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Chapter 23: Voices of the Damned

The group of eight made their way through the kitchen and into the gray of dusk. Soft energy filled the air, as if waiting for the moment that the suns rays would release warmth into the cold. Loial towered over them all bringing up the rear. "I don't see why we can't have just one light," the Ogier mumbled-half to himself and half to the rest of the party. "We don't go running about in the dark in the stedding. I'm an Ogier, not a cat."

Ruby rubbed the sleep from her eyes. Four hours rest was not good. She gave a feral grin to the large person behind her. "It's only a few yards Loial, worst dark yet to come, hum?"

Still the tiniest bit groggy, the red head thought back to earlier that day. News from Moiraine revealed that trollocs were gathering around the city; only waiting for their numbers to grow so that they could storm Caemlyn from all directions. There was only one 'safe' way out.

The Ways with a capitol W. Loial had been against it, and with good reason. Even if the small party was able to enter undetected who knew if they would survive? Darkness blacker than midnight saturated the roads. Even the roads themselves were breaking and giving in to the evil of the Ways. Moiraine remained adamant in her decision; it was the quickest way to the Blight.

The Blight. Ruby thought with venom. Where the Dark Ones hold is strongest and even the most hardened warriors lose their mettle. To the very home of the enemy. Out of the frying pan and into the fire.

The small group entered the stables where their horses were ready and packed. Nynaeve had made a list of all their supplies and given it to the innkeeper, who, true to his word gathered it all on short notice. Perrin shrunk into himself as he looked over his horse. A dangerous depression had come over him, not that everyone took notice. He moved slowly but purposefully.

Mat glanced away. It was hard to do, see one of your best friends so down like that, but his eyes. They were yellow and they caught the light sometimes reflecting green. The Emonds Field youth put his head down and tightened a strap, saying nothing.

"My own feet have always been good enough." Came a soft bass boom, if there was such a thing. Loials ears twitched as her looked at the huge pack horse that was to be his. The horse looked Loial up and down dubiously.

When Master Gill motioned for Ruby to join him he brought over a fine young stud. Ruby let the horse sniff her first, and smiled at his ego. The horses name was Red. Like his name the stallion's coat was a glossy red that nearly matched Ruby's hair. She whispered nice things to the horse, telling him about a smart lovely mare named Bela.

Mat walked his own horse over to them. "Perrin's making me nervous. Well, he's acting strange. Don't you see it too? I swear it's not my imagination, or…or"

Ruby took his hand. "He is Mat. Just be easy. Moiraine knows about whatever it is. Lets go talk to him." The two walked over to their friend.

Perrin seemed startled but relaxed at their approach. "So, what really happened after Shadar Logoth?" Ruby asked. Mat looked at her in astonishment. Perrin tensed.

"Well that was direct." Mat muttered, still not meeting Perrin's eye.

"I don't really want to talk about it." The shaggy haired blacksmith answered, his heart not in it.

"Perrin, you don't have to tell us, but please. You seem so sad, depressed. It's like someone's resigned you to the gallows. We care about you." Ruby spoke with sincerity.

Perrin gave a sigh. "We were attacked by white cloaks and taken prisoner."

"We?"

"Me and Egwene. But, I-I killed. I was just so angry I lost control. I killed two men. And now, now I know I might have to kill again just to stay alive."

"Oh Perrin." Ruby moved in for a hug. She dropped the reins and wrapped her arms around him. Mat shook his head. Killing didn't explain those eyes.

"It's going to be just fine." Mat added as her put a comforting hand on his childhood friend's shoulder.

Master Gills voice sounded, "Ramey says the way is clear, Aes Sedai."

Several of the stable workers moved away pitchforks, hay, and other materials from the wall. The wall appeared to be strong and made of heavy stone, but as hidden levers shifted a crack formed in the rock. Silently the stone wall opened out into a narrow alleyway.

Mat took one look at the new door and let out a low whistle. "I want one of those." Nynaeve and Egwene rolled their eyes at him from atop their horses, noticed and looked away from each other.

The innkeeper chuckled to himself before continuing. "It's only a narrow run between buildings, but nobody outside this stable knows it's here. Whitecloaks or white cockades there'll not be any watchers to see where you come out."

The Blue nodded. She told him to write to Sheriam Sedai if he experienced any trouble from helping them before turning her horse to the exit. Ruby carefully nudged her horse into the line. Red walked calmly and at his own pace much like Bela. He didn't care that Mandarb and Aldieb had better breeding. Ruby stroked his neck.

Loial mounted his horse with some difficulty. He watched the animals large teeth very closely. Loial entered the narrow way first, in order to lead the rest to the Way Gate.

Dusk became a uniform gray as the group hurried through the streets. People for the most part ignored them, still fresh from their beds. Loial's ears constantly twitched as her followed a path only he could see. Ruby glanced back once, to check on Logain, but quickly turned when she saw him staring at her. Unconsciously she put a hand to the saddlebag that carried her belt.

"There," said Loial as he called to a halt. "It's under there."

Moiriane nodded and dismounted. She searched around, and Ruby felt the hairs on her arms stand up. "There must be a cellar door. Ah, yes." The Aes Sedai's hand held a rusty lock. She muttered to herself as a glowing ball lit up the area. A quick tap opened it and they went down.

Ruby weighed her lantern's pole down with a free had so it would not bump the ceiling. Red descended carefully, snorting a few times, clearly he did not care for the ramp they were on.

Mat looked about taking in the dustyness of the place. "Blood and ashes, why would they build one of these gates in a place like this?"

"It was not always like this, No!" Loial said upset. "Once trees stood here. Every kind of tree that would grow in this place, every kind of tree that Ogier could coax to grow here. The Great trees, a hundred spans high. Shade of branch, and cool breezes to catch the smell of leaf and flower and hold the memory of the peace of the stedding. All that, murdered for this!" He smacked a palm against the column. Years of dirt was knocked loose and floated down.

For a moment there was silence. "It will not make the trees grow again for you to bring the building down on our heads." Said the Aes Sedai. Loial's ears drooped. "With your help Loial, perhaps we can keep the groves from that still stand from falling under the Shadow. You have brought us to what we seek."

She walked to a lone figure in the room. It was a door carved into vines and leaves. So precise the workmanship that it appeared as if the leaves were going to be blow off by the slightest wind.

"Avendasora." Moiriane whispered. "The leaf of the tree of life is the key." She delicately touched the stonework and the leaf came away to her hand. Gasps came from all around. The Aes Sedai paid no mind as she replace the leaf, only this time a bit lower. With a ripple the gates opened the path to the Ways. It was as if vine and leaf moved aside, and for an instant they appeared to be fresh green growing things.

Once the doors stopped a wall of dark shimmering substance stood. "I have heard, that the Waygates once shone like mirrors. Once, who entered the Ways walked through sun and sky. Once."

Perhaps they will again. Who knows the pattern?

"We have no time for waiting." Lan went in first, followed by Loial then Ruby. The surface was cold like water, but it flowed. When approaching it there was an erie sensation.

The road was pockmarked, like acid rain had gotten to it. A single white line led into the darkness that attempted to swallow the lantern light. Ruby backed up, she wanted to run form the Waygate, but remounted Red. Logain came up beside her.

"Have you done this before?"

"No." She answered.

"Are you insane?"

"What? No."

A gave her a shake of the head. "My life is tied with yours. I think, soon." He lightly jerked the reins to talk with Loial. Ruby cocked her head, thinking. With a shrug she moved Red in behind Perrin, ready to continue the journey.

It was the second day in the Ways, and though the company was more relaxed an oppressive air still hung about them. Strangely Perrin seemed happier. After waking they ate in the saddle.

Time was precious. No rain or wind or sunlight could be felt, all around was a never-ending black sea. Loial followed the line that led from one Guiding to the other, and finally to Fal Dara.

Lan glanced backwards, "Someone is following us. Or something."

Mat looked up, startled, and knocked an arrow. "I knew I shouldn't have done this," moaned Loial, "Never deal with an Aes Sedai except in a stedding."

"Got that right." Muttered Logain.

"That's the only place they're safe." Loial continued bitterly.

"What else would be in a place like this besides something evil?" Mat questioned his bow at the ready.

"We are for one." Replied Lan.

"Maybe it's another traveler." Said Egwene hopefully. "An Ogier Perhaps." She smiled. Loial growled. "Ogier have more sense than to use the ways. All but Loial who has no sense at all. Elder Haman always said it, and it's true."

"Don't beat yourself up. Lets just hurry, please." Ruby said. Red was growing impatient and nervous under her.

"Yes, we must hurry." So they hurried. They rode of the bridge they were on to an isle. Flat, the stone island stretched beyond the light of their lanterns. Loial quickly moved to the Guiding and read over the script, he sucked in a breath.

"This explains much, and it makes me afraid. So much. I should have guessed. The taint, the decay, I should have guessed." Whispered Moiriane.

"Guessed what?" Nynaeve asked. She road up to look at the stone. In contrast with the soft flowing Ogier letters, sharp angled script had been carved into the top.

"Trollocs. Or Fades. Those are Trolloc runes. The Trollocs have discovered how to enter the Ways. That must be how they got to Two Rivers undiscovered; through the Waygate in the Blight." All this was said in Aes Sedai Reserve. Her emotions masked. "Manetheren was destroyed, but almost nothing can destroy a Waygate. That is how the Fades could gather a small army around Caemlyn without raising an alarm in every nation between the Bilght and Andor. But they cannot know all the paths yet, else they would have been pouring into Caemlyn through the gate we used. Yes."

Speed increased. More evidence of Trollocs was revealed when bodies sunken into the stone were found. From then on the Aes Sedai would check for traps with the One Power.

It had seemed like hours. Ruby jerked her head up and looked around. She could hear something. Perrin was doing the same thing. "Um, Perrin, do you hear that?"

The yellow-eyed youth looked down. "Hear what? Maybe the wind." He had meant it as a joke, but it made Ruby remember what Loial had said about there being no wind in the Ways.

It would be good to feel the wind again. She thought with longing. "Loial, didn't you say there isn't any wind in the Ways?"

Loial stopped short and listened. His ears twitched before trembling. "Machin Shin." He whispered. "The Black Wind."

Nynaeve clutched her braid and yanked hard. "Light protect us."

Ruby kicked Red on to follow with the other horses. She heard something…beautiful. Part of her heard what Loial was saying about the Black Wind. That the wind ate your soul and no Aes Sedai could heal you, if you came back seemed trifles. The other part listened to that sweet voice that floated on the air.

"This Way!" Shouted Loial and kicked his own horse forward. The others followed suit, galloping as fast as the pitted road would allow. Ruby gave a squeak as Red jumped after the other horses. She had fallen to the last in line, Mandarb and Lan two yards in front of her.

"The Avendesora leaf is not here!" Moiriane shouted out in frustration. "I did not come all this way to be trapped like a dog!" Angrily she thrust her staff at the door and let power gather at the tip, which began to glow deep orange. Hot fire like molten lava poured from the staff.

Mat felt much like his horse that was rolling its eyes in terror. "I can feel it! Light I can bloody feel it!" Egwene began to cry; Nynaeve gave her braid a hard jerk and stared into the darkness waiting for it. Perrin silently wished the Aes Sedai could go faster, voices he heard were in perfect clarity and spoke of pain beyond imagination.

Red saw the other horses starting to loose their cool. He snorted and shivered at what he was hearing, mostly feeling, but stayed calm. What was his rider doing? She had pulled him to a stop farther from the door than all the others, and felt happy.

Ruby listened to the voices. "Strip your skin, nice white skin, stab your soul, nice pure soul, join join join join…" She looked into the darkness, and felt her bangs brush against her face from the wind.

The Aes Sedai lowered her staff with a sigh. "Done. Half done." Lan wheeled his war horse and had it charge the door. The stone worked Waygate shuddered burst open. The doors would have flow off their hinges if they had any.

"Hurry! All of you out! It can't leave the Ways!" Loial hurried out first. The wind was nearly on them, voices becoming clear to all of them.

"Flesh so fine, so fine to tear, to gash the skin; skin to strip, to plait, so nice to plait the strips," Crooned the Black Wind. Lan glanced back at the girl who sat on her horse; she was doomed. He shook his head and plunged through the gate.

Nynaeve rounded on him immediately. "Where is she! What happened to her!" The Wisdom had a grip on her braid so tight that her knuckles were white.

Lan looked like a stone. "She didn't move. She'll be gone in a minute if she isn't already."

Logain looked up, his face was gaunt. "Blood and Ashes." He wheeled his brown horse and plunged back into to Ways. The Cold was only brief; he owed that girl more than she knew. Both her and the horse still stood in place, the wind almost on them. He glared into the darkness. "You can't have her." One hand blossomed with a flickering blue flame that shot out and formed a sort ofshield.

Logain galloped up and grabbed her; her eyes were blank and staring. She whispered, "Pretty screams, singing screams." Then he used a free hand to jerk Red's reins. The horse ran toward the exit, being free of the one thing that kept him calm. Logain lowered his head and watched the red headed girl he was holding. Behind him black tendrils ate the flames, leaking through.

He burst out the gate breathing as hard as his horse. Ruby clutched him, not out of fear of the wind, but something else. She thought that song was pretty. She had enjoyed a song about death, pain, and torture. Still what scared her most was,it hadn't been her thought and yet it was.

END

A/N Hello all. Okay, so I really liked Loial's dialoge for these chapters from the book, can you tell? He's way to hard on himself though.

Also I hate Egwene. Should she be cough disposed? But if I do Eladia would have to die too, not that that would be a bad thing.

Next Chapter: Mirado a'Heleen, the shadows daughter