The Wheel of Time belongs to Robert Jordan, I just play here.
Chapter 4
When Jahar woke up, he was alone in the tent. A tray with breakfast was sitting on the small table, and his clothes were folded up on a chest next to it. Someone had retrieved his saddlebags from the site of the battle; he could not even remember how he had let go of his horse, or when. Probably when he felt that first surge of Saidin behind him. The moment that.. Light! He closed his eyes again for a moment, clenching his teeth. But he did not relish going to sleep again. He did not remember any of the dreams he had had, but he knew they had not been pleasant. As he reopened his eyes, Sheriam was there handing him the breakfast tray.
"I know you are not hungry but you must eat," she said gently. "Then when you are done, if you are up to it, the Amyrlin wants to see you." She left the tent, promising "I will be back soon."
He picked at the food -eggs, ham, rolls and butter- but he did not manage to eat much. He soon pushed the tray away, swung his legs out of the cot, and went over to the pitcher of wash water in the other corner of the tent. The water was cold but he did not bother to channel it warmer. One of his braids was coming undone, he saw, and he shrugged. He grabbed his coat and pulled it on, noticing and ignoring the small tear in one of the arms. He had another coat in his saddlebags, but what did any of it matter?
Suddenly Sheriam was there again. She looked him over. "I do not know whether your M'Hael cares if you show up like that, but you can not do that here," she said firmly. She handed him a hairbrush and while he brushed his hair and re-braided it, she got his spare coat from is packs. But however firmly she spoke, he felt no irritation from her, only concern. It wasn't like he was going to lie down and die, it was just easier not to think of.. he shrugged as he took the clean coat and put it on.
"Are you ready?" Sheriam asked. He nodded. She seemed to hesitate a moment but then led the way out of the tent. He followed.
Sheriam ducked into another tent nearby and Jahar was right behind her. Much larger, this tent held a table and several chairs. Two women were present, both looking very young. Sheriam announced him to the Amyrlin, and introduced the other woman as Siuan Sedai. He noticed that neither had the ageless look of the Aes Sedai, but he did not really see what it mattered, either. Siuan poured tea for all of them as the Amyrlin offered them a seat.
"Take a seat," she said, studying him. "Sheriam told us most of what happened, but we have a few questions yet."
Jahar nodded. "Yes, Mother."
Siuan handed him a cup and she frowned at him. What was it now, he thought, and shrugged inwardly. The Amyrlin and Siuan went over everything he had told Sheriam, and this time he answered quietly as he told his story. He still felt Sheriam's concern through the bond, but he ignored it.
As he finished his account, the Amyrlin started her questions. "You feel Halima was a Forsaken, who might she have been? How strong do you think she was?"
"Stronger than any of the Asha'man, probably stronger than the M'Hael. She had no trouble warding off anything I threw at her," Jahar reported blandly. "Men can not feel exactly how strong another man is unless they draw all they can hold, or feel the ability in someone who does not hold the Power."
The Amyrlin looked thoughtful, fingering the multicoloured stole she wore. "So even if you were to make the rounds through the camp, you could not detect a woman like Halima until she channeled."
Jahar nodded. "That is so."
"And by then it would be too late..." the Amyrlin mused. She spoke slowly as if she was thinking for herself, and of course she was right, too -but Jahar lost it. He jumped up, spilling tea from his cup over the table.
"Light, woman, after yesterday we all know that! It's just that way for us!" he yelled. Then he clenched his teeth so hard it hurt.
The Amyrlin started, Siuan Sedai looked shocked, but Sheriam only took his arm and said, "Jahar." She gently urged him to sit down again. Strangely enough, at his outburst her concern changed to relief.
The Amyrlin recovered from her shock. "I am sorry," she said. "I was only thinking aloud, but it was thoughtless of me to say it like that. No one blames you for not doing the impossible."
"Thank you, Mother," Jahar said carefully. "I am sorry for my outburst, it is just that.." he broke off and gritted his teeth trying not to lose control again. He was still seething mad -at the Amyrlin for stating the obvious, at Halima for ambushing them, at the Lord Dragon for sending him on a mission he had not been comfortable with from the start and that had almost cost him his life -for the second time. Light, he was mad at the Pattern for being like it was, so Merise had had no warning and no chance to avoid what hit her. But blowing up did not change anything.
The Amyrlin nodded thoughtfully again. Then the wet papers on her desk suddenly shifted slightly as they dried, and he felt a prickle in his skin that told him she had channeled. "Well," she said. "It is unlikely there is another Forsaken hiding as a woman among us. We will see later if we can puzzle out how it was done. Sheriam, have the Yellows check out the body in any way they can, but keep the reasons as quiet as possible. We do not want a panic or a witch hunt in the camp."
Sheriam nodded. "As you wish, Mother."
"We should also continue to find any accomplices Halima had," Siuan said.
"Delana," the Amyrlin said. Jahar felt a stab of fear and hatred coming from Sheriam at the mention of that name. But she said nothing.
"She stated in front of the whole Hall she had no idea what her secretary was up to, and that she was in no way a Darkfriend. She said so literally, she can't lie," Siuan said.
"She could if she was Black Ajah, we know they are not held by the Oaths," the Amyrlin shot back.
"That is so," Siuan sighed. "But we can not question a Sitter any further. Light, we can not! The Greys would be furious. What do you think, Sheriam?"
"We can not do anything but watch her. As you said, the whole Grey Ajah would be up in arms," Sheriam showed no emotion in her face but fear just surged through the bond as she spoke. "By your leave, Mother, I will talk to the Yellows now. The sooner they get to it, the better."
The Amyrlin seemed slightly surprised at her fervour but she did not comment. "You are free to go, Sheriam." Sheriam got up quickly, motioned for Jahar to follow her, and left the tent.
Jahar went with her as she took several Yellow sisters apart and spoke to them. Two, Dagdara and Therva, took an interest in him especially. He let it all happen, feelings rapidly changing from anger, to irritation, to hurt at the many reminders of the day before. If he sometimes answered the many questions he got a bit briefly, well, there were a lot of them too, enough to irritate under any circumstances. Not to mention all the Yellow sisters wanted to delve him and check on him. But he did keep himself from any outbursts as severe as the one he had this morning.
As they were almost back to their tent, he suddenly felt that same stab of fear and hate through the bond he had felt earlier, and stronger now. As they were now out in the open, he was immediately alert, looked around, and readied himself to grab the Source. But Sheriam did not act afraid, and all he saw was the usual people going about their business. Or -the Aes Sedai who had just emerged from the tent that was used as the meeting place of the Hall wore a grey-fringed shawl. Jahar was sure it was Delana, but Sheriam did not stop and went straight for her tent.
Inside, she relaxed, but he did not. "What is it with Delana?" he asked her.
She jumped. "Nothing I can tell you."
"Nothing, don't give me that. You jumped out of your skin when her name was mentioned and just now when we saw her -that was her wasn't it?- you were scared to death," he said.
Sheriam tensed visibly, now. "That was her. But.. I just can not tell you. Please believe me."
He nodded reluctantly. He thought she meant it literally, that she could not tell him, even though he did not know why. But he would find out. "I am your Warder now, Sheriam. I will watch her." And I will not fail again, he added silently to himself.
That night, Sheriam waited until Jahar had fallen asleep. She hoped he would not notice her now, or would think it a part of one of his dreams and not wake up if he did. For a moment, when she learned who Halima had been, she had hoped she would be released from the weaves that kept her from speaking about Delana as strongly as if she had sworn on the Oath Rod. But the Lock was still there, Delana had woven it and she was still alive. Sheriam now knew who had taught her the weaves but she could not break through any more than she could before. She held her hands in front of her face and cried silently.
Chapter 4
When Jahar woke up, he was alone in the tent. A tray with breakfast was sitting on the small table, and his clothes were folded up on a chest next to it. Someone had retrieved his saddlebags from the site of the battle; he could not even remember how he had let go of his horse, or when. Probably when he felt that first surge of Saidin behind him. The moment that.. Light! He closed his eyes again for a moment, clenching his teeth. But he did not relish going to sleep again. He did not remember any of the dreams he had had, but he knew they had not been pleasant. As he reopened his eyes, Sheriam was there handing him the breakfast tray.
"I know you are not hungry but you must eat," she said gently. "Then when you are done, if you are up to it, the Amyrlin wants to see you." She left the tent, promising "I will be back soon."
He picked at the food -eggs, ham, rolls and butter- but he did not manage to eat much. He soon pushed the tray away, swung his legs out of the cot, and went over to the pitcher of wash water in the other corner of the tent. The water was cold but he did not bother to channel it warmer. One of his braids was coming undone, he saw, and he shrugged. He grabbed his coat and pulled it on, noticing and ignoring the small tear in one of the arms. He had another coat in his saddlebags, but what did any of it matter?
Suddenly Sheriam was there again. She looked him over. "I do not know whether your M'Hael cares if you show up like that, but you can not do that here," she said firmly. She handed him a hairbrush and while he brushed his hair and re-braided it, she got his spare coat from is packs. But however firmly she spoke, he felt no irritation from her, only concern. It wasn't like he was going to lie down and die, it was just easier not to think of.. he shrugged as he took the clean coat and put it on.
"Are you ready?" Sheriam asked. He nodded. She seemed to hesitate a moment but then led the way out of the tent. He followed.
Sheriam ducked into another tent nearby and Jahar was right behind her. Much larger, this tent held a table and several chairs. Two women were present, both looking very young. Sheriam announced him to the Amyrlin, and introduced the other woman as Siuan Sedai. He noticed that neither had the ageless look of the Aes Sedai, but he did not really see what it mattered, either. Siuan poured tea for all of them as the Amyrlin offered them a seat.
"Take a seat," she said, studying him. "Sheriam told us most of what happened, but we have a few questions yet."
Jahar nodded. "Yes, Mother."
Siuan handed him a cup and she frowned at him. What was it now, he thought, and shrugged inwardly. The Amyrlin and Siuan went over everything he had told Sheriam, and this time he answered quietly as he told his story. He still felt Sheriam's concern through the bond, but he ignored it.
As he finished his account, the Amyrlin started her questions. "You feel Halima was a Forsaken, who might she have been? How strong do you think she was?"
"Stronger than any of the Asha'man, probably stronger than the M'Hael. She had no trouble warding off anything I threw at her," Jahar reported blandly. "Men can not feel exactly how strong another man is unless they draw all they can hold, or feel the ability in someone who does not hold the Power."
The Amyrlin looked thoughtful, fingering the multicoloured stole she wore. "So even if you were to make the rounds through the camp, you could not detect a woman like Halima until she channeled."
Jahar nodded. "That is so."
"And by then it would be too late..." the Amyrlin mused. She spoke slowly as if she was thinking for herself, and of course she was right, too -but Jahar lost it. He jumped up, spilling tea from his cup over the table.
"Light, woman, after yesterday we all know that! It's just that way for us!" he yelled. Then he clenched his teeth so hard it hurt.
The Amyrlin started, Siuan Sedai looked shocked, but Sheriam only took his arm and said, "Jahar." She gently urged him to sit down again. Strangely enough, at his outburst her concern changed to relief.
The Amyrlin recovered from her shock. "I am sorry," she said. "I was only thinking aloud, but it was thoughtless of me to say it like that. No one blames you for not doing the impossible."
"Thank you, Mother," Jahar said carefully. "I am sorry for my outburst, it is just that.." he broke off and gritted his teeth trying not to lose control again. He was still seething mad -at the Amyrlin for stating the obvious, at Halima for ambushing them, at the Lord Dragon for sending him on a mission he had not been comfortable with from the start and that had almost cost him his life -for the second time. Light, he was mad at the Pattern for being like it was, so Merise had had no warning and no chance to avoid what hit her. But blowing up did not change anything.
The Amyrlin nodded thoughtfully again. Then the wet papers on her desk suddenly shifted slightly as they dried, and he felt a prickle in his skin that told him she had channeled. "Well," she said. "It is unlikely there is another Forsaken hiding as a woman among us. We will see later if we can puzzle out how it was done. Sheriam, have the Yellows check out the body in any way they can, but keep the reasons as quiet as possible. We do not want a panic or a witch hunt in the camp."
Sheriam nodded. "As you wish, Mother."
"We should also continue to find any accomplices Halima had," Siuan said.
"Delana," the Amyrlin said. Jahar felt a stab of fear and hatred coming from Sheriam at the mention of that name. But she said nothing.
"She stated in front of the whole Hall she had no idea what her secretary was up to, and that she was in no way a Darkfriend. She said so literally, she can't lie," Siuan said.
"She could if she was Black Ajah, we know they are not held by the Oaths," the Amyrlin shot back.
"That is so," Siuan sighed. "But we can not question a Sitter any further. Light, we can not! The Greys would be furious. What do you think, Sheriam?"
"We can not do anything but watch her. As you said, the whole Grey Ajah would be up in arms," Sheriam showed no emotion in her face but fear just surged through the bond as she spoke. "By your leave, Mother, I will talk to the Yellows now. The sooner they get to it, the better."
The Amyrlin seemed slightly surprised at her fervour but she did not comment. "You are free to go, Sheriam." Sheriam got up quickly, motioned for Jahar to follow her, and left the tent.
Jahar went with her as she took several Yellow sisters apart and spoke to them. Two, Dagdara and Therva, took an interest in him especially. He let it all happen, feelings rapidly changing from anger, to irritation, to hurt at the many reminders of the day before. If he sometimes answered the many questions he got a bit briefly, well, there were a lot of them too, enough to irritate under any circumstances. Not to mention all the Yellow sisters wanted to delve him and check on him. But he did keep himself from any outbursts as severe as the one he had this morning.
As they were almost back to their tent, he suddenly felt that same stab of fear and hate through the bond he had felt earlier, and stronger now. As they were now out in the open, he was immediately alert, looked around, and readied himself to grab the Source. But Sheriam did not act afraid, and all he saw was the usual people going about their business. Or -the Aes Sedai who had just emerged from the tent that was used as the meeting place of the Hall wore a grey-fringed shawl. Jahar was sure it was Delana, but Sheriam did not stop and went straight for her tent.
Inside, she relaxed, but he did not. "What is it with Delana?" he asked her.
She jumped. "Nothing I can tell you."
"Nothing, don't give me that. You jumped out of your skin when her name was mentioned and just now when we saw her -that was her wasn't it?- you were scared to death," he said.
Sheriam tensed visibly, now. "That was her. But.. I just can not tell you. Please believe me."
He nodded reluctantly. He thought she meant it literally, that she could not tell him, even though he did not know why. But he would find out. "I am your Warder now, Sheriam. I will watch her." And I will not fail again, he added silently to himself.
That night, Sheriam waited until Jahar had fallen asleep. She hoped he would not notice her now, or would think it a part of one of his dreams and not wake up if he did. For a moment, when she learned who Halima had been, she had hoped she would be released from the weaves that kept her from speaking about Delana as strongly as if she had sworn on the Oath Rod. But the Lock was still there, Delana had woven it and she was still alive. Sheriam now knew who had taught her the weaves but she could not break through any more than she could before. She held her hands in front of her face and cried silently.