The Wheel Of Time
Twists In Fate
Prologue: Orders
Dave strode through the corridors of a place he'd never been before. Tapestries and paintings of old battles long since forgotten hung on the walls. All the paintings had gold gilded on the sides of them. There were servants scurrying about the halls, carrying trays made from gold that held freshly picked fruit and slightly spiced wine in golden cups. The carpet he walked on was intricately made and probably very expensive. Gilded armchairs were placed at various intervals in the hallways and had cushions of bright red silk. Whoever lived here, they were very rich, and very powerful.
Dave could have gone for a cup of spiced wine and some fruit himself right then, he hadn't eaten since he left for this place earlier in the day. The sun sat low on the horizon, a burning ball of orange sinking below the mountaintops. Dave shook himself free of food fancies, now was not a time to think about food. The men at the doors had specific rules for him to obey and memorize before they would allow him inside. One of the men, a short Domani by the looks of him, almost turned him back when he arrived. He had to show the man the note he was given in Bandar Eban, with the High Lady's signature before he was allowed inside. The short man now led him through the corridors and never once looked back to see if Dave followed. They walked through the hallways for what seemed like hours.
This place certainly is bigger than it looks from the outside, unless of course this man is leading me in circles, Dave thought. Dave was always wary of others, called paranoid at times by his friends, well the friends he used to have, before they met with accidents. Another thing Dave regretted, he had to leave his weapon and armor at the door with those men. He always felt safer when he had his weapon on him. As a child, he used to carry around kitchen knives in his belt. He would always get in trouble when the adults saw him with the knives, and he would always get a switching, but that never stopped him from once again getting more knives. At 10 he committed his first murder, when another boy called him a freak and laughed at him. That boy's laugh was the last sound he ever made. The first murder of many since he left his town shortly after that. The odd thing was, he never felt remorse for that boy. He deserved to die, Dave thought with a grin. Dave stopped daydreaming with a start as he bumped into the man who was leading him.
"We're here." The man said as he stepped aside and held a hand out to the door. Even the door was gilded in gold! Does this man own all the gold in the world? But when Dave stepped in the room, it was not a man sitting at the table in the middle of the room.
"Come in," a creamy soft voice said. The room was the definition of rich. The walls were carved with intricate carvings and gilded paintings lined the walls as well. The rug was bright green and covered the whole room. In the gilded armchairs there were green silk cushions. There were tables and stands with brightly colored flowers in vases that seemed to be made from Sea Folk porcelain. The table in the middle of the room was made from a fine furnished wood that seemed to glisten. Strangely, there were no windows in this room; only gilded candles on certain areas on the walls would provide light in the night. The man leading Dave dropped a very low bow to the woman sitting at the table and walked out, closing the doors behind him. There were people kneeling in this room with their faces glued to the woman at the table, adoration filling their eyes. They were dressed quite elegantly for servants; surely they were servants if they were kneeling on the floor. Dave's gaze then finally went to the woman sitting at the table; it was always good to know your surroundings and methods of escape first and foremost. Dave gaped at what he saw. The woman had long red-blonde hair, and very fair skin. She was decorated in jewelry. Rings covered her fingers and ranged from sapphire, to emerald, to topaz. Except for one plain gold ring on her smallest finger. Three necklaces with what seemed to rubies embedded in them hung low around her neck between her breasts. Her dress was almost transparent! The neckline of her dress was very low, so she showed considerably more cleavage than should be allowed outdoors. She smiled when she saw Dave staring. She liked being looked at!
"Have a seat Dave; we have much to talk about." She said elegantly. Dave took a seat opposite her at the table.
"I assume you're wondering why I called you here." She said with a smile. If Dave didn't know any better, he would have thought she was flirting with him. But Dave did know better, he always knew better. Dave nodded slowly and she continued talking.
"I know you're a Darkfriend Dave," she said calmly, "and a high ranking one to boot." Dave's heart leaped to his throat and he immediately thought of escape. No windows, door is shut, though I may be able to break it down, I am unarmed but I am sure I could kill this woman before she called for help, the servants would be simple enough... Dave's thoughts subsided as she waved her hand and said, "Oh don't worry, I'm not turning anyone in." Dave stopped thinking of escape, but his heart never left his throat. This woman still knew more than she should, and that was never a good thing.
"Now," she began, "I called you here today because you're a Darkfriend, which ensures that there won't be any questions." She said. Her raven-black eyes seemed to bore into Dave's mind. Dave nodded again and his heart slowly began to sink back into place. This woman was obviously a Darkfriend herself, if a rich one, and that meant that she could not be much higher ranking than he himself. Dave prided himself on rising in the ranks so quickly after he pledged his soul to the Shadow. Perhaps Dave wouldn't need to kill her after all.
"Now you may or may not be aware of the events that occurred today. But today is a day we will all live to regret if u fail." She said a touch less calmly; agitation tinged her voice a bit.
"What has happened today?" Dave asked cautiously. Obviously this is a touchy subject to this woman.
"The Dragon is reborn today Dave, that's what has happened." She said. If Dave thought he gaped before, his eyes popped out of his head now. The Dragon, Lews Therin Kinslayer, reborn today? How could this woman know? Dave had known the day would one day come that the Dragon would be reborn, but he never thought it would occur in his lifetime, especially since he lived his life in constant danger.
"If the Dragon is reborn today, then why are you here talking to me, and not dealing with him yourself? He cannot be much danger as an infant." Dave inquired. The woman glared at him for a split second, and then was all calm and niceness again.
"I have people out 'dealing' with the Dragon, Dave." She said softly. "You are not to be concerned with the Dragon personally, though your job might coincide with his rebirth, which is the only reason I tell you this." She said. Dave was completely baffled. My mission is more important than finding and capturing The Dragon Reborn? What could possibly be more important than capturing the Dragon Reborn for the Great Lord? While Dave tried to puzzle this out, she answered his unsaid question.
"The Dragon is of great importance, yes. But you have to deal with something just as important. It has come to my knowledge that…" She went on explaining his mission, and Dave's face grew more and more serious as she went on. When she finally finished talking she sat back observing Dave. The mission was simple enough, if you did not know whom you were dealing with, and Dave now knew whom he was dealing with. Somewhere during her mission briefing she had let something slip, something she might live to regret, or not live. Dave now wanted more than anything to leave, to go back where he came from and never leave his house again. Anything but take a mission from… her. Dave stood up with plenty of complaints and reasons why not to take this mission.
"I understand my mission, but…" Dave trailed off as his complaints dissipated. He felt as if his complaints were plucked from his mind. There was no reason why he should not do this mission. It would please this woman very much. All Dave wanted to do at that instant was please this woman, do whatever she asked with the greatest of speed. This woman was whom he would live to serve, and whatever she said, he did. There would be no further complaints about anything this woman said. When one of The Chosen spoke, you obeyed.
