Chapter 2- What do you want from me?
Mino started running as soon as the weaves had been released. The witch must have been sent to help him learn. He gulped quickly and continued running, not sure where he was going. Before he realized it, tears were running down his cheeks. Light, what was going to happen to him?
Mino suddenly couldn't run anymore, as though a branch caught the collar. Trembling, he looked behind him, afraid it would be Voran. And it was. The whitecloak started to sputter as the warder moved his chin up.
"We are going to The Marsh Wiggle to have a private chat. No tricks, no threats, and no complaining." Voran's eyes were an iced brown shade, as he led the other into town.
When they entered the private dining room that was reserved, Mino managed a coherent word, "What do you want with me?"
"Sopika Sedai should be here soon."
Sopika's serene voice floated in from the door as she walked in, "I heard my name. Is there anything you need, whitecloak?"
"I want to know what you want me for."
"That is the hundred mark question. What do we want from you?"
"I don't know what you want from me. That's why I asked!"
"Did the Wheel think it was funny when it weaved out a stupid whitecloak as ta'veren? If it did, I would hate to host a dinner party for it."
"I am not stupid!"'
"I mentioned what we wanted for you earlier. Do you not remember, ta'veren?"
"I can channel."
Sopika murmured, "Well, that explains the black sunburst. Thin layers of gold will turn black when men channel nearby."
"You know of that also?"
"The black sunburst is not easy to miss. I wonder will you come back to the White Tower with me? We can get you to the Black Tower for training, if you like. But it would be so nice to return to Salidar with the ta'veren,"
"Salidar? The White Tower is in Tar Valon, is it not?"
"In Tar Valon, Elaida is on the Seat. Salidar is where the true tower lies. Egwene is the Armylin."
"Egwene al'Vere? Galad would not associate with the Armylin as a friend."
"She was raised only recently."
"I will go."
Egwene looked questionably over her clenched fist at the pigeon she had just received from Boerani. This gray pigeon stared back rather insolently, seeming to issue a challenge to the Armylin Seat.
"Okay, pigeon," Egwene growled, "you can give me Mino's letter peacefully or I can fight it away. Your choice."
Pigeon just snapped its beak back, making its choice of not consenting evident. Egwene scowled, reached her hand, and received nothing but a sharp peck back. When she tried the second time, Egwene managed to grasp the neck of the bird, but it wriggled. As she wrestled with it on the floor, Suian Sanche came in. Laughing uproariously, she stared at Egwene in her miniature wrestling match before rescuing and untying the message herself.
"Thank you." Egwene stated, serenity once again returning as she took the message. "That bird is evil." The pigeon gave a snap of its beak and flew out.
The message was but a scrap of paper, in a hastily scribbled hand that Egwene recognized as Sopika's. The package is ready for delivering. Obviously, the plan for making the ta'veren submit worked. But who would it be. Egwene resumed her pacing. Siuan's eyes followed the pacer, and burned the message, not even bothering to read it. She knew the plan had succeeded. It must have. But who was it?
"Quid pro quo." Egwene muttered. "That's what he requires."
"Mother," Sanche's voice was puzzled, "what is this quid pro quo?"
"Something from the Age of Legends," Egwene smiled back, "This for that. It is an old saying."
"Really?"
"Yes. That's what he will require. But what will he want?"
"Secrecy. He's a white cloak. A white cloak." Hysterical laughter came into play. "A white cloak!"
