Chapter Five

It was nerve-racking waiting to hear news about Lews Therin and his hundred or so companions, and I was voicing my feelings to Vaerlin. I also told her about Deindre's Foretelling.

"What if something goes wrong, Vaerlin? We could all end up dead. The fool Telamon. He should never have worn the Ring of Tamyrlin. We should have put a woman on the Seat to wear the ring."

Vaerlin leaned over the table and spoke softly. "Well, from now on, why don't we? With men, the ring is called the Ring of Tamyrlin, with women; it would be the Ring of Amyrlin. The men have split from us anyway. Why can't we form our own tower? That way, the women can guard the World until the Dragon is Reborn. However, that means that this Dragon will have to die." Vaerlin had an interesting idea. A Tower that Guards. Tar Valon in the Cultured Tongue. Maybe it was time that women only wore the Ring of Amyrlin.

"Vaerlin, the place were the Choedan Kal access keys were being made was overrun by Sammael's forces last night. I received reports about it this morning. Apparently they touched nothing, but they ransacked the place. Everyone there is dead, but I know that Sammael does not have the access keys."

"How is that, Latra?"

"I have them in my chambers. They have been placed under an Inverted Illusion. No one will find them. I do not want anyone to find them. That is why I am sending them away, along with as many items to do with the Power as possible." Vaerlin gasped at this.

"How, and where?"

I breathed deeply, and laid out my plans.

"I am going to send them away with the Da'shain Aiel. They are pacifists. We cannot guard them any longer, not when we have the Forsaken and the Shadowwrought across the World. I am sending them away. I am going to send some sisters with them, eventually, so that they will be able to keep their Covenant. Ogier will also be going sometime. This way, they can build themselves a city to remember the World as it was." Vaerlin looked surprised, but she agreed that it was the best thing to do in the circumstances.

Naiese walked through the door, after knocking, and told em something I had been waiting to hear.

"Latra Sedai, Vaerlin Sedai," she made a small bow. "I have heard reports that the Bore has been successfully sealed, with most of the Forsaken on the other side.

"Thank the Light! Niaese, do you wish to join the celebrations? You may see Willim there." Niaese smiled at Latra. Willim was fifteen, a year younger than she, and she felt love towards him.

"Thank you, Latra Sedai." She ran off smiling. I went to a small cupboard, and brought out a flask of wine. I passed a glass to Vaerlin, and poured one for myself.

"Here is to the successful sealing of the Bore, and also the sealing in of the remaining Forsaken, and thank the light that Lews survived." Vaerlin and I clinked our glasses together.

How foolish we were.

We only found out later that the male half of the Source was tainted. Then I heard that Lews Therin had killed all his family and servants in his palace, and then had killed himself by holding too much of the Power. There is now a volcano where his grave is. Eventually, all the men had the taint. Some survived in the Ogier Steddings but many could not bear to be separated from the Source completely.

So I decided to take charge.