"The Car'a'carn is missing!"

These words spread throughout Rhuidean the following morning. Aiel Maidens, warriors, and Wise Ones alike were scouring every corner of the city for any trace of the Dragon Reborn. Matrim Cauthon, ashandarei balanced on his shoulder, kept well out of their way. Mat certainly did not blame his friend for leaving. After all, how else to get free of Aes Sedai plots than by putting as much distance as possible between yourself and them? Mat had wanted an escape from the Aes Sedai, but all he'd ended up with was a foxhead medallion and the memories of dead men. What kind of a deal was that? Light! Those fox people were even more sneaky than their four-legged counterparts.

The gambler made his way across the city's vast central square, in the center of which stood Avendesora, the Tree of Life. It had been scorched during some kind of fight between Rand and one of the Forsaken (or so Rand claimed). The Wise Ones were none too pleased about that. Surrounding the tree were hundreds of ancient artifacts. Moiraine had called them 'angreal' - devices capable of allowing a channeler to draw in more of the One Power than they could otherwise. Ahead of Mat was the twisted redstone doorframe, on the other side of which he'd met the bloody Eelfinn. The doorframe was a ter'angreal, performing one specific function: leading all those who entered to the realm of the Finn. Mat could never pass through that doorframe again, for which he was grateful. The bloody Eefinn could burn for all Mat cared. Then Mat noticed something most unusual. Not about the doorframe, or Avendesora, but about the courtyard itself. A silver line had appeared in the air, then widened to show a desert landscape, showing cliffs of sandstone with monolithic statues carved into them. What under the Light could that opening be? And what was it doing here? Then again, the landscape beyond looked strangely familiar...

Mat approached the opening slowly, half-expecting Shadowspawn to pour out of it. "Stop Mat!" a voice called from behind. The gambler spun around, and spotted Lan Mandragoran striding toward him. The stony Warder was clad in his Malkieri battle armor and his color-shifting cloak billowed behind him, as though he was ready for battle.

"Ah, Lan," said Mat with a grin. "Just the man I wanted to see."

"This is no laughing matter, farmer. Stay there. Moiraine Sedai will want to see this."

Lan turned and broke into a run. He returned a short time later trailing behind Moiraine Damodred, his Aes Sedai. The petite raven-haired woman wore a serene, ageless expression, even when faced with a complete unknown. Mat could only wonder just how she maintained such composure. Beside her walked Amys and Rhuarc, the Wise One and Clan Chief of the Taardad Aiel. The towering, cadin'sor-clad Clan Chief looked baffled when he saw the mysterious opening, as if he'd just lost a game of dice rigged in his favor. Amys, by contrast, wore an expression that matched Moiraine's.

"Most curious," said Amys when the party halted beside Mat, standing five paces from the opening. "Moiraine Sedai, do you know what this is?"

"I do know, Wise One," Moiraine replied, eyes staring straight ahead. "That is a gateway. No one has seen them for many generations. Even the Aes Sedai have forgotten how to open them. The knowledge of Traveling is lost to us."

"The Maidens guarding the Car'c'carn's chambers reported seeing one these "gateways" after he and Aviendha vanished," Rhuarc added. "I suspect they went through it."

"Should we go through this one?" Mat asked.

Lan and Rhuarc both shot him disgusted looks.

Mat threw up a hand. "Hey, it was only a suggestion."

"But one we must consider, Mat." It was Moiraine who spoke. "This is the second such gateway that we have seen, and both times they appeared near taver'en - first by Rand, and now next to you. It stands to reason that taver'en are drawn to these gateways."

"Are you saying... that I should go through it?" Mat asked. He could scarcely believe what Moiraine was suggesting. This was an even worse idea than following Rand into Rhuidean weeks ago. "Alone?"

"No," Amys chimed in, stepping forward. "You will not go alone. I shall accompany you on this journey."

Moiraine nodded. "As will Lan."

The Warder began to protest. "My place is by your side, Moiraine. And besides, who only knows what lies through that gateway."

Moiraine took Lan's hand, looking the stoic man in the eye. "You will stay safe. And in doing so you shall guard the lives of Amys and Mat. The Wheel weaves as the Wheel wills, my old friend." The Aes Sedai released her Warder's hand, which then went promptly to his sword hilt. Lan then strode up and stood beside Mat. Amys gave her husband a parting embrace before joining them.

"Well," said Mat, hefting his ashandarei. "We're about to embark on a grand adventure to unknown place with an impossible goal. What are we waiting for?"

With Mat in the lead, the Wise One, Warder, and gambler all stepped through the gateway.

The dice started clattering in Mat's head.


The trio emerged on the edge of a sandstone cliff. The air around them burned with a dry desert heat. Below them stretched a valley dotted with colossal, towering sandstone statues in various states of decay. The ruins of ancient structures stood among the statues. A layer of golden, yellowish sand lined the valley floor. A different structure, built from metal rather than stone, stood tall at the valley's far end, and had an imposing, oppresive appearance. What was it? A fortress? Were it not for the metal building, Mat would believe that he and his companions were still in the Aiel Waste.

"Something's not right," Amys said softly. "This place is not at all like the mountainous woodlands that the Maidens reported seeing. Furthermore, this place feels... corrupted. Tainted."

"What do you mean, Wise One?" Lan inquired. Even the stoic Warder seemed unnerved by this place.

"It's... the Source. Darkness. There is a great darkness within the True Source here."

Memories of dead men surged into Mat's mind. Memories of an exiled people taking revenge. Of great warlords asserting their rule through brutal strength. Of great wars fought on the ground and among the stars. Of a homeworld lost for a thousand years being reclaimed by its rightful owners...

"I know where we are," said Mat. "Korriban. This planet is called Korriban. Home of the Sith. The valley below us is the Valley of the Dark Lords, where ancient Sith were laid to rest." He pointed his ashandarei at the distant metal structure. "And that building is the Sith Academy." Blood and bloody ashes, they were on a different planet!

"Who are the Sith?" Amys asked.

"They're an ancient and powerful race," Mat continued, "The ability to channel the Force is widespread among their species. I guess the "Force" is the One Power to these people."

"Are they foes?" Lan demanded to know.

"Absolutely, Lan. But this valley will be crawling with them."

"Then we use stealth."

"Agreed. I suggest you keep that color-shifting cloak of yours close."

A whirring noise sounded overhead, prompting the trio to duck down low. Seconds later a machine resembling a giant metal bird with black wings flew overhead. The machine slowed to a stop over the Academy, where it lowered straight down and disappeared behind a rocky ridge.

Mat pointed to where the machine had vanished. "That interceptor is our way off this rock," he said to Amys and Lan. "Now let's get going. We'll find Rand the sooner we get out of here."

And so the trio set off toward the infamous Sith Academy.

"Farmer," the Warder whispered behind Mat, "How did you learn so much about this place?"

Mat paused, uncertain of how best to answer the Warder's question. "It's quite a story, Lan," was his answer. "Remind me to tell you sometime." The dice kept up their racket.


Night fell over Korriban. Throughout the day Lan, Mat, and Amys had moved skillfully and invisibly through the valley, careful to stay out of sight from passing patrols and students - 'acolytes,' the Sith called them. More than once they had to take shelter in one of the tombs, then need to defend themselves from the local fauna, who were more inclined to eat the trio than ignore them. Earlier Mat had killed one particular nasty beast that resembled a worm with multiple pairs of legs and a gaping maw of teeth for a mouth.

And here I thought Trollocs were ugly, Mat thought after slaying creature. Light!

The three companions were now inside the tomb nearest the Academy - that of the great Ajunta Pall. All was quiet in the valley beyond. Lan, crouching by the doorway beneath his color-shifting cloak, motioned Amys and Mat to follow him. They sprinted across the open sand up to the steps of the Academy, where Lan suddenly forced them to the ground.

"Two guards," Lan whispered to Amys. "Both armed and looking our way. Can you get them to look elsewhere?"

"Yes," the white-haired Wise One whispered back. Mat felt the foxhead medallion grow cold on his chest. A nearby statue toppled off its pedestal, landing heavily atop a pile of metal crates. The crates made a painful crunching sound as the statue crushed them.

The guards both raised their blaster rifles. "What the..." one exclaimed before rushing off to investigate the noise. His comrade quickly followed. As they ran off, Mat and company bolted into the Academy.

They emerged into the Academy's broad entrance hall. "This way," said Mat, leading the trio up a flight of stairs and into an elevator. The elevator led them into a darkened corridor, which ended abruptly, widening into a huge docking back. The interceptor that they had sighted earlier was parked at the far end. As they entered the docking bay, Mat noticed that the enormous room was silent and empty. His memories - rather, the memories of dead men - reminded him that docking bays were usually hives of activity, even at late hours. Why was this one so quiet?

The igniting of two lightsabers provided his answer. "Turn around," a woman's voice commanded. "Slowly."

Mat, Lan, and Amys reluctantly obeyed, and found themselves facing a Sith Lord. The female Sith wore a robe of black and violet with long metal pauldrons over her scarlet skin. She stared back at them with piercing yellow eyes, a red lightsaber in each hand. Her face, perhaps once beautiful, looked as though its owner was constantly mad. Mat thought she stood in sharp contrast to Aes Sedai. Whereas they were models of serenity, this woman was pure rage. To either side of the Sith stood three acolytes - two human males, a Twil'ek female, and three Zabrak males. All had vibroswords drawn and ready.

"I knew that I sensed a disturbance in the Force," the Sith continued in a deceivingly sing-song voice. "But who would have thought that a taver'en would grace us with their presence? Welcome, Matrim Cauthon. I am Lord Nakrin."

Mat whispered into Amys' ear. "If this goes poorly, engage the Sith and her friends while I get the interceptor airborne. Then run and climb aboard." He whispered the same words to Lan, then stepped forward. The dice began rolling faster and louder in his mind. "I was expected, Lord Nakrin? Where's the welcoming feast?"

The Sith Lord chuckled. "There will be one in time. But for now, the Dark Council wishes to meet you."

"What does your Dark Council want with me? I'm just a simple gambler."

Lord Nakrin shook her head. "You fail to understand. That knowledge you possess could turn the war in the Empire's favor."

"Do you mean the knowledge of how to milk a cow? Or catch a badger?"

"Don't get funny!" Nakrin snapped. "Now lower your weapons or else we shall take you before the Dark Council in chains." She twirled her lightsabers threateningly. The blades hummed with the motion.

Lan drew his sword. Mat shifted his ashandarei to his left hand, then discreetly slipped a knife into his right. "Lord Nakrin, your offer is tempting - as are you - but we cannot stay. Walk in the Light!"

Mat tossed the ashandarei to Amys and threw the knife before turning to run at a full sprint towards the interceptor. His medallion turned icy cold as Amys embraced the Force (the Source?). The knife struck one of the human acolytes in the stomach. He doubled over and whimpered in pain. Lord Nakrin roared in fury and charged forward while Lan met her attack. His blade clashed with her two lightsabers. Amys threw herself at the acolytes and a melee ensued between the Wise One, the Warder, and the six Sith.

Mat scrambled up the interceptor's gangway, only to find the entry hatch sealed. He pounded furiously at the keypad beside the door. "Burn me, open up!" He bellowed. The door hissed and slid open. "Thank you," Mat muttered as he ducked aboard the starship and sprinted to the control room. A lone astromech droid was already there. The droid was a small, squat machine, with a disc-shaped head mounted atop a boxy chassis. Four metal "legs" with wheels mounted beneath them supported the droid's chassis. The machine twittered a greeting as Mat entered the cockpit.

"Captain = Welcome aboard. G5 = Happy to see you. Fury-class interceptor = Ready to fly!"

"That's good news, droid." said Mat as he took a seat in the seat the pilot's chair. "Now help me get this bird in the air."

The droid beeped acknowledgement then rolled up to a control panel, extending a small metal arm to plug itself into the ship's navigation systems. The ship's twin ion engines came to life with a roar. Mat lifted the ship ten feet off the docking bay's floor, then rotated the hull to starboard until he could see the melee below through the cockpit window. Amys was still fighting with the acolytes. Three of them were down, including the one who took Mat's knife to his gut, while the remaining three were being pressed hard by the Wise One. Mat didn't pity them. Anyone who attacked a Wise One such as Amys was asking for trouble. Lan was still dancing the blades with Lord Nakrin. The Sith was down to just one lightsaber, with the second presumably having been destroyed by Lan. Neither the Wise One nor the Warder could board the ship while engaged in combat. How to get them out of it...?"

Mat grinned as an idea came to him. "Droid, power up the forward blaster cannons. And the PA system."

"Weapons + Public Address = Online!"

Mat pushed a button on the PA control panel. "Amys, down!" His voice boomed. Amys dove to the floor. Mat opened fire with the ship's blaster cannons. Half a dozen bolts or green light flew from the cannons and tore into the acolytes, killing two of them instantly. The third was killed by Amys with a slash across the throat. Lan appeared to have bested Lord Nakrin, who was now frantically trying to keep from being overwhelmed. Suddenly Lan went flying backwards through the air and landed heavily on his back. Mat fired upon the now exposed Lord Nakrin. The Sith skillfully knocked the bolts aside with her lightsaber.

Mat stood up from the pilot's chair. "Get us over there, droid," he barked, pointing at the downed Warder. "Let's bring my friends aboard."

The droid twittered but Mat ignored it, running aft to the gangway. He grabbed a blaster pistol off a nearby weapon rack on the way. Carefully descending the gangway, Mat pocketed the pistol and grabbed hold of an rail, extending a hand towards Lan. The Warder pushed himself to his feet and recovered his sword. "Come on!" Mat yelled. Lan sheathed his sword and sprinted toward the interceptor, jumping up the gangway without any aid from Mat.

Amys was now engaged in a duel of the Force with Nakrin. The Sith shot lightning from her fingetips which Amys deflected with an invisible shield. Mat impulsively drew his blaster pistol and fired three shots and Nakrin. When she turned to deflect the bolts, Amys swept the ashandarei low, knocking the Sith Lord down, then knocked her out cold with a blow to the head.

"Amys!" Mat called as he pocketed the pistol again. "Let's go!"

The Wise One dashed over to the ship, threw the ashandarei into the cabin, then jumped. Mat grabbed her hand and hauled Amys aboard. They ducked inside the ship as the gangway began to raise. Mat raced to the control room and sat in the pilot's chair once again. The ship banked to port and began to ease its way out of the docking bay. It accelerated and climbed upwards once clear of the academy. Soon the cockpit window was filled with nothing but dark space and bright stars.

"Get us out of here, droid!" Mat exclaimed hurriedly.

"Away = Destination?" the astromech droid beeped.

"Coruscant!" It was the first planet that came to mind.

"Destination = Confirmed. Jump to lightspeed = Commencing!"

The stolen interceptor's hyperdrive engaged. As the stars turned to streaks of light, the ship blinked and vanished into hyperspace, leaving Korriban behind.

The dice stopped rolling.