Disclaimer- All of the things you recognize is belonging to Mr. Robert Jordan, including the first paragraph.

A/N: There might be some spoilers for the Lord of Chaos, it's the latest book I finished. Mutters about stupid library not having the books in Err, for those wondering, Sopika is pronounced So-PE-kah. And Mino is pronounced Minnow.

And the Soft Winds Blow:

The Last Hope: Book One

Chapter One – A Ride in the Dust

The Wheel of Time turns and Ages come and pass, leaving memories that become legend. Legend fades to myth and even myth is long forgotten when the Age that gave it birth comes again. In one Age, called the Third Age by some, an Age yet to come, an Age long past, a wind rose on Almoth Plain. The wind was not the beginning. There are neither beginnings nor endings to the turning of the Wheel of Time. But it was a beginning.

Southward the wind blew, disturbing dust and rattling ruins of villages. Southward it blew, passing over the border to Tarabon, and disturbing the cloak of a proud woman mounted on a white mare. Sopika Sedai kicked her mare into a gallop, with Voran, her eagle-eyed Warder, flying behind on Artur, his own black stallion. Brown hair flew into the Aes Sedai's crystal blue eyes as she leaned on the horse's neck. Voran sped to the Aes Sedai's side, spotting the village. Boerani, if his guess was right. A small village, not much larger than any of the towns in the Two Rivers.

Dust groaned under the horses' hooves as Sopika slowed her mount. There would be no use of killing the mare by forcing her to go too far, too quickly. But Boerani was, even if visible, not close, and dusk was starting to settle into twilight.

"Sopika Sedai," Voran murmured in a deep voice that Sopika could never imagine him saying anything but in murmur in, "are we stopping for the night? The village seems close."

Sopika studied the Warder a moment before responding in a high, gentle voice, "Many things seem closer than they are when seen by ruined farmland. That town is no exception. It is still a half-day's ride south, Voran."

They both stared after the village for a moment, neither faces showing any emotion, but they both felt the same. Hope rushed in both of their hearts and fear too. What they were looking for was either nearer than anything, or it did not exist. The ta'veren that they had tracked to this desolate area was within a half-day's riding. He had to be.

Voran swiftly began to prepare camp as Sopika secured the horses. Soon, two small bits of canvas were erected to provide areas in which to sleep, and a fire burned brightly. Voran shuddered as a wave of nervousness rushed over the Aes Sedai. Smiling softly, Sopika looked to where the village was. The ta'veren had to exist. He had to.

"I do not see him yet," a rather muffled call came from Sopika, who had taken the natives' habit of wearing a transparent veil. So far, the veil proved useful, and not only for preventing dust flying into her face. Whitecloaks plagued the village, just as the case had been all around the Tarabon border, and the veil seem to hide a bit of the ageless face that was framed by her brown crown of braids. A glance only brought the image of a young woman, perhaps a bit too hollow from the famine.

"But I feel him tugging strongly at me. Always tugging, always pulling. The Wheel weaves as the Wheels wills, Sopika Sedai. The pull of ta'veren is too strong not to be him. It's as though he is calling for me," Voran responded as his eyes continued to search the crowds. Sopika herself was more the one to look; she had the Talent of being able to see ta'veren. Several times Voran asked the Aes Sedai what a ta'veren looked like to her. And several times Sopika responded with a vague description of a rather glowy light that surrounded them.

"I do not think he exists," She replied after a moment. "Wait, he's by the butchers. In the white shirt and brown breeches. Do you see him?"

"Yes, Sopika. I see him." His brow was furrowed. "But what do we do now we know who he is. We can't exactly walk up to him and say, 'Hello, you're ta'veren and we were wondering if an Aes Sedai can take you to the White Tower so you can be safe to fight Tar'mon Gai'don for us,' can we?"

Sopika nodded, and muttered so only Voran could hear, "Especially considering who he is. There's a white cloak under his arm, and I think I saw a sunburst awhile ago."

Voran swore loudly, "Blood and ashes. Blood and bloody ashes."

A grim smirk accompanied the response of "Just our luck."

They stared at the man for a while, until Voran broke the silence, "We should talk to him. Since he is the one we seek, we should at least speak to him."

Sopika gulped. That man would kill her if they lost the coin's flip, but she nodded. Voran almost didn't notice the nod, but she began to part the crowds with grim determination. Even when she knocked down an old woman carrying her packages, she continued. Forever she wished the walk would last. The moment of action without any risk. However, sooner than she hoped for, she was standing next to the whitecloak, staring at an unknown cut of meat, with the dim glow of the ta'veren reflected off the glass.

"Excuse me, sir," Voran said to the whitecloak. "But what is your name. I think I remember you from somewhere."

"My name is Mino, one of the Children of the Light. I do not recognize you."

"Oh, we have not met before. But, would you like to come and perhaps have a drink at The Marsh-Wiggle? I have heard excellent comments on their drinks."

Mino glanced out of the corner of his eyes at Sopika and gasped. Filthy Tar Valon witches and their flaming Warders trying to help him, "I shall not go anywhere with you, but I want you to know this. On my honor as a Child of the Light, I will kill the Aes Sedai, maybe not today or tomorrow, but I will."

A looked of astonishment crossed Voran's face before it returned to its usual stoniness. Sopika sniffed, and left her eavesdropping post, wrapping the whitecloak in Air.

When she spoke, it was with deadly seriousness. "Listen to me, ta'veren. Whitecloaks have no honor. I will be Armylin Seat before you kill me," She released him onto the ground and left.

"That was uncalled for." Voran was surprised at her actions.