A/N- Here's the chapter a few people have been eagerly awaiting for. I've just started working on the Final Battle, mainly the dramatic fight between the Dark One and Rand…if you like this, you'll love that! I'm almost tempted to put it down as a teaser…it doesn't tell any real plot details…but you should wait and let the anticipation make it ever so sweeter.
If some people got confused last chapter, Egwene channelled for the first time. The illness she gets on the boat several days afterwards is the Power-acquisition illness.
I hope you enjoy this chapter; It's over 11,000 words long and my biggest update yet.
One Week Later
Nynaeve managed to lurch off the chubby boat, her face pale and her hands on her mouth. Following her, Egwene only paused to pay the Captain fifteen silvers and smiled politely, before she followed the Two Rivers wisdom down onto the docks, two ropes clutched in her hand as she led two horses off the deck and onto the docks. Nynaeve lay on the ground, panting slightly as she turned her eyes onto Egwene.
"Never again!" She growled, but still looked decidedly ill. "I will never travel on a blasted boat again!"
Egwene helped her up with one hand; the other clutching the ropes connected to the horses, and led a pale Nynaeve away from the docks near Whitebridge. The gleaming bridge that had given the town its name twinkled in the sunlight and even though Egwene had seen stared at the bridge for ten minutes while on the deck of the boat, she still couldn't help but stare. Nynaeve on the other hand, was shaking her head and getting back her bearings now that she was on land. For a strong woman such as Nynaeve to have such a small weakness, Egwene couldn't help but smile.
"Do you think it's funny?" Nynaeve practically growled as she snatched her horse's rope from Egwene's hand. "I seem to remember that three days in, you got very sick yourself. Chills and shivers and vomiting!"
Egwene lost her smile and shuddered. It had been the worst sort of illness that she had ever recalled having. Once, when she had been thirteen, she had gotten a fever and had almost died, but even that hadn't felt as bad as this one had. It had only lasted a day before Egwene was back on her feet but she still shuddered at the memory of it.
"What do we do now?" She asked Nynaeve.
Nynaeve frowned and shook off the last of her seasickness. "We go to Caemlyn. We have five silvers left, which should get us there. And when we find the boys…we will switch them so hard that they'll stand for a week!"
Egwene nodded and the two of them saddled their horses.
Several dozen leagues away, Rand al'Thor, Mat Cauthon, Perrin Aybara and Min Farshaw were entering the large white gates of Caemlyn. Mat was gaping at the sheer number of people the flooded the streets, all wearing red bands on their arms. There were thousands of them, more than the Two Rivers, Watch Tower and Devon's Ride, the three largest villages in their little area put together. Perrin was gazing at the thick and gleaming white walls of Caemlyn, while Min had her arms around Rand and her eyes were half-closed as he led them all into the packed filled streets.
"What's going on?" Rand shouted over the din to a nearby Guard, who looked up at Rand as he directed people in and out of the gates, keeping it accessible.
"Lady Elayne and Lord Luc are going to be making a public presentation!" He answered back with a shout, before he irritably herded along a large group of people out of the gates.
Rand nodded in thanks and motioned for Perrin and Mat to follow him. The horse moved at a trot as it entered the gates, and Rand turned left immediately after he entered, going down a small alleyway between the thick wall and a stone house. Here the noise was lessened and Rand frowned as he considered his options. Min moaned something in annoyance as she yawned, shaking her head as if to clear the tiredness away.
The group had rushed from Baerlon to get here. Rand had used two crystals, including the one he had previously used, to wash away the tiredness of the horses and Mat, Perrin and Min, during the whole journey. On the third night Min had told him to stop and had firmly ordered him to get some sleep at a nearby village Inn. Rand had definitely been feeling tiredness, even in the Void, hadn't put up much of a struggle as Min ushered him into a room, leaving Mat and Perrin to pay and deal with the horses. Rand had collapsed on the first bed he had seen and had slept for ten hours straight.
The next morning, the group had galloped off again and they had rode for three days straight, eating their packed food and water on their horses and stopping for thirty second intervals to relieve themselves. Rand has used the second crystal during those days. As they drew closer and closer to Caemlyn, Rand had seen the white walls faintly visible on the horizon and had stopped the group for some rest and a long meal. If Rand was going to be fighting Slayer the next day, he wanted to make sure that he was well prepared and rested. That night, he had gone through the book of Saidin, memorising some of the particular destructive weaves. Most of them he had to ignore, even together his crystals only contained a limited amount of Saidin. Maybe he would go back to the Eye of the World and get some more when this was done with. After a sixteen-hour sleep, where Rand washed away all of his own fatigue naturally, the group had gotten back on their horses and sped for Caemlyn, where they had arrived.
"What's the plan?" Mat asked, scratching his head as he waved away an irritating insect.
"I don't know." Rand admitted. He frowned as he glanced down at his sword. "If I can get to Elayne, speak to her alone, I can convince her about Slayer. Eladia would help me fight him; maybe there are other Aes Sedai in the city that could help."
"Can't you fight him?" Perrin wondered. "You did it before,"
"I don't have the Eye of the World in my pocket," Rand said dryly. "There's only a limited amount of Saidin I can draw from the crystals, so I would have to kill him fast. If I could get behind him…I know this nasty weave that will blow a hole straight through his heart."
Mat shuddered at that, but he was glancing at the crowds and frowning as well. "How do we get through them?" He asked, gesturing to the milling people.
"The Palace will be heavily guarded." Min supplied. She was flicking her wrists, letting a knife appear in each one of her hands before she flicked them again, a little slower and clumsier, and they disappeared back into her sleeves.
"The guards won't be a problem, I know some of them." Rand said grimly. "But getting to them in this crowd could take all day. I don't want Slayer knowing I'm here until I have my sword stabbed into his back." He frowned, trying to remember something, and his face brightened somewhat. "I know of a way. It's a small gate overgrown with plants, almost forgotten by everybody. Only Elayne and Gawyn know about it."
"Well, lead us to it Sheepherder." Min said.
Rand led them through the back alleys and side streets, heading up the gently sloped hills and towards the secondary gleaming white stonewall that guarded the Inner City, where all of the nobles lived. As he did, Perrin quested out with his mind somewhat awkwardly. A flicker of images flashed, hundreds of them as he quested for a pack of wolves. There were some nearby, maybe a league away from the city.
I am Young Bull
Perrin introduced himself, forming an image of a two-legs with silver horns. The wolves greeted him like a father did a long-lost son, happiness and excitement bubbling through their minds.
You are two-legs? We have heard of you from brothers in south. You seek for us; do you urge to hunt?
Shadowkiller needs wolf help
Perrin almost winced at the awe and expectation that shot at him through his mind. The wolves were definitely excited about that and for a moment, Perrin thought he could hear loud howls from the west.
What does Shadowkiller need?
Slayer is in white den.
Perrin answered, his mind trying to convey Caemlyn to a wolf. White Den seemed like the most appropriate name, and he waited as stillness and shock ran through the bond he was feeling.
Slayer is evil. He is Alpha of shadowbrothers. Shadowkiller needs help killing?
Yes. Slayer may call Shadowbrothers. Shadowkiller wants other pack to fight shadowbrothers.
We would hunt shadowbrothers even if Shadowkiller had not asked. We will come.
Will you need help getting into den?
No. There are tunnels and holes. When pack gets closer to white den, if Shadowbrothers and Slayer are there, we will feel them.
The link closed off and Perrin sagged into his saddle, slightly drained. Mat glanced at him, but kept glancing at the crowds and any pretty girl that caught his eye. They were on a small hill now and a small patch of trees lay around a clearing, where the gleaming white wall stood strong and proud. Rand stopped and Min jumped off his saddle as he himself got off.
Lord Luc smiled pleasantly, bowing his head as Shienaran Lord greeted him in a small room with chatting nobles and lords. Elayne was talking to a short man with dark hair, dressed in soldiers clothing. The Shienarans had been invited as part of the new Alliance Andor and Shienar had created. Along with better trade opportunities, Andor would supply Shienar with men to help defend the Borderlands. In turn, Shienar would start buying Andorran iron mined from the Mountains of Mist in bulk, and at lower prices, to build and supply their armies with weapons.
"How are you Lord Luc?" The Shienaran Lord asked
Lord Luc kept a pleasant mask up as he felt hatred swelling in him. The pathetic and puny man in front of him was from the nation that had defeated his magnificent army. Because of him and others like him, the Great Lord had punished Slayer severely. Even now as Lord Luc, he could feel the memory of unbearable agony as every nerve in his.
"I am well," Lord Luc replied. "May I have the pleasure of knowing the name of the courageous Lord I am speaking to?"
"I am Lord Dremenden," The man replied jovially, shaking Lord Luc's hand enthusiastically. Lord Luc made a mental note to kill this man painfully and slowly.
"Welcome to Caemlyn, Lord Dremenden." Lord Luc said.
"It is a fine city, much finer that Fal Dara." Lord Dremenden said as he gazed out the window. "My daughter in particular in anxious to explore the palace. She has not seen such niceties and riches in a long time. Let me introduce her to you, Jania? Jania, come here and introduce yourself to Lord Luc."
A young girl, maybe twelve, with red hair and freckles walked over, her head bowed as she curtsied to Lord Luc. Lord Luc stiffened and felt dread well up in him, dread and panic, as the girl looked up and paled. Her mouth opened, just as Lord Dremenden cut in.
"This is Jania, my daughter. She was taken by Trollocs a few years back and rescued by a young Andorran soldier at the time. Truly, Rand al'Thor was a Lord in spirit. It is thanks to him that we had warning to the massive Trolloc hosts and it was his ties to Andor, the White Tower and even the Aiel, that allowed us to defeat them with minimal death on our side." Dremenden said, smiling obliviously.
Lord Luc had recognised the girl from one of the captives that he had taken from the Borderlands for the Myrddraal blades. She was trembling and white and Luc let his eyes flash in a dark fire, boring into hers and warning her that if she said a word, she would die right there and then.
"There is still time before the parade, perhaps you would like me to show young Jania around the palace?" Lord Luc offered kindly. As the girl opened her mouth despite her warning, Luc let a trickle of the True Power flow through him and wrap around the girls throat. The girl winced as something firm clamped down on her and knew that if she said another word she would die, and perhaps everybody in this room would if Luc had to reveal himself.
"That would be very kind of you Lord Luc," Lord Dremenden said. He looked down at Jania. "Would you like that?"
Jania managed a weak smile as Luc let the power pulse around her neck, caressing her skin. She nodded quickly and Lord Dremenden shrugged.
"Very well. I will see you at the parade Lord Luc." He said, before turning to speak to a tall Andorran Lord.
Lord Luc led Jania outside, his power still clamped down at her throat. He smiled at the guards outside as he started talking loudly of the origin of the Palace, and the start of the reign of Andor. He turned into an empty hall and quickly bore down onto Jania.
"So girl, you're still alive. I hadn't expected that." He sneered. His pleasant face crumbled as hatred shone through and he released the Power.
"Y-Y-You're the D-Darkfriend!" Jania gasped, backing away as her eyes filled with tears of fear.
"Very good." Lord Luc said coldly. "I should kill you here and now…but it would appear to suspicious if you were to go missing while I was accompanying you."
Jania shook as Lord Luc grabbed her arm and dragged her through a small abandoned servants tunnel. It led outside, to a beautiful garden where life was in bloom. Large trees overtook the walls and flowers bloomed at the height of their beauty.
"You will stay here and you will not move." Lord Luc said coldly. He gripped Jania's arm hard, and she cried out in pain as he shoved her to the ground. "One word of who I am to anybody…and I will make sure to kill you after I torture your father and feed him to my Trollocs! Is that understood?"
Jania nodded mutely, her head down as she cried bitter tears. For a moment, Luc thought of killing her then and there, but he sighed regretfully. He needed to keep a pleasant and unsuspicious profile. He would deal with the girl later and Luc stormed off back into the palace, leaving Jania alone to cry in peace.
Rand frowned as Mat and Perrin tied the horses to a tree trunk. This section of the wall was covered in vines, creepers and other plants. Flowers blossomed from the weeds that sprouted and Rand unsheathed his sword. Saidin pulsed within him and Rand automatically tried to seize it, but the severed part of his mind stood between it, like a man before a wide river. He slashed at the vines, deft flicks of his sword slicing through the plants with ease. After a few slashes, Perrin took out his axe and started hacking away. Min and Mat stood back as Perrin and Rand made short work of decades of plant growth. Finally, after a heap of cut and hacked plants had gathered at their feet, the faint outlines of a sturdy metal door.
"That's it!" Mat exclaimed, before he frowned. "It looks pretty sturdy."
"Perrin, the hammer," Rand said and Perrin nodded, taking the cuendillar hammer from his waist belt. He took a step back, before he jumped forward and bought the hammer over his head. It slammed against the door and there was a loud metallic thud. The door shook, dust falling from its hinges but it stood solid. Perrin slammed the hammer into it again, swinging it in a horizontal blow. His muscles strained as he lifted the hammer one more time and jabbed it sharply at the hinges. The door gave a final creak as it fell backwards, revealing a beautiful and lush garden inside.
"Inside everybody!" Rand hissed.
As they entered the beautiful gardens, Rand motioned for silence as they crept beneath the larges trees. The gardens looked deserted enough, still as beautiful as they were the day Rand had fallen into them. As he ploughed through the shrubs, he suddenly heard a soft crying.
"What's that?" Mat whispered.
"Sounds like a crying girl, she's young." Perrin answered, cocking his head. "She smells of fear."
Min eyed him oddly, having been let onto Perrin's secret a while back but still not used to comments like that.
Rand pushed through the shrubs until he came into the clearing. A small river trickled at one side and in the middle, a young girl who looked twelve or thirteen sobbed into her hands, her red hair played over her shoulders. Min and Perrin came silently behind him, but Mat tripped over a root as he was walking into the clearing and with a loud thud, he crashed to the ground,
"Blood and Ashes!" He shouted.
"It was a very good attempt at quiet Mat, until you broke it." Perrin said in exasperation.
The girl had looked up at the noise and Rand immediately recognised the slightly older features.
"Jania?" He asked in amazement.
"Lord Rand!" Jania breathed, her eyes wide. She gaped at him for a full minute as Mat picked himself from the ground, before she suddenly let out a sob and sprinted into him, her arms wrapping around his waist as she buried her head into his stomach. Rand gently patted on her on the back as he gazed at Mat, daring him to say something. But Mat had a soft spot for children and just smiled, while Min looked was smiling at Rand with approval.
"Lord Rand!" Jania gasped, tilting her head up. "You're dead!"
"The Dark One wishes so," Rand snorted. He released Jania and put her at arms length. "Why are you crying?"
Jania shivered, suddenly looking fearful as she glanced around. "He said that he will kill me and my father if I told anybody!"
"Slayer." Perrin muttered, sniffing at the air. "There is a foul scent here, half human and half something else."
"Lord Luc. It was him, wasn't it?" Rand asked Jania, who nodded.
"He was the one that led us into the Blight. He led the Trollocs!" Jania said, shivering in fear. Tear tracks marred her face and Mat smiled reassuringly as he came up.
"That's why we're here." He said as Jania looked at him. "To stop him!"
"What you will do Mat, is take Jania and Min to the Queen. Is your father here?" Rand told Mat, asking the question to Jania, who nodded hesitantly. "Good. Listen, I want you to tell him what you just told me. If you see Elayne, tell her that Lord Luc is Uncle Slayer, say that I told you that!"
Jania nodded, somewhat confused, while Mat's mouth dropped open in confusion. He scratched his he head but nodded.
"But…what about Slayer?" He asked.
"Perrin and I will look for him. Perrin can sniff him out for me, and I'll do what I can to kill him." Rand answered.
Min and Mat didn't look too pleased, but one look at Jania's tear streaked face was enough to stiffen their arguments. Mat nodded slowly and Min glanced at Rand, none too pleased. Rand couldn't have cared less as he turned to Perrin, who was already sniffing the air.
"This way," He muttered and pointed at a small side entry to the garden.
"Mat, Min. Be careful," Rand said seriously.
Mat nodded solemnly and slung a hand around Jania. "We'll protect her." He said. He held his quarterstaff in the other hand as he led Jania away.
"Rand…" Min started, before she shook her head. "Perrin, make sure this Woolhead doesn't get killed."
Perrin nodded, a small grin on his face as Min whirled around and hurried after Mat and Jania.
"Lead on," Rand said to Perrin.
Rand followed Perrin through a maze of servant corridors. Dust littered the air and the walls were faded and dull. Nobody had stepped through here in a long time. As Perrin turned a corner, he frowned and cocked his head as they approached a main hallway. Torches lay unused in the daytime, strapped to the wall, and paintings and other ornaments hung on the walls. They were in the main corridor, and Rand knew exactly where they were now.
"The scent…" Perrin suddenly muttered. "It's different."
"What?" Rand asked in surprise.
"It changed from the scent I was following back at the gardens to a normal man's." Perrin said, his eyes a blazing golden.
"It's probably part of his disguise. Can you still follow it?" Rand asked.
Perrin nodded, smoothing the stubble he hag growing on his chin. He pointed down the main corridor and the two of them started walking down it. Rand could feel his heart pumping faster as something like anticipation rushed through him. As they turned a corner, they both stopped at the man in front of them, who was frozen as he stared at the two.
"Hell Galad," Rand said slowly as he eyed the tall man. While not as tall as Rand, Galad was still taller than Perrin. He was a very handsome man, any girl who had been present would have told Rand that instantly. Dark hair lay smoothly brushed and he wore a long red coat, white silks poking underneath. A sword lay in his sheath and currently he was staring at Rand with a mixture of surprise and the never-ending calamity that he always seemed to possess.
"Rand al'Thor," Galad said, frowning slightly. "I had heard that you were dead."
Rand and Galad had never really spoken. Elayne did not like him; he was her half-brother on her father's side. So Rand had never had much contact with him and only knew what Elayne bitterly said when she was alone. Galad was a man of rules and he would always do what was right, no matter who got hurt in the process. He took his duties seriously and would start a war if it meant Elayne was saved from harm.
"Not quite." Rand said, shrugging and spreading his hands. "Galad, where's Elayne?"
Galad stared at him for a few moments. For a moment, Perrin thought that Galad hadn't seen him but he was aware of the tenseness in the man's body, could seem the sudden wariness that was produced. Despite that, Galad seemed at ease and his posture certainly didn't indicate any fear from being outnumbered two to one.
"Rand, Elayne is getting married to Lord Luc." Galad said patiently. "Despite any feelings you have for her, you can not disrupt them."
"What?" Rand asked, almost spluttering, as his cheeks suddenly felt warm. "No Galad! Elayne is in danger!"
"What do you know?" Galad asked instantly, his eyes boring into Rand.
"Lord Luc is not the man he appears." Rand told him.
"What do you mean?" Galad asked suspiciously. "How would you know Lord Luc?"
"Because I've met him before! Because he sent the Shadowspawn into Caemlyn all those years ago! Because he almost killed me in the Blight! Because his my blasted Uncle!" Rand snapped. "Pick one."
"He's your uncle?" Galad asked. Now true surprise showed on his face as Rand nodded impatiently.
"Look, if I'm wrong then so be it. But if I'm right…isn't it better to get to Elayne now?" Rand asked Galad, who eyed him strangely and nodded.
"Very well. I will take you to her and you will explain everything." Galad said, his tone suggesting that Rand would do just that."
He whirled around and with hurried footsteps Rand and Perrin followed him as he led them down the hall and began to climb a flight of steps.
"Who's that?" Perrin muttered to Rand as they hurried along.
"He's Elaynes half-brother. Same father, different mothers." Rand muttered back. They followed Galad for two minutes before he stopped in front of an ornate door, golden carvings etched into the silver frame. Galad wordlessly opened the doors and walked inside. Perrin exchanged a look with Rand, and noticed that Rand was suddenly reeking of hesitation and anticipation. They both walked in, following Galad.
Mat and Min followed Jania through a constant maze of halls, rooms and doors. The Caemlyn palace was larger than any of them had seen before, and filled with priceless artefacts. As they passed what looked like to be a suit of armour made of solid gold, Mat whistled.
"This is just like the stories." He said to Min, who nodded in agreement.
After five minutes of walking, Jania had taken them to a solid set of delicately carved doors. Six soldiers stood outside, their armours gleaming and their swords hanging from their scabbards. They were dressed in red and white armour and eyed the strangers suspiciously. But Jania shook her head at their inquisitive glances and with a look of dread, motioned for the Doorkeeper to open the doors.
Inside, a mixture of beautiful ladies dressed in their finest clothes and tall, strong Lord's met Mat's vision. He boggled at some of the jewellery they were wearing, one piece of that would have bough a house in Two Rivers! Some of them glanced at Mat and Min curiously, most of them showing a disdain for their ratty and dirty clothes. Jania however, was almost hiding behind Mat's leg as she peeked around for Lord Luc. After she couldn't see him, she heaved a huge sigh of relief and motioned for Mat and Min to follow her. She walked up to a dark haired man with sharp eyes who was chatting to a slender dark haired woman with a beautiful face and slightly fiery eyes. She wore green silks and a ring lay on her finger. Mat could recognise the serpent biting it's own tail as one of the symbols for eternity.
"Father, I need to talk to you." Jania said quietly. The woman glanced down at her, smiling briefly before her eyes flicked over Mat and Min. Mat squirmed under the look, it was as if she could see into her darkest fears and secrets, but Min stood even straighter and stared right back at her.
"Greetings Aes Sedai." She said and bowed her head stiffly.
Mat gaped at the woman. She was an Aes Sedai? One of the women from the stories that stated the Aes Sedai meddled in other people's business and plotted over the lives of ordinary people?
The dark haired woman bowed back as Jania's father cast an anxious glance down at his daughter.
"What is it Jania?"
"Father, do you know the man I met before? The one who took me to see the palace?" Jania started hesitantly. "Father…I…I had seen him before. In Shienar."
"Yes, I heard that Lord Luc had been a farmer in our nation when he had lost his memory." The man said.
"No Father!" Jania almost screamed. The man blinked, glancing at the Aes Sedai in mutual puzzlement. Jania shook her head as tears began to swell in her eyes. "Father, he was the man that led the Trollocs! He kidnapped me!"
Jania's Father stiffened, his back rigid as he stared at Jania in horror and shock. "Are you sure?" He asked faintly.
Jania nodded slowly, before she leapt into her father's arms. "I wanted to tell you…but I could feel something on my throat. Father, he took me outside and said he would kill you and feed you to Trollocs if I said anything!" She gasped between sobs.
Mat cleared his throat uncomfortably. "Um…I'm a friend of Rand al'Thor's. I had a message I was meant to bring the Lady Elayne. It concerns Lord Luc."
"What is it?" The Aes Sedai asked sharply.
"Lord Luc is 'Uncle Slayer'." Mat quoted, making a face. "Does that make any sense to you?"
The Aes Sedai nodded slowly and a cold, burning anger began to sear in her eyes.
"Did Lord Rand leave you this message before he died?" Jania's father asked.
"No, he told us about five minutes ago before he went to track Slayer down," Min said, and had to hide her grin as both Lord and Aes Sedai made faces so twisted with surprise that it looked like they had sucked a lemon.
"Lord Rand is dead!" The man said, glaring at Mat and Min angrily.
"I felt him die!" The Aes Sedai said sharply.
Min and Mat exchanged uneasy looks. "Well, he wasn't dead five minutes ago." Mat said slowly.
The Aes Sedai appeared to have gone mute, her mouth opening and closing without making a sound.
"It's true Father, I saw him!" Jania said, her face still buried in her fathers coat.
"The bond…" The Aes Sedai muttered.
"He told me what happened and I think I know why the bond was snapped." Min offered tentatively. "But first we need to get Slayer!"
The man nodded slowly and glanced around the room. Oblivious Lord's and Ladies were chatting amiably and he raised his voice.
"Huin! Come here!"
A short man with dark hair in a topknot and one blue eye, the other green, walked over. He was dressed in soldiers clothing and he bowed.
"Lord Dremenden?" He asked.
"Huin, these two claim that Lord Rand is alive and Lord Luc is somebody named Slayer. What can you tell me?" Lord Dremenden said briskly.
Huin made a snort of surprise and disbelief. "Lord Rand is alive?" He asked loudly in surprise.
"What about Slayer?" Lord Dremenden asked impatiently.
"He was the man Lord Rand was chasing." Huin said, blinking.
The Aes Sedai nodded in agreement. "From what the Green Man told me, Slayer was the man that Rand fought at the Eye of the World."
"He almost killed Rand," Min put forward. "He arrived in Baerlon a year and a half later, half-exhausted and still recovering from the fight. He could barely move."
"Alanna, what should we do?" Lord Dremenden asked the Aes Sedai. Mat finally understood who the woman was, Alanna, the Aes Sedai who had bonded Rand as a Warder and had travelled with him.
"We should tell Queen Morgase, Lady Elayne. Then we should gather Lord Luc and see what he has to say for himself!" Alanna said, her voice tight with rage. "He dared attack my Warder!"
"Mat, never get between an Aes Sedai and her warder." Min whispered in his ear, and Mat nodded quickly. It seemed like a reasonable idea; with the way Alanna was looking he didn't want to be burnt alive from the inside, or any of the other horrible deaths that Aes Sedai bestowed upon people in the stories.
"Very well. I will find the Queen." Lord Dremenden said and quickly left, his face tense and anxious.
Mat and Min exchanged looks, not knowing what to do now.
Inside the room, Gawyn was dressed in his finest clothes as he stood behind Elayne, his back to the door. Elayne herself was seated on a chair in front while a plump woman was delicately drying her hair. For a moment Galad, Rand and Perrin stood still, staring at the beautiful girl's long red-gold hair and her shapely back.
"My Lady, you have visitors." Lord Galad intoned.
"Galad, go away and take them with you." Elayne said, not even looking back as she held her head high.
Galad hesitated and Gawyn turned his head. His eyes fell on Galad, then the unknown Perrin and then finally Rand. He made a choking noise, his eyes wide as shock flooded his face.
"Rand al'Thor!" He said in disbelief.
Elayne swung around and Rand finally got a good look at her. When he had left, she had been fourteen and had only started growing. Now she was sixteen, with a beautiful and rapidly maturing face and growing curves. Her mouth fell open at the sight of Rand and she staggered up, ignoring the bustling maid.
"They told me you were dead!" She whispered, her eyes shiny with moisture.
"In a way, I was." Rand said slowly. A true smile appeared on his face, lighting his eyes and washing away the tension that always seemed to be there. "Light Elayne, you have no idea how good it is to see you!"
"Rand al'Thor is here to warn you," Galad said, casting a look at Rand.
"You let me think you were dead for two years!" Elayne suddenly hissed, and dark splotches appeared on her cheeks.
"Elayne, I can explain everything later." Rand said urgently, striding forward and capturing her hands. "Lord Luc is Slayer! He's the one who ordered the attack on Caemlyn! He's the one that left me dying in the Eye of the World!"
"Lord Luc is Slayer?" Elayne repeated blankly. She frowned. "But the Soulless said that Slayer was your uncle!"
"My mother's name was Tigraine, before she became an Aiel and died." Rand said, waving it aside.
"Your mother's name was Tigraine?" Galad interrupted sharply.
Rand nodded and Galad flinched, looking like he had been struck.
"Rand," Gawyn said worriedly. "You mean that Slayer is a Darkfriend?"
"He's much worse." Rand said grimly.
Suddenly the doors opened again and Rand stiffened as a clear and calm voice spoke.
"What's this? I hope I am not interrupting anything Lady Elayne, Lord Gawyn, Lord Galad."
Perrin stiffened as Lord Luc walked into the room. He could see the resemblance to Rand now that he knew what he was looking. The man's harsh face was softened by a gentle smile and his clear blue eyes were light and mischievous. But his scent…it was still disguised as a human, but Perrin shuddered at the unbearable hate that radiated from the man despite his best efforts to hide it.
"I'm sorry, I didn't catch your name." Lord Luc asked him pleasantly. His eyes suddenly narrowed and a glint of rage appeared as Perrin lifted his head, his golden eyes gleaming. Hate twisted Luc's features for just a second, before it was gone as suddenly as it appeared and Perrin was almost certain that he had imagined it. Whatever the wolves felt about Slayer, Slayer felt just as strongly about the wolves and by his reaction, he knew what Perrin was.
"Perrin." Perrin answered coldly, his hand fingering his axe
Lord Luc nodded pleasantly, but his eyes were as cold as ice. "It is a pleasure to meet you Perrin," His eyes drifted to the axe and the cuendillar hammer, and at the sight of the hammer he stiffened again.
"Lady Elayne, it is always a pleasure to meet your friends but we should be leaving at your earliest convenience." Lord Luc said charmingly, turning back to Elayne. He almost frowned at the man, who had his back turned and his head bent, spotting how he was holding Elayne's hands. "Galad, how is the book I leant you?"
Galad said nothing but stared at him stonily and without expression. Lord Luc faltered and turned to Gawyn, who was looking just as Galad was.
"Elayne, what is going on?" He asked hesitantly.
"Perhaps you could tell me Luc," Elayne said coldly and the man in front of him and lifted his head. Familiar reddish-brown hair swished as he turned his head, grey eyes burning into Luc's. Luc took an involuntary step backwards, his mouth open in shock and his eyes wide. Rand al'Thor!
"Hello Uncle Slayer." Rand said mockingly, his hand holding his sword hilt.
Lord Luc's mind raced desperately, trying to find a way out of this. How in the Great Lord's name had al'Thor survived?
"I'm sorry, are you talking to me?" Lord Luc asked pleasantly, trying to ignore the way al'Thor was looking at him.
"Do not try to talk your way out of this," Rand said softly.
"Elayne who is this man?" Lord Luc asked.
"This is Rand al'Thor, my Defender and bodyguard and my most trusted friend. He came to bring me some rather…startling news." Elayne said chillingly. The maid in the room was pressed in the corner, her eyes flicking over Lord Luc and Rand al'Thor was equal fear. Lord Luc felt dread sink into his heart. It was over; another of the Great Lord's schemes was finished.
"Really?" Lord Luc said weakly. "And what would that be?"
Rand said nothing, but his hand flicked and a knife appeared, whirling through the air. Lord Luc instinctively raised his hands, True Power flowing through him, burning his veins and his mind. A glowing oily black tendril of power zapped from his fingers, lancing at the knife and hurling it from the air. It landed on the ground, twisted and melted and Lord Luc bristled at the smug look on al'Thor's face.
"Very well," Lord Luc said and his pleasant mask dropped. Hatred and rage twisted his handsome features and Gawyn pushed Elayne back, his hand reaching for his belt knife. "You've surprised al'Thor. I honestly believed you were dead."
"Well, as you can see I'm perfectly healthy and alive." Rand said, motioning with his hand to Perrin. His head jerked back towards Elayne and Perrin nodded slowly.
Slayer looked murderous, black power warping his frame. Twisted and evil energy burnt in his eyes like furnaces, and the maid shrieked with fear as she sprinted from the room. Perrin caught Gawyn's eye and gestured to Elayne and the door. Gawyn nodded slowly and started pushing Elayne away from Slayer and from the room.
Slayer didn't appear to notice as he stalked forward, his hands flickering to his sword. Bright blue clothes clashed horrible with his dark expression, his glinted eyes and his general posture.
"You should have stayed where you were, you should have let me continue to believe that you were dead. Now, I'm going to make sure that I do the job properly this time." He hissed.
"Like last time?" Rand asked scornfully. His sword flicked from his scabbard, appearing into his hand as he circled Slayer. Galad stood still as Perrin, Gawyn and Elayne quietly left the room, his eyes showing the first true emotion Rand had ever seen. Betrayal. Slayer noticed and smirked at the young man.
"Galad, meet your half-brother on your mother's side." He drawled.
Rand started, staring at surprise at Galad. Galad…that's right! His father had married Morgase after his mother had disappeared…Tigraine! His mother was Tigraine! Galad stared at Rand with a hollow expression and his sword suddenly shot into his hands.
"Lord Luc, you are to remain where you are until the Queens Guard arrive. You will then be arrested and interrogated. If you do not comply, I will kill you." Galad said firmly.
Slayer laughed, and two voices laughed with him, one dark and one light. He pulled his silver sword from his scabbard and beckoned with one hand. "Brothers uniting to kill the wicked Uncle. I like it." He laughed darkly. "Come on then, come and kill me!"
Galad moved forward like a striking serpent, moving smoothly. Rand also moved forward, his sword slicing through the air. Slayer sidestepped, bringing his sword up to block Galad, and his leg kicked out at Rand. Rand grunted as something slammed into his stomach and he reeled backwards. Slayer blocked several of Galad's next strikes while he launched an offensive on Rand. Eagle over Mountain met a stumbling Rock in River; Heron Wades in Marsh was barely blocked away as Rand desperately gasped for breath, winded. His mind sought the Void, burying itself deeply into it and when Hammer Meets Anvil slashed downwards, Soaring Eagle pushed it away and delivered a small slash to Slayer's arm.
Slayer's eyes glittered in hate as Galad continued his attack, flowing through the motions. Rand thought that if Galad had another years training, he would be a Blademaster for certain. But Slayer was much better than Galad and much faster than even Rand. He had improved from the Eye of the World; there was little doubt in Rand's mind that he was drawing his speed and strength from the Dark One. Only the combined efforts of the two allowed them to press on, blades slicing through the air and clanging. Rand's blade erupted in a shower of cackling lightning every time it struck, while Galad's sword clanged horrible. Slayer moved like a diving bird, his sword flicking and swinging wildly but with finesse and skill. He grinned maniacally, chucking darkly as he delivered a strong punch to Galad's face, sending him sprawling back.
Rand jumped froward, covering for his half-brother as his sword hummed and throbbed. He could feel every particle the blade, and they all hummed with the expectant release of Saidin. But even as his mind quested for it, he knew it was useless. The severed part of his mind was infinite and unavoidable, and while the heat and expectance if Saidin ran through him, he had nothing to embrace as his desperately tried to outfight Slayer. As Galad staggered up, Slayer suddenly stepped backwards and let go of his sword with his left hand. He raised his right hand at Rand, and for a moment Rand could have sworn heat billowed from his parting lips that were curved in a dangerous smile.
From his hand, tendrils of his oily power shot out, one at a time. Rand bought his sword up, dancing to music only he could here as he sliced and slashed, ducking and sidestepping the tendrils he couldn't hit. He did not want to get hit by those again; he could feel the slight pain of his old injuries even now. Slayer laughed as if he were having the greatest time of his life as Rand struggled to hold back his power.
"There is no Eye of the Word to save you here!" He crowed. Suddenly he gave a scream of pain as a knife hilt appeared in his chest. Dark blood blossomed over his silk shirt as he stared down at disbelief, before whirling around to Galad, who was standing strongly with his sword in his hand despite his bruising and half-closed eye.
"You blasted boy!" He roared and an arc of power erupted from him. Galad threw himself to the ground as it sizzled the air overhead, slicing into the stonewall like a sharp knife through paper. Growling, Slayer quickly turned back to Rand only to see him sheathing his sword, one hand holding a glowing crystal.
"Blood and Ashes!" Slayer muttered as the glowing crystal's light ebbed away.
Rand raised his own hand and Slayer drew his power around him, surrounding himself with dark and oily energy. His features appeared warped and even more demonic behind a bubble of liquid-like ebony power, just as Rand thrust his hand forward. Air threads tied to water threads, fire threads adding with a dash of spirit and finally tying themselves off. A bolt of searing lightning, roaring with thunder, met with a rotating jet of flames and was hurled at Slayer. A burning heat filled the room as the ground rumbled, shuddering slightly as the lightning and fire met liquid energy. The oily power parted for a second as the Saidin created lightning and fire strained to break through the shield, but Slayer directed even more of his power to the shield and the ebony energy swallowed up the lightning and fire.
Galad watched with wide eyes and a startled face as Rand moved forward, his hand reaching into his coat for a second crystal as he carelessly threw the other one away. As he drew Saidin through it, the bubble around Slayer rippled and shot forward with the speed of a stallion. Saidin had flooded Rand, a whirlwind of chaos and an avalanche of power. Rand stood in the centre of it and as he had merely a second to react, he through his hands up instinctively. From them, a thin glimmering black and silver circle rotated from his hands. He could feel the Saidin drain away instantly but the orb of True Power cackled madly as it collided with the circle, disappearing inside of it just as the black and silver circle winked out of existence.
Slayer appeared startled, his face twisted with confusion and rage. "A portal?" He whispered.
Rand quickly threw the other crystal away and went for his last crystal. As Slayer raised his hands, Rand seized Saidin again. Power flowed through both of them, but Slayer formed a ball of purple flickering flames in his hands, and he hurled it at Rand. Rand threw himself to the floor, the crystal falling from his hands and smashing to the ground as the flames flew overhead. The table and chair behind Rand exploded in bits of shrapnel and the wall lost a large chunk as the ball of flames slammed into. Rand, still on the ground with an outstretched hand, instinctively channelled. Power drained out of him at alarming speed and for an instant, a bar of solid liquid flames, white and brilliant and similar to what he had seen Melanie of the Aiel channel at a Darkhound once, erupted. It winked out a second later, but Slayer had grunted as he hurled himself aside like the bar was the most dangerous thing in the world. The bar seared into the door as Rand moved his hand down, searing through the metal and eating through to the other side. As it disappeared, Rand instinctively reached for another crystal but there were none left.
Slayer picked himself up and laughed chillingly. "Well, it appears that you have nothing left to channel from!" He gloated. Galad shook himself from his stupor and launched himself at Slayer, who merely flicked a finger. Galad was tossed aside like a rag-doll, slamming against the wall and dropping to the ground. He lay, dazed and in pain and unable to move.
Rand growled and lifted his sword. Saidin beckoned him but he had no crystals left to channel from, no True Source to reach out to.
"And your friends have no Nym to save them this time!" Slayer continued. Dark energy pulsed off him and shadows formed. Something dark and slithery, oily and black and full of rotting tainted power rolled off him and suddenly from the shadows came three Darkhounds, snarling silently, their glowing red eyes burning brightly. Without any word from Slayer, they crashed through the open door and sprinted down the hallway. "Did you love Elayne, al'Thor? She will die because of her association with you!"
Rand hesitated, his sword held high as he looked at the wrecked doors. From the ground, Galad sent a pleading look to Rand, his eyes flicking over the door. He struggled up, his sword scraping against the ground and Slayer turned to him. It was that moment that Rand ran, nodding gratefully at Galad, ducking Slayer and cashing the Darkhounds with all of his might.
Perrin watched as Gawyn and Elayne walked briskly away from the room. There were two minutes of silence as Elayne had her eyes glazed over, thinking about something.
"Who are you?" Gawyn asked Perrin, breaking the silence.
Perrin hesitated, but bowed his head as they walked. "I am Perrin Aybara…My Lord. I grew up with Rand."
Gawyn nodded slowly as they turned another, corner, before the palace suddenly rumbled and shook slightly. Perrin hesitated, leaning on the wall to get support as Gawyn held his sister.
"What was that?" Gawyn asked, his eyes worried.
"Rand and Slayer," Perrin answered slowly.
Elayne flinched and looked like she was about to turn back, when Perrin stiffened. He could smell something, something rotting and burning and full of a peculiar sulphuric smell. He frowned and squinted down the hallway they had just left.
"What is it?" Gawyn asked slowly.
"Something's coming!" Perrin hissed, taking his axe and hammer from his belt. He quested out with his mind and with smell strong in his nose, sent it to any wolf nearby. There were a dozen of them, maybe in the palace itself! They had found a way in and when Perrin showed them the smell, loud wolf howls echoed the walls.
Shadowbrothers! Run Young Bull! Take pack and Run!
Perrin growled angrily as the howls came closer and closer. They were coming from the front of them while the shadowbrothers were coming from behind.
"Wolves?" Elayne whispered, her eyes wide but determined.
"They're not howling at us." Perrin answered slowly and for a moment, his eyes mirrored that of a wolf. "They're howling at whatever is coming from behind us."
"What is it?" Elayne asked slowly.
"Shadowbrothers!" Perrin snarled, his hands gripping his axe and hammer firmly. "That's the wolves call them."
"Shadowbrothers? Brothers of the wolves…shadow…Darkhounds!" Gawyn quickly made the connection, just as three pony-sized figures burst from the corridor behind them. They had burning red eyes and thick muscular legs, their teeth sharp and wicked. Sulphur burnt in the air and every step they took melted the stone beneath their feet.
Elayne gasped and Gawyn swallowed as the Darkhounds began sprinted towards them with the speed of a horse. Perrin readied himself, his mind questing out for help. Answering howls appeared from behind them and a grey blur jumped over them, stopping to reveal a snarling wolf. There were a dozen of them as they growled and snarled at the Darkhounds.
"Your friends?" Gawyn asked tightly, gesturing towards the ferocious looking wolves and holding his sister tight to his chest. Perrin nodded as the Darkhounds came to a slow run, almost as if they were hesitating. Fury, anger and hatred slammed at Perrin's mind as the wolves howled again, their loud voices of anger and challenge echoing in the halls.
The Darkhounds jumped forward, meeting the wolves in a battle of teeth and claws. They snapped at the wolves, who responded in kind as grey sleeks slammed into the twisted animals. For a moment Perrin stood still, before he felt unbearable pain as one Darkhound grabbed a wolf by the throat and bit into it deeply, killing it instantly. Another Darkhound swiped its paw and a wolf was gutted, dropping to the ground. With a roar of his own, he jumped for the nearest Darkhound as it killed another wolf. The Darkhound looked up and snarled as Perrin dropped onto it, his axe swinging into its hide. It roared and staggered back as Perrin rushed forward with his shoulder up and slammed it back. He swung his hammer and missed cracking the wall as the Darkhound ducked and reappeared, looking murderous. Perrin could feel the rage, anger, disgust and the excitement and eagerness of the Hunt and he surrendered to it as he and the Darkhound collided.
Mat and Min felt the shudders that rocked through the palace. As Lord's and Ladies looked around anxiously, Alanna Sedai and another stern looking woman argued. Mat couldn't hear their words from here but it looked as if Alanna would explode as fury raged on her face. Nearby, Lord Dremenden chatted quickly with a beautiful and middle-aged woman with red-golden locks and crystal blue eyes. If she had been a widow in Two Rivers, she would have had a line of suitors outside her doors despite how good she was at cooking.
"Stop ogling the Queen of Andor!" Min hissed, digging her elbow into his stomach.
"What? That's the Queen!" Mat asked in shock. He averted his eyes, instead focussing on a serving girl with dark eyes and a slim body. He smiled at her and she smiled hesitantly back. Mat grinned, before the castle shook again, this time much more fiercely.
"What is that?" Mat asked.
Min shuddered. "Rand and Slayer probably."
Mat winced as Dremenden finally finished talking to the Queen, who was looking pale but determined. Alanna had finished talking to the other Aes Sedai and was now talking to Dremenden, while Jania hung at her father's legs. The other nobles did not miss this but they kept pleasant expressions on their faces. Some looked worried, probably of the shaking castle as the Queen stood up.
"Excuse me!" She said loudly. "I have a matter to take care off. Eladia, Alanna, Lord Dremenden, if you would please accompany me." She strode from the room, the two Aes Sedai following her. Mat and Min exchanged looks and they followed her out as well, where she was talking to a tall man with golden knots on his shoulder.
"…You were there Tallanvor." The Queen was saying. "Get your men and follow me. You will bear a witness to this."
The man bowed and gestured quickly, and two-dozen armoured figures surrounded the Queen, Tallanvor in the lead.
"This should be good," Mat muttered as he and Min hurried to catch them. One of the guards looked back and frowned.
"This is Andorran business," He snapped. "Go back to the room and wait for the Queen to return."
"You wouldn't even be on this business if it weren't for us!" Mat snapped at him.
"Guardsmen," The Queen said smoothly and he bowed as she stopped, gazing at Mat and Min with interest. "They may join me."
Mat and Min were allowed in the circle and as the group started walking again, a loud volleys of wolf howls echoed in the room.
"Perrin!" Mat breathed and the Queen glanced sharply at him.
"These noises mean something to you?" She asked as the guards shifted nervously as another fierce set of howls echoed down the halls.
"The wolves are…pets of a friend of mine. They don't mean you harm…er…your majesty." Mat answered quickly. The Queen stared at him regally and he felt like squirming, even Min shifted, before she nodded.
"Rand al'Thor has strange friends." She remarked as they turned a corner, before stopping suddenly as the sounds of battle and snarls could be heard. The guards leapt in front of her, their swords withdrawn as they guarded the Queen. Mat peaked out from the behind the guards and gasped. A girl of maybe sixteen years old and a boy his age with the Queens looks were running towards them. Behind them, wolves battled their dark-looking counterparts in a fit of snarls and growls. Teeth clashed as grey streaks lashed out as the crimson eyed beasts. But it was the wolves who were dying, seven of them lay torn apart. Perrin was in the middle of it all, his axe spinning and whirling around like a windmill and his hammer being swung with tremendous strength as he battled a creature all by himself.
"Perrin!" Mat yelled and quickly struggled out of the crowd, ignoring the guards as he sprinted past the girl and boy and lifted his quarterstaff. He slammed it down on the creature's head as he appeared next to Perrin, whirling it around and jabbing it sharply in its stomach. Perrin groaned as he lifted himself off the floor, but his eyes were gleaming gold and he raised his axe, slicing it through the air. The creature jumped back, returning to its comrade's side and four wolves, one limping badly, joined Perrin's side as they all slowly backed away. The three creatures snarled angrily, their saliva dripping from their teeth. When it hit the floor, there was a hiss as it melted through stone.
"Stand back!" Came a cool voice and Mat glanced back as Alanna and a woman with a face neither old nor young and dark hair stepped forward. Suddenly fire leapt from their hands and the creatures yelped as they jumped back, whining and growling angrily. The Aes Sedai stepped forward calmly, their faces a mask of calm as lightning flashed from the roof. It struck one creature, but apart from growling in pain and shaking its head, it did nothing. Suddenly somebody appeared from behind the creatures, his face pale and tight and his sword high. All of the Darkhounds swivelled their heads and Rand hesitated, swallowing nervously as he stopped, his sword up.
Rand sprinted along the halls, his mind racing. He ignored the pain in his muscles and the aches of his legs. The only thing that mattered was catching those Darkhounds! He had heard wolf howls a minute ago and could only hope that Perrin was still alive and the wolves had defeated the Darkhounds. His heart sank as he spotted a massacre up ahead. Seven twisted and broken bodies of wolves lay on the ground, blood spilled. The Darkhound footprints continued past them and Rand turned a corner, his sword raised, only to skid to a stop.
In front of him were three Darkhounds, all who were looking at him. Beyond them, Mat, Perrin, Alanna and Eladia stood with four wolves, and beyond them a wall of guards could not hide the features of Elayne, Gawyn, the Queen and Lord Dremenden.
"Ah," Rand said, taking a step backwards. The Darkhounds simultaneously leapt at him, and he flowed through the forms. Hammer meets Anvil split the skull of one of them, while Bird of a Windmill slashed at the flanks of two of them as he ducked and they jumped over his head. One of the Darkhounds collapsed, shaking and whining while tow other whined as Rand whirled around, jumping over the injured one. Golden streaks had been dug into their sides, and smoke floated from their wounds. The injured one had a golden splattering that was eating through its skull, and it managed to get up and stagger back to its comrades.
For a moment, Rand stared at his sword in wonder. He had sliced open a Darkhound before and this had never happened. But that was before his sword had been dipped into pure Saidin, the Eye of the World. The Darkhounds moved forward quickly, but they shied away and faltered as Rand pointed his sword at them. They eyed it warily, like a dog that eyed the whip, and whined pitifully. Suddenly Rand heard a noise in the corridor on his right and he looked, only to see the body of Galad flying through the air. He landed on the wall next to Rand, groaning and mumbling as blood trickled down his forehead. Rand looked back just as Slayer raised his hands and channelled his power. A cackling stream of purple and black lightning erupted from each fingertip and Rand had to swing around, his back facing the wall as he raised his sword.
To Perrin, it looked as if lightning had erupted from the unseen hallway, and Rand had to lift his sword. The purple and black energy cascaded down the blade, and a golden glow enveloped the sword as Rand grimaced, planting his feet in the ground as he was driven back. The Darkhounds, no longer threatened by the sword, jumped forward eagerly.
Perrin roared as lightning and fire erupted from the Aes Sedai next to him and leapt forward, the wolves at his side as he collided with one of the Darkhounds. His axe and hammer blurred as he and the wolves battled one of the Darkhounds, while the Aes Sedai wielded their powers to combat the other. Mat attacked the wounded one with his quarterstaff, it was like smacking a lame and blind dog as he jabbed and whacked the Darkhound relentlessly. And all during this, Rand struggled to keep back the fearsome power of Slayer.
Rand could feel the sweet song of Saidin, just begging to be touched. He almost roared in frustration as once again he scrambled for it with his mind and found only a gaping chasm. The sword was burning, the blade glowing red-hot as the energy cackled over it. A golden aura was shining over the blade and seemed to be the only thing that kept the lightning back. Suddenly another cascade of purple and black energy buckled the sword and Rand cried out in pain and agony as his sword was forced aside and the lightning struck him. Pure pain floated in his veins, the darkness of the power crying for his life, and he felt it lift him up off the ground. He clutched his sword, trying to bring it up, when suddenly the lightning stopped and he was hurled down the corridor, landing on the ground with a thump. He stirred, pain still singing in his veins as his sword dropped from his fingers. Twitching, he let the sounds of battle wash over him. Snarls and growls could be heard, and the deadened shouts and roars of men. Lightning and fire flashed in his eyes, and he could dimly see Alanna confronting Slayer in rage, her fiery eyes glinting as she wielded her powers against his. Slayer seemed to be fighting back just as fiercely, slashing at the air at unseen weaves. Fireballs leapt from both hands, the walls cracked and broke for no reason, the ground rumbled and splintered and Saidar met True Power in the air, ebony glowing light muting shining lightning and fire. Slayer lanced out and Alanna screamed a true scream of pure pain as Slayer clutched her in his mental grips, before tossing her aside with a thud.
Rand moaned, seeking the Void more than ever, and he sat up. His head swam and he could feel blood pouring from his ears. The smell of burnt flesh surrounded him and his coat was charred and blackened. As Slayer turned towards the other Aes Sedai, he dimly saw Perrin slam the spikes of his axe into a Darkhounds head, the hammer coming the other direction and crushing the skull into powder, and Mat whacking a fallen Darkhound over and over. A volley of arrows flew at the third Darkhound, which already had shafts poking from its skin, and three more wolves lay dead on the ground, a forth panting and whining as it retreated to the wall of guards, which allowed it to pass.
"So, al'Thor is finally on his knees before me." Slayer growled as Eladia crumpled to the ground, moaning in pain. "You have ruined another one of the Great Lord's plans."
Rand could only groan in pain and desperately seek the Saidin that was singing in his mind. The chasm blocked him as usual, but he fought against it vigorously. Slayer could sense what he was doing and laughed chillingly.
"You were severed from the True Source." He gloated. "You seek something that is not there!"
Rand ignored him as he explored the chasm fully. Frustrated, he left his mind and suddenly he was in the sword. He could feel everything of the sword, every single little particle, and at the end of it lay a pool of glowing silver. Something blocked him there was well, and Rand's eyes fell to his sword as Slayer stopped laughing, sensing what Rand was feeling. His eyes also flickered to the sword and his raised his hand in a panic.
Elayne struggled past the guards as Rand lay twitching on the ground, Slayer standing above him.
"Elayne, no!" A Guard cried out but Elayne ignored her, dashing past the Perrin and the man with the quarterstaff as she f burst past Slayer, her eyes wide and panicked as she stood in front of Rand. Slayer had raised his hand and a bar of purple flames erupted form it, illuminating his surprised face.
"No!" Elayne cried out, flinging her hands outwards. She pleaded with Creator to do something, anything! She needed help…and suddenly something rushed through and burst from her hands. A silvery-blue bubble shot out, crashing with the flames. There was a grating noise like metal over metal as both the silvery-blue bubble and the dark flames disappeared, and Slayer appeared startled, just as Rand reached for his sword.
Saidin rushed through him, filling his very core with light. Heat burned within him and he was in the middle of unpredictable power, fighting wildly for control. He struggled for an eternity before he held Saidin in his grips, the sword drawing it from the Eye of the World, the only link to it. Every time he had touched the sword, he had tried to reach for it in the wrong place! Like the crystal, he drew Saidin from the sword and felt it flow into him. He stood up and gently pushed Elayne aside as Slayer watched with furious eyes as a bar of brilliant white liquid flame, destructive and terrifying, shot from his sword at Slayer. Slayer gathered his power but he knew he was doomed unless…he mentally called for his servants. Suddenly the third Darkhound, full of dozens of arrows jumped up to meet the bar, which swallowed it up. It flickered, shimmering and collapsing on itself and disappearing in a burst of white mist.
Slayer roared and from his hands came an arc of ebony energy, slicing into stone and rushing to meet Rand. Rand channelled, putting tother weaves of air, water and spirit, and a glowing circle rotated from his outstretched hand and swallowed up the arc. Another arc leapt at him and Rand slashed through the air with a slice of fire, and the arc broke away and crumbled. The glowing spinning circle shot past Slayer, how ignored it and drew in his power. A wall of purple flames suddenly blanketed the hallway and shot towards Rand. Rand dragged Elayne behind him while using Saidin to shield the body of Galad, and lifted his sword. Fire and Earth wove with spirit and water and suddenly a fiery red beam shot into the wall of flames. The ground rumbled and the walls shook as the fiery beam sucked in the flames, drinking them in like water and bursting past them to impact on the floor in front of Slayer.
Slayer looked down and suddenly surrounded himself with the True Power, an ebony orb with him at the centres. The glowing blue shield that had passed him stretched across the hallway to where Perrin, Mat and the guards stood. It flickered as it settled itself, just as the ground under Slayer exploded in a fountain of stone. A gaping chasm was there and fire leapt up to meet Slayer. Slayer was standing on the flames, the dark orb surrounding him protecting him from the searing heat. His distorted features were a mix of rage and fear as Rand lifted his sword.
Air threads tied to water threads, fire threads adding with a dash of spirit to produce a streak of lightning with rotating flames surrounding it, which burst from the sword with a roar. It sizzled over the chasm and struck the dark orb, and the ground rumbled and the walls shook again. Slayer's face was twisted with effort and fear as his power tried to overcome the lightning, but the dark orb slowly strained around the lightning and a hollow point appeared in the orb. Slayer screamed as flames rushed over him, burning his skin and face as the orb flickered and disappeared, and he managed to jump from the chasm. His face was horrible burnt on one side, his clothes on fire and his skin bubbling and he lifted his hands. Rand prepared a nasty weave, just as shadows enveloped him. When they faded, Slayer was nowhere to be seen.
Rand released Saidin and his mind was thrown from the Void by the multitude of emotions and sensations he was feeling. Three things happened, first the glowing shield of air and water and spirit suddenly disappeared and guards hesitantly moved forward. Second, the chasm in the floor suddenly stopped its fires, and roaring flames died down in an instant, leaving nothing but a shallow hole, and thirdly, Rand collapsed to the ground, only partly aware of Elayne cradling him in her arms. His grip on his sword died as his body relaxed and he fell into the black.