Part III – Forsaken
Chapter 6: Reunion
A hundred years was a long time to search for anything at all. An even longer time to search for something one loved so much she could not live without finding it. In Kiara Eronaile's case, that something was Joar Addam Nessosin, the only man she loved and would ever love.
For a hundred years she had searched. On the eighty-sixth year, her friend and companion, the Da'shain Aiel Avierhyl, had died of old age. She had ceased her search for a week to mourn the Aiel's passing.
From Mar Ruois to Paaran Disen, from Paaran Disen to Comelle, from Comelle to Adanza, from Adanza to M'Jinn, from M'Jinn to V'saine, then to Halidar, Tzora, Devaille and what had to be every city, town and village in the world. In various places during her search she had lost Joar Addam's trail and had to search many cities before she picked it up again.
At the moment she was in Emar Dal. Night had just fallen, a stormy, rainy one, and she was eating a dinner that tasted like ashes in the common room of an inn. Even the bright light cast by the glowbulbs looked dim in her eyes.
A tavern maid walked past her table, carrying a tray of drinks. "Have you seen a musician with dark eyes and hair? His name is Joar Addam Nessosin," she asked without much conviction.
The tavern maid frowned. "Joar Addam … Nessosin, you say?" she said. Her voice had a musical lilt to it. "A musician? He plays the harp and flute among other things? He performed in here not an hour ago, Mistress. He left on foot, saying he would walk to Laras, the small town not a mile from here on the East Road."
"Thank you!" Kiara cried, pressing a few gold coins into the startled girl's hands. She rushed upstairs to her room and grabbed all her bags, slinging them carelessly over her shoulder. Leaving adequate payment on the table, she hugged a silk-wrapped package close and channelled. A gateway opened, as far down the East Road as she could remember. Without hesitation, she stepped through.
The downpour soaked her silk dress with pleated skirts within seconds. There was a lone figure ahead, almost further than she could see. A flash of lightning lit the sky overhead. For that brief moment the person's face was illuminated. A face she recognised, even if it was older and more mature.
"Joar—Addam—Nessosin!" she shouted as loudly as she could. She was shocked when he turned and made a gateway. Drawing deeply on saidar, she slashed the weave and slammed a shield between the fool man and saidin.
The only thing he could do, and did, was turn and run. Suddenly very, very angry, Kiara raced after him with all the strength she had, and when that failed all the strength saidar would lend her.
She was closing on him when she caught her foot on something, and was thrown off the path, down the hillside. She managed to choke out a single cry before something soft but firm slammed into her face, silencing her. A leafy branch.
The slope ended abruptly, and Kiara Lisette hit the bottom on her side. Lying there, bruised, bleeding and soaked, she felt tears flow uncontrollably from her eyes. So had come so close to catching him, and she had lost him again.
Suddenly, a voice coming from the slope muttered, "Fool of a woman!"
Ignoring her bruises and gashes, Kiara sat bolt upright. Without saidar, she could see nothing in the pitch-darkness. "Joar Addam Nessosin! You got me into this mess, now get me out of it!" she cried out.
Light flared to her left. She turned. Joar Addam crouched beside her, a flickering flame hovering above his outstretched hand. "Are you all—"
She cut him off with a full-armed slap, following through with another. he ducked a third and managed to wrap his free arm around her. She thrashed, but could not break free of his grip. She raised her head to shout at him. Joar Addam's mouth came down on hers roughly, almost painfully. It took her less than a second to forget how angry she was and start kissing him back.
Kiara pulled back. "Do you know how long I've been looking for you, you wool-brained idiot?" she snapped. "A hundred years, Joar Addam Nessosin. I intend to make you pay every second of that hundred years back. Every last second."
Joar Addam hugged her close. "I will pay my entire lifetime."
Kiara suddenly remembered the harp. Embracing saidar, she channelled Air and Fire to light up the area. She found the silk-wrapped package lying miraculously clean and dry under a tree, on top of the rest of her things. She snatched it up and shoved it into Joar Addam's arms.
"I made this for you a hundred years ago," she said, "and I have borne its weight for that long. You can bear the weight now." With a sniff she took up the rest of her bags and tried to stand. She fell almost immediately.
"I can't do much in this area, but …" Kiara felt a cold shiver pass through her as soon as Joar Addam spoke. She recognised Restoring when she felt it. When it was done, she simply collapsed in a sobbing heap.
"Do you know how much I hate you, Joar Addam?" she asked when the hysterics subsided. "I hate you so much no words can describe it. You put me through a hundred years of hell. I hate you so very, very much." In a much softer voice and tone she added, "But I love you more. So much more."
Joar Addam helped Kiara to her feet. She was already distraught enough. His secret could wait.