The Wheel of Time belongs to Robert Jordan, I just play here.
Chapter 12
The following morning Jahar was once again in the anteroom, while Sheriam and the Amyrlin were hearing a report from Takima.
A knock on the door announced Rubinde, one of the ex-Sitters, who curtsied deeply as she announced the Soldier who followed her in. "Sed Avin to see the Amyrlin with a message from the Lord Dragon," she said.
Jahar looked at her. Light, Elaida's Sitters ran errands like the novices now? Of course, it was one way of showing every visitor to the White Tower that Elaida's followers were firmly taken down a few pegs. No doubt Sed, and any others who might have been present in the large reception hall downstairs, would have learned exactly who Rubinde had been.
"The Amyrlin and the Keeper are with one of the Sitters, but she will want to see you as soon as she is done," he told Sed. He had not seen him before but of course he had been gone from the Black Tower for a long time. "You can go," he added to Rubinde. The Aes Sedai curtsied and left, jumping faster than any novice.
"I do not think she will be long, you can take a seat if you wish," Jahar told the Soldier, who sat down and looked around the room. He was a tall with short, blond hair, a boyish face, and Jahar would be surprised if he was older than sixteen.
"You are Jahar Narishma?" the boy asked after a short while.
Jahar nodded. "Yes, I am."
"Until the Lord Dragon came to the Black Tower this morning, the M'Hael had you written up as a deserter," the boy remarked. "You and Damer and Eben. The Lord Dragon was not happy when he learned about that."
Jahar muttered something unintelligible. He had been worried about going back to the Black Tower, and so had Damer and Eben, but it was hardly something he cared to discuss with this young Soldier. Fortunately, the boy did not go on about it.
"It was the first time I even saw the Lord Dragon," he said instead, awe in his voice. "Were you really there when he cleansed the Taint?"
"I was," Jahar said, and added. "It is not something easily described in words."
"I guess not," the boy answered, but he looked disappointed.
Then the door to the Amyrlin's Study opened and Sheriam came out with Takima. She quickly let the Brown out as the Soldier got up.
"This is Sed Avin, from the Black Tower, Sheriam," Jahar said. "Rubinde brought him in just a short while ago."
"Good, we had been waiting for you," Sheriam said to the boy. "Come in." Her glance included Jahar, as he had known, and they all went into the inner room.
Sheriam announced Sed and the boy bowed gracefully.
"You bring news about the Aes Sedai Elaida sent against the Black Tower?" the Amyrlin asked.
Sed nodded. "The Aes Sedai are all in the Black Tower. The Dedicated and some of the Asha'man have bonded them. They are treated well."
"Bonded them?" the Amyrlin asked startled, but Jahar knew what the boy meant.
"Our bond can include.. something extra," he said. "That is where I got the weaves I used on Delana, as I have told you."
The Amyrlin frowned. "You used compulsion on them? On all of them?" she asked Sed.
"We do not call it that, but I guess so. They obey those they are bonded to, they do not try to escape, they do not attack anyone," Sed answered.
The Amyrlin looked shocked and Sheriam felt uncomfortable as well. "Can we get them back?" the Amyrlin asked.
The Soldier shook his head. "They are not leaving the Black Tower," he said. "They came to attack us, we took them prisoner. Those of the Tower Guard who were taken can be released, but not the Aes Sedai. They will not be returned to the White Tower."
The Amyrlin frowned hard at that announcement. "They were sent by Elaida. Elaida does no longer run the White Tower. I do. I can guarantee you they will not try to make any move against the Black Tower or any man who can channel again."
"They will not do that now," Sed remarked dryly. "They wanted to take us, and gentle us. That they did not succeed does not negate their intentions. They stay."
The Amyrlin sighed. "I can understand your anger, I certainly do not support their plans. But they are Aes Sedai and I want them back. I would like to see the M'Hael himself."
"The M'Hael will not come here," Sed answered. "But he will receive you at the Black Tower."
"I would send a Grey to negotiate, but with fifty-one Aes Sedai bonded I doubt anyone will be impressed by just any sister. I wish I could go myself but I really can not leave the Tower now," the Amyrlin sighed. She looked at Sheriam.
"I will go," she said, looking at Jahar in turn. He nodded silently.
"Tell the M'Hael my Keeper will be coming to see him this afternoon," the Amyrlin said. She reached into the box of papers on her desk and pulled out a sealed scroll which she handed to the Soldier. "Also, take this with you. It is a copy of the proclamation concerning the Red Ajah. A copy is underway by regular messenger but it will take more time to get to the Black Tower. That is all."
"Yes, Amyrlin," Sed said as he bowed again.
Sheriam showed him out, then returned.
"Will there be any trouble?" she asked.
Jahar considered carefully before answering. "No. The Lord Dragon would not stand for it if anyone touched an Aes Sedai who came to negotiate."
The Amyrlin nodded agreement "Get some lunch and then leave. And good luck."
"Thank you. We might need it," Sheriam replied, then left. Jahar followed her.
A little over an hour later Jahar and Sheriam stepped through the Gateway onto the Black Tower grounds. Jahar was impressed. The village -no, more like a small town- that had sprouted up while he was gone was larger than he had expected, even though he had known the plans.
Another young Soldier Jahar did not know introduced himself as Valen Tapera and showed them to the main farm house where the M'Hael had his rooms and office. The farm house itself had changed too, into a sprawling building with almost as many rooms as all the buildings together would have had just months ago. Valen led them into a large room and after a brief while the M'Hael came in.
"Well, until this morning I did not think you would be returning here," the M'Hael remarked dryly to Jahar as he entered, ignoring Sheriam.
"I have remained with the Lord Dragon. Unlike some others," Jahar replied flatly.
"Hm, well," the M'Hael said. "I guess Dashiva got to them somehow, I always thought he was a strange type."
Jahar frowned a little. He had talked with Damer and Eben, after Cairhien, and again with Damer after Dashiva had shown up and was killed at Shadar Logoth. None of them could recall even the slightest hint that Dashiva was testing the waters, sounding them out on their loyalty to the Lord Dragon. And Gedwyn, Rochaid, Torval and Kisman had been the M'Hael's men before Dumai's Wells. But he could hardly go into that now. "I guess so," he muttered noncommittally. "But we are here to see about the Aes Sedai."
The M'Hael nodded. "You will have to see Logain, he handles the captured Aes Sedai."
"Logain?" Sheriam asked, startled.
"Ah, of course you know him," the M'Hael said. "He has told me of the group of Aes Sedai he was with, and who Healed him. He might be inclined to listen to your request, then. Valen!"
The Soldier came running in again.
"Show the Keeper and Jahar where Logain lives," the M'Hael ordered.
The Soldier saluted. "Yes Sir! Please follow me," he then added to Jahar and Sheriam and led the way.
Outside, Sheriam threw him a questioning glance. Jahar knew she had been puzzled by his exchange with the M'Hael, but he could not answer anything here. "Later," he said and she nodded.
They walked quite a ways along a wide, packed dirt road. First through a whole village that looked like any other, with craftsmen working wood, making clothing and shoes, and doing everything that people in a village did. Then, a little down the road, stood a row of large barracks. Some still being built on, others finished. Behind that, another part of the village with many wooden houses.
Valen led them up a wide street, where a group of Dedicated were gathered around a single Asha'man in front of a simple two-story house. Sheriam clearly recognised Logain as they approached.
"Logain," Valen called. "An Aes Sedai here to see you about the bonded ones." The Asha'man looked up and clearly recognised Sheriam in turn.
"You're all dismissed," he told the men around him, who quickly saluted and left. "You too, Valen," he added.
He waited for the men to be out of sight before saying anything else.
"We meet again," he said to Sheriam, who nodded in greeting.
"And you must be Jahar Narishma," Logain turned to him. "Until this morning the M'Hael had you listed as a deserter. A mistake that could've got you killed," he added meaningfully, but then immediately turned back to Sheriam again.
Jahar frowned again. Was Logain also suspicious of the M'Hael? He would keep his eyes and ears open.
"You came to see about the Aes Sedai," Logain said to Sheriam. He made no move to let them inside, instead remaining where he had addressed the Dedicated.
"I realise they came to take the Black Tower and any men here, but they were under orders of Elaida. Elaida is dead, and the Red Ajah is no more. Egwene Al'Vere sits on the Amyrlin Seat now," Sheriam told him.
"Yes, we have all heard the proclamation Sed brought back from the White Tower an hour ago," Logain said. He quoted, "The White Tower proclaims that the Taint on Saidin, the Male half of the True Source, has been cleansed. The White Tower proclaims that the Red Ajah, whose task it was to track down and gentle any men channeling before the madness caused by the Taint could take them, has been disbanded. The White Tower proclaims that no Aes Sedai of any Ajah will hunt down and gentle a man for his ability to channel, or for his ability to learn to channel. Signed by Egwene Al'Vere, Watcher of the Seals, Flame of Tar Valon, The Amyrlin Seat." Then as an afterthought, "That created a stir among the Aes Sedai, especially the Reds."
"The Amyrlin is sincere. No Aes Sedai will bother you or any others again," Sheriam said.
"Oh, I do not doubt that," Logain said. "I have found the Amyrlin a woman of her word. But that does not change what was done under her predecessor. The Aes Sedai here are all treated well, but they are staying. You can see them if you want." And without waiting for her answer, he called, "Toveine, Gabrelle, come out here!"
The red door behind him opened and two Aes Sedai came out. Both looked shocked when they saw Sheriam, especially the short, copper skinned woman.
"Tell the Keeper here how you are treated. Speak freely," Logain instructed them.
"They bonded us, they put their filthy bond on us, men who can channel! We can not even channel without their leave!" the short Aes Sedai started, stumbling over her words so she was nearly incoherent.
"Oh get a hold of yourself, Toveine," the other Aes Sedai snapped at her. "No one has been hurt or beaten by an Asha'man. We have food, clothing, housing and everything that we need. I wish I had never left the White Tower but we are not miss-treated."
"Elaida's or not, they are still Aes Sedai, they are part of the White Tower," Sheriam said.
"Are they?" Logain said, his eyes narrowing. "They do not seem to hold to its laws."
Toveine turned dead white. "No, no, don't." she breathed.
Sheriam looked from her to Logain and back.
"Is there something we were not told about?" she asked darkly.
"You were not told because no one else knows. Toveine carried orders from Elaida to gentle and hang every man right here on the spot," Logain told her.
Toveine hid her face in her hands and slowly shook her head as if in denial, but Sheriam clearly did not question the tall man's words. Jahar could tell she was astonished and furious, but he felt no doubt through the bond. She stared at the Red sister with wide eyes.
Gabrelle was the first to react. "She set 'harsh conditions'? You were not kidding! Light, they could have killed us all and they would have been within their right to do so!" she shrieked, almost hysterical, and she gripped her skirt with both hands, looking as if she wanted to lunge at the other sister.
No one was nearby, but her voice carried and a few people further down the street looked up. Jahar felt Logain reach for Saidin and saw him weave a ward around them.
Sheriam recovered from her shocked silence as her astonishment was replaced by rage. "How could you? What you intended goes directly against Tower Law, a Law you broke and for which you spent twenty years in exile. And now you would have committed the same crime five hundred times over. You are lucky to be alive. Did anyone else know of this?" Her green eyes shot fire and her voice was cold enough to make the day seem warm.
Toveine was sobbing now. She shook her head. "No. Only Elaida. Some of the Reds.. must have suspected. But no one knew," she brought out between sobs. "I had planned.. I wanted to tell the other Red sisters once we were here, take care of things. Then afterwards.. the other Ajahs would have accepted that the end justified the means."
"If you believe that you are out of your mind," Gabrelle snapped, no longer screaming but still gripping her skirt tightly, her knuckles white. "The best you can hope for is that you never see the White Tower again. I just wish you had not dragged the rest of us down with you."
"Under the circumstances, I understand and accept your claim on Toveine, and perhaps the other Reds, but I would like you to consider releasing the others," Sheriam said grimly, turning back to Logain.
Logain frowned for a moment, thinking. He looked at Toveine, who had started to sob harder as Sheriam spoke, and Gabrielle who looked hopeful. "You two get inside," Logain told them. "Make sure she doesn't hurt herself," he added to Gabrelle. He did not check to see if the two sisters did as he told them; he did not have to. Again, he was silent for a long time.
Finally he spoke again. "No one here knows how to release the bond itself, but I could order the men to let them go in every other way. They won't like it, but they would accept it if they were compensated somehow."
"How?" Sheriam asked.
"Healing," Logain answered. "What Nynaeve did for me. With as hard as we push here, accidents do happen. Damer was here this morning with the Lord Dragon, and he Healed one Soldier who was burned out a while back, but he couldn't Heal him to his full strength. Now he's Healed some sisters at the Lord Dragon's camp and they are back like they were, and so am I. It seems only a woman can fully Heal a man and a man can fully Heal a woman, but the sisters here don't know the weave and can't figure it out. Get us Healing when we need it, and you can take the sisters from the other Ajahs with you."
"And their Warders," Sheriam bargained.
"And their Warders," Logain replied.
"That is acceptable," Sheriam said. "I can have two of the Yellow here first thing tomorrow morning, they can Heal whoever needs to, and after you can either call on us or send those who need to the White Tower."
"I will speak to the men tonight," Logain said.
Sheriam and Logain shook hands.
"I would like to see the Red sisters before I go," Sheriam said. "No matter what they did, they are still Aes Sedai."
Logain nodded. "I will show you around to where they live," he answered, and he let the ward vanish as he led the way.
Jahar stayed back as Sheriam spoke briefly with most of the bonded sisters. He knew many of the Asha'man Dedicated who held the bonds, and he exchanged greetings while others looked at him curiously. He noticed everyone in this part of the Black Tower deferred to Logain, and he thought it was not just because Logain was the only full Asha'man in sight. The tall man carried himself as if he owned this part of the Black Tower.
He could tell Sheriam was unsettled by the bonded Aes Sedai, but the most prominent emotions from her were anger and a grim resignation. From the looks she gave those who had been Reds, it was not difficult to tell who she was angry with.
The Red sisters were clearly having a hard time adjusting to life in the Black Tower. They jumped when they saw Sheriam, then did not seem to know whether to beg her to take them with her, or to jump at a word from her as hard as they did from the men. Of course, the Amyrlin's proclamation had made it clear they would not get a warm welcome in the White Tower, but Jahar thought most would have gone to the pit of doom as long as none of the men would come along.
"That is everyone, except for Beyaelle, she's out with Gheral," Logain said after a while. "They won't be back until tonight." He hesitated for a moment as if he wanted to say something else, then didn't.
"Out?" Sheriam asked. "She is not here?"
"They are in Godan today. Gheral is one of the recruiters, he's been taking her along every day since the Taint is gone," Logain explained.
Sheriam blinked in surprise, then grinned slightly. "She's never been like the other Reds," she said. "I kept half and half expecting her to show up in Salidar, no matter what her Ajah."
Logain hesitated again, then said, "She will be here in the morning, you can see her then."
Jahar thought he had wanted to say something more, but he did not, and Sheriam did not press him on it.
[A/N: For those who don't know Beyaelle, the few paragraphs I started to write about her have turned into an entire separate story. If you want to know who she is, check it out. It's called 'Bonded'.]
Chapter 12
The following morning Jahar was once again in the anteroom, while Sheriam and the Amyrlin were hearing a report from Takima.
A knock on the door announced Rubinde, one of the ex-Sitters, who curtsied deeply as she announced the Soldier who followed her in. "Sed Avin to see the Amyrlin with a message from the Lord Dragon," she said.
Jahar looked at her. Light, Elaida's Sitters ran errands like the novices now? Of course, it was one way of showing every visitor to the White Tower that Elaida's followers were firmly taken down a few pegs. No doubt Sed, and any others who might have been present in the large reception hall downstairs, would have learned exactly who Rubinde had been.
"The Amyrlin and the Keeper are with one of the Sitters, but she will want to see you as soon as she is done," he told Sed. He had not seen him before but of course he had been gone from the Black Tower for a long time. "You can go," he added to Rubinde. The Aes Sedai curtsied and left, jumping faster than any novice.
"I do not think she will be long, you can take a seat if you wish," Jahar told the Soldier, who sat down and looked around the room. He was a tall with short, blond hair, a boyish face, and Jahar would be surprised if he was older than sixteen.
"You are Jahar Narishma?" the boy asked after a short while.
Jahar nodded. "Yes, I am."
"Until the Lord Dragon came to the Black Tower this morning, the M'Hael had you written up as a deserter," the boy remarked. "You and Damer and Eben. The Lord Dragon was not happy when he learned about that."
Jahar muttered something unintelligible. He had been worried about going back to the Black Tower, and so had Damer and Eben, but it was hardly something he cared to discuss with this young Soldier. Fortunately, the boy did not go on about it.
"It was the first time I even saw the Lord Dragon," he said instead, awe in his voice. "Were you really there when he cleansed the Taint?"
"I was," Jahar said, and added. "It is not something easily described in words."
"I guess not," the boy answered, but he looked disappointed.
Then the door to the Amyrlin's Study opened and Sheriam came out with Takima. She quickly let the Brown out as the Soldier got up.
"This is Sed Avin, from the Black Tower, Sheriam," Jahar said. "Rubinde brought him in just a short while ago."
"Good, we had been waiting for you," Sheriam said to the boy. "Come in." Her glance included Jahar, as he had known, and they all went into the inner room.
Sheriam announced Sed and the boy bowed gracefully.
"You bring news about the Aes Sedai Elaida sent against the Black Tower?" the Amyrlin asked.
Sed nodded. "The Aes Sedai are all in the Black Tower. The Dedicated and some of the Asha'man have bonded them. They are treated well."
"Bonded them?" the Amyrlin asked startled, but Jahar knew what the boy meant.
"Our bond can include.. something extra," he said. "That is where I got the weaves I used on Delana, as I have told you."
The Amyrlin frowned. "You used compulsion on them? On all of them?" she asked Sed.
"We do not call it that, but I guess so. They obey those they are bonded to, they do not try to escape, they do not attack anyone," Sed answered.
The Amyrlin looked shocked and Sheriam felt uncomfortable as well. "Can we get them back?" the Amyrlin asked.
The Soldier shook his head. "They are not leaving the Black Tower," he said. "They came to attack us, we took them prisoner. Those of the Tower Guard who were taken can be released, but not the Aes Sedai. They will not be returned to the White Tower."
The Amyrlin frowned hard at that announcement. "They were sent by Elaida. Elaida does no longer run the White Tower. I do. I can guarantee you they will not try to make any move against the Black Tower or any man who can channel again."
"They will not do that now," Sed remarked dryly. "They wanted to take us, and gentle us. That they did not succeed does not negate their intentions. They stay."
The Amyrlin sighed. "I can understand your anger, I certainly do not support their plans. But they are Aes Sedai and I want them back. I would like to see the M'Hael himself."
"The M'Hael will not come here," Sed answered. "But he will receive you at the Black Tower."
"I would send a Grey to negotiate, but with fifty-one Aes Sedai bonded I doubt anyone will be impressed by just any sister. I wish I could go myself but I really can not leave the Tower now," the Amyrlin sighed. She looked at Sheriam.
"I will go," she said, looking at Jahar in turn. He nodded silently.
"Tell the M'Hael my Keeper will be coming to see him this afternoon," the Amyrlin said. She reached into the box of papers on her desk and pulled out a sealed scroll which she handed to the Soldier. "Also, take this with you. It is a copy of the proclamation concerning the Red Ajah. A copy is underway by regular messenger but it will take more time to get to the Black Tower. That is all."
"Yes, Amyrlin," Sed said as he bowed again.
Sheriam showed him out, then returned.
"Will there be any trouble?" she asked.
Jahar considered carefully before answering. "No. The Lord Dragon would not stand for it if anyone touched an Aes Sedai who came to negotiate."
The Amyrlin nodded agreement "Get some lunch and then leave. And good luck."
"Thank you. We might need it," Sheriam replied, then left. Jahar followed her.
A little over an hour later Jahar and Sheriam stepped through the Gateway onto the Black Tower grounds. Jahar was impressed. The village -no, more like a small town- that had sprouted up while he was gone was larger than he had expected, even though he had known the plans.
Another young Soldier Jahar did not know introduced himself as Valen Tapera and showed them to the main farm house where the M'Hael had his rooms and office. The farm house itself had changed too, into a sprawling building with almost as many rooms as all the buildings together would have had just months ago. Valen led them into a large room and after a brief while the M'Hael came in.
"Well, until this morning I did not think you would be returning here," the M'Hael remarked dryly to Jahar as he entered, ignoring Sheriam.
"I have remained with the Lord Dragon. Unlike some others," Jahar replied flatly.
"Hm, well," the M'Hael said. "I guess Dashiva got to them somehow, I always thought he was a strange type."
Jahar frowned a little. He had talked with Damer and Eben, after Cairhien, and again with Damer after Dashiva had shown up and was killed at Shadar Logoth. None of them could recall even the slightest hint that Dashiva was testing the waters, sounding them out on their loyalty to the Lord Dragon. And Gedwyn, Rochaid, Torval and Kisman had been the M'Hael's men before Dumai's Wells. But he could hardly go into that now. "I guess so," he muttered noncommittally. "But we are here to see about the Aes Sedai."
The M'Hael nodded. "You will have to see Logain, he handles the captured Aes Sedai."
"Logain?" Sheriam asked, startled.
"Ah, of course you know him," the M'Hael said. "He has told me of the group of Aes Sedai he was with, and who Healed him. He might be inclined to listen to your request, then. Valen!"
The Soldier came running in again.
"Show the Keeper and Jahar where Logain lives," the M'Hael ordered.
The Soldier saluted. "Yes Sir! Please follow me," he then added to Jahar and Sheriam and led the way.
Outside, Sheriam threw him a questioning glance. Jahar knew she had been puzzled by his exchange with the M'Hael, but he could not answer anything here. "Later," he said and she nodded.
They walked quite a ways along a wide, packed dirt road. First through a whole village that looked like any other, with craftsmen working wood, making clothing and shoes, and doing everything that people in a village did. Then, a little down the road, stood a row of large barracks. Some still being built on, others finished. Behind that, another part of the village with many wooden houses.
Valen led them up a wide street, where a group of Dedicated were gathered around a single Asha'man in front of a simple two-story house. Sheriam clearly recognised Logain as they approached.
"Logain," Valen called. "An Aes Sedai here to see you about the bonded ones." The Asha'man looked up and clearly recognised Sheriam in turn.
"You're all dismissed," he told the men around him, who quickly saluted and left. "You too, Valen," he added.
He waited for the men to be out of sight before saying anything else.
"We meet again," he said to Sheriam, who nodded in greeting.
"And you must be Jahar Narishma," Logain turned to him. "Until this morning the M'Hael had you listed as a deserter. A mistake that could've got you killed," he added meaningfully, but then immediately turned back to Sheriam again.
Jahar frowned again. Was Logain also suspicious of the M'Hael? He would keep his eyes and ears open.
"You came to see about the Aes Sedai," Logain said to Sheriam. He made no move to let them inside, instead remaining where he had addressed the Dedicated.
"I realise they came to take the Black Tower and any men here, but they were under orders of Elaida. Elaida is dead, and the Red Ajah is no more. Egwene Al'Vere sits on the Amyrlin Seat now," Sheriam told him.
"Yes, we have all heard the proclamation Sed brought back from the White Tower an hour ago," Logain said. He quoted, "The White Tower proclaims that the Taint on Saidin, the Male half of the True Source, has been cleansed. The White Tower proclaims that the Red Ajah, whose task it was to track down and gentle any men channeling before the madness caused by the Taint could take them, has been disbanded. The White Tower proclaims that no Aes Sedai of any Ajah will hunt down and gentle a man for his ability to channel, or for his ability to learn to channel. Signed by Egwene Al'Vere, Watcher of the Seals, Flame of Tar Valon, The Amyrlin Seat." Then as an afterthought, "That created a stir among the Aes Sedai, especially the Reds."
"The Amyrlin is sincere. No Aes Sedai will bother you or any others again," Sheriam said.
"Oh, I do not doubt that," Logain said. "I have found the Amyrlin a woman of her word. But that does not change what was done under her predecessor. The Aes Sedai here are all treated well, but they are staying. You can see them if you want." And without waiting for her answer, he called, "Toveine, Gabrelle, come out here!"
The red door behind him opened and two Aes Sedai came out. Both looked shocked when they saw Sheriam, especially the short, copper skinned woman.
"Tell the Keeper here how you are treated. Speak freely," Logain instructed them.
"They bonded us, they put their filthy bond on us, men who can channel! We can not even channel without their leave!" the short Aes Sedai started, stumbling over her words so she was nearly incoherent.
"Oh get a hold of yourself, Toveine," the other Aes Sedai snapped at her. "No one has been hurt or beaten by an Asha'man. We have food, clothing, housing and everything that we need. I wish I had never left the White Tower but we are not miss-treated."
"Elaida's or not, they are still Aes Sedai, they are part of the White Tower," Sheriam said.
"Are they?" Logain said, his eyes narrowing. "They do not seem to hold to its laws."
Toveine turned dead white. "No, no, don't." she breathed.
Sheriam looked from her to Logain and back.
"Is there something we were not told about?" she asked darkly.
"You were not told because no one else knows. Toveine carried orders from Elaida to gentle and hang every man right here on the spot," Logain told her.
Toveine hid her face in her hands and slowly shook her head as if in denial, but Sheriam clearly did not question the tall man's words. Jahar could tell she was astonished and furious, but he felt no doubt through the bond. She stared at the Red sister with wide eyes.
Gabrelle was the first to react. "She set 'harsh conditions'? You were not kidding! Light, they could have killed us all and they would have been within their right to do so!" she shrieked, almost hysterical, and she gripped her skirt with both hands, looking as if she wanted to lunge at the other sister.
No one was nearby, but her voice carried and a few people further down the street looked up. Jahar felt Logain reach for Saidin and saw him weave a ward around them.
Sheriam recovered from her shocked silence as her astonishment was replaced by rage. "How could you? What you intended goes directly against Tower Law, a Law you broke and for which you spent twenty years in exile. And now you would have committed the same crime five hundred times over. You are lucky to be alive. Did anyone else know of this?" Her green eyes shot fire and her voice was cold enough to make the day seem warm.
Toveine was sobbing now. She shook her head. "No. Only Elaida. Some of the Reds.. must have suspected. But no one knew," she brought out between sobs. "I had planned.. I wanted to tell the other Red sisters once we were here, take care of things. Then afterwards.. the other Ajahs would have accepted that the end justified the means."
"If you believe that you are out of your mind," Gabrelle snapped, no longer screaming but still gripping her skirt tightly, her knuckles white. "The best you can hope for is that you never see the White Tower again. I just wish you had not dragged the rest of us down with you."
"Under the circumstances, I understand and accept your claim on Toveine, and perhaps the other Reds, but I would like you to consider releasing the others," Sheriam said grimly, turning back to Logain.
Logain frowned for a moment, thinking. He looked at Toveine, who had started to sob harder as Sheriam spoke, and Gabrielle who looked hopeful. "You two get inside," Logain told them. "Make sure she doesn't hurt herself," he added to Gabrelle. He did not check to see if the two sisters did as he told them; he did not have to. Again, he was silent for a long time.
Finally he spoke again. "No one here knows how to release the bond itself, but I could order the men to let them go in every other way. They won't like it, but they would accept it if they were compensated somehow."
"How?" Sheriam asked.
"Healing," Logain answered. "What Nynaeve did for me. With as hard as we push here, accidents do happen. Damer was here this morning with the Lord Dragon, and he Healed one Soldier who was burned out a while back, but he couldn't Heal him to his full strength. Now he's Healed some sisters at the Lord Dragon's camp and they are back like they were, and so am I. It seems only a woman can fully Heal a man and a man can fully Heal a woman, but the sisters here don't know the weave and can't figure it out. Get us Healing when we need it, and you can take the sisters from the other Ajahs with you."
"And their Warders," Sheriam bargained.
"And their Warders," Logain replied.
"That is acceptable," Sheriam said. "I can have two of the Yellow here first thing tomorrow morning, they can Heal whoever needs to, and after you can either call on us or send those who need to the White Tower."
"I will speak to the men tonight," Logain said.
Sheriam and Logain shook hands.
"I would like to see the Red sisters before I go," Sheriam said. "No matter what they did, they are still Aes Sedai."
Logain nodded. "I will show you around to where they live," he answered, and he let the ward vanish as he led the way.
Jahar stayed back as Sheriam spoke briefly with most of the bonded sisters. He knew many of the Asha'man Dedicated who held the bonds, and he exchanged greetings while others looked at him curiously. He noticed everyone in this part of the Black Tower deferred to Logain, and he thought it was not just because Logain was the only full Asha'man in sight. The tall man carried himself as if he owned this part of the Black Tower.
He could tell Sheriam was unsettled by the bonded Aes Sedai, but the most prominent emotions from her were anger and a grim resignation. From the looks she gave those who had been Reds, it was not difficult to tell who she was angry with.
The Red sisters were clearly having a hard time adjusting to life in the Black Tower. They jumped when they saw Sheriam, then did not seem to know whether to beg her to take them with her, or to jump at a word from her as hard as they did from the men. Of course, the Amyrlin's proclamation had made it clear they would not get a warm welcome in the White Tower, but Jahar thought most would have gone to the pit of doom as long as none of the men would come along.
"That is everyone, except for Beyaelle, she's out with Gheral," Logain said after a while. "They won't be back until tonight." He hesitated for a moment as if he wanted to say something else, then didn't.
"Out?" Sheriam asked. "She is not here?"
"They are in Godan today. Gheral is one of the recruiters, he's been taking her along every day since the Taint is gone," Logain explained.
Sheriam blinked in surprise, then grinned slightly. "She's never been like the other Reds," she said. "I kept half and half expecting her to show up in Salidar, no matter what her Ajah."
Logain hesitated again, then said, "She will be here in the morning, you can see her then."
Jahar thought he had wanted to say something more, but he did not, and Sheriam did not press him on it.
[A/N: For those who don't know Beyaelle, the few paragraphs I started to write about her have turned into an entire separate story. If you want to know who she is, check it out. It's called 'Bonded'.]