The Wheel of Time belongs to Robert Jordan, I just play here.
Chapter 13
It was still very early the next morning when they returned to the Black Tower, this time with Dagdara and Nisao. But no matter what the hour, the stable yard was already teeming with people. Aes Sedai, Warders and Asha'man were everywhere, many leading horses and carrying packs. Sheriam looked over the crowd. Hannah's two Warders walked by leading three horses, and a little further Krystah, a Brown, stood hugging her Warder, Clem, crying in his arms, oblivious to the people around her. Desandre turned away quickly as she spotted the two Yellows, turning red, and many others still looked embarrassed when they saw her and the other Tar Valon sisters, but relief and excitement had the upper hand. In the middle of the crowd stood Beyaelle with Sjani, a Green, two Asha'man and a young girl Sheriam did not know. The Red was speaking to the girl, who nodded eagerly. The girl was carrying a pack of her own, and Sheriam wondered where she fit in all of this. But she did not get the opportunity to ask, as Logain arrived with Gabrelle, Toveine, and four men she had not seen before. The men looked eager, and Sheriam did not need to be told they were here for Healing, but they were well-disciplined and waited quietly behind Logain, their eyes shining with hope. Gabrelle was less constrained, laughing aloud and fidgeting. Toveine kept back, avoiding everyone's eye, more composed than she had been the previous day but clearly extremely uneasy still. She and Beyaelle were the only Reds, the others who would not be coming to the Tower had not come here this morning.
Logain greeted Sheriam, Jahar and the two Yellows. "These are the men who need Healing," he motioned. "There are several others who have left, they did not want to stay here at the Tower. Some men are looking for them and I've sent word out, I mean to find every one of them."
"I hope you do. We will Heal them as you find them," Sheriam replied. She nodded at Dagdara and Nisao, who each approached one of the men, embracing Saidar. The Healing itself was a matter of no time at all, and soon the four men were cheering out loud, their discipline broken as they hollered and one of them gave Dagdara a big hug. Grins broke out all around the stable yard, even most of those who were still uncomfortable with the Asha'man glad at the Healing. Stilling made most Aes Sedai more uncomfortable than a man channeling, now. Only Toveine drew back further.
Logain had not joined in the cheering and laughing, but he did look satisfied. He surveyed the milling people and turned to Gabrelle. "Go get your horse," he told her, then turned to Sheriam. "They can go."
They walked to the middle of the Travelling field and Jahar opened a Gateway. Logain opened one as well, and the Aes Sedai and Warders quickly filed through.
"Who is she?" Sheriam asked as the young girl she had noticed earlier stepped through, following Sjani and her Warder. The girl did not look older than fifteen or sixteen and Sheriam had certainly never seen her before, but she held Saidar and carried her pack next to her in flows of Air.
"That's Genet," Logain answered. "Gheral and Beyaelle found her, she'd started to channel by herself and was badly suffering from channeling sickness. Sjani and Hannah have been teaching her here, we could not let her go to Tar Valon any sooner, of course."
"How long ago did she get here?" Sheriam asked. The girl was already pretty strong and she had held her pack at her side without looking at it.
"Two weeks -no, a few days more, it was a midweek," Logain replied.
Sheriam started. That meant she had to have pushed hard to be holding Saidar that easily. And for a novice to use the Power to carry a pack! But that was hardly Logain's concern, she would talk to Sjani about it later.
"There is one more thing," Logain said. "The bond is still there, and it is as strong as the Warder bond. Stronger in some ways."
Sheriam nodded slowly, she thought she knew what he was getting at.
"Any sister from Tar Valon may come and go freely, as long as they use the Travelling field and stay in the areas of the Black Tower that have been open to them," Logain said.
"I understand," Sheriam answered. "The Asha'man are welcome at the White Tower using our Travelling area and under the same rules as any visitor to the Tower."
"Of course," Logain replied.
After a moment of hesitation, Logain addressed Jahar. "I would like to speak to you for a moment, alone."
Jahar frowned and looked at Sheriam.
"I do want you to be at the debriefing," she said.
"It will not take long," Logain assured them.
"I will join you as soon as I can," Jahar told Sheriam, who nodded and stepped through the Gateway. Jahar let it vanish. Logain had let his close as the last of the Aes Sedai had gone through.
Now there was hardly anyone left on the Travelling field and in the stable yards. The Dedicated had gone as their Aes Sedai left. Gheral and Beyaelle had gone into the stables as soon as the crowd was gone, and they now rode past with a brief greeting, on through a Gateway of their own. The four Healed Asha'man were also gone, back to their own quarters or perhaps to the Training Grounds now that they could channel again. Two Soldiers started to clean out the stables left open by the departing sisters and Warders, leading in horses from the picket lines underneath the temporary shelter that had been build up against the side of the building. Only Toveine was left here with them, standing slightly back.
Logain turned around with a sudden look of irritation on his face. "Go do something. Go help them," he said, gesturing to the Soldiers.
Toveine's eyes opened wide. "In the stables?" she asked incredulously, even though she was already starting to move that way.
"Yes, in the stables," Logain said tiredly. "You may channel like they do."
Toveine started and a looked more shocked at that.
"Light, woman, doing some chores is not going to kill you. Just don't stand here and stare!" Logain snapped.
Toveine jumped again and almost ran into the stables.
Logain turned back to Jahar. "I'm sorry about that. Sometimes she can really get under my skin," he sighed. "Gabrelle did not like being held here, but Toveine, no matter what I do, Toveine still acts like I'm a Trolloc. Have you met a lot of Reds in Tar Valon?"
"I've met a few," Jahar said grimly, thinking of Duhara and Sylviana. "I don't envy you carrying her Bond."
Logain looked at him thoughtfully. "Some day you have to tell me how you ended up with Sheriam, but that is not what I wanted to talk to you about." He led the way off the Travelling field and wove a ward around them
"You must have known Gedwyn, Rochaid, Kisman and Torval," Logain started then.
Jahar shrugged. "As much as anyone knew them, those four stuck together most of the time."
"And Dashiva?" Logain asked, frowning.
"Dashiva was a loner, he didn't speak much with anyone," Jahar replied. "He was mad, too."
"The Taint?" Logain asked.
Jahar shook his head. "I don't know, I don't think that's what it was. What I've seen, most of the time when the Madness got someone, from the time it showed to the end it went pretty quick. Dashiva acted strange when he came here and he stayed pretty much the same all those months. I think he was just crazy."
Logain nodded slowly. He hesitated, glancing around uneasily. "The M'Hael claims Dashiva must have been the one to talk the other four into their treachery," he said when he spoke again.
"You don't believe him," Jahar said.
"I would like to know what you think," Logain said carefully.
Now it was Jahar's turn to hesitate. He had only met Logain the previous day. He thought the tall man could be trusted, and Sheriam had taken the man's word in their negotiations, but he was well aware of where he was. And that decided him. If Taim was prepared to kill him, he hardly needed to set him up first. "It is what the M'Hael told me, too, yesterday, but I do not think they were approached by Dashiva, not after they left here. Damer and Eben and I have spoken about it after what happened in Cairhien, but Dashiva has never approached any of us. There was never a hint that he was trying to win anyone over, never a sign he was probing us for our loyalty. And Dashiva did not speak to those four any more than to us, not that any of us could recall, even afterwards when we knew. He may have given them orders, that would not take much contact, but I doubt he could have brought them around so easily." Jahar paused. "Not unless he used compulsion."
Logain frowned, studying Jahar. "Do you think he might have used compulsion?"
"It is a possibility," Jahar replied cautiously. "But it doesn't seem likely. Not without anyone noticing any sudden changes about them, even on looking back. And if Dashiva was that good, he could have gotten us all. It is more likely that those four got organised here, with or without Dashiva." He had still avoided saying anything about the M'Hael directly, and so had Logain, both uneasy about trusting the other completely, but there was no getting around it for ever. "They were the M'Hael's men," he added.
"That is one of the things that made me suspicious," Logain answered. "It is not the only thing, there are many things that do not seem right, but I can not prove a thing. I still can't, but even so you have filled in some gaps."
"I have not trusted Taim since what happened at Cairhien," Jahar finally said. "Nor does Damer. We did not dare return after that, fearing Taim would want us out of the way since we could tell exactly what I just told you."
"A feeling that turned out to be correct," Logain noted. "If you had returned here you, Damer and Eben would have been executed as deserters."
"Yes, and no matter what he might say about misunderstanding the Lord Dragon's orders, I for one believe he made that 'error' on purpose," Jahar agreed. He added grimly, "I do not particularly like people trying to kill me, and quite apart from that he is in too important a position to ignore. I will do what I can to help you expose him."
Logain nodded. "It will be difficult, he knows I do not trust him and he is careful. Some of the Dedicated have tried to get into his favor but with little success. And he certainly does not trust anyone with a sister."
"Watch your back," Jahar cautioned.
"He can hardly move against me without giving himself away," Logain said with a snort. "But I intend to be careful just the same."
Jahar nodded in turn, and they broke up. He opened a Gateway to Tar Valon again and stepped through.
Chapter 13
It was still very early the next morning when they returned to the Black Tower, this time with Dagdara and Nisao. But no matter what the hour, the stable yard was already teeming with people. Aes Sedai, Warders and Asha'man were everywhere, many leading horses and carrying packs. Sheriam looked over the crowd. Hannah's two Warders walked by leading three horses, and a little further Krystah, a Brown, stood hugging her Warder, Clem, crying in his arms, oblivious to the people around her. Desandre turned away quickly as she spotted the two Yellows, turning red, and many others still looked embarrassed when they saw her and the other Tar Valon sisters, but relief and excitement had the upper hand. In the middle of the crowd stood Beyaelle with Sjani, a Green, two Asha'man and a young girl Sheriam did not know. The Red was speaking to the girl, who nodded eagerly. The girl was carrying a pack of her own, and Sheriam wondered where she fit in all of this. But she did not get the opportunity to ask, as Logain arrived with Gabrelle, Toveine, and four men she had not seen before. The men looked eager, and Sheriam did not need to be told they were here for Healing, but they were well-disciplined and waited quietly behind Logain, their eyes shining with hope. Gabrelle was less constrained, laughing aloud and fidgeting. Toveine kept back, avoiding everyone's eye, more composed than she had been the previous day but clearly extremely uneasy still. She and Beyaelle were the only Reds, the others who would not be coming to the Tower had not come here this morning.
Logain greeted Sheriam, Jahar and the two Yellows. "These are the men who need Healing," he motioned. "There are several others who have left, they did not want to stay here at the Tower. Some men are looking for them and I've sent word out, I mean to find every one of them."
"I hope you do. We will Heal them as you find them," Sheriam replied. She nodded at Dagdara and Nisao, who each approached one of the men, embracing Saidar. The Healing itself was a matter of no time at all, and soon the four men were cheering out loud, their discipline broken as they hollered and one of them gave Dagdara a big hug. Grins broke out all around the stable yard, even most of those who were still uncomfortable with the Asha'man glad at the Healing. Stilling made most Aes Sedai more uncomfortable than a man channeling, now. Only Toveine drew back further.
Logain had not joined in the cheering and laughing, but he did look satisfied. He surveyed the milling people and turned to Gabrelle. "Go get your horse," he told her, then turned to Sheriam. "They can go."
They walked to the middle of the Travelling field and Jahar opened a Gateway. Logain opened one as well, and the Aes Sedai and Warders quickly filed through.
"Who is she?" Sheriam asked as the young girl she had noticed earlier stepped through, following Sjani and her Warder. The girl did not look older than fifteen or sixteen and Sheriam had certainly never seen her before, but she held Saidar and carried her pack next to her in flows of Air.
"That's Genet," Logain answered. "Gheral and Beyaelle found her, she'd started to channel by herself and was badly suffering from channeling sickness. Sjani and Hannah have been teaching her here, we could not let her go to Tar Valon any sooner, of course."
"How long ago did she get here?" Sheriam asked. The girl was already pretty strong and she had held her pack at her side without looking at it.
"Two weeks -no, a few days more, it was a midweek," Logain replied.
Sheriam started. That meant she had to have pushed hard to be holding Saidar that easily. And for a novice to use the Power to carry a pack! But that was hardly Logain's concern, she would talk to Sjani about it later.
"There is one more thing," Logain said. "The bond is still there, and it is as strong as the Warder bond. Stronger in some ways."
Sheriam nodded slowly, she thought she knew what he was getting at.
"Any sister from Tar Valon may come and go freely, as long as they use the Travelling field and stay in the areas of the Black Tower that have been open to them," Logain said.
"I understand," Sheriam answered. "The Asha'man are welcome at the White Tower using our Travelling area and under the same rules as any visitor to the Tower."
"Of course," Logain replied.
After a moment of hesitation, Logain addressed Jahar. "I would like to speak to you for a moment, alone."
Jahar frowned and looked at Sheriam.
"I do want you to be at the debriefing," she said.
"It will not take long," Logain assured them.
"I will join you as soon as I can," Jahar told Sheriam, who nodded and stepped through the Gateway. Jahar let it vanish. Logain had let his close as the last of the Aes Sedai had gone through.
Now there was hardly anyone left on the Travelling field and in the stable yards. The Dedicated had gone as their Aes Sedai left. Gheral and Beyaelle had gone into the stables as soon as the crowd was gone, and they now rode past with a brief greeting, on through a Gateway of their own. The four Healed Asha'man were also gone, back to their own quarters or perhaps to the Training Grounds now that they could channel again. Two Soldiers started to clean out the stables left open by the departing sisters and Warders, leading in horses from the picket lines underneath the temporary shelter that had been build up against the side of the building. Only Toveine was left here with them, standing slightly back.
Logain turned around with a sudden look of irritation on his face. "Go do something. Go help them," he said, gesturing to the Soldiers.
Toveine's eyes opened wide. "In the stables?" she asked incredulously, even though she was already starting to move that way.
"Yes, in the stables," Logain said tiredly. "You may channel like they do."
Toveine started and a looked more shocked at that.
"Light, woman, doing some chores is not going to kill you. Just don't stand here and stare!" Logain snapped.
Toveine jumped again and almost ran into the stables.
Logain turned back to Jahar. "I'm sorry about that. Sometimes she can really get under my skin," he sighed. "Gabrelle did not like being held here, but Toveine, no matter what I do, Toveine still acts like I'm a Trolloc. Have you met a lot of Reds in Tar Valon?"
"I've met a few," Jahar said grimly, thinking of Duhara and Sylviana. "I don't envy you carrying her Bond."
Logain looked at him thoughtfully. "Some day you have to tell me how you ended up with Sheriam, but that is not what I wanted to talk to you about." He led the way off the Travelling field and wove a ward around them
"You must have known Gedwyn, Rochaid, Kisman and Torval," Logain started then.
Jahar shrugged. "As much as anyone knew them, those four stuck together most of the time."
"And Dashiva?" Logain asked, frowning.
"Dashiva was a loner, he didn't speak much with anyone," Jahar replied. "He was mad, too."
"The Taint?" Logain asked.
Jahar shook his head. "I don't know, I don't think that's what it was. What I've seen, most of the time when the Madness got someone, from the time it showed to the end it went pretty quick. Dashiva acted strange when he came here and he stayed pretty much the same all those months. I think he was just crazy."
Logain nodded slowly. He hesitated, glancing around uneasily. "The M'Hael claims Dashiva must have been the one to talk the other four into their treachery," he said when he spoke again.
"You don't believe him," Jahar said.
"I would like to know what you think," Logain said carefully.
Now it was Jahar's turn to hesitate. He had only met Logain the previous day. He thought the tall man could be trusted, and Sheriam had taken the man's word in their negotiations, but he was well aware of where he was. And that decided him. If Taim was prepared to kill him, he hardly needed to set him up first. "It is what the M'Hael told me, too, yesterday, but I do not think they were approached by Dashiva, not after they left here. Damer and Eben and I have spoken about it after what happened in Cairhien, but Dashiva has never approached any of us. There was never a hint that he was trying to win anyone over, never a sign he was probing us for our loyalty. And Dashiva did not speak to those four any more than to us, not that any of us could recall, even afterwards when we knew. He may have given them orders, that would not take much contact, but I doubt he could have brought them around so easily." Jahar paused. "Not unless he used compulsion."
Logain frowned, studying Jahar. "Do you think he might have used compulsion?"
"It is a possibility," Jahar replied cautiously. "But it doesn't seem likely. Not without anyone noticing any sudden changes about them, even on looking back. And if Dashiva was that good, he could have gotten us all. It is more likely that those four got organised here, with or without Dashiva." He had still avoided saying anything about the M'Hael directly, and so had Logain, both uneasy about trusting the other completely, but there was no getting around it for ever. "They were the M'Hael's men," he added.
"That is one of the things that made me suspicious," Logain answered. "It is not the only thing, there are many things that do not seem right, but I can not prove a thing. I still can't, but even so you have filled in some gaps."
"I have not trusted Taim since what happened at Cairhien," Jahar finally said. "Nor does Damer. We did not dare return after that, fearing Taim would want us out of the way since we could tell exactly what I just told you."
"A feeling that turned out to be correct," Logain noted. "If you had returned here you, Damer and Eben would have been executed as deserters."
"Yes, and no matter what he might say about misunderstanding the Lord Dragon's orders, I for one believe he made that 'error' on purpose," Jahar agreed. He added grimly, "I do not particularly like people trying to kill me, and quite apart from that he is in too important a position to ignore. I will do what I can to help you expose him."
Logain nodded. "It will be difficult, he knows I do not trust him and he is careful. Some of the Dedicated have tried to get into his favor but with little success. And he certainly does not trust anyone with a sister."
"Watch your back," Jahar cautioned.
"He can hardly move against me without giving himself away," Logain said with a snort. "But I intend to be careful just the same."
Jahar nodded in turn, and they broke up. He opened a Gateway to Tar Valon again and stepped through.