The Wheel of Time belongs to Robert Jordan, I just play here.
Chapter 2
Sheriam was with the Amyrlin and Siuan when the messenger came in from the soldier's camp. A young soldier, he was tall, thin and eager. He bowed to the Amyrlin. "Mother, I have an urgent message."
The Amyrlin nodded. "Speak."
"One of the scouts just reported a brief battle fought with the Power," the boy reported. "They were only three and had no Aes Sedai with them so they returned here. Lord Bryne sent me to tell you he is on his way to check it out."
Sheriam frowned. Few people outside this room knew about the Asha'man coming, but it could have something to do with him. Would somehow the word have slipped out and would some sister have taken it on herself to eliminate him? She did not think any one among them would do so, however uneasy a man channeling made them feel. Nor could she think who else would know about him. Delana had not visited her for several days, thank the Light.
The Amyrlin thanked the messenger and grabbed her heavy cloak. "I will come," she said. Sheriam grabbed her Keeper's stole and her own cloak and followed. Siuan was not far behind.
As they came outside, they could still see the horses ride out. A small group of about fifty soldiers rode west, with several Aes Sedai among them.
The horses rode slowly out of sight; Bryne was one of the few people who knew about Narishma, and that Rand trusted the Asha'man, but he would not be rushing into a battle fought with the Power. The air was cold and the snow on the ground slowly soaked her shoes that were not meant for walking outside the cleared paths within the camp. She did not know why, but she did not feel like going back into the tents to wait for them to return.
She was not sure how much time had passed before she saw the group approach. The horses came slowly still, but up near the front were five horses being led. Four carried a body across the saddle; Sheriam was sure they were bodies because the horses walked alone on the lead, no one looking at them. The third horse was flanked by Dagdara and Therva carried a shape in a black coat, and Sheriam knew Narishma had at least survived whatever it was that had happened. But what could be so serious that two of the stronger Yellows in the camp could not Heal it and have him ride?
As the horses came closer, the soldiers split off with the other three Aes Sedai. Gareth Bryne led the three horses with their burden toward the Amyrlin.
"Mother," he greeted her as he dismounted with a bow. Egwene briefly acknowledged him, but her attention was on what the horses carried. Bryne did not waste any more time with formalities. "The Asha'man is alive, although the Yellow sisters say they can not get him to wake. The dead are Merise, two Warders, and Halima." His voice raised into a question as he spoke the last name. It was easy to see Lord Bryne was baffled about what Halima could have to do with this. "From the looks of it, the pattern of the melted snow and scorched ground, it seems the Asha'man and Merise fought someone who was with Halima," he reported.
Two servants had rushed forward and lifted Narishma off the horse under close eye of the two Yellow sisters. The Amyrlin pointed toward the large tent where she held her audiences. The servants carried him in, and the Yellows, Egwene, Sheriam and Siuan followed.
"What happened to him?" the Amyrlin asked Dagdara.
"He had only small injuries -some cuts and bruises, and hypothermia from laying in the snow, Mother," Dagdara said. "But.." she swallowed. "He was bonded to Merise." Sheriam and Siuan winced. They had both seen Warders die from shock when their Aes Sedai died.
Egwene also started. "He was her Warder?"
Dagdara nodded. Egwene frowned. It puzzled Sheriam as well. The sisters with Rand had been bonding the Asha'man? She was one of the few Aes Sedai who knew about Alanna bonding Rand without his consent, and it left a bad taste in her mouth. Would Merise have done the same with Narishma? She didn't think Merise would do something like that, but then she had not expected it from Alanna, either.
She looked at the Asha'man. The servants had laid him on the large table in the middle of the tent, then bowed and left. She reached out and carefully delved him. She flinched, hissing between her teeth.
Dagdara looked at her and nodded, not commenting on her delving with two Yellows present. Some things just could not be described in words. "Merise did not die easily. I am surprised he lived at all," she said. "But he will not wake on his own. Mother, you must send for Myrelle."
Sheriam hesitated. Myrelle was somewhere in one of the camps on the other side of Tar Valon, she did not know where exactly. She could be in Luagde, Daghain, or Osenrein and even Travelling it might take some time to find her, and from what she had just felt, she didn't think the Asha'man had a lot of time left. Also, Sheriam did not like the way Myrelle treated her Warders. Blues saw their Warders as someone who protected them, of course, but also as a respected partner whose ideas and opinions were valid. Within reason, of course. But Greens.. Greens often treated their Warders like part merchant's guard and part servant, ordering them around while missing out on any other qualities their Warders might have. Well, most other qualities. She snorted. Add to that, Myrelle was Ebou Dari, and from what Sheriam had seen she kept her Warders on a tight rein even for a Green. She just did not think that would sit well with an Asha'man. She made her decision.
"We don't know where Myrelle is or how long it will take to find her. By your leave, Mother, I ask permission to bond him as my Warder."
The others looked at her in surprise. "You?" Siuan asked. "You are not a Green," Dagdara stated. Therva did not speak but looked as if she saw water burn. The Amyrlin merely looked thoughtful. Siuan had been teaching Egwene as much as she could about Tower laws and customs, but she had not yet grown to see them as unshakeable as those who had worn the Shawl for much longer.
"There is no reason why only a Green could bond a surviving Warder. They most often do because they can hold more than one bond, and Myrelle has saved Warders before, but if we wait an hour, or two, to find her, I do not think there is anything she can do anymore, whatever her Ajah. Besides..." Sheriam broke off. She couldn't say she how much she owed him for killing Halima, without giving away about... "I just believe I should," she finished. A lame argument but she put as much conviction in her voice as she could manage.
"He might still die. Consider well the risk you are taking," Dagdara cautioned. Sheriam nodded. Of course she knew, it had only been weeks since she had lost Arinvar, one of the few casualties when they had Travelled to Tar Valon and laid the siege. The pain of that loss had barely faded. Perhaps they could help each other, but if he did die. Well, these weren't times for playing it safe. "I will take the risk," she said. She turned to the Amyrlin. "By your leave, Mother?"
The Amyrlin studied all of them. Dagdara and Therva looked blank, neither approving nor disapproving. But Siuan nodded slightly, so little that Sheriam would have missed it if she had not, by now, been watching for the almost unnoticeable signals between Siuan and the Amyrlin. "Do it," she said softly.
"Thank you Mother," Sheriam said. Then she turned toward Narishma and reached out for Saidar. She braced herself as she laid her hands on the unconscious Asha'man. Light, he did feel.. empty. She hoped she was not too late. Carefully, she wove the flows that formed the bond. Then she stepped back and released the Source.
Dagdara stepped forward. "May I?" she asked. Sheriam nodded, but she did not really need the Yellow's words. "He will wake."
Chapter 2
Sheriam was with the Amyrlin and Siuan when the messenger came in from the soldier's camp. A young soldier, he was tall, thin and eager. He bowed to the Amyrlin. "Mother, I have an urgent message."
The Amyrlin nodded. "Speak."
"One of the scouts just reported a brief battle fought with the Power," the boy reported. "They were only three and had no Aes Sedai with them so they returned here. Lord Bryne sent me to tell you he is on his way to check it out."
Sheriam frowned. Few people outside this room knew about the Asha'man coming, but it could have something to do with him. Would somehow the word have slipped out and would some sister have taken it on herself to eliminate him? She did not think any one among them would do so, however uneasy a man channeling made them feel. Nor could she think who else would know about him. Delana had not visited her for several days, thank the Light.
The Amyrlin thanked the messenger and grabbed her heavy cloak. "I will come," she said. Sheriam grabbed her Keeper's stole and her own cloak and followed. Siuan was not far behind.
As they came outside, they could still see the horses ride out. A small group of about fifty soldiers rode west, with several Aes Sedai among them.
The horses rode slowly out of sight; Bryne was one of the few people who knew about Narishma, and that Rand trusted the Asha'man, but he would not be rushing into a battle fought with the Power. The air was cold and the snow on the ground slowly soaked her shoes that were not meant for walking outside the cleared paths within the camp. She did not know why, but she did not feel like going back into the tents to wait for them to return.
She was not sure how much time had passed before she saw the group approach. The horses came slowly still, but up near the front were five horses being led. Four carried a body across the saddle; Sheriam was sure they were bodies because the horses walked alone on the lead, no one looking at them. The third horse was flanked by Dagdara and Therva carried a shape in a black coat, and Sheriam knew Narishma had at least survived whatever it was that had happened. But what could be so serious that two of the stronger Yellows in the camp could not Heal it and have him ride?
As the horses came closer, the soldiers split off with the other three Aes Sedai. Gareth Bryne led the three horses with their burden toward the Amyrlin.
"Mother," he greeted her as he dismounted with a bow. Egwene briefly acknowledged him, but her attention was on what the horses carried. Bryne did not waste any more time with formalities. "The Asha'man is alive, although the Yellow sisters say they can not get him to wake. The dead are Merise, two Warders, and Halima." His voice raised into a question as he spoke the last name. It was easy to see Lord Bryne was baffled about what Halima could have to do with this. "From the looks of it, the pattern of the melted snow and scorched ground, it seems the Asha'man and Merise fought someone who was with Halima," he reported.
Two servants had rushed forward and lifted Narishma off the horse under close eye of the two Yellow sisters. The Amyrlin pointed toward the large tent where she held her audiences. The servants carried him in, and the Yellows, Egwene, Sheriam and Siuan followed.
"What happened to him?" the Amyrlin asked Dagdara.
"He had only small injuries -some cuts and bruises, and hypothermia from laying in the snow, Mother," Dagdara said. "But.." she swallowed. "He was bonded to Merise." Sheriam and Siuan winced. They had both seen Warders die from shock when their Aes Sedai died.
Egwene also started. "He was her Warder?"
Dagdara nodded. Egwene frowned. It puzzled Sheriam as well. The sisters with Rand had been bonding the Asha'man? She was one of the few Aes Sedai who knew about Alanna bonding Rand without his consent, and it left a bad taste in her mouth. Would Merise have done the same with Narishma? She didn't think Merise would do something like that, but then she had not expected it from Alanna, either.
She looked at the Asha'man. The servants had laid him on the large table in the middle of the tent, then bowed and left. She reached out and carefully delved him. She flinched, hissing between her teeth.
Dagdara looked at her and nodded, not commenting on her delving with two Yellows present. Some things just could not be described in words. "Merise did not die easily. I am surprised he lived at all," she said. "But he will not wake on his own. Mother, you must send for Myrelle."
Sheriam hesitated. Myrelle was somewhere in one of the camps on the other side of Tar Valon, she did not know where exactly. She could be in Luagde, Daghain, or Osenrein and even Travelling it might take some time to find her, and from what she had just felt, she didn't think the Asha'man had a lot of time left. Also, Sheriam did not like the way Myrelle treated her Warders. Blues saw their Warders as someone who protected them, of course, but also as a respected partner whose ideas and opinions were valid. Within reason, of course. But Greens.. Greens often treated their Warders like part merchant's guard and part servant, ordering them around while missing out on any other qualities their Warders might have. Well, most other qualities. She snorted. Add to that, Myrelle was Ebou Dari, and from what Sheriam had seen she kept her Warders on a tight rein even for a Green. She just did not think that would sit well with an Asha'man. She made her decision.
"We don't know where Myrelle is or how long it will take to find her. By your leave, Mother, I ask permission to bond him as my Warder."
The others looked at her in surprise. "You?" Siuan asked. "You are not a Green," Dagdara stated. Therva did not speak but looked as if she saw water burn. The Amyrlin merely looked thoughtful. Siuan had been teaching Egwene as much as she could about Tower laws and customs, but she had not yet grown to see them as unshakeable as those who had worn the Shawl for much longer.
"There is no reason why only a Green could bond a surviving Warder. They most often do because they can hold more than one bond, and Myrelle has saved Warders before, but if we wait an hour, or two, to find her, I do not think there is anything she can do anymore, whatever her Ajah. Besides..." Sheriam broke off. She couldn't say she how much she owed him for killing Halima, without giving away about... "I just believe I should," she finished. A lame argument but she put as much conviction in her voice as she could manage.
"He might still die. Consider well the risk you are taking," Dagdara cautioned. Sheriam nodded. Of course she knew, it had only been weeks since she had lost Arinvar, one of the few casualties when they had Travelled to Tar Valon and laid the siege. The pain of that loss had barely faded. Perhaps they could help each other, but if he did die. Well, these weren't times for playing it safe. "I will take the risk," she said. She turned to the Amyrlin. "By your leave, Mother?"
The Amyrlin studied all of them. Dagdara and Therva looked blank, neither approving nor disapproving. But Siuan nodded slightly, so little that Sheriam would have missed it if she had not, by now, been watching for the almost unnoticeable signals between Siuan and the Amyrlin. "Do it," she said softly.
"Thank you Mother," Sheriam said. Then she turned toward Narishma and reached out for Saidar. She braced herself as she laid her hands on the unconscious Asha'man. Light, he did feel.. empty. She hoped she was not too late. Carefully, she wove the flows that formed the bond. Then she stepped back and released the Source.
Dagdara stepped forward. "May I?" she asked. Sheriam nodded, but she did not really need the Yellow's words. "He will wake."