The Wheel of Time belongs to Robert Jordan, I just play here.
Chapter 9
The next morning the camp was as busy as it had ever been. Everywhere, people were packing up, running around with items or messages, and saddling horses. Jahar had finished Wing, Sheriam's mare, first, and was now saddling his own horse. After the Wells, he could have picked one of the flashy horses the Aes Sedai had ridden, and most of the other Asha'man had done just that. Not Jahar. A red roan gelding with dark mane, a big head and a thick neck, Freckles was strong, but certainly not pretty. And in that last exchange with Halima most of his tail had been singed off, which made the horse look positively ratty. Not that Jahar would want to ride another horse today. Fancy horses were fine at a Tairen horse show, or on the Silver Circuit in Ebou Dar, but Jahar had looked for a horse he could depend on in a battle. And he had picked well; the only time Freckles had lost his nerve was when a damane had brought the whole hillside down and they had suddenly found themselves a good ten feet down the slope in a shower of rocks and dirt. Even then the gelding had been quick to settle down once the ground stopped moving. Jahar pulled the cinch tight, mounted and rode to the tent where Sheriam was waiting, leading Wing.
Lord Bryne's scouts had not found any sign that Sylviana was less than sincere, and messengers had been sent to the White Tower to let them know the Amyrlin was to be arriving. They would ride with all Aes Sedai, Warders, and a good number of the Accepted and novices. The servants would follow later with the pack horses, and while Lord Bryne would ride with the Amyrlin, most of their protection would come from the One Power.
It took a while for everyone to get organised, the sisters holding the dome with the Warders riding beside them, the Ajah's spread evenly along the column at Lord Bryne's insistence so no one Ajah would be vulnerable, just in case something would go wrong after all.
Finally they rode across the Alindaer bridge. Jahar held his dome carefully overlapping with the Sitters' weaves behind him, since it had not seemed possible to attach those together. The wide street they rode on had been mostly cleared by the Tower guard, but people thronged in the side streets and along the edges of any square they crossed.. He scanned the crowds as they rode, his senses heightened by Saidin flooding through him.
The white walls of the city blinked in the sun, more so now that the city was covered in snow and even the roofs were white. The Ogier-built city was certainly beautiful, more beautiful than Caemlyn or any other city he had been in, but he paid it little attention except for as far as potential hiding places for attacks or ambushes were concerned. The other Warders all scanned everywhere as well, and while the Aes Sedai all appeared calm on the outside, he doubted Sheriam was the only one who felt anxious.
The crowds watched and cheered. Everyone in Tar Valon was used to seeing Aes Sedai, but few would ever have seen a display like the one they made today. Every Aes Sedai wore her shawl, and even Jahar wore a Warder cloak over his black coat for their ride into the city.
They were close to their destination, the Tower already rearing up high in front of them, when several sisters called out a warning. "Someone's channeling!" "Tendrils of Air and Spirit." He did not look around who had spoken but almost immediately he felt a soft touch on the dome he held. Someone was probing the dome, but they were not doing anything else just yet. A moment later it was gone again.
Sheriam glanced at him and he reached out, linking with her. Even the Aes Sedai's domes could hold almost anything and he did not really expect to need it, but pride and overconfidence could be deadly.
The Aes Sedai around him were looking around, scanning the crowds where the weaves had come from.
"She is in one of those buildings," Malind said, as the Green Sitter pointed to two tall merchant's houses that loomed over a whole block of lower buildings in front of it.
"Could be Alviarin," Janya said.
"Do you want us to go after her?" Myrelle asked.
The Amyrlin looked at the side streets, particularly narrow at this point, packed with people, stalls, and wagons. Most other streets had been wider, and only these were full of stalls, a small market being held on this block. "No, not now. You can not ride through there with a dome, nor do I want to risk a battle in a crowded street like that. First we get to the Tower in one piece and then we will find out who it was. And if it was Alviarin, we will find her." She threw one more look at the crowded streets and the tall buildings, then rode on.
"Whoever it was, she has picked the one place where we can not easily get at her," Siuan remarked. "Not that that is meaningful, every sister knows the city."
Jahar rode holding more of the Power than both he or Sheriam could have held on their own. He understood the Amyrlin's decision. In these streets, between the many buildings and among the crowds, you might never get close enough to someone to take them. Not to mention the carnage that would be the result of a battle fought with the Power. Sure, the Wells and Altara had been bad, but at least the battlefield had been far away from any towns, the casualties soldiers and fighting men. Or Aiel Maidens, but they were fighters like any of the men. The damane made him feel a little more uncomfortable, since he had learned they were leashed and had about the same choice to be there as the horses did, but free choice or not they were hardly innocent bystanders. And even in Illian most of the fighting had taken place outside the town. The Light willing he would never have to fight in a city like this, amidst the crowds.
Then they were at the Tower grounds, the wide gates open for the Amyrlin and her long column of Aes Sedai. As they rode through the gates onto the actual Tower grounds, Jahar let go of the dome as the Amyrlin had insisted upon. He felt the Aes Sedai around him releasing the Power as the prickle in his skin eased, and Sheriam, too, let go of the Source as they broke the link. But he did hold onto Saidin. None of the Tower Aes Sedai would be able to tell, and for once that worked to his advantage. He would hold ready until they were all the way inside.
The main courtyard of the Tower was huge, cobble stones covering an area larger than most city squares. It was lined with benches and pillars and a big, graceful fountain in the middle. At the back of the courtyard, steps led up into the Tower itself. In front of those steps stood Elaida's Sitters, who had knelt as the Amyrlin rode in.
Big as it was, the courtyard quickly filled up. Jahar dismounted and reached for Wing's reins, but Sheriam shook her head. "Hand your horse to one of the other Warders and stay close," she told him. He nodded and motioned for Ger, one of Samalin's Warders, to take Freckles, then followed Sheriam.
Sheriam stepped out in front of the Amyrlin and formally announced her, using the Power to make her voice ring out over all the noise the many people and horses in the courtyard were making.
As she finished speaking, one of the Aes Sedai, wearing a grey shawl, stood, took a couple steps toward the Amyrlin and knelt again. "We formally surrender the White Tower to you, Mother, and we submit ourselves to your judgement," she said.
The Amyrlin nodded, then addressed her own Sitters. "The Hall of the Tower will convene immediately. You," she turned back to Elaida's sisters, "Will be there to hear your fate."
Several of Elaida's Aes Sedai gasped and they all knelt even deeper as the Amyrlin swept past them, into the Tower. Sheriam followed with all the Sitters, and Jahar did the same.
In the Hall, the Amyrlin sat on a heavily worked chair on a small dais. Sheriam stood next to her, holding the carved staff of the Keeper. The Sitters sat in rows facing the Amyrlin, and those who had followed Elaida knelt off to the side. Jahar kept back, standing in the corner behind the Amyrlin and Sheriam, keeping his eyes on the sisters on the floor. It was not usual for Warders to be in the Hall, but no one commented on his presence.
The Amyrlin scanned the kneeling sisters. "I am missing some of your number," she said. "Does anyone care to explain?"
The same sister who had come forward in the courtyard -Andaya, Sheriam had told Jahar- spoke up. "Javrindha has fled the Tower, Mother, as well as eight other Red sisters. And Talene," she swallowed. "Talene was.. she is a Black, she has been stilled and she is held in the cells."
Every Aes Sedai started at that, the Greens looking especially taken aback. Talene had been a member of their Ajah, at least she had pretended to be.
The Amyrlin merely frowned. "I want to hear everything, how you discovered her, what you found out from her, immediately after this meeting. Every detail."
Andaya nodded eagerly. "Yes Mother, of course."
"Now, for you who are here," the Amyrlin started. The sisters shifted nervously. "I could have you all birched, stilled and cast out of the Tower. But stilling can be Healed now, and as to putting any of you out." the Amyrlin sighed. "There are still the Seanchan, the Shaido, and even Elaida could not deny the Last Battle is coming. You would deserve it, all of it, but I need every woman who can channel. So instead, you will stand the very lowest of your Ajah, as if you could barely channel at all, for at least a year and a day, and you will do penance for that time. After that, it will be up to your Ajah if and when you can make your way up again."
Several of the sisters gasped at that, shooting glances from the Amyrlin to the Sitters and back. Jahar had not been there the previous afternoon when the Amyrlin had spoken with the Sitters, as he had been out on the field with the sisters working on the dome, but from what Sheriam had told him later that night most of Elaida's sisters would be looking at a lot more time than just a year and a day in their new position. The Ajahs were not easy on any of their own who had stepped out of line.
"In addition to that," the Amyrlin continued, "No one of you will ever hold an official position in the Tower again, as a Sitter, head of your Ajah, or anything else. Immediately after this meeting, you will report to the Sitters of your Ajah and you will bring them up to date on everything your Ajah has done here under Elaida, as well as everything you know about her. The Reds will report to the Blue sisters." She looked at the sisters expectantly, who quickly assured her they would do just that.
"As far as the Reds are concerned, your duties are revoked. The Taint is gone and there will be no more need for your former tasks. Your Ajah is now disbanded and you will be without an Ajah until you can convince any other to let you in," the Amyrlin said next, looking specifically at the Red sisters.
One of the two, plump and short, merely sighed deeply as if she had expected something like this, and bowed her head. The other gasped in disbelief, then started to stammer. "You can't.. Mother, I'm sorry, you can not believe that?" Most of the non-red sisters were also shaking their heads as if in denial. The Sitters frowned disapproval at the Red.
"I don't just believe it, I know it's true," the Amyrlin said sharply. "But if you really will not believe what your Amyrlin tells you, perhaps you can ask Sheriam or Jahar here."
Jahar shifted a little. The ex-sitters had so far looked only at the Amyrlin and the Sitters, and none had looked further than his Warder cloak. Now, they finally noticed the coat he wore underneath. Most turned dead white. Strangely enough, the short Red just studied him quietly. The other Red scooted back from where she had knelt, fell backwards and then sat there, shaking her head and gaping at him. Oh Light, and there were how many Reds in the Tower? At least she had not channeled at him, but he hardly looked forward to going through this with every single one of them. The others of Elaida's bunch were not much better, for that matter, staring and looking ready to run. He sighed.
Sheriam looked at the wide-eyed sisters without any attempt to hide her irritation or disgust. Her green eyes flashed. "Anyone who doubts the Amyrlin can come see me or Tiana. Your choice. I recommend neither," she said coldly.
The sisters now looked down at the floor and everywhere else to avoid her stare, except for the stoical Red who had not moved at all.
"Now that that is taken care of, go make your reports to the Sitters," the Amyrlin said. "Dismissed."
Chapter 9
The next morning the camp was as busy as it had ever been. Everywhere, people were packing up, running around with items or messages, and saddling horses. Jahar had finished Wing, Sheriam's mare, first, and was now saddling his own horse. After the Wells, he could have picked one of the flashy horses the Aes Sedai had ridden, and most of the other Asha'man had done just that. Not Jahar. A red roan gelding with dark mane, a big head and a thick neck, Freckles was strong, but certainly not pretty. And in that last exchange with Halima most of his tail had been singed off, which made the horse look positively ratty. Not that Jahar would want to ride another horse today. Fancy horses were fine at a Tairen horse show, or on the Silver Circuit in Ebou Dar, but Jahar had looked for a horse he could depend on in a battle. And he had picked well; the only time Freckles had lost his nerve was when a damane had brought the whole hillside down and they had suddenly found themselves a good ten feet down the slope in a shower of rocks and dirt. Even then the gelding had been quick to settle down once the ground stopped moving. Jahar pulled the cinch tight, mounted and rode to the tent where Sheriam was waiting, leading Wing.
Lord Bryne's scouts had not found any sign that Sylviana was less than sincere, and messengers had been sent to the White Tower to let them know the Amyrlin was to be arriving. They would ride with all Aes Sedai, Warders, and a good number of the Accepted and novices. The servants would follow later with the pack horses, and while Lord Bryne would ride with the Amyrlin, most of their protection would come from the One Power.
It took a while for everyone to get organised, the sisters holding the dome with the Warders riding beside them, the Ajah's spread evenly along the column at Lord Bryne's insistence so no one Ajah would be vulnerable, just in case something would go wrong after all.
Finally they rode across the Alindaer bridge. Jahar held his dome carefully overlapping with the Sitters' weaves behind him, since it had not seemed possible to attach those together. The wide street they rode on had been mostly cleared by the Tower guard, but people thronged in the side streets and along the edges of any square they crossed.. He scanned the crowds as they rode, his senses heightened by Saidin flooding through him.
The white walls of the city blinked in the sun, more so now that the city was covered in snow and even the roofs were white. The Ogier-built city was certainly beautiful, more beautiful than Caemlyn or any other city he had been in, but he paid it little attention except for as far as potential hiding places for attacks or ambushes were concerned. The other Warders all scanned everywhere as well, and while the Aes Sedai all appeared calm on the outside, he doubted Sheriam was the only one who felt anxious.
The crowds watched and cheered. Everyone in Tar Valon was used to seeing Aes Sedai, but few would ever have seen a display like the one they made today. Every Aes Sedai wore her shawl, and even Jahar wore a Warder cloak over his black coat for their ride into the city.
They were close to their destination, the Tower already rearing up high in front of them, when several sisters called out a warning. "Someone's channeling!" "Tendrils of Air and Spirit." He did not look around who had spoken but almost immediately he felt a soft touch on the dome he held. Someone was probing the dome, but they were not doing anything else just yet. A moment later it was gone again.
Sheriam glanced at him and he reached out, linking with her. Even the Aes Sedai's domes could hold almost anything and he did not really expect to need it, but pride and overconfidence could be deadly.
The Aes Sedai around him were looking around, scanning the crowds where the weaves had come from.
"She is in one of those buildings," Malind said, as the Green Sitter pointed to two tall merchant's houses that loomed over a whole block of lower buildings in front of it.
"Could be Alviarin," Janya said.
"Do you want us to go after her?" Myrelle asked.
The Amyrlin looked at the side streets, particularly narrow at this point, packed with people, stalls, and wagons. Most other streets had been wider, and only these were full of stalls, a small market being held on this block. "No, not now. You can not ride through there with a dome, nor do I want to risk a battle in a crowded street like that. First we get to the Tower in one piece and then we will find out who it was. And if it was Alviarin, we will find her." She threw one more look at the crowded streets and the tall buildings, then rode on.
"Whoever it was, she has picked the one place where we can not easily get at her," Siuan remarked. "Not that that is meaningful, every sister knows the city."
Jahar rode holding more of the Power than both he or Sheriam could have held on their own. He understood the Amyrlin's decision. In these streets, between the many buildings and among the crowds, you might never get close enough to someone to take them. Not to mention the carnage that would be the result of a battle fought with the Power. Sure, the Wells and Altara had been bad, but at least the battlefield had been far away from any towns, the casualties soldiers and fighting men. Or Aiel Maidens, but they were fighters like any of the men. The damane made him feel a little more uncomfortable, since he had learned they were leashed and had about the same choice to be there as the horses did, but free choice or not they were hardly innocent bystanders. And even in Illian most of the fighting had taken place outside the town. The Light willing he would never have to fight in a city like this, amidst the crowds.
Then they were at the Tower grounds, the wide gates open for the Amyrlin and her long column of Aes Sedai. As they rode through the gates onto the actual Tower grounds, Jahar let go of the dome as the Amyrlin had insisted upon. He felt the Aes Sedai around him releasing the Power as the prickle in his skin eased, and Sheriam, too, let go of the Source as they broke the link. But he did hold onto Saidin. None of the Tower Aes Sedai would be able to tell, and for once that worked to his advantage. He would hold ready until they were all the way inside.
The main courtyard of the Tower was huge, cobble stones covering an area larger than most city squares. It was lined with benches and pillars and a big, graceful fountain in the middle. At the back of the courtyard, steps led up into the Tower itself. In front of those steps stood Elaida's Sitters, who had knelt as the Amyrlin rode in.
Big as it was, the courtyard quickly filled up. Jahar dismounted and reached for Wing's reins, but Sheriam shook her head. "Hand your horse to one of the other Warders and stay close," she told him. He nodded and motioned for Ger, one of Samalin's Warders, to take Freckles, then followed Sheriam.
Sheriam stepped out in front of the Amyrlin and formally announced her, using the Power to make her voice ring out over all the noise the many people and horses in the courtyard were making.
As she finished speaking, one of the Aes Sedai, wearing a grey shawl, stood, took a couple steps toward the Amyrlin and knelt again. "We formally surrender the White Tower to you, Mother, and we submit ourselves to your judgement," she said.
The Amyrlin nodded, then addressed her own Sitters. "The Hall of the Tower will convene immediately. You," she turned back to Elaida's sisters, "Will be there to hear your fate."
Several of Elaida's Aes Sedai gasped and they all knelt even deeper as the Amyrlin swept past them, into the Tower. Sheriam followed with all the Sitters, and Jahar did the same.
In the Hall, the Amyrlin sat on a heavily worked chair on a small dais. Sheriam stood next to her, holding the carved staff of the Keeper. The Sitters sat in rows facing the Amyrlin, and those who had followed Elaida knelt off to the side. Jahar kept back, standing in the corner behind the Amyrlin and Sheriam, keeping his eyes on the sisters on the floor. It was not usual for Warders to be in the Hall, but no one commented on his presence.
The Amyrlin scanned the kneeling sisters. "I am missing some of your number," she said. "Does anyone care to explain?"
The same sister who had come forward in the courtyard -Andaya, Sheriam had told Jahar- spoke up. "Javrindha has fled the Tower, Mother, as well as eight other Red sisters. And Talene," she swallowed. "Talene was.. she is a Black, she has been stilled and she is held in the cells."
Every Aes Sedai started at that, the Greens looking especially taken aback. Talene had been a member of their Ajah, at least she had pretended to be.
The Amyrlin merely frowned. "I want to hear everything, how you discovered her, what you found out from her, immediately after this meeting. Every detail."
Andaya nodded eagerly. "Yes Mother, of course."
"Now, for you who are here," the Amyrlin started. The sisters shifted nervously. "I could have you all birched, stilled and cast out of the Tower. But stilling can be Healed now, and as to putting any of you out." the Amyrlin sighed. "There are still the Seanchan, the Shaido, and even Elaida could not deny the Last Battle is coming. You would deserve it, all of it, but I need every woman who can channel. So instead, you will stand the very lowest of your Ajah, as if you could barely channel at all, for at least a year and a day, and you will do penance for that time. After that, it will be up to your Ajah if and when you can make your way up again."
Several of the sisters gasped at that, shooting glances from the Amyrlin to the Sitters and back. Jahar had not been there the previous afternoon when the Amyrlin had spoken with the Sitters, as he had been out on the field with the sisters working on the dome, but from what Sheriam had told him later that night most of Elaida's sisters would be looking at a lot more time than just a year and a day in their new position. The Ajahs were not easy on any of their own who had stepped out of line.
"In addition to that," the Amyrlin continued, "No one of you will ever hold an official position in the Tower again, as a Sitter, head of your Ajah, or anything else. Immediately after this meeting, you will report to the Sitters of your Ajah and you will bring them up to date on everything your Ajah has done here under Elaida, as well as everything you know about her. The Reds will report to the Blue sisters." She looked at the sisters expectantly, who quickly assured her they would do just that.
"As far as the Reds are concerned, your duties are revoked. The Taint is gone and there will be no more need for your former tasks. Your Ajah is now disbanded and you will be without an Ajah until you can convince any other to let you in," the Amyrlin said next, looking specifically at the Red sisters.
One of the two, plump and short, merely sighed deeply as if she had expected something like this, and bowed her head. The other gasped in disbelief, then started to stammer. "You can't.. Mother, I'm sorry, you can not believe that?" Most of the non-red sisters were also shaking their heads as if in denial. The Sitters frowned disapproval at the Red.
"I don't just believe it, I know it's true," the Amyrlin said sharply. "But if you really will not believe what your Amyrlin tells you, perhaps you can ask Sheriam or Jahar here."
Jahar shifted a little. The ex-sitters had so far looked only at the Amyrlin and the Sitters, and none had looked further than his Warder cloak. Now, they finally noticed the coat he wore underneath. Most turned dead white. Strangely enough, the short Red just studied him quietly. The other Red scooted back from where she had knelt, fell backwards and then sat there, shaking her head and gaping at him. Oh Light, and there were how many Reds in the Tower? At least she had not channeled at him, but he hardly looked forward to going through this with every single one of them. The others of Elaida's bunch were not much better, for that matter, staring and looking ready to run. He sighed.
Sheriam looked at the wide-eyed sisters without any attempt to hide her irritation or disgust. Her green eyes flashed. "Anyone who doubts the Amyrlin can come see me or Tiana. Your choice. I recommend neither," she said coldly.
The sisters now looked down at the floor and everywhere else to avoid her stare, except for the stoical Red who had not moved at all.
"Now that that is taken care of, go make your reports to the Sitters," the Amyrlin said. "Dismissed."