The Wheel of Time belongs to Robert Jordan, I just play here.
Chapter 4.
"Evin, set up a perimeter guard in case Taim or any others try to return. Mezar, take two others with you and follow Taim -others who can also read residue if anyone can. Androl, I want a casualty report," Logain ordered, the moment the last of Taim's men was shielded.
"We have two Dedicated down, one Soldier and one sister -apart from Toveine," Androl said, looking uncomfortable. "Anyone else has been Healed."
Logain simply nodded in acknowledgement, not allowing himself to feel what he had no time to feel right now. He looked around. Nearby, Thim was sitting on the ground, leaning against Krystah. Healing took a lot out of anyone and if he was not mistaken, Thim had gone down twice, in that first attack when the ground had erupted, and he thought that later he had heard Krystah call for a Yellow. Judging from the scorched rags that were left of his coat, and the fresh pink skin over most of his upper body, he had taken severe injuries, but he had been on his feet again, channeling fire and holding that dome between Taim and his men, until the end of the battle. Now he was already fast asleep, Krystah's brown-fringed shawl covering him. But he would be all right with rest and food, as anyone who had been Healed.
"Androl, help Thim to his place, and any others who are too tired to go on. Canler, interrogate those who were taken prisoner. Welyn, go to the Royal Palace and warn the lady Elayne of Taim, he might try to go there or to any other place with people who can Heal him. Gheral, you Travel to Cairhien and report to the Lord Dragon," Logain went on with his orders, and turned to Gabrelle. All others had saluted and rushed off on their errands, but Gabrelle did not even wait for him to speak before shaking her head so little that most people would not even have seen it. He gave her a brief nod in return. "Sjani, report to the Amyrlin at Tar Valon," he said instead, picking another from among the sisters. The Green curtsied, turning away immediately.
Then suddenly Androl was back. "Logain, we have a problem."
"What is it?" Logain asked.
Androl did not answer but simply led the way across the field. Along the side, three of the Yellow sisters sat together with two of the Asha'man who were proficient at Healing. A badly burned body lay on the snowy ground, but the five of them were clustered around someone he could not see amongst them all. Then he recognised the dead man, and he knew.
The small group opened up as he approached, and he saw Nenya, the Green curled up in fetal position, not moving. Desandre took the word. "She's in shock from Biron's death," she said. "If an Aes Sedai dies, her Warder must be bonded again and sometimes he can be saved, but many do not live, and Nenya has had a bad shock from her Warder's death so recently. I do not know if she will make it."
"But if she is to make it, she will need someone to take her bond?" Logain asked.
Desandre nodded. "It will not be easy even if she does live," she warned.
Logain nodded grimly, then looked around at those who had gathered around. "You heard her, any volunteers?" he asked.
The men looked uneasy. There were a number of Dedicated who had come along, and also a small group from the Two Rivers, Soldiers still. Many looked away, avoiding his eye as he looked around the circle, and he could hear a few mutters of 'bad luck' coming from among them. He sighed, considering his options. He could not order anyone to take her, not with the risk it entailed. He was in no shape to take her himself, but if it came to that he would have to. He was responsible for her, he had been the one to take the Aes Sedai into the Tower and he was the one who had led them into this battle. He looked around at the men again.
Then a Soldier stepped forward from the Two Rivers group.
"Back home I thought a lot of things were bad luck," he started, nervously. "Aes Sedai and the One Power and all that. But well, now I can channel myself and, well, it seems a lot of things I said and did back then aren't all so clear anymore. I know I'm just a Soldier and all, but if I may, I will take her bond, Sir."
Logain studied him. He could be no more than twenty years old, but that was older than many others, and he sounded sincere. He was also the only one who had come forward. "It is a big risk you are taking, Ewal isn't it?" he said, recalling the young man's name.
"Ewal Coplin, Logain," the Soldier replied, his voice steady now. "I understand the risk."
"Then take her," Logain told him, and he watched as Ewal sat down next to the Green and started to channel.
After a few moments he turned away, scanning the battlefield. Androl had reported another Dedicated and sister among the dead. "Who are the others?" he asked him.
"Quenton and Chayanne, Logain," the Taraboner reported. "The Red's got only minor injuries, looks like she died from the shock."
Logain sighed, then turned back to the Soldier and the Green sister. There was still too much to be done. "Find a place for Ewal and Nenya, she shouldn't be taken to Biron's place. Then get me a report on structural damage. And an update on the perimeter defenses."
He could no longer see smoke from the fire that had started when Gabrelle had fought off Valen in the Crafts Village, but it was almost dark and he had not had time to look before. Some scattered lightning and fire had hit here, closer to the palace, as well.
All in all it was late at night before he finally made it to his house. He would have to be moving into the palace now -he was not going to call it the palace, the thing was a farm house for Light's sake- but for tonight he only wanted to go to his own place, and get away from all that was now his responsibility. He walked up the stairs and sat down on the edge of his bed. Gabrelle followed him closely. She had not moved from his side ever since Toveine was killed.
"Why did she do it?" he asked. "She hated me, Gabrelle, she hated me with all her heart."
Gabrelle did not answer as she sat down next to him.
"I guess she finally did find a way to get to me," he said softly, shaking his head. "Light, it hurts, Gabrelle, it hurts!"
Still not saying a word, Gabrelle took him into her arms and he cried until he finally fell asleep.
Chapter 4.
"Evin, set up a perimeter guard in case Taim or any others try to return. Mezar, take two others with you and follow Taim -others who can also read residue if anyone can. Androl, I want a casualty report," Logain ordered, the moment the last of Taim's men was shielded.
"We have two Dedicated down, one Soldier and one sister -apart from Toveine," Androl said, looking uncomfortable. "Anyone else has been Healed."
Logain simply nodded in acknowledgement, not allowing himself to feel what he had no time to feel right now. He looked around. Nearby, Thim was sitting on the ground, leaning against Krystah. Healing took a lot out of anyone and if he was not mistaken, Thim had gone down twice, in that first attack when the ground had erupted, and he thought that later he had heard Krystah call for a Yellow. Judging from the scorched rags that were left of his coat, and the fresh pink skin over most of his upper body, he had taken severe injuries, but he had been on his feet again, channeling fire and holding that dome between Taim and his men, until the end of the battle. Now he was already fast asleep, Krystah's brown-fringed shawl covering him. But he would be all right with rest and food, as anyone who had been Healed.
"Androl, help Thim to his place, and any others who are too tired to go on. Canler, interrogate those who were taken prisoner. Welyn, go to the Royal Palace and warn the lady Elayne of Taim, he might try to go there or to any other place with people who can Heal him. Gheral, you Travel to Cairhien and report to the Lord Dragon," Logain went on with his orders, and turned to Gabrelle. All others had saluted and rushed off on their errands, but Gabrelle did not even wait for him to speak before shaking her head so little that most people would not even have seen it. He gave her a brief nod in return. "Sjani, report to the Amyrlin at Tar Valon," he said instead, picking another from among the sisters. The Green curtsied, turning away immediately.
Then suddenly Androl was back. "Logain, we have a problem."
"What is it?" Logain asked.
Androl did not answer but simply led the way across the field. Along the side, three of the Yellow sisters sat together with two of the Asha'man who were proficient at Healing. A badly burned body lay on the snowy ground, but the five of them were clustered around someone he could not see amongst them all. Then he recognised the dead man, and he knew.
The small group opened up as he approached, and he saw Nenya, the Green curled up in fetal position, not moving. Desandre took the word. "She's in shock from Biron's death," she said. "If an Aes Sedai dies, her Warder must be bonded again and sometimes he can be saved, but many do not live, and Nenya has had a bad shock from her Warder's death so recently. I do not know if she will make it."
"But if she is to make it, she will need someone to take her bond?" Logain asked.
Desandre nodded. "It will not be easy even if she does live," she warned.
Logain nodded grimly, then looked around at those who had gathered around. "You heard her, any volunteers?" he asked.
The men looked uneasy. There were a number of Dedicated who had come along, and also a small group from the Two Rivers, Soldiers still. Many looked away, avoiding his eye as he looked around the circle, and he could hear a few mutters of 'bad luck' coming from among them. He sighed, considering his options. He could not order anyone to take her, not with the risk it entailed. He was in no shape to take her himself, but if it came to that he would have to. He was responsible for her, he had been the one to take the Aes Sedai into the Tower and he was the one who had led them into this battle. He looked around at the men again.
Then a Soldier stepped forward from the Two Rivers group.
"Back home I thought a lot of things were bad luck," he started, nervously. "Aes Sedai and the One Power and all that. But well, now I can channel myself and, well, it seems a lot of things I said and did back then aren't all so clear anymore. I know I'm just a Soldier and all, but if I may, I will take her bond, Sir."
Logain studied him. He could be no more than twenty years old, but that was older than many others, and he sounded sincere. He was also the only one who had come forward. "It is a big risk you are taking, Ewal isn't it?" he said, recalling the young man's name.
"Ewal Coplin, Logain," the Soldier replied, his voice steady now. "I understand the risk."
"Then take her," Logain told him, and he watched as Ewal sat down next to the Green and started to channel.
After a few moments he turned away, scanning the battlefield. Androl had reported another Dedicated and sister among the dead. "Who are the others?" he asked him.
"Quenton and Chayanne, Logain," the Taraboner reported. "The Red's got only minor injuries, looks like she died from the shock."
Logain sighed, then turned back to the Soldier and the Green sister. There was still too much to be done. "Find a place for Ewal and Nenya, she shouldn't be taken to Biron's place. Then get me a report on structural damage. And an update on the perimeter defenses."
He could no longer see smoke from the fire that had started when Gabrelle had fought off Valen in the Crafts Village, but it was almost dark and he had not had time to look before. Some scattered lightning and fire had hit here, closer to the palace, as well.
All in all it was late at night before he finally made it to his house. He would have to be moving into the palace now -he was not going to call it the palace, the thing was a farm house for Light's sake- but for tonight he only wanted to go to his own place, and get away from all that was now his responsibility. He walked up the stairs and sat down on the edge of his bed. Gabrelle followed him closely. She had not moved from his side ever since Toveine was killed.
"Why did she do it?" he asked. "She hated me, Gabrelle, she hated me with all her heart."
Gabrelle did not answer as she sat down next to him.
"I guess she finally did find a way to get to me," he said softly, shaking his head. "Light, it hurts, Gabrelle, it hurts!"
Still not saying a word, Gabrelle took him into her arms and he cried until he finally fell asleep.