Day 3, part 1
The Amyrlin took the Seat. A wave passed through the assembled Hall as the Sitters quickly took theirs.
"Charged, that the accused did knowingly and willingly take control of the Power. That he did Channel with it to the detriment of those surrounding him. That in doing so, he opened himself to the taint of the Dark One, and that he spread the taint to those who followed him." Belladonna, once head sitter of the Red, recited the charges with a trace of regret. It should have been Elaida, not this girl, officiating the stilling.
Egwene stirred from her chair.
"Add to the list inciting commoners to strike against Aes Sedai, in both Tear and Cairhien."
No one asked why she did not include Caemlyn or Tar Valon to the list.
Belladonna continued. "That the man who channeled did incite the peasantry of Tear and Cairhien to strike out against Aes Sedai. This man has been captured and brought before the Amyrlin Seat and the Hall to be judged and gentled. The Keeper will now…"
Belladonna stopped, remembering the gruesome find in the morning.
"The sitter for the White may take her place, under Tower Law," a young and frightened Gray Sitter mentioned.
Egwene nodded.
Alviarin Freidhen arose, the new Oaths constricting her more than any other sister in history. She could not lie by word, omission, or twisting of the truth. She could not channel unless permitted. No action could be taken to benefit the Dark One or hurt the Tower. With such strictures, she ironically was more valuable to the Amyrlin Seat than ten sworn sisters.
"The accused has attempted to break through his shielding with regularity. Only the full thirteen can keep him shielded. I purpose that we adjourn until suitable…accommodations may be created to house him and his circle."
Belladonna raised her staff, and the gathered Sitters nodded. The motion having carried, the Sitters filed out. Only Belladonna and Alviarin were left. Belladonna glanced over at Alviarin, then hurried away.
Alviarin laughed so hard she wept.
"Have you noticed how any order built can be swept away by fate, like a simple house of cards?" Moridin moved the shah piece negligently, staring at his visitor.
The Myddraal countered the move before answering. "Fate? I thought that one of your Circle had arranged the matter."
The room tinkled with the dark man's laughter. "No one can plan revenge that well, old friend. Not even you."
Davram looked behind him and saw the column stretching back over the hills of the Cairhien grasslands. Shaking his head, he turned to the two men riding alongside.
"This will never work, you know. They tried it once before. The Tower knows how to guard itself, how to guard the likes of him."
The man clad in black only giggled before turning his face back up at the sky. Light shimmered and twisted over them. The same light that twisted over Cairhien and Tear. Light to drive any man mad.
His companion merely grunted and pulled the hat low over his eyes.
The Tower Guard tasked to watch the stretch of land never saw anything to raise their alarm. Certainly nothing like ten thousand crossbowmen escorting Asha'man and general north.
Outside the Tower, panic swept the streets. Tower Guards marched forth from their barracks to deal with the growing riots. People in the crowds pushed back to try and avoid them, but the tide was slowly starting to push back. The chant rose up again, and suddenly citizen who had lived in the fair city their entire lives were snatching up cobblestone and throwing it at the Guard.
"Let the Lord of Morning Rule!"
Like a beast at bay, the crowd had turned and now the hunter became the hunted. Back to the barracks ran the Guard, and behind them their beautiful city began to burn.
Dragonmount shook, and Egwene stared out over the city. "We will have the public trial in the morning, Siuan." Turning, she caught the woman wiping away tears. "Oh, Light, I'm sorry. Siuan, it just shows how right what we do is. There was nothing any of us could have done to save her."
Shaking her head, Siuan nodded with a strange look on her face and then picked back up the pen. "You said there were more traitors to add to the lists?"
Egwene's face hardened. So many were trying to stop the Tower. So many whom she had counted friends but a few weeks ago.
"Yes. We'll start with the Brown. Their list is already the longest. Add Verin, Hija, and Jenviee to the list of Aes Sedai. I think that we shall have to disolve that Ajah permanently as well..."