treated him like less than a person.
"Still, we will not give up the opertunity of studying him ourselves." The standing Sitter said more cooly than usual.
"I would like a sister to come along with us, when we go north," the young fool said, "So that she may also study this man," he gestured to Logain, "and to make sure nothing illegal is done. I would be honored if that sister would be of the Brown Ajah." Fierce whispering broke out amoung the gathered sisters and Sitters. No man ever asked for an Aes Sedai companion. At least, not out of free will.
Logain could see the thought turning in the Blues' heads. If such an idiot acctually asked to be accompanied by an Aes Sedai, he could be manipulated easily. They whispered among themselves, and decided that they will vote for this young man's plan if one of their number went along with them. Logain thought that either this lout is really an idiot, or that he planned all of this and is a genious. He hoped for his sake that it was the latter.
A Sitter for the Blue stood up, and announced what Logain expected her to say, that the Blue Ajah will support this Rand al'Thor person if one of their number will officially travel along in the group thingy. The young man nodded as if he expected this. He then looked at the rest of the Sitters, as if he expected them to say something. Logain could see what. If one Ajah could entangle itself in the affairs of some lowly peasant, the rest could, also. Immidetly, every Ajah talked among themselves for some time, and then at least one Sitter from each of the five Ajahs that were not yet included in the expidition stood up. The Amyrlin Seat was looking at the man standing before her curiously.
"How old are you?" she asked. she was obviously surprised that someone so young could be such an exelent manipulator.
"I am less than a year old." He said automatically. The Amyrlin stared at him, as did Logain. Who was this fellow, with Andoran-cut clothes, a west-Andoran accent, a manipulator worty of a Ceirheinin noble House, and manners to fit a Borderlander? And with physical looks that would not have gone amiss on an Aiel.
The standing Red Sitter began to speak. "To make sure that our sisters of the Blue Ajah do not bend this man's" here she sniffed "will to their own ends," again a sniff "we propose that a Red sister acompany this young man, to protect him and Logain." The young man, - al'Thor? - looked gratefully at her. He truly was a genious. The Green Sitters chorelted at the Red that spoke.
The Amyrlin cleared her thoat, and everyone fell silent. "Oh, excuse me. I must remember to ask someone to Heal my sore throat." The last part was a murmer to herself, even though everyone heard it. the Mother could not only redirect someone's train of thought, she could completely derail it. the Sitters stared into space for a while, trying to refocus on what they were thinking about. Then, all at once, the Sitters began to rant about it being their Ajah's responsibility to accompany this young man and the false Dragon. The Amyrlin cleared her throat again, and eveyone fell silent again.
"Fish guts!" al'Thor swore, and again Logain stared at him. A Tearian too? This man truly is a mystery.
The Amyrlin spoke, after recovering from her shock at discovering that there actually was someone in the world that spoke like her. "To keep the Ajahs from each other's throats like a group of girls fighting over a man," the Greens blushed at this, and the Reds sniffed "I decree that one sister from each of the seven Ajahs-"
"Eight Ajahs." Logain corrected in an undertone."
"Will acompany this young man in his study of the false Dragon, Logain Albar." The Amyrlin continued. "Each Ajah will decide within itself who will represent the Ajah."
There was much more ceremony later on, but Logain didn't pay any attention to it. That Ceirheinin, Tearian, Andoran, Borderlander, Aiel genious actually convinced the Hall of the Tower to let him leave! Blood and bloody ashes!
~~~ Switch POV to Rand ~~~
The next few days everyone was talking about the meeting of the Hall of the Tower that day. Mat and Perrin both said that they felt the pull of ta'veren-ness on the Pattern, how they felt his million-to-one chances become reality.
Today they were going to leave, and Rand planned to go north, to Fal Dara in Sheinar. At noon, he will see who will annoy him for the rest of the journy. He hoped the Greens did not decide to send Allana to represent them.
He desperately hoped she wasn't.