Power and Anarchy
By Gahzskul
[Author's Note]
You'll have to excuse any errors on continuity between the prologue and the following chapters, as it's been several years between he prologue and this point. Thanks.
Chapter Two – A Coiled SpringTeron uttered a curse. He'd tried several times through the day to slip away and escape the two Aes Sedai, but Lari or one of the sisters always seemed to intercept him, leaving him to think of yet another unlikely excuse. Burn the three of them! Women!
Now evening had rolled around and the common room filled with music. He sat in his room, brooding. He really was on his way to his brother's wedding, though it would take only a matter of seconds to get there via travelling, a skill Teron was fairly skilled at.
His brooding was interrupted, however, by a knock at the door, followed immediately by the door being opened a bit and Lari's poking through the gap.
"The dancing's about to start downstairs. Won't you come, Teron?" pleaded Lari, "please?"
Teron grinned a forced grin. Burn women! "Of course lass! I'd be happy to dance!"
And so he rose and downstairs he followed the girl, and then they danced, Teron still dressed in all black. He saw Leslin Sedai staring at him from the two sisters' table, and wondered if she knew what he was. He thrust the thought out of his mind. How could she possibly know?
After another minute the song ended and they all clapped, but before Lari could ask his for another he found his arm being touched and turned to find Leslin standing there, looking up into his face with those eyes of her that could melt his heart. Burn me but she's pretty!
"Will you dance with me, Master Adell?" asked Leslin.
"Just call me Teron, lass. And I'd be happy to dance with you."
With that the music began and the two began to dance. Teron and Leslin leaped and spun and moved about, laughing and enjoying themselves. Fear of discovery still resided in the back of Teron's head, but he didn't think about it at that moment. Light but she felt good in his arms! And she was graceful as well as beautiful!
Bloody hell… thought Teron It would be an Aes Sedai…
The song ended, as all good things must, and they all applauded once more. But instead of Leslie returning to her seat, she linked arms with him and smiled at him.
"Another?"
Teron blinked, then grinned and nodded. He caught sight of Lari out of the corner of his eye. If looks could kill, Leslin Sedai would be dead a million times over.
The next song, as it turned out, was a slower one, and it gave Teron a chance to pull Leslie close. The woman felt good in his arms. Bloody getting comfortable with an Aes Sedai…
After a few more dances with the lovely Aes Sedai, the dancing was over and many of the patrons and locals retired for the evening. Kura Sedai had left during the dancing, though her warder, who's name was Gendal, remained in the common room.
Teron was turning to the stairs when Leslin approached him and smiled at him.
"I was going to take a walk. Would you like to join me?" Who was Teron to say no?
The two exited through he door and walked along the main road, then out onto the hills surrounding the village. They talked as they strolled slowly along, and eventually Teron brought up the fact that she was of the Green Ajah but had no warder. She chuckled.
"I haven't had much need of a warder. Most places I go have been with soldiers or the like about. I've spent a good deal of time up along the borderlands, though I've never been in the blight. I've had my share of close scrapes, mind you. I think the main reason is I've yet to find a man I find suitable. But since you bring it up, I thought you might be a… suitable man for a warder… given time."
Teron stumbled on a rock. Blood and bloody ashes…
"I know it's direct, but…"
"Look," Teron cut her off, "If the circumstances were different, I'd be more than happy. But as things are, I'm afraid there's a few things that wouldn't work well."
"Like what?" asked Leslin.
Teron's eyes darted around, trying to avoid her. They failed, and he found himself drowning in those pools once more. Light, but he wanted to tell her everything!
"Which Tower are you with?" asked Teron slowly, trying to change the subject.
"We haven't been back since the split, but we're with the 'rebels' as they seem to be called. Eladia has stricken the Blue Ajah from the records." Teron nodded. He was aware of talks going on between the rebel Tower and the Black Tower. Apparently they were willing to talk to make some agreement. But did these two know? Teron shifted uneasily.
"After we go to Arafelle we plan on going to the 'rebel' Tower and joining them."
"You want me to come with you?"
"In a manner, yes…"
Teron sighed. Suddenly there was a massive surge in Saidin far off in the distance. It must have been phenomenal to be felt at this range. Leslin's head whipped around as if she too could sense it. Perhaps Saidar was there also? Teron blinked. Suddenly the surge was gone. He looked at Leslin.
"Everything alright?" She seemed frazzled for a moment. Or as frazzled as an Aes Sedai would ever allow herself to be. She looked at him.
"Fine, fine. So what do you think of coming to Tar Valon with us?"
"I'm not sure I like the idea…"
"I know this seems unlike the behaviour of Aes Sedai, but we aren't all stiff-necks and cool faces. You wouldn't be treated like a servant."
"No, it's be worse…" said Teron before he could stop himself.
"What?"
"I said it'd be worse. Trust me."
"If you say so. I wish you'd come though…"
"So do I but…"
Teron never finished his words. Because the screams from the village had cut him off. The sound of metal-on-metal ringing through the air. The guttural cries of Trollocs.
The Shadow had come to the village.
Farran al'Terr sat in the dining quarters of the nobles, invited by Lady Milanna. He speared his food, as very good fish, with his knife and lifted it to his mouth, refusing to act like anything but a soldier. Lady Milanna fluttered her eyes at him from across the table. He thought he might choke.
al'Terr was not of nobility, though it was said that should this campaign go well, he would be made noble. It had been said to him that he got a percentage of the prisoners that he took. A rare gift. Servants were not something he needed, but they could be useful. He was also promised land in this new country. A rare gift indeed. But for now Farran was a simple soldier, and did not want any luxuries. Or this ugly hog of a woman fluttering her fat eye-lids at him. He stuffed the fish into his mouth and speared another piece. Then he realized Lord Pumperny had spoken to him.
"Pardon me, my lord?"
"I asked what you planned to do once we arrive in these new lands."
"Ah," said Farran, "that all depends on what we find when we get there. The layout of the terrain and the strength of the enemy."
"So you've made no plan yet?"
"No, my Lord, it is too early to plan a campaign in a land I know nothing of."
"Ah." Said Pumperny, turning back to the other nobles. He began chatting about things Farran cared nothing for, so Farran quickly finished his meal and excused himself, saying he would inspect his men.
As Farran stepped out onto the deck, the two soldiers flanking the door thumped fist to heart in proper salute. Farran returned the salute and continued to his cabin, where he donned his sword-belt and went around inspecting the men.
After the inspection, which once again was perfect, Farran took his sword-belt back to his cabin, but kept his sword out, and went on the bow to practice his swordsmanship. He adopted a ready stance, then slowly began to move the blade in the motions. Slowly moved. With each step the speed increased but a fraction. An hour later he would be moving faster than most men could, the blade whirring and spinning around him. He was very good with a sword. And very deadly.