Chapter Four!
AN - VercisIsolde- Thank you so much for the wonderful reviews. Concerning the name being different; it is different. After I found my copy of CoT I checked and the name given was Culain but as I was already three chapters in was too lazy to change it so I made it his first name. That was the birth of Coval, you see, I needed to have a reason why they would use his middle name. You may have guessed I don't always know where I am going when I start writing.
Oh, and the names I am afraid are not from my own mind. http/ This is as good as time an as any to give them my greatest thanks.
Disclaimer: The Wheel of Time is property of Robert Jordan and Tor Books. I simply borrow characters and places and ideas.
"Laithar, I feel it's necessary for you to give me whatever plan you may have before I hear anymore from Coil." Joal said, swirling the wine in his goblet. The king was in a less than gracious mood. King Joal of House Ramedar was far from a cold man, he was cool and decisive but more ready to laugh than to thunder about commanding executions. That, of course, did not mean he was incapable of anger as Coil was witnessing now, not for the first time. The edge in his voice when he used Coil's name would have been obvious to a deaf and blind man but, lucky for him, the room contained men whose hearing and sight were clear as mountain spring water.
"Of course, you Majesty, whatever you wish." Laithar bowed his noble head slightly before continuing. "It is my opinion that you should send an emissary to Hawkwing's camps. I do not believe that diplomacy had run out of time yet." Laithar spoke smoothly, obviously hoping that the king would find nothing in his words to attack him over.
Coil struggled to keep his mouth shut. That is your plan, Demono? Your many years of experience and you want to talk with the greatest general there ever was? Coil knew his face was contorted. He maybe great and sane for all we know but talk didn't help To-
"Talk did not help Tova, General Demono." The words - as if stole from his head - made Coil listen and cast his head about, looking for the speaker. The woman who stood at the doors to the Preparation Room was the last one Coil would have expected to say that. Nese Gepran was of the Grey Ajah and they would tout mediation and discussion while they were all being slaughtered, or so Coil had been told. He didn't imagine an Aes Sedai would allow herself to be slaughtered. The short, stout woman glided in as if the air pushed her gently from behind. Her face was the embodiment of calm, not a stirring in her wide black eyes would give away her thoughts of the scene she saw. She was clothed is grey, shimmering silk with green scroll work on the hems and neckline.
"I know you are not required to have me present at these meetings, King Joal, but I would like to hear of the results from someone other than Cohar Rankad. You do understand, don't you? You see, I had to spend the better part of two hours learning all about horses with wings before I managed to find about General Hebar's proposed plan of action." Nese took the chair at the foot of the table after it was offered by one of the captains. She was smiling but at whether at Rankad or to put the king off balance Coil was not sure.
The silence in the room was thick with confusion. Many of the captains of war present were contemplating the quality of their hearing. Coval, who was sitting in the chair to the right of Coil, was staring with wide eyed disbelief but it was Laithar who broke the quiet.
"That is not an opinion I would have thought to hear from you, Nese Sedai." Laithar said raising an eyebrow at the serene faced woman.
"It is not one I would have seen myself having in my more idealistic days, but circumstance does change things, doesn't it?" Her smile could almost be taken for motherly. "I didn't come here to interrupt you meeting, but as it seems I already have I will continue." The way she cocked her head dared anyone to upbraid her. "Again, I will remind you what talk did for Tova. They were the second nation to fall to Hawkwing, as I am sure you are aware, the negotiations, if they could even be called that with no sister present, lasted for one quarter of an hour before the heads began to roll. The massacre that followed, the Light send, shall be a lesson for the future.
"Hawkwing did not like talk. He has some to conquer all, and he will whether or not he has wiped the lands of their populations in the process. The few Tovan I have met since may only be alive because they were aboard on the day of the invasion." She allowed her words to settle into the men. Coil did not need to be reminded of these events. Hawkwing had made sure that every general of every land knew full well what had happened.
"So, General Demono, Your Majesty, as my purpose here is to give counsel I counsel in favour of General Hebar. I counsel in favour of war." The grimace the little woman gave on the last sentence was as strong as any words she could speak as to her feelings. Nese's life was made of peace and the pursuit of it, and now she counseled war. She counseled for Coil's war.
Coil's eyes, along with all those in the room, had been locked on the portly, yet stately, Aes Sedai during her speech. It was when she finished that Coil realized how this may further the King's negative mood. Not that the man disliked Nese, there had been rumors some years back of their relationship being more than King and Aes Sedai advisor, but he was not in the mood to be talked down to. Cautiously Coil turned his head to face his king.
The slow journey of the single tear on Joal face was the biggest shock of Coil's life. He had never seen such an open and bare moment of emotion ever.
"Joal, you should know that Coil has the support of everyone in this room but you and Laithar. The messages have been flying through the castle for two days, ever since your last meeting and word got out of your hesitation." Nese face had not changed from serenity but her voice was like a soft blanket being used to tie down a lamb on its way to slaughter.
The news of his support hit Coil like a ton of sand, nearly closing him off from air. The note. Suddenly Coil realized whose hand it was in. He turned and found his brother looking straight at him. They shared a smile. It was the greatest honour that had ever been given to him. The men of his nation stood behind his when they knew it meant most would die. The men of Aldeshar trusted and shared the honour that would keep their women and children alive.
Then something else hit him. This time he held his own breath. He turned and looked at his king's downtrodden and resigned face. In these few moments without saying a word and with the silent backing of almost every man in the room Coil had stolen his king's authority. The look on Joal face told Coil that he would not suffer physically for this, just emotionally. He would try to set things right.
"I'm sorry, your Majesty." Coil said, barely audible but loud enough for his king, sitting at the head of the tale to his left, to hear. "I will not begin the plans unless you say. This still lies in your hands." The last he said loud enough for all. There was quiet. One could hear the shifting in seats and the shuffling of the men of their feet. One could almost hear the questioning glances.
"My people will not be pawns to Artur Hawkwing, or killed for his pleasure!" Joal said this with more power than Coil had thought him capable of at that moment. "When he rejoins his army we will have three weeks at best to prepare for the defense. Coil, I pray to the Light that that will be enough time for you." Joal's expression was commanding and apologetic all at once.
"It will be enough time, Majesty, it will be enough." Coil couldn't help but smile.
"Congratulations, my young friend, you will have your name remembered if there is any justice in the world." Laithar had stood and walked around the wide scrubbed wood table and had come to stand by his chair. Coil stood from his and they saluted each other hands across chests.
"All Hail King Joal and General Hebar!"
"All Hail the Last Stand of Aldeshar!"
"All Hail Coil Hebar and Laithar Demono, Tai'shar Aldeshar!"
The din of the room was violently jubilant. These men would defend their country to death with a smile on their lips and the knowledge that their families would live on in their hearts. Coil found himself being hugged by many men and received a kiss from his brother that made the room erupted into laughter. They were excited and happy now, which was good because the next few weeks would be hard long work.
Coil turned, looking for Nese, to thank her for her help in seeing his plan move toward fruition, but the chair she had occupied was empty and a wisp of green embroidered grey silk was swishing around the corner of the door to the room.